Chapter 48: Why Can't This Be Love
Harry banged his head on the wall. Even talking to Fred and George was proving unhelpful. After one last assault on the stone wall, Dobby popped in.
"Does Master Harry require anything?" Dobby said after the stars cleared from Harry's vision. Harry was so preoccupied, he didn't even correct Dobby's use of 'Master.'
"Not unless you know of a place where Hermione and I can be alone without the chance of being bothered"
"Oh but Dobby knows," Dobby's ears bounced as his little head bobbed in excitement at being helpful. "All the castle elves speak of a room that fits that idea perfectly."
"Show me," Harry's eyes brightened at the prospect and sprinted down the corridor, hot on Dobby's heels.
A short while later, he stared at the door in front of him. Everything hinged on the next conversation.
"Enter," McGonagall called after Harry knocked on her door.
Harry walked up to her desk where the Gryffindor head was penning a letter. Setting down her quill, McGonagall regarded Harry with her usual no-nonsense gaze.
"How can I help you, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall said.
"There's something that I want to do but I'd like to run it by you before I do it," McGonagall found her curiosity piquing. She motioned for him to continue.
"Over the summer," Harry fidgeted with his hands as he began. "Hermione and I decided to try and date, to make an honest effort to try for something more than friendship."
"Congratulations but I do not see why you need to tell me this," McGonagall kept her stern look in place while, inwardly, she was smiling broadly. "While I am your head of house and your magical guardian, who you date is none of my business."
"Well this next part is," Harry said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I would like to do something special for Hermione's birthday on Sunday. To do this, we would likely disappear for most of the afternoon, if not the entire day."
"That is an issue," McGonagall admitted. "While it is no secret what happens in broom cupboards in this castle, I cannot in good faith sign on to a male student sequestering a female student without any adult supervision."
"Which is why I am coming to you," Harry said. "The place I have found will give us the privacy I am looking for. I'll tell you where it is and how to access it in case you need to check in on us.
"I'll have us back to the dorms by curfew, I promise," Harry's eyes widened as he tried to make it clear just how important this was to him.
"If I can make random checks on you," McGonagall took off her glasses and rubbed her nose. "Then you have my permission. However, if I find you are using this for any broom cupboard activities, I will be displeased. Am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am," Harry nodded seriously. "Thank you, ma'am."
Harry backed out of the office and sped to his next destination. He had a night to work everything out. He was so quick to exit, he never saw the smile blossom on McGonagall's face. I have to tell Filius, she thought. Thankfully, Lavender and Parvati were kind enough to distract Hermione so Harry could prepare everything.
"Oh you look so pretty!" Parvati said as she put the finishing touches on Hermione's makeup. Fay was in the corner, reading as she often during the girl nights. She would occasionally join in but mostly she preferred to keep to herself.
"Do I?" Hermione asked as Lavender's hand appeared in front of her, holding a hand mirror. Hermione gasped at the sight that met her eyes. Parvati worked some sort magic to make her eyes pop. She then a touch of rouge to her cheeks and red lipstick to her lips. She had to admit she never looked better. They had even teased her hair into soft ringlets that they then braided into a loose plait that was pulled over her left shoulder. "Oh wow."
"Merlin," Lavender remarked as she came around to see Hermione's new look. "Yup that mascara of yours is amazing, Parvati. Great technique on the eyes too. Girl it's a good thing Harry snapped you up when you did; you're gorgeous."
"All thanks to the two of you," Hermione was still enamored with her reflection. "You two really worked your magic."
Lavender laughed at Hermione's pun and took a seat to allow Parvati to work on her makeup.
"Don't put yourself down," Lavender said. "You've got great eyes, high cheek bones and a great figure taking shape."
"My figure has nothing on you," Hermione called attention to Lavender's assets that called the attention of every male eye this year.
"Oh these?" Lavender pointed to her chest. "They'll be fine once I grow into them but for now, they're just too big. I can't get a guy to look me in the eye lately and that's getting annoying.
"No girl, you've got a great figure that suits you perfectly. With your perfect carriage and natural grace, you're going to be so hot in a few years. Not that your physical traits are there alone. You're sharp, engaging and witty; something I wish I had. Everyone just seems 'dumb blonde with huge tits' when they look at me. They see 'exotic beauty' when they see Parvati."
"There's more to you than that," Hermione said. "You're both creative and innovative with your cosmetics; hard working when you need to be and wickedly funny. You're especially good at making the boys laugh, Lavender."
"Thank you for saying that," Lavender moved to lay a hand on Hermione's before being pushed back by Parvati.
