Love is Saying Goodbye

A/N: I was feeling rather depressed and decided to write a rather sad h/hr story. NOTE NOW: THERE WILL BE NO HAPPY ENDING FOR H/HR. THIS WILL END R/HR. Don't worry, I haven't lost my faith in my ship, I will forever sail h/hr no matter what people say. I ending it r/hr because it in a way helps me cope the fact book 7 will most likely end r/hr. I know we h/hr shippers hate to think this, but it's true. Well, enjoy and please review!

Spoilers: Books 1-6, just to be safe.

The wind was blowing more than ever, leaves were scattered among the grounds that once held many happy faces of Hogwarts students. It was signs that fall had come and things had to be done. Harry was standing in front of the school he once adored; it now bared the resplendence of a haunted castle. The wise headmaster Albus Dumbledore was gone. He stood there alone, thinking hard on the journey he was to embark on. Of course he wouldn't be alone; Ron and Hermione were going to be there every step of the way. This was good for him, but bad at the same time. His two best pals, the red-headed Ron Weasley, he was a great mate with a short temper. And Hermione Granger, the school's brightest witch in ages! She was the one who would accompany Harry the most, helping more than Ron will. Harry seized this journey as a prefect opportunity to tell Hermione how he felt about her. He knew he loved the smart brunette for ages now, but he had dawned on it about two weeks ago. He and Hermione shared an experience he'll always remember, even if she'll be with Ron in the end.

"Harry! Are you ready?" Ron yelled from downstairs.

Ron, Harry and Hermione were at the Burrow to celebrate the wedding of Bill and Fleur. It was hard to be happy on such an occasion, but Harry tried his best to relax and enjoy himself. He finished playing with his tie and went downstairs to see Ron talking to Hermione. He walked over and together, like the trio, they watched as the wedding took place.

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The couple was wed, and everyone went after the food. There was much there, but Harry ate very little. Everyone talked to those they could before leaving. Harry and Hermione were staying at the Burrow for tonight, for tomorrow would be a very emotional day for Harry. He was going to where his parents were buried. Harry made his way up to his room where he found Ginny.

"Hey, can we talk?" she asked, holding a picture in her hand.

Harry really didn't want to talk to her, but since he still fancied her very little he let her talk.

"Sure, what is it?"

She fumbled with the picture in her hands before tears swelled up in her face. Harry noticed he too had tears in his eyes. This was hard for both of them, he was to leave and battle Voldemort while Ginny stayed here, worried out of her mind. He wanted her to move on and not worry about him.

"Don't worry about me, just push me aside and move on with your life. Don't sit around here waiting for me to return because chances are, it might not happen."

She started to cry now, and before he could say anything else, she threw herself on him. Her tears soaked his shirt, but he didn't care This time around, the monster in his chest didn't purr when she hugged him. Instead, it was annoyed and Harry knew it as well for he backed away from her.

"I said forget about me."

With that, he turned around and headed towards the door.

"Harry! Wait!

He heard Ginny's feet run towards him. He turned, annoyed, and looked at her.

"If that's how you want it, then fine. But at least take this, I hope we can still be friends."

She handed him the picture in her shaking hand. He reached and took it. She sniffed for her nose was stuffy and leaned to kiss him on his cheek. He felt nothing to it, but felt pain in her words.

"I'll always love you Harry, please don't forget that."

She finally left the room, and left Harry to be alone, feeling shameful.

It was late and everyone had went off to bed. Harry was in his room lying on the bed, thinking. He glanced over to the picture that laid on the table next to him. It was the one Ginny gave him, of them kissing in the common room during 6th year. Colin probably took the picture, but Harry didn't care anymore. The monster in his chest was different now, it no longer purred around Ginny. It now reacted to someone else, with bushy brunette hair and almond colored eyes.

"Harry?"

He heard the voice from behind the door. He knew who it was; he could always sense her presence.

"Hermione, come in."

He didn't wait for her to even ask, he needed her now more than ever. She came in and walked towards him after closing the door. There was very little light, only light coming from many lit candles.

"I heard about you and Ginny."

Harry didn't want to talk about her, so he tried changing the subject.

"That's great. Couldn't sleep?"

She looked at him, he looked back. She had a quizzical look on her face and went to open her mouth to speak.

