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Chapter 16

I Walk A Lonely Road, The Only One That I Have Ever Known

"Wake up."

"Mmm?" mumbled Hermione, blinking open her eyes as small hands shook her by the shoulder. She then turned her head and looked down into Meru's gray eyes peering from underneath her dark hair. For a moment she was confused about where she was then she remembered Kailua paying for three train tickets to Hogsmeade station.

When the bushy-haired teen had asked if she was going, the akurei had explained that she wasn't going with them but Meru was. She didn't explain why except that the young girl would be safer at Hogwarts than with her.

How she would be safe in the same castle as her half-brother escaped Hermione but she hadn't asked questions. Meru was a sweet girl, after all, and the older girl enjoyed having her around. Especially since Harry had only been awake once in the three days they'd been with Kailua and even then he hadn't been awake for very long. Now he was asleep again, long body curled up on the seat next to her with his head in her lap.

"What is it, Meru?" asked Hermione.

The young Malfoy smiled and replied, "We're almost there. The conductor just said so." She then looked at the still sleeping Harry and asked in a hushed voice, "Should we wake him?"

"We can try," replied Hermione, placing a hand on his shoulder. She shook the sweater clad limb gently, saying, "Harry, wake up, we're nearly in Hogsmeade."

The han-akurei grumbled something she couldn't hear but Meru did and giggled. At Hermione's arched eyebrow, she grinned and said, "He said, 'Five more minutes.'"

The older girl sighed and shook him again until his eyes winked open. He then yawned and shifted slightly, stretching with cat-like motions as he turned his head to look up at Hermione.

"Asa," he mumbled before yawning again.

"Ohayo gozaimasu!" chirped Meru.

Harry smiled slightly in her direction then looked up at Hermione. His eyes then darted around the cab and he asked, "Where are we?"

"Nearly back in Hogsmeade," she replied. "You've been asleep since we escaped for the most part."

"I'm still sleepy," mumbled the han-akurei, running his fingers back through his hair. "And I can't figure out why…"

"You shouldn't be since you slept for nearly three days straight."

"Three days?"

The train's whistle blew loudly then, causing Harry to wince and sit up. He twisted a finger in his ear as the conductor's rang through the cars, telling them that they had just arrived at Hogsmeade Station.

"Ow," he commented after a moment, earning a giggle from Meru. He then began to roll down the sleeves of his sweater from his elbows to cover the manacles still attached to his wrists. Kailua had been able to remove the chains that had been attached to the manacles and collar but, unfortunately, had been unable to remove the manacles themselves. So Harry still wore all three, which made Hermione think that the unremoveable manacles were Voldemort's way of making a claim on the han-akurei.

Hermione just smiled at him at his antics and got up, reaching out to touch Meru's shoulder.

"C'mon, Meru," she said. "Harry?"

"Give me a minute to get awake enough to walk," grumbled the tall teenager.

The girl sighed and reached out to grab his hand, placing it on her shoulder.

"Just hold onto me. I promise I won't run you into anything."

"That's reassuring," grumbled Harry. His eyes then snapped open and his free hand slapped at his chest then stopped as he hit the scarcely healed scars there. "Where's my wand?"

"I've got it, don't worry," said Hermione. She then smiled sadly over her shoulder at him and added, "You know, Kailua said your father made that a year before he went back to Japan but it wasn't finished at the time. She said he told her he couldn't decide what kind of core to put in such a beautiful object."

"What is in it?" asked Meru with all the curiosity of a child.

Harry smiled down at her and replied, "It's technically two things: one of his hairs and one of my mother's."

"How is that even possible?" asked Hermione. "Even Mister Ollivander doesn't sell wands with two different cores. At least not that I've heard of."

The han-akurei shrugged one shoulder then yawned again before saying anything.

"I don't know how it's possible, I just know that it's so. I've always figured that's why it worked so well for me and none other did."

"Is that Hogwarts?" gasped Meru suddenly, bringing the other two out of their conversation. They had apparently walked partially up the hill from Hogsmeade Station during their talk and were within sight of a few of Hogwarts spires now. From where they were most of them were barely visible in the fading light but it was still an impressive sight, even for Hermione, who'd seen it for the past six years.

"Yes," replied Hermione. "It is."

Harry chuckled and nudged the young girl with his knee, saying, "It's even more impressive inside."

"Wow…" breathed Meru, her eyes widening as they got closer and more of the castle appeared.

