The Road Trip

Chapter Six - The Last Day: You and Annie Who?

Harry and I spent the night under the stars just talking and holding each other. There wasn't much kissing to be perfectly honest. We were happy just being in each other's company. We also decided that we were going to play a little joke on our dear, dear friends.

When we heard Lavender, Ron, and Neville come in the house at two, Harry walked in first. I could hear the conversation from behind the closed door and had to hold back laughter.

"So?" Ron asked curiously.

"So, what?"

"You know damn well what Harry James Potter!" I heard Lavender shout. "What happened?"

There was a pause before which Harry said, "We decided to just be friends."

All three of them yelled, "What?!" At this I couldn't help it - I giggled before clapping a hand over my mouth. I could almost see their faces, which made me giggle all the harder.

I heard Lavender walk towards the door and Harry stopped her. "No! Err...Hermione just wants to be left alone for a while. She said she...needed to do some thinking. Just...let her be. Okay?"

I peeked through the window and saw Lavender nod and walk up to her room. Ron followed downstairs shaking his head.

"Harry?" Neville asked as Harry began to pull out the mattress of his bed. Harry looked up. "After all that - are you sure about this? Is this really what she wants - what you want?"

Harry smiled genuinely and nodded. "I'm sure. It's late Neville. Go to bed - I'll see you in the morning."

Neville looked at him suspiciously for a moment before trudging up the stairs. Harry waited a few minutes before going to the door and letting me in. "The coast is clear," he said as I walked through the door, "but just in case, you should head downstairs."

I nodded. "Okay - goodnight Harry." I kissed him briefly before walking over to the stairs and walking down. I felt his eyes on my back until I was out of his sight.

I woke up that morning and stretched languidly, purring like a cat. I hadn't slept that well in months. Thinking back to the previous night, I couldn't help but grin. They are going to be so mad... I thought gleefully. When I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost eleven, I jumped up and sped up the stairs.

Ron grinned when he saw me. "Morning sleepyhead," he said playfully. "Enjoy your sleep?"

I stretched and reached around Neville for a mug. "Very much, actually. Haven't slept that well in months." I poured coffee and as I added milk and sugar, I saw the entire room regarding me with care, as if I might break down at any moment. I glanced at Harry who was sitting on the couch. He was as amused as I was with the whole situation. He was just better then I was at hiding it.

"Hermione, are you alright? You look a bit...off this morning," Neville said glancing at Lavender.

"I'm fine. Perfect even!" I said cheerfully. I walked over to the sofa and put my mug on the table next to Harry. "Good morning Harry," I said with a grin. I winked at him. I was having way too much fun with this.

"Good morning Ms. Granger. I see you slept well," he said, winking back at me. He reached up to hug me.

"Yes, I did," I said as I hugged him back. He shifted and I ended up sitting on his lap. This seemed to be a regular routine with us. If there weren't enough seats, I would always let him sit down and I would sit on his lap (unless Annie was around, but I'm sure she won't be a problem anymore...). Lately, every time he hugged me while he was sitting down, I would end up in his lap. I always enjoyed it, and now that I knew there were ulterior motives involved, I enjoyed it even more.

Lavender was looking at me as if I had sprouted two heads as I spoke to Harry. I couldn't blame her - for two people who had decided to just be friends, we really were flirting a lot. Harry had his arms around my waist and I had one arm around him, the other around his neck. I leaned down and he whispered in my ear, "Can we tell them now? I really want to kiss you."

I shivered a little and giggled. "Oh, but I'm having so much fun," I protested, but to show him how much I really wanted to stop and just kiss him already, I kissed him slowly behind his ear and on his neck. I could tell Harry was trying his hardest to keep a straight face, but he must have been unsuccessful.

Neville asked, "Harry, are you alright?"

"Fine," he mumbled and I grinned at him cheekily, trying to feign innocence. It wasn't working.

I think Lavender caught on when we started whispering because she smirked and said, "My, my, aren't we friendly this morning?"

"Friendly?" Harry asked, trying to sound shocked. "You think this is friendly? Do you hear that Hermione - she thinks this is friendly!"

I laughed a little and turned toward him. He brushed my hair behind my ear as I said, "I don't think this is friendly at all. Do you Mr. Potter?"

"Not in the least." His eyes took on that familiar loving gleam as he said, in a voice that made me shiver with delight, "Why don't we show them friendly."

He leaned toward me as I said, "Absolutely splendid idea." His lips met mine and a sudden silence enveloped the room. That was before the cheering started, a cheering I barely noticed, as Harry's lips were firmly attached to mine and showed no signs of breaking away whatsoever any time soon.

When breathing became a necessity, I pulled away and smiled as Harry leaned his forehead against mine and softly kissed me again.

"That was just wrong," Ron said, but his tone said otherwise. "You can't tease me like that! The angst, the drama..."

"Oh, shut it Ron," Lavender said and winked at me. I grinned and winked back. I couldn't have been happier then I was at that moment.

"So, what are you going to do about Annie now Harry?" Neville said patting Harry on the shoulder.

I turned to Harry and arched an eyebrow at him. He just smiled at me saying, "Annie who?" Neville laughed loudly and I gave Harry a kiss on the tip of his nose before hopping off of his lap.

"This calls for a celebration!" Lavender said. "Party in Hogsmeade tonight - what do you say?"

"Sounds good to me, but I think those two are a little too busy right now to answer," Ron said with a grin. And he was right. Harry had just pulled me back down onto the couch and was currently kissing me senseless.

I'd have to agree with Harry on that one - Annie who?