The first time they had kissed they'd been twelve and she was a stone. Well she was a stone and thirteen and him twelve. He didn't manage to break the curse. He slew a basilisk though. She didn't let him know she remembered the kiss. He didn't let on that he had kissed her. But when she ran into his arms during the end of year feast the only thing they could think was "Please kiss me". Neither of them did.

The second time they kissed they were both angry and she was crying. Him because she didn't trust him enough to come to him first. Her because she was only trying to save his life. He ran after her when she ran out of the common room and dragged her into an empty alcove, pushed her up against the wall and proceeded to kiss her before she could get a word out. The kiss was heated and angry and everything they didn't want their actual first kiss to be. But they could not stop. Didn't want to stop.

The third time they kissed he'd been the one crying. He'd just learnt that the crazy murderer on loose was his own godfather and had been the one to betray his parents to Voldemort. He'd been betrayed and heartbroken and broken down in her arms. Her heart broke for him as she wrestled the invisibility cloak out of his hold and threw it over them and held him close as he sobbed into her neck. When he'd finally stopped crying and started apologizing she had swallowed his words with her own mouth and proceeded to kiss away his heartbreak. They stayed that way him sitting on a mound of snow and her leaning on him between his legs, their hands around one another as it snowed all around them. The moment lasted as long as they dared to and their faces and lips were suspiciously flushed and swollen when they did eventually show back up in the common room. Neither said a word about it though.

The fourth time they'd kissed they had just set his godfather free. Buckbeak was still in sight as he turned towards her to watch her watching him. And he'd wasted no time as he knew they were racing against time, pushed her up against the wall behind her and proceeded to show her his thanks. It was truly a miracle that they even made it back to the hospital wing in time.

The fifth time they kissed he'd been betrayed by one of his best friends and was scared he'd lose the other. He'd continued to plead his case despite her interruptions and she'd had no other way but to kiss him thoroughly to shut him up. It was not at all intentional that she took until they were both running out of breath to break away from his lips. 'You don't have to explain it to me Harry. If you say you didn't enter the tournament, then you didn't enter the tournament. Your words are reason enough for me to believe you. I wouldn't know who to trust if I didn't trust you" she'd said passionately. He could not help but show her what that kind of passion did to a person. Fortunately, Harry's passion laid in kisses.

They stopped keeping count after that because she'd took to dragging him into various alcoves and classrooms and broom cupboards whenever he got jeered at or called names. After a point of time she had made him carry his invisibility cloak around and made thorough use of it as she frequently pushed him up against walls and paintings and suit of armors and kissed him senseless after throwing the cloak around them.

The day he escaped the dragon she'd dragged him to an unused classroom and pushed him back against the door and showed him just why he should never even think about dying. After the door had been locked and secured, she'd pushed him down on the teachers table and settled into his lap and they had promoted themselves from kissing to snogging. His shirt had ended up on the floor near the door and her shirt had hung on her right elbow. When they did finally stop they'd missed curfew and the party in the common room was just about over.

His kisses got punishing when he learned that she'd accepted another's invitation to the ball. They never spoke about it but he took every opportunity to fry her brain and his hands had become better friends with her thighs. He'd taken to sitting too close to her at meals and partnered up with her in classes. He had also started showing up in the library every day, asking her to help find one book or the other and dragged her far inside the aisles and kissed and groped her in front of all her beloved books. And then he would leave and lay down near the lake until eventually she got frustrated and went to find him only to push him against their tree and snog him within an inch of his life. He especially liked the effect the combination of his hands and the cold had on her shirtless chest.

The day before the ball he'd asked her to help him learn dance as he wanted to impress his date whose identity he would not betray. They'd danced for hours after which followed a thorough exploration of each other as they proceeded to show each other whom the other belonged to. His neck had a deep purple bruise that no magic or robe will hide while her upper chest and shoulders had multiple bite marks that she couldn't hide.

The afternoon of the ball found Harry with a Cheshire cat grin and Hermione with her nipples and breasts sore as they walked out of a hidden alcove. Hermione's walk down to the great hall was interrupted somewhere around the third floor as she suddenly disappeared in the middle of the hall and then reappeared looking bleary eyed and lips swollen a few minutes later. It was a blessing that Victor didn't know what Harry smelled like because she sure as hell didn't smell like herself.

