I Wanna Know What Love Is

I Wanna Know What Love Is

By: H_HrFan

I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I’m older

Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
I through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

I’m gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I’ve got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
I can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me

Let’s talk about love
I wanna know what love is, the love that you feel inside
I want you to show me, and I’m feeling so much love
I wanna feel what love is, no, you just cannot hide
I know you can show me, yeah

I wanna know what love is, let’s talk about love
I want you to show me, I wanna feel it too
I wanna feel what love is, I want to feel it too
And I know and I know, I know you can show me
Show me love is real, yeah
I wanna know what love is...

~~~~Foreigner~~~~

I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I’m older

~Harry~

He could remember it all clearly. It happened the very first time he saw her. At first he assumed that little jolt in his stomach was due to the fact that a girl (a pretty girl at that) had finally talked to him. Throughout his early years he was always alone. Girls and boys alike were always too scared to approach him. Occasionally, when it would appear as though someone wanted to talk to him they would get a look like they’d just had a terrifying thought, and they’d hurry away. Thanks to the threat of Dudley and his gang everyone was too scared to give young Harry Potter the time of day.

Until her…

There he was sitting on the train with Ron, the boy who would become his best friend, laughing and eating piles of candy he hadn’t ever heard of …when she walked in. “Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one.” Those were her first words. All he could do was stare at her. He knew she wasn’t talking just to him at that moment, but when she actually moved toward him he knew he was lost. Eleven years old with a major crush on practically the first girl he’d seen! She didn’t seem to mind his tattered clothes (which were at least four sizes too big), or his broken glasses, or his messy hair…. Nope, she didn’t seem to mind anything about him. Not only that…she wasn’t worried about Dudley! That was one of things he immediately loved about Hermione; she was fearless, he could see it in her eyes. As their years as friends passed, he knew that she would have never been scared of Dudley. He knew, instinctively, that she was meant to be a part of his life and that no one could have kept her away from him.

He remembered wondering briefly what Dudley would do if he knew that already five kids had spoken to him and not one of them had seemed the least bit scared. In fact, everyone he’d met appeared to be in awe of him. Now, looking back he thought it rather amusing; then, it was quite terrifying. Everyone knew more about him than he knew about himself and that was a frightening thing for a boy who, up until that point, had grown up feeling nearly non-existent. Harry had to laugh now. Dudley had friends because they were too scared of him to not be his friend. If they were in Dudley’s inner circle, they were guaranteed protection. Given enough thought, he could almost feel sorry for him. Dudley would never know the true meaning of friendship and the pure joy that can come from it.

Hermione sat down across from him that day on the train and cast a spell to repair his glasses. All the while completely unaware that while her intentions were innocent, she had unknowingly cast a spell on his heart.

There were so many times over the last few years that Harry felt certain he wasn’t worthy of Hermione or her friendship, much less her love. When she had his new broom confiscated during third year, he was so angry he thought he’d never forgive her. It couldn’t last though. After a short time, he practically begged her to forgive him…he could never stay angry for long. In fourth year when he was forced to take place in the Tri-Wizard Tournament Hermione stood by him and focused all of her time and energy into helping him stay alive. Winning was not something he expected to happen…although ‘winning’ is hardly the term one could use for reaching the cup first! It was, after all, the reason that Cedric died. She was there for him then, too. Even when he had a hard time talking to her afterward. He yelled at her way too much during their fifth year and still she wouldn’t go away. Not that he wanted her to, but she wouldn’t! Until her, no one in his life had ever stuck with him through thick and thin or good and bad…not even Ron.

He needed her. He’d come to depend on her. He couldn’t make it without her. He loved her with every fiber of his being.

How in the world was he going to tell her?

~Hermione~

Hermione liked to imagine that her life began when she boarded the train to Hogwarts. She didn’t know why she’d gone looking for Neville’s toad. Sure she wanted to help him, but she’d been reading ‘Hogwarts: A History’ and she really didn’t want to put it down just to search for a lost toad. Something stirred within her however, and she left her seat and headed directly for the car where he was sitting. Of course, she hadn’t known he’d be there. She was just going where, she supposed now, her heart had led her.

She remembered walking oh-so-casually toward the door of the car and seeing the two boys who would someday become her very best friends. She found them laughing, with a large pile of candy separating them on the seat. Both were cute, but the one with the dark hair sent shockwaves throughout her body. It wasn’t a sexual feeling, just a series of zaps…like static electricity. She asked about the toad and somehow remembered that it was a boy named Neville who’d lost it. It was just after that, that she’d noticed the red-haired boy preparing to do a magic spell. When he failed to turn his rat yellow, she knew this would be her moment to make an impression. She walked straight to the raven haired boy and cast a spell to repair his glasses. One look into his beautiful green eyes and she knew she’d never be the same again. She knew that she would do anything for him…even die if she had to. That was before she even knew he was Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived.

Throughout the years, she’d become dependent upon taking care of Harry. She needed it. When she couldn’t be there with him, she craved it. She simply had no real life away from him. Her entire world revolved around him. Even before the incident with the troll, before they’d become real friends, she couldn’t resist the urge to help him. Once she’d met him, she’d taken it upon herself to read everything she could find about him. She looked in the library for information about his parents, Voldemort, scars, and absolutely everything else she could think of. She knew that someday she’d need to be ready to help him in his ultimate battle; she was determined to leave nothing out.

She wanted so much more from him. She wanted to be with him. She wanted a life with him. She loved him more than she’d ever thought imaginable. She was incomplete without him.

How would she ever find the words to tell him?

Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
I through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder

~Harry~

Harry had never truly belonged to himself. Voldemort had a piece of him, the wizarding world had a piece of him, and Hermione had the most important piece of him…his heart. When Dumbledore told him about the prophecy he honestly believed that it meant he’d have to deal with everything on his own. In his heart though, he knew that he couldn’t do it without her and truth be told…he really didn’t want to.

She had been with him through it all. Encouraging him, teaching him, giving him everything she had to give. He knew that sometimes he’d taken her for granted. Sometimes he’d been angry with her for things she had done that were really for his own good. Never could he remember a time when she wasn’t there for him. Not even when she was angry with him. She could always put that emotion aside to give him what he needed.

His shoulders were often weighted down by the magnitude of his destiny; sometimes to the point where thought he’d just fall. He carried the fate of thousands who really wanted nothing more than the chance to live. The freedom to choose the type of life they led lay solely in their own hands but they looked to him as though he was their savior. He was the only one who could eliminate the darkness and bring back the light. The more time he spent thinking about it, the more dramatic it sounded to him so he often had to force himself to stop. He didn’t like to think of himself as a savior and it nearly killed him to think of what happened to the last Savior. That was not a fate he wanted to share. He desperately wanted the chance to live when his destiny was fulfilled…he wanted to live for her.

Since so much a part of him was wrapped up in her, he occasionally liked to imagine that she could share just a small part of his burden. Rationally, he knew that he would never really want to put her in that kind of danger, but when irrational thoughts clouded his mind, he wanted to borrow from her strength and share his responsibility. He could see her standing there beside him triumphant against the greatest dark lord to ever live.

He would make it…he had to. If he didn’t he could only selfishly hope that they would immediately meet in heaven and he’d never have to be alone again…he’d never have to be without her. Having her there was what kept him going. Knowing he would see her as soon as he entered the common room was what got him out of bed in the morning and knowing she’d be there as long as he was in the evening was what kept him up late at night.

He watched her often enough to know that she had smiles, expressions, and mannerisms that were reserved for him. He liked to think it was because she felt the same way he did. Her smile often chased away the darkness and left him shrouded in a bright, dazzling light that warmed him to his very core.

If she could do that with a smile…he was sure he’d melt with the heat of her kiss. Melting was something he was looking forward to!

~Hermione~

Hermione watched Harry closely. She sometimes felt as though she knew him better than anyone else…better even then he knew himself. She knew when he was happy, sad, contemplative, worried, scared, and especially angry. What she didn’t know was where his heart was…or if there would ever be a time that he would trust her with it.

She wanted to share his pain. She wanted to take away some, if not all, of his stress and anxiety. She wanted to take his place in the battle against Voldemort. Most of all, she wanted to take away the night terrors so he could sleep. On countless occasions she’d heard him say that he’d give anything to just sleep. She didn’t understand how he could still be standing, much less how he could function. He slept so little and worried so much that she would find herself standing close to him on the off chance that it would all catch up to him and he would simply fall over…she wanted to be the one to catch him when/if that ever happened.

All she could do was watch him and let him know, in subtle ways, that she would be there for him no matter what he needed her for. She wanted to be the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel.

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far
To change this lonely life

Harry had lost so much in his young life: his parents, his godfather, his individuality, his freedom, and most notably; his anonymity. He decided long ago that Voldemort would have to pay for all of the pain he had caused. However, even through his anger he couldn’t help but be a little thankful to him as well (although that one he’d never admit to anybody…except perhaps Hermione; when the time was right). It was like a double-edged sword. If Voldemort hadn’t marked him, his parents would still be alive. On the other hand, if Voldemort hadn’t killed his parents would he ‘have’ Hermione? Would she have even taken the time to talk to him? He was sure that he wasn’t worthy of her and that if circumstances had been different, she would have gone right past him without noticing he was there. Although he was certain that in his current life she would have been with him no matter what, he couldn’t stop himself from doubting that she would be with him in another. How much happiness is any one person entitled to? Having his parents and Hermione would be more than he’d ever be allowed…he needed to be thankful for what he had.

Afternoons and early evenings were his time. At night, when he tried to sleep, the dreams did not belong to him. At night he oftentimes found it hard to completely clear his mind and the night terrors would take over and make him nearly unwilling to fall sleep at all. But now…during the day…the dreams belonged only to him. Since he had finally learned the basics of Occlumency he was able to quickly clear his mind if he felt the slightest intrusion into his daydreams. It wasn’t often that he was interrupted, so he was generally able to take full advantage of his daydream time. It was there that he could hold her, kiss her, and love her without reservation.

