Right Here Waiting

coriander

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 12/11/2003
Last Updated: 20/11/2003
Status: paused

Harry messed up three years ago and let the love of his life walk away. Now he can't take the pain anymore, he finally tells her how he feels. A songfic.

Chapters

1. Right Here Waiting

2. After All

3. Authors Note

4. Is This Love?

1. Right Here Waiting

Harry Potter was happy. He had his own flat in Notting Hill. He had his dream job, being an auror for the Ministry of Magic. He had a very active social life with many girls vying for his attention. His best friend, Ron, had just asked him to be his best man next month when he would finally marry his sweetheart, Luna. Harry was happy. Really, he was.

As he walked down the street in Soho, heading toward Charing Cross Road, he heard a familiar song. A song that proved that Harry Potter was not happy, in fact, it proved that he was miserable. It was her song. He dubbed it her song when he heard it only minutes after she left for the States.

As the notes floated through the air, teasing his ears, he couldn’t help but walk toward the shop from which the music was emanating. The small muggle music store was playing an American love song from sometime in the 1980s. Harry had heard it a few times as a child when Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia would listen to the radio.

Harry wasn’t sure who sang the song, all he knew was when he heard it, all he could think about was her. Hermione.

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

He could still remember the day she left like it was yesterday. Hogwarts was over and done with almost two years prior. Voldemort had been vanquished a month and a half after that. Hermione had just been offered a position at the Salem Wizarding Academy in Massachusetts. And Harry had just realized that he was falling in love with his best friend.

He had agreed to see her off at the airport. She was leaving. He didn’t want her to go, but she didn’t know that. He had to let her go and live her dream. She was going to teach. She was going to mold the minds of American wizarding children. He couldn’t deny her that. She had stood by him for almost ten years; had supported almost every foolish thing he did; how could he not support her in this?

As they called for final boarding, he hugged her. She felt so good in his arms; it felt like she belonged there. He was in love with her, but could never say it. What if she didn’t feel the same? He couldn’t risk his heart being broken. But what if she did love him in return? Then she would stay and possibly regret the decision later on. She would resent him for not letting her live her dream, for not letting her go.

Harry reveled in the feel of his arms around her. He wasn’t sure when he would ever get this chance again. They promised to write each other every week. He wished her good luck as he released her and she walked toward the gate. Before he knew it she was running back toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I’m going to miss you, Harry.”

“I’ll miss you too, ‘Mione. But we’ll see each other, I promise.”

Hermione started to pull away from their embrace, but before she completely extracted herself from him, her lips connected with his. Harry’s arms fell in shock. His eyes stared blankly at her as she walked back toward the gate. As she passed through the door, she turned around and said the words Harry longed to hear.

“I love you, Harry.”

Harry stood there numbly, regurgitating her words over and over. By the time his brain actually comprehended what she had just confessed, the door to the gate was closed and the plane was taxiing away. They had written back and forth for a few months; neither one mentioning what she had said nor what Harry wanted to say. Eventually, the letters slowed to once a month and now Harry saw her neatly scripted notes maybe once in a blue moon.

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever?

Their friendship had lasted through countless trials, but one little confession followed by a lack of acknowledgement, led to its demise. She was still his friend. He still loved her. But now she had new friends and colleagues, new loves. Harry had promised her they would see each other again, so far he had broken that promise. He was afraid to see her. He wanted her to be happy with her new life, but he didn’t think he could bear the pain of seeing it and knowing that he was not a part of that life.

Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts and found himself standing in front of the tiny music shop in Soho. The muggle song was still playing, teasing him, reminding him. His unruly hair and green eyes reflected in the store window back at him. He couldn’t look himself in the eye. He had been so stupid that day. And now almost 3 years later, it was still just as painful.

