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The Final Battle

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Joy, oh the joy that was held within Harry's heart as he sat at the noisy Gryffindor table and stared up along the table at Seamus and Dean who were talking, or yelling rather so they could hear each other, and were talking about what they did over the summer. Farther down the table Neville wore a truly arrogant and superior look on his face as he talked excitedly to the two Creevey brothers, Colin and Dennis Creevey looked up to Neville, this had given him a truly profound since of pride and self-confidence…it was good for him. Sitting opposite Harry was Parvati and Lavender who almost never talked to anybody but each other where talking non-stop with Fleur. Yes Fleur had been true to her word of getting a job at Hogwarts, she helped out Professor Sinistra in the astrology tower. Harry looked to the two people who were sitting on his left and right, of course it was none other than his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry resumed his conversation with them just as Ron mentioned the reason for Harry's joy.

"Man, our seventh year here at Hogwarts…our final year" the Great Hall had quieted down some so Ron wasn't yelling to Harry and Hermione, he had a powerful meaningful tone as he spoke these words. Ron sighed "Can you believe it? Our final year, I'm a prefect, Harry's head boy, Hermione's head girl" he allowed a grin to shine upon his face "Fleur and I are together, hey, maybe you and Cho will finally get together this year Harry". Ron looked across the table at Fleur who tore herself from her conversation with Parvati and Lavender and flashed a dazzling smile, blew him a kiss and winked before returning to her conversation. Ron's face was now even more fiery colored than his flaming red hair.

Harry, however, wasn't paying much attention to Ron and Fleur, he was stuck on Ron's last comment to him, "Hey maybe you and Cho will finally get together this year Harry". These words sunk into Harry's mind but only seemed to make him somewhat angry, he didn't show his anger to the others though, after all, it was the opening feast nobody could be mad right now, not even Malfoy. Harry felt mild anger at Ron's words because he no longer felt for Cho what he had felt the first time he saw her, nor even what he had felt only at the end of their sixth year. Harry's feeling had changed, he thought of Cho as simply some girl at the Ravenclaw table who was an opponent at quidditch.

Harry's heart was indeed confused and in agony, he had spent the summer at Ron's but so had Fleur, meaning that he, Harry, had been forced to spend most of his time either practicing quidditch with Fred and George, who now played professionally for England along with Oliver Wood, or hang around in the living room and answer all of Mr. Weasley's questions about muggles.

Harry's thoughts ended abruptly and he blinked a few times, he found that his gaze had fallen on, and had stayed on…Hermione. "Hermione?" Harry thought to himself, no, it couldn't be, she's my best friends, I'm just lonely that all. Harry shook his head and cleared the thoughts from his mind and instead looked up at the high table where Albus Dumbledore was now standing about to give his start of the year speech. But Harry didn't hear a word of it, his gaze quickly slid form Dumbledore to Hermione who was sitting on the side closet to Dumbledore, so she had his back to Harry and never noticed his piercing green eyes starring at her. A thought was now forming in Harry's head, a thought that wasn't quite clear yet though, but the longer he starred at Hermione the clearer it became, just as his thoughts began to come into focus he was shaken from his entrancement by a sudden yell from the entire Great Hall.

Harry looked around quickly wondering what he had missed and turned to ask Ron who was now shouting at Harry to make himself be heard above the noise but to no prevail. Ron finally gave up and Harry simply decided he'd ask Ron when they went up to bed. Dumbledore said goodnight to the students and told the prefects to lead the students and the first years up to the dormitories. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville were the prefects of the Gryffindor house, the others allowed Neville to lead so that they could hang toward the back and talk.

"I don't believe it, oh can you believe, it's incredible, do you think anybody from Hogwarts will get picked for it" Hermione's frantic voice, slighted muffled from her hands covering her mouth as if in shock.

"It's incredible, I never thought they would look at Hogwarts for something like this, hey maybe Harry will get picked, what do you think Harry" Ron's voice equally excited about whatever it was Dumbledore had said, Harry wished he had paid attention, now he really looked like a fool.

