Chapter 3: Conflicting Feelings

Harry ducked as picture frame that once hung above the mantel came hurtling at a dangerously fast speed towards his head. Throwing his hands above his head he dropped down to the floor just in time and heard the ear splitting nose of glass shattering off the wall behind where he stood only moments ago. He hadn't meant for what had happened to have happened it just - did. He started and he couldn't stop. He heard her voice then "HARRY POTTER, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU". Harry desperately hoped she was joking.

2 Weeks Before

Hermione took a shaky breath as she pulled her head back. She had just kissed Harry Potter and he looked - well he looked flustered.

A million thoughts ran through Harry's head, as if electric sparks had erupted during the second their lips collided and they were now shooting around his head, each containing their own question.

What did this mean? Did he feel the same way? Did she really feel this way? How had he not seen this? A small blush crept up Hermione's cheeks, her mind felt numb.

Harry was staring at her with a blank expression across his face. Her body went into immediate panic mode - Did he not feel the same way? Hermione stood up abruptly and opened her mouth to say something but paused. "I shouldn't have - I'm sorry."

She turned on her heel and started walking faster and faster into what could qualify as a jog. A small tear fell onto her cheek and she did all she could to choke back the waterfall that was brimming behind her eyes.

Harry still sat in the same position wondering what had happened. He watched Hermione in her worn out converse take a sharp turn down the end of the street.

Her hair flowed behind her and he could see her reddened cheeks glowing like they always did when it was cold out. Harry inhaled and fell back into the bench.

His lukewarm coffee was still in his hands and he stared down at the writing on the cup.

Harry sat there by himself for a few minutes more before apparating to the ministry of magic to start his shift at work.

He went through the day in a trance replaying the last minutes he had spent with Hermione and with Ginny over and over again.

He finished work and went back to his apartment. He was still reeling from what had happened and needed to clear his head so he grabbed his broom and flew into the night leaving every thought behind.

Hermione was a mess the rest of the day, she knew that she'd always felt something more than friendship for Harry but she pushed those feelings down because she knew he would never have been interested in her, and eventually she convinced herself that she had no feelings for him but it wasn't until George brought it up that she realised how she felt.

Hermione wasn't shy, she never had been but when it came to her feelings she could be very closed off so the fact that she had just opened herself up to Harry and he obviously hadn't felt the same way was devastating to her.

She tried not to think about it but every time she closed her eyes she kept seeing Harry's confused expression.

She apparated back to her apartment afterwards it was around noon and she couldn't bear the idea of spending the rest of the day by herself with only her thoughts to accompany her so she went next door to the joke shop to see if she could help George.

The shop was packed - as per usual. Hermione spotted George at the front desk trying to serve three customers at once, she pushed her way through the crowds of people and walked up to the counter.

Many distasteful looks we're thrown her way by people who presumed she was cutting in line. George looked up to see Hermione and gave a sigh of relief.

"Thank God you're here, I could really use some help." Hermione threw him a weak smile and joined him behind the counter. "Of course, you could've called me you know."

Hermione started serving some customers and George continued with his present one. "I didn't want to bother you, I presumed you were busy." Hermione snorted at the idea.

"Busy with what?" George grinned at her "With life." Hermione stayed for the rest of the day until eventually around six the place died down.

"You should go home Hermione, I'll be doing boring inventory for the rest of the night." "Well maybe some company would make it less boring."

Hermione was glad she had George, honestly she didn't know what she'd do if he wasn't around. At this point he was probably her best friend.

Harry had been flying for almost two hours before he decided to visit Ron. He hadn't seen him in days and could do with a visit.

Neither of them ever seemed to get shifts at work during the same hours no matter how many times both requested them.

Ron had been staying at the Leaky Cauldron for a few days after Mrs. Weasley decided it was time that Ron moved out of the house, so he was here until he found permanent residence.

