Illogical

I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!! JK ROWLING DOES! If I owned it, Hermione and Harry would be together! I merely own the plot! This plot bunny was in my head for a while! So here you go! Written before 7^th book came out so yeah…REVIEW!!!!! (Hermione POV yay)

BOLD: Hermione's voice inside her head

ITALIC: some annoying un-hermioneish voice in Hermione's head. Maybe Ginny? Who knows…..

………………………………..

It was a cold, September night in Vernon's Creek. I sat there in the high grasses outside the shabby inn we were staying at, The Vestige. The wind blowing was blowing the grass randomly, shifting it side to side, allowing it to tickle my bare arms, which were shivering from the cold. I hadn't thought of grabbing a jacket, and I was deeply regretting it now, seeing as I was only in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, my hair pulled back so the hairs on the back of my neck were exposed. I hugged my knees and pulled them into myself, shivers running up my spine that were totally unrelated to the weather. But, strangely, the weather meant nothing to me. I had way more important issues on my mind right now, and I was utterly confused. I looked out over the hills, staring at the beautiful sunset. The way the colors blended together was so peaceful, and so perfect. It was too perfect….lately everything that made my life perfect was gone, and all that was left was utter confusion. Death and destruction was around every corner, taunting me. Waiting for me to screw up in some way. Waiting for me, calling for me. I knew it was coming, but the fact that I had no idea when scared me to death. I was so used to knowing everything, and being able to control happenings with my actions. The fact that this situation with the War was so out of my hands drove me to the edge. I hated it all. I loathed it all. How the war had changed everything….and everyone, especially one wizard who had been haunting my dreams for about a week. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to convince myself that I was really upset, and that was why I was feeling this way. Why these thoughts kept coming back to me….why I couldn't get him out of my mind. It was completely logical. I kept thinking of him because of the danger we were in. I thought of him constantly, knowing he could be taken from me any day now. I was scared, worried, and afraid that I would loose my best friends, someone I cherished dearly. But some how, certain feelings were not explained by this assumption.

Why is this happening to me? Why am I thinking of him like this?

Because he is the only thing that still makes your life perfect. You just won't admit it.

I shook my head again. “No, no that can't be it,” I whispered. “That would ruin everything!”

Would it?

“Of course it would!” I muttered angrily to myself. “I cannot feel this way. It will just get in the way! Plus I don't really feel that way about him.”

Then what was your reason for breaking up with Ron? Besides the fact that you are in love with-

“I have my reasons!” I spat angrily, unaware that I was having a one sided conversation with myself. I pulled out a blade of grass angrily, my hand shaking. Lately I had become my worst enemy. Some other part of me had awoken. A part that loved to taunt me and confuse me and cause myself pain and misery. Someone who never knew when to shut up, or knew when to stop, but didn't care in the slightest if the constant nagging annoyed me. And such lies they told! Like I really though of him like that!

I twirled the piece of grass, admiring it. How smooth it was…and the color…the color amazed me. Such a rich dark emerald green. It remembered me of something, but what? I felt my stomach flip at the thought that ran through my mind on response: a teenage boy with long black hair and a sca-.

I shook my head again wildly, trying to shake out my bad thoughts; the thoughts that would ruin everything. Not him again. Why couldn't he just leave me alone? Why did he have to keep popping up in my thought? They are my thoughts! Not his! Couldn't he just leave me be?

You don't want him to leave you alone you want the opportunity-

“GIVE IT UP!” I screamed, falling backwards into the grass, being completely hidden by the tall blades. I felt my eyes sting, my vision blurring. “This is business, strictly business! Nothing else!” I felt a lone tear slide its way down my face. I wiped it away quickly.

What is so bad about wanting…him?

“I am his best friend! And this is not how a best friend should feel about the other!” I sobbed, tears falling faster as my heart pounded. I was so close to my breaking point lately, and any slight irritation set me off. If only I could reach into my head and rip that insensitive wart out of my head and hex that person into the next universe. That would help me relieve my stress gratefully.

Wasn't Ron your best friend? teased the voice, knowing that it was striking a nerve. The tone of the voice was clearly awaiting my meltdown. It came.

