Shadow

A/N: Oki, this is loosely based on Shadow by Britney Spears. But only the first chapter. Please Read and Review. And besides, this is only because I have writer's block for everything else. LoL.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything associated with Harry Potter.

Summary: Harry is an Auror, and he's been distant with Hermione. Hermione doesn't know how much she can take of Harry always being gone. Not a songfic.

Hermione rolled over in the bed that she and Harry shared. Her arm flung out across Harry's chest and she loved the warmth it provided. Harry rubbed Hermione's arm and she smiled.

"You still up?" she asked, yawning slightly.

"Yeah, can't sleep. But by the way you just yawned, I think you need to sleep," Harry replied, kissing Hermione's forehead.

"Yes, I'm bloody tired, night Harry," Hermione said, before snuggling her face in Harry's chest.

When she woke up the next morning, Hermione's arm was still spread out, but on the bed, not on Harry's chest. She got out of bed, put on her robe and walked into the kitchen where she believed Harry would be. But when she entered the kitchen, Harry wasn't in there. Walking over to the coffee pot, Hermione saw a note taped to it.

'Hermione,

Sorry I didn't say bye this morning, but I had to go and you were so peaceful sleeping that I didn't want to wake you. The Ministry needs my help on one of those missions locating...They just need my help. I don't know when I'll be back, but it should be soon.

-Harry'

Hermione put the letter down, poured herself a mug of coffee and sat down at the little two person table. She didn't feel like drinking it though so she just looked down at her hands. Harry had only been home for a week before he took off again and Hermione wished he'd stay home longer, or at least tell her what he was doing, but he wouldn't agree to that. He was way to secretive these days.

!#$%&

Hermione sighed; this was Harry's sixth 'mission' in the last year, him being away for about two months at a time doing something for the Ministry. This time Harry had been gone for four months, missing Christmas, New Years', and their anniversary. She didn't know if she could stand him being gone much longer. Spending your anniversary with a bucket of ice-cream, Ginny, and crying that your boyfriend isn't home is not necessarily the greatest. Taking a book off one of the many shelves in the main room, and sitting on the leather chair in Harry and Hermione's apartment, Hermione began to read.

When Harry had left, he told her he'd only be gone for a week at the most. He lied; he'd been doing that a lot about his 'jobs' for the Ministry of Magic.

The fire was heating up the room, causing a red glow on the walls. Hermione heard someone stick a key in the lock and looked up from her book. Harry's head stuck in the doorway, grinning.

"Harry!" called Hermione, jumping up and running to Harry's outstretched arms when he put down his bags.

"Hey Herms," Harry said, kissing Hermione.

"You missed our anniversary…" Hermione pouted.

"I know, and I'm sorry, I wanted to come home, I really did, but I couldn't," Harry said, sitting down with Hermione on the couch.

"So how was your trip sweetie?"

"It was alright, but it would have been better if you had been with me."

"Aw, maybe I should come with you next time," Hermione said, hoping that she could see what her Harry did when he was gone.

"You know I can't take you with me Herms," Harry said, standing. "But ugh, I'm tired; I'm going to go to bed. Night Herms."

"Night Harry," Hermione sighed.

She soon headed to bed herself, and when she climbed into bed, Harry wrapped his arms around her. Smiling slightly, Hermione went under the covers farther and kissed Harry. Harry kissed back for a moment before turning over onto his other side. Sighing once more, Hermione picked up her book and started to read.

After an hour of reading, Hermione glanced at the night sky, it was pitch black out, with some stars scattered across it. Harry flipped over and looked at Hermione.

"Still up?" he asked.

"Yeah, I was reading," Hermione replied, putting her book down and turning of the lamp.

"Hmm...well I just wanted to tell you that I have to go again."

"What? Why, you just got home!"

"I know, but it's a hard time at the Ministry right now, sorry Herms," Harry said, kissing Hermione's lips once before going back onto his other side.

!#$%&

"God damn it Ginny, he's always gone!" complained Hermione to Ginny at lunch one day when Harry was out.

"It's alright 'Mione, I'm sure that as soon You-Know-Who is gone, Harry will be home all the time," Ginny said, patting Hermione's hand, trying to make her friend feel better.

"I don't know if I can wait that long. I mean, he hasn't been acting like he normally does when he is home, which isn't that long."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, it's like the Harry that I'm seeing is just a cookie-cutter image of him; like it's only his shadow. He's always drifting away too soon," Hermione cried.

Ginny got out of her chair and walked over to Hermione. She hugged her. "So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know Ginny, I just don't know."

!#$%&

"Herms, I'm home," Harry called into his apartment as he stepped in.

Hermione came around the corner from out of the kitchen. "Hi Harry."

Harry rushed over to Hermione and kissed her, hugging her all the while. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Harry," she said, kissing his cheek.

He put his face in her hair. "I love you so much."

Hermione looked down at him. Of course they always told each other that, Hermione noticed something in his voice, and it wasn't love. She pulled away from Harry and looked into his eyes, they were so distant. "Do you really?"

Harry looked at Hermione, puzzled. "Of course I do, I love you so much. Why would you think differently?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe it's because you're never home!" she yelled. "And when you are here, it's only for a brief amount of time before you take off again. Why won't you tell me what you're doing? You know you could always confide in me...you knew that before we started dating." Hermione looked down and started crying, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

Harry tried to bring Hermione into an embrace, but she slinked away. "Hermione..."

Hermione shook her head. "What happened to us Harry?"

"What do you mean Hermione? We're fine," Harry said, reaching out to her.

"No, we're not! Don't you notice that we were closer when we were just friends? Once we started dating, you've become too distant. Maybe you can only open your soul to me when we're friends..."

"What are you saying Hermione?" asked Harry, getting worried.

"What I'm saying is that right now, you're here, but it's like it's only your shadow. You always drift away before we can sort things out, just like a shadow," she cried.

"Hermione..."

"No, listen to me Harry. You always arrive later than you suspect, then you take off way too soon after you finally do return to me!" Hermione couldn't look at Harry. "Maybe it would be better if we returned to be being friends, nothing more, I can't take this anymore!"

Harry just looked at Hermione; he didn't know what to say. He stuck his hand into his pocket, feeling the ring box that was there, as he watched Hermione leave the apartment. Why wasn't he stopping her? It was because that he knew that once Voldemort was gone, he'd be able to work things out with her.

A/N: Hey, tell me what you think, thanks. This is more than just this chapter. And yes, I know, it's short. But everything I've been writing lately has been short. LoL. Please leave a review.