Author's notes- So the other day, I realized that Fanfic authors reply to reviews in thier notes-um, I thought I should too...if it is smoething that everyone does and I havent been doing, well I'm sorry...those who I didnt mention in the following answers- I thank you still, I appreciate you spending your time reading my fic and posting a review.

firetemplar415- that's painful even in writing.

Deathday Party Planner- I have the same concerns about the harem thing, but I think I've got a plan.

Red Phoenix Dragon- your reviews are always wonderful. And this is the real Moody.

OoOXylionOoO, Vegasman59, ObsessedWithHpFanFic, vyooom, oghren...and all the others. thankyou.

The Great RapGod Marshall Mathews once said something along the lines of- 'if you are half as good as your songs you can sacrifice virgins too.' Using that same principle, I'd like to find out if my fanfic is good enough for my readers to sacrifice virgins to me. So pull out your torches and burn some virgins as offerings to me.

On second thought, I'll take pizza.

They had sat in silence as Dumbledore had finished his tale. It hadn't surprised them much, the ease with which Dumbledore had finished his mission. He was Albus Dumbledore after all. What had surprised Harry was that Dumbledore had already managed to buy the safe-house they had talked just the other day about.

"It's quite dilapidated Harry. It's seen some rough weather, but I don't doubt that together we can all make it a place to call home- a warm hearth for us all to share in the coming storm of darkness." Dumbledore had said when Harry had asked about it. Harry hadn't been too sure about it, but had decided to give Dumbledore the benefit of doubt.

A happy outcome of the whole thing had been that Anaiah had been re-united with her mother. The two witches were already at the safe house, and Harry planned to make sure that Sirius would receive the portkey Dumbledore had given Harry as soon as possible.

But Harry had something else to occupy his mind now. He needed a partner for the Yule Ball. A dance partner- for an actual dance. Being the champion in lead, he had to stand first in the line of champions, along with his dance partner, or as Professor McGonagall had liked to call it, date, and had to open the dance. What utter fuckshit.

Ever since McGonagall had told him the news, a larger-than-before part of his mind had become fixated on Hermione. It had begun like a seed sown deep within the recesses of his heart, and now that seed had bloomed into a tree taller than the Astronomy Tower. He had spent many a nights, tossing and turning, struggling with something new, something he'd never felt before. Sometimes, he would get lucky and would not dream about godforsaken dark lords. Sometimes he would get really lucky and dream about Hermione. He'd wake up feeling guilty, but there was always that undeniable sense of pleasure, like he had seen something worth seeing.

During their classes, he found himself struggling to pay attention to what was being taught. Instead, he was focused more on Hermione, watching her every move, the way she would frown when she came across a stubborn topic, or the way she'd bite her lip when she was deep in thought. He so wanted to bite that lip for her. Her creamy smooth skin was a constant distraction to him, not to mention her face. He could watch that beautiful piece of art all day and not tire of it. But the thing he liked the most about her was who she was, and who she made him when he was around her.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he watched her tuck away a strand of wavy brown behind her ear. She'd tied her hair up in a messy bun, and Harry wished she'd let it go free. She was busy writing an Arthimancy essay. They were sitting in the Gryffindor common room for a change, by the windows. Outside it was raining like the end of the world. Rain in December was unexpected, but Harry wasn't complaining. He'd grown a certain fondness for it since the summer. Besides, it hadn't been that cold for a typical December this year. Classes had ended early when Professor Filtwick had taken ill suddenly. Harry had his runes book open in front of him, but his mind was elsewhere. Why the hell does she have to take off those damned robes?

"Harry, I'm headed to the library. I'll be back within the hour." She said, not looking up from the parchment she had been writing furiously on. Harry stood up to follow her.

"Where are you going?" She asked, finally looking at him.

"With you."

"What? Harry what's wrong? You haven't left my side since this morning. You've been acting strange all day- is something the matter?" She asked. Harry cringed on the inside. It was true; he hadn't left her side since the morning, ever since McGonagall had announced the Yule Ball. He was afraid someone would ask her before he could gather the courage to. He had been using his 'Eptan-Wizard Champion look' to keep people away, and it frustrated Harry to no end that despite the best of his efforts, four ruddy boys had managed to ask her. He'd been standing right next to her, and they'd dared to ask her right in front of him! It had been a true test of his patience when even Dean had tried asking her. Fortunately, she had refused them all politely.

But Harry still remembered the blushing Hermione who had returned from a walk around the Lake with Victor Krum. He was afraid that if Victor asked her to the Ball, she wouldn't say no.

