Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I own only the plot. Clarice and Maggie belong to me. But Jo Rowling owns Harry Potter and company.

Hermione's Untold Secret

Harry delicately placed Hermione on his bed, making sure that she was comfortable.

"Look, I'm going to get you something clean to wear. I'll be right back." He said quietly to her.

He shuffled around his room for something comfortable. Finally deciding on an old Quidditch jersey and a pair of blue and green plaid boxers. He watched Hermione from a distance, wondering what she was thinking.

How could he do this to her? This is something far more terrible that anything that I've ever had to go through. I don't know how I'm going to react to her anymore. I'll give her all the space she needs. When she's ready to talk to me or anyone else for that matter she will do so in her own time.

He walked over to her and gently placed his hands under her neck and knees and picked her up.

"I'm going to take you into the loo and get you cleaned up." He whispered. She only nodded in response.

He placed her on the edge of the tub and knelt down in front of her. He gently placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head so her eyes could meet his gaze. Her eyes were no longer brilliant and shiny. They were dark and distant.

"Harry..." She said quietly

"Shh…Don't worry about talking right now. I just want to get you cleaned up. If you can, pull your arms through your sleeves so we can get that shirt off of you." He said in response.

"Don't feel uncomfortable about this Harry. I know that you're only trying to help." She said to him, searching his face for some expression while taking her arms out of her sleeves. "Ouch, I think he broke my arm."

"I don't. I'll fix that arm of yours in no time. But let's get you cleaned." He said shyly.

Pulling her shirt off over her head, Harry saw the direct effects of Ron and his brutality. She had so many bruises and cuts on her abdomen and chest he was astonished. The look of shock covered his face. Hermione shyed slightly. She really didn't want Harry to see her like this.

He drew up the bath water, warm but not too hot.

He gently placed his arms around her waist and put her arms around his neck for support. He lifted her enough to unbutton her jeans she was wearing. Pulling them down as gently as he could, he noticed that beyond the bruising and cuts she had a really beautiful body. Sitting there on the edge of the tub in only her under garments and socks she seemed more comfortable that he was at the present time.

"I'm going to leave, that way you can get into the tub in privacy. I'm going to the kitchen to get some Skele-Gro so we can get that arm of yours fixed up." He said standing up quickly walking over to the door.

"Harry, I need some help first before you leave. Could you please reach around back and unclasp my bra?" She said quickly.

Okay, now I'm feeling quite uncomfortable. First, she's sitting here on the edge of the tub in nothing but her under garments and socks. And now... She wants me to unclasp her bra. Bloody Hell, what was I thinking. This is going to be a long night.

"Sure." Was all he could say.

He walked over to her, knelt down and reached his hands behind her back, quickly unclasping her bra. He stood up and abruptly went to the door.

"I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen, take your time. I'm in no hurry." He said while shutting the loo door.

Hermione supported her weight on the edge of the tub and finished undressing.

What was he thinking? Did he really feel that uncomfortable around me? Was Ron right; is Harry in love with me?

As she lay there in the nice warm tub she started reflecting on what has happened in the past eight years of her life. She closed her eyes watching as the daydream quickly went by.

Hogwarts Express…1991

"Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one." She said to a small lanky framed boy with a lightning shaped scar, and a red head trying to turn his rat yellow. That was the first day of the rest of her life as she has known it.

Hogwarts…1992

"Hermione, I really wish you were here." She heard Harry say to her as she lay in the Hospital wing petrified.

Hogwarts…1993

"Hermione, is that us? Wait a minute, this isn't normal." Harry said with curiosity as she shoved him against the wall.

"This is a time turner, Harry. McGonagall gave it to me beginning of first term. This is how I've been getting to my lessons all year." She replied

Tri-Wizard Tournament….1994

"Harry." Hermione screamed as people in the stands tried to hold her back as she watched helplessly as Harry was facing the Hungarian Horntail.

Department of Mysteries…..1995

"Hermione, No. Please don't be dead." Harry said as he watched a stream of purple light hit her in the chest.

Department of Mysteries…..1996

"Harry, I'm going with you. You can't do this alone." Hermione said as she grabbed Harry by the collar of his robes and pulled him back.

"No, this is my destiny. This is what I'm suppose to do. Not you, not Ron, me. Do you understand? Me." He said embracing her like he was never coming back.

Final Battle, Ministry of Magic…..1997

As Hermione watched from afar, Harry dodged everything that Voldemort was sending towards him. She couldn't do anything about it. Harry had set up a force field around her to protect her. He wasn't going to see her hurt or worse dead.

She saw a green streak of light head towards Voldemort, and he was gone. She watched Harry walk towards where Voldemort used to be, and pick up his wand and snapped it in half. The force field from around her vanished and she ran as fast as she could to Harry.

"You alright?" She asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm just glad it's finally over. I don't have to worry about him ever hurting the one I love or care for again." He replied softly as the tears started to flow.

