Chapter 7

Harry's face was still aching from the healing process. Hermione had just healed a particularly nasty gash across his cheek after a run in with a Chimæra. She was not too pleased about the encounter and made it known by being rather rough with the healing. It wasn't until Harry made a joke about the Chimæra's back end looking like a familiar red headed boy's face that she loosened up.

"Really though, Harry. You guys need to be more careful out there. You are no longer a single man with nothing to lose," Hermione had just finished patching up his cheek and she turned away from him. Harry surveyed her back closely as she began to take off her gloves and clean up. It had been over a year since she had graduated Healer school and broken up with Ron but he knew that she still struggled with her feelings from time to time. He realized that she was referring to Ginny and his face darkened slightly. Why would she mention Ginny? His girlfriend was not supportive of his job and she certainly wasn't supportive of his friendship with Hermione. He didn't realize that Hermione had turned away to hide the pain on her own face.

"Ginny… she's waiting for you," Hermione said when she finally turned around. "And my shift is over." She looked at Harry and found him staring at the wall to his right. She reached out and gently touched his cheek, surprising both of them. Harry turned his head slowly and faced her, then stood up and took a step forward. He looked directly into Hermione's eyes and couldn't help but remember his promise to never tell her his feelings for her again.

It was difficult, knowing that his person, the one who had always been there for him, the one who he loved, would never love him back.

Hermione watched Harry stand up and take a step towards her. He had only looked at her like this once before and she knew that he wanted to take her in his arms. Every fiber of her being wanted to take the final step into his arms, but she still hesitated. This was Harry, her first friend and, quite frankly, her only friend. His green eyes bored into her, needing so much but asking so little. Hermione shivered as she took a step back and looked down, unable to bear the electricity between them.

"Well, just… uh, let me know how the cheek heals." She couldn't meet his gaze but felt his disappointment and sadness. Harry turned around and walked out the door without a goodbye. Hermione felt the tears flow hot and fast as the door shut. She started to walk towards the door but stopped with her hand on the knob. She knew that Harry was going home to Ginny and she couldn't stop it, she didn't even know if she wanted to stop it. She leaned back against the door. Unbeknownst to her, Harry was leaning back against the other side of the door, struggling to hold back his own tears.

Harry woke up to the sound of a tea kettle screeching in the next room. He was lying on his back on a couch, on Hermione's couch, and his leg was killing him. The last thing he remembered was needing to tell Hermione about Ron and then she said she was fine and she had feelings for someone else... With a snap, Harry sat up, smacked his head on a brick like object, and rolled off the couch, onto the floor.

Cursing, he struggled to his feet and found himself face to face with a bemused looking Hermione.

"All right then, Harry?" she asked with a small grin. He muttered and looked at the object that had bruised his forehead. A clipboard was suspended above the couch currently writing something that looked like, "2 foot fall, bruise on head, no other injuries, 8:07 AM."

"Hermione," Harry asked with a sigh, "what is that?" he pointed at the suspended clipboard.

"It's my own little invention," she said. Her pride started to creep into her face as she walked around Harry and set a tray of tea on the small coffee table in front of him. "It keeps track of a patient's actions and vital signs so I don't have to be there every second." She looked at him as she straightened up. "You were my guinea pig so… thanks!"

Harry looked exasperated and carefully sat back on the couch. Hermione followed him and handed him a small cup of black tea. As he took the tea cup from her hands, their fingers brushed and Harry looked up at Hermione.

Hermione realized her vital mistake as she took her own cup of tea. Harry was frozen in place, tea forgotten, so she lifted the cup to her own lips. She wasn't sure how much Harry had remembered but guessing by the look on his face, it was enough. Hermione figured it was her job to start talking first but her nerves were on edge and the tea was not helping. She set down her cup and stood up.

"Look Harry," she started pacing in front of the coffee table in front of him as he just looked at her, mouth slightly agape at her unusual behavior. "Books and cleverness, there are more important things. And I knew, on some unconscious level, about… you are more important to me than anyone else in the whole world. I cannot deny… What I mean to say is…. Oh for goodness sakes!" Hermione whipped out her wand. "Expecto Patronum!"

Harry watched as a majestic, four legged creature emerged from the tip of Hermione's wand. As Hermione started to cry behind her Patronus, Harry stood up and reached a hand out to the doe that was before him. The doe bent her head, as if to bow, and disappeared. Harry realized his eyes were wet as he looked up at Hermione.

"Your Patronus," he choked on the words that were slow to the surface, "and my Patronus, they're …"

"Soul mates," Hermione finished for him, smiling through the tears. "Like your parents, I suppose. Always meant to be together." Harry looked down at his feet and for a few seconds, Hermione was afraid that he was going to tell her that she was wrong. They weren't meant to be together, they were better off as friends, he no longer felt that way about her…

Then Harry strode towards her and wrapped her in his arms. He swung her around but his damaged thigh couldn't support them and they fell to the ground in a pile of arms and legs. Hermione laughed as they disentangled themselves.

"Harry," she breathed softly as they laid on the floor, side by side. Harry brushed Hermione's brown hair back from her face and cupped her cheek. She leaned slightly into his hand and when he pulled her forward, she kissed him. Hermione kissed him with fifteen years of memories and friendship and love behind the kiss. She kissed him for every time she had healed his damaged body. And Harry kissed her for every time he had healed her damaged soul. Together, they built each other up, pushed each other forward and healed each other. Hermione would have stayed there forever.

