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Hermione Granger usually found it pretty easy to concentrate in any task that she was willing to do whether to pratice a spell or just casual reading for her own enjoyment. Of course that usually she didn't have a distraction that kept taking her attention.
Hermione could see in the corner of her sight that Harry is feeling disquiet in his seat in the library, clear as water, that he wanted to talk to her, but even so he was still silent since he sat on her side. Giving a resigned sigh, Hermione close her book and directed her attention completely to him
"What do you need. Harry?" She asked straight to the point.
"Nothing." He awnsered and Hermione almost rolled her eyes
"Harry, you were here for minutes and you didn't even opened a book" 'or slept like many seems to do in the library', she argued thinking to herself
"Well, is just... Christmas is coming, right?" He begun
"Yes, it is."
"And in Christmas we spend our time with special people." He continued with his hands stroking his hair nervously
"Well, it has many Christmas traditions around the world, but in the most it's to be spent with important people." Hermione furrowed her brows. "But won't you spent at the Borrow?"
"Yes, I intend to, but that's not about it." He looked more and more frustrated.
While Harry was still trying to find the right words, Hermione let her eyes explore him looking for answers. The way his hands keeps passing on his hair nervously, the light pink on his cheeks and the green eyes looking anywhere but her. It was so obvious that Hermione wanted to punch herself for taking so long to reach the answer.
"Harry, are you liking someone?" And if she still had any doubt, it was erased as she saw Harry's face go completely red
"No! I’m..." He tried to talk but it was useless
"You are. Oh, Harry, you have nothing to worry about, I'm sure that every girl at Hogwarts would like to go out with you." Hermione tried to tranquilize him while casually looking back at the books on the table. In that moment her eyes would be demonstrating more than she wanted to, she heard Harry puff at her side
"It’s kinda hard when she can't understand any sign." He said with his voice in a mix of frustration and amusement.
"Well, some people can't read minds, Harry. Sometimes we have to act more directly if we want the other one to notice." She looked back at him and saw he rise a eyebrow
"And what kind of actions would make a blind person see?" All flutter was gone and he was smiling now, the same smile that was so efficient in make a mess with the so organized thoughts of Hermione
"I think she would notice if you act more attentive, a special attention only for her, it would also be good for you to show interest for her likes and dislikes, she would feel happy to have someone asking about her interests." Hermione advised but she was just talking what she would like, but how much different other girls can be? Any person would get if someone act like that around them
"Right, act attentive and interested, I think I need more, she can be really dense." He was still smilling like he was having fun
"I think that more than act interested, it would be good to share your own interests, talk about things that you like or include her on activites that you like." Hermione stopped and thought a little more. "Subtle touches, it’s also good, nothing invasive though, just something simple to show that you care about her above friendship."
"Alright, any more tips, cupid?" He said and Hermione huffled
"Don't you have quiddich training now?" She rised a eyebrow but Harry just laugh
"Actually, I do." He got up "But I will use your advices, don't worry." And then he winked at her
"Go to your training already." She tried to stay serious but knew that she was at least a little red
Hermione sighed when she saw he leave and tried to calm down the mess that was inside of her, it was always like this when talking to Harry, butterflies on the stomach and scrambled thoughts
"But he likes someone else." She sighed again and forced herself to concentrate again in the book. For a moment she thought how nice it would be if she was that girl, but she ignored it as soon at it came to her mind, Harry would never look at her that way.
Swalloing the saddness that clenched her heart, Hermione went back to read
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While walking on the corridors of Hogwarts with a pile of books in hands, Hermione could almost regret being a bookworm. She knew it was certain the pain in the back she would feel later after carring so many books but she couldn't help it, Ron and Lavender had chosen the library as their snog spot this time, and even if Hermione loved her friend, she was not obligated to see this
Now, she was going to her favorite spot near the lake where she hardly would be bothered and still be a calm enough place to read her books. She just didn't calculated how the trip would be considerably harder with the additional weight. Hermione was about to put the books on the floor to breath when she saw Harry
"Hey, Hermione, where are you going with all these books?" He began to walk at her side
"A calm place far away from the library." Hermione huffled
"Ron and Lavender?" She nodded and Harry sighed." Understandable. give some of these, I’ll help you." He gestured to the books
"Ah, you don't need to, Harry."