But it was when they reached the main gates that led onto the castle grounds that they got the biggest surprise. Standing there between the two winged boars guarding the gates was Dumbledore, who was flanked by McGonagall and Snape.

The Gryffindor Head of House rushed towards them without warning and pulled Hermione into a hug, only to hurriedly release her when the girl cried out in pain.

"What happened, child?" she asked gently, carefully touching the younger witch's shoulders.

Hermione looked helplessly at Harry, who was staring at her with fear and wariness in his emerald eyes. Then their eyes caught and he turned hurriedly away, self-disgust flashing across his face.

McGonagall followed her gaze and frowned at Harry then glanced between them, trying to figure out what was going on.

Snape stepped forward then and stopped a few feet from Harry, his dark eyes boring into the han-akurei's ducked head. Then the dark head rose and emerald eyes met black before shifting quickly away as shame and self-disgust rippled through them. Harry's ears swiveled around to flatten against his head as he closed his eyes tightly.

"Perhaps we should take this inside," said the Potions Master softly, his eyes still on Harry.

"Very good, Severus," said Dumbledore, his own eyes on Harry but filled with steel instead of concern. "Mister Potter, Miss Granger."

"Sir," said Hermione while Harry only nodded. He then bent down and picked up Meru, who threw her arms about his neck as he followed McGonagall and Hermione through the gates. The young girl looked at Dumbledore and Snape over his shoulder and stuck out her tongue, gray eyes flashing fire before she darted back around.

"Charming," said Snape in a snide tone that held amusement underneath it before he set off after them.

Dumbledore stood there for a moment watching them go then slowly began to follow, lost in his own thoughts.

- - -

"Please explain your outburst outside, Hermione," said McGonagall as they all settled down in Dumbledore's office. She, Dumbledore, and Hermione were the only one's sitting in chairs. Snape and Harry were both standing – the former behind Hermione and the latter off to her right – and Meru was seated on the floor near Harry's feet.

The bushy-haired girl paled and looked at Harry, who was standing by the window. His eyes darted to hers then away again before he nodded and stared out the window.

"Don't be alarmed," said the Prefect softly as she unbuttoned the top three buttons of the shirt Kailua had given her and pulled it down to reveal the scarred over claws marks that ran from her collarbone to just below her armpit. McGonagall jumped in alarm then turned wide eyes on Harry, who now had his chin tucked to his chest and his eyes closed tight.

Snape coughed a bit and moved forward, gently pulling her shirt down to see the fainter claw marks running down her back. He then looked at Harry before saying, "Please make yourself presentable again, Miss Granger."

"Yes, sir," whispered Hermione, buttoning the shirt up again. Her cheeks burned crimson as she did this and she looked at Harry with sad eyes, knowing he felt the hurt of her scars even more than she did. His claws, after all, had been the one's to make them.

"What happened to your wrists?" gasped McGonagall suddenly.

"Lucius enjoys chaining his victims," said Snape in a soft, matter-of-fact voice before Hermione could answer. When she spun to stare at him, he said, "Yes, Hermione, I know well of Lucius Malfoy's tendencies and I have no doubt that those marks came from him. I also presume that there are similar one's around your ankles?"

When she nodded, he frowned before asking, "He did not…"

"No, sir," snapped Hermione before he could finish. She knew what he was going to ask and didn't even want to think about that having happened to her.

"Good," said Snape. He then looked across the room at Harry, who turned slightly and met his eyes.

"Tell us, Harry," said the Potions Master softly – kindly even. "What happened that could make Hermione continually look at you in concern?"

There was silence from the tall figure by the window then he whispered, "I did it."

"What was that?" asked Dumbledore, sitting up in his chair rather quickly.

"I did it," repeated Harry. He continued on even as he heard Hermione make a small noise in protest, "I gave Mia-san those scars. It was my fault."

"No, Harry…" began Hermione only to be cut off as the han-akurei spun about.

"No," he growled, making a slashing motion with his hand. "You will not take the blame for that. It was my fault that I gave in."

"But, Harry…"

"They were going to kill you!"

The young man's shout stunned the other four into silence. On the floor, Meru scooted closed to the perturbed teen and wrapped an arm about his leg, leaning her head against his knee. One of Harry's ears flicked then he leant over and patted the dark head.

A moment later, he spoke in a much softer voice.

"If I hadn't given in, they would have killed you, Mia-san," he said, looking down at Meru as he spoke. Then he lifted his gaze and locked eyes with Hermione, who nearly sobbed at the sadness she saw there. "But I…I love you too much to let that happen."

