Train Rides;
( it's all about the trust. )
She fears the time when the end will come; when the time to fight is upon them. She doesn't want her happiness or her friendships or the calm to end. She doesn't want to be separated from anyone, but she knows that when the time comes, she'll have to be, because clinging during the most important fight of their lives isn't going to do much for them.
She remembers back in fourth year when she went to the ball with Viktor and how it hurt so much to see the rejection and jealousy in the eyes of Ron and Harry. She knows that she felt some jealousy then too, but was too stubborn to show it and too caught up in the moment to even realize it.
She thinks of that time a lot, especially when they're all sitting silently in the common room and she sees that distant look in Harry's eyes. She knows he's thinking about the same thing she is – the last battle and when it will come. She hates that look because it reminds her that everything is about the fight and the trust and trying not to die alone when it all comes down to that. She hates that look because she realizes he feels that strain in his heart too, because they might not make it to the train ride home at the end of the year.
He catches her staring sometimes, and she blushes and so does he, but it's something they've grown accustomed to because they both know they're worrying about the same thing. They feel bad about leaving Ron out sometimes, when they whisper in secret about their worries and doubts, but they know he doesn't look at it the same way as they do, so it's all okay.
Those nights when they stay up late, sitting by the fire in the common room, quietly going over new spells and books and that tingle in Harry's scar he gets sometimes, are the times they worry and wonder if things will turn out right. His scar worries them to no end, but when her hand touches her forehead and her breath on his cheek, it's all about the two of them, and how much they care about every moment they have together for it might be their last.
And when she's caught kissing Ron, everything between her and Harry turns to dust. But she knows dust is better than nothing. He still feels betrayed because he trusted her and she trusted him, and even though no words were ever exchanged and no promises were made, they both knew it was meant to be. The look in his eyes makes her heart jump and her stomach twist and it's not in the good way she often feels around him. So when she runs after him and he pushes her away, her walls crumble a little more, but the fight could be coming so keeping her head forward and her studies on her mind is what's important.
Nothing really changes except the glances between the two of them. They still whisper in secret and plan for the fight against Voldemort and they still feel bad when they realize Ron's been left out again. She's happy to know that the spark is still there when her hand touches his forehead. She's glad to know that ghost of a smile still graces his lips.
And as she holds his hand as they wait for the battle begin, hidden in the bushes with Harry's face tight as he tries not to look scared, she knows that if they make it through this, that dust could turn back to stone. Harry and Hermione had a better ring to it than Hermione and Ron anyway.
When he lets go of her hand and the battle starts, she knows that it'll be okay if she doesn't make it back to the train this year because even if she doesn't, she'll always remember meeting Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts on their first year and those little cracked glasses that sat on the face that's etched into her heart.
&&. »
. . . »
It's short, but since this is only the
second HP fic I've ever written, I'm
sure you'll forgive me (:
this is for lunamaria's challenge.
& I own nothing ):