Healing

Healing - Part Five

Harry thought talking to Lupin would be easier than it was turning out to be. The man was the closest thing he had to a father now, except maybe Mr. Weasley, and he had been his teacher not only in the classroom, but in how to defend himself against the Dementors. They had taken walks together, and discussed other private matters before. Why was it so hard to just look him in the eye?

"Am I right in presuming this has to deal with just more than what you went through this summer?" Lupin finally broke the silence. He was watching Harry closely, and it made the boy that much more nervous.

"Yeah," he finally choked out.

Lupin sat back in his chair and smiled. "Perhaps, with a certain young lady?"

Harry looked up from his hands and gave a nod.

The smile grew. "I knew the minute you walked in Professor Dumbledore's office. Miss Weasley..."

Immediately, Harry's head began to shake, and he sat up straight. "No Pr...Remus. It's not Ginny." On this, Harry looked very confident.

"As I was saying," Lupin continued, "Miss Weasley took no shame in watching you and Miss Granger very closely from the minute you walked in, until the minute she left. If I had doubts, they were erased by the way you and Miss Granger looked at each other."

Puzzled, Harry raised an eyebrow. "May I ask what that means, Remus?" There was a bit of hitch in his voice then, but it came out more smoothly than before.

"Harry, you can ask me anything you wish. By the looks, I am only referencing the many glances I've seen passed between your mother and your father."

This didn't take imagination to understand. Harry's stomach rolled. Thinking about marriage was one thing, he was just trying to handle the fact that he might love Hermione.

The fact that you do love Hermione, a voice whispered in his head. Don't try to pretend when you have no doubts.

Harry pushed his palm into his forehead, and Lupin looked concerned.

"Is your scar hurting?" he asked, perched like he was going to leap out of his chair the minute Harry said yes.

Harry just shook his head. "No, my brain does. I was down by the lake, having a talk with Hermione, when I just started thinking that I love her, and not in the way you love a good friend. My mind hasn't shut up about it since, and I don't know what to do. I won myself the title of the world's biggest git by running away."

Lupin was very much relieved. Deep from his stomach he started to chuckle. It continued for a few minutes, in which his cheeks tinted pink and he held his midsection. Harry watched him, but wondered what part of this was so funny; realizing he deeply loved someone, or running away from her.

"Don't look so startled, Harry." Lupin straightened himself in his chair and wiped at his eyes. "I'm not laughing at you, but merely at the similarities between you and your father."

A small light of hope flickered. "Dad ran away when he realized he loved Mum?"

"No." Lupin took a deep breath. Harry's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Your father fancied your mum for YEARS, but as I suspect you found out, she was not as charmed. That was until an incident in seventh year, and after it, Lily worked up the courage to tell James she fancied him and then took his hand as they patrolled the halls during their duties. Now mind you, James up to this point had no reason to believe that Lily's feelings had changed and when she sort of sprung it on him, it scared him so bad he turned and ran straight for the Common Room."

How it all worked out was obvious because Harry was sitting right there, the younger version of his father with his mother's eyes. What intrigued him, and what he really needed to know, was what happened next. Seeing as to how Lupin told him he could ask anything, he did.

"How did Mum and Dad get together?" He was eager, because this very answer could save his life. Or, at least his social life, because he didn't know how he was going to ever face Hermione again if he didn't tell her what he was feeling and why he had been such a prat.

Lupin's face drew serious. It was obvious he hadn't thought about telling this part of the story, and it became increasingly obvious he didn't particularly want to. But Harry needed to hear it, so Lupin would tell.

"This is not something I'm proud of, and I actually considered nicking a Time Turner to change it, but what's done is done. I...I was in the library when Lily came and found me. She was crying and wanted to talk, so I listened. I was the one that had told her to be open and honest with James, and kind of just...go for it." Lupin made an awkward punching motion with his right hand.

"What's wrong with that," Harry asked innocently.

"Nothing," Lupin admitted. "It was what I did next that it made it so horrible. I've told you before, Harry, that your mother was a wonderfully kind, good-hearted witch that saw the good in people even when they couldn't see it themselves. I told her that, too, right then. I also told her that James was the biggest idiot in the world to run away from such an amazing woman and then I...kissed her. That's what James saw when he walked into the library a second later."