The night ended in tears for Hermione but harry however had different plans. When she finally reached her dorms after waiting for Harry to come back the last thing she expected to happen was to be dragged into her bed with the curtains closed with privacy and silence charms all courtesy of one Harry James Potter. Neither of them liked that the other smelled like their dates and proceeded to divest each other of their clothes. The night kept growing shorter as they found new places to please and torture. Harry especially loved when she smothered his face with her breasts with her hands inside his boxers. They didn't get very far but they'd made the other know who they belonged to thoroughly. Or so they thought.

The snogging kept growing in intensity until the day of the second task. He hadn't seen her since the night before and was already in a foul mood when he found her tied under water. He'd untied her first without even noticing Ron but then the half-shark Krum had shown up and she'd given him a pitying glance before letting Krum rescue her. It had been a miracle he hadn't blasted the shark head off and proceeded with his task. And when he'd finally showed up with not only Ron but also Gabrielle, the entire girl population had taken note of his abs. Hermione not only picked up a few towels and cover him with them much to the disappointment of everyone gawking but also proceeded to plop herself in his lap in the pretense of a hug. Her hold only tightened when fleur and Gabrielle showered him in kisses. She also took note that his hands didn't come up to wrap around her.

It had been a week and two days since they had touched each other and it was driving her spare. Harry however did not seem to have that problem as he was chased by everything that had a skirt on. Girls threw themselves at him although he paid them no mind. But he didn't touch her either. They were still Harry and Hermione, best friends and confidents. But there were no caresses or hand holding or intruding each other's personal space.

One day on their walk back to the common room after dinner Hermione had had enough after watching 5 different Beauxbatons girls ask Harry help to find the nearest broom closet and tow of the girls together. At the next flight of stairs she'd made some excuse about wanting to meet McGonagall to a very confused Ron and dragged Harry in the opposite direction and shoved him into an abandoned classroom before locking the doors behind her. What irritated her more was that when she'd turned around he was nonchalantly looking around the classroom as if he was a tourist. She'd marched right up to him and shoved him back against the wall and he still didn't look at her.

'What the hell Harry?' she'd screamed in his face.

'Yes Hermione' he'd said like he was giving her permission to borrow his spare quill.

He kept a carefully blank face and that rattled her heart.

'Harry what the hell is going on?'

'How should I know Hermione. Maybe McGonagall moved back to her own office?'

It took her a moment to understand what the hell he was talking about and when she did it did nothing to quell her rage.

'What the fuck do you think you are doing letting all those girls fall all over you?'

'What is it to you?'

It was like a slap to the face but she would not step back.

'What is it to me Harry James Potter? Do you need a reminding of just who you belong to?'

'Oh! Did you happen to forget when you let yourself be swept away by the Krum-shark?'

'That is what this is about? That I let Krum rescue me instead of you? FYI Harry I was his hostage. HIS. Because he asked me to the Yule ball. Remember? At least he was not ashamed to be seen with me and think I was only good enough for a snog when people weren't watching and asked me to go to the ball. That's more than I can say for some others.'

The moment the words escaped her she regretted them. If she didn't the utter heartbreak in his eyes would have made her regret them.

'Harry I'm'

'Don't! Don't! Ashamed? Not good enough? Is that really what you think? Should have known! Well Hermione if it's such a burden to be mine then by all mean get swept away into whosever arms you want. See If I care!'

His voice had been so cold and emotionless and he hadn't given her a seconds time to respond as he easily broke through the enchantments she'd placed on the door in his rage.

She hadn't meant to say any of it. She'd only wanted to let him know that she didn't like him being the center of attraction to every girl in the castle and kiss his hurt away and make peace. How it had come down to this she didn't know. But here she was with a broken heart that she had no one but her to blame on. What was she thinking really?

The days that followed had been pure agony. Harry had taken to hanging around Ron more so he never had to be alone with her. He was still civil with her but he was much too polite. None of the banter or teasing and cheekiness. The only relief was that he had taken to avoiding the fan girls. Taking alternative routes or starting random conversations with Ron or Neville to keep them away. Never her though. He never said a word out of turn to her.