"Harry, I asked you something. You've been a bit off all day. Have you been sleeping well?"

"Yes Hermione, I've been sleeping well. Nothing's the matter with me. I needed to look up a book in the library. If you'd rather not go to the library with me, I'll go a few minutes after you."

She looked at him uncertainly, mouth opened just a bit in thought, before nodding slowly. "Fine."

They walked to the library, and Harry felt as nervous as he had felt on the day of the First Task. All along the way, Hermione chatted away merrily about a new spell Harry had been teaching her, but Harry was focused on scaring away any male who dared to even look in their direction.

They reached the library without incident, and Hermione hurried over to find her books, while Harry pretended to look for his. To his horror, as Hermione was looking through the library shelves, Harry saw Victor Krum enter the library.

He whirled around to see Hermione's progress. She held a book in each hand, and one lay open in front of her on the nearest desk. She was in plain sight of Victor, and even as Harry watched in bubbling dread, the Bulgarian seeker spotted her, and began making his way towards her. He had a determined expression on his face, and somehow, Harry knew with grim certainty that he meant to ask her to the ball. For a second, Harry felt slightly helpless; it was like watching a set of dominoes fall on each other. One small stumble- and the entire trail turned to square rubble.

Then that helplessness turned to anger. Something snapped within him. He was Dragon-Slayer. He was Harry Potter. What chances did he have against a Dark Lord as powerful as Lord Voldemort if he couldn't ask the girl he seriously liked to a stupid ball? He began moving towards her, but Krum had already reached her. She was too busy with her books to notice him.

Harry made his move. "Victor!" He yelled in the library. Hermione, still aware in some part of her mind of the temple of knowledge she was sitting in, looked up instantly, a cross look on her face, ready to chastise who ever had dared to vandalise the serene atmosphere of her favourite library. Seeing it was Harry, a slightly shocked expression settled on her face. Then she saw Victor Krum standing next to her, and the shock was replaced by confusion.

Krum, surprised, turned around. His face too settled on confusion, and he wondered what Harry wanted with him. The look on Harry's face said it all. To Harry's consternation, Krum actually smiled at him. Harry took a few steps in his direction, and Krum took the rest, coming to meet him in the middle. They weren't out of Hermione's hearing range, but Harry decided it would have to do.

"Potter."

Harry said nothing, choosing to let his eyes do the work. He could feel his magic thrumming against his fingertips, ready to be unleashed. He was definitely not going to lose Hermione to Krum. "You need something, Potter?"

"Stay away from her." His voice was that same cold commanding tone, but if Krum was impressed by it, he only grinned in return. Harry thought he saw a flicker of something in his eyes, but then Krum's face morphed into a mask of cold steel.

"And what if I won't? You are nothing but good friends with her. Tell me, why should I stay away from her?"

Harry resisted the urge to pull out his wand and show Krum exactly why he should stay away from Hermione. Behind him, he sensed the arrival of Madam Irma Pince.

"Who has been shouting in my lib-" Her tirade stopped when she saw the tense atmosphere between Harry and Krum. They were almost nose to nose by now. There wasn't much difference in their heights, and Harry felt grateful for that tender mercy. She stood for a moment in shock, before regaining her wits. "OUT!" She shrieked. "Get OUT! All of you! Out you GO! Not in my library!"

Harry ignored her. Instead, he focused on Krum. "Because. She's mine." He didn't bother keeping his voice low, now that the librarian was already upon them. The librarian yelled her outrage again, and Harry was tempted to remind her that she was the one who was shouting inside her own library now, but instead he chose to walk around Krum, to a gaping Hermione.

Her eyes were wide, lower jaw hanging, and face frozen in shock at the display of male aggressiveness over her. He took the books from her stiff grip, closing them shut and stuffing them back in the nearest shelves without bothering to see if they belonged there. He folded the rough piece of parchment she had brought with her to take notes on and slipped it in the pockets of his school trousers. He took her by the wrists, pulling her up gently. That seemed to pull her out of her shock.

"H-Harry-"

"Not here, Hermione."

He led her past a glaring Victor Krum, who said nothing, but chose to convey his disapproval through his steadfast glares. Hermione turned to look at him as Harry dragged her past him, but didn't say anything. Once they were out of the library, Hermione tried to speak again. "Harry what-"

"Not here, Hermione."

