Chapter 4: Feelings
Summary: It's Hermione's birthday- What will she think of Harry's present?
Disclaimer: All characters of the story belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author's note: Thank you so much to my first few reviewers… especially you, Stoneheart! This chapter is when the H/H romance gets going! I can feel this one is going to be a long one, there is still a lot to come… If the characters get a bit messy, it's because I'm ancy to get the story going! Thank you!
On the morning of Hermione's birthday, she woke in the early morning. Being fifteen didn't suppress the feelings of excitement she always had had as a little girl on this day. She knew the usual family presents would be flown in with the borrowed use of Hedwig, but she wondered what her friends would be getting her this year. 'Oh don't be silly,' she told herself, 'they probably didn't even remember.' But what would they have given her? Ron, she sniggered, would probably give her a bunch of dungbombs and some of his brothers' tongue taffy. Or a Chudley Cannon poster.
But what about Harry? She felt their friendship ran deep enough, that's why she had given him the sterling quill. It was so cute to see him use it in class, and pack it up so carefully. She got a thrill thinking about what he would give her. A new book, maybe? She didn't dare think of what she really hoped for. Did Ron ever suspect that she was interested in Harry? He eyed them suspiciously from time to time, but he never said anything. Every now and then she might blush underneath Harry's gaze or conversation, her mind elsewhere. But Harry was much too shy and oblivious when it came to girls, he would never realize that she had a tiny bit of a crush on him. 'Ugh, raging hormones.' She knew it was stupid to have a crush on someone so soon after she and Krum hadn't worked out their relationship, yet she needed someone her age, a close friend. Not a fervent admirer. She couldn't stand not having him, though. One day she wouldn't be able to hold it in, and it would all burst out! Stupid hormones!
Later that morning Hermione dressed and went down to the common room, where, surprisingly, Harry and Ron were waiting for her.
"Happy Birthday, you ol' bookworm!" Ron said.
"Happy Birthday, Hermione!" Harry said smilingly.
They both were concealing packages behind them, with not much luck. Hermione was delighted.
"Thanks! Too bad we have classes today, right?"
Harry and Ron shoved the presents towards her, and she couldn't help giggling. Harry also pulled something from under the table that was wrapped messily. "This one's from Hagrid."
She opened Hagrid's first. It was a fresh box of toffees he had probably made himself. They smelled suspiciously of eggs, so she smiled and put them aside.
Harry motioned for her to open Ron's gift first, but Ron smirked suspiciously and said, "Go on, Hermione, open Harry's."
She peeled back the pretty wrapping of a smallish-box, lifted up the flap, and gasped, "Oh, Harry… Oh, Harry…" She held up the crystalline bottle.
Harry grinned, "Do you like it?"
"Oh, Harry yes…yes!" Harry blushed deeply.
Ron shifted his present towards her. "All right then, go on." He smiled.
She removed the wrapping to find a rich, leather bound book. It was an original edition of Hogwarts, a History. She squealed. Harry and Ron winced. "Oh, Ron, Oh, I love it! You both spent too much on me!" The two boys shook their heads.
"We wanted to make it special for you, Herm." Ron grinned. Harry continued to blush.
Hermione also received a new sweater from her mum and dad, as well as a new satchel. She went upstairs to change into it, giddily tripping as she went. Harry had given her perfume! She spritzed some into the air, accidently colliding with Parvati Patil. "Hermione! Is today your birthday?" Hermione nodded. "Ooo! Perfume, it smells heavenly!" Parvati hurried back down the stairway.
Moments later she heard a shriek and a yelp. What in the… She ran back downstairs, but in a few seconds, wished she hadn't. Parvati was splayed on top of Harry, showering him with kisses and practically tearing his clothes off.
Hermione, as well as the rest of the common room, stared openly for one shocked moment. Then all erupted in laughter.
Harry sputtered, "Get her off! Get her—Owf!" Ron pulled at Parvati until she relinquished hold, then held her by her wrists with her arms behind her back.
"Harry, my love! Nothing can hold back the inevitable passion between us!" Parvati wailed.
Ron was dumbstruck. Hermione stared. Harry got up and his mind raced. "Hermione, did you see Parvati before she came down?"
"Uh, uhh yeah…" For once in her life, Hermione had nothing to say. "She told me happy birthday and said that your perfume smelled nice."
"Did you put any on yourself?"
"No, I sprayed it in the air as Pavarti came around the corner."
Harry's eyes widened. It will surely make her love you.
