Ok I know I'm updating early but I got an overwhelming vote for choice #1. I've come to terms that choice #2 was too depressing and left Harry alone and I'm a HUGE Harry and Hermione fan. I agree that JK should've never paired Ron and Hermione together. Here you go, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: Long Walks and Near Misses

Hermione woke that morning in Harry's arms. She turned so that she was looking up at his still sleeping face. He looked so peaceful with a faint smile tugging at his lips. Hermione felt herself tense up as she thought of how adorable Harry, her best friend, looked in his sleep.

She gently pulled his arm off her waist and slid out of bed, trying so hard not to wake her partner. She trotted off to the bathroom and took a shower. After she dried off she made her way to her room hoping Harry wouldn't be there so she could change, she had no such luck.

She walked into her room only to find a sleepy Harry Potter. It was obvious that he had just woken up. He sat up slowly and turned to face her, she froze. He smiled apologetically but didn't make any effort to look away.

Harry couldn't believe his eyes. There he was, waking up in his best friend's bed, and now starring at her in nothing but a brown bath towel. She looked shocked and embarrassed, "Good morning," was all he could say, stupidly. He looked at her as he ran his fingers through his hair, stretching and yawning.

"Err…. Good morning." She looked around the room, anywhere but him, and made her way to her closet. She picked out a pair of jean shorts and a pale blue spaghetti strap top and made her way to the door, "I'll just change in the bath room."

"Nonsense!" Harry blurted out without even thinking. His eyes wide with shock of what he had said. Hermione stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, expecting him to elaborate. "I-I don't want to kick you out of your own dorm. I'll wait out in the hallway. Maybe… we could go to the lake and just hang out or something."

Before Hermione could even open her mouth to respond Harry was walking out into the hall and had closed the door behind him. Hermione quickly put on her clothes and brushed her hair and readied herself for a day spent with Harry.

She opened her door to an all-too eager Harry. He had left to change and was dressed in faded jeans and a black T-shirt. "Ready to go?" He asked as Hermione leaned down to put purple flip-flops on. Harry looked her up and down. She had on very light jean shorts that stopped just above her knees. She wore a pale blue, almost see-through, spaghetti strap top. It shaped her curved body perfectly. He moved up to her hair, it was pulled up into a loose bun as some curls escaped it and fell on her structured face. Her smile was white and radiant and spread wider as she sensed his discomfort on her account. He smiled at her embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck like he did when he was uncomfortable or thinking.

"Yeah, just let me get my wand." She walked, shaking her hips, to retrieve her wand and join Harry to walk downstairs into the common room to find Ron and Ginny sitting on a couch, arguing. Ron didn't notice their entrance but Ginny did. She looked up at the pair with a jealous glint in her eye. Hermione knew that Ginny loved Harry for years and that was now the only reason that she didn't pursue Harry, that and the fact that he is her best friend and it would ruin their friendship if she even said anything.

Harry too noticed the less-than-friendly look she gave them. He always knew how Ginny felt but never thought of her as more than a little sister. "Hey guys, we were just gonna hang out at the lake. Wanna come with?" That's just what Hermione needed, her alone time with Harry to turn into an outing with her jealous friend Ginny, her ex-boyfriend, and her best friend. She might as well go back to bed.

"I'm going with Ginny and Luna to Hogsmede." Ron said turning to Luna, who was sitting on his side, and gave her a nervous smile. Hermione noticed this and felt a wave of sorrow. Not for Ron, she would never feel sorrow for him, but for the fact that he had moved on so quickly. It doesn't sit well with her pride.

"Then I guess I'll see you later." Harry said as he led Hermione towards the portrait hole. Ginny stared after them as they left with a pang of anger coursing through her body.

Later Harry and Hermione made it to a small opening of grass beneath a huge tree just along the edge of the lake. There were long vines of leaves dipping down for them to dodge and there was a large boulder that Hermione usually leaned on to watch the colors change in the water or watch Harry skip rocks. Harry was very quiet. Hermione would make him tell her what was bothering him. Maybe it was girl trouble, maybe it was the constant stress of Voldemort, maybe it was something very new, and she was determined to find out.

