PRIVATE: Dream
Gryffindor Common Room, After Hours, Hermione and Harry
(Harry)
Harry walked into the common room, the portrait of the fat lady closing behind him. He looked around, seeing only Hermione reading on the couch. Her cat was perched happily in her lap. He swallowed the growing knot in his throat and made his way over to sit beside her. His robes and hair were a total mess as he flopped on the couch beside her.
(Hermione)
She looked up from her book idly and smiled, "Hey, you." She noted the page in her book and closed it, setting it on the coffee table between the couch and the fire. She was very stiff. "What time is it?"
Harry)
"Close to nine..." He stretched himself, looking to the grandfather clock in the corner. He settled into his spot and gazed into the fire, almost lost in thought.
(Hermione)
She streched her arms out. Is it really nine? I've been reading for four four hours. I didn't feel like four hours... She stood up very much deep in her thoughts. She streched again to the cealing, then pulled the pencil out of her bun and bent over, shaking her mess of hair out and streching the back of her legs. She flopped down rather ungracefully onto the couch again. She stared intently a the fire. The common room was empty save for some first year in the corner scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. The girl got up abruptly and scurried up the stairs to the dormitories. Hermione let her gaze follow the girl up the stairs and out of sight before lowering her it back to the fire. You have to think the incantation and the power will radiate from the 85th and 63rd degrees of the palm.... How can you heal without SAYING the incantation? What was that about Chi? She almost got the book out again but decided against it. The fire was roaring and dancing across the room. This couch can be VERY comfortable. She sat herself up some so as to be siting more properly and let the heat of the fire consume her. Her eyes drooped lazily as idly played with her robe's clasp, finally deciding to undo it and let her robes drop down around her, pooling at her neck and around her arms. It was still hot. She shrugged her robe further off and pushed her hair up so it was halfway held up by the friction against the couch's back. That helped.
(Harry)
Harry, without realizing, had also taken his robes off and began to loosen his tie more. His hand ran through his long hair as he leaned back, arm unintentionally going behind her. He slid his glasses back up his nose and sighed. It had been a long night. Perhaps he should get some of it off his chest. It's what he liked about his talks with Hermione; they could talk about anything wizarding and Muggle related. Tonight's topic of discussion: "I tried talking to Malfoy tonight, but he wouldn't listen." Then he laughed to himself. "Then I had to remind him about what infront of Tracey and Daphne....I wouldn't be surprised if half the school knew by tomorrow morning..."
(Hermione)
She turned her head abruptly to him with a soft and sweet look on her face. She screwed up her nose. "You talked to him in front of people? Bad move, Potter." She laughed at herself and flicked poofs from the scarf she wore that day off her knee. "You shouldn't have spoked to him in... well, especially in front of Tracy! She HATES you." Hermione sighed and leaned her head to Harry's shoulder. "Anyway, so what if Malfoy won't talk to you. You just want to put it behind you like it didn't happen, right?" She wasn't sure of this but didn't know if she were ready to accept that Harry actually wanted to kiss Malfoy. Euh.
(Harry)
"I just need to know what it meant to him. I'm not really sure if anything will come of it honestly." His head rested on hers as he sighed. Me? With Malfoy? The thought of it didn't sound right. But, he knew, actions are much stronger then words. He watched the fire, arm lazily falling around her, his own body sliding down. Crookshanks seemed to get the impression the two wished to be alone and stretched, jumping down off of Hermione's lap and making his way upstairs.
(Hermione)
She leaned into him and watched Crookshanks, too, leave the room. It's too hot, she thought. She looked over at him, his face was close but she could still see his shirt and tie and glasses... his hair. "You're a mess." She laughed and turned her head forward again. "You're adorable when you're a mess." She smiled. You have to realize the eight inner radii before you can learn to concentrate on which potency you want to radiate... "Can you believe Hannah's going to be a healer? I know she'll be perfect in it but I don't think I have the sense for it. I mean, I understand what I'm readign but not how to do it. That's rare, I know, don't rub it in." She huffed the last part and leaned into his shoulder.
(Harry)
He laughed softly. "I wouldn't say anything. Hannah is perfect for that job. She's a nice and compassionate person. NOT that you aren't....I just always saw you as a teacher or something." He turned his head to look at her, the light from the fire highlighting her face. It then clicked in that she had said something about his apperance and he sat up smoothing his shirt out. "Yeah...It's been a long day." He sighed, rolling up his shirt sleeves.
(Hermione)
She watched him adjust himself, even when he was attentive to his appearance he was messy. She watched his arms. He had the same body as Ron... quiddich. His hair was very dark in the lowered light of the fire. She ran her hand through her own and breathed deeply. It really was hot. She stood. "Sorry Harry, I'm really inverted, erm, distracted right now and... the fire is too hot." She walked the few steps to the other couch a bit further away from the direct flames. It was still hot but it was better than being right next to the source. She looked at her robes on the other couch next to Harry and laughed at his expression. "Come here! I wasn't avoiding you! Just hot." She leaned against the back of the couch and let her legs be heated too hot again.
