It was dark outside. Most of Britain would be dead asleep by this point. Just passed midnight Hermione is just walking up her driveway to the door. She knew her boyfriend Ron would be in bed by now, so she plopped down on the couch after entering.

Today she had finally managed to get the Wizengamot to accept her proposal on house elfs. Most house elfs are just to proud of themselves to fight for their rights or even want to have any rights. About a month ago she managed to finally come up with a good idea with a little help from Dobby.

The proposal suggested that house elfs could not be forced to work for pay, but should always be offered. It also made rules of how a house elf could be treated. Unwilling to change their ways, house elfs will still be dismissed if given clothes, but their master may now ask they wear a uniform instead. But most importantly a master can never punish their elf or ask the elf to punish themself.

The house elfs may not be equals amoung wizards yet, but it's a step closer. At least with this proposal, it doesn't offened the house elfs and also ensures that they are given some amount of rights and protection.

But what has Hermione out so late is all the paper work she had to file after the proposal was accepted. She may never have come until the end of the next work day if it hadn't been for one of her best friends. Harry had come looking for her when he left her house earlier finding from Ron that she had not come home yet.

She had of course told Harry to go home, he didn't need to stay up with her just for some paperwork. But she's always had such a hard time telling Harry 'no'. She didn't put up much of a fight. Most of the night was spent working, with some small talk. It wasn't until after they were finished that everything changed.

Once the papers were finished, they walked to the Ministers office to drop the papers at her assistance desk. Harry pulled her into a tight hug. They'd had plenty of hugs over the years, but this was different. Something about the hug seemed desperate. Hermione soon found that he was upset when he pulled away and his eyes were red. Harry tried to walk away, but she quickly pulled him back into a warm embrace, asking quietly for him to tell her what happened.

It took longer than usual, but Harry did eventually confess what was wrong. Hermione then spent nearly an hour talking with him about what happened. But now she was home. She didn't know what to tell her boyfriend. Ron often gets upset easily and usually when it has nothing to do with him.

The next morning Harry had been woken up, which is extremely unusual. It only took a moment for Harry to react, reaching for his wand. Quickly moving out of bed when he found his wand wasn't there, but someone was attempting to hold him still. It wasn't until she spoke that he flopped back down.

"What the hell are you doing here Hermione?" Harry yelled at nobody.

"You were really upset last night and I wanted to see if you were ok" she replied with relief when he settled down. "You weren't up yet, so I started cooking you some breakfast, but when I finished and you were still asleep I came to wake you up".

"Yeah, I have the day off today.. Did you say breakfast?" Harry asked sitting up quickly.

"Oh yeah, I have a plate for you on the counter" she explained. "I made a plate of eggs, french toast and bacon for you".

Harry then pulled her into a tight hug and kissed the top of her head. "I love you Hermione" he said jumping out of bed, but quickly slid back into bed while Hermione was still stareing straight ahead.

Momentarily distracted while her mind proccssed what she'd just heard, she was jolted from her thoughts realizing that Harry had gotten back into the bed. "You don't want the food I made you?" she asked a little hurt, completely forgetting everything else.

"Oh Hermione, of course I do. You made all my favorites and I thought I'd end up eating some left overs this morning" he explained brushing some hair out of her face, "this is much better".

Now she was confused, why isn't he getting up to eat the food then? He seemed pretty excited, but what is he doing? "Then why are you still sitting here? Lets go eat" she said padding his leg. She got up nearing the door when she realized he still hasn't moved. "What's wrong?"

"Uh Hermione I- " he was cut off when Hermione was done waiting and took his hand jerking him out of bed. She took him to the kitchen ignoring all his protests. When she turned around to hand him his plate she stopped dead. Not able to control what her body was doing, she found herself inspecting her best friends naked body.

Harry at that point was rushing back into his room now that he'd managed to get free of Hermione.

About 20 mins later, after getting dressed and having 5 pep talks, Harry came back out of his room. "Hermione...?" He looked through the living room and kitchen but couldn't find her. She must have left. Harry sat down by his plate but didn't touch it. He was sitting there talking to himself about how he'd fucked up and he'll be lucky to see her again.

A few moments talking to himself, he felt arms wrap around him from behind. "Oh Harry you'll never loose me, I love you too much", Hermione had tried to comfort Harry.

"Hermione... Where were you?" he asked, trying to avoid the recent events.

"I was in the bathroom silly. You think I'd just walk away after that? I thought you knew me better than that" she said moving to sit next to him.

Taking a deep breath, Harry then looked at her. "I was hoping you had forgotten about that" he said. "I'm sorry, I was trying to tell you, but sometimes you can be so impatient".

"I know Harry. I shouldn't be walking into your home and taking over like that" she said looking to the ground. "I'm sorry".

"Oh, you're just being your normal bossy self" he said laughing. He then pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. "It's ok Hermione, lets just forget about it, and eat this amazing meal you've made us"

Harry was enjoying his day off. After that incident before breakfast, he and Hermione spent the next 2 hours talking about work and her latest research. But she had left several hours ago, and he was just sitting there watching television, until there was a knock at the door.

Opening the door to find Professor McGonagal. After inviting her inside and offering her a drink they sat down in the living room.

"Well mister Potter, it is quite the pleasure to see you again, are you working these days?"

"I work for the Ministry's law enforcement, same as I did three years ago when I left Hogwarts"

"Oh.. I thought with you being home.. No matter. I would like to offer you a position at Hogwarts, I have been waiting for when you grew tired of law enforcement, but since I'm already here..."

