Author's Note: Hello my darlings. I'm really sorry for updating this over two months late :( But I'm making it up to you. I'm uploading a new story really soon. Yes, it is going to be HHr, as always. But anyways, yes, please keep an eye out for that :) I apalogize if this chapter is suckish. Again, sorry for updating late. I added some happiness to this chapter. Please enjoy and not kill me :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. And this chapter is really short and people are going to come after me with pitchforks.

Tears of a Mourning Bookworm

Chapter Fifteen: Sight of Normality

"I bet people are beginning to talk about this, if they haven't started already."

"Everyone has nothing better to talk about than our amazing lives," Ron replied to Hermione.

Hermione rolled her eyes, although Harry spotted a small smile on her lips.

"Hey, can you pass me a cookie?" Hermione asked him. He nodded, handing her one of the many snacks Mrs. Weasley had brought with her a few days before. "These are amazing."

"Aunt Petunia made the worst chocolate chip cookies," Harry noted.

"She fed you cookies?" Hermione asked, taking a bite of her own.

"I stole some leftovers," he said with a wink. She giggled.

Hermione had gotten out of the Hospital Wing the day before.

"Are you sure you want to get out of here? Madam Pomfrey offered that you could stay a few more days if you're uncomfortable with this," Harry told her.

"It's fine, I'll be fine," Hermione assured him as he helped her get to her feet.

She nearly tripped on her first step. His left arm wrapped around her tiny waist, the other reaching out a hand. Step by step, they managed to walk out of the Wing.

After almost tripping again, Hermione explained, "My legs are just...numb. I'm not used to walking around, really."

"I can carry you if you want?" Harry offered.

"Don't be silly, I'll be alright." However, he spotted her cheeks becoming pink. "I can walk, Harry." She kissed him on the cheek.

By the time they were in the corridor leading to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was walking perfectly on her own; although that didn't stop Harry from holding her hand.

"Just promise me something," Hermione said, stopping.

Harry turned to face her. "Alright..."

"Promise me that," she paused, "that we can return to our normal lives as much as possible. I'm healing, I'll be okay, I just need to go back to the way things used to be. I need to put the terrible things behind me."

Immediately, he replied, "Of course, love. Although, does 'the way things used to be' mean that we're not --"

"Oh, no! No, no, that's not what I meant," Hermione said quickly and firmly. "No, that's just the exception. We're the exception."

Hermione stood on her toes to kiss him full on the lips.

So now, they were back the normal. Or, they were trying, at least. Things wouldn't be exactly the same, since Harry and Hermione were a couple, and Markovitch was still trying to make as many appointments as possible, and people were talking about Hermione and spreading rumors, and she would always have emotional scars. But Harry promised her that they'd return to normal, and he could never break a promise, especially to the girl he loved.

"Hermione?" a quiet voice from the outside of one of the dormitories asked.

"Come down here, Ginny," Hermione said invitingly, not even looking up.

The speed that her footsteps went down the stairs was surprisingly fast; Harry was amazed that she didn't trip over her own feet.

"So, you're, like, okay now? Everything's okay?" Ginny asked as she sat next to Ron; opposite of Harry and Hermione.

"You could say that," Hermione said.

Ginny seemed to be oblivious to the lack of confidence in Hermione's voice. "Oh, that's good. Y'know, lots of people have been talking about this. Some think that Myrtle got you, some think that Death Eaters were in the school and tried to --"

"Okay, sunshine," Ron said abruptly.

Ginny shifted in her seat. "Just preparing her for how people might react to her tomorrow." She lifted her hands in fake surrender.

Hermione was silent.

"Any other news? Did anyone kill Malfoy yet?" Harry asked, dodging the subject of gossip about Hermione.

"Unfortunately, the ferret's still alive. And people are just living in fear, as usual. The Ministry is being a twat --"

"Nothing new. Got it," Ron interrupted.

Harry wanted to hex Ginny for bringing this abundance of reality right to Hermione, who was still recovering. He reached for her hand and stroked the top of it with his thumb absently.

"So," Hermione said after clearing her throat, "I think I should start studying, the teachers will be furious if I'm too far behind..."

"Finally," Harry said. "I knew you couldn't go for that long without mentioning the word 'studying'."

"Oh, shut up." Hermione playfully punched him in the arm.

"Hey, Gin, I need your help with something," Ron said, standing up.

"Alright..."

"Outside."

"Ron, what the --"

Ron grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the common room. On his way out, Ron nodded to Harry, and he immediately understood.

