A/N: I would NOT have been able to do this without my great friend AMANDA!!! WOOT to you! IN this one, Hermione is recovering from the DoM...

A/N 2: starts in Harry’s POV….switches to third person about halfway through… Enjoy!

Song: Have You Ever?

Artist: Brandy

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In the immortally genuine words of whoever said it first, love is blind.

You only realize how much you need a person, how much you love them, until they're in danger of leaving you.

Then the world stops, and nothing matters. All you can think about is how they might never come back.

All I could think about were the things I should have told her... the things that I still needed to tell her.

Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry

All I could do was stay by her side, her hand clasped in mine, hoping that she would soon awake, revealing those beautiful honeyed eyes to me.

'Was she all right? How could I have let this happen?'

I couldn't focus on anything else but her.

Her smile, her laughter, her eyes, her scent.

I missed everything about her, sitting there all night, my face streaked with tearstains, holding on to her.

My soul was deteriorating as I teetered on the brink of insanity.

She didn't deserve what had happened to her.

Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night

As she lay on that too-white hospital bed, soft hand curled in mine, I couldn't stand it anymore.

I couldn't stand being Harry, like I had told Dumbledore.

I couldn't stand putting her in danger by just being me. She was too precious to lose...

Looking at her face, paler than usual, it struck me how beautiful she really was. Her soft, thick brown hair fell angelically in soft curls around her face, and her lips…

Full, soft, and pink in color, which contrasted more than usual against her pale face.

Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right

When I saw that purple fire strike her chest, my world stopped.

I couldn't breathe.

She is my life; without her, I am nothing.

And I didn't realize it until she was almost taken from me.

Someday Dolohov is going to pay for what he put her through. That I vow.

Have you ever

I wanted to talk to her. To tell her everything is going to be okay. I wanted to show her the beauty in the world. I wanted to be there to show her the stars and lay on the grass with her at night while owls hooted in the moonlight. I wanted to take her hand and guide her through a thousand libraries just to see the way her eyes light up. I wanted to take her on a broom with me and fly up into the sunrise.

She came so close to not ever seeing the sun again.

All I could do was think about the times we had shared. When I first met her, a bushy-haired little girl on the Hogwarts Express. When I saw her that first time, I had no idea how close we would become..

And then when she was petrified... I think that's when I first started to realize how special she really was.

Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
You'd give anything to make them feel the same

When she awakens, I will not wait any longer to tell her how I feel. My feelings, dormant but existing until this day, won't be contained any longer.

She has to know, yet I can only hope she feels the same.

How will I tell her?

Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
But you don't know what to say
And you don't know where to start

As I sat there quietly, next to her, I glanced over at the lone fogged window. I walked over to it softly and gazed out silently at the rain steadily saturating the grounds.

To never see the sun... to never see the rain.

To never experience anything again - that had almost been her fate. And it was because of my selfish stupidity.

She told me not to go.

She could have stopped it all from happening.

She could have stopped him from dying.

So why had I led her into this trap?

Have you ever found the one
You've dreamed of all of your life

When I looked back over at her, she stirred, and I was immediately by her side.

"Hermione. Hermione, wake up," I whispered. "Please. I need you..."

And as if responding, her beautiful honey-colored eyes suddenly were revealed.

You'd do just anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to

"...Harry?" Hermione breathed softly, her voice laced with strong emotion.

He hugged her tightly and found her own arms wrapping around him, sending chills up his spine. Just her simple touch made his heart flutter.

"It's me, Hermione. It's me. I'll always be there for you... always..." he said softly into her hair.

Have you ever closed your eyes and
Dreamed that they were there

He released her tenderly, and for a moment they both stared into each other's eyes.

The beauty of Hermione’s face, now that she was finally awake…

Tremors surged through Harry’s soul at the sight of her beauty.

"Hermione…" Harry whispered, savoring the taste of her name on his lips.

"Yes?" She replied curiously.

"Come outside with me."

Hermione looked quizzically at him, but for once didn't question why.

And all you can do is wait for the day when they will care

He took her soft hand in his and helped her out of bed. And hand in hand they walked down to the grounds, neither of them talking, but somehow, both of them understanding that some things didn’t need to be voiced aloud. Their quiet footsteps echoed in the candlelit corridors.

"Hermione, I'm sorry that-"

"There's no need. I know. It's not your fault, Harry," she spoke quietly.

"But-"

"Don't worry about it. Don't stay in the past… look to the future." Hermione advised wisely, eyes locked on his as they stepped outside.

What do I gotta do to get you in my arms baby
What do I gotta say to get to your heart

An afternoon drizzle fell from the grey skies, as the dew on the grass glinted dully.

It was unusually overcast for late June.

The two stood together on the hill in silence, on a spot trailed by their footsteps which had marred the perfect fields of green.

"Hermione..." Harry murmured, reaching out his hand to brush a stray lock of hair away from her face.

Hermione closed her eyes at his touch, lulled by the soft temptation of his voice.

"Hermione, there's something I've wanted to tell you-"

Their faces were inches apart...

To make you understand how I need you next to me
Gotta get you into my world

"I..."

Their lips met tenderly, each of them savoring the taste of the other, feeling more complete than they ever had in their lives….

Harry felt as if he was whole, as if a portion of his soul had been restored unto him, as Hermione slowly, yet fiercely responded to Harry’s swift descent on her lips. Her knees began to buckle, and he snaked an arm around her waist, supporting her weight as she succumbed to the loss of her mind, and welcomed this constant state of intoxication.

'Cause baby I can't sleep

"Harry..." Hermione whimpered softly through the muffled sound of the sprinkling rain.

She began to cry softly, joyously, anticipating the words she knew were going to come next.

I can't believe I didn't tell you sooner," he whispered, kissing the tears away from her face as the they were showered by the stormy skies

"I love you so much Hermione…"

As lightheadedness slowly poisoned Hermione‘s entity, Harry smiled softly, almost shyly, as if he was once again a young boy of eleven, as he did when he first met her on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago.

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