Pairing – Harry/Hermione

Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter, or Pride and Prejudice either (slight mention)

Spoilers – OOTP & slightly HBP

Summary – Harry and Hermione both have things on their minds – Will confessions, a cut and hot chocolate in The Burrow's living-room one night, lead to a surprise revelation? Set at the start of HBP. h/hr.

HBP film out tomorrow! Very exciting! I'm guessing you all pre-booked tickets like me? … Anyway, hope you enjoy the fic! (And the film too!)

Chapter One - Sleepless Truth

"Right I'm off to bed, I'm knackered!" said Ron, as he got up from the sofa he had been sitting on in the Weasley's living room "You guys coming?"

"No, I'm going to stay here for a while, may as well finish the rest of these cookies" Harry indicated the large plate still left uneaten on the coffee table.

"Fair enough, it'll please mum anyway. She thinks you've been underfed again, mate" Ron quickly took a cookie off the pile, before saying "Night guys!" with it in his mouth and headed upstairs.

"Night Ron" Harry replied, with a chuckle.

Harry had arrived at The Burrow the previous night, today had been his first full day in the place that felt like his second home. It had been a pretty enjoyable day overall; with finding out their O.W.L results, which they had all done well in, and playing two-on-two quidditch with Ron, Ginny and Hermione.

Harry then looked over at the only person left in the room.

Hermione had her head bent down, with a concentrating look on her face, as she continued to read a book quietly to herself. She looked very pale and worn out, dark circles evident under her eyes.

Harry sensed there was something wrong with his female best friend; she had been reclusive all day.

"Hermione?" Harry said, quietly "You alright?"

Hermione looked up at Harry, from her book "Yeah I'm fine" she gave him an unconvincing smile "Why d'ya ask?"

"Just, you look really tired, just wanted to make sure you're okay that's all" he smiled at her.

"Well there is really no need Harry, honestly I'm fine." She returned to her book and continued reading.

Harry knew Hermione was not telling him the whole truth, but was not willing to push her into telling him what was on her mind.

"What are you reading?" Harry continued to inquire, as he got up out of his armchair and came to sit in the only space left on the same sofa as Hermione "It's not that Pride and Prejudice book is it?"

Hermione gave a small smile and laughed "Harry, how do you know about Pride and Prejudice?"

"Heard you and Ginny talking after lunch, what is with this character...Mr. Darcy, is that right? Is he some kind of hero, or God, or something?"

Hermione chuckled at Harry's naivety, deep down actually thinking it was rather sweet and cute "No, silly" she giggled "He's just...oh I can't explain it, it's a girl thing. You wouldn't understand, Harry."

Harry laughed "Oh thanks very much Miss Granger! Are you saying that I, the genius that is Harry Potter, can't understand the characterisation of some guy in a book?"

Hermione gave a pretend thinking face "Uhh" she paused momentarily before looking back at Harry "Not a chance!" she giggled.

Harry hit Hermione lightly with the cushion next to him, which just made them laugh.

The laughter soon subsided and Hermione carried on reading whilst Harry ate the remainder of the cookies, their conversation having died out.

Harry yawned widely making a noise as he did so.

"Shhh Harry, will you! I'm trying to read."

"Sorry" Harry said, a bit agitated at Hermione being so snappy "Couldn't help it."

"Well you could help yourself and go off to bed and leave me in peace."

"Alright, alright I'll go" Harry said as he got up from the sofa 'Something is definitely wrong with her' Harry thought before saying aloud "You gunna go to bed? It's really late Hermione."

Hermione looked at Harry seriously "I'll be fine. You just get off to bed."

Harry knew he should stay, and question Hermione about what seemed to be troubling her, but Harry knew that would only just get him into more trouble with her, and he did not want to argue, especially at this time of night.

"Okay" Harry said, pretending like everything was alright, and did something that he had never done before. He didn't even care if Hermione would like it or not. Harry kissed the top of Hermione's head and rubbed her arm for a matter of seconds. It stunned Hermione slightly as she once again disregarded her book, to gaze up at Harry.

"Night Hermione" Harry said with a small smile.