There was another silence in the room then Snape prodded Harry in a gentle voice.

"What happened?" he asked, causing the han-akurei to flinch.

"Voldemort," came the reply. "He…he performed some kind of spell. It bound me to him somehow but that backfired."

McGonagall's face was pale as she asked, "So, you're not…"

"No, professor. The bond couldn't hold. There's another little piece of him in me and one of me in him but beyond that the old bond still holds." He tapped the scar on his forehead with his index finger, continuing, "This has bound us since his failed attempt to kill me, when he got my double instead. But as he explained, it wasn't so failed after all."

"What do you mean?" asked Dumbledore.

"He's always known what I am," replied Harry. "That's why he really came after us. He wanted me. But he didn't count on my mum making my double."

"Nor her sacrifice working to its favor," said Snape softly.

Harry just nodded then knelt down by Meru, his left hand falling to her shoulder. Snape looked down at the eleven-year-old then and took a step back, his eyes wide with shock.

"Dear mother of Merlin…"

"Severus?" said both Dumbledore and McGonagall in surprise at once.

Snape ignored them and moved around Hermione's chair, walking over to kneel down in front of Meru and Harry. The young girl scooted nervously back from him, gray eyes wary, but stilled as Harry's hand gently squeezed her shoulder. She looked up at him and relaxed when he said softly, "It's okay. He won't hurt you."

Dumbledore frowned at this and shook his head slightly. The young man knelt in his office was a half demon, a creature that shouldn't rightly exist, yet Hermione Granger, this new girl, and his young friend Wencia all treated him as though he was as human as they were. How they at such a young age could bypass this confused him and gave him faith in the younger generation all at once.

McGonagall, unmindful of the Headmaster's thoughts, leaned towards her fellow teacher and queried, "Severus? What is it?"

The dark man didn't reply to her question. He just lifted a hand and touched Meru's cheek, his long fingers grasping it gently. His dark eyes then hardened and he cursed under his breath, causing Harry to frown.

"Sensei?"

Snape lifted his head to look at the young man then shook his head, uttering a bitter laugh as he did so.

"It's amazing," he said softly after a moment, turning his gaze to the now confused Meru. "I had thought myself the last but here Fate has thrust this girl into my arms."

Harry, Hermione, and Meru frowned in confusion then all jumped as McGonagall yelped. She sat on the edge of her seat now, one hand covering her mouth whilst the other gripped tightly at the arm of her chair.

"She can't be…" the older witch gasped.

"She can," replied Severus. He looked down at Meru again and said, "She's my sister's daughter."

"Sister?" exclaimed Harry. "But Kailua…"

"Mamma said she didn't know my real mum," mumbled Meru. "How do you?"

Snape smiled gently at the girl and replied, "I'd know my sister's child anywhere. Your father is Lucius, I take it?"

McGonagall gasped again, eyes wide as Meru nodded.

Snape sighed and closed his eyes for a moment before looking at Harry. The han-akurei blinked then said, "You know. You know he's dead."

"The Dark Mark connects all of us to each other, not just to the Dark Lord," said Snape. "Yes, I felt it. As I did the magic that Voldemort used on you. Tell us the rest of it, Harry. I know there was a second spell."

Harry was stunned into silence at this but quickly recovered. He spared a small glance at Hermione, who looked nearly in tears now, and said, "There was a second spell, sensei. And even worse than the first."

"How is that possible?" asked McGonagall in shocked voice.

"He released his demon half," whispered Hermione. "Kailua explained it to me. Every half demon is born with a full demon spirit but half of it – the fiercest half – is restrained."

"And yours no longer is," said Dumbledore, looking at Harry.

"No," said Harry softly. He then rose to his feet and left without another word, leaving Meru blinking after him with tears in her eyes and Hermione trying desperately not to release her own. The young girl then sniffed and looked up at her newly discovered uncle, who was watching her with haunted eyes.

"What now?" she asked meekly.

Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair and said, "My best suggestion is that everyone get some well needed rest. Minerva, if you would find a room for Miss Malfoy…"

"I would prefer it if that name was not associated with her, Albus," said Snape in a gravely voice. "Call her anything else you like, but I'll not see that name with hers. Lucius raped my sister, who loved him despite her better judgment and my warnings against such things. And he killed her for it. I'll not have my niece associated with that family."

