Hermione sat on the couch with Harry facing her. She could tell by the uncertain look on his face that whatever he was going to tell her was very important to him. Hermione got this strange feeling that whatever was going to come out of his mouth would change her life forever. Whether it would be good or bad, she still didn't know, although she was mentally trying to prepare herself for the worst.

Whatever he says, she thought, try to be positive. You can break down later.

Harry took a deep breath. Here it goes, he thought.

"Hermione," Harry started, "First thing that you have to remember is that I value our friendship above anything else. It means the world to me. You have always been there for me, through the good and the bad, the happiest times in my life, and the saddest. I would never intentionally do anything that would ruin our friendship. But…"

Oh no, don't say but, please don't say but. Hermione wanted to yell. Whenever anyone says but it always means something bad. Prepare yourself Granger.

"But," Harry continued, "There are some things that I can't ignore anymore. I've tried, but it just seems that by ignoring it, I'm only making things worse for us. This is so hard for me Hermione."

Hermione could see that whatever it was, this was eating him up inside.

"Harry, just tell me. I can't take much more of this."

"Ok. For the past few years, it seems that we have gotten a lot closer. Especially since Ron and Luna have been together, our trio seems to have gotten to be more of a duo. I liked it at first because it gave us time to really talk. I know that we talked before, but the whole thing with Voldemort was always looming over our heads. A lot of our conversations seemed like they either involved homework or how we were going to beat the evil in the world. When the war ended, and that stuff was gone, we got to actually talk about normal everyday things. We even shared our dreams of what we wanted to do now that he was finally gone. I learned more about whom you really were and I loved it."

Harry was saying everything that Hermione herself was feeling. Their friendship had grown more adult in a way. They weren't just kids anymore and their conversations and the late night talks they had, had started to reflect that. That's what made her come to want more than just a friendship with Harry.

"But then things started to change for me 'mione". Harry was starting to sweat. The knot in his stomach seemed to be getting tighter with every word that was coming out of his mouth. "I always looked forward to getting to talk to you and to see you, but now it seemed like that was all I looked forward to. You occupied all my thoughts. It even started to interfere with Quidditch. That's when Ron cornered me one day and wanted to know what was wrong with me. He and I had this long talk and he finally got me to admit what I was trying to deny."

"Admit what Harry?" Hermione asked not really sure that she wanted to know the answer.

Harry took Hermione's hands into his. Her heart started to race. Could he really be thinking what she thought he was? Hermione looked into his eyes. They were staring straight at her.

"He got me to admit, that I love you Hermione. I mean, I know I've always loved you, but now what I'm saying is that…I'm in love with you."

Hermione gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. Did he just say what she thought he did? Harry was in love with her? She had dreamt of this moment for so long and now it was actually here. Harry was sitting in front of her and declaring his love. She felt a little dizzy. Harry could see that he had surprised her with his admission. He couldn't tell if it was a good or bad surprise. He had started now; he had to finish what he needed to say.

"I know that this may be a surprise to you, but I can't deny how I feel about you anymore. That's why it hurt so much when I had thought that you didn't want to talk to me a few months ago and why I picked that fight. I felt that it would be easier for me to handle if I thought that you were just mad at me instead of the idea that you just didn't want to be with me. I know that was no excuse and I know that I'm probably not making any sense right now, but I had to tell you the truth Hermione. And if by telling you the true way that I feel, I've just ruined what friendship we had, then that's a risk I'll have to take."

Harry sighed and sat back and waited for Hermione to respond to what he had just confessed. He felt that a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders and it felt good to get this secret out in the open. On the other hand, he was sure that he had just killed the best thing in his life in his friendship with Hermione. The only sliver of hope was that she had not yet laughed in his face or run from the room crying. He wasn't sure what exactly she was feeling, but he was almost certain that it was not what he wanted.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"So… you're saying that you really are in love with me? I mean honestly, truly in love with me?"

Did she just hear anything I said, Harry thought.

"Yes Hermione. I'm in love with you. The question now is, how do you feel about me? Can you possibly feel anything more for me than you do now, or did I just ruin the best thing in my life?"

It was Hermione turn to take Harry's hands. She stared straight into his beautiful green eyes and smiled. Did her wish really just come true?

"Harry, I'm in love with you too".

Harry couldn't believe his ears.

"Come again?"

Hermione chuckled.

"I said, I love you too Harry."

Harry picked Hermione up and swung her around the room.

"Are you sure? I mean, I thought that you would somehow let me down gently and tell me that all you wanted to be was friends. I can't believe that you actually feel the same way!"

"I do Harry. I have loved you for so long. I was just so sure that you couldn't love me as anything but a friend. Do you know how long I have wanted to tell you that I love you? I can't believe this!"

Harry pulled Hermione even closer and cupped his hands around her face.

"Believe it," he whispered. And with that he gently brought his lips down on hers and kissed her softly. Her lips were so soft, just like Harry had always imagined. This is amazing he thought.

Hermione wanted this moment to last forever. Her biggest dream was coming true. Harry Potter had just told her that he loved her and she had said I love you back. Now he was giving her the most gentle and romantic kiss that any woman could have asked for. She never wanted this feeling to end!

