TWO

"You are such a prat." Hermione stated with such amusement, sitting on the bench beside Harry. He was facing her with a grin, running a hand through his hair a couple of times. He seemed so familiar to her, and yet she couldnt get her tongue on who he really was to her. It had been 3 hours since he invited her for a walk. Being the conversationalist she was, she had surely achieved to amusingly bore him for the last half-an-hour. Harry confessed this frankly, only having him receive ice cream smudged over his face. He, in turn, got his revenge.

Now, bathed in sticky cream and laughing hysterically, both were now wiping themselves- still amused by their frivolous tomfoolery. Harry glanced at her as glazes of sunlight illuminated her hair, having it shine a light shade of bronze. He surely felt his heart tremble and palpitate for a mere second.

"Well, enough of this--this stuff." She laughed.

"We havent really got acquainted with each other due to the fact that we were pre-occupied in dominating each other by soaking ourselves senseless." Harry stated. Hermione laughed once more, discarding her handkerchief soaked with left over ice cream.

"True." She simply said, gazing back at him. She stared inquisitively at every inch of his features, trying to decipher who he really was to her. She was definitely sure she had seen him somewhere, besides those fictional dreams she had. Harry, noticing the attention, quirked an eyebrow.

"What is it Hermione?" He asked.

"O-oh, sorry. It's just...you remind me of someone I knew from before." Harry tried to hide every inch of clues he could give out. He could not let her know that he was the Harry she knew before-that demented outcast she befriended.

"That's odd. I feel the same way too." He replied.

"--Uhm...I meant the whole look-a-like thing." He quickly corrected himself. Hermione smiled back, finding red tints forming on her cheeks. She felt lame, asking herself that same superficial question she hears on every chick-flick she has ever watched: 'What is this feeling?' a secret smile etched on her face. He glanced back at her beneath his lashes, which made her hyperventilate. He looked pale though-there's always that mysterious glint in his eyes, and that penetrating stare he has been giving her since this morning.

Harry glanced back at her, seeing those faint eyebags below her eyes. He had caused them, after all. That miniscule amount of guilt seeped through him once more, seeing how miserable she has been for the past week-having him haunt her every night unintentionally. How could one so innocent suffer so much? It didnt seem right. He stared at her, seemingly lost in those pools of deep cinnamon and the flowing waves of auburn that flowed through her shoulders.

"Well--this has been one very splendid day, Harry." She grinned back at him. Harry felt his head twirl in sheer delight. That smile of hers seems to just manipulate him, and push him until he reached the verge of an explosive confession. She seemed so innocent, and he felt as though he were depriving her of a wonderful life.

"It has, Hermione. I'm quite glad that you were the clumsy person you were moments ago." Harry said in between chuckles, having earned a playful slap in the arm. Their amusement was the only thing they had that could hide that burning sensation under their cheeks, and that seeping feeling of-realization?, they asked themselves. Now bathing in awkward silence, Harry couldnt help but ponder on the revelation that is swelling up inside of him. Could he actually tell her about their past? Would she accept him once more and take him in, or treat him as an outsider and forget him?

He then regretted vowing to himself that this day was going to be a day of difference...no, he swore to himself. He would not tell her--not until the time was right.

He glanced at her once more adoringly, wondering if his sweet fantasies would actually come true. His deep urges to be with her, living normally. Only then did a mist catch his attention, far beyond the depths of the trees. His eyes turned from sadness to curiosity, and protectiveness. Looking further, his mind pulled an alarm, seeing the mist evolve from an orb, onto a man--a man he loathed and hated with every gut in his body.

His dead father.

As he looked in disbelief and anger, his eyes widened in shock as a knife, with the vampire's seal encrusted upon it, was thrown quickly onto Hermione's direction. "Hermione, watch out!", He screamed in desperation. Taking action, he pulled her out of the way, having him stabbed directly in the heart. Hermione's face went pale, seeing that no trace of blood trickled from Harry's chest. Her heart was pounding beneath her chest as she lay helpless on the grass, staring at Harry with wide eyes. With a sharp turn of his head, he glanced back at the trees finding his father approaching them, with eyes of maroon that twinkled in the sunlight.

This was impossible.

