Chapter 11
XI
She wanted time to stand still.
Hermione Granger desperately didn't want the holiday to end. In fact, she would have done just about anything for them to remain in their holiday bubble for as long as possible. Things would be harder when they were back at school and, for the first time in her life, Hermione was not looking forward to school.
She woke up on Saturday morning, feeling a mixture of feelings. Despite her nervous excitement for the day ahead, she couldn't help wondering about the next day; the day that they would get on the Hogwarts Express and head back to Hogwarts, where they would have to face everyone.
Hermione definitely wasn't looking forward to it, but she would definitely endure it all, because the boy was worth it.
Speaking of the sunshine kid... A quick knock at her door led to the body of Harry Potter suddenly on top her, barely giving her the time to register his presence. He peppered kisses across her face, making her giggle like a schoolgirl.
"Are you awake?" he asked, lifting himself up and hovering over her. "Because it's almost noon and your mum is going to be here soon, so you better be awake."
"I'm awake," she said, pushing on his chest so she could look at him properly. Then she froze. "What time did you say it was?"
He looked at her, a guilty expression taking over his face.
"Harry," she said calmly; "what time is it really?"
He pulled back so he could be up and out of the room before she lunged at him. "Umm, it's, well, why don't you check your watch? The one that was given to you by your truly handsome boyfriend, who you totally love."
She raised an eyebrow. "Just tell me what the time is," she said. "I promise I won't hurt you."
Harry swallowed nervously. He didn't trust her when her voice took on that calculated quality. "Well, you see, I woke up early, and then I got bored so I decided that I wanted to see you, and here I am."
Hermione glanced at her night table, where her watch was sitting. It took her a moment to spy the time, her eyes having to focus. Then she gasped. "Harry Potter! It's not even seven o'clock yet."
He looked away. "It's not like I actually woke you up," he said. "Don't think I didn't notice that you were already awake."
"That is so not the point," she said, huffing. Then she bit her bottom lip. "You're just excited about today, aren't you?"
"And a little nervous," he admitted. "I want it to go well. I don't want you to be disappointed, Hermione."
"I'm sure I won't be, Harry," she said truthfully. "I'll be with you. It's all I've ever wanted. You are honestly all that I've ever wanted."
"Besides about a million Outstandings, huh?"
Hermione kissed his cheek. "Now, get off me so I can get ready."
"You just want to brush your teeth so you can kiss me," he said with such a shit-eating grin that she desperately wanted to wipe off his face. She wasn't sure how to though, because he was right. She hated that he was so damn right.
"Okay, so get off," she said.
Harry pouted for a moment before he made a big show of rolling off of her and lying next to her on his side, his arm resting over her abdomen. They lay side by side for the longest time before Hermione eventually got up and headed into her bathroom.
Something about this day felt different. He felt different.
Hermione took her time in the bathroom, knowing that he would still be where she left him. As the daughter of dentists, she had impeccable dental hygiene and that required time. She tried her best to deal with her hair but she eventually abandoned her attempts when she realised that Harry's fingers would soon be doing some damage.
When Hermione went back into her bedroom, Harry was asleep. As much as she wanted to wake him up, she didn't. He looked so peaceful and adorable and boy did she love him. Instead, she headed downstairs where she found her parents having breakfast at the kitchen table. She'd spent very little alone time with them this holiday, mainly because of Harry, but also because her parents were workaholics.
It wasn't anything new. Hermione knew how hard and how much her parents worked. It was why she was as independent, self-sufficient and capable of occupying herself as she was. She'd had years of practice.
So it was kind of nice to sit with them while they ate breakfast. Even though they'd discussed the events of the day the previous night, Jane ran through it, just to make sure that everyone was up to speed.
"So I'll come home for lunch," Jane said to Hermione. "Of course, you two won't have to eat with me and then, on my way back to the practice; I'll drop you two off. You'll do whatever it is that teenagers do, and then the four of us will go to Rostov's for your last supper. Got it?"
Hermione just nodded. She really didn't need to be told twice. Or was this the third time?
Hermione saw her parents out, and then locked the front door. For a moment, she thought about the wards that had been placed on the house, and wondered if they extended all the way to the street. She made a mental note to read up on Warding when they got back to Hogwarts. It seemed like a useful skill to be able to identify wards. And possibly cast them. Her life, now that she was Harry Potter's girlfriend, had changed.
Eventually, Hermione went back upstairs to find Harry still asleep. She climbed in next to him, pulled out her journal and started to write. She managed to get quite a bit done before Harry started to stir, claiming her attention. It was an experience she wouldn't be able to describe just being able to watch him wake up. His eyes fluttered, his arms stretched and he made the cutest mewling sound.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from kissing him, even before he was fully awake.
They spent most of the morning in her bed, just talking and laughing and being together. Their growling stomachs eventually sent them downstairs, and then they were both getting ready for when Jane came home. It wouldn't do for her to find them still in their pyjamas.
Hermione couldn't help thinking that this was what it would feel like to be living with Harry, and she definitely liked it.
Jane found the teenagers in the living room, fully engrossed in the movie that they were watching. It took her a moment to recognise it as Police Academy 4, and the sound of her laughter drew their attention.
"Hi, Mum!" Hermione said, standing up and moving to hug her mother. "We made you lunch."
Jane blinked. "You did?"
"To go," Hermione added, and Jane burst out laughing.
"All right, all right," Jane said, kissing Hermione's forehead. "I can take a hint. Grab your coats - let's get going."
It took just under ten minutes for them to pile into the car and be on their way. Hermione was riding shotgun, but she kept stealing glances at Harry, giving away her obvious excitement. All he could really do was grin at her.
Jane pulled up to the side of a street, in front of a small cafe, and turned to look at them both. "Do you have enough money?" she asked.
Harry was the one who nodded.
"Now, be careful," she said seriously. "But do enjoy yourselves, and we'll see you at Rostov's at seven o'clock, okay? Don't be late!"
Harry and Hermione nodded, before Harry quickly got out, and ran around the car to the passenger's side, so he could open Hermione's door for her. The witch was blushing madly when she stepped out of the car. They said a quick goodbye to Jane, and then they were alone. They'd been alone just that morning, but this felt like a different alone.
"What do you want to do first?" Hermione asked, taking hold of both of his hands and smiling up at him.
Harry squeezed her hands. "Why don't we walk around for a bit, and then decide?"
Hermione couldn't resist kissing him first. It was a quick one, and then she released his one hand, and they started on their walk down the busy street. They passed by cafes, book shops, a movie theatre - which Harry showed keen interest in - various restaurants, and several little supermarkets.
Hermione liked this part of town. It was nice and new, and there was a nice mixture of people, old and young, and ranging in ethnicity.
They eventually decided on some lunch in a little Greek restaurant. They were given no cutlery, which was deathly amusing. The food was juicy and messy, and oh so divine. They almost didn't remember to swap dishes, and that would be a travesty.
For dessert, they had baclava, which was a little strange at first, but it quickly grew on them. They were talking and laughing so much that, during a particularly hard laugh, Harry actually inhaled a small piece of baclava, and it ended up coming out of his nose.
Hermione even snorted; she found it so funny.
Harry had to drink some water and blow his nose to clear both his airways. "By Merlin, that burned," he said, shaking his head. "You're never going to let me forget this, are you?"
