A/N: Here is the last chapter of this story. I hope you've enjoyed it. The final song used is "Everything" by Lifehouse. The song doesn't go to a letter, but I have recently fallen in love with this song and had to use it somewhere. The song will be for both of their feelings.
Please read and review!! Reviews are like an addiction to authors.
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After receiving Hermione's reply, Harry was on cloud 9. However, she was right. Where were they supposed to do now? He wanted to call her, but it would be hard to get to a phone with Uncle Vernon home.
"Hedwig, what now? Hermione and I have finally admitted our feelings and that's wonderful, but now we're clueless."
The owl seemed to nod in agreement.
"Well, not completely!" Harry said.
Just then, there was a banging at his door.
"Boy! We're taking Dudley for ice cream. Don't expect any!" Uncle Vernon bellowed from the other side of the door. His pounding footsteps told Harry that he had left.
"Like I would have the nerve to expect something around here. Let alone taking any sugary goodness from that pig," Harry said out loud. Then it occurred to him. With the Dursleys gone, the phone was available. And they would be gone forever with Dudley and his passion for ice cream.
He dug into his trunk (which was finally allowed to be kept in his room) for Hermione's number.
He raced downstairs with the small scrap of paper she wrote on and stared at the phone.
It was such a good idea upstairs. What had changed?
Finally, he convinced himself that it was just Hermione and he knew that she loved him, so he should just pick up the phone.
As he did, a newfound strength came over him. However, as it began to ring, the strength disappeared and the desire to hang up took over.
Just as he began to put the receiver down, he heard, "Hello?"
So much for that plan.
"Um, yes. Could I speak with Hermione, please?" he asked, tentatively.
"Of course. Hold on for just a second."
Harry was so glad her mother answered instead of her father. Fathers were so intimidating. Especially those of only daughters.
Suddenly, Hermione spoke, breaking Harry from his stupor. "Hello?"
He was at a loss for words. It hadn't been that long since he had heard her voice and yet one simple word could almost bring him to his knees.
"Um, hi, Hermione. It's Harry."
"Harry!" she screamed. "Hi! It's so wonderful to hear from you."
"It's great to hear your voice, Mione. I've really missed you."
"I miss you, too." She paused. "So, I suppose you got my letter?"
"Yeah. Hedwig wouldn't leave me alone till she was certain I had read the entire thing," Harry said with a small laugh.
"She's like that," Hermione agreed. "Still makes me wonder, though. Where do we go from here?"
"Well, I mean … I think I … what I mean to say is …"Harry stammered.
"Harry, are you trying to ask me out?"
"Yes," he answered sheepishly.
"Of course I'll go with you. Your birthday is coming up you know."
"I suppose it is."
"Would you want to go then?"
"Of course I would. It's just going to be tough to get out of my cell. Unless I use my new powers-"
Hermione instantly cut him off. "Harry! No powers! You'll get expelled!"
"Not those powers, Hermione. I just mean my new power over the Dursleys. What with Moody's warning, they're even more scared of me. All I have to do is mention that the Order would be pissed if I didn't get to go out every now and then and boom, instant get out of jail free card."
"Oh. Well, that's not so bad then. Call me again and let me know, ok?"
"I will."
Long pause.
"Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Iloveyou," he mumbled.
"I love you, too," she said. "Byebye."
"Bye, Mione."
Harry hung up the phone with a feeling of euphoria that he never felt before. This was going to be the best birthday ever.
For the next week, Harry worked as hard as he could, hoping it would also help his cause of getting out.
Finally, the day before the big day came.
Harry carefully approached his uncle watching television.
"Uncle Vernon?"
"What is it, boy? I'm very busy!"
"Yes, I see that, but I just wanted to know if I could go out tomorrow."
"What?! Why on earth should I let you?"
"Well, you see, tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday. That means that I'm just one year from being able to use magic without restrictions. Plus, I don't think Mr. Moody and the rest of the Order would be too pleased to know that I couldn't do anything to celebrate my birthday."
Vernon huffed and stared at Harry. The gears were obviously turning. "Yes, fine. Whatever. Just don't be late."
"Thank you, Uncle Vernon," Harry said and ran from the room. He didn't want to push his luck by asking to use the phone, so he began to write a letter.
Hermione,
I've gotten the ok for tomorrow. Would it be possible for your parents to drive us? I know the Dursleys will never consent to taking me anywhere fun. Just let me know the time and I'll be waiting anxiously.
Love,
Harry
(A/N: I have no idea where Hermione lives or if it's anywhere near Harry, but for the sake of the story, let's pretend it's in a comfortable driving distance.)
"Hedwig, I hate to ask you to do this, but please take this to Hermione as quickly as you can and wait for her reply."
Hedwig held out her leg and flew out the window quickly. Harry sighed. Tomorrow was his birthday and his first date with Hermione. Right then he felt as though he could conjure the best Patronus EVER.
He lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering what he did to get this lucky. At some point he fell asleep and Hedwig's rustling feathers woke him (that or the fact that she landed on his chest).
Hermione's reply said that her mother would be happy to drive them and that they would pick him up around 6.
It was at that moment that Harry Potter knew he would defeat Voldemort. He had something the dark lord never would … Love.
The next day crawled by. The Dursleys were especially mean knowing that Harry was getting something he actually wanted. But Harry barely noticed. He was going on a date with Hermione Granger.
He picked out the best clothes he could scrounge up, considering he didn't have a big selection. It was lucky that Sirius had given him some for his last birthday.
Once six o'clock finally arrived, Harry heard a car honking outside.
"Bye!" he called, knowing that no one would care.
