Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. What, you think if I did we would have such pairings at the end? *rolls eyes*
A/N: This is a collection of one-shots about moments in DH that I thought could turn into Harry and Hermione being together, if only JK had wanted it to happen. So…hope you'll enjoy! They'll always start with a small part quoted from the book, just to let you know where we are at the moment.
Oh, this one has an higher rating version, it's posted under the title of the one shot, and the rating is NC17. Thought a bit of smut could do no wrong to raise our spirits a bit, lol.
Where Deathly Hallows Could Have Turned Harmonian
Comforting Each Other, Completing Each Other
Harry felt a corrosive hatred towards Ron: something had broken between them.
"Leave the Horcrux" Harry said.
Ron wrenched the chain from over his head and cast the locket into a nearby chair. He turned to Hermione.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you staying, or what?"
"I…" she looked anguished. "Yes - yes, I'm staying. Ron, we said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help…"
"I get it. you choose him"
"Ron, no…please…come back, come back!"
She was impeded by her own Shield Charm; by the time she had removed it, he had already stormed into the night. Harry stood quite still and silent, listening to her sobbing and calling Ron's name amongst the trees.
After a few minutes she returned, her sopping hair plastered to her face.
"He's g-g-gone! Disapparated!"
She threw herself into a chair, curled up and started to cry.
Harry felt both happy and hollow at Ron's departure. He was happy because the redhead had really exaggerated this time. He accused them of not caring about the Weasleys, just because their parents were safe!
"My parents are dead, Hermione's are in a foreign country not even knowing they have a daughter. Such a lovely daughter at that" he thought angrily. "How dare he say something like that?"
But he also felt hollow, because Ron was his best friend, his brother almost, and to have him desert them hurt like hell. It had happened before, in their fourth year, but he thought Ron was past that. He clearly wasn't though.
As he focused again, he could hear Hermione's sobs and hiccupping, and he imagined her face strained by tears. His heart broke, and he turned.
He kneeled in front of her, and wrapped his arms around her figure.
"Hermione, please, don't cry" he said softly. "I hate it when you cry" he then admitted, and proceeded to wipe away her tears.
"I…I c-can't believe he's l-left" she sobbed, wiping at her eyes angrily. "And I c-can't believe I'm c-crying over it!" she added then.
Harry didn't really know what to say, so he patted her back and held her close. In the silence that enveloped the tent, only her slowly receding sobs could be heard, both of them deep in thought.
Harry couldn't help thinking that Ron was a jerk. He knew the redhead liked Hermione, and he knew he probably felt threatened by her bond with him, but Ron more than anyone other should know how much Hermione meant to him, and how much he meant to Hermione. No boyfriend or girlfriend would even come between them, and Ron had to know it.
But no, the redhead got into another of his jealous tantrums, and left them alone, making her cry. As anger boiled into him again, he left her, and moved to his bed.
"Harry" she called softly to him, by now not crying anymore.
He turned, giving her a smile that didn't reach his eyes, though.
"I want you to know, I've never doubted you" she said, standing up and walking toward him. She then hugged him, and sighed.
"Ron will come around, Harry. I just know it" she whispered then. Harry nodded. He was amazed. She was the one crying and sad, and yet she was there comforting him for his best friend's betrayal.
He felt a rush of affection for her, and returned the hug, kissing the top of her head.
"I know. But if he doesn't…" he started, but she shushed him with a finger.
He gently grabbed it with his hand, and moved it aside.
"If he doesn't, you and me alone will be enough. We will do it, Hermione, with Ron or without him" he said, and she nodded.
"I guess we should sleep now. Tomorrow we have to leave soon" he said then retreating to his bed. She did the same.
However, neither of them slept much that night. Harry continued brooding over Ron's betrayal, but there was also something else he had on his mind. He kept thinking about how good Hermione had felt in his arms, and how he had wanted to hold her all night long.
He knew he couldn't, he would not respect his boundaries if he did, after all he knew Ron fancied her, and while he was a git, he was still his best friend, plus Harry got the vibe se might like the redhead back. And last but not least, they were in the middle of a war, there wasn't time to mess around with dating and such.
Hermione was awake for more or less the same reasons. Was it true what Ron had said? Had she really chosen Harry, even if unconsciously? She didn't know. True, Harry was kind, caring, not to mention handsome, and he had that aura of power about him even if he didn't realize it. But lately, she had got to enjoy the attention Ron was giving her, and she thought she might like to give him a chance.
So, where did she really stay, on the matter? Ron, or Harry?
As dawn came by, she got up and went to the kitchen to fix breakfast for the two of them. She had done that since they left.
She, however, found Harry had already done it.
"Good Morning" he called to her more cheerfully than he felt himself.
"Good morning" she said, still a bit surprised.
"What, you didn't think I could make breakfast?" he joked, and she laughed.
He felt his spirits soar hearing her laughter, and he smiled too, this time more sincerely. "So, where are we going to head to, today?"
"Her…Harry…would you mind if we stayed a bit more, just to give him a chance to come back, if he wants to? I know there are the charms to prevent him from finding us, but…"
"If you want to, let's wait for a bit. I don't have a bloody clue where to search for that sword, or the other Horcruxes, so what bad can it do?" he shrugged, and Hermione felt he was still doubting himself as a leader.
