Just One Night

Just One Night

The letter arrived one Tuesday morning when we all were having breakfast. Ron was quickly trying to catch up on his homework, while Hermione was looking over her notes for a test that was a week away. Neither of these occurrences was a surprise. I, for once, was just chewing my eggs luxuriously. I was feeling extremely pleased with myself. I had the perfect Quidditch practice planned, and I had finished my Potion's essay early.

Just then, the sound of thousand wings beating against the wind filled the Great Hall. I turned my eyes upward, and owls started delivering their packages. I saw my own snowy white owl, Hedwig, fly down towards me. She landed softly at my side empty handed. I didn't mind, and showed her affection to let her know that. She gently nipped my hand and hooted softly. Her eyes then turned across from me, to Hermione. She had an owl perched next to her, but she was too busy studying to take notice.

"Hermione, you got mail," I told her, grinning at her confused expression as she looked up.

"I have? Let me see." Hermione took the letter from the barn owl, and it left. She opened her letter and started reading it quietly. My stomach did flip-flops when I saw the expression on her face. It was one of total horror. Her face had gone totally white and her lip started to quiver.

"Hermione?" I heard myself say. Tears started falling from her eyes.

"No..." I heard her mumble, shaking her head in denial. It was only then that Ron realized something was wrong.

"What's wrong Hermione?" he asked from beside me, leaning over to try to comfort her. They had gone out for the past year before calling it quits a few months ago. I truly believe that they loved each other, and I was the first person to be shocked about the break-up, aside from Hermione. Ron had admitted to Hermione that he didn't have feelings for her except friendship and thought it was unfair to continue the relationship and hurt her feelings. She accepted it after a while and everything was almost back to normal.

It was clear Ron was worried, but he looked unsure of what to do. I decided it would be up to me. I crawled over the table, something I'm sure Hermione would have fussed me for under normal circumstances, and sat down next to her. She had started sobbing into her napkin which she always had laying in her lap.

"'Mione, what's wrong?" I asked her again and she pushed her letter towards me. I skimmed through it and felt my heart stop. "Oh, Hermione..."

It was a letter from her parents informing her that her grandmother, Alice, had passed away the night before. I blinked back tears as I handed the paper to Ron, who read it as well. He went pale.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione," He muttered softly. By then, I had my arms around her shaking shoulders, pulling her close. Ron looked horrified at the amount of tears falling from Hermione's eyes and looked like he had no clue what to do next.

The whole room was looking us now, some pointing and staring, others looking sympathetic. I didn't bother looking over at the Slytherin table. I knew we had to get Hermione out of that place.

"C'mon, Hermione," I whispered to her, lifting her gently and starting her towards the door. She didn't protest and walked quickly with me. I heard Ron following behind us.

In no time at all, we entered the Gryffindor common room without anyone bothering us. It took both Ron and I to hold her up now, because she was sobbing hard.

"No...not Meme...not my Meme..." I heard her moan over and over again. Ron looked frightened, but I probably looked more so because he looked at me and said,

"Let's get her to her room. Then I'll stay with her while you go talk to a teacher."

I swallowed the protest that I started to make and nodded. Ron was the best thing for her now. As much as I hated to admit it, Ron was still closer to her than I was. I helped him bring Hermione to her room and get her onto her bed. She curled into a ball, her back shaking. It hurt me to the core to see her like that.

Ron sat on her bed and placed his hands on her back, trying to comfort her. He gave me a glance and I nodded. I left the room after giving her one last glimpse and went to get a teacher. The first professor that I found was Professor McGonagall. I told her what had happened, and she told me she would take care of the rest.

"Do not worry, Mr. Potter. Just be a good friend to her now. If you would go to your classes and explain Miss Granger's situation to the teachers, I would be very appreciative and it will distract you."

She said this as if I had lost the grandmother, but I did what she said and went to my classes. I was surprised that Ron was already in Charms when I got there.

"Hermione told me to go to class. I think she's a little better. Just shock," he told me before I could ask. I sat down beside him. "I already told the Professor. He understands."

I just nodded, feeling a little numb myself. The rest of the day passed as a blur. Hermione was the only thing on my mind. I didn't even hold Quidditch practice that night. I just sat in the common room while I waited for Ron to come back from visiting Hermione.

