Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.
A/N: A week has passed since the incident with Marsh.
Chapter Nine: The Trip to Hogsmeade"Hermione, wake up!"
Hermione groaned and rolled over. This must be a dream. Maybe if I ignore the screeching voices, I'll be left in peace.
"Wake up!"
"Give me five more minutes," Hermione mumbled, thinking that this was the most realistic dream she ever had.
"Hermione! You're going on a date with Oliver Wood, and you want to sleep in? Are you crazy? Get up this instant!" She rolled over and pulled the pillow tightly against her head.
"Hermione!"
Hermione rubbed her eyes and sat up, staring straight into the over-excited faces of her roommates, Lavender and Parvati. I was wrong. This is no dream. It's a bloody nightmare!
"What are you two shouting about? Oliver and I are just friends," Hermione insisted.
"Yeah, sure Hermione. Whatever you say," Parvati said as she rolled her eyes."Hermione, you know books, but be know boys, and we know that Oliver likes you, "Lavender reasoned.
"No, he doesn't. Yesterday, he asked if I wanted to go to Hogsmeade strictly as friends, so he couldn't possibly like me in that way."
Lavender and Parvati shook their heads. "Oh, Hermione, you are so clueless! Oliver likes you. If you're too blind to see it, then that's just too bad for you," Lavender said.
"Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to spend the day with our boyfriends. For your sake Hermione, I hope you resolve your trust issues because right now you're just hurting yourself. Oliver's a great guy and we hope you realize it before it's too late," Parvati advised. (A/N: This foreshadows something terrible later)
"Have fun with Oliver," Lavender said as the two girls left the dormitory. Hermione shook her head as she recalled Parvati's advice. She doesn't know what she's talking about. She doesn't know what I've gone through, what I'm going through. I've never listened to her before, so why should I start now?
Hermione pushed her thoughts aside as she showered and dressed. She looked at the time and realized she was late! Hermione rushed down the stairs and tripped. Oliver caught her just before she hit the floor and he chuckled softly to himself. "Already trying to escape, are you?"
Hermione blushed. "No. I'm just a bit late. Sorry."
"Don't be. Come on, let's go." Oliver took her hand and the two went to Hogsmeade along with the rest of the student population (A/N: Third years and up). As they walked throughout the town, Oliver couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful Hermione looked. She didn't look like a supermodel, but the sweetness of her smile, the mystery lurking behind her eyes and the sharpness of her brain made her absolutely stunning in his eyes.
They walked beside each other in silence for a few minutes before Hermione spoke. "So, Oliver, could you tell me about yourself?"
Oliver smiled, relieved that Hermione felt brave enough to break the silence between them. "Of course. Well, as you know, I love Quidditch. When I first saw my father playing it with some of his friends, I was absolutely entranced. I just love the feeling of liberation I experience when I fly through the air, or block a quaffle. I can't imagine my life without Quidditch. It's such a big part of me."
Hermione nodded. "I understand. I feel the same way about books."
"Books?" Oliver smirked.
Hermione laughed and playfully slapped his arm. "Yes, books! Why does everyone seem so shocked that books can be invigorating?"
"Well, because they're...books," Oliver cleverly reasoned.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She was surprised that Oliver was able to keep her mind off of her troubles, even if it was only for a few minutes. "To me, books are as exciting as Quidditch is to you. With every book you open, you uncover knowledge and allow your mind to expand and grow. And when you finally understand a complicated concept- there's just an indescribable feeling of accomplishment."
Oliver pondered what Hermione had just said. He loved it when others spoke of their passion, especially Hermione. She would go from being gloomy to cheerful. Her dark brown eyes would light up, putting the sun to shame (A/N: Sorry, I'm feeling poetic). It was like she was a completely different person from the usually troubled Hermione he was used to seeing. It made him wonder what had dampened her spirits.
Hermione looked up at Oliver who had his brow furrowed in thought. "What are you thinking about, Oliver?"
"Oh, I was just thinking of how wonderful it is that you're so passionate about learning. It really is refreshing to hear a girl talk about books rather than hair, makeup and clothes."
Hermione shuddered. "Well, then, it is a good thing you've never met my roommates, Parvati and Lavender. After listening to them talk for a few minutes, I've been tempted to drink one of Neville's potions."
Oliver laughed. "Wow, they must me awful then, if you'd rather do that!"
Hermione laughed as well. "You got that right!"
The two sat down on a bench by a frozen lake that sparkled like a thousand diamonds when the gentle sunlight shone brightly on its surface. Beautiful evergreen trees surrounded them, and lovely snowflakes kissed their faces. "Oliver, I've never seen this area in Hogsmeade before. It's absolutely stunning!" Hermione commented, amazed at how picturesque everything looked.
