A/N - rosieposie and elementONE - Here you go! I had actually written this chapter before I posted Chapter 16 on this site. And your question is answered! :)

Also, I will be taking a few days hiatus. So no daily updates for a few days until I finish my assignment.

Chapter 17 - Less than Always and Sunset (Prompts)

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When Harry finally stirred awake, it was only to blink haphazardly before he moved his free arm along in search of his glasses; which was no easy task considering he didn't want to wake the person beside him who was sleeping on his other arm that was feeling quite numb at the moment. Finally placing his spectacles on the bridge of his nose, he looked down. Hermione was comfortably snuggled against him; one arm against her chest and the other around his waist. He was pretty sure that they'd never slept so close before.

They had actually enjoyed themselves a few hours before; exchanging stories and remembering moments that were definitely laugh worthy. They did, however, stay away from topics ranging from the war, the Weasleys and anything else that could dampen the fragile moment of happiness they had been sharing; focusing instead on miss-spelled charms, brilliantly executed hexes and famous instances that Hermione had read but Harry couldn't help but groan out their uselessness.

It took a while, but they finally ended up falling asleep close to each other. Too close, Harry thought later as he blinked himself awake. He had never intended to fall asleep holding onto her, but he found himself unable to regret it just the same. And it became even more of an awkward situation when she slowly awoke and Harry had to quickly avert his gaze for fear that she might think he had been staring at her. Which he hadn't been. Obviously.

Although, he had to admit that she really shouldn't have looked at him the way she did, the moment she opened her eyes and saw him.

Harry stayed stock still, his breathing slowing to such an unimaginable pace that it was almost as if he was afraid to let out a breath for fear of startling her. He didn't know what he wanted, or what he expected. But he did know that he was afraid of what the change would bring.

Maybe he had been looking at her intensely; but within the next few seconds, Hermione dropped her gaze from his. He finally let out the breath he had no idea he was holding, expecting her to get up and start the day. Instead, he felt her hand lightly touch his shoulder. "Does it hurt?" She briefly looked up at him before dropping her gaze again, her fingers starting a slow, imaginary trail across his t-shirt covered injuries.

The truth was that his muscles ached. Sleeping rejuvenated his mind, but made him privy to every cut and bruise that had been dormant for several hours; loss of movement was definitely not injury friendly. But instead of saying all these things, he simply shook his head, not feeling up to speaking just yet.

Hermione's fingers travelled lightly from the scar on his chest, up the column of his neck, to the light stubble at the bottom of his chin that he hadn't felt the need to shave the night before. She watched the path of her fingers curiously as she gently touched him in ways that caused his skin to prickle. And he watched her with baited breath, unsure of what to expect.

Her lips quirked slightly upward as she ran the back of her fingers gently down his cheek. "You need to shave, Harry."

When she looked up, her eyes meeting his, her smile fell instantly, her fingers stopping mid-caress. He knew he wasn't smiling. He couldn't. He was too busy just looking at her, his mind circling in panic with only one awe consuming thought: she was so close. Just so close. He could easily bend over and-

"Harry," she whispered softly, her voice strangled.

His gaze snapped up to meet hers; which meant that unfortunately for him, his eyes were in fact focusing solely on her lips and she knew it. She could probably see the panic in his eyes, just as he could surely see the fear in hers.

Almost as if he had burned her, she pulled her hands away from him and sat up quickly, her fingers shakily pushing her loose curls behind her ear. Harry sat up slowly, unsure of what to do or say to right this awkward situation.

"We better go down and prepare breakfast," Hermione mumbled breathlessly, her gaze focusing on everything in the room except for him as she shifted uncomfortably. "We also have to try to convince Ron to forget about the Resurrection Stone, take you to St. Mungo's and visit Kingsley about Grimmauld Place." She took a deep breath at the end of her rant and let out a small sigh. "Merlin, there's so much to do."

She stood up then, hardly looking at him before she said quickly, "Thank you for last night, Harry." And before he could say anything more, she was gone.

Harry stared at the opened door for a few seconds before he fell back with a disappointed groan, wincing immediately when his sore muscles hurt from the gentle impact. Why did everything have to be so complicated? He was never the type of bloke to have the weird imagery of a happy ending complete with skipping off into the sunset; his life had been too cynical for that. But just once, it would be nice to have something simple in his life. Something that shouldn't be so difficult to wrap his head around, and not have such dire consequences which could cause him to lose the only family he had.

He really had to get a grip on himself before he lost his best friends.

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