A/N: Hey guys thanks for the reviews... though some were a bit, well, heated and criticizing. Not that I don't want criticism... I just need you guys to hang in there with me! One chapter-that's all I gave you at the moment…some of ya needed to hold your tongues. But please do not get angry at me for any snappy remarks…. I was just frustrated. Anyways…on with the show….
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The much awaited…Flashback: (actually a few…keep up!)
Hogwarts
January 28, 1999
Hermione looked at him…beaten and torn. Screaming in joy and laughing in victory. Gryffindor had just trampled the Ravenclaws in the match only ending a few brief moments ago. Through all the trouble with the Horcruxes hunt they had gone through in the past years, here they all were. She saw happiness in Harry that she never knew she'd see again.
She turned her gaze to Ron, who was talking in a very drunken manner to Lavender Brown. She rolled her eyes. Once a Prat, Always a prat…She thought.
Fixing her eyes upon the happy Harry, whose arm was now attached to Ginny. She giggled and pulled him in for a kiss. He laughed and reluctantly kissed her with a shrug. Hermione then saw him whisper something in Ginny's ear that made Ginny go red and giggle.
What a little…Hanging all over Harry like that…as if she REALLY likes him for who he is…not just because he's the bloody boy-who-lived in all the books….Wait. She began to think. Why do I care so much? She's his girlfriend, for the past year now…what does it matter to me?
She thought about her feelings for a minute. No. It can't be. I can't possibly have feelings for…Harry. No. He's my best friend. She quickly dismissed this internal argument with the wave of a hand.
"Hey Hermione…" Harry greeted her as he walked past.
"Oh…hey Harry." She returned as he smiled at her and was pulled away by a not-so-sober Seamus.
Somewhere in side she was…disappointed. Why in the bloody hell do I let him get to me so much!
`Because you love him.' A random voice popped in her head.
No. I can't possibly…love…Harry. Her eyes widened with shock, and thanked the higher beings that no one had been around to watch her cover her mouth in surprise and whisper, "I'm in love with Harry Potter."
Hogwarts
January 29, 1999
The bleary grey skies were not a welcome sight to Harry, as he slit open his eyes and tumbled out of bed reluctantly. Quidditch Practice. Joy.
Getting dressed as quickly as he could in his Quidditch robes, Harry walked down stairs to meet his two best friends in the common room before Saturday breakfast.
He stopped abruptly on the stairs and his smile dropped quickly to a frown at the sight. His two best friends, Ron and Hermione, on the couch….k-kissing. Oh Merlin. Here they are…Here she is…Oh my-
"Oi! Uh…Harry…Hello." Ron said, springing off of Hermione as if she was on fire.
"H-Hi…Um, so…hey." Harry said uneasily. Wow, smooth Potter.
"Harry…" Hermione trailed off, "I'm so sorry…it just happened this morning."
She faced him with a slight smirk on her face that Harry couldn't quite comprehend. Ron jumped in, "Yea, sorry mate, for some reason I just…I guess I just finally…well, told her…"
Harry recovered quickly and nodded, "Um, yeah that's fine. You…you told her?"
"Yeah… I did." Ron smiled cheekily, "And I guess it turns out…that Hermione feels the same way."
Harry eyed Hermione suspiciously. There was something different about her all the sudden. Since when did she get off just jumping into Ron's arms and telling him she's in love with him? When had this all happened? This morning? This was not the Hermione Granger he knew.
"Wow…um, that's great guys…Really." He told them almost as if he was trying to convince himself.
Ron grinned, "Well c'mon guys, Harry and I have practice and I'm famished!"
Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes as she grabbed his hand and walked out behind him, with Harry leading. Am I really this desperate to get over Harry? No…I like Ron. He's…well I know I have some sort of feelings for him. Its sexual tension I guess…I suppose I'll never feel the same way about anyone as I do Harry, and he's got Ginny…he doesn't love me so I might as well give up. It's Ron and I from now on.
