Thanx for the reviews! It's been awhile, huh? I've been writing other things, but I wanted to update this. I wrote half of this awhile back. And I thought it was time to finish it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. I don't own "Running Away", Midnight Hour does.

Anyway, this song is called "Running Away" by Midnight Hour. Sadly, this song is not on iTunes. I'm pissed! Its one of my favs. So the only way I can listen to it is on Youtube. Ugh! My friend got it for me from a program that I'm not gonna say. Haha. But i got the song now. Yay!

Anyway, listen to it. You will fall in love.

This is another Harry blames himself one-shot. If anyone's sick of it, oh well! This song is perfect for it. This is set after Sixth Year. Its the summer. The Weasleys, Neville, Luna, Hermione, and Harry are staying at Hogwarts during the summer as they have no other place to go. I know Hogwarts was infiltrated but let's pretend it didn't. Yet, Dumbledore is dead. Haha.

Read pleez!

Running Away

"The prophecy said that '...neither one can live while the other survives...'" Harry told his best friend one night. Finally telling her after a year. "I have to kill Voldemort or...he kills me." He was standing at a window in the Heads' Common Room. The two inhabited it as they had no where else to go. Hermione had modified her parents' memories of her and sent them to Australia. His head rested against the stone wall next to him. He could not look at her. He couldn't. He couldn't bear to see her reaction. Whether it was angry or sad or even if she showed no emotion at all. He didn't want to see her face.

Hermione was sitting on the couch, facing him. A few moments later, Harry heard her whimper as a few tears fell down her cheeks. "Wh-what? No...no, it can't be true, Harry." She was sad about it, he confirmed.

"Well, it is," he replied bitterly. "That's my destiny. We might as well accept it." He turned around and looked at her, despite the fact he didn't want to. Big mistake. He saw the tears as they cascaded down her rosy cheeks. Her brown eyes sparkled with tears, but they were dull. Without life. Because of her sadness. He wanted to hold her. Comfort her. But he could not give in. Not now. She was his best friend. The one he loved with all his heart. Now here he was: trying to hurt her. To save her. He walked past her, determined to go upstairs to his room. However, Hermione grabbed his arm and stopped him. She was still sitting on the edge of the couch, but had clasped onto him at the best opportunity. Stopping him from leaving her.

"Harry...don't go. We have to talk about this. Please," she pleaded with him. She faced forward until she told him they had to talk about the prophecy. She looked at him with her chocolate-brown, doe eyes. It hurt her that he was acting like this. It hurt him to hurt her. But it had to be done. It had to.

"No, we don't, Hermione. Just leave me alone," he said coldly and shook her hand off and went up the stairs into the Head Boy's dorm, leaving Hermione alone in the Common Room to sink to the floor and sob uncontrollably with her arms wrapped around herself.

Harry never looked back at her, but he heard her cries. As he walked up the stairs, a lone tear rolled down his cheek in anguish at what he had just done.

The next morning Harry walked down the stairs to go to breakfast. He found Hermione asleep on the couch. She had red tearmarks all down her cheeks. She looked miserable. But to Harry, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He took the blanket from the back of the couch and covered her with it. It was the least he could do after the way he had treated her the night before. He smiled weakly as she stirred a bit. She moved her legs and turned her head towards him. But not waking up. He sighed lightly and left the room.

There was not that many people in the Great Hall. He spotted Ron, Luna, Ginny, and Neville eating already. Harry had broken up with Ginny after Dumbledore's funeral to keep her safe. It was mutual. Ginny felt like their relationship was not really going anywhere anyway and she had started to set her eyes on someone else. Neville made her happy, he could see. They had gotten together a week ago and the couple felt as if they could never be happier. Harry was happy for the both of them.

Harry walked past the four of them and sat by himself at the end of the long table. In isolation. His four friends looked at him as he passed. Neither saying anything to him or to each other about him. Just gave each other looks. Neither one had the courage to sit with him or ask him to sit with them. No one knew what to say. Harry piled his plate with eggs, bacon, sausage, and porridge. He ate it as quickly as he could, wanting to get out of there. Not wanting people staring at him. Especially his friends. He knew Hermione would be coming in soo. He didn't want to see her. No matter how much his heart did.