Harry sat in stunned silence. Lupin had fancied his mother, and he had actually done something about it. Even though he knew full well that James fancied Lily.

"I should have never done it, Harry. It strained our friendship for awhile. I couldn't even look Sirius in the eye for a month. He kept whispering what a friend I was to up and kiss our best mate's girl. Eventually, we all got over it. After all, it did make both your parents admit their feelings for each other rather quickly."

Harry pondered this. Lupin kissing his mother was not that big of a deal for him, seeing as to how it all turned out, but it did hit a nerve. What if he caught another wizard kissing Hermione? How would he react?

I don't know, Harry thought, but I don't ever want to know. He made a mental note that as soon as he figured out how he was going to tell Hermione, he would.

"Harry, are you alright?"

"Yes, Remus, it's just that...I can't wait for someone to tell Hermione they fancy her before I admit it. I need to know what to do now." He looked pleadingly at the man.

Lupin took it as a sign that all was well otherwise, and the man smiled. "Hermione is a very sensible witch, Harry. Talk to her and be honest with her." He stopped a moment. "Yes, it will work for you two. Unlike your father, Hermione is a very calm person."

Harry's cheeks puffed up as he laughed. "You obviously haven't seen her talk about S.P.E.W. then." Eyes glazed over, he chuckled some more. "She's a very passionate person and when she's riled up; she just kind of goes off. The rows between her and Ron are legend in the Common Room."

Too many things clicked in his head at once, and Harry was left wondering if Ron might try to tell Hermione he fancied her. Sitting back in his seat, he took a deep breath. Ron didn't fancy Hermione; he had just told him last week, in his attempts to pull Harry into conversation, that he had a soft spot for Luna, but that Lavender was actually starting to grow on him.

It was okay; him and his parents didn't have that much in common.

"What's S.P.E.W.?" Lupin asked conversationally.

"Her organization for the liberation of house-elves. We're not very big supporters, seeing as to how most of the house-elves don't want to be freed, but when it comes to what's fair and what's not, she makes a point. I don't know how it will go, but with Hermione, you can safely assume she's going to do all the she can before she even thinks of giving up. I wouldn't be shocked at all if one day, her efforts and her passion changed the world." Harry trailed off into thought, a very silly grin on his face.

Love, Lupin thought, what a beautiful thing. He cleared his throat and said softly, "I think she already has."

Harry shook himself out of his daze. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Nothing," Lupin smiled. "Harry, just talk to her."

There was that nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach again. "But how? 'Hermione, I know we've been friends for five years now, but I just realized that I love you, so how about a snog?'" He shrugged. Dealing with emotional issues had never been a strong suit for him.

"The straight foreword approach works for some, but Hermione is a little more, classy, shall I say?" Lupin stroked his chin for a few moments then held up a finger as his eyes lit up. "You don't have to say word for word, but I believe something along these lines is what you're looking for. Ummm... 'Hermione, I'm sorry I ran away. I was scared, but I didn't mean to hurt you. The thing is, it occurred to me right then that what I feel for you is more than just friendship. While of course I can't be certain by just a jump in my gut, considering everything we've been through, I'm pretty positive that I love you. I want to build a relationship with you, Hermione, and see where we can go together. That is, if you'll forgive me and have me.'"

There was some nodding of his head, and then Harry smacked his hands together with a twinkle in his eyes. "I would never ask someone to have me, but I can work from that! I'm still nervous. It's like with Cho all over again, except this time I'm not in competition with a dead boyfriend and Hermione's not constantly crying. I just hope this works out. I'd feel awful if I lost her friendship."

Lupin stood and had Harry stand, just so he could take the boy by the shoulders and look at him directly in the eye. "Love is a confident thing, Harry. Real love isn't jealous, it doesn't doubt, it doesn't have second thoughts. It's very patient, and kind, and loving, and caring. It's loyal through the very end. You have shown me just some of these qualities tonight, and I know that you and Hermione share all of them. Be confident with her when you talk with her, but be patient, also. It might take her a little longer, and that's okay. Love waits as long as it has to."

