Everytime

Notice me, take my hand

Why are we strangers when

Our love is strong

Why carry on without me

"Harry, we need to talk," was all Hermione said. He looked up from the book he was reading and into his girlfriend's eyes.

"Okay, what's on your mind?" He was nervous although he didn't let it show. It was known that those four words, "We need to talk," never meant anything good in a relationship. She was fidgeting as she sat down next to him on the couch.

"I-I don't know quite how to say this, but I don't think this is going to work."

"You don't think what won't work?" He of course knew where this was going, but he wanted to hear her say it. It would seem more real if she did.

"Us Harry. I don't think we're going to work out. Things are just too chaotic and just...too confusing." She never once looked into his eyes..

"Is it because of Quidditch? Is because I'm not around often enough? I try to make time for you." His voice was now shaky.

"No, no it's not that. It's just...I don't know how to put it in words."

"Then why do you want to end this? We've been going out for two years now. Is there some other guy?"

"No! I don't want you to think that. I just don't think I can be in a relationship right now. It's hard to explain." Harry put his hand on her face and made her look into his eyes.

"Please try to explain. If you're breaking up with me, I think I have a right to know why you're doing it." She sighed. It was hard to concentrate with him so close to her. She never could get her thoughts straight when he was next to her.

"I need to end this now, before anything else happens. Me and serious relationships, we just don't work out. Maybe I'm not supposed to ever be in one. I don't know. Remember Ron? Remember Draco and Daren?" Harry silently nodded his head. He knew all about each relationship. She and Ron were no longer friends...they had gone out for a year and a half starting fifth year. Ron was too jealous and possessive of her. She and Draco went out for two years, from the beginning of seventh year. He had cheated on her with Ginny.. And her last relationship before Harry was with Daren. He had found that he was in love with another woman. He hadn't cheated on her, but he found someone else he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

"Hermione, that's not really a good reason to break up with me! I mean, I'm not like them. I thought I've convinced you of that."

"So did I, but I don't want to get hurt again Harry. Pretty soon you'll come up with a reason to leave me, and I can't deal with that." Harry shook his head. She didn't know what she was talking about. She wasn't making any sense. He knew there had to be some other reason. There must've been a deeper explanation. Maybe one she herself didn't even know.

"Are you sure that this is what you want?" he asked carefully. She simply nodded. He stood up and looked down at her. Her knees were drawn towards her chest and she was looking away. He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you," was all he said. Before he apparated out, he put his hand in his pocket and felt the small box that Hermione's engagement ring had come in. He had wanted to propose to her, but he guessed that it was now over..

Hermione sat on the couch and watched the one man she had ever loved more than anything leave. She didn't know why she did it. Why she had ruined the best thing in her life. But she felt that it had needed to be done. Now that it was over, she felt like hell. She put her face between her knees and started to cry.

Every time I try to fly, I fall

Without my wings, I feel so small

I guess I need you, baby

And every time I see you in my dreams

I see your face, it's haunting me

I guess I need you, baby

Hermione lay in her bed looking up at her ceiling. She had ended her relationship with Harry because she was too afraid of a real commitment. She told him that she didn't want him to hurt her, but she knew it was really because she didn't want to hurt him. Her past relationships had failed because of her. Ron was only jealous because she flirted with other guys. Draco had cheated because she never gave him the attention he deserved. Of course she didn't think that cheating on her was right, but she understood why he had done it. And Daren, he had basically been a repeat of Draco, minus the cheating factor. She had given herself a good year before she started dating again. She thought she needed time to sort through the reason why she kept pushing all these guys away.

When she had started dating Harry, she decided to take things a different way. She told him of all her past failed relationships, and he had vowed to be different. She believed him, and knew that there was no way that he would hurt her. She knew it would only be a matter of time before she ended up hurting him in some way or another. This way was hard, but she knew that in the end, it would be the easiest.

I make believe that you are here

It's the only way I see clear

What have I done

You seem to move on easy

It had been six months since the breakup, and Hermione had felt like she had gone through hell. She had stopped working for the Ministry and was now walking to Flourish and Blotts. All she had done lately was mope around the house, reading books or watching television.

