Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter characters, however some like Nicole are mine.
Author's Note: I just brought back Rita Skeeter because I need her to do something important in the future chapters. I just assumed it was okay, and as you all say, it's fanfiction. Here's chapter two. Enjoy!
Pretending At First ..... Not So Sure Now
Chapter 2: The Meeting
Hermione was munching on her toast, trying to ignore the smirk Nicole was sending her way. . Her Aunt Dory and Uncle Allan were out, being showed around by her dad. In a desperate attempt to block out the comments her cousin was loudly making, she turned to her mother.
"Mom, do you really think that you should meet him?" she as
"Hermione, what do you think of us?" Anabelle said. "I mean, we didn't even know that you were dating until Nicole mentioned it." At this, Hermione glared at Nicole, who looked back sweetly. "What if when we find out, you're already getting married?"
"Mom," Hermione sighed exasperatedly.
"No, Hermione!" her mother said. "Why don't you want to talk about it?"
"I do," Hermione said. "It's just that -"
"What my dear cousin?" Nicole asked sweetly from across her seat.
"It's just that – well – he's really famous and we kept it a secret because he didn't want me being bombarded wherever I go."
"Well, that's really sweet of him, Honey," Anabelle said softly. "It's just that we need to meet this person," her mother said shaking her head.
Hermione sighed and went back to her food. She knew that when her mother's mind was set to something, almost nothing can change it. She just hoped Harry was up to the job.
The Christmas Eve Dinner
After finishing helping her mom, Hermione was about to run upstairs to get ready, having only fifteen minutes, when her mother pulled her aside.
"Hermione," Anabelle started, "I think you should know that you Aunt Dory and Uncle Allan know of your magical capabilities." When she saw Hermione open her mouth to say something, she added, "They knew since last year."
'So that's why they were acting weird,' Hermione thought.
The year before, the Desrosiers did not come over, but they did talk for hours on the phone. Her Aunt, who was usually very talkative, was quiet, her Uncle, too, had stopped pestering her about telling her where she had worked. But this year, everything seemed to be back to normal.
"Mom, why did you?!" Hermione hissed as she leaned against the wall.
"They have a right to know, Sweetheart," her mother replied as she walked to the kitchen, her emerald skirt trailing behind her. Hermione stared at it, as though in a trance. The color reminded her about someone, but she could not place her finger on it.
"Hermione!" a voice shrieked. She was snapped out of her reverie. "Hermione, get a move on! It's almost time!" Nicole snapped. She stood there in front of Hermione putting on her hot pink, three-inch shoes to match her dress. "Move!"
"Right!" Hermione mumbled as she ran up to her room and checked the time. Ten minutes. 'Oh shit!' Hermione took a quick shower and dried her hair with magic. Five minutes. She pulled on her dress hastily. Three minutes. She walked to the mirror and did her hair with, once again, the help of magic. Two minutes. She put on make-up quickly, but carefully. She stood walked to the mirror and inspected herself.
She had on a blood-red dress that ended four inches above her knees. Her hair was piled at the top of her head in tight ringlets. She had a minimal amount of make-up on, just enough to accent her features. When she was satisfied with her appearance she went downstairs and sat down next to a very shocked Nicole.
"What?" she asked.
"How did you -? Why -?" Nicole spluttered as she pointed at Hermione.
"You know," Hermione winked, "Magic."
Nicole seemed to recover quickly and glared at her cousin. Hermione was no match against her, but it was a close call. She was about to say something when the doorbell rang.
"That must be David!" Nicole said as she jumped up from her seat and to the door. Hermione waited for 'David' to come in, but when no one came, she, too, walked to the door. Nicole was staring at someone at the door, her mouth hanging open.
"Nicole, what are you - Harry!" Hermione squealed as she pushed her cousin aside accidentally. She hugged him and dragged him inside at the same time. This caused Harry, who did not expect this, to fall on her. There was a loud 'Thump!' as they hit the floor, and Harry heard footsteps coming from the kitchen. He laughed as he heard a soft 'Oof!' from under him, and stood up.