For so many years he had successfully hidden his feelings for her. He even tried to convince himself that he was ready to move on. That’s when the Cho fiasco happened. Cho was very pretty but looking back he knew there was no way it could have worked. Cho was a safe choice. It was easy to convince everyone that he had a crush on her, she was beautiful after all…and he was “the youngest Seeker in a century” and “The-Boy-Who-Lived.” (Apparently fame is everything to some people). He heard the whispers…some of the girls would say that Cho could do better then him; that she could find someone better looking. It bothered him at first. Then Hermione managed to convince him that it was jealousy and that he should think nothing of it. He was a wonderful person and any girl would be lucky to be in his life; why shouldn’t he have the most beautiful girl if that’s who he wanted? Cho was a year older than him and the only thing they really had in common was Quidditch. What kind of relationship could they have when there was so little common ground and no foundation? A safe one! And in Harry’s mind that was reason enough at the time. Especially if it threw attention away from the ongoing speculation about him and Hermione. At the time, there were many, many reasons why Harry didn’t want to ‘face the music’ where Hermione was concerned…not the least of which was that the thought absolutely terrified him.

Harry knew that Ron fancied Hermione. He’d always sort of thought it was more because Hermione was one of the few girls that actually talked to him. Not because he was ugly…on the contrary, Harry had overheard often enough that girls found Ron to be quite nice to look at. No, Harry thought it was more because Ron was poor. Girls their age could be very shallow and having a boyfriend who could buy them things was reason enough for any one of them to look past Ron. Hermione didn’t care. She never cared about such foolishness and Harry knew that Ron loved her for it. Harry could vaguely remember laughing out loud when Ron told him about the kiss he’d finally shared with Hermione. Harry knew that it had to happen eventually (it had to or Harry would never have the chance to move forward with her) but it didn’t take away the shock or make the initial ache any less painful.

“Harry, me and Hermione kissed yesterday.” Said Ron quickly. Harry noticed that Ron couldn’t look at him. What he didn’t notice was that Ron’s ears had begun to turn pink; the first sign that he was embarrassed.

Though he felt like he was dying, Harry replied, “Oh…oh really. Well…erm…uh…congratulations Ron! ‘Bout time, don’t you think?”

“Blimey, Harry!” Ron practically shouted. “It was like kissing my sister and I can’t say I’ve ever been interested in kissing Ginny!” Then he began wiping his mouth as though the kiss had just happened a few moments ago. “Yuck! That will not happen again, mark my words!” Ron had finished.

Relief washed through him and he wasn’t sure how to react. “I don’t think kissing Ginny would be all that bad Ron.” Harry said with a smile.

“Trust me, Harry. Kissing Ginny would be like kissing your sister and it’s not something I recommend.” Ron returned. “Kissing a girl should never feel like that. As great as it would be to see Ginny with a nice guy like you, you don’t even want to go there!”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Harry laughed in response.

“Hermione and I decided that I should be the one to tell you. I would have told you yesterday, but I was having a bit of a hard time with it. The last thing I expected was to feel like I was kissing my sister.” Ron continued. “When I thought about telling you, all I could think was, ‘now how in the world do you start that conversation?’”

Harry just kept on laughing. Enjoying the feeling of relief that continued to wash over him. Now he knew that he was free to take the next step. He wasn’t sure that he could wait much longer.

~Hermione~

She thought she’d seen Harry watching her many times. He would look in her direction and his eyes would sort of glaze over, and he would smile that silly, crooked smile that always managed to warm her heart. She may have known him better than anyone, but for the life of her, she could never figure out what was going on behind those beautiful emerald eyes when they glazed over like that. She knew she’d never ask because it was in those moments that he seemed most content. He had so few chances to daydream and she refused to be the one to take away what appeared to be the only good dreams he had.

She knew much of the pain that he had suffered and she knew that it was far from being over. Until Voldemort was destroyed, Harry could never give himself over to her completely. It was painful. It devastated her. She couldn’t share his burden or relieve even an ounce of his pain. This was his destiny…kill or be killed. She couldn’t imagine being on this earth without him and she swore that she would follow him to the gates of heaven…or hell…if she had to. She would never let him suffer alone again.

Hermione was sure that Ron fancied her and she knew that she’d never get anywhere with Harry until he knew for sure that Ron was over her. Deep down she knew that Ron didn’t really love her and she had to find a way to make him realize it without feeling as though she’d broken his heart. That’s why she kissed him. She loved him like a brother and she was sure that if she kissed him he would realize that he felt the same way toward her. It worked! Boy did it work!

“BLOODY HELL, Hermione! What was that?” Ron asked with a look of horror on his face.

If he’d looked into her eyes, he would have seen the smile that lingered there. As it was, he was too busy wiping his mouth to notice. She looked straight at him and said, “Excuse me? What do you mean, “what was that”? THAT…Dear Ronald, was a kiss. Not a particularly good one, mind you…but a kiss just the same.”

“Ginny hasn’t been dipping into the Polyjuice Potion, has she? Kissing you feels like kissing my sister!” Ron’s voice continued to rise. “I may not have a lot of experience but I know it’s not supposed to feel like that.” Noticing her slightly raised eyebrows he hastily added, “Okay, no experience! Just stop looking at me like that.”

Then, she totally surprised him when she burst out laughing. If she’d had a mirror, she would have held it up for him. His expression was beyond anything she’d imagined when she first got the idea to kiss him. It was priceless.

“Hermione. We have to tell Harry.”

“I’ll let you do that. I’m sure he’ll get as big a laugh out of your expression as I did. That was classic Ron. Classic. I only wish Colin were here so we could immortalize that moment.” She said with laughter in her voice and tears running down her face.

It was in that moment Ron realized why he loved her so much and he told her so. “Hermione,” he said softly, “you’re a real nutter, you know that? Watching you laugh and seeing the tears from your laughter reminds me of why I love you. You are simply the best person I know and I am both grateful and thankful to have you as part of my family. Little sis!” He finished with a smile and a soft cuff to her arm.

Hermione was momentarily speechless. She’d never heard Ron be so forthcoming with his emotions or so eloquent in his speech. “I love you too…big brother!” She said with a smile.

He pulled her to him in a big bear hug and they stood embracing each other for a moment. Content in the knowledge that no matter what, they would always be friends and they would always be a part of each other.

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

~Harry~

After his talk with Ron, Harry decided he’d waited long enough…too long if he really thought about it. Come hell or high water he was going to tell Hermione he loved her.

There had never been anyone else for him. From that very first moment she’d had him and try as he might, he could not shake her; it was time for her to know that. He wasn’t sorted into Gryffindor for nothing. Bravery and courage were essential factors in being placed in Gryffindor and bravery and courage were the things he was counting on.

He wanted…no needed…to feel her in his arms. To feel her lips pressed against his. To feel her heartbeat keeping time with his own.

He longed to hear her say she loved him.

~Hermione~

That’s it! She thought to herself. I kissed Ron ages ago (okay, may only a couple of days but it FEELS LIKE AGES! Why hasn’t Harry made a move? I was sure he just needed to know that Ron didn’t love me.

Never mind. She thought a little angrily. What do you need him to come to you for? She berated herself. You’re a modern woman (well, almost) and besides, desperate times call for desperate measures! Maybe I should kiss Ron again…okay, okay…not that desperate!

Hermione decided at that moment that she was going to tell Harry how she felt. She could only hope that he wouldn’t laugh at her and that he would feel the same way. It wasn’t like her to take chances on things she didn’t already know the outcome of; this would be the first.

“I couldn’t possibly feel this strongly if I was in this by myself, could I?” She asked herself in wonder.

None of that mattered anymore. All that mattered now was that she took that chance. She would figure out how to pick up the pieces of her broken heart if he rejected her. Not knowing was slowly killing her anyway.

She wanted him to hold her. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel his heartbeat.

She longed to hear him say he loved her.

~Harry and Hermione~

They saw each other at the same moment. Both of them determined to say the words. Both of them determined to face either heartbreak or forever. Both of them ready…

“Harry…”

“Hermione…”

They started together. Both of them laughed nervously.

”I…” started Hermione.

“Please…” began Harry at the same time yet again. “Please go first.” Harry quickly cut in.

Hermione barely managed the words, “Harry, I really need to talk with you. Would you want to join me for a walk around the lake?”

“That’s a fantastic idea, Hermione. There’s something I really need to talk with you about as well.” He replied.

They turned together toward the common room exit and seeing as how they were barely able to take their eyes off each other, they somehow managed to make it out of the castle without ramming into any walls or bumping into other people.

Taking a chance, Harry grabbed for Hermione’s hand and when she went to lace her fingers with his they immediately let go and jumped back a little. It felt as though one of them had run their feet across a carpet for the sole purpose of shocking the other. They looked at each other in surprise and slowly put their hands together again. This time they were prepared for the shock as they laced their fingers and held on tight.

It was a while before either of them spoke. Both of them content just to be where they were. As long as they were together.

It was almost as if they were of one brain…

“Hermione…”

“Harry…”

Once again, they began together.

“I want…” She began again.

“I need…” He said softly as he turned toward her slightly while still walking along the path.

They both laughed; partly at the trouble they were having talking to each other and partly out of nervousness. They both needed to release some of the tension that had been building.

They hadn’t stopped walking and they were having trouble talking. But…there were words to be said and feelings to expose and they both had to do it before they chickened out yet again.

“Harry. Stop.” Hermione said softly as she slowed her pace. “Stop walking. I need you to look at me.”

Harry stopped. He turned to face her. He had been deep in thought with his eyes looking down at the ground. In the instant he looked up and their eyes locked they both knew. There was nothing they could say because there were no words that could convey the depth of feeling they saw when they looked into each other’s eyes. Harry grasped Hermione’s other hand, interlaced their fingers, and stepped closer to her. There was little room between them. He could feel the pulse of her heart against the palms of his hands. It was keeping a steady rhythm with his own. They leaned in toward each other and searched each other’s eyes one last time. Seeing no hesitation in the other, their lips met. Their hands were at their sides, their fingers laced and bursts of light, like shooting stars, were flashing behind their closed eyes. Never had anything felt so good…so right. There was an overwhelming ache in each of them, a need so raw that they couldn’t help but deepen the kiss in hopes of relieving just a little of the pressure.