Harry didn't know if Ron was at work or not but there was no harm in checking and he needed to get his mind of off Hermione and Ginny.

Harry had never had this many girl problems in his life but he knew that he shouldn't bring it up with Ron. After him and Hermione broke up things just weren't the same between him and her.

They still talked and saw each other all the time but things were different in a way plus Ginny was his little sister so both topics were clearly off the table.

Harry landed firmly on the ground in front of the leaky cauldron and immediately spotted Ron's fiery head of ginger hair through the window.

He was sitting on a bar stool drinking butter beer with his head stuck in the daily prophet. Harry walked through the door and plopped himself down in the seat next to Ron's.

"Hey Ron." Ron looked up at him from above the paper and his face broke into a grin "Bloody hell, haven't seen you in ages mate."

Ron folded the newspaper and put it down while Harry ordered a butter beer for himself. "Did you see the daily prophet today?" Ron questioned. "I read the headlines."

"Well that bloke who interviewed me the other day on capturing one of straggler death eaters totally re-wrote what I said!" Harry smirked and took a sip of butter beer.

"What are you laughing at, it's not funny!" "I told you not to let Rita Skeeters husband interview you." Ron scowled and shook his head.

"I'm going to take a walk down to his office tomorrow and give him a piece of my mind!" Harry had to withhold himself from laughing at the idea.

At just like that it was as if they were back in Hogwarts laughing without a care in the world.

"Ninety eight, ninety nine - George your missing one of the love potions from this box." Hermione called out to him from the backroom.

"No, I took one of the bottles for the display case." He called back. Hermione nodded to herself and lifted the box she was counting back onto one of the shelves.

She switched of the lights in the back room and made her way to where George was fixing the display cases in the front window.

"So are you going to tell me why you've been so upset all day or will you just wallow in self-pity." George turned his head towards were Hermione stood chewing on her bottom lip.

He knew something was up with her, she'd been acting strange all day. She kept miscounting everything and knocking things over, then there was the incident were she'd accidentally hit one of the customers in the head with a box - luckily it was just Neville and he didn't say anything - much.

"I don't really want to talk about it right now." "So wallow in self pity it is." She didn't hit him with a smart comeback which was unusual for her.

Usually their witty banter could last for hours but Hermione hadn't been up for much talking today. Hermione took a shaky breath inwards and held back the tears that were just waiting to pour out.

"So do you need anything else done?" George looked at her with concern but didn't want to push her into telling him what was wrong, usually if something was seriously bad Hermione would tell him.

"No, I think I'm good for the night." They said their good byes and Hermione left for her apartment. As soon as she got in the door she kicked of her shoes, and collapsed on her bed immediately falling asleep.

Harry had decided not to talk to Hermione for a while, he had told Ginny that he would give their relationship a chance and he couldn't do that with Hermione around.

But no matter what he did he couldn't get her out of his head, what was even worse was that she had no idea that him and Ginny were still involved. He wanted to tell her but it was hard.

No matter what he did though he couldn't get her out of his head. He kept picturing her face laughing and smiling at him, he saw her in every bookstore he walked past and he kept imagining her lips on his and how she tasted of strawberries and mint and how her hair smelt like vanilla.

He knew that thinking about her this often was not good but he couldn't help it. He didn't fully understand what he was doing but four days after she kissed him he found himself knocking on her front door.

He stood there for a minute wondering if there was anyone home, he started thinking about what he was doing there, he shouldn't be here.

He was about to walk away when Hermione opened the door and the sight of her made every rational thought fly out of his head.

Hermione looked worried about why he was here until he grabbed her and pulled her body against his. She was still for a second wondering was this really happening?

But she quickly forgot to think and threw her arms around his neck. His hands were entangled in her wild hair and their lips were locked together as if by some magnetic force.

They said no words to each other only letting their body's speak for them.

Hermione brought her legs up and wrapped them around Harry's waist letting him carry her into the bedroom where he closed the door behind them.