Passion & Duty ~ Chapter 2 of 8
Title: Passion & Duty
Author: jadestrick
Original Couple/Prompt: Lancelot & Guinevere
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the universe of Harry Potter. JK Rowling owns all that. I do this purely for enjoyment with no profit expected. Life is so unfair.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Sexual implications
Summary: When your heart feels true love for the first time, can you go against the world and everything you believe in?
Notes: Written for dramione_remix. Story begins here in the comm. Beautiful banner made by ningloreth.
I had FUN with this. Oh, it was stressful, especially since I NEVER write long fic. (I'm a drabble queen.) But this was FUN. And I already have oneshots for bits of the story rambling through my head. :) GARGANTUAN thank yous to caitriona_3 for being my beta and to rightxhere for being my cheerleader. I couldn't have done this without them. And thank you, of course, to the mods of dramione_remix for this wonderful idea! And thank you for reading the inner dark workings of my mind. :)
Additional Notes: Hermione's uncle is up to your imagination. :)
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Passion & Duty ~ Chapter 2
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As she ran, her brain came out of the lustful fog and what she had done became clear and more real. Stopping suddenly by a small stream, she tried to catch her breath and her eyes darted back and forth. She finally closed her eyes and replayed the kisses in her mind. How he looked, how he felt, the groan that escaped from his throat when she finally pulled him to her.
Her uncle's voice suddenly rang throughout her head, reminding her that she did not dwell on dreams, but rather remained cool and logical, and that would make her a great queen one day. Her eyes opened as she realized that the last five minutes had been something that couldn't be, something that never should have happened. Though her lips prickled from the stranger's touch, her brain won over this time. Her walls built again and she flushed in embarrassment and disappointment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Listening to the sounds of her fading footsteps, Draco ran a hand through his hair and tried to reorganize his brain. She was just…perfect. The way she had glared at him made him want to taunt her. The way she'd so keenly matched his humor made him want to be closer to her. The way she hadn't run away but boldly stood her ground when he approached made him want more. Much more.
When she'd kissed him back the first time, he had to pull away in surprise. He'd studied her face and saw confusion and conflict, but not fear. She didn't cringe at his touch the way other women had, the way Severus had told him they would. And when she lifted her face closer to his for more, he couldn't help himself. He poured everything he had into that kiss, a kiss with someone whom he'd completely forgotten to ask her name.
He crouched into a squatting position, his knees suddenly shaky and his hands trembling from the influence she'd had over him all of a sudden. He wasn't like this. He was better than some romantic fool to be overpowered by a kiss. Yet when he closed his eyes and remembered the way her skin and lips had felt, his whole body ached for more of her.
"Draco!" Theo suddenly called from the forest.
"Come out, come out!" Blaise laughed.
Draco took a deep sigh to compose himself and stood, turning to face the two men coming out from the forest. Theo looked worried, his tall and lean frame casting a shadow on Blaise, who was smirking at Draco's annoyed look.
"Couldn't do it, huh?" Blaise sneered.
Draco rolled his eyes and walked between the two, making his way back down the hill and toward their camp. "Apparently, it's a sacred place," he said.
Theo snorted. "Was that written on the side of the cliff?"
"Not exactly."
"Oh stop it, Theo," Blaise added. "I told Cedric he should've sent me."
Draco whirled around so fast that Blaise almost fell back and had to grab a tree to steady himself. "You may make light of where we are and what we're doing, Blaise," he growled. "But this is what we've been called to do and unlike you, I keep my promises."
"Draco, relax," Theo interrupted. "And Blaise? Stop being an ass." He walked past Draco and continued on their way. "We're all here for the same reason, Draco. Even though Blaise is an idiot, he understands honor."
Draco cast a withering look at Blaise, which made Blaise snap. "For the last time, that…wasn't…my…fault," he snarled through gritted teeth.
"No, it wasn't," said a voice from lower down the hill. The three turned to see Cedric standing there with his arms crossed. "I thought I chose three warriors, not three children."
