Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter One: The Boy Who Loved

The early summer winds swept melodically across the Hogwarts grounds as several owls glided through the night sky. Most of the students had turned in for the evening, anxiously awaiting the graduation ceremony that would take place in the morning. The seven years had returned to their common rooms right after dinner making last minute preparations for the event and spending one last evening with their classmates. It was a bittersweet moment. They were all moving on to bigger and better things and at the same time, they were leaving the first place many of them had ever truly called home. One student in particular was having a very hard time saying goodbye, and that was the infamous Harry Potter.

He stood along the otherwise abandoned Quidditch field grasping his Firebolt and a far off look in his eyes. 'It really *is* coming to an end' he thought to himself. After tomorrow, Hogwart's would be a thing of his past. There would be no more roaming the halls in his invisibility cloak. No more talks with Dumbledore, spats with Snape, or run ins with McGonnagel. He was graduating an accomplished Gryffindor, and Head Boy of his class. He was going to leave behind the closest thing to family he'd even known. He wasn't going to be able to sneak to Hagrid's hut for a snack. He wouldn't be able to concoct endless ways to die a horrible death to please Professor Trelawney with Ron. And he wouldn't be able to find the answers to the most perplexing wizarding questions without the help of Hermione.

"Hermione." He muttered softly to himself. He'd been thinking of her often. As his time at Hogwart's began to run out, he'd realized just how precious she was to him. Sure he'd always known that she was an incredible friend. Loyal, clever, brave, but it had taken him six years to realize just how truly special she was and always had been.

Mounting his broom and taking off through the cool night air, his thoughts continued dwelling on the captivating Miss Granger.

She and Ron had been his closest, most trusted confidants since their first days at Hogwarts, but until now he'd taken her for granted. When Hermione wanted to crack the books and prepare for finals, he'd often follow Ron's lead to the Quidditch field for a little practice. She always pushed them to do their best and cared deeply for their successful completion of O.W.L.S., the apparition test, etc. If it wasn't for Hermione, he never would have been Head Boy. It wasn't that he was stupid, but he wasn't focused. She is the one who pushed until she got the results she wanted out of him. She was the reason he'd done so well throughout the last seven years. It was all of her encouragement that helped mold him into the impressive wizard she always knew he was meant to be, and he didn't know if he'd ever be able to show her how truly grateful he was.

Why hadn't he noticed years ago? Hermione was *everything*. Intelligent, beautiful, loyal, caring, compassionate. She was by his side through every struggle and obstacle that occured throughout their schooling at Hogwarts. She didn't leave when things got dangerous and risky. On the contrary, she stepped up to every challenge with him and Ron and faced it head on. Her cool and collected demeanor mixed with her well above average I.Q. had helped to bail them all out of many predicaments, and her voice of reason helped talk sense into them both when they weren't thinking rationally hundreds of times. There were moments when she was a bit much to handle. Her stubborness and incessant need to be right were annoying at times, but looking at it in retrospect, it was these little quirks that Harry loved about her. They are just a small part of the selfless, kind, and charming young witch that was his Hermione. She was everything he could ever ask for, and she was also dating his best friend.

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Deeply saddened by the realization that his chance with Hermione had passed, he took one last lap around the Quidditch field and decided it would be best to turn in. Gently gliding to the ground, he took one last glance at the place he'd spent the last seven years playing as Gryffindor House's seeker and started his way back to the castle when a familiar voice spoke through the darkness.

"It's in your blood."

A smile slowly crept across his face as he turned to find the alluring Miss Granger standing to his left, her wand in one hand and a piece of parchment in the other.

"You know, someone else told me those exact words about seven years ago. She assured me I wouldn't fail at Quidditch. I wasn't so certain."

She grinned as she walked closer to where he was standing.

"Lumos!" She whispered as a small beam of light appeared from the tip of her wand. "Well, judging from Four Quidditch Cups, twelve consecutive wins, 2,250 total points, and three years as Captain, I'd say she was right on the money, she was."

"You sound like Harry Potter's number one fan." He laughed, very impressed that she was so attentive of his accomplishments.

"Now see here, Potter. I have to be President of the fan club. By the way, where is that autographed photo I owled you for in our second year, hmm?"

"I think you have me confused with Professor Lockhart, Granger." He winked, knowing how much she hated being teased about her obvious infatuation with one of their many Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors.

