Here it is, the first chapter of my first Harry Potter fanfic. I hope you enjoy it and pleeeease give me some feedback to help me make this story good enough for you hungry readers. I apologise for any spelling errors or perhaps if I use some words incorrect, English is not my native language.

/Linda

Disclaimer: I own nothing (unfortunately).

Summary: An unexpected trip forces two friends to live together as a couple. Will their friendship survive, or is there something more waiting to be let out in the open? H/Hr.

Not without you

It was an ordinary Thursday morning that found one Hermione Granger in front of her mirror, trying the third hairstyle in as many minutes.

"Argh, why can't it just lie flat like on normal people? I hate having bushy hair!" she exclaimed to herself in exasperation. To Hermione this day was special; it was the day she would know if she got the auror job she had applied for. Having been on three interviews already she knew they liked her but it was only one free position and she couldn't be sure about anything until the papers were all signed.

"Oh well, this will have to do," she mumbled as she put her wand down, quickly got dressed and apparated to the Ministry of Magic. There she would meet the head auror and then her best friend, auror Harry Potter, so he could help her calm down after the final interview.

Harry Potter. The man who saved the wizarding world from Lord Voldemort, the greatest evil ever. Harry was just 18 when he took Voldemort down and had to get away for a couple of years because the fans drove him crazy. Now he was 27 and working as an auror at the Ministry of Magic. During the years abroad he never lost contact with Hermione, his best friend, and now that he had moved back to England for good and found a job that he liked, he put in a good word for her at the auror office. Not that Hermione needed that, everyone knew she had been right next to Harry when he duelled Voldemort and she had taken down several of the most dangerous Death Eaters ever, including Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Now Harry stood outside the office of head auror Nymphadora Tonks, biting his nails. 'What if Tonks doesn't approve? Hermione will be devastated...' he thought to himself as he waited for the door to open. Suddenly Hermione burst out of it, tears in her eyes. She looked at Harry and then flung her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry Hermione, please don't cry." He looked her in the eyes and dried her tears with his thumbs. All of a sudden Hermione started giggling, but it soon increased to a full fledged laugh, which made Harry a little worried and very puzzled.

"Care to explain? I don't think I completely understand your trail of thoughts," he told her. She then did something he never thought even possible, she kissed him. It didn't last for long and it was more like a peck on the lips but, none the less, it was a kiss. She held up her arms and started twirling.

"I made it Harry, I got the job!" Harry could barely comprehend what she was saying, his mind still occupied with processing the kiss. When he realised he was being silly he got out of his reverie and hugged her tightly, a part of him hoping that she might kiss him again.

"I'm so happy for you 'Mione, no one deserves this as much as you do."

The night was dark when the two friends made their way from the local wizard pub, the Jumping Frog, both filled with Butterbeer and Firewhiskey. Hermione stumbled awkwardly, not used to having much to drink, making Harry almost carry her the final steps to his apartment.

"Hey babe, where home," he said while nudging Hermione carefully.

"Harry, this is not my home," she stated while steadying herself with a good grip around Harrys' arm.

"I know but I thought you could sleep at my place so I can keep an eye on you. You know I worry terribly about you." She looked into his eyes and smiled.

"I know. Alright." She straightened up as he opened the door and Harry caught the mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Beat you to the bed then Harry," she said and started running before he could register what he had heard. He grinned and darted after her towards his bedroom. Hermione felt his arms around her waist just as she reached his room. Harry had too much speed though, and they fell together onto his soft bed. Laying there with his best friend, laughing until their muscles cramped, made Harry feel carefree and content with the way life was going. He looked over to Hermione and suddenly felt his stomach tighten. What if she found the man of her dreams and started having a family? Then he would loose her forever. Sure, they would meet from time to time, but would never be as close as now. Harry felt a sudden need to do something and since the only things he kept focusing on were her lips, he slowly lifted his hand and gently touched her soft skin with his fingers. Hermione froze and then turned to look at him, her cheeks a little flushed and her eyes soft.

"Harry?" She could se tears starting to form in his eyes and was instantly worried that she had done something wrong.

"I... You know... Oh Hermione, please never leave me."

"Leave you? Why would I do that?" Now Hermione was truly puzzled.

"When you find a guy and start having babies, promise me that you will never forget me." Harrys' tears started falling and Hermione smiled at him.

"I promise I will never leave you Harry, I need you too much. Besides, who's going to look after you if I'm not there by your side?" He chuckled and put his arms around her to hold her close.

"Ah well, we'd better forget this by morning. I think I'm a little too inebriated to be taken seriously."

