Holding On

Chapter 2 - "Falling" in Love

Hermione woke up after very little sleep; her thoughts had kept her up. She hated this feeling; she hated how every thought she had would turn to him. Him,the boy she'd known for so long the boy who'd been one of her best friends for years, why did it have to be him?

It had only happened recently but she knew she was in trouble. Staring at him and trying to spend extra time with him alone had become new hobbies for Hermione. It was so bad, the night before she caught herself doodling hearts wrapped around "HG + HP Forever" and even testing out how "Mrs. Hermione Potter" looked on paper. Oh well, she said to herself, It's just a stupid crush. You'll get over it just like all your other crushes and then you'll be back to regular old Hermione. Might as well enjoy it while you can, Mrs. Potter. She laughed and got dressed for breakfast.

Hermione half skipped down the stairs and her heart fully skipped when she saw Harry finishing the homework he hadn't finished the night before. "Good morning, he said seeing her enter the common room.

"Hi Harry," she half squeaked to him trying to compose herself and not do something stupid. "What are you doing?" she asked when she saw the books in front of him. "I thought you finished your work last night."

Harry smiled and Hermione's heart melted. "I got distracted," he said getting distracted by her again. "But I'm done now," he coughed himself back to reality, "food. Let's get some food." Hermione smiled and they set off towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry went weak in the knees at the sight of her smile, her beautiful smile, and then the daydreaming started. He dreamed about her, about everything about her, and there was no waking him, nothing could free him from his Hermione Trance. Oh... well, there was one thing. While Harry was dreaming about Hermione's amazing eyes, he tripped over his own foot and toppled down two flights of stairs.

Hermione ran after him trying not to laugh at how his feet flew over his head, incase he was really hurt. "Harry! Are you OK?"

"Ow," he groaned as the few people that witnessed his wonderful dive laughed hysterically at him. He looked up into her brown eyes full of concern and a little laughter. "I'm fine," he said as he tried desperately to search for a way to blame something else for the cause of his embarrassment.

She couldn't hold it back anymore and her laugh snorted its way out. "That was spectacular."

"Thanks," he said pushing her away playfully. Hermione was unable to stifle her hysterical laughter the rest of the way to the Great Hall. Harry kept telling her to be quiet but never meant it; he loved listening to her laughter and would be quite content to listen to it all day long.

Hermione broke into detailed descriptions of Harry's fall entertaining half the Gryffindor table into fits of laughter. No one noticed that Ron was missing from the table.

Ron tried to avoid Harry and Hermione all day, which was hard considering they were in all the same classes. He kept noticing the glassy eyed looks the two of them had acquired and how they kept stealing glances at one another during classes. This made him mad, so mad he could barely control himself. What was going on between them and why did neither of them tell him? Ron knew however that that wasn't the real reason he was mad. He had been battling feelings for Hermione since fourth year when they had the Yule Ball at Hogwarts. He just never had enough courage to do anything about it. Well this time, he decided he wouldn't let some other guy sweep her off her feet, he was going to do it first, he was going to do it tonight.

That night the Gryffindor common room was crowded once again, but this time it was a lot noisier. Harry and Hermione sat in a secluded corner together (to each other's extreme delight) reading, though neither of them read much.

Ron entered the common room through the portrait hole, quickly scanned it for Hermione and found her sitting alone with Harry. Shit he thought and he ran over to them as fast as he could sprawling himself over their table, not being able to stop in time. "HermioneIloveyouwillyoubemygirlfriend?" He blurted out faster than he thought was possible.

Hermione stared with her mouth wide open trying to think of something to say, anything to say. "Ron, I..." she stammered. Harry held his breath waiting for the worst. He waited for what felt like eternity for Hermione to speak, but Ron spoke instead.

"UGH, just say it!" Ron said getting angry now. "Just say that you can't because You Love Harry."

"Ron," Hermione's face went bright red instantly.

"I Know It, You Know It, EVERYONE KNOWS IT," he said yelling now. "THE ONLY GIT STUPID ENOUGH NOT TO KNOW IT, IS HARRY." The entire common room was watching now. "Why don't you show him your essay from last night Mrs. Hermione Potter," every single set of eyes was now on Hermione who was redder than red and wishing she would just melt away. The room was so silent everyone seemed to be holding their breath from shock and anticipation.

Hermione looked at Ron with tears building in her eyes, "Ron, how could you?" She barely whispered and ran to her dormitory the tears flowing now. Ginny followed after her giving Ron a dirty look first. Ron stomped off up to his dormitory without looking at anybody and the common room went back to normal, except for Harry who continued to stare at the spot where Hermione sat.