Hermione took her perch in the grass, leaning back on the boulder and harry made his way to sit by her. Neither of them had said anything for the duration of the walk there. They both had things on their minds.

"Is something wrong Harry?" Hermione was genuinely worried. She never knew Harry to be out of words. He was very shy but not with her, he must have something big on his mind.

"Just the usual, Voldemort, school, guy stuff…" He trailed off. He took his seat by her and crossed his legs. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees and looked out to the water. He had yet to look at her directly.

"Guy stuff? What does that mean?" She inquired, raising an eyebrow and smiling. Harry loved to see her smile, even when it was forged. She was so beautiful.

"You know… sports, girls, and buds… stuff like that." He nervously looked down and sat up to lean against the rock, touching her shoulder with his. He looked at her and smiled. She was now the one starring at the lake.

"Care to elaborate?" She smiled as she turned her head to look in his general direction. She knew there was more. There was a sad edge in his voice. She always knew when Harry wasn't OK.

"Well it's just that the pressure gets to me sometimes." She didn't know if he meant Voldemort or the guy stuff, "I mean the stress of being 'the chosen one' and being destined to vanquish the most powerful evil dark lord in wizards history is overwhelming." Hermione felt the tears coming and struggled to keep them at bay. Harry looked at her and she looked away for fear that he would notice the water in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry." She didn't know what she was sorry about, she hadn't done anything. Harry was puzzled as well. What would she ever have to be sorry about? It wasn't her fault, none of it was. It was Voldemort's fault. But Harry knew how his problems affected Hermione, how she felt responsible for whatever happened to him.

"Hey, you have nothing to apologize for. You have to stop taking the blame for the things that should be my burden to bear." One tear escaped her eye as she looked up to him and he quickly wiped it away. At that precise moment he wondered what it would be like to kiss Hermione Granger. He daydreamed of his lips on hers. He internally slapped himself. What the hell are you thinking you idiot? She is your best friend and your other best friend's ex-girlfriend!! You can't think things like that!! He ignored the voice in his head and draped his arm around her shoulders as if to comfort her.

"I can't help it though." She replied as she leaned her head on his shoulder and wiped the tears that overflowed, "I wish there was something, anything, that I could do to relieve you of everything you have to cope with. I want to help you but I don't know how and that doesn't sit well with me."

"You do help me, everyday." Hermione had no idea what he meant by that. She looked up at him curiously, her face filled with confusion now that her tears had ceased. "I mean that if it weren't for you I'd probably be dead by now. You've spent all your time worrying about me and you've saved me countless times. I don't know what I'd do with out you 'Mione." He gave her a warm smile and she smiled up at him in her response. Again he thought of kissing her but he controlled himself.

A few hours later Harry and Hermione made their way back to the Gryffindor common room and crashed on the couch by Dean and Ginny and they got to talking. Dean and Harry discussed the game tomorrow and Hermione listened to Ginny drone on and on about the Masquerade Ball coming up in none but two months. Hermione was dreading the night. She didn't have any suitable thing to wear and as of the moment she had no date.

"Who are you going with Hermione?" Ginny asked a little too loudly. Now Harry and Dean were pulled out of their conversation and looking at Hermione, waiting for her answer. Harry was dreading the long pause Hermione had to take to answer. He wanted to go with her but it wasn't that easy.

"Nobody, Ginny, I don't have a date." Hermione said quietly. She could feel everyone's eyes on her but she didn't notice the sigh of relief coming from Harry.

"What about you, Harry?" Ginny looked to Harry hopefully. He just shook his head and caught a flash of a smile from Hermione. "Who are you gonna ask?"

"I dunno. I haven't really thought about it." He lied. He had thought about who he wanted to ask everyday. Dean was the next to speak, "Why don't you ask Susan? She's a looker." He chuckled.

