Now and Forever
Chapter 1: Secrets Within
Diclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. The characters are J.K. Rowlings. The only thing I do own is the plot.
Harry's feelings for Hermione have grown stronger for her ever since defeating Voldermort. When it seems he's mustered up the courage to do something about it, Hermione is sent off on business longer than expected. What will happen when she returns and he has to face her again?
A/N: Hey everyone! Here's part of my newest story I just started. I'll have another chapter up soon. If you have any ideas for the story I'm open to anything so PM me please. Enjoy what I have so far and reviews are welcome.
Those hazel eyes. That was the first thing he had noticed about her; that and her messy brown hair. Did he happen to mention how clever she was? Every time he saw her, his heart sped up and he felt lightheaded. He knew she felt the same way too. If only either of them had the guts to do anything about it...
"Harry, are you up here?" Ron asked running up the stairs.
"I'm in our room!" he answered. He was living in the Burrow with Ron, the Twins, Ginny, Hermione and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Whoa, what's up with you?" he asked Ron sitting up.
"Harry, I did something really stupid," Ron told him.
"Oh no, don't tell me you forgot to wear your pants to work again?"
"No, that's not it. I made this bet with Fred and George..."
"That sentence alone says it all."
"Hey! Anyway, I ran into Cho while we were in town, and I asked her out."
"Well what's wrong with that?"
"Harry, me and girls are like pumpkin juice and gummy worms. We don't go together well."
Ron had always been quite scared of girls in a way. Whenever he tried to ask one out, it usually resulted in him running away rather than the girl.
"It'll be fine, Ron. I think Cho's a good match for you." He could hear the door open and close downstairs, and he realized Hermione must've come back from her job interview at the Ministry of Magic. They went downstairs to greet her. "Hey Hermione, how'd the interview go?" he asked her.
"I think it went great! They'll owl me back saying if I got it or not."
"I hope you did, you deserve it," he told her firmly. "
Thank you, Harry. If you don't mind, I wanna change before dinner is served," she replied as she walked up the stairs. He had his eyes on her the entire time. Moments later, they were all called in for dinner. It was bowtie pasta with a Greek salad and rolls. Lately, his feelings for Hermione had grown stronger. He didn't know why, nor did he care why. He just wanted her.
"Harry...Harry are you listening to me?" Ron asked waving a hand in front of his face.
"Yeah, I'm listening to you. What did you say again?"
"Could you pass the rolls?"
"Er- yeah, here ya go," he replied handing them to him. As dinner cleared out, Ron pulled him out onto the porch.
"Just do it already mate," he told him.
"Do what?"
"Ask her out. I won't care. Obviously you 2 have a little 'something' going on."
"Is it that obvious?"
"You haven't taken your eyes off her for months! Tonight I thought you were gonna leap across that table, grab her, and just start snogging her!"
"Alright, alright, I'll do it already. I'm waiting for the right moment though." Ron gave him a look, but he ignored it and went back inside.
The next morning the early sun woke him. Unable to fall back asleep, he decided to go and sit on the porch. As he opened the door he found Hermione already there staring out into the front yard.
"Hey, what brings you up this early?" he asked taking a seat next to her.
"I couldn't sleep. Too much...thinking going on."
"If it's about the job, don't worry about it. You're friends with me and that'll help. Besides, no one's as clever as you." She blushed and smiled.
"Well the job isn't everything," she said afterwards.
"You can tell me anything you know." He put his arm around her shoulder. Maybe this was the moment.
"I know that. I'm just not sure if you'll understand com...pletly." She had almost stopped on the last word. He loved how Hermione's eyes seemed to glisten in the pink sun rise. They both leaned in and he could taste her warm vanilla scent...
"Morning you two! We were wondering where you were," Ginny exclaimed as she opened the door. So much for the moment. "Hermione, a letter just came for from the Ministry!" Ginny continued.
