Chapter 4

My first update of the new year! Sorry it took so long. Anyways here's a new chapter hope you enjoy! Leave comments I love to read what you have to say and thanks for all the support I'm getting it keeps me going!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter J.K. Rowling does.

Harry took Hermione's hand and pulled her towards the house. At that point he didn't care who was there, or what they were there for. It just pushed him further and further into anger that he couldn't even have time to talk alone with Hermione, to sit together by the fire, to just hold her in his arms. Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's slim waist as they approached the house. Entering though the kitchen the teenagers looked up just in time to see all the Weasleys scurry away from the window and to their seats at the table. Harry just shook his head while Hermione sent a look of death at the Weasleys for their attempted eavesdropping. It was then that Ron and Mrs. Weasley caught sight of Hermione's neck.

"My dear what happened to you?" "What did you do to her Potter?" Mrs. Weasley and Ron shouted at the same time. Ignoring each other the Weasley's moved faster than anyone thought they ever could. Before Hermione and Harry knew what was happening Mrs. Weasley was pulling Hermione out of the kitchen and Ron had Harry against a wall with his wand pointed at his chest; Harry seethed at not only the loss of Hermione's touch but the situation in front of him with Ron. How dare he point his wand at him?

"Lower your wand before I lower it for you." Amelia's ice cold tone came from behind Ron. Harry spared a glance at her and noticed that Amelia had her wand pointed at the back of his head. The tip of her wand brushing his ginger locks. This was the first time Harry had seen her wand and it fit her perfectly made of dark wood it was elegant yet sturdy and full of attitude and promised threats. Harry looked around and noticed everyone had their wands pointed to the group. Wind started to pick up in the kitchen as Harry's anger yet again escaladed. Could he not get a moment of peace? Hermione broke from Mrs. Weasley's grasp and marched over to Ron.

Hermione got to Ron's side and in one motion knocked Ron's wand down and pushed him to the side away from Amelia's grasp. Hermione stood in front of Harry and placed her hands on his cheeks slowly grazing her thumbs in soothing strokes just under his eyes, "Come back to me." Hermione whispered softly. Harry's breathing settle and all tension leave his body when her hands made contact with his body. She could do that, she had that unspoken power over him.

Taking Hermione's hand Harry lead her into the other room and sat her on the couch before he went back into the kitchen. When he walked in all the Weasleys were against one wall of the kitchen while Amelia was in a corner at the opposite side and Remus, Tonks, and Shaklebolt were just a few steps away. "Remus fill everyone in on what you told me while I tend to Hermione's wounds." Harry all but growled out the last bit giving Amelia a death stares, she at least had the decency to look down in a mixture of guilt and embarrassment.

Harry lead Hermione into the next room and sat her down on the loveseat leaving to get the healing potions from the washroom. When he returned he found Hermione next to the window staring into the woods, a look of deep rooted sorrow on her face. Harry immediately became enraged that someone had caused her to feel that but then felt completely drained. He didn't know what to do to help Hermione except to hold her tight and that is just what he did. Walking up behind her he slipped his arms under her crossed ones. Hermione leaned into the embrace with an exhausted sigh, leaning her head to the side against his muscular arm. Harry leaned down and placed a gentle kiss at the side of her neck right behind her left ear.

"Hermione what's wrong?" Harry asked already ready for Hermione to deny telling him.

"Nothing that I can't handle Harry" Hermione said extracting herself from his arms. Just as Harry had thought she would. Hanging his head Harry followed her back to the seat to start treating to her wounds.

As he was smearing healing salve on her neck Hermione decided to speak up," Harry she's right you know, Amelia I mean. I'm weak; I only serve as a distraction to you. You always have to worry-"Harry quickly cut her off with a finger to her lips. He dropped down to his knees in front of her to look her straight in the eyes.

"Hermione you are my life. I can't be away from you. I worry because if something ever happened then I don't know what I would do. Hermione you're the reason I'm fighting at all. I have thought of giving up so much, but then I look into your beautiful eyes and I can't let anything ever happen to you. I don't know what this feeling is but I never want it to go away and I will never stop fighting to make this world better for you." Harry said. As a tear slid down Hermione's face he wiped it away, leaning closer he looked in her eyes for any sign of hesitation. Seeing non he tilted his head to the side and gently caressed her lips with his. The kiss was like nothing he had ever felt before. I was like a part of him was finally being filled, being pieced together and it was all due to the amazing witch in front of him.

