Chapter Three

A/N: I couldn't remember the other word for a smaller compartment in a train.

With his trunk at the end of his bed, Hedwig's cage on top of it, he was packed and ready to go "home" for the summer. To pass his time he was back in his previous position of lying on his back and thinking. He was thinking about his two best friends. There was Ron, the strategic, sometimes jealous, and fame-loving and he had come to think of the tall Redhead, as a brother. Though at times Ron drove him insane with his praise for money and all that artificial stuff, he still saw him as a brother. Then there was Hermione, his best female friend. She was the brain, the rationale and the voice of reason in his world. She was not into hero-worshipping of him as Ron's sister Ginny. She was the one person who wasn't afraid to stand up to him and by him.

As lost in his thoughts as he was, he didn't see or hear Hermione come into his dorm. When she sat next to his lying form on his bed that's when he noticed her smell of spring and fresh wild flowers. He liked her smell, because it wasn't too flowery or overpowering. He could get lost in her smell forever. If Voldemort comes in now and put a Cruciatus curse on him he would not feel the pain of the curse because heaven, which was Hermione's scent, was on him.

"How are you feeling Harry," she asked him disturbing him from his thoughts of her scent with her voice. He wasn't sure how he felt about Hermione, but he knew he liked it when she was around.

"I am feeling fine, Mione," he answered using the nickname he usually used only when he was thinking.

"It's not your fault they are gone you know that right Harry?"

For a moment he was shocked at how quickly she had switched the subject. She had not even acknowledged his use of the nick-name he had just used on her. He knew how she hated the nick-name Ron had given her, Hermy. He could understand why she didn't like it too because it wasn't such an attractive name on a girl. It made her sound as though she was Grawp's sister.

He recovered quickly from the mention of his deceased, mentor and godfather.

"Yeah, I know. It's pretty hard to not think that way though when everyone around you seems to be dropping dead after you have spoken to them or if anyone finds that they know "The Harry Potter." You've got to stop and wonder, or ask yourself: "Why are they all dying? Why are they all still talking to me?" Before you say anything,"" he said when he saw her opening her mouth about to say something. "I know I didn't use my wand to kill them but I led them to their deaths. But I understand my mistakes now and they won't be repeated," he said with conviction.

For some reason Hermione did not like the last part of his explanation, because her expression was screwed up into an almost angry scowl.

"Harry, I'm not going to pretend I understand what you are going through right now because I don't know how it feels. But Harry, I know, I understand you and from what I've seen, from how fine you have been doing lately, to me, you are not okay. You've barely spoken to me or Ron the whole of three days since Professor Dumbledore was killed. Know it's too early to tell you to try and move past it but Harry you need to realize that it wasn't your fault because otherwise their sacrifices were for nothing." She told him emphasizing her points by looking right into his eyes, her hands holding onto each of his.

Before he answered he marveled in the softness of her hand. "I know Hermione, I'll try to work things out, so those sacrifices won't be a lost cause." He answered her with a smile.

Across from the Lake he heard the train whistle blow signaling ten minutes before it would leave. Ron had gone ahead of Harry to buy some snacks and get a compartment.

"We have to leave," Hermione said stating the obvious. Her trunk was already in the Common Room and ready to go. Harry put a levitating spell on his trunk and they made their way out of the Boys' Dorm.

"By the Hermione…," he waited until she faced him. "You are the best, Thank you for helping me." He told her smiling the very first genuine smile in months.

Seeing the smile she had missed for some time now Hermione walked over to Harry and gave him a hug. She held him in her arms and she liked the feel of him so close to her. He was so warm and…safe. He smelled nice and manly, a scent she found completely amazing and very suitable of him.

Harry was smiling as he laid his chin on top of her head, her hair smelled lovely. He liked the Sweet Pea smell of her hair. She felt so right in his arms. She came up just to his shoulder and she had to actually stand on her tip-toes to put her arms on his shoulder. She and her smell were intoxicating; he could feel his body start responding to her so he released her.

"We should go," he said with a smile in his voice.

Harry and Hermione made their way to the Hogwarts Express, now 9 and ¾ Express, slowly. They put their things in the language compartment and went to look for Ron and their other friends. After searching through compartments in which he found familiar faces. Some of them wished him condolences and some of them just said hi to him and Hermione.

When they finally found Ron, he was sitting with Ginny, Neville and Luna. Ron had a variety of Candy and solid food in front him and he seemed to be having the time of his life with his food. He seemed as though he had no worries in the world, and knowing Ron he probably had nothing to worry about if he had his food.

"Harry, Hermione," he said in greeting. Ginny, Neville, and Luna all said their hellos. They spoke about nothings, like what next year will be like, and what classes they might take and all that. Harry made sure to add in one or two words every time everyone thought he had grown too quiet. He made sure though to say nothing about his "classes, or return" to Hogwarts. Neville gave an excuse of going to see someone in some compartment as did Luna and Ginny and with that they were gone leaving the table for the trio to talk.

Harry didn't know where and how to start with his explanation so he was silent for a while. He looked at his two best friends and decided to start from the very beginning.

Thank you to starfire478 for reviewing, my very first review and adding my story to your favourite alerts. The very first story alert person to thank: ROBERT-19588, Thank you. And thanks to starboy454 for adding my story to his favourite stories. Love you all. Now please more people Read and Review. Thanx everyone.