Harry felt warmth overcome his body as his eyes opened. His glasses were off, he couldn't see where he was and panic started to flood him. He fumbled around for his glasses on the nearby night stand. When he put them on he started to calm down as he noticed Hermione sleeping peacefully next to him. Careful not to wake her he slowly crept out of bed. To his surprise he was in a plain white t-shirt and a pair of black baggy sweatpants.

Just to be cautious he grabbed a wand that was also on the night stand and carefully opened up the bedroom door. Harry jumped at the sight of two big bright eyes in front of him.

"Dobby! You startled me…where exactly are we?" Harry asked the house elf.

"Sorry Harry Potter sir. Dobby brought you and Ms. Grangy to an abandoned safe house located in a secret forest. Dobby can't tell you were, but you be safe here." Dobby informed him.

"Thank you Dobby, you're a real life saver. How long can we stay here?" Harry said his eyes now wandering around the hallway. There were a few more doors along the way then at the end was a staircase.

"As long as you need to Harry Potter sir." Dobby answered. "Dobby hopes Harry Potter can forgive him."

"Forgives you for what Dobby? You did nothing wrong, you saved Hermione and mine's lives." Harry said confused at Dobby's behavior.

"Dobby was going to give Ms. Grangy her own bed, but Dobby hadn't prepared the other rooms yet." Dobby said looking rather worried.

"I'm not upset! Relax." Harry said smiling slightly. "How long did we sleep for?"

"About 12 hours sir." Dobby answered. "Dobby just made breakfast if you two are hungry."

"Excellent! I'll wake Hermione then." Harry said before turning around. "Oh Dobby, did you happen to grab the cup?"

"Oh yes sir, Dobby got the sword too! It's downstairs." Dobby said.

"Perfect, I'll be down shortly." Harry said before going back to Hermione. He carefully walked over to her; he didn't want to startle her. She had been through a lot. She was tossing and turning, it looked as though she was having a nightmare.

"No, no stop it. Don't kill him! Take me!" She yelled as she tossed and turned in bed. Sweat was slowly dribbling down her face.

"Hermione! Wake up!" Harry said starting to lightly shake her. As he did this she burst up, she looke scared and confused.

"Shh Hermione it's alright, we're safe." Harry said holding on to her. A few seconds passed and Hermione started to react to Harry.

"Oh Harry, I was so worried. I thought she had killed you." Hermione sobbed into his chest.

"Hermione it was just a dream, we're okay. Dobby brought us to this secret house, he saved us from them." Harry reassured her.

"Harry, what about Ron? Is he really a-a death eater?" Hermione said finally looking at him.

"I'm afraid so." Harry said as his stomach dropped. He never thought Ron would turn out like this. They were best friends for so long and now he was trying to bloody kill him.

"Maybe we can help him." Hermione said sadly. "Maybe he's under the imperious curse, we can save him! He can't be evil Harry, he's our best friend!"

"I wish you were right Hermione." Harry said frowning. "There's nothing we can do for him now."

Hermione seemed to understand and just simply nodded her head.

"What about our things? My bag, horcrux, and sword?" She asked.

"All downstairs with Dobby, he made us breakfast if you want to join." Harry offered. Hermione nodded and started to get up. Harry was surprised when Hermione held his hand on their way downstairs. He couldn't help but notice the way his heart swelled up and that his stomach was doing some swooshing thing.

As the two entered the kitchen the smell of bacon and eggs greeted them. The kitchen was a medium size with plenty of pots and pans. In the center of the kitchen was a wooden table with four chairs. Daisy's were propped in the middle and pink plate mats were set under their plates. Harry was a bit disappointed when Hermione let go of his hand to sit down.

Dobby watched them happily as the two shoved their meal into their mouths. Neither Harry nor Hermione had eaten this much in a few weeks.

"Thank you Dobby, that was delicious" Hermione said happily.

"Yeah Dobby, thanks so much." Harry said as well. "Do you want help cleaning up?"

"Oh no Harry Potter sir, Dobby will take care of it." He said before snapping his fingers disappearing with the empty plates. After Dobby left Harry wasted no time as his eyes wandered over to the cup and sword. Hermione seemed to understand, and grabbed the cup.

