A/N This is a little strange, but there are two Summer Part 21's. I'll post them both and you can decide for yourself. Personally, I can never decide, it just depends upon my mood. You may not be able to see it happening , but maybe you'll like it
Part 21 - The Hormonal Option
When they were outside, Hermione asked , "When did you develop this sudden interest in roses? I don't remember you spending a lot of time admiring the ones at Hogwarts, and being enchanted they're really nice."
" Come on Hermione, give me a break for once." Harry held both of Hermione's shoulders and turned her to look at him. When she did, he saw her eyes dancing in the moonlight. He also noticed two other things. There were small twinkling lights in her hair, above her shoulders and her arms in the sleeveless dress were very cold. " I ....thought we could both use a break from my family. C'mon , lets go sit on that bench. I've spent enough time painting it over the years, we ought to enjoy it."
He rubbed her shoulders as he guided her to the bench that was under a plane tree." Sorry I brought you out so quickly. You didn't even have time to get your sweater. And Hermione, what are those lights? Where are they coming from?"
Hermione giggled and said," Oh, those are my fairies. Mom gave them to me as an early birthday present. Here I'll show you..." She pulled her hair back, and from each of her ears Harry could see a tiny golden fairy. Swinging on a small chain with an even tinier blue bead.
"Nice!" said Harry, thinking how great it was for Hermione to finally be able to enjoy knowing her Mom wasn't a Muggle. " But why didn't they light up before?" He leaned a little closer, touching each of the fairies, and receiving a small tingle in his finger.
Hermione shook her head slightly, making the fairies dance. "They only light up in, um, certain circumstances. Kind of like a sneak-o -scope, only in reverse. They light up when you're near someone you trust, someone who'll be important in your life for a long time."
For a moment Harry wasn't quite sure what to say. Hermione's words could be taken in a lot of different ways, and they HAD been best friends for years, he , Ron and Hermione. Harry gave himself a mental kick.Why did he have to think about RON right now.He pushed the thought aside and whispered, " So....I'm important? I know that, but the question is, how important?"
" I..I think I'm getting really cold, Harry. We may need to go in, but I don't want to." She looked at him with a question in her eyes."Ooh , that's better," she said as Harry slid both arms around her, pulling her close to him." Do you really need to ask that question, Harry? Do you see anyone else spending all this time at my house? Do you think I'd be spending all this time with these Muggles?"
" You know anyone who's close to me isn't going to be entirely safe. I don't think I could stand knowing you, or your family were hurt because of me." said Harry, holding her a litle closer.
"And when have I ever not been in danger then? We just aren't like other people, Harry. We never will be. Can you actually see me spending hours worrying about what bracelets I'm going to wear with what dress?" She shook her head, and leaned on his shoulder." No, we've always been different. Mom knows that, she wouldn't have decided to return to the Wizarding world without good reason. My parents have been pretty happy all these years in the Muggle world, but Mom said you need all the protection we can give you. The Dursley's house isn't going to be safe much longer, but no one knows how much longer. But for now....am I really wrong, did we come out here for a reason besides looking at roses and my fairies?"
" Maybe so, " said Harry softly." How would you feel if I did this?" Very gently, he took her face in his hands and bent his face to hers. Their lips met and Harry felt a shiver go through him that had nothing to do with the chill of the evening. He felt Hermione's arms go around his neck, and she shivered too. This time when they broke apart neither of them laughed, and Harry had the strange sensation that he had just taken a very deep dive on his Firebolt and was soaring back up. Looking at Hermione's face in the moonlight, he could tell she wouldn't pull away from another kiss. He pushed her hair back and was amused to see the fairies twinkling and dancing much faster.
Just as their lips touched, and he felt his legs begin to feel like jelly, they heard the back door slam.And a light came on. "Harreeee...." Aunt Petunia's voice cut shrilly through the night.Harry and Hermione looked at each other, dismayed. Then Harry whispered, " This is only the beginning, Hermione. I promise you that."