The last lines she heard more clearly than she ever heard before. Her eyes shot open as quick as a lion pouncing on his prey.

He said he loved me. No that's crazy. He didn't say that. He was just talking about everyone.

Then the revelation struck, she let out a small yelp as she covered her mouth.

She was in love with Harry.

She heard a knock on the door, and gathered her thoughts.

"Come in." She said squeakily.

Harry opened the door a crack and placed his hand towards the tub. Bubbles began to form in the tub. He heard Hermione giggle.

"Harry, what are you doing?" She asked trying not to burst out laughing.

"I just wanted to make sure you were decent. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable while I'm in here. Here take this." He said handing her a small vial filled with orange liquid.

"I put some pumpkin juice in it to take away the bad taste. I also put a little of a sleeping draught in it. Sorry, but I want you to be able to sleep peacefully tonight." He said.

She drank the fluid quickly and handed the vile back to Harry. She felt her arm begin to heal. She began to stand up from the tub completely forgetting that Harry was just feet away from her. Harry abruptly turned around when he realized what she was doing.

"Sorry Harry. Could you hand me the towel over on the sink please?" She asked him.

Harry franticly searched for the towel trying not to catch a glimpse in the mirror of Hermione of all people standing in the tub. He turned slightly and handed her the towel.

"Thanks." She said trying not to laugh. "Harry, you can turn around now. I've got the towel around me."

She stepped out of the tub and walked past Harry brushing his arm into his room.

"You can sleep here; I'll take the spare bedroom. Your clothes are on the bed. I hope you'll be comfortable." He said walking to the door.

"Harry, would you sleep here tonight? With me? I really don't want to be alone." She said watching him stop suddenly.

He turned towards her. Not really knowing what to say.

"Um… I… really don't…know if that's a good idea or not, 'Mione." He said with a look of surprise on his face.

"Please, for me?" Was all she could answer back with.

"Not that you're going to twist my arm or anything. But…Okay." He said nonchalantly.

He walked over to his bed and undressed. He noticed that Hermione wasn't moving. Let alone contemplating getting dressed.

Down to his boxers, he flipped open the blankets and crawled into bed. Hermione had dropped her towel and crawled into bed right after him.

"'Mione? Aren't you going to get dressed?" He asked curiously, trying hard to hide his excitement.

"No. My cuts need air to breathe. Only for the healing process. Just for tonight." She said turning over on her side with her back facing Harry.

"Okay." Was all he could say.

"If it would make you anymore comfortable, why don't you take off your boxers? That way we are both naked. I'm not ashamed of what I look like, and neither should you be." She said matter of factly.

She felt Harry squirm a little. She knew he was uncomfortable. But this was how she wanted it.

"Harry, Can I ask you something?" She said as she rolled over onto her other side to face him.

"Hmm…" was all Harry could answer.

"Please be honest with me when I ask this. Ron had said something tonight during the fight, and I just want some comfort knowing the truth. Harry.." She said quietly while trailing off.

"Yes…" He said getting impatient.

"Are you in love with me?" She asked while slipping her arm underneath the pillow.

"Umm… Why aren't you sleeping yet?" He said quickly trying to change the subject.

"Harry, be honest with me. You always try to change the subject, especially if it's something that you don't want to talk about." She said readjusting herself to become more comfortable.

"If you want the honest truth, then…" Harry cut himself short.

"Harry, c'mon you can tell me anything. I've been your best friend for eight years; you've always been able to talk to me. So, are you going to tell me or what?" Hermione said curiously.

"Do I have to?" He replied sounding like a little lost puppy dog.

"Harry, please tell me. It's not like we haven't been able to tell each other everything. Please, just tell me. I won't be mad at anything you say to me. I just need some closure." She stated.

"The honest truth is….yes." He said as he rolled over to face her.

"Why haven't you said anything? How long have you realized this?" Were the only two questions she could pose to him at the moment.

"Because, I was scared. I didn't want Voldemort to use you as means to get to me. I've probably known for four years. After that night in the Department of Mysteries sixth year." He replied after finding his breath finally.

She gently scooted herself towards him, and looked him right in the eyes.

"If I do something, will you promise not to get mad?" She asked him. She just had to know if her feelings were true. Without letting him answer she placed her right hand on his face and kissed him. As she kissed him, she felt things that she never knew before. Love, wonder, and hope was just the beginning.

Harry didn't know how to respond, but he wasn't going to let this moment pass him by. As they kissed, they felt something that they both had been longing for. Passion.

As they went on, exploring each others bodies, Hermione realized that what she felt was honest and true. Nothing was going to stop what was going to happen. Harry was gentle, not like Ron. He never made her do anything that she didn't want to. Nothing came out of that night but pure love.

As the morning sun rose, Hermione had felt like she had made a big mistake. She was never going to be able to face Harry again. She made her decision; quietly she rose from the bed making sure not to disturb Harry. She quickly scribbled a note to Harry that said she was so sorry, and grabbed her belongings and left.