Hermione gave an indignant huff, before picking up her pace to match his, letting him lead her by her wrist. His grip, which had earlier been tight enough to hurt, now relaxed into a gentle grip. Her heart was thudding in her chest like a hippogriff herd as she thought about what had transpired in the library. She'd never thought Harry would call her-

Her thoughts were cut off as she took a look at where they were going. Harry had pulled her to a stop in front of the gates to the Entrance Hall. Outside, the heavens raged in a downpour the likes of which Hogwarts hadn't seen in years. The clouds above were an angry shade of grey and lightning streaked again and again through their dark canvas. It was raining crups and kneazles.

Harry took a look at her- his eyes were full of mischief, something Hermione could have sworn she'd never seen in them before. His emerald green eyes sparkled in the dim daylight flooding through the doorway, and there was a playful smile adorned on his lips. He was looking at her in a challenging fashion, as if daring her to step out into the rain. Hermione's eyes widened even more as she felt him begin to pull her out of the castle.

She ground her heels into the stone floor of the castle, refusing to budge an inch. "HARRY! You can't be serious! Are you daft? It's raining for Merlin's sake! No! I'm NOT COMING with you! I don't want to get sick." She pulled and pulled, trying to wrest her wrist free from his grip, but to no avail. He was adamant.

"Come on Hermione!" He said, the teasing smirk on his face refusing to fade, "When was the last time you did something fun? Don't be a spoil sport- It'll be fun!"

She still shook her head vehemently. "Harry, don't be crazy! I'm not coming. No way! You can go and have your fun, I'm not coming, and that's it!" She pulled again with all her force, trying hard to get away from him.

His smirk faded. "I just want to show you something. Stop being so difficult...Hermione, if you don't come with me willingly right now, I'll put you over my shoulder, and take you outside. Or better, I'll just stun you and levitate you all the way. Your choice."

She glared at him for a long time. They had managed to attract the attention of quite a few students, all of them staring at them, muttering amongst themselves.

"Whatever it is that you have to show me, you can't show it to me when it isn't raining like there's no tomorrow?" She asked angrily.

In reply, Harry let go of her wrist, and took two steps out of the shelter of the castle and into the rain, getting drenched within a few seconds. He ignored Hermione's shrieks to get back into the castle, and shook his head at her in the same vehement manner that she had shaken her moments ago. Facing her, his back to the grounds, he took a few more steps backwards, before turning his back on her.

Harry hoped his ruse would work, that Hermione would follow him. He heard one final shout of his name from her, before the thundering rain drowned out everything again. He kept on walking, praying that she would follow him. His face split open into a grin when he heard the squelching sound of footsteps on the wet muddy grass.

She stopped her short run when she was beside him, speaking loudly to be heard over the rain, "This better be good, Harry, or I'm going to kill you!"

Harry just smiled at her, before taking her hand in his and breaking into a run towards the forbidden forest. She hesitated at first, but then gave in to his wishes, running along with him. She was watching him the whole time, when he wasn't looking at her. She'd never seen him this carefree; eyes alight with joy and mischief. A small part of her felt ecstatic that he would choose her to share this side of him with. They slipped in the mud, and jumped in puddles of water, splashing each other with muddy rain water.

Hermione had to admit, never having any siblings or friends before Hogwarts, she hadn't been the type of person who would do something like this, having fun just for the fun of it. Not caring about catching a cold from the chilled water, or about her homework- which she remembered with a mental groan was still waiting to be finished. She was having fun. The rain water had drenched her to the skin, she was shivering from the cold, there were large splashes of mud all over her skirt, her shoes were all squishy and wet, and she was going to catch a cold- but she was having fun. She was laughing openly, unreservedly, as if she too-like the boy beside her, hadn't a care in the world. For a moment, she could pretend to be a girl who was having harmless childish fun with her best friend.

She decided she would thank Harry for this exercise in stupidity. She had even found herself giggling- and Hermione Granger did not giggle. This was the most fun she had had in a while. But her thoughts took a different track when she saw the forbidden forest looming up in front of her. She pulled on Harry's hand reflexively. He slowed his pace to a walk, looking back at her.

"Come on!" he urged her. "Don't you trust me?"

Of course she did. How dare he suggest otherwise? She squeezed his hand in reply, letting him take the lead again. Along the way, she splashed him with mud again for his impudence, for daring to suggest that Hermione Granger did not trust Harry Potter. When he tried splashing her in return, she merely dodged and let out a peal of laughter.

