Answer Me This by Sage Vale

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 08/01/2006
Last Updated: 08/01/2006
Status: Completed

Response to the Answer Me This Challenge on Kindred Spirits




1. Chapter 1
------------



**Title:** Untitled, for now

**Author:** Sage Vale

**Rating:** Er….good question. PG to PG-13

**Summary:** Answer to Joogie's Answer Me
This challenge. Another one-shot while I work up the willpower to type up more SNY.

**Disclaimer:** Really, if I owned Harry Potter, everyone at Portkey would be much happier.
And the rest of the world, much sadder.

**A/N:** Yeah, I got a new beta. Now I just need to find my old one…..

It was a relatively boring Saturday. Ron was out on a date with Luna, and Ginny was off with
Malfoy, so Harry and Hermione were left alone in the large flat they shared with their friends.

“What do you want to do?” Harry asked.

“I dunno,” Hermione replied while flipping through this month's *Witch Weekly*. Then
something caught her eye.

“Ooh….hey Harry?”

“*grunt*”

“There's this quiz in here called *`Answer Me This: The Best Friends Knowledge
Quiz'*. Wanna take it?”

“*yes grunt*,” Hermione smiled and scooted closer to Harry on the sofa. Harry felt his whole
side tingle where Hermione's bare feet touched his leg.

“Ok then. Here's how it works. I'll answer for you, and you'll answer for me. Then
we tally up how many we got right and check how well we know each other,” Hermione seemed unusually
excited about this quiz. “I'll ask a question, then you'll answer for me, ok? Ok.”

“Question One: When was the last time I was **really** mad?” Harry grinned.

“Easy peasy lemon squeezy,” Hermione giggled at the rhyme, “The last time *you* got really
mad, Miss Granger, was last week in Potions, when Snape gave me a **D** on the Living Death
Draught,” Hermione was stunned. How did he know?

“How did you know?” Hermione asked. Harry's grin got even wider.

“Because your nostrils were flaring, your eyes had this evil glint in them, and your knuckles
were white as they clutched your books when we left class,” Harry sat back, satisfied with his
answer.

“Oh…how observant of you,” Hermione complimented, but inside she was shaking. *'If he
noticed that, what* **else** *did he notice?'* Hermione shook this thought aside and
looked at the quiz. The next question made her grin. *`No way he'll get this
one.'*

“Question Two: What is my greatest fear?” Hermione asked with a note of smugness in her tone.
Harry pondered this for a moment before answering,

“Losing, failure, and thunderstorms,” Harry answered at last, but then he added, “When I mean
losing, I mean losing a contest, and losing someone close to you. The failure is for when you fail
something in school, which has never happened anyway, and when you fail to do something you have
your heart set on, like protecting me and Ron. And the thunderstorms…well, that's pretty self
explanatory,” Harry finished in one breath. Hermione's jaw dropped.

“Wow. I never knew that you knew so much about me, Harry,” Hermione had this fuzzy feeling in
the pit of her stomach, and she didn't know why.

“Ok, next question. What's my favorite kind of weather?” Harry didn't even hesitate.

“Any kind of weather that will keep you inside so you can read and watch me get my butt kicked
in chess. You love rain more than snow, because snow means that you can go outside,” Hermione
hadn't even known that, but upon reflection, she realized it was right.

“Sheesh Harry, people will think that you watch my every move since you know so much about me,”
Harry blushed, not because of the joke, but because of the truth in the joke.

“Just ask the next question, Hermione.”

“Otay. If I could choose between doing well in school or falling in love - which would I
choose?” Harry smiled. This question was easy as cake for him.

“You already have the best grades Hogwarts has ever, and will ever see, but even if you
didn't, it'd be falling in love. Because you're a romantic, and you'd think along
the lines of, *`If I'm really in love, good grades won't matter. Nothing will really
matter when I'm in love.'*”

Hermione had tears in her eyes. Harry was absolutely right. Absolutely. Right. She tackled him
with a hug.

