Disclaimer: I own Nothing.

Chapter 3

Harry was sleeping soundly when suddenly, a great pain overtook him and his eyes bolted open. Hermione was there sitting on top of him, smiling.

"Wakie, wakie, Harry," she said cheerfully.

Harry grunted and closed his eyes. "This is a dream. I'm dreaming. I'm going back to sleep."

His eyes then opened again. "Oof," he gasped as Hermione jumped on him.

"C'mon, wake up, you promise me remember."

"Alright," Harry said between breaths. "Just...stop...get off."

"Yippy," Hermione said jumping off. "Hurry, c'mon you promised." Hermione was then pulling him off the bed.

"I said alright," Harry said sounding annoyed. He push the covers away and got up. Putting his shoes on, Hermione stood their impatiently. The moment Harry was finished, Hermione grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen. She slowed down when they neared Mrs. Black portrait.

Hermione then turned her fearful eyes to Harry. She placed her finger on her lips. "Shhhh."

Harry just nodded as he tried to contain his laughter. It was weird seeing Hermione act this way but he couldn't help but find it funny.

"What exactly did I promised?" Harry asked once they were in the kitchen.

"You said you were going to make me a pancake-cake today."

"A what?" Harry said cofusingly.

"A pancake-cake."

"You mean pancakes?"

Hermione shooked her head. "No a pancake-cake."

"Hermione...I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not sure if that's even a dish. Did you make that up?"

"Nuh-uh, momma makes it for me all the time."

Harry just stood there for a moment and ran his hand through his hair. He gave a sigh, "Here, why don't you tell me what is a pancake...uh...cake and i'll try to make it."

"Okie-dokie. Well you stack up four pancakes together with syrup in between each one and then you put wip cream on the top with a strawberry and tadda you have a yummy pancake-cake."

"Okay...um...I'll go make that...you just sit down."

Hermione then sat down obidiently while humming to herself. She turned her head to glance everywhere in the dining room. Harry was in the kitchen making pancakes. He was a able to hear her humming Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Without knowing he smiled to himself. Hermione then started humming other kids songs, but Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was heard more often. After a while, Harry then made his way to the kitchen with a plate of pancake-cake and set it in front of Hermione. Hermione smiled and looked up at him.

"I'm guessing you want me to help you with it."

Hermione nodded and Harry went to get a fork for himself, a butter knife, and two glasses of milk. Hermione only wanted a slice so Harry cut it for her, but they still ate off the same plate. Hermione was smiling and eating peacefully. Harry just looked a her. She did eat like a little girl. She had a milk mustache and whip cream around her mouth. When Hermione was finished, Harry send her upstairs to clean up and get dressed. Harry was then relieved that the incident of before didn't repeat itself. This time, Hermione had decided in a simple black blouse and jeans.

Harry was sitting on the couch again, reading a quidditch magazine, when Hermione came down. Ignoring her, Harry went back to his reading. But it turned out he couldn't. He could feel her staring at him. He tried concentrating on the article on the Chudley Canons but was unable to. This was unbearable. Frustrated, he put the magazine down, and looked at Hermione. She was sitting on her knees right before him. Her hands rested on her knees as she made no attempt to say anything. She merely just kept staring at him, while twitching her head slightly to the right and looking at him questionly.

"What?" Harry snapped.

Hermione then leaned back, startled by Harry that she lost her balance and fell back. "Whoa...ahh...oof." Hermione sat up rubbing her back and head. "Owie."

"Watch yourself," Harry said as he kneeled beside her. Hermione just looked up at him. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.

Hermione was on her knees again, her hands resting on them, with her head slowly bowed. She waited silently.

Harry's laughter then subsidded. His heart then sanked when he saw Hermione's reaction. Nearing her he spoke. "Um...listen...I didn't mean to laugh at you Hermione."

"I...I don't like it when people laugh at me," Hermione said softly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Hermione stayed silent. Harry brought his hand to the back of his head and sighed as he tried a different approach. "I'm guessing you're bored so what do you want to do? Read? Play? How about wizard's chess?"

Hermione then chuckled and looked up at Harry. "Wizard's Chess, no way. Kids shouldn't be playing that. It's so violent and monstrous. But I do like reading."

'Yup that's Hermione alright.' Harry then smiled in relief, happy that he would be able to get back reading the magazine. "Reading it is then." He then just grabbed some radom book that Hermione often laid laying around the house so she would always have a book in every room of Grimauld place. "Here," Harry said handing her the book.

Hermione looked at it. "Mmm...The...Dark Arts?"

Harry's eyes grew wide and he grabbed the book out of her hands. "Um...maybe I should get you another book."

"Well you're the one that gave it to me," Hermione said matter of factly.

