Chapter Eleven: Hermione's Realizations
The days flew by so fast. It seems like only yesterday when she was an eleven going on twelve bushy-haired bucktoothed know-it-all who rode the Hogwarts Express for the first time to enter an unknown world. And now, she's a nineteen year old full-fledged witch who's taken all her N.E.W.T exams last week and now waiting for her graduation day tomorrow and the ball at night. Her Hogwarts journey is finally over. It's been eight wonderful and bittersweet years filled with hardship and friendship. Tears and laughter. Eight years of being with Ron and Harry, the two boys who changed her life for the better. And in a few months, she will be Mrs. Harry James Potter, the Lady Potter-Black. Hermione Granger has come a long way. And it all started from the first time she saw him, her best friend, her fiance, Harry… Just thinking about him brings a smile on my face.
Hermione sat at her corner in the library contemplating about everything that's happened in her life here at Hogwarts and it's most prominent figure - Harry. She remembered the first time she saw him. How she can't believe that the Harry Potter she read about in books is very different from the scared little boy with the broken glasses. She remembered how she felt an instant connection to him. She saw something in him that made her want to be friends with him, that's the reason why she fixed his glasses. He's also the reason why she convinced the Sorting Hat to place her in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. She remembered how she cried because of Ron's hurtful words and how she decided to leave the wizarding world right then. But the troll happened and when she thought she was going to die, Harry jumped on the back of the troll to save her. Ron and Harry became his best friends ever since. Yes she had many fights with Ron and they bickered a lot, but she knew his heart was in the right place underneath all that. With Harry, it's different. They always just understood each other at a different level. They could tell each other anything.
When the hormones kicked in, she had to admit that both her boys were cute. Harry with his messy raven hair, emerald green eyes, and spectacles was the perfect poster boy for the nerdy athlete boy-next-door. Ron on the other hand with his tall frame, red hair and freckles, comedic chops and could care less attitude carried his own brand of charm. She always fancied both boys on some level but they were never interested in her which she accepted. When the Yule Ball happened and Viktor Krum asked her out, things changed. She now understood the difference between boys who were your friends and boyfriends. So when Ron started showing outrageous signs of being jealous, she was drawn to him. For her a best friend would make a great boyfriend, plus Ron is really cute. She never had any illusions for Harry. He was way out of her league after all.
She then looked back on all the trouble they surpassed together. All the pain they've been through and the sacrifices they made to survive the war. Ron left them but he came back stronger than ever and destroyed a horcrux after saving Harry. She broke a lot of rules, broke into a Gringotts vault, endured the cruciatus. Harry literally faced Voldemort's Avada Kedavra and died. It was the saddest moment of her life seeing him on Hagrid's arms with no life. It was only next to letting him go to face Voldemort knowing that she can't be with him. They all survived that, came out stronger individuals, and are friends for life. I got all I wanted from Hogwarts. Friends and experiences. Knowledge of spells and wisdom about life.
When they came back to Hogwarts after the hunt, everything was weird. With no Voldemort after them, they got to be normal. Ron was Quidditch captain. She got her dream to be head girl and Harry was able to relax and enjoy the perks of being a good-looking teenage boy with lots of fangirls. She was happy with where their lives were going. It was an easy normal so much better than the trying seven years before. Reality came knocking on her door once again with her mother's failing health and she was desperate to do whatever she can to help. And so the betrothal offers came as the perfect answer to her troubles. She was prepared to face her fate and was determine to keep her secret from her boys, they deserved to be happy after all. Then Harry caught her at a bad time and she was forced to tell him the truth. He offered to help and she refused to accept it. Harry being Harry refused to take no for an answer and orchestrated an elaborate scheme just to make her accept his help. Now, they were just a couple of months short to their wedding day.
Harry changed ever since he read the list. She noticed ever since then that he became wary of all the boys who came near her except for Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus. It's an odd behavior that she's never seen on him before. The list may have triggered his protective nature to an extreme.
Harry started to act more like a gentleman around her too. He carried her bag escorted her to classes and watched her like a hawk during her tutorial sessions. She appreciated the gesture of course but sometimes she felt that he's being territorial even before they got engaged.
