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.
Harry and Hermione stood there in the pitch, awestruck, staring at Colin. They were still standing close together, having just broken their hug. Colin grinned wildly at them as he turned on his heel and took off in a run back towards the castle. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle scurried out of the locker room and followed Colin back into the castle - they wanted to get to Colin and that picture before anyone else had the chance to.
Thunderstruck, Harry turned his head back to look at Hermione. She was already looking at him with an odd little grin pasted on her face. Hermione giggled lightly at Harry's dumfounded expression, and Harry couldn't help but to return her grin - seeing her smile made him smile. She's cute when she smiles, thought Harry.
"Do you want to take a walk around the lake?" asked Hermione through her now wide grin.
"Yeah, I think that I could use one," laughed Harry as he grinned back at Hermione. They took off for the lake at a slow pace, walking right in step with each other.
***
"You know, Harry," started Hermione as they were making their way towards their favorite spot under the oak tree, "I think that you sported a bit of wandless magic back there. I can't imagine what else could have stopped me midair like that."
"I just remember wishing real hard that you would stop midair, and then you did. It was strange," remarked Harry.
"Now that I think of it, I had a dream not long ago where I was falling and I just stopped mid-fall like that. Weird, huh?" said Hermione.
"Yeah, it is," replied Harry,"Speaking of dreams, I had the strangest one last night." Hermione's eyes lit up. They had finally reached the large oak tree by the far side of the lake, and she motioned to the spot underneath the tree. Harry nodded and they made their way under the branches and sat down, leaning against the trunk close together.
"What was the dream about?" asked Hermione interestedly.
"Well, it was about…you," replied Harry nervously as he caught Hermione's eye. Why did I just say that! screamed Harry's thoughts. Hermione raised her eyebrows and her lips parted slightly. She was speechless.
Harry gulped. Why am I telling her this?! This is SO embarrassing! thought Harry. But a part of me wants to see her reaction. Well, here goes nothing…
Taking her loss for words as a good sign, Harry continued slowly, nervously looking out at the lake, "Well…you were sitting on a bench, looking at an eagle-feather quill set - one just like the one you gave me second year for Christmas - and I was standing behind you in my Invisibility Cloak, but you didn't know that I was there. Then I heard you say that deep down you didn't think that I would try to get you and Ron back together, and that you didn't want to lose my friendship, because…because…" Harry was getting tongue-tied. Finally, he managed to get the words out.
"I am too important to you," finished Harry and Hermione, TOGETHER. Harry quickly turned his gaze from the lake back to Hermione, and he was met with an incredulous expression.
"How…how did you…?" Harry couldn't form the rest of his sentence. He was too awestruck. He saw Hermione reach into her robe pocket and grab something. She brought it out in front of her and opened her hand. It was a quill - but more importantly, it was a luxury eagle-feather quill. She looked back up at Harry.
"Harry…that dream that you had last night…well, it…it wasn't a DREAM," Hermione looked intensely at Harry. "Harry, everything you just told me actually happened…but the bit about what I was saying - I wasn't SPEAKING it, I was THINKING it." Hermione kept her eyes fixed on Harry's.
"You mean…?" spoke Harry slowly. He kept his eyes fixated on Hermione.
"Harry, you read my thoughts," concluded Hermione.
A/N - The ninth chapter is up! Harry and Hermione are making some very important realizations now. How will they handle them? Only the following chapters will tell! Thank you to all of you who have been keeping up with this story! Remember - I LOVE reading your reviews. Please leave them! Thank you!