Where was someone to tell him all of this years before? At least now, when he needed it most, it was there. He would always be grateful for that.

"Should I talk to her tonight?" Harry was starting to get excited.

Lupin shook his head. "If she approaches you, go for it. But she was very emotional tonight, and considering the whole evening, give it some time. I'd say, talk to her tomorrow evening in private. Both of you need to sleep on it a bit. Believe me, it'll be worth the wait."

With a grin and a thank-you, Harry hugged Lupin around the middle, and then bid him good-night. When the young man was gone, Lupin looked to the door and sighed.

"So very much like your parents, Harry. So very, very much."

***

"Are you certain that you are all right?" Tonks squatted before Hermione's chair and looked up at the young girl with very wide eyes. They had had to stop three times in the corridor before the classroom just so Hermione could catch her breath while crying. A fourth time occurred because Tonks hadn't seen the suit of armor around the corner. It muttered insults loud enough to hear until they were out of sight.

A very disgusting blow into an old handkerchief was Hermione's reply. No, she was not fine.

Tonks rubbed her arms up and down her shoulders quickly before she stood and pulled a chair up close to hers. "Do you want to talk, or would you rather I just sit here and stare at you while you finish crying?"

Hermione shook her head and wiped at her eyes. "I...I want to-to, talk."

This was just not going to do. "Hermione, I know a very simple spell that will help calm you. We use it on wizards who refuse to settle down while we talk to them after capture, but I assure you, it is completely safe." Slowly, Tonks went to pull her wand out from inside of her robes, watching for any indication to put it back.

"Go ahead." Hermione sobbed out.

With a simple swish upwards and another down, Hermione began to feel her tears slow and her breathing resume to a normal pace. Her insides still felt all jumbled and complicated, but she could control herself.

"Thank you," she said with a smile.

"Not a problem," Tonks grinned, happily replacing her wand in her robes. "So tell whatever it is that you want to tell me, Hermione. I'm all ears." She looked very eager to help.

With another tear pushed off her cheek, Hermione took one last deep breath and simply said, "I love Harry and now I think he's afraid of me."

There was a moment when nothing happened, but just as quickly, Tonks completely rocked over in her chair and fell on her side. Hermione shot down to the floor to help her up.

"Are you okay?" She straightened the older witch up and then picked up the chair.

Tonks brushed off her robes and nodded her head, but her face was not displaying the same message. Neither was her voice. "Yeah, this just wasn't the direction I was expecting our conversation to go. Professor Dumbledore told me you might be dealing with complicated emotions, but I thought perhaps he meant something along the lines of the War. You know, things I know something about."

Both girls sat down, and it was clear that Tonks was not too comfortable with the situation any longer.

"You...you know nothing about relationships?" Hermione asked cautiously.

Tonks shrugged a bit. "It's not that I know nothing about relationships, but the longest one I've ever been in personally lasted a week. It was a disaster from the moment he asked me out. I haven't had a date since."

Not that Hermione found anything wrong with not dating, but she wondered why it was this way. Tonks was a really fun girl to be around, and she had imagined that she wouldn't have any trouble finding dates. "Did you just not want to date?"

Tonks rolled her eyes. "I've fancied more wizards over the years than should be legal. No, my trouble was that no wizard wanted to date me because...well, because I was too good of friends with Charlie. They felt intimidated, thought they didn't stand a chance when my best mate was one of the better looking wizards in the school, Quidditch captain, and a prefect. I'd imagine it's not too different for you, either."

Hermione stared at her vaguely.

Another roll of her eyes. "Hermione, your best friend is the most famous wizard of your age. A thousand years from now people are going to remember four wizarding names like they were friends they met down at a pub: Merlin, Dumbledore, You-Know-Who, and Harry Potter."

"Wizards have shown interest in me, though. In fourth-year, Viktor Krum asked me to the Yule Ball and said he cared about me very much." She seemed defiant.

Tonks wasn't as impressed. "Oh, Vicky."

