Harry's words reverberated heavily in Hermione's mind. She just stood with her mouth open gaping at him. Her mind was screaming for this not to be true. Harry just stared back at her with a solemn expression. Her chest was heaving with every heavy breath she took.
Mariah shot a look to Hermione and then to Harry where she whispered something in his ear, he nodded, and she apparated out a few seconds later.
"Y-you lied to me?" she asked him. Her voice was shaky as tears began to form in her eyes.
Harry took a step forward. "Hermione--"
"DID YOU LIE TO ME?" she screamed.
Harry stopped and looked down at his feet to nod repeatedly.
NO!
Hermione huffed angrily and turned on her heel to stomp back into Harry's flat, slamming the door in Harry's face as he tried to chase after her. She scrambled around for her purse and shoes and stomped back out in the hallway to find Harry hunched over on the ground rubbing his head.
Harry immediately bolted up as soon as she stomped back out of the flat. He followed her over too the lift where she had already pressed the button to go down.
"Hermione I can--"
"NO!" she shrieked.
"Hermione, don't go!" Harry pleaded. "I can ex…"
"You'll shut up, Potter, if you know what's good for you!" Hermione snapped, turning to wave her wand in his face.
Harry swallowed hard and stumbled back as he watched the wand swaying beneath his nose. A high-pitched ding signaled the arrival the elevator, and Hermione lowered her wand.
Harry scrambled to his feet in a state of urgency. "You're jumping to con…"
Hermione raised her wand. "Petrifcus Totalus!" she cried.
Harry's body stopped in mid-step as his body instantly went rigid and fell to the floor with one heavy solid thud. She stepped onto the elevator, and as the doors closed she glanced down at Harry and caught a glimpse of a pleading look in his eyes.
The doors closed and guilt pooled in the bottom of Hermione's stomach. She honestly considered going back up to remove the spell but she told herself to snap out of it. Harry deserved what he got and the spell would wear off in about five minutes.
She caught her reflection on the stainless-steel doors, and the sight of her wearing only Harry's t-shirt and her heels brought more tears to her eyes.
How could he do something like this to me?
Hermione fought the urge to cry, but it proved to be nearly an impossible task. When the doors opened she rushed past an elderly woman waiting to board the elevator and out into the street where she climbed into her car. She gripped the steering wheel tightly in her hands as her forehead fell forward against her knuckled. She couldn't hold back any longer, the tears started to pour over.
"Why?" she shrieked. "Why did he do this to me?"
She inhaled deeply and sat back in her seat as she wiped her tears away. How could Harry do something like this to her when she so vulnerable? The question `why' kept popping up in her head, and Hermione couldn't think of a rational explanation for what Harry did. Except that maybe he had been with too many of the Quidditch groupies and now it had all gone to his head.
Nobody loves me.
Hermione didn't know what to do next, she knew she had to do something but she didn't know what. She contemplated on going back up to Harry to get more answers, but she couldn't face him right now. She was filled with rage and felt like she had just been betrayed by her best friend, who knows what she would do to Harry if she saw him again.
Hermione started her car and waited for the traffic to clear before she pulled onto the road and drove back to her own flat on the west side of London.
People stared at her as she walked from her car to entrance of her building. She guessed most people weren't used to seeing a twenty-year-old woman walking down the street wearing only a large t-shirt and heels with frazzled hair and a tear stained face.
When the lock clicked open and she stepped inside, Crookshanks immediately bolted to her feet and began rubbing against her legs. Hermione smiled weakly at her furry friend and picked him and began stroking him behind the ear. Crookshanks purred loudly.
"At least you love me, right?" Hermione told him.
Crookshanks replied with a cute face and more content purring.
Hermione dropped her keys on the table and put Crookshanks down on the counter and pressed the flashing button on her answering machine.
BEEP!
"Hey Hermione, its dad, just calling to see if you're alright. You disappeared after that row with your mum last night. Just want to make sure my best girls alright. Call when you get a minute. Love you. Bye."
BEEP!
"Hello can somebody here me? This record device working? HELLO? HELLO? Anyways, Mione, it's Ron. You just sort of disappeared and I'm wondering if you're okay. I owled you last night, but Pig came back with nothing. So contact me as soon as you get in, I'm worried about you. Luna is having our place sprayed for flobby-wibbits, so I'll be at the Burrow. If I don't hear from you after lunch I'm going to alert the Auror's and Please-men. Bye."
BEEP! "End of messages."
