Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made (THOUGH I WISH THAT THERE WAS – I'M BROKE) and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. (I DON'T INTEND TO INFRINGE COPYRIGHT BECAUSE I'M TOO CHEAP TO AFFORD A LAWYER IN CASE I GET SUED.)

Summary: When Harry, Hermione and Ron spend the summer after graduation from Hogwarts at Parvati Patil's secluded farm, Harry and Ron can sense that Hermione is gradually slipping away from them. Her distant demeanor soon begins draw questions and suspicions out into the open, some from which all boundaries of friendship can be broken. One thing remains for certain: the secret Hermione is hiding is too big to keep for much longer...

Hermione's Secret

Written by That Girl Named Katie




Hermione Granger inhaled the sweet scent of wildflowers as she swung gently in her hammock. The breeze played with her hair and threw patterns of leaves across her body while the shadows of the tall poplars above her shaded her eyes from the brilliant summer sunshine.

Softly playing music played from a pair of headphones covering her ears, serenading Hermione to the point of slumber.

Breathing deeply and shakily, Hermione let out a sigh of discontent. Everything should have been perfect; she had all that she wanted right here with her.

Except it wasn't perfect.

Hermione didn't have much to worry about education-wise; she had graduated from Hogwarts the previous month with full honours and the position of Head Girl, and was finished with school for the time being. She didn't have to worry about what she was going to do come September; she had the rest of the summer to think of that. She had food, shelter, and pleasant company, and she had all the time in the world. Which was part of the problem.

Hermione didn't need time; in fact, what she needed was to reverse it, or perhaps speed it up. Looking back was painful, though, so maybe it was better to think of other things.

After graduation, and with no career plans, Harry, Hermione and Ron were absolutely clueless about what to do next. So when Ron's latest girlfriend (he changed them more often than he did his socks), Parvati Patil, had invited the three to Parvati's farmhouse for the summer, they had agreed. Harry had seemed reluctant to go, but on Hermione's urging, he had decided that it was better than spending the summer at his own worn-down shack while it was being fixed up. Parvati's farm was a beautiful place, with acres of meadows, rich green forest, streams and hills. Her family even owned a few horses. So why shouldn't Hermione be relaxed?

Hermione picked absentmindedly at the hammock cords. How can I break the news to Harry? she wondered. There seemed no logical way to. Rubbing her belly, she realized it was slightly rounder than usual. This only added to her worries. How could she, smart and clever Hermione, have failed so miserably to do the most important thing of all?

Harry Potter watched Hermione fidget in a hammock tied in the backyard between two oak trees. His brow furrowed as he chewed on his lower lip. It seemed that to Harry, Hermione grew more listless and distant each day that passed, and it worried him. Their feelings and thoughts, once shared and expressed freely between the two of them, were now close-mouthed and tightly locked away.

Turning away from the kitchen window, Harry shuffled his feet over and slumped down on a kitchen chair. Parvati Patil, his hostess, strode into the kitchen, looking far too cheerful for Harry's mood. When she saw his sullen expression, she grinned even more.

"What is it Harry? Something I can do? Maybe a little tarot reading?"

"No," said Harry firmly. Parvati had been pestering him about doing various kinds of divination on him ever since he had arrived at her house. He supposed she wanted to practice for her exams to get a certificate as a seer in the fall, but Harry wasn't sure why she couldn't just nag Ron. He was, after all, her boyfriend.

"Pleeeeeease?" she begged. Harry sighed and slumped further down in the chair as Parvati composed herself and sat down next to him.

"As long as you promise to do something for me afterwards," said Harry.

Parvati nodded and pulled out a deck of cards from out of nowhere, it seemed, and started to shuffle them quickly. After she was satisfied with the cards, she turned to Harry, who was rather bored. "Would you like to have a question answered or would you like a general reading?" prompted Parvati, looking at Harry's rolling eyes.

"I'd rather nothing at all." commented Harry, but Parvati only responded by clearing her throat and humming slightly as she rubbed the brightly coloured cards between her fingers.

"I guess I could ask a question." Parvati grinned and thrust the cards into his hands, quickly motioning for him to shuffle them.