With a swift movement, he grabbed Hermione's hand and ran quickly through the streets-her replying in protest. Hermione tried to catch up-panting heavily behind Harry. Beads of sweat trickled from both their foreheads, twinkling as it reached the asphalt ground. Harry glanced back, seeing his dad catching up to them. Hermione continued panting, clutching onto Harry's hand tight.

"What the bloody-Harry!" She tried to catch up.

"Hold on, Hermione. Dont look back! Whatever you do, do not look into his eyes!" He called out to her as they turned a corner. Hermione started to weaken, having her hair fly out behind her as she started to cry.

"Harry, what's happening?" She exclaimed. Turning another corner, they hid behind a wall in a deserted alleyway. Hermione leaned against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Harry felt her hot tears stain his black coat, having his arms wrap around her in comfort.

"What's happening, Harry? Im scared!" She muttered. Harry looked around, seeing that his father is still on the way. Harry gently pulled her away from his chest and looked into her eyes. He seeped into her, trying to get that slight memory to recover in her mind. Hermione seemed lost inside his emerald eyes, finding that small hint of desperation in them. Harry gave up. He just had to tell her-to remind her.

"Hermione--do you remember me?" He said in a low voice, which made a shocking wave of tingles creep through her spine. Hermione gazed up at him, eyes wide in shock. She had wished to forget. She tried. All those memories had sadly resurfaced.

"No! You cant do this to him! No!" She said, hugging onto him tightly. He sadly hugged back, having his luggage fall from his hands. She poured her whole emotions to him. They couldnt possibly do that to him. He was her best friend. She couldnt care less on what he was.

Her parents slowly pulled her away from him, having her 16 year old body kneel down in hysterical sobs. She looked up from her wet palms, finding tears falling from his own, mournful emerald eyes. Mr. Granger pointed his finger firmly to the door, which he nodded to with humility. With one click of the door, he was out. Hermione was now in hysterical fits, only to be calmed by her mother.

"Stop this, Hermione! Stop this!" She said. Hermione stood up defiantly, and walked to the door. She was forcefully turned by her father, who slapped her on the cheek. Hermione gasped, having a hand run through the forming laceration. With one glare towards her parents, she ran out of the door and through the meadows panting for breath and catching up to him, who was now by the very end.

"No! Harry, stay!" She screamed, running up behind him amidst the scolds from her mother and father from afar. As she said, she didnt care. He stopped abruptly, his head down in remorse. She hugged him softly on the back as she cried softly, feeling his own body quiver in between sobs.

"Harry-I couldnt care less on what you are." She whispered softly. She heard him choke back a sob, seeing tears falling on the dewy grass below.

"I cant stay, Hermione. It would only hurt you more." He said in a low whisper, trying to mask the numerous amount of sadness he had. Hermione's tears fell freely on her cheeks as she turned him around to face her. In an instant, she looked into his eyes and smiled, wiping off the tears trickling down his cheeks. She lifted his chin to face her, having him show so much emotion. It broke every piece of her heart to see him like that.

"Listen to me." She said with such urgency. He seemed so vulnerable at this point, and it left her in sheer sadness. "You dont have to listen to them!"

"But that would be putting your life at risk, Hermione!" He exclaimed. She shook her head, seemingly aggravated at his stubbornness.

"No, Harry! You're not!"

"Im dangerous, Hermione! I dont want to put your life at risk!"

"What if I was willing to risk it just for you to stay with me?" She retorted. They were inches apart, and the tension grew thicker as it circulated in the air.

"Dont be stupid, Hermione." Taken aback by the sudden force in his voice, she stared at him in disbelief. The anger ebbed away, and all that was left was sadness. Utter sadness.

"How could you say that, when im here defending you?" She whispered with so much hurt. He felt that seeping feeling of guilt rush through him once again, and all he wanted was for her to smile again.

"Hermione, I didnt mean what I-"

"Shut up, Harry." Silence. Minutes passed, which seemed like hours to them. Emotion just seemed to deceive her--she finally broke down and gave in.

"No matter what happens, Im always here protect you and to guide you-whether you're right or wrong." She whispered to him. He was now crying, releasing tears of anguish and sorrow. She started to cry again as well, having her eyes go swollen.

"It pains me to see you like this, Hermione--all because of me." He confessed with such pain that it nearly tore Hermione's heart to pieces. She faced her head down, only to be lifted again by the gentle touch of his hands on her cheek.