She giggled. "Oh. Never ever. I'm literally going to tell everyone we know so we can all share a laugh at your expense."
"You are so kind."
She reached for one of his hands on the table. "I'm so kind, that I'm even going to agree to watch the movie you so badly want to watch."
He raised an eyebrow. "You noticed, huh?"
"When was the last time you went to a cinema?"
He had to think about it. "Umm, it was probably Dudley's twelfth birthday. They'd contemplated leaving me behind for ages, but decided that people would ask too many questions, given that I'd barely been seen all summer."
Hermione decided to file away her feelings about that for the time being. She already had plans for the Dursleys anyway. "What movie did you watch?"
"I'm not exactly sure," he said truthfully. "I was sent into a different theatre to the others, and told to sit in the back. I know it had zombies in it. My guess is that my uncle tried to scare the magic out of me or some nonsense like that."
"It didn't work."
Harry shrugged. "Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you weren't a witch, Hermione?"
"Sometimes," she confessed. "I mean, I already had plans for my life before my Hogwarts letter arrived... They all went to hell when I learned about magic though. It was never going to be something I would say no to. How could I? I never could have lived with the regret."
"You would have been Obliviated."
She blinked. "I would never have met you."
Harry's eyes widened. He didn't even want to begin to imagine a life without Hermione Granger. His pretty girl. That was a life that he didn't want to live.
She squeezed his hand, bringing him back to her. "Come on, let's go and watch that movie of yours before I completely change my mind."
He was completely fascinated by her.
Harry Potter watched her face as she studied the movie posters. She looked so thoughtful as she concentrated, and Harry couldn't look away even if he tried. Suddenly, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the ticket line.
"To be completely honest," she said, glancing at him. "I'm not entirely keen on any of the movies playing."
"Then we should do something else," he offered lightly.
"But you said you wanted to watch a movie," she pointed out, though he never actually voiced such a thing.
"Not if you don't want to, Hermione," he said seriously. Then he smiled, an idea coming to him. "I know what we can do," he said quickly, dragging her out of the line and starting down the street. He was just happy that Hermione wasn't asking him any questions as he led the way to the ice-skating rink he'd spotted earlier from the car.
Hermione's face lit up when she realised where they were going. She squeezed his hand tightly, forcing him to look at her. "Mr Potter, you do remember that I'm not a fan of the cold, or the wet, right?"
"And yet you're still excited," he said, grinning at her.
"I must love you or something," she murmured, reaching up to kiss his cheek as they walked. "And, I mean, do you even know how to skate?"
"Do you?"
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "I learned a few years ago, but I haven't skated in quite some time."
"So this'll be fun for both of us then, won't it?"
It turned out to be the understatement of the century.
Once they bought their tickets and hired their skates; Hermione took to the ice first and then put out her hand for him. Harry lasted only four seconds before he hit the ice, landing quite hard on his bottom and making her laugh out loud.
Harry merely glared at her as he managed to get up using the side of the ice rink. Without saying a word to her, Harry started to move, slowly and unsteadily, while still holding onto the sides in a death grip with his right hand.
Hermione sidled up to him but she didn't try to touch him. "I'm sorry," she said, trying to control her giggles. "But even you have to admit that it was a little funny."
Harry made a show of ignoring her as he shuffled along behind a group of little girls in bright pink coats.
"Oh, come on, Harry," Hermione said, reaching for his left hand. "Come with me. I won't laugh if you fall again."
He looked at her. "Promise?"
"I promise," she said seriously. "Now, give me your other hand."
Harry did as instructed, and she slowly moved them away from the side walls. She was skating backwards - goodness knows how she remembered how to do that - and she was pulling Harry along. They were going slowly, and Harry couldn't bring himself to look up from his own skates. Why oh why had he suggested this?
"You don't look like you're out of practice," he murmured, risking a look at her face.
She was smiling happily at him. "I guess it's kind of like riding a bike," she said.
"I wouldn't know," he said simply. "I never learned."
Hermione made no comment. She rather added it to a list of things that she would endeavour to teach him, or just do with him. There was this ice-skating, riding a bicycle, driving a car and so many more things. Honestly, even thinking about everything he'd missed out on made her heart hurt. She would have to talk to Sirius soon. Speaking of...
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to tell Sirius about us?" she asked.
Harry almost fell again, but her hold on him kept him steady. "I already did," he said seriously. "Hedwig was complaining about having nothing to do, so I sent her off, letting him know that he could stop with all his teasing now."
"And what did he say?" she asked curiously.
Harry couldn't help his blush. "Well, you know, he may or may not have asked when the wedding was."
Hermione laughed, her head tilting back, which only made Harry lose his balance, and he ended up on his knees. It made the witch laugh a little harder - that promise was broken rather quickly - but she eventually helped him up. "It appears to me that we'll never win when it comes to Sirius," she said, releasing his hands so he could wipe off some of the ice he picked up.
"I told him to save the date for some time in two thousand and two," he said, his intention to shock her.
It worked like a peach, because she seemed to choke on her own breath, and she was the one to almost fall. "Harry," she squeaked, clearly surprised. "Did you really tell him that?"
He winked at her. "What if I did?"
Hermione froze. "Do you really think that we'll still be together six years from now?"
"Do you really think we won't?"
Hermione took hold of his hands again and tugged him towards her, so she could hug him. "To be completely honest, Harry, I keep thinking that you're going to come to your senses and decide that it's not me you want," she whispered into his neck.
He hugged her tighter. "You're my favourite person in the world, Hermione," he said, his breath tickling her ear. "I wouldn't change a thing about you."
Hermione just relaxed into his embrace.
Harry merely continued to hold her, and then he started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" she asked, pulling away so she could look at his face. "Why on earth are you laughing?"
He spoke through his laughter, his breath catching. "It's just, well, I was thinking that you really are your mother's daughter, aren't you?"
She frowned in confusion.
"Like Dr Jane Granger, you don't really get on with other women all that well, do you?"
She laughed out loud, filling his chest with supreme warmth. "I don't know what it is."
"I do."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"It's jealousy, Hermione," he said simply, holding onto her quite tightly. "I mean, you're this perfect girl who does all her homework, never talks back to teachers; you say 'please' and 'thank you,' and you say 'sorry' way too much... and yet, you're still a total badass! Even I'm jealous of you." He gently kissed the tip of her nose.
"As you should be," she said, tilting her head to the side. "I did slap Malfoy."
"See! Total badass!"
She shook her head. "I don't condone physical violence, Mr Potter."
"But if you did... Malfoy would be the first exception, wouldn't he?"
"Please can we stop talking about Malfoy," she said, rolling her eyes. "I just ate."
Harry couldn't resist kissing her, right there, in the middle of the ice-skating rink. "I love you," he whispered against her lips.
Warmth. Her entire body filled with supreme, unbridled warmth. "I love you too."
He offered her the most perfect smile. "Now, teach me how to do this thing that I so stupidly suggested before I end up on my bottom again," he said, sounding amused.
She didn't want the holiday to come to an end.
Hermione Granger had half a mind to engineer some way to freeze time. Given her exploits in magic so far; she was sure she could manage it if she really put her mind to it. Though, she didn't think that she knew nearly enough to pull it off yet. Her Ancient Runes would definitely need some work.