"Night Harry" Hermione replied, still taken aback by Harry's over friendly gesture of farewell.

It was nearly two hours later, and Harry was tossing and turning in his bed in Fred and George's old bedroom. Too many thoughts were running through Harry's overactive mind, mainly Sirius's death, and it was disrupting his sleep. Harry blearily opened his eyes to the darkened room surrounding him. A call of nature forced Harry out of his bed; he grasped his glasses from the bedside table and put them on, before heading out of the room.

A moment later, when Harry reappeared from the bathroom located down the corridor, and was heading back to his bedroom; Harry heard something smash downstairs in the kitchen. This was instantly followed by the distinct voice of Hermione crying out "Owww!" and she sucked in a breath "Ouch! Oh my god!"

Harry became suddenly concerned for her and subsequently headed straight downstairs and into the kitchen. Harry saw Hermione knelt on the floor, now in her pale pink pyjamas, trying to clear up the smashed fragments with a dustpan and brush, whilst also sporting a quite large cut on her arm.

"Hermione, Hermione are you alright?" Harry asked worriedly as he hurriedly came over and knelt in front of her.

"Harry!" Hermione looked very surprised at seeing him "Yeah I'm okay."

"No you're not Hermione, that cut looks nasty!" Harry took her arm gently to look at it "Come on, sit at the table" he got her to stand up, careful to avoid shards of what looked like the remains of a mug on the floor, and Hermione sat on one of the chairs at the dining table.

"Harry, I'm fine honestly, it's just a cut" Hermione tried to reassure him.

Harry was having none of it "It's a deep cut though" Harry told her as he looked at it more carefully "Have you cleaned it?"

Hermione shook her head "No, I was just going to put a plaster on it."

"Well that won't do, a plaster can't cover a cut that big...hang on" Harry grabbed a clean cloth from a cupboard and drenched it under the tap before wringing it out and handed it to Hermione "Here clean it with this, whilst I clean up the broken pieces on the floor."

Hermione tried to argue that she would do it, but Harry made her concentrate on cleaning her cut, as he occupied himself with sweeping the last of the shard fragments up with the dustpan and brush, and put them in the bin.

"What happened Hermione, why are you still up?" Harry wondered, as he had put the dustpan and brush away and had grabbed the medical book 'The Healer's Helpmate' and a new bandage from the medical kit in a nearby cupboard.

"I went to bed not long after you left, but I just couldn't sleep...so I came downstairs to make myself some hot chocolate and I dropped the mug by accident."

Harry nodded in understanding, before opening the medical book and finding a spell to heal the cut, he cast it over Hermione's wound which started to heal. Harry then began to unravel the bandage.

"Harry, is the bandage really necessary?" Hermione asked, with raised eyebrows.

"You'll thank me for it in the long run" Harry assured her with a slight smile, and took her arm delicately and began wrapping the bandage around the cut.

"Not too tight is it?" Harry asked, concernedly.

Hermione smiled "No it's okay."

Harry smiled back and wrapped the last bit of the bandage on and chuckled "Look at you eh, you're very accident prone today Hermione. First the black eye and now the cut on your arm."

Hermione chuckled "I know, too clumsy that's my problem."

Harry grinned and made sure the end of the bandage was securely attached "There all done."

"Thanks Harry" Hermione said, sweetly "Am I allowed to make my hot chocolate now?"

Harry grinned "Go for it, just be careful! We don't want to add 'burn' to your ever extending list of injuries."

Hermione smiled as she got up from her chair "Do you want some hot chocolate aswell?"

"Yeah sure, may aswell."

Hermione made their two mugs of hot chocolate, both of them remaining in silence until Hermione handed Harry his mug "Thanks, do you want to go and sit in the living-room, its more comfy in there?"

All Hermione did was nod, and the two of them went to sit on the same sofa, in the same seats; they had taken up only hours previously.

"So how come you're awake Harry, you never said?" Hermione inquired, as she crossed her legs on the sofa, facing Harry.

"Couldn't sleep…" Harry replied honestly, although not honest enough to say what had been keeping him awake. "I used the loo, and was about to head back to bed, when I heard a smashing sound downstairs … I heard you too, so I thought I'd come and see what was going on."

