Unofficial Portkey Archive

By: FayeValentine00

Chapter 17

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The next few days went by in a flash and before they knew it, Harry and Hermione were leaving Hogwarts and heading out into the real world, hand in hand.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Mrs. Granger asked Hermione while Harry said some final goodbyes to Hagrid who was weeping openly.

"Yes, Mom. I'll be fine. I think having some time to ourselves is something that Harry and I have needed for a long time."

After meeting Hermiones eyes, Mr. and Mrs. Granger knew exactly what Hermione meant. The young couple had needed time alone ever since they'd lost Ron but it wasn't until now that the opportunity truly presented itself. "Alright then. Be sure to stay in touch and we'll be sure to take care of Crookshanks for you while you're gone."

"Thanks Dad but it's only going to be a few days." Hermione couldn't help but laugh at her protective yet understanding parents before giving them one last goodbye hug and sending them back home.

"You ready to go?"

Hermione turned to see Harry looking at her with a smile. "Definitely. I know I'll miss Hogwarts but for the first time I'm happy to escape."

"I know what you mean," he said looking back at the castle one last time.

Hand in hand, the couple said their final goodbyes to the people who'd been their family for so many years. The Weasleys wouldn't let them go until they'd sworn to come to the Burrow before going home.

"Don't be a stranger, both of you. I consider Harry another one of my sons. You are always welcome," Mrs. Weasley said while trying to hold back her emotions but it was Ginny who was in a flood of her own tears.

Fred and George had their arms around their little sister who'd just felt like the world had fallen in on her. "You better come and visit us everyday."

"We will, Ginny," Harry answered, squeezing the younger girls hand.

"Promise me." It was a statement, not a request.

"We'll come as often as possible but we can't promise everyday. Deal?" Hermione jumped in, giving Ginny a long hug before she was finally able to pull away and see Ginny nod in agreement.

With everyone beginning to disperse, Harry and Hermione made their way to Hogmeade and into The Three Broomsticks. Neither of them really said anything of importance as they made their way into the same room that only had one king sized bed. Both just seemed too wrapped up in their own thoughts to try to make conversation but it was Harry would snapped out of it first.

Hermione was taking some things out of her trunk to change into, when Harry came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. The sudden feeling of his body up aganist hers had sent such a shockwave through her body that she'd dropped the pants that she was trying to hang.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep the coyness out of her voice.

"Whatever you want me to be doing," he answered in a playful manner that Hermione hadn't heard in far too long.

Holding in her laughter, Hermione forced an offended expression on her face and pushed Harry back. "Honestly, Harry. What do you take me for, a scarlet woman?"

Harry tried to act unamused but he laughed anyway. Ever since Ron had referred to Hermione as a scarlet woman in their 4th year, it had become something of a running joke. After the fit of giggles managed to subside, Harry took Hermione into his arms and kissed her firmly on the lips.

"I'll take you any way I can get you."

Hermione's sigh of contentment was her responce as she stood on her toes to give Harry another kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too." Harry smiled down at her, adding the next phrase when he saw a familiar look in her eyes. "Why do I feel like there is a 'but' coming?"

"Because there is. I do love you more then anything but everyone in the resturant saw us come up here together and they are bound to think the worst if we don't get back down there soon."

"Do we have to?" Harry asked with the best puppy dog face he could muster.

Hermione nodded with a pout before giving him a gentle kiss. "Besides, we still have a few days together alone, don't we?"

That brought a smile to Harry's face and the couple made their way downstairs to find something to eat.

After their meal, Harry and Hermione walked around Hogsmeade, looking in all the shops. They carefully avoided speaking about Ron and what had happened, choosing just to think about themselves and each other. For once, being selfish seemed to be the perfect medicine.

After the sun had set and all the shops in the village had begun to close down for the night, Harry and Hermione made their way back up to their room. Although neither said it out loud, they both were thankful that they'd been able to find peace in a place they loved for the first time in nearly a year.

"Harry, I'm going to take a shower. I'll be out in a minute." Hermione said as she dug through her belongings that she'd forgotten about earlier, to find some clean clothes.

"Take your time. I have a bit of headache so I am just going to relax for a bit."

"Alright."

As Hermione headed towards the bathroom, she felt a shiver of excitement run up her spine at the thought of the domestic sitsuation that she and Harry found themselves in.

Harry took off his shoes and laid down on the bed to relax. His head had been hurting ever since they'd gotten into Hogsmeade and he figured that it was just stress. He'd secretly been worried about an attack from any direction the entire time they'd been outside. He hoped Hermione hadn't noticed but because of the stress he suddenly found himself very tired which was the exact opposite way of how he wanted to be feeling.

This was his and Hermione's first chance to be alone and he truely wanted to show her exactly how much he loved her. He'd been looking forward to this moment for such a long time and now that he was so close to it, he found it nearly impossible to keep his eyes open.

