HP ficlet: Fanning a Spark [Harry/Hermione, general]
Title: Fanning a Spark Author: celandineb Fandom: HP Pairing: Harry/Hermione [references to other pairings] Rating: general Length: 607 words Warnings: kissing Summary: Hermione wants to find out if Harry feels any attraction toward her. Note: For quill_it, 100.3, prompt 29, "weakness".
"What about Ginny?" Hermione asked after a while.
"What about her?" Harry squirmed a little. The thought of Ginny still prickled, even though he was sure breaking up had been the right thing for them both.
"You seemed to be serious about her, but all that time you were with Ron too, right?" There was no judgment in Hermione's voice, but Harry felt uncomfortable nevertheless.
"She wanted it so much," said Harry, as if that were any explanation, "and Ron and Lavender..." He trailed off, not wanting to discuss Lavender with Hermione. That was Ron's problem to deal with, if it was even still a problem.
"I wasn't trying to retaliate at Ron for going out with Lavender or anything like that; I guess it was just my weakness to be susceptible to someone who admired me so much. And Ginny's a lot like Ron in many ways. Well, she would be, wouldn't she? But that made it all so much easier, more comfortable, if that makes sense."
"It does," agreed Hermione, taking Harry's hand. "What I was trying to get at, though, was how much she attracted you physically. I mean, I saw the two of you snogging all over, but did things go further than that? Did you want them to go further? Because if you and I and Ron are going to try to make something work between the three of us, that means there has to be something more than just friendship between you and me."
"Ginny and I didn't, er, go all the way." Harry licked his lips nervously. "But there was more than kissing. It's not as though girls can't turn me on, if that's what you want to know. Once or twice last winter I was even thinking of you that way, I admit, although I tried not to because it seemed maybe it was because there was no one else around, and that seemed not right somehow, like it would muck up what we were trying to do."
Hermione nodded. "I felt the same way about you, Harry, and I couldn't figure out if it was real or if it was because Ron was gone and there was no one else."
"I assume that by now you and Ron have..." Harry couldn't quite finish the sentence.
Flushing, Hermione nodded. "Just like you and Ron. Well, not just like I suppose, but yes. So." Harry could see her throat move as she swallowed. "That's why I wanted to spend today with you, to see whether we might have that kind of attraction between us. Not that we have to, you know, but just see if there's enough of a spark to go on with."
"I know." Harry took a deep breath. "It's more difficult when it feels planned like this, but I suppose that can't be helped."
"Not really," Hermione agreed. She moved closer so that her leg pressed against Harry's, and put her hand up to his cheek, turning his head toward her as she tilted her face up to kiss him.
It was a friendly kiss, gentle and undemanding. Harry relaxed a bit, and when that first kiss was over, he initiated another, this time letting his lips part and their tongues touch. Hermione made a soft murmuring noise and her arm tightened around Harry's shoulder.
This just might work, Harry decided. There was a spark there; if not the flame of desire that he felt for Ron, still, there was something, and things hadn't been immediate with Ron either. Yes, this did seem as though it just might turn out better than he could ever have expected.