"So can I come over?" Harry was kind of retentive as he asked the question, nervous despite the fact that the recipient of the question was one of his best friends.

Hermione looked at him kind of strangely but said, "Of course, Harry. You're always welcome in my house. I've told my parents all about you."

It was the end of sixth year and they still had another year at Hogwarts. Fortunately, Voldemort had been vanquished in a relentless battle that had taken its toll on Harry. But strangely Harry was back to normal within a month of the end of the War. Not that anybody was complaining. Sirius was gone, had gone in fifth year, and it had been a struggle to learn the power he knows not. It was a wandless magic that was only used by one person per millennium. And Harry had been the one to draw the power.

He had endured harsh meditation and tests of such ferocity, both practical and written, that even Hermione would have trouble passing. But Harry had excelled. As a result, he could delve into the weave of magic itself and manipulate it with a thought. Ever since the discovery of the magic, Harry rarely used his wand anymore. Not to boast, but it was just easier for him.

"I just want to get away from the Dursleys and I've been to Ron's house so many times. I just want to visit your family since I haven't really met them and-," He was shushed by Hermione's finger to his lips. It wasn't meant as anything romantic but the touch sent shivers up his spine.

He had been feeling such feelings for Hermione for quite a while now, ever since the incident at the Department of Mysteries. He realized that if she had died, so would he. But he never revealed these feelings, fearing a change in their relationship.

"Harry, you can come. You're always welcome. And well, I was actually hoping you'd want to come over eventually. I'd love to introduce you to all my friends."

Ron took the news quite well. "Meh, it's okay with me. My dad's Minister of Magic now so we're going on a vacation, anyway. I forgot to tell you, Harry. I'm glad you found a way to get away from those horrible Muggles."

Through a gulp of food, Harry nodded. "So where are you going?"

Ron grinned from ear to ear. "Anywhere and everywhere. We can go to places at a whim and get treated like royalty. It's great."

"I'm happy for you, Ron," Hermione chimed in.

"Thanks. I'm happy for me, too." Harry rolled his eyes and continued eating.

At the station, they said their goodbyes and Harry hopped in Hermione's car. When they weren't busy talking, Harry found himself staring at Hermione's beautiful brown eyes or her hair that kept escaping its spot behind her ear and fluttering out, causing her to push it away.

Hermione apparently noticed this attention as she said, "Harry? What's wrong?"

He could feel himself blush slightly as he regained his composure. "Nothing, just kind of spaced out."

"Oh, well did you hear about the..."

Soon enough, they had arrived and unpacked. Harry's room, the guest room, was right next to Hermione's. At night, they sat and talked, watching T.V. and relaxing.

"Oh yeah, Harry I'm inviting a few friends over and then we're going to go out. You're coming, too."

"Okay, Hermione sounds like fun."

In bed, Harry found himself envisioning Hermione, her beautiful eyes, her amazing hair. He loved everything about her. It was much different from what he had felt for Cho. Then it had probably been more lust than anything else. He fell into a pleasant sleep, dreaming of her.

The morning had been pleasant, the breakfast good and the day fresh. The plans were to meet up with the friends here and then go off to the mall to go shopping. There they would have lunch and then plan from there.

Harry and Hermione just kind of sat in the grass in the front lawn waiting for her friends. When they arrived, Hermione jumped up in excitement. "Hi, guys!"

"Hey, Hermione."

There were four of them, two guys and two girls. One of the guys had blonde hair and blue eyes and was slightly shorter than Harry. He was kind of skinny, not strong but fast looking. The other guy was huge with immense muscles. He looked at least six and a half feet tall and quite intimidating. At least to a normal man. Harry Potter was not intimidated in the slightest, as strange as he felt for noticing that. One of the girls was short and blonde with a lithe looking form that seemed almost frail. The other girl was a brunette and she had a well-toned body. She was neither freakishly large nor was she petite. "Harry meet Jake," she said, pointing to the large man. "This is Anthony, this is Emily (the blonde one) and this is..."

"Kristy," Emily put in. "She's new here. She's from America. She's also a year older than us."

"Nice to meet you, Kristy." Hermione then began introducing Harry. "Guys, this is Harry-," she began but was cut off by Kristy.

"Harry Potter?!" Her eyes flicked to his scar and back down, almost abashed. Harry felt slightly panicked.

"Damn," he swore under his breath, and did the first thing he thought of and froze the four friends. Hermione looked at him and then back at everyone. All of her friends except for Kristy were in mid motion, frozen in place.

"Harry, you know you're not allowed to use underage magic," she said.

"Actually, Dumbledore gave me permission after I defeated Whats-his- not-so-scary-face. Voldemort." He saw Kristy flinch. "Okay, so you're a witch. Didn't you realize that they're Muggles? Sorry to sound harsh but there is no way of explaining how you knew me before Hermione introduced me."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter."

