Disclaimer- I do not own anything but the plot, the fabulous J.K. Rowling owns the characters, and the setting. I am not making ANY money off of this story, unless you count reviews as money, which I don't. They have no numerical value. Yeah. So, I hope you like the story, and please, as always, r/r and tell me if I should continue. BTW- I know Hermione is a little out of character in this story, but it pretty much wrote itself, and I couldn't control it, so, sorry. It didn't come out any other way, and I don't think it could be pulled off as well. So, have fun reading the fic!
A/N- I'm not exactly sure what happened here, but for some reason the first chapter wasn't showing up. If you're reading this, it obviously means that it's working *duh*. So, hopefully you like it.
*~Cold Front~*
January 4th, 2001
Dear Diary,
The cold winter months show no sign of mercy. The wind howls as I write this, and I have the hangings around my bed drawn for the sole purpose of keeping the driving cold out. The window is frosty, and I cannot see outside, for the blowing snow. The common room is toasty, and the sheets in the beds are warm, for the house elves have generously provided us with bed-warmers. We are all grateful for them this frosty night. Care of Magical Creatures class is a challenge. Hagrid has decided that instead of having outside classes, we shall have our class in an old classroom. Still, Professor Sprout insists on us having our Herbology classes in the green houses, which are not well equipped to keep us warm. We bundle up as much as possible, but we trudge around the grounds in the brutal cold, trying to stay warm, and stumbling because our poor little toes are frozen and numb. I will have to keep you posted on the development of mine and Harry's relationship. As I have told you in earlier entries, I do hold Harry dear to my heart, as more than a friend. He seems oblivious to this fact, though he has been nicer than usual. I must go, the cold is numbing my fingers, and I find it hard to write. I would conjure a bluebell fire, but I would much rather go down to the common room, and see what is going on down there. Good night.
Your friend, Hermione
***
Hermione shut her diary, and blew on her hands, trying to warm them. It didn't work very well, she had to admit. She hid the diary in her nightstand drawer, and put the pen on the top. She looked briefly into the mirror on her way by, and she was startled to see that she was trembling. She risked another moment in her freezing dormitory to grab her cloak. She fastened it, and put the hood up. Then, she opened the door, and headed down the stairs into the common room. To her relief, there were other people down there. Fred and George Weasley were flirting with some 6th years, and Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were talking in low tones near the fire. Neville Longbottom was sitting on a squashy scarlet armchair, dozing. Hermione was just starting to think that she might sleep in the common room instead, for it was warmer, when Ron and Harry burst into the room. They hurried over to her, and she was painfully aware that she was shaking from head to toe. Ron looked at her with a peculiar look upon his face as they walked toward her.
"What's the matter with you?" Ron asked. Harry looked at Ron, sighed and then turned to Hermione.
"Are you cold? I noticed you have your cloak on, and you're shaking," Harry said to her. Hermione nodded, grateful but embarrassed that he had noticed. As she watched, he took off his cloak. She watched him, and before she knew what was happening, he thrust it at her. "Harry? No, you keep it, I'm fine." She tried to stop her body from shaking, but it just wasn't happening. Harry stepped closer to her, and wrapped his cloak around her, and fastened it under her chin. Hermione smiled in thanks.
"Touching, really. Can we borrow Ron for a minute?" George Weasley was standing next to them. Harry and Hermione looked at Ron, who shrugged, and went with his brother. Harry and Hermione chose a maroon sofa, and tried to pull it closer to the fire. Finally, they collapsed upon it, worn out from the cold, and the day's events. Hermione decided that she probably would spend the night in the common room, instead of in her dormitory. She caught Harry watching her. She looked at him, and he quickly looked away. She tried frantically to find something to say, and then stated the painfully obvious: "It sure is cold," she said. Harry looked at her, and nodded. "It's freezing in my dormitory. I think I'm going to sleep down here tonight," she added, hinting subtly.
"It's rather toasty in the boy's dormitory. Warmer than down here, I suppose," Harry replied. Hermione's heart sunk a little bit. "D'you want to come up? Maybe you'll stop shaking," Harry said. Hermione pretended to think for a bit, and then nodded.
