A.N: Thanks to all of you who reviewed and enjoyed! It means so much to me. I'm sorry for all the tears also! I should have put up a warning: Kleenex box will be needed! Anyway, here's the second part. The 3rd will take longer since I'm still writing it. Remember, this fic was only meant to be one chapter but I thought it might be a bit long so I'm splitting it up. Enjoy and review please!
Forever Angel
"Harry ..." Hermione breathed, her eyes fluttering shut.
Harry ran his tongue against her stomach, his hands tangled with hers above her head. He looked up. "What?"
She opened her eyes and looked at him, his eyes dark with love and desire. She was about to tell him to stop, against her will, but then he moved his lips up higher and she suddenly couldn't talk. She untangled her fingers from his and slid them in his hair, the soft strands sliding through the cracks. He looked up and smirked at her. "Speechless?" he asked.
Hermione placed her hands on his face and brought his lips down to hers, wanting to make him just as speechless. His lips were soft and smooth, sliding over hers perfectly.
They pulled away for air, both breathless and flushed. He then moved down her chin and down her throat, his hands caressing down her body as he went.
"Harry ..." she struggled to get out, her whole body tingling from the inside out. "We should stop."
He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "You're right," he agreed, disappointed but not angry. He rolled off of her and settled down on his back, pulling her close to him. He kissed the top of her head as it came to rest under his chin, her arms wrapping around him protectively.
"It's getting harder and harder to stop," he commented. Though they slept togethet they hadn't actually slept together. That intimate action in a relationship was sacred to both of them and they didn't want to cross that line until they were actually ready. "But this is worth the wait. I love you too much to disrespect your wishes," he added.
Hermione looked up, surprised. "You what?"
Harry looked at her and smiled softly. "I love you, Hermione. I know it took me a while to say that I love you but I hope you knew that I did."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully and snuggled back into him. Though he hadn't directly said he loved her she had known from the very beginning that he did. He had shown her in small, intimate ways. And though she had known, hearing him say the words threw her off guard. "I love you too, Harry," she said, hugging him tightly.
"I shouldn't have waited so long," he continued. "I shouldn't take the time we have together for granted because it could be taken away. So, from now on, I will tell you I love you every day for as long as I live."
With this, tears welled up in Hermione's eyes and she looked up to kiss him softly. "Harry ... That was beautiful," she told him.
Harry just shrugged. "It's true. Besides, I can be romantic," he said with a smirk.
Hermione grinned. "Wow, every witch must be incredibly jealous of me. Romantic, strong, handsome ..."
"Don't forget brave, intelligent, fierce ..." Harry added with mock arrogance.
Hermione looked surprised. "Oh, Harry dear, I'm sorry! I was talking about Draco, not ... Oh, you must feel so embarrassed, thinking I was talking about you ..." She shook her head and tutted.
"Hey!" he cried and suddenly she found herself on her back, Harry on top of her and his fingers digging into her sides. "You'll pay for that!"
Hermione laughed and tried to push him away. "Okay, mercy!" she shouted between gasps of laughter. "Mercy! Mercy!"
He stopped briefly. "Say 'Harry Potter is the best.'"
Hermione snorted and rolled her eyes, causing her to be assaulted by another round of ticklish attacks. "Okay! I'll say it!"
Harry stopped and smirked, "You can't beat the manly Harry Potter," he said in a fake deep voice, waiting for her to repeat it. Instead, he found himself thrown on his back with Hermione straddling his hips. She held on to his wrists and held them above his head. She leaned down until their lips were only inches apart, her hair spilling out around them like a silky curtain. "I win," she whispered seductively and kissed him long and slow.
When she pulled away, Harry remained in the same position, utterly dazed. "Harry?"
"From now on, you can win all the time."
+ + +
"Hermione! Hermione!"
She heard her name from far away, felt hands shaking her, but she didn't really want to wake from whatever she was in. Whatever she had fallen in was too real, too perfect to be only a memory. She wanted to savor it just a little longer ...
"Hermione!"
With a start she realized it was Ron who sounded panicked and scared. It was Ron's arms shaking her farntically. She willed herself to pull away from the lost memory and opened her eyes.
"Oh God, Hermione ..." Ron breathed, his face pale and eyes wide.
Hermione blinked and found that her cheeks were wet with her own tears. She had a death grip on Harry's pillow and slowly let it go, falling back on the bed. She looked up at Ron, who was still holding her by the arms. "Ron? What happened?"