Once Hermione was dressed for the day, she went downstairs for the last breakfast before their return to Hogwarts. It was a full breakfast, prepared by both Harry and Jane. The two of them decided to go all out and it was something to behold. Even Hogwarts would be proud of this spread. Ron would probably salivate just at the smell coming from the kitchen.
"Are you all packed and ready to go?" Jane asked as they settled in to eat. "I won't be sending you anything that you happen to forget."
"Yes, Mum," Hermione said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "I'll double-check both our rooms before we leave." She glanced at Harry and smiled mischievously, which just confused him, though he didn't tell her so.
Harry only figured out what she was trying to tell him when she cornered him in his room and kissed him senseless. There were hands in hair and fingers sneaking up tops as they made use of the last time they would be alone for goodness knew how long.
Harry was the one to pull away first, the need to breathe becoming increasingly vital. He just smiled at her, enjoying the way that she held onto him a little too much. And the way she was looking at him. Truly, he would never tire of it.
"If we don't leave in the next ten minutes, we're going to be late!" Jane yelled from downstairs, forcing Hermione to release her hold on Harry. The thing was that she didn't know when next they would be able to do this; to just be.
Harry wanted to say something reassuring, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. The last thing he wanted to do was make empty promises. They weren't even a month into their relationship, and he already felt a sense of doom setting in. What came next wasn't going to be easy.
"You go on down," Harry said. "I'll bring the trunks."
"I'm highly capable," she countered.
"And I don't doubt that for a second, pretty girl," he said, grinning cheekily; "just let me be chivalrous, will you?"
Hermione quickly kissed his cheek, grabbed Hedwig's cage off the desk, and then headed out of the room, bouncing as she walked. He watched her go for a moment, before he too headed downstairs, trudging their trunks along.
"Oh, Harry," Michael said when he spotted him. "Why didn't you give a shout to let me know you needed some help?"
Harry let out a long breath, before he grinned and said: "Michael, I need some help."
Michael rolled his eyes. "I'm definitely going to miss you, Mr Potter."
Harry froze.
"It was nice having a little extra testosterone in the house, that's for sure," he continued, not noticing Harry's disposition. "I'll send letters about how Arsenal's doing, if you'd like," he offered, smiling at the younger man. "Or were you just faking interest?"
Harry managed to recover enough to respond. "I'm definitely interested," he said, sounding rather breathless. Michael said he would miss him. Harry could literally count on his hands the number of people who would truly miss him, and he just knew that Michael was now one of them.
Between the two of them, they managed to get both trunks and Hedwig's cage into the car, before Michael was bellowing for Jane and Hermione that it was time to go. It took a further few minutes for Jane to emerge, and then Hermione a few minutes more. She looked flushed, like she was embarrassed by something.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked in a whisper, once they were safely tucked into their shared backseat and were out on the road towards King's Cross Station.
Hermione could barely look at him. "I'll tell you later," she whispered back, and that was that.
Jane made sure to tell the teenagers that she expected many letters. They also discussed possible trips they could go on when the summer rolled around, because it was cheaper to book their tickets early. Harry couldn't even explain what he was feeling when Jane willingly included Harry in the discussion.
Finding parking was a mission and a half, as usual, but they arrived on the platform earlier than many of the other students. The farewell was quick, all four of them sharing hugs goodbye. Jane actually held onto Harry for quite some time, forcing Michael to get her to let go of him.
As Jane released him, she whispered something in his ear. "Saffron."
Harry looked up at her quizzically, clearly confused. Then it clicked. Saffron. The secret ingredient in her custard pies. Harry grinned at her, quickly hugging her once more, and then the teenagers were walking away.
Once on the train, Harry and Hermione located a compartment near the back, so that the rest of them would fill up well before students came across the pair. Unless said student was actually looking for the new couple.
"So what had you all flushed?" he asked, as he lifted both their trunks onto the rack above their heads.
Hermione huffed. "It was horrid, Harry," she said, sounding incredulous. "My mum insisted on clarifying a few things for me," she said, cringing. "About... boys... and girls."
Harry's eyes widened. "Oh Merlin."
"Exactly!"
Despite how horrified he was, Harry couldn't help laughing. "Does your mum know just how naughty those hands of yours are?"
She glared at him. "If you know what's good for you, Potter; she'll never find out."
Harry held his hands up in innocence.
She shook her head once, and then stood up and climbed onto the seat to fetch something from her trunk.
"Is that...?" he asked, pointing at what she'd just retrieved as he sat down closest to the window.
She nodded. "Ancient Runes," she said happily. "I'll need to keep myself occupied, so I don't do something crazy and give us up because of my apparently straying hands."
He winked at her. "Even you have to admit that they really do have a tendency to misbehave, don't they?"
"You know, sometimes I wonder how you put up with me," she said, grinning at him. "Then I remember that, oh, I put up with you. So we're even."
Harry put out his hand for her to take, and she took it without hesitation. He pulled gently, and she sat down right beside him, close enough for the two of them, but far enough for passers-by and those nosy students who insisted on looking into their compartment. He did his best to ignore them, and Hermione made sure to keep their clasped hands hidden from view.
Hermione settled in for the act they were about to put on, but his intense gaze on her made it a little difficult to concentrate. Also, his thumb was absently rubbing the back of her hand and it was terribly distracting.
"Stop looking at me like that," she whispered, forcing herself not to roll her eyes.
"Like what?" he asked.
"Like that?"
He grinned at her. "Like you're my everything?"
Hermione didn't think she would ever get used to hearing Harry Potter say cute things like that. Her blush hit her in full force, and her eyes locked on his.
"I don't know how else to look at you," he said softly, stealing her breath.
Hermione launched herself at him, her arms closing around him as she proceeded to kiss him thoroughly. It wasn't a particularly long kiss, but it was enough to leave him looking particularly dazed. She even giggled at his expression as she wiped his mouth with her thumb. "That might be the last kiss you get for a while," she said, shifting away from him.
It wouldn't do for them to sit too close to each other. But then they always sat close to each other, even as best friends. Would sitting too far away from each other raise suspicions? What if -
"Hey," Harry said, getting her attention. "I can literally hear you thinking."
She blushed, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I'm a little nervous, and I'd really like to just get it out to Ron nice and early, but knowing the Weasley clan, they'll be the last ones on board."
Harry gently pat her knee. "Be sneaky, Hermione," he said, winking at her. "I know you've got it in you."
"Oh, so now we're embracing our Slytherin sides?"
He nodded. "We just have to get through this train ride, and probably dinner as well, and then we can talk to him. As long as he knows first, everybody else can know afterwards."
She also nodded. He was just repeating what they'd already discussed and decided. Maybe he realised that she needed to hear it said out loud again. They had a plan, and it was reassuring for her.
"It's going to be fine," he said soothingly. "I mean, it might not be in the beginning, but we don't owe anybody anything, all right? It's you and me, and if we make sure to stick together through everything that's sure to come our way; everything will be fine."
Hermione put her hand over his where it remained resting on her knee. "Since when did you become the voice of reason?"
He laughed lightly. "In the end, we all have to play the part, don't we?"
She locked her eyes on his and opened her mouth to say something, but the sound of the compartment door opening stopped her. She didn't exactly snatch her hand away from Harry's but they did mutually end the contact as soon as Luna stepped through the door and smiled at them.
