Crush

Crush

Hermione had had a crush on Harry ever since she first met him on the Hogwarts Express their first year. She had barely managed to keep it under control. She started by making friends after the troll incident that year. Then she would help Harry with his homework and gave him support about his battles with Voldemort, even though she was frightened. After Voldemort was defeated (sorta) during their fifth year, he was on Witch Weekly's Top 10 Bachelors List every time as number one. Hermione was finding it harder and harder to tell Harry how she felt now, because he was always surrounded by giggling groups of girls in the halls and classes.

You know everything I'm afraid of

Everybody wants you

Everybody loves you

She knew she should tell him before the Yule Ball, which was in two months, but could never gather up the courage to tell him how she felt. Now, every time she saw him, her face turned red, and she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She would imagine dancing with him at the Yule Ball, oblivious to everyone around them.

I know I should tell you how I feel

I'm too shy to say

I got a crush on you

When she would sit next to him in the Common Room, when they did their homework, her heart would start pounding, and her legs would start to twitch. She controlled it so that no one noticed, but just barely. She always wondered how Harry felt about her. She knew how Ron felt about her; he liked her more than just a friend. She liked Ron, but not in that way. She'd told him, but she couldn't tell him about her feelings for Harry.

I hope you fell the way that I do

I get a rush when I'm with you

I got a crush on you

With the exception of how she felt, Hermione could tell Harry anything. She told him about Ron, though he already knew. She told him about her worries for finals every year, and he always told her that she would pass because she studied so much. He was the one she told her nightmares to, and he would put a friendly arm around her shoulder and tell her it was only a dream. whenever he did this, she wanted to turn and throw her arms around him in return.

You're the one I can talk to

I just wanna hold you

In return, Harry would tell Hermione about his fears. he would tell her of his nightmares of the inside of the Room of Death in the Department of Mysteries, and also of the recurring nightmares where Voldemort murdered his parents, even though Voldemort had disappeared. He would tell her about the way he hated the crowds of girls always following him around. He told her of his feelings for Cho, how she was one of the few girls who didn't follow him, but how he wasn't sure why and if he wanted her to. Whenever he talked of Cho, Hermione wondered if Harry noticed that she didn't follow him or if he even wanted her to. She never really enjoyed it when he talked to her about Cho, but felt closer to him nonetheless whenever he came to her.

You know I'm the one you can talk to

You sometimes tell me things I don't wanna know

You say exactly how you feel about her

I wonder, could you ever think of me that way

She wished she could tell someone of her feelings for Harry, but who could she tell? She couldn't tell Ron; he'd tell Harry. She couldn't tell any of her friends' they all had crushes on Harry, and they already considered each other as competition. So, she kept her feelings a secret, although it was incredibly hard.

I wish I could tell somebody

But there's no one to talk to

Nobody knows I've got a crush on you

I'm too shy to say I've got a crush on you

Hermione knew from her talks with Harry that he was afraid to fell anything for any girl. He was afraid they wouldn't like him back. Whenever Hermione would ask him who he liked, he would turn a bright red that rivaled Ron's ears and change the subject. Hermione was scared to feel love, too, but she felt she must feel it anyway. She knew that she would always love Harry, even if she did tell him and he didn't love her in return.

I hope you feel the way I do

I've got a crush on you

I feel everything you're afraid to feel

I will always want you

I will always love you

*One month before the Yule Ball*

Hermione decided she would tell Harry how she felt tonight after she finished her homework.

*Gryffindor Common Room-10:00*

Finally finished with her Arithmancy homework, Hermione closed her book and turned to face Harry, who was making up predictions for Divination.

"Harry, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."

Harry turned to her and said, "There's something I've been wanting to ask you too, 'Mione."

"You go first, Harry."

" 'k' "

Hermione held her breath, daring to hope.

I've got a crush on you

I hope you feel the way I do

I get a rush when I'm with you

I've got a crush on you

" 'Mione, you're my best friend, and it feels like I've known you forever. I can talk to you about anything, so will you be my date for the Yule Ball?"

This was the moment Hermione had been waiting for. She wanted to yell with joy and kiss Harry. Instead, she started to cry and ran up the stairs to the girls dormitory. Behind her, Harry got up from his seat, started to go after her, decided against it, sat back down, turned to Ron, who had come over after Hermione left, and asked, "What did I do wrong?" He decided to give 'Mione some time to cool off before he went up to talk to her.

*Gryffindor Girls Dormitory*

Up in her room, Hermione put her head down and chided herself on her behavior. The moment she'd been dreaming about, and what did she do? She'd burst into tears and ran away. She was so upset with herself, she didn't hear the three knocks on her door and the 'I'm coming in 'Mione.' She was so mad, she threw her pillow at the door just as it opened and Harry came in.

"Is this a bad time? Should I come back when you've got nothing left to throw?" he joked.

Hermione wiped her eyes and gestured to the bed. "No, its okay; sit down."

Harry asked, " 'Mione, did I say anything wrong downstairs?"

"No, its not you. Well, actually, it is. its got to do with what I wanted to tell you."

