Unintended Travels

Author's Note: This being my first story, I am truly excited to finally have had the time to put pen to paper, and unleash the thoughts that have been lurking in my mind since the series ended. The story takes place around the infamous tent scene in Deathly Hallows. It was such a charged moment that simply would not leave my mind and it should have 'gone the other way' as Rowling has admitted herself. I hope you enjoy reading it!

Disclaimer: The wonderful and talented, JK Rowling owns the magical series of Harry Potter. I am only guilty of putting a creative spin on certain events.

A big thank you goes out to Amy (forbiddenharmony7) who unintentionally became my beta for this story. Thank you so much for your time and wonderful feedback!

Chapter 1 – Potter's Ponderings

A chilly night descended around their camp as Harry Potter stood outside of the tent whispering protective enchantments, hoping they could get through another night safely. He stood there over looking the hills and water, out towards the sun that was slowly beginning to set.

Once we destroy this bloody necklace, we are just that much closer to finding the rest of them. But how do we destroy the bloody thing? That question ran marathons through his mind and the mind of his faithful and loyal friend Hermione Granger.

Luckily for him, Hermione – the brightest witch at Hogwarts– figured out how to destroy the Horcurx, which also led to the unexpected departure of Ron. Hermione, through her persistent research found an ingenious way to destroy the necklace - through the use of the Sword of Gryffindor. Harry realized that he was an idiot to initally think he could pursue this on his own, Hermione was right, he would need help.

With the onset of this journey, Harry lived in two worlds: a world of hope and a world of fear, where the combination of the two led to simultaneous anxiety about the fate of his life and the fate of the Wizarding World. Harry knew he should resist thinking in this manner, he knew the excess pressure on himself was truthfully too much for one wizard to handle. Just take it one step at a time as Hermione says.

Hermione. Hermione seemed to be the one constant in his life that no matter the severity of the situation, no matter the danger….Harry Potter knew he would not have been able to succeed without that brown-eyed, bushy haired witch. With her wit and cleverness, beauty and bravery, she was the most loyal and best friend Harry had. His most loyal friend.

Ron's decision to leave left a hole in both their hearts. Harry felt a most brutal betrayal that his other best friend lacked faith in him. The situation was laid out clearly before they began their journey into the unknown, nothing was hidden from Ron. While it was painful and angering, Harry didn't have time to convince Ron that what they were doing was right. Or that at least they were headed in the right direction. There were no guarantees. He could not keep convincing Ron, convincing him to stay the course. It resulted in too much energy being spent, energy that would be best focused on the Horcruxes and Voldemorts ultimate defeat.

Hermione, on the other hand, understood the purpose and the process of their journey. While she did question Harry, it was a different sort of questioning. Her questions were more analytical and methodical, Hermione never questioned if following Harry was right or if this journey was right. She believed in him. There was never a time where she didn't. She was his confidant. Yet, she was more. Harry could not identify when he realized that Hermione's presence in his life took a change.

Maybe the friendship between them had always been a bit more than just a simple, platonic friendship. They seemed to share stolen glances, impulsive embraces, brushing of hands and a closeness that did not seem to be that of 'just friends,' Harry came to realize. Hermione had given Harry all of herself, she had sacraficed so much for him, in the name of friendship, loyalty. Perhaps such a sacrafice stemmed from a place other than friendship, perhaps it came from a place of love? Harry could only assume to his chagrin. This incessent questioning, this incessent unknown both between him and Hermione and the overall war against Voldemort. It made Harry irritable and angry, but the former provided him with some comfort. Somehow, the only positive outcome, thus far, of all this madness was realizing what was in front of him all along.

Yet, as they walked the countryside, the woodlands and all in between, Harry understood that he had been unfaithful to his heart. Mostly out of fear, mostly due to clouded judgment, an uncertainty. Harry had this immense feeling that there was something between him and Hermione. He had always felt a sort of closeness to her, a sort of belonging.

He felt this change between them during their quest to figure out who was behind the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. It was after that that he realized how important she was to him, while looking down at her in her petrified state. As time went on, she was there without hesitation, without question, without any doubt as to who he was. Ron, as many others, turned against him throughout their time at Hogwarts, especially during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. They doubted him and saw him as this larger than life figure, when in reality he was just a teenage boy who had been put in a very unfortunate situation.

Harry's feelings for Hermione….they were complicated, but they were intense and they were present in full force. This journey they had embarked upon brought them closer as they used each other as a source of comfort. In between the silence and conversations, he pondered what it would be like to confese his thoughts to Hermione. He wondered what it would be like to…

Harry realized he had been there for a while as the sun had set. Darkness, like in so many other moments of his life, was all around him. The only beckon of hope was the light coming from the tent. Ironically enough, a tent that held Hermione, his personal beckon of light. He knew that Ron's disappearance left her heartbroken, it left them both with questions and an uneasiness.

Harry wondered what thoughts preoccupied Hermione's mind – was she so affected because she felt something for Ron or was it due to the burning questions of loyalty and friendship that preoccupied Harry's mind? He had his suspicions, but this sort of instinct left him with nothing more but disappointment in the past. Could she possibly feel things for Ron? Did she think of Ron the way Harry thought of her? As this insurmountable force of good and right in his life?

While Harry secretly prided himself for knowing Hermione Granger best, he knew it was not right of him to ask – if she was comfortable and ready to talk, he would be there to listen, as he always had been.