A/N: Hmm...I was wondering how you do those HTML document fics. I tried,
but failed!!! I have that Windows document files thing, and I can't change
it to an HTML file. Well, if anyone knows how to change that, then
PLEEEEEEASE tell me how!!! Thanks.
Chapter 2; "Tell me what's wrong."
Remember me
Feels like forever
Since the days
When we were friends
I don't understand
All these changes
I'm still the same
No need to pretend
'When I Talk To You' -Mandy Moore
Harry and Hermione sat in the Three Broomsticks, talking about their lives after they graduated Hogwarts-drinking Butterbeer, of course.
"What happened with you and Viktor Krum, anyway?" asked Harry. Hermione smiled slightly.
"Well, we broke up. We...thought we were better off being friends." Harry could see Hermione was engaged in thought again. Hermione's smile had faded.
"Hemione!" Harry yelled. "Hermione!" Harry shook Hermione by her shoulders. Hermione blinked, looked at Harry and spoke.
"Harry, I'm so sorry... I-I just get lost in my thoughts alot..."
"Hermione, don't lie to me. I know you better than that. There's something else, isn't there? There's something that's bothering you. Please, tell me what it is," Harry pleaded.
"No, it's nothing, really," Hermione said, trying to smile.
"Hermione," Harry said firmly. "Tell me what's wrong."
"No," Hermione sighed. "I can't."
"But-"
"No, Harry. I'm so sorry, but-I'll tell you when I'm ready. Until then, please, Harry-leave me be." There was a note of finality in Hermione's voice. Harry opened his mouth to argue, but he couldn't-no sound came out. Instead, he just apologized.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have pushed you too far. I understand completely. You-" Hermione had kissed Harry on the lips. It was short, but it was the sweetest. "I-er-nevermind," Harry said as he blushed.
"Don't ask why," Hermione said, looking down at the ground.
"Don't worry, I won't." Harry grinned. "Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"D'you-do you like me?" Harry asked.
"Well, do you think I'd kiss you if I wasn't attracted to you? It isn't that meaningless, you know." Hermione sounded slightly hurt. "I know I'm bad at it, Harry, so don't even bother saying it," Hermione added.
"No, not at all. You're wonderful at it. And it wasn't even close to being meaningless-It was priceless."
"Oh, I shouldn't have," said Hermione quickly, seeing the look on Harry's face.
"Shouldn't have what?"
"Shouldn't have kissed you."
"And why not?"
"We're just friends, Harry. And you know that. We can't get too attached..." Hermione trailed off. Harry raised an eyebrow. "It's just that...um...the whole 'best friends' thing gets in the way," Hermione said.
"Oh..."
"Harry, don't give me that look. It's not happening." Hermione sounded mad and sad at the same time.
"'Mione..." Harry said, looking dizzy and confused. "Nothing's holding you back." Hermione suddenly started avoiding Harry's eyes, and looked everywhere but at him. "Unless it's that secret of yours..." Harry had somehow got the point('Finally!' thought Hermione). "It is, isn't it?" Hermione nodded slowly. "Hermione..." Harry sighed. "Dont forget that if you need me, I'll always be there for you."
"Thanks, Harry."
"No problem. Do you want to go back to the castle?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Wait, Hermione-did you know that Ron's coming to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"What? Really? Why's he coming?" Hermione asked, wondering what Ron Weasley, her and Harry's other best friend, is like now.
"Yeah, uh...I think he's coming because he wants to see you, too. He's on a break or something. It'll be fun-all of us together again!"
"Um...why did you come to help me anyway? I don't think I'm that bad at teaching..." Hermione said.
"I came here because I wanted to see you again. Besides, my Quidditch team is sort of on a break right now. I bet that's the reason why Ron's coming here, too."
"Oh...What does Ron do now?"
"Hermione, you should really keep up with the wizarding world! Ron is an auror."
"Oh, wow! An auror! Personally, I thought he was going to be more involved with the Ministry of Magic...maybe like the Minister of Magic or something!"
"Hahaha...Yeah right, Ron-the Minister of Magic? Imagine him looking like Cornelius Fudge!" Harry laughed.
"Urgh...he won't look too pretty..." said Hermione, imagining Ron in pin-striped trousers and a violet cloak. She shook her head. "Oh, the horror!"
"He's arriving tomorrow. Let's just hope he doesn't look like Fudge!" Harry said, still laughing.
"When are you and Ron leaving?" asked Hermione, realizing that her two best friends can't stay with her forever at Hogwarts.
"Well," Harry said, apparently doing some thinking. "I'm quite sure Ron can't stay too long being an auror and all-probably for a week or so. And me-I have no clue. I can't stay too long either. You know, all those Chudley Cannons fans are waiting for me." But seeing the sad look on Hermione's face, Harry added, "I'll stay longer than Ron, though." Hermione smiled.