"Well, tell me. Go on."

Hermione took a deep breath. This was gonna be hard. "Harry, ever since I met you, I've had a crush on you. I dream about you. You're all I think about!"

" 'Mione, why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

"You talked about Cho and how you had a crush on her, and I felt you could never think of me that way."

"Oh." Harry was silent for a moment. "I think that the only reason I told you that was because I didn't want you to know how I really felt about you."

"You think?" Hermione questioned.

"I know." Harry assured her.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione turned to Harry and threw her arms around him.

"Does this mean you'll be my date for the Yule Ball?"

"Of course you silly git! I love you!" She turned to kiss him on the cheek, but he suddenly turned his head to say something, so she ended up kissing him full on the mouth. She opened her mouth to take a breath, and ended up with his tongue in her mouth and her tongue in his. She was blissfully away of all the places their bodies were touching, the hot, sweet taste in here mouth, and the heat and speed her blood was coursing through her body. She never wanted this moment to end. When the kiss finally did end, Hermione sighed and laid her head down on Harry's shoulder. Harry began to sing. His voice was a perfect tenor, and the song was sad, yet beautiful and encouraging at the same time. She sat up and asked, "What song is that? It's beautiful!"

Harry replied, "I think it's the lullaby my mother sang to me when she was still alive. I only remember a sweet voice singing to me. It must have been my mother; Aunt Petunia has a horrible voice."

"Can you teach me the words? I think it's got a beautiful tune."

"Sure," and Harry sang it again slowly

If only, If only

the woodpecker sighs

the bark on the tree was as soft as the skies

while the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely

crying to the moon,

if only, if only

If only, if only

the moon gives no reply

reflecting the sun, and all that's gone by

Be strong, my weary wolf, turn around boldly,

Fly high my baby bird,

my love, my only

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Harry,"

" You know what? I've never sang anyone that song or told anyone what it was before. I just feel I can tell you anything, 'Mione."

*Three days before the Yule Ball*

Hermione was rushing about her dormitory yelling, "What am I gonna wear? Ahhhh! What am I gonna doooooooo?!!"

All of a sudden, Lavender and Parvati walked in to witness Hermione running around the room in a frenzied craze.

"I've got nothing to wear! What am I gonna do?" she shrieked. Then she noticed Lav and Parvati. "Oh. Hi?"

"Okay. What's going on?"

"Well, Harry asked me to the Yule Ball, but I don't have anything to wear!"

"Ahhhh! 'Mione! He finally asked you out?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's been pretty obvious the way you two feel about each other. I mean, the looks you give each other in classes and at meals; it's really obvious, 'Mione. I am so happy for you! Both of you finally got it through your thick skulls to tell each other how you feel." Lavender explained.

"Now, about what to wear. What about all your dress robes?"

"None of those look nice enough for a date with Harry!"

"Well, what if we touched this one up a bit?" Parvati suggested, pulling out an iridescent rose pink robe. "We could add some small roses here and here, make the sleeves a little shorter, make the skirt longer, and tuck it in a little."

"Hmm. That would work. Yeah! That sound great! But could we all do it in three days?"

Lav and Parvati were in unison on this one, "Of course we all could!"

"By the way, who are you guys going with?" Hermione asked."

Lavender blushed and said, "Well, I'm going with Ron, and Parvati's going with Dean."

*Five hours before the Yule Ball*

"Oh, 'Mione, it's breathtaking!"

"Do you really think so?" Hermione was in her dress robe, which now looked as Lavender said, 'breathtaking.' 'Mione swirled about and the skirt settled into place.

"It's gorgeous! Now, let's take care of your hair and makeup." Parvati suggested.

"Oh, no. You guys should be getting ready too! Don't waste your time on me!"

"Don't worry! I've done this so much, I could do it in my sleep in about an hour!" Parvati joked. "What about you, Lav?"

"Same here."

"Okay, if you're sure."

"We are."

*Ten minutes before the Yule Ball*

As Hermione descended the stairs to the common room, her eyes searched for Harry. She spotted him in a chair near the fireplace, staring at the fire. She went over to him and tapped hsi shoulder. He jumped and turned around. He whispered, " 'Mione? Is that really you? You look outstanding!"

"And I don't the other days?" she teased, eyes laughing.

"Well, of course you do. It's just that....tonight...."

"I'm teasing!" she laughed.

"Oh." Harry calmed down remarkably. "well, if you're ready, milady." He held out his arm for her to take.

"I am if you are." She took his arm and together they walked out the portrait hole.

*Yule Ball*

"Care to dance?" Harry asked.

"Of course," Hermione replied.

It was a slow song that they danced to. They danced close together, with Hermione's head resting on Harry's shoulder, and Harry's head on top of hers. Once the song ended, they walked through the gardens, which were decorated beautifully. Once they got to the fountain, they sat on the edge and kissed. Hermione began to sing the lullaby. As she got to the end of the second verse, Harry added his voice to hers. They raised their voices to the night, every word as true as they sang them.

"Fly high my baby bird, My love, my only. My love, my only."

Fin