Ron came back thirty minutes after he went in. His face was pale, but relief was clear.

"She's loads better. She ate, at least." Ron flopped down on the couch.

I stared at the fire. "This is horrible, Ron. She doesn't deserve this."

"And you're telling me? I know so..." He muttered, playing with his thumb. "I wish I cared more for her...I wish I loved her like she deserves...then I could be there like she needs."

I turned my stare away from the fire to my best friend. "No way, Ron. You are here for her now. Being her boyfriend is just a title. You still care about her, right? I mean, I'm sure she knows that you are there."

"I know," he said, nodding, "It's just that I broke her heart, Harry. I don't deserve her trust or forgiveness, yet she's given me both since the break up. But...she asked for you...she wants to see you."

I blinked. "What?"

"She trusts me, but I think she trusts you more. I understand, in fact, I was about to ask her if she would have rather you. Go see her, mate. She needs you more than she needs me," Ron told me, staring at the fire. I shook my head.

"She's just upset, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it..." I told him, thinking that he was upset that she turned him out.

"No. I understand. Honestly, Harry. She needs you much more than she needs me." Ron ran a hand through his red hair and then murmured something I barely caught, "I think she always needed you more than she needed me."

***

I knocked on the door to Hermione's room five minutes later. Ron had gone up to the dormitories right after we talked, claiming that he needed sleep. I stayed behind for a few moments to get up enough courage to walk the few feet to the door of the Prefects' dorms. What did Ron mean by saying that she needed me more than she needed him?

"Come in," I heard a muffled voice on the other side, and I opened the door. Suddenly I was face to face with Hermione, her pale cheeks and sad brown eyes, sitting on her bed with her legs folded under her. She was in her two-piece nightgown that Ron had given to her our fifth year. It was pale blue, and it brought out her eyes.

"Harry," she simply said. I was unsure of what emotion I heard in her voice and her eyes revealed nothing. I blinked and stepped in closer, closing the door.

"Hey Hermione..." I started, but then she started crying again. I felt stupid and ran over to her. "Oh, 'Mione! I'm sorry..."

She shook her head. "Don't be sorry," she whispered harshly, as if her throat was raw, "It's not your fault. I'm just...I don't know what to do. Should I eat? Should I sleep? Should I cry bloody murder? I...I'm not used to this feeling, you know."

I nodded, snaking my arm around her shoulder and making her lean into my side. Her head fell on my shoulder, but she continued.

"I guess it's unfair for me to ask you what to do." She sniffed. "I mean, you had to deal with your parents, the Dursleys, Cedric. All those people who died in the war...you are the only person who had the experience with death, but it's unfair. So don't answer."

I opened my mouth but quickly closed it. It would only get her angry if I did answer. Though I did reason that her being angry at me would be better than her being sad.

"Thank you," She said suddenly.

"What? I didn't do anything." I stared down at her.

"You here, that's all that matters. You don't have to say a word, and that's all right. Your hugs are worth a thousand words," she told me, lifting her head from my shoulder. I blushed and stood up, thinking that she wanted me to leave now.

"Um, get some rest, okay? And eat something. It won't make everything go away...but it will give you the strength to try and make it through."

Hermione nodded, lowering her eyes as I started towards the door. My hand was on the door handle before she stopped me.

"Harry..." I heard her voice quiver as she spoke it. I let go of the door handle, and turned to face her. She still had tears in her eyes, but they had stopped flowing down her face.

"Yes?"

"Could you stay tonight?"

I felt my heart stop for a moment before it started beating again, if a bit faster than before. "Um..."

"Just one night...I..." her face turned slightly red, which looked much better than the paleness I had seen before. "I just don't want to be alone."

Being Head Girl, Hermione had a room of her own. I understood perfectly what she meant. When I was at the Dursley's and in a terrible mood, I would miss having a confidant near me to talk to. But I never shared a room with a girl before, except for the Great Hall during those few times we were forced out of our tower. I imagine I was the only seventh year male that hadn't.

And to make it worse, it was Hermione. Hermione! The very girl that I have been pining for since my fifth year, asking me to spend the night.

