10:30pm Hospital wing
Sneaking into the hospital wing of Hogwarts wasn't very hard for Hermione with an invisibility cloak. The hard part was going to be waking Harry up with out causing him to freak out. As she crept through the wing to his bed she was relieved that he looked much better now. All those little glass jars with the slug-like creatures where gone, and he was lying on his side now. Although he did have a very large bandage wrapped around his chest and back, he didn't appear to be in any pain. Standing next to his bed she could hear his steady breathing and see the look of peace on his face. After closing the curtains she removed the cloak and kneeled down in front of him. Gently she started to run her fingers through his hair, and with her lips only millimeters from his ear she spoke, "Harry . . . Harry . . . wake up Harry."
Slowly his eyes opened, "Her... mione? What are y. . ." His voice was low and very scratchy.
"Shh, . . . Don't talk." She placed a finger on his lips. She retrieved a glass of water from the nightstand and placed the straw in his mouth, "Drink you'll feel better." After draining half the glass she returned the glass to its stand.
"I'm sorry Hermione. . . I shouldn't have yelled at you. It wasn't your. . ."
"Shh, . . . No talking." Hermione rose up and gently placed a kiss on his forehead, and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "It's my turn to talk now." For a few minutes she just couldn't pull her eyes away from his. They were filled with so much compassion.
"I want to thank you Harry, not just for today but for everything. When I first met you and Ron all I had were my books. You though. . .you had such spirit inside of you that it had awakened the person inside of me. You showed me that I could be courageous, strong, and honorable - a true Gryffindor. I'm a better person because of you. The words 'thank you' don't seem to say what is truly in my heart."
Harry's eyes started to mist over as he watched the woman he loved saying the words that he wanted to say to her. He couldn't count the times he wanted to tell her all the feelings he had inside of him, only to push them back down again for the fear that those very words could be the ones to drive her way.
"How can I ever repay you for what you've done for me. . .and for my parents too?"
Her last comment didn't seem to faze him in the least, "Ron?"
"Yeah."
"You've already repaid me a thousand times." He slowly raised his hand to her confused face, "With every smile you give me, with every laugh I hear. It's heaven to me Hermione. Just to know that your safe is all that matters to me. I have to know that this cursed life of mine has meant something. Your happiness is what drives me. It's the only thing I care about anymore."
Hermione inched closer, "There must be something. . . else that you. . .want?" They where so close now that their noses touched.
"I would. . . do anything, . . .give. . .you everything, . . all . . .of. . .me."
His eyes where the deepest shade of green she'd ever seen before and she knew he was searching not just her mind but also her very soul. In there he would see what she'd known for years; she would give him everything if he would just ask. Finally his gaze returned to the surface, and a small smile played at the corner of his lips. There was nothing left to say. He moved in slowly to seize her lips and she closed her eyes in complete surrender. His breath was hot on her skin, and then they met for the first time. His touch was soft and gentle as they explored each other. She wanted to keep going to reach deep inside and never let go, but she knew she didn't have to. For this wasn't just a kiss, but an exchange of a promise. A promise of a life beyond the walls of this castle that they could build a life of there own, a future.
It ended only to soon as the sound of Madam Pomfrey's office door opening. Her eyes flew open to Harry's, whose were filled with panic, "You have to go! Hurry if she catches you, you'll be banned!"
At lightning speed she retrieved the invisibility cloak and threw it over her head. Just as she turned to leave a hand grabbed her wrist.
"Hermione. . . wait!" his expression was so desperate.
She quickly pulled the cloak open around her face and stole a kiss, "I'll be back in the morning."
They'd just broken apart as the curtains flew open. Madam Pomfrey looked very tired and held aloft a potion in each hand.
"Good evening Mr. Potter. Good to see you remembered about your evening treatments."
Harry glanced around quickly and spotted Hermione across the hall. Only her face was visible and she blew him a kiss and vanished from sight, "Er. . .yes the treatment of course."
"Are you feeling alright? You look really flushed?"