"Okay," she replied. Harry grinned slightly, and then made her go up the stairs first, hoping that no one had noticed. Harry like Hermione, of course, he had just never thought of her that way. He noticed that she seemed giddy tonight, and he vaguely wondered why, and then pushed it out of his mind. Must be the cold...he thought. They reached the dormitory, and Harry pushed the door open. It was a bit messy, and he apologized, expecting her to contradict him, but she said nothing. She turned around, and Harry saw that there was a certain light in her eyes, like a fire burning deep within her soul, that he had never seen before. He lifted his hand, as though he was going to touch her, but at the last second, he decided against it. Harry was right; it was a lot warmer up here, rather than the girl's dormitory. Hermione took off Harry's cloak, and handed it to him, and then took off her own cloak. She was aware of Harry's eyes on her, and she decided that she looked okay. Her hair was less bushy today, and she had nice clothes on: slightly faded flair jeans, and a baby doll t-shirt with the words "I WANT YOU... to go away" on it. She had actually worn makeup today. Harry grabbed her arm suddenly, and Hermione stared into his emerald-colored eyes questioningly. He pulled Hermione to him, and brought her face closer to his. He gazed at her through half-lidded eyes. He slowly tilted his head, and leaned down. His lips touched hers, and they kissed. They stood, kissing for a while, and then Harry pulled away to look at her. He shook his head, and let go of her. Hermione's face was flushed, and she couldn't believe it. She touched her lips, which were still damp from Harry's kisses. She blinked, and looked at him. He was staring hard at her. Then, he spoke. "Hermione, I don't know what just happened here...I just...decided that it was time to kiss you...but, I don't understand why, because I know that I still have feelings for Cho. I don't think that there will be any repeat scenes of tonight, because I'm too confused right now. Something just...came over me, and I felt like I had to do it, or something would happen, and it wouldn't necessarily be good." Hermione was trying to process his words, and at the same time, it felt like a load of Filibuster's No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks had just gone off inside her. She smiled, and it worked like magic. Actually, better than any kind of magic that she had ever used, and she knew that she had not learned this from a spellbook. Harry was drawn to her again, and he kissed her again. Hermione tried to empty her mind, and when she succeeded, Harry pulled away. Hermione let her feelings and thoughts come flooding back, and just as she'd expected, Harry was leaning down to kiss her again. She put her hand against his chest, and regretfully pushed him back. He protested, even fought, trying to find his way back to her mouth, but she said "Harry, stop. Please," and she shut every emotion out, and he stopped. He looked at her curiously. "Harry, I think we've stumbled across something. Something very powerful. What exactly did you feel after I smiled?" she asked. He thought for a moment. "Well, you know how a portkey feels when it pulls you? The jerk behind your navel? Well, it sort of felt like that, and then once I got going, I couldn't stop. It was really odd," he replied.
"Could you feel anything? Such as, any emotions or feelings when we kissed?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.
"I felt your lips against mine, and I felt that I sort of liked it." He blushed. "But, I also felt like something was taking over my body, something that was like a nasty virus, or the stomach flu, or something like that," he added. Hermione agreed.
"I think that we've come across some very ancient magic, something that shouldn't be fooled with. But, I've got to tell you, Harry, it was really nice..." Hermione looked away. Harry blinked. Hermione sighed. She'd expected him to react in a different way. She thought he'd either be revolted and disgusted, or intrigued and happy, but not...indifferent. "I think I'd better go," Hermione said, grabbing her cloak, and turning around. She walked fast towards the door, and hesitated a moment before grabbing the handle, as if expecting Harry to beg for her to come back. He didn't, and she left. She flew down the dormitory stairs, and across the room. She threw herself up the stairs to her dormitory, even as cold as it was. She got to her diary, and wrote down everything that had happened.
***
The next morning, Hermione was curious as to if the magic still worked. She looked at Ron, who had just come down the dormitory stairs, and grinned slightly. Ron quickly strode over to her, and took her hand. She looked at him, shocked, and decided that maybe she shouldn't toy with the ancient magic she and Harry had discovered. Oh, but it's so fun, a part of her said. She pondered using it on all of the boys at the school, but then she realized just exactly what she was thinking about. That would mean that she was tempting fate, as if just asking for something to happen. Nothing's gonna happen, a voice tempted. Hermione decided to let the matter rest for a while, before deciding anything farther. She was even tempted into using it to make out with Harry, as she badly wanted to, and then using a memory charm on him afterward. Hermione sucked her breath in sharply. What was she thinking? This was one of her best friends she was talking about! How could she be so careless with his feelings? Hermione sat on an armchair in front of the fire, disgusted with herself.
