Guilty Love: Year 6

Chapter 10: Saying Goodbye

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A/N: Here it is, the long, LONG awaited final chapter to Guilty Love: Year 6. As far as reasoning behind my delay, all I can say is I had writers block. About six months of it. Some of you may have noticed that I did post a new story, hopefully I will be continuing that. Otherwise, I am beginning Guilty Love: Year 7, which will not follow HBP at all. Anyway, here is the end, and keep your eyes peeled for a new story! Thanks for reading, you guys rock.

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The common room fire crackled away merrily as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley regarded each other from separate plush chairs. They were silent, aside from Hermione letting a cry escape every once and again.

Finally, Ron broke the silence, "This sucks," he muttered elegantly. "Bloody sucks."

Harry nodded. He didn't trust his voice. He didn't want to spend the summer alone, out of contact from his fiancée and his best friend. Even thinking about Hermione as his fiancée couldn't change how empty he felt.

They were silent again, now watching the fire crackle and pop.

"Harry?" Hermione's soft voice broke Harry's concentration. He looked up. "Just, promise me one thing, ok?"

Harry nodded, he would promise her the world if he could. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid over the summer, we want to be with you…you know, when…when you have to go."

Harry regarded her silently for a few minutes, pondering the million and six things she was really saying with this question. When Harry spoke his voice was almost a whisper, cracking with emotion. "I don't want you guys to come, but you've already made it clear that I won't be going through this alone. And some parts of me are glad for that." He looked up, making eye contact with Ron and Hermione, "I won't do anything stupid until you're with me. I promise."

Hermione let out the breath she'd been holding in.

And silence once again conquered them, content for the moment to be with each other.

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Cowering in the dark, Peter Pettigrew awaited his Master. He knew his time left was limited. He had prevented the killing of Harry Potter. He had to do it though.

After all, the Potter boy did save his life once. He had been bound to return the favor, and he did. Now they were even.

Maybe he could beg to the Dark Lord. Tell him that he had owed the Boy. Maybe he would allow him to live, for a little while longer. He could prove himself.

The door creaked open, Lord Voldemort entered, followed by his son.

"Master!" Pettigrew scrambled over to them, taking his robes in his hands, bringing them to his lips to kiss them. "Master, please, allow me once chance to-"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Peter Pettigrew fell to the floor in a silent heap, dead.

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Breaking the silence again, Ron spoke. "Why did he do it?"

Harry looked at him blankly.

"Pettigrew, I mean. He charged the Death Eaters." Ron shrugged, "I mean, to be honest he's the reason we're all still alive."

Harry nodded again. "In third year, I let him go. I didn't let Sirius kill him. He got away. Dumbledore told me that Pettigrew owed me. A life for a life, and last night he repaid us." He fell silent again. "He's probably dead by now."

Hermione remained silent, tears falling from her innocent face. All this death, all this pain. It wasn't fair.

Harry turned back to watching the fire, Hermione watched him. He looked so tired. And why wouldn't he be? In some sick way he was going to have to kill his Godfather. Well, not his Godfather, but the likeness alone is enough to make it hard for Harry. 'I can't believe he has to go through this, and yet he's so strong, and full of hope. I love him so much.'

'You are my hope, Hermione.'

Hermione blushed. Sometimes she forgot that they had that extra form of communication.

Ron sensed that something was going on between his friends, so he excused himself for bed. "Well mates, I've got to, uh, go and, uh, well, go," he finished lamely, standing up. "Night."

"Goodnight, Ron," Hermione answered.

"Night, mate." Harry nodded.

As Ron's too short robes disappeared around the top corner of the stairs, Harry hauled himself out of his chair, scooped Hermione out of hers, and took her over to the couch where he wrapped his arms around her. "I love you," he whispered. "I don't know how I'm going to get through the summer without talking to you."

Another tear fell from Hermione's face. "It will be ok. We're soul-mates, remember?"

Harry smiled weakly. "Dumbledore mentioned for me that it's also important we don't use our connection to talk. Voldemort could discover it and use it against us."

Hermione rested her heard on the crook of Harry's neck. "I'll miss you, Harry."

"I know."

They sat like that for the rest of the night, not kissing, not talking, just being there.

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Exams went on as scheduled. Harry was almost glad for the distraction. He studied by day, searched the library by night, looking for some way to kill Voldemort. He knew about Avada Kedavra be he was afraid of it.

Harry Potter was afraid of becoming a murderer.

'I will never be like Him,' he told himself repeatedly. 'I will never be like Him.'

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Ron feared for his friend. He knew Harry's personality and was worried that he would break his promise and either try to find Hermione over the summer or go after Voldemort alone.

Harry was his best friend, more than that even; Harry was a brother, ever since that first day on the train when he'd shared his chocolate frogs. He had not had a summer without Harry since then.

'Please, Harry, don't do anything stupid.'

Ron had been asked to visit Dumbledore's office after his last exam. He reported as requested and found his sister and brothers waiting. "America," Dumbledore had said. "You're going to spend your summer in America. Say your goodbyes this afternoon. You're leaving after supper."

Ron shifted uncomfortably. "Why so soon, sir? The End of the Year Feast isn't until tomorrow night."

Dumbledore nodded, "I know, but if you stay too long, Harry may change his mind."

Ron nodded, putting an arm around his sister. "One more thing, Ron. You can't tell Harry where you're going. That goes for all of you," Dumbledore said, looking round at them all.