"It would be faster if we share the weight and I think I can manage some books." Harry smilled and took most of the books from her arms
"Thank you." Hermione smilled then forced to look elsewhere feeling her heart beating faster
"What are these books about by the way?" She looked back at him and saw him examine the cover of one of them
"Just some books that I found interesting." She shrugged
"Yes, but specifically, what are they about?" The question caught her by surprise but most surprising was the interested look that Harry was giving her
"They're just some book of arithmancy." Looking down Hermione could feel her face burning. "It’s not that intersting." Even if she found fascinating, it was common that other people don't think the same.
"Well, if you find them interesting then it couldn't be that bad right?" He said and when Hermione looked at him she saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes and when Harry smilled at her, Hermione could feel that she was fallling even more for him.
"Maybe..." That was all she answered fighting against a smile that could take her entire face
'He likes someone else.' Her brain reminded her and she sighed. Harry could be very attentive, the girl who gets to be with him would be the luckiest person, Hermione has certain about this.
They kept on talking about other thing the rest of the way until finally arrive outside of school near the lake and sat under a three and, even with all the work of carring the books all the way there, they were forgotten at Hermione side not even being opened when Harry sat by her side to keep chatting.
After all, even if book were fascinating, nothing could be more interesting to Hermione than Harry Potter.
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At the moment Hermione heard hard steps entering the common room, she already knew that the quiddich training went bad, she felt more than saw Ginny arriving when she throw herself at the sofa by her side
"Bad training?" Hermione asked looking at her
"The worst, Macclean kept giving 'advices' even if he are not in the team, and to worsen even more me and Dean had a fight." Ginny leaned back on the sofa "Sometimes I ask myself why do I still waste my time with men."
"You and Dean are fighting a lot these days, any particular reason?" Hermione didn’t want to be noisy but it was in her being to always want to help her friends.
"I don't know, he keeps demanding things from me and I don't know if it him that is mushy or I'm just too cold with feelings." She sighed "Maybe i am the problem."
"I don't think you're the problem Ginny, you have your own personality and theres nothing wrong with that, Dean maybe are a person of big acts but thats doesn't make yours less meaningful, everyone is different and if he can't value it in you, then he doesn't deserve you."
"You're surprisingly good with romantic subjects sometimes." Ginny laugh and avert her gaze, Hermione knew that she was trying to avoid show what she was feeling, but Hermione also knew that she did take her words in consideration, so she drop it for now.
"What do you mean by 'surprinsingly' and 'sometimes' " Hermione asked but Ginny just laughed
"Nothing." She answered but her tone was loaded with irony, Hermione rolled her eyes and leaned back on the couch.
They stayed in silence for a while until Hermione began to look at the entry of the common room impatient. Ginny knew exactly what she was looking for.
"Harry is still at the pitch." She sayed gaining Hermione attention again
"What?" Ginny almot laughed seeing how shocked Hermione looked when she talked what was so obvious in her head
"He is the one that you're looking for right?" This time she couldn't hold the smile upon seeing Hermione's face go completely red
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione averted her gaze to Crookshanks who has just climbed into her lap
"Sure you don't." Ginny smiled
A few minutes passed in silence with Hermione patting Crookshanks obliviously trying to distract herself and Ginny just mentally counting the minutes that would take until Hermione lost all her patience and goes after Harry. She didn't have to wait long after Ron arrived and asked where's Harry. Hermione got up angrily putting Crookshanks on the sofa and leavened the common room ignoring Ginny's laughter
"Did I do something wrong?" Ron asked confused seeing her angry leave
"No." Gina was still laughing "It’s just that Hermione hates being wrong, but there's things that we just can't control." She said ignoring how her answer let Ron even more confused
When Hermione arrived at the pitch, it wasn't hard to find Harry flying on the sky at such a hight height that gave knots on her stomach. She knew that flying was calming to Harry but she could never understand how staying so far from the ground could be relaxing.
