To Love and Betray

"No, you were really good!"

"Oh come on, Harry! A blind house-elf could have flown better than me!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Hermione. That was great for your first time!"

Harry and Hermione were walking along the grounds toward the castle from the Quidditch Pitch. Harry had his Firebolt slung over he shoulder, and he was being followed by a slightly ruffled Hermione. She had mentioned a slight interest in learning to ride a broom, and Harry had insisted on teaching her. It was Saturday morning and there was no homework to be done or Quidditch matches to be played, so Harry took her down to the pitch to practice (Ron was busy with his duties as Head Boy). Madam Hooch had taught Harry how to create a training course made up of floating hoops that the learners were supposed to fly through as quickly and swiftly as possible. Unfortunately, Hermione had managed to miss all but three of the fifteen floating hoops as she bobbed around the pitch. Harry blamed it on the broom. His Firebolt was probably the fastest broom in existence and he should have started her off with something slower. After Hermione had nearly done a nosedive into the stands, Harry decided they'd better call it a day.

"You'll get it next time, Mione," he assured her. "Broom riding is not something you master overnight. It's a real art."

She giggled. "Yeah, I know. I just wish I could do the things you do, Harry."

He smiled at her. "Oh yeah, and I suppose my being able to play Quidditch is so much more important than your excellent knowledge? If I had half the brains you did-"

"But you do, Harry!" she interrupted. "You just need to study a little more is all."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Is that the only piece of advice you ever give people?" he asked her sheepishly.

She flicked him on the arm. "I resent that, Harry Potter."

"Hey!" exclaimed Harry throwing up his arms. "What'd I do?"

"You were a prat, that's what," she joked, giving him a friendly push.

"Alright, Granger," he said flashing a mischievous grin at her. "You're going to pay for that."

"You'll have to catch me first!" she said, and without thinking she grabbed his Firebolt, jumped on, and kicked off the ground.

However, she didn't get far. The broom zigzagged up into the air about twelve feet and Hermione, unable to control it, was bucked off. She screamed as she fell towards the ground, but Harry caught her gracefully in his arms, the Firebolt landing with a clunk beside them.

"Careful there, Mione," he said, laughing at her. "I don't want to tell Madam Pomfrey that you fell off of my broom."

She giggled. "Sorry Harry, just a bit of fun."

"Fun that almost got you hurt."

"Harry, don't be such a worry wart. That's my job, remember?"

"Hey, I was just looking out for my best friend."

It was then that Harry realized he was still cradling her in his arms. He meant to put her down, but some inner restraint stopped him from doing so. As he looked into her eyes, he met an expression that made him think she didn't want to be put down. Harry suddenly noticed then how beautiful she really was. Her elegant figure, her bushy brown hair, her gorgeous face, her lush, tender lips...

What was he thinking? This was Hermione he was talking about! He decided again that he needed to put her down, but hard as he tried he couldn't. That longing feeling for her remained, and he simply wanted to hold her to him forever.

"H-harry?" she said softly. "Harry?"

"Yes?" he said.

"I-, I-," she had her hands wrapped around his neck and the gap between their faces was slowly closing. Before either of them knew what was happening, their lips had touched, pressing firmly against one another in a deep, luscious kiss. Hermione hugged Harry's neck and ran her fingers through his unkept hair. He held her as close as he possibly could and deepened the kiss. Her mouth opened slightly and he slipped his tongue inside; their tongues did a small dance as the kiss became more and more passionate. Harry rubbed his hand down her back to the small bit of skin that was exposed between her skirt and blouse. He stroked it gently as she pulled herself ever closer to him. Her body was so soft, her lips so tender. Harry suddenly felt right, as if all his emotions had finally fallen into place and spread throughout this kiss. Everything about his world was at ease...

"Harry? Hermione?"

The two quickly broke apart and Harry set Hermione down just in time to see Hagrid's ponderous form appear from over the hill.

