Chapter 3 ~ Surprise! ~
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and squinted against the sunlight that filtered across her bed. She turned on her side and let out a quiet groan, for two reasons. One, Anthony was laying next to her, snoring loudly (making a vivid scene of last night pop into her mind's eye) and two, the pain.
She looked at the clock and quietly got out of bed. She dressed quickly and fixed her hair, making sure to cover every bruise and scratch. She tiptoed down the stairs and out the back door. When she was sure that no one was around she called out, "Sirius!" in a loud whisper and apparated.
"Hermione! I'm so glad you could make it!" Sirius cried as he opened the door and smiled warmly at her.
"Hello, Sirius. How are you?" she asked, politely.
"Good, good. Come in, it's so hot today!" he commented, eyeing her choice of clothing. Someone had to be crazy in order to be wearing jeans and a long-sleeved top. Hermione was crazy.
"Is everyone here?" she asked, looking around the cozy house. No one was in sight.
"Yes, you're the last person to arrive. They're all in the back. Harry should be here any second."
"How did you get him out of the house?" Hermione asked, wanting to see Harry badly.
Sirius laughed, a loud deep laugh, that brought a smile to Hermione's lips. Something she hadn't done in a long, long time. "I told him I needed something from the grocery store, he was very suspicious but he went anyway," as he was talking, Sirius had led Hermione out back.
"Hermione!" Ron called, running over to her, bringing Ginny and Lavender with him. "It's so good to see you!" they all said, each getting a light hug.
"Hey, you guys! I've missed you," Hermione told them, truthfully. She really had missed them, it had seemed forever since she'd last seen them.
"Hey, Hermione. Lookin' good," Fred and George Weasley sauntered over giving her lopsided grins.
Hermione laughed. "Thanks. So do you guys," she looked around her and it seemed the whole school had come to Harry's surprise party. She saw Seamus, Dean, and Neville talking to Parvati and Padma. Professor Dumbledore and Sirius were having an important conversation it seemed, and Professor McGonagall was speaking with Professor Snape, who had on a very sour expression.
"Wow, everyone's here," Hermione breathed, her eyes roaming across the large yard.
"Yeah. It's great isn't it? Harry is going to freak when he sees this. He thinks every one forgot about his birthday. Except for you, of course. Since you sent him his present yesterday," Ron said, eyeing her suspiciously. "Aren't you hot?" he asked.
"I didn't think I'd be able to make it, that's why I sent it yesterday," Hermione answered. "No, I'm not hot," she said absentmindily, looking towards the door for Harry, hoping Ron wouldn't ask anything else. To her luck, Sirius stopped any further questioning.
"Okay, everyone! He's here, so hide!" Sirius told them in a loud whisper as everyone scattered across the grass and behind trees and tables.
"Sirius?" they heard Harry call.
"I'm outside Harry!" he called back, stifling a laugh.
"I couldn't find any foo powder but I -"
"SURPRISE!" everyone screamed and jumped up.
Harry jumped back in surprise and then laughed. "Wow, you guys! Sirius, this is great!"
Sirius laughed and hugged him. "Happy birthday, Harry," he said, as everyone gathered around him.
Harry scanned the sea of faces and his eyes rested on a face he was dying to see. "Hermione," he breathed under his breath. She was all right ...
"Happy birthday, Harry!" everyone chanted and one by one they all gave him hugs.
Hermione finally reached him, staring at him for a long second. He looked like the same Harry Potter, but he had gotten contacts to replace his glasses, he seemed to have gotten taller, his shoulders had broadened, and his muscles strained against his shirt. "Happy birthday, Harry," Hermione whispered, hugging him.
Harry hugged her so tightly she winced from the pain; he didn't know about all those bruises. "I've missed you," he whispered into her hair. She smiled, sadly. "I missed you, too."
Harry held her at arm's length and stared into her beautiful brown eyes. She was smiling but her eyes didn't hold that same shine like he remembered. Instead, they were sad and - was it possible? - afraid. He frowned slightly, but before he could ask her anything, Ron pulled him away.
