Fan Fiction ❯ Bittersweet ❯ Rain ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Disclaimer: Pssh. Do you really think I own Harry Potter? Would I be posting on a fansite if I did? (For those who couldn't see my sarcasm and such, I don't own Harry Potter.)

Bittersweet
by Jaded Rose

Rain pounded against the windows harshly, and Harry wondered if it was possible for the rain to break the glass. He was sitting in his usual chair by the fire, a book open in his lap. He was trying to make it seem as though he was working, but his eyes kept turning to the windows. He was watching the almost endless rain.

Ron and Hermione were sitting across from him. They had somehow curled into a chair together; Hermione pressed against Ron's left side; Ron had his arm around Hermione's shoulders. A book was open across their laps, at Hermione's insistence, and both were studying it. Ron was not without complaints about the reading, but his closeness to Hermione seemed to help him hold in the grumbles.

Harry started murmuring under his breath, though it was impossible to hear what he was saying. Most of it was nonsense, but, every time a raindrop hit the windows particularly hard, he muttered a name. The first name was James, and the second was Lily. It wasn't long before Harry grumbled out his own name, followed by Ron and Hermione.

At the sound of her name, Hermione looked up from the book, and gazed at Harry. She noted how he was sitting in the chair, his legs curled under himself, his back pressed deeply into the back of the chair, and his arms resting at his sides. Hermione also noted how tightly Harry was gripping the book in his lap.

"Harry?" Hermione said, softly, "Are you all right?" Harry snapped out of his trance and looked at Hermione. His face was expressionless, and his eyes were blank. Slowly, as if processing what Hermione had said, he nodded his head yes. Hermione wasn't convinced.

"Are you sure?" Another nod, this time faster than its predecessor. Hermione sighed. "Did you say my name before? I thought I heard you say it." Carefully, Harry shrugged. "All right." Hermione's eyes returned to the book, though they darted back to Harry under her eyelashes every few minutes.

Harry stared at the top of Hermione's head, noting that her hair didn't look as bushy as usual that day. Then his eyes slowly made their way toward Ron's head. Harry studied him, taking in the way every hair was set on Ron's head, and observing the unevenness of his part. Finally, his eyes journeyed to his book, only to be dragged away to the windows seconds later to watch the harsh rain.

Hermione observed Harry's study of Ron under her eyelashes, and felt a pang in her chest. She had known it all along, but simply couldn't help liking Ron herself. And, though she felt happy that Ron finally admitted his feelings to her, she felt absolutely terrible for taking Ron away from Harry. Even if she knew that Ron didn't feel that way for Harry, Hermione felt that, without her at his side all the time, Harry could maybe believe that Ron could actually care for him like that.

Hermione's eyes returned to the book as Ron poked her, signaling that he had finished the page. Hermione reached out and turned the page, unconsciously trying to move closer to Ron, though it was impossible for her to be closer to him. Ron felt Hermione's shift, and tightened his arm around her. He leaned over and nuzzled her hair, and then moved his eyes back to the book, as close as he could be to Hermione.

And Harry continued to stare out the window, pretending to feel the icy rain on his skin. His list of names resumed in his mind, not wanting to be torn away from his thoughts again. He was as far away from Ron and Hermione as possible, and, while he hated this feeling, he did not try to move closer to them.

A/N: Err. Yeah. I'm not too sure if this really makes sense. I'd like it to, and it does in my mind (somewhat), but I'm not sure. Please review and tell me what you think. Constructive criticism is accepted, and flames are laughed at.