I'm sorry for not updating sooner!
Disclaimer: I only own the shirt I have on and a taco.
Chapter Two: Blue Flecks
(Harry's POV)
I can't believe she's back. And as the new teacher no less!
Finding out that she's actually Dumbledore's granddaughter was shocking. Now that I think about it, when she left he did look a lot less happy.
But what about the Grangers; are they her adopted parents only or are they wizards too?
Thinking about this makes my head hurt.
No, I'm not retarded and that my brain hurts when I'm thinking- I wasn't named Head Boy for nothing- it's just that finding out that your former girlfriend is the granddaughter of the person who you as well consider as a grandfather is overwhelming.
I wonder how she'll act around me.
Maybe she'll treat me the exact same way Ginny does.
Ginny always had that cold indifference towards me ever since Hermione left. And she only got hurt because of extension unlike Hermione who I really did harm emotionally.
Oh crap… she's coming over here! I'm not mentally prepared for this yet, what am I gonna do! Maybe I ca-
Wow.
She's really beautiful.
Even more beautiful than two years ago; and she was already stunning back then. Probably the most beautiful person I've ever met.
(Normal POV)
Hermione finished eating her dinner and excused herself from the other teachers. She headed towards her former House table and waved happily to her friends. Before she could even utter a greeting though,
"Hermione!"
Two redheads jumped from their seats and engulfed the girl in a bear hug. Neither seemed willing to let go.
"I'm happy that you guys missed me and all but I do have to breathe you know."
The two let go and smiled sheepishly at their estranged friend. She smiled warmly at them and the duo immediately lit up again.
"I can't believe that you didn't write and tell us that you'd be coming back!" Ron exclaimed, ushering the girl to seat beside him. She sat down between the siblings and bit her lower lip, it was a gesture that most of the people around her remember her do when she was focused on her work or when she was fighting back a smile, and the latter seemed to be the reason now.
"I'm sorry my letters are next to zilch but my travels the last year and a half have kept me so busy, plus I wanted to surprise you guys." She answered jovially. Ginny grinned at her,
"Of course we forgive you. We knew that when you left that you might not be able to write to us as much we would've wanted but hey, you're here now and that's all that matters. Thanks for the necklace you sent last Christmas by the way."
That was all that needed to break the ice. Soon everyone was talking about everything that happened while Hermione wasn't there and quarried her about her change of appearance and Dumbledore's announcement. Harry was more reticent than garrulous though.
The night drew to a close and only the chatting Gryffindors were left in the Great Hall; with the exception of some of the teachers of course.
"Its getting late you guys, maybe you should retire to the Gryffindor tower now." Hermione-always-the-responsible-one said while standing up from her seat.
"What about you 'Mione? Where are you gonna sleep?" Neville asked, also standing up while the rest of their friends followed suit.
"I don't actually know. I better ask Grandpa so he'll tell me where …" She trailed of while heading towards the staff table.
The moment she was out of earshot the gang turned to Harry.
"What?"
"How do you feel mate?" Ron asked his friend cautiously.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?
"Well, we didn't know how you'll react when you saw her again after…you know." Lavender said.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Harry asked loudly trying to act confused.
"Don't raise your voice Harry, we're still in the Great Hall and your voice would echo if you did." Hermione chastised as she headed towards them.
"Hey 'Mione, so… where are you staying?" Ginny asked as they made their way out of the Great Hall.
At the Gryffindor girls' dorm for tonight; Grandpa said I arrived too early and that my room isn't ready yet." She answered and suddenly looked at themwhen they stopped in front of the Fat Lady, "Does anyone know the password?"
"It's Kelshandri. Anyone know what that is?" Harry inquired.
Hermione smiled, "It's a wonderful place that's not found around here. Bet you anything it was Grandpa who made the password."
"Blimey! She didn't change at all, still knows everything." Dean said once they entered the common room. It was pretty much empty except for a few third years who were chatting in a corner. It was only then that they realized how late it was and how long they actually stayed at the Great Hall.
