Author's Note: Welp, this took a while to get right, but I think I've got it. My Beta's a pretty busy so this hasn't been beta'd but I'd go through it again later to see if I can fix anything which needs it. I honestly didn't expect to be able to get out another chapter this week, so this one surprised even me. For those of you whoa re unaware there are two more fairly recent updates before this one you may have missed thanks to my extended absence.

Chapter 20: Tipping Point

Things seldom go as planned. Harry reflected to himself irritably. His weekend for example hadn't, like he'd intended, included looking over Hermione's Occlumency shields.

Weekends were, in theory, supposed to be the time in which somebody took a break from their everyday lives and unwound, or pursued their other interests. His weekend had included homework, fretting about the Weasley Trial, and wondering about what he should do in regards to his growing attraction to his best friend.

The homework was, not surprisingly, no real challenge, it was just time consuming. The Weasley Trial had, he was assured by Sirius, gone well despite a few minor hiccups, apparently there had been some arguing over how to deal with the guilty parties as Azkaban was no longer an option. It had been sorted eventually, once they'd managed to reign in the more blood thirsty members of the jury, and the two conspirators in question had been sentenced to twenty years in a secondary penitentiary near…Chapel hill wasn't it? Harry reflected.

Regardless, those two were out of his hair for a good long time, or so he hoped, and he found he wasn't really sorry to see them go. Strange considering how long he and Ron had been friends. The last question which had plagued him this weekend had however been harder to resolve.

He'd been thinking about it a lot over the last couple days, and he thought he'd come to a conclusion about it. He couldn't and wouldn't separate himself from Hermione. Not the least of which because he couldn't stand being parted from her. Not after what had happened in his last life. Not when she meant so much to him.

So, to his mind at least, that left only one real option. He simply needed to tell her how he felt. A daunting prospect for many a young man, and unfortunately, figuring out just how he would do so was not proving so easy.

Last time around when his interest had been focused on Ginny, he had simply kissed her, and things had fallen into place. Somehow he doubted that approach would work with Hermione.

So, needless to say, by the time Monday rolled around his patience was thoroughly shot. Like a gopher by a drunken farmer with a twelve gauge. Which is to say, his patience had more holes in it that a sieve. Thus he was currently having trouble remaining civil with Angelina Johnson as she wheedled at him in an attempt to get him to reconsider his position.

He liked the girl well enough, he'd played beside her on the Quidditch team for years. But she was somewhat singleminded when it came to her favourite sport, and was therefore confused as to why he wouldn't be interested in participating this year.

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "Look, Angelina. I've got a lot on my plate right now okay? I love Quidditch, you know I do. But I've kinda got more to deal with right now." At her questioning glance he listed off a couple things. "I've got my family's estates to manage, I've got homework, and I've got a madman intent on killing me."

The look she gave him could best be described as baleful. "You've got to take time to unwind now and then too Harry." She chastised. "If you have a melt down nobody will be laughing except You-Know-Who."

"I know, and I'm looking into something to take my mind off things," He hedged. "But I don't think I can dedicate the time you need…"

She sighed, defeated. "Okay Harry, but seriously, you need to loosen up."

He fought down his irritation. "Yeah, I know. And you know…maybe try Ginny Weasley, her family's got Quidditch in their blood. She may surprise you" He suggested tiredly.

She nodded and wandered off, a little storm cloud following her.

He wandered back over to where Hermione and Kara were waiting on him. "Sorry you two, but I couldn't keep putting her off." He apologized.

They had been on their way out to Care of Magical Creatures when Angelina had ambushed him. Tonks had run off earlier this morning to attend to something she had been assured was of utmost importance.

They had a busy day today, he was scheduled to take his first OWL this morning right before lunch, his second just after and had Defence right after that. He was still hoping that he might be able to fit that occlumency work in with Hermione, that evening.

They wandered across the turf towards Hagrid's Hut. Grubblyplank still held her classes there because that was where the various animal pens were situated.

It was to his great surprise as they approached the paddocks, that he found he might have spoken too soon when he assumed Tonks wouldn't be joining them. She was standing chatting seriously with Grubblyplank when they arrived.

