Harry, Hermione, and Ron were the last ones up in the common room again. No surprises there, though. Hermione kept Harry and Ron up late more often than not, making them work hard on their homework. However, tonight it was Friday night, and typically the common room was lively and full of people chatting and playing games. Hermione glanced over at the clock on the wall. 2 AM. She, Harry, and Ron were almost done with all of their homework for the weekend, after almost 6 hours. The week had been long, and painful. They'd had their normal full class schedules, which were amped up in preparation for their O.W.L.s, and on top of all of that, Harry had already received three nights of detention in a row, from the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Umbridge.
Hermione threw her quill sourly down on the table and crossed her arms. The woman was insufferable! She refused to even teach actual defense in a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and Harry's detentions were more like abuse. The quills she had him use—at this point, Hermione was visibly quivering with rage—didn't use ink, but instead used blood from his hand. It actually etched the words he was writing into the back of his hand. Umbridge was a witch with a capital B.
Ron leaned back from his seat and yawned noisily, "I'm done, I think. I might look over everything tomorrow…but I'm going to bed now. I can't read another word…I don't know how I've kept going this long." He stood, gathering his things, and then stumbled up the stairs. Hermione glanced over at Harry, who was leaning his head on his hand, staring blankly at his parchment.
"I don't know about you," Hermione began, as Harry turned his head to look at her, "but I could use a break…maybe we could go over lesson plans again for…well…you know."
Harry smiled, "Yeah, Hermione, that sounds great. Let's sit over by the fire, instead of at these tables. My back is aching."
"Okay." Hermione picked up a roll of parchment, did a quick spell on it that would only allow her to read it, and then took it over to the couches. Harry sat down next to her, and threw a blanket over their laps. Hermione smiled shyly at him, and then began to talk about what she thought they could do, "I was thinking that if we started with standard first year spells, we could see where everyone is at. I mean, we won't really know how much information everyone has actually collected, and we haven't had that many good teachers. So maybe the first class we'll start with Expelliarmus and then move on to Stupefy."
"Yeah, that seems like a good plan. You're right, we don't really know where everyone else will be. Once we've covered the basics, maybe we'll be able to split them up into groups, and once the entire group has accomplished a lesson, they can move on. It will definitely promote teamwork."
Hermione beamed up at Harry, "That's a wonderful idea."
The two continued to work on lesson plans for the next four weeks or so, and then began to discuss who they thought should even be coming to the lessons. An hour later, they had a list of people and all of their lessons planned out, tentatively.
"So…" Hermione began cautiously, "how have you been lately? We haven't really talked too much."
"I've been good, Mione." Hermione stared at Harry as he spoke, her gaze never wavering, "Fine, I've been…well, I've been exhausted and unsure. About everything, really."
Hermione nodded knowingly, "Sometimes life just gets overwhelming…and we're expected to just keep chugging along, even if we feel blind, you know?"
"Exactly." Harry gazed into the fire.
Hermione understood that Harry was facing a lot—Sirius was missing, Voldemort was out there somewhere, trying to kill him, and he had all the normal stress of school and Quidditch, not to mention these detentions with Umbridge, and now attempting to give lessons to other people in the school.
However, Harry wasn't thinking about any of that tonight, he was thinking about Hermione, and how he was exhausted from thinking about her and unsure about what their relationship even was anymore. After all, he was sitting in the common room with her at 3 AM, under a blanket by the fire.
He slipped his arm around her shoulders, lost in thought. She leaned against his chest lightly, surprised at his sudden action, and suddenly wondering what he was doing. Maybe he just needed to know that someone truly was right there. They both began to talk at the same time.
"I was wondering…"
"You know, I…"
They looked at each other and chuckled quietly.
"You go ahead," Harry sighed to himself. Asking about… "them" would just have to wait.
"I just wanted you to know that I'm always here for you, Harry. If you ever need to talk, or just someone to sit with…whatever, I'm here for you."
Harry stared down at Hermione in surprise. Maybe tonight, for this one moment, they were on the same wavelength. She had sat up, and was now facing Harry directly. He lifted up his hand and brushed his fingers against her cheek.