"Not every Malfoy is bad, Severus," said Dumbledore gently. "Minerva there is one after all. And as is Harry distantly."

"Neither of them count and you know it."

The older wizard sighed and bowed his head, looking over his glasses at the younger. He then said, "Very well, Severus. But you do recall that you must let the Ministry know of her existence. She is the last Snape besides yourself."

"I know how many of my own family live, old man. I do not need you to lecture me on that."

Dumbledore nodded then looked at Meru, asking, "What did your 'mother' call you?"

"Meru Cloudfox," replied the young girl. "That's her last name."

"Very well. For now you shall be Miss Cloudfox. Is that suitable, Severus?"

"Until I can get everything sorted out, yes," replied the Potions Master.

"Good. Minerva, if you would find a room for Miss Cloudfox and take Miss Granger up to hers."

"Of course, Albus," said the woman with a nod. She then reached a hand out to Meru, saying, "Come along, child."

The gray eyes looked at her hand for a moment then flitted over to Hermione, who was the only person in the room she could turn to in trust. Snape's shoulders sagged a little at this but he knew it couldn't be helped. She didn't know him after all.

"Go with her, Meru," said Hermione softly.

"Will you come too?" asked the child as she took the offered hand.

The bushy-haired girl shook her head then turned quickly to cut off Dumbledore's protest.

"No, sir," she snapped sharply with a jerk of her head. "I won't let you treat me like a child."

"You need rest," said Dumbledore.

"What I need is to know Harry is safe," snarled Hermione, eyes flashing. "I need to know that he is not blaming himself for these!" She jerked her blouse down to show the tips of her scars then turned away so they couldn't see her wipe away her tears. "I need to tell him…that…that…"

"Go to him," whispered Snape, gently touching her shoulders as he came up behind her.

The Gryffindor turned to give the Slytherin Head of House a grateful look through her tears then fled past McGonagall, who did not try to stop the girl. Dumbledore frowned at the Potions Master for his actions then smiled at Meru as he ushered McGonagall from the office with a wave of his hand.

"Off with you, Minerva. And good night, Miss Cloudfox."

"G'night," mumbled Meru meekly as she followed the older witch from the room. Snape watched them go with a look in his eyes that the Headmaster had never seen there and couldn't quite comprehend then turned to look at him.

"I suppose I'm about to get a reprimanding for allowing Miss Granger to leave."

Dumbledore frowned at him again then said, "I'd have preferred she had not gone after him but I'm afraid it's too late to stop it now. Though perhaps you should follow and…"

"Albus, Harry would never willingly do anything to harm that girl," interrupted Snape in a harsh voice. "As far as I'm concerned, those wounds were caused by the Dark Lord and not him. And I have no doubt that despite its fierce nature, his pure demon side would never harm her."

"How can you say that?"

"Because demon's do not harm those they love, even when in their fiercest rages. It is something they have above we mere mortals."

With that the Potions Master turned on a heel and left without a by-your-leave or even a goodbye. Dumbledore looked after him for a long moment then looked towards Fawkes, who was watching him with cold eyes.

"You think I am wrong as well?" he asked the phoenix.

Fawkes blinked his coal black eyes then shifted on his perch so his back was facing the Headmaster. White eyebrows lowered in a frown and Dumbledore sighed.

"I know Severus is right, Fawkes. Yet still I cannot let go of my fears. And, alas, that may be my downfall."

- - -

Hermione searched every place she thought she might find Harry in the span of an hour. Frustrated beyond words and with tears streaming down her cheeks, she finally slipped into the dungeons and went to talk to Myelin.

The wife of Salazar Slytherin was speaking in low, harsh tones to her elder brother when Hermione arrived, which caused the teenager to stand quietly and slightly out of sight.

"Godric, what on earth makes you think that I would follow your orders in death if I didn't do so in life?"

"Lin, will you listen to me?" exclaimed Godric Gryffindor, slamming a fist down on the table in the painting. "That boy is dangerous!"

"Harry? He is no more harmful than a kitten!"

"You said that about…"

"DON'T YOU DARE BRING SALAZAR INTO THIS!"

Godric gave his fuming sister a long look then said, "I'm just trying to protect you, Lin. You didn't hear what was said in the Headmaster's office. But I did. He may not have been dangerous but he is now. I'm surprised Dumbledore even allowed him to remain in the school!"

"Because otherwise that wretch who dares make a claim on the Slytherin name would find him."

"He can find him here!"

"But here Harry is safe," said Myelin. "For a little while at least."

