Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Unfortunately for me, I do not receive any money whatsoever for this. Yes, yes, a pity isn't it? That's all right, it doesn't get me down too bad. Money ain't everything. Just so long as I can keep this computer for me to type all my fanfiction on, I'll be just fine.

Author's Notes: Well, most of the above was the author's notes part, but I'll write some more. Well, this is an interesting story about Harry Potter and Hermione Granger and it's the sequel to Guilt. I know Guilt was a pretty sad story, so I'll try to brighten this one up a bit and make it more cheerful. This is happening later in Harry and Hermione's 7th year at Hogwarts. Enjoy it! And please review.

It was a nice spring evening at the Hogwarts castle, and most of the students were outside talking and running about everywhere. Harry Potter sat under a tree and watched the sunset. It was a beautiful color of orange, like his friend Ginny Weasley's hair. Ginny had died earlier in the year at Hogwarts, mostly for Harry's own sake.

Harry turned his eyes away from the sunset. Thinking of Ginny wasn't as relaxing as it used to be. Harry felt guilty. Guilty for falling out of love with her and in love with Hermione Granger. Guilty that Ginny had been tormented numerous nights because of Harry. Guilty that he'd not been able to save her before the Death Eaters had killed her. Guilt…bitterness…rage…hatred…all that directed at himself and Voldemort and his followers.

Harry picked grass out of the ground and began shredding it with his hands. "Um, Harry, are you all right?" Hermione, who was beside him, asked.

"Oh, yeah, fine," Harry said, getting his mind back to the present.

"OK, you looked like you were angry at someone there a minute," Hermione told him.

Harry nodded and didn't say anything.

"Harry, you're not still thinking about Ginny and all of that mess, are you?" Hermione asked.

"I can't help it, Hermione. I just can't help it. I feel like I could've done something to save her if I'd have taken the time to sit back and think," Harry said.

"You might be dead too if you'd have taken the time to sit back and think," Hermione finally replied.

"I don't care if I'd have died. I just wish Ginny could've lived. She'd never done anything to deserve …" Harry broke off, his eyes were filling with tears and he was getting a lump in his throat.

"Harry, it's OK. Don't worry. Ginny didn't mind, and you set things straight with her before she died, you told her the truth. Would you rather her have died and you have never gotten to tell her the truth, and live with the guilt of that lie your whole life?" Hermione asked.

Harry slowly shook his head. "No, I guess not."

"Guess? You guess? No, Harry. You know. You know you wouldn't want that. Now, why don't you get your mind off of that and enjoy this nice weather while you can?" Hermione said. She didn't mention the sunset, because she knew what that reminded Harry of. That color orange was beautiful just like Ginny's hair, but it reminded Harry of bad times.

"I'll try, Hermione," Harry replied.

"No, you'll do it. I can't stand to see you like this. Just…don't make yourself miserable. When you're sad, I'm sad." Hermione paused. She leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek. A few younger Slytherin girls giggled when she did, but Hermione didn't care.

For the first time in months, Harry smiled. "OK Hermione…I'll try to lighten up. I know I've been unpleasant to be around for the past few months. Sorry about that."

Ron Weasley had been upset too, over the death of his little sister. He'd been taking out a grudge on Harry and Hermione. Harry could understand why Ron would hold a grudge on him, but he didn't understand what Hermione had done to deserve it.

Harry supposed that it was because Ron was jealous of Harry. After all, Hermione had been his former girlfriend. Now she was seeing Harry. But Harry thought it a bit selfish of Ron to think he could start seeing someone else and Hermione couldn't. Or maybe it wasn't Hermione at all. The loss of a family member can disturb one for quite a while.

Harry sighed.

"You're sighing again, Harry. What's wrong now?" Hermione asked.

"Ron. I can understand why he's holding a grudge on me, but why's he holding one on you?" Harry asked.

"Probably because I'm hanging around with you," Hermione replied.

"Oh…uh, maybe I should go away?" Harry asked.