Tonks blew a strand of hair from off her face, "So, you're saying you knew there was a colony of Acromantula in the forest and didn't report it?"

The slightly dumpy woman across from her shrugged. "I was under the impression he Ministry had been made aware and had decided to leave them be. They've been there for ages and have never given Hogwarts trouble before…" She reasoned.

Tonks clucked her tongue, "Right…" She sounded less than convinced.

Harry for his part was intrigued, he didn't recall this conversation or one like it taking place the last time round. Tonks shook her head sighing and pulled a note pad. "Alright, what can you tell me?"

Grubblyplank considered. "I was on my morning rounds earlier, walking the edge of the forest you know. The rounds are to make sure nothing too nasty wanders out you know?" She fussed. "And I found them just over there, handing from the trees."

Tonks nodded, dutifully writing that down. "How many of them were there?"

Grubblyplank shrugged uncertainly. "Maybe twenty or thirty…"

"And these spider…carcasses, where are they now?"

The professor jerked a thumb over her shoulder towards the forest. "I've got them trussed up further in. Didn't want them spooking the students." She offered cautiously.

Harry had to admit he was startled. Something had been killing Acromantulas? He more than clearly remembered his various misadventures with the monsters over the years. They were definitely hardy creatures.

Tonks nodded, jotting that down. "Right, well then. I'll check with the department for control of magical creatures and see if they were aware of this colony. If they are we'll leave them be I guess. But if not, I suppose we'll need to put together a strike force to clear them out…" She speculated. "Either way they'll be by to dispose of the carcasses for you."

The professor nodded her thanks.

"Now then, what can you tell me about how the bodies were situated?" The Auror queried.

The professor looked at her like she was daft. "Like I said, hanging from the trees…"

Tonks waved that off. "Yes, but with what?"

The professor realized what she meant and nodded. "Rope."

"Anything else of interest? Wounds? That sort of thing?" Tonks suggested probingly.

Grubblyplank nodded vigorously. "They'd been stabbed, all of them, or something like it anyways. Hemolymph everywhere. One of them had a note stuck to it's body with a knife!" She declared. Harry felt his eyebrows rise in consternation.

Tonks was needless to say skeptical, only a nutter would go for an acromantula with a knife. "A knife…." The professor nodded firmly. She sighed. "May I see this note and the knife in question?"

Grubblyplank nodded. "The note is in the hut, but I remember what it says. It said. "This is what happens to creepy bastards!"

Tonks and Harry both blinked in surprise at that. "Strange, and the knife?"

Grubblyplank got a sheepish look. "Ah, right. I've got it here somewhere." She started patting herself down before pulling a very familiar bowie knife and presenting it proudly. It was all Harry could do to stifle his laughter.

It would seem he'd need to speak with the elves again.

—-

Once, Tonks had sorted the investigation and wandered off to file her report, the class was able to begin. And again, just like last time it was Bowtruckles, this time he refrained from nearly snapping one of the little guys in frustration, and wasn't quite as disparaging of Grubblyplank, she really did know her stuff though she was no Hagrid. He did however use a bit of silent magic to trip Malfoy when the git did a rude impression of Hermione, he was knocked out when he landed on the table, and then savaged by the little tree guardians, one of them conspicuously wearing dark red war paint. He ended up getting drug to the Hospital wing by a whimpering Pansy Parkinson. Crabbe and Goyle now guarding Nott instead of him.

"Harry did you do that?" Hermione asked in a hushed whisper. "I didn't hear you incant." She said. He shrugged sheepishly.

"I sometimes manage silent magic when I'm angry. And I didn't expect anything so spectacular." He noted. It had been meant to cause Malfoy to fall over embarrassingly when he was hopping about like a moron. Instead he had been almost catapulted, flipping in the air.

"Harry," She said cajolingly looking worried.

"Like I said, I didn't intend that. I'll be smarter." He promised then had to dash off to help Kara who was getting swarmed by the little buggers, they were after the woodlice she had been instructed to provide them with. One of them was screeching in a high voice about a she devil and bringer of death who had stolen their food.

