Accidentally in Love
Chapter 3: Plans and Hope
Hermione excused herself early after dinner and went to bed. Harry's gaze followed her until she disappeared in the bedroom she shared with Ginny. She brushed her teeth, dressed in shorts and a tank top and went to bed. She was not really tired, but there were too many thoughts in her mind. Things she hadn't really had time to properly think about. Hermione had been so sure to be in love with Ron. If anybody asked her a few months ago, she would have said no other guy could ever make her feel like Ron. Now things were differently. A lot had happened, a lot had changed.
With a sigh, Hermione closed her eyes and returned to her memories. It was like a movie that kept playing in her head and she wasn't strong enough to stop it. Probably because she didn't really want to…
Harry kept telling Hermione they had to go to Godric's Hollow and she kept telling him that it was dangerous. They had the same conversation again and again and a certain routine creeped in. They left every location within 24 hours and every evening they would listen to music in the radio and put the locket aside at least for 2 hours. Besides they'd decided to sleep in the living room of the small tent. Hermione would lie on the couch, while Harry slept on a mattress on the floor. They both couldn't sleep and keeping watch was just pointless. The protection spells worked. Besides it was deepest winter and just too cold. They were freezing their asses off… Hermione felt safer with Harry next to her.
It was strange at first. Hermione had never spend a night with Harry alone in the same room, Ron had always been with them. Especially after that fateful dance, Hermione first felt uncomfortable lying so close to him, even though she was on the couch and he on the floor. But Harry, being attentive and sensitive started talking to her before they slept and like that she got used to him being close and it didn't feel awkward any longer. Instead it began feeling good and safe and she was glad to know he was close.
Days passed like this and there were moments when Hermione thought they should just keep living like that. Forget about the war and the responsibility they carried and just get old and enjoy life in the wild. Suddenly she didn't feel like it would be a terrible fate. Harry smiled genuinely when she mentioned it to him and for a split second that tension came back and she blushed. Harry didn't mention it and Hermione was grateful. He just knew when to shut up. Clever guy.
It was an exceptionally cold winter evening and even though they had a fire going, Hermione was freezing. She put on as many clothes as possible to feel comfortable, but she couldn't stop shaking. She was lying in the dark, teeth clattering, trying to somehow fall asleep, but she couldn't. Harry wasn't sleeping either, she could tell because of his way of breathing.
"Mione, move your ass over here." Harry suddenly said and Hermiones cheeks turned crimson. She was glad he couldn't see it in the dark.
"What?" she croaked, hating that her voice sounded so high.
Harry chuckled low. "I said come over here, otherwise I fear you might turn into an ice cube. I'm fully dressed, don't be shy." He teased and Hermione took a deep breath.
If she didn't do as proposed, Harry would think she was either prude or that she was uncomfortable being close to him. Which was true, but only because he could make her feel in a way that didn't feel appropriate. But he was right, she would never be able to sleep like this and they were both dressed, so why acting silly? Besides, it was not as if Ron would have cared… He'd left. He could have been the one to warm her, but he'd decided to be an idiot.
Without saying much more, Hermione slid on the mattress next to the couch and was soon enveloped into a warm embrace. After nearly freezing she now felt blissfully warm. Harry held her close, but tried to anyway keep his distance. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable and Hermione felt touched. How could a guy be so considerate? After spending years watching Ron, she'd never really noticed how much she missed being treated like someone precious. It did funny things to her heart.
"Better?" Harry finally whispered and she nodded, feeling warm and safe.
"Much better." She said low and he relaxed, lying on his back.
"Sweet dreams, Hermione." Harry said and she closed her eyes, for the first time in weeks feeling like everything was good.
ooooo
Hermione slept as if she was in a luxury hotel room and not on some cheap mattress in the middle of a forest. When she woke up, she noticed two things: First, Harry was still sleeping. Second, she was lying on top of him. It was a bright morning and Hermione lay on Harry's chest, her arm circled around his waist, her leg entangled with his. She blushed deeply and tried to move away, but Harry turned towards her, pulling her close and burying his nose in her hair. She could feel his breath, feel the steady beat of his heart and his warm arm around her. She'd never been this close to a guy. Even though they were fully dressed, Hermione felt as if her skin was burning wherever their bodies touched.
She'd always considered herself mostly immune to the hormone-driven feelings of a teenager, but now she had to admit to herself, that she was just as girly as Parvati or Lavender when it came to closeness. Hermione couldn't remember that she'd ever felt like that, not even when Ron was saying her name in the infirmary after being poisoned or when Viktor asked her to the Yule Ball. This was entirely different, and she couldn't help asking herself why. Why was Harry of all guys the one who could make her feel so unsteady? Was it because he was off limits? Hermione shook her head. It wasn't that simple.
She didn't want to think about it any longer, so she just relaxed, enjoyed the warmth and closeness of Harry's body and tried not to judge herself, even though a wave of guilt hit her.
"So you're choosing him?" Ron's voice resonated in her head and Hermione sighed. Stupid, stupid Ron. He hadn't trusted her a bit. And there she was, lying in Harry's arms, feeling as if Ron had somehow been right not to trust her. She didn't want to deepen that thought, because it made her feel uncomfortable.