"Shall we?" Hermione said walking out the front door. Harry grabbed the sword and followed her. Dobby hadn't been kidding when he said the house was in the middle of the woods. From the looks of it they were pretty deep in, the pine trees were about 60-80 feet high and extremely thick. It was noon but the light could barely touch the forest floor. Hermione placed the gold cup on a rotting tree trunk and slowly backed away.

Harry feeling a bit nervous swung the sword right through the cup. A loud screaming noise shot through his ears and he collapsed on the ground. Images of Voldermort shot through his mind, he looked angry. He was killing goblins left and right. About a dozen bodies lay on the ground. Behind him was Ron, he had an odd expression on his face that Harry couldn't read.

"Harry! Harry!" Hermione panicked as she shook him.

"I saw you-know-who." He said quietly spoke after snapping back. He was now sitting on the ground clutching the sword. "He killed a bunch of goblins, Ron was there too."

"Why would he be killing them" Hermione wondered. "You need to be careful Harry, you were supposed to stop letting him in like that."

"I know but I can't help it. I need to see what he's doing Hermione, we don't really have a choice at this point." Harry said calmly. "So that makes four horcruxes down, we need two more to be able to finish him."

"I think one of them must be in Hogwarts." Hermione said suddenly.

"I was thinking that too. And the snake he calls Nagini is the last." Harry said looking at her. "Getting into Hogwarts isn't going to be easy, and trying to find the horcrux will be even more difficult."

"We have some time, we can figure it out." Hermione said softly. "There has to be some entrance we can use, I wonder if any of the secret passages are open."

"We could mail Neville, or better yet maybe Dobby could deliver it to him. It'd be safer and quicker." Harry spoke up.

"Did Harry Potter call for Dobby?" The House elf said as he popped out of thin air. Hermione jumped a little causing a smile to spread across Harry's face.

"Yes Dobby, would you mind delivering us a letter to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.

"It would be an honor sir!" Dobby squeaked sounding delighted. Hermione ran into the house and minutes later came out with a folder piece of parchment.

"Here you go Dobby, you're taking this to Neville Longbottom. If I had galleon on me I'd pay you for helping us." Hermione said kindly.

"Oh no Ms. Grangy, Dobby does not mind helping two friends." Dobby said happily before disappearing. The two sat in silence for a bit before Harry finally spoke up.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry."

"For what Harry?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Bellatrix, I let her torture you. She caused you pain, I never wanted to see you like that." He said as tears fell down his face.

"Oh Harry, it's not your fault. I'm fine! Just a little pain, that's all..please don't go blaming yourself." Hermione pleaded.

"Fine, but I'll do whatever I can to make sure you stay safe." He said sounding determined. Hermione suddenly wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a hug.

"I'm going to freshen up real quick Harry, I'll see you in a bit." She quickly planted a kiss on his cheek before going back into the house. Harry stood there feeling rather confused, where did this affectionate behavior come from? He knew he was in love with Hermione, but was now the time to tell her? If something happened to either of them he would never get the chance. But maybe it was better that way, it could complicate things or even be distracting. Harry sighed and slowly made his way back into the house, he could hear the shower running. He went back into his room and changed to warmer clothes.

He was to return to Hogwarts tonight and soon would have to face Voldermort for the last time. He was looking for a Horcrux that may not even be in Hogwarts and reaching Nagini would be near to impossible. He didn't even have a plan of what to do when he got there, but something told him he would defeat Voldermort even if it killed him.

"Harry, can I come in?" A voice sounding like Hermione's asked.

"Yeah."

Harry looked up to her closing the door behind her, her hair was pulled back and she like him had a few layers on. He couldn't read the expression on her face as she approached him and sat next to him on his bed.

"Nervous?" She asked quietly.

"Kinda, everything we have to do seems a little overwhelming."

"Just a little?" Hermione responded smiling slightly.

"Okay a lot." Harry chuckled then looked down at his feet. He felt tense as Hermione continued to stare at him.

"Harry..do you have to tell me something?" Hermione asked. He felt her hand go over his; her hand was soft and warm. Come on Potter just tell her, this could be your only chance.

