A/N: Hello Everyone! Wow it's been a LOOOONG time since I have updated this story. I'll be honest, I had a severe writers block for many many years and frankly the HP hype died down once the movies were finished. However, I never stopped supporting Harry and Hermione and writing is still something I enjoy and want to get back to. I don't promise to make scheduled updates, I rather update until I am satisfied with my story and not just BS it to make some dead line. I'm sure you all would appreciate that as well. I do plan to finish this fanfiction though it will take me some time but I hope that it will be worth it in the end. I hope the style isn't as jarring as it may be given the many years long gaps. I have aged and I'd like to believe so has my writing. I'm also slowly going through the story and editing things I feel were lacking so feel free to re-read this from the beginning so it doesn't get confusing. On to the story

"Oh, she knows what I think about

And what I think about

One love, two mouths

One love, one house

No shirt, no blouse

Just us, you find out

Nothing that I wouldn't wanna tell you about, no

'Cause it's too cold

For you here

And now, so let me hold

Both your hands in the holes of my sweater"

- "Sweater Weather" -The Neighbourhood

It took a few minutes for the pair to part and come down from their thrilling high. In those moments the world had momentarily melted away, they were two regular teenagers who had been keeping their feelings and hormones at bay for far too long. At the end of the day, they were two kids who were forced to grow up in a matter of months. For once they had been able to experience the same electrifying sensation people their age are supposed to.

The snow started falling heavily on top of them forcing them to acknowledge the bitter cold that consumed them the moment they parted their lips from one another. They were next to each other, on the cold snow, breathing heavily with the excitement of what had just happened. They looked at each other with matching mischievous grins.

Hermione got up first, trying carefully not to fall right back down onto him.

"Here," she said as she helped him up. "Carefully…"

Harry gingerly got up, grasping her hand tightly in his as his balance nearly failed him again.

"Well, you were right." He said dusting off the ice shavings from his trousers, careful not to make any sudden movements that would knock him back down. "That was fun."

Hermione smiled brightly as she tugged a stray strand of hair behind her ears.

"I do know how to have fun too, you know." she shrugged off laughingly. " I'm not always buried in a book."

"I never said that!" Harry said defensively.

Hermione felt weird changing the topic so suddenly. However, there was a question that was burning her tongue and she needed to get to the bottom of it.

"So….this really happened?" Hermione asked uncertainly. "I didn't just have a random hallucination?"

"No," Harry reassured her, taking her hands in his once again. "I'm sorry I ever confused you the last time. I still stand by what I told you, I'm terrified of feeling this way because I know you'll be in more danger... That's the way my world works."

"Let's get to solid ground first." She suggested, grabbing him gingerly by both hands.

Gracefully, Hermione skated back to the lip of the pond, with her back facing the direction in which they were headed. she made sure to keep a slow and steady pace to avoid any precarious wobbling that might have caused Harry to fall again. Even with the distraction of getting him back to the snow, the heaviness of his last sentence wasn't something she was willing to let overshadow them again.

"Harry…this shouldn't feel like a bad thing." she reasoned as a relieved Harry sat down on the snow next to her.

"I know that the timing isn't ideal…but you can't just feel misery all the time. I'm sure your parents still lived their life despite what was going on around them... refusing to feel any happiness just lets HIM win."

"I know," he agreed. "I'm scared of what may happen, but I also feel like I just got some weight off my shoulders now... I've been conflicted for months about one thing or another. I also don't want to ruin what we have. You mean more to me than you'll ever know."

Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes. She felt vindicated, all those months she had wrestled with the thoughts if Harry would ever see her more than as a friend. if the moments they had shared so far had not just been because of hormones and loneliness. It was validation that she wasn't just imagining an entire situation. It was real. Very real. He felt the same way and it felt glorious.

"You mean the world to me too," she said shakily. "I love you so much, you have no idea."

She leaned over to hug him tightly. Enveloping him in another one of her famous bone-crushing hugs she had grown accustomed to giving him. she felt him genuinely hug her back in a tight vice-like grip that made her heart soar. it felt nice to be hugged this way. It was different.

"There's just one thing…." Harry said thoughtfully, stiffening as he remembered something they had briefly forgotten in their bliss. "What will Ron think? How will he handle…this?"

Hermione pulled away, her smile dropping as she did so. She avoided his gaze, clearly troubled by the ghost of their best friend who had finally gone missing from both of their minds if only briefly.

