Disclaimer: I suppose it would be prudent of me to say it again, but just to let you know, it really, really hurts. I own absolutely nothing of Harry Potter. There, satisfied now?

A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't posted. Don't worry, it's not writer's block…it's attack of the virus. Two days before I was supposed to post the next chapter my dad's computer fell victim to the dreaded virus. The score now stands: Virus 2 Computers 0 The only reason you guys are getting this now is because a friend of mine was nice enough to let me post on her computer. Say thanks everyone! Once again I'm sorry for the delay and here's the next chapter. I know it's short, but I'll try t post again on Friday which is only a few days away. Bare with me guys, I'm trying.

Chapter 8: Coming to Terms

Two days after the accident that killed seven year old Erik Granger, Harry carried Hermione down to the park. She still wasn't talking, she only ate when Harry fed her, and she refused to let go of him. All in all, things weren't too bad. Not.

They spent all day sitting on a bench in the park right beside the soccer field that Erik had loved so much. Harry told her stories about the games they had played here, despite the fact that she had usually been involved in them. He colored them all as intense battles with grass stains, mud, and blood. The battles always ended with cookies, milk, and wide smiles.

They were sitting on a park bench, Harry holding her tightly against him as he gently ran his fingers through her hair. The sun was setting and Harry was finishing up his one sided discussion.

"Erik was a good kid, Hermione. He didn't deserve to die, but some things are just out of our hands. You can't save everyone, but you can enjoy every moment you have with them."

Harry realized that that thought went for him as well as it did for Hermione. He couldn't change the past, but he could and would do everything in his power to make this life better than his last. He looked down at her and saw tears streaming from her honey colored eyes.

"Life is uncertain at best Hermione. You have to take what you can get and be happy with it. Don't waste away mourning for something that can never be returned to you. Get up and do something that will make that person's life important. Make your brother proud. Don't forget him…live for him."

She was still crying. He leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead, smoothing the damp curls from her face. Her pain was tearing him apart.

"Come on," he said lifting her. "Time to get you home."

Three days after that day in the park, Harry woke in the middle of the night to see Hermione standing next to his bed. It was almost completely dark, except for a beam on moonlight shining through his window. That beam played across the gentle planes of her face. She looked undeniably beautiful and ethereal.

"Hermione! What is it? What's the matter?"

She didn't answer him and for a brief moment, he thought she might be a dream. Then he caught sight of the tears rolling silently down her cheeks. Harry lifted his comforter. She quickly snuggled in beside him.

"What's wrong?" he asked again, not really expecting an answer, but pulling her tightly against him anyways.

"It should have been me," she said so quietly that Harry wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.

"What?"

"It should have been me."

"Hermione—" Harry began, jerking up, outraged that she could possibly believe that. She turned on to her back, looking up at him. Harry, stared down at her, propped up on one elbow.

"The driver was heading straight for me not him. I was tying my shoe, not paying attention, and suddenly Erik yelled at me to get off the sidewalk. I looked up to see what was wrong and saw that huge car barreling toward me. I froze Harry, I couldn't move."

Her tears started again and Harry desperately wanted to kiss her, to rub his hands up her back, but she was looking at him so intently that he couldn't bring himself to interrupt her. Suddenly she leaned up, looking him right in the eyes, her nose not an inch from his.

"Erik tackled me, pushing me out of the way,…and the car hit him instead."

"Oh Hermione…"

Harry gathered her close against him as she let loose a sob. And she was truly crying this time, not because of the shock, but because of the pain. This was the good crying, the healing type. This was what she had needed from the very beginning. For the first time in almost a week, he was sure she was going to be okay.

After that night, Harry and Hermione became the closest of friends. They were nearly inseparable. What ever Harry thought had been missing in their friendship before was back. It felt like Hogwarts all over again. He had the real Hermione back now, and he couldn't have been happier about it.

Following Hermione's midnight confession, she seemed to do much better every day. After a month she was back to normal. Occasionally, there were moments when she'd get a far away look in her eyes and a sad smile would cross her face. Harry knew that at these times she was thinking of Erik. He usually left her alone to deal with her memories on her own, instinctively knowing that it was best.

Sirius on the other hand, had managed to pluck up enough courage to ask Elena on a date. To no ones surprise, except Sirius's, she said yes. Harry thought that Sirius in love was the most amusing thing he had ever seen.

Remus managed to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job at Hogwarts which he was due to start in September. The professor who was currently teaching the subject had said that if he had to see one more first year, he'd curse them all into oblivion.

Four months later, on a sunny day in the middle of June, Hermione discovered she was a witch. Harry had vowed he wouldn't tell her anything until she found out herself—and he didn't. She had been working the parallel bars at gymnastics practice when she missed her grab. Hermione had flown through the air and it looked like she was going to hit the mats far below face first. Only she didn't.

Two inches from being flattened, she suddenly stopped in midair and was slowly lowered to the ground. Harry had raced over. As a rule between them, whenever possible he attended her gymnastics practice and she came to his swimming practices.

He would never forget the look on her face that day as he raced over to her.

"Hermione, are you okay?" he asked, skidding on his knees next to her.

"Harry? I—I think—I think I just floated." She sounded so disbelieving that Harry couldn't help laughing.

"Yeah, yeah you did," the amusement in his voice giving evidence to his relief.

"But that's not possible!"

"Of course it is. Come with me and I'll explain everything to you."

Harry had helped her up and off the practice mats, while Sirius and Remus had quietly obliviated everyone who had seen the incident.

Of course, she had been disbelieving at first, but when he pulled Remus and Sirius into the conversation they had managed to slowly convince her. The two older wizards had even shown her a little bit of magic.

"…and when you turn eleven," Remus was saying, "Hogwarts is going to send you and Harry a letter asking you to come learn magic with them."

"Really?"

Sirius nodded, "Yes, really."

"Oh Harry! This is wonderful!" she said, throwing her arms around his neck. Harry grinned.

It had been slightly harder to convince her parents, but once again a magic display from Remus and Sirius seemed to help demonstrate the truth of what they were saying.

A/N: okay everyone, I know it's kind of short, but there wasn't much more I could put into this transition chapter without boring your socks off. I hope you enjoyed it and please drop a review on your way out. Thanks a lot and I will try my hardest to post again on Friday.