Harry pulled back and stared into Hermione's eyes. She really did love him. Her eyes said it all.

"Harry?" she asked. "Kiss me again."

Harry didn't need to be told twice. He pulled her back into his embrace and kissed Hermione again. It was just as nice, but definitely had more passion this time. She could feel the heat rising in her body and Harry pressed down harder on her mouth with his. A little moan escaped her mouth as Harry parted her lips with his tongue. Hermione opened her mouth and reacted to Harry by letting her own tongue explore his. Harry responded by letting his hand caress Hermione's back and venture further down. Hermione gasped as you felt Harry's hand touch her arse.

"Sorry" Harry blushed

"It's okay" Hermione said. "It's just that I'm not used to you, umm, touching me like that. It's good, just not expected that's all."

"I can stop if you want? I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to do. I love you and respect you too much. You know that right?"

"Of course I do Harry" Hermione responded. "You also know that I never do anything that I don't want to do."

Harry let a little laugh escape him. He knew that Hermione Granger was one not to be messed with and that she never let anyone force her into anything.

"All right." Harry said, "Maybe we are going a little too fast. I love kissing you, but maybe things should go a little bit slower. Don't get me wrong. There is nothing more I want than to be snogging you all night, but I can control myself."

Hermione grinned. "Ok, but you don't exert too much self control. I liked the kisses too."

With that Harry and Hermione started to kiss once more. They only came up for air when Hermione heard a soft tapping noise. A small brown and tan owl was trying to get in. Hermione opened the window and took the letter from the owl.

"Who's it from 'mione?" Harry asked.

Hermione scanned the letter. It was from Jack, the young guy from the office she was supposed to see that night. She had told him that she was sick and had to break the date. He was just checking in on her.

"It's from a friend. He wanted to see how I was doing?"

"A friend?" Harry inquired "Who is it, Ron?"

"Ahh, no. It's from Jack. A guy that I work with. We were supposed to go out tonight, but when I got your letter today, I canceled with him. I told him that I wasn't feeling well and he just wanted to check on me."

"Oh, I didn't know that you were dating someone." Harry said sounding dejected. "I've never heard you talk about him."

"We aren't dating Harry. We have been out a few times, but we aren't a couple."

"Do I know him?"

"I don't think so. Like I said, I work with him."

"Well, can I ask you this? Harry said backing away from her, "If you liked me so much, why would you go out with anyone else? I mean, I haven't been on any dates for ages because all I could think about was you. I'm that serious about you. I just thought that by the way tonight was going, that you were serious about me too."

"Harry, I am serious about you. The whole reason that I ever went out with Jack was because I thought that you and I were never going to happen. I was trying to move on with my life. If I ever knew that you felt the same about me, I never would have gone out with him. I would have been spending my time with you."

Hermione stepped close to Harry, but he continues to back away. Hermione stopped. She didn't like the feeling that she was getting from him.

"Did you ever kiss him?" Harry muttered

"Excuse me?" Hermione couldn't believe where the conversation was going.

"You heard me." Harry said clearer now with an edge to his voice. "Did you ever kiss him?"

"Not that it is any of your business Harry, but yes I did kiss him once. But it didn't mean anything to me. Not like what our kiss tonight meant."

"I don't know Hermione."

"Know what Harry?"

"I don't know if I can handle you and other guys. It makes me wonder. I was willing to not see anyone because you were all I wanted. And believe me, I could have had a lot of women. I just think that if you have the similar feelings for me, then you would have done the same thing. But since you didn't, then maybe our commitment to one another isn't the same."

"I can't believe you Harry Potter!" Hermione yelled. "You are going to question my love to you based on a note from a guy I dated three times? You were the one that left me high and dry for the last two months, remember? Besides, if I wasn't committed to you or wanted to be with you, then why didn't I just keep my date with Jack and tell you that I was busy?"

"It's just hard for me to think that you kissed someone else when you have such strong feelings for me."

"Well Harry, I've kissed a few guys since I've known you and I know that I'm not your first kiss, so you're going to have to get over the fact that these lips of mine have been kissed before!"

"Ok, so owl this Jack guy and tell him that you and I are together and that you never want to see each other again." Harry said with a demanding tone in his voice.

"I'm not going to tell him that in an owl Harry. That's rude. I'll tell him in person tomorrow at work. And I'm not going to tell him I never want to see him again. I do work with him you know."

"I don't think it's rude. I think that maybe you do want to see him again. You probably even want to still date him!"

"For Merlin's sake Harry! Don't you trust me? I just told you that I love you, not Jack!"

"Trust? I don't know if I trust you! You probably weren't going to ever tell me about him were you?"

She could not believe the way this conversation had turned. How dare he!

"That's it Harry. Get out now! I don't deserve to be yelled at like this."

Harry instantly regretted his actions as soon as he heard her raise her voice. Crap!

"Hermione wait…" Harry stammered.

"Get out!"

Harry knew that he had blown it again. He turned and "pop" he was gone.

A/N: Once again, you guys have been great with the reviews. Keep it up.