A/N: Prompted by song of the same title.

Pairing: Harry P/Hermione G

Dark Blue

"... I'm here with you; the world could

be burning, burning down …"

Harry gripped his glass, knuckles white and slightly shaking as he scanned the growing crowd. Everyone was gathered at the Ministry for a Celebration of Beginnings, as they'd so nicely worded it.

Well, not everyone, he thought morbidly, faces of his friends long gone floating through his mind.

The war was over, three months out, and though progress had been made, reparations weren't nearly finished. They - being the holy grail of the Minister's minions who did way less work than they took credit for - insisted that this ceremony was "simply a must".

That's what found him tucked away at the far side of the makeshift bar, surrounded by far too many people who treated him with a celebrity status he never asked for, nor wanted. If he thought growing into his title of "The Boy Who Lived" during his Hogwarts days was bad, well, this was positively catastrophic.

After the fourth random face in the crowd offered him a drink and asked for a retelling of the final battle, their faces began to blur together. Whether it was alcohol or his ability to block out the finer details of these tedious encounters, he wasn't sure.

"How are you holding up, Harry?" A soft voice came from directly behind his head, and he grabbed his tumbler, filling his glass once more before turning towards it. Harry's features, already twisted in a slight grimace, instantly relaxed at the sight of the woman before him.

Hermione Granger stood tall in heels far too high for her normal taste, but he knew she was part of the circus, dressed to impress, just as he was. Her ruby gown clung to her body, the fabric snug on her curves. Her shoulders were bared, tan and stark against the vibrant red satin.

He studied her for a moment longer, taking comfort from the familiar sight of his long time friend, yet seeing her differently. This wasn't the Hermione slightly awkward and unsure from their school days, nor the frail, yet strong witch on the run. This woman - vision - she was… beautiful, he finished the thought.

"Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?" He smiled, albeit sadly, at the idea that surrounded by a sea of people, people you couldn't possibly miss, one could feel so isolated and alone.

Hermione closed the few steps between them, heels clicking against the tiled floors and pulled him flush against her, her words ghosting his ear as she exhaled deeply. "I'm here with you."