A/N: I'm writing this story with one of my best buds, Jen or Jenalla as I
call her. She wrote this chapter and I will be writing the next and she'll
write the one after that, so on and so forth. Tell me what you think in a
review, that would be great.
Burning Roses By Jenalla and Zealous
"Harry!" At the sound of his name, he jerked his head up, eyes scanning the platform for the face to the ever-familiar voice he knew only too well. Catching sight of her long dirty blond locks and sparkling honey eyes, he made his way towards her through the tightly packed crowd. When he finally reached her, he pulled her in for a tight embrace, trying to resist the urge to pick her up and twirl her around. He doubted his fellow classmates would appreciate it, seeing how close together they were.
"Hey 'Mione. I've missed you a lot," he whispered in her ear. "It gets rather lonely when you have no one correcting every other word that comes out of your mouth." He ducked Hermione's playful swat.
"Harry, you prat!" She said with about all the indignation that she could muster, although her eyes were twinkling with laughter. "I think I've just been insulted."
"What! By who? C'mon 'Mione, tell me who it was, and I'll bash their bloody brains in," he said mockingly.
"Well, let's see...he's about six feet tall, dark green eyes, a mop of unruly black hair, and..." she never got a chance to finish, because Harry cut in.
"And devilishly handsome, I'm sure," he said with a mischievous grin.
"Actually, I was going to say 'and thinks he's absolutely hilarious', but now that you mention it..." she deadpanned with a straight face. Harry looked shocked for about two seconds before he saw Hermione trying to fight the giggle that escaped her lips. He smiled and scooped her up in another hug.
"Look who thinks they're funny now," he said. Just then, the train blew its whistle, letting the impatiently waiting passengers know it had arrived at last. Harry picked up his luggage and then Hermione's, and started walking towards the train. It took him all of five steps to figure out Hermione wasn't behind him. He turned around to find her with a lock of pure shock on her face.
He was immediately concerned. Dropping the bags, he ran back over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "'Mione, what's wrong?" But she couldn't speak. All she could do was point over Harry's shoulder. He spun around, and drew in a sharp breath. Standing by the door of the train was the last person he ever expected to see: Viktor Krum.
"What...what...what is he doing here?" she asked with a visible tremble in her tone. The blood drained from her face when he spotted her and started towards her.
Harry was confused. Last he had heard, Viktor and Hermione were a happy couple off to the south of France for a romantic vacation. What had happened in France? But whatever it was, it could wait. As Hermione's best friend, he had a job, and right now, that was to protect her. He instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from the approaching figure.
"Hermione," he said in that irritating accent of his. "Why have you not responded to any of my letters? I wrote to you all summer."
Through gritted teeth, she said "Viktor, I told you. It's over between us, okay? Over. Do you need me to spell it out for you? I don't want to see you anymore. So please, just leave me alone." Harry was speechless. He had never seen Hermione so angry before, and he had been around Hermione a long time. Nor had he ever heard that tone from her before. It didn't even sound like it belonged to her. She was so quiet and caring, and this tone, although it wasn't loud, demanded attention, with its iciness. "But Hermione..." he started.
"NO VIKTOR! No buts! I have told you at least a thousand times that I don't want to see you anymore, but you just can't seem to take a hint. So, let me make it loud and clear. Leave. Me. Alone. Don't call me, don't write me, don't pull anymore of these surprise visits, nothing. Just butt out of my life!" She was practically screaming at this point. Her face had turned read from her anger, and she was rapidly drawing in large mouthfuls of air.
"But Hermione, I love you!" he said desperately.
"But I don't love you Viktor. Now please, just leave me alone," she said, barely above a whisper. She had managed to calm down enough to speak like a normal person.
Viktor started towards her, anger in his eyes, hand raised as if to strike her. But Harry, who was still standing partially in front of her, quickly took another step, putting himself between his best friend and the advancing Viktor. Hermione clutched at Harry, scared at the threat of Viktor. He reassuringly grabbed the hand currently around his waist in his own, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I would suggest that you leave Hermione alone, Viktor" he said coldly, with a little force.
"What's it to you, Potter?" he sneered. Obviously he didn't see Harry as a threat.
"Or else" said Harry, using his free hand to yank Krum closer by his collar, "or else, you are going to have a very hard time finding that snitch."
"Get your filthy paws off me Potter. And just keep in mind that I don't take to threats too kindly." With that, he sped off in the direction of the barrier between platform nine and three-quarters and the rest of the train station. As soon as he disappeared from sight, Harry turned around and looked at Hermione, who appeared to be in shock. Knowing it would be useless to try and ask her what had just happened, he grabbed their luggage in one hand, and dragged her to the train. Once inside, he plopped her down in the first empty compartment, and packed away their bags. He sat himself down next to her and watched as she stared out the window.
