Okay, I'm going to apologize in advance if I have some mistakes, I was in a hurry and I have to be somewhere like…NOW. But I wanted to post this up before I leave. So hopefully there's nothing too bad mistake wise. Hope you enjoy!!
As promised, Harry waited for Hermione to return to the Burrow. He resided at the kitchen table, looking over notes, researching information about the Horcruxes and how to destroy them. Ron had stayed up for awhile to help, but mostly to just talk about his time with Luna.
"After we changed clothes from the wedding, I took her to the pond we use to swim in. We sat by it and talked for a long time."
"What did you two talk about?" Harry asked never taking his eyes away from the book he was currently reading.
"You know, stuff. She told me about her childhood and about her mum. What she remembers of her anyway."
"She's lucky to have at least one memory," Harry said.
"She knows that. We talked about you and how you lost your parents. It makes her realize how lucky she was to still have her dad."
"Yeah, she is," he said smiling softly. "You really like her, huh?"
"Yeah, I do," he said laughing at the situation. "Never would have guessed that I'd fall for Looney Luna."
He chuckled. "I think you two are very compatible."
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Since Luna is included in that, I'm going to take that as a compliment."
"You should," he said with a grin.
"You know that bottle cap necklace she always wears?" he asked after a moment.
"Of course. She was wearing it on the day I first met her, she always wears it."
"I found it so odd at first, but then she told me her mum made it for her when she was a girl."
Harry looked up from his notes then. "Really?"
He nodded. "Yeah, says its her good luck charm, hardly ever takes it off."
"That makes sense then and not at all weird that she would wear that. That's cool."
"When I told her about what the three of us were doing, she gave it to me."
His brows lifted. "Gave it to you?"
"Yeah, she wants me to wear it….for luck."
"Wow," he said moved and a little envious that Ron found someone special like that. "What did you say?"
"No one's ever given me anything like that before. She looked so ridiculously cute giving it to me, I didn't know what to say." He then grinned and gave him a wink. "So I kissed her."
"Nice one," he grinned. "How was it?"
"Bloody fantastic," he said standing up. "In fact, I think I might go up and sneak a few more."
"Ron, it's close to midnight," he laughed.
"Hey, it's her fault, she shouldn't have turned out to be such a good snog."
Harry was still chuckling after he left. The image of Ron sneaking into Luna's bed while his little sister was sleeping in the next would make anyone laugh. He was happy for him though. Luna seemed like a great girl and it was a huge step up from dating Lavender.
The minutes passed and soon it was close to one and still no Hermione. Crookshanks joined him by jumping on his lap and making himself comfortable. "You waiting, too, huh?" he asked as he scratched behind his ears. "She should be back soon."
Yawning, Harry sat back in his chair and gave up on anymore reading, the words were starting to get blurry. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as he lazily stroke Crookshanks while he happily purred in appreciation.
Next thing he knew a loud crack from outside had him jumping in his seat. Crookshanks leaped off his lap and hid under the table, looking very annoyed. Harry got as far as standing up when Hermione walked through the backdoor. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and could tell she was close to having another good cry as her eyes shimmered. Her hair was halfway to where it normally is, giving a half curly half bushy look and what little make up she had on, was now gone. She looked as if she would collapse at any second. "Hermione."
All it took was saying her name and she covered her face with her hands and crumbled. Harry went to her immediately, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against him. She buried her face in his neck and circled her small arms around his neck as she continued to cry. Harry didn't know what else to do, so he continued to hold her and stroke her hair like he saw Ron do on the day of Dumbledore's funeral.
"I..I'm sorry, Harry," she sobbed, her voice muffled against his neck.
"Shh, it's okay. Just let it out, Hermione." He moved one hand to her back, rubbing and patting it, hoping to calm her. "Just have yourself a good cry."
So she did as she was told and cried her eyes out. Harry hadn't held a girl while she cried since Cho and that was awkward and embarrassing With Hermione it simply broke his heart and he head never seen Hermione crumble this way. With Cho, he was eyeing the door, desperate to escape, but with Hermione he would hold her as long as she wanted him to.
He held her tighter and turned slightly to rest his cheek on top of her head. That's when he saw Ginny standing by the doorway with a look of shock and concern. He saw her hesitate, deciding if she should join them, but Harry gave her a stern look. She froze and he hastily shooed a hand, telling her to leave them be. She lingered a moment, just staring at them both, before turning and quietly leaving the room.
Hermione finally started to regain her composure, hiccupping softly as she leaned back a bit to wipe her eyes. "Here, let's sit down, Hermione," he said leading her to one of the chairs.
She sat down and he pulled another chair in front of her, holding one of her hands, while the other brushed away the lasts of her tears. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She let a deep shaky breath in and out. "I told them everything, Harry. All our adventures. From you and Ron saving me from the troll, up to last year."
"That must have been a shock for them," he mumbled now holding both her hands. "They must hate me."
Her eyes widened, looking horrified. "Oh, no Harry!" she said shaking her head. "They're grateful to you. If it wasn't for you, that troll would have killed me first year."
"Ron was there, too," he said modestly.
She smiled softly. "But you were the one who remembered, no, don't try to stick up for Ron, I know you were the one that thought of me. Ron tagged along only because you remembered I was oblivious to the troll."
"Hermione…"
"They understand why I have to go with you," she said. "After I told them everything. About the
Sorcerer's Stone and how you faced Voldemort. About the muggle born attacks second year and how you saved everyone,
including me…"
"But without your help I…"
"Hush. I told him now we went back in time, that was hard for them to believe."
Harry laughed, smiling at the memory of them riding Buckbeak. "Another adventure I couldn't do without you."
