Note: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and Bloomberg Publishing, not
myself.
A/N: This is probably going to be a shorter chapter. Sorry!
Forever Yours
Chapter III
Ron looked down at his clasped hands, trying to build up the nerve to finally ask Harry about something that had been bothering him since his best friend arrived at his house. It had been a little more than a week since Harry had arrived at the Burrow, and Ron had been noticing something strange about his friend. Every time Hermione had popped up in conversation, Harry had quickly gone solemn, even if he was perfectly happy before, and tried to change the subject. Ron remembered Harry's reaction to when he had picked up the photograph of Hermione off the Dursley living room floor, as if Harry was embarrassed about it. He had also seen Harry's wince when his brother made some comment about Hermione when he popped out of the fireplace the other day. All these signs made Ron just a bit curious as to Harry's feelings about their other friend. The fact that she was supposed to arrive from Bulgaria later that afternoon didn't help things one bit either.
"Hey, Harry?" Ron asked, looking up from his hands at his friend, who was on the losing side of a continual war with his untidy hair.
"Yeah?" Harry replied as he tried to comb his bangs to the side, but having them pop right back magically every time he got them somewhat arranged. "Grr! Sometimes I hate being a bloody wizard!" he remarked angrily.
"We're pals, right?" Ron asked, treading the water before diving in.
"Yeah, sure we are. Why?" Harry's brow perked a bit, but he continued on with his hair.
"Oh, no reason. Forget I asked."
"Can do." Harry replied, now trying to pull his bangs to the side.
After a moment's hesitation, Ron continued, "I mean, we tell each other everything, right?"
"Course we do."
"Right. Just checking." Ron muttered.
"Uh-huh." Harry said, thinking the questions were done.
Ron started up again. "About girls and what not?"
Harry's eyebrow arched quizzically. "Uh. yeah. Sure."
"Mmm. Okay."
A moment of silence passed between the two boys, as Ron wondered if he should ask Harry the next question.
"So if like one of us, for example, fell for 'Mione."
Harry jumped a bit in surprise, dropping the comb in his hand. "Damnit." he murmured, know fully knowing what Ron was getting at. "What is this, Ron? 20 Questions?" he snapped. Harry turned from the mirror to look at Ron, who was sitting on the bed.
"I think you know what this is about, Harry. Admit it! There's something between you and 'Mione, isn't there?" Ron asked of his friend, jumping off his bed. "Isn't there!?"
| If only there was.|
"No! Absolutely not! We're just friends!" Harry said defensively, trying to conceal the panic in his voice. Harry had meant to tell Ron eventually, but not so soon. Maybe 'round Christmas or something.
"Yeah, sure! I've noticed how you get when we start talking about her! You get all gloomy-like!" Ron exclaimed, stepping up to his friend. Luckily for him, he was a bit taller so Harry had to look up a bit to speak to his face.
"No, I don't! What do you care anyway? You like her or something?" Harry snapped back. "Do you Ron? Huh? Remember the Yule Ball?!' (A/N: No, this WILL NOT have ANY Ron/Hermione in it. Bleh. I hate that pairing.)
Ron indeed did. He hated the way Hermione seemed so smug with another champion and let her know about it every chance he could get. The fact that she implied that he was jealous of Viktor¸ well, that bugged Ron to no end. Much to contrary belief, Ron wasn't lusting after Hermione. Awfully good it would have been if he did, with all their arguments and every thing. But still. Krum.
"What of it, Potter? You think I like that know-it-all like that? Merlin, no!" Ron stuck his tongue out for effect as well. He really didn't meant it to sound he didn't like Hermione as a friend, but he had to get his point across.
Harry seemed to take offense at this, though. "She isn't that much of a Know-It-All anymore! In case you haven't noticed, she's also kind! And sweet! And. alluring. and. and." he whispered this last word, ".beautiful."
"Merlin's ghost! I knew it!" Ron said, throwing his arms up into the air. "You fancy her, don't you!?"
Harry gave a small nod in the affirmative.
| Now I'm in for it.|
"Good for you Harry!" Fred said, sauntering into the room.
"We were wondering when you'd come around!" George said, following his brother into the room. He tousled Harry's hair as he walked by.
| Crap.|
"Fred! George! Get out!" Ron said, trying to push his twin brothers out of his room, but they were much too large for him. After a while, he gave up and slumped down on his bed.
"Ah, we'd rather not, Ickle Ronniekins." Fred said, towering over the younger Weasley.
"Especially not after dear Harry here just divulged his undying lust for the lovely Hermione Granger." George grinned, looking at Harry. "We knew it was just a matter of time."