"Every smile you make, makes my eyes brim with tears. Every touch you give me makes my heart overwhelm with ecstasy. Every hint of sadness in your eyes makes my heart shatter--" she was now biting her lip as she tried her best to hold back the tears that have been urging to fall through her cheeks. She gazed into his eyes, which were filled with so much sincerity.

"--you're my whole life, Hermione." Those words rang in her ears as it seeped all the way into her heart. She had tried to control it, but her tears rebelled against it. She leaned into his chest and cried, having him hug her back with so much intensity.

"As I depart, I would always be there watching over you in the darkness. Remember that." He whispered into her ear. Wind blew past them, leaves rustled in the silence. Her continuous sobs still echoed through the meadows. She couldnt take the tension much longer.

"Harry, I love you." She whispered in desperation. She clung onto him tightly, wishing to never let go. He leaned his head on her shoulder for one last time and muttered something she had been longing to hear for so long.

"I always have, Hermione." With that, he let go and drifted onto the woods where Ronald had told him to meet up. He looked back at a forlorn young lady, on her knees and sobbing, before finally vanishing from sight.

Hermione gasped, both her hands over her mouth in utter awe. He looked back at her, eyes in such a state of confusion-whether or not to hide or to accept. Hermione took a few steps closer and ran a hand through his cheek, staring deeply into his eyes...just like before.

"You-you came back." She said, her voice trailing off. He smiled weakly, intertwining his hand in hers and brining it up to his heart. Hermione could feel the soft vibrating sounds of his heart-one that never ended and one that never died. Only then did it dawn on her that he was special-especially to her. She tried to search her heart for that feeling she had felt years ago--looking through those sparkling spectacles of his, she finally felt it. It had resurfaced, just as her memories.

And she still felt the hurt.

"I made a promise. Im only here to fulfill it." he said, looking down once more. That awkward silence had appeared once more, and they were left staring at each other. How could they have parted for so long?

A interruption caught their attention.

Both sharply turned their heads up, finding a man so hideous that Hermione screamed. Eyes of deep red were staring intently at them, and Hermione felt weaker and weaker by the second. Harry quickly looked down, grabbing Hermione's hand as they continued to run once more.

There was an uncomfortable tension in the air, and the twilight had passed-leaving them with a night sky above. The air seemed to be colder than Hermione knew, which made her shift uncomfortably under her coat as she continued to run behind Harry. She could sense Harry shiver as well-putting his hand in hers, even as Harry turned back in surprise, they continued to run side by side through the dark, deserted road.

Through a crevice, both crept through, panting and gasping for breath. Harry looked back, finding that satanic image of his father pacing after them with an evil grin plastered on his face. Harry jumped through logs and mounts of cement, as Hermione did as well.

"Harry! This way!" She yelled out, turning to the dark alley. Harry followed behind her as she climbed through the metal bars and sprung herself over. Harry followed suit, and was nearly an inch there-before he was caught and levitated in mid air. He heard Hermione scream insults as the ghostly image of his father continued to laugh with an evil snare. Albeit the extreme difficulty, Harry managed to have protruded his wings out as he flew into the sky with one swift motion. His wings were bathed in red, but as it dried--were bathed in pitch black flesh with faded veins on each end. Hermione watched this happen, having seen the blood quickly dry away from his back. This was her first encounter with the different Harry that was introduced to her--her first witness to what he truly was.

Soaring up into the night sky, followed by a demented madman he soared higher and higher until they both reached the top and faced each other in duel. The day had fallen so quickly, and the moon glowed with such glum, and no star was in sight. The full moon seemed to seethe as the hero and the adversary circled each other.

The time of the fangs had finally come, and Harry felt his upper jaw clench.

"Father, i've finally met you." He said with such loathing.

"I am not who you think I am, Harry. Im much more dominant than your useless father, mind you. If I were you, I would show some respect." He said, lifting his hands forward, having Harry twitch in excruciating pain. All he heard was a cold laugh through the sounds of his own screams. Thousands of feet below, Hermione watched in horror as she watched the miniscule silhouette of Harry suffer.

"What are you doing with my father's body? Ab initio!" Harry cried out, having his body surge with energy once more. He then turned his head back to his opponent with much more confidence than he had moments ago, and fired out another set of spells to seize him. The figure, in reply, dodged every single curse with pride.

