Author's note: Hi!! It's been a couple of days but now I'm updating a
longer chapter. Now please read!
Chapter 3
Harry Potter was resting on the bed with his arms behind his head and his eyes closed. He was no longer in the hospital wing but in the chamber Dumbledore had assigned to him. Sleep came never easily to him. His mind was too busy thinking of her. Could she be thinking about him? What will he tell her the next time they were alone? After a while he forced himself to relax and focus on something else, perhaps something like the reason he wars there. It's not that he was complaining, but he had heard the rumors about the minister of magic and a few left powerful Death Eaters plotting against the authorities of the wizarding world.
Some time later he decided to get up and take a shower before meeting Dumbledore. When he got to the Headmaster's office, he knocked at the door and waited until he was finally called in. First he greeted Dumbledore and then smiled at Hermione that was already sat next to the desk. They looked into each other's eyes for a second and almost immediately she turned her face to the fireplace nervously.
"Sit down Harry, we've been expecting you. It's very good to see you." said Dumbledore, taking his own sit behind the desk. "Hermione told me you came here wounded"
"Well yes I did but I'm much better now, as good as new thanks to Hermione" he said smiling at her.
"I know, you seem well to me but now this changes everything. You see Harry; I need your help for a mission, that's why I asked permission for you to come here. But I understand perfectly if don't feel physically well for this"
He opened his mouth to speak but Dumbledore interrupted him at once. "I must warn you, this might be dangerous. You are about to become an auror but you're not one yet. There is no need for you to take this kind of risk right now; however, I leave it up to you."
"Please professor, of course I'll do it" he said without hesitation.
"Alright Harry I had the feeling you'd probably say that. We better go straight to the point then. I imagined you have already heard the rumors about the Death Eaters" he said "Unfortunately they are true"
"Yeah I had the feeling it was a matter of time before they show themselves again. They still hope Voldermort will return again. It will be difficult to find them though, if they are organizing somewhere" he said by now totally concentrated.
"Yes Harry, but it's one of them Hermione and I are worried about right now"
Harry looked puzzled from Hermione to Dumbledore waiting for either of them to continue.
"You see Harry as I told you I've been working at St Mungo's Hospital" Hermione started to explain "There was a man there who was in my department. He used to be one of Voldemort's followers they caught him and got really sick in Azkaban" she paused for a moment "Anyway he's been missing for the last two days and yesterday I found this under his bed" she finished showing him a brown paper.
Harry stared at it. It was some kind of map with something funny written on it. "I've studied some dialects but honestly I can't understand a word"
"I know" Dumbledore finally intervened "It's a very old language about a very old forest. A really good place to hide. People cannot apparate there. This man we are looking for was still very sick when he left Harry but we need to find him before the enemy does"
"I understand, I'll be leaving as soon as you tell where this forest is" Harry said.
"Hermione will tell you everything you need to know and you both will depart tomorrow morning."
Wait a minute. Did really said that? "Sir, did you say the both of us?" he asked
"Yes Harry. I believe it's important the two of you go together; after all she knows this man a lot better than you do and he needs medical attention"
"Excuse me, I understand that but I don't think she should come sir. She should stay here where it's safe. Something could happen to her. It may be dangerous, you said it yourself." Harry said and could feel Hermione gaze furiously at him. He knew she would be mad at him for this. It was as if he tried to make her aside somehow but he just didn't want her to be in danger."
"Excuse ME but I can take care of myself quite well, thank you very much" Hermione said indignant.
Why did she always have to be so stubborn? Harry thought trying hard not to lose his temper.
"I think both of you can look after yourselves" Dumbledore said firmly, putting end to the discussion, before they started shouting at each other "Now do you have any other question?"
Both Harry and Hermione seemed about to explode but none of them said a word.
"Very well then, off you go." He said, quite sure they would start fighting the moment they left his office.
And indeed Harry and Hermione yell at each other for more than an hour before either of them went to sleep that night.
When he finally reached his bedroom, he slammed the door behind him and plopped on his bed. All this time he had thought about Hermione and how much he wanted to see her but now he had the chance, it had to be like this, again risking their lives. It was true she was the smartest witch he had ever known and she had helped him a lot all those years of dangerous adventures they shared at school but why couldn't he just enjoy her presence in a normal situation?
...............
Harry woke up the next morning at the sound of the knock on the door. It was still dark, so it couldn't be too late. He got up lazily and yawned widely before opening the door to find Hermione standing there covered by a white robe. "Morning Harry, sorry I didn't mean to wake you, I'll come back later" she said quietly
"No please come in" he said fully awake by now "It's freezing out there, you don't want to catch a cold before we go, do you?"