"You know, I think I'll have to re-think about us having a relationship. You might not be so bad after all. Who knows? Anything can happen." said Hermione, as she stood up to leave. "Let's go, then." She motioned Harry to get up.
"Yeah," muttered Harry, as he also stood up. He grinned slyly. "Let's go." Together, Hermione and Harry went back up to the Hogwarts castle.
*
Harry and Hermione awoke early next morning because they had sent a note to Ron (using Hedwig, who was still as healthy as ever) saying that they'd both be up early and will be waiting for him in the Great Hall.
Harry, who was sitting at the staff table with Hermione, yawned. No one was in the Great Hall, for it was too early for anyone to get up and eat breakfast-well, besides Harry and Hermione, of course. Hermione also yawned, looking like she'd fall asleep any minute on her slice of toast. Harry blinked once, twice, then rubbed his eyes, trying to keep himself awake as he stuffed some scrambled eggs into his mouth. Harry sighed.
"Why the bloody hell did we say we'd get up so early again?" Harry groaned.
"Because...erm...oh, yeah, I remember now. I think we're supposed to wait for Ron and greet him when he's here..." Hermione trailed off.
"After that, can I go back to sleep?" Harry growled.
"Yeah, sure, whatever..." Hermione said, as she accidently knocked over her goblet of pumkin juice. Hermione yawned again and told her pumkin juice 'where' it can go.
"Hermione, pumkin juice can't go to hell," Harry said, chuckling.
"Oh, yes, it can," Hermione giggled. Then, they heard a voice. It sounded very much like-
"Ron!" Harry said, grinning, as he stood up, walked over to Ron and gave him a hug. Ron was tall(he was about the same height as Harry), 'better'-looking than when he was in Hogwarts, and, of course, still had the Weasleys' flaming-red hair(which seemed, if possible, redder than ever). Thankfully, Ron didn't look at all like Cornelius Fudge. Instead, he had a pair of dark blue jeans, and a white t-shirt on. Ron turned to Hermione as she walked over to him.
"Hermione! Hi!" Ron said, eyeing Hermione up and down. "Too bad I have a girlfriend..." Ron joked. Hermione smiled as she hugged Ron.
"Ron, how are you?" Hermione asked.
"I'm fine, thanks," Ron answered. "Oh, did I tell you two that my girlfriend's coming here, too?"
"No, you didn't. But I'm sure it'll be fun having her here," Harry said, sounding excited.
"Who is she? What's her name?" Hermione asked Ron.
"I'm sure you both remember Lavender Brown?" Ron said. Hermione gasped.
"Lavender Brown? Ha! Harry, we were right!" Hermione yelled. "Remember? We always knew they'd hook up! Lavender Brown is Ron's girlfriend now!"
"Oh, that! You remembered, too! Herm, I'm impressed!" Harry said. Hermione looked at Ron's puzzled facial expression, and decided to explain the whole 'Lavender&Ron' thing. But Harry, as though he'd read Hermione's mind, said, "Hmm...You look troubled, young grasshopper." Hermione laughed.
"Yeah, erm...grasshopper, see, Harry and I made a prediction when we were still in Hogwarts that you and Lavender will get together. And you did! We were right," Hermione explained.
"Oh," said Ron, sounding sort of disappointed. "Why didn't you tell me that sooner? If you did, then Lavender would've been my girlfriend when we were still in Hogwarts!"
"Haha..." Hermione turned to Harry. "So, I guess you aren't going back to sleep?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm not sleepy anymore."
"Um," Hermione cleared her throat. "What're we all going to do today?"
"Lavender's coming right now. So maybe we should do a double-dating thing!" Ron grinned.
"Ron!" Hermione whispered(blushing a bit), so that only Ron could hear. She crossed her arms. "Don't you have anything to say, Harry?" Harry smiled innocently(which looked more like an evil grin), then shook his head. Hermione's eyes widened in shock.
"I don't have anything to say. Can't deny." Harry shrugged. "Hey, I don't want to be the one to ruin Ron and Lavender's romantic date."
"Oh..." Hermione sighed in relief. But Harry could've sworn that Hermione's voice sounded a bit disappointed. "Well, after dinner tonight, we can all split up. Do whatever you want to do. We'll have loads of time to spend together when we all start teaching on Monday. The students never listen anyway. And until dinner, we can all spend time together being friends. Do either of you disagree?" Ron and Harry looked at each other, then turned back to face Hermione.
"Nope, can't disagree," said Harry.
"We have no choice but to agree," Ron stated, nodding. "You look like you're going to kill us if we don't agree."
