Forgetting Pain

Disclaimer: I don't own anything…did you really need me too write this too know that?

Midnight Visits

The trip to the Granger's wasn't as awkward as Harry thought it could have been. Hermione acted as if she hadn't kissed Harry, or that it wasn't as surprising as Harry thought it was. Her parents tried with small talk, but understood that Harry was grieving so didn't take offence to his one word answers. After they pulled up in a driveway Harry took in Hermione's house, it was significantly larger then the Dursleys, but was as warm and inviting as the Burrow. Hermione grinned at his reaction and lead him up too the spare bedroom where he would be staying. Once Harry had settled in Hermione lead him to the dinning room for lunch, Mrs. Granger smiled warmly at him as he sat down and she proceeded to serve him a large ham and salad sandwich, which Harry gladly ate. Once they were all sitting down and eating there lunch Hermione turned too Harry,

“What do you feel like doing today Harry?” She asked, looking him directly in the eyes.

“Er…I dunno, if I was still stuck at the Dursleys still would just mope around and do nothing…So I dunno, you choose” Harry replied, although he sounded somewhat normal, Hermione could hear bitterness in his voice.

“Well…we have a pool out back, do you want to go swimming?” She asked him, the hope that Harry would say yes was clear in her voice. Harry gave her a small smile and nodded, Hermione let out a squeal and quickly dashed up too her room.

“I dare say Harry, you just made her summer” Mr. Granger joked, Harry gave him a small smile and cleaned his plate, as he was filling up the sink Mrs. Granger came over.

“Don't worry about that Harry, I'll do it. You go get changed.” She told him, Harry smiled his thanks and made his way up to the spare bedroom. Hermione was just coming out of her room as Harry reached to top of the stairs. Harry looked up and was shocked, Hermione was standing before him in a swimsuit, sure it was a conservative one piece suit, but it showed Harry all of Hermione's curves. Harry felt a blush coming on and he quickly brushed past her and into his room.

Hermione gave herself a mental high five once she was sure Harry was in his room. She was positive Harry liked what he saw, when he came up stairs. Smiling to herself she made her way down to the pool and placed her towel over one of the deck chairs.

Harry stood in his room shocked at himself for leering at Hermione in her swimsuit, he was positive if he didn't get out of there when he did, Hermione would have noticed Harry checking her out, and it wouldn't have been from his eyes. Sighing to himself Harry pictured Dudley working out till he was sure he was calm enough to get changed and head down to the pool. Once he was down there he immediately noticed Hermione again, she looked even more stunning with the sun shining down on her.

“Hey, you took your time” Hermione said to him once he had set his towel down, Harry knew she was teasing him, but that didn't help his `little' problem. Harry just gave her a smile and said “Last one in is a rotten egg!” And with that he ran and jumped in, creating a huge splash that got Hermione.

“Oh Harry you rat!” Hermione called out to him, before Harry could do anything however, Hermione had dived in on top of him. After they both surfaced they both cracked up laughing, and then proceeded to splash water at each other. After a few hours they climbed out of the pool and dried off for dinner, the kiss was the furthest thing from Harry's mind.

After dinner, Harry and the Grangers settled into the den and watched a movie, it was a thriller so every time a `scary' bit came Hermione would burry her head into Harry's shoulder and cringe till it passed. Mr. Granger found this hilarious and kept on teasing her about it for the entire movie, Harry noticed however, that Mrs. Granger also got scared during the movie, Harry smile as Hermione hid her face again, `Like mother, like daughter' sighing to himself Harry couldn't help but think of his own parents, if Voldemort hadn't come into their lives maybe Harry would've had a younger sister and the whole family could enjoy watching movie's together. Hermione sensed Harry's distress and hugged him slightly, ignoring the movie. Her parents saw this and decided that this was a good time to go and make some popcorn.

“Are you okay Harry?” Hermione whispered to him, Harry was struggling with his emotions and was pretending to watch the movie.

“Yeah, I mean, this movie isn't as scary as my life” He replied, although it was obvious to Hermione that it was forced.

“That's not what I mean and you dam well know it.” Hermione told him, losing her patience with him.

“Yeah I know, I'm pretty worn out, I'm going to bed. Night” Harry told her, and not waiting for her reply he stood and walked quickly up to his room. Hermione's parents walked back into the room,

“What's wrong honey?” Mrs. Granger asked.

“It's Harry….I just feel soo shut off from him now…I miss him.” Hermione told her parents, they shared sympathetic looks and hugged there daughter.

“Just give him time and be there for him dear, I'm sure before too long your boyfriend will be back and you can get on with your lives.” Mr. Granger said with a warm smile, Hermione rolled her eyes but still smiled.

“He's not my boyfriend yet daddy, and you know that” She told him with a smile, then hugged her parents.

“I'm going to sleep, night guys” She told them as she got up and left. Her parents shared a look and sat down to finish the movie.

