Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and Company. They belong to the wonderful mind of J.K. Rowling. I can just use my imagination to create interesting situations for them. J.K. if you are reading this please enjoy!

Chapter 4: Thinking Back

Harry sat under a tree, next to the lake and stared out on to the dark blue waters. Yes, he said to himself, he had come a long way from that night, but still Hermione's words would echo through his mind with or without him wanting them to, "I am not sorry…I am going to stick by you no matter what." Harry often wondered if she really did mean it or if she was just saying that to keep him from doing something really stupid.

Hermione stopped walking as she happened to glance out one of the windows on her way to where else, the library. She smiled as she spotted Harry under their favorite tree. My he has grown up in the last few years. She thought, and has got especially handsome, with his untidy hair, and green eyes…Wait! Where did this come from? I can't think that! He is one of my best friends! Besides he still likes Cho, right? No, wait he broke up with her. But I couldn't like him it would totally ruin our friendship.

Without realizing it she had drifted down the stairs and out onto the grounds. Harry looked up when he heard footsteps approaching him; it was, of course, Hermione. Harry felt his stomach do a flip-flop. My, she is awfully good looking when she has her head like that…Agh! Where did that come from? I can't like her she is my best friend! Besides she probably doesn't like me back.

"Hey Harry" Hermione said cheerfully as she sat down next to him under the tree and leaned her head back up against it.

"Hey" he said trying not to notice that they were extremely close together, so close that their knees were touching, and the fact that they were alone. Hermione also seemed to notice this, but for once Hermione didn't care to be careful with her emotions around Harry. It might be the only chance you get, she told herself, for all you know he will get killed by a death eater tomorrow, so might as well let him know what your feelings are for him.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and breathed in his scent. It was spicy she thought, she felt Harry stiffen slightly at her touch but relaxed quickly. It feels so right, Harry thought, like we were meant to be like this.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" she asked quietly, gesturing to lake and the surroundings.

"Yep, sure is." Said Harry trying to calm his heart down, for he was sure that Hermione could hear it.

"What were you doing out here all by yourself? You know that Dumbledore doesn't like you being off by yourself." She said sternly. Harry smiled; this was his Hermione, always looking out for him no matter what.

"Oh, just thinking back on all the things that have happened to me since I have been here."

"You seem to do a lot of thinking now these days."

"Yeah, I really just need to get my thoughts and emotions under control." Including, he added silently in his head my thoughts and feelings about you.

"What do you think about? Not to be too nosy or anything, you don't have to answer if you don't want to." She said slowly, thinking that she was pushing it.

"Do you want to know the truth?" Harry asked surprised as he turned and faced her.

Hermione nodded, holding her breath.

"You." He said so quietly that she barely caught it.

"Really? I mean I am flattered…" Hermione was cut off by the fact that Harry had just pressed his lips against hers. "Mhhh, Harry" she mumbled as he kissed her, deeply and passionately, Hermione let herself go into the kiss. They broke apart gasping for air, they studied each other for a second before was again reuniting their lips. Hermione hesitated just enough and Harry snaked his tongue in and it began to dance with Hermione's. Harry's arms wound their way around her back as hers went around his neck.

They once again broke apart and Hermione sighed deeply, as Harry studied her looking for any signs of regret of what they had just done. Seeing none Harry cleared his throat and said in an official sounding voice, "Hermione Jane Granger will you be my girl friend?"

Hermione giggled and nodded, "Of course, do you think that I would have let you kiss me if I didn't?"

"Good," said Harry matter of factly, "now where were we?"

Hermione grinned, "I think we were here." She tilted her head up and kissed him again. Harry smiled to himself as the kissed deepened and grew more passionate, for once in his life everything seemed to go right.