Things only got worse when Victor had asked Harry if anything was going on between Harry and her and expressed his interest in her. Victor had told her that Harry had seemed fine and clearly stated that the choice was up to Hermione and Harry had no say in it. That is not what she wanted. She wanted him to care. To have a say. To say no.

Harry had avoided her after that conversation. They'd said passing Hello's but nothing of substance. The third task was almost upon them and she had to learn from Ron that Harry had been spending a lot of his time in the library learning spells for the final task. And when she'd showed up at the library she'd found Harry surrounded by a bunch of books and the Gryffindor chaser trio helping him. Something inside Hermione had broke at that sight and she'd fled before any of them had noticed.

The day of the third task was upon them before they knew it and Ron and Hermione had been excused from classes to be with Harry and his family. Ron had stuck close to Bill and Harry to Remus and Hermione had no one but Mrs Weasley to make conversations with which was not pleasant as she seemed to believe Rita skeeter's articles about Hermione. Harry noticing this had made it clear to Mrs Weasley that it was all lies and there was nothing going on between Harry and Hermione which did not really make Hermione feel any better although Mrs Weasley seemed to drop the cold shoulder.

There were minutes left for the final task to begin when Hermione final found that famous Gryffindor courage and asked to talk to Harry alone. They walked away from the view of people when Hermione turned towards Harry and looked him in the eye.

'Harry I'm sor..'

'It's okay Hermione. I understand..'

'No you don't Harry…'

And then they heard the students arriving and climbing the stands set around the maze.

'Look it's time I've got to go. It's okay Herm'

She grabbed him by his face and pulled him into a devastating kiss that he could not help but reciprocate. A kiss that broke and healed their hearts at the same time. She finally pulled away after what felt like minutes and said,

'Come back to me Harry. This isn't over. Come back to me'

And placed a kiss over his scar before walking away to join Remus on the stands. And he'd went on to perform the third task that eventually got Cedric killed and brought Voldemort back.

After all the commotion and chaos had been done with Harry had denied to take a dreamless sleep potion and had fell into a fitful sleep soon after which they'd been shooed away by the matron. She'd went back to the common room only to grab Harry's cloak and sneak back into the infirmary where she'd sat next to Harry and calmed him through his nightmares five times before deciding to climb in to bed with him and pull him to lie on top of her. He'd slept peacefully after that with his head resting right on top her heart and that had become habit until he was let out of the infirmary. A habit they didn't break as she snuck inside the boys dorm every night using his invisibility cloak. They never kissed nor did they try to. They just held each other until they both fell asleep with the knowledge that the other was safe and in their arms.

The fourth year came to an end and they all went home. And Harry had been left alone. Upon the headmaster's orders she hadn't written a single letter to Harry, which hadn't been kind. And when he did finally arrive at the Order Headquarters to know that Hermione had been spending the whole time with Ron had been a punch to the gut. His betrayal was evident in his eyes as he calmly asked them what had been going on instead of screaming his head off.

It also hadn't helped matters that Ron had been made perfect alongside her instead of Harry. He didn't let any of his thoughts know though. And whenever she'd offered to help him research for the trial he'd politely declined and asked her to go join Ron. He didn't say the Weasleys but Ron specifically which she'd failed to notice until much later. Sirius had been helping Harry prepare for the trial and had bought him a fetching set of dark blue robes to wear which upon sight Hermione had wanted to rip off of him. The fact that Ginny had a very similar nearly feral look as she looked at Harry hadn't helped matters. The only thing he'd said when he came back from the trial was that he was cleared of charges.

Things at school didn't change much with Umbridge there. Hermione too busy with her perfect duties as Ron slacked off took three weeks into the term to notice she hadn't had a single conversation with Harry. That night she tried looking for him in the common room when Neville had informed her that he was in detention with Umbridge. It was again two weeks later when she saw Neville holding a bowl that Harry's right hand was dipped in. Harry had claimed tiredness and went up to bed when she asked about it and she had badgered Neville until he'd told her about the awful scars and the murtlap essence. Harry was even harder to catch after that. And she was none too pleased to learn that he had been on a date with Cho Chang of all people on Valentine's Day. Suddenly it didn't seem like such a bad idea that she'd planned the meeting for that day.