Ever since their engagement, they grew closer what with planning their wedding, ensuring it kept a secret, studying for N.E.W.T., and head's duties. They also had something new in their friendship - the playful flirting that was never there before. And then there was the way he looked at her. He looked at her like she was the center of his universe. It was something that unnerved her and every time she catches him do that, she'd immediately look away and blush. Sometimes, she'd do something to end the staring - throw a pillow at him, punch his shoulder, anything. It's the type of stare that penetrates her very soul. It made her feel like a desirable woman. It made her heart pound so fast. It made her feel things that she's never felt with Viktor and Ron, the two blokes who caught her fancy. It's a look that scared her yet it also excited her.
The most confusing thing of all, Harry never told her anything. He didn't say he fancied her. Heck they never even kissed on the lips yet. Why is this so bloody confusing?
"There you are Hermione! I've been looking for you.", Harry said as he sat on the bench across from her. She didn't even notice him coming.
"What? Oh, hi Harry!", she greeted him when her head cleared.
"Are you alright? You're not crying because you're gonna miss the library are you?", he said genuinely concerned.
"Of course not silly. I'm just reminiscing and thinking is all.", she smiled at him.
"That must have been interesting. What with you shedding tears you didn't know were falling and all.", he said as he leaned over and wiped her tears.
"Thank you.", she smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Now that your reminiscing is done, let's work on our graduation speech.", he said.
"Oh Merlin! I forgot.", she started to panic. Shit! What am I going to do! I hate speaking in public. And then she had a brilliant idea! Time to pull the big guns. She stood up from her bench, walked over to Harry knelt in front of him and made the cutest possible puppy dog eyes and pout combo she could possibly do. Merlin! I've never done this since I was a little girl.
"Hermione! What are you doing?", Harry said.
"Harry, please do the speech. I'll write it for you. Help you practice. But you're doing it on your own.", she told him and pouted. Harry gulped. Hehe! It's already working I can tell.
"No, Hermione! We're doing it together. Now get up.", he replied.
"I'm not getting up until you agree.", she said and landed her elbows on both his thighs as she looked up at him with her puppy dog eyes on full blast. Harry looked at her and she saw his resolve crumbling. So she leaned closer. Come on Harry! Give in…
"Alright! Alright!", Harry said as he helped her up. Yes! Yes! Yes!, she thought as she made happy dances in her mind.
Harry pulled her to seat beside him and handed her the parchment. She happily started to write his speech. When she was halfway through, she noticed him leaning over her shoulder to read what she wrote.
"That's really great Hermione.", he whispered in her ear. She felt herself get flustered and she murmured her thanks. She tried to cover her blushing as she continued writing.
"Hermione?", he whispered again.
"Hmmm?"
"I agreed to do the speech right?", he leaned closer into her. Why does he have to smell so good? It's not fair. What's a girl to do to concentrate around here.
Finding it hard to speak, she just nodded. Less talk, less mistake.
"Since I agreed to do the speech for you, you have to do something for me in exchange.", he whispered again in that sexy husky voice of his that made her heart beat fast.
"Fine. What do I have to do?", she whispered her agreement still not looking at him.
"You have to sing and play the piano at our wedding.", he whispered.
"What?", she yelped and stood up.
Harry rested his chin on both hands and looked at her with mischief in his eyes.
"You heard me Hermione. I want you to sing for me. At our wedding. Sing the song I first heard you sang.", he told her as he seemed to enjoy watching her facial expressions.
"Harry! I'll do anything but that! There must be something else I can do?", she pleaded. She saw him stand up and walk towards her and she felt herself backing against the wall. Something changed in his eyes. The mischievous Harry was gone. This Harry was different, he was predatory and powerful. Harry had her trapped between the wall and his body with both arms on each side of her hand. The look he was giving her, made her shiver. This time there was no trick of the light. Their faces were merely inches apart so she could see him clearly. Harry wanted her. It was written in his eyes and the way his emerald orbs darkened. When Harry was about to close the gap between their lips, he turned his head and whispered in her ear, she noticed him closing both fists as if holding on to his last thread of control.
"Hermione the other things I want you to do for me and with me is not something you're ready for. So, there's nothing else I could want in exchange except you singing for me. So what's it gonna be?", she heard him whisper and feel his breath on her skin.
