Disclaimer: HP and all of his friends belong to J.K Rowling who, sadly, I am not.

Hermione Granger stormed into the common room, "Harry Potter" she screamed.

She really hadn't needed to do that; her raven-haired friend was the only one in remaining. Everyone else had long boarded the Hogwarts express to return home. She, too, had almost left before she'd realized he wasn't there.

"Just go away Hermione," he said coldly.

She was so furious she continued right on over him.

"Do you have any idea how worried everyone was? How worried I…."

She cut herself off before she could say something she would regret. She wasn't about to add herself to his growing list of problems. Softly, she started in again.

"Come on Harry, I'm sure the Order is looking for us, so they can make sure we get home."

"Go ahead." He said. Hermione could hear his resolve breaking down.

"Harry," she tried again, "I just want to help. Don't close me off-"

"I don't want your help!" he said sharply.

As he turned around Hermione could see tears running down his face, and she knew full well her cheeks were just as wet with silent grief over his statement. She turned away to regain her composure when she felt a hand, soft on her shoulder.

"I can't" he said drawing a deep breath, "I can't let you help me."

Turning her around so she faced him he continued,

" I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to you. Ever since we ran after you and the troll first year there's been something, some feeling inside of me that I just can't shake. When you almost died in third year I had to stop that feeling. I made myself believe I was falling for Cho so I could push my feelings for you aside. I almost brought you up from the lake during that second task though; If Viktor hadn't shown up when he did I would of. After all you did last year… after al you've ever done. When you almost died in the department of mysteries, I was ready to roll over the prophecy and call it quits. When Sirius died, I knew you could be next; I tried dating Ginny hoping that she would distract me. Now with Dumbledore dead and having to go and search for the horcurxes I, I just wanted to get away from you before you got hurt…"

His voice trailed off and Hermione wiped away the tears streaming down her face. She looked up into Harry's green eyes, his eyes so full of pain and sadness and… something new, hope. As he closed the distance between the Hermione knew, he was hoping for the same thing from her that she had been wanting to give him for the last six years, love.

As Harry broke the kiss she asked him, "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?"

"Well yeah," was his reply as he pulled her into a hug.

His simple answer meant a world of things to her, she knew change in their friendship, their actions, their lives was upon them, yet she knew that hope she had seen in his eyes was for the future, their future. All he had given her was two words, but he had promised her what she needed most, a chance at a future, and a chance to help him fight for it.

Reviews are appreciated as is criticism, as long as it's constructive. This is my first story and I'm open to any suggestions anyone may have.