~*~Love's Ultimate Choice~*~
By: CherryCharm
Chapter 2: Great Hall Incidents
Hermione sat on the cushioned bench by the window, her back to the wall and her legs bent up on the seat in front of her. Her face was turned to the window and it bore a solemn expression. Her friend was seated on the bench across from her, and he had a similar look on his face. Harry watched her sadly; he detested the times where she was depressed. Hermione could feel his gaze on her, but she knew it was a sympathetic stare, and that it was for both of them, really. She turned her head to face him and in a voice that came out a whisper, she whined, "Harry?"
He immediately rose as she pulled her legs in close to her and he sat down on the other end of the window bench. Harry sat facing her, his right leg lying sideways on the bench. He reached ahead a little to take her small hands in his. "I know, Hermione."
She was leaning forward a tad too, so that she could be comfortable as her hands were lovingly held. After ten minutes had passed, she looked to Harry. "I can't believe he's really gone."
Harry sighed. "Me neither. The Dream Team is down to two. We'll have to stick together."
"Agreed."
Hermione turned her back to him and slid herself right in front of Harry, between his legs, and lay back against him. She grabbed his wrists gently and pulled them down over her to lie over her hands on her stomach.
"Hermione.I - I thought we decided that we were to stay friends only," Harry commented.
"But Harry." Hermione started.
"But nothing, Hermione. Do you want to jeopardize the amazing friendship we have? Believe me, at this moment I want you as much as you're expressing that you do, but if something happens between us in the future and our friendship is destroyed, I just couldn't live. We just lost Ron and I don't think I could take losing you too," he explained. "Plus, you know that anyone who gets close to me will be hurt. Voldemort knows of you, but if you were to be my girlfriend, he would then know that you're of much more value to me than just a friend and you'll be his first target. I would never forgive myself if you were killed because of me."
Hermione sat up straight and turned her body to face him. "I suppose you're right. But can't we try to be together sometime in the future? We all know that eventually you will defeat Voldemort, Harry, and then he will no longer pose as a threat. So please, Harry?" she asked, just as the train stopped and the whistle to exit was heard.
"I don't know, Hermione. We'll have to see as time progresses," he answered as he picked up his bag and left the compartment, leaving a depressed Hermione still inside.
* * * * *
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and her gaze fell over the House tables. Ravenclaw had gained more students this year, and apparently there were less in Hufflepuff, excluding the newcomers. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin numbers had stayed around the same, give or take a student. Hermione's glace skimmed over the end of the Slytherin table, where the 7th years sat, and noticed a familiar white-blonde staring at her.
~
Draco Malfoy was captured by this new young beauty that had just come in. Who was this? Certainly a new student, for he'd never seen anyone as gorgeous as this girl at Hogwarts previous years. She caught his gaze and he winked at her playfully, but she scoffed at him and walked toward her seat. Right at her immediate reaction, he knew who it was. He was taken back in shock realization and whispered, "Granger!" Boy, had she changed over the summer! Draco was now determined to make her his; he had to have that beautiful body in his possession, no matter if it was a body that had been Muggle-born.
~
Harry saw Hermione cross the room and tensed up a little. He knew she had to sit by him and he was nervous of what she would say.
She took her seat gracefully. "Hey," Hermione greeted, not looking at Harry as she helped herself to a bagel. Her expression was unreadable and he searched her face for a determinable mood. When he didn't answer, she brought her eyes to meet his, and they locked. Now Harry could see something from her: longing. He could feel it, that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. And it hurt him. He broke the trance and looked down at his cereal as he started to devour it.
"Harry, what's wrong?" she'd noticed his avoiding-gaze.
Harry slowly lifted his head. "Nothing. I, er, thought you'd be upset with me. Not want to talk to me," he answered.
Hermione's look grew compassionate as she slipped her hand under his on the table. "I'm not mad at you, and we're still friends, Harry. I'm disappointed that that's all we are for now, but I'm okay." She gave Harry a small smile. He returned it weakly before he reached over the table and planted a small kiss on her left cheek.
"Thanks, Mione," he said after he'd sat down again. Hermione's smile widened as she started on her bagel.
* * * * *
Hermione said a quick goodbye to Harry as she picked up her books to leave. She exited the Great Hall and had just heard the doors close behind her when they opened again. And suddenly there was a strong hand on her shoulder. Hermione whipped around, startled, and who stood before her but, "Malfoy," she muttered under her breath.
