A little later than I had anticipated but hey that's life. A very special thanks to "Caellach Tiger Eye" for the exceptional critique. I like surprising people and myself oddly enough so thanks. I'd also like to thank you all for all the reviews and story alerts and favorites and what not. When I wrote this up it was just a scene that I needed to jot down but now it's spiralling. I do warn you that I am going to keep this piece light. I intend to use it as my vacation from "Remember Who You Are", my other more serious fic. Anyway read and review. Enjoy.

Standard disclaimer and all that.

Harry's fingers idly traced the scar on her forearm, causing shivers to flow through her body. She sighed and snuggled closer to him, enjoying the feeling of closeness. It had been weird at first. Going from friends to lovers was not a smooth road. And Harry was still well- Harry. She smiled at that thought. The boy was insufferable. And people said she was a know-it-all. Harry was more stubborn than anyone she'd ever met. And he absolutely refused to die. She sobered up at that, remembering how close he had come to losing his life- how close they had all been. She wondered, not for the first time, if maybe guardian angels were real. Surely there was no other explanation for surviving these near death experiences. Someone up there really loved them.

"You would have thought, being busy breaking my mind and all, that Bellatrix would have been too occupied to have done this."

She glanced down at her arm and the angry red word etched into her skin before looking up at him.

"Bellatrix Lestrange is one of the most powerful witches in the entire world, and she's not exactly sane anymore, I'm sure that multitasking isn't a foreign concept to her."

He smiled slightly but continued to trace the scar. He blamed himself, she knew. He blamed himself for everything. It was actually pretty annoying.

"It doesn't hurt Harry. Bellatrix's opinion of me- any Death Eater's opinion of me- they don't hold any weight. What you and Ron- well mostly you- think that's what's important, and I know that you don't think that about me. "

He shook his head and when he looked up, his eyes were misty.

"You know in fourth year, when Rita Skeeter wrote those articles. You were so mad. Even when I told you that it didn't matter, that no one bought it-

"Except that everyone did!"

"You were still spitting angry because they were lies. I didn't really understand then. I mean I was more embarrassed than upset, but I understand now. You-" He grabbed her arm and brought it up between them. "This is a lie Hermione. It's a lie. And it should have never been written. Not about you. And never on you."

She felt emotion overwhelm her as she wrapped her arms around him. God….. If she didn't love this boy; this man

"Thank you Harry.

"So….. I thought you two were going to keep the lovey dovey to a minimum hmmmmm?"

Hermione rolled her eyes but looked over at Ron anyway, missing Harry's bemused expression.

"What do you want Ronald?"

The red head in question looked down at his empty plate, got a wicked grin, before apparently thinking better of it, and simply stated, "I want to know our next step. I mean, we can't stay here forever can we?"

It had been four days since Malfoy manor and Harry had just become strong enough to get out of bed yesterday. Hermione worried her lip and wished fervently that Ron had kept his big mouth shut. Now Harry would stress over getting better, rather than actually getting better. Or worse, he would simply suggest they leave now.

"We could leave tomorrow; we know that Bellatrix has something in her vault she doesn't want us to know about so we could start drawing up plans to infiltrate Gringotts."

Hermione closed her eyes and prayed for patience. Boys.

"We can't leave yet Harry, you're still not well."

Harry opened his mouth to protest but Ron beat him to it.

"We could go back to the woods Hermione. He could rest there while we come up with something. I mean no offense or anything but us being here is putting my family in danger and I don't want that." He paused at her worried look before adding, "We can bring Dobby with us. He's a house elf so he's trained in healing and what not if anything goes bad and we're unavailable for some reason, Dobby can take care of him."

Harry glared at him. "I don't need to be taken care of."

"Course not mate." Ron winked at her and she smiled.

Maybe Ron's big mouth wasn't so bad after all.

"What are you doing?"

He stiffened slightly and mentally cursed. She was supposed to be sleeping. He sighed; there was no hope for it now anyway. And here he thought that faith was trying to make amends. Whatever.

"Harry!"

He tightened the cord on his bag before finally turning to face her.

"I'm leaving Hermione. I'd think that was pretty obvious. The plan was to slip out while you and Ron were still asleep but that is apparently not an option. So I guess now that you're up and have caught me, you're going to lecture me and yell and bully me into letting you go?"

Hermione's face had remained impassive all the way up until that last part where it had quickly morphed from shock to anger in a matter of seconds. Harry felt slightly scared at the rage that was emanating from her.

"Let me go? Let me? Excuse me Potter but last time I checked I was a free woman and this was still a free world. I can go anywhere I bloody well please."

He winced at the curse. Hermione never cursed.