The train gave a groan and took off from the station, speeding towards the castle Harry felt was home. He figured Hermione would share when she felt like it, and he didn't want to pressure her. She appeared to be staring at the passing fields as they sped by, but on closer examination, he realized she was actually deep in thought. Wanting to break the awkward silence that had ensued since the incident back at the platform, he decided to take the plunge.
"So, how many times did you read Hogwarts, A History this summer?" he asked in a weak attempt to make her laugh, or even crack a smile. But she did just the opposite. She stayed lost in her thoughts, not even noticing that Harry had spoken. He tried again. "How many extra roles of parchment did you include for Professor Binns' essay?" Again, no response. He tried one last time. "How's our little critter friend Rita Skeeter doing these days?" But this drew no answer from Hermione, so he gave up and collapsed back into the seat and closed his eyes. He had nearly drifted off when her tiny voice brought him back with a start.
"I suppose you'd like to know what that was back at the train station," she said wearily, looking at him expectantly.
"Well, yes, that would be nice. But if you're to worn out, it can wait," he ventured, trying to curb his curiosity.
"Oh come off it Harry. You know you want to hear this, and you could give a rat's ass about how I feel," she said.
"'Mione! That is not true! You're my best friend in the entire world, the only person I can talk to about everything. I would kill myself before I'd let anything happen to you. That's the truth! I swear on my parent's graves!" he cringed inwardly at the mention of his parents, but continued looking at Hermione.
Hermione was on the verge of tears. Harry had not only just admitted he cared about her, but he had sworn on his parent's grave, and she knew how hard that must have been for him. He didn't like to talk about them, so she knew he wasn't joking around.
"Oh Harry! I'm so sorry! I never meant it!" she said as she threw herself into his arms, just as the tears started to fall. Harry just held her and rubbed her back as she sobbed into his chest.
"Shh...it's okay 'Mione. It's okay. I know," he said comfortingly. When the tears finally ceased, he pressed a kiss into her hair. "All better?" She nodded her head, no quite ready to leave the safety of his arms. She felt so...so protected, and loved, laying there in his arms. She gave a sigh of content and snuggled closer to him, trying to rid herself of the fear from the past events. Harry tightened his grip around her, pulling her closer still. Both their nerves calmed, and when Harry felt her breath become even, he knew she had fallen asleep. Knowing she would be okay, he let himself drift off, arms still wrapped protectively around her.
A/N: In case you were wondering, prat is another word for 'ass' or 'butt'. Now you know.
A/N: In case you're wondering where the heck Ron is, he's on an extended vacation with his family in Romania, visiting Charlie. He'll be back later, so don't worry...
Burning Roses By Jenalla and Zealous
"Harry!" At the sound of his name, he jerked his head up, eyes scanning the platform for the face to the ever-familiar voice he knew only too well. Catching sight of her long dirty blond locks and sparkling honey eyes, he made his way towards her through the tightly packed crowd. When he finally reached her, he pulled her in for a tight embrace, trying to resist the urge to pick her up and twirl her around. He doubted his fellow classmates would appreciate it, seeing how close together they were.
"Hey 'Mione. I've missed you a lot," he whispered in her ear. "It gets rather lonely when you have no one correcting every other word that comes out of your mouth." He ducked Hermione's playful swat.
"Harry, you prat!" She said with about all the indignation that she could muster, although her eyes were twinkling with laughter. "I think I've just been insulted."
"What! By who? C'mon 'Mione, tell me who it was, and I'll bash their bloody brains in," he said mockingly.
"Well, let's see...he's about six feet tall, dark green eyes, a mop of unruly black hair, and..." she never got a chance to finish, because Harry cut in.
"And devilishly handsome, I'm sure," he said with a mischievous grin.
"Actually, I was going to say 'and thinks he's absolutely hilarious', but now that you mention it..." she deadpanned with a straight face. Harry looked shocked for about two seconds before he saw Hermione trying to fight the giggle that escaped her lips. He smiled and scooped her up in another hug.
"Look who thinks they're funny now," he said. Just then, the train blew its whistle, letting the impatiently waiting passengers know it had arrived at last. Harry picked up his luggage and then Hermione's, and started walking towards the train. It took him all of five steps to figure out Hermione wasn't behind him. He turned around to find her with a lock of pure shock on her face.
He was immediately concerned. Dropping the bags, he ran back over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "'Mione, what's wrong?" But she couldn't speak. All she could do was point over Harry's shoulder. He spun around, and drew in a sharp breath. Standing by the door of the train was the last person he ever expected to see: Viktor Krum.
"What...what...what is he doing here?" she asked with a visible tremble in her tone. The blood drained from her face when he spotted her and started towards her.
Harry was confused. Last he had heard, Viktor and Hermione were a happy couple off to the south of France for a romantic vacation. What had happened in France? But whatever it was, it could wait. As Hermione's best friend, he had a job, and right now, that was to protect her. He instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from the approaching figure.
