~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 23:  The Heart Never Forgets ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione watched as Viktor kicked the football back to a group of kids that were playing in the park.  He sat down on the swing next to her, still watching them. 

"Viktor, why haven't you settled down, start a family?" she asked him as she slowly began to swing.

"Ooh, that vas a nice save," he said still watching the kids before turning his attention to Hermione.  "I vill, ven this var is over and You-Know-Who is defeated.  Then I vill find my soul mate, marry her right avay, have eight kids then grow old and fat vith my beautiful wife."

"Eight kids?"

"Yes.  Four boys who vill be strong like me and four girls who vill be beautiful like their mother.  They vill all play Quidditch of course."

Hermione laughed and Viktor smiled.

"Do you really believe in that?  You know…soul mates?" she asked.

"Of course I do.  I am a dreamer and a hopeless romantic.  I fell in love vith you at first sight."

Hermione blushed and looked away.

"Why didn't we work out?" she asked.

"You vere in love vith someone else."

"Harry," she said almost immediately without thinking.

Viktor looked surprised at her then gave her a knowing smile.

"It's strange," she continued, "you feel this…connection with this person, something so intense.  You should know him, remember him but you can't.  You can't remember why you have this connection."

"Instinct.  Your memory was taken away, not your heart.  The heart never forgets."

Hermione thought a bit more as another name popped into her head and she couldn't help but wonder if it was possible to love more than one person?

She lay in bed and thought about it some more.  With Harry, she felt a connection so intense and so strong it nearly consumed her.  With Draco, she felt electricity, sparks of fire that wanted to set off the powder keg between them.  It was dangerous and forbidden, but it tempted them, beckoned them.  It wanted to be set off.

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Harry silently approached the manor from the back.  Unseen in the garden with his invisibility cloak, he stared up at her window.  Ginny had told him which one was hers and Neville had warned him about the perimeter charm.  Harry smiled, this was going to be a piece of cake.  He flew up to her balcony and disarmed the perimeter charm.  Quietly, he opened her window and stepped inside her room.

Hermione opened her eyes.  Someone was in the room.  She slid her hand slowly under her pillow where she kept her wand.  Her fingers closed around it and she slowly let out a deep breath.  3…2…1…  She quickly turned and sat up, her wand drawn, but it quickly flew out of her hand with a whispered "Expelliarmus!"  She barely gasped when a hand clamped over her mouth and a head appeared out of nowhere.  She let out a muffled scream. 

"Shh!  It's me.  Harry," he whispered.

Hermione instantly relaxed and Harry removed his hand.

"Harry!  What are you doing here?  Where have you been this past couple of weeks?" she asked as he handed her back her wand.

"I needed some time to think, to set things straight."

"I'm so sorry bout that night.  I didn't mean to—."

"Shh."  Harry put his finger to her lips.  "Don't.  Don't apologize.  You have no idea how badly I wanted you, how badly I still want you."

"Then why did you stop?  Were you worried about ruining our friendship--?"

"That's just it, Hermione.  There is no friendship."

Hermione looked confused.  "But I thought…all the photos and the stories…."

"We had a friendship.  I haven't been completely honest with you."

"What are you talking about?"  She began to back away from him but he sat down on her bed.

"All three of us were friends, best friends, but you and I…" Harry reached out and held Hermione's hand, "you and I were something else.  We were—"

"—soul mates," Hermione finished for him.

Harry smiled at her and she smiled back briefly before her face fell.

"What happened to us?" she asked softly.

Harry shifted uncomfortably on the bed before he began.

"Do you remember when I told you that we didn't have anymore stories because I left?" Hermione nodded and he continued.  "Things happened that night that made me think about my friends, the future…love.  I made a series of poor decisions that night that I am paying for even today.  You see, Hermione, that night we told each other how we felt…we showed each other."  Harry was grateful that it was dark so Hermione couldn't see the blush that was creeping up on his face due to the awkwardness of the situation.  Hermione was staring off in space.  "But it was a mistake," Harry continued.

