Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter. Nsync owns "Tearing up my heart."
WARNING: Contains mild swearing towards the end.
Chapter Nineteen: Worth the Wait
"Hermione, how are you feeling?" Ron asked warily during breakfast. He and Harry had gotten an extension of their vacation so they could comfort Hermione.
Hermione sighed. "As good as I can be, Ron." Hermione decided to focus her mind on something else. "I'm sorry guys. I shouldn't be moping around. I mean, Harry defeated Voldemort! This is definitely the time to celebrate."
"It's okay, Hermione. I'm just glad it's all over," Harry said with a smile.
'Hey, um, Harry, I never got a chance to ask you how you defeated Voldemort," Hermione said curiously.
Harry turned red with embarrassment while Ron exploded with laughter. Hermione raised her eyebrow. "What? What's so funny?"
"I sang the 'I love you' song from Barney," Harry mumbled, clearly still traumatized by the whole experience.
Hermione burst out laughing. "Why on earth would you do that?"
"For a long time we kept dodging or blocking each other's curses and spells, so I needed to distract him for a moment in order to attack him. While he was being tortured by that... song, I used the Avada Kedavra curse on him."(A/N: No offense to the writer of that song or the creators of Barney)
Hermione continued to laugh. "That was really quite brilliant, Harry! Strange, but brilliant. It's just that I find it very hard to believe that Voldemort would come to his downfall because of a silly muggle song."
Harry grinned. "I was surprised, too, but it doesn't matter. He's gone now."
Ron cheered. "The cloaked weirdo is no more, thanks to the great Harry Potter!"
Before Harry could respond, Dumbledore made an announcement. "Attention students! I know that the summer holiday is drawing near-"
Dumbledore was interrupted by cheering and applause from the students especially from the seventh and fifth years who had to take their NEWTS and OWLS, respectively, and were anxious for the exams to end.
When the applause died down, Dumbledore continued," Yes, the upcoming summer holiday is worthy of celebration, but this year we all have something far greater to celebrate: Harry Potter has defeated Voldemort!"
The students stared at Dumbledore in shock, trying to register what he just said. Suddenly cheers and applause broke out among the students and faculty. Faculty members got out of their chairs and began dancing with joy. Soon everyone began chanting "Harry! Harry!"
"We knew you could do it Harry!"
"You saved us all!"
"Oh, Mr. Potter, bless you!"
"Well done!"
Dumbledore shouted," I think this calls for a celebration!" Soon piles of deserts, black pudding, ham, roast beef and other food appeared on the tables. Students chatted animatedly amongst each other and congratulated Harry, while Dumbledore summoned the students' favorite band, the Weird Sisters who began singing:
It's tearing up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
Baby, I don't understand
Just why we can't be lovers
Things are getting out of hand
Trying too much, baby we can't win
Let it go
If you want me boy, let me know (A/N: "girl" was changed to "boy")
I am down on my knees
I can't take it anymore
It's tearing up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
Baby don't misunderstand
What I'm trying to tell ya
In the corner of my mind
Baby, it feels like we are running out of time
Let it go
If you want me boy, let me know
I am down on my knees
I can't take it anymore
It's tearing up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
Tearin up my heart and soul
We're apart I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
(A/N: Yes, I know I chose a cheesy and superficial pop song but it does accurately convey how Oliver and Hermione are feeling- they experience heartache when they're together and when they're apart.)
While Ron and Harry were dancing with Lavender and Luna, they noticed that Hermione was sitting in the corner of the Great Hall, sipping pumpkin juice. A look of intense sorrow was plastered on her lovely face. You could see her soul dying right before your eyes.
"Excuse us, girls. We need to speak with Hermione." Lavender and Luna nodded knowingly as Harry and Ron made their way towards Hermione.
"Hey guys," Hermione greeted them with a smile. "Harry, I don't think I've said how proud I am of you for defeating Voldemort. I remember earlier this year, you promised me that you would defeat him and live. I just want to say- thank you for keeping your promise."
Harry grinned. "I'm glad I kept it, too."
Ron studied Hermione's expression carefully. "Hermione, are you feeling all right?"
Hermione nodded amazed at his perceptiveness. "Yes. It's just that the song that the Weird Sisters sang reminded me of my feelings for Oliver. Before the fight with Voldemort, I had a million chances to tell Oliver how much I love him and I missed every single one all because I was too scared to get too close to someone. I was too scared that once I fell in love with him, he would be taken away from me, but now I realize that it's far scarier and more painful being apart from someone you love."
Ron frowned. "Hold on a second there, Mione. Oliver isn't actually dead yet."
"Just have a little faith, Hermione," Harry added.
Hermione wiped away a tear. "Well, his chance of survival is very slight, so he's as good as dead. It's easier to think of him as dead, so I won't get any false hope."
"They're right, my angel. Have a little faith."
Hermione turned around and saw Oliver! He looked exhausted, but at least the color returned to his face. She jumped into his arms and gave him one of her famous bone-crushing hugs.
Oliver gasped for oxygen. "Loosen...your...grip... my...angel."
Hermione blushed and released him. "Sorry, Oliver. I-I just can't believe you're alive! You're really alive!"
