Disclaimer: These characters are the creation of J.K. Rowling. The characters from my own brain and the plots I weave for them will be evident for HP fans as they will have little to do with the original story. This narrative was created purely as a way to continue to live in the magical world.
After the funerals and memorials, after mourning together and mourning alone, Harry found himself wandering the grounds of the Burrow with only his thoughts to keep him company. He sat down on a grass hill not too far from the house, and immediately his brain began to fill with the harshest of memories.
Feeling as though he was being watched, Harry turned around and saw that someone had decided to keep an eye on him as usual. She sat under a tree with a book on her lap, reading. He saw her with a new book everyday as she stayed with Harry on the hill for hours. When his back ached or his head pounded, he would go up to his room, formerly Percy's, to sleep.
The house was in such a state of mourning that no one had any strength to try to get Harry to come out of his room. It was odd that not even Hermione pestered him to talk. She just sat under that tree behind him and read without a sound. As Harry had to cross by her tree to get back into the house, he would often
glance at her, but she never looked up from the page.
Today was different. Today Harry's thoughts were on a person living not on the countless murdered. He thought this was, perhaps, the time to seek company. With this in mind, he got up from his usual spot and walked back to sit with Hermione who, again, did not look up from her book.
For a while he said nothing and just let her read. When he felt his eyes start to burn for no real reason, he spoke.
"Will you read to me?" He said it so softly he was sure she would not be able to make it out.
Without missing a beat, however, Hermione read from the very next line. He closed his eyes to focus on her voice, and it really seemed to be working. Harry had hoped hearing someone else speak would block out his internal voice.
After some time of hearing about magical law, Harry reached out and took her hand. She stopped reading promptly and looked out at the scene before them.
"Is it so hard for you to look at me?" He asked as he watched her. She turned to him although clearly dreading his stare and held his look for as long as she could before her eyes filled with tears.
"I haven't been able to get a hold of myself, Harry, I'm sorry." She looked down at her lap as she wept silently.
Harry understood now why she could not reach his eyes, and why she read so much as he suspected she read until she fell asleep. It was the same reason why he sat outside all day…to escape painful thoughts.
"I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you before now, Hermione."
"You've nothing to be sorry for. You needed to be alone, and I wanted to give you your space but not so much that you forget you have someone willing to be by your side."
"Do you always have to be right?" He said with a small surprising smile.
Hermione looked up at him and smiled too. This seemed to break the sorrow for the moment. She wiped her eyes with one hand still in Harry's. The pair sat in silence even when a light rain began to fall. Harry moved his head up and let the raindrops wash his face. Neither one of them used magic to keep the water away or to dry themselves. It even turned into a sort of competition.
Hermione started truly laughing when the rain poured down so hard upon them. She reached for her wand but stopped when Harry stood and pulled her up with him. He motioned toward the house, and they both took off running leaving behind a very boring and now incredibly wet book.
Harry reached the door first and when a still laughing Hermione met him, she took out her wand and performed a drying spell. They entered the kitchen, and Harry saw both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looking at him evidently shocked at the sound of his laughter. Mr. Weasley moved towards Harry and hugged him most deeply. Harry could hear Mrs. Weasley let out a tiny sob as she also went to Harry to make the hug bigger. She whispered in his ear that she was happy to see him smiling.
The trio broke their hug as Mrs. Weasley began to tell Harry and Hermione that the house was nearly empty.
Smiling at Hermione she added, "I left enough dinner for two, Hermione, because I assumed you wouldn't want to leave him. Harry, dear, we'll be back soon. Bill and Fleur are having us over for dinner. Ron and Ginny accompanied George to Diagon Alley…"
She did not have to finish this last statement for even though he was shut up in his room, Harry could tell George wanting to see his deceased twin's business was a major improvement.
"Yes, well we'll be back soon," said Mr. Weasley, and he looked at his wife as if telling her not to linger. She took the hint but hugged Hermione before she took her husband's hand, and they took off to the swinging gate to disapparate.
Hermione softly smiled at Harry again before she busied herself with setting the table for two. Harry helped, and in no time they were eating to their heart's content.
"Any news about your parents, Hermione?"
"Yes, Kingsley was a great help. He sent an Auror to Australia to locate them and found them easily enough. I have the address of their new house and everything."
"When are you planning on going then?" Harry asked between mouthfuls.