And then DA happened and it was a huge success. Harry smiled more and even started initiating conversations with her even if it was only about spells to teach the DA. And then she had overheard Harry and Ron discussing Harry's and Cho's kiss under the mistletoe and she had fled the common room before either of them could see her. That bitch! Harry was hers. How dare she kiss him and how dare he let her? Her heart broke when she could not stop but keep imagining and torturing herself with visions conjured out of her overactive imagination.

She took to avoiding Harry altogether after that. The awful year had come to an end and with it the battle at DOM. Sirius had been killed and Hermione had been gravely injured. They'd managed to save her life but dark spells like that left scars. Hers ran from her right neck across her chest to her left waist. The mark on her neck was not completely hidden and made her quite insecure. Harry had taken to not looking at her at all which made her further more self-conscious. Ron who had been made to stay at the hospital wing for longer had noticed that she kept on pulling her robe to cover her neck and said,

'You shouldn't be ashamed of it Hermione. It is a sign of your strength. Of what you had survived. If I were you I'd wear it with pride.'

And she'd been floored. And disappointed. That it hadn't been Harry but Ron who'd managed to make her feel better. And as she thought back over the past year she noticed that Ron had grown up quite a lot and was quite mature for his age. Sure he was still a goof but that was just Ron. Fifth year had come to an end and they had all gone back home where in again the headmaster had advised Ron and Hermione to not bother Harry and they'd agreed.

Hermione as was norm spent part of her summer with the Weasleys and had grown quite fond of Ron. He'd grown quite likable in the time they spent together and when Harry did finally join them in the Burrow he kept to himself again that Ron and Hermione stuck together. What Hermione didn't know was that Harry had the weight of the world on his shoulders and was scared of telling them.

But Hermione had had enough and gave up hope on Harry coming to his senses and spent all her time with Ron. They went back to School and Harry had frequent secret meetings with Dumbledore which he was not allowed to talk about. Ron and Hermione continued to grow closer without Harry's knowledge and when he finally gathered the courage to talk to his friends about the Prophecy it was the day Hermione asked Ron to be his date for the Slug Club Party and he had accepted. Harry had been heartbroken for all his fears had come true and kept quiet about the prophesy. He'd tried to heal his broken heart by turning towards Ginny which she very much welcomed but his heart was not in on it. But he would do anything to not have to watch Ron and Hermione cuddle and kiss in front of the fire all the time.

Hermione not knowing the damage she was inflicting took her jealousy on Harry and Ginny to another level by snogging Ron senseless whenever Harry was in sight. And then Dumbledore had died and it hadn't been her arms Harry fell into. That was what opened her eyes to her mistakes but she was not the only one to blame. By the time she came to know of the existence of a prophesy nothing she could say would have made a difference to Harry.

They'd went about their quest Ron and Hermione. And Harry. Even inside a tiny wizarding tent Harry managed to give them a wide berth which Ron seemed very pleased with until the horcrux had taken root and he'd left in a fit of rage. What was worse was that Harry seemed surprised that she'd stayed. Any attempt she made to make conversation Harry always turned it around to the quest and this went on until eventually Ron showed back up after destroying the locket. This time though it seemed like it was Hermione who was annoyed with Ron's presence while Harry took it in stead.

And then they'd gotten captured and once again had managed to escape. And it was again Ron that tried to make her feel better but when he'd relayed that Harry had barely been in to see her she had lost it and went to go find him.

He'd been standing a little far away from the house staring into the sea and was shocked to see her walking towards him.

'What are you doing out here Hermione?' he'd asked. At least he was talking to her unlike the last still wouldn't see her which only drover her mad.

'Why can't you look at me Harry?'

When he kept quiet and refused to turn her way all her insecurities about her looks and her jealousy of his relationship with Ginny took root and she couldn't help herself.

'What? My scars too ugly for you Harry? Is that it?'

His eyes widened as he opened his mouth in shock but she did not stop.

