Chasing a Dream

Chapter 12

Realizations and a Float Trip

"No!"

Hermione jumped to her feet, leaving the blanket with Harry. She walked silently to the edge of the river. Harry stood and followed her. She turned to face him once again.

"No, Harry, I don't have telekinesis."

She shivered. Harry draped the blanket over her shoulders.

"Then what was all that, Hermione?"

"You could say it, um, runs in the family."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

"What is it Her-"

A sudden scream tore through the night. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other before tearing off across the lawn. Harry was eager to get to the house, but slowed down so Hermione could keep up. She was still weak. Hermione sat down on a bench.

"Go-go on with-without me."

Hermione panted. Harry didn't want to leave her but he had to see if someone was in danger. He nodded and ran on without her.

Harry burst through the back door and ran through the house, looking for the source. At last, he found it.

George was talking to a very agitated, plump looking rabbit sitting angrily on his bed while Fred was rolling around on the floor, laughing. George was saying;

"You'll be back to normal in a minute, Mum!"

"What's going on?"

The groggy voice signaled Ron's arrival. Fred stopped laughing and George glared at the intruders. Harry stiffled his laughter, not wanting to provoke the already homicidal bunny that was Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum accidentaly ate an Animal Cracker. A new product for the Weasley Wizard Wheezes."

"W-what happened?!"

Hermione came to a stop at the doorway. At that moment, with a small 'pop', Mrs. Weasley returned to her original state, seething with anger.

Not wanting to hang around to see what was going to happen, Harry whirled around, seized Hermione by the arm, and began racing up the stairs to their bedrooms.

"Harry."

"Yeah, Hermione?"

"You don't have to drag me around."

Harry stopped. He had automaticaly taken her with him without even noticing. It was habit. He'd been dragging her everywhere for the last

"Sorry."

"I don't mind. Atleast you didn't leave me behind."

The two of them walked down the hall in silence until they reached Hermione's bedroom. Harry had known that Hermione was better but it wasn't until now that the truth sank in. She didn't need him anymore.

"Harry."

"Yeah?"

"You're doing it again. Are you feeling all right?"

Harry looked around. He was standing in the middle of her bedroom. She was standing by her bed looking at Harry with concern. She doesn't need me anymore.

Harry crossed the room and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Harry?"

"I'll see you tomorrow, Hermione."

_-_-_-_-_-_

Harry watched his friend flip franticly through his Potions notes, looking for anything to help him complete Snape's essay with a passing grade. Harry laughed as Ron grabbed his hair and began to bang his head against the picnic table repeatedly.

A strange sound wafted to Harry's ears. He placed a hand on Ron's shoulders to silence him and pressed a finger to his lips, straining his ears to hear the mysterious sound again. It was music.

Harry looked up and instantly saw where it came from. Hermione and Ginny were dancing around in her room, a song blaring from Hermione's cd player. Ron began to laugh.

Harry watched as Hermione dipped and spun around her room. Even from that distance, her smile still radiated and warmness spread through his body like sunshine.

She's so beautiful, smart, funny, and talented. I love her. He sighed as he watched her and Ginny dance around the room. He snapped to attention, startled by his own thoughts, a chill chasing up and down his spine. I love her!!!

"In the instant that you love someone

In the second that the hammer hits

Reality runs up your spine

And the pieces finally fit."

~The One, Elton John~

Harry sat there for a moment, stunned. I can't love her. She's my best friend! It'd ruin everything... but she's so wonderful. No! Stop it! I can't... It would never work!

Harry shook his head vigorously. He was interrupted suddenly by the back door being flung open.

Ginny and Hermione stumbled out, laughing. They walked over to Harry and Ron and sat down across from them. Ron looked up at them.

"Ah, if it isn't the cooky crooners."

"Huh?"

"We heard you two singing up in Ginny's room."

Harry explained. Hermione paled and Ginny flushed pink.

"You actually heard us singing?"

"Well, no, actually. All we heard was the music. Why?"

"No reason."

They said together. Ron appeared to have had enough of Potions. He snapped his book shut and threw it in on the ground.

"I have an idea."

"Yes?"

"You know that river over there? I think we should go on a float trip!"

"It looks a little fast."

"C'mon! Ginny and I have floated down that river dozens of times this summer! There's nothing to it."

"It sounds like fun, count me in!"

Hermione's voice said, causing Harry to swing around, shocked. He took her by the arm and dragged her away from Ron and Ginny.

"What are you doing?!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I don't think you should be going on the river if you can't swim!"

Harry hissed, a little colder than he'd meant.