The next class that morning was his Herbology OWL. It thankfully passed without incident, with the sole exception of a baby mandrake which attempted to explode his eardrums. Fortunately for him, he was accomplished with silencio, and nailed the little plant before it could get farther than opening it's ugly mouth. He had got a grudging nod from the professor for that one.

—-

A few hours later had Hermione, standing impatiently waiting for Defence Against the Dark Arts to start. Strictly speaking she was waiting on Harry to arrive too. She knew why he was late in this instance. But he had been worrying her, more than usual, over the last couple days. At first she'd assumed it was the stress accompanying the upcoming trial, but it had seemed to persist after that as well.

Her musings were interrupted as Daphne Greengrass strode over to her. "Hello Granger." Daphne greeted a touch stiffly. Regardless of their recent interactions neither of them knew the other well. And past…animosity between their houses created a level of distrust. It was peculiar that Harry seemed to have overcome that distrust with little effort but she hadn't.

"Hello Daphne?" She greeted doing her best to sound cordial.

"Flying alone today?" The Slytherin prefect asked.

She shrugged. "Kara just wandered off for a bit. Harry will be here once he finishes his…test." She drew herself up short uncertain whether or not it was a secret Harry was taking his OWLs early.

Apparently she needn't have bothered. Daphne inclined her head. "Yes, I heard he'd decided to try his luck with the OWLs, it has set many tongues wagging." she shrugged. "Very well, I had hoped to speak with him, but it can wait."

Hermione cocked her head. "Anything I should know about?"

Daphne considered her, and likely her relationship with Harry. "I suppose he will likely tell you about it anyways. My father sent me a letter to hand deliver into Lord Potter's hands."

Hermione felt her brow furrow at that. "Really? Why not just send it to him directly?"

Daphne was uncertain, though she hid it well. "I haven't the faintest, but I'm to await his reply before leaving."

Hermione shook her head. "Have I ever mentioned how strange Pureblood conventions are?" She asked rhetorically.

Daphne smirked a bit, just a small tugging of the lips. "No, I don't believe you have, at least not to me. However you are not incorrect, some of the things required in our society are…antiquated. In this case though…I confess I am as surprised as you." she admitted.

Hermione grumbled to herself. "Yes, It seems surprises follow Harry around lately."

The Slytherin quirked a brow at her. "Really? Interesting, I had assumed I'd simply misjudged him, but if this is strange even to you?"

Hermione wagged her head a bit on her shoulders, "Oh I think you probably did misjudge him. Especially if what you said in the past is anything to go by." She argued. "But he has, I admit, been different lately…"

"You don't seem certain whether or not it is a good sort of different?" The blonde noted shrewdly.

That's because I'm not. Hermione noted to herself grimly. Thankfully she was saved having to reply to that by the door to the classroom opening and Professor Miller stepping out into the hall.

He smiled, "Ah good, you're here. Sorry for the wait, you know how it is, more stuff to prepare before I could let you in. Come on in and find a seat…" he noted something down the corridor. "Potter! Smith! Come on pitter patter!" he called, causing Hermione to look and see Harry and Kara jogging up from down the hall.

—-

Daphne stood waiting just outside the great hall as the students gathered for supper. Defence had been a reasonably interesting class. Mostly it had merely been going over what they had discussed the previous class in greater detail. They had spent a modicum of time discussing the chapter from the book they'd been assigned as well. Professor Miller had asked after how many of them had actually done the running he'd requested.

She along with most of the class had indicated they had, and had been disappointed when he assigned them to do the same again between then and the next class. Again with the remonstration that he'd know whether or not they were skipping it in the long run.

But that was not what had her out here right now. No, she was hoping to deliver her father's letter to a certain ally. She got the chance when she spotted the young man himself climbing the stairs chatting with his companions.

She stepped forward catching their attention. "Excuse me Lord—" She caught herself. "Harry. I an sorry to disturb you but if I could have a moment of your time?" She requested formally.

