Chapter 7

Even after hearing him say it, this didn't seem real to Hermione. She was staring off past Harry as she fearfully stammered, "You, you think… I was dosed with a love potion?"

"I think that we could have been spiked with love potions that year."

His blunt response caused another jolting shock to run through her. "We? What do – "

She stopped and remembered one of his earlier points. How Harry specifically spoke of a certain girl asking her brothers if their love potions worked. She whispered, "Ginny. You think Ginny gave you one."

She knew it was coming, but his melancholy nod filled her with dismay. Then, he replied, "I do, though this one isn't quite as straightforward as my thought process for you. First off, and what you probably just thought of, I already mentioned how she asked Fred and George if their love potions worked."

Hermione silently nodded, too dazed to say a word as Harry continued.

"You would think someone's reaction to finding out their brothers are selling potions that can manipulate minds in a certain manner for any period of time would be more on the indignant and outraged side. Instead, Ginny literally just asked, 'Do they work?' It was almost nonchalantly so, and I can't help but be suspicious about it now."

He became shamefaced before speaking his next words. "Of course, I can't really talk since I never spoke up about those potions being sold, either. Not even after I started learning, in my sessions with Dumbledore, how Tom Riddle was a product of a marriage by means of love potions."

While he wasn't wrong in his logic, she couldn't help putting her left hand on top of his right one, needing to do something to comfort him. He glanced at their hands for a second before then giving her a dejected smile, as though he knew what she was trying to do but still thought he wasn't worthy of it.

She apologetically whispered, "If you recall, I also never really said anything. Not even once I knew that other girls were talking about slipping you a love potion but then told you that I couldn't do anything when they were just discussing tactics. So, whatever may have really happened in all this, let's just say that we were both idiots in some respect."

That caused him to let out a soft chuckle. "Alright, if that's what you want to do."

She gently patted his hand twice before pulling hers away. Then, remembering his exact words, she took a slightly shaky breath and said, "OK, as scared as I am about what may come next, I know you have more to say because that previous part was just a first bit."

He sadly nodded before turning stone-faced and serious again. "Alright then. So, the second thing is the moment when Ron and I were returning from a Quidditch practice before the Slytherin match and caught Dean and Ginny snogging in a corridor. I had such an intense feeling of either hatred or jealousy at that moment that I wanted to throttle Dean on the spot. Even when I was crushing on Cho Chang and thought badly about Cedric for being with her, it never felt anywhere near as consuming as that moment in sixth year did. And looking at it, though the sensation might have been to a stronger degree than what you showed, the jealousy I had for Ginny at that point almost seems to be the same kind of jealousy that you showed in regards to Ron."

While Hermione couldn't really make any judgments regarding a comparison, she did agree that Harry feeling such a deep hatred so suddenly towards Dean, who he never really had any problems with before, was quite out of the ordinary.

"Third," he continued, "when we won the Quidditch Cup that year, I snogged Ginny in full view of everyone in the common room. Does that sound remotely like anything that I would normally do, especially after the only other kiss I'd ever had was that disastrous one with Cho, while we were alone mind you, in the previous year?"

Comparing that interaction to as many others as she could in her mind, she quietly said, "No, you hate being the center of attention, for very valid reasons. And though it's only been a day, you've been quite modest with me. I'm sure you only kissed me last night because you thought we were alone in the hall, and you were still so gentle with the kiss even while thinking that. That one with Ginny appeared more like what Ron did with Lavender."

He lightly blushed and smiled for an instant at her remarks, but he quickly became somber again. "And you can say that because you know me better than anyone. Which leads to my fourth point: I'm not sure if Ginny ever actually liked me, the daft and damaged boy that is Harry, but rather was infatuated with The Boy Who Lived. The fact that she thought I wouldn't be happy unless I was hunting Riddle is just pure hero worship. And if her infatuation was large enough, how far out of the realm of possibility is it to think she could see the usage of a love potion as acceptable to get the boy she wants? Especially considering Mrs. Weasley once talked about brewing a love potion when she was younger, Fred and George obviously believe it's fine to sell love potions, and Ginny's own somewhat blasé attitude about her brothers selling love potions."

Hermione could feel despair seeping into her bones again as she whispered, "Not that far at all." She was bolstered a bit when Harry shifted his right hand to gently hold her left one.

Then, he spoke just as quietly, "So, yeah. Those are all the instances that I thought of. Well, those along with a worst-case scenario that it could have been a mixture of love potions keyed to the Weasleys and some kind of hatred or distrust potion for each other. And while I know that all this could easily be me stretching for things, the circumstances are convenient and suspicious enough that… I couldn't dismiss out of hand the idea that we may have been given a potion that year."

Hermione remained silent and turned her head to face the road, not knowing what to say. Harry didn't say anything as well, as though he was letting her process everything that he told her. After at least a minute, her mind finally started working enough to speak.

In a worried tone, she said, "I wish I could say that you're being foolish, that it isn't possible. But you're not wrong about the circumstances lining up somewhat handily."

Shifting to look back at Harry, she asked, "How long have you thought about this?"

He squeezed her hand a bit more and answered, "Two nights ago was the first time. One of the things that I thought about when you and your parents were gone was how you've always been here for me, even though you said otherwise on the train regarding that summer along with sixth year. At some point once I'd calmed down some after the three of you left me alone that night, I went back to it and couldn't help thinking how odd it was that we treated each other so much more coldly in sixth year, and how we both seemed to be concentrating too hard on trying to get with Ron and Ginny even though the war was right on the horizon. And that led me down the rabbit hole of thoughts that I've now given to you."