“That is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard,” Hermione whispered in Harry's ear,
her breath tickling his cheek, making the hairs on his neck stand up and a shiver to go from his
head to his toes.

“Your welcome, Hermione. Now, let's finish this.”

“You're right. Next questions. Who was my first kiss with? What's the most spontaneous
thing I've ever done? What would make my perfect meal?” Hermione rapidly shot without pause for
breath. Harry thought for a second before replying.

“Viktor Krum, your hugs, and ME!” Harry wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at the giggling
Hermione, earning him a whack with a pillow.

“Harry! While I'm sure you are delicious, I was thinking more along the lines of food,”
Hermione shot between giggles. Harry smirked at her.

“Ok, Lady Gigglesmuch, more questions!!!” Harry demanded playfully.

“Sure, Sir Grouch. But you have to answer my favorite meal question first,” Harry pouted, but
obliged.

“Okay….salad with croutons, grilled salmon with a hint of lemon, mashed red potatoes, fresh
green beans, Breyers Vanilla Fudge Twirl ice cream for dessert, and sprite. Questions now, ogle at
my psychic ability later.”

“Fine. But you know…my first kiss wasn't Krum,” Hermione answered saucily. Harry gaped at
her.

“It wasn't? Then who was? Ron? Some Muggle?” Hermione smiled sadly at him.

“Nobody. I have yet to have my first kiss. With Ron, it just didn't seem right. With Viktor,
he was just….no. And, before I came to Hogwarts, no boy other than relatives looked my way once,
let alone twice. But no time to reflect. What charm do I use the most? How many kids do I want, and
what do I want their names to be?” Harry looked at her, amazed and disturbed at how easily she
could dismiss one of the most important things to happen to a person. *`I guess I should just go
along with it.'*

“Well, you use *Occulous Reparo* a lot, but you tend to use *Wingardium Leviosa* a bit
more,” now Harry had to think about the kids, but the answer came to him in no time.

“About the kids, you want two or three, depending on how you feel after childbirth. For girls,
you like the names Lily, Emma, Ginevra, and Gabrielle. For boys, you like the names Daniel, Harry,
Ron, James, and Luke,” Hermione smiled warmly at him.

“Good answers. What is my favorite piece of clothing? If I had to choose a mode of
transportation, would it be broom, Portkey, or floo powder? And what is my dream job?”

“Well, you love that Gryffindor hoodie I gave you as a graduation present. If you had to
choose…..broom, since I would most likely be there with you. Portkeys give you headaches and
you're mildly allergic to floo powder. And, obviously, you'd love to be a Charms, Potions,
or Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts, and you're just waiting for a spot to open up before
you quit your job at the Ministry,” Harry finished with a deep breath. Hermione looked up at the
last answer. She had never told *anyone* that she wanted to teach at Hogwarts.

“How did you know that I wanted to be a Potions teacher at Hogwarts?”

“Because you want to do good for your students, all the good that Snape never did.”

Hermione smiled again and hugged Harry fiercely.

“You have this uncanny knack for saying the right things, Harry,” Hermione said.

“Well, that's what the women tell me,” Harry answered with a devilishly attractive smile.
His stomach was full of butterflies as Hermione turned around and sat in his lap. *`Oh god, she
better not squirm.'*

“Ok then. New question. How many times have we had butterbeer together? What quidditch position
am I best for? And….what is my favorite hex?”

“Hmmm…” Harry thought aloud as he did the math. “One hundred and thirty-one. Referee, and
*Expelliarmus*.”

“Yes, no, and sort of. I'd rather be a Beater; get rid of all my suppressed rage towards
Ron,” Harry chuckled at this, “and, I love the Antler Jinx. Remember when that complete *cow*
Parkinson got hit with it?” Harry nodded. ”Well….” Hermione trailed off with a huge grin on her
face. Harry looked at her with wide eyes.