"You don't want to talk about Ginny?"

"No, I don't. We went our ways and that's that."

She sighed, and looked away from him. He still continued to look at her and suddenly the monster in his chest growled and Harry moved closer to her. She noticed this and looked up at him, staring for seconds longingly in his eyes.

"No, I couldn't sleep. Obviously, you can't either."

"Why did you come to me?"

He asked very softly, moving even closer to her. Hermione continued to stare deeply in his eyes, wanting just to run her hand threw his hair or along his cheek. She resisted, and answered him.

"Because I was feeling lonely. When I'm with you, I feel much better and safe."

That's all he needed to hear before he moved in to kiss her. His hand went for her neck and he waited for her response. First it was tense, but he added force to the kiss and she eased up, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him in. he ran his tongue along her bottom lip and she immediately let him in. They kissed each other passionately devouring each other's taste, Hermione melting away in his arms. The kiss ended, and Harry rested his forehead on hers.

"Hermione, I love you."

"Harry…I-"

She stopped talking and quickly let go of him. He was confused, and furious. Tears formed in her eyes and they both knew she had done something terribly wrong.

"Harry, I- we can't do this."

He was mad, wondering why.

"What do you mean? Why?"

She started fidgeting, and he knew exactly where this was going.

"Harry, it's not you. You mean everything to me, but this just isn't the perfect time to say what you said. I'm sorry but, I'm…I'm with Ron."

Harry's jaw dropped and the monster in his chest died in defeat. He knew it was over, the moments between him and Hermione would never be the same.

"When? I didn't even know about this?"

He raised his hands in the air, causing Hermione to back away slightly.

"I'm sorry! We were going to tell you but Ron thought you'd know for you already knew how he felt about me."

Her voice was rising and his face reddened.

"I did, but come on! You two argue like you hate each other! How's that love? People who fancy or LOVE each other don't fight all the time!"

"Things change."

He couldn't believe it! What was she saying, did she really mean it?

"Do you really love him?"

She was taken back by his quick question.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, do you really love him?" he replied sternly.

She just stood there, not knowing what to say. They just stared at each other, lost for words. She did love Ron, right? Harry was just a friend, Ron meant more to her right? But why? What did Ron do that made him more special and important than Harry? Nothing, which was the problem she was somehow blinded by all along.

"Oh my god, what have I done?"

She fell to the floor, crying harder than ever. She was all wrong; she loved Harry, not Ron! But it was too late; Ron asked her out she said yes. He got down on his knee and asked the question, she said yes. She couldn't be Harry's, she never would be. She stopped crying to find him kneeling in front of her. She could do nothing more but hold him. She quickly pounced on him, holding on as if the floor below would fall. He held on as well, running his hands in her hair and along her back. They sat there, forgetting the world around them. She knew this moment would never happen again, so she held on tighter for even longer. It finally ended, and she pulled away from him to regrettably show the ring. He saw it and could do nothing but cry. He backed away from her, walking away from her. He turned away from her, hands clenched into fists in his pockets, head up fighting the urge to kill Ron.

"Harry, I'm sorry. Ron asked me to marry him. It seems rushed but, we might not have much time left to live."

"I know." He said through gritted teeth. She sobbed and he felt bad and helpless without her so he turned to comfort her. He couldn't stay mad at her, not at a time like this. Like she said, we might not have much time left and it killed him to see her moments were with someone she didn't even love. They embraced again, and for the last time she kissed him.

"I love you Harry. You'll always be in my heart."

"Hermione, please don't do this to me."

He couldn't speak above a whisper. His face was soaked in his own tears. Hermione was crying as well, wishing things could be different.

"I'm so sorry Harry."

She let go of him and headed out. He wouldn't allow this, she was his and he loved her! He ran to her, grabbing her arm but not turning her around.

"Please Hermione, don't leave me. Not like this."

She slowly turned to him, tears flowing freely and painfully. She choked slightly and looked at him one last time before looking away.

"Love is saying goodbye."

With that, she pulled her arm away and left the room. Harry stood there in shock, and went over to his bed where he laid on it and cried himself to a rough sleep.

Harry brushed the tears away from his eyes before walking away, heading back to the place him, Ron and Hermione were staying.