"'Mione!" he laughed as she stood up and jumped on him again as though she hadn't done anything of the sort yet. Despite of this, he hugged he back.
"Hermione!" her mother exclaimed, having witnessed the second time Hermione pounced on Harry and not even introduce him to her parents yet. "Who is this young gentleman?"
"Mom," Hermione replied as she let go of Harry, "this is my boyfriend."
Harry was about to say 'What? Where?', but held himself just in time. Hermione and he went through this. She would introduce him as her 'boyfriend' and he would work the 'Potter Charm' on her ("What 'Potter Charm'?" Hermione asked innocently).
"I'm Harry, Ma'am," Harry said as he gently took Anabelle's hand and bring it to his lips. "Harry Potter."
It was the first time Hermione had a good look of Harry ever since his arrival. He looked dashing in his black slacks and a white button-up shirt. His hair was sticking out in every angle, but it gave him a boyish look.
Hermione's mother giggled uncontrollably as Harry smiled at her. "I'm Hermione's mother, dear," she said. "You can call me Anabelle."
Harry nodded as Hermione introduced Nicole to him. Nicole stuck up her nose and walked into the kitchen as though there was something unpleasant in the room.
"Mom," Hermione interrupted as Anabelle continued to babble about how surprised she was when she found out her 'little darling' was dating someone. "Me and Harry are – er – going to talk for a bit."
"Okay!" Anabella said as she made her way to the kitchen. "Your father and Nicole's parents should be here in a bit," she informed them.
Hermione took Harry's hand and led him to her father's study. She locked the doors behind them and turned to Harry.
"So," she began, "we need to talk about what we'll do."
"'Mione, you said I just need to talk to your folks and say I'm some sports player," Harry told her confused.
"Forget about that," Hermione said as she paced the room. "Just say you're a Quidditch Player. Don't say anything about Voldemort, they don't know anything about him."
"But Hermione," Harry protested, "you said your aunt and uncle don't know about magic."
"Well, I thought to too," Hermione said as she stopped pacing. "My mom told them."
"How did they react to it," Harry asked cautiously.
"They were okay with it," she said. "You know, my mom probably loves you already! You came in the earliest even though you were late for five minutes," Hermione told him, then added, "How did you get here anyway?"
Harry grinned at her sheepishly. "Well," he started as he scratched the back of his head, "I drove here."
"What?!" Hermione screamed.
"I drove here," Harry repeated as he sunk lower in his seat. When Hermione was mad, she could rival Mrs. Weasley. "Because," he continued, "I ran out of Floo Powder and don't you remember the Ministry told us not to Apparate?"
"Oh, that's fine then," Hermione sighed. "It could get pretty dangerous though, I was just worried. The road can get slippery."
"'Mione, it's fine," Harry said softly.
There was a knock on the other side of the door and Anabelle's muffled words.
"Hermione, Harry?!" she asked. "You better get out, you father and your cousin's fiancée is here!"
Hermione took Harry's hand and tugged.
"This, Mr. Potter," Hermione smirked, "is to test how tough you really are. My dad is here."
"Piece of cake!" Harry said as they walked out. Hermione laughed as he said this, knowing full well that he will regret he ever said those words after her father interrogated him.
Harry saw two people, who he guessed to be Hermione's relatives, and a man that resembled Hermione. Hermione nudged him to go introduce himself. He walked to the man slowly, Hermione's hand still holding his. She squeezed his hand.
"Good evening, sir," Harry said politely. "I'm Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet you, Harry," the man said as he shook his hand, though his tone was unconvincing. "I'm John Granger."
After about fifteen minutes later, Harry had talked to Hermione's parents and relatives, except for Nicole, who was eyeing him with a look he could not place. He was mildly surprised when John put a hand on his shoulder and motioned for him to follow him. Harry complied, but not before gulping and glancing at Hermione. Hermione was smirking a little as she waved at him and mouthed, 'Good luck! Piece of cake!'. As they walked out, Hermione heard her father say, "What are your plans with my daughter?".
