Disclaimer: What percentage of Harry Potter content do I own? I'll give you a hint, it's between zero and zero.

Chapter 24

The Next Night

Harry gingerly opened the curtains to a familiar bed in the Hospital Wing for the fifth night in a row, slipping inside and liberating himself from his Invisibility Cloak. He carefully folded said cloak and placed it on the chair he'd slept in for the past four nights before sitting on the edge of Hermione Granger's bed.

"No, it's alright, don't get up." He smirked, placing his hand on hers, feeling his heart shrink a bit at the coldness of her skin. "Sorry, that was mean. You get one free punch when you're all cured.

"Speaking of you getting cured, I did something that I bet you're proud of. I stayed after Herbology class and asked Professor Sprout if she needed help with the Mandrakes. At first she seemed really surprised that I showed interest in anything Herbology-related, but then she seemed to pick up on how I was feeling and let me grab some earmuffs and get to work.

"She had me repotting them, like we did during the first Herbology class of the year, the day we had that photoshoot in the courtyard. I could barely hear through the earmuffs and the screams of those things, but Sprout told me a bunch of stuff about Mandrakes. She was rambling in really specific Herbology terms, so she might as well have been speaking French, but she did say it's the last time they need to be repotted, which means they're really close, Hermione. I think Sprout said a few days, but she could have been saying anything. Those bloody Mandrakes, their screams don't get quieter when they get older…" He shuddered for a moment, distractedly rubbing his ears before turning back to Hermione.

"Right, happy thoughts. You know, it's a lot easier to tell myself to think happy thoughts now that I'm here with you…even if you're not really here. It's hard to explain, I guess. Like, during Transfiguration, I spent half the test just staring at my parchment thinking about how much I wanted to wring the Heir of Slytherin's neck for doing this to you." He paused, feeling his body tense up. "But now, seeing your face, I'm just grateful you're alive." He exhaled, willing his body to relax.

"Well, anyway, happy thoughts." He grinned, squeezing Hermione's hand. "The last time I was here, I talked about the first time you kissed me on the cheek. So, I thought I would take us on a chronological journey – I bet you're proud of me using chronological properly – a chronological journey of the times you've kissed me on the cheek. All five of them. Especially since I've never really told you how I feel about them…most of them you've run off right after doing it." He chuckled quietly.

"Right, so, the next time you were crazy enough to peck me on the cheek was the first night of the summer holidays. I'd been terrified for almost the entire day – I wasn't sure what your parents would think of me, or even how they would treat me. It's not like I've seen a healthy family dynamic up close or anything, so the moment I saw your parents everything felt…foreign. But your mum and dad did everything they could, and it helped a lot. When your mum and I went to get the pizzas that first night, she said something I'll remember forever.

"She said…well first, she told me about the things you'd written about me in your letters, which was pretty embarrassing to hear. You really blathered on about me, didn't you? Anyway, then she said: 'You mean the world to her. And I can see why.'" He paused, his voice cracking. "It took your mother a couple of hours to determine that I was a decent kid. Same with your dad. That hasn't happened with many adults in my life before.

"So, from then on, I wasn't as nervous as I'd been all afternoon and evening. I mean, obviously I was still scared, just not…terrified. But then, something happened later, and as much of a nervous wreck I'd been, it made that day one of the best in my life." He paused, squeezing Hermione's hand again as he felt a smile creep across his face. "You hugged me goodnight, just outside the doors to our bedroom. The moment I felt you wrap your arms around me I thought someone hit me with the Levitation Charm, and I felt all of my worries wash away for a bit.

"Then, you let go so you could lean up and kiss me on the cheek. I remember being surprised more than anything. I was about to ask you something stupid like 'Why'd you do that?'" He laughed to himself, shaking his head. "That probably – no that definitely would have ruined it. But before I could ask such a stupid question, you gave me this shy-looking smile like I'd caught you staring at me.

