Chapter 2: The Reconciliation

Hermione was sat next to the bedroom window, overlooking the back yard. She could see him, the outline of his figure stood out clearly against the moon lit garden; she glanced over at the bedside clock. He'd been out there for hours now, just sitting there not moving; only the occasional movement of his hands letting her know that he was still awake.

She had attempted sleep, but the empty, cold space next to her only served as a painful reminder to the argument that had taken place only hours previously. The argument that now meant she was alone with her thoughts, wondering just how to piece things back together again.

She had contemplated going to him, but then decided against it on the account of not knowing what she could do or say to make things better. She just hoped he would come in and she hoped it was soon.

Turning her attention back to the now standing figure, she wondered what his fist words to her would be to her; that is if he ever spoke to her again. Shouldn't bear the thought of that, the possibility of never hearing his voice again, so instead returned to gazing out through the now rain covered glass, only to see that Harry was now making his way slowly back towards the rear door of the house. He seemed to pause, before turning the handle and moving through the frame in to the house.

Hermione waited for him to come to her, she waited for the sound of foot on stair, but now all was quiet and although Harry had entered the house some ten minutes earlier, not a sound had been heard since. She paced around the room nervously wringing her hands in anticipation. A few more minutes crawled by, but still no sign of Harry could be heard. She was about to loose patience and return to lower floor of the house to look for him when, without warning the bedroom door was pushed open from the far side to reveal a very rain soaked looking Harry.

He stood there, his hands gripping either side of the door frame tightly, not saying nor doing anything, just frowning. After what seemed like hours, the silence became almost unbearable. It didn't look like he was in any hurry to enter in to any kind of conversation; he was obviously waiting for Hermione to speak first, something she too had seemingly picked up on.

"Harry?" she said uncertainly, hoping to spur him in to action.

"Yes?" he replied, his voice now cold and devoid of any emotion. It made Hermione cringe. In her mind, she was the sole reason for his cold-hearted response.

"W-what were you doing out there? You could have caught your death of cold!" She exclaimed. Despite everything, she still cared, still worried for his safety; she just hoped he did too. Hermione slowly moved from the window taking small cautious steps towards Harry, so that she was now standing directly in from of him, her arms shyly reaching out towards him.

"I've been thinking" he paused, trying to think of the right words "thinking about what you said." He opened his mouth to speak again but shut it again at the sound of Hermione's voice.

"Harry Please…" she whispered, her hands still reaching towards him.

He stepped back

"No, Hermione, please just let me finish" he paused again. 'Do I really want to do this?' He though. For a few moments Harry just stood there; on the outside he was just starring glassy eyed in to space, but on the inside he was fighting a bitter struggle to decide if he really could bring himself to leave the woman he loved.

He was torn.

'I can't leave her' said one voice, he would have loved to have listened to it, but his sense of logic kicked in.

'You must, it was Cho this time, who next? Lavender? Parvati? Or perhaps Ginny? It's only a matter of time…' This was true, he hadn't so much as laid a finger on Cho, and here was Hermione accusing him outright of having a full-blown affair with her.

'I still love her.' He reasoned.

'Fool!' Retorted the voice. 'She doesn't trust you! You don't even know if she loves you anymore. You said it yourself, you have NOTHING'

That was it for Harry, how could he stay if Hermione didn't trust him? As the voice said she could be accusing him of any number of affairs that he wouldn't know a thing about! He couldn't live like that. No matter how much it would hurt, if she didn't trust him, he had to leave.

"Hermione…. I'm leaving" his voice no more than a whisper, but from Hermione's reaction, he knew she'd heard him.

He'd expected shouting, screaming and yelling, but not this. Hermione just stood there, shoulders slumped, her whole body shivering, tears welling up in her eyes. He wanted more than ever than to just take her in his arms and make all her pain go away, but he couldn't, he had to be strong.

"Hermione, look…" he started, but was cut off by the force of her launching herself at him almost causing him to loose grip and fall backwards. Her arms tightly encircled around him as if to prevent his leaving.

"Please don't go." she sobbed as she lay her head on his shoulder "I don't want you to."

Harry looked down at her, he had to admit, she looked a mess; her hair was tangled and frizzy and her eyes were red from crying, but even in this state his still though she was the most beautiful thing he ever had laid eyes on. It was going to be difficult leaving.

