Title: I Wanna Know

Author: Miss Leigh

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Harry Cares about Hermione so much he would do anything for her, and he realizes this when he gets home from his fourth year.  Harry ends up spending most of the summer with Hermione, after something bad happens to her.

Disclaimer: I do not own any thing associated with Harry Potter, nor am I associated with any of the companies that own rights to Harry Potter.  I intend no infringement nor am I trying to make any money off this story.  I am just trying to strengthen my writing style.  I am only in High School and I own nothing.

Author Notes: people who can update their stories multiple times a week amaze me; it has taken me over a month to write these measly 1100 words.  Thank you for all of your reviews, I am amazed to get 16 reviews for only one chapter.  As I have said before, I don't have any clue how long it will take me to update, but I promise you I will be updating the story, I plan to have many chapters, I am not sure how many yet, I plan to cover the summer in this fiction.  02-09-03 Lauren was kind enough to beta this chapter for me, there are a few changes that make this chapter much better.

Chapter 2

About an hour later, they pulled in to the driveway of the Grangers' residence.  They had talked the whole time, discussing the magical world, because Hermione's' parents were always wanting to learn more about it.  Their house was lovely, about 15 years old, in a pre-planned neighborhood.  It was a two-story house with a brick façade.  Harry loved how pleasant the neighborhood appeared.  Their house was quaint and cute.  Harry loved it most of all because it was not his relative's house.

Hermione's dad helped Harry with his trunk, while her mom opened the door for them.  Hermione decided to show Harry to his room, which was upstairs and across the hall from hers, and her parents' room was at the end of the hall.  Hermione's dad left them alone in 'Harry's new room' saying that he was going to help with dinner.  Harry turned to Hermione, and decided that he should try to talk to her about what had happened.  "Hermione, I want to talk about what happened to you. When are we going to talk about it?" Hermione's expression was controlled; she was trying to keep herself guarded from the thoughts of what had happened.  She drew in a breath and looked Harry straight in the eye as she said, "can we just put it off for a little while? I don't think I am ready to talk about it yet." Harry nodded his understanding.  The two stood there staring into each other's eyes, unmoving for what seemed like an eternity.  Hermione was the first to come out of the trance she blushed and cleared her throat, frantically searching her mind for what to say.  "Well, dinner is going to be ready soon, I supposed we should get cleaned up…  " Harry agreed.  With that, Hermione left Harry to go to her room. 

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Harry walked downstairs to the kitchen and he found the entire family working together to make dinner.  "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, is there anything I can do to help?"  Harry inquired.  Mrs. Granger responded with a sly smile as she said.  "Well, you can start by calling us Robert (she motioned to her husband) and Helen (she motioned to herself.)  And if you do want to do something, you can make the garlic bread, I'll get the materials you will need…"  With that, she started getting Harry set up to help with dinner and act as one of the family.

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As everyone finished dinner later, they were discussing the movies they had rented.  They explained that they have a family tradition; on every Friday that everyone is home, they saw a movie.  They had chosen Outbreak and Speed for that evening's installment.  They explained that they had gone to college in the United States, so they enjoyed watching American movies often.  Harry was enjoying himself so much; he had never had more fun while away from the magical world.  And when he though dinner would not be better, Hermione went to the kitchen and bought out a desert that looked superb.  "I hope you saved room Harry, Hermione baked this tiramisu from scratch, just for you."  Helen said as Hermione sat the desert down on the center of the table.  Hermione flushed a deep crimson, but was confident that Harry was going to think she was a good baker amid everything else.

Harry loved the tiramisu; he had not tried it before.  After everyone had finished the dessert everyone was talking merrily and enjoying the evening, Harry sobered after thinking that he still did not know what had happened to Hermione, yet with the way she was acting you would not believe that something had happened.  Eventually they decided to retire to the living room to watch the movies.  Helen and Robert were sitting together on the loveseat while Harry and Hermione were on the couch.  They decided to watch "Outbreak" first; Harry was amazed by the movie, just the thought that so many people could die from a disease. The movie left him thinking about it all night. They watched "Speed" next and Harry thought it was ok. When the first bomb went off on the bus, Hermione grabbed Harry's arm. Harry tried to ignore the fact that it felt good to touch her, and that he wanted to get closer.

Hermione fell asleep about three quarters through the second movie; she was leaning against Harry the whole time.  When the movie ended, Harry woke up Hermione before her parents noticed the closeness between them.  Everyone decided to get to sleep, since it was a little past ten. Hermione told her parents her parents that she would just pick up the room before she went to bed and looked at Harry trying to get him to catch the subtext.  Harry decided to stay downstairs to help Hermione.  Hermione was the first to speak after her parents went upstairs.  "I hope you don't mind doing something tomorrow, my parents almost always work on Saturdays."  "Sure I have no objection to scheduling something, what do you have in mind?"  "Would you mind meeting some of my muggle friends?"  Hermione asked as if expecting him to object, but throwing it out there anyway.  Harry's reply was a surprise to her "I'd love to, I hardly know anything about them."  "Well what do you want to know?"  "How about just a little background information."  "Ok, well Ernie is my neighbor, we have been friends our whole life, and Jennie and I were best friends during school," Harry was disheartened to hear that, he presumed she was extremely close with Ernie.

Hermione continued talking about her friends, "We used to be close friends, they know a little about my abilities, but not much.  We have grown apart because I do not talk that much about it.  I told them that the school I go to is to help refine my abilities.  The three of us used to be inseparable, until I got her letter from Hogwarts.  Jennie and I have much in common; we both are intelligent and love school.  Jennie is kind and considerate, but can also be a little snobby.  Ernie is a big fan of football; he does not care who is playing, he likes to scrutinize the game.  I could keep on talking about them, but the only way to truly know them is to hang out with them.  Well, I guess we should get to bed eh?"  Harry agreed with her, they said goodnight and went to their respective rooms for the night.