Ron was struggling with Pavarti, who was biting at his fists in between her love declarations. "Harry, someone call for Madame Pomfrey, I can't hold her…"
The room was breaking into fits of giggles and excited chattering. All eyes were on the four of them. Fred and George were cat-calling and wolf- whistling. Hermione was still holding the perfume bottle and inspecting it carefully. "Harry… is this…this isn't a love potion, is it?" She suddenly looked furious. "Harry POTTER!" Her eyes flickered. "It IS, isn't it?" She turned to Lavender and told her to take Pavarti to Madame Pomfrey. This turned out to be such an unwieldy task that Seamus and Dean had to help.
The rest of the Gryffindors followed them out to watch Pavarti struggle, whispering about what would happen when she got back to her senses.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione stood in the center of the room, unable to speak. Harry looked puzzled, Ron looked startled, and Hermione was livid.
Harry began, stumbling. "Hermione, I didn't—know…"
"Oh, you didn't know? How could you not know something like that would happen? Evidently you were expecting it from me though, so that changes things…"
"No, no! That's not what I meant! I had no clue…"
Ron looked back and forth at the two.
"Fancy that! Harry Potter doing something un-heroic for a change! What exactly did you think was going to happen? What kind of girl do you think I am?"
With this, Hermione stomped up the stairs into the now-empty girl dormitory.
Harry's brow was pushed inwards, and Ron looked at Harry suspiciously. "You didn't really buy her a love potion, did you…?"
"Of COURSE NOT! That crazy old woman told me it was perfume!!" Harry's face was screwed up in anger and worry. That had blown it. Hermione would never want to speak to him again. She would never like him like he wanted her to.
Ron smiled shyly. "It's not too late to fix it, you know. If you wait, the damage done will get worse."
Harry nodded, and realized that he had to try and fix it. He ascended the staircase to the girls' dormitory, walking carefully into Hermione's quarters. She was sprawled on the bed, not crying like he thought, but staring thoughtfully up at the ceiling. He felt more nervous here than he had anywhere near Voldemort, but it was a different kind of nervousness. He stood his ground until Hermione looked up to him.
"Hermione, I'm sorry."
Her eyes flickered as if she was making a decision.
"I didn't mean to hurt you… I really was just… showing off, I guess…" He looked up at her, trying to read her expression. It was still borderline. He tried again. "I wanted you to fancy me, like I fancy you." He blushed furiously. He hadn't ever said anything like that…to a girl before.
Hermione's couldn't suppress a smile. "Oh Harry! I fancy you too!"
Summary: It's Hermione's birthday- What will she think of Harry's present?
Disclaimer: All characters of the story belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author's note: Thank you so much to my first few reviewers… especially you, Stoneheart! This chapter is when the H/H romance gets going! I can feel this one is going to be a long one, there is still a lot to come… If the characters get a bit messy, it's because I'm ancy to get the story going! Thank you!
On the morning of Hermione's birthday, she woke in the early morning. Being fifteen didn't suppress the feelings of excitement she always had had as a little girl on this day. She knew the usual family presents would be flown in with the borrowed use of Hedwig, but she wondered what her friends would be getting her this year. 'Oh don't be silly,' she told herself, 'they probably didn't even remember.' But what would they have given her? Ron, she sniggered, would probably give her a bunch of dungbombs and some of his brothers' tongue taffy. Or a Chudley Cannon poster.
But what about Harry? She felt their friendship ran deep enough, that's why she had given him the sterling quill. It was so cute to see him use it in class, and pack it up so carefully. She got a thrill thinking about what he would give her. A new book, maybe? She didn't dare think of what she really hoped for. Did Ron ever suspect that she was interested in Harry? He eyed them suspiciously from time to time, but he never said anything. Every now and then she might blush underneath Harry's gaze or conversation, her mind elsewhere. But Harry was much too shy and oblivious when it came to girls, he would never realize that she had a tiny bit of a crush on him. 'Ugh, raging hormones.' She knew it was stupid to have a crush on someone so soon after she and Krum hadn't worked out their relationship, yet she needed someone her age, a close friend. Not a fervent admirer. She couldn't stand not having him, though. One day she wouldn't be able to hold it in, and it would all burst out! Stupid hormones!
Later that morning Hermione dressed and went down to the common room, where, surprisingly, Harry and Ron were waiting for her.
"Happy Birthday, you ol' bookworm!" Ron said.
"Happy Birthday, Hermione!" Harry said smilingly.
They both were concealing packages behind them, with not much luck. Hermione was delighted.
"Thanks! Too bad we have classes today, right?"
Harry and Ron shoved the presents towards her, and she couldn't help giggling. Harry also pulled something from under the table that was wrapped messily. "This one's from Hagrid."
She opened Hagrid's first. It was a fresh box of toffees he had probably made himself. They smelled suspiciously of eggs, so she smiled and put them aside.
