A/N: So, call me a lire…I didn't get 10 reviews but here is chapter four for all you wonderful peeps that reviewed!
What She Thinks: Chapter 4
'Is This Love'
Hermione had her reasons for wanting Harry to become captain. Of course, she didn't like to fly, but if it meant more Harry then she was all for it. Not only would Harry be choosing his team as captain, he would also be obligated to help his teammates and take time with them. And if things went how Hermione wanted them to, she would need a lot of help.
Hermione dropped her vote in the box and awaited the count done by Lee Jordan. He and 3 other Gryffindors sat at a small circular table as the crowed watched with bated breath.
Finally, Lee stood up and cleared his throat loudly. Instantly the only noise, which came from some exited first years, ceased.
"It was close," He began importantly, "Very, very close…" The crowed drew a breath as one. "In fact, it was so close that I was having trouble breathing…That's how close it was."
Hermione sat next to Harry along with Fred and George who seemed unfazed.
"And when I say it was close, I don't just mean close, I mean really, really close." He drew a breath and continued as people began to moan in aggravation, "I wish I could tell you, how really close it was." He shook his head and began to pace. "I just sat there counting, and the only thing that came to me was, 'wow, this is close.' And then, nearly thinking it was a tie I came to the conclusion that yes it's close, and yes the best man won, and yes-
"Just tell us already!" George yelled, exasperated.
Lee smiled evilly, "The winner is! And I repeat the winner is: YES FOLKS OUR KNEW GRYFFINDOR TEAM CAPTAIN IS NONE OTHER THAN THE ONE OF KIND, FABULOUS--AMAZING-- (Hermione was on the edge of her seat) --HARRY POTTER!" She fell off.
Cheers filled the small room as she felt people close in on her before seeing Harry leave his seat to take his place on the shoulders of the crowed. Hermione threw her arms around Ron, the closets to her, and sobbed. And Harry, he never looked happier.
Hermione strolled into the Great Hall that evening for dinner, a single thought locked in her mind.
"Harry?" She asked weakly.
"Huh? Oh! Hermione, what's up?" He asked, obviously his latest victory hadn't yet worn off.
"Harry--I--I was thinking of trying out for the Quidditch team."
Ron snorted into his pumpkin juice.
Hermione shot him a look of pure venom, Ron had clearly got the message, because he quickly turned around to finished his turkey.
"You were?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yes, and I was wondering if you would help me--train that is."
Harry smiled and Hermione fought the urge to through her arms around him.
"Okay, be on the field at four thirty, sharp. Don't be late." Harry grinned as he scooted over so Hermione could sit down for dinner.
Hermione smacked her alarm clock at 4:00 the next morning and realized she had only gotten 4 hours of sleep. Though not really awake she began to slip on her jeans and a shirt. Once fully dressed she headed down to the common room with the broom her parents had bought her for an early birthday present she never thought would come in handy.
It was still dark outside and there was no sign of anyone on the field. Hermione bent down to tie her shoelace and decided to wait for Harry when she sat up with a small scream.
"Your late," It was Harry, he hung infront of her upside down and by the sound of it he had been waiting for her.
"Sorry, you just scared me," Hermione said, twiddling her Nimbus 2000 in her fingers.
"Sorry," Harry apologized, dropping from the air and shouldering his Firebolt.
"So you want to learn how to fly?" Harry asked as they reached the
pitch.
"I'm impressed Potter, you catch on quickly," She joked.
"It's just I never thought I'd see the day when I'd teach you
something."
"Everyone can learn something, it's when they don't think they can
that they truly have learned nothing," Hermione said knowingly.
Harry grinned.
"Then, show me how you hold it," He said slyly.
"Well," Hermione tried hard to remember what it had said in
Quidditch Through the Ages, "You do this," She twisted her fingers at an
odd angle.
Harry began to snigger.
"No," He said, walking up behind her and swinging one leg over her broom, "You hod it, like this…"
Hermione wasn't listening she shifted uncomfortably, It was hard to pay attention with Harry's arms wrapped around her as they gently showed her hands how to place themselves.
