DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, AND I AM NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.
Chapter 3
The moonlight illuminated the grove where a lone tent had been pitched.
Harry Potter sat in the entrance. The trip to Godric's Hollow had been terrible. There had been no sword, only Voldemort's great snake, Nagini, waiting for them. Harry and Hermione had barely got away. Hermione had saved him like he knew she would. Harry knew that he would be dead without her.
It was his fault they had gone to Godric's Hollow. It was his fault they had nearly been killed.
Harry let his head fall into his hands and let out a low grunt. His fingers wound their way into his hair, and he pulled at it.
'Harry, I brought you some tea,' said Hermione. Her voice drifted down to Harry's ears and he turned his head slightly as she sat down next to him. Hermione moved herself closer to his body in an attempt to warm up a bit. She set the tea down at his feet and then looked at him, drinking her own drink.
'Thanks Hermione,' he mumbled. Hermione gave Harry a weak smile.
'It's okay, Harry. I think we both need to just calm down and gather our thoughts,' she said.
Harry looked at the expression on Hermione's face and buried his head in his hands again, crying out, 'Hermione, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you there. We almost died.'
Hermione slowly put down her cup, gathering her thoughts.
'Harry, it's not your fault. It's-'
'It is my fault! Hermione, he knew we were going to go! I'm so stupid!'
Hermione frowned and folded her arms.
'Harry, you're not stupid. We didn't have a choice. We had to try something. So I don't want you sitting out here being miserable. The important thing now is to keep our guard up. We can't get complacent. Let's focus on finding the other horcruxes and destroying them,' Hermione's words resonated within Harry.
He knew that he shouldn't just mope around, waiting for an idea to come to him. Together, he and Hermione would have to think of new ideas. Harry lifted his head from his hands and said, 'You're right Hermione, as usual. We're going to have to really think about where he might have hidden them.'
Hermione smiled properly this time and she stood to leave.
'Hermione?'
'Hmm.'
'I never- Thanks, for saving me.'
'That's quite alright, Harry. I'm glad I got us out of there,' she replied.
Hermione made her way back into the tent, and her hand brushed the top of Harry's head as she passed him.
Harry's head snapped up, his back straightening. It felt as if an electrical surge had moved down his spine from the place Hermione had made contact. There was an odd feeling in his chest and his hands seemed to be pulsing much harder than before as his heart rate increased.
Harry looked over his shoulder, back into the tent. He saw Hermione gathering her pyjamas in her arms and making her way to the bathroom. Turning back to look into the night, Harry began to ponder what the feeling meant.
Hermione left Harry's side and entered the tent, the canvas rough on her skin as she pushed past it. She went over to her bed and picked up her pyjamas. She just wanted to go to bed now. Harry didn't want to talk to her, she knew that.
Hermione walked into the bathroom and changed her clothes. After she had brushed her teeth, Hermione saw her reflection in the mirror. She almost didn't recognise the girl that looked back. There were large, dark circles under her eyes and her face bore several cuts. Her hair was even wilder than usual.
Hermione stared at herself, then with a sigh and a flick of her wand to tie her hair up, she left the bathroom.
The wind caused the entrance to the tent to dance, and Hermione caught a glimpse of Harry, still sitting in the cold night. She debated whether or not to go and see him again but decided against it, thinking that Harry was probably still angry with himself and that he was best left alone.
That's not to say that Hermione agreed to leaving Harry to wallow in his guilt. She would have loved to stay with him and just having him next to her was comforting. But this was the stubborn Harry Potter, and if he wanted to be left alone that was the best thing to do.
Resigned to the fact that Harry would not be joining her any time soon, Hermione slid into her bed and curled up under the covers. She lay on her side and brought her knees up to her chest, cradling them with her arms.
The cool air swept into the tent with a particularly strong gust and Hermione tightened her hold on her knees. Her sleeve was pushed up her arm and the scar that Bellatrix Lestrange had given her was now visible in the half-light, the red raw skin almost glowing.
Mudblood.
Hermione's eyes swam with tears as all the memories of the past few days came rushing back to her. She saw Bellatrix leaning over her and screaming at the top of her voice. She could smell her vile odour as she had moved closer. She could feel the knife tearing her skin.
Hermione subdued a sob. All the memories of her torture was too much. But then she remembered Harry. Seeing his face in Malfoy Manor. That had given her strength. And the way he had got her out of that terrible place did as well.
Hermione's mind drifted to the events that had happened after they had escaped.
The tears ran down Hermione's face as the realisation of what she had let happen washed over her. She had let Harry see her naked. Hermione brought her hand up to cover her mouth. The first boy to see her naked was Harry.
Hermione couldn't understand why she had acted that way. She had told Harry it was okay for him to stay, even though he had said he should really leave. And then there was Ron.
