A/N: Okay, Okay so it's been almost a month since I updated this story. If you look back to chapter one, I did mention that this story would not be my main priority. Sorry, didn't mean to turn into Professor Snape there. Anyway, sorry for the delay in updating.

Thanks to my vast sea of reviewers (dolphingirl79, The Keymaker, Little Rose, and athenakitty)

On with the story...

Chapter 5- Reconciliation

"So this is the 'infamous Hermione,'" said Bianca coldly. "And what, exactly is the infamous Hermione doing in your house when you specifically told me, your GIRLFRIEND, that you wanted to be alone tonight?"

"First off sit down," Harry began. Bianca looked outraged and yet surprised at Harry's directness. She grudgingly obliged. "Good. Secondly," he was pacing back and forth in front of the table the two women were seated at, "Hermione was here when I arrived from Germany. Its not like I planned a secret midnight rendezvous." Harry was furious; Hermione could see it in his eyes. They held a mixture of fury and confusion. "And third, I never, not once, asked you to be my girlfriend. Yes, we've been spending a lot of time together, but never once did we discuss any sort of exclusivity."

"But Harry, what about what we shared? Doesn't it mean anything to you?" Bianca asked, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Can you honestly say that I'm the first person you shared that with?" he asked her.

"No," she dropped her eyes to the table. A solitary tear flew down her cheek.

"Bianca, I don't want to hurt you, but I don't love you. And this has nothing to do with Hermione coming here tonight. I wanted to be alone tonight because I wanted to think about our relationship. I was going to tell you tomorrow, but I'll say it now since you're here. I don't think we should se each other on a social level any more. You are a beautiful, smart, bold and independent woman, but you just weren't meant for me. I'm sorry."

Bianca, realizing her state of dress in front of Harry and Hermione, was suddenly very self-conscience. She wrapped her arms around her chest, trying to hide both her visible breasts and her shame.

"I'm sorry too, Harry. I'm sorry I could never be what you needed. I'm sorry I couldn't live up to her. Goodbye."

Bianca stood and retreated into the den. Seconds later, she could be heard apparating away.

Harry sat in the seat next to Hermione's and rested his forehead on his hands.

"What exactly was she talking about, Harry?" Hermione asked him.

"What do you mean?"

"What did you two share?"

"Erm. Okay, what you have to understand, Hermione, is that I thought you loved Ron and not me. Hell, you two were living together."

"We're roommates, that's it!"

"How was I supposed to know? Last I heard, you two were madly in love."

"Just tell me what you two shared. I want to hear you say it. I think I deserve it."

"Oh you think you deserve it? Then tell me, what did you do to deserve anything from me? You're the one with the screwed up timing to tell me you love me. I told you about my feelings before the situation got complicated, and you had to wait until everything was royally messed up!"

Hermione bowed her head in shame. Harry was right, as he had been since the day he left. He owed her nothing. On the contrary, she was the one who owed him. He put his feelings for her out there a long time ago, and all she did was trample them.

"I'm sorry, Harry. Your right, you don't owe me anything. I'll just go."

She stood to leave, but as she passed Harry, he grabbed her elbow and gently spun her around to face him.

"Don't do anything rash, Hermione. I'll tell you what you want to know, but you have to keep an open mind about the situation."

She turned and looked into his eyes. She could see the love and concern in his emerald green oceans he called eyes.

"Just please, don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere, Harry," she reassured him.

He gestured toward the couch in the den. As he sat next to her, staring into her eyes, he couldn't help but notice the reflection of the fire dancing in her chocolate orbs. In that moment, she was absolutely radiant, even more so than at the Yule Ball in fourth year. That seemed like a million years ago.

Harry roused himself from his musing. If this was going to work, he had to reveal the true nature of his relationship with Bianca. He didn't want to keep anything from Hermione. He wanted her to be able to trust him fully, like the trees trust the in sun. He wanted to be her source of life. She had been his for so long, even if those feelings and desires went unrequited for that entire time.

"Hermione," he began," when I first arrived in Italy, I was absolutely lost. Here I was, seventeen-year-old Harry Potter, finally free from his dreadful relatives. And what's worse, I was all alone in a strange country. I didn't even speak the language here. I honestly still don't know what the hell I'm saying half the time. My best friend, the only woman I ever loved was dating my other best friend, had been for about ten months." Harry face was turned toward Hermione, urgently begging her to understand his actions. "Then, when I finally meet my teammates, one of them took the time to help teach me Italian, she showed me around the town, translated for me when I needed." Harry sighed, this was becoming much harder than he thought it would be. "She was there for me, Hermione. No, I didn't love her, but I never expected the one I did love to ever tell me the words I longed to hear from her. Maybe I'm weak; maybe I'm selfish, I don't know. When she seduced me, I didn't put up much of a fight."

