Italics: flashbacks.

Non-italics: present day.

He felt something warm and soft gently prod his shoulder and he let out a groan, a deep growl reverberating from a distant place within his throat. The object was persistent and prodded him once more; he murmured something, words that were lost, only to be heard by the pillow that was now in his mouth.

He frowned slightly when he heard a frustrated noise emit from someone close to him and choked when something or rather someone sat on him. He moved his body in an attempt to turn over but froze when he heard her squeal and then felt a smile erupt on his lips. He raised his head and strained his neck to look into the bright eyes of his best friend, Hermione Granger. She sat in her pyjamas on his lower back and he groaned and collapsed back onto his bed, closing his eyes once more.

He felt oddly cold when she stood up and removed her body from his, he felt her gently touch his bare shoulder once more and this time decided to relent and turn his head to face her. She had her hands on her hips and one eyebrow raised, the image brought back memories from their early days at Hogwarts, she had her no-nonsense look on her face and he immediately started chuckling which made her frown slightly. He once more buried his face into his warm pillow and sighed when the soft texture hit his tired face.

"You get up this instant mister!" she exclaimed and Harry made a noise in response. Hermione immediately pulled the warm covers of his cocoon like bed off of him in one fluid moment and Harry gasped as the cool air bit into his skin.

" 'Mione… please…" he begged, his teeth beginning to chatter in response to the sudden change in temperature. Hermione merely smiled at him and he narrowed his eyes at her, frustration evident on his face, but Hermione's smile broadened when she saw the smile lines around his eyes, his bright green eyes which were shining with mischievousness and then Hermione immediately frowned, Harry could see her contemplating whether to follow her flight or fight instincts by the way a small crease formed between her two sculpted eyebrows.

It was an early morning in late September, Harry knew the date would come to him sooner rather than later. By the pale moonlight that just illuminated his best friend he would guess it was early morning, perhaps three a.m. just what I needed, another early wake up call from Hermione. He thought testily and sighed.

"come on, we have to move, please don't make me spend anymore time getting you up, you know how hard it is to get R-" she froze, suddenly remembering that their other best friend had deserted them three days ago, Harry face was immediately severe and pain was etched into his eyes. Hermione bowed her head and felt tears begin to form, slowly building up until a single tear fell, carving a glistening line on her fair face. Harry sat up and reached out to her, feeling the sudden urge to hold her.

Hermione looked to his face and then to his outstretched arms and took a step away from him, confusion forming on her features. Harry immediately dropped his hands a sense of immeasurable sadness crossing his face. He smiled falsely and stood, moving towards the fireplace, the fire in which it housed almost dead. He stared into the burning coals and felt the heat immediately encompass him, but no relief came to the pain he felt at her rejection. He didn't understand these feelings of longing and need he had for Hermione, when the feelings first started he passed them off as merely brotherly affection, platonic feelings. He was seventeen then and dating Ginny Weasley, his first love. He realised now, in his nineteenth year of life that he was and probably had always been, in love with Hermione Granger.

It had taken, probably the inevitable split from Ginny and the realisation that he didn't have any feelings towards the break up, like he knew he should have, that Hermione was the one he loved.

But she had, until a few days ago been with Ronald, the youngest male of the Weasley clan and if Harry was honest with himself, the man he felt a deep dislike for. These feelings had begun years ago, when they were in school together, a long time before he fell in love with the one woman he could never have. Ron had over the years, deserted him and shown few traits that Harry found overly commendable, this feeling towards the man was cemented those few nights ago when Ron deserted both Harry and his long time girlfriend Hermione.

But it wasn't Ron's treatment of Harry himself, it was his complete mistreatment of his treasure, Hermione. Ron over the years had belittled and inhibited Hermione's attempts to be the best she could be, in an attempt to better himself and bring her down from the unimaginable heights she had already reached as a person. It was above all else, the things he said to Hermione, that made Harry Potter loathe Ronald Weasley.

