A/N: Ha! Just when you thought I had given up on this story I post a chapter. Yes I know it has been awhile since I posted on this story and I am sorry about that. I started a new story that kinda took over. Plus I had been writing on this story for over a year and really did need a break from it. Even though this is my baby, I love this story it was the one that got me into fanfiction and I will finish it. It just may take me awhile. I loved all of your reviews and am answering them as I post. I hope you all like this chapter I had a lot of fun with it. There is a bit of a different point of view here which makes thing fun. And yes because of HBP this isn't cannon but I never planned on this being a `cannon' fic. I would likely call this an Alternate Timeline fic. Because it does follow book 1-5 but after that it's all new. Ok as always I don't own HP JKR does. B/c if I did own it Harry and Hermione would have happened ;p On with the chapter!
Chapter 11
The day after
Harry woke the next morning to a brightly lit room and the feeling of Hermione's body partially on his. He could feel her breath on his chest and her bare skin on his. He loved this, not just the nakedness because that was good too, but the fact that they each had a part of the other that no one could ever take away from them. Harry gently moved some of Hermione's hair out of her face which made her eyes flutter open.
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"Oh I don't mind as long as I'm with you." And with that Hermione rolled completely on top of Harry, covering his body with hers. "What time is it?"
"Almost eleven, what do you want to do today?"
"Fulfill my promise to you."
"What promise?"
"I told you when you first got here that we would spend one day in bed. Today is that day." Hermione sat up and straddled Harry's stomach leaned down and started kissing him.
They had been kissing for a good five minutes when Harry pulled away.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"It sounded like something fell. You didn't hear it?"
"No it was probably the cat." Hermione sat up and pulled Harry up with her as they started kissing again.
Harry moved his hands up Hermione's back and cupped her shoulders in his hand. He pulled away from her lips and started kissing her neck as she ran her fingers through his hair. He was kissing her collar bone when he heard it.
"Ron did you find them? Oh."
"Did he find them? Oh. Way to go Harry!"
Harry quickly turned to see a blurry Ron, Fred and George standing in the door staring at them. He looked over at Hermione who was bright red and he could tell she was trying to find her voice, by the way her mouth kept opening and closing. Then Harry realized that they were both naked and grabbed the sheet and pulled it up around Hermione which seemed to help her find the words that had been eluding her .
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM AND SHUT THE DOOR!" Hermione was screaming at the top of her lungs which made Ron jump and slam the door shut.
Harry and Hermione sat there for a moment before Harry broke the silence.
"And to think I wanted to tell him at my birthday party." Harry let out a soft laugh as he spoke.
"This isn't funny."
"Then why are you laughing?'
"Well did you see the look on their faces it was priceless."
"Did you hear what Fred said to me? He was congratulating me." Harry and Hermione fell over laughing on the bed.
"Do you think they saw me naked?"
"Well I think they saw that you were naked but I don't think they saw anything because my arms were covering you."
"Good but you need to go and talk to them and I'll take a shower."
"Ok we'll go take a shower and then I'll go talk to them."
"I'd love to but not while they are here. So I'll go take a shower, you go and talk to them, then I'll meet you in your room." Hermione got out of bed and put on her robe while Harry put on his boxers.
Harry had opened the door just a crack when Hermione's hand came up and shut the door.
"Hey I thought you …" Harry was cut off by Hermione pushing him up against the door and kissed him.
"Now you can go." Hermione turned and walked to her bathroom.
"You live to tease me don't you?"
"You know it."
Harry laughed as he watched Hermione strip her robe and hop in the shower. He then opened the door to see three Weasleys staring at him.
**********
Ron's P.o.V.
Ron took one step out of the Granger's fireplace and looked around. He was about to take another step into the room when someone ran into him, throwing him to the floor with a thud.
"Would you get off of me?"
"Hold on don't get your knickers in a knot." Fred started to get off of Ron when George came out of the fireplace and landed on his brothers.
