~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 10: Mistakes of the Past ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry paced back in forth in front of Hermione in the common room, trying to put together something to say.  He was furious with her.  The night had been a total disaster.  First, she wouldn't come with him to the Shrieking Shack, then Malfoy stops him from catching Pettigrew, only to find out that Hermione had told Malfoy about his plans.  And she kissed him!

"Is it true?" he managed to say through gritted teeth.

"Harry, come sit down." Hermione had reached for his hand, but he yanked it away.  He couldn't stand her touch. 

"I asked if it was true."

"Not here, Harry.  Let's go someplace else."  She said stubbornly as she grabbed his arm and walked out of the common room.

She continued down the corridors, until she paused in front of the room of requirement.  Give us a room where we can talk.  Where we won't be overheard.  Harry said over and over.  Hermione then opened the door and they stepped inside.

The room looked exactly like their common room, complete with a fireplace, comfy sofas and chairs, and cushions on the floor.  Harry didn't hesitate.

"Did you tell Malfoy?" he demanded.

"He drugged me Harry.  I swear I didn't tell him willingly." She pleaded.

"Drugged you?  How?"

"He popped this candy in his mouth, then he bent down to kiss me—"

"Kiss you?"

"Yes, I had no choice, it was the drug.  Then I started spilling out everything.  I couldn't control it."

Harry took a small candy out of his robes and held it out to Hermione.

"Is this what it was?"

Hermione looked at the small candy.  "Yes!  That's it!  Where did you get it?"

Harry closed his eyes in defeat and turned his back on her, leaning against the wall for support.

"Harry I swear I didn't tell him willingly." She started to cry.

Harry winced as he heard her.

"I care about you too much Harry.  Please believe me.  I love you."

There.  She said it.  She loved him.  Harry had just realized he loved her too.  It was always Hermione.  The girl who stood by him, no matter what.  He thought back to the years he had known her, all the things they had been through.  Her smile, her laugh, the way she moved, smelled.  All this intoxicated him long before he had even realized it.  And Malfoy ruined it.  He had kissed Hermione.  His Hermione.  Malfoy had manipulated her to get to him, made him doubt her, made him not trust her.  He had tainted her.  Anger rose in Harry and he whipped around to face her.

Hermione was so startled by this that she backed up suddenly, falling into the armchair behind her.  Harry descended upon her, trapping her by placing both arms on either side of her, hands resting on the arms of the chair.  His face was inches from hers.  Harry snatched the candy from her hands.

"This is a Truthful Truffle.  It's new at the Weasley's store.  It has a mild Veritaserum in it." His tone was dangerously low.

"You see.  I told you—"Hermione began weakly but Harry cut her off.

"Did you hear me?  I said Veritaserum." He snarled.

Hermione still didn't get it.  She looked at Harry, clueless.  He couldn't stand to be this near her.  He stood up and looked down at her.  Even when he was this mad at her, he couldn't help but want to kiss her and hold her.

"You kissed him." Harry said at last.

"It didn't mean anything.  I was drugged."  She stood up to him, faces inches away from him as she placed her hand on his cheek.  "I love you, Harry."

"No!" He stepped away from her.  "Veritaserum, Hermione!  Think!  It makes you speak the truth, yes, but it doesn't make you kiss anyone!"

"I…what…" Hermione was spluttering looking confused, backing away from Harry.  "But I couldn't think, I…"

"It was the kiss Hermione.  The kiss itself that got you all flustered.  His kiss."

Hermione didn't say anything, just stood there, lost, fingering her lips.  This drove Harry crazy.

"Was it good?  It must have been." He said nastily.

"What?" Hermione was startled by his question.

He looked at her standing there, her presence was wrecking havoc on him.  The thought of Malfoy kissing her stirred something primal within him.  He wasn't going to wait for her answer as he moved to her, reaching her quickly, a feeling of desire erupting within him.  His hands tangled in her hair as his lips descended upon hers.  Shockwaves coursed through his body when he did this. She kissed him back just as hungrily as he did, opening her mouth to let Harry in.  Harry returned the favor as he kissed her, stopping only to breathe.  He wanted to make sure that she forgot that Malfoy had ever kissed her, he wanted her to only remember him.  He wanted more of her.

