An : I have made a slight alteration to the last line of the prologue.

Italics: flashbacks.

Non italics: present day.

Life always had a funny way of throwing things to Hermione and no matter how many times it happened, life still managed to surprise her. She knew her mouth was hanging open, in an expression not becoming of her. Words seemed to escape her for a moment until a thought came into her head, platonic love, don't be stupid Hermione, don't read into this so much. Hermione smiled smally.

"I love you too Harry, you're my best friend." She watched as slowly Harry's face fell and then a mask appeared to cover his expression and a simple smile took over his distraught appearance. Harry stood and offered his hand, which she took gratefully.

Harry turned away from her, his head bowed slightly. "We should leave, before the sun comes up any further." He immediately picked up his trainers and dumped them on his bed, rather haphazardly. Hermione frowned and reached into her beaded bag, grasping for her travelling clothes. Hermione knew the moment they exited the tent she would call him by Henry, the name she had given him two years ago, she reached out with her mind and sensed the strength of her wards and sighed in relief.

Hermione blushed when she pulled out a pair of her more interesting sets of lingerie she immediately shoved them back into her bag and brought out her loose track pants and shirt. Harry turned to her a smirk on his face.

"So 'Mione. When did you purchase those… small… well I would say miniature undergarments?" he asked, laughter in his voice. Hermione's cheeks burned scarlet and a scowl appeared on her delicate features. Hermione reached into her bag and withdrew the offending black garments and walked slowly toward him, a smile twitching on the corners of her mouth.

"When I turned seventeen, my mother decided it would be an excellent idea to go shopping… for what I didn't know at the time, these-" she indicated the underwear with a wave of her hand. "-were the product of this adventure." Hermione reached for Harry's hand and placed the thin fabric in it. "You can have them; I have no use for them anyway." Hermione whispered, her voice quavering.

Harry froze, his green eyes searching hers, a line forming in between his eyebrows. "Your future husband… these will-" at the incredulous look on her face he trailed off, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"Harry, do you really think I'm going to meet anyone who can tolerate me… the real Hermione Granger, book worm and all?" she whispered sadly and Harry shook his head in disbelief. He looked up his mouth open to speak when he saw the affronted and hurt look on her face.

She let out an unruly cry of frustration and immediately started removing her clothes in a frenzied rage. Harry watched as she pulled her night gown over her head, her bare back gleaming at him. "Stupid men… never know what to say… well Hermione aren't you intelligent… best friends who are male, what were you thinking!" she trailed off whilst reaching into her beaded bag furiously searching for a bra.

Harry watched curiously as she reached to fasten the brassiere, he stood and clipped it for her, his hands trailing a train of fire down her back. He watched as her body froze, as if just realising he was in the same room as her. "Hermione." He murmured in a deep, velvety voice. "I shook my head in disbelief. You are amazing… any man would be lucky to be in your presence let alone have you as his wife." he waited patiently for her to turn, but she reached for her shirt and pulled it over her head before facing him, a reddened tinge to her cheeks.

"Thankyou… now… how much did you see exactly?" she asked in a matter-of-fact tone and Harry laughed running his fingers through his hair he shrugged his shoulders and Hermione growled and pulled the rest of her ensemble on before walking out of the tent to give him his privacy.

Hermione willed her breathing to calm down. "Stupid stupid stupid!" she exclaimed whilst she tugged her hair into a high pony tail. She placed three lackeys into her hair to keep the tangled mass in place. Harry exited the tent a short time later and Hermione made a small noise of frustration whilst she pointed her wand at the tent and watched as it shrunk and landed into her beaded bag.

She watched bemused as Harry began walking in the wrong direction only to run back a few moments later a panicked look on his face. He frowned at her smiling face as she pointed in the opposite direction to where he had been walking.

"Shuttup Hermione." He murmured as he stomped past, her laughter following him through the dense trees. Hermione looked up as they walked, following each of Harry's steps with some difficulty, his legs being much longer than her own. The high trees above them seemed to be fighting for light, as if it were a competition to feel the sun on the green faces of their foliage.