Ron seemed pleased with himself when Harry arrived back at the inn they were staying at that night, Harry was confused as to why the red headed man was smirking, his hands behind his head, his back leaning against the wall next to the fireplace.

"Harry mate!" Ron exclaimed, completely forgetting the secrecy that was supposed to be surrounding the trio, that Harry's name was Henry, not Harry. The freckled man continued unawares of the scowl that was on his best friends face. "So what about a quick game of chess? Better make it quick, I have to get back to my- other activities." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively and Harry felt bile rise in his throat at the thought, the acidic taste burning his insides.

"I'm tired and need rest… not tonight." Harry said in a low and dangerous voice, his nostrils picking up the putrid smell of sweat and dirt that seemed to linger on the red head no matter how hard he tried to rid himself of it if he tried at all Harry thought as his nose crinkled in disgust.

A heavenly scent flowed into the room and Harry felt his heart beat quicken. Hermione. He turned and smiled at the woman before him, she was quite short in comparison to her companions, about a head shorter than Harry himself, she had subtle curves and a small waist, her cheeks were bright and rosy, even in the night time glow and her brown hair cascaded in silky curls down her back. She had a glow about her that seemed to attract people, she was funny and quick witted, charming and intelligent, but most of all she was beautiful. Her dressing gown clung to her body, her hair was wet as if she had just exited the shower, Harry felt his throat grow dry when he noticed the coolness of the night by letting his eyes fall to her chest.

He heard a growl from behind him and that immediately alerted him to the fact that they had company. Ron, when Harry looked at him, seemed to be glowing with disgust and rage.

"Harry? How was-" she begun a small smile on her face when she looked at him, but Ron interrupted with his usual display of how tact he was.

"Go back to bed, we're discussing business, no need for you to be here." At this Hermione immediately looked affronted but just as she was about to open her mouth to speak Ron continued. "I said go! You little up tight bitch!" he exclaimed and Harry took a step back from him anger flashing in his eyes.

"You bastard! This is because I won't sleep with you?" she said as calmly as she could, her voice had risen an octave. Harry frowned at this, Ron always hinted quite crudely his evening activities with the bright witch. "I told you I wasn't ready." She said, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment when her eyes fell on Harry whom merely stood stock still staring at her.

"We've been together for two years! Two years woman! What else do I have to do to get you in bed?" he yelled, Harry could hear the frustration building in his former friends voice and took another step towards Hermione.

"If you love me you wouldn't mind." Hermione whispered her head bowed but Ron merely scoffed.

"Who ever said I loved you? Most girls are easy to get into bed after a few weeks, but you! How long will I have to wait? Two, three more years? Lavender wants it three, four times weekly!" Ron immediately froze, realising what he had just said. Hermione looked up and Harry saw the absolute pain and misery in her eyes. He felt a surge of anger rise in him as he turned back to the tall, gangly man who stood by the fireplace.

Tears immediately fell down her face in silent streams, no sound escaped her plump lips, no words, Harry realised, could possibly explain what she must have been feeling.

"Hermione.. you know I didn't mean that." Ron stated but both Harry and Hermione knew he was lying through his teeth. The man boldly took a step towards her and Harry stood infront of Hermione, shielding her from view. Ron growled and looked down dangerously at Harry but immediately cowered when Harry returned his glare, his anger pulsating from his body. Ron took a step back and something flashed in his electric blue eyes. "Him? You've been fucking him?" Ron spat and Harry swallowed and didn't try to stop Hermione from stepping out from behind him her chest heaving in rage.

"Ronald Weasley, just because I refuse to sleep with you does not mean im shagging everyone you know! And do not even try to explain yourself to me, this relationship is finished.. but I hope for Harry's sake we can-"

"-for his sake? I'm only here because I thought that you would- fine.. I'm over this, this entire thing is stupid, I mean… he doesn't even know what we are doing out here? And protecting him? I should protect myself! Its him they want not us… not me… its always him! Never me! Always Harry this and Harry that, never Ron, it's always him!" Ron shouted and his ears turned a bright red.

