1. The Dance
It had been nearly two weeks since Ron had left them. Harry entered the tent like every night before to find Hermione with a tear streaked face as she poured over the old books she'd brought along. Silently, he walked over to the wireless and switched it on.
You charmed the heart right of me
To my whole life you hold the key
The sound of Celestina Warbeck's melodic voice playing through the tent caused Hermione to look at him with a raised brow. Holding out a hand he gave her a lopsided grin. "C'mon Hermione, tonight let's pretend we're anywhere but here. Will you dance with me?"
Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. Harry led her to the center of the tent and pulled her close to his chest. He was soon twirling her around. Both friend's were throwing their heads back in laughter.
"Thank you Harry," Hermione whispered as she laid her head on his chest. A slower song had started and they stood in place as he rocked them to the beat.
"There is no reason to thank me," he used a finger to lift her chin so that he could look into her eyes. "I'm the one who should be thanking you. You've given up so much time and time again, and there is no way I can pay you back for all of it."
She shyly smiled and shook her head. "There is no where I'd rather be."
The next development in their relationship came the night they visited Godric's Hollow. As soon as they were back to where they left their tent, in the Forest of Dean, Hermione got to work applying dittany to Harry's wounds. Meanwhile, he sat silently staring into the woods.
"Harry, are you ok?" her frantic voice broke him out of his trance.
"I saw them, Hermione," his voice trembled. "I saw the night he attacked us, the night they died."
Kneeling beside him, she let him cling to her as sobs wracked his body. They sat on the ground just outside of the tent's entrance for several minutes with Hermione running a hand through his hair and speaking soothingly. When he was finally calm she gently extricated herself from his grip, helped him to his feet, and led him into the sleeping area of the tent.
Harry had been settled into bed for a few minutes when she returned, already dressed in her own pajamas. Without saying a word, he scooted over and pulled back the blanket allowing her to climb into the bunk beside him.
Instantly, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest. "Good night, Hermione," he whispered into her hair. Sleep quickly overtook him.
She settled herself back into him before lacing her fingers with his. The sound of his steady breathing already lulling her to sleep. "Good Night, Harry. I love you," she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep herself.
"Hermione," Harry called from outside, "I have something to show you."
The first thing she saw when she exited the tent, aside from his grinning face, was the water that dripped from his clothes. "What in Merlin's name happened to you?" He rubbed the back of his neck before gesturing to the other side of their small clearing.
"Hey," Ron shifted from one foot to the other and awkwardly waved with the hand that wasn't holding what appeared to be a sword.
"Hey?!" Hermione shrieked, crossing the clearing in just a few large steps. "You disappear for nearly two months, and you just say 'hey' ?
She turned to Harry. "Where is my wand, Harry? I need my wand."
Still smiling, he shook his head. Deciding she wasn't going to get it from him, she turned her attention back to the red headed man. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, you had us worried sick! Where have you been?" She fell silent as another thought crossed her mind, "how did you find us?"
"Let's get inside and out of our wet clothes, yeah?" He nodded eagerly at her, "I'll explain everything inside."
Once the boys were changed the trio sat around the kitchen table. Ron tapped his fingers on the table a couple times before looking up at Hermione.
"I regretted leaving as soon as I was gone, but I wasn't sure how to find you. I spent some time with Bill and Fleur, but I was too embarrassed to see the rest of my family." He ran a hand through his hair. "Anyway, I was walking through Hogsmeade, hoping to hear of a sighting of you two, when a couple of snatchers caught sight of me."
Hermione gasped, but otherwise remained silent. Harry gently took her hand and began running this thumb over the top of it.
"I was running when one of them hit me with a pretty nasty curse and I fell. I thought I was done for, but someone grasped my shoulder and apparated us away. I woke up three days later in an fancy bedroom with a house elf tending my wounds." He chuckled when Hermione's face scrunched up. "I asked to speak with her master, and a few minutes later Pansy Parkinson walked into the room. Parkinson saved me, can you believe it?" He shook his head.
"Anyway, she explained that whereas her family, and most of her friends, believed in He-who-must-not-be-named's cause, she didn't. She also told me that her parents were out of the country until after the new year so I had plenty of time to heal before I had to leave. I was sceptical at first, but as the days passed she never once asked for any information, or mentioned you guys at all. We mostly played each other in chess, she's a wicked good player."
"How did you find us though?" Hermione questioned, "and why were you both drenched?"
"Once I was healed she convinced me to stay another couple days. This morning at breakfast I was messing around with this," he held the deluminator in his hand, "and I heard your voice calling my name from it. When I hit the button a glowing light appeared and entered my chest. She stared at me wide eyed before asking if she'd just heard your voice, when I confirmed it was she gave me a sad smile and told me she thought it was about time I get going."
"I can't explain it, but I knew that if I apparated I'd find you. I sat out in the woods keeping an eye out for a few hours before I saw Harry. I was confused when I saw him dive down into the water, but I knew something was wrong when he didn't come back up, so I dived in after him. It turns out he was going after this," he held up the sword.
Hermione turned to Harry, "how'd you know the sword was there?"
"I saw something in the woods. It looked a little bit like a patronus. I followed it until I was by the lake, and the glint of the sword in the water caught my eye."
She smacked his arm, "did you not even stop to consider that it could have been a trap? Harry James Potter, you could have gotten yourself killed."
"Sorry, Hermione," he looked at his hand and bowed his head. Suddenly his head shot up and he smiled, "but after Ron saved me he used the sword to destroy the locket."
"I-it's gone?" her eyes widened. Grinning, Ron reached into his pocket and pulled the mangled locket from it. When he held it out to her, she gingerly took it before looking back to him with tear filled eyes, "we can do this."
For the first time, everyone in the room believed it.
Later that night Hermione was settled into her bunk when Harry approached. He pulled back the blanket to lay beside her like he had nearly every night since Christmas, but raised a brow when she put a hand out to stop him.
Biting her lip, she look to where Ron sat on watch, just on the other side of the tent's flaps. "I-I'm not sure that's a good idea, Harry. With Ron coming back today maybe it'd be best to sleep in your own bed tonight." He blankly stared at her for several seconds before nodding and moving toward his bed across the room.
Harry laid awake in bed that night wondering if he'd misread the situation. Did she not return his feelings? Maybe she actually wanted to be with Ron instead? Hearing her quiet snores he turned toward her. He was barely able to make out her face in the darkness of the tent, but he'd slept beside her enough times to know that she probably had a hand thrown over her face and one foot hanging off the side of the bed. The thought of her sleeping form brought a small smile to his face.
He was mad about his best friend, that was something he couldn't deny. Though, in silence of the night he made them both a promise that if he wasn't what she wanted he'd step aside and just let her be happy. He owed it to her after all.
AN- Hope y'all liked the first chapter of my new story. Be on the look out for chapter 2 soon, as well as updates on my other 2 WIPs. As always major beta love to DarkNorseLady!
