Harry didn't see Hermione or Ron at breakfast which was odd. Usually, they would both be down there before him or they'd wait and walk down together. He ate breakfast alone but he wasn't even that hungry. An orange and half a bagel was enough.

"Hey, Harry," Ginny plopped down beside him, smiling. Earlier this year he had really started to like her but something happened. He didn't know what. Yes he did. Hermione happened.

"Hello, Ginny," said Harry with a sigh.

"Ready for the game?"

"Yep. Saw Ron with Hermione this morning. You think they made up?"

"Were they fighting?" asked Harry, trying to sound innocent. Everyone knew they wer fighting.

Ginny elbowed him in the side. She was still beautiful. Her pale skin, winning smile and small pink lips. But his mind couldn't focus on her, it would quickly float away to Hermione, to the angry look she'd get on her face whenever someone insulted her, the sad puppy dog eyes whenever the teacher didn't call on her in class.

"Harry. Harry!" shouted Ginny.

"What?" asked Harry. Ginny had been talking and he missed every word she said. "Oh, sorry."

"Seriously, Harry. What's going on with you?"

He shook his head. "Nothing."

"Don't lie."

Well Harry had to lie. He couldn't tell her the truth. He just needed to think of a better lie. Malfoy.

"Just... Malfoy... he's been acting strange."

Ginny squinted. "He's Draco Malfoy. He's always acting strange."

"I know. I mean more strange. Look at him."

It was only a half lie. Draco Malfoy had been acting strange... er. His eyes were ringed black and the whites around his pupils had become more of a red color. He also seemed to be losing weight.

"He does look... bad. Then again, we did get his father sent to prison." Ginny winked. Harry grinned then thought about what Hermione would say.

Lucius Malfoy may have deserved Azkaban, but we still shouldn't brag about it.

Hermione had this uncanny ability to see past the petty or even past revenge. Two things Harry could drown in if he didn't have his friends to pull him out. Yes, Ginny was attractive, but they were very alike... too alike.

"Well, Harry. I'll see you at the game." Ginny finished eating and jumped up from the table. Draco Malfoy stood up at the same time. He watched both of them leave. They smacked into each other in the doorway. Malfoy looked at Ginny but said nothing and walked away.

The quidditch stands were packed with cheering people. It was nice that qudditch was back again this year. It made things feel normal when everything else clearly wasn't. Hermione and Ron were laughing with each other, which made things also feel more normal than they really were.

Harry joined them. "Hey."

"Hello, Harry," said Hermione. "Good luck today."

She looked at him and the same familiar buzz circulated through his whole body. He fidgeted uncomfortably, trying to think of anything other than the perfect way Hermione's jeans fit.

"So... you guys seem to be getting along better?" said Harry.

Ron opened his mouth to reply when Lavender swept into the room and planted a long kiss on his mouth. Hermione rolled her eyes and let out a large breath. Harry glanced at her. He shrugged, putting on his best sympathetic face. He really hated seeing Hermione upset, but it bothered him that she was so hurt by Ron and Lavender's relationship. It meant she had feelings for Ron, not him. Didn't it?

It was their first match against Ravenclaw that year. They played a good game but Cho was a little off that day. She never seemed to be near enough to the snitch. Harry followed right behind it nearly the entire game, until he made a swift turn and caught it in his right hand.

The stands erupted with applause. Harry lowered to the ground, the whole team jumping up and down and celebrating their victory. Harry allowed himself a moment to just enjoy his friends, his favorite sport, without worrying about Voldemort, Malfoy or Hermione. It was a moment he needed desperately.

Everyone else had changed back into their clothes and taken a shower. Harry was behind in these activities. His mind had drifted back to Hermione, to her smile, her laugh, her brilliant mind which outpaced his any day. He loved that she was the kind of person who could stand by him, face what he faced. They protected each other.

Harry was standing in nothing but his quidditch pants, his chest exposed, still sticky with sweat from the game. He removed his glasses and wiped the sweat from his brow and then placed his glasses back on. Harry had terrible vision without his glasses and when he looked through the lenses, Hermione was standing in front of him.

He jumped.

"Sorry, Harry," she smiled. "I didn't mean to-" Her soft brown eyes traveled from his face down his torso. Harry tensed, feeling exposed, vulnerable. "I'll come back." Hermione turned but Harry caught her arm and spun her back toward him. Her hand fell flat against his bare shoulder.

"Don't go."

The steam from the showers floated around the legs, making the room hotter. Hermione's hair was sticking to her pink cheeks. Harry held Hermione's arm with one hand and then pushed the strands away with the other. He leaned in, pressing his cheek to hers.

"H-harry." Hermione trembled. "What are we doing?"

"I don't know," he whispered in her ear. "Do you want me to stop?" He placed a soft kiss just below her ear.

"N-no."

Harry pulled away just enough to look Hermione directly in the eye. Her fingers gripped into his shoulder. She glanced down at his chest again.

"You look-" she said.

Harry tilted her chin and moved in to where his mouth was just a breath away from hers. He waited what seemed like a lifetime before Hermione closed the distance. The moment she did everything lit up. His fingers sparked with fire. Harry grabbed her face and pulled Hermione closer. She ran her hand up his neck and grabbed Harry's hair and tugged it. He let out a moan, opening his mouth, and she deepened the kiss. Cho had never kissed him like that. Harry snaked an arm behind Hermione's back, his hand sliding up the back of her shirt, feeling her bare back. They parted for air, their eyes locked, sharing their labored hot breaths.

Hermione gasped. "Oh Harry." She threw her hand over her mouth and ran out of the room.

Harry clinched his fists, anger, confusion and desire fighting inside him. What had he done?

First kisses... :) Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it!