chapter one

They sat in the common room "I can't take this any more, Harry." Hermione whispered in his ear. "I can't stand not being with you, Harry...?" Harry looked directly into her eyes.

"Hermione, I- I…." Harry stopped. What point was there in denying this? What point was there in denying a kiss to the girl he had loved since she walked into their apartment on the train that day?

"Kiss me." Hermione said simply. And Harry did. Harry drew her head to his; still gazing intently into her eyes, and pressed his lips to hers. He dragged his lips lazily over her cheeks, but Hermione slowly found his mouth again and slid her tongue into it. He moaned gently, exhaled slowly and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Harry woke up, sweating. Hell, I have to stop doing that he thought. Why do I have to be so in love with her? It's not as if she even likes me. Her boyfriend just died for crying out loud.

Harry got up and looked at the time. He had been taking a nap to soothe his wounds and yet he had only slept for a few minutes during that wonderful, brilliant fantastic… no. Stop. This is Hermione we're talking about. He left the dormitory and walked down to the Common Room. Hermione was sitting on the couch, her hair falling over her face as she pored over her millions upon millions of textbooks. He walked over and sat by her, his heart throbbing with longing for her. And that wasn't the only thing throbbing in the common room. Harry tried desperately to calm his nether parts as their conversation faltered and Hermione began staring at him.

"Um… Harry? Are you feeling okay?"

"No. No I am definitely not okay."

"Why not?"

"Because I love you."

" I beg your pardon!"