"You were blushing, too. Oh man, you were blushing. Your whole face was this bright red, like you were completely mortified from kissing me on the cheek. Before I could say anything you dashed inside your room, and that was that." He sighed contentedly at the memory. "After I stood in the hallway for a minute, trying to remember what planet I lived on, I turned and walked into my room. When I was walking, even though it was only like eight steps to my bed, it was like I was walking on air. I genuinely cannot remember my feet touching the ground. It was like the polar opposite of drinking Skele-Gro, like my whole body was just filled with joy and warmth from the moment your lips touched my cheek."

He sat still for a moment, absent-mindedly stroking Hermione's hand. A moment drifted into several moments, and Harry ended up sitting there in a content silence, his eyes closed and his lips curled upwards in a blissful smile.

Eventually, Harry Potter returned to reality. He opened his eyes to see his best friend still lying motionless in front of him. Sighing, he pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket.

"I've got another memento for you. I hope Pomfrey hasn't noticed how underneath your pillow is starting to look like a lost-and-found. Oh, that reminds me – " He paused suddenly, gently reaching underneath the pillow to withdraw Hermione's jumper. "Can't have you being cold." He half-whispered, covering as much of Hermione's torso as he could with the impromptu blanket.

"Anyway, I brought you my ticket for the Hogwarts Express back to King's Cross from the end of last year. I don't really understand why they bother giving tickets, now that I think about it. Nobody ever collects them or anything…" He trailed off, then broke into a smile. "See, you're rubbing off on me. I'm starting to actually use my brain and think about why things are the way they are. I could have used someone like you a long time ago." He felt his smile falter at that admission, but pressed on.

"Anyway, since that little peck on the cheek happened on the same day I needed this ticket, I suppose it's an adequate souvenir. So, erm, here." He finished awkwardly, slipping the ticket under her pillow, alongside the photo album and the Transfiguration study guide. Sighing, he turned back to Hermione.

"I'm probably going to pass out from exhaustion any second, so, good night, Hermione. I'll be right here." He whispered, wrapping himself up in his Invisibility Cloak once again and falling into his usual chair, closing his eyes instantly.

The Next Night

"Good evening, Miss Granger." Harry hissed in his best impression of Madam Pomfrey's stern voice as he glided through the curtains. Granted, it wasn't a very good impression. "Sorry, I forgot to think of a funny opener on my way over here. They've got every teacher patrolling the corridors now, plus prefects, and McGonagall's enlisted the ghosts to keep an eye out for the Heir of Slytherin and stuff. I long for the days when the biggest problem Hogwarts had was Voldemort roaming the Forbidden Forest, at least I could sneak around in peace back then." He mused sarcastically.

"Anyway…" He grinned, dropping his Invisibility Cloak onto the chair and plopping down on the edge of Hermione's bed. "The next chapter of the Hermione Granger kissing Harry Potter extravaganza begins now. The moment I woke up this morning I immediately started thinking about the third time you kissed me on the cheek. And, I have to say, of all the things capable of dominating my thoughts for an entire day, it doesn't get much better than that, you know." He sighed blissfully, feeling his entire body warm up.

"Excluding the wondrous world of Diagon Alley, that day was the first time I'd ever gone shopping. I remember feeling taken aback at the sheer opulence of everything in that mall. For a moment it felt like I'd entered a world where I didn't belong, a world unfit for kids who grew up in cupboards…until you and your parents showed me the ropes.

"After that," he paused, feeling a smile creep up across his face, "it was just so much fun. At several points during the day I thought it was too good to be true. One in particular happened pretty early on, in the J. Crew store." He felt his face heat up slightly, but found it in himself to continue. "You were trying on that pale blue blouse. Periwinkle blue…" He trailed off, reaching into his pocket.

"I know I usually save whatever trinket I've brought for you until the end, but I reckon now's the best time to give it to you." He sighed, carefully extracting a small flower. "It's a periwinkle. I helped Sprout with the Mandrakes again today, and I asked her if we grew any periwinkle flowers in the greenhouses. She seemed so excited that I cared about anything that grew at Hogwarts, so she took me over to this one greenhouse that's just brimming with flowers. It was beautiful in there, Hermione, I want to take you there once this is all resolved." He felt his smile wane slightly at the last few words.