'I already had one and now I have two. Both I bear as marks of my loyalty. To you. But that doesn't seem to matter when you have Ginny's unmarred skin at your beck and call does it harry? Is that why you left her behind so her body will not bear a scar for when you go back to her. And what is one more scar on the ugly bookworm's body? Is that it? You will do well to remember Harry that you bear a scar too. And maybe I should have let that affect my decision to involve myself with you!'

She'd started low but when she ended her rant she was screaming at the top of her lungs and when she was done she was shocked to see Harry staring at her in tears with heartbreak and was that betrayal dancing across his face. Regret unlike ever before slammed into her as she saw Harry's heart break right in front of her eyes. And again before she could apologize he'd stopped her.

He turned around wiped his eyes off on his sleeves and squared his shoulders before turning back to look at her. His face was an emotionless mask but the defeat in his voice when he said 'Goodbye Hermione' before he walked away left her paralyzed and by the time she turned around he had already disappeared into the house.

And when she finally made it back to the house it was to Ron packing their things telling her Harry had left and he'd asked them to go home. Oh Merlin! What had she done?

But she had nowhere else to go so she went back to the Burrow with Ron and helped the order look for Harry.

Harry in the mean time had made a deal with the goblins to relay to them all of the black fortune in exchange for their help to find and destroy the horcruxes.

The next time Hermione caught sight of Harry was during the Battle of Hogwarts. He looked as heartbroken as she did but this was no time heal scars or reopen old wounds. Snape had relayed the memory of Dumbledore to Harry before he died. With the knowledge that his death was a pivotal step to victory he'd manned up and went to his friends and told them to strike a killing blow whenever they caught sight of him and encourage as many others to as well.

Hermione had asked why he couldn't do it himself and he'd said he would it was just additional chances and made a joke about someone else killing Voldemort getting him away from the spotlight. Hermione had narrowed her eyes but agree and went to spread the word among Ginny and Luna and a few other girls and Ron had done the same with Neville and some other boys.

And when they'd turned around Harry had disappeared which left a hollow feeling in Hermione as she continued to fight death eaters and look for Harry at the same time.

Harry meanwhile was under his invisibility cloak walking towards his end. He had done his part and he had nothing to live for. Everyone that wanted him was dead anyway. This last thing he was doing to make sure she lived. He'd be happy as long as he knew she'd live and now by making sure he died he was saving her. One last act of love. Now he understood his mom's sacrifice. Love makes us do crazy things. Funny thought to have when he was walking to his death.

And when Voldemort came into sight he took off his cloak and walked to his death as he knew it. He closed his eyes and remembered kissing Hermione. Her smell.

A green light hit him at full force and it was swift. It was over. Or so he thought.

But then he'd been offered a chance to choose and he just had to choose to go back so he can see for himself that she was safe before leaving it all behind. And he'd been sent back but played dead until the right moment.

As for Hermione she continued fighting and searching until at last Voldemort entered the grounds with his troop. What stood out to them was the chained form of Hagrid holding something in his hands and sobbing.

And when Voldemort had bragged that the something in Hagrid's arms was Harry Potter's body her heart stopped. Harry was dead. He was dead. Dead. He'd died. She felt like she could not move and everything around her was moving slow motion as she fell only to be held up by Professor McGonagall who for the first time she can remember had tears streaming down her cheeks. Her heart broke as her life fell apart before her eyes. Harry was dead. What was she going to do without him?

The questions warred within her mind and it took her a moment to take notice of the commotion around her and when she finally did she was not ready for the vision of one Harry James Potter very much alive battling Voldemort. Rage and relief coursed through her in equal parts as she stood there watching him defeat the strongest dark lord in history.

And she had absolutely no idea what she was doing until after she'd already ran into him and wrapped herself around him. It was only his arms coming around to band around her that kept her falling when her body finally sagged in relief. She felt him pressing kiss after kiss to the top of her head as she stayed in his arms and ignored the rest of the world.