"Harry! You're going to be the new quidditch captain!" he informed him, who's mind was still with Hermione.
"That's great Ron," he murmured. "Hey, Ron? Have you noticed anything different about Hermione?"
"Yes, actually. Look at her clothes. It's bloody boiling out here and look at what she's wearing. She's crazy," Ron told him, glancing over at Hermione, who was now talking to Ginny.
"Do you think something's wrong?" Harry asked, also looking at her.
"Naw. If something was wrong, Hermione would tell us. Besides, she can take care of herself."
Harry nodded slowly, maybe Ron was right. As he stared at her, he began to doubt though. The screams he had heard last night were not just part of a nightmare.
"I can stay to help," Hermione offered, knowing Anthony would beat her for it later, but she didn't care.
"So can I," Ron said, picking up some plastic plates that were on the table closest to him.
The party was over and everyone had left. Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Sirius were cleaning up the backyard.
Hermione put some cups into the sink and went back outside to pick up the rest. The sky was a deep pink and orange, predicting another hot day tomorrow. She stood there, eyes closed, inhaling the fresh air and enjoying the peacefulness while it lasted.
"Hermione?" Harry called, walking up behind her.
"Yes?" she asked, her eyes still closed. She loved the sound of his voice, it was so deep and calming.
He came up behind her and kissed her cheek, unexpectantly.
"What was that for?" she asked, surprised yet happy.
"Nothing. I've just missed you, that's all," he answered, blushing slightly. He had done that without thinking. He loved the feel of her skin against his lips, though.
"You missed Ron too, but I didn't see you give him a kiss on the cheek," Hermione said laughing, surprising herself. How long had it been since she laughed like that?
Harry wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head, rocking her back and forth. " 'Mione?"
"Hmm?" she whispered, his embrace felt so safe and warm, she wished they could stay like this forever.
"What happened last night?" he asked slowly, hoping she wouldn't get mad.
Hermione's eyes flew open. He can't possibly know, can he? she thought, going into a cold sweat. "I-I don't know what you mean," she stammered, biting her lip.
Harry removed his arms and turned her around to look at him. He stared into her eyes, that were slowly filling with tears. "I heard you scream last night, Hermione," he told her, searching her eyes for some explanation.
Hermione's eyes went wide. "But-but that's impossible! We live miles away. Besides, only soul mates can ..." she trailed off, a tear slipping down her face. Soul mates ... did she even have one of those?
"Did he hurt you?" Harry asked angrily, ignoring his heart at the word 'soul mate' .
"Hurt me? Anthony? No ... why would you think that?" she tried so hard to cover it up but she was failing miserably.
He looked down at her clothes (about the 100th person to do so) and his eyebrows shot up to his hair line.
Hermione rolled her eyes, making more tears slip pass her guard. "What? I can't wear jeans in the summer?" she defended herself, wiping her eyes.
Harry gently wiped away the tears with his fingers. "Hermione ... you can tell me."
"Look, I should be going. It's getting late and my parents -"
"I thought your parents weren't coming back until Sunday?" Harry commented, it was only Thursday.
"I got to go. Happy birthday, Harry," she said flustered and ran into the house, saying a quick good-bye to Sirius and Ron (who had watched the whole thing), and apparated to her house.
"What was that about?" Ron asked, coming outside to stand by Harry.
Harry gave a sad sigh. "He hurt her," he whispered.
"Who? What?" Ron asked, confused.
"Anthony! He's hurting Hermione and she's been hiding the whole thing. I heard her scream last night, Ron," Harry confided. "I know we live far apart, but I heard her," he said, before Ron could ask the question.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going over to her house and find out what happened."
"But Harry! You can't do that!" Ron cried, but Harry had already gone inside to get his robe.
A/N: Hey you guys!! Since I got 4 reviews (thanks!!!) on the day I posted my last chapter, I'm posting this one, as promised, ASAP (did that make any sense?). I especially enjoyed writing this one because of all the sparks flying. The next chapter will be even better. Here comes Harry on his white broomstick ....
Thanks again to all my reviewers! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!!!
