Fears: Part 3

Around two in the morning, Stan shook Harry awake. Harry groggily pulled Peter's body off of the bus.

Harry walked through the oak doors and set Wormtail's body down, not having the energy or patience to take the body to Dumbledore's office.

When he reached the gargoyle, it was already out of the way, letting Harry enter without a hassle. Harry quickly climbed the stairs, now regaining all of his energy, and knocked on the door.

Dumbledore opened the door and smiled.

Harry returned the smile and said, "It's over."

Dumbledore nodded and ushered Harry into his office. Harry sat down in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"Sir-"

"Shh..." Dumbledore hushed him. "Miss Granger is sleeping in my quarters." Dumbledore pointed to a door across the room.

"Sir," Harry said, lowering his voice. "Peter Pettigrew is dead; he repaid his debt."

"I knew he would," Dumbledore said, giving Harry a smile. "Peter was a very loyal person with a guilty conscience. He knew he had been helped by you and he knew that he had to repay you."

"I have one question, sir."

"Only one?"

Harry nodded. "Voldemort was about to kill me, but Peter jumped in front of me," Harry told Dumbledore. "Then, I, er, melted Voldemort, like I did in my first year..."

"And you are wondering why that happened?" Dumbledore finished his statement.

Harry nodded.

"The only explanation I can think of, is that he still loved your parents," Dumbledore told Harry. "Because their blood runs through your veins, it saved you."

Harry had assumed the explanation would be something to that extent, and merely nodded.

"Now," Dumbledore said, breaking the silence. "I'm sure you'd like to see Miss Granger. Shall I wake her?"

Harry shook his head. "I can do it."

"Harry, I'd just like to remind you that you will be in my quarters," Dumbledore said with a wink.

"Yes, sir," Harry said, feeling his face turn incredibly hot.

Harry entered the dimly lit room. A small lump of a girl lay on the four-post bed.

Harry sat down on the edge of the bed, next to Hermione. He watched as her chest rose with every breath she took. He grasped her cold hands in his and smiled.

'She's beautiful...' he thought.

He didn't have the heart to wake her, but gently kissed her on the cheek before leaving.

Just as he reached the door, a quiet voice said, "Harry?"

"I didn't want to wake you," Harry said as he turned around.

Hermione ran toward him, arms extended.

Harry scooped her up into his arms; not wanting to ever let her go.

"Harry, I was so scared," she sobbed into his t-shirt.

"Shh..." he whispered. "It's okay. It's all over now."

"Really?"

"Yes," Harry said quietly.

There was a long silence as they stood in each other's arms.

"Hermione, let's go home," Harry requested.

"When you say home," Hermione said with a smirk, "what do you mean?"

"Hermione Granger!" Harry gasped. "You have a dirty mind!"

"I'm sorry," Hermione apologized. "I couldn't help it."

"Don't be sorry," Harry said. "I like it." He gave her a wink.

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione shrieked. "I will not have sex with you in our headmaster's bedroom!"

Harry chuckled. "That's okay, Dumbledore already reminded me that we're in his quarters.

"Anyways, if I were going to do anything with you, it wouldn't be in Dumbledore's bedroom."

"So you were planning on something?" Hermione asked.

"Maybe..." Harry said slyly. "I guess you'll just have to wait and find out.

"But really, Hermione, let's go back to the Dursleys'."

"I thought Hogwarts was your home," Hermione said.

"I used to think that, but I think home is where your family is," Harry told her.

"I thought you didn't consider the Dursleys your family."

"Family is the people whom you love, and love you back," Harry told her. "I love Aunt Petunia and even more than that, I love you," Harry told her, kissing her on the forehead. "I love you with all my heart."