Authors Note: You guys are the best! I mean seriously all of you have become LEGENDARY! Your reviews are so awesome I can't thank you enough I only hope that the rest of the story can live up to the same standards. Oh and by the way I am going to start making the chapters longer and I may consider getting a beta reader so if anyone is interested let me know.
"It's all part of the plan"
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Chapter 8
How could he not have noticed before? How could he have been so unbelievably blind and naive. This was something he should have realised much earlier than anticipated. He had feelings for Hermione.
"I'm such a complete idiot!" He whispered to himself.
It had been a few days since the order meeting and things were moving at a good speed. Tonks was helping Harry and Hermione start there Occlumency training. The proper training not the nonsense that Snape. That was just unprovoked attacks on Harry's mind. No this was the training he was meant to have.
"It's quite simple really" Tonks explained
"To start the process of building your mental shields is like building a brick wall. It's all about progress. A normal witch or wizard has their mind open and untrained this allows for easy attack. It takes the will power of the gods to be able to push someone out of your mind if you haven't been properly trained. Harry I believe you will be able to excel in this training because of your strong will. Hermione you should be able to proceed as you have disciplined your mind over the last few years. You have a mind that I have not seen in many years" She said sitting at the table in the kitchen.
"I've seen one other mind like that. An uncommonly kind woman who saw the goodness in someone when they couldn't see it themselves." Lupin commented. Harry only smiled remembering Lupin tell him about his mother during his 3rd year.
Later that evening Harry was sitting in his room trying to focus his mind and begin building a wall. At the moment he only had one or two bricks down and in the grand scheme of things this wasn't enough. He carried on focusing until a knock came to his bedroom door.
"Come in Hermione" He said not needing to look at the door.
Hermione walked in. "How did you know it was me?" She asked
"Easy, your knock is polite and courteous reflecting on your ever so similar personality" He smiled turning to face her.
"Your sweet" She smiled as she sat on a chair close to where Harry was.
"So what's troubling that mind of yours?" Harry asked
"I was just wondering how you are doing. These last few weeks couldn't have been easy on you"
"It's not me I'm worried about Hermione I'm more concerned with how you are doing?" He asked sitting up.
"Me? Why are you worried about me?" She asked
"You've been manipulated as well and your parents are involved as well that can affect any person even someone with a mind like yours" he smiled
"Honestly Harry I'm fine, my parents are safe and under Goblin protection no one will be able to find them and no one will get to them so I'm fine" She said sighing a little not un-noticed by Harry
"Well that sigh of yours would suggest otherwise" He said followed by a short laugh
"Why do you always do that?" She asked
"Do what?"
"You always push everyone away even those that want to help you"
Harry stood up
"It's complicated" He said turning away.
Hermione started to get frustrated
"I'm clever Harry so tell me why you do it"
"It's nothing Hermione don't worry about it" he said trying to throw her off topic
Hermione stood up annoyed.
"You know Harry things would be a lot easier if you let someone in once in a while. All I'm trying to do is help you and yet all your trying to do is push me away"
Harry turned to face her
"I have to keep it that way" He whispered.
"Why do you Harry what possible reason could you have?" She yelled as she threw her arms up in frustration
"I..." He closed his mouth again
Hermione started to walk out of his room
"Fine Harry have it your way"
Harry didn't know what to do his brain was telling him one thing and his emotions were telling him another.
"Wait" he whispered
Hermione stopped and looked at him she was at his door and it was open ready for her to leave
Harry said something barely audible and sat down on the chair Hermione was sat in.
Hermione closed the door still frustrated.
"What?"
"I have to keep you at arm's length" he whispered
"Why Harry?"
Something inside Harry snapped
"Because if I don't you'll only leave me or ill lose you!" He yelled. Hermione was taken back.
"Every person that was ever close to me has either left me or died! If I keep you away it keeps you safe it saves your life. The people that I let in are all dead Hermione. THERE ALL DEAD! I can't lose anyone else Hermione. It's my fault that there dead. I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE ANYONE ELSE!" He screamed tears streaming down his face. Hermione ran to him and embraced him in a hug
"Harry look at me. Look at me!" She yelled. Harry looked her in the eye
"I am never going to leave you. I am so sorry for everything that has happened to you Harry but I swear to you I am not going to leave you! You mean too much to me for me to ever leave you. Your mum and dad's death's were not your fault Harry they were worm tail's fault. Sirius' death was not your fault it was Bellatrix. Not you! I'm not going to leave you Harry. I promise you I won't ever leave you!" she finished with tears streaming down her face
Harry just sat there wrapped in Hermione's hug he was too vulnerable for Hermione to release him yet.