Harry blinked, then blinked again. "Bu.. but."
"How did we hear? It was somewhat difficult, with you and little Ronniekins yelling at each other like that." George responded before Harry could finish what he was trying to say.
"So we decided to come over and see what was the matter-" Fred added, turning towards Harry.
"-And. We. Heard. Every. Lovely. Word." They both said simultaneously, poking Harry every time they paused. Both laughed as Harry face changed into an expression of horror.
"Ah, don't look so glum, Harry. We won't tell anyone, we swear on the Weasley honor!" Fred said, beaming.
"Heck, we'll help you win her heart!" George smirked.
Harry didn't know if he should have thanked them or feared for his life. "Ah, thanks?"
"Don't mention it. Now. tell us, Harry. how did you fall for that fascinating specimen of the female sex? Eh?" George asked. By the look on Ron and George's faces, this was exactly what they wanted to know as well.
Harry looked back and forth between his friends, then back down to the floor. He did this repeatedly, all the while muttering under his breath.
"What's that now?" Fred asked Harry quizzically.
"I dunno." Harry murmured, looking down at his shuffling feet.
"You DON'T KNOW? How do you not know?!" Ron exclaimed suddenly. The other three stared at him as if he was suddenly insane. "Sorry." he muttered.
"Now, really, Harry. You must have an idea of why you like her!" George said.
Harry took in a deep breath and stood there for a minute, trying to figure out how exactly he would explain his feelings to the Weasley brothers. Truth was, Harry really didn't know why he was falling hopelessly in love with Hermione, in the sense that he couldn't really put it into words. It was almost as if his feelings transcended normal ways of expression. But, despite this barrier, he tried his best to explain himself.
"Er. Alright." he started. "You know. you know the feeling you get while flying? That feeling of being totally serene, without anything holding you down whatsoever?" The boys nodded. They all had experienced it firsthand.
"Okay. Now take that feeling and pretend that you could experience through a person. As if the person was your broomstick, and just being by her made you feel. wonderful. Like nothing could ever hurt you ever again. Just hearing her voice made all your worries slip away. Or her touch making everything all right. Follow me?" They nodded once more.
"Now put yourselves in my place. My life was basically a living hell for eleven years before I came to Hogwarts. I had never experienced any kind of emotional pleasure at all, ever. Even now, with all the baggage that comes along with being the Boy Who Lived and the fact that Voldemort." He ignored his friends' flinch. ".wants me dead, my life is still filled with perils. But when I'm around 'Mione. I forget all of that. Voldemort might as well never existed. That's why I feel the way I do." Harry finished, blushing a bit.
Harry could have sworn he saw a tear rolling down Fred's face. "Well, I have to admit it Harry. You have good reasons for feeling the way you do."
"Oh yes. Quite. That's love, my friend. And if you want, we'll help you win her over." His twin added, looking towards his brothers. Both nodded.
"Thanks, guys." Harry whispered. "Just don't. like pour love potion into her goblet or something like that."
"We'd never!" George said defensively, but looking a bit disappointed. "There goes Plan A, Fred." He whispered in his brother's ear. Both Ron and Harry grinned, knowing perfectly well that they would have done just that.
"BOYS! Get down here! Hermione is on her way RIGHT NOW! The fire's lit!" Mrs. Weasley's voice called from downstairs. All of them jumped a bit. Harry looked a bit nervous.
"Ready Harry?" Ron asked him, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. Harry nodded, but was starting to look a little queasy. "Hang in there."
"Alright! Let's go see Harry's lovely lady!" Fred said, pumping his fist in the air. "Come on!"
The four of them walked out of the room and walked slowly down the staircase, from which Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could be seen next to the fireplace, seemingly speaking to someone.
| Hermione.|
As they continued down the stairs, Hermione Granger came into view, speaking enthusiastically to the elder Weasleys. ". Oh yes! It was quite interesting! I had a lot of fun! Anyways, I'd like to introduce you both to someone."
A new person could be seen coming into view. Dark, round-shouldered, brown haired.
| Krum! |
Hermione continued. "You might remember Viktor Krum..." She paused.
"My boyfriend."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Note: Ouch. Poor Harry. Is Krum really Hermione's new fling? How will Harry take this news?
All in the next chapter of Forever Yours!
You have NO IDEA how bad I wanted to make Krum her fiancée. No idea whatsoever!
BTW. I'm really sorry about how Chapter 2's formatting turned out on the site. I uploaded different versions many times, but none did the trick. Strange. If you want a neater version, email me at Xenon@captured.com. Thanks.