She would have been lying if she had said that she had considered Ron whenever she imagined this moment. In the end, as worried and abandoned as she felt, she also felt overwhelmingly betrayed by Ron. His feelings were not exactly something she had been considering, especially when Ron hadn't bothered to care about hurting hers. Horcrux or not.

"I haven't thought about it really." She said pensively. "Not that his feelings should be spared after what he did and said."

"I know." Harry agreed. "Still eventually he'll come back and he will notice. you two were briefly together. We can't forget that. I already broke the code by dating his sister...now you..."

"So what?" Hermione asked defensively. " It honestly stopped being a concern of his whatever I decide to do with my life the moment we broke it off and then again when he decided to be a complete arse and just leave us because he was being insecure."

"Hermione…I know you hate when people say this but you're a girl, you are not seeing this from his perspective." Harry related. " Ron….I love him I do. He'll always be the brother I never had. but when it comes to you, he always had a hard time dealing with his feelings. I know we never did anything intentionally to hurt him, but let's not forget the reason why he left."

"How many people pointed it out to us before we finally addressed this tension?"

"Who cares?" she spat back dismissively. "nothing is going to change…we're in the middle of a war, we still have Horcruxes to find. were not at Hogwarts! And besides, It'll be a long time before I even forgive him. He really has no foot to stand if he ever comes back."

"Look, We both know Ron. I'm not saying I'm going to hide how I feel anymore," he reassured her. "Still, we have to take into account how he felt... like we were going behind his back. I'm mad at him too, Hermione, he said some really horrible things…but he's still my best friend and I want him to be a part of our lives again."

"I just hope he can accept this.".

The snow was falling even heavier now, the chilly air went through them like knives, piercing through their many layers of clothing. The wind was howling fiercely around them, filling the empty space between them as they pondered how exactly they were ever to navigate these new uncharted waters. It was not a secret that Ron had mostly left because he felt left out. Would he feel vindicated knowing despite what either of them had ever told him individually when confronted about the nature of their friendship, that he had ultimately been right? despite everything that was said that night, and despite the deep resentment they both had towards him, he had been their friend throughout it all and neither of them wanted to lose him.

"Let's go inside." Harry suggested.

Hermione nodded her head. She was thankfully more clear-headed than he was, as usual. For he had completely forgotten he was still in his ice blades and would have met the ground face-first had it not been for her quick reflexes. With a flick of her wand she removed his ice blades he was back on stable footing.

"What about yours?" Harry asked.

"I don't feel like I got to show you my skills". She teased.

She was feeling unusually bold. Here she finally had a skill that was athletic. And she wanted to show it off.

Harry watched as Hermione skated gracefully away and back across the pond. Spinning in dizzying circles and doing daring jumps. It was impressive to see. Especially when he had seen her struggle flying on a broom. He could tell she was thoroughly enjoying herself. She was a natural on the ice. He watched enthusiastically as she picked up speed, so fast that she did not see the chip of loose ice he had tripped over earlier.

"Watch out!". Harry yelled

It was too late. Hermione tripped and fell hard on her stomach on the ice. Her smile turned into a grimace at the force of impact knocking the wind out of her. Riddle's locket that she had taken back against his better judgment slipped out in front of her, the stone glimmering in the moonlight.

"Are you okay?" Harry yelled out. He barely had a chance to make his way near her carefully when he heard the unmistakable noise of the ice cracking underneath her.

"Hermione!". Harry screamed.

In a split second, the ice cracked all around her and her lower body started to slip into the icy water.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped as the frozen water stole her breath instantly. It was violently cold. She grabbed onto the nearest piece of ice desperately, trying to grip onto it for dear life and pull herself with the strength that was escaping her. The piece she grabbed onto would be lapped by the overflowing water and break away, dipping her further in.

Harry perilously made his way towards her, careful not to crack the ice beneath him before he too was in the same dangerous situation Hermione currently found herself in. carefully, but steadily he made his way to her and dragged her out of the water. she shivered violently as her soaked lower body made contact with the freezing air.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked breathlessly.

Hermione only had the energy to shake her head in response. The shock of the frigid water had left her unable to even think, let alone answer. It had all happened so fast.

In A blurred motion, Harry scooped her up in his arms and made his way as quickly as he could back to the snow and to the tent. He had not remembered the tent feeling so far away, but now that he was semi-soaked himself, the tent could have been all the way in Siberia for all he knew.

