Shadow
A/N: I'm sorry it's taken so long to update, I've had the nastiest case of writer's bock...anyways...Thanks to:
Eilidh – He-he...I don't think there's going to be any slash in this story...sorry! Ha-ha...
Lady Emily - Umm...you'll see.
Hermioneandharryshouldbet - I know, Alana is cool, which is amazing, because I'm not and I made her! Ha-ha.
stargoddess127 - Well Ron's always interrupting things...but at least Hermione knows now. :D And I'm hoping people will come back again...because if they don't, they won't know what happens :D He-he.
hehe - Wow...thanks for those 3 reviews...ha-ha.
Ashley Potter13 - I love your story! It's AWESOME! Well Hermione can't be smart with EVERYTHING...so I think she'd be clueless about someone loving her...he-he. Yay! I rock someone's socks instead of someone rocking mine! Yay! He-he
HarryMione4evr - I'm glad you think that it's wonderful :D
hpfantic - LoL...I am so desperate for reviews, it's not funny...like this story is getting a lot...but my other ones aren't, so I'm unhappy...but I'm happy for the reviews I DO get...And I love your story! At least it's getting more reviews :D :D Yay!
PurringPheonixVoyager - I'm glad you think that it's very good!
Jackie - I know, aren't I the nicest? Especially when I left you hanging like that for a long time? He-he...Yay! I'm glad you loved it like thought you would!
FairyWings101 - I love you story so far...I hope you update soon!
Rose Angelz - da da dun...I hope it's interesting...he-he.
and
Chantal - You'll find out soon enough.
for reviewing the last chapter! I love you all for reviewing! And thanks to all of you who will be returning...which I must apologize for not updating sooner. But between school, homework, wrestling, and writer's block, it's been hard for me...Once again, I am sorry; I didn't mean to wait this long for an update. Anyways, onto the chapter.
--Chapter 4--Title to be Announced
"Y-you what Harry?" stuttered Hermione.
"I love you...I love you HermioneJane Granger!" Harry proclaimed.
Wes looked at Hermione. "Your middle name is Jane?"
Hermione looked at Wes angrily. "Yes it is," she said before looking back at Harry. "You must be lying Harry."
Alana rolled her eyes, supporting Harry still. "No, he's not Hermione. He is in love with you. He always has been, he just couldn't tell you before now, he didn't know how to."
"I didn't know..."
"No shit, if you had, you wouldn't be standing there so clueless...And people told me you were intelligent, I guess they were wrong," Alana said, helping Harry walk to the door.
"Hold on 'Lana," Harry said, stopping. "Hermione...I know you must not believe me -hic-, but I do love you...and if you have any feelings for me, you'll leave that man just for a bit so I can show you how much I love you...but if you don't, let me know, so I can move on. You know how to reach me." He leaned on Alana and she helped him walk out of Hermione's flat.
The crowd started to talk all at once, and Wes grabbed Hermione's arm gently. "Do you care for Harry?"
"As a friend I care for him, but not romantically, not anymore. I love you Wes," she said, kissing him gently on the lips. She turned to the crowd to see Ron with his brow furrowed; she would ask him about it later.
!#$&
Alana put a cold washcloth on Harry's forehead as he lied in bed. She was trying to cure his hangover from the night before. Harry stirred in his bed and looked up at her.
"Hey you," he said, trying to sit up, but failing because his head was pounding too much.
"Lie down, you had too much to drink last night," Alana replied, dabbing the washcloth.
"Why can't you just cure it with a spell like normal witches do?"
"Right...I totally forgot about magic for a second there." She smiled weakly as she recited a spell for Harry's hangover.
Harry sighed; Alana could be so forgetful sometimes. "Did I do anything stupid last night at Hermione and Wes' thing?"
Alana bit her lip, he really didn't remember. "Umm...I don't know if you want to know."
"Just tell me, love," Harry pleaded.
"Hold on, let me go get you some tea," she said, getting up and off the bed.