Walking up to him, she placed her hands on his face, forcing him to look at her. Harry couldn't stop himself from wondering how soft her skin was. As she searched his face, he gulped at their closeness.
"Harry, I have complete faith in you" she said, her brown eyes finding his emerald ones. He knew she was sincere.
"Why?" he asked. It was stupid, but he had to know. "You'd be a better leader than I am" he added then.
"Me?" she laughed again. "No, I couldn't do it. I can help you, but it's not me, Harry. It's always been you who had to do this, you who could do this, while no one else could"
As light penetrated the tent, and reflected on her locks, Harry felt the need to outstretch his hand and touch her hair. It felt much smoother than he imagined, and he kept doing that for some moments, before noticing her curious gaze and the blush that had taken place on her cheeks, now pink.
"Sorry" he muttered, retreating his hand. He chastised himself for doing that. After all it wasn't like he was attracted to her…he had Ginny…
As he thought that, the redhead's face appeared in his mind as a distant image, faded. Harry felt troubled at this, and excused himself, leaving.
Hermione sat down, and ate quickly. Thye ahd already lost some time, hoping Ron could return, but there was no sign of him, so they should get going and leave him behind.
As she ate though, she couldn't help seeing again Harry outstretch his hand, caress her hair, and the blush that had rose to her face. She remembered how good it felt to be in his arms the previous night, while he comforted her, and wondered if she really had had to make a choice, or it was already done for her since the beginning.
Realization hit her hard as those images filled her head again, and she smiled, shaking her head.
"What you so happy about?" Harry called, a smile on his face too.
"Nothing" she lied. "We need to get going"
"Right" he said, turning serious again. Quickly they packed their things, the tent finding its usual place in Hermione's beaded bag, and Harry taking his rucksack.
As they took each other hands, and spun on the place, Harry felt once again the constricting sensation of Apparition. Darkness enveloped them for a moment, and then they landed.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"In a forest near Brighton" she said. "It' the first place I could think of" she shrugged when he looked at her inquiringly.
As they settled the tent, few words were exchanged. He went to search for something edible, and she took care of the rest. As he returned with some mushrooms and a little bunny, she shot him a glare.
"We need to eat, right?" he reasoned. She kept her stern attitude all evening, and he tried everything to make her smile at him again.
As she was reading the book Dumbledore had left her, and he was going to have his part of the watch, he turned.
"I'm sorry for that bunny, Hermione" he said. "I thought if we could eat fish, we could eat meat too. I didn't think you'd take it so bad that I caught it"
She said nothing, so he turned and walked away. As his back was turned to her, she smiled, thinking he was really cute then he rambled like that. She'd always found it endearing.
Minutes later, she fell asleep, and her dreams were filled by her best friend. She smiled contentedly, and Harry was happy to look at her from the entrance of the tent. He sighed. He suspected he might be harbouring more than platonic feelings for her, but now was not the right moment to tell her so, for many reasons.
However, when he went to wake her up, so that she could have her part of the watch, he was pleasantly surprised to hear her murmur his name.
She stirred, and in few minutes was ready to take her place at the entrance. She wished him good night, for what had remained of the night, at least, and kissed him on the cheek. He touched the spot for some minutes, before sleep took him.
While he slept, Hermione revised her plan. She knew it was not the right moment to act girlish, they were at war after all, but she needed to know, or she would not be able to focus properly on their mission.
Another meaningless day of Apparating away, placing the tent and the charms, cooking and thinking about the Horcruxes and where to find them rolled over, and as they met each other in the tent, one going to sleep, the other going to make the watch, Hermione put her arms around his neck, and held him tight.
He was a bit surprised at her behaviour, but he hugged her back anyway. She sighed, then looked up at him.
"I guess he was right, you know" she said.
"What?" he said bewildered.
"I guess I've really chosen you, Harry" she said, then pressed her lips to his own. He was shocked, but pleased.
The raven haired boy kissed her back with all what he had, burying his hands in her hair, and pulling her even closer. Their bodies menaced to melt one into the other, but they didn't care. Hermione was in heaven, it was her first kiss, and she couldn't have dreamed of something more perfect.
As Harry's tongue met hers for the first time, and they started an heated dance in each other's mouths, she knew that her guess in fifth year was right. Harry was not a bad kisser, not at all. He was, indeed, making her feel loved like no one else before.
Harry couldn't believe himself. Here he was, in the middle of a war, snogging his female best friend like there was no tomorrow, the girl he knew his other best friend fancied, and with no thoughts for the girl who was supposed to be his girlfriend.
He couldn't even remember how kissing Ginny felt like, so overwhelmed he was by the sensations kissing Hermione was giving him. He felt like he had finally found a missing piece of himself.
When finally both had to stop the kiss due to lack of air, Harry was panting, but a grin was plastered on his face.
"Wow" he whispered.
"Yeah, wow" she whispered back, smiling at him with that smile that put every star in shame. The moon itself couldn't be more radiant than her smile, and he wanted to kiss her all over again. But there was a duty to take care of.
Nodding to her, he grabbed his wand, and went to the entrance of the tent. They exchanged another smile before she entered her sleeping bag and closed her eyes, touching her swollen lips, and inwardly giggling like mad.
There was no need of spoken "I love you"s. Both knew what the other felt, with that deep understanding that had created between them in the years, the one that made them complete each other sentences, and thoughts, and both felt more content than they had since the start of that long and difficult journey.
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