"Oh my gosh so soon?" Hermione threw herself up and started to run towards the door. As she ran through the door she cast back a glance that seemed to say 'sorry'. He didn't even bother to try and follow her as Ron came out.
"So, did you ask her?" he asked leaning up against a post.
"I almost did. We were gonna kiss! Then Ginny opened the door." He could hear Hermione scream excitedly in the kitchen, and Ron and he decided to go see the fuss.
"Harry, Ron, I got the job!" she screamed as she flung her arms around the both of them.
"Congratulations," he said hugging her back. If only he could get her to really know what he meant..."I'm sorry, but they want me to start immediately! I'll see you all later!" Hermione dashed up the stairs to change and then apparate to the Ministry.
Hermione was hardly at the Burrow over the next couple weeks. She was really trying to get into her new job as an auror. He had become an auror as soon as he left Hogwarts to fight off Voldermort. Now that was done with, he spent less time at work. After all, half of his life had been a bunch of work in the first place. As he lay on the couch, Ron walked through the door back from his date with Cho.
"Hey Ron, how'd dinner go?" he asked propping himself up.
"It went really well surprisingly!" Ron replied sitting in the arm chair. "We both had this sesame chicken and rice, along with cheesecake for dessert. Man, that girl can eat! Anyway, I could talk to her so...easily."
"Usually it takes a lot of courage for you, Ron."
"I know! We stayed talking until the manager told us to leave. We have more in common than I thought." He knew that Ron meant this too; due to the fact he was smiling from ear to ear. "I think I'm gonna go up and sleep. We have another date tomorrow," Ron added on. He stayed on the couch waiting for Hermione to come. He wanted to talk to her. And not the other kind of 'talk' either. Around 11PM she ran in the door throwing her coat on the rack.
"Hey, Harry! How're you?" she asked pulling off her boots.
"I can't complain, you?" Of course he had complaints! He couldn't tell her that though.
"I'm great! This job is great! I'm so glad you recommended me for it, it really helped. They don't treat me like I'm new at all!"
"That really is great. Oh, Ron had his date with Cho tonight."
"How'd it go?"
"It went really well. They're going out again tomorrow too."
"Wow, who would've thought Cho and Ron?"
Chuckling he replied with, "Certainly not me." The 2 of them stayed talking about little things until Hermione realized she had to be at work early.
"I'm so sorry Harry; it feels like I've been deserting you a lot, but I need to get rest. I'm taking the morning shift and doing double for Tonks."
"Hey, it's no problem. We'll talk more later," he tried to say smoothly. He totally fumbled around avoiding the conversation he wanted so desperately to have.
Over the next 5 days, Cho and Ron went out 3 more times; Ron returning after 11:30 every time. Things almost seemed too serious too fast. On Saturday he found himself waiting up for Hermione again. As she burst through the door this time, he was ready (So he thought).
"Harry, you're still up? Never mind that, I'm glad you are though!"
"Thanks, Hermione listen, I need to talk..."
"I have to talk to you too! Today I was offered to go to France for 4 months!" There went his turn to talk.
"France? For 4 months? Why?"
"To work and study there of course! The Ministry thought I'd be the perfect person to study new spell damage cures and their effects. Isn't that great?"
"Er...umm...yeah. Brilliant."
"I have to go find the others and tell them!" She said excitedly.
"Are you gonna go?" he asked rather sheepishly.
"Yes! It's too good of an opportunity not to! I'm sorry Harry, wasn't there something you wanted to talk to me about?" Hermione asked as she walked towards the stairs. He defiantly couldn't do this now. If he was going to tell her, he wanted it to be special.
"Er- It was nothing. Just go, go tell the others."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive." He tried to tell her this in a sturdy tone, but to him it sounded more depressing. She started up the stairs and turned back staring at him for a few more seconds before slowly climbing the rest of the way up.
A/N: It's not much so far, but it's only the first chapter. Reviews please!
