After a while, Harry and Hermione had finally made it to the common room, which was buzzing with news of the Quidditch match, but mostly everyone was talking about how bad Harry had messed Malfoy up, and about how great his Wronski Feint was. It didn't take long for Hermione to clear the couch of a group of first years, so that Harry could lay down. She helped him take his Quidditch robes off so that he wouldn't be too warm or uncomfortable.
"You don't need to do all this Hermione." Harry argued, taking Hermione's hands in his.
"But I want to. If I didn't love you so much I wouldn't." Hermione said quietly.
"I love you too. I just don't want to....." Harry started, but was cut off as Hermione bent over gently and kissed him.
There was a still silence in the common room as the Griffyndors watched in shock as the two of them kissed.
"Now shut up about it or I won't do that again." Hermione said with a smile.
"Yes ma'am." Harry replied.
"So does that mean you'll do it again?" he asked with a boyish grin.
"Of course." Hermione answered as she kissed him again. The Griffyndors continued to watch, but only stopped when they heard a clucking noise behind them. Ron had come back from Hagrid's with a chicken, and was trying to clean it up some.
"What are you all looking at?" Ron asked trying to see where they had been looking.
"Harry and Hermione are snogging for the second time in a minute." Lavender Brown giggled quietly.
"What? Where?" Ron asked with a blank expression.
"On the couch." Lavender answered, pointing to the couch where Hermione and Harry were still kissing, not noticing the crowd watching them.
"You two are at it again? How many times can you kiss each other in a day?" Ron asked loudly.
Harry and Hermione stopped and looked at the people watching them.
"Ron? What are you yelling that for?" Hermione asked angerliy. She was no longer embarresed to show how she felt about Harry in public anymore.
"I shouldn't be." she thought.
"It's a normal thing to fall in love. Even if Harry and I were the last people anyone would have thought of thogether." she continued, quickly glimpsing at Harry who looked equally ticked.
"Well it's just the third time this morning that I've saw the two of you snogging like it was the last time you ever would." he answered with an embarresed look.
"So what's wrong with people doing that?" Hermione asked furiously.
"Well friends don't kiss that way." Ron protested.
"Friends? Hermione and I love each other, a lot. But not as friends." Harry explained, taking Hermione's hand.
"You mean the two of you are boyfriend and girlfriend?" Ron gasped, his eyes widening.
"Yes." Harry answered.
"We've had feelings for each other for a few years now." Hermione said, more calming than before.
Ron was speachless. He just looked at Hermione and Harry with shock.
"I should have known the two of you would get together." was all Ron could say, before he went up to the dormitiries.
"Glad for you two. You make a cute couple." Alicia said with a smile as she walked past the couch on the way to the showers.
"I quess there are a few dissapointed people in Gryffindor now." Harry said with a sigh as he layed back down on the couch.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked with a curious look as she began to massage Harry's neck.
"Hmmm, well the two of us were Hogwarts most likely to be asked out by October a hundred times candidates. Especially for Griffyndor." Harry explained.
"Ah I see now. You know I think you like this too much." Hermione said matter of factly.
"Why do you think that?" Harry asked, his eyes closed.
"You know the answer to that one." Hermione laughed.
"True, but you like this too much." Harry said.
"What?" Hermione asked, arching her left eyebrow.
"This!" Harry said loudly, quickly grabbing Hermione's arms and hauling them away from his neck, as he hauled her down on top of him, kissing her passionatly. He put his hands on her neck and waist as they kissed, hauling her entirerly onto him. Hermione pulled away, looking into Harry's deep green eyes.
"No wonder I do. Your so good at it." Hermione cooed, kissing Harry's neck softly.
"Your equally good at it." Harry replied, moving some of Hermione's hair out of her face as he carressed her cheek.
"Now you know I'd love to stay here forever with you, but I'm going to go down and get something to eat for the both of us." Hermione said, carefully getting off of Harry making sure to not hurt his chest.
