The entire forest was blanketed in freshly fallen snow, he had to keep averting his eyes from the stark whiteness of the snow which was beginning to play tricks on his mind. The accompanying silence he found a bit unnerving. He was just waiting for a disruption in the silence to alert him of the danger that he knew was coming. Hearing the rustle of paper his heart raced, looking over at Hermione who was sitting next to him reading he tried to calm his racing heart, having forgotten he had joined her outside. He turned back to looking at the frozen desolate forest around them.

If he wasn't so worried he could have appreciated the beauty that surrounded him. The trees were bare having lost their leaves to survive the winter months standing tall and defiant against the whipping cold wind. The snow so white and perfect blanketing the forest floor undisturbed. The perfect kind of snow they used to use during snow fights at Hogwarts. For the first time in weeks the sky was actually blue with only a few scatterings of clouds and every now and again the suns rays would shine on them offering what little warmth it could.

"What will you do after this is all over?" Hermione asked disrupting his search for any signs of danger. Biting down his irritation at the question he answered truthfully hoping the annoyance at her question wasn't evident in his voice, "I doubt I'm going to survive this Hermione. All I'm focused on is getting the Hocruxes and killing Voldermort haven't really had time to plan for after."

Noticing her hurt expression Harry realised he had clearly failed. Grabbing her cold hands he placed a soft kiss on her frozen fingers, "I'm sorry Hermione. I really don't know what comes after it's all over but as long as you are by my side I don't care." he said gently giving her a genuine smile. Noticing the blush on her cheeks he kissed her gently and wrapped his arm around her.

They hadn't really discussed the progression of their friendship from friends to lovers, determined to only focus on enjoying being together. They had both been seeking comfort that night two weeks after Ron had left. It started with them sharing a bed first for warmth, then to keep the nightmares at bay before they stopped coming up with excuses before slipping in to the others bunk bed.

Over the following weeks they had progressed from cuddling, gentle goodnight kisses to frenzied kissing and groping, which had recently moved on to sex. They didn't speak of the Weasleys' or the war just took the comfort and love the other was offering. But he would be lying if he didn't admit that thoughts of what could be and what he wanted hadn't been creeping in to his mind. Especially moments before he fell asleep when he wasn't guarding his mind from those thoughts. Thoughts he couldn't entertain, not in the midst of a war. Not while they were hiding and starving, whilst their friends and families were in danger. But moments before he fell asleep those traitorous thoughts slowly wrapped around his mind sending him to sleep dreaming of him and Hermione and what a future together would be like. Making him fall asleep with smile on his face.

Looking down at the top of Hermiones head that was resting against his chest he placed a kiss against her soft curl, taking in a sniff of her apple scented hair. "I would like us to be together after all of this is over. Make a proper go of it. I know we haven't talked about what this is and I can't promise you forever because I don't know if I can give you that but I love you Hermione Granger."

Looking at her crying face he cupped her cheek rubbing away the tears, "if I die today or tomorrow or a hundred years from now I want you to know I love you. Forever and always Hermione I love you. " he spoke earnestly looking in to her brown eyes trying to convey the depth of the love he felt for her that had moved on from friendship to lovers.

"I love you too Harry, forever and always." she whispered after pulling apart from their heated kiss. Feeling her hand against his cheek he nuzzled in to it.

"You need to wake up Harry." she softly told him.

Looking at her confusedly, "What?"

She smiled sadly at him bringing her other hand to cup his other cheek. "Wake up Harry. I ned you to wake up now."

Feeling consciousness slowly begin to take a hold of him Harry grabs on to her burrowing his face in her mass of curls that no longer smelt of apples. Trying to take shelter from the torment that was about to take hold of him. He could feel the anguish, sadness and heartache slowing creeping up his spine, waiting to take residence in his heart.

"If I wake up you won't be there." he cried.

Hermione pulled away from him and smiled at him lovingly, "I will always be here Harry." she said placing her hand over his heart.

He shook his head vehemently, "no! It isn't the same. All I have are these memories and dreams where I can see you again...I don't want to wake up."

Feeling his head pounding from the alcohol induced headache Harry opened his eyes. Starring up at the blurry canopy above his bed he felt his painful emotions bombard him. Angrily swiping the tears off his face he reached for his glasses placing them on the bridge of his nose. Seeing the dreary decor of his room at Grimmuald place come to view pushed the covers off planting his feet on the soft dark carpet.

Like a practised ritual Harry reached for the bottle of firewhiskey on his night stand raising the bottle in a toast to the picture of a smiling Hermione he took a large gulp.

"Forever and always." He whispered to the silent room.