Harry nodded easily enough. "Of course Daphne, what do you need?"

She drew the letter out of her robes. "I was requested by my father to deliver this letter into your hands."

He took the envelope carefully and opened it casting her the occasional questioning glance. It was strange, she was not unaware of her physical charms, though she did nothing to flaunt them. It typically drew a predictable reaction from most of the young male populace. However Harry seemed not to notice at all. She would have assumed he was batting for the other team as it were, had she not seen him on occasion look at other girls with interest. Therefore he was merely not interested and yet had enough self discipline to ignore the physicality.

She wasn't sure whether or not to be insulted or relieved by this. On the one hand, one seldom appreciated being ignored out of hand, even if nothing is meant by it. But on the other, she often grew weary of the attentions of pubescent males. So grasping and banal in their crude attempts to woo her. To find a man who did not pursue her in such a way was refreshing.

She was stirred from this reflection by Harry looking up from the parchment, before passing it off to Hermione who peered at it with interest. Daphne had to quell a small bout of irritation. It was after all his prerogative whom he trusted to know what was in that letter, however she had been under the impression that it had been intended to be private by her father.

Harry cocked his head at her slightly, considering her. "I take it you are to wait for my reply?" She nodded agreement, and he turned his attention to his friend. "What do you think Hermione?"

The brunette frowned as she considered. "Well…you are intending to do something similar anyways…one more wouldn't be a serious inconvenience…" She noted sounding pensive.

Harry accepted the letter back from her and offered it to Daphne. "What do you think of all this?" He asked.

She peered at the letter in consternation. It was tied up in the floral formal language of the nobility, but it appeared her father had been doing more digging than he had let on in regards to their new ally. He had learned of some skills which Harry apparently possessed and was curious as to whether or not he would be willing to tutor her and Astoria in defence.

The source of this request was what caused her the most confusion. She routinely scored well in DADA, so she wasn't certain why her father was so concerned, or why he would think Harry a suitable tutor. However if he was requesting it of his ally, so formally, he must have good reason for doing so. She looked up considering the young man across from her. "I'm…willing I suppose. I will give it a shot if you are willing to do as requested…." She ventured, then shook her head. "However it is strange…My father requesting your assistance in this? Despite our Alliance, he is not a trusting man when it comes to anyone who isn't family. I admit…I am uncertain why he feels he can trust you so easily." She explained, she had guesses of course, father had his sources of information after all. But they were no more than that, guesses.

Harry nodded, smiling thinly. "Well, I would be willing, so long as you don't mind studying with a couple others. But only if you and your sister are totally willing to volunteer for this." He got a nod in reply. She knew what Astoria's response would be. "Very well, it's too late to get started on that tonight I think. I'll let you know when I want to set up our first session?"

She dipped her chin marginally. "Thank you that would be appreciated." She watched him and his other friends enter the hall, but remained for a time outside. She needed to get a reply to her father, but more than that she needed to have words with him and her sister. She didn't like unexpected occurrences such as this. They made her suspicious.

—-

Hermione was busy studying after supper, it was nice and quiet up in the prefects common room. More so than the regular one below at least. She was just going over a text on the healing properties of mandrakes when Harry found her.

"Hey Hermione, you got a moment?" he asked sitting himself across from her.

She looked up at him and marked her page before closing her book. "Sure Harry,"

He settled into his chair and considered her. "So we've been meaning to look over your occlumency shields. Would you be up for doing that now? Or would you rather a later time.

She thought about that. "Sure, now's a good time. I'm practically done here anyways."

He nodded happily. "Alright, now here's not the best place for this, where would you prefer we do this? We could use your room or mine, or…I don't know, we could use another place I know of which is fairly out of the way."

He paused when this met with snickering, and they both turned to look at Kara who was struggling to stifle a chuckle. She apologized. "Sorry, just—take a closer look back at what you just said and think about what it sounds like." She suggested.

They both did, and both flamed red at about the same time as they came to the same conclusion. It did indeed sound like they were trying to decide who's room to go to for a liaison. "Thanks for that Kara," Harry offered dryly, coughing uncomfortably.