Harry froze and Hermione walked straight into his back with a small thump. Hermione felt fear rise inside of her in a fast, yet cold motion. He raised his wand, his other hand pushing her into his back, shielding her from whatever it was before him.

The phoenix bowed its flaming head to him and eyed his wand carefully. "Fawkes?" Harry whispered and the large phoenix nodded calmly, its black eyes piercing into him, as if seeing the young woman he so desperately protected. He saw the scroll that was tied around its neck and reached forward only to have the old animal step back cautiously.

Hermione stepped out from behind Harry and knelt before the bird, her face now at its eyelevel the bird moved forward and placed its beak to her chest directly above her heart and a small tear rolled from its eye onto her chest, soaking through to her skin. The bird seemed dejected when the tear did not have the desired effect. Harry moved behind Hermione, wand held tightly in his hand.

Hermione reached for the scroll and untied it, opening it with haste. Their was one sentence.

This letter is for Hermione Jean Granger's eyes only. Hermione looked up at Harry who inclined his head and walked away so that he stood behind Fawkes, surveying the scene carefully. The letter glowed gold for a moment before the familiar hand writing of Albus Dumbledore covered the

Miss Granger,

I feel I must write to you with the upmost secrecy, even withholding information from Mr. Potter. You may tell him what you wish, however I am sure there are some things you will want to keep from him.

It is imperative that you find the remaining horcruxes, if I am correct you have found the locket. You understand my suspicions on the remaining are Nagini, Helga Hufflepuff's cup, Voldemort himself and either a Ravenclaw or Griffindor heirloom. The seventh is what I wish to discuss with you in two months time, with you alone.

When you come to meet me you should search the school for the missing objects, knowing Tom he would have hidden one here.

Hermione. I understand that Mr. Weasley has left you. I am very sorry to hear that, but know that Harry will never leave you. Mr. Weasley has already suffered Molly's wrath and I believe that in the end, he will regret leaving. However, I believe that you as a pair are stronger than what you were as a trio. It is a belief of mine (and usually my hunches are correct) that this war will last much longer than anyone anticipated, it has already claimed many more lives since you left six months ago.

You should know that Hannah Abbot's body was found on the Hogwarts gates a week ago and Romilda Vane went missing three months ago, she was found dead with her family in Hogsmeade a month ago. Dean Thomas is recovering in our hospital wing, many parts of his body had been removed when he was dumped at the gates of Hogwarts four months ago. I fear that three auror's and four order members whom you are not familiar with have also perished because of Voldemort and his followers.

Amelia Bones has joined me here and is awaiting your arrival in December, her niece Susan is under the watchful eye of Poppy for the time being. Amelia wishes me to tell you that under no circumstances are you to leave Mr. Potter alone, we heard about your escape from Diagon Alley. Harry had drawn the death eaters away from muggle London in an attempt to protect you, no matter what, he must survive, he must defeat Voldemort even if that means you sacrificing your own safety for his.

What I ask of you is great and too much to ask of you. But I must ask you to kill for me Hermione.

Fawkes will come in two months time to take both you and Mr. Potter to Hogwarts, please come disguised.

Faithfully,

Albus.

Hermione frowned and looked up at Fawkes whom was nudging Hermione's beaded bag, the enormous bird blinked and Hermione nodded when a ruby encrusted sword appeared before her. Unblinkingly Hermione grasped the golden locket and placed it on the ground her heart never skipping a beat. Harry watched in shock as his best friend stood and shivered as images flashed before her, she looked to Harry and saw his body crumple to the ground, blood oozing from his eyes. She shook as the real Harry walked towards her his hand outstretched.

"Hermione. Listen to me." Harry said clearly as she turned back to the locket that rested on the earth floor. With a cry of anguish she drove the blade through its metallic surface and covered her ears as a piercing scream filled the small clearing, a thick black substance was spewing from the pierced horcrux and Harry felt a sense of pride for the woman before him, sword in one hand, a resilient look on her face. As she looked up and saw him she smiled and threw her arms around his neck, almost strangling him in the process.