"And as for you going alone? Yea ok. I can see that happening. I seem to have come into my divination skills at last! Want to know what I see? Harry Potter: all by himself with a stolen tent and no clue as to where to go next. No idea how to set up the wards required to hide his trail, but no worries it's all okay because the girl he's just asked to be his girlfriend is now on trial for being a muggle born. Umbridge sentences her to the dementor's kiss, whilst the hero gallivants through the forest starving. And yes, the delusional boy did stumble into Snatchers, who immediately bring him to Voldemort where he is made an example of in front of the entire Wizarding world. And now that everyone sees their last hope at salvation is dead they turn on each other. The Weasley's are hunted down like dogs and Hogwarts is destroyed. Everything that boy knew and loved is decimated because he felt an overwhelming urge to protect it."

The last sentence was clipped and mocking. Hermione stood there glaring at him while he resolutely avoided her gaze. Finally, after what felt like hours but was really only a few minutes, he realized she wasn't going anywhere. He sighed and dropped his pack, shaking his head.

"That was just a tad dramatic don't you think?"

It was apparently the wrong thing to say because she ran at him; all hair and fists and tears. When the shock finally wore off that Hermione was beating him, he grabbed her arms and pulled her flush against him. She struggled, yelling profanities and hatred for his very being before she finally collapsed against him. She didn't go into hysterics as he would have thought; instead her body just …slumped against his. As if all the fight had gone out of her. He wrapped his arms around her properly before gently stroking her hair. She was silent now and stiff and it scared the shit out of him.

"I'm sorry."

Nothing.

"Hermione?" He pulled away slightly and tilted her head up. Her eyes were closed and her cheeks glistened with tears. "I'm so sorry 'Mione. Your right; you always are. I shouldn't have tried to run off like that."

She opened her eyes, and they looked so defeated that he wanted her to start hitting him again. He deserved it.

"Why are you here Harry?"

He started and shook his head at the question. "What?"

"Why are you here? Why are you fighting?"

He paused and really thought about the question. If she'd asked him before he would have said it was destiny, but he was starting to really hate that word. He made his own choices. And even if the Wizarding world didn't think it was his duty to go after Voldemort he still would have. But why? He turned his eyes back to hers and saw her waiting expectantly. He frowned as he struggled through an explanation.

"Because I don't…. trust anyone else with your life…. With our future. Or Ron's for that matter. If I don't do this, than- I don't see it ever getting done… And than none of us would ever get that happily ever after your always on about….. I'm here for you."

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his chest; eyebrows furrowed.

"And I'm here for you Harry. Stop trying to change me. It's not fair."

He frowned, "I wasn't-"

"You were. You always have. It's in me to protect you; to take care of you and love you. Just let me. Stop trying to change me." She pulled back to look at him. "Ok?"

He sighed but nodded, kissing her forehead. "Ok."

Bellatrix Lestrange lay in a ball on the floor of a grand chamber, staring in awe at the ceiling.

The being once known as Tom Marvolo Riddle walked over to her prone figure and turned to see what she was looking at. There was nothing of interest and he wondered idly if he had broken her with that last cruciatus curse.

"Bella, love what are you looking at?"

Her eyes didn't leave the ceiling but she raised her hands and grasped at the air. When her hands returned with nothing, she pouted and turned to him.

"The stars milord…. They're so very beautiful…. I'd hoped to catch one, but they keep running away. No one wants to play with Bella."

Voldemort smiled, "Bella there are no stars."

She frowned and looked back at the ceiling. "There should be. Little bits of life to catch and extinguish."

"I take it your feeling better Bella?"

She turned her head lazily to look at him, "Course my lord, I'm always ready to serve you."

"Than are you ready to correct your mistake?"

She immediately pulled herself into a kneeling position and lowered her head, whimpering like a dog.

"Please milord. I'd like nothing more. I won't let you down again. Potter and his friends will be yours."

He reached out a hand and gently pet her head. "Very good Bella. Go."

She stood, a silly smile on her face, and skipped from the room singing.

"Three little children said adieu. A spell went wrong and than there were two."

"Dobby understands master Weasel. Take care of Harry Potter while the Weasel and Harry Potter's miss aren't available. I will sir."

Ron rolled his eyes at the name but continued knowing it was futile.

"Yes Dobby, and remember you must. Not. Be. Seen. That's the most important part. No one can know where we are. If they find you, they find us and then we're all dead. Understand?"

The house elf bobbed his head vigorously and for a second Ron was scared it would fall off.

"Yes Master Weasel. Dobby will not be seen. Not ever. I will not let Harry Potter down."

And with a pop, he was gone.

Ron shook his head in amazement before looking over his shoulder at his two friends. That must have been a cue because they suddenly started laughing uproariously.

He frowned and stood from his crouched position as he heard things like 'weasel' and 'most important' along with what sounded alarmingly like 'teaspoon.' He scowled and pushed Harry, because he feared Hermione would hex his bits, to the side as he began to prepare the tent for the night.

"Oh come on Master Weasel. You know you'd have a good laugh to in our position."

