Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter etc...

Ch.1

Every time he heard the gentle patter of rain against the window sill, he thought of her. No matter where or when, the rain transports him back to the forest when it was just them. He remembers the feeling of the water against his skin, their skin, almost as if it was washing the pain and war away leaving behind a clean new beginning. He remembers the taste of it as it mixed with her creating something that satisfied his soul. As he sits there in his office at the ministry watching the water make trails down the glass, he wonders if the rain makes her think of a them, when in a moment of desperation and loneliness, they found happiness in each other even if it was only for a brief moment in the midst of a dark war.

Harry knew he shouldn't be thinking of her like this, she was after all his best friend and his best mates girl. He knew he loved her, but convinced himself it was just a sibling love. After thirteen years of friendship and nothing more he shouldn't have feelings for her. He told himself that he was just lonely after Ginny broke things off to go join a professional Quiddich team in America, his heart knew better. He had loved Ginny and he could see himself marrying her, but she wasn't Hermione.

Harry slammed his fist down on his desk. 'that's enough' he told himself. 'Ron is with Hermione and Ron deserves to be happy!' still did she think about him when the clouds darkened and the smell of rain was strong? Did she remember the feel of his lips against hers? The exact moment when everything shifted from friendship to something more?

Harry shook his head and grabbed his coat. All of these memories the rain conjured up made him late for the usual Friday night dinner at the Burrow. He took one last glance at the window, "I'm starting to hate the rain," he thought and then apperated into the night.
-

Hermione sat at her usual chair at the Burrow watching Molly bustle around the kitchen preparing a meal of pot roast and vegetables.

"Do you need any help ?" she asked.

"Oh no dear! You just sit there and relax, you work far too much as it is!"

Hermione sighed and continued to sip her tea. Her plan had dissolved. She needed something to distract her from the rain, she ALWAYS needed a distraction from the rain. It hurt too much to watch it make odd trails on the window. She thought of him. If she was alone she would close her eyes and listen to it fall from the sky. If she was lucky, she could feel the weight of her clothes as it drenched her from head to toe. The feel of his hands roaming her torso, leaving tiny goosebumps behind. The smell of him mixed with the rain, like a clean snowfall or the smell of new grass.

She had to stop, she couldn't go on like this when she had a perfectly great boyfriend. Harry and her were just platonic friends. She rationalized that she was sometimes just lonley when Ron was away on Auror missions or the fact that Harry was her first. Women never forgot their firsts, right? It was completely normal. Still, something had changed with them on that day. As Hermione sat there awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Weasley clan and Harry; she wondered if the rain plagued his memories as well.

-
Soon all of the red headed bunch arrived, minus Ginny, who was in America and Charlie who was still training dragons in Romania. Everyone was tucked in nicely around the table happily chattering and in Rons case shoveling food into his mouth.

"Where's Harry? asked Mr. Weasley.

"Dunno lasf tin I saw him, he wash doine faper wok" Ron replied while spooning more mash potatoes in his already full mouth.

Not a second too late did the door swing open revealing a damp looking Harry Potter.

"Sorry I'm late," said Harry while extracting his coat and doing a quick drying spell, "the Auror department seems to believe I do a great job in paper work and loaded it on today."

"Oh you poor dear, just sit down and I'll make you a plate." cooed Mrs. Weasley immediately piling roast and potatos onto a plate.

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley." He said as he leaned into kiss her cheek and then proceeded to make his rounds with the rest of the Weasleys and Hermione, taking care not to linger too long.

After everyone was full, they all moved into the living room for tea and coffee cake.

"So Ron I hear you're going on a mission soon?" asked Mr. Weasley taking a sip of his tea.

"Yea leave for Bulgaria in about a week, apparently there is word on a revolt happening and they need extra eyes about."

"How long will you gone this time Ronnie? Enough time for me to woo Ms. Granger here away from you?" teased George. Hermione flashed him a smile.

"Ha ha fat chance!" he retorted, "Umm I don't know to be honest, depends how this revolution business pans out I suppose! Plus I got Harry here to defend my honor while I'm away!"

"I'm sure Hermione can defend herself from any potential suitors" replied Harry chewing on a bit of cake.

"Well Harry you did defeat Voldemort so you could scare them all away" came a reply from Hermione.

"True, but I definitely wouldn't have made it with out alive without you." Harry looked at her sincerely and the two were lost in a gaze.

"I think you are forgetting who pulled you out of that lake with the sword of Gryffindor!" said Ron making the two break eye contact.

"Oh I'm sorry I completely forgot, remind me to name my first born child after you!" chuckled Harry.