"Bet you wished you hadn't bothered" Hermione said, as she took a sip of her drink "Means you'll be up even later now."

"Doesn't bother me; doubt I would have got back to sleep anyway."

"Yeah same" Hermione added gloomily, as she put down her mug.

The two of them lapsed into silence for a few minutes.

"Look at us two eh" Harry chuckled "Both sitting downstairs in our friend's house during the summer holidays, drinking hot chocolate at gone half past two in the morning. I mean if someone came downstairs they'd think we were mad, not that Ron is likel…" but he stopped suddenly as Hermione had started crying midway through his babbling.

"Hey…hey…hey" Harry put his mug down suddenly and touched Hermione's arm "What's the matter…Hermione? Come on, what wrong, come on, tell me?"

"You know exactly what's wrong, Harry" Hermione sobbed.

"Hermione, I really don't…just tell me."

"Why do you keep denying that nothing has happened?" she looked at Harry, her eyes swimming with tears "I just can't cope with it Harry… what you said this morning, about the Prophecy…"

At that moment Harry inwardly froze.

"It's been on my mind all day" Hermione admitted "I just … I guess I didn't … I just can't believe that you have to … oh Harry! I'm so scared for you!" and she burst into tears again.

Harry looked at Hermione worriedly 'So that's what has been on her mind.'

"Aww Hermione, come here!" Harry wrapped his arms delicately around Hermione's torso, with Hermione wrapping her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder.

"Shhh, its okay… Hermione please don't cry…listen, you don't need to worry about me. Hey come on, it's all going to be okay."

"But how do you know that Harry?" Hermione said, as she withdrew from the hug "'neither can live while the other survives' that's what you said. What if you can't do it? What if Dumbledore's private lessons aren't enough? … I can't bear the thought of losing you!"

Harry enveloped Hermione into another hug, this time Harry was almost in tears himself.

"We're going to do this, alright Hermione; we are going to be strong! I know this is the biggest, most daunting, prospect I've faced so far…But I've got one of the greatest wizards in history helping me, teaching me, to fight back. I've also got Ron, all the Weasley's, Lupin and Tonks and" he looked at Hermione appreciatively "I've got you by my side. I know I can do this. I can defeat him. As long as I keep remembering, what I have to live for."

Hermione gazed at Harry with such admiration "I don't know how you do it Harry, I really don't. You amaze me d'ya know that, to have such courage and strength to keep going."

"I've known nothing else Hermione" Harry told her, honestly "I know what I need to do…fate has already brought me to where I am today…I can't let the whole wizarding world down, it's my job to do this. To finish it."

"I'm just so frightened" Hermione admitted "Just the thought that he's still out there…and we don't know when he's going to strike next…it just terrifies me, knowing what the future could hold for all of us."

Harry took Hermione's hand gently "I know, it scares me too."

Hermione leaned into Harry, laying her head in the crook of his neck as they continued to hold hands. Harry used his other arm to wrap around Hermione's shoulders and rub her arm gently up and down, comfortingly. They remained this way for a good ten minutes, just listening to the crackling of the wood in the log burning fire. Hermione hastily grabbed the throw from the back of the sofa and threw it over hers and Harry's legs, before moving it so it covered them more cosily.

"Y'know, this would look rather suspicious if someone came down now" Harry told Hermione.

"Well no one is likely to come down are they? And anyway, why would it look suspicious, we're just talking."

"Well, we're on our own downstairs in the middle of the night, the only light coming from the fire, we're sitting rather…cosily …on the sofa with the throw on us … it's just sort of…"

"Don't say it!" Hermione said with raised eyebrows and an amused expression.

"Romantic" Harry said which earned him a smack on the head, from the cushion he had earlier used to hit Hermione with playfully.

"Shush you, I don't see the harm in it …besides it's nice to talk to someone without any of the Weasley's, or whoever, eavesdropping in on the conversation."

"Yeah I suppose" Harry gave a faint smile "It's always a bit chaotic when we're staying at the Weasley's."

