Chapter Seven

A/N: Ok well here's the other chapter! As I promised, I updated really soon now didn't I? =p … yesh yesh that's me=p anyway, I hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter because I believe it's my best chapter in this story. Enjoy and please leave a review! The more reviews the sooner I update!! Thanks=)

DISCLAIMER: Not mine… they all belong to the wonderful lady Ms. Rowling =)

Harry let out a gasp as soon as he felt Hermione's mouth opened under his. He pulled back as a smile played on his lips, soon forming a Cheshire grin when he saw the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Mione…" he started but was cut short when she suddenly flung her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He felt her sobbing as her body wracked against his own. He couldn't stop the tears that had pooled at the corner of his eyes from streaming down his face, but for once they weren't tears of sorrow but tears of joy. He ran his hand repeatedly through her hair whispering soft words of comfort in her ear as she continued to cry for all the pain that she had put them through.

"I'm sorry," she was saying continually, "Oh Merlin, Harry I am so sorry!"

"Shhh shhh, listen it's ok," he informed her, cupping her face with his hands. He gave her a soft kiss on the tip of her nose and then pulled back to look at her intently. "Just tell me what happened. We can get through this…I promise," he told her and saw that her eyes were starting to cloud once more.

Hermione wiped her tears with the sleeve of her robe, sniffed a bit, grabbed his wrist and made him follow her without saying anything. Despite the fact that they were out of their common room at such a late time, it wasn't a factor that would get them into trouble, as they were Head Boy and Girl. The last time that both Heads were in the same house was when Lilly Evans and James Potter were in Hogwarts.

"Hermione wha-?" he started but was cut off when she signaled him to be quite over her shoulder. They soon got out of the castle and onto the grounds, where the crisp air was like daggers cutting softly into their skin. She slowed down and they meandered around the grounds hand in hand, until finally they came to halt in front of the big oak tree that was en face the lake. Memories were brought back to them from their sixth year in which it was at this very place where they confessed their feelings for one another. (A/N: Falling Star anyone? =p) Harry sat down with his back adjacent to the bark of the tree, and pulled Hermione down so that she was sitting in between his legs and her back on his chest. They both let out a content sigh and took up in looking at the stars. Neither knew how long they sat there, but each one was lost in their own little world of thoughts albeit both knew that this would be a major turning point in their lives.

'This is it,' Harry thought, 'this is were everything comes out, and my chance to win her back. If she ever loved me that is,' 'Don't worry boy, you know that she loves you,' his logical voice was back, this time however not with Hermione's voice but, oddly enough, with Ron's! 'Listen Ron, I don't need this right now, all I want to know is if there is a chance for us and I don't need you to interfere so bugger off!' 'Whoa cool it mate I'm just trying to help! Now listen, you know that she loves you and would sacrifice everything for your well being. She would even risk her life just to make sure that you had no more sorrow in your life,' he told him. 'Can you please shut up? I'm trying to work up the courage to break this silence, it's never been so relaxing yet uncomfortable before. Now please, go!' he thought and closed his eyes tightly as though he was scared to hear the voice come back with another sarcastic comment. He let out a sigh of relief when he realized that all that could be heard was the soft rustling of the leaves and the supple sound of water being disturbed as the giant squid was out and about that night.

'Okay let me think,' Hermione thought to herself. 'Take all the time you want dear, he's not going anywhere and you know it,' that voice was back again, 'Oh no, not you again! I thought you weren't coming back!' 'Ah my dear but you see you're in pain and it's my job from preventing any more heart breaks. I care for you,' 'You are me!' Hermione snapped back, 'True but still… listen to me dear, he loves you. That much is obvious. Darling look at how lost he was when you weren't talking to him. Sure he plays the brave hero in front of anyone but you know that he keeps everything to himself. I'm willing to bet anything that he would prefer to fight Voldemort than live another day not knowing whether what you had was real or not. Now follow your heart…' 'Wait!' Hermione thought but then realized that it was stupid talking to herself. 'No, not stupid… crazy is more like it…' She shook her head to herself and then leaned back so that Harry could tighten his grip around her waist as she let her head tilt to the side so that they were cheek to cheek.

"We have to talk," Harry started and got a nod from Hermione as a reply.

"I know…I know…" she answered. "I-" she began to explain but was cut short when she felt Harry shaking his head.

"Please let me go first. This is really hard for me to do but I'll give it my best. Please just let me go first," he pleaded with her, and let out a breath of air through his gritted teeth when she agreed. 'This is going to be much harder than I thought,' he thought to himself. 'Just do it mate!' 'Shut up.' "Okay well… I think that we both know how miserable I was feeling from the beginning of term. You never gave me a suitable explanation that night. All I ask for is for an explanation that will make me say, Ahh yes now I see her point. Please 'Mione I need to know, and please don't give me that crap about not loving me because you wouldn't have responded to that kiss. You wouldn't have broken down and give in. Just… just please don't walk away with my heart once again…" he told her.

