Harry Potter and the Desideratum Crusade [Harmione]

28. Taking The Next Step

Harry stood outside Hermione's door for what seemed like a long time. He wasn't sure what was going to happen if he went in there. His heart was battling with his brain. He wanted to be with her, and yet, she distracted him.

Hermione was snuggled down under her comforter, reading her book when she heard a tap at the door.

"Come in Harry," she said. Somehow, she knew he would come tonight.

Harry came in and quietly closed the door behind him before coming to stand beside her bed. Hermione patted the mattress beside her and after a slight hesitation; Harry sat, all the while watching her face. Hermione looked at him, waiting for him to make the first move.

"I thought I had lost you," he said quietly after a minute. "I lost you, and the last thing I did was make you angry," Harry sighed and stared out the window. "I didn't mean that I thought you were weak. It's just that I am so used to you being around and I don't know what would happen if I lost you, like I've lost everyone else. Does that make sense?"

Hermione reached over and squeezed Harry's hand.

"I'm sorry too, Harry," she said.

"What for?" Harry asked, shifting to look at her. "You didn't do anything."

"You're right, I didn't. I have spent so much time with my head in my books that I haven't thought about what would happen if we ran into more Death Eaters. You were right, to a point. I need to train more, and so does Ron. We haven't really done anything since we came back to school."

"I'm sure Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody would be willing to help," Harry said as he clasped her hand in his.

They stared at each other for a few moments before Harry realized that intimacy of the situation. He could feel his stomach do a little flip, and his heart began to pound. He broke his gaze as he stood up, letting go of her hand. He was still not quite ready to say everything that was on his mind. He definitely lacked the Gryffindor courage in that department.

"Well, I guess you're tired. I should let you get some sleep," He said as he started for the door.

"Harry..." Hermione trailed off.

Harry turned to look at her sitting in the middle of her bed.

"You know, I'm so used to having Ginny here, and this room seems so big..."

Harry hesitated, looking at her, wondering where she wanted this to go, wondering where he wanted this to go; afraid that he was going to screw up again. He finally cleared his throat.

"Would you like me to stay? You know, just for a while?" he asked quietly as he slowly retraced his steps.

"I would really like the company," Hermione said shyly as she patted the bed beside her, kicking the comforter down to the end of the bed as she did so.

Harry sat down beside her, taking in the old t-shirt and shorts that she was wearing. He never realized that something like that could look so good on her. He kicked off his trainers and scooted up to lean against the headboard. Hermione pulled her book back on to her lap and flipped the page.

"These books are so fascinating," she said as she leafed through to where she left off. "Some of the spells I have found may be useful," she showed the pages to Harry as he leaned closer.

They spent the next half-hour just talking and looking at her book, and Harry found himself relaxing, happy that they seemed to have settled back into their comfortable relationship. His fear of losing her not only as a friend, but as something else...It was hard for him to even think of what his life would be like without her. He put his arm around her and she snuggled into his side. Harry leaned back and closed his eyes, drifting between the peacefulness of sleep and wakefulness, as he listened to Hermione read passages from her book. She stopped reading after a few moments, and when she didn't resume, Harry cracked one eye open to find her asleep against his chest. She looked so peaceful that Harry didn't have the heart to wake her. After short battle between his heart and his head, he carefully slid down the bed, taking her with him. Hermione sighed and rolled over to snuggle in closer, laying one hand on his chest.