Harry was standing right in front of the veil; he could see it fluttering in the none existent wind and he could hear the whispering coming from just right behind it. The closer he got the clearer the whispering became. Suddenly he could feel a presence behind him, hoping beyond hope that it was Sirius he turned, and came face to face with Voldemort.

“You killed him, and you let them all down Potter, so why are you still here, leave so the rest of them will be happy. Just walk through the veil and they'll all be happy!” Voldemort spat at him, Harry felt tears escaping his eyes and did nothing to stop them.

“Just look at what happened to the Mudblood, SHE ALMOST DIED!” Voldemort cried, Harry let out an anguished cry and sat bolt upright in his bed, he fumbled around for his glasses until someone handed them too him.

“Hermione?” He breathed out, to scared to trust his voice beyond a whisper.

“Yes Harry, I'm here” Hermione said sweetly, Harry took in his surroundings, he was sitting in his bed at Hermione's house, and she was sitting on his bed in a very thin nightgown. Harry gulped and scooted abit further away from her.

“Harry….what's wrong. I came in here and you were muttering `It's true, it's true I'm a failure' and then you shot upright crying out something like `I'm sorry Hermione'….Harry what's wrong?” Hermione asked, inching closer to him.

“N-nothing…Hermione, just a nightmare….S-sorry for waking you” Harry replied, slightly calmer now.

“You didn't wake me Harry….I also had a nightmare…I was wondering if I could sleep here…with you?” Hermione asked nervously, Harry timidly looked into her eyes; he then knew what her nightmare was about. Dolohov's curse.

“Sure Hermione….I'll just lie on the…” Harry began but Hermione cut him off.

“Oh no Harry….please can you stay in the bed?” She begged him; Harry gulped and moved over so she could slide in beside him. Once there she snuggled up beside him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Thanks Harry…..goodnight” Hermione said sweetly, Harry smiled and said goodnight and drifted off to sleep.

The next few days went by much the same way, Hermione and Harry would hang out, never speaking of the nights they slept in each others arms, but each night they would both wake from there own nightmares and creep into the others bed and receive comfort from one another. On the forth night Harry had an especially bad one and Hermione climbed in beside him.

“Shhh…its okay Harry, I'm here for you” Hermione told him, she then kissed his lips and Harry felt everything crumble, he just had too have Hermione right then, he pulled her into a much more passionate embrace and kissed her deeply. Hermione moaned in pleasure and Harry rolled her over onto her back. Hermione snaked her arms around Harry's neck and pulled him closer. She could feel his erection pressing up against her and it excited her. She plunged her tongue into Harry's mouth before he pulled back, shocked at this move Hermione sat up and looked into his eyes, her hurt clear on her face as she sighlently probed him for the reason.

“I-I can't Hermione…We can't” He told her.

“Why?” She asked, tears rolling down her face,

“Voldemort….and the prophecy.” He told her before climbing out of bed and walking over to the window.

“Harry?” Hermione asked, still somewhat breathless from their snog.

“I'm a marked man Hermione, a danger for you too get involved with. It's either me or him….I don't want you too be hurt anymore….I-I'm sorry” Harry told her, he turned to face her and Hermione saw his pain reflected in his eyes. Her heart broke for him, she knew that they both wanted the same thing, but Harry didn't think he could have it.

“But Harry….I love you….please…please can't we just try?” Hermione pleaded with him, but Harry just shock his head, he was about to say something else when a powerful curse hit the window. Harry was thrown to the floor and Hermione screamed. From outside they could hear Bellatrix Lestrange cackling.

“Come out come out, where ever you are!” She called to them, Hermione knew they should try to escape but Harry was already storming down the stairs, wand in hand.

“Harry wait…” She called out, but Harry was too riled up to listen, Hermione ran into her room and grabbed her wand and raced down to help Harry, hopefully the two of them could hold out long enough for the Order to arrive.

Harry burst out the front door, spells shooting out of his wand in quick succession, he knew he would have another ministry hearing, but that didn't matter right now, he just needed to protect Hermione and her family. Hermione joined him soon after and together they set about dueling the Death Eaters. Between curses Harry managed to shout to Hermione “You shouldn't be out here, it's me they want.” Hermione however was as stubborn as she always was.

“Like I'll leave you out here to get killed all alone!” She replied, she let her concentration drop for a second and a Death Eater had managed to send a reducto curse at her, Harry saw this and pushed her out of the way, the curse hit the ground and threw Harry up into the house where he hit with a sickening thump. This however was married with the cracks of the Order appeariating to help. Hermione saw where Harry landed and with tears in her eyes she crawled over to where he fell. She finally got there and saw Harry battling with unconsciousness.

“Harry?” She cried, unashamed by this showing of emotion.

“Hermione….” Harry croaked out, “I….love…you...” He whispered before loosing consciousness.