Harry motioned for her to open Ron's gift first, but Ron smirked suspiciously and said, "Go on, Hermione, open Harry's."
She peeled back the pretty wrapping of a smallish-box, lifted up the flap, and gasped, "Oh, Harry… Oh, Harry…" She held up the crystalline bottle.
Harry grinned, "Do you like it?"
"Oh, Harry yes…yes!" Harry blushed deeply.
Ron shifted his present towards her. "All right then, go on." He smiled.
She removed the wrapping to find a rich, leather bound book. It was an original edition of Hogwarts, a History. She squealed. Harry and Ron winced. "Oh, Ron, Oh, I love it! You both spent too much on me!" The two boys shook their heads.
"We wanted to make it special for you, Herm." Ron grinned. Harry continued to blush.
Hermione also received a new sweater from her mum and dad, as well as a new satchel. She went upstairs to change into it, giddily tripping as she went. Harry had given her perfume! She spritzed some into the air, accidently colliding with Parvati Patil. "Hermione! Is today your birthday?" Hermione nodded. "Ooo! Perfume, it smells heavenly!" Parvati hurried back down the stairway.
Moments later she heard a shriek and a yelp. What in the… She ran back downstairs, but in a few seconds, wished she hadn't. Parvati was splayed on top of Harry, showering him with kisses and practically tearing his clothes off.
Hermione, as well as the rest of the common room, stared openly for one shocked moment. Then all erupted in laughter.
Harry sputtered, "Get her off! Get her—Owf!" Ron pulled at Parvati until she relinquished hold, then held her by her wrists with her arms behind her back.
"Harry, my love! Nothing can hold back the inevitable passion between us!" Parvati wailed.
Ron was dumbstruck. Hermione stared. Harry got up and his mind raced. "Hermione, did you see Parvati before she came down?"
"Uh, uhh yeah…" For once in her life, Hermione had nothing to say. "She told me happy birthday and said that your perfume smelled nice."
"Did you put any on yourself?"
"No, I sprayed it in the air as Pavarti came around the corner."
Harry's eyes widened. It will surely make her love you.
Ron was struggling with Pavarti, who was biting at his fists in between her love declarations. "Harry, someone call for Madame Pomfrey, I can't hold her…"
The room was breaking into fits of giggles and excited chattering. All eyes were on the four of them. Fred and George were cat-calling and wolf- whistling. Hermione was still holding the perfume bottle and inspecting it carefully. "Harry… is this…this isn't a love potion, is it?" She suddenly looked furious. "Harry POTTER!" Her eyes flickered. "It IS, isn't it?" She turned to Lavender and told her to take Pavarti to Madame Pomfrey. This turned out to be such an unwieldy task that Seamus and Dean had to help.
The rest of the Gryffindors followed them out to watch Pavarti struggle, whispering about what would happen when she got back to her senses.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione stood in the center of the room, unable to speak. Harry looked puzzled, Ron looked startled, and Hermione was livid.
Harry began, stumbling. "Hermione, I didn't—know…"
"Oh, you didn't know? How could you not know something like that would happen? Evidently you were expecting it from me though, so that changes things…"
"No, no! That's not what I meant! I had no clue…"
Ron looked back and forth at the two.
"Fancy that! Harry Potter doing something un-heroic for a change! What exactly did you think was going to happen? What kind of girl do you think I am?"
With this, Hermione stomped up the stairs into the now-empty girl dormitory.
Harry's brow was pushed inwards, and Ron looked at Harry suspiciously. "You didn't really buy her a love potion, did you…?"
"Of COURSE NOT! That crazy old woman told me it was perfume!!" Harry's face was screwed up in anger and worry. That had blown it. Hermione would never want to speak to him again. She would never like him like he wanted her to.
Ron smiled shyly. "It's not too late to fix it, you know. If you wait, the damage done will get worse."
Harry nodded, and realized that he had to try and fix it. He ascended the staircase to the girls' dormitory, walking carefully into Hermione's quarters. She was sprawled on the bed, not crying like he thought, but staring thoughtfully up at the ceiling. He felt more nervous here than he had anywhere near Voldemort, but it was a different kind of nervousness. He stood his ground until Hermione looked up to him.
"Hermione, I'm sorry."
Her eyes flickered as if she was making a decision.
"I didn't mean to hurt you… I really was just… showing off, I guess…" He looked up at her, trying to read her expression. It was still borderline. He tried again. "I wanted you to fancy me, like I fancy you." He blushed furiously. He hadn't ever said anything like that…to a girl before.
Hermione's couldn't suppress a smile. "Oh Harry! I fancy you too!"
