Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I'm just playing in her world.
A/N: The results? #2. In case you can't remember, #2 meant I would be adding lyrics to the quotes I use in this fic. I love how most of you said "#1 or #2; you can do what you want, as long as you continue writing." What if I wanted to stop writing? Would you not let me? Would you stalk me and force me at gunpoint to continue writing? Not that I want to stop writing Once Upon a Quote - hell, no, that's the last thing I want. I just found it quite amusing. Anyway, for a tally of the results, see the bottom A/N. But, without further ado, the very first chapter of Once Upon a Quote that uses lyrics! (:
For: Everyone who voted for #2.
Title: Bringing People Together
Genre: Friendship, Fluff.
Rating: K+
Warning: N/A
Pairing/Character: Harry, Hermione
Word Count: 537
Hermione looked out the window, curled up on the window seat. All the other First Year girls were asleep in their beds, but instead, Hermione sat in the Common Room, wide awake and lost in thought. She didn't hear the bare feet slapping against stone as a tired student made his way down the Boys' stairs, nor did she hear him approach.
"Hermione?" said Harry groggily, voice thick with sleep. "What are you doing?"
"Thinking."
"You're always thinking."
She turned to look at him. "I've always lived like this, Harry, keeping a comfortable distance." Harry sat down on the other half of the window seat, pulling his legs up so his position mirrored hers, their cold toes brushing against each other. "And up until now, I had sworn to myself that I was content with loneliness, because none of it was ever worth the risk."
"Up until now?"
Hermione looked at her knees. "So much has happened since I came here, Harry. I thought finding out I was a witch was going to be the most exciting and life-changing thing that happens to me. But all that stuff with the troll, and trying to find out about the Philosopher's Stone … it's changed me, and I don't know whether that's a good thing." She looked up at Harry again, their eyes connecting. "My mum and dad – they met on an underground train. The ceiling of the tunnel collapsed. They were lucky to make it out alive … my dad always used to joke about how life-threatening situations really bring people together, and I never considered the possibility of it until the troll incident. But, now, I ..."
"What are you trying to say, Hermione?"
Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry for being such a brat to you and Ron … I can't help it; it just comes out. I want to start fresh. You, Ron and I, that is. I want us to start fresh."
Harry smiled softly and held out a hand. "Hi, I'm Harry!" he said brightly.
Hermione giggled and shook his hand, replying with, "Pleasure to meet you, Harry. I'm Hermione."
They sat on the window seat for a little while longer, not talking much, staring out the window and occasionally sharing small, amused smiles. And then Harry, without warning, slid his feet round and stood up.
"It's really late. We should get some sleep." He held out a hand as he spoke.
She took it and let him pull her up. When they reached the stairs, they paused and looked at each other, before leaning in awkwardly for a hug. Once their arms were around each other, they were reluctant to let go, neither wanting to finish it before the other.
"Goodnight, Harry. Thanks for giving me a second chance."
"It's nothing … besides, what are friends for?" The question made Hermione grin brightly. "Sweet dreams, Hermione."
With a wave and another quick "Goodnight", they retreated to their respective dorms, content and ready for a few hours' sleep.
"I've always lived like this, keeping a comfortable distance. And up until now, I had sworn to myself that I was content with loneliness, because none of it was ever worth the risk." - The Only Exception, Paramore.
A/N: Send in your lyrics! Only a line or two from the song, please, because I do have to use them in dialogue or thought, and make sure you tell me what song it's from and who it's by. Thanks (:
TALLY RESULTS:
#1 : 4
#2 : 5
#3 : 1