"Mr. Potter, I don't know what you are talking about." she said feigning surprise at his statement, "I am not the type to have schoolgirl crushes. I spent my years hitting the books while *some* of us were busy gawking at Ravenclaw seekers and Beauxbatons Champions."

"Excuse me, Miss Granger, but for someone who was busy 'hitting the books', you sure took time out to chase Mr. Weasley, did you not?" He replied as a twinge of jealousy and regret suddenly shot through his body.

"Oh.." She began, a bit taken a back that the tone in his voice had changed and he didn't seem as playful as he had moments ago. "Ron chased *me*, thank you very much. Bloody hell, it took the boy four years to even realize I was a member of the opposite sex, do you think I would have wasted my precious studying time trying to snag him? I'm just glad the boy finally got some sense in him. I always knew I would wind up with one of yo-"

"One of you?" Harry repeated, watching as her cheeks turned red and she turned from his gaze. "You mean, you thought we could've been together under different circumstances?

"Maybe. Why, is the idea *that* appalling, Harry?" She asked in a low, shaky voice as she turned her back towards him, "I mean, there's always been a connection between us, perhaps under different *circumstances*, it could have been more than a friendly one."

"Not apalling at all, Granger." He said softly, reaching his arm out to touch her shoulder. "I just wish I'd thought of it sooner."

"What are you saying, Harry?" She asked curiously as she turned to look at him once more, both shocked and intrigued by his reply. "You mean, you've thought about us, you know, in *that* way."

"Yes." He nodded as he let out a sigh. "Ya know Hermione, it's times like this I wish we still had the time turner."

"Oh Harry.." She whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "Would you really go back to change things if you could?"

"No," He shook his head as he himself began to fight back oncoming tears. "If anyone deserves you, Hermione, it's Ron. But if I am only going to get this one moment of honesty with you, I want to be able to replay it over and over. If this is all I am going to have, I don't ever want it to end. If I was only allowed one memory, it would be this one here with you, simply knowing if things had gone differently, at least I had a chance. Even if I let it pass me by, I'm still honored knowing that I could have had someone like you in my life. Of all the things that have happened here over the last seven years, this is the one night I want to suspend in time. What could have been for the Boy who Lived...and the Girl he loved."

"Oh geez, Harry..." She answered, biting down on her quivering lip as the tears she'd been trying so hard to hold in began to fall rapidly down her face. "You were *never* the Boy who lived to me. You were never some famous name I became friends with for glory. I saw something special in you because you are a phenomenal person, Harry Potter. To the world you're the one who conquered the Dark Lord, but to me you are my friend, my hero."

"I know Hermione." He wept, unable to control his emotions any longer. "That's what I love most about you. I wasn't some name. You liked me for being me. No more. No less."

"No, you're wrong!" She yelped. "Being who you are isn't the reason I liked you, Harry. It's....it's the reason I love you."

"Hermione..." He sobbed, reaching his hand to caress her aching face. "Where's that time turner when we need it?"

"We don't.." She insisted as she continued to cry. "Harry, if this is our *moment*, I won't need help remembering it. This is going to be the one thing I remember most. Our last night, our last stolen moment, our last kiss..."

"Hermione, we can't do that." He said nervously. As much as he wanted it to happen, there was still someone standing in their way. Someone he had called his best friend for the last seven years. Someone they both loved with all of their hearts.

"Why not?" She asked, leaning closer to him.

"For one thing, we've never had a first kiss. Secondly, I can't do that to Ron."

"But there is no Ron right now, Harry!" She exclaimed, as all of her usual rational behavior and composure seemed to melt away. "This is our moment, our suspension of time. There is only you and me. If this is all we have to hold on to, then I want to end it properly."

"Hermione.." His voice cracked as she leaned in closer and sweat began to form in his palms and his heart started to race.

"Please, Harry." She pleaded, moving her face mere inches from his, "This is our moment, you and me. I need to know what could have been. I need this memory, and for just a few seconds, I need you..."

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, he grabbed her waist tightly and pulled her towards him. A slight gasp of shock escaped her lips before they met with his in a dance that was seven years in the making. All that was still left to be said was executed eloquently in one simple, yet poignant moment between two star-crossed lovers who'd taken the wrong path. It was their moment, their one small piece of history. It was beautiful, it was perfect, and unfortunately, it was witnessed by the one person it would hurt the most.