Once he got onto solid snow-covered land, he rushed into the tent and into Hemione's makeshift room.

"You've got to get out of these clothes!" he said urgently.

He proceeded to remove her sweater and soaked trousers. He went through all her wet layers until she was left in only her damp underwear. He muttered a quick-drying spell on them so she would be more comfortable. He cursed that he hadn't thought of it before dressing her down. He was so concerned about her potential hypothermia to even really consider the sight before him. He grabbed her blanket and wrapped her up until she resembled a cocoon. He carried her wrapped, still shivering form, back to the bed where she was still shivering violently.

It was then he cursed himself for not knowing how to produce the portable jars of fire she was so good at making.

"I'll be right back, I'll bring you some tea…please don't go to sleep," Harry stammered.

"D-d-don't g-g-go!" Hemione pleaded through shivering teeth.

Even through her frantic state, he could see the pleading in her eyes. He had never seen her look as helpless as she did at that moment. Harry felt his own panic melt away at the tone in her voice.

"I won't," Harry promised.

He got into her small cot, her tremors shaking her cot slightly.

He pulled the opening of the banket from her hands gently, opening to slip in underneath with her. Her body was a lot warmer than it had been moments ago in her wet clothes, but she was still shivering. It was then that it occurred to him that if he couldn't get the tea, at the very least he could provide her with his own body's warmth. with one hand enclosing the covers over them, he used the other to remove his thick, damp, jumper until he was down to his bare chest and trousers. He wrapped her with his arms, pressing her firmly into his chest. his hands rubbing up and down her forearms.

It took a few minutes but eventually, Hermione's shivers toned down to a near-normal level. it wasn't until she was out of immediate danger that he felt a mixture of emotions. he was relieved naturally that his quick thinking and reflexes had gotten her out as fast as he had, however, it wasn't until the whole event replayed in his head that he remembered one thing: the locket.

He looked down at it and he felt the same sense of dread he always did whenever it was near. He remembered how they had fallen before, probably not the same force, but they still hadn't managed to break the ice. Sure Hermione had fallen hard, but certainly not enough to break through rather thick ice. It was the locket, had to be.

Harry brought his hands up to her delicate neck and unclasped it. Once it was off, he threw it out and over to the dining area. He would deal with it eventually. For now, he was comforted that Hermione was faring much better. The color was coming back to her lips and she had stopped shivering almost instantly as soon as he removed the locket.

As she was coming back from hypothermic fog, he became increasingly aware of the pressure of her breasts against his chest. This was the first time in his life he had ever seen her so intimately. He felt his cheeks burn as she hugged his bare chest tighter.

"How do you feel?" he whispered.

"Loads better." she responded. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think something like this could happen…"

"I think it was the locket," Harry replied. "The fall never should've caused the ice to crack, I saw it slip out under you immediately afterward. The locket always tends to let bad things happen."

Hermione looked up from her place on his chest.

"Do you think it had anything to do with what we did before?" she asked fearfully.

"No!" Harry answered reassuringly. "Hermione, I meant what I said before. All of it."

He placed both his hands on either side of her face before pulling her into a soft kiss. this time it was softer, delicate even. He felt her kiss him back harder, more passionately and it was making him increasingly aware of just how barely dressed they both were.

She smiled sheepishly as she finally pulled away, seemingly on the same wavelength as him. She sat up straighter on the cot, covering her chest with her blanket as she did so, creating a new border with it between him and her.

"I'm going to change into something warmer." She blushed. " I should be out of any immediate danger now."

"Sure." Harry breathed.

Hermione gave him a quizzical look as he missed his cue to exit.

"Do you mind?" she asked blushingly.

"Oh right!" Harry chuckled in embarrassment. "I'll go make that tea and maybe you can finally teach me how you do your jar fires? I promise to pay attention this time."

Hermione shook her head as he watched Harry struggle out of the cot and back into the punishing cold air that still crept through the flaps of the tent. He took his jumper with him, he would use a quick-drying spell on them just as he had on Hermione's undergarments. He was then mortified again remembering what a slip-up of clear thinking that had been. That's what he always needed her for.

As he made his way to the dining table blindly while putting his jumper back on, he nearly tripped on the locket he had thrown over a few minutes ago. He knelt down and put it back around his neck. if there was anyone it would harm, he was sure not to let it be Hermione.

With Hermione's wand in hand, he went into their kitchenette and pulled out two mugs for some green tea. Hermione's seemingly endless supply of tea bags was starting to run low, as was much of their other vital supplies. They would need to make an attempt to reload soon, though he had no idea just how they would do so.