They could no longer stand the space they’d left between them and they stepped toward each other and pressed their bodies together. They could each hear the other’s heart beat inside their heads. The pulsing sound growing louder as their kiss deepened once again. Harry gently released her hands and brought his own up to caress her face. What he felt brought him back to reality. He reluctantly released her lips so he could look into her eyes once again. He had felt her tears. It was when she reached up to caress his face that he realized the tears on his fingers was a mingling of his and hers. Never in his life had he had the opportunity to cry tears of joy. With his hands still cupping her face, he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.

“I love you…”

“I love you…”

Together again.

I’m gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I’ve got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me

How long they stood there was anyone’s guess. Probably the only person who could have given them a precise amount of time was Dumbledore and neither of them were thinking much about him at the moment.

The first time their tongues collided they thought they would explode. The first kiss was heavenly but this…for this there were no words. Their stomachs tightened and they began to grab for each other. Their kisses grew more intense and they felt as though they’d never be able to get enough of each other.

Harry explored every corner of her mouth, every curve of her face, and every inch of her long, graceful neck. Hermione loved the feel of his lips on her and she spent a great deal of time reciprocating, showing him just how good it felt.

He was hungry for her. His hands were at the back of her head now and he couldn’t help but pull her closer. There was hardly any room for mobility. Her arms were so tight around his back that he could literally feel her heartbeat through his shirt. Her heart was beating so fast he thought she might go into shock. He tried to ease up but that only made her hunger for him more and she somehow managed to pull him in even tighter then before.

Did she just bite me? Harry thought he was imagining it. She just bit my lip! Harry thought. Well two can play at that game.

Much to her surprise, Harry bit her back. She’d done it to test the effect. Obviously it had its desired effect and she found that she liked it just as much as he did.

She moved back to his neck. His head was back slightly and he was opening himself up to her. She kissed him for a few moments and then she giggled…right before biting him again and returning her lips to his.

He couldn’t stand it any longer. His legs had long since gone weak but somehow he’d managed to keep standing...until now. Harry put his hands around Hermione’s waist and without moving his lips from hers he pulled her backwards, away from the path, and gently kneeled on the ground bringing her with him.

Grateful for the chance to give her legs a break, Hermione willingly laid down beside him.

The evening was warm so neither of them had worn jackets. They lay there dressed in jeans and t-shirts. Hermione was lying on the ground with Harry laying on his side up against and just above her. He gently pulled her t-shirt from her jeans and rubbed his hand up and down her stomach and ribs. He felt her gasp against his lips. He couldn’t believe that he had this kind of effect on her. He briefly wondered if she knew the power she had over him. All thought was replaced by the small electrical bolts that starting shooting through his stomach, his legs, and his…toes.

Hermione wanted him to know what he was doing to her. She wanted him to know what she was feeling. While he was trying to have a brief, coherent thought about what was happening, she pulled up his t-shirt and gently began rubbing her hand along his side and up and down his back. Every spot her hand touched felt like it was on fire. There was a trail of fire now running from the middle of his ribs down to his waist, across his back, and up and down his spine. He was being tortured…she was torturing him. And he was loving every second of it!

He so desperately wanted to make love to her. In his mind, he knew that he shouldn’t but it was hard to listen when the rest of him wanted it so badly. It couldn’t possibly be wrong when they obviously loved each other so desperately. The feeling between them went beyond any boundaries set by man. There was absolutely no way to measure their love for each other.

She looked at him with a mixture of love and lust in her eyes. She wanted him. She had waited all these years for him to realize he loved her and dang it, now that she had him with her; she wanted all of him. It was the first time they’d proclaimed their love for each other and the first time they’d kissed, but already she was desperate for more.

They looked at each other for a long time; both of them wanting, longing for each other.

Harry laid his head between her shoulder and her breast. He snuggled as close as he could get to her.

“Hermione. ‘Mione,” he said softly, loving the way her name sounded now. “You know that I love you and that because I do, we can’t make love.”

“I know.” She whispered. She knew him too well.

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear right now, but I need you to understand, Hermione. You know the final battle with Voldemort is coming. According to the prophecy, one of us must die. If I am on the verge of death and I have but one coherent thought, I want it to be that I love you with my entire being and that I left you perfect. If we made love right now and something were to happen to me…” Harry’s voice cracked, “it would be so much more difficult for you to move on. I know it would be damn near impossible for me if you were taken away.”

“I know.” She whispered again with the slightest trace of pain in her voice.

“Think how wonderful it will be when the battle with Voldemort is over. I have never been able to imagine my life without you so when this battle ends I promise we’ll have a lifetime of love…together. I just can’t take from you the one thing that keeps you pure; the one thing that through all of this truly belongs to you. As much as I want to, I just can’t.” He finished in a gentle voice.

Hermione was crying again. This time her tears were a mixture of happiness, fear, and longing. He loved her. For now that would be enough. It had to be. He loved her enough to not take advantage of the moment, to put aside his own wants, needs, and desires no matter how difficult that might be. She loved him enough to let him.

“Harry, I love you. You’ve had my heart since the first moment I saw you on the train to Hogwarts when we were just eleven years old. There is nothing you can say to me now that will make me love you any less. I know that you’re right and I promise that until this war is over I will never push you…no matter how much I may want to.” She finished on a sigh. Then she smiled and said, “At least I can still do this...”

She turned her body slightly, lifted his chin toward her, and captured his lips once more. She heard the groan escape from him and she couldn’t help but smile. It was good to know that he was just as frustrated as she was and she reveled in the fact that she had that kind of effect on him. She could still enjoy kissing him but he was leaving them both something to look forward to.

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

Harry wasn’t sorry for his decision. He was giving himself a reason to come back. If he made love to Hermione right now he’d die a happy, happy man. But the battle ahead was being fought for witches, wizards, and Muggles everywhere and he had to do it with a clear head. Knowing that he could ravage her as soon as the battle was over (and for the rest of his life) would make it all worthwhile!

They could no longer hide their feelings and they were quite certain that no one would be surprised by the sudden change in their relationship. After all, people had been talking about them for years…thanks in no small part to one Rita Skeeter. Harry was happier than he’d ever been…in truth, he could think of nothing, literally nothing that could make this moment more perfect.

As they picked themselves up from the ground after a few more minutes of enjoying each other and their newfound happiness, Harry’s scar burst open and the pain was more intense then ever. He knew that somewhere out there Voldemort was angrier than he’d ever been and that knowledge made Harry smile.

Hermione had shown Harry the meaning of love and he was certain that in the end their love would conquer all!

DISCLAIMER: Since I neglected to post the disclaimer on Chapter 1, I figured I'd best put it on Chapter 2 at any rate. I own only the idea for this story, none of the characters are mine. Thanks JKR for allowing us mere Muggles a glimpse into the wizarding world of your imagination and for giving us characters with such depth that we can't help but feel compelled to share stories of our own.

A/N: This is an update to the Chapter 2 I had posted previously. I really didn't care much for what I'd previously posted so I added to it and hopefully made it better. I hope you enjoy it.

This chapter has not been reviewed by anyone other than me. If there are mistakes (which there are bound to be) please feel free to point them out.

To all of you…thanks for sharing your stories and your reviews; it's all wonderful. Take care. H_HrFan

Voldemort's Defeat

“I promise!” Hermione muttered to herself. She'd been cursing herself much too much over her impulsive use of those words three years ago. Three very, very long, very frustrating years! She remembered it clearly. It was the first time they'd declared their love for each other and her words had played over in her mind like a mantra ever since, “I know that you're right and I promise that until this war is over I will never push you…no matter how much I may want to.” Damn it! Why the hell did she have to promise?

She vacillated daily … sometimes hourly … between placing the blame on herself, her parents, Harry, Voldemort…pretty much anyone who might have crossed her path or…well … yeah … just pretty much anyone! More often then not she blamed herself but when the tension really built within her she had to find another outlet. Sometimes, no matter how irrational it was, she blamed her parents; if they hadn't set such a good example she wouldn't be compelled to be so damn good about keeping her word. Other times she blamed Harry; if he hadn't been so damn adamant about keeping her `pure' then she wouldn't have felt the need to promise. Still other times, when her frustration turned particularly venomous she blamed Voldemort; if he'd just come out of hiding so we could kill him we could get on with our lives, but No-o, he's found a new method of torture…DAMN HIM! Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn…

Then there was that stupid little voice, “Your father always said, `don't make promises you don't intend to keep, sweetheart. If you promise something, your bound to honor that promise until its been fulfilled or until the day you die'”…I KNOW!” She yelled at it for the umpteenth time. She only wished she knew whose voice that was because she knew a few good curses that would shut them up for a bloody long while. She was getting tired of waiting…scratch that…she'd been tired of waiting…for three very, very long, very frustrating years!

Harry knew how exasperating it was for Hermione that they were unable to take their relationship to the next level. He'd been feeling the same frustrations for as long as she had. Through the years there had been so many snogging sessions that ended with them retreating to their own private places to find release, that there was no longer any pleasure in pleasuring themselves.

He knew they would have to wait for as long as it took to defeat Voldemort once and for all. For their future…not to mention their sanity…they wanted to find and destroy him soon. All they could do however, was hope that it wouldn't take three more years.

Although the thought of sex was certainly a motivating factor in the overall scheme of things it really wasn't that important. Everything about their lives had been put on hold. They wanted to get married and start a family; they wanted to begin their happily-ever-after…they wanted to live. They weren't interested in beginning their lives on the run, just so they could have sex.

