This Moment

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and the associated characters. They are owned by JKR, wonder that she is. I also do not own the song “Iris.” Credit for that goes to the Goo Goo Dolls.

A/N: This fic is dedicated to Joyce Cohen, who I love more than anything else in this world. This is for her 18^th birthday.

THIS MOMENT

And I’d give up forever to touch you

Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be

And I don’t wanna go home right now.

Hermione Granger stepped lightly through the grass surrounding the lake. This was it, her last year at Hogwarts. And possibly her last chance at him. How had it happened? She really couldn’t have answered, even if she wanted to. She just knew that one day she couldn’t deny her feelings any longer.

“Penny for your thoughts, Hermione?” She turned. It was Harry, of course. Who else would have disturbed her reverie here on the roof of the Astronomy Tower, gazing out at the setting sun far in the distance.

“Only a penny?” she asked with an impish grin. “If you’re only willing to pay that much, Potter, my thoughts stay mine.”

He smiled back, though awkwardly, and stood next to her. His own eyes stared out at the sights surrounding them. For a long moment, both said nothing at all. Then he spoke again.

“Hermione, can I tell you something?”

She frowned slightly. There was something in his tone that disturbed her. “Anything, Harry. You know that.”

He sighed heavily. “Sometimes… Sometimes I don’t think… I’m going to make it, you know?” He turned to her, genuine lugubriousness in his look.

She started for a moment. “Don’t say that, Harry. Of course you’ll make it.”

“Sirius didn’t. Neither did Hagrid. And Ginny was only saved because Drac—Malfoy stepped in and led us to her. This is our last year here. I just know…this is when it has to happen. Me or him. Or both of us.”

Her voice became pleading. “Harry, please, don’t talk like this. I…” I need you. But she couldn’t say it. Not here, not now. Instead, on impulse, she stepped in and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He returned her embrace with startling strength, leaning his head down slightly to rest on hers.

She felt her heartbeat quicken. What am I doing? she screamed to herself, but found she could not let go. The moment was too perfect. More perfect than any moment she could ever remember or imagine. Neither did Harry seem to want to let go of her. And so they stood there silently, holding each other, until the sky was almost black.

That night, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She fell apart completely, crying herself to sleep, despite every assurance that her mind was telling her of this one solitary fact: she was in love with Harry Potter. How could she have denied it for so long? She didn’t know; all she knew is that this was what there was when she took it all away. There was her love for Harry.

She stopped next to him by the lake as he looked out over its pristine surface, small waves cresting and lapping against the sand near their feet. Only a small flicker of his eyes told her that he had indeed seen her. They remained still and soundless for a long minute.

“I remember another moment like this one,” he commented suddenly, turning to her. “That evening on the Astronomy Tower roof.”

He remembered. “I was just thinking the same thing,” she admitted. How much, you have no idea, Harry. “It seems like almost a lifetime ago, sometimes.”

“Only a few months,” he reminded her. He turned back to the lake. “I’ve had a lot of revelations since then, though.”

He seemed like he would go silent again. She knew she would never have a better chance than this. And if she didn’t tell him now, she didn’t think she’d have the courage to try this again.

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breath is your life

Sooner or later it’s over

I just don’t want to go home right now.

She stepped a little closer to him. “Harry…I…I have something I have to tell you. It’s something I’ve come to realize myself, over the past few months. Even though I think it’s been there for longer than that.” He turned to her again, his eyes deep and full of caring. She took a deep breath. “The truth, Harry, is that—”

“Hermione,” he said suddenly, “I know. I know you love me.”

Her mind reeled. How could he know? She hadn’t been that obvious. Had she? She hadn’t even known for sure until that very moment on the Tower. Had he felt it then too?

“I know Hermione… That night we were both just thinking about. Parvati told me you cried to sleep that night. That she had heard you whispering, “I love him, oh Merlin, I love him.” And I felt it too. The moment.”

She didn’t dare breath. This was too much, too unreal to possibly be real. Her knees felt weak, and she wanted to collapse to the ground. But he slipped his arms around her waist, holding her close. She wanted to reciprocate badly, but feared what it would all mean for their friendship.

“But… Do you, I mean…”

“I love you Hermione. I know it as much as I know anything else.”

“But you’re, I mean, my best friend, and—”

“I’m still your best friend, Hermione. Why can’t I be your love too?” he asked soothingly, releasing one hand to brush aside a strand of her curly brown hair.

She felt her heart racing. Every time he touched her was rapture. How could anything be like this? She didn’t think she could ever describe this to another person, even if she tried. You had to feel it to believe it.

“I love you, Harry Potter.” She wrapped her arms around him and held tight.

He gripped her in return. “And I love you, Hermione Granger.”

Time seemed to stretch into forever. She lost herself in his arms, forgot about everything else. The wind, the water, the grass under their feet, every worry in the world was gone. She was with the man she loved. And that was enough for her.

And I don’t want the world to see me

Cause I don’t think that they’d understand

When everything’s made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am