Harry and Hermione - Chapter 7 - Hello Babe
It is not the time Hermione would have chosen to have this discussion. She was already feeling rather fraught about her parents but this - either way, if it signalled that Harry was feeling the same way about her as she felt about him or even if he had misspoken. Hermione could not move past this until it had been resolved. She couldn't have him randomly calling her babe, no. Even if she liked it. Hermione had accepted that she might need to relax more but that didn't mean she was suddenly going to start walking around in her panties.
Meanwhile Harry had tried and failed. He had tried to repress his feelings for Hermione. He had tried to deny that he had said it. He had tried to excuse that he had said it. Hermione had that look in her eye and he knew he would have to come clean. He felt terrible about the timing of it, just when she was already keyed up about possibly seeing her mother. He hoped she was going to be able to get past this because he didn't like the thought of a life without Hermione in it at all.
"It's just come over me so suddenly, Hermione. I am sorry, I didn't mean to say it." began Harry.
"You didn't mean it?"
"Wait, Hermione, this is going to get out of hand. Let me speak. I didn't mean to say it, which is different to not having meant it." He ducked his head, now more pink than Hermione.
"So you meant it in your mind but just not out of your mouth?" she clarified.
"Exactly." Harry knew she would understand, Hermione always did.
"That doesn't explain why you are calling me 'babe' in your mind, Harry?"
"Oh," Harry disappointed not have escaped further humiliation. Taking a deep breath, he decided that the policy he used when communicating with Ginny was the right one, not that he had heard back from her, but that was beside the point.
"I just realised last week, in St Kilda, when we were having lunch. It was the way you laughed, and your hair and the sun was shining on you and you said that 'it wouldn't feel like study if I don't have someone to disapprove of'. I just realised that I love you, Hermione. You are the one. For me, I mean. And I wasn't going to say anything because of your parents and I know you don't feel the same… I just sort of..."
"Harry Potter, if you don't kiss me right now…" Hermione said.
Blinking in disbelief Harry had to almost force himself to lean over and softly plant his lips on hers, breathing in as he did so, he could smell the scent of her beautiful hair, he just wanted to feel it all over him. Pull yourself together man - from one extreme to another!
As he fought his way out of oblivion and back to reality, Harry noticed that Hermione was kissing him back, her hand curled around the back of his neck holding him closely. When they parted it was difficult to know who was grinning the more brightly.
"So apparently you have been waiting for me to call you babe?" asked Harry, keen to hear Hermione say that she cared about him in a way that was not entirely platonic and she described to him her feelings and how they came about.
"Oh no, what about poor Ginny?" Hermione asked suddenly remembering her friend.
"She knows" said Harry and told an amazed Hermione how he had written to her the same afternoon explaining that he had suddenly found that he had feelings for Hermione and that he was very sorry.
"Oh dear she must be having a terrible time, what with Fred gone, George, her parents and Ron acting like a tyrant." Hermione was wondering if and or when would be a good time to reach out to her friend. "Let's not go to see mum today. I feel like I've just been run over by a very lovely steam roller. Can we go and lie under a tree or something?"
The next day Hermione knew that she could face whatever the day had in store for her, whether these Wilkins' were her parents or not. Harry had always been in her corner, on her side and her friend but suddenly the world felt a little brighter than yesterday and that was due to the fact that Harry was no longer only her friend but her partner. And Harry felt bursting on the inside. He had been feeling particularly optimistic about his future recently, even when he had had no idea what that future held. But now his future held Hermione and that was reason enough to be joyful.
Harry would always be grateful to the Weasley's, perhaps even to Ron. He would always be sorry about Fred and there for George. And would always be fond of Ginny, who was as bright, clever, feisty and courageous as any of them. But he was no longer that small orphan boy, mistreated by his relative, starved for attention and affection, needing and seeking a place in the Weasley's family. They had taken him in generously, but he had never truly been one of them. But now he was one of two, and they would have their own family and he would never be alone again.