Hermione turned around in her place so that she was sitting cross-legged in front of him. She took his hands in hers and averted her eyes, suddenly being interested in his dark blue jumper. The moonlight cast shadows on his face, making him look younger than his 17 years. His eyes held a spark that was just ignited yet the rest of them were drenched in sadness and regret. The emerald green light that was once filled with mischief was replaced by miserable feelings. His hair was as messy as ever, and the part where they all stood up was swaying with the gentle breeze. She, on the other hand, seemed to have golden lights sparkling in her bushy brown hair. Her almond-shaped eyes also didn't have that thirst they once had for living, and her hands were visibly shaking from her nervousness, causing him to feel a tad nervous too. She let out a chuckle when she realized how immature she was behaving. She cleared her throat before talking.

"Remember that night when you met my parents?" she allowed him to nod his head in reply before continuing, "Well when you went to the bathroom they approached a subject that I never thought possible they'd ever make me listen to." She paused as Harry tilted his head in curiosity and worry. "They… They said that you couldn't really keep the promise of keeping me safe no matter how much you loved me. There wasn't any possible way to know for sure if the Death Eaters that weren't put in Azkaban wouldn't come back to hurt us for revenge. That they could get be in order to get to you." She stopped as her bottom lip was quivering and Harry reached out a hand to cradle her cheek, as an assurance that he would always be there for her and that she should continue. She gave him a meek smile and returned to her story.

"Well anyway to get to the point," she wiped away the tears that started rolling down her face, "they basically said that I should stop seeing you because you were a threat to me, and I could be hurt by being best friends with you, let alone the love of your life." Harry felt the anger boiling up in him and all he could see was red. He was like a bull in a china shop. 'Merlin I didn't have to know that.'

"Is that the reason?" Harry asked bitterly, not caring that it sounding like he was spitting venom. Before Hermione had a chance to respond he continued, "Mummy and Daddy tell you that it's not safe to run around with a raving lunatic that might endanger you life, and all you want to do is please them? Well sorry for being such an inconvenience in your life miss Granger, but I DIDN'T ASK FOR ALL OF THIS!" he started to shout, "I DIDN'T DESCIDE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU!" he screamed at the top of his lungs and started breathing deeply as they listened his echo fade away. However, he immediately regretted what he said when he watched her face fill with hurt and her eyes welling up as her lips started to tremble; yet he got the impression that it wasn't just from hurt that she was showing these emotions.

"How dare you?" she whispered harshly, "how dare you think that that was reason?! WHO ARE YOU TO HINT THAT I ASKED YOU FALL INLOVE WITH YOU?! You just sit back Harry Potter because I haven't finished with you. I didn't just accept the fact that my parents asked me to break up with you just because I might be in danger. In fact, I told them that I'd rather die than having to live without you. I told them that I'd sacrifice myself for you so that you wouldn't have to endure any more pain in your life. You were the best thing that ever happened to me and I don't regret ever meeting you despite all the fights and misunderstandings we had. There isn't a moment in time that I would take back except perhaps the past few months. I love you! I LOVE YOU DAMN IT AND THE REASON THAT I BROKE UP WITH YOU WAS BECAUSE THEY THREATENED TO TAKE ME AWAY FROM HOGWARTS!!" she bellowed as she noted the look of shock written on his face but she didn't stop there, she was on a role. "They said that if I kept seeing you they'd transfer me to Beauxbatons, and I'd rather see you everyday than not to see you at all. I'd rather see you yet not be able to express my love for you than to know that you're somewhere out there in the world loving me but I can't have you… to touch you… DAMN IT HARRY I DID IT FOR YOU!!" she finished while giving in to her tears and cradled her head in her hands, while she kept repeating, "I did it for you…"

Harry was shocked to say the least. Of everything that he had thought of, this wasn't it. 'You dolt who cares?! She loves you mate! Do something and stop gawking like a bloody idiot!' 'Right…' He scooted over and wrapped his arms around her as he rocked both of them. He spoke soothing words in her ear and when they were both out of tears he took her head in his hands, kissed away the tears that now left a glistening trail that sparkled in the moonlight and looked her fixedly in her eyes.

"I love you," he said which was more like he stated it. "You're my heart, my soul…my life and I Merlin help anyone who tries to take you away. You're my angel… and I love you," he concluded as she snaked one arm around his neck and the other closed over his hand and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss. A soft kiss, one which is just right for a situation like this. A promise kiss.

"We'll find a way?…" she spoke up although it was just over a whisper that she thought that he didn't hear her. He looked up and searched her eyes like he was searching into her soul. Just as suddenly as she had spoken, his face broke into a grin.

A/N: Now that's what I call writing something worthwhile! I'm really proud of myself! =) Now according to my calculations there is one more chapter… I might do two more actually if I think that I should have more details, but then again it's up to you to decide!! Please review and tell me what you think about this!! Thanks =) Love's Fool