She stayed in place watching him for a while until Harry after seeing her came back to the ground, his hair was messy by the wind and the typical smile he had on always after flying. Hermione took a deep breath trying to stay as normal as possible.
"Hey, Hermione, what are you doing here?" He asked as he got close
"Hi, you didn't show up, I just came to check if you were okay." Hermione internaly cringed upon hearing her own words, now that she was already there it sounds like a dumb reason.
"I am, it's just that the training was kinda stressful today, so I was flying to clear my head." Harry explained putting one of his hands on the back of his head while the other was still holding the broom.
"Right..." she nodded still feeling stupid "Well, I'm going then, don't be late for dinner." She turned around but before she could take a step she felt her wrist be held
"Wait..." He said and when Hermione looked at him, Harry looked like he just had an idea, bells rang on Hermione's head, Harry plans were never a good thing
"What?" She asked
"Are you still afraid of Heights?" He asked still holding her wrist
"Yes..." Hermione answered cautiously, she didn't like where this was going
"So come and fly with me." Harry said and after looking at him for a few seconds Hermione laughed
"Very funny, but I really need to..."
"I’m serious, Hermione, look, you always helps me with studies, I want to help you to get over your fear." Hermione was shaking her head before he even finished
"Harry, it's different, I help you because I want you to have more knowledge and good grades, studying is necessary. I can't see how fly with a broom could make a big difference in my life''
''Maybe not at school, but it could save your life, Hermione, its the fastest way to escape''
''Actually, it would be apparation'' she corrected
''And what if you don't have your wand'' she was silent '' Hermione, it's safe, I guarantee you''
''Harry, I'm terrifed of height'' Hermione looked he in the eyes but she just felt the hand that was on her wrist slip into her hand interwining with her fingers
''I won't let you fall'' Hermione looked at his hand on hers before look back at him and when she saw his eyes, Hermione felt safe, the safety tha she always felt with Harry, and couldn't find in her to keep refusing
"I hate you, Harry James Potter." Hermione sayed while took the broom form his hands angrily, Harry laughed "If you let me fall, I swear I will use all the curses that I know on you!" She sat on the broom, her hands trembling
"Don't worry, Hermione Jean Granger." She felt he sit behind her and his hands wrapped hers "You're safe with me." And even if she was about to face her worst fear, Hermione believed in him.
When the broom started to rise in the air, however, even all confidence in the world couldn't stop her from closing her eyes and, unconsciously, curling up more, she knew Harry was rising much slower than he usually would, but that didn't lessened her fear
"See, Hermione? It’s not so bad at all." Hermione answered with a murmur of affirmation, she felt the vibration of his chest when he laughed. "Your eyes are closed, aren't they?" Hermione knew it was useless to even try to deny, she just nodded.
The broom was going slow but even so, the wind still blowing her face in a refreshing way, and even if she was still terrified, she could admit to herself that it wasn't that bad. She still couldn't open her eyes although she was questioning if it was the best decision, with her eyes closed her imagination could be very usefull in presenting false scenarios of being highter than she would like
"Harry, how high are we?" She asked but already knew his answer
"If you want to know you need to open your eyes and see for yourself." Harry answered he sounded like he was smiling and Hermione sighed, just as she thought
"Come on, Hermione, open your eyes, nothing bad is gonna happen."
"I can think in many ways that something bad could happen." She replied grumpy
"That's because you are afraid." Hermione was about to say how her fears could be very realistic but Harry continued. "You'll like it."