"But I'll need a kiss for the trip." she continued, bending over to give Harry another kiss.
"You bet." Harry replied, with a large smile.
"Bring back some good desserts." he continued.
"You know I will." Hermione said as she walked away.
As she left the tower, she couldn't help but think about what had happened at the match. She could have sworn that she had heard Harry call her name as he fell, but she knew that there was no way that she could have heard him over the crowd. When everyone was blinded by the blast of blue light, Hermione still saw Harry and her surroundings. It was almost like she could feel what Harry was feeling the entire time he was in the air.
"I don't know what's going on this year, but I know we'll figure it out." Hermione thought with a determined look.
The common room had emptied out after a while, only a few Gryffindors remained and were seated at the tables doing homework, and Fred and Ron sat at the small table by the fire playing Wizards Chess. Harry slowly got up off of the couch with little pain. He slowly walked in the direction of the dormitries, careful to not move in a way that would cause a lot of pain.
"Hermione will be peeved if she catches you Harry." Ron said, still watching the chess board as Fred commanded one of his pawns to move up.
"I know. But I have some time before she gets back to get dressed. Anyway I can shut her up quickly enough." Harry smiled in reply.
"Anything we can do to help?" Fred asked, looking at the pained expression on his face.
"No, no, I'm good." Harry answered falsely.
"Yeah right. Let us help." Fred grinned, getting up to help Harry.
Fred and Ron helped Harry get up to the dormitries, where they carefully helped him get undressed and dressed again in red plaid pajama pants and a white T-shirt. They had no sooner get Harry back onto the couch, when Hermione came back.
"Harry, your going to hurt yourself even more, and I'm not going to bother giving you a massage when that happens." Hermione lectured lightly, sitting down on the edge of the couch.
"I no, but this is more comfortable. Anyway, what did you get?" Harry asked, quickly changing the subject. Hermione noticed this but let him get away with it.
"He's so cute when he tries to act innocent." Hermione thought, giggling to herself.
"Roast chicken dinner, but I think Dobby put some other stuff in with it, and Winky and the other house elves loaded us up with the best desserts they had down there." Hermione said, refferring to the many house elves that worked secretly though out Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione, and Ron knew two of the house elves very well. Winky was a serious worker with a high pitch voice that made your ears ring when she took to crying fits. Dobby was a free independent house elf, who worked at Hogwarts for money. Many of the other House elves didn't like Dobby for that reason, but Dobby had befriended Winky, and was often able to stop her crying fits. Dobby use to belong to the Malfoy family, where he was beaten and treated unfairly daily, but that was before Harry was able to trick Mr. Malfoy into giving Dobby an old sock, setting Dobby free. It took a lot of patience to get use to Dobby though.
Harry looked into all the cartons that the food was in. His mouth watered at the sight and smell of it.
"Ths looks delicious." Harry commented, giving Hermione a smile.
"You really picked out the best."
"Acually I just went straight to the kitchens, and they loaded me up." Hermione replied, giving Harry a kiss.
"Just as good." Harry murmered as he he kissed her.
Hermione scooped the dinner onto two plates, and handed one to Harry.
"Thanks." Harry said, taking a mouthful of mashed potato.
"Mmmm this is good." he commented.
"I wonder what this blue stuff is?" Hermione questioned, poking at what looked like blue clay.
"Somekind of potato?" Harry suggested, looking at the blue stuff on his own plate.
"I'm going to try it." Hermione said bravely, taking a forkful. She chewed the blue stuff up some, her eyes went wide suddenly s she spit it out into the fire.
"Hot!" she gasped, fanning her mouth.
"Hot and disgusting!"
"What did it taste like?" Harry asked, thinking whether he should try some.
"Like moldy chicken." Hermione said bitterly, wiping her tongue with a napkin.
"When did you eat moldy chicken?" Harry asked with a laugh.