His face fell a little bit more. "And, to be frank, I told myself I wouldn't bring it up unless it was ever relevant to the discussion, like it is right now with you feeling like you need to apologize for sixth year. Because… how much good does it really do, considering how much of a long shot it might be? First, even if we were somehow potioned to the gills during that year, enough time has passed that the only direct evidence we could ever get would be confessions from the Weasleys. Second, the circumstances I thought of might still be too flimsy for a true investigation, so it would have to be something we did ourselves. That would require us to obtain or brew Veritaserum on our own to use in order to make sure we would get truthful answers, which would put us in hot water given the illegality of using the potion without consent from the Ministry. And if we were able to get away with using it and then found out I was right…"

He paused and closed his eyes, frowning in what appeared to be anger. Hermione's guess was confirmed when he opened his eyes after a few seconds, a cold fury shining within them. Then, he growled out, "If I ever found out that you were actually given any kind of potion, I wouldn't rest until I had killed everyone involved in drugging you, no matter who it was."

Hermione instinctually reached over with her free right hand to take his left. She squeezed his hands to try and calm him down however she could with her presence. He understood her actions immediately, as his gaze softened while he gave her a remorseful smile for a second.

"Sorry," he said. "I know I shouldn't have gotten worked up."

She replied, "It's OK, Harry. While I obviously hope such a situation would never come up, I know that statement just stemmed from you wanting to look out for and protect me. And," pausing for a second as she became a bit sheepish, "I admit that it's kind of flattering that you would be willing to go so far just for me, as bad as that may sound given the reason for the flattery."

He instantly said, in a soft tone, "Because you're worth doing anything for."

She was unable to respond, throat closing up at this showcase of his feelings. Her silence gave him enough time to become more solemn again before he continued speaking.

"But yeah. We're hardly friends with Ron and Ginny now as it is, for already-tangible reasons. So, I'm not sure how much good it would do to figure out whether this hypothesis could actually be true. But I wanted you to know that the possibility exists. And if you would want to dig into it, I'll go right along with you and do anything that I can for you."

At a loss for words again, Hermione shifted her gaze a bit to look up at the awning they were beneath. What did she want to do in the face of this information? If it was true, was she ready to find out that she and Harry had been drugged to have feelings for the people they'd pursued in the previous two years? That Ron was so jealous or insecure that he would stoop to such lengths? Or that Ginny could be obsessed enough that she didn't care how she got what she wanted as long as she got it?

And if it wasn't true… if it wasn't true, Hermione thought as tears began to build in her eyes, was she ready for the knowledge that she really was capable of treating Harry so despicably? That some part of her subconscious truly had wanted to push him away and get rid of the first true friend she ever had?

"Hermione."

The quiet and anguished word brought her out of her musings. Looking at Harry, his face was filled with nothing but concern. He removed his left hand from her grip before placing it on her cheek.

Then, he pleaded, "Talk to me, please. Tell me whatever's on your mind. Like I said earlier, I'll listen to anything you have to say."

His complete worry about her broke her restraint. As her tears began to fall, she cried out, "And what if it wasn't true, Harry? What if… what if this is all just wishful thinking on your part, wanting to put me on a pedestal that I don't deserve? What if my behavior really was nothing more than me treating you horribly and pushing you away? What if I truly am capable of being such a bitch to the one person that always meant more to me than anything?"

And there it was. She admitted her biggest fear strictly regarding herself. If her actions in sixth year were all her own, and not due to being under the influence of a potion, then who's to say that she couldn't ever act like that again?

Not paying attention at all to Harry's surprise at the vehemence with which she cursed herself, she continued tearfully speaking. "I didn't believe you about Draco Malfoy being a Death Eater, even when all prior evidence about his character suggested that you were probably right and I was being a complete idiot, until it was too late. I called you a cheater for using those handwritten notes from your Potions book, even though I've always been the one that thirsted for new and better knowledge. I was the largest bloody hypocrite in the world for calling you a cheater when I truly cheated by using a Confundus Charm on Cormac McLaggen during those Quidditch tryouts to make sure that Ron got on the team. I wasn't proactive at all in stopping those girls that planned to slip you a potion during sixth year. How can either of us be sure that I would never act like that again if I already did so once?"

Hermione couldn't say anything more through the gigantic lump in her throat. Thus, she closed her eyes and hung her head in shame, no longer able to look at Harry as her tears continued to flow.

A few seconds later, her eyes snapped open when she felt him place his right hand on her other cheek and gently bring her head up to lock eyes once again. Then, without a word, he began using his thumbs to wipe away the tracks of tears on her face. The loving action only made her silently cry even more. He never said a word, however, and merely continued his actions for however long it took for her tears to finally dry up.

When he was finished, he kept his hands on her cheeks in an affectionate caress. Then, in a whisper, he finally spoke.

"I can be sure. Because, to paraphrase your words to me on the train, your great concern now about having acted like that in the past shows me that you would never act in such a manner in the future."

Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief at the absolute trust he held for her. Her throat was still too closed up to speak, giving Harry time to continue.

"Besides, are you really so afraid that I would see that year as the definitive you? Do you think those few incidents cancel out everything you've done for me since our friendship began? Do they outweigh all the times that I would be dead without you at my side?"