Tears were still streaming down her pretty face, though a small part of her smiled to know that there were still people out there who cared about her.
"Ron," Hermione said to herself, tossing some food into Crookshanks bowl. "I need to talk to Ron!"
Without a second thought, or even the notion to change into something more appropriate, Hermione apparated to the Burrow. When she got there she was standing in front of the large fire place, and Ron was sprawled out on the couch reading a copy of PlayWitch which he thrusted under the cushion as soon as he heard her apparate in.
"Hermione!" he shouted scrambling to his feet and taking in the sight of her. "What happened!?"
Tears rushed to her eyes again. "Everything is just so screwed up," she whined.
Ron felt horribly awkward when it came to women crying in front of him, he never learned how to deal with it. Luckily, when his girlfriend, Luna, cried in front of him she always ran into another room and it never lasted very long. He was hoping Hermione would do one or the other, but she didn't. She just stood in front of him allowing her tears to fall. Ron tried to focus his eyes on something else but couldn't because he could feel her eyes burning into his. He reluctantly gave in and pulled her into a hug.
"What's screwed up?" Ron asked. "Tell me."
"Everything in my life and-and Harry!" she said, wiping her tears.
"Harry!?" Ron said feeling surprised. "What did he do?"
"He hurt me."
Ron flashed with anger. "HURT YOU?" he echoed. "MERLIN I SWEAR IF I FIND OUT THAT HE HIT YOU I AM GOING TO HEX OFF HIS BA-"
"Ron no!" Hermione said. "Not like that."
"Then what?" Ron asked feeling confused. He rubbed her shoulders sympathetically, allowing her to take a deep breath and wipe her falling tears.
"Oh, gods, this is embarrassing to tell to you!"
"Hermione, we've been friends for a long time, you can tell me anything!" Ron told her. "Don't be embarrassed!"
"Okay," Hermione said, taking a large breath. "We had sex."
"EW!" Ron shouted. He covered his eyes with hands, as if shielding himself from her, and tripped over a foot rest as he quickly stumbled backwards in his attempt to get away. "AHHH! GROSS, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT! YOU'RE HERMIONE GRANGER YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE SEX! AND WITH HARRY…ICK!" Ron stood up. "Oh my poor ears…my VIRGIN ears!"
Hermione glared at him. "Ronald, shut up!" Hermione huffed. "I know this awkward and if I had anybody else to talk to about this besides you I would. But you're the only one so please for once if you act like an adult, I would really appreciate it!
"Maybe Ginny would be a better choice," Ron suggested, still wincing from the word he heard earlier.
"Are you completely daft? Ginny used to date Harry that would be completely awkward!"
"More awkward then this?" he muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing," Ron said. "What about Luna?"
More tears spilled over. "Ron, please!"
Ron resigned. "Your right, Hermione, I'm sorry. We have been friends for a long time and the one time you come to me with a problem I do this," he said. "I am almost 20 I should be able to handle this!"
"Thanks," Hermione replied.
"So can I ask what's up with your outfit?" Ron asked. "Take it that's Harry's shirt."
Hermione nodded.
Ron groaned, this is a terribly uncomfortable situation for him. "Why don't we go into the kitchen and talk about this. I will make you some tea and I'll have a nice big bottle of fire whiskey," Ron said, ushering Hermione in the direction of the kitchen.
Hermione spent the next two hours pouring her emotions out to Ron about the situation between her and Harry. Ron sat back and chugged down glass after glass of fire whiskey as he listened; surprised to learn his best friend would shag his other best friend shagged his other best friend then betrayer her.
"Harry did that?"
Tears were rushing down her cheeks again as she nodded.
"So tell me what you heard them saying out in the hallway again?" Ron asked, downing another shot.
Hermione inhaled and wiped away the tears that were still flowing. "T-they said that they want me gone by their big day so I don't ruin any more of their plans. They said I was stupid and I didn't know what I was doing. And that stupid slut wants Harry to do something for her and me out of the picture."
"This Mariah girl you're telling me about, I've heard of her she's famous on this side of England for toying with all the men. I don't know one man is his right mind who wouldn't give up his left testicle to be with a woman like her!"
"Ron!" Hermione shrieked. "You're not helping!"
"Sorry," Ron mumbled, pointing to his bottle of Fire Whiskey.
Hermione finished up her conversation and downed the last of her tea and thought it would be a good idea to apparate out before the rest of the Weasley family came home ad started questioning her on her appearance. She mumbled a quick goodbye to Ron and apparated out in front of the fire place.