Hermione thought it looked like a knowing smile.
They shared greetings and warm hugs, before Harry got Luna talking about her holiday expedition with her father. It was a truly fantastical tale, and Hermione tried to pay close attention, but it became increasingly difficult the longer it went on.
Next to arrive was Neville, who was quick to ask after Harry and Hermione's holiday. They divulged details of their visit to the children's home and Hermione's mother's win in the Christmas Market's pie competition.
Hermione was telling them all about the Wizarding Monopoly that she and Harry had planned when the Weasley clan arrived on the platform. The four of them in the compartment watched through the window as Molly Weasley tried and failed to keep track of her brood. By the time Ron and Ginny finally found them, they were both flushed.
"You'd think that she's never seen us off before," Ron muttered, before he greeted them all. "Hugged the life out of me, that woman."
Hermione glanced at Harry, and they shared an amused look.
"She's just going to miss you, Ron," Hermione said, smiling warmly at him.
Ron flopped down beside Hermione. "Do we have a Prefects' meeting?" he asked distractedly. "You reckon I can skip it?"
Hermione let out a long breath before she stood up. "We should just go and see what's expected of us," she said simply. "Maybe we won't need to patrol."
Ron begrudgingly stood up and stretched.
Hermione gently nudged him forward, and proceeded to follow him out of the compartment. Before she disappeared completely, she looked at Harry, who was absently fingering through her discarded book on Ancient Ruins. Trust him to turn completely awkward.
Hermione just hoped that he didn't end up giving them up while she was away. Though, between the two of them, she definitely trusted him more than she did herself, seeing as she would be alone with Ron for a substantial amount of time. Her mind kept running through all the things she was or was not doing that was deemed normal or not normal for her and Harry.
It was too much.
Harry watched them go until they disappeared. He was feeling rather nervous, given what was surely to come, and it only amplified when he was no longer in Hermione's presence. She managed to keep him calm, and he reasoned that he probably did the same for her. Conversation dulled slightly, and Luna did have a knack for turning awkward silences into more.
But then, mercifully, Ron and Hermione were back. Harry immediately relaxed at the sight of Hermione, but he managed to keep the relief off his face. He had a sneaking suspicion that Luna just knew something, and was merely biding her time and enjoying whatever it was that she thought she knew.
Hermione, of course, was saying something as the two Gryffindor Prefects reentered the compartment. She looked rather irritated about something, and her next words gave away the truth of that. "You'd struggle to pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel," she said over her shoulder, and all but Ron laughed, though it was a struggle for the redhead.
"Hermione," Ron said, looking slightly amused. "Bloody hell, you really do have an anger problem, d'you know that?"
The witch turned her glare on the redhead, almost daring him to say something more. Eventually, she huffed and folded her arms across her chest. "I don't have an anger problem," she said sternly; "I just have a problem with idiots."
Harry let out a small laugh, earning himself a glare. "Then we're all idiots, aren't we?" he teased, winking at her.
She blushed furiously, but resumed her seat beside Harry and made a point of not looking at him.
It was Ginny who got them talking again, lifting the mood as the Express trudged on towards Hogwarts. Every time Hermione was asked a direct question about how she and Harry spent the holiday, she forced herself to stop and think about her response before opening her mouth. She had to keep a check on what she said and did, and it was raising her anxiety levels.
Despite his emotional range of a teaspoon, it was Ron who noticed that there was something up with his two best friends. He watched them carefully for a while, but he couldn't quite place what was so off about them.
Until he just did.
"Why aren't you two touching?" he blurted out, causing all those in the compartment to stare at him.
It was Luna who braved asking him to clarify, especially when he couldn't stop looking between Harry and Hermione, who were both starting to blush under his obvious scrutiny.
Ron addressed his two friends. "This whole time; you haven't touched. Not once. Did something happen? Are you fighting?"
Again, it was Luna who spoke. "They're not fighting, Ronald."
Ron looked confused. "Then why..." he trailed off when he noticed the somewhat guilty looks on his friends' faces. He immediately shook his head. "No, no, no, no," he rushed, blinking furiously. "You're not - no ways."
"Ron," Hermione said carefully, clearly; "do you think that Harry and I could talk to you outside?"
Ron looked like he wanted to refuse at first, but a significant look from Hermione had him standing up and rushing out of the room. Harry followed immediately, but it was Hermione who lingered behind, her heart suddenly torn.
Hermione looked at Ginny, who appeared a mixture of confused and disbelieving. "Later, we'll talk?" she asked quietly.
Ginny blinked once before she managed a nod, and then Hermione was gone, leaving the non-Golden Trio to their own devices for a substantial amount of time. Luna tried to fill the silence with more stories of her adventures but there was no getting around the incessant feeling that things had changed.
Ron returned first, looking red in the face and muttering to himself under his breath.
Harry arrived a few minutes later. He shot a heated, disappointed glare at Ron before he moved to kneel in front of Ginny. He looked slightly distracted, like he wished that he were doing something else with someone else. "She asked me to come and get you," he said softly. "Will you come?"
Ginny glanced around the compartment, taking in Neville's curious eyes, Luna's dreamy expression and Ron's misplaced anger, before finally settling down on Harry's pleading eyes. There was a deep concern in them, and he looked troubled. Harry needed her to go.
So she stood up, and allowed him to lead the way to Hermione, wherever she was in the train.
Once they were gone, Luna turned her own glare on Ron. She stared at him for a long while, trying to ascertain whether or not she was feeling merciful. "That wasn't very nice, Ronald," she finally said, her tone pointed and deeply haunting.
The moment Ron started to respond, he rather snapped his mouth shut, and then slumped down further into the seat, looking utterly defeated. Even though he knew that the Ravenclaw witch had no idea what he could have possibly said in his obvious rage at the news his two friends decided to bestow on him - he couldn't even recall most of it himself - Luna definitely had an idea. It hadn't been the first time that his mouth had run off without his logic.
And he'd made Hermione cry.
Somehow, Ron knew that Harry wouldn't forgive him for that. It was different to what happened after the Yule Ball. Then, in some way, Harry had remained aligned with Ron, but now he vehemently was not.
"It really wasn't, was it?" Ron asked quietly, his face revealing his sudden misery. He quickly stood up, intent on going to find his friends, but Neville's hand on his arm stopped him.
"Leave them for now," Neville said knowingly.
Ron snapped his arm away from Neville, ready to rip into him about getting involved in things that didn't concern him, when the compartment door opened again, revealing an extremely ragged looking Harry Potter.
Once again, the raven-haired wizard glared at Ron, before he resumed his seat and stared out the window.
Ron, wisely, didn't say a word as he too resumed his seat.
The four of them sat in silence for the longest time before Luna decided to break it. Her attention was on Harry, when she spoke. "Cho didn't take it well?" she asked.
Harry's eyes snapped towards her. "How did you - " he started, but then stopped suddenly. This was Luna. "She did, actually," he found himself saying. "She found me with Ginny and Hermione, and, well, I explained to her just what had happened, and she just accepted it."
Luna frowned. "She did?"
"Hermione was always a topic of contention for the two of us," he explained quietly. "So, I suppose she wasn't particularly surprised, and things had cooled off between us anyway. We were never actually got together."
"Because you love Hermione?"
