Chapter 1:

Nightmares

Harry Potter woke with a start completely covered in sweat. He just had another nightmare. It had been almost two months after the war had ended, and he still had nightmares. It started when he would be standing across from his two best friends in the whole world, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He would smile, and as he walked over to them, they would disappear, and he would be left alone in the middle of nowhere. A cold voice, that could only belong to Voldemort, laughed, and this always woke Harry up, screaming and soaked.

Ever since Harry was eleven, he had known he was a wizard. Since his parents had been killed by an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort, and he was on his own, except with his horrible relatives, the Dursleys. When he was not at school at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was with them. Thankfully, he had made friends with Ron and Hermione. They were his rock for the past seven years. But just last year, Harry had to drop out of his safe haven and search for Voldemort's secret to power, his Horcruxes. They were seven peaces of his soul, and the trio went on a quest started by Dumbledore to find and destroy them. The journey eventually brought them to Hogwarts, where the battle officially began. They school was almost completely destroyed in the turmoil. Harry, with the help of many fellow classmates, destroyed the evil Dark Lord, and peace came over the Wizarding World once more.

Now, Hogwarts was completely rebuilt and was back in business once more. One friend of Harry's, Neville Longbottom, became the Herbology professor. Minerva McGonagall was now Headmistress, and all was well.

As for Harry, well he was in a bad state. He was continuing to have nightmares, causing almost no sleep. He was lonely living by himself, and he couldn't find a job. He was a mess.

Harry got up from his sweaty sheets and sighed. He reached over on his dresser and as he put on his glasses, he glanced at his clock.

It was 5:30 AM.

Harry groaned and slowly made his way into the bathroom. When he looked at his reflection in his mirror, he could hardly recognize himself. His eyes were bloodshot, and there were dark purple bruises under them. His jet-black hair was a mess, as always. Harry groaned even louder.

As he made his way down the stairs of his home, he felt lonely again. Sure, living by himself in Grimmauld Place was great, but he had missed his friends. Especially Hermione. She was always there for him. She would talk to him, respond to his rare letters, and was just an amazing woman. Ever since the war had ended, he couldn't stop thinking about his best friend with her bushy brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. When he did think of her, he got a sudden ache in his chest. He missed how she always knew what he was thinking, or what was bothering him. He missed their nights in the Gryffindor common room, when everyone had gone to bed, they would just sit on the floor, looking at the fire. She would sit on his lap, and he would wrap his arms around her, and fall asleep talking.

Harry wasn't the best at romantic relationships, but whenever he was with Hermione, he got a weird, but…exciting feeling he never got with Cho or even Ginny. Not even when he was on his broom.

Harry stood in his kitchen, looking out the window and thinking about everything they had been through together. Fighting Voldemort every year, her being petrified in their second year, going back in time in their third year, finding and destroying the Horcruxes just last year, everything. He remembered when werewolf Lupin had almost attacked them in their third year at Hogwarts. He had forgotten about himself and protected her as she clung onto him. He had always loved her as a friend, and even a sister. But ever since then, he always wondered, and hoped, if there was ever going to be more.

When he told Ron and her he was going to the Forbbiden Forrest to give himself to Voldemort, she had said she would go with him, tears filling in her eyes. He quickly denied, telling her to continue to do her job with Ron. She then took him into the most emotionally charged hug he had ever been in. This was a moment nobody could ever take from either of them, not even Ron. As they held each other, knowing they will never see each other again. It was then that Harry knew that, if was going to tell her, it was know. But he couldn't do that to her. What of she felt the same way? That would make this moment even harder than it should be. And it would tear her apart.

Harry looked up to Ron, giving him direction with his emerald eyes.

'Take care of her, please. You know now.'

Ron understood, and silently, without a word, nodded.

Now that Harry was alive and kicking, with no future threat, he just had to tell her. But he still wasn't sure. He didn't want to set himself up.

'She will never love you like that, Harry,' he told himself.

'Ron and her are happy together, and if she's happy, I'm happy.'

He couldn't seem to convince himself.

With Hermione still on his mind, he grabbed some cereal for breakfast.

Right now, she was living with Ron and the rest of the Weasley's at the Burrow. Harry hadn't visited there often because he tried to avoid Ginny as much as possible, just for awkward moment's sake. Plus, he just couldn't stand seeing his two best friends romantic with each other anymore. At first, he didn't mind it. But realizing what a mistake he made by not telling Hermione sooner, now it just made him, uncomfortable and alone.

Luckily though, Hermione wrote about four times a month, just to keep in touch. Right on cue, his new owl, Jazmin, landed a letter right in Harry's cereal. He chuckled.

"Thanks, Jazzy," he said, as he pet the owl on the head.

She gave him an affectionate nip with her beak.

Last year, when Harry was being transported to the Burrow, a Death Eater killed Hedwig, his first owl. This was hard for Harry because she was one of his first ever friend in the Wizarding World. Harry had missed her greatly, but Jazmin had a special place in Harry's heart.

Harry flipped over the letter and saw that it was from Hermione. He smiled, and when he opened it, he was happy to see Hermione's neat and elegant handwriting.

Dear Harry,

How are you, lately? I am truly sorry I haven't been able to write to you in a while. Trust me when I say that I have missed you terribly. As for me, I have been better. Ron and I have broken up. It just didn't seem right being romantic with each other, but luckily we have remained friends. I am now living in a nice apartment, but it has gotten lonely and depressing at times. We must meet in the near future, for I have something important to discuss with you, and it would be nice to see and catch up with you.

With love,

Hermione

Harry could not believe his luck. He was free tomorrow night, and he knew it would be his chance to finally admit his feelings for her. And now that she wasn't with Ron…

'For Merlin's sake, your both eighteen. Be a man and ask her out! You love her and I bet she loves you back.' Harry yelled at himself. But, still, he tried not to get his hopes up. He didn't want to hurt Ron either. Who knew if he still loved her?

'He understood that look you gave him. He will understand'

Harry sighed and searched for his quill and parchment. When he found it, he sat at the kitchen table and finally, after five different attempts, settled on something to write.

Dear Hermione,

I have been fine, but living by myself has been lonely as well. I am truly sorry about Ron and you, but am glad that we can all remain the same Golden Trio. Meeting up would be great, because I also have something to talk to you about. How about tomorrow night at seven? We can meet at that restaurant in Walnutport. Any questions send me an owl.

Love,

Harry

Harry sealed his letter into an envelope and tied it to Jazmin's claw.

"To Hermione," he directed.

The snowy owl then flew silently out the window. Harry sat back and smiled; ready to see the woman he loved.