Title: The Way You Are
Author's Note: Hello! Well, I hope you all liked the previous chapter, because this story is about to speed up just a tad bit. I just realized the progress for this story was a bit slow and decided to speed things up a little. There's going to be a time-jump. But don't worry, the jump won't be too far. Anyway, this note is probably confusing, but you'll understand when you read the story. But remember to review! The more feedback I get, the more motivated I am to write, which means speedier updates. I promise I won't ever abandon this story. I'll finish everything I started. So enjoy!
-McDiggin'It
Additional Note:
I just posted another Barty/Hermione Fic! I know I'm supposed to work on this fic first, but the other story won't leave me alone. I've already posted the first chapter, so check it out if you're a fan of Barty and Hermione. It's called 'I Know', and it's a romance fic with a drop of humor and a pinch of angst. There will only be three chapters, and I'm nearly done with the second chapter for that fic. I've already started on the eighth chapter for this fic (The Way You Are), and I'll probably have it up in two to three weeks, depending on my schedule. Anyway, remember to check out my latest fic 'I Know', and leave a review and let me know what you think, aye?
-McDiggin'It
Chapter Seven:
…
The days speed by in a blur. Everything went back to normal as far as work goes. Things haven't entirely blown over, but Hermione convinces herself that the worst is over. Things had gone rather well at Harry and Ginny's engagement dinner. Everyone was happy and excited about the newly engaged couple, and they're now awaiting a decision on the when and whereabouts of the wedding.
As for Ron, he had literally gotten down on his knees in front of Hermione and had begged for her forgiveness for his immature behavior and foolish assumptions. Of course, she hadn't forgiven him immediately, but she had come to realize that there was no more reason to be mad at him, because Ron had pointed out that he'd rather have her in his life than not at all. A couple of days after the engagement party, Hermione finally accepted Ron's twelfth request for forgiveness, and finally spoke to him. Things could've gone worse, but it hadn't… Ron had mostly kept quiet after his apology while Hermione went on to tearing him a new one. After half an hour, she finally forgave him and sent him on his merry way. Things were indeed going great… except for just one thing.
Barty Crouch Jr.
After her somewhat odd, yet pleasant conversation with Luna, Hermione had been torn between two emotions.
Confused, though it's a common emotion that dredges forth as an aftermath of a conversation with Luna Lovegood; and enlightened.
In a way, Luna had confirmed for Hermione what she was too scared to admit to herself. Even though Luna's way of confirmation was to completely confuse her to the point where everything that came out of the blonde girl's mouth was seemingly believable, it somehow made her realize that what she feels for Barty is normal. Any girl with a brain and a pulse would be extremely hard put to not at the very least, enjoy his company. The fact that he's extremely good looking is only a perk. A rather distracting perk at that, but a perk nonetheless.
When she was finally able to straighten up her jumbled thoughts and emotions, she finally decided to approach him at work instead of doing what he's been doing since the day they had had their little quarrel, acting as if nothing was completely wrong. She had planned everything she would do. First, she'd ask Barty to forgive her for her actions and words the other day, before asking that they just forget that day and keep being friends, or colleagues, or whatever he deems fine. They're both human, and can do whatever the bloody hell they want.
However, her plans were shot straight to hell when she showed up to work to find an envelope on her desk, containing a Request letter of transferal with Barty's signature at the bottom. She had initially thought of denying his request, but quickly dismissed the selfish thought and decided that if Barty wishes to move onto a different profession, then she shouldn't hold him back. After all, she has no right to stop him. He's more than capable of a much higher occupation, and if she were to personally rate his skills, she'd have to agree that he's being underused in the Department of Magical Liaisons. After three and a half hours of staring at his letter, she finally made her decision and filled out his transferal form, signed where was needed, and sent the form up to the Minister for approval.
She learned two days later that Barty had been placed in the Department of Mysteries, working under the supervision of Jillian Niles, a young, annoying, twenty-four year old blonde bimbo who looked like a model out of a Vogue magazine, but sounded like a shrieking banshee (Honestly. She's bloody loud!)