His voice was growing more resolute through his speech. "Hell, Hermione. Do you think they could even overshadow just the fact that you never left me last year, even though you had every right to go with Ron due to how hopeless everything was? Overshadow how, while the person that I thought was my best friend lost faith in me and abandoned me for a second time, you still stayed despite all odds being against us? Despite the fact that you had tried to make Ron see you as a potential girlfriend in sixth year, and how I still assumed that Ron was who you wanted until you told me otherwise once Riddle was dead?"

He pulled his right hand off of her face but then circled his arm around her to pull her into his body. "And could anything ever outweigh the fact that you've stayed with me despite the numerous times over these years that I was a prat to you and deserved to lose your friendship?"

If her throat closed up any more, Hermione felt that her neck might just implode on itself. His rhetorical questions were finally starting to wash away the terror within her, replacing it with hope.

Then, he wrapped his other arm around her and held her tightly before continuing. "Yes, your actions in sixth year do seem out of character compared to so many things before and since that year. And frankly, that's a large reason as to why it was so easy for me to think that at least one potion, if not more, could have played a part in our behavior. But if you still worry that all of those actions were still your own, and that you could ever conceivably act like that again, then I'll simply say this…"

When he paused for a second, she felt like she was on pins and needles at whatever his next statement would be.

Then, he whispered, "If there's anyone or anything that I have the utmost faith in, it's you, Hermione. I want to be with you, through whatever highs and lows there are. And I won't go anywhere. I promise."

Though she could feel tears flowing again, they were the happy variety this time. Her heart and soul were strengthened so much by his words that she couldn't stop the large smile from growing on her face as she wrapped her own arms around him. Then, she leaned in and took his lips with hers, and the two lost themselves in a deep and affectionate kiss for a minute.

When they pulled their heads away to look at each other, she gratefully whispered, "Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you."

He quietly said, "I had a good teacher in your example. You've never steered me wrong before, and I doubt you ever will."

She giggled and replied, "Still can't take a compliment without having to put someone else over you, can you?"

He gave her a smirk. "You know, you're in that club too, Miss Granger. Considering how happy you were about telling your parents how I'm actually challenging you for your top spots in class."

Though her tone was playful, her eyes and expression were all too serious. "Maybe that just means we're good for each other, then. Since we always want to build the other person up before our own selves."

Harry became speechless at her statement and just gave her a thankful smile. Then, he hugged her as closely as he could to him, placing his chin on her shoulder. She tightened her own hold in response, content to sit there in happiness within his arms.

After some time, the two separated to look at each other. They had the same expressions of care and love on their faces.

Harry was the first to speak. "I'm sorry for not telling you about Teddy before today. Thank you for caring enough to want to ask about him. And I appreciate that you were willing to apologize for something you felt you had done wrong, even though there was no apology necessary."

Hermione replied, "Thank you for being willing to open up to me about Teddy when I know you haven't told anyone else about him. And thank you for thinking so highly of me that you feel no apology is necessary for sixth year or that summer after fourth year."

He smiled at her but then quickly became grim again after a few seconds. "So, I do have to ask. My hypothesis about potions… do you want to try and dig further into it to see if it's true?"

She just stared at him for a few seconds, causing him to start turning nervous under her gaze. But then, she leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss, and he lightly blushed when she pulled back after two seconds.

"Like you said," she told him, "it's not like we're close to the Weasleys anymore, what with me not being able to take Ron's abandonment, and you telling Ginny in no uncertain terms that you would never be with her because she knows nothing about you. Beyond that, if the potions are legal to sell out in the open on Diagon Alley, you're probably right about the circumstances you lined up not being enough for an official inquiry. And…"

She started choking up a bit but forced through the lump in her throat before it could settle. "And the fact that it wouldn't matter to you if my actions that year were all my own and not caused by being under the influence of a potion or spell…"

She placed her left hand on his cheek and said, "Now, let me ask you something. Are you sure you wouldn't want to find out for your sake? You're as much a part of this as I am, and I'll be willing to help you if you would."

He shrugged a shoulder and replied, "Like I sort of said earlier, I don't think I do. The main reason I brought the hypothesis up is because I wanted to show you the possibility that there could have been outside forces in something that you felt you had done wrong, since you're afraid that I'll think badly of you in the future for that one year."

At his response, her eyes glanced down for a second before locking onto him again. Then, she hesitantly asked, "Well, in that case… would you think less of me if I said that maybe we should just let it remain a hypothesis? That we don't need to spend any more time thinking on the Weasleys?"

Her eyes widened a slight amount before her next statement. "Especially considering that I know you weren't joking with that earlier vow to kill anyone involved."

He shook his head slightly. "Not at all, Hermione. It's your call, and I'll gladly follow your lead on it. And…"

He paused, making her worry a little about what he might say next, but she needn't have.

"No matter what may have happened in sixth year, know that I don't really blame you at all if you thought you might have to push me away to get rid of your feelings. I know I was a prat for not realizing that I already had such a wonderful girl at my side for years. That's just one more reason why I'm thankful that you've stayed at my side through everything that's happened to you because of me."

She wasn't sure if she would ever get used to the warmth that filled her soul when he would show how highly he thought of her. Rather than saying anything, she simply leaned up to his forehead and gave a kiss to his scar. His embarrassed smile when she pulled back only gave her more happiness at his adorable shyness.