"Harry, I don't think I will like to see how high we are and how easily we could be putty on the ground." Her hands tightened more the hold on the broom
"Hermione, trust me." She felt his hands on hers and the heat of his body when he got closer to her, the knot on her stomach tightened, Hermione took a deep breath
'I am really weak with Harry.' She thought before, finally, open her eyes
For a moment she was terrified seeing how hight they were, but after the initial shock, she could see all the pitch, the lake, the forbidden forest, and she had to admit how different everything looked from above
"It’s beautiful." She muttered looking, the fear was still very present but it seemed to have retreated a bit
"Yes." Harry answered even if his eyes weren't in the same direction as hers
Hermione was sure that it would still take a long time until she could overcome her fear entirely, if she could really do it one day, but in this moment she felt peace and could understand at least a little the reason why Harry liked flying so much, it was a feeling of freedom. Maybe someday she would try to fly again, but she doubted she would feel the same security and tranquility, it was always Harry who encouraged her to take more risks, however, curiously he also was the one who makes her feel more safe, it was another one of the big misterys about Harry that made her fall for him.
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"I broke up wiith Dean." Ginny said normally while sitting beside Hermione
"You’ve done what?" Hermione turned to her abandoning completely the homework that she was doing "Ginny when I said those things, I was hoping for you to talk to him."
"I know, but it woldn't work anyway, we were postponing the inevitable, you just helped me realize what whas obvious." She said calmly
"Well, if you are happier this way." Hermione said still uncertain
"I am, don't worry." Ginny smiled. "But about other things that are obvious, how are things with Harry?"
"As they always has been." Hermione chose to ignore the hidden meaning of the question, but Ginny wasn't one to give up easily
"You know I what I mean." Ginny rolled her eyes "You could tell him on Christmas."
"Why everyone wants so much to do these things on Christmas?" Hermione asked huffling, as if it wasn't enought Harry wanting to confess his feelings to the mysterious girl on christmas, now Ginny came up with the same idea
"Because its romantic." Ginny shrugged like that was all the motive she needed "And it’s a day to remember, I think you should try."
"Listen, Ginny, even if I had feelings fo Harry, which it’s not the case." She quickly added "He likes someone else and he also pretend to do something on Christmas."
"Harry likes someone else?" Ginny asked, and Hermione expected any kind of reaction, except see her holding back laughter
"Why are you laughing?" Hermione asked
"Nothing, nothing." Ginny took a deep breath "What makes you think that?" She looked like she was forcing herself to remain serious
"He told me himself." Hermione said but Ginny seemed to find it even funnier
"Did he told you?" Ginny almost laugh again "How... how he did he said it?"
"Well, he was nervous at the time but he kept saying thing like how Christmas is a special date to stay with important persons in your life, so I deduced that he were liking someone and wanted to spent part of Christmas with that person." Hermione explained while stirring a curl of her hair
"Okay, so you deduced what he wanted to talk."
"He didn't correct me." Hermione defended herself "And he said there was a girl, he said that she doesn't understand signs"
"Oh, I bet not." Ginny said stil smiling in amusement
"And I gave him some advices and that was it" Hermione shrugged showing indifference
It was pretty easy to pretend she didn't felt anything for Harry, she had long years to practice, since her silly crush after they meet to the state she was in now, there were moments that she could make her feelings go numb but that never last long, Hermione would always feel pulled to him like a magnet
"Well, that girl could still be you." Hermione rolled her eyes upon hearing Ginny words
"Of course, Ginny." She answered sarcastically
"Alright, even if it’s not you, I still think that you should talk to him, the worst that could happen is receiving a no." Ginny was still trying
"And lose long years of friendship."
"Harry is not like that, things can get weird for a while but I doubt he would break an important friendship because of that." She stopped " And he would notice eventually, it’s pretty obvious how you feel."