A/N- I'm not exactly sure what happened here, but for some reason the first chapter wasn't showing up. If you're reading this, it obviously means that it's working *duh*. So, hopefully you like it.
*~Cold Front~*
January 4th, 2001
Dear Diary,
The cold winter months show no sign of mercy. The wind howls as I write this, and I have the hangings around my bed drawn for the sole purpose of keeping the driving cold out. The window is frosty, and I cannot see outside, for the blowing snow. The common room is toasty, and the sheets in the beds are warm, for the house elves have generously provided us with bed-warmers. We are all grateful for them this frosty night. Care of Magical Creatures class is a challenge. Hagrid has decided that instead of having outside classes, we shall have our class in an old classroom. Still, Professor Sprout insists on us having our Herbology classes in the green houses, which are not well equipped to keep us warm. We bundle up as much as possible, but we trudge around the grounds in the brutal cold, trying to stay warm, and stumbling because our poor little toes are frozen and numb. I will have to keep you posted on the development of mine and Harry's relationship. As I have told you in earlier entries, I do hold Harry dear to my heart, as more than a friend. He seems oblivious to this fact, though he has been nicer than usual. I must go, the cold is numbing my fingers, and I find it hard to write. I would conjure a bluebell fire, but I would much rather go down to the common room, and see what is going on down there. Good night.
Your friend, Hermione
***
Hermione shut her diary, and blew on her hands, trying to warm them. It didn't work very well, she had to admit. She hid the diary in her nightstand drawer, and put the pen on the top. She looked briefly into the mirror on her way by, and she was startled to see that she was trembling. She risked another moment in her freezing dormitory to grab her cloak. She fastened it, and put the hood up. Then, she opened the door, and headed down the stairs into the common room. To her relief, there were other people down there. Fred and George Weasley were flirting with some 6th years, and Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were talking in low tones near the fire. Neville Longbottom was sitting on a squashy scarlet armchair, dozing. Hermione was just starting to think that she might sleep in the common room instead, for it was warmer, when Ron and Harry burst into the room. They hurried over to her, and she was painfully aware that she was shaking from head to toe. Ron looked at her with a peculiar look upon his face as they walked toward her.
"What's the matter with you?" Ron asked. Harry looked at Ron, sighed and then turned to Hermione.
"Are you cold? I noticed you have your cloak on, and you're shaking," Harry said to her. Hermione nodded, grateful but embarrassed that he had noticed. As she watched, he took off his cloak. She watched him, and before she knew what was happening, he thrust it at her. "Harry? No, you keep it, I'm fine." She tried to stop her body from shaking, but it just wasn't happening. Harry stepped closer to her, and wrapped his cloak around her, and fastened it under her chin. Hermione smiled in thanks.
"Touching, really. Can we borrow Ron for a minute?" George Weasley was standing next to them. Harry and Hermione looked at Ron, who shrugged, and went with his brother. Harry and Hermione chose a maroon sofa, and tried to pull it closer to the fire. Finally, they collapsed upon it, worn out from the cold, and the day's events. Hermione decided that she probably would spend the night in the common room, instead of in her dormitory. She caught Harry watching her. She looked at him, and he quickly looked away. She tried frantically to find something to say, and then stated the painfully obvious: "It sure is cold," she said. Harry looked at her, and nodded. "It's freezing in my dormitory. I think I'm going to sleep down here tonight," she added, hinting subtly.
"It's rather toasty in the boy's dormitory. Warmer than down here, I suppose," Harry replied. Hermione's heart sunk a little bit. "D'you want to come up? Maybe you'll stop shaking," Harry said. Hermione pretended to think for a bit, and then nodded.
