Guilty Love: Year 6
Chapter 7: A Bold Move
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything to do with it. J.K. Rowling does because she is brilliant; I'm close, but not quite as brilliant.
It had been several days since Hermione had kissed Harry in the common room. The next day she had said nothing about it. Neither had Harry. Harry hadn't spoken much to Ron, simply because he didn't know what to say to him. Ron had, after all, tried to steal Hermione from him.
It was after midnight. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at a table, the only sound was of their quills scratching feverishly, in an attempt to finish the essay Snape had sprung on them that morning.
"I think I'm going to go to bed," Hermione said, standing and rolling her parchment neatly.
"You're done?" Ron asked incredulously.
Hermione nodded. "Well, I'm off. Goodnight."
"'Night," Harry and Ron answered together.
Ron watched her ascend the stairs to the girl's dorm. As soon as she disappeared from sight, Ron spoke.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Harry, I want to apologize to you for my…outburst. It was low of me. Lower than dirt, I know, and I've felt terrible ever since."
Harry answered without looking up from his work, "Ron, you did what you thought you had to."
"I know, Harry. It's just…when Lucius showed up, sending that curse at Hermione, I froze. You fought him! And won! You saved her; you would do anything for Hermione. Dumbledore is right, you are her soul mate."
Harry put his quill down sharply. "I killed someone, Ron. I hated Lucius, but…I don't know if I wanted to kill him."
A look of comprehension crossed Ron's face. "Harry…I don't know what you're going through. I can't even pretend to. But…well, just keep this in mind. Lucius Malfoy killed more muggles than many of the other Death Eaters put together. He tortured people, Harry. You ended that. He can't hurt anyone anymore."
Harry stared into Ron's blue eyes. He knew Ron had a point but… "It doesn't change the fact that I've killed someone."
"Killing is something no sixteen year old should have to deal with," said a voice from the near portrait hole. Harry and Ron's heads snapped up to see Albus Dumbledore entering the room. "But the fact remains, Harry, that there is only one person in this world who can destroy Lord Voldemort."
Harry looked down at this paper, "I wish he had never been born."
"We all do, mate," Ron replied gently.
"Harry, I came with an answer to the question you asked me, weeks ago at the Quidditch Match. You asked about Lord Voldemort's heir. Harry, he must be destroyed as well."
"A child? Professor, you want me to kill a child?" Harry gasped.
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "He will be more powerful than his father."
"How do you know?" Ron queried.
Dumbledore waved his wand, muttering an incantation, and the pensieve Harry had encountered so many times before appeared on the table in front of them. Dumbledore gently prodded the swirling silver contents of the pensieve, setting it into motion. A silvery shape of Firenze appeared, slowly rising in to three-dimensional shape, rotating slowly. After a moment of strained silence, Firenze opened his mouth to speak.
"After sixteen years of darkness the end of his reign draws near.
Many will join the fight, but only one can determine who wins.
If the Light remains victorious, all pain shall disappear.
But, if the Darkness remains, a new power shall be borne unto Him.
Be warned, the New Power will be more powerful than any before him,
Fighting alongside the dark in a way never thought possible.
If He is not stopped the first time, the Darkness will never stop."
Firenze appeared to shiver slightly, before his silvery shape melted back into the pensieve. Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingertips together and let out a sigh.
Harry slumped back against his chair. "Sir…I don't know if I can do it."
Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair, almost eagerly, "Harry, you must understand, you will not be alone. Yes, I know, it comes down to you and Lord Voldemort, but you will not be alone. Your friends will fight beside you."
"I DON'T BLOODY WANT THEM THERE! I DON'T WANT THEM TO DIE BECAUSE OF ME! I DON'T WANT THEM THERE…I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE THERE!" Harry bellowed, standing suddenly and chucking his quill and parchment off the table, in hopes that throwing something would make him feel better. "THEY WILL DIE! JUST LIKE SIRIUS! THEY WILL ALL LEAVE ME!"
Ron stared blankly at his friend, his face paling slightly.
"I DON'T WANT THIS, BUT I HAVE TO DO IT! ME, NOT ANYONE ELSE. IT'S MY PROBLEM!" Harry bellowed, his face as red as Ron's hair. "I JUST WANT THIS TO END!" he added before slumping back into his chair.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to find Hermione approaching. "You remembered my name," he whispered. He looked up and saw the faces of the most of the Gryffindor house peering down at him groggily.
