Dreaming of Love

***

"Harry! Harry!" Hermione shouted from her compartment on the Hogwarts Express.

"Hermione? I was looking for you! Where were you?" Harry beamed at Hermione and felt like he had butterflies in his stomach.

"I had to come later and I wasn't able to make it to the Burrow this year...but can you believe this is our LAST year at Hogwarts?"

"No," Harry grunted.

"Harry? What's wrong? Harry?" Hermione said with a look of concern.

"Nothing Hermione . . . . It's nothing." Just then, Ron and Ginny appeared, panting loudly.

"Mum . . . just . . . would . . . not . . . shut . . . the . . . bloody . . . hell . . . up!" Ron managed to say. "And . . . we . . . almost . . . missed . . . the . . . train! Harry? What's . . . wrong . . . ?"

"I said it's nothing! Will you just get off it?" Harry moaned and plopped down in his seat. He crossed his arms and stared out the window. Ron and Ginny glanced at Hermione and sat down.

Harry reminisced about the past summer, sitting in his room at number four, Privet Drive, anxiously waiting for any sign of letters form his friends.

He thought about his friends, how funny they were, how easy-going they were, how beautiful she was . . . what? Harry thought. Ron isn't beautiful . . . Hermione. Harry pictured Hermione in his mind, her brown eyes sparkling from the glare from the lake. Her curly light brown hair lay magnificently on her shoulders and a book lay on her knees. Her shoes and socks were off and her exposed feet dipping into the cold, refreshing lake. Her voice boomed in his head reminding him to do his homework. He knew this annoyed him, but in some odd way, he loved hearing it. He loved her voice. He loved her. What? I love her, Harry thought.

Harry looked at Hermione, who was chatting with Ginny. She is beautiful, Harry thought. She has always been a great friend and so fun to be around. By no means . . . but wait . . . I do remember that a fluttery feeling when I get close to her. She is also so accomplished. How could I have been so stupid? Hermione is all I would ever have wanted. No girl that I have been fond of before made me feel so content. She is so perfect.

The train puffed out of the station and once it was going full speed the compartment door slid open.

"Hermione! Ron! Harry! Ginny! How were your summers?" asked Neville Longbottom, a round-faced and plump boy who was also a fellow Gryffindor.

"Oh, hello Neville," Hermione said.

"Hi Neville," Ron stated.

"Hi ya Neville," Ginny said.

"Heblo Nebille," Harry muttered so quietly nobody understood him.

"Pardon, Harry?" Neville questioned.

"HELLO NEVILLE!" Harry shouted loudly so Hermione had to cover her ears.

"Oh. Yes. Hi," Neville said, cleaning out his ear. "May I sit here?" Neville asked.

"Certainly Neville," Hermione clearly stated.

A few minutes past...

"Oh Harry! Come ON! What is the deal?" Ron blurted out.

"You want to know what the deal is, Ron? This is my last year at Hogwarts. Hogwarts has grown to be a such a great part of me, and now it's about over. I don't know how I will survive with no more Hogwarts. It's going to be horrible!" Harry sighed and stared back out the window. He glanced over at Hermione, who was reading Where There's A Wand, There's A Way. Her hair lay splendidly over her shoulders and her chocolaty eyes sparkled from the sun. Wow she is beautiful, Harry thought as he slowly dozed off.

"Hello, Harry," a voice whispered in the background.

"Who . . . Hermione?" Harry said quietly.

"Yes . . . . Come here for a second, Harry," Hermione said lusciously.

"Harry? Harry!" Ron said while tapping Harry's shoulder.

"What is it, Ron?" Harry said sleepily.

"Uh . . . well" Ron said and pointed out at the train's corridor.

"Well wittle Potty has to take a nap so he's all wested for schwool," said a cold voice.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Ron angrily added.

"Oh and what Weasel, are you gonna throw a Galleon at me? Or wait! You don't even have a Galleon!" Malfoy scoffed.

"Leave us alone, Malfoy!" Hermione said and flicked her wand at the compartment door while saying colloportus, which prompted the glass door to slide shut on Malfoy's fingers. A loud yelp could be heard as Malfoy and his gang shot a dirty look towards Hermione and walked down the corridor.

Why? Why would I have that dream?