“That…was you???” Harry sputtered. Hermione just tossed her hair back and smiled at him.

“Not answering that. Moving on. If I could be any animagus form, what would I be?” Harry was
expecting more questions, but they never came. Harry tapped her on the shoulder.

“Where are the other questions?” he asked.

“Oh…the last two are kind of important, so they go one at a time,” Hermione replied.

“Ok then. Well…animagus….hmmm, I'm thinking otter,” Harry answered uncertainly.

“Nope. I'd rather be a cheetah, or a panther. Fast, deadly, but beautiful in their own
ways,” Hermione spoke with a dreamy voice, as if she were picturing herself as those animals. Harry
stared at her, emotion sparkling in his eyes. Soon Hermione came back to reality.

“Ok Harry, we're almost done. One more question after this one. What is my favorite thing
about you?” Hermione held her breath, awaiting his answer.

“My eyes, because you can always tell what's going on inside me through them,” Hermione
squirmed on his lap until she was facing him.

“Those, and your hair, because I always just want to run my hands through it,” Hermione said as
she ran a hand through Harry's messy hair. Harry's breath hitched and his heartbeat
quickened. *`Can she hear that I hope she can't hear that oh my god she can hear it.'*
Harry panicked as her smile grew into a look of concern.

“Are you okay, Harry? You look a bit pale,” Hermione questioned. Inside, her heart was soaring.
Harry was showing telltale signs of…well, feelings for her.

“I'm fine, Hermione,” Harry's voice was a pitch or four higher than normal, and he
squirmed when she turned around.

“Okay then, Harry. Here's the last question, and then you can quiz me. Do I have any
birthmarks, and if I do, where are they?” Harry thought hard for a few minutes, his forehead
scrunched up in concentration. Then the answer struck him like lightning. He leaned in closer to
Hermione, and his breath puffed against her neck through her wavy locks.

“You have a mole on the back of your neck,” Harry whispered seductively. He wanted to see if he
could make her just as flustered as she did him. Harry wasn't disappointed.

“Umm….yeah….you're….right. Ok, bathroom break!!!” And Hermione hopped off his lap and
practically sprinted into the bathroom. Harry leaned back into the sofa and crossed his feet on the
coffee table. He was going to have fun when Hermione got back.

**TBC?**

-->



2. Chapter 1 Repost
-------------------



**Title:** Untitled, for now

**Author:** Sage Vale

**Rating:** Er….good question. PG to PG-13

**Summary:** Answer to Joogie's Answer Me
This challenge. Another one-shot while I work up the willpower to type up more SNY.

**Disclaimer:** Really, if I owned Harry Potter, everyone at Portkey would be much happier.
And the rest of the world, much sadder.

**A/N:** Yeah, I got a new beta. Now I just need to find my old one…..

It was a relatively boring Saturday. Ron was out on a date with Luna, and Ginny was off with
Malfoy, so Harry and Hermione were left alone in the large flat they shared with their friends.

“What do you want to do?” Harry asked.

“I dunno,” Hermione replied while flipping through this month's *Witch Weekly*. Then
something caught her eye.

“Ooh….hey Harry?”

“*grunt*”

“There's this quiz in here called *`Answer Me This: The Best Friends Knowledge
Quiz'*. Wanna take it?”

“*yes grunt*,” Hermione smiled and scooted closer to Harry on the sofa. Harry felt his whole
side tingle where Hermione's bare feet touched his leg.

“Ok then. Here's how it works. I'll answer for you, and you'll answer for me. Then
we tally up how many we got right and check how well we know each other,” Hermione seemed unusually
excited about this quiz. “I'll ask a question, then you'll answer for me, ok? Ok.”

“Question One: When was the last time I was **really** mad?” Harry grinned.

