This story takes place near the ending of sixth year at Hogwarts with a couple of events sped up and changed just for my own purposes. I hope you enjoy all that is to come.

Prologue

"So, all I would have to do is say the incantation, and pull the magic from my chest like I would pull a memory from my mind into the bottle?"

Asked Harry, staring down at the paperwork in front of him, and going over the plan again in his mind searching for any flaws in it. He looked back to the goblin that answered him.

"That's correct Mr. Potter. Now all you would need to do is sign here and everything will be in order."

Harry looked back down at the papers in front of him nodding his head that he understood. Giving the papers one more quick sweep with his eyes, he was about to sign until the goblin broke the silence.

"Would you like to go over all the documents one more time before you make everything official?"

He asked with concern in his voice never heard for a human being coming from a goblin.

"No! . . . no, I'm sure. . . The portkey and vault is already set up?"

Hand was still poised over the paper to sign.

"Whenever you're ready to activate it, you'll be transported directly into the vault, and remember once you are in . . . you cannot get out ali-"

"Thank you Griphook, I know the consequences. I appreciate everything."

Harry interrupted him. He knew what was going to happen; he just couldn't bring himself to hear it so many times fearing he wouldn't go through with it. He signed all the papers he needed to as quickly as he could.

"Mr. Potter, we goblins don't care for wizards much, but when we do . . ."

The goblin reached out his hand grasping his forearm, the action making Harry still as they looked at each other.

"You will be missed Mr. Potter. The wizarding world will never truly understand how great their loss will be and terrible a mistake they have made. It's still not too late for alternative methods"

Harry didn't know what to say for a moment. It was a rare occasion that a goblin let alone anyone would express any fondness for him with such seriousness. He returned the favor grabbing onto the goblins arm in a sign of solidarity.

"Thank you Griphook, but this is the only way I can be happy and free from all of this."

Harry returned to Hogwarts right before dinner started, entering the great hall as if he didn't do anything of great life changing importance. He sat down in front of Hermione at the end of the Gryffindor table. Ever since Ginny was killed in the department of mysteries, things had never been the same. Ron and the rest of his so call house turned against him and turned their backs on Hermione too for standing by him. Cedric, the Grangers, Fred . . . Sirius . . . dead . He didn't have many left that he cared for, or cared for him left in his life. He would be damned if he was going to live sheltered from harm while others where open targets and human shields all in the sake of the greater good.

He looked at Hermione in those trusting brown eyes and smiled softly at her and she smiled back in kind. Little did she know the plans Harry had for her.

All for her now.

"Hermione?"

She looked up from her plate at him with familiar acknowledgement.

"You know that I love you right?"

She reached across the table, holding onto the hand he subconsciously set down in the middle of the table.

"Well, I love you too pumpkin."

She replied with a light smile on her face.

"You know that anything I do is because I love and want to always protect you. You trust me don't you?"

Her smile started to waver at Harry's tone. She decided to just shrug it off and let him have his moment.

"Of course, I know."

She looked worriedly at him for a moment. She could see him struggling with what he was going to say next.

"Marry Me Hermione . . ."

No more than five seconds passed and she quickly let go of his hand returning her attention back to her food. All trace of a smile left her face.

"Harry, eat your dinner. We still have transfi-"

Frustrated, Harry tried to continue.

"Hermione, I . . . wait not here."

He came around the table grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the great hall. He kept a hold of her until they came to an empty classroom. Harry pulled her in closing and warding the door so that no one will hear or find them. He turned back to her, Hermione's face was tinted pink with unsure anger simply staring at him with a look that said "I'm waiting for an opening to let you know how stupid your being"

"Look, I love you like my own sister, and ever since Ginny died I . . ."

"Harry, I love you too but I will not be some second rate replacement of Ginny just so you don't feel lonely."

He slowly started walking closer to her being careful not to agitate her more. His eyes closed, trying to figure out a way to shut her up

"Hermione, that's not wha-"

"And furthermore, what in Merlins balls sack made you think I'd be okay with this?"

He finally settled on just grabbing her by the shoulders, and physically sitting her down atop a desk non too gently placing a hand down on each side of her hips on the desk blocking her from being able to move.

"HERMIONE! . . . You are misunderstanding what I'm trying to do here. Just listen for a moment will you."

Shocked silent by his harsh tone, and the fact he had enough strength to so easily move her around the way he did. Looking at him you would never think he had the type of strength he did. All Hermione could do was just silently stare into those vivid green eyes quietly and let him plead his case.

