10/30/03: In this chapter, things start to develop between our Harry and Hermione (hence the title). I wasn't actually planning on getting those two together until the end, like in my other story, but they just couldn't stay away from each other! So, prepare yourself for upcoming fluff!
11. Developing Feelings
During the rest of their conversation, Harry told Hermione about his world where Voldemort hadn't yet begun his second reign of terror. He also told Hermione of his fond memories of her, of the times that they, along with Ron, spent together in Hogsmeade.
Hermione fought to regain her breath, laughing at the thought of a white ferret bouncing merrily. "Gods, I wish I could have seen that!" she said happily. "I still can't get over the fact that I'm best friends with Ron Weasley! Ginny I can see, but Ron?"
"What's wrong with Ron?"
"Oh, nothing's wrong with Ron," she said dismissively. "It's just that…we're so different. I mean, he never does his homework, never pays attention in class, and talks about Quidditch all the time!"
Harry laughed. "Yup, sounds like Ron's the same no matter which world I'm in."
"You're world sounds much better," she said wistfully. "So many lives lost to You-Know-Who that could have been saved." Harry thought a second, remembering his sense of acceptance in Slytherin and that Cedric and Sirius were still alive here. He grunted non-committedly. Hermione looked determined. "We need to find a way to get things back to the way they were."
"But how? With Dumbledore dead, how can we do it?"
"I'm sure there's an answer somewhere. We just have to find it."
"In the library, perhaps?" Harry teased.
Hermione blushed slightly. "Well, that's the first place we'll check," she said. "Now, tell me about you. Describe what you're feeling, what you remember. Maybe we can find some clues."
Harry nodded and began describing the awful sensation of having two memories at once. He explained how things seemed familiar, yet very different, at the same time. Hermione took copious notes, asking pertinent questions that Harry never thought about. He did, however, keep his preferences for Slytherin to himself. Hermione was intrigued, never having heard of a similar occurrence and always loving a chance to do some research. As Harry told his story, they shared a few laughs and chuckles at how he was adjusting, though Hermione still gave him a half-glare at scaring poor Colin and that fourth year boy. Harry watched her as she wrote down her latest observation, and he thought she looked rather fetching that way, her face concentrating on the task at hand as-
Whoa! Another thought he shouldn't be having! But then again, this Hermione wasn't his best friend, was she? In one sense, she was the same person, the same Hermione. In another sense, she was completely different – they had no shared history together. Perhaps that's what was different. There wasn't years of friendship to stop Harry's Slytherin side from thinking of her in that way. Harry suddenly remembered how she looked in their fourth year, at the Yule Ball. He was literally rendered speechless at the sight of her, and it was at that point when he finally realized that it was more than books and homework that made Hermione different from he and Ron.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione peered at him.
Harry realized he had been staring. "Er, just fine, Hermione. But…"
"But what? What is it?"
"There is one thing. There's one difference between you and the Hermione I remember."
"What's that?" she asked, a little apprehensively.
Harry drew his wand and pointed it at her. Hermione stood suddenly and backed away, fear in her eyes. Harry quickly lowered his wand. "I'm not going to hurt you, Hermione. Please, trust me," Harry pleaded.
Hermione looked visibly torn between her knowledge of the old Harry and the new. After a minute, while Harry sat silently, Hermione nodded and sat back down. "I suppose if you wanted to curse me, you could have done so already," she said half-jokingly. Harry gave her an encouraging smile, and raised his wand. He felt a sudden uncertainty, afraid that he might make a mistake. But the Slytherin side of him pushed away any doubts, confident in his abilities. Harry muttered an incantation, and a beam of light hit Hermione in the mouth. She immediately gasped and raised her hands to her mouth, afraid of what she might find. Harry smiled, pleased with himself. "There, all better. If you don't like it, I can change it back," he added quickly.
Hermione opened her mouth and felt around with her fingers. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized what had changed. "Do you have a mirror?" she asked softly. Harry shook his head, but then remembered it would be an easy piece of conjuration (A/N: I hope that's a word, but you know what I mean) to make a small mirror - easy, at least, for the Slytherin Harry. With a quick wave of his wand, a small pocket mirror appeared in the air, which Harry caught and handed to Hermione. She took it and examined her mouth, gingerly touching her now normal-sized front teeth. After a minute, she looked at him, astonished. "Why?"
