CHAPTER 1- AN ACCIDENTAL TRUTH

NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED, HARRY POTTER RIGHTS ARE J.K. ROWLING'S AND WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT.

THIS FANFICTION IS ABOUT HARRY AND HERMIONE DISCOVERING THE MIRROR OF ERISED IN THEIR SECOND YEAR.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

WELCOME TO THE NEW STORY! LET'S NOT WASTE TIME… AND GET GOING!

Maybe I'm foolish

Maybe I'm blind

Thinking I can see through this

And see what's behind

Got no way to prove it

So maybe I'm blind

But I'm only human after all

I'm only human after all

Don't put your blame on me

Don't put your blame on me

Harry and Hermione were under the Invisibility Cloak, as usual, wondering the corridors to the library, trying to research the Chamber of Secrets as best they could.

"Where are we looking tonight, Hermione?" Harry whispered, as not to alert any of the paintings.

"I'm not entirely sure, Harry." Hermione followed in his whisper, "But we would learn a lot more if Ron would come and help us."

Harry couldn't help but snicker when Hermione mentioned the attitude of their other best friend, Ronald Weasley. He had been very negative about staying up till the early hours of the morning to do research, which could potentially save all the muggleborns in the school.

Ron had tried say that he didn't want to break the rules, but everyone knew he was lying, since when had he, Harry and Hermione ever paid attention to the rules?

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by the familiar voice of Severus Snape. The pair stopped in their tracks. They were invisible, but they didn't want to risk it.

"What were you saying, Argus?" Snape asked, looking into the darkness.

"Students going to the library after hours, Professor." Filch replied.

Harry and Hermione's heads jerked to look at each other, wide eyed. Before Harry had time to react, Hermione had grabbed him forcibly, dragging him into the closest doorway, so they could avoid the path of the two fast-approaching men. Hermione covered Harry's mouth, so the sound of his heavy breathing could be masked. Hermione waited for them to pass, and get a fair distance away from them, before releasing Harry from her grip.

Harry nearly tripped, and was close to falling all the way down the stairs. Hermione grabbed his shoulders to avoid that outcome, and Harry grabbed her waist, his arms wrapping neatly around her. He thrusted himself back up, bringing their bodies into close contact, and their heads were less than three inches away from each other.

There were a few moments of awkward silence, as their eyes locked. There they stood, twelve and thirteen years old, in romantic embrace. They were blushing furiously, their faces the colour of Ron's hair.

Eventually, they let go of each other, not wanting to go any further than they had already gone.

"Thanks…" Harry murmured, slowly.

"You're welcome." Hermione replied, awkwardly, but giving him a gentle smile.

"So… should we…" Harry said.

"Go back… yeah..." Hermione completed.

'Oh no,' they both thought, simultaneously, 'are we finishing each other's sentences now?'

"Okay… let's go…" Hermione said, trying to regain control of the situation. The pair made their way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, where they sat down in front of the fire. They were both silent, but words were emanating from each of them.

Harry eventually broke the silence.

"Are we going to try again tomorrow?"

"We have to Harry, we have no option. All the muggleborns in the school will be attacked, and then some of us could be kill- "

"That won't happen Hermione!" Harry interrupted suddenly, regretting it the very same moment. He froze for a moment, wondering if he should continue or not. "I'll make sure that won't happen Hermione. They'll need to kill me first." He decided to continue, giving himself a chance to tone down from his sudden outburst.

Both parties were confused. Harry was confused as to why he was extremely upset by even the mere mention of Hermione dying or getting hurt, and why he had suddenly become so protective of his best friend. Or… was she his best friend?

Hermione was confused about why Harry felt so strongly about the mention of her potential death, and how he would throw himself in harm's way for her, and as to why she was taking her best friend's words so seriously. Or… was he her best friend?"

"You're right Harry. It won't come to that." Hermione said, making an effort to diffuse the tension. "And I think it's time for bed." She stood up, and Harry followed her up the stairs.

"Night, Harry." Hermione said, looking behind her, giving him the usual smile.

"Night, Hermione." Harry said back, returning the smile.

With another momentary eye contact, the pair ripped their eyes away, and walked into their respective dormitories.

