An Unknown Love

Have you ever thought that you had no reason to live? Have you ever thought that every piece of your heart had been taken out of your body, shredded up, and fed to a blast-ended skrewt? That's how Hermione felt on the fateful evening of October 31st. This was a second occurrence for Hermione. The first time she felt so horrid was on Halloween night of her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Another first year at the time, Ron Weasley, had made a rude comment about her and she had over heard. She then locked herself in the girl's bathroom for several hours until a troll that had been let lose in the school found her. She was soon saved by her future best friends; Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

The second time was far worse. It was the 5 year anniversary of that dreaded day. As the three best friends sat down to eat dinner. Unrenowned to Harry, Hermione had spent much more time looking at him then she did eating. It is a very little known fact that Hermione liked Harry. In fact, it is such a little known fact that Hermione herself isn't aware of these feelings. Of course she knows of the way her heart leaps when she sees him. She knows of the way her palms sweat every time he touches her. She knows of the way she can't seem to get him off her mind, but as for the way she likes him, she has no idea.

"Can you believe that is has been 5 years since we became friends? Taking into account all of the bloody weird adventures and all of Harry's near death experiences it still does not seem that long. It seems only yesterday that Hermione was yelling at us about S.P.E.W. Wait that was only yesterday." Hermione hit Ron playfully with the back of her hand.

"It also seems like yesterday that I caught you and Parvati snogging in a closet. Oh, I'm sorry that was only yesterday." Both Ron and Parvati turned a dark shade of crimson and quickly retreated from the 'secretive' handholding underneath the table. Hermione had a look of sheer content upon her face.

"Anyways," Harry said trying to break the silence, "I think four years is a time worth celebrating. I say we have a picnic by the lake. We don't want to have it right before the feast so let's have it tomorrow. That way we have time to get hungry again." He quite a large grin upon his face, obviously pleased with him for coming up with such a cunning idea. They all agreed and continued with their day.

That night the students of Hogwarts enjoyed an amazing feast. They all solemnly swore to never eat that much again, even thought they knew that that vow would be broken 2 months later at the Christmas Feast. During that feast, Hermione slowly became aware of her staring habits towards Harry. She also became aware of the little known fact I mentioned before. Hermione Granger liked Harry Potter, and she finally knew it as well.

After the magnificent feast, students slowly filed into the hallways and to their respective common rooms. Seeing as eating turkey in large portions makes you tired, there was very little of Gryffindor Tower that was still awake. Among the remaining stragglers were Harry, Ron, Hermione, Parvati, Ginny and Dean.

Hermione sat in a big, overstuffed crimson armchair reading her copy of Hogwarts: A History. Well actually it wasn't reading, as much as using it to disguise her stares at Harry. Luckily, Harry was too deep in conversation with Ginny to notice. Dean did though. He took the book out of her hands, flipped it over, and returned it to her.

"Hermione, it usually helps if you don't read the words upside down. I know your good, but you aren't that good," Hermione blushed at her mistake.

"I should be going to bed now. It's getting quite late you know." She hurried up the stairs to the girl's dormitories and out of sight.

"What is she bloody talking about?" Ron said looking at his watch, "It's only 9!" He then tried to stifle a yawn. Dean threw a pillow at him.

"Come on lets both go to bed, I'll walk you to your room," Parvati said blushing furiously.

"I might as well join them, I never could resist peer pressure," Dean followed the other three up the stairs.

"Good they are finally gone," Ginny said as if she were holding her breathe before, "Now you can sing me that song you said you had."

Harry took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.

