Disclaimer:  I do not own Harry Potter and am not making any money off of this story.

Chapter 5

            After saying the password (lemon drops) Harry bounded up to Albus' office and was startled to see that Severus was already there looking very guilty. 

            Albus glanced from one to the other before addressing Harry, "Is Hermione asleep?"

            "Yes, Albus, she is.  If you want to know why she was a complete wreck, you could ask Rus here.  I am sure he knows the answer to that."  Harry answered.

            Albus' eyes widened, "Harry, you figured it out on your own then?  Severus, I can't believe that you used something so close to your own name."

            "Well, Headmaster, I wanted her to guess.  Harry, did she figure out the truth, did you point it out to her?"  Severus asked.

            Harry started and glanced at Severus.  To have Severus call him by his given name was strange indeed.  "Severus, she wouldn't believe me.  She says she loves you, but is afraid you could never feel the same.  She did not want to believe me, she called it wishful thinking."  Harry explained. 

            "Oh, my poor little love."  Severus whispered as he started out of the office.

            "Do not make me put you in a full body bind, Severus.  Let her sleep tonight.  I know you want to fix this, but tomorrow is soon enough for that."  Harry said pulling out his wand.

            "Yes, Harry, you are right.  Should we perhaps explain to Ron and Ginny about this?"  Severus asked.

            "Yes, Sev, I think that is a great idea.  Let me floo them."  Said Harry.  He looked at Albus to gain permission.

            At Albus' nod Harry took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the flames shouting, "Ron Weasley." 

            A minute later Ron's face appeared in the flames, "Hi ya Harry!  What's going on?"

            "Ron, could you and Ginny come on over right now?  I have some news for the two of you."  Harry asked.

            "Sure, Harry, no problem.  Hang on a minute and I will get Ginny and be right there."  Ron answered fading out.

            A few minutes later, Ron and Ginny stepped out of the fireplace.  "Hey Mate!"  Ron said as he hugged Harry.

            "Hi, Ron, long time no see."  Harry said.

            Than Harry stepped forward and enveloped Ginny in his arms.  After kissing her gently Harry pulled away and whispered, "I love you, Gin."

            "I love you too, Harry.  I've missed you so much."  Said Ginny.

            "Me too, Hon, me too."  Harry said letting Ginny go and stepping back.

            "Harry, where's Hermione?"  Ron asked concerned.

            "She's in bed, Ron.  I'll explain shall I?"  Harry answered glancing at Albus and Severus for help.

            Gesturing to the chairs around the fireplace Albus took a seat.  Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Severus followed suit and also sat down.

            "Ron and Ginny, I wish to offer my apologies for being such a mean git to you all these years.  The three of you are three of the most wonderful people I know.  You are all powerful members of the magical community in your own rights."  Severus said.

            "Wow.  I thought I would never hear anything like that coming from you.  I accept your apology."  Ron said reaching to shake hands with Severus.

            "Yes, Professor, I also accept your apology."  Ginny said nodding at Severus.

            "In that case do you suppose you could call me Severus or Sev?"  Asked Severus.

            "Yes, I think we can manage that, Severus."  Ginny answered after sharing a look with Ron.

            "Harry-" Ron started to ask.

            "I'm getting there, Ron.  This morning I began to see that Hermione was withdrawing into herself, and I got worried about her.  I asked her about it this evening, and she broke down in front of me."  Harry said.

            "She cried in front of you?  But she's never done that before."  Ron said flabbergasted.

            "Yes, Ron.  Now back to my story.  She asked me if either of us would ever wrote her secret admirer letters just to tease her-"

            "We'd never do that."  Ron exclaimed.

            "Yes, Ron, that's what I told her.  Anyway, she told me she had been receiving secret admirer letters from someone.  She let me read one, and than she told me a secret she's apparently kept to herself for a long time."  Harry said. 

            At this he paused and looked at Severus and said, "I want you to remember my threat about the full body bind, okay, Sev?"  Severus swallowed and nodded.

            "Okay, she told me that she had been in love with Severus for years, but did not think that he could love her.  She didn't know what to do about the letters.  When I suggested that her secret admirer could be Severus, she told me that that was just wishful thinking.  By this time, she was so worked up that I got her some dreamless sleep potion and put her to bed.  Okay, Ron, now you can ask questions."  Harry explained.

            Ron exclaimed, "But Severus, how do you-   I mean do you, er, love her, too?"

            "Severus said, " Yes, Ron, I do love her.  I believe Harry put it nicely the other day- I do love her with my whole being.  I'm sorry, Harry, but I had to borrow that."

            "That is all right, Severus.  That explains everything perfectly."  Harry replied.

            Albus and Ron said, "Then what you need to do is tell her how you feel, Severus.  Not through letters, but face to face."

            "Not tonight though.  No, Ron, you may not go wake her up.  She needs her sleep.  Tomorrow is soon enough for all of that."  Harry added.

            Everyone agreed to that and went off to bed.