Until next time,
¤ AnGeLeYeS/SweetHeart ¤
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and squinted against the sunlight that filtered across her bed. She turned on her side and let out a quiet groan, for two reasons. One, Anthony was laying next to her, snoring loudly (making a vivid scene of last night pop into her mind's eye) and two, the pain.
She looked at the clock and quietly got out of bed. She dressed quickly and fixed her hair, making sure to cover every bruise and scratch. She tiptoed down the stairs and out the back door. When she was sure that no one was around she called out, "Sirius!" in a loud whisper and apparated.
"Hermione! I'm so glad you could make it!" Sirius cried as he opened the door and smiled warmly at her.
"Hello, Sirius. How are you?" she asked, politely.
"Good, good. Come in, it's so hot today!" he commented, eyeing her choice of clothing. Someone had to be crazy in order to be wearing jeans and a long-sleeved top. Hermione was crazy.
"Is everyone here?" she asked, looking around the cozy house. No one was in sight.
"Yes, you're the last person to arrive. They're all in the back. Harry should be here any second."
"How did you get him out of the house?" Hermione asked, wanting to see Harry badly.
Sirius laughed, a loud deep laugh, that brought a smile to Hermione's lips. Something she hadn't done in a long, long time. "I told him I needed something from the grocery store, he was very suspicious but he went anyway," as he was talking, Sirius had led Hermione out back.
"Hermione!" Ron called, running over to her, bringing Ginny and Lavender with him. "It's so good to see you!" they all said, each getting a light hug.
"Hey, you guys! I've missed you," Hermione told them, truthfully. She really had missed them, it had seemed forever since she'd last seen them.
"Hey, Hermione. Lookin' good," Fred and George Weasley sauntered over giving her lopsided grins.
Hermione laughed. "Thanks. So do you guys," she looked around her and it seemed the whole school had come to Harry's surprise party. She saw Seamus, Dean, and Neville talking to Parvati and Padma. Professor Dumbledore and Sirius were having an important conversation it seemed, and Professor McGonagall was speaking with Professor Snape, who had on a very sour expression.
"Wow, everyone's here," Hermione breathed, her eyes roaming across the large yard.
"Yeah. It's great isn't it? Harry is going to freak when he sees this. He thinks every one forgot about his birthday. Except for you, of course. Since you sent him his present yesterday," Ron said, eyeing her suspiciously. "Aren't you hot?" he asked.
"I didn't think I'd be able to make it, that's why I sent it yesterday," Hermione answered. "No, I'm not hot," she said absentmindily, looking towards the door for Harry, hoping Ron wouldn't ask anything else. To her luck, Sirius stopped any further questioning.
"Okay, everyone! He's here, so hide!" Sirius told them in a loud whisper as everyone scattered across the grass and behind trees and tables.
"Sirius?" they heard Harry call.
"I'm outside Harry!" he called back, stifling a laugh.
"I couldn't find any foo powder but I -"
"SURPRISE!" everyone screamed and jumped up.
Harry jumped back in surprise and then laughed. "Wow, you guys! Sirius, this is great!"
Sirius laughed and hugged him. "Happy birthday, Harry," he said, as everyone gathered around him.
Harry scanned the sea of faces and his eyes rested on a face he was dying to see. "Hermione," he breathed under his breath. She was all right ...
"Happy birthday, Harry!" everyone chanted and one by one they all gave him hugs.
Hermione finally reached him, staring at him for a long second. He looked like the same Harry Potter, but he had gotten contacts to replace his glasses, he seemed to have gotten taller, his shoulders had broadened, and his muscles strained against his shirt. "Happy birthday, Harry," Hermione whispered, hugging him.
Harry hugged her so tightly she winced from the pain; he didn't know about all those bruises. "I've missed you," he whispered into her hair. She smiled, sadly. "I missed you, too."
Harry held her at arm's length and stared into her beautiful brown eyes. She was smiling but her eyes didn't hold that same shine like he remembered. Instead, they were sad and - was it possible? - afraid. He frowned slightly, but before he could ask her anything, Ron pulled him away.
"Harry! You're going to be the new quidditch captain!" he informed him, who's mind was still with Hermione.