Once more Hermione came to his defence, like the many other times over the years, "that is ridiculous! Harry as always been our best friend! You knew the moment you came with us on this… mission what we would be facing, that we would have to protect Harry! He needs help! Our world needs help, are you going to abandon us?" Hermione trembled and Harry felt a sudden guilt arise in his stomach and travel to his chest, constricting his heart. Ron merely stood there, words seemed to escape him for the moment, his jaw slack, mouth hanging half open. "Why are you here? For fame? Glory? Women? What? Tell me why." Hermione whispered her voice shaking and breaking with tears, by the embarrassed look on his face Harry could see his answer.

"I don't know. I shouldn't be here.. You are the worst kind of woman Hermione Granger, you think you are pretty and know everything and therefore that makes you better? You will be nothing without me, you are nothing.. I mean look at who your parents are, how do you expect to be anything in this world without me? You are vile and you both deserve each other."

And just like that, he had disappeared from their lives, after so many years, so many happy memories mingled with sad. In the space of half an hour, Ron Weasley was not apart of their lives anymore.

He blinked several times when he felt a warm hand tentatively touch his face. "Henry? Are you all right?" she whispered, worry laced her voice and he looked up a dumb expression on his face.

"'Mione." He whispered and closed his eyes, leaning into her touch, she was warm and secure, safe, she was his only true friend, his only companion. She removed her hand as if she had been burnt and turned away, walking back towards her bed which was a few metres from his own.

"We really need to go Ha-Henry." She stumbled on his name slightly and he smiled. She bent over as she reached into her beaded bag, withdrawing a pair of black jeans, a dark gray shirt and a black jumper. Harry realised that they must be going into the open today, Hermione had placed a glimmer charm over her face. He was glad that he only saw her for her, not the blue eyed, black haired girl whom she changed into every day.

Hermione turned and sighed heavily a smile on her face as she threw her pillow at his head. Harry dodged it easily and frowned heavily, a large pout on his face, which considering the smirk that was now blossoming on hers, she knew he was faking.

"I hate it when you do that." Harry whispered and Hermione frowned slightly, her head bent to one side in confusion. "You can read me like a book." At this Hermione laughed, a light musical laugh that he hadn't heard in weeks, if not months.

"Well I should be able to, I do read a lot of books."

Hermione looked up from her paperwork. Her desk was neat; everything had its own place. Hermione called it organisation, her colleagues called it obsession. She placed her hands infront of her and sighed, her hands were small and delicate, they were now oddly grey in colour, she knew she looked sickly.

She took a deep, rattling breath and placed her head gently in her trembling hands. Hermione's head snapped up when she heard the familiar gentle tapping on her window. She opened her window and in flew the wizened old owl affectionately known as Pig.

"Hello Pig." She whispered and smiled when the small bird did a circle around her head. Pig dropped the letter on her head and she smiled smally, a seemingly foreign action to her face.

She saw the familiar untidy scrawl and sighed heavily, placing the letter in her draw, amongst the many others that she had been receiving lately. She closed her eyes and let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, she looked to the crestfallen owl and smiled sadly as he took off out of her window.

Hermione sighed and shut the window with a snap, the cool breeze hurting her fragile body. Hermione placed a hand to her chest and took in another deep breath, filling her lungs completely, before releasing it, slowly, methodically.

Her hands shook slightly as she looked at the single word that had been circled in the centre of the only parchment that was crumpled in the centre of her old mahogany desk.

Derek.

It pained Hermione at that moment, to think of him, wondering where he was, what he was doing, why he couldn't be found.

She reached forward and gently stroked the tender, cursive letters. Her eyes travelled to the open envelope on her desk, the familiar green fluidly written script gleaming up at her in the dimly lit room.

"Albus."

AN okay everyone, so sorry for the lack of update I feel bad L but anyway, the update came! Ive had a hectic week so I hope you like it!

Thanks for the reviews they are very helpful. And by the way, don't worry if you get confused in this story, all answers come later.. promise.