Love is a precious thing; don't let it fall out of your grasp once you catch it
~?~
Walking a lonely dirt road Hermione took one look back at the lake and then continued her walk back to the castle called Hogwarts. She was so confused on what to do. She had to choose between a life as a witch or going back to the muggle way, no magic, she sighed out of frustration.
She wanted to stay a witch there no doubt about that plus her friendship with Ron and Harry, but going back to be a muggle would make her parents less worried about her safety. They had told her this summer that they were as worried as can be about her this year, and didn't want her going back to Hogwarts and she would have to choose between magic or being a muggle.
The worst part about it was that if she chose to be a witch her parents wouldn't support her any more; she would have to leave them and never come back. This magic world is getting to crazy for them they said, they were getting tired of it.
This was going to be a hard decision though Hermione to herself. Hermione walked to the common room and took a seat in front of the fire and just stared into the burning red flames. She thought deeply not knowing what to think. She was surprised that her parents had said those words to her. She loved her parents dearly she did, but Harry needed her.
All of the magic world did. She had the highest grades in Hogwarts and just couldn't walk out when they needed her more then ever. And if she left she would be losing harry and Ron's friendship for good and letting harry down more then ever. And she hadn't ever left any one down before not ever.
Hermione heard footsteps and she knew who they belonged to.
"Hello Harry what are you doing out of bed" she said
"I should ask you the same thing" he answered back
-If you must know I was thinking-
-About what-
-Things-
-What sort of things-
Should I tell him he thought to herself. No I can't at least not right now, maybe before I make my decision.
"Just studies, which reminds me have a you study for your N.E.W.T.S. yet Harry."
He sighed and said "No" as he thought about studying harder to become an Auror
"Harry how are you ever going to become an Auror if you don't study" said Hermione
Harry looked at her and shocked and said "How did you know I wanted to become an Auror"
"I just know" said Hermione quietly
"But how I never told you or Ron" he said
"I know because after what you have been through the last few years, losing your parents Hermione paused for a second "and then Sirius and plus last night when I came up to get you for dinner and I saw you looking through your photo album and the mirror Sirius gave you. You want to protect every one harry, from getting hurt because of you. But the truth is that we care about you all of us do and we want to protect you, where here for you by your side the whole way. Up till the very end when Voldemort will be defeated." said Hermione with tears falling from her eyes while looking deep into Harry's green emerald eyes.
"Hermione can I tell you something" asked harry
"Yes" she answers back
"Dumbledore told me the night the prophecy smashed that only one person can live and the other dies so I have to defeat voldemort before he tries to kill me"
Hermione was silent for a moment then said "I will always be here for you Harry promise"
"You will"
"Yes harry until forever and always end" said Hermione heartily
"Thank you Hermione"
"What are friends for, goodnight harry"
"Good Night Hermione"
Hermione leaned over and gave harry a comforting and warmth inning hug. Hermione walked up to the girl's dormitory but she stopped at the third step and said to harry
"Remember Harry you not alone" and then she quietly went back up to her dormitory, leaving harry to think.
I know I'm not alone but I feel like it. I wonder what she ment by it though. Could something of happened to her? Then he went up to bed still in curiosity of that question.
The next day Hermione just walked around enjoying her evening in Hogsmeade. She really didn't want to think about the future right now, she just wanted to relax for the day and think about all her stress tomorrow.
She had not seen Ron or Harry all day. Well actually since they got to Hogsmeade. Ron said that he was going to spend the day with Lavender and Harry said he wanted to go and get something done. So she was on her own for the day.
Hermione saw a little jewelry store at the corner. She walked toward thinking to have a look around. As she walked into the store and the door opened with a ding from the bell above it and she saw Harry. She was surprised she thought she would never find him in here. Harry spun around and looked at Hermione and said
"Uh hi Hermione"
"Hi what are you doing in here" she asked with curiosity in her voice
"Nothing, nothing at all" he said just a little to quickly
"Harry how long have I known you"
"Five years"
"And you'd think by then your friends would always tell when you knew that you aren't always up to nothing" she said with a smile on her face
"I was just picking up a watch for Ron" he said and quickly too a black case from the counter and muttered "I'll see you later" and then quickly passed her and he got a suspicious look from her
Hermione walked up to the counter and saw through the clear counter was beautiful jewelry which looked like they were very expensive." She turned her back from the counter and looked at the door through which Harry had exited.