"W-what?" Hermione could feel her face burning
"What is obvious?" Ron asked after sitting on one of the sofas after just entered the common room
"Nothing..." Hermione answered wanting more than anything to just end the discussion
"Hermione's feelings for Harry." Ginny didn't have the same mindset
"Ginny!" Hermione scolded her face still red
"Ah, yes they're completely obvious." Ron said at the same time, Hermione looked at him angrily and he raised his hands in surrender "Well, it’s true!"
"Shouldn't you be with Lavender?" She asked but there was not ressentment in her voice
At the beginning, Hermione were mad at their relationship but it didn't last after realizing that her feelings for Ron were nothing more than friendship and that Lavender wasn't so bad, Ron seemed happy and she seemed nice. Hermione also didn't have time to worry about it after the Slughorn party, after almost invinting Cormac in a silly need to get back at Ron, Hermione thought again and decided to invite Harry, she still didn't know if it was really a good decision, because it was just be in his arms for a few moments to all the walls that she build around her heart to crumble to pieces
Hermione could still remember vividly of the butterflies in the stomach and how nervous she was while dancing with Harry, it was a feeling of euphoria and fear at the same time for the intensity of her feelings, it was like a roller coaster or, like she had experienced a while ago, like flying. Sometimes it was painful but Hermione couldn't say that she completely hated how she felt, even if she knew that she could end with a broken heart
"She is studying with some friends." Ron said bringing Hermione back to present
"Only studies to scary you off." Ginny mocked
"Always good to know that we are second option." Hermione added
"Just to you know, Harry is my second option." Ginny laughed loud and Hermione rolled her eyes
"Sorry to say, Ron, but to Harry you're a second option too, we all know who is the first." Ginny looked at Hermione
"You're idiots!" Hermione huffled "If things were like this I would know." She said looking at them but they were looking at something behind her
"Of course you would." Hermione froze on hearing Harry's voice "But what are you were talking about?"
"Nothing." Hermione answered fast before any of the two could say something embarassing "Just that sometimes we shoudn't talk about things we don't know." She glared at them, Ron had at least the decency to look away, Ginny smiled teasingly
"Right." Harry sat at her side and Hermione chose to just ignore the teasing that would surely be on the face of the two Weasleys "Is this the homework of transfiguration?" He were looking at the parchments at her lap
"Yes, I wanted to get this done" She looked at them, it was almost finished
"Can you help with this one?" Harry looked back at her and, Hermione didn't knew why, helping Harry was completely normal, maybe because Ron and Ginny were giving every interaction with other meaning, but Hermione felt her face warm
"Of course, Harry." She answered and he smiled
"Okay, I will go get my stuff." And as soon as he goes upstairs Ginny began to talk
"I just remembered that I have to meet with Luna now, see you later, Hermione."
" I'll check if Lavender still busy." Ron said too and both leave before Hermione could protest. 'Traitors' she thought angry
When Harry finally got back, Hermione sighed and tried to act the most casual possible, even when he sat again at her side while the others seats were free
"Where are Ginny and Ron?" He asked opening his parchments
"Ginny went to meet Luna and Ron, Lavender." Hermione answered trying to act casually but it was still hard to look at him directly. Harry nodded and ran a hand through his hair
"Well, let’s begin?" Hermione nodded
After that, they spend the time in silence just doing the homework, it were just a few minutes but were the longest of Hermione's life, she was extremenly conscious of Harry's presence at her side, maybe because of the distance between them, which was smaller than usual, she was also feeling his eyes on her and whenever she felt that, Hermione had to try really hard to keep her hand from shaking, she also had her own fair share of stolen glances of Harry when he was writing , realistically, Hermione thought Harry were handsome in any way, but when he was fully focused on something and his eyes gained that intensity directed at this thing, Hermione couldn't look away from him
When she least expected it, all her work was done and now was just waiting Harry to finish while pretending to look at the fireplace. Another curious thing about the moments that she spends with Harry was that at the same time the minutes seemed to pass slowly it could also feel like it passed by a blink of an eye, which always leaves her wanting more of his presence, maybe it was because of her nervousness that time seems to go slow while her feelings, who were forever insatiable for moments with him, makes her feel that all the time seems too short
"Done." Harry said and looked at her. "Can you check for me?" Hermione gave an exasperated sight, not that she minded that much
"Sure." She toke his parchments and started to read
Hermione really tried to concentrate but feeling Harry's eyes on her was very distracting and made it more complicated, but even so, she read everything carefully, she noticed some erros but nothing big like it was with Ron's homework, but she expected it, Harry were pretty smart when he made an effort. Hermione was about to talk about what he write when she saw Harry's hand get close to her face and kindly put a strand of hair behind her ear.
