Unofficial Portkey Archive

By: FayeValentine00

Chapter 18

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Two hours after the knock on the door, Harry lay on the bed, staring at Hermione's sleeping form. He could hardley believe what had just happened. More to the point, Harry was shocked by Hermione's uncanny ability to make him forget all about the rest of the world, even it was only for a little while.

Just moments before Hermione'd kissed him, Harry'd been ready to go looking for who ever had knocked on the door but he hadn't been able to ignore the pleading look in her eyes. Although it was aganist his better judgement, when her lips met his, he was unable to deny his body what it had wanted for longer then he was going to admit.

It'd begun with kissing but before Harry had a clear view of what was happening, he found himself and Hermione on the bed. Clothes seemed to come off quickly although he had no real memory of undressing. His entire mind was focused on Hermione. Those eyes ... Those lips ... That body.

There wasn't much talking. Both of them had wanted it and both of them had been expecting it. When they moved together and became one, it was an unexplainable feeling. With Hermione he could just be Harry and that was enough. For the first time in his life, Harry felt complete. He felt loved. In that very instant, Harry knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He needed to spend the rest of his life with her.

He watched as Hermione mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over onto her side. He found it hard to believe that they'd come this far. If anyone had ever told Harry that first day on the Hogwarts Express that he would someday fall in love with the know-it-all snob with bushy hair that'd been looking for a frog, he would have said that they were insane. Yet, here he was in the afterglow of lovemaking, thinking about the past and the future. Hoping that they'd still have a future after the upcoming battle.

"Penny for your thoughts," Hermione spoke softly while rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Do you have a penny?" Harry countered with a smile that he hoped would wipe away the worried expression that was beginning to show on her face.

"Don't tease me," she said with a more relaxed expression. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking how much I love you and how much we've gone through."

"And have yet to go through," she said, finishing his sentence.

"That too," he nodded reluctantly.

"Harry, there is so much coming but there is no way for us to prepare any further. I am the queen of studying. If we'd forgotten anything then don't you think I'd have told you?"

He nodded again with a slight smile. She was right but he still was worried.

"Listen to me." She took his face in her hands and forced him to look into her eyes. "I love you, Harry Potter. Neither of us know what the future will bring. The only thing we can do is live whatever time that we have left to the fullest."

Harry searched her eyes and saw only love and honestly shining back at him. His heart swelled as he thanked whatever god had brought Hermione to his side. Without speaking, he pulled her to him and kissed her softly on the lips. He didn't ever want to let her go. For a fleeting moment he wished that they could just stay in that room forever but running or hiding from the inevitable wasn't possible.

"Have I told you how much I love you, today?" Harry asked when his lips finally left hers.

"Yes and you also showed me," she responded with a blush beginning to creep into her cheeks.

"Just in case you forgot, maybe I should show you again."

Two hours later, the young lovers made there way down to the resturant to get some much needed food.

Although they tried their best to look natural, many of the "regulars" started whispering and catching peeks at the couple which made them both blush wildly. By the end of their meal, they practically sprinted out of The Three Broomsticks knowing that everyone probably knew exactly what was going on.

It was afternoon when Harry and Hermione began walking along the shops of Hogsmeade again. Although they'd been there the night before, they didn't mind. Instead of shopping, the couple made there way over to the shack that had become so important since their adventures when they were third years. Looking back, it was funny to think that the "Shrieking Shack" was actually just the place Lupin used to go to transform durning the full moon.

They sat down on a bench near the empty house, hand in hand. "Feels like such a long time ago, doesn't it?" Harry asked with a sigh.

"Yeah."

"Hermione, if you'd known what was going to happen over the years, would---"

She cut him off by pressing her index finger firmly to his lips. "I'd still be by your side. I'd go through anything with you, Harry. I felt that way even when I was a first year."

"You really are amazing," he smiled with an expression of awe in his eyes.

"I know." The mock expression of arrogance that crossed her face sent both of them into a new wave of laughter.

"When I'm with you, I can really believe that everything just might end up okay," Harry said softly, his expression becoming strangely serious again.