Hermione had been somewhat relieved that she won't have to worry about keeping herself in check now that Barty was no longer working with her, but a part of her couldn't help but feel like she's lost something along the way as well. She's just not sure of what she lost. She has tried to approach Barty at work to apologize for that day when she said all those mean things to him, but she hadn't been able to catch him whenever she even had the courage to speak to him.
…
...
Hermione rolls her eyes at Harry as he leans back in his seat, laughing at his own rendition of what went down in the elevator this morning. She was clearly not amused, or laughing about it, but apparently, Harry hadn't noticed.
"I'm starting to see now why you wanted to befriend him." Harry says with a chuckle.
She simply glares at him. "Oh, really?" she asks sarcastically with another roll of her eyes.
"Yes. Jillian certainly likes him."
Hermione rolls her eyes again before proceeding to glare at her best friend, who is still completely oblivious to her inner burning desire to hex all things blonde and loud. Not Luna, of course. She's blonde, but definitely not loud. No, what she wanted to hex right now, was Jillian Niles. The nerve of that insufferable, loudmouthed, asinine, canine! "I hadn't noticed." She says, hoping she sounded as calm as she was trying to be.
Harry snorts, "Did you not see Jillian inside the elevator, snogging the bloody sanity out of him? The poor bloke had nearly had a heart attack when the doors opened up, and—," he cuts himself off to let out another bark of laughter at the 'hilariousness' of the scene he was recapping. "And did you see where his hands were—,"
"Yes I saw!" Hermione snaps furiously at him, her nose flaring and her eyes glaring daggers into him.
Harry's grin slides off his face immediately upon seeing the look of pure annoyance on Hermione's face. "Are you okay, 'Mione?"
Hermione resists the urge to groan as she empties out her lungs with a long sigh. "Yes… just tired, I guess."
Harry nods, giving her a sympathetic look. "Why don't you go home and get some sleep? I'll send Kingsley a note explaining your absence for the day—,"
"No." Hermione shakes her head immediately. She forces a tiny, grateful smile. "Thanks, but I'm fine, Harry. I have too much work, anyway."
"You sure?"
She nods, subtly giving him a dismissal look. "Yeah. But thanks anyway."
The moment he leaves her office, she drops her head to her desk and lets out a long, irritable groan. She shakes her head, hoping it would rid her mind of the scene that she had been forced to witness half an hour ago, but no such luck. She won't dare admit it to anyone, but she had nearly lost her mind when she saw Barty sandwiched between the elevator wall and Jillian Niles, his supposed supervisor, locked in a tight embrace, her fingers in his hair, one of her legs wrapped around his waist, and her lips latched onto his as he gripped her hips. The image in itself was enough to make her want to hurl, but what made her blood boil, was what Jillian had said when Barty had finally managed to successfully remove her from himself.
'Just taking a quick break.'
It had made her wonder what else they did during breaks. And it's not a thought that pleases her. Far from it, actually.
Barty hadn't said anything but his eyes held something she couldn't quite distinguish. Guilt, maybe?
She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw something heavy yet fragile at the wall and watch as it shatters into a million pieces, much like the trust and respect she had had for Barty. But she can't. She won't. She was going to hold her head up high, and push everything she feels for him to the side. After all, she has no right to be mad at him, and she definitely has no right to be mad at Jillian. It's my fault that Barty was now working in a different department, and it's my fault that he's decided to find a different… friend.
She swallows hard, taking a deep breath before finally going back to completing her work. Every few minutes, her eyes would leave her work to scan her office, lingering on the desk where he used to sit, as if he'd somehow pop out of thin air and reclaim his original seat there like he'd never left. But she knows that won't happen. All because of her.
…
...