Ron looked down at his clasped hands, trying to build up the nerve to finally ask Harry about something that had been bothering him since his best friend arrived at his house. It had been a little more than a week since Harry had arrived at the Burrow, and Ron had been noticing something strange about his friend. Every time Hermione had popped up in conversation, Harry had quickly gone solemn, even if he was perfectly happy before, and tried to change the subject. Ron remembered Harry's reaction to when he had picked up the photograph of Hermione off the Dursley living room floor, as if Harry was embarrassed about it. He had also seen Harry's wince when his brother made some comment about Hermione when he popped out of the fireplace the other day. All these signs made Ron just a bit curious as to Harry's feelings about their other friend. The fact that she was supposed to arrive from Bulgaria later that afternoon didn't help things one bit either.
"Hey, Harry?" Ron asked, looking up from his hands at his friend, who was on the losing side of a continual war with his untidy hair.
"Yeah?" Harry replied as he tried to comb his bangs to the side, but having them pop right back magically every time he got them somewhat arranged. "Grr! Sometimes I hate being a bloody wizard!" he remarked angrily.
"We're pals, right?" Ron asked, treading the water before diving in.
"Yeah, sure we are. Why?" Harry's brow perked a bit, but he continued on with his hair.
"Oh, no reason. Forget I asked."
"Can do." Harry replied, now trying to pull his bangs to the side.
After a moment's hesitation, Ron continued, "I mean, we tell each other everything, right?"
"Course we do."
"Right. Just checking." Ron muttered.
"Uh-huh." Harry said, thinking the questions were done.
Ron started up again. "About girls and what not?"
Harry's eyebrow arched quizzically. "Uh. yeah. Sure."
"Mmm. Okay."
A moment of silence passed between the two boys, as Ron wondered if he should ask Harry the next question.
"So if like one of us, for example, fell for 'Mione."
Harry jumped a bit in surprise, dropping the comb in his hand. "Damnit." he murmured, know fully knowing what Ron was getting at. "What is this, Ron? 20 Questions?" he snapped. Harry turned from the mirror to look at Ron, who was sitting on the bed.
"I think you know what this is about, Harry. Admit it! There's something between you and 'Mione, isn't there?" Ron asked of his friend, jumping off his bed. "Isn't there!?"
| If only there was.|
"No! Absolutely not! We're just friends!" Harry said defensively, trying to conceal the panic in his voice. Harry had meant to tell Ron eventually, but not so soon. Maybe 'round Christmas or something.
"Yeah, sure! I've noticed how you get when we start talking about her! You get all gloomy-like!" Ron exclaimed, stepping up to his friend. Luckily for him, he was a bit taller so Harry had to look up a bit to speak to his face.
"No, I don't! What do you care anyway? You like her or something?" Harry snapped back. "Do you Ron? Huh? Remember the Yule Ball?!' (A/N: No, this WILL NOT have ANY Ron/Hermione in it. Bleh. I hate that pairing.)
Ron indeed did. He hated the way Hermione seemed so smug with another champion and let her know about it every chance he could get. The fact that she implied that he was jealous of Viktor¸ well, that bugged Ron to no end. Much to contrary belief, Ron wasn't lusting after Hermione. Awfully good it would have been if he did, with all their arguments and every thing. But still. Krum.
"What of it, Potter? You think I like that know-it-all like that? Merlin, no!" Ron stuck his tongue out for effect as well. He really didn't meant it to sound he didn't like Hermione as a friend, but he had to get his point across.
Harry seemed to take offense at this, though. "She isn't that much of a Know-It-All anymore! In case you haven't noticed, she's also kind! And sweet! And. alluring. and. and." he whispered this last word, ".beautiful."
"Merlin's ghost! I knew it!" Ron said, throwing his arms up into the air. "You fancy her, don't you!?"
Harry gave a small nod in the affirmative.
| Now I'm in for it.|
"Good for you Harry!" Fred said, sauntering into the room.
"We were wondering when you'd come around!" George said, following his brother into the room. He tousled Harry's hair as he walked by.
| Crap.|
"Fred! George! Get out!" Ron said, trying to push his twin brothers out of his room, but they were much too large for him. After a while, he gave up and slumped down on his bed.
"Ah, we'd rather not, Ickle Ronniekins." Fred said, towering over the younger Weasley.
"Especially not after dear Harry here just divulged his undying lust for the lovely Hermione Granger." George grinned, looking at Harry. "We knew it was just a matter of time."
