A/N: Before I begin, I want to add an author's note. A couple of things I should mention: 1.) The Harry/Hermione romance within this may come as a bit strong, but that's how I planned it. It may also seem sudden, but I going more for the fiction aspect, rather than "This is what I think will happen in the sixth installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series." Because it's not. This is NOT what I think is going to happen.
Enjoy the story! Oh, and please be cautious with your reviews! I'm only 13, so if some of this isn't good enough for you, please give me constructive critism and not brutal flames! Thank you! I appreciate it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, though I really wish I did... but I don't! And I'm not making any money off of writing fanfiction, it's just for pure entertainment (of the readers, you, and the writer, me).
A person would think that sleep would soothe an aching heart or a terrified soul. But for Harry Potter, sleep itself was a thing to fear, for conscious or not, horrifying memories plagued his mind.
Three things never ceased to haunt his thoughts. The prophecy, Sirius, and Voldemort could not be kept away from his mind's eye.
Trying to sleep would be a futile effort. So, confined in his bedroom on Privet Drive, Harry lay awake every and any night, staring up into nothingness. The type of nothingness his heart longed to be away from.
It was times like these that Harry wanted to be a regular teenage boy. To go out on dates without having to avoid the subject of his date's murdered boyfriend; to be able to study for final examinations without having to research what the Sorcerer's Stone might be. But things were not so simple with Harry Potter, for he was the infamous 'Boy-Who-Lived'. No, things would never be normal for Harry Potter.
He lie on his bed, two weeks into the summer vacation, thinking about the Wizarding World and what was happening there in his absence.
Contrary to his summer before, he felt only emptiness when he thought about his real home. Now that Sirius was dead, he had nothing to look forward to. Even in his daily letters to the Order of the Phoenix, the only thing he stated was, "I'm fine, happy, and oh, did you know Sirius was DEAD?!"
The Dursleys didn't help at all either. Why would they? Dudley was so afraid of his cousin, that he would get nowhere near a ten-foot radius of Harry, Petunia didn't even have the courage to look at the boy, and Vernon made sad, pathetic whimpering noises when Harry entered the room. But the one thing they made sure of was that Harry didn't get near Mrs. Figg, his neighbor squib, again, which was perfectly suitable for Harry because he felt that he didn't need an old ding-bat cat lover associating with him.
'Ron,
Can you please ask your Mum to speak with Professor Dumbledore about whether or not I can come stay with you? It's absolutely boring here; it's lonely too, without you and 'Mione. Besides, I reckon I've overstayed my visit.
Harry
P.S. Thank-you for the gift, it was delicious! Thank Hermione for me as well.'
This was the letter that had been sent off with Harry's snowy-white owl, Hedwig, all but two days ago. He knew that he should make it sound as normal and happy as he could make it, because he knew Hermione would be out of her mind with worry if it wasn't. Harry expected a reply any minute, but infuriatingly, it wasn't coming.
Harry supposed Ron and Hermione would be at Grimmauld Place, Sirius Black's home.
With the thought of his friends, Harry's blank emotions rose a little, so that a weak smile could make its way upon his face. He knew, now that Sirius was gone, that Ron and Hermione were the only people who could truly brighten his mood.
As always, his thoughts turned to dreams, which in turn became nightmares.
Hours later, Harry awoke with a mighty start. He sat up in the bed, and put his perspiring face in his hands. It had been the veil nightmare this time that had awakened him.
Softly, a clucking sound came to rest upon Harry's ears; a hooting came next. He looked to his wardrobe, atop which Hedwig sat, contemplating her next move.
He slipped his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and then held out his arm.
Hedwig glided down to him, gracefully descending upon Harry's outstretched limb. A letter was linetied to her leg, which Harry immediately pulled off and flipped open.
Ron's hurried and untidy scrawl met his eyes.