I would give up everything

Before I'd separate

Myself from you

After so much suffering

I finally found unvarnished truth

I was all by myself

For the longest time

So cold inside

And the hurt from the heartache

Would not subside

I felt like dying

Until you saved my life

Thank God I found you

I was lost without you

My every wish and every dream

Somehow became reality

When you brought the sunlight

Completed my whole life

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude

Cause baby I'm so thankful

I found you

I would give you everything

There's nothing in this world

I wouldn't do

To ensure your happiness

I'll cherish every part of you

Cause without you beside me

I can't survive

I don't want to try

If you're keeping me warm

Each and every night

I'll be alright

Because I need you in my life

"Oh Harry, that was wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and nearly knocking him over.

The tears glistened on Hermione's cheeks as she ran from her seat at the top of the stairs; she didn't stop until she was safely in her bed where nothing could harm her, except the never ending battle of tears streaming down her face. If she had just left 1 minute later she would have heard a conversation that would save her from all of the nightmares she would have that night.

A few moments before....

"Oh Harry, that was wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and nearly knocking him over.

"Is it really? I want it to be perfect for tomorrow. I came up with that whole picnic thing so I could get her alone and finally tell her how I feel. They make think it is for your 5 year anniversary as friends, but only you and I know that it is for my 1 year anniversary for being in love with Hermione."

"Harry, do you have any idea how nice it would be to have a guy do that for me? Merlin, the only sweet thing Seamus has ever done for me, was write me that poem on Valentines Day last year," she blushed, "Although that was pretty sweet."

______________________________________________________________________

The next day, the day of the picnic, Hermione listlessly went though her morning classes. She had gotten almost no sleep the night before her tears had forbade her. That afternoon, much to her distaste, she followed Ron and Harry down to their picnic by the lake. When she saw it her jaw dropped in astonishment. Sitting by a rock was a table covered in a red and white checkered blanket. How cliché she thought. What made her jaw drop was what was sitting on top of that cliché blanket. There were 5 medium sized floating red and gold candles and one slightly larger pink candle. There was an acoustic guitar lying next to the table. Atop the table there was also 2 pink tinted champagne glasses filled with what looked like champagne, but with closer inspection Hermione realized it was just sparkling soda. Hermione turned to Harry with a confused look.

"Why are there only two glasses? There are three people he--" She stopped when she saw that Ron had disappeared. She was even more confused, "Harry what is going on?" I really don't need to be alone with you right now; if anything I need to be as far away from you as possible. What on earth is going on? A silent tear fell down her cheek.

"There is only one way to explain this to you."

With that said Harry picked up the guitar and began playing a familiar tune. The tears began to fall harder when Hermione realized that it was the same tune she had heard the night before. The same tune that Harry had broken her heart with.

Harry's silky voice quickly covered up the sound of her muffled tears.

I would give up everything

Before I'd separate

Myself from you

After so much suffering

I finally found unvarnished truth

I was all by myself

For the longest time

So cold inside

And the hurt from the heartache

Would not subside

I felt like dying

Until you saved my life

Thank God I found you

I was lost without you

My every wish and every dream

Somehow became reality

When you brought the sunlight

Completed my whole life

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude

Cause baby I'm so thankful

I found you

I would give you everything

There's nothing in this world

I wouldn't do

To ensure your happiness

I'll cherish every part of you

Cause without you beside me

I can't survive

I don't want to try

If you're keeping me warm

Each and every night

I'll be alright

Because I need you in my life

"Harry," she started, barely audible, "I already know you love Ginny. Why on earth did you have to bring me to such a romantic place to proclaim her love for her! Why are you doing this to me! Why the hell did you bring me here instead of her!" Harry chuckled, Hermione raised her wand to the dead center of his forehead, "What exactly is so funny, Mr. Potter. The last time I checked, laughing at a crying girl was not a nice thing to do!" Her voice was filled with tears and hurt as well as anger.

"Hermione Ginny has nothing to do with this. That song wasn't for her. I do not love her. Well I do, but only as a sister, and not nearly as much as I love you."

"Harry this is no time to joke."

"I agree. That is precisely why I am telling you the truth. There really is only one reason I brought you here tonight Hermione, and that is to tell you that I love you always and forever."