Oliver hugged her. "I'm here now. I told you I'd always be with you." Ron and Harry smiled and walked away so as to give them some privacy.
"Hey, Wood!" a sneering voice called. (A/N: Guess, who?)
Oliver and Hermione turned to face the owner of the voice- Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Oliver and Hermione demanded at the same time.
Malfoy smirked before continuing. "Hey, Mudblood, is it true you fainted of fright during the fight with Voldemort?" Malfoy asked, sneering.
Oliver was about to intervene, when Hermione motioned for him to remain silent. Oliver reluctantly remained quiet. I really should just punch that little weasel...
Hermione's eyes darkened. "If you call me 'Mudblood' one more time Malfoy, I'll beat you up until you're nothing but a puddle of cheap hair gel and slime. I doubt you'll be able to smirk then," Hermione threatened.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Right. Like you could actually hurt me. You're dreaming....Mudblood."
Before Malfoy could sneer, or smirk again, Hermione kicked Malfoy on his face. He clutched his bloody nose, shrieking in pain. She then kicked him in the groin and punched him in the stomach. He fell onto the ground, writhing in pain. Oliver stared at the trembling and groaning Malfoy with shock. Note to self: Never get Hermione angry.
Hermione smiled triumphantly and knelt down beside the Slytherin. "Who's suffering from fright now, Ferret Boy?" She kicked him gently (he suffered enough pain) behind a curtain so the faculty wouldn't notice.
Hermione returned her attention to Oliver as if nothing had happened, and smiled a genuine smile for the first time since Oliver was taken to the hospital wing. "Oliver, I have something to tell you- something that I should have told you every single day."
Oliver smiled down at her. "What is it, my angel?" He was still a little afraid of Hermione's impressive fighting abilities, so he chose his words carefully, not wanting to provoke her. If she didn't want to discuss the fight with Malfoy, he sure as hell wouldn't.
"I love you." (A/N: Everyone, say it with me," Finally!")
Oliver's eyes widened with surprise. He wasn't expecting those words. That was the first time he had ever heard those words come from Hermione's mouth. "What did you say?" Oliver asked, unable to believe what Hermione had just said. I must be in a dream! None of this could possibly be real.
Hermione repeated," I said I love you Oliver. All this time I've been afraid to tell you because I was afraid I was going to lose you, and I didn't want to get too close. But now I know, that it will bring me far more pain to hide my feelings from you and see you die, knowing that I never told you how much I truly care, how much I love you."
Oliver was overcome with so much happiness that he lifted Hermione off her feet and spun her around. "Hermione, you've just made me the happiest guy to ever walk the earth!" He set her down and gazed lovingly into her eyes." I love you, Hermione. There are no words on the face of this earth that can express how much I truly love you."
Much to Oliver's surprise, Hermione pulled Oliver toward her and kissed him passionately. Although he was losing oxygen since they were passing the two -minute mark during their first kiss, Oliver never wanted her to stop. He could literally live off of the love Hermione had for him. Who the hell needs oxygen? Finally, after a few more seconds (or rather, a few more minutes) more of kissing, Hermione released him, and smiled. "I love you, Oliver more than life itself. I just wished I hadn't taken so long to say it."
Oliver wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and smiled lovingly at her. "Hermione, it was worth the wait." He held tightly onto Hermione as she rested her head against his shoulder, both of them never wanting to let go.
A/N: Well, that's the end. So are you happy with the ending? If you liked this story you should definitely thank skisolie for suggesting that I write a story based on one of my poems, "Time is Up." Without her, this story would not exist!
And now I will thank all of my amazing, wonderful, loyal reviewers. This story is worthless without all of your comments and opinions.
Acid green quil: Thank you for reviewing!
Lost angel92: Thank you for your review!
Rebel with a crappy attitude: Relax! Oliie's safe. Hope you liked the ending. Thanks for reviewing!
Valentines-hater: Come on, you didn't really think I could let Oliver die, did you? I'm not that cruel. Thanks for reviewing!
Buffy: Thank you so much for reviewing! I hope you like the ending.
Kyra Malfoy: Yeah, it's mushy. I admit it, but what's a romance story without a bit of mush? :) Thanks for reviewing!
Mandy: Wow! You really think my writing is almost as good as Ms. Rowling's? That's quite a compliment! I'm honored to be even considered to have writing that's almost as good as hers. Thanks for reviewing!
Lia06: Don't worry. I could never kill off Oliie! He's one of my favorite characters! Thanks for reviewing!
Gabriel Madden-Lovato: Thank you so much for reviewing!
A/N: I probably won't be writing a sequel since I haven't come up with any good plot ideas. I am, however, writing another Hermione/Oliver fanfic called "Adventures in America," in which they go on a last ditch effort to save Oliver's Muggle Studies grade. Oliver will be sweet like he was in this story, but he will also be occasionally clueless, yet intelligent at times, arrogant, curious, adorable, etc. Hermione will be similar to how she is in the book. I won't post this until I finish writing it because I don't want to leave anyone hanging in suspense for several months.
If you don't see your name on this chapter and you reviewed this chapter, that just means I posted the final chapter before your review showed up. Please know that I really appreciate your reviews. Thank you all for being such terrific reviewers! I'll never forget you guys!
