Author Notes: My brother came up with the basic idea and tried to make a start of it. He got frustrated and threw it in my lap to clean up. So a collaboration of sorts.

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Harry Potter first saw the brown haired girl when she opened the door on the train. The sun shining through the window hit her in the face, sparkling in her deep chocolate eyes, they glinted as she introduced herself with a confidence and determination that impressed Harry.

All through their first year he felt a strange tingle in his stomach when she was near. The fear he had felt when she was caught in the bathroom by the troll. The way he almost followed her back in the purple fire room when he saw how worried she was. Tears unshed in her eyes.

When he saw her walking away from the station with two adults who showed her their love, he felt a faint stab of jealousy. All he had walking with him was Hedwig and the Dursleys. He might as well have been alone.

So many strange anew emotions were coursing through him, deep into his soul. All because he looked in those eyes.

…...

Looking at her still form lying in the bed, cold sightless eyes staring at the ceiling Harry's heart froze. His fear that they would never sparkle again, never gaze at him with her amused frustration at some antic he and Ron had pulled, felt more powerful than life itself. He would do anything to have them bright and alive again.

….

When she came running into the great hall, laughing and excited his heart soared. When she threw her arms around him he exploded in happiness to feel her warm and alive again. To see the life in those eyes. He hugged her back for the brief moment then she was moving and jumping for joy. His grin split his face like the horizon split the sky from the ground.

….

When she put her arms around him as they took to the sky on the hippogriff's back Harry didn't know which caused his heart to feel like it was going to explode more. Once they landed and watched his godfather fly off he was happy to feel his hand get gripped by Hermione as they rushed through the halls. He didn't want to let go when they got to the hospital wing but had to because Hermione pulled her hand back. Laughing softly in relief at the close call of the night. Brushing her hair back from her flushed face. Looking at her Harry felt he would be able to cast the biggest Patronus in the world right this minute if he tried. Every Dementor and shadow on the planet would explode if the joy in his heart was released. Looking into her eyes he thought he saw the same joy within.

…...

Standing inside the champions tent listening to her voice breaking as she tried to make him feel better. How she said the words without saying them. He wanted to reach through the tent and take her hand. Reassure her that he would be fine as she sounded more scared than him. He wanted to drown himself in her eyes until the ends of time. He wished he could look into those pools one more time before facing this task. Their time cut short by his name being called he did whisper he would come back.

….

She walked down the stairs, a vision of living beauty. He kicked himself for not asking her himself. He knew he was a fool as he watched her dance and whirl in the arms of that Bulgarian oaf. Parvati tried to win his attention but his eyes were for Hermione alone. Her eyes glancing at him was the one thing that gave him hope.

….

She was floating in the lake. Her hair wafting over her sleeping form. Her eyes closed in repose. He flashed back to second year as he hovered over her. Held at bay by the fish people from saving her he worriedly watched for someone to come for her. Just as he was about to fight the merfolk for her Krum came along. He watched her be rescued by the beast with a jealous surge. He swallowed it as he had to be honorable, and she was heading for the surface at least. But he did not ever want to see her cold and lifeless again. She deserved better than that.

….

Sitting in the park trying to understand why she had abandoned him Harry felt the world ending. An icy wind swept across the land which startled him out of his reveries. His deep pain at the way she was ignoring him broken into by the realization that the world was freezing. That monsters, other than Dudley and his friends, stalked the land.

Rising he began to flee, to head for someplace safer. Calling to save Dudley for some reason he didn't understand he got the larger boy to run too. Their primal fear a shared language. Running for their very lives Harry drew his wand, he knew it was going to get him in trouble but being alive in trouble was better than being dead.

The darkness had trapped them, he felt the despair grip his soul. He felt no reason to go on anymore as it called for him to surrender. He closed his eyes and felt her call to him. Felt her eyes imploring him to live for her. He felt the surge of energy flow through him as he sought to rejoin her, to live for her.

The burst of light shredded the foul shades, their essences dissipating Harry felt no shame in living for her.

…..

Reunited with her, with the reason for his life, the reason he fought. He stared into her eyes, her deep brown wet eyes as she cried to see him. Tears streamed down his shoulder as she gripped him tightly, apologizing for not talking to him, not being there to support him. He could say nothing through a mouth tangled with his own pain, his own fear, his own shame at being angry with her.

He pulled back finally and in front of everyone the world vanished as he looked into her eyes. Eyes he had despaired ever seeing again. Eyes with red rims from the tears he felt in his own. Confessing his love for her he felt the weight leave him, the fear dissipate when she smiled and accepted that love. Returned it and amplified it.

