~Okay oh my god I really am extremely sorry! I haven't posted for like…2 months!! I'm very very sorry about that, but the weeks before Christmas were really busy for me because teachers love to just pile it on you before Christmas break! But now that I'm actually on my holiday, I can write…so I wrote this for you guys I hope you like it! I'll probably post the 15th chappie soon after this one, since you all deserve it for waiting so long! Thanks for sticking with me! ~
Meet You There
Chapter 14 – Soar
~*~
I get lost in your eyes
And I feel my spirits rise
And soar like the wind
Is it love that I am in…
I get weak in a glance
Isn't this what's called romance…
And now I know
Cause when I'm lost I can't let go
I don't mind not knowing what I'm heading for
You can take me to the skies...
It's like being lost in heaven
When I'm lost in your eyes
~*~
Harry swore under his breath as he stubbed his toe getting out of bed, and glared at Ron when he started to laugh as quietly as he could. It was finally the 19th, Hermione's birthday, and they'd both gotten up extra early so they would be there when she woke up. Suddenly Ron tripped over a stray book that he hadn't seen in the dark, and Harry burst out laughing, making Seamus and Dean stir in their sleep while Neville continued to snore. "Why does Hermione have to wake up so early?" Ron grumbled under his breath as Harry helped him up, still laughing.
"I don't know, maybe all girls do…do you have your present with you?" Harry asked as he picked his up from his bedside table. Ron nodded, and reached under his bed for the wrapped gift. "What'd you get her?" Harry asked Ron as they walked down the stairs into the common room, where there were only about 3 people.
"Well she likes that muggle group blink 182 right?" he said and Harry nodded.
"Yeah, that's her favourite band" Harry responded as they sat down in front of the fire.
"I asked my mum to see if she could find anything to do with them, and send it to me for Hermione's birthday" Ron started, "And she found a lot of stuff actually, but the it was all really expensive so I just got her a sweatshirt" he said, grinning at Harry, clearly pleased with himself.
"Wow, that's a really awesome present Ron…she's going to love it" Harry said truthfully, but he was starting to feel like his present was a bit stupid.
"What'd you get her?"
Harry groaned inwardly at the though of Ron's present being better than his, and he pretended he hadn't heard him.
"Harry?"
"Damn…" Harry thought, as he sighed and started to explain to Ron.
"Well it's a long story Ron, but me and Hermione used to be best friends…I mean before Hogwarts and I made her…" he started but Ron interrupted.
"What?!?! What do you mean…when? I mean…how is that possible?!" His mouth was hanging open, and he was obviously very shocked.
Harry looked around him, not wanting to answer the question but he knew he had too. "We were friends since the minute Hermione was born but…we never saw each other shortly after her first birthday when…" Harry trailed off, and Ron nodded, not needing to ask questions about what he'd meant. However he did need some other answers,
"Well how did you know each other? I mean we're your parents and hers friends or something? Why wouldn't you tell me? Why wouldn't you get to see each other after…that…happened?" he said in one breath, and Harry looked at him feeling extremely tired.
"We only just found out this summer…and it's up to Hermione to tell you some of it Ron, let's just drop it for now all right?" Ron looked slightly annoyed and confused but decided not to push it.
"Fine, we can talk about it later" he agreed.
"Thank you…anyway, I made her this photo album with a bunch of photos in it from when we were really little, till now…she's never seen them before" Harry said dully, feeling ashamed of his sentimental present, when Ron had got her a blink-182 sweatshirt.
"Ohh…well that's a way better present than mine is mate" Ron said glumly, and Harry looked up at him as if he was mad.
"How do you figure that?? Mine's just a bunch of old photos…yours is a lot better, blink's her favourite band, anyone would love that present!" Harry said, starting to feel angry at himself, although he knew what he'd just said wasn't true. It wasn't just 'a bunch of old photos' It had taken him forever to get them from Hermione's mum and her friends, he'd even done a complicated charm on it to make it play a certain song when it opened.
Ron shook his head, "I'm betting you put a lot of thought and effort into that…I just got my mum to do mine" he said, looking at himself in disgust.
"Oh come on Ron, shut it, yours is just as good as mine, don't beat yourself up about it." Harry replied firmly, making it sound as if that was the end of the discussion. Ron sighed, but didn't say anything as they sat in silence.
About 20 minutes later, they both heard someone walking down the stairs, and grinned as they saw their best friend emerge from the stair case in her pink pyjama bottoms, and a white sweatshirt. "Morning" she said happily, a second before she was pulled into a group hug with Harry and Ron.