"What are you so excited about?" Harry asked in a convincingly confused tone. Ron and Hermione only starred at him as if he were some ignorant first year.

"Harry weren't you listening to what Professor Dumbledore said? Oh, of course not," Ron's now taking up a teasing voice "You were probably to busy starring at Cho to bother listening" Ron laughed as the three of them made their way up the stairs and Harry noticed a frown fall onto Hermione's face as Ron accused Harry of starring at Cho, she however played it off expertly

"Harry you really should have paid more close attention rather than star at some unimportant girl like Cho" There was a definite note of anger in her voice that occurred as she mentioned Cho's name. "However since you weren't paying attention I suppose I will have to tell you" she spoke this with a superior tone as if addressing somebody of such lower intellect than she that it was hardly worth her time. "Professor Dumbledore said that the new Minister of Magic, and the old one Cornelius Fudge, will be coming to Hogwarts for the year along with the council for the Order of Merlin to appoint somebody from the school into the Order of Merlin".

"Huh" Harry blinked a few times as this ran through his head, the new and retired minister's of magic, and the council for the order of merlin, this was big news. They had finally reached their dormitories and were settling into bed, Harry lay awake for a few minutes thinking to himself, "They want to Appoint someone to the Order of Merlin, I wonder if there's anything special I can do to be nominated for it" Harry allowed his imagination to wonder into hundreds of possibilities before he finally dropped off to sleep

* * *

For the first few months back at Hogwarts Harry and his friends went through the normal pains and pleasures of the school. They enjoyed, as much as ever, spending time talking to Hagrid during care of magical creatures class, over the summer Hagrid seemed to have developed an interest in nimcheks, a creature similar to a chipmunk with shape-shifting powers. Of course Harry, Ron, and Hermione were forced to suffer through over an hour of potions class with professor Snape and Draco Malfoy. Though it wasn't as bad as it had been in the past, since they were prefects now they were allowed to be excused from the class almost every other day, they took full advantage of this of course. Harry and Ron were now taking renewed interest in transfiguration class, their skills for any sort of transfiguration now rivaled professor McGonagall's.

One of the more painful classes of course was professor Trelawney's divination class. Ron complained more about the class than Harry did, this was due to the fact that Harry now only complained that he couldn't see anything in his crystal ball. Ever since the first night back, when Harry first felt a new emotion for Hermione he had tried everything he could think of to figure out what it was he felt for her and what might happen. Having failed to think up a solution, and all the books from the library that he read failed to mention one spell that might help clear his mind, Harry had finally turned to his crystal ball. His new interest in crystal gazing stunned Ron, but professor Trelawney now hovered over him like an over sized bat. She took Harry's new interest as a sign that he had had a premonition of some deadly obstacle in his future, professor Trelawney never missed an opportunity to tell Harry that she saw dark and troubled times ahead for him.

After almost a month of crystal gazing and still seeing nothing that might answer any of his questions about Hermione Harry finally gave up. Harry did manage to come up with a few last ditch efforts to obtain answers, he could simply ask those that knew him best. Of course the mere thought of going to Hermione to talk to her about his feelings made his stomach twist and squirm, and Ron, well it wasn't that Harry didn't trust Ron, but Ron had let slip a few things before and Harry wasn't willing to take the risk. Eventually Harry decided to go with his last three remaining options of who to ask, he could talk to Hagrid, Hagrid was friend to all of them and Harry was confident he could trust Hagrid with the secret of his emotions. Professor Dumbledore as well, Dumbledore had, on more than one occasion, told Harry that if he ever had a problem of any kind to simply come and talk to him about it. The last person Harry thought of talking to was some Harry thought he should have talked to from the start, Sirius. Harry had lost count of the numerous times Sirius had given him advice about a number of problems. But, as luck would have it, Sirius sent a letter not a day before Harry was getting ready to send his, that said for Harry not to send any owl post, the ministry had gotten wind of him and he was on the run again. This left Harry in dismay, he had so desperately wanted to talk to Sirius first about this.