"Not yet; I'm still working," Parvati admonished, going back to work on Lavender's makeup. "Thank you, Hermione. Sometimes I wish more people would see us for who we are but, sadly, most don't take the time to look that deep."
"Most people only see what they want to see" Fay interjected from her bunk. "It's just a shame that most people will see us as we appear and not as we are; the layers, the depth. They all get lost when you only see the wrapping and don't dig any deeper, especially males."
"Most males," Parvati interjected. "Harry's one of the few perceptive ones, as is Neville. Zacharias Smith might be the worst. He asked me on a date to Hogsmeade, said he never tried Indian Food before and heard the flavor was memorable. I couldn't say no quick enough."
"But he's a second year," Hermione said. "He can't go to Hogsmeade until next year."
"We know," Lavender and Parvati said at the same time.
"Thank you for that detail, though," Fay said. "He's cute but if he's going to be a prick, I don't think I'll be going near him, thank you very much."
"Yeah he's less a Badger and more a porcupine," Lavender said. "I know Hannah and Susan wish he was sorted somewhere else… like Durmstrang."
"Maybe he'll transfer," Hermione wrinkled her nose at the thought. "And take McLaggen with him."
"Oh that swot," Fay rolled her eyes. "Did you hear about him making a move on Katie Bell?"
"No!" Lavender, Parvati and Hermione all chorused.
"Yup," Fay popped the P. "Told her 'you're developing rather nicely. How's about a stud like me take you out?'"
"What did she say?" Hermione's jaw dropped at the crass overture.
"Nothing at first," Fay said. "She kneed him in the balls and then told him he needed to do some more 'developing' of his own first."
The girls laughed at the image Fay's story conjured.
"Good thing they're not all like that," Hermione said through her laughter. "Neville is a perfect gentleman, so is Harry."
"Taunting us with one boy who's taken and another who is smitten with a 'Puff," Fay said. "Thanks, Granger."
"Sure but they're not the only nice ones in the house. The twins are cute and quite humorous, Colin is nice if a bit shy but he's a long way from McLaggen-"
"-Or Weasley," Lavender said. "I don't think he would know what color my eyes are; it's annoying."
"He's a lot better this year," Hermione said. "At least away from the dining table. He's put in more effort in classes, stopped being such a loudmouth; he's even using my name instead of "know-it-all" or "bookworm."
"He's better, I'll give you that," Parvati said. "However, he's still got a lot of growing to do before I'd consider him anything close to a gentleman."
"Point taken," Hermione admitted.
The party went well into the night with the girls swapping stories. Fay even consented to letting Parvati do a makeover for her. That night, after taking the time to unbraid her hair and clean off the makeup, Hermione went to bed smiling at having made real friends. She was so content, she forgot tomorrow was her birthday.
Arriving in the common room, she went to her favorite couch, book in hand. She was so set in her routine, she didn't realize someone else was there until she sat down.
"Oop" Hermione stood quickly as she felt something on the sofa, despite there being nothing there. Reaching out, she ran her hands along the fabric until, lo and behold, she bumped into what certainly felt like a leg.
"Surprise," Hermione jumped a foot in the air as the couch spoke only to relax as Harry took off his invisibility cloak. "Happy birthday, Hermione."
Hermione's irritation gave way to joy at the sight of her boyfriend. Harry started to rise when he was thrown back into the sofa by the bullet that was Hermione Granger.
"Harry. James. Potter!" Hermione's muffled voice came from his chest. She lifted her head and glared at him. "Don't scare me like that!"
She held onto her stern look for another few seconds before breaking into a wide smile. Harry leaned down and met Hermione midway for a kiss. Slipping her hands around his neck, the kiss became a full-blown snog.
"How's it feel to be a full year older Miss Fourteen Year Old," Harry grinned cheekily. "Fourteen and dating a boy almost a full year younger. What a cradle robber, you are."
"It's a good thing you're cute," Hermione retorted. "If you weren't, heaven knows what would happen."
"Are you ready for the day?" Harry asked, looking a little too innocent.
"What did you do?" Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"You'll see," was all Harry would say. "Ready for breakfast?"
"I could eat," Hermione said, cautiously. "Shall we?"
"We shall," Harry extended his elbow to escort her down. His heart rejoiced as Hermione slipped her hand through the opening and pressed herself close to him on the walk down. Feeling her grip his arm firmly with both hands, her thumbs running circles over his forearm, Harry was in heaven. Thankfully it was Sunday and they didn't have to worry about being caught.
Arm-in-arm, they arrived at the deserted Great Hall just as breakfast was set to begin. Like every year, there was a plate covered by a silver serving top.
