Crazy In Love

Harry paced around his darkened bedroom, waiting for Ron and Hermione to appear. It was two-fifty three in the morning, but Harry was feeling too rushed to be tired. Ron and Hermione had decided to get Harry early in the morning so that he wouldn't have to bother with his relatives. Harry had his trunk packed, Hedwig caged, and everything else he needed ready. There was one simultaneous pop! as Ron and Hermione appeared in front of him.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione gasped, wrapping her arms around his waist. He hadn't seen her since Dumbledore's funeral, which was a month ago, but it felt like eternity since he felt her hug him.

"Ready, mate?" Ron asked.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here, and fast."

Hermione took Hedwig, and Ron helped Harry with his trunk. The three of them Apparated to the Burrow, and they landed on the crisp grass in front of the house.

"Everyone's still asleep," Ron said. "But Mum said we can get something to eat if we wanted to. She left sandwiches for us on the table."

"Sounds good," Harry said as they walked in.

They went upstairs to put his things in Ron's room, and they went back down to the kitchen. Hermione conjured three bottles of Butterbeer, and they ate and drank in silence. Harry noticed then how tired and worn both Ron and Hermione looked. If they looked that ragged, he could only guess how he looked.

"All right, Harry?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence.

"Brilliant," he said, looking down at his sandwich. "How are the two of you?"

"Never better," Ron said, sarcastically. "Mum's been on us about getting things ready for the wedding, and Ginny--" He stopped.

"I don't care, Ron, really," Harry said, knowing Ron thought it might make Harry uncomfortable mentioning his sister's name.

"And you shouldn't," Hermione said, in a quiet voice. "I mean, you did break up with her," she added quickly.

"Anyway," Ron said. "Where do you think we'll take off to after the wedding?" he asked Harry.

Harry put his sandwich down and shook his head. "The two of you are not going to come with me. It's going to be too dangerous. I don't need the guilt if--" He couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence.

Hermione reached across the table and took Harry's hand in hers. Harry suddenly felt warmer with her touch. "Harry, Ron and I are going to stay by your side no matter what." Harry noticed tears rimming her bloodshot eyes. He also noticed the dark circles under them. "I couldn't live with my own guilt if...if something...if something..."

"Happened to me," he said, finishing her sentence.

"Hermione's right," Ron said, in a low voice. "We're staying with you, mate."

"I...thanks," Harry said, giving Hermione's hand a slight squeeze. He found he didn't want to let go of it. Hermione made no move to do so.

Harry did let go of her hand, though, when they both felt something furry scuttle across them. Hermione yelped then smiled when she recognized the purple fur.

"Arnold!" she said, picking the pygmy puff up in her hand. "Ginny won't be happy if she found out you got out." She got up. "I'm going to take Arnold back up to Ginny's room," she said, not looking at Harry.

They heard her go upstairs, and Harry turned to Ron. "So, how's your summer been?" Harry asked, not really knowing what else to say.

"Well, Mum and Dad got me new dress robes, seeing as I'm going to be Bill's best man. Not much else, really. Hermione and I have been running errands back and forth between here and Diagon Alley."

"Hermione. How about the two of you?"

"What about the two of us?"

"Well, has anything--"

Ron frowned. "Nothing. She's been really distant since the funeral. You know, girls are too complicated. One minute they're screaming at you to ask them to a ball, the next they ignore you for a year, then they're sending birds at you, and then they ignore you, again."

"Sorry, mate," Harry said. Their was a feeling of relief in his stomach, and Harry wasn't sure why. "So--"

"Well, Arnold's safely tucked away in Ginny's room," Hermione said, coming back in the kitchen. "What say we go stargazing?" she asked the boys.

Ron yawned. "Not tonight. I'm bloody tired."

"I'll go with you," Harry offered. "I know I won't be able to sleep."

Ron shot him a look, but didn't say anything. Harry followed Hermione out the kitchen door as Ron went upstairs. Harry looked at his watch with his wand light. Three thirty-two. He flicked the wand light off, and felt Hermione's arm brush his.

"How are you, Harry?" Hermione asked. "I mean, we really haven't talked much since last summer, have we?"

"Same as always, I suppose." He sighed. "I guess we really haven't talked."

"I missed you," she said, suddenly. "I mean, I don't know. It was almost..." She grasped his hand, and she interlocked her fingers in his. "...it was almost as if I didn't have my best friend."

"You always had me, Hermione."

She smiled. "I do now, don't I?"

"Of course."

They walked to the grass fields and stopped to look up at the Milky Way stretching across the navy blue sky. There were a few shooting stars and falling stars, and Venus was bright and blue in the sky.

"I don't know what came over me last year," Hermione said, quietly, tracing the Milky Way with her finger, her other hand still holding Harry's.

"What d'you mean?"

"I was...I don't know. I just didn't feel like myself, I suppose is the best way to put it."

"Funny you should say that," Harry said, smiling slightly.

"How so?"

"When I was with Ginny...it didn't feel...I didn't feel like myself."

Hermione chuckled. "Maybe it wasn't us. Maybe they were the Death Eaters trying to fool us."

Harry laughed. "Hermione, I think you just came really close to cracking a joke."

"I can joke!" she retorted.

"No, you can't. That's Ron's job." She laughed. "Besides, what went on between the two of you?"

Hermione sighed. "Nothing, believe me." She shook her head. "I think what got me was the idea of having a boy fancy me was nice, but once he got interested in another girl, it, well, I didn't like it. When I was with Viktor, it was so wonderful. He liked me, and he was so respectful. Then...then I realized there was another boy. I loved this other boy, but when I came to the realization he would never love me like that, I decided to play around with the fact that Ron liked me."

Harry suddenly wanted to know who the other boy was, but he didn't ask. "Don't feel so down, Hermione. You're a great girl, and a great friend. There's someone out there for you."

She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Thanks, Harry." She sighed. "You know, this is what I missed most out of last year. Just being alone and talking to you, like we did in fifth year."

"I missed this, too."

They sat down on the grass, their jeans getting wet from the early morning dew. The navy blue sky was steadily becoming purple, and Harry felt the most relaxed he ever had in his life. Hermione's presence was soothing, and the sound of the crickets chirping was almost tranquil.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"D'you think we'll ever get moments like this again?"

Harry gave her hand a squeeze. "I reckon we'll get more moments like these after the war."

Hermione sat up and let go of his hand. She propped herself up on her elbow, and she looked down into his green eyes. The purple sky was becoming maroon as the sun was making its way over the horizon. Within minutes, the sky would be orange, but Harry wasn't looking at the sky. He was looking into the cinnamon and gold of Hermione's eyes; he was looking at the one girl who has always been there for him; he was looking at his best friend; he was looking at Hermione.

Before they both knew it, Hermione's lips were on his, soft and warm. Harry thought she tasted like toffee, but before he could taste her more, she pulled away.

Harry sat up, feeling a small smile on his face. "What was that for? "

"I just wanted to see what it was like," Hermione said, her cheeks turning pink.

"What was it like?"

She smiled. "You were there!"

"I wasn't ready for it," Harry said.

"What would you have done differently?" Hermione asked, getting to her feet.

Harry shrugged and looked up at her "I don't know. Something with my lips."

Hermione nodded. "Sounds good." She started walking back to the Burrow. "Let's try that next time."

Harry jumped to his feet and watched her walk off. "When exactly is next time?"

"Maybe tonight in my room," she replied