On a lazy Sunday afternoon, at the base of his favorite tree, overlooking the Great Lake: That's where Harry found himself, sitting beside his best friend Hermione… Well, Ron might have a thing or two to say about that but he was sleeping in.
Harry would have also loved to sleep in, but between the D.A., Hermione's hectic study schedule, and Umbridge being Umbridge; his homework was piling up, and Hermione being Hermione, she dragged him outside to both relax and do his homework. An oxymoron if there ever was one.
Of course, that wasn't the only thing in his mind.
"Harry, you've been staring at the same page for the past five minutes." Hermione's voice breaks through his thoughts.
Harry blinked a couple of times and slowly shifted his eyes to Hermione's, her eyebrows furrowed in a questioning manner.
A sigh escapes his lips, "Sorry Hermione, just a lot of thoughts slinking around my mind." He softly apologized, going back to the top of the book on his lap.
Hermione's gaze softened and she shifted a bit closer to him. Harry fights the urge to flinch but it was a close battle.
He loved moments like this. Just two students being students. Not a boy being hounded by an incompetent ministry and a girl being judged just because her blood was "impure." - Nevermind having a crazed snake-nosed murderer chasing after him - He wished moments like this would never end.
And that was when Fate decided to make him regret that wish.
"So Harry," Hermione tried to sound casual but even Harry knew what was coming was going to be anything but, "You've been coming back to the dorms late lately. Mind telling me why?"
Harry expected this, but nevertheless he never really thought of an actual excuse. Then again, he didn't really need to keep Lilith a secret right? But a selfish part of him wanted to, which was irrational; I mean it wasn't like Hermione was going to rat them out. Then again, this was something that needed to be kept in wraps, and he should introduce them to each other first.
But right now he needed to appease his friend's curiosity, his friend who was slowly poking his arm.
"Harry?" She said, as she continued to prod his right arm. Harry let out a soft chuckle, "Come on Hermione, you might dislocate my shoulder with those pokes." Hermione rolled her eyes and gave a last, strong poke. Which Harry responded by exaggeratedly falling down.
Hermione let out a soft laugh and Harry sat up and smiled. "Sorry, I know I've been kinda distant. I just let out a little steam at the Room of Requirement." Harry said. There, not the whole truth, but not a lie either. He was letting out steam on some days, it was just some of those days he spent it with Lilith, writing down names and watching the prefect's and head boy and head girl's routes when roaming the halls after dark.
And Lilith seemed to have no ill will towards him for what he did to hide from Malfoy, so that was a plus.
Hermione nodded none the wiser, "Well don't try to make a habit of it please. With Umbridge implementing more asinine decrees and Malfoy being more adamant in finding the D.A., it might be a good idea to not go out so late."
Harry huffed, "Come on Hermione, I have the cloak and the map. Nobody's gonna catch me unless I want them to."
"Yes well, what would happen if they decided to wait you out the whole night with you in there? There would be nobody to distract them for you to escape and they might get your cloak and map." Hermione argued.
Harry once again huffed but this time acknowledged that she was right, "Look I know it's dangerous, but I need to let off the pent up energy I get from Umbridge's constant digs at me and this is the only way without blowing up a whole classroom; which will get me caught too you know."
Hermione started to rebuttal but Harry beated her to the punch, "If you know another way for me to blow off some steam then please go ahead and tell me." Hermione's jaw hung for a bit before promptly closing with a snap. She sighed and amended by saying, "Fine. I'm just so… worried! I have been since you survived the Triwizard Tournament and getting attacked by Voldemort and now suddenly the news break that he comes back to life and the adults seem content with sticking their heads in the sand and-" As she babbled on Harry gave her a soft look and put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her mouth from spraying out any more words.
"Look, I'll try and be more careful alright? Just, let me have this for now." And as Harry finished, Hermione's eyes took on a small shine. She patted his hand on her shoulder and softly said, "Thank you."
Harry nodded and swerved his head back to his book, prompting Hermione to do the same.
Some time passed before Hermione once again asked Harry a question.
"Harry?"
"Yes Hermione?"
"Are you seeing someone?"
A frog croaks as the wind slightly breezes past...
"Wait what!?" Harry blustered out as his face blushed madly.
Hermione eyebrows go up from his sudden outburst and he knew the jig was up.
"So you have huh?" She smirked at him, "Well I'm a bit hurt that you haven't introduced me to her but I can see why you didn't yet."
Harry fumbles but lets out a response, "No I haven't! I am not dating anybody!"
Hermione rolled her eyes in disbelief, "Oh come on, you're not fooling me Harry. You've been smiling - more jubilant - these days and don't think I don't see your eyes wandering whenever we sit at the Great Hall."
'How can you be this obvious!' Harry berated himself mentally. Outwardly he decided to nip this at the bud, "Again, not dating anybody! Don't you think I have enough problems on my plate? I don't think I have enough space for a side of romance." He forcefully pointed out.
Hermione looked at him for a second, "Ok maybe you're not dating; but you do have a crush on someone." She amended, an expectant gaze at him.
Harry tried to deter her from that statement but ultimately decided to just let her have this one, "Fine, maybe I do have a bit of a… crush." Harry softly mumbled the last bit out self-consciously and Hermione excitedly clapped her hands and hugged the living daylights out of him.
