Hello to all my lovely friends, readers, subscribers, etc. I've been so incredibly busy this summer what with college, moving into a new apartment, and a full time job. I get home and I pretty much fall into bed, I'm so tired. Because of this, I haven't been working on promised sequels or final chapters of my other fics, which is totally awful of me, but I've just had very little time for writing. When I DO have time, however, I find myself oddly Harry Potter obsessed and I can't help but write a billion little oneshots/novellas. So here's one of my plot bunnies. I killed it dead...like, with a stone. The first chapter's inspiration came from Mandisa's song Just Cry. I changed some of the lyrics so that it's less spritual but just as impactful. It will have one or two more chapters (prolly only one) and it's a Harry/Hermione fic. I HATED that she ended up with Ron. I kept waiting for J.K to be like "Just kidding, she's really in love with Harry!" -sigh- It was not to be. So I'm changing it. Enjoy.
I DO NOT own Harry Potter, the wizarding world, Mandisa, or the song Just Cry. Don't you dare sue me. I'm a Lawyer!
A cold wind blew through the clearing, its icy fingers attempting to ensnare any and all unprepared inhabitants of the area. Hermione shivered as she curled up on the tiny stairs that led to Ron's bed, feeling upset and angry and devastated all at once.
Across the tent, Harry sat looking at his best friend. She was in a wretched state after Ron left them in a murderous rage, accusing them of 'carrying on' behind his back. He almost snorted. As if Hermione would ever seek solace in his arms.
It wasn't that he didn't want her to.
It wasn't that he wouldn't if she asked.
He shook his head to dispel the longing coursing through his already aching heart at his friend's betrayal. No, he was right to keep his feelings to himself. He wouldn't dare cross a line that she had no desire to be crossed. But something needed to be done. His mind whispered.
Forget it . He told himself. She loves Ron, has always loved Ron. Will always love Ron…if he ever came back. She'd never choose you over him. You bring death to everyone you love. Why would she choose you?
She sat there, not crying, just staring at the entrance to the tent, as though willing Ron to return and say "Just joshing, mate!" She was listening to the radio; various Muggle songs and artists sang their jaunty tunes that were the complete opposite of how everyone was feeling right now. But something needed to be done.
Harry's scar had been in a white-hot blazing pain all evening in being in such close proximity to the Horcrux locket. It's dark magic stabbed him at random intervals and was giving him the most spectacular headache. But something needed to be done.
As he sat, wondering what he could do to ease her sorrow, a song he knew came onto the radio. He remembered it vaguely from right after Sirius had slipped into the veil. He had been so angry and distraught, not knowing how to vent his feelings until Hermione had come up behind him and put her arms around him.
She had sung the words of the powerful song until he had broken down, turning in her arms and clutching her to him like a drowning man would a rafter of wood. He had cried, for seemingly the first time in his life, though he was sure that wasn't the case. They weren't angry tears; they were tears of grief and release. She had simply held him, and it was then that he had realized how much she meant to him: how much he loved her.
He had kept silent since then, never letting her come too close for fear that he would do something to make her uncomfortable or angry and lose her friendship.
His façade had been slipping as of late.
With the hunt for the shattered pieces of Voldemort's soul came a desperation to be near those closest to him for as long as he could. He had no illusions here…it was kill or be killed. But Ron had noticed, and had left them for it.
But something needed to be done.
The woman who wrote the song was a witch, who lived amongst the muggle population to further her career, as Hermione told him after he had stopped sobbing into her shoulder.
"This is for all you young ones who are in these hard times. Sometimes, it's good to simply let it out, and Just Cry," came a voice from the radio, her lilting tones giving condolence and an offer of comfort through her song as she began.
Why you gotta act so strong
Go ahead and take off your brave face
Why you tellin' me that nothing's wrong
It's obvious you're not in a good place
Who's tellin' you to keep it all inside
And never let those feelings
Get past the corner of your eye
Feeling moved by the words into action, Harry moved forward hesitantly, his eyes trained on his beloved friend. Would she accept his offer of comfort? She sat staring at the radio, her eyes welling up, but not spilling over.
You don't need to run
You don't need to speak
Baby take some time
Let those prayers roll down your cheek
It may be tomorrow
You'll be past the sorrow
But tonight it's alright
Just cry
She put her head on her knees and a silent sob wracked her body. Letting go of all hesitance, Harry moved forward and sat beside her, enveloping her in his arms and holding as close as he dared.
She choked on another sob, trying to reign in her emotions, but he whispered, "No, 'Mione, let it go. I'm here."