It was already eight-thirty when Harry came out of the room, talking merrily with John. There was still no sign of David, which brought Nicole in a bad mood. Hermione was dumbfounded when she witnessed Harry and her father laughing over some joke about her.
"And then," John continued, "she jumped out of the bush intending to scare us but she didn't know we had the three cats. You should have seen her run when they chased her around!" The two men laughed heartily.
"This one was funnier -" Harry started but stopped when he saw Hermione standing before them, her hands on her hips.
"Having fun?"
"Oh, yes, very," John answered her. Harry snickered as Hermione glared at them.
"Come on, Love," he said, his eyes twinkling as Hermione squirmed at her pet name, "don't get mad at us. We were just having fun." Hermione knew that Harry had to do this to get on the good side of her dad, so she couldn't stay mad. The doorbell rang and Nicole went to get it sulkily.
"Before I forget," John said, "was that car outside yours, Harry?"
"Yes," Harry replied.
"It's very nice," he said. "Very expensive, too!"
Before Harry could say something, they heard Nicole shouting "Why, you! You're an hour and a half late!"
"I'm sorry! I was held in work!" said a male voice.
"Argh! It's Christmas Eve! Come on!"
When Nicole and David arrived in the kitchen where Nicole had dragged him, she introduced them to Hermione's parents. Her parents knew David enough. Hermione heard her say "My cousins in the living room with her boyfriend. You'll see her later."
"Everybody!" Anabelle's voice rang through the house. "Dinner."
Dinner was going by nicely until Hermione and Harry were introduced to David. David dropped his fork at the sound of their names and looked at them, his eyes wide.
"H-harry Potter the famous Quidditch Star? Harry Potter and H- hermione Granger?" he stuttered. "It is you!"
Harry and Hermione shared a confused glance as David continued to mumble things under his breath.
"What was that, David?" Allan, Nicole's father, asked.
"They defeated You-Know-Who!" David said, apparently forgetting that the family he was with was Muggle. This was because he was wearing a navy blue cloak.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, panicked. Is David a wizard? What if John and Anabelle found out that their daughter was going on adventures that could get her killed, almost every year of her education at Hogwarts?
"You-Know-Who?" Anabelle asked. "Who's You-Know-Who?"
Hermione interrupted before David could answer.
"How do you know about Voldemort?"
David flinched at the sound of the name. He knew that the Dark Lord was no longer here, but he still feared the name.
"I'm- uh," he stuttered, "magical?" he finished.
Nicole gasped in shock. She had always despised that kind. She just couldn't believe that David, her David, was one of them as well. She drew in a shaky breath. She considered running to her room, but thought that it was better if she stayed and listen to his explanation.
"I was going to tell you, Nicole," David said quietly. "I swear, I was going to."
Nicole closed her eyes, wishing very hard that this was just some nightmare.
"Who's Voldemort?" John asked.
Harry took in a shaky breath, and started from the beginning, of how it all began.
"On the Halloween of 1981, I was only a year old, a dark wizard who was called Lord Voldemort, attacked my home. He managed to kill my parents, but he failed to kill me," as he paused, he felt Hermione squeeze his hand, which gave him some comfort. "That's why I have this scar ...."
After finishing his tale, the occupants of the room had misty eyes.
"We could have helped you from the Dursleys," John said.
"You should have told us about this and about your adventures, Hermione," Anabelle stated.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said. She looked around the table and saw that all of them had finished their food. "Maybe it's time they should go home," she said. "It is late."
David had left early. He was forced to visit his cousin, who lived nearby, on his way to the Dinner. He decided to just walk. Harry was already dressed when Dory looked out the window. There was a blizzard.
"Maybe you should stay here for the night," Anabelle suggested. "It's dangerous driving outside like that."
"No, no, it's fine," Harry said.
"Harry, you could get into an accident!" John exclaimed. "Just stay here, go home tomorrow." Then he added thoughtfully, "Though no one would mind if you stayed."
"I should go now,' Harry insisted. "I'll be fine."
"Harry," Hermione said warningly. "They're right."
"Fine," he said in defeat.
"I'll get the sofa ready," Hermioe offered.
