Chapter 3 – Dancing Towards Truth
Harry pulled her up from off the steps she was sitting on, into a closer space between them. As he did so, Hermione stared at him intensely, with an anger strewn across her face like he had never before seen. Keeping his eyes on hers, Harry reached up towards Hermione's neck, and gently unclasped the necklace she had been keeping safe for more hours than she needed. It was at this moment, Hermione realized where the anger had originated – from the dark magic of the Horcrux necklace.
All the while, as he relieved her of this burden, their eyes locked in a most intense stare. The anger seemed to wash away, as Harry dropped the necklace onto the cot next to them. As he leaned so very close to her, to drop the necklace onto the cot, it seemed that no space existed between them. Her breathing became more shallow at this realization, her heart quicken its pace and perhaps for the first time she realized just how jittery Harry had made her. She wanted to relish in this feeling, as it wasn't everyday that a boy made her feel this way.
But he isn't just any boy…He's Harry, Hermione thought to herself.
He took both her hands into his, giving them a gentle squeeze, a reassurance that the life they wanted, envisioned would come true once they succeeded in their journey. But it was also a thank you from Harry of the greatest gratitude that she didn't leave him when Ron issued his ultimatum. As Harry took her hands, he gently pulled Hermione into the middle of the open space of the tent, all the while continuing to drown each other in their stares.
Pain, tiredness, exhaustion, confusion, hope - painted across their faces.
Harry began to pull on both her arms, swinging them in a sloppy, careless dance. Hermione was reluctant, she thought their focus should be narrowly placed onto the Horcruxes, not wasting time and giving her hope for something that was just a reality in her mind. Just as she wanted to drop his hands and walk out of the tent, Hermione saw a sort of joy appear in his eyes, a joy she had not seen in a long time.
She realized Harry was trying to coax a smile out of her, she realized he wanted to take away the profound confusion, sadness and exhaustion she was feeling. In the midst of all this, he was trying to make her feel better. Hermione could not help but feel the need to continue this dance with him, to make a memory of this that would carry her on, would carry him on in the trying months ahead.
Harry knew she was resisting him, he sensed it. He would be a fool to call himself her best friend if he had not noticed this in the contours of her face and eyes. But Harry was also very persistent and was determined to coax a smile out of Hermione, just so that he could hold on to something joyful during the upcoming months of mystery and searching.
As the sloppy dance continued, she resisted, but he got the better of her as a slight smile began to appear on her face. He was very persistent, this she also knew to be true. Hermione began to react to his motives. Harry began to spin her, and she began to spin him in this careless, childlike way that banished the dark reality they were in. It was just the two of them, stumbling around in this tent.
The cold winter, the departure of their other best friend, the inability to foresee the future – this all became a distant memory for the duration of the song on the radio. The slight smile soon turned into the smile that had graced Hermione's lips countless times, a contagious smile, that hit him mind, body and soul.
As he spun her out, Hermione spun back into him – hard. He than grasped her tight, pulled her into him more, and grabbed her hand rocking them back and forth. The childlike dance continued, making her giggle and Harry laugh. He pulled her in once again, resting his head slightly on her shoulder, breathing her in. Taking in the moment of happiness that existed between the two of them.
Hermione was drowning herself into him, realizing that she wanted this – all of this for more than just the length of a song. She wanted it for a lifetime. No one else had understood her that way Harry had. No one else would understand her and all she had been through but him.
She settled her head onto his shoulder, taking his scent in, a frown reappearing on her face because she knew the moment wouldn't last. The song would end. Reality would set in and this moment - this precious moment – that would be added to a long list of others would be nothing more than a pleasant memory. But Hermione could not help but wonder if this would be a pleasant memory for Harry as well.
The song's last notes faded into the background as they stopped rocking in circles, they both pulled their heads away from their shoulders ever so slowly, looking at each other with clouded eyes. Both Harry and Hermione were filled with too many emotions, but the intensity between them continued to grow. The distance between them was not so far. She had to stop it before something happened that they could not turn back from.
Focus, focus, focus, focus, Hermione! This is not the time to turn into a silly love-struck teenage girl! You must get a hold of yourself! Focus on the task at hand. Focus on figuring out what else Voldemort could have disguised as a Horcrux. Focus…focus…
But she could not focus on any of it. While her brain usually succeed in gaining all of her attention, her heart won the battle this time around. Now was not the time to indulge in feelings, but stay the course to destroy Voldemort. This thought pierced through all her other thoughts, as she stared into his emerald eyes.
Harry had been hoping for a sign, a small sign that would give him an idea of how to proceed, or to let him know if she had in fact felt things for him as he had for her. This unrelenting love that stemmed from a friendship based in loyalty and truth. He saw the scowl look return to her face, her features darkened by unknown thoughts to Harry.
The moment he thought he was going to get that sign as she was intensely staring into him, Hermione let got of his hands, crushing Harry. As she let go, she looked at him once more and began to turn towards the exit of the tent. But what Hermione thought was going to be a quick walk across the middle of the room began to feel as a prolonged journey.
It dawned on Harry that he could not keep doing this. If anything happened to either of them…
NO! Not if anything happens of either of us! We have been putting our lives on hold for too long. I would rather tell her how I feel now and spend a few more months relishing in those feelings, out in the open if in fact something does happen to me, Harry thought to himself, hoping to win this relentless battle. He wanted to make sure that Hermione knew where the true feelings of this heart lie.
"Hermione…" Harry said, interrupting her desire to exit and breath in the fresh, cold winter air in hopes of it clearing her mind. Her name uttered by his lips in such a warm way. His voice felt as if a physical hand was placed on her shoulder to prevent her from exiting the tent. It made Hermione stop and pause.