She went in and waited until he closed the door behind her to speak. "We? So you don't want me to stay here where it's safe and wave you goodbye while you go to look for that horrible wizard anymore? ...Or what did you say last night?"
"Oh I definitely do!" he said her sarcasm "But I can't make you change your mind, right?"
"That's right" she answered and smiled satisfied at him.
Harry tilted her chin up with his fingers to make her looked straight at him and smiled in return. "I hate fighting with you Hermione. You are too stubborn for me. I rather see this pretty smile you have" he said with a sly smile.
He wondered what would happen if he kissed her right in that moment. They were alone, their heads were close enough. He only had to lean forward a little bit to meet her lips. She looked so inviting dressed like that. Would she reject or accept him if he showed her how he felt? But did he really know what he felt? It was all so confusing.
He cupped her face with one of his hands and stepped closer, looking hard into her eyes. He sensed her shiver and started rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "It's cold, isn't it" he whispered, always smiling "Hey why don't you stay here, so we can catch up?"
"I'd really like to..." she said, truly meaning it, it felt good being like this with him, but at the same time so inappropriate that she just enjoyed the closeness of their bodies one more time before reluctantly pulling away . "But..?" he said unsure
"But I haven't finished packing yet."
"Oh it's not fair" he cried in response
"Excuse me?" she said amused.
"Well you woke me up and now you're leaving me just like this" he replied
"Sorry, I have to get ready, and you should too. We leave at 9:00am"
"I haven't unpacked, just need a shower and I'm up for everything"
"Ok then you take your shower and I'll see you later for breakfast"
"Very well" he said content. She was about to open the door and leave but he just couldn't help himself and grabbed her arms to prevent her to go. "Hermione..."
"Yes?" she said turning back at him
It was now or never, he had to say something. "I just wanted to tell you Herms...that I've really missed you all this time and I'm glad you're coming with me"
She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek "I've missed you too" she said and left grinning before another word was said.
Harry found himself smiling foolishly for a long moment. Standing there he tried to figure out what exactly had gotten into him.
Author's note ( Well that was it. I'll try to post another chapter real soon. This one I couldn't check properly so I'm not sure whether it is ok or not. So if you like it, tell me. It's so helpful to know what the readers think.
Chapter 3
Harry Potter was resting on the bed with his arms behind his head and his eyes closed. He was no longer in the hospital wing but in the chamber Dumbledore had assigned to him. Sleep came never easily to him. His mind was too busy thinking of her. Could she be thinking about him? What will he tell her the next time they were alone? After a while he forced himself to relax and focus on something else, perhaps something like the reason he wars there. It's not that he was complaining, but he had heard the rumors about the minister of magic and a few left powerful Death Eaters plotting against the authorities of the wizarding world.
Some time later he decided to get up and take a shower before meeting Dumbledore. When he got to the Headmaster's office, he knocked at the door and waited until he was finally called in. First he greeted Dumbledore and then smiled at Hermione that was already sat next to the desk. They looked into each other's eyes for a second and almost immediately she turned her face to the fireplace nervously.
"Sit down Harry, we've been expecting you. It's very good to see you." said Dumbledore, taking his own sit behind the desk. "Hermione told me you came here wounded"
"Well yes I did but I'm much better now, as good as new thanks to Hermione" he said smiling at her.
"I know, you seem well to me but now this changes everything. You see Harry; I need your help for a mission, that's why I asked permission for you to come here. But I understand perfectly if don't feel physically well for this"
He opened his mouth to speak but Dumbledore interrupted him at once. "I must warn you, this might be dangerous. You are about to become an auror but you're not one yet. There is no need for you to take this kind of risk right now; however, I leave it up to you."
"Please professor, of course I'll do it" he said without hesitation.
"Alright Harry I had the feeling you'd probably say that. We better go straight to the point then. I imagined you have already heard the rumors about the Death Eaters" he said "Unfortunately they are true"
"Yeah I had the feeling it was a matter of time before they show themselves again. They still hope Voldermort will return again. It will be difficult to find them though, if they are organizing somewhere" he said by now totally concentrated.
"Yes Harry, but it's one of them Hermione and I are worried about right now"
Harry looked puzzled from Hermione to Dumbledore waiting for either of them to continue.
"You see Harry as I told you I've been working at St Mungo's Hospital" Hermione started to explain "There was a man there who was in my department. He used to be one of Voldemort's followers they caught him and got really sick in Azkaban" she paused for a moment "Anyway he's been missing for the last two days and yesterday I found this under his bed" she finished showing him a brown paper.