Not only was Harry the first boy to see her naked, but he was the best friend of the boy she loved.
'Maybe I don't love him,' she thought.
It was the first time Hermione had ever thought this.
She knew she loved Ron, but something had changed. Maybe it was the way he had abandoned his two best friends.
'Was this my revenge?'
Hermione's eyes widened. That must be it. There was no other possible explanation. She had let Harry see her naked, because subconsciously she had wanted to get back at Ron.
'Yes. That's why.'
Hermione wiped her eyes, satisfied that she had come to a reasonable conclusion. She rolled over and closed her eyes, trying to tempt sleep.
'But what if that's not the reason I let Harry see me naked? What if I wanted him to? What if that's what my subconscious was really trying to tell me?'
Hermione gasped.
'What if I love Harry?'
It was at that precise moment that Harry stepped into the tent. Hermione watched covertly from her bed as he waved his wand, casting protective enchantments around the entrance to the tent. He placed a sneakoscope on the table and then approached his bed, which was still situated next to hers.
Hermione quickly feigned sleep, and waited for Harry to walk off to the bathroom.
She was sure there was a part of her brain that wanted nothing more than for Harry to decide that she was in a deep sleep, and then proceed to change in front of her. It was probably the same part of her brain that tried to draw her eyes to his bottom as he left the side of the beds.
Hermione pushed her head into her pillow. She couldn't be thinking these things about Harry. He was just her friend.
Her best friend.
She didn't love him.
She couldn't.
He was just Harry.
Not the "Chosen One" or "The Boy Who Lived".
He was just a normal teenage boy to her.
But she knew that wasn't how everyone else saw him. The wider wizarding world saw him as their saviour. As the person that would rid the world of Voldemort, and save them from evil.
Hermione turned again in her bed, not able to get comfortable, especially with all the odd thoughts about Harry tumbling through her mind.
'Ron doesn't make me feel the way Harry does. He doesn't treat me like Harry does. But... Does that mean that... I really do love him. No! I can't love him. It's Ron! It's always been Ron. How could I do this to Ron?'
Hermione wiped her eyes, and she was glad that Harry didn't see her move as he returned to his bed. The tears stopped somewhat and Hermione quickly controlled her breathing.
'But, I haven't done anything to Ron. Not yet.'
Hermione couldn't stop her mind racing ahead with the possibilities of being with Harry. This would be the perfect time for them to get together.
There was no one else around them to interrupt. They would be able to do anything they wanted, and there would be no one to stop them.
'Maybe we should just give up searching for the horcruxes and just stay here. We could grow old together...'
Hermione's thoughts finally carried her into a restless sleep, permeated with visions of a blurred, black-haired boy.
Harry was in his warm bed. A few days had passed since the unsuccessful trip to Godric's Hollow. Hermione was sleeping peacefully next to him, in her own bed. The rough parchment of the Marauders Map was held in his hands.
Harry was watching Ginny's dot as she moved around Gryffindor tower.
'Why do I love Ginny? I mean, my crush only really developed over last year... I've known her since I was twelve. But why do I love her? What do I really love about her? What do we have in common? Hell, I had never even had a proper conversation with her until Fifth Year!'
Harry let the Map fall forward into his chest, his brow furrowing.
'We both play quidditch. We're both pretty good at defence spells. And we're...,' Harry couldn't think of anything else and began to clutch at straws, '… both in Gryffindor.'
Harry closed his eyes.
'I don't love her.'
An odd sensation rippled throughout Harry's body. Suddenly everything he had felt for Ginny over the past year seemed to wash away. All the thoughts and dreams about being alone with her in a confined, private space were gone.
All that was left was an empty void.
'I suppose I just wanted to be part of a family. The Weasleys were the only other family I had met in my whole life. They liked me, and it was nice being a part of that. Mr and Mrs Weasley are always so nice to me. They treat me like I'm their son... Does that mean they see Ginny and I as brother and sister?'
Harry covered his face with his hands. Laying still for a moment, he let his revelation about Ginny sink in. Once Harry had collected himself he rolled onto his side, leaned over the edge of the mattress, and put the Marauders Map on the floor.
As he raised his body back into bed, Harry caught sight of Hermione. She was on her side as well. He watched her as the thin covers rose and fell with each breath. A sudden compulsion came over Harry; he pulled one of his covers from his own bed and placed it gently over Hermione.
She stirred slightly at the extra weight and the added warmth, pushing her head into the pillow. Harry sat back down, and stared at her.
'She looks so peaceful. Like she's not worried about anything.'
Harry knew this wasn't true. Hermione was always thinking about something, and that usually meant that she was worrying as well. He let himself fall backwards, and drew the covers over himself.
However instead of trying to go to sleep Harry rolled over and faced the sleeping Hermione.