I know you know your hopeful songs
A dozen verses by memory
Yeah, they're good but life is hard
And days get long
You gotta know I can handle your honesty
So feel the things you're feeling
All the fear and doubt
Yes, there was a lot of that going around at the moment…the fear, the doubt.
And a sadness, loneliness and anger
It was overwhelming sometimes, those feelings, but they both had kept up a brave face, trying to stay strong when weakness wasn't an option.
Harry sang along to the song softly in her ear, his voice nowhere near the beauty of the woman, but still soothing, still comforting as he held her.
Let it out, let it out
You don't need to run
You don't need to speak
Baby take some time
Let those prayers roll down your cheek
It may be tomorrow
You'll be past the sorrow
But tonight it's alright
She cried on his shoulder, weeping for the loss of her friend, for the feelings for Harry that were what had driven Ron away, for the perils they would face. She cried, and for the first time, they were healing tears.
Just cry
Just cry
She did just that, turning to bury her face into Harry's soft flannel shirt. He stroked her hair, making her feel safe and loved, even if he was only feeling a platonic love for his friend.
It doesn't mean you're not trusting
It doesn't mean you don't believe
It doesn't mean you don't know
That everything will be redeemed
Hermione believed to the core of her being that Harry would succeed, that Voldemort would be defeated, that indeed…everything would be alright.
But the outcome of this war could still be far off, and she did not know if she would survive to tell her friend how much she loved him.
You don't need to run
You don't need to speak
Baby take some time
Let those prayers roll down your cheek
It maybe tomorrow
You'll be past the sorrow
But tonight it's alright
But tonight it's alright
She hoped, she prayed that Harry would continue to be there for her, unlike Ron, who had abandoned them in this dark hour. She could feel her anger at him ebbing away, knowing he had only spoken the truth, though not to the extent he had accused them of.
Just cry
Why you gotta act so strong
Go ahead and take off your brave face
As the song slowly faded away, she reached out and turned it off, leaning into Harry for a moment more as the tears began to subside. Drawing back, she smiled a watery smile at him and wiped her tears on the back of her sleeve.
"I'm sor—" she began, but he cut her off.
"No, 'Mione, don't be sorry. Never be sorry for what you feel. Dumbledore told me, 'Not all tears are an evil.'"
She smiled again; it definitely sounded like something the Headmaster would say. And she had to admit she agreed…
Suddenly, she realized how close they were. Harry and her. They were bare inches apart, eyes locked on each other, and looking for something.
Hermione didn't know what he was looking for, but she was seeking acceptance—permission to do what she had longed for since she realized it wasn't Ron she was in love with. Since the day she had held him and sang that very song. How could she have forgotten? He tilted his head towards her slowly, and she realized with a start that he was looking for the exact same thing.
It took only a moment's hesitance for her to meet him halfway and press her lips to his in a brief, chaste kiss. His smell was intoxicating, and it sent a wave of desire through her.
He pulled back first, and for a moment she thought she had misread the situation. But he looked at her with love, reaching up to brush an errant curl away from her face.
"Hermione," he whispered, bringing his lips back to hers. Once, twice, a third time, they brushed, questioning their welcome.
Finally, he could take it no more, and he crushed his lips to hers in a dizzying rush of longing that wouldn't be quenched. He wanted her, longed for her, needed her, and she was kissing back.
Oh Merlin, she's kissing back! His giddy mind repeated over and over. She's kissing me back!
He gripped a handful of her hair, angling her mouth to lock with his and he lightly traced her bottom lip with his tongue. At his soft probing, she opened her mouth eagerly to glide her tongue along his. They dueled passionately for a moment before the need for air became too strong.
Harry refused to be parted, and as he gulped in air, his lips moving to her neck, his nose brushing the pale column of unmarred skin while tantalizing shivers coursed through her body.
"Harry, I love you," she sighed against his hair, as he continued to kiss her neck and collarbone.
He smiled against her; she could feel his lips curve upward, and he pulled away for a moment to look at her.
He cradled her face between his palms and whispered, "I love you too, 'Mione. Always will."
It didn't matter what tomorrow brought. They had tonight, and they would worry about the future when the sun rose. Her tears had brought immeasurable comfort, and the greatest of loves into her life.
It was alright to just cry.
So what did you think? Did I totally ruin that scene (Harry SHALL NOT DANCE! :D)? Read and Review, friends. Warning: the next chapter will change the rating to M, because Harry and Hermione simply can't let s revelation pass without DOING something about it. So just stop here if you're a kiddie.
