If tomorrow never comes
I would want just one thing
I would tell it to the stars and the sun
I would write it for the world to see
And it's you
The light changes when you're in the room
Oh, it's you,
Oh, it's you.
-It's You, Michelle Branch
(A/N: Of course, I don't own any of this other than the concept, and chances are that someone else has thought of something similar at one time or another. If this in any way resembles anything of anyone else's, rest assured that it is completely coincidental. There are also a couple lines throughout the story that are borrowed from various movies, etc. I'm sure you'll recognize them. The lyrics to the above song, are of course, copyright Michelle Branch and all of her various people.)
It's You
Alone. There was no better word to describe her overall feelings the past three years. She was a very logical person. She always believed every answer to every question could be found in a book. Unfortunately, she was proven wrong. To the outside observer, her life was full and productive. She had family, friends, and a great job. Underneath it all, though, her life had an emptiness that she was unable to fill. This only became apparent three years ago. Three years ago today, actually.
You know I'll love you forever, right? Harry gazed deep into her eyes, willing her to understand.
she answered, a bit unsure. I know you will, but that doesn't change the fact that you are leaving. She still couldn't believe it. They had only graduated from Hogwarts a few short days ago. They had only just realised their feelings for one another, but Harry had recently received word that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were stationed just outside a small Muggle village in South America and the Aurors were going to ambush them with a surprise attack. The theory was that Harry would be able to fulfill the Prophesy by catching Voldemort off guard. Once they found out about this opportunity, the decided to leave immediately.
I should only be gone a few days, maybe a couple weeks at most, Harry tried to convince her. It won't be so bad as it seems. This is too good an opportunity to pass up. I promise I'll be careful. He smiled at her reassuringly. It'll be all right. I'll be back before you know it.
But I want to go with you! I could be alot of help, you know I can. I want to be by your side. You shouldn't have to do this alone, she pleaded with her eyes for him to understand. I can't just stand here and let you walk away, knowing I could be there with you. You shouldn't have to do this on your own.
No, I shouldn't, he agreed. but I have no choice. I love you. With that, he gave her a short, sweet kiss, trying to tell her without words that he would do anything to come back to her as soon as possible. She knew she should have done something, anything, to stop him, but she knew it was know use. This was something he had to do on his own. She couldn't go with him, but she would be right here waiting when he got back.
Three years later, she was still waiting. In the beginning, she had an owl every week or so with an update. It would always be rather generic, letting her know there were no developments, but they were still hopeful. After awhile, the owls began to dwindle until they only came about every month. Now, it had been about 2 years since the last owl. All she had was a feeling. She knew deep down that everything was fine. She knew Harry would be back. She didn't know how much time it would take, but he would be back.
It was a day like any other day. Hermione had been at work all day, and when she came home, she wanted nothing more than to just take off her work robes and relax on the couch with a good book. She had come home and changed into her favorite relaxing outfit. It was an old shirt that she had actually stole from Harry sixth year that was really quite big on her but she didn't care because it reminded her of Harry. She slipped on some comfortable shorts and picked up her favorite book, Hogwarts, a History: 274th Edition, sat down with a thick blanket on the couch in front of the fire and began to read. She was so engrossed in her reading that she didn't hear her front door open. She never was really very worried about anyone getting in. She had put a very powerful charm on her flat when she first moved in right after graduating from Hogwarts that allowed only Harry, Ron, and herself to enter without an escort. A bit later, she felt an overwhelming urge to turn around as she felt like she was being watched. She didn't think there would be anyone there because Ron had already told her he and Luna had plans for the night, and nobody else could have entered without her permission. To humor her subconscious, she turned around, and what she saw took her breath away.
Standing in the small foyer that separated her living area and her front door was Harry. He looked different; older than his now twenty-one years, but he was definitely her Harry. Without words, she rushed off the couch and ran toward him, bursting into relieved tears and enveloping him in a tight hug.
I knew you'd come back, Harry. I just knew it, she told him. When he didn't answer her, she let up on him a bit and looked up at him. He had a somewhat blank, yet aware expression on his face like he knew what was going on but couldn't process the knowledge. He was only able to say one word before breaking down.
Harry fell to the ground with his head in his hands, crying loudly. This surprised Hermione, not because he was so loud and obviously grief-stricken, but because he was crying at all. Harry had never been one to show much emotion. He always had to put up a front that he was cool and collected. After all, he was the go-to guy when the wizarding world was in a tight spot with Voldemort. He was the Boy-Who-Lived.
Without question, Hermione sat on the ground with him in her foyer and held him as he cried out all of the awful feelings from over the years. She didn't have an exact explanation of what had happened, but she could only guess that he had finally defeated Voldemort and this was his way of letting go of everything he had had to hold in for the past years. He had to let out all of the grief from all of the years he was forced to keep silent and grin and bear it. A good hour later, he had been silent for a few minutes, but Hermione knew he would talk when he was ready. She didn't push him. A little while later, Harry looked up with her, still with tears in his eyes.
Hermione, I- he started.
Hermione told him. Not tonight. No words. You have plenty of time to explain.
There are three words, he started as he began to stand up, taking her hand to help her up as well. Once they were standing again, he held her close. I love you. He then leaned in and captured her lips in a sweet kiss reminiscent of the kiss they shared on this same day three years ago, only this one was filled not with a promise of a safe return, but of a promise to never leave again.
