Chapter 6: Which contains a new kitten with an inappropriate name and a
late night couch conversation (a.k.a. Kittens and Konversations)
*~*
Harry pried his eyes open. As the sun struck them, he thought twice about waking up. Until something soft moved under his head.
"Morning Harry."
"Glurg."
"That's pleasant."
Hermione tried to sit up but was pounded by her headache back down into the couch again.
"How much did I drink last night?"
"Too much, I think." Harry steadied himself and tried to stand up slowly. "My head. Jeez."
A slow knock rang through the hotel room and Harry tried to make his way to the door. He finally reached it and wrenched the door open. His favorite reporter stood expectantly at the door.
"Good morning, Harry."
"What's so good about it, Marie?"
Harry let Marie Jennings into the hotel room. Hermione was still balled on the couch, having fallen back asleep quickly.
"Well, you won the Quidditch World Cup, that's what. And you promised me an interview this morning."
"Always the highlight of my day. Budge over, Hermione."
Hermione's legs jerked up to make room for Harry.
"So, I'm sure you want to know how I feel about winning the Cup. Can I say that I'll get back to you when my memory from last night returns?"
Marie laughed and pulled up a chair to sit across from Harry.
"Never one to not enjoy the festivities, are you?"
"Of course not. If I didn't, no one would have the angle of 'Harry Potter, the boozing partier'."
Hermione chuckled lightly from the couch.
"How is she?" Marie asked, looking pointedly at Hermione.
"She'll be perfectly fine once Katie and Ginny make the hangover potion. She's usually the one who's up first." Harry reached over and rubbed Hermione's back lightly. "She just over did it a little last night."
Marie laughed and pulled out a notebook.
"So, Harry, how does it feel to win the Quidditch World Cup?"
*~*
"Marie always does such a nice job with your interviews," Hermione commented setting down the Daily Prophet.
"Mm-hm," Harry replied, half-heartedly.
"What's up, Harry?"
"I want to get a kitten."
"A kitten?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"I never thought of you as the kitten type."
"I thought we discussed I didn't have a type."
"You can hardly take care of yourself, much less a kitten."
"Hermione!" Harry protested.
"Harry!"
Silence.
"Fine! We'll get a kitten."
*~*
A squeaking door from her hallway forced Hermione awake with a jolt. She sat up and listened carefully, hearing very little from the room outside her bedroom. She heard the pattering of little feet on her hardwood floor and the squeaking of couch springs before she figured out what was going on. Harry was having trouble sleeping again and had chosen her couch to come sleep on.
It had been a while since Harry had settled on her couch for the night, and his presence there worried Hermione. She waited a few moments to make sure he was settled and walked to the door. As she opened the door, her eyes rested on Harry, snuggled under a fleece blanket, his kitten perched on his stomach.
He had chosen to call the kitten Ashrum, Kitty of Darkness, but in any other category but looks, a Kitty of Darkness he was not. Especially not at that moment. His head rest in one of Harry's out-stretched hands, purring in delight as Harry ran his fingers along the kitten's body.
There was something about Harry's hand that drew Hermione's gaze. His fingers seemed to barely touch the fur, lightly grazing over the kitten's neck. He seemed so tender with his movements. His eyes fluttered open and rested on Hermione's figure in her doorframe.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, Harry. You alright?"
"Just couldn't sleep I guess." He scratched lightly on the kitten's throat, the cat emitting a high-pitched squeak. Harry chuckled. "If you're going to strike fear in the hearts of the wicked, we're definitely going to have to work on that meow of yours."
Chuckling, Hermione sat on the edge of the couch.
"Hermione, can I ask you a question?"
Hermione nodded and reached for the kitten's head, accidentally brushing her fingertips over Harry's palm. She felt Harry give a shudder at the contact.
"I'm a pretty likeable guy, right?"
"You're the best Harry."
"Right. And I'm attractive? At least from a girl's perspective?"
"You are devastatingly handsome. Though the hair could use some work." Hermione picked gingerly at Harry's hair.
"You joke, Hermione, but I'm being serious."
"What's with the new found insecurity, Mr. Potter?"
"Well, there's this girl, and I've been trying to get her to notice me for a while now. But she always seems to look past me when it comes to getting involved."
"Why would she do a silly thing like that? You ask me this girl is daft."