"What have you done this year," Hermione asked aloud as she reached for her covered food.
"Not me this time," Harry said. "Dobby wanted to cook for you for your birthday, as his gift to you."
"Thank you, Dobby," Hermione smiled sweetly as she lifted the top. Underneath was a croissant with a bowl of fruit and some coffee: the breakfast they had their final night in France. "How did you…?"
"Dobby noticed mistress loved that breakfast," Dobby said as he popped in. "Dobby wanted to do something special for mistresses birthday."
"You can just call me 'Hermione,' Dobby," Hermione said. "I'm not your mistress, though I do appreciate the effort you went to for my breakfast."
"That's not all Her-mine'e," Dobby struggled through her name. "Dobby as worked with Harry to-"
The rest of what Dobby was going to say was cut off by Harry shaking his head.
"With Harry to what?" Hermione's inquisitive side arrived in full force.
"You'll find out," is all Harry would say, trying fruitlessly to cover the impish smile that appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"With Harry to what," Hermione said again, her tone taking on a dangerous edge.
"You'll. Find. Out," Harry repeated, emphasizing every word.
Tybalt arrived midway through breakfast with letters and gifts from the Grangers. Hermione read the note from her parents and squealed in glee about something she wouldn't share. She figured if Harry was going to keep secrets, so would she. After breakfast, Harry lead Hermione through their usual walk along the grounds before the frost set in.
"It's so beautiful," Hermione leaned on the bridge that separated the grounds from the castle and looked out on the forest sprawled around her.
"Yea it is," Harry couldn't take in the sights; he only had eyes for the girl next to him.
"Stop that," Hermione said, blushing.
"Stop what," Harry asked as he stepped closer.
"Staring at me," Hermione plainly said.
"Oh is there something else you'd rather I do?" Harry's impish smile returned as he slid his arm down her back and wrapped it around her waist.
"You're incorrigible," Hermione looked up into his eyes with a grin before leaning in.
"I am when it comes to you," Harry leaned in with Hermione. "What can I say? Once you've had a taste, you just keep coming back for more."
"Oh you mean like this?" Hermione's grin became a full-blown smile as their heads came together. Seconds turned to minutes but felt like hours as Hermione's heart hammered in her chest. Hermione held his head with both hands, running her fingers through his messy mane. Sight, smell, taste, touch; they all were filled with the young man whose entire being was focused solely on her in that moment. Their breathing grew heavy and before long but also entirely too soon, they broke apart to reintroduce oxygen to their bodies. Though the kiss broke, they remained close. Hermione leaned back into him as she took in the view. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her close, letting her hear and feel the beat of his heart. In that moment, a thought- a single traitorous thought- floated through her brain.
This is everything I wanted, she thought. I could spend the rest of my life in this moment and it would be a life well-spent, I love this this much.
Her mind slammed shut at the conclusion to her thought.
We just started dating and I'm already at the L-word stage, she fumed silently. That's much too fast, right?
No, her second voice announced itself again. You've loved him for a while now.
Harry looked at his watch and realized they had spent the morning outside. Glad that no one had caught them snogging, he snaked his hand into hers and led her back into the castle while she finished her internal struggle to admit to herself what she knew to be a fact: she loved Harry Potter.
"Harry," Hermione broke out of her reverie as they were almost at the courtyard, still hand-in-hand. "We should separate."
"I've got a better idea," Harry flourished his free hand, pulling the invisibility cloak from him pocket. He flung it over them both just as they arrived at the courtyard. "Now we don't have to worry about being seen. Though you should keep close, just to make sure we're completely covered."
Hermione giggled and molded herself to him once again. They headed up staircase after staircase until they reached a specific landing. Hermione pulled to the right as they would often to when Harry pulled her to the left. Going with the flow, she let him lead her until he came to stop in front of a tapestry of a wizard teaching trolls to tap dance.
"What are we doing?" Hermione asked.
"You'll see," is all Harry would say as he stepped out from under the cloak. Hermione thought he'd gone crazy as he started to pace in front of the tapestry.
"What are you doing?"
"You'll see."
Hermione was about to ask again when the wall across from the tapestry shifted and a door appeared out of nowhere.
"Hermione Granger," Harry said as he opened the door. "Welcome to your birthday surprise."
Hermione stopped when she crossed the threshold and arrived in what she thought was the Granger house back in London.
"Harry you didn't…"
"No," Harry answered her unfinished question. "This is a special place in the castle called the Room of Requirement. If you pace in front of the wall like I did, focusing on what you really want, the room will show itself on the third pass. I figured for your birthday, it would be nice to have a place where we can be alone, just you and me."
