Chapter Twelve

A Date at Hogsmeade

The month of October was drawing to a close and Harry was showing as much strain as Ron and Hermione had when they were made prefects. Harry was not able to go to any of the D.A., Defense Arts, meetings since he was too busy with his duties as Gryffindor team captain and his Head Boy duties. Hermione was not able to go to any of the meeting either since she, like Harry, had duties as Head Girl. Ron had not talked to Harry nor Hermione since his spat with Harry in the common room. Harry had also been plagued by more dreams of a brown haired, chocolate eyed girl. In some of the dreams, they were walking the grounds of Hogwarts hand in hand while others had him kissing her outside the Pitch after a long day of practicing. Harry tried to push the thoughts that the girl looks like Hermione; however, he somehow felt a kindred spiritual connection to her and couldn't shake the feeling that he liked her more than just a friend.

Harry and Hermione were in the library doing their homework and somehow Harry had grown to like doing his homework since he had started doing it on his own the previous year when he had a prophecy over his head. Ron had come into the library as he threw his backpack onto the desk they were working on.

"Hermione I need your help with my homework," Ron said in a low desperate voice not even looking at Harry.

Hermione just ignored Ron as she continued to do her Transfiguration essay.

"I'm sorry Hermione for the way I acted that day."

"You should be apologizing to Harry and not me Ron," Hermione answered briskly also in a low voice.

"Harry I'm sorry for yelling at you," Ron said to Harry as he dipped his quill into his ink bottle.

"It's okay Ron, but just don't have another fit of jealousy again like that and if you are asking to be put back on the team," Harry replied as Ron had a surprised look on his face. "I can't reinstate you back on the team since our new Keeper won't like it since he may think of it as favoritism since you are my best friend. I wish I could, but I can't until we have another try out for a new Keeper if Zachary Sanders can't play for a game."

"It's alright mate, I think I deserve not to be on the team since my spat with you," Ron replied grimly as he sat down.

Harry was glad that he and Ron had repaired their friendship and the three worked on their homework. They returned to the common room after pouring over their text books and essays for several hours. Harry passed the notice board to see that the next Hogsmeade visit was on Halloween and he had a sudden urge to ask Hermione something that he had never done or never thought he would do before. He saw Ron go up the stairs to their dormitory while he saw Hermione sit in one of the chairs in front of the empty fireplace as Crookshanks jumped into her lap.

"Hermione," Harry asked her as she stroked Crookshanks, "there is a Hogsmeade visit this weekend and I was wondering--" Harry couldn't continue his sentence.

"Harry I know there is one this weekend and we always go together," she replied.

"I mean not as friends, but I was going to ask you--" again his voice trailed off fearing how to continue his sentence.

Harry felt Hermione put a hand on the side of his face she was beaming at him.

"You're asking me on a date are you, Harry Potter?" she asked in a serenely and with a smile.

"Yes I am Hermione," he replied as he slowly removed Hermione's hand from the side of his face as he blushed heavily.

"Sure, Harry, I would love to go on a date with you."

They both sat down in front of the fireplace releasing their hands from each other and not a moment to soon when Ron came down from the boy's dormitory. He had approached them and stopped in front of Hermione.

"Hermione, there is a Hogsmeade visit tomorrow and I was wondering if you would like to go out with me. You wouldn't mind Harry?" Ron asked Hermione before addressing Harry.

"I'm sorry Ron, but I was already asked by someone," she replied in a sincere voice but Ron's face turned to a shocked face.

"Who asked you?" he asked in barely a whisper. "Harry?"

"I'm sorry Ron," she repeated, "but Harry already asked me for a date," she spoke as she stood up to face Ron.

Ron's fist became clutched after Hermione made her replied and his fist began to shake. He approached to where Harry sat and pointed a finger at him as he was about to say something. Ron then turned his attention back to Hermione.

"How can you date Harry since he--"

"Ron," Hermione interrupted Ron with her usual temper, "I don't see Harry as the 'Boy Who Lived,' but as a friend who I can trust."

Ron then left through the portrait hole and Harry swore that he had seen Ron try to hide his tears when he turned to leave.

"Hermione," Harry spoke as Hermione returned to her seat, "I think Ron didn't take it too well when you turned him down."

"It's not my fault that he can't get around his jealousy over you and be able to take it if I turn him down for a date," Hermione replied briskly.

