A/N: This chapter is so sad :(

To Hermione, the village of Hogsmeade had always seemed so quaint and chocolate-box. It's quirky buildings held an almost grotesque beauty, shadowed by that of Hogwarts Castle. As she looked up to her old school, which seemed as if it floated on a cloud in this misty morning, she had a sudden feeling of regret.

The morning was damp and Hermione's shoes squeaked on the grass as she moved. The hood to her cloak was raised, in a vain attempt to protect her frizzy hair from the moisture in the air. The girl sniffled as she made her way onto the cobbled streets and through the village. She rounded the corner and stopped outside Madam Puddifoot's Teashop and took a deep breath, lowering her hood. Would Harry already be inside? Would he turn up at all? Of course he will, she said firmly to herself, it was his idea.

When Hermione had caught a glimpse of Hedwig's white feathers outside her bedroom the morning after their argument, Hermione's heart had given a leap of joy. The owl had carried a note, albeit a brief one, from Harry that read

I'm sorry. I don't hate you I'm just upset.
I think we need to talk.

Love H.

Hermione had clung tightly to the note all morning, until she could think of an appropriate time and place to meet her friend.

And so the pair had decided to meet on a Sunday morning, three days before Hermione's appointment at the Ministry.
Hermione placed her hand on the door and opened it decisively. The small bell at the top of the door frame gave a light tinkle, causing a few of the occupants to raise their heads then lower them back down to their beverages. Included in these people was one sixteen-year-old boy with dark, messy hair. His emerald eyes fell on Hermione briefly before falling back to the frilly, pink tablecloth. Hermione made her way over to her friend, then stood by the table as the boy refused to look at her.

"Hello," she began timidly.

"Hello." His tone was curt and Hermione faltered. Harry nodded to the vacant chair opposite. "Sit." Hermione did as she was told and looked at her hands. A thin, middle-aged waitress came over to the table and looked at them expectantly.

"Do you want a drink?" Harry muttered gruffly. Hermione shook her head.

"No thank you," she said quietly.

"Two teas," Harry told the waitress. She scribbled a brief note on a pad and scuttled off.

Hermione was thankful for the clinking of teaspoons and the dull hubbub of the other customers, as it made the silence between the two of them more bearable. She glanced around the café, in mock-interest. Harry cleared his throat and she looked back at him.

"So…how've you been?" he asked almost casually.

"Ok."

"Hermione…"

"Awful, ok? You know Harry so don't ask!" she snapped at him then immediately regretted it. Her temper had been so short recently, and she hated it. She gave a sigh. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. Harry gave a shrug as the waitress brought their drinks over.

"Don't worry about it…Thanks," he added to the witch as she began to walk away from the table. Hermione stared deeply into her unwanted drink.

"How's Ron?" she plucked up the courage to ask. Harry just smirked.

"You think I'm angry, you should see him! It's like you said though…why would he understand?" He gave a bitter laugh and Hermione winced.

"Harry–"

"Don't, ok? I really don't want to talk about it," he said firmly, rubbing his forehead despairingly. His fringe parted slightly, showing his infamous scar. Hermione's eyes landed on it briefly. After spending six years with the boy, Hermione had almost forgotten about the scar completely. To her, it wasn't an important part of him at all it was just something that was there. To Hermione, there was so much more to Harry Potter.

"Why are you here then?" she asked him, her eyes finally meeting his.

"To say goodbye," he said pointedly. "What's the point in making you change your mind? Even if I did, things wouldn't be the same between us. This would always be there. You would constantly resent me for making you stay and we would constantly wonder whether you were going to leave at any minute. So, like I said Hermione, we shouldn't talk about it." He picked up his cup and took a dramatic sip of his tea. Hermione just stared at him, shocked. It wasn't the reaction she was expecting at all.

"And Ron feels the same way?" she was almost afraid to ask. Harry nodded, swallowing, and lowered his cup back to the table.

"To an extent…after all, Ron's incapable of feeling anything isn't he." His snide tone angered Hermione.

"Excuse me! I never said that! You're twisting my words now Harry."

A couple sat at a table near by, glance over then quickly turned away as Harry's glare fell on them.