"You will do no such thing!" Anabella suddenly said. "It's hard. You can sleep in Hermione's room. We trust both of you to make the right choices."
"Mom -"
"See you tomorrow," Anabelle said as she went to the master's bedroom.
"Dad?"
"Listen to your mother." He, too, followed his wife. Nicole had left when David had gone. Allan and Dory were talking to each other on the couch.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other uncomfortably.
"We better get some rest," Hermione said trying to void her voice of the feeling she has. "We still need to go visit the Weasleys tomorrow morning."
They walked to Hermione's room and stopped outside the door. She turned the knob and pushed it open. There was a bed in the middle of the room and two doors which Harry guessed was a closet and a bathroom. There were also furniture matching the headboard of the bed, and pictures hanging off the walls. Out of all of the photos, only one was moving. It was of Harry, Hermione and Ron taken during their last year at Hogwarts, laughing and waving at the camera.
"I'll sleep on the floor."
"No, Harry. That's fine," Hermione said turning red. "We can have a side of the bed."
"Okay," Harry agreed. "You can take the left."
A few moments later, they were both lying on the bed, bot daring to touch the other. Hermione was dressed in her pajamas, which consisted of a tank top and shorts, while Harry was still dressed in what he wore when he arrived earlier today. He kept on squirming. Hermione tried to sleep, but the right side of the bed kept on moving.
"Harry," she moaned, "what's wrong?"
"My clothes are itchy," Harry replied.
Hermione laughed softly and turned on her side, holding her wand. Harry thought she was going to jinx him, but was relieved when his clothes just felt softer against his skin.
"Better?"
"Loads."
Hermione was just falling asleep when Harry started turning and twisting in bed. She knew he was not having a nightmare because she knew he was still awake.
"What now, Harry?" she sighed.
"Er," Harry started. "Eh- you see it's a little hard to sleep because I-"he mumbled the last part so Hermione didn't catch it.
"What?"
"I usually sleep in my boxers," he repeated, his face growing hot.
Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh."
Neither said anything for a few minutes.
"Then sleep in your boxers."
"What?!" Harry asked bewildered.
"I said 'Then sleep in you boxers'. It's nothing I haven't seen before."
She was right. He usually walked around half naked around when they shared a common room seventh year as Head Boy and Girl.
"But your parents -"
"They don't go in here."
Harry stood up from his place and unbuttoned his shirt, keeping a close eye at the door as though expecting it to burst open. He was halfway through when Hermione sat up, looking at him.
"Harry, what you said back there was very brave."
Harry didn't say anything. He continued to undress. Hermione laid back down but continued to watch him. As he pulled of his shirt, he saw Hermione's eyes widen, and the look down and blush. His lips twitched a little. He saw Hermione look back up as he placed his hands on his pants and unbutton them slowly, his head down, but his gaze on his best friend. Hermione's eyes were getting wider and wider that Harry thought her eyes were going to fall of her head.
When she had said it was nothing she hadn't seen before, she was wrong. The body she had seen before was nothing compared to what she saw now.
'Just Harry,' kept running through her mind. She tried to sleep but failed until a few minutes later.
When Harry climbed back to bed, he turned on his side. He did not feel comfortable lying in bed with her. He didn't trust himself with being alone with her. He turned and laid on his back, listening to Hermione's even breaths. He stared at the ceiling. How could he have fallen in love with her? How could he?
He was thinking about these things when a hand came around his waist. He nearly screamed in shock. Hermione had moved in her sleep and was snuggling closer to him. He tried to move her, knowing this was not a good thing if Hermione suddenly woke up. However, when he did, he wished he hadn't. Hermione wrapped her leg around him, not allowing him to move.
He gave up trying and wrapped his arm around her. He was just falling asleep when he heard Hermione whisper 'I love you, Harry.' His eyes flew open, and he looked at Hermione, she was sleeping. Was he imagining things?
Author's Note: I'm sorry if this chapter is not what you expected to be. Please review and give me your suggestions. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A SHORT STORY. I'M PLANNING FOR ABOUT FOUR-SIX CHAPTERS.