'Hermione is quite pretty actually.'
Harry's eyes widened.
'Did I really just think that? She's my best friend!'
Harry turned over, to face away from the suddenly very attractive Hermione next to him. He stared at the wall, determined to fall asleep but Harry's resolve only lasted a minute. He rolled back over and faced Hermione again.
'She's more than pretty. She's beautiful.'
Hermione stirred in her sleep once again, causing the extra cover Harry added to slide off her. Without thinking Harry immediately retrieved the cover from the floor and draped it back over her. Once he was sure Hermione wasn't going to move around again and push the cover off, Harry got back into bed.
'Hermione's always been there for me. She's always, always stayed loyal to me. She's the only one. She's always believed me, even when no one else did, like when I was entered into the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She's always looked out for me, even though I didn't like some of her decisions. She told McGonagall about my Firebolt, and how she thought that Sirius had sent it. Okay, I wasn't thrilled that she did it in the first place, but she just wanted to make sure that I was safe.'
'When she's around me she's different. She's not her usual self. She's more... open. She laughs more and we can talk about anything. She confides in me. She trusts me. Well, she has to, I mean she did strip off her clothing right in front of me.'
As Harry lay in bed his thoughts of Hermione began to get out of hand.
'I think I prefer her to Ginny. No, I know I prefer her to Ginny. Does that mean I see her as a girlfriend? Do I love her? Yes. Yes, I love Hermione Granger, and she loves-'
Harry stopped.
The thought of who Hermione loved came to him, and it hit him hard.
'Ron. Hermione loves Ron. They're not together yet, but they may as well be. How could I forget? They've been so close since we started this ridiculous journey. The only thing I want most in my life, and Ron gets there first. The only time he beats me, and its probably the most important piece of my life. Years of beating him at quidditch and in lessons, and now he beats me to girls. Well, he did spend most of last year down Lavender's throat so... I guess he got a head start...'
Harry's eyes stung with tears and they rolled down the side of his face. He sniffed and turned away from Hermione, not wanting her to see that he'd been crying.
The night passed by and a lone teenage boy cried himself to sleep, but not because the weight of the world was on his shoulders, but because the girl he loved was right next to him and she belonged to someone else.
The sun streamed onto Hermione's face, her eyelids opening to reveal the deep chocolate pools that lay within. She hadn't slept well, at least not for the first part of the night. The cold of the forest night had stayed with her, making sure she couldn't get comfortable. Hermione raised her head above the covers and realised that she now had an extra layer over her. Turning her head, Hermione looked to Harry, and saw that he was missing a cover.
Her face fell as she remembered what she had been thinking about before she had fallen asleep.
'Is he really better for me than Ron? Yes, of course he is. This is Harry. He's never been mean to me, he didn't join in when other people called me names. He didn't take sides when Ron and I argued, and if he did he sided with me. Apart from in our third year with all the fuss about the Firebolt, there's never been a period where we haven't been talking.'
Hermione sighed, unsure what to do about her feelings. She sat up as quietly as she could so as not to wake Harry, and pulled her clothes out of her bag. She slid out of bed and made her way across the tent. Hermione noticed that the tent was very tidy, unlike when Ron had been staying with them, as she padded towards the bathroom.
Entering, she waved her wand at the bath, filling it with water. Hermione put her clothes on the stool and then performed the heating charm on the water before pulling off her pyjamas and stepping in. She allowed the warm water to wash over her, ducking her head under.
Hermione spent ten minutes in the bath before getting out and drying herself. As she towelled herself she heard the groan of Harry's bed and realised that he must be getting up. She quickly finished drying her body and wrapped the towel around her slender frame. Picking up her wand, Hermione dried her hair. She was about to drop the towel to pull on her clothes but stopped when the bathroom door opened.
'Oh! Hermione! I'm sorry,' cried Harry. His eyes darted around the room again as he saw Hermione's form wrapped in a towel, her bare legs extending from under it.
Hermione noted that Harry's hair was standing up even more than usual and his face was growing redder by the second. When she realised that he wasn't going to say anything or move from the spot he seemed glued to, Hermione took pity on him and attempted to defuse the awkward situation that had arisen.
Awkward for Harry that is; Hermione didn't mind Harry seeing her wearing so little, especially now, since he had seen her naked. She was hoping that Harry would see her in a different light, not as a slut but just as an attractive girl.
'Harry, you've seen me wearing less than a towel before,' quipped Hermione, 'and anyway, I was just leaving so you can use the bathroom now.'
Harry stood rooted to the spot in the doorway as Hermione squeezed past him. He felt her brush him ever so slightly and the electrical surge he'd felt the previous day surged through him again. He turned his head and watched Hermione walk away from him again, his eyes once more pulled to her legs.