"Yes, I'm a Malfoy," he said, sounding amused. Then his face softened, "and who, may I ask are you? I have never seen such a pretty creature on these grounds in all my six years here," he tried at a compliment, but it came out sounding more like a joke.
Hermione handled it with ease. "I am Hermione Granger; straight-A student and an excellent ass-kicker. Want to try me?" she asked with a sneer.
Draco let out a small chuckle as he smiled at her. She'd never seen a smile on him that wasn't out of vengeance or malice, and she liked this new smile. It really made him look great, though Hermione was battling these thoughts in her head.
"No thank you, my dear. You see, we both have changed over the summer. You have blossomed into a stunning and attractive young woman," another attempt at a compliment, and this time he succeeded, gaining an unwilling but still present smile from a flattered Hermione (making her look even more adorable to him), "and I have been told I've become something of a 'softie'. I suppose it is true; I have changed my ways to try and be nice to people, especially those who I treated with hatred before, like you," he reached to her chin and tilted it up a tad so her eyes met his.
She'd thought it was all a gag, evil fun if you will, until she saw the sincerity and honesty in his sparkling blue eyes. Draco Malfoy was confessing a newfound love, to HER! And he was serious! He smiled that handsome smile again before he leaned down toward her and his lips brushed hers.
Hermione returned the kiss, just letting the passion overrule her, having to reach up on tiptoe to do so. All that was going through her head was, "I can't BELIEVE I'm kissing Draco Malfoy, my mortal enemy!"
Draco opened his eyes as Hermione went flatfooted again. He grinned and bent down so that his lips were tantalizingly close to grazing her ear as he softly whispered, "Meet me at the hidden lake at six; I know you want me too." He stood straight up again and kissed the top of her head before they went their separate ways.
'Draco Malfoy, this is DRACO MALFOY, Hermione! Don't you dare go to meet him tonight; it'll only be trouble!' a voice inside her screamed. On the way to a meeting with Professor Dumbledore that had previously been scheduled, she abandoned her rational self and discussed the situation with the voice.
'I know, but it felt so right.' she replied back.
She arrived at Dumbledore's office and the door immediately opened for her. After riding the moving staircase, the door at the top released from its frame also. Inside sat Dumbledore on his huge, throne-type chair, and Hermione was surprised to see Harry seated on a couch nearby, and she sat down beside him.
"Hi Professor, what is this all about?" Hermione questioned for the both of them.
"Good evening Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter. Before we start I'd like to give you why condolences for Ron. He was a noble boy that we'll all miss." They both nodded solemnly.
"I have gathered you two here right now to announce that you, Harry, will be Head Boy, and you, Hermione, will be Head Girl of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year."
Both of their jaws dropped in astonishment, (though Hermione definitely could've expected it!!) then they hugged each other unconsciously, in delight. They realized how they were and quickly pulled away. Dumbledore continued,
"Your password is Hermioneus Potterus. I thought I'd try something simple this year and it seems to fulfill its purpose. Your bags have already been brought up. You may go unpack now," he finished as he told them how to get to the Head dorm.
* * * * *
Harry walked to the Head dorm with Hermione trailing a little behind. He thought about the password Dumbledore had come up with. 'Hermioneus Potterus,' combining Hermione's first name with Harry's last. He liked the sound of Hermione Potter, he realized. 'Whoa! Why am I even thinking that way?' he pondered. 'The only way that that'd ever be her name is if we someday got married or something.' Harry silently laughed at first, but then gasped at his own suggestion. 'Marry Hermione someday? Why am I thinking about all this, just because of the password Dumbledore chose? It was just a quick thing...' his thought trailed off.
'It is true that Dumbledore is that wisest wizard of all. Maybe he knows something no one else does.' Now, Harry laughed aloud at this thought. How did he even come up with a crazy idea like that? He shrugged it off just as Hermione had sped up a little and passed him with a curious glance that soon changed into a smile. She turned around to walk forward again.
At Hermione's smile, he'd felt a flow of warm feeling go through him. Then it hit him.
Just as she loved him, Harry really did love Hermione!
~*~End of Chapter 2~*~
A/n: For those of you who read and DON'T REVIEW (urG!) I'm sorry this took so long but I was WAITING FOR SOME REVIEWS!! I feel obligated to those who kindly DID REVIEW(!) so I posted this for them and NO ONE ELSE! Have a nice day ;-) lol.
