Chapter 6: Between Me and You
The Trio silently made their way towards the Great Hall. Finally, Hermione broke the silence.
"Ron, there is nothing going on between me between me and Harry."
"I know." Ron said, with half a smile on his face, and an unreadable tone to his voice.
"I'm not hungry, I think I should go to bed." He added.
Hermione looked at Ron with a concerned expression. Is he just going to ignore this?
"Ron are you sure?" Hermione asked, it was rare for Ron to turn down food.
"I'm fine." Ron said. "You two go eat, I'm going to the Tower."
Ron walked off towards Gryffindor Tower, leaving Harry and Hermione stranded, in uncomfortable silence.
"Harry we have to tell him, we have to tell him that we…we're not…you know. Are we?"
Harry however, wasn't paying attention to Hermione. He was lost in his own reverie.
(Making sure to block his musings from Hermione beforehand.) He thought of his feelings. What exactly did he feel for Hermione? She was his best friend, he loved her. He loved her? How exactly did he love her? He knew that if anything happened to her he would die himself. Is that what love is? When did he begin feeling like this anyway? Was it this past summer, those endless nights of guilt over Cedric, crying in her lap, while she stroked his hair tenderly and told him it wasn't hisfault, that everything would be ok? Was it last year, during the Triwizard Tournament and he was worried she might drown underwater? Was it in second year, when his heart constricted every time he looked at her empty seat in class and thought of her, petrified in the infirmary? Was it way back in first year, when they encountered the troll? Or was it when they walked through the trap door, and she gave him his first hug, well, one he could remember. Was it at the end of last year when she gave him his first kiss, granted, it was on his cheek but it was his first kiss nonetheless. Or was it on their first train ride to Hogwarts? Yes…the train…she was the first person in the Wizarding World that he met that did NOT make a big deal about his scar, or the fact that HE WAS Harry Potter, "the boy who lived." She never treated him special or anything. He felt normal around her, he didn't have to worry that she was his friend just because he was Harry Potter, he knew there was truth in their friendship.
Hermione was thinking the same thing as Harry was. What exactly did she feel for Harry? He was her best friend, and she loved him but what kind of love exactly? Was it friendship love, or more than that? And what about Ron? Do I love Ron? What do I feel for Ron? She didn't have to think twice. Ron was her friend. That was it. Last year she felt hurt and angry during the Yule Ball because…because…Harry hadn't asked me to the Ball! She thought with enlightenment in her voice. I took it out on poor Ron. And with some surprise she thought to what Ron said earlier. Ron was right. I was jealous of Fleur because I was afraid her interest in Harry might spark his interest . And I readily accepted Krum's offer to the Yule Ball when I heard Harry was asking Cho. Hermione felt like she was listening to her heart for the first time. Why didn't I realize it before?
"Maybe because we're a bunch of self-centered gits." Harry answered her.
Hermione looked up in surprise. "How did you-?"
"Read your mind? I didn't, I was answering my own question, maybe we were thinking the same thing at the same time."
Hermione smiled shyly. Then, without warning, she lunged towards Harry and hugged him greedily to her.
Harry readily assented and buried his hands in her hair.
"This is strange isn't it?" Hermione mused, "I mean I'm so used to you being my best friend, I can't think of you as …well…you know."
"I know." Harry agreed, "Yet it feels right doesn't it? Like somehow we're…"
"Complete." They both said at the same time.
This brought curious smiles as to the depth of their connection.
"Do you think its growing or something?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Harry answered.
"How are we going to go about this?" Hermione asked.
"I suggest we take this slowly." Harry said. "Let's not rush into this. Lets take this day by day."
Hermione smiled, and hugged him closer. Finally, she voiced the thought that was nagging at them both.
"How are we going to tell him?"
Harry didn't know how to answer her.
"Why don't we wait before telling him?"
Hermione looked up at him.
"I know he thinks that by some weird twist of fate we're destined to be together. But I have yet to believe he acknowledges this as real. Maybe we could just be a bit discrete about this, you know, until we think he's ready to accept this. I mean, its not like we're entirely clear on this whole subject as well."
"I understand Harry, and I agree with you." She turned her brown eyes on him. It was all Harry could do to keep down his sudden and unexpected urge to kiss her. But, she surprised him by giving him a quick peck on the lips.
Hermione blushed prettily and buried her face in his chest.
"I think maybe we should head back to the Tower," she said, pulling away from their embrace and turning quickly to walk away.
Harry stopped her before she could get away. He gently eased her back into his arms.
"Harry wha…what is this?"
Something strange was happening to Hermione. It was like she was feeling…she was feeling…she was feeling Harry's feelings. She felt how Harry felt right now, after she kissed him. It made her want to do it again.
"How did you do that?"
"I don't know."
"Did you feel me?" She asked him.
"Yes." He said.
This time, it was Harry's time to blush.
"Its growing, isn't it?" She asked him.
Harry remembered what Dumbledor told them.
"This connection is what allows for you two to share your thoughts with each other, among other things."
"I think it is growing."
Hermione chuckled softly to herself.
"What is it?"
"It's just funny the amount of breath we waste."
"What?"
"I mean, why do we bother talking when I know what you're gonna say and what you're thinking before you say it,"
Harry thought of this and smiled.
"And with a touch, I know how you feel."
Harry thought of their connection with awe. It ran so deep. It was going to be hard to hide this from Ron. He didn't want him to get hurt.
"Its getting late, and your thoughts are worrying me." Hermione said.
Harry looked his arm with hers. "Lets go to bed." He said.
Hermione smacked his arm in mock anger.
"I can hear your thoughts you know!"
Harry smiled at her. This was definitely going to be hard.
Right before they entered the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione paused.
"Don't you find it kind of odd that all of this happened in one day?"
Harry sighed. "No, I don't find it odd. Why should I with everything else that's happened to me?"
Hermione smiled at him and entered the Common Room. Harry followed her in.
They looked around and saw it was empty. How long did they stay talking outside?
Hermione turned to Harry and gave him a shy smile. "Good night Harry."
Harry smiled back and squeezed her hand. "Good night Herm."
They both parted ways as they went up their staircases to their corresponding dormitories.
******
Harry entered his dormitory and found everyone asleep, well, almost everyone.
"Took you long enough." Harry heard Ron exclaim.
"Please Ron, I'm tired, not tonight."
Ron settled back into his bed. "Good night Harry."
Harry smiled.
"Good night Ron."
*Tell Ron I say good night.*
"Hermione says good night."
"Tell her I say good night too."
*Ron says goodnight*
*I heard.*
Ron soon fell asleep, but Harry and Hermione couldn't sleep.
Finally, fatigue overtook Harry.
*Good night Hermione.*
*Good night Harry.*
*You know, hasn't this felt like the longest day?*
Hermione smiled. *It has been.*
