Why, hello there! I've decided to post two more stories. Technically they're OneShots, but I've decided to post them together because while they're completely different, I wrote them at the same time. One sort of plays off the other, so it makes sense to me.

Here's the first one, let me know that you think!

Dancing in the Light

He wants her to save him, to drown in her warmth and bask in her glory and follow her towards the light.

X

She is the sun to his darkness. The rainbow to his rain cloud. The ray of hope, where there is otherwise none. The light at the end of the tunnel. She just doesn't know it. Yet.
She is happiness and kindness and beauty. She believes in fairytales and love stories. She loves unicorns and cherry blossoms and sugar quills when she's studying because it helps her concentrate. She is everything he wants, everything he craves and desires and needs.
And she doesn't have a clue. Why would she? He's been nothing but absolutely horrid to her. Calling her names, insulting her and her friends (mostly her friends) tormenting her and enraging her. Pushing her buttons until she pushes back. Telling her everything that is wrong with her, and keeping to himself everything that right.
In fact, if he were to approach her right now, in the middle of the library, and confess his deepest darkest secret, she would never believe him. She would laugh in his face, probably hurl an insult of her own once or twice before packing her things and leaving him dumbfounded. (He's mapped it all out in his head several times since the beginning of the year).
And so, for that reason only, he keeps his distance and loves her from afar.

X

She throws her head back when she laughs, with reckless abandon. It's the kind of laugh that's contagious, that throws other people-friends and strangers alike-into fits of laughter as well. It's the kind that lifts spirits and brighten days.
And when she smiles, it reaches her eyes. It pulls smiles from everyone around her.
She's bright and she's shiney and she's beautiful. She's warm, and kind and thoughtful. Not to mention she's incredibly intelligent; like a brilliant enigma. She's bloody well perfect, although she'll probably never admit it.
And sometimes-most times (always) when he's watching her with her friends, laughing and joking around or scolding them for not finishing their homework, or when she's in the library studying for a test that isn't for two weeks, he wishes they were friends. At the very least he wishes they were acquaintances.
He wishes she could smile at him, not scowl.
He wishes she could laugh with him, not argue. (And scream and cry).
He wishes he could tell her everything about his entire life, about his mission-because she's the only person on Earth who would understand. She's the only person in the world who would set aside their differences to help him.
But he's not brave enough to approach her and so he suffers in silence.

X

She's crying. He has a small deja vu from two years prior when she was crying on the stair case after having a fight with Weasley during the Yule Ball. But this time is different. This time it isn't just a few tears and sniffles. This time it's rivers of tears and endless sobs and shaking shoulders.
She's fallen apart.
She's broken.
And he wants to rip Weasley apart, limb from limb, for hurting her. For causing her pain. And yet, doesn't he do the very same thing?
He wants to comfort her, to tell her that everything will be okay even though he knows it won't. He wants to hold her and protect her from the big, bad world that looms about outside the castle walls. He wants to apologize-repeatedly-for everything he's ever said and done to her. He wants her forgiveness and her love for himself.
But staying away is safer for her, deep down he knows this, and so he stays far, far away from her.
Protecting her.

X

She's smiling again. And laughing. And Weasley smiles back.
And jealousy rips through him like wild fire.
She forgives too easily.
She believes in all that is good and pure, because she is good and pure. She sees goodness in people when others don't. She hands out second chances like she raises her hand in class to answer questions.
And one day he can't help it. She's in the library, studying like she always is and suddenly his feet are carrying him towards her and her name-her first name spills from his lips.
Hermione.
And she looks at him, her brown eyes wide with confusion and curiosity.
Yes?
Can I confide in you?
And for a moment he thinks she's going to laugh. She just stares at him, speechless, her mouth open in awe and shock. He's about to turn around and run in the opposite direction her small hand and thin fingers wrap around his arm, stopping him dead in his tracks.
Grey meets brown. And she must see something in his eyes-fear or sorrow or despair, or all of the above-because her gaze softens and she nods, her lips curling into a small, a reassuring smile. (He wants so badly to kiss her).
And just like that...he breaks. He confides everything in her. He rolls up his sleeve and she pretends not to be disgusted but he watches her flinch. He tells her everything he knows about the Dark Lord and Dark Magic and his mission. And she listens. She understands.
But what he really wants...
He wants her to save him. He wants to drown in her warmth and bask in her glory. He wants to live in her heart where it's kind and safe. He wants to follow her into the light-he'd follow her anywhere, really.
And the hand that she offers him, and the genuine smile she throws at him, allows him to do just that.
She's an angel.