After her plane left, Harry had stared out the window of the airport toward the place where her plane had taken off. She was gone. She said she loved him, and what did he do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He eventually found himself sitting on a stool in a nearby pub, wallowing in self-defamation and a lot of alcohol. As he sat there nursing his sixth or seventh shot of whiskey, a song came on the jukebox. Harry absently listened to the words.

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

Harry knew at that moment, in the pub, that he would wait for her. If she really did love him, wouldn’t she come back? The words to the song echoed in his mind, ‘Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks.’ Harry knew his heart had been broken, not by Hermione, but by himself. He was the one who didn’t stop her from going. He was the one who didn’t say he loved her in return. He was the one who watched her walk out of his life and fly across the Atlantic Ocean to a new life, without him.

I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now.

The song still echoed through Soho, but Harry’s mind was a million miles away. Hermione had always been there, he expected her to be there forever. He never thought she would really go away. His memories of their days as ‘The Trio’ flooded his mind. Hermione, Ron and Harry. They were a team, inseparable. Now, Ron was getting married and Hermione was teaching in the States and Harry was here, waiting for her to come home.

He fought the urge to cry in public. No one wants to see The-Man-Who-Defeated-the-Dark-Lord crying. He would never live it down. The Daily Prophet would have a field day trying to solve the mystery of why the great Harry Potter was sitting in Muggle London crying.

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

Harry wondered if Hermione was thinking about him. Did she ever think about him? Did she even miss him? She said so in her letters and Hermione was not one to lie. But was she just saying to be polite, or was it true? He had spent three long years thinking this way. He knew by now she probably had a boyfriend. She was too beautiful and charming to be without one.

Harry, himself had had quite a few lady friends, although it was never more than a short fling or one-night stand. It was never love. Harry had given Hermione his heart, even though she didn’t realize it. No one else would ever be loved by Harry Potter the way he loved her.

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

As Harry looked back at his reflection in the shop window, he looked into his own eyes. He had to tell her what he felt. He was going crazy without her. He needed her. Without Hermione, Harry did not feel like Harry. Three years of pain was long enough.

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you

As the final chorus rang out of the shop, Harry started walking toward Charing Cross Road once more. Once entering The Leaky Cauldron, he took a seat at the bar, asked Tom for a firewhiskey, a piece of parchment and a quill.

Tom smiled knowingly. He had been a bartender almost too long and could read the emotions of almost every patron that walked through his door. Over the past few years he had watched as Mr. Potter slid into a miserable, pitiful existence. Noticing the burning determination in the young man’s eyes, Tom knew that Harry Potter was finally going to fix whatever caused him so much pain.

After downing the contents of his glass, Harry started to write what he should have said three years ago.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My Dearest Hermione –

I have been keeping something from you, that I can’t hold back any longer. I have kept this in for the last three years. I know I should have said this a long time ago, but…

I love you, too.

I always have. You stole my heart when we were sixteen and have held it captive since then. I miss you and pray that I will see you again someday. I know it is probably too late, but I needed to tell you how I felt, even if its just to heal the ache in my heart.

I heard a song today that always reminds me of you. It’s an American muggle song from when we were kids. I think the words of the song can express more than my ramblings are able to…

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you.

I don’t want you to feel bad about this, this is not your fault. I messed up. I should have said this many times before. I love you, Hermione Granger. I am sorry for never saying it. I am sorry if it’s too late now. I just wanted you to know.

I will understand if you wish not to respond. I pray someday you will forgive me for any pain I may have caused you. I hope that someday I will be able to forgive myself for letting you go.

Love Always,
Harry

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry threw a few sickles on the bar and thanked Tom for the drink, parchment and quill. He went out the back door and through the secret doorway to Diagon Alley. He remembered all the fun times he, Ron and Hermione had here when getting ready for school. He sighed as he passed Flourish & Blotts, Hermione’s favorite store. He smiled as he passed the Magical Menagerie, where Hermione bought Crookshanks before their third year. His memories of Hermione were killing him, making his eyes burn and his heart ache. He needed to do this. He had to send it. She had to know.