"Oww if you two gits don't get off of me I'm going to start throwing punches."
"Oh don't get your knickers in a knot Ronnie."
"Why George I said the same thing to our dear little brother just before you got here."
"Well get minds think alike." George said helping Fred to his feet, followed by Ron standing up and brushing off his clothes.
"Fred you go check to see if they're at the pool, George, check the third floor, while I check their rooms. And if you find them yell ok." Ron watched as Fred and George saluted him and ran off to look for Harry and Hermione.
Ron on the other hand slowly headed to the stairs and found it odd that a towel was laying on the stairs and then another one in the hallway. He headed to the bedrooms but when he got there he found something he wasn't expecting. His two best friends in bed snogging. And to Ron it look like they had been doing more then snogging because neither of them had clothes on. All he could do was watch them.
"Ron did you find them? Oh." George had come downstairs and was now standing beside Ron in the doorway.
"Did he find them? Oh. Way to go Harry!" Fred was now in the doorway with his brothers.
Ron watched as Harry and Hermione turn and stare at them, both going very red. Ron saw Harry grab the sheet and wrap it around Hermione.
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM AND SHUT THE DOOR!" Hermione was screaming which made Ron jump and grabbed the door handle and pulled it shut with a BAM.
"I can't believe Harry's shagging Hermione!" Fred was shaking his head as he spoke.
"You can't believe it? I can't believe Hermione is letting Harry shag her." George started to laugh with Fred when he finished.
"Shut up you two it's not funny." Ron was mad.
Well not really mad but upset that his best friends didn't care enough to tell him that they were dating. If they were even dating in the first place for all he knew they could be shagging for fun. Ron was about to say something when the door opened but then shut quickly. Ron, Fred and George looked at each other then back at the door because of the thud that came from it. They heard some muffled talking then a laugh and then a few minutes later the door opened to reveal Harry in only boxers.
"Ron, Fred, George how are you guys doing?"
Ron opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by George.
"We're fine. So you're shagging Hermione."
"So how long have you been shagging our dear Hermione?"
"Fred, George I can't believe you two said that. Ron can you believe them?" Harry looked over at Ron but the second he did he saw Ron lunge at him. "What the hell? Ron get off." Harry fell back to the floor with Ron on top of him and feeling Ron's fist coming in contact with his jaw.
Harry couldn't believe Ron had hit him and watched as Fred and George tried to pull Ron off but he kept hitting away their hands.
"What's going on? Ron what are you doing?" Hermione was standing in the doorway of her room in her robe with her hair freshly washed.
"Ron hit Harry."
"Ron - Get off of him now!"
Ron finally gave in and let his brothers pull him off of Harry. Hermione knelt down and helped Harry to his feet.
"Harry, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine he didn't hit me that hard."
"Put him in Harry's room I think the three of us need to have a talk. Fred, George there's pizza and food in the kitchen help yourselves while we talk."
"Thanks Hermione."
"Harry is lucky to have you." Fred and George each kissed Hermione's cheeks and raced downstairs to the kitchen.
Hermione reached up and ran her fingers over the light bruise that had formed on Harry's jaw and then kissed it. "There all better." Hermione smiled and gave Harry a wink. "Now let's find out what's wrong with Ron."
Harry and Hermione walked into Harry's room to see Ron standing by the window looking out.
"Ron what's wrong with you?" Hermione scolded.
"ME?! WHATS WRONG WITH ME?! I'M NOT THE ONE KEEPING SECRETS. I WAS THE ONE TO WALK IN AND FIND MY BEST FRIENDS SHAGGING! AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF THEY DIDN'T TELL ME, THEIR BEST FRIEND!" Ron was yelling so hard that his face was the same color as his hair.
