Chapter 3: The First Kiss

To Harry and Ron's dismay Neville and Hermione became inseparable after their first date. The snickers and jabs behind their backs were getting to them, so they went to Hermione.

"Hey Hermione can we speak to you for a few minutes?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, won't take long if you agree with us," Ron retorted.

"Agree with you on what?" Hermione said not even bothering to look up from the book she was reading.

"Come on this is serious Hermione," Harry insisted.

Hermione sighed, marked her place and closed her book, "Make it quick, Neville will be here soon," she said getting irritated.

"That's who we wanted to talk to you about. We want you to stop seeing Neville," Harry said getting straight to the point.

"Stop seeing Neville? Are you bloody mad?" she replied.

"Haven't you heard the snickers and the jabs, and all the gossip going on about the two of you?" Ron spoke up.

"Yes and we've both decided to ignore it all. We enjoy each other's company and we enjoy spending time with one another," Hermione responded back.

"We don't like it," Ron and Harry said at the same time.

"Well that's your problem not mine. I suggest you both start ignoring it all like Neville and I are," she insisted.

"Bloody Hell Hermione, Have you gone completely mad," Ron replied.

"No but to be honest with both of you I do believe I am falling in love with him He hasn't kissed me but on the cheek just yet but he has been a gentleman and one that I am glad I am friends with," she told them.

Harry and Ron's mouths just dropped open. Harry was the first to recover. "Love is a strong word and emotion are you sure?"

"Yes I am," She said with a huge smile."

"Yes you are what beautiful," Neville said walking into the common room.

Hermione blushed, "Nothing Neville Harry and Ron were just leaving," Hermione said.

Harry got the hint and pulled Ron out of the common room and told Ron, "This isn't over yet, not by a long shot," Ron nodded his head in agreement.

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"What were you all talking about when I came in?" Neville asked after Ron and Harry left.

"Harry and Ron want me to stop seeing you," she said as she turned and walked to one of the room's tall windows.

"Is that what you want?" he asked in return.

She turned back towards Neville, there was something in his voice that caught her attention, "No of course not, is that what you want, you heard what they've been saying about us just as well as I have!" she responded.

Neville closed the gap between them. "No of course not Hermione You are my girl. My life , my world," he replied.

At that moment their eyes locked together It was as if the world around them had melted away and it was just the two of them. He reached up and put a hand to her cheek and leaned in to connect his lips to hers.

Their first kiss. It only lasted about a minute but to Hermione it could have been a lifetime. She smiled at him and he smiled back at her. No words needed to be said because they each knew in that moment what the other was feeling and thinking.