Harry resolved to simply talk with Hagrid sometime before the holiday, it was now two week before Christmas break. Unfortunately Harry soon realized a problem with this plan as well, Harry only saw Hagrid during care of magical creatures class, and with not only Ron and Hermione close by to hear, there was also the possibility that some one else, like Malfoy, might over hear. Harry almost never saw Hagrid during the weekends or on the occasional day off from class, almost all of his free time was taken up by the work he had to do as a prefect, and the work he had to do as head boy. Harry would have liked to talk with Hagrid over Christmas break, but he had been invited to spend Christmas at the burrow with Ron and the rest of the Weasley's.

Harry's final hope was Dumbledore, Harry new that Dumbledore would be delighted to seen Harry stopping by for a non-business conversation. As head boy Harry had been given the password to move the statue that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Harry nervously walked up the spiral staircase to Dumbledore's office and knocked on the door.

"Enter" an old but powerful voice answered the knocking to the door. Harry pushed open the door and walked, shaking, into professor Dumbledore's office yet again, he smiled politely to the professor and took a seat in the large armchair that faced Dumbledore's desk. Harry looked around the office whiled the professor finished some paperwork, the beautiful phoenix fawks was perched and asleep near the wall, the school sorting had along with the sword Harry had pulled from it sat on a shelf just behind Dumbledore, who was now finished with his paperwork and was smiling at Harry.

"So, back again I see, is this by your business or by your pleasure you Harry?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as if he already knew everything that was going to be said in that office during their conversation.

"I've already finished all my head boy business for the day sir, I…I was wondering perhaps if you could spare a few minutes for conversation" Harry fumbled with the words as they came nervously from his mouth, he didn't imagine very many people simply came to professor Dumbledore and asked for 'conversation'.

Dumbledore only smiled and set down his quill and folded his arms on his desk, "I believe I could spare a few minutes for a friend in need of my advice" Harry blinked, his mouth hanging wide open, Harry had long had the theory that Dumbledore could read minds, over the past few years Harry had become almost certain.

"W-w-well yes sir…I mean that is, I do need your advice about someone….er something……er this problem I have" Harry stuttered and fumbled over his words worse than ever, her felt like some foolish first year. Dumbledore, however, only broadened his smile and raised from his chair and walked around to the front of the desk, he sat down on the front edge of his desk and looked at Harry. "So what is this, er, problem Harry?"

Harry had never felt more awkward than right now, he couldn't quite phrase the words right to ask for Dumbledore's advice, the professor obviously noticed Harry having some trouble speaking so he went ahead and gave some preliminary advice, "If you want to ask some one for their advice, Harry, the best thing to do is to simply tell them the problem". Once again Dumbledore's words had a miraculous effect on Harry.

"Well sir, its about……" Harry looked around quickly as if afraid they were being spied on, "It's about Hermione" Harry's voice now barely above a whisper he leaned in close to make sure Dumbledore heard him, he didn't feel like saying any of this twice.

"Oh?" a twinkle forming in his eyes, and a rather obvious grin under his massive beard, "What about Hermione?"

Dumbledore's more than simple question made Harry squirm nervously in his chair. Harry was now having trouble getting the words out, he wasn't really sure he could confess to anybody, not even himself, that he had feelings for Hermione. "Well I wanted your advice about what to do about certain…..feelings that I've been having for Hermione". Harry said this extremely quickly and looked down at the floor to avoid Dumbledore seeing his face turn as red as Ron's hair.

Dumbledore released a sigh of relief, Harry chose not to ask about it, Dumbledore went back around his desk and sat in his chair, his eyes now fixed on Harry. "Feeling a little confused about someone you once thought only a friend?" Dumbledore seemed to be answering Harry's questions before he could even try to ask them. Dumbledore only smiled at the stunned look on Harry's face, "I know what your problem is Harry, and I'm afraid that the only person who can decide what you should do, is you. But if it helps, I will give you some advice, go to Hermione and simply talk with her about…".

