Kiss Today Goodbye

Harry kissed Hermione one last time, the desire too strong to resist. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she draped her on his shoulders and around his neck, deepening the kiss. Harry pulled away with difficulty and he gave a weak smile before turning and walking away, leaving Hermione to stare at his retreating back in disbelief.

The pain in both of them was mind shattering. They loved one another, with so much desire. It was so obvious, it was painful not only for them, but for everyone they knew well. The fact that they couldn't be together was unbelievable and cruel and against all of the fairy tales that you hear as little children sitting cross legged around on the floor. But they knew that it could not be. Hermione wanted to stay with Harry until the stars fell into the sea and darkness reigned forever, but Harry would never risk her life, he loved her too much.

Kiss today goodbye,

The sweetness and the sorrow,

Wish me luck the same to you.

But I can't regret, what you did for love,

What you did for love...

They both knew that Voldemort was going to come back and Harry didn't want Hermione to be in danger. He knew she would be at risk if everyone knew that they loved each other. So Harry and Hermione were breaking up, to become cordial friends, not the feel each others physical love until after death or after Voldemort. Hermione knew that being friends was almost as bad as being a girlfriend, but she didn't want to point it out, she didn't want Harry to ignore her completely just because of their painful forbidden love.

Hermione turned sadly and left to her dormitory. Once there, she sat upon her bed and gazed out the window at the grounds of Hogwarts, and that is how she saw Harry, sitting on a cold stone bench against a wall. Never mind the fact that it was nearing the beginning of January and there was a sprinkling of snow drifting lazily to the ground. She watched Harry sitting there until the natural light was completely gone and he was sitting in the weak light of a nearby lamp.

Look my eyes are dry; the gift was ours to borrow,

It's as if we always knew.

And I won't forget, what you did for love,

What you did for love.

Gone, love is never gone, as we travel on.

Love's what we'll remember.

Hermione stepped carefully and resolutely down from her bed and after wrapping a warm cloak around her and grabbing an extra one; she left the dormitory, snapping the door shut behind her.

She weaved her way through the castle until she was standing right outside the front doors. She walked through the snow beginning to stick to the ground and she came up next to Harry.

Softly, and sweetly, she murmured, "Harry, I understand why; so don't regret your choice, we both know the truth and that is what truly matters, it shouldn't matter what others say."

Kiss today goodbye, and point me toward tomorrow...

We did what we had to do!

Won't forget, can't regret what you did for love.

What you did for love...what you did for love.

Harry looked up at the girl that he loved, his best friend for six years that had helped him through dangerous times, starting at age eleven; such strength for so young and little of a girl. Her eyes were full of care and love, and she wanted him to feel calm and understood.

Hermione sat next to Harry and wrapped the extra cloak she had brought around Harry's slightly shivering shoulders. She leaned against him peacefully and looked up into the starless sky.

Love is never gone; as we travel on...

Love's what we'll remember.

Kiss today goodbye, and point me toward tomorrow,

We did what we had to do!

Won't forget, won't regret what you did for love.

What you did for love...what you did for love.