"Hagrid!" Harry exclaimed, trying not to look or sound guilty. "What are you doing?"

Hagrid smiled and he beady eyes glinted. "I've been lookin' for the two o' you. Ron said you were out on the Quidditch Pitch. Thought I'd invite ya in for a cup o' tea."

"Sound's great!" he agreed, hoping Hagrid had not seen what had just happened.

He beamed at them. "Well come on then!"

Harry glanced at Hermione. She was looking just as nervous as him, but gave him a weak smile and they followed Hagrid to the hut.

***

Harry and Hermione returned to Gryffindor Tower an hour later after having tea with Hagrid. They hadn't talked to eachother the entire time. Harry kept busy by discussing upcoming Care of Magical Creatures classes, and Hagrid had taken delight in telling them about the many different "amazing" creatures they would be studying. Hermione had stayed silent for most of the visit, apparently deep in thought. When they had reached the common room, they had found it was completely empty; everyone was out enjoying the beautiful September afternoon. Once the portrait hole had closed, Hermione finally spoke.

"Harry, we need to talk."

"Okay," he said uneasily, fearing what was to come.

They sat down in the squashy armchairs in front of the fire.

Hermione began. "Harry, about what happened earlier-"

"Look," he interrupted. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just-"

She put her finger to his lips to silence him.

"Harry," she said. "Don't be sorry. That kiss was meant to happen. Everything happens for a reason. Now I don't know what the reason for it is, but there is one. Until we figure it out, I suggest we keep this to ourselves."

She stood up and kissed him lightly on the cheek, then shot up the stairs into her dormitory. Harry watched her go, his mouth hanging open. What had she meant by that? What was the reason they had kissed? Harry couldn't for the life of him figure it out.

At that moment the portrait swung open and Ron came bounding in.

"What a day," he said to Harry. "Do you have any idea how many first years I had to give directions to? Being Head Boy is murder!"

He walked over and plopped down on the chair next to Harry. When he noticed Hermione was missing, he asked, "How'd the flying lesson go?"

"Oh," said Harry, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Pretty good. Hermione just needs a little more practice."

Ron shook his head. "Since when did Ms. Brains and Books become Ms. Broomstick?"

"You got me," replied Harry. He himself was suddenly learning some new things about her.

"Well," said Ron. "How about a game of chess?"

"Sure," Harry said, though he wasn't much in the mood.

He couldn't concentrate on the game. His mind kept drifting off to Hermione and the moment out on the grounds. He wanted to know why it had happened. What had come over him to make him do such a thing? It wasn't until one of Ron's knights knocked Harry's queen off the board that Ron noticed something was wrong.

"Harry, is something wrong," he asked. "You don't seem very aware today."

"I'm fine, Ron." Harry lied. Should he have told Ron what happened out there? No, Hermione had told him not to.

Ten minutes later Ron had soundly defeated Harry and announced he was going to go to dinner. Harry told him he was going to skip it tonight and go to bed early.

"Alright," said Ron, and he climbed out the portrait hole. Harry groaned and laid his head down on the chair's arm. He sat like that for what felt like hours, just trying to sort out his ever-present jumble of feelings.

***

Hermione lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, and, just like Harry, tried to figure out why she had kissed him. Harry was her best friend and had always been there for her, but suddenly she felt like he was something more. Ron was her best friend too, yet she saw him from a completely different perspective. Ron was a kind, helpful person who she enjoyed talking to, but Harry was more. He was a shoulder to cry on, a light in the dark times around them.

Lavender watched Hermione from the other side of the dormitory. "Say, Herm, what's up with you? You've been staring at that spot on the ceiling for almost and hour."

"I'm fine," Hermione replied, not averting her eyes.

Parvati, who was sitting on her bed, smiled. "Lavender, Lavender. Isn't it obvious?"

Parvati had a way of sensing people's emotions.

"What do you mean, Parvati?" Lavender asked.

