The Beginning to End All

Chapter 7 (Interfering into stubbornness)


"I'm not going" Hermione told him standing her ground.

Harry took a deep breathe and ran his fingers through his hair while he tried to not over react.

"You said it was my choice, that it was my decision." She proclaim her voice slightly louder than usual

"And it is but …"

"Than stop trying to force me to go." She demanded

"I'm not forcing you to…"

"Yes you are, I'm not going and that answer is final." She put her hands on her hips, her lower lip quivering.

"I'm not getting into another fight over this Hermione…"

"Good than that's settled, I'm not leaving." And with that she turned and began to leave.

"Hermione will …" But again Harry didn't get too far

"No don't you even dare…" turning round and marching back into the room. "You said you didn't want another fight so stop start trying to start one."

"I'm not starting …"

"Yes you are! I told you yesterday I wasn't going to go and …"

"And I told you yesterday my reasons for wanting you to." Harry was angry now why did she have
to be so difficult and not let him speak. The others in the room were doing a very good job at trying to be invisible as the argument went on but then Harry and Hermione were so focused on
each other that they wouldn't have even noticed if Voldemort himself had appeared.

"Really well you told me a lot of things yesterday, what part are you talking?

"If you can't remember I'm not going to repeat it," Harry growled through gritted teeth Hermione could see the anger burning in his eyes.

"I'm not going"

"Hermione will you just be reasonable .."

"Reasonable me? Look who's talking." She yelled straight back at him

"Hermione will …" He stopped, one thing Harry wasn't going to let him self do was make things
worst than they already were. "Just think about this for a…."

"I thought about it and I'm not going!" She was still standing her ground

"Hermione plea…"

"NO!!" She yelled at him. "I am not leaving you alone to go out there, I am staying here right by
your side where I've always been." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hermione" Harry's voice was a lot softer now

"No Harry, I'm not taking that portkey just so I can go and be safe while all the people I care about, the people I love put their lives on the line. I will not sit there and wait to hear if you've lived or died!!" Tears were now freely flowing from her eyes "I CAN'T DO THAT!" She shouted. She looked in to Harry's eyes begging him to understand but it only make her cry more when see saw
what once was anger turn into pain and sorrow at position she was taking.

"Hermion…"

"I'm staying!" She told him and wiping the tears from her eyes she turned and left the room shutting the door behind her.

Harry just stared at the door which Hermione had just walked through, wishing he had handled
things differently. Running a hand through his hair yet again he turned around and walked back to
the table to study the map, forgetting that it was rolled up in his hands.

"I believe we've done all we can today." Dumbledore announce watching every one sigh with relief, glad for the excuse to leave the room. Everyone began to pack up their things while the old
professor watched Harry very carefully. He could see in his eyes that this problem with Miss
Granger was an added stress on his life. Not only could he tell this but he could see how the two
really felt about each other, he'd know since they were at school, call it an old man's intuition. One thing was for certain neither could go into battle in their current state, the only way they stood a chance was if they stood together but how. The old man watched waiting for the idea to come to him.

"Hey Harry," Ron spoke up from across the room moving to his best side. "Wanna talk about it."

"Thanks Ron but…" he stopped mid-sentence not really sure how to finish luckily Ron understand and finished it for him.

"I understand, you need sometime, got it." He paused and began to leave but just as he was about to walk out the door he turned. "When you wanna talk I'm here, okay mate."

"Thanks" was all Harry could reply

With that Ron left the room with Draco close behind. Harry stood for a second wondering what to
do. Without saying goodbye he silently left the room and make his way outside the castle and down towards the lake.

"You know if this carries on their going to kill each other before Voldemort gets a chance to do it." Remus spoke up from Sirius side and they made there way to the exit.

"I'm surprised they haven't already tried." Sirius replied

"Sirius" Dumbledore called just as the door was about to close, Sirius popped he head back in.
"Could I have a minute of your time?"

"Sure," Sirius agreed looking a little surprise, after telling Remus he'd meet him later he made his way back inside the headmaster's office and took a seat.

"I'd like to have a little word with you …" Sirius nodded "About Harry and Hermione."