"You've been implying that for the last six years!" he snapped then sighed. "I don't want to fight Hermione, I really don't."

"Neither do I."

"Good."

The pair sat in silence once more. Hermione could feel her chest rising and falling heavily in the uncomfortable situation. She played with her fingers as a distraction.

"I'm really sorry about your parents," Harry said quietly. Hermione's hands froze andlooked up at him, see that he truly meant it. Sheburst into tears. Harry bit his bottom lip and his face softened for the first time since seeing his grieving friend. He left his seat and crouched by her, taking her hands. The couple were staring again, and they weren't the only ones. Half the tearoom were more interested in what was happening with the two teenagers rather than their own conversations. Harry glowered around the room and heads snapped away.

"Hermione, please don't cry." He tried to look up to her eyes, through her great mass of brown hair. "Come on, don't do this. See this is why you can't leave…you need us Hermione. You're upset, don't walk away we only want to help you. Stay please."

"Harry!" Hermione sniffled in exasperation.

"Please! All that stuff I just said about not wanting to change your mind…it was a lie. You know it was. Of course I want you to change your mind."

"Harry no, I can't." Hermione stood and knocked the table, her untouched drink sloshing onto the frilly tablecloth. "I didn't come here to be persuaded. It's like you said Harry…we should just say goodbye." She picked up her cloak from the back of her chair and headed out of the door. Harry hurriedly delved in his pocket for a coin, threw it haphazardly on their table and followed his friend out into the bright street leaving the bell tinkling behind them.

Hermione had already gotten quite far down the road and Harry had to jog to catch up with her.

"Hermione wait!" he breathed. She stopped but didn't turn around.

"For what? Wait my entire life to feel better? For the pain to go away?" Harry saw her lower her head to look at the cobbled floor. "I'd rather not."

She carried on walking and Harry went after her. Many students were out in the streets, enjoying their free weekend. They stopped to watch as Harry chased after Hermione. He was annoyed to see Cho Chang with her group of giggling girls, staring and smirking as Hermione ignored him. Harry had the sudden urge to throw a bucket of water at them just to see what would happen. Would they scatter like birds? Or was there really some invisible force that held them together? He shook his head clearing it of the ridiculous thought, and shouted Hermione once more.

"Would you just listen!" This time Hermione spun around in her tracks.

"Why Harry? So you can make me feel even worse than I already do? You have no idea what this is doing to me! You're right, you can't possibly understand. And you'll not change my mind so stop trying."

"I can't… I love you Hermione." The street went eerily quiet. Hermione blinked at him.

"What?" she croaked. Harry wished Cho wasn't still staring. He felt his face getting warm and licked his lips uncomfortably.

"Well, what I mean is, I love having you around. You're the closest thing I have to a sister. You're my best friend…fair enough I have Ron but you're right, he is pretty useless sometimes." The corner of Harry's mouth twitched in a smile and Hermione's did the same. "You help me out with my homework even though you've told me a zillion times not to leave it to the night before. You always put things into perspective for me when I'm being to narrow minded to see the bigger picture…need I go on?" Hermione needed a moment to take in all he had thrown at her. She nodded slightly.

"Carry on…"

"Um…well you're bossiness is endearing." Hermione laughed. "And last summer," Harry's tone became serious, "when…well when you nearly died it was all my fault, and I swore to myself back then that I would never let anything bad happen to you guys again. And now this has happened and it's my fault. I've let you down again Hermione, and I'm so sorry." Tears were streaking down Hermione's cheeks now and she moved towards Harry and held him, in the middle of the street with everyone staring, but Harry didn't care at all.

"Please stay, Hermione. I need you. I can't fight this war without you. You're my rock." Hermione pulled away from him slightly but she still clung tightly to his arms. She didn't meet his gaze, but he saw a brief nod and heard her sigh.

"Ok," she whispered and he pulled her back into an embrace.

"Thank you, Hermione. I'll look after you, I promise. This time I'll get it right."

A/N: Awww, you didn't think I was just gonna let her walk away and leave him behind did you? Would have probably been more dramatic but I love the mushy stuff. What you think?