A Summer of Love

Harry lay in bad that night, thinking about how close he had been to Hermione, and what she had said when she did run into him. And had she been staring back at him afterwards?

Harry sighed. He didn't want to ruin the great friendship he had with Hermione. If anything, spending the summer at her house was bringing them closer together. But Harry knew that something as simple as a kiss could cause things to become strange between them.

And that was the last thing he wanted. Hermione estranged from him. He didn't know if he would have been able to stand Hermione feeling different, maybe uncomfortable, around him. And this would be true even if his romantic interest in her were to fade.

Harry fell into a fitful slumber, pondering all of this.

---

Harry awoke quite later than he was used to. Bright rays of sunlight were streaming through his bedroom window. The whole room lit up. It was quite different from the usual grayish light that usually permeated his room in the mornings.

He sat on the edge of his bed, pondering what to do, and what time it was. Finally, Harry took a quick shower and put on some regular clothes.

He walked down the stairs and into an empty kitchen. The house was very quiet, especially for there being two other people, including a baby.

Harry felt his throat constrict. No, he thought, Voldemort wouldn't come here. He can't come here. Harry frantically started roaming about the house, checking all of the rooms for Hermione and Ashley. All the while, frantically thinking, If he had come, why didn't he go after me? Is this some sort of freak torture thing?

Harry ended up pacing in the kitchen, the palms of his hands pressed to his forehead in thought. Where were they?

Just then, a piece of paper on the kitchen table caught his eye. Harry picked it up, reading it carefully.

Harry,

Ashley and I went out for a walk. It was just so sunny and inviting outside. Plus, you can only play dolls for so long before it gets boring.

Don't worry. Voldemort didn't kidnap us, or anything like that. Trust me. Don't worry yourself into a tizzy.

-Hermione

Harry let out a sigh of relief. 'Don't worry yourself into a tizzy.' Nice, Potter. Nice, Harry thought. He quickly poured himself some cereal, taking his first bite as he heard the front door open.

"Good morning, sleepy head," Hermione said, repeating what Harry had said to her the morning before.

Harry swallowed the cereal he was currently chewing. "Good morning." Harry took another bite. "How are you two this morning?"

Hermione placed Ashley in her high chair. That way Hermione would have two free hands. She sat down across the table from Harry. "I'm fine. Ashley behaved quite well, and seems perfectly fine to me." Ashley let out another one of those half laughs, confirming what Hermione said.

Harry smiled. "That's good." He paused, stirring his cereal. "Sorry I didn't wake up."

Hermione chuckled. "It's okay. It is your vacation after all."

Harry had taken a bite of cereal, and he swallowed it. "Yeah. But it's your vacation too."

Hermione shook her head. "Harry, it's okay. You let me sleep in yesterday. You can sleep in every once in a while."

Harry ate in silence. The crunch of cereal filled the silence. Sure, he had let Hermione sleep in. But she hadn't slept until practically noon.

"Harry."

Harry looked up, meeting Hermione's deep brown eyes. He stopped chewing his cereal, and swallowed, causing him a little discomfort in the throat area. Those brown eyes entranced him. "Yeah?"

"Don't worry about it," she said, unblinking. Harry blinked, diverting his eyes from hers in favor of a point somewhere over her left shoulder.

He continued to eat, then wash his bowl in the sink, before he returned to sit at the table. He drummed his fingers lightly on the table idly. What to do today?

Hermione seemed to read his mind, as usual. "What do you want to do today, Harry?"

He thought momentarily. "It's a sunny day outside. Perfect for swimming." Harry thought that it was a pretty good idea. But they had already done that, so Hermione may not have been so keen.

Hermione smiled. "Great idea! I'll--"

Harry cut her off. "No. I'll get Ashley's bathing suit on. You can go ahead an swim." He smiled at a stunned Hermione. She obviously wasn't used to being interrupted.

Harry stood up and took Ashley upstairs, where he promptly changed her into her bathing suit. Then he said, "Sorry, Ashley, but I've got to put you in your crib for about two seconds." He quickly ran into his room, where he changed into his trunks. He quickly returned to Ashley, who was squirming on her back.

Harry walked her out to the pool, where he put on her orange floaties again.

Hermione was already swimming. Harry was trying to get Ashley's floaties on, as she started saying, "My... nee." Pause. "Myn... ee." Yet another pause. "Mynee!"