*****************************

"Oh Gin these are beautiful, where is this place again?" Lavender was flipping through the photos which Ginny had taken of her Honeymoon. Gin leaned over to see which photo Lavender held in
her hand.

"Oh that was taken not far from the hotel, isn't it beautiful the weather was amazing." She carried on flipping through other photos.

As most of the work had been done for the day and there was still an hour or so till dinner the two
young couples had decided to have a well earned break. Ron looked over the room, it was great to see the people he'd cared most for smiling, enjoying their selves. A frown appeared on his face, if only Harry and Hermione where here maybe they'd be able to sort a few things out. He
let out a sigh and took a sip of his drink why Draco grab a pack of photo's off his wife.

"Now there's a few in here you might find interesting," Draco said with a grin handed the pack to
Ron.

"No" Ron replied a little too quickly the short conversation at breakfast still had him a little worried.

 
"Don't worry Weasley." Draco laughed "There ones from the Wedding, what Colin took."

Ron breathed a sigh of relief and took the photos off of Draco, open the pack he scanned the first
photo and burst out laughing. At this Lavender and Ginny looked over at them to see what was
happening. Ron was in stitches the photo he held in his hands showed the Weasley family boys plus Harry and Draco all swaying to the music singing at the tops of their lungs. The photo got even better as the images of Fred a George tripped causing a domino effect down the line till all of them were flat out on the floor.

"I can't believe he got a picture of that!" Ron reached over and handed the photo to Lavender before turning back to his new brother-in-law. "That was just one of the best moments of the
night."

The four turned when they heard a rather hard sharp knock at the door. Ron pushed himself up off the chair and slowly made his way to the door. There was another knock and then another.

"Ok ok," Ron called as he reach the door, opening it wide to reveal a rather pissed off Hermione. "Jeez Herms what's the rush?" Hermione just pushed pasted him into the room before turning
back to face one of her best friends.

"Have you spoken to Harry?" She asked. Ron was a little taken back by the sudden question he needed to let his mind kick start.

"What?"

"Have you spoken to Harry," she repeated impatiently

"Not since Dumb …"

"I can't believe his still trying to send me away, after everything we said last night, well what he said because I didn't say anything, maybe that's why he's trying to get rid of me again Do you
think?" Hermione blabbed on without taken a breath Ron didn't even get a chance to answer the
question before she was off again.

"I mean I've work just has hard
as you I should get to fight, and he just expects me to leave and let people get hurt, he's bloody mad how am I meant to protect him if I'm not even here. He's mad bloody ma…" Hermione turned and saw 3 sets of eyes staring at her from the sofa and chairs.

"Hi." She spoke rather weakly feeling a little embarrass with her sudden out burst. "What you up too?"

"Just looking through the wedding photos" Ginny replied as Hermione made her way over towards them and took the space next to Draco. Draco and Ron had mentioned Hermione's and
Harry's little disagreement earlier, all of them were a little worried that neither of these two were making any moves to sort this out with the final battle so close things were tense enough if something wasn't done soon mistakes were going to be made people could get hurt or even killed.

Hermione picked up the pack of photos that were sitting on the coffee table the ones Ron had just been looking through.

"Those are from the wedding." Draco informed her and she just nodded her reply.

"So how was the honeymoon?" this was obvious the wrong question to ask as Ginny suddenly jumped to life and starting telling them everything for Ron and Lavender it was about the 3rd time they heard the story. Hermione on the other didn't hear a thing; she was staring at the photo held in her hand not sure if she had actually stopped breathing.

"Herms are you ok" Ginny asked when she noticed Hermione had zoned out. "Herms" one
lone tear glided down Hermione's cheek as she just continued watching the photograph.

Draco took the picture out of Hermione's hand when he saw she wasn't going to reply to Ginny's question. When she still didn't make a moved he glanced down at the photo he'd just removed. Staring back up at him was a picture taken at the borrow during the wedding party. It showed the back yard which was decorated with fairy lights and banners. Right in the center was Harry and Hermione, dancing together to the beat of the music. Hermione arms were around Harry's neck, while Harry held Hermione tightly round the waist like his life depended on it. The stars shone in the sky and as they gazed into each others eyes it was clear that both of them were very much in love. They didn't have a care in the world, the only thing that mattered were each other and as the photo couple continued to dance Hermione's image was seem to slowly lower her head to
Harry's shoulder while he rested his on top.

