CHAPTER 4: Discussions

Hermione woke up early the next morning very confused and distraught. Her mind was still reeling from the events of the night before but she thought she had it sorted out. She just had to tell Harry that he was out of line, and that she only liked him as a friend or a brother. Somehow, she knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

Hermione dressed in a navy blue sweater vest over a white button up blouse with a pair of khaki slacks. She walked tentatively down the stairs and peeked through the kitchen door. Harry was flitting around the kitchen, wand out, making what smelled like hash browns and eggs. Hermione tried to sneak back upstairs unnoticed but, before she could, Harry turned around and exclaimed, 'Hermione!' Hermione winced and turned around, forcing a smile on her face.

'Hi, Harry,' she said in a pained voice. 'That smells great. Well, I'd better go get ready for…' she began in a voice unnaturally high and strained sounding. Harry looked concerned and, putting his hand on her shoulder, interrupted her.

'Hermione, are you okay?' he asked, his voice laced with unease. Hermione nodded. 'You look ill. Are you sure you're okay? Is it what happened last night?' Hermione nodded again.

'Look, Harry,' she said apologetically, deciding to me entirely honest with him. She took his hand off of her shoulder and stared up at him, tears in her eyes. 'It felt so right. But it also made me feel like a traitor. I'm still trying to get over losing Ron as a friend, much less as a lover, and I thought that anything like this would, one, betray Ron and, two, screw up our friendship. Everything will be all awkward now.' Harry smiled at her kindly.

'Hermione, you should know something that Ron told me a few months after he asked you to be his,' he said quietly. 'He told me "If I'm ever not there for her, you be there. Take care of her and love her like the perfect woman she is." I intend to follow his orders and love you, though he didn't need to tell me to do that. He would want you to be happy, and I do too, so if that kiss made you uncomfortable, I won't do it again.'

Hermione stared at him, trying to absorb this new fact. She couldn't believe that Ron had actually told Harry to love Hermione if he wasn't there. That was maybe the sweetest thing he had ever done. One thing had Hermione's head reeling; she wanted that. She wanted to love Harry.

'Harry, last night, that kiss…it felt so right. Like that was exactly where I was supposed to be but…I just miss Ron so much…' With that, Hermione fell into Harry's arms, great tears splashing down her front. Harry was content to hold her tightly as she sobbed into his chest. He led her to the living room and sat down with her on the couch. Soon, she quieted to sniffles and silent tears instead of sobs and wails.

Harry lifted her chin and looked into her face. He was close enough to see every tear drop that clung to her thick lashes. Her eyes were glossy and a deep, vivid shade of chocolate brown that seemed to draw him in. He lowered his head and watched as she closed her eyes expectantly. He placed his lips on hers and kissed her tenderly. Hermione relaxed visibly. After a moment her tears stopped and her breathing became slow and steady; she had fallen asleep, exhausted by her tears.

Harry picked Hermione up bridal style and carried her carefully into her bedroom, placing her gently on her bed. He tucked the covers around her and kissed her forehead lovingly.

Harry watched her for a moment or two, fascinated by her beauty and astounded that she had let him kiss her again. She seemed soothed by the kiss when Harry had expected, and feared, that she would reject him, refuse him, deny that she had any feelings for him like he knew she did. She had surprised him. A small smile graced his lips as he turned back to his bedroom.

'She really is perfect,' he though as he climbed into his bed. 'If only I could get her to understand that Ron really did want me to love her if he couldn't, for me to make her happy. Then, maybe, she could love me too…'