"Which is why my parents understand I have to go with you. My mum called us a team."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "We're a great team, you and I."
"And with Ron added to the mix, we're unstoppable." They shared a smile before she continued. "Although they understand, it was still so hard leaving them. When I was hugging them goodbye, I couldn't help but think that this might be the last time I see them."
"No, Hermione," he said firmly as he leaned towards her urgently. "I don't want you thinking that. You will survived. I promise."
"Harry, you can't promise something like that, we both don't know what's going to happen."
"But Hermione…"
"I'm not coming back without you, Harry," she said softly. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
His heart plummeted. "Yes, and I can't let you do that."
"You don't have a choice."
"The bloody hell I don't," he said pushing to his feet and yanked her to hers.
"Harry, what are you…"
He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "I won't let you, Hermione. If I have to take Voldemort down with me, you have to come back, you have to survive."
"But I can't bare the thought of living without you, Harry!" she cried.
"You're going to have to try." He shook her once. "You have to, because if not, sacrificing myself would bean nothing. Everything I fought for would mean nothing."
"That's not fair, I…"
"It's what I want, Hermione. I want you to come back, live the rest of your life. Marry someone that worships the ground you walk on, have babies…lots of babies. You'll be a terrific Mum someday."
"Oh, Harry, please don't," she cried, tears welling up again.
He didn't listen. "And of course you'll have to name your first son after me."
"Harry, this isn't funny."
"Whose joking? I'm serious!"
Hermione looked at him while he brushed back her bushy hair way from her face. "What if I have all girls."
"Well, then…I guess you'll have to name one Harriet."
She laughed softy and circled her arms around his waist and hugged him close. "Harriet, huh?"
He smiled, wrapping his arms around her. A part of him couldn't help but notice how right it felt. "You bet." He playfully tugged at her hair. "She'll have your hair."
"I already feel sorry for her then," she chuckled. "She'll be better off having her dad's hair."
Hearing this made him rave with jealously for someone that hadn't walked into their lives yet. "So…you promise?"
She lifted her head up to look at him. "On one condition."
"What's that?"
"That you promise you'll do everything to come back to me. And to Ron."
He sighed as he stepped back, running his hands down her arms until their fingers linked. "I promise."
She smiled brightly and Harry thought she never looked prettier when she smiled. "Why don't we head up to bed, it's getting late."
"Yeah, all this crying has made me exhausted."
Still holding hands, Harry led her up the stairs. "Oh, before you head to bed, you might want to check and see if Ron's in there."
"Ron?" she asked as they stopped in front of her room.
"Yeah, an hour agon Ron was off to steal a few more kisses with Luna."
She giggled. "Really? Well let's see then." She opened the door slowly and Harry peaked in above her head to see Luna sleeping peacefully, so they closed the door and Hermione smiled. "Looks like Luna finally kicked him out."
Seeing her smile again made him blurt out, "I can't believe no one has kissed you before."
Her brows lifted. "Huh?"
"Sorry, I…that just sort of came out of no where." He gave her a wobbly smile. 'I just…I don't know how you got this far without kissing someone."
"Well," she pondered. "I guess non one's wanted to, I mean come on, I'm not exactly popular like Ginny or pretty like Lavender."
"I think your pretty and I'm sure I'm not the only guy that thinks that."
She shrugged. "Well, let's hope we get through this so I can kiss someone. Dying before I get my first kiss is rather depressing, don't you think?"
She was teasing, but he didn't find it humorous. She deserved a first kiss, everyone did. So what he did next was something that shocked the both of them. He pulled her close, tilted her chin up with his hand and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
He watched her eyes grow wide through his lashes, then was pleased when she fluttered them close. She relaxed against him, letting out a deep breath through her nose as she slowly placed a hand upon his cheek. It only lasted a few moments and Harry pulled back slowly, while his heart hammered loudly.
Staggering slightly, her eyes finally opened, looking dazed with her mouth partly open. "Just in case," Harry said, trying his best to sound casual.
"What" she asked obviously confused. "Oh. Okay."
"Good night, Hermione."
"Er…good night." She turned to the door and Harry winced when she ran into it. Swallowing a chuckle he opened it for her. "Might help to open it."
"Right," she said stumbling in. "Well, good night."
When the door closed, Harry blew out a breath, ignoring the flutter in his stomach. He just kissed Hermione. Why in the world did he do that?
Now, here he was almost five months later wondering the same thing as he watched her sleep. Why did he kiss her that night? He convinced himself he was just trying to be a friend and nothing more. The kiss was purely platonic and the two of them never really discussed it so he didn't really know how she felt about it. He knew now though it was something he couldn't ignore, he had to talk to Hermione about it as soon as he could.
Before he could process his next thought, he jumped slightly when Hermione darted up into a sitting position. She was glaring at Ron who was still snoring rather loudly, then watched in amusement as she took out his wand and pointed it at him.
"Silencio!"
Ron's deep breathing continued, but the loud snores were gone. "Huh," Harry pondered. "In all of my years at Hogwarts, I never thought of using that."
Hermione huffed out a breath as she pushed back her unruly hair. "Well, it's considered rude to do so, but I just couldn't take it any longer."
Harry grinned and found her absolutely adorable. "Hey, Hermione?"
"Hmm?" she asked yawning.
"Now that your up, why don't you come and sit next to me. We need to talk."
"Okay, but…my watch is coming up, aren't you tired?"
Harry took in her apricot scent as she sat next to him against the wall of the cave and his stomach danced. Sleep was the last thing on his mind. "No…I'm not tired at all."
Cliffhanger! I know, don't shoot me! I won't take too long with the next chapter I hope!