"Trust me when I say plently of times at my Aunt Frienda's holiday dinners." Hermione answered.
"That is too funny." Harry laughed painfully.
"It won't be when I shove some of it down your throat, now would it?" Hermione replied sweetly.
"You wouldn't." Harry said with a smile.
"I know you wouldn't."
"Oh shut up and eat the food you recognize." Hermione snapped with a grin.
"Yes Ma'am." Harry said with a smile.
Harry and Hermione ate seconds of everything, except the blue stuff, in which they hardly ate firsts. After they had finished, Hermione opened up the dessert box, and her eyes went wide with joy.
"Oh no what is in there?" Harry asked with worry at the look on Hermione's face.
"Chocolate and plenty of it." Hermione said happily.
"That's all we need, you on a sugar high." Harry groaned jokingly.
"What ever do you mean?" Hermione asked, trying to surpress the thrilled look on her face.
"You know perfectly well." Harry grinned.
"Yes, but I need chocolate in order to stay fun." Hermione laughed innocently.
"Yes I know." Harry said, carressing her cheek affectionatly.
"Now can we get on to the chocolate?" Hermione asked impatiently.
"Yes you can have chocolate now." Harry answered sarcastically.
"Finally!" Hermione said, stuffing her mouth with some chocolate cake.
"This is sooooooo good." Hermione mumbled with her mouth full.
"Try some." she said, handing the box over to Harry.
"It looks like a chocolate factory exploded in here." Harry said looking into the box.
"Yes, but who cares? It's chocolate!" Hermione shouted with laughter.
"Alright now more chocolate for you." Harry claimed closing the box.
"What? Come on Harry please, please, please?" Hermione begged trying to grab the box.
"Nope your way to hyper already." Harry argued, moving the box out of her reach.
"Harry!" Hermione shouted. That began a two person game of monkey in the middle. Hermione was desperatly trying to regain the box, and Harry was effortlessly keeping it away.
"Harry! I'll bite!" Hermione warned.
"Your not getting it." Harry stated.
"That does it, I warned you." Hermione said. She took Harry's wrist and gently bit it.
"Hey! When did you go from being a little kid to a dog?" Harry asked, trying to haul his wrist from her mouth.
"Since you took the chocolate" Hermione mumbled, her teeth still biting down on Harry's wrist.
"Alright, you win!" Harry announced.
"Yes!" Hermione cheered, sitting up straight on Harry's stomache. Harry gave her the box, and she sat contently where she was, and ate.
"Here, see how good it tastes." Hermione said, stuffing a forkful into Harry's mouth.
"Mmmm." Harrry mumbled.
"It is good."
"Better than this?" Hermione asked, leaning down and kissed Harry passionatly.
"No, nowhere near it."
"I figured." she said sitting back up.
"How'd any of this happen Hermione?" Harry asked seriously.
"How did any of what happen?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Us." Harry answered.
"What? I don't know what you mean Harry." Hermione admitted.
"How did we ever fall in love?" Harry questioned.
"I don't know, but all I know is that we did, and it's true. Isn't that what matters?" Hermione answered truthfully, her face full of worry.
"Yes it is. True loves is what counts. It's just kinda unbelievable that we've officially been a couple since eleven this morning." Harry explained.
"Yeah it is, but I don't mind." Hermione said quietly, absentmindedly rubbing Harry's stomache lightly.
"Same here." Harry said, taking Hermione's hands.
"Here lay down with me." Harrysaid moving over towards the edge more, allowing room for Hermione to lay down. Hermione carefully layed down between Harry and the back of the couch.
"Now tell me Hermione, what are we going to do to annoy Malfoy when he gets out of the hospital wing with his jaw still wired shut?" Harry asked in a sarcastic tone, running his hands through Hermiones hair.
"Mmmm, I don't know, how about we just annoy him to the point of where when he tries to say something back, we just point and laugh?" Hermione suggested.