As she was scanning through the selves of books, she heard some giggles and a deep voice. She rolled her eyes. Any signs of a happy couple made her sick. She continued to look through the different rows of books until she happened to fall into the row where the "happy couple" was. They were kissing and Hermione cleared her throat. They pulled away and looked at her. She gasped as she saw Harry's beautiful green eyes staring back at her. She quickly looked away and continued to look at the books. "Excuse me," was all she said when she was right next to them. The girl moved, but Harry stayed frozen to one spot.

"How ya been Hermione?" he asked softly.

"I've been better," she replied, still refusing to look at him. She could feel the awkwardness around them.

"This is my girlfriend Katie. Katie, this is Hermione." Hermione turned around and smiled weakly at the girl.

"Nice to meet you," was all she said, though she knew it was no where nice to meet any girl Harry was seeing.

"Harry's told me about you. He talks about you all the time. Tells me about his adventures with you and Ron while you guys were at Hogwarts, and how you helped to defeat Voldemort." Hermione just continued to smile. "Well, it's a shame you three don't stay in touch. I mean, after all those memories you guys shared."

"Yeah, it's a real shame," Hermione said softly. "If you'd excuse me, I've got other things to do right now." With that, she hurried out of the store, with Harry watching her leave. His didn't move his eyes until she disappeared out of sight.

And every time I try to fly, I fall

Without my wings, I feel so small

I guess I need you, baby

And every time I see you in my dreams

I see your face, you're haunting me

I guess I need you, baby

Hermione couldn't believe that Harry had started dating so quickly! She didn't expect him never to date, but it had only been six months, and he and Katie had seemed pretty comfortable together. She didn't know what to do, but she knew that she had to talk to him. She couldn't take this kind of living any longer. It wasn't healthy, and she knew that. He may have moved on, but she hadn't, and she needed to at least tell him how stupid she had been to break up with him, although she was quite certain he already knew that. Of course she didn't expect him to suddenly jump back into her arms, in fact, she thought he would probably tell her to leave him alone. But he should still know that she was sorry and that she had felt bad. After much debating, she decided to aparate to his house.

I may have made it rain

Please forgive me

My weakness caused you pain

And this song's my sorry

It was pouring outside when Hermione appeared outside the gate to Harry's house. She didn't even notice the rain, or that she was shivering. She just stood outside the gate. Harry lived in Godric Hallow, and he had rebuilt his parent's house. After a few minutes, she opened up the gate and walked through. She stood at his door, took a deep breath, and knocked. She could hear him walking up to the door. He turned on a porch light and then opened the door. He looked somewhat surprised to see her there.

"Hullo," was all she said.

"Hey," he greeted back in a somewhat uncomfortable voice. "Would you like to come in?" She nodded and stepped into the house. He conjured some towels, and she dried off quickly. "Would you like to change? I've...er...I've still got some of your clothes here." She just nodded her head. "You, can go and get them. They're still in my closet." When they had been going out, they would often go back and forth between Harry's house, and her flat. Most of their time was spent at his house though.

"Okay." She climbed up the stairs and into his bedroom. She quickly got dressed and looked around. She still saw pictures of them as a couple. There weren't any pictures of him and Katie, although she was sure that there was probably some of the couple downstairs. She was also sure that he had broken each picture a few good times. Once she was done hanging up her clothes in his bathroom, she made her way back down the stairs.

"So 'Mione, what brings you here? After six months. Was it from seeing Katie and me together?" She moved uncomfortably.

"Yes and no." He motioned for her to sit down and gave her some tea. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"Well, are you going to explain why you're here, or are you going to make up a story like you did when we broke up?" Hermione stiffened. She knew he had a right to be angry, and she deserved any foul words he spoke at her. At least right now she did.

"Of course I'll explain. Yes, when I saw you two together I was beyond jealous, and that is the major thing that made me come here tonight. But she's not the only reason. I didn't come here because I just realized how miserable my life is without you. I've known that since the night I broke up with you. I'm not expecting anything from coming here tonight. Just closure, which is what I think we both need. I can't keep living my life the way I am right now. I've stopped working, and I barely sleep...well, you don't need all the details. You may have been able to move on, but I haven't. Harry, I love you, and I can't deny that. And I broke up with you because I was afraid of a commitment. I was afraid of spending my whole life with you because I knew I didn't deserve someone like you." She sat there and watched Harry's expression.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say right now. You couldn't just tell me that you were scared, you couldn't just talk it through? What kind of relationship would that have been? You deserve the best Hermione, and maybe if you couldn't see that, then that was the problem. And you shouldn't be the one to judge whether or not you're good enough for me. That's my job. It's kinda late for all of that though, isn't it?" She just nodded.

