A Love So Strong

Chapter 1 - Summer at Privet Drive

So far this summer, Harry had had a terrible time, he was stuck at Privet Drive again. At least he knows why he has to come back and suffer here every year. It's for my own good he told himself. He was upset that he had to be with the people he hated most when he was that saddest he had ever been in his entire life. He had lost the only father he ever knew. It was his, Harry's, fault. He might as well have done him in himself. He thought, lying in bed one night trying to fall asleep, which was something he could not bring himself to do. . . these days he was lucky if he slept for more than an hour or two. He rarely slept any more. He rarely did anything anymore. He would just lie in bed at night contemplating the reason for his existence, and think about her.

Why did he have to choose me, why not Neville? He thought, why couldn't it have been Neville who this happened to. He, at least, would have someone who cared about him to go to . . . he at least had a relative who cared about him. Even Neville is luckier than me. At sunrise he got up and re-read his books, letters, anything to take his mind off of his sorrows . . . anything to make him remember how much happier he could be. At around 10 or 11 A.M. Harry had started to let his mind wander back to the D.A. meetings, and then they wandered right to Cho Chang. He had had a crush on her from the end of third year up until a couple weeks ago. He wondered what ever make him like her. He realized that he didn't know the real her until a couple months ago. He thought back to the date e had with her on Valentines Day of last year. How she thought Harry would rather be with Hermione during their date than with Cho. Now that he thought about it he actually was happy the date was over and he could go see Hermione.

"Hermione is the smartest girl I have definitely ever met. She is cool headed even in the most dangerous of situations, she doesn't act before she thinks, she is probably smarter than over half of the wizarding community Why am I saying this?" A small voice in the back of his head answered him in a voice not unlike his own voice at eleven, because you love her, it answered simply. "No." Yes. What else do you think it could be, you idiot! Why didn't you ask Hermione out on Valentines Day? It should have been her you were with all along . . . not that stupid Ravenclaw!

"I love her!" he said to himself in an exasperated voice. He couldn't believe it. He knew he didn't just like her, but he couldn't believe it took him this long to figure out what the feeling in the pit of his stomach that made itself known every time he thought about her. He never loved Cho . . . he only ever liked her. He definitely loved Hermione. The feeling he had for Cho was unlike the feeling he had now. The feeling he had now was much stronger.

"POTTER! Get down here! NOW!" screamed Harry's oversized Uncle. Harry somehow managed to find his way to the kitchen, which was a miracle considering how distracted he was about his feelings towards Hermione, but he was interrupted by his uncle, "How many times do I have to TELL you! I will not tolerate these owls coming in and out as they please!" When uncle Vernon said this, Harry looked out the window and saw Pig there.

He ran to the window and opened it up so Pig could come in. He grabbed Pig, said, "Sorry, it won't happen again," and ran as fast as he could to his room. When he got there he slammed the door behind him. He grabbed the letter from Pig and saw that it had Hermione's handwriting. He tore the letter open as fast as he could. He knew it wouldn't be a romantic letter with her declaring her love for him, he knew what it was before he opened it. He read the letter quickly. It read:

Dear Harry,

It has been a couple of weeks now and we want you to come to the burrow. Fred and George bought Mr.Weasley a new car, so we will come and get you tomorrow around 10. I can't wait to see you Harry!

Love Always,

Hermione

He was going back to the Burrow. He was so glad that he wouldn't have to spend a full twenty-four more hours here thinking about Sirius and Hermione. He would finally get to see her again. It had only been two weeks, but it felt like forever. So he wrote back to them.

Dear Hermione,

I can't wait to see you again. It has been too long. Can't wait to get there!

Love From,

Harry

He sent the letter back to the burrow with Pig and started packing the few belongings he had and just counting the moments till he would see her again.