He stared at her for a minute, amazed. Then they reached the edge of the forest. The dense canopy of the jungle stopped much of the rain from reaching the ground, but still, whatever rain water made through was enough to still feel like they were still out in open ground. She jogged beside him silently, letting him lead her deeper into the forest than she had ever been. Even on her visit with Hagrid in her first year, she'd never been this deep. It surprised her that Harry knew his way this deep into the forest. She was starting to get slightly wary of her surroundings when he pulled her to a stop. She looked around her, and she was stunned.

In front of her, the forbidden forest came to an end, and after a small expanse of clean white sand- turning a pale grey in the rain- the Black Lake started. Even in the roaring cascade of water, it was one of the most beautiful places she had seen in the Magical World. To her right was a banyan tree that she felt must have been at least a century old- there were so many daughter roots descending from its branches. Most of the trees around were covered in green moss. To the left, a fallen tree trunk had a curtain of moss draped over it, making the whole clearing unnaturally green. The forest was hauntingly quiet, apart from the sounds of the water falling on the canopy high above, and dripping down through the leaves. It felt like an alien planet, Hermione had rarely seen a place as natural and beautiful as this. And behind her stood the boy who had brought her here.

She stood for a few minutes taking everything in, shivering in the cold, feeling slightly miserable, before she felt a pair of hands rest gently on her shoulders. She turned around to face him. His emerald eyes were burning with something foreign; he was looking at her like he had never looked at her before. She realized what it was- her prayers had been heard.

She didn't know where she was, nor how she came to be there. She knew she was standing alone with him, in a rain that wouldn't seem to stop. She was standing at the back, or maybe it was the front, and she was tired of waiting- but she was standing alone with him. Time was neither here nor there, for she didn't bother herself with how long they stood like that- because it was just the two of them. She could almost hear the gentle music flowing through the air. Can't you hear it too, she wondered.

She kept on looking into those eyes, that had haunted her dreams for so long, that had fuelled her insecurities and given her hope at the same time. The cold howling wind that blew through the clearing made her wish he would wrap her in his arms, and maybe fate would freeze them like that forever.

"You were saying something in the library?" It was posed like a question, and he had posed it very gently, his eyes never leaving hers.

The question confused and disappointed her. She realized he was nervous about this, that he was trying to buy time- to gather his courage. She could have scoffed at that. As if he should ever have to fear that she would say no to anything he asked of her. Hadn't she proved again and again that she was devoted to him? Hadn't she stuck by his side always?

She decided to let him play his game a little. "I wanted to know why you were acting like a Neanderthal. All that was left for you to do was to hit me over the head with a club and drag me to your cave. 'She's mine!' Honestly! I'm not yours Harry Potter." She saw the disappointment in his eyes, and she couldn't bear it. So she added in a low tone- "At least, not yet."

She didn't stop the teasing smirk that lifted her lips slightly. His eyes lit up again as he realized she was messing with him. When did he grow taller than her? She shivered again, and his hands slipped from her shoulders down to her elbows, pulling her a bit closer to him. They were almost touching now- almost. She ached to cover the distance between them, to fill that divide between them with fervent, hot kisses- anything to be that intimately close to him.

He seemed slightly side-tracked by the revelation that she knew what he wanted with her. It was foolish of him, she thought. Like he could hide anything from her when his beautiful eyes were being so expressive! She could read him better than she could read any book when his eyes were so overwhelmingly full of emotions.

She noted idly that his glasses were dry; he was using the spell she had taught him months ago.

They stood in the rain for a few more silent moments, but none of them grew weary of it. She was being exceptionally patient, but she knew it was worth it. When it came to Harry, everything was worth it. She saw him open his mouth to speak, and thunder pealed in the dark skies above. His left hand left her elbow, and much to her delight, landed on her waistline. She saw the resolve form in his eyes, swirling like a whirlpool of emotions he had churned just for her.

Harry couldn't believe anyone could look as beautiful as she looked then. Her words rang in his head like a siren's call. Not yet.

He burned from within to make her his, to press his lips against hers in a zealous kiss and sweep her off her feet to a temple of love and adoration he would build for her. He burned from within to make her say it- to hear from her own divine mouth that she was his.

"I've been wanting to say this to you for a long time now...and the only reason I haven't said this before is that I know I don't deserve any smile you send my way, or your hugs, or your constant presence by my side when things go wrong. I know that you can do much better than the boy in the old-hand-me-downs, who's always there to drag you into trouble. But I'm not going to let it stop me from trying to become someone who does- who deserves you."