The Weasley's had taken to kindly send up a tray of food to his room, but Harry never accepted it since it would seem as though they were waiting on him. So, he had Kreacher bring over whatever the dish was for the day. It was a nice change to eat Mrs. Weasley's cooking again and to have company.
"I'm not sure when I'll go." She answered slowly and then continued to say, "To be honest, I'm not sure I want to."
"What? Why ever not?"
"Oh Harry, you should see how happy they are! The Auror took a picture of them so that I could verify."
Harry took a moment to think before telling her that they would be happier with their daughter by their side.
"I'm not sure that they would." She said this so shamefully as she played with the food she had left on her plate. "They always felt left out of my life because of magic. They treated me as if they would never be able to relate to me again."
"Hermione, you cannot make this decision for them. If you have your parents, you should choose to be with them."
She looked up at him from across the table and was again overcome with the same sorrow that had been keeping her up at night.
"I'm sorry I even considered it."
Hermione cleared her side of the table with a wave of her wand and proceeded to the kitchen where she was hoping to hide from her shame. Although he knew that she was leaving the table to be away from him, Harry followed her and said her name until she turned to face him. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a knowing look.
He would be there for her as she had been for him. He could tell she was struggling to face her parents.
Harry had been hiding from what had happened in the forest. Seeing his parents, Sirius, and Remus beside him had taken a lot out of Harry especially since he chose to stay behind.
Hermione nodded at him when he motioned towards the stairs, but before she followed him, she made two cups of tea trail behind them to Harry's room. When Harry reached the landing, he sat on a lumpy armchair he had taken a liking to which Percy had left behind. Hermione entered, passed a cup to Harry, and sat at the edge of his bed with her back against the wall. They sat in a comfortable silence for some time just sipping tea until Harry spoke up.
"When you go to bring back your parents, I would like to go with you."
She looked shocked for a period before she went on to say, "I can't believe that you would want to. But, Harry I'm sure it wouldn't be allowed. It's much too dangerous for you to be travelling when they haven't even captured the escaped Death Eaters."
It was true that when the battle at Hogwarts had ended, some of the vilest criminals slipped away while the focus was on celebrating. Harry had half a mind to search them out on his own, but the idea soured within him as he never wished to part from the only loved ones he had left.
"If I want to go with you, then there is hardly anyone that can stop me. Other than, of course, if you say you don't want me to come."
He added this last bit as a way to test whether she wanted to embark on this journey alone. Hermione, however, kindly looked at him with the softest look she had ever given.
"It would feel so odd not to be with you, Harry." She opened her mouth as if to continue but thought better of it and remained quiet.
He thought back to the times before battling Voldemort to when it was just Ron, Hermione, and him. He would have felt so at peace with them had they not been on the mission to destroy the Dark Lord's horcruxes. Now, would they really find peace and would they find it together?
"You never left my side, Hermione, so I need to do the same."
She looked somewhat perplexed by his words as she said, "What brought this on Harry? I've never heard you speak so openly before."
"I was thinking about those months in the tent. How you didn't leave me even though our mission was hopeless at times. I spent a lot of time really distracted because I didn't think I'd have a future. Now that I see I've been given a chance at a normal life, I just want to make sure the people around me know how much I value them."
Hermione smiled sadly as she recalled another thing that had been troubling her.
"What happened, Harry? What really happened to you in the forest? I remember every word you said to us in Dumbledore's study, but I can't shake the feeling you omitted something. Voldemort-he said you were dead. When I saw Hagrid carrying your body…"
She could not go on and really did not have to for Harry understood how much pain that sight must have caused her. He remembered her, Ron, and Ginny's cries clearly; it was a pain that cannot be easily forgotten. Harry got up from his chair and moved to sit by Hermione on the bed. When he reached her, he put his arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
He had recounted everything he could to Ron and Hermione in the headmaster's office shortly after defeating the Dark Lord. Everything, that is, except for the strange experience he had in the moments after being hit by the killing curse.
"I saw Dumbledore, Hermione. I was somewhere close between life and death. He said it was up to me to choose whether to go with him or to come back. Dumbledore explained everything and even mentioned you when I asked him why he made our task so hard. He said he was counting on you to help me keep my head cool."
Hermione lifted her head to meet his eyes, and he saw that once again he had made her tear up.