As he had guessed, Hermione walked into the Great Hall. She spotted Ron, Luna, Ginny, and Neville sitting and congregating quietly. Then she noticed Harry by himself at the end of the table eating his breakfast in silence and staring straight ahead at nothing. Her heart tugged at the sight of him all alone. She made her way over to him, feeling her other friends watching her. "Harry?" she asked a little cautiously. He looked up at her with a stern face. "Yes, Hermione?"

"Erm, come sit with us," she invited looking back at the others, who were looking at her and gesturing for her to sit with them. 'Leave him be' their faces seemed to plead. But she paid that "comment" no mind.

"No," he replied without hesitation and without emotion.

Hermione huffed, exasperated. What was his problem? "Why are you being like this?" she asked him.

He didn't answer as he finished his breakfast. He would give her the silent treatment for that question. "Why does the prophecy bother you like this?" she asked him another question, hoping he would answer that one. Hoping he wouldn't evade it.

"You don't understand, Hermione," was all he said as he stood up from the bench and left.

"Then help me to," she said softly to his retreating back. It looked like he did not hear her, but she knew he did. She always knew. She knew him better than anyone.

Hermione sat down at the table in Harry's spot and started to cry silently. She looked over at Ron, Luna, Ginny, and Neville, who gave her pitying looks. They all knew. They all knew how much Hermione cared for him. How much she loved him. Which, they thought, made it all the worse.

He hated doing this. He hated hurting her. He hated making her cry. 'It's for her own good' he thought to himself as he walked around the school grounds. What she said to him when he left, he heard. He wanted to tell her everything. Everything he felt. Felt about the prophecy. About the war. About her. She didn't understand that the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. He wanted to help her understand that people were dropping like flies because of him. She was a Muggle-born, which made her wanted by Voldemort. And if Voldemort and his followers found out she was his best friend and that he was in love with her, she would be the second most wanted being on Voldemort's death list.

He could not put that upon her.

He stayed away from the castle all day, mostly hiding by the forest. He caught Ron and Hermione walking around the grounds a few times looking for him. He just hid behind a tree and peered around it at them slightly. They looked...comfortable around each other. Harry was jealous of Ron. Ron was jealous of Harry. He knew it. There was no denying it. He could see it in his face and eyes. Ron wanted Harry's fame and fortune and the female attention. Everything that Harry had. The luxury items.

Harry was jealous of Ron for what he had. Ron had a family that loved him and he took them for granted. But most of all, Ron had everything Harry wanted. That "everything" was Hermione.

She was everything to him. His being. His purpose. His love. His life. His reason for living. His whole world.

Harry could see that Ron took Hermione for granted. He treated her like dirt. Always blowing her off and leaving her. He used to always ask her to do his homework for him. Harry never went that far. He would do his own and occasionally ask her to check it. Harry couldn't believe that something so stupid as Ron asking Hermione to his homework for him bothered him. But it did. Why did she like him?

Harry would gladly trade his fame and fortune for Hermione any day. To just run to the countryside and live with her forever in peace with little Potters running around. But she would be in danger. 'Perhaps she's better off with him anyway' he thought sadly. 'Safer.'

Later that night, he went back to the Heads' Common Room to find Hermione sitting on the couch reading a book. Was she waiting for him? When he walked in, she shut the book, put it on the couch next to her, and stood up, answering his question. She had been waiting for him. "Harry, can we talk?" she asked him.

Don't lie and

Say that it's okay

"About what?" he asked.

"The prophecy. I want to help you. I want to be there for you," she answered walking to him. He backed a few steps away from her, wanting to put as much distance between them as he possibly could. "Oh, so you can't stand next to me anymore, is that right?" she asked bitterly. He didn't answer. He wouldn't even look at her.

"Harry!" she cried as she rushed over to him and cupped his face in her hands and made him look at her. He tried to pull away, but she held him firm. "No, don't pull away. Not this time, Harry. Not this time. Look at me." He had no choice but to settle his emerald-green eyes on her beautiful chocolate-brown ones. "Why are you acting like this? So what? You have to kill Voldemort. Isn't that what you were destined to do?"