Harry shrugged. "In my world, Malfoy and I sent curses at each other which deflected. You got hit in the mouth and your teeth grew, and you let Madam Pomfrey shrink them to this size. I figured since you let her do it then, you wouldn't mind it now." Harry thought about all the previous smiles she had given him – she had always given him a close-mouthed smile, apparently self-conscious about her previously overly large front teeth. "Besides," Harry added, "I miss seeing you smile with teeth. Do you want me to change it back?"
"Oh no!" she exclaimed and then collected herself. "I mean, thank you, Harry. I think I'll keep it," she said with a smile. Harry gave her a look, and she laughed before giving him another smile, this time dazzling with teeth.
A beeping drew Hermione's attention to her watch. "Oh goodness! I didn't realize it was so late! It's almost curfew."
Harry looked at his own watch, surprised at the lateness of the hour; they apparently spent close to three hours talking in the classroom. "Wow, it is late. C'mon," he said, standing, "I'll walk you to Gryffindor tower."
"Gryffindor tower? But you don't know where…" she broke off upon seeing his face. "Ah, that's right. Okay, lead on," she said, and the two friends chatted as they walked the familiar route to Gryffindor tower, oblivious to the many looks they received. They paused somewhat awkwardly at the portrait of the Fat Lady before Harry gave in to his Slytherin side. He bent down, quickly kissed her on the cheek, and whispered his goodbye before walking back to the dungeons.
*********************************
Harry sat in the Slytherin common room, helping a group of nervous fourth years with a Potions assignment. He was interrupted by a group of smiling, Slytherin sixth-year girls.
"Hi Harry," Millie said sweetly, a little too sweetly.
Harry regarded them with wariness. "Millie, Pansy, Daphne, Tracey," he said in greeting.
Daphne laughed at Harry's expression. "Don't look so suspicious, Harry," she said happily. "We just want to talk to you."
"Talk?"
"Talk," Pansy said.
"Just talk?"
"Just talk," Tracey said.
Harry made a grand display of sighing. "I guess I have no choice, right?" he asked.
Tracey smiled. "None whatsoever!"
"Alright, alright," he said, to the delight of the girls. The four sixth year girls quickly evicted the poor fourth years and took positions at the table, surrounding Harry. He gulped nervously.
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic," Daphne said teasingly.
Harry just grinned. "It's four against one. You'd be nervous too."
"Nothing to be nervous about," Millie said. "We just want to ask you about…Hermione."
Harry felt his jaw drop; of all the subjects he was expecting, Hermione was definitely not one of them. Then he felt a little annoyed. "Listen, you heard me when I explained what I was doing-"
"Oh, we heard you all right," Pansy said, with a mischievous little grin. "But it doesn't mean we believe you."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
The girls shared a look. "Let's just say," Tracey said, "that a little raven told us that you were spotting kissing the esteemed Miss Granger outside the Gryffindor common room."
Harry felt the blood rush to his face, then inwardly cursed; it would be hard to deny it when his body betrayed him by blushing. Harry momentarily considered the benefits and disadvantages of a quick Obliviate spell. "Well, we, er, that is…" he flustered. He gave up when he saw the four girls share a triumphant look. At first glance, Harry felt they were just curious; being girls, Harry thought they were interested in the rumors of a possible romance. But Harry had spent too many years being suspicious of Slytherins and their intents. He instinctively held each girl in a gaze, locking eyes for a moment. A silence descended on the group, as they started feeling uneasy under Harry's steady gaze. Harry was sure that there was only genuine curiosity, a little astonishment and perhaps a twinge of jealousy among them, and no hostile intentions. Harry smiled, which served to relax the girls. "Alright, fine. So I gave her a little peck on the cheek. No big deal."
"No big deal?!?" Pansy squealed. The others hushed her, and she blushed a little. "No big deal?" she repeated more quietly.
"Of course it's a big deal!" Mille added. "I mean, you're Harry Potter, and she's a mud..er, Gryffindor." Millie looked nervous, afraid of Harry's reaction at almost slipping out the word 'mudblood.'