"Well, if it makes you feel better I think I'm too drunk as well." They giggled, Hermione still in Harrys' arms, still lying on the bed and still with their clothes on. Harrys' face grew serious again and he looked at Hermione.

"Oh 'Mione," he sighed. "I just have the urge to..."

"To what?" She looked at him expectantly, their voices reduced to whispers.

"Do this." He slowly and gently leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. Hermione closed her eyes and let her be absorbed by Harrys' lips. The kiss was soft and pleasant and when Harry lifted his head Hermione was asleep. He covered her with a blanket and then moved to sleep on the couch.

The morning came and Hermione awoke with a headache not from this world. Despite that, she had a smile on her face when she remembered her dream about having kissed Harry. 'Was it a dream? It certainly felt real,' she thought before she opened her eyes and realized she was in Harrys' bed, still fully clothed.

"Harry?" she called anxiously, her wand out in case something bad had happened to him. Footsteps could be heard in the hallway and soon Harrys' head could be seen on the doorway.

"Hey there, you're finally awake," he stated while grinning, like he always did.

"Oh good, I thought something had happened to you when I woke up and you weren't..." She stopped and thought about what she was going to say. 'You weren't lying here with me? Soo cheesy Hermione, why would he want to do that? He is a gentleman after all and he's like a brother to you, right? Right! Geez, just get it out of your system!'

"Are you alright Hermione? It's not like you to become quiet in the middle of a sentence," Harry asked, his voice edged with worry.

"I'm fine, just a little tired from yesterdays activities I guess." Both Harry and Hermione flushed at her words, knowing what they could be implying.

"I mean... Oh, never mind. Well, I was a little worried when you weren't in here this morning when I woke up but now I see that you're ok. What's for breakfast?" Harry sat down on the bed next to her and bumped his shoulder with hers.

"Do you ever speak slowly enough for people to actually understand what you're saying?" For that Harry got a pillow smacked on his head and he just made it to the door before Hermione could hex him to the moon and back.

"Breakfast will be ready in five minutes!" he yelled as he ran for protection to the kitchen, laughing loudly all the way.

Hermione quickly showered and joined Harry at the breakfast table, stealing his cup of coffee and the paper he was reading.

"Hey! I was enjoying that." Hermione shrugged and tried to hide her smile but Harry started tickling her, making it impossible for her not to laugh.

"Harry!"

"What?"

"Stop this instant."

"Can I think about it?"

"No! I'm terribly ticklish."

"That's what makes it so much fun." He grinned playfully and tickled her even more which resulted in Hermione falling off her chair, taking Harry down with her, and soon they were wrestling on the floor, breakfast totally forgotten. Hermione had the upper hand and managed to lock his arms over his head as she sat over his hips with her legs on each side of him.

"Haha, got'cha!" Harry could hardly breathe as she sat like that, looking as gorgeous as ever with her hair, still damp from her shower, falling down her shoulders. She twisted a little and accidentally touched his most sensitive area, making Harry hiss.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked, worry visible in her eyes.

"No, not at all. It's..." Harry blushed and when Hermione figured out what he was talking about she flushed beat red and went to sit by the table, mumbling that she was sorry.

"Let's, ehrm, talk about something else," Harry suggested and Hermione nodded, her eyes not leaving her plate.

"What are your plans for the weekend 'Mione?"

"I don't have any. I thought I could always spend some time with.." She looked up at him. "..you."

"Sure. Since it is hot as hell and the beginning of July I suggest we go to a nice beach somewhere. How does that sound?" She nodded in approval.

"Do you know of any good places Harry? I have a favourite beach by a cool lake in Finland that we could apparate to."

"Sounds good to me."

"Let me just get my bikini and I'll meet you in five minutes." She popped away before he even had the time to answer and started to put the dish in the dishwasher. A thought struck him suddenly. 'Have I ever seen Hermione in a bikini? Sure I have, but did it make me feel nervous like now? What's happening to me? I want to kiss her, I can't live without her... Maybe my stars are standing in a very sensitive position right now.' He had no more time to contemplate things as Hermione popped into his kitchen again, ready to go.

"Iiih, Harry the water is so cold!" Hermione shrieked as she dipped her foot in the lake. Harry was already in the water enjoying the coolness of the fluid surrounding his body.

"Just get in, otherwise I'll have to splash you," he called to her and then dived under the surface to hide.

"You wouldn't dare! Harry, I'm warning you. Harry?" Hermione looked around nervously, awaiting the inevitable. Suddenly the surface broke behind her and she was wet all over.

"Harry! I'll kill you!" she yelled and lunged for him, trying to get his head under water but Harry just held her to him, enjoying the feeling of her skin against his. Luckily the water really was rather cool...

TBC…