It's alright yeah,

There's nothing more to say

"Hermione...I'm going to die! There's no 'me killing Voldemort'! He's going to kill me! I don't have what it takes to kill him. I don't have that power I'm supposed to have. And you know what? He's going to kill everyone I'm close to, as well. Every. Single. One of them," he shook with anger. He grit his teeth in hatred. Hatred for Voldemort. "And I won't be able to stop him," he growled darkly. Hermione noticed his eyes going from a dull emerald to a forest green with hatred.

"Harry, it's going to be okay. We're-" she tried to console him but he cut her off. Not having any of it.

"No, it's not, Hermione!" he pulled away from her and took a step back. A tear rolled down her cheek. "It's not okay! It's never going to be okay if you are killed! You don't know what that's going to do to me! I won't have the will to live anymore. I will give up! There will be nothing left for me on this Earth."

So I'm running away

I'm leaving this place

Yeah, I'm running away

I'm running away

Neither friend said a word for awhile. They just stared at each other. Hermione was crying freely now. Harry was feeling so guilty for making her cry.

Once again.

"Hermione, I can't be around you anymore. He will come for you. I know you're a Muggle-born and you are already marked, but if he knew we were friends, he will torture you. More than he tortures other Muggle-borns. I won't be able to live with that. So, I'm going to make it easy on you and leave you." He turned on his heel and made his way to the staircase. Leaving her. Leaving his world. But he was not talking about the Wizarding World.

He was talking about her.

Don't tell me that I'm the one to blame

It's too late for you to make me stay

No, I won't stay

"You're breaking my heart!" she cried out to him desperately stopping him.

He turned around at her outburst. Big mistake once again he had made on his part. Hermione had sunk to the floor on her knees with her hand over her mouth, sobbing. He had hurt her so bad.

Hermione figured Harry hurting her would be far worse than being tortured by Voldemort. Harry was her best friend. The one that bravely saved her from a troll. The one that she ran first to when she had become unpetrified. The one that she rode on the back of a Hippogriff with to save his godfather's life. The one that wished she had danced with at the Yule Ball. The one that she had started a defense club for, going against the rules of the school. The one that she wished she had been the one he was with all through last year and not Ginny. The one she loved with all her heart, soul, and mind. The one that was hurting her. The one she wanted to help to free them all.

"Hermione, I'm the cause for everything that happens in this war! Every death! Every wound! Every fire! Every kidnapping! He wants me! And only me! Even Ron blames me sometimes!" he told her.

So I'm running away

I'm leaving this place

Yeah, I'm running away

I'm running away

"I will save you, Hermione!" he promised her before she could protest his blaming of himself, bending down and cupping her cheek in his right hand. His face was so sincere.

"Please, Harry, don't leave me!" she pleaded through her cries. "Please, don't go!"

"Goodbye, Hermione," he said and he stood up, left to go upstairs, get his things, and leave. Leave her.

Faster than you can follow me

From this lonely place

Farther than you can find me I'm leaving,

Yeah, I'm leaving today

Harry had shrunk his trunk to fit in his rucksack that was on his back. And charmed it to be weightless for what he was about to do. He stood in the courtyard outside the Entrance Hall. He looked back at his home for seven years. "Goodbye..." he whispered to his friends. To his old teachers. To his school. To his home. And...to her. And he turned forward and began to run.

And I'll never let you find me

I'm leaving you behind with the past

No, I won't look back

And I don't wanna hear your reasons

Don't wanna hear you tell me why I should stay

Running away. Away from Ron. From Luna. From Ginny. From Neville. And from Hermione. Saving them from being hurt. Being killed. He ran towards Hogsmeade where he would then apparate to Grimmauld Place.

"HARRY!" he heard behind him. He almost stopped. Almost. He knew who it was. 'Don't look back' he told himself. 'Don't look back.' "HARRY!"

"Hermione..." he whispered but kept on going. Running even faster. Tears began to fall down his face. Yet, she still pursued him.

"HARRY! HARRY, STOP! PLEASE! DON'T GO!" she yelled. "I LOVE YOU!" she bellowed.

