Chapter 1

Harry was sitting by the fire in the common room and was reading a book about Quidditch. He was the only one there, for Ron has just gone up to bed.

He was startled by the noise of the portrait hole opening. "Who would be coming up here at this time of night?" Harry wondered. He looked up from his book. His heart started beating fast.

It was Hermione. She smiled and waved at him. He waved back, his heart pounding.

Her brown curls shone in the candlelight and her eyes sparkled.

She sat down next to him and Harry's heart beat even faster.

"So why are you up so late?" She asked him.

"I guess I got so caught up with this book that I lost track of time" He replied.

The truth was that he was waiting for her to come to the common room, so he could be with her alone. He rarely got to be with Hermione alone. He'd often lie awake, thinking. He so desperately wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he rarely got to be with her alone. He also didn't know what to say. Hermione was a very smart girl and he often felt that he wasn't good enough for her.

"Harry? Wake up!" Hermione said, shaking his shoulder. Harry felt his shoulder tingle. "Maybe you should go to bed, and I don't have much to do so I'm going up".

"No!" He exclaimed. Hermione's eyes widened. "I mean… no, I'm fine. I'm not tired, I was just thinking." He said.

"About what?" She asked him with a questioning look.

"Er… Quidditch" He said.

Great he thought, now she thinks all I care about is Quidditch

"Oh." She said, sounding somewhat disappointed "which house are you versing next?" she asked him.

"Slytherin." He told her "I hate versing Slytherin." He said bitterly.

"So how're things going with Cho?" She asked him.

Cho.

Harry had forgotten about Cho. He never really did like her. He just didn't want anybody to find out about his love Hermione. Especially not Ron. He didn't want to ruin their friendship or Ron's relationship with Hermione.

"Well, she's still not talking to me after that whole Cedric thing." He told her "I don't really care anymore." He added.

"Oh" she said. There was a hint of relief in her voice.

"Ron can't come to Hogsmeade with us tomorrow." He said, eager to change the subject.

"Why not?" She questioned.

"He has a detention with Snape." He explained.

"Oh." She said, "Look at the time!" She exclaimed "Almost one in the morning! I don't want to oversleep tomorrow. Well, goodnight Harry."

"G'night Hermione." He said.

That night, Harry lay awake in his bed unable to sleep. He was thinking about Hermione.

Ever since he laid eyes on her on the train in his first year, he thought she was beautiful. But it wasn't until last year that his little crush blossomed into something else. Something bigger.

When he saw her dancing with Victor Krum at the Yule Ball he felt a twinge anger and jealousy.

Although he was upset that Ron couldn't go with them, he was excited that he'd get to be with Hermione. Alone.

I'm going to tell her how I feel he decided.

Hermione lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. She was nervous, yet excited about going to Hogsmeade with Harry.

She was eager to finally tell her how she felt about him. How she loved everything about him.

But how would he react? Would he storm off? Would he just shrug it off? He was probably already used to girls liking him.

It might also ruin their friendship. And that was what she feared the most.

But she was willing to risk it. And if he did get upset, she knew he'd one day forgive her.

He was after all her best friend.