RaZzmattaZz -You rock... I cannot fully express my gratitude for your extremely uplifting review on my story, thank you. Pawsrule – you have been with me from the very start, I am extremely grateful and if not for any other reason, I will continue writing for YOU. Sherman, again- I apologise for not coming quite up to your standards, I wish I could- I guess I'm just a beginner. Glad you like Jo Rowling, she is the original and the best you're going to get out of anything Harry! Haha : )

"Maybe we should just stay here, Harry…. grow old..." Hermione's words kept echoing through Harry's head as he sat on the watch outside the tent. He knew staying there was out of the question, but to grow old with Hermione? He'd do it in a heart-beat. Why was it that he wanted her now more desperately than ever before? When he pondered on how he would've died back at Godric's Hollow, had it not been for Hermione, he couldn't help but want her all the more.

It was a cold night; he wished he were in the tent with Hermione, where all was safe and still. When he thought of her all snuggled warm in her bed he wished he could be there too… Suddenly, he heard leaves crunching behind him. He turned to see Hermione coming out of the tent with a blanket. She sat down, as she did earlier that day, against the tree across from him.

"Couldn't sleep," She said softly. She shivered, rubbing her hands. "It's cold out here... You should go inside."

"And leave you out here alone?" Harry answered. "It's out of the question. Besides, I probably won't be able to get any sleep either." Hermione sighed.

"Well," She said, rising from her place, "We might as well make ourselves comfortable." Harry didn't know how they could do that, so he watched silently to see what she would do. She went around grabbing branches and twigs and piled them up in front of Harry. "Incendio," She murmured, and a fire shot out from her wand, lighting up the wood. She then sat back in her place again. Harry gazed at the fire, pondering the many recent occurrences since they had gone on the run to find Horcruxes. After a few minutes, Hermione stood up. Well, that wasn't very long. I wish she would stay. To Harry's surprise, she had gathered up her blanket and sat right beside him. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She sighed deeply.

"Oh, Harry…" She whispered. Harry's heart beat fast. Her warmth felt so wonderful. He wished he could stay in this blissful moment forever. This is just what he needed to keep his strength.

"Yeah?" He answered.

"You've been so brave, and I've treated you ill." She said sadly. Harry was astonished.

"No you haven't!" He objected.

"Oh, but I have… After Ron left, I acted like a baby. I just moped while you did all the work…"

"Oh, come on," Harry said, but she ignored him.

"What's worst is that when you tried your very best to cheer me up, I turned away and felt sorry for myself again. And after Godric's Hollow, and everything that happened- you almost dying… I've realised how much I take you for granted. I feel that for a long time I've pined after Ron, goodness knows why, but it was just him. There was something about him that I wanted; something that I imagined would be perfect for me.

Then recently when I saw him again at his house, and at Fleur's wedding I tried my best to make him jealous… Then when we started off to find Horcruxes, I kept expecting him to disappear, I wanted to hold onto him tightly and that's when you told me how you felt.

While I was pining after Ron, you had always been there for me; every step of the way- you were always there. And I always expected that you would be. But when I saw you at Godric's Hollow, everything changed. Suddenly, you were more fragile, suddenly I realised, that you might not always be with me; and that frightened me… I think I've known for a while, Harry, but didn't want to admit it. I think I love you."

When she finished, Harry's heart seemed to stop. Not just that, everything around them seemed to pause. Had she really just said that? Or was this all a dream, was he just imagining her leaning against him, saying these things, cause he wanted them? He swallowed hard.

"Hermione…" He began, but he was cut off by her kissing him on the cheek. Suddenly, everything warmed up inside him.

"Don't say anything," She said pressing her finger to his lips, "You'll ruin the moment," She said smiling. He laughed. Then leaning his head against hers, he closed his eyes.