She whispered, "So… leave the past behind, and reach forward for the future?"

He quietly answered, "Yeah. I can go with that plan."

She dropped her hand from his cheek but then leaned in and took his lips with her own in a long, gentle kiss. When she pulled away, the tender smiles on each of their faces said everything that was needed.

Then, an idea hit her that she couldn't drop. "Actually, speaking of the future, this issue gives me an idea of something we could still do."

He became slightly confused but merely asked, "What is it?"

"We should master, nonverbally and wandlessly so that no one will realize what's happening, how to detect magical properties in anything we consume. Or even, in the case of something like perfume, something we just put on ourselves."

She turned her gaze upwards a bit as she grew more thoughtful about what they could do. Becoming lost in her mind at a new academic challenge for her, she continued speaking.

"Specialis Revelio should work for spells and hexes that could have been placed in objects. Scarpin's Revelaspell will help to identify ingredients that can be used in a potion, which could be useful. But I also don't know if it would work the same way for potions laced into something else. And I don't know any other spells for potion detecting. Hmm, maybe we could create our own. I somehow managed to do that with the Four-Point Spell that you used in the Triwizard Tournament, with an easy incantation of just Point Me. I wonder if we could do that for a potion detector with its own equally simple incantation, like Show Potions. Maybe even add a poison detector that uses Show Poisons specifically for venomous or generally dangerous things that may have been added. I suppose we'll just have to experiment and find out."

Though Hermione was too concentrated on her possible plan to notice, Harry grinned for a second at watching her work through her thought process. His increased study habits had given him a greater appreciation for her drive to learn new things. Not to mention, now that she had started pulling him out of his overwhelming misery from earlier in the year, he found it cute how she could get excited or on a roll like this. He remained silent, though, so that she could keep talking.

"And frankly, now that I think about it, this is something we probably should have been doing before now, regardless of your hypothesis about Ron and Ginny. You've only gotten more famous in the magical world for being credited with killing Riddle, so it honestly seems like a minor miracle that we haven't had to deal with the same problems as sixth year of other girls trying to slip you potions."

Then, she sadly frowned a bit at her next thought as she looked back at Harry, knowing what the words would probably do to him. "Of course, that could be because everyone knows it would be way too suspicious for you to suddenly develop feelings for anyone when I'm the only person that you allowed to even be at arm's length."

And like clockwork, Harry's face began to fall at the reminder of his behavior throughout this school year, and he turned his head away. But he looked back at her in confusion when she placed a hand on top of his. Then, with a bit of sternness in her eyes, she just slowly shook her head a few times.

He still appeared to be a bit ashamed, but his voice was that soft tone that lifted her heart. "I know, I shouldn't keep thinking that I deserve to be alone for what I've done. And I'm sorry that you've had to keep reminding me of that so many times since last Friday night."

Softening her own expression, she patted his hand a couple of times. Then, as she pulled her hand away, she replied, "Hey, like I've said, I'll keep doing it no matter how many times you may slip up."

He gave an amused snort for an instant. After another second, he turned serious again and continued speaking.

"But back on topic. You're absolutely right with your reasoning about detecting potions. And also… you muttered to yourself in one of our last study sessions at Hogwarts about wishing that wandless magic was being taught in our class curriculums. Maybe while working to find or make those detection spells, we can also do some wandless practice with some of our simpler spells to break up the routine if we hit a wall with the potion spells. And we could move on with more advanced wandless spells if we successfully use the earlier ones quickly enough. Maybe we can even start our work while at your house, since we'll still be away from Hogwarts for more than a week. What do you say?"

Her eyes went wide with happiness as she flashed him a beaming smile, which caused him to chuckle since it was all the answer he needed. Still, to be clear, she exclaimed, "Yes, I would love that!"

She couldn't believe that not only did he hear her when she really had only intended that statement as a comment to herself, but he also remembered it even with everything he was going through. First reading the history book, and now wanting to do independent study with her even on holiday. Her heart overflowed with happiness at this display of his love for her, even if he hadn't said the words.

Thus, she couldn't help sealing their agreement with another kiss. When they pulled apart this time, she remained just a couple of inches away from him, losing herself in his emerald eyes.

Then, she whispered with as much warmth as she could muster, "I love you, Harry."

He visibly choked up and remained silent for a few seconds. Wanting to reassure him, she put her right hand at the back of his head and slowly pushed his forehead down until it was touching hers. Then, she said, "Harry, you don't have to say the actual words if you aren't ready. Your actions already tell me more than enough."

He let out a nervous laugh. "You're probably the only person on the planet that would ever say that."

She responded with complete tenderness, "Because I know you spent so long believing you never had a future, and aren't sure what to do now that you have a chance for one, that there's a part of you that still thinks this may not be real. Because I still hold to my words about never asking for more than what you were willing to give. And because I'm confident enough in our relationship that I simply just want you to know how I feel, and I'll never think badly of you for not being ready to say those words."

"But still," he said with a bit of frustration, "it… it feels so stupid that I'm choking up on the words when I know that I care about you, want to be with you, and want you to be happy. Especially considering that's the second time you've told me."

"Harry," she soothingly replied, "they're just words. They don't mean anything without the actions to back them up. And like I just mentioned, your actions tell me everything."

She put her left hand on his cheek again. "So, don't fret about not being able to say the words. I can wait as long as it takes for you to be ready."

