Disclaimer: I don't own the wonderful world of Harry Potter yadda yadda yadda...

AN: Thanks for the reviews! Im nervous about this chapter! Let me know your thoughts and thank you for reading!

Chapter 3

Since Ginny had moved away, Hermiones only other real girl friend was Luna. She had grown to like the witch despite her quirks and odd theories about the Wizarding world. She actually had come to rather enjoy them, instead of scoffing at the outlandish facts and tid bits. Luna always spoke the truth, never was quick to judge, and was a great listener, qualities Hermione admired about her friend.

On this particular day Hermione found herself needing those qualities more than ever. It was the day before Harry and her were supposed to go on a totally platonic friend outing. The only problem was that she couldn't stop thinking about the fact that they were going to be alone.

Hermione was fidgeting with her tea bag string, when Luna finally looked up from the newest edition of The Quibbler to gaze at her friend.

"Have the fleezys been in your room again Hermione? They tend to make people nervous." She stated.

Hermione looked up, " What- no," She paused, " No I haven't seen any fleezys."

Luna simply smiled and went back to her article.

"Luna can I- can I tell you something I haven't told anyone before? And will you not say anything to anybody?"

"Hermione I promise not to say anything to Ron, besides I would have nargles following me around for months for being a snitch."

Hermione took a deep breath and tucked her hair behind her ears, she did that when she was uncomfortable or nervous, in this case both.

"Well, do you believe a man and a woman can stay friends for a long time without any sort of romantic feelings surfacing?"

Luna narrowed her eyes, but pondered the question for a moment, " That depends on the strength of their friendship and other outside forces."

"Oh well umm," Hermione looked down at her fidgeting hands before proceeding, "What if the pair have always had a strong bond, and been through things most people haven't, and have been there for each other through multiple life and death situations?"

Luna took in the sight of the witch before her, Hermione looked like she was fighting with something beyond her control and comfort zone.

"Hermione I think it's understandable if you and Harry have developed feelings for each other. You two are more compatible and I think you have been friends for such a long time that at some point it was bound to happen, it doesn't surprise me it's happening now."

Hermione nodded before her gaze turned back to her cooling tea. She looked up at Luna almost guilty. "Luna this isn't just a recent shift."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember when Ron left Harry and I alone on the Horcrux hunt?" Luna nodded so Hermione continued, "We took it pretty hard when he left. I mean we were supposed to find and destroy the Horcruxs together. Ron and I agreed to always stick by Harry no matter the situation! Ron asked me to go with him that night, he made me choose, but I couldn't leave Harry, I promised him! What we were doing was more important than," She paused, "Than relationships. I mean we had to defeat Voldemort together, couldn't Ron understand that !? , Nobody would be safe to do anything with Voldemort still around! So I stayed with Harry and we became each others support system. We clung to each other so we wouldn't feel alone. Luna, Ron abandoned us!" Hermione stopped for a moment as if contemplating whether she should continue, "So one day after a couple of months of being down, Harry and I were getting wood in the forest..."

"We went about our task in silence, it wasn't surprising really, we both hadn't been talking much after Ron left. It was a gloomy day and the air smelled like a storm was approaching. After a while the wind picked up and it started to rain pretty hard. We quickly scooped up the remaining wood we had and were attempting to hurry back to our tent. We were both pretty soaked at this point and then I," Hermione paused for a moment before laughing aloud, " then I slipped and fell. The wood went everywhere! I dunno why but, I just laid down on the ground and let the rain wash over me. The water was washing away the pain, hurt, worry, and desperation out of my body. It was so calming to just lay there in the mud, I felt almost free from every responsibility thrust upon me. Then it hit me, the ridiculousness of it all. Here I was, 17 years old, finding pieces of an evil wizard with my best friend in the woods in the middle of a rain storm. We weren't using any magic even though we were wizards! I just started laughing. It sounded so foreign to me, I almost thought I'd forgotten how but, I couldn't stop. At some point Harry came down to stare at me in my state. Finally, I stopped and stared up at him as he offered me a hand up. I don't know what made me do it but, instead of letting him help me up, I pulled him down to the ground with me. I guess I just wanted him to hear him laugh and feel carefree. Harry has the most wonderful laugh and I just missed my best friend. We both had been brooding over Ron's departure and I just wanted to make Harry happy even if just for a moment. I remember him looking more surprised than angry. Then he turned to me and smeared some mud on my face! I was so taken aback at this un- Harry like action. I went to hit him, but then I saw his face. He had a mischievous look in his eyes and had on the most beautiful smile. We both started laughing and I threw some mud at his chest." Hermione stopped her story to laugh at her memory, "we must have looked mental! Running around in the pouring rain, hiding behind trees, having a mud battle in the middle of the forest. By the end of our little war, Harry ended up pining me to the ground, smashing mud all in my hair." She stuttered a moment then continued, "Th- that's when something changed between us; Like a switch just flipped. I just remember staring at Harry for a long time, thinking how he has always been there, how HE would never leave me in the middle of a war. Then he leaned down and kissed me. It was so gentle, but sent my nerve endings on fire. His lips were soft against mine, I couldn't remember how to breath properly. He gently pulled away to look at me, his breath caressing my face and warming the tiny droplets of water that has fallen onto my skin. My brain was telling me to stop, "this is your best friend," but my heart was telling me to jump. For once I listened to my heart. I pulled him to me and just kissed him. Soon we seemed to forget boundaries and started to explore each other. His hands were everywhere at once. My brain shut off and gave into what my body wanted. All I could do was feel. I could feel the rain drops gently falling on our faces. The mud oozing into the fabric of my clothes. The feel of his wet hair tickling my forehead. His glasses slightly pushing into my cheeks as he tugged and pulled on my lips. The warmth his hands would leave as he roamed my body touching everything. Harry felt like a breath of fresh air. He was satisfying a hunger I didn't know I had, I needed more of him. He picked me up and carried me to the tent, our wood and friendship lay forgotten on the ground. We both knew what we were doing, I could see it in his eyes, but we both needed this. We needed to feel wanted, loved, not alone...we needed to forget. That's what we did in the middle of the forest, in the middle of a rain storm, in the middle of a war, we forgot. Harry and I didn't just have sex for the first time, we made love." Hermione's eyes slowly began to fill with water and she looked down at her tea.