"It will be, Harry. You watch and see. It will be."

They shared a kiss on the bench for all of Hogsmeade to see. Neither of them cared anymore. They had nothing to hide. They were in love and there would be no regrets. They had to live for the time that they had and no one, not even The Daily Prophet, was going to stop them.

The sound of a light cough behind them made both Harry and Hermione jump backwards.

"J-Jessica?" Hermione asked with obvious surprise in her voice.

"Ummm, I am sorry to bother you but..." Her soft voice trailed off, not really sure what to say.

"You're not bothering us but what are you doing here?" Harry asked suddenly extremely curious.

"Well, you see, while I was at Hogwarts I heard everyone talking about how great this place was so I convinced my parents to bring me here so we could check it out."

"They're Muggles, aren't they?" Hermione asked, looking past Jessica to the young couple standing several feet away. She sliently prayed that they had not seen herself and Harry's liplock.

Jessica nodded her answer and looked at Harry. "I just wanted to thank you both one more time for the interview. It was the best grade that I got all year."

"Well, hopefully you'll do well next year too," Hermione answered for them both.

She couldn't help but envy Jessica's innocence. It wasn't all that long ago when grades and learning were the only things that mattered to her but now life had become so complicated. She just hoped that this little girl would never have to face the fears and dangers that they had over the years. It renewed her conviction to end Voldemort for good this time around. There were two many children like Jessica who needed to be saved.

"Well, I guess I should go but hopefully I'll see you again. Good luck."

"Good luck?" Harry asked with a expression that said he wasn't sure if he'd heard right.

"I may have only been a first year but I still know what's coming," she responded with the same offended expression that Harry was sure that he'd used when he was her age.

"Oh, of course. Sorry," he said looking embarrased.

"So, anyway. Good luck to both of you. Don't forget, Harry. You still owe me that interview when I graduate."

"I look forward to it."

With a few hugs and a goodbye, the little girl walked off leaving Harry and Hermione smiling.

"I don't think she'll ever forgive you if you don't live long enough to give her that interview."

"Well then I guess I'll just have to stay alive."

"Staying alive just for her? I see where I stand," Hermione responded with a playful pout.

Harry laughed and pulled her back into a hug. "You're the only person I want to live for. Now and forever."

Tears began to well in Hermione's eyes as she smiled into Harrys'. "That's the most wonderful thing that anyone has ever said to me."

"Well, I mean every word of it."

Later that night, they went back up to their room and decided to just relax in peace and quiet. Hermione laid across the bed, reading a book while Harry sat down at the table with a piece of parchment and a quill. At first, Harry was not even sure who he was going to write too but then an idea suddenly came to him and he began writing quickly, looking up every few minutes to make sure that Hermione didn't notice.

Dear Ginny,

I'm sorry that we left you in tears at Hogwarts yesturday but I am sure that you'll be fine once the next school year starts. You have a ton of friends so I know you won't be lonely. Hermione and I will try to send you a letter by owl every day if we can.

I am writing to ask you for a favor. I am really going to need your help on this one.

Harry took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair before he got the courage to write the next part.

I'd like your help buying an engagement ring from Hermione but it has to be a secret! Do you think you can help me? I know nothing about rings and fashion. Please send Hedwig back as soon as possible with your answer. I'd like to go shopping with you in Diagon Alley a week from today.

Thanks a lot.

Harry

Quietly, Harry rolled up the parchment and sealed it. Hermione didn't even notice what he was doing until he called Hedwig out of her cage.

"Who'd you write to?"

"Ginny. I apologized for leaving her in tears and tried to cheer her up a bit."

"Do you think it will work?"

"I have a pretty good idea that it will," Harry answered with a grin that made Hermione look curious but too afraid to even ask.

Instead of speaking, she simply nodded with a smile and went back to her book. Harry inwardly let out a huge sigh of relief and attached the note to Hedwigs leg. "Can you take this to the Burrowas fast as possible? You know they have great treats over there."

Hedwig nipped his finger affectionately, as if she understood, and then flew out the window silently.

