A Shoulder to Lean On...and a Bit More

"The old hag has gone mad. Absolutely mad," Hermione said with an expression that stated clearly that she was wondered exactly what Trelawney would dream up next.

Harry laughed. "And it took you how long to figure that out?" he said, a joking grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You just shut up, Potter." Hermione responded with a playful smile.

*******

That night Harry sat at one of the round tables by the windows in the now deserted common room struggling with his Transfiguration essay.

"Need some help?" asked a female voice from behind him.

Harry jumped and spun around in his chair. He let out a small sigh as he realized the voice belonged to Hermione.

"Oh, it's you. ... Yeah, I could use some help ..." Harry said, glancing down at his parchment.

"I figured you would, that's why I came down."

"Oh, okay, thanks."

Hermione began to read through his essay, making small corrections with his quill here and there.

"Okay," she said finally. "Re-write your essay on some clean parchment and be sure to include the new words and sentences I've added and to leave out the ones I've put slash marks through." She handed Harry his quill and a sheet of clean parchment.

"Okay, thanks 'Mione." said Harry, dipping his quill into his bottle of ink.

"No problem. I'll be sitting over here on the couch. When you finish you can come join me if you like." she responded.

"Okay, I'll be sure to," said Harry, and he then began to re-write his essay.

*******

"There." Harry murmured to himself about forty-five minutes later. "Done."

He rolled up the parchment, tucked it inside his bag, and climbed out of his chair. He then proceeded towards the couch where Hermione was sitting staring into the fire. He sat down next to her with a sigh of comfort and draped an arm over her small figure.

He gasped inwardly slightly as Hermione cuddled up against him, nuzzling her head onto his chest and wrapping her small arms around his middle, holding him tightly.

He followed her affectionate gesture by putting one of his arms around her shoulders and the other over her back.

"Harry, I need to tell you something. Something important," said Hermione a few minutes later.

"What is it?" Harry asked quietly.

"I- well, I've gotten to be a bit sweet on someone ..." she replied nervously.

Harry's heart sunk. He was sure that person wasn't him. It was probably Ron or Dean or - anyone.

"Just how sweet are you on him?" he asked curiously.

Hermione blushed. "W-well, I-I dunno. ..." she stuttered.

"Well, is it a crush?" Harry asked.

"No, no, I- it's more than a crush ..." Hermione replied, turning her head away from him.

"Hermione ... are, are you ..." He gulped. "Are you - are you in love?" he asked disbelieving.

"Well, I-I- well, yes, Harry, I am," she said, her face becoming even more red.

Harry turned her head back towards his so he could face her. There were tears in his eyes, he knew, but he hoped that they would come across and tears of worry, if anything at all.

"Hermione, is he helping you? You're a mess sometimes ... you need someone to look after you. ..." he said.

"He does, you don't need to worry ..." Hermione said gently.

Harry blinked back some tears and swallowed hard. "Hermione, what, what's his name?" he asked cautiously.

Hermione, who had been hiding her head again, turned to face him again. She looked deeply into his eyes for a moment before taking a deep, slow breath and placing her lips on his in a gentle kiss. Harry, though a bit startled and confused at the moment, responded enthusiastically, wrapping his arms around her back and holding her close to him.

Hermione let out a soft moan of pleasure. She was amazed at how many fireworks went off in her stomach at this simple action.

Harry scooped Hermione up and picked her up off the couch. He then carefully carried her up the stairs to the boy's dormitory, not once letting his lips leave hers.