Harry x Hermione: It started early

Chapter tweleve

Chapter 12: Unspoken Feelings

The summer stretched before Hermione like an endless expanse of time, yet it felt strangely empty without the daily presence of Harry by her side. As the days turned into weeks, a sense of longing began to gnaw at her heart—an ache she couldn't quite define.

Letters from Harry arrived sporadically, each one a lifeline that connected them across the distance. His words were filled with tales of the Weasley family, his adventures at the Burrow, and his thoughts on the wizarding world. Hermione cherished each letter, her fingers tracing the words he had penned.

One afternoon, as Hermione sat in her room, a realization began to crystallize within her. Her heart skipped a beat as the truth unfurled—she missed Harry more than she had expected. Her thoughts drifted to the awkward moment they had shared on the platform, the brush of his lips against her cheek lingering in her memory.

It was at that moment that Hermione recognized the flutter in her chest, the warmth that spread through her veins whenever she thought of Harry. It was a crush—an affection that had grown quietly and unexpectedly. But with the knowledge came a surge of uncertainty, a fear of jeopardizing the friendship they had cultivated.

Meanwhile, at the Burrow, the Weasleys were a whirlwind of laughter, chaos, and love. Harry found himself welcomed into their family with open arms, their boisterous antics providing a much-needed distraction from the impending darkness that loomed on the horizon.

As days turned into nights, Harry's thoughts often drifted to Hermione—a friend he missed more than he had anticipated. He had grown accustomed to her presence, her unwavering support, and the laughter they shared. But a cloud of confusion hung over him, an unexplainable sensation that left him feeling unsettled.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Hermione's presence at the Burrow caught Harry off guard. He found himself standing face to face with her in the dimly lit garden, the air thick with unspoken words.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry greeted, a genuine smile forming on his lips.

"Hi, Harry," Hermione replied, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

Their conversation flowed with an ease that belied the underlying tension. As they spoke of their respective summers, the flicker of an unspoken understanding passed between them—an awareness of something lingering beneath the surface.

The night grew quieter, the stars above casting a soft glow over the garden. Harry's eyes met Hermione's, a connection that held a weight neither of them could decipher.

And then, amidst the whispers of the wind and the rustle of leaves, an awkward silence settled over them. Harry's heart raced his thoughts a jumble of confusion. "Is something wrong, Hermione?"

Hermione's gaze dropped to the ground, her voice soft. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just... different."

"Different how?" Harry asked, his brows furrowing.

Hermione's cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. "I don't know, Harry. It's just... things feel different between us."

Harry's eyes searched hers, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Different how?"

Hermione's lips trembled, her voice a whisper. "I don't know if I can explain it. It's just... ever since we left Hogwarts, things have felt... different."

Harry's confusion deepened, his mind racing to make sense of her words. But before he could respond, the moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Hey, you two!" Ron's voice called out from the doorway. "Mum says dinner's ready."

The spell was broken, and their conversation abruptly cut short. Hermione's gaze met Harry's one last time, a mixture of emotions passing between them—a connection that held unspoken feelings and a shared uncertainty.

And so, as they joined the Weasley family for dinner, Harry and Hermione's unspoken feelings lingered in the air—a secret shared by the stars above and the summer breeze that carried their whispered thoughts. As the days of summer continued to unfold, their friendship remained unbreakable, even as the unspoken tension between them grew stronger with each passing moment.