Author's Note: Holy crap, you guys. Holy crap. I can't even begin to thank you all for, well, everything. This story received 25 reviews for just chapter 8 alone (I had to recount about four times for me to actually believe it, haha). The majority of those reviews mentioned caring comments, wondering how I was doing with my own personal struggle that I'm dealing with. It really touched me how so many people would actually enjoy me being back here. And apparently chapter 8 wasn't that bad. Sky (SkyTreader62) is probably tired of this, but I want to thank her again for double-checking chapter 8 before I posted it. I felt pressured into making this chapter perfect. Those romantic cliffys have a lot to live up to, haha.

No Worries: I had theater camp for the past 2 weeks, but it ended so I'll have a lot more free time now :)

Disclaimer: Do I even need to say it, kiddies? I don't own Harry Potter. He's such a sweetheart, though, so I wish I owned him. But I don't so I'm gonna go sulk in a corner now. Well I have a chapter to write, and then I'll go sulk in a corner. I'll shut up now.

Tears of a Mourning Bookworm

Chapter Eight: Hesitation of a Kiss

"Kiss me, Harry," Hermione whispered.

Harry could feel her hot breath tickle his skin. Her eyes, those beautiful brown eyes, bore into his green ones and caused his heart to nearly skip a beat. He could see the hurt she was suffering, the same hurt that she'd been through for the past few weeks, as she leaned in towards him.

"Not yet."

It took a moment for Harry to realize that the firm words were his own. He suspected that his conscious had spoken aloud for itself. And in that second, it made sense. They had to both think things through properly. Sure, it was just a kiss, but was it wrong to kiss Hermione when she was so vulnerable? Did she want him to kiss her for the right reasons? Or did she just think that it would get rid of the pain, even for a small amount of time?

"Why?" Hermione asked as she tilted her head to the side and examined his expression. She was clearly trying to hide the oncoming hurt, and was failing miserably. Her chin trembled slightly.

"Why do you want me to kiss you?" he challenged, raising an eyebrow.

Hermione shook her head, her face reddening. "Are you serious? Do you want me to actually say it?"

"Hermione -- "

"Shh," she said, placing a finger to his lips, immediately silencing him. "I want you to kiss me because I can't do it myself. I'm too…weak. Emotionally, anyhow. And as for the general kissing idea…" Her face reddened even more as she gulped and continued,

"You're just so sweet, Harry. And caring. And understanding. Everything I need, right here, right now. The real question is: why wouldn't I want you to kiss me?"

"Hermione," he said softly, not being interrupted this time, "I just wanted to make sure that you're…comfortable. That I'm not taking advantage or anything."

"That's what you were worried about?" Hermione said, surprised, with a laugh.

Harry nodded sheepishly, biting his lip and looking away from her studious gaze.

"Only Harry Potter, eh?"

And with that, Hermione leaned in towards him but at some point, Harry knew that he had to move forward too and hold her and kiss her and…

Their lips met with such a passionate force that both Harry and Hermione had to pull away after a few seconds in order to breathe. He didn't mean to hold her body so close to his, or to kiss her with so much emotion, or to whisper her name between kisses, because she seemed so fragile to him, but the moment was so sacred and he wanted it to last for as long as it could.

Hermione ran her hands through his already messy hair and Harry ever-so-gently traced her spine and neck with his fingers.

But before he knew it, they finally pulled away, ending their first kiss. Harry smiled as Hermione sighed, rested her head on his shoulder, and looked at him with a loving expression playing across her beautiful features. He absently stroked her hair.

"Wow," was all Harry could say.

Hermione laughed. "You know what?"

Harry turned to face her, the smile upon his face never seeming to be able to fade any time soon. "What?" he asked.

"I don't think I've ever felt so happy in my lifetime," Hermione said as she rested her hand on his chest and continued to smile at him.

His heart might've just skipped a beat right there. And without hesitating, Harry said, "Same here, Hermione. Same here."

Author's Note: Yes, extremely short chapter, but I had finally figured out how to write this chapter and there was only so much I could possibly keep going. Fellow fan fiction writers probably understand what I mean, hehe. Or maybe not and I'm just kind of weird and a tease. Oh and I didn't read this chapter over, nor do I remember exactly what I had written. Now that I think about it, the kiss needed its own chapter because it's such an important life-changing moment for Harry and Hermione. Please review :) I reply to all my reviews personally