RETURN
CHAPTER TWO-LONDON
SUNDAYSunday came. We all eagerly climbed into the van and Mr. Weasley drove us into London. Ginny was excited about getting some new clothes. We were all talking happily En Route.
Ron apologized again. I forgave him.
I caught Harry watching me every few moments. I would feel myself blushing and have to turn away to look out the window. We arrived at London about 2 hours later.
Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Ron, Harry and I were all dressed in Muggle clothing.
I had on a navy skirt and a light blue poplin shirt. My hair was fluffed around my shoulders.
Harry was dressed in jeans and a black shirt. Ron was dressed in jeans and a white tee shirt. Ginny was dressed in dark blue pants and a red shirt.
Mr. Weasley had on a pair of faded jeans and a polo shirt with a little red polo figure stitched on it.
We pulled up in front of Radicals, a famous chain of clothing stores. It was also in the US as well.
We all piled out. Ginny leaned close to me.
"Why don't you try on some new stuff?" she suggested to me.
"I don't think so," I said, smiling.
"Why not? It might motivate someone," Ginny said, jerking her thumb toward Harry, who was in deep conversation with Ron.
I looked at them, then at Ginny.
"Yeah. Good idea," I grinned.
We entered the store. The lights were bright and there were racks and racks of clothing for men, women, boys and girls.
"Okay. Ginny you and Hermione go find what you're looking for. We'll wait by the dressing rooms so we can see how you look," Mr. Weasley said, smiling.
Ron looked thunderstruck.
"I'd better not see anything," he said.
"Don't worry. No one would want you to," I joked, linking arms with Ginny as we walked over to the woman's section.
I heard Harry laughing behind me.
Ginny found her outfit. She tried it on and stepped out to model it for the guys.
Mr. Weasley clapped.
"Perfect! Let's see what Hermione found,"
Ginny found me a cute little outfit. It was a skirt, which came above my knees. It was a red plaid skirt. The shirt was white with a V collar, but it fit my body snugly, showing off my figure. I reluctantly stepped out and clasped my hands behind my back.
Ron's jaw dropped. Harry slumped sideways into Ron. Mr. Weasley was smiling.
"What a cute outfit!" he said.
Harry looked like he had swallowed a bunch of sleeping pills. He looked like he was drooling onto Ron's shirt.
"Hey mate! I don't need watering!" Ron said, disgustedly as he pushed Harry off of him.
Harry only fell sideways the other way off the bench. Ginny burst out laughing. That seemed to have snapped Harry out of the stupor. Harry quickly collected himself and sat back down on the bench beside Ron.
Ron was still looking at him strangely.
"Okay, girls. Why don't you change and then pay for the outfits?" Mr. Weasley said.
"Oh. I hadn't planned on buying anything. I left my wallet back at the Burrow," I said, frowning.
Harry jumped to his feet.
"I'll buy it for you," he said, quickly.
"Really? Thanks!" I said, brightly.
I turned and headed back into the dressing room. I changed back into my street clothes and then left the room with the new outfit hanging over my arm. Ginny was at the cash register already paying for hers.
I stood behind her. Harry was standing beside me.
"So, you like the new outfit?" I asked him casually.
"Absolutely. It looks great on you," Harry replied.
I smiled.
Once we were all paid for, we left the store. Ginny was eagerly whispering to me about how I knocked Harry off his feet…literally.
We giggled as we climbed into the van. Mr. Weasley drove us home.
This time, I was sitting with Harry alone in the back bench seat. Ron and Ginny were sitting in front of us in the middle seats.
"You really look incredible in that outfit," Harry said looking at me.
"Just in the outfit?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
I decided to have some fun with him.
"No!" he said, automatically.
"Relax. I'm just fooling. Thanks, Harry," I said, grinning.
He grinned back.
Suddenly, Mr. Weasley lost control of the car. Ginny and I screamed. The car fishtailed sideways. Then, spun 180 degrees. I was thrown into Harry. Ginny was thrown into Ron. Harry quickly wrapped his arms around me. I screamed again when the side of the van slammed into a pole. From the force, I was thrown onto my back on the floor. Harry landed on top of me.
"Is everyone alright?" Mr. Weasley called worriedly from the front.
"Yes!" Harry and I said in unison.
"Ginny? Ron?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Fine!" they called back.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked me concerned.
"Yeah. You?" I asked.
I saw a trickle of blood streaking down Harry's temple.
"You're hurt!" I cried.
"Who's hurt?" Mr. Weasley called.
"Harry!" I cried.
"You told me you were okay!" Mr. Weasley scolded lightly.
Harry had a gash on his temple. It must've been when the car spun 180 degrees, his head must've hit the window. Sure enough, there were small spider web cracks on the window.
"It's just a gash. I'm okay," Harry said, firmly.
"All the same. We're taking you to the hospital," Mr. Weasley said.
Harry got up off me. I slid back onto the seat.
"Dad, how are we getting to St. Mungo's?" Ginny asked.
"We're not going to St. Mungo's. We're taking him to a muggle hospital," Mr. Weasley said.
"Are you alright?" a woman asked, appearing at the driver's side door.
"We need an ambulance. One of the young men hit his head on the window," Mr. Weasley said.
The woman nodded and pulled out a cell phone. She began dialing.
I looked at Harry.
I was biting my bottom lip nervously.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," he said, reassuringly.
I still was worried.
At the muggle hospital, he was checked over and declared okay. He just had a mild concussion and was ordered to rest for a few days. Ginny asked her father why we didn't bring him to St. Mungo's.
"Because…how would we get him there right there smack in the middle of all the Muggles? Fly? That would really terrify them," Mr. Weasley responded.