The men bowed their heads slightly, suddenly ashamed of their loud argument. Cedric walked up to them. "All past actions aside, I chose the three of you because I know you to be loyal and cunning and worthy of protecting me. Did I choose wrong?"
"No, your Majesty," Theo responded for all three of them.
Cedric looked at each of them carefully and seemed to relax. "I know we're all tired and ready for this journey to be over. Tomorrow, it will be. Try to hold it together." His smile was infectious and the men's shoulders lost their tension. Cedric clapped a hand on Draco's shoulder in friendship. "Theo, take those rabbits and make us some dinner. And Blaise, the horses need water. Draco, I need a word with you."
Theo and Blaise nodded their heads, turning to fulfill their duties. Cedric turned to Draco and led them both away from the other men. "I thought you told me you were over this."
Draco sighed. "I'm trying, Cedric."
Cedric looked worried. "You spent the whole summer with Severus before this trip. Did he cast more doubts in your mind?"
Draco tensed at the sound of his former guardian.
Cedric sighed and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "This rift between you and Blaise is too large, Draco. And you need to see the situation from all angles. I have, and so should you. It wasn't his fault. All of us lost the day of the siege. Blaise more than any of us." Cedric patted him on the shoulder. "You three are all that is left of the Knights, all whom remain of the best protectors of the Royal Family. Forgive Blaise, forgive all of it, and remember that you and he and Theo have your duty and honor to uphold." He smiled. "For what it's worth, I count the three of you as my brothers. And never have any of you made me think otherwise."
Draco looked down to hide his pride. "Forgive me, my lord," he whispered.
"Forgive yourself. It's not really Blaise you're angry with."
Draco looked into Cedric's face and felt his chest swell with pride and esteem for the young king. He smiled. "Never have I known a better king, my lord."
Cedric grinned and leaning in, whispered, "You probably won't again."
They chuckled and Cedric squeezed Draco's shoulder and dropped his hand, turning to back to the fire where the other two men sat on logs, tending the rabbit stew. "Now," he said, rubbing his hands together in earnest and sitting on a log. "Where's my bird?"
"Erm…" Draco looked at Cedric uncomfortably.
Cedric's eyebrows rose. "I've never known a challenge you couldn't overcome."
Draco lifted his eyes to the sky in search of the best possible explanation. "You would've considered her a challenge as well, Cedric."
"The bird?"
"The girl."
Cedric's eyebrows rose even higher. Blaise laughed and Theo said, "I think I'm going to like this story."
Draco recounted the details of the clearing, subtly leaving out the smell of her hair and the softness of her skin. Embarrassed, he peeked up to see all three of the men grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, well, well," Theo remarked.
"Played that well, didn't you?" Cedric said.
"I don't think he played at all," Blaise suddenly said softly.
Draco looked at Blaise and saw an understanding on his face. Even without adding the finer details, Blaise just…knew. He found it humorous, as he knew his comrades would, but he knew there was more to the story than Draco had let on.
Cedric and Theo looked between Draco and Blaise. "Explain?" Cedric said.
Blaise leaned back and rested his head on a tree, crossing his arms and looking at Draco with his eyebrows raised. Draco nodded his permission.
"Well, you have to remember that Draco and I have always been brothers. Grew up together, fought together, killed together." At this, Draco lowered his head but Blaise pressed on, his outer shell as hard as the day of the siege. "I know to everyone else, the ‘Dragon' loved and made people lose." Blaise smiled at the nickname and Draco rolled his eyes at how untruthful it was. "All the ladies of the court wanted you, all the knights wanted to be you." Blaise turned to Theo and Cedric. "But the only time Draco ever loved a woman in his life was the day he was born. Never once has he fallen in love beyond that."
Cedric turned to Draco. "I thought I knew everything about you, Draco."
Draco smiled. "I'm not that much of an open book, Cedric."
"So, never once, despite all the rumors, did you fall in love with one of the queen's ladies?" Theo asked.
Draco shook his head.
"If it makes you feel better, Draco," Blaise remarked. "Neither have I."