'Harry,
Pack your bags! We'll be picking you up in the morning. Mum spoke with Dumbledore, as you asked, and he said it was alright and that he agreed about you overstaying your welcome. Be ready by nine o'clock.
Ron
P.S. You're welcome for the present, and Hermione's sends her love.'
This was probably the only thing all summer that truly brightened Harry's mood.
He spent the rest of that night packing his room, so that by the time he was finished, it was already early morning.
As he closed his trunk, he could hear Uncle Vernon shuffling past his door. Harry waited a moment, then opened the door and walked casually into the hallway. He could hear the shower water running, which meant that Dudley was in the bathroom.
Harry leaned against the wall next to the bathroom door, and steadily combed his slim fingers through his ebony tresses.
About two hours later, Harry sat in his room, looking through his trunk, when the doorbell rang.
His heart sped up, but slowed once again when he heard Uncle Vernon chuckling calmly, and didn't hear Dudley running up the stairs.
"Harry? Oh my goodness, it really is you!" Hermione's distinct voice rested upon Harry's ears.
He spun around and stared aimlessly at his new, and possibly improved, best friend.
Hermione Granger trampled Harry in a breathtaking hug. She pulled back slightly and looked up into Harry's jade eyes.
"'Mione, it's good to see a familiar, and of course beautiful face! You look wonderful. Your hair, it looks astounding!" he complimented, not stopping for a breath.
And indeed, her hair did look very nice. Hermione, it seemed, had taken the liberty of getting it cut and straightened. It was now a couple of inches past shoulder-length and was held back with a headband. Her sense of fashion had changed as well. She was dressed in a knee-length plaid skirt, and a white blouse. It was now that Harry realized that his other best friend, as he referred to her as, was really a girl! Though this came as quite a shock, Harry knew that the guys at school would be running after her.
"I'm not the only one, Potter! Wait'll you see Ron and Ginny! You've changed quite a lot as well, I might add. You're almost a foot taller than me now. I should give a you a shrinking potion in your sleep so it won't be as embarrassing when we get to school," she giggled. They had, over the years, acquired many different nicknames for each other. While Harry constantly called Hermione 'Herms' or 'Mione', Hermione called Harry simply 'Potter' or 'Harry'.
Harry kissed her cheek, which made her face burn scarlet, and pulled away from her.
"All in one summer's work!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sure, that's what Ron said."
Harry turned back to his trunk and picked up one end. "Come on, Granger. Don't just stand there, help me. I might be taller, but that doesn't mean I'm any stronger."
Hermione grinned cheekily at him before picking up the other end. Together, they dragged Harry's trunk downstairs along with Hedwig's cage.
"Who...?"
"Lupin's outside, and Tonks is in the kitchen talking to your family," answered Hermione.
"They are not my family," Harry sternly told her.
Hermione raised her hands in defense. "Okay!"
"How come Tonks is talking to the Dursleys? And why didn't Dudley run upstairs when you got here?"
"Harry, Tonks is a Metamorphmagi!"
"Oh, right, a disguise?" It dawned on Harry his stupidity.
Hermione nodded. Harry grabbed her hand and they strolled into the kitchen, where a woman who looked precisely like an older Hermione sat on a bar-stool at the counter. She was smiling mock-politely at Vernon and Petunia who were staring at her nervously.
Harry snickered at the scene playing before him.
Hermione jabbed him in the ribs painfully and jerked her head toward Harry's obese cousin. He was drooling, and at who else but Hermione! She contorted her face in horror.
Harry leaned over and whispered into her ear softly, "Let's show him you're not on the 'market'."
Hermione nodded and instantly clung to Harry like glue. His arm went around her waist and they anticipated Dudley's reaction.
Dudley's hanging mouth closed as he watched the pair.
Hermione leaned her head against Harry's shoulder and his arm tightened around her waist.
With a wink and a wave to his over-stuffed cousin, Harry and Hermione followed a very ticked-off looking Tonks outside.