He backed her up to table and sat her down upon it.  He started working on the buttons on her shirt, clumsily undoing them before frustration set in and he ripped the rest of the shirt open.  They were wizards, they could repair it later.  He yanked the shirt off her shoulders, then kissed her neck hungrily, tasting her skin with his tongue, sucking her gently.  This seemed to really turn her on because she quickly took off his cloak, and hastily lifting his shirt off of him.  Hermione kicked off her shoes, her legs wrapped around him, scooting herself closer to him until he was pressed against her.  Harry suddenly felt very aware of the tightness in his pants, as he felt her hands wandering over his chest.  He kissed her neck, and worked his way down until he reached the top of her breasts which where currently covered by a white lace bra.  He could've removed it, but he didn't want to, not just yet.  Instead, he cupped her breast, kneading it gently.  Hermione moaned.  Oh my God!, thought Harry.  This was feeling way too good.  He picked her up again, this time moving her to the sofa. 

He set her down beneath him, his hands exploring more of her as they slid up the inside of her thigh, then when he worked up the nerve, touched her apex.  She moaned his name when he did this, bringing a smile to his face.  He thought maybe they should stop, but it felt so good, and she hadn't done anything to stop him.  She followed suit, her hands wandering down his chest before lightly touched what lay covered beneath his jeans.  Harry's breath hitched, and he accidentally let a moan slip out.  She smiled as they kissed each other.  Yup, the jeans were definitely too painfully tight.  His hand moved tentatively and unsurely from her breasts to the hem of her jeans, contemplating the button.  Hermione made the move, as her hands brushed his away, then undid her jeans and slid them down her legs.  Harry could only sit back and watch.  He really had no idea what he was going to do next.  All he could think about was Hermione in only her bra and underwear now.  She smiled shyly at him then pulled him back on top of her.  They resumed kissing as Harry pressed himself against her, exploring the new exposed skin of her legs.  He was startled again when he felt Hermione's hands unbuttoning his jeans, unzipping them, releasing him from their confines.  Harry pulled off his jeans, now in just his boxers, they were dangerously close to crossing a line he wasn't sure they should cross.  Hermione reached up for him again, pulling him onto her, deleting any thoughts Harry currently had going through his mind.  Her skin felt wonderful and warm against his, but he felt her shiver beneath him. 

"Are you cold?" he asked her.  Hermione nodded.

Harry picked Hermione off the couch and set her down amongst the cushions on the floor in front of the fireplace.  He then picked up a blanket and draped it around the two of them.  He lowered his face to hers again, kissing her sweet lips.  He was apprehensive about lowering the rest of himself to her, but she wrapped her legs around him and gently pushed his back down toward her.  In the heat of the moment or perhaps it was instinct, he pressed against her center, grateful for and cursing the fabric that served as a barrier.  Their kisses became more demanding, their hands exploring more bravely.  Hermione lifted herself off the floor to reach behind her and unclip her bra.  There they were unmasked and perfect mounds of flesh that Harry quickly claimed. 

He was too lost in the pleasure of what they were doing that he at first didn't realize where his hand had wandered.  He stopped suddenly as he realized that it was on her hip, fingering the strap of her panties.  He looked into her eyes that were filled with desire, for him, for Harry.  He felt her hand slip underneath his and underneath the strap pulling it down, and the underwear with it.  Harry, on some sort of auto-pilot, took off his own boxers.  He settled back down in between her, forearms on either side of her.  This was it.  The line they were about to cross was visible.  Was he ready?  Was she?  Hermione reached up and stroked his cheek.

"I love you, Harry" she said.

Harry looked into her beautiful cinnamon eyes.  "I love you, Hermione" 

He meant it.  He truly meant it.  He entered her ever so slowly as he gazed into her eyes.  He stopped at her barrier.  At that moment he knew that he would forever be hers, he would do anything for her, she would be his greatest weakness, and it truly scared him.  He broke through her barrier, claiming her as his own, as Hermione let out a small cry.

"Oh God!  I'm so sorry, Hermione." He whispered in her ear.

"It's okay.  Just keep moving.  Slowly" she assured him as a small tear rolled from her eyes.