He closed his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion. A single tear began to fall down the right side of his face. Like they'd been doing for each other, Hermione gently wiped it away with her thumb. This caused him to smile a bit and open his eyes.

Then, he whispered, "I'm so glad that you came into my life, Hermione."

She replied just as quietly, "And I'm glad that you entered mine, Harry."

Keeping her forehead touching his, she pulled her hands away but then moved her left hand to rest on top of his right. And for a time, the two of them sat there like that. Neither wanted to budge and end this moment, happy to pull comfort from simply being with each other.

Eventually, with a reluctant sigh, Harry lifted his head off of hers. He glanced away to the road for a second before saying, "What do you say about heading back?"

Checking the wristwatch that she remembered to put on this morning, she saw that it was already past noon. She gave him a nod before looking to make sure no one was around and then pulling out her wand. After she ended the muffling spell and warming charm, she put her wand away as they both stood from the bench. Then, she linked her arm into his, and the two began their journey back to the house.

This walk was slower than the previous one. The two of them went at a much more leisurely pace as they enjoyed the sounds of the neighborhood, like a car passing down the road every so often, or a parent and child playing. Days like this were what made Hermione thankful for everything she had gone through to help Harry finally destroy Riddle, so that no one else would ever have to go through such fear and terror as the previous few years.

Once they were in front of her house, she unlinked herself from him as they were walking to the front door. She stopped in confusion after a few paces, however, when she realized he wasn't at her side anymore. Turning around, she found him with his back to her, standing on the sidewalk with his head tilted so that he was looking slightly up into the sky.

She had to ask, "Harry? Is something wrong?"

He glanced over his shoulder for just a second before saying, "No, Hermione. I'm just… I never got to just enjoy the tranquility of a neighborhood during the holidays like this. You know, given both my childhood and how the Weasleys were isolated from other houses. I know we said leave the past behind, but… that might not be so easy for me just yet with certain aspects of my life."

Her heart fell at his words. His whole life before now, almost entirely manipulated in service of the goal that he accomplished last May. Only ever having the chance to start enjoying any of the simple pleasures of life after he came to Hogwarts. And even then, his years were blackened by trials and torments that no person should ever have to suffer.

Suddenly, a mischievous idea sparked to life in her mind. One of those simple pleasures he had been able to enjoy was having a snowball fight with Ron and the twins in fourth year. She had only ever participated in battles with her parents, but the last one would have been some time before she started at Hogwarts. Maybe she could do this to break out of her activity bubble and give him another happy memory. Besides, after such a serious talk as they had at the church, didn't they both deserve some time to cut loose and have fun?

Trying to go slowly so that Harry wouldn't hear her, she scooped a little bit of snow into her gloved hand and packed it into a ball. She placed it on the ground before making a second one. After picking up the one on the ground, she held the snowballs behind her back. Then, she silently counted backwards from three. After hitting the number one, she couldn't help the evil grin that came to her for an instant before she threw the snowball in her right hand as hard as she could at Harry's back.

It easily connected, causing the top half of Harry's body to lurch forward a bit. She immediately put her right hand behind her back and schooled her expression, appearing from the front to be just an innocent girl while readying the other snowball in her right hand behind her.

He stood still for a couple of seconds. Then, reaching around to his back, he felt the snow where she had hit him and brushed it off. When he turned around, the mixture of astonishment and suspicion on his face told her that he couldn't believe what just happened.

His incredulous tone when he spoke confirmed that. "Did you actually just hit me with a snowball?"

Looking at him with much-too-innocent eyes and a smile, she said as sweetly as she could, "Who, me? How could I do such a thing? I'm just a little bookworm, remember?"

A huge smirk slowly grew on his face, as he said in a low voice, "You just hit me with a snowball."

As quickly as she could, she threw the other one she held at him, striking him in the middle of his chest. She teasingly yelled, as she began running further into the lawn to put space between them, "And there's more where that came from, Potter!"

He jokingly replied, while beginning to scoop snow into his own gloved hands, "Oh, I'll make you pay for that, Granger!"

And with that, the battle had begun. For hours, the two remained outside in their snowball fight, laughing as though they had not a care in the world while trying to pelt each other with snowballs. It ended up encompassing the entire property, as Hermione at one point ran to the back lawn, where they held things for a while before eventually making their way back to the front. The two were so carefree that they never realized they had an audience while battling on the front lawn.

-O-

Jack and Miranda watched from the window of the living room. They had shifted to sit at the top of the sofa for a better view of the merriment. They were both mesmerized by the childlike joy that Harry and Hermione were both showing. A joy that had previously been robbed from both of them with all of the trials they had to face.

"Just look at her," Miranda quietly said, as she continued to gaze out the window. "Can you recall the last time that she was this happy?"

"I'm honestly not sure if she's ever been this happy," Jack replied just as softly. "Not even when the three of us reunited in Australia after she undid those spells."

She nodded and then gave a quick chuckle. "And we know that Harry never was before yesterday, going by what he said after breakfast."

He nodded but also couldn't help the somewhat depressed sigh that left his lips.

That caused her to look over to him and ask with a bit of concern, "What's wrong, dear?"

Without removing his stare from the window, he replied, "Just… looking at those two, it's really hitting me that it won't be long until she leaves us. I know this is her final year at that school, but after reconnecting in the summer, I thought we might still get a bit more time together while she figured out her affairs after graduating. But… we both know that she'll go wherever Harry goes. She even said as much this morning when she told him, right in front of us, that she would have no problem giving up her family again. And I could never begrudge her that, because they care deeply for one another. And I'm glad that she has someone that can make her so happy. I guess… I wish it didn't feel like our time with our little girl was coming to an end so quickly."

