Love is like the wild rose-briar,

Friendship like the holly-tree—

The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms

But which will bloom most constantly?

Love and Friendship, Emily Bronte

Chapter – 8 Confrontation

Library had become her haven, in many ways. First, it gave all the answers, second it was simply home to Hermione. Third, it was silent and she loved thinking here.

Fourth and recently added, try to avoid Harry at all costs.

The corners and desks, shelves and especially the Restricted section was very generous in that department. It was not the case today, but. She came here to do some honest reading.

It was hard to concentrate as she was pissed. Royally pissed.

Harry was going nutter, she knew it. He stared at her like a hawk, pulling out that accursed Potions Book in front of her and she knew it was intentional, just to try to get her to talk to him. What was the matter? Well, she had tried her hardest to be normal and even Ron didn't notice that something was happening in their trio, he was too busy shoving his tongue down Lavender.

Harry wouldn't find her here, in this desk. It usually remain empty and Hermione thought it was a perfect place to avoid –

"Hey," Harry sat down beside her, placing his bag on the left side of the table.

Harry. Thought too soon, didn't she?

Hermione mouthed an expletive at herself, knowing that Harry wouldn't see that through the curtain of her hair. She smiled at him, genuinely – only that he didn't return it.

Hermione sighed exasperatedly, "What Harry? Do you need something? Something related to Ginny?" Hermione was proud that her face didn't betray anything.

Harry looked at her archly, unimpressed.

Traitor eyes.

"I just want to say stop it." Harry suddenly said in a tired voice.

"Stop what?" Hermione blinked.

Harry looked at her, as if she was testing his patience. He grabbed her hand, walked her to a shelf, waved his wand and whispered that stupid Potions Book spell and turned to look at her.

"Stop this!" He suddenly said loudly, making her jump, "Stop avoiding me! It's driving me crazy!"

Hermione didn't know what to say, but her mouth had arranged for her to say, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Harry laughed snidely, but didn't say anything.

"Tell me something," Harry said suddenly.

"What?"

Hermione didn't particularly like the flinty glint in Harry's eyes, or the set jaw, or the question that was going to escape him mouth. Harry probably preferred not to let the silence stretch.

"Tell me," he closed the distance between them, her back hitting the shelf as Harry invaded her personal space – she found that she didn't mind it, "Tell me," he whispered this time, his eyes burning in the colour of Avada Kedavra. Hermione gulped, his hot breath fanning her face.

"Tell… tell you what?"

He chuckled darkly, annoyingly, "Tell me you didn't feel anything back then. Distance had given me a perspective even to an oblivious guy like me. So, tell me."

Hermione licked her lips, pulling a hand to push her hair back. He caught her hand in his, his thumb touching her pink fingernails.

"I do that too, when I am nervous." Harry chuckled, "People say that couples subconsciously mirror each other."

Hermione bit her lip, trying to tug her hand free.

"Why don't you tell me," Harry whispered in her ear intently, "and I will let go of your hand."

"T-Tell…" Hermione totally lost her voice.

"Tell me the truth. Tell me you felt the same I felt when you kissed me, and I will let you go." Harry whispered nonchalantly, as if discussing weather as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

That snapped Hermione back; she caught one thing, "What did you feel?"

Now it was Harry's turn to look nervous, Hermione smirked at that.

"I love you." Harry whispered, "I felt love. I felt I don't want to let go. I felt we ended our classes on a sad note. Tell me, didn't you miss the time we spent together, the kiss? Forget that, didn't you felt you wanted something more? Because I felt that and more, and I know you felt it too.

"I didn't know what was happening at first. I passed this as a typical guy reaction. But no," Harry's lips twitched mockingly, "I am not a typical guy, I am Harry Potter – things are bound to be more for me."

Hermione's eyes softened.

"So tell me," Harry looked back at her again, blazing intensity in his eyes, "tell me you didn't feel that and I'll understand."

Hermione thought of Harry and Ginny, how good they looked together, how she was nowhere close to the red haired beauty and this, this started just after snogging classes. She didn't know how exactly it was for Harry, but she felt something deeper, always had.

"I…" Hermione looked at his Gryffindor tie, the lion emblazoned in it mocked her, "I didn't feel anything." To her own ears, it hardly sounded like her.

Harry chuckled in relief, "You even lie. Why?"

"Because!" Hermione snapped, forgetting to deny, "Because I am not Ginny! Because it's strange to have this… just after snogging. How do you know its love? How do-"

Hermione's words were cut off by Harry's lips. He kissed her passionately, sparking her, igniting her, playing with the fire that burned her body from inside. She gave into the urges of her body and kissed him back, her hand waving through the softness of the black hair that haunted her dreams.

Harry still didn't let go of her hand as they broke, panting.

"You're right, you are not Ginny. You are Hermione – that's why this is important." He drew out the word she named their relationship mockingly. Hermione admitted she didn't like it either. "You know what? It's not strange; it was a trigger to my subconscious feelings. The one I decided to bury, and I won't not take it nicely if you insult us. I may hardly know love," Hermione shook her head, but he ignored her, "But I know us… is close to it. I have read all about it, when I used to visit Libraries in our school when I was younger."

Hermione grinned. Harry looked hurt by her expression.

"Hey it's not about that. I am not laughing at you, it's just the way you said 'I have read all about it', and I thought at that moment, you were channeling me." Hermione laughed, this time Harry joining her.

"Now tell me." Harry said, looking at her – pleading her with his eyes.

Hermione gazed at him, "Yes." She admitted, "Yes, I love you too. Yes I felt the same. More, I wanted more. I was convinced you love Ginny when I saw her with you that night."

Harry let go of her hand. Hermione felt a small pang of disappointment, which soon vanished as she gave out a loud squeak as he pulled her closer by her waist.

"That night I was distraught, because of certain someone," Hermione rolled her eyes, "and Ginny was just comforting me as she happened to just notice me when I entered."

"Oh." Hermione blushed, feeling foolish.

"Yes," Harry grinned, "Oh."

"It's not funny." She grumbled and hit his chest.

Harry mocked pain, "You hurt me."

"You are all grown up, stop being such a baby." Hermione smiled at Harry's genuine indignant look.

"I am not a baby!"

"Uh-huh." Hermione pressed her lips, looking as calm as she did when Harry was being an overemotional git.

Harry looked at her, a playful vengeance glittering in his eyes. Hermione remembered how to breathe, she never knew until now that breathing could be so complicated.

"Let me show you," he whispered as he closed up to her, "how much of a man I can be."

Hermione shivered at the gravity of his words, his lips covering the painful distance between them, meeting her own eager lips.

Something more was starting, Hermione thought hazily as she pulled him closer by his collar, grabbing his jaw and kissed him roughly.

"I am the man here," Harry snarled, his hand going up to her hip while she wrapped her legs around his waist…

A/N: Smut, not smut, smut? No smut? Ugh! Tell me fellow reviewers, I am in a crisis here!