Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling actually gets paid to write this stuff. I don't, so guess what? I don't own Harry Potter.

This story is still dedicated to my friend Anne Marie even if the song used here is not an A1 song.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Chapter 4 – Feels Like Home

Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done

As he walked outside he saw Ginny leaving Hermione's side and approaching him. As soon as she saw him, she understood he was going to talk to Hermione.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You're the one that put her in that situation."

"I have to talk to her; I can't see her like this."

"OK"

As he was walking to her he could help but note again how beautiful she was, this young woman he had grown to love, yes love. These six months have just that positive side to them; he had finally realized how much he loved her. But he didn't know what to do, she was probably hating him right now, she couldn't possibly love him.

Anyway; he went and sat by her side, if she realized that he was there beside her she made no attempt of showing it. They sat in silence for some time before Harry decided to tell her what's been bothering him.

"I'm an idiot." He continued to stare at the little lake as his voice broke the eerie silence that surrounded them.

"What?" She expected him to say many things; maybe to apologize, to say how much he's sorry for hurting her like that, never did she expect him to say that.

"I'm an idiot." He repeated with the same calmness in his voice and still looking straight ahead.

"Six months ago I had an internal conflict. I was glad that he was finally gone, but part of me...well I'm not proud of it, but part of me wished he'd survived."

"I used to think that Voldemort made me who I was, he gave me a reason, an aim to live – it was my goal in life: killing Voldemort once and for all. And that's it. Yeah I've thought about becoming an auror but it didn't feel like a goal or aim in life. It didn't make me feel fulfilled. I thought it was Voldemort who gave me something to live for. And when I killed him, I felt lost; what was I to do now? What's my goal, my aim?

"Everything started to change and I don't like change. I had become accustomed to a specific routine, you know: Voldemort comes out of hiding, I face him and he goes hiding again, then he comes out... it was the same routine for the last seven years and it made me feel somewhat safe, knowing what was ahead of me.

"But suddenly I lost that feeling; I didn't know what was ahead of me and I it frightened me.

"Everyone was rejoicing, partying... everyone was so happy, and I was so scared.

"Then you came and I thought 'I'll talk about it to Hermione, she always listens to me, and she'll tell me what to do'; but when you come you say that you want to talk to me. And it felt like 'here we go again, another change – I do the talking generally and you the listening'. I was so confused; I didn't know how to act – what to do! God all I had to do was just sit there and listen to you and I was so self-absorbed that I actually found that difficult to do.

"And you were right, all the things you said, you had a right to say those things, 'cause I am... what words did you use? Ah yes "arrogant-seeking-attention-bastard". I am, really.

"I don't know how it happened, one minute we're sitting there, the next we're shouting at each other and then I'm living the worst six months of my life.

"I realized that it wasn't Vodemort who gave me stability in life, it was you." At this he finally turned his head to her and she could see that his eyes were watery.

He saw that she was still unable to talk so he continued, "These past six months were horrible because you were not by my side. I managed to survive 7 years at Hogwarts full of dark moments only because you were there giving me the strength that I needed.

"Hermione Jane Granger, I am lost without you.

I only hope that you could forgive me, I understand if you don't 'cause I've been an idiot, but I really hope you do. And well I'm just happy that I finally put my pride aside and got the guts to talk to you."

With that said he leaned in and gently brushed his lips on her cheek and whispered, "Merry Christmas Hermione." Then he got up and made his way back to the house.

Hermione's mind was racing; it was racing really fast trying to bring out some sort of logic from what Harry had just told her. The last part kept replaying in her mind; he described her as the most important person in his life. Maybe...or maybe not. She would never find out if she doesn't...

"Wait!"

Her voice echoed around the place making him turn around and look at her. She was slowly walking towards him and tears were once again staining her face.

"I'm sorry."

"What?!" He never expected her to say that!

"The Fight; it wasn't a one-sided effort, I have my blame too. I shouldn't have said those things, I hope you know that I didn't mean them, I never did."

"I know that."

"Good, because I couldn't stand it if you'd hate me." Her voice broke down and she couldn't stop the tears from leaving her eyes.

Harry gently wiped her tears with his thumb, "I could never hate you – you are my rock"

At that Hermione broke down in tears and hugged him as if her life depended on it. When they broke apart he put his forehead on hers and just looked in her eyes. They were shining as brightly as ever, he wanted to tell her so many things, he wanted to tell her about his feelings for her and this was the right time.

"God, six months without talking, there's so many things I have to tell you."

"Then say them now."

"I...I love you." He whispered it so softly that she thought she had just imagined it.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

At that Hermione couldn't take it anymore, so she started crying.

"'Mione, what's wrong? If you don't feel the same..."

"No, I do. That's what I was going to tell you before we had The Fight."

"Oh God, I am an idiot!"

"Yeah you are, I do love you Harry, with all my heart-"

"But?"

She trusted him and she loved him but she just needed to hear something from him, after The Fight she was really hurt and now she just wanted to make sure he won't do it again.

"Just don't hurt me; don't hurt me."

"I won't. Not again, I won't"

And with that she kissed him, it wasn't a chaste kiss it was a kiss full of passion and love. And the wind blew so strongly around them that they didn't hear the people in the Weasley house cheer them.

When they broke apart Harry looked at her, she had snowflakes in her hair and her cheeks were flushed; it was a wonderful picture.

"You're so beautiful!"

Hermione smiled and blushed, "Well, that's because of Ginny, she wanted to dress me up and-"

"No, it's not just today. You've always been beautiful to me."

With that said he gently took her hand and led her back to the house where they found chaos; people exchanging money and smiling at the same time. They later found out about the latest Weasley invention and Hermione was mad, to say the least, the twins approached Harry and told him they would give him the only copy of the tape as a present when the get married.

It was all a joyous celebration, a wonderful day full of hope and love. He had Hermione by his side and he couldn't be happier, he had no doubt at all that everything would work out fine. And while he was enjoying the familiar scene in front of him he suddenly realized what it felt like to have Hermione in his arms; it felt like home.

A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light

Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

But now it's ready, I am not entirely happy with the outcome but anyway!

Thanks to all of you who read the story, and also to those who reviewed it. Thanks a lot.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Song: Feels Like Home – Chantal Kreviazuk (I just love this song!!!)