Perhaps I was taking too long; she started to sniff again. "I mean...you don't have to...maybe you could just get..."

Guilt filled my soul, "No, it's okay...It's just...yeah...I'll stay. Of course I'll stay."

Her mood perked up slightly.

I knew it probably wasn't the right question to ask at this moment. "Why me? I mean...why didn't you ask..."

"Ron?" Hermione scoffed. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. "Because I don't love him..."

I froze. I knew that they had broken up because Ron didn't have feelings for her, but I always thought Hermione still loved him. Ron felt horrible when he realized that his feelings for Hermione were no longer there. He had told me that he still cared for her, but just as a friend. He would have, of course, said yes immediately to Hermione's question, for friendship's sake.

And the way she said it. "I don't love him..." did she mean? No, she couldn't have meant...wait, what?

Obviously she caught what she said and quickly added, "Anymore...I don't love Ron anymore...I mean...I know he would...but it wouldn't be the same...I...it's just...I trust you...you're my friend, and I need you..."

I nodded quickly, though I know she probably shouldn't trust me. "Right! Of course..." I looked around the room, "Where am I going to sleep."

Hermione went red again. "Oh, I was hoping..." she looked down at her hands. "There's always the floor...or we could get a camp bed..."

"No, it's fine." I understood what she meant. She needed somebody to hold her through the night, and by golly, I would. I will keep control of the situation for her. She needs me. She trusts me. I will not break that trust. I moved forward and her eyes widened.

"You don't have-"

"Yes I do, Hermione," I told her, pulling back the blanket and slipping out of my shoes. "You've helped me loads of times before. It's my turn to help you."

I felt as though I had grown up in the past few seconds. Her needs were more important than my own were. I slipped into Hermione's bed and took her into my arms. I cradled her head to my chest, and I could already feel the dampness of her tears. I soothed back her wild curls and rocked us gently onto our sides, making her lie in my arms as she cried her poor heart out. I never let go once.

***

When I woke up the next morning, I was lying on my back, shirtless. That was when I felt the arms around my chest, clinging to me. A soft moan filled the room and the face that was hidden in the crook of my neck pressed even further. I felt curls brush against my chin. Hermione's curls.

I froze. Merlin's beard, what the hell was I doing in bed with Hermione with my bloody shirt off!? I did a mental body check and was relieved to find that besides my shoes, my shirt was the only article of clothing that was missing. Suddenly, memories of last night played through my mind, and I felt my heart break.

I had been comforting her, she had asked me to stay the night, and I accepted. She cried for a few hours before she finally calmed down. Hermione lifted her head and gave me a gracious smile.

"Thank you, Harry," she spoke softly. "You are such a great friend."

I did not have time to reply before she put her head back on my chest and realized that she was lying in her tears.

"Oh! Harry! You're soaked!" she cried, backing away slightly.

In all honesty, I hadn't really noticed. "It's okay."

"No, you'll catch your death!" Hermione exclaimed as she pushed herself up, pulling me with her. I'd opened my mouth to argue when she did the unthinkable.

She grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head.

With my glasses skewed, I stared as she threw the soaked shirt to the floor, grabbed a discarded towel and started drying my chest. When she was finished, she threw the towel to the floor and pushed me back down. She then proceeded to throw her arms around my chest and press her face into my neck, sighing deeply.

I couldn't bear to tell her that this wasn't a good idea. I just let my own arms go around her and listened to her breathing until it became deep, showing that she was finally asleep. Only then, did I let my own eyes fall from the heaviness, and I had soon found my slumber.

But that was hours ago, and I could now see the light peeking outside of Hermione's window. I shifted a little, unsure if I wanted to wake up my friend or not.

"Harry?"

Too late, I thought. "Yes?"

"Oh..." a mixture of sadness and something else I couldn't tell filled her voice. "I thought it was a dream..."

"I'm sorry," was all I could say.

"For what?" her quiet voice asked.

I didn't respond for a moment. To tell the truth, I wasn't sure. Of course I was sorry that this wasn't a dream...but part of me was sorry that...

"I've made a mistake, haven't I?" Hermione spoke again, lifting herself.

