Hermione Granger, Florence Nightingale
Author's Note: This is it. This is the last chapter. I'm sorry it took so long, but I'm going through a very rough patch with a personal situation, and let's just say I've not been in any kind of mindset to even be able to come onto portkey and post this. I was really feeling pretty damn lousy. But don't worry, I didn't do anything I'd regret with the characters. This was written before any of that happened, and I just haven't been able to bring myself to even look at it, much less post it. I've just looked at portkey for the first time in almost a week. So here you go. It's short, but I like the ending. I think it's my favorite ending of all of the stories I've written. This is probably going to be the last you'll hear from me for awhile. Until I get these issues resolved, I'm not going to be in a state of mind in which I can write anything with any kind of a happy ending, and writing sad endings just depresses me. I'll write when I can, and I hope you all understand. I'm just in a bad place right now.
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That night, as the day's steady rain turned into a fierce thunderstorm, Harry once again lay awake in bed, thinking about Hermione. He was enjoying himself greatly. Spending time with Hermione was more fun than anything he could remember in his entire life.
Let's face it, Harry, he thought. You've fallen for her.
"I have, haven't I." He laughed to himself. The strangest thing about it was that he was actually pretty comfortable with that fact. He of course had no idea how to proceed, but he was oddly at ease with the fact that he had fallen in love with his best friend.
He sat up as he heard a soft knock on the door.
"Come in," he said softly.
"Harry?" Hermione poked her head in. "You awake?"
"Yeah, I'm awake," he said, and she came in.
"This storm is really something, isn't it?"
"You're not afraid of lightning and thunder, are you?"
"Of course not." Hermione laughed. "I love it. When we get a storm like this, I like to go out and sit on the porch and just sit and watch it. I was just wondering if you'd like to join me."
Harry smiled. As if I'd refuse spending time with her.
"I'd love to come," he said softly. "Sounds nice."
Hermione stood up and offered her arm for Harry to lean on, and he took it gratefully. They made their way slowly downstairs, and Hermione opened the glass door to the back porch for Harry.
"That's not right," he muttered. "The guy is supposed to hold the door for the girl." Hermione laughed.
"I think we can let that pass this time," she whispered into his ear as she sat down next to him on the swinging chair.
As they watched the rain pour down into Hermione's backyard, expressing how impressed they were by the more significant lightning strikes, Harry felt an urge to hold Hermione. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. As she rested her head on his shoulder, Harry felt his heartbeat accelerate. He let his head rest on top of hers, and she sighed.
"This is nice, Harry," she said softly.
"It sure is." He smiled. She smelled amazing, and he tightened his arm around her shoulders. "You know, Hermione, I really appreciate all that you've done for me, especially this summer."
"Of course, Harry. I know you'd do the same for me if I needed you." He felt her smile against his shoulder. "Besides, if you hadn't come here, I may never have realized that I'm in love with you." Harry was dumbstruck. He had no idea what to say to that.
Hermione peered up at him, waiting for him to say something, anything.
"You're really in love with me?" The excitement in Harry's voice was second only to that shown in his expression.
"Uh-huh." She looked up at him, smiling.
"I'd like to ask you something," whispered Harry.
"Anything."
"Can I kiss you?"
"Of course." Hermione moved up, and Harry met her halfway. As their lips met, the largest bolt of lightning struck. When they pulled apart, Hermione shot a glance out into the storm, and smiled.
"Do you think we did that?"
"I don't know," replied Harry. "Only one way to find out." He leaned in again, and Hermione giggled.
"Anything for the pursuit of knowledge," she closed the distance, and they kissed again.
That was, of course, when the thunder came.
"Wow," said Harry. "We're good."
"Imagine what we could do with practice," said Hermione with a smile, and pulled Harry back down.