Chapter 10-

Hermione sighed as she walked around her hotel room.

Why had Harry suddenly left? She asked herself. It wasn't like Harry to ditch someone without a reason. But then, maybe there was a reason…

- - - - - - - -

"Hey Hermione…back so soon?"

"Hi Nick," Hermione said, "DO you know where Harry lives?"

Nick sighed. "Yeah, I do." He paused to look at Hermione. "Aren't you supposed to be sightseeing with Harry?"

Hermione nodded. "I don't know, he just kind of disappeared suddenly."

"Oh," Nick said, a knowing look appearing on his face. "I'll give you the address."

- - - - - - - -

Hermione sighed as she stood on Harry's porch. She lifted her fist to knock on the door but before her hand touched to wood the door swung open and Hermione was face to face with Virginia.

"You're looking for Harry?" she asked wisely. Hermione nodded.

"Do you know why-"she started.

"I told you," Virginia interrupted, "To tell the truth before it's too late. And now…it's too late."

Hermione stared at her in confusion. "What?"

Virginia moved out of the doorway. "He's upstairs, first room to the left."
"Thanks," Hermione said, rushing up the stairs without looking back.

Upon reaching Harry's door, Hermione lifted her fist to knock, but then decided not to. Pushing the door open gently she saw Harry sitting on the floor, pieces of paper spread all around him. As she walked closer she realized they weren't pieces of paper.

They were her letters.

"I can't believe it," Harry whispered, apparently noticing her. He dropped the letter he was holding onto and picked up another one. Then he looked up at her.

"I…I kept thinking, Ginny was different from her letters," he whispered, "But then I figured…she wasn't different from her letters. She was different from your letters."

Hermione froze. Her mouth felt dry and she tried to make the words come out of her mouth. Her voice came out raspy. "W-What?"

Harry got off the floor and came to stand directly in front of her. "It was you," he said.

Hermione couldn't answer. She looked at her hands.

"It was you?" Harry asked, but this time in confusion. "You did all this?"

Hermione was still silent, feeling her throat choke up.

"Why Hermione?" Harry asked, looking hurt, "Why? I thought-"

Hermione was still quiet and Harry gripped her shoulders, a bit forcefully. Hermione let out a small noise to motion that it was hurting her and he loosened his grip a bit.

"I'd never think of you to do something like this," Harry said, his voice echoing hurt, "To play with someone's feelings like this. I thought-"

"I'll recognize you the minute I see you," Hermione recited, looking up at him, her voice unwavering, "Your image is in my heart.

Harry fell quiet.

"Isn't that what you had written, Harry?" Hermione asked, tears pooling in her eyes, "Isn't it? What happened to that?"

'I…I thought-"Harry broke off.

"But that day," Hermione continued, letting a tear roll onto her cheek, "At the station…you didn't even look at me once. Not once, Harry."

Hermione noted Harry's eyes filling up with his own tears and she continued, "That's because…Harry, you were stunned, by Ginny's beauty."

She continued on a softer tone. "Harry, we always want the one that we love to be the most beautiful. And…that wasn't me."

He looked at Hermione, tears swimming in his eyes. "I…I'm so confused 'Mione. I thought I loved Ginny…but the truth was. I've always loved the one that wrote me the letters."

Hermione bit her lip to hold in a sob. Harry stepped towards her and cupped her face in his hands.

"Hermione," he whispered, wiping a tear from her cheek, "For the last ten years…it's you I've loved."

How long had she wanted to hear that? Hermione opened her mouth to say something but Harry cuts her off by pressing his lips firmly against her.

It was the most wonderful sensation Hermione had ever felt in her life. She felt like she was melting, and soaring at the same time. Dieing and living in one motion. She felt like she was jumping to the highest cloud, and swimming at the bottom of the deepest ocean. She felt fire rage in her heart, icy coldness wrap around her mind.

Then, realizing what she was doing Hermione stumbled away from Harry.

"N-No," she whispered, avoiding his eyes, "No…we can't."

"What?" Harry asked, "We can't…what?"

"Harry," Hermione sobbed, sinking down onto his floor, her back pressed firmly against the wall, "What about G-Ginny?"

Harry slid down next to her and wiped a tear from her eye. "Shh," he said softly, "I'll tell Ginny."

"But how?" Hermione asked, turning away from him, "Harry…she loves you."

"But I don't love her," Harry pressed, "She's not the one who wrote the letters. She isn't the one I thought she was."

Hermione shook her head. "Harry…it's too late. Ginny loves you, with all her heart."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" he asked, "We'll have to tell Ginny the truth."

Hermione quieted down her sobs, and sniffled. Harry sent her a small smile and wiped a tear on her cheek.

"Don't worry," he said soothingly, "Everything will be fine."

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