Tonks who had been watching the whole byplay from the corner called out. "Hey, I thought it was funny."

Hermione ignored them, to spare what little dignity she had left. "Uh, my room I suppose?"

"Behave kids!" Called Tonks. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

They hurried pretty fast after that to get away from the peanut gallery. Harry, once he'd composed himself asked her to sit in one of the rooms chairs, before he drew one up across from her. "Right, so…you know how this works right?"

She nodded briskly. "You make a connection using a legilmency probe, basic or otherwise. For these purposes a basic probe would probably be better." She decided. "Upon you establishing the connection we'll both be inside my mindscape."

He nodded agreeing. "How's your mindscape coming along?" He asked.

She shrugged. "Pretty well, I think. That's what we're here to see isn't it?" She noted giving him a wry smile and eliciting a chuckle.

"True enough." He settled. "Alright, whenever your ready I'll start the probe."

She nodded, a touch nervous now that it came down to it. He then touched his wand to her temple and murmured the incantation.

The World washed away.

She turned about on her heel considering the world she'd created within her head. She'd put a lot of work into it. She'd even spent an hour each evening before she went to bed improving it. But it wasn't enough. Not yet anyways. Right now it was little more than a platform and window dressing to hide the really important things. It wouldn't keep out a serious attack, not yet.

It really was remarkable, she reflected, what you could create, when you were working with you own mind as the engine.

She was, in effect standing in a reconstruction of her home. It was as exact a reproduction of the house she knew so well as she could manage. And it wasn't half bad. She watched happily as Crookshanks padded past. It had taken quite a while to get him right.

He wasn't really in her mind of course. For all her referring to him as her familiar, he was simply a very smart cat which happened to be particularly fond of her. Nothing overly magical beyond that.

This version of him however was a security measure of sorts. An observer as the text had referred to it. It's purpose was to track and locate foreign intruders and mark them, so that she could focus her mind and eject them. In theory.

The replicas of her mother and father functioned in much the same way. She was still working on her father though. She'd read about a "guard dog" construct in the text. A security measure which not only tracked and marked intruders, but on it's own, attempted to eject them. It relied on her subconscious as a drive of course…

There was a ring at the door and she couldn't help but smile. Trust Harry to be polite even while "invading" her mind.

She padded over to the door and opened it, to find Harry smiling at her. "May I come in?" he asked cheerfully.

She stepped aside cheerfully. "Sure."

He stepped inside and looked around. "It looks like it's coming along nicely." he noted happily. "So, where do you want to start?" He asked.

She paused, realizing she hadn't really thought about it. "Well, I suppose I could just give you the tour?" he nodded agreeably and gestured for her to take the lead.

So she did just that, she showed him around the house, pointing out a few of the little secrets and features she had included, and explained what they corresponded to in the book. He asked few questions all in all, mostly just letting her babble about theories she had and ideas she wondered about. He smiled when she told him what Crookshanks did.

And all throughout it he was quiet and respectful. Not touching anything, or prying into her personal business. Which she was grateful for. It showed to her just how much Harry respected her. After all who could resist the temptation of the playground of infinite possibility which was someones mind? How many could resist the treasure trove of secrets this place represented?

She tried not to think where here own secrets were buried in this place. No, she mostly certainly wasn't showing him those.

By the time she checked the time. She'd been showing him around for a while. She was startled just how much time had passed. Close to two hours.

"I'm so sorry Harry!" She yelped. "I just got caught up in it all. I din't mean to take so much of your time, we just intended to glance things over. And—oh you must think me terribly silly. Showing you around my boring old house like this—" She babbled.

He chuckled and held up his hands to stop her. "Easy Hermione, easy. I'm not bored don't worry." He reassured her.

He cocked his head slightly and smiled. It was a smile in that way that made her knees weak. Something she'd never credited as being a real thing.

Laughter danced in his eyes. "Besides, I like what you've built here. It's beautiful…" He trailed off. And though she was sure he hadn't meant her to catch it, "She's brilliant, inside and out."

