Chapter Three

Hermione's Confession

Harry woke up the next morning, got dressed, and happily skipped downstairs. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw a note on the table waiting for him.

Harry,

I'm going into London with Dudley. He swallowed one of Fred and Georges Puking Pastilles (though I am unsure of where he got it) and I can't find the other half. This might take a while, so I've prepared a list of chores for you to do until Hermione comes. If we aren't home by 6:00, have Kreacher prepare dinner.

See you soon,

Tonks

Chores

Dust the living room

Mop the kitchen floor

Do the dishes

Tidy your room

Clean all bathrooms

Mow the lawn

Finish weeding my flowerbeds

Don't forget to shower

Harry worked quickly, straightening the house. He finished by three o'clock and was able to enjoy the rest of the day. At 6:00, Tonks and Dudley weren't home yet, so he ordered Kreacher to make dinner, while he, Harry showered. After the shower, Harry attempted to comb his hair, managed to get it to lie flat, but seeing his appearance, messed it up again.

Just before 7:00, Harry received a note from Tonks, telling him not to mention Kreacher, or the fact that Aunt Petunia's location was unknown and her stand-in was Tonks. Tonks also said that it was possible that they would be spending the night at the hospital, and that if Hermione wished, she could stay the night. Harry was also happy that she mentioned that Uncle Vernon would not be coming home, but driving directly to meet the two of them.

The doorbell rang promptly at seven o'clock, and as Harry answered the door, Hermione grabbed him in a tight embrace. She didn't release him until he gasped "Hermione! I can't breath!"

"Sorry," she said, "I'm just so happy to see you. I've missed you, and have so much to talk to you about."

"It's alright. I have stuff to talk to you about too," He said, forgetting about Tonks' note he had received just minutes before her arrival.

Harry steered Hermione through the kitchen and into the dining room. Harry had to disguise a gasp as a cough when he saw a wonderful five-course meal laid out in front of the two of them.

"Harry! Did you make this all yourself?" Hermione asked keenly.

"No, actual...ouch!" Kreacher kicked his shin, "I mean, yes, I made it." He notice Kreacher slip back upstairs.

"It smells amazing. So, what are we having?"

Not having the slightest clue what exactly he had made, he said nervously "Uhh, wait and you'll see. I hope you like it." I hope I like Harry thought to himself. After seating Hermione, Harry took off the lid of the nearest serving plate to reveal a dish he was not familiar with.

"Yum! Shepherd's Pie! My favourite! Did you actually remember that?"

"'Course. You're my best friend. Obviously I'd remember." Harry grinned. All of these lies made him look really good. Wait, said a voice in Harry's head, Ginny's your girlfriend you dope, not Hermione. You don't need to impress her

"I wish Ron'd remember stuff like that," Hermione whispered more to herself then to Harry.

"Well, Ron doesn't remember stuff like that, does he?" The voice in his head cried What's the mater with you Harry? First trying to impress your best friend while your girlfriend sits at home, now downsizing your best mate? Harry ignored the voice and continued, "I mean, he's just Ron."

"Well, I'd expect him to know, seeing as he's my boyfriend," Hermione said indignantly. When she saw the confused look on Harry's face she added, "You knew that, right?"

How can he be going out with her? I mean, I knew he fancied her, but I didn't expect her to fancy him back! "No, Hermione, I didn't know"

"You're joking! Your Ron's best friend and he hasn't told you? Everyone knows, even Luna. She sent me an owl asking me if she could have him when I'm finished with him. She's flaming mad, that one. I can't believe he didn't tell you. I'll ask him about it next time I see him."

""It's alright. Don't mention it to him. I'll just let him tell me on his own." Harry replied quickly.

"Okay. Actually, speaking of Ron, I have a bit of a confession to make." She doesn't like him! "You remember Viktor Krum?' Damn. "Well, I've been seeing him since about Christmas time last year. Then, just as we were walking away from the platform in the beginning of this summer, Ron asked me out. Completely without thinking, I said yes. So last week, I went to go see Viktor and tell him it was over. He wasn't exactly thrilled. He begged me not to leave him, and then he proposed to me and then he--" Hermione let out a sob. Harry went over to comfort her.

"It's alright Hermione. You can tell me" Harry wrapped his arms around her waist.

"—the he tried to take advantage of me. I hexed him and ran away. I'm really afraid to tell Ron because then he'll know I was sort of playing him, which I didn't mean to do, I just didn't have time to visit Viktor, and break-up by owl usually results in a howler, but I really think we need to talk about it. What should I do?"

Harry thought everything out carefully. If I tell her to tell him, then he might get break up with her, which wouldn't be so bad, because I'd be her source of comfort, unless she gets mad at me for telling her the wrong decision, or they completely hate each other and I can never hang out with them both at the same time. If I tell her not to tell, everything will continue with the two of them, but they won't be mad at me or each other, so I can hang out with them both at the same time. "Got it. Don't tell him, Hermione. What he doesn't know won't hurt him, and I'm always there to talk if you need to talk." Harry said finally.

"Thank you Harry" she said. She got up and hugged him once again. This time he hugged her back, smelling the sweet perfume of her hair. "Harry, you can let go now"

"Oops. Sorry" He said, blushing crimson. He stared into her chocolate brown eyes. He wasn't sure if Hermione had always been this pretty and he had never noticed, or if she had become particularly beautiful over the past month and a half.

"Didn't you say you had something important to talk about?" she asked.

"Uh, no. It's not important. Holy cricket! It's nearly midnight. Listen. Tonk, my aunt and uncle said you could spend the night if you wanted. It might be easier than riding the Knight Bus all the way back to London."

"Alright" she agreed. Slowly the two of them made their way back upstairs, and Harry showed Hermione to the guest bedroom. Later that night, after making sure she was fast asleep, Harry crept back into the guest bedroom. He stood there for hours, watching the moonlight dance across her face.

"I don't know what I'm feeling," Harry softly crooned, "but it's better then I've ever felt with Ginny." I have more feeling towards Hermione then I do Ginny. That makes a load of sense. If I really like Ginny the way I think I do, then am I in love with Hermione? With that final thought lingering in his head, Harry made his way back to his bedroom. As he crawled into bed, he noticed the clock reading 3:07am. It was then that Harry realized that he had been sixteen for over three hours, and that he'd be able to spend the rest of his birthday with his best friend.