Hermione fumed. "What do you have against Viktor? Do you even know him?"

"No, I was simply teasing you, Hermione. And poking fun at Ron." She sighed. "All Weasley men are the same, Hermione. Every single one of them. When they feel threatened, their defense is to brood and mock. You should have seen Charlie that entire week I was dating someone; he was a monster!"

Hermione had a hard time imaging Fred and George brooding over anything, but she supposed it was true. Why would Ron feel threatened by Viktor, though? A few days after their row about the Yule Ball, Ron had made it very clear he had no attraction to Hermione. He hadn't said much else, but he had clarified himself on that point.

"You look confused, Hermione."

And she was. "It's just that I can't imagine why Ron would feel threatened by Viktor."

Tonks snorted. "None at all? Come now Hermione, you're smarter than that."

She remembered. Ron had made it very clear at the Ball that night. "You mean about going to the dance with a competing schools' champion? I'd forgotten about that. Bit of a hypocrite though, drooling all over Fleur like he was."

Tonks eyes lit up. "Oh, if she weren't part Veela, Bill wouldn't be pleased with that. Pity he's an understanding guy, that would make for one interesting row between the two. Anyway, let's move on to why we're here. Do you really think that Harry is afraid of you?"

No, honestly, she didn't, but she didn't know what else to think. What would make him just run away like that? Had she said something wrong? Or had he simply forgotten to do something important? No, he would have told her, not froze up and sprinted off without a word. Something was wrong, but she didn't know what it was.

"I know he's afraid that something's going to happen to me and Ron if he remains too close to us. He's got this idea stuck in his head that Voldemort," Tonks flinched, "is going to target us just because we're his best friends!"

The sad truth could was reflected in Tonks' eyes. "Unfortunately, he's got a very valid point. When it comes to You-Know-Who, it's not a matter of if he will or won't come after you, it's a matter of when."

Hermione was smart enough to know that before talking to Tonks, and it didn't bother her, but it didn't help her try and get Harry to have faith that they would make it out alive. She had to make him see, somehow, that even possible death was no reason to just give up your friendship. That, actually, it was every reason to grow closer together.

A fresh wave of tears were wiped away. "I don't know what to do, Tonks. For the first time in my life I don't know what to tell Harry that will make him see that it's okay. It's so frustrating because I love him so much and to just be pushed out of his life like this...it's like Voldemort already won."

While Hermione grew silent into thought, Tonks grinned like a fool. "I think you know what to tell him now."

Hermione sat up straight and then stood, a new look of determination on her face. Tonks resisted the urge to laugh as they made their way to the door.

"Thanks Tonks. I appreciate you being here. I could have never talked to my mother about any of this and...and I'm just not close enough to anyone else in my house."

Tonks clapped her on the back. "It was my pleasure Hermione. Good luck with everything, and let me know how it goes. If you'll excuse me, however, a certain werewolf and I have some business to take care of." Tonks winked at her, started bounding down the corridor, and then ran straight into the same suit of armor.

Hermione simply rolled her eyes and made her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

***

Harry and Hermione didn't exactly avoid each other over the next twenty-four hours, but they kept a distance. They would each find the other sneaking quick glances their way, and when one would turn to look, the other would turn away. Harry actually found himself smirking when this would happen, and he imagined Hermione let herself smile once or twice, too.

At dinner they sat by each other, and while they shared no words, they made polite conversation with those around them. Their knees would occasionally bump as they moved around, and right in the middle of telling Dean about a Quidditch move he had recently learned of and was dying to try, he grinned from ear to ear and rested his hand on Hermione's bouncing leg.

He didn't see her eyes grow wide or her jaw drop. Neville was about to comment on Hermione's sudden change, but she looked straight at Ron and asked him if he had read any interesting books recently. Ron passed a confused look over to Harry, but Harry just kind of shrugged and then winked.

Quietly, feeling a little mischievous, Harry did something neither of them would ever suspect. When everyone seemed to be paying attention to someone or something else, Harry began to run his hand up and down her leg.

Hermione's silverware dropped out of her hands and made a loud clatter on the table. Everyone turned their way to find Hermione's eyes almost popping out of their sockets and Harry's cheeks painted scarlet.

