I'll Go Where You Go

I'll Go Where You'll Go

Hermione's POV

There he sat two tables away. The object of what was seemingly my everlasting affection. One small problem with that. I'm too bloody scared to tell him so. I think just about everyone but Harry knows about it. Ah, dear, lovable, sweet, lean, lanky, handsome, sexy, now muscular, green-eyed Harry. I can't help but sigh when I think about him.

Ron keeps telling me I should pour my heart out to him. Not to say I haven't tried, but Miss-Know-It-All Hermione gets all tongue tied. Harry must think I look awful stupid when I do that.

And so here I sit. In my sanctuary of the library. The place I go when I need to study and think. Lately it's been more for thinking. The end of term draws ever nearer and I've decided I have to tell him before we leave. We graduate this year. I can't graduate and walk away, filled with regret because I didn't tell Harry how I really felt about him. At least I'll have peace of mind if he doesn't feel the same way and avoid my nagging brain later on.

I looked up as I heard footsteps that can belong to only one person. He smiled and sat down across from me.

"What's the matter, Hermione?"

"What makes you think something's the matter," I replied nonchalantly.

"I know you well enough to know when something's up. Now spill it."

I looked up into those green eyes and knew I couldn't push him off this time. I was going to tell him. "Can we go somewhere else?"

His brow furrowed a little in confusion. "Uh, sure. Where?"

"Can we go down by the lake?"

He nodded and got up. He held out his hand for mine, and as I slid my hand into his I could feel an electrical sensation flow from his skin into mine.

We walked down to the lake on companionable silence that held a slight twinge of tension to it. More on my part than is.

By the time we sat down, I had planned out exactly what I wanted to say. I turned and looked at him, and just by looking at his face I knew that whatever the outcome might be, everything would be alright. I took a deep breath and started. "Harry, I love you. I realized I loved you when I almost lost you after the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. The thought of living without you was just too horrible to even think about. But, I also couldn't leave here without telling you." There. I said it. Now, the only thing I could do was sit and wait for his response.

Instead of saying something like I was fully expecting him to, he gently pulled me toward him and kissed me. It was pure bliss. There was no other way to describe it that could have done it true justice. He tasted of chocolate and peppermint. I savored every moment of it. That kiss will be imprinted on my mind forever.

He pulled away so that this face was inches from mine and I could feel his warm breath on my cheeks. "I've loved you since that day on the train platform when you kissed me on the cheek. It just seems that you were braver than I was." He smiled.

"I don't know that I'd put it that way," I laughed softly.

He leaned in again to press his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sent my hands into his wind-ruffled hair. Before I knew it, we were entangled in a passionate embrace, lips melded and tongues dueling, in the grass. The next time we pulled apart, we were both breathless.

"Great Ghost of Merlin, Harry. I never thought it could be like this with anyone," I said laying my head on his chest.

"Me either, Hermione." He leaned down and kissed the top of my head, then lifted it so he could look into my eyes. "I do know this. Wherever life takes me, I want you there with me. Will you -"

"Yes, Harry. I'll follow you anywhere you'll go."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss me once more.

That was five years ago. I've pondered over that particularly pleasant memory for the last few days while I sit and wait for him to come home from work (I get home earlier than he does). Papa Potter should be home any second now. Yes, you saw right. Papa. I'm 5 months pregnant with our first child, and we're as excited as two expecting parents can be.

I heard a distant pop followed by those all too familiar footsteps. I smile and get up to greet Harry as he walks into the room.

"Mrs. Potter," he greets with a smile as he reaches his hand out to caress my slightly bulging stomach and leans in to kiss me hello. "I'm home."

As he leans back from the kiss, I know that what I said five years ago still holds true today. Hermione Potter will go anywhere Harry Potter will go.