Although Harry had by now mastered Occlumency, he'd recently taken to leaving his mind open at night in the hopes that Voldemort would invade his dreams and hang around just long enough for Harry to figure out where he was hiding. He came, but he never lingered, each time he stayed only long enough to hiss, “She'll leave you if you don't give her what she wants, Potter. You'll die if you succumb. Either way destroying you will be easy. I can wait…just a little longer.” With that, he would be gone; leaving Harry to his own thoughts and fears of whether or not there was an ounce of truth in his words. He never told Hermione the things that Voldemort said for fear she really would leave him. If the thought of leaving him hadn't occurred to her, he was not going be the one to plant that seed. Instead, he let her believe the reason they hadn't made love was the promise she'd made all those years ago to not push him. He knew she didn't make promises lightly and that her parents' lessons were important to her, so it became easy to let her believe it.

Three years ago. He remembered thinking that, `If he made love to Hermione right now he'd die a happy, happy man'. Voldemort had been there then. The last thing Harry had been thinking about was closing off his mind to Voldemort's intrusions. Now he feared that giving himself over to her completely would weaken him somehow; that it would redirect his focus and make it easier for Voldemort to catch him off guard. Right now, Harry was hell-bent on finding and destroying him so he could move on with his life. If he moved forward with her before he defeated him he would be risking not only their lives, but the lives of thousands of others as well, because his attention would be solely on her. He knew that when their time came there would be nothing he wouldn't do for her, no place he wouldn't go for her, and that nothing would draw his attention away from her. Everything else would take second place…including the fulfillment of his destiny. She would be his everything. He needed to be able to give himself over to her completely and so far he couldn't.

Harry remembered thinking that Voldemort's anger the day he and Hermione declared their love for each other was a good thing. He knew then that Harry had found what he needed to destroy him. What Harry failed to consider was that Voldemort had a new weapon to use against him…time. Apparently he could be a very patient man…snake…thing. The bastard! Harry thought…not for the first time, and certainly not the last. He was biding his time, waiting for Harry to either become so consumed with Hermione that nothing else mattered or for Harry's life to fall apart when Hermione left him.

For her part, Hermione had decided that the best course of action was for her to follow Harry into auror training so they could condition themselves in preparation for the battle. They truly had no idea what it would take to defeat the dark wizard so they trained hard in everything. They excelled and completed their training in record time; both motivated by the idea of ridding the world of Voldemort and beginning their life together.

Upon completion of her training Hermione dedicated her time to tracking down Voldemort. She kept tabs on his known Death Eaters and was the first to arrive at any scene of devastation; always with the assumption that Voldemort was behind it. Somehow…some way, she was going to find him and together she and Harry were going to destroy him.

She'd been looking for him for over a year now and it seemed no matter what she did she was always at least one step behind him until…

“I've found him, Harry! I've found him!” Hermione was yelling excitedly. Harry was watching her head in the fire and he could see that her eyes were shining brightly.

“You what? You found him? Tell me you're not joking, Hermione.” Harry said, not quite recovered from the shock she'd given him.

“I did. I know where he is, Harry. I know where he is!” She sounded fit to burst and Harry couldn't help but laugh.

“Well, are you going to tell me where he is or am I going to have to force it out of you?” Harry asked, his excitement more controlled, yet still evident in his voice.

“Well…it kind of depends on how you plan to force it out of me. Will I enjoy it?” She teased.

Harry laughed, “Come on Hermione, out with it.”

“He's finally returned to his family's home in Little Hangleton. I guess he figured after all this time it would be a safe enough refuge for a while. Remember, we put out the word a couple of years ago that it was no longer under surveillance because we didn't think there was any way he'd go back to that place? Looks like he finally believed it.” She said sounding more than a little pleased with the sudden turn of events.

“Sounds like we need to make our move quickly then. When will you be heading home?” He asked, hoping she would say immediately.

“I'm on my way. I need to get a few things from my place and I'll meet you at your apartment in an hour. This is it, Harry. It could be all over by this time tomorrow!” She let out an excited squeal and disappeared from view.

Still laughing at Hermione's excitement, Harry briefly wondered if he should try to contact Ron when a thought came to him from seemingly nowhere, `sometimes it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.' He couldn't place where he'd heard it before and he didn't quite know why he might need Ron's `permission' but he did like the sound of it being better to ask forgiveness. Somehow he was sure facing Voldemort was something that he and Hermione needed to do…together. He knew how angry Ron would be, but he couldn't risk getting any more people involved…especially someone he cared for as much as Ron. As it was, he hated that Hermione was involved but he knew there was no way she would let him go alone so he'd acquiesced a long time ago during a discussion he had with himself. He figured then, that if he couldn't win an argument with himself there was no way he was going to win one with her!

Harry and Hermione had decided long ago that living in separate apartments was the best thing they could do for their relationship. The temptation to take things too far would have been too great if they had tried living together. Needless to say, that decision made Hermione's parents very happy! Not that they didn't like Harry, they very much approved of their daughter's relationship with such a wonderful boy. In truth, with them living apart her parents found it easier to believe that their baby girl wasn't having s-e-x…! If that topic were open for discussion, they'd be thrilled to know that she and Harry had probably dated and remained virgins longer than any couple in history. Even Ron and Luna … well, never mind!

Harry was waiting in his apartment ready to go when Hermione showed up exactly when she said she would. She ran into his arms and began bouncing up and down trying to spin him around. “I can't believe it, Harry. This is it. This is really going to be over.” She said excitedly. When she realized he was only walking in circles and not bouncing with her she stopped to look at him. “What are you thinking about Harry? What's wrong? Don't tell me you're not as excited as I am.”

Harry laughed lightly, “Although I'm not much in to bouncing up and down to show it Hermione, I am excited. It's just that we've waited so long for this that I'm a little scared too, you know? I hope this isn't a trap.”

She turned his face to hers and looked directly into his eyes. Her eyes were begging him to trust in her, “It's not Harry. Don't ask me how I know just trust me … please.”

“I do, with all my heart.” He said as he pulled her into a tight hug.

“So,” she asked, “Are you ready to go? Is there anything else you need to take care of before we leave?”

“Nope,” he said, “all set. Let's go.”

As they collected their belongings and headed for the door she told him, “We'll have to take Muggle transportation. Little Hangleton is a Muggle town and we don't want to draw attention to ourselves when we get there.”

“Okay. Let's get started then. Lead the way.” Harry replied, sweeping his hand toward the door.

The overnight train ride to Little Hangleton was uneventful. Because the town was so small, they'd had to change to a smaller commuter train to get there. Harry had spent the ride creating false images in his mind should Voldemort decide to make an unscheduled visit. He couldn't afford to drop his guard and they couldn't allow him to find out what they were up to before they were ready.

Hermione's informant told her that Voldemort had only one companion with him. He'd been in town for only a couple of days and he'd not had any visitors as of yet. They both released great sighs of relief when they heard that bit of news. It meant that no Death Eaters would be waiting for them when they arrived.

As tired as his body was from the trip, the moment they departed the train his blood began pumping rapidly through his veins and he knew he'd never be able to rest. He decided to have a walk around the town to determine where best to end this with Voldemort. He hadn't gone far when he remembered the cemetery he'd been portkeyed to during the Tri-Wizard tournament. Harry didn't know how he knew that this was the place Voldemort had brought him, but somehow he was sure of it. What irony to defeat him in the very place he'd risen the second time; the very place he'd stolen Harry's blood to create a new body for himself. Harry's smile was bittersweet as he remembered it was also the place where the spirits of his parents and the others killed by Voldemort's wand had finally been set free. He would feel protected there.

The town was small so it didn't take them long to find the cemetery. Although he hated to think about that night, he could vaguely remember Voldemort saying something about his father's grave. That's where he wanted to go.

“Hermione, help me find the grave of Tom…maybe Thomas…Riddle.”

“Tom Riddle? Isn't that Voldemort? Why would he be buried here? He's not dead, well…maybe… kind of but, well, you know. Why would he be here?” Hermione asked him questioningly.

“Not him. His father. I remember him saying something about his father when he brought me here the night of the tournament. That's where we were…where he tied me up. It's where I saw my parents…and they talked to me … helped me.” He replied, his voice beginning to fade away.

Hermione walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his back. “I'm sorry Harry.” She whispered, placing a kiss on his shoulder.

He squeezed her hands and pulled gently away from her. The emotions were too much and he didn't want to attract the attention of Voldemort just yet. As he moved away from her she heard him call, “I found it. It's here.” She joined him as he stood staring at the headstone.

As he stared at the name before him Harry's emotions began to boil to the surface. In that instant he decided he'd had enough. He didn't want to wait any longer. After Hermione told him about Voldemort's whereabouts he'd sat in his apartment devising a plan to draw him out. He'd been lucky so far that Voldemort had left him alone. He wasn't sure how much longer that luck would last so they needed to get ready. He pulled her close and proceeded to fill her in on what he had to do. Just as he thought she didn't much care for it, but it was all he had and they would have to make it work. He saw anger, confusion, and other indefinable emotions playing across her face as she struggled with what he was telling her. He watched helplessly as she turned and walked away from him. She stopped briefly to look back at him one last time before she dropped her head and continued on.

Harry walked the other way. He was determined not to turn around to look at her; he didn't want to know where she was going. It was time to put his plan into action.

He steeled himself for what was to come. It would be difficult but he could do it … he would do it … he had to do it; there was no one else. This was the moment of truth. Do or die…Harry wasn't ready to die.

The wall he had put up in his mind to block Voldemort collapsed and he concentrated hard on capturing his attention. It didn't take long. Harry felt sorrow like nothing he'd ever felt before flow throughout his body. He was broken down, beaten before the battle had even begun. Everything about him signified defeat, and he cried out for release from the pain that was his life. Voldemort smiled; aware that the time had come for him to put a stop to the seemingly endless dance he and Harry Potter had been doing for 19 years…since the day he'd tried to kill him as a baby. He could feel Harry's overwhelming sadness and his serpent-like hiss filled Harry's head, ”What did I tell you Potter? She's gone, isn't she? Tired of waiting for you, I presume. I can feel that you are weak, drowning in your emotions. I have told you before that love would make you weak. Love makes all people weak. It was love that killed your parents. And love shall kill you too. You too will be easy to destroy.”

Voldemort silently apparated to a spot approximately ten feet to the front of Harry. He thought Harry to be weak; he'd felt his pain and knew of his heartache. Thinking Harry would be vulnerable and unable to resist the pain he'd intended to inflict, Voldemort had come alone. Just as Harry hoped he would.