Draco looked at Blaise and despite all the hurt in his heart and bitterness toward that day felt a small rekindling with his brother-in-arms. "Wasn't worth it, was it?" He said sadly.
Now it was Blaise's turn to shake his head. "Not to feel again."
Theo heaved a huge sigh. "I hope you two find it one day," he smiled and stirred the stew.
Cedric rolled his eyes. "We know, we know, Theo. ‘It's sooo worth it.'" The men laughed. "Pitiful romantic."
Theo grinned. "Hey, look, just because I got the most beautiful lady of the court."
"No, Theo, that's your mother." Blaise interrupted.
Theo tossed a handful of dirt in Blaise's direction. Cedric laughed and Draco smiled as the two men turned into teenagers, throwing dirt and chasing each other around the campfire.
Draco leaned back against his log and interlocked his hands behind his head. He lifted his eyes and stared at the last bit of light before the red and setting sun went down. His thoughts returned once again to the couple of moments in the clearing. Closing his eyes, he remembered everything he could about her. He tried to smother it, but that old, familiar feeling slowly trickled its way into his chest. He opened his eyes, suddenly misty from realizing that he was capable of feeling that emotion again. The first stars twinkled in the sky and he counted them. Across his sight, he thought he saw a red bird fly throughout the sky.
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Hermione could hear Harry and Ron before she saw them. Not caring what their argument was about this time, she pushed the last branch out of the way and stepped into the section of woods where the quail fell. She stood completely still, embarrassed and somewhat in a state of shock. It didn't occur to her that Harry and Ron had stopped arguing until she heard Ron talking to her.
"Hermione!"
She blinked and finally focused her eyes on her surroundings. The dusk of the night was casting greater shadows and she was silently grateful since those shadows hid the blush she knew she still had on her cheeks. Harry had a worried expression on his face and Ron just looked annoyed.
"What?" she whispered.
Annoyance passed off Ron's face and he took a step toward her in concern. "I called your name three times before you looked up. Are you okay?"
Hermione blinked again, several bats this time. "I…"
Harry no longer held back but rather practically ran to her and touched her on the arm. "Tell me no one hurt you."
Hermione looked at him like his hair had turned blue. "What are you talking about?"
Ron exploded. "Merlin's beard, Hermione! WHAT is going on?!"
Hermione looked back and forth between Ron and Harry. Harry, with worry etched into his scarred forehead and Ron with enough red in his face to rival his hair. It had honestly never occurred to her that she would be telling anyone about what had happened. And she found herself wishing she'd brought someone else with her to hunt today. Anyone but these two, the two friends who automatically knew when something was wrong and that she had a secret to share. Anyone else never would've been the wiser. She supposed that was what happened when you grew up with people. Try though she may, she never could get anything past these two.
So she tried changing the subject.
"It's almost nightfall," she bristled and adopted her royal role. "Let's head back to Hogwarts." She took steps away from them and reached down to gather her bag that the two men had been watching. She turned and started tromping through the forest in the direction of the castle, going only about twenty feet before she realized that they weren't following. She closed her eyes, hung her head and let out a long sigh. She turned back, entered the clearing where the men stood, dropped her bag and said, "Alright!"
No one, save her facial expressions, moved as she told the story. Never one to leave out any explanation, no matter how ashamed she was, she described the lighting, the kiss in its entirety and even the way his hair felt. Her voice shook a little when she said the words he'd said: "I'll find you."
She finally looked at Harry and Ron. Ron looked completely baffled, but Harry's expression confused her. He almost looked…amused.
Ron started. "But...but what about-"
"Shut it, Ron," Harry interrupted.
"But Harry, she's supposed to-"
"When have you ever cared about rules, Ron?" Harry turned to Ron with a look of exasperation on his face.
"It's not my rule, Harry!" Ron started yelling. "This…this just…no. Hermione, no. After this, we never mention it again."