"Are you alright," Neville asked, looking around for something that could have prompted such a response out of the girl.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah," she croaked, "just remembered something important that I need to do." Without more explanation, she pushed back a bit and left the table. They heard a thud, and Neville looked down to see Harry's hand where Hermione had been sitting. The round-faced boy looked up in amazement.

"Harry..." Neville began.

"I just remembered, I need to help her with that something." Harry nodded to his friends and then tried as calmly as possible to walk out of the Great Hall without sprinting. He needed to talk to Hermione and explain. He had to at least apologize.

When the coast was clear, he began a light jog and met up with her halfway up the stairs. Instinctively, he reached out to touch her shoulder. "Hermione, I'm sorry about that."

She froze in her spot, then spun around. She looked calm, but Harry knew that was not the case on the inside. She had to be full of questions, as she always was. She had to be wondering what was going on down there.

"Sorry about what, Harry?" Even her voice calm across as normal. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe she really did have something she had to do.

Nerves setting in, Harry stepped back and took his hand off her shoulder. "I...I..."

Hermione waited patiently, but Harry couldn't find that boldness he just displayed in the Great Hall. He ducked his head, shuffled his feet, and cleared his throat many more times than was necessary.

"I...I just...it was...you know you just..."

"Sorry about what, Harry?" Hermione asked again, her voice just as even as it was before.

"Oh, bugger." Harry finally gathered his courage and looked up at the young woman. "Hermione, would you go flying with me?"

Under other circumstances, Hermione might have considered it for a second and then turn him down, but this time she couldn't. There was sort of a desperate need in his eyes, and she couldn't deny him this request. Especially now that he was finally talking to her again. She hated flying, but who knew? Maybe tonight would be different.

"Yes, Harry." Hermione smiled softly. "I don't think we'll get permission, but if we did, I would."

Harry grinned. "Good. I asked Professor Dumbledore this morning and he said he'd meet me at the Pitch at seven. That's five minutes from now." Harry took her hand and started the other direction to the Quidditch Pitch.

As he dragged her along, Hermione looked puzzled. "You had this planned?"

Indeed Harry had. Professor Dumbledore was actually waiting for them when they arrived, and the older man wore a bright, brisk smile on his face.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, it's good to see you this evening. How have the both of you been?"

They stood straight and smiled at the Headmaster, but neither let go of the other's hand.

"Well, Professor, thank you," Hermione replied first.

"Yes, very well Professor Dumbledore. Thank you for meeting us here tonight." Harry looked eager.

Professor Dumbledore winked. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Potter, I assure you. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to find a seat at the very opposite end of the stadium and plug my ears with a good amount of wax so that I can not hear a single word. Just do be kind enough to remember me before you head back off to the castle. Ta-ta!" He waved and then appeared to float serenely to the stands and, as he said, make his way all the way to the other end.

Harry started them towards the middle of the pitch and when they arrived, two broomsticks were waiting for them. One was Harry's Firebolt, and the other was a school broom that looked older than the school itself. Harry looked a bit ashamed of this.

"I'm sorry I couldn't find a better one. The rest were all being used for classes or practice, so I had no choice." Harry let go of her hand only to take a hold of his broom and move it to her side. "Here, you ride mine."

He moved to help her mount, but Hermione was still. Concerned, he looked into her face. There was a tiny tear in the corner of her eye.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" He moved closer to her, but Hermione quickly swung her leg over the broom and held tight to the neck. Her knuckles were turning white. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes," she chocked out. "I'm just afraid of flying and you know that." She wasn't accusing him, just stating facts.

Harry had second thoughts. "If you're uncomfortable with this, we don't have to..."

"No," she inserted firmly. "You asked me to fly and I said yes. I can't make any promises about how long I'll fly and how long I'll just hover close to something I can grab a hold of, but I'll try." She looked determined, and Harry wasn't going to try and push her any more.

Quickly, he mounted the other broom and kicked off hard from the ground. Even though he was riding a broom that he had joked to Ron was a DirtSweep, he found himself waiting for Hermione to meet him half-way up. Slowly, she moved up level with him, and nearly teetered off when she tried to stop. Harry reached out to steady her on the broom.