"So you two were intimate together?" Hermione asked calmly.

"Yes," was Harry's remorseful reply. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. I knew better. The whole time I kept telling myself that it was wrong, but I kept picturing you with Ron and. . . I don't know. I just wanted something to take the pain away."

"And did she do that for you, Harry?"

"No. When it was over, the pain was worse. I just didn't know what to do at that point. I learned that you and Ron were rooming together in London and I figured that I might as well give it a shot with Bianca. I thought that any slim chance I might have had to be with you was gone."

Tears began to pool in Hermione's eyes. She literally forced him into the arms of another woman. Why did she have to try to be noble?

"Harry, look at me." She placed a finger under his chin and gently lifted his face until she held his gaze. "Everything that has happened is now in the past. I don't want to focus on it. I want to look at the present and the future. Can we do that?"

"Can we?" Harry repeated.

"I would really like to, Harry."

"Me too," he muttered while slowly raising his hand to graze her porcelain cheek. "But I've hurt you so much, Hermione."

"Harry, I know that I'm not the only one here hurting. I've been hurting you since second year at Hogwarts. Lucky for both of us that we're each good at forgiveness."

Harry gave Hermione a slightly lopsided grin. "I've missed you so much, Hermione."

"I've missed you too, Harry. I've missed you more than you can fathom."

Harry leaned forward and Hermione did the same, closing the seemingly canyon sized gap in between the two. It was far better than Harry remembered. He had held on to the memory of that kiss ever since the moment. This moment, however, lacked the bitter sweetness of the previous kiss. This time, Hermione loved him, Harry. This time, she was going to be snuggling with him on the couch, not Ron.

Harry's mind began to reel in the sheer lusciousness of the kiss. The unquenched desire between the two souls was tangible in their lips. Harry could literally feel the love and emotions leaving Hermione's body and entering his through their physical connection.

All too soon, the kiss was over. Harry rested his forehead on Hermione's, both panting for breath but neither wanting to speak in fear of waking from a cruel dream.

Finally, it was Harry who broke the silence. "How can this work?"

Hermione simply smiled. "We've come this far. Harry, I love you, and I know that you love me too. That is all that matters. You'll finish out the quidditch season, I'll stay here with you, and after the season is over, we'll see where we go from there."

Harry kissed her forehead. "You always were the one who had it all figured out."

"Believe me, Harry, I didn't have this figured out for a long time," she gestured between Harry and herself."

"So, you're going to live with me? What about Ron, or your job?"

"Well, I'll still help Ron pay for the apartment, seeing as you really don't need any extra money. As far as work goes, your connected to the British floo network, so I can either do that or aparate."

"See, I told you. You have it all figured out."

She pulled him closer to her. Looking deeper into his eyes, she breathlessly whispered, "See if you can figure this out."

Without any more warning, she pressed her lips against his fiercely. This kiss was different from the earlier. Harry could taste the passion and desire flowing from Hermione. The air cracked with emotion.

"Harry," Hermione said rather huskily in mid-kiss.

"Yes," Harry managed to whisper without breaking their connection.

"Take me upstairs."

Shocked, Harry pulled away and looked at Hermione intently. "What?" he asked.

"I want you to take me upstairs."

Harry gently guided Hermione to her feet. He then raised his hand before him and Hermione was lifted into the air. Harry levitated her directly into his outstretched arms. He carried her up the lavishly decorated spiral staircase and into the master bedroom. Hermione gave a small, barely audible gasp at the size and design of the bedroom.

"Its just like at Hogwarts," Harry heard her whisper to herself.

He continued to his giant four-poster. He gently laid her down and caressed her cheek softly.

"Are you sure, Hermione?"

"I've never been more sure about anything in my entire life."

Harry leaned down and planted another passionate kiss.

That night was the best of his life. Hermione was everything he had ever imagined. A few hours later, he was lying in his bed with Hermione snuggling up close to him. She was fast asleep, but Harry was just content to watch his love.

It had been a long road, he thought, but the destination had truly been worth the journey.

~~~

Fin

Thanks to all of my reviewers. I'm sorry for the delay in this final chapter again. I'm just finding it harder and harder to write HarryHermione stories. This was the first and surely my last attempt at one of those.

Again, thanks to all of my reviewers, especially those who reviewed on a regular basis (you know who you are).

Check out my new fiction "The Unwanted Hero." Chapter one is currently posted. Thanks again.

TTFN