"I'm glad you like it. Since you, Harry and Ron have probably been to all of the shops in Hogsmeade by now, I figured that you'd want to see something different."
"That's very sweet of you." A single tear trickled down Hermione's cheek at Oliver's reminder of Harry and Ron. She remembered how Harry and Ron would spend all day drooling at the window of the Quidditch supplies shop (A/N: Is there one in Hogsmeade? Just pretend there is) if she hadn't dragged them back to Hogwarts.
Oliver stared at her with concern in his eyes. He wiped away her tear with his glove. "Hermione, what's wrong? I didn't offend you, did I?"
Hermione shook her head and sniffed. "No, not at all. It's just... I miss Harry and Ron."
Oliver put his arm around her, which startled Hermione. "I'm so sorry Hermione. I should've known it would be hard for you three to be separated. I mean, you've all been friends since your first year. I couldn't possibly imagine being separated from my friends."
Hermione continued to sob on his shoulder. Oliver held her, trying to think of some way to comfort her. He hated seeing her so miserable, but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling that there was something else she wasn't telling him. He knew it would pain her to say it, but he also knew that Hermione had to tell someone; she looked like she was going to explode. Keeping in all of that pain would just eat at her.
"Hermione," Oliver said softly," I hate to bring this up, but is there something else you're not telling me? Is there something that is bothering you, besides the absence of your friends? I know you don't want to tell me, but please, tell someone. I can't bear the thought of seeing you consumed by your pain. It will only destroy you."
Hermione sobbed harder. "Y-You're right. I can't bear this burden anymore. All right, I'll tell you, but please don't tell anyone else. I don't want everyone taking pity on me. Do you promise me?"
Oliver held up his hand. "I give you my most solemn promise. Whatever you say will remain between us."
Hermione nodded. "You're right that there is something else that troubles me. This past summer, my parents died. They were killed by... Voldemort."
Oliver's mouth hung agape. He knew that whatever was troubling Hermione was serious, but he had no idea that it was this serious. Oliver held Hermione, letting her cry on his shoulder. "Oh, Hermione, I had no idea this happened! I am so very sorry."
Hermione reluctantly pulled herself slowly away from Oliver to continue her story. For some reason, she felt so safe when Oliver's arms were wrapped around her. He made her feel like everything was going to be okay, that there would be a light at the end of the dark tunnel.
Oliver brushed away a stray hair from her blotchy face as Hermione continued. "All my life I've been in control. I've achieved everything I set my mind to. If I didn't know something, I would go to the library, and it would always have an answer. But then, when my parents... died, my entire life fell apart. For the first time in my life, I began to feel completely and utterly out of control. This time there are no easy answers. I can't just go to the library, flip through a few pages and magically bring my parents back to life. I can't change what happened. What's done is done."
Hermione stood up, and walked over to the shore of the frozen lake. She folded her arms, shivering slightly as the cold wind nipped her icy cheeks. "And when Harry and Ron left for the Academy, I felt even more alone. My parents had just died, and then I discovered that I would have to spend a year at Hogwarts without my friends. They're the closest things I have left to a family. Without them here, I feel like I'm alone."
Oliver stood up and gripped Hermione's shoulders, staring deep into her tear-filled brown eyes. "Hermione Granger, you are not alone. You will never be alone because you will always have me."
A/N: And so another chapter ends. In the next update, Oliver will finally confess his feelings to Hermione. How will she react? Will she hug him, or will she slug him? Don't worry. I won't keep you in suspense for long. I should warn you that the next chapter might contain a cliffhanger.
Anyway, thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers...
Valentines-hater: The story "I Want My Body Back You Git" is a pretty good Oliver/Hermione fanfic. I strongly recommend it. There was another one that was very impressive. It's been on for a while now, so I don't if you've read it. I forgot the name, so I'll get back to you on that one.
Lia06: Glad you enjoyed this chapter.
Leah: I'm glad you liked the kick-butt Hermione. She's very vulnerable in this story, so I decided that I should show a tougher side of her. Thanks for your review!
Troublegirls: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed Hermione's little fight scene. It's about time those bloody Slytherins paid for their er, jerkiness.
Extra A/N: I decided I won't post the other story I've been working on until I completely finish it. I know I said I would post it today, but I don't want to post something that I may not finish and leave all of my readers hanging. I will be taking a heavy course load at college and I probably won't have enough time to even finish writing it until November. Sorry everyone!