Their kiss, the first kiss for both, was brief, sudden and honest. Born from relief, from a desire to never be parted again. Their friends and adults laughed or applauded to remind them they were not alone. Red faces flushed with the power of their emotions they composed themselves. Joining their hands they felt their worlds balance, Emeralds and Amber forever.

….

The fat toad wanted to hurt him but could not. She could not touch his soul for it belong to another. The anchor and shield of his life kept the darkness at bay. Her concern, her pain watching him suffer was the only thing that hurt him. He would willingly continue though if it kept the eyes of evil off of her. His duty was to protect her, give her the world she deserved.

….

She went down. She was hurt. The pain of watching her go down awakened something within him. A wrothful darkness seeking vengeance for her pain. A fire had been unleashed, the war turned as he broke away from Dumbledore's shadow. His love, his world, had been hurt. The one who did it saw the darkness descending upon him. Saw the end of his life approaching as the glowing fire consumed him in retribution for harming her. All those who dared to hurt her were consumed, were left bitter ashes as he knelt beside her. Those brown eyes fluttering in pain as he held her, carried her to the healers.

….

She awoke, he was beside her. She slept he was beside her. As long as she suffered she would not do it alone. He would be there. When she at last awoke, safe and healed he was there, asleep in the chair beside her.

Climbing out of the bed she joined him in his lap, brushing his hair, wiping the soft bit of drool from the corner of his mouth. Seeing the emerald eyes staring at her she smiled and whispered her love for him. Soothed his tears as he confessed his fear she would never recover. Kissed his brow, his nose, and finally his lips.

….

The war was over. He stood tired and grim over the body of his fallen foe. The dark one, the deceiver, the one who threatened all he held dear.

She came to stand with him, hand sweaty palm touching his palm as a way of reminding them they were alive. The relief, the surprise that it was over like this. Their friends that lived joined them staring at the body, patting him on the back, congratulating him.

He had all of the rewards he would ever need holding his hand. Her love for him had never wavered, his trust in her had only grown. She had bruises, he had scars, they had each other and the world would be just good enough for the two of them.

….

They managed to wait until they had been married for their first time. Years of longing, years of frustration finally sliding away. Their bodies touching, being touched. Kisses growing in heated passion. Words no longer necessary, no longer able to express their ardent passion.

Clothes falling aside as useless barriers to their ultimate joining. The ancient dance sheer bliss beyond mortal comprehension. A divine union of their souls as blinding as a supernova.

The act completed, their hearts racing they lay together. Joined in law, in love, in body and in soul, emerald and amber eyes gazing without words. Expressing love without sounds. Forever in a day, an hour in a moment as they loved.

….

Hermione was in the second month of her first pregnancy. She was sore, achy and emotional already. Thanks to the trouble sleeping she was getting stressed over her university classes and trying to re-assimilate to the muggle world.

Coming home she was met at the door by her beloved husband Harry who picked her up and carried her to the bathroom where he had drawn a hot bubble bath for her to soak in. Helping her disrobe he slid her into the tub, Gently rubbed her shoulders and massaged her back.

Letting her relax among the sweet scented bubbles he sat beside the tub and pulled one of her books up to read to her while she closed her eyes. Instead she rolled over to watch the man who loved her as he did his best to comprehend her classwork. She felt more relaxed and happy already.

….

Harry sat on the bed next to Hermione. He was wiping her sweaty brow after she had given birth to their first child. Magic could make the process easier but Hermione still did it the muggle way for the experience she said.

The healer put a small pink bundle on Hermione's breast, a shock of already unruly thick brown fuzz covering its head. His daughter. His precious first child with the most wonderful woman in the world.

"She's so small." he softly whispered.

Hermione smiling replied, "For now. Someday you'll be chasing her around the house."

Harry grinned as he looked at his world, his future.

"Hello Octavia Minerva Potter. Welcome to the world." he said stroking her damp fuzzy head as she squirmed closer to Hermione.

….

So much of their lives had been tempered by pain, racked by fear. For far too few moments they had peace and happiness. They learned to embrace those moments, to make them last as long as possible.

It was not a special occasion, it was not a birthday or an anniversary but Hermione left their toddling bundle with her godmother, the petite blonde understanding the need for passion to be embraced. Wishing Hermione great pleasure she took the child home with her to spend the night playing with her own child.

Harry came home, smiling as he saw a trail of dancing lights leading towards the bedrooms, the bathroom. The scent of honey and roses filled the air. A scent he knew so well from her body, her hair. Following the trail he found her, standing in the soft light, nothing hiding her from his view.

She said no words merely taking his hand with a smile to touch her heart. Their lips joining in slow burning passion. The fire no longer all consuming but a steady glow that infused their souls. Gave their days a bright gentle warmth.