"Well I'm beat. I'm gonna go sleep now." Ron told everyone and kissed Hermione on the forehead before treading up the boys' stairs,
"G'night everyone."
"You know, it's kinda weird that Ron kisses Hermione good night but not Ginny." Seamus said in his thick Irish accent.
Ginny chuckled,
"Not really, Ron and I just aren't that kind of brother and sister. I mean, were close but we aren't the kiss good night and kiss good morning type of siblings."
Everyone else just laughed.
Less than an hour later it was just Harry and Hermione left in the common room.
Hermione was reading a book she got out of nowhere and Harry was lying in front of the fire discreetly looking at her. At least he thought he was discreet.
"You know Harry, it's rude to stare." Hermione said without even taking her eyes out of the book.
Harry's eyes widened as his mind panicked.
Hermione sighed and put down the heavy tome and looked at him- truly looked at him- for the first time in almost two years. She smiled at his flustered appearance and stood up from the couch before sitting down again but this time on the floor in front of her former best friend.
"What's wrong?"
Harry gulped but stayed quiet and just looked at his ex-girlfriend. She didn't look like the Hermione he dated back in fifth year; her hair changed and so did her eyes.
"It's just… it's just that I never told you good bye or apologize for that matter." He whispered.
She nodded and looked down, breaking their intense gaze in the process.
"Its okay, I got over it and now I'm back." She answered just as softly. Slowly, she raised her head and faced him again.
The boy she once trusted her life with.
The boy who cheated on her.
The boy who broke her heart into a million pieces.
The boy that caused her to leave her school, her home.
The boy she first fell in love with.
The boy she still loved.
He looked at her as well and tried to read her eyes. But alas! She showed nothing and hid all. All he could see were brilliant but empty silver eyes.
"Harry… we could be friends again you know, just not as close as we use to be." She said quietly.
He nodded but not once did he break their eye contact. He was still trying to find emotion in her eyes; he didn't want to think that he had hurt her so deeply that she forced herself to hide her feelings from him.
They just sat their and stared at each other, neither noticing the time.
The huge grandfather clock found in the common room chimed-signaling to those present that it was midnight- and shattered the silence that engulfed the pair.
Hermione suddenly brightened up and startled Harry. He was surprised to see that the Hermione he had been staring at for the last half hour was gone and was replaced with the Hermione he once knew. The Hermione who was always happy and whose eyes sparkled every time she was excited about something or had learned something new.
"You better go to sleep now Harry, you still have classes tomorrow and I wouldn't want you to fall as sleep during Potions now, would I?"
"I guess you're right, like always." He answered good-naturedly while standing up. He looked down at her for a moment better helping her up so she could stand to her full height- which only reached a little bit past his nose.
"What about you? Shouldn't you be going to bed as well?"
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. I'll go out for awhile but I'll be back."
"Hmm…" He was leaning towards her, their lips were so close to each other that a just a few centimeters more, they would be kissing. It was an act out of habit; a kiss on the lips good night when they were still dating.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, her breath tickling his lips making him lean even closer,
"We can't."
That was all it took. Harry immediately pulled back and for the third time that night, he panicked.
"Her-" he was about to say he was sorry when she cut him off.
"It's okay."
He looked at her and smiled. When she smiled back, he noticed something. Her eyes had blue in them. They were almost unnoticeable because of the silver, but they were quite luminous if one truly looked at them.
Metallic blue.
That was the shade of blue found in her eyes. They were a darker hue than Dumbledore's but Harry could only assume that the old headmaster's eyes had faded through the years and that Hermione got those flecks of blue from them.
"Good night Harry." She said before kissing him on the cheek. Turning around, she didn't look back at the amazed look that grazed the boy's face and disappeared behind the portrait.
"Good night Hermione" Harry whispered to the air before retreating to the Head Boy's room.
Once again, I am SO sorry! It was the first week of class and it was so hard to adjust to a way more hectic schedule than what I'm used to. This is probably a crappy chapter coz I'm being rushed so I'm warning you ahead of time.
Anyway, thanks for all of those who reviewed and encouraged me to continue writing this fic. So please, continue to Read and Review!