“Ahh!” I screamed out loud. I screamed at the top of my lungs, emotions going crazy. I felt like my throat would rip. I lay there, shaking, trying to calm myself down. At the same time, anger flared up inside me, daring the voice to speak again. I wrapped my arms around myself crying harder. I had no idea about what was making me cry, but it was overwhelming. It was unbearable. It was such a mix of emotions; it was hard to place what went with what. I pulled at my hair. He made me crazy. Absolutely crazy. His smile, so goofy, so perfectly white, that carried up to his eyes making them glow.

Oh my god, his eyes. The one thing that could completely control me lately, the one thing that could convince me to stay up an extra hour with him, helping him read up on his horocruxes. When they were happy, they shimmered and glowed brighter than the sun. When he was angry, you could see the flames dancing in them. When he has bored, his eyes dulled, but you could still make out little gold flecks scattered here and there. But when they were sad…that tore me apart. They lost all hope, all signs of compassion. They became dull and gray, like they had been like for so many weeks now. Ever since Dumbledore's funeral, it had seemed like his soul had died along with the glorious headmaster, shutting down his personality and lessening his compassion. And causing those eyes to fade with his depression. It tore me apart to wake up every morning to those tired eyes, so full of pain. But somehow, I found myself still mesmerized by them.

His eyes were a mystery to me nowadays, so secretive and hidden. They showed that he was clearly hiding a lot under his surface. And I was desperate to solve the mystery and bring the glow that they used to have… completely dedicated to finding that glow that was him….so uniquely Harry.

“Oh my god I am falling for Harry,” I moaned quietly, my body laying still, my hands falling to my sides. I looked up and saw his face plastered there, grinning down at me. A smile tugged at my lips. “I really am falling for him.” I closed my eyes, trying to rid myself of him, but I couldn't. He was filling every particle of my brain, his soothing voice ringing through my ears. His laughter echoing in my mind, warming me up. There was no way. There was no way around it. I was falling in love with Harry James Potter. I opened my eyes and took a deep breath, the shaking almost completely gone. “How?” came from my lips. “How could this all………how………..” I stared up at the sky, watching it spin, stars poking out and shining brightly. I rolled over onto my stomach.

What had happened between me and Ron anyway? I really had no clue. I remember developing a crush on him in 4^th year…but after that, my feelings were mixed. One moment I was desperately in love with him, the other, I wanted to strangle him with one of my elf-made hats that he always poked fun at.

Harry never made fun of S.P.E.W….

I groaned into the grass, closing my eyes, wanting this strange feeling to go away. Why? Why had my feelings changed? Why had I liked Ron in the first place?

I rolled back onto my back, my brow furrowing. Why did I like Ron? I mean, he wasn't the best looking guy I've ever seen, but he was attractive. He had a sense of humor, even though it was sometimes rude and crude. He was fun to hang around……and why else?? I racked my brain, wondering why I could think so much of…ehm…a certain person, but could not think of the qualities Ron possessed. He wasn't exactly smart, but he wasn't unintelligent. He could have his moments. And……and…… A question popped into my head. One that I hadn't thought of for some time. One that I had ignored desperately since Bill's wedding.

Had I liked Ron merely because he liked me? I had guessed that he liked me back in 4^th year. Anyone could see that he had been jealous of Krum. At first I thought it was a brotherly protection, but Harry wasn't giving Krum death stares every time he saw me talking to him, or even when Krum was just walking around through the halls, minding his own business.

Maybe it was…I don't know if anyone noticed…hell who didn't notice…I'm just not the type of girl that has a lot of experience with men. I am just not; I have never been like that. Was I so happy that a guy liked me, a guy that I knew and one who knew all my flaws, that I made myself like him? Was I that desperate?

“That couldn't be,” I muttered, shaking my head. But then, why did I like Ron? I mean we fought so much. Some people would say that we cared so much about what we thought of each other that we argued, but I am not sure if that is it. Maybe…maybe it was, every time he hurt me, or angered me…I just wanted to make him feel some of my pain? Maybe he just flat out annoyed me?

Why does this all have to so hard? Why can't I just go back to liking Ron? I mean Harry probably still likes Ginny, even though he broke it off. Ginny had said it was for some “stupid noble reason”. So even if I really wanted to…..ummm…u know…… I wouldn't. I would never take him away from her. She's loved him for so long. Even before she met him.