When Hermione looked up it was like all the air was gone, Harry was staring at her with the same look when he was focused on the homework, the instensity in his eyes entirely on her, his hand hovered close to her face but not touching, she felt her heart beat so hard that it was painful, she couldn't look away, it was like everything had disappeared and only Harry existed, she saw him get closer and her heart beat even faster, Ginny's words came to her mind
'It could be possible?' She thought and for a second, Hermione believed. But then. the moment was brutally interrupted when loud voices entered the room, both of them looked down and moved further away from each other
"Nicely done, Harry." Hermione was sure her voice were weird
"Right, thanks, Hermione." Harry answered still not looking at her
"I'm going to my room. I have... I have a book that I want to finish, see you at dinner." She said before going upstairs hastily without waiting for an answer
Hermione threw herself at her bed as soon as she got at the dorm, the moment from before still replaying in her head and her heart were still beating fast in her chest, her mind were full of question but one was the most repeated
'What was that?'
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It was a day before Christmas, the classes had already ended and, normally, Hermione would be spending the time with Ron and Harry before go to her parent's house tomorrow, this time, she was alone
Even though Hermione wanted to deceive herself thinking that she wanted to be in the astronomy tower, the truth was clear, she was hiding from Harry, because even if she was freezing in the december cold, it was still better than have to pretend an smile while listening him talk about his new girlfriend. Hermione has never been more grateful for going home, at least she would have some time away, even if short, and definitively better than seeing Harry reading an love letter on Christmas.
Since she opened her eyes this morning, Hermione already knew it would be a difficult day but she didn't knew how much, sitting alone curled up in the astronomy tower with her mind full of images of Harry with another girl, she could only hope for the hours to pass fast and the day to finally end and she could let her feelings free and feel all the sadness that she was repressing now.
'Self-pity is not a good look on me' She thought and laughed while wiping the tears on her face
Deep down, beyond the broken heart, Hermione knew she should be happy, Harry always had too many problems and worries too big for a teenager, he never could have just normal worries, he deserved a chance to have that, at least one worry that was harmless, moments when he could behave like someone as his age. Deep down, Hermione was happy that someone could do this for him, even if it hurt her
Hermione was proud of being a rational person, but in that moment, even though she knew it was selfish, all she could do was hide her face between her knees and beg for this pain to go away
"Hermione?" She heard along with footsteps, Hermione didn't had time to even feel surprised, she could only wipe her face and get up, internally she hoped him to turn his back and walk away, but he wasn't like that, and just like that he was there in front of her, the person she least wanted to see today
"Hi, Harry." Hermione tried to act casual, but by his rised eyebrow, she knew it hadn't work
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, of course that would be the first question
"I was just thinking a little about something, I'll go back to the common room soon, don't worry." She hoped again that he would acept her horrible explanation and leave, but he just ot closer and sat on the spot close to where she was moments ago, it was so Harry to do that, Hermione only sighed and sat beside him but letting a bit of space between them
"You're going to yours parents house tomorrow?" He asked and Hermione nodded
"You're going to the Burrow?" It was a stupid question, she knew he was going, but she was just trying to fill the silence
"Yes." He answered and then kept quiet for a moment "It would be nice if you could come too." She couldn't help but smile when she heard that
"Maybe next year." It was an optimistc thought taking into account if they survived another year
"Maybe." And they fell into silence again
"So, about the girl you're into, did she understood the signs yet?" Hermione didn't knew exacly why she asked, maybe she was curious or just masochist
"No." His answer surprised her
"No? Really?" He nodded "Have you done everything I said?"