"Hermione," he said in that irritating accent of his. "Why have you not responded to any of my letters? I wrote to you all summer."
Through gritted teeth, she said "Viktor, I told you. It's over between us, okay? Over. Do you need me to spell it out for you? I don't want to see you anymore. So please, just leave me alone." Harry was speechless. He had never seen Hermione so angry before, and he had been around Hermione a long time. Nor had he ever heard that tone from her before. It didn't even sound like it belonged to her. She was so quiet and caring, and this tone, although it wasn't loud, demanded attention, with its iciness. "But Hermione..." he started.
"NO VIKTOR! No buts! I have told you at least a thousand times that I don't want to see you anymore, but you just can't seem to take a hint. So, let me make it loud and clear. Leave. Me. Alone. Don't call me, don't write me, don't pull anymore of these surprise visits, nothing. Just butt out of my life!" She was practically screaming at this point. Her face had turned read from her anger, and she was rapidly drawing in large mouthfuls of air.
"But Hermione, I love you!" he said desperately.
"But I don't love you Viktor. Now please, just leave me alone," she said, barely above a whisper. She had managed to calm down enough to speak like a normal person.
Viktor started towards her, anger in his eyes, hand raised as if to strike her. But Harry, who was still standing partially in front of her, quickly took another step, putting himself between his best friend and the advancing Viktor. Hermione clutched at Harry, scared at the threat of Viktor. He reassuringly grabbed the hand currently around his waist in his own, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I would suggest that you leave Hermione alone, Viktor" he said coldly, with a little force.
"What's it to you, Potter?" he sneered. Obviously he didn't see Harry as a threat.
"Or else" said Harry, using his free hand to yank Krum closer by his collar, "or else, you are going to have a very hard time finding that snitch."
"Get your filthy paws off me Potter. And just keep in mind that I don't take to threats too kindly." With that, he sped off in the direction of the barrier between platform nine and three-quarters and the rest of the train station. As soon as he disappeared from sight, Harry turned around and looked at Hermione, who appeared to be in shock. Knowing it would be useless to try and ask her what had just happened, he grabbed their luggage in one hand, and dragged her to the train. Once inside, he plopped her down in the first empty compartment, and packed away their bags. He sat himself down next to her and watched as she stared out the window.
The train gave a groan and took off from the station, speeding towards the castle Harry felt was home. He figured Hermione would share when she felt like it, and he didn't want to pressure her. She appeared to be staring at the passing fields as they sped by, but on closer examination, he realized she was actually deep in thought. Wanting to break the awkward silence that had ensued since the incident back at the platform, he decided to take the plunge.
"So, how many times did you read Hogwarts, A History this summer?" he asked in a weak attempt to make her laugh, or even crack a smile. But she did just the opposite. She stayed lost in her thoughts, not even noticing that Harry had spoken. He tried again. "How many extra roles of parchment did you include for Professor Binns' essay?" Again, no response. He tried one last time. "How's our little critter friend Rita Skeeter doing these days?" But this drew no answer from Hermione, so he gave up and collapsed back into the seat and closed his eyes. He had nearly drifted off when her tiny voice brought him back with a start.
"I suppose you'd like to know what that was back at the train station," she said wearily, looking at him expectantly.
"Well, yes, that would be nice. But if you're to worn out, it can wait," he ventured, trying to curb his curiosity.
"Oh come off it Harry. You know you want to hear this, and you could give a rat's ass about how I feel," she said.
"'Mione! That is not true! You're my best friend in the entire world, the only person I can talk to about everything. I would kill myself before I'd let anything happen to you. That's the truth! I swear on my parent's graves!" he cringed inwardly at the mention of his parents, but continued looking at Hermione.
Hermione was on the verge of tears. Harry had not only just admitted he cared about her, but he had sworn on his parent's grave, and she knew how hard that must have been for him. He didn't like to talk about them, so she knew he wasn't joking around.
"Oh Harry! I'm so sorry! I never meant it!" she said as she threw herself into his arms, just as the tears started to fall. Harry just held her and rubbed her back as she sobbed into his chest.
"Shh...it's okay 'Mione. It's okay. I know," he said comfortingly. When the tears finally ceased, he pressed a kiss into her hair. "All better?" She nodded her head, no quite ready to leave the safety of his arms. She felt so...so protected, and loved, laying there in his arms. She gave a sigh of content and snuggled closer to him, trying to rid herself of the fear from the past events. Harry tightened his grip around her, pulling her closer still. Both their nerves calmed, and when Harry felt her breath become even, he knew she had fallen asleep. Knowing she would be okay, he let himself drift off, arms still wrapped protectively around her.
A/N: In case you were wondering, prat is another word for 'ass' or 'butt'. Now you know.
A/N: In case you're wondering where the heck Ron is, he's on an extended vacation with his family in Romania, visiting Charlie. He'll be back later, so don't worry...