The Amonrae Spell

Chapter 23: My Love

"What are you doing here? This isn't one of your regular whereabouts, or is it now?" Harry asked.

"Yeah well, tell that to Crookshanks." Hermione gave him a thin smile.

"The things you do for that cat 'Mione," he laughed. "I can walk you back to your room if you want."

"No, that's not necessary," Hermione replied, although she really wanted him to walk her, and maybe do more than that.

"All right. Good night," Harry finished and started to walk away. "Hedwig!" he called

his owl. She stepped on his shoulder and bit a chocolate chip cookie that her owner had gotten out of his pocket just for her.

"Harry wait!" Hermione pleaded, not being able to stop herself. She still felt guilty over the events that had taken place lately. He looked at her, waiting for what she had to say. "About this afternoon... "

"Don't worry Hermione. I know you wanted to teach Ron a lesson and used me to do it. So, no need to explain, and yeah, it's forgotten. Yes, we can keep being friends. Good night."

"It wasn't like that! I really wanted to...." She lowered her head at the sight of Harry's puzzled face. "I really wanted to kiss you."

"What?"

"You heard. And while we're at this, it's about time you know what really happened with the spell," she whispered, afraid to look at those emerald eyes which he hadn't taken off her.

"I know. It was just for fun. You were making it up, I..."

"It wasn't like that. I mean; it may have started that way; but it ended differently."

"What exactly do you mean?" Harry asked anxiously. Even though he thought he knew what she meant, he needed to hear it nevertheless.

"What do you think I mean!" Hermione almost shrieked. Nobody could possibly be that clueless.

"You mean last night..."

"That wasn't a pretend Harry. I... really wanted you. I tried to tell you, but you didn't let me and I..."

She couldn't continue, for he advanced towards her and claimed her lips in a breathtaking kiss while caressing her face with his left hand. She responded to his kiss instantly, opening her mouth in his. It seemed they both had craved it for a long time.

Harry tore his mouth away and looked at her. Hermione had already placed her arms around his neck and was looking at him with shining questioning eyes. He smiled, stroking her bushy hair.

"I wanted you too. Christ 'Mione, you don't know for how long I have loved you; for how long I have wanted this. I didn't want to admit it because I was afraid that I would end up losing you and Ron; but after last night, I just couldn't deny my feelings anymore."

"Really? You mean, what you said on the table..." Harry could've sworn Hermione's eyes brightened even more, if that was possible at this point.

"No, I really am not sorry."

"But Harry, why didn't you tell me in the first place?" Hermione asked. It would have saved them a lot of trouble. Wait a minute! Did that mean she had special feelings for him prior to the Amonrae Spell? Apparently.

"I was afraid of how you'd react. I didn't want to lose you 'Mione. Being just your friend is better than not to have you at all."

"You would never lose me Harry. I will always be your friend."

"Yes, that's good to know; but right now I would like you to be more than that," he grinned maliciously.

"Harry James Potter!" She hit him playfully.

He took her by her waist and kissed her intensively. She responded to his intensity as he lifted her into his arms.

"Harry?"

"Mm?"

"Why me?"

" What do you mean 'why me'?" there was puzzlement on his words again.

"You could have any girl..."

"Mm, I don't think so. Besides, I already have the one I want," he grinned at her once more.

"And it took you seven years just to realize that? We've always been together..."

"Yeah, you've always been there. Guess it took long to realize that I always want you with me. I don't know... you're different. You always know what to do, how to solve every problem, the answer to everything; not to mention I just love how your bushy hair..."

"Stop!" She blushed in his arms.

"What? It's the truth. What makes you different makes you beautiful to me."

You don't run with the crowd

You go your own way

You don't play after dark

You light up my day

Got your own kind of style

That sets you apart

Baby, that's why you captured my heart,

I know sometimes you feel like you don't fit in

And this world doesn't know what you have within

When I look at you, I see something rare

A rose that can grow anywhere

And there's no one I know that can compare

What makes you different

Makes you beautiful

What's there inside you

Shines through to me

In your eyes, I see

All the love I'll ever need

You're all I need, oh girl

What makes you different

Makes you beautiful to me

Hey, yeah yeah yeah

You got something so real

You touched me so deep

See, material things

Don't matter to me

So come as you are

You've got nothing to prove

You won me with all that you do

And I wanna take this chance to say to you

What makes you different

Makes you beautiful

What's there inside you

Shines through to me

In your eyes I see

All the love I'll ever need

You're all I need, oh girl

What makes you different, makes you beautiful

You don't know how you touched my life

Oh, in so many ways I just can't describe
you taught me what love is supposed to be

You saw the little things that make you beautiful to me

Oh yeah, yeah

What makes you different

Makes you beautiful

What's there inside you

Shines through to me

In your eyes I see

All the love I'll ever need

You're all I need, oh girl

What makes you different

Makes you beautiful to me

"I love you." He kissed her forehead as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Within seconds, they had disappeared into the darkness of the Astronomy Tower. Hermione laughed. That spell hadn't been so bad after all.

THE END