"Harry, it's a float trip. No swimming! Plus, Ron said that he and Ginny are good at navigating it and I for one, believe him!"

Harry sighed, knowing that he wouldn't win this one. They rejoined Ginny and Ron and they set off to get the canoes.

-_-_-_-

Harry had wanted to ride with Hermione, of course, but for her safety, had her ride with Ron. He thought Ron would be able to navigate better that his little sister. Ginny was positively thrilled to have Harry in her canoe.

Harry hadn't told Ron about Hemione not being able to swim, no matter how much he'd wanted to, because Hermione had sworn him to secrecy. All he could do was watch her like a hawk. It drove him crazy!!!

Ron hadn't been lying, however. He was good at canoeing. This came as a sort of relief to Harry. Ginny was a little reckless, so Harry was relieved that he'd put Hermione with Ron. That is until Ron did something very, very stupid.

Ron and Hermione had gotten a ways in front of Ginny and Harry, so they pulled to the side, parked on a rock, to wait for them. Ginny and Harry were just pulling up close to them when it happened...

Ron stood up.

Harry watched as Hermione yelled at him to sit down. Just to prove that they were in no danger of flipping, Ron began to rock the canoe gently, pointing at the water. Harry saw Hermione protest and watched, to his terror, Ron loose his balance.

Harry watched in horror as the canoe flipped, tossing Hermione into the river beneath it. Ron clung to the rock, looking sulky, not realizing the mortal peril he'd just put Hermione in. Hermione screamed as she was swept swiftly down the river, head being pulled under by the dangerous undertow. Harry did the first thing that came into his head, he jumped in after her.

The water was cold and Harry, a good swimmer ever since the second task last year, fought to keep a steady pace in the current that threatened to pull him under. However, from this point of view he couldn't see Hermione. He dived under and looked around. Then he caught sight of a pair of legs kicking furiously.

He shot off like a rocket, propelling himself toward what could only be Hermione. She was moving, too, making it difficult to catch up. Suddenly, the legs stopped kicking. She was barely moving at all, despite the current's pull.

Harry resurfaced, and saw why she wasn't moving. She had been slammed into the side of a giant rock. Harry could see blood seeping out from under her hair, her eyes closed. She was unconcious. Harry seized the opportunity, and swam as close to her as possible before the river pulled her out again.

Harry dived down and reached out wildly, grabbing one of her arms. He yanked upward with strength that he didn't even know that he had. Clinging to her body, he swam as fast as he could to shore, which was very difficult.

He dragged her onto the sandy shores. He was so tired, but he couldn't rest yet. He pulled her to him, checking her wrist for a pulse, then her neck. Hermione coughed, dispersing a considerable amount of water down her front. She was breathing. Harry, satisfied, collapsed next to her, passing out from exhaustion.

-_-_-_-

When Harry woke up, Margaret was tending to the wound on Hermione's head. Harry was lying on the couch in the Granger's living room. Hermione, still unconcious, was lying in the couch adjacent to his.

Sirius was sitting in the chair next to Harry, looking extremely edgy. He managed a slight smile as Harry sat up.

"That was a very brave thing you did, Harry. I'm proud of you! Mr. Weasley phoned immediately. Ron had run for help as soon as he realized what was happening. I collected the two of you and brought you here."

"What was Margaret doing here?"

"Oh," Sirius blushed.

"She's rented one of the guest bedrooms and has been living here for the past couple of days."

"Right."

Harry said, tired. He leaned back and watched as the blood on Hermione's forehead faded away. I didn't keep my promise. Harry thought harshly to himself. Hermione was hurt. I shouldn't have let her go.

Hermione stirred, and sat up. She blinked around the room, recognized it, leaned back, groaned, and clutched her head.

Sirius stood up and walked over to her, lifted her, and carried her up to her room. Harry followed them closely. Sirius laid her on the bed and left Harry and Hermione alone. Hermione looked up at him sadly.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"It was my fault."

"No it wasn't."

Harry thought he knew what she was talking about, but this far off look in her eyes gave him the feeling she wasn't talking about this afternoon.

"Forget about it."

He walked out of the room. Perhaps if he'd stayed a little longer, he'd have heard her reply.

"But that's exactly what I did..."

-_-_-_-

Harry was having trouble sleeping. He was dead tired, but couldn't fall asleep. There was a strange home-ish feeling, lying there in that bed. It was so comfortable. I should get pills to prevent insomnia.

He was just about to fall asleep when he heard a soft rustling, and got the feeling that it wasn't Hedwig. He sat up and saw Hermione standing at his door, eyes gleaming in the night like a cat's.

"Hermione! What is it?!"

"I know who Andy is..."