Author's Note: I just brought back Rita Skeeter because I need her to do something important in the future chapters. I just assumed it was okay, and as you all say, it's fanfiction. Here's chapter two. Enjoy!
Pretending At First ..... Not So Sure Now
Chapter 2: The Meeting
Hermione was munching on her toast, trying to ignore the smirk Nicole was sending her way. . Her Aunt Dory and Uncle Allan were out, being showed around by her dad. In a desperate attempt to block out the comments her cousin was loudly making, she turned to her mother.
"Mom, do you really think that you should meet him?" she as
"Hermione, what do you think of us?" Anabelle said. "I mean, we didn't even know that you were dating until Nicole mentioned it." At this, Hermione glared at Nicole, who looked back sweetly. "What if when we find out, you're already getting married?"
"Mom," Hermione sighed exasperatedly.
"No, Hermione!" her mother said. "Why don't you want to talk about it?"
"I do," Hermione said. "It's just that -"
"What my dear cousin?" Nicole asked sweetly from across her seat.
"It's just that – well – he's really famous and we kept it a secret because he didn't want me being bombarded wherever I go."
"Well, that's really sweet of him, Honey," Anabelle said softly. "It's just that we need to meet this person," her mother said shaking her head.
Hermione sighed and went back to her food. She knew that when her mother's mind was set to something, almost nothing can change it. She just hoped Harry was up to the job.
The Christmas Eve Dinner
After finishing helping her mom, Hermione was about to run upstairs to get ready, having only fifteen minutes, when her mother pulled her aside.
"Hermione," Anabelle started, "I think you should know that you Aunt Dory and Uncle Allan know of your magical capabilities." When she saw Hermione open her mouth to say something, she added, "They knew since last year."
'So that's why they were acting weird,' Hermione thought.
The year before, the Desrosiers did not come over, but they did talk for hours on the phone. Her Aunt, who was usually very talkative, was quiet, her Uncle, too, had stopped pestering her about telling her where she had worked. But this year, everything seemed to be back to normal.
"Mom, why did you?!" Hermione hissed as she leaned against the wall.
"They have a right to know, Sweetheart," her mother replied as she walked to the kitchen, her emerald skirt trailing behind her. Hermione stared at it, as though in a trance. The color reminded her about someone, but she could not place her finger on it.
"Hermione!" a voice shrieked. She was snapped out of her reverie. "Hermione, get a move on! It's almost time!" Nicole snapped. She stood there in front of Hermione putting on her hot pink, three-inch shoes to match her dress. "Move!"
"Right!" Hermione mumbled as she ran up to her room and checked the time. Ten minutes. 'Oh shit!' Hermione took a quick shower and dried her hair with magic. Five minutes. She pulled on her dress hastily. Three minutes. She walked to the mirror and did her hair with, once again, the help of magic. Two minutes. She put on make-up quickly, but carefully. She stood walked to the mirror and inspected herself.
She had on a blood-red dress that ended four inches above her knees. Her hair was piled at the top of her head in tight ringlets. She had a minimal amount of make-up on, just enough to accent her features. When she was satisfied with her appearance she went downstairs and sat down next to a very shocked Nicole.
"What?" she asked.
"How did you -? Why -?" Nicole spluttered as she pointed at Hermione.
"You know," Hermione winked, "Magic."
Nicole seemed to recover quickly and glared at her cousin. Hermione was no match against her, but it was a close call. She was about to say something when the doorbell rang.
"That must be David!" Nicole said as she jumped up from her seat and to the door. Hermione waited for 'David' to come in, but when no one came, she, too, walked to the door. Nicole was staring at someone at the door, her mouth hanging open.
"Nicole, what are you - Harry!" Hermione squealed as she pushed her cousin aside accidentally. She hugged him and dragged him inside at the same time. This caused Harry, who did not expect this, to fall on her. There was a loud 'Thump!' as they hit the floor, and Harry heard footsteps coming from the kitchen. He laughed as he heard a soft 'Oof!' from under him, and stood up.
