Hello! I am now officially a beta if anyone needs one, please PM me! Check my preferences, please! Sorry, I meant to upload sooner, but I've been really busy with school and gymnastics and my brother broke his arm poor little guy…

Yeah, but PLEASE REVIEW! NO FLAMES ACCEPTED! Constructive criticism is. Enjoy the story! It's a bit short, sorry! But, there's more in store if I get positive results!

The Harm an Unfinished Sentence Can Do

"Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things–friendship and bravery and–oh Harry–be careful!"

You see that line? That dash right there? In between 'and' and 'oh'? Right there is the biggest mistake of my life. I know it's stupid, so you don't need to remind me. I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger. A.K.A.: The bookworm with the mane, the know-it-all, the unneeded and insignificant third of the "Golden Trio" and one of Harry Potter's best friends. See that quote right there? Yeah, I said that. When I was twelve. I was so stupid! You see, I was going to say love. But I chickened out. It's been a week since the final battle. Harry's a total wreck. I can't help but feel responsible. I can't help but cry along with him. I just feel so terrible that he feels so terrible. I wish I could cheer him up. Do something, at least. But I can't. Believe me, I've tried. Countless times. Nothing. Closest I've gotten is a nod and a forced chuckle I was naïve enough to believe. That is, until I checked up on him later and I heard him crying in Sirius's old room. Words can't describe how much I wanted to go over to him, comfort him, do something. But something kept me rooted to the spot. I didn't know what it was then, but I do now.

Nothing I could ever do would be enough. It feels pitiful to be so damn helpless. I feel like a toddler trying to reach a toy on the tippy-top shelf. I just can't do it. No matter how hard I try. Poor Harry. It must be so hard for him. And, being Harry, he must be drowning himself in guilt, thinking it was all his fault that all those people died. He can make me want to kiss him, scream at him, and hit him all at the same time! Ugh! I've made up my mind. I suppose I really made it up a long time ago, I just didn't realize what I had really done at the time.

I've known for a long time now that I'll never leave him. That I'll always stick by him. And I have. Except for now. But, I made a promise to him. I didn't know I made it, he didn't know I made it, and he probably still doesn't. But, I know. At least I do know.

I'm talking about the first thing on that list of three. Friendship. I told him then that he was my friend. No, you can read perfectly well. Read between the lines and look at it again. I didn't finish that sentence because I half-knew what I was getting myself into, but not enough for the thought to truly cross my mind.

I said Friendship. I vowed to him then and there that I would forever be there for him. That I would always be his friend. And I was telling the truth. I stuck by him even when no one else did. Not that he thanked me, or even seemed to care at all. I still didn't know in Fourth Year. I just did it because I felt like I owed it to him, because he deserved it, which he did, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he didn't, but I did it because I knew that I was his friend, and friends don't walk away from each other when the going gets tough. The grow closer. They rise to the occasion. Which was exactly what we did. Eventually, Ron came around. But, the point is, I have promised him then, and I think he knew somewhere inside him, and so did I, that I would never leave him. And that part of us was correct.

I said Bravery. It meant each of us had to be brave from that point on. No matter was obstacles came our way, we would conquer them. We could and would face our worst fears if we had to, but we wouldn't leave each other. Not then, not ever. Even when I was twelve I knew that. Whatever we had to face, we would face it, and not back out, not then, not ever. It meant something. No matter how much time had passed since I have said that, the oath is still valid, because a promise is a promise, no matter how long it's been.

I didn't say Love. I love him. I did then. I do now. I don't know what kind of love it is. I don't know if it's brother sister love or love love, but either way I love him. But I didn't say it. I wish I had. I wish I had realized then the harm an unfinished sentence can do.

Well? Didja like it? I will continue if you guys like it because I trust you guys' judgment. PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks for reading. The next chapter will probably be from Harry's POV (Point of View) and the one after that is her deciding what to do and doing it. It's not a long story, but if I get positive results, I can make it longer and better.