Hermione felt tears prick her eyes. She was genuinely surprised and hurt at Ron's reaction, hoping that both her friends would understand. Harry reached up and smacked Ron in the head. Ron whirled on him, but Harry grabbed Ron by the elbow and pulled him to the other side of the clearing, talking urgently to him in a hushed and obviously angry voice. Hermione watched in absolute confusion until the boys walked back and stopped in front of her, Harry looking satisfied and Ron looking sheepish. Harry opened his mouth to speak.
"Wait." Hermione stopped him. She turned to Ron. "Ron, whatever feelings about all of this aside, I know why you're angry. I knew it would never leave the three of us and that's why I thought it safe to tell you. I know how important this is to you since your parents arranged this match." Ron looked down at his feet and she could see he was embarrassed of his reaction. "But you're right to be angry. I never thought…I never would've normally…" She found it hard to get the words out, thinking of the clarity she'd felt when she was face to face with the stranger from the cliff.
"It's okay, Hermione," Ron whispered.
Harry walked up to her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It won't leave the three of us, but I want you to know something." He stopped long enough for Hermione to raise her head and look into his eyes. "Your heart is free until tomorrow."
She chuckled as the embarrassment left her body and a small tear rolled down her cheeks. "I suppose it's not worth mentioning again, though, is it? One whirlwind kiss is fleeting considering what's going to happen."
Harry furrowed his brow and Hermione thought he was going to argue, but he seemed to think better of it and simply said, "At least you got one whirlwind out of all of this."
"Besides," Ron said. "If our Hermione is actually breaking a rule, even for a moment, I can now go into battle and die happily."
"Ron!" Hermione laughed and walked up to him to give him a hug.
He hugged her back, finally pulling away and jokingly said, "'Course, I still will never forgive your uncle or my father for not setting you up with me."
Hermione laughed out loud and heard Harry interject. "I was in the second slot, Ron."
"You wish, Potter."
Hermione picked up her bag and bow. "I hope you two are very happy together." She gave them a wink and started walking toward the castle, smiling at the sputtering and arguments coming from her two friends as they walked after her.
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~ Chapter 1 ~
~ Chapter 3 ~
Author: jadestrick
Original Couple/Prompt: Lancelot & Guinevere
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the universe of Harry Potter. JK Rowling owns all that. I do this purely for enjoyment with no profit expected. Life is so unfair.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Sexual implications
Summary: When your heart feels true love for the first time, can you go against the world and everything you believe in?
Notes: Written for dramione_remix. Story begins here in the comm. Beautiful banner made by ningloreth.
I had FUN with this. Oh, it was stressful, especially since I NEVER write long fic. (I'm a drabble queen.) But this was FUN. And I already have oneshots for bits of the story rambling through my head. :) GARGANTUAN thank yous to caitriona_3 for being my beta and to rightxhere for being my cheerleader. I couldn't have done this without them. And thank you, of course, to the mods of dramione_remix for this wonderful idea! And thank you for reading the inner dark workings of my mind. :)
Additional Notes: Hermione's uncle is up to your imagination. :)
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Passion & Duty ~ Chapter 2
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As she ran, her brain came out of the lustful fog and what she had done became clear and more real. Stopping suddenly by a small stream, she tried to catch her breath and her eyes darted back and forth. She finally closed her eyes and replayed the kisses in her mind. How he looked, how he felt, the groan that escaped from his throat when she finally pulled him to her.
Her uncle's voice suddenly rang throughout her head, reminding her that she did not dwell on dreams, but rather remained cool and logical, and that would make her a great queen one day. Her eyes opened as she realized that the last five minutes had been something that couldn't be, something that never should have happened. Though her lips prickled from the stranger's touch, her brain won over this time. Her walls built again and she flushed in embarrassment and disappointment.
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Listening to the sounds of her fading footsteps, Draco ran a hand through his hair and tried to reorganize his brain. She was just…perfect. The way she had glared at him made him want to taunt her. The way she'd so keenly matched his humor made him want to be closer to her. The way she hadn't run away but boldly stood her ground when he approached made him want more. Much more.