Remus Lupin was waiting anxiously for them on the driveway. His tired appearance had not changed from Harry's meeting with him two months ago; long gray-brown hair clouded his face, and sad eyes looked at them expectantly. His brow rose instantly at Harry and Hermione (who were still stuck together), then at Tonks (who was still fuming).
Harry immediately separated himself from a red Hermione and began to explain, "There's absolutely nothing going on! We were just —"
"No need to explain, I'll forget I ever saw that," Lupin interjected.
Meanwhile, Tonks was muttering furiously to herself, and Harry caught some of what she was saying.
"What a pig! Asking me if I'm single! I'm probably twice his age!"
Harry cracked up laughing hysterically. Lupin and Hermione watched on curiously, but they too began laughing when Tonks smacked Harry on the back of the head.
"NOT FUNNY!" she cried.
"Okay, come on let's get this stuff loaded on the bus!" Lupin said.
"What —"
"The Knight Bus."
Harry's opened mouth snapped shut.
He reluctantly was forced to go back inside to bid the Dursleys goodbye.
When he walked back out, the gigantic, shockingly purple, three-decker Knight Bus stood in front of him.
He hopped on board, seeing that Hermione and the others were nowhere to be seen, and walked down the aisle until he found them. Harry took a seat next to Tonks and then turned to Lupin.
"Are we going to — oh, you know where?" he asked.
"Nope!" Hermione answered. "We're going to the Burrow!"
Harry grinned, "Great!"
The trip to Ron's home took almost four hours. By the time they had reached Ottery St. Catchpole, Hermione had fallen asleep on Lupin's shoulder. Harry grinned at Lupin's contorted face.
"Amateur," said Harry. He stood up and shook Hermione awake. "'Mione, come on, we're here." Hermione opened an eye slowly. Lupin simply shook his head. They disembarked.
Harry looked at the Weasleys' patchy home and walked inside, only to be trampled by the two Weasley women in an array of tremendous hugs.
Once they had all regained their composure, they began the usual, "Mrs. Weasley and Ginny's Harry-are-you-okay" routine.
"Mum! Gin! Let the man breathe!" Ron's voice rang through Mrs. Weasley and Ginny's questions.
"Man?" snorted Hermione from behind.
"I wouldn't be talking if I were you, Hermy!" With this, Harry give her a mock-glare.
Hermione stuck her tongue out at him at the use of his other nickname for her, pushed past (literally), and walked into the kitchen.
"Harry, dear, you must be starving! Would you like something to eat or drink?" asked Mrs. Weasley in her 'look how skinny you are' tone.
Harry politely declined, saying he'd had a large breakfast (which was a lie) and walked upstairs with Ginny, Ron and Hermione to Ron's room.
As they reminisced, Harry got a good look at both Ron and Ginny who, as Hermione had said, had changed dramatically over the two months they'd been apart.
Harry was quite positive that his best friend would never stop growing. He towered above Harry, and Hermione only came to his shoulder. As Harry looked on, he noticed that Ron had cut his hair, making it look tousled and shaggy, in a fashionable manner. He knew that the death of Sirius had changed them all in one way or another, and for Ron it had made him mature greatly. His constantly amused eyes had been replaced with mature, and serious ones, though he was still the same humourous Ron.
Ginny too had grown into herself. She was no longer the shy outcast. She was more confident now than ever, as well as more attractive. Her long auburn hair was no longer straight, but came down in ringlets to her shoulders and she was as tall as Hermione. Try as he might, Harry could not find her sweet, innocent, glittering eyes. They had been replaced with outgoing, confident, mature and sparkling ones. If he could tell the future, he would know that "his" girls would become heavy competition for the snobbish Lavender Brown and gossipy Parvati Patil the upcoming school year.
"POTTER!"
"What?" Hermione's voice brought him crashing back to reality and he looked around at the others blankly.
"I asked if you wanted to play Quidditch," Ron asked him.
"Sure," Harry said brightly.
