What's Best For Her

Missing You Dearly

Harry Potter missed Hermione Granger, that was for certain. In all their years of knowing each other, they had never spent more than a couple of weeks apart save for their second year when she was petrified. Even then, he remembered that he scarcely left her bedside for the entirety of the time she laid in her bed. Now, however, he was forced to endure being hundreds of miles away from her because he couldn't follow her back to Hogwarts.

He tried to go with her to finish his studies but he mentally admitted to himself that he didn't think he could ever step foot into the castle without the shadows of the war following his every footstep. He couldn't bear to be in the place again knowing so many lives were lost within its walls, knowing that it was the site where hundreds of innocent people gave their lives fighting bravely against a madman.

Even so, he was comforted by the fact that she wrote to him everyday and talked about every little thing she could think of. The truth, Harry admitted, was that he couldn't imagine a life without Hermione with him. There was no him without her, she was his other half, his counterpart in every way possible. He knew it since their second year at Hogwarts but could never communicate it to her. How were you supposed to tell a girl that you can't imagine your life without her in it?

He got the feeling that it involved the words 'I love you' but, even then, he couldn't say it to her during all their years of schooling and even during the hunt for horcruxes. There was the problem of her falling for Ron in their sixth year—that ended splendidly—and then the problem that their friendship had grown far too significant and wonderful that it would be too much of a risk to have it evolve beyond that.

But, Harry didn't know how much longer he could live without telling her he loved her. Just the simple thought of her finding another to love, to hold, to cherish, was enough to incite a burning pain in his chest that felt far worse than anything he'd ever experienced. That included the cruciatus curse. He had to see her and tell her how much he loved her, he needed to do so. Consequences be damned.

"Harry, dear, Hermione's written to you again," Molly Weasley, his surrogate aunt, and mother to his best mate called.

The green eyed wizard wasted no time in racing into the house with the widest of smiles on his face. While he had another home in the form of Twelve Grimmauld Place, Harry found himself staying at The Burrow more often than not. The warmth of the home coupled with the love he felt from both Arthur and Molly were enough to keep him going back to the place. He felt most at home with them since Hermione was gone.

Molly hummed along happily as she prepared dinner for her boys and husband as Harry gleefully ripped open the letter and began reading Hermione's message. His penmanship was no good, he'd be the first to admit that, but he had to put it through its paces because it meant that he kept in contact with her. The moment when her messages would come, the moment he read it, and then when he replied to her were the brightest parts of his day.

Dear Harry,

I'd almost forgotten how beautiful the grounds looked when the snow fell. It's so gorgeous and peaceful up here that it feels like paradise. It feels nice to experience the school normally for once, not that I would trade any of our adventures for it  mind you. Though I will admit that it is rather boring, as it has been for the last five months, without you. I miss you so much and Ginny gave me the wonderful idea of inviting you to Hogsmeade for this upcoming weekend (I think Saturday would work best). Please hurry up and let me know if you will come. I think we've gone long enough without seeing each other and I really miss you. I think I've said that already but oh well.  Also, because you keep asking, Gryffindor are at the top of the table in the Quidditch Cup.

Love always,
Hermione

Though he had seen her during her Christmas break, Harry didn't hesitate to pen his reply to her and readily accept her invitation. It was with a goofy grin on his face that he wrote his own letter telling her how much he missed her and that he couldn't wait to see her again. Molly watched the whole thing amusedly but didn't say a word, instead, choosing to let him act every bit like a lovesick puppy.

When Harry finished and hurriedly sent his reply off with Hermione's owl, he sat back and sighed blissfully.

"What did Hermione say, dear?" Molly questioned lightly, stirring her pot of soup.

"Oh, she asked me to meet her at Hogsmeade this weekend." He was still wearing his goofy grin on his face.

Molly hummed her acceptance of it and smiled warmly at him. "It's about time you went to visit her, I don't think I've ever seen you two apart from each other for this long," she told him.

"I know, I just...miss her so much. I can't wait to see her again," Harry replied.

It didn't take a pair of round frame glasses for Molly to see just