"So, what was in the book you read?" Hermione asked. She was surprised that Harry had actively sought out a book to read, as far as she could remember he'd never done anything of the sort.

Harry fidgeted beside her and then said. "There was talk of Camelot and about the quest that Arthur and Merlin went on. It was incredibly. I never really believed that they were real you know. But reading the words on the page, I could see the story that was being told. And I spoke to Sirius, and he said that almost everything in the book was true."

"Almost everything?" Hermione asked, there was something there to the way he said those words.

Harry shifted slightly. "Merlin mentioned how Arthur had mentioned a lady with fiery red hair and green eyes. And said her name was Lily."

"Oh." Hermione replied. She looked at Harry then, and saw the naked hope on her friend's face. The deepest desire of his heart writ plain. The desire for a son to know his mother, to know her love, to know all that he could about her. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know whether the Lily mentioned in the pages was actually Lily, if Sirius had done something to the book or not, or whether Harry had seen his mother's name because he wanted so badly to know her. She did not know, and she did not say anything.

Eventually, Harry broke the silence. "Sirius says he thinks I saw her name because, she's my mother." Her friend blushed slightly then and Hermione took his hand. "I know what I saw though." Harry took a deep shuddering breath then said. "Well, at least I know why Voldemort is so interested in me as well."

"And why is that?" Hermione asked, she had her own theory as to why Voldemort was looking into Harry, but she didn't want to bring it up now.

"Because we share blood." Harry said. "Not the blood he took from me, but the blood of our ancestors. Myself, Sirius and him, we all share the same blood, we are kin, however, distantly. And I think Voldemort is fascinated by that, because he's never had family before."

It was certainly possible, and it only made Voldemort even more dangerous. "So, what does this mean for you then?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Hermione took a moment to think over exactly how to phrase what she was thinking, but then she decided it would be better just to come out and say it. "Normally, at this point you'd be wanting to go capering off somewhere to find whatever it is you need to find and defeat Voldemort. Is that you plan on doing now?" She hated how vulnerable that made her sound, but it was true. She didn't want Harry to leave, but she wouldn't stop him if he wanted to go.

Harry looked at their joined hands and sighed. "I'm not going off anywhere, Hermione. I know what I know now because I stayed and learned. There is still so much I need to learn, and I don't think Sirius would let me go even if I wanted to."

"Is that the only reason you don't want to go?" Hermione asked, once more hating how small her voice sounded.

Harry laughed slightly and said. "Oh no, there's one more reason why I want to stay."

Her heart began beating quickly. "And what reason is that?" She asked, not daring to hope.

Harry leaned in and said. "You."

Without thinking, Hermione closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to Harry's. Harry kissed her back and it was bliss, it felt just as good if not better than their kiss that day in the hospital. It last for some time, but eventually they had to pull apart. Hermione smiled nervously, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I've been wanting to do that again for a while." She admitted.

"Me too." Harry replied.

Heart hammering in her chest, Hermione asked. "We don't have to stop do we?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't think so."

Hermione leaned and Harry met her in the middle, this time he was the one who instigated the kiss. They stayed like that, their lips pressed to one another, before breaking apart and kissing again, and again for some time. By the time they finished, Hermione felt sort of hungry but also quite content. Eventually, she felt she had to ask. "Do you want us to be like Ron and Lavender?" that was quite a bad way of putting it, but she could tell by the way Harry's eyes widened that he knew what she meant.

"I mean, I…I… would like to go out with Hermione, but I mean with everything that's going on. I don' know." Harry replied.

"Harry," Hermione began, their hands still linked together. "I haven't gone away after the previous four years. I'm not going anywhere now. I like you, you like me, so what's there stopping us? Stop trying to be so damn noble all the time."

"I thought that was why you liked me?" Harry teased.

Hermione swatted him and replied. "You know what I mean though. If there's nothing really stopping us, then why?"

Harry was silent a moment and then smiled. "I guess you're right." Hermione smiled and they kissed once more. This time when they broke apart they were both smiling like idiots. Their hands were still linked together, and Harry looked thoughtful. "You know, this does mean we're going to have to go on a double date with Ron and Lavender, right? She's going to insist."

Hermione groaned dramatically. "Oh no, having to spend time in the company of more than one girl, whatever will you do?"

"Haha, very funny." Harry replied.

Hermione smiled and said. "It won't be that bad, Lavender's nice when you get passed all the other stuff."

Harry nodded, but didn't say anything and Hermione had a feeling his mind was on something else. Something involving a Mother he had never met.