'Come on Harry. You can't have her, and she doesn't want you.'
Harry shook his head and forced himself to move. He closed the bathroom door, although he didn't lock it. Subconsciously he might have wanted Hermione to walk in on him.
Hermione was sitting at the table, waiting for Harry to come out of the bathroom. She was pondering what she had thought when Harry had walked in on her.
'Maybe I don't need to try and look attractive to him. He already said I was beautiful the day he saved me. That doesn't mean that he loves me though. And he didn't say I was any better looking than Ginny... Stop it Hermione. Harry has Ginny, sort of, and I have Ron, if we ever see him again. Anyway we need food...'
She looked up as she heard the flushing of the toilet, then the rush of the tap water. Harry opened the bathroom door and flashed her a lopsided grin.
'He has such a lovely smile.'
'I was just thinking, we're going to have to get some more food, but I don't really feel like searching the ground for some mushrooms. Do you think we could risk going to a supermarket?' Hermione said.
Harry considered.
'You mean a muggle supermarket?' Hermione nodded. 'Could be risky Hermione,' he said, grimacing at the thought of Hermione being captured again.
'I thought we'd go under the cloak. We'll be fine Harry, they won't expect us to go to food shopping, especially in the muggle world,' said Hermione.
'Hmm,' Harry paused, 'Okay Hermione, we'll go. But I don't suppose we'll be stealing anything, will we?
'No, I'll put some money into the till before we leave,' said Hermione, giving Harry a dazzling smile to match his own.
Harry and Hermione packed up the tent and stood in the clearing. Harry threw the cloak over themselves, and then grasped her hand.
'Ready?' Hermione asked.
'Yeah,' answered Harry.
Hermione apparated, pulling Harry along with her. He felt the air being squeezed from his lungs and then it rushed back in as they landed in a rugby field.
'Err, Hermione, where's the shop?'
'It's just down those steps,' said Hermione as she pointed to their right. There were indeed some steps and at the bottom Harry could see the doors to the supermarket.
Hermione's hand was still in his and she lead him towards, then down the brick steps. They narrowly avoided some muggle teenagers cycling around the entrance, before they entered the building.
The whole plan was nearly foiled as they walked in, the overhead heater nearly blowing the cloak right off them. Hermione quickly grabbed the sides before their feet were revealed. They then walked around the shop, Hermione surreptitiously taking several boxes of eggs, which she charmed so they wouldn't break in her bag, some cartons of milk, bacon, six cans of beans, and an assortment of vegetables.
When they reached the bottled water aisle, Hermione asked, 'How much water should we get?'
'I think we should get as much as we can, you never know when we might not be able to get any and then have to rely on this stuff,' replied Harry.
'Yeah, I see what you mean, but we can't clean the shelves out. The muggles would be suspicions when they found that they haven't sold any of their water, but none of it is here.'
'But you're going to pay for everything anyway, so...'
'Well yes, but still. We shouldn't take all of it Harry.'
'Okay, just take twelve regular bottles and six two litre bottles,' said Harry.
As Hermione quickly put the drinks into her bag, Harry reflected on the conversation that had just taken place and found it almost comical. The two of them could almost have been going for their regular weekly food shopping, but he knew that this was for their survival.
They went to the checkout and found a till that wasn't in use. Hermione said, 'Alohamora', and the till sprung open with a jingle. Harry nervously looked around, making sure none of the employees had noticed.
'Harry, count out eighty pounds,' said Hermione, passing Harry her purse.
As Harry counted the muggle money, Hermione kept a look out.
It was then that her eyes widened.
Ron Weasley stood across the shop from them, standing at the end of an aisle. He was looking into his hand, seemingly counting his money.
'Where would Ron get muggle money from?' Hermione wondered. She gave Harry a quick glance and saw that he was still counting money. He hadn't noticed Ron.
'Do I tell him he's here? Or should we just go? If Harry doesn't know that Ron is here then... I think I love Harry though. But if Ron comes back, we could be together, but that would mean I couldn't be with Harry. Oh my god! Why can't I make my mind up. I like being with Ron, together we form a balance and cancel each other out especially now that we're older. But I like being alone with Harry, it's like having a room-mate, an exceptionally good looking one that's seen me naked, but still a room-mate. But Harry doesn't want me, he wants Ginny...'
Hermione gave Ron one last look, then turned back to Harry just as he was dropping the money into the till. She swallowed, hard. In an instant Hermione grabbed his hand and disapparated.
A/N: Okay, I want to make it clear that there are no Hallows in this story, just Horcruxes. Also, I believe that I have majorly fucked up on this story. When I write it feels like something is wrong, like the story is too confusing, any feedback on this would greatly appreciated. And a big thank you to my beta, Nightserenade! Review, if you would be so kind.