"But what if someone needs to find us," Hermione's rule-following spirit was still well and truly in place. "We could get in trouble."
"That's why I went to McGonagall," Harry assuaged her concerns. "I told her where we were, how to find us and promised to return to the dorms by curfew. She gave us permission so long as we, and I quote, 'behave ourselves'."
"This is wonderful," Hermione moved around the room, barely resisting calling out for her parents. "Thank you, Harry. What did you have planned?"
"I have a few sandwiches for lunch," Harry said. "After that, I thought I'd give you your gifts. Then, we'd relax for a while until dinner."
After lunch, Dobby popped in with a few packages wrapped in periwinkle paper.
"The first is from Dobby, miss," Dobby bounced nervously from one foot the other as Hermione carefully opened his gift.
"Oh wow, Dobby," Hermione removed the last of the paper and picked up the tartan skirt that lay within. "This is fabulous."
"Dobby made it," Dobby said. "He knows how cold the castle can get so he wanted to make sure Miss Hermine'e stayed warm."
"Thank you, Dobby," Dobby bowed at her praise and popped out.
Moving on to the next package, Hermione opened it to find a periwinkle scarf made of pure silk.
"I caught you looking at that in France," Harry said. "You tried to hide it but it looked like you really wanted it. I know it'll be too cold to wear it up here most times but I hope you like it."
Hermione hugged Harry for all she was worth, finishing off the hug with a searing kiss.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione beamed. "I love it."
"That's not all," Harry said. "Unroll the scarf."
Letting the material float through her hands, Hermione completely unfurled it. When she did, a host of feathers fell into her hand.
"These are all from Buckbeak," Harry said. "I had Hedwig take them to Scrivenshaft's to turn them into quills for you to use."
"This is wonderful," Hermione cooed. "Thank you Harry."
Hermione set the quills on the table and wrapped the scarf around her arms as she leaned into Harry's side.
"So we have all afternoon," Hermione said. "What would you like to do?"
Ignoring her suggestive tone, Harry had a different idea.
"Well I was thinking of recreating one of your favorite memories."
"You should have asked for the Eifel tower then," Hermione said.
"Not the memory I was thinking of," Harry said. "I was thinking to last year when you were in the Hospital Wing. I was hoping you'd pick out a book that I could read to you."
"You'd do that?" Hermione asked. "Even though I'm not sick, you'd read to me."
"I'd do anything for you," Harry said, realizing inwardly this was the most true statement he'd ever said. "I know it's a memory that's really special to you and I'd do anything to see you smile the way you smiled when I read to you in the Wing."
"I think I'd like that," Hermione said. "But we're at school and I'm not sure I want a wizarding book read to me."
"Well what book would you like?"
"I think I'd like Frankenstein," Hermione said. No sooner had she said the book title aloud than did Dobby pop in with the book in hand. "Thank you Dobby."
Dobby bowed again and popped out.
"Now," Hermione threw the book to Harry before cuddling into Harry's side. "I think you said you'd read to me, mister."
Harry made himself comfortable, looked down at her beaming face, opened the book and started to read. On and on, he read about Doctor Frankenstein and his monster, stopping only occasionally for a drink of gillywater which Dobby provided.
As the sun started to set, though Hermione pondered whether it was setting like that in Scotland where they were or London where the room was supposed to be, McGonagall made an appearance to check in on them.
"Good afternoon," McGonagall looked around in wonder at the room. "Turns out you were true to your word, Mr. Potter. To be honest, I thought you were becoming more of a Marauder like your father and were having me on. This room is incredible; I would like to investigate it further when you are done using it."
"Though we should probably keep this a secret," Harry said. "For one, it would give us a room for date nights and two, I'm sure other students wouldn't use it like we are."
"Well reasoned," McGonagall nodded. "I've done my duty then. I check in at Gryffindor tower at curfew to make certain you've kept to your promise, Mr. Potter."
McGonagall left them in peace and Harry continued reading until her felt Hermione's stomach rumble.
"Alright," Harry sat up, making Hermione huff in annoyance at being moved. "Time for dinner."
"What are we having?" Hermione asked as Harry walked through the living room into the perfect recreation of her mum's kitchen.
"Something I've been working on since this summer," Harry said as he pulled out a pot and started pouring water into it. The rest of the ingredients Dobby brought from the kitchen since that was the one thing the room could not provide and Harry got to work. Hermione sat on one of the stools around the island and watched Harry work. Once the water was ready, he added the pasta and turned to the pan where he combined tomatoes, herbs and spices as he was shown by Helen in the summer.