"Ron calm down it's not the end of the world. Come here." Hermione walked over and took Ron's hand and sat him on the bed. Ron didn't even look at her when she sat down beside him. "Ron don't be mad." Hermione looked over at Harry who was putting on some clothes. "Ron look at me. Fine if you want to be mad, be mad at me not Harry. He wanted to tell you when he owled you about staying here and at the party but I stopped him."
"Hermione you can't take the blame for this. If I really wanted to tell him I would have. Ron, mate say something." Harry walked over and sat beside Hermione.
"Harry would you give Ron and I a moment." Hermione told Harry as she ushered him out the door.
Harry stood outside the room as he waited he could hear them talking and fought the urge to listen through the door. After a few minutes Hermione opened the door to let Harry back in and sat beside her on the bed.
"I'm not mad anymore…. I'm sorry." Ron looked over at his friends who were sitting beside him.
"Why did you hit me?"
"Don't want to talk about it."
"Ron, I swear one of these days your temper is going to get you into trouble." Hermione and ruffled his hair.
"Just promise me that if you two break up it won't affect our friendship."
"Promise." Harry and Hermione said at the same time and Hermione pulled Ron into a hug.
"Well I need to go get dressed you boys play nice." Hermione stood turned to Harry and gave him a kiss while placing her hand on his thigh. She stood turned and walked to the door without a word.
"Tease!" Harry shouted after her.
"I'll meet you two downstairs with the twins." Hermione didn't even turn around when she spoke and went into her room.
"So… you and Hermione, do you love her?"
"Yeah I do." Harry smiled he couldn't help and he knew it was a foolish smile but he didn't care.
"Come on lover boy." Ron pulled Harry to his feet and they walked down to the kitchen.
Fred and George were sitting at the counter shoveling food into their mouths.
"What-cha eaten?" Ron walked over and took the stool beside Fred.
"Coco Puffs." George said pointing to the box in front of him. "There great."
"No that's Frosted Flakes." Harry watched as all three of them looked over at him, he forgot some times that they were wizards and had never really watched TV. "Never mind." Harry handed Ron a bowl and watched him fix himself cereal.
Harry turned to see Hermione walking in the kitchen behind him. After giving Harry a quick peck Hermione hopped up on the counter and then pulled him so he was standing between her legs.
"So what are you guys doing?" Hermione grabbed the box of coco puffs and started eating them dry.
"I got vur Orgvarts vetters."
"Ron don't talk with your mouth full. And Harry and I didn't get ours."
"Vhats becouve ve got vours. Sorry." Ron pulled the two envelopes out of his robes and handed them to Hermione. "So we came to get you so we could go shopping. Mum and Ginny are waiting for us back at the house."
"Oh we better get going. Harry, lets go get our cloaks."
"We'll be back down in a few minutes - clean up while we're gone." Harry said as they walked out of the kitchen.
Within five minute Harry and Hermione were walking back into the now spotless kitchen. They all walked into the living room and Fred was about to step into the fireplace when Hermione stopped him.
"I would just like to warn you three that if you so much as breathe a word of Harry's and my relationship I will curse and hex you until you're unrecognizable. I'll even risk getting thrown out of Hogwarts to do so. We want to tell people in our own way and not by you three saying what you walked in on." Hermione gave an evil little smile and moved you Fred could step into the fireplace.
"The Burrow!" With that Fred went up in green flames followed by George and then Ron.
"I'll see you there." Hermione pulled Harry into a passionate kiss then hopped into the fireplace and was gone.
Harry quickly got in the fireplace and feeling that wonderful warmth of the green flames. He stumbled out of the fireplace at the Weasley's and fell taking Hermione down with him.
"Oww Harry get off."
"Sorry." Harry couldn't help but notice how close his lips were to hers and how much he wanted to feel them against his. But he resisted stood up and then pulled Hermione to her feet. "No harm done."
"Hello Harry dear, how have you been?" Mrs. Weasley asked while pulling Harry into a hug.
"I'm doing much better since I got out of my Aunt and Uncles house thank you." Harry gave a wink to Hermione over Mrs. Weasley's shoulder.