"Anyway, she showed me this whole bunch of periwinkle flowers. Their official name is Vinca Minor, she told me. You probably knew that already, since you seem to know everything worth knowing." He smirked. "I picked this out for you, because the sight of you in that blouse was just…beyond words.

"Anyway, I asked Sprout if I could take one of the flowers, and she was happy to let me have this. I'll hide it under your pillow when I leave in the morning, but for now…" He leaned over his best friend, gently gripping the periwinkle by its stem, which barely exceeded a few inches. He slowly tucked it behind Hermione's ear, and straightened himself once he adjusted it to a proper angle.

"Wow…" He felt his heart slow to a standstill at the sight of the blue petals over her pale skin. The hue of the periwinkle flower complimented her complexion perfectly, and Harry found himself staring at it for quite a while before he came to his senses.

"Oh, blimey, I have more to talk about." He realized suddenly, blinking a few times and moving his gaze from the flower to Hermione's eyes. "Well, anyway, seeing you in that blouse was one of many points in time during that day where I thought it was all too good to be true, that any moment I'd be torn away from a dream by Ron's snores or the Dursleys trying to wake me up.

"Another moment during that day when I thought everything was too good to be true happened right before we went to bed. We had just made hot fudge sundaes, us and your parents. At one point you started to space out, and I thought it would be funny to spray you in the face with whipped cream." He paused, feeling his smile widen into a mischievous grin. "I was right, it was hilarious." He practically snorted.

"Naturally, you didn't find it as funny as I did, and you grabbed your spoon and flicked a little dollop of vanilla ice cream square onto my cheek. I was actually pretty impressed with the aim, but also very annoyed at you for one-upping me and stuff. Once we stopped laughing like lunatics, we cleaned ourselves up and ate our sundaes with your mum and dad. As soon as I was done, I noticed I was feeling particularly drowsy, so I excused myself to go to bed.

"I was right outside my door when you came running up. Now, as I said, that entire day was nothing but nonstop fun, and I'd been smiling continuously, but I remember my smile growing even wider when I saw you bounding over to me and when you wrapped me up in a good-night hug.

"I felt like I was hovering off the ground out of sheer happiness. We pulled apart, and bade each other goodnight, and I turned to walk into my bedroom. And that's when you did it. It was…I guess sneaky is the right word? Maybe cheeky, now that I think about it. I mean, I didn't even see it happen, I just felt this softness on my cheek, and suddenly there was this rippling effect of this happy warmth all across my body. And the spot where your lips brushed my face was the epicenter.

"You stood there with this smile on your face, it looked almost victorious. Then you told me it tasted like vanilla, because, you know, the ice cream and stuff. Then you just slipped into your room all mysterious and stuff.

"If I felt like I was hovering just off the ground when you hugged me, I was soaring in the stratosphere after that little peck. I know for sure that I fell asleep with some dazed grin, but I didn't care. I still don't. It just felt so good…having you kiss me on the cheek like that." He sighed, absently tracing patterns on the back of Hermione's hand.

"That little good-night peck was the last time you kissed me on the cheek all summer." He paused, unsure if he should say the next sentence that he'd been rehearsing in his head all day.

'Just say it. She probably can't hear you anyway…' The voice in the back of Harry's head piped up. Letting out another, shakier sigh, he turned back to Hermione's face.

"I wish you'd done it every night." He whispered, giving Hermione's hand one last squeeze and pulling out her jumper to lay over her before he slid off the bed. He enveloped himself in his Invisibility Cloak and plopped down onto his chair, ensuring he had no visible body parts.

"Good night, Hermione." Harry whispered. "I'll be right here."

The Next Night

Harry crept through the curtains around Hermione's bed once again, gingerly placing his Invisibility Cloak on his chair.

