Disclaimer: I wish I did own Harry Potter, but sadly I don't. Trust me, if I did, Sirius would not be dead. But, then again, that's why I love fan fictions. I can make the story go any way I want. evil glint in eye Mwahaha! (Grace says Hi)

Chapter 5

Simple and Clean

"Unfortunately, we were not able to apprehend him, so we must ask that you not enter your home for the time being."

Hermione closed her eyes. Ron imagined she was silently thanking Merlin.

"I know this must be very hard for you. As we understand, he's been spotted in the village several times."

Hermione turned to look at Ron, but he looked away.

"We believe he's singled you out as his next victim. Have you received any correspondence from him?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked

"A death threat," the first official said plainly.

"No," Hermione lied.

"Is there anyone you can stay with for now?"

"I have a spare bedroom," Ron said to Hermione, "You're always welcome to stay with me."

Hermione only nodded.

"Excellent," the second official said, "Be on your way, then."

They turned around and began walking in silence towards Ron's house.

"You haven't received a death threat?" Ron asked with a raised eyebrow when they were far out of earshot.

"He asked me specifically if it was from Harry," Hermione said plainly. "And I answered truthfully."

"Hermione—"

"Ron, if he wanted to kill me, he would've done it by now."

Ron looked at her. "You're seeing him aren't you?"

"No!" Hermione immediately replied

"Then why did you say that?"

"Because I know Harry." Hermione said quickly, "And he would've if he really wanted to."

"You're meeting with him." Ron accused again

"No, I'm not."

They reached Ron's house. He pulled his wand out his pocket and touched it to the doorknob. He whispered the password where Hermione wouldn't be able to hear. The door opened. He walked in but stopped dead.

"Ron, what's the matter, you like you've seen a–" Hermione stopped staring at the kitchen table.

There was a hooded figure seated at the table. He dropped his hood to reveal his face. Messy jet black hair and the scar. He smirked and dropped a parchment on the table. From where they stood, the text was visible.

You're next. Friends forever, right?

-You-Know-Who

"Well," Harry said with a smirk, "I guess this saves me another trip. And I get to kill two birds with one stone. How convenient."

He stood. Ron dropped the shopping bag, gripped his wand, and stepped in front of Hermione. "Over my dead body."

"That can be arranged…"

Hermione let Toki down and suddenly pushed in front of Ron. "Harry," she began to plead, but cocked her head as she stared at him.

"Yes?" he asked a devious grin on his face

"You're not Harry…"

Ron looked at Hermione surprised. "Herm,"

"Harry has the greenest eyes I've ever seen!" Hermione said defiantly.

Ron followed her gaze and faced the same brown eyes that had haunted all the Daily Prophet pictures of the supposed murderer.

"Well, well," the imposter smirked, "I guess I'll just have to kill you since I can't let the secret come out."

"I've been looking for you," a voice said from behind Hermione and Ron

Ron turned suddenly. There he saw his best friend, green eyes and all, closing the door of the house behind him.

The other Harry smirked again. "Well, good job on finding me. Too bad you're going to have to work harder than that to catch me." The impostor said as he disapparated with a loud popping noise.

Harry made a move to follow him, but Hermione turned and ran to Harry, throwing her arms around his neck. "I was so scared," she whispered softly.

Ron was surprised to find himself overcome with jealousy as Harry wrapped his arms around her waist. He gripped his wand firmly.

"Is it still like that?" Harry asked him as he watched Ron bring wand up

"Sorry, mate," Ron said. "You understand."

Harry nodded. He let Hermione go and took out his own wand, but Hermione was too quick to let anything happen between the two.

"Ron," she said, "You saw what happened. You know I'm right."

"I thought I already explained myself."

Tears were streaming down Hermione's face.

"And I know you've been seeing him…" Ron said softly. "I have no doubt now." There was hurt in his voice

"Ron, it's not like that."

She could feel Harry's hand clutch hers and tighten its grip. She squeezed it back hoping to Merlin that he would understand what she was doing and she let it go.