"Yes, a little while! Probably a few months at the most!"

"Godric, you…" Myelin broke off then, having noticed Hermione standing in the corridor. "Hermione! There was news you had been…"

"Harry rescued me," said Hermione, taking a nervous step towards the painting.

Myelin nodded at this and turned to give her brother a glare.

"There," she said, "you see? He rescued her."

"And later injured her," growled Godric. "I'm surprised she's even looking for him."

"I love him," ground out Hermione, glaring at the Hogwarts Founder. She then looked at Myelin and asked, "Is he inside?"

The woman shook her head and replied, "I'm afraid not." She then paused and asked, "Have you looked in the North Tower?"

Hermione blinked then shook her head. She should have thought of that place first. It was, after all, where she had discovered what he truly was.

"Thanks," she said quickly to the portrait before dashing off, leaving Myelin and Godric to continue their argument.

- - -

As Hermione made her way up the steps in the North Tower's stairwell, she heard the barest hints of a voice singing. Frowning, she hurriedly continued on, trying her best to keep her footsteps silent as possible.

At the heavy oak door inlaid with iron, she paused and listened to the voice. Now she was able to hear the words, even though the thick door did muffle them a little.

"…shita de kaze wa mirai ni fuku taiyou no hizashi wo dakishimeru you ni. Tada nagasareru dake…"

Slowly she pressed the door's handle down to release the locks and carefully let it swing open into the room. Moving quietly as she could, she slipped into the tower room then turned and closed the door carefully behind her. Across the room, the door out onto the Tower's balcony was open, which allowed the voice singing to flow to her ears.

"…wo naderu kuuki to nekorobu kusa ga areba…"

Entranced by the voice and knowing who it was purely by the foreign words, Hermione crept forward to peer out onto the balcony through the doorway.

Seated there, not six feet from her, was Harry. His back was to her as he perched on the short wall that surrounded the stone balcony, his long legs dangling over the side. In the light from a quarter moon, she could see his ears flicking every once in a while and a swishing near where he sat on the wall that was his tail.

"…egao de. Hateshinaku tsudzuku ashita…"

"Harry?" she said softly, stepping from her hiding spot.

One ear flicked back toward her then forward again as the broad shoulders dropped with a sigh.

"Why are you here?" he asked in a voice that nearly made her cry with the hopelessness in it.

"I don't want you to suffer alone," she said softly, stepping towards him. "I love…"

"Don't say it!"

Hermione jumped back at the sharpness in his voice and stared at him.

"Harry…"

"How can you love me?" he asked, his voice harsh with anger – anger purely at himself. "I hurt you. I hurt you with these hands." He lifted his hands as he spoke and then a moment later was in the fully demonic form his half-demon status allowed. "With these claws."

He turned feral eyes towards her but Hermione saw no beast behind them. Only a boy who was lost and confused and hurt.

"How can you love me?" asked Harry, "When I have done you so wrong?"

"Oh, Harry," breathed Hermione. She rushed across the space between them, causing him to turn so he faced her. Their bodies crushed together and she clutched at him even as he tried to push her away. His claws pricked her arms and he tried to pull away but she looked up with tears in her eyes and viciously pulled his head down to hers, crushing her mouth against his.

Harry tried valiantly to pull away but he was still sitting on the wall and the only way to escape was to fall. And he quickly found himself not wanting to pull away.

Hermione felt his stiff body slowly relax against hers and his mouth then pushed against hers, the tips of his fangs pressing against her lower lip. She released him then and pulled back, looking up into his emerald eyes.

"I love you because I can," she said in a fervent voice. "I love you because…because I know no other way now. I love you…because…"

"I'm sorry," whispered Harry, stroking the side of her face with his hand as he cut her off. She felt the cool brush of his claws there but felt no fear, knowing he would never hurt her. It had been Voldemort that had scarred her, not him. "Oh kami, Hermione, I'm so sorry…"

"Shh," murmured Hermione, laying a hand over his mouth. "It wasn't you that hurt me."

"They were my claws. Mine. I may not have controlled them but they still were what caused you harm!"

"Your claws but Voldemort's will," she hissed. "Please, Harry. If you won't believe anyone else, believe me. It wasn't your fault."

Harry lifted his eyes to meet hers and said, "I know. But knowing and believing are two completely different things."

Hermione's eyes prickled with tears at his words and she pressed her face into his shirt, valiantly holding back a sob. To know that he knew what she said was true but couldn't believe it hurt. It hurt so much she felt as though it might tear her apart.

