Too Long In The Rain
Chapter 15

As the two professors walked into the Great Hall hand in hand they saw everyone turn to look at them, then suddenly…3 of the 4 tables erupted in applause (guess which 3) and most of the staff smiled, especially Dumbledore. Hermione blushed as they walked together to be seated but Oliver just grinned at her and chuckled when he saw her cheeks turn pink. They sat down and just as breakfast appeared Oliver saw Dumbledore motion to him. Oliver excused himself and walked over to the headmaster.

"Yes sir?" Asked Oliver.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked over at Hermione then back at Wood and said, "It seems as though you have made quiet an impression on Ms. Granger."

Oliver nodded looking down then back up and said, "Headmaster, I know to be careful around her, and I won't hurt her like Krum did, but I need to ask, what did he do?"

Dumbledore shook his head, "I do not know, and even if I did I am not the one to tell you."

Oliver nodded and asked, "Is there anything else Professor?"

"Just one more thing, just an observation but is Hermione missing something?" Dumbledore smiled and went back to eating, signaling the end of the conversation. Oliver's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion before he sat back down next to Hermione.

Hermione looked up at him and asked, "Everything alright Oliver?"

He seemed in a daze then realized she asked him something as asked, "Oh, uh, what?"

Hermione chuckled once and then asked, "What's wrong?"

Oliver shook his head, "Nothing." She turned back to eating with a shrug and he looked at her curiously.

Hermione felt eyes upon her and looked at Oliver and put down her fork and said, "Alright, what is it?"

Oliver shook out of his trance and then asked, "Hermione, are you, uh, missing anything by chance?"

Hermione looked around at her things, "Not that I know of, I have my papers for class, that's all I need really."

Something clicked in Olivers head and he asked, "What about that journal you're so fond of?"

Hermione smiled, "I have no need for it now." She then picked up her fork again.

Oliver smiled amused, "And why is that?"

Hermione turned her head to look at Oliver, her hair falling near her face and she said, "Because I have you now." She gave him a small loving smile then went back to eating.

Oliver looked surprised and then began eating as he said, "I knew you fancied me."

Hermione choked on her eggs and looked back at him and asked, "Oh really? How? Could it have been the kiss perhaps?"

Oliver shook his head, "I knew the moment I pulled you into that classroom and you wouldn't hex me."

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "Of course, because you all the all knowing Oliver."

Oliver nodded, "Well they always said you knew it all." Hermione gaped at him and he mocked her then went back to eating, she continued to gape at him and he turned to look at her and said, "Speechless? That's a first." She finally did something.

She silently took out her wand, and secretly did a silent spell, suddenly Oliver jumped up scratching at his back and knocked over a chair. Hermione tried to suppress a laugh when ice cubes began to fall out from his shirt.

He finally got them all out and turned to face the entire Great Hall who was looking at him like he needed to be in a mental institution, he muttered an apology of some sort and sat back down beside Hermione his head down. Hermione took a deep breath then leaned over to him and said, "Good show."

He looked over at her and realized that she had done it and said, "I need to see you, now, right now." He took her by the arm and led her outside the Great Hall, he looked around to see if anyone was looking and then turned back to Hermione intending to say something to her and opened his mouth to not see Hermione there, only a bit of robe escaping out of the main entrance door. He laughed pausing for a second before running after her.

He got outside and looked around and didn't see her. He scratched his head for a moment before the elusive Hermione Granger tackled him to the ground. She pinned him and with his hands at head level and he said, "Good to see you too."

She smirked and said, "What should I do with you now Professor Wood?"

He raised and eyebrow then flipped her pinning her onto her back and putting her hands above her head and said, "Call me Oliver." She smiled a bit and he said, "Now admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you fancied me since the day I dragged you into that classroom." She was silent and he shrugged, "Alright." He then did the lowest thing you could do to a girl…he started to tickle her.

She squirmed but those damn Quidditch muscles! She was gasping for breath as she said, "Alright! Al-alright! Oliver, fine! I'll admit it, I'll a-admit!" Oliver stopped and she caught her breath then said sincerely, "I fancied you, since the moment you dragged me into that classroom."

Oliver paused knowing it was true and said, "Well alright then." He let go of her arms and she sat up then punched him in the shoulder.

Later that night, after all the classes were out, Oliver and Hermione were in her room sitting on the sofa looking at the fire, she was laying on his chest and he had an arm wrapped around her softly stroking her hair before he asked, "What was in that journal you were always writing in."

She opened her eyes and then shrugged and said, "A lot of things, drawings, notes, thoughts, I couldn't talk to anyone after…"

He looked down at her as she trailed off and asked, "After what?"

She shook her head, "It doesn't matter now."

Oliver nodded letting it go then noticed that she was falling asleep on him...again he chuckled silently then said, "Hermione?"

"Hmmm?" She asked her eyes still closed.

"Why is it that you always seem to fall asleep on me?" He asked curiously.

She opened her eyes and thought then said, "You make me feel safe, I haven't felt like that in a long, long time."

He nodded and let her lay there with him just stroking her hair absently before she sat up and got an idea She walked over to her desk and Oliver sat up, "What are you doing Hermione?"

She ignored him before she finally found what she was looking for, "Aha!" She walked back over to him and held up her journal, "I don't need it any longer, so…" She walked over to the fire and threw in her once beloved journal, "Now, we can just watch it burn."

They leaned back onto the sofa and Oliver wrapped his arm around her once more as she closed her eyes feeling safe again. He looked down on her and kissed the top her head. She took in a deep breath and said, "I love you Oliver."

His eyes widened and he said, "I love you too." She smiled contently and drifted off to sleep and he sat there as a smile graced his lips and he soon fell asleep happily.