"Are you alright?" He asked, making sure she was still.

Swallowing nervously, Hermione smiled. "So, why did you want to go flying?"

Impulsively, Harry's shoulders shrugged a little. "There's something important that I need to talk to you about but...well you saw me on the stairs. I can barely string two words together. I thought that maybe if we just flew a little, I could clear my head. The air is so much better up here. Besides, you know that flying calms me down."

She did know, and that was part of the reason she agreed. Well, maybe this was better than. She could stick to her hovering while he flew. Then they could talk.

"Why don't you take as long as you want, and I'll be over by the goal posts when you're ready to talk."

Harry winked. "Sure you don't want to try a couple of Feints with me? You know, it was one of Viktor's favorite moves." Harry streaked off laughing, and Hermione found herself grumbling, but smiling, as she made her way to the goalposts.

For ten full minutes Harry zoomed around the Quidditch pitch. Even on the old broom, he blurred by. Hermione realized that it wasn't the model or condition of the broom that made the flyer great; it was the pure talent on his behalf that made Harry one of the best Seekers Hogwarts had ever seen. Also, because she was sitting on one of the best brooms on the market, and she kept slipping slightly from side to side.

Just when she was frustrated enough to consider waiting for Harry on the ground, he slowed down and came to hover in front of her. His hair was windblown, his cheeks were pink, and his smile was radiant.

"Sorry about that. I haven't flown since Umbridge banned me. Makes me wonder if they'd still let me on the team."

The expression on his face was eager. Hermione nearly cried. Not only was he talking, but he was obviously ready to jump back into his normal activities. Thank God their plan had worked.

"I have no doubt they will, Harry." Her cheeks were wet with those tears she was trying to fight.

Harry moved in right beside her, a hand reaching out to wipe away some of the tears while her right hand did the rest. "It kills me to see you like this. Last night, I felt horrible."

"It's not your fault." She was smiling under her tears. "Yes it is."

Harry kind of smirked and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm no good at this, Hermione. Down by the lake I was mad, and it's always been easy to say what I'm thinking when I'm mad. But these new feelings are more difficult. It makes it harder to say I'm sorry."

Hermione cocked her head to the side. "What new feelings? Fear that we're going to be killed?"

Harry shook his head.

"Afraid you won't be able to defeat Voldemort?"

Again, he shook his head.

She had an inkling of where he was going, but she didn't just want to assume anything. She didn't want to set her hopes up and then be shot down. "Worried you're going to be captured again?"

"Come on, Hermione." Harry's eyes were pleading. "Please tell me that you understood what happened back in the Great Hall."

The sudden physical contact. Yeah, that was her first thought. At least know she knew it wasn't just an assumption. But how far did his feelings go? She wasn't going to blurt out that she loved him if he was just on the mindset that he fancied her a little.

Cautiously, she stepped over the line between their friendship and the unknown, praying that trying and possibly failing was better than not trying at all. "You have feelings for me?"

Harry nodded his head. "Feelings I didn't realize until last night. That's why I ran away. I got scared, and after saying what I already had, it just frightened me that much more. I never meant to hurt you, and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Hermione."

He watched her. He was waiting for something, anything. Even if she told him that she didn't feel the same, as much as it would hurt, it would be okay. All he had wanted out of this evening was to be honest with her. All he wanted was for her to do the same.

There where more tears. "If...are you telling this all to me before you say that you need to keep your distance again? Because if you're going to tell me you like me, so I understand why you're turning your back on me, I'm going to knock you off that broom, Harry Potter." No part of her manner was even slightly joking.

He laughed, anyway. "I never took you as the violent type, Hermione. But no, I'm not telling you this because I'm going to walk away. I'm still petrified about what could happen to you, but you were right. I don't know what's going to happen, and I can't stand to be separated from you, so it's all a chance we're going to have to take. Voldemort might win, but if he does, I want to know that we at least stuck together. I want you to at least know how much I love you."

Hermione almost chocked on her own spit. Harry's eyes widended when she started coughing.

