Hermione kept running all the way to the Leaky Cauldron. Her thoughts were
a total blur. 'I don't believe that Harry just sat there and let me say
all of that without stopping me. I can't believe I said all that to begin
with. How dare Ron do such a thing to me? What are they going to say to
me on the train next week?' All of this and more was cycling through
Hermione's head as she sat down in a secluded booth in the far corner of
the inn, away from both the London and Diagon Alley entrances. She made
herself look as small as possible hoping that no one came after her. She
didn't even notice her parents across the room.
Every few minutes she would risk a glance towards the door leading to Diagon Alley scared that Harry would have tried to follow her. 'HA, try to follow, where else would I have gone,' she berated herself. It was during one of these many sessions of self lecturing that a young man walked into the inn. He immediately recognized Hermione's parents sitting together chatting animatedly with Mrs. Weasley and started walking in that direction. This young man did not appear to be remarkable in any way, but was easily recognizable to those who knew him.
"Ah, Harry," Mrs. Weasley beamed. "Are you and Ron finished getting your supplies yet?"
"Almost Mrs. Weasley, but there's something I need to ask Mr. And Mrs. Granger first." He shifted his attention over to Hermione's parents with a somewhat apprehensive look in his eye. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger? I was wondering if you've seen Hermione in the last few minutes? She ran into Ron and I and then ran off towards here."
"Of course Harry," Mrs. Granger started. "In fact it looks like she's sitting in the back there. She looks around every so often, but really I don't think she's noticed that we're here. Why don't you go talk with her."
"I had hoped to be able to." Harry turned and worked his way across the room in a meandering manner in case Hermione noticed him. Luckily, he was able to make it without being noticed, either by Hermione or any of the potential fans in the inn.
"Hermione, can we talk?" Hermione looked up at this young man, Harry Potter. Harry Potter, who saved her life from a troll and defended the Sorcerer's Stone in first year. Harry Potter, who saved Ginny's life and defended the entire school in second year. Harry Potter, who saved his godfather's life and won the Quidditch cup in third year. Harry Potter, who won the Tri-Wizard Championship and escaped from Voldemort for the fourth time in his fourth year. The man who saved Mr. Weasley's life in fifth year and escaped from Voldemort yet again on the day his godfather died. The man, who she fell in love with all those years ago, but was afraid to show it. The man, who was so much to so many other people, but to her was just plain ol Harry who has been the best friend she could ask for.
Hermione looked down at the table and softly gave her permission to sit down and join her. The pair looked at each other for a few minutes wondering if the other was going to start.
"Hermione, why did you run from me? Did you think I was going to make fun of you for what you said?"
"Of course you would. Well, maybe not you, but Ron surely would have. He's kidded me enough about that over the past few years."
"Years!?! Why didn't you tell me Hermione?"
"I was scared alright! I was worried that you wouldn't feel the same or worse, not want to stay friends with you." Harry was utterly dumbstruck at this news. As if the first few revelations weren't enough.
"Um, Hermione. I think I might know why Ron did that. You know how I've been at the Burrow for the last couple weeks? Well.I kinda well, told him that I, um, well, likeyoutoo." The last part was said very fast as Harry looked down at the table expecting either a slap or a round of vicious yelling. After what seemed like a few minutes to Harry, he looked up into the sweetest pair of brown eyes with silent tears running out of them. Of course, being the typical teenage male he is, he panicked.
"Hermione, I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm sorry-"
"Harry James Potter! Don't you ever apologize for saying that to me, you have no idea how long I've wanted you to say -" Hermione's rant was cut off mid stride by Harry impulsively reaching across the table and pulling her into a kiss that left no doubt as to his feelings for her. She tensed up at first, but quickly started to return his kisses. They kept this up for a few minutes before they were startled out of their embrace by the sound of a throat clearing. After Harry's head bounced off the table, they both looked up and were shocked to see Hermione's parents standing there with Ron and Mrs. Weasley as well. All four of them had amused looks on their faces. Hermione's jaw started moving as if she was fighting to get the words out.
"Don't worry dear," Mrs. Granger said. "We've known how the two of you felt about each other for quite some time now. I'm just glad that Ron did whatever he was planning on doing to get the two of you past your own fears."
