Chapter 6

Hermione was hurt and scared. She apparated straight home and fell onto her bed exhausted and spent.

Hermione cried and cried. She didn't understand what was happening to Harry, was he under a spell or something. She called work and told them she wouldn't be in this week, she was taking leave as a family member was ill. Hermione thought about Harry all day, trying to decided the best way to deal with his addiction. Yes, an addiction, that's exactly what it was. There were so many questions going through her head and for once she didn't have the answers.

The following day, Hermione apparated back to Harry's house and knocked but he didn't answer. She tried to open the door but he changed the spell to keep her out. She laughed at him thinking something so trivial as a locking spell could beat her. She walked in and checked the house in case he was actually there. She glanced in the kitchen on her way to the library and she stopped dead. There were broken plates and cups everywhere.

The whole kitchen was in upheaval.

She used her wand to fix everything and then sighed.

She walked in to the library and was surprised, but also shocked to see the archway wasn't it's usual blue satin colour. She quickly checked behind her and then checked the rest of the house downstairs. He wasn't there so she walked upstairs. She slowly approached his room and from where she was standing she could see that he was asleep on his bed. He obviously dozed off where he fell as he was laying across the bed fully clothed. Hermione looked at the time and noticed it was almost lunch time so she walked downstairs and apparated back to her house to get some food for lunch as Harry's fridge was so scarcely stocked. She came back and bounced off his wards and landed on the front door step again.

Frustrated, she used her spell to get in and then closed the door quietly. She knew the wards being interrupted would alert him that he had a visitor, so she quickly walked in to the kitchen and laid out the food and waited for him to enter. It only took a few minutes when she heard him stumbling down the stairs. He almost fell into the kitchen but he used the door to balance himself.

He looked shocking. His hair was everywhere, more than usual. His eyes were dark and sunken and his face was pale. His skin was shallow and, for want of a better word, dead. He looked like he hadn't eaten for months or at least survived on the bare minimum for that period of time. His shirt was hanging out of his pants and his pants were twisted on his body. He looked like a homeless man and it broke her heart all over again.

"What do you want Hermione?" His voice held no warmth at all.

"Harry, who am I?" He rolled his eyes and tried to stand up straight and look threatening.

"I know who you are Mrs... Miss Granger, you are a busy body and a know it all, who always sticks their nose in where it doesn't belong. That's who you are!" She bit her lip to stop herself from letting the tears fall. She knew this was going to be hard but she had to be strong to save him.

"That may be so Harry but I am also the one person who can help you through this, you need...."

"I don't want your help, get that through your head." Harry growled at her and she was frightened but she knew he wouldn't hurt her. He was frightened and she wondered if she could help someone who didn't need her. This was going to be a long process.

"Can I move in?" Harry opened his mouth to say something but then stopped as he wasn't expecting her to say that. Hermione could not believe that popped into her head.

"Can you what?"

"I asked if I could please move in? I live alone and I don't want to stay at my flat any more and I came here the other day to ask if I could move in. So can you find it in your heart to let a friend, a person who was once a best friend, move in?" Hermione knew this was a huge lie but at this moment it was more of what he needed not what she needed.

She stared at him, waiting.

"What happened to your boyfriend?" Harry's voice was bitter.

"It's over, it has been for quite some time..." she fidgeted with her fingers,

"...Please Harry, I need you."

That did it, Harry's resolve crumbled and he walked forward and cautiously put his arms out to her and she went into his embrace. She knew this was far from anywhere near being fixed, but it was a step in the right direction.

"Let's eat hey Harry?" Harry pulled away from her and he sat down to eat. Hermione had grabbed some muffins and toast from her home and quickly prepared it before he had walked in. He ate slowly at first, probably since he hadn't eaten properly for ages. There was silence while he ate and it was good, as it gave Hermione time to get her thoughts together.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"There's one thing about you staying here."
"Ok Harry, what is it?"

"I won't talk about anything until I want to talk, ok? I don't need you at me every five minutes, just remember you needed me ok?" Harry looked through his eyelashes at her, obviously not as brave as his words were. She knew she had done the right thing. She reached across the table and held his hand. He interlocked their fingers and held her hand the entire time he was sitting at the table.

After he finished eating, she told him to go and have a shower and get changed as she needed him to help her move her stuff into the spare room.

"Would you like to choose a room Mione, I have five, well four, one's mine." Harry tried to laugh and the sound filled her heart.

"Let's go." She reached her hand out to him and he held it again. He could certainly get used to this.