Harry then drained the water and added the spaghetti to the sauce he had made, added some fresh basil leaves on the top before serving it onto two plates at the dining table.
"Bon appetit," Harry said as he took off the apron. He pulled out the chair for Hermione and pushed it in as she sat.
"Harry," Hermione said breathlessly, as she looked over the meal. "This is incredible. Thank you."
"Hopefully it tastes good too," Harry watched with bated breath as Hermione dug in. After her first bite, her eyes widened and she let out an appreciative moan.
"Oh it's perfect," Hermione sighed contentedly. "Everything today has been perfect. Thank you, Harry."
"I hope you don't mind me keeping you all to myself on your birthday," Harry said. "But today I just didn't feel like sharing."
"I don't mind at all," Hermione smiled gratefully.
"To Hermione," Harry lifted his mug of butterbeer. "The girl who makes Hogwarts magical."
"You're one to talk," Hermione said after they clinked glasses. "You certainly know how to make a girl feel special."
Later that night, they walked back to the common room, disguised under the invisibility cloak. They had plenty of time to curfew and as such, never felt the need to walk with any kind of speed. At last they stood at the base of the stairway to the Gryffindor common room.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione leaned in and kissed him one last time before they had to remove the cloak and return to their guise of being merely best friends. "I had a wonderful day."
"You're welcome Hermione," Harry leaned his forehead on hers. "I'm glad you're in my life."
"Me too," Hermione said. Harry stepped back and stowed the cloak. He gave the password and the Fat Lady swung forward to give them admittance.
"Harry!" Ron's voice called out as they entered. "Hermione! I've been looking for you all day. Where were you?"
Harry noticed the rest of their house feigning disinterest, though some were doing a poor job of it. The twins in particular were giving the two of them odd looks, as if they were trying to put together a puzzle but were missing a piece.
"We walked around the grounds," Hermione said. "Then spent the afternoon reading."
"Of course you'd be reading," Ron ribbed them. Hermione let it slide this time, too content to let anything bother her. "Hey have you finished the Potions assignment? I have a few questions that I was hoping you could help me with."
"Sure," Hermione acceded and walked over to his table to join him.
"Did you have a good time?" Lavender asked from the sofa.
"Yes," Harry smiled brightly. "Thank you for distracting Hermione so I could set everything up."
"Our pleasure," Lavender said. "Though you've got to show us where you went. We were in the library all day so you certainly weren't reading in there, assuming you were actually reading and not doing, I don't know, other things."
Lavender waggled her eyes as Parvati giggled.
"No, we were reading," Harry said. "Rather I was reading to her. We found a room that fit our needs and gave us some privacy."
"Ooh where?" Parvati bounced into an upright posture on the couch cushion, leaning forward in anticipation.
Harry hesitated but figured it was worth sharing what he found, since they helped him set everything up.
"Okay," he relented. "But keep them to yourselves, okay?"
The duo drank in everything Harry told them, their rapt attention making Harry uneasy as they were never this interested unless they were planning something. Eventually, Hermione rejoined the group with Neville, Luna and Ginny pulling chairs around. Together, they reviewed for the upcoming week and helped Ginny and Luna work ahead. They were both drinking in the knowledge and, much to Harry's surprise, were catching up to where the third years currently were. At curfew, McGonagall turned up to check that they had returned, prompting the group to break off and head to bed. Harry and Hermione went last, sharing a bone-crushing hug before separating to their respective stairways. They let their hands linger as they pulled apart, their fingers sliding over one another's hands as they parted, wishing for their physical contact to linger as long as possible.
Hermione entered her dorm room, changed into her pajamas and quickly fell into a peaceful slumber. The smile Harry put on her face never left as her dreams were filled with a messy-haired scoundrel who meant the world to her.
On the other side, Harry stared at the canopy above his bed, as one question zipped through his mind.
Can this be love? He asked himself. Is this how it feels to love someone?
Growing up at Privet Drive, he wasn't the best at recognizing love. He pondered what love was as the dorm room filled with the snores of his dorm mates. The question stayed on his brain long after he drifted off to sleep.
(a/n: This chapter was initially attached to the previous one but it developed so well, I had to make it its own. From the conversation with McGonagall to the scene with the third year girls- which I never intended to work that way but it took on a life of its own- to the birthday date. It also introduces the Room to the story. This chapter was among my favorites to write and I hope it is equally enjoyable to read. Thank you for all your follows, favorites and comments as they help inspire me to keep going.)