"Well, thank you for listening to me. I...I better be going now. Have a good time with Katie." Before Harry could say anything, she had apparated away.

At night I pray

That soon your face will fade away.

It had been two days since Hermione had made her little trip to Harry's house. Even though she was sad, she hadn't cried. She couldn't anymore. All she could do was sit around her flat devoid of feeling any other emotion besides sadness and depression. She would often go through her many photo albums of her, Ron, and Harry at Hogwarts, and the pictures of just her and Harry.

At night when she tried to go to sleep, she would see Harry's face, his deep and loving eyes, his strong arms, and his broad shoulders. She couldn't believe she had ruined the most perfect relationship in her whole entire life. It was horrible, and she knew she'd probably never find a guy that could measure up to Harry, or could ever know her the way that he did. They had grown up together, and he knew her fears, her secrets, what made her laugh, what made her cry, how to calm her down when she became upset or frustrated. Now someone else had him, and he would be there to make her feel better and to protect her from anything that might try to hurt her.

After a lot of tossing and turning, Hermione finally fell asleep. It wasn't easy, even after all this time. She knew it would be easier if she had a friend to talk to, but Ginny had been her only best friend, and despite what had happened, she had forgiven Ginny, and they remained close friends. Sure she had friends, but they weren't as close. And Ginny was away on vacation with Draco.

And every time I try to fly, I fall

Without my wings, I feel so small

I guess I need you, baby

And every time I see you in my dreams

I see your face, you're haunting me

I guess I need you, baby.

Hermione felt as though someone was watching her. She never could stay asleep if someone else was awake. Whenever she spent the night at a friend's house, if they woke up before her, she would wake up soon after. It was weird, but it was as though she could tell that they were awake.

She kept her eyes closed and reached over to get her wand, just in case, when she happened to hit something next to her. She froze and kept her eyes closed. The thing next took her took her hand into his. She could tell it was a guy because of the size of his hands and how they felt.

"Open up your eyes," the voice instructed. "I want to see how beautiful they are." She knew that voice! It was Harry. She opened her eyes and looked over at him and smiled. "I missed you Hermione," he started off. "These past six months have been hard on me too. I thought that by going out with Katie, it would help me to forget, but I never could. We broke up a few days ago. And when you came over the other night, I did a lot of thinking. I love you too much. We can work anything out you and me. It's worth it to just talk things through."

"I love you too." He grinned and then reached into his pocket and pulled out the same box that he had been carrying six months earlier.

"I've kept this for quite some time...I was going to propose on the night we broke up. I suppose that was just bad timing. But I'm kinda hoping that if we get back together, then proposing right now would be the perfect time." Hermione smiled up at him.

"Well, I'll have to agree with you, this is better timing." Harry opened up the box where there was a beautiful ring. It was a thin band that was made out of Chinese gold which sparkled more than regular gold. It was also more expensive and more beautiful. In the middle was a diamond. It was simple yet gorgeous.

"Hermione Marie Granger, I've loved you for such a long time, and if we can manage to love each other after a breakup like that, then I know we can make it. I promise to always listen to you, and any problem you have, just come and talk to me. I can't imagine my life without you. Those six months were worse than hell. It was worse than the summer in fifth year when I felt so secluded. Knowing that we were apart and feeling like I couldn't do anything, it was the worst feeling ever. Please, will you marry me?" Hermione kissed him softly.

"Of course I'll marry you! And I promise, I'll let you know how I feel more often. And I'm sorry for what I did." Harry simply silenced her with a kiss. "So, how long were you watching me sleep? I mean, that's kinda creepy.. Maybe a little stalkerish."

"Well, I've always liked watching you sleep. You're a lot quieter then. But not much..." She playfully hit his arm and then kissed him.

"I love you so much Harry James Potter."

"I love you more, Hermione Marie Granger!"