"We'll be flooing in a few minutes."
"Ok Mrs. Weasley."
"Ginny, how has your holiday been?" Hermione asked as she and Ginny walked into the living room leaving the boys where they were.
"Where are Fred and George?" Harry asked as he turned his attention back to Ron.
"They had to get back to the shop. Something about…"
"WHAT?!" Ginny screeched from the couch.
Harry and Ron looked at each other and then back at the red blur that was heading for them.
"I'm so happy for you two!!" Ginny was bouncing up and down in front of Harry and Ron like a child that had just opened the present she had always wanted. "I'm just so happy for you two!!"
"Ginny dear what are you going on about?"
"Oh Mum Harry and Hermione are dating. Isn't that wonderful?"
Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley's face changed, it wasn't angry or happy, it was like stone.
"I think Harry and I need to take a little walk, you three stay here." Mrs. Weasley took Harry's arm and led him to the door.
Harry looked back at Hermione as he was being pulled through the door; he thought she looked absolutely petrified.
Once they had got a good distance from the house Mrs. Weasley stopped and turned to Harry.
"Is it true what Ginny said?"
"Yes." For some reason Harry was scared of Mrs. Weasley at this moment.
"Harry do you love her?"
"Yes." He could feel her eyes boring into his head.
"Harry sometimes when a boy and girl love each other they think they need to show it in a physical way."
Harry felt his face go red. He couldn't believe Mrs. Weasley was giving him a sex talk. He had to stop this.
"Mrs. Weasley…um…my uncle…he…um…gave me…this…talk…a…ah… few years ago… so I kind of know." Harry didn't dare look at her; he just kept his eyes on his feet.
"Well I'm glad that good for nothing muggle did something right. But just remember to think about what you do before you do it because the two of you are still very young. Now why don't you run back to the house and tell Hermione that you two aren't in trouble. And Harry I'm happy that you and Hermione found each other you could use love from someone like her."
"Thank you." Harry looked up at her and smiled as he turned and ran back to the house.
He had to admit that he did feel bad about lying to her about having a sex talk with Uncle Vernon. But he really didn't want to have one with her, it might kill him. As he got back to the house he could see Hermione looking out the window at him. Harry walked in the house to find Ron pacing the floor, Ginny sitting in chair and Hermione was making her way to him.
"Don't worry she's not mad. She just wanted to have a sex talk."
"Mum's a little late on that one." Ron snorted out.
"Ron what do you mean by oh…Hermione you… and Harry….Wow." Ginny was struggling to get the words out and her eyes had grown to the size of saucer when she realized what Ron meant.
She was about to say something else when she was interrupted by her mother.
"Time to go, Ron you first, then Ginny, Hermione and Harry you'll go right before me."
The trip to Diagon Alley was the same as always. Except the fact that Hermione and Ginny walked together the whole time whispering to each other. And if that weren't bad enough every now and then they would start giggling or worse Ginny would turn and stare at Harry with her mouth open. Ron found this all very funny but it made Harry feel very self concise. Once they finally got back to the Borrow everyone was tired and hungry.
"Hermione why don't you floo home real quick and ask your parents if you and Harry can stay for dinner." Mrs. Weasley asked as all four teenagers flopped on the furniture in the living room.
"Oh they're not home so it'll be fine if we stay."
"Did they go out too?"
"They had a conference in London they've been there since yesterday."
"Your parents left the two of you in the house alone overnight?"
"Yes." Hermione realized that maybe she shouldn't have said anything because Mrs. Weasley looked worried and Harry had covered his eyes with his hands.
"Come here."
Hermione stood up and walked over to Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen. Harry, Ron, and Ginny all watched their interaction carefully as they spoke, and then were shocked when they hugged and Hermione turned and started to walk back to the living room.
"I want to take whatever it is that make her able to do that and bottle it and sell it." Harry stated as Hermione picked up her book and sat down beside him and started reading. Harry, Ron and Ginny just stared at her as she turned the page of her book.