"Back to bed, please," Dumbledore said briskly. The students shrugged and turned to go, muttering quietly to one another. Once they had gone, Dumbledore turned back to Harry. "I came to tell you that I wish for you to take lessons in dueling. Your teacher will be Professor Lupin. Your lessons will take place Wednesday nights in the Shrieking Shack, I believe you know how to get there."
Harry felt hands on his shoulders and looked up to see Hermione and Ron standing behind him, each having placed a comforting hand on his shoulders.
Dumbledore nodded to each of them, "Your friends may come too, if you like, but I would like you to go to the first lesson alone. You have good friends here, Harry. They won't leave you alone, whether you want them to or not." He stood up, his eyes sparkling, "Goodnight, Harry, Ron, Hermione," he said, nodding to each of them. He walked over and opened the portrait hole, "Your first lesson is Wednesday. Good luck, Harry." Then he was gone.
Harry stood and shoved his hands deeply into the pockets of his robes before turning to face his friends. He grinned at Hermione, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."
She laughed slightly, "It's not like it's the first time I've woken to hear you shouting."
"Hermione…your memory is back!" Ron cried.
"Ronald, what are you talking about?"
"Hermione," Harry interjected quickly, "how old are you?"
"Fifteen. You should really know that by now, Harry. I mean, it's the end of fifth year and you don't even know how old your best friend is." She sighed impatiently, "Honestly…"
Harry gaped at her. "Hermione…I don't know how to say this, were in the sixth year. You were struck by Avada Kedavra…you almost died."
Hermione laughed, "Nice try, Harry."
Ron raised his wand in the air, "Accio Daily Prophet." Moments later someone's copy of the Daily Prophet whizzed into Ron's outstretched hand. He handed the paper to Hermione. "Look at the date, Hermione."
Hermione sighed and snatched the paper from Ron. She glanced down at the date, "See, it's…" Her face changed from a smirk to what was unmistakable shock, she looked up and met Harry's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. It's all my fault." He took her hand, and a confused look crossed her face. Oh, Merlin. She doesn't remember being my girlfriend. As far as she knows, it never happened. Harry dropped her hand immediately.
Ron looked awkwardly between his two best friends. "I'm gonna, er, go to bed. Night," he said before hurrying off to the boys dorm.
Hermione walked over and collapsed onto the couch. She turned to face Harry. "B-but…my schoolwork…" she murmured. She lifted her cinnamon eyes to meet Harry's.
"Do you believe me?" Harry asked softly.
"Why wouldn't I?" Hermione asked. Harry smiled slightly. "Harry, tell me everything I've missed."
Harry's mind raced, thinking of how to tell Hermione about their relationship, when suddenly, he remembered…
"Hermione…your mum…she's gone," he whispered, feeling another surge of hatred for Voldemort. This was the second time Hermione would feel the pain for her mother.
Hermione stared at him, "What do you mean?"
"Lord Voldemort…he…" he broke off, he couldn't finish it.
Tears began to fall from Hermione's eyes. Harry lifted his hand and wiped them away with his thumb, wishing he could tell her about them. This wasn't the time though.
"My Dad…he's ok though, right?"
Harry nodded. "He spent some time in St. Mungo's, but he's back home now."
Hermione nodded. Harry pulled her close and hugged her tightly. He could feel her tears leaking through his shirt. He ran a hand over her hair, "I am so, so sorry, Hermione. I never meant for any of this to happen to you."
Harry hugged her close while she shook and cried against his shoulder. After a long time, Hermione fell asleep, wrapped in Harry's arms.
Harry didn't want to wake her, so he just held her. Only there, while she was asleep, did Harry pour over his thoughts.
I miss her so much, but maybe this is a blessing. Now we can be apart, and she won't hate me. She will be in less danger. Her Mum dying, her Dad injured, her memory loss, it was all while we were together. Harry sighed; this was not what he wanted. This is what's best for Hermione.
Hermione spent the next three days catching up on homework with Harry and Ron. They were the Golden Trio again. Ron was the only one who seemed truly thrilled with it.
