Disclaimer: Once again, I own not the characters of J.K. Rowlings masterpiece, I just wish I do.
Chapter Two: Star Gazing
Harry's POV
"The smell of burning flesh and rotted corpses fouled the air, filling my nostrils with the horrendous smell. Limbs lay strewn across the village, lying in piles aflame, hanging from trees with blood dripping off fingertips like water dripping down from a faucet. I suppose I should have felt at the very least, a small tinge of remorse, or regret at the sight that lay before me, but I felt nothing. I'd completed my task, carried out my orders. The woman who'd betrayed me was dead, along with everyone who'd been close to my heart. I took another look around me then turning, walked away before someone had the chance to see the smoke of the fires."
Professor Harry J. Potter closed the book and set it down on the stool in front of him. His emerald eyes shining, he gazed around his stunned class. He'd been right when he assumed they'd be shocked when he brought the book, George Tyler: The Story of A Murderer in to read aloud. A slow smile spread across his face as his eyes fell on the one student whom he knew had enjoyed the story, his Goddaughter Leena. Fourteen year-old Leena was incredibly bright, though a bit on the morbid side. She always enjoyed hearing him read novels containing murder, or some poor soul being tortured, or both!
"Leena, can you….enlighten the rest of the class as to why Tyler committed all these dastardly things?" Her eyes brightened as her Godfather called on her and she straightened immediately in her seat.
"He was misunderstood, not to mention betrayed. The one woman he'd ever loved had betrayed him, committing adultery on him. He gave up everything for her: his family, his career, almost his life. And she had the bloody nerve to be unfaithful to him." The girl shrugged before flicking her long black and blue hair over her shoulder and adding, "It was enough to drive him over the edge with rage. Killing became his game. Treachery, lies, and murder became his life." Leena concluded with a firm nod of her head. While others gaped still at the brutality of the story, she continued smiling, pleased with her accomplishment.
"Very nicely put!" Harry exclaimed and gave her a small round of applause. Just then, a shrill ring echoed through the school, signaling the end of the school day. "Now, I want you to read the next section of the book, and take notes! We'll discuss them tomorrow in class." He called out over the rustle of papers being shoved into binders and book-bags being zipped closed. He gathered his own things, lingering on a photo he kept hidden away in the stack of papers. Smiling slightly, he ran a finger over the dazzling woman in the photo, over her smiling face, rich chocolate coloured slightly frizzy hair. She had been his first love….Hermione Granger.
Harry had kept the photo for years, not wanting to part with it. It was his last reminder of the girl he'd fallen so desperately in love with years ago at Hogwarts. He could still recall the fight that had ended their relationship so abruptly, but rarely ever allowed his thoughts to stray to it. While they'd still remained friends, mostly because of Ron, their relationship with each other had never been the same. Alone with each other they had hardly talked at all. An awkward silence had always enveloped them, causing them to say nothing to each other, at least until Ron returned. Once seventh year had ended, Hermione had been a bit more open with him; at least she'd stopped throwing things at him anyway. They'd shared the famous, "I'll write you all the time!" speech, but that of course….failed, and slowly but surely, the three best friends fell out of touch with one another. Sighing, he closed up his folder and headed for the door, stopping only to flick off the light switch and then he walked out, back to his own lonely house.
Later that same evening, after picking at his dinner, Harry lay on a hill in the local park, gazing up at the stars. He'd done this so many times as a boy, though he'd had to sneak out of the house without his aunt and uncle hearing him. Looking at the stars, he almost felt….normal. As though the fights with Lord Voldemort had never happened, like his parents were inside the house, his mum sewing and his father reading the paper, or whatever it was parents did. The stars had always been the one thing he could count on not to change. The Big Dipper would always be there to guide him home, Orion's Belt hanging in the sky, granting courage into his heart, urging him to carry on with the pathetic existence he called life.
Turning on his side he saw a young woman running across the park, a small girl dangerously close behind her. As she neared a small patch of dark green grass she ran a little faster and flinging her hands out in front of her, executed a perfect round-off, followed by five backhand springs. Harry instantly sat up. He knew those backhand springs, the form in which the woman performed them. He'd taught them to a girl himself seven years ago. Could it be? Was she really down there? He had to find out, had to know if it truly was Hermione down there, flipping away for the small child. Getting to his feet, he took off down the hill, stopping behind a tree, and peering out at the woman. She had her back to him, and straight brown hair fell halfway down her back. His heart fell a little from his chest to his stomach. Herms had never been able to get her hair straight, it couldn't be her.
No sooner had the thought flitted 'cross his mind did the mysterious woman turn, revealing her identity to him. Before he could stop himself he sprung up into the hair and let out a WHOOP! It was her! After all these years, he'd finally seen her again, dancing in the park! Instantly, he covered his mouth and his eyes widened.
Sure Potter, give yourself away! He mentally chided at himself and shrank back into the shadows. The LAST thing he wanted was for Hermione to find out he was there. No, he'd time their reunion perfectly. They'd meet in a much more public place, where she was less likely to slap him or something. And this time, after he'd gotten her back, he wouldn't let her go.
Hermione's POV
"Ahh!" Hermione shrieked and spun around to face a small patch of trees where the scream had emanated from. "What the bloody hell was that!" She exclaimed as her eyes darted nervously around. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw a shadow moving in the trees, a tall person like shape backing away from her slowly.
"'Ello?" she called out, taking a few wary steps towards the trees. Selene, the little girl she was entertaining for her cousin, huddled closer to her leg, looking at up her with wide, fearful eyes. "'Mione? What was that?" Selene had never been able to say 'Hermione' correctly, and it warmed Hermione's heart to hear the little girl call her by her school nickname. The last person who'd called her that had been Harry, when they'd gone out. Even though the painful memory still haunted her, she'd long since forgiven Potter, never having been able to hold a grudge against anyone for very long.
Hermione turned her attention back to the strange noise. She took Selene into her arms and walked slowly into the trees. Looking around, she didn't see anything or anybody but to appease the little girl in her arms, continued checking the trees. After a few minutes, with no sign of anything strange, she cooed softly to Selene and exited the forest. "Come on baby, there's nothing to be afraid of here. Probably just an animal or something looking for food. We need to get home and get to sleep. The book signing is tomorrow and we've got to be there bright and early for mummy!" she told her in a soft voice. She couldn't help but glance over her shoulder as she walked further away from the woods and as she did, noticed a head poking out from behind a tree. Emerald green eyes peered out at her and she almost stopped, before she remembered Selene in her arms and how it might worry her if they stopped. She felt Selene squirm in her arms and muttered a soft reassurance to her. When she looked back at the trees, the eyes were gone.
Harry's POV
So, they were going to a book signing. A perfect opportunity for him to 'accidentally' run into Hermione. My god, he was surprised at how much he'd missed her over the years, missed being in the same room as her! But all that would change now, because he's see her tomorrow!
"Well Mr. Potter, you've succeeded in finding out where Hermione Granger, the one girl you've wanted to see for years, is going to be tomorrow? What are you going to do now?" Harry deepened his voice, pretending to be a news reporter and responding to his own question. "I'm going to go to bed, get rested and tomorrow, sweep Hermione off her feet!" He started to run; not stopping until he reached the hill his house was perched on and stood on the top, letting the wind sweep his hair back. His eyes shining, he let out another loud WHOOP, and started singing random songs of joy. At last he ended his celebration and collapsed into his bed, Hermione's face floating across his mind and into his dreams.