"But, why did you come back then, Harry? If you had a chance to be with your family, with Sirius, to be truly happy…how did you choose?"
"Dumbledore told me there was a chance for this all to be finally over. He said there was a chance for peace here where families wouldn't be split apart anymore by darkness. I think the part of Voldemort's soul that was in me was in that place too. It was writhing and horrible. That helped me choose, Hermione. I saw that thing, and I saw how small it was in comparison to the peace Dumbledore and the others had. I knew if there was a chance, I had to take it."
He looked away from her but could still feel her eyes on him. He let his arm slip from her shoulder and fall to around her waist. Hermione leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek and rested her head on him once again. They sat there for quite some time with their backs now leaning against the wall and drowsiness began to settle in. Harry was sure Hermione had already fallen asleep and was very happy to think that he had given her some peace at least enough to sleep.
Harry's eyes were closed when he heard a knock on the door. A voice softly called out, "Sorry to bother you, mate. But, I can't find Hermione, and mum said she left her with you."
"Ron, she's here. You can come in."
Ron was unable to mask how shocked he was to hear Harry's voice, but this shock was nothing to seeing Hermione asleep on Harry.
"Blimey, Harry. How did you get her to fall asleep? She's been reading nonstop…"
Harry chuckled softly, "I was just talking to her, so I think I bored her more than her books."
Ron smiled at Harry and with his help, Ron was able to hold Hermione in his arms and carry her off to Charlie's old room where she was staying. Harry watched as Ron looked at her with such care and was amazed by how much he had missed while staying in his room.
By the time Ron was back in Harry's room without a sleeping Hermione, Harry had moved to sit in his lumpy chair.
"How's George doing?" Harry asked.
"Ah well, he's much better than he was last week. Ginny and I finally got through to him yesterday, and he agreed to go to the shop. It was bloody depressing seeing him in that place without Fred, but we saved a lot of the merchandise when he started cursing the lot. He had his time to be angry, and now he seems to understand that Fred would have blasted his other ear off if he knew that George was thinking of selling what they worked so hard to get in the first place."
"He's going to keep it then?"
"Seems so. He even asked if Ginny and I could help him run it. Ginny doesn't want to, but it doesn't seem like a bad option for me. What else am I going to do, eh?"
Ron chuckled under his breath and then quieted when he looked at his best friend. "I'm sorry I've been busy, mate," Ron said somewhat shamefully.
"There's no need for that. I'm the git that never left his room. You've had your hands full with your family and I suspect Hermione, too, so it's really not your fault."
Harry now felt more selfish for not seeing past his own pain. How many times had Hermione sat under that tree while he was thinking of only himself? Or how many meals had he missed when Mrs. Weasley was surely in so much pain even cooking took its toll? No, he would stop thinking of himself and be more like Ron who seemed only to think of others.
"To be honest, I focused more on George. Hermione completely shut me out after the funeral, and when she took to sitting outside with you, I figured you both would find a way to help each other. I guess I was right." He smiled at Harry as if thanking him for bringing Hermione back to him, and all Harry could do was return the smile.
They spoke of all that was going on with the world since Harry had shut it out such as the fact that Hogwarts was reopening in the fall as well as where the Ministry was looking for the escaped Death Eaters. The most surprising news came in what Harry thought was a joke.
"What to do you mean they want to write a book about me?" He asked clearly disturbed by the information.
"Well not just you. They want to write about the war, but since you ended it that would mean you are a major portion of it. Writers send messages every day asking for exclusive interviews, and it's all we can do but ignore them. I tried asking Hermione if she thought it was a good idea, but she told me to ask you."
He laughed suddenly as he said, "It was her idea in the first place for you to do that interview for The Quibbler back in fifth year. She convinced you, so I went to her first thinking that if she thought it was a good idea, you would do it."
Harry smiled, "Well it is hard to argue with someone that is never wrong."
Ron nodded, and the pair continued onto other topics. They called it a night sometime around two in the morning with plans to visit the Grimmauld place in the afternoon. Harry and Ron hugged before Harry closed his door and turned off the lights. No memories could disturb Harry's sleep as he dreamt he was back in the common room with Ron and Hermione.
The next morning was a happy one. It was the happiest one at the Burrow since the ending of the war. Breakfast ran late since Mr. and Mrs. Weasley also had a late night. Only Ginny was up before noon to practice on the Quidditch pitch and start her mum's morning routine. Harry went to Ron's room to wake him up and the pair went to wake up Hermione.
