New Story! I can't believe I'm uploading another story. I have about four on the go at the moment but I really like this one. One is on hiatus because it hasn't gone down well and the other on here is going well but I have other ideas for new fanfics in my head. I hope you enjoy this one.

Disclaimer for every chapter: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!

Royalty,

Chapter 1

Harry Potter was sat on the Hogwarts Express which was travelling down the country to London from Scotland. He stared out of the window as fields of yellow and green, signifying summer, fled past and a world of summer colours surrounded them. There were many people in that carriage along with himself. All cared for him in their own way and would support him in the war everyone now knew was coming, they just needed a leader they could relate to. They had heard his speech about them all having something to fight for and Voldemort not but Harry couldn't bring himself to join in their ordinary conversations. He was thinking about how he was going to kill the person who had terrorised him his entire life whether he knew it or not.

One girl, across from him, looked anxiously on from the moment they had settled and his eyes had clouded over with thought. She had no idea what he was thinking about but could guess pretty easily after the previous week.

After travelling to the Ministry for Magic thinking that his godfather, Sirius Black, was in danger, he found out that it was a trap orchestrated by Voldemort to lure him there. Once they were there with four of their friends it became obvious that was the case. Harry's godfather had come, hearing that his godson was in danger, bringing members of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret organisation that fought against Voldemort, to fight against his lackeys, Death Eaters, with him. Sirius Black was the only one that died that night and it destroyed Harry, all of the events made him almost mute for days until before they boarded the train where he made them think he was back with fighting spirit but now the case seemed to have turned again.

"Harry, when can you leave the Dursley's? Did Dumbledore tell you?" She asked, trying to engage him in some conversation. Harry himself just thought she was being awkward, she had known for years that he couldn't leave until his birthday.

"My birthday is usually the day I'm picked up. You know that, Hermione." He replied, actually looking at her with a confused look. He hadn't properly looked at anyone for a few days now, it was a bit disconcerting for his best friend Hermione Granger.

"I was just trying to get you to talk to me, you've been..." She noticed that a few ears had turned their way so she cast a silencing and notice-me-not charm around them.

"Anyway, you've been all brooding for the past few days, which is understandable but then you make the speech about us having something to fight for and once again your back to the state of grief that i'd thought you'd come out of. Harry, I don't know what I can do to help or what I can say? I don't trust you not to do something stupid while you're alone for over a month." She had leaned over with real concern but over the past few days Harry had seen it many times and recognised it, he knew there was nothing they could do to help even if the wanted to.

"I'm just mulling over everything, Hermione. I miss Sirius but there are things that will need to be done as well. I'm not forgetting him, I never will but he wouldn't want me to grieve over him all summer and get nothing done while I'm there. Voldemort's back, has been for a year and i've done nothing. I know you'll say to leave it to the order but they've got enough to do just protecting everyone in Britain. Maybe other people need to do the thinking and go behind the scenes, we're the ones still in school and we know more than most adults because of it. While I'm at the Dursley's I'll make a plan and I can act on it when I get out. Dumbledore will never allow it but he doesn't have to know, no one does."

Hermione could tell that Harry was entirely serious, for the lack of a better word.

"What happened? As you said, you've not thought about going after him, on your own, all year. Why now? What did Dumbledore tell you?" She remembered Harry not being around the day after the incident at the Ministry but didn't question it at the time. Now she knew something had happened in there to keep Harry quiet while he was thinking for a week.

"Dumbledore didn't tell me anything, I made my own decision after seeing how strong Voldemort and his Death Eaters are. It's not something you can battle with brute force, subtlety will...". Harry was shuffling about making it completely obvious that he as not telling the truth.

"Harry, what did Dumbledore say?" She was still quiet but forceful, she needed to know so she could help.

""The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.' That is what Dumbledore told me after Sirius had died and the battle with Voldemort. I have to be the one to kill him or I die." He looked straight into her eyes while telling her this, watching to see if she wavered at all but she didn't, all he could see were concern and something he couldn't quiet ecipher.

"I don't know what to say Harry..."

