Another little one-shot from the archives... Set maybe between 6th and 7th year?

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. Very, very sadly.

The first thing Harry noticed in the morning - before he even grabbed his glasses, or made sure his wand was tucked under his pillow - no, the first thing he noticed was his best friend in bed with him.

He jumped away from her and out of the bed as fast as he could, and for a moment he just looked at her in shock. Then he found his voice.

"Oh bloody Merlin..."

Hermione was asleep, curled up sweetly on one side of the twin bed. She yawned softly and moved in her sleep as he stood there watching her.

She was wearing her nightgown - that tiny blue garment that Harry had wished for days now wasn't so distracting. But at least she was wearing something. And Harry was wearing his pajama pants, although he was shirtless.

He had messed up somehow.

The rest of the Order were gone for the night, so Harry and Hermione had decided to try some of Sirius' firewhiskey. A few sips and they'd been spilling their funniest secrets to each other. Harry's heart thudded as he tried to remember if he had told Hermione his greatest secret in his drunkenness.

"This is not good," Harry stated, scratching his head and reaching for his glasses, which were astonishingly on Hermione's side of their bed.

Had he just thought of it as their bed? Oh, he was seriously screwed. Somehow some articles of clothing had come off, but he couldn't remember the circumstances of it at all. Then he had woken up with his arm wrapped around a scantily clad Hermione.

There was a small sigh from the bed, and Harry turned to see Hermione sitting up and stretching her arms. She looked over at him and smiled easily.

"Good morning, Harry."

"Morning," Harry croaked. What was she going to do? Lunge forward and curse him, slap him maybe, for taking her to his bed last night?

Hermione swung her legs over the other side of the bed and stood up. Harry blinked furiously as he realized that when she stood, her blue nightie barely covered the tops of her thighs.

"What's wrong?" She asked him before yawning again.

"You - you might want to get something else on."

Hermione glanced down and slowly smiled as realization dawned on her.

"You're worried about us sleeping together!"

Harry's brain almost exploded.

"Oh God - Hermione - I'm sorry - I didn't - oh God did I? - I mean I was drunk - I don't remember - I'm a terrible person - please tell me I didn't take advantage -"

Hermione giggled furiously.

"I didn't mean it that way," she told him as she sauntered over to him.

Harry felt a powerful wave of relief.

"I mean we both woke up in your bed, wearing very little... Perhaps even cuddling?" Hermione looked at him penetratingly, and Harry nodded weakly. "You're my best friend, Harry. I may not remember exactly what went on last night, but I trust you."

You shouldn't, Harry thought as he tried to keep his eyes away from Hermione's rather exposed chest.

"You're very sweet, worrying about that," Hermione said, stepping closer to him.

Harry just nodded.

"Would it be so bad?" Hermione pondered out loud. "Waking up and realizing we'd had sex?"

Harry swallowed hard.

"I - I - I..."

"After all, I've never cared for someone as much as I care for you," Hermione said. "And you are very cute."

Harry's heart thumped and he looked away. Surely she couldn't be saying...

"Harry?" She sounded sad, yet hopeful. "I'm trying to tell you something important."

He looked up and met her eyes.

"I really... I fancy you. I have for ages, and I think I told you last night but you can't remember. I - I've been trying to get up my courage to tell you for a while now, and it isn't as scary, because I know I already did it," she said in a rush.

Harry stared at her.

"Say something," Hermione said nervously. "Harry, please!"

"I - just," he stumbled over his words. "I never imagined I'd hear you say that - I've never been brave enough to tell you I feel the same way. Some Gryffindor I am, right?"

Hermione let out a happy gasp.

"You feel - the same way - oh, Harry!" She reached out and hugged him fiercely. Harry held her, for longer than he ever had before, and grinned in a rather ridiculous manner.

When they released each other, Hermione dove in to push her lips against his. Her lips were pleasantly warm and soft, and Harry's heart raced at having her so close to him. Hermione's breath was hot against his mouth, and Harry cautiously began to kiss her.

As they slowly explored each other, both had the sudden realization that they had found a part of themselves that they'd never known about before. Holding and kissing each other felt so right, so natural. Harry felt that as long as they stayed like this, time would stand still for them. Surely they deserved that much.

Of course, as they shared their first kiss, Death Eaters practiced their curses, a Dark Lord schemed, and a Ministry grew more and more corrupt. Harry and Hermione would have to deal with the world soon. But for now...

"Breakfast?" Harry murmured when they pulled away.

"In a minute," Hermione agreed. She pulled him back to snog him again.

Hermione had a feeling she wouldn't ever get tired of Harry's kisses.