*She looked down at the note in her trembling hands.  I'm sorry.  Goodbye.  Despair, heartbreak, sadness and anger hit her all at the same time as she let out an anguished cry.*

"You left me," Hermione said refocusing back on Harry.

"What?" Harry asked a little bewildered.

"You left me.  I woke up the next morning and you were gone.  You left a note," Hermione said recalling the image she had just had.

"Are you remembering things, Hermione?" Harry asked with hope.

"The images are blurry but some get stronger everyday.  I guess the Occlumency…" she paused as the image in her mind of her sobbing suddenly got painfully clear as the wave of emotions she felt hit her.  Tears fell down her face as she looked slowly back at Harry.

"What is it?  What's wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

"Get away from me.  Get out of here.  Leave!" she said as she scrambled out of the bed and began to back away from him.

"Hermione?" Harry asked cautiously.

The image of herself crying on the floor with nothing but a blanket wrapped around her was growing clearer and clearer.  She was remembering!  But the pain, oh the pain and anguish she felt.

Harry was startled by the expression on her face.  Her eyes wide with fear as tears threatened to spill.  He stood up slowly, careful not to frighten her any more than she already was.  It pained him to know that for some reason, he was the cause of her fear.

"Don't you dare come any closer!  Draco is in the next room, all I have to do is scream."

"I would never hurt you.  Never!"

"Then why am I remembering what you did.  I'm lying naked in a room with only a blanket wrapped around me, crying.  Crying about you, Harry!  Why?  What did you do to me?"

Harry had a puzzled look on his face before realization struck him.  "Were you lying by a fireplace among a bunch of cushions in a room of red and gold?"

"Yes," Hermione said cautiously.

"Hermione, you're remembering our last night together!" Harry said excitedly before his face fell.  "Or at least the morning after," he said quietly.

"What did you do to me, Harry?"

"No, it wasn't like that.  We told each other how we felt.  We showed each other…."

Hermione didn't dare lift her head to look at Harry for fear that he would see the blush on her face.

"Why am I crying?" she said finally.

"Because I left.  I made the biggest mistake of my life and I left."

"Why?"

"I wanted to protect you.  Oh Hermione, I loved you so much, I couldn't bear the thought of something bad happening to you.  I had to be pro-active.  I wish to this day I never left your side.  I wish to this day that you would wake up and I would still have been there by your side.  I love you so much."  Harry stepped closer to Hermione who was backed up against a wall. 

"How do I know that's what happened?  How do I know that you didn't just…just…?"

"Because I would never do that to you, Hermione.  I love you so much!" Harry pleaded.

Hermione felt trapped and confused.  She briefly eyed her wand lying on the nightstand.  Harry followed her line of sight.

"You have to believe me Hermione."

"I'm sorry.  I can't remember.  Why should I trust your word?"  But she did.  Deep down inside she knew that he was telling the truth.  "You have no proof."

"I do have proof," he said as he stood in front of her.  "It's in here," he said softly as he light tapped the side of her head.  "And in here," his hand trailed down to her chest.

"Harry, make me remember," she said breathily.

"What?"

"I know you can do it.  Ron told me you know Legilimency.  Make me remember that night."

Harry stepped away from her.  "No.  It's too risky."

"I don't care.  I want to remember."

"I can't hurt you.  If done wrong or too much, it could backfire, it could erase all the progress you've made."

"Please, Harry.  I need to remember.  Do this for me," she pleaded as he turned away from her.

"It's too risky.  I can't do it.  I can't hurt you," he said softly. 

She put her hand on his arm and walked around to stand in front of him.  She lifted his face gently with her hand and looked into his eyes.  Her hand caressed his cheek. 

"I trust you Harry.  Help me to remember.  Make me remember us.  I know you want to."

He did want to.  He wanted to so badly.  Could he do it?  Could he risk it?  He sighed then took out his wand to cast a silencing charm over the room.  Then he moved his hands to cup Hermione's face as he looked into Hermione's eyes.