We understood Mr. Weasley's reason for taking Harry to a Muggle hospital.
I had excused myself after dinner and headed upstairs to Ginny's room. I was curled up on the extra cot reading. I had let my hair down.
Shortly, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," I called.
I looked up. It was Harry.
"Hi," I said, as I closed the book and sat up.
"Hi," he said, softly.
He closed the door behind him and sat down across from me on Ginny's bed. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his thighs. He clasped his hands and his emerald green eyes were locked on me.
"I really had hoped you would come," he said, gently.
I smiled.
"I know…you told me earlier,"
He shook his head.
"No. I had hoped you really would come,"
I looked at him bewildered.
"What are you trying to say?"
Harry took a deep breath.
"I need to talk to you," he said, slowly.
"Okay, what about?" I asked, sitting Indian style on the cot.
"Us,"
I tilted my head.
"Us? What about us?" I asked.
"Something's changed…I mean, I feel differently," Harry said, quietly.
I must have still looked bewildered because Harry chuckled.
"What I'm trying to say, Hermione…is…." His voice trailed off as the door suddenly burst open and Ginny appeared.
"Guys! Fred's gone and given himself girl parts!" Ginny said, but then realization formed on her face and she broke into a grin.
"Excuse me," she said, grinning as she bowed as she backed out.
The door closed.
Harry and I laughed.
"Oh boy! That must be a sight!" I laughed.
Harry laughed again.
"What were you saying?" I asked.
Harry stopped laughing and his expression turned serious again.
"I'm in love with you," he replied.
My breath caught in my throat. My heart was pounding in my chest. I put a hand over my heart.
"Harry…" I began but he cut me off.
"I understand if you don't feel the same way or if you're in love with Ron. I just wanted you to know how I felt. I've felt this way since our first year, I just wasn't able to tell you until now," he said.
"Harry…" I started again, but he continued.
"If you don't feel the same way, can we still be friends? I don't want to lose you…"
To silence him, I had reached over, grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer so that I could kiss him. I released him. He sat back, totally surprised. I could taste his lips on mine.
"Shut up for a moment, huh?" I said, grinning. "I'm in love with you too. I always have been. I am not in love with Ron. I was scared to tell you as well."
Relief flooded over his face.
"Whew. I was afraid I was making a fool of myself," he said, exhaling loudly.
"No," I smiled.
He smiled back.
He put a hand on the side of my face and stroked my cheekbone with his thumb.
He kissed me softly and gently again. I kissed him back just as softly and gently.
After we pulled apart, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. My chin was resting on his shoulder and his chin was resting on mine.
"I love you so much," he whispered in my ear.
"I love you too," I whispered back, pressing my face into his neck.
We just held each other for a while.
After we released each other, he left the room and stated that he was going to bed. I climbed into bed myself, grinning.
Ginny entered the room shortly.
"So? What did you talk about?" she asked, grinning goofily as she climbed into bed.
"He told me that he was in love with me," I said.
"Ah ha! I knew it! I was right, eh?" Ginny cried.
"Yes, you were," I said, laughing.
"So, have you decided when you're going to do it?" Ginny asked, bubbly.
"Do what?" I asked.
Ginny wiggled her eyebrows.
"Aw geeze, Ginny!" I moaned laughing. "No."
I grabbed my pillow and smacked Ginny right in the face with it. She fell off her bed backward. She grabbed her pillow and we got into a pillow fight. Feathers were flying around and sticking in our hair. The door opened and Ron and Harry stood there, watching us amusedly.
Ginny saw them and tossed her other pillow at Ron. Ron caught it and then lunged for Ginny, smacking her in the back with it. She landed face down on her bed. I playfully threw my second pillow at Harry. He caught it and pretty soon, the four us had indulged into one heck of a pillow fight. We were laughing and having a good time. The entire room was covered with feathers. We were stopped a few moments later when Mrs. Weasley had caught us. Fred had apparently lost his 'girl' parts as he passed by the room.
"Mum! Did you pluck a chicken? What's with all the feathers?" George asked, scanning the room.
"Talk to these four," Mrs. Weasley said, nodding toward Ron, Harry, Ginny and I, who were still covered with feathers.
"Get some sleep you four. I'll get you some new pillows," Mrs. Weasley said, shaking her head. She looked stern, but there was a smile forming on her face.
She waved her wand and the feathers disappeared. She waved her wand again and four fresh new pillows appeared. Ginny took her two and I took my two.
"Good night, Ron, Harry," Ginny said, still giggling.
"Night, Gin," Ron said. "Hermione."
"Night," I replied. "Night 'Arry."
"Night," Harry replied as he winked at me before heading out of the room.
Still grinning to myself as the lights went out, I curled up under the covers and fell into a peaceful sleep.
The next day, we went to Diagon Alley for some extra school supplies.
We went by Floo powder. Mr. Weasley said that he'd give the muggle transportation a rest for now.
I got some extra quills and parchment. Harry and Ron immediately headed for Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ginny and I waited at Florean Florescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
Harry and Ron appeared shortly with tee shirts that read THE FIREBOLT-THE ONLY BROOM TO RIDE in blue letters.
I shook my head but smiled.
Mr. Weasley had to pick up some things for Mrs. Weasley in Flourish and Blotts.
Once we were finished, we headed back to the Burrow.
We all packed and got ready to board the train tomorrow.
I was excited, but nervous about starting a New Year. Luckily, all of our friends would be there as well….and we had to look forward to Snape's lessons. I had to admit that at times, Snape could be unreasonable….maybe most of the time.
I really enjoyed this years classes. I had Aritmancy still, along with Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Astronomy. That was really what I was looking forward to again.
I had no idea that things would definitely turn.