He hopped into the backseat of the Grangers' car and nervously said hello to Hermione and her mother.
"Harry, it's so nice to see you somewhere besides the train station," Mrs. Granger said.
"That's true," he replied.
"So, I'm going to drop you two off at the theater. Hermione has the cell phone and she'll call when you're ready to be picked up. Is that ok?"
"That's fine. Thank you so much, Mrs. Granger."
"You're very welcome, Harry." Hermione's mother laughed to herself. Harry was so nervous. It all reminded her of her first date with Hermione's father.
Once they were dropped off and alone, Harry had no idea what to do next.
"Hermione, I'm really sorry. This is my first date and I'm a bit lost."
"This isn't your first date. There was the fourth year Yule Ball and …Cho," she added, bitterly.
"You want to consider those dates? I certainly don't. I spent most of the Yule Ball thinking about you and Cho was a disaster from the start. Trust me, this is my first date."
Hermione smiled. "Ok. Well, it's my first date as well. Let's just pick a movie and then we'll see from there."
Harry agreed and even let Hermione pick the movie. He was very glad that he had some Muggle money transferred from Wizarding currency and could pay for the night out.
Hermione protested, of course, but Harry insisted on being old-fashioned.
"Ok, but next time I'll pay. I'm a modern woman you know," she said.
Harry's heart soared with the mention of a next time. "That's fine. I'm a modern guy. I can let the woman pay sometimes. But for a first date, just let me do this."
"Alright," she agreed, quite happy that Harry didn't flinch at the thought of a second date.
Once they bought their tickets and popcorn, they found their seats and waited for the movie to begin.
It wasn't nearly as awkward as Harry had feared and he even got brave enough to put his arm around Hermione. She snuggled into him and Harry felt like he could have conquered an entire army of death eaters.
After the movie, Harry and Hermione took a walk in a nearby park.
Find me here,
And speak to me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
"Hermione, I can't thank you enough for agreeing to this tonight," Harry said.
"Harry, I would have said yes years ago. I just couldn't tell you till now."
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place
Where I find peace … again
"You're so important to me, Mione. I meant it when I said how much I need you. You're my everything. You give me peace when the rest of the world gives me disaster."
"Harry, I've always hoped to be the one to help you. I'll always be there for you."
They both looked down at the same time and noticed that they were holding hands. When did that happen?
You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the life
To my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
"And I'll always be there for you as well. Funny, how real it all seems now that I'm actually saying this to your face. It almost felt like I was just writing in a diary when I wrote you that letter. Now though, I'm really telling you that you are the only reason that I keep going. You're my strength and my hope. You're the only thing that makes me go on."
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be
Any better than this
"Do you know how long it's been since I've dreamed of you saying that?" Hermione asked.
Harry shook his head.
"Since about forever. That's why I kissed you on the platform at the end of our fourth. I've been feeling something since that hug in our second year. Of course, I didn't know what it was then, but now I do. Harry, I'm so touched by what you've told me. I can't imagine life being better than it is right now."
You calm the storms
And you give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
"I can't either. Can you believe that we're standing here, pouring our hearts out to each other? If someone would have told me on my first day at Hogwarts that I would meet the witch of my dreams, the woman who would calm me down and hold me close, I would have said they were crazy. But I know better now. I know you'll never let me down, Mione. You'll always be there to catch me."
You still my heart
And you take my breath away
Would you take me in
Take me deeper now
Hermione beamed. "You take my breath away every time I see you. You and those green eyes have been haunting me for years. I dream of those eyes. And I've dreamt of this moment, too."
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be
Any better than this
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be
Any better than this
"Hermione, I think I've thought of a way that this moment could be better."
"And what's that?" she asked.
"If you would let me kiss you."
"Like you had to ask," she said with a smile.
Harry's heart flew to his throat and he smiled as well.
Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all that I want
You're all that I need
You're everything, everything
You're all that I want
You're all that I need
You're everything, everything
You're all that I want
You're all that I need
Everything, everything
Time stood still as they leaned into each other and their lips met. It was pure perfection. It wasn't soaked with tears and it wasn't awkward. It was just full of first and only love.
As it ended, Harry knew that life was never going to be the same and he couldn't have been happier for it.
"You really are my everything," he whispered.
"And you're mine," she replied.
"Does that mean that you'll be my girlfriend?"
"I already am."
They found a bench that was out of the way of bystanders and spent a good half an hour, snogging like the teenagers they were.
Finally, reality sunk in and Hermione realized that she had better call her mother.
Mrs. Granger came and picked them up. They reluctantly got into the car and drove from their new favorite spot in the world.
At the Dursleys, Hermione walked Harry to the door.
"Tonight was amazing," she said.
"I know. The rest of the summer is going to be so hard. I don't think we'll get too many moments like this again."
"It's only a month. And we have Hedwig."
"I feel bad for her already. I may have to send away for some extra owl treats," Harry said with a smile that made Hermione melt.
"Well, you should get inside. I don't want you getting in trouble."
"I'm always in trouble. What's a little more?"
"Harry, please. I'd feel terrible if you got punished because of me."
"Ok, ok. Do you think it's ok if I'd kiss you goodbye with your mum right there?" he asked.
"Quickly. Nothing like in the park," Hermione replied with a deep blush.
"I'll leave those for the Room of Requirement," Harry said, waggling his eyebrows.
"Hey now, Potter. Don't get too cocky."
"Fair enough." He leaned down and gave Hermione a sweet kiss on the lips. "Good night, my love."
"Good night, my love. And happy birthday."
"The best," he whispered as she walked away.
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be
Any better than this