"I don't remember ever being up before Hermione. It's very unsettling. I feel as though I should climb back into bed," joked Ron as they knocked on her door.
When there was no answer, they peeked inside. She was still fast asleep, but Ron decided to end that state as quickly as possible. She woke up disoriented to the point where she asked if Harry's arm bones had regrown, but when she saw where she was, she sat up.
"Ron, Harry… what time is it?"
"It's nearly one, Hermione," Ron said gleefully.
Hermione groaned and the boys told her they would be waiting downstairs as they were starving. The sunlight was pouring in making the food look even more irresistible. Harry and Ron sat down after giving Mrs. Weasley a quick hug and happily reached for as much as their plates could carry.
"It's nice to see things in order again," Ginny said as she witnessed her brother and Harry argue over who's cooking was better: Mrs. Weasley's or Kreacher's. Ginny caught Harry's eye for a moment, but he looked away as he saw Hermione walking towards the table.
"Still thinking about second year?" He asked slyly recalling her dream.
"I don't even know why that would be in my head right now."
She smiled as she sat with them, and Mrs. Weasley filled her plate. Mrs. Weasley was smiling brightly at Hermione as she thanked her for the meal and apologized for sleeping in.
"Nonsense, I'm just very thrilled to see you three together."
"Ah yes, the Golden Trio." George's voice carried from the door as he entered his home. "Here I was expecting lunch, and you lot are still having breakfast."
He kissed his mum on the cheek and sat beside Ginny as he picked at the remaining bits of food.
"The Golden Trio?" asked Harry.
"That's what the papers are calling us," Ron said somewhat proudly. "I even heard a rumor that we are getting our very own chocolate frog cards!" He added unable to mask his joy. The rest laughed heartily at Ron's choice of proud accomplishments, and the Weasley's informed Harry on other rumors they had heard.
"Arthur swears there's been Order of Merlin talk, Harry," Mrs. Weasley told him.
At this Hermione excused herself from the table and said she needed to send off an owl. Harry watched her leave and figured she was going to inquire about seeing her parents. He would just have to wait to see.
Once they were pleasantly stuffed, Ron informed the rest of Harry's plan to clean up the Grimmauld place. "I'm going to help him, so we may run late tonight."
"That's fine dears, Arthur and I are going on a small vacation so we won't be home this weekend…" said Mrs. Weasley as she blushed deeply and looked around at her children. "Percy says he'll be by the house as much as he can to make sure you lot are safe."
"Ha! Mum we have the Golden Trio living under our roof. We can manage without Percy," teased George, but Mrs. Weasley ignored him.
"Ron, Harry, why don't you take Ginny with you when you clean the Grimmauld place? I'm sure she would like that more."
"Actually mum, I'm going to be with Luna today. She said she's in need of company, and she couldn't live closer." Mrs. Weasley gave Ginny the smallest of frowns and looked at Harry.
"Alright then, go find Hermione and good luck with Kreacher."
Harry and Ron did not need to be told twice. They found Hermione outside staring up at the sky obviously in the same position she was in when she watched the owl fly away. She turned with her arms crossed when she heard them coming. Ron went up to her and happily hugged her. It was all Harry could do but watch and wait until they stopped. But, when Ron released her, Harry saw that Hermione's arms were still crossed. Ron carried on oblivious to Hermione's stoic manner and told her the plans for the day.
"I'm out of practice when it comes to disapparating, so do you mind take us Hermione?" asked Ron finally.
Hermione nodded in response and reached out both her hands towards them. Harry took her hand, and he prepared to feel a sensation he had not missed whatsoever.
"Wait a moment," she said suddenly. "I thought the charm had been transferred over to Yaxley? It can't be safe."
"I told Harry this last night. One of the first places the Ministry looked for the missing Death Eaters in was the Grimmauld place. They figured that since the Death Eaters knew the Order had abandoned it, it would be like hiding in plain sight. So, it took a while but they countered the entire charm."
"The Ministry even had to modify the neighboring muggle's memory to believe that number 12 had always been there," added Harry still holding Hermione's hand.
"Yeah and anyways we'll just have to place our own protection charms once we get inside which you can only do if you have Harry with you," finished Ron and with that, he took Hermione's hand again.
