I will stay with you

Part 14

Though Hermione insisted that they should join their classmates in the Great Hall, Harry persuaded her that they stay in the common room a while longer. Secretly, however, Hermione liked the idea. She wanted to spend some time alone with Harry, and they don't get the chance to often.
They sat on the couch in the common room; Harry's arm was snaked around her waist as Hermione fiddled with the diamond ring around her finger.
"This must have costed you a fortune, Harry," she said quietly.
"It doesn't matter how much it cost," Harry told her, kissing her forehead. "It only matters if you like it."
"Of course I like it," Hermione said. She turned her head so she was looking at Harry, before pressing her lips against his. Harry was surprised by her force, though kissed back hungrily. Hermione was in a quite uncomfortable position; and Harry realized that, so he picked her up- their lips still touching- and placed her on his lap. Hermione smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, running her hand through his hair. Harry wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled her closer to him, where their chests were flush against each other.
After a long while of snogging, they pulled away. Hermione felt disappointed, letting out a quiet moan. Harry smirked and pecked her nose.
"I don't wanna go down," she whined.
"I knew I'd change your mind," Harry said cheekily, and kissed her again. "But I really think we should join them; or else they'll think we're up to something."
Hermione rested her head on Harry's chest and closed her eyes, "In a few minutes."
Harry smiled and rested his chin on top of her head, "I have no problem with that."
Within moments, Hermione's breathing slowed, telling Harry she was asleep. Her chest rose and fell against his, and he smiled at how peaceful she looked. At that moment, Harry forgot about the stress of the Triwizard Tournament, and only focused on her. Nothing else in the world mattered then except her, and he wished it could always be like that. But he knew it couldn't.
Harry shifted his weight slightly, careful not to wake her. Though, it didn't work. Hermione stirred and stretched, opening her eyes and looking up at Harry.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked, sitting up quickly.
Harry smiled, "only about ten minutes, you're alright."
Hermione sighed and laid her head back on Harry's chest.
Harry suddenly groaned uncomfortably, "Hermione, can you move just a little? You're kind of pressing on-"
He didn't have to finish his sentence for Hermione to understand. She quickly moved off of Harry's lap so she was sitting on the couch once more- though her legs were still entwined with his.
"Sorry," she muttered, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. Harry surprised her by pushing her so she was laying down on the couch, and pressed his lips against hers.
"Don't be," he said in between kisses. His tongue grazed across Hermione's bottom lip, and she happily let him enter. His tongue tangled with hers, and she started to feel the burning sensation in the pit of her stomach.
By the time they both pulled away, they were both breathing heavily. Hermione stared in Harry's emerald eyes and almost immediately got lost in them. She could still feel his soft, though chapped lips against hers, and she had the urge to kiss him again.
Hermione was snatched away from her thoughts as Harry shook her gently.
"Sorry," she said quietly, pulling her eyes away from Harry's.
Harry smiled and pecked her nose, "it's perfectly fine." He stood up and reached for her hand, "c'mon. It's time we go down, no matter how much I want to stay here and-"
Hermione cut him off by pressing her finger to his lip, "I agree. Come on."
She grabbed his hand and entwined her fingers with him, sending a cheeky smile his way.
~
Harry and Hermione took a seat at the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall. Ron sat opposite of them, stuffing his face with food, and Ginny sat next to him.
The tables were piled with Christmas-based breakfast foods and Hermione hungrily took some porridge sprinkled with cinnamon.
"Where've you been?" asked Ron, his mouth stuffed with food.
Hermione didn't know what to say, so she just stared down at her porridge.
"In the common room," Harry shrugged. He slipped his hand into Hermione's under the table, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Ron gave Harry a look of confusion, but said no more. He shrugged and piled another serving of bacon onto his plate.
After breakfast, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny headed out towards the courtyard. The students had classes off today- of course- so they were free to do whatever.
A few students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were hanging in the courtyard- talking quietly amongst themselves. Hermione was reminded of the Triwizard Tournament- and the third task that was still months away.
Hermione glanced at Harry- who was staring at Cho Chang as she passed by with Cedric Diggory- and she couldn't help but feel a prickle of jealously. She knew Harry had a crush on the pretty Ravenclaw, no matter how much he denied it.
Harry surprised her by wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. She chanced another glance at him to see him staring at Cho. Hermione suddenly felt uneasy. Was he just using her to make Cho jealous?
"C'mon, let's take a walk," Harry whispered in her ear, snatching her from her thoughts. Hermione followed him without question as he headed towards the lake.
The lake was covered with a thin sheet of ice that glowed in the sun. Harry took a seat against a tree near the bank, and beckoned for Hermione to do the same. She sat down in between his legs and laid her head on his chest, thankful for the privacy. She felt Harry's lips press against her head, and she closed her eyes at his touch. Harry wrapped his arms around her stomach and pulled her closer to him, breathing in her familiar scent of lilacs. He grabbed her hand and fiddled with the diamond ring around her finger, smiling.
At that moment, all of Hermione's doubts about Cho disappeared. She looked down at the ring as Harry ran his finger over it and thought: why would he buy her a ring if he was only using her to make Cho jealous?
Hermione knew deep down that he would never do that to her; but she couldn't help but think it.
An awkward cough snapped Hermione's attention from her ring. Ron and Ginny were standing by the bank of the lake, not far away from her and Harry.
"We were looking for you," Ron said, a hint of jealously edging his voice. "You were behind us one moment and gone the next."
"We wanted to take a walk," said Harry. Hermione knew he was aware of the jealously fuming off of the two siblings, though he didn't care. He tightened his grip around Hermione and kissed her cheek softly. Hermione bit her lip to fight back a smile as she saw Ginny's fist clench. She knew Harry was doing it on purpose, and she found it quite funny.
"Well, sorry for bothering you," Ginny muttered. "We'll leave you to it."
She turned around and, followed by Ron, slowly made her way back to the castle. She looked back once or twice, her eyes turned as cold as ice. Hermione stared after them, and sighed.
Couldn't they be happy for them?
A/N:
Of course, I don't have much to say except...
I was reading the Goblet of Fire and I realized that the Yule Ball actually took place on Christmas Eve... so yeah. I made a huge mistake -.- please forgive me guys. I was reading and I realized it and I was like, "well shit" xD