As they sat at the table, Ron seemed to be the only one with something to say, as he forced forkfuls of food in his mouth. Hermione laughed cheekily occasionally, just to get in the spirit.
Harry's jaw was clenched as he stared at the new couple. Ron's glass suddenly burst into pieces.
"Oh, Harry dear, are you alright?" Ginny asked holding his arm as Ron shrieked. Hermione rolled her eyes and fixed the glass, refilling the cup and cleaning up the mess.
"Yea, I'm just fine." Harry hissed.
"Where the bloody hell did that come from?" Ron asked.
Harry and Hermione shrugged. Why did I just lose control? They're just my best friends…going out. Together. In love. The thought alone made him want to puke. Why? Why did it matter so much? It's not as if I…Oh, Merlin…have…could I have….feelings for her?! No…No. Out of the question. He thought, Well, yes, yes actually yes, maybe I do…but I couldn't possibly…love her?
"Harry?" Hermione asked pulling him out of his thoughts, laying a hand on his arm. His stomach went completely queasy inside, and that answered his question. Yep, hold the phone…I'm in love. I'm in love with my best friend. I'm in love with Hermione. Perfect. He thought, Just the right time to realize it…right when she's mooning over Ron. Ron. Ron Weasley. He shuddered and pushed the thoughts far from his mind.
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April 25, 1999
The Last Battle
"Merlin…NO!" Harry screamed as the Cruciatus curse ripped through his body. They had been going at this for hours now.
"Give up Potter, you're going to die. Along with your little Weasel and Mudblood friends." Voldemort sneered as Harry forced his eyes to the shackles at which Hermione and Ron were hanging from. He couldn't believe the position they were in. All three of them, ready for combat, training for months and months, and now…Voldemort had caught them off guard and captured his friends.
"Leave them alone!" He yelled, "It's me you want, right? Go ahead, hurt me…just leave those two out of it!"
Voldemort laughed an evil laugh, "Oh…yes, Harry. I think that's precisely what I'll do. Just let you watch your friends be set free…where's the fun in that?"
He turned to Hermoine, "Crucio!"
"NO!" Harry screamed, shouting deflected curse after deflected curse as Voldemort.
Suddenly, Harry got the intense feeling within him, a surge of great power. He quickly cast the first spell that came to mind and Voldemort didn't have time to counter-act it. Before anyone could blink, Voldemort was down on the ground, out cold, his powers already severely drained from earlier. Harry wasted no time in raising the sword triumphantly over his head and said, "For Dumbledore…For My parents…For Sirius…For every other bloody person you killed…for my friends!" He yelled as he chopped the head off of Voldemort's limp body. His breath was staggered, and he quickly released his friends from the shackles. They limped to him and he caught Hermione as she almost fell.
"I'm so sorry…I'm sorry…I tried to do something…I couldn't get you out-" Harry rambled on apologies.
"Harry. Relax. We're fine now." She hugged him, tears in her eyes. "You did it, Harry. We did it. We defeated him!"
He smiled, "Yes. Yes we did."
She pulled away and Ron patted Harry on the back, pulling him into a brotherly hug. "The war is over…The war is over…"
Hermione turned to Ron and kissed him.
Oh, right. Harry thought, They are together aren't they. Yes. For the past few months now. And yet you still haven't got the courage to tell her, huh Potter? Yes. Brave indeed. I should tell her…I should tell her tonight…He saw trickles of scarred and bleeding people coming to meet the three and scream out in victory, and cry out in loss.
Ginny pulled him into a hug and a rather intense kiss. "Oh, Harry…I love you. I can't believe…that you almost died! I've been so scared…."
He tried to smile, but his gaze, through is broken glasses, was falling upon Ron and Hermione. Tell her.
