Chapter 11 -

"Has anyone seen Harry? Or Ron?" Mrs. Weasley asked, placing the potatoes in the middle of the twenty-four chair oak table.

"Mrs. Weasley, um-"...

"Right here," the red-head grumbled coldly as he walked into the large kitchen and plopped his behind on one of the matching chairs. His back leaned against the seat, posture such as a "wigga" driving his "hotwheelz".

Hermione watched Ron, the pout plastered to his face. As everyone sat around the table for the prayers to Merlin, Hermione turned to look at Draco, whispering ever-so-slightly, "Harry must not have told them."

Draco didn't want to be heard, so he responded with a slight nod. The couple closed their eyes but only listened to the others say their before-dinner prayers. And when the table lit up with chatter and discussions, Hermione stood from her chair, "I'll be right back." She left the room quickly, not running.

The table of the Order glared at Draco Malfoy, triggering his eyes to focus on where Hermione had just left.

She scampered down the staircase, walking into the boys' bedroom and finding no 'chosen one'. Checking Draco's and the girls' bedrooms, also, found no one. Knocking on the bathroom with no answer, she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

'Garden?' Struck her cleared mind.

She then nearly ran back up to the same floor dinner was being held on, past and up the next set of stairs, to the porch overlooking the endless garden of trees, flowers, and fountains. Opening the glass door, pushing it silently gentle. Walking across the gravel, it only took a few steps to withdraw from the ground to show a mat of wild, black hair.

Approaching, she drew closer, not saying a word but sitting directly next to Harry James Potter. His face was white, looking as if he was in shock; his cheeks did hold proof of tears, but no more crawled from his eyes.

"Harry?"

No answer from his lips. Her hand resulted in lowering to his shoulder, triggering his eyes to respond by looking into her's.

"What's wrong?"

He sighed and looked to the ground. It took a few moments, but it soon required a gasp of air to oblige.

"Too many things, 'Mione."

"Such as...?"

"Such as Ron being a follower of the most evil being in all the world, becoming another enemy of mine in which I... WE... must destroy."

Hermione's eyes followed suit and joined concentrating vision to the dirt and grass. The fountain trickled like it was raining without droplets.

"I don't appreciate being the only wizard or person able to defeat this overbearing son-of-a-bitch."

Hermione's glance shot up to his face, eyes widened at the misuse of language he had just used.

"I'm sick of worrying and fighting and wondering where each and everyone is right now and then - imprisoned, hiding away, fighting with their lives," he continued with his eyes raising to her face once again, "being marked like a murderous psycho, or laying on the ground with blood plastered to their face." Tears began to fall again, sending the immediate signal to Hermione's embrace. And so she did.

Hermione held him close, not seeming to want to let go. His hands grasped her back, not tough enough to cause her any pain. Then he pulled and continued to stare into her eyes, but taking what seeming like nearly an hour before saying, "Hermione..."

The known response was worn in her eyes and gesture.

"Why are you with him?"

Hermione's sight fell away quickly, her fingertips twirling the long strands of grass sprouted from the dry dirt. She really couldn't find an answer, other than her heart yearned for him beyond anything.

"Why?" He jolted again.

"Because I love him."

Harry looked someone aggravated. "How can you love someone who has called you names all year and would have appreciated you being dead?"

"He's changed - a lot - Harry."

Harry looked away and snorting, "even if he turned into the great Merlin, I wouldn't forgive him like you have!"

"Well, I have." She plucked the grass blades quickly. "Besides: what business is mine also yours?"

Harry grabbed her shoulders and shook her once to become attention awareness. "Because I love you."

Hermione didn't know what to say, and without not even allowing a minute second to think, his mouth crashed down on her own. In shock, it was very hard to move and confusion grew twice as much as before. But even as Harry knocked her into the late grounding, Draco's face would not leave her attention. She hoped Draco would not leave her side - ever.