Well children, I'm back! Thanks to everyone who's been so supportive! Seriously, I don't usually stick with stories this long but it's all the support! So thanks everyone, for keeping me motivated and helping me stick with this one!

Special thanks to SerenityLux—You've been with me pretty much since the beginning and I can always count on you to say something whenever I post.—as for your last review, I've been that drunk and trust me, that's exactly what it feels like. I drank so much I puked into the next day. Hah! :D

Also, xoxoRealityIsFiction—I can't tell you how much it means to me that you've been sticking with me. All since day 1. You rock my socks!

Last but not least, BellaCullen2313—My first reviewer, and you've been with me ever since. I wish I had 10 more readers like you! :D Thanks for being you!

And to all you jerks who added my story to your alerts or favorites and never bothered reviewing, DOOM ON YOU! :D

P.S. - Will someone pretty please make me a banner for the story? I'd love you! :D

Song of the Chapter: Rain and Thunder by Leona Lewis ((GREAT SONG!))

WARNING! This chapter may contain a VERY small amount of sexual behavior. Read at your own discretion.

Mending Hearts

Chapter 8

Maggie had gone back to sleep, exhausted from her nightmare and screaming. I stood outside the house, thinking over the past events of the previous few days and smoking a cigarette. There was nothing I could do for Maggie when the nightmares start. I don't know if anyone could. Voldemort had obviously found out about her and a way to get into her mind when she slept, similar to what he did to Harry most nights. The thought of Voldemort knowing about Maggie frightened me. Could he locate her? Would he try to harm her? I cringed at the thought of anyone trying to harm my daughter, taking another long drag of my cigarette before slowly letting the toxic out of my lungs. The only way someone would hurt my daughter was over my dead body.

I flicked the rest of the cigarette away and folded my arms across my chest and leaned up against the house, sighing quite audibly. Running my hand through my extremely long, messy dark brown hair I turned and opened the door, walking back inside.

"Is she okay?" I saw Harry standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his intense green eyes staring at me. I nodded, licking my dry lips.

"She fell back asleep." He nodded, hesitating before entering the kitchen. I felt a desire burning in me as he came near. "Harry…" I warned, but it was too late. He wrapped his arms around me and crushed me into a hug, his lips attaching themselves to the top of my head. I returned the hug, placing my face into his shoulder and inhaled his aroma. I felt like my chest was on fire, yearning me to draw myself closer to him. I wanted to be with him, every part of me wanted that boy. My heart was screaming at me to break down and apologize, my head the same. So why couldn't I just choke out the words? I knew I still had feelings for him, there was no denying that.

He didn't let go after some time. I could hear his heart hammering in his chest, his skin felt hot against mine. "Harry" I whispered, my voice shaking slightly. "I-" I couldn't even say it. My throat felt thick, the words got stuck inside it. A memory flashed through my mind from when we were in school.

"Harry!" I screamed loudly, the snow from the ground getting stuck in my hair. Harry laughed, pinning me down to the frozen earth with his pelvis against my stomach and his hands holding my wrists. He leaned over, a grin still on his lips and whispered something.

"I love you Steph" I blinked and smiled without really noticing. It was only the beginning of the fourth year and we'd been dating for about a year now. It was the first time he'd told me he loved me.

"I love you too Harry." He leaned down, pressing his lips against mine. The cold seemed to melt away, replacing itself with a warm buzz that hummed through my body. I tried to reach up and pull his lips closer, but my hands were restrained. Smirking, I pushed my knees up, causing Harry to fall forward slightly, bringing his face closer to mine. He sat up, laughing at me.

"You can always find a way around everything." He shook his head, snowflakes falling all around.

"I dreamed of you." He whispered into my hair. "After Ron, Hermione and I left. I used to dream about you every night. I wondered what had happened to you, if you'd moved on. I was a wreck, but I knew you would be safer where the Order could find you." His voice sounded tattered. "I asked Ron a few times if we could go back and get you. God, Steph, I was so torn on what to do." I didn't reply, still clinging to him as if he would leave again. Harry's grip tightened, his face moving from my hair to the warm skin of my cheek, pressing his lips hard against it. I moved my face, finally gaining enough courage to look up at him.

I almost whimpered at the sight of him. Fresh tears were gathered in the corners of his eyes, he looked like a wreck. That's what did it.

My walls completely broke down.

Without even having to think, I stood up on my tip toes and placed my lips on his. An eruption of butterflies burst awake inside my stomach. I didn't feel him respond for a moment before he put his hands on my waist, drawing me closer to him. I reached up, running my hands through his messy hair, making it even more untidy. Opening my mouth I deepened the kiss further, letting Harry's tongue explore my mouth like it had many times before.

We kissed for what only felt like a few more seconds before Harry abruptly stopped, smiling. "Breathe, Stephanie." He whispered huskily. I released the air in my lungs, suddenly feeling light headed. Note to self: Remember to breathe around Harry Potter. I laughed, grabbing the back of his head again and kissed him deeply again. He responded right away this time, running his hands up my spine, causing me to shiver. His mouth moved from mine to my cheek, to my ear, down my face and to my neck. Shuttering again I let out a low moan, enjoying his touch. His head came back up, finding my mouth again.

I felt my pocket vibrate and stopped kissing him, sighing. Pulling out my wand from my jeans I flicked it, the wand stopped vibrating. "Maggie is up." I explained, pulling myself out of Harry's arms. "She probably needs to be changed." I moved to start towards the door when Harry grabbed me around the waist, preventing me from doing so.

"I'll get her." He said, kissing the side of my face as he released me. I blinked, looking up at him with a grin.

"Do you even know how to change a diaper?" I teased. He looked back, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"I'd be up for learning." I never thought I would hear that from a man. Maybe I should take advantage of it while I can…

xXx

"This is a lot harder than it looks." Harry groaned, trying to keep Maggie from rolling off the table. She giggled up, holding her hands out to Harry. His green eyes flickered over to my brown ones. "Seriously Stephanie, help me!"

I laughed from across the room, walking over. Standing next to him, I held Maggie's feet together with one hand. "Holding her feet will keep her from rolling off the table." Harry nodded next to me. He let me take over in order to show him what to do. Discreetly, he slid one of his arms around my waist. "Start from the top up. She can get an infection if you wipe from the bottom up." Maggie whined as I placed the cold wipe against her skin. "Throw the diaper away and put a new one on her." I lifted her feet, sliding the back of the diaper out from her rear end and handing it to Harry. Then I reached into the diaper bag Harry had on his shoulder and grabbed a new diaper. I put the back of the clean diaper up to her lower back and placed her bottom into the diaper, lifting the sides and strapping the diaper in place. Her pants went back on and I scooped her up, placing her onto my left hip. "It gets easier with practice."

"Can I hold her?" He asked slowly, looking at my eyes then away.

"You don't have to ask." I giggled, taking Maggie off my hip and holding her out to him. Harry took his daughter from me leisurely, hold her against his chest. She looked at him curiously then reached up and took off his classes, laughing. Harry smiled, which was rare.

And for just a few minutes I felt like we were a family. Too bad it wouldn't last long.

Chapter End. Review, and things won't have to get ugly for Stephanie :D Review, and her and Harry might have a happy life. Yes, I am threatening my own character. Hahah! I'm cool like that.

xoxo

~Sarah