Draco didn't know whether to smile or not. He remembered the first time he'd seem the picture his initial thought had been 'I can't wait to see there faces when they see this.' But now things were
different. He handed the photo over to Ginny who then showed it to Lavender and Ron understanding was suddenly printed over their faces.

"You look great together" Draco told her trying to break the silence. Hermione let out a little sob as more tears slid down her cheeks but there was a small smile behind them.

Another knock sounded at the door just as Draco was about to say something, suddenly thanking
who ever it was at the door for coming at the precise moment. Ron stood once again handed the
photo back to Hermione and made his way back to the door, opening it to reveal on very tired and
broken looking Harry. The light was gone from his eyes and it seemed like he'd aged about an extra 10 years in just a day and a half.

"Hay mate!" Ron greeted. Harry let a small smile cross his face as Ron open the doors
fully giving Harry room to enter.

"Thanks …was wondering if I could take you up on that cha …" Before Harry could finish his sentence he had lifted he's gaze to come face to face with Hermione.
 

*****************************


"Sirius," Dumbledore spoke softly, "This business with Harry and Miss Granger needs to be sorted out. Has he spoken to you?"

"Yeah, told me the whole story." Sirius answered

Dumbledore let out what only could be classed as a sigh of relief. He moved around to the other side of his desk and took a seat. Reaching out in front of him he took a lemon drop from a small blue crystal bowl and popped it into his mouth.

"That is good to hear." He offered the bowl to Sirius but he replied with a shake of the head. "We both know from past events what Harry can be like in holding everything in." Sirius just nodded at
the old man's comments knowing all too well.

"Its great that Harry came to me really it is, I've told him millions of times that he needs to talk things out that it always helps." Sirius paused for a second.

"But?" Dumbledore asked

"I'm not the one he should be talking to."

"Ahh yes!" Dumbledore sigh once again. "Miss Granger they seem to be going through a very
difficult and trying time. The boundaries of their friendship are being tested!" He rose from his seat and walked around to where Sirius was sitting. Sirius himself was looking at little uneasy, Dumbledore must know about this morning but of course he always knew everything even
when he was at Hogwarts.

"You know something that I don't." Sirius asked as me eyes Dumbledore suspiciously

"I know that over the years Harry has become very close to certain people. Yourself being one of
them, Mr Ron Weasley, Remus the rest of the Weasley family, Draco but …" Dumbledore paused "It is Miss Granger that he needs Sirius."

*************************


Hermione quickly got to her feet her eyes not leaving Harry's for a second. The others in the room became very quiet waiting to see what would happen.
 
"hi" Hermione said and them mentally slapping herself afterwards. She should just leave, he needed time to think and she couldn't do that with Harry around.

Harry didn't reply for a few seconds but those seconds seemed like and eternity, to Hermione he just stood there staring at her. She could see pain in his eyes, he was unsure what to say, how to
act. Everything had change so drastically over the last day and when ever they tried to speak all
that happen was they began to fight. It was like her a Ron during there Hogwarts days.

"Hi" Harry's reply shocked Hermione out of her thoughts. She needed to get out of there she just
couldn't handle him at the moment

Harry didn't move he couldn't bring himself to loose eye contact. After last night he wasn't sure
how to act around Hermione anymore. Wasn't even sure if they could go back to being friends all
they seemed to do lately is fight and normal conversation just turning to a argument, how could he of let this happen.

Hermione rose from her seat and placed the photo of her and Harry on the table never losing eye contact. Slowly she made her way forward walking straight at Harry.

Lavender held her breath and Hermione slowly walked towards the guy that she was crazy about. Beside her she heard Ginny's intake of breath as well. Lavender watched as Hermione got closer
and closer, the photo must have done it; knocked some sense into the girl. She was going to walk
straight up to Harry and kiss him, finally their fighting will be ok they'll make up and things will be as they should be.