And that was Harry alright, always surprising her. Always a gentleman. Ever since the first time they'd met he'd always kept her guessing.

Looking back it was surprising that he was who he was. She looked at his upbringing, and by all rights one could have expected him to be bitter or angry. And while it wasn't that he didn't have his moments where he was indeed such. That was by no means who he was.

Instead he was…kind, and gentle. Retiring and yet brave and bold when the occasion called for it. He had achieved great things, overcome unbelievable obstacles.

And yet, despite all that, he wasn't cocky, or arrogant about it. And he was forgiving.

At least of his friends. His enemies were another matter, especially if they targeted those close to him. He apparently had trouble forgiving adults who had betrayed his trust. Not that she could really blame him.

If Hermione had to pick one attribute which was unquestionably Harry. It would be caring. he always had time for her, was always interested in her problems. Even when he didn't know how to help.

He even managed to weather her occasionally more vexing activities. Like her interest with the admittedly poorly named SPEW, or her nearly endless fights with Ron.

She remembered, with a bite of shame, the times she'd been less than sympathetic, on the rare occasions when his seemingly endless patience ran out, she had accused him of being short, or of biting their heads off. So focused on her own hurt feelings she'd failed to realize what such outbursts meant for Harry. What lashing out against his friends cost him. What the events that precipitated such outbursts had done to her friend.

It had made it all so easy. Easier to push him away. Perhaps a part of her had known that if she focused on his failings, on his flaws and moments of weakness, it would make it easier for her to convince herself he didn't mean so much to her as he did. It made it easier to distance herself and therefore shield herself from the hurt she felt was inevitable to come should she not harden her heart against him. It was a lie really, a lie she told herself and by extension others. That he was just a brother of sorts.

Apparently she had been foolish in assuming that those who knew her well could not see through the charade. Her mother had seen the truth clearly enough. Kara had as well.

Life had been simpler before, but also more difficult in some ways, pre-Harry. Not in terms of school of course, or even in terms of finances or familial affection. She'd always been able to count on her family's love for her, if nothing else. Regardless however, her childhood had been a lonely one. No friends, or even pets to speak of. Just her, her books and her studies. Hardly the social sustenance a child needed at that age.

Then she had found out she was a witch. When Professor Mcgonagall had introduced her to an admittedly awe inspiring new world, she had dared to hope that she'd found something she'd been missing in her old life.

Sadly her first forays into that world had been…disappointing in that regard. This new world was just as cruel, if not crueller to someone in her position. Ron's unkind words that Halloween had seemed to confirm her worst fears at the time. She'd been so close to giving up, to asking to leave. Magic was fun, and she had a talent for it, but in the wake of the overwhelming rejection she faced she would have been willing to have hers bound and her memories of it wiped away forever. She'd been prepared to leave the magical world and not look back.

Then that mammoth Troll had seen fit to wander into the bathroom in which she had been hiding from the world. She'd been sure that was it. That she could just give up hopes of any life what-so-ever because she was certain it was all about to end at the crushing blow of a Trolls club in a girls bathroom.

Then a scrawny boy she recognized from her year group, a boy she hardly knew, had charged into that bathroom and leapt upon the monster's back. He, a small boy of only eleven had thrown his small form on a multi-ton behemoth's back to try and save her life. Admittedly it seemed slightly less heroic in that his wand had ended up wedged up the creature's nose cooking it's brain…And Ron, the pillock to blame for her being there in the first place had dropped the things club on it's head. An achievement he had still crowed about the last time she'd seen him.

But still, something had been formed from the terror of that event. A friendship. Thanks to that enormous, and very surly, monster she'd met her first true friend. Harry had heard the things Ron had said, had been disgusted with him for the way he had hurt her. He'd heard the warnings about the Troll loose in the school and had come to realize she wasn't safe. The teachers had gone, searching for a Troll elsewhere in the castle, so he had done the unthinkable, he had run off in search of her himself. He'd risked everything jumping on a creature that powerful.

For all his boasting and poncing about Ron hadn't been the one who had saved her. It had been Harry. And in so many ways her life had started anew, and shifted, rotating around a new centre.