The two guys played Quidditch for the rest of the day. There were only two things that could help Harry keep his mind off his troubles. Hermione, and Quidditch. Flying gave him the freedom that he so missed when at the Dursleys. The only downside was that his Firebolt had been confiscated and had not been given back yet, so he had to use one of the Weasleys' Cleansweeps.
At around seven o'clock, Mrs. Weasley called them back inside for dinner.
For some odd reason, the Weasley household was empty. The twins were not spotted at all that day, playing their usual pranks, Percy of course didn't live there any longer, nor did Bill or Charlie.
When Ron noticed Harry looking around, he leaned over and muttered to him, "The twins got thrown out, because of what they did at the end of last year."
Harry was shocked. Mrs. Weasley was not one to throw her children out so easily.
"Oh," said Harry.
He stood up from the table, as did the others and said, "You guys go on up. I'm going outside for a bit. I need some fresh air."
He knew that none of them had bought that, mainly because they'd spent the whole day outside, but he just needed to be alone for a while.
He strolled out on the patio and sat down on the swing. As he put his head in his hands, he thought to himself, They've all changed. Why? Why can't everything just be the same? Why can't Sirius still be alive? Why can't Ron be the Ron that I knew two months ago? Why can't Ginny just be infatuated with me, instead of feeling sorry for me?
"It's not healthy to wollow in your problems, you know."
Harry didn't turn around, for he knew that it was the voice of Hermione.
She walked up behind him on the swing, and then wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned forward, and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"I told you I wanted to be alone," said Harry sternly.
"I didn't buy your load of codswallop for a second," Hermione answered bluntly.
Harry sighed heavily. He unraveled her arms from around his neck and stood up. He held out his hand for Hermione to accept, which she did and he led her off the patio and into the Weasleys' backyard.
They sat down on the wet grass.
"Penny for your thoughts," Hermione said softly after a moment.
"Hermione, you're the most important person in my life. Promise me you'll never leave me?" He wasn't looking at her, he was only speaking.
"I'll never leave."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
Harry laid back on the grass with his hands behind his head. Hermione laid next to him, putting her head in the crook of his arm.
"Harry, I'm always going to be here for you. Don't you dare ever forget that," whispered Hermione.
"How can two people be so important to the fate of six billion others?" asked Harry.
"Oh, Harry," said Hermione. She turned on her side, placing one hand over his waist.
"Having a secret rendezvous... without me? I'm insulted," Ron's voice said as he walked toward them.
"If you were to ever have a romantic rendezvous, I don't think even your girlfriend would invite you," retorted Hermione. "Besides, if we told you, it wouldn't be secret anymore!"
Harry couldn't help but smile.
Ginny appeared from behind Ron and sighed at Harry and Hermione. "How sweet! I never knew our naive little Harry to be so romantic!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat up.
"You're pathetic, you know," she said to her friend.
Ginny shrugged. "What can I say? I'm just a hopeless romantic is all."
"Thank-you both for ruining my devious plan!" exclaimed Harry sarcastically, as he sat up next to Hermione.
"Actually, Gin and I were just going out to the garden to scare all the pixies out," said Ron in an 'as-if-you-would-know' tone.
"Oh, right," said Ginny, as she happened to remember why they came out in the first place.
"What did you do?" asked Hermione.
"We," — Ron coughed — "accidently dropped one of Mum's favorite vases."
Harry laughed. Leave it to Ron to become a jinx, rather than cast one.
The two Weasley children walked away, leaving Harry and Hermione alone once again. They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Hermione finally spoke.
"Did you really mean it when you said I was the most important person in your life?" she asked.
"'Course I did, Hermione."
"Good, because I feel the same way for you. You're the most important person in my life right now," said Hermione.
"How can you say that? What about your parents?" asked Harry incredulously.
"Harry, I only see my parents twice a year. You and Ron have been the center of my life for five years, and it's not about to change any time soon," informed Hermione.