I opened my mouth in horror. "NO! You didn't make a mistake...You never make mistakes...I made the mistake, I'm sorry...Oh, Hermione...I'm sorry. I'm a total screw up...I don't know much about comforting...I never had-" I stopped myself. I'd almost said that I'd never been comforted. In a way it was true. Before I came to Hogwarts, I never knew what comfort was like. But when I met Hermione and Ron, and Hagrid and Dumbledore, and the rest of my friends, I had received it in abundance. I felt horrible for implying that that they hadn't. I turned away from her, ashamed. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean that you never..."

"No! Harry!" I felt Hermione's hands grab my face as she turned it towards her. "You've done a wonderful job...and I know what you mean. Before us, Harry, you were with people who treated you like dirt...only in the past seven years have you ever felt compassion. Ten years is still more than seven, Harry. Even if you haven't had enough time to take notes, but you did a great job, Harry. As Ron would say, a smashing job! But it's my fault!"

"How is it you're fault, Hermione?" I asked quietly. "I mean...what is your fault? Your grandmother dying? The Dursley's? 'Cos none of that was your fault."

Hermione shook her head. "I mean, the situation...I know you're not experienced...I am horrible Harry...I took advantage of you! I could have easily have asked Ron, and he would have done the same...It's just...Harry..."

"Hermione, you could never take advantage of me. I will always be with you, Hermione. You don't have to worry..."

"No, Harry!" Hermione looked extremely frustrated. "I took advantage of you being here. With me. I bloody like you, Harry, and I guilted you into staying. I didn't mean for it to be like this, Harry...I wanted for a while now for you to hold me in your arms, but I shouldn't have used my grandmother's death, or my break-up with Ron as an excuse."

It hit like a ton of bricks. "You like me?"

Hermione turned red, but she stood her ground. "Yes...I've liked you for months now...while I was still dating Ron...but I couldn't say anything. But when Ron broke up with me, I thought I had a chance. But then..."

"I kept trying to hook you two back up," I heard myself say in a distant voice. I wanted them to be happy. As much as I cared for Hermione, I thought that she really loved Ron and she deserved the best. Ron was the best. I hadn't realised that she didn't think so.

"Yes, so I thought. 'Oh, well.'" Hermione was talking to the wall now. "I was about to tell you that I had feelings for you, you know, just to get it off my chest, but then..."

"The letter."

"Yeah...and I really did feel bad, I loved my grandmother...Ron already came and comforted me, but I guess he felt he wasn't worthy of the job and...I was willing to do it on my own...but then you showed up...and I couldn't pass up the chance, Harry. I'm so sorry, but I couldn't. Don't hate me, please Harry? I wasn't thinking straight."

I stared at his beautiful creature before me, her eyes pleading and new tears falling down her face.

"Oh, Hermione...I could never hate you...you should hate me...for I've been stupid...so stupid..." I grabbed her shoulders then and lifted her to where our mouths were on equal levels. "I only wanted you to have the best, Hermione. I thought you thought that Ron was the best...I didn't know...I swear I didn't know." And then I kissed her.

She lay unmoving under my lips for only a second before her lips melted into mine and we shared our first kiss. I felt as if I had died and had reached heaven's gates. Her lips were so soft and tasted like salt from her tears. She moaned and I felt my heart flutter. I knew this was a moment we would talk about the rest of our lives.

We finally broke off after a few moments and looked at each other. Tears were spilling down her face, but I was sure they were not from sorrow.

"Oh, Harry...does that mean?"

"Hermione, I like you too...I think I love you even...And I've been a stupid prat. I was blind."

She giggled. "Well, let me help you see the way." A hand rose to my face and took off my glasses, sending them to the floor with my wet shirt and her damp towel. "You won't be needing those."

***

An hour later, Hermione was halfway under the bed, looking for my trousers.

"I swear I saw them a minute ago." Her voice was muffled.

I grinned, "Well, I'd say it was more than a minute ago..." I didn't have to see her to know she was blushing.

"I...but...you know what I mean, Potter," she said, climbing back out. I laughed and leaned over, giving her a kiss.