Miranda remained silent for a few seconds, just sadly looking at her husband. Then, she shifted to sit right next to him, causing him to turn his head towards her. She placed her left hand on top of his right before gently speaking to him.

"It's one thing to be someone's family. It's another to be someone's heart and soul. You should know that better than anyone. Except for my mother until she died, no one in my family supported me being with you. And I still chose you."

His lips curled upward slightly before he responded. "And I'll always be grateful, for many reasons, that you were willing to make that choice."

He nudged his head towards the window for a second, where they could still hear the teens as they continued their battle. "And considering one of those reasons is out there playing right now, that's also why I could never stand in her way if she made the same choice."

Miranda curled her hand around his, to which he shifted his hand's position so that he could hold hers. Then, she said, "Yes, she'll eventually be out of the house completely. But something tells me that she won't be very far out of our lives even once she leaves here."

A tiny smirk came to her face as she continued, "Harry would never want her to lose touch with us. He really places a great deal of importance in holding onto family that loves you, given that he never really had that growing up from what Hermione told us of his parents dying and his relatives despising him."

Jack couldn't help but nod. "No doubt about that. He knowingly risked forever having our wrath for leaving Hermione in Australia, all because he wanted her to spend time alone with us after everything the two of them endured. And even though we both believed he wouldn't have been in the way if he had stayed during the summer, a large part of me can't help but be thankful to him for being willing to make such a sacrifice because we were able to spend real quality time together as a family for the first time in years. All because he cared enough about Hermione that he wanted her to keep her family."

Returning his gaze to the outside, he was silent for a few seconds. Then, he whispered, "I'm glad they've both found that one person that makes them happy and for which they would do anything."

She squeezed his hand a bit more and turned back to the window. And for a while, the two of them continued their silent vigil, happy in the knowledge that their daughter had found her own heart and soul.

But then, an idea suddenly hit Miranda, and she gave a pensive hum to herself.

Jack looked over to her in confusion and asked, "Something wrong, honey?"

She turned to face him, knowing that her idea was a little crazy but hoping that she could get her husband to at least consider it, for all of their sakes…

-O-

Eventually, the snowball fight finally came to an end when Harry got an idea. Hermione had run to the side of the lawn that was visible from the living room window. Her back was to him as she leaned down to get more snow. Instead of readying the snowball he had, he dropped it and made a beeline for her. When she turned around to throw, she only had just enough time to look at him in surprise before he crashed into her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. The impact was hard enough that it lifted her into the air a little bit, and she put her arms around his middle to steady herself. It also caused Harry to spin in a circle before he fell to the ground on his back, with Hermione lying on top of him.

When she came to her senses and lifted her head to lock eyes with him, neither of them could last more than a second before they both burst out laughing, just as loudly as they had when they finished decorating each other with the tinsel. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his chest as she continued laughing, her gut hurting from the exertion. His own laughter sounded as though he was having the same issue.

It took a few minutes for their laughter to finally subside. When they had calmed down, Hermione lifted her head to stare down into Harry's eyes. His expression of tenderness was more than she could resist, and she leaned down to lovingly kiss him. The kiss lasted for about ten seconds before she slowly pulled her head away.

With an embarrassed smile, he said, "Do you think we'll get in trouble for that, given that we're in the middle of the lawn?"

Without missing a beat, she replied, "I'm willing to risk it and take it all if we do."

Her remark caused him to quickly turn somber. After about five seconds, he said, "I don't know if I'll ever get used to how deeply you feel for me."

Rather than responding, she slowly leaned down again and gave him another kiss for a couple of seconds. When she pulled away, she whispered, "Then I'll just have to keep doing that whenever you worry, won't I?"

Once again, she left him at a loss for words. They stared at each other for about five more seconds before she slowly shifted off of him. When she stood up, she held a hand out for him, which he grabbed to pull himself up.

After dropping their hands, Hermione gave Harry a once-over and looked at the remnants of snow sticking to his clothes. He became confused when she held her arms away and started shaking her hands to get the snow off of them. But then, his eyes widened in surprise when, without a word, she began gently brushing snow off of him. She gradually circled around, removing as much snow from him as she could. And after a minute or so, when she returned to standing in front of him, she placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him. With a timid smile, she slowly slid her hands down his chest and stomach before pulling them away. He blushed, eyes glancing away, but he was wearing his own shy smile.

When he turned his gaze back to her, he began reaching out to her arms, seemingly going to do for her what she did for him. Before he touched her, however, he suddenly halted, his face paling in fright. While she was confused for an instant, she quickly figured out what the issue could be.

He was afraid that he would be doing something inappropriate. That she would react badly if he so much as accidentally touched a finger near her more private bits. The fact that he was still trying to be so considerate about what she may want warmed her heart. However, she needed to show him that his worries were unnecessary.

Before he could pull back, she grabbed his wrists, surprising and confusing him. Then, his confusion deepened when she slowly pulled his hands toward her and placed them on her shoulders, holding her hands over his for a few seconds. Once she let go of him and dropped her arms, she gave him a tender smile and simply nodded at him.