They walked through the rooms and she commented on each room being the colours of each of the houses at Hogwarts. Thankfully the Gryffindor room was the one right next to Harry's so she snapped it up quickly. Harry smiled a genuine smile and then excused himself to go and have shower so they could go to her flat. She waited till she could hear the water and she apparated back home and 'very quickly' used a few well placed spells so her belongings could start packing by themself.

She got the library books packed and placed the box in the lounge. She was very conscious of the time as she didn't want Harry to come out and she be gone. She did the rest of the bedroom and then the lounge room. She didn't mind leaving the rest, at least it looked as if she had actually been telling the truth.

She apparated back to the front door and let herself in, she concentrated on listening for the water but it was finished. She panicked and flew into the kitchen. He wasn't there so she ran to the library and the arch stood unused.

She walked back to the kitchen and then heard her name.

Thank Merlin, "Yeah Harry, down in the kitchen cleaning up." She breathed a sigh of relief and quickly used her wand to clean up the breakfast. Harry walked in behind her while she was emptying the sad and dejected fridge.

"Um Harry, we will seriously need to get some food OK?" she said without looking at him. He watched her cleaning out his fridge and wondered what had happened. How could he go from being

so lonely and having nothing but an imaginary life to keep him company, to having the woman of his dreams living in his house. He decided not to question it and just accept it with open arms.

"Yeah Mione, I suppose I should feed you hey?" Hermione turned around to look at him with a cheeky smile on her face.

The smile slid off as she saw how he looked. His hair was messy and wet and he had a v neck t shirt on that was pale yellow and he was wearing a pair of black pants. He looked breath taking. She couldn't help herself stare and she only stopped when he laughed. She quickly stood up and turned around and tried to take a few deep breaths.

She felt his hand on her shoulder, gently turning her around. His hand moved up into her hair and he held onto her neck and guided her towards him. She placed a hand on his chest with all intentions of pushing him back but she couldn't find a bone in her body that would obey her traitorous head. She felt his lips on hers and she begged him to deepen the kiss. It was soft and gentle and the fireworks that were exploding in her stomach were making her dizzy. He pulled back and then kissed her again on her forehead. This time a little firmer and longer.

"Ready to go and pack up your life?" Hermione nodded unable to trust her voice.

They got to her flat and her little plan worked. Harry was surprised to see the boxes in the lounge room and commented that he thought she was only joking. She didn't look him in the eye when she answered. It didn't take them long to pack up her life and she was saddened by this.

"Mione, what's wrong, are you having second thoughts?"

"No Harry, new people are moving in, in three days, no I was just thinking how my whole life's possessions are sitting here in front of me in this ridiculously small pile. How sad is that?" Harry walked over and put his arms around her from behind. He pulled her against his body and rested his chin on her shoulder. His proximity was driving her insane but on the other hand, she loved it.

"Your possessions don't define who you are Mione, what you do with your life does." she nodded and Harry held her a bit longer. She lifted her hands to cover his and squeezed his hands.

It didn't take them long to unpack her belongings in her new room and at this moment they were trying to decided what to do with all her books. She was itching to get down to the library so she could broach the subject but Harry didn't fall for it and just converted the room next to hers into an office and library for her. For some reason she got the feeling that Harry was keeping her there forever.

Not that she was complaining.

After they finished unpacking they decided to go shopping and they spent the afternoon restocking the fridge and cupboards. Harry cooked them a nice meal and they sat down to watch some television. It was comfortable and familiar for Hermione which surprised her.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Hermione laughed and then told him how comfortable she felt.

"How long do you have off work?"

"The rest of this week, I go back next Monday." Harry nodded and mumbled good. The first thing she thought of was that she would be out of the way for him to go back through the archway. As much as she wanted to, she decided against bringing up the subject.

The rest of the week was great, she had a great time with Harry. They fixed up her office and went out for lunch and played games. He tried to teach her how to fly but they gave up on that one. They cooked dinner together and then got into a food fight. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much.

On Saturday night Harry asked her what happened with Ron, so she told him everything. He was angry when they finished that Ron had hurt her so much over the last few years. She reassured him that she was over him, it had been over a month since she had seen him and even longer that she had fallen out of love with him. Harry sipped his whiskey and then without making eye contact he asked her if she could ever love another man.

"Probably not Harry," she answered, watching every possible reaction he would show.

"Oh ok." He didn't move his eyes away from his drink.

