Secret in the Tower.

A/N.- OK, this is my very first fanfic, hope you like it.

IMPORTANT: I've received various reviews from this first chapter -pardon the word- whining about the crappy grammar and all that. Bear in mind this chapter is a bit over a year old, when I was barely starting to really write in English seriously so it's obvious my skills were rather lousy by the time, since I'm not a native English speaker. Please bear with this for the first part of the story. If you really are a writing nazi then just stop reading and don't come to me with such a waste-of-time review alright?

Chapter 1.- The Weasley/Delacour wedding.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had come back for their final year at Hogwarts, how was Harry finally convinced? You'll see if you keep reading.

One particular day (or night in fact), the trio had stayed up late again finishing their sky-high mountain of homework, well past midnight and seeing that the only works left were due for three weeks later, Ron decided to turn in and went to the boys' dormitories. Harry and Hermione were made Head Boy and Girl respectively, so they shared a whole tower besides that one for the Gryffindors, yet they went to the Gryffindor common room to join Ron. But when he went to bed, the two friends tried to avoid gazing at each other, blushing, even though they were tempted to hold the hand of the other one. But why did they evade each other's gaze when they were the only ones around?

A/N.-Don't get startled, since the plot is turning a little back in time…New setting: Summer in the Burrow. Sorry, but I like starting a little ahead and then flashbacking…it's just my style.

Harry and Hermione were at the Burrow, staying over for Bill and Fleur's wedding with Ron (of course having already fulfilled Dumbledore's wish of Harry returning to Privet Drive, though it was only for a night, and much to Uncle Vernon's dismay, it was in the company of his two best friends). The night of the wedding party they had to obviously use their dress robes, though they had outgrown them in the last two and a half years, so they set up a trip to Diagon Alley to buy some new ones (Harry with his money, Hermione's parents would pay for hers and Ron was sponsored by the Weasley twins, I daresay, the richest in the Weasley clan). They all went to Madame Malkin's but not at the same time. Hermione wanted to go alone in there, so the other two would have absolutely no clue what the girl had bought. After all the mess, they went back to the Burrow to get ready for the next day.

The wedding ceremony went on, the exchanging of oaths, rings, yadda, yadda…anyway, what matters here is the party. Both boys changed in their own rooms, but they already knew what their mate was going to wear. What left them really wide-mouthed was Hermione. Finally she revealed herself in her robes. It was an elegant blue dress, with a v-shaped neckline, a bit longer that she had hoped, but yet achieving the desired effect in the guy with the lightning-bolt-shaped scar, whom she had secretly, at first fancied, then really gotten to really love. As a matter of fact, that was exactly her wish, since the Harry-Ginny couple was no more she wanted to be with Harry. He wanted him to be only hers, and yet she kept telling herself that he was his best friend, and was out of bounds.

Her dress was complemented only by a silver bracelet, a matching necklace with what seemed to be a sapphire on the center, and matching earrings, a thin layer of eye shadow and lip-gloss. She had done her hair as well, so it looked silky and shiny. She waved nervously at the two boys and joined them into the party room.

"Bloody Hell" This was Ron obviously, still not believing his eyes "Hermione, is that really you?"

"Of course it is me Ronald!" Hermione said, pretending to be offended, but teasingly slapping Ron's shoulder. "So, how do I look?"

"Well I'd daresay you look definitely like a girl" Ron said also teasingly, earning him another slap of Hermione's, but in the head.

"Ok, seriously, how do I look?" Hermione said changing her voice tone to a more serious one.

"Well, you look…you look nice." Ron said. We've always known Ron isn't particularly your first choice if you wanted a compliment.

Hermione, knowing this, was unabashed, as she turned to ask Harry, who was lost staring at his female friend, and didn't hear the question. "Hey…Hey!! Earth to Harry! Earth to Harry!" It seemed that his consciousness had gone on vacation.

It wasn't until Ron slapped him hard on the head that he realized someone was calling him. "Ow! That hurt Ron! What is it?"

"How do I look Harry?" Hermione asked, staring hopefully at him, since this was the only opinion she cared about.

"Ah…yes…well…you look…uhmm…you look good I think." Harry answered, still lost in thought

Hermione's smile faded when she heard this, but as she saw Harry again, she saw that she had caught him staring wide-mouthed at her and suppressed back a grin.