"I think Ron had a crush on you since the Yule Ball our fourth year."

"Ron?" Hermione snorted. "I see him as more of an annoying little brother that I never had by the way we bicker almost on a constant matter. You Harry," she puts a hand on the side of his face, "see me as a friend and our friendship has always been based on trust and understanding. Sure we had our arguments, but" she brushes his hair off of his scar, "you seem to want to apologize afterwards. Even if it's a few days afterwards. Don't worry about Ron; I'm sure that he will get over it if he is given some time."

Harry met Hermione in the Entrance Hall after breakfast and they past Argus Filch, who was checking off names of students who were going to Hogsmeade, and into the cool late October weather. They walked the path that led them to Hogsmeade with their robes hanging over one of their shoulders as they walked side-by-side each other.

"Where do you want to go first, Hermione?" Harry asked as the village of Hogsmeade loomed into view.

"I don't know; how about Madam Puddifoot's?" she replied and Harry's stomach went into knots at the mention of Madam Puddifoot's.

Harry had been there two years ago with his long time crush Cho Chang on Valentine's Day; however, the date didn't go too well since that was his first date. Cho started to make insults about Hermione and her cursing abilities later in the year and Harry had no choice but to defend her. Cho broke off with Harry and they haven't spoken since.

"Don't worry Harry," Hermione said upon noticing the look on his face and he turned to face her. "I'm not like Cho and now I understand that she didn't like what I did to her friend, Marietta, but it was Marietta's fault for breaking a promise and selling us out to that old bat, Umbridge."

Harry had never heard Hermione speak ill of a professor before.

"Since when do you call Umbridge 'an old bat,'"

"Since she made you, along with others but mainly you, do lines with that quill of hers that leaves the message etched on the back of the writer's hand. Although I never said it aloud," Harry could tell that she blushed a little when she said this.

They entered Madam Puddifoot's with Harry holding the door for Hermione. The place looked different since Harry had visited the last time. The place looked like a pumpkin patch and had been dimly lit. There were pumpkins carved to look like chairs and tables. In the center of the tables were jack-o-lanterns with candles inside of them. There were bats hanging off the rafters of the ceiling, cobwebs hanging throughout the ceiling, and a few black cats wondering around the pumpkins.

"What can I get for you dears?" a woman's voice asked them.

"Coffee for me," Harry replied.

"Same here," Hermione also replied.

"Can I offer you some pumpkin pie with your coffee?" the woman asked.

"Sure," Harry and Hermione replied in unison.

The coffee and pumpkin pie arrived a few minutes later as the black cats rubbed against the patrons' legs as if they wanted to be stroked.

"Harry, can I ask you something?" Hermione asked as she added sugar to her coffee.

"Sure," Harry replied as he took a slice of pumpkin pie.

"I've been meaning to tell you something last year, but I didn't want to since you might have pushed me away since Voldemort would know that we were friends," she kept her voice calm and low since most of the wizarding still feared Voldemort's name; even though he has been vanquished since the previous year by Harry. "Ever since meeting you; I've been thinking about you, but I just thought of it as a silly crush. Then our second year when I was petrified," Harry heart sank at the memory of Hermione laying there petrified in the hospital wing, "I somehow felt that you were visiting me. I don't know how but I knew in my heart that you were visiting me and talking to me. Third year, I cared more about you since an escaped convict was after you and with Ron's constant bickering about his rat and Crookshanks. I knew that Ron wouldn't apologize to me when Crookshanks went after Scabbers. Then the Firebolt came and I went out of my way to make you upset in order to protect you; even if it meant ending our friendship. You, unlike Ron, came to apologize after you got it back even though I knew you were mad at me. When your name came out of the Goblet of Fire our fourth year, I knew that you would never do anything against Dumbledore's word. I wasn't aware of it, but I felt that we came closer together when I was helping you with the Summoning Charm and the various jinxes, hexes, and curses that I ran across to help you. I tried to get you to apologize to Snape in our fifth year and to continue your Occlumency, but I don't get why Snape is so mad at you and I know he is mad at your father for something and I don't know why. Let me finish Harry," Harry opened his mouth to interrupt but Hermione stopped him. "Then during our sixth year when we went to Hogsmeade when the dementors attacked. I was scared that I wasn't able to conjure my patronus; however, when I'm with you," she takes a hold of Harry's hand. "You give me strength and it was you I thought of as my happy thought," Harry could notice that Hermione was starting to shed tears, "I wanted to be with you and at that moment; I knew that I--" Hermione's trailed off and she mouthed something Harry couldn't hear.