"That's great Ron," he murmured. "Hey, Ron? Have you noticed anything different about Hermione?"
"Yes, actually. Look at her clothes. It's bloody boiling out here and look at what she's wearing. She's crazy," Ron told him, glancing over at Hermione, who was now talking to Ginny.
"Do you think something's wrong?" Harry asked, also looking at her.
"Naw. If something was wrong, Hermione would tell us. Besides, she can take care of herself."
Harry nodded slowly, maybe Ron was right. As he stared at her, he began to doubt though. The screams he had heard last night were not just part of a nightmare.
"I can stay to help," Hermione offered, knowing Anthony would beat her for it later, but she didn't care.
"So can I," Ron said, picking up some plastic plates that were on the table closest to him.
The party was over and everyone had left. Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Sirius were cleaning up the backyard.
Hermione put some cups into the sink and went back outside to pick up the rest. The sky was a deep pink and orange, predicting another hot day tomorrow. She stood there, eyes closed, inhaling the fresh air and enjoying the peacefulness while it lasted.
"Hermione?" Harry called, walking up behind her.
"Yes?" she asked, her eyes still closed. She loved the sound of his voice, it was so deep and calming.
He came up behind her and kissed her cheek, unexpectantly.
"What was that for?" she asked, surprised yet happy.
"Nothing. I've just missed you, that's all," he answered, blushing slightly. He had done that without thinking. He loved the feel of her skin against his lips, though.
"You missed Ron too, but I didn't see you give him a kiss on the cheek," Hermione said laughing, surprising herself. How long had it been since she laughed like that?
Harry wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head, rocking her back and forth. " 'Mione?"
"Hmm?" she whispered, his embrace felt so safe and warm, she wished they could stay like this forever.
"What happened last night?" he asked slowly, hoping she wouldn't get mad.
Hermione's eyes flew open. He can't possibly know, can he? she thought, going into a cold sweat. "I-I don't know what you mean," she stammered, biting her lip.
Harry removed his arms and turned her around to look at him. He stared into her eyes, that were slowly filling with tears. "I heard you scream last night, Hermione," he told her, searching her eyes for some explanation.
Hermione's eyes went wide. "But-but that's impossible! We live miles away. Besides, only soul mates can ..." she trailed off, a tear slipping down her face. Soul mates ... did she even have one of those?
"Did he hurt you?" Harry asked angrily, ignoring his heart at the word 'soul mate' .
"Hurt me? Anthony? No ... why would you think that?" she tried so hard to cover it up but she was failing miserably.
He looked down at her clothes (about the 100th person to do so) and his eyebrows shot up to his hair line.
Hermione rolled her eyes, making more tears slip pass her guard. "What? I can't wear jeans in the summer?" she defended herself, wiping her eyes.
Harry gently wiped away the tears with his fingers. "Hermione ... you can tell me."
"Look, I should be going. It's getting late and my parents -"
"I thought your parents weren't coming back until Sunday?" Harry commented, it was only Thursday.
"I got to go. Happy birthday, Harry," she said flustered and ran into the house, saying a quick good-bye to Sirius and Ron (who had watched the whole thing), and apparated to her house.
"What was that about?" Ron asked, coming outside to stand by Harry.
Harry gave a sad sigh. "He hurt her," he whispered.
"Who? What?" Ron asked, confused.
"Anthony! He's hurting Hermione and she's been hiding the whole thing. I heard her scream last night, Ron," Harry confided. "I know we live far apart, but I heard her," he said, before Ron could ask the question.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going over to her house and find out what happened."
"But Harry! You can't do that!" Ron cried, but Harry had already gone inside to get his robe.
A/N: Hey you guys!! Since I got 4 reviews (thanks!!!) on the day I posted my last chapter, I'm posting this one, as promised, ASAP (did that make any sense?). I especially enjoyed writing this one because of all the sparks flying. The next chapter will be even better. Here comes Harry on his white broomstick ....
Thanks again to all my reviewers! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!!!
Until next time,
¤ AnGeLeYeS/SweetHeart ¤