They watched the happy couple dance their first song as husband and wife, and they were later joined by the guests. Neither Harry nor Ron stood up (familiar scene huh? Clue: Yule Ball, 4th year, c'mon! You must've guessed by now!), and neither did Hermione, she had turned down everyone asking her to dance (a lot of guys as a matter of fact, and according to her some of them very handsome, surely they were Fleur's relatives), in the hope that she would be asked by her black-haired friend. Harry caught her eye and knew what she wanted. "Why me? I hate dancing" thought Harry, yet, the impulse was greater, she was there, patiently waiting for him, so he packed up the courage and went to her.

"Hey, Hermione…uhmmm…would you like…would you like to dance with me?" Harry's stomach was revolving, and his lips were completely dry.

Hermione on the contrary was beaming at him, and almost immediately she said yes. Harry offered his hand, Hermione took it, and they joined those already dancing. His eyes met hers, and suddenly everything else seemed to be unimportant. Harry was contemplating her face, with all of her fine features, her sparkling cinnamon brown eyes, her lips, the lips he had long wished to taste, her hair, now straightened and fixed up, but usually messy and yet he loved it, and all of a sudden he was thinking "how come I never saw her beauty before? It is as clear as water!" Hermione was completely drowning in his green eyes, staring at nothing else. Then Harry hesitated a bit, but anyway asked her to take a walk in the gardens with him.

Once outside, they started walking side by side, not looking or speaking at each other, which was a bit uncomfortable, so Hermione broke the silence.

"Umm…Harry?" She asked tentatively, when the boy turned around she continued. "Hey, now that you're back in your five senses, can you answer my question? Honestly?" she added when she saw Harry's face of incomprehension, she still wanted to know what he thought, even if she knew he had been hypnotized by her sudden transformation, and the answer was obvious.

"What? Oh, right…how you look…but why are you so eager to hear me answering that question?"

"Oh, nothing important really, we both know Ron is as loquacious as if he had a Silencing charm on him, and you were apparently hit in your blind side in that moment…so?"

Harry did not know what to answer; the true answer in his head was "You look really beautiful" but he didn't know if it was a smart move saying that, after all he loved Hermione (secretly of course), but he didn't want to risk their friendship by trying to find out if the feeling was mutual, so he said something different. "Well, I think you look pretty in that dress."

"Really?" Her face lightened up when she heard his answer.

"Sure, you look great." said Harry, trying to sound as casual as if they were talking about the weather, but not managing to hide his blushing "Thank god it's so dark out here".

"Thanks Harry!"

She couldn't control herself anymore; she threw herself into his arms and barely managed to restrain herself from kissing him. Harry went all numb, he hadn't expected that, yet he curled his arms around his best friend, rather clumsily. When they broke apart she was really beaming and her eyes were sparkling, even though the lights from the room were far behind her.

Their eyes met again, they couldn't just hold it any longer, they were staring at each other, Harry held Hermione's hands in his, "man, they are so soft and warm" Harry thought, while feeling her warmth spread through him, and a tingling sensation in his hands, and without any of them noticing, their bodies were drawing nearer, as well as their faces, their hearts racing, Hermione's eyes closed, but all of a sudden, when their lips were less than half an inch apart, Harry snapped out of it and backing away managed to mutter "Perhaps we should go inside"

Hermione looked disappointed, but forced a smile and said "Y-yes, they must be looking for us." "Damn it! We were SO close! Hermione, this is your best friend you're talking about!"

They walked back in silence, side by side, and without thinking it, Hermione's hand automatically looked for Harry's, she found it and intertwined it with her own.

Well, it was not unexpected, but when they came back to the party room (releasing their hands before entering of course), the first people they found were none other than Fred and George. The twins had mischievous looks in their faces, and at the moment Harry and Hermione entered, the twins started picking on them.

"Well, well George, what do we have here?"

"Seems this two love-birds were having a private chat in the garden Fred"

"Oh, for goodness sake, WE…ARE…FRIENDS!!" Said Hermione, for the umpteenth time, yet blushing.

"Yeah, right, friends, listen, we have to get going…" Started George

"But watch what you drink Harry, someday we might end up selling her a love potion" Finished Fred with a malevolent look and adding so lowly that only his twin heard him "or slipping it in ourselves."

Hermione rolled her eyes and dragged Harry towards the tables, but he stopped her.

"'Mione, you're not actually buying a love potion, are you?" Said Harry a bit scared, remembering the little incident involving him, Ron, Romilda Vane and a box of Chocolate Cauldrons full of one of their love potions, and shuddering as the memory came to him.

"Of course not Harry! You are my best friend, doing that would be too low!" Hermione was a bit offended by the question.

