A/N- I wrote a one-shot called "And Then He Woke Up". I'm going to cheat and post the same A/N I did for that one to explain it- I once came across a meme that said the Epilogue to DH could have been worse. It could have ended, "And then Harry woke, under the stairs in his cupboard..." Well to me this was acceptable. I decided to write this little oneshot about what happened if the events of the HP books actually were a dream. You might notice a couple names that are familiar ;-)

I do not own the characters in this story. This is just about how Harry and Hermione would have met and become a couple in that AU world where magic isn't real.

P.S. that 'social rule' is sometimes referred to as 5 dates or 3, but I decided to go with 3.

"Just walk up and introduce yourself," Tom mumbled, leaning forward. "Harry you don't have to just stare at the girl. Just walk right up to her."

"Can't," Harry mumbled.

"Harry, you can. Walk up to her, say, 'Hi, I'm Harry', and then you ask her out."

"She wouldn't want me."

Tom stood up. "Fine, I'm going to ask her out."

"What? No you can't!"

"Hey you just said that she wouldn't want you. That puts her firmly in my court." Harry's mouth opened and closed, no words coming out. Tom walked over to the brunette's table, "Hi I'm Tom."

"I'm not interested," was her response. She didn't even look up at him.

Tom sat down opposite her, "My friend over there wants to ask you out but is too terrified to do so."

She glanced over to see Harry sitting there and glaring at Tom. "Your friend seems to be glaring at you."

"I told him that if he wouldn't ask you out then I would," Tom responded.

"Ah that would explain the look that kills. He's cute."

Tom leaned forward, "Would you be interested in him?"

"He does seem to have questionable friends," she raised an eyebrow at him.

"I am offended by that remark. I'm amazing."

"Amazingly arrogant," she returned to her book, "if he wants to ask me out then he needs to do it himself."

Tom walked back to his table with Harry, "She's bossy. You could probably do better."

Harry glared at him, "You're an idiot. You can't just waltz up to a brilliant, beautiful girl like that and ask her out. She's not going to fall for any of your lines."

"I don't have to use pickup lines," Tom protested.

Harry ignored him and got up, walking over to her table, "I'm sorry for my git of a friend."

She glanced up at him, "I can handle myself."

"I'm Harry," he said, shifting his weight foot to foot a little nervously.

"I'm Hermione," she smiled. "Would you like to join me Harry?"

The smile on his face was all the answer she needed as he sat down at the table next to her. "I'm not usually this nervous around girls."

"Well then I'll take that as a compliment," she gazed at him, "You're in my pre-med class aren't you?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah I am."

Hermione smiled, "What field do you want to go into?"

"I like kids so I was thinking about being a pediatrician. Not sure yet."

"Copycat," she teased, "I'm studying to be a pediatrician."

"Then we'll see lots of each other," Harry said. "But, uh well…" He swallowed hard, "I would like to see more of you. Not like that though! Well I would like to but…I mean…"

The blush on Harry's face was massive and she gently took his hand, "I'd be happy to go out to dinner with you." The sigh of relief that she'd understood what he meant had her smiling at him. He was very cute.

Harry checked the mirror for the eight time, "You look fine just go pick her up and take her to dinner."

"I really, really like her."

Tom walked over and helped him put his coat on, "Harry, just relax. She clearly likes you too." Harry took one last look in the mirror before exiting the flat he shared with his best friend. He really didn't want to blow it.

Hermione Granger was stunning, Harry decided. She looked gorgeous in her form-fitting dress. He felt his heart skip a beat before he finally spoke, "You look incredible."

She laughed and kissed his cheek, "Thank you Harry. You look very nice yourself."

Harry doubted this, but since he was still struggling to breathe from seeing her after she opened the door to her flat he kept his mouth shut. He offered her his arm and they headed out.

Dinner was good, to Hermione's mind, but she doubted there'd be a second date. Harry seemed like his mind was elsewhere and that made her uncomfortable. He kept to himself and she had to practically pry conversation out of him.

Harry knew that his date wasn't going well. And worse, it wasn't Hermione's fault. She was fantastic. When he took her home he tried to figure out what to say to apologize for not being a good date. She unlocked the door to her flat, "Thank you for dinner Harry."

"I'm sorry," he said automatically.

Her eyes met his, "What are you sorry for?"

"This date was a disaster."

"I've been on worse," she leaned against the door, "Do you want to come in?" Harry swallowed. "Just to talk," she added. Harry nodded and she let him in, closing the door behind him. "On the sofa now."

He turned, surprised, only to have her push him onto the sofa and then sit next to him, her legs curled under her as she sat facing him, "Uh…"

"Why did you ask me out, Harry?"

"Because you're beautiful and really, really smart and I like you."