"Thanks, Hermione. That's just what I needed to hear." He smiled at her, and suppressed the urge to kiss her. Apparently Hermione wasn't able to resist the same urge, however. She completely shocked herself when she leaned in and was centimeters away from his face. Instead of kissing his lips, though, she kissed his cheek. She had to learn how to control herself.
"You're welcome, Harry." She blushed and then stood up, suddenly, "I…I think I should go to bed."
"Oh…" Harry looked down at the floor, "alright. I'm going to stay up a while longer, I think."
"Do you want me to…?"
"No…no, you go ahead and get your rest." Harry gave her a pained smile, and gazed into the fire again.
Hermione bit her lip and then walked over to the tables where they'd been studying. She began gathering her things, when a shadow moved up behind her. A hand brushed against her shoulder.
"Yes?" she turned around slowly, trying to act casual.
"Hermione…" Harry sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, "I don't want you to say anything back to me about this tonight, okay?"
"Um…Harry…" she paused thoughtfully, but when she saw the anxiety on his face, she nodded.
"I just…I can't go another school year without you knowing…" he ran a hand through his hair, "I mean…you know you're my best friend, right?"
Hermione nodded again.
"Well…I don't want to lose that. I mean, I'll always be here for you, as a friend. I just…I think…I think I've started to have more feelings for you than just…just friend feelings, Mione."
Hermione's mouth fell open. She was certainly not expecting those words to come out of Harry's mouth.
"Harry, I—"
"Hermione, please…please don't respond to me tonight. Just think about it for a while, okay? I don't think I can handle much right now. You have know idea how hard it was for me to admit that to you."
"Yes I do, Harry James Potter." Hermione's hands had shifted to her hips, and she stared at him with a firm gaze, "Can I just tell you what I think now? Please?"
Harry groaned, and then nodded.
Hermione stepped closer to Harry, and smiled up at him, "I like you too, Harry. I have for a long time. I think it would be a bit much for everyone if we announced we were dating all of the sudden…but, right now at least, I think we could stand to give this a trial run."
"You…wait…what?" Harry's mouth fell open in complete shock.
"Do you not want…"Hermione trailed off, turning a shade of pink.
"No, no! That's not what I meant, Hermione…I just…you caught me off guard. I expected you to tell me that I shouldn't be thinking about girls, I should be thinking about my O.W.L.s or these lessons or Umbridge or something." Harry beamed down at her, and then whispered, "Will you be my trial run girlfriend?"
And that was the first time of many that Harry Potter would see Hermione's face glow.
Harry watched Hermione in her glowing state, in complete awe. Here, standing before him, was his girlfriend—his first, mind you. She was beautiful, smart, and wonderful. Before he knew it, he had pulled her into a very tight hug.
"Did you know you're my first girlfriend?" Harry smiled at her, taking her hand and leading her toward the couch.
"Well…I guess I kind of assumed, but I didn't know for sure, Harry." She giggles as he pulled her close to him, "You're my first boyfriend, too."
He pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"When did you start liking me?"
"Hmm…" he paused, "I'm not entirely sure. Maybe toward the end of third year.
What about you?"
"Well, I had a crush on you first year, but I imagine all the girls in our year did. I think I've liked you since we started at Hogwarts, but I didn't realize it until the Yule Ball. Seeing you dance with that Patil girl…it was like something snapped."
Harry kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry…I should have asked you to that stupid dance. I didn't realize that you…" he sighed, "I guess, even though I couldn't have done anything, I'm sorry that I hurt you."
"It's okay, Harry," she took his hand quietly, and they sat there, in blissful silence for another hour. When Hermione finally sat up and stretched, Harry had to work hard to keep from frowning.
"I suppose we should get some sleep. It's nearly 4 AM, Harry."
"Yeah." He smiled at her, and then they stood up together, holding hands.
"So…"she started, "We're not telling anyone? We're going to keep this quiet?"
"Yeah, that's probably best."
She surprised Harry when she rushed into his arms for a goodnight hug. Hermione just couldn't help herself—she felt safe there.
"Goodnight, Harry." She smiled again, collected her books, and then rushed to her dormitory, leaving Harry standing alone in the common room, lovestruck.