Harry quickly apologized, turning a bit red, but Hermione merely smiled at him, making him smile too. He trusted her more than anyone in this world, so if she said she wasn't, he believed her. He quickly put his hand in her cheek feeling again that warmth irradiating from her, but drew it away as fast as he had raised it, breaking also eye contact with her, both turning around trying to not let the other one see them blush.

When the party was finally over ('bout 4.00 a.m. mind you), they all went to sleep. Harry had the twins' room all for himself again. He took off his dress robes, put his pajamas on and slid under the blankets, trying to sleep, but not being able to wipe off the memory of the two of them less than half an inch away from the other's lips, he cursed in a whisper, he had been so close…but then he drifted off to a sleep full of dreams of him and Hermione together, which were suddenly interrupted by a nightmare.

Hermione on the other hand was sharing Ginny's room, and went to sleep almost immediately, having terrible nightmares too (the same one as a matter of fact).

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Hermione was in a dark room, lying on the floor in real pain, she was asking for help, but she couldn't manage to find her voice. Then she heard a cold voice –Ha, ha, ha, having fun Granger? While we wait for your beloved Harry, why not have some more fun eh? Crucio!

Hermione started to feel pain again, as if she were being stabbed by red-hot blades in every inch of her body. When Voldemort lifted the curse, Hermione was panting heavily, still feeling the pain of the curse's after-effects, but still managed to whisper "Harry! Harry, where are you?" Even though she had meant to scream it. That very moment, the door swung open and Harry entered the room, wand at the ready, just to be stunned from behind by a Death Eater. When he woke up, he was in a different room, bound to a chair, in front of him were Ron and Hermione bound by ropes, with two Death Eaters aiming at them with their wands, and Voldemort behind them, facing him.

"Ah! Harry, at last you wake up! Let's play a little game shall we?" Voldemort said in a mocking voice.

"RELEASE THEM IMMEDIATELY YOU SON OF A…"

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, no swearwords Harry…" He smiled malevolently "Ok, here are the rules of the game, your two best friends are captured by MY friends, and you can save only ONE of them, choose quickly, who will it be? Your blood traitor friend or the mudblood you love?"

"LET THEM BOTH GO!"

"WRONG ANSWER POTTER! FINISH THEM!"

Two jets of green light erupted from the Death Eaters' wands, hitting both Ron and Hermione squarely in the chest, another one coming from Voldemort's wand directly at Harry.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

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Both Harry and Hermione woke up, heavily sweaty and breathing as if they had run through all the length of Hogwarts castle. Hermione watched at the clock, it was 5.30, but she couldn't sleep again, so she left her bed silently not to wake Ginny up, grabbed her night gown and went down to the living room. She was there, curled up in a couch when she heard steps coming down, and to her surprise it was Harry, who came to the couch and sat right beside her.

"What's wrong 'Mione?"

Harry could see she was crying silent tears.

"It's nothing" She said, quickly wiping the tears off with the back of her hand and lowering her head to avoid seeing his green eyes.

But Harry put his hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You know you're not a good liar, please tell me, or is it that you don't trust me?"

"No, Harry, I trust you with my life, but it's something silly, just a bad dream." She said unable to control her tears.

Harry pulled her towards him, so she was now crying in his shoulder; he put her arms around her and started patting her back, and running his hand through her hair. Hermione soon cried herself 'till she was asleep, cuddled against Harry, who rested his chin on her head, drifting off to sleep as well, losing himself in her scent, it was sweet, she smelled just like vanilla.

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Hermione slowly came back to her senses as she woke up, feeling that she was resting on something warm and comfortable, she slowly opened her eyes, but stood up as soon as she realized it was Harry she was sleeping on. She couldn't believe it; she had fallen asleep after that little event. Wishing nobody had seen them like that she silently went back to her room so she could pretend nothing had happened. Harry on the other hand was woken up about 30 minutes later.

"Harry…wake up…c'mon mate! You'll miss breakfast!" someone was shaking him violently.

"Whozzat? Whatimesit?" Harry mumbled, and when he opened his eyes he saw Ron's red-haired, full of freckles face staring at him looking a bit confused.

"Why were you sleeping on the living room couch mate?"

"Huh? Couch? Oh, I…uh…I just couldn't sleep up there."

"If you say so…" Ron marched away with a confused look as Harry thankfully thought that Ron was too naïve.

2 minutes after that, Hermione came down the stairs, and saw Harry still struggling to come back to his senses, and when he finally did, se want to give him good morning.

"Good morning Harry!" She bade at him smiling happily.

