Chapter 1
"You are the one, Harry Potter. Chosen by Godric Griffindor himself, you alone have the power, ambition, and the will to save the fate of the wizarding world from the clutches of the ever rising Lord Voldemort. Be wise, Harry Potter, and good luck."
Harry sat upright immediately. Where was he? Then he remembered. He was on the scarlet Hogwarts Express train on his way to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his seventh and final year. He must have dozed off. He had had an extremely peculiar dream. Someone was talking to him, addressing him, telling him something he couldn't quite grasp at the moment..something about his being the savior of the wizarding world? Harry shook his head. He was simply being preposterous.
Across from him in the same compartment were his best friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They were talking in quiet whispers so as not to wake him. Hermione leaned back and laughed at something Ron had said and playfully punched him in the arm. Ron saw that Harry was awake and caught his eye, blushing. Ron had begun to develop something of a crush on Hermione since their fifth year. Only Harry knew this, and he had promised to keep it so. Nevertheless, Harry looked on at the two of them in jealousy, suddenly having the urge to punch Ron in the arm as Hermione did..only not so playfully and gently. Harry mentally slapped himself. What was he saying? He was jealous of Hermione and Ron? His two best friends? If they were to get together, it would only be good for everyone..wouldn't it..?
Harry couldn't help but notice, however, the drastic change in Hermione over the summer. She had grown taller and had become a young woman. She was perfectly proportional in all the right places, Harry thought, turning a bright shade of red. Her hair was now tamed and dripped down her back in smooth layers. She had dropped the old Hermione's wardrobe of loose, comfortable clothing, and had adopted a much brighter, stylish, and, in Harry's opinion, much better fitting one. She, being the studious Hermione however, wore no makeup, but often had on a charming and radiant smile.
Hermione looked over to Harry and smiled. He looked so adorable, she mused. His nap had messed up his hair even further, allowing several dark locks to cast over his forehead, but not hiding the jagged lightning bolt scar. His emerald green eyes seemed to give off a light of their own. Harry, too, had changed over the summer. He was now a tall, muscular wizard and could easily pick up Hermione. She had learned this when they met on Platform 9 ¾ this morning..
..Harry was pushing his trunk toward the platform with Hedwig hooting in a cage dangling from his arm. As he stepped through the barrier, he saw Hermione waving to him, calling out his name. He dropped the cage down with a loud 'clunk' and rushed over to her. All of his manners and ethics forgotten, he embraced her. He had had a difficult summer at the Dursley's and many times yearned to hear her voice again. Her eyes dancing in the sunlight peering at him caused him to laugh. He swept her off the ground and twirled her in the air, her giggling as she spun around..
"Hermione? Hermione?" came Ron's irritated voice. He had noticed the two staring at each other, and was becoming very annoyed. Ron was aware that the three of them had a special bond, and Harry and Hermione had every right be to friends, but it always made him uneasy to see his best friend flirting with his crush.
"Huh? Oh! Yes, Ron, I'm so sorry..I guess I just sort of drifted into my own world for a second." Hermione replied, taking her eyes off of Harry. They began talking again, and Harry, wishing to be by himself for several seconds, looked out the window.
He didn't focus on the beautiful countryside landscape they were passing. All he saw was a blur. Harry was thinking about Hermione. What was it that made his stomach flutter every time she smiled at him? He was sure this had never happened before. He had been so exuberant to meet her this morning at the train station. Over the summer, his heart had ached from missing her. He was sure he could have easily produced a Patronus as he looked into her eyes again that morning for the first time in three months. Why did he get nervous every time they talked? And what was it that made him blush every time she was near him? Harry didn't want to admit it, but he knew what it was. He was in love with his best friend, the best witch in school, and his best friend's crush. He had fallen for Hermione Granger.
"You are the one, Harry Potter. Chosen by Godric Griffindor himself, you alone have the power, ambition, and the will to save the fate of the wizarding world from the clutches of the ever rising Lord Voldemort. Be wise, Harry Potter, and good luck."
Harry sat upright immediately. Where was he? Then he remembered. He was on the scarlet Hogwarts Express train on his way to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his seventh and final year. He must have dozed off. He had had an extremely peculiar dream. Someone was talking to him, addressing him, telling him something he couldn't quite grasp at the moment..something about his being the savior of the wizarding world? Harry shook his head. He was simply being preposterous.
Across from him in the same compartment were his best friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They were talking in quiet whispers so as not to wake him. Hermione leaned back and laughed at something Ron had said and playfully punched him in the arm. Ron saw that Harry was awake and caught his eye, blushing. Ron had begun to develop something of a crush on Hermione since their fifth year. Only Harry knew this, and he had promised to keep it so. Nevertheless, Harry looked on at the two of them in jealousy, suddenly having the urge to punch Ron in the arm as Hermione did..only not so playfully and gently. Harry mentally slapped himself. What was he saying? He was jealous of Hermione and Ron? His two best friends? If they were to get together, it would only be good for everyone..wouldn't it..?
Harry couldn't help but notice, however, the drastic change in Hermione over the summer. She had grown taller and had become a young woman. She was perfectly proportional in all the right places, Harry thought, turning a bright shade of red. Her hair was now tamed and dripped down her back in smooth layers. She had dropped the old Hermione's wardrobe of loose, comfortable clothing, and had adopted a much brighter, stylish, and, in Harry's opinion, much better fitting one. She, being the studious Hermione however, wore no makeup, but often had on a charming and radiant smile.
Hermione looked over to Harry and smiled. He looked so adorable, she mused. His nap had messed up his hair even further, allowing several dark locks to cast over his forehead, but not hiding the jagged lightning bolt scar. His emerald green eyes seemed to give off a light of their own. Harry, too, had changed over the summer. He was now a tall, muscular wizard and could easily pick up Hermione. She had learned this when they met on Platform 9 ¾ this morning..
..Harry was pushing his trunk toward the platform with Hedwig hooting in a cage dangling from his arm. As he stepped through the barrier, he saw Hermione waving to him, calling out his name. He dropped the cage down with a loud 'clunk' and rushed over to her. All of his manners and ethics forgotten, he embraced her. He had had a difficult summer at the Dursley's and many times yearned to hear her voice again. Her eyes dancing in the sunlight peering at him caused him to laugh. He swept her off the ground and twirled her in the air, her giggling as she spun around..
"Hermione? Hermione?" came Ron's irritated voice. He had noticed the two staring at each other, and was becoming very annoyed. Ron was aware that the three of them had a special bond, and Harry and Hermione had every right be to friends, but it always made him uneasy to see his best friend flirting with his crush.
"Huh? Oh! Yes, Ron, I'm so sorry..I guess I just sort of drifted into my own world for a second." Hermione replied, taking her eyes off of Harry. They began talking again, and Harry, wishing to be by himself for several seconds, looked out the window.
He didn't focus on the beautiful countryside landscape they were passing. All he saw was a blur. Harry was thinking about Hermione. What was it that made his stomach flutter every time she smiled at him? He was sure this had never happened before. He had been so exuberant to meet her this morning at the train station. Over the summer, his heart had ached from missing her. He was sure he could have easily produced a Patronus as he looked into her eyes again that morning for the first time in three months. Why did he get nervous every time they talked? And what was it that made him blush every time she was near him? Harry didn't want to admit it, but he knew what it was. He was in love with his best friend, the best witch in school, and his best friend's crush. He had fallen for Hermione Granger.