Ron had found a convenient time to exit the classroom, as behind him he could hear Snape catching Harry following him. Ron had no clue what he was going to do, but found a moment to dwell on what just happened.
Hearing Hermione confirm their end was a shock to reality. He had lost her and he was absolutely hopeless. He was obscene and enraged, but for some reason, a little part of him knew it didn't feel as horrible as it should. He knew she wasn't cheating on him with Harry. He knew how they both felt for each other. He also knew that they were both his best friends. He knew he didn't love her the way Harry did, between all the fighting he could see that. Hermione seemed as though she were the one for Ron, smart, beautiful, funny and she cared. He once saw a fire in her eyes. He saw it ignite every time she could think about Harry. Ron mistook this and Ron wanted to believe they were going to get married, and have a family. Ron now knew it was not the case.
Ron continued to walk, sulking, to somewhere he could think, even though he had already made up his mind.
After Harry and Hermione left the dungeons, they embarked for a place to find peace. Even though they did not speak, they knew exactly where they were going. They did not seek to enter the Common Room; they did not want the chance of finding Ron. They did not go to the Astronomy Tower. That would cause awkwardness between them, and the way they felt couldn't be expressed there. They did not go to the lake, to the kitchens, or to an empty classroom. Instead they both chose possibly the least romantic place possible, The Owlery.
They climbed many steps, and passed many empty classrooms. Passed many sleeping portraits and even two odd ghosts they had never seen before. The eluded Filch, and pleaded with Peeves. They entered the Owlery, and stood in the hay, watching the moonlight stream through the opening in the wall. Harry saw Hedwig, sleeping quietly on her perch.
"So," Hermione had propped her self up upon a cabinet and was swinging her legs and looking out the window.
It was a full moon.
"So…..You handled that well Harry." Harry felt even more uncomfortable, if that was possible.
"I--I--well-you-I-mean--" Hermione stifled a laugh. Harry walked towards her and she spoke.
"Yeah, I know. It had to happen soon. I couldn't survive another day." She flopped down and went to hang
her arms out of the window.
"…. Are you okay?" Harry walked up behind her and saw several tears fall on the stone structure.
"You know, I don't know why I am crying. It's so silly, I know it was what had to happen. You must think
me awful for saying those things, and now so ridiculous for crying over it." She then laughed a bit.
"Hermione… I don't think there could ever be a time when anyone could classify you as ridiculous, or
awful." He took his thumb and started to push the tears off of her face, only causing her to cry more.
A few minutes they sat together, looking out the window. Hermione dried her tears.
"Harry?" she whispered. She wasn't actually sure she said it, but it appeared she did.
"Hm?" He wouldn't look at her; he was so scared he'd slip. He kept going over the words in his head.
"Nothing, never mind." She said, frowning walking away from the window.
"Hermione?" He said. He could do it, he thought as he turned to her and met her eyes.
"Yes, Harry?" The way she said his name was delirious. Her eyes sparkled and all courage was flushed to his feet.
"Um, forgetaboutit. Let's go." He had expected that he would tell her, but that night was replaying constantly in his mind.
They walked down the way they came, decreasingly concerned with having a conversation, as for what they were both thinking was hard to put into words. They were thinking wholeheartedly, thinking about how life would be with each other, together. Every few steps or so, they would both turn their heads at each other and then look away blushing. They were almost to the Common Room, when they had both had enough. This was his last chance, and he might as well make a fool of himself now rather than never.
"I can't take this, Hermione. This is torture." Harry had stopped in his tracks. He did not mean to blurt
that out, and now that he did, it was very hard to find his voice.
"Can't take what, Harry?" Part of her was scared of what he was going to say, but every other bit
consumed the thought of his confession and was excited. Harry took a deep breath as to give him strength. Hermione
gulped.
"I--Hermione--I--l--l" He stumbled across words and thought he was going to be sick.
"I-I love you, Hermione. I don't know if you really and truly know that, I mean, you aren't stupid, and --- I do, I love you as a friend, we have been best friends for what feels like eternity. I love you as you, and I know it's not a misplaced affection, even though I know that's what you called it, but I have never felt anything so real as this." He had suddenly regained courage and strength, and in an odd sense, it was like his father and Sirius were right there rooting him on.
Hermione stood there blushing uncontrollably. She was shaking, and near tears.
"I know that you think I am absolutely nuts, and that you could never feel the same way about me." He continued, losing confidence as she began to cry and look away. "But for one moment's hesitation you can't say that you don't feel the same way too. If a bloody mirror knows it, and I know it is there, you have to feel something. I-I just couldn't go another minute without saying it; I thought I would explode with emotions…. Just just if this ruins out friendship, it will kill me. It will be worse than anything I have ever gone through. And if that is what is going to happen, then don't tell me you love me back. Just know… that I will always be here for you."
Hermione looked into his eyes, and swam in his thoughts, taking a dive. She felt the passion swell within her. He had looked into her eyes so many times before, but never had they looked like this. They didn't look fearsome, they didn't look strong, and they looked vulnerable but promising.
He acted on an impulse and drew her to him. Her locked his arms around her and took in a breath. It felt like there were a million things exploding at once, and the shock of the touch was so strong it would not let them draw apart. She held his shoulders and searched for something to say.
"Harry, I love you. I've been denying it so long now because I had so many doubts. I'm just the rude,
obnoxious brain, and I thought surely after last year you would hate me. But, the mirror, well, Harry, it confirmed my
feelings for you. I thought you could never ever love anyone like me, and now I keep wanting to pinch myself because
I'm thinking IfellasleepintheDungeonsandSnapeisjustwaitingfor metowakeup. I'm so sorry Harry, I should have
listened to you that night."
She blushed even more, and she took a large breath seeing as she spit that out in a very fast pace. He bent down closer to her, whispering in her ear,
"Hermione Granger… I love you." And with that, Harry bent down and kissed her. She thought the touch was
going to burn her skin and there would be nothing left of her. He did not take it too far, but took it passionately and
Hermione didn't mind. She broke them apart, and Harry drew her closer to him. They were both without words.
It seemed as their hearts were kept together with a strong rubber band; and if it were stretched, that it would break, shattering their worlds, sending thoughts into oblivion.
She thought that their separation would kill her. She thought even five minutes without his presence would tear her heart out of her chest, leaving it to pulse on the stone floor. They did not say anything; they did not touch again. Silence was killing them, but they had to practice self-control. The eyes held a lot of secrets. Harry's usually weakened green eyes were now dancing and burning with a fire, that relayed the millions of thoughts in his head. Hermione's normally dark brown eyes shone brightly; and seemed to pierce into the walls of the school, giving off a strong glare. After making sure they did not wake anyone when making their way to the common room, they respectively made their way up the spiral staircases and disappeared from each other's sight.