"You think I'm stupid?" Ron said desperately

"So now this is a competition for Hermione?" Harry asked

"No," Hermione spoke up firmly. "We're all friends here, right?"

"We all were friends here, Hermione," Ron said

There was a rustling noise outside and several shouts.

"Damn him!" Harry exclaimed. "He led them here."

Harry looked around and headed for one of the bedrooms.

"I don't think so, murderer," Ron said blocking his way

"Well, I do, auror," Harry said and quickly ran into Ron's bedroom across the hall and locked the door behind him.

By the time Ron unlocked the door, the window was open and Harry was long gone. Ron sighed heavily and closed the window. Hermione followed close behind Ron, still crying. They returned to the front hall. The front door was open, but the shouts had moved a distance away, barely audible above the wind.

"They probably saw him," Ron said softly

He moved to close the door, but noticed Toki sitting on the porch, ears alert and facing the village.

"He's a good little watch dog isn't he?" Ron asked Hermione with a small smile

Toki turned around and immediately walked to Hermione, who picked him up gladly.

Ron looked at her and shook his head, unable to comprehend what had just happened. "I'll show you to the guest room."

"That's not necessary," Hermione said softly. "You go on to bed. Something tells me I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"Do you love him?" Ron found himself asking

Hermione looked at him, and she knew what answer she had to give. "No, Ron. He's done so much for me. You just wouldn't understand. I just feel like I owe him for being there for me when he didn't need to be. He already had a lot on his plate he had to deal with. When I lost my parents, he was the only one who took time to comfort me. Everybody else was too busy planning for the end or mourning their own losses."

Ron smiled. "I'm sorry for what just happened. It's just, you know how jealous I can be sometimes."

Hermione smiled back.

"And well, I've just been thinking. You're the best thing that's happened to me since this whole mess began." Ron looked into Hermione's eyes. "I just don't want to lose you. Not to Harry, not to anybody"

"Ron," Hermione began

"And, it was only this morning that I got the courage to tell myself I was going to ask you the question I've been meaning to ask you for the longest time."

"What question?"

"Hermione," he said to her, "Will you be my girlfriend?"

There was a small ache in Hermione's heart as she forced herself to smile. "You finally asked."

Ron gave a small chuckle.

"I'd be honored." Hermione responded and she placed Toki on the floor.

But as Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, the yearning wouldn't stop. Even as he put his lips on hers and ran his fingers through her hair, it only caused her more pain. And when she parted her mouth as he softly guided her through the kiss, she tried with all her might to hold back the tears. Just pretend it's Harry, she thought, but as she thought it, she could feel the burning sensation in her throat from the desire to let the tears flow as he treated her so gently. I don't deserve your love, she thought to herself.

"Let me show you to the guestroom," he said breathlessly as he broke the kiss.

She smiled at him and followed, Toki trotting obediently beside her.

The guestroom was simple. The bed was in the center, an armoire to the right of the bed, near the window and a bedside table to the left of the bed. There was a closet next to the door. There was no wallpaper and the wall was painted a soft red color. The sheets were the same color as the wall and there was a desk across from the bed.

"It's cute," Hermione smiled at him

"Thank you," Ron said

"No, thank you." Hermione replied

"Sweet dreams," he said and gave her a shorter kiss

"Good night," she responded and watched him close the door. It was then she turned and cried into the pillow. She missed Harry and there was no hiding it. She wanted him with her, and even if she had to cause a few people a bit of pain, she was determined to reach her goal.

She silently cried incessantly, and didn't stop until she fell into a light slumber. It wasn't long before she was woken by the sensation of skin against her face. She opened her eyes and saw Harry wiping the tears from her face.

"Am I dreaming?" she asked him quietly

"No," he replied with a smile

She brought her hand to his and held it where it was. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you more."

Hermione chuckled. "Are we still going to fight about that?"

"If that's how I have to prove that I miss you more." Harry grimaced. "At least you have Ron when you miss me."