"Well," Parvati explained, "I think our little friend Hermione is in love."

Hermione sat up and glared at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on, Hermione," she chuckled. "I've seen that look a thousand times. So who is it? Dean? Seamus? Ron?"

"Of course not!" Hermione snapped. "I'm not in love."

"She's in denial," said Parvati.

"I am not!"

Parvati clicked her tongue. "Alright, then. Look me in the eye and tell me you're not in love."

Hermione complied, though somewhat uneasily.

"She's lying," said Parvati after Hermione told her. "I can see it in her eyes."

Hermione scoffed and lay back down on her bed.

"Have you had any, shall we say, close encounters with a boy lately?" asked Lavender, joining in on the interrogation.

Hermione didn't answer. Yes, she told herself, just a few hours ago. But it was as if the other two girls could read her mind.

"Come on, now, who was it?" Lavender inquired.

Hermione mumbled something they couldn't hear.

"What's that?" Parvati teased.

"Ikizzedarry."

"What?"

"I KISSED HARRY!" Hermione blurted out, then clasped her hand to her mouth.

Both Parvati and Lavender gasped then broke into a fit of giggling.

"Herm, that's so wonderful!" exclaimed Lavender. "When?"

"Out on the grounds this afternoon," she replied.

"Since when are you and Harry a couple?" Parvati asked through her giggles.

"We're not!" Hermione grumbled, turning red.

"You know," Parvati said to Lavender, "I would think that when two people kiss it means they like eachother."

"I agree," Lavender answered.

"Shut up, you two!"

"Why, Hermione? We're really happy for you. I think you and Harry should get together. You'd make such a cute couple."

"Yeah," Lavender picked up Parvati's conversation. "Harry could really use a girlfriend right now. Considering the fact that You-Know-Who is still on the run and Harry is worried about it."

"It's not like I'm ignoring him!" Hermione barked. "As his friend, I help him all the time with his problems!"

"But don't you think he'd enjoy a little more intimate help?" asked Parvati.

Hermione gaped at her.

"You do what you want, Hermione," said Parvati. "But I would highly recommend to tell Harry how you feel."

"I don't feel anything!"

"Sure, sure. Come on Lavender, let's go to dinner."

The two girls prepared to leave, but Hermione stopped them.

"You two better keep this a secret!"

"We'll do our best," Parvati returned. "But I'm a matchmaker, not a secret-keeper."

She and Lavender left the dormitory.

Hermione fell back on her pillow, furious with her roommates. What were they thinking? Her and Harry? It was absurd. She considered Harry as being nothing more than a friend to her, and that was the way things would remain.

And yet...

She thought about what Parvati had said about her being in love. Was she really acting like it? And in truth, was she in love? Hermione thought it over for a long time. Remembering what she had told Harry about how everything happened for a reason, she wondered, Was this the reason she had kissed him? Did she like him? Did she love him? She thought it over and over. Every time she denied it was true, the guilty feeling came back to her, saying that she was lying. The harder she tried to fight it, the harder it became to fight. Finally, she came to the unavoidable conclusion that she was, in fact, in love with Harry Potter.

She began to cry, not out of despair, but out of understanding. She loved Harry, loved him like she had never loved anyone else. She wanted to be with him. She wanted to run down to him and throw herself in his arms. She wanted to stay with him forever and never worry about anything else again.

At that moment, she sprung out of her bed and drew herself up to her full height.

"I have to tell him," she said to herself.

"Go for it girl," came Parvati's voice from inside her head.

Hermione opened the door and walked down toward the common room.

***

Footsteps awoke Harry from his dream. He had apparently fallen asleep in front of the fire, and everyone else was eating dinner in the Great Hall. Sitting up in the chair, he tried to recall the events of the dream. He had been reliving the moment when he had kissed Hermione, except this time they had been interrupted by Sirius instead of Hagrid. Sirius had smiled at him and wished him good luck and that he was proud of Harry. After that, he disappeared and that's when Harry had woken up. He didn't know what Sirius's appearance in the dream had meant, but Harry was glad to see him again.