Voldemort's voice was more venomous then ever when he said, “Harry Potter. I knew our time would come soon. Why did you return here Potter, to this place? Come to meet me where it all began again, did you? Did you think you would be so lucky this time? Your parents cannot be here now to save you.” He held his wand firmly in his hand and pointed it at Harry, “This time only one of us will leave here alive … and it shall not be you. You have been a thorn in my side for too long.”

“EXPELLIARMUS!” Voldemort shouted.

Prepared for exactly this, Harry apparated a few feet away. Since his battle at the Ministry of Magic during his fifth year, every time Harry prepared to cast a spell he heard Bellatrix's words, “You have to mean it Potter.” From that moment he'd begun conditioning himself, preparing for every situation. As a result, the power he needed to perform the most difficult of spells had become second nature. His own wand held tightly in his hand Harry yelled, “STUPEFY!”

“PROTEGO!” Voldemort countered. “You cannot defeat me with such insignificant spells Potter. Better men have tried and have not succeeded. You'll have to do better if you wish to survive.”

“I'm tired of playing these games with you.” Harry yelled. “I want my life...” He caught himself before the word `back' could escape his lips. He'd never had his life and now he was ready to find out what it meant to live. What it was to truly feel alive.

Harry's performance to draw Voldemort to the graveyard had been superb. He had been misled by Harry's pain from a broken heart and his overwhelming desire to end things…one way or another. Based on the loneliness and pain he'd felt through Harry, he had presumed him to be alone and he had not bothered to look beyond the boy in front of him when he arrived at the graveyard. However, his attention was diverted momentarily when a girl, wand in hand, emerged from behind a headstone engraved with the name, `Tom Riddle'.

As Voldemort's attention was diverted by the appearance of Hermione Harry shouted, “EXPELLIARMUS!”

“PROTEGO!” Voldemort countered, and his wand remained firm in his hand.

Harry moved quickly out of the way as his own spell bounced back at him from the shield Voldemort had conjured.

Voldemort was enraged when he was struck with the realization that Harry, this nothing of a boy, had managed to fool him with false emotions. He was an accomplished Legilimens, among the very best in the history of the wizarding world. He had always seen through deceit and manipulation and yet he had not known that Harry was lying. In his arrogance and haste to end his life of seclusion and walk freely to reign as the Dark Lord, he had believed what he saw to be true and without further thought he set out to destroy Harry. He had known that Harry held the power to destroy him and he needed to destroy Harry before he learned what the power was and how to use it.

He watched for a moment as the girl walked toward Harry. For his deception, Harry would have to pay and both he and the girl would suffer greatly in the process; he would kill them slowly. She had almost reached Harry's side when they heard Voldemort shout, “IMPERIO!” His wand pointed straight at Hermione.

The power of the spell forced Hermione back though she was able to remain standing. She'd been through this. She'd been conditioned to fight it but the pain from Voldemort was so much stronger than that of the aurors she'd trained under. She could hear them, “It's the fighting that causes the pain. If you just surrender to it he controls you if you fight it, you'll have to bear the pain.” A part of her wanted to give in to the pain…surrender to it. Then, she heard him…just like she did every time she was able to break the curse during training. Fight it Hermione, you can do it. I love you. Don't ever stop fighting. The sound of his voice echoing in her head brought her out from under the spell. Though the pain was intense, she had refused to let Voldemort hear her cry out. She would not give him that satisfaction nor would she allow him to control her. She regained her composure and looked straight into his snake-like eyes, daring him. She showed no sign of fear. Harry couldn't remember a time when he'd ever been more proud.

Voldemort's surprise was short-lived and he hissed, “Stupid Mudblood. How dare you look at me! You think that you are strong and brave. Let us see how well you stand up to the killing curse!”

“AVADA KE - “ Voldemort began, in the most unearthly voice either of them had ever heard.

In one swift movement Harry had turned his body to place himself between her and Voldemort and shouted “PROTEGO!” Surprised by the speed of Harry's actions, it took a moment for Voldemort to realize that his own spell was rebounding straight back at him. He apparated a few feet to the right and the spell just missed him. He was standing once again in Harry's line of sight.

“We end this now, Tom.” Harry said, his voice, though steady, reflected the years of torment suffered at the hands of the one who stood before him now.

“And so we shall, Potter…and so we shall.” Voldemort replied, choosing to ignore Harry's use of his father's name. “Are you prepared to die?”

“Harry.” He heard Hermione whisper softly. When he looked at her she had intended to simply reassure him; to remind him she was there for him. What she did instead took them both by surprise. She instinctively reached her hand up to touch his cheek and touched her lips gently to his. His reaction took him more by surprise than her kiss had, rather than pull away to return his attention to Voldemort he felt a tremor of pleasure rip through his body and he intensified the kiss. In that moment there was more love flowing between them then there was water in all the oceans of the world and they were drowning in it. As their kiss deepened a radiant light began to shimmer around them. As the fire inside them burned stronger the light surrounding them became brighter and brighter. Harry could feel the power of their love rising inside him, engulfing him.

It was such a beautiful sight that even in his preferred world of darkness and hate Voldemort could not bring himself to look away. He stood, transfixed upon the sight before him.

When Harry felt he could no longer stand the pressure that was building up inside him he was forced to break the kiss. They stood looking into each other's eyes, neither of them noticing the light that still resonated around them. He barely heard her whisper, “I love you, Harry.” Overwhelmed by emotion, his voice filled with love, he whispered back, “I love you, `Mione.”

He grasped her right hand in his left and interlaced her fingers with his. He pulled her close and raised her hand placing it firmly against his chest…over his heart. She could feel his heart beating rapidly in cadence with her own.

Harry could still feel the power coursing through his body when he held his wand toward Voldemort and yelled, “AMOR VINCIT OMNIA” … love conquers all. A brilliant white light shot forth from his wand.

At that exact moment Voldemort yelled, “RESPICE FINEM” … look to the end. A powerful, black beam shot from his wand.

The white light met the black beam; light and dark fighting for control, both equal in their intensity and neither willing to surrender to the other. They melded together in a test of wills that rapidly began to tire them both. The power emanating from their wands clashed and it appeared as though the strongest man, not the strongest wizard, would survive.

Entranced by the sight before her, Hermione unknowingly stepped closer to Harry and the hand he held close to his heart moved ever so slightly. The surge of emotion that radiated through him from that small movement was just strong enough to push back Voldemort's curse and dissolve the blackness. Voldemort screamed as the light, pulsating with the combined power of their love, struck him in the place where his malevolent heart resided.

Tom Riddle's eyes opened wide the moment he felt the magnitude of what hit him. Just before the last remaining remnants of his soul were vanquished he realized for the first time what he had been missing in his lifetime of darkness, of hate and resentment; it was at the very core of Harry's being and the thing he had thought made Harry weakest … “it was love; and it was…beautiful.”

Unfortunately for some, realization comes too late and Tom Riddle was no exception. He died that day a power- hungry, spiteful, bitter ghost of a man, who for one fleeting moment felt the overwhelming power of love. He would remember that moment for eternity and although a part of him would forever long to feel it again, his soul had been lost forever to the darkness. His eternal torment would be his continued search for something that simply does not exist within the boundaries of his new world: Love … the power he once knew not.

A/N 2: If you saw this previously, I have now removed the excerpt of the next chapter because I had a wonderful new vision for it. Well … I like it anyway. I hope that you will enjoy it as well. I hope to have the final chapter posted in the next couple of days and the first chapter of my next story posted by Sunday…it is already written, I just have to check for revisions.

Thanks for all of your reviews. They really are motivating…

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A/N: At last Chapter 3 is complete. I hope that you all enjoy it and feel compelled to write a review. I'd love to hear what you think.

Once again, this chapter has not been reviewed by anyone other than myself. Please feel free to point out any errors…and definitely feel free to leave positive reviews if you like it.

I'd like to say thanks to the people who reviewed the first chapter of this story and recommended I write about Voldemort's Defeat and Harry and Hermione finally getting together. I've had a lot of fun with this. I think this chapter is my favorite.

Thanks for reading. Take care. H_HrFan

Butterflies are Beautiful

Harry and Hermione stood motionless, her hand still held firmly against his chest as they stared at the spot where Tom Riddle had been just moments before. Harry was stunned. He could have sworn he heard him say, `it is love…and it is beautiful.' That can't be right, he thought.

Harry needed to know if he'd heard it in his mind, if Riddle had said it out loud, or if he was simply imagining it. Still staring in disbelief he said softly, “Hermione? Did you hear something?” When she didn't answer he turned to her and saw she looked just as dazed as he felt, “Hermione?”

“Wha…Harry? What was that? I thought I heard…something. What was that?” She said, her voice a reflection of her shock and a look of bewilderment on her face. She still hadn't been able to pull her eyes away from the place where Tom Riddle had stood.

“You heard it then? What did it sound like to you?” Harry asked her, his mind still trying to process what he thought he heard.

She turned her head slowly and looked at him in wonderment. “I can't have heard it right, Harry. I thought…I thought I heard him say, `it is love…and it is…beautiful?' Is that…? What did you hear? That can't be right, Harry.”

“No Hermione, I heard the same thing. I just didn't believe until I heard you say it.” He replied softly. “No one else will ever believe it.”

He touched his forehead to hers and they fell into each other's arms. Neither of them could believe that it was over. It was so quick. It was so … bloodless. It wasn't a battle at all. It was simply a mission. Seek and destroy. No new casualties, no tirades, no fear … nothing. It had all come down to the power of their love. Now they were at peace.

Suddenly they heard voices all around them. Neither of them much cared whether the voices were friend or foe. Voldemort had been defeated and either way, the world would go on. If their love was powerful enough to stop the greatest dark wizard in the history of their world, then they knew that death would not be enough to part them. They would be together forever whether in this world or another. They hoped for the best but prepared for the worst…

“Harry. Miss Granger.” They heard Dumbledore say casually as if he was passing them on the street. “It is good to see that you are both alive … and well I presume?”