"I think Ron's finally getting used to us," Harry said, smiling, after his friend had gotten out of their way.

"He left so we could study?" Hermione asked. She furrowed her eyebrows.

Harry shook his head and kissed her cheek. "No studying right now. Let's take a walk."

Hermione's right palm met her forehead. "Harry, I really do have to study though --"

"So it's a date, then?" he said, ignoring her and lifting her to her feet.

"Harry James Potter, you let me down right now!" she demanded. Although the severity of her voice wasn't being taken seriously whatsoever; she began laughing.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Harry asked as he carried her out of the portrait hole. Her body, in his arms, felt so fragile to him.

"I'm going to hurt you if you don't let me down," Hermione said, lacking seriousness, giggling. He raised his eyebrows at her. "No, you're not hurting me."

After much false debating, Harry was forced to let Hermione down when they reached the Hogwarts grounds. The fresh air rushed to them both immediately, the wind wrapping around them and whipping their hair. The sun was still out, but barely; the gentle rays soared through the air, dodging the trunks and canopies of the trees that surrounded the perimeter.

"It's nice to be back here," Hermione commented.

Harry looked over at her. Her eyes were closed and her lips formed a genuine smile. It was nice to see her in a good mood, enjoying herself. He held her hand, she returned the pressure, and they began to walk. For the first minute or two, they were quiet.

"Remember when you told me you love me?" Hermione said, the tone of her voice higher than usual.

"Yes." He didn't even need to think about his response.

"Did you – did you mean it?" She stopped walking and faced him. He did the same immediately after her.

Harry was surprised that she was even asking him this. "Of course I meant it, Hermione." He leaned down to kiss her, but she pushed him away.

"Are you sure?" she asked. Her eyes appeared to be watering.

"I love you, Hermione Granger," he said in the most serious tone he could muster. He put his hands on her waist and kept stern eye contact with her. Harry could feel his heart rate rushing exponentially.

She beamed at him, wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. He felt his shirt dampen. She was crying.

"Hermione, what --"

"I'm not sad, don't worry," she reassured him as she backed away and rubbed her eyes. "In fact, I'm quite the opposite. I love you too, Harry. I really really do."

He couldn't see it, but he could feel the biggest smile form on his face. She loved him too. His heart was racing even faster now. Harry leaned down towards her to kiss her, and this time, she didn't pull away. His hands rested on the small of her back, while hers reached for the sides of his face.

All Harry wanted was to stay like this forever, him and Hermione in the grounds, kissing and ignoring the rest of the world and healing and loving.

A few minutes later, they finally pulled away from each other and continued walking. Hermione leaned on his shoulder.

"Tomorrow's gonna be tough," she said, exhaling deeply.

"We have every class together," he reminded her. "I'll be with you the whole time, it's going to be okay. And I'm sure you'll be so focused on catching up with classes that nobody will bother you."

"I guess. But...but what about Snape?" Hermione bit her lip.

"I'll kick his arse if he bothers you."

"That's frowned upon by the school rules," she commented.

"Everything's going to be alright," Harry told her as he turned and kissed her forehead. "When we returned to Hogwarts after Christmas break, I was there for you, remember?"

"Yes," Hermione said, nodding. "I do."

"This won't be any different, I promise," Harry told her, squeezing her hand.

"Thank you."

"Any time, love."

The two ended up at the edge of the lake.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? I mean, I never really appreciated it," Hermione said. "After all, I was stuck down there two years ago. I haven't been too fond of it ever since. But I forgive it."

Harry chuckled. "I think it's at peace now." He sat down, and Hermione quickly followed. She continued to lean on his shoulder.

"Thanks for everything, Harry," Hermione said after five minutes of complete silence between them.

"No problem," was his automatic response.

"I mean it. You've always been here for me, I really appreciate it. I don't think I'd be able to be here, to laugh and smile and joke around if it wasn't for you." She kissed his neck. "Thank you...so much."

Harry placed his left arm around her small shoulders. "My pleasure."

And they sat there, together, enjoying each other's company and finally being able to return to normal, the bookworm's tears finally ones of joy.

Author's Note: Yous would kill me if that was the ending. But please let me know what you think. Should that be the ending? Or would it just be cruel to leave you hanging for two months and be like "oh wait just kidding, I'm ending it". I might have some ends to tie in this story, my decision is on the borderline. Anyways, it's past 10pm, I'm exhausted, I apalogize that this chapter was suckish and short. Now I'm off to upload my new story. Hinthint.