"Yes! The name will be Ron if it's a boy, obviously and Ronda for a girl."

"God help those poor children" quipped George getting to his knees.

Everyone chuckled at the thought, except Hermione who was staring intently out the window at the storm.

"You ok Hermione?" asked Ron nudging her shoulder.

"What- oh yes, I'm sorry!" She said blushingly, "I'm just a bit tired is all!"

That answer seemed to satisfy him. The clan continued to discuss the news of the family, odd gossip, and of course quiddich, all while munching on cake and tea. Harry caught Hermione's eye, seeing almost a sad look in them before she blushed again and quickly looked away at the night outside.

Soon George announced he had to be in the joke shop early and everyone followed suit in leaving the cozy home. As they bid farwell to the Weasleys. Ron received a message from the Auror department that they needed him to report.

"Sorry love I've got to go! Harry would you mind?"'And he quickly kissed Hermione goodbye, clapped harry on the back and apperated into the night.

Harry and Hermione took no time in apperating to their flat. The three had rented it out after graduating Hogwarts and starting their jobs at the Ministry. It was small, but gave them just enough space. There was three bedrooms, a bathroom, a small kitchen, and a combined dining and living room. Each putting bits and pieces of themselves throughout the rooms. Hermione obviously having books in neat rows along the walls of the living room. Pictures of family, class mates, and the trio about. Ron's bedroom looking much like his room at the burrow, Quiddich posters and orange chudley cannon memorabilia scattered around his mess. Harry's room wasn't as messy, but he could tidy up. His room was a forest green. Having a shelf of keepsakes above a desk that was stacked high with paper work and old reports, along with a few pictures. Hermiones room was periwinkle blue, but it could scarcely be seen behind stacks upon stacks of books, however everything was very neat and everything had a home, it was very Hermione-like.

Harry fished out his keys to unlock the door when Hermione put a hand on his arm.

"Harry would you mind if we went for a walk? I just dont feel like going to bed yet."

"Sure," Harry responded as he shoved the keys back into his pocket, ignoring the slight tingle where her hand used to be.

The rain had finally stopped, but left behind puddles begging to be disturbed. The pair set off down the street towards a small park nearby. Neither needing to talk, just walking. They finally arrived to a small pond near the back. The air still smelled like rain and the street lights caught tiny droplets off the trees. Harry glanced at Hermione, her eyes were closed and he could just make out a small smile on her face as she breathed in the damp night air. She looked beautiful.

She smiled at him before looking down at the water, "Is this how you imagined your life Harry?" she asked still not meeting his eyes.

"Well I always thought there would be more girls..." he joked and she smacked him on the arm. "no but I honestly never thought I would make it to this day with voldemort around and all."

She gave him a sympathetic look before returning her attention back to the pond. After a while she broke their silence. "I always thought I would go on to a muggle university and study law or business of some sort. Then I got my Hogwarts letter and everything changed." Harry just stared at her waiting for her to continue. "and I couldn't wait to use a wand for the first time and brew hundreds of potions I read about and become top of my class and never get into any sort of trouble...then I met you two," she smiled, "and we went on to fight things greater than we ever imagined."

"I never would've wanted you to fight in it" said Harry in a small voice.

"Oh Harry, I'm just being silly! I'm sorry! Don't you dare think I regret becoming friends with you! I don't regret anything we did!" she said with sincerity, her eyes begging him to believe her.

Harry nodded and stared at the pond with her. Watching the bugs create tiny ripples on an otherwise clean surface.

Just then it started to rain again, but neither one moving from there spot. Harry contemplated his next move, but dared himself to step closer to her, she looked at him with the same sad eyes she'd been wearing all night, almost like she was keeping in a sad secret she couldn't tell. He could see the small reflection of the light in her eyes, the trails the rain was marking on her face. he saw the gears in her brain moving, contemplating his actions. Just then his heart betrayed him and he gentley caressed the side of her face, causing her to lean ever so slightly into his palm, closing her eyes.

"Any of it?" he whispered, knowing she would understand what he was referring to.

She looked at him straight on and breathed out her answer. If he wasn't so close to her he might have missed it, "nothing."

Slowly he moved his hand to the back of her neck, under her now damp hair and with the slightest tug he pulled her in close. Close enough to feel the heat of her breath on his face and smell her shampoo, he was feeling intoxicated with her and was just about to lean in when she quickly pulled away with tears brimming in her eyes.

"Harry we can't," was all she sobbed as she walked away towards their flat.

He watched her go all the way there before turning his face towards the sky. Now he really did hate the rain.