Harry's eyes widened, and Ron made a strangled sound at the sound of that. Harry shot the redhead another heated look and, when he spoke; his gaze didn't drift away from him. "Actually, yes, Luna," he said clearly. "I do love Hermione." He finally looked at Luna again. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"
Luna smiled at him. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said simply; "which is a sentence that people generally say to me; oddly enough."
Harry and Neville exchanged an amused look. "Oh, Luna, please never ever change," Harry said, smiling his first genuine smile since he'd first left the compartment with Hermione.
She looked curiously at him. "Change what?"
Neville just laughed lightly, but it was abruptly cut off when Ginny stormed into the compartment and - somewhat viciously - dragged her brother out of the compartment. For a moment, even Harry felt sorry for him, but then Hermione appeared in the doorway, and all other thoughts disappeared from his mind as he stood up.
"I'm fine," she said strongly, as she walked into the compartment, and straight into Harry's waiting arms. They hugged for a moment, before they both sat down, much closer than earlier. "It turns out that I'm not the only one who was angered by Ron's reaction," she said casually. "Though I'm a little embarrassed about my tears."
Harry placed a comforting hand on her thigh. He knew a little something about angry tears.
Too much, actually.
Ginny and Ron didn't return until much later, and Ginny forced Ron to offer a mumbled apology, that neither Harry nor Hermione accepted verbally. It wasn't lost on anyone that this new relationship was going to take some getting used to. Even the two teenagers involved were still adjusting.
Really, Harry couldn't wait until they could all just get out of this compartment and off of this train. Thankfully, his prayers were answered within the hour, and the Hogwarts Express was coming to a stop in Hogsmeade.
As one, all but Harry and Hermione stood up to disembark.
"You guys go on," Harry said, still refusing to look at Ron. "We'll catch up."
Ron grumbled something, and Ginny just kicked him in the shin, which would have been amusing on any other day. But not today. Harry couldn't quite get over the hate - no, it was something more like jealousy - he'd seen in Ron's eyes. But what was more confusing was that it didn't seem like Ron was jealous of him; he was rather jealous of Hermione. Which was just... Harry didn't understand it.
Was it that he didn't want Hermione to be closer to Harry than he was? Did Ron think that, now that he and Hermione were together; Harry wouldn't need him anymore? That Hermione would just automatically trump all other existing friendships?
Well, in truth, she already did, but Ron was Harry's best friend. Didn't he realise that that meant something?
"Ron'll come around," Hermione said after they'd been sitting for a while. "And so will Cho."
Harry actually shuddered. "She was a little too smug about her 'I knew it' though," he said, cringing slightly. "But we haven't done anything wrong, and I won't have us let their reactions dictate our relationship, all right?"
Hermione glanced at his determined expression, before she leaned into him, soaking up his warmth. "All right."
They descended into silence once more, as they listened to the residual sounds of a quickly-emptying Hogwarts Express. There was a lot going through their minds, but neither of them could mistake the relief that they both felt. It was out there. They wouldn't have to hide it anymore. Which they'd done a bang-up job of doing anyway.
Slowly, Harry started to laugh. "Who knew that not touching could be so suspicious?" he asked, sucking in a breath.
Hermione couldn't help her own giggle. "Our plan of attack was an epic, truly epic fail."
"You'd think that, by now, we'd know better. All these years of failed plans..."
Hermione shrugged. "The only thing we can do is learn from this, Potter."
Harry nodded absently, dropping a kiss onto the top of her head and sighing. The revelation about their relationship might not have gone to plan, but everything else was. He was here with Hermione Granger, and he couldn't have asked for anything better. This was his life and, as cruel as it sometimes was; she made everything okay. She always did.
Harry gently nudged her, getting her attention. "Are you ready to go?" he asked softly. "Before, you know, we end up back at King's Cross?"
Hermione just about managed a smile, before she stood up. She reached for her beanie, scarf and gloves that were on the seat and proceeded to prepare herself for the cold that they were about to face.
Beside her, Harry did the same, and then he was leading them out of the compartment, their gloved fingers linked. The silence of the train was eerie so Harry started to hum a tone he didn't even immediately recognise.
"Is that Back to the Future?" Hermione suddenly asked.
"Hmm?"
Hermione let out a light, appreciative laugh, but decided not to respond.
Harry stepped off the train first and looked around, making sure that there really weren't any other students around. He wanted more of a moment alone with his girlfriend, and he couldn't be sure when next he would get the opportunity. Given Ron's reaction - and, he supposed, Cho's as well - he and Hermione were undoubtedly in for a rough start to the term.
Harry turned towards Hermione when she appeared in the doorway. "Is the coast clear?" she asked, smiling her first genuine smile at him.
"Oh yeah," he said; "we're definitely the last two left. Why? Thinking of doing something naughty?"
"You wish."
Harry put his hand out for her, which she automatically took, and he helped her get down from the train. As soon as she was safely on the ground, she tightened her coat around her and huffed.
"Is it too late to go back to Oxfordshire?" she asked, already grumbling about how cold Scotland was.
Harry absently kissed her temple, drawing her in close when he felt her shiver. From the cold, he wasn't sure, but it still made him smile. "Didn't anyone tell you that it's cold outside?"
Hermione looked at him through her lashes. "My boyfriend is slacking, isn't he?"
"It would seem so," he answered, shaking his head. "Would you like me to have a talk with him?"
"I'm not sure how well he'd respond to it; he's awfully stubborn, but you're welcome to try."
Harry laughed lightly. "Come on," he said, stepping away from her. "The carriages are waiting." He started to walk away from her, but her gloved hand on his arm stopped him and he turned to look at her. "Pretty girl?"
"Can we just wait a moment?" she asked quietly. "I'm just, well - I - " she stopped and let out a breath. "I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by everything."
Harry stepped back towards her. "Okay," he said gently, refraining from touching her. "We'll wait a while."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he assured her. "I mean, I wouldn't really know, but it definitely can't be easy being Harry Potter's girlfriend? I heard that he's quite the git."
Hermione giggled, allowing his attempt to distract her to work. "Don't believe everything you hear," she said; "he's not as bad as you think."
"I still think he's a prick."
"Hey," she reprimanded gently. "That's my boyfriend you're talking about!"
Harry smiled innocently.
"And I love him."
At the sound of that, Harry's chest filled with warmth. That was all that would ever matter. The rest of the world could think whatever they wanted but, as long as they both knew where the other stood; they would be okay. Because that's what the other did: they made everything okay.
They always did.
"He's a lucky guy," Harry whispered.
"I've been trying to tell him."
Harry shifted her beanie lovingly. "He knows, Hermione," he said seriously, before he leaned in to kiss her. "Trust me, he knows."
AN: This story was always planned for just Christmas, so it ends here, with an Epilogue to come. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 12: Epilogue
Epilogue
She was trying too hard.
Hermione Granger knew the truth of it, but she couldn't help it. She just couldn't bring herself to accept that there was a spell that she couldn't do, but her lack of performance with the Patronus Charm was really starting to get her down. Not as much as the aftermath of the revelation of her relationship with Harry did, but it was still up there.
Of course, Harry noticed.
When wouldn't he?
He was so clued into her that they were usually able to answer for each other even in normal conversation. So, even as he moved around the room helping several of the other DA members with the same spell, he kept one eye on her. She was working closely with Ginny and Luna, who were also struggling, though Luna was almost there.
