A/n: Like I said, here it is, chapter four! I had this one planned to publish earlier, but somehow it got delayed. Anyhow, Hermione's made a change of heart, much to Cho's delight. But can things be suddenly turned to a catastrophe? Hee~ read to find out! I do not own the Harry Potter series or the characters used.

~Chapter four - Coming around~

Not knowing where my feet where taking me, I realized after a short while that I was heading towards the seventh floor. To the Gryffindor common room for that matter. Shaking my head, I spun around and descended the long staircase. Halfway on it, it budged and trembled. Great. Waiting for the vast block of stone to come to a halt on a different floor my eyes caught a glimpse of a head full of bushy hair. Craning my neck so fast I pulled a muscle, I realized it was just a lady in a painting. I have to stop this obsessive behavior.

The staircase thudded to a stop on the fifth floor and I continued my way. Not that I was going anywhere in particular, but walking clears my head and takes away the feeling that I have to do something.

'Cho?'

I spun my head around, this time not too fast and let my eyes feast on her beauty. There she was, her gorgeous body draped in her oversized robes, walking towards me with seemingly confident yet uncertain strides. She muttered me a ''hi'' and I whispered her one back, way too distracted. I can't understand that this feeling hasn't died out yet. Surely, I know how beautiful she is, but still every time I see her, she just takes my breath away.

'I er- I was wondering if I could talk to you for a little bit,' she added.

'Sure,' I replied, eager to listen to her velvet voice but afraid to talk to her about our ''problem'', 'do you want to sit down somewhere?'

'No, no, let's just walk.'

I nodded and we made our way back into the corridors. I was glad she decided to take a walk, afraid my clear thoughts might end when I sat down with her, when I didn't have my echoing footsteps to concentrate on instead of her face. After a short while, she stopped walking. I turned around- being a bit ahead of her and before I knew it, she had flung herself around my neck, burying her face in my neck so that all I could see was her bushy hair. Overwhelmed by this sudden move, my heart beating so hard against my chest she must've felt it thump right through my robes, I wasn't sure what to do. I felt her body shudder against mine- sending shivers down my own spine.

'I'm sorry Cho,' she murmured into my ear- goosebumps spreading all over my skin, 'I'm sorry.'

'What.. what's there to apologize for?' my reply came, surprising myself that I could still talk sanely with her so close, 'you've done nothing wrong.'

'I have. I've been hurting you all this time.. when there was no need to.'

Confusion struck me, as did a tiny spark of hope. My thoughts churned, trying to figure out what she meant. If someone was to say sorry for hurting you, it would've been me, not Hermione. So why was she apologizing? But somehow, I couldn't think of a decent answer. I then became aware of my limbs hanging useless next to my body while they should be wrapped around the Gryffindor and I did so, pressing her closer. She made no objection. My thought once again resumed their contemplating about what she meant, for as far as I was able of doing so. Accepting the fact I simply couldn't think sense, I diverted my attention back to Hermione, who broke the embrace and looked at me.

Totally unexpected and thus sending my heartbeat up again, she inched closer. Breathing hard all of a sudden, I felt my eyes shoot back and forth from her brown ones to her lips. I swallowed and tried to ask her what was wrong, but no words would pass my dry lips. Trying again, I quickly ran my tongue over my bottom lip- a movement she followed with her eyes, but it seemed as if I had forgotten how to talk. She then took my face in her hands and my cheeks burned against her cold skin. Her lips opened as she whispered my name, quietly, softly.

Closing my eyes in anticipation, I felt her lips press against mine. Her kiss was scared, uncertain, but the touch was all too good. My heart felt so heavy with love that it almost hurt and though I didn't want the kiss to end, she retreated.

'I- I think,' she stuttered, her cheeks flushed, 'I think I love you too.'

I don't know how I felt. All my emotions had collided against eachother as her sentence sank in. She loved me too. She loved me. Hermione, my crush, the girl I had been in love with for months now, loved me too. I felt tears well up in my eyes, but I was too overwhelmed to stop them from rolling down my face and a smile cracked through my lips. Quickly wiping away the tears, I laughed- this time a happy one. She smiled too, making this moment even better. Not being able to express my feelings and emotions through words, I drew her back in a hug, planting my lips carefully on hers. She gladly welcomed them, her arms snaking around my waist.