One by one, they all nodded their consent.

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After her last exam Hermione received a note from Professor Dumbledore asking her to report to his office. "I've made arrangements for you and your parents to leave the country," Dumbledore began.

Hermione looked at the floor, trying not to cry.

"I've always wanted to see a Giraffe up close," Dumbledore said whimsically. Hermione looked up and found his blue eyes twinkling at her kindly. "Africa," he said. "Say your goodbyes tonight, you leave in the morning."

Hermione began to cry harder. Dumbledore took a few steps around his desk and knelt before Hermione's chair, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's as much for Harry's safety as it is yours. We need to get Harry through the summer, and if he thinks you or Ron are in danger, he'll act on his anger."

Hermione nodded and stood to leave. "Hermione Granger, you are a truly exquisite person. The fate of the Wizarding World lies on Harry Potter, and you are the one who will help him survive. I'm glad it's you."

Hermione turned to go.

"One more thing, Miss Granger." She stopped. "You can't tell Harry where you're going."

Hermione paused for a long moment, but nodded and left.

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Harry wandered up to the dorm room, having just come from the library. He opened the door and found Ron rolling his pants into a lump and tossing them into his open trunk.

"Why are you packing so early?"

"I'm leaving this afternoon." Ron said sadly. "It's for the best."

Harry sat down heavily on his bed, staring hard at the floor. "Ron…" Harry started, but stopped. After a few minutes of listening to Ron shuffle about, lobbing socks into his trunk, he tried again. "Ron, I'm sorry I got you into this mess," Harry said quietly.

Ron stopped and stared at Harry. "Mate, you didn't get me into this mess. I got me into this mess by sitting down in your compartment that day, and eating your candy. If I had wanted out, I would have gotten out when Malfoy tried to give you a hard time. Harry, I wouldn't trade my friendship with you for anything. And if…"

Ron's voice broke off, but he continued after swallowing heavily, "And if you don't come home, I'll be damn proud to know we were friends."

Harry wiped the tears off his face. "Best friends." He stood up and hugged Ron. "Thanks, Ron. I don't know where I'd be without you." After a pause he laughed and added, "Well, actually, I'd probably be dead."

Ron looked up alarmed, but when he saw the grin on Harry's face he relaxed. Harry would be ok. There was a knock at the door and Ginny pushed her way into the room. "Come on, Ron. We gotta go."

Harry looked at Ginny and then walked over and hugged her, too. "Take care of yourself, Gin."

She smiled, "You too, Harry."

And then they were gone.

Harry spent a few minutes mulling over his thoughts in the now silent dorm. A noise broke him out of his thoughts. "Hermione…are you leaving tonight too?"

Hermione shook her head, walking across the room to sit next to Harry and rest her head on his shoulder. "Tomorrow morning."

Harry's arm went around her back, rubbing her back and shoulders. He turned his head and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Ron just left," he said after a moment.

"I saw him in the common room. We said goodbye," Hermione said, her voice cracking again. She laced her fingers through his and studied his hand. After a moment he realized she was wearing his ring.

"Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

Harry had to whisper now he was so close to tears. He didn't want to be apart from her. "Always wear the ring. Ok?"

Hermione kissed the palm of his hand. "I will never take this ring off, Harry. Never." Then she took his hand and pulled him out of the dorm.

The Room of Requirement is a strange and wonderful place. It can be anything you need it to be, and tonight it was perfect. The Room knew why they were there, and it had never been more beautiful than it was tonight.

There were no awkward questions; Harry and Hermione both knew why they were there. It was going to be tonight. No more distractions.

They were on the bed, breathing heavily, kissing hard, and kissing like they might never see each other again. Shirts long gone, Hermione was now working on Harry's pants. First the belt, then the button, then the zipper. Harry wriggled out of them, pressing his lips onto Hermione's hard enough to bruise. He moaned loudly when he felt her hand slip beneath his boxers, grasping him for the first time.

Harry's hands were running lines up and down the insides of her thighs, enjoying the fact that each time he went higher, she whimpered a little louder.

Soon they were both completely nude. Under the covers, Hermione performed a charm to protect herself from pregnancy. Harry was over her, staring into her eyes. He didn't need to ask; he knew what the answer was.

Harry pressed his lips to hers and pushed into her, feeling her barrier break.

And then they were one.

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Harry Potter woke to find himself alone. Naked, and alone. He quickly wrapped a sheet around himself and stood up. He noticed a piece of parchment flutter to the floor and he stooped to pick it up.

'Harry,

The time came for me to leave. I thought about waking you, but you looked so peaceful. Part of me knows the only time you can ever be carefree is in your dreams. And I doubt you often have nightmare free sleep, so I left you.

I just want you to know that I love you so much. Please take care of yourself this summer so that I can find you in one piece at the Burrow, if Dumbledore even let's that happen. Please, please take care of yourself. I love you.

Hermione'

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Harry Potter did not attend the end of the year feast. He did not want to hear Dumbledore talk about Voldemort, or himself. He didn't want eyes watching him. He felt so alone.

He boarded the train alone. Sat alone, ignoring the eyes that stared at him every time someone passes his corridor.

The Dursley's were waiting for him at the station. "What? No weird friends this year? Everyone realize that you're useless?" Vernon sneered.

Harry simply walked by and got into the car. There was nothing Uncle Vernon could say or do to make him feel worse than he already did.

Summer.