Later that night, as they were all dodging members of the Order and the Ministry, hiding out in the common room, they tried to enjoy one last full night of bliss before they returned to hell of it all. The stories, their statements, the interviews, they were all almost in tears and were bleeding…and now they had to share their innermost fears and doubts to the world.
Harry told Ginny at least. "Gin…I'm sorry." He said to her later that night. "I'm sorry that I have to do this to you…on this night and all…But I'm sorry…I can't do this anymore. And when I say this…I mean you and me." He gestured his hand between the two of them.
"What!" She exclaimed in surprise, "You're breaking up with me! Tonight of all nights! Well done, Harry Potter…you really know how to let a girl down easily!" She slapped him and stormed off. I guess I deserved that. He thought, reaching up to touch his cheek.
Hermione. He thought, Must tell Hermione.
Gathering up all his courage, he descended down the stairs, fully intent of revealing his true feelings. But he found Ron and Hermione…together on the couch…engaged in full force snogging. His anger turned to sadness, and he returned to his room. Who am I kidding? It'll never happen.
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May 23, 2000
Hogwarts-Harry's dorm
Last day of school
This was the day he received the fateful news. He lay in bed that night after Hermione and Ron breaking the news of her pregnancy and their impending marriage to him.
I can't believe it. I can not. Hermione? Pregnant? Now? At 17! She wanted to have a job…she wanted to go places….not settle down at 17! Hermione Weasley…no. That's not right. I should have told her…maybe things would've been different now. Or maybe they'd have been worse. I have no idea what's caused this change in Hermione…but I think they just need some space. If I stick around, I'll say something, or do something I'll regret…yes. He thought, convincing himself he'd made the right decision to be an American Auror. I would probably accidentally object at the wedding…and as much as I wish that she could love me the way I want her to…she never will. She's got Ron. Ron. Ron. Ron.
Damn it, I wonder what Sirius would think of me now? Crumbling at the least sight of…this. But no, I have to do it. I have to go. It's not as if I'll never see him again….
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Same day-Hermione's dorm
She laid there, under her covers, curtains drawn, where no one could see her. No one could hear her. She cried for hours…
This isn't what I wanted…This isn't what I wanted at all! At first I was just going out with Ron to get over Harry…but now…I'm marrying him? Having his child??! No it was all too much. I still love Harry…I love him so deeply it hurts….I pray everyday he will love me the same. And now he's leaving. He's leaving. For America. I have no idea how long it'll be till I see him again…
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June 1, 2000
Grimmauld Place
Harry's departure
She watched him pack his things in the boot, as she fought the tears so willingly coming to her eyes.
Be strong, Hermione. Be strong.
He turned to her and smiled. It was fake, and so was hers. But they were smiles. Ron looked between the two of them and chuckled… "See ya soon Harry!"
Harry looked at Hermione reluctantly and hugged her. The smell of her hair…the way she looks, the way she feels…How am I supposed to go without the sound of her voice?
"Goodbye." She told him teary eyed.
"Goodbye." He said, climbing into the car, and turning to get one last look. Now they can move on… He thought to himself.
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Present
She acted purely on instinct, with tears in her eyes and running down her cheeks, she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck; crying hysterically into his chest.
"Harry…" She croaked. She could not believe what was happening. She hoped it wasn't a dream. But it had to be…he's dead. He's gone. No…no…this can't be happening.
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A/N: Don't be angry! I know this chapter was very choppy…considering the flashbacks…I just had to get you caught up…or else you might fall behind on the future chapters. I promise next chapter will be ALL present and Harry and Hermione's angst and friendship and oh…the repairing they'll have to do. BUT! In future warning, to some of you, you may think that Hermione will be very angry at him for leaving, which she will, and that Harry will still be mad she's with Ron…which he will, you have to realize…ten years has gone by. She'll be mad and upset…but also happy that he's back and willing to work it out…even if it takes awhile.
Ps. Next chapter is rather long-it's called, "Deliver Us From Ron"! I'll leave you and your imagination to it now…
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