When she'd kissed him back the first time, he had to pull away in surprise. He'd studied her face and saw confusion and conflict, but not fear. She didn't cringe at his touch the way other women had, the way Severus had told him they would. And when she lifted her face closer to his for more, he couldn't help himself. He poured everything he had into that kiss, a kiss with someone whom he'd completely forgotten to ask her name.
He crouched into a squatting position, his knees suddenly shaky and his hands trembling from the influence she'd had over him all of a sudden. He wasn't like this. He was better than some romantic fool to be overpowered by a kiss. Yet when he closed his eyes and remembered the way her skin and lips had felt, his whole body ached for more of her.
"Draco!" Theo suddenly called from the forest.
"Come out, come out!" Blaise laughed.
Draco took a deep sigh to compose himself and stood, turning to face the two men coming out from the forest. Theo looked worried, his tall and lean frame casting a shadow on Blaise, who was smirking at Draco's annoyed look.
"Couldn't do it, huh?" Blaise sneered.
Draco rolled his eyes and walked between the two, making his way back down the hill and toward their camp. "Apparently, it's a sacred place," he said.
Theo snorted. "Was that written on the side of the cliff?"
"Not exactly."
"Oh stop it, Theo," Blaise added. "I told Cedric he should've sent me."
Draco whirled around so fast that Blaise almost fell back and had to grab a tree to steady himself. "You may make light of where we are and what we're doing, Blaise," he growled. "But this is what we've been called to do and unlike you, I keep my promises."
"Draco, relax," Theo interrupted. "And Blaise? Stop being an ass." He walked past Draco and continued on their way. "We're all here for the same reason, Draco. Even though Blaise is an idiot, he understands honor."
Draco cast a withering look at Blaise, which made Blaise snap. "For the last time, that…wasn't…my…fault," he snarled through gritted teeth.
"No, it wasn't," said a voice from lower down the hill. The three turned to see Cedric standing there with his arms crossed. "I thought I chose three warriors, not three children."
The men bowed their heads slightly, suddenly ashamed of their loud argument. Cedric walked up to them. "All past actions aside, I chose the three of you because I know you to be loyal and cunning and worthy of protecting me. Did I choose wrong?"
"No, your Majesty," Theo responded for all three of them.
Cedric looked at each of them carefully and seemed to relax. "I know we're all tired and ready for this journey to be over. Tomorrow, it will be. Try to hold it together." His smile was infectious and the men's shoulders lost their tension. Cedric clapped a hand on Draco's shoulder in friendship. "Theo, take those rabbits and make us some dinner. And Blaise, the horses need water. Draco, I need a word with you."
Theo and Blaise nodded their heads, turning to fulfill their duties. Cedric turned to Draco and led them both away from the other men. "I thought you told me you were over this."
Draco sighed. "I'm trying, Cedric."
Cedric looked worried. "You spent the whole summer with Severus before this trip. Did he cast more doubts in your mind?"
Draco tensed at the sound of his former guardian.
Cedric sighed and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "This rift between you and Blaise is too large, Draco. And you need to see the situation from all angles. I have, and so should you. It wasn't his fault. All of us lost the day of the siege. Blaise more than any of us." Cedric patted him on the shoulder. "You three are all that is left of the Knights, all whom remain of the best protectors of the Royal Family. Forgive Blaise, forgive all of it, and remember that you and he and Theo have your duty and honor to uphold." He smiled. "For what it's worth, I count the three of you as my brothers. And never have any of you made me think otherwise."
Draco looked down to hide his pride. "Forgive me, my lord," he whispered.
"Forgive yourself. It's not really Blaise you're angry with."
Draco looked into Cedric's face and felt his chest swell with pride and esteem for the young king. He smiled. "Never have I known a better king, my lord."
Cedric grinned and leaning in, whispered, "You probably won't again."
They chuckled and Cedric squeezed Draco's shoulder and dropped his hand, turning to back to the fire where the other two men sat on logs, tending the rabbit stew. "Now," he said, rubbing his hands together in earnest and sitting on a log. "Where's my bird?"