He slowed down a bit at her last words. How did she know those words would stop him? He didn't really care. She loved him. She returned his feelings. That made it even worse than the fact that she was friends with him. She would be hurt. Tortured. Killed. Raped. Murdered. "NO!" he howled, tears falling down his face in agony at the thought of her raped and killed. He heard her footsteps getting closer. He whipped around and looked at her once again. She was about fifteen feet from him. Around her shoulder and across her chest were two drawstrings that held a small, purple bag closed and hanging at her side. She had stopped running and the two best friends just stood there and stared at each other. She looked so beautiful to him. He almost couldn't bear it.

"You wh-what?" he asked her wiping his tears embarrassed she was seeing him like this. Weeping weakly.

"I love you. I always have, Harry. Always will. And I will never stop chasing you," she confirmed his deceiving ears.

"You love me?" He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe someone actually loved him. No one had ever told him that. No one.

"Yes," was all she said more tears streamed down her face. Her heart pouring out for him. He looked into her eyes and he saw the truth. She did love him.

"But I thought you loved Ron," he said a little confused.

And try, try to undertand me

Try to understand what I say when I say I can't stay

And I'm moving on from this place

Leaving and I won't when I'm running away

She furrowed her browed in confusion. "I've never loved Ron," she said. "Maybe as a brother, but never romantically. Harry, he's in love with Luna. You would know that if you were with us the last few weeks."

Harry felt guilty for neglecting his friends the last few weeks. But it was necessary. To protect them. "You love me?" He wanted to hear it one more time.

"Yes," she repeated confidently. Her heart warmed just admitting it. It jumped, happy to say it to him. "I love you. Truly. Madly. Deeply."

Harry dropped his rucksack to the ground and walked quickly to her. Without hesitation, without pausing, without asking her if it was okay-because he knew it was-he cupped her face and crushed his lips with hers in a passionate kiss. Hermione gasped, which gave Harry the opportunity to plunge his tongue into her mouth. Meeting hers. Hermione moaned almost immediately and kissed him back. Harry let go of her face and put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her closer. She attacked his mouth. Letting all of these feelings she had held in for so long out. She put her hand on the side of his face caressing it. Then moving to his neck. She was very vigorous. Animalistic. Harry was having a hard time keeping up with her. But it was very passionate. Full of love. Harry poured everything he felt for her in that kiss. All of his love.

There was no one else. Just the two of them. That of which they knew. They were only aware of each other. Nothing else. Nothing else mattered. Just as long as they were together. Harry ran his hands up and down her back. Hermione eventually broke the kiss. Needing oxygen. They both panted, leaning their foreheads together. Looking into each other's eyes. Emerald-green met chocolate-brown. Harry smiled. He chuckled slightly once. Not quite believing he had just snogged his best friend. Not believing this was actually happening. "I love you, too, Hermione," he finally admitted to her after all those years.

She smiled back. "I know." She paused and closed her eyes, stroking the side of his neck with her thumb. "I want to go with you. I know it'll be dangerous. But you need someone, Harry. You can't do this on your own. You can't win this war on your own. Please, let me go with you."

Harry closed his eyes, as well. He knew it. He knew he couldn't last two days without her. "I know, Hermione. I know. I don't want you to come with me...but I know you'll just follow me anyway. And I know I need someone with me. And I can't think of anyone to be with me better...than you."

She smiled and kissed him again.

I'm running away,

I'm leaving this place

Yeah, I'm running away

I'm running away

When Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, and Neville Longbottom would go to the Heads' Tower later that day, they would find Harry Potter's room to be empty, indicating that he had indeed ran away. But they would also find that Hermione Granger's room to also be empty.

He did run away.

But he was not alone.

He would never be alone.

THE END

Hoped you liked it! I totally LOVE this song! It's SO amazing! The kiss was based on the Harry/Hermione kiss in the film DH: Part1. So hot! :) Btw, the part where Hermione says "You're breaking my heart!" Yeah, I kinda stole that from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Great line!

Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do next. I was thinking about "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North. It's a religious song, too. But I really love it enough to make it romantic. Yeah, I might do that one.

Pleez review!

DREWHHR