The images were foggy, thick and blurry.  Shapeless people, voices that were speaking on top of one another.  He had to focus, he had to look for it and draw it out.  He saw himself through Hermione's eyes, watching as she stood waiting with Viktor at the Yule Ball.  No, that wasn't it.  He moved on, focusing more and delving deeper.  She stared at the time turner in her hand, then looked back at McGonagall in wonder.  Maybe, he might be getting closer.  She was writing lazily on a piece of parchment, drawing hearts with Harry's name in them.  Yes, this was it.  He was on the right track.  She reached up to Harry as they stood on the platform and gave him a kiss on his cheek.  Focus, focus.  Harry descended upon her quickly as he kissed her with desire.  Yes, yes this was it!  He drew the memory out of the recesses of her mind, sharpening the image and feeling of every kiss, touch and caress.  "I love you, Harry," he heard her say as he perched himself above her.  "I love you, Hermione" he saw himself answer as he pressed himself against her.  Harry didn't dare break his concentration.  He moved above her slowly as she felt him entering her.  A sharp pain, then his apology and then the wonderful bliss that followed as they made love for the first time.  Harry broke his concentration as he looked into her face.  They had both sunk to the floor without realizing it.  Hermione looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Oh Harry, I remember that night.  Thank you, I remember."  She leaned into him for a kiss but he quickly stood up.

"I'm sorry.  I can't, Hermione."  Harry wanted to kiss her so badly it hurt.  Every part of his being screamed out for her, ached to hold her in his arms.

"But I thought we…."  She was too confused.

"Hermione that's what I've been wanting to tell you," Harry said as he spun around to face her.  "I left that night and I didn't come back for seven years!  Seven years, Hermione!"

"But now you're back—"

"You hate me Hermione.  We aren't friends.  I broke your heart and you've cursed my name since then.  You don't love me anymore."  It hurt Harry to say this because he himself didn't want to believe it, but he had to tell her the truth.

"That's not true," Hermione said softly as she stepped toward him.  "My mind was erased, Harry, not my heart.  Since the moment I saw you, I knew we had this special connection.  There was something about us, something that this stupid spell couldn't erase or get rid of."  She held out her hand and caressed his face.  Harry brought up his hand and covered hers, bringing it down so he could kiss it.  "Deep down I know we are meant to be together.  Call it instinct, call it whatever you want, but just as surely as I know that the sun will always rise, what the smell of a rose is like, what color the ocean is, I know that I love you.  Let me love you, let us love each other."

"Please don't ask that of me.  You don't know how badly I want that.  But I need you to forgive me.  I need you to remember everything and to forgive me."

"Harry, I would want nothing more than to remember everything, but there's a chance that I might not.  There's a chance that I will remember everything, but it might take years.  We've already lost so much time.  I know that I love you Harry and I know that you love me.  That's all we need right now, that's all we need to move forward and make new memories."  Hermione was so close to Harry now that she just tilted her head slowly to invite him to kiss her.

"Hermione, are you sure you want this?" Harry's voice was strained as he begged silently for her to say yes, he wouldn't be able to handle it if she backed down now.

"Yes, Harry.  I want you to show me that you love me."

That was all he needed as he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her passionately.  He savored the taste and feel of her in his arms.  She drowned in the passion and love that consumed her.  It was different this time from the first time they were together.  This wasn't the roughness and possessiveness of the first time.  This was the passion and love of two lovers separated for seven years finally joined again.  And as he slid himself into her gently, burning every sensation he had into his memory, he silently vowed to himself that he would never leave her again.  It was instinct, it was love, this was meant to be, she thought to herself as she met him in his gentle thrusts.  They were soul mates, they would forever be connected somehow.  Bringing themselves to the height of their passionate lovemaking, she cried out his name as she milked him of the seed that he spilled into her.

"I love you, Hermione," he said softly as he kissed her slightly damp forehead.  He was still on top of her, unwilling to remove himself from inside her, and she was fine with that.

"I love you, Harry," she said back kissing him fully on the lips.

They kissed some more, enjoying the sensation and the caresses they gave one another before Harry moved his hand to the outside of her thigh, bringing her leg up to wrap around and rest on the small of his back.  They would show each other two more times how much they loved one another before they would fall asleep in each others arms.  And Harry would still be there when she woke up. 