When Harry had spoken to Luna a few lessons back, she'd confessed to using a memory of her mother to fuel her Patronus, which had made him feel comfortable enough to tell her that he'd started that way as well. It was his blush afterwards that told her all she needed to know: his memory had changed, to include a certain brown-haired witch.
Harry did the rounds another two times - spending as little time with Cho as possible - before he moved to join his three favourite girls. They all offered him smiles, though Hermione's was considerably more enthusiastic than both Luna and Ginny's combined.
It always filled him with warmth whenever she showed him that she was happy to see him; to be near him; just to spend time with him. The start of their school term had been stressful, to say the least, but things eventually settled down when people realised that their relationship was made of strong stuff.
The strongest.
Goodness knew that they'd been tested, but the Wizarding World now knew the truth of it and couldn't question it. The fact that they asked so much of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds should have raised eyebrows, but Wizarding Britain had a field day with the liar and his Muggleborn girlfriend.
It merely solidified Harry's opinion that the world truly was cruel.
But then he had Hermione; and the great big world ceased to bother him anymore.
"Professor Potter," Ginny said teasingly, getting Harry's attention. "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to - "
"Oh, shut it, Gin," Harry cut her off, laughing. "Do you want my help or not?"
Ginny huffed. "By all means, show us the magic."
Harry rolled his eyes, and Hermione let out a small giggle. He'd only started to do the eye-roll quite recently and Hermione hadn't waited a single day to write home to her parents and tell them all about it. Her father really got a kick out of that piece of news.
Harry spent the next ten minutes working with both Luna and Ginny, while Hermione drifted a little away to work on her own. They were both truly attentive, diligent students and, if what he taught them was able to protect them in the future; he didn't regret the DA one bit.
Once Harry set them to work on their own again, he drifted away as well, only one destination in mind.
Harry moved to stand behind Hermione, much closer than he usually did when they were in public - even though they considered the DA a safe space. He slowly slipped his arms around her waist and hugged her close to him, making the great big world immediately fell away. The same way that one touch from her could rid his body of anger; a touch from him lowered her anxiety.
Nobody seemed to notice them and, if they did, Harry and Hermione didn't seem to care.
Hermione sighed when his chin moved to rest on her left shoulder.
"You're too tense," he said quietly, his breath tickling the skin of her neck. "It definitely won't happen if you keep trying to force it."
Hermione knew it all already. It was part of the problem, wasn't it? She was so frustrated because she knew, and yet she still didn't know how to fix it. She absolutely hated not knowing things, and this especially was grating on her nerves.
"Tell me what you're thinking about right now," Harry said gently, his hold on her tightening slightly.
"The memory I'm using?"
"No, just what you're thinking about," he clarified.
She sighed, dropping her wand arm and relaxing into him. "I'm thinking that I want to call it a day," she said tiredly; "but then I'll just feel guilty about it."
Harry nuzzled her neck with his nose, before he unashamedly breathed her in. "How can I help?"
"You're doing it."
"I could be doing a few other things," he whispered, making her shiver. "You know how much I love helping."
She huffed. "You're too distracting for your own good."
"Hey, I want you to nail this Charm almost as much as you do," he said seriously. "My watch is looking a little bare."
At the sound of that, Hermione pocketed her wand and took hold of his left hand so that they could both study his watch. "I don't know why you don't just switch it to display your own Patronus," she said, touching on a topic they'd discussed many times before.
"I'm waiting for yours," he said easily, as if it was the simplest reason there could possibly be. "So it shall remain blank until we learn your form."
She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed its back. "I think I'm going to go back to Gryffindor Tower," she said. "Will you be all right seeing out the rest of the lesson?"
"I think Ron and I can handle it," he said. "Though, I'll probably have to keep an eye on him; he's been telling people all sorts of things about his supposed memory."
"Quidditch Captaincy and possible Head Boy?"
Harry let out an amused breath that tickled her neck. "He's awfully excitable sometimes."
"Ginny's started referring to him as our special child," she said, laughing lightly.
"Oh no, our kids would definitely be better behaved, he said easily, making her flush instantly. "And Spencer, our oldest, will probably - "
Hermione's sudden pinch to his hand stopped him from getting any further.
"Ouch! Hermione!" he hissed in pain. "What was that for?"
"We are not naming our kid Spencer," she said seriously, even though they both knew that he was joking.
"And why not?" he asked, rubbing the back of his hand to exaggerate his injury.
"He'd get way too much satisfaction out of it," she said, fighting a giggle. "And we definitely can't have that."
Harry squeezed her once before he resettled against her, his chin coming to rest on her shoulder once more. He needed her to relax, but even he knew that there was no way of that happening in this room. Not with everyone around them, and definitely not when she was placing this misplaced burden on herself, as if the world was going to end if she didn't master this spell right now.
Harry wondered what was really bothering her, because he was sure it didn't have much to do with their watches. It was something else; something she wasn't telling him.
Hermione eventually sighed, all amusement leaving her. "I think I'm going to head back to the Tower," she told him. "I've got some work to finish up, and I'm not really feeling very, well, inspired."
Harry wasn't sure what to say to her, so he just kissed her cheek before releasing her.
Hermione turned around so she could see his face. "Are you sureyou're going to be all right?"
Harry glanced Ron's way, to spy the redhead surrounded by several other DA members. Harry just knew that, even in that moment, Ron was sprouting tales about his own memory that he used for his Patronus. As yet, majority of the students were casting incorporeal shield Patronuses, which didn't yet have forms. There was the odd one or two of them who were able to cast corporeal ones.
Harry remained the only student with the ability to cast a fully intangible Patronus, which was powerful magic of the truly advanced kind.
"I'm sure we'll manage," Harry eventually said, giving her the out that she needed while still reassuring her. "I mean, how much damage could little old me and Ron possibly do?"
"I think the Whomping Willow would have a few things to say," she said, smiling at him.
"That thing almost killed us!" he exclaimed. "Stupid, bloody tree."
Hermione lifted her right hand to touch his cheek. "I'll see you later, okay?"
He placed a hand over hers and leaned into her touch. "You sure you're going to be okay?"
She nodded, and then she was walking away.
Harry watched her go until she was out of the room, his own anxiety already kicking in. It was a problem, he knew, but he couldn't help it. They'd reasoned that it would be too dangerous for Hermione to go anywhere by herself while the school got used to the idea of them, and now, months later, he still couldn't get rid of the panic he felt whenever he knew she was alone.
The sound of a commotion drew his attention to his right where Angelina Johnson had successfully produced her first corporeal Patronus. The teacher in Harry was extremely proud - and was able to show it - but the boyfriend felt a little slighted. Hermione was already struggling with her own supposed incompetency, and this definitely wasn't going to help.
Harry dismissed the group several minutes later, and he didn't stick around as the students lingered, chatting about their successes and failures with the DA's newest Charm. It would be the last Spell he would teach, they'd decided, what with their exams coming up, as well as an increasingly pompous Inquisitorial Squad, spearheaded by the pink toad.
Harry found Hermione in the Common Room, poring over one of her Ancient Runes books. He'd noticed that she was spending a lot of time on that particular subject lately, but he was too afraid to ask. His girlfriend's brain was a little terrifying.
