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He was staring at her.

Draco Malfoy.

She didn't seem to notice, as she kept talking with Ginny, who was sitting next to her. But Harry noticed. He saw Malfoy watching her. Malfoy, actually, seemed oblivious to Harry's glares across the Great Hall, for he kept eyeing the girl next to the Boy-Who-Lived: Hermione Granger.

Harry scowled, angered at his enemy for studying his best friend and the girl of his affections. He suddenly lost his appetite.

"Hermione?"

"Yeah?" she asked as Ginny turned back to gossip with her friend, Robin.

Harry motioned to her empty plate. "You hungry?"

She shook her head. "I just came 'cause of Ron," she pointed at their friend across from them pigging out and chatting with Neville Longbottom at the same time (a disgusting sight to see).

Harry jabbed his finger toward the open doors. "Want to go for a walk?"

Hermione smiled warmly, making Harry's own lips turn slightly upward. Her smile always gave him comfortable chills. It was beautiful, as was she, and it caused him to get a bit nervous around her. "Sure," she told him. "I have nothing else to do. Unless you count Ron abusing his table manners."

Harry chuckled lightly, getting up from the stool he was sitting on. Hermione followed, telling Ron they were leaving and would meet him later before she would head off to bed in the Head Boy/Girl dorms.

Ron simply nodded at their retreating figures, smiling behind their backs. He always knew Harry had a thing for Hermione, although he never knew how strong the feeling was.

Hermione strode gracefully through the doors out into the hallway, but before Harry followed, he turned his head halfway to look at Malfoy. He was still staring. Only this time, his expression clearly showed jealousy and disapproval. As Harry turned back to Hermione, he smiled to himself.

As the two walked in silence out the castle doors, Harry studied Hermione's beautiful features. She truly was lovely, with her graceful movements and perfect curves. Of course, she refused to wear tight or short clothes; she didn't want to be a Pansy Parkinson, a slut in every way. She was different. Her creamy skin was flawless, her caramel eyes large and stunning, always searching for emotions when she looked at people. Her hair tumbled down her back in soft curls, held back by a red ribbon. Some hairs escaped, shaping itself around her face.

And her lips, Harry's favorite part. They were a pretty pink, full and smooth. He loved the way they curled upward magnificently, always causing him to smile back at her. These lips were what shaped her words. They were the cause of her sounding like a goddess, matching her looks perfectly. Harry was thankful Hermione wasn't all for looks though, but he thought she was still beautiful inside and out.

Harry was absorbed staring at Hermione's lips. They invited him to come closer and closer, but he had to pull himself away, just like always, and it cracked his heart to know that she could never be his.

Hermione sensed eyes scanning her body. She looked up at Harry and was surprised that he was the one staring. Harry, trying to avoid suspicion, smiled at Hermione before looking forward again. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. She wasn't one to be fooled so easily. But she couldn't point out a reason why he was looking at her. Sure she was smart, but every possibility running through her head seemed like such a stupid idea.

The two made their way to the Everlasting Gardens, the secret place the Golden Trio always went in their free time. They reached the large, healthy-looking hedge, and Hermione took out her wand and whispered the Latin spell to open it for them. The hedge split apart, making an entrance to the Everlasting Gardens.

Silence.

Harry and Hermione walked and sat down on a bench. The small, circular clearing surrounded them, the hedge shifting back into a wall.

Hermione hated the silence. Why wasn't Harry speaking to her? Did she do something wrong? No, that couldn't be it. He wouldn't have invited her for a walk if he didn't want to be with her.

"Harry?" she whispered, trying to make conversation.

Harry tore his eyes away from the ground and stared back at his friend. Of course, he stayed silent.

Hermione bit back a gasp. For the first time in months, she was looking straight into Harry's eyes. She never realized how magnificent his eyes were, bright and green and stunning in every way. They seemed to light Hermione's heart up, filling her with warmth and passion. She couldn't tear her eyes away.

As for Harry, he felt the same. He knew his eyes were pouring out emotions, but for a change, he didn't care if Hermione saw his bottled up emotions. He couldn't control anything anymore. He couldn't deny his feelings for her. She was just so wonderful, so great, so perfect, and he just couldn't look away.

Harry kept staring through her eyes, raising his arm to pick a blossoming rose from a nearby bush. He brought the white rose closer to Hermione, unable to control his words.

"A rose for a rose who's more beautiful than one," he whispered, still looking at Hermione's eyes. Hermione looked slightly down at the rose Harry was handing to her, surprised that Harry could say such romantic things. Her lips parted in shock, holding the stem carefully as to not prick her fingers on the thorns. She looked back up into Harry's addicting eyes.

He was moving closer.

His eyes were pools of green, and every second, they moved toward her. She couldn't move away. She was too shocked, and yet excited. He was so close, she could feel his breath on her face.

He closed his eyes, as did she. He was finally going to do it, finally going to kiss her. It would be a matter of moments before their lips would touch. They were so close, not more than a centimeter apart. They were almost there, almost ready to express both their feelings for each other, almost-

"Amor vincit omnia!"

Harry and Hermione's eyes snapped open, moving their faces away from each other quickly, just as the hedge-door slid apart. Ron smiled at the two, pocketing his wand.

"There you guys are!" he said triumphantly. "The Marauders Map never lies! Oh, sorry, by the way, Harry. Hope you don't mind me using it."

Harry shook his head. "Not at all, mate," he said. But he was disappointed. Maybe if Ron didn't use the Marauders Map, he would have gotten the chance to kiss Hermione.

"C'mon then!" Ron waved over his shoulder, turning. "Let's go visit Hagrid until curfew." He started walking away, Harry and Hermione getting up and walking through the hedge. The shrubbery snapped shut as soon as they walked away from it.

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Harry and Hermione didn't look at each other the whole way to Hagrid's hut. Ron started going on about Quidditch penalties, not noticing his two friends' awkward behavior.

As soon as the three saw their giant friend's hut, Hermione finally spoke. "Actually, boys," she said, looking down at her feet, "I think I might turn in early. I'm going inside." She turned and started for the castle doors.

"Okay, 'Mione," Ron waved. "'Night!"

"Good night, Hermione," Harry said softly, yet loud enough for her to hear.

Hermione turned to Harry, caught his eye, then blushed and looked away.

"G'night," she whispered, twirling her rose in her hands uncomfortably.

Harry watched her walk away, upset. Did he do something wrong? Why didn't she want to be around him? �Well, genius,� Harry thought to himself, �you did just attempt to kiss her.�

The door snapped shut, but Harry still stared longingly at it.

"Harry?" Ron asked, making him jump.

"Yeah?" he asked, turning toward him.

"What's going on between you and Hermione?" Harry froze. No one was supposed to know about his feelings. It was bad enough Hermione already knew, making Harry realize he made a fool of himself, but for Ron to know? Never!

"Nothing's going on!" Harry said a bit fast.

Ron raised his eyebrows. "C'mon, Harry," he said. "Even Snape could tell something's up."

"There's nothing going on between us!"

Ron smirked. "But you want something to be going on, don't you, mate?"

Silence.

"Just what were you two doing in the Everlasting Gardens?"

Harry glared. "I said there's nothing happening! So just drop it!"

Ron sighed. "Fine. But there's no use denying it anymore. You're the worst at lying. And you can obsess over her, you know, just as long as you stop saying her name when you sleep."

Harry could feel his face burning up, with rage or embarrassment, he didn't know. Ron chuckled, turning to walk to Hagrid's hut.