Confessions

And you don't ever understand

It's right here in your hand

The outline of our lives

It's over now

"It is something that grows over time... a true friendship.

A feeling in the heart that becomes stronger over time...

The passion of friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power and through it, you will know which way to go..."

***

"Harry..." Hermione waved her other hand in front of my face, and I snapped back from my thoughts about her.

"Huh?"

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Oh...er, I'm not really sure. But -" I swallowed hard - I was going to do it - I was determined to tell her how I really felt. I took Hermione by the shoulders and stared into her rich brown eyes, then took a deep breath and -

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, what are you doing on this hallway?" Professor McGonagall's voice sharply rang out from the end of the corridor. I sprang away, and Hermione glanced down at the floor, her cheeks burning scarlet.

"Um...it's not forbidden, is it?" I asked stupidly. McGonagall looked as if she could murder someone and stormed over towards us.

"No, but it is a long way from Gryffindor Tower or the Great Hall. Why aren't you two at dinner?"

"We were...uh..." I looked at Hermione. She'd gotten me (and Ron) out of trouble before....

"We were going to the library. I was going to help him with something. I know it's the holidays, but we just decided to get a head start on things," Hermione said without skipping a beat. I smiled inwardly. Professor McGonagall looked skeptical at first, but obviously believed Hermione because she ordered us to return to Gryffindor Tower or the Great Hall. I couldn't believe she'd actually bought the story, even if Hermione did sound convincing, but Hermione grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the Gryffindor common room. I noticed that her cheeks were still red but I didn't say anything. She reached under the table and pulled out a stack of thick, dusty books, and slammed them down on the table, making a wave of dust wash over us. I coughed and spluttered, waving my hands through the air to try and get the dust to at least stopped suffocating us to say, "Hermione, I really don't feel like studying right now."

A stern look crossed her face, and she frowned. "Well we are."

"But I was going to tell you something earlier -"

"Then tell me. Besides, I al -" she stopped suddenly and briefly shut her eyes, rubbed her temples and opened her eyes again.

"Besides, what?"

"Nothing. What?"

"Well...never mind. I forgot, anyway."

"Ugh, you are so frustrating! I'll just study by myself then!" she yelled, gathered the books in her hands and stormed up to her room, slamming the door. I sat stunned for a few minutes, wondering why she was so frustrated, and then I started to piece together the clues. Ron! I bolted up out of my seat and out of the common room, running to the Great Hall, hoping he was still at dinner. He was and I sat down in the empty seat in front of him.

"Ron, put down your bloody fork for a minute and answer me. Why in the hell did you tell Hermione that I loved her?"

"Huh?" His mouth hung open, which wasn't the best sight in the world, what with chewed up chicken along with mashed potatoes not having been swallowed yet. Then he grinned. "Oh, you're talking about that. How'd you know I told her?"

"I - never mind. Look, why?"

"I really don't know. It was just so...I dunno...I couldn't keep it to myself. I had to tell someone and she was passing, and it hit me after I'd said it that it was actually Hermione."

"Idiot!" I cried and fell face-first on the table, groaning. I couldn't believe Ron would tell her. My first best friend whom now I can't trust, and he has to go ruin my friendship with the other.

"Sorry," Ron said in a small (fake) apologetic voice.

"Aw, what's this? Potty-head have a little mope over his Mudblood girlfriend? Did you two have a fight? How awful," a mocking voice said above me. I lifted my head and glared up at the Slytherin, putting on my "say-one-more-word-and-you'll-be-sorry" look, then glared at Ron.

"I didn't tell him, honestly!"

"For once Weasley's telling the truth. Only an idiot could figure out that you're so foolishly in love with her."

"Yeah, and you just proved that," I shot. I don't have to take this, I thought angrily. Malfoy's mouth fell open but he quickly shut it, replacing his shocked expression with a smug one.

"When is the git leaving?" Ron said, and I (even though at the moment, I was furious with him) had to agree.