"'Mione!" he laughed as she stood up and jumped on him again as though she hadn't done anything of the sort yet. Despite of this, he hugged he back.
"Hermione!" her mother exclaimed, having witnessed the second time Hermione pounced on Harry and not even introduce him to her parents yet. "Who is this young gentleman?"
"Mom," Hermione replied as she let go of Harry, "this is my boyfriend."
Harry was about to say 'What? Where?', but held himself just in time. Hermione and he went through this. She would introduce him as her 'boyfriend' and he would work the 'Potter Charm' on her ("What 'Potter Charm'?" Hermione asked innocently).
"I'm Harry, Ma'am," Harry said as he gently took Anabelle's hand and bring it to his lips. "Harry Potter."
It was the first time Hermione had a good look of Harry ever since his arrival. He looked dashing in his black slacks and a white button-up shirt. His hair was sticking out in every angle, but it gave him a boyish look.
Hermione's mother giggled uncontrollably as Harry smiled at her. "I'm Hermione's mother, dear," she said. "You can call me Anabelle."
Harry nodded as Hermione introduced Nicole to him. Nicole stuck up her nose and walked into the kitchen as though there was something unpleasant in the room.
"Mom," Hermione interrupted as Anabelle continued to babble about how surprised she was when she found out her 'little darling' was dating someone. "Me and Harry are – er – going to talk for a bit."
"Okay!" Anabella said as she made her way to the kitchen. "Your father and Nicole's parents should be here in a bit," she informed them.
Hermione took Harry's hand and led him to her father's study. She locked the doors behind them and turned to Harry.
"So," she began, "we need to talk about what we'll do."
"'Mione, you said I just need to talk to your folks and say I'm some sports player," Harry told her confused.
"Forget about that," Hermione said as she paced the room. "Just say you're a Quidditch Player. Don't say anything about Voldemort, they don't know anything about him."
"But Hermione," Harry protested, "you said your aunt and uncle don't know about magic."
"Well, I thought to too," Hermione said as she stopped pacing. "My mom told them."
"How did they react to it," Harry asked cautiously.
"They were okay with it," she said. "You know, my mom probably loves you already! You came in the earliest even though you were late for five minutes," Hermione told him, then added, "How did you get here anyway?"
Harry grinned at her sheepishly. "Well," he started as he scratched the back of his head, "I drove here."
"What?!" Hermione screamed.
"I drove here," Harry repeated as he sunk lower in his seat. When Hermione was mad, she could rival Mrs. Weasley. "Because," he continued, "I ran out of Floo Powder and don't you remember the Ministry told us not to Apparate?"
"Oh, that's fine then," Hermione sighed. "It could get pretty dangerous though, I was just worried. The road can get slippery."
"'Mione, it's fine," Harry said softly.
There was a knock on the other side of the door and Anabelle's muffled words.
"Hermione, Harry?!" she asked. "You better get out, you father and your cousin's fiancée is here!"
Hermione took Harry's hand and tugged.
"This, Mr. Potter," Hermione smirked, "is to test how tough you really are. My dad is here."
"Piece of cake!" Harry said as they walked out. Hermione laughed as he said this, knowing full well that he will regret he ever said those words after her father interrogated him.
Harry saw two people, who he guessed to be Hermione's relatives, and a man that resembled Hermione. Hermione nudged him to go introduce himself. He walked to the man slowly, Hermione's hand still holding his. She squeezed his hand.
"Good evening, sir," Harry said politely. "I'm Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet you, Harry," the man said as he shook his hand, though his tone was unconvincing. "I'm John Granger."
After about fifteen minutes later, Harry had talked to Hermione's parents and relatives, except for Nicole, who was eyeing him with a look he could not place. He was mildly surprised when John put a hand on his shoulder and motioned for him to follow him. Harry complied, but not before gulping and glancing at Hermione. Hermione was smirking a little as she waved at him and mouthed, 'Good luck! Piece of cake!'. As they walked out, Hermione heard her father say, "What are your plans with my daughter?".