Harry was now shocked. What could he possibly do to be of any help at Hogwarts. "Wow.. I um.. I would love to work at Hogwarts, but I'm not qualified for that. Unless Filch retired?"

"Actually he was fired"

"Professor, you know I wont do his job, why would you even consider such a position for me?"

"Actually Harry, I would like you to come back as a teacher. You are after all the best student to ever come out of our Defense Against the Dark Arts class"

At this point he stood up and started walking around, running his hand roughly through his hair. He really did like what he did, he kept people safe. But ever since leaving Hogwarts, he's wanted nothing more than to come back. After what happened last night, he had nothing to keep him from going.

Coming to a halt, not looking at her he asked "You want me to be the DADA professor?"

Standing herself, she turned him around to face her. "I would also like you to be the new head of Gryffindor house. You would be paid for the two positions, giving you nearly a nearly 1,000 galleon raise. You would be housed in your own room inside the Gryffindor common room"

Harry just didn't know how to react. He had been wanting to return to Hogwarts since he left, and learned to enjoy teaching with his time in Dumbledores Army. Harry then shook her hand, "You've got a new Professor, when should I arrive?"

Ron had kept insisting that Harry just wanted to have some time alone. But after two weeks, Hermione just wouldn't sit back any longer. She made her way to his flat, knocking on the door. After a few trys, she let herself in so she could leave him a note. But she wasn't expecting what she found. His flat had been completely cleared. Harry was gone.

In a state of panic she quickly traveled place to place asking many people of any information about where he might have gone. Finally she had a lead from Rosemerta. She had said he was there about a week prior getting a drink. She didn't know where he was now but mentioned he walked up to the castle when left. Hermione quickly made her way up to the gates sending a patronus ahead of her to Professor Hagrid.

When she got to the gates, Hagrid was waiting to let her in. "Well hello Hermione! What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for Harry, you haven't seen him have you?"

"No, not today. I think he might be in class right about now"

That was odd, why would Harry be in class? We finished school years ago.

Walking up to the castle, Hagrid left her to find her own way. She walked through the castle to the DADA class. She waited outside the door for everyone to come out. After pacing 83 times down the hallway, people were finally coming out of the class. But still no Harry. Frustrated she decided she would have to ask the headmistress. As she was walking away she stopped thinking she should at least check the room, possibly ask the professor if he left early.

So she walked back to the classroom. No one was in there, but she continued to the back knocking, "Professor, I wanted to ask if Harry Potter was here earlier?" she said through the door.

The door opened and her best friend was standing there smiling at her. Without any words she jumped into his arms and dug her face into his neck. "HARRY where have you been?"

"McGonagal asked me to come back to Hogwarts. I'm teaching DADA now"

They started walking through the halls, talking. Harry was telling her all about what happened after she left all the way until she jumped in his arms.

They stopped and Hermione was looking up at the portrait of the fat lady. "Oh.. and I'm now head of Gryffindor house" he said to her smiling.

The next morning Hermione was waking up slowly. She was softly nuzzeling into her boyfriend trying to hide from the light coming in the window.

"Hey stop, that tickles"

A few moments of silence later she jumped to her feet and nearly fell back on her butt. "HARRY" she was backing away slowly.

Harry then became alert very quickly. He was looking at the shock on her face and was scared he might have done something in his sleep. "Whatever it is, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was -"

"You didn't do anything" she said shaking her head trying to clear it. She was so conflicted right now. She had thought Harry was her boyfriend. But it wasn't. Her boyfriend hasn't been so comfortable in a long time. Yet she had fallen asleep on her best friend like it was the most comfortable cushion in the world. "I'm sorry, I just... I guess I fell asleep. I uh"

"Yeah.. I guess it got late. You fell asleep. I covered you up and sat on the other side of the couch, I don't know how we managed to get so close"

She then dropped herself back on the couch, with her face in her hands "damn it I almost kissed him"

"You what?"

She clenched up, and slowly looked up at Harry. "What? I didn't say anything"

"Yes you did.. You almost kissed me?"

"No I almost kissed Ron. The old Ron or I mean the Ron he used to be or I mean I was... I was half asleep Harry, I thought you were him"

He was then watching the wall in front of him, not saying a word.

"Is something wrong Harry?"

"No. Uhm.. I uh.." he said trying to think of some kind of cover. "What did you mean the old Ron? Is something wrong?"

She then looked down to the floor. She had wanted to tell him for a long time. "Harry.. I'm not in love with Ron. I tried to be. I gave him a chance because I didn't want to see him unhappy. But we can't ever agree on anything and he gets upset so easily. I just... When I woke up in your arms this morning it felt like when he and I first started dating."

"Have you talked to Ron about this?"

"I don't know what to say to him. I don't want to hurt him"

"How long have you felt like this?"

"It's been awhile. Something always seems to come up, and I try to wait until it blows over before talking to him. We were hunting horcruxes, going back to Hogwarts, finding our lives as adults, all these projects at work, Ron getting his dream job with the Holyhead Harpies, and when Ginny broke up with you.. I thought you went off and got yourself hurt over that! I hunted for you everywhere, and found you here at Hogwarts"

"I'm fine Hermione. You should talk to Ron though, he deserves to know"

"Ron... Harry I need to get back home, he must be so worried"

"I know Hermione. I need to get ready for class anyways. I hope you'll visit me again soon" he said. Harry then leaned over the kiss her on the cheek but stopped midthought, glancing into her eyes and quickly kissed her lips instead. "I've missed you" he then got up and walked away, leaving Hermione sitting there speachless.