"Harry?" came a trembling voice from behind him.

Harry turned to see Hermione standing there. She had her hands on the arm of the chair and she was smiling at him.

"Yes?" he replied.

"I need to tell you something." She sat down in the chair next to him and took his hand in hers, gently stroking it while she spoke.

"Do you remember what I told you about everything happening for a reason?" she asked him.

He nodded.

"Well," she continued. "I think I know the reason for what happened this afternoon."

Harry gulped, but before she could say more, the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and Ron, Neville, and Seamus came in, supporting Colin Creevey between them. The sixth year boy was looking very green and had wet splotches all over the back of his robes.

"That git, Malfoy spiked his soup his a Hemorrhoid Potion," Seamus explained. "Poor boy's got them all over his-"

"Look out!" cried Neville. Colin had just thrown up all over the floor, barely missing Seamus's shoes.

"We'd better take him up to bed," said Seamus and he and Neville carried him up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. Ron stayed with Harry and Hermione.

"I gave Malfoy a week's detention for that," Ron grinned. "And McGonagall docked fifty points from Slytherin."

"Is he going to be all right?" Hermione asked, a concerned look on her face.

"Madam Pomfrey gave him a potion to make them go away," Ron said. "But she said it would take a while and might make him feel a bit queasy."

Ron stared up toward the boys' dormitories. "I'd say she was right."

He turned to look at Harry and Hermione. "How come you two missed dinner?" he inquired.

Harry and Hermione glanced at eachother nervously.

"I fell asleep," said Harry.

"Me too," said Hermione. "You know, all that flying."

"Right," said Ron, apparently convinced. "Well, duty calls."

He left the common room for his nightly patrol. A moment later, Professor McGonagall entered carrying a sack of what looked like miniature telescopes.

"Miss Granger," she said. "Would you mind taking these to Professor Sinistra in the Astronomy Tower? I really must get back to my office."

"Of course, Professor," Hermione replied. She was always eager to help a teacher. Then she turned back to Harry. "I'll tell you later."

She patted his hand and got up to carry out the Transfiguration teacher's errand.

Harry watched her go, cursing McGonagall for having interrupted what was clearly something important to both him and Hermione. He waited in the common room until midnight and Hermione still hadn't returned. What was taking her so long? The Astronomy Tower was a lengthy walk, but she should have been back by then. He considered going to look for her, but decided that if Malfoy caught him out in the middle of the night, he'd give Harry detention for the rest of the year. The fact that Ron had given Malfoy detention for the hemorrhoid incident didn't help either. With nothing else to do, Harry finally went up to bed.

As soon as his feet disappeared up the staircase, the portrait hole opened and Hermione clambered in, eyes almost falling shut.

"What were you waiting for, girl?" demanded the Fat Lady. "You've been sitting outside for hours."

"None of your business," snapped Hermione.

"Well really!" The Fat Lady was still ranting as her portrait swung closed.

Hermione ignored her. She was in no mood to talk to anyone, least of all the Fat Lady. Somewhere between the Gryffindor Common Room and the Astronomy Tower, Hermione had suddenly been struck by a sudden fear. What was she thinking, trying to tell Harry she loved him? Did she realize what kind of danger she could be putting them both in? What if Voldemort knew? Would he use her to get to Harry? Hermione's logical side had finally kicked in. No, her feelings were too dangerous to be exposed.

She fell to the floor and hid her face in her hands.

"It's for the best," she told herself before bursting into a fit of tears. She cried and sobbed harder than she ever had before. Then again, she had never felt more upset or heartbroken in her entire life. She had to give up her one true love in order to keep him safe. Hermione sat like that for a long time and cried herself to sleep.

And that's how Harry found her the next morning.