Affairs of the Heart
By Meaka
Rated PG
Harry leaned back in his chair and stretched. How long had he been here? Looking at his watch he saw that it was nearly eleven.
"Shit, nearly five hours" he thought. Sighing he picked up the piece of parchment he had been working on and reread his essay for Snape. He then looked across the table to where Hermione was writing at full speed.
"Mione, would you be able to read this through for me?" he asked.
"Mmm, just a minute let me finish this little bit." She replied. Harry yawned and took a look around. The library was completely empty except for Ron who was pacing along the isles looking for another book. When Hermione had finished she reached across and took Harry's essay and started reading.
"Wow! I'm surprised Harry you have everything right" she smiled at him "I must be rubbing off on you after all" she said jokingly.
Harry just shrugged and gave her a small smile. 'If only you knew Hermione, if only you knew' he thought sighing to himself.
It was another hour before they left the library and trudged back up to Gryffindor tower. Hermione said goodnight to her two best friends and went off to bed while Harry and Ron flopped down in their favourite chairs in front of the now nonexistent fire. They just sat there in silence for a while until Ron looked over at Harry who was just staring into the fireplace with a strange look on his face.
"You alright mate?" Ron called asked him. Harry who had been lost in thought was brought back to earth with a start at the sound of Ron's voice.
"Huh? What?"
Ron smirked.
"Why don't you just tell her mate!" he said getting up.
"Tell who what? What are you talking about?" he asked slightly bemused, but Ron just smirked even more and started walking off towards their dormitory. Harry could have sworn that he heard Ron mutter "Denial" as he made his way up the spiral staircase.
'What was that all about?' Harry thought as he leant back in his chair and again let himself become lost in thought.
"Come on Harry, wake up! We're going to miss breakfast if you don't get a move on."
Harry's eyes snapped open. He was still sitting in the same chair as last night as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes he realised that he must have fallen asleep there. He looked up to find Ron and Hermione standing over him looking slightly annoyed but amused at the same time.
"Bout time!" said Ron "Come on or there won't be anything left to eat before we have to go down to Hagrid's for class!"
"Ok, ok I'm up," Harry yawned, slowly getting to his feet and followed the others out of the portrait hole and down to the crowded Hall for breakfast
"Okay gather 'round. Gather 'round. Quiet please everyone!" Hagrid's voice called over the noisy student's who were packing up after their lesson. "Ok everyone listen up! I 'ave an assignment for yeh all. I'm going to split yeh all into pairs and I want yeh to choose a magical creature that we have studied over that last five years just to see what yeh remember before yeh have to take yer N.E.W.T.S in a few months. I want you to find out everything yeh can about yer creature what it looks like, what they're used for, where they come from, how long they've been around and anything else you can find out about them as well." he said smiling around at the class who all looked a little deflated at the news of even more homework to add to their ever increasing piles.
"Okay then," called Hagrid as he pulled out two pieces of parchment and clearing his throat. "When I call out yer names please come forward and pick what you want to study. Okay, errrr...Dean and...Ron, what animal would yeh like to do?" he asked handing them one of the parchment pieces to look at. Dean and Ron looked down the list and eventually decided to do Nifflers. Next was Lavender and Parvati, who decided to do the Unicorns.
"Harry...and...ummmm...Hermione" called Hagrid and they walked forward. Harry took the list from his outstretched hand and moved closer to Hermione, who read the list over his shoulder. He read through the list once then turned to look at Hermione. He could tell from the look in her eye that she was thinking the same thing he was and it was confirmed when they both said
"We'd like to do the Hippogriff". Smiling they handed the parchment back to Hagrid and returned to their spot beside Ron.
After each pair had chosen their creature, Hagrid told them that their assignments were due that time next week and that there would be no excuses for it being late. Just then they heard the distant ringing of the bell up at the school. The class grabbed their bags and slowly made their way back to the castle for lunch.
Later that night Hermione was sitting in front of the fire with Crookshanks on her knee talking to Ginny. Harry and Ron who still hadn't finished their homework were sitting at a nearby desk writing an essay on Banshees for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"So when are you going to tell him?" Ginny asked her
"Shh!" Hermione hissed looking over to where the boys were writing to make sure they weren't listening "Not so loud!"
"Come on Hermione, he is going to find out sooner or later" "Then again he hasn't noticed yet so you never know," continued Ginny with a bit of a smirk. At this last comment Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered "Just like a typical male" to herself but smiling and looking over to the table at the same time. She then noticed Ginny still looking at her questioningly and said exasperatedly; "Okay, okay, don't worry! I'll tell him when the times right, I want it to be... special, that's all!"
"Okay fine!" said Ginny defensively "Just don't take forever alright?"