It was already eight-thirty when Harry came out of the room, talking merrily with John. There was still no sign of David, which brought Nicole in a bad mood. Hermione was dumbfounded when she witnessed Harry and her father laughing over some joke about her.
"And then," John continued, "she jumped out of the bush intending to scare us but she didn't know we had the three cats. You should have seen her run when they chased her around!" The two men laughed heartily.
"This one was funnier -" Harry started but stopped when he saw Hermione standing before them, her hands on her hips.
"Having fun?"
"Oh, yes, very," John answered her. Harry snickered as Hermione glared at them.
"Come on, Love," he said, his eyes twinkling as Hermione squirmed at her pet name, "don't get mad at us. We were just having fun." Hermione knew that Harry had to do this to get on the good side of her dad, so she couldn't stay mad. The doorbell rang and Nicole went to get it sulkily.
"Before I forget," John said, "was that car outside yours, Harry?"
"Yes," Harry replied.
"It's very nice," he said. "Very expensive, too!"
Before Harry could say something, they heard Nicole shouting "Why, you! You're an hour and a half late!"
"I'm sorry! I was held in work!" said a male voice.
"Argh! It's Christmas Eve! Come on!"
When Nicole and David arrived in the kitchen where Nicole had dragged him, she introduced them to Hermione's parents. Her parents knew David enough. Hermione heard her say "My cousins in the living room with her boyfriend. You'll see her later."
"Everybody!" Anabelle's voice rang through the house. "Dinner."
Dinner was going by nicely until Hermione and Harry were introduced to David. David dropped his fork at the sound of their names and looked at them, his eyes wide.
"H-harry Potter the famous Quidditch Star? Harry Potter and H- hermione Granger?" he stuttered. "It is you!"
Harry and Hermione shared a confused glance as David continued to mumble things under his breath.
"What was that, David?" Allan, Nicole's father, asked.
"They defeated You-Know-Who!" David said, apparently forgetting that the family he was with was Muggle. This was because he was wearing a navy blue cloak.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, panicked. Is David a wizard? What if John and Anabelle found out that their daughter was going on adventures that could get her killed, almost every year of her education at Hogwarts?
"You-Know-Who?" Anabelle asked. "Who's You-Know-Who?"
Hermione interrupted before David could answer.
"How do you know about Voldemort?"
David flinched at the sound of the name. He knew that the Dark Lord was no longer here, but he still feared the name.
"I'm- uh," he stuttered, "magical?" he finished.
Nicole gasped in shock. She had always despised that kind. She just couldn't believe that David, her David, was one of them as well. She drew in a shaky breath. She considered running to her room, but thought that it was better if she stayed and listen to his explanation.
"I was going to tell you, Nicole," David said quietly. "I swear, I was going to."
Nicole closed her eyes, wishing very hard that this was just some nightmare.
"Who's Voldemort?" John asked.
Harry took in a shaky breath, and started from the beginning, of how it all began.
"On the Halloween of 1981, I was only a year old, a dark wizard who was called Lord Voldemort, attacked my home. He managed to kill my parents, but he failed to kill me," as he paused, he felt Hermione squeeze his hand, which gave him some comfort. "That's why I have this scar ...."
After finishing his tale, the occupants of the room had misty eyes.
"We could have helped you from the Dursleys," John said.
"You should have told us about this and about your adventures, Hermione," Anabelle stated.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said. She looked around the table and saw that all of them had finished their food. "Maybe it's time they should go home," she said. "It is late."
David had left early. He was forced to visit his cousin, who lived nearby, on his way to the Dinner. He decided to just walk. Harry was already dressed when Dory looked out the window. There was a blizzard.
"Maybe you should stay here for the night," Anabelle suggested. "It's dangerous driving outside like that."
"No, no, it's fine," Harry said.
"Harry, you could get into an accident!" John exclaimed. "Just stay here, go home tomorrow." Then he added thoughtfully, "Though no one would mind if you stayed."
"I should go now,' Harry insisted. "I'll be fine."
"Harry," Hermione said warningly. "They're right."
"Fine," he said in defeat.
"I'll get the sofa ready," Hermioe offered.