"Are you alright? Did you swallow a bug?" Firmly, he patted her on the back until she held up her hand for him to stop. "What's the matter, Hermione?"

"I just...you just surprised me there for a second. I wasn't, I wasn't expecting you to say...that." How stupid could she sound? The boy she loved just said the same thing to her! Oh, she was real smooth...

"But I told you last night I loved you." The corner of his eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Granted, at the time I didn't realize how much, but I still meant it."

Her cheeks flushed bright red. "Yes, but, last night I didn't realize how much you meant either. I thought it more of a...a friendly love."

Worry gnawed in the bit of his stomach. "Hermione, if you don't feel the same way, I understand. I mean, it is a bit sudden..."

Hermione shook her head and almost rolled her eyes. "Harry, I realized I loved you at the beginning of Fourth Year, so yes, I do feel the same way and for myself, it's not sudden at all. I've just been so worried these past few weeks, I had to vent to Tonks to figure out what I was finally going to say to you, and it's just the last thing I expected out of this evening was that you loved me. I'm just relieved you're not pushing me away again. I was serious about knocking you off that broom."

Harry looked almost sad. "You're not, excited, at all that we...well that we're...oh bugger, that we're in love?"

Her eyes widened and with a giggle, she punched Harry in the arm. "Of course I am, you dolt!"

Harry slid one way like he was going to fall of the broom, and Hermione gasped and reached out to pull him back up. He was chuckling from the moment her hands had grabbed on to his robes. Hermione sighed and let go off his sleeve, shaking her head at him.

"That's a wonderful way to show you care; nearly let me die of fright!" But she couldn't help but giggle.

Harry had taken her hands in his own, and one of his large thumbs was slowly caressing the back of her hand. They sat there just contently staring at the other, until Harry cleared his throat.

"So, what was it that you did plan on telling me if I had planned to act like a prat again?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed, and there was a tiny smile on her face. Finally he was talking, and laughing, and being himself. Granted he was also know her boyfriend, but who was she to complain? "Just that...that if you kept us out of your life, in a way, Voldemort would have already won."

Harry contemplated this for a moment, but then a wide smile reached his lips. "Well, all the rest of his plans to destroy me have failed, and while it's horrible to joke about, it is the truth. I think...I think that maybe, no matter what happens, I'm going to be okay. I don't want to die, but if I have to, at least...well at least I know I wasn't coward."

Hermione gave his hands a squeeze. "You've never been a coward, Harry."

And in that comfortable, warm silence they continued to hover, content as they were. There was a war he was almost central too, but they would do everything they could to come out alive and well. There were rumors and questions they would have to face starting the next morning, but they had dealt with them before and they would do it again. There were their own inadequacies, awkwardness, and fears they would have to face, but they would unified. No matter how the world, or each other, might tear at them, they would stand together, firm and unwavering. They knew, because they already had.

Suddenly, Harry's eyes grew wide and it wasn't a second later that Hermione caught on, and understood.

"What are we going to tell Ron?" they asked at the same time.

***

McGonogall slowly climbed her way up to where he was seated. She had noticed his presence at the Quidditch Pitch after a visit at Hagrid's, and she was most curious as to why the Headmaster was out at that time of night.

"Albus," she called when she was but a few feet from him. He didn't respond. "Albus?"

Still, the old wizard sat, contently flipping through what appeared to be an edition of the Quibbler. McGonogall stopped, studied him for a moment, then tapped him on the shoulder. Slowly, he turned his head up, and a smile crossed his face. With a long finger, he pointed to the wax in his ears, and then out across the Pitch.

McGonogall squinted into the darkness, where she spotted two students facing each other on brooms, hovering close to the goal posts. If she wasn't mistaken...

"Is that Mister Potter and Miss Granger?" she asked, completely forgetting Dumbledore's condition. When he didn't say anything, she reached down and plucked a ball of wax out of his one ear. "What is going on here, Albus?"

