Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter. Not me.

Whisper~Mad~Crazy                                                            Chapter 1-Home

"So you're sure you're coming?"  Hermione asked anxiously.

"Yes, yes I'm coming. Don't worry."  Said a voice on the end of the line.

"Oh Harry it's going to be so great!  And I can't wait to see you, I miss you."  She replied sadly.

"I know, I miss you too love."

"Oy Harry!  Come on we've got er…something to show you!"

"Yeah Harry it's not a prank or anything honest!"

Hermione recognized the voices as Fred and George Weasley.  Harry had convinced his aunt and uncle to let him stay at the Weasley's for the whole summer.

"All right, I'll be right there!  Sorry Mione I've got to go."

"I know I heard, be careful!"

"I will, it's only Fred and George after all."

"I know well I'll see you in two weeks, and Harry…I love you."

"I love you too, see you then."  With a click he hung up.  Hermione hung up too with a loud sigh.  She sat down on her bed and took out a book.   She flipped a few pages trying to concentrate but it was no use, she tossed the book aside and lay down staring at her ceiling.  Just then there was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in." Hermione said lazily.

Mrs. Granger poked her head in the door.

"Hi honey, how's Harry?"

"He's fine mom.  It sounded like he's having a blast at the Weasley's."

"Is everything alright Hermione?"  Her mother asked noticing how sad her daughter looked.

"Yes…well no.  I just miss him so much Mom."  As she said this a few tears fell from her eyes.

"Oh I know sweet heart."  Her mom said, sitting down and taking Hermione in her arms.  "But just think, in two weeks the two of you will be flying to Florida where you'll board that cruise ship and it will be just the two of you for a week in the Caribbean."

Hermione sniffed, "I know, and thanks again Mom.  I can't tell you and dad how much this trip means to me."

"Well you deserve it." Her mother replied. "Top of your class for 6 years in a row and Head Girl this year.  Your father and I are so proud of you, and we know it's not easy but try and relax and enjoy the trip."

"I will Mom, thanks."  She gave her mom hug and wiped her eyes.

"Sydney, come on we've got reservations!"  A voice called up the stairs.

"Ok Michael, I'll be right there."  Her mother called back. "Your dad and I are going to eat at that new Italian restaurant.  Are you sure you're going to be ok?"

"Yeah Mom, I'll be fine.  You two go have fun."

"Ok we'll be back 9ish."

"Ok bye Mom.  Bye Dad!"  She called down the stairs.

"Bye Hermione, don't blow the house up while we're gone."  The Granger's shared a laugh.  They all knew that Hermione really could blow the house up if she wanted to.  Hermione saw her parents out the door and went into the kitchen to get something to eat.  She pulled some cookies out of the cupboard and poured herself a glass of milk. 

"Cookies and milk always seems to make things better."  She said to herself.  Just then her cell phone rang, she checked the caller i.d. to see who it was.

"Emily!" She squealed nearly knocking over her glass.  "Hello?"

"Hermione!  Oh my gosh you're home!"

"Yeah I just got home yesterday!  How have you been?"

"You know school, guys and more guys."

"Do you have a guy?"  Hermione asked excitedly.

"Well not quite, I mean we both like each other but we haven't really gotten together yet."

"Well you better get your rear in gear girlfriend before somebody else snatches him up.  What's his name?"

"Scott, and he is a replica of Prince Harry."

"Are you serious?  You and you're boys Em."

"I know, I know.  So what about you?  Is there anyone in your love life?"

"Yeah actually."  Hermione replied softly.

"No way!"  Emily screamed.  Hermione dropped the phone she was so surprised.  She picked it back up in time to catch, "…I'll be there in 5."  Hermione hung up the phone and cleaned up her cookies and milk.  She went and sat down on her couch and waited for Emily to get there.  She didn't have to wait long, in no time at all Emily came bursting through the door not bothering to knock.  She assaulted Hermione with a million questions the minute she came in.

"Oh my god what's his name?  What does he look like?  Where does he live?  Is he hot?  Does he have any brothers?"

Hermione grabbed her friend by the hand and set her down on the couch.

