'Professor, you wanted to see me.' Hermione said as she entered McGonagall's office.
'Yes, indeed. I'm glad you manage to join me so quickly.'
'Did something happened?'
'We need to discuss a very delicate subject. Sit down, please.' Hermione took a sit in front of her House Head. She looked at her table. It was cover with newspapers. Very specific newspapers. She was embarrassed and confused. Is professor McGonagall going to talk to her about her love life?
'I imagine you realize that your relationship with Mr Potter is a very public issue.' She stated, watching her student carefully.
'I've never intended it to be, but I guess we should have predicted it.' But they didn't. She didn't. She had never imagined it would have gone so far.
'I assume you are smart enough to be aware of danger coming along with this.'
'I dare to think I've always been a target as I was close to Harry ever since he entered magical world. Being muggle born witch doesn't do me any favour, either.'
'No, it doesn't.' She admitted. 'But I invited you here because I would like to talk to you about your parents.'
'Did something happen to them?' She asked holding her breath.
'They're safe for now.' She reassured her. 'But I think we should take some further steps to provide their safety. I think Fidelius Charm can be useful here if you don't mind of course.'
'That would be brilliant! Professor, I'm really grateful that you suggested it.' Hermione was really touched. 'I was thinking about different ways to make sure they're safe during this madness, but I...' McGonagall silenced her with a wave of her hand.
'I shouldn't tell you this but it was Mr Potter's idea. To be honest, I'm really glad that from all the students here he chose you to be the closest to his heart. After everything, he went through he deserves someone strong and caring next to him, someone rose up in a loving environment, who can show him how a healthy relationship works.'
Hermione nodded her head. He really deserves all of it.
She left McGonagall's office felling so guilty that it was hardly bearable. Was she really so egocentric? Was she using Harry, playing with his feelings, misleading him and taking advantage on his pure heart?
It was Harry after all. Her best friend, she was sure he treated her just like a sister. Just like a sister. Was it even possible that he had any romantic feelings for her?
She just wasn't his type. She wasn't as beautiful and athletic as Cho and she definitely wasn't like Ginny, who became one of the hottest girls in Hogwart. He just couldn't fancy her. It was Harry after all. The boy who lived, the quidditch captain, the head of a DA.
No, she was wrong and she knew him too much to deceive herself. Deep inside he was neither of above. He was a parentless, pure boy, who lost too much in his short life.
Hermione came back to the common room with a heavy head. She spotted Harry, who was playing chess with Ron and not thinking twice she joined them.
'Hi' She greeted them, sat down next to Harry, kissed his cheek and placed her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and pull her closer.
'Are you ok?' He asked, not even trying to pretend that he was still focused on the chessboard. He cared about her. He cared about her so much, he was ready to ditched Ron in a blink of an eye. He'd never done it before. How could she ignore this change? How could she not notice it? Was she really so blind that she couldn't see what's right under her nose?
'Are you going to break up with me?'
'What?' Hermione asked clearly surprised.
'Do you want to end our fake thing?'
'Why are you suggesting something like this?
'Because we have expiration date, don't we? And you're acting a bit weird right now,'
'I just... ' She stopped, looked around and opened the closest door. They entered the small cupboard. It was a dusty place with broken stuff all over it. Should she just ask him? Can she do it? Can she push him to reveal his true feelings? Are there any feelings here at all?
'Hermione' He said, when the door closed and he leant his back against it.
'Just kiss me.' She ordered placing her palms on his chest. 'Just kiss me!' She repeated when he stood motionless. As he did nothing, she brushed her lips against his impatiently. Her fingers slowly moved to his neck and dove into his messy hair. He didn't push her back but he didn't involve himself either.
'What are we doing here?' He asked as soon as she took a step back. 'What do you want from me?'
'I've just told you.' She said hotly. 'I want you to kiss me. I want you to stop holding yourself back. I want you to touch me like we were in this for real.'
'Hermione, please' He said, trying to take a step back, but there was no place to go, no place to hide.
He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. Breath in and breath out. Her chest was moving against his chest when he moved and pressed her against the wall. He traced along her tight and rose her up. She crossed her legs over his waist making herself comfortable and moved her fingers up and down his neck.
She slowly closed her eyes, leaning to kiss him but when she opened them up again she was looking at the fireplace in the common room.
'What's the time?' She asked stirring a little. It was just a dream. Just a dream. She tried to hide her disappointment when she realized what's the reality and what's not.
'It's almost 4 am.' Harry answered watching her sleepy moves. She lifted her head, looked around the room and made herself comfortable against his body once again.
'Why didn't you wake me?'
'I don't know' He said moving his fingers along her arm. 'You just looked so peaceful... Erm... It just seemed right thing to do.' He explained slowly.
'It's after midnight so it's Valentine's Day and...' He started after a moment of silence but struggled to finish the sentence.
And this is it. The last day of our fake relationship. She didn't dare to say it out loud but all of a sudden she felt pretty miserable.
'And I have something for you.' He put a small box from his pocket.
'What is this?' She asked surprised. He gave her the box and encouraged her to open it. 'It's beautiful.' She took a bracelet and with shaking hands placed it over her wrist.
'It looks good on you.'
'Thanks' She mumbled, watching small charms hanging from the bracelet. There were couple of them: a golden snitch, a book, a cat which looks a lot like Crookshanks and a small H letter. 'I have nothing for you.'
'Don't worry, I'm just happy to see you smiling.' He said, making her heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and gently kissed his lips. 'But kissing is nice as well.' He added with a goofy smile.
'Harry?'
'Mhmm'
'Is this bad that I wish we had all of this for real?'
'You will have all of this for real, Hermione.' He said looking at the darkness behind the window. 'And even more than this with someone who you really, really like.'
'But what if...' She started but he interrupted her.
'It's really late. Should we go upstairs?'
'We definitely should.' She answered but didn't make any move. 'But can we stay like this for five more minutes as it's our last day and I just...'
'We can' He said kissing the top of her head. 'We can.'