(Harry)
He smiled and stood, stretching. He had gotten taller, thiner perhaps. His neck cracked, muscles in his arms for playing Quidditch exposed. He realized his stomach was showing and quickly dropped his arms, making his way over to the couch. He once again, took the seat beside her. It was better on this side of the room, he had to admitt. But for whatever reason, heat was still admitting from Hermoine. He glanced over at her. "Hermione...are you....are you blushing?"
(Hermione)
"What? No. Just hot and... all that stuff in the healer basics books... it's really confusing and I suppose I'm letting it get to me." She turned her head to him and smiled. "Why would I blush?" She searched his face, a bit damp from the heat, his glasses slipping down. His tie was still loose and untidy. THIS was Harry, the Harry she knew and was so close to before... before it all happened with the Tri- Quadwizard Cup and everything that had happened the following year. He looked... different. Confused? Yes. Scarerd? Yes. Happy? That was it. "You look better. Did you finally sleep a little?"
(Harry)
"Yeah. I went to see Lupin the other night... ended up falling asleep in his office, I guess." He leaned back and took in a deep breath.
(Hermione)
Harry then leaned in and hissed her, hard. She was shocked, to say the least, and her whole body tensed. He didn't stop, though, and she didn't stop him. He was gentle but intentional as he pushed in and pulled away his mouth in rhythm, making her blood dance under her skin. He put his hands into her hair, stroked it down and pushed it up. His mouth was nibbling on her lower lip and she almost groaned it was so sensational. She sighed into him, relaxing at long last and running her hand up his neck, feeling his hot skin and messy black hair. He pulled away just slightly and she gripped his hair, pulling him back to her. She had never been kissed like this before and she didn't know what was happening to her body but she didn't want to stop. Is kissing allowed at this hour? She decided it wasn't but no one would see them anyhow. She wasn't thinking clearly as Harry's burning mouth moved against hers.
(Harry)
He kissed her deeper. Why are you doing this? Is it because of what Malfoy said? Harry you need to stop! But he wasn't listening to his mind. He just got closer to her, his hands, though rough, sliding against the skin of her face were gentle. Finally, he broke away, allowing them both a moment to breath and for him to realize what he had just done.... But again his body over took over and slowly he leaned back in, his forehead resting against hers.
(Hermione)
His tongue lingered on her lips before it entered her mouth. She almost recoiled but the sexiness of it all held her there as his tongue explored her mouth. She then almost burst open as she began to play her tongue back against his, pushing harder against his lips. He took his hands from her hair and ran them down her arms, sliding one over her raised arm and resting it on her stomach and then side, pulling her to him and kissing her fiercely.
She was overwhelmed with sensations and her body swooned into his. His hand is on me! She couldn't believe her first kisses like this were with... Harry. What in the name of Merlin am I doing? She pulled out of the kiss abruptly and looked at Harry; he looked confused and flustered, ready to kiss some more. He made to dive back in but she already had her hand on his chest. "Harry," her whole body shivered, the glow of a kiss still all around, and he didn't let go of her, "Please stop." Every iota of her being wanted to be back in that kiss, being caressed and made excited. She placed her forehead against his cheek and then into his neck and shoulder and they sat there, neither moving and both breathing heavily. He slid his hand around to her back and pulled her in close, burying his face in her hair and catching his breath. Her arms wrapped around his neck and fell together in a heap about his shoulders; she leaned into his body and sighed.
(Harry)
"I'm sorry....." He breathed heavily laying against her on the couch, realizing what he just did. It felt good...no, it felt great - but it was wrong, he felt that. He sat up and ran his hand through his hair again, slouching over his knees and looking at the floor.
(Hermione)
She watched him there, doubled over and looking vulnerable. What just happened? She didn't know. Her whole body was racing and she was excited to her fingertips. "Harry. That was... wonderful. Better than last time... if that's possible..." She continued to lie there, transfixed and trying to hold on to the warmth that was his mouth against hers. She gave up trying to maintain the kiss around her and leaned forward to see his face better. "Harry?"
(Harry)
A tear ran down his face. It was frustrating! So damn frustrating that he could have, if he had wanted, continued kissing her and possibly gone who knows where with that moment. And he couldn't because the voice in his head told him it wasn't right. For once, the voice may have been right. He loved Hermione, he did. But it was only a friend's love. As much as that kiss had sent him to the moon and back, it just wasn't fair to do to her. He knew that, deep down somewhere. He wasn't the one for her. Not in this sense.
(Hermione)
She smoothed her blouce down and tucked her hair behind her shoulders before letting her hands drop to her lap. He wasn't saying anything and she REALLY didn't know what to say. Her heartbeat was finally somewhere near normal. "You don't have to apologise. I... I liked it. What I mean to say is that I don't want you to take it back... okay?" She leaned into the arm of the couch and watched him breathe. He was crying. Her whole being was reaching toward him and she started to cry, softly. She looked at him and then at the cealing and back at him. God, what is this? Is this what I want? No, no it isn't. Well... She searched her thoughts. I want to be close to him. Closer than we have been all of last year. What does that mean?