"Ok," she started, "His name is Harry.  He's got raven black hair and sparkling green eyes.  They're like emeralds.  He wears glasses but they're very cute on him.  He's staying with a friend over the summer.  Yes he is very handsome.  No he doesn't have any brothers."

"Hermione he sounds adorable!"  Emily piped.

"He is." Hermione answered her eyes getting misty.

"What's the matter Herms?"  Emily asked putting a comforting arm around her friend.

"I miss him.  I miss him a lot.  We've spent the last 9 months in each other's arms, never letting the other out of our sight.  And now the only comfort I have is when I hear his voice on the other end of the phone."  She said as a tear traced its way down her cheek.

"Aw, I'm sure you'll see him over the summer.  He's got to come visit right?"

"Actually we're going on a cruise in 2 weeks."

"A cruise? Are you serious, just the two of you?  That sounds so romantic but it must've cost a fortune."

"Yeah, it was a present from my parents."

"Dang I wish my parents let me go on a cruise with my boyfriend."

"Well if you would keep one for more than a month maybe they would."  Hermione said laughing.

"Hey!"  Emily swung a pillow in Hermione's direction and that was that.  The annual Granger/Portman pillow fight was on.

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          The next 2 weeks passed fairly quickly for Hermione.  She talked to Harry everyday, usually more than once and every conversation ended in, "I miss you, I love you."  Finally it was July 4, the day they were to leave for Florida and a weeklong Caribbean cruise.  Hermione dashed about her room putting everything she could ever dream of needing in her suitcase.  It was lucky she was head girl this year; she was able to perform magic over the summer without getting in trouble.  She shrunk everything down so it would all fit in a small carry on.

"Come on honey!  We don't want you to miss your flight!"  Sydney Granger called from downstairs.

"Coming Mom!"  Hermione replied lugging her suitcase out of the room.  Everything may have been smaller but that didn't make it any lighter.

Hermione put her suitcase in the car and ran back into the house to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.  She grabbed her cell phone off her dresser and ducked into the bathroom to make one final check.  She looked herself over in the mirror thoroughly satisfied by her appearance.  She had been practicing beauty techniques with Emily the past 2 weeks and was surprised at how different she looked.  It was nothing like what she had looked like her past 6 years at Hogwarts.

"I hope Harry recognizes me."  She said to herself.

Finally she jolted out the door and into her parents' car, ready to have the best week of her life.

          They arrived at the airport 20 minutes later.  Michael helped Hermione with her suitcase while Sydney looked her over.

"You look wonderful Hermione."  Her mom said softly.  Hermione noticed her eyes were filling with tears.

"Don't worry Mom, I'll be fine.  You know Harry, he'll take care of me."

"I know but mothers are supposed to worry remember?"

"I remember Mom.  Bye." She said placing a kiss on her mother's cheek. "I'll miss you and I'll call."

"Alright dear, are you sure you don't want us to wait here until Harry arrives?"

"No Mom, I'll be fine."  With that her mother got back in the car and waited for Michael.  "Bye Dad!" Hermione said blowing him a kiss.

"Bye sweetie, have a good time!"  He got in the car and they drove away leaving Hermione to wait for Harry.

'He should be here any minute.'  Hermione thought to herself.  She was so excited, she was bouncing up and down on her toes.  She kept glancing around looking for any sign of Harry when she heard a rustle of wings behind her.  She turned around to see a snowy white owl sitting on the bench behind her.

"Hedwig, what are you doing here?"  She asked not really expecting an answer.  That's when she saw that Hedwig was carrying a letter.  She took it gently from the bird and opened it.  The writing was rather scratchy and it looked like some one had written it in a hurry.

Hermione,

I'm so sorry Hermione, but I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to come.  It's Ginny; she's in the hospital. I'm not really sure what happened.  She was chasing Ron and me around on our brooms.  We were really high and the next thing we knew she just fell.  I don't know if she's going to be all right.  I'm so so so sorry Mione but I can't leave now, I'd just feel terrible.  I'd be miserable on our trip too and I don't want to ruin it.  Maybe we can postpone it but I'm sorry I' can't come.