Ron sat alone at the kitchen table with his shot glass and bottle of fire whiskey, taking in everything that Hermione had told him over the past couple of hours. Even in his high alcoholic state he knew something didn't add up, it just didn't sound like something Harry would do.
He stood up and put the bottle and shot glass away. It was at that moment he had a brilliant idea soar through his intoxicated mind. He summoned two pieces of parchment and a quill and sat back down and chuckled to himself as he began writing.
A few hours later halfway across the country, Hermione was returning home from picking up a few things from Diagon Alley. She used her wand to unlock her flat and stepped inside. She had been trying to keep herself busy so not to focus on Harry.
She piled the ingredients she bought in her potions cupboard and turned to notice Pig hovering outside her window. She crossed the room and opened the window and over-excited little owl came fluttering in. Hermione practically had to wrestle with the little creature in order for him to stay long enough to untie the letter from his leg.
When she finally did she pulled the letter out of the envelope and started to read it.
Dear Hermione,
Since your birthday party didn't go exactly as planned and I wasn't
able to give you your birthday present how about lunch this
Monday at Mangora's Wizarding café? See you then.
- Ron
Hermione folded up the letter and turned to find some parchment to write back of her acceptance.
* * * * * * *
Much to Hermione's surprise she hadn't heard a word from Harry. She figured that sometime over the past 48 hours Harry would have tried to owl or leave a message on her answering machine to try and explain himself. But he didn't and it was better that way because Hermione wanted nothing to do with him right now…or that's at least what she told herself.
Hermione raced through the busy streets of Diagon Alley glancing at her watch. She was already ten minutes late for her lunch with Ron, and by how slow people in the streets were walking she was probably going to be much later then that. Finally after getting around all the slow people, Hermione made it to the fancy restaurant.
"May I help you, miss?" the elderly man asked as she entered.
"Yes, I'm here to meet Ronald Weasley," she told him.
"Please follow me, miss."
Hermione followed the elderly man through the crowded restaurant. When she moved around the corner to a private sitting area she spotted Ron sitting at the table talking with…Harry! Hermione stopped in her tracks and stared at them for a few seconds. She wanted to turn and run but Ron had already spotted her and was calling her name. Hermione took in a large breath pushing her anger down in the pit of her stomach and made her way over to the table. And by the surprised look plastered on Harry's face, Hermione figured that he hadn't been expecting her either. Hermione made a mental note to kill Ron later.
Hermione sat down across from Harry as the waiter politely held her chair out for her and tucked her back in. She made sure not to make any eye contact with him. When the waiter left, Hermione kicked Ron under the table and glared at him when she was sure Harry wasn't looking.
Ron replied with a cheeky grin that infuriated her.
"You're late, Granger!"
"I know," she replied angrily, reaching for a menu. It took all her willpower not to smack him with it.
"Why?"
Hermione lowered the menu and glared at the red head. "That's not really any of your concern now it, Weasley?"
"I believe it is when you're late for a lunch when I'm treating," he replied.
She rolled her eyes. "My sister called just as I was walking out the door with some important news."
"And?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief, would he ever give it a rest? "You're a nosey git today!
Ron beamed. "And?"
She was definitely going to Avada Kedavra him into the next eternity.
Hermione narrowed her eyes again. "I don't really see the purpose in telling you but, I'm going to be an Aunt this spring," she stated.
Harry mumbled a half-hearted congratulations, which Hermione chose to ignore.
"That's brilliant, but isn't Shelby a little young to be having a baby?"
"She's eighteen years old and getting married this coming Christmas. They were planning on starting a family right away anyway, so it's just going to happen a few months early now. Charles and Shelby are excited. Dad's happy. Mum is thrilled, and I'm still the family failure, can we order now?"
"Hermione you're n--"
"The special sounds excellent!" Hermione said rather loudly, cutting off the red head she was infuriated with as she glanced at her menu.
Ron rolled his eyes and picked up his menu.
Over the course of the next hour Harry and Hermione awkwardly ate lunch across from each other avoiding eye contact or speaking to each other. Hermione had also taken an effort to try and ignore Ron and glare at him every time possible. Hermione thought she noticed Harry doing the same thing. Honestly, what was Ron playing at here? He knew what Harry had done to her and two days later he tricks into having lunch with him. He was an utter arsehole and deserved to be slaughtered with a muggle butcher knife! Ron was growing increasingly annoyed with them as his plan to lure them both here to get them talking again wasn't working. He tried corner them into conversations, but it didn't work. They were working extra hard on pretending the other wasn't there.