A split second later, the trio apparated right into the kitchen which alarmed a very busy house elf.
"Master Harry!" said Kreacher as he bowed proudly.
"Wow, Kreacher! I had no idea this was what you were keeping yourself busy with!"
Harry was truly impressed with this house elf because the place looked completely transformed. Kreacher had applied a fresh coat of paint in every room as well as dusted every corner.
"I did not throw anything away, Master Harry. But the Aurors…" he said so solemnly, "the Aurors took down mistress's portrait and disposed of it!" This bit of information sent Kreacher in a frightful state as though his former mistress had passed away only the hour before.
"I am sorry Kreacher, but why don't I let you keep anything of hers I find?" Harry said kindly.
"But no knickers, Kreacher! That'd be bloody revolting." Ron had added the last bit very quietly so that only Harry could hear him.
The trio left Kreacher in the kitchen who was to start on lunch already, and they inspected the rest of the house after placing the necessary protection charms. Harry was happy to report that the sanitation of the entire place made this house more into a home. All that was left to do was sort through the remaining belongings, although admittedly, it would all end up engulfed in flames.
"Why don't we split up and tackle the separate rooms? Anything you think is important or worth saving leave there and the rest you can destroy."
"Alright just don't let Kreacher see you," mentioned Hermione which was a happy reminder of her old self.
Harry smiled at the thought as he vacated the hall and straight into Sirius's room. The room was as handsome as Harry had ever seen it. He sighed deeply and started rummaging through the drawers of the wardrobe. Harry found papers upon papers of every kind such as old letters and bits torn out from various books. He determined that any photograph that his Godfather thought was worth storing was going to be saved.
It was all too much for him when he found incredibly old letters between his father and Sirius. Some were written around the time when Harry's grandparents had died. Sirius mentioned in the letter that it would all get better soon for James and that they would always be each other's family. It was clear the two friends were more like brothers than anything else.
This kind of friendship seemed to have passed on to Harry for he could see how he was similarly blessed. He had Ron and Hermione just as his father had his best friends. How many people had been as lucky to have found friends worth dying for? To have friends that were more like family?
After deciding on a couple of items to get rid of, Harry had to admit that he should take Sirius's room a little at a time because even though only an hour had passed, Harry felt drained. Instead, he closed the door behind him and choose another room to unclutter. The next room which was Sirius's parents' room proved to be a much simpler challenge. Harry went through the items rather quickly and even found a couple artifacts of Mistress Black to appease Kreacher. Ron poked his head in a while later to gladly announce that lunch was ready.
Harry followed Ron out the door and started to follow him down the stairs when he noticed Hermione was still in one of the rooms. He told Ron to go ahead while he wrangled Hermione into joining them, and Ron was quick to accept it.
"Hermione?" Harry asked her as he reached the doorway.
"We spent the whole summer before fifth year just clearing out this place, but there is still so much to do."
Harry sighed before adding, "A lot has happened since then."
Hermione said nothing but nodded more to herself than to Harry.
"Is there something wrong? Anything I can help with?" asked a concerned Harry.
"Thank you, Harry, but no. I'm fine."
Hermione crossed the length of the room without looking at him and was about to pass him at the door when he took her arm.
"Don't go shutting us out, Hermione. Don't think you are alone in this. If you are mad about Ron, he really just doesn't know how to reach you. He told me so last night."
"No, I'm not mad at him, Harry. I just—I didn't even think to go to him, you know? I didn't even expect him to get me out of my slum. The whole thing is odd, and I know it's only odd because of me."
"You are busy thinking of your parents, Hermione, that's all."
"Maybe," was all she said as she motioned with her head that it was time to go downstairs. She looked sad and almost lost, but Harry could not think of anything else to say, so he accompanied her to the kitchen where Ron was nearly finished with his plate.
It was baffling how many cleaning sessions the house would need before it was a proper home. So after lunch, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed cleaning until they noticed the darkening skies and headed back to the Burrow.
As they crossed the lawn, Harry caught sight of the Weasley's makeshift Quidditch pitch and saw a figure zooming around on a broom. He could only take a guess at who it was but excused himself from the others and made his way over. Sure enough, Ginny was practicing various chaser maneuvers on her own.
After a spectacular move, Ginny finally noticed the onlooker and touched down in front of him.
"Did you make captain, then?" he asked.
"No…well there hasn't been a letter yet."