"You will do no such thing!" Anabella suddenly said. "It's hard. You can sleep in Hermione's room. We trust both of you to make the right choices."
"Mom -"
"See you tomorrow," Anabelle said as she went to the master's bedroom.
"Dad?"
"Listen to your mother." He, too, followed his wife. Nicole had left when David had gone. Allan and Dory were talking to each other on the couch.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other uncomfortably.
"We better get some rest," Hermione said trying to void her voice of the feeling she has. "We still need to go visit the Weasleys tomorrow morning."
They walked to Hermione's room and stopped outside the door. She turned the knob and pushed it open. There was a bed in the middle of the room and two doors which Harry guessed was a closet and a bathroom. There were also furniture matching the headboard of the bed, and pictures hanging off the walls. Out of all of the photos, only one was moving. It was of Harry, Hermione and Ron taken during their last year at Hogwarts, laughing and waving at the camera.
"I'll sleep on the floor."
"No, Harry. That's fine," Hermione said turning red. "We can have a side of the bed."
"Okay," Harry agreed. "You can take the left."
A few moments later, they were both lying on the bed, bot daring to touch the other. Hermione was dressed in her pajamas, which consisted of a tank top and shorts, while Harry was still dressed in what he wore when he arrived earlier today. He kept on squirming. Hermione tried to sleep, but the right side of the bed kept on moving.
"Harry," she moaned, "what's wrong?"
"My clothes are itchy," Harry replied.
Hermione laughed softly and turned on her side, holding her wand. Harry thought she was going to jinx him, but was relieved when his clothes just felt softer against his skin.
"Better?"
"Loads."
Hermione was just falling asleep when Harry started turning and twisting in bed. She knew he was not having a nightmare because she knew he was still awake.
"What now, Harry?" she sighed.
"Er," Harry started. "Eh- you see it's a little hard to sleep because I-"he mumbled the last part so Hermione didn't catch it.
"What?"
"I usually sleep in my boxers," he repeated, his face growing hot.
Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh."
Neither said anything for a few minutes.
"Then sleep in your boxers."
"What?!" Harry asked bewildered.
"I said 'Then sleep in you boxers'. It's nothing I haven't seen before."
She was right. He usually walked around half naked around when they shared a common room seventh year as Head Boy and Girl.
"But your parents -"
"They don't go in here."
Harry stood up from his place and unbuttoned his shirt, keeping a close eye at the door as though expecting it to burst open. He was halfway through when Hermione sat up, looking at him.
"Harry, what you said back there was very brave."
Harry didn't say anything. He continued to undress. Hermione laid back down but continued to watch him. As he pulled of his shirt, he saw Hermione's eyes widen, and the look down and blush. His lips twitched a little. He saw Hermione look back up as he placed his hands on his pants and unbutton them slowly, his head down, but his gaze on his best friend. Hermione's eyes were getting wider and wider that Harry thought her eyes were going to fall of her head.
When she had said it was nothing she hadn't seen before, she was wrong. The body she had seen before was nothing compared to what she saw now.
'Just Harry,' kept running through her mind. She tried to sleep but failed until a few minutes later.
When Harry climbed back to bed, he turned on his side. He did not feel comfortable lying in bed with her. He didn't trust himself with being alone with her. He turned and laid on his back, listening to Hermione's even breaths. He stared at the ceiling. How could he have fallen in love with her? How could he?
He was thinking about these things when a hand came around his waist. He nearly screamed in shock. Hermione had moved in her sleep and was snuggling closer to him. He tried to move her, knowing this was not a good thing if Hermione suddenly woke up. However, when he did, he wished he hadn't. Hermione wrapped her leg around him, not allowing him to move.
He gave up trying and wrapped his arm around her. He was just falling asleep when he heard Hermione whisper 'I love you, Harry.' His eyes flew open, and he looked at Hermione, she was sleeping. Was he imagining things?
Author's Note: I'm sorry if this chapter is not what you expected to be. Please review and give me your suggestions. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A SHORT STORY. I'M PLANNING FOR ABOUT FOUR-SIX CHAPTERS.