"Erm…" Draco looked at Cedric uncomfortably.
Cedric's eyebrows rose. "I've never known a challenge you couldn't overcome."
Draco lifted his eyes to the sky in search of the best possible explanation. "You would've considered her a challenge as well, Cedric."
"The bird?"
"The girl."
Cedric's eyebrows rose even higher. Blaise laughed and Theo said, "I think I'm going to like this story."
Draco recounted the details of the clearing, subtly leaving out the smell of her hair and the softness of her skin. Embarrassed, he peeked up to see all three of the men grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, well, well," Theo remarked.
"Played that well, didn't you?" Cedric said.
"I don't think he played at all," Blaise suddenly said softly.
Draco looked at Blaise and saw an understanding on his face. Even without adding the finer details, Blaise just…knew. He found it humorous, as he knew his comrades would, but he knew there was more to the story than Draco had let on.
Cedric and Theo looked between Draco and Blaise. "Explain?" Cedric said.
Blaise leaned back and rested his head on a tree, crossing his arms and looking at Draco with his eyebrows raised. Draco nodded his permission.
"Well, you have to remember that Draco and I have always been brothers. Grew up together, fought together, killed together." At this, Draco lowered his head but Blaise pressed on, his outer shell as hard as the day of the siege. "I know to everyone else, the ‘Dragon' loved and made people lose." Blaise smiled at the nickname and Draco rolled his eyes at how untruthful it was. "All the ladies of the court wanted you, all the knights wanted to be you." Blaise turned to Theo and Cedric. "But the only time Draco ever loved a woman in his life was the day he was born. Never once has he fallen in love beyond that."
Cedric turned to Draco. "I thought I knew everything about you, Draco."
Draco smiled. "I'm not that much of an open book, Cedric."
"So, never once, despite all the rumors, did you fall in love with one of the queen's ladies?" Theo asked.
Draco shook his head.
"If it makes you feel better, Draco," Blaise remarked. "Neither have I."
Draco looked at Blaise and despite all the hurt in his heart and bitterness toward that day felt a small rekindling with his brother-in-arms. "Wasn't worth it, was it?" He said sadly.
Now it was Blaise's turn to shake his head. "Not to feel again."
Theo heaved a huge sigh. "I hope you two find it one day," he smiled and stirred the stew.
Cedric rolled his eyes. "We know, we know, Theo. ‘It's sooo worth it.'" The men laughed. "Pitiful romantic."
Theo grinned. "Hey, look, just because I got the most beautiful lady of the court."
"No, Theo, that's your mother." Blaise interrupted.
Theo tossed a handful of dirt in Blaise's direction. Cedric laughed and Draco smiled as the two men turned into teenagers, throwing dirt and chasing each other around the campfire.
Draco leaned back against his log and interlocked his hands behind his head. He lifted his eyes and stared at the last bit of light before the red and setting sun went down. His thoughts returned once again to the couple of moments in the clearing. Closing his eyes, he remembered everything he could about her. He tried to smother it, but that old, familiar feeling slowly trickled its way into his chest. He opened his eyes, suddenly misty from realizing that he was capable of feeling that emotion again. The first stars twinkled in the sky and he counted them. Across his sight, he thought he saw a red bird fly throughout the sky.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione could hear Harry and Ron before she saw them. Not caring what their argument was about this time, she pushed the last branch out of the way and stepped into the section of woods where the quail fell. She stood completely still, embarrassed and somewhat in a state of shock. It didn't occur to her that Harry and Ron had stopped arguing until she heard Ron talking to her.
"Hermione!"
She blinked and finally focused her eyes on her surroundings. The dusk of the night was casting greater shadows and she was silently grateful since those shadows hid the blush she knew she still had on her cheeks. Harry had a worried expression on his face and Ron just looked annoyed.
"What?" she whispered.
Annoyance passed off Ron's face and he took a step toward her in concern. "I called your name three times before you looked up. Are you okay?"
