Disclaimer: Nope, Harry Potter still isn't mine.

Chapter 3: Perplexing Thoughts

"Well that was fun," I said as I clapped my hands together, and Hermione gave me a questioning look. I walked over to the fire and sat down on the couch. I heard Hermione walk over and felt her sit down beside me.

"Thanks for coming with me," I told her seriously.

"Contrary to what some people may think, Harry, you're a great guy to be around," she said and she grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I felt a jolt pass through me, and racked my brain to figure out the cause of it.

I looked at Hermione to see if she had felt it, but I found my self in a daze as I stared at her. The fire was casting a glow on her profile making her seem even more beautiful than she was. I took in the soft hue of her eyes, a deep chocolate brown which further accented her face, her brown hair which curled around her shoulders.

I shook my head, wondering what had brought on my thoughts. Thankful that she wasn't familiar with Legilimency, I turned back to the fire and stared at it. I stole another glance at her and found her looking at me. We stared at each other, our eyes communicating in a way that words couldn't.

I noticed the sadness in her eyes and wondered at the cause. I noticed that her hand was still in mine and we both looked down. She apparently thought of something because she took her hand back and stood up with a hurt, almost pitied expression.

"Harry, I..." she began softly, "…I better go to bed." I racked my brain, reflecting on what had transpired to make her sad, seeing through her sorry excuse.

"Hermione, I've been a bad friend," I said suddenly, but equally as quiet, "and I'm sorry."

"What for?" she asked confused.

"For everything. For being a jerk to you at the beginning of our first year. For not preventing you from being petrified. For dragging you with me to save Sirius. For getting mad about my broom, when you were just worried about me. For being ungrateful when you helped me during the Triwizard Tournament. For lying to you about the egg, for blowing up on you our fifth year. For not helping you make hats for the elves, for being so obsessed with Cho that I dismissed everyone else and just for being a lousy friend even though you are always here for me," I said ashamed of myself.

"Harry," she said as she hugged me, "I'll never stop being here for you. You've been through a lot, I understand that." I hugged her back, missing the comfort.

"I know that you may no think so, Harry, but you are a great person. Your brave, loyal, and you act so selflessly," she said reassuringly.

"How do you do that?" I asked amazed.

"Do what?"

"See the good in people who can't see it themselves?"

"I know you, Harry, for all your flaws, and I would never change you for anything," she said quietly.

"Hermione, I..." I began, unsure of what to say, yet needing to say her name.

"No, now it's my turn," she said, cutting off my words. I was expecting her to say something else, but she surprised me when she stood up, said 'Good night, Harry,' and gave me a kiss on my cheek, which sent a chill down my body and left me more confused than I was earlier after I had felt the first jolt shoot through me.

"Yeah, night," I said distractedly, causing her to turn and smirk at me before going into the girl's dormitory. I headed up to my room and fell asleep thinking about the complexity of a simple kiss.

A/N: Reviews are still forever loved. Any feedback is appreciated