Finally, Harry made his way to the Owlery. He tied the parchment to an owl, paid a couple galleons and watched as the bird flew off into the sunset toward America, toward Hermione. If he had any fears, it was too late now. All he could do was wait. But he was used to doing just that, staying right here… waiting.

*

TBC – This was a plot bunny that attacked me in the car on the way to work one day. I heard the song and knew I had to write this. I am not sure how long this will be, but I will tell you this is not the end.

2. After All

Hermione Granger was going home. After three years teaching charms at the Salem Witches Academy, she was finally going home. Hogwarts. Last week Hermione had received an owl from Professor Dumbledore asking her if she would be interested in taking Professor Flitwick’s place in the fall. Hermione’s heart leapt and she replied immediately saying she would be there to prepare the first week in August.

It had been hard leaving England three years ago, but leaving the States didn’t compare. While she had made friends and dated over the past couple years, her heart was still back home, with him. She sighed deeply at the thought of her raven-haired best friend. She had left him standing in the airport. She had told him that she loved him and left. She hadn’t even turned around for a response, not that she expected one. Harry would never see her as more than a friend.

She loved him. No, she still loves him. After three years you would think that her feelings would have diminished, but as the saying goes, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” She and Harry had written back and forth for a while. She was too embarrassed to mention her confession, and he had never brought it up either. Then the owls diminished. He was probably busy with being an Auror and she had buried herself in teaching. Now the letters were few and far between and told little of what was going on in their lives. Hermione absently wondered if he had a girlfriend. Not that it really mattered.

Hermione had been packing her belongings for the move when a picture caught her eye. She picked it up and sat down on the couch. Her fingers played over the images of a red-haired boy, a raven-haired boy with glasses and a bushy-haired girl. They were so happy then. The picture had been taken at the Leaving Feast of their seventh year. She looked closely at their smiling faces. The smiles were real, but did not reach their eyes. Their eyes were full of fear and worry. They knew that Voldemort would strike soon and Harry would have to face his arch nemesis, hopefully for the last time.

Hermione leaned back and closed her eyes, remembering the day before the final battle and how she wanted to tell Harry everything then. She wanted to pour her heart out, just in case the battle didn’t turn out the way they planned. She wanted him to know, but everytime she stepped up to do so, Harry was pulled away from her for some other planning session or such. She had watched him throughout the afternoon. He was a true leader and hero. No wonder she had fallen in love with him. She realized at that moment that Harry would never feel the same way. She wasn’t good enough for the likes of him. That day she vowed never to say anything.

She hadn’t expected to say it when she was boarding the plane. It just felt natural. It felt right. The words escaped her lips before she could even think about it. She then turned away and ran down the ramp to the plane. As she sat in her seat, her fingers brushed her lips. She had kissed him; she didn’t even realize she had done it. She knew that she had ruined everything she and Harry had with a small kiss and three little words.

Now she was going home. How could she face him after all this time? Her heart still ached for him. She longed for his touch; for him to return her affection. Would she be able to handle it if he didn’t? Hermione fought back her tears as she decided that she would just have to do it. Handle it. Being his friend is better than having nothing at all. Better than the last three years.

She stood up, turned on her muggle stereo and resumed packing. After a while, one of her favorite songs came on, and she started humming along with it.

Well, here we are again
I guess it must be fate
We've tried it on our own
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight

She chuckled slightly. It figured that this song would be playing right as she was thinking about Harry. She wondered if the words would ring true. She was going back home. She would most likely see him. They had been apart for so long. Her heart was telling her everything would work out, but Hermione, the pessimist that she is, doubted it. Harry was probably engaged to some beautiful blonde goddess. He was the “Most Eligible Wizard Bachelor” in their last year at Hogwarts and the year following. Of course, he wouldn’t stay single very long. Someone would capture his heart and make him settle down.