"Oh my god Harry, that's wonderful! Who is it? Do I know her? Obviously not, if I can't figure out who it is and it isn't any of our housemates since you don't look at our housemates during lunch or dinner-" Harry stopped her again, this time putting his hand up to her mouth. An indignant stare from Hermione causes him to smile from amusement, "Alright Hermione, I'll let you speak again. If you let me have a word in, ok?"
Hermione begrudgingly nodded and as he let his hand off of her mouth he started to explain himself, "Look, it's just a stupid crush alright. Just like Cho, I'll probably make a fool out of myself if I ever tell her and it'll wane out soon enough." He said, trying to convince himself
more than anything; though the bit of pain from saying that statement in his chest was a bit of a give-away to his subconscious thoughts.
"Oh Harry, you can't base off every chance of love you can get from your experience from Cho." Hermione said comfortingly, knowing the boy's trouble with the ravenclaw girl, "You need to see first how she feels about you. You never know, she might actually like you back."
What happened at the end of one their reconnaissance session came to the forefront of his mind but he shook it off, "Maybe, but I'd rather go at my own pace, you know?" Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"I'm not asking you to get on your knees and propose to the girl." That statement made Harry blush, which was noticed by the frizzy-haired girl with a small, teasing smile, "I'm just saying you should talk to her; ask her to study with you; to help you with a spell. You never know until you try." She finished with her hand on Harry's, giving it a small squeeze of support.
Harry grinned, "Thanks, maybe I'll try going with your suggestions."
'I mean, being involved in a conspiracy to get Umbridge out of Hogwarts and reveal her corruption is skipping a few steps.' He mentally deadpanned to himself.
Hermione beamed and straightened the book on her lap, "Well that's enough of that now. You don't want an earful from Snape now do you?"
Harry snorted, "Oh, a complaint from Snape? I perish at the thought!" He dramatically stated. Which elicited a giggle from Hermione.
The time passed and after a few more minutes of page turning and quill scratching they packed up their things and made their return to the castle.
As Harry and Hermione made their way back to their dorm, Harry's gaze was at Hermione, talking about next week's D.A. meeting, when he looked at the hallway in front of him and saw the subject of his confession to Hermione.
Lilith strided forward with purpose, her eyes never even glancing at him; and as he brought his right hand out of his pocket to say hello, he belatedly realized Hermione's presence, who paused to look at him oddly.
But, as if Fate was asking for forgiveness for her actions from before, Lilith bumped into him slightly, so soft in fact he felt the piece of crumpled parchment enter his pocket from where his hand was placed before.
"Sorry." She mumbled out before walking away from him, her pace never relenting.
"Are you alright Harry?" Hermione asked him with slight worry.
Harry's focus returned to Hermione as he unconcernedly said, "Yeah, don't worry Hermione. It's not like a small bump will hurt me or anything." Hermione rolled her eyes but matched his pace as they continued to walk back to their dorm.
As the portrait behind them closes, they get ambushed by the third half of their trio, "Hermione, thank Merlin you're here! You've got to help me with my transfiguration essay! McGonagall will tear me to pieces if I don't pass it tomorrow!" Ron said pleadingly.
Hermione scoffed but relented as she put down her satchel next to their table in the Gryffindor common room, "Honestly Ronald you'd think you would have finally grown up and actually do your own homework." Though she said this with venom laced in her voice, her actions did not coincide with her words as she prepared the necessary supplies to help the red-head with his homework.
Harry sought out his chance and said, "Well I'll leave you two to it. I'm beat from getting the Hermione special." He joked, stretching his arms above his head.
Her eyes glared at him but a twinkle of amusement disabused him from thinking he actually offended her.
"Why are you letting him off?" Ron questioned, slightly envious of Harry's freedom from the torturous school work known as homework.
Hermione cuffed him slightly on the head, "Because unlike you, he actually did his homework instead of waiting for me to come back." Ron's sad grumble made both Hermione and Harry grin. He waved to both of them as he made his way to his room, and a returning wave from Hermione and a depressed one from Ron gave him a bit of mirth.
As he surveyed the room he sat on his bed, closing the curtains, before producing the crumpled note out of his pocket and read what was on it:
"Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Unused classroom near the astronomy tower. Bring your school schedule."
Harry smiled despite the lack of warmth from the message.
And as the day's events finally replayed in his mind. He finally had to admit to himself the horrible truth.
He had a crush on Lilith Moon.
Harry's body fell down to his bed with a slight puff from the covers of his bed. As he laid there for what seemed like hours, Hermione's words returned from their earlier conversation.
"She might like you back."
That isn't true, no way that could ever be true.
"You never know until you try."
And embarrass himself in front of the girl of his infatuated heart? No way!
Lilith's ears were red, as if she was…
That last thought stumped him. Maybe, if he was lucky enough. If life finally gave him a chance at happiness… Just maybe…
He quickly brought his hands to his face with a resounding slap!
That was when he decided to actually try; to let his heart take over; to attempt to woo the woman of his dreams; to try and win the heart of Lilith Moon!
I mean, it wasn't as hard as slaying a basilisk or outflying a dragon right?
But the quickened beating of his heart at his bold declaration to himself said otherwise.
A/N: Ron appears! Shorter chapter than usual so have an early update! Reviews and constructive criticisms welcome as always.