Disclaimer: All characters and settings recognizable to the Harry Potter universe belong to J.K. Rowling and I am only borrowing them. No money is being made from these writings. This is her world and I am only playing it.

Author Note: Mature content to follow.

Harry listened as Hermione called and called for Ron. He was still stunned that Ron had left them. How could he? Something inside Harry snapped and twisted. His heart ached that Ron would do this to them when he was so needed. A part of Harry didn't blame him. This battle wasn't ever Ron's to begin with. This was Harry's burden to bear.

"Ron!" he heard Hermione sobbing in the woods. "Ron, come back!"

"Hermione! Hermione, come here. He's gone." Harry caught up to her and grabbed her arm. She turned to him, her face crumpled with hurt and shock.

"Harry, why? Why would he do this to us?" She collapsed against Harry's chest and cried her heart out. He half carried her back to the tent and pulled her inside. He spent the rest of the night holding her as she sobbed herself to sleep and settled into restless dreams. He held her tightly, knowing that he had never deserved a friend as loyal as she was to him.

The next morning was awkward. Hermione woke, nestled against Harry and thoroughly enjoying his warm embrace. As soon as she realized where she was, however, she nearly jumped off of him. He startled awake, half drawing his wand before gathering his wits.

"…'Mione," he mumbled. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just… I forgot myself last night. I'm sorry I did that." She blushed, and wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Don't be. You earned that cry. Everyone needs a good cry now and then, Hermione." He sat up and stretched. She nodded but didn't seem fully convinced. "Hey, how about we forget about it, and work on some breakfast. I'll try to learn how to cook a little."

"Sure. I'd like you to practice a bit first. As far as food goes, it has to be edible." He laughed at her attempt at a gibe, knowing she was trying to lighten the mood.

True to his word, Harry spent the next several days learning some basic survival skills. Where Hermione couldn't stand the thought of killing an animal herself, Harry found a lot of great information in one of her books she'd packed on setting snares and how to clean the animals once he'd got them. With his ability to catch a hare or squirrel every so often, and Hermione's gathering skills, they soon began to eat better than they had been before. They had an unspoken agreement not to talk about Ron's betrayal, or to talk about Ron at all. After the first few days, the ache in Harry's heart began to ebb and Hermione no longer got teary eyed at random moments.

They were no closer to coming up with ideas for the Horcruxes, though. Harry began to insist that they visit his parents' graves in Godric's Hollow. There had to be clues somewhere, and he couldn't think of anywhere else to look that wasn't Hogwarts. Hermione grudgingly had to agree with him, although she felt deep down that nothing good was waiting for them in Godric's Hollow.

"Right, so we'll go tomorrow. We will stay under the cloak, out of sight. You should probably obscure our tracks." Harry felt almost excited, ready to be moving again, ready for some action. He had never been very good at just sitting back and waiting. Hermione nodded.

"I can do that. We will have to be careful. You-Know-Who is sure to have thought of you going back there at some point."

"I know. I just can't think of anywhere else to try to look for clues. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow we'll get to work."

Hermione dimmed the lights and they bedded down. Since the night Ron had left them, she'd had trouble sleeping. She would toss and turn restlessly, not knowing that she was searching for strong arms to hold her again.

It was an unmitigated disaster. They had nearly died on the fangs of Voldemort's snake familiar, and Harry's wand had been snapped in two. They had barely escaped, and then were forced to continue running for the next several hours to avoid capture. When they finally stopped to set up camp in a remote woody location in the bend of a small stream. Exhausted, they didn't even light a fire for warmth before collapsing into fitful sleep.

Morning found them still scared and still tired. Harry tried to cheer Hermione up, but she was somber.

"Harry, that was so close. I almost lost you." She wasn't crying, but her eyes were haunted.

"It's okay, 'Mione. It isn't our first close call. We made it." He awkwardly pulled her into a one armed hug. She froze before sinking against him and wrapping her arms around his neck. He stiffened a little, but she didn't let go.

"I think… Harry, I think I love you," she mumbled against his neck. He absolutely had no idea how to react.