"Don't cry," she heard him whisper, feeling his claws glide through her hair. His lips brushed the top of her head and he whispered again, "Please, Mia-san, don't cry."

"I'm sorry," she choked out, feeling the tears flow over her cheeks.

Harry's arms tightened about her and she clutched at him like he was a lifeline. After a moment, the two of them slid to the stones beneath their feet in a heap and the han-akurei pulled the bushy-haired girl into his lap, gently rocking her back and forth. As he did this, he began to sing again, his voice starting soft but slowly growing in volume until it resonated around the two of them and flowed on the wind.

"Ikutsu namida o nagashitara – every heart – sunao ni nareru darou, dare ni omoi tsutaetara – every heart – kokoro mita sareru no darou.

Nagai nagai yoru ni obieteita, tooi hoshi ni inotteta.

Meguru meguru toki no naka de, bokutachi wa ai o sagashiteiru, tsuyoku tsuyoku naritai kara kyou mo takaisora miageteiru.

Donna egao ni deaetara – every heart – yume wo fumidasereruyo, hitowa kanashimi no mukou ni – every heart – shiawase ukabete nemuru.

Itsuka itsuka subete no tamashii ga yasuraka ni nareru youni.

Meguru meguru toki no naka de boke tachi wa ikite nanika wo shiru, toki ni warai shugoshi naite kyou mo mada aruki tsuzukete iku.

Osanai kioku no kata sumi ni atatakai basho ga aru soushi, hoshi tachi ga hanasu mirai ga itsuma kagauaite ita so shine.

Meguru meguru toki no naka de, bokutachi wa ai o sagashiteiru, tsuyoku tsuyoku naritai kara kyou mo takaisora miageteiru.

Meguru meguru toki no naka de boke tachi wa ikite nanika wo shiru, toki ni warai shugoshi naite kyou mo mada aruki tsuzukete iku."

Harry's voice faded away and the pair sat in silence for a long moment before Hermione shifted slightly, murmuring, "That was beautiful."

"Even if you didn't know the words?" asked Harry.

"Even if I didn't know the words."

Harry nodded and leaned his head against hers, taking in a shuddering breath.

"I'm sorry," he breathed.

"Shh," whispered Hermione, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "I told you, it wasn't your fault."

"I know…"

"But you can't believe me, can you?"

Harry slowly shook his head and felt Hermione shudder against him. He hugged her closer then and pressed his face into her hair, wishing that none of the previous days had ever happened. Now, because of them, he was even more of a danger if he lost control of his demon half than he had been before. Hell, he hadn't even known part of his demonic side had been hidden from him.

Now, because of Voldemort, he had done what he had sworn he'd never do.

He had attacked someone he cared for – someone he loved very dearly. And he would never forgive himself for it.

There had to have been something he could have done. Something that could have stopped him from obeying those orders. Surely there was something. There had to have been…

"Harry?"

"Mm?" he hummed, tilting his head down to look at her. The collar around his neck jabbed harshly into his skin but he ignored the pain.

"I love you."

The han-akurei's breath caught in his throat then he pulled the girl close, burying his face in her neck. He tried to reply to her, to tell her that he loved her too but the words just wouldn't come out. Body shuddering, he curled his tail around her ankle and gently raked his claws across her back and through her hair.

Hermione closed her eyes as he did this and whispered after a moment, "I know. I know…"

Harry felt a sob well up from deep within him then as he realized that he couldn't tell the one person he had come to love nearly more than anything else in the world that he loved her. He shuddered violently then and a single tear ran down his cheek to spatter on her blouse.

"Oh, Harry," he heard her whisper.

He choked out her name then and broke down in her arms, crying like he hadn't done since he'd skinned his knee as a child. And Hermione, bless her, just pulled him close and let him sob out his regrets on her shoulder.

Translations

Asa: Morning

Ohayo gozaimasu: Good morning!

Author's Notes

Chapter title from the Green Day song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

The first song Harry sings – only fragments written – is "Kaze wa Mirai ni Fuku" (The Wind Blows to the Future), which is the end song from Trigun. It's not actually a slow song (more medium paced and the music is kinda bouncy) but I like the words.

The second song Harry sings is "Minno no Kimochi" (Every Heart), which is the season four ending song from Inu Yasha. This is a slow song and is quite good in my opinion.

All words for songs came from a n i m e l y r i c s . c o m (no spaces!)