Luna reached for her hand to inflict some comfort to the woman in front of her. She never would have guessed Harry and Hermione would've done this. It would be like them to ignore their feelings for each other and jump into the roles everyone expected them to be. Along with the people everyone expected them to be With.

"Luna..." she sobbed, "Everytime it rains I think of him. I remember how his hands made me shiver as they caressed my body. His lips feeling so good against mine. The sounds we made. What he felt like being inside of me. I can remember the feeling of his weight on top of me, his skin rubbing against mine. The way he looked at me after when we laid there listening to the rain. The rain haunts me and I have no idea how to make it stop."

The pair were silent for a moment before Hermione continued looking at Luna desperately, "Is this normal Luna? To remember you first time with someone?"

"Hermione it is normal to remember the first person you lost your virginity with. It's a special moment and link you will always share with that person." Hermione looked relieved before Luna continued, " It's not normal to fear something that will trigger you to those memories, ecspecially when your denying your heart that your in love with that person."

"I can't be in love with Harry!"

"Why Hermione?! What would be so terrible? You've known him since you were 11, you're relationship has been through more things than most married couples, and Harry is more compatible than the current man you are with. It seems only natural for that shift!"

"I can't do that to Ron or Harry." Hermione said, Luna looked at her perplexed so she continued, "Ron has always been jealous of Harry with everything. I'm afraid he will stop being friends with us if Harry and I tried at a relationship. Plus, the Weasleys are practically the only family Harry has and known. I cannot ask him to give that up for me. That would be too selfish."

"Selfish? Hermione how are you selfish? Staying with Ron so he doesn't get hurt, while being in love with Harry. Even though Ron abandoned you in the war?"

"I do love Ron and we forgave him.."

"It sounds to me that Ron needs some growing up to do if you two forgave him so fast, does he even know about what you and Harry did?"

"No!" Hermione looked scared , "and he never will."

"Hermione have you even talked to Harry about this?"

"Only once during the first Victory Ball. That was the only time we were really alone. Ron came back to the tent soon after and then we were too focused on Voldemort to think about it."

"So what happened? Obviously you two are not together?"

"I said basically the same thing I told you. We couldn't do that to the Weasleys and we needed to try with them. He agreed and here we are."

"Hermione..."

"Look Luna, I just need to move on from this. We both do. Harry and I have to learn to appreciate the fact that we lost our virginity together and become best friends again. That's why were having a completely platonic outing on Friday."

Luna looked at her determined friend, "You better hope for one thing."

"What's that?"

"That it doesn't rain."

AN: What did ya think? I really think J.K. Rowling did not let Harry and Hermione explore the closeness of their relationship on the Horcrux Hunt/tent without Ron chapters in the book. I really loved in the movie when they were dancing and when Hermione suggests they just stay there in the forest and grow old. Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe did wonderful job conveying the sense that there could be something more between them. I feel like J.K. Rowling didn't give our favorite couple the chance to test the waters. When your alone with someone for a significant period of time, there are bound to be some feelings mixed into the ones that you already put a label on with that person. Alright sorry for rambling! Read and review!