"What? Oh, morning 'Mione, how did you sleep?" He said smiling back.

"Really well, and you?"

"Oh, just fine."

They were both smiling at each other, pretending before everyone else that nothing had happened a few hours ago between them, yet they knew exactly how they had slept, since they had slept cuddled together in the couch, feeling the warmth the other gave them.

After other five minutes, Harry came back down fully dressed for breakfast. When he entered the kitchen, the only ones left there were the two youngest Weasleys and Hermione, and they seemed to be interestingly discussing something. When he sat down at the table he joined the conversation.

"Hey guys, what are you talking about?"

"We-wehv-difcuffing-if-we-wouf-weetuhn-to-Hogwahtf" Ron said with his mouth full, as usual

"Sorry? Didn't catch that…"

"We-wev…" Ron repeated, still food in his mouth

"Shut up Ronald!" Cut Hermione "We were just discussing whether we were to return to Hogwarts for our final (well, Ginny's 6th) year at Hogwarts."

"Oh, that..." Harry's face just changed from happy and smiling to gloomy.

Hermione was looking at him nervously, but then she turned to the window, just in time to see four small dots enlarging and heading to the kitchen window…They were owls. Hermione dashed to throw the window open in time for the four owls to land in front of each of them. They were carrying four equal letters, with the Hogwarts emblem in them. Harry pulled the one from his owl as it took flight; he opened it and read it for himself.

Professor Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Dear Mr. Potter

We are glad to inform you that the staff decided that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will keep its gates open for any student who wishes to continue their studies here, if you agree to continue, and your tutors allow you to, you are requested to present yourself at the platform 9¾ to take the Hogwarts Express in the first day of September. Hoping you continue to study with us, and begging that you reply confirming your assistance or declining before August the 31st, I bid farewell.

Minerva McGonagall.

Ron's, Hermione's and Ginny's letters all contained the same information, along with the booklist for the new term, but Harry's envelope was still heavy, so he tipped it upside down, and a badge fell to his hand, along with a third parchment that read

Dear Mr. Potter

I am glad to announce to you that you have been chosen Head Boy of Hogwarts, that is, if you continue studying. If you decide to take on your duties, you would be required to confirm your assistance before August 15th, and in case you do continue, you will have to share a dormitory and common room with the Head Girl, and present in my office the first day of term after class time to be briefed in what your duties as Head Boy are.

Kind Regards,

Minerva McGonagall

"Damn! This means I will have to return…" Muttered Harry

But all of a sudden his sight was obstructed by that mane of brown hair, since Hermione had hugged him, the same as every time they met in vacations, or something overwhelmed her.

"Oh, Harry, I always knew it was going to be you." She said really excited.

"Well, I dunno, I thought it was going to be Ron or any of the other prefects…" Harry said doubtfully, after being freed by Hermione.

"But it is you; McGonagall thought you deserved it, so she made you Head Boy." Hermione cut him, still smiling." Besides, better you than Malfoy" she said and Harry laughed, they had both forgotten that Malfoy had run away after Snape killed Dumbledore.

"Geez, a whole tower for you and the Head Girl." Said Ron dreamily.

In that very moment the question came into Harry's mind. "But I wonder who the Head Girl…" But his eyes rested in Hermione, who was holding a badge exactly like his in her hand. "No way…you're…head…Hermione, you're the Head Girl?" Harry asked surprised, finding the words at last.

"So it seems" Said Hermione, beaming, as she ran to hug Harry again, but broke apart really quickly. They both just stopped to look into each other's eyes again, and Hermione was about to kiss him, she was actually drawing nearer to him, but she remembered Ron and Ginny were seeing, so she changed lanes and kissed Harry in the cheek instead.

"I'm glad for you" Said Ron, making both of them snap out of their trance. "You get a whole tower for yourselves, and can wander in the castle at night, and dock points, and…"

But he cut off, since he had just realized his two best friends were going to leave him alone in the Gryffindor tower, so he looked down at his shoes, but Harry put a hand in his shoulder and said

"Oh come on Ron, you actually think we're going to leave you all alone? Come to think of it, we're not always on duty, so we can still spend time with you, besides you are still a prefect, so we get to share some duties."

"So this means you're coming back to Hogwarts?" Mrs. Weasley asked, who had overheard the whole conversation.

The three of them broke off and turned to see her, Ron and Hermione nodded, but then they turned slowly to Harry, just to see him say "Well, I guess we are."

AN.- Well, that's it for now, the very first chapter of my very first fanfic. Please Review ;)