Puzzle to a Frozen Heart

Chapter 9

(A kiss that never happened)

"And then Harry went into shock and lost conscience. I stayed by his side until Dumbledore arrived, which was like five minutes later. Thankfully he was with Fawkes, who cured him. Dumbledore levitated him since he was still unconscious and we got out of the Chamber," Hermione finished retelling the story, looking at Oliver. He was aghast.

"Wow. It's a miracle that Harry survived. Did you have any last words or something?" he asked.

"Actually..." Harry was interrupted by Hermione before he could even begin.

"No, he didn't. You wanted to say something, Potter?" she barked, looking at him menacingly.

"No, nothing at all." he answered, getting up from her desk to make his way to his part of the room.

"Well, I better get going. It's getting late. I'll see you tomorrow 'Mione," Oliver stated, walking to the door.

"Do you have to?" Hermione whined while accompanying him to the exit. They passed Harry's room and made their way to the door.

"It's 8:00 o'clock! I have to get up at five to play Quidditch!" he exclaimed indignantly.

"Oliver, it's summer. You don't have classes at eight."

"Yeah, but still, I love routine. Good night and behave. He's only here to protect you," with this said, he got out. Hermione sighed and turned, only to see Harry coming out of the shower in his boxers.

"Crap. It's going to be a long summer," she cursed

****.

Hermione couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned all night. Finally, at 4:30 a/m, she gave up and reached for her robe. She got out of bed and went straight to the common room. With a wave of her wand, she turned on the mini- stove settled on the common room and it began to boil water. She put the tea bags on the counter and reached into her stack of books. Sinking into the couch, she opened up the book that she hated the most, but had to read nonetheless: 'The Heir of Slytherin: a Legend?'.

Hermione began to read and immediately felt herself relax.

"Reading a book is always the solution", she sighed.

That was, of course, until she heard the door open and saw a head of untidy black hair sticking out of it.

"You want something Potter?" she barked, since he was the reason she couldn't sleep. Finally she had gotten her wish, to see him again, her childhood crush, yet she couldn't stand the mere sight of him.

"Life's full of ironies," she told herself as her eyes caught his emerald concerned ones.

"I'm just worried about you. I noticed your lack of sleep."

"Since when do you worry about me? You certainly didn't when we came out of the Chamber," she spat back.

"Forget about the past. What matters now is that you're my charge now and it's my duty to take care of you."

"Is that all I am to you, your duty?" her mouth formed the words automatically, with a cold, indignant tone, as if they had waited a lifetime to be heard. Not waiting for his answer, she got up from the couch and served herself a cup of tea.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry's puzzlement could be perceived within a ten-mile distance.

"Just forget it. Do your job and leave me alone." Hermione went to her room and closed the door on her Jedi wizard's face.

****

Oliver woke up at 5:00 am to the peculiar sound of his alarm: "Quidditch time! Quidditch time!" He got up lazily and put his Quidditch practice robes on, making his way towards the Quidditch pitch.

As he entered the locker room, he found Harry already there, polishing his Firebolt.

"Good morning Harry," Oliver greeted him, reaching for his own broom.

"I'm glad it is for you," Harry replied in a sarcastically angry tone.

"What's with the mood? It's a perfect day for playing Quidditch!" Oliver argued indignantly as he looked for the trunk that contained the three types of balls needed for said game.

"Have you not noticed that not everything revolves around Quidditch?"

"Ouch. Temper, temper. Care to share?"

"One word: Granger."

"What's with her?" Oliver asked, sitting beside Harry.

"She hates me. No, scratch that. Hate doesn't even cover it."

"Oh come on, what could you possibly had done to infuriate her in just one day?" At hearing this, Harry got up, sighing.

"The thing is that it wasn't in a day, it was five years ago."

"You got me a little lost Harry," Oliver confessed, confusion displayed on his face.

"There is something you don't know about the incident in the Chamber of Secrets, something that I haven't told you and neither has Hermione."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Spill!"

*********

"... Just hold a bit longer." In that precise instant, Dumbledore's voice reached her ears.

"Miss Granger?"

"Professor! Where are you?" Hermione got up, searching for him anxiously, but he wasn't anywhere in sight.

"We're trying to get in, but Voldemort has somehow sealed the entrance. It will take us a couple of

minutes. Just stay calm."

"Hurry Professor! Harry's losing a lot of blood and he's turning pale!"

"Whatever you do, keep him conscious." With this said, Hermione found herself alone again. She glanced at Harry and noticed that he was closing his eyes.

"Harry, no!" She knelt by his side. The Slytherin boy barely opened his eyes.

"What?" he said weakly.

"Stay with me, Dumbledore's coming. Just stay with me."

"As tempting as that sounds...."

"Don't talk, stay. Oh, crap, you're turning cold," she cursed as her hand felt his icy skin." What to do?" she said more to herself than to him. For the first time in her life, Hermione Granger didn't know what to do. "Oh, Harry, please don't die. It's all my fault!" she exclaimed as she saw Harry about to close his eyes again.

"It's not your fault, just go," he whispered, clearly making an effort to do so.

"Harry, you can't do this, you just can't. You have no right to leave me alone!" she snapped both in anger and sadness.

"Aren't Gryffindors supposed to have courage?" he asked weakly, but with sarcasm.

"Don't you start with me! It's your own fault you ended up here."

"Who pushed me?"

"Me, but only because you deserved it."

"Yeah, right, you bossy-know it all...." he tried to finish but he was getting weaker by the minute. His eyes closed as he lost consciousness.

"Harry? Oh, don't go, not now. Dumbledore's coming.... Oh, who am I kidding?! Harry, you can't go.

You..." she quieted, noticing that he had stopped moving. She looked at him, eyes full of longing as she passed her fingers through his lips. Then, without giving it a second thought, she leaned and kissed him.

To Hermione's most shocking surprise, he started to kiss her back, ever so sweetly. Their soft kiss lasted mere seconds; for an explosion was heard, and the next thing she knew, Dumbledore was heading towards them.