"Happy Birthday Mione" they both said together as they pulled away and she laughed lightly,
"Thanks…I can hardly believe this" she said, laughing harder as they looked at her with confusion written all over their faces.
"What's so hard to believe?" Ron asked, and Harry looked at her curiously waiting for her answer.
"I just can't believe you two are up this early" she said, walking over to the couch in front of the fire, where the 2 wrapped presents were waiting.
Harry and Ron laughed as they sat down on either side of her, "Believe me, it wasn't the best experience" Harry said chuckling, "I stubbed my toe getting out of bed, and Ron tripped over a book"
"Yeah, I'm surprised the guys didn't wake up with all the noise we were making" Ron said, laughing a long with the other two.
"Well thanks for doing that, it was really nice to see you two down here before I was" Hermione said, smiling sincerely at them, and they both shrugged. "No biggie" Ron said, making Harry laugh. "What?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head as he continued to laugh, "No idea…that just sounded funny" he said stupidly, "Anyways, what do you want to do Hermione?" he said changing the subject.
Hermione looked at the two presents on the table, and the boys got the clue. "Oh, right…well uh…open Ron's first" Harry said, and Ron scowled at him, "No, open Harry's…" he started to say, but then seemed to change his mind, "…actually no, open mine first" he said, giving it to her. Harry smiled in relief thinking it was better this way until he realized…if Hermione opened Ron's first, she would automatically compare the two presents. He was about to say something, but Hermione had already started to unwrap it and he quickly bit his tongue to stop the outburst.
Hermione ripped off the entire wrapping and gasped as she saw the box, "Why….how…?" she stammered, and Ron laughed.
"Just open it" he said simply, and she looked at him excitedly.
She bit her lip and slow lifted the lid and gasped once again as she saw the baby pink sweat shirt with the words 'blink 182' on the front, and a little heart on the sleeve. "Oh my god Ron!!!!!" she squealed happily, throwing herself on him, making him bowl Harry over too, and the two boys laugh, though Harry's was pretty forced.
"I'm guessing that means you like it?" Ron said grinning stupidly at her, and she beamed back at him.
"I LOVE it Ron!!! Ever since I became a fan of them I've always wanted something like this!" she exclaimed happily, holding the sweat shirt up to herself, and looking at. "They're so hard to get!"
As Harry watched her, his heart sank…there was no was his was going to be able to compare to that. His feelings must have shown on his face, because Hermione looked at him curiously, "Is something wrong Harry?" she asked, looking concerned. Harry looked at her face and couldn't help but smile,
"No Mione, nothing's wrong…here open my present, it's not as good as Ron's but…"
"Oh come on Harry, I'm sure yours is just as good" She replied, taking the beautifully wrapped gift out of his hands. "It's so nicely wrapped" Hermione commented, smiling at Harry as she undid the silky white and pink ribbons. Harry shrugged it off, and she laughed lightly at him, but stopped immediately as the album in the box was revealed.
She stared at it a moment, before looking up at Harry with her eyes shining, her mouth slightly parted and her hand on her heart as if to calm herself. A small smile crossed her face, and he smiled back, understanding perfectly…no need for words. Hermione looked back at the cover of the album, which appeared to be made out of white and pink satin material, similar to the bows on the box. She smiled again as she looked at the two one year old's on the front cover, laughing and smiling at the camera. Tracing her finger over the boys raven black hair, she looked up at the 16 year old version of him, and tears started to fall down her cheeks
"I can't believe this…" she whispered softly, and as she opened the satin cover she gasped, the book falling to the floor.
Harry smiled sadly, and picked it up carefully, putting it next to him on the couch. "Do you want to look at it later?" he asked quietly, and she nodded, tears still falling down her face as she pulled him into a hug. Harry closed his eyes while he hugged her, like he always did, trying to savour the moment. But as he opened his eyes when they were pulling apart, he just caught the strange look on Ron's face, as if he understood something. Harry's stomach did a bit of a flip flop…
"That can't be good…"
* * *
A few hours later, when many more people had joined them, Ron looked at his watch, "Blimey!! It's already 10:30, we better hurry up and go eat, or I'll be late for detention" he lied, very convincingly, and Hermione looked at him in shock
"You have detention?! Today?" she exclaimed loudly, and he shrugged sadly at her, "I'm really sorry Hermione, but it couldn't be helped, Snape's got me scrubbing cauldrons and all sorts of other stuff" Harry marvelled at how well Ron was able to lie while looking her right in the eyes, he didn't think he could do that.
Suddenly, the rest of them chirped in with pre-thought up excuses why they wouldn't be around all day, and Hermione's face fell. "You're all busy? On my 16th birthday…" Everyone's faces looked guiltily at her, forgetting it was all just a plan, and in the end it would most likely be the best birthday of her life.