"She's going with Neville." Everyone was shocked at how fast Hermione had blurted that out. Her voice had a matter-o-fact tone in it. She looked at everyone starring at her and gave them a look like they were the strange ones. "Well she is. She was gushing about it all day yesterday. You should ask Lavender or Parvarti like you did for the Yule Ball." Harry's heart sank as Hermione suggested possible dates for him.

Ginny shook her head, "No I heard Parvatti was going with Seamus and Lavender is going with Colin." Ginny gave Harry a smirk and crossed her legs. She and Hermione were sitting on a beige couch while the boys sat across from them on the other side of a coffee table on a larger blue couch.

"What about Luna?" Hermione suggested and suddenly silence fell as everyone but Hermione and Harry grew uncomfortable. Hermione looked at Ginny and Dean waiting for them to say something. "What is wrong? I know Luna is strange but Harry was friends with her once, they might look good together…"

Ginny cut her off, "No it's not that, its just…" She looked at her hands then looked to Dean, begging for him to continue for her. Hermione was getting irritated, "What is it? What don't I know?" She looked at the two of them and Harry was beginning to dread what Dean and Ginny might have to reveal to Hermione.

"She's going with Ron." Dean finished. Hermione sat up and shock crossed her face along with ten other emotions that no one could quite pick out.

"Oh…" was all she seemed to be able to say, "Well, that's good. Um… I-I'm rather hungry, I missed lunch…" Hermione continued trying to sound casual, but Harry wasn't fooled. "I'm gonna go get a snack and then take a long walk." She finished, rolling her eyes and making her way to the portrait hole. As soon as she made it out the portrait hole and down the first staircase she broke into a run. She had no intention of going to the kitchen to get a snack. She just started to run. She didn't know where she was going but she found herself in the clearing she and Harry had just been earlier this afternoon.

She couldn't run or rather breath anymore. She fell to her knees a few feet ahead of the large boulder she had been sitting on only an hour earlier. She broke into a full blown cry. She sobbed into her hands as she curled up against the rock behind her. She held her knees to her chest tightly with her arms and sobbed into her knees. She didn't miss Ron; she was honest when she said she was over him. But how could he move on so quickly? They had only broken up a few days ago. They hadn't even been apart for a week and he was already dating somebody else? A decent ex-boyfriend would at least sit and sulk for two weeks before he goes out with another girl.

Hermione was pulled out of her raging thoughts by a rustling in the tree's dipping branches. She jerked her head up but couldn't see anything. The branches were like a large tent, protecting her from anyone seeing her or her seeing anyone else. "Hello?" She drew in a sharp breath as Harry emerged through the hanging leaves. He just looked at her for a moment with an apologetic expression on his face. He made his way to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She just began to sob endlessly, her face buried in his chest. He pulled her into his lap and held her to his chest while stroking her hair and occasionally kissing the top of her head.

They didn't say anything, there was nothing to say. They remained in that position until darkness fell upon them. Hermione pulled away and started to get up. Harry did as she did and looked at her searching for the perfect thing to say that would take all her sorrow away.

"I'm fine. I guess I just needed a breakdown. Thank you." She said with an easy smile. She hugged his waist and they stayed like that for a minute… or two.

She looked up to him, into his emerald green eyes. He got lost in pools of warm chocolate eyes and felt his head lean down to hers. She closed her eyes in anticipation and stretched on her toes. Their lips were almost touching but Harry's conscience got the best of him. He let go of her and took her hand leading her out of the clearing. They walked hand-in-hand to the Gryffindor common room and Harry said goodnight, kissing her cheek, and rushing up to his room. What the hell were you thinking? You were so close!! You were about to kiss her!! Damn you idiot!!

Harry ignored his thoughts and hurriedly went to sleep, hoping he would never wake up and have to face the awkwardness that was sure to overwhelm him and Hermione the next morning.

Sorry for the language. Thanks so much for your reviews! I had to put that kiss miss in their, it was perfect. Keep commenting and I'll update soon.