But is that love? Does Ginny love Harry, or the Boy Who Lived? I scowled at the thought. Ginny was never as close to Harry as I am to him. She knows nothing about him. I am the one who he would talk to about his problems at midnight in the Common Room. I was the one who believed him in 4^th year when no one else would! I was the one who helped him to get to Sirius, even if I wasn't sure about going to the Ministry of Magic. I helped Harry because that's how much he means to me. I couldn't just abandon him.

“What does he see in her?” I growled, staring at a firefly buzzing around my head. “What could he possibly see in her? Yeah, she's pretty, but….there's nothing really special about her, is there?” I slapped myself mentally. Ginny is my friend, and I was resorting to bashing her to make myself feel better? For unknown reasons?

“Maybe he does relate to Ginny. I mean, they both love Quidditch, and they both have been possessed by Voldermort…and she was a much better listener last year…She even looks like Harry's mother. It's destiny.” I felt my eyes sting, and felt a tear flow down my cheek. “Destiny…”

Face it, last year I was too wound up in the Ron Problem. I was so mad at him and Lavender for dating, that I took it out on Harry. I took my anger out on him all because of him getting better grades in potions. I was a terrible friend. I abandoned him when he probably needed me the most. With Sirius dying the year before, and with Voldermort back, he needed me. And I abandoned him because I was jealous and I wanted to be the top of the class.…And the prophecy…..oh my god, I wasn't there for him about any of that stuff….what kind of friend am I? How could I have acted like that?

“Damn it!” I spat. When had I been there for him last year? Never.

Not until I and Ron were better. I was too wound up in romance to see that Harry needed me. I shoved Harry to the side, when he was always the friend who at least tried to make amends and help me when there were problems. And he wasn't the one that hurt me on countless occasions.

Face it, Ron and I brought out the worst in each other. We just were not compatible. We looked for different things in a relationship. We were too different…opposites attract my as-

“Hermione?” called a voice. My stomach lurched.

“Not now,” I whispered, wiping my face. “Please just leave, please?”

“Hermione?” called Harry again, sounding worried. I had half a mind to lie there, ignoring him, so I could be left in my thoughts. No, I couldn't do that to him. There were so many deaths and disappearances with Voldermort supporters running amok nowadays. I'd just worry him. He might think I had been captured while we were on our hunt for the Horocruxes. I couldn't do that to Harry.

“I'm over here,” I called back. I heard the rustling and crunching of leaves as he walked over.

“Where?” he called. I realized that I was hidden in the tall grasses, and that he couldn't see me. I sat up and peeked over the tops of the grasses. I saw his shadow walking around.

“Over here!” I waved my hand. I saw him stare at my silhouette and walk over. Suddenly, a light from the small village turned on, bathing the area where I was sitting in light. The field was now illuminated with the little light, and you could see the streets of the town much easier. Harry walked over, his hands dug deep into his pockets. He stopped and looked down at me. I smiled weakly up at him.

“Hey,” I gasped, wondering why I was so out of breath.

“Hey,” he responded. His eyes locked on mine, and I saw the dark circles that were tattooed around his eyes, making him look like a raccoon, and his eyes, no longer green, but more of a grayish color. It broke my heart to see him standing there, looking so defeated. I felt a pang of guilt, and wondered how he had looked last year with all his stress, and was reminded again of how I hadn't been there for him. He looked at the space next to me. “Can I sit down?” he asked.

“Of course,” I replied. He nodded gratefully and sat down next to me. There was an awkward silence, broken by Harry. “So…….Ron told me that you broke up,” he replied, his voice strange.

“Yeah, two weeks ago,” I replied, staring out over the horizon, shivering again as the temperature dropped. Harry turned to look at me and his eyes widened. In an instant he was taking off his jacket and slipping it around my shoulders. I tried to shrug it off, but he was stronger than me.

“Don't be ridiculous,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You are freezing.”

“What about you?” I spat back, pulling his jacket around me tighter. He chuckled, eyes brightening up ever so slightly.

“Don't worry about me. I'm a big boy.” He flashed a half grin at me and I laughed, happy to see some of the old Harry Potter staring back at me. Another awkward silence fell. “So….why did it happen?” he asked me. I looked up, startled at being pulled out of my trance. I looked away from the horizon which was now a deep midnight blue, and realized how long I had been gone. I tucked a stray curl behind my ear.