"Every detail." Hermione was even more confused
"Merlim, she must be really dumb." She let it slip and Harry burst out laughing
"You would be surprised if I told you she is very smart, one of the best students." Harry said still smiling
"One of the best students, someone from Ravenclaw?" She was running through her head every kind of smart girl she knew, Harry shook his head
"Griffindor." He said before she could ask, well, that shortened the list considerably
"Well, if she is so smart she should have noticed already, the signs that I taught you were pretty clear." Hermione was shocked that the girl was still oblivious "She is someone you talk a lot?" Maybe the reason why it didn't work was because they didn't spend much time together?
"Yes, she's one of the people that I talk the most." Hermione couldn't remember Harry talking a lot with other girls, there was some exeptions though
"Is she a year behind us?" Harry laughed
"No." And the possibility of being Luna or Ginny was eliminated, Hermione was a little relieved to be honest
"Tell me more about her." Hermione asked, her curiosity and frustration of not knowing winning her
"Well, she is one of the smartest person that I know, but she can be a little dense when its about feelings, at the first I thought it was her way of reject me kindly, but then I realized she genuinely didn't know, even if I was being pretty obvious." He laughed "Maybe it’s because she don't have enough confidence in herself, which I don't understand because she is one of the best people that I know."
Hermione breathed deeply while one of her hands squeezed the fabric of her skirt, she knew it was her who had asked but it was still hard to hear Harry talk like that about someone else, she could feel her heart being crushed
"She seems like a good person." She force herself to say "You should go and tell her already, I'm sure she would listen, I'll go back to the common room and then you look for her." Hermione got up and started walking, she couldn't bear to continue there
"Hermione, wait." Harry got up too, but before Hermione could leave the tower she hit what appeared to be an invisible wall
"What?" She pulled back a little and reached out her hand finding the barrier "What is this?"
"What happened?" Harry asked behind her but Hermione was inspecting the barrier
"I think we are stuck." She tried to force her hand out but didn't cross
"Stuck?" He came at her side "But how?"
"I don't know, but there's no way in hell we're going to stay her, move back, Harry." She took her wand out of her pocket
Minutes passed in wich she tried every spell she knew but the barrier kept solid and didn't even budge, it was getting ridiculous
"Hermione?" Harry called
"What?" She has already passed the stage of frustration to rage
"Look... " She looked at him and he was looking up, when she followed his line of vision she almost laughed at the irony. It was a mistletoe, a damn mistletoe floating over their heads
"A mistletoe? Why someone would put a mistletoe here?" The astronomy tower wasn't exactly the most popular place in the castle
"I don't know, but I think that's what's causing the barrier." Harry kept looking "It looks like the ones Fred and George do."
"Fred and George?" Hermione huffled, obvious that this was work of the twins, she should know ''and how do we get out? kissing?" She said as a joke but when Harry was silent Hermione felt her blood ran cold "You're kidding, right?"
"You tried every spell, I think this is the only way." He said his face starting to turn red
"But it can be on the cheek, right? Still a kiss."
"Knowing Fred and George, I don't think so." Hermione buried her face in her hands, that couldn't be happening
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I..." Harry began, his voice filled with guilt
"No, Harry, it's not your fault." She looked back at him "If there is someone we should blame it's some student who thought it would be funny to put these... these things around the school." The first thing Hermione would do when she got out of there would be interrogate every student until she finds the guilty, the first on the list would... " Do you think any of the professors know how to undo the spell?"
