The Essence of Gryffindor

Harry woke early the next morning. Having had a short yet peaceful sleep, he felt quite relieved. He decided to get up and have an early start. He went to the showers so as to get in and out before the morning rush entered.

He finished his morning routine with a lot of time to spare. He decided to go down to the common room and sit in his favorite armchair by the fire for a while, but when he got there he found that the chair was already occupied.

It was Arelise. She was curled up, fast asleep in his favorite chair with a book clutched lazily in her hand. He didn't want to wake her so he went to the chair at the other end of the sofa. She looked so peaceful. Her beautiful blonde hair was falling down over her face, her lips were curled into a slight smile, and her torso moved steadily up and down as she slept.

Harry was trying to grasp the feeling he felt. He felt as if he were falling in love with a girl he barely knew. He wasn't even sure he could call it love. He'd only met her yesterday, but he felt like he'd known her forever

She began to stir. He could see her eyes open slightly behind the curtain of hair. She pushed it out of her face and blushed when she saw him. "Harry! How long have you been here?" she asked, obviously a little embarrassed being found this way.

"Oh, only about ten minutes," Harry said, "What are you doing down here?"

"I...um...I couldn't sleep. I came down here to do a little reading. I must have drifted off."

"Indeed, you must have," he said smiling. She blushed even more.

"Um...let me just go change and freshen up a little. I'll be right down."

"I'll be waiting."

Indeed he did. He waited, and it was surprisingly not long at all until he heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs from the girls' dormitory. She looked stunning, even in her school robes, which most people look like complete loonies in.

They sat side by side on the sofa gazing into the fire. She asked him about his many adventures and encounters with Voldemort. He answered everything she asked. He was feeling surprisingly open with her, given the fact that they had basically just met. She asked him about Sirius and he told her about the events of his third year and how Sirius was his godfather. He explained how he felt when he watched him die, somehow unable to stop himself. Quietly she said, "Harry...I'm so sorry."

He looked at her and she looked back. She had a look on her face that Harry recognized. Not the look of pity, which he got from most people, but the look he got from Hermione and Ron. It was a look of understanding, of friendship, of love. The feeling it gave him was comfort.

~*~*~*~*~

It wasn't too long before they heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Hermione. "Good morning Harry," she said in her morning cheerful tone, "What are you doing up so early? Who's that with you?" They both turned to look at her. "Oh! Arelise! Good morning! How are you?"

"Good morning, Hermione," she said, "I'm fine. How are you?"

"Oh, I'm just wonderful. It's a beautiful morning. I woke up to the first little beam of sunlight shining on me. It was just so refreshing. It's so good to be back."

Harry and Arelise both nodded in agreement.

"I was thinking of heading down to breakfast early," Hermione continued, "Would the two of you like to join me?"

Harry looked at Arelise. She looked back at him and smiled. "We'd love to," he said. They both got up off the sofa and walked towards her. "But what about Ron?" Harry added as an afterthought.

"Oh you know him," she said, "By the time he gets down to breakfast there will be just enough time to grab a bit of toast and be off."

"Good point."

"So I take it Ron's a heavy sleeper?" Arelise asked.

"Sleeps like a rock," Harry said, "Mind you, I'm not normally up early either. I'm not as bad as Ron of course, but I do have my days."

"All too true!" Hermione said smiling, "I love the two of them, but I don't know what they would do without me."

"Oh we would do just fine," Harry said. Hermione gave him one of those 'don't push it' looks. "Well," Harry started again, "maybe we do need you for some things." She merely looked at him as he gave her one of his innocent smiles. They all laughed.

~*~*~*~*~

Arelise was enjoying herself by all means. She had never felt wanted like this before. They were including her in everything and talking directly to her. She couldn't wait to get to know Ron, for she adored Hermione already. She was actually becoming quite fond of Harry, and it wasn't just because he was the first person to acknowledge her existence at Hogwarts. No, it was something else. There was just something about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

There was something in his eyes, she noticed. When he looked at Hermione they were the normal emerald shade of green, but when he looked at her they sparkled and shone like emeralds embedded in jade. They were beautiful. His mother's no doubt...and his smile. She absolutely fell in love with his smile the first time she saw it.

Her feeling towards him was odd. She felt as if she were falling in love with him. But how could she be falling in love with a boy she barely knew? She'd give it some time. Perhaps it wasn't love she felt. Perhaps it was something else. Maybe it was love. Maybe it was just the beginning stages of love. She didn't know. She did know one thing for sure...this was the beginning of the best Hogwarts year of her life.