"What?" Hermione asked looking up from her book knowing full well why they were staring at her.
"What did she say?" Harry asked while taking the book from her hands.
"She asked if I thought it was a good idea if the two of us stayed alone overnight in a house unsupervised. And I told her that you are a prefect gentleman and that I lock my bedroom door at night."
"Let me guess you failed to mention that Harry was and will be on the inside of that locked door."
Hermione didn't even answer Ron but just gave him a wicked smile.
After a little while the twins showed up for dinner. And a short time after the twin's arrival Mr. Weasley came home kissed his wife and said hello to the chaos that was his living room. Fred and Ron were playing chess, Harry and George were playing exploding snap and Hermione and Ginny were sitting on the sofa whispering and giggling again.
"Dinner's ready!" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen.
At once everyone stopped what they were doing and headed for the table. Mr. & Mrs. Weasley took their seats at the ends of the table while Fred, George, and Ginny sat on one side and Hermione, Harry and Ron sat on the other side.
"So how was shopping?" Mr. Weasley asked as he past the potatoes around the table.
"Oh it was fine dear same as always. But I did find out that our Harry and Hermione are dating."
Harry choked on the pumpkin juice he was drinking and everyone else at the table just stopped what they were doing and looked at Mr. Weasley. The expression that Mr. Weasley face made was so much like the one that Mrs. Weasley made earlier it was scary. Harry felt Hermione's hand grab his thigh, he new she was worried.
"Don't worry Arthur I've already talked to them and everything's ok."
Mr. Weasley gave a weak smile and then went back to his dinner. Harry and Hermione look at each other and then went back to their meals. The rest of the meal they talked of Voldemort and his movements.
"Tell them about what happen at the fun park." Hermione whispered in Harry's ear.
"No."
"Fine I'll do it." Hermione didn't even look back at Harry before she spoke again. "Harry had a vision of Voldemort the other day. He hasn't told me what he saw or heard."
All the Weasleys gasped at Voldemort's name but that didn't stop them from staring at Harry. Harry felt Hermione's hand on his thigh again and when he looked at her he saw the comforting look in her eyes.
"He's trying to find me." Harry looked down at the table when he spoke. He then felt Hermione's hand leave his thigh and take his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.
"Harry what do you mean he's trying to find you? What did you hear?" Mr. Weasley sat up and leaned on the table to look at Harry.
"He had Bellatrix trying to find me but she couldn't. She said she'd go back out and try and find me again but that's when he realized I was there. So I let go of everything and cleared my mind. The next thing I knew I was laying on the ground back in the fun park."
"I'll tell Dumbledore at the next Order meeting about what you heard. To tell you the truth Harry we thought he's been trying to find you outside of school. He thinks it will be easier to kill you outside the gates of Hogwarts. Snape will be checking in with us soon so I'll let you know if he's still trying to find you."
"Am I putting Hermione and her parents in danger by staying with them, because if I am I'll go and stay at headquarters?"
"Harry! I don't care if you're putting me in danger or not, I'm not going to let you run away from the people who love you." Hermione put her hands on Harry's face and forced him to look at her. "You tried that before and it didn't work to well now did it? So you're not going to do it now." Hermione placed her forehead on Harry's and softened her grip on is face. "I love you." Her voice was much softer than it had been. "And I refuse to let you go back to that dark place in your mind." Hermione lightly kissed Harry as his arms went around her waist pulling her into his lap protectively.
"Thank you, I love you too." Harry whispered into Hermione's neck where his head now rested. Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around Harry's shoulders bring him closer to her.
"Aww how cute."
Fred and Ron cracked up laughing at George's comment. But all three stopped laughing when Hermione reached out and slapped Ron in the back of the head.
"OY what was that for George was the one who said it."
"Yes, but I can't reach him from here, now can I?"
