Disclaimer: This fanfiction is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A ray of early morning sunlight shone through the window onto Hermione's face, waking her from a night of restless sleep. It was now Sunday morning, and Hermione was the first in her dormitory to stir, as was usual. Over the course of the night, as she tossed and turned, Hermione decided that she didn't even have to ask Harry for the truth - she already knew it. Harry would NEVER go behind her back like that, or Ron's, for that matter - it just wasn't something that he would ever do. Knowing this, Hermione decided that she was going to apologize to Harry for even thinking that he would do such a thing.
Hermione pulled the covers off and got out of bed. She went through her normal morning routine of getting showered and dressed, then made her way down into the common room with a book tucked under her arm. I'll just sit in here and read until Harry comes down for breakfast; that way I'll catch him first thing, thought Hermione. She made herself comfortable in one of the big armchairs near the fireplace and began reading.
Not long after Hermione began to read had she noticed that some students started trickling downstairs into the common room. Hermione would look up from her reading every time a student would come down from the boys' dormitories; and so far, Harry hadn't been one of them. Harry doesn't usually sleep in THIS late, thought Hermione as she checked her watch.
It was now 9:30, and breakfast had been served a half-hour ago. Hermione had already seen Seamus and Neville come downstairs along with Ron - who was tactfully avoiding her presence - but still, no sign of Harry. Fifteen minutes later, Hermione looked up to see Dean coming downstairs. She decided to ask him about Harry.
"Hey, Dean? Is Harry still asleep?" asked Hermione.
"No, when I got up he was already gone," answered Dean.
"That's strange, I've been sitting here since 8:30 and I didn't see him come down," commented Hermione. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Oh, well…thanks," finished Hermione, closing her book. Dean nodded and made his way out of the common room.
He must've gotten up really early then, thought Hermione, otherwise I would've seen him. Well, knowing Harry, he's most likely outside practicing for Quidditch.
Hermione decided to check her theory out, so she put her book away upstairs and set out for the Quidditch field. As she approached the field, she looked up and saw what appeared to be a tiny, black dot darting around up above. Upon closer inspection, Hermione realized that it was Harry flying high above the field, flitting about on his broom.
Oh, great! I'll never catch his attention when he's all the way up there! pouted Hermione to herself. Well, if I can't get his attention from down here, then I'll get it from up there, reasoned Hermione, as she went into the Quidditch locker room and grabbed a spare broom.
Hermione had never liked flying, especially since third year when Harry and her had to fly on Buckbeak to save Sirius. Nevertheless, she was determined to talk to Harry, and she was willing to face one of her biggest fears in order to do so.
She mounted the broom and kicked off, unsteadily rising off the ground. You can do this, you can do this…just DON'T LOOK DOWN, Hermione reassured herself as she made her ascent. She held onto the broom tightly as she tilted from side to side.
Finally, as Harry made a quick turn, he saw Hermione flying unsteadily towards him.
"Hermione?! What are you doing?! You know that you've never had good control over a broom!" shouted Harry to Hermione as he hovered quite a few feet above her.
"I made a mistake, Harry! I'm really sorry!" shouted back Hermione. She looked up at Harry, not focusing on steadying her broom.
"Yeah, you're making one right now - you're gonna kill yourself up here!" replied Harry. He always trusted Hermione's skills as a witch, but when it came to flying, Hermione just didn't have it. She tottered unsteadily back and forth on the broom as she focused her attention on Harry.
"Harry, I'm really sorry about what I said last night, I really don't believe that you were cohorting with Ron. I know better than that." Hermione was focusing her gaze on Harry, still teetering dangerously from side to side.
Harry stared at Hermione and listened with his mouth slightly agape. She's…apologizing? pondered Harry.
"I know deep down that you would never disregard my feelings like that, and I can't believe that I accused you of doing such a thing. I don't want to lose your friendship, you're too important to me. Will you forgive - meeeee?!!!!!" Hermione suddenly lost what little control she had over the broom, and it dipped forward and threw her off, plunging her into a downward fall, a fall 60 feet from the ground.
"HERMIONE!!!" shouted Harry, as a great pain shot through his chest. He turned his broom straight downward and flew after her. She was falling face forward as fast as a bludger, and Harry was racing to reach her before she hit the ground. HERMIONE, I CAN'T LET YOU FALL!!! BUT I CAN'T CATCH UP WITH YOU!!! screamed Harry's thoughts. Tears started to well up in his eyes. I'LL NEVER GET TO YOU IN TIME!!!
Hermione was getting closer yet to the ground, and she was screaming in fright. Harry was focusing real hard on Hermione, hoping and praying that he could somehow save her. He wished that she would just stop falling so he could catch up to her. Tears streaking his face, he yelled out her name one last time, "HERMIONE!!!"
All of a sudden, Hermione's fall was broken, and she was left floating in midair, 20 feet above the ground. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. His wish had come true - Hermione had stopped falling. He flew the rest of the way down to her and grabbed her around the waist with one arm, hugging her close to his side. She threw her arms around his chest as they began their descent. He slowly brought them down to the field, and as soon as his feet were planted firmly on the ground, he let go of his broom and it fell to the grass.
Harry, tears now falling freely down his face, threw his arms around Hermione's shaking frame. She was crying, too, as she hugged Harry closer to her.
"Hermione, I thought that I was going to lose you! You really scared me!" said Harry, his voice cracking as he spoke. He held her closer to him.
"Harry, you saved me! I was so scared! I didn't think that I was gonna make it! But you saved me!" said Hermione, her voice quivering.
"Hermione, don't EVER scare me like that again. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," said Harry shakily. He hugged her tightly to him still, afraid to let go.
"And I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Harry. You just saved my life," replied Hermione, still with a quiver in her voice. She felt safe in Harry's arms, and her body started to calm down and stop shaking. Harry noticed this, and pulled away enough to look Hermione in the eyes.
"Why did you go up there, Hermione? You could have waited until later to talk to me," asked Harry. He noticed that Hermione's cheeks were streaked with tears too, and he brought his hand up to her face to wipe them away. Hermione brought her hand up and placed it on top of Harry's hand.
"Because I couldn't stand the thought of what I accused you of doing, and I wanted to tell you that I was wrong. I couldn't wait, I had to talk to you right away," replied Hermione. She looked Harry square in the eyes. "Will you forgive me?"
"Of course I will! I was never mad at you, Hermione. I understood how what Ron said could have confused you. I never plotted with him to get you two back together, so I don't understand what he meant by 'coming through for him' either," said Harry, as he looked Hermione in the eyes.
"Oh, Harry, thank you!" squealed Hermione as she put her arms back around Harry. She hugged him tightly to her. I feel so safe in his arms, thought Hermione to herself as she closed her eyes.
"I'm just glad you're okay," said Harry, as he returned the hug. This feels right, hugging Hermione, Harry remarked to himself. He closed his eyes, too.
They stood like that for a while, revelling in their newfound understanding. Just then, a flash of bright light washed over Harry and Hermione. Startled, they looked in the direction of the flash.
It was Colin Creevey, a fourth-year Gryffindor, and he had just taken their picture.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle laughed hysterically as they watched Harry and Hermione's reaction from inside the Quidditch locker room. They had seen Colin take notice of Harry and Hermione out in the Quidditch field together, and they followed him outside to get a closer look.
"Oh, this is priceless!" snickered Malfoy.
Colin moved the camera away from his face and said excitedly, "What a cute picture of Hogwarts' newest couple!"
A/N - The eighth chapter is done! Things are brewing between Harry and Hermione! More chapters are in the works. Please leave a review; I really like hearing from you. Thank you to all of you who have reviewed!