"I'm really sorry Hermione, but I really do need help with my Potions, I'm terrible at it" Kate said, and a few others nodded, apologizing again and again, until she stopped them.
"It's okay, I can just…go to the library or something…" she said sighing, and standing up.
"Mione wait"
Someone had grabbed her wrist gently, and she turned around to see Harry's face smiling at her. "You haven't hear my excuse yet"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "What is it Harry"
"I don't have one" he said simply, and she couldn't help grinning slightly.
"You mean you're not busy?" she asked hopefully and he did the sexy little chuckle that she adored.
"Of course not Mione, I wouldn't let you be alone on your birthday" he said, and then quickly corrected himself, "Well none of us would really…Ron can't help having detention"
"I really am sorry Mione" Ron said again and she dismissed it with a wave
"It's okay Ron, really" she said truthfully, feeling a whole lot happier, looking around at everyone else, "Let's just go down to breakfast"
* * *
On the way down to the Great Hall, something peculiar was happening. Everyone they passed seemed to know it was Hermione's birthday, even first years were chirping, "Happy Birthday Hermione!" and a couple of them winked at certain members of their group as they left.
Hermione looked strangely at the people around her, "What did you all do?" she asked laughing slightly, they all shrugged casually,
"We didn't do anything" Ron said.
"Yeah, I haven't got a clue how all these people know it's your birthday" Harry added very convincingly.
Hermione looked at them doubtfully, but suddenly she crashed right into a tall extremely good looking Slytherin, toppling backwards. "Fuck watch where you're…" he started to say, but stopped as he saw who it was. "Oh…sorry Granger" said Draco Malfoy, helping a very astonished Hermione off the ground before anyone else could help.
Harry couldn't help but make a small snarling noise at Draco touching her, and he chuckled smugly, "Calm down Potter, I'm only helping" he said with a smirk, and started to walk away down the corridor. He casually looked over his shoulder as he went, "Happy Birthday by the way Granger" he said, with what looked at an attempt at a smile. But it was gone in an instant as he smirked at Harry and Ron, before turning away.
Hermione looked over at the rest of the group, who were all muttering and looking strangely at Draco's disappearing form. "Okay, seriously what was that all about, did you guys tell him to do that?" She said, not really believing her self, as she saw the disgusted look on the boys faces.
"You think I would tell that slimy git to talk to you?" Harry and Ron said together, and she laughed, along with the few other girls.
"Not really" she said, as they all entered the great hall and sat down at the long Gryffindor table. As Hermione looked around she noticed that there was a considerable amount of people still there, and not one teacher was missing, she started to wonder if this had been part of a plan or something, but her thoughts were cut off as Dumbledore stood up, knocking his fork against his glass gently.
Everyone at their table looked up at him as if they'd been expecting it, everyone except Hermione. "What's going…" she started to ask Ron but he shushed her, much to her annoyance. Hermione jumped slightly as she saw the headmaster look directly at her and smile, then he turned to look at everyone else.
"As you all may or may not know, it happens to be Ms. Hermione Granger's sixteenth birthday today, and I was hoping we could all sing the traditional muggle birthday song, for those of you who know it."
Hermione blushed and was about to protest but was cut off once again as the whole crowd started to sing "Happy Birthday to you" loudly. The Gryffindor's were clearly the loudest, and the ones who weren't familiar with the song were trying their best to join in. As it ended, everyone clapped and whistled, except of course many of the Slytherins who had sat there looking appalled and disgusted, but Hermione just caught Dumbledore nod at Harry before he sat down.
"You did this didn't you?!" Hermione said fiercely to her raven haired friend and he laughed, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Why does it matter? You weren't embarrassed were you?" he said jokingly and she let out a laugh, punching him playfully, but rather hard, in his stomach. He didn't even wince, "Pitiful Mione, Pitiful" Harry said and laughed as she tried again. "Come on Hermione, you k now you can do matter than that" he said teasingly, but his face fell slightly as she saw the determined look in her eye.
"Oh you're in for it now mate" Ron said wincing as Hermione punched him as hard as she could in his rock hard stomach. Harry grunted and leaned over holding his stomach, "Merlin Mione" he gasped out and Hermione bit her lip.
"Oh I'm so sorry Harry I shouldn't have…" she started worriedly but stopped her self as Harry and Ron began to laugh madly, Ron giving Harry a high five.
"Fantastic performance Potter" Ron said in between his laughs and Hermione looked at them indignantly.
"I though I hurt you Harry!" she exclaimed and Harry covered his mouth, trying to stop laughing.