"Don't say anything. It's something I have to do alone and once it's over with, everyone can move on, with or without me."

"You're not going to do this on your own, Harry. I won't let you, I will follow you to the end of the Earth if I have to but you will never have to go through this alone, I love you too much to let you die by running in there with not an ounce of training or planning." She moved over to his side of the bench and hugged him so tightly but Harry only had three words going around his head.

"Your not going to die, Harry. I don't know what I would do if you did..." Harry could hear the tears in Hermione's eyes so he put his arms around her as she lent on his chest, silently crying.

Soon, she had fallen asleep on Harry and he watched her peacefully. He stroked her hair as he returned to his thought and was soon asleep as well, with his head resting on the back of the seat.

Over time the charms that Hermione had put up weakened until they had disappeared and the pair cuddled up in the corner were soon noticed by the four others in the carriage. Two redheads, sat next to each other with near identical sneers apparent on their faces. They were siblings, Ronald and Ginerva Weasley with very different reasons for disliking the scene in front of them. Opposite them were a girl with long blonde hair and a boy with neat brown hair who were both smiling happily at the scene. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom had expected, along with many others, that something like this would happen one day. Especially after the week they had all had.

Luna put up privacy charms around the pair and returned to the stale conversation with the two Weasley siblings.

The noise of bustling students and the steam train horn alerted Hermione that the train had stopped and it was time for them to get off.

"I was just about to wake you up. We've made it to King's Cross." Smiled Neville, cheerfully.

"Thank you, Neville." She replied, quickly. She had just realised where she had been sitting for hours and felt extremely uncomfortable about. She still sat with her arms over his shoulder and legs underneath her. He was holding her tightly around her waist and she could vaguely remember him stroking her hair earlier on.

"Harry..." She whispered. Harry woke up with a start, pushing her up.

"Sorry, 'Mione. Yeah, what's up?" He put his hand on her leg making Hermione blush but not as much as his tussled black hair, askew glasses and sleepy green eyes.

"We're at King's Cross." She replied looking into her lap and sitting up. Usually she would be happy to be here but something was making feel upset, sad about getting off the train this year. She knew her parents were just a barrier away but she didn't want to cross that barrier to the muggle world.

"Right, erm...I'll pass you your trunk." Said Harry, he stood up hurriedly and reached up above their heads. He had his usual feeling of not wanting to leave the train and the world he wanted to call home but this year something stronger was holding him back.

Ron and Ginny had already left without them which was unusual, Ginny usually stayed to fawn over Harry a bit longer and Ron being the pairs best friend would at least say goodbye but it was just Luna and Neville standing at the door.

"Come along or the Nargles will infest your heads even more. I want to tell Daddy about the Thestrals." Said Luna, in her dreamy voice.

"We're coming. You go first." Replied Hermione, now used to her friends ramblings. She doubted wether she would ever know if what she was saying was the truth.

They exited the train and Luna and Neville rushed off to find their father and grandmother, respectively. Harry and Hermione were left standing awkwardly next to each other by the train but Harry soon spotted the Weasley's further along the platform. The twins and their parents had come to greet Ron and Ginny and Fred Weasley soon saw Harry and Hermione and called out to them. They rushed along the platform to see the red-headed family, walking into the warm arms of the matriarch.

"Your both alright? Good. Now that was stupid going to the Ministry on your own, there was plenty of people in the school you could have gone to but instead you went on your own. Even though you shouldn't have gone alone, Harry, it is not your fault that Sirius died, if you want to blame anyone blame Bellatrix Lestrange. Now, I assume we will be seeing you at the Burrow in August but look after yourselves until then, you too Hermione. Go to your families, I'm sure they are waiting for you." In typical Molly Weasley fashion she pushed them along not letting them say goodbye to their friends and were again standing alone on the platform with many magical families around them. Ginny specifically called after them but neither could hear over the noise on the platform.

"I guess I should go and find my parents." Started Hermione, glancing at Harry next to her, waiting for an unknown reason.