"I'll say!" Hermione concurred earnestly and laughed "Remember last Christmas at Grimmauld Place and we were both throwing our left over wrapping paper at Ron, and everyone joined in!" Hermione chuckled "It was funny when Sirius tried…" Then the story died in her throat as Hermione realised the delicate subject she had unintentionally brought up. "Oh my god, I'm sorry Harry…I didn't mean to …"

Harry gave a sad smile as he interrupted her "It's alright Hermione" he tried to assure her, but deep down Harry knew that Hermione had caught the very subject which he had been trying to avoid thinking about for so long, he just wanted to avoid the very human emotion of grief. Harry's heart ached whenever he tried to contemplate that he had lost yet another loved one. Sirius's passing was a subject which brought much anxiety to Harry's dreams every single night since it happened.

Hermione was very wary of the next statement she was about to make, as she saw the melancholy look on Harry's face. "You know, Harry, you can always talk to me about…Sirius…if you want. I'll always be here if you want to talk…I suspect you don't want to, and that's fine, I just…want you to know, I'm here if you need me."

"Thank-you" Harry said gratefully "It's not that I don't want to talk about Sirius, it's …I … I just … can't…" Harry, surprised himself, and tears began to emerge in his emerald eyes, although he tried to blink them away "I'm sorry Hermione."

Hermione had noticed Harry's tears and instantly felt extremely guilty "No, you don't need to be sorry, Harry! I'm sorry for bringing it up; it was insensitive of me."

Harry didn't respond and looked as though he was getting more upset "Oh Harry, come here" Hermione hugged Harry and rubbed his back "Go on, let it go Harry, just cry, let it all out."

Harry was already crying strongly with Hermione rocking him slightly, allowing Harry to at last grieve properly for his much loved godfather.

Hermione continued to comfort Harry for at least half an hour, as he cried into her shoulder. Hermione rubbed Harry's back and kissed the top of his head a few times, letting him know she was there.

Harry finally began to ease his crying and Hermione said gently "Harry..."

Harry sat up, moving himself out of Hermione's embrace to look at her "Thank-you."

"What for?" Hermione inquired softly.

"Just for being here…for making me face up to the fact that Sirius is gone…for not letting me bottle up my emotions anymore."

Hermione took Harry's hand "You should never be ashamed to show grief Harry, no one will think any less of you, especially me."

"I just feel a bit stupid now" Harry admitted with a small chuckle "Crying like that in front of you."

"You don't need to feel embarrassed in front of me, Harry. I'd never laugh at you for showing your emotions like that; I know what you have been through. I just want to help you in any way I can."

"I know you do" Harry said appreciatively "and you do a bloody good job of it aswell" he hugged Hermione tightly with Hermione smiling, knowing Harry was going to be okay.

"Just doing what any friend would do, Harry" Hermione told him.

"But you do so much more than that" Harry assured her "I don't think I've ever said this to you before but, I really love … having you as a friend Hermione."

"Right back at ya" Hermione grinned and kissed his cheek.

Hermione sighed as she looked at the clock a few minutes later, after they had both calmed down "It's almost 4:00am, I guess we had better go and get some sleep."

"Yeah, suppose so" Harry said glumly as he and Hermione got off the sofa, and headed back upstairs.

They first reached the bedroom Hermione was sharing with Ginny.

"Hermione, I just want to say, thank-you for being there for me tonight, it means a lot."

"I'll always be here for you Harry, you know that" Hermione replied quietly "and thank-you for looking after me" she indicated the bandaged cut on her arm "don't know what I'd do without you" she giggled.

Harry smiled and gave Hermione a hug "Night Hermione, sweet dreams" as they pulled out of the hug Harry did something that shocked both himself, and Hermione. He briefly kissed her gently on the lips. It was more of a peck than a proper full on kiss, but it still left both of them stunned and slightly embarrassed as they pulled away and looked at eachother.

"Uhh…right, well I'll … see you in the morning" Harry said hastily and rushed off down the corridor to his own room.

"Yeah, see ya" Hermione replied and crept back into Ginny's bedroom, not quite believing what had just happened.

