A/N: Oh my... um, what to say but sorry! Things have crazy here at home, what with my cousin moving out and stuff. School started on Monday (I've had hmwk since the first damn day!) and lasted a full FOUR days before they let us out a day early cuz of Hurricane Charley! Soooo, right now (4:03 PM, Friday August 13, 2004)... I'm just waiting for it to hit and cut off our power. It's already started raining, and I'm terrified. Like I mentioned before... I'm terrified of thunder and lightning. Don't know how I'll stay conscious through a hurricane, but whatever. Oh oh!!! When and if I post my next story, it's gonna have a buncha Spanish in it!!! They have this honors program at my middle school, and I get to take two high school courses, one of which is Spanish I!!! I've always wanted to learn a fourth language that wasn't native to me (or English) and I've been taking French courses online, and now I get to take Spanish!!! Sorry for rambling. An important author's note is at the bottom, so be sure to read that.
Disclaimer: I don't own the concept of Harry Potter. The only thing I own is the plot. So, don't sue! Oh, and since the plot is mine, don't steal it!
Chapter 7: Not So Alone Anymore
"You know, the way you're at it, I'm surprised I didn't find the door wide open with signs outside with sayings to the effect of, 'Potter and Granger Wedding Today'," a mocking voice said. "If ever you were found by oh say... Weasley and by that I do mean Ronald Weasley, I doubt he would take it in such an amusing way as I am."
Harry stirred upon hearing the cold voice, then finally jerked awake when he realized who it belonged to. He spotted Malfoy in the doorway... the very open doorway with a smirk plastered on his lips, and elbowed Hermione in the ribs.
"OUCH! Why the hell did you do that, Harry?" she slurred. Hermione blinked to wake herself up.
She found herself lying halfway on top of her — best friend — with her arm wrapped around his middle and their legs tangled up.
"Granger's not so smart when it comes to sex... is she?"
Hermione jumped a foot off the bed when she realized that she and Harry weren't the only ones in the room.
"So, Malfoy," Harry began, regaining his countenance, "are you ready to tell us how you got bashed and ended up here of all places?"
Malfoy's smirk dissolved from his face, only to reappear a moment later.
"Sure, whatever."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well at least now we know we're getting somewhere."
Harry gently untangle himself from her and stood up. Giving a great yawn and long stretch, he approached Malfoy and the two boys left the room leaving Hermione to fall asleep once again.
Fall asleep, though she did, it was not without the occurrence of a strange dream.
Hermione was standing in the middle of a field amidst rose bushes and daisies. It was a clear day with the sun shining brightly above her head. A light breeze swept by, causing her to bask in coolness of it.
She felt someone or something brush against her shoulder and turned to find Harry standing next to her, staring straight ahead out at the never-ending field.
The dream sequence changed to another. Hermione was now standing in the same field, but it was cold and black. The roses and daisies had withered, eventually dying completely. The grass was flat and gray, also lifeless. Again, upon having someone brush against her, Hermione turned to see who it was and found herself looking at the face of —
"HERMIONE!"
Hermione jerked awake, and felt a chill sweep down her spine at what she knew the dream meant.
"'Mione, what's wrong?"
Hermione turned blankly to the person who had woken her up. It was Harry. Another jitter swept down her back.
"N-Nothing, I'm fine," she muttered, down casting her eyes. "What did Malfoy say?"
Harry sat down on the edge of the bed.
"It turns out that Malfoy was roughly abused by Voldemort... or well, one of his Death Eaters more precisely. Tonks found him lying in an alley near here and after speaking to Dumbledore, she sent him here."
Hermione gasped. "That wretched—"
"Shhh," Harry whispered, with a glint of malice in his eyes. "He might hear you... he's got eyes and ears everywhere, Hermione."
Hermione's eyes darkened in fear. "Even here?" she whispered in a childlike tone.
"Even here..."
Hermione shivered involuntarily.
"I had this weird dream just now—" again she was cut off.
"You were standing in a meadow, or field, really, it was all sunny and happy. I was standing next to you... and then everything turned dark, but you were standing in the same meadow. The flowers around you had died, and the grass wasn't green anymore. Before you could turn to look at the person next to you... the dream ended... am I right?" Harry asked, a hint of a smile behind his lips.
Hermione opened and shut her mouth many times. Nothing seemed to want to come out of it.
Harry took care of that though, by placing his lips firmly on hers. He pulled away all too quickly and placed a grin on those same lips.
"Just returning the favor," he answered the unasked question.
"I'm happy for you, I really am.... I just don't think Ron will take it the same way."
Hermione looked behind Harry and her eyes widened.
"Damn," she muttered.
Harry turned around, and Ginny was standing in the doorway with a sarcastic grin on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.