“What?” I asked, frowning slightly. “Sorry, I dozed of for a second.”

“Why did you two break up?” he asked again, no tone of annoyance. He looked generally concerned. I felt my heart flutter. “I mean…you guys seemed like the perfect couple.” I snorted and turned to face him.

“Far from perfect Harry. We couldn't go 3 hours with out fighting like an old married couple. Do you think that any relationship with that much fighting is a strong one?” I asked quizzically, raising my eyebrow. Harry stared at me.

“I thought that maybe-“

“We fought because we cared about what each other thought about us?” Harry looked surprised.

“Well…yeah,” he replied finally. I laughed again.

“It just….didn't work out Harry. We were fighting way too much. WE were not compatible.”

“I didn't notice it,” said Harry, staring intensely at me, making me shift uncomfortably.

“Well, we tried to hide it from you, didn't we? Because of the pressure you have on your shoulders right now, we hid it. We didn't think you needed stupid relationship problems on your plate too. Plus, I know how much you hate it when we bicker. We just felt like it wasn't your burden to bear.”

“You never have to hide something from me, Hermione. I don't want you to have to bear something alone…” There was a pause, where Harry twiddled his thumbs, his face screwed up in deep thought. I could tell he was debating about something. He sighed, and the looked away from his hands and stared past me at the village. “Did you break up because of me?” he asked guiltily.

“No! Not at all! Do no think that it is your fault because it is not!” I exclaimed. He looked down at the floor, dropping his gaze again, looking guilty.

“It is this stupid Horocrux thing. Isn't it? It strained your relationship, I am so sorr-“

“HARRY!” I yelled, trying to get his attention; I got it. He jumped and stared at me, shocked at my outburst. “Stop blaming yourself for this! It is not your fault. Ron and I just weren't meant to be! We never were, never will be! It was a stupid crush! I don't even know why I even liked him to begin with! I was just so happy that some guy really liked me that I concentrated on his pros and ignored all his flaws! I made myself like him at first! True, I really did fall in love with him, but face it, what do we have in common? Nothing! He can be so insensitive sometimes and he doesn't understand me and my studies! We are just not compatible! We brought out the worst in each other! We made each other do crazy, rude, careless things! We bickered, we hurt each other, and we were just immature when we were around each other! I love Ron, but as a brother! We just couldn't hold together a mature relationship! We tried and I really wanted it to succeed! I really liked him, but, ah, the more we got into the relationship, the more I realized it was a lie…” I gasped, amazed at what I was saying, everything that was spilling out of me. Harry was staring at me, listening intently. “…It wasn't a healthy relationship…It just wasn't meant to be…and I am okay with that...” I looked over his shoulder, a dazed look in my eyes, and my mind wandered. I was unaware of Harry sitting there for the moment.

I was shocked at what I had said. Half of the things coming out of my mouth were new to me. More reasons why I had broken things off with Ron. I said it aloud, making it final. But the words I said, it wasn't a ramble out of pain showing that I missed Ron, it was all truth. And god did it feel so good to get off my chest.

“You okay? Seriously, are you okay? You seem bothered. But, I don't know why you would be,” joked Harry, attempting to be funny again. I turned to look at him and cocked my head. Then I realized, for the first time in over a month, he was joking. He was being sarcastic. I laughed, hysterically, even thought what he had said was worth no more than a chuckle. I felt my shoulders shaking, I was laughing like a maniac.

“Seriously, are you okay?” asked Harry, placing a hand on my shoulder, sounding concerned. I laughed harder, laughing away all the pain I had gone through lately, all the hurt, all the confusion. Suddenly, I heard Harry start to laugh, and it made me laugh harder. I fell backwards, and I heard a thud. I realized that I must have pulled Harry down with me. I rolled onto my side and saw him laughing, his eyes sparkling, showing a tint of green.

“What are we laughing at?” I asked, my breathing becoming regular again as I calmed down.

“I do not know Miss Granger. You are the one who started this barbaric laugh fest,” said Harry, winking.

“I really don't know what I was laughing.”

“Of course you know, because I am so naturally funny,” said Harry obviously. I snorted.