He licked a drop of rain hanging off his lips, and Hermione stared- transfixed. And Harry congratulated himself mentally for not stuttering or stumbling with his words. He'd prepared them with great care, spending many a night awake, thinking of what to say to her.

"I've known for quite some time now that I'm hopelessly crazy for you, and maybe I've not made it fairly obvious. But I'm going to change that this very moment. I want you to know Hermione Granger- that I've never met a person more beautiful and more deserving of everything beautiful this world has to offer- than you. I had not known much of beauty and purity before I met you, but I want you to know that everything that I know of the two- I've learnt from you. I want you to know that you enrich every second of my life I spend with you, and nothing in this world shines brighter than the shine you hold for me.

"And even after all you've given me, I'm ready to shamelessly ask you for more. I'd like you to think of me as more than a good friend. I'd like to be your boyfriend Hermione- and I'm fully prepared to do all the homework and repetitive revisions of every essay I've written that come with that title."

She found she didn't have anything to say to that. How could she- when he had stunned her completely. How does someone reply to something like that? As he pulled her close to him, finally responding to her silent request, and pressing her chilled body flush against his, she realized she was crying. Her silent tears were mingling with the rain falling down her cheeks, and she was slightly shaking- but it wasn't the cold. For the first time that day, she wasn't shaking from the cold.

"Let your hair loose, Hermione." His voice sounded raw to her ears, making her heart leap in her chest, and the rain kept pouring down. She was too stunned to do anything. She opened her mouth to ask 'What?', but the word never realised. She couldn't believe that someone would say something so beautiful to her, especially someone as special as Harry. His words finally caught up to her brain, and she raised her left hand numbly to pull open her hastily tied bun. Her hair fell open in knots and tangles on her shoulders, and she shook her head slightly to let it fall to its full length.

Under his smouldering, heated gaze, she wondered if she looked like an ugly mess. But his eyes whispered to her that she was beautiful to him, and the rain kept pouring down.

Her eyes finally left his, coming to rest on his lips, and her tongue came out to lick her lips in anticipation. He lowered his head towards hers, and the rain kept pouring down.

She knew why he was hesitating, he was giving her time to step back- if she wanted to. Hermione felt it was blasphemy- she would never give up a chance to be able to do this- to be able to crush his lips to hers in every sinful way possible, to finally see her wishes fulfilled. Even in the cold, his warm breath fanned across her face. His right hand was cupping her cheek, holding it as if she was made of glass.

And then his lips were upon hers, pressing her against him so delightfully. They were soft, even though his philtrum was rough. His breath was warm, and reminded her of clover and mint. Her heart was beating like she'd just run a marathon, and the rain kept pouring down.

His lips felt incredible against hers, and with another pleasurable shiver she realized this was better than anything she had ever imagined. It was better than anything she could ever imagine. It felt too good to be true.

Her clothes were sticking to her body like second skin, and her school skirt felt a bit heavy. But the feel of his left arm wrapped around her drowned everything else out.

And the rain kept pouring down.

Harry couldn't believe he had done it, poured his heart out to her, nor could he believe that she was kissing him back. Her lips were moving in unsynchronised tandem with his, but Harry felt that could be solved with lots and lots of practice. The feel of her delicate waist under his left palm was heady, and the texture of her smooth lips was making him dizzy. Her cheek was ridiculously smooth, and he couldn't help caress it again and again. And her lips were so soft, Harry was afraid they'd chafe if he weren't extremely gentle with her. He was running out of breath, but he couldn't bring himself to care about it.

Initially, her elbows had been pressed against his chest, but then she had wrapped her arms around his neck, removing any space that might have dared to exist between them. And Harry lost any control of his lips he might have had previously. Her chest was pressed flush against his, and it was a very distracting sensation. She was so...soft, and delicate, and everything good.

They broke apart once, each drawing a deep breath, before their lips met again- in small touches of baby kisses. Once, twice, again and again. When his lungs began screaming in protest, he withdrew a little more, letting his forehead rest against hers, right hand slipping down to her waist to join his other hand. They stood panting in the rain, as lightning cackled again. Harry felt happiness swell up within him- the likes of which he had only felt when he'd realized he was a wizard. Acting on a sudden impulse, he pulled her tighter to him, squeezing any air the poor witch had managed to breathe in back out of her. Strangely, she didn't complain.

He finally spoke after a few moments. "I think I'd like to do that again."

"Definitely," she replied, "again and again. We're going to be doing that all the time Harry."