The next day was Saturday and if Harry had thought he was going to be able to relax, he was about to be proven wrong. Hermione insisted that they go to the Library and start on that Hippogriff assignment for Hagrid or they would never 'get it started let alone finished in time'. Harry knew that she was exaggerating, that Hermione wouldn't let that happen even if she made him stay up all night every night to get it done. So Harry, who knew that there was no point in arguing, found himself being dragged to the library by Hermione as soon as he had finished his breakfast.
"Why don't we start in this aisle?" said Hermione walking over to a shelf full of books. "You start at that end I'll start at this end and we'll meet in the middle," she said as she picked a random book off the shelf and started to flip through it.
It hadn't taken them to long before they had both reached the middle and each had many huge piles of books around them. Harry made sure he had a quill and parchment handy before sitting down on the floor behind Hermione, who had already written about a foot of notes, and leant lightly against her back. Hermione shivered slightly but Harry didn't seem to notice and picked up the closest book "The A-Z of Magical Creatures" and started flipping through it. It wasn't long before he found what he was looking for:
"Hippogriffs are large magical animals that are half eagle, half horse. They have the ears, neck, mane, torso, and hind legs of a horse, but the wings, forelegs, and face are those of an eagle. It is about the size of a light riding horse. A hippogriff may be coloured russet, golden tan, or a variety of browns. The feathers are usually a different shade than the hide. The beak is ivory or golden yellow.
They are very proud creatures and can be easily offended. You should NEVER insult a Hippogriff because it might be the last thing you do. To approach a Hippogriff, first, you stare it strait in the eye. Try not to blink too much or the Hippogriff will not trust you. Then, you bow. If the Hippogriff does not bow back, move away quickly. You do not know what it will do.
If the Hippogriff does bow, you can go ahead and pat its beak. Hippogriffs absolutely love being patted on the beak. If the Hippogriff looks like it trusts you, then you might be able to fly on it. To mount a Hippogriff, you hoist yourself up to right behind the wing joint. Then, the Hippogriff will probably get the idea and take off. (but be warned: do not pull out any of it's feathers!)
The Hippogriff is also a symbol of love in Greek Mythology. It is very rare for two people to ride on a Hippogriff at the one time and it is believed that when they do, a special bond will form between them, and if they are male and female it is believed that they are soul mates. They are destined to be together."
At this last statement Harry stopped reading. Thinking that he must have somehow misread that last bit he did a double take and reread it. 'No, It couldn't be!' He thought back to that night back in third year when he and Hermione had ridden on the back of Buckbeak together to save Sirius from the Dementors. He realised that it wasn't too long after that, that he had started falling for her 'Not that I realised it at the time!' he thought to himself. Could this be true? Could they really be soul mates? Destined to be together? He looked over his shoulder to where Hermione was sitting and found himself looking into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes. Hermione blushing slightly quickly turned away and continued reading her book. Should he say something? If he did, how would she react? Would she feel the same?
'No, don't be stupid' he thought 'She just wants to be friends, Nothing more.' he sighed. Closing his book, he placed it on the floor next to him.
"Is it time for lunch yet?" he asked Hermione stretching and then looking at his watch.
"Huh? What was that Harry?" she asked, distracted.
"I said it's time for lunch," he repeated. "You coming or staying here?"
"Yeah, I'm coming just let me finish this."
Harry started picking up the books that were scattered all over the floor and replaced them on the shelves where he had found them. By the time Hermione had finished, Harry had put all the books away and packed up his things into his bag. He was now just sitting there watching Hermione without even really realising it His mind kept wandering back to that passage he had read. Could it really be true? Well it was for him! But how could he tell her about it? She was his best friend after all you weren't supposed to feel like this about your best friend. ...Were you?
With a loud 'bang' Hermione snapped her book shut which brought Harry out of his thoughts and crashing back down to earth.
'I'll have to show her eventually' he thought as they walked side by side out of the library. 'I just wish I knew how she would react!'
Hermione went back to the library that afternoon but Harry deciding that he had done enough work for the day joined Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor team on the Quidditch pitch for a last training session before their game next weekend. He knew that if he didn't go he wouldn't get another chance for a last minute practice before the end of the week because of all the homework his teachers had already promised them.
Meanwhile in the library, Ginny had joined Hermione and was now working on a potions essay for Snape while Hermione continued to read about Hippogriffs.
"Hey Ginny, Have a look at this!" Hermione exclaimed pushing the book across the table to where Ginny was sitting. "Does that say what I think it says?" she asked both excited and apprehensive. Ginny let her eyes travel over the same passage Harry had read earlier that day. Her eyes widening as she reached the end. She looked up into Hermione's excited face.