She'd tried to deny it in recent years, tried to quash the hopes she had developed. She'd even convinced herself she hadn't felt anything like that for him in the first place. She'd even come to accept she may have traded one kind of loneliness for another. So, until very recently, she'd made the logical decision. Change course, instead of trailing after Harry hoping for something that wouldn't come.

She'd done something she'd never done before, she'd given up, she'd settled. For Ron of all people. She'd had a—turbulent, relationship with the boy to say the least. But it was real enough in it's own way she had told herself, and yet totally different from that which she had with Harry.

Her relationship with Harry was, she realized now, about mutual respect and support for one another through thick and thin. Through being there for each other when it counted.

Ron's…approach to relationships was entirely different. Cordial, friendly, platonic and she knew, romantic it all came down to possession for him. Not just what things meant for him, but the act of owning or having something nobody else had, something that was just for him.

It wasn't a healthy proprietary type of possessiveness. It was jealousy, plain and simple.

Love when she defined it in her head, not that she often did, was not something where it was about someone being yours and yours alone. Something it would have always been with Ron. He had grown up the youngest son in a family with only one daughter.

Love…love was about being willing to give everything of yourself for someone you respected and wanted the world for, because when it really came down to it for you, they became more important than yourself. This kind of love would by its nature have a tendency towards being rewarded, because who could not in turn find themselves loving someone who was so devoted to their wellbeing?

True love, if such a thing existed, must therefore be a relationship in which both participants approached each other thusly. Neither could be in it solely for their own gain. Two people, each selflessly devoted to one another.

She wasn't prepared to call what she and Harry had as love. Not yet.

Though now that she considered it, she realized much to her surprise, that they had for quite some time possessed the bones and structure, the foundation as it were, of such an understanding. Harry was too caught up in other people's expectations of him, and was so woefully inexperienced in the realm of genuine affection, that it was not reasonable to expect more from him at this point in time.

She and he were, after all, both teenagers and thus, naturally just a little bit selfish. It was the way of teenagers everywhere, and even two as mature as them couldn't expect to avoid it entirely.

Nevertheless there was indeed something thrilling and exciting about all this, she was quite surprised to find herself pleased at being wrong. It was exciting to realize that she and Harry already had at least the base structure of the kind of relationship she truly wanted.

She literally laughed aloud, earning a quizzical look from him as they wandered her mind, when she realized the terms she was using, and their significance. Structure, bones…components of a whole. They all suggested something in the process of construction. It was a sort of epiphany moment for her. Love was not something which sprang into being from nothing, it was not absent one moment then there the next. She doubted that love at first sight was a reality. True love, was a process, a monument to two people's devotion to one another, a construction which was constantly in progress and developing. Something they worked on together the rest of their lives.

She realized she'd fallen into the same trap that many who had gone before had. She'd foolishly expected love to just spring into being between her and whoever was the object of her affection. It did not come about that way, not if it was to be worthwhile.

Her mother had been correct, more correct than perhaps even she knew. She, Hermione needed to realize what she desired wouldn't come on it's own. Ideally, Harry would have taken the first step, as was expected of the male in the relationship. But considering what she knew of him. How he'd been raised, what neglect and abuse he'd been subjected to, it wasn't reasonable to expect him to understand what she'd come to comprehend. She would need to take the first step. If this was truly what she wanted, if this was what she was going to do. She would need to start building up their relationship for them.

She stood there blinking in realization as they prepared to depart her mind. This was what she wanted. Despite everything, despite her own worries and concerns this is what she wanted. She wanted a relationship, not with just anyone, but with Harry. Her best friend.

So as they reentered the real world she found herself turning to Harry.

"Harry?" She said, her voice a little unsteady. "I need to speak to you about something…"

Author's Note: Yes, I'm evil, I know. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! *cough* *choke* Wheeze*. Please Rate and review, comment and such. And considering the cliff hanger I just hit you with, feel free to burn me in effigy. I really should have called this chapter. "Rhys is an evil bastard"