2nd Chapter: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, J.K Rowling does, blah blah blah, whatever company who owns harry potter and all the other good stuff.

Chapter 2: Recollections

The bright November moon reflected off of Harry's glasses. It was nearing midnight but Harry couldn't sleep. Once again, he was on his windowsill, his newfound place of meditation and daydreaming. The pale light illuminated the snow, and under a tree, two daring 5th years had found their place of solace in spite of world around them. A small fog patch appeared as Harry sighed and recalled the day's events.

"I'm S…S…Sorry Hermione," Harry hastily uttered. Hermione, who had quickly turned away was already working on her next project. Harry was confused. 'I thought someone like Hermione would be blushing incredibly at that, not to mention a rumor going around that she had a crush on me' he pondered as he picked up his glasses and sat down at his seat. However, a few moments later, Harry dropped his quill to wipe his glasses when he caught Hermione staring at him through the side of her eye. When he glanced at her face, her eyes quickly shifted away from him and back onto her paper. After that, Harry only concentrated on his work, finishing his makeup work before the morning had been wasted. Little did he know that while he was so furiously studying, that Hermione had been giving him sidelong glances as he worked through several feet of essays. Finally, he slammed his quill down as he finished his last essay. Hermione had finished already and was quietly napping, her blond locks spilling over her mountain of parchment. It was past lunchtime and the afternoon sunlight lanced into the dim common room, swirling with dust motes. Taking off his glasses he dropped them onto the table and proceeded to lay his head down as well, facing Hermione's peaceful form. The stone kept a cool atmosphere as one slept peacefully and the other watched blissfully.

Harry woke up with a start and nearly fell off the windowsill. Taking a few minutes to orient himself with his surroundings, he gently slid off the windowsill, cured of his insomnia. As he tossed himself onto his bed he clasped his hands behind his head and began to think again. However, dreaming could not come easily as he now, due to his prior dreaming, had an incessant desire to see Hermione. Shivering from the cold, Harry pulled some robes over his pajamas and put on some slippers as he stumbled down the stairways into the common room. The fire was nearly dying out as a few embers glowed. He nearly slapped his forehead when he realized that the stairs were probably bewitched to prevent such a thing from happening. 'I've gotten this far, I can't turn back now, it'll only be a quick glance.' He reassured himself. The first step was the hardest as doubts filled his mind. However, he forced his foot onto the first step and paused. Hearing no alarm nor feeling any jinx coming upon him, he quickly trotted up the rest of the stairs until he reached the door separating his and Hermione. Quickly looking around, he opened the door and slipped inside. The girls' dormitory was also nearly abandoned as well, and the moonlight illuminated large patches of the floor making everything seem like some ephemeral dream. However, the breathtaking sight melted away as his vision focused on a lone girl sitting alone on a windowsill, not unlike himself, scribbling furiously.

'Hermione.' He whispered under his breath.

As the door thudded shut, she looked up from her writing and gently set it aside. She squinted to see as Harry was still in the dark. As he stepped into the light Hermione gasped and, unbeknownst to her, beckoned him forward with the look in her eyes. With every step Hermione grew more and more nervous. She slowly slid off of the sill and began walking toward the midnight visitor. Hermione stood there, her back to the windowsill as he walked toward him. Harry stopped and for an eternity stood there looking into the other's eyes, namelessly communicating. Then, the spell was broken.

"Hermione, I really really wanted to see you tonight, I..I…." Harry began as he began walking toward her again. They were so close, and their breaths were felt by the other. Slowly, he brought his hand up and cupper here cheek, brushing her hair aside. Hermione's eyes glimmered with hope as she stared that Harry's face, looking back and struggling for words to say.

"I…You're so beautiful, it seems almost wrong to touch you Hermione" Harry gently explained. At this she turned away, and Harry realized it was no what she was looking for.

"Hermione, please, I..I..love you." He whispered.

At this, she turned around to look into his eyes, searching for some sort of sign that would tell her that he was lying. As she gazed longingly into his eyes, he softly tipped her chin up, closed his eyes, and pressed his lips against hers. Hermione, too shocked for words, did not resist. When she finally realized that she was kissing one of her best friends, she broke off the kiss. A sob escaped her lips as hey eyes watered up.

" Harry, Harry, don't do this to me. I've waited so long, I've heard too much. You were always talking about how pretty Cho was, and I had lost hope." Hermione sobbed. Strong arms wrapped themselves around her sobbing shoulders and brought them against his warm chest. A tear trickled down Harry's cheek.