Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter/Wizarding World. They were all created by the genius that is J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reading and enjoying my story. I'm trying to get everything tied up with the Half-Blood Prince and move on to The Deathly Hallows which should be fun.
Chapter 12: Stolen Moments
As she had every night since Harry had told her about the Horcrux, Hermione had spent every hour she had available in the library trying to find any bit of information on them that she could. Unfortunately every time she came across the term it was followed by 'a magic so dark that we dare not mention it here' or something along those lines. When the vilest books that were in the library, wouldn't give you any information, that said a lot. It was a little disheartening, she almost felt like she did in their first year at Hogwarts, when she was trying to find out about the Sorcerer's Stone with no luck. She mentally reminded herself that she didn't give up then, or any other time that the information they needed was hard to find, she most certainly wouldn't do it now. After bidding Madam Pince a good night ,she gathered her things and headed towards the Gryffindor tower.
Harry was sitting at the couch in front of the fire in the deserted common room when Hermione came back juggling a stack of books. He grinned a little before standing up to help her. "A little light reading?" he said in a teasing tone.
"A little." She said trying to sound annoyed but failing. "How's Ron doing?"
"Better…I think he's starting to put on a bit. He's enjoying the attention he's getting from Lavender and everyone else." Harry said as they set back down at the couch. "What's all of this?" He gestured to the books.
"Well so far I have been able to find anything about the," she lowered her voice, "Horcruxes. I mean I've found mention of them but all I know is that they're a very dark magic. Even the books praising the dark arts are afraid to mention them. These are a few books that I hadn't got to check before Madam Pince kicked me out for the evening."
"I wish I could figure out how to get the memory from Slughorn. After my last ambush tactic he's made sure not to be alone with me." Harry raked his hand through his hair.
"What about Vertitaserum?" Hermione turning to face him and tucking her legs under her.
Harry shook his head. "I suggested it to Dumbledore. He said that Slughorn would expect something like that and would be able to counter act it."
"Well Harry, Dumbledore wouldn't have given you the task if it was impossible." She reached over and too his hand in her own.
"Can we not dwell on this right now?" he asked a little sharper than he meant to.
Hermione nodded, any other time she'd remind him that they really needed to figure this out. The defeated look in his eyes however kept her from saying anything. Instead she set their things on the floor and curled up in his lap laying her head against his chest. "Better?" she asked smiling up at him.
"Loads." He wrapped his arms around her before leaning down to kiss her.
She purred softly against his lips before opening her mouth teasing his with the tip of her tongue causing him to groan. Harry grabbed her by her hips pulling her to straddle him causing her skirt to bunch up. She broke the kiss and gasped when she felt him pressed against her. "Harry." She moaned softly before kissing him again. Harry undid the top buttons on her shirt trailing nips and kisses down the delicate column of neck, grinning against her skin when he felt her pulse jump.
Hermione leaned her head to the side as she closed her eyes and bit her lip to keep from moaning loudly. The last thing she wanted was for someone to hear them and come to check to see what if everything was okay. She knew that they shouldn't be doing this…not that they were really doing anything. It seemed like she and Harry hadn't really had any time together since they'd come back to the school after the Christmas holidays. Even while they were at the Burrow and even then it was a few stolen moments in the garden it had never been anything like this. It was then that Hermione knew that what she and Harry had it wasn't just 'want' it was 'need'. They needed each other and at times it was almost desperate. Gently she cupped his face in her hands and looked up at him her brown eyes burned into his green ones, "I love you Harry." She said kissing him tenderly.
Before Harry had a chance to reply the portrait hole swung opened. "I'm completely cured!" Ron exclaimed walking into the room.
Hermione's face turned bright red she practically jumped off of Harry's lap and righted her clothes. "That's wonderful Ronald….I'm just gonna….go to bed now." She was holding her shirt together with one hand as she gathered her books and then ran up the spiral tower staircase to the girl's dorms.
"Did I…interrupt something?" Ron asked his voice full of amusement.
"I hate you Ron." Harry said his head dropping against the back of the couch in frustration. "I really….really hate you."