"That could be fun, we shoud think up some other idea later. I just can't wait to see him all wired up and unable to make his usual wise cracks." Harry replied with a laugh, holding Hermione tightly.
"Harry, I have a question." Hermione started.
"Yeah?" Harry asked, looking down at her.
"Why does your shirt smell like mangoes?" Hermione asked, sniffing Harry's shirt.
"I don't know, I think that's how the store smelled. I haven't acually wore this shirt yet." Harry answered.
"Okay, 'cause I was just wondering why I smelled mangoes, but then I smelled your shirt." Hermione said, sniffing Harry's shirt again.
"It smells good though." Hermione commented.
"Glad to know you like the smell of my shirt." Harry laughed, giving Hermione a mocking look.
"Well I just thought you ought to know." Hermione said, smiling broadly.
"You know, one of the things I like best about is your smile." Harry said with a grin.
"Really?" Hermione asked, smiling even more.
"Yeah, that and your kissing." Harry joked.
"Well I suppose it pays off that my parents are dentists." Hermione replied.
"The thing I like most about you, is your kissing and how it feels when you hug me." Hermione said affectionatly.
"Why's that?"
"Cause when you hug me and hold me, it makes me think that nothing wrong could ever happen, and I feel safe." Hermione said quietly, wrapping her arms around Harry.
"Well I promise you I'll never let anything happen to you, EVER." Harry replied, hugging Hermione.
"I'm glad to know that somebody will." Hermione said, her smile fading some.
Harry tightened his hug on Hermione some, and they layed there in silence for the rest of the afternoon, eventually falling asleep.
A/N: Alright, since chapter four still hasn't come up here it is as a part of chapter three, which I know it will make it extra long but it's the best I can do till ch. four comes up. whenever that'll be. :D
CHAPTER FOUR
The rest of the weekend had passed by quickly and Harry's chest had healed up mostly. All that remained was a very light bruise, in the shape of a bludger which was still somewhat tender. Mostly all of the Gryffindor girls had thought it was so cute when they saw Harry and Hermione laying together asleep on the couch. Malfoy was still in the hospital wing, and many of the Slytherins sot looks of hatred in Harry's direction when he passed by, but there was still plenty of talk about the turnout of the match on Saturday, as some congragulated Harry for winning.
Hermione had managed not to get caught laughing when Ron realized that his hair had a giant cowlick, which saved her from having Ron mad at her again. Instead she wet her fingers with water and smoothed the cowlick out. As they were leaving the great hall after breakfast, they saw Pansy Parkinson standing by the staircase, her eyes darting conspicuiously back and forth. She seemed to be waiting for someone, but never left her spot when a group of Slytherin girls would pass by. As Harry, Hermione and Ron passed by however, she sprang in front of them, preventing them from walking up the stairs.
"What do you want Pansy?" Ron asked, irritated that he couldn't go upstairs.
"Nothing to do with you Weasley. I wanna talk with Potter." Panst snarled toughly.
"Well go on then, I'm listening." Harry sighed, glancing at his watch impatiently.
"I just want to let you know that Draco's father isn't pleased about what you did to Draco." Pansy said with a sickening smile.
"Somehow I'll manage to live on." Harry replied sarcastically, taking Hermione's hand.
"Joke while you can Potter, because soon you'll be laying dead in your grave for messing with the Malfoy's and the dark lord." Pansy threatened.
"For goodness sakes! I don't care if Malfoys family wants me dead, they'll have to wait their turn though, because they way all you Slytherins keep going on, Voldemort will get me first!" Harry exclaimed loudly, watching as everyone listening flinched at the sound of Voldemorts name, holding Hermione's hand even tighter.
"You know you have to be pretty desperate to go out with Granger there Potter. She probally did a spell to make herself beautiful, cause there's no way that happened naturally." Pansy laughed mockingly.
"Who told you we were going out?" Hermione asked, shocked that the Slytherins knew.
"Draco did." Pansy said with a smile.