"Yeah, that's probably because I have been in love with someone for many years and I could never love anyone as much as I love him." Harry's eyes shot up to her face, he dared to hope. She smiled and leant over and kissed him on the lips.

"Goodnight Harry, sweet dreams." Hermione took her cup to the sink smiling all the way. She knew she loved Harry, she had for so long but as he hadn't shown her any interest, she settled for Ron. But she knew she couldn't stay with him even if it meant living a lonely life, she couldn't stay with someone she didn't love.

She put her glass in the sink and turned around to go up to bed but Harry was right behind her. His eyes were smouldering and his face was flushed. He looked absolutely sexy and all she wanted was to eat him right there.

He stepped closer and she was trapped between his body and the sink bench. She could feel his arousal and also knew that she just as ready for him.

"Hermione, tell me please?" she knew what he meant, he didn't want any more guessing.

"It's you Harry, it has been for years." Harry's breathing deepened and he raised his hand to sweep a strand of hair away. Hermione leant into his touch and his hand grabbed the side of her face. He moved in and kissed her. This time it was not gentle or sweet, it was full of the frustrating desire that had been bottling up for years just like her dream. Hermione raised her hands and grabbed his hair with one hand and his neck with the other, holding him in place. He ground into her body and she could feel her own arousal was almost at breaking point.

Harry's hands left a scorching trail down the side of her body and he massaged her breast and the groans that came from her mouth spurred him on even more. The air was thick with desire and want and it was only a few minutes before their clothes were obstructing their desire. Harry knelt down and undid her skirt, then he kissed her exposed stomach and then slowly raised up to remove her shirt. He kissed both her breasts. Between gasps, Hermione started to undo his shirt, one button at a time but Harry was getting impatient. He pulled his shirt off and buttons went flying everywhere. Hermione undid his pants and they slipped down to the floor. She rubbed her hands slowly over his member and his head dropped onto her shoulder. He tried to restrain himself, he didn't want this to be over in a few seconds.

Harry turned them around and guided them both over to the kitchen table and Harry laid her down on it so she was open to him and ready. He pushed himself into her fast and hard. The only sounds that were being made were grunts and groans. Harry could feel her nails digging into his back and it was spurring him on even faster. He felt her walls closing around him and when she screamed his name, he felt the warmth cover him and after three more deep thrusts he came, growling out her name.

He collapsed forward onto her chest but realised she must be so uncomfortable, so he slipped out of her body, and laughed at her protests.

"Mione, sorry...."

"Don't you dare apologise Potter or I will HAVE to curse you." Harry laughed a genuine laugh and pulled her to his body and held her tight.

"I wasn't apologising for what happened, I wanted to say sorry that I was breaking your back." Harry pulled back so he could see her face and she laughed.

"OK you're forgiven then." Harry leant forward and kissed her again, this kiss was full of passion and love and it wasn't hurried or desperate. They both enjoyed the kiss until the cold air was affecting their sweaty bodies.

They spent the night together in Harry's bed and slept in on Sunday. When Harry awoke, he looked at Hermione laying next to him. He still had to check what world he was in but he got his book back off her and placed it next to his bedside table. Every morning when he awoke, he knew where he was. He felt torn, he was loving having Hermione, the real Hermione here but he still missed his parents. He didn't miss the other Hermione as much but his parents and Sirius were really hard to let go of.

"A penny for your thoughts, Mr Potter?"

He turned around startled that she was awake. He turned around and moved her hair out of her face.

"You are so beautiful Mione." She huffed out of her nose and Harry leant in to kiss her. The kiss quickly turned into a passionate morning. This time they took their time, even after they came to his bed last night, the sex was still frantic and desperate, but this time it was slow and loving. The time passed and after they were finished, Hermione went to have a shower.

She took her time, comfortable that Harry was hers now. She soaked in the shower for a while and then got dressed into some comfortable clothes.

She thought about what to do today and decided that she would ask Harry if he wanted to have a picnic. She skipped down the stairs and called out to him. She received no answer and walked into the kitchen to see about some breakfast. After the night they had, she was starving. She made some bacon and eggs with toast and put on two cups of coffee. She called out to Harry again but still no answer.

She walked out into the lounge room and then her heart stopped as she realised where he may be. Her feet felt like concrete blocks as she walked towards the library. She reached the door and her heart fell to her feet, there was the blue silken water floating between the archway. She clutched her stomach and fell down to her knees.

He was gone again.

Hope you enjoyed it

Sirius xox