A/N: I just want to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed the story! I love reading the reviews and some of you said you thought Harry was a wimp when he was fighting Malfoy and I agree with you. I was sure I made Harry hit Malfoy a couple of times…but apparently, I didn't. When I finish the story, I'll be sure to edit that chapter for you all so Harry seems a bit tougher!

Here's the 7th Chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters, spells, places etc. The only thing I own is the plot of this story!

Chapter Seven

Hermione had already gone when Harry woke up, and he was extremely disappointed. It was the first time in a week that he hadn't got a good morning kiss on the cheek. No double potions also meant that he wasn't likely to see her all morning unless she was at breakfast or had decided to go to Gryffindor Common Room. Harry quickly put on his robes and ran to the Great Hall, hoping to find Hermione there. He didn't.

"Have you seen Hermione at all?" Harry asked, sitting beside Ron.

"No, wasn't she in her room?" Ron asked.

"She'd already left." Ginny stood up, making everyone jump.

"Leave her alone Harry, she doesn't want to talk to you," Ginny warned, walking out of the Great Hall.

"What was that about?" Ron asked. "What did you do?"

"I…I didn't do anything…just…bugger," Harry shouted the last word before jumping up from the table. Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville followed him.

"Ginny!" Harry shouted, trying to catch her up without running. "Ginny!" The red head disappeared into Gryffindor Common Room.

"Oh for Merlin's sake Ginny," Harry muttered under his breath. He barged into the Common Room and grabbed Ginny's arm, spinning her round.

"Where is she?" he demanded.

"She has told me not to tell you," Ginny replied, pulling away.

"I don't care what she's told you to do, tell me where she is!"

"She doesn't want to talk to you, Harry."

"Look, I upset her and I want to apologise." Ginny was getting angry now. The boys burst in behind Harry and watched.

"She doesn't want your bloody pity, you did more than bloody upset her last night!"

"Ginny!"

"I'm not going to tell you where she is!"

"Ginny!"

"Stop shouting my name as if it'll make me tell you, you won't get it out of me!" she turned to walk away, but Harry grabbed her arm.

"I need to apologise, tell her I didn't mean to over-react when she told me she liked someone!"

"Harry!" Ginny tried to stop him.

"I need to tell her I don't mind if she likes someone!"

"Harry!"

"I don't mind who they are-"

"She likes you, you prat!" Ginny shouted, before covering her mouth with her hand. Harry stopped and looked at her.

"What did you say?" he whispered.

"Nothing, it doesn't matter, forget I said it," she went to pull away, but Harry gripped her arm more firmly.

"Ginny, tell me what you said, now!"

"I didn't say anything!"

"You said Hermione liked me, is that true?" Harry asked hopefully. Ginny was angry again and she stood so she was directly in front of Harry.

"Of course it's true you moron! Hermione's liked you for ages! I don't bloody know how you can't have seen that. You must be blind! What the hell is wrong with you, Harry, huh? How couldn't you have seen that?"

"I…I…"

"You what, Harry? You thought she was just being stupid when she kissed you goodnight on the cheek every night and good morning and when she was embarrassed when she saw you in your boxers yesterday morning and when you were staring at her and complementing her? When you were pushing yourself against her in the broom closet and she could hardly breath and you didn't notice that? Did you never notice how her eyes light up when you walk in a room Harry, and you can't tell me it was only friendship when she snuggled up to you on the sofa and fell asleep and heard you whispering in her ear. She wanted you to say it to her face Harry. Are you thick or something?"

"Ginny…Ginny, where is she?"

"I'm not telling you, figure it out on your own," Ginny finally pulled away from him. "And I suggest that when you find her you do bloody well a lot of apologising! An awful lot, because you're going to need to, to repair you relationship with her." Harry watched the youngest Weasley disappear up the stairs to the Girls Dormitories and turned round. All four of his friends were staring at him.

"I'm such an idiot!" he hissed through gritted teeth. "Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot…" No one knew what to say. Harry closed his eyes and everyone could clearly see the single tear running down his cheek. He was still muttering the word 'idiot' under his breath.

"Harry…" Ron started. His eyes snapped open and he looked directly at Ron.

"I know where she is…" he whispered. "I know…" Without another word, Harry darted out of the Gryffindor Common Room and ran towards Hermione's favourite place at Hogwarts. Where she could see the stars. He took the stairs leading to the Astronomy tower two at a time, trying not to make any noise. The door opened quietly and Harry instantly saw Hermione, sitting cross-legged, with her back to him.

"Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to get lost?" Hermione asked, acidly.

"Hermione…"

"Just go away Harry."

"No, not until you hear me out."

"I don't want to listen to anything more that comes out of your mouth. Just get lost and stay away from me."

"No."

"Can't you just do what I say, for the first time in your life, Harry?" she asked, annoyed.

"I'm not leaving until you listen to what I have to say," Harry insisted.

"Then I'll leave," Hermione said, standing up and walking towards him. Just as she was about to walk past him, through the door, he put his arm out to stop her.

"Harry, let me out."

"No, I've told you already. You need to listen to me." Still not looking at him Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Fine, Harry, what do you want to say? Let me guess. 'I'm really sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to upset you. I hope we can still be friends'" she put more emphasis on the word friends than any other in the sentence.

"Is that what you came to say Harry, is it? Is that what you want to talk about?" she asked.

"No, you wanted to talk about what I whispered in your ear when we were asleep on the sofa, and now I'm ready to talk about it." Hermione looked at him for the first time that night and searched his eyes.

"Alright then, Harry. Go on. Tell me what you said."

"You know what I said, you heard me."

"I want you to say it to my face Harry. Not whisper it in my ear when you think I'm asleep. I want you to say it now."

"Alright…" Harry took a deep breath. "Hermione, I have a confession to make." He swallowed. "I think you're the most beautiful, funny, kind-hearted person in the world and I love everything about you. I love your smile, your eyes, your laugh, heck, I even love it when you're shouting at me. I would die if you weren't here because you're the thing I have to live for. Hermione Granger, I love you. I love you more than life itself." Tears were streaming down Hermione's face at this point. He'd repeated the whole thing, word for word. She was lost for words. Harry closed his eyes and moved his hand away to let Hermione past. She didn't move, so Harry walked over to the banister and looked at the sky. Still, she didn't move.

"I thought you wanted to go. I thought you never wanted to talk to me again," Harry said, spinning round. He jumped. Hermione stood right in front of him, looking directly into his eyes.

"Harry, I'm so sorry," she whispered. Harry sighed.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the idiot here," Harry replied. Hermione smiled weakly and looked away. Harry couldn't take it any more. He put his hand under her chin and turned her head to face him. She had her eyes closed and she was still crying. Harry wiped the tears away with his thumb. Slowly he brought his head down until their noses were touching and closed his eyes too. Together, they slowly closed the distance between them, savouring the moment their lips met. They both felt as though they had died. Died and gone to heaven. Harry slowly pulled away, although his eyes were still closed and their lips barely touching.

"I love you too, Harry," Hermione whispered to his lips. "I always have and I always will, no matter what." Harry kissed her again, more passionately this time, drawing her into his arms, and never wanting to let go. She rested her head on his chest and breathed in his scent. Harry kissed the top of her head.

"I love you," he whispered one last time.