"Today was agonizing, Hermione. Truly." He sighed, carefully lifting Hermione's pillow to extract the periwinkle from the previous night. Once again, he tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her bare skin. "The weather outside was beautiful, but we had to stay holed up in the common room except for meals. I tried studying for a History of Magic test we have on Monday, but with all of Gryffindor being their rowdy selves it would have been easier to concentrate if I was reading while flying.

"Anyway, McGonagall swung by the common room to tell us that exams were still happening. I'm sure if you weren't lying here right now you would have been the only person in our house who wasn't groaning. But, before she left, I caught her and asked if there was any chance I could see you during the day tomorrow. I technically didn't lie to her, I just said how much I hate being away from you, and it would mean the world if I got to see you. She got a little teary-eyed, and said she'd escort me to the Hospital Wing and come by to walk me back to Gryffindor Tower after about ten minutes.

"So, you're going to be blessed with my presence twice tomorrow, and I'm sure you're bursting with excitement at the prospect. I know I am." He grinned, squeezing her hand. "Anyway, tonight's topic is the fourth time you've kissed me on the cheek. The more I think about it, the more I realize it might be my favorite day at Hogwarts. Ever.

"I'd been with you in the Hospital Wing until around four in the morning the previous night. Your tail was gone by then, and your cat ears were barely noticeable, but you still made me scratch them." He chuckled. "I know you're going to hex me for mentioning that out loud.

"Anyway, you were almost back to your old self, but you still had the yellow eyes and some cat features, so I figured you would be completely restored within a week or two. Naturally, when I practically sleepwalked down from my bed into the common room a few hours later, the last person I expected to see was a completely human Hermione Granger.

"But there you were, with breakfast and pumpkin juice, and looking so happy. It was amazing, and from that moment on I knew it was going to be a good day. We sat on our couch, and I was starving, but before I could start inhaling breakfast food you just crashed into me like you were trying to body-slam me. I remember thinking the hug was a bit overboard, since I'd seen you just a few hours earlier, but then I felt you kiss me on the cheek." He paused, a warm smile crossing his face.

"The second I felt your lips on my face, it was total euphoria. It was like I'd been injected with liquid happiness, and my whole body felt all warm and cozy. I knew I was smiling like an idiot, but I couldn't stop myself. You didn't seem as flustered as you did the previous times. It was the first time you'd done it without running off into your room or walking into fire. You just seemed perfectly content with what you'd done, and that was that." He stopped suddenly, unthinkingly rubbing circles on the back of Hermione's hand.

"Except that's not exactly that. Later on, after you and I stuck it to Malfoy – by the way, that line about cockroaches and cold weather was badass – after we sat down in that spot in the snow, and we were staring at the castle, you said something. You said, 'I don't know how to thank you." He paused again, averting his eyes from his petrified friend.

"I had this thought, that I've never told you about. After you said you didn't know how to thank me, I had this really weird impulse to say, well, to tell you that the kiss on the cheek was a good start. For thanking me." He felt his face grow hot, and felt the need to fan himself with his hand. "I…erm, well, yeah. There's not really much more to say about that, I suppose. There's not really anything I can say is a better way to put it." He turned back to Hermione.

"Well, on that totally normal and not awkward note," he chuckled, shaking his head at himself, "I have something else for you. While I was in the common room, trying to emulate you and study, Alicia Spinnet and a couple of fourth-years were talking about Care of Magical Creatures. They were sitting pretty close to me, so it was hard not to hear their conversation. They were talking about these creatures called Bowtruckles, and how they've been observed in nature giving gifts to each other.

"Honestly, I couldn't care less about Bowtruckles, it's what one of the girls mentioned that got my attention. She said, 'Oh, just like otters!'" Harry winced at his impression of a fourth-year girl before continuing. "Right, well, they got to talking about how otters give each other rocks and sticks to show their appreciation. So, erm, it kind of reminded me of bringing you a little gift every night. So, instead of studying the sixty-seventh Goblin Revolution or whatever, I acted on this sudden impulse." He paused again before carefully pulling a rolled piece of parchment out of his pocket.