Harry kissed it away and began to move within her.  It was slow and unsure at first because he was afraid to hurting her some more.  But as soon as he felt her relax underneath him, and heard her moans of approval, he picked up the pace of his rhythm.  He had never felt anything like this before, it was better than anything he'd felt, better than the first time he flew on a broomstick.  Hermione's moans were getting louder and a little more frequent as she thrust herself up to meet him.  Harry was getting close, too, he could feel it.  Suddenly, Hermione let out a loud moan as he felt her suddenly tighten around him, pulsating.  Harry couldn't hold back much longer and he let out a groan as he exploded inside her, then collapsed on her.  She stroked his hair, as they lay there together satisfied.  He propped himself up again to kiss her deeply as he pulled out of her.  He then lay down next to her and pulled her back against him, as they lay underneath the blankets. 

A million thoughts ran through his mind.  He looked down at Hermione who was sleeping soundly in his arms.  He would forever be hers, he would do anything for her, she would be his greatest weakness.  This thought ran through his mind over and over.  Harry carefully got up as not to disturb her, dressed himself, and walked out of the room to find someplace to think. 

He was on his way up to the Astronomy Tower, when Dumbledore found him.  It was indeed a trap.  Draco Malfoy had informed Dumbledore of this plan, though he didn't reveal how, just before Harry had left to find Pettigrew himself.  The Order did take care of it, and that they did capture Pettigrew.  Sirius' name will now be cleared.  Dumbledore thought that Harry would be more happy with this news, but Harry just walked up to the Tower. 

So Malfoy was right.  Harry cringed at this.  However romantic and personal tonight had ended with Hermione, it started out with jealousy and the selfish claim that she was his and his alone.  Harry was disgusted with himself.  This was not how he wanted things to be.  She had been used by Malfoy to get to him.  Malfoy made Harry doubt her loyalty, made him question her friendship.  What if Voldemort found out about her and how he felt.  Would he manipulate her too?  Cause him to doubt her love?  He couldn't stand this thought.  He had to do something.  He felt so useless here, people protecting him everywhere he went.  He had to be pro-active, keep Voldemort from manipulating and hurting the ones he loved.  He wasn't going to help anyone sitting here, letting others do the work for him, watching his friends be used.  A part of him was really bugged at the effect Malfoy's kiss had on Hermione.  Argh!!  This just pissed him off.  Harry couldn't bear to think about this.  He went back downstairs to get his broom.  He said goodbye to Ron, and now all he had to do was say goodbye to Hermione. 

He was back in the room of requirement, looking down at the sleeping Hermione.  He couldn't wake her, he didn't have the heart, or the nerve.  He looked around the room at the evidence of their night together.  It was a mistake.  He hadn't intended to go this far with her, but he was being driven by hormones and jealousy; eager to claim something that Malfoy hadn't gotten to first.  He hated himself for it.  He grabbed a quill and a piece of parchment and scribbled a note for Hermione. 

I'm sorry.  Goodbye.

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(Present Time)

That was what he left by her side to wake up to when he left Hogwarts forever.  It was the biggest mistake of his life.  He realized this pretty quickly, but was too ashamed to return.  Harry rested his head on the bed, his crying stopped.  He still loved Hermione, but he wasn't sure if she still loved him.  Her reaction to seeing him today was probably just a glimpse of what lay beneath the surface.  But he didn't care.  All he cared about was Hermione, and how much he wanted her back.  He realized this when he kissed her in the car.  He had to repair the damage, at least for their friendship's sake.  Did he really expect her not to be with anyone after all these years?  Of course, he didn't.  But Viktor knew how he had felt about her, and that is what hurt the most.  He asked him to keep her safe, not to sleep with her. 

"Harry?  Harry are you here?" he heard Ron call out. 

Harry didn't answer back.  He just wanted to be alone, but another voice chimed in.

"Vere else could he haff gone?"

Harry's head perked up.  That was Viktor's voice.  Anger surged through him.  He grabbed a photo from the bed and stormed out of the room to confront him.

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Next chapter:  Wouldn't wanna be Viktor right now. 

Hey thanks for all your reviews.  I got more for the last chapter than I thought I would, from my faithful reviewers to some new ones out there.  Sorry to leave you all on such a cliffie, but it would have been an extra long chapter.  I had to break it up somewhere.