"You can leave anytime," Malfoy shot then walked off.

"Thanks, Ron. Now the whole bloody school knows."

"I told you that I didn't tell him!"

"Yeah, but Hermione's among all them."

"The Slytherins?"

"Don't be stupid, Ron."

***

When I had woken up the next morning, it was still fairly early so I decided to see if Hermione was up and apologize for yesterday. But just as I'd gotten to the door and reached for the doorknob, Ron stepped in front from seemingly out of nowhere.

"Ron, really,"

"Well I was just saying, that I really am sorry for telling her. Even though, it was kind of funny, seeing her face..."

"Yes, great, now move," I ordered and reached for the knob, when -

"Wait. You're supposed to say, 'I accept your apology, Ron.'" He grinned evilly and it was all I could do to not just shove him away and go downstairs without saying all that.

"I accept your apology, Ron," I said through gritted teeth. "Now seriously, get out of the way."

"Fine, go talk to Hermione. But I really think she's pissed that you keep 'forgetting.'"

"I've only forgotten once! And that's what I'm going for - to get her un-pissed."

"That's not a word."

"Ron, you're really -"

"Okay, fine, go," he stepped aside and I threw open the door then ran downstairs as fast as I could, but Hermione wasn't in there. Probably in the library even at seven forty-five in the morning on a holiday, I thought with a smile, then climbed out of the portrait hole, pajamas and all, and headed towards the library. When I tried the doors, however, they were locked. Now that's funny, Hermione would've unlocked it or gotten Madam Pince...I shook my head, completely baffled. She's either always been in the library or the common room. Stupid, what if she's in her dorm, sleeping? I felt incredibly stupid, even stupider than yesterday when Professor McGonagall caught us in the corridor, walking. I started to head back to Gryffindor Tower, when a voice a few feet behind me stopped me.

"Harry, wait," I turned to see Hermione standing there in a bathrobe tied tight and fuzzy pink slippers, her elbow-length curly hair wet, slung over her shoulder. She'd obviously just come from the prefects' bathroom (although she could've just used the Head Girl one by her room), getting a bath.

"Oh, Hermione, I was just looking for you."

"Yeah, well..." she flipped her hair back over her shoulder and came over to me. "Come on, I need to talk to you."

"I shouldn't have snapped at you yesterday, and I'm sorry, but you just don't realize how hard it is for a girl to know that a guy likes her and he's totally oblivious to her and he won't tell her!" she said, her voice wavering a bit. I stopped dead. I hadn't expected her to say that. She obviously didn't expect to say it either, because she stopped too and slowly turned around, her hands clamped over her mouth.

"Oops," she said through her fingers. I raised an eyebrow, trying my hardest to keep a straight face, but was very unsuccessful, because I then burst out laughing. Hermione's face started to turn red again and I knew she was getting impatient, but just couldn't stop. You know when you're laughing and know you should stop, but can't? That's exactly what I had. She put her hands on her hips, frowning.

"What's so funny?"

"It's just..." I gasped between laughs, glancing up at her through tear-brimmed eyes from laughing so hard. It's not even that funny, Potter, get a grip on yourself. I finally managed to stop. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but for some reason I just started, and..." I walked over and held her shoulders like yesterday. There was no Professor McGonagall to interrupt this time. I stared into her eyes and started slowly falling into the chocolate-brown depths, and it felt...wonderful. I had to get a grip on myself, before I did something foolish again, because I didn't even know if she returned my love or not.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I wanted to - so bad - but every time I tried to, the words wouldn't come. My tongue would seem fat in my mouth, and I couldn't think properly, and...there was just this buzzing in my head, and then Ron had to go and tell you. If you actually ask me, I'm glad because -" My eyes widened as Hermione stretched up on her toes and pressed her lips firmly to mine, and my eyes locked with hers before she shut hers, and I followed suit. She'd thrown her arms around my neck by then and I slid my hands down to rest on her hips, then slid then around to her back and pulled her to me.