Ron dropped his fork on his plate which made a loud clang and made Harry and Hermione jump.
"Ron, what the--" Harry cried.
"You two are being a bunch of gits. You have over eight years of friendship behind you and your going to piss that all away because of one lousy night?" Ron cried, looking from one friend to the other. "Now I am going to the bathroom and when I come back I want to find you two being friends again!"
Ron pushed his chair out and stomped off in the direction of the loo.
Hermione huffed and put a forkful of trifle in her mouth.
"You know, for the smartest witch to walk through the halls of Hogwarts in over two hundred years, you sure can be stupid at times, Hermione," Harry blurted out.
So it begins.
Hermione shot him a surprised look. "Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean!"
"It means you've got brains, Granger," Harry said angrily, pointing at his head. "But you don't always use them!"
"Do not get started with me!" Hermione said accusingly. "You have nothing to be angry at me for."
Harry scoffed. "I have no reason to be mad at you?"
"Yeah, I'm not the one who lied. You are!"
"I did nothing over the sorts, Hermione. You say I have nothing to be angry at you for yet you're the one who walked out on me after we made love, you're the one who is constantly calling me a liar and won't believe what I'm telling you is the truth, and you're the one who cursed me and left me for anybody to find! I don't know about you but that sounds like a good enough reason to be mad to me. I have done nothing but bend over backwards to try and make you feel wanted and loved and you do nothing but retort with false accusation after accusation!" Harry said, his voice starting to rise angrily. "I don't know what's going on with you, we have been best friends for so long and you've never had a problem trusting me before, so what's going on now?"
"Harry, you lied to me!"
Harry groaned and burst up from the table. "HOW MANY BLOODY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU? I DIDN'T LIE TO YOU."
Hermione threw her napkin on the table and burst up with rage to look Harry in the eye. "Yes, you did. I heard you talking out in the hallway about me with that brainless woman you're seeing behind my back! I heard you two saying you wanted me out of the picture, and that something was a done deal. You called me stupid you're going to give her something she wants. You even admitted that you lied to me!"
"Well if you had kept your loud mouth shut two days ago we wouldn't be having this argument now!"
Hermione gasped, she was thankful they were in a secluded part of the restaurant.
"I never technically lied to you, Hermione, just…withheld information. Mariah is a sister of a friend of mine and we went on a few dates last year but that's the extent of it and my so called lying!" Harry shouted. "I am sorry if I have caused you any unintentional pain but you just keep jumping to conclusions. What you overheard was something I did for you!"
"What?"
"First of all, that crack about the stupid woman, and the person we have to get rid of before the big day (Quidditch World Cup) was directed to the Minister's 86-year-old secretary who spelled my name `Harry Pooter' on the Quidditch fliers. Secondly, Mariah is a good friend of mine, she's a huge Quidditch supporter and her family funded England in the World Cup last season. She is also dating the Minister of Magic and has a lot of influence so when I asked for a favor she agreed as long as I promised to give her what she wants, which is for England to win the cup next season!"
Hermione was starting to feel stupid. "What favor?"
"Friday there is a big conference at the Ministry and Ministers from all over the world will be there. I asked Mariah to pull a few strings and at noon on Friday, you have ten minutes to plead your case and convince the minister to give you back your department!"
Hermione stared at Harry with disbelief and collapsed back into her chair. She immediately realized how foolish she had been acting, and regretted everything she accused Harry of. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was but didn't know how to express it, she was mute with shock.
"T-thank you," she managed to say.
"I know how much of your heart and soul you poured into helping those elves and it shouldn't have been taken away like that." Harry said, with and an air of anger still in his tone.
Hermione stood up and moved towards Harry to give him a hug but he held up his hand to protest and backed away."
"No, Hermione, it's over. What we had or…potentially had is done. I can't take this from you anymore, it's just too much to deal with on a daily basis," he picked his coat up off the back of the chair and put it on and slowly moved towards the exit. "I think we should take a break from seeing each other and maybe in a few weeks we can reevaluate our friendship again. Good luck on Friday."
"Harry wait," Hermione called standing up again.
"Goodbye, Hermione," Harry replied, walking away.
She fell back into her chair and sighed, allowing everything over the last few days wash over her, knowing it was all her fault.
"Hermione?" Harry said turning around, before he turned the corner.