"Erm, yeah, I love you, too, 'Mione. Of course. You're my best friend." She pulled back, her arms still around him, and looked him directly in the eyes.

"Harry James Potter, you knew exactly what I meant. You stupid, brave, beautiful, hard-headed boy." Her eyes were suspiciously shiny, but she gave him a small smile.

"Hermione, what about…" Harry tried, but she shushed him.

"Don't even say it. I thought I would end up with him, you know. Somehow it seemed inevitable. But he has never really returned the feelings. I've realized I don't have to settle for the inevitable. And I don't want to. Harry, I know that you have a thing for Ginny. I don't want to get in the way of that. I'm just so tired of not being seen. I'm like a giant walking book to everyone around me, and I just want people, you, to see me for the person I am," she spoke forcefully, her brows knit together. Harry carefully put his hands on her slim waist.

"I see you, Hermione. I know I haven't really ever told you how much I appreciate you. You are an amazing witch, and a beautiful person, inside and out—,"she snorted with disbelief—, "No, really, you are. You give and give and give of your time, your energy, your knowledge. But don't think I haven't noticed that your eyes light up when you're teaching, and they have little flecks of gold. Or how graceful you are when you duel, or how your laugh can bring joy to an entire room full of people. And when you're mad, Merlin, you're breathtaking. Terrifying, but stunning." He laughed, and now she really was crying. "Stop. Don't cry." She hid her face against his chest, and he hugged her tightly. "And yes, I guess I do have a thing for Ginny, I'm just not sure what it is. I thought I wanted her. I don't know. Somehow I feel like I really just want a family. Ginny's family took me in without hesitation. It seems totally expected that I will end up with Ginny, you know. How can I hurt her like that and insult the entire family? I just don't know, Hermione. Hermione?"

She looked up at him, looking into those sorrowful green eyes and saw the conflict inside him. He so rarely let anyone see his more complicated emotions. "Harry? I. Love. You." And then she raised up on her toes and kissed him full on the mouth.

For a second, Harry was lost. Something that had broken inside him a long time ago seemed to fit back into place. Something inside his head was screeching. His scar flared with a brilliant pain, so fast that it was gone before it truly began, and all Harry could think was how soft Hermione's lips were on his. Suddenly, he was no longer lost. He knew precisely where he was and with Hermione, he was home.

Harry rumbled deep in his chest, and slanted his lips on hers. One hand pressed into the small of her back, pushing her against his body, and the other found the nape of her neck, keeping her right where he could taste her for as long as he wanted. Hermione let out small whimper, and Harry growled in response.

Nothing in Hermione's logical world had prepared her for the onslaught of feelings she experienced under this kiss. Her whole body seemed on fire, a sweet and warm caress from the inside out. Harry was strong, and aggressive, and bold. It didn't seem to matter that neither of them had had much experience. Everywhere he touched her jumped alive just for him. His hand on her neck, his body pressed against her, and his mouth on hers. Nothing made sense, and she didn't even care.

He tore his mouth off of hers, and she groaned in protest.

"Merlin, Hermione!" he gulped. He panted as if he'd been running for miles, and she realized she was breathing just as harshly. He stepped back, seeming to regain some of his senses.

"Harry," she said, grabbing his hand, "I've never felt like this before." His hand clutched hers, and he turned his troubled eyes back to hers.

"Me, either. I—I had no idea kissing could be so, uh…."

"Wonderful, Harry. I… I don't want you to stop." Hermione blushed, utterly embarrassed at her brazenness.

"Hermione, it's not right. We're at war. I don't want to hurt you...," Harry started to move away from her, worried that if he stayed too near he'd lose what small grip on his control he had. He was scared. He felt, well, definitely aroused. But more than that, he felt possessive, and the things flashing through his head were absolutely not proper. Certainly not the sort of things a good, honest girl like Hermione would appreciate. Was he broken? He didn't know how to love. He hadn't been brought up that way. As if sensing his thoughts, Hermione pulled him back again.