His clothes fell to the side as she led him to the bath, returning the favors he so often gave her. The bubbles tickling their bodies as they kissed and touched. The water sliding across their skins in glistening trails. The warmth of the bath oil relaxing and yet enflaming their bodies.

The awkwardness of youth gone they felt no need to rush, no need to do anything but take their time as they let the water slosh in the tub unheeded, unnoticed, their bodies moving slowly causing gentle waves.

Harry relaxed and let Hermione take charge, take control over their joining. Let her guide him and dominate it didn't matter who led the dance as long as they danced. Their bodies entwined once again, a never ending bliss that was devoutly desired.

The bath lasted most of the evening, the bed reached only when they could no longer feel their bodies as separate entities. Bones and muscles relaxed enough to barely carry them, so they carried each other.

….

Years had gone by, Hermione and Harry laughed as they watched their children playing with their friends. The daughters she had borne for him along with their son running, flying or sitting with their honorary siblings from the elven sprite and her gardener husband. Their closest friends celebrating as their oldest children all prepared to travel the rails to Hogwarts.

Red hair, black hair, fine silken blonde hair, even one with hair the color of the deep sea glinted in the sun, emerald, sapphire and topaz eyes sparkled in happy gleeful faces but none danced so bright as the chocolate pools Harry never tired of looking into.

She felt his gaze and smiled at him. Reminding him that all of the pain, all of the fear that they had felt was worth it. The sound of children running and playing, the sound of happiness itself, danced to the beat of his heart as it danced in time with hers.

….

Together they stood on the platform, two gray haired elders among the sea of young, watching the train roll northwards on its journey. Huffing and puffing scarlet engine gone the way of the dinosaurs, replaced with a humming silver tube, it carried their grandchildren to the one place that still drew their thoughts. Hogwarts would forever be a part of their lives, a part of their souls.

She placed her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulder as she sighed. He could still feel her heart beating with his as she whispered, "Relax old man, their world is safer than ours was."

Turning so he could put his arms around her thin waist, looking deep into the still glistening brown eyes he smiled sadly, emerald eyes haunted by ancient memories. "I know that but old wounds never heal properly."

Kissing him slowly, feeling the same spark today as they had a century ago she said softly, "I know. But I have a medicine that will let the scars fade, the pain be forgotten, for a time at least."

He closed his eyes letting the world fade as he drank in the medicine for his soul she gave him. Breaking apart they walked hand in hand, as always, into the world.

….

He laid in the bed, tired green eyes staring up into her sad brown ones. "I'll be going soon."

She took a deep breath pushing back the pain and fear of being alone after so long with him, "I know. Wait for me please."

He smiled weakly, "Don't rush on my account. I'll wait forever and a day for you."

She smoothed the wisps of gray hair left on his pate, ran her finger over the long faded lightning bolt as she sought the words to say. The glint in his eyes letting her know he heard the words her heart spoke, the words her own chocolate pools shouted to him.

He raised his hand, ancient and paper thin skin touched her cheek, caressing one last time as she took and kissed the palm that had touched her soul so often.

His breath faded in one last gentle sigh of pleasure. One last exultation of happiness as her light passed from this world. The emerald orbs fading as they closed one last time.

….

The angels sung them home as she crossed through the veil. He stood waiting, young and strong once more filled with the joy of reuniting with her.

Her young soul danced with glee as they embraced. The grace of heaven paling beside their love. Turning they joined their friends, their loved ones that had gone before, to begin the next great journey.

On earth their bodies forgotten and shed they lay under a stone that read, "Weep not my friends for in love all pain is conquered, all wounds healed." Emerald and Amber stones set above their names lasting forever and a day.

==xx(Review Responses)

Dennisud: Thank you for the compliments. I'm glad you liked them.

OfficerDonNZ: Never mess with a Scotswoman when she gets her temper up. Even Scotsmen quake in fear. Lol. (My wife is of Scots-Irish decent. So I have direct experience.)

Dagda06117032: Thank you. Eventually there will be even more.

Minerdude: Thank you. Luna is probably going to figure it out but not say anything, at least at first, I'm sure she'll eventually get involved in things. I am one of those authors. :-)

TimeKeeper: I thought it would be funny for Ron's first crush to be Minerva. Especially as I found some pictures of a young Maggie Smith on the web and thought she was a dish back in the day. That is a thought about having her take him in hand, so to speak, and polish the rough edges off. Doing her duty to the girls of Gryffindor. And yeah I was going to get Dumbledore more involved in the classes rather than bring in an outside character or trying to shoehorn someone from canon in.