"Yeah?" she replied dismally, not looking up to meet his gaze.
"Why are you so scared that somebody will actually like you for who you are that you feel you have to push them away?" he asked.
Harry didn't wait for her reply but turn on his heel and left the classy restaurant. Hermione looked up just time to see his backside going around the corner.
Hermione sighed, she never felt more alone in her life then she did at that moment.
* * * * * * *
The days following Hermione's encounter with Harry were long and painful. She would spend her days walking through the muggle neighborhood she grew up in, wondering if she would ever feel as happy and safe as she did with Harry the night of her birthday. Would that one night be her one shining moment of glory she would come to call the highlight of her life? Would that one night be the only night she felt truly loved and would she be reflecting on those brief moments for the rest of her life? Those were the questions that kept flowing through her mind and she didn't know the answers to any of them.
The nights were even tougher. That's when all of the walls she had bricked up would fall and her emotions would consume her. She would spend hours curled up in the dark crying. She felt worse then she did before when she felt like Harry was to blame for everything. Now she realized everything had been her fault, and she felt like she had lost control over the situation. At least when she was blaming Harry, she felt like she could fix the situation if she wanted to. Now it was out of her hands. She had been too foolish and now she realized it may have cost her the only thing she ever really wanted…Harry.
She tried sending Harry a letter of apology early Wednesday morning, but it returned an hour later unopened, which only upset her more. She avoided seeing Ron; figuring it would be too awkward. She was still mad at him for surprising her at lunch with Harry but not as mad as she was, some good had come out of it.
By the time Wednesday night had rolled around, Hermione realized she needed to try and push Harry out of her mind and begin focusing on the speech she had to write for Friday afternoon.
Ron owled her that morning telling her he wouldn't be able to make it to the conference to see her speech because he would have to work. It's saddened her to know nobody she cared about would be there to watch, but deep down she preferred it that way. She wasn't ready to see Ron yet and answer his questions about Harry. It was still a tough subject for her. She wished she could erase all the stupid selfish things she had done in the past week and have Harry talking to her.
But the part that amazed her most was the moment he told her that nothing could happen between them her heart shattered and she knew she loved him.
* * * * * * * *
Hermione had just finished her speech and walked off stage proudly as the sound of clapping rung through her ears. She felt confident about her speech and really felt that the Minister of Magic was going to change his mind and give her back her department.
Hermione made her way into a small hallway that led to a large room and collapsed against the wall taking in the largest breath of her life. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest and she closed her eyes to take in the blissful moment with her testimony clutched tightly too.
When she heard the sounds of footsteps echoing off the marble floor, she stood up straight to see the minister walking towards her and an elderly balding man in magenta robes in his wake.
"Miss Granger," the minister said, extending his hand. Hermione took it and shook it. "How are you today?"
"I am good," Hermione replied.
"Wonderful. Now, Miss Granger, as wonderful as that speech was I am sorry but I am still going to have to turn you down. We just don't have the funding ad it is a meaningless cause," the minister told her. "I am sorry but that is my final word on the case." The minister turned around and began walking away but the man in the magenta robes didn't move a muscle.
"Rufus, vous ne m'avez pas introduit," the balding man called out.
Rufus Scrimgeour turned on his heel and walked back to his friend in magenta robes and stared at him with a bewildered look plastered on his face. "Pardon?"
"Rufus, vous ne m'avez pas introduit," he repeated.
"I'm sorry…but-" the minister mumbled.
"He said you didn't introduce us," Hermione informed the minister.
Scrimgeour seemed a little taken back that Hermione could speak French. "Oh well then…erm…this…um."
Hermione ignored the bumbling minister and held out her hand. "Bonjour, je suis Hermione Granger. Qui seriez-vous?" (Hello, I am Hermione Granger. Who would you be?) Hermione said politely.
The French wizard looked delighted and took her hand. "Je suis Alfan Guillamue, le Ministre de Magie de France," (I am Alfan Guillamue, Minister of Magic of France) the man in the magenta robes replied.
"C'est agréable pour vous rencontrer. J'ai entendu du rien mais choses merveilleuses de votre ministère," (It's nice to meet you. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about your ministry.) Hermione told him.
"Merci. Vous avez donné un discours merveilleux aujourd'hui," (Thank you. You gave a wonderful speech today,) The French minister told her.
"Merci beaucoup. Donc vous parlez l'anglais alors?" (Thank you very much. So you speak English then?)