"The more I look at it, the more stupid it is, but I'm already here now, so, I guess I have to give it to you. I drew you an otter." He stammered, feeling his cheeks growing hot once again. "I thought about drawing a Bowtruckle, but I have no clue what a Bowtruckle looks like, but I do know otters, so…yeah.

"When I was growing up, I didn't have a lot of hobbies, but drawing was something I liked doing in the cupboard in peace. I like to think I'm decent at it, but I realized you've never seen me draw anything besides the little doodles I do on the side of our notes. So anyways, I drew you an otter in the common room this afternoon. Then I finished, and was bored, so I started adding stuff to it to make it more personal. So, here, I don't know if you can see, but…" He trailed off, unrolling the parchment and holding it in Hermione's line of sight.

"As you can see, he's got round glasses and a lightning bolt scar on his forehead. And I gave him a little badge on his chest there, it's kind of small, sorry, but it says Quidditch Resistance. So, no, I didn't actually draw you an otter.

"I drew you Harry Otter!" He grinned triumphantly. "That probably would have earned me the fiercest eye-roll you've ever given me if you weren't petrified."

He chuckled to himself before taking the parchment back, carefully placing it under Hermione's pillow. He grabbed her jumper once again and carefully placed it over her mid-section before sliding off the bed.

"Harry Otter says goodnight, Hermione." He smirked as he wrapped himself up in his Invisibility Cloak. "And Harry Potter will be right here. Good night." He closed his eyes, a playful smile still on his face as he drifted off to sleep.

The Next Day

The portrait hole of the Gryffindor common room swung open, a particularly rare occurrence since the most recent attack by Slytherin's monster. Harry glanced up from his copy of A Few Good Men, turning his head to see his Head of House standing expectantly by the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. He let out a small sigh, gingerly closing his book and getting to his feet. He passed a few of his classmates playing Exploding Snap, and asked Dean Thomas to hold onto his book until he got back. Harry got a few sympathetic nods from his fellow Gryffindors as he made his way towards McGonagall, and he did his best to show his gratitude.

"Thank you, Professor." He whispered as the Fat Lady swung shut behind him. The green-clad professor nodded solemnly before motioning for him to start walking.

"Madam Pomfrey has agreed to let you visit for ten minutes. I will be in my office while you are with Miss Granger, so if you need anything you will need to ask the Matron." She said, her usually stern voice much softer than usual.

"I understand." He managed, and they walked in silence from then on. When they reached the doors of the Hospital Wing, the interim Headmistress turned to him suddenly.

"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes ought to be ready for brewing sometime tomorrow." She said curtly, patting Harry on the shoulder. "I'll see you in exactly ten minutes, Mister Potter."

And with that, she was marching away towards her office. Harry exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding, then he practically sprinted into the Hospital Wing.

"Hermione!" He grinned as he burst through the curtains that surrounded his best friend's bed. "McGonagall's just told me that the Mandrakes will be ready tomorrow!" He squeezed her hand with both of his hands, barely able to contain his excitement.

Then, he noticed something. He glanced down at his hands, slowly pulling them away and staring at them. Nothing seemed unusual, but he had felt different when he had placed his hands on her right one. He slowly placed one of his hands on the back of her hand, and felt the unsettlingly familiar coldness of her skin. Then he placed the other hand where it had been, around her curled fingers. And he felt it again.

A soft brush, almost tickling his palm.

"What on Earth…" He whispered as he leaned over, trying to see what he was feeling on his hand. "Holy mother of…" He gasped.

There was a small piece of paper, barely a centimeter, sticking out from between her closed fingers. Harry had never noticed it before. He pinched it with his fingers and carefully tugged at it. It budged less than an inch, but it moved nonetheless. He cast a glance over his shoulder, listening for Madam Pomfrey. Once he concluded the coast was clear, he got to work wrenching the paper out of Hermione's hand.

