Summer Love

Summer Love

Chapter 1

It was a late Sunday afternoon in August. Hermione Granger smiled as she walked out the back door of The Burrow. She and Harry Potter, one of her two best friends, were staying with Ron Weasley's family two weeks before school started. Ron Weasley was Hermione's other best friend. She, Ron, and Harry had been best friends for seven years, ever since Halloween night in her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry and Ron had saved her life. Now the trio was in their seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and their friendship was unwavering.

Hermione looked at her two best friends. Ron, the tall redhead with a huge temper, and Harry, the somewhat shorter black-haired, green-eyed Quidditch Seeker. Then she thought of herself. The brainy bookworm with long wavy hair which used to be bushy until her fifth year and chocolate brown eyes. They had changed so much since their first meeting on the train, she thought to herself. She loved them like brothers. They knew almost everything about each other. Hermione wouldn't know what to do if she lost one of them. She was so relieved when Voldemort was killed. The threat that had hung over Harry since he was a year old vanished. Suddenly, a voice shook her out of her thoughts.

"Ready to eat, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked her. Hermione nodded and followed her to the two large tables outside. She sat next to Harry and Percy, Ron's older brother.

Percy, she thought. The perfectionist who loved to read as much as she did. He used to be obsessed with his work at the Ministry of Magic, but ever since the death of Mr. Crouch in Hermione's fourth year, he had become more relaxed, and although his work was important to him, everything else came first now. She was glad about that. She had a slight crush on him. She never told Harry and Ron about that for fear they'd laugh at her. She liked him because he was the only other person to have read Hogwarts, A History over and over, and plus he was so sweet once you got to know him.

Percy was also thinking, only about Hermione. He was glad she sat next to him. The beautiful brunette with the same thirst for learning he had, it was easy to get into a conversation with her. He, like Hermione, had a crush on her, but he thought it was just because of their knowledge. But he did love talking to her. He waited until about five minutes into the meal, and decided to start talking to her.

"So Hermione, are you looking forward to your last year at Hogwarts?"

Hermione looked up from her food. "Oh yes!" she replied, grinning. "I can't wait. I'm looking forward to my classes. I've already started reading about different careers also, but I'm still not sure which one I would like the most." And they were off, discussing careers and what would be the best choices. Harry, noticing they were deep into conversation, turned to Ron, who was sitting next to him.

"How can it be so easy for Hermione to get along with Percy?" he asked Ron. Ron shrugged.

"I have no idea, Harry. I've never been able to get into a conversation with Percy without feeling like I have to punch him to shut up." Harry laughed.

Chapter 2

After everyone had eaten their fill, everyone except for Hermione and Percy went inside to have dessert. They were too into their conversation to notice everyone else was gone. It took them about ten minutes until they realized it.

Percy looked around. Everyone was gone. Odd, he thought. I didn't even notice. He laughed out loud. Hermione looked at him strangely. He gestured to the empty table. She looked, and then also laughed. She didn't notice either. She was so interested in what Percy had to say. She sighed, thinking of her crush. She really did like Percy. She didn't want to go inside.

Percy was also thinking of his crush. During their conversation, he had realized it was not just a childhood crush, but it was... something. Definitely something. There was no word to describe how he felt. He still wasn't sure if this was "love" or not. Ever since his relationship with Penelope ended, he didn't know if he even believed in love. Instead of dwelling on love, he said something that he didn't expect.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked her. Hermione smiled and nodded. He transfigured a stick into a pen and a piece of wood into paper with his wand and wrote a quick note to Mrs. Weasley so she wouldn't worry. He left it on the table under his plate and stood up. "Let's go."

They walked to an overgrown field where Ron and the twins played Quidditch. At night, it was beautiful. Crickets chirped and the sky was dotted with stars. Hermione gasped in wonderment, and Percy smiled.

"I come here around nighttime to think sometimes," he said quietly. "It's very peaceful."

"I agree," Hermione replied, and smiled at Percy. Percy felt a little shiver go through him. He didn't think it was the cool air.

Hermione sat down on the grass, surprising him. She looked up at Percy. "I wanted to lie down and look at the stars," she whispered, blushing. The moon was half-full. He could see her reddening face. He sat down beside her and softly touched her cheek. Hermione looked at him with her chocolate-brown eyes. They both felt it this time. Percy was sure of it.

Slowly, Percy bent closer to Hermione. He felt her breath on his face. He kissed her and felt the electric shock for the third time. He felt Hermione kiss him back. He put his arms around her slender waist and she put her arms around his shoulder. They moved closer together until finally, they ran out of air and broke the kiss, gasping.

Hermione was the first to recover. "Percy... I...." she stammered. Percy looked at her, and fully believed that love was possible, and his was right in front of him.

"Hermione.... I love you..." he breathed softly. She looked at him, tears filling her eyes.

"Oh Percy, I love you too!" she said, starting to cry. For she meant it. After that kiss, she knew it wasn't a crush... it was love.

Percy pulled her into an embrace. They sat holding each other for several minutes. Then Hermione pulled her face out of Percy's chest and hesitantly moved her body onto his lap. Percy felt his reaction towards this, and he was sure she felt it too. But he didn't care. He kissed her again. This time it wasn't a timid kiss. It was full of passion. She kissed him back. They opened their mouths slightly and let the other explore for a minute, then Percy broke the kiss and started kissing Hermione's neck. She moaned and pulled him on top of her. He trailed light kisses on her face and then back onto her lips for a fierce kiss, then lay down next to her. They lay there, holding one another, and gazed at the stars.

About an hour later, Percy realized how long they had been gone. "Hermione, we should go back," he said softly. She made a noise that sounded like a groan. He laughed and kissed her for a moment. She looked at him.

"Percy... will you wait for me to finish school?" she asked him.

He looked into her big brown eyes. "Yes Hermione," he said. "I'd wait for you forever." Tears filled her eyes again as she kissed him. Then they stood up at headed back to The Burrow--holding hands.