(Harry)
He wiped at his face and saw her crying as well. He scooted over and hugged her tightly, face burried in her shoulder. "I won't... if you don't want me too. But I... I still feel so sorry for it Hermione. I do." His glasses slid off his face into her lap. He was more lost now then before. How was it that he got this reaction in himself from Hermione but the felt nearly the same with a kiss from Draco. This was better by far. But still it plagued him and what he had just done, could have changed one of his best friendships forever.
(Hermione)
She cried a little harder and ran her hand up into his hair again. Laughing outloud through her tears she said, "Harry. Besides the other kiss you gave me before that was the only kiss I've ever had. Please... I think it's appropriate that my first real kisses are from you. It seems right." She haphazardly got his glasses to the coffee table and wiggled herself down to be half-laying on the couch, his head deep in her neck and his hair covering her face. She held on tight; she had no idea what she wanted but the closer they were the better she felt and so she held on tight. They lie there for a long time, just lying.
(Harry)
He sighed shakily and sat up wipping at his face. "I just... I'll be right back." He rose slowly off the couch and walked behind it to the door which lead to the showers. He closed the door behind him. Inside, he didn't hear anyone. This was a good thing. He walked over to one of the stalls and turned the nob to cold, letting the water fall down upon him. It was quiet a shock at first, but over time, his skin became used to it. Clothes and all he stood there, waiting for his head to cool.
(Hermione)
Hermione watched him leave. She was lost.
She stared down into her lap and bent the hem of her skirt up and down without meaning, running the kisses over and over in her mind. She could feel her face and chest visibly blush and she covered her eyes with her hands and pressed them in. "Oh GOD!" She said rather loudly. "What is going ON?" She rubbed her eyes some more and than her face and finally stood up, adjusting all her clothes that were twisted around her in funny ways. She layed back down on the couch, normally and not sideways this time, and clasped her hands across her stomach. The cealing was dark and high but she could see Harry's face in it, his kiss, she could feel his arms on her stomach and side... NOOO! She shook her head and wondered what he was doing that could be taking so long. It was wonderful to be touched.
(Harry)
He turned the knob on the shower off slowly and stepped away. He didn't bother to grab a towel. He just left the shower, coming out the same way he had entered. The slooshing sound of his pants and shirt made his entrance known and soon he stood at the end of the couch looking at her, hair matted to his face, white shirt and his pants glued to his body. He shivered. Even if the fireplace was going this was a castle and there was a draft bearing down on him.
(Hermione)
She was numb to surprises tonight. "You're..." She smiled. "You look miserable! Harry!" And she stood up and wrapped her arms around him, water freezing and dripping and all and gripped his wet shirt from his back, squeezing so tight she thought he'd break. Then she kissed his neck, and kissed it again. And then just below his ear and then his jaw, his chin, his cheek, his mouth, his eyelid and his mouth again. The water was cold and slippery and che kissed his mouth yet again and then put her face in his shoulder and clutched him. "I care about you like crazy, Harry; I always have." She stroked his hair and whispered now. "I want to make everything better and just I can't seem to so just let me hold you. Being close to you makes me feel whole. I can't explain it. Just let me be near to you. I want to help, it eats at me! I can't seem to... I'm just making it worse. I love you." Well, that was a mess of a speech. She meant every word.
(Harry)
"Hermione... I love you too but...." He eased away from her, hand brushing over her face. "You're my best friend, and I love you. But you and I both know this isn't right." He voice was soft and caring and truthful. Somewhere she had to sense it too. Some doubt that this wasn't what she really wanted and only acting on these emotions would make her even more confused and upset. He knew he sounded hurtful and cruel right now. I hurt him to say it. But maybe one day, even if it wasn't tonight, she would forgive him.
(Hermione)
"I know." She put her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Harry, I know." She held on a second longer to make sure he knew that she was serious. "Honestly? I feel it too. I feel a little like I'm kissing... not a boyfriend. You know? Really. I'm..." What was she? "Relieved." She wiped her face and looked down at his barely-there shirt. "Maybe you should change?"
(Harry)
"I think....I need to go to bed too. And so do you..." He smiled. Thank Merlin they were on the same level. He leaned in one last time and kissed her gently on the forehead. It held for a moment before he backed away, snatching his glasses from the side table and beginning to take his socks off. He shivered a bit and laughed. "This isn't one of the smarter things I've done," he joked, collecting his scattered clothes. "And I doubt, knowing me it will be the last. Good night Hermione." Sighing, he scooped everything and made his way up to the boys tower. The scene was still playing in his head as well, but he didn't really regret it. This was a moment of closure for him. He knew what he needed to do.