"No. No I wouldn't Harry. Because I am a good friend and I care about your feelings. I care if you're hurt or sad or angry and I try to make it better-

"Since when?"

"And I would never let anyone say any mean things about you, because I know how hurtful words can be. And if you guys can't appreciate me for the wonderful- oof!"

Hermione smiled from her position on his stomach and bounced again for good measure. "OOOOOF!"

She would have bounced again but he hastily pushed her off before rubbing his sore abdomen.

She shook her head good naturedly, "oh honestly Ron! I thought girls were supposed to be the drama queens."

He scowled, "I am not being dramatic!"

His scowl deepened at their dubious expressions. Harry finally sighed and with the smile on his face went over to the red head and clapped him on the shoulder.

"We're very sorry we hurt your feelings Ron-

"Why thank you very much Harry." Pointed glare at Hermione.

Kick to Ron's shin.

"Now, why don't we all head inside have some dinner and you can start laying out the tactical part of our breaking and entering scheme"

"And that reminds me, you guys never compliment my amazing battle tactics. I mean I have brains too. I'm a member of this group too. And I deserve some respe- oof! Hermione!"

It was late in the night when Harry snuck away from a sleeping Hermione. He quietly exited the tent and started down the hill towards the third member of their party. When he reached the watchman, he'd barely taken a breath to speak before a wand was at his throat. He raised his hands immediately.

"Stag." Ron frowned and lowered his wand.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people Harry."

Harry blinked indignantly, "Wasn't sneaking. Came to talk to you….. about Hermione."

Ron tensed but nodded.

Harry sighed and his face softened, "I never meant to come between the two of you mate. I never thought she'd feel this way about me. It was always the two of you in my mind."

Ron scowled, "That supposed to make me feel better?"

Harry frowned and shuffled his feet. An uncomfortable silence descended upon them and he wandered if he had been wrong to come out here after all.

"Look Harry- I'm sorry. I didn't mean- look I was there remember. I mean the information had to be tortured out of you. And I know- I know you'd never seek to hurt me. We're ok. I'm hurting but me and you: we're ok. … Hermione too. It's just- You get told long enough that she's the woman your gonna spend the rest of your life with and you start to believe it. I had to believe it because-" He shook his head despondently. "Honestly Harry, what kind of girl worth her salt is gonna want me? 'S why I went for Lavender, figured at least she was educated you know? And then with Hermione…..I thought that- It was all a bit more… solid, you know. Like, at least I had that. But now? … I'm building a new future. Do you- do you understand?"

Harry nodded and blinked away suspicious moisture from his eyes. "Yea mate, yea I understand."

Ron smiled sadly, "Good."

Harry turned to leave, but stopped after only a few steps and turned back.

"Ron? For what it's worth, any girl worth her salt would be lucky to have you. While your building your future, keep that in mind ok?"

Ron frowned but nodded. "Thanks mate."

Harry walked back into the tent and quietly slipped his shoes off before walking into Hermione's room and slipping into her enlarged bunk. She'd been insisting they sleep together since his stunt back at Bill's. She'd given him a choice between her and Ron. Logically he'd chosen her.

She sighed and moved closer to him, resting her head on his chest.

"How'd it go?"

Harry smiled. This woman was seriously brilliant.

"Ok. He's gonna be ok."

"Good. Now go to sleep. You need to rest."

"Nuh uh. Tell me a story first."

Hermione raised her head. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were red and half closed from sleep but there was an amused smile on her face.

"Seriously?"

"Uh huh."

She laughed softly before resting her head again.

"Ok….. Once upon a time, there was a king and a queen who lived in Wandsworth-"

"Coincidence?"

"and ached very badly for a little girl. The queen couldn't have babies so they went to a magic woman who helped them."

Harry smiled and pecked her forehead. "They used good ingredients too, sugar and spice and mahoganies and chocolates and lilacs-"

She slapped his chest. "Hush. Anyway so they were finally able to have a-

"Perfect."

"Little girl. But a month into the child's life they realized that since the child had been made unconventionally she did not have a partner. All babies are born with partners see? And the angels decided that she should have one too. So they created a handsome baby boy to become the little girl's best friend and partner in life."

There was a moment of silence where Hermione didn't dare breathe before finally Harry shifted. He slid down until they were eye level and he was able to notice her blush and study her. She looked back at him defiantly, as if daring him to mock her story but he only continued in his unflinching observation.

Finally he said, "I was made for you." He said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and poo on him for not understanding sooner.

Hermione sighed in relief that he wasn't mocking her and slid closer to him. She smiled and cupped his cheek, placing a soft kiss on his lips before snuggling into his embrace.

"Yes, you were, weren't you?"

And thats all folks. Just another warning before you go. I am going to use Hermione's bedtime story in "Remember Who You Are", not word for word but the idea. It's gonna be spectacular. :)

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