Hermione never expected Harry to stay single. He didn’t love her, why would he? He could have any witch in the free world, why waste it on a mousy know-it-all friend? She hadn’t stayed single herself. Many of her colleagues had tried to set her up with a few men. None of them worked out in the end, mainly because they weren’t him. She didn’t mean to do it, but she ended up comparing every man she dated to Harry. He was perfect. He was well out of her league, but she kept doing it again and again.

I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new
Every memory repeats
Every step I take retreats
Every journey always brings me back to you

Hermione found herself gazing out the window, wondering if it was worth it going back. She had a life here. His new life didn’t include her. He didn’t need her like she needed him. Maybe staying in the States would be better. Running away from her fears seemed an easier solution than facing them head on. She turned around and looked at all the boxes and the empty shelves. No, she had to go home. She would be at Hogwarts; he doesn’t even have to know she’s back.

She turned back toward the window and was startled by a large brown owl perched on the sill. She untied the parchment and gave the owl a treat from her pocket. Her eyes focused on the red wax seal with the initials HP embossed on it. It was from Harry. She shook her head at the irony of it all. Harry was the only thing that consumed her thoughts lately, and here in her hand was a letter from him.

She went back to the couch as the owl flew off. Hermione wondered why Hedwig didn’t deliver it and then remembered that Harry’s last letter had been sent by a different owl, too. She came to the conclusion that maybe Hedwig had passed away and Harry had replaced her. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she tossed her thoughts of Harry’s owl out of her mind and slid a finger underneath the seal, breaking it.

She slowly unrolled the parchment. This letter was longer than the last five combined. He was probably going to tell her about the new love of his life and how they were going to get married and have lots of children, blah, blah, blah.

She let her eyes roam to the beginning and started to read. She almost dropped the letter when she read his words. He loved her, too! So, he had heard her at the airport. Why didn’t he say anything? Why did he let her go? If he had asked her to stay, she would have without blinking an eye. Hermione fiercely wiped her tears away as she continued reading the letter.

“There’s a song that reminds him of me? ‘Right Here Waiting’? Oh, Gods, all this time, he did feel the same and he was too scared to say it. He waited for me? Me?” she thought out loud to her almost empty flat. “I’m coming home, Harry. I love you.” Her heart burned at the implications. He loved her and she loved him. They lost contact because it was killing them inside to be so far apart. She stood back up and fumbled for her wand. With a flick of her wrist, the stereo turned off and all of her belongings floated into the appropriate boxes. She shrunk them down and put them in her carry-all. She wanted to go home. She was ready to go home.

Without wasting another minute, she called for a taxi to take her to the airport. She needed to go now. She couldn’t wait. Harry was waiting for her; he had always been waiting for her. She had wasted so much time; she didn’t want to waste anymore. After settling herself into the backseat of the yellow cab, she let her mind drift back to the day she left for the States. Had Harry tried to stop her? Had he run after her? Why didn’t he say anything in our previous letters? Why…

Her thoughts were interrupted when the cabbie asked her if she wanted some music. She nodded and thanked him. It was a long drive to the airport from her flat and the music would help pass the time. Her heart was racing, she never expected Harry to love her. He was her best friend. He was always there for her. He stood by her when Viktor broke up with her. He stood by her when she and Ron had split up. Whenever someone broke her heart, Harry was there to pick up the pieces.

Hermione laughed out loud, startling the cabbie, when she heard the first notes to the song she had heard earlier. She sat back and relaxed into the seat, listening to the music. The words fit she and Harry so well.

Well, here we are again
I guess it must be fate
We've tried it on our own
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight

I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new
Every memory repeats
Every step I take retreats
Every journey always brings me back to you

After All the stops and starts
We keep coming back to these two hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall
After All that we've been through
It all comes down to me and you
I guess it's meant to be
Forever you and me, After All

When love is truly right
(This time it's truly right )
It lives from year to year
It changes as it goes
Oh, and on the way it grows
But it never disappears

After All the stops and starts
We keep coming back to these two hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall

After All that we've been through
It all comes down to me and you
I guess it's meant to be
Forever you and me, After All

Always just beyond my touch
You know I needed you so much
After All, what else is livin' for?

