For about 45 minutes I have been trying my hardest to pay attention in potions class, but my gaze keeps shifting to the girl standing in front of me. Her beautiful brown bushy hair always just out of reach. Today she has her hair in a ponytail and I can see her side profile perfectly when she turns to talk to her potion’s partner, Neville Longbottom. Her deep brown eyes always shining when he asks her a question that she has the answer to.
I wish I could talk to her, but I’m too scared to. I often wonder why the sorting hat put me in Griffindor when I can’t even bring myself to say hi to my crush. Isn’t the point of being in Griffindor mean that you’re courageous. If that’s so, then why do I get so nervous at the idea of talking to her. “Hey Hermione, i’m so sorry but there’s been a change of plans.” Spoke a Ravenclaw girl nervously to Hermione “Can we reschedule our study session for Wednesday?” The girl asked rubbing the back of her neck anxiously. “Yeah of course we can.” Hermione replied cheerily with a kind smile. “Alright, great. Thanks!” The girl said relieved and walked away back to her table.
I watched this exchange longingly. I wish I could get one on one time with Hermione. Maybe I could ask Hermione to help me with my potions work. I look down at my work, all the questions already filled out. I quickly take an eraser and erase my answers from my sheet. So what if I don’t actually need help? She’ll never know that.
I slowly stand up from my chair and prepare myself for what I’m about to do. I walk over to Hermione’s desk with shaking legs that are knocking against each other. Come on y/n. Act cool. “Hey Hermione.” I say in the most casual voice I can but I’m pretty sure it still came out shaky. “I need… help with the potion a-assignment. Do you think you could help me.” I asked, nervousness lacing through my voice the longer I spoke. “Sure! Just not today. I’m busy.” Hermione answered smiling at me apologetically. “Oh that’s alright. How about tomorrow?” I questioned hopefully pouncing a bit on my toes. “That works just fine. How about we meet up in the Library after classes are over? ” She replied. I gave her a smile and a nod then quickly began walking back to my seat. As soon as I was back in my seat I clapped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from screaming in delight. It was almost impossible to contain my joy. I have just gone and talked to Hermione! The girl I’ve been crushing on for two years now! OH MY GOD!
I look over to my friend who looks at me excitedly and gives me a thumbs. A small smile makes its way onto my face as I give her a thumbs up in return.
After a whole day of not being able to focus and being nervous the time to have a study session with Hermione has come. I headed up to the library feeling my heart pound in my chest. Why did I do this to myself? Is it really worth it? Is it worth feeling like you might have a panic attack just to hang out with your crush? My thoughts quickly began to overlap each other and I had to try and block out my bad thoughts with good thoughts. I began trying to picture all the good things that could happen. We might end up getting along so well that she offers to hang out again! Maybe she’d ask me to hang out with her at the next trip to Hogsmet.
Before I know it my happy impossible daydreams where stopped abruptly as I found myself walking through the library doors. I looked around for a moment then my eyes settled on the person I’d been looking for. Hermione was seated at a round table near one of the far windows, with her text books out and pencils ready. I felt myself swallow nervously as I stumbled forward to study with Hermione.
“Hi.” I said as I sat down next to her. “Hi.” Hermione smiled politely as I set my books down into the desk. “You said you needed help with the potions assignment right?” She asks tilting her head. “Uhh- yes.” I quickly responded. She nodded and began talking about the assignment.
Every once in a while I’d ask questions that I already knew the answer to just so she’d talk more. It was amazing watching Hermione talk about things she’s so passionate about. I tried to listen to what she had to say really I did but it was hard when she had dish a pretty voice. I found myself listening to the sound of her voice and not the words they were creating.
“Hey! Are you listening?” Hermione questioned suddenly, causing me to jump. “Y-yeah I’m listening. Of course I’m listening. Why would I not be listening?” I rambled with a nervous laugh.
I suddenly realized how close Hermione was to me and couldn’t help but look down at her lips. They looked so perfect. Rosy red and soft. I looked back up at her eyes and saw that she was looking down too. Her checks started to flush and she clears her throat then looked away quickly breaking the spell.
“I’m only going to go over this one more time, okay? So listen carefully.” She said getting back to work, her face now red enough to be a tomato. Hermione began to talk about the project again and slowly the uncomfortableness of the situation that had just happened was forgotten.
“Do you understand?” Hermione asked turning around again for the first time in an hour. “Yes. I understand it perfectly now… thank you.” I answered realizing I couldn’t think of any more questions to ask. A sudden sadness filled my chest when I realized our study session was going to have to end. I had been having a good time. How was I supposed to talk to Hermione again after this? It’s not like I can ask for help everyday? I don’t want her to think i’m stupid.
“Alright I think that’s it!” Hermione says happily and starts to pack her books into her backpacks on the ground beside her. I give her the realest smile I can muster and hope she can’t see through it. I watch as Hermione goes to pick up her pencil case then freezes. She slowly turns to me and asks “You didn’t need my help with this project did you?” Her eyebrow raises in question. I felt my stomach drop. How did she know?! “What??? Noo, of course I needed your help. That’s why I asked you to study it with me.” I said, my voice starting to shake nervously. Hermione scoffed, but I could tell she wasn’t actually upset because a small smile was tugging at her lips. “Don’t lie to me y/n. I overheard your friends talking about how jealous they were that you finished the project on the day it was given to us.” I was silent for a minute as I processed this information. She had known this whole time. Now I look like a fool. I looked down feeling guilty. “If you knew that I already knew what to do the whole time, then why did you help me.” I questioned with a puzzled expression on my face. Suddenly a look of shyness filled Hermione’s face.
She opened her mouth then snapped it shut. I watched as this happened three times before she actually got a word out. “I like you!” She blurred out quickly. I stared at her in shock. Did I hear her right? “I’ve had a crush on you all year and I really wanted to spend time with you.” She whispered as blush began to creep up her neck.
She looked up at me expectingly, waiting. YES! SHE LIKES ME! I was amazed by the burst of butterflies flying around in my stomach as the thought sunk in. I have a chance! I have more than a chance! Suddenly a voice interrupted my thoughts. “If you don’t like me back then that’s okay. I just really wanted to tell you.” Hermione spoke rapidly. “What- no!” I exclaimed realizing I had never said anything back to her. “I- I like you too.” I spoke nervously with smile. I watched as Hermione’s shoulders dropped in relief. A airy chuckle made its way out of her mouth as she leaned back in her chair.
She looked back over at me and I’m that moment everything changed. There was no noise around us. Nothing was moving. We were no longer in the library, instead we were in a world with just the two of us. I reached over and cupped her face into my hands and quickly leaned in smashing our lips together. I felt as she froze in shock, then almost immediately kissed me back almost more desperately than I was. I placed my hands in her waist and pulled her as close to me as I could as her lips stayed pressed to mine. I was right. Her lips our incredibly soft. Her hands went from my back to dragging up to my hair. We fit perfectly together. We were like two sides of a coin.
I felt as one of her hands went under my shirt and stayed on my stomach as the other still stayed in my hair. It was perfect. She was perfect.
We broke apart after what felt like hours, both blushing from head to toe. We stared at each other for a minute, fascinated by one another. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” I smiled at her, as I leaned back over for one more kiss.