"I might just see how long I can wait it out before I have to go and find the Dursley's." Said Harry, trying to laugh. Hermione turned and hugged an unsuspecting Harry for longer than was necessary. She gripped around his neck as tightly as possible. She didn't need to stand on her tip-toes for a hug with Harry, he was a comfortable height. She hugged him as tightly as she could feeling his hands on her back, it felt better than anything she could imagine. She pulled away reluctantly, staring into his emerald green eyes and feeling incomplete once again.

Harry looked into her chocolate brown eyes until she lent down to pick up her trunk, breaking their contact. He didn't like that feeling at all.

"As soon as I get home I'll write you a letter and you had better reply Mr Potter." She tried to joke. "Goodbye Harry." She said softly, turning her back and walking away as quickly as she could so she wouldn't turn around and stay just as she wanted to.

Harry stood and watched her walk away and it felt as bad as watching Sirius falling through the veil. He didn't know why but he didn't want her to leave him standing there. He ran after her, letting instinct take over.

Hermione could hear people behind jeering at someone but didn't turn around until someone pulled her hand towards them self and turning her around. Before she knew it she was kissing Harry Potter, nothing more than a simple kiss but it full of meaning and love. She knew why she didn't want to leave now. She would be leaving behind the person she cared for the most, the one that was now kissing her with more passion and leading her against a wall and into the shadows.

Harry didn't know why he had kissed Hermione but he did know that now he had, he couldn't imagine doing anything else when saying goodbye not that he wanted to do that. He put everything he felt for her into that kiss. It felt like it could be their first and last kiss with all the emotions that were running through his mind; all the times he could have lost her were felt even more than before. The troll in their first year looming over her, the image of her petrified in hospital wing, they way her body felt held tightly against his back in third, the newspaper articles about them in fourth year suddenly didn't bother him and her lying unconsciously in the ministry hurt even more than on the day.

Their innocent kiss deepened quickly with the feelings that had come forward at their first contact. There was a slight golden glow around them that wasn't noticeable unless you were watching.

Looking on while their parents talked to some of their Auror friends on patrol, were four of the Weasley children. They had seen Hermione walk away from Harry and went to approach him but before they could reach him, he fled leaving his trunk behind and pushing multiple people out of the way. Ron and Ginny went to call after him but were stopped by Fred and George. They watched as the pair engaged in a kiss were swept aside into the shadows.

"That's disgusting! How could she?" Exclaimed Ginny, turning to her brothers, refusing to look at them.

"What do you mean? Everyone been guessing how long it would take for them to get together." Said George. "Who's won do you think, Fred?"

"Probably Luna, she has a way of knowing these things."

"What do you mean? Harry's been courting me since our first year? She forcing herself on him." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"If you actually believe that Gin, you're mad. Harry was the one that ran after her and where did the idea of him courting you all these years come from, he sees you as Ron's little sister. Bare truth there Ginny." Said Fred, giving her a worried look.

"You obviously can't see what's right in front of you, dear brother. He saved my life in my first year." She said adamantly.

"Because your our sister."

"You'll see, he will be mine before the summer's over and you'll realise you were wrong." She stomped over to their parents clearly ignoring what had just happened.

Ron was still staring into space next to his brothers when they spoke to him.

"You alright, Ron?" Asked George.

"I thought she liked me. She was all jealous of Lavender earlier this year. I was going to ask her out." He mumbled, still gobsmacked.

"Not you as well, Ron." Sighed Fred.

"Come on, we need to get home." Fred and George hooked Ron's arms and followed their parents and Ginny who were now leaving past Harry and Hermione in the shadows who got two sneers which weren't noticed by the two that were still passionately kissing.

After minutes of making out, the pair came up for air looking into each other's eyes.

"Where did that come from?" Asked Hermione quietly, not moving from his arms.

"I don't know but I'm not sorry about it. My heart and head didn't want you to leave so I let them take control which often leads me astray but I'm glad I let it do what it wanted this time." He smiled, caressing her cheek.

"I may not have realised it before but I love you Harry Potter and I have since you saved me from that troll. I would not mind kissing you again and again and again." Giggled Hermione, kissing the corner of his mouth.