"Blimey, Hermione, your grip's almost as strong as your hugs." He grimaced as he finally pried the paper loose, miraculously not ripping it. "A basilisk?" He whispered as he read it. "Lethal gaze…fatal to a crowing rooster…bloody hell, Hermione, you've got it!" He gasped, leaping to his feet. "That's why I hear that voice! It's a snake!" He grinned at his motionless best friend. "And…pipes! That's how it gets around! Hermione Granger, you truly are brilliant, you know that?

"This is it, Hermione, you've figured out Slytherin's Monster. That's why you ran off the morning of the Quidditch match! After you…" He trailed off, absent-mindedly bringing his fingers to his cheek. "After you kissed me on the cheek. In front of the locker room." He sighed, sitting back on her bed.

"Well, I was going to tell you all about how your sudden peck on the cheek made me zone out for the entirety of Wood's pregame speech. I was going to tell you all about how dazed I was, and how I stood in front of the locker room with my fingers on my cheek like a space cadet for a while. I was going to tell you how I had this dumb smile on my face because of you." He paused.

"Well, it was originally going to be a lot more eloquent and articulate than that abridged version. Sorry, I'm sure you would have really enjoyed the sonnet I wrote about it." He chuckled for a moment. "In all seriousness, it was going to be a great monologue. Sorkin would be proud."

Before he could continue, the curtains behind him were ripped open. He whirled around to see Madam Pomfrey standing expectantly with her arms crossed. Harry nodded, sliding off the edge of Hermione's bed. He cast his best friend one last glance before walking towards the Hospital Wing doors, where McGonagall was waiting for him.

"Thank you, Professor."

"Mister Potter, not a soul in this school finds it just to separate you from Miss Granger for so long. Especially after everything you've suffered." Her tone was plain, but her eyes were brimming with more emotion than he'd ever seen from his Head of House. He managed a silent nod of appreciation, and they began their walk back.

"Professor!" He exclaimed suddenly, remembering the piece of paper balled up on his hand. "You should see this, I think Hermione's figured out what Slytherin's monster is!"

"She what?" McGonagall asked in an uncharacteristically shocked gasp. "Mister Potter, whatever are you…" She trailed off suddenly, her eyes locked onto a space in front of them. Harry slowly turned to see what she was staring at, and felt equally surprised.

"Ginny?" He asked, unable to hide his confusion. The youngest Weasley was rooted to the floor in fear, standing just outside the entrance to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Miss Weasley, what on Earth are you doing outside of the common room at this hour?" McGonagall hissed, marching towards the redhead. Before she could reach her and dock an obscene amount of points from Gryffindor, Ginny dashed into the restroom. "Miss Weasley!"

Harry slowly made his way towards McGonagall, who stood just outside the door to the toilets. The pair stood in shocked silence for a moment.

"Do you suppose she just wants to use the loo?" Harry asked uncertainly, but McGonagall just exhaled in a very unamused fashion.

Before Harry could try to lighten the tension again, he felt an icy shiver run down his spine.

"Oh no…" He whispered.

"Potter?" McGonagall asked, turning to him with a concerned expression. Harry felt his entire body shudder, and he knew he must have looked as pale as a ghost. But he couldn't bring himself to speak. Because something was already speaking.

"Time to rip…time to tear…time to kill…so close…"

A/N: Sorry to hit y'all with another cliffhanger, but at the same time I'm not that sorry. I actually had that last part written out, with Harry and McGonagall coming across Ginny, before I finished Chapter 3 of this fic lmao. Hopefully you all enjoyed this story, and Harry finally getting the chance to verbalize how he feels.

Once again, I would like to thank the fantastic readers who have reviewed, followed, or added this story to your favorites. You guys make my day every time, and I love you all for it! Please, if you're enjoying this story, do not hesitate to review, favorite, or follow. It means the world to me, truly. Thank you all, and stay safe!