When they looked at him they were not at all surprised to see the knowing look on his face. He always knew. Someday I'll have to ask him about that, thought Harry.

“Yes, sir. We're alive and well.” Harry replied, speaking for the both of them. Curiosity got the best of him and he asked, “But how did you…I mean, what are you doing here? How did you know I…we were here?”

“Ah Harry. Have you not realized by now how well I know you? Would it be enough to say that I sensed that today would be the day and that you would somehow end up here face-to-face with Voldemort?”

“For now. But one day I will ask again and at that time I want a real answer.” Harry warned. He needed to know just how well Dumbledore knew him. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Hermione but he would never be comfortable if he thought Dumbledore would always be watching.

“Very good, Harry. We will talk. Are you ready to tell me what has happened here? Am I correct in assuming that Tom is dead?” Dumbledore asked.

“Yes, sir. He's dead. I would very much like it if we could go someplace else though. It's been a long day and I think we both need to lie down.”

“Of course, Harry. Do you have strength enough to apparate into Hogsmeade and take the secret passage into Hogwarts?” Dumbledore asked his voice etched with concern.

“Hermione?” Harry asked quietly. He gently lifted her face. It was the first time he'd really looked at her and he could see where the tears had dried around her eyes and on her cheeks. “Hermione, do you think you can apparate?” The moment the words left his mouth Hermione fell. He caught her before she could hit the ground.

Before he could say anything to Dumbledore he heard, “Portus”. He looked up to find Dumbledore standing before him with a rock in his hand. “Would you like for me to carry her, Harry?” He asked.

“No. No thanks. I can do it. I have her.” He replied. There was no way he was letting her go now; not even to hand her to Dumbledore.

“Hold on to her Harry be sure you both have a hand on the stone. This will take you back to Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey can have a look at her, at you both, while we await assistance from St. Mungo's. It won't be long before word gets out that Voldemort is gone and neither of you will get rest at St. Mungo's. I will be along soon.”

As Dumbledore was speaking Harry was gathering Hermione into his arms. He kissed her forehead gently, took the stone from Dumbledore and placed her hand upon it. In an instant he felt the familiar pull at his stomach and the next thing he knew he was struggling to remain standing when they landed in the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office immediately. She had gotten used to seeing Harry in the infirmary when he was a student at Hogwarts and although three years had passed, it felt like it always had. “Before Dumbledore left he told me you might be returning here, Mister Potter. What's happened to Miss Granger?” She asked.

“She's passed out. I think she's in shock. Where can I lie her down?” Harry asked, he was already tired and the effort he was expending to carry Hermione was beginning to take its toll.

“Oh, sorry. Over here.” She said as she led him to one of the empty beds. Thankfully the hospital was deserted at the moment so there would be no curious eyes watching them. “We will close off this section of the ward so the students will not know that you are here and you will not be disturbed. Mister Potter, you may choose one of the beds close by. Now that you are no longer a student I will allow you to remain close to Miss Granger.”

“Thank you.” He smiled at her gratefully.

Harry watched as Madam Pomfrey checked Hermione. “Everything appears to be normal. For now we'll let her rest. I will be back to check on her again. How are you Mister Potter? Is there anything that I can get for you?” She asked.

Harry replied, “No. I'm okay, thank you. If you're sure Hermione's all right, I think I'll just lay down for a bit. If I fall asleep please wake me if anything changes or if she … “ Harry was asleep before he could finish his sentence.

Madam Pomfrey smiled. “Okay, Mister Potter, I'll wake you.” She said softly as she quietly walked away, closing the curtain behind her.

Hermione awoke to near darkness, a soft glowing lamp the only light. She could hear someone breathing in the bed next to hers but she couldn't make out the sleeping figure. Where am I? She wondered. The curtains were drawn in a full circle so she was unable to take in the whole of her surroundings. When she was better able to see she turned once more toward the person sleeping in the room with her. The other bed was pulled up close to hers and she had only to reach out in order to pull back the sheet that covered the person's face. Not wanting to wake them she slowly, carefully pulled the sheet back. Before she could stop it a huge sigh of relief escaped her when she saw that it was Harry. Oh thank God, she thought. She wanted to wake him, to kiss him, to take comfort in him; to have him tell her it wasn't just a dream. Instead, she watched him. He appeared to be in a dreamless sleep and despite her desire to hold him there was no way she could disturb him now. She would be content to watch him forever … so long as she knew he was all right.

She rose briefly from her bed to look beyond the curtain. It took only seconds for her to realize she was back where it all began ... their Hogwarts. The realization brought a joy to her that she hadn't experienced in a long time. It felt good to be home. Her very best memories resided within these walls. This is where her life began ten years ago…with Harry.

She returned to her bed and resumed her vigil. She watched him for what felt to her like hours when sleep began to overtake her again. She laid down facing Harry and placed her hand gently over his. She didn't notice the smile of contentment that appeared on Harry's sleeping face as she closed her eyes and succumbed once again to the dreamless sleep that awaited her.

When Harry awoke the next morning he saw that Hermione had already risen. He was rising to find her when he sat abruptly back down on his bed. Voldemort's dead…dead…dead…Voldemort's dead… The words began to chase each other around in his head, swirling together, faster and faster dead…dead…dead… He grabbed his head in the hopes that it would stop the spinning.

“Harry?” Hermione called to him. She saw him sitting there holding his head, a look of shock on his face. When he didn't respond she walked over to him and touched his arm, “Harry? Harry talk to me.” She tried again.

He felt something nudging his arm but it took a few moments for him to realize that it was Hermione. He looked up at her and she could see a whirlwind of emotions in his eyes. He shook his head to clear the thoughts that were racing through it so he could focus on her. Unable even to shake them away he grabbed her hand and pulled her down next to him. He looked at her again and roughly pulled her to him. He clung to her as he began to cry. Her arms were pressed against her sides preventing her from wrapping them around him so she did nothing but let him cry. She would wait until he was ready.

“It's really over Hermione?” His voice was hoarse and he could barely talk around the lump that was lodged in his throat. “Tell me it's really over.”

His arms were still tight around her. Unable to put her arms around him she turned her face to his, kissed him gently on the cheek, and nestled her head against his neck. “It's really over Harry. It's really over.” She whispered through the lump that was now forming in her throat.

He loosened his grip and pulled away so he could look into her eyes. She took advantage of the moment and placed her arms loosely around his neck. She looked deeply into his eyes and said it a little louder, “It's really over Harry.”

With tears still threatening to fall he looked at her with the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen; the tears making his eyes glisten. The love she felt for him in that moment caused her heart to swell. The tightening in her chest was so overwhelming that she began to laugh and cry at the same time thus relieving some of the tension. She looked at him and saw that he was laughing too, and the tears that had been threatening to fall had finally let go. She tightened her arms around his neck and they clung to each other; neither of them wanting to let go.

After what seemed an eternity he heard Hermione whisper, “Will you be all right now Harry? Are you ready to talk?” She felt him nod his head. “I'm here. I'll always be here.” She pulled away from him so she could watch him. Her hand rested on his but she didn't pressure him, she didn't encourage him…she just waited.

Harry took a deep breath and tried to formulate his words in his mind before he spoke. “It's just…its been nineteen years Hermione. Nineteen! I…I don't know how to live my life. I don't know what to do. What do I do?”

“You know I love you Harry. Don't you?”

“Yes.” He answered softly.

She placed her hand on his face and gently caressed his cheek, “You trust me, right? You know I'd never do anything to hurt you?”

“Yes.” He said again pressing his cheek into her hand, his eyes never leaving the floor.

“Look at me Harry. I need to know that you can hear me…and that you believe.” She pulled his chin up urging him to look into her eyes. “Please, Harry. Just look at me.”

When he raised his eyes she saw within their depths a lost, scared little boy and her heart broke for him. He doesn't deserve this, she thought. For nineteen years he'd been cursed and haunted by Voldemort and his minions and now that the dark wizard had been defeated Harry deserved peace; and so much more.

“Harry listen to me. This is what you…no, what we're going to do. We are going to get married. We are going to have a family…we'll have as many children as you want. We are going to wake up next to each other every morning thankful that we are together. We are going to make love under the stars and watch the sun rise wrapped tightly in each other's arms. Some day we'll watch our great-great grandchildren play in the sand or catch the Hogwart's Express.” The lump had returned to her throat and she had to take a deep breath before continuing. “Harry, what I'm really trying to say is…we are going to LIVE. Just live…as long as we're together we won't need any more than that. We know our love is strong. We don't have to look beyond the events of yesterday to know the depths. Trust in us Harry. Believe.” She looked at him with a mixture of hope and sadness.

“I do…I will.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he continued, “I'll try Hermione. I do love you and I want all those things just like you do but I'm not going to lie to myself or to you…it won't be easy to just forget what I've been through. I want to, but its been a part of me for so long that it's going to take time. Right now I feel like I'll always be looking over my shoulder; if not for Voldemort then for the next lunatic who decides to take his place. Your love is what keeps me together. It makes me strong. If there is anything in this world that will get me through this it's knowing how much you love me…and how much I love you. You are my everything.”

Hermione smiled, “Thank you, Harry.”

“For what Hermione? I'm the one who should be thanking you.” Harry said, her words having taken him by surprise.

Hermione laughed and shook her head, “I thank you for a lot of things Harry. I thank you for being my friend…my best friend. For putting up with me all these years…I know I can be difficult. For being who you are…there is not a more beautiful person in this world Harry. You're the ultimate package. Your beauty comes from the inside and radiates outward. I've never met anyone with such a capacity for love, and knowing where you've come from and what you've been through, that says a lot for who you are. But most of all Harry I thank you for loving me.”

Harry moved his hand to her pull her to him and he kissed her. He leaned in and pulled her tighter. She wrapped her arms around him in an effort to get closer so she could deepen the kiss. His tongue touched her lips and she allowed him entrance, the moment his tongue met hers tiny sparks exploded within them. Their pace became frenzied as they put all their emotions into that one moment. Each wanting the other to know exactly what they were feeling. He laid her back on the bed and began to twist her hair around his fingers, never breaking the passionate kiss they shared. Hermione ran her hands along his back and moaned softly into his mouth. Harry pulled back and looked at her, his eyes heavy with desire. He could have her now. There was nothing left to keep her from him, he leaned in again…

“Harry? Miss Granger? May I come in?” Dumbledore called from the other side of the curtain.

