Disclaimer: All characters and places in the Harry Potter series are owned by J.K. Rowling. I have created a few characters and places of my own in relation to this story. But everything else is owned by Rowling.

Chapter 1: "Watching Over Me"

"Harry, not here," Hermione said, taking Harry's arms off her shoulders. They were seated by the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. The sorting ceremony has just finished, and voices could be heard from every corner of the room. Everyone seems to be excited about something.

"No one's going to notice, 'Mione," he said, moving his hand to her waist.

"Still, we should lay low and keep this relationship to ourselves. I don't want any trouble," she said, standing up.

Harry heaved a sigh, rolling his eyes upward and turning to Hermione's direction. "And where are you going now?"

"I have duties. Announcement's about to start."

Hermione walked towards the teachers' table and Harry saw her approach Professor Dumbledore, who was speaking with Professor McGonagall to his right.

He then turned to Ron. "What's with women? One moment they tell you that they can't live without you, and the next, they're forbidding you to touch them."

Ron shrugged. "Can't tell. Never had an experience," he said, almost choking on his food. Harry gave him a serious look. Ron took a sip from his goblet and shrugged. "You know more than I do that I have nothing to say regarding things like that. What do I know about women? I've never dated anyone before."

"That's because you're too picky," Harry replied, nudging him on the shoulder. "And we're talking about Hermione, not women in general."

"Hermione is women in general. She has all the traits."

Harry looked up and started daydreaming. "That's what I like about her."

"Hello? Back to Earth!" Ron said, waving frantically at his face.

"Oh, sorry!" Harry said, becoming aware of Ron again.

"You were saying?"

"Look, just tell me what I should do," he said, pouting.

"Hermione's just a little stressed lately, Harry. And I thought you've talked about keeping your relationship secret from the rest of the school until we graduate?"

"We did. But I'm not sure I can wait."

***

"Silence please," said Professor McGonagall, clanking her goblet twice with her spoon. "Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

As all the voices hushed down, Professor Dumbledore stood up from his seat and leisurely surveyed the anxious students. "I understand all of you are apprehensive to know what events will take place this school year after the momentous defeat of Lord Voldemort."

Everyone flinched as they heard the name. Everyone, except the teachers, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco Malfoy, who was sitting uninterestedly by the Slytherin table. The four of them have been the keys to the loss of the Dark Lord. It was Harry who defeated him once again, while the three battled the enemies outside. It was the darkest event in Magic history, yet it was also full of hope and triumph for the side of good.

Breaking the growing noise, Dumbledore lifted his hand to silence them. "It has been a difficult year for all of us. But finally because of our unity and strength, we see light once more. This year promises us less problems, diverging from the usual path we had before. More importantly, it means we can bring education more into focus, and may the recent events not only serve as a painful memory, but also of inspiration." He then reached for his goblet and raised it up into the air. "To Hogwarts."

All the students and teachers followed his lead, standing up and raising their goblets. Surprisingly, not one Slytherin student remained on his seat. It seems they have learned their lesson as well.

Then Dumbledore's eyes met Harry's, and Harry knew what was going to happen next. "And to Mr. Harry Potter, our savior, friend, and hero."

All heads turned to Harry as they put down their goblets. Then a distant clap was heard from the teacher's table. It was from Professor Dumbledore. Everyone else followed him after. And as the noise of the applause gradually became louder, Harry couldn't help but smile.

***

After the warm applause, Dumbledore presented him with awards in front of the school, as well as Hermione, Ron, and Draco. They all received badges of honor, and of courage, flashing prominently under the thousands of candle lights floating around the room.

The trio was now on their way back to the Gryffindor common room, when Draco caught up with them.

"Hey Draco! What's up?" Harry said, coming to a halt and turning to face him.

"Not much. Do you guys want to visit Hogsmeade this weekend?" he said with an eager expression. The three of them glanced at each other. It was obvious they were not used to this. "It's okay. I understand if you don't want to go."

"No! We'll go," Harry answered. Ron nodded as Harry looked at him.

"Hermione?" Ron said, turning to her, who has never spoken ever since the conversation started.

Hermione shifted her weight and started to play with her hair. "I. I may have a lot of duties by then. so, I can't." She threw a meaningful glance at Harry and turned to Draco. "Sorry. Maybe next time?"

"Oh, I understand. Harry, Ron, still up to it?" Draco said, trying to hide his disappointment.

"I guess there's no harm in going to Hogsmeade early this season. So, sure, why not?" Ron answered. Harry nodded in agreement.

"Great! Then we'll meet in the Great Hall after breakfast on Saturday," he said. Nodding to the three of them, he turned to leave.

After Draco had left, Hermione turned around as well and started walking alone. "Hey, Hermione, wait up!" Harry called out. He paced towards her, Ron trailing behind.

"That means I won't be seeing you this weekend," she said, still looking straight down the hall.

"I thought you had duties, Hermione," Ron asked, walking beside her.

"I was just covering for myself," she said, stopping.

"What did you do that for?" Harry asked.

"It's just that ever since the four of us had become friends, I haven't stopped noticing how Draco kept on trying to get close to me."

"What are you talking about?" Ron butt in.

"I see him almost everywhere I go. I observed he was following me at Diagon Alley, and was trying to start up a conversation every time we met at the stores. I even saw him looking at me at the Great Hall."

"He does that to all of us, Hermione," Harry said, smiling.

"But it feels different to me. I'm not used to this."

"Maybe you will someday. We have," Ron said, glancing at Harry.

"Ron's right, Hermione. You just need some time."

Hermione nodded and the three of them went to the common room, oblivious that by the corner, Draco was there listening, and he doesn't look happy.

***

"Hey Hermione, look at this!" Harry exclaimed, going towards her and holding a picture on his hand. They were inside the common room, and Hermione was seated at the couch, a book rested on her lap.

"What is it?" she said, eyes still locked on the book she was reading.

"Look," Harry said, shoving the picture down Hermione's face.

"Harry, this is the picture we took at Hogsmeade!" she said, holding it up. "Our picture."

"I found it inside my trunk. I thought I had lost it. I'll add it to my collection!" he said in delight, pointing at the photo album on the table that Hagrid had given him during his first year at Hogwarts.

Hermione shook her head. "Harry, you don't have to do this."

"Do what?"

"Become overexcited of our relationship."

"I'm not overexcited!" he said in defense.

"So the fact that you've filled your album with pictures of only the two of us and less of us with Ron, and that you actually asked Mrs. Weasley to knit two identical sweaters for us to wear in Christmas, doesn't make you overexcited?"

Harry bit his lip. "So what if I'm excited? I'm doing this for us! Aren't you happy?"

"I'm happy. But if you keep on doing this, people will start to notice," she said, closing the book loudly.

"Why don't you want people to know about us?"

"Because I don't want people watching over me all the time," she said, standing up.

"And how do you know that will happen?"

"You're the boy who lived Harry, again and again. Once people find out about us, they will never stop watching everything we do. And I don't want that."

Harry walked to the couch and sat down. "You always told me that you didn't care about what people say."

Hermione sat beside him and put her hand on his lap. "Nothing changed, Harry. I'm still the same." She then looked him straight in the eye. "It's you who changed."

"Me?"

"You. Now you're popular more than ever."

Harry placed his hand on top of hers. "I understand if you don't want to get involved into the kind of life I have. But I want you to remember that I am willing to give away all that just to have you."

Hermione didn't wait any longer. She moved forward and gave him a kiss. "That was touching," she whispered afterwards.

"And I'm willing to do anything to prove it. Even if I have to wait."

"Thank you," she answered, smiling widely.