"No!" Hermione began to giggle. "Let Ron hold his little grudge. I don't care. He's got that Abbey girl to hang around with anyway. I thought that she must've been pretty good if Ron had to leave me for her. Well, that may sound kind of stuck-up for me to say…but he's got another friend he can hang around with. Don't be sorry for him. Now, if it was the other way, and he didn't have a friend he could hang out with, ~then~ I would be sorry for him."

"It's so lonely here without Ginny around," Harry said.

Hermione sighed. "Yes, I suppose it is."

Harry stayed silent.

"You really loved her, didn't you?" Hermione asked.

"Well…yes, how could I not have loved her? She brightened things up for me quite a bit," Harry replied.

"You have a good heart, Harry," Hermione observed.

"A cheating heart," Harry corrected.

"Harry, you loved her enough to tell her the truth. You loved her enough to care whether she died or not. It is a good heart," Hermione insisted. She paused and bit her lip. "You still love me, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Ginny's death is just a hard thing to get over," Harry said.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. She was one of my best friends," Hermione replied.

"I guess we'd better get inside the castle now. It's getting quite dark," Harry told her.

"You're right. Come on then." Hermione stood up and stretched. They walked together back up to the castle where a few other students and some prefects were going. They walked up the staircases to where the Gryffindor common room was and talked some more.

"Do you think Ron will ever speak to us again?" Harry asked.

"Of course! We're almost like family to him and the rest of the Weasleys, you know that. He can't hold out that silly grudge on us forever, you know." Hermione gave the fat lady in the pink dress the password and sat down in a couch by the roaring fire in the common room.

They didn't go to their own boys/girls dorms yet, because it wasn't time for bed just now. Harry joined her. He put his arm around her and grinned at her.

"Now Harry, don't get any naughty ideas," Hermione joked.

They both began to giggle. "It's quite nice up here, with only the two of us. I wish everyone else would stay outside all night. They could camp out there," Harry said.

"That's a selfish thought, you naughty boy," Hermione said. She chuckled softly.

Harry leaned over and started kissing her on the lips. It was the first kiss he'd given her for a long time. But this time, he didn't feel guilty for it. Hermione was his girlfriend now. They didn't break the kiss for a long time.

"Oh, honestly Harry, what if someone walked in and saw us?" Hermione asked.

"I sure wouldn't care. None of the teachers ever mentioned that it was against the rules to kiss someone. It's only how you show affection, I guess." Harry shrugged. "I mean, just so long as you don't start stripping in the Hall!"

Hermione began to giggle again. "Well, I guess that's true. But it would be embarrassing if Dumbledore or one of the teachers walked in and saw us doing this."

"Maybe," Harry said. "But I'd still love you."

Hermione looked up in surprise. It'd been a long time since Harry had said those actual three words. OK, 5 words. But it was pleasant to hear that he loved her. Hermione changed her look of surprise to one of pleasure, and smiled. "I love you too."

"All right, don't go too mushy on me here," Harry joked. Hermione grabbed a pillow and hit him softly on the head with it. They both laughed again. Hermione was glad Harry was being the cheerful 17-year-old boy that he'd used to be earlier in the year. Hermione thought back on that. Harry didn't seem like much of a boy anymore. He was mature and had a good heart. She decided in her mind that he was a man. After all, she only considered the smart, mature, and good-natured boys as men.

"You've grown up so much since your first year here," Hermione said.

Harry looked at her uncertainly. "How do you mean?"

"You're so much more mature," Hermione replied.

"Oh, I thought you were talking about my sexy man-body, even though I've never 'done it' with you…but thank you anyway," Harry laughed.

"Now now Harry, don't start being an immature brat now," Hermione said in between giggles.

"I'll try," said Harry.

Hermione smiled and lay down and put her head in Harry's lap. Harry gently brushed her curly brown hair out of her eyes. Right then, Harry was happy. He felt so…completed with Hermione around. He wished they could stay that way forever.

Author's Notes: So how's that for a start? This is only chapter one, there's more to come soon. So, you'll find out what happens soon when I'm able to transfer the next chapter into a document thingy and upload it. Thanks for reading!