But Harry jumped up from his chair before Dumbledore finished his sentence and Harry cut him off. "Professor, I can't just go up to her and tell her how I feel, she'll think I'm an idiot".

"Well then Harry, maybe you should talk to someone close to Hermione, someone who can ask her if she has any special feelings toward someone, maybe somebody like, oh, Mr. Weasley?" Harry opened his mouth to speak but Dumbledore held up a hand to silence him and then continued. "You may believe that your friend Ron might have trouble keeping secrets, but you and I both know he would never betray your trust, he is both yours and Hermione's friend, talk to her about your problem". Dumbledore's words made since to Harry, he decide to go ahead an ask Ron. Though it would have to wait until Christmas break, he would be spending his vacation at the burrow and he and Ron and could spend as much time talking as needed with out the risk of being overheard.

"Thank you professor, you've been very helpful" Harry turned and headed out the door and past the statue that guarded the staircase. "Now I just need to find Ron" Harry said happily. Harry found Ron sooner than he expected, Ron was waiting for him in the Gryffindor common room, as soon as Harry entered he saw Ron sending an owl out the window with a letter clutched in its beak.

"Hey Harry, We've been waiting for you" Harry stopped and looked around, Fleur and Hermione were both sitting in armchairs next to Ron's and were talking excitedly to each other. "I've got great news Harry, Fleur and Hermione are going to spend Christmas break at the burrow with us!" Ron had an enormous grin on his face at the thought of having Fleur staying at his house, if it was just Fleur Harry wouldn't have a problem with it, but Ron had said Fleur and Hermione. This was a problem.

All the color drained from Harry's face and his eye began to twitch nervously, Ron noticed t his and asked "Is something wrong Harry?"

Harry gave a nervous laugh, "Wrong, why would anything be wrong". Harry took a last look at them all then said he had to go upstairs and do some paperwork for one of his professors. Harry raced up the stairs and slammed his door shut, he walked over to his desk and sat down, and allowed his head to slam down on the desk. "Why me, why is it always me?" he pleaded to nobody

* * *

Harry now showed a sudden lack of interest in absolutely everything at Hogwarts, he was saddened by the fact that he had nobody to talk to about his feelings for Hermione. True, Harry had not forgotten Dumbledore's advice about asking Ron, but Harry still hadn't worked up the nerve to talk to him about, for Harry had long had the feelings that Ron liked Hermione, even though he was with Fleur.

Harry was wondering the halls thinking to himself about who he could talk to about Hermione, unfortunately the only person who came to mind was Ron. "Oh what the hell, Ron's with Fleur now, he's probably long over any crush he had on Hermione, and like Dumbledore said, I can trust him" Harry told himself as he decided to go and talk to Ron. However he had no idea where Ron was, classes were cancelled for the day and Harry didn't know if Ron was even at Hogwarts, he may have taken Fleur to Hogsmead. Harry decide to check the Prefects bathroom, Ron might be resting in the sauna since it was so cold out.

So Harry made his way down to the prefect's bathroom and gave the password before entering. The bathroom was almost entire empty, Harry could hear a single shower running toward the back, "Maybe that's Ron there" he told himself. "Hey Ron is that you" he called out as he walked back to the showers, the shower stopped running and somebody walked out wearing a towel, whoever it was, it was definitely not Ron. It was Hermione, as the mist from the shower cleared Harry could see Hermione clearly, her outrageous form perfects defined by the tightly rapped towel, and Harry noticed that she wasn't a little girl anymore, she had grown over the years, Harry simply to unobservant to notice. "Was that you shouting for Ron, I think he went down to Hogsmead".

Hermione noticed Harry's dumbfounded stare and looked down at herself then back at Harry with a rather shy smile and a deep red color forming in her cheeks, "You were looking for Ron weren't you Harry?" Hermione asked almost nervously. She had a look in her eye as if hoping Harry was looking for her, Harry of course still in shock didn't notice this look.

