A/N: Hey Guys! Finals went very well! :D Thanks all for being so patient! I have a feeling this story will be completed this weekend. Hedwig's Rant is still in the makings but it will be posted when it is complete. I do have a couple of sections in here in first persons again. I hope it does not make the chapter confusing. I do warn when First person begins and ends.

Writingjustforfun: Hope you like this chapter, though I'm sure I'll be getting 'hate' reviews from the way I left it. LOL!

Chapter 36

Later that Evening

Harry was finally able to get away from everyone. He saw Dumbledore standing off to the side. He took a deep breathe and approached the headmaster.

"Professor, first I would like to apologize for destroying your office." Harry said, looking tentatively up at the older man. Dumbledore just smiled.

"it's really ok Harry. I have too much stuff anyway." Harry nodded, feeling slightly better.

"I was also wondering…" Harry glanced over at his friends as he trailed off. He saw Ron give Destany a kiss on the cheek and she smiled at him as he wrapped an arm around her waist. Hermione seemed to talk happily with them, he noted that Destany and Hermione seemed to have put their earlier differences aside. "did you tell them about the prophecy after I was presumed dead?"

"I did not. I felt it best they did not know the contents." Harry just nodded and surveyed the room. He saw how everyone seemed to be happy again. Everyone but him. He wished he could be more naïve again like Ron. He wanted to tell them the prophecy, but he was afraid they would split when they found out their friend had to kill or be killed. He sighed and noticed Dumbledore get into conversation with Professor McGonagall and he wondered when she even appeared. He noted that no one was watching him and he slipped quietly out of the room and outside and sat on the front steps.

switching to first person Harry

I thought when I got my memory back, everything would be clear. All my questions would be answered and everything would be hunky-dory. And nothing could be more wrong. Sure, everything makes a bit more sense now, but I've been left with more questions then answers. More pain then relief. And way more confusion than clarity. And the thing is, I don't know where or when I will ever get my answers.

I mean, how is a 16-year-old supposed to bring down the most evil wizard in our time? Why didn't he just kill me when I was clueless and basically defenseless? Why do I have to be in love with my best friend?

First person, Hermione

I saw Harry slip outside. I know he thought no one would notice. I found it odd that he thought I wouldn't notice. Doesn't he realize I always notice him? Not because he's the boy-who-lived but because he's Harry?

I looked at Ron and I couldn't believe he actually thought our friend was back to normal. Harry hasn't been close to normal at all in a long time. Sure, he tries and puts up a façade around us, but I see through it, and I find it hard to believe Ron doesn't too. I quickly excused myself from the conversation and followed Harry's lead outside. I know he wants to be alone, but I can't help but think he needs someone right now and why can't it be me?

I stepped outside into the cool summer air and studied him for a moment. He was sitting on the deck with his feet resting on the steps. He was staring out at something only he could see, lost in his own thoughts.

"Harry?" I asked timidly. I heard him sigh and I became more worried about him. He's been withdrawn all day. I know something's bothering him and I hate it that he doesn't think he can trust me enough to tell me what it is.

"Go away 'Mione." Harry said desperation in his voice. He needs me. The porch squeaked slightly as I moved to sit next to him. He didn't look at me, just kept staring out into the darkness.

"Are you ok?" I asked, hoping he didn't just push me away again.

"I'm fine." He said, and I knew he was lying.

"You don't seem fine." I told him. Please Harry, stop hiding from me. I mentally pleaded with him. "You know you can tell me anything."

He did not say anything, but I could see his inner battle raging. To tell or not to tell. Let me in Harry. I pleaded with him.

"It's weird." Harry stated and paused.

"What is?" I asked, feeling hopeful he was going to be honest with me.

end of first person

"When I remembered nothing, you were the only thing I did remember. I saw you and I remembered brief moments when we were together. It was only flashes, but it was something to hold onto." Harry said, looking up into her eyes for the first time that evening.

"When everyone believed you were dead, something inside of me told me you were alive. You were out there somewhere and I knew I would see you again." Hermione said, staring back into his emerald green eyes.

It would be so easy to lean over and kiss her. Harry thought. His eyes left hers and trailed down her face. He was not consciously aware they were moving closer together and he suspected the same from her.

Hermione felt herself being drawn to him. She glanced quickly into his eyes. She knew their earlier confessions were round-about confessions of their love for each other. She didn't know who started it, but she did not care. She closed her eyes and revealed in the feeling of his lips on her.

This is perfect, He thought. Perfect like her.

They pulled apart and smiled at each other.

"Harry I"

and Harry James Potter, the-boy-who-lived, woke up.