"Well, she kinda is. In this great, amazing, loving sort of way, she's completely nutters. But something draws me to her." Harry studied Hermione's face as she started to think.
Hermione was raging on the inside. How dare he come to her about this kind of thing! Didn't he care how she felt? Didn't he think before he spoke? Didn't he - - Then again, how was he supposed to know? She had never really told him how she felt.
She felt Harry collect himself mentally as he sat up slowly, sending Ashrum down towards his feet.
"Tell me about her, Harry."
"Well, she's smart, and beautiful. Extremely loyal and honest. She tells me all the time how great I am." Harry paused and inhaled deeply. "She's accompanied me to every Quidditch Gala, Party, and Banquet I've ever been to. She likes to clean my flat, and always know exactly where my favorite jumper is. She likes to make toast at three in the morning and drink tea after work. Her favorite food is chocolate Bernie Bott's Beans, but she wouldn't turn down a Cinnamon one if you asked her. She hates beer and whiskey, but is a riot when she's pissed. She has protection spells on her bookcases, but leaves her parent's car door unlocked on the side of the road. She fixes me hangover potions and let's me sleep on her couch when I have nightmares. She's my best friend. And I think I love her."
Hermione sat silent and rigid, staring at her ceiling fan.
"Now that you've divulged your secrets to me, can I have a turn?"
Harry nodded and picked Ashrum up from his feet.
"So this guy I know. He has these quirky little habits. He likes to eat cheese, and chocolate. He likes to cook for me, and is constantly losing things, like clothes and such. He listens to old Muggle music. And these little quirks he has are so adorable. And he told me not too long ago that he loved me. And it's strange."
"What's strange about it?"
"Well, I've never known him to be the type of guy to go out and get what he wants. He always leaves it up to someone else. He has this way about him. He's so careful with things. He never rushes."
Silence feel between the two friends. A weird tension hung in the air, which was only broken by Ashrum's steady purring.
"And I think the strangest part is that I love him too."
*~*~*~*
So, there's what you all were waiting for! A couple more chapters will wrap this one up, but I have another story in the works (Hr/H of course!) So, enjoy the happiness while it's here, because Room for Squares is going to be a bit angsty in the beginning, but won't depart from my usual style. Thanks for reading, and review as always!
*~*
Harry pried his eyes open. As the sun struck them, he thought twice about waking up. Until something soft moved under his head.
"Morning Harry."
"Glurg."
"That's pleasant."
Hermione tried to sit up but was pounded by her headache back down into the couch again.
"How much did I drink last night?"
"Too much, I think." Harry steadied himself and tried to stand up slowly. "My head. Jeez."
A slow knock rang through the hotel room and Harry tried to make his way to the door. He finally reached it and wrenched the door open. His favorite reporter stood expectantly at the door.
"Good morning, Harry."
"What's so good about it, Marie?"
Harry let Marie Jennings into the hotel room. Hermione was still balled on the couch, having fallen back asleep quickly.
"Well, you won the Quidditch World Cup, that's what. And you promised me an interview this morning."
"Always the highlight of my day. Budge over, Hermione."
Hermione's legs jerked up to make room for Harry.
"So, I'm sure you want to know how I feel about winning the Cup. Can I say that I'll get back to you when my memory from last night returns?"
Marie laughed and pulled up a chair to sit across from Harry.
"Never one to not enjoy the festivities, are you?"
"Of course not. If I didn't, no one would have the angle of 'Harry Potter, the boozing partier'."
Hermione chuckled lightly from the couch.
"How is she?" Marie asked, looking pointedly at Hermione.
"She'll be perfectly fine once Katie and Ginny make the hangover potion. She's usually the one who's up first." Harry reached over and rubbed Hermione's back lightly. "She just over did it a little last night."
Marie laughed and pulled out a notebook.
"So, Harry, how does it feel to win the Quidditch World Cup?"
*~*
"Marie always does such a nice job with your interviews," Hermione commented setting down the Daily Prophet.
"Mm-hm," Harry replied, half-heartedly.
"What's up, Harry?"
"I want to get a kitten."
"A kitten?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"I never thought of you as the kitten type."
"I thought we discussed I didn't have a type."
"You can hardly take care of yourself, much less a kitten."
"Hermione!" Harry protested.
"Harry!"
Silence.
"Fine! We'll get a kitten."
