A/N: This is one I wrote a while ago and had forgotten about. The prompt was simply 'The Mirror of Erised'

Your Heart's Desire

As Harry woke from his slumber his first thought was how comfortable he was. He was in a bed! Not a cot, or on the ground, or sitting against a tree. And he'd had a proper rest…not a few hours of fitful recovery before sitting watch, or foraging for food, or worrying about getting Hermione and Ron killed. It was over.

Before he could reach for his glasses he felt them being put in place and Hermione came into view. She looked very serious…much more serious than he'd anticipated, given what they'd accomplished.

"Good morning," she began abruptly, fidgeting with her hands. "I have something I need to tell you."

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"About ten hours, but that's not important. I need to tell you something and I need you to stay quiet. If you interrupt me I'm afraid I'll lose my nerve."

If the last year had confirmed anything, it was best to sit and listen when Hermione had something to say. He fought the urge to grin at her determined look and nodded for her to continue.

"Dumbledore never removed the Mirror of Erised from the castle," she began. Did you know that? It's still on the third floor. I found it in fifth-year when we were searching for a spot for the DA to meet."

He fought the natural urge to reply, mindful of her earlier instruction.

"I knew I shouldn't look at it, but I couldn't help myself. It really is a fascinating piece of magic and-

She stopped herself, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm getting off-topic. Anyway, when I looked in the mirror, I saw you. Only you. You were as old as Dumbledore and you were smiling…happy."

"Hermione-"

"Let me finish, please," she ordered. "I'm getting to the hard part and I need you to stay quiet."

He nodded for her to continue.

"I went back this morning. You and Ron were still sleeping and I was curious to see if it had changed now that you'd survived. It had."

The ominous way she had said the last bit told him that she was about to share the hard part.

"I thought…I hoped…that I'd see me and Ron…maybe our children as well. But I still saw you. You looked just the same as before, but I was there as well. We were unspeakably old, holding hands, and smiling."

She stood, taking him by surprise.

"I told myself that if you were brave enough to walk to Voldemort then I could be brave enough to tell you my feelings," she continued before moving toward the door. "It's okay if you don't feel the same way, but I wanted you to know. You deserved to know and I wanted you to know."

"Hermione-"

"I left you some clean clothes," she interrupted. "I've left the map as well if you want to find me. And if you run into Ron and he's out of sorts, it's most likely due to me. I talked to him before coming up here."

Before he could respond she was gone.

As she sat against the tree and gazed at the clearing, Hermione tried once again to wrap her head around what Harry had done. He'd walked out here…for all of them…all alone…knowing he was going to die. As ecstatic and relieved as she was that it was all over, a part of her still wished Harry had agreed to her suggestion to stay in the Forest of Dean and grow old together. It was illogical and stupid, but it felt like she'd failed him somehow by letting him face that alone.

She felt profoundly selfish as the tears began to slide down her face. They'd won! She should be happy…not moping in this clearing, lamenting her unrequited love and wishing she'd stayed in that forest with Harry and let the wizarding world burn to ash.

Hermione had girded herself for the inevitable rejection and convinced herself she would still be his friend, but at the very least she had expected him to track her down by now. She thought he would come. She expected him to come.

Hermione heard someone approaching and cursed herself for ever doubting Harry. It took him longer than it should on occasion, but Harry always did the right thing; the brave thing. Always.

He slid down beside her and she found herself leaning into the contact. She refused to look at him though. She didn't think she could bear that.

"I went to look at the mirror," he began uncertainly. "It was a lot easier to reach it without all the traps."

She chuckled but kept quiet. Harry had kept quiet for her and she would repay the favor.

"It took a while for anything to appear," he began, "I reckon because I hadn't really thought about what I wanted beyond finishing Voldemort. I don't think I ever truly believed I'd make it out alive."

She fought the urge to say, "I did. I never had a doubt," but she held her tongue.

"Anyway, it finally showed me something: you and me."

Her heart surged before she quickly tamped down her enthusiasm. It was a reflexive act at this point. She'd been stifling her hopes for years where Harry was concerned.

"We were wearing the clothes we have on right now and talking. But we were in a classroom. I suppose that's where I expected to track you down."

She felt him reach for her hand and she purposely interlaced their fingers. It felt good and right; her heart's desire.

"I was doing most of the talking but you were smiling. And when you smiled I smiled."

Hermione wanted nothing more than to tell him what that meant, but she waited. Even if it took a bit longer than it should sometimes, Harry always sorted it out.

"I've never thought of you that way because I didn't think you- I just…never thought of you that way. But now that I can think about it…well, I can't stop thinking about it."

She felt the tears once again…but they were altogether different this time: Relieved tears…happy tears…stay here and grow old together tears.

"I'm sorry for not realizing-"

"Don't," she finally interrupted. "You've been…you are…amazing, Harry. No matter what happens I want you to know that."

She wasn't sure how long they sat there in silent contemplation, but at some point Harry had leaned his head back against the tree and she'd laid her head on his shoulder. As she pondered both of their visions she realized Harry had the right of it. It was time to start focusing on her heart's desire. Today. Not ten years from now…or twenty years…today. Right now.

"I love you, Harry," she murmured, knowing it was the right and true thing to say.

"Me too," he managed before they lapsed back into silence.

Sadly the moment eventually came to an end as a silvery lynx appeared.

"When you have a moment I need a few minutes of your time, Harry. I'm in the Great Hall," the patronus exclaimed before disappearing into the ether.

Hermione suddenly despised Kingsley for intruding on their moment. She didn't want Harry to leave. Ever.

She lifted her head and fought the urge to sigh at the loss of contact as Harry stood. Before she could bid him goodbye he'd reached out a hand, and for the first time since his arrival, she looked at him. He was smiling.

"Will you come with me?"

"Of course," she answered, allowing him to pull her up before intertwining their fingers once again. Harry gave her a gentle squeeze of acknowledgment and she resolved that this would be their new normal. Not ten or twenty years from now…today…right now. The future would sort itself out. She and Harry would sort it out.