Harry stared at it. It was some kind of map with something funny written on it. "I've studied some dialects but honestly I can't understand a word"
"I know" Dumbledore finally intervened "It's a very old language about a very old forest. A really good place to hide. People cannot apparate there. This man we are looking for was still very sick when he left Harry but we need to find him before the enemy does"
"I understand, I'll be leaving as soon as you tell where this forest is" Harry said.
"Hermione will tell you everything you need to know and you both will depart tomorrow morning."
Wait a minute. Did really said that? "Sir, did you say the both of us?" he asked
"Yes Harry. I believe it's important the two of you go together; after all she knows this man a lot better than you do and he needs medical attention"
"Excuse me, I understand that but I don't think she should come sir. She should stay here where it's safe. Something could happen to her. It may be dangerous, you said it yourself." Harry said and could feel Hermione gaze furiously at him. He knew she would be mad at him for this. It was as if he tried to make her aside somehow but he just didn't want her to be in danger."
"Excuse ME but I can take care of myself quite well, thank you very much" Hermione said indignant.
Why did she always have to be so stubborn? Harry thought trying hard not to lose his temper.
"I think both of you can look after yourselves" Dumbledore said firmly, putting end to the discussion, before they started shouting at each other "Now do you have any other question?"
Both Harry and Hermione seemed about to explode but none of them said a word.
"Very well then, off you go." He said, quite sure they would start fighting the moment they left his office.
And indeed Harry and Hermione yell at each other for more than an hour before either of them went to sleep that night.
When he finally reached his bedroom, he slammed the door behind him and plopped on his bed. All this time he had thought about Hermione and how much he wanted to see her but now he had the chance, it had to be like this, again risking their lives. It was true she was the smartest witch he had ever known and she had helped him a lot all those years of dangerous adventures they shared at school but why couldn't he just enjoy her presence in a normal situation?
...............
Harry woke up the next morning at the sound of the knock on the door. It was still dark, so it couldn't be too late. He got up lazily and yawned widely before opening the door to find Hermione standing there covered by a white robe. "Morning Harry, sorry I didn't mean to wake you, I'll come back later" she said quietly
"No please come in" he said fully awake by now "It's freezing out there, you don't want to catch a cold before we go, do you?"
She went in and waited until he closed the door behind her to speak. "We? So you don't want me to stay here where it's safe and wave you goodbye while you go to look for that horrible wizard anymore? ...Or what did you say last night?"
"Oh I definitely do!" he said her sarcasm "But I can't make you change your mind, right?"
"That's right" she answered and smiled satisfied at him.
Harry tilted her chin up with his fingers to make her looked straight at him and smiled in return. "I hate fighting with you Hermione. You are too stubborn for me. I rather see this pretty smile you have" he said with a sly smile.
He wondered what would happen if he kissed her right in that moment. They were alone, their heads were close enough. He only had to lean forward a little bit to meet her lips. She looked so inviting dressed like that. Would she reject or accept him if he showed her how he felt? But did he really know what he felt? It was all so confusing.
He cupped her face with one of his hands and stepped closer, looking hard into her eyes. He sensed her shiver and started rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "It's cold, isn't it" he whispered, always smiling "Hey why don't you stay here, so we can catch up?"
"I'd really like to..." she said, truly meaning it, it felt good being like this with him, but at the same time so inappropriate that she just enjoyed the closeness of their bodies one more time before reluctantly pulling away . "But..?" he said unsure
"But I haven't finished packing yet."
"Oh it's not fair" he cried in response
"Excuse me?" she said amused.
"Well you woke me up and now you're leaving me just like this" he replied
"Sorry, I have to get ready, and you should too. We leave at 9:00am"
"I haven't unpacked, just need a shower and I'm up for everything"
"Ok then you take your shower and I'll see you later for breakfast"
"Very well" he said content. She was about to open the door and leave but he just couldn't help himself and grabbed her arms to prevent her to go. "Hermione..."
"Yes?" she said turning back at him
It was now or never, he had to say something. "I just wanted to tell you Herms...that I've really missed you all this time and I'm glad you're coming with me"
She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek "I've missed you too" she said and left grinning before another word was said.
Harry found himself smiling foolishly for a long moment. Standing there he tried to figure out what exactly had gotten into him.
Author's note ( Well that was it. I'll try to post another chapter real soon. This one I couldn't check properly so I'm not sure whether it is ok or not. So if you like it, tell me. It's so helpful to know what the readers think.