Weeks turn into months, and work has become quite hectic lately. Hermione throws herself into her work, trying her best to stay distracted by it. But there are… moments. Minutes, hours even when she couldn't forget what she's desperately trying to deny. And it's not like she's extremely ecstatic about the thoughts that runs through her mind about him. Far from it actually, because it frustrates her, and when she's frustrated, she's angry. When she's angry, she can't work. And when she can't work, she can't do anything at all! It's infuriating. Add all of that to the fact that there's a rumor about Barty and Jillian dating, and Hermione finds herself unable to sit or even be in the same room as the both of them. Every time she sees either one of them, she heads the other way. And isn't that just lovely? She's become a coward. This was not who she was.
And then to make matters worse, she's recently begun to have dreams about him. Sometimes they're short and meaningless, but most of the time, they're long, and dare she admit it, beautiful. And on three different nights, she had had wet dreams about him. She woke up in a cold sweat with his name on her lips, further frustrating her and adding to the great urge she has to throw him against a wall and ravish him whenever she sees him pass by at the Ministry entrance in the mornings, or in the cafeteria.
Hermione sighs heavily as she stares at the most recent case file that had been sent to her desk. She's annoyed by the fact that she can't really focus on her work today, due to her thoughts. She wishes there were some way she could forget about him. To forget the night they had had dinner at Applebee's. To forget the way his hair always manages to look perfect even though it's practically all over the place. To forget the way he'd look at her with those damned eyes. The way his smile just magically lights his face up like a light bulb. The way the dimples on his cheeks show whenever he grins. The way he had kissed her like he owned her in her dreams. The way his eyes seem to change colors in those dreams. 'Dear Merlin, help me!'
She shakes her head as if it would clear her mind of all thoughts of him. It doesn't. Sighing for the fourth time in under a minute, she finally gives up on trying to focus and decides to take her lunch break, in hopes that by the end of it, she'd finally be free from thoughts of him.
However, when she steps out, her plans are shot straight to hell as her breath hitches in the back of her throat. Standing just a couple of feet away, was the very object of her thoughts. She tries not to look like his sudden presence there was affecting her, but she highly doubts he's buying it.
"Hey." He greets quietly, his eyes roaming over her face and further sending her nerves into overdrive. "May I have a word with you?"
Hermione stares silently at him for a very long moment, sizing him up as she tries to figure out whether she should let him speak to her or not. In the end, she remembers that the past couple of months were her fault entirely, and he deserves to say whatever he wants to say. She nods curtly at him. "I was just about to head out on my lunch break." She steps around him, heading towards the elevator and letting him figure out the rest. She hears the soft shuffling of his feet as he follows her, and she tries her best to concentrate on her own feet. The act in itself suddenly seems a whole lot harder than it actually is.
Their elevator ride down to the first level of the Ministry is quiet and kind of awkward. No words were exchanged, but their eyes would flicker to each other every now and again. The loud 'ding' of the elevator announces that they've made it to their destination as the doors finally slide away. Hermione hurries forward without a word.
He follows her quietly, hoping that she'd at the very least acknowledge his presence. She acts like he's not even there! He's nervous to say the least, and he can't seem to stop glancing over at her every few seconds. His eyes roam over her entire being, and his throat constricts at her beauty. She was painstakingly breathtaking in every way. Whereas Jillian is extremely sexy in her skintight, low-cut, short dresses— heels, and tons of makeup, she could not even begin to compare to Hermione's natural beauty. Hermione was beautiful without makeup or whatever designer clothes and shoes that girls are so into nowadays.
Barty shakes his thoughts away, trying to ease the pain in his chest. He wants to tell her that he misses her, but he can't. Not now, at least. For now, he has a favor to ask her, and if things go well, he just might be able to finally confess to her that he thinks he's going insane from thinking so much about her.
When they reach the cafeteria, Barty hurries forward, pulling the door open for her. She nods her thanks at him, hurrying forward without a word. He seriously wanted to bash his own head against the door, but refrains as he follows her. She goes about gathering her food onto a tray and sitting at an empty table by the window. He sits across from her, waiting for her to give him the okay to speak, but it seems like that's not happening anytime soon because she goes straight to eating, her eyes never once leaving her tray.
