I Can't Promise You the Stars

I Can't Promise You the Stars

Chapter 1

Hermione awoke with a daze. The sun was just rising and dazzling a radiant shade of mauve over the forest. She had no idea of what had roused her just then- it had been nearly silent. Then, she heard a faint sound again- a gentle tap and click coming from the direction of the tower's window.

Gazing her rested eyes toward that direction, Hermione had finally seen what abruptly snapped her from her slumber. A large barn owl with deep, copper eyes stared back at her, a letter in its beak and something clutched in its talons. Sensing a playful grin beginning to creep onto her face, Hermione hastily threw back her covers and dashed to open the window.

Swooping in and nearly smacking Hermione in the face, the bird dropped an amethyst envelope onto her pillow and a slim box that twinkled faintly on her mattress. Without so much as a thoughtful glance back, the owl took to the wind again before she could utter her words of thanks.

Excitement flooded through her as she reached for the envelope. Carefully slitting it open, Hermione exposed a small piece of parchment. Unfolding it, a wide smile crossed her face as she recognized the handwriting.

Hermione,

Here- I thought I'd make up for what Krum's really missing. Thank you for Always being there and putting up with all the difficult times we've been through!

Love from,

Harry

Folding the quick written message, Hermione's brow furrowed. "What did he get me?" she whispered to herself.

Pulling the box toward her, she heard the twinkling sound again. She couldn't help making her hands shake; but from anxiety or anticipation she didn't know. Having this excite her curiosity even farther, Hermione lifted the delicate lid off the box. And what she saw amazed her.

Inside was a crystal rose the she recognized from a shop in Hogsmeade. She let out a quick intake of breath when she realized that it was the mood-changing rose she had been admiring for some time. Her heart swelled with gratuity.

Setting her knew treasure carefully on her bedspread, Hermione lifted the small piece of pearl-colored velvet, still searching for what had created the interesting sound. Gasping, she pulled out a delicate chain. The silver glistened in the morning sun, making it a sight to take her breath away. Noticing the size of the magnificent piece, Hermione decided it must be an anklet. She awed when she finally took notice that the anklet held one charm. It had produced the noise. It was an elegantly designed lightening bolt that was encrusted with glimmering diamonds.

"Wow, Harry..." Hermione whispered, attaching the anklet. She lifted her nightdress a couple of inches to admire the most beautiful gift she had ever received. A giant smile was released from her heart; it did compliment her. She stood up and walked a few paces with it. She adored the sound it made with each step.

Glancing back toward her four-poster, the rose had begun shining the brightest yellow Hermione could have imagined.

~*~*~*~*~

"What's up with you today?" Ron asked, nudging Harry in the ribs.

"Huh?" Harry replied rather loudly, snapping from his trance.

"What's wrong with you?" Ron repeated, getting rather annoyed with the lack of interest Harry seemed to be directing toward him. "You've been staring at the door all morning." He flashed a sly grin at Harry. "Who're you waiting for?"

"No one." He quickly replied, busying himself with his know cold porridge.

"Okay, don't tell me. I'll find out." Reaching his hand into his robes, He pulled out a Wizard Pop, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.

Harry laughed. "Hey, where did my share of the Honeyduke's sweets end up?"

"You should know never to trust me with your money in a sweet shop!" He had begun to search is pockets. "Here." He handed him a pathetic looking licorice wand, a couple of chocolate frogs, and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, which Harry was certain had already been pilfered through by Ron. He just laughed and tossed the treats into his bag.

"Where did you go though?" Ron asked Harry, smacking his lips in contentment. "You never pass up a chance to buy candy; what was so overly important?"

Harry shrugged.

Suddenly, Hermione dashed into the Great Hall, book bag and hair flying madly behind her. She kept glancing at her watch and the sound of miniature bells was heard with every alternating step.

"Don't talk to me, Ron..." Hermione shot warningly, noticing Ron opening his mouth. In reality, his jaw dropped.

"Hermione, are you wearing... make up?" Ron gasped, dumbfounded. Hermione raised a twitching hand to her cheek. She felt herself turn scarlet, relieved that it could be distinguished through the blush she was wearing.

"Where did you ever get such an idiotic idea, Ron?" she finally managed to stutter.

"Excuse me," he gaped, face relaxing slightly, "but I don't remember your eyelids being such a shimmering shade of pink."