Tuesday evening Hermione was lying in her bed, just relaxing a little before dinner, taking some time to gather her own thoughts. Harry has seemed sad these last few days. I can't quite figure out why. If only I could tell him how I feel. If only he knew how much I love him.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked to dinner, Ron analyzed the situation in which he currently found himself. He knew why Harry was leaving Hermione be. Harry had told Ron about it, how he was doing it to keep Hermione safe.
It would be a wonderful plan if he wasn't so bloody depressed, he thought, annoyed. Ron didn't enjoy seeing his two friends so upset. If Hermione would just remember how Harry feels about her…but that's not going to happen. And Harry isn't going to tell her.
"And I want two scrolls by next Monday on cases when it would be best to use the Ventriloqui Charm!" Professor Flitwick squeaked loudly over his students who were shuffling towards the door, headed for lunch.
Harry was already out the door. Ron walked up to Hermione who was hastily shoving her books into her bag. "Hermione…do you have a minute?" he asked.
Hermione smiled, "Sure, Ron." Ron walked towards the door and Hermione followed, once in the corridor, he tugged her into a corner of the hall, away from the hustle of students headed to lunch. "What's going on?" she asked when Ron didn't say anything.
"Hermione," Ron began, "have you noticed Harry has seemed a bit off lately."
Hermione sighed, "Yeah, just a bit. Do you know what is going on with him?" Ron nodded. Suddenly this seemed awkward. "What is it?" Hermione asked immediately worried.
"This is weird for me to tell you, but that's not important. Hermione, the day you lost your memory Harry asked you to marry him."
Hermione's jaw dropped. After a moment she recovered, "Wh-what did I say?"
Ron flushed slightly, "You, er, you didn't. I sort of…interrupted it. I was being stupid, really. And then…Lucius Malfoy jumped outta nowhere and cursed you. I thought you were dead, I froze, but Harry killed Malfoy, and then sent me to get Dumbledore. We got you to the hospital wing…but your memory was gone. We were all glad to hear you were alive, Malfoy used Avada Kedavra on you…but your connection with Harry saved you."
"Connection?"
"Hermione, Harry is your soul mate."
"Why isn't he telling me this?" Hermione asked softly.
"He thinks it's for the best. He thinks he's protecting you. Your Mum and Dad, and now this…he thinks he can stop anything else from happening to you by keeping his feelings to himself. In truth, this could probably have just as easily happened to me," Ron added, "He's being thick, as usual."
"And you're not?" Hermione asked, a slight smile playing across her face.
"Not at all," Ron told her.
"Thanks, Ron. I really appreciate you telling me this." She turned to go, "Hey, Ron. Why did you interrupt us?"
Ron looked her straight in the eye. "It's not important anymore," he told her. Hermione gave him a tight hug.
"Thank you, Ron."
From the other side of the entrance hall, Albus Dumbledore had just witnessed a conversation between Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. As Hermione turned and headed into the Great Hall, leaving Ron standing awkwardly in the corner, Dumbledore smiled.
You're a good man, Mr. Weasley. You may have just saved us all.
"Wormtail," the cold voice hissed. "I need you to prepare a potion for me."
"W-what sort of potion?" the small man asked, shaking visibly as he approached his master, his silver hand reflecting the flames of the fire.
"A potion that will protect me from Avada Kedavra."
"M-master…there is no such potion," Wormtail whispered quietly.
"CRUCIO!" The small man let out a cry of pain, and fell to the ground, convulsing with pain. Lord Voldemort smirked and lifted the curse, watching the man writhe in the lasting pain. Once his panting had slowed slightly, he spoke, "Then I suggest you find one."
As the night dragged on, the common room emptied until Ron, Hermione and Harry only remained, studying at their usual table. Hermione sneezed loudly, causing Harry and Ron to glance up from their papers.
"Bless you," Harry said, before returning to his paper. Ron caught Hermione's eye and gave her an encouraging smile.
"I'm gonna go to bed," Ron said, giving a great, fake yawn. "Night Harry, Night Hermione." He gathered up his books and parchment into a rather messy heap and headed upstairs.
Harry watched Ron disappear upstairs. I can't handle being here with Hermione, Harry thought sadly, I should go to bed too.
Hermione stood up and stretched her arms upward. "I need a break from studying," she said with a smile. "I personally can't believe I'm still ahead of you two, considering I don't remember going to a single class." Hermione laughed for a few moments, before walking over and plunking down on the couch in front of the fire.
