A WINTER'S TALE

Chapter 1-Bottled Up Emotions
It was a cold and snowy morning. It was raining with no hopes of clearing for days. As usual, Hermione was the first one awake. The gloomy weather did not seem to dampen her spirits.

Rise and shine all you sixth years! It's time to get up and embrace the day! Hermione said as she leaped out of bed. She wondered if Harry was already up.

Suddenly an object flew from Lavender's side of the room and hit Hermione, leaving her covered in feathers. Realizing that she had wasted her pillow and could not go back to sleep, Lavender got out of bed and headed for the showers.

Parvati mutter something that sounded like a muffled Stuff it, Hermione, rolled over, and fell back asleep.

Some time later Hermione emerged from the girls' dormitories only to wait for twenty minutes for Harry and Ron. No matter, she could use some extra time to go over her homework. But she wouldn't have minded it if Harry had been in the common room already, she admitted to herself. She smiled and blushed slightly at them as they entered the common room.

Have a nice sleep? she asked.

How can I when RON over here keeps on snoring! Harry said exasperated.

Well I'm no better than you, talking in your sleep about— but before he could finish, Harry gave him a look that could kill and he suddenly became quiet. There was an awkward pause. Hermione just gave them a quizzical look and went to get her bag to go down to breakfast.

Down at breakfast, Hermione noticed that Harry was acting a bit odd. Infact, he had been acting a bit odd for a while now. She noticed he was a lot quieter, which was sometimes not a bad thing as he and Ron often poked fun at her about her studying habits. But, she realized, she would rather have had him speak in his soothing voice to her than not at all. As she was about to pull out her chair, Harry came up behind her and pulled it out for her.

Why thank you Harry. Atleast ONE person here is a gentleman!

Hermione didn't notice, but Harry beamed at this comment. Ron made a face at her but soon became concentrating too hard on finding the butter for his toast to worry about that.

Once it seemed that everyone was present, Dumbledore stood up to give a speech. As usual, the hall became quiet, everyone anxious to hear what he had to say. How nice it is to see you all looking so awake this morning. I would like to inform you all that there will be a Winter Ball taking place in one month. Dress robes ARE required, and there will be a Hogsmeade trip the weekend before so that you may purchase new ones if you so desire. Well, that is all.

Hermione's first reaction was that nobody would ever ask her so she might as well work on that assignment that Snape had given them. She didn't really like dances because she always felt left out. Well it looks like another lonely evening in the library for me!

Oh, don't say that, Ron said with a snicker, I'm sure Neville would be more than willing to go with you!

~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening Harry left for quidditch practice, leaving Ron and Hermione alone. I think Harry's mad at me, Ron, Hermione said.

No, he isn't.

Well how do you know? Has he mentioned it?

Well not exactly

What do you mean, Ron?

he said with a sigh, I don't think I can tell you.

Hermione threw her arms into the air and headed towards her dormitory.

Ron shouted at her, You have to solemnly swear you will not tell anyone, AT ALL. Got it? She nodded. Well I can see that you've noticed that Harry has been acting a little odd. Well you see he likes someone and he's been having trouble because he doesn't think that she thinks of him in that way, or ever could for that matter.

Who is it?!?! she asked anxiously.

Hermione, for all the brains you have, im surprised at you! Haven't you realized it? Harry Potter has loved you ever since our third year!

~~~~~~~
It was so weird. Why didn't she think of it before? He HAD been acting strange. Well, that was why. Hermione looked at the red, velvet covering of her four-poster bed. It was almost black in the dark. Ron had been wrong about one thing though, she did think of him in that way. Wow, the famous Harry Potter LIKED her. HER, not anybody else in Hogwarts. He really was handsome. He had really grown into his small body last year, which Hermione had taken notice of long before now. Those green eyes. How they always glittered for her. She hadn't really realized what a great friend he was to her. She couldn't think of a time where he had not come through or been there to help wipe away her tears.

Getting up, she put a charm on herself to make her invisible. She had picked it up in an advanced book McGonagall had given her. She walked out carefully and down the hall to Harry's room. At once she was greeted by Ron's snores; Harry was right, they WERE awful. She soon herd another sound, only it was someone talking, it was Harry. Forgetting she was invisible, Hermione dashed back to the corners, hoping that Harry and whoever he was talking to had not heard her come in. She soon realized that he was talking in his sleep, which was confirmed when she remembered what Ron had told her previously of Harry's issue. Hermione crept to his bedside.

Hermione, how come you had to be so beautiful? You're far too great to be compared with the sweet things they call summer. And your lips, oh how I long to put them against mine.

She wished that he would open his eyes so that she might look into those deep emeralds, but then, she realized, she would not be able to hear his sweet voice. Oh and how that voice made her melt. She decided she would kiss him and see if he woke up. She felt his warm lips touch hers and wished she could stay there forever. He slowly opened his eyes, but could not gaze into her invisible eyes, how she longed for this. Harry sat up and looked around the room and got out of bed. Hermione quietly but quickly rushed to the door and squeezed out through the crack she had left in the doorway. She climbed back into bed, undid the spell, and closed her eyes.

A minute later, Harry walked into the room and knelt by Hermione's bedside. She kept her eyes open just slightly so that she could see, but he'd still think she was asleep. He rested his head on her pillow and gently stroked the ends of her hair.

Why can't I have you? he whispered in her ear.

But you already do, she thought.