“Easy peasy lemon squeezy,” Hermione giggled at the rhyme, “The last time *you* got really
mad, Miss Granger, was last week at work, when Cho called you a slut,” Hermione was stunned. How
did he know?

“How did you know?” Hermione asked. Harry's grin got even wider.

“Because your nostrils were flaring, your eyes had this evil glint in them, and your knuckles
were white as they clutched your books when we left the meeting,” Harry sat back, satisfied with
his answer.

“Oh…how observant of you,” Hermione complimented, but inside she was shaking. *'If he
noticed that, what* **else** *did he notice?'* Hermione shook this thought aside and
looked at the quiz. The next question made her grin. *`No way he'll get this
one.'*

“Question Two: What is my greatest fear?” Hermione asked with a note of smugness in her tone.
Harry pondered this for a moment before answering,

“Losing, failure, and thunderstorms,” Harry answered at last, but then he added, “When I mean
losing, I mean losing a contest, and losing someone close to you. The failure is for when you fail
something in school, which has never happened anyway, and when you fail to do something you have
your heart set on, like protecting me and Ron. And the thunderstorms…well, that's pretty self
explanatory,” Harry finished in one breath. Hermione's jaw dropped.

“Wow. I never knew that you knew so much about me, Harry,” Hermione had this fuzzy feeling in
the pit of her stomach, and she didn't know why.

“Ok, next question. What's my favorite kind of weather?” Harry didn't even hesitate.

“Any kind of weather that will keep you inside so you can read and watch me get my butt kicked
in chess. You love rain more than snow, because snow means that you can go outside,” Hermione
hadn't even known that, but upon reflection, she realized it was right.

“Sheesh Harry, people will think that you watch my every move since you know so much about me,”
Harry blushed, not because of the joke, but because of the truth in the joke.

“Just ask the next question, Hermione.”

“Otay. If I could choose between doing well in school or falling in love - which would I
choose?” Harry smiled. This question was easy as cake for him.

“You already have the best grades Hogwarts has ever, and will ever see, but even if you
didn't, it'd be falling in love. Because you're a romantic, and you'd think along
the lines of, *`If I'm really in love, good grades won't matter. Nothing will really
matter when I'm in love.'*”

Hermione had tears in her eyes. Harry was absolutely right. Absolutely. Right. She tackled him
with a hug.

“That is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard,” Hermione whispered in Harry's ear,
her breath tickling his cheek, making the hairs on his neck stand up and a shiver to go from his
head to his toes.

“Your welcome, Hermione. Now, let's finish this.”

“You're right. Next questions. Who was my first kiss with? What's the most spontaneous
thing I've ever done? What would make my perfect meal?” Hermione rapidly shot without pause for
breath. Harry thought for a second before replying.

“Viktor Krum, your hugs, and ME!” Harry wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at the giggling
Hermione, earning him a whack with a pillow.

“Harry! While I'm sure you are delicious, I was thinking more along the lines of food,”
Hermione shot between giggles. Harry smirked at her.

“Ok, Lady Gigglesmuch, more questions!!!” Harry demanded playfully.

“Sure, Sir Grouch. But you have to answer my favorite meal question first,” Harry pouted, but
obliged.

“Okay….salad with croutons, grilled salmon with a hint of lemon, mashed red potatoes, fresh
green beans, Breyers Vanilla Fudge Twirl ice cream for dessert, and sprite. Questions now, ogle at
my psychic ability later.”

“Fine. But you know…my first kiss wasn't Krum,” Hermione answered saucily. Harry gaped at
her.

“It wasn't? Then who was? Ron? Some Muggle?” Hermione smiled sadly at him.

“Nobody. I have yet to have my first kiss. With Ron, it just didn't seem right. With Viktor,
he was just….no. And, before I came to Hogwarts, no boy other than relatives looked my way once,
let alone twice. But no time to reflect. What charm do I use the most? How many kids do I want, and
what do I want their names to be?” Harry looked at her, amazed and disturbed at how easily she
could dismiss one of the most important things to happen to a person. *`I guess I should just go
along with it.'*

“Well, you use *Occulous Reparo* a lot, but you tend to use *Wingardium Leviosa* a bit
more,” now Harry had to think about the kids, but the answer came to him in no time.