After All the stops and starts
We keep coming back to these two hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall

After All that we've been through
It all comes down to me and you
I guess it's meant to be
Forever you and me, After All

Hermione ran through the airport to the ticket counter and handed her tickets to the attendant. “Excuse, me ma’am. These tickets are for next week,” the attendant said as she started to hand the tickets back to Hermione.

Hermione held up her hand, tried to slow her breathing and spoke urgently, “I need to exchange them for the next available flight to London. I can’t wait until next week.”

The attendant looked at her strangely and then looked at her computer. After a few anxious moments she smiled and looked at the frazzled woman in front of her. “Well, it seems that you are in luck. The next flight leaves in one hour. Will this be one-way or round-trip?”

“One-way,” she said without thinking twice.

“I have one seat in first-class. Is that all right?” Hermione nodded and thanked the woman profusely. After a minute the attendant smiled and said, “Good luck,” as she handed Hermione the tickets.

Hermione smiled back. “It’s not luck, it’s fate,” she said as said as she ran off toward the gate. She couldn’t sit still once she was there. She wanted to get on the plane and be in the air, on her way home. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Hermione was able to board the plane. She sat in the large First Class seat. If she hadn’t been so excited, she might have noticed all the foot room she had and how comfortable the seat was. But nothing affected her at all. All she could think about was going home and running into Harry’s arms. She had waited so long for him, she wasn’t going to waste one breath of time.

As the plane took off, Hermione found herself drained and her eyes were becoming heavy. Soon her breathing slowed and evened out as she started to fall asleep. It was the most relaxed she had been all day. She was happy. She was going home. Harry loved her. She loved him. This was right. Hermione slept a good portion of the plane ride, dreaming of Harry. They had been through so much together and it always came back to the two of them. Maybe they were meant to be together after all.

*

A/N – nope, still not done. I will try to update later in the week. It make take me while, it depends on if my kids give me time alone. Thanks for reading.

3. Authors Note

A/N – OK, I really didn’t like the first version of Chapter 3 – So I am deleting it. Hopefully I will have a new one up tonight. J Sorry for the inconvenience.

4. Is This Love?

Chapter 3

Hermione walked through the streets of Hogsmeade, reminiscing as she walked past the shop windows. It had been three years since she’d been here. Three years since she had a sip of butterbeer. Three years since she ate a chocolate frog. Three years since she had seen her friends.

With each storefront she passed, more memories flowed. She remembered all the times that she, Harry and Ron had spent their Saturdays walking through the village. She smiled at the visions of Ron stuffing his face full of chocolate frogs and sugar quills and of Harry chasing her through town with one of Fred and George’s newest creations.

As she looked down the street, a ramshackle house caught her attention. Tears tugged at her eyes as she walked toward the Shrieking Shack. She closed her eyes in silent remembrance of Harry’s godfather, Sirius, who was lost through the veil during their fifth year, and of Remus Lupin who was killed at the hands of Lord Voldemort himself only moments before his own demise.

Hermione, Harry and Ron had many fond memories of the Shrieking Shack. It was the place where they met Sirius. It was the place that Ron and Hermione shared their first kiss. It had served as their hideout before Harry went to confront Voldemort. It was also where the three of them worked on becoming animagi. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she pictured a red fox, a phoenix, and a brown owl keeping their werewolf friend company during the full moon.

Harry had talked about refurbishing the house after Voldemort was gone, but he decided against it. The pain was still too fresh from Remus’ death to think about changing his sanctuary. It seemed so surreal. If they were to change the house, it would mean that Remus was really gone. He was the last link to Harry’s parents, and Harry wasn’t ready for that, yet.