"All the time? Promise?" It took her a moment to recognize the teasing note in his voice.

She didn't care. She was too happy to care. Her brain had settled on one word- finally. Harry had finally seen her as something more than a good friend.

"When the bloody hell did you become so poetic?" she asked him, finally opening her eyes to look into his.

He took a few moments to answer. "When you started swearing."

She blushed a bit, before pulling him into a tight embrace, one, she noted happily, he was too glad to return. When they pulled away, he took a step back from her, his hands not leaving her waist completely, and took a good look at her drenched form. He was a male after all, and Hermione looked very enticing in her wet Hogwarts uniform-white blouse and black skirt, which was sticking to her like second skin. She blushed red when she realized what she he was doing.

"Are you done ogling?" There wasn't any anger in her voice- after all she did want him to look at her. He nodded, and then pulled his tongue out at her.

"Come on then," he said after a moment, "I think you've been drenched in this cold weather long enough. I don't want you to catch a cold. Oh! I almost forgot to ask!" She looked at him with interest as his face turned completely serious. He took her hand and started leading her away, back towards the way they had come.

Hermione cast one long look at the clearing- it had become her new favourite place in the castle- after the library, of course. As they began walking back, she wrapped an arm around Harry's waist. "What did you forget to ask me?"

"Would you like to accompany me to the ball? As my date?" He asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

It had bothered her in the back of her mind all along the way. She wanted to ask him, but didn't want to come across as either stupid or insecure. Then she remembered this was Harry. He wasn't just her boyfriend now, he was also her best friend. And he would forever and always be her best friend first. She walked around a particularly gnarled root, and Harry jumped over it.

"Harry, can I ask you something?" She began softly. In reality, she still felt like squealing and giggling like a five year old who'd found their Christmas presents early. The way Harry had asked her to be his girlfriend had been nothing short of spectacular, and it made her wonder where the timid shy boy who'd jumped on a troll's back to save her had gone.

"Anything."

She took a few steps in silence before asking. "Why me? Not that I'm complaining...but I just...I'm not-"

Harry didn't let her finish. "Because you're my Holy Water."

She stopped dead in her tracks. "I'm your what?"

Harry stopped right beside her. There was a panicked look on his face. "Um, you know how sometimes there's a thought inside your head that sounds pretty nice but when you say it- ...it's not so nice..."

At the uncertain look on her face, he took a step ahead of her, and then turned around to face her. He took a deep breath, letting it out in a slow sigh, before explaining. "Ever since...ever since this craziness with Riddle's memories inside my head...I-I...I've been feeling contaminated, like something venomous has been released inside me. I feel like there is a blackness- a darkness lurking in my veins now- I'm changing Hermione- you've said so yourself- and I- just..." The words were coming slowly to him now. "I was afraid that I was turning into him. I know I have been tainted by the monster, and a few moments ago, when we were..." his face took on a goofy smile, "when we were kissing, I realized another thing I like about you- you make me feel clean- because I know that someone as pure as you will never let me become like him. Whenever I'm with you, I feel clean- like I can be pure again, I see a chance at chastity- that's how you make me feel. Like I have a chance at this- at getting out of the coming storm with my sanity intact. You make me feel like I might have a chance at heaven, when this is all over, of course. So, not only are you the person I trust and care for the most in this world, you're also my holy water. You purify me with every second you spend with me, and that's why it's you.

"Well, not entirely- there are honestly a hundred different reasons I can think of right now for why I am crazy about you, and each of them are viable. But that was the one I was currently thinking of..."

He trailed off when he saw the look on Hermione's face. She looked like something had melted within her. He hoped he hadn't upset her with his words. He didn't think she looked upset, but he didn't really understand girls. But when she pulled him into the tightest of hugs, he realized he had done something right. When she pulled back, Harry thought he might have seen tears in her eyes, but that could have been the rain.

She took his hand, entwining their fingers, and let him lead her out of the forest. Along the way, she couldn't resist the urge to jump into puddles of muddy water again, and splash him with the same. He laughed with her, letting her have her fun, and caught her whenever she slipped. They reached the castle gate laughing and giggling, still holding hands, unable to keep their eyes off each other, and dripping with water.

Just inside the gate, Harry pulled her to a stop, before pulling out his wand and casting cleaning and drying charms on both of them. She shivered again when the blast of warm air hit her. Stowing his wand inside his robes, he pulled her close again, one hand at her waist, the other taking hold of her hand, before pulling her into a soft kiss, as their fingers tangled again.