A/N: Ok I just wanted to start about by saying there is absolutely no excuse for the long weight on
this I'm sooooooooo sorry. Well I mean I do have a few excuses, there's school and finals coming up and severe
writers block (you know all the usual ones) but I still should have updated way sooner. If anyone is still reading
this, please review and go ahead and yell about how long this has taken. I deserve it. Anyway thanks to all who
reviewed during that incredibly long wait and all who reviewed the chapter before. As always I'd also like to give
a big thanks to my beta reader Trutonks, without her help I couldn't possibly have finished this as soon as I did
and now here is the story I hope you guys like it, it's not my favorite chapter, but I've kind of lost interest
in this story as of late… tell me what you think! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Chapter ?
It's Finally Over
Harry stared at the dark image moving through the trees. It looked like thick black fog, and it was devouring
everything in its path. Harry grimaced as a rabbit hopped too close and got taken up into the darkness. He spotted a
patch of brown in the middle of the fog, but then it was gone just as quickly as it had come.
He turned to glance at Hermione, who was watching the grim scene with a stony impression on her face, and it was clear that she had seen this many times before. Harry realized that this thing, the leukemia, was sucking her world bare as it was sucking away all her hope. He thought about what could have happened if she had stopped fighting sooner, but then shook the thought from his head, deciding it was too much to deal with at the moment.
He took Hermione in his arms and away from the forest. He knew that they had to get out of there, he knew that they had
to try to get back soon or they could both die. The darkness was getting stronger and it wouldn't be long before it
was strong enough to tear open Hermione's shelter. He knew
it had tried last night and had almost gotten in. It wouldn't be long now.
They walked back to Hermione's tree and changed into some new clothing. After assuring Hermione that she wouldn't need anything else, they headed off towards the door.
Hermione followed Harry with a sort of grim satisfaction. At last she was facing her fear. She would do this because Harry was with her. She didn't understand everything, but she knew that if they were to defeat the darkness she would go somewhere better than here, somewhere away from all this chaos.
As they reached the forest, Hermione realized something and she felt a smile come to her face, she loved Harry. If what he had said was true, then they had been friends for a long time. Hermione had sensed that he was leaving something out. Something important and after walking to his room last night and feeling the way he held her to his chest she knew that their was something beyond friendship there or at least with his Hermione, the Hermione who she would become when they defeated this monster.
The thought lifted her spirits and she put a hand on Harry's shoulder
signaling for him to stop. He turned around and looked at her, surprise evident on his face.
They had talked about what was going on before they left the hut, but since Hermione didn't really remember him, he didn't expect that he would really talk to her anymore until they defeated it. if indeed they did.
He knew it would probably make her uncomfortable if he was to kiss or hug her and he didn't want that, but damn it would feel good to kiss her again. He hadn't wanted to throw the knowledge of their relationship, a relationship she didn't remember, into all of this. It would only make her more confused, and he didn't want her to feel obligated to kiss him or hug him when she didn't really mean it.
"Harry, I'm not really sure what we have or had in your world, but," Harry's eyes widened, "I love you in both worlds. I had dreams last night about you and this red haired man and I know we had something more than friendship."
He tried to say something, but she hurried on, "I'm not just doing this
because of the dreams. I know I've known you before Harry I can feel it. I know I love you and still do even though
I can't remember what you've told me."
She stepped closer to him and put a hand on his cheek looking up into his indecisive eyes. She knew he wanted her to kiss him, but he wasn't sure she meant it. She leaned forward and pressed her lips lightly to his. A second later he pulled her more against him and she gasped as he deepened the kiss pushing his tongue into her mouth. He pulled away and then came back, her kisses were just as desperate as his were and when they pulled away, they were both out of breath. He rested his forehead against hers, his beautiful emerald eyes looking into her hazel ones, both fogged by desire.
Reluctantly, they pulled away from each other as Harry let his hands fall to his sides and Hermione pulled hers away from the back of his neck where she had been running her fingers through his messy hair.
He smiled at her. Then his face turned into one of determination as he
turned towards the forest grabbing her hand in his. "I love you, too," he said, then nodded towards the
forest, "Now or never." She nodded her head in response and they both ran into the forest.
As they entered, they immediately felt cold and depressed. It was almost like dementors were surrounding them, sucking every good memory, leaving only the thoughts of failure.
Harry felt Hermione grip his hand tighter as he saw the thing again, this time just to their right side. A smoky blob arose from the top almost like a head before it pulled itself back together and floated towards them slowly.
Harry's eyes widened in fear and he pulled Hermione away from it,
encouraging her to run as they made their way to the door. The dark smoke followed them quickly and Harry could feel it
at his heels like a pack of dogs nipping at his ankles.
He struggled to go faster, knowing Hermione was probably having trouble keeping up. Suddenly as if fate had somehow read his thoughts she tripped over a rock, stumbling a little before falling to the ground dragging Harry down with her. The darkness surrounded them blocking out what little sunlight they could see through the trees. Distantly he heard a scream and snapped out of his daze looking wildly around for Hermione, but she was gone.