“Nope! Not that Mr. Potter. It has just been so long since you joked, I guess I just lost control. We haven't had a lot of chances for laughter.” Harry nodded.

“Yeah, we haven't been able to laugh like this in a while…I miss seeing you laugh. I feel bad for having you here with me, when you should be at Hogwarts. You should be there right now, not here. ”

“Don't say that Harry. I know perfectly well that my place is here, standing by you.”

“But your dream of being Head Girl, taking N.E.W.T.S….what about all that?”

“You are so much more important to me that a badge or a stupid test Harry,” I replied simply. I looked at Harry and saw him smiling. Suddenly, I felt a question burst out of my mouth. A question I had been harboring since the Wedding at the Burrow.

“Harry?”

“Yes?” He sat up looking down at me. I pushed myself up and shook my hair back.

“What happened between you and Ginny?” I asked. Harry had a weird look on his face, one I couldn't describe. “I mean, she told me that you broke up with her, but I don't know…I thought you really liked her.”

“I thought so too,” said Harry seriously. “I mean, I had an amazing time with her while we were dating. It was like something out of someone else's life, and I loved it. For once I felt like a regular teenager…not some savior…for once I could just be me.” He sighed deeply.

“But you broke it off. Why?”

“Because I didn't want Voldermort to use her to get to me. I just am not in the state for a relationship right now…with anybody.” He shook his head. “I can't be thinking about things like love right now. I can't be distracted. The whole world is counting on me, and I can't let them down. I can't let my parents and Sirius' deaths be in vain…I can't let myself and my expectations for myself down. I have to stand tall and push through. I can't show weakness, and I can't give him any extra ways to get to me.”

“But Harry, you need to love to be able to defeat him-“

“I'm not saying that I am stopping loving Hermione. I still have love in my heart for my family, and you, and Ron, but I just can't be tied down in a relationship. Plus, I really don't know if I will see the end of this. I can't have her tied down.”

“Either way Harry, she has loved you since she was 11. She is not going to stop loving you now,” I pointed out.

“I don't think she loved me then. I'm sorry to say this, but I really do not think she even loved me last year.” I stared at him. “When she was 11, she was in love with the Boy Who Lived. That's all she knew me for up to 5^th year. Even when we were going out, she really didn't know me that well. She's got nothing on you.” He smiled, and I smiled back, thanking god that I was sitting down, or else I would have fell. My legs were feeling like jelly.

“I just, I wonder if she still loves me because of my title. I mean, there is no other reason to like me.”

“Don't be stupid! There are tons of reasons to like you Harry! You are honest, loving, caring, funny, smart, brave, witty, trustworthy, talented, popular, and face it your looks aren't half bad,” my jaw dropped. Had I said that all out loud? THE LAST PART????

“Really?” Harry slid closer to me, a peculiar grin on his face. “And, Hermione, tell me what makes me look attractive.”

“I never said you were attractive.”

“You implied it, so tell me.” I glared at him. “Come on! It will help my morale!” He puffed out his chest, grinning like Lockhart, and ran a hand though his hair. I laughed.

“Your ego is way too big. If I tell you what makes you attractive it may just pop,” I joked. He laughed.

“You admitted it!”

“No, I was just making a statement!” I fought back, scolding myself for getting into this situation.

“Please?” he asked, eyes twinkling. I felt my heart skip and suddenly I felt light headed. My Harry was back, after missing him for so long…wait...what? Since when is he `my' Harry? Oh to hell with all of this! I rolled my eyes.

“Fine! It is your eyes.” I replied reluctantly. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

“My eyes?” asked Harry. I nodded. Harry shrugged. “Yeah they aren't that bad.”

“They are gorgeous,” I whispered, then blushed realizing what I had said. Luckily he didn't hear me. He put his hand on top of mine, sending chills down my body.

“It's been a while since we talked like this, or laughed like this…I miss it.”

“I do too,” I whispered, looking into his eyes. I grinned, seeing that they were the same vibrant color they had been before. They won't stay like that, I thought, but at least for this moment, the old Harry is back, and I am loving every minute of it.

“I missed you Hermione,” said Harry sincerely. “I miss talking to you about stuff. I miss hanging out with you like this. Lately everything is intertwined with those stupid horocruxes. I just wish that, for a moment, life could just pause, and I could have some regular time with you guys.” He hung his head. “I miss being a kid…It hurts to have your childhood ripped away from you…and you have no say in it. I hate this all. But someone has to do it.” He looked at me, and I nodded, showing that I understood.

