A/N: Okay, so here's what's going on. This story is just moments between Harry and Hermione as they hunt down Horcruxes and ultimately duel in the final battle. There's not really any plot just fluffy stuff. I'll leave the plots up to J.K.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
It was like it was her second home now, the Black Library. She stayed in there all day, sometimes falling asleep with her face in a book, for him. This was all for him, and it made him nearly sick.
She had given up everything for him. She gave up her whole seventh year, her head girl badge, all to be holed up in some dark wizard's library. Sure, they had all given things up, but for some reason it hurt him the most to think about all the things Hermione had given up for him.
Suddenly a small laugh pulled him out of his musings. It was Hermione and … Ron?
"And then he did a body binding curse without his wand." The door to the library was open a bit, and Ron had just finished telling Hermione about his and Harry's latest practice duel.
"Well that's brilliant! Wow." Harry smiled a bit. She was proud of him. "Where is he now?"
"Getting a snack in the kitchen."
"Oh, I got him some more of those cauldron cakes he likes and some chocolate frogs too. Honestly, you boys are going to rot your teeth out." Harry smiled as he opened one of the chocolate frogs he had found. It jumped out of his hand and through the crack in the door. He quickly jumped after it but tripped and fell into the room.
He stopped rolling, glasses askew, but frog still in hand. He looked up at the surprised faces of Ron and Hermione.
"Caught it." He said bashfully, biting the head off of the frog.
"Harry! Are you okay?" Hermione asked rushing to his side. Ron sat back and laughed.
"I'm fine, just uh you know, I never really was good with chocolate frogs."
"Thank Merlin it's a snitch you have to catch and not a frog, Harry!" Ron added as Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm to help him up.
"Speaking of chocolate frogs, I think I'm going to go get some now," Ron said leaving the room. Harry's eyes followed Ron out the door until he turned back to Hermione who was already returning back to her books.
"So what were you and Ron talking about," Harry asked nonchalantly. Hermione eyed him strangely for a moment.
"Oh you know Ron, always talking about Quidditch this and Quidditch that." She smiled at him. Madame Pomfrey really had done a good job of fixing her teeth. "So what were you doing, conveniently hanging outside the library?"
"I was coming to find you two."
"How was your and Ron's duel today?" she asked stacking books into various piles.
"Oh it went well. He got a few good curses in here and there but I got him with a body binding curse in the end. Do you need help with that?" Harry asked as he watched her struggle with an obnoxiously large book.
"No, no, no!" She objected, swatting away his hand playfully. "This is the only exercise I get. Don't you dare take it away from me," Harry paused. She really didn't get out that much did she? She only left Grimmuld Place once in a while to buy groceries.
"Speaking of exercise, I was kind of wondering if you could, erm, help me with something. You see, Ron's great with dueling but, I mean, I think it would be good to get some variety in my dueling partners. Plus, you need some practice too if you're going to… well I mean if it comes to…" He scratched the back of his head.
"Of course, Harry! I think that's a wonderful idea! Whenever you need me to help just tell me!"
"Hey, same goes for you. Hermione, if you ever need any help with some of your research…" Hermione laughed lightly.
"We both know I would have to check and double check whatever you researched."
"I know, but at least you could make me feel needed." Hermione looked like she was about to launch into her 'of course you're needed!' speech so he decided to change the topic… quickly. "So what's new with you, Hermione?" He asked flopping into a nearby chair. She turned around from her books to stare at him.
"What's new with me? You've never asked me that."
"Well, you know I was just wondering. We don't get to see each other that much anymore. I mean we sleep two doors down from each other and yet I never see you anymore."
"Well, you're always practicing hard with your duels and I'm in here all day looking for any sign of the nonexistent Horcruxes." She waved her hand in the general direction of the books and sighed.
"You should take a break sometime. Ron and I aren't constantly dueling. You're always welcome to join us in a game of wizard chess-"
"Barbaric," Hermione interjected
"Exploding snap,"
"Dangerous."
"Quidditch?" Hermione snorted.
"I'm fine with the library thanks," she said smiling brightly as she opened to a new page.
"Well you deserve to do something fun." He put his hand over the page she was trying to read. "Hermione, I love all the help, truly. You're a brilliant friend to be doing all of this for me, but I'd just rather you not wear yourself out about it all. I do that enough for the both of us."
He had tried to make a joke but it fell flat. Hermione looked at his hand covering the page and then slowly moved up to his eyes. They were as emerald as ever. Her breath hitched just a little. Few times had their intensity been specifically directed at her.
"I want to do this Harry. I need to feel needed." She stood her ground. There was a tense silence for a millisecond and Harry teetered between fighting with her or declaring just how much he really did need her.
"I vote we all go to Diagon Alley for the night. This house is getting depressing and we all need some time off." Harry decided, jumping up from his chair. "I'll go tell Ron. He'll probably know somewhere good to eat." He left quickly but peeked back around the corner to see Hermione had already returned back to work.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and started for the kitchen. He didn't like thinking that all of this was for him. Ron and Hermione would never admit to it but he was sort of ruining their lives, wasn't he? They should be worried about who will win the next Quidditch game or what will be on the next exam. They shouldn't have to worry about Death Eaters. They shouldn't have to worry about Voldemort.
But he was selfish and he needed them. He not only needed their help but also needed their support; He needed their friendship.
Harry James Potter was a selfish little boy. He couldn't give them up. He couldn't give her up. Not yet. Not like Ginny.