Part 1 "Encounter"

More or less today had to be the worst day of my life.

I know that its rather bothersome, but for the fourth time this week I find myself crying in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I always came in here to cry because it was the one place I knew that no one would bother me. Myrtle did an absolutely brilliant job of keeping everyone away from me, I don't think that she likes me very much but she leaves me to my tears.

That Ronald Weasley! He is the most insensitive, egotistical and malodorous git it has ever been my displeasure to know! Why oh why did my heart flutter whenever i saw him? Why did i blush when he called me mental in that faintly affectionate way? It just isn't fair! But ... then again ... life has never been fair to you, has it Hermione?

Born with "dirty blood", cursed with the unyielding need to be an insufferable know-it-all and in love with someone who you cant stand! Yeah that makes a LOT of sense, good one Hermione, you don't sound mental or anything.....hmph.

My heart jumped when i heard the large oak door creak open with a groan from its rusty hinges and rotting wood. I lifted my face from my knees to see who it was, but I saw no one. Thats odd, I thought to myself, I could have sworn i had heard someone come in here.

I rose to my feet deciding that this spot was no longer safe for the day when i heard footsteps on the wet tile floor.

*PAT PAT PAT*

They seemed to be coming closer, I could feel a presence in the room with me but I could see nothing, my heart started to race when sense kicked in.

"Harry...." I half groaned at the presence of him seeing as i was already in a rather foul mood to begin with, sure enough, Harry Potter appeared moments later, tucking the invisibility cloak into his bag

"Well, don't get too excited Hermione." he rolled his emerald green eyes "I came to see if you were alright, you've been in here for hours"

"I'm quite alright THANK you very much. I just...I needed some time to....think" My eyes could only manage to fixate on his feet, he seemed a bit on edge, but then again so was I, the last time I was this upset I sent a flock of birds to pluck out Ron's eyes, so i cant blame him i guess. However i found myself feeling sort of touched by Harry's intrusion. He somehow was calming me down just by being there.

"come on" he said putting a hand on my shoulder "lets get you back to the common room. Its dreadful in here"

I shook my head "I cant Harry"

"why not"

Harry didn't understand, he never understood. What did I expect? Men can never fully understand the complexity of women, after all he would more that likely be on Ron's side of the argument and I would be left in the dark....again.

"Hermione?" Harry had stared at me this entire time waiting for me to respond, I must have looked a bit peaky because he was beginning to look more concerned.

"What if... Ron is there?" I finally managed to say with a sigh, his name having gotten caught in my throat. I didn't want to sound childish but seeing Ronald was not the kind of thing i needed right now.

"oh...right." He looked at his feet "well it will be alright." He looked at me again with those piercing Emerald eyes "How about the library then? Ron would never set foot in there without one of us dragging him in."

As much as I would hate to admit this, Harry had a point. Ron never went to the library, he acted like it was diseased from time to time, it just wasnt his sort of place to hang out. I looked up at Harry as i held back a tear that had begun to form in the corner of my eye

"Alright, Harry" I nodded

Harry reached up to touch my face, his hands were gentle as he placed his hand on the side of my face catching the fallen tear with his thumb

"Please don't cry Hermione" he asked sincerely.

I looked down at my feet getting a lump in my throat, whether it was guilt for once again dragging down the morale of the general population or because Harry was being so caring, it was an odd feeling I'll admit, but he was being the best friend in the world right now. Even though I knew he didn't care and i knew he probably wouldn't offer me any advice, Harry was a good listener and I appreciated his effort in trying to make me feel better no matter how feeble.

Once we reached the library Harry and I took our seats at our usual table. I was still feeling down in the dumps. I then decided that perhaps a bit of light reading would at least take my mind off of things.

"I'll be right back" I informed Harry as I rose from the table to retrieve a copy of "Hogwarts: a History." As I made my way down the aisle labeled "History" I moved down to where i knew the Dewey Decimal system kept the ragged old thing. I leaned over gliding my fingertip over the bindings of the row of books, my eyes skimming for the tattered gold lettering.

This is when I frowned, I sighed feeling a presence behind me. Then i heard a squeak. It took me a moment to realize that it was my lips that the sound had escaped from, a pair of hands were at my sides and i felt something hovering excessively close to my butt which i perceived to be someone's waistline. I stood there dumbfounded for a second then straightened up and whipped around only to find Harry standing there with his arms around me.

"Harry?" I asked, taken aback "What in the devil are you doing" My eyes searched his face for an explanation as i moved my hands to hands in an initial effort to pry them away from my waist, But he was silent. he just stared at me with those green eyes again. "Harry?.....Harry I-" my words were cut off and i felt my cheeks flush after feeling one of Harry's fingers pressed against my lips, silencing them from protest.

"Hermione.....you need to forget about Ron..." His eyes were intense and i felt them boring into my own.

He wouldn't! He couldn't! No way! Harry is my best friend he would never! What is he saying though? Could he possibly have feelings for me? I felt my face redden even more as his hand slid to the side of my neck, entangling some of my tawny locks in his fingers. All i could do was stand there, his other hand found my hip tugging me closer to him.

"Harry what are you....." but once again i was cut off, this time by his lips. His soft gentle lips which held a sense of urgency as he pressed them to mine.

I was enchanted, unable to move, i let my eyes slip closed, regardless of the fact that i wanted to push him away, to demand an explanation, to maybe even run away from him...

But some part of me liked it.

"grab onto his hair" a voice inside me instructed "those dark shaggy locks need some attention, and he'll like it..trust me"

Trust you? I don't even know who you are let alone what your aiming at. Why should I listen to you? ...although...I'd like to....I'd very much like to....no Hermione no, pull away, get yourself out before you get hurt and have no friends at all.

What I expected to be my better judgement won the argument. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away

"Harry Stop....." I said helplessly

He looked at me with hurt eyes

"Please don't do this Harry, don't ruin everything that we have together."

"Hermione...you don't have to be afraid." I felt the knuckles of his hand glide across my cheek "I would never, ever, hurt you."

I was truly touched, but my insufferable tendencies were the ones controlling my lips, "I wish I could believe that, Harry." That was harsh. I immediately regretted saying that.

Harry just looked at me, eyes burning with perhaps a hint of agony? I wasn't completely sure what he was feeling

"Oh, Harry....I'm sorry! Please forgive me?" I hugged him and looked down hiding my face within the confines of my tawny hair.

Harry was silent. Why did you have to open your big fat mouth Hermione! Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!!

Harry hugged me back and didn't say anything at first, then he lifted my chin with his forefinger and thumb

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to show you that there are other wizards out there who care about you. Who would never hurt you. Who would die for you."

And thats when it hit me. It was Harry, it had always been Harry, and he had in fact almost died for myself and Ron on several occasions. He fought off the mountain troll and Voldemort, He cured my paralysis saving us all from the Basilisk and Tom Riddle, He fought a werewolf and Professor Snape, he made sure I was saved at the Tri -Wizard tournament before he left instead of taking first place, and fought off the Death eaters twice! He had been watching out for me the whole time, protecting me...making sure I was safe. And what do I do? push him away.

I had make it up to him, but how?

OKay, comments and feedback please, first time using this sight and first fanfic, all rights to J.