A/N: I know it has been an extremely long time since I last updated, and I bet many thought I had stopped writing the story. Well I'd just started college and I didn't have the internet for the longest time (very long story with the dorms), and so I couldn't update and such. So I'm very sorry for the long delay in updates, hopefully though now I should be able to update often.

Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter or any of the characters and such.

Chapter 5- Discovering New Feelings

Harry and Hermione didn't have time to react to their kiss, as the moment they separated Ron came through the cart door.

"Harry mate! Finally you've returned. You don't understand how worried Hermione and I have been over you!"

Harry smiled and replied, looking towards Hermione and saying, "Oh I think I have some idea." Hermione blushed crimson at this, Ron though none the wiser to what was going on.

"It's just so good to have you back Harry, I'm...we actually are really so-" but before Ron could finish his sentence, Harry cut him off saying, "It's ok, like I told Hermione already you shouldn't be doing any apologizing. It's me that should be doing the apologizing. I've treated you two terribly over the summer, it's just that I've had so much happen and discovered so many new things in my life that I felt I had almost reached the breaking point. I'm sorry for the things I've said and done."

"It's okay mate, Hermione figured you'd gone through a lot and that was the reason for your mood," Ron replied to Harry.

Harry was glad that things now seemingly were back to normal between his two best friends, except for the kiss. Harry couldn't help himself from reliving the incident over and over in his head, so much that he didn't realize that he was already in the Great Hall watching the Sorting Hat separate the first years into their houses. Harry wasn't quite sure what the kiss was for, as he didn't know if it was a kiss of joy to see him or a kiss out of liking him more than a friend. "If it was just a kiss of joy to see me, she would've just kissed my cheek," Harry told himself, which in a way made him happy. Though he didn't want to say it openly, he did have a feeling that his view of Hermione had changed, ever since he had started having the dreams of her in the summer. "I mean she has always been there and it just seems I would notice how beautiful she is," Harry thought to himself. Though deep down, Harry felt that he had liked Hermione for a long time, as she had always been there and he just never took the time to realize.

Harry though still needed certainty for his answer. He'd need to talk to Hermione alone, and find out just what was meant by the kiss. He had to know for certain how she felt about him, because in a way he was certain about how he felt about her. He knew he liked her, and he knew he viewed Hermione now as someone who could be "more than a friend," someone who could be his girlfriend.

Getting to Hermione though wasn't easy for Harry. It almost seemed as if she was avoiding him seemingly, as every time he tried to get near to talk to her, she would go the opposite direction. And Harry didn't want to ask Ron to help because he knew how Ron felt about Hermione. Harry figured he'd try and corner her one last time before he went up to bed for the night, but failed when he saw Hermione go out the portrait hole. "I give up," he told himself and sulked off to bed. Soon though, he'd have to tell Hermione how he felt.

....................

"WHACK!" Harry had stumbled out of bed and slammed his leg against the floor, unaware that he had fallen asleep so close to the edge of the bed. However, none of the boys were the wiser to Harry having fallen out his bed, as they were all sound asleep. Harry was just about to crawl back into bed when he heard a noise coming from the common room. He got up to see what the noise was and was surprised to see Hermione sitting alone by the fireplace, crying. Harry quickly got dressed and exited the boys dormitory.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Harry asked Hermione, stunned as to why she was sitting alone so late at night crying. Apparently she hadn't heard Harry coming as was startled as she screamed out, "Oh Harry! Um... I have to be getting to bed, night!"

"Wait, Hermione. Don't leave, why are you avoiding me so much right now?" Harry asked, as he was startled to see Hermione get up so quick to leave.

"Harry I really have to be getting to bed now, it's, I've got a lot of homework to do tomorrow that I forgot about!" Hermione replied, looking for any excuse to get away from Harry.

"Hermione I know that's a lie. You've never forgotten to do homework. Why are you so keen on not talking to me?" Harry asked her, stunned as to why she was so wanting to get away from him so badly.

Hermione had returned back to the common area, and replied to Harry, "It's just that, oh I can't stand knowing..." and Hermione trailed off, starting to cry again.

Harry quickly approached Hermione and tried to console her, asking, "What is it Hermione? You can tell me I won't hurt you or anything."

Hermione looked into Harry's eyes, tears streaming down her face and said, "You've been looking for me to tell me off for kissing you and you want to tell me it was nothing."

Hermione started crying more after saying this, Harry though quickly replied, "That's not what I was trying to get you alone for Hermione." Harry then paused, thinking over in his head if he wanted to tell her know how he felt. It was now or never thought. "I wanted to tell you how amazing that kiss was, and how much it meant to me."

Hermione quickly looked up at Harry and asked, "Really? Do you mean it?"

"Hermione I mean it, your amazing. This summer made me realize how much I care and think about you in my life. I know you may not of taken that from my letters, but inside I was being torn apart with my feelings for you."

"Oh Harry!" Hermione quickly replied, grabbing him into a tight hug in the process.

"Hermione, there's something I want to ask you"

"What's that Harry" Hermione replied to his question.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course I will Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "I've liked you for so long Harry, I was always just so afraid of what would happened if I displayed my feelings. Today on the train, it just made me realize how close I was to losing you this summer that I couldn't wait any longer."

Harry quickly replied, "Hermione, I won't ever be leaving you as long as I'm yours."

Hermione and Harry kissed, embracing each other now as a couple. Hermione though suddenly realized something as she asked Harry, "What are we going to tell Ron?"

Harry thought for a moment and replied, "I was thinking we'd keep it a secret for a while, from everyone not just Ron. I know how long he has liked you, I just feel right now if we kept it to you and me it be better for the both of us."

"I think your right Harry. We'll keep it between us only, we'll have to be careful though where we snog though."

"Geeze Hermione already thinking about how often we're going to kiss and where?"

Hermione quickly shot back, "Why yes I have, and right now happens to be one of them." And then she grabbed Harry by the shirt and began kissing him.

"When you want something Hermione you sure know how to get it," Harry said after they had separated from each others lips.

Hermione blushed and then replied, "Of course I do, like I know how to make you wanting more, so I'm going to bed now."

And as she got up, she gave Harry a deep, long kiss, saying, "Good night," after they had separated.

Harry just sat there at the sofa by the fire, thinking to himself just how different his life had become in the span of 24 hours. He had started the day wondering if Hermione and Ron would ever talk to him again, only to have the day end with him having Hermione as his girlfriend.

A/N: More updates to come soon! The more reviews the better and faster I can get the updates!