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Ashton Montgomery walked into the ornate drawing room and sat down in a chair facing a large mahogany desk.  The man behind the desk made no motion to acknowledge Ashton's presence, he just kept reading the Daily Prophet in front of him.  Finally, after a while, he put down the paper and turned his attention to the young man in front of him.

"So, is our plan set to go?" he asked.

"Yes sir, everything is in order," Ashton answered.  "He will make his move tomorrow night."

"Any problems we might have?"

"None sir.  The trap is set for him, we will obtain his bait tomorrow."

The man behind the desk looked piercingly at the young man in front of him.

"Wrong!" he suddenly shouted out, causing Ashton to jump in his seat.  The man opened a drawer and pulled out a magazine, throwing it down in front of Ashton.  "We have a big problem.  A.  Big.  Fucking.  Problem."  The man sat back in his chair and watched the puzzlement on the young man's face.  He obviously didn't see the problem.  Of course he wouldn't.  "Luckily for you, I have taken measures to take care of this problem for us.  A sort of insurance that he," the man gestured to the magazine, "will not interfere with our plans."

Ashton reached out and took the magazine Witch Weekly off the desk.  What the hell did Harry Potter have to do with this?

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It was way too early in the morning for Ronald Weasley to be called into work and expected to think like a rational human being.  He sipped the coffee from the steaming cup in his hand as he made his way down the hallway.  It was busy and crowded as aurors, crime photographers and other ministry officials filled the hall.  But his steps slowed as it dawned on him where he was headed, he had been here before, and he didn't want to go back.

"Weasley!  Weasley over here!" Kingsley called out above the crowd waving him over.

Ron acknowledged him, willing his legs to move forward as the blood pounded in his ears.  He walked through the door and into a blue lit circular room filled with other doors, one of which was open.  His heart was pounding in his chest as he walked toward it.  Time seemed to slow down and the voices around him faded as he walked on.  He peered inside the room.  He couldn't do it.  He ran back out into the hallway, staving off sickness.  He was clammy and shaking all over as he leaned against the cool wall trying to regain his bearings.

"They broke in last night.  There was definitely more than one of them.  We are trying to figure out what they were doing here, what they wanted."  His father laid a reassuring hand on his son.  Kingsley walked up to them.

"Dumbledore know about this, Arthur?" he asked quietly.

"No.  I was on my way to tell him."

"Harry," Ron croaked out then he turned and faced the two men.  "Harry has to know about this."

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Knocking at the door interrupted Harry and Hermione's morning kisses.  Hermione groaned as she moved to get out of bed.

"Don't," Harry said grabbing her around the waist, pulling her back into bed.  "They'll go away."

Hermione giggled as she pulled herself free.  "They haven't yet."

She tied her robe around her and walked funny to the door.  They had had way too much fun last night. 

"Yes?" Hermione asked as she opened the door partially.

"Hermione," Ginny looked around her, then whispered "is Harry in there?"

"What is it?" Harry whispered as he stood behind Hermione. 

Ginny looked at the two of them, a mischievous look in her eye that was quickly replaced by a more serious one.

"Harry, Ron's asking for you.  He wants you down at the Ministry, something's up."

"I'll be right there," Harry said leaving Hermione at the door.

"So?" Ginny asked grinning.

"A lady never tells," Hermione said triumphantly before closing the door on Ginny.

Harry arrived at the ministry half an hour later after dragging himself out of Hermione's presence.  It was a beautiful day.  He could help the huge grin on his face as he walked through the door of the Ministry.  Hermione loved him, he loved her.  The world was a beautiful place today.  But the look on Ron's face made everything come crashing down.

He hadn't been down here in years, he didn't want to be down here.  Yet, there he stood in the middle of the Department of Mysteries. 

"It happened in there," Ron pointed to the open door which wizards and witches involved in the investigation walked in and out of.

Harry summoned the courage from somewhere inside of him as he approached the door.  If he had his way, he would never, ever have to come here again in his lifetime.  But he stood in the doorway, looking down into the amphitheater-like room where in the middle stood a veiled archway.