Harry stood frozen to the floor; Hermione was walking straight at him. His mind was running wild was she going to forgiven him, say that she loved him maybe even kiss him. Oh please let it one of those 3 Harry begged, all of them if possible. But what if that didn't happen what if she slapped him and started crying again. Harry's mind quickly race round trying to find a reason why she might, the only thing that popped into his head was Dumbledore's office; which he through he'd
done very well in controlling his temper. Harry was suddenly shaken from his through when he
felt Hermione brush straight pass him and make for the door. He didn't know whether to be upset or happy.

Harry heard the sighs of everyone in the room, obvious they were hoping for something else to happen as well. Before he knew what he was doing his arms shot out and grabbed hold of
Hermione elbow forcing her to stop. She turn to face him, he could see the hurt in her eyes the
confusion in those dark cinnamon pools.

The whole room stood in silence and Harry's hand held its grip on Hermione's elbow. Ron who was only a meter or so away was a little worried and judging by the other 3's faces he wasn't the only one. They just stood their staring at each other.
 
"We need to talk." Was all he told her. Hermione didn't know what to say what to do. Her mind was a blank which hardly ever happened. She opened her mouth to say something but no words
came out. She knew he was right that they needed to talk but what could she say? Yes I do love
you sorry I didn't tell you last night, making you think that I didn't care. Yep that would go down
really well; maybe Harry would reject her after she'd most certainly done to him. But how? How
could she tell him she loved him and watch him go off to die, could her heart handle that pain?
 
Harry saw that Hermione wasn't going to reply so he let go of her arm and took a step away from her. "Not now..." He told her "When you're ready." And with that he slowly turned and moved to
sit down on the sofa where Hermione had been minutes before.

Hermione watched as he sat down and picked up the photo that was in front of him. She could see in from a distance that his breath caught in his throat and he was fighting the urge to turn and look at her. How could he be so understanding after everything she had done to him he was still being so kind. Damn she hated him sometimes why couldn't he just get angry and force her to talk why did he have to leave things up to her. With that she turned and continued for the door
saying a quiet bye to Ron as she passed.

As the door closed Harry let out a sigh of relief and dropped the photo back down onto
the table.  

*****************************
 
"I know Harry needs her, but it doesn't look like either of them are going to make a
move to sort this." Sirius told the old headmaster trying to get him to see.
   
"Didn't Harry tell Miss Granger of his feeling for her?"
 
"Yes Yes yes..." Sirius spoke quickly to Dumbledore question "but she didn't respond, poor boy was heart broke. I mean I can see she feels the same way why didn't she just tell him." Sirius
spoke his head in frustration "it would have made everything a lot easier."

"Maybe Miss Granger is scared of something, maybe that is the reason she is holding back her feelings and has done for many years now."

"You want me to talk to her." Sirius asked even though he already knew the answer

"All three of them have gotten very close to you and Remus over the last few years, maybe you can help her open up a little."

"What about Remus he's better at this kind of stuff I'm …"
 
"You are Harry's Godfather and know him better than anyone, Miss Granger knows this."

"But how is that going to help …"

"Until this is sorted Voldemort will hold the advantage over Harry he is distracted, worried about
her safety…"

"That's why he wanted her to leave for …"

"It would make things much worst, even if the boy doesn't see it. She needs to be by his side and he needs her there." Dumbledore stated clearly as to make no mistake.  Sirius was lost for words not sure how to reply to what Dumbledore had told him.

"Please Sirius, talk to her, the final battle is drawing near and we need both of them out there." Dumbledore pause for a second before he continue. "And they need each other."

Sirius wasn't please with the idea of having to speak to Hermione. Yeah sure they have gotten close over the years with her being Harry best friend it was hard not too. But a personal
conversation he wasn't even sure if Hermione would be willing to talk to him. He closed his eyes
and took a deep breath, Dumbledore was right! Things had to be sorted and quickly he didn't really have any other choice. Opening his eyes he looked at Professor Dumbledore who was now
sitting back in his comfy arm chair.

"Ok, I'll talk to her."

Author's notes

Well can you believe only 2 days after chapter 6 and I've managed to post chapter 7. I'm also hoping chapter 8 will be posted by Monday and chapter 9 not long after that. So your have lots to read.

Once again THANK YOU all for your reviews it means so much to me that you enjoy my writing it also makes me want to write more.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!

Well keep an eye out it shouldn't be long till the next chapter up.

Thanks

Angel-flea