I guess closing my eyes for just a few minutes couldn't hurt, Harry reasoned with himself before closing his eyes and allowing the darkness of sleep to overcome him.

Hermione stepped out of the shower feeling totally refreshed. She'd felt a wave of relief when she realized that, for once, they were safe. Although she was worried, Hermione also knew that Harry took things harder then anyone else. No matter what was to happen in the upcoming days, months or even years, it was going to have to involve him. These few days were her chance to show him exactly how much she cared for him. It was her chance to protect him the best way she could, with love.

She dried herself with a towel and put on a long t-shirt before heading into the room but what she saw was the last thing she'd expected. Harry was lying on the bed, sound asleep. He looked completely at peace and was resting soundly which was so rare for him these days.

Slowly, she made her way around to the far side of the bed and lightly ran her fingers through his hair. He looked so childlike and innocent. When he didn't react to her touch, she carefully lifted the glasses form his face and placed them on the nightstand. She considered trying to get him out of his jeans but decided not to disturb him any futher.

Although she felt slightly disappointed, watching Harry sleep was a completely new experiance in itself. It was like seeing a new side of him. Even though she knew better, Harry had the image of being the protector and the fighter. He'd never really been given the change to just be Harry. This side of Harry was the innocent and vulnerable side that he very rarely let show.

Not wanting to make any further noise, Hermione kissed Harrys forehead before turning out the lights and crawling onto the other side of the bed. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she continued to watch Harry until she too fell asleep and found herself dreaming of what might come tomorrow.

Harry woke up as the first rays of sunshine began to poke in through the windows. It took him a moment to realize where he was but once he did, he immediatly realized what had happened. He'd fallen asleep and Hermione'd allowed him to sleep. Part of him felt anger at himself for being so stupid but the other part of him felt even stronger love for the girl who lay beside him because she'd allowed him to sleep.

He looked over at her and smiled to himself. Although Hermione was not beautiful in the same sense as someone like Cho, it was the power of her inner spirit, her intelligence and her loyality that really drew a person to her. That was not to say that Harry did not find her attractive because as he watched her rest so peacefully, he found it hard not to reach out and kiss her until she knew exactly how beautiful and wonderful he found her.

Using all of his will power, Harry decided to let Hermione sleep and go take a shower while he waited for her to wake up naturally. By the time he came out of the shower about ten minutes later, dressed only in a pair of jeans, Hermione'd already woken up and gotten dressed in a cute skirt that he couldn't remember seeing before.

"Good morning," he spoke from the doorway, causing her to jump.

She spun around and Harry immediatly realized that she hadn't heard the door to the bathroom open. "G-Good morning." She flashed him a smile that would have melted the heart of any man, especially his.

He put aside the towel that he was using to dry his hair and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Harry. I'm still smiling this morning, right?" She smiled and leaned up to kiss his lips which were still wet from the shower.

Water dripped from his head as their kiss grew more eager and more consuming but neither seemed to care. Just to be able to hold each other close without fear of being 'caught' by the many spies who followed the couple day and night had brought about a new passion in the young lovers that Hermione had only ever read about in books.

Harry hands fumbled with the buttons on Hermione's shirt without breaking their liplock while her hands roamed across Harrys already bare back and stomach. He was just pulling the shirt from her shoulders when a knock at the door made then both jump.

"Let's ignore it," Harry said quietly, pulling Hermione back to him but another loud knock threw that whole plan out the window. From the loud knocking, both knew that the person knocking must have had something important to say.

Hermione quickly buttoned up her shirt and dried the wet spots with her wand before opening the door as naturally as she could.

"Hel-," her words broke off when she realized that there was no one at the door. In fact, there was no one in the hall anywhere and they hadn't heard any footsteps.

"Who is it?" Harry asked, walking up behind her.

"It's no one. There's no one there," she said, flashing him a confused expression.

Before she knew what was happening, Harry threw Hermione back onto the bed, grabbed a glass of water and threw it down the hall. It wasn't until that moment that she realized someone could have been under an invisibility cloak. A few moments later, Harry came back in the room with a vexed expression.

"Find anything?" She asked as she stood up and closed the door behind him.

"No but I'm sure there was a person there. We must have just missed them."

"But why pound on the door?" She asked quietly, not entirely sure that she wanted to hear the answer.

"To see if we're really here," he said in an emotionless tone.

Hermione fought back any expression of shock and surprise before reaching out to Harry and pulling him into a tight embrace. "Let's not think about it right now."

"But-" He started to speak but Hermione cut him off with a firm kiss.

"Please, Harry. Not now." She kissed him again until she felt the tension begin to leave his body. "Now where were we?"

"Somewhere right about here," he whispered before pulling her into another crushing embrace that forced any other thoughts or worries from her mind.