They stood awkwardly watching one another until Harry asked her if they could talk. She led him towards the broom shed and placed her own broom carefully inside of it. They sat down on a large rock off to the side of the shed.
"I'm not sure what I expected, Harry, but it sure wasn't this," she said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"I never expected to feel awkward or shy around you again. But, I suppose it's because you feel differently about this whole thing?"
She posed the last sentence as a question, but it sounded to Harry as though she already knew the answer.
"I didn't expect to make it Ginny. I never expected to see you again much less have to think about a future," said Harry genuinely. "I don't know what to do next, but I do know it would be unfair to keep you waiting. Can I ask you to think of us as friends? I just want everyone to be at peace, and that's honestly all I can think about at the moment."
When Harry had finished saying his bit, he watched Ginny's expressions. Her eyes remained focused and dry, but there seemed to be a question forming behind them.
"We'll be friends Harry. Of course, we'll stay friends," she smiled warmly at him, and Harry was utterly amazed by the entire exchange.
"I just have one question."
"Ok," said Harry, "what is it?"
"Did Hermione tell you to tell me all this? Did she coach you in any way?"
Harry laughed. "I guess you figure that I couldn't be this open without her help?"
When he saw Ginny reluctantly nod, Harry told her that Hermione did not have a part in it.
"Although, she did tell me that she also felt different around Ron, so I suppose that made me think of you. It made me think of our situation."
Harry saw that his words had stung, so he tried to explain.
"I mean that—the war changed everything. The time I spent apart from you changed me. I care for you just as much as I did before, but I don't know this Harry. I don't know what's in store for me, and I don't know what I want to be in store. Sorry if this is all coming out wrong."
"No," Ginny started, "I can see that you are different, and I understand. You went through hell, Harry. I'm happy for now to know that you made it through all of that with your good heart. I can't lie that I want more with you, but I see now that I'll have to win over this Harry if I want to be with you."
Harry was very moved by her honestly and was especially happy with her strength. She was unlike any other girl, and he knew she needed to be with someone as equally special. He did not realize how lost in thought he was until Ginny spoke again.
"You know I don't feel very tired yet. Care to help me practice?"
Harry only smiled as he summoned his Firebolt all the way from his room and spent the remainder of the day happily on his broomstick.
After thanking and saying good night to Ginny, Harry made his way up to Ron's room to discuss the plans for tomorrow. While still on the steps, Harry heard raised voices that made him stop in his tracks. He stood just outside the Ron's door which, unfortunately, ended up being close enough to overhear the final remarks.
"I can't believe I let myself think this was it! You kissed me! What changed Hermione?! What could have possibly happened to make you doubt this?!"
"He DIED, ok?! That's what changed!"
"Voldemort died, and now that it's all over, you don't love me?! So it was just in the heat of the moment?!"
"Ron," began Hermione, but Ron cut her off.
"Don't fret. I won't hold you to your actions during the war. We'll pretend they never happened because I wish they hadn't," he said cruelly. "Don't you dare tell Harry that we are fighting. He's been through enough without you adding to it. I'm going to sleep."
Harry could not move even if he wanted too. Hermione had just closed the door when she turned to find herself face to face with Harry. She was stunned, and Harry saw her realize from the look of his face that he had heard enough. Hermione blushed violently and walked away from him with tears still streaming down her face. Harry followed her down the flight of stairs until she reached her room. He was about to enter when she gave him one last look of humiliation before she slowly closed the door on him.
He stood on the other side of the door for a minute seriously considering knocking; instead, his feet carried him to his own room, and he got ready for bed. When he was finally lying down, sleep did not come easily for he was still very bothered by his best friends' interaction. What was most unsettling was Hermione's excuse for why she didn't feel the same way anymore. Had it all been as Ron said and only a result of being under extreme pressure?
Harry thought back to his former relationship with Ginny. She had pursued him for many years without Harry so much as thinking about her in that way. Why had his feelings changed? After fighting for so long and feeling so much pain, Harry seemed at a loss with all his other emotions. He guessed this was what was the most different for him.
But, Hermione always seemed to know exactly how everyone else felt, so it felt wrong that she could be this mistaken with her own feelings. Harry had seen how devastated she had been when Ron left them in the tent. Those feelings could not have been misplaced. Sleep finally overtook Harry with Hermione's words still in mind.