Disclaimer: I do not own, I do not own.
A/N: This isn't really a WIP. I wrote this about a year and a half ago. I just recently registered as an author at Portkey so I decided to post my favorite piece of work. But if this was a work in progress, I usually post monthly (twice a month if I'm really good). I have a very hectic schedule so it takes me ages to finish a new chapter. But since this isn't a new story I'm posting every other day or so. I've gotten so many reviews in the last few days that I'm awestruck. Thanks so much everyone.
*Warning* It's not really a warning. I'm just letting you know that this chapter is pretty short. It's short, but sweet. That 'tis all.
A Year to Remember
Chapter 6
"You know, you're the first boy I ever kissed."
"I figured that."
Hermione hit Harry playfully on his shoulder. The two were sitting together in the South Tower, looking up at the stars and sharing a small, affectionate kiss or two. The teenagers had been officially seeing each other for three weeks. Harry was still the only one who had admitted to loving the other, but it didn't stop them from being together. Being in love with a girl like Hermione had completely changed Harry's life around. He never got in any trouble and not one swear word had come across his lips. He felt like a changed man. Though there were some sacrifices. There was an unspoken agreement that dismissed Harry from the gang. He didn't mind; he was only upset that his former friends didn't bother to see Hermione as he did. And it hurt.
"I love you," Harry muttered, kissing Hermione's temple.
"Mmmm," Hermione breathed, closing her eyes slowly. Something was holding her back.
"What happened in fifth year?" Harry asked, pondering this question for quite some time. "Why did Dumbledore trust you with this place?"
Hermione sighed and opened her eyes. She looked up at the stars.
"Three weeks before fifth year began," Hermione started, "my father and I went out to buy my mother's birthday present. When we came home, we found her on the floor of the kitchen. Our house had been attacked by Death Eaters and they tortured her until she stopped. . . breathing."
Harry sat there with his mouth opened. He had no idea what to say to her. At least his parents passed away instantly. But Hermione, his Hermione. Her mom felt everything.
"Then," Hermione went on, "when I went home for Christmas, I began to feel very ill. The doctors said that I had. . . clinical depression. I needed to get away from everything so I talked with Dumbledore."
"Why didn't you ever say anything?" Harry asked her quietly.
"Would you have listened?"
"Well," Harry began, knowing that when he was fifteen he would have never given Hermione the time of day. "Why wasn't there a memorial ceremony for your mother at school?"
"I didn't want pity from anyone so I asked Dumbledore not to make a big deal of it," Hermione answered, "and he kept his word."
"Hermione, I," Harry mumbled, "I'm so sorry."
"I know," she muttered, "I know."
She stared off into the moonlight, a hazy glaze over her eyes. Harry kissed her temple again. He wished he had known. He wished he could have helped her, been there for her, anything.
"I will never let anything hurt you again," Harry whispered in her ear, "I will always be here for you from this day forward, and I will protect you and love you and be at your side every moment. When I'm not with you, I can't stop thinking about you. And when I am with you, I still dream about you. I will love you and honor you and be with you forever and ever."
"Oh, God, I love you," Hermione whispered. She turned to him and smiled. "Thank you."
Harry gazed at her. She had just said the three most magical words he had been longing to hear for so long. He took her face gently in his hands and looked deep into her thoughtful, chocolate eyes.
"Thank you," he said slowly. She smiled gently up at him. He leaned in and kissed her softly. But it wasn't good enough. He needed her so badly, and he could tell she needed him. He began to kiss her more passionately, expecting her to back away at any moment. But she didn't. Her hands crawled up his neck and grabbed onto his mess of hair. He put his arms around her waist and held her close as they kissed in the moonlight. After a good ten minutes or so, Hermione backed away, catching her breath.
"I love you," Harry whispered as he began to plant kisses down he jaw and neckline.
"I love you too," she answered him, "but you have to stop." She gently patted Harry's head and he looked up, a bit disappointed.
"Sorry, sorry," Harry muttered, realizing he got carried away.
"You know," Hermione said, standing up and straightening her outfit, "this is the kind of behavior that Dumbledore trusted I would never do." She sauntered over to the ledge of the tower and sighed. Harry came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Would we be bending the rules too much if we stayed all night?" Harry whispered in her ear.
A small smile glazed Hermione's pink lips.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"And where have you been?"
"I thought we weren't speaking," Harry grumbled as he plopped down on his bed.
"Harry," Ron whined, sitting up in his bed. "It's six in the morning. Did you just get back?"
"Maybe," Harry mumbled, lying down on his bed, not bothering to change out of his clothes.
"Harry, Hermione's not that kind of girl," Ron said with a bit of worry in his tone.
"Since when did you become my mother?" Harry asked, a look of confusion on his face.
"I'm trying to be a friend."
"Sorry," Harry replied, standing up again, "you've never really been one before."
"What?" Ron asked, standing up as well.
"Hermione makes me want to be a better person," Harry explained, "and ever since I've really gotten to understand her, I've realized that the gang has never been good people. Ever. I'm sick of it Ron."
Ron stared at Harry with a blank expression, utterly speechless. Harry looked him in the eyes, not sure what else to say. And then he left without another word spoken between them.