Chapter 1: In Her Dreams
"Er, would it be alright with you if I kissed you?" Harry said tentatively, his eyes twinkling in the flickering candlelight. She smiled and nodded timidly, knowing this was exactly what she wanted; though desperate not to show it.
Harry leaned in towards her, a smirk playing across his beautiful face. Butterflies began to flutter inside her stomach, as though desperate to escape...
"Hermione! Get up! You're going to miss the bloody train!! What the hell are you doing?!?!"
Hermione rolled over in bed and stretched, groaning. "All right, I'm up, I'm up!" She put aside her thoughts of Harry and took a shower, in preparation for her final return to Hogwarts.
* * * * * *
She walked down the aisles of the Hogwarts Express, beginning to feel anxious because she hadn't seen any sign of Harry of Ron. Just as she thought that maybe they had cooked up a horrible scheme and gotten themselves expelled, she was nearly scared out of her wits by a familiar voice.
"Oy! Hermione! How's your summer been, then?" It was Ron. She looked up, and saw her red-headed friend sitting next to Harry. She smiled and sighed.
"Okay, and yours?" she said, looking at Harry and moving next to Ron.
"Pretty good," Ron said, moving over to let Hermione in.
"Good," Harry said smiling.
"You didn't get in trouble then?"
"Er, well...a little." Hermione sighed and sat down.
* * * * * *
"Hagrid!" Harry said as he, Ron, and Hermione embraced Hagrid.
"How've yeh been?"
"Just fine, Hagrid." Hermione smiled against Hagrid's warm body.
"Ah, righ' then 'ermione," Hagrid smiled as they pulled away. "'ow 'bout we 'ead on down, the Sortin's abou' ter start."
Hermione took a seat at the Gryffindor table, across from Harry and Ron. The Great Hall became silent a the Sorting Hat began its new song.
Everyone at the table turned their attention to the hat, listening intently to the song...except Harry.
"Hermione," he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.
"What is it, Harry?" she whispered back, just as quiet.
"Hermione, I really need to talk to you," he continued as the Sorting Hat kept singing. Hermione gazed patiently into his eyes. "Hermione, I...er, I've had my eye on you," he looked down at the table, turning pink.
"What do you mean?" she said, although sure she knew.
"Er, that didn't come out right...what I meant was that I like you. I have since fifth year." Hermione blinked, this couldn't be real.
"H-Harry..." she stuttered. Harry turned very red and put his head on the table.
"I'm sorry to bother you..." he sighed.
"No, Harry...I've felt the same way about you since last year," her heart was doing backflips. The Sorting Hat finished its song.
* * * * * *
After finishing supper, Hermione said her proper good-byes (especially to Harry) and went up to the girls' dormitories. She changed her clothes and got into bed, wondering what would happen tomorrow, but relieved to know that Harry felt the same way.