A look of disappointment flitted across her features for a split second before it was replaced with genuine happiness.
Ginny walked forward into the room... only then did they realize that Malfoy was with her. He had a strange sort of twisted smirk on his face that once again gave Hermione the chills.
"Party? Without me?"
Ron, walked in after them. He gave her a wink, which made her stomach sink to her toes.
Harry released her quickly (for they were still in an embrace).
Hermione's thoughts were spiraling out of control and all she could do to keep up was yell, "GOD-DAMMIT!"
The four other occupants of the room stared at her bewildered.
Not unexpectedly, it was Malfoy who spoke up. "She's mental too... what a trip!"
"Harry, you and I... we need to talk. NOW." She glared at the others. "And if any of you so much as utters mine or his names... your time on this wonderful green earth will be cut horribly short."
Hermione grabbed Harry's wrist and dragged him out of the room and downstairs into the living room, not caring that Mrs. Black was having the time of her afterlife screeching profanities.
"Harry," Hermione said, finally calming down enough not to scare Harry anymore. "Harry... what am I to you? And don't say I'm your best friend, because we've never really just been 'best friends', it's always been weird between us."
Harry blinked to clear his thoughts and concentrated on Hermione's abrupt mood swing.
Harry looked her in the eyes as he said, "What do you want to be?"
Hermione was caught off guard by the question in reply to her own.
"I-I want to... I want... I want you."
Hermione flushed horribly, and turned away.
Harry put a finger underneath her chin, which forced her to look back into his jade eyes.
A newfound confidence arose in Hermione and she whispered, "I want to be yours."
Harry shook his head, the ghost of a smile pasted on his face. "Mm mm, you already are."
Hermione grinned, then sighed with relief. "Well, that's certainly good... I was starting to think I'd have to use a love potion on you, Mr. Potter."
"No worries then."
He leaned forward to kiss her but Hermione shook her head. "We need to tell Ron."
"You're right of course," Harry agreed. He put on a pleading look. "But do we have to do it right now?"
Hermione laughed. "Yes... I'm afraid so."
Harry stood up and clasped her hand in his own. They went back into the hall and began the tread up the long flight of stairs, Mrs. Black's screechings falling into the background.
IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the second to last chapter! NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE LAST ONE!
A/N: Yes, I'm sad that this story is ending! I felt horrible when I wrote this chapter, knowing it was the second to last one. But I had known all along that this story was going to be short. Oh, and this entire chapter was written upon impulse. It was not planned. That includes Hermione's dream and Hermione's um... mood swing? Yeah, mood swing. So um, wish us luck with Charley. Hopefully it won't cause too much damage. I'll answer questions next time. I'm terrified the power's gonna go out right now. Email me if you have any questions. Put: "Not So Alone Anymore" in the subject line so I don't delete it.
Disclaimer: I don't own the concept of Harry Potter. The only thing I own is the plot. So, don't sue! Oh, and since the plot is mine, don't steal it!
Chapter 7: Not So Alone Anymore
"You know, the way you're at it, I'm surprised I didn't find the door wide open with signs outside with sayings to the effect of, 'Potter and Granger Wedding Today'," a mocking voice said. "If ever you were found by oh say... Weasley and by that I do mean Ronald Weasley, I doubt he would take it in such an amusing way as I am."
Harry stirred upon hearing the cold voice, then finally jerked awake when he realized who it belonged to. He spotted Malfoy in the doorway... the very open doorway with a smirk plastered on his lips, and elbowed Hermione in the ribs.
"OUCH! Why the hell did you do that, Harry?" she slurred. Hermione blinked to wake herself up.
She found herself lying halfway on top of her — best friend — with her arm wrapped around his middle and their legs tangled up.
"Granger's not so smart when it comes to sex... is she?"
Hermione jumped a foot off the bed when she realized that she and Harry weren't the only ones in the room.
"So, Malfoy," Harry began, regaining his countenance, "are you ready to tell us how you got bashed and ended up here of all places?"
Malfoy's smirk dissolved from his face, only to reappear a moment later.
"Sure, whatever."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well at least now we know we're getting somewhere."
Harry gently untangle himself from her and stood up. Giving a great yawn and long stretch, he approached Malfoy and the two boys left the room leaving Hermione to fall asleep once again.
Fall asleep, though she did, it was not without the occurrence of a strange dream.
Hermione was standing in the middle of a field amidst rose bushes and daisies. It was a clear day with the sun shining brightly above her head. A light breeze swept by, causing her to bask in coolness of it.
She felt someone or something brush against her shoulder and turned to find Harry standing next to her, staring straight ahead out at the never-ending field.