A roar of laughter erupted around the table as Hermione moved back to her seat.
It wasn't long after that that Hermione and Harry flooed back to the Granger house.
"Hermione we should talk." Harry stopped Hermione before she reached the stairs.
"What about?"
"About us, I mean if you want to end what we have I'll understand."
"And why would I want this to end?" Hermione's hands went to her hips defensively.
"Because everyone I have ever loved has died and I would understand if you don't want to die."
"Harry I don't care ab…"
"BUT DON'T YOU SEE I DO!! I DON'T THINK I COULD HANDLE LOSING YOU TOO. AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN AND DONE LOSING YOU WOULD KILL ME. THAT NIGHT IN THE MINISTERY WHEN THAT DEATH EATER SENT THAT PURPLE CURSE AT YOU I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD. YOU WENT LIFELESS AND YOU HAD THE SAME LOOK IN YOU EYES AS…. AS CEDRIC DID THE NIGHT VOLDEMORT CAME BACK. I THOUGHT…I thought I had lost you and it was be-because I-I wouldn't listen to you and then be-because of-of my stupid-dity I had gotten y-you killed." His voice was a soft whisper by the time he finished and the tears were falling freely from Harry's eyes and he could see that they were falling from Hermione's eyes too.
"Harry I would rather die loving you and you loving me then live without it." Hermione pushed Harry's glasses into his hair and started to kiss away his tears.
"I love you Hermione. I just don't want to lose you."
"You will never lose me because I will always be right here." Hermione placed her hand over his heart and picked up his and placed it over her own heart. "And you will always be in mine."
Harry lend down and captured Hermione's mouth with his while scooping her up into his arms and started walking upstairs.
Once in Hermione's room Harry placed her on her feet as her hands quickly went to remove his cloak. Her hands then went up and took off his glasses and placed them on her desk, then pulled his shirt off over his head.
They started kissing again as Hermione pulled Harry's hips against hers causing him to groan as she felt that now familiar bump. Harry pulled back and removed Hermione's cloak, then went to his knees as he started unbuttoning her shirt, kissing the skin that was revealed. He continued to do that with each button until they were all undone and then started kissing Hermione's shoulders as he pushed the shirt to the floor. He kissed up Hermione's neck while he wrapped his arms around her bare back, letting his hands reach up to her bra clasp. Harry took a deep breath as his hands released the clasp on the first try.
"Who have you been practicing that on Mr. Potter?"
Harry pulled his face away from Hermione's neck which allowed the bra to fall to the floor as her looked up at her.
"No one. Actually I thought it was supposed to be much more difficult than that to get the clasp undone." Harry's arms went back around Hermione's body crushing their bare upper bodies together.
Hermione slid her hands across Harry's waist to his belt and undid it and was moving to the button of his pants when Harry stopped her.
"Let me take off my shoes and socks off first." Harry flicked off his shoes and quickly removed his socks.
Hermione's hands went right back to working on Harry's pants as her lips kissed his chest. Once the zipper was undone the pants fell to the floor. Harry stepped out of them while scooping Hermione up and placing her on the bed.
"Harry, I still have half my clothes on."
"Not for long." Harry sat up and took off Hermione's shoes and socks. Then made his way up to Hermione's waist and while his fingers undid her pants his lips kissed the soft flesh around her navel. Hermione giggled at the feeling Harry's kisses made on her skin.
But it didn't take long before they were both naked and Hermione had her legs wrapped around Harry's waist. Harry would never understand how Hermione's nails digging into his back could feel so good. Hermione locked into Harry's eyes as he moved inside her. She could tell he was trying to burn this into his memory in case anything ever happened to her, he would have this one care free moment when nothing else seemed important. She could feel the heat starting to build inside her as he moved faster. Harry caught Hermione's lips with his as their moans were muffled in the others mouth.
"I…Love…You…Hermione."
"I…Love…You…Too." Hermione panted before Harry leaned down and captured her lips again. While one of Harry's arms rested by Hermione's chest to brace himself the other was moving along her thigh.