"Oh darn, he can still write. Harry should have messed that up too." Ron said bitterly.
"I wouldn't be saying stuff about Hermione Pansy." Harry started with anger.
"Why's that?" Pansy asked, cocking her eyebrow.
"Because she didn't become beautiful magically, unlike you. But I would say your spell backfired there didn't it?" Harry mocked with a grin. A look of rage came upon Pansy's face as she looked at Harry with daggers in her gaze.
"Just you wait. The dark lord will kill you and your girlfriend Potter. And I'll make sure I have front row seats." Pansy said, walking off towards the dungons furiously. The castle foyer was silent as everyone watched Pansy storm off.
"I can't believe that Malfoy told her. How did he know?" Hermione asked hurtfully, looking into Harry's eyes.
"He saw us kissing before the match. But don't worry Hermione, we shouldn't have to keep our relasionship a secret." Harry said softly.
"What do you...." Hermione started to ask, but never finished as Harry scooped her up in his arms.
"Harry what are you doing?" Hermione asked, embarressed.
"Announcing my love for you." Harry said happily.
"I LOVE HERMIONE GRANGER!!!!" Harry yelled, holding Hermione up in the air as he spun around slowly. Everyone was looking at Harry with shock. A group of Slytherins snickered quietly, while a group of Hufflepuffs looked at Harry and Hermione jealously.
"I LOVE HERMIONE GRANGER!!!" Harry yelled again, hauling Hermione in towards him up against his chest, as he kissed her long and hard.
The crowd of people went dead quiet as they watched in amazement as Harry and Hermione kissed, before breaking into applause. Hermione looked up and smiled as she hugged Harry.
"I love you." she whispered into his ear.
"I love you too Hermione." Harry whispered back.
A/N: That's it for tonight. I might add more tomorrow if I get the chance. Hope you all like this, please please review so I know how I'm doing.
CHAPTER FIVE
The rest of the morning people kept coming up to Harry and Hermione, congragulating them. Harry and Hermione no longer hid their feelings for each other and proudly walked to their classes with Harry's arm wrapped protectively around Hermione's waist, hauling her close to him, as she rested her head on his shoulder. In class they held hands (except for Levington's class) while they worked and surprisingly enough, were congragulated by Snape in Potions.
The next morning, they were sent an owl from Professor McGonagall, asking them to meet her at the secret hidden staircase that led up to Dumbledore's office.
"I wonder why they want to see us?" Hermione asked with concern, as she sat comfertably on Harry's knee.
"I don't know." Harry answered, putting his arms around Hermione's waist.
After breakfast, Harry and Hermione made their way up to the fourth floor to Dumbledores office. Sure enough, Professor McGonagall was standing by the entrance waiting for them.
"Good morning Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. If you will follow me." McGonagall said, walking up the spiral stairs. Harry and Hermione followed nervously.
Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk when they emerged from the stairway. His office hadn't really changed much since the last time Harry had been up there, which had been just last year. Harry could see Fawkes asleep on his perch and appeared to have just been re-born again from it's ashes days before. Harry and Hermione took a seat in the wooden chairs in front of Dumbledores massive desk. Harry held Hermione's hand reasureingly as they waited for Dumbledore or McGonagall to make the first bit of conversation.
"I just want to say first hand that words cannot express how happy I am to see the two of you together like this." Dumbledore said joyfully.
"I feel the same way." McGonagall started.
"It's like seeing your parents together again Harry." Professor McGonagall continued tearfully.
"Really?" Harry asked bewildered.
"Yes. When we first saw the two of you kissing before the Quidditch match, we were almost ready to celebrate Lilly and James being alive again." Dumbledore answered with a smile. Harry's face was beaming with happiness at those words.
"Yes, but that's not what we brought you up here to tell you." McGonagall explained.
"We kind of figured that." Hermione said, blushing a light pink.
"We know you did, but don't be alarmed, your not in any trouble." Dumbledore replied in a calming voice.
