Passion

PASSION

CHAPTER 1: the discovery of love

"Hey Harry!" That voice sounded familiar. "Harry! What are you doing later?" Hermione had been drifting through his mind all day.

"Nothing yet. Why?"

"I thought you might want to go to Hogsmeade. You know Ron's with his family visiting Charlie with his family and I thought we could take a break from our homework."

That's not like Hermione, thought Harry.

"Sure," he replied with a feeling of deep satisfaction inside him.

Hermione had really grown this year. Her personality had blossomed into something Harry was finding hard to overlook. Her physical features had also become more pronounced over the last summer.

Christmas called many Hogwarts students back home to their families and this year Ron was one of those many students. But this year Hermione's parents were busy with work and as neither Harry nor the Dursley's were really fond of each other's company, they were two of the very few that were staying back over the holidays. It would therefore make sense to go to Hogsmeade with Hermione, not only because it was Hermione we were talking about here, but the town would be practically empty.

Harry had to admit he wasn't one for romance, so openly exhibited the previous year on his first date with Cho Chang, but he wasn't beginning to realize that he had begun to have feelings for Hermione.

"Harry!"

Harry was drawn out of his daydream by a familiar voice. It was Colin Creevey. Oh great, Harry thought bitterly as Colin and his little brother Dennis ran up to him.

"Harry! We were wondering if you weren't doing anything for the Hogsmeade trip, you would come and hang out with us."

"Sorry Colin," Harry answered. Though he wasn't really feeling sorry. "I'm already occupied for that particular weekend."

"Oh, okay," Colin muttered looking slightly downhearted. "See you then."

He and his little brother plodded away from the breakfast table into the Entrance Hall. On a normal occasion he would have reconsidered this offer at the look on the Creevey brother's faces, but this was different.

*

"Harry! Are you coming?"

"Yeah, just hold on a second."

This was it. Harry's first proper outing with Hermione and Hermione alone. Harry sat on his bed tying the laces on his shoes and thinking of the afternoon ahead of him. There were only two ways it could end up. It could turn out swell with all plans and events running smoothly. That was one option. The other was chaos. Harry could remember only to well the date he had gone on with Cho Chang, his school crush for two and a half years. That crush had stopped after their first date, however, when Cho had stormed out of the café because Harry had not wanted to talk about Cedric.

It couldn't get that bad.

Harry walked down the stairs to the portrait hole where Hermione was standing, waiting for him.

"Shall we?" Her smile was too much for him.

"Let's," he replied. And with that, they were off to Hogsmeade.

The afternoon went wonderfully with no Ron to interrupt the lovely quiet of certain locations, no Gryffindors to come and chat them up. And best of all, no Malfoy to jeer at them because he was on holiday with his parents in Spain.

The first awkward moment of the day came while they were in the Three Broomsticks drinking their butterbeers.

"Say Hermione," Harry said in between two slurps of the delicious brew.

"Yeah?" she replied while staring out the window.

"I don't know if this relevant to our friendship and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I've always been curious to know where... you live." Harry ended the statement slowly as not to shock her if she didn't want to answer. However, Hermione's eyes just brightened up and she put down her butterbeer.

"I live in k," she answered, looking at him thoughtfully. "Why?"

"No reason," Harry answered before taking another little sip. "Just curious."

"Curious for what reason?" She smirked at him from behind her drink. "Going to come over one night and sneak me out the back for some quality time together?" Her face suddenly changed to a daydreaming look, but then a few seconds later she seemed to realize and snapped out of it. Harry was looking at her curiously. Why had she gotten that dreamy look after joking about if he wanted to sneak her out? Hermione seemed to notice this because she quickly finished her drink and suggested they go back to the castle as it was getting late. Slightly disappointed, Harry agreed and got out his money as he had offered to pay for the drinks.

The walk back up to the castle was practically silent as both were recapping the day's events.

The castle was so much warmer than outside, and as they were the first couple back they got the comfy chairs by the fireplace. They had some Transfiguration homework due first day back so they thought they ought to get that out of the way as to enjoy the rest of their break. But Harry just couldn't get this equation right.

"Honestly, Harry, It's quite simple. Look I'll show you."

Hermione came over to Harry's chair and sat on the arm rest. As she began to show Harry how to do the equation, she slid off the arm and right into Harry's lap. They just stared into each other's eyes. And slowly, very slowly, their faces drew closer.

After what seemed like an eternity, their lips met, and both felt a sensation they had dreamed possible. Hermione swung her arms around Harry and pulled him to her as he pressed slightly harder against her mouth. For over a minute they stayed glued to the lips as if by some spell, and then very suddenly Hermione pulled away. She looked at his with surprise, shock, excitement and fear all at once. Then just as suddenly as she pulled away she sprung towards him and kissed him even more passionately. In amongst the kissing they both muttered a few words to each other.

"I love you Harry."

I love you too Hermione, with a passion."