"Go on Harry. Make my day."

"Im just starting. Fiat lux!" Harry screamed into the night once more, but nothing seemed to happen. The glow from his hands had faded, and the enemy before him was smirking evilly. With a sneer, he spoke.

"Light does not scare me, Harry. Im much more powerful than that." He laughed with mocked suffering. Harry struggled in the air, glancing momentarily down below-observing the small movements of the silhouette below. "What do you want from me?" Harry glared back at his adversary with so much hate.

"Simple--her." Harry could feel his blood boil beneath his skin as he noticed the movement of his opponent's eyes go down, to that small silhouette of a woman at the bottom.

"Lay off her, or you would suffer!" He was only replied upon a cold laugh of mockery.

"Ha! If there's one thing I tell you boy, is to never let Marvolo Riddle suffer. There would be dire consequences. Finis!" Even before it dawned on Harry who he was facing, the monstrous beast was gone. That horrifying thought left him speechless as he hovered in the air. He had not, in his wildest imaginations, thought that he would land on the day that would give him the opportunity to finally face the leader of all their kind.

That threat he had mentioned to him still lingered onto his mind.

All he had left to do was dive down, southward, back to an overwhelmed Hermione Granger. He felt that pull of gravity start to weigh on him, and a smile etched on his face as he saw Hermione look up on him expectantly. That smile was the only thing that could mask the utter worry boiling inside of him. He knew how powerful the master was, and he dared not to put Hermione in harm's way.

Touching the ground roughly, with one knee bent onto the asphalt floor, he looked at Hermione who was kneeling beside him in worry and anguish. She seemed just as speechless as he was.

"What the bloody hell was that, Harry?" She asked with much force, having found her voice. Harry still had clammy moist on his forehead, and his breathing sharpened. He turned his head abruptly towards Hermione's direction, trying to hide that tint of worry. Hermione noticed the fangs that were now visible, and seemingly found her fingers gently tracing through his refined cheekbone.

"How long is this going to last, Harry?" She asked. Harry found no words, seemingly lost in the small touch that crept through his skin.

"I have been living through this all my life-im used to it." He said plainly. Remembering the events earlier, he remembered that small encounter between her and Marvolo, which brought fourth a state of panic inside of him.

"Did you look at him in the eyes?" He asked her with that familiar sense of urgency. She nodded immediately, only to have him hold her by her arms and shake her with panicked force.

"Why? That is the worse thing you could do! I warned you not to! Looking into the eyes of a vampire could lead you into a state of fatality! It hypnotizes you--it manipulates you--it kills you, Hermione! I told you not to look!" His urgent cries turned into panicked screams. Hermione stared at him, her eyes brimming with tears as she was shook simultaneously.

"What difference does that make with you!" She retorted. The shaking had stopped as Harry stared back at her, confused.

"Harry, tell me what's happening!"

"I dont want you to get involved in this!"

"Why not?"

"Because I could be dangerous! I could be a threat to you!"

"Im still your friend, Harry!"

"It's been years Hermione!" Harry finally said, seething. He was glowering at her, breathing heavily as her words scrambled in his head.

"And you've abandoned it just like that? Is that how low you think of the 16 years of friendship we shared before?" She was now on her feet, her face showing pure anger--but her eyes showing pain and desperation. Harry stood up as well and stared back at her, breathing heavily and trying to control every bit of emotion in him.

"N-No! I treasured our friendship, even after my departure! I was so forlorn that I even haunted you as you slept, trying to resurface that past--the past that you intentionally and forcefully forgot--until now!" Harry was still seething, and looking down at her face which was spilling out tears of anger.

"I wanted to stop myself from crying every night, Harry! I wanted to start a new life without you!"

"You just wanted to forget me that easily?"

"I wanted to keep myself from getting hurt again from every single bit of memory I had left of you!" Hermione wiped off tears forcibly as she stared back at him, before departing from his sight. He stared at her retreating figure, her head down on the floor as she released a set of muffled sobs. The dark alleyway seemed to close in on him, and claustrophobia seemed to creep through him.

Guilt.

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A/N: I could definitely say that I enjoyed writing this. I needed some getting used to with the latin spells though. As you can see, the fic moves through a fast pace, even regarding the battles and the reunions. There's a meaning behind this-so, please be patient for the next chapters. tell me what you think!