"Now what you have to do is think of the question that you want to ask and shuffle the cards until you think they're ready." instructed Parvati, as though she didn't seem to remember that Harry had taken divination for quite a few years as well. Harry shuffled the cards.

What's wrong with Hermione? thought Harry, repeating it over and over again until it grew wearisome. Looking up at Parvati, he saw that she was playing with a tiny amulet on a bronze chain dangling from around her slender neck. Clearing his throat, he waited expectantly for her next orders.

"Now, what you want to do is lay the six top cards out like so..." Parvati continued to ramble on about the positions of the cards and which affect each position had on the outcome of his reading, but frankly, Harry couldn't care less.

"Ready?" she asked, interrupting his train of thought.

"Sure." he said uncertainly. "Er..." Harry shuffled the cards around and suddenly remembered what to do. Setting five cards in a cross pattern with one on the side, Harry mentally recalled the scant amount of practical information he had learned from his divination books.

"The first card, the one right in front of me, is the past and the influence it has on my question."

Parvati nodded, pleased with Harry's recitation. Harry flipped the card over. The Lovers. Parvati then took over.

"This means that whatever involves your question has to do with a past love affair, which possibly still occurs today. Perhaps your question's answer is that there's a problem in love?"

Harry wondered if it meant that something had gone wrong in Hermione's relationships and she had to relive it now. She continued.

"The next card, the one on the left side of the cross, represent obstacles in your path."

Harry flipped the card over. The Fool. Parvati again spoke up. " This means that something unexpected is about to meet you. Perhaps a secret will be revealed."

Harry didn't think that was a good sign, especially considering past events in his life. Pointing to the card on the right of the cross, Harry said quietly,

"This card represents influences in my favour." Flipping the card over revealed it to be the Strength card.

"This means that you have courage and physical strength you can use to defeat your enemies, Harry." said Parvati, looking none too surprised.

Harry pointed to the card at the top of the cross. "This card tells the near future." This card was reversed, which Harry took wasn't a good sign. The Moon. "Unforeseen perils, lies and risks, and this can also indicate hidden enemies. Oooh, Harry you should be careful." exclaimed Parvati dramatically, clutching her amulet and swooning.

Discreetly rolling his eyes, Harry pointed to the card in the middle of the cross.

"This card is the near future, right?" asked Harry.

Parvati nodded emphatically. Flipping it over, she read the name printed at the top.

"The Empress. It means that you could be over-protective or tyrannical, in the future. It can also indicate problems in pregnancy."

Harry coloured. "There's no problem there. As far as I know, I'm not going to be a father." Swallowing nervously, Harry straightened his collar. He hoped he wasn't going to be a father. Harry didn't know if he could handle the pressure.

Harry flipped over the last card. The outcome of his life was going to be summed up by... the Ace of Cups? Parvati started to laugh. Harry, confused, asked her what was so funny.

"The Ace of Cups is the love card. It means happy and good times, possibly a love affair, birth or marriage. Basically all affairs of the heart will prosper. Which means you're in for a happy life, Harry, involving someone very special."

Blushing furiously again, Harry gathered up all of the cards hastily and stuffed them into Parvati's hands. He stood up, finally having enough, and was about to walk out the door when he remembered that Parvati had promised to do something for him in exchange for the reading.

"Parvati," started Harry. She looked up.

"Could you talk to Hermione for me, maybe see why she's been acting so unusual lately? She seems...worried. And she shouldn't be, since school's out and all."

Harry drifted off, looking out of the kitchen window at his girlfriend, who at the moment was curled up in a ball on the hammock. Parvati thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Ok Harry. I'll talk to Hermione. But you have to let me try a palm reading on you sometime." "Whatever," said Harry dully, his shoulders slumping as he walked out of the kitchen.


Author's Notes:

This chapter holds a very dusty, cherished corner of my heart, mostly because it the beginning of a brand new story. The next chapter should contain interesting parts, I presume. I don't know quite what will happen, because I'm not as gifted in foresight as Prof. Trelawney claims to be. Sometimes the element of the unexpected is the best way thing to include in a story.