There was a long pause. Harry decided to change the subject.
"Hermione, you know, you've always been my confidante. I can tell you everything that's on my mind and you won't even flinch when I say 'Voldemort'. I appreciate things like that," he explained abruptly.
"I know. Because of that, I know you like a book, Potter. I can tell when you're happy, worried, or sad. I know exactly what you're thinking," stated Hermione matter-of-factly.
"Ditto."
They stared at each other for a moment. Brown clashed with jade, emerald with hazel; it was a duel of the eyes.
Harry stared into the eyes of the one person in the entire world who saw past the scar on his forehead and loved him because of the man that he was, not the man that society had made him out to be. He realized for the first time in his life, that this woman before him was not only his friend. She was and could be so much more.
"If I told you I liked you, would you run away crying? Would it ruin our friendship? Would it make things awkward with us? Would Ron run around screaming his head off?" he asked in a barely audible whisper.
"Never. Because I would be feeling the same way," Hermione replied. A lone tear slipped swiftly down her cheek, followed by many others.
"Good, because Hermione, you're not just my confidante, you're so much more than that."
Hermione didn't say anything, but looked at him with over-bright eyes.
In a bold attempt to simmer his feelings down a little, Harry courageously asked, "Would it be alright if I kissed you?"
Hermione nodded subtly.
Harry turned toward her and cupped her face in one hand, caressing her cheek with his thumb. He wiped her tears away, wishing his worries and problems away with them as well.
It had just dawned on Harry that he was about to kiss the woman whom he felt to be his surrogate sister. But now, his feelings had become too thick to ignore, and so he sighed again.
He leaned forward. He'd only done this once before, and so felt just as nervous now as he had then. Hermione closed her eyes and licked her lips as a last minute thought.
Tentatively, their lips met. It was sweet, soft, and tender. Harry wanted nothing more than to kiss her. He was not a man of lust. In fact, the very word lust disgusted him.
Hermione was first to pull back. She smiled sweetly at Harry.
He could see every star shining proudly in her eyes; she positively glowed in the light of the crescent moon.
"Am I horrible at kissing?" asked Harry.
"Of course not."
"Good."
Harry opened his arms, and Hermione fell into his warm embrace.
There was a loud cough behind them and they sprung apart.
"Are you sure about that romantic rendezvous?" asked Ron.
Hermione looked up at him, spluttering incoherently.
"Absolutely," Harry answered grinning.
Ginny snorted beside Ron. "Sure..."
Hermione was still spluttering. "Come on, Herms. We should get inside, it's getting a bit too chilly for my liking out here," said Harry.
Hermione blinked twice before she took his hand and stood. The four of them walked back into the house on that crisp, cool evening.
They spent the next few hours in Ron's room. The guys played Exploding Snap and Chess, while the girls read their magazines and books and chatted amongst themselves, giggling from time to time.
"So, Gin, have you got your eye on anyone in particular this year?" Harry asked her suddenly.
Ginny mulled over it a moment, then answered, "Um... well, what do you think of Justin Finch-Fletchley?"
"He's pretty cool. A Muggle-born," replied Harry.
"And he's pretty cute, too," Hermione added.
Harry looked at her curiously. "What? I may have had a crush on him at some point in my life," she said. Harry grinned.
"Finch-Fletchley's alright," agreed Ron resolutely.
Six pairs of eyes stared at him in disbelief.
"You're okay with Justin?" questioned Ginny.
"'Course I am, Gin. He seems like a nice enough guy to me," said Ron, and he turned his attention back to the chess game.
"Well, I suppose we should all get to bed then. It's getting quite late," suggested Hermione, yawning.
"Yes, I agree," said Ginny.
The two girls stood up together and looked down at the boys rather expectantly. After a moment, in which Harry was unable to concentrate due to the hard stare Hermione was giving him, they stood up as well.
"Good night, my lovely lady... and you too, Hermy," he added to Hermione.