Hermione blinked again, several bats this time. "I…"
Harry no longer held back but rather practically ran to her and touched her on the arm. "Tell me no one hurt you."
Hermione looked at him like his hair had turned blue. "What are you talking about?"
Ron exploded. "Merlin's beard, Hermione! WHAT is going on?!"
Hermione looked back and forth between Ron and Harry. Harry, with worry etched into his scarred forehead and Ron with enough red in his face to rival his hair. It had honestly never occurred to her that she would be telling anyone about what had happened. And she found herself wishing she'd brought someone else with her to hunt today. Anyone but these two, the two friends who automatically knew when something was wrong and that she had a secret to share. Anyone else never would've been the wiser. She supposed that was what happened when you grew up with people. Try though she may, she never could get anything past these two.
So she tried changing the subject.
"It's almost nightfall," she bristled and adopted her royal role. "Let's head back to Hogwarts." She took steps away from them and reached down to gather her bag that the two men had been watching. She turned and started tromping through the forest in the direction of the castle, going only about twenty feet before she realized that they weren't following. She closed her eyes, hung her head and let out a long sigh. She turned back, entered the clearing where the men stood, dropped her bag and said, "Alright!"
No one, save her facial expressions, moved as she told the story. Never one to leave out any explanation, no matter how ashamed she was, she described the lighting, the kiss in its entirety and even the way his hair felt. Her voice shook a little when she said the words he'd said: "I'll find you."
She finally looked at Harry and Ron. Ron looked completely baffled, but Harry's expression confused her. He almost looked…amused.
Ron started. "But...but what about-"
"Shut it, Ron," Harry interrupted.
"But Harry, she's supposed to-"
"When have you ever cared about rules, Ron?" Harry turned to Ron with a look of exasperation on his face.
"It's not my rule, Harry!" Ron started yelling. "This…this just…no. Hermione, no. After this, we never mention it again."
Hermione felt tears prick her eyes. She was genuinely surprised and hurt at Ron's reaction, hoping that both her friends would understand. Harry reached up and smacked Ron in the head. Ron whirled on him, but Harry grabbed Ron by the elbow and pulled him to the other side of the clearing, talking urgently to him in a hushed and obviously angry voice. Hermione watched in absolute confusion until the boys walked back and stopped in front of her, Harry looking satisfied and Ron looking sheepish. Harry opened his mouth to speak.
"Wait." Hermione stopped him. She turned to Ron. "Ron, whatever feelings about all of this aside, I know why you're angry. I knew it would never leave the three of us and that's why I thought it safe to tell you. I know how important this is to you since your parents arranged this match." Ron looked down at his feet and she could see he was embarrassed of his reaction. "But you're right to be angry. I never thought…I never would've normally…" She found it hard to get the words out, thinking of the clarity she'd felt when she was face to face with the stranger from the cliff.
"It's okay, Hermione," Ron whispered.
Harry walked up to her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It won't leave the three of us, but I want you to know something." He stopped long enough for Hermione to raise her head and look into his eyes. "Your heart is free until tomorrow."
She chuckled as the embarrassment left her body and a small tear rolled down her cheeks. "I suppose it's not worth mentioning again, though, is it? One whirlwind kiss is fleeting considering what's going to happen."
Harry furrowed his brow and Hermione thought he was going to argue, but he seemed to think better of it and simply said, "At least you got one whirlwind out of all of this."
"Besides," Ron said. "If our Hermione is actually breaking a rule, even for a moment, I can now go into battle and die happily."
"Ron!" Hermione laughed and walked up to him to give him a hug.
He hugged her back, finally pulling away and jokingly said, "'Course, I still will never forgive your uncle or my father for not setting you up with me."
Hermione laughed out loud and heard Harry interject. "I was in the second slot, Ron."
"You wish, Potter."
Hermione picked up her bag and bow. "I hope you two are very happy together." She gave them a wink and started walking toward the castle, smiling at the sputtering and arguments coming from her two friends as they walked after her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~ Chapter 1 ~
~ Chapter 3 ~