The dream sequence changed to another. Hermione was now standing in the same field, but it was cold and black. The roses and daisies had withered, eventually dying completely. The grass was flat and gray, also lifeless. Again, upon having someone brush against her, Hermione turned to see who it was and found herself looking at the face of —
"HERMIONE!"
Hermione jerked awake, and felt a chill sweep down her spine at what she knew the dream meant.
"'Mione, what's wrong?"
Hermione turned blankly to the person who had woken her up. It was Harry. Another jitter swept down her back.
"N-Nothing, I'm fine," she muttered, down casting her eyes. "What did Malfoy say?"
Harry sat down on the edge of the bed.
"It turns out that Malfoy was roughly abused by Voldemort... or well, one of his Death Eaters more precisely. Tonks found him lying in an alley near here and after speaking to Dumbledore, she sent him here."
Hermione gasped. "That wretched—"
"Shhh," Harry whispered, with a glint of malice in his eyes. "He might hear you... he's got eyes and ears everywhere, Hermione."
Hermione's eyes darkened in fear. "Even here?" she whispered in a childlike tone.
"Even here..."
Hermione shivered involuntarily.
"I had this weird dream just now—" again she was cut off.
"You were standing in a meadow, or field, really, it was all sunny and happy. I was standing next to you... and then everything turned dark, but you were standing in the same meadow. The flowers around you had died, and the grass wasn't green anymore. Before you could turn to look at the person next to you... the dream ended... am I right?" Harry asked, a hint of a smile behind his lips.
Hermione opened and shut her mouth many times. Nothing seemed to want to come out of it.
Harry took care of that though, by placing his lips firmly on hers. He pulled away all too quickly and placed a grin on those same lips.
"Just returning the favor," he answered the unasked question.
"I'm happy for you, I really am.... I just don't think Ron will take it the same way."
Hermione looked behind Harry and her eyes widened.
"Damn," she muttered.
Harry turned around, and Ginny was standing in the doorway with a sarcastic grin on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.
A look of disappointment flitted across her features for a split second before it was replaced with genuine happiness.
Ginny walked forward into the room... only then did they realize that Malfoy was with her. He had a strange sort of twisted smirk on his face that once again gave Hermione the chills.
"Party? Without me?"
Ron, walked in after them. He gave her a wink, which made her stomach sink to her toes.
Harry released her quickly (for they were still in an embrace).
Hermione's thoughts were spiraling out of control and all she could do to keep up was yell, "GOD-DAMMIT!"
The four other occupants of the room stared at her bewildered.
Not unexpectedly, it was Malfoy who spoke up. "She's mental too... what a trip!"
"Harry, you and I... we need to talk. NOW." She glared at the others. "And if any of you so much as utters mine or his names... your time on this wonderful green earth will be cut horribly short."
Hermione grabbed Harry's wrist and dragged him out of the room and downstairs into the living room, not caring that Mrs. Black was having the time of her afterlife screeching profanities.
"Harry," Hermione said, finally calming down enough not to scare Harry anymore. "Harry... what am I to you? And don't say I'm your best friend, because we've never really just been 'best friends', it's always been weird between us."
Harry blinked to clear his thoughts and concentrated on Hermione's abrupt mood swing.
Harry looked her in the eyes as he said, "What do you want to be?"
Hermione was caught off guard by the question in reply to her own.
"I-I want to... I want... I want you."
Hermione flushed horribly, and turned away.
Harry put a finger underneath her chin, which forced her to look back into his jade eyes.
A newfound confidence arose in Hermione and she whispered, "I want to be yours."
Harry shook his head, the ghost of a smile pasted on his face. "Mm mm, you already are."
Hermione grinned, then sighed with relief. "Well, that's certainly good... I was starting to think I'd have to use a love potion on you, Mr. Potter."
"No worries then."
He leaned forward to kiss her but Hermione shook her head. "We need to tell Ron."
"You're right of course," Harry agreed. He put on a pleading look. "But do we have to do it right now?"
Hermione laughed. "Yes... I'm afraid so."
Harry stood up and clasped her hand in his own. They went back into the hall and began the tread up the long flight of stairs, Mrs. Black's screechings falling into the background.
IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the second to last chapter! NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE LAST ONE!
A/N: Yes, I'm sad that this story is ending! I felt horrible when I wrote this chapter, knowing it was the second to last one. But I had known all along that this story was going to be short. Oh, and this entire chapter was written upon impulse. It was not planned. That includes Hermione's dream and Hermione's um... mood swing? Yeah, mood swing. So um, wish us luck with Charley. Hopefully it won't cause too much damage. I'll answer questions next time. I'm terrified the power's gonna go out right now. Email me if you have any questions. Put: "Not So Alone Anymore" in the subject line so I don't delete it.