Disclaimer: Harry Potter stories are the property of J.. I've just temporarily borrowed them.

Sleeping Beauty

Twelve-year-old Harry Potter was sitting next to the hospital bed of his best female friend, Hermione Granger, reading to her from the Transfiguration text on the lesson they'd had that day. He didn't know if she could hear him or not, but he wasn't about to give up. 'Something' from the chamber of secrets had caused her, several other students, Nearly-headless Nick, and Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris to be petrified. Every night for the last several weeks, Harry had snuck into the hospital wing to talk to his friend and read to her that day's lessons. Poppy had given up on even trying to keep him out, simply sending him back to Gryffindor tower at curfew.

Then, an idea struck Harry. He'd been raised as a muggle, and remembered reading some muggle fairy tales when he was younger. And Hermione was certainly HIS sleeping beauty as far has he was concerned. Rising from his chair by her bed, he gently leaned over her and placed a kiss on her cold, unresponsive lips. When nothing happened, he sat back down with tears in his eyes.

"Well, it worked in the fairy tales," he said quietly, while thinking to himself, But I'm no Prince Charming.

After finishing reading the lesson, he quietly gathered his supplies and prepared to return to his dorm. Pausing as he left her bedside, he said, "Hermione, I think I love you." He turned and left.

Unseen by anyone, a single tear trickled from Hermione's eye.

OoOOOoo

September 1 --- Hogwarts' Express

Harry and Hermione were quietly sharing a compartment on their return to Hogwarts to start their third year. The rest of their friends were off somewhere else, socializing, and Hermione was reading a book. Harry wanted to say something to his friend, but didn't know how to put it in words without sounding like a complete idiot.

After awhile, she looked up at a silent Harry and asked, "Harry, what worked in the fairy tales?"

Harry's face looked puzzled. Then a look of realization downed on him and he began to turn red. "Wh – wh – what do you mean, Mione?"

"When I was petrified, I was still conscious of a lot of what was going on; it was driving me crazy not being able to talk, or move, or study. The only thing that kept me sane was when you came in every night to read and talk to me. Then, one night, you stopped reading for a while, and then stated that something worked in fairy tales. What was it?"

Stammering a bit, a clearly embarrassed Harry finally admitted, "In the fairy tales I read in school, the hero would kiss the beautiful princess to awaken her from an enchanted sleep, so I kissed you. Didn't work though, so I guess I'm not your Prince Charming."

Hermione sat there in stunned silence, chewing on her lip, so Harry continued, "Please don't be mad Mione. I was desperate. Without you by my side, I am totally lost. It was the only thing I could think of."

"Maybe it didn't work because I'm just a bucktoothed, frizzy-haired, know-it-all and not a beautiful princess. Harry, you've proven time and time again that you are a hero, and especially to me."

"Don't say that, Mione! To me, you're the most beautiful girl I know. True beauty is more than teeth and hair; it's caring, and brains, and so much more. And you've got it all, and you are my everything."

"Harry, I also think I heard you say that you thought you loved me. Is that true?"

"I've always loved you, Mione. But more importantly, I'm pretty sure that I'm IN LOVE with you. But I'm only thirteen, so I'm not sure I know what love is."

"Well, I'm pretty sure that I'm in love with you too. So does that mean that I'm your girlfriend now?" Hermione asked.

"Oh Hell YES!"

"Harry! Language!" And with that, she kissed him. The first of many kisses.

END