“About the kids, you want two or three, depending on how you feel after childbirth. For girls,
you like the names Lily, Emma, Ginevra, and Gabrielle. For boys, you like the names Daniel, Harry,
Ron, James, and Luke,” Hermione smiled warmly at him.

“Good answers. What is my favorite piece of clothing? If I had to choose a mode of
transportation, would it be broom, Portkey, or floo powder? And what is my dream job?”

“Well, you love that Gryffindor hoodie I gave you as a graduation present. If you had to
choose…..broom, since I would most likely be there with you. Portkeys give you headaches and
you're mildly allergic to floo powder. And, obviously, you'd love to be a Charms, Potions,
or Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts, and you're just waiting for a spot to open up before
you quit your job at the Ministry,” Harry finished with a deep breath. Hermione looked up at the
last answer. She had never told *anyone* that she wanted to teach at Hogwarts.

“How did you know that I wanted to be a Potions teacher at Hogwarts?”

“Because you want to do good for your students, all the good that Snape never did.”

Hermione smiled again and hugged Harry fiercely.

“You have this uncanny knack for saying the right things, Harry,” Hermione said.

“Well, that's what the women tell me,” Harry answered with a devilishly attractive smile.
His stomach was full of butterflies as Hermione turned around and sat in his lap. *`Oh god, she
better not squirm.'*

“Ok then. New question. How many times have we had butterbeer together? What quidditch position
am I best for? And….what is my favorite hex?”

“Hmmm…” Harry thought aloud as he did the math. “One hundred and thirty-one. Referee, and
*Expelliarmus*.”

“Yes, no, and sort of. I'd rather be a Beater; get rid of all my suppressed rage towards
Ron,” Harry chuckled at this, “and, I love the Antler Jinx. Remember when that complete *cow*
Parkinson got hit with it?” Harry nodded. ”Well….” Hermione trailed off with a huge grin on her
face. Harry looked at her with wide eyes.

“That…was you???” Harry sputtered. Hermione just tossed her hair back and smiled at him.

“Not answering that. Moving on. If I could be any animagus form, what would I be?” Harry was
expecting more questions, but they never came. Harry tapped her on the shoulder.

“Where are the other questions?” he asked.

“Oh…the last three are kind of important, so they go one at a time,” Hermione replied.

“Ok then. Well…animagus….hmmm, I'm thinking otter,” Harry answered uncertainly.

“Nope. I'd rather be a cheetah, or a panther. Fast, deadly, but beautiful in their own
ways,” Hermione spoke with a dreamy voice, as if she were picturing herself as those animals. Harry
stared at her, emotion sparkling in his eyes. Soon Hermione came back to reality.

“Well, if I was hiding something in my room, what would it be?”

“Playwitch mags.”

“Harry! You raided my room, didn't you?”

“Of course not…..”

“Whatever. Ok Harry, we're almost done. One more question after this one. What is my
favorite thing about you?” Hermione held her breath, awaiting his answer.

“My eyes, because you can always tell what's going on inside me through them,” Hermione
squirmed on his lap until she was facing him.

“Those, and your hair, because I always just want to run my hands through it,” Hermione said as
she ran a hand through Harry's messy hair. Harry's breath hitched and his heartbeat
quickened. *`Can she hear that I hope she can't hear that oh my god she can hear it.'*
Harry panicked as her smile grew into a look of concern.

“Are you okay, Harry? You look a bit pale,” Hermione questioned. Inside, her heart was soaring.
Harry was showing telltale signs of…well, feelings for her.

“I'm fine, Hermione,” Harry's voice was a pitch (or four) higher than normal, and he
squirmed when she turned around.