He instantly became shocked at her easy acceptance. Still, knowing that she would never lie to him, he very slowly began brushing her as she had done for him. Even with her assent, he still took great care in making sure he didn't stray too near her breasts or between her legs. When he had moved around to her back and couldn't see her face, she had to smile at how adorable he seemed while showing such carefulness. She sobered up again after a few seconds, however, because she then thought about how correct he was in thinking that his first kiss with Ginny was so different to all of his other interactions with girls. She mentally shook her head to get rid of that thought, remembering her own words about not wanting to dwell on the Weasleys any longer.

After another minute, Harry had circled back around to the front and gave her arms a final dusting. When he finished, he simply dropped his arms and looked at her with a light blush. She just smiled at him, moved to stand at his right side, and linked their hands together. Then, she gestured towards the front door with her head, silently telling him that they should go inside. He smiled back and just nodded, and the two walked to the front door as leisurely as they could.

Miranda was leaving the living room just as Hermione walked into the house, pulling Harry along behind her. When he shut the door, Miranda said, "Alright, we heard you two playing out there for a while, so before you do anything else, take off your shoes here and then go upstairs to change out of your wet clothes. Then, leave the wet ones on top of the washing machine, and I'll get them cleaned and dried."

Rolling her eyes but smirking good-naturedly, Hermione replied, "Mum, you know we could just do magic, right?"

Her mum's answer was, "Of course, I do. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy doing something for you while you're here. Now, once you two do that, then we can all talk about dinner, since it's almost four o'clock and I'm sure you two haven't eaten since breakfast."

Hermione just looked at Harry and shook her head in amusement, to which he grinned in response.

-O-

Late in the evening, the group had been gathered in the living room for a couple of hours. Jack and Miranda were sitting on the right side of the sofa and watching the television, with Miranda leaning her head onto Jack's left shoulder. Harry and Hermione were settled on the opposite end of the sofa, reading Hermione's history book together again as she snuggled into his right side.

Hermione giggled in her mind at how the two of them ended up here. Harry had initially taken his place in the armchair like he always did when the four of them all sat in the living room. But when she had locked eyes with him as he was getting ready to settle, she anxiously bit her lip before then patting her left hand beside her on the sofa. Though she saw his nervousness and how his eyes glanced over at her parents for a second, he stood up from the chair and slowly sat down beside her. Too happy to care that her parents might tease them, she had gleefully huddled into him and then took hold of his right hand. When she took a quick glimpse at her mum and dad, she saw that they were wearing small smirks, but they remained silent beyond that and kept their attention on the television.

A few minutes later, however, Harry surprised her when he timidly spoke to her and asked if they could possibly continue where they left off together in her ancient history book, even if it might be redundant on his part since he'd read ahead when he was alone. She simply beamed at him before moving to grab the book off the coffee table. Then, she resumed her cuddling, laid the book in their laps, and opened it. And just like the first morning that they were here, they never said a word and just enjoyed the tranquility of the activity.

They both looked up when they heard the television go silent. Turning their heads to the right, they saw Jack and Miranda standing up.

"Well kids," Miranda started, "it's about nine-thirty. So, the two of us are going to turn in for the night."

Jack added, "But before we do, we did have a question. When would the two of you want to have Christmas dinner?" He then looked directly at Harry. "While we've typically done it on the actual day in the past, we weren't sure whether you would be fine with that or if you would prefer to do it on Christmas Eve, Harry."

Harry glanced at Hermione before looking back at the parents. Then, with some hesitance, he said, "Christmas Day sounds just fine. Especially because… well, there was somewhere that I actually wanted to go tomorrow night. Somewhere I think that I need to go."

Hermione's eyes widened and brow furrowed at the same time. She was going to wait until she and Harry were alone to bring up somewhere that she'd realized, after returning home, she wanted the both of them to go tomorrow. Was he actually already thinking of the same thing?

The parents were a bit quizzical of the cryptic response, and could see that Hermione was feeling the same, but they trusted both teenagers to take care of themselves in whatever may happen. Then, Miranda said, "Then it's a plan. Now, I'm guessing you two have some things to discuss if our daughter's current expression means anything, so we'll leave you be."

As she and her husband began to leave, she stopped first to give Hermione and Harry a hug. Then, she and Jack both said, "Good night, Hermione. Good night, Harry."

Hermione said, somewhat reluctantly, "Good night."

Harry added, "Good night, Miranda, Jack."

The parents nodded and continued their way out of the living room. When they were close to the entrance, Hermione stopped them by calling out, "Mum. Dad."

Her parents turned around, looking at her with confusion and a bit of concern. Though she could tell that Harry was also looking at her the same way, she kept her vision trained on her parents before speaking again.

"I do appreciate what you've been doing over this break with sticking to my long-held request about keeping a certain something just between us. But… you don't need to hide it anymore. I told Harry, on the first night we were here, about my nickname. And… I miss hearing it when all of us are saying good night to each other."

She wasn't surprised to see shock appear on her parents' faces. No one else, not even any of the extended family, had ever known about her nickname. She had wanted it that way ever since the bullying she suffered in her early years of school for her love of books. Her parents had asked her, once they had gotten the bullying quashed, if she wanted them to stop using that nickname. She had shaken her head and told them that she still liked it when they did it, but then hesitantly asked if they could just keep it secret between the three of them. Though her parents were saddened that she felt as though she needed to hide it for the future, they had agreed to her request and held to it since then.