Harry watched her leave. He sighed as he lied there; he really wished he knew what he did last night. It would definitely put his nerves at ease. But then again, he didn't know if he should know in case he made a total arse out of himself. He'd rather be in the dark and deny anything anyone told him, but he knew that he should know to brace himself just in case.
"Here, have this," Alana said, handing Harry a cup of tea.
"Thanks," said Harry. "Now tell me what I did please."
Alana sighed. "Fine, I'll tell you. You told Hermione you loved her..."
"I did what?" yelled Harry.
"You told Hermione you loved her."
"How did she react?"
"She thought you were lying because you were drunk. Then you told her to let you know if she felt the same or not so you could move on and whatnot," Alana replied meekly.
Harry put his head in his hands. It was worse than he thought.
---
"Hey Ron, thanks for meeting with me," Hermione said as Ron joined her at her table in the Leaky Cauldron.
"No problem Hermione. But what's this all about?" asked Ron.
"Last night and what Harry said."
"I should have known."
"Yes, well I want to know if he was telling the truth or not."
"Come on Hermione. You heard both Harry and Alana tell you. Harry might have been drunk...but he's an honest drunk. You should know that," Ron replied. "But what are you going to tell Harry?"
"I'm going to tell him that I don't love him, not anymore. I love Wes now," she said.
"Bullshit Hermione. I can tell by looking at you that you are hung up on Harry still."
"Ron! I do not love Harry!"
"Sure, try telling that to Harry. He just entered here," Ron said, nodding towards the entrance.
"What? Harry's here...great Merlin, I can't face him yet!" Hermione said, trying to stand up and leave before Harry saw her.
"Hermione, Ron, I didn't know you two would be here," Harry said, causing Hermione to slump back into her chair.
"Hey mate," Ron replied, getting up. "I'm going to go get a drink, do you want anything; either of you?"
"Butterbeer for me please Ron," Hermione said.
"Same for me," Harry said, pulling up a chair and sitting down.
Ron nodded and left Harry and Hermione together.
Hermione looked down at her hands, trying not to make eye contact with him. Harry looked past her to the window; he figured she was embarrassed or something from the night before. Finally though, he decided he needed to broach the subject, which was why Ron asked Harry to meet him and Hermione here, without telling Hermione his plans.
"Hermione..." he started.
"No Harry, I know what you're going to ask," Hermione said, bringing her face up to look at him.
Harry looked at her to continue, a smirk on his face.
"I want you to know that I love Wes more than anything in the world, and I d-don't love you. Not anymore," she replied, looking at her hands again.
Harry knew she was lying. She only looked away from someone if she was lying, otherwise she would be able to look him in the eyes. But he knew she loved Wes also. "You're lying to me."
"What? No I am not, don't try and tell me my feelings Harry James Potter!"
"You looked away from me 'Mione. When you can't look me in the eye, you're lying."
Hermione looked Harry straight in the eye. "I do not love you Harry."
Harry searched her eyes. She had the twinkle of love in her eyes. Good for her, she learned how to lie properly, but, she can't fool me, Harry thought to himself, I won't push her though. "Fine, thanks for letting me know. Oh, and to let you know, me and Alana broke up. I'll be going now." He stood up from his chair.
"Harry..." Hermione started, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
"Good-bye Hermione. Tell Ron I'll talk to him later," Harry said before leaving the Leaky Cauldron.
He didn't even look back at her as he left the Leaky Cauldron. When he was out in the streets of London, Harry hung his head down and looked at his shoes. What was he going to do to make Hermione confess her feelings to him? Harry sighed as rain started to fall gently on his head. How he hated rain now, after what Hermione told him. Ducking into an alley, Harry made sure that no Muggles were around before Disapparating.
!#$&
Alana closed the register as Harry appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her; they might have broken up that morning because of everything that was going on, but they were still close.
"Hey you," she said..
"Hello…how's the business going?" asked Harry, looking at the empty shop.
"Slow…but you must tell me, how'd your meeting go with Hermione?" she asked, spinning out of the hug Harry had on her.