“Okay then, Harry. Here's the last question, and then you can quiz me. Do I have any
birthmarks, and if I do, where are they?” Harry thought hard for a few minutes, his forehead
scrunched up in concentration. Then the answer struck him like lightning. He leaned in closer to
Hermione, and his breath puffed against her neck through her wavy locks.

“You have a mole on the back of your neck,” Harry whispered seductively. He wanted to see if he
could make her just as flustered as she did him. Harry wasn't disappointed.

“Umm….yeah….you're….right. Ok, bathroom break!!!” And Hermione hopped off his lap and
practically sprinted into the bathroom. Harry leaned back into the sofa and crossed his feet on the
coffee table. He was going to have fun when Hermione got back.

**TBC?**

-->



3. Chapter 2
------------



**Hahahaha, I am LOVING the reviews this story has been getting!!!!!! Since they are so
awesome, you get the chap TODAY!!!**

**So, this chap is dedicated to all my enthusiastic reviewers!!!!!**

**Last Chapter****…**

*…**Hermione hopped off his lap and practically sprinted into the bathroom. Harry leaned
back into the sofa and crossed his feet on the coffee table. He was going to have fun when Hermione
got back**…*

**Part 2**

Hermione locked the door to the bathroom and leaned against it for support. She could hear her
heart pounding against her chest. Her hands were damp with sweat, and she felt dizzy. Hermione
stood up on shaky legs and turned on the sink. She splashed water on her face and stared at herself
in the mirror

“Get a grip on yourself, Granger. It's only *Harry*. It's not like you've been
in love with him since you saw him on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago…oh bloody hell!!!”
Hermione swore at her reflection. Those were not the words that were supposed to come out.
*`Another slip up like that, and I can kiss any friendship I have with Harry goodbye.'*
But her heart argued,

**`What ARE you TALKING ABOUT? HE came on to US, so we shouldn't worry about slip ups.**
**I say we snog, we shag, and we all go home happy.'**

*`And* *That's* *the kind of thinking that will lose Harry for
us!!!**'*

**`Oh, sod off. You have a wand so far up your…'**

“ENOUGH!!!!” Hermione shouted at herself, then giggled not just a little hysterically.

“I've completely gone off the deep end!” But before she could argue with herself more, there
was an insistent knock on the door.

“Hermione? Are you alright?”

Harry sat there for a few minutes before he heard shouting coming from the bathroom. Thinking
the worse (Death Eaters, Paparazzi, Hermione got flushed down the toilet), Harry rushed to the
bathroom door, only to find it locked. He began banging on the door

“Hermione? Are you alright?” Harry couldn't hear anything on the other side, so he stepped
back, pulled out his wand, and was about to blast the door open when Hermione opened it and stepped
out.

“Harry, why are you pointing a wand at me?” she asked calmly, but there was a glint in her eye.
Harry looked down at his feet and mumbled something incoherent.

“What was that, Harry? I didn't quite catch it,” Hermione asked again.

“Thought you…..fell down the toilet,” Harry muttered, a blush creeping up his neck. Hermione
stifled her laughter, but a chuckle escaped. Harry looked at her fiercely.

“Hey! I'll have you know that lots of people die from being flushed down toilets,” Harry
cried indignantly, but there was a grin on his face. Hermione giggled.

“Whatever you say, Harry. Now, let's get back to the quiz. It's your turn to quiz me,”
they walked back into the living room, and after Harry sat down in an armchair, Hermione plopped
right on his lap. Harry's earlier panic returned. He sat absolutely still until Hermione poked
him in the arm.

“Come on Harry, quiz me,” she whined.

“Fine then. When was the last time I was really mad?”

“Ha! When Chang called me a slut.”

“Correct. How did you know?” Hermione smirked.

“Because you and Ron are ridiculously protective of me. Well, you are, anyways,” Harry smiled at
her.