Harry looked up at Hermione and said, "Why do I get the feeling that Hogwarts will be quite interesting this year." It took Hermione a couple seconds to realize what he meant, but once she did, she blushed and nodded.
Every few minutes she would risk a glance towards the door leading to Diagon Alley scared that Harry would have tried to follow her. 'HA, try to follow, where else would I have gone,' she berated herself. It was during one of these many sessions of self lecturing that a young man walked into the inn. He immediately recognized Hermione's parents sitting together chatting animatedly with Mrs. Weasley and started walking in that direction. This young man did not appear to be remarkable in any way, but was easily recognizable to those who knew him.
"Ah, Harry," Mrs. Weasley beamed. "Are you and Ron finished getting your supplies yet?"
"Almost Mrs. Weasley, but there's something I need to ask Mr. And Mrs. Granger first." He shifted his attention over to Hermione's parents with a somewhat apprehensive look in his eye. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger? I was wondering if you've seen Hermione in the last few minutes? She ran into Ron and I and then ran off towards here."
"Of course Harry," Mrs. Granger started. "In fact it looks like she's sitting in the back there. She looks around every so often, but really I don't think she's noticed that we're here. Why don't you go talk with her."
"I had hoped to be able to." Harry turned and worked his way across the room in a meandering manner in case Hermione noticed him. Luckily, he was able to make it without being noticed, either by Hermione or any of the potential fans in the inn.
"Hermione, can we talk?" Hermione looked up at this young man, Harry Potter. Harry Potter, who saved her life from a troll and defended the Sorcerer's Stone in first year. Harry Potter, who saved Ginny's life and defended the entire school in second year. Harry Potter, who saved his godfather's life and won the Quidditch cup in third year. Harry Potter, who won the Tri-Wizard Championship and escaped from Voldemort for the fourth time in his fourth year. The man who saved Mr. Weasley's life in fifth year and escaped from Voldemort yet again on the day his godfather died. The man, who she fell in love with all those years ago, but was afraid to show it. The man, who was so much to so many other people, but to her was just plain ol Harry who has been the best friend she could ask for.
Hermione looked down at the table and softly gave her permission to sit down and join her. The pair looked at each other for a few minutes wondering if the other was going to start.
"Hermione, why did you run from me? Did you think I was going to make fun of you for what you said?"
"Of course you would. Well, maybe not you, but Ron surely would have. He's kidded me enough about that over the past few years."
"Years!?! Why didn't you tell me Hermione?"
"I was scared alright! I was worried that you wouldn't feel the same or worse, not want to stay friends with you." Harry was utterly dumbstruck at this news. As if the first few revelations weren't enough.
"Um, Hermione. I think I might know why Ron did that. You know how I've been at the Burrow for the last couple weeks? Well.I kinda well, told him that I, um, well, likeyoutoo." The last part was said very fast as Harry looked down at the table expecting either a slap or a round of vicious yelling. After what seemed like a few minutes to Harry, he looked up into the sweetest pair of brown eyes with silent tears running out of them. Of course, being the typical teenage male he is, he panicked.
"Hermione, I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm sorry-"
"Harry James Potter! Don't you ever apologize for saying that to me, you have no idea how long I've wanted you to say -" Hermione's rant was cut off mid stride by Harry impulsively reaching across the table and pulling her into a kiss that left no doubt as to his feelings for her. She tensed up at first, but quickly started to return his kisses. They kept this up for a few minutes before they were startled out of their embrace by the sound of a throat clearing. After Harry's head bounced off the table, they both looked up and were shocked to see Hermione's parents standing there with Ron and Mrs. Weasley as well. All four of them had amused looks on their faces. Hermione's jaw started moving as if she was fighting to get the words out.
"Don't worry dear," Mrs. Granger said. "We've known how the two of you felt about each other for quite some time now. I'm just glad that Ron did whatever he was planning on doing to get the two of you past your own fears."
Harry looked up at Hermione and said, "Why do I get the feeling that Hogwarts will be quite interesting this year." It took Hermione a couple seconds to realize what he meant, but once she did, she blushed and nodded.