Ron hugged her tightly, something he would not have normally done in the past, and seemed to release a breath he had been holding. "You don't know? I was just standing by the closet and I asked you a question. When you didn't answer I looked back and you were on the bed, crying. You looked like you were hurting, your face was screwed up, and you were clutching the pillow like a life raft."
Confusion washed over her. "Hurting? No, I didn't feel anything ..." She looked around her and suddenly shivered, goose bumps appearing on her arms.
"Okay, that's it. You're going to see Madam Pomfrey," Ron told her, standing up.
"What? No!" Hermione cried, crossing her arms across her chest and staying put. "I'm not going to the Hospital Wing. There isn't anything wrong with me!" Though she said this loud and clear, she felt some fear prickle up her spine. What did happen to her? She wasn't on to normally faint, in fact, she had never fainted in her life. Besides, what she knew of the symptoms, she did not faint. But that memory ... She remembered that night as clearly as if it was just the night before. But it had felt so real, like she was actually there ... With Harry...
She shook her head, dismissing that before she began to cry again.
"Hermione, something happened here. You didn't see yourself! You scared me half to death! Now come on, I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing whether you want to go or not." He grabbed her arm and forced her up.
"Fine," she resented, feeling like a five-year-old. She shook off Ron's arm and marched out of the room, into the Common Room (ignoring everyone's curious looks), and out the portrait door. With a sigh, Ron rushed after her.
"Hermione!" he called, not having to go far to reach her. She didn't stop walking and looked straight ahead. "Will you stop a moment?" he asked, exasperated.
"What?" she snapped, finally stopping to face him. She had no idea was she was acting so immature and angry, and with a sudden jolt, she felt guilty.
"Why are you so angry at me?" he questioned, irritation creeping into his voice. "I just want to make sure you're okay. That scared me and I couldn't ... I can't lose you too," he said quietly, looking away.
Hermione's face softened. She wrapped her arms around Ron, guilty for acting like such a prat when she was not the only one hurting. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm being so rude. I shouldn't take out my aggression on you. I'm sorry."
Ron nodded and pulled away slightly. They smiled at each other and continued walking. "You know, we've gotten really good at ending our rows without having Harry to separate us," Ron commented, after a moment of silence.
Hermione laughed, something she hadn't done in a while, but Ron noticed how it was laced with sadness. "You're right. Hmm ... Harry would be proud," she replied, his name sending a pang to her heart.
They reached the Hospital Wing and Ron pushed open the door, revealing a large room with beds lined against the white walls. Madame Pomfrey saw them walking in and hurried over. "Anything wrong?" she asked them, looking them over.
She led them over to an empty bed as Ron explained everything and closed the curtains around them. "Has this happened before?" she asked Hermione, looking mildly concerned.
"No, I don't think so."
Madame Pomfrey nodded then turned to Ron. "Mr. Weasley please wait outside, I need to check Miss Granger over. I will send for you when I am done."
Ron nodded, gave Hermione a reassuring smile and left, the door closing with a soft click. Madame Pomfrey asked her to lie down and pulled out her wand. She moved it up and down Hermione's body and when nothing happened she put it away.
"Well, Miss Granger, you don't seem ill but I think I know what happened to you. You said that while you were out you went back to a memory of yours with Mr. Potter in it, correct? You said it felt real and when you awoke you didn't know what had happened. Am I right?"
Hermione nodded, nervous knots tightening in her stomach. She was twisting Harry's promise ring to her around her finger without realizing it.
"Sometimes, when a loved one dies they try to make contact with you. This usually happens when the one who is living needs help in some way; be it physical or emotional." The nurse peered at the young girl. She noticed how thin Hermione looked, the dark circles under her eyes, eyes that seemed dull and dead. She noticed how pale she looked, how desolate. "Hermione, why are you doing this to yourself?"
She shook her head. "I have nothing, no one to live for." Her voice was emotionless. "My parents are gone, Harry ..." she choked here. "My Harry is gone ... I have nowhere to go after I graduate. No family ..."
"You have Ron, the Weasleys, and Professor Dumbledore. You can't leave those who love you because then they would feel how you feel now. If Harry is trying to contact you in some way then it's for a reason. Don't you think he would want you to be happy?"
Hermione looked away and didn't answer. The one person who had always been there for her was now gone and she didn't want to live without him. The world seemed empty without him there beside her.
She heard Madame Pomfrey sigh and when Hermione turned to look at her, she saw Ron walking towards. Sudden guilt washed over her as his reassuring smile came nearer. She couldn't leave him; he had lost one best friend already.