Harry was nice. He'd been attentive and sweet and they didn't do anything inappropriate. They were friends, best friends, all alone on a dangerous mission. It was natural to get closer. And now that Ron was gone, Hermione had noticed that she'd been holding back a lot for his sake. She'd known Ron was somehow jealous of Harry and being considerate of his feelings, she'd kept a certain distance. But then he left. He didn't consider her feelings. He didn't care what it meant for her when he left her behind. What it did to the beginning of their relationship. The only thing Ron Weasley had cared about was himself. Like always. And with that, the pang of guilt vanished and Hermione took a deep breath.
"Good morning." Harry suddenly whispered in a raspy voice, laced with sleep and Hermiones heart jumped at the sound, afraid he might know what she'd been thinking.
"Good morning." She finally said low, trying to get a bit of distance.
Harry stood up slowly, yawning.
"Still feeling cold?" he asked and Hermione saw a sparkle in his eyes she'd never seen before. She blushed, trying to finger-comb her hair.
"No, much better. Thanks."
"I'll make some coffee." Harry said, and walked into the tiny kitchen. Hermione shook her head. She was acting strangely. She had to get a grip on herself.
The day passed as usual and the tension between them turned into the same pleasant companionship like before. Even though Hermione had to admit that she kept looking at Harry in a way that went beyond friendship. She told herself that it was because of all the things they'd been through together. They were more than friends, simply because they shared a situation that went far beyond everything that you normally witnessed in a friendship. Harry was like her brother. He was family. She loved him deeply, in a familiar way.
"Hermione, we need to go to Godric's Hollow." Harry started again and Hermione sighed. She closed the storybook she'd received from Dumbledore and looked at Harry sitting in front of her.
"Ok." She finally said and Harry looked at her surprised. She sighed again. "We don't have another lead and we need to do something, so I guess going to Godric's Hollow makes sense. But this has to be planned properly, Harry. We need to be very careful. I'm sure we'll face trouble in Godric's Hollow. It would be stupid of You-Know-Who not to post any guards there. He knows that you will want to visit your parents graves."
Harry nodded, totally hooked. "We go to visit Bathilda Bagshot. I'm sure she can help. I need to know more about Dumbledore, more about his past. And maybe she can tell us where the sword is."
Hermione smiled knowingly at Harry and a soft blush crept into his cheeks.
"It's ok to want to visit your parents, Harry. You've been waiting long enough to do so. We just have to be careful."
Harry nodded again and took her hand. He gave it a grateful squeeze and they both started planning. It was so much easier discussing with Harry than with Ron. He was open to all kinds of suggestions and motivated. Even though he wore the locket most of the time, he never gave into it. Hermione was grateful to be spared with constant mood swings.
They talked and planned the whole day and the next and the day after. They were able to get some hair from a muggle couple in a small town and Hermione still had some Polyjuice Potion left. They needed to get all the protection possible, which meant they would travel in disguise and also using the Invisibility Cloak. It was still risky, but Hermione knew that Harry wouldn't be able to go on before they'd checked out Godric's Hollow. She still had a strange feeling about it, though.
ooooo
The next morning started sunny and warm and Harry was glad to know that the funerals were over. It was finally time to go on with life. He needed to set things straight. Make plans for his future. Find his own way. He just didn't really know how to start.
Ron was still sleeping, so he left the bedroom and went downstairs. Mrs. Weasley was busy in the kitchen, for the first time in 2 weeks, her eyes were not swollen from crying. Harry took it as a good sign.
He helped her around the house and was just about to set the breakfast table, when Hermione entered the kitchen. She wore her favourite jeans and a white shirt, her hair falling open on her shoulders. She gave him one of her small smiles and he grinned back, lost in memories and consumed by feelings that weren't appropriate in Mrs. Weasley's presence.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry finally asked and Hermione nodded surprised, biting her lip. So she was nervous.
They went outside to the back of the garden and finally stood in front of each other. Hermione looked at him expectantly and Harry took a deep breath.
"I want us to be together. I mean like really together." Harry started and Hermiones eyes widened in surprise.
"Harry…" She started, but he made a step towards her and took her hands, which made her shut up.
"I know it's going to be difficult. I know we will have to talk to Ron and Ginny and they will probably be mad. Like really mad. And I know it's probably crazy but I can't imagine life without you. I've thought about this the whole time and I want to try it out. Let's give it a chance. Let's give us a chance. We will talk to Ron and Ginny and then we'll leave for Australia to get your parents back. And when summer is over, we'll know if this was just a phase and a crazy dream or if it's more."
Harry could see in Hermiones eyes that his words did all kinds of things to her. So many different feelings showed on her face that he wasn't sure what she'd say.
"I want us to be together as well." She finally whispered and Harry felt as if a huge rock had been lifted off his chest.
He pulled her close and sealed her lips with a kiss. A soft and promising kiss that took their breath away. Suddenly the future looked bright. Even though he knew that it would be hard to talk to Ron and Ginny, he felt much stronger now holding Hermiones hand. They could do everything together.
Author's note:
Thank you so much for your reviews and for reading the story. This is now chapter 3 and I hope you like it I have to admit that I'm not sure how to go on with the story yet. Either Harry and Hermione will really leave together for the summer or I will have something happen that prevents them from being together for the present. Either way I really hope you like the story so far and if you have ideas, wishes and requests, please let me know I always try to consider my reader's wishes