“I missed you too,” I replied, nodding. “And I understand how you feel. Actually, I don't. I'll never understand how you feel, but I understand why you feel that way. It's logical.”

“Is everything always logical with you Hermione?” Harry laughed, shaking his head, his mop of jet-black hair swinging around, falling gracefully around his eyes. “Seriously, not everything in life happens for a reason, or a good reason at that. Don't always rely on logic. It won't help you everywhere.”

“I beg to differ,” I replied shortly. “I find that a good logical outlook on life can help you anywhere. It stops people from doing stupid actions,” I raised my eyebrows at him. He started laughing again.

“You crack me up Hermione. I mean, yeah logic is helpful, but sometimes, just acting on impulse or with your heart is so much better than thinking it all through logically. The unexpected can be better than the expected. It would take out the fun of life, being all strict and orderly all the time.”

“What's wrong with being strict?” I asked, eyes narrowing.

“Nothing!” said Harry truthfully, waving a hand. “All I am saying is that you can't just live your life off what is easy and safe, you have to take risks sometimes to get where you need to go, or to live life to the fullest. You know?” I shook my head.

“You sound like my mom's wisdom calendar,” I must have sounded a little bitter, because Harry leaned in a little closer. I looked up at him, and by mistake looked straight into his eyes, loosing myself in their depths of emerald.

You can't deny it anymore…..

“You do understand what I am saying, right? I'm not insulting you in any way. You do know that?”

“Yes,” I replied softly, unable to say anything else. My mind was having trouble processing information. All I could see were 2 pools of deep emerald. I gulped.

Suddenly, Harry did something I never expected from him. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. I felt the spot burn as his lips brushed against my skin. As they left, the spot was still on fire.

“Thanks for everything. For throwing out your dreams to be here for me. I would never be here if it wasn't for you. I'm sorry if it ever seemed like I took you for granted. I never intended on making it look like that. I am sorry that I let that stupid book come between us last year. I am so sorry. “

“I should be saying that,” I replied quietly. “Last year, I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I was too wrapped up with Ron. And my bossy know-it-all attitude made me make so much of a big deal over that book! And if I hadn't been so logical, I would have believed you in the first place about Malf-,”

Harry pressed his finger against my mouth, silencing me. “Hermione, it is okay. Look, we both could have been much better friends to each other last year. And don't blame yourself for it all. It's my fault too okay? And if you weren't the bossy, controlling, logical, know-it-all girl that you are now,” Harry started to lean in more, my mind going completely blank; “you wouldn't be my Hermione.”

I felt myself tilt my head, leaning up to him. He leaned down our lips mere inches away from each other.

My Hermione………..

I felt my mind go blank. He was much too close. What was I doing? I couldn't do this to Ron! And Harry, he even said he wasn't ready for a relationship right now! What was he doing? What was I doing? This wasn't supposed to happen! It was supposed to be me and Ron! Harry and Ginny! This was completely illogical! Absurd! Not me and Harry! He's my platonic friend! PLATONIC!

Platonic? Don't kid yourself girl………..

I could feel his warm, minty breath on my face. I felt my eyes flutter close.

NO NO! STOP IT! IT'S HARRY! PULL BACK NOW! PULL BACK BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!

“You really shouldn't be here with me Hermione,” he whispered softly.

“Yes, I really should,” I whispered back.

“If anything happens to you-,”

“You are way too noble for your own good,” I replied softly. “I'm fine. I want to be here with you…I need to be here with you…” Someone, probably that annoying taunting person in my head, had taken over, using me as a mere puppet. They were making me say things that I would never say in my life, but yet, it felt so right to hear the words slipping out of my mouth.

HERMOINE! THINK! BE REASONABLE! THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! HERMOINE!

Suddenly, there was nothing I could do. I felt Harry's lips brush against my lips, and my stomach lurched. My arms snaked around his neck, fingers running through his mop of hair. I felt his arms pull me into him, his lips brushing softly against mine. I felt his tongue run over my lip, and I opened eagerly. He kissed me, slowly, but it was full of passion. I returned it best I could, every moment loosing a bit more of myself in the kiss.