"She denied loving me still, but I could tell she was lying. Now I just need a way to get her to tell me…" Harry mused.
"You could always give her Vertissum."
"I could, but by then, she'd already be married."
"True, I don't even have any left either that I could give you," she sighed. "How are we going to get Ms. Granger to tell you how she feels?"
"I have no clue, normally it isn't this hard for a girl to fall for me," Harry replied, scratching his head.
"I don't want to hear any of your cockiness. Why don't you ask her to go to dinner with you; as a friend, of course? Then maybe you could take her somewhere. Does she have a special place that she loves?"
"Yeah, actually she does. I could take her there!" he hugged Alana again. "You are as smart as you are beautiful! I don't know what I'd do without you!"
"You'd probably be freaking out about what to do with Hermione," she laughed.
"Well I'm going to go call Hermione, thanks Alana! You're a doll. And remember, if this works out with Hermione, we're getting your man on the phone!" Harry said before hugging Alana briefly once more and leaving the shop.
!#$&
"Now don't we look hot and sexy?" asked Alana as she admired Harry from his doorway.
"Thanks," Harry said, smoothing down his dark green shirt that revealed his muscles.
"Well just looking at you right now, I'd be all over you if I was Hermione. And believe me, it's taking great self-control to stay where I am," laughed Alana.
Harry rolled his eyes. "As long as I look OK, it's good. Merlin I hope this works, especially since it took me forever to convince Hermione to actually come out with me. She doesn't trust me...not after my outburst last night."
"Oh well, she'd be a fool not to love you. I mean, you're kind, loyal, caring, everything a girl looks for in a guy...not to mention that you're hot, but you know..." Alana smiled.
"Thanks for your support Alana, but I guess I should be going now, I'll let you know how everything works out tomorrow," Harry said, kissing Alana's cheek and heading downstairs.
He did not know what he was so nervous about when he was putting on his jacket, because it was not like he hadn't taken Hermione out to dinner before, but then again, this would be the first time where Harry had to get Hermione to tell him her true feelings. When they first started dating, it just happened. One thing led to another and the next thing either of them knew, they were together under the sheets in Harry's apartment. The only reason they started to date was because they talked about their night together and decided they wanted something more. Harry highly doubted that there would be a repeat of that.
Tossing a bouquet of flowers into the back seat, Harry slid into the driver's seat. As he backed his car out of his garage, Harry couldn't shake the knot that was tied in his stomach.
Calm down Potter, you're only taking Hermione out to dinner, it's not like you haven't before. Stupid Wes…why does Hermione have to be marrying that…that mule! Harry thought to himself as he drove down the road listening to nothing but the wind. A few minutes later, Harry was pulling up in front of Hermione's apartment building.
After turning off the engine to his car, Harry grabbed the flowers and headed to the building. Taking a short ride up the elevator, Harry was standing outside Hermione's door. Sucking in some air, Harry knocked on the door. Shuffling could be heard as the door opened.
"Oh, hello Wes," Harry said at seeing who was at the door.
"Hi Harry. What are you doing here?" replied Wes.
"Um, I'm here to see Hermione."
"She's not here."
"Come on, I talked to her earlier today and asked if she was free tonight. She said she was. Now let me see Hermione," growled Harry, starting to get annoyed.
"I told you that she isn't here," Wes said.
"Then let me in so I can wait for her."
"No."
"Move it Sanders before I make you move."
"But then that would be breaking and entering...a police man like you should know that," replied Wes smugly.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I do know that, but I want to see Hermione and she invited me, so move it!" Wes didn't budge so Harry yelled into the doorframe, "Hermione, are you there?"
Wes swore and moved out of the way as Hermione came into view.
"Harry, you're here all ready! I'm almost done, why don't you come in while I finish?" she asked, leading Harry inside as he gave a smug smile to Wes.
A/N: OK...I know, not the best, but what can I say? Stupid writer's block...lol. Please review! And once again, I apologize for it being almost three months since an update. I'll try to get the next one up in the next month, but I can't promise anything. So until next time, bye! Review!