And when he did finally start moving she'd only wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and proceeded to wrap her legs around his waist. Harry gave in and adjusted his hold on her as he walked through the familiar halls of Hogwarts and up to the seventh floor. The room of requirement for some reason was not destroyed due to the fiend fire and he was all too thankful as he requested a private room to rest undisturbed. The doors opened into a dark blue room with a king size bed and silver sheets pushed against the wall. There was also a couch and some chairs but he ignored it and proceeded to the bed and sat down on it with Hermione in his lap. Both of their clothes were full of grime and dirt and he'd only wanted to take of his jacket but when he went to release her out of his hold she'd held tighter and taken his wand from him and vanished both of their clothes until they were completely bare to the other and thrown both their wands into the side table and rewrapped her arms around his neck. Harry carefully moved back in the bed holding Hermione to him and sat leaning against the headpost cuddling Hermione closer. She didn't seem to complain and only burrowed deeper into his neck and breathed him in. Soon after hot tears flooded his neck but he didn't let go. They stayed that way until Hermione's tears finally stopped and her breath evened out as she went to sleep in his arms. Harry moved again carefully to lay her down and laid himself partially on top of her in their familiar position with his head atop her heart and arms around her. Even in slumber Hermione moved her hands to wrap one around his shoulders while the other caressed his hair to hold his head to her chest. They slept that way neither of them affected by nightmares with the sound knowledge of each other's safety.

Harry woke first and when he realized just where he was he indulged himself and tuned his head slightly and took the nipple into his mouth and amused himself by sucking on it while closing his eyes. This was very much pleasurable to Hermione who opened her eyes with a gasp to Harry smirking around the breast in his mouth. She moaned and keened but he would not stop sucking and when he finally did he resisted Hermione's attempts to pull him up to her mouth. He rearranged himself in such a way that he held her down and looked down at her eyes. And with that look Hermione came to realize just how much harry was holding himself back as the evidence was resting against her center. She could not help but squirm around hoping for some much needed friction but he held her down. He looked into her eyes and rubbed against her center making her moan.

'Do you feel that Hermione? This is what you do to me. From the first time I kissed you, this is what you've done to me and that hasn't changed scars or not.'

She went to interrupt but he shook his head as he continued, 'Never once have I been ashamed of you or thought of you as ugly. It just about killed me to watch you be with Ron but if that was what made you happy I'd have happily stood by the side and watched. I could not look at you because every time I looked at you I saw you falling and not wake up. I saw you die in my mind every time I looked at you Hermione. That was why I didn't look at you not because I didn't want to but because I couldn't. I'm sorry I made you feel like you were ugly but Hermione I swear on my life there's never been anyone more beautiful to me than you.'

'Why did you go out with Ginny then?'

"Hermione you have to understand that I was in love with you. I very much am still now. And the last thing I wanted to see was the love of my life kissing my best mate. And with the prophesy weighing me down I wanted a distraction and she was available. That was all there was to it.'

'Oh Harry! I'm so sorry I've been so stupid'

'Shh. Shh Hermione it's okay. You can never be stupid and really it's no harm done as long as I have you in my arms and safe nothing else matters.'

He felt her pushing against his chest and went to get off of her but she wrapped her legs around his thighs so he resorted to supporting himself with his hands on either sides of her head as he looked down at her with a puzzled look which turned to shock when she slapped him. Right across the face. When he managed to gather his wits about him he blinked down at her.

'You died. You freaking went and offered yourself up to die and left me behind without a goodbye. You left me behind Harry. For close to an hour I lived the reality of not having you in my life and I'd rather die with you than ever feel it again. Harry James Potter you are my everything. Life has no purpose without you in it. So don't you even dare to think about dying because if you do remember I will follow you the second I come to know!'

And he could not starve himself anymore as he leaned down to press his lips to her to kiss her again after nearly three years and the minute they kissed it was like they never stopped. And as the kiss grew in passion so did their passion for one another as they proceeded to show to one another just who they belonged to.

And when they finally connected in the most intimate of ways both of them sighed out 'You're mine' and neither could complain. He was hers and she was his. Ever since day one it has been that way.

As for the rest of the world, they could wait. They had three years worth of frustrations to take out on each other and both were equally eager. Those that waited for them to finally show up will have to wait for a long long time as they both took turns claiming each other. Over and over again.