After another few minutes of silence, Barty finally decides to speak. "So…" he trails off, trying to think of something casual to say. He doesn't know why talking to her is suddenly so awkward. It was always easy before. He mentally shrugs. "How have you been?"
She looks at him, chewing slowly, swallowing, taking a sip of her apple juice and finally replying, "Good. And you?" her expression blank.
He nods, offering a tiny smile. "I've been great."
She nearly let out a harsh, humorless laugh at that, but quickly stops herself at the last second. "So I've heard." She mumbles.
He quirks an eyebrow at her. "And what exactly have you heard about me?"
She shrugs her shoulders at him, "What everyone in the Ministry has been talking about." She replies instantaneously.
He shakes his head, sighing heavily. "I don't even know what the Ministry is talking about." He tells her honestly. As one would know, gossips are for the gossipers, and the word never reaches the ears of the subject of the gossip.
This time, she doesn't bother trying to hold back her disbelieving laugh. "I'm sure you don't." she mutters sarcastically under her breath, but just loud enough for him to hear her say it.
He pauses for a full minute, staring intently at her. "I don't." he confirms. "And I'd have thought you'd be one to ignore false rumors, Hermione."
"Well, you thought wrong!" she snaps at him. As soon as the words leave her mouth, her palm flies up to her mouth, closing over her lips to keep herself from uttering any other words. She realizes how absolutely unprofessional she was being for someone who was 'treating her co-workers as co-workers' — Now I'm a jealous and bitter co-worker, AND a hypocrite! She inhales deeply through her nose, trying to calm down her nerves. She blames his stupid eyes for the way she just can't seem to think straight anymore.
He shakes his head giving her a confused look. "I keep thinking you'd prove everyone wrong…" he trails off, scoffing as he rises from his seat and pauses to look at her. "But you're right… I did think wrong." He swallows down the bitterness of the moment and walks away.
Hermione clenches her jaw as she shuts her eyes tightly for a long moment. She doesn't know what possessed her to do it, but she's suddenly rising out of her seat and practically running out of the cafeteria after the man who has been taking up nearly all of the space in her supposedly big brain.
She catches sight of him standing by the elevator. With a deep breath, she marches up to him just as the elevator doors open. She pushes him in, ignoring his surprised expression as she quickly follows him in and jabs her thumb against the button to her work level.
"What are you—,"
She cuts him off with a hand on his chest, pushing him back until he was pressed against the wall. She points a threatening finger at him. "This is all your fault!"
"What?!" he exclaims in protest. "What did I do?"
"Everything!" she snaps at him, smacking him on the shoulder.
Barty was honestly beyond confused now. First she was all quiet and bipolar, and now she was yelling at him for something that she believes is his fault, when he doesn't even know what he did wrong. He all but snaps, grabbing her hands and pushing her back so that she was the one pressed against the wall this time. "Okay, you know what? Stop." He tells her with a serious look. "I have absolutely no bloody idea what's going on with you, and it's driving me insane!"
"I'm not the one who's been snogging my co-workers in bloody elevators!" Hermione shrieks. A moment later, her eyes widen as she realizes what she's just said.
He's breathing heavily all of a sudden, staring into her eyes as he rests his hands on either side of her head. "That—," he cuts himself off and narrows his eyes at her. "That's what this is about?" suddenly, he's smiling, a whole ton of weight sliding off his chest as he stares at her in elation.
Hermione shakes her head furiously at him, "N—No… I—that came out wrong." She wants to smack off the stupidly charming grin on his face, but his dimples were showing and she can't bring herself to do it.
"I think that came out perfectly right." He counters as he takes a step closer and leans down just a couple of inches.
His eyes are suddenly dark, and the elevator suddenly seems too small for the two of them. She could feel his body heat emanating off of him in waves, sending a shiver up her spine as her eyes flicker down to his lips. "But you think wrong, remember?" her voice, suddenly a whisper.
He leans in further, his warm breath tickling her cheek as his grin turns smug. "I think you think too much." He whispers, his nose brushing hers as he goes to lean down the rest of the way.