It was nearly 8 o'clock in the evening when a soft knock was heard at the door. By this time, Harry was also well into a book so Hermione answered the door.

To her surprise, Hermione found herself looking down at Jessica and she wondered how the girl had known where they were staying.

"Hi Jessica. What's going on?" Hermione asked when she noticed that the girl seemed to be quite fidgity.

"Well, ummm" The petite blonde started but then suddenly seemed at a loss for words. It wasn't until a moment later that she began to ramble. "I, uh, just got this new book and I wanted to show it to you."

"O-kay," she answered slowly. Something about the girls voice and attitude seemed odd but Hermione just couldn't place it.

"The thing is, I left the book downstairs and I was wondering if you'd come down with me to get it. It's about ... Defense Aganist the Dark Arts. I, uh, thought you may find it interesting."

Something wasn't right. It was obvious but without knowing what was going on, Hermione found herself curious about the sudden change in the girls attitude. She considered asking Harry to come with her but decided that maybe Jessica was just nervous to talk to her alone.

"Sure, I'll be right there. Just a minute." Hermione closed the door and turned to Harry who was looking at her in confusion.

"What was all that about?"

"I have no idea but I will be right back."

"Do you want me to come?" Harry said, already putting his book aside but Hermione quickly stopped him.

"No, Harry. I'll be fine. I seriously doubt that Death Eaters are going to use a 11 year old girl to get to us," Hermione said, hoping that those were not going to be her famous last words but she knew that keeping Harry calm was better then getting then both uptight over nothing.

"Are you sure?" He said, still looking at her in concern.

"I'm sure." She gave him a quick kiss and then headed out the door to meet Jessica.

The second Hermione stepped out, Jessica nearly jumped out of her skin. As quickly as she could, Hermione double checked her pocket for her wand before heading down the stairs after the girl.

When they reached the resturant, Hermione immediatly noticed that she could not see Jessica's parents anywhere. She was about to ask their whereabouts when Jessica saved her the trouble.

"Smoke bothers my mum. They must have gone outside to get some fresh air. Lets go try to find them."

This statement and the sudden excited look in Jessica's eyes sent off warning alarms in Hermione's head. She suddenly wished that Harry had come with her. Everything in the bar seemed normal yet there was something wrong. If only she could just figure it out.

Before she could think about it any harder, Jessica took her arm in a rather rough grip and began pulling her towards the door. Part of her wanted to pull away and try to figure out the truth but making a scene in a crowed place was not exactly the kind of exposure she needed or wanted. Besides, no one would believe that Hermione Granger was truly worried about a child when she'd already faced countless Death Eaters in the past.

Reluctantly Hermione found herself outside a moment later but there was no sign of her parents. In fact, there was no sight of anyone which was rare considering that The Three Broomsticks was the most popular place in Hogsmeade.

Finally Hermione'd had enough and she ripped her hand from the girls grip. When she looked down, she was surprised to see that the rough hold had left a rather large, rather red indentation. "Okay, Jessica. What is really going on?"

"Oh, Miss Granger. You really are so naive, even after all these years." The voice that came out of the girl was no longer that of a young girl. It was a man's voice and suddenly Hermione realized exactly what was going on.

"Polyjuice Potion," she whispered as she looked down at Jessica's double in horror.

"Oh my, you are a bright girl, aren't you?" The deep voice taunted futher.

Hermione turned back towards the door but suddenly realized that she surrounded by Death Eaters and they all had their wands pointed straight at her.

"You're going to be coming with us tonight, Miss Granger. Don't know myself what the Dark Lord would want with a Mudblood but we have our orders."

"You can't do this. Harry'll find me. Voldemort will fall and you'll all have to pay for what you've done," Hermione said calmly yet forcefully. She was trying to stall them long enought to think of something.

"Shut up!" Out of nowhere, someone hit her in the back causing her to fall to her knees.

She knew she was in serious trouble and she was powerless. There was no way she'd be able to reach her wand. It wasn't until Hermione heard someone begin a soft spell that she did the last thing that she could think off.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!"