"Hey," he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed and taking her hand. The Ron in the past would never have been as affectionate as this Ron was but situations and tragedy change people.
"Hey," she repeated quietly.
"So Harry is trying to get through to you, is he?" he grinned. "That would be like him. Still wanting to look after those he loves even after death."
Hermione couldn't agree more and she suddenly felt a little better. Though Harry was gone, he was still with her, in her heart. He was still looking over her, ready to be of help whenever she needed him.
Madame Pomfrey appeared again and looked down at the two friends. "I would like you to stay the night, Miss Granger, just so I may observe your sleeping habits. In the morning, if everything is all right, you may go."
Hermione nodded, too exhausted to argue, and the nurse left them two alone.
She heard Ron clear his throat and turned to him. "Hermione, you're going to be okay. We're going to be okay. Please don't think you don't have a family because my family and I would gladly let you stay with us. I love you, okay? Don't leave me."
Tears welled up in her eyes and she averted her eyes. Guilt was her main emotion now and she felt selfish for acting as if she had nothing to live for. She lifted her gaze to meet his. "I'm sorry," she said in barely a whisper.
Ron seemed confused for a moment and reached out to pull her into a hug. Ron knew she was suffering more than any of them and he felt powerless to help her. "You have nothing to be sorry for, love."
He felt Hermione nod. "Yes, I do. I'm sorry for being so selfish. I'm not the only one suffering and I shouldn't even be thinking about not living when I have all of you who love me."
Ron was a bit shocked at hearing her hidden meaning of wanting to kill herself but knew she would do no such thing now. "I think, Hermione, that if you did decide to leave us, Harry would try to kill you all over again when you got up there." he joked, knowing Harry would go ballistic at the thought of Hermione killing herself.
She pulled away from him and gave him a small smile. "You're right. I never thought I would live to see the day when you would be putting me in my place."
Ron laughed then stood up, noticing how tired she looked. "I think I better let you get some rest." He helped her lay down and tucked the covers around her. "I'll come by later with some food. You need to be ready for tomorrow."
Tomorrow. Graduation. She had almost forgotten.
He kissed her on the forehead and with one last glance, left the room, leaving Hermione to slip into a troubled sleep.
+ + +
Hermione let her eyes fall shut as Harry's hand continued to make a trail up and down her arm softly. They were on the couch in front of the fireplace; Harry sitting reading a book on wand less magic and Hermione laying there on her side, her head in his lap. The only sound in the room was the fire crackling in the hearth.
It was a peaceful moment, one that they would not be able to have again for a long time. The war with Voldemort was coming to a head and everyone was tense and alert, waiting for an attack at any moment.
Hermione's eyes opened as a firm knock interrupted their silence. Harry looked down at her, his expression surprised. The only person who ever came into their quarters was Ron but it couldn't be him because he was serving detention with Dean and Filch.
"Come in!" he called, turning his head to see Professor McGonagall standing just inside the room. Harry was so surprised to see her (especially at this time at night seeing as it was almost eleven) that he didn't say anything.
Hermione sat up to see who it was. "Professor McGonagall! Is something wrong?" she asked.
Minerva almost didn't want to disturb the two students seeing as they were so comfortable and relaxed. No one in the wizarding world had been able to take a breather since Voldemort made himself known again, especially those two.
She cleared her throat and turned to Hermione. "The Headmaster would like to see you in his office. It is urgent."
Hermione's heart seemed to sink to the bottom of her stomach and she turned to stare at Harry who took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "May I -"
"You may join her, Mr. Potter but you must come with me right away," she cut in, already making her way out the door.
Harry and Hermione stood up in a hurry and followed her out, through the Gryffindor Common Room (which was gratefully empty) and out into the dim lit corridor. Minerva walked briskly in front of them, her back straight and rigid.
Hermione was enveloped in dread with each step she took, her hand closed tightly around Harry's. They walked in silence but the way Harry was walking so close to her showed his need to comfort her even in his own confusion.
Before Hermione knew it they were standing outside of Dumbledore's office, his voice calling them in.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, welcome," he said kindly, though the ever present twinkle in his eyes was gone. He motioned for them to sit across from him and offered them a lemon drop, which they both declined.
"Miss Granger, something has happened," he began, folding his hands in front of him and leaning slightly forward. "You're parents were attacked late last night."
Hermione's eyes went wide the question she knew the answer to on the tip of he tongue. "Are they ... Are they okay?"