"Thanks, Hermione," Neville admired. The sound of Hermione's name made Harry flinch. He shifted in his seat, rested his head against the window, and nodded off for a second time.

"Hello, Harry," a voice whispered in the background.

"Who . . . Hermione?" Harry said quietly.

"Yes . . . . Come here for a second, Harry," Hermione said lusciously.

"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione put her hands around Harry's hips and pressed her lips against his.

"Hermione . . . I've . . . never . . . see . . . you . . . like . . . this . . . ." Harry managed to squeeze in.

"Well now you have, Harry Potter. . . ." Hermione said sexily and-

"Harry?" Neville woke him up.

"What is it now?" Harry said irritably, wanting more of the dream. . . . He liked this dream. . . . He liked the way it made him feel.

"The food trolley is here. Would you like something?" Ron asked.

Harry slipped his hand into his pocket and rummaged around for a few Sickles. He handed them to the plump woman pushing the cart. Harry grabbed a few items off the cart and plunked down his seat yet again. Harry unwrapped a chocolate frog. He popped it into his mouth and glimpsed at Hermione. She was still reading her book, but she must have felt Harry staring at her because she peered over the top of her book. She gave a small, sexy grin and then went back to her book. Harry's eyes bulged and he grew excited. Harry smiled and drifted off yet again.

"Hello, Harry," a voice whispered in the background.

"Who . . . Hermione?" Harry said quietly.

"Yes. . . . Come here for a second, Harry," Hermione said lusciously.

"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione put her hands around Harry's hips and pressed her lips against his.

"Hermione . . . I've . . . never . . . see . . . you . . . like . . . this. . . ." Harry managed to squeeze in.

"Well now you have Harry Potter . . . ." Hermione said sexily and squashed Harry against the wall, pressing her lips all over his. Harry pushed her away and shoved her against the wall; now it was his turn to kiss her. It was all Harry wanted. Harry wanted Hermione . . . .

***

Harry shook awake by himself. He blinked widely and glanced around the compartment. Everybody seemed to be asleep except for Hermione who was still reading.

"Oh, Harry, you are awake. Do you feel any better?" Hermione smiled.

"Oh yeah, sure," Harry said groggily. "Hey Hermione . . . do you want to take a walk down the corridor with me?"

"Sure," Hermione replied contentedly. She took her bookmark and stuck it in her book, then stood up and fixed her skirt. "Shall we go then?"

Harry slid the compartment door open and stepped out. Hermione followed. They walked in complete silence until they reached the end of the corridor.

"Hermione, there is something I must tell you before it is too late," Harry whispered.

"I must tell you something also," Hermione said quietly.

"You first," Harry stated.

"No, you first," Hermione said.

"Fine, we will say it at the same time. . . . Ready . . . one . . . two . . . three."

"I am in love with you," they both declared in unison. Both appeared equally surprised.

"You are?" Hermione said.

"Yes . . . you are too? I mean, in love with me?" Harry said.

"Yes . . . I am" Hermione beamed, apparently very pleased.

Harry and Hermione inched closer and closer to each other. Harry peered down the corridor, making sure nobody could see them. Hermione closed her eyes and so did Harry. There heads got closer and closer together until finally their lips met. This is bliss, Harry thought, hoping Hermione thought the same thing.

It was all Harry wanted. Harry wanted Hermione . . . .

Harry let his tongue slip in and Hermione did the same. Harry loved this. Hermione stopped and suddenly started sniffling.

"Hermione? What is it?"

"It's nothing Harry, it's just that . . . this is almost all I ever wanted from a boy, especially from you, and I had to wait until now. Ever since our first year together, you have always been my crush. Why did I wait? I have no idea . . . . I saw you when you fancied Cho. You don't know how jealous I was."

"But Hermione, that never worked out - with Cho, I mean. I'm fond of you . . . and I'm not just that Hermione. I'm in love with you. You are so easy to talk to and so fun to be around. Plus, you are so astoundingly beautiful, Hermione. I love you, Hermione Granger."

Hermione hiccupped and just fell into Harry's arms.

"I am in love with you, Harry Potter."

Hermione pressed her lips against Harry's and Harry kissed back. Harry had never been in love, but he liked how it felt.

***

It was all Harry wanted. Harry wanted Hermione . . . and now he finally had her.