Her eyelids, suddenly heavy with… something-she-doesn't-care-to-figure-out-right-now, slide close as she leans up on her toes, expecting—anticipating the feeling that she's only ever dreamed of.
Explosions… fireworks, flash grenades, and bright sunshine's. Unicorns, dragons, hippogriffs, pygmy puffs, UFO's and aliens! All things that are indescribable can only be used to describe the feeling that runs through her body and mind as his lips gently brush against hers. It's soft, tentative, and sweet. She knows what he's doing, giving her time to pull away or slap or hex him. She does neither of those as the tiniest sound leaves her lips and her arms slowly wrap around his neck.
He wants to do a victory dance and a few somersaults, but reckons that those can wait until after this. His very soul was rocking out to absolute silence as his hands slide off of the wall behind Hermione to grasp at her hips, pulling her body closer to his. He can't help the tiny groan that escapes him as his front meets hers, and her chest presses against his own. The feeling of her soft, full lips against his is indescribably amazing. It was everything he had imagined and more, and he doesn't think he'll be able to stop… Until,
DING!
They both jump, Hermione jumping a little higher than Barty, causing her forehead to collide with his left eye.
Barty all but howls in pain as he takes a couple of steps away from her, grasping at his eye.
"Oh my goodness!" Hermione cries out, rushing forward to aid him since he's the one who got thumped in the eye. She pulls his hands away from his eye, seeing that its gone red, she grasps his face to keep his head still as she inspects the irritated brown pupil. "I'm so sorry, I…" she trails off, suddenly getting the feeling that she's being watched. Slowly, she turns her head and nearly has a heart attack when she sees Harry and Ginny watching the scene before them with slackened jaws and wide eyes.
There was nothing funny about this, but Hermione forces a laugh as Barty pulls his face away from her hands to see what she's laughing about. He's not feeling as… horrified at being caught like this as Hermione feels.
Ginny recovers first, smirking at the two, her eyes dancing with mirth. "I see you're both having a pleasant day." She says teasingly, causing Hermione to turn beet red as Barty only chuckles, the pain in his left eye suddenly dissipating into thin air. Harry's eyebrows, which are currently hidden under his mess of hair, reappear as he pulls his fiancée close to his side and grins at the two inside the elevator.
"Having fun, I see." He snorts, causing Hermione and to once again blush in embarrassment. Barty was absolutely no help whatsoever, smiling like a raving lunatic the entire time.
Hermione is the first to speak when it seems to be that Barty wasn't about to be explaining anything anytime soon. Her voice is slightly shaky as she tries to explain their current situation. "Uhhh—I was just—ummm," she looks at Barty for help. He's only grinning widely at her like a four year old on Christmas morning. She gives up trying to explain and sighs heavily as she shakes her head at her two friends outside the elevator. "I got nothing."
Ginny snickers, "No need to explain, Hermione. Luna has a point about them Daffle Winkles."
Barty's eyebrows furrow at that as his eyes flicker between the two females. "Who the bloody hell is Daffy Wrinkles?"
…
…
Author's Note: Hello, yall! Well, this concludes chapter seven! I loved this one. I think it developed a bit too fast, but it's better than going too slow, right? Anyway, I hope you all liked this chapter. I personally liked it… sort of. The next chapter won't go too fast, by the way. I'll make things kind of awkward between our favorite couple, but I'll make sure the tension between them builds up nicely to the point where they can't deny what they're both feeling for each other. At least we know now that the attraction is definitely there. Now we just need the build up to the action. ;) But thanks again for reading, favoriting, and following this story. It means the world to me that you all enjoyed it so much. And a special thanks to every single one who took the time to leave a review for this story. I love you all as if you were all my children. ^_^ Chapter eight will be up in a few!
Oh, and remember! If you're a Barty/Hermione fan, then please check out my latest story called 'I Know'. It's only going to be three chapters long, and I'm almost done with chapter two. So remember to check it out and leave a review, aye?
-McDiggin'It