"Harry…Harry…OH Harry!" Hermione's hands were threaded through Harry's hair as that heat exploded inside her. The next thing she knew she heard Harry moan her name and collapse on top of her. Hermione ran her fingers through Harry's hair and watched as it stuck out everywhere. She lightly kissed the lightning bolt scar but pulled her lips away just as they touched it.
Harry lifted his head and looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"It's hot. Your scar when I kissed it, it was hot. Is it burning you?"
"No. That's weird I don't think that's ever happen before. I mean I always feel it when it burns."
"We should owl Dumbledore and tell him."
"In the morning I don't want to get up."
"I don't want to get up either but we need to tell him now." Hermione pulled herself out from under Harry and sat at her desk and began to write. "Dear Professor Dumbledore I am writing you to let you know that tonight I kissed Harry on his scar before we went to bed and it felt like it was burning. But the thing is, Harry didn't feel it burning. Other than that everything is going well. If you find out the cause of this please let us know. Thank you very much Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. How does that sound?" Hermione turned and looked at Harry who was lying on his side with his head propped up on his hand and the bed sheet barely covering him from the waist down.
"Good now send it off and get back in bed."
"Ok I'll be right back." Hermione slipped on her robe and walked over to Harry`s room, where Hedwig stayed. When she came back into her room Harry was laying on his back with his hands behind his head. Hermione shed her robe and walked over and lay on top of him under the covers.
"I'm back."
"I can see and feel that." Harry said and then kissed her forehead.
"You know they are almost gone, I bet by the time school starts you won't be able to see them." Hermione said while running her finger under Harry's eye.
"What are you talking about?"
"The bags under your eyes."
Harry just looked at her like she was crazy.
"Oh you didn't see them did you?"
"No? I had bags under my eyes?"
"Yeah not only that but they were really dark. Harry you looked like you hadn't slept in weeks. Which by my guess you hadn't, when I asked how you had been sleeping and you said it was getting easier I knew you were lying. Harry, will you tell me how long it had been?"
Harry just looked up at the canopy of the bed before he looked back down at Hermione.
"Honestly I don't know, a week maybe two. How else do you think I got all my homework done?" Harry gave a low chuckle and spoke again. "That night when you came to Privet drive was the first time I really slept, thanks to you."
"And now?"
"I sleep every night. Last night I relived the whole thing again but when I woke up you were wrapped around me and I knew everything would be ok. I was able to go back to sleep just knowing you were here. You know it's going to be hell when we go back to school and have to sleep in different beds every night." Harry let out another low laugh that sent vibrations through Hermione. "Hey if those circles were so bad how come Mrs. Weasley didn't make a fuss over me?"
"I warned her not to. I figured it was the last thing you needed on your birthday was Mrs. Weasley worrying you to death."
"Thank you." Harry pulled Hermione's body closer to him and kissed her lightly. "Would you ever think of marrying me?"
"Are you asking or testing the water?"
"Testing the water."
"Right now I couldn't even think of spending my life with anyone else. So yes."
Harry picked up Hermione's hand and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"How many children do you want or do you even want children?"
"As many as you want. I want to be able to give you everything that those horrid Dursleys didn't. I want to just make you happy. So if you want to have ten kids then we'll have ten kids. I want the second half of you life to be perfect unlike the first half."
"I just hope I live that long."
"You will because you will kill Voldemort. I won't let you leave me like that. I don't want to be a widow before I'm your wife. So you better get it through your thick skull that you'll win because I refuse to lose you."
Harry rolled Hermione on her back so he was hovering over her. He moved some of the strains of hair out of her face then lightly ran his finger over her jaw line.
"Never leave me."
"I would never think of it. Now let's go to sleep." Hermione watched Harry lay down on his back before she turned and rested her head on his chest. Soon the only sound in the room was that of their breathing.
-->