Title: Harry Potter and the Year of Realizations
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Harry had a rough fifth year, will his sixth be any better? Harry has a feeling it will be, but he's a little confused about the way Hermione's been acting.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling. (Although sometimes I wish I owned Harry, j/k (strike the 'sometimes'))
PLEASE review, I was very pleased at how many reviews I got for last chapter. I'm getting them to Hogwarts in the next chapter, maybe the next chapter. There will also be some romances between a couple other characters! Next chapter I'm going to run an idea by you all, so read again to be a part of the decision. PLEASE R&R. I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter Fourteen: The Alley
PREVIOUSLY:
Harry and Hermione walked down the street to a café Harry had never seen before. Hermione led him inside. Harry looked around at the American style café and shrugged. "Oh, the food here is great." Hermione said as the waiter led them to a table in the back.
Harry sat down opposite Hermione. They caught each others eye and looked down. A waitress walked over to them and handed them a menu. She was an American teenager and looked back and forth between them, "You two on a date?" She said chewing her hardening gum. They both blushed.
When the waitress walked away Hermione asked, "IS this a date, Harry?" Harry looked up. "I don't know, do you want it to be a date?" Hermione shrugged. She honestly didn't know. All she knew was that this was way over even her head. She just wanted them to be friends again, like before. True, she had feelings for him then, but that might've developed, and that's the way she wanted it. She had no clue how to tell Harry without hurting him or making him think she didn't like him in that way.
Their food came and they ate the food, which was really good, he loved American food. They ate in awkward silence until Hermione finally spoke. "Harry, it's not that I don't like you, it's just that I think what we had before was better and could develop into something more without it being forced. This whole 'soulmate' thing is way over my head right now and I think that I'd just like to be friends again. Hermione held her breath for what seemed like forever until Harry spoke.
Harry felt a wave of relief come over him. That's exactly how he felt. He knew that he was in love with Hermione. He also knew that she probably loved him, but wasn't IN love with him. He knew that would change, but he also knew that he wanted his Hermione back.
"That's exactly how I feel, 'Mione." Harry said leaving out the part about being in love with her. "'Mione?" She asked smirking. "What?" He asked in a very innocent tone. They just laughed and ate, the awkwardness lifted. They ate together as if everything was back to the way it used to be.
When Harry and Hermione had finished eating they still had 30 minutes to spare. Harry knew that Hermione wanted another owl, but was just too proud to ask Harry. They walked to the pet store hand in hand, not even realizing they were doing it, I don't know the real name and started to look around. Hermione came across a beautiful Flame Owl and just stared at it when Harry came up behind her. "You want it?" He asked like it was an ordinary everyday thing. "Oh, no, Harry, it's much too expensive, I can't afford it." Hermione said, shaking her head.
Harry shrugged and started to walk in a different direction. Hermione had gone behind some shelves so he took his chance. He took a quick look at the tag. 1,000 galleons. Harry grabbed the cage and headed for the counter and wrote a check, since he didn't carry that much around with him and he had just paid for lunch, with Hermione protesting about it, of course. Harry walked back to the shelves where Hermione was, holding the beautiful red owl. Hermione turned to face him. "Harry, don't buy it, I can't pay you back." Harry just shrugged. "I'm not going to buy it."
Hermione looked at him confused. "I already did, and hey, no refunds." He smiled mischievously. Hermione leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. She walked around the corner and Harry had his hand up to where she had kissed him, as if it burned. It did, but it was a good tingly burn.
He followed her back from behind the shelves and into the main part of the store. Before they walked out the door Harry grabbed some owl treats, remembering Hedwig's little fit before. He paid for them and then walked out the door with Hermione.
They walked back to Flourish and Blotts and saw the Weasleys were already there. Mrs. Weasley grabbed both of them in a huge bear hug, squeezing the life out of them before letting them go. They grabbed everything they had bought that day and Harry ran to the other side of the store looking for one of the books he had forgotten, Occulmecy. sp. Hermione picked up he new owl and Ron and Ginny gasped.
They walked over to her in awe. "Hermione, how did you afford it?" Ron asked staring at the owl in wonder. "I didn't." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Harry bought it for me." She said, a barely audible sigh escaping her lips. Ron hadn't caught this, but of course, Ginny had. She smiled at Hermione who gave a quick smile back and turned to see Harry coming in their direction, his newly purchased Occulmecy book in tow.
Ginny saw the way Harry looked at Hermione, and the way Hermione looked at Harry when the other thought they weren't. It was a classic movie love. That's what Ginny thought it to be, and of course, being the youngest, seeing everything. Ron nudged her in the side, "I guess our plan failed, they're just friends again." Ginny smiled, she had a feeling that this was far from over.
Sorry this chapter wasn't very long, but my dad is in the hospital cause he broke his ankle so I was at the hospital all of yesterday while he was getting surgery. It was REALLY bad. So please don't hate me. I'll try and update soon. Also, thanks for the bunches of reviews, it really gets me motivated. I wasn't actually gonna write at all, so yay.
!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! POLL ALERT !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
Should they ride the train, or miss it, like in the 2nd book/movie?
AND
Who to pair Ron with, tell me, tell me. Just review and say who. Hey, that rhymed. Anyway, whichever pairing gets brought up more...wins, if that's what you want to call it.
Thanks for your reviews:
bigfanofMalfoy: lol, sorry, I might do something about...that, but I'm not sure, yet. You'll just have to wait and see. Thanks.
WolfKeeper989: I tried to make everyone happy with the 'date' in this chapter, sorry if it's not exactly what you wanted, I tried. Thanks for reviewing.
FireWings1: Yeah, I was really trying to make everyone happy in this chapter, so I'm taking things back a step. Thanks for reviewing.
Shinji-Higurashi: Thanks for reviewing, more about what's up with the Grangers in the next chapter, I hope you liked this one.
Shdurrani: Thanks for reviewing. I was really trying to make everyone happy with the whole 'date' thing. I hope you were satisfied, come back and R&R again.
Thevlyn: Yeah, I know, but it needed to be tailored for the fic. Thanks for you tips though, I'll keep them in mind. Thanks.
Andrea: lol, there might be something about that where they won't have to hit each other anymore, but I'm not telling, come back and R&R, thanks.
Sally: They might find something temporary, but I'm not 'saying' another word, I hope you like the rest of the fic.
James: yup. Thanks for the review.
Iloveemmawatson: Yeah, you gotta read the whole thing so far to get it, I hope you like it. There will be something later on to clear up why Harry doesn't remember waking up.
Linzay04: Thanks, I tried to make everyone happy with the 'date'. Some people thought it was too fast, some people thought, 'yeah, all right, why not.' , so I just did this.
Ron: Thanks, There will be some more pairing later in the fic (at school). So I hope you keep reading. I'm still trying to figure out who to pair Ron up with. I'll add something to the poll. Thanks.
I hope you all like it, please review, I'll probably get the next chapter up in a day. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! I'll give you a cookie. XOXO
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