HERMOINE! NO STOP RIGHT NOW! THINK! THIS COULD SCREW UP YOU AND RO-

The hell with logic……..

I felt Harry pull away and lean him forehead on mine. My eyes open reluctantly. I looked up at him, in total shock. He watched me, awaiting my reaction. I felt a smile tugging at my lips, and I grinned. He grinned in return. Harry leaned back in and pressed his lips against mine, and this time I was ready, my hands gripping his shoulders, showing that I wanted this too.

It was at moment that I knew the truth. I did feel something for Harry. Something deep and strong. We had such a connection; it just felt so right. I realized that this kiss wasn't like anything I had with Ron. Our relationship was something me and Ron could never have. Why had I been so blind? Why? I have no idea, but I am so glad that this happened tonight. Maybe Harry was right all along. Sometimes acting on impulse can be the best thing to do. He acted on impulse and kissed me. I guess sometimes you just have to set aside all logic and let your heart take over.

I ran my hands along his cheek as Harry rand one of his hands through my hair.

We had something. Something that couldn't be explained. Something that wasn't expected. But it was there, and I am not going to ignore it anymore. Ron and Ginny can say whatever they want. How this isn't meant to be. But I know that is a lie. Because this is way to perfect to not be true. These feelings are so strong they can't be imitation. And even though these feelings have surfaced mere weeks ago, I feel three words tumble out of my mouth, and I feel like I have been longing to say them for years.

“I love you Harry,” I gasped against Harry's lips. He broke the kiss briefly.

“I love you too Hermione.” I pulled him back in instantly, believing him in a second. Those words were too beautiful to not be true. And for them to come from Harry's lips was overwhelming.

I know what pulled me away from Ron…Harry did. Somehow, I am not quite sure how, but the heck with it. I'm not going to waste the moment trying to figure out how this happened, and how it happened so fast.

In this moment, somehow it makes sense, and I am not going to question it……until maybe later……

“We should probably get back to the inn,” whispered Harry, breaking the kiss. My eyes opened and I nodded. He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. We walked back to the inn, hand in hand. I looked up at Harry beaming, the lights of the town glittering around us. He grinned back. I realized how messy his hair was, and laughed. It was probably my fault. I laughed harder at the thought.

Only Harry could make me like this…

So secure…..

So safe…….

So happy…..

So carefree…..

So unlike myself……

Harry stopped me outside the inn and dropped my hand. I looked up at him, and understood.

“I won't tell him….not yet,” I replied. Harry nodded. “And I know you are going to say `we should put this on hold'. Right?” Harry shook his head. My eyes widened.

“No?”

“Why? Do you want to end this?” he pointed back and forth between us. I shook my head

“No. It's just that, isn't that the reason you broke up with Ginny? This is so…so unlike you…” I replied slowly.

“So illogical?” imitated Harry in a high pitched voice. “I'm going against the rules? Oh no!” I slapped his playfully.

“If you willing….so am I. I want to see where we can take this thing we have....” Harry kissed me on the cheek and opened the door. Ron was sitting at the table. He jumped up, dropping his newspaper. There was a blown up picture of Voldermort on the cover with the headlines “Voldermort attacks muggle town with army for 100 inferi”.

“There you are! Where have you been?” he asked anxiously.

“I went to find Hermione,” said Harry simply. “Now come on Ron, I want to show you a few maps I found. I think I have located Volermort's old orphanage. There is a really good chance the cup is hidden there.” Ron nodded and followed Harry out of the room. I closed the door and fell onto the couch and stared into the fire, embers dancing around. I touched my cheek, smiling. It felt so weird, me being so happy in the middle of a war. But I liked it. I felt myself drift of into a deep slumber, Harry's face swimming before me…. I smiled in my sleep.

“Harry….” I muttered happily.

Only Harry can make like this….

So confident……

So in love……..

So…..illogical……..

I hope that this was okay!!!!

Flames accepted. Just know that they will be used to burn my homework, and I may even use them to make a fire to roast marshmallows over….who knows, so many options…..

I hope the characters are in character enough. I'm not sure but oh well. PLZ REVIEW!!! IF U HIT THAT BUTTON YOU GET A COOKIE!!!! =D

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