Harry began to intensify the kiss; he needed Hermione more than he needed air to breathe. She was everything to him, she always had been and he had to tell her how he felt before she spooked and turned away from him again.

"I love you," he said quietly as he broke away from their kiss. He swallowed hard as he searched her face. Hermione broke into a grin that took up most of her face.

"I love you too, Harry," she said. "I'm sorry it took me this long to realize it." She had the decency to look abashed but Harry didn't notice as he pulled her to him. He kissed her passionately as he tried to shift the weight off of his bad leg. Hermione noticed and sat up. She took Harry by the hand and helped him to his feet. His eyebrows furrowed together as she led him to her bedroom.

"I don't want to imply-" Harry started to say, but she put a finger to his lips. Hermione led him over to the bed and pulled off his shirt.

"I want to give you my body, Harry Potter," she said as she pulled off her own shirt. "Will you let me?" Harry surveyed her semi naked body before pulling a giggling Hermione onto the bed with him.

Hermione awoke some time later. She didn't know the time and she didn't care. She turned to her right and saw Harry Potter, naked and snoring softly. She watched his chest rise and blushed slightly when she remembered what had happened between them. She wasn't scared, just excited for the possibilities. Her parents would be thrilled, they had always loved Harry.

Oh no, she thought. What about Ginny? What about Ron? The whole Weasley clan would be very unhappy with this arrangement when they found out. Hermione figured that she could let down Ron easily enough, they had been broken up for years anyway. He would be sad but their lives had gone so long without intertwining that it shouldn't affect him that much.

Ginny was another story. She had been trying to start a family with Harry for years, almost since they began dating eight years ago. Hermione started to feel uncomfortable in bed with Harry since she was technically still with Ginny. She eased herself out of bed and pulled a bathrobe around herself. Let Harry sleep awhile longer, she thought.

Hermione was just sitting down on the couch with a fresh cup of tea when she heard two soft pops from outside. Quite aware of her naked body underneath the bathrobe, Hermione had no time to change before she heard a knock on her front door. Wearily, she walked to the door and opened it to the two Weasley siblings she never wanted to see again.

"Hello," Ron and Ginny said together. Ginny held a container of soup and Ron had a dozen fresh roses. Hermione thought about shutting the door in their faces but gathered her wits and transformed into a gracious host.

"Come in you two!" she said, more enthusiastic than she meant to be. Harry, please don't leave my bedroom, she thought anxiously. This was NOT the way for Ron and Ginny to find out about her and Harry. "What are you guys doing here?"

Ginny suspiciously eyed the bathrobe while Ron looked at it overzealously. She pulled it tighter around her body as Ginny held out the container of soup and Ron handed her the flowers. Hermione set both the flowers and the soup down on the table.

"Well, I went to the hospital to see Harry but the nurse had said that he was coming here." She looked around the tiny cottage. "Because you were sick. I saw Ron by your office so we both came over to see how you were doing." Ginny's gaze stopped on the closed bedroom door. Thank Merlin that Hermione had thought to close the door so that Harry could sleep. She quickly remembered that she was supposed to be sick and gave a pretty convincing cough.

"Oh thanks guys, that's really sweet," she said and she rubbed her eyes. "But I was just about to take a bath and go to bed." Ginny looked suspicious.

"Well, where's Harry?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Oh, well he was here," Hermione said, with a yawn. "But he left some time ago." Ginny looked unconvinced and Ron laughed.

"Probably didn't want to get sick!" he said. "I hope I don't get too sick after last night, huh Hermione?" He gave her a wink and laughed again. Ginny looked slightly appeased at this exchange.

"We will go and give you some time to rest up. He probably just went to the Leaping Lizard again," she added, with disgust. "I cannot seem to get him to come home sometimes." Hermione immediately felt guilty for what had happened with Harry. She knew she loved him and that they belonged together. But it was still wrong to sleep with him when he was still dating Ginny. The guilt must have shown on her face because Ginny looked at her doubtfully.

"Are you sure you don't know where he went?" Hermione knew that Ginny always accused Harry of cheating on her with Hermione. Ginny had never really trusted Hermione but before today, she never had a reason to doubt.

"No idea," she Hermione. Harry was twenty feet behind her, laying naked on her bed but Ginny didn't have to know that. "Thanks for the soup and flowers, you guys." She began to walk them towards the door. Ron moved forward to hug her but Hermione took a step back. She could see the hurt in his eyes but she didn't have the patience to deal with his feelings right now. "I will talk to you soon, Ron," she said and she shut the door behind him. She heard the pops of the Weasleys disapparating.

"Muffliato," she muttered, casting the charm over the whole house so no one could hear what was going on inside. She wasn't going to take any chances and used the old charm like she had back when they were hunting Hocruxes. Hermione turned when she heard footsteps behind her. Harry was walking towards her in a pair of old sweatpants, looking dejected. Hermione thought that he was having second doubts.

"Harry, if you don't want to be with me anymore-," was all she said before Harry reached her and wrapped her in his arms.

"I am never leaving you, Hermione," he said. "I am just not looking forward to what I have to do." He stepped back and ran his hands through his black hair, making it stand on end. She placed a soft hand on his forearm.

"I understand," she said, trying to empathize with his situation. "I have to talk to Ron as well." Harry sighed deeply and walked toward the bathroom. Hermione watched him walk away and her stomach ached slightly.

Maybe I am actually sick, Hermione thought as she grabbed her stomach and sat down. Taking her teacup in her left hand, she kept her right hand on her painful stomach and thought about the best way to go about the next few days.