"I promise you" She whispered again
After a few more minutes Hermione began to loosen her hug and slowly released Harry from her embrace.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you" He said loud enough for her to hear
"Don't ever apologise for opening up to me Harry" She said squeezing his arm
They sat next to each other in silence for a few more minutes before a knock came at Harry's door. Remus and Tonks both walked in
"Everything alright? We heard shouting" Tonks asked
Hermione smiled
"Were fine the shouting was needed" She replied. Tonks clearly confused smiled and turned to leave with Remus.
"Remus?" Harry called
"Yes Harry?" He answered
"Could we go to Diagon Alley over the next few days me and Hermione need to get our Hogwarts stuff as well as some other things to get ready for the new school term" Harry asked
"Of course Harry we shall go after your birthday" Remus smiled
Harry smiled and thanked them both. He waited until they left before he turned to face Hermione again.
"Did you mean what you said?" He asked
"Mean what Harry?"
"You said that I could talk to you about anything and I could open up to you if I ever needed too" he said slightly embarrassed by himself
"Always Harry, I'm always going to be there for you no matter what" She smiled as she pulled him into a hug again.
The next few hours were spent with Harry and Hermione talking about everything. All the insecurity's he has the abandonment issues he has been dealing with Hermione was particularly disgusted when she found out how Harry had been treated by the Dursley's.
"He actually whipped you with his belt?" She asked mortified
"For a variety of different reasons. If there was ever any dust on the work tops. If I didn't complete my chores in the allotted time. If I ever got a higher grade than Dudley on my school work. If I ever make sarcastic comments or if Uncle Vernon ever caught me reading any of my magical books"
"Is that why you always let yourself stay at average level in Hogwarts?" Hermione asked. Harry only nodded
"When your beaten for doing well in school it kind of makes you worry about the consequences of doing well no matter what school you are in" Harry sighed
"What about your OWLS?" she asked
"That was the one rare occasion where I allowed myself to write and answer the question to my fullest ability. The Dursley's would have no idea about the grading system that Hogwarts has and if they ever saw my results they would think that our top grades are the worst grades possible whilst an 'average' would be the best grade" he smiled
Hermione sighed in relief she didn't want Harry to forfeit his dreams thanks to a deeply disturbed family
"Harry I promise you this right now, one day I'm not sure when but one day those horrible people will get everything that they deserve. I'll make them pay for ever hurting you emotionally or physically"
Harry smiled and thanked her. He was staring at her wonderful brown eyes, how he didn't get lost in them he didn't know. Summoning every bit of his Gryffindor courage that he could muster he moved closer to her and lightly kissed her lips.
Hermione was shocked at first but then returned the kiss allowing it to continue for a few minutes. When oxygen became an issue they both pulled apart slowly. Harry suddenly was petrified
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that" He said trying to think of a valid excuse
"Hey it's ok I wanted you to" She smiled
"I knew it you hate me now I'll just... wait what did you say"? he asked confused
"I said I wanted you to do it" She said still smiling.
"Truth be told Harry I think on some level I've had feelings for you for quite a long time. If it wasn't for those damn potions I would have acted on them a lot sooner" she said blushing.
"How long?" He asked clearly surprised by Hermione's confession
"I think everything snapped into place when we saved Sirius in 3rd year. Flying Buckbeak and being that close to you I guess just started it all off" She said blushing even more
"When I saw you get struck by that curse in the department of mysteries I thought my whole world had stopped. I think everything became clear after that" Harry smiled at her stoking her cheek
"So what does this mean?" She asked
"Well I think protocol states that it is at this moment I ask you to be my girlfriend" He said
"Well if that's the protocol" Hermione laughed
"Hermione Granger will you do me the great honour of being my girlfriend?" he asked
Hermione stretched out her answer by pretending to think about it for a long time
"Let me answer that question by doing this" she said as she captured him in another kiss
Another few minutes later they pulled apart and Harry smiled
"Since when has Hermione Granger not followed protocol?" he asked laughing
"Screw the protocol"
The kissing began shortly afterwards.
Authors Note: Boom that's emotion right there people!
Hope you like this chapter people cause I certainly do.
Oh a big shout out to my 100th review "Cyborg009"
And a big thank you to the rest of you.
Keep those reviews coming people! Peace out!