Like earlier, he moved to stand behind where she was sitting at the Trio's table, placed his hands on her shoulders and dropped a kiss onto the top of her head.
Hermione made a sound of content and leaned back into him. "Were there any accidents?" she asked quietly.
"If you count Ron almost peeing himself after Ginny sent a Bat Bogey Hex at his feet, then yes," he said, laughing lightly.
She absently touched his left hand on her shoulder. "Have you finished your Charms essay?"
"I have, actually," he informed her rather proudly. "I just have to do a read through and then I was going to ask you to take a look at it."
"Hand it over then."
Harry dropped another quick kiss onto her head, and then he was rushing up to his dormitory to fetch his books. The room was still empty, mainly because Ron and the rest of the boys stayed behind in the Room of Requirement to, essentially, muck about. He decided that he definitely wouldn't tell Hermione that. She was on a bit of a rampage when it came to their study schedules with their exams quickly approaching.
Hermione barely raised her eyebrows when Harry returned and sat down on her left side. He made quick work of getting out his books, parchment, quill and ink. As soon as he pressed his quill down to make his first edit to his own essay, Hermione took his quill from him and replaced it with one of her own.
Harry heaved a sigh good-naturedly. "You have to stop doing that."
She smiled innocently. "I like yours better."
"Then you should just keep it."
"But then it would be mine, and it's just not the same," she explained, as if it were just supposed to make sense to him.
Harry just shook his head. This was just something that he wouldn't ever understand about his girlfriend and that was okay with him. It just meant that there would always be new things for him to learn about her.
He nudged her slightly to make sure she was looking at him. "I didn't ask about Ben's letter earlier," he said, referring to the mail she'd received that very morning. "How is he doing?"
"Oh," she sounded, allowing the momentary distraction. "They've just arrived in Milan. He said that Poppy's going down to visit in a few days, and watch the first show at the San Siro. Of course, he sends his love."
Harry glanced at her. "I'm sure those aren't the words that he used."
"I'll get the letter for you to read later," she told him, shrugging slightly.
Harry was about to respond when the Fat Lady's portrait swung open and a group of students tumbled in. He spotted the Weasley twins and the girls from the Quidditch team talking excitedly among themselves.
"Oi, Hermione," Fred Weasley said, getting the witch's attention; "you missed it."
"Missed what?"
"Angie's Patronus. It was amazing!"
Harry reasoned that Hermione was a far better actress than he first thought. Though, he had to hand it to her, because she'd managed to hide her true feelings from him for goodness only knew how long. But he'd learned to read her lately, and he now knew so much.
She started to worry her lip once she'd conveyed the necessary excitement and congratulated Angelina enthusiastically. Truthfully, it was entirely distracting as he watched her in his periphery. He had half a mind to kiss her right there and then.
"Stop that," he said in a low voice, narrowing his eyes. "It's just a spell, Hermione."
She huffed. "I just don't understand why I can't get it," she said, allowing her frustration to get the better of her. "I know I'm doing it right. I've practiced the wand movement, and I know I'm saying the incantation right. Why isn't it working?"
Harry sighed. "Maybe that's the problem," he finally said.
"What?"
"I think I might know what's wrong," he began, starting off cautiously. "But you have to promise not to hurt me if you don't like what I'm about to say. You can be awfully scary sometimes, and I'm terrified of you."
Hermione frowned, as she shifted in her seat to give him her full attention. "Harry?"
"Promise," he demanded.
She sighed dramatically "Fine, I promise."
Harry looked her in the eye. "Based on our readings, we know that the Patronus Charm is, umm, esoteric magic, right?"
She nodded, internally pleased that he remembered the term. Though, she had to be the first to acknowledge that Harry's performance in the classroom had improved substantially, given that Hermione Granger was up to offering him greater incentives than just an Outstanding.
"Which essentially means that the Patronus Charm is an emotional, somewhat passionate spell, right? So it isn't something that can be mastered out of a book, Hermione. You approach most academic things like this intellectually, logically, and not emotionally. This is where I think the problem is."
Hermione just stared at him, processing his words as best she could without feeling like her boyfriend just told her that she was an emotionless robot.
"My guess is that you're looking at the Charm as you would any other, but this isn't a Charm that does something, so you can't think of it like that. It requires that you think of your happiest memory for a reason, because it's more of an expression, isn't it? The Patronus is an expression of your happiness, your joy and your love."
Hermione dropped her gaze, suddenly reading a little too much into his words. "Are you mad at me?"
Harry sputtered. "What? Why on earth would you think that?"
She looked at him through her lashes. "Well, if the Patronus is an expression of my feelings, then surely I'm not feeling very much... For you."
Harry's eyes bulged. "What? No! Hermione, that is so not what I'm saying, and I know you know that," he hurried, needing her to know. "I'm not hurt or angry or anything, okay? The Patronus Charm is some of the most difficult magic known to the Wizarding World. I also had trouble with it in the beginning."
She couldn't even bring herself to look at him.
"And, if anything, I think that the main problem is that you have too many happy memories right now," he said, his tone lighter, somewhat airy. "I mean, you're with me, so it must be difficult for you to pick a specific one to use, right?"
Despite her whirlwind of thoughts, Hermione smiled at him. "This ego of yours is totally out of control."
"You chose me, Hermione; what did you expect?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "I love you, you know that?"
"I love you too," he said easily. They were words he said every single day, so of course they were easy.
"Good," she said sweetly; "now get to work."
Harry dipped his - her - quill into his ink and proceeded to continue editing his Charms essay. He glanced at her a few times, watching as she continually worried her bottom lip. He could tell that she was thinking about something different now, and he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing. He would have to talk to her about it when they were alone next, which, thankfully, arrived later that night.
Hermione was squeezed in between Harry and the back of the couch opposite the fireplace, as the two of them lay together in the Gryffindor Common Room well after curfew. Everyone else had gone to bed and, as far as their roommates were concerned; both Harry and Hermione were safely tucked away as well.
"Tell me something good," Hermione said, resting her head on his chest.
"Something good... hmm, let's see," he said thoughtfully. "Specifically about the Patronus Charm?"
"If you want to."
He took a breath, trying to decide what about his life could be considered good. "Well, as you know, for a long time, my memory associated with the Charm, though not entirely happy, was about my parents," he explained. "Just the thought of them; the hope of them... it was my happiest memory. How sad is that?"
"It's not sad," she assured him, though she was struggling to figure out how this could be 'something good.'
"It's all right, Hermione," he said softly, absently placing a kiss on the top of her head. "What I'm trying to tell you is that, when I produce my Patronus these days; I don't think of my parents."
"Oh?"
"I think of you."
Hermione's breath caught.
"I think of the first time we went to the Room of Requirement when we got back after our Break." He laughed when she gave him an accosted look. "Not because of what we did - which was amazing, by the way - but because of what it meant."
Hermione thought back to the first time they'd disappeared into the Room of Requirement on their own. The first week back had been trying, to say the least, and the two of them had needed some respite; some form of peace. It took the rest of the school butting into their business to get Ron to start defending them, until he finally accepted that his two best friends were in love and nothing was going to change that.
Not even Professor Umbridge, who'd turned her nose up at the news. What kind of Professor even commented on the romantic lives of her students anyway? Even Professor McGonagall hadn't said anything, though she did look mightily smug about something.