So much for nothing keeping her from me… Harry thought bitterly. He took a deep breath and looked at Hermione before he answered, “Yes sir. You may come in.”

When Dumbledore walked in and found them both lying on Harry's bed he smiled. “So good to see that you are finally awake. I checked on you several times throughout the night and you both appeared to be sleeping peacefully. A remarkable feat considering the events of yesterday. How are you feeling today?”

A knowing smile passed between them and they both answered, “Fine. We're fine, sir.”

“Please, after all we've been through call me Albus. No need for formalities among friends.” He looked at Harry and said, “I do hope, Harry, that we can be friends?”

“Yes, Albus. We've always been friends.”

“Very good, very good. I wonder Harry if I might have a word with you in private. Do you mind Miss…Hermione? It is all right if I call you that?”

“Yes, it's all right and no I don't mind if you talk to Harry.” She answered. “Harry, I'm going to talk to Dobby to see if I can get you some food. You really do need to eat. I'll be back soon.” She leaned forward to kiss him and rose quickly from the bed and departed; leaving Harry and Albus to talk.

Harry sat up and asked, “What is it you need Albus? What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Harry,” he began, “yesterday you asked me how I always know where you are and what you are feeling. Now that Voldemort has been defeated I am prepared to answer that question. Do you feel you are ready to hear the answer?”

When Harry nodded Dumbledore began his story, “Nineteen years ago when Voldemort killed your parents you know that the spell rebounded on him and it nearly destroyed your home. There were charms placed upon the house so we knew immediately when it happened. By the time we arrived however, we were too late. We thought that we'd lost you all. I did not know at the time that you were the answer to the prophecy; it was not until we heard you cry that night that I knew you were the one. You see Harry, there are approximately 24 hours in your life which as of yet are unaccounted for. We removed you from the house the night of October 31^st but you were not delivered to your aunt and uncle until the early morning hours of November 2^nd. I kept you with me during that time. I examined your scar and determined that one day it may be a gateway for Voldemort to get to you. For your protection I placed charms upon you and forged a connection between us. This connection would allow me to monitor both your whereabouts and your feelings. So no one would be the wiser, I entrusted Hagrid to deliver you to me at the home of your relatives.”

“You mean…you mean you can feel what I feel? Is this…all the time? When I'm with Hermione, you can feel that?” Harry's anger was growing. He felt…violated.

“No, Harry. I cannot feel what you feel when you are with Miss Granger. The charms I placed on you allow me to find you anywhere but they are tuned to negative emotions such as anger and hate...and fear. Those are the emotions that Voldemort thrives on and those are the ones I feel. It is how I knew that you fought Voldemort for the Sorcerer's Stone, that you'd found the Chamber of Secrets, and that you were fighting once again at the Department of Mysteries. The only thing that prevented me from coming to you was your lack of fear. In all these years there is only one time that I felt your fear and that was at the Department of Mysteries and that is why I appeared. I do hope Harry that one day you can forgive me. I do not regret what I have done but I must apologize for not being able to tell you sooner. I feared that if I told you, you and Miss Granger would find a way to block it and I could not afford to lose sight of you.” Dumbledore looked at Harry, his eyes asking for forgiveness.

“So what happens now?” Harry asked, not quite ready to offer his forgiveness.

Not knowing whether the battle was truly over Dumbledore took a deep breath before he continued, “That is up to you, Harry. When Voldemort was defeated his Death Eaters vanished. No one knows where they have disappeared to. They could have shared their master's fate or they could have gone into hiding. It is up to you to decide if you are ready for me to remove the link or if you would like to wait until we can determine what has happened with the Death Eaters in the event they are a threat to you in the future.”

“Let me think about this. I'd like to talk to Hermione. She's always been my voice of reason.” Harry replied. Knowing Dumbledore was thinking only of his best interest he found himself edging closer to the forgiveness that Dumbledore had asked for.

“Harry, you have done a great deed for our world. Is there anything that we can now do for you?” Dumbledore asked, the twinkle in his eyes returning if only for the moment.

“Take me to the Mirror of Erised. Let me show you.” Harry said softly.

Dumbledore winked. “Let us go then, shall we?” He said, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth.

He led Harry to the mirror and watched as he stood in front of it. “Tell me what I see Albus. I know you know.”

Dumbledore once again took a deep breath before he answered, “If I'm not mistaken Harry you now see your family as faded images; blurred in the background. Your desire for them will always live within you so they will never truly disappear when you look into the mirror. However, you can clearly see yourself standing side by side with Hermione…and your children.”

Harry could not bring himself to be surprised by Dumbledore's answer, “Yes, Albus. That is exactly what I see. Are you sure your only in touch with my negative emotions? How is it that you can know so precisely what I see?”

Dumbledore smiled when he answered, “One only has to see the way you look at her to know what is in your heart, Harry. I do not need magic to see how much you love her.”

“I want to marry her.” Harry said suddenly. “Three years ago we acknowledged our love for each other. We were walking around the lake here at Hogwarts. It is in that place that I want to marry her and I would like to do it as soon as possible. Is there any way to make it happen? I don't want a lot of people there. Just her parents, the Weasleys…and you.” Harry looked at the man who had always been like a grandfather to him and with his next question he'd broken the last remaining barrier to forgiveness, “Would you marry us?”

Dumbledore's eyes shone with unshed tears as he stepped forward and pulled Harry into a hug. “I would be honored, Harry. It will be my greatest achievement.”

The wedding was small, just as Harry and Hermione had requested. They stood in the spot where they had declared their love more than three years ago and when they kissed it felt like the first time all over again. Harry looked into her eyes and knew that as long as this beautiful woman was in his life…everything would be all right. Nothing mattered beyond her; not the charms, not Ron's pouting over not being there for Voldemort's defeat, not the Death Eaters…nothing.

He could give himself over to her completely now.

~Later that night~

Harry and Hermione were finally alone. They were on their honeymoon and this time there was no one within a five mile radius to disturb them.

They had waited more than three years for this moment. They'd dreamed of it. Now they were nervous, wondering how high the others' expectations were; neither of them wanting to disappoint.

They stood facing each other. Both scared to make the first move. Hermione spent those three years frustrated with herself for making that promise to Harry and now, when the time had finally come…she didn't have the slightest idea what to do. She took a moment to appreciate the fact that Harry didn't know either; that thought making her smile.

When Harry saw her smile he took a tentative step forward and put his arms out toward her; inviting her in. She stepped into his arms and after a moment's hesitation they fell back into their old pattern…well, sort of. This time he kissed her with a passion she'd never felt before. Everything he felt for her was contained within that kiss and released directly into her soul. Her knees weakened and when she moaned against his mouth he hardened the kiss. She had to break the kiss before her legs refused to hold her. She reluctantly stepped back from him and felt an immediate sense of loss when the pressure from his lips was gone from hers.

Gathering her courage she reached out to him and began pulling his shirt over his head. He's beautiful, she thought. The look on her face gave him the courage to do the same. He removed her shirt and tossed it to the floor next to his own. Expecting to make love to her husband that night, Hermione hadn't bothered with putting on a bra. She turned a pale shade of red when she saw the way Harry was looking at her. She wasn't used to such scrutiny and it made her nervous. She moved to put her arms across her body when Harry stopped her, “Don't Hermione. Just let me look at you. You…are so…beautiful.” That pale shade of red was quickly deepening to a darker shade. She looked at his face and in her nervousness she was unable to hold back the laugh that had been threatening to escape her.

Her laughter was contagious and Harry found himself laughing as well. This was the only mystery remaining between them and at the rate they were going, it would remain a mystery for a good long while.

The laughter calmed their nerves and Hermione reached for Harry's pants, removing them and dropping them to floor with their shirts. He stood in his boxers waiting for his chance to reciprocate. There seemed to be a pattern forming as article for article they undressed each other. The last of their clothing gone, they took a moment to appreciate each other.

Harry looked at her, taking in every inch of her beauty. He hadn't touched her yet, for now he wanted to admire her. Hermione did the same. Every part of him was magnificent and she was ready to make a move toward him when his sharp intake of breath stopped her. She saw him staring at her and she followed his gaze to a spot a few inches south and to the right of her belly button. Hermione smiled and giggled softly at his expression…she'd forgotten they were there.

“Hermione, what is that? Is that a tattoo?”

“What does it look like Harry? What do you think it is?” She asked trying not to laugh at his expression.

He took a closer look and in mild confusion he said, “Well, it looks…it looks like…like … butterflies. It looks like butterflies and…and they're moving.”

“It's enchanted. When I get nervous or excited and the butterflies in my stomach start flying, the butterflies in the tattoo do too. I got them just after graduation. I wanted to surprise you. I didn't realize it would be three years before…well, you know. After all this time I sort of forgot they were there.” She looked down and saw their wings fluttering rapidly. There were two of them each about an inch in diameter, one flying a little lower then the other.

Still confused, he said, “But…I mean…why butterflies? They're beautiful, but I just…I've never heard you talk about butterflies.”

She smiled mischievously as she answered, “Harry, do you remember in second year when you and Ron had to follow the spiders?” He nodded. “Well, I still remember thinking how funny it was when you told me Ron said, `Follow the spiders? Follow the spiders? Why can't it be follow the butterflies or something.' She said in her best Ron imitation.

Harry laughed. “Okay, yeah, I remember. But that doesn't explain the tattoo, not really.”

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. He's hopeless, she thought.

“Well Harry. You see, I…I…well I…,” she was beginning to stammer and the color in her cheeks began to deepen. She hadn't noticed the sudden look of comprehension that appeared on Harry's face. He knew now what she was trying to say but he was enjoying watching her squirm too much to let her know just yet. Without looking at him she cleared her throat, took a deep breath and tried again, “Okay Harry, here goes…I had hoped that one day…that you could…well, that some day you would…. Oh Harry, don't make me say it…” She raised her hands up to her face to hide her embarrassment.