He cried out screaming her name and falling to his knees in the middle of the circle. Suddenly he felt a burst of hope and heard Hermione's whispering voice in his ear, "I believe in you Harry and I love you."
He felt something stirring inside him that he hadn't felt since coming to this strange world - his magic. Harry pulled his hands toward his body as if gathering all the magic to him then thrust it all out. The result was colossal. Instantly the blackness was thrust back and disappeared into thin air.
In the middle of the small clearing was Hermione lying on the ground, she wasn't moving.
"Hermione!" he called out as he ran towards her, collapsing at her side as soon as he got close.
He put his ear beside her face and was relieved when he heard her breathing. He slipped her up into his arms easily, hardly noticing her weight. He then began to walk towards the door, looking around restlessly as if expecting the darkness to come back. As he reached the door, he paused looking behind him and smiling before reaching out a hand with little difficulty and turning the handle.
As he looked through the now open door, all he could see was blackness. Harry grit his teeth and walked through, taking a chance. Instantly, he felt as if he was falling and he could no longer feel Hermione against him. He closed his eyes tightly and the falling sensation stopped. He suddenly could feel his feet set firmly beneath him.
With some hesitation, he opened his eyes and found that he was again by Hermione's bedside. She was sleeping peacefully. There was no one else in the hospital wing. He climbed in beside her, slipping his arms around her small waist and pulling her to him so that her head was against his chest. He closed his eyes and for once in the past few days actually slept.
He woke to voices.
"How much longer can they sleep?" asked a deep familiar voice.
"Shut up, Ron! The least we can do is be quiet while he's trying to sleep."
"Well it's been three days!"
Harry opened his eyes and saw the two Weasleys arguing. "Ginny's right, shut up!"
They turned to look at him. Ginny was the first to speak. "Oh, we're so glad you're awake! Hermione woke up yesterday, but we couldn't seem to wake you though."
Harry sat up quickly, "So, she's alright?!"
Ron grinned, "Yeah, you did it. There are still a few tests to run, but
that Doctor what's-his-name thinks she's cured. They won't let her out of bed yet, she's in the other
room."
Just as Harry threw off the covers and started to get up, both Ron and Ginny stood at the same time to push him back into bed.
"I have to see her!" Harry protested weakly. He knew they wouldn't let him up, the Weasley's were a stubborn lot and he didn't feel like arguing just now.
Sighing heavily he lay back down and turned to look at Ginny, "Does she remember anything that happened?"
Ginny shook her head and frowned, "If she does, she isn't telling anybody. So, what happened anyway? I read about what you were doing as soon as I found out, but the author only talked about theory, no one really has any idea what goes on after someone performs the spell."
Harry shook his head, "It was kind of weird," he said, "It was like a whole different world. This thing, the darkness wouldn't let her out…" he trailed off.
"We can hear about it later if you want," Ron said sensing his unease over the whole thing.
Harry nodded, a smile coming to his face as he remembered the night before she had collapsed. "Guess what?" he asked looking directly at Ron. "I asked her to marry me that night in the room of requirement and she said 'yes.'"
Ginny squealed instantly, throwing her arms around him. She of course knew about his plan to ask Hermione, and she was fairly certain that she would say yes, but she wanted to congratulate her friend anyway. Ron grinned widely, "It's about time mate."
************
Harry was released from the hospital wing the next day. He still hadn't seen Hermione and was getting slightly
irritated. In the past hour he had almost set Snape's hair on fire, he'd about blown up his breakfast and
he'd just about destroyed the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was not too happy about the last incident and had sent
him outside to learn to control himself. Harry frowned, but went outside eventually and came to sit on a large rock by
the lake.
He left when he spotted Draco and Ginny making out near the edge of
the Forbidden Forest, and went back to the hospital wing, hiding behind all kinds of things along the way to avoid
people.
Ever since he had woken up everyone wanted to know if all the rumors were true. And somehow it had gotten out that he and Hermione were engaged.
Harry walked into the hospital wing and immediately spotted Hermione. She was clearing up all the presents that had collected from her stay. Harry walked toward her quickly and she looked up when he was about ten feet away from her. He stopped and stared at her wondering what he should do, but then started walking towards her again and she ran to meet him half way. She threw her arms around his neck and he settled his around her waist.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear and she smiled.
"I love you, too." She replied.
They broke apart after about five or ten minutes and he pulled her outside, back to the rock he had been sitting on about a half an hour before. They sat there until the sun started to set, just watching the lake. They headed back inside to go to dinner, still not talking, just sharing meaningful glances every now and then.
They entered the great hall and everyone turned to look at them. Ron, Ginny and a few of the other Gryffindors jumped up and surrounded them, congratulating them both on their engagement and making sure Hermione was all right.
When they finally made it to the Gryffindor table, everyone had turned back to their meals and were talking of other things.
Harry and Hermione filled their plates, and to almost everyone else, it
seemed like nothing had changed. But Ron and Ginny could see on their faces just how happy they were, especially Harry,
who had never really had love before.
They carried on different conversations, but a close observer would be able to tell that they were aware of each other at all times. They had yet to let go of each others hand.
A/N: If you really want a wedding scene you can go read Tying the Knot.
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