"Okay," she replied. Harry grinned slightly, and then made her go up the stairs first, hoping that no one had noticed. Harry like Hermione, of course, he had just never thought of her that way. He noticed that she seemed giddy tonight, and he vaguely wondered why, and then pushed it out of his mind. Must be the cold...he thought. They reached the dormitory, and Harry pushed the door open. It was a bit messy, and he apologized, expecting her to contradict him, but she said nothing. She turned around, and Harry saw that there was a certain light in her eyes, like a fire burning deep within her soul, that he had never seen before. He lifted his hand, as though he was going to touch her, but at the last second, he decided against it. Harry was right; it was a lot warmer up here, rather than the girl's dormitory. Hermione took off Harry's cloak, and handed it to him, and then took off her own cloak. She was aware of Harry's eyes on her, and she decided that she looked okay. Her hair was less bushy today, and she had nice clothes on: slightly faded flair jeans, and a baby doll t-shirt with the words "I WANT YOU... to go away" on it. She had actually worn makeup today. Harry grabbed her arm suddenly, and Hermione stared into his emerald-colored eyes questioningly. He pulled Hermione to him, and brought her face closer to his. He gazed at her through half-lidded eyes. He slowly tilted his head, and leaned down. His lips touched hers, and they kissed. They stood, kissing for a while, and then Harry pulled away to look at her. He shook his head, and let go of her. Hermione's face was flushed, and she couldn't believe it. She touched her lips, which were still damp from Harry's kisses. She blinked, and looked at him. He was staring hard at her. Then, he spoke. "Hermione, I don't know what just happened here...I just...decided that it was time to kiss you...but, I don't understand why, because I know that I still have feelings for Cho. I don't think that there will be any repeat scenes of tonight, because I'm too confused right now. Something just...came over me, and I felt like I had to do it, or something would happen, and it wouldn't necessarily be good." Hermione was trying to process his words, and at the same time, it felt like a load of Filibuster's No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks had just gone off inside her. She smiled, and it worked like magic. Actually, better than any kind of magic that she had ever used, and she knew that she had not learned this from a spellbook. Harry was drawn to her again, and he kissed her again. Hermione tried to empty her mind, and when she succeeded, Harry pulled away. Hermione let her feelings and thoughts come flooding back, and just as she'd expected, Harry was leaning down to kiss her again. She put her hand against his chest, and regretfully pushed him back. He protested, even fought, trying to find his way back to her mouth, but she said "Harry, stop. Please," and she shut every emotion out, and he stopped. He looked at her curiously. "Harry, I think we've stumbled across something. Something very powerful. What exactly did you feel after I smiled?" she asked. He thought for a moment. "Well, you know how a portkey feels when it pulls you? The jerk behind your navel? Well, it sort of felt like that, and then once I got going, I couldn't stop. It was really odd," he replied.
"Could you feel anything? Such as, any emotions or feelings when we kissed?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.
"I felt your lips against mine, and I felt that I sort of liked it." He blushed. "But, I also felt like something was taking over my body, something that was like a nasty virus, or the stomach flu, or something like that," he added. Hermione agreed.
"I think that we've come across some very ancient magic, something that shouldn't be fooled with. But, I've got to tell you, Harry, it was really nice..." Hermione looked away. Harry blinked. Hermione sighed. She'd expected him to react in a different way. She thought he'd either be revolted and disgusted, or intrigued and happy, but not...indifferent. "I think I'd better go," Hermione said, grabbing her cloak, and turning around. She walked fast towards the door, and hesitated a moment before grabbing the handle, as if expecting Harry to beg for her to come back. He didn't, and she left. She flew down the dormitory stairs, and across the room. She threw herself up the stairs to her dormitory, even as cold as it was. She got to her diary, and wrote down everything that had happened.
***
The next morning, Hermione was curious as to if the magic still worked. She looked at Ron, who had just come down the dormitory stairs, and grinned slightly. Ron quickly strode over to her, and took her hand. She looked at him, shocked, and decided that maybe she shouldn't toy with the ancient magic she and Harry had discovered. Oh, but it's so fun, a part of her said. She pondered using it on all of the boys at the school, but then she realized just exactly what she was thinking about. That would mean that she was tempting fate, as if just asking for something to happen. Nothing's gonna happen, a voice tempted. Hermione decided to let the matter rest for a while, before deciding anything farther. She was even tempted into using it to make out with Harry, as she badly wanted to, and then using a memory charm on him afterward. Hermione sucked her breath in sharply. What was she thinking? This was one of her best friends she was talking about! How could she be so careless with his feelings? Hermione sat on an armchair in front of the fire, disgusted with herself.