"Hermione I.." Harry began to say but was cut off by Hermione's lips! Her lips were warm and smooth against his, it was like nothing he ever experienced before. He finally started to kiss her back after getting pass the shock. She pulled away first, she wore a small smile on her face. At first he just sat there in silence not believing that she actually kissed him.

"So before I was rudely disturbed I was going to say that I love you." Harry said who was now also smiling.

"Sorry I couldn't wait, you were taking too long."

"How'd you know?"

"Harry I don't know if you remember but I am the brightest witch of my age." She said playfully. Instead of responding Harry leaned in for another kiss. Once again he felt the same feeling from the last kiss, one he never felt kissing Cho or Ginny.

"Excuse me Harry Potter and Ms. Grangy, Dobby has a letter for yous." Dobby said causing the duo to jump apart.

"Er sorry Dobby." Harry said blushing as he took the letter from him.

Dear Harry and Hermione,

Glad to hear from you two! I wish I could say we were doing well over here, but we aren't. The castle is swarming with death eaters, and dementors are guarding around outside. Voldie will attack as soon as he finds out you're here, but hopefully after you find what you are looking for you'll be able to kill that bloody son of a bitch. Anyways, I think it would be possible for Dobby to apparate you both into Hogwarts. But the issue is where to. A bunch of us are staying in the room of requirement, Dobby only found me because I was out making sure no first years were getting tortured. Would it be possible to meet me on the 7th floor corridor around 8 tonight?

See you soon,

Neville

"Dobby would you be able to do that?" Hermione asked the house elf.

"Yes Dobby can mam, we leave in an hour." He said before exiting the room.

"So I reckon this is it." Harry said. His face was pale and his palms were sweaty. He was terrified about losing Hermione, he didn't know how he could go on without her if something happened. "Promise me something Hermione."

"Anything." Hermione said locking eyes with him.

"If something happens to me, let me go. Don't follow me, I have to be the one who defeats him Hermione. I'm not having you go down with me." Harry said intensely.

"Harry stop talking like that!" Hermione pleaded, her eyes were beginning to water. Harry sighed, he didn't want to make her cry but he had no choice. This conversation was important and needed to be discussed, reality sucked but they both had to face the possibilities of war.

"No Hermione, I have to face him. I don't have a choice." He said sternly.

"What happens if I die Harry? What then?" Hermione said angrily.

"I won't let you." He shot back. "You can't, you're going to live. You're going to grow into a beautiful woman, you're going to be successful..I reckon you'll establish rights for house elves and other magical creatures. You'll make a great mother, Hermione you're too amazing of a person to not live their life."

"Harry, do you not think I feel the same about you? You have so much potential to do good, there's more to this war than you think. You're not some prodigy meant to bring balance to our world, there's more to you whether you see that or not." Hermione spoke. Tears were slowly falling down her face, Harry realized she was right.

"I'm sorry Hermione." He said cupping her face. "We're going to fight this and win. Our whole lives we've lived in fear of him, once it's over we can finally move on. I love you so much."

"Oh Harry I love you too." She said before giving him a quick kiss on the lips. They stayed there holding each other as long as they could, both feeling complete in one another's arms. Soon a knock on the door was heard

"Dobby thinks it's time to go, yous ready?" Dobby asked the couple. Harry looked at Hermione, but instead of seeing fear in her eyes, he saw hope. He smiled at her, she smiled back.

"We're ready Dobby."

I don't know how I feel about this chapter, but I was planning on something like this to happen I just didn't know when! I thought it was somewhat over due for them to be together. Anyways sorry for the long update, I've been so swamped with work. I'd say they're 2-3 more chapters left depending on what I choose to do, I have a few ideas in the works. I will update as quickly as I can! If you happen to leave a review I have a few questions for you all:

Will Ron stay evil? Is it possible for him to turn after all the horrible crimes he has committed? Would you want him to?

Any ideas for who I will kill off? Any suggestions?

How did you like this chapter? Did you feel like the romance was rushed? (I personally don't)

Lastly, any suggestions for the last few chapters?

-Thanks for reading :)