Chapter 3
Harry walked slowly through the dark and draughty castle corridors, proceeding cautiously despite the protection of his invisibility cloak. He had already check her usual haunts and had found nothing. Listening intently for sounds of crying or simply a person stirring, he pressed on, up and down stairs and into familiar towers. Harry had almost given up hope; he had checked the library, every single one of their classrooms, the owl loft and even the kitchen but Hermione was nowhere to be found. He tried one last place and was glad and yet heartbroken upon hearing the soft sounds of a girl weeping. His gentle hands pushed open the door of the astronomy tower, making very little noise. He found her sitting on the other side of the opened ceiling room, sitting back in a conjured muggle lawn chair. Her long legs tucked up to her chest and graceful arms wrapped 'round them, made her look so small and vulnerable. She gazed up at the stars twinkling high above, occasionally wiping the tears that streaked her soft cheeks. He took several tentative steps toward her while removing the pages from his pocket. His shoe made a scuffing noise on the cold stone floor but she didn't turn. He continued to her side and when she turned her head away from him, he knelt by her side, taking her hand in his.
"Mione…do you wanna talk?" She sniffed but made no effort to speak. "Come on, we are worried about you…please talk to me so I can help." Again she remained quiet. Harry released a deep weary sigh and rose from his place. "If you don't want to talk then I will just leave these here. Goodnight, Mione, I'm here if you need me." Harry bent slightly and pressed a soft comforting kiss to the top of her head before turning to leave. Her hand tightened on the letters and she made a choice.
"Harry…" She pressed quietly, "Don't leave…please?" She had gotten to her feet and looked straight into his eyes once he faced her. His heart and stomach flip flopped at the sight of his friend, his best friend. The moonlight bounced of her brown bushy, though slightly tamer, hair that hung loosely on her lightly tanned shoulders. He could see her tears glistening on her now pale cheeks and the pain and need in her watery eyes. His shoulders slumped just a bit in sympathy and he walked to her, throwing his strong arms around her waist as hers encircled his neck. Her body shook with sobs while he did his best to comfort her by stroking her soft hair.
After several minutes she broke away and muttered something that sounded like 'I'm sorry.' She ran her hands down his arms to grab his hands. She glanced up into his eyes.
"Thank you for putting up with me. I know I can be crazy sometimes…" He cut her off and placed both hands on her cheeks.
"We are all a little weird in this group. Besides…that's what I love about you!" She laughed and wiped her tears from her cheeks. "Why don't we go back in…you have to be cold!" She nodded and started for the door leading into the dark stone passageways of the seemingly unfriendly castle. They walked in silence; Harry's arm still wrapped tight around her shoulders. Luckily the pair reached the common room without running into any roaming adult. Though he had my cloak, Harry didn't think to wrap it around the two of them on the way back to our dorms. He guided her over to the couch in front of the fire where she could warm up some. She curled up putting her head on the soft pillows that served are cushions and watched as Harry searched for something warmer than his invisibility cloak to put over her. By the time Harry had found a suitable drape, he turned to find Hermione sound asleep upon the velvet couch. He placed the warm blanket over her petite figure, placed a kiss on her forehead and whispered in her ear, "Goodnight…I love you." He wished, as he headed up the stairs to his dorm, that he actually had the courage to tell her that when they were both conscious.