She pouted playfully before saying, "Goodnight to you too, Four-Eyes."
Harry leaned down and kissed her cheek, which in turn made her blush, and then waited for the two women to leave.
Once they had gone, Ron began with his expected interrogation. "Hermione, eh? Didn't expect it, Harry."
"Yeah, neither did I. I guess it just sort of... happened?" He was just as confused about all of this as Ron was.
"Well, you had better take good care of her, or I'll be on your back before you can say Stupefy," said Ron.
"Of course," assured Harry.
---
The next morning, Harry was pleasantly awoken by a kiss on the cheek from Hermione.
"Is that you, Herms?" he mumbled, smiling through his words.
"It's me," replied Hermione.
"Well then, I suppose I should get out of bed, eh?"
"Yep."
Harry sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, and found Hermione next to him on the edge of the mattress. He looked around quickly, then smiled mischievously at her.
"What's going on in that head of yours, Harry?" asked Hermione cautiously.
"Oh nothing much, I was just deciding whether I wanted to snog you now or later."
"Harry!"
"Just joking!" He put his hands up defensively.
Before he could get another word out, Hermione had closed the gap between them. Harry put his hand on the small of her back and grinned through her lips.
Hermione pulled back inquisitively. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"Nothing, you just answered my question for me," answered Harry.
Hermione giggled and returned to their snogging. Finally, after a couple of minutes, she pulled away and giggled again.
"You know, you're so much more laid back then when I met you," said Harry.
Hermione tilted her head. "Really?"
Harry nodded. "Yep. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here, with me as your loveable boyfriend kissing me! Nor would you be in my room in the morning when I'm not wearing a shirt."
Hermione turned a slight shade of pink. After a moment of contemplation, she slid her hands off his shoulders, and stood.
"Come on, Ron's waiting for you," said Hermione.
"Me? For what?"
"Quidditch, what else?"
"Right," said Harry, and stood up.
Hermione walked out of the room, leaving him to his own business.
After breakfast, Hermione walked up to Ron.
"Listen, Harry and I are going for a walk in the woods, and he wants you to come along," she said.
"Alright," agreed Ron, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
They walked back out to the veranda where Harry was waiting for them, a dark shadow shading his face. He turned to them when they walked up and laced his fingers through Hermione's.
All morning, he'd been thinking about his predicament. The same predicament that had been plaguing him all summer long.
As they walked through the forest of trees in Ron's backyard, Harry said nothing for a while; he looked up at the clear blue sky. Finally, he looked back down to Hermione and Ron.
"Last year was a really bad year for all three of us. With Sirius dying and all..." His voice cracked. "But there was something in particular that I never told you..."
He went on to tell them about his meeting in Dumbledore's office, about the prophecy, and about how he had debated whether to tell them or not.
"So, to put it in simple terms: I have to kill or be killed; murder or be murdered; be the predator or the prey," concluded Harry.
Ron's face was impassive as he held a crying Hermione in his arms. Harry turned away from them once again. He couldn't bare to see Hermione like this. Then, what seemed like an eternity later, Hermione choked out, "Why didn't you tell us?"
Harry turned to her and wiped away one of her tears as he said, "This is why I didn't tell you. I knew you'd worry about me. And to think I had to stay a month alone at the Dursleys. You'd go ballistic with concern!"
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione threw herself into his arms and began to sob once again.
"Please, Herms, don't cry. I'm not good with crying girlfriends," said Harry.
"I suppose you have a point... about why you didn't tell us," said Ron in a very quiet voice.
"Glad to hear it," said Harry.
Once Hermione had stopped crying, Harry and Ron took her back to the Burrow. After lunch, they decided they should get out of the house with Ginny and do something, because Mrs. Weasley didn't seem too happy to have four teenagers roaming about all day.
So it was decided that they would go down to the lake behind the forest in Ron's yard.
Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry changed into bathing suits, grabbed towels and walked out of the house. They returned to the same path the trio had taken earlier, but followed it to the lake this time.
The first thing Harry noted when they reached the lake was a musty sign. The curious thing about this sign was that it was printed in French so that it read, "Ce lac est la propriété privée du Lovegoods. Aucun tresspassing!" He looked at it quizzically, before he realized Hermione knew how to read French.
"Hey Herms, what does this sign say?" he asked her.
Hermione looked at it a moment, then answered with, "It's quite simple really. It says, 'This lake is the private property of the Lovegoods. No trespassing!' Gee, I suppose that means we can't swim here."
"Of course you can."
Eight pairs of eyes landed on the form of an ever-dazed looking Luna Lovegood. Harry's eyes widened. He never knew the Lovegoods lived here... right behind Ron's house. Ron and the others seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because they too were speechless for a moment.
"No it's al —" Harry began.
"Really. Daddy is at work, anyway, so enjoy yourselves. I'll be inside if you need anything," Luna continued. She walked off again without another word and the others looked on in awe.
"What was that all about?" asked Ron.
Harry shrugged. "I dunno, but it was weird enough..."
The others nodded in agreement.
So with Luna's strange behavior behind them, the four stripped down into their bathing suits and waded into the lake.
Harry couldn't help but peer over at Hermione. She looked beautiful in the sunlight, with her lavender-colored bathing suit and cheerful brown eyes. She caught him staring and flashed him a dazzling smile along with a wave. Harry waved back, before he sank into the water to hide his embarrassment.
They decided about an hour of swimming was enough and simultaneously stepped out of the water. Just as they were heading back to Ron's house, Luna approached them again.
"Oh, hello, Luna," greeted Ginny.
"Hello," replied Luna.
"We were just heading back," informed Harry.
Luna nodded, then stood looking almost expectant of them.
"Would you like to hang out with us for a while, Luna?" Ron asked through clenched teeth.
"Oh, thank you for the offer, Ronald. I would gladly join you!"
Hermione turned around and rolled her eyes. Harry gazed at Luna's odd trinkets and almost failed to hold back a laugh at what he saw. The butterbeer caps from the year before had been replaced by a picture of her gigantic lion hat that she had worn at the Quidditch match last year. Her father's magazine, 'The Quibbler' stuck out of a pocket in her dress. But the most bizarre thing about Luna Lovegood was that she was wearing a purple sweater in the middle of July. Harry felt strange as he stood next to her, wearing only a pair of bathing trunks.
He could feel Hermione muttering angrily beside him and took her hand. She looked up at him and sighed.
"Say, uh... Ron, Herms and I are going to get going. We'll meet you there," said Harry.
Ron looked at them with his face contorted, but before another word was said, Harry and Hermione walked off.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Harry! I can't stand that girl," said Hermione.
"No problem, love," Harry answered. "But I don't get it. What's wrong with Luna? I always thought she was cute, in a quirky sort of way." He couldn't hold in the laugh that threatened to escape his mouth.
Hermione glared at him fiercely.
"Shut it, you!" she cried.
Harry laughed harder and clutched his stomach. Finally, a moment later he calmed down. As they walked on, he subtly wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist.
Before getting to the Weasleys' house, they ran into a clearing they had met on their way to the lake.
Harry stopped Hermione and turned her head to face him.
"Something wrong, Harry?" asked Hermione, peering up at him.
"Nope. Nothing at all."
"Then why'd you —"
Harry leaned downward and kissed her.
"— stop...?" finished Hermione, dazedly.
A/N: Don't worry, the story isn't this cheesy throughout. The action picks up next chapter. By the way, if you didn't like their first kiss, I didn't either, I thought it was way too deep to be Harry Potter. But, I just couldn't make it any lighter. Hope you liked it over all though.
Chapter 2: "News"
Harry and the others find out some bone-chilling news about what's been happening in the Wizarding World, and Harry gets a new job.
Leave a review, please!
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