"You know, Harry, I'm starting to think that Ron was right about one thing." Neither of them had mentioned Ron since he left and his name sounded foreign. Harry was stung by her words. 'This is it,' he thought. 'She's leaving. She's going to find Ron. She's going home.' "Hermione, I understand. You shouldn't have come with me in the first place. I've been against it from the start." "What are you talking about, Harry?" Hermione's eyes were searching Harry's. For the first time it seemed that Hermione could not read Harry's mind. "You're going home, aren't you? It's okay, Hermione. I think it's best if you do anyway." Harry was now on his feet. "I've caused you enough pain." "Harry, you've got it all wrong." Hermione was now standing as well. "Ron was right. I did choose you." Hermione's next words were barely even a whisper. "Though I think I chose you a long time ago." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. He thought that Hermione had been in love with Ron. She had been crying since he left but now Harry understood why. She was only crying because of the loss of a friend; another betrayal in this world of insanity where trust in others is scarce. Harry and Hermione continued to move closer and closer until finally Harry felt Hermione's lips on his own. He lost all cognitive thought. Nothing else in the world mattered except Hermione. Nothing had ever mattered except Hermione. The kiss deepened and became more urgent-- desperate. After all these years the burning question of "what if" now became "what is." Hermione broke away first and rested her forehead on Harry's and with her arms around Harry's neck as Harry wrapped his around her waist. "I've been worrying that you were going to go find Ron and go home. I've been thankful for everyday I wake up and find that you haven't given up yet." "Don't you understand, Harry? I'm exactly where I want to be; where I need to be. I'm with you." Harry said the only thing he was ever sure of and the only thing that ever made sense. "I love you, Hermione." Hermione smiled before she kissed him one last time. Reluctantly they broke away again and Hermione retreated back into the tent. Harry heard her crying as he, too, came to the realization that "what if" and "what is" is now only "what never can be." Hermione had said Ron's name and he would now be able to find them. Ron would be filled with a false truth that Hermione had believed that "Ron was right" and that it was Ron who she preferred. In a few hours Harry would see the silver doe and so would Ron. Everything would change and Harry would have to accept that. Harry stood outside the tent for a moment before promising: "I always will."
Re: Misunderstandings
Neither of them had mentioned Ron since he left and his name sounded foreign. Harry was stung by her words. 'This is it,' he thought. 'She's leaving. She's going to find Ron. She's going home.'
"Hermione, I understand. You shouldn't have come with me in the first place. I've been against it from the start."
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Hermione's eyes were searching Harry's. For the first time it seemed that Hermione could not read Harry's mind.
"You're going home, aren't you? It's okay, Hermione. I think it's best if you do anyway." Harry was now on his feet. "I've caused you enough pain."
"Harry, you've got it all wrong." Hermione was now standing as well. "Ron was right. I did choose you." Hermione's next words were barely even a whisper. "Though I think I chose you a long time ago."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. He thought that Hermione had been in love with Ron. She had been crying since he left but now Harry understood why. She was only crying because of the loss of a friend; another betrayal in this world of insanity where trust in others is scarce. Harry and Hermione continued to move closer and closer until finally Harry felt Hermione's lips on his own. He lost all cognitive thought. Nothing else in the world mattered except Hermione. Nothing had ever mattered except Hermione. The kiss deepened and became more urgent-- desperate. After all these years the burning question of "what if" now became "what is."
Hermione broke away first and rested her forehead on Harry's and with her arms around Harry's neck as Harry wrapped his around her waist.
"I've been worrying that you were going to go find Ron and go home. I've been thankful for everyday I wake up and find that you haven't given up yet."
"Don't you understand, Harry? I'm exactly where I want to be; where I need to be. I'm with you."
Harry said the only thing he was ever sure of and the only thing that ever made sense.
"I love you, Hermione."
Hermione smiled before she kissed him one last time. Reluctantly they broke away again and Hermione retreated back into the tent. Harry heard her crying as he, too, came to the realization that "what if" and "what is" is now only "what never can be." Hermione had said Ron's name and he would now be able to find them. Ron would be filled with a false truth that Hermione had believed that "Ron was right" and that it was Ron who she preferred. In a few hours Harry would see the silver doe and so would Ron. Everything would change and Harry would have to accept that.
Harry stood outside the tent for a moment before promising: "I always will."