Title: Let's Not and Pretend We Did
Summary: Seven times Harry and Hermione almost kissed. First year; smuggling out Norbert.
Disclaimer: Yeah...

FIRST CHANCE

At last, Norbert was going…going…gone. As Charlie Weasley and his friends vanished from sight, Hermione sank to her knees.

'I cannot believe we got away with that.' She whispered. Harry knelt beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. She placed her hand on top of his and squeezed it tightly, needing the assurance and comfort more than she could say. Her eyes were wide and glazed and Harry could feel her hand shaking, whether from the cold night air or the letdown of adrenaline of their latest adventure he didn't know.

'Hey, we've been in stickier situations.' He said. No need to elaborate. The image of a three headed dog flashed through both their minds. Harry shivered and Hermione let out a little whimper.

'I should apologise for dragging you into that.' Hermione looked up at Harry, a look of mild surprise on her face.

'Dragging me into what? I didn't have to follow you. I was being nosy and self-righteous.' She stood up and turned away from her friend. Harry stood up as well, trying to establish eye contact again but Hermione stubbornly kept her eyes firmly trained on her feet. 'I just wanted to say "I told you so." And I did, after we'd nearly been killed. I mean, who wants to hear "I told you so" at a moment like that? No wonder you h-hated me.' Harry almost didn't hear that last part, Hermione's voice had dropped to an almost inaudible level. But he did and a wave of guilt engulfed him. It was true he hadn't always been as fond of Hermione as he was now but he had never wanted her to feel hated. Without thinking he grabbed her hands and tugged her closer to his body. She slowly looked up and Harry felt his guilt double at the sight of tears in her eyes.

'I never hated you.' He told her with such honesty in his voice that Hermione was left with no choice but to believe him.

Harry and Hermione were now standing eye to eye, their faces barely six inches apart. Hermione started to lean in…

A metallic clang reverberated throughout the castle, the echo seeming to carry on for hours. The two out of bound students jumped and dropped hands like they'd been burnt. Both were blushing a furious red but the dark of the night hid their embarrassment.
'We should go.' Harry croaked. Hermione nodded and they sprinted down the stairs, both forgetting the silvery cloak left behind in the astronomy tower.