"Oh Harry!" she immediately gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, guilt evident in her eyes. He merely smiled reassuringly and indicated the letter that lay on the floor. Hermione looked down and scooped it up, quickly folding it and hiding it in her pocket. "I'll tell you tonight." she whispered and Harry nodded, knowing that they had to move quickly. Fawkes had disappeared and Hermione quickly followed Harry out of the clearing and into a dense expanse of shrubbery. Hermione bit her lip when she felt the many loose branches bite into the soft, tender flesh of her arms.

Harry kept moving, deeper and deeper into the forest his heart pounding as he kept looking back to reassure himself that Hermione was still with him. Each time he looked back he felt a sense of relief wash over him and then fear replaced the pleasant emotion and he looked back again.

For some reason her reaction to his declaration of love hurt him, more than even he would like to admit, she saw their love as platonic and nothing more. And this wounded his heart, a heart that was already broken to begin with. The strength of her platonic love, Harry believed was shown in the very fact that she was with him and if she were to disappear, Harry would have nothing to live for.

Hermione thought about Albus' letter. The man constantly sought out to confuse her. Kill for me? She thought frustrated at the fact that the old man could be so presumptuous to ask such a thing. Now now Hermione, you know that you would kill for him her subconscious told her as she looked at the man before her. Yes I would die for him. Hermione sighed when she thought that, she knew that it was the truth, she would die for Harry, she would murder and terrorize if it meant he would be safe.

She watched as he turned once more to look at her and she frowned.

About six hours into their walk Hermione opened her mouth to speak.

"Henry? What's wrong?" she whispered and he stopped and turned back to face her. Instead of answering her he merely took her hand and apparated.

***

He seemed to be surveying the door critically, his twinkling blue eyes gleaming in the candle light. Albus Dumbledore smiled when she entered, however a great sadness was evident in his eyes and Hermione sighed heavily, biting her bottom lip when her throat cried in protest.

Albus stood and motioned for her to sit; Hermione nodded her thanks and sat heavily on her seat as the door behind her opened. She spun around, much to her body's protest, wand raised in defence. Amelia Bones smiled sadly, her once black hair shining silver with a single black lock in her fringe. Hermione attempted a smile, which seemed more like a grimace. Amelia placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder and took her place beside Dumbledore.

As always, Dumbledore saw fit to survey her critically before speaking and Hermione found that she hated it. She thought of all the times she had been under his gaze, in a similar position as she was to now, and all the bad news he had ever told her. As if sensing her anger Dumbledore sighed and looked away from her darkened eyes.

"I have asked too much of you in your life. And it pains me everyday to think of all the things I have caused… all the pain I have caused for you." Hermione sat motionless listening to every word coming from the old wizard's mouth. "I have forced your soul to split, not only because of making you kill for me, but for… Harry… I never thought about-"

"You never thought of the consequences of giving a man, just some man to the most evil vile disgusting thing that has ever lived. You always thought for the greater good, not for the possibilities of saving him. He could have lived and you gave him no chance." She shot in a creaky voice her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

"I gave him all the chance in the world; it was either your life or his that was his ultimatum."

"You should have let me die! Look at what my life has been reduced to! He would have lived a long and happy life without me… he could have…" Albus closed his eyes.

"You who know him better than all, you should know he would have never accepted letting you die, he wanted life for you!" Albus pleaded and Hermione growled a deep venomous sound.

"You knew I was going to die, you knew of my illness before it became apparent even to me!" she said frowning and Amelia placed a hand on Dumbledore's shoulder.

"Your life was forsaken the moment you met a little boy with black hair and emerald green eyes. And Harry altered destiny to save you, it was prophesized that you would die, not him… " Amelia trailed off and Hermione's eyes widened.

Then the woman once dubbed the brightest of her age whispered.

"And he knew."

AN exams are over so updates should be more frequent

Thanks for the reviews! They are the best part of fanfic.

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