Hermione pulled back with the look of pure and radiant peace in her eyes. She wasn't sure if Harry felt it too but when they kissed it was like she was being pieced together. She didn't even know she was missing something until the kiss with Harry.

"Well it's about damn time! I've only been waiting for it seems like forever!" Tonks said from the doorway startling the two teens," Well since it seems that Harry is done 'healing' Hermione's neck wounds shall you too love birds join the rest of us in the kitchen?" With a mischievous look still in her eye Tonks turned and headed back to the waiting people.

"Why don't we talk about this later?" Harry asked as he stood offering Hermione his hand.

"Oh we definitely shall" Hermione said taking the offered hand.

The tension in the kitchen was so thick you could have cut them with a knife, but thankfully no one was trying to kill each other anymore. Ron was huffing in a chair at the end of the table with Ginny until he saw Harry and Hermione's joined hands," What the hell do you think you are doing Potter! Let go Hermione!" Ron shouted. Harry looked at his and a scowl formed on his face. He knew that Ron had feelings for Hermione but he thought that with all the time he had spent ignoring her he would have gotten over it. Besides it was just at the end of the school year that Ron was comforting Luna Lovegood instead of Hermione.

"Ron it frankly is none of your business." Harry said not really wanting to put any more effort into it. He was tired and eager to go take a nap hopefully with Hermione by his side. While he was thinking of this he failed to see Ron's face get redder and redder, and his fists clench. When he noticed Ron coming at him fists raised it was too late. However it was not for Amelia and Hermione to just into action. Amelia had Ron's arms locked behind his back with her knee there to keep him from moving. Shock filled the whole room when Hermione marched over to the pair and promptly slapped Ron across the face.

"Ron I have waited and waited for you to make some kind of move. I have waited for you to man up but you know what? I am done waiting. I thought you didn't do anything because I didn't deserve you, that I wasn't good enough. Now I realize that I am and I am going to be with someone that I know will treat me the way I deserve to be treated. I am with Harry and if that bothers you then too damn bad." Hermione gave him a poke in the chest to emphasize her point and calmly walked back to stand Harry's side.

Everyone in the kitchen was shocked. Remus was the first to be brought back to his senses, "Right well…um… Harry I filled everyone in and to say the least it didn't go as expected but truly I never thought it would go that well." Harry just nodded and looked around the room. Ron had been released and was again sulking at the end of the table. The Weasleys were scattered around the room with different states of shock on their faces and many looked deep in thought.

"Right well you all know now. I need time to process this before I talk to anyone." He received nods from everyone before his eyes landed on Amelia, "I take it you have a place to stay. I need time to process so I will owl you when I am ready to talk alright?" Amelia seemed to hesitate but when she saw the look in his eyes she nodded her head. As she turned to go her eyes rested on Hermione. The younger girl sent Amelia a hard stare to which Amelia returned with a smirk. Hermione just glared as Amelia left and disappeared into the fading light. It had been a long and confusing day and she needed to think about everything that had happened. The Weasleys had all gone their separate was by the time she went to move. Looking beside her Hermione noticed that Harry was waiting patiently by her side.

When he noticed that she was out of her inner rambling he offered her his hand which she quickly took. Harry looked down at the combined hands and chuckled. Her hand was dwarfed by his large one but the seemed to fit so perfectly.

Harry led them both into the twins' room which he was now using since they lived above the joke shop, much to Mrs. Weasleys dismay. Harry lay down of the bed and Hermione quickly followed curling up right into his side. Harry wrapped his arm around her while Hermione placed her head on his broad chest. Gone were the days of a skinny, frankly sick looking little boy, instead Harry had matured into a man, and Quidditch certainly helped giving Harry muscles in all the right places.

"Hermione" harry said effectively pulling Hermione from her thoughts;" I think we should talk about the kiss."

"Harry I have feeling for you plain and simple." Hermione said slowly tracing patterns on his chest while he traced patterns on her arm.

"Well in that case, Hermione will you be my girlfriend?" Harry asked tilting Hermione's head back to look her in the eyes.

"Harry I would like nothing more" Hermione said smiling as she leaned up to kiss him. Harry and Hermione fell asleep in each other's arms truly content for the first time in a long time.

Yeah Hermione's starting to grow a backbone!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter I tried to make it longer.

As always read and review. If you review... I'll leave out cookies and tea for you!