I don't own Harry Potter
A/N: takes place seventh year.
"I'm going to kill them" Hermione Granger growled.
"Calm down Hermione" Harry Potter said with a sigh.
"How can I be calm Harry, those misfits handcuffed us together, and they did some magic to it so we can't get them off" Hermione said in an exasperated tone.
"I'm sure that they'll come off, we just have to be patient" Harry said calmly.
"Harry, I have N.E.W.T.'s to study for" Hermione said with frustration.
"So do I, but you don't see me panicking" Harry said.
"That's because you don't have a reputation to uphold to" Hermione spat.
"Hermione, whatever grades you get, you'll be at the top" Harry said gently.
Hermione's face, which was in a scowl soften at this.
"How do you always know how to make me feel better?" she asked gently.
"Because I've known you for seven years Hermione" Harry said smiling.
Fred and George Weasley sent a package to Harry and Hermione enclosed was the pair of handcuffs. Now, what neither knew about these handcuffs were that if they were touching two people they'd activate and enclose around the people's wrists. They not only got the cuffs, but a note that said they'd only release if they confessed their deepest darkest secret. So here Hermione and Harry are now sitting in the Head common room that they shared trying to think of what their deepest darkest secret. Sadly though, the pair knew each other so well that they really had no secrets between them.
"Are you sure there's nothing you haven't told me?" Harry asked.
"No Harry, I've told you everything including things I could never tell my parents" Hermione said.
"Okay" Harry said.
"What about you?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, I can't even lie to you, so how could you not know everything about me" Harry said.
This was true as Hermione had a built in lie detector especially when it comes to Harry.
"This is ridicules" Hermione groaned, "we've been going in circles for the past two hour and we've told each other everything we could think of that could be considered our deepest darkest secret."
"We'll find a way out of this Hermione, I mean compared to what we've faced this is quite small" Harry said.
"You're right Harry, but I'm a little annoyed and a bit hungry" Hermione said.
Harry called Dobby and asked the hyperactive house elf to get them some food. The elf nodded then disappear only to return with a picnic basket full of food. Harry paid Dobby a galleon for the help then began to set out the food. As the pair ate Harry noticed how Hermione ate her food. He's watched eat for seven years and over those years he loved to watch how she took small bites then wipe her face with her napkin or how she took small, but good sips of her pumpkin juice. He smiled as he watched her every movement and thought of it as an intricate dance of sorts. Now he had no idea why he was thinking this or that it even made sense. It was probably the stress, yeah the stress was making him think funny things.
Hermione noticed her best friend watching her and she didn't mind, since they've spent so much time together it would be weird if she didn't feel his eyes on her. It was comforting to know that she had her own guardian angel with her practically 24/7. Now she knew she could take of herself, but just the thought of knowing she had someone to watch her back was comforting. She couldn't remember when she noticed Harry watching, but it happened one day and it felt right. Hermione shook her head. She was tired, that's why she was thinking these thoughts, tired that's all.
Both didn't know how much they looked out for one another over the years especially the past two. Since the death of Harry's godfather, Sirius, Hermione barely left Harry's side. She almost lost her prefect badge because she spent so much time with Harry than on her duties. That year the war was harsh, neither would let the other leave one another's sight for fear of losing the only thing pulling the other through.
Harry and Hermione went out many missions to help the war effort even though they were told to stay in school and leave the fighting to the adults. Neither were going to let that happen as Harry played a big role and Hermione saw to it that she would remain by Harry's side and nothing was going to remove her. Their friend Ron tried to, when he attempted to get Hermione into a marriage contract with him, but Harry saved the day and that's when the found out that their best friend wasn't exactly who they thought he was.
Ron Weasley had his own goals and ambitions, but none were for the good of everyone. He only wanted what was good for him and screw everyone else. He saw Harry as a mark and befriended him early, but when Hermione entered the picture that put a wrench into the redhead's plans, but he augment his plans to include him getting Hermione because he knew how much Harry relied on Hermione and if he could take that away from Harry then he would be the better of the two. Now Ron is in a cell in St. Mungo's, he was declared insane and incurable.
Their sixth year ended with Harry defeating the creature that killed his parents and has haunted and hunted him for so long. With Hermione by his side they defeated the darkest wizard of all time with an ancient spell they found in the Potter library. Neither knew that the only way for the spell could be successful was that it had to be performed by two people who loved each other. Complete and utterly love one another unselfishly. They just knew that this spell was based on love and Voldemort knew nothing of love. Sadly the death toll at the end of the war was massive including their headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
"Harry, aren't you going to eat something?" Hermione asked.
Harry blinked, he spent the time watching Hermione that he forgot to eat.
"Oh right, sorry, I guess I'm a little tired" Harry said.
Hermione smiled, "I understand Harry."
They ate in silence both trying to figure out what could the other be hiding.
/Scene Break/
It was later that night and they were both very tired.
"This is ridiculous, I'm going to kill them" Hermione growled.
"Take it easy Mione, we'll figure this out" Harry said calmly.
Hermione groaned as she rested her head on Harry's shoulder.
"I just want these blasted things off" she said.
"I know you do, I want the same" Harry said softly.
Hermione closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Harry. She let her weight pull them backwards onto the couch and was happy that Harry didn't struggle. She snuggled in closer, happy that at least she was trapped with her best friend and not anyone else. She loved Harry very much. Ever since she first met him, though her expectations of the great hero of the wizarding world was dashed at the sight of the undersized boy. But she saw the hero one Halloween when he saved her from a troll. But she saw passed the hero to the real boy. This made her feel more for him as he was human, not some superhero or something. Yes, her feelings for Harry Potter were not purely platonic, but she buried them, because it wasn't the time to think of that sort of thing. They had to fight a war.
Harry felt his best friend relax and he too did the same. He loved the smell of her hair and knew that it was his favorite scent. He didn't know when his feelings for his best friend had changed. He was so busy with something else to really notice. His little stint with Ginny was just a replacement for what he felt for Hermione. He knew he could never be right for her so he opted to be her best friend. But his feelings for her just grew, even though he buried them under all the stress of the war.
But now the two of them realized that they did have a secret that neither one knew about, at least they hoped the other didn't know. But neither could gather up the courage to be the first to admit it. It was silly since they would probably be put down in Hogwarts history as the two bravest people to ever be placed in the home of the brave.
"Hermione."
"Yes Harry?"
"Um, do you, uh, have any feelings for me?" Harry asked.
This was probably the stupidest way of asking, but Harry pulled all the courage he had to ask this and now he felt drained.
Hermione's cheeks redden.
"I do" she answered.
"Only friendly one though, right?" Harry asked frowning.
Hermione shook her head.
"No, my feelings for you are anything, but platonic" she said.
Harry felt his hope rise as he lifted Hermione's head up so she could look at him. Without a word since he was a afraid of his voice cracking or something worse, he pulled her into a kiss. He knew he should've asked first, but he felt that it would just be wasting time to do so. Hermione could feel her heart speed up as she caught on to what Harry was going to do. As their lips touched all their pent up feelings were unleashed like a dam bursting.
Neither felt the handcuffs fall off or the fact that they were now removing each other's clothing with speed and efficiency never seen before. It was like a choreographed dance, though this term is loosely used. By the time they were aware that anything happened it was already done. They laid there in the afterglow both thinking about sending a thank you note to the twins.
End