"It's okay, I can get to my room just fine. This won't be the first time everyone's seen me in my boxers." I knew Hermione was picturing the day Fred and George as put an invisible spell on my trousers one time after Quidditch practice, claiming it was just a spell to make them clean. I hadn't noticed until Hermione handed me two books and pointed out. "You might want to hide behind these."

Sure enough, a grin formed on her face. "You did look cute," she commented, "But I don't think I want the rest of the girls getting a second look."

Just then, someone knocked at her door. I quickly jumped to the floor and hid underneath her bed. It was a good thing I was fast, because the door opened three seconds later and I heard Ron's voice.

"Hey, Hermione. How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay," I could hear that she was trying to keep from smiling. I was praying Ron would fall for it, but then again, I should have known better.

"Okay, huh? Where's Harry? He never came in last night..." Traces of a grin were in my best friend's voice, and suddenly I was looking at Ron's face. He was bending down to look at me under the bed.

"Er, hello Ron," I said sheepishly, crawling out. I put my hands in front of me, 'cos I only had my boxers on.

"Had a little fun, did we?" Ron smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "I guess this is your idea of comforting?"

I felt myself turning red, and started to explain when he waved it off.

"Just jokin', mate. I think you two are great together. Just wanted to sneak you off back to our room before the rest of the guys get up. I would hate to have McGonagall come in on you..."

That wiped the grin off our faces at once. "I can't find my trousers."

Ron grinned. "Good thing invisible cloaks don't care, isn't it?" He said and grabbed the package I did not see him bring in and handed it to me.

"Thanks, mate." I said, putting it over my shoulder. I quickly grabbed what clothes Hermione and I could find, and gave her a quick kiss. "See you later, love." And then Ron joined me under the Invisibility Cloak, and we were off to our own room in the boys' dormitories.

After I was dressed in new clothing, I went downstairs to find Hermione sitting in the common room, staring into the fireplace. I sat down beside her and she rested her head on my shoulder. We were silent for a few moments before she spoke.

"I don't know what I would be without you, Harry."

"A virgin, for one." A pink colour tinted her cheeks, and a smile formed on her lips.

"I mean...thank you, Harry. You've made it easier..."

"I know...you welcome...you're always welcome..." I told her, kissing her forehead.

"I love you."

My heart fluttered. She had never said it while we were in her bedroom, but I didn't think I needed to hear it, for I knew it in my heart. But it felt so much better now that I heard the words.

"I love you, too." We kissed, and then we sat in the silence as we heard people start waking up.

"When are you leaving for the funeral?" I asked.

"In a couple of hours," Hermione replied, the distance back in her voice. "I wish you could go with me."

"Maybe I could, I could always use my cloak."

That brought her grin back. "And they would all think I'm crazy, talking to thin air. No...I have to do this alone...I can do this alone...it would just..."

"Be nice if I was there." I finished her sentence, which I found that I was doing more and more as of late.

"Yeah..."

"Granger. Potter." A voice called to the two of us, and we looked up. Professor McGonagall was standing at the hole of the common room, looking at us. For a moment I thought we were in trouble, but the sympathetic look on our Transfiguration teacher's face told me I had nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, we both got up immediately and greeted her.

"Good morning, Professor." Hermione and I said in unison.

"Good morning...how are you feeling, Miss Granger?"

"I'm fine, Professor...Harry's helped me a bit," Hermione spoke, a little nervous. The normally stern teacher just nodded her head.

"I understand, Miss Granger. The carriage that will take you to the train will arrive at nine. If you want, Mr. Potter, you could accompany her to the station. You will be excused from your class."

"Thank you, Professor," I said, feeling relieved. McGonagall turned to leave, but suddenly stopped.

"And I will advise that you both take better care next time that you are not caught going into each other's rooms." McGonagall said with a smirk, and left the tower. Both Hermione and I stood shocked as she exited. Then she turned to me.

"She would make a good headmaster. She's just like Dumbledore."

I nodded in agreement. "I guess you have to have an extra eye or something to get the job."

"Probably," she said, throwing her arms around me. "What does your extra eyes tell you?"

I grinned. "How much you love me."

Hermione's brown eyes twinkled as she smiled. "It better."

I kissed her lips gently and led her towards the portrait hole. I looked behind me and realised that our just one night would turn out to be many wonderful nights.

The End