They laid down in bed, and tried to go to sleep.

However, sleep did not bless them for a while. Their minds were swirling, trying to make sense of what had happened.

Harry's mind was consistently going back to that awkward moment of closeness he had shared with Hermione, and how scared, but, strangely comfortable he was, with her arms around his neck. He felt a sense of belonging, a desire to stay like that forever. When he felt his heart rate rise, and saw her turning red in the face, he felt Hermione's happiness on the inside, but her reluctance on the outside. Harry lay in partial glee, and partial embarrassment.

Hermione was going back to that moment, reliving it, rethinking it. She felt so happy in that moment, and was rather angry with herself that he had not moved onto the next phase. She felt Harry's attention all focussed onto her, for one shining moment. She knew that her cheeks had coloured, and that Harry's had too. 'He doesn't like me like that… he's just a friend… that's the only way he'll see it.'

'She won't see it like that… we're just friends… she doesn't like me like that.'

Harry rolled over, tossing and turning in his bed, knowing that any future interaction with Hermione was going to be uncontrollably strange.

However, all would change the next day.

Harry and Hermione sat in the Great Hall, giving each other quick glances, while keeping their heads down.

"Guys?" Ron piped up, startling them both. "Am I missing something?"

They shook their heads in unison, turning back to their plates, which they had not done so much as touched. Ron, whilst being near the bottom of the Year in nearly every subject, wasn't stupid. 'Who's going to be easier to talk to?' Ron thought to himself, then questioned why that had even crossed his mind. Of course it's going to be Harry.

"You have never been so quiet Hermione. Are you guys sure you're okay?" Ron said, eyebrow raised in a very Hermione-like fashion.

"We're fine Ron!" Hermione blurted out, angrily, before packing up her stuff and leaving the Great Hall, tears apparent in her eyes.

The two boys had their eyes fixed on her, but they were both thinking different things. Ron turned to Harry, and Harry only anticipated the following question.

"Who pissed in her cereal?" Ron said, holding the eyebrow.

"Look," Harry began, deepening his tone and leaning in, to not allow any one hearing this valuable piece of information. "Me and Hermione had an awkward situation last night when we went to research the Chamber of Secrets."

Ron frowned. "Tell me more."

Harry went on to discuss exactly what happened, physically and emotionally. Ron looked at him the entire time, and didn't even notice when the Great Hall had been nearly completely emptied. After Harry completed his story, Ron, emotionless, moved back, contemplating Harry's lengthy tale in his head. It was amazing that so much emotion could happen within seconds. Ron then grinned the most mischievous grin Harry had ever had the misfortune to lay his eyes upon. Ron clearly knew something he didn't. Ron chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked, looking at Ron seriously.

"You have a crush on Hermione." Ron said, very seriously, but keeping the grin on his face.

Harry gulped. 'No… of course you don't Harry… Ron's just… overthinking it. That's what it is.' He reassured himself.

"Don't try to deny it Harry. It's obvious. I've known for a while, I was wondering when you would notice." Ron still had that grin on his face, which was really annoying Harry by now. However, Harry knew he was right. There was no denying it. The sudden rush of adrenaline, colouring of the cheeks and the sense of belonging was enough to give Harry sufficient evidence of his newfound crush.

"What do I do Ron?" he groaned. "This is really weird."

"From what you said mate, Hermione feels the same way. Not that I didn't already know that. If you want my advice, try and get into another one of those situations tonight."

Harry and Hermione threw the Invisibility Cloak over themselves, and prepared for another trip to the library. It had been, without a shadow of doubt, the most awkward day of his entire life. Harry could barely look at Hermione without feeling a wild frenzy of emotions, and now that they were, once again, in close proximity to one another, Harry felt the tension spike. Something that, not even two days ago, would've affected them so much.

Ron's words had been replaying in Harry's head since breakfast, which he had been contemplating all day. Harry knew he was right, for once. Since when did Ron know anything about love? In fact… that was a secret Ron could keep to himself.

As they made their way down the stairs, approaching the library, they met with the same intruders they had last night.

"We'll catch 'em tonight, Professor. I'm sure of that." Filch said, addressing this to Snape.