"What was that, Hermione?" Harry asked in a concerned voice.

"That I… I… oh bloody hell! I love you Harry!" she held her hands over her mouth after she said this.

"What?" Harry asked surprised and completely shocked at what Hermione had said.

"I said that I loved you, Harry Potter," after she had removed her hands from her mouth. "I love you more then just a friend. I wasn't aware of it until know, but during our fourth year. When I've been talking to Viktor; I wasn't aware that I was mainly talking about you. It was not until before the third task that I realized what I've been talking to Viktor about. I've been trying to tell you this, but I was afraid that you don't feel the same about me."

"Hermione," Harry spoke and they made eye contact with each other, "I had some feelings for you, but they were just subtle feelings when you helped me out on some of our adventures throughout the years. I started to have feelings for you when you were hit with that cure in the Department of Mysteries then I know realize that I had feelings for you when I thought about you when the dementors attacked Hogsmeade. I've been a little thickheaded when it came to show feelings to others and that is something I can't help since I grew up with the Dursleys. You have made me realize that I've always had someone who cared more about me and not being the 'Boy Who Lived.' I believe that everyone in the wizarding world sees me only as the 'Boy Who Lived;' however, you see me just as a friend who just happens to have a little fame to his name," Harry said the last bit with a smile and he could tell that Hermione seemed to be blushing more than usual.

"Thank you, Harry," Hermione replied while her voice broke a little.

The rest of the day seemed like a dream for Harry. He and Hermione walked in close proximity with each other as they held hands and Harry didn't seem to realize that they were turning a few heads as they walked by. They pasted Zonko's and they seemed to have been bought out be Ron's twin older brothers, Fred and George. The whole place seemed to have been redesigned and refitted with products the twins had made. The shop was run by one of the twins and Harry wondered how many more shops they will set up next. Harry also wondered why they didn't change the name of Zonko's to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Harry and Hermione returned to the grounds of Hogwarts and had stood under the tree they used when they were on the grounds on beautiful days. They both stood there as they looked across the lake at the setting sun.

"I had a wonderful time, Harry," Hermione said as they stood under the tree as if had been hours since they got there.

"Thank you, Hermione," Harry replied.

They both looked into each others eyes. They both could see each others' reflections against the others' eyes. They both etched closer to each other as they prepared to kiss each other. However, before they could lock lips; a flash was seen and they turned to see someone holding a camera. Harry knew who it was; Colin Creevy, and he had always had his camera with him. Harry could tell that it was a new camera and Colin was holding what appeared to be the picture that he had just taken.

"Bad timing?" Colin said with a nervous chuckle as he slowly walked backwards.

Harry and Hermione both ran after Colin as he tried to run away from the scene. They were both yelling at him to stop, but he didn't seem to hear them. They all ran into the Entrance Hall as they ignored Filch's warning about running inside the halls of Hogwarts. They ran up the flights of stairs as Colin tried to loose Harry and Hermione, but he couldn't shake them off. Colin made it to the Fat Lady's portrait and Harry knew that this might be his last chance to catch Colin. Harry made a dive after Colin as he made his way across the common room and Harry catches and trips Colin by his shoelaces. Colin's camera is thrown a few feet from where Colin was tripped and the picture that he was trying to hide fluttered as it fell to the ground, but it was caught by Ron, who just happen to be in the right place but at the wrong time.

"What's wrong, mate, and what's Colin trying to hide?" Ron asked as he turned the picture over and he stood transfixed on the picture.

"Ron, don't get mad at Hermione or me for--" Harry began as he stood up but Ron cut him off.

"HOW CAN YOU, HARRY, GET A KISS ON THE FIRST DATE WHEN I CAN'T GET A DATE! NEVER MIND! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU, HARRY, OR YOU HERMIONE!"

Ron stormed out of the common room leaving Harry and Hermione standing where they stood as the lot of the common room watched as Ron left before they all turned towards Harry and Hermione. Harry would have given anything to have them forget what Ron had said; even his Firebolt. Hermione pulled him out of the common room in order to also escape the scene. Harry knew that rumors would start to spread the next day as that the whole school would now know that they were a couple.