*~*
A squeaking door from her hallway forced Hermione awake with a jolt. She sat up and listened carefully, hearing very little from the room outside her bedroom. She heard the pattering of little feet on her hardwood floor and the squeaking of couch springs before she figured out what was going on. Harry was having trouble sleeping again and had chosen her couch to come sleep on.
It had been a while since Harry had settled on her couch for the night, and his presence there worried Hermione. She waited a few moments to make sure he was settled and walked to the door. As she opened the door, her eyes rested on Harry, snuggled under a fleece blanket, his kitten perched on his stomach.
He had chosen to call the kitten Ashrum, Kitty of Darkness, but in any other category but looks, a Kitty of Darkness he was not. Especially not at that moment. His head rest in one of Harry's out-stretched hands, purring in delight as Harry ran his fingers along the kitten's body.
There was something about Harry's hand that drew Hermione's gaze. His fingers seemed to barely touch the fur, lightly grazing over the kitten's neck. He seemed so tender with his movements. His eyes fluttered open and rested on Hermione's figure in her doorframe.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, Harry. You alright?"
"Just couldn't sleep I guess." He scratched lightly on the kitten's throat, the cat emitting a high-pitched squeak. Harry chuckled. "If you're going to strike fear in the hearts of the wicked, we're definitely going to have to work on that meow of yours."
Chuckling, Hermione sat on the edge of the couch.
"Hermione, can I ask you a question?"
Hermione nodded and reached for the kitten's head, accidentally brushing her fingertips over Harry's palm. She felt Harry give a shudder at the contact.
"I'm a pretty likeable guy, right?"
"You're the best Harry."
"Right. And I'm attractive? At least from a girl's perspective?"
"You are devastatingly handsome. Though the hair could use some work." Hermione picked gingerly at Harry's hair.
"You joke, Hermione, but I'm being serious."
"What's with the new found insecurity, Mr. Potter?"
"Well, there's this girl, and I've been trying to get her to notice me for a while now. But she always seems to look past me when it comes to getting involved."
"Why would she do a silly thing like that? You ask me this girl is daft."
"Well, she kinda is. In this great, amazing, loving sort of way, she's completely nutters. But something draws me to her." Harry studied Hermione's face as she started to think.
Hermione was raging on the inside. How dare he come to her about this kind of thing! Didn't he care how she felt? Didn't he think before he spoke? Didn't he - - Then again, how was he supposed to know? She had never really told him how she felt.
She felt Harry collect himself mentally as he sat up slowly, sending Ashrum down towards his feet.
"Tell me about her, Harry."
"Well, she's smart, and beautiful. Extremely loyal and honest. She tells me all the time how great I am." Harry paused and inhaled deeply. "She's accompanied me to every Quidditch Gala, Party, and Banquet I've ever been to. She likes to clean my flat, and always know exactly where my favorite jumper is. She likes to make toast at three in the morning and drink tea after work. Her favorite food is chocolate Bernie Bott's Beans, but she wouldn't turn down a Cinnamon one if you asked her. She hates beer and whiskey, but is a riot when she's pissed. She has protection spells on her bookcases, but leaves her parent's car door unlocked on the side of the road. She fixes me hangover potions and let's me sleep on her couch when I have nightmares. She's my best friend. And I think I love her."
Hermione sat silent and rigid, staring at her ceiling fan.
"Now that you've divulged your secrets to me, can I have a turn?"
Harry nodded and picked Ashrum up from his feet.
"So this guy I know. He has these quirky little habits. He likes to eat cheese, and chocolate. He likes to cook for me, and is constantly losing things, like clothes and such. He listens to old Muggle music. And these little quirks he has are so adorable. And he told me not too long ago that he loved me. And it's strange."
"What's strange about it?"
"Well, I've never known him to be the type of guy to go out and get what he wants. He always leaves it up to someone else. He has this way about him. He's so careful with things. He never rushes."
Silence feel between the two friends. A weird tension hung in the air, which was only broken by Ashrum's steady purring.
"And I think the strangest part is that I love him too."
*~*~*~*
So, there's what you all were waiting for! A couple more chapters will wrap this one up, but I have another story in the works (Hr/H of course!) So, enjoy the happiness while it's here, because Room for Squares is going to be a bit angsty in the beginning, but won't depart from my usual style. Thanks for reading, and review as always!