Harry looked at Ashley quizzically. "Did you just say 'Mione'?"

Ashley let out one of her half laughs. "Mione!"

Harry looked back and forth from Hermione to Ashley. Hermione dove under the water. Harry waited for her to surface. "Uh, Hermione? You may want to come here."

Harry quickly walked over to Harry. "Is something wrong?"

Harry swallowed. "Just listen."

Ashley reached up for Hermione and said, "Mione!"

Hermione gasped, and sat down in the nearest chair. She took Ashley into her arms, and kissed the baby on the top of her head. "Harry... she said my name!"

Harry smiled. It was cute. Hermione was all starry-eyed for the baby now. Harry handed Hermione the other floatie. "Would you like to try and get that on Ashley?"

Hermione nodded, absently taking the floatie. She laughed whenever Ashley said her name.

Harry dove into the pool. He watched the two sisters as he treaded water.

Eventually, Hermione regained her senses, and slid the floatie onto Ashley's arm, and carried the now talking baby into the pool.

---

After Hermione had put Ashley down for her nap, she sat next to Harry on the couch. It wasn't quite as close as the other night, and Harry had a suspicion that that was because of their close encounter the night before.

Hermione grinned, ecstatic. "Oh Harry, this is wonderful. Her first word was my name!" Hermione let out a delighted squeal, obviously still excited that the only word Ashley could speak was 'Mione'.

Harry smiled. "Of course it was. You're her big sister. And you've taken really good care of her."

Hermione was practically bouncing in her seat. "But it wasn't 'mama' or 'dada' or something like that. It was 'Mione'."

Harry suppressed the urged to say that he knew that, and that he was there. Instead, he opted for, "Well, I bet it's really neat for a baby to say your name first." Harry was feeling slightly envious.

Hermione smiled, not saying anything, just relaxing back in the couch. They sat there like that for a few minutes, in silence. Hermione finally said, "You've taken good care of her too."

She turned her head to look at Harry, a partial smile upon her lips. Harry couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Hermione's smile widened just a little, and Harry felt his widen as well.

They stared at each other a while, just like they had the night before. Harry had to wonder what Hermione felt toward him. What is just friendship? Or did she, too, want more? Harry hoped that it was the latter. And he hoped that some magical billboard would point it out to him, so he could approach her about his feelings with out worrying about their friendship.

"Want to swim?" Hermione's quiet inquiry broke the silence. Harry was still in his trunks, but he didn't know if Hermione still had her suit on.

"Only if you want to," he replied, his voice a low murmur.

Hermione grinned. "Okay."

---

That night, Harry lay on the grass in the Granger's backyard, looking up at the stars. He was thinking about what had happened earlier that afternoon. Particularly, the thing on the couch, after Hermione had put Ashley down for her nap.

Harry knew that they had only gone for an innocent swim. But he knew that his mind was thinking of the many different ways it could have gone. They were having a lot of fun, which was interrupted by the cries of Ashley.

As far as Harry knew, Hermione had already gone up to bed. She had said that that was where she was going about half an hour ago, when she had left Harry watching the television. Harry had watched a few more minutes, before turning the television off to look at the clear sky.

There was a large moon above them. It was full, and Harry immediately thought of Lupin. Hopefully the poor fellow was okay. Harry glanced up at the stars, remembering the astronomy O.W.L. he took in his fifth year. Something had stuck with him, as he was recognizing many of the constellations.

Harry felt his eyes closing longer every time he blinked. Harry soon stood up, not wanting to fall asleep outside. He looked up at the stars. Sometimes, he just wished that he could be up there.

Harry yawned and walked back inside, locking the door. He walked slowly up the stairs, careful not to make any noise, since the girls were sleeping.

He quickly peeked into Ashley's room. Seeing nothing but a sleeping baby, he quietly closed the door. Harry paused outside of Hermione's door. Should he check in on her, or not? Harry debated with himself before finally deciding that he'd peek in.

Harry slowly and carefully opened the door. He saw that Hermione was not asleep. She was sitting at her window, looking out at the sky that Harry had been looking up at no more than five minutes before. Her back was to him.

Harry closed the door as quietly as he had opened it, smiling slightly. He walked quietly into his room. He climbed under the covers, and looked at the roof above him.

Harry slowly fell asleep, images of the moon, the starry sky, and Hermione passing through his dreams.