Dumbledore patted the seat beside him and when she was seated, he handed her a different ball of wax. "Harry wanted some time to talk to Hermione in private. I know I'm not supposed to show favoritism, but between the two of us, I really don't care." His eyes were twinkling. From within his robes, he produced another Quibbler. "Care to join me for some light, evening reading?"

McGonogall's lips were in a tight line, but there was a glint of humour about her. "Do you think it's wise to allow such a thing within sight of the school?"

Dumbledore put his wax back in his ear, re-opened his Quibbler, and cleared his throat. "If you don't me well enough to know that there is a shield around this Pitch, I'm afraid we haven't spent nearly enough time together, Minerva. It's exactly why the four of us are the only ones that know we're here. Happy reading!"

McGonogall stuffed the wax in her ears, opened to the first page of her Quibbler, and grinned ear to ear. Just like so many times before, she was thrilled that he had been right, yet again.

***

"Are you angry, Ron?"

The next night at dinner, the group of Gryffindors found them minus two of their house, and plus one Ravenclaw. The sight of Harry and Hermione holding hands in the corridors had started the whispers that got the whole school talking. They denied nothing, but Hermione would simply smile and shrug rather than say yes. Now, their own group of friends were gathered discussing the matter rather seriously.

Ron raised an eyebrow at Neville. "Why would I be angry? We're best friends; it's not like I'm losing either of them."

"I know," Neville said, "but it's just that they're going to want to spend more time alone, now."

Ron looked around to Ginny, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Luna, and Lavender, than back to Neville. "What, do you lot think I'm too stuck up to want to spend more time with you now? Sorry, but you suit me fine."

Ginny and Dean both laughed. Neville's cheeks flushed.

"I'm sorry, Ron."

Ron set down his silverware and rolled his eyes. "Merlin, Neville, if you don't learn to take a joke once in a while, we're going to have a long discussion about what a sense of humour is. I'm fine, and in fact I'm glad. They're well suited and it's about time Harry has something to focus on other than You-Know-Who. The only thing I'm not looking foreword to is catching them snogging."

All but Luna made similar grossed out faces. The Ravenclaw sighed contently. "I think it's romantic. Two best friends falling in love with each other during at time of trial and hardship. It's almost like a fairy tale."

"Yes, and they're going to live happily ever after." Ginny said as she cut into her pork chop. "Now can we talk about something else before the whole of Hogwarts thinks our lives center around those two?"

They all chuckled. Harry was out of his funk, and Hermione was the one responsible for that. Even if their lives didn't revolve around the pair, they would always be very close to their hearts.

***

Without warning, Petunia bolted up from her bed and inhaled a deep breath. Little beads of perspiration clung to her hairline, and she was taking a few slow breaths to try and regulate her breathing.

It was shortly after that Vernon stirred, and then sat up. "What's the matter, darling? Did you have a bad dream?"

Petunia shook her head and just as suddenly as she had sat up, she threw her feet over the bed and walked into the hall. Confused, Vernon followed her all the way into the bathroom. She was splashing cold water on her face.

"I'm fine, Vernon." She patted her face down with a towel, but braced herself against the counter. "I just...got really hot."

Vernon looked out the window to the snow that was falling on the ground. He had been freezing, even snuggled under the covers. "Was it something you ate?"

Petunia shook her head and carefully, stood to her full height. She tried to straighten herself to some sort of dignity, but it failed. She was so embarrassed. Though Vernon was not aware of it, this was the third time in two weeks that she had woken up in a sweat.

Vernon looked lost. "What's going on, Petunia?"

Shoulders squared, Petunia walked out of the bathroom and back to her bedroom with a huff. "It's nothing you need to concern yourself with, Vernon. Now if you don't mind, I need to write a letter to the boy."

Vernon's face remained clueless. "Petunia, some sort of sense would be much appreciated at this moment. Can you please explain to me what is going on with you?"

Petunia looked scandalized but knowing her husband needed some sort of information, she threw her nose in the air and pretended that she wasn't affected by the activities of her nephew as much as she obviously was.

"Well you remember what was said when that man was here summer before last. While Harry is not exactly...on top of the world...it is very safe to say that he is a very happy man right now." And with a defiant huff, Petunia walked down the stairs and out of sight.

The End.