Hermione came back out of the lavatory side of the tent, braiding her hair as she joined him at the dinner table.

She was wearing her usual wool pajamas, Beedle the Bard in one hand as she held the end of her braid with the other.

"What do you got there?" She asked curiously.

" Green tea." he answered, handing her a steaming cup.

"Thank you." Hermione said, holding the cup gingerly in both hands. "I'm doing much better."

Harry raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"I can see you worrying," she explained. " I can always tell. I can read you like a book".

"That obvious, am I? " Harry laughed. "It's scary the way you can always tell."

Hermione chuckled. Even with the light banter, there was a certain uneasiness in the air.

"Are you thinking this will be a bit weird for a little bit?" she inquired.

"Well yeah...I mean...I wanted this to happen for some time now." Harry explained. "But things don't have the habit of going my way."

"For some time now?" Hermione repeated mockingly."

"Oh shut it." Harry mused.

They sipped their tea in relative silence, listening to the window howl relentlessly outside. It was much later in the evening now and they were both feeling their energy slowly draining.

"Go get some sleep". Harry urged her as he watched her yawn. "We'll have to try to find some supplies tomorrow. I'll keep watch."

Harry put his hand up. Hermione was about to argue about him keeping watch. He was just as good at reading her.

"Go, I've got it.".

In defeat Hermione, slumped out of the chair and walked up to him. She ruffled his unruly, jet-black hair from the top.

"Good night." She whispered, giving him one last peck in the lips before she turned on her heel.

He watched as she walked away, his stomach tumbling over in nerves. He didn't know why her kissing him was still surprising at this point. especially not when they had done so quite a few times since Ron had left.

He knew Hermione had about as much experience as he had in dating. Still, it was clear to him that something had happened between her and Victor Krum. however, how far they had gone was unbeknownst to anyone. Hermione was not like the typical girls he had dealt with. Ginny had always been so obvious in her infatuation with him way back when. When he finally reciprocated she was confident and daring. Hermione, even with Ron always had an air of uncertainty and nervousness that he found adorable. She had always been very obvious with her feelings over Ron. It struck him as odd as to why she hid her feelings for him so well...or maybe why he was ever so blind not to notice it.

Now however she seemed like a schoolgirl with no idea what to expect. In a way, Harry guessed he felt the same way. His crush on Cho had been purely physical. She was an athlete with a well-sculpted body and a pretty face, he was fifteen years old with burning hormones. She was his first kiss. At that age, that's all that mattered. Her physique, he grew tired of her quickly when he got to know her personality and her jealousy of Hermione. With Ginny, he supposed it was more or less the same thing. An overwhelming infatuation that seemingly came out of nowhere. Ginny was, just like Cho, a beautiful girl. Who at the time was unavailable and perhaps that's what drove the pursuit. He needed a distraction from an otherwise horrendous school year filled with danger and obsession over Draco Malfoy's secret past times. Sure she was more interested in conversation than with Cho, but there was always something missing.

Then there was Hermione. A girl who had been at his side from the very beginning. The one that had saved his ass numerous times and was probably the reason he was alive even today. She worried over him constantly. Scolded him and set him right in a way no one ever could. She had her own understated beauty. She had long since grown from that obnoxious bushy-haired girl he had saved from a troll years ago. Her face really changed once she changed her teeth back in fourth year. It was really then he became aware of her as an actual woman. However, he could never act upon anything because Hermione was so special to him. Also, Ron would never admit it but he knew he fancied her. How could he not? She was smart, funny without trying, she was fearless, she was caring, and she was beautiful. Didn't help that she hid a petite but shapely figure underneath her thick jumpers. He had seen it in the summer when they would all go out for a swim.

Harry felt his cheeks burn up at the thought of her body. Not that long ago she had been pressed up against him, in nothing but her underwear. His feelings for Hermione had changed many months ago. One thing was to realize he cared for her in a more intense way than just a friend, another was now to be consumed by lustful thoughts like some randy schoolboy. This was someone he couldn't function without, and he was damned if he would ruin it all by jumping the gun so prematurely.

He went back into his portion of the tent that had become his makeshift room. If he was going to stand guard outside, he was going to need a thick blanket. The wind was attacking the tent fiercely. Consumed with all his risque thoughts, he figured that being outside would be the best thing to cool him off.