Harry blinked, then blinked again. "Bu.. but."
"How did we hear? It was somewhat difficult, with you and little Ronniekins yelling at each other like that." George responded before Harry could finish what he was trying to say.
"So we decided to come over and see what was the matter-" Fred added, turning towards Harry.
"-And. We. Heard. Every. Lovely. Word." They both said simultaneously, poking Harry every time they paused. Both laughed as Harry face changed into an expression of horror.
"Ah, don't look so glum, Harry. We won't tell anyone, we swear on the Weasley honor!" Fred said, beaming.
"Heck, we'll help you win her heart!" George smirked.
Harry didn't know if he should have thanked them or feared for his life. "Ah, thanks?"
"Don't mention it. Now. tell us, Harry. how did you fall for that fascinating specimen of the female sex? Eh?" George asked. By the look on Ron and George's faces, this was exactly what they wanted to know as well.
Harry looked back and forth between his friends, then back down to the floor. He did this repeatedly, all the while muttering under his breath.
"What's that now?" Fred asked Harry quizzically.
"I dunno." Harry murmured, looking down at his shuffling feet.
"You DON'T KNOW? How do you not know?!" Ron exclaimed suddenly. The other three stared at him as if he was suddenly insane. "Sorry." he muttered.
"Now, really, Harry. You must have an idea of why you like her!" George said.
Harry took in a deep breath and stood there for a minute, trying to figure out how exactly he would explain his feelings to the Weasley brothers. Truth was, Harry really didn't know why he was falling hopelessly in love with Hermione, in the sense that he couldn't really put it into words. It was almost as if his feelings transcended normal ways of expression. But, despite this barrier, he tried his best to explain himself.
"Er. Alright." he started. "You know. you know the feeling you get while flying? That feeling of being totally serene, without anything holding you down whatsoever?" The boys nodded. They all had experienced it firsthand.
"Okay. Now take that feeling and pretend that you could experience through a person. As if the person was your broomstick, and just being by her made you feel. wonderful. Like nothing could ever hurt you ever again. Just hearing her voice made all your worries slip away. Or her touch making everything all right. Follow me?" They nodded once more.
"Now put yourselves in my place. My life was basically a living hell for eleven years before I came to Hogwarts. I had never experienced any kind of emotional pleasure at all, ever. Even now, with all the baggage that comes along with being the Boy Who Lived and the fact that Voldemort." He ignored his friends' flinch. ".wants me dead, my life is still filled with perils. But when I'm around 'Mione. I forget all of that. Voldemort might as well never existed. That's why I feel the way I do." Harry finished, blushing a bit.
Harry could have sworn he saw a tear rolling down Fred's face. "Well, I have to admit it Harry. You have good reasons for feeling the way you do."
"Oh yes. Quite. That's love, my friend. And if you want, we'll help you win her over." His twin added, looking towards his brothers. Both nodded.
"Thanks, guys." Harry whispered. "Just don't. like pour love potion into her goblet or something like that."
"We'd never!" George said defensively, but looking a bit disappointed. "There goes Plan A, Fred." He whispered in his brother's ear. Both Ron and Harry grinned, knowing perfectly well that they would have done just that.
"BOYS! Get down here! Hermione is on her way RIGHT NOW! The fire's lit!" Mrs. Weasley's voice called from downstairs. All of them jumped a bit. Harry looked a bit nervous.
"Ready Harry?" Ron asked him, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. Harry nodded, but was starting to look a little queasy. "Hang in there."
"Alright! Let's go see Harry's lovely lady!" Fred said, pumping his fist in the air. "Come on!"
The four of them walked out of the room and walked slowly down the staircase, from which Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could be seen next to the fireplace, seemingly speaking to someone.
| Hermione.|
As they continued down the stairs, Hermione Granger came into view, speaking enthusiastically to the elder Weasleys. ". Oh yes! It was quite interesting! I had a lot of fun! Anyways, I'd like to introduce you both to someone."
A new person could be seen coming into view. Dark, round-shouldered, brown haired.
| Krum! |
Hermione continued. "You might remember Viktor Krum..." She paused.
"My boyfriend."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Note: Ouch. Poor Harry. Is Krum really Hermione's new fling? How will Harry take this news?
All in the next chapter of Forever Yours!
You have NO IDEA how bad I wanted to make Krum her fiancée. No idea whatsoever!
BTW. I'm really sorry about how Chapter 2's formatting turned out on the site. I uploaded different versions many times, but none did the trick. Strange. If you want a neater version, email me at Xenon@captured.com. Thanks.