"No offence Mione, it really doesn't have anything to do with you, I just don't get hurt too easily anymore" he said, still laughing lightly.
Hermione pursed her lips and looked darkly at him, "Well thanks for humiliating me Harry, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself" she said sarcastically as she poured maple syrup on her pancakes.
"Awww come on Hermione, I'm only joking around" Harry said, trying to get her to look at him, but she simply picked up her fork and started to eat. "Mione!" Harry looked at Ron for help but he simply shrugged and dug into his breakfast. Harry sighed and turned back to her, "Hermione" she remained the same, but a small smile was creeping up on her face. "Mione please look at me" he said, with no success. Harry got up, determined to get her attention and wrapped his arms around her, "Pleeeeease forgive me Mione" he whined, feeling bold and playfully kissing her cheek. She finally laughed, a blush arising on her face.
"Okay I give in! I was really only joking anyways" Hermione said while Ron and a few others were laughing at Harry's actions. Harry sat down grinning.
"I knew that'd work" he said happily, pouring himself some juice
"Kissing her always seems to work" Ron said laughing, and Harry chuckled somewhat awkwardly, but it turned into a full blown hysterical laugh as he saw Ginny smirking at him knowingly, earning himself more than a few
* * *
Eventually everyone that had come down with Hermione earlier was now gone besides Harry and herself. "Well…what do you want to do today?" Hermione asked, and Harry smiled at her.
"I've already planned it" he said mischievously, "But if there's something you want to do before it we still have time"
Hermione looked at him curiously, "What have you…" she started but Harry shook his head
"I'm not going to tell you, so you probably shouldn't even try" He said simply and she sighed.
"Fine…well I can't think of anything I want to do and I want to know what you planned so let's go" she said happily, and he smiled.
"All right"
* * *
"Oh no Harry, I am NOT doing that"
Harry and Hermione were standing just outside the broom shed in the Quidditch pitch, a pair of broomsticks in Harry's hands. Harry looked at her smiling, "Come on Hermione it'll be really fun I promise" he said, trying to coax her into taking flying lessons from him.
"Harry, no it won't be! I'm terrible at flying you know that!" she exclaimed.
"Exactly! That's the point, I'm going to teach you how" Harry explained, simply getting a tired look from her.
"Harry I am just bad at flying, that's how it is I can't be taught" she said stubbornly.
Harry sighed and rolled his eyes, "But Hermione that's only because you never practiced, and you never got real good lessons, I'm sure you'd be great if you just stuck with it" he persisted and she shook her head.
"Harry…okay I've never told anyone this but…" Hermione drifted off looking around her as if someone could possibly hear them from out here. "The reason I hate flying so much is that I...I'm afraid of heights" she said, looking at Harry as if he might laugh.
Harry didn't laugh, he smiled, once again "Well that just makes me even more insistent that I've got to get you on a broomstick, come on" he said, making it clear that the discussion was over as he began to jog to the middle of the pitch.
"Harry!!" she yelled frustrated, as she ran after him. Harry laughed as he ran, and soon, as if she could help it, Hermione began to laugh too as she chased him.
They both reached the middle and Harry looked at her, his features softening as he looked at her now slightly frightened face, "How about you ride with me for a while so you can get used to being up in the air, would that make you feel better?" he asked gently, and she sighed.
"You're not going to give up are you?" she said dully and he laughed.
"Nope" he said grinning.
"Fine" she said in defeat, "But…I think I better ride with you like you said" she added.
Harry smiled warmly, "Sure" he said happily, dropping Ron's broomstick and getting onto his own. "All right, so I think it'll be better if you sit in front of me" he said, guiding her onto the broom gently.
"But I can't hold on to you if I'm up here" she said nervously and he laughed.
"That's okay, it's better this way because I can hold you and help you balance" he said, "It'll be good for you too probably, because you can lean back on me if you want"
Hermione and Harry both smiled to themselves, not knowing the other was doing the same thing. "Right, good idea" Hermione said.
"Okay are you ready?" Harry asked, positioning him self more comfortably, putting his arms on the broom in front of Hermione. She muttered something incoherent, and Harry took it as a yes, kicking off the ground hard, soaring into the sky. Hermione let out a yelp and covered her eyes.
"Oh my god, oh my god" she kept whispering under her breath as Harry flew gracefully around and away from the pitch.
"Hermione" She jumped as Harry whispered into her ear.
"What?" she said her voice unsteady, yet she knew being up in the air wasn't the only thing that was unsettling her.
"Open your eyes" he said simply and she almost laughed.
"No way" Harry chuckled to himself.
