A/N A Love Buried is written with JHH220. We hope you like it! Review will be greatly appreciated.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Harry turned to Hermione, who was gazing almost entranced out of the small window on the plane. The sun was setting fire to the clouds. Reds, deep oranges and pale pink were stretching along the horizon. Behind, a darkness had engulfed the sky, but ahead a deep fire was burning and splattering the sky with purples and golds.

"Yes," Harry smiled, "It is." The duo sat quietly for a few moments, continuing to admire the view, before Hermione broke the silence.
"Excuse me, Harry. Please can you let me out so I can get to my hand luggage?" She asked, referring to where she was sitting and how he would need to move.
"Sure." He said, with a smile. After Harry had moved, Hermione edged across the tight space between the rows of chairs and reached the storage slots. Standing on tiptoe, she stretched her arm up to open the door. She felt her bag beneath her fingers and tugged. It wouldn't move.

"Do you want me to get that for you?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded, and pulled her hand out the same time as Harry reached up. Their skin brushed very lightly. It was barely a touch, yet Hermione froze for a second and Harry's eyes widened. There was a slightly longer than comfortable pause.

"Here you go," Harry said quickly, yanking her bag down and handing it to her, careful to avoid touching her hand. He had felt something before, it felt almost dangerous, and Harry wasn't sure how he would feel it happened again.

"Thanks," Hermione muttered, swiftly returning to her seat. Harry and Hermione sat back down, mentally deciding to dismiss what had just happened. In fact, nothing had happened. At least, that is what they were trying to tell themselves.
"Erm...so h-how's you and Ron?" Harry asked nervously, stuttering a bit.
"I thought you worked with him?" Hermione joked, trying to break the tension that veiled them both. Harry chuckled, all confusion suddenly gone.

"Yeah. He's really disappointed he couldn't get time off work to come with you. I think he wanted to meet the parents," Harry said, grinning.

"Ah," smiled Hermione, nodding, "Of course. Listen, thanks for coming with me Harry. I think I need someone with me, having not seen my parents for so long. You think it will work, don't you?" Hermione's nerves showed on her face, she bit her lip, and no one but Harry could see that her soft brown eyes were slightly moist with tears.

"Hermione, you are the best witch I know. Of course it will work," Harry comforted. Hermione gave a slight smile.

"Thanks, Harry." He hesitated, but it seemed like an appropriate moment, so Harry squeezed Hermione's hand as they stared out at the sky beginning to fill with stars.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts and make sure your chair is forward. We are landing soon and expecting turbulence." The air hostess stated over the microphone. Hermione slipped her hand out of Harry's to fasten her seatbelt as the plane began to rattle and shake. The aeroplane's violent trembles threw Harry's head back suddenly against the seat. Through gritted teeth, Harry almost growled,

"Hermione, remind me why we decided to fly to Australia on a muggle plane and not just apparate?"
"Harry, it's perfectly logical," she replied simply, "We need to blend in with the muggle world. If we apparate, someone could easily grab hold of us. No one will be expecting us to travel by aeroplane, especially not Arden Malfoy."

"Don't worry about him. Ron's got Arden covered. That's why he can't come - they found a lead in London. By the time we return Arden should be in Azkaban." Hermione smiled.

"I'm not worried," she said, "We just need to be careful. Arden was a loyal follower of Voldemort. We took his life away Harry, he's angry. Arden was a Death Eater, he notices thing other people wouldn't." Hermione glanced at Harry's forehead.

"Like this," she sighed, and moved his hair to cover the scar. Harry closed his eyes at Hermione's gentle touch, trying to forget all the bad memories of Lord Voldemort and the war. Even though it was months after, Harry's guilt still remained of all the people who had died in Voldemort's hand, all the people who suffered, and all the people who still suffer. He's called a hero by the wizarding world but yet he feels responsible for the loss of lives - almost like a murderer. Now he's an Auror, the boyfriend of Ginny Weasley who plays Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies, he has a loving godson, Teddy Lupin, and the most caring friends he could wish for. Did he really deserve all this happiness?
Hermione sighed, understanding what Harry was thinking just from observing his face.

"It's not your fault," Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, I know," Harry muttered quickly.

"No, Harry. Listen to me. It's not your fault," Hermione repeated slowly, holding his gaze fiercely. Harry nodded, swallowing.

"You're ok?" Hermione checked. Harry smiled.

"I'm fine."

"Good." Hermione turned to the window, frowning a little, her teeth cutting into her lip.

"Hey," Harry said, "It's not your fault either, about your parents. Don't feel guilty about that."

"I wasn't," Hermione lied.

"And don't try lying to me, it's pointless," Harry laughed. Hermione closed her eyes for a few seconds.

"If I can't counteract the memory charm, then I've got nothing else. They will never have had a daughter, and according to them I will never have had any parents. But they're happy, aren't they? Maybe I'm just being selfish, being so worried whether I can get them to remember me..." Hermione said. Harry shook his head incredulously.

"Selfish? Hermione, you are the most selfless person I know. Look what you did - you cast a memory charm on your own parents to help defeat Lord Voldermort. Not just anybody would do that," Harry said gently.

"I didn't just do it to help win the war, Harry," Hermione whispered, "I did it to help you."

"And I can never explain enough about how grateful I am of everything you've done. Your parents-" Hermione cut him off in a sudden rush of anger.
"No, Harry, just stop." She sighed in frustration, and then continued, "My parents... They're hardly even my parents anymore. Like I said, they wouldn't have had a daughter." Hermione paused for a moment. Harry took this as an opportunity to reassure her.
"But, Hermione-" She, however, still didn't allow him to interrupt.
"Harry, you don't get it! There are people out there who made me and they're alive. They might not know who I am, but THEY ARE ALIVE. I find it selfish of me because your parents aren't and it seems silly to think that-" Now Hermione interrupted herself with her own sobs, "I'm sorry, Harry, I didn't mean to snap at you like that." Her tone softened into a desperate whisper.
"Shh..." Harry took her into his arms, telling her it was okay, whilst she continued to apologise.
Harry knew Hermione would never speak badly of his parents. She had visited their grave with him at Godrics Hollow more than once now, and each time she would pay her respects by casting a wreath of flowers.
"Can we change the subject please?" Hermione whispered, looking up at Harry from his chest. He smiled sympathetically in return as a yes. Hermione sat up straight and wiped the tears off under her eyes.
"So, Arden Malfoy... Ron mentioned you'd done a lot of research about him." Harry said, trying to change the topic as wished by Hermione. She nodded.

"Yes, he's Draco's second cousin. Lucius will have denied ever coming into contact with him of course, but it makes sense, a family of Death Eaters. He's brutal, many of his victims were tortured before being killed, even if they had no information. I guess he just enjoys it." Hermione explained promptly. Harry concealed a smile, even after leaving Hogwarts Hermione still managed to research something extensively and repeat it word for word without breathing. Hermione noticed Harry's lips starting to twitch at the sides.
"What?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Nothing." He smirked, no longer being able to contain himself. So, she swatted him on the arm.