Hey ya'll! After receiving some reviews that suggested I ended the last part too abruptly, I decided to add on a Part II. I am grateful for all of your reviews and I hope this brings some of you some closure to the story. Thank you for following my first fic, I appreciate it so much! I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a review. XOXO, Alexandra

Harry awoke in the morning to Hermione snuggled into his side, breathing deeply. He tried slipping out of the bed without her waking as he knew she desperately needed the sleep. He heard her sigh and with a last glance he walked out of the tent and sat beneath a tree nearby.

Leaning his head back on the bark, he thought about what happened after their spontaneous lovemaking the night before.

He pulled out of her slowly after their orgasms subsided and their breathing returned to normal. Collapsing on the bed beside Hermione, he looked over at her and she was smiling back at him.

Planting a kiss on her temple, he drew her closer not wanting to completely cease contact with the beautiful, intelligent witch in his bed.

"Harry?" Hermione said timidly.

He looked over and she was not at all herself anymore. The smile from her lips had faded and she was chewing on her bottom lip. He could tell the gears in her brain were turning rapidly, questions threatening to burst from her mouth.

"What is it 'Mione?"

"I don't regret what we just did Harry —"

"Neither do I," Harry replied.

"But, I don't want to do this just because we miss Ron. And I —"

Harry interrupted her, "For the brightest witch of your age Hermione, you can be really daft sometimes."

She frowned and made a move to sit up. Harry grabbed her and pulled her back to him, "No really, hear me out."

She nodded her head and leaned back into him waiting for his response. He thought for a moment because he wanted his words to come out right.

"Your greatest strength is your vast intellect and logical thinking combined with your magical ability. You are incredible. But at times, your intellect prevents you from making connections or realizing those connections," Harry admitted.

"What are you really trying to say?"

"We've been friends since first year, I know you always had a thing for Ron so I kept my distance. I didn't want to ruin anything for either of you. I was willing to and let you be together if that's what you truly wanted. I was always there, if you decided you wanted more with me" Harry spit out in a hurry.

He paused and stumbled over his next words.

"I-I-I love you Hermione. I always have," he whispered.

He looked over at Hermione, to gauge her reaction. Her mouth was wide open, surprised by his admission of love. She quickly snapped it shut, but her mouth opened and closed several times obviously at a loss of words.

"It's okay," Harry murmured. "You don't have to say anything."

At that, he felt her cuddle into his side and drift off to sleep.

His eyes were wide open, unable to sleep due to his thoughts and emotions wreaking havoc on his mind. Eventually, he drifted off into a fitful and restless sleep.

He brought himself back to reality, shaking his head. There was nothing he could do now, he had laid out his feelings for her on a silver platter.

Hearing a rustling at the entrance of the tent, Harry didn't look up. He was embarrassed from his revelations made the night before—not because they weren't true, but because he was afraid she didn't return his depth of feeling.

Hermione came and sat cross-legged in front of him, and looked at her with uncertainty in his eyes.

"Harry, I want to talk about last night," Hermione said.

"Hermione —," he started, but she cut him off.

"Let me speak," Hermione said in her bossy tone. "I have thought about it and everything you said is true. That's why I struggled so hard to make friends first year, and even before that. I find it hard to express my feelings causing me to default back to the logical part of me rather than confuse myself by listening to my heart."

Harry just nodded and she continued.

"Being on the run, surviving on little food, and trying to destroy parts of You-Know-Who's soul, doesn't leave much room for me to think about anyone in a romantic sense, but—" Hermione paused.

"But, what?" Harry asked.

"But, I think I am willing to try," as she leaned forward and kissed him. "We could use a little more love in this world."

Harry pulled her close, beaming with happiness.

"I couldn't agree more."