Chapter 18

Weeks passed before Harry finally took Draco's advice. Standing on the front stoop, he examined the buzzers, looking for her name. He knew exactly which one was hers, but he was too nervous to press it. After the articles printed in the Prophet, he was sure Hermione had no interest in speaking to him.

From above, Pansy watched him with amused glee as he climbed up and down the stairs. "How many more passes until he rings the bell?" she asked Hermione.

"What's he doing here?" she wondered, frowning as Harry worked up the nerve to come inside.

Pansy shrugged. "Finally come to apologize?" she suggested. "With the way he's let that Weasley brat slander you, he should be doing more than offering up an 'I'm sorry.'"

Moving away from the window, Hermione picked up the television remote and turned the set on. "I don't really care if he apologizes or not," she declared. "Why should he? I spent seven years pretending everything was fine between us, and all the while I hid from him that he had a daughter. He has no reason to feel guilty."

"That doesn't give his ex the right to call you a, what was it exactly?" Pansy asked, picking up the latest edition. "'A lying, two-timing harlot.' Those seem like harsh words coming from someone who snogged Harry Potter while still dating Dean Thomas."

Hermione grinned at her friend. No matter what had transpired since the war, she knew that one person always had her back, and that person was Pansy Parkinson. "Maybe I should just go downstairs and let him in," she said. "It must be getting pathetic. Or the neighbors are about to call the police because he appears to be casing the building."

Pansy produced a short, mirthless laugh. "Getting Potter arrested would really make my day," she replied. "Could the Weaslette be his accomplice? Take them both out at once."

Shaking her head, Hermione laughed. "I love your Slytherin mind," she said as she got to her feet. "I'm going to put an end to his misery now. And no, I don't mean with the use of an Unforgivable. Try not to look so disappointed."

Hermione's heart pounded as she descended the stairs from the second floor to the lobby. Harry stood on the other side of the door, and it would only require a few more short steps in order to come face-to-face with him. Steeling herself, she opened the door just as Harry approached. He wore an awkward smile as he greeted her. "Hey, hi," he said. "I, um, I wasn't sure if you were home or not."

"Ringing the bell would have been a good way to find out," Hermione replied. "Why did you need to know if I was home?"

"Because I need to talk to you," he said, nervously adjusting his glasses. "Because I...I need you to know that I still love you, Hermione."

Shocked by his admission, she suggested they go inside. Hermione kept her distance, remaining two stairs ahead of him, until they reached her door. She opened the door to find Pansy anxiously awaiting their arrival. Saying nothing, she continued on to her room with Harry behind her. "Okay, so talk," she said after warding the room against eavesdropping.

Harry nodded as he sat down on her bed. "Um, right," he mumbled. "I'm sorry I told Ginny, who in turn has told the rest of the world. No one knows about the baby though. I promise, I won't tell anyone about her."

"Great, thanks," she replied sarcastically. "That's exactly what I was worried about."

"I don't get it. I thought that you didn't want that to get out," Harry said with a confused shake of his head.

Hermione scoffed. "No, I didn't want this to get out because you're my best friend, Harry," she stated. "I was afraid that I'd lose you over this. I don't care that everyone knows that we were together seven years ago. That doesn't matter to me anymore. Look, you said what you need to say, so maybe it's better if you leave."

Harry stood up as Hermione moved to the door. "Wait," he implored, holding her arm tightly. "Please. Just...I need to know that we're okay."

"Sure, okay, I guess I could lie and say we are, like you did," she replied condescendingly. "We're fine, Harry. Are we done now?"

He shook his head and his grip became more determined. "I had the right to be a little shocked by your news," he said. "You can't just tell a guy that you gave birth to his kid and expect him to be thrilled about it seven years later. Look, I'm sorry that Ginny told everyone that we slept together, but she had the right to know. We were days away from getting engaged. How would you feel if Ron kept something like this from you?"

"It doesn't matter," she replied. "Ron and I are over."

"Okay, fine then. Whoever it is you love next," Harry suggested.

She thought immediately of Draco. He cared about her enough to tell her the truth about Lilah's mother. What was more surprising than his feelings for her, was her reaction. It hadn't bothered her in the slightest that he had lied at first. It took a great amount of trust to share such a secret, and she felt honored that he had.

"We all have secrets, Harry," she said. "I kept this one so I wouldn't hurt you, and I'm sorry that it has. I'm sorry that knowing it has ruined your chance at happiness with Ginny. But you could have kept it too. There was no reason to get drunk so early in the day and have a row in public. There was a better way to handle this, but you chose this option. I'm to blame for a lot, but not this."

Harry let go of her arm and took a step back. "I don't blame you for the break up," he admitted. "Honestly, I think it's been a long time coming. Ever since you and I...it's all I've thought about. When it was just us, after Ron left, it felt right. I knew you had feelings for him, but I had feelings for you. Feelings I wanted you to reciprocate. I love you, Mione."

"As a friend, you mean," she stated flatly.

Harry shook his head and neared her once more, resting his hands on her hips. "No, I mean I've been in love with you all this time," he replied. "I was just waiting for you to see that, and hoping you felt the same way."

Despite the knowledge that it would break his heart, Hermione had no choice but to tell the truth. "I'll always love you, Harry, but only as a friend," she said. "I love Draco. Only Draco."