"It'll be a suspension at the least for the culprits." Snape replied, keeping the same, slow, sinister tone.

Harry and Hermione had heard all they needed. They would come back tomorrow.

"What is it, Professor?" Filch asked, which made Harry and Hermione stop dead in their tracks. They slowly turned, to see Snape staring directly at them. He could sense them.

They moved as quickly and quietly to the nearest corridor that their Second Year legs could allow. Snape didn't follow them, but the look on his face was enough to make sure neither of them would sleep for the next week.

When they were certain they were out of earshot, Hermione broke their day-long silence.

"That was close." She said, beginning to release suppressed breaths.

"It was." Harry responded, longing for his head to rest on a pillow.

The duo had a better chance to look around their surroundings. The corridor they had entered was long and narrow, with only one door at the end of it. It was an interesting sight, like a scene out of a movie or TV show. Even though it was ominous, Harry and Hermione slowly began to walk in it's direction, drawn by some unknown force. Harry had felt this before, but he couldn't quite place it.

For Hermione, this was a foreign feeling, something completely new, but she was drawn to it. The element of mystery was killing her, and she had to know what was forcing her and Harry to see what was on the other side of this door.

The pair were so lost in their thoughts, they nearly walked into the door. Harry reached out his hand, and tried to open the door. It was locked.

Hermione, still reluctant to make eye contact with Harry, raised her wand and said; "Alohomora.", and sure enough the door swung open.

They entered the room cautiously, unsure of what lay inside. They dropped the Invisibility Cloak, and examined their surroundings with extreme curiosity. What was it that was attracting their attention?

"Is that it?" Hermione said, from around a corner, which Harry hadn't yet seen.

"What is it?" Harry asked, making his way over to her.

"It's a mirror. A basic, plain, boring old mirror."

Harry saw the 'boring' mirror Hermione was referring too, and, for once, he knew something the undefeatable Hermione Granger didn't.

It was the Mirror of Erised.

"So, this is where it went…" Harry said, walking closer to the magical mirror. Hermione raised an eyebrow, not knowing what he was talking about. Harry, whilst remembering Dumbledore's words last year, how people would waste their lives in front of the mirror, be driven insane by it.

But his curiosity got the better of him.

He wondered if seeing his parents alive and well was his number one desire.

Hermione kept the raised eyebrow. 'What is he up to? What is that mirror?" Her thoughts were only disturbed by Harry's gasp, and quick stumble backwards. He didn't stop moving away from the sight of the reflection until he had backed up into Hermione's legs.

"What? What's wrong Harry? What did you see?"

"I- uh… I…"

"What scared you, Harry?"

"It… didn't really scare me… more… just… shock. This is the Mirror of Erised, Hermione."

"The Mirror of Erised! It shows your- "

"Deepest desire, I know."

"So, if you were shown the thing you want the most, why did it shock you?"

Harry got off the ground and looked again, and sure enough he could see the same thing. Hermione also looked in, and her eyed widened.

"What do you see, Harry?" Hermione asked, her eyes still fixed on the image in front of her.

After a brief pause, Harry replied. "I see… us. Together."

Mirror Harry gave the Real Harry a wink, before he leant into a passionate kiss the Mirror Hermione. The detail was immaculate. She was just as pretty in the Mirror as she was in the Real World. Harry was in awe. He didn't expect this to be what he wanted the most.

"What do you see Hermione?"

"Harry… I see us. Together."

TO BE CONTINUED

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

WELL, IT'S BEGUN! LET'S GET READY FOR WHAT'S TO COME, AS THIS ONE'S GONNA BE A WHOPPER. THIS STORY CAME FROM THE AWKWARD RELATIONSHIP I HAD WHEN I WAS TWELVE, AN AMAZING PIECE OF FANART AND MY FAVOURITE SONG 'HUMAN BY RAG'N'BONE. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT I WROTE THE LAST THIRD OF THIS CHAPTER WITH A BROKEN FINGER. THE PAIN I LIVE WITH TO MAKE YOU GUYS HAPPY. CHAPTER TWO COMING SOON! PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW, THEY HELP ME GROW AS A WRITER!

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