"I have to." he started, but hesitated before saying anymore, he had to make her see 'his' point of view. "I don't want to… but I have to" he continued, "I do love you, but I can't stay if you can't trust me."

He closed his eyes to stop the tears that were forming from falling "I can't stay with you if you do not think me worthy of your trust, I don't want to live like that…I can't live like that."

His words far from having their desired effect only caused Hermione to cry harder on his already wet shoulder. She knew this was her fault, well she knew it was partly her fault. She now had to find someone way of convincing Harry that she did trust him and that he was worthy of her trust. She knew her choice of words were critical, they could make the difference between Harry staying or leaving for good.

Hermione lifted her head from Harry's shoulder so that she could see his face, he looked tired and worn, and peering in to his eyes all she could see was sorrow and regret for what he was going to do. She knew he was telling the truth, he didn't want to go, but seemingly couldn't see any other choice. She hoped her words would change that.

"I'm sorry." she said, looking him straight in the eye trying to make him believe her.

Harry looked down at her with a puzzled expression on his face.

Hermione, seeing the expression on his face, continued; "I didn't mean what I said, I was angry."

Harry's face changed from one of puzzlement to disbelief, obviously he wasn't buying it. His facial expression, however betrayed his actual feelings. Hermione's words were having the affect she wanted, but Harry needed to hear her to say it, he needed her to tell him she trusted him. Then, only then could he stay.

Unfortunately for Harry his attempt to mask his feelings only sent Hermione in to another wave of tears. She buried her head in to his shoulder and tightened her grip around him.

"Harry… "She sobbed, her word muffled by his shoulder "I…I do trust you"

She stopped, trying to compose herself and blink back new tears that were forming in her eyes.

"I'd trust you with my life, its just…sometimes I feel so insecure." she choked out through her tears.

Harry, satisfied and relieved with her answer now did what he had tried to so hard to resist; he circled his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him and moved one hand up to stroke her hair in a soothing fashion hoping it would help calm her down.

"What do you mean 'Mione?" Harry asked, seeming rather confused. He loved her and wanted only her and had never given her any reason to doubt it, until today.

"I mean you could have someone so much prettier than me and sometimes I just wonder why you stay with me. That's why I guess I was so ready to believe that you would want Cho..." she trailed off taking a step back from his embrace.

"I understand if you hate me for putting you through that" She looked down at her feet, not wanting to meet his gaze.

"Hermione…look at me." Harry reached out and put his hand under her chin, making her look up at him. He smiled at her.

"How could I hate you?" he questioned, pulling her towards him once again.

"I love you, I always will and no one, not even Cho could change that. Why would I want her when I have you?" he leaned down and kissed her forehead reassuringly.

She looked up at him, peering in to his eyes. "So…you're staying?" she asked hopefully.

He grinned "Of course I am and I'm sorry for putting you through that." his grin looking more like a frown by the time he had finished.

"You've nothing to be sorry for." she whispered as he wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder.

Harry smiled and responded with equal enthusiasm; putting his arms around her waist whilst resting his chin on her head.

Minutes flew by as the couple stood in the door way savouring each others company; just being content to rest in each others arms, something witch just a few hours ago neither though imaginable.

After a considerable amount of time, Harry spoke;

"Mione?" he queried

"Yes Harry?" she said, looking quizzically up at him.

"Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?"

"Sure Harry"

"Mione?"

"Yes Harry?" she replied sounding rather agitated at his constant disruption of the blissful silence she was enjoying.

"You'll have to get something to wear"

"Oh, I can use that cream dress I bought a few weeks ago." she mumbled.

"Nope, it has to be new, it's a special occasion" 'If you count a marriage proposal special…' he thought.

"Oh, care to tell?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, you'll just have to wait and see." he teased.

To his relief Hermione didn't question him further on the matter, just being content to rest her head back on his shoulder.

Another ten minutes passed.

"Mione?"

"What now Harry?" she asked, rather more forcefully that she had intended.

"Its almost three in the morning, we should get some sleep."

They grinned at each other and she kissed him briefly, much to Harry's delight.

"Sure Harry."

"Mione?"

"What Harry?"

"I love you"

She smiled.

"Love you too Harry"

Maybe the dream was still alive after all.

A/N: Well they got back together J so, a happy ending to Chapter 2, but how long will it last? Grins evilly My apologies at my useless attempt at writing some fluff towards the end there.

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Go read Hogsmeade Pizza by Heaven; it's a brilliantly funny/fluffy H/H fic.