Story: Through the looking glass

Archive: www.fanfiction.net

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. full stop.

Pairing: Harry/Hermione

Chapter two: Bitter Beginnings

Comments: Hey everyone. I just want to say, thanks for your reviews. There are different points of view in here. It starts off with Hermione. I'll make it clear like "I looked at Harry" et cetera.

Lanna1186: I'm carrying on, but updates and stuff will be slow because I have my other story too.

The True Englishman: Thanks; I did try really hard with this fic. But four reviews for one chapter isn't that bad is it?

Bob-the-bear: Thank you, you always review me ! Well it's not a one shot as you can see. Love ya'!

Laura: I didn't really like Harry/Hermione stories but I do now. Not quite sure why. This fic. Came to me as a Draco/Hermione or Harry/Hermione but when I thought about it the Harry/Hermione fitted better. Maybe Harry and Hermione won't last very long though...

Song: Jem- Maybe I'm amazed. Lyrics are in italics.



I looked at Harry. He had his hands on the edge of the astronomy tower. A stone arch was above his head. It was freezing up here. You could see right out onto the lake, the lake was eerily still. The creatures in its depths seemed to be still or asleep. There wasn't even a ripple on the surface. The moon shone down on the black lake and the trees beside it seemed to be still.

I walked closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off,

"Why did you come here?" He asked. His voice was cracked, he wasn't angry; he was just wrapped up in his own thoughts.

"I- Well. I don't know. I just want to say, I understand you have to do this."

Maybe I'm A Girl And Maybe I'm A Lonely Girl
Who's In The Middle Of Something
That She Doesn't Really Understand

"Thanks" Harry said in an almost inaudible whisper,

"And, I wish you didn't have to" I was in tears, I tried to blink them away but they just rolled down my face. Rolling and rolling, silent tears that had been threatening to fall for far too long. I've put on a brave face, held my feelings in, and bottled it up. But bottles break. And mine has smashed into a thousand pieces.

"Me too" He sighed, and carried on staring into space. I just stood there tears falling down me face. I followed his eyes to the reflection of the moon on the lake and the rays around it. "This is all Voldemort's fault. All families are ripped apart. People killed leaving their families behind. People are tortured so they can't remember their own family. The whole world is ripped apart because of one stupid thing. Blood. Everyone has blood. Who cares? I mean who cares if it is pure or not. Pure can be so many different things. Pure is innocent. Pure is something concentrated. Those bitches can't call themselves innocent. Sure they're pure in one way, pure evil." He scoffed,

"I-" I paused.

Maybe I'm A Girl And Maybe You're The Only Man
Who Could Ever Help Me
Baby Won't You Help Me Understand

"It's okay...." He paused, "It's difficult."

"I wish you didn't have to" I whispered, repeating myself.

"I know." He sighed and took up my hand in both of his, "Wishes never seem to come true though, do they?" He shook his head, and wiped away one of my tears with his thumb.

"Is there not another way?" I asked tearfully,

"I'm the only one who can vanquish Lord Voldemort. Only me."

"Why?" I sank to the floor. My hand slipped out of his, and that's when it hit me harder than ever. The chance of Harry surviving was so tiny. So unbelievably tiny. Yet, I had to believe it. Otherwise if he didn't survive it would hit me harder than a ton of bricks.

"Get up Hermione" Harry grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I swayed; all the strength had left my body, "You need to be strong. For Hogwarts, for the ministry, for yourself. For me?"

"I can't" I shook my head, "I really can't Harry"

"Yes, you can." He grabbed my shoulders, "I need you to be strong for me. I need you to. You more than anyone. More than Ron, Ginny, Neville, Draco, Dumbledore, Snape, Luna... You more than everyone." He looked at me and gave my shoulders a squeeze; I wiped another tear away from my face.

Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way You Pulled Me Out Of Time
And Hung Me On A Line
Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way I Really Need You

"I'll try." I gulped, my face was burning from the tears rolling down it, "I'll try. But that's the best I can do"

"Stop crying Hermione, you're like a tap!" He chuckled half-heartedly,

Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way You're With Me All The Time

Maybe I'm Afraid Of The Way I Leave You

Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way You Help Me Sing My Song

Right Me When I'm Wrong

Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way I Really Need You

"I can't help it. I came here tonight." I sighed, "I just wanted you to know I understand you have to do this."

"Thanks" Harry whispered,

"And I wished you didn't have to" I said, I was repeating myself but he had to know. No matter how much it hurt he had to know, he deserved to know. I could hear the pain, the choking, the tears in my voice.

"Me too" Harry croaked,

I looked out of the window. It was still the same. This didn't affect it. Everything was still. Everything was beautiful. It looked the same as it did when I came in my first year. It didn't age at all. Only the pupils within the school changed. From girls to women. From boys to men. From children to adults. From friendless to popular. From foolish to wise. These walls, these grounds, these professors watched us grow. They watched us blossom. They watched our beginnings. They helped us through our years here, they saw us changing. They helped. Yet, we all helped each other. And, these walls, these grounds, these professors, these wiser, popular, changed young adults didn't appear to help me at all. Not one of them. Nothing did. The one place I sought guidance from didn't help at all. I'm wasn't sure whether I could help myself.

"I love you" Harry said. Then I realized... I loved him too.

Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way I Really Need You
Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way You Love Me All The Time
Maybe I'm Afraid Of The Way I Love You

I loved him too. I loved him.

"Hey" Ginny said. "They sent me to look for you... You're needed in the charms classroom Hermione, a go over of the plan with the other girls" She turned, and Draco popped his head around the door,

"Harry, Dumbledore wants to see us"

Harry took my hands inside his own,

"I love you" I just froze as he turned and walked off,

"I loved you too" I choked, yet no one heard. I was on my own. I made my way to the charms classroom.

Maybe I'm A Girl And Maybe I'm A Lonely Girl
Who's In The Middle Of Something
That She Doesn't Really Understand