O.O.S: First off, I apologize for the belatedness of this chapter. Life as been CRAZY lately. There is really no other way to explain it. Thank you very much for reading and for hanging in there with me. :] Love you all.

B.I.S:

Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything created by J.K. Rowling. The words 'Fuck my life' are appropriate here.

Rating: M ish

Stolen

Chapter 10:

The Hero

Harry's P.O.V.:

They say that the mind is what controls whatever people do.

Whoever 'they' are, they're wrong.

I think your heart does.

Minds are logical. Capable of thinking things out thoroughly.

A heart only thinks of what it wants and how to get it. Never whom it will crush on the way.

As I helped Hermione back to her apartment that night I couldn't stop my heart from thumping like as it were my brain thinking. I was controlled by my emotions.

All the things I thought about her.

All the things I wanted to do to her.

All the places I longed to touch her.

I couldn't stop my heart.

Opening her door, I felt her nimble fingers tangling themselves in my own hands. Pulling me into her apartment, I was loosing all sense of my mind. I shut the door and felt lost in the dark of the room. I reached for the light switch, but suddenly, I felt her body against my back. She was caressing my body with her free hand. She traced her hand around to my chest and lowered it slowly down my body.

My belt buckle was consumed by her grasp.

My breathing swallowed as she felt me up.

I throbbed in pleasure when her hand rubbed over my hard member in my jeans. I couldn't fight her. I couldn't fight my heart.

Gaining sense for a moment, it almost like a light in the dark.

"Hermione, I think you need some rest." I murmured, in a stronger voice than I expected.

Facing her, I almost gave back in. I don't really now how I didn't.

Her bright eyes were large and glistening in the dim light. So enticing that it was painful to deny her.

"Ok."

Hermione stumbled as she tried to walk, letting a giggle pass from her lips.

"Ooops." she mumbled, resting her head on my chest.

"You ok?" I asked, concerned but still having a smile on my lips. Just looking at her made me happy.

"I-… I think." she was giggling. "I think I drank waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much." she looked up at me, closing her eyes.

"I think I agree." I replied.

Moving away from me, she tried to walk again, but ended up stumbling into her coffee table.

"'Mione!" I snatched her up into my grasp before she hit the floor.

"Whoa… The floor is down there." she held onto me as she stared at her hardwood flooring.

"Yeah. Come on. Let's get you to bed."

Walking was out of the question after she had almost killed herself with a coffee table, so I leaned down and lifted her into my arms.

Stepping into her room, I felt a stab of pain from what I was envisioning. My self control was wearing down as I resisted every urge to lie her onto the bed. Resisted every urge to not feel her breasts and make her moan.

Crossing over to her bed, I laid her down on the mattress. I removed her shoes and moved back up to meet her gaze.

My heart was suddenly in control once more.

My face was maybe an inch away from hers. Our stare was that of a contest. I could not look away no matter how hard I tried.

That instant, we kissed.

I wasn't sure who caused it, but I do remember one thing, it was more than I had ever imagined it being.

Hermione's soft lips pressed to the form of my own and I knew then I was completely under the control of my heart.

As she let her head fall back onto the pillow, she seemed disoriented and sleepy.

Looking back into her eyes I felt a connection that I had never felt in my entire life. She smiled softly looking back at me before drifting into sleep.

I knew then that I could no long be near her as a friend.

It would always be something more, or I would want it to be.

Stepping away from her, I was shaking like crazy.

Every single part of me wanted her more than anything else I had ever wanted.

Falling back I into a chair to the side of her bed, I grabbed the arms of the plush seat and contained myself from thrusting towards her.

Stopping myself from ripping off her clothing and making myself one with her.

It felt so wrong. So, so, so wrong.

Because it was.

My self struggle was nearly unbearable. It felt like I was dreaming, like I was imagining the past two months.

It felt so unordinary.

Because it was.

Everything was Hermione.

I was Hermione.

I breathed for Hermione.

I got up everyday for Hermione.

That kiss, the touching… I wasn't the only one playing this dangerous game.

It hit me then, like a hit of a troll's club against my head.

She's falling for me too…

My heart fluttered in contentment for an instant. Watching her breathing cause her body to rise up and down, I felt indescribable.

Incredible.

Ecstatic.

Complete.

But as soon as it had come, the emotion faded away by the truth hidden behind my illusion.

She was not mine to take.

Not mine to love.

Not mine.

Digging my fingers into the arms of her chair tears pooled in my eyes behind my glasses.

Torture.

Utter torture...

I couldn't be near her any longer… It was wrong.

She belonged with Ron as I did with Ginny.

Oh Ginny… What had I done to her?

Hermione didn't belong with me.

It just-… It wasn't what was supposed to happen.

This was a heartbreak unlike any other.

I was loosing the girl I loved and my best friend, my reason for life.

It had to be done.

I must stood over that quill and parchment for about an hour as I thought of what to say. I had to put her down easy. I had to be nothing to her.

She would understand…

I hoped.

When I left her, I found myself shrinking to the floor of the elevator. I was too weak to stand. Too weak to do anything.

I was being the 'hero' again… Always giving and never taking.

I was being myself.

Perhaps I really was a martyr like people said… I was certain I never kept what I wanted, I always thought of others. Even if it made me want to stab a knife through my own chest to stop the pain my heart was enduring.

Where I found myself next was even a surprise to myself. Pounding my fist against the door, I did not relent until I heard the grumble of a familiar voice and the twist of a lock being released from the other side.

"Harry?" he grumbled running a hand through his tussled red hair. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? Do you know what time it is?"

"Ron… We need to talk about something."

I didn't have the patience to deal with his questions.

"Yeah? What?"

"'Mione. She-."

"What? She's ok right?" he interrupted me, instantly widening his eyes in concern. I knew then why I had come.

To lie to my best friend.

"Yeah of course… But she's-, she's a wreck without you mate."

This was the first lie I had ever told Ron.

"She is?"

"She wants you back."

That was the second.

As Ron processed the information, I felt my heart crumbling into dust.

"Come in… " he opened the door wider and let me slip in. Sitting down on his sofa, he turned on the lamp on the end table in front of us. He was waiting for me to explain… Unknowingly, waiting for me to lie.

I forced air into my lungs before continuing on with the unfaithful act to my best friend.

It was my only option, it had to be done.

Who says hero's aren't allowed to lie?

When I left him, I was almost in a trance like state. Waking up the next morning I could only think of her.

All I did after that night was think of her…

This hero's sacrifice was almost too much to bare.

But we are supposed to be selfless… Give up everything to make things right.

In the real world, the 'hero' never really does get the happy ending.

O.O.S: Sorry it isn't as long as planned… PLEASE REVIEW!!!

:D