"Oh, come on, you can't call me Mr. Potter," Harry almost whined. "Everywhere I go..." He muttered under his breath for a minute and then said, "Just pretend it never happened." He unfroze everyone.

"You know him, Kristy?" Emily asked.

"Know who?"

"Harry Potter. You just said his name."

"Duh, maybe because Hermione just introduced him."

"But...Whatever. Oh no. Here comes Dale." Emily groaned, as did Hermione.

Harry just looked confused. He saw someone coming up the road with what looked like a big box of chocolates in the shape of a heart. His heart sank. This must be her boyfriend. But she had sounded displeased. And she had never mentioned him. "Who's Dale?"

"He's this weird guy who's been stalking Hermione since they were little. He has a shrine with all sorts of her stuff in it, like clothes and hair, and even some of her...garbage." Jake looked disgusted as he explained it. "I really want to kick his..."

"He's really starting to creep me out. But he won't take no for an answer and I don't like him in the slightest." She looked at Harry and whispered, "He's horrible; I'd rather go out with Malfoy. And I don't know what to tell him since he always wants a reason. I wish I could get him off my back."

By then, Dale had arrived and was handing the box of chocolates to Hermione.

"Thanks, Dale." She reluctantly took the candy and set it down. "But I've already told you-,"

"But why?!"

Harry cut in just then. "Hey, er...Dale...I'm Harry, from 'Mione's school."

Dale gave him a look that looked like it was shooting daggers. "Hi," Dale responded with a venom voice. He obviously didn't trust Harry. The look sickened him. He didn't back up one inch, though.

"Hermione, introduce me," he said, an idea popping into his head. He walked up behind her.

"This is Harry, my-," She was cut off as Harry put his arms around her waist.

"Boyfriend." He continued himself. Hermione looked up at him, just as confused as everybody else. And then she felt a lot of different things. She realized that he was helping her, but she also saw in his eyes how much he wanted this. And she realized that she too, had a crush on him.

"Yes, my boyfriend. I've adored him since second year when he helped me out of a particularly rocky predicament." She smiled up at him warmly and he beamed.

Dale, however, was clenching and unclenching his fists. He was beet red and his voice was laced with anger and denial. "No! You're lying. I can tell. She was confused when you said that. I could tell!" He pointed a quivering finger at him. "You're LYING!"

"Lying, am I?" Harry turned her around and to her surprise, planted a warm kiss on her lips. Not too deep but heartfelt.

"NO," Dale continued to shriek. "I won't have it. She's MINE! I've known her longer than you have!" To everyone's surprise he grabbed her out of Harry's embrace and held her to him, wrists holding her delicate arms firmly.

Harry could tell she felt pain and her eyes were beginning to form tears. Jake rushed forward but Dale pulled out a gun. "I'll shoot. Don't think I won't shoot." He couldn't believe that someone was just going to try to wrench her out of his hands like that. He felt like a child again, with Voldemort just plucking his loved ones out of his hands. This man was Voldemort, Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange. Everything he hated was summed up by this stalker. But this time he was ready. He would take this man down as he had done to the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord.

"I'll take care of this." He would reveal himself as a wizard. He would unleash his fury if this man did not relent, all for Hermione's sake. "Let. Her. Go."

Dale's hand seemed to waver but he steadied again. "No."

Harry felt his anger rising, threatening to overtake him. And then it happened. He was empowered. He would not leave this man whole. Harry looked at it and the gun's metals began to melt together and sear red. Dale shrieked and dropped the gun and released Hermione. He tried to run but Harry was stronger. The sidewalks burst around him until he fell, bruises of cement all over his body. Harry released the magic then, deciding to take care of this himself.

He ran over and grabbed Dale by his collar. Without speaking a word, he threw him out onto the street. Grabbing him and lifting him up again, he released a mighty backhand, causing the man to fall to the ground again. To his surprise, Dale jumped back up, a blade in his hand. "You want to fight, let's fight." Before Harry could react, Dale slashed him across the chest, a superficial wound but stinging.

Enraged once more, he reached back into magic and grabbed Dale by his wrist. He squeezed harder than he ever did and heard the smashing of bones. With a final magical output, he threw the man towards Hermione and her friends, weakened and ready for whatever they were going to do to him. Standing there, he delved into the memory of her friends, erasing when and where they had seen magic at work and sealed the cement once more. The gun he destroyed and walked back up to him.

Kristy looked at him as if in hero worship and disbelief. "I had no idea you wielded that kind of power."

He ignored her and went right to Hermione, who was kneeling on the ground, sobbing. Anthony had called the police and Jake was 'holding Dale at bay'.

"Hermione, it'll be okay." He wasn't sure if this was a good time but he took her into his arms and whispered, "I love you."

She didn't say anything but just fell against his chest into a deep embrace, not sobbing anymore and reassured by the presence of her...boyfriend.