"Hermione Granger, the fates and I have decided that now is the time when I ask you to be my girlfriend. Not just because you're an amazing kisser but because I have realised that after all these years you are the one that has been their for me since the beginning. How could I not have realised that I love you Hermione Granger before now."

"Yes." Was the only reply needed as they continued their earlier activity until Hermione pulled them apart giggling.

"Hey, I was enjoying that."

"Me too but do you want my parents asking questions?" She walked over to pick up her trunk which was left on the now quieter platform. She felt arms come around her waist.

"I wouldn't mind if I could spend one more minute with you, Ms Granger." He said kissing her neck.

"You can meet my parents. This is perfect timing. Where's your trunk? I'm sure they're dying to meet you." She joked escaping and walking backwards down the platform.

"It should be behind you somewhere and your parents don't even know who I am; how can they be looking forward to meeting me?" He said following and picking up his trunk and his owl, Hedwig's, cage.

"What do you think I talk about in my letters, Harry?" She said walking towards the barrier side-by-side.

"Pressure is rising by the minute. I wish I could hold your hand right now." Hermione slide her arm under his.

"Well that will have to do."

They walked through the wall with no reason to run after so many years and Hermione searched for her parents as they walked together. Suddenly she was gone from Harry's arm and into the arms of two older people. Her mother looked to have the same hair as Hermione but tied up with blue eyes and her father had her chocolate-no, brown and golden eyes he now realised and brown, slightly greying hair. Both seemed of average height and Hermione fit in well unlike Harry who was quite a bit shorter than Mr Granger.

"Mum, Dad this is Harry Potter." He stepped forward shaking Mr Granger's hand and kissing Mrs Granger's cheek.

"Pleasure to meet you Mr and Mrs Granger."

"Call me Sinead and this is Andrew." Said the women in a warm Irish accent.

"Thank you, Sinead but I really should be getting going. My Uncle won't be happy that I am late." Harry smiled and put his trunk and Hedwig's cage down moving over to Hermione and hugging her tightly whispering in her ear.

"I'll miss you and I'll write as soon as I can." He moved away and kissed her on the corner of her mouth, lingering longer than was necessary.

"Me too." Hermione answered softly.

"It was lovely meeting you Sinead, Mr Granger." Andrew glared at him after he had said goodbye to Hermione so Harry left quickly giving his girlfriend a quick smile.

As he was walking along he went back to thinking about his plans, not taking notice of anything unless it was his uncle'a car in ' car park. He couldn't concentrate on defeating the evil dark lord though because a pair of golden eyes always came forward instead. He went along smiling to the doors leading to the streets of London. He loved the hustle and bustled of the city it made him feel insignificant and unnoticeable which in his life was something he relished in.

Harry was about to enter the fray when he heard his name being called behind him.

"Mr Potter. Mr Potter!" The man shouted, in a posh voice. He stopped and turned around to the dismay of the people behind him who jeered at him and carried on. He walked forward positive that even in London that there couldn't be another 'Mr Potter' around. The man was heading straight for him so Harry gestured for him to stop and pushed through the crowd himself but that didn't stop he pushed people aside to make a walk way which made him the centre of attention once again. He hurried through looking at his feet.

"Was that necessary? I was on my way." Said Harry quietly.

"I'm sorry, sir won't happen again." The man started walking in the other direction and Harry followed on instinct wanting to know answers.

"Why did you call me anyway...sir?" He asked, looking up at the taller man.

"I was sent to collect you and take you home. The car is waiting." He said pointing to a Range Rover with blacked out windows in front of them.

"Vernon sent someone to collect me in this?" 'He's got my parents money' was all he could think.

"All will be explained." The man opened the door to the seats in the back and Harry got in, holding his wand in his hand. Harry sat back stiffly, refusing to put his seatbelt on and looked around the car. A smiling woman sat next to him surprised him so much by her he pointed his wand at her. Before anyone could say anything, Harry felt a sharp prod in his arm which was leaning against the seat.

"What was that?" He asked frantically looking at his arm and the seat.

"I'm sorry. You'll understand later." Said the happily crying woman next to him. He started to feel sleepy and before he knew it he collapsed onto the woman's lap.

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