"Couramment. Mais je fais semblant je peux si je ne peux pas regarder ce buffoon fait semblant il est maître du tongue français. Quand il ne peut pas parler un mot seul de lui. Très amusant!" (Fluently. But I pretend I cannot so I can watch this buffoon pretend he is a master of the French tongue. When he can't speak a single word of it. Very amusing!)
Hermione giggled in response.
"Il est aussi idiot s'il ne veut pas qu'un fonctionnement une dur jeune femme comme vous travaillant dans son ministère," (He is also a fool if he doesn't want a hard working young woman like you working in his ministry.) The French minister told her.
Hermione blushed. "Merci."
"Mademoiselle Granger, je serais honoré si vous viendriez le travail pour moi en France. Vous êtes extrêmement consommé et je me sens que vous amèneriez alot à notre Ministère. Et vous parlez le français admirablement. S'il vous plaît dire que vous nous joindrez." (Miss Granger, I would be honored if you would come work for me in France. You are highly skilled and I feel you would bring a lot to our Ministry. And you speak French beautifully. Please say you will join us.) The French minister asked.
Hermione was stunned, her mouth was slightly open. "Etes-vous sérieux?" (Are you serious?)
"De grossier. Donc vous nous joindrez ?" (Of coarse. So will you join us?)
Hermione beamed. "Excuser m'est émoussé mais… OUI!" (Excuse me for being blunt but…YES!)
The French minister laughed at her enthusiasm. "Accueillir à notre Ministère. Je suis honoré pour avoir une femme de votre intelligence travaillant pour nous. Je vous admire pour ce que vous faites pour ces elfes. J'espère avoir plus de gens comme vous travaillant pour moi un jour. Je dois aller maintenant, j'ai une réunion avec les Américains. Comment de nous rencontrons vendredi prochain à mon bureau pour discuter ceci plus?" (Welcome to our Ministry. I am honored to have a woman of your intelligence working for us. I admire you for what you are doing for these elves. I hope to have more people like you working for me someday. I must go now, I have a meeting with the Americans. How about we meet next Friday at my office to discuss this further?)
"Oui! Merci!"
The French minister smiled again. "Vous voir alors." (See you then.)
Hermione watch the French minister turn and begin walk away. Rufus Scrimgeour looked her over with a baffled expression and then turned to the French minister to find out what just happened. When they exited through the door at the end of the long hallway Hermione began squealing with joy and jumping up and down.
"Now, I don't speak French but by your reaction I would say congratulations are in order."
Hermione whirled around to see a tall frame of a person leaning against the far wall.
"Harry?"
"Yeah," he replied, starting to walk towards her. "Did you get it?"
"Yes! Scrimgeour turned me down again but the French Ministry wants me. I'm going to be working in Paris!" Hermione said excitedly. Then she remembered the situation between them. "What are you doing here? I thought you said you wanted to reevaluate our friendship."
"I was being stupid when I said that, I'm sorry…for everything," Harry said. "I didn't mean any of it. And did you really think I would miss your big speech? We are best friends after all."
"Oh, Harry you have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I was being such an idiot I didn't realize what I was doing to you. I am so sorry…for everything!" Hermione said. "And honestly you looked so mad at the restaurant that I would have expected to see Malfoy here cheering me on before you."
Harry was only standing a few inches away from her body, and her heart was thumping madly in her chest.
"I need you, Hermione. I tried to put you out of my mind and try to forget you but I couldn't. It took all my will power not to respond to that owl you sent. I want you in my life."
"Harry please don't do this if you just want to be friends my heart can't--"
Harry cut her off with a kiss, and Hermione's knees went weak. Harry's arms snaked around her middle to keep her from falling and Hermione's fingers ran through his raven colored locks.
When they pulled away Hermione looked into Harry's eyes and smiled. "Harry, I love you," she whispered.
Harry pulled her in tighter. "I love you too," he replied.
The both beamed happily and leaned in for another kiss. After they had a five minute long make out session like two horny teenagers in a broom closet, Hermione pulled back. "Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"Making this the best day of my life," she said. "Because of you I got my job back, and best of all I got you. Thank you!"
"Do you want to go get some coffee and celebrate?" Harry asked.
"No, I've got a better idea," Hermione replied.
"And what would that be?"
Hermione gave him a naughty grin. "Let's go back to my place instead."
A/N: For those of you who speak French and want to lynch me for the horrible French I used. I would just like to inform you I do not speak a work of French, I used a translating website. So blame the website not me.
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