Ooh, I got a crush on you
I hope you feel the way that i do
I get a rush
When I'm with you
Ooh, I've got a crush on you
A crush on you
'Crush' -Mandy Moore
*
Chapter 2; "Tell me what's wrong."
Remember me
Feels like forever
Since the days
When we were friends
I don't understand
All these changes
I'm still the same
No need to pretend
'When I Talk To You' -Mandy Moore
Harry and Hermione sat in the Three Broomsticks, talking about their lives after they graduated Hogwarts-drinking Butterbeer, of course.
"What happened with you and Viktor Krum, anyway?" asked Harry. Hermione smiled slightly.
"Well, we broke up. We...thought we were better off being friends." Harry could see Hermione was engaged in thought again. Hermione's smile had faded.
"Hemione!" Harry yelled. "Hermione!" Harry shook Hermione by her shoulders. Hermione blinked, looked at Harry and spoke.
"Harry, I'm so sorry... I-I just get lost in my thoughts alot..."
"Hermione, don't lie to me. I know you better than that. There's something else, isn't there? There's something that's bothering you. Please, tell me what it is," Harry pleaded.
"No, it's nothing, really," Hermione said, trying to smile.
"Hermione," Harry said firmly. "Tell me what's wrong."
"No," Hermione sighed. "I can't."
"But-"
"No, Harry. I'm so sorry, but-I'll tell you when I'm ready. Until then, please, Harry-leave me be." There was a note of finality in Hermione's voice. Harry opened his mouth to argue, but he couldn't-no sound came out. Instead, he just apologized.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have pushed you too far. I understand completely. You-" Hermione had kissed Harry on the lips. It was short, but it was the sweetest. "I-er-nevermind," Harry said as he blushed.
"Don't ask why," Hermione said, looking down at the ground.
"Don't worry, I won't." Harry grinned. "Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"D'you-do you like me?" Harry asked.
"Well, do you think I'd kiss you if I wasn't attracted to you? It isn't that meaningless, you know." Hermione sounded slightly hurt. "I know I'm bad at it, Harry, so don't even bother saying it," Hermione added.
"No, not at all. You're wonderful at it. And it wasn't even close to being meaningless-It was priceless."
"Oh, I shouldn't have," said Hermione quickly, seeing the look on Harry's face.
"Shouldn't have what?"
"Shouldn't have kissed you."
"And why not?"
"We're just friends, Harry. And you know that. We can't get too attached..." Hermione trailed off. Harry raised an eyebrow. "It's just that...um...the whole 'best friends' thing gets in the way," Hermione said.
"Oh..."
"Harry, don't give me that look. It's not happening." Hermione sounded mad and sad at the same time.
"'Mione..." Harry said, looking dizzy and confused. "Nothing's holding you back." Hermione suddenly started avoiding Harry's eyes, and looked everywhere but at him. "Unless it's that secret of yours..." Harry had somehow got the point('Finally!' thought Hermione). "It is, isn't it?" Hermione nodded slowly. "Hermione..." Harry sighed. "Dont forget that if you need me, I'll always be there for you."
"Thanks, Harry."
"No problem. Do you want to go back to the castle?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Wait, Hermione-did you know that Ron's coming to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"What? Really? Why's he coming?" Hermione asked, wondering what Ron Weasley, her and Harry's other best friend, is like now.
"Yeah, uh...I think he's coming because he wants to see you, too. He's on a break or something. It'll be fun-all of us together again!"
"Um...why did you come to help me anyway? I don't think I'm that bad at teaching..." Hermione said.
"I came here because I wanted to see you again. Besides, my Quidditch team is sort of on a break right now. I bet that's the reason why Ron's coming here, too."
"Oh...What does Ron do now?"
"Hermione, you should really keep up with the wizarding world! Ron is an auror."
"Oh, wow! An auror! Personally, I thought he was going to be more involved with the Ministry of Magic...maybe like the Minister of Magic or something!"
"Hahaha...Yeah right, Ron-the Minister of Magic? Imagine him looking like Cornelius Fudge!" Harry laughed.
"Urgh...he won't look too pretty..." said Hermione, imagining Ron in pin-striped trousers and a violet cloak. She shook her head. "Oh, the horror!"
"He's arriving tomorrow. Let's just hope he doesn't look like Fudge!" Harry said, still laughing.
"When are you and Ron leaving?" asked Hermione, realizing that her two best friends can't stay with her forever at Hogwarts.
"Well," Harry said, apparently doing some thinking. "I'm quite sure Ron can't stay too long being an auror and all-probably for a week or so. And me-I have no clue. I can't stay too long either. You know, all those Chudley Cannons fans are waiting for me." But seeing the sad look on Hermione's face, Harry added, "I'll stay longer than Ron, though." Hermione smiled.