"Harry," Hermione sat up and looked at him, finding herself at a loss for words.

He gave her a pained smile. "You're his girl."

"I'm not his girl," Hermione whispered softly. "Maybe to the outside world I am. But, my heart belongs to another. You know that."

Harry smiled and leaned in for a kiss. She immediately consented running her fingers through his hair. She smiled against his lips and pulled at his cloak, until it finally managed to fall off his body. He leaned against her until she was lying on her back on the bed. He climbed onto and continued to kiss her, but he moved his lips away to kiss her forehead, her chin, her cheeks, and moved down to her neck.

She exhaled as his kisses began to move lower on her body. But, as he reached the beginning of her shirt, he came back to meet her lips. She moaned quietly against his lips in disappointment, but began to unbutton his shirt, and it fell off him completely. She ran his hands up and down his chest and he began to kiss the area around her ear.

Impatient for him to go farther, she began to unbutton his trousers as well, but he stopped her hands. But, he stopped her.

"I'm not so sure about this," Harry said softly into her ear.

"Why?" Hermione asked hurt

"I don't want to hurt you," he said gently

She looked at him confused.

"I can't stay for very long," he explained

"But we still have time." Hermione pouted

"I won't be able to wake up with you," Harry said, "Actually, I don't think I can stay until you fall asleep."

"I can deal with that." Hermione said stubbornly

"I can't," Harry replied. "And besides, this is Ron's house. It just doesn't feel right."

Hermione looked away, hurt by his words.

"Hermione," Harry whispered, "Don't be mad at me."

"Then take me now." Hermione looked at him.

He smiled at her. "I love how stubborn you can be."

"It's a gift," she whispered seductively into his ear.

He smirked back and took her, making love to her in the sweetest ways, with the purest love he'd felt in ages. "I love you," he whispered into her ear.

"Not as much as I love you."

Hermione watched as Harry redressed himself. She smiled as he apologized to her for the millionth time for not being able to stay the rest of the night the way he wanted to.

"It's fine." Hermione reassured him. "This was special enough."

Harry looked at her, a proud look on his face. But he sighed and folded her clothes as well and placed them in a neat pile on the desk.

"How long?" Hermione asked

Harry looked up at her from his shoes, "What do you mean?"

"How long until I see you again?"

"You know I can't answer that."

"Harry," she said softly, "Promise me something."

"Anything" he replied

"Promise me you'll be careful," she said, "Ron told me about this new law they're going to pass—"

"I know all about it."

"How?" Hermione asked startled

"I have my ways," Harry smiled. "I'll catch that varmint by then, I promise."

"What if you don't?"

"I'll just have to go into hiding," Harry said shrugging.

"Will you take me with you?" Hermione asked

"How could I do that to you?" Harry sighed, "I want you with me, but you have so much ahead of you. We both know that."

"But, without you, I have nothing to live for," she whispered, "I couldn't bear it."

"You listen to me," he said seriously, kneeling by the bed, "Don't you talk like that. I never want to hear you say anything like that again. You're not like that, Hermione. I don't want to have to worry more about you, ok? I don't want to have to wonder whether or not you're hurting yourself in any fashion."

Hermione nodded.

"I mean it."

"So do I." Hermione smiled

"Promise me, you'll never hurt yourself. Never ever," he looked at her

"I won't," she replied

"Swear it."

"I swear I'd never hurt myself. Never ever," she smiled at him fondly.

"I'll wait until you fall asleep," he whispered.

"You shouldn't have told me that."

"Why not?"

"Because now I don't ever want to fall asleep," she smiled playfully

He chuckled, but didn't respond, running his fingers through her hair. She held his hand tightly. After a while, though, she did feel tired from her previous activity. She began falling asleep and Harry began to loosen his grip on her hand. "You're always in my heart," she said to him as she let his hand go and turned to the other side, falling into the deepest sleep she'd ever experienced in her life.

"You've always been in mine."

She heard the statement and smiled, but only moments later, she was dreaming about him. And of how things would be if they could prove him innocent.