Thus, for her to willingly allow someone else to know about it was to basically say that the person would always be close family to her. The fact that this person was her very first friend, and that she'd told him even before actually confessing her real feelings for him, surely couldn't have been lost on her parents. She hoped that the shock on their faces meant that they were simply stunned with joy.

Finally, her mother was the first one to respond. "Hermione, are you sure it's alright? You've wanted that kept private for so long."

Hermione gave a short nod before saying, "Yes, I mean it. It's alright." Then, locking her eyes onto Harry, she added, "I trust Harry completely."

Though she'd already told him of her trust in him before, his gaze went soft in the way that she knew meant he could hardly believe that she would ever praise him so highly. She gave him a tender smile and barely nodded, confirming her words to him.

They were interrupted after a few seconds, and looked back at her parents, when Jack said, "You know, Harry, you really are in a special place for Hermione to trust you with her nickname."

Harry's somewhat timid response was, "I'm glad to somehow be lucky enough just to have someone amazing like Hermione in my life at all."

Hermione lovingly laid her head on his shoulder in response, not seeing the light blush that rose to his face.

She quickly lifted it back up, though, when Miranda spoke. "Well, in that case then…"

She paused and looked to Jack, and they flashed a quick smile to each other. Then, they turned back to the teenagers and simultaneously said to Hermione, "Good night, Little Worm. We love you."

Hermione gave a small grin as she quietly replied, "I love you too, Mum and Dad."

And with that, her parents walked out of the living room, leaving her and Harry alone.

The two of them just stared at each other for about ten seconds. Then, Hermione broke the silence, placing her book back on the table as she did so. "I know we have something we need to discuss, but how about we save it for first thing in the morning? We've already had some pretty big talks as it is today, haven't we?"

He let out a small chuckle and replied, "You're not wrong. So yeah, first thing tomorrow, then."

Without another word, she took hold of his right hand and stood up, causing him to rise with her. When she nudged her head towards the ceiling, he nodded at her unspoken question, and the two slowly made their way up to their rooms.

They stopped at the junction as was typical. Having seen that the door to her parents' room was closed, Hermione felt more at ease that what she was about to say wouldn't be overheard. "So, I know my parents only said this as a means of teasing me, but…"

She paused and bit her lip, still somewhat nervous as to how he might take this. Seeing her anxiousness, Harry softly said, "Hey. Whatever it is, I'll listen."

The flutter of her heart washed away some of her nerves, so she continued. "What they said about moving you into my room. If, if you would want to move your things into my room, and sleep next to me at night… you're welcome to do so anytime."

Harry's mouth dropped open a bit, and he whispered, "You mean that?"

She simply nodded in response.

He was stunned for a few seconds, as though he was staring off into space. Then, he glanced down the hall at the closed door. Looking back to her, he said, "I'm… not sure I'm ready for something like that just yet. I know what your dad said about me not having to worry about them, but… I don't want to give them reason to think we might be moving too fast. As dumb as that probably sounds."

She gently took hold of his hands and replied, "No, it's not. You're not ready, so I won't force the issue. Just know that the offer will remain open if you change your mind."

His affectionate expression said all that she needed to know, but he spoke up as well. "You really are amazing, you know that? You've wanted to help me with issues that I thought I could never talk about because I was afraid of burdening you. You knew when to just let go and have a moment of fun so that I don't weigh myself down with my thoughts. You're understanding enough that you have no qualms about waiting for me on certain steps until I'm ready to take them. And you're trusting enough that, even before we officially became a couple, you let me in on something so secret that apparently only your parents knew about it. Just… thank you, Hermione. For being you."

And there it was, the warmth she always felt at his high praise. Without hesitation, she let go of his hands but then stepped up to him, leaving no space between their bodies. Then, she leaned in and gave him a long and loving kiss, to which he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her even closer into his chest as they did so.

When the kiss ended, knowing that the night could not end in a better way, Hermione put her left hand on Harry's cheek and quietly said, "Thank you for giving this little bookworm a chance, both as a friend and as something more. Sleep well, Harry."

Sounding as though he was fighting back a few tears, he chokingly whispered, "You too, Hermione."

With that, they gradually separated and stepped backwards into their respective rooms, staring at each other the whole time. Once they each crossed their threshold, they slowly shut the doors, bringing the day to its end. Both pondered on what the morning talk may bring but also knew that, after everything they'd already faced throughout the years, the two of them could get through anything together.


A/N: Feels good to have been able to get this one out like I'd hoped last week. Chapter 8 will definitely take a longer wait than a week, though, since I've just barely started it.

Hopefully, that resolution doesn't come off as too blue-balling (for lack of a better term). The idea of Harry wanting to put the potion hypothesis out there, Hermione being more afraid of it not being true, and Harry not caring that she had an off-year, so to speak, was what I had planned once I started writing what became these last two chapters. Not to mention, I liked the premise of it giving Hermione an idea of a new challenge for her to take in regards to an overall potion detecting spell, of which I honestly couldn't find any already in canon.

Also, I'm a believer of the headcanon that Hermione invented the Four-Point Spell herself in fourth year, given that Harry was the only person to ever use it along with its incantation being the only one that was in English. It would also go along with Hermione being kinda bad at naming, what with the unfortunate acronym for the name of her house-elf organization.

For everyone that made it this far, thank you for reading, and I hope you stay tuned for more! Of course, those of you keeping track of the days in-story probably won't be surprised by what event takes place next lol.