So they'd gone to recuperate, and remind themselves that they were in it, together. They'd talked for hours, and kissed for longer. Truly, it was one of Harry's favourite days, second only to the entire Christmas Break he'd spent with Hermione and her parents.
"What did it mean, Harry?" she asked softly, breaking into the faraway look in his eyes.
"It suddenly wasn't just about the future that's expected of me, or the past that's haunted me. It was about the present; my present, with you." Harry kissed the top of her head again, enjoying the action a little too much. "I was surprised by it, and then not surprised at the same time," he said. "Does that make sense?"
"Normally, no," she said, laughing lightly. "But I know you, and I understand you."
"I love you, Hermione," he said seriously. Then he chuckled. "Is that 'something good' enough for you?"
She took a breath, and sat up slightly so she could look at his face. "You know, during that truly embarrassing talk we had just before we left; my mum warned me about you," she let him know.
"What about me?" he asked innocently.
She breathed out, tickling his skin. "You're so all-consuming."
Harry grinned at her. "Can't think about anything but me, huh?"
"It's definitely a problem," she confessed. "This is my O.W.L. year, Mr Potter, and all I ever really want to do is spend my time with only you."
Hermione reached up to kiss him, her fingers trailing along the hem of his t-shirt, up his chest, shoulders and neck, before finally finding their way into his hair. She eventually rolled onto him, both their legs and tongues tangling in the heat of their kiss.
Harry's own hands snuck under her top, his fingers caressing the skin of her back as he clutched her closer to him. "Maybe you need a new memory," he murmured against her lips. "Something I can help you with."
She giggled, temporarily forgetting what they were even talking about. Then she remembered, and she lifted her head to look into his perfect green eyes. Eyes that owned her. "Thank you."
"For what?"
Hermione didn't respond. She rather just kissed him, taking a page out of Harry's book, and used her actions instead of her words. Really, she wanted to thank him for being so honest with her, and encouraging of her, and making sure that she knew he believed in her.
Because the breakthrough, thankfully, happened a few days later.
She practically tackled him to the ground.
Hermione Granger caught the raven-haired wizard completely unawares when she threw herself at him and they both fell onto the couch in the Gryffindor Common Room. She was grinning madly and, despite the fact that he hadn't managed to look at her face before he was attacked; Harry just knew what had happened.
"Well, hello to you too," Harry said through his own laughter, just managing to ignore the fact that they weren't actually alone in the room.
Hermione lifted her head to look at him, her own face completely red from her own excitement and embarrassment. "I finally did it," she said unnecessarily. "I know what it is." She suddenly sat up, pulling him up as well so that she was sitting on his right side.
Harry presented her with his left arm, where his watch was hidden by the sleeve of his school shirt. For a moment, they both went still, each of them staring at his sleeve.
"It's not a doe," she suddenly said, needing him to know.
Harry looked at her. "Okay, Hermione."
She took a deep breath before she moved his sleeve out of the way so they could look at the face together. Only, it was still blank. "Well, that was a bit anticlimactic," she said.
Harry frowned. "That's odd," he agreed. "Did you check yourwatch?"
"My watch is switched to your Patronus," she reminded him, looking thoughtful for a moment, before she took his watch off his wrist and studied it closely. "Do you think it's malfunctioning?"
Harry shook his head. "Can magic malfunction?"
"It can definitely go awry if the Runes aren't scribed properly," she said, dropping into her academic tone of voice. "But I know for a fact that it works because when you press the switch; it displays your Patronus." As she said it, she switched the watch's face and Harry's Stag came into view.
Even after seeing it so many times in person and on her own watch, it still amazed her. Hermione pressed the switch again, expecting another blank face but that was not what she received. The Stag transformed into an entirely different animal.
"Oh."
Harry blinked. "Is that...?"
Hermione blushed. "It is."
"You did it, Hermione," he said happily, a smile breaking out on his face. "Although, I'm not entirely sure what that animal is exactly."
She couldn't help her laugh. "It's an otter, Harry."
"An otter, you say?" he asked, smirking slightly. "For the future Mrs Potter."
Hermione just shook her head, though she did blush. "You are so weird."
He immediately kissed her cheek. "I'm so proud of you," he said seriously. Then, switching topics quite suddenly, he asked: "Do you want to go for a walk?"
She stiffened. "Didn't it rain earlier?"
He pretended as if he didn't hear her. As much as she hated the wet and the cold; she usually couldn't say no whenever he brought out his perfect eyes and cute face, and asked her to take a walk with him. "Go and get ready," he said simply. "Meet me back here in five minutes."
Hermione just rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she stood up and started towards her dormitory. "Sunshine kid just takes advantage of the fact that I love him."
Harry couldn't help his grin as he watched her disappear up the stairs. Once she was out of sight, Harry looked at his watch again. The face was no longer blank. He'd told her that it would remain that way until they learned of her form, and he honestly couldn't be more proud of her.
An otter.
Who would have guessed?
"I'm ready."
Harry looked up to spy Hermione Granger dressed unnecessarily warmly, in her raincoat, beanie, scarf and gloves. He even chuckled at the sight of her. "Did you run or something? I said five minutes," he said, sounding amused. "I haven't even fetched my own coat."
"Hurry up."
Harry couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he stood up and went to retrieve his own coat. She was probably in such a rush because she wanted to get him alone somewhere and use those magic hands on him. He really did know her a little too well.
As soon as he returned to the Common Room, Hermione led the way out and away from the Tower. They walked hand-in-hand, in mutual silence as they made their way towards the Entrance Hall of the Castle.
Harry brought them to a stop just as they approached the open doors. He hadn't been out to visit his large rock at the Black Lake in quite some time and, truly, he had Hermione to thank for that. He had her parents to thank for that as well. They made him feel like he was a part of the family. They cared about him, and Harry no longer felt like he had nobody.
As long as he had her.
"Why, why, why is it so damn cold?" she said, huffing in annoyance. "It isn't even winter anymore."
Harry laughed lightly. "It's Scotland, Hermione; when isn't it winter?"
Hermione shivered.
"Jeez, Hermione, didn't anyone tell you that it's cold outside?"
She grinned at him, sighing softly when he tightened the scarf around her neck and then kissed her forehead. "What would I do without you?"
"Possibly freeze to death," he said, laughing lightly. "Or stay completely warm inside. It's a toss-up, really."
"I must really love you or something."
Harry closed his eyes for a moment, his heart swelling with unbridled emotion. "We're going to be okay," he said softly. "We always will."
Hermione reached up to kiss him quickly, and then she turned and started through the front doors. She was forced to stop when Harry grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back. "What's wrong?" she asked, looking back at him curiously.
"Nothing," he said quickly. "Just, well, you know, I - " he hesitated.
"What is it, Harry?"
He tugged on her hand until the front of her body was touching him, practically pressed against his chest. "I thought, you know, that I should tell you that it's cold outside before you head out with your boyfriend, who seems determined to make sure that you freeze to death," he said, touching her hair and making her shiver once more, though not from the cold this time.
She blinked, before her face broke out into a grin. "Oh."
Harry met her gaze and dropped a kiss to the corner of her perfect mouth. "Pretty girl," he said seriously; "it's cold outside."
Finished