Harry found himself walking over to join her. "I never thought I'd hear you say you needed a break from studying," he laughed, a smile crossing his face for the first time in days.
Merlin, he has the most amazing smile I've ever seen, Hermione thought, shifting slightly so she could scoot closer to him without him noticing.
They were close now. Hermione was sitting cross-legged sideways on the couch, facing Harry, Harry facing Hermione, their knees touching lightly. Hermione was suddenly nervous.
"Harry, are you ok? You've seemed really different lately."
Harry frowned, "Sorry…I've just been trying to keep my mind off stuff. It's nothing."
Hermione leaned closer and whispered, "I know you, Mr. Potter. It's never nothing. Never."
Harry leaned closer as well. "Really, Hermione, it's nothing," he whispered just as quiet.
Cinnamon eyes locked on emerald ones. Harry could smell her hair; it smelled good. He wanted to run his hands through it, but he willed himself to stay put. "I love you, Harry. Harry, I love you. Mr. Potter, I'm in love with you."
Harry almost fell off the couch. He could hear her thoughts for the first time in a week. "I love you, Harry James Potter. Merlin, how do I say it? What if he thinks I am fool? What if he doesn't love me anymore?"
Harry was unable to contain himself anymore. He leaned forward and closed the space between them, pressing his lips to hers. Immediately, Hermione's arms went around Harry's neck, her fingers rushing through his hair. Harry groaned, he hadn't realized how much he had missed that.
When the broke apart, both panting slightly, Hermione smiled, "I missed that."
"Do you remember it?"
"No. Ron told me about us. How we belong together. And it just all seems right to me. I love you. I have for a long time," Hermione told him quietly.
Harry kissed her again, "I missed that. I know you don't remember, but I love you too. Hermione, all this is happening to you because of me. Maybe we should wait until after…" he broke off, leaving that thought unfinished. He didn't exactly know what 'after' was.
Hermione took his hand, "Harry, I don't know when that will be. What if you don't come back? Then we would never have had a chance. I don't want to give this up. I've waited too long."
Harry kissed her softly again. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione but a finger to his lips to quiet him, and then replaced her finger with her lips. Hermione leaned back, stretching out and pulling Harry over her. Harry closed his eyes and deepened this kiss…
Suddenly, it was like watching a movie in his mind, a small girl on a bike, a birthday party, a wand shop…A girl standing in front of the Eiffel Tower with her Mum waving to someone, Harry dancing with Parvati, Ron and Harry playing chess, the girl kissing Harry against the wall in the Leaky Cauldron. Eating a picnic dinner with Harry outside, Ron running up to them…the green light of a killing curse flying closer…
Harry and Hermione broke apart. "You remember now, don't you?" Harry asked with a grin. Hermione nodded and kissed him again.
Standing alone over the gurgling cauldron, Peter Pettigrew shivered. He knew if he didn't do this, the Dark Lord would kill him.
He cautiously tipped a vial of thick green liquid into the cauldron. He leapt back in surprise when the concoction burst into large flames, licking dangerously close to where Pettigrew now stood.
A chill washed over Pettigrew as he realized he was not alone in the room. "How is my potion coming?" the chill voice asked.
Pettigrew brushed some of the dirt off of his robes. "It's not an easy task, Master."
"It needs to be done. You know what will happen if you fail me." With a swish of a cloak he was gone, leaving Pettigrew alone in the room, terrified.
Running her hand across Harry's now bare chest, Hermione realized what she was doing. It had been over two hours, and she and Harry were still snogging heavily. She had just taken off his t-shirt.
"I should go," Hermione said, before planting several kisses at the base of his neck, towards his shoulder.
"I don't want to be apart from you anymore," Harry breathed softly.
Hermione smiled, "I'm not going anywhere." She paused and glanced at the stairs, "Well, I'm going to bed, but other than that I'm not going anywhere."
Harry smiled too, "It's ok, I need to sleep too." They kissed once more and headed to their own rooms.
A/N: And…. that's all folks! For now anyway. Please leave a review! Chapter 8 could take a while because I am going to Atlanta soon, and won't have a computer while I'm there, and I have a few big things going on the week after that. So be patient and I'll do what I can! Anyway, leave my some lovin' and I'll try and get cooking on chapter 8! As always, you can reach me on AIM as WritingHarry182! See ya!