"Alright. I'll sing for you.", Hermione whispered back.
"Good.", he told her and he kissed her forehead. Hermione looked at him and smiled.
"Hermione? Don't do that again.", he said.
"Don't do what, Harry?", she asked confused. Did he hate speeches that much?
"Kneeling in front of me with your elbows on my lap.", he told her. When the implications of what he said dawned on her, she blushed and the only she could do was nod her head.
"I'll see you later Hermione.", Harry walked away and she was left their still standing with her back pressed against the wall and her heart pounding like she ran a marathon. Note to self, never provoke Harry again. Damn! Who knew Harry could be that sexy? She shivered and willed herself to focus. She had a speech to finish.
When she returned to their dorm, she showed Harry the finished speech and helped him practice. Everything was back to normal and they didn't discuss what happened at the library. She was just too happy to avoid that awkward discussion. She still gets all flustered every time she remembered what happened, the look in his eyes, the words he told her, and the way it made her feel. Focus Hermione! Get sexy Harry out of your head.
They went to sleep at eleven, both confident of the message of the speech and Harry's delivery. The woke up early, got ready, and walked to Gryffindor tower to meet their friends. It was their second to the last breakfast as Hogwarts students and they want to savor the moment.
Their graduation ceremony ended at noon. Harry's speech was successfully applauded. All students who fought in the war each got an award for special services to the school. And as expected, Hermione Jean Granger graduated as the top student with the highest marks achieved in the century and with the most number of Outstandings for her N.E.W.T. exams.
Hermione went down to the head's common room wearing an emerald green spaghetti strap dress that fit her body perfectly. It had a modest neckline and it ended just a few inches above the knee. She finished the look with some eyeshadow and mascara to highlight her eyes and strawberry lip gloss. She let her hair flow in curls behind her back. She wore three inch sandals perfect for dancing. The look was so simple and so her. The only thing that adds sparkle to the outfit was the diamond necklace and earring she wore, the same ones she wore during the auction.
Harry saw her and stood up from the couch. Before saying anything he turned her around and lifted her hair from her back which made her confused. When she turned to face him, he was smiling at her.
"You look beautiful. And the dress is perfect with no missing cloth this time.", he said as he kissed the back of her hand.
"Honestly! That's why you checked the back first?", she laughed.
"Hey! I was just making sure. You seem to like catching pneumonia with having your back exposed.", he retorted.
"Good luck at the wedding then. The dress might have missing cloth too!", she told him as she walked to the portrait hole.
"Hermione! You wouldn't do that to me? Would you? Not on our wedding!", he said as he followed her as they made their way to the Great Hall.
"You'll find out during the wedding Harry.", she said as she laced her arm in his.
"You're such an evil woman.", he sighed.
"You should have listened to Ron, Harry. Don't you remember? I'm brilliant but scary.", she laughed as she saw the look on his face.
"I'll so get you for this Granger. You little minx.", he growled.
"Well, innocent until proven guilty right? You can't argue with me since you haven't even seen the dress so, calm down.", she said in a patronising voice as she playful pat his arm as if to say, "there there".
They arrived at the Great Hall and quickly joined their friends. The food was excellent and the mood was festive. They all made it despite everything that has happened. Hermione enjoyed dancing with Harry. She also danced a few with Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean.
During the last dance of the night, Harry had her arms around her waist and she rested her head on his chest as she wrapped her hands around his neck.
"Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Thanks for being with me all throughout the years. I can't imagine my life in Hogwarts without you.", he whispered.
"Likewise, Harry.", she lifted her head from his chest and smiled at him.
"I can't wait to start a new adventure with you.", he whispered again and he kissed her forehead.
It was at this moment, at the very end of their long Hogwarts journey that changed Hermione's view of Harry. They were off to another journey together - as husband and wife. As she danced thad to the beat of the song, hearing his heart beat as she pressed her face on his chest, his arms wrapped around her, it dawned on her that Hogwarts prepared her for her next adventure with Harry. It was at Hogwarts that she met him, and became friends with him. Ironically, her last night at Hogwarts is also the night that she had her biggest realization. Hermione Jean Granger is completely, irrevocably, and ardently in love with Harry James Potter!
Damn! Should I tell him before or after the wedding?