Disclaimer~I don't own Harry Potter or anything of that sort, it's all J.K Rowling's work, but you can always dream, right?

A/N~This was written on November 11th, also known as Remembrance Day. It seemed like the perfect day to write this story. I'm a romantic / sadist, just so you all know. I like writing romance, angst and tragedy stories. If you don't like sad stories, this isn't the story for you.

Remember Me

Chapter 1: Time's Up

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Two voices yelled at the same time. The spells met at the middle and they merged together, creating a sickly yellow. The sicky yellow spell split in half and each half rocketed back at the casters. Harry didn't try to avoid it and let it hit him. It was too quick to dodge spell he cast would prolong his death while Voldemort would die quicker because he was the one who cast the killing curse. As he kneeled on the broken ground, exhausted, Hermione and Ron ran over to him. He knew his time left was limited. He just had one thing left to do before he left this world. He could vaguely see people returning into the castle to treat their wounded and mourn for the dead. Distantly he heard Ron voice saying a few words before a blur walked in the direction of the broken castle.

"Hermione…" Harry started, his voice rough and scratchy, before Hermione interrupted him.

"Don't talk Harry, Ron will be back with Madame Pomfrey soon. You'll get better soon." said Hermione, pushing Harry to a lying position the floor.

"Hermione… my time's coming to a close, it's futile. Nothing's going to help." whispered Harry, looking into her eyes.

"Harry, d-don't say t-that." Hermione scolded but her attempt at sternness was broken when she started stuttering and then she promptly broke down in tears. "H-Harry, don't l-leave me. I-I n-need y-you h-here w-with m-m-me."

"Hermione…" Harry struggled to get up but succeeded and wrapped Hermione in a tight hug.

"Hermione, I need to tell you something before I go."

"What's wrong Harry? Other than the fact you're d-dying, of course." Hermione asked, looking down so that Harry wouldn't see her tears.

"Hermione, look at me." Harry said solemnly. He put his hand under Hermione chin, forcing her head up to look into his eyes. Emerald green eyes met dark brown ones. The green eyes were full of sadness and the brown ones were full of tears.

"I love you." Harry murmured. "But I'm going to have to let you go again. Permanently this time. I'm so sorry, 'Mione."

Hermione's head was spinning, and it wasn't just because of fatigue."W-what do you mean again?"

"Promise me you'll let me start and finish without interrupting?"

"O-of is this about, Harry?"

"Do you remember your first kiss?" asked Harry, staring into her eyes, his eyes full of sadness.

"Of course. It was with Ron."

"Wrong, of course. I didn't expect you to remember. You were petrified."

Hermione looked confused for a moment, until the meaning sunk in. She was shocked. Her first kiss was with Harry? And in her second year, too! He never told her…

At least I survived to see another sunrise though Harry as he looked at the rising sun. He started his life story.

"I never told you, and I'm guessing you're upset or angry or both. Yeah, it was in our second year. A little bit too young, most adults would say, but it just felt so...right, you know? So I continued to do so, visiting you after curfew under my cloak and talking to you even though you couldn't hear me. I would kiss you hello and kiss you goodbye. I usually left at three in the morning. Two months later and you woke up. I know this is a selfish and stupid thought, but I almost wanted you to stay petrified just so I could kiss you. I didn't know what you would say if I told you I was kissing you for two months and if it would affect our friendship, so I let you go." Harry took a deep breath, and continued his story.

"Third year. My feelings grew larger still. The fight over the Firebolt was completely stupid. I was a git to go on Ron's side of the fight. I know that you were worrying for me and my safety. I still feel guilty about it even now even now."

Hermione opened her mouth but Harry stopped her before she could say anything.

"Don't interrupt, you promised me. We ignored you for a long time and left you alone. I know from what you tell me that you hate being alone, and we left you alone. For that I want to apologize again, for what I've done to you."

"Fourth year came and with it came the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball. My feelings grew even more. I tried smashing them, knowing that Ron had feelings for you, but I always failed. Whenever I saw you they would always come back. At the first task when you hugged me I was hopeful and I wanted so much to kiss you again but Skeeter came and the opportunity broke. I wanted to scream and tear my hair in frustration but I knew throwing a tantrum wouldn't be good, so I let you go. At the Yule Ball, when you went with Krum, I was really jealous, but I didn't show it. Ron though, was a right prat and made you cry. I wanted to hit him, I wanted to bloody his face so bad but I didn't, knowing it would make you even more upset than you already were. At the second task when you were in the lake, I thought you were the person I'd sorely miss until Krum came, bashed me with his shark form and swam off with you. I was angry, to put it politely. At the third task and the graveyard, I thought of you and how I had to see you again. It gave me hope and I got back alive, just to get captured by Couch jr. I thought of how I didn't say anything to you when I had the time to do so, and how much I regretted it. Before I knew it, the year was over."

"Fifth year. That was the year I regretted the most, second only to this year. I tried to stamp out my feelings. Why? Because I saw how you looked at Ron and how Ron looked at you. I thought I succeeded until I made us fall into that trap that Voldemort made. When you got hit by that curse from Dolohov, I felt empty inside. I felt like a part of me was gone. I found out that I still loved you. I felt like it was my fault. I felt so much grief I'm surprised I didn't collapse where I stood. When Neville told me you were alive I felt so relieved. I see you still have the scar." murmured Harry, fingering her shoulder where he saw the scar that Hermione had desperately tried to cover before. "I'm so sorry, it's my fault. I didn't listen to you and led us into the trap."

"My feeling grew and when you told me you got together with Ron I wanted to scream, to cry, to yell, to tell you I was the one that you should be with, but I let you go again. You looked so happy with him, I didn't want to be the one to break your happiness. I didn't want to tell you my feelings, in fear that you would break my heart and would tell me you wanted to stay with Ron and wanted nothing to do with me. When Ginny asked me if I could be her boyfriend I did hesitate. I knew what it felt like to not be loved by the one you loved the most, so I agreed just to make sure that she wouldn't feel them too."

"And now I have to let you go again." he finished.

"All this time?" asked Hermione tearfully.

"Since I first saw you on the train, I think. I guess I just didn't know what love was at the time." replied Harry.

"I still love you, you know. Even if you don't love me back, I will love you forever." suddenly Harry had an idea.

"Ron would probably kill me for this, but will you marry me? For my last memory?" he asked, presenting a ring with the Potter coat of arms on it.

"Permanent transfiguration. I was wondering when I could use it. Right now is the best time, I think." Harry said to Hermione's questioning look. Hermione was in a state of shock.

"Hermione, answer me…" pleaded Harry when he noticed that Hermione wasn't saying anything.

"'Mione…" begged Harry, but he was cut off when he was racked with coughs, and blood droplets came out of his mouth.

"Please…" he whispered, but Hermione remained still like a statue. Harry sighed and withdrew the pensive that he had shrunk from his pocket. He placed his memory of Hermione's innocence in it. He also transfigured a few stones into vials and place some memories in them, including his memories of his last minutes on earth and his newly made will and testament. When he was done, coughs racked his body again and he knew his time was up. He turned to his first and last loved one.

"I love you and I will forever. Nothing will change that." he said, smiling sadly.

"Goodbye."

Those were the words that snapped her out of her shocked state. She looked sharply at Harry and saw that his eyes were glazing over as he closed his eyes. Death she thought. Then the implications of those words hit her hard. No...nonononono NO! She thought, but he was gone. His eyes would never open by themselves again.