Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter only this particular plot line

Written by: RR and TP (no real names)

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CHAPTER 2

Harry groaned in rhythm with the motor of the car. Bolting out of the station parking lot Uncle Vernon immediately went off, complaining once again of Harry. Aunt Petunia placated him, nodding in agreement. She bent her long neck to the side to sneer at her nephew before adding her own insults and complaints to Uncle Vernon's berating of the boy. Dudley, who seemed to lightly tip the car over to the left, guffawed over the insults. Jeering at Harry every once in a while, "Hear that!", Dudley yelled particularly loud one time.

Uncle Vernon had been reminiscing of how Harry had blown up his aunt when Dudley teasingly whispered into Harry's ear, "Remember what she said. If there's something wrong with the bitch, there's something wrong with the pup." Cruelly laughing, he was ignored. Harry couldn't hear any of their harsh words. His mind was stuck solely on one thing. Hermione.

Resting both his hands behind his head, Harry exasperatedly kicked his aunt's chair causing her incessantly complain to her husband. Desperately he searched his mind for the answers but he couldn't find them. Why had Hermione kissed him on the cheek? Why was he so happy when she did? In complete honesty when she kissed him on the cheek that was the happiest he had been for nearly two years. He could clearly remember the beautiful smile on her face when he said he would miss her. The unmistakable look of pure pleasure gleamed in her eyes just because of his words. Harry smiled once again and sighed in content.

Drowning in his own thoughts he was only pulled out by Dudley's rough shaking. He felt like he was just waking up from a dream, awaking to Dudley screaming in his ear," Pay attention! Dad asked you a question!" Violently Dudley jabbed Harry with his elbow, no doubt leaving a bruise. Grasping his arm, Harry resentfully questioned, "What? What is it?"

Uncle Vernon shook his head and gruffly eradicated, "Oh, don't get smart with me, boy. Or it will be the last you ever see of your friends."

Harry admonished, mouth almost hanging open, "I wasn't being smart!"

Aunt Petunia snarled, "Don't talk back. Disrespectful, just like that father of yours." Harry glared at her. Luckily, his aunt didn't notice and continued to watch the road for his uncle who seemed oddly fixated on him.

Turning back to face the road his uncle suspiciously interrogated, "Just who was that girl? I imagine one of your kind, eh?"

Slightly put off from being interrupted from his thoughts he sorely spoke, "Yeah†yes. She's one of my kind. A wi†a girl from school." Continuing with a frown, "Her name is Hermione." Harry greatly disliked divulging any information about himself to the Dursleys. He had no idea of they may use it against him or the people he cared about. Uncle Vernon grunted in satisfaction with his answer then carefully watched the street and pulled into the driveway of their home. Surprised, Harry asked, "We're home?"

Irritated, his uncle stepped out of the car along with the other family members, "Yes, we're home, boy. Now get out!" He noticed Harry not moving," Hurry! Now! Get in the house!"

Disgruntled he pushed the heavy door open with a little trouble then almost toppled out causing his cousin to burst out laughing. Harry glared with contempt at his cousin before hurrying into the house to avoid his uncle's wrath.

He rushed into Dudley's second bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. Once again he went over the kiss in his head over and over again. Finally a thought came into his mind. What if meant nothing? After all it was just a kiss on the cheek. Did it matter to him if it didn't mean anything? Confusion was clouding his mind. The entire day he seemed entranced with his own thoughts, never breaking away from them. He couldn't find a way to escape himself. He was constantly questioning everything. Harry had been laying there for an hour, lost in his own world, wishing for either a way to solve his problems or just escape them for a while. Unexpectedly a soft rapping came from his window. Peering out to see what it was he saw a large owl with bristly wings and fierce eyes peering right back at him. Curiously and cautiously he strode over to the window. Gently he opened it to see the mahogany owl rocket right past him towards his bed. Recovering quickly from the shock he swiftly walked over to the owl and plucked the letter from it. Immediately after, it took off.

The cream envelope was fancy and looked expensive. Written on it in unique handwriting was "Hermione". Smiling to himself he opened it to reveal a perfectly folded a letter. Unfolding it roughly and quickly the note simply said,

"Harry, something good has happened. I can't wait for you to find out.

Love, Hermione."

The last phrase stuck in his mind. 'Love, Hermione.' Did she mean it? Grinning he thought of how wonderful it would be for her to love him. Rudely interrupting his thoughts though was curiosity.

What had happened?