Harry. Everything always came back to Harry. That’s why she was here, walking through the village. She knew they would be here. It was Harry’s birthday today and according to tradition, Ron, Luna, Ginny, Draco and Harry would be at the Three Broomsticks celebrating. They had started the annual tradition on Harry’s eighteenth birthday, only a week after Harry had defeated Voldemort. She knew it would be the perfect time to make her appearance.

She slowly made her way to the tavern. The butterflies in her stomach were rapidly turning into hippogriffs. She was about to see Harry. She was coming home to the one she loved. Her heart raced faster the closer she got to the pub. As she opened the door and let her eyes adjust to the dim light, she searched the tables for the familiar head of unruly black hair.

I should have known better
Than to let you go alone
It's times like these
I can't make it on my own
Wasted days, and sleepless nights
An' I can't wait to see you again

“Look at that…” the redhead sitting at one of the back tables said to no one in particular as he looked at the beautiful woman who had just entered the Three Broomsticks. “Ow!” he exclaimed as an elbow from his fiancé jabbed him in the ribs. “I’m just admiring the view, love. I’m not touching the merchandise,” he said softly as he nuzzled into her long blonde hair.

Everyone at the table moved to get a look at who Ron was looking at. The woman in question was indeed beautiful. Her red dress hugged her curves deliciously. Her short hair curled around framing her face. Her face was beautiful and her eyes sparkled as she looked around the dimly lit room.

Draco stared at the woman for a moment and recognized her almost immediately. He looked to his red-haired girlfriend, who also wore a knowing grin. The both looked at the raven-haired man across the table from them, awaiting his reaction.

Harry couldn’t take his eyes off her. He had never seen anyone more beautiful in his life. His heart ached. He felt like he was betraying Hermione by staring at this woman.

I find I spend my time
Waiting on your call
How can I tell you, babe
My back's against the wall
I need you by my side
To tell me it's alright
’Cause I don't think I can take anymore

Hermione spotted a table in the back corner where two familiar redheads, a white-haired man and a blonde curly-haired woman were sitting. In front of them sat the object of her affection. Harry. Brown eyes met emerald green and she smiled. He smiled back hesitantly. As she walked toward the table, he blushed and turned away. Her heart ached at the thought that he didn’t want to see her.

She glanced at the other four faces and smiled. Draco and Ginny smiled brightly back, while Ron and Luna were a bit slow at responding, but smiled once the realization of who was standing before them hit. Luna looked like she was about to speak but Ron stopped her and smiled, winking at Hermione.

He felt her hand rest on his shoulder and he looked up at the woman. She was breathtaking. His heart raced as he looked in her eyes. She seemed so familiar even though he knew he had never seen her before. He slowly stood up to offer his hand and introduce himself, but before he could speak he heard a voice that he longed to hear.

“Happy Birthday Harry.”

He looked up and gazed into her eyes. Eyes that he hadn’t seen in three years. They were her eyes. He let his eyes roam her face. He blinked harshly, making sure he was seeing what, or rather who, he was seeing.

“H- Hermione?” he stuttered in a breath. She started to nod, but was cut off as his arms wrapped around her tightly.

Is this love that I'm feeling
Is this the love that I've been searching for
Is this love or am I dreaming
This must be love
’Cause it's really go a hold on me
A hold on me

Harry couldn’t believe it. Hermione was here, in his arms. She felt so good against him. He cursed himself many times over for waiting so long to tell her how he felt. Pulling back slightly, he looked into her eyes again. He felt like he could melt right then and there. Every emotion he was feeling was reflected in her eyes. Before either of them uttered a word, Harry brought his hands up to cradle her face. Feeling her soft skin under his fingertips. She was really here. Slowly he brought her face up to his and brushed his lips over hers. Sparks shot through his body. He loved her and he was never about to let her go again. She was his other half, his soul mate. Again he cursed himself for waiting so long to do this.