Please forgive me.

                              Your Love Forever,

                                    Harry

Hermione couldn't believe it.

"This is not happening," she said out loud.  Then the full blow of it hit her.  It was ruined, the whole trip, they're time together was ruined.  The tickets and reservations were non-refundable so they couldn't just take a rain check.  Hermione slumped into the bench and silently cried to herself.  She was about to call her parents so they could come pick her up when someone with a gentle voice spoke up next to her.

"Um, excuse me.  Are you alright?"

Hermione looked up, it was a guy probably about her age.  He was tall and fairly well built.  His short dirty blond hair was gelled and spiked forward; and his eyes were a sparkling blue-gray.

"No, not really."  Hermione said stifling a sob.

"I saw that letter you received, you've got quite a system for messaging."  He said sounding slightly confused.

'Oh no,' Hermione thought. 'Now what?'  She racked her brain trying to come up with an excuse.  "Oh, um yeah.  That's just my owl; it's really well trained.  We had a professional trainer come and…" He raised his hand to stop her.

"It's ok, I wasn't looking for an explanation.  So what's wrong if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, my boyfriend and I were supposed to go on a week long cruise.  I haven't seen him for like 3 weeks and I was so looking forward to this.  But his friends little sister ended up in the hospital after a…bike accident and it was sort of his fault so now he feels guilty and he's not coming." 

"Whoa, I'm sorry.  Is there anything I can do?"

"Not unless you can spare a week to go on a cruise with someone you just met."  She said half-heartedly.  He stayed quiet but then extended his hand to grasp hers.

"When do we leave?"

She looked up at him, he was smiling and he seemed genuine.

"Are you serious?"  She asked, drying her red eyes.

"As a heart attack."  He replied.

Hermoine laughed.  'He's cute and funny.  But what am I saying, I have a boyfriend. Still…'

"But what if my boyfriend finds out?"

"He won't and no one else will have to know either."

"How's that going to work?"

"Well 1.  You tell him that you forgive him but since the tickets were non-refundable you called up a girl friend at the last minute and you two went."

"Ok what's 2?"

"2.  We don't tell each other our real names."

"Well what are you supposed to call each other for a week?"

"What ever we feel like, for example.  Let me introduce myself, my name is Eric.  Eric Vaughn.  Now it's your turn to make up a name."

"Ok," Hermione said slightly skeptical. "I'm Nicole Garner."

"Ok we're off to a good start.  So Nicole when does our plane leave?"

"Well it leaves in half an hour but Eric I don't know about this.  I mean what about your parents and wasn't someone coming to pick you up?"

"Oh right," Eric said turning and looking at the cars nearby.   "I'll be right back."  He went and jogged over to a Mercedes where a man was waiting to open the door for him.

"That won't be necessary Jack, something's come up and I'm going on another trip."  He said to the man.

"Yes sir.  When shall I pick you up again?"

"I'll call Mum and let her know."

"Yes sir."

Eric walked back over to Hermione.

"As for my parents, well my dad is away on business all summer and my mum…" He pulled out a cell phone, "I'll take care of that right now.  Hi Mum, it's me.  Yeah I'm back.  Spain? It was great Mum, yeah really nice down there.  Hey listen I've just met…an old friend here at the airport.  Oh just one of them Mum you probably wouldn't remember.  Well if you must her name is Nicole.  See I told you, you wouldn't.  Anyway, yeah we're going on a little trip for a week.  Yes, no worry Mum she's got a boyfriend.  All right I will.  Love you too.  Bye."  He put his phone back in his pocket and turned to Hermione.  "There, all set.  Now are you sure you want to do this?"

Hermione thought for a minute, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"I am if you are."  She said finally.

"Good show," Eric said smiling.  "Well shall we find our gate?" He asked taking his and Hermione's bags.

"We shall."  Hermione said, smiling back. She picked up her backpack and fell into a slow stride walking next to him.  'Who knows.'  She thought. 'He doesn't seem to want to get romantically involved so maybe we'll just have a really good time.  Yeah, this could be fun.'