Your love will be
Safe with me
re: Stacks
Bon Iver
Harry awoke suddenly.
For a moment, he wasn't sure if he had actually opened his eyes – the darkness that surrounded him was impenetrable and disorienting. He had trouble remembering where he was or how he had gotten there – he knew only a serene sense of peace, as one often does after being roused from a daydream. Harry felt as if he was waking up for the first time.
His body seemed very light, and he was curiously numb in places – the sensation was similar to being submerged in warm water – though he did perceive a slight pressure on his chest. As his eyes adjusted to the light, Harry surveyed his surroundings and was reminded of a small cupboard under a staircase, many lifetimes ago…
Maybe it was all a dream, Harry thought to himself, rather comforted by the idea. It had all felt very dreamlike, that was true. Half expecting to hear Mr. Dursley calling for his breakfast, Harry was startled when the weight on his chest stirred slightly. He caught the faint scent of strawberries, and it all came racing back to him…
...
The battle had been long and hard-fought. Harry felt drained – his strength was nearly depleted now. But he needed to fight on.
The Dark Lord faced him from across the hall, and while he towered over Harry, he was clearly weak as well. His breathing was heavy, and he swayed on unsteady legs, but his red eyes gleamed fiercely from beneath his skeletal visage. This was it.
"WHY DO YOU LIVE?!" screeched Voldemort, anger, fear and frustration strangling his harsh voice.
Harry, on the verge of giving up, allowed himself to consider this. Why did he push on? Why did he fight? Why did he continue, even when he knew he could not win? His outstretched arm, wand clutched tightly in his hand, began to sag…
And then he spotted Hermione's face. Images flooded his mind from all the eventful years past. Instantly, he was reminded of all he had fought for – all the hugs, the tender glances, the kind words. All the love. His strength returned, and multiplied, until he felt invincible. He knew why he lived. His gaze settled again on Tom Riddle.
"Because I have something worth living for."
A split second of silence tore the hall in two.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Tom Riddle hit the floor with a mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken, the white hands empty, the snakelike face vacant and unknowing. Voldemort was dead, killed by his own rebounding curse, and Harry stood with two wands in his hand, staring down at his enemy's shell.
Hermione was the first to reach him. Her arms enveloped him, her warmth overwhelmed him, and their lips crashed together in an eruption of joy. He kissed her with such passion and held her so tightly; he thought he might die from the sheer elation of it. Soon other arms were upon them, surrounding them in a sea of happiness and love. It was pure and perfect bliss.
Tears in his eyes, Harry surveyed Hermione's smiling face one last time before the vast wave of fatigue finally overcame him. He drifted off into unconsciousness, Hermione still in his arms, as a thousand supportive hands carried him away…
...
"Harry?"
It had been no dream. There, lying in his arms, was Hermione, just as lovely as ever. She looked up at him with a sleepy smile etched upon her face. He brushed back her bushy hair and sighed, utterly contented.
"You passed out," she whispered, afraid to break the silence of what Harry now realized was his old dorm room in Gryffindor Tower. "They all carried you up here so you could get some rest and, well," she blushed shyly, "I wanted to stay with you. Do you mind?"
Harry held her tightly against him, actually chuckling at the thought.
"Absolutely not," he said, grinning. "This is, without question, the single greatest morning I've ever experienced. Wait… it is morning, isn't it?"
Hermione nodded and murmured something like "yes" against his chest.
"Everyone should be in the Great Hall waiting for you," said Hermione, "when you're ready."
Harry honestly felt as though he could lie in his old four-poster bed with Hermione for the rest of eternity and have no complaints. Still, he wanted to see everyone, and there would be plenty of time to hold Hermione later. Wouldn't there?
"Hermione," began Harry with, with some trepidation in his voice, "what you said earlier. What I said earlier…"
Hermione put a finger to his lips. "Harry. You know I meant what I said."
"You mean…"
"I love you, Harry," she said, with the utmost confidence in her voice.
"I… I never thought… I mean, how long, Hermione? "
"Oh, Harry," sighed Hermione, as she often did when explaining something to him. "I've always cared for you – you know that – but, over the last few years, I've grown to see you as the man you've become. And I love that man, Harry. I love you. Didn't you know that?" she teased, tapping his nose with the tip of her finger and eliciting a laugh from Harry.
"Well… no. I didn't. I guess I never thought you would – of course I knew you cared for me, but… love? Wow." That was all Harry could really say. Love. The thought made his insides flutter.
"And what about you, Harry? Did you mean what you said?"
Harry didn't even pause to think. "Every word. I've ALWAYS loved you Hermione. I know it sounds crazy, but… I dunno. The moment I saw you, something just sort of clicked inside of me. It was something I'd never felt before, and it didn't take long to figure out. But I couldn't tell you. I needed you – I couldn't risk losing you. I was afraid I'd push you away, I guess. Yes, even I, the great Harry Potter, am capable of feeling fear." Hermione smiled at this. "And that – that fear – kept me going. I did everything I could to make sure I'd never lose you, that I could always have you with me. I really don't know what I would've done without you, 'Mione."
At this, Hermione reached up and kissed him, and he felt her tears against his face, though whether they were of joy or sadness, he couldn't say. "Nothing could ever tear us apart, Harry," she said, and it was with such certainty that Harry was forced to believe her. "Not before and certainly not now. You did it, Harry – you've passed the final test. There's no need to be afraid anymore."
And Harry wasn't. He knew now that, finally, he had nothing to fear. He would have a long life ahead of him, one filled with joy and possibility. But best of all, Hermione would be there to enjoy it with him – always.
"It's just too bad that it took the threat of death to make you tell me, Harry," said Hermione with a smile. "Am I really that frightening?"
"Well…" laughed Harry, "death is a powerful motivator…"
...
At last, Harry, still a bit unsteady on his feet, reached the stairway down to the Great Hall with his arm around Hermione. The golden light of morning bathed the castle in jubilant shades of red, yellow and orange. Harry had only a moment to enjoy the sight, as the hall was suddenly filled with the thunder of applause.
Hundreds of smiling faces shone up at him. Ron, Luna, Neville, Seamus, Dean. All the members of the DA. The entire Weasley clan. The faculty, all beaming with pride. The Order, with Tonks changing hair-styles every quarter-second. Centaurs, ghosts, house-elves, half-giants, even Peeves and Argus Filch; all hooting and cheering riotously. It was overwhelming.
The party went on for hours. A great feast, greater than any the Great Hall had ever seen, was laid out, and many toasts were given, enough to make the ever humble Master Potter go red in the cheeks. Hugs were received and pats on the back were handed out amply, mostly by Hagrid, which was always a pleasant experience for the recipient. Fireworks lit up the imitation sky with blinding frequency, courtesy of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and a clearly delighted Filius Flitwick. Firewhisky was enjoyed by all.
It was, without doubt, the greatest day of Harry Potter's life. It had an equally wonderful ending – as night fell, he found himself once again in his old four-poster, with a very tired Hermione curled up against his chest. Life was wonderful.
And it could only get better.
Why Do You Live? by InkHeartless
Chapter Notes: Really glad that some of you guys liked my writing. So, after much ado, chapter 2...