Another chapter for you guys...

And you should know its so much fun writing these...

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She looks as beautiful as ever, thought Harry, as he followed Hermione and Vera into the castle. Vera kept nervously checking the roof, clearly expecting another beam to fall any second.

Harry, however, was trying to keep his eyes off Hermione. It had been almost two years since he'd seen her, and yet his heart was beating as fast as it had the last time he'd seen her.

The last time he'd seen her...His mind drifted away, even as he followed Vera around the castle, who was showing Hermione the place.

It had been a week after the Last Battle. They were in the backyard of the Burrow, lying stretched out in the grass under Ginny's window. Ron wasn't around, he was out with his father.

Harry and Hermione were fighting.

"Why did you break up with her, Harry?"

"Because she deserves better, Hermione." Harry said, through gritted teeth.

Hermione said fiercely, "She doesn't want better, she wants you. She loves you."

Harry thrust his face close to Hermione's and Hermione flinched, but didn't draw back.

"But I don't. I don't love her. You know that. I know that. She didn't, so I told her."

Hermione's gaze flitted from one of his to the other, and then to his lips.

"Harry-"

"No. You picked Ron. I get it. I'll learn to live with it."

Hermione looked pained. "Harry, please, I-"

"Don't."

And Harry walked off.

The next day, Harry and Ron had started their Ministry jobs, and Hermione had joined Hogwarts six months later, when it reopened. Hermione and Harry never saw each other again. Until now.

Vera suddenly said, "Ah, well, I could show you the castle all day long, Hermione, dear. Why don't you go rest, unpack and freshen up in your room before dinner?"

Hermione smiled gratefully at Vera. "Thank you, Lady Grey. I am a little tired. A nap would be wonderful."

"Call me Vera, dear."

Harry interrupted. "I'll show her to her room, shall I? Seeing as its in the same wing?"

Vera opened her mouth to object, but shrugged. She smiled again at Hermione and left.

There was a stretching silence in which Hermione looked at her shoes, and Harry looked at her downcast face.

"You look as stunning as ever, Hermione," said Harry.

Hermione looked startled at this compliment, then pleased, then confused. A slight blush coloured her cheeks, which Harry found even more adorable.

Then he started to lead her down the corridors. He kept up a steady chatter, which Hermione knew was unlike him, but was glad of, because it held the awkwardness at bay.

"The castle is under renovation. The only wings that are inhabitable are the main wing, where Lady Grey has her rooms. The other wing is the newest one, furthest from the entrance. Which is where your rooms, and mine, are."

Soon her seemed to run out of things to say, and the air became heavy with the past.

"How's Ron?" asked Harry, and though his voice was light, Hermione could hear some pain underneath it.

Hermione pondered for a moment, how to put it.

"Ron and I- we broke it off."

"The engagement? When?"

"About a year and a half ago."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Hermione."

Hermione was startled to hear the unmistakable note of sincerity in his voice. But then, even if he didn't get Hermione, he wasn't the type to begrudge her a happy ending, even if it was with somebody other than him.

She remembered how he'd watched her cry in her bunk, for weeks after Ron left. One day, they'd been sitting next to each other, eating. He'd seen a tear fall from her eye. He'd dropped his sandwich, and turned to her.

"Hermione." And he'd hugged her.

Then he'd looked into her eyes, and said, "I love you."

To this day, Hermione couldn't explain the mixed feelings she'd had when she'd heard those words. Part of her had died and gone to heaven, and the other had a sinking feeling that if Ron found out, he'd never get over it.

Just as Harry was about to kiss her, she moved away. She saw the hurt and rejection in Harry's eyes.

There was a long silence, and Harry had said, "Do you want to be with Ron?"

She nodded, another tear falling from her eye. Harry had left the tent, and had never talked about the incident again.

And once again, when she had kissed Ron for the first time, dropping all the Basilisk fangs, she had stupidly, stupidly forgotten that Harry was right there next to them. His face had been one of agony, to see Hermione kissing Ron, but he'd pushed it away, to continue searching for the Horcrux.

Now Harry stopped suddenly, in front of a couple of doors opposite each other, and Hermione had almost walked into him. He turned, and looked down at her. "This is your room," he said.

There was a silence, and they stared into each other's eyes. Hermione's heart was beating faster, faster, and she wondered if she was ready to move on from Ron, and finally face her feelings for Harry.

Harry was leaning closer and closer. She closed her eyes.

There was a click. Harry had leant forward to open the door behind her.

"Good night, Hermione."

And he disappeared through the door set in the opposite wall.

Now that the past is sorted out and we know whats keeping them apart, lets get down to business.

Let the seducing begin...

Is it just me, or is this new Harry sexier, and so much more confident?