"Not anymore I'm not" Harry whispered to nobody, he blinked realizing what he had said and hoped she hadn't heard. "Yes, uh, I was looking for Ron" he said nervously as he pretended to be interested in the wall on his right in order to avoid making eye contact with her. "You said he was down at Hogsmead right?".

Hermione nodded in answer to his question and smiled again and went to get dressed. Harry bolted out the door and up to the Gryffindor common room where he found Ron sitting in an armchair next to the fire grinning broadly like an idiot. Harry ran over and took a seat next to him. Ron looked over, taking notice of Harry's hasty arrival. "Hey Harry, whats up?"

"Ron I need to talk to you…..about Hermione" Harry said as he looked around the common room to make sure nobody else was there listening to them. As Harry turned his gaze back to Ron, Ron cocked an eyebrow at him with a reproachful look on his face. "What about Hermione Harry?" a small smile forming on Ron's face as an idea dawned on him, 'Maybe Harry and Hermione finally stopped resisting it' he thought to himself.

"Uh, well…….it's kind of hard to say. I, um, I think I….." Before Harry could finish, however, Ron cut him off by finishing his sentence for him.

"Love her…" Ron said with a smile. Harry's mouth hung open as he tried to speak after having Ron finish his confession for him. 'Could Ron have known this whole time' Harry thought wildly for a minute. "…..I, uh, I-I-I-I……" Harry couldn't think of anything to say to deny his feelings anymore, "Yes, I love her" he sighed. Ron had a knowing smile and was shaking slightly trying to contain his laughter.

Well, all I can say, Harry, is that it's about time" Ron said as he turned to look at the fire. Harry was about to ask Ron what he meant by that but he stopped and thought for a moment. Harry couldn't count how many times he had made his feelings for Hermione so obvious to everybody but himself, and as he thought of the previous year when Voldemorts minions turned up at he school.

"Harry!" Ron almost yelled, snapping him back to reality and out of the haze of memories that had begun to flow through his mind.

"Huh" Harry looked up at Ron, slightly confused, "What is it?" he asked remembering why he had become lost in his memories. Ron seemed slightly annoyed that his question had been ignored, "I said, when are you going to tell Hermione about this". Ron's question made the color rise slightly in Harry's face.

Harry sighed and rose from his chair and walked around the common room a few times, turning the question over and over in his head. Finally, "How, Ron? How do I just go up to this girl who's been my friend for seven years and tell her that I love her" Harry's voice full of depression at the lack of courage to tell Hermione how he felt about her. "I mean, how do I know if she feels the same way about me, she just sees me as a friend, that's all I am to her".

Ron rose from his chair and stared as Harry as if he were the dumbest person he had ever seen. "Harry, are you really that blind?!" Ron asked a somewhat bewildered Harry, "Seven years and you've never noticed!?" Ron had a look of utter shock on his face. Harry still couldn't figure out what Ron was talking about, but Dumbledore's words came floating back to him, 'Perhaps you should speak with someone who knows both you and Hermione'. Harry had a look of awe on his face as he turned to Ron once more, "Haven't noticed what Ron?"

Ron was plainly stunned that Harry didn't know what he was talking about, "The way she looks at you, for one. You seriously haven't noticed have you?" Harry stood and thought for a moment, 'maybe I should go and talk to Hermione' , "I, uh, think I'll go and find Hermione" he said to Ron before he took off out of the portrait hole, Ron just shook his head and smiled as he saw Fleur coming into the common room.

Harry raced down the hall to get back to the prefects bathroom as fast as possible. He gave the password and leaped into the bathroom and looked around for her, but nobody was there, Harry wanted to find her and tell her before he lost his nerve. "Where could she be? Where, where…..ok Harry think, where does Hermione like to spend her time" Harry slapped a hand to his forehead "Of course, the library". Harry took off at top speed along the corridor toward the library. Harry slammed through the doors to the library, startling Madame Pinch as he ran into the library and started looking around for Hermione. Harry ran through all the rows of shelves of books but Hermione just wasn't in the library, (for once). Harry raced out of the library just as Madame Pinch was shouting at him for disturbing the quiet of the library.