Harry just stayed quiet and returned to the couch. Hermione chuckled. "Hey I know!" she exclaimed bolting up and jumping to Harry's side.

"What?" Harry said looking curiously at her.

"Why don't you tell me a story. I love stories."

"Um...how about I just read you something from this magazine?" Harry suggested holding up the magazine.

She snorted. "Yeah, I bet any four year old girl would like that." she said sarcastically.

"Well what do you want me to do?" he sounded annoyed.

Hermione then leaned on her elbow, her finger tapped her cheek as she went into thinking mode. Moments later, a smile appeared upon her face. "The Little Mermaid."

"Huh?" Harry asked.

"I want to hear the story of the little mermaid." She looked up at him intently as she shifted in the sofa to be facing him with her legs crossed.

"Um...okay. I'll try." Harry then tried his best telling the story. Not once did Hermione tear her gaze off him. He also wasn't sure if he was telling it right but Hermione didn't seem to mind. Though she did interrupted him at the beginning when he started telling her the Disney version. She said she prefered the Hans Christian Anderson original. Harry then came to the climax and finished the story dramatically. It would seem he got into story telling really well.

"The End," he said, "How did you liked that?" His heart then fell as he laid eyes on Hermione. She was crying! Her fists were curled and rubbing her eyes as tears came falling down.

"What?" Harry started panicking. "You didn't like it? Did I tell it wrong? What did I do?"

"No," Hermione sobbed. "That story makes always makes me cry."

"Oh, I see." Harry tried to understand. "I guess it is kinda sad."

"Of course it is," Hermione said no longer sobbing but tears still came pouring out. "The poor little mermaid. She gave her life for the prince and he didn't even know. Why couldn't he see how she loved him? Why did he choose the princess? Didn't he enjoyed his time with the mermaid? The mermaid...she loved him so much she...put her happiness aside for his." Hermione started sobbing again.

"Wow," Harry said, "I never seen it that way."

Hermione just nodded and continued crying.

Harry couldn't help but feel bad. "C'mon Hermione," he encouraged wrapping his arms around her. "Stop crying it's just a story."

Hermione clutched his shirt and leaned in closer. "If it's just a story then why does it hurt so much?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"I also gave up...my...has that ever happened to you?" she asked him looking up at Harry, Tears still streaming down her eyes."

"What?"

"Have you ever loved someone so much that you gave up your feelings so they wouldn't know? Knowing that they didn't feel the same way so you left them to be happy," she whispered.

He was dumbfounded. It was hard to believe this was coming from Hermione. Harry looked back at her. "Hermione? Did...who did you loved?"

Just then, she looked back down. Turning pink, she rested her head on Harry's chest, letting the last of her tears roll down her cheeks.

It was only a while later when Hermione had fallen asleep. Harry gently laid her down into the couch and backed away quietly. Retrieving his magazine, he gave one more glance to Hermione, concern filling up his eyes.

Hermione woked up right before dinner time. She didn't say much but just stayed quiet. Now and then she would picked up a book she had found and read between bites. It was one of her own that she had brought along with her from her, A Little Princess. It had been one of her favorites.

Harry was getting ready for bed when there was a knock on the door. This time he knew what was coming so he got up, opened the door, and stepped aside. To no surprised, Hermione came in the same sleep wear she had on yesterday. Smiling at Harry she made her way to Ron's bed and got underneath the covers. She waited until Harry got into his own bed.

"Harry?" she said after he had gotten in.

"Yeah?"

"Will you tell me a story everyday?" she asked.

Harry smiled at her. "Yeah, I will. Your choice ok?"

Hermione nodded. "And, will you make me a pancake-cake everynow and then. I kind of eat it everyother day or everyother two days."

"Sure, Hermione."

"Oh and will you play with me too and and can I help out with dinner or something too?" she sounded excited.

"I guess. There's not much to do here is there? Especially with everyone gone."

"Yup," Hermione said. She then yawned and snuggled deep into her blankets. "One more thing, tomorrow in the night...can I have a cup of hot chocolate?"

"Sure, Hermione," seeing that she was tired, "Now go to sleep."

She nodded and closed her eyes while giving out another yawn. "Harry?" she said softly with her eyes still closed.

"Yeah?"

"Remember to leave a space for me on your bed, ok?"

Harry was surprised. He stayed quiet.

"Harry?" Hermione said opening her eyes.

"Um...yeah...sure Hermione?" He turned as he said this.

"Thanks." Seeing that Harry wasn't about to turn around, Hermione slowly took out her wand, that she had placed under the pillow. She concentrated on a non-verbal spell and pointed the wand at herself. After feeling the spell surge through her, she placed the wand back under the pillow right before drifting off to sleep.

A/N Well there it is, sorry for the late update. Happy New Year Everyone!