“Me? Protective of you? Why Hermione, that is preposterous. The only way I could ever be
protective of you is if we had been friends for at least a decade, but that hasn't
happened…”

“Haha Smart Arse,” Hermione dryly commented, “Less cheek, more questions.”

“Alrighty then,” replied Harry in his imitation of Ace Ventura, “What is my greatest fear?”

“Failure,” Hermione automatically answered. “Failing school, yourself, other people.
*Especially* other people. When it's just you, you know that you can make it up to
yourself. But when it's somebody else, you're afraid that they'll lose all faith in
you, or will want nothing to do with you, and you'll be alone, which is your other greatest
fear,” Harry digested all of this slowly.

“You're wrong, Hermione,” *`Well there's something I've never had to say.'*
Hermione felt the same way, and turned to look at him, a
`What-the-hell-are-you-talking-about-i-know-all-about-you' look on her face.

“I'm not afraid of being alone anymore; I learned that that was an irrational fear since
I've got the Weasleys as friends, and they breed like rabbits. What I am truly afraid of
is…disappointing you,” Harry said the last in such a small whisper that Hermione thought she had
imagined it.

“Why would you ever be afraid of disappointing *Me*, Harry? It's not like I'm
anything special,” Hermione said quietly. Harry turned her around till he could look her straight
in the eye. His eyes were dark with rage and an unidentifiable light.

“What. The. Bloody. Fuck. Are. You. TALKING. About?” Harry said in a low and dangerous voice.
“You, Hermione Granger, are the most important person in my life. More important than the Weasleys,
Remus, Sirius, and my parents!!! You always know the right thing, the most logical thing to do in
any situation, whether it's professional or personal. It's *you* that I come to for
advice on anything, from what socks I should wear to should I AK this Death Eater. Whenever
I've done something wrong in your eyes, I feel dirtier than Wormtail. I feel like I don't
deserve to live, to be anywhere near you. That is why I am so afraid of disappointing you,
Hermione,” Harry was shaking. His greatest fear had always been one of his greatest kept secrets.
Harry had always been afraid that dark wizards would use this secret against him. But his other
most guarded secret…if anyone knew it, it could be the end of him and Hermione both.

Hermione was shaking. This confession, which looked like it had caused Harry physical pain to
admit to her, was, in a way, what she had always wanted to hear. Hermione looked up and saw tears
streaming down Harry's face. She hugged him tight and stroked his hair.

After a few minutes, the tears had stopped. Hermione looked up at him uncertainly.

“Are you sure you want to keep doing this? If it's going to make you like this, we really
don't have to,” Harry gave her a smile.

“It's fine. Let's keep going,” Hermione nodded, “What's my favorite kind of weather?
And if I could choose between good grades in school or falling in love, which would it be?”

“Those are too easy,” answered Hermione breezily, “any kind of weather that you could play
quidditch in is your favorite. And you'd choose falling in love, because after so many years
with the Dursleys, you have this need to give and get love any chance you can.”

“Of course, Hermione. How else would I get all those girls?” Harry joked. Hermione swatted him
on the arm.

“Love, not lust, you git. Next questions.”

“Sure. First kiss, most spontaneous action, favorite meal, and favorite charm?”

“Cho Chang, any adventure we've ever had, anything non-Dursley, preferably anything Weasley,
and *Accio*, because you're too lazy to get off your arse.”

“Yes, no, yes, and yes. I think my most spontaneous moment was when I punched Malfoy for
standing in the hallway.” Hermione chuckled at the memory

“You know, you're probably right. More questions.”

“Geez, we sure are bossy today. But, I suppose I must. Number of kids, names, favorite piece of
clothing, and Floo, Portkey, or Broom?”

“Two. For boys Ron, James, Remus, and Sirius. For girls Lily, Hermione, Ginny, Molly, and
Ariana. Favorite article of clothing…..anything Dobby or Mrs. Weasley made for you, and broom, or
course,” Hermione finished with a roll of her eyes. Harry poked her in the side and she yelped.