"However we need to tell you two of something very important." He continued.
"What Professor?" Harry asked, looking back and forth at Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"Are either of you two aware of how powerfull Voldemort really is? All of what he can really do?" Dumbledore asked sternly, peering over top of his glasses.
"We know he was parslemouth, or I mean is." Harry answered.
"If that was his only gift we'd be very fortunate." Professor McGonagall commented.
"Lord Voldemort had powers beyond your wildest dreams. He is telepathic (a gift thought to be from fairy tales) capable of moving things with his mind and reading people's thoughts, he is capable of flight without the use of a broom stick, can control the elements, make it rain, conjour up fire, water, etc.... He has some strength, not enought to move something as big as a muggle steel ship, but enough to do serious harm. I know it seems like a lot, but I know that those powers or talents, are not all of them. He probally has many more that he is keeping a secret." Dumbledore explained bravely.
"Professor, what does that have to do with us?" Hermione asked, increasing her grip on Harry's hand.
"Harry will develop those gifts eventually, because Voldemort gave Harry all of his powers when he tried to kill Harry fifteen years ago." Dumbledore answered quietly, looking at Harry with concern, as if he was trying to see how Harry would react.
"What?" Harry and Hermione gasped in shock.
"That is not all I'm afraid. We believe that if you two get together in a private and personal way, then all of those powers will be shared with you Hermione. However, we believe that it will only happen the once." Professor McGonagall explained, her face full of embarressment.
"Now I will exempt you two from all of your classes for the day so you may talk things over between yourselves." Dumbledore said, writing something down on paper.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other seriously.
"We don't care what will happen Professors. Whether Hermione gets Voldemorts powers too, we'll deal with it together." Harry stated, linking arms with Hemione.
A/N: That's all for tonight more sometime this week I promise. :D Okay more tonight I have time since my law test date got moved up a day. This is a continuation of Chapter Five.
"I'm glad that's how you both feel, but when and if you two decide to, have more personal relasions, I ask that you let either of us know so we can sort things out, if Voldemorts powers start showing up in you two." Dumbledore said, a smile creeping onto his face.
"We will." Harry said with a small grin.
"Oh, and thank you for giving us the day off." He continued.
"Your more than welcome. Today I will ask that Professor Binns gives all his students the whole story of Lord Voldemort, so when the time comes that you gain all his powers, students will understand why, should you choose to be open about it." Dumbledore replied happily.
Harry and Hermione stood up quietly and left back down the spiral staircase. They walked outside to the lake and sat down in the shade of a large oak tree on the waters edge.
"Your not scared to have sex with me, if we decide to have sex later on down the road, are you?" Harry asked quietly, looking into Hermiones eyes as if he was burrow deep down into her soul to uncover her deepest intermost feelings.
"No, not at all. You were right when you said whatever happenes we'll face it together." Hermione answered, hugging Harry.
"In fact, why don't we go do it now, just to see if they are right." Hermione added excitedly.
"What? Now? Where?" Harry asked with great suprise, excitement bubbling up in his stomach like an oceans waves in the wake of a storm.
"Yes of course now. We love each other dearly and that's all that matters. This is just another way of expressing our love for each other." Hermione said joyfully as she held Harry's hands.
"Where though? We need a place where a student can't walk in on us." Harry said, running through visual images of Hogwarts, thinking of where the most privacy would be found.
"How about Hagrids caves?" Hermione suggested.
"Alright let's go." Harry answered with a laugh, as he jumped to his feet. He took Hermione's hand and and started running towards the entrance to Hagrids caves, which were down along the far end edgees of the lake, a place where not many students knew was there and those that did dare not to enter in fear of what Hagrid may keep inside it's shadowed walls. Harry had been in there on several occasions to be alone if he needed to clear his mind of thoughts that were bothering him and had taken Hermione down there several times to show her the beauty of the waterfall that made up an entire wall in the cave, deep near it's center.