"Get it?" He asked in her ear, she could feel his breath on her neck and cocked her head ever so slightly.
She nodded as Harry stepped off and mounted his own broom.
"Okay, now kickoff." He told her.
Hermione bent her knees and kicked hard at the ground. It was rather hard to feel safe on a flying stick but she did her best to look comfortable.
Harry flew over to her, looping wildly in the air.
"Here comes the real challenge," she said testily, "Trying to teach me how to play Quidditch."
Harry's jaw dropped.
"No--I mean--Hermione--There's no--Quidditch is a very complicated game and--"
"You don't think I can do it." She said, sticking her nose in the air. "You think that just because it doesn't come out of a book I can't learn it--Well I can. You just watch." She said surly, dropping a few feet as she ran her fingers through her hair. Quickly stabling the broom with both hands and hoping Harry hadn't seen her she puffed her chest out and rose back to her original hight.
After and hour of practice (Hermione had decided to try out for Chaser) she was called to the ground by Harry.
"You did good," He said, shaking his head in an approving sort of way. Hermione fought the urge to say, "Well--Not good--I did well--" But thought it sounded rather bossy.
Instead she just said, "Thank you," and changed the subject.
They strode across the grounds, laughing and telling jokes. It was when Hermione finished her joke about the Blondes on a double-decker bus that she realized they had stopped by the lake and she fell silent. This was were he had almost kissed her. It felt awkward, standing there.
Finally Harry broke the silence. "Have you heard the one about the Japanese golfer?" He asked.
Hermione giggled, "No, but it sounds funny."
"It is," Harry said, a glint in his eye that made Hermione feel uneasy. Then she realized he was looking behind her. She twisted around but saw nothing. She turned back to Harry to find that he wasn't there.
"Harry?" She said timidly, backing up to the lake were she turned around to stare at her reflection. Hermione began to think of what Harry had said the last time they had stood there. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sound behind her. Before she had time to turn around someone had shuved her into the lake. Hermione fell under the icy cool water and quickly brought herself back up, gasping for breath.
She reached the edge of the bank and felt someone lock their arms around her stomach and pulled her back under.
They quickly released and Hermione felt the figure propel its self away from her under water. Coming up once more she looked wildly around for the attacker when her eyes fell on Harry, a wide wicked smile spread across his face. Hermione look of surprise slowly became a disapproving grin.
She glided back to the edge, keeping a close eye on him. Hoisting her self onto the bank she let her feet hang in the water. She was soaking wet. Hermione must have showed her feeling of disgust as the wet clothes clung to her body because Harry began to laugh.
"It's not funny," she said grumpily, pulling her shirt away from her stomach and letting air inside, causing a giant air bubble under her shirt. At this Harry laughed harder.
'Oh well,' Hermione reasoned, flinging herself back into the water, 'I'm already wet!'
Hermione sped off after him, mumbling thinks like, "I'm going to hurt you," and "I swear, when I get hold of you…"
Finally catching up to him near the bank Harry turned to her. Hermione stopped infront of him, realizing his chest and shoulders were bare. Harry was breathing deeply from the chase and Hermione watched as his chest fell up and down.
She met his eyes and they stared at each other for what seemed eternity. Finally, Hermione the gaze, blushing.
"Well we better just get back up to the castle." She said, staring at the water and grabbing her right arm with her left uncomfortably.
Harry however, didn't say anything, just took her chin in one and, placed the other around her back, drawing her closer and Hermione saw fireworks. He had kissed her. It was all she had dreamed of, like passion into liquid, poring heavily down her spine. Flinging her arms around his bare neck she returned the kiss. It only broke when Hermione pulled away, smiling.
"A pretty friend huh?" She asked in an undertone, placing one hand on top of his head and dunking him with a giggle.
As six thirty grew nearer, Harry hoisted himself out of the lake and Hermione immediately became deaf to his offered hand.
She could see were years of practice had really paid off. Taking his hand he pulled her out in turn.
'Is this love?'