PLEASE ReviEW! If you do nothing else in life, review my STORY!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It is a fact I have mournfully learned to accept :(
~*Laura*~
By: CherryCharm
Chapter 2: Great Hall Incidents
Hermione sat on the cushioned bench by the window, her back to the wall and her legs bent up on the seat in front of her. Her face was turned to the window and it bore a solemn expression. Her friend was seated on the bench across from her, and he had a similar look on his face. Harry watched her sadly; he detested the times where she was depressed. Hermione could feel his gaze on her, but she knew it was a sympathetic stare, and that it was for both of them, really. She turned her head to face him and in a voice that came out a whisper, she whined, "Harry?"
He immediately rose as she pulled her legs in close to her and he sat down on the other end of the window bench. Harry sat facing her, his right leg lying sideways on the bench. He reached ahead a little to take her small hands in his. "I know, Hermione."
She was leaning forward a tad too, so that she could be comfortable as her hands were lovingly held. After ten minutes had passed, she looked to Harry. "I can't believe he's really gone."
Harry sighed. "Me neither. The Dream Team is down to two. We'll have to stick together."
"Agreed."
Hermione turned her back to him and slid herself right in front of Harry, between his legs, and lay back against him. She grabbed his wrists gently and pulled them down over her to lie over her hands on her stomach.
"Hermione.I - I thought we decided that we were to stay friends only," Harry commented.
"But Harry." Hermione started.
"But nothing, Hermione. Do you want to jeopardize the amazing friendship we have? Believe me, at this moment I want you as much as you're expressing that you do, but if something happens between us in the future and our friendship is destroyed, I just couldn't live. We just lost Ron and I don't think I could take losing you too," he explained. "Plus, you know that anyone who gets close to me will be hurt. Voldemort knows of you, but if you were to be my girlfriend, he would then know that you're of much more value to me than just a friend and you'll be his first target. I would never forgive myself if you were killed because of me."
Hermione sat up straight and turned her body to face him. "I suppose you're right. But can't we try to be together sometime in the future? We all know that eventually you will defeat Voldemort, Harry, and then he will no longer pose as a threat. So please, Harry?" she asked, just as the train stopped and the whistle to exit was heard.
"I don't know, Hermione. We'll have to see as time progresses," he answered as he picked up his bag and left the compartment, leaving a depressed Hermione still inside.
* * * * *
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and her gaze fell over the House tables. Ravenclaw had gained more students this year, and apparently there were less in Hufflepuff, excluding the newcomers. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin numbers had stayed around the same, give or take a student. Hermione's glace skimmed over the end of the Slytherin table, where the 7th years sat, and noticed a familiar white-blonde staring at her.
~
Draco Malfoy was captured by this new young beauty that had just come in. Who was this? Certainly a new student, for he'd never seen anyone as gorgeous as this girl at Hogwarts previous years. She caught his gaze and he winked at her playfully, but she scoffed at him and walked toward her seat. Right at her immediate reaction, he knew who it was. He was taken back in shock realization and whispered, "Granger!" Boy, had she changed over the summer! Draco was now determined to make her his; he had to have that beautiful body in his possession, no matter if it was a body that had been Muggle-born.
~
Harry saw Hermione cross the room and tensed up a little. He knew she had to sit by him and he was nervous of what she would say.
She took her seat gracefully. "Hey," Hermione greeted, not looking at Harry as she helped herself to a bagel. Her expression was unreadable and he searched her face for a determinable mood. When he didn't answer, she brought her eyes to meet his, and they locked. Now Harry could see something from her: longing. He could feel it, that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. And it hurt him. He broke the trance and looked down at his cereal as he started to devour it.
"Harry, what's wrong?" she'd noticed his avoiding-gaze.
Harry slowly lifted his head. "Nothing. I, er, thought you'd be upset with me. Not want to talk to me," he answered.
Hermione's look grew compassionate as she slipped her hand under his on the table. "I'm not mad at you, and we're still friends, Harry. I'm disappointed that that's all we are for now, but I'm okay." She gave Harry a small smile. He returned it weakly before he reached over the table and planted a small kiss on her left cheek.
"Thanks, Mione," he said after he'd sat down again. Hermione's smile widened as she started on her bagel.
* * * * *
Hermione said a quick goodbye to Harry as she picked up her books to leave. She exited the Great Hall and had just heard the doors close behind her when they opened again. And suddenly there was a strong hand on her shoulder. Hermione whipped around, startled, and who stood before her but, "Malfoy," she muttered under her breath.