"Believe me Mione you'll really enjoy this a lot more if you can see the view" He said as they soared over the lake.
"I can see the view any day"
"Not like this you can't"
"Whatever"
Harry laughed again, "Mione I'm determined to make you love flying" and with that he took his hands off the broom to wrench hers away from her eyes. The front of the Firebolt dipped a bit and Hermione screamed while Harry placed her hands underneath his on the broom.
"Harry you're cra…" Hermione cut her self off as she stared wide eyed at the gorgeous view beneath, and all around her. "Oh my…" she breathed and Harry smiled to himself. He sped up circling around the lake and instead of screaming Hermione started to laugh her face full of happiness, hair whipping in the wind. Harry started to feel the familiar feeling in his stomach as he watched her happy face. Just to see her so happy was making him feel absolutely ecstatic. He found himself grinning for no reason at all besides seeing her so happy, knowing he had a great deal to do with it.
Hermione looked over her shoulder grinning at her best friend and felt her stomach flip over as he grinned back. "It's not scary at all!" she said happily, spontaneously kissing him on the cheek before turning back around and letting her self sit back into him more, feeling more safe than she ever had before, with him supporting her.
Harry closed his eyes, zooming around over Hogwarts, feeling so content and happier than he'd ever felt, with her resting against him, having just received a kiss on the cheek simply added to the joyous feeling. He was so lost in his own wonderful thoughts of how this day could be improved that he wasn't even paying attention to flying the broom at all. He opened his eyes to find Hermione looking at him, slightly astonished, "What?" he asked, nervously thinking maybe he'd been talking about his fantasies out loud.
"You were flying perfectly…with your eyes closed" Hermione said in awe.
"Oh…right yeah…I guess I do that sometimes" Harry said laughing, glad it hadn't been what he thought it was.
Hermione looked at him and laughed almost unbelievably, "Here I am, unable to fly under any circumstances, while you can do it with your eyes closed! That's incredible."
Harry smiled, "I think you're ready for an actual lesson aren't you?" he asked, sensing the 'eager to learn' Hermione coming through.
She grinned excitedly, "Yeah I am actually, you've got me wanting to fly" she said, and Harry chuckled, turning around and speeding towards the Quidditch pitch. "Merlin Harry you don't have to go so fast!!" Hermione squealed, "Hold on to me I feel like I'm going to fall off!"
Harry smirked, and wrapped one arm around her waist, enjoying himself, "That better?" he said quietly into her ear and she shivered pleasantly.
"Yes, thanks" she breathed, unable to think of a witty comment with Harry Potter's arm around her, and that sexy voice whispering in her ear.
Harry guided his Firebolt gracefully onto the pitch and landed smoothly, although he was amazed how he'd been able to concentrate with Hermione's warm body pressed into his. He only hoped his stupid male hormones hadn't made anything too obvious. He looked down quickly and thanked god as he got off after Hermione.
"So I'm guessing I'll be riding Ron's broom then?" Hermione asked as she picked it up off the ground.
Harry smiled "You choose" he said holding out the glistening Firebolt in front of her.
She looked at him as if he was crazy, "You're not serious" she said, "Your Firebolt is like you're baby…you're going to let me ride it?!"
Harry laughed out loud, "True, it may be my baby but…" he looked her in the eyes, "I trust you"
Hermione smiled, looking into his emerald orbs and felt herself slipping away, she was doing it again. Those eyes were impossible! You could not look into them without losing yourself completely…at least she couldn't.
Hermione looked away, a mischievous grin creeping over her face as she carefully mounted the broom, "You may regret that Potter" she said, and before he could say anything, she'd kicked off the ground at an incredible speed, leaving him to look up at her a feeling of pride welling up in him as he watched her soar into the sky.
As Harry could feel his love for her surrounding him rapidly he suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Ginny yesterday. "She does love someone else Harry, she doesn't feel that way about Ron" So she loved someone else…but as he thought back to the small things that had happened since she'd phoned him that day in the summer…he felt that the feeling he felt weren't exactly one sided. "Maybe I'm the 'someone else' Ginny means" And with that thought Harry grinned and kicked off, racing after the girl who he couldn't help but be madly in love with.
~*~ Hope you liked it, the song at the beginning was "Lost in Your Eyes" by Debbie Gibson, and the title was inspired by a Christina Aguilera song, since it's called Soar, but I kinda got it from the lyrics of the song too…oh and I forgot to mention the artists of the songs in earlier chapters, so….for Chapter 13, the song was called "All of This" by blink 182 featuring Robert Smith from the Cure and in chapter 11 it was "Think Twice" by Eve 6! So please Review and hopefully the next chap will be up soon!~