Prologue
Prologue
The Forest of Dean
Hermione opened her eyes, the light shinning through the open flap of their tent, a cold breeze, gently gliding across her bare skin. A heavy arm draped over her, his wide palm squeezing her hip. She sat up with a start. Merlin, what had she done? The night came rushing back to her. They had danced, the music just barely above a whisper.
Harry had held her tightly, slowly rocking to the soft sway of the music. “Harry… I’m scared.” She admitted. She had wanted to say the words for weeks. Somehow, in his arms while they swayed in the candlelight, she had found the courage.
His green eyes searched hers, what he saw there, she wasn’t sure. But then his mouth was on hers. A silent promise of protection. She hadn’t pulled away. Instead, she held on tighter, her fingers wrapping themselves within the soft fabric of his shirt. She hadn’t pulled away as he guided her backwards until her back side hit the table. She hadn’t stopped him as his hands tentatively gripped her hips, his eyes silently asking permission. He lifted her onto the table, and she spread her legs as he drifted closer, his hands cupping her face and gently pulling her mouth back to his own. She hadn’t admitted to herself let alone anyone else that she had dreamt about such a thing since she was eleven years old.
In some twisted way it felt right that her first friend was her first intimate partner, but now lying here, bare beneath the covers, her mind flashed to Ginny. Ginny who had been unequivocally in love with Harry since the moment she laid eyes on him. Hermione glanced down. Harry was still asleep, curled beside her, his hand gripping her protectively. She studied his face as he slept. His unruly hair fell across the famous scar and her heart lurched with a painful beat. How close he had come to dying before she even met him. He had been through so much in his seventeen years. Guilt flooded in the pit of her stomach. This. Them. It would ruin everything they had. He was all she had left now. Her parents lived in Australia, blissfully unaware that they even had a daughter. Carefully she slid from his arms, her heart already aching from the loss. Quietly she dressed before she picked up her wand and stood at the side of the bed.
This was right. She told herself. She had let things go too far. She wouldn’t erase everything, but last night had to go. She had to protect him. Swallowing the lump in her throat she lifted her wand with trembling fingers before pointing it at his head. His eyes opened slowly, before widening in disbelief. “Hermione….what are you doing?” He croaked, his voice thick with concern. “Fixing this Harry…” She said on a sob. Understanding washed over his face, “Please don’t.” Before he could say anything further, she closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat, “I love you, Harry.” She whispered, her voice just as broken as her heart. “Hermione…” He tried again. Before he could say anything more, she whispered “Obliviate.”