Unofficial Portkey Archive

By: FayeValentine00

Chapter 7

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"Before you say another word, Harry Potter, you need to hear what Fred and George told me this afternoon."

Harry stared at her in confusion for a moment until he remembered that Fred had whispered into Hermiones ear earlier that evening. He'd completely forgotten until she mentioned it but now that she had, he was curious.

"Fred told me that life is too short for second thoughts and that you and I should live our lives to the fullest reguardless of the trials we have to go through." Hermione searched Harry's eyes as she spoke, looking for any signs that she was breaking through his self-imposed depression. "He said that he and George were both certain that as long as you and I stuck together as a team them we'd be able to beat our demons."

Harry didn't speak for a long time, instead he simply looked down at his hands until he was certain he'd be able to speak clearly. "Did they really say all that?"

"Well yes but then they made me swear not to tell anyone but you. They don't want to ruin that carefree image they're so proud of." Hermione smiled and he found himself returning the gesture, knowing all to well that forcing Hermione not to tell was the twins style.

"I'm sorry." Harry finally looked into Hermiones eyes, speaking straight from his heart. "I guess Fred and George are right. We always did work better as a team, didn't we?"

"Of course, Harry. Remember in our fifth year and we faced all those death eaters in the Ministry of Magic? There would have been no way to hold them off if all of us hadn't fought together, right?"

"But that isn't the point." Harry shook his head, returning to his originial point. "You shouldn't have to fight with me. You shouldn't have to be worried about what might happen and when. You should be able to live happily and peacefully."

"But that would mean being without you and that in itself would make me miserable." She cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look into her eyes before continuing. "I want to be where you are. I want to fight beside you. I'm not a fragile doll, Harry. Trust in me like I trust in you. Together we'll get through this, just trust me. We'll be okay. No more guilt. Please?"

Harry sighed deeply. How could he say no when she looked at him that way. Even though the need and desire to shield Hermione from danger was almost overwhelming, he was smart enough to know that she was right. Pushing her away now under the guise of protection would only serve to make life more miserable and difficult for the both of them. The best thing to do would be to accept life as it is now and try not to think back on the things that couldn't be changed.

"How did I ever get so lucky?"

"What are you talking about, Harry?" Hermione gave him a look that said she had no clue what he was getting at.

"How did I get so lucky to find someone who always knows exactly what to say when I get into one of my moods?"

She blushed with a surprised look on her face. "I'm nothing special. I'm still just the bushy-haired, know-it-all bookworm that you met in first year."

"No, Hermione. You're much more then that."

Harry leaned down and their lips met for the first time since that night in the Common Room when emotions were at an all time high. Harrys hand gently pushed away some of Hermiones hair as the kiss deepened and before they knew what was happening, she had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Each of them took their time to explore the others mouth with growing enthusiasm. They must have sat there a long time in each others arms but when things began to heat up even futher, Hermione pulled back slightly until she could look into Harry's eyes.

"I think it's time I got up to bed."

Harry saw the blush in her cheek and even though a part of him didn't want the moment to end, he knew she was right. The Weasley's couch was not exactly the best place to be doing this anyways.

"Alright. I'll walk you on my way up to Ron's room."

After one last goodnight kiss, Harry found himself laying in Ron's room and finding it hard to relax after that kiss.

A few days later, the winter holiday had come to an end and Ginny, Harry and Hermione found themselves back on the Hogwarts Express heading back to school. Harry had his arm around Hermione when they heard a voice at the door that made them both jump.

"Well, well Potter." Draco stood in the doorway of the train car, staring at Harry with a murderous glare that Harry and Hermione both mirrored back. It was the first time they'd seen each other since Ron's death and Harry knew that was mostly due to the fact the Dumbledore had forbidden them to come within 100 yards of the other.

"Get out." A deep angry voice spoke up first and it took everyone a minute to realize it was Ginny. She'd jump to her feet and walked right up to Malfoy without a hint of fear in her eyes.

Draco looked down at Ginny with a surprised look that Harry couldn't quite read but before he was even sure he'd seen it, the hatred was back on his face and he was looking at the couple again. "I see you and your little mud-blood girlfriend are together now, eh? Had to wait till Weasley croaked before you made your move?"

Harry started to jump to his feet and was in the process of pulling his wand from his pocket when Hermione nearly tackled him to the ground. He started to fight her off but stopped when she began to whisper frantic pleas into his ear.

"Harry, stop! Please! You'll kill him. Just stop!"

Hermione held Harry tight from behind, her face and chest pressed firmly into his back and when she stopped her pleas, he whole body shook in silent sobs.

"Yes, Potter. Listen to your little mud-blood girlfriend. Wouldn't want to watch someone else die, would you?"

Harry opened his mouth to reply but before he could, they heard a primal scream coming from the small red-haired girl before she leapt on Draco, knocking him to the ground and proceeded to hit him with every ounce of strength she could muster. Draco tried to push her off but to everyones surprise, he didn't strike her back and Crabbe and Goyle never jumped in either. Finally after one final push, Draco pushed Ginny off and climbed to his feet, wiping blood from his lip.

"You'd all better watch out. This isn't over." With that, Draco and his friends slammed the door to the car and walked away leaving an angry Harry with two crying women. For the first time Harry began to wonder if being at Hogwarts was the best idea at the moment.