AN: This is my first story posting on Portkey. I hope everyone enjoys this.

Disclaimer: JKR owns everything HP, although I wish I did, sadly I don't. *sigh*

The Mirror of Erised

Harry tried his best to smile as he said goodbye to many of the Gryffindors. It seemed everyone was to be leaving but him himself. Ron's family was going to Romania to visit Charlie, and Arthur Weasley felt it would be too much of a risk for Harry to tag along. Mr. Weasley felt that Harry would be safer within the walls of Hogwarts. He, though Harry desperately hated to admit it, was correct of course.

“Well, mate, I am sorry about mum and dad. But, you know how parents are…especially ones in the Order you know. I'll send you an owl…maybe take some pictures to send you,” Ron tried to lighten the atmosphere. When he saw the look on Harry's face he said, “Look at it this way. At least you don't have to face any dragons!” This of course brought a small smile to Harry's visage. “Tell Hermione bye for me, will ya?”

Harry nodded. “Yeah, I will. Have fun mate.”

And with that Ron headed out of the portrait hole and disappeared for the Holidays.

“Harry?” A small voice called from the girls' dormitories. He turned to see a beautiful, somewhat bushy-haired, brown eyed girl standing at the top of the stairs. He smiled sadly.

Hermione would also be leaving him alone for the Holidays. This thought saddened him more than Ron leaving, for Harry had been in love with her since the moment she'd barged in his and Ron's compartment looking for Neville's toad Trevor during first year. He watched her intently as she made her way down the staircase and faced him. She smiled somewhat and moved in to hug him.

“Oh, Harry! I have wonderful news! Mum and dad are going to see my grandparents in France and they told me I could stay here if I wished. I'm staying, Harry, I'm staying here with you!” She squealed and jumped on him.

Harry was always taken aback by her sudden hugs, but this one caught him totally off guard. The pair rolled onto the floor in fits of laughter.

“That's great `Mione!” Harry hugged her back, and then helped her up from the floor.

…………………………………………..

On Christmas Day, the pair began to get bored. Hermione had once again read through Hogwarts: a History and Harry read Quidditch through the Ages for what seemed to be the hundredth time. Surprisingly, none of the other Gryffindors had stayed, and very few from other houses had either. The castle was almost completely emptied of its occupants.

“Harry, I'd like to take a walk,” Hermione shut her book and looked at him.

“Yeah, where to?” He asked. Harry was always up for walking around the castle instead of reading.

“I want to find the Mirror of Erised,” she said simply.

Harry's book fell to the floor. “But why?!”

“I've had something on my mind for a long while now, well years now, and I need to know.”

“Well, after the Stone incident I have no clue where they moved it to, but I'm sure we can find it if we look hard enough.”

“What about the Room of Requirement?” Hermione asked as if

suddenly realizing that Hogwarts: a History contained a new volume.

“I suppose that could work.” Harry had honestly never thought of it before, but anything was possible in the Wizarding world.

……………………………………………..

We need to find the Mirror of Erised, Harry and Hermione thought in unison as they paced outside the Room of Requirement. A door suddenly appeared in front of them.

“Do you think it worked?” Harry asked her.

“I'm not sure, but I hope so,” she answered as she meticulously opened the door.

Inside was the beautiful, shining Mirror of Erised.

“I guess that answers our question.” Harry laughed.

“Yeah,” Hermione said, her voice quavering.

She slowly stepped up to the mirror, running her hands across the framing.

“'Mione, you have to step directly in front of it,” he smiled softly.

She looked at him with such sad eyes. His heart skipped a beat.

“But I'm afraid of what I might see.”

“Why?” Harry asked and softly took her hands in his.

“Well, I'm afraid that what I will see will be what I've been trying to hide from for many years,” tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she spoke.

“I'm in love, Harry. So very much in love! But I don't think he could possibly feel the same as I. I'm afraid that I'll see him and me together and what if he doesn't love me in real life?”

Harry's heart dropped, but he took her in his arms anyway. So she was in love? Well, I guess it's not me she's in love with. He thought sadly.

“It's okay, I will be right here beside you,” he softly pushed her back in front of the mirror.

Hermione immediately gasped and held her hands to her face. Harry didn't dare take his eyes from her. She was too beautiful, even more beautiful than anything he'd see in the mirror. He knew he'd see her anyway.

“Oh Harry!” She collapsed into his arms.

“What is it, love?” He whispered softly.

“It's you I love!!” She blurted suddenly. “I saw you and me in the mirror. We had a house, and a family! We were married, Harry! And we were so happy,” she cried.

Harry was in utter shock at all that she had said. “Why are you crying?” He finally asked.

“Because I know that you couldn't possibly love me!” She exclaimed.

“Hermione, I have never once known you to be wrong, but you are now. I have loved you from the very first moment I met you! You were a know-it-all, but a beautiful one at that. It's killed me all this time to think that you liked Ron. It's killed me inside to think that you never loved me as nothing more than a friend.”

Hermione smiled. “Ron and I would never work! And deep down he knows that. We fight too much. But you and I Harry…” She trailed off slightly. “I love you so much Harry and I don't want to lose you.”

“You're never going to, `Mione. I love you too.” He hugged her tightly to him. “Merry Christmas Hermione.”

“Merry Christmas, Harry.” She smiled and softly kissed him.