"Maybe I wanted to look nice today, Ron!" Hermione hissed bitterly.

"I didn't mean to offend you!" Ron pleaded. "I was going to say that it was a nice change..."

"Yeah, Hermione," Harry added, entering the somewhat one-sided conversation, "it looks nice, alright." He played with his oatmeal again.

"Thanks." Hermione whispered, looking down at her shoes, grabbing the pitcher of pumpkin juice.

"Man, you two are pathetic!" Ron exclaimed thickly through his lollipop.

"Oh, nice healthy breakfast, Ron!" she retorted, smugly, offering herself more toast. Ron simply cried out in exasperation.

Silence and tension advanced within the atmosphere of the three friends. At last, Harry spoke:

"Um, d-did you get anything special this morning, Hermione?" he asked expectantly. Ron gave him a perplexed look; Hermione just smiled.

"Harry," she began, grinning widely as she spoke, "I love the anklet! It's... gorgeous! I cannot believe you would get me something like that. Thank you so much!"

"Anklet?" Ron asked. "Lemme see." He stared at the foot of Hermione's robes. As she lifted them to expose her new pride, Ron's eye widened. "That must have cost you a fortune, Harry!" he told him as he gingerly lifted the charm to examine it more closely. "Are those real?!" Harry nodded, grinning shyly as his chest swelled with gratification.

Hermione flipped her hair over her shoulder, placing an arm over the leg resting on the bench. She allowed Ron to continue to admire the anklet, vowing she would always treasure it. Hermione caught Harry's eye mouthing words of thanks as the owls entered the hall delivering the mail.

"You're welcome, Hermione," Harry said, catching Pigwidgeon like a Snitch as he untied letter's from the Weasley's.

~*~*~*~*~

"But why though?" Hermione questioned, raising her eyebrows in suspicion at Harry.

Somehow, Hagrid was called away for some "unknown business", so the sixth year Gryffindors had a free period to themselves, which Harry uncharacteristically suggested that they go to the library.

"Did you even read the note I sent?" Harry asked, smiling through his luminous jade eyes.

"Yes, but it didn't make any sense to me." She had always been the one to prevent argument, but something told her to hold ground. "What was the comment about Vic- I mean, Krum?"

"Well," he began licking his lips, "ever since he broke it off with you-"

"Haven't I already said that I don't want to talk about it?" Anguished tears formed in the back of her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at the neatly polished school shoes of her best friend. She struggled with the release of a soothing catharsis, or to keep her friend shunned from her personal life.

"Yes, but I think we should," Harry pressed on her. "Hermione, if you don't talk about it, then you keep all those harboring, tormenting feelings to yourself, forcing yourself never to be happy. " He paused to give a concerning look, placing his hand gently on her arm. "I would love to have someone to project to... to release all those attachments to horrible things in our lives? Like, having a living diary, whom we can confide in and trust them to help us through the sorrow... how 'bout it Herm?" He grinned slightly, only enough to prove that he wasn't joking with her. A single tear trickled down her cheek.

"Damn," she wiped it away, cursing herself for showing vulnerability.

"Careful," Harry said, nearly laughing, don't want to smudge that make up of yours..." Hermione playfully slapped him. "Stop," she whispered.

"Look, I just want to talk to you. I need you to listen to me... let's start with the break up. No!" he paused, holding up a hand to silence her. "Me first."

Hermione again eyed him with great interest as he cleared his throat.

"Well, adding on to what I wrote in that note," he began, paying close attention to Hermione's facial expression, "Krum was so wrong to call it off with you. Hermione, you are a great and amazing person- I don't know what was running through his thick, Bulgarian skull when he let you go. Obviously, it wasn't you. Any guy would have to be a total nutcase to not want you next to him after winning the award of having you there. I bought you those gifts because I thought you would need some remembrance that someone has seen you- the real you. Not just merely look at the face being overshadowed by worries and the occasional book. " At this, Hermione laughed.

It scared her the way Harry always seemed to know what Hermione was going to say, sometimes before she even knew what was coming herself.

"Okay, clear out!" The sharp voice of Madam Pince came wafting like a death omen over to their table. "Sixth year classes start in only five minutes time! OUT!"

And with the twinkling of the anklet, they departed from the library, school and their next classes not the only things occupying their minds.