As her lips parted under his, he felt her tongue slide over his bottom lip. Before he knew it their tongues were warring, running sensuously along each other. Harry’s hands went to her hair and ran his fingers through the short curls. He slowly pulled from the kiss and looked at her lovingly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. What did you do to your hair?” he whispered into her ear as he curled a few short tendrils around his finger. At the hurt look on her face he suddenly recovered, “No, I like it. It looks beautiful. You look beautiful.” He kissed her lightly on the lips again.

I can't stop the feeling
I've been this way before
But, with you I've found the key
To open any door
I can feel my love for you
Growing stronger day by day
An' I can't wait too see you again
So I can hold you in my arms

Harry and Hermione were standing wrapped up in each other’s arms, oblivious to the other two couples at the table behind them. At the sound of someone clearing their throat, the two of them unfurled their arms and turned to look at their friends. All four of them were smiling and the two women had tears in their eyes.

“Hi guys,” she said hesitantly. Before she knew it, she was tackled by two emotional redheads. Hermione couldn’t help the tears from welling up in her own eyes. “Hello, Ron. Ginny.”

Ron pulled back and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ve missed you ‘Mione.” She smiled and returned his words. Ginny unwrapped herself, but couldn’t say anything through her emotional smiles. As they all sat down, Luna and Draco also voiced their ‘hellos’ and ‘welcome homes.’

Hermione felt Harry’s arm wrap around her shoulders, and a comforting warmth flooded her senses. This is where she belonged… in Harry’s arms. She leaned into him and felt him kiss the top of her head a few times. Between kisses she heard a whispered, “I love you.” Her heart swelled at the sound and her tears started falling again. The table remained silent as they all tried to reign in their emotions.

Is this love that I'm feeling
Is this the love that I've been searching for
Is this love or am I dreaming
This must be love
’Cause it's really got a hold on me
A hold on me

“So, are you home for good?” Ron was the first to break the silence.

She nodded and smiled. “Yes, I am. I start at my new job next week.”

“New job?” Harry asked as he looked down at her.

“You are looking at the new Charm’s teacher at Hogwarts,” she said proudly.

“Hermione, that’s great!” Ginny and Luna exclaimed simultaneously.

“Albus owled me a few weeks ago. I couldn’t turn it down. I was scared at first.” She looked up at Harry. “But now I know that everything’s going to work out perfectly.”

Harry squeezed her tightly as he repeated her last statement. “Perfectly.”

Is this love that I'm feeling
Is this the love that I've been searching for
Is this love or am I dreaming

“Well then, you’ll be seeing a lot of each other, won’t you?” Draco said teasingly.

At Hermione’s confused look, Harry kissed her again. “Albus will never cease to amaze me.” He lifted her chin with his finger so that she was looking into his eyes. “You’re looking at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.”

Hermione couldn’t believe what she had just heard. They would be working together. They would be together everyday. She smiled and snuggled into Harry’s chest. She made a mental note to thank the headmaster at her earliest convenience. The others could sense that Harry and Hermione need some time alone, and both couples went out to dance.

Harry’s eyes were bright as he gazed into her beautiful brown orbs. “I take it you got my letter?” he asked sheepishly.

“Yes, I did Harry. I packed up and left almost immediately after I read it. I knew that I needed to come home. I need you and couldn’t think of spending another minute away. I love you.”

Harry leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry I never said it before, but I have always loved you. I will always love you. I was so afraid that you wouldn’t come. I am so afraid that I’m going to wake up from the best dream of my life and you will be gone.”

Her hand reached up to wipe the tears that trailed down his cheeks. “I’m here. I’m real. And I’m home.”

*

A/N – This is my second attempt at the chapter. I feel much better about this one. I hope you liked it. I could possibly leave it here, but I think I might add another one or two chapters. We will see.