Harry turned the school upside down as he raced along the corridors looking in every class, checking and rechecking the great hall, he even tried the kitchen to see if Hermione was trying to get the house elves to rebel again. But she was nowhere to be found, Harry took one last look in the library before heading back to the Gryffindor common room. Harry walked in through the portrait hole and took a seat next to the fire, the only ones left in the common room was Colin and Denis Creevey. Harry couldn't figure out where Hermione could possible be, though he had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he had forgotten to check somewhere rather obvious.

"Where, where could she be, I checked the library, the owlry, the great hall, every single classroom in the school, the astronomy tower". Harry sighed in frustration, "Hell the only thing I haven't done is searched her…" Harry stopped and the slight nervous twitch in his eye came back, "bedroom" he whispered. Harry was out his chair and up the stairs so fast it looked as if he had apparated.

Harry was at the head girls door in a flash and practically threw the door off it's hinges as he raced into the room, only one thought on his mind as he entered the room, 'I must tell her'. As the door flew open and banged loudly Hermione looked up from the book she was reading with a startled expression on her face, her hand made a nervous gesture as if to grab her wand, when she saw it was Harry she relaxed. Harry suddenly stopped halfway to Hermiones bed, he suddenly came to his senses but too late, he was already in her room, he made his way over to Hermiones bed, his eyes traveling over her body, she was wearing her sky blue sleeping gown, her hair tied back behind her head, a few stray curly strands of hair still hanging around her face, Harry marveled at her beauty and nearly tripped as he reached the bed and sat down next to her. With a slightly confused look on her face Hermione pushed her pillow farther up on the bed and sat up, leaning her back against he pillow.

"What's up Harry?" Even her voiced made Harry's insides melt as he stared at her for a moment. She flashed a dazzling smile at him and Harry suddenly found his voice.

"I, uh…..Hermione, I need to talk to you…….about us" Harry's voice was barely over a whisper and he spoke almost to fast for Hermione to understand him. Hermione, surprisingly didn't have a look of confusion on her face. Even more surprising what that she had a look of expectance on her face, as if waiting for something. "Hermione…..I-I-I Lo….." Harry couldn't find the courage to put into words his feelings for Hermione, so he did the next best thing. Harry slowly leaned forward, drawing himself in close to Hermione, just before his lips touched hers he could feel her pulling away, 'NO' Harry thought. But Harry felt her grasp the front of his robes and pull him down onto the bed with her, she wasn't pulling away from the kiss, she was drawing him into it. Harry leaned forward on the bed and pressed his lips against hers, the kiss, so full of passion and warmth and love, for what seemed no more than a few seconds to them, but was really several minutes they kissed before finally parting.

Hermione took in a deep breath and opened her cinnamon brown eyes, she couldn't believe what had just happened, what she had waited for, for almost seven years, ever since Harry and Ron saved her from the mountain troll in their first year. She gazed up at Harry, her eyes full of love.

Harry suddenly found his voice as he stared back at Hermione, his emerald green eyes shining with joy. "Hermione……I…..". Hermione had tears of joy shining in her eyes as she desperately awaited to hear the words from Harry. Harry smiled and found the courage to finally tell her how he felt, "Hermione, I love…." Oh the joy Harry felt as he spoke these words, Hermione almost bursting with joy as she would finally hear these words that she had waited so long to hear. But before Harry could finally finish this confession to Hermione, there was a loud crashing sound, and the entire castle shook. A force of the shake from the castle threw Harry from the bed. They both jumped to their feet and ran to the window, there on the ground were almost a hundred dementors, a good five hundred death eaters behind them all with their wands out. But the thing that made the blood freeze in their veins, the thing that made them back away from the window gasping for air, at the front of the legion of death eaters and dementors, was Lord Voldemort.