HOW WE GOT HERE
2
Harry pulled himself out from under his bed as he collected misplaced parchments, quills, books, and socks. He hit his head as he stood, and grunted, cringing at the pain. It left in almost an instant – he was, indeed, used to pain – and he went back to packing his things. It was lunch time, and most students, including all his room mates, had gone down for the final lunch of the school year. He, however, stayed behind to pack. And then, well, there was also –
"Harry?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice as she knocked on his door.
He allowed himself a smile. "Hermione, it's just you and me up here. You don't have to whisper."
She opened the door and stepped in. "Sorry. I just thought…" she trailed off.
He nodded. After a few more moments of packing, he turned and looked at her. She was watching him carefully, unsure what to do. He rolled his eyes, and smiled at her. "Hermione, it's not the first time you've been in here."
"I know," she said quietly. Then taking a bolder step forward, and finally seating herself on his bed, she added, "But, it's the first time we've been here as, well…us."
Harry actually laughed, then stood up straight, and looked at her carefully. "You sound silly," he said, laughing as he threw in some quills. He went back to his packing, noticing from the corner of his eye that Hermione was carefully, and nervously, folding some of his clothes.
"What – what are we now, Harry?" she asked him suddenly, folding his sweater.
He stopped again, and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I really…I dunno." He moved to the bed, and sat facing her. "I like you, Hermione. Honestly," he added, smiling weakly, and turning to look at his trainers. He knew he was turning red. She was too, however.
And she said in a very light tone, "I like you too, Harry."
It was quiet again. He finally looked up from his trainers, and she looked up from folding his clothes, before they started laughing.
"Why are all your clothes so…big?" she asked, handing him the small pile she'd managed to fold up.
"They were Dudley's at first," he explained.
"Oh," she said softly, before shutting her mouth tightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean."
"Don't do that!" he cut across her, firmly, but not angrily. "Look, don't – don't pity me."
"I don't, Harry," she replied quickly and surely.
"Life's…the way it is," he said, just as surely, shrugging and placing the clothes into his trunk carefully. "Even if I don't like the way it's played out. There's nothing I can do about it." He got up, and threw the rest of his clothes into his trunk without folding them, before shutting the whole thing, and locking it.
"I know, Harry," Hermione said from his bed. "I get it. I'm sorry. But there…well, there is – maybe, that is – something we could do about your clothes."
He looked up at her, half-amused, half-exasperated, and she explained with a smirk. "We could…shrink your clothes."
"Are you kidding?" he asked, laughing again.
"No, I'm not, Harry. They're way too big for you, even you know that."
He shook his head at her.
"Look at this," she said, holding up shirt of his. She looked at it. It wasn't as big as the others. "Wait. This isn't so –"
"That's actually mine," Harry sighed.
"Oh," Hermione said again. "Sorry." She threw it at him, and he caught it. He pulled it on over the shirt he was already wearing, and showed her. It was almost his exact size. He took it off, and dropped it on the trunk.
He took his seat next to her again, and took her hand in his.
"Hermione," he said slowly. "Tell me. What…what is this? I like you. And you like me. We've kissed. Aren't we…well, kind of…something now?"
"It depends. Do you want us to be something?"
"Well, yeah. Do you?"
"Definitely," she said, smiling.
He gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
"Can I –" he began, before she pulled him by the collar lightly, and kissed him. This one was longer than before, even though they were still just staying still, just letting the feeling grow between them. There was no lustful passion. It was just a kiss. Affectionately sweet and simple. When Hermione broke it, she couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she said at his shocked reaction. "I should've told you, or something," she added, feeling awkward. "I dunno how this is suppose to go. Muggle movies are so unreliable, and I can't bare to watch those kind of Muggle movies, with the kissing and the fluffy romance that doesn't make sense so I – I…I just…went with it," she finished lamely, waiting for his response. "What – what were you going to say?"
He shook off the shock, before edging closer.
"Hermione," he said softly, leaning in, smiling. "Can I kiss you?" he asked. She nodded slightly, pink in the face because of the overall situation, and he kissed her. It felt even better this time, better than the other times. This time, it grew more. It became sweeter, and more affectionate. It also seemed to start to feed off it's own feelings, even though they still sat there. It was definitely longer, and intoxicating. It just started to grow and grow. Her hand was locking with his, his other hand supporting the side of her face lightly. Her other hand held on behind his neck.
