Chapter 1 – Flashback

Flashback to Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts.

Harry's heart was pounding against his ribs causing him to take shallow quick breaths which for some reason did not fulfill his body's need for oxygen. He began to breathe faster trying to meet his brain's demand for air. His eyes were still adjusting to the running figures around him, and his mind was still trying to comprehend the chaos surrounding him. He didn't even know how he had gotten this deep into the forest, but after those Death Eaters had attacked at the World Cup his feet began to carry him far away from everything. He was trying to find a familiar face among all the twisted trees and swooping branches. All he could hear was screaming and yelling. He opened his mouth but his words were drowned out by all of the other hopeless voices trying to find the right person's ears. Harry did the only thing he thought was logical; he kept moving.

Harry walked for hours and the crowd that he was among began to disperse. He found himself traveling alone and was oddly comfortable with it. All danger seemed to have disappeared, so Harry turned back around to face the sunrise. He started walking back the way he had come from. He would probably find someone he knew along the way. After walking for a short amount of time Harry saw a comforting face and heard many comforting voices. He had found Mr. Weasly and the gang. They were all waving their hands in the air as if they were flagging down a rescue boat after being stranded for weeks. As Harry began to make his way towards the crowd his scar began to burn fiercely. It had never hurt this bad. The pain was so bad that he fell to his hands and knees. The Weaslys had all withdrew their wands, and as Harry turned around he saw the horrible face of a Death Eater. The man's wand was pointed at Harry's heart. Just as the man was ready to kill him, Harry's life flashed before his eyes. He remembered first meeting Hagrid and finding out that he was a wizard. He remembered making his first real friend, Ron and meeting his first enemy, Draco. He remembered being accepted by a family, The Weaslys and meeting the most astonishing and beautiful person ever, Hermione. He really did love her and care about her, and lately he felt the need to wrap his arms around her and protect her from everything. Yet here he was, helpless and about to die.

The Death Eater began to say the killing spell just as Mr. Weasly said a deflection spell. The killing spell came within an inch of Harry's heart causing him to black out, and the last thing he heard was Hermione's voice screaming as Mr. Weasly killed the Death Eater. Harry woke up in the hospital two weeks later. Hermione was sitting next to him reading a book for school when he woke up. He wasn't surprised at all. He tried to say her name, but he couldn't speak. He sat up in the bed, but he could barely lift his head. She noticed the movement and rushed to him. Her hand found its way to his head and she gently ran her fingers through his thick black hair. Tears of happiness and concern were rolling down her rosy cheeks. Harry lifted his hand to her face and she smiled. Harry tried to speak again, but he couldn't find his voice. Hermione stood up to get a nurse. A short, round woman with curly red hair walked in. She looked old and tired as she walked over to examine Harry. She shined a light in his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. As she looked in his mouth she tisked to herself.

"Well, it looks as if his vocal cords are still paralyzed. He should be able to use them within a couple of weeks, but until then he'll have to communicate through writing. There's nothing to worry about though. This happens to a lot of people who go into a coma," the old nurse said. She then exited the room and shut the door behind her. Harry knew it was going to be a long two weeks.

Harry was discharged from the hospital one week later after being completely rejuvenated from his near death experience. He was so happy to finally be out of that stupid hospital bed and on his own two feet again. As soon as he got back to the Weasly's house he got on his broom and went for a long flight by himself. He had a lot on his mind. Most of his thoughts were about Hermione. She had been with him the whole week he was in the hospital, and this experience only seemed to bring them closer together. He rarely had to write notes with her because she understood his body language so well. He felt like she was the one. He was truly in love with her, and he just wished he could tell her that. He had tried to speak all week, and his voice was still failing him. He didn't want to write her a note about how he loved her. He would just have to wait until he could speak again. It wouldn't be long.

As he made his way back to the house he could smell the familiar big dinner that Mrs. Weasly had made. He was starving and couldn't wait to get back to the house. It was almost dark, but Harry could still tell that it was going to thunderstorm. He flew as fast as he could to avoid the rain. Just as he landed it began to sprinkle and he ran inside the house. Everybody was seated and ready to eat, and he took his place at the table right between Ron and Hermione. He felt at home. That dinner was the best one of his life as he sat and listened to the conversation taking place at the table. He wished he could speak with everyone there, but he still couldn't speak. It was starting to become a burden. After dinner was over he helped Ron and Hermione clear the table. As soon as he thought no one was watching he slipped out the backdoor to be alone. As he sat on the back porch he began to cry. He tried over and over again to speak, thinking of how badly he wanted to tell Hermione how he felt. And then without warning a small sound came from within his throat. Little did he know that Hermione was standing behind him. Harry then began to try to form a word. The first word he could form was "Hermione."

Hermione came up from behind him and sat down beside him. She was crying and he turned and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. She was absolutely stunning.

"I heard you talk Harry. You have your voice back," she said.

Harry sat in silence for a moment and then said what he had needed to say for three weeks. "I love you, Hermione."

"Yeah, I know," she said just before grabbing Harry's cheek and kissing him softly.

Harry sat with Hermione for a few hours just talking with her. He didn't know then that Hermione was the most amazing person he would ever know, but as their love continued to grow, he figured out one thing. He would marry her the first chance he got.