Disclaimer: The writing's mine, the characters aren't.

Reciprocation

So maybe this wasn't the right place or the right time but then again it never was. She couldn't wait forever for something to happen. It just wouldn't work out that way.

From what she gathered, she had to do the first step. It wasn't that bad, really. She was a Gryffindor after all. She was supposed to be brave and – oh well, she wasn't all that brave. What if she messed it up somehow? What if her interest wasn't reciprocated?

She sighed. Only one way to find out. With a mournful look towards her books – she just couldn't concentrate as long as this situation wasn't cleared up – she left the common room and headed towards the other tower that held dormitories.

As she passed the Arithmancy corridor on her way, she felt better about herself. Yes, she had actually calculated the possibilities (with the added help of a bit of Runes knowledge) of how this could go and if she hadn't made a mistake – she never made any mistakes, thank you very much! – there were several good outcomes and only a few bad ones. This wasn't so bad. She could do this.

She mustered up all the courage she could find within her and quickened her steps until she stood in front of the Ravenclaw common room. Really. This was way too easy to get into. A smart riddle? She could do this. No sooner said than done she was in. Good. Now to find – oh there she was!

"Padma?" She asked as she came closer to the girl in question. "Could we maybe speak somewhere, alone?"

"Hermione? What are you doing in here? Is this about the Runes homework? I thought we would meet up tomorrow with the study group."

"No, this isn't about Runes. I wanted to talk to you."

"Okay. Let's head outside the common room, then."

"Thank you."

Silently she followed Padma out of the room and then to the left and to the right and to the left again, through a door, to the right again and then straight forward until they arrived at a balcony. The view was rather spectacular and she couldn't help but admire it.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Hm? Oh, right," she mumbled, not once turning her gaze away from the beautiful countryside below her. "I was doing homework earlier or at least trying to but I just couldn't really concentrate because I was thinking about you. This has been going on for a while now, actually. The thinking about you, I mean. And I couldn't go on like this, so I came here. I just had to talk to you and–"

"Hermione?"

"Sorry. What I am trying to say is, I think I am in love with you." She turned around and looked right into Padma's eyes. Nothing. She couldn't detect anything in them. She knew this would go the wrong way! She just knew it.

"Well, that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm sorry. I should go now, I really didn't mean to–"

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Would you just stand still?"

And with that Padma leaned forward and gave one Hermione Granger her very first kiss.