After a while, they broke apart again, slower than before, heavy breathing ensuing between them.
"You will write to me, won't you, Harry?" she asked suddenly, sounding out of breath.
"Yeah, ofcourse," he assured her, sounding equally out of breath.
He took her hand once again, looked her deep in the eyes, and stood, leading her out of the room and towards the Great Hall. They were out in a deserted hallway, when he suddenly pulled her into a nearby classroom. It was empty, but they could hear the sound of laughter and chatter from the other side of the door.
"Ron," Hermione whispered knowingly.
"And Neville, Seamus…and Dean," Harry said, listening carefully. He turned to Hermione.
"I don't – I don't want them to know yet. Anyone – especially Ron."
Hermione blinked at him, then recovered and said testily, "Ouch, Harry. That kinda hurt."
"What? Whadoyou – Oh. Hermione, sorry," he said to her as she looked around the classroom, rolling her eyes at him. "It's not like that. I just. I'm not ready to take it yet."
"Take what?" she asked him tightly. "Can you hear yourself, Harry?" she asked him once more. "You sound silly. And you sound like you don't want…people…to know we're together."
"No, I do not sound that way," he said determinedly, taking her hands to she'd atleast look at him. "I sound like someone who's dating his bestfriend. And who's afraid of how his other bestfriend might take it."
"All right, all right," she said after a while, sighing. "All right," she assured him once more as he registered her acceptance, feeling doubtful.
"Are you sure?" he asked, towering over her slightly as he edged closer, trying to see if she was telling him the truth or not.
She laughed quietly, and whispered, "Yes, Potter, now let's go."
"Hermione, sorry," Harry said as she walked to the door.
She smiled at him, and opened the door, leading them outside. As they walked, Harry a little unsure of his most recent actions as they did so, a voice called from the other end.
"OI! You two!" Ron's voice rang loudly at them. They turned. All four boys – Ron, Seamus, Neville and Dean – were looking at them with wide grins. "Where the heck have you been?"
"Ron, tell Harry, go on!" Dean urged, suddenly laughing. Ron rolled his eyes at Dean, but couldn't help laughing as well.
He rushed at his friends, and said in a hushed voice, "Harry – you'll never believe it. We were down there – eating, definitely minding our own business –"
"Which is a first, indeed," Hermione agreed sarcastically.
Ron raised an eyebrow at her, "What's up with you?" he asked, before switching his glare to Harry instead, looking cheerful. "Well, you'll never guess, Harry! Cho – Cho Chang – seeker of the Ravenclaw Team – yeah, you know – her – she was looking for you! Searched the whole Gryffindor table, by the looks of it – trying to get a glance at you! You should've been there, mate," Ron said resolutely, before shaking his head at Harry. "Blimey, Harry. You should've been there. The opportunity of it all." He shook his head, and turned away, walking back to the other boys. He looked at Harry and Hermione over his shoulder, saying, "You two go down and eat. I'm just gonna finish packing. Cho might still be there, Harry!" And he jogged after the others as the four fed boys headed into the Gryffindor common room.
"Idiots," Harry muttered after them, determinedly thinking up over a hundred ways to repay Ron for what he'd just done – with interest. He then turned to Hermione, who shrugged at him. "They're idiots, really," he assured her. She just laughed at him, then smiled kindly.
"I know," she agreed, before turning back and starting to walk towards the Great Hall. Harry jumped her, wrapping his arms around her waist as they enjoyed yet another moment alone together. She looked up at him, and said with deep understanding, "I know, Harry."
A/N: Okay, I tried to hold back on the drama there, sorry if I failed. Everything seems to loose at the moment, but it's all gonna be dealt with in future chapters. So yes, I am, indeed, continuing with this story. Second of all, I must warn you that there are gonna be changes in the storyline, even if I am following the backbone of the original story. This chapter was just a round up of what happened in the first chapter, otherwise phrased as a way to end the Third Year, regarding Harry and Hermione's new found relationship. Thanks for reading. Reviews, please? And thanks for all the reviews given on the first chapter.