Harry Potter has always been a loyal friend. But one day, he decided to take a risk. And the risk...was worth it.


"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed as Hermione came running at him and Ron.

"Harry! Ron! I'm sorry I didn't write you this summer. My owl has been in bad shape, and just this past week he..passed on." Hermione started sniffling.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione!" Harry said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"An owl? You're crying over an owl?" Ron said, obviously not the most intelligent about sympathy.

Harry gave him a look, and Hermione looked up from her hands to scowl at him. She smiled at Harry.

"Thanks. I suppose it's alright. Mum has already bought me a new one. Her name is Pandora. Ya know, after the Goddess..of love." Hermione said, with a little squeak.

"Right...Because owls can give you love." Ron remarked, snorting.

"Ron, just shut up! Why can't you be more like Harry!" Hermione yelled, storming out of the Great Hall and up the stairs, no doubt to the common room.

"Ay..sixth year can be quite the bit..." Ron stopped as Professor Snape approached the duo.

"Potter. Weasley." Snape grunted, passing them.

Harry and Ron exchanged glances, and headed to their dormitory.

"Hi Harry." Ginny Weasley said as Harry and Ron passed her.

"Hey, Ginny. How was your summer?" Harry asked, stopping in front of Ron, causing him to trip.

Ginny laughed hysterically.

"It was good. Nothing too exciting. Ron, what do you suppose you're doing?" Ginny asked as she saw Ron sitting on the ground.

"My wand...fell. Would ya mind helping me look for it?" He asked hopefully.

"No, I'm good. See ya around, Harry." Ginny said, continuing down the stairwell.

***

"Hermione, where were you at dinner? You missed the pudding!" Ron asked her as Harry and himself entered the Gyriffindor common room.

"Pudding? Is that all you care about, Ronald? PUDDING?" Hermione exhaled a deep breath.

"I was studying. You do know that Snape is giving out a Potions test tomorrow, right?" Hermione asked, already knowing the answer.

"What? A test..on the first day of classes?" Harry asked, groaning.

Ron stood still, in shock.

"Oh, no! Mum is going to kill me if I don't do good." Ron said, plopping down on the couch.

"Well, Ronald. Your mum is going to kill you if you don't do well." Hermione corrected him, rolling her eyes.

"Well, I guess I better head off to bed." Ron said, getting up.

" 'Night mates."

"Well then, I guess it's just you and me." Hermione said to Harry, examining the room to see if anyone else was there.

"I guess so." Harry said, sitting on the couch, next to Hermione.

A minute of silence went by.

"Well, we could talk about..uhm.." Harry started.

"We could talk about us." Hermione finished.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Harry asked, squinting.

"You know..us. You do realize there's something between us, correct?" Hermione said, not caring that she looked like a fool.

"Uhm..I don't..know. Is there?" Harry asked, starting to sweat.

"Come on, Harry. It's there. We both know it. Ever since first year." Hermione continued, explaining.

"But what about you and Ron?" Harry asked, beginning to get confused.

"What about Ronald and I? You didn't seriously think we...liked each other, did you?" Hermione snorted.

"Uh..he did." Harry asked, still confused.

"Well, I don't have any feelings for him. I think I...I think I have them for you." Hermione said, placing her hand on Harry's knee.

"Woah." Harry replied, moving her hand off of his knee.

"You mean to tell me you don't think we have chemistry?" Hermione asked, angered.

"I never said that. You just brought it on so suddenley. I need time to think. A little space." Harry said, standing up.

"Well, Harry, you just come find me when you've had enough space!" Hermione said, getting up and going to the girl's dormitory.

Harry went into his own dormitory, and got his pajamas on.

He sat on his bed, and began to think.

After a while, he realized that he did like Hermione. And he had just ruined his would-be relationship with her.

He stood up, and exited the dormitory. He went into the common room to find Hermione sitting on the couch, reading a book.

"Harry! I mean, what are you doing in here at this hour?" She said, looking at him.

"I could ask you the same question." He retorted.

Hermione stood up and walked towards him.

"Listen..I've just been thinking about what I said, and-"

On impulse, Harry put his hand on her cheek, and kissed her.

"Wha?" Hermione began, but then kissed him back.

It was passionate. Fiery. The best, and only, kiss she every had. She didn't want to break it.

Hermione placed her hands on Harry's chest.

"Harry. I love you." Hermione said, looking up at him.

"I love you, too, Hermione." Harry said, embracing her into a hug.

They kissed again, before going back to their dormitories, never to reveal their secret romance again.

Ever.