She cocked her head to the side, "Then why sabotage our date?" He opened his mouth to object and she continued, "I like you Harry. But I don't see a second date in our future because of your extreme introversion. You just said that you like me and yet other than compliment my appearance you barely said five words without being prompted all evening. Now, I'm thinking that you have a reason for this and I'd like to hear it. Because I do like you and I would like a second date."

Harry just stared at his hands before speaking softly, "I had a…a difficult childhood."

That was all that needed to be said, in Hermione's eyes. She lifted his head and leaned in to kiss him. Harry's eyes closed as their lips met. In his mind, their kiss was perfect. She pulled back eventually and rested her forehead against his, "You do deserve happiness Harry."

"Tom always says that too," he mumbled. "I know he can be a git but he's always looked out for me. He pushes me to do things I'm uncomfortable with and reminds me that I didn't deserve any of the abuse."

"You didn't," she cupped his cheek. "Harry no one deserves to be abused." His eyes watered and she shifted to sit in his lap, pulling his head to her chest to comfort him as he let tears fall. "It's okay Harry," she whispered. "Let it all out. I won't think less of you."

When Harry woke the next morning he realized that he was lying in a strange bed nearly naked. Hermione was lying next to him and he shot straight up. "We didn't have sex Harry, you can relax," she mumbled. "I got you in here and undressed you and put you to bed. I didn't want you going home emotionally spent."

Harry gave her a small smile, "Thanks for last night. I think I really needed that."

"You can thank me by making me breakfast," she said, turning and stretching. "I also want a real date with you."

"How about we go to the zoo? I like the zoo. I never got to go growing up," he added, "so I really enjoy going now."

"I think that sounds like an excellent date," she kissed his cheek, "we could go today if you want."

"I'd like that alot," he smiled. He felt like it was easier to talk to Hermione now that she knew. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips against hers, "You're really amazing."

She blushed and he grinned. As he got up and found his clothes from last night, putting them on, he realized that he'd been wrong. Hermione wasn't just gorgeous and brilliant. She was caring and gentle and just an incredibly warm person. He really liked that.

The last time Hermione had been to the zoo she was 12, so going with Harry was her first time in a very long time. Harry was like a six year old attending for the first time, his head whipping around to see everything. She took his hand, "Come on this way."

Harry easily had the best day of his life. Between going to the zoo and spending the day with Hermione he wasn't sure it could get any better. She was more fun than her studious appearance let on. As he walked her back up to her flat he hoped that this date overcame the other date. She unlocked her door before turning to look at him, "That was much improved Harry."

"I really had fun too," he grinned. "Does this qualify me for another date?"

"Most definitely," she pulled him in for a kiss, which he returned happily. "Thank you for today."

"Should really thank you," he said as he opened his eyes, "especially after that kiss."

Hermione laughed before kissing him again, "I'll see you in class Harry."

"If you want a study partner…"

"I know exactly who to call," she opened her door. With a final kiss she entered her flat. Harry walked out feeling like he was on cloud nine.

Tom wisely kept his mouth shut about Harry being gone so long. Teasing Harry always made him feel guilty anyway. Harry felt his self-confidence grow as he took Hermione out on four more dates in the next two weeks. As he walked her up to her flat he asked, "Considering this is my first real relationship, am I doing okay as a boyfriend?"

"You're a gentleman, you're sweet, and you're an amazing kisser. You are doing wonderfully."

"So no complaints?"

Hermione glanced at him as they stopped at her door, "Well I guess I do have one."

Harry frowned, "What is it?"

"Harry, how many dates have we been on?"

"Six, why?"

Hermione licked her lips, "Do you know the social rule that after three dates sex enters the relationship?"

Harry's face flushed in embarrassment. "Um we don't have to, you know."

She opened the door and pulled him into the apartment, "I know we don't have to, Harry, but I want to. Do you?"

His head bobbed up and down in confirmation. "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"That's the last thing you'll make me," she slid out of her heels, leaning on him for support. "If you don't want to, Harry, we don't have to. You've come out of your shell alot in the past couple of weeks and I don't want to hurt that."

Hermione was prevented from saying anymore as Harry suddenly had her pressed against the door, his mouth attacking hers. She groaned in pleasure and her arms wrapped around his neck to pull him close. Harry picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him as he fell onto the sofa. They easily removed his shirt and he managed to unzip her dress. When Hermione sat up on him and slid her arms out of her dress, making it pool around her waist, Harry stared. "Harry?"

"You're so beautiful," he whispered before sitting up and capturing her lips again. "I never dreamed I'd get this moment."

Lust-addled though her brain was, Hermione was curious and pulled away, "What moment?"

Harry gazed into her eyes, "Feeling happy and wanted." Hermione proceeded to snog (then shag) him senseless.