Harry felt she'd had enough so he reached up to pull her hands down. He took both of her hands into one of his own and cupped her face with the other. He lifted her head, gently forcing her to look at him. When she finally looked into his eyes she could see his love for her reflected in their deep green depths. He smiled and in a voice full of desire he said, “You want me to follow the butterflies, `Mione?”

She looked deep into his eyes, wanting him to feel her love for him as deeply as she could feel his. Then she smiled the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen, and in an impish voice she said, “I had hoped you would.”

End

Thanks again. I hope you enjoyed it.

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A/N: I never felt like I had closure on this story. Maybe I still don't, but I like to think that this definite, final chapter offers some.

For those of you reading `Fairy Tale' I just want you to know that I'm working on the next chapter. I haven't had much time, but I'm getting it. I wrote most of this chapter a while back but was never happy with it. Now I think I am.

Thanks so much for sharing your time with me and my stories. I look forward to reading your comments in the reviews.

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Happy Together

Harry stared, entranced by the butterflies as their wings began to move faster and faster as Hermione's excitement began to build. He slowly raised his head, taking in every inch of her, pausing briefly when his eyes reached her breasts…he wanted so badly to touch her. She's so beautiful! He thought. He couldn't believe that they were here…or that she was his…or that they were finally going to do this…or that…bloody hell, Harry…just shut it already! He shook his head, shocked by the bluntness with which the thought had cut into his meanderings. Thanks! He thought as he smiled and took a tentative step toward her…

Hermione watched him. She could tell that thoughts were running rampant through his mind and she was content for now to watch him. She'd waited three years for this moment and she could wait just a little longer. It gave her time to take in all that she saw before her. Her eyes slowly traveled the length of his body entranced by the beauty of the lines that so clearly defined every part of him; his muscles were tight, his body well defined. Her eyes continued their journey and rested briefly on his erection, amazed by the size of it. She'd been with him for three years and they'd never gotten so far as they had now; this was the first time she'd seen it. She had nothing to compare it to, but to her the size was impressive and for a moment she wondered if he might be too big for her. She raised her head to look at him, her worries quickly forgotten as she watched him step toward her…the wings of her butterflies were fluttering so fast she thought they might fly away, taking her with them.

Harry stepped forward slowly and reached out to gently run his fingertips up and down the length of her arms. Tiny sparks raced through every cell in her body. He looked into her eyes and ran his fingers down the length of her arms one final time before interlacing his fingers with hers. They both took a nervous breath and released a half-laugh as they prepared for what was to come.

Harry bent his head and gently kissed her. Tentative at first, the kiss deepened quickly as emotions began to surge through them. She opened her mouth to him and when their tongues met the excitement was overwhelming. It felt as though a vise has been placed around their hearts as the tightness in their chests increased. It became hard to breath and Harry reluctantly pulled away from her and rested his forehead against hers. The air around them was thick with their heavy breathing; the heady scent that permeated the air was intoxicating.

Harry released her hands and placed his hands on her back. Her fingers immediately moved upward to his hair and together they pulled each other closer. The feel of his arousal pressed against her stomach caused chills of excitement to race each other through her body and she shivered.

While their mouths continued their fervent explorations, Harry ran his hands down the length of her back to gently knead the firm roundness he found there. Hermione moaned into his mouth and the vibration sent shivers through him.

Hermione's fingertips left a trail of icy fire as they slowly moved down his neck and jaw line. She moved back from him just enough to place her fingers on his shoulders to run them down his chest. Harry felt her fingertip graze across his nipple and the sparks that shot through him took him by surprise. He pulled back from her stunned and absolutely amazed at how such a slight touch could have such an effect on him. He moaned as he captured her lips once more, more feverishly this time. She pushed her arms through his and quickly ran her hands up and down his back, bringing them to rest on his backside as she kneaded him as he had her. Harry moaned again and she smiled against his lips.

She reluctantly pulled away from the kiss to nibble on his ear. His stomach began to flutter as she kissed him; following the path down his neck and jaw that her hands had traveled only moments ago. Sparks raced through him once again as she slowly ran her tongue along his collarbone. The need to feel her lips on his was overwhelming. He placed his hands on her face and raised her head; he looked into her eyes desire meeting desire. He pulled her to him and kissed her harder, more passionately. His tongue plunged deep into her mouth and he tasted the salt of his sweat that still lingered there.

He rested his forehead against hers breathing heavily. His need for her resonated in his voice as he said, “I can't wait anymore `Mione. I need you. Are you ready?” Barely able to catch her own breath she nodded, her voice barely a whisper as she answered, “Yes. Harry. I want you too.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“'Mione?”

“Hmm?” She said softly, her mind faraway. She smiled and looked up at him as she placed her hand over his.

“Are you all right?”

“Oh. Yes. I'm wonderful. Just remembering.” The sparkle in her eyes shone brightly as she watched him kneel down beside her.

“Must have been quite a memory. What were you thinking about?” He asked.

“Us. Our wedding night.” She said, her eyes once again unfocused, as her mind wandered back to the past. Then she looked at him and smiled, “Our first time. Do you remember it?”

Harry laughed. “How could I forget? You were so incredibly beautiful. No…” he said as he looked at her, still amazed at how much a part of him she was, “you are so incredibly beautiful.”

She laughed. “You always know what to say to me, don't you Mr. Potter?”

“I try.” He said, laughing with her. “Especially when there's a chance I might get what I want.” He said, winking at her.

“And what is it that you want?” She asked, still laughing.

“The same thing I've wanted for 53 years.” He said, resting his head on her lap. “You.”

“Fifty-three years. Can you believe it's been that long?” She asked, thinking back to all those years ago when they'd first declared their love for each other beside the lake at Hogwarts.

“Unbelievable.” Harry said, shaking his head. “It seems like only yesterday you became my wife and today we celebrate fifty years.”

Harry lifted his head and they looked at each other. Together they said…“Fifty wonderful years.”

“What time is it?” She asked.

“2:00.” He answered, laying his head back down on her lap.

“They'll be here soon. We should get ready.” She said.

“I suppose. But shouldn't the party be a surprise? Why are they coming here?” Harry asked.

“Come on, Harry. We talked about this, remember? Our house is the only one big enough for all those people.” She said.

“I know, but I just don't understand why it couldn't have been somewhere else.” He said.

“Lily May thought it would be the best place. It's more comfortable here. Is there something wrong with having the party here?” She asked.

Their eldest daughter, Lily May, had decorated and made all of the preparations to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary. Their four children would be there with their families and their very dearest friends were bringing their families; of course, that meant all of the surviving Weasley's would be joining in the festivities as well. Secretly Harry and Hermione were looking forward to it; they loved it when their house was full of the sounds of laughter and most especially when it was full of the love that can come only with the company of family and close friends.

Harry lifted his head and looked into her eyes before he answered, “Well…I kind of like it better when we get together somewhere else.”

Her curiosity piqued she asked “Why?”

He lowered his eyes just a little and then looked up at her again. “It's always better to know we have the option of being late…” he said and raised his eyebrows, “if we want to be.”

Hermione laughed as she ran her fingers through his hair. “Some things never change, do they?” She said.

He was quiet for a moment seemingly lost in thought. A devilish sort of smile, the kind that made her want to drag him off to the bedroom, was slowly forming as he spoke, “Well, it's your fault, you know?” He said.

“Oh? How so?”

“If you weren't so damn sexy I probably wouldn't be thinking about it all time.” He moved away from her, narrowly escaping the hand that swung his way. They were both laughing as he returned to her. “It's true you know?”

“Yeah, I know.” She said. She laughed again at his shocked expression. He hadn't expected her to answer him quite so bluntly. “How do you think I feel about you?” She said, lowering herself to sit next to him on the floor. She grabbed his hand and pulled it to her lap as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Harry laughed again and shook his head. “So, what time are they coming again?”

“Lily May said she would be here at 3:00. The others are supposed to start arriving around 4:00.”

“3:00, huh? Isn't Lily May always late?” He asked. She raised her head to look at him and saw that same devilish grin on his face and a sparkle in his eyes. “I mean, we could do it in an hour, but it doesn't really give us much time, does it? You deserve nice, slow ministrations for putting up with me for fifty years. I don't think an hour is anywhere near long enough.”

Hermione smiled and lowered herself to the floor, pulling him down with her so they were lying side by side, facing each other. “Well…” she said, the devilish grin now reflected on her face, “how about we take what we can get for now and you can make the rest up to me tomorrow?”

“Now you're talking.” Harry said as he smiled and wrapped his arms around her. “But how about I just practice tomorrow and every day after that with promise to make the rest up to you when we celebrate our 100^th?”

“That's one promise I definitely intend to hold you to, Mr. Potter.” She said.

“That's one promise I definitely intend to keep, Mrs. Potter.” He said. If it's like this when we celebrate our 100^th, I'll have to extend that promise to 150. He thought, just before all coherent thought was replaced by overwhelming emotion as she kissed him…every time felt like the first and he sighed.

Without further reflection they set out to reaffirm their love once again…Harry content to forever follow the butterflies and Hermione content to let him.

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Harry found more than just love; he found true love. The kind of love that stops your heart. The kind they can only write about in fairy tales because no one truly believes it can exist within this reality. The kind of love that swallows you whole, consumes your entire being. The kind of love that makes you fear waking up; scared it might be a dream.

When two souls collide and merge into one there is nothing to be done to stop the tide of emotion…or to stop the forces that have melded you together from bringing you together. Sixty years ago they met. Seven years later they confessed. Three years later they married. Fifty years later they continue to astound even those who were there at the beginning.

Apart their magic is powerful; but together they share an abundance of the only source of magic that came naturally for both of them; the most potent magic on earth … love.

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Happy Together (The Turtles)

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together

If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba)

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A/N: Okay, this really is the last Chapter. It never really felt complete until now.

Take care.

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