"Yes, I'm a Malfoy," he said, sounding amused. Then his face softened, "and who, may I ask are you? I have never seen such a pretty creature on these grounds in all my six years here," he tried at a compliment, but it came out sounding more like a joke.
Hermione handled it with ease. "I am Hermione Granger; straight-A student and an excellent ass-kicker. Want to try me?" she asked with a sneer.
Draco let out a small chuckle as he smiled at her. She'd never seen a smile on him that wasn't out of vengeance or malice, and she liked this new smile. It really made him look great, though Hermione was battling these thoughts in her head.
"No thank you, my dear. You see, we both have changed over the summer. You have blossomed into a stunning and attractive young woman," another attempt at a compliment, and this time he succeeded, gaining an unwilling but still present smile from a flattered Hermione (making her look even more adorable to him), "and I have been told I've become something of a 'softie'. I suppose it is true; I have changed my ways to try and be nice to people, especially those who I treated with hatred before, like you," he reached to her chin and tilted it up a tad so her eyes met his.
She'd thought it was all a gag, evil fun if you will, until she saw the sincerity and honesty in his sparkling blue eyes. Draco Malfoy was confessing a newfound love, to HER! And he was serious! He smiled that handsome smile again before he leaned down toward her and his lips brushed hers.
Hermione returned the kiss, just letting the passion overrule her, having to reach up on tiptoe to do so. All that was going through her head was, "I can't BELIEVE I'm kissing Draco Malfoy, my mortal enemy!"
Draco opened his eyes as Hermione went flatfooted again. He grinned and bent down so that his lips were tantalizingly close to grazing her ear as he softly whispered, "Meet me at the hidden lake at six; I know you want me too." He stood straight up again and kissed the top of her head before they went their separate ways.
'Draco Malfoy, this is DRACO MALFOY, Hermione! Don't you dare go to meet him tonight; it'll only be trouble!' a voice inside her screamed. On the way to a meeting with Professor Dumbledore that had previously been scheduled, she abandoned her rational self and discussed the situation with the voice.
'I know, but it felt so right.' she replied back.
She arrived at Dumbledore's office and the door immediately opened for her. After riding the moving staircase, the door at the top released from its frame also. Inside sat Dumbledore on his huge, throne-type chair, and Hermione was surprised to see Harry seated on a couch nearby, and she sat down beside him.
"Hi Professor, what is this all about?" Hermione questioned for the both of them.
"Good evening Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter. Before we start I'd like to give you why condolences for Ron. He was a noble boy that we'll all miss." They both nodded solemnly.
"I have gathered you two here right now to announce that you, Harry, will be Head Boy, and you, Hermione, will be Head Girl of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year."
Both of their jaws dropped in astonishment, (though Hermione definitely could've expected it!!) then they hugged each other unconsciously, in delight. They realized how they were and quickly pulled away. Dumbledore continued,
"Your password is Hermioneus Potterus. I thought I'd try something simple this year and it seems to fulfill its purpose. Your bags have already been brought up. You may go unpack now," he finished as he told them how to get to the Head dorm.
* * * * *
Harry walked to the Head dorm with Hermione trailing a little behind. He thought about the password Dumbledore had come up with. 'Hermioneus Potterus,' combining Hermione's first name with Harry's last. He liked the sound of Hermione Potter, he realized. 'Whoa! Why am I even thinking that way?' he pondered. 'The only way that that'd ever be her name is if we someday got married or something.' Harry silently laughed at first, but then gasped at his own suggestion. 'Marry Hermione someday? Why am I thinking about all this, just because of the password Dumbledore chose? It was just a quick thing...' his thought trailed off.
'It is true that Dumbledore is that wisest wizard of all. Maybe he knows something no one else does.' Now, Harry laughed aloud at this thought. How did he even come up with a crazy idea like that? He shrugged it off just as Hermione had sped up a little and passed him with a curious glance that soon changed into a smile. She turned around to walk forward again.
At Hermione's smile, he'd felt a flow of warm feeling go through him. Then it hit him.
Just as she loved him, Harry really did love Hermione!
~*~End of Chapter 2~*~
A/n: For those of you who read and DON'T REVIEW (urG!) I'm sorry this took so long but I was WAITING FOR SOME REVIEWS!! I feel obligated to those who kindly DID REVIEW(!) so I posted this for them and NO ONE ELSE! Have a nice day ;-) lol.
PLEASE ReviEW! If you do nothing else in life, review my STORY!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It is a fact I have mournfully learned to accept :(
~*Laura*~