"Maybe, but they would have to find us first." Harry said looking around, propably thinking the same as her, no professors would go there
"Wonderful." Hermione sat on the floor again
"Hey, maybe someone miss us and came looking." Harry tried to be positive
"Unlikely." Hermione sighed "This is a disaster, you should be with the girl you like confessing or... I don't know, but... not stuck here with me." She hugged her knees and hided her face in them "I'm the one who is sorry, if you hadn't come looking for me it wouldn't have happened" She heard movement and supposed that Harry had sat next to her
"Hermione, do you want to know who is the girl that I like?" She really didn't wanted to know but kept silent "Well, I already told you that she was smart but many people, incluiding herself, only see that, but she is much more, for beginning, she is one of the bravest person, more than me sometimes." Hermione laughed, it was impossible someone be more brave than Harry but she kept in silence. "She's also extremely loyal, she was the person who believed in me the most, even when I didn't believe, she was always there for me." Hearing this Hermione raised a eyebrow, who could be more loyal to Harry than her? "She's kind and fair, she's always willing to fight for what she thinks is right, and proved it many times" He paused and took a deep breath "And even if she doesn't think that, I think she's way more than books and cleverness."
Upon hearing that Hermione freezes. She hadn't heard it wrong right? She couldn't think, but he continued
"She is the type of person who try to face her fear even with closed eyes, who finds their fun in books but is also a great company in silly conversations, she is the type who can uncover all kinds of mystery but can't notice when a guy is obviously into her." In this moment Hermione raised her face and was staring at Harry with wide eyes, he was looking forward but then looked back at her, his eyes overflowing with so many emotions that for a moment Hermione couldn't breath "It’s you, Hermione. It was always you."
Hermione was silent just looking at him, that didn't seem real, she was almost convinced that this was a dream, Harry felt the same way about her, there was no other girl, it was her, all this time, how blind she had been.
"But it's okay if you don't feel the same, and... " Harry started talking discouraged by her silence but Hermione didn't even let him finish before pulling him to her and kiss him
At first, Harry didn't react by the shock, but it didn't take long for him to respond putting one of his hands in her face. Fireworks exploded inside of Hermione, she could never have seen that her day that had started out sad and gray could have such a big change, it felt like everything had fallen into place, things would still be hard, but in that moment everything seemed perfect.
The mistletoe fell on the ground without either of them noticing, the spell no longer held them, but even so, they stayed there, together.
It was still one day before Christmas, but Hermione already knew this would be one of the best, because even though she was far away, this moment would replay in her head from morning until night, the moment when her feelings had finally reached him, or more specifically, his feeling reached her heart.
It was just an afternoon in a tower that was freezing cold, but she was with Harry, and that was all that mattered to her, all because of an silly mistletoe.
Hermione could say for sure that she loved Christmas.
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"Five galleons for you take the fall." Ginny almost hit Harry when he appeared out of nowere behind her
"What?" She asked confused
"Hermione is looking for who put a enchanted mistletoe in the astronomy tower and I need you to take the blame." Harry had a panicked face, she had to hold back her laugh
"Wait, did you really used a mistletoe?" Ginny asked in disbelief
Harry knew that all had worked out in the end, but he definitively didn't need Hermione to know that in a moment of despair after she didn't notice his countless attempts, he sended a letter to Fred and George asking for the mistletoe
He didn't even planned to use but he couldn't say that he felt bad that the mistletoe had escaped out of his pocket. Maybe Hermione wouldn't be mad but even so, Harry didn't want to take the risk
"Harry, did you find her?" Hermione's voice echoed through the corridors
"Do you accept or not?" Harry asked impatient
"Make it ten." Ginny demanded
"Right." He really didn't have time for negotiations "Hermione, I found her!"
Maybe someday he would tell her, or maybe it would be permanently Ginny's fault. But all had worked in the end and that was all that mattered to Harry.