A man that looked like he was in his late fifties came out from the back and said to Hermione
"That harry potter is a good boy, but every one just cares about cares about is his fame and fortune"
"I now no one looks at the boy behind the scar. That is what hides who he truly is." Hermione turned toward the man and asked
"What was it that Harry had bought from you?" I didn't see anything in the glass window that had been bought"
"People will find out thing they want to have knowledge of all in time. Don't let that desire eat away at your thoughts. But I will tell you that he said it was for some one special he cared about with all of his life"
"I wonder who that is. I mean he's over Cho and Ginny s over him and they would probably tell if they were together"
"Sometimes the person that wonders who it is, is right in front of them" he said
clatter, clatter Hermione turned toward the window it had started to rain hard
"Thank you sir" Hermione said still in curiosity as she pulled up her hood
"My pleasure Ms. Granger" the old man said
Hermione was at the door when she turned around and asked "How do you know my name"
"You're the cleverest to come upon Hogwarts how wouldn't now your name Ms. Granger" he answered
"Oh" she replied rather surprised by this little bit news
And then she turned and left through the front door into the cold rain and winds and the darkness that had fell upon Hogsmeade.
The old man watched as she exited the store and then a phoenix flew to his shoulder and he said to the phoenix "Through a persons eyes it is so clear, but not to those who are the ones that in the deepest care for another"
#@#
Christmas was soon coming, in one week for the matter and Hermione had gotten Ron something, which she had given to him before he left to go to the Burrow (He had invited her and Harry to come but she and harry said they wanted to stay at Hogwarts. Hermione not wanting to go because she didn't want to think about her family and her decision and harry because of not wanting to think of Sirius), but she couldn't think of anything for harry. She spent the whole day trying to think of something but couldn't.
Hermione was walking from the library to dinner when it hit her. What she could give Harry for Christmas. She smiled in delight.
She quickly rushed to dinner and ate quickly and then went to Professor McGonagall and asked if she could travel to 12 Grimmaud Place were she knew she would find what she was looking for.
And to a little of her surprise Professor McGonagall approved of her travel.
Probably because of what Harry has been through. When she got into the common room no one was there. Thank goodness she thought it would have been a lot harder to get the information she needed. She walked up to the fireplace said a spell to get rid of the burning flames and then stepped into it and said "12 Grimmaud Place" and a few seconds later she was in the house of what was now Harry's.
It had surprise her that Lupin was sitting at the end of the table like he was expecting her arrive.
"Sit down Hermione I think I have the right thing you're looking for" he said
&*&
Hermione woke up early the next day. Maybe I'll go for a ride thought Hermione to herself. So she got her broom and went out to the Quidditch field. She jumped onto her broom and flew into the air.
She had gotten over her fear of heights right before the summer ended and now she loved flying, though no one knew that she had gotten over it. Not even Ron or harry.
Hermione looked down at the ground beneath her and to her shock Harry was leaning against one of the Quidditch poles with his arms and legs crossed. She did a sharp turned that lead her towards Harry and in no time she was in front of Harry.
She got off her broom while Harry said "So I see you have gotten over your fear of heights."
"I guess you could say that" she answered in return "I was going in, in
a few minutes but I guess I'll go in now. Besides it's getting a little cold out here anyway"
"Maybe you should try out for Quidditch. Your quiet good on a broomstick" He suggested
"No thanks I'll stick with just for fun"
"Alright but I'll save ya a spot when ya want it. Hey could you help me with the essay snape through at us the other day"
"Yeah sure"
They walked up to the Gryffindor common room and Harry went to go get his books and Hermione went to put her broom away and change into warmer clothes. A few seconds later they were both down in the common room.
"Ready" asked Hermione
"Yep" he said
So they started and about 3 hours later they were finished. Hermione sat in the arm chair deeply in thought about her decision and she still didn't now. She didn't want to lose her family, but still didn't want to lose the magic world either.
"Hermione"
Harry's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"What"
"What are you thinking about" He said
"Nothing" she said quietly
"Hermione don't even try it, like you said before we've known each other 5years and I can tell when your thinking about something important, now please tell me"
Hermione sighed in defeat and then laughed a little for in fact she had said that to him just very recently.
"I have to make a decision"
"About what"
"My parents don't want me to come here any more and if I refused their offer to become a muggle they would support me any more and I don't want to lose the magic world either or my friendship with you and Ron"
"Hermione you seem to me to love the magic world and if your parents don't see that then you should just stay in the magic world. You know you always have The Weasleys and me. But that is just my advice do what you feel is right for yourself"
"Thanks Harry"
"Anytime Hermione" he said and walked off towards the boys dormitories. Hermione watched him and she felt a little less stressed and worried about her decision.
!&!
Hermione woke up and remembered it was Christmas Eve today. She got up went down to breakfast. As she walked through the common room she saw Ron (he had decided to come back and spend Christmas at Hogwarts with Harry and Hermione) and Harry. She was about to go over and say good morning but she stopped about five feet away when she heard
"You have to tell her Harry" said Ron
"I can't and I won't besides what if she doesn't feel the same way"
"Harry you have to at least give it a chance"
"I'm not going to and you can't force me"
"That's what you think. If you don't tell her Harry I will"
"You won't" Harry said
"I can and I will if you don't tell her by tomorrow night on Christmas in Hogsmeade"
"Ok fine you win"
Hermione wondered so much who the girl was that captured Harry's heart.