"After Dumbledore died, I've had time to think about all the unnecessary deaths, Voldermort, and how to end this war . . . there is a great chance that I will not make it out of this war alive and . . ."

"Harry! Don't think like that."

Sorrow filled her eyes reaching out to caress the side of his face. He grabbed the hand bringing it to his chest.

"Just hear what I have to say."

She gave him a quick nod letting him know he can continue without interruption, chewing uncertainly on her bottom lip. Harry smiled just looking at her fondly, rather struck by a random thought that any man would be lucky to have her. She never looked so captivating to him then she did right then, Harry continued.

"Good girl . . . in the event that I don't make it I want to be able to be sure that what and who I leave behind is protected and carried out to its fullest potential. Since Cedric's death, I have stumbled upon so many realizations that were too great for me to ignore. I could never replace Ginny, she was the love of my life, my soul mate, but you . . . you are my family. Maybe not by blood but family I've chosen. I know this sounds a little selfish of me, but I want to be able to leave this realm knowing that the people I love are assured that I loved them more than life and to be able to show that in every possible way how deep that love goes."

He looked deeply into her eyes, pleading for her to understand

"Please . . . say anything Hermione, tell me you understand?"

She brought her hand back up to his face, caressing his cheeks and the hair line behind his ears he leaned into the touch. Both of their eyes never left the other searching out answers. She still couldn't quiet grasp why this was so important to him but she did know that there was not much she wouldn't do for him. She took a deep shuddering breathe and broke the silence.

"I'll have to buy a new dress, and do I at least get a ring?"

Harry didn't know what to say in that moment that he realized she was basically telling him yes. All he could do was kiss her soundly on the lips and lift her off the desk in a sign of gratitude. He planted her feet back on the ground and looked her in the eyes with a questioning gaze of "are you sure?" and all she could do was smile and reassure him that this is what she wanted for him too. He un-warded the door, and they left the room hand in hand facing the world and finding as much strength in each other for what was about to come.

So, they were engaged. Naturally the whole entire school found out and it didn't take long for the daily prophet to have a whole front page story about it. Harry and Hermione sat in their usual spot at the end of the Gryffindor table. They could care less about the silent treatment and dirty looks as long as they were not messed with. I guess that was too much to ask since they didn't see a certain angry red head coming their way.

"Of course! How else would it be Potter. You win again. First my sister, now . . .ooooohhhhh, don't leave yet. Can't take the tongue lashing like the big kids?"

By this time they were both getting up from the bench, Harry protectively pulling Hermione behind him.

"All this time huh Hermione. Just waiting in the wings like a two timing slut just so you can have dibs on the-boy-who-lives cock. Ginny loved you both you sick bastards."

She grabbed onto the back of Harry's shoulders, the beginning sting of tears in her eyes.

"Ron!"

Harry said in a harsh tone, trying to get him to stop. He could take the tongue lashing from him about Ginny because he knew she would never feel that way especially for the reason he even asked for Hermione's hand. For her it was a low blow, they were just as close and part of her never stopped loving Ron and hoping he would come around.

"Don't ever come near me or my family again!"

Ron said in the iciest tone he could muster.

"Dark lord can take you both for all I care, yet I still feel it too good for you."

He spat where they stood and walked back to his seat and continued to eat as if he didn't just pretty much wish them death. Those closest who heard the whole thing happened unsympathetically just turned back to what they were doing. Harry hadn't realized how alone they were until that moment.

Finally remembering Hermione, he turned around bringing her into his embrace but not before he looked at the guilt, terror, and sadness that was plastered all over her face. He gently guided her out of the great hall all the while keeping her tucked under his arms and lightly kissing the top of head.

"It'll be alright sweetie. He'll learn, the hard way mind you . . . in the end he'll learn."

They had a small ceremony during a weekend trip to Hogsmeade. When they returned to school, they found their way to the room of requirement and had a silent candle lit honeymoon dinner, talked until they had reached the time of the inevitable consummation. It had to be done as a safety precaution, so that the ministry knows it's a legit marriage . . . or at least make it difficult for those who are trying to pull a fast one.

It started out very awkward at first, but after a couple of reassuring touches and words, the only feelings that could be felt well through the night were love, understanding, excitement, and guilt. Guilt because one still felt like she was betraying her late friend, and the other . . . the other felt the guilt of knowing in a couple of months time, he would have completely set in motion the biggest change she will probably ever have in her life . . .