Albus shook his head gently. "No, Hermione, I'm afraid they didn't make it. I am so sorry. Members of the Order were too late. The Death Eaters had done their job and left."
Hermione didn't know what to think or what to do. She was in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from and she felt as if she was falling, her landing dark and uncertain.
"I ... I ..." Tears clouded her vision and she looked up at the wizard angrily. "I don't believe you!" she cried, too horrified to care.
Dumbledore stood up and came around his desk to stand in front of her. "I know how hard this is to hear. I know you don't want to believe it but we are going through a time where uncertainty could be deadly. Hermione, listen to me, your parents died with honor. They were afraid, of course, but their only concern was you. They knew what could happen to them but they did not want to pull you out of this school knowing it was like a second home to you. They knew what Harry and Ron meant to you, so they let you stay.
"I spoke with them when Voldemort's tirades began and they knew the consequences but they only feared for you safety and happiness. They --"
Before he could continue she jumped to her feet, tears pouring down her face and hands shaking beside her. She shook her head, staring from Dumbledore to Harry, who had been just as shocked. "No," she whispered, a tone so calm it was scary. With that she pushed past them and ran out of the office, leaving Harry and Dumbledore in a deafening silence.
After a moment, Harry spoke up, his voice angry and resentful. "Wasn't there anything you could do to protect them?"
Dumbledore turned his gaze to the young wizard and shook his head sadly. "The Grangers did not want to leave their home, they chose to stay there. We placed charms around the house but they were strong enough, especially in a Muggle neighborhood. And we could not have members of the Order stay there because the neighbors would get suspicious.
"Harry, we did what we could, and even now it does not seem like we did enough. We must focus on the now and the future. You must be with Hermione because in times of grief people do irrational things."
Harry nodded despite his anger. He had done such things when Sirius had died. He began to walk towards the door. "What will happen with the funeral?" he asked, not turning to face Dumbledore.
"I will discuss that with Hermione when she is ready to discuss it." He placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "She needs you now."
+ + +
"Hermione?" Her name echoed through the small common room, its emptiness sending chills down Harry's spine. He went over to her closed door and knocked, waiting for an answer. When none came, he opened it slowly, only to find the room empty.
He was beginning to worry. He had first gone outside near the lake but she had not been out there, then the library, and now her bedroom. The last place he could think of was his bedroom.
"Hermione?" he tried again, opening the door to his room. He found her curled up on his bed, her face to the wall. Her eyes were open but unseeing as tears made their slow trek down her face unnoticed.
His heart felt as if it were breaking. Knowing in how much pain she must be in, all he wanted to do was grab his wand and storm down Voldemort and his cronies right then and there. A small sob brought him back to the present and he walked over to her, tentatively sitting down next to her on the bed.
He placed a hand on her arm, expecting her to either ignore him or curl up in his arms but what she did surprised him. She shrugged his hand off and sat up abruptly. "Don't touch me." Her voice came out in a whisper, cold and dejected.
He withdrew his hand as if he had been burned. "What?" He stayed where he was, watching as she stood up and stepped away from him. She was angry, he could tell, he didn't blame her in the least. Even if she was angry with him.
She turned to him then, her eyes flashing with anger and grief. "This is all your fault," she hissed, the tears now gone.
Harry stood up, and though he hadn't been expecting her to blame him since he usually did that, he let her knowing she had to get all her emotions out. He went over to her, close enough where he could touch her but didn't.
She continued on, not waiting for him to speak. "If I had never met you, never became your friend, your girlfriend, Voldemort would not have been after my parents because he would not know who they were. He would not have had a reason to kill them." She had come closer to him as she spoke, now only feet away.
"They would be alive if I didn't know you. Why did you have to save me from that bloody troll? Why couldn't you have just left me there? Why don't you leave me alone now?"
Harry knew it was her grief talking, knew Hermione didn't mean anything she was saying but he did not shout back at her. "Because I love you," he whispered, making no move to touch her.
"Well stop!" she cried, punching his chest with both fists. Angry tears were falling down her cheeks as she continued to hit him with every force in her body. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" she screamed this over and over again, not stopping her attack on him and he let her hit him.
"I know, baby," was all he kept saying, tears springing to his eyes. Finally, her energy and strength gave way and she slumped against him, her face buried in his chest. She was sobbing, asking for help.
Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. He didn't tell her everything would be okay; he didn't whisper soothing words in her ear. He buried his face in her hair and cried with her.
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