Harry took his glasses off, got into his bed and instantly hit his forehead a couple of times with the palm of his hand "Harry you idiot! Why did you have to go and kiss her for? Now you have gone and freaked her out!" Harry said aloud to himself quietly and sighed as he lay down in the bed. Thoughts once again buzzing through his head, but Harry attempted to ignore them and closed his eyes, hoping to drop off to sleep.

Hermione was now lying down in her bed in Ginny's bedroom, Ginny still out for the count; she had not changed sleeping positions since Hermione had left the room hours ago.

'I can't believe Harry just kissed me' Hermione thought to herself 'Did he mean to? Does he like me in that way? Does he regret it?' these questions, and many like them, kept Hermione awake for another half an hour, she tried to go to sleep but the kiss was too much of a big deal to forget about.

Hermione, for the second time that night, crept back out of Ginny's bedroom, praying the red-head would not wake up and ask where she was doing. Thankfully Ginny was still too deeply in the land of nod, to hear the bedroom door open and close. Hermione lightly walked down the corridor and entered Harry's room without bothering to knock, and closing the door behind her after she came in.

Harry turned over in his bed as soon as he heard the door open and close, he put his glasses on so he could try and make out who had come in.

"Harry?" Hermione whispered.

"Hermione? What are you doing in here?" Harry said in confusion as he sat up in his bed "Is something wrong?"

"Yeah there is" Hermione said softly and came over and sat on Harry's bed "The kiss…Harry, why … why did you kiss me?"

"I don't know" Harry replied honestly "Just did it without thinking…I guess."

Hermione was gazing at Harry "Do…do you … regret it?"

"Do you?" Harry asked almost instantly, trying to avoid answering it.

"I asked first" Hermione replied seriously.

Harry rubbed his eyes and gave a very small sigh "Well…then…if I'm honest…no, no not really. It didn't feel bad…" Harry looked at Hermione again "What about you?"

"I … no, no…I mean it shocked me, but it didn't feel like we did anything… wrong…but now I'm just a bit confused."

"So what does this mean?" Harry asked curiously.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…do we pretend like it never happened…is that what you want?"

"Is that what you want?" Hermione asked seriously.

"I asked first" Harry said with a slight smile, tables having now turned.

Hermione gave a small smile too "I don't know…I don't know what I want…this, it just came from nowhere and now I … I don't know what to do."

"Hermione…" Harry could not believe he was about to ask this question "Do … do you…have feelings for me?"

Hermione locked her eyes with Harry, breathing quite heavily, her heart racing as she tried to find the answer to his question "I didn't think I did …" Hermione answered truthfully "but when you kissed me it felt…"

"Right" Harry finished for her.

"Yes" Hermione said, a bit stunned "Harry…what, what do we do?"

"Well, I know one way to know if we feel anything for eachother…"

"And what's…" but Harry cut Hermione off and he kissed her tenderly. At first it was slightly tense, but within a few seconds the pair of them relaxed and Hermione started kissing him back, moving herself closer to Harry on the bed. The kiss became more intense; Harry pulled Hermione closer to him, with her pressing him down so they were kissing intently as they lay on the bed.

Harry soon broke away and gazed into Hermione's eyes "Now do you know how you feel?"

All Hermione did was smile brightly and nod her head, she gazed back at Harry "And you?"

"The feeling is very mutual" Harry grinned and they kissed again, Harry quickly letting Hermione get under the duvet with him.

They remained kissing in the bed for a long time, neither knowing how long it lasted. Before Hermione stopped the kiss and cuddled up to Harry.

"Can I stay here?" she asked very softly as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

"But what if Ginny and Ron, or any of the other Weasley's, find us like this in the morning? They will go mental! I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell them yet."

Hermione kissed Harry's jaw "I'll sneak out in the morning, Ginny will never know I left the room. It'll be our little secret" Hermione said, mischievously.

Harry grinned and cuddled Hermione in his arms, within seconds the two of them fell into a trouble free, dreamless sleep, in eachother's arms.

...

H/Hr fans, was that the kind of scene you would've liked to have seen in HBP? Let me know, hehe

A review would make my day!