“And I'm the Smart Arse? Good answers, though. Onward! Dream job, number of times we've
had butterbeer together, quidditch position I'm suited for best, and favorite hex.”

“DADA Professor, or Unspeakable, because you want to help others learn, but you also want to
help the Wizarding world. One hundred and thirty-one, Seeker, and *Petrificus Totalus*,”
Hermione responded quickly. Harry raised his eyebrow at the last one.

“What makes you think *Petrificus Totalus* is my favorite hex?” Hermione shrugged.

“No idea. Just a guess. Was I right?”

“Nope. *Expelliarmus*, because it makes things more interesting. Now, if I had something to
hide in my room, what would it be?”

“My stolen magazines.”

“Witch.”

“You'd be dead without me.” Harry shut up after that. How true that was.

“Moving on. If I could be any animagus, what would it be?”

“Dog or stag, so you'd feel closer to your family.”

“Ok. What's my favorite thing about you?” Hermione had to think long and hard about this
one. Harry's favorite thing about her? She had no idea.

“Umm….my ability to keep you alive?” Harry laughed at loud at this one.

“Sort of. I can't think of one thing I *don't* like about you, `Mione,” Hermione
blushed at this, but Harry wasn't done.

“You're gorgeous, you're intelligent, you have a wonderful heart, and you care so much
about everyone who really deserves to be cared about…” Hermione's heart soared a little higher
with every word he spoke. She decided to cut him off before it flew right out of her chest.

“Wow, Harry. I am loving what you are saying, but if you don't stop soon, I'm going to
get all Percy-headed,” Harry guffawed at the insulting joke.

“Whatever you say, mademoiselle. Last question: Where are my birthmarks, if any? And not my
scar; technically, it's not a birthmark,” Hermione huffed; he always wanted things done the
hard way.

“Fine,” Hermione turned around and carefully inspected Harry's face. She turned his head to
one side, then the other. Then she smiled at him.

“You have a mark on your neck, right below your ear,” she spoke triumphantly. But, before either
of them knew what was going on, Hermione leaned in and kissed Harry's birthmark.

*`Oh my fucking gosh, what in the bloody hell did I just do?'* Hermione sat there on
Harry's lap, unmoving, wide-eyed with shock.

”Harry, I am so sormmph,” Hermione was cut off in the middle of her apology by a pair of lips
brushing against hers.

An instant and an eternity later, the pair separated for air.

“Wow, Harry. I mean….wow,” Hermione spoke with pink, swollen lips. Harry grinned boyishly at
her.

“I know what you mean. I…I….I…I love you, Hermione,” Harry spoke nervously. Hermione smiled and
kissed him again.

“I love you too. Wait!” Harry's exploration of Hermione's neck halted as she reached
over and grabbed the issue of *Witch Weekly*.

“We have to check our scores. Hmm…we both got three wrong so….we got *So Cute, It's
Creepy*: You and your friend know a lot about each other, and if you are a boy and a girl,
it's so cute it's creepy. We here at *Witch Weekly* say you should snog, shag, and go
home happy,” Harry grinned devilishly at Hermione.

“I say we should listen to *Witch Weekly,*” Harry whispered huskily. Hermione bit her lower
lip and nodded. And as Harry carried Hermione off to his bedroom, her heart said smugly,

**`Told ya so.'**

**Haha, that's the end of that. Sorry I couldn't write more snogging; I just don't
have it in me to write so much of that. Oh, and one smart reviewer caught a terrible error in the
first chapter with the Potions. That, and I realized that I was missing a question in the first
chap. But, unfortunately, I cannot remove the chapter, because it means losing all those wonderful
reviews. So, I will just post the 1****st** **chap a second time, and this
one.**

**Thanx slayerrr!!!!**

**-- Sage**

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