"Harry James Potter, I think I've proven myself more than capable of making my own choices, haven't I?" she snapped. He nodded, sullen. "I want you to kiss me senseless." His eyes widened, but the set of his jaw said he wouldn't lose this fight. Her stubbornness slipped away as she saw him brace himself against her. "Don't make me beg, Harry," she nearly whimpered. Something dark and feral passed through his eyes, and it made Hermione shiver. "Please…"

With a deep throated growl, Harry was on her again. His kiss was hard and demanding, and Hermione melted into it. Moments dragged by into a seeming eternity of endless thrills, and she almost cried in shock when he broke the kiss. His hand in her tangled curls made her gasp as he tugged her head back just enough to reach the tender skin of her neck. He trailed open-mouthed kisses from her ear lobe to her collar bone, each one hotter than the one before and sending little shocks straight to her core.

"Oh, oh," she moaned, as he nipped and then sucked at the sensitive spot just above her collarbone. His free hand had found its way under her shirt and was tracing warm circles at the small of her back. She moved against him, not sure what she was looking for. A pressure was building inside her and she knew that somehow Harry would be able to relieve it. He straightened from suckling her neck, his eyes glazed. He seemed to realize just then that he'd snarled his hand in her hair and pulled her head back.

"Am I hurting you?" She licked her lips, giving him a slow blink.

"No."

"Hermione, don't lie to me." His grip loosened and she whined a little.

"Okay, yes, but don't stop." She didn't let him move away again.

"I—I'm not sure I know how to do this. I don't want to hurt you," he whispered. She could hear in his voice his self-loathing. His eyes narrowed and he stared at her hard as he admitted, "But I do kind of like hurting you? I'm disgusting."

"Don't. Don't let go of me. Harry, if you're disgusting, then I'm disgusting for liking it. I—," her cheeks flamed red, but she met his eyes without flinching. "I want you to want to hurt me. I want you to want to possess me, tell me what you want me to do, take care of me, and love me. Every other part of my life, I'm in complete control. I'm the leader, I'm the smart one, I'm the bossy one. There are books, of course. I've never really read them, but you're not disgusting and neither am I. I could find one, if you'd like to read up on it, but—."

"Stop talking." Harry's eyes were hard again, dark and almost dangerous. "I'm going to tell you what I want to do to you, Hermione." Her eyes widened, and he gripped her hair again, hard enough to make her gasp. He placed soft, warm kiss on her parted lips. "I want to kiss every inch of your body, until you are begging me for more." He nibbled her lower lip. "I want to taste your body at the moment you cum." He ran placed his mouth against her ear and whispered, "I want to gag you with your own panties so your screams can't be heard." She moaned as his free hand ran under her shirt again. "I want to hold your arms above your head, pin you down, and shag you until the only word you remember is my name." He cupped one breast in his palm, feeling the taut nipple through the silky fabric of her bra. "I want to bend you over and slap your bum completely pink when you can't stop running that sassy little mouth of yours." She whimpered, and felt wetness in her panties. "I want to see you on your knees, wrapping those perfect lips around my hard cock until I explode in your mouth and you swallow me down." He stepped swiftly away from her, breaking all contact.

"Harry!" Hermione stumbled a little towards him. His face was hard to read, his breathing was harsh. Almost against her will, Hermione trailed her eyes down his body and found the large bulge at the front of his jeans. An image came unbidden into her mind, of falling to her knees before him and undoing the button…

"I, uh, Hermione. You aren't angry?" She snapped her eyes back to his face.

"No, and I'm not scared. I don't have vivid fantasies like those, but every single thing you said made me want it. Every single thing. I want those things, and I want you."

Harry swallowed. "Promise me one thing. You'll stop me if… If you change your mind? Hermione, if I kiss you again, I won't be able to stop."

"Oh, Harry. Yes, I promise I will stop you if I change my mind." She moved towards him. He stopped her, his eyes darkening once more. She was beginning to see the subtle change from unsure Harry to aggressive Harry, and her stomach clenched for him.

"One more thing, Hermione." He narrowed his eyes. "I want you to beg."