The pictures...

Hermione heard a thump from upstairs. She ran over to the stairs knowing the sound came from Harry's room. She ran up the stairs and opened the bedroom door. Harry was crouched in a corner in a tight little ball. Hermione went over. "Is everything all right?"

Hermione felt stupid. Why had she even asked? She could tell he wasn't all right, something was wrong and she knew he wouldn't tell her what. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with tears. "I'm fine. Sorry, did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "No, I wasn't even asleep."

He nodded. Hermione walked over to the corner he was in and put out her hand. Harry took it and she led him over to the bed. They sat down and Hermione put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you really okay?"

Why did she have to be so stupid? She could plainly see he didn't want to talk about it. But he was her friend. Damn it. Why did she have to care about him so much?

Harry looked like he was going to move away from her, but he must have thought better of it because he didn't. "Please. I don't want to talk about it."

Hermione felt scared. What could have happened to him to make him like this. He was always the strong one of the group. Hermione had never known him anything other than strong. "I'm sorry. I'll just go downstairs and go to sleep."

Harry looked up into her eyes. "Please don't go. I want to hear about your summer. What did you do? Who did you see?"

Hermione sighed and took her arm from his shoulder. He looked a little relieved. "We went to America. It was interesting. Did you know they have a wizarding school there that is disguised as a real school."

"Really!"Harry said actually looking interested.

"Yeah I went to visit it whiloe my parents were at Yosemite Park. Their school goes year round. I can't believe that the teachers can handle that. They knew about all my scores on my tests and they asked me if I could come teach there after I graduate. I told them maybe. What do you think I should do?"

Harry stared at her amazed. "So you might move to America?"

Hermione did not expect that kind of a reaction. She didn't know what to say. "I don't know. Probably not."

"No, you should! I mean we only have one more year and that S.P.E.W. thing hasn't been going too well." Harry smiled. "I think you'd make a great teacher. You've definately taught me a lot."

Hermione smiled sheepishly. "Thanks, but I'd be so far from you."

Harry stared amazed and she relized what she had just said. "And Ron. And my family."

"Yeah, you're right. But you know you can't give up something that you know you'd love to do." Harry said taking her hand.

Hermione stared at his hands over hers. "Um yeah. Right. I guess we'll see."

Harry took his hands from hers. "Did you, um see Ron over the Summer?"

"Yeah, I did see him once. Didn't you?" Hermione stared and was surprised when Harry shook his head no. Ron had come to her house over in early July. He had been getting ready to go to Harry's to invite him to Bill and Fleurs wedding. The wedding was next week. Why would Ron not go to invite Harry?

"Maybe your uncle wouldn't let him in." Hermione suggested.

Harry nodded, but he wouldn't look up into her eyes. "Yeah, maybe."

Harry looked really self conscious as he scooted a little farther from her. "I'm so sorry I haven't eaten with your family downstairs. At home I always ate upstairs in my room. I guess I kind of like eating in my room."

Hermione scooted a little closer to Harry. "I don't think anyone minds. Would you mind if I ate with you up here tomorrow?"

Harry smiled and he actually looked pleased with the idea. "Sure, I'd love that. I mean, that sounds cool."

Hermione looked over to where she had put the chest just yesterday. She saw the papers still scattered all over the floor. "Oh my gosh the pictures. I forgot all about them, I'm sorry."

Harry smiled, but it wasn't a true smile. "It's okay."

"No it's not. I told you I'd fix them so I will."Hermione stood up and went over to the pile of ruined pictures. She picked up a few pieces and waved her wand. Some pieces from the floor flew up and there were three whole pictures in her hand. She handed them to Harry.

She picked up some more and did it again, and this time there were five pictures in her hand. She stopped and gasped looking at the first picture, which was actually a drawing. It was her, she could tell that. And she looked beautiful. In the drawing she was asleep.

Hermione turned to Harry. "Did you draw this?"

Harry nodded and looked down. "I drew this in class one time when I was bored."

Hermione smiled. "It's very beautiful. I didn't know you could draw."

Harry took the picture and looked at it. "I usually can't, but this one turned out pretty well. I don't know if it really looks like you or not, I know I'm not a great artist...

"It looks exactly like me. I can't believe you did this. Why?"

"Like I said. I was bored." Harry said matter of factly.

"Oh. You should draw more often." Hermione said and she went back over to the pile of ripped up pictures. She picked a few more up and waved her wand. She was surprised though to find a picture of her on the top. It wasn't even a drawing, it was an actual picture.

The picture was pretty, but Hermione didn't remember ever having her picture taken over by the lake with merpeople jumping up behind her. In fact Hermione hadn't sat by the lake like that at sunset. Hermione brought the picture over to Harry. "Where did you get this?"

"Oh that old thing." Harry said calmly. "You know when Colin came and he was taking all those pictures in our second year. Well he came to me, since I'm his hero," Harry made a wierd face. "and he showed me his pictures he had taken. I actually saw this picture of you in his pile and asked if I could have it. Of course he said yes."

"How. I've never sat out by the lake before." Hermione mentioned and pointed to the picture. "They wouldn't have allowed it so close to night time."

Harry smiled mischeviously. "Actually I asked him if he could put a different backround on it because it was actually you in front of the classroom. He said he had just learned how to change the backround so it could match the individual. I asked him to please do it."

"Why did he choose the lake?" Hermione asked wonderingly.

"Actually I chose the lake." Harry said and his cheeks flamed red. "He had asked me what I wanted for the backround, so I told him the lake."

"Wow. That's so cool. Why did you want a picture of me?" Hermione figured she knew the answer, maybe he liked her as much as she liked him!

"Oh I just wanted a picture of each of my friends. See I have one of Ron too." Harry pulled out a picture of Ron Hermione had never seen before. It was a funny picture of Ron, his face was red and he looked like he was going to burst. At that moment Hermione remembered the slug incident.

"That was from when Ron defended me, wasn't it?" Hermione pointed out.

"Yes, it was." Harry said akwardly.

Hermione knew she'd never finish if she didn't continue so she went back to work fixing the pictures.. She wasn't surprised that a lot of the pictures were of his parents, but what she was surprised about was how many there were of her. There was quite a few, but Hermione knew better than to ask.

Finally half an hour later she was finished and she handed the last ones to Harry. "There you go. All of them are like brand new."

Harry smiled. "Thanks." Harry turned away, but suddenly turned back. "Hermione, I uh, I...actually, never mind."

Hermione stared. "No, what did you want to say?"

"Um... Do you think you mom would let me cook supper tomorrow? I mean I should do something to earn my keep." Harry asked, but Hermione could tell that wasn't really what he wanted to say.

"Oh, I'm sure she would." Hermione said. She knew her mother wouldn't say no.

"Great. I think I'll get to bed. See you in the morning." Harry got up and led her to the door. And Hermione could have almost swore he whispered, 'love ya.' before closing the door. Perhaps it was just her imagination.