"Do you think it could be true? What does this mean? I'm going to have to show him sooner or later. What is he going to say? What if he doesn't believe it what if he thinks it is a load of crap? Knowing him he probably will! What if... but no, he couldn't, oh but I do wonder!" Hermione gushed so fast that even Ginny had trouble understanding her.
"Slow down Hermione!" she said laughing, "I can't understand a word you're saying" Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath calming her down and giving her time to gather her thoughts.
"So, what do you think?" she asked Ginny finally. "Do you think it could be true?"
"I don't know," replied Ginny looking down at the book once more.
"I mean we rode on Buckbeak together back in our third year, and I've..."
She stopped at that moment and Ginny looked up questioningly but noticed that she wasn't looking at her but over her shoulder towards the entrance of the library. Turning around to she what was so interesting she saw that Harry and Ron had just entered looking very windswept and cold.
"You'll have to tell him sooner or later Hermione," she said turning back to her.
"Tell who what?" enquired Ron as they sat down.
"Oh nothing, don't worry about it!" said Hermione blushing and gathering her things she hurried from the library.
"What was that about?" said Ron absentmindedly. Harry who was still looking at the door where Hermione had disappeared now turned back to face Ginny.
"Is she alright?" He asked her with a worried look on his face.
"Yeah she's fine she's just ... a little ... err ... embarrassed" said Ginny with the faintest hint of a smile.
"Embarrassed? Why?" In reply Ginny passed him the open book that was still sitting on front of her.
"Ah!" said Harry with a worried look on his face, but also blushing slightly "So she's ahh.... seen this...then I take it?"
Ginny just nodded and gave him a strange look but Harry didn't notice, he got up and started off after Hermione, the book still in his hands.
Harry found her a short time later sitting in her favourite chair in front of the Gryffindor fire reading a book. He went over and sat in the chair next to her and started into the fire, hypnotised by its flickering light. They sat there in silence for what seemed like forever. After a while Harry opened the book that was still in his hands. Once he had found the right page he scanned it until he found what he was looking for and started reading it aloud.
"The Hippogriff is also a symbol of love in Greek Mythology."
He paused here and glanced over at Hermione, she was still looking at her book but Harry could tell that she was no longer reading it because her gorgeous brown eyes were now looking unseeingly at the same place on the page. He slowly tore his own eyes away from her face and continued reading.
"It is very rare for two people to ride on a Hippogriff at the one time and it is believed that when they do, a special bond will form between them, and if they are male and female it is believed that they are soul mates" he paused before reading the last little bit and glanced over to where Hermione was now staring into the flickering fire. "They are destined to be together" he finished not taking his eyes off her face. Her hands were shaking slightly, and was that a tear he saw glistening on her cheek? And another? He placed the book on the chair next to him He reached over to her and wiped the tear off her cheek with his thumb.
"Are you alright Mione?" He asked quietly. "You know I'm here if you need to talk or a shoulder to cry on don't you?"
"Please don't say things like that Harry!" she said, tears now splashing onto the book that was still lying open in her lap.
"Why not?" he asked, disappointed. "I thought I was your best friend Hermione! I just want to be there for you like you've always been there for me,"
"That's just it Harry, 'friends' that's all we are!" she said slightly hysterical now. "Ever since I read that book," she pointed to the book that was lying on the floor next to him. "I can't stop thinking..." she trailed off
"Thinking what?" he coaxed, crossing his fingers on the hand that he now had around her shoulders pulling her into a hug
"Of you!" she said so quietly that Harry only just heard her, and looking down at her face that was partially buried in his chest and noticed that she was blushing.
"But it's okay" she said pulling away from him and wiping her face with her sleeve "I know you just want to be friends. I guess I'll just have to get used to it." She quickly stood up, letting her book fall forgotten onto the floor, and started towards the girl's dormitory. Before he even realised what he was doing Harry had stood up and taken her hand in his before she had even taken two steps and with his other had grabbed her waist and pulled her in close. Placing a hand under her chin he tilted her head up slightly so that he could look into those beautiful brown eyes and see every gold speck glittering from the dancing light of the fire. As he wiped a few remaining tears off her face he whispered, "What ever gave you that idea?" he then slowly leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips, a kiss that she willingly returned. She eventually had to pull away for air, but when she opened her eyes and looked into his emerald ones she knew that this was right.
As Harry stood there in front of the fire holding her in his arms, he knew that he loved her. She was the one for him, his soul mate, and the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He gave her another gentle kiss and whispered.
"I love you Hermione."
At his words Hermione simply melted in his arms. She felt as though she was floating, standing there with his strong arms around her she felt as though she never wanted this moment to end.
"I love you too Harry"
As Harry and Hermione embraced the warmth of the common room and of each other, the stars outside sparkled in the night sky. And somewhere, far away, Buckbeak the hippogriff chuckled...