Harry chose to let it slide. "Listen, I'm not saying that I have any feelings for her, but-" a chorus of skeptical noises interrupted him "-but she's really a great girl, once you get to know her." Harry was inwardly shocked at his admission, no matter how vague it was. The Gryffindor Harry would never, ever think of Hermione like that, much less admit it to anyone. Damn that those Slytherin influences!
"But…but...it's Hermione Granger! You've never spoken to her or about her once in the past five years!"
"I know, I know, but things change."
Daphne suddenly looked angry. She took Harry by surprise by grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him close. "Is this some kind of trick, Potter? Are you just toying with her emotions as some juvenile way of getting at the Gryffindors? Because if you are…"
Harry looked at her speechless a moment before gathering his wits. "I'm not. I'm really not," he said softly. "Hermione's…special. I feel like I've known her for years." He couldn't, of course, explain that he actually has known her for years.
Daphne's face softened, and she released him. "Sorry about that Harry," she said, "but I just wanted to know for sure."
"I think it's nice," Tracey said dreamily. Pansy eagerly nodded her agreement.
"But…but…it's Hermione Granger!" Millie said. The other gave her a glare. "Well," she said defiantly, "surely there's someone better, someone not so…bookish?"
Harry shook his head. "I'm not saying it's love or anything, but I do like her."
Pansy smiled. "Then you're going to need our help."
"Help?"
"Of course," Tracey said. "The boys are going to kill you when they find out you like a Gryffindor, much less Hermione Granger. You're going to need us."
Harry looked at the girls, at their earnest faces, and was suddenly struck with how much they cared for him. He couldn't imagine Lavender or Pavarti supporting him like this. Harry felt a sudden surge of emotion that left him unable to speak for a minute. "Thanks," he managed.
"Our pleasure," said Pansy, smiling. "Now then, we've been thinking, and we've come up with a few ideas." Harry groaned at their eager faces, suddenly wishing he could apparate on school grounds.
A/N: Over halfway through…I should have 17 chapters by the end, half as long as my first story. I plan to post two chapters on Friday (morning and afternoon), which should make everyone happy. On the other hand, starting with that second chapter on Friday, it's cliffhangers galore!
Paradox-of-Existence: I like a good Dark!Harry too, but unfortunately this Harry won't be that dark. As I read over the pages I've already got down, I'm afraid that good!Harry is back. Hopefully you won't be too disappointed.
DaBear: Sorta neither. There's only one world, but Dumbledore's spell went back and changed Harry's decision, so everything's different. Harry's the only one who remembers the old past, since the spell was for his benefit and it would be silly if he didn't realize it. Harry just thinks in terms of one world vs. the other, otherwise his head (and mine too) would explode.
keebler-elmo: true, but that's beyond the scope of my story.
Romm: good point on why Draco is wussier. I give my opinions at the end of next chapter, but your reasons are as good as mine. It doesn't come up in my story, but Harry still lives with the Dursleys, but things are much different as Harry as no qualms in threatening and terrorizing his relatives. He can't cast spells, but he can still own rather frightful magical things. He also spends a lot of his summers at his friends houses, since Dumbledore isn't there to tell him to stay at the Dursley's, and Voldemort isn't after him.
Galen Woolfmoon: hopefully not too confusing, though I did want it to be a little confusing since Harry was obviously confused.
Narcissa-Malfoy-22: Harry rescued Ginny the same reason why Riddle closed the Chamber in canon – they were about to close the school, and Harry really didn't have anywhere to go, and he loved being at Hogwarts. Keep in mind, he's only twelve and not as independent as he is at sixteen.
ennui2: Sorry, no D/G. It would seem like a possibility at this point, but Malfoy goes back to his wicked ways in a few chapters.
Ori: For me, writing a Dark!Harry fic would be very difficult. Although I can see involving H/Hr in there, it'd be really hard to write a happy ending, and I'm a sucker for happy endings. But it definitely is a plot-bunny that's bouncing around in my head; maybe one of those betrayed-by-his-friends-and-sent-to-Azkaban stories.