I laid in my bed, unable to sleep. My thoughts wandered back to the afternoon, to Hermione's confession and everytime I thought about it I couldn't get the grin off my face. I don't think I've ever been this happy before.

I must've fallen asleep at some point, because I woke up suddenly, being completely awake because I was able to see her again. We had said to meet eachother after classes on the school grounds, to take a stroll by the lake. Hermione had told me she still wanted to talk for a bit, which I understood. She still hadn't figured out completely how she felt, but I wasn't afraid she would turn her back on me.

Gulping down my breakfast and waiting impatiently for classes to end, I finally walked out into the outdoors, inhaling the fresh, cool air. Winter had eventually become milder in these past few months, making it even pleasant to take a walk.

I reached the lake quite quickly, running the last few feet upon seeing Hermione. She stood silently on the water's edge watching her own reflection shimmer on the surface. My reflection popped up beside her and I was unable to hold back my grin that seemed to be glued on my face since yesterday.

'Hi Cho,' she muttered and she too, smiled.

I replied with the same, taking a few steps forward, assuming she followed. I glanced at the water and saw Hermione's crooked reflection right behind mine. She paced up a bit, and proceeded to walk next to me.

'I hope I didn't surprise you too much yesterday,' she piped up, giving me a apologetic look.

'You did,' I laughed a bit, 'but that doesn't matter.'

She chuckled briefly- her sweet laugh makes my heart swell. We then continued to walk for a while, neither of us saying anything. Weird enough, it did feel kind of awkward while it really shouldn't. I guess I still needed some questions answered. Better ask them right now.

'What exactly made you think you..' I paused a second, 'love me too?'

'I don't know,' Hermione replied, eyebrows pulled together in thought, 'I'm not sure of what I'm feeling right now, but every time I thought and still think of you, I feel.. warm. I know it sounds stupid.'

A smile cracked through her lips and mine. Even though her answer was vague, I understood completely how she felt. It's undescribable, but you know it's love. Warm. That's exactly how it feels.

'How long have you felt that?' I proceeded.

'A while. But I didn't figure out immediately that it was directed towards you. I guess was just in denial.'

'Just take the time you need to finally understand your feelings,' I said, nodding to emphasize it. I wanted to be sure that her feelings were genuine and that she didn't feel forced to out them or feel them. She nodded too and smiled again. Then, out of the blue- and much to my delight, I felt her hand wrap itself around mine. Quickly checking the surroundings, I saw no one around, so I didn't retract my hand. Not that I was going to let go of it when someone was around though.

'Say, Cho,' Hermione said, breaking the silence, 'how long have you actually liked me?'

'I think I forgot,' I replied, hesitating a bit about telling her the truth. It had been almost four months, but I bet that would sound so very stupid and obsessive. Then again, telling lies to her, even these little ones, didn't seem right too.

'I guess about a month or four,' I then decided to tell her, turning my head a bit to the side so she won't see me blushing.

'Really?'

'Hmh,' I murmured, shaking my head, 'it's embarrassing isn't it?'

'I don't think so,' she replied, holding in her pace until we stood still, facing eachother. I gazed at her and unconciously, I was arching forward, too lost in her eyes to notice. She beat me though and pulled me in a hug. It felt so good to have Hermione return my embrace and I had never been happier to know that she meant those feelings. That she really loved me.

Hermione broke the embrace, but continued to hold on to me. I was sure to look around before I found her lips and I drew her body closer once more. The feeling of our lips melting together sent shivers down my body, and I felt hers tremble too. Her tongue ran across my bottom lip, forcing them open. I felt her breath in my mouth and then her tongue on mine. I couldn't help but moan inwardly as she continued to kiss me, her body quivering just like mine. She retracted for a moment, gasping to get air, but no more than that. Planting her open lips back on mine, our tongue-wrestling match continued.

I realized we'd been standing all the time, right in the sight of any student around, and I quickly let myself drop to the ground, taking the Gryffindor with me. I landed softly on the grass with her on top, and she seemed to have taken no notice of my action. Proceeding to kiss her, I once again forgot my surroundings and I felt like I was flying.

'Hermione?'

My heart must've sprang up and left my chest. I ripped myself away from Hermione's lips, my eyes wide with terror as I looked right into the face of Ron Weasley.