"You know, I think I'll have to re-think about us having a relationship. You might not be so bad after all. Who knows? Anything can happen." said Hermione, as she stood up to leave. "Let's go, then." She motioned Harry to get up.
"Yeah," muttered Harry, as he also stood up. He grinned slyly. "Let's go." Together, Hermione and Harry went back up to the Hogwarts castle.
*
Harry and Hermione awoke early next morning because they had sent a note to Ron (using Hedwig, who was still as healthy as ever) saying that they'd both be up early and will be waiting for him in the Great Hall.
Harry, who was sitting at the staff table with Hermione, yawned. No one was in the Great Hall, for it was too early for anyone to get up and eat breakfast-well, besides Harry and Hermione, of course. Hermione also yawned, looking like she'd fall asleep any minute on her slice of toast. Harry blinked once, twice, then rubbed his eyes, trying to keep himself awake as he stuffed some scrambled eggs into his mouth. Harry sighed.
"Why the bloody hell did we say we'd get up so early again?" Harry groaned.
"Because...erm...oh, yeah, I remember now. I think we're supposed to wait for Ron and greet him when he's here..." Hermione trailed off.
"After that, can I go back to sleep?" Harry growled.
"Yeah, sure, whatever..." Hermione said, as she accidently knocked over her goblet of pumkin juice. Hermione yawned again and told her pumkin juice 'where' it can go.
"Hermione, pumkin juice can't go to hell," Harry said, chuckling.
"Oh, yes, it can," Hermione giggled. Then, they heard a voice. It sounded very much like-
"Ron!" Harry said, grinning, as he stood up, walked over to Ron and gave him a hug. Ron was tall(he was about the same height as Harry), 'better'-looking than when he was in Hogwarts, and, of course, still had the Weasleys' flaming-red hair(which seemed, if possible, redder than ever). Thankfully, Ron didn't look at all like Cornelius Fudge. Instead, he had a pair of dark blue jeans, and a white t-shirt on. Ron turned to Hermione as she walked over to him.
"Hermione! Hi!" Ron said, eyeing Hermione up and down. "Too bad I have a girlfriend..." Ron joked. Hermione smiled as she hugged Ron.
"Ron, how are you?" Hermione asked.
"I'm fine, thanks," Ron answered. "Oh, did I tell you two that my girlfriend's coming here, too?"
"No, you didn't. But I'm sure it'll be fun having her here," Harry said, sounding excited.
"Who is she? What's her name?" Hermione asked Ron.
"I'm sure you both remember Lavender Brown?" Ron said. Hermione gasped.
"Lavender Brown? Ha! Harry, we were right!" Hermione yelled. "Remember? We always knew they'd hook up! Lavender Brown is Ron's girlfriend now!"
"Oh, that! You remembered, too! Herm, I'm impressed!" Harry said. Hermione looked at Ron's puzzled facial expression, and decided to explain the whole 'Lavender&Ron' thing. But Harry, as though he'd read Hermione's mind, said, "Hmm...You look troubled, young grasshopper." Hermione laughed.
"Yeah, erm...grasshopper, see, Harry and I made a prediction when we were still in Hogwarts that you and Lavender will get together. And you did! We were right," Hermione explained.
"Oh," said Ron, sounding sort of disappointed. "Why didn't you tell me that sooner? If you did, then Lavender would've been my girlfriend when we were still in Hogwarts!"
"Haha..." Hermione turned to Harry. "So, I guess you aren't going back to sleep?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm not sleepy anymore."
"Um," Hermione cleared her throat. "What're we all going to do today?"
"Lavender's coming right now. So maybe we should do a double-dating thing!" Ron grinned.
"Ron!" Hermione whispered(blushing a bit), so that only Ron could hear. She crossed her arms. "Don't you have anything to say, Harry?" Harry smiled innocently(which looked more like an evil grin), then shook his head. Hermione's eyes widened in shock.
"I don't have anything to say. Can't deny." Harry shrugged. "Hey, I don't want to be the one to ruin Ron and Lavender's romantic date."
"Oh..." Hermione sighed in relief. But Harry could've sworn that Hermione's voice sounded a bit disappointed. "Well, after dinner tonight, we can all split up. Do whatever you want to do. We'll have loads of time to spend together when we all start teaching on Monday. The students never listen anyway. And until dinner, we can all spend time together being friends. Do either of you disagree?" Ron and Harry looked at each other, then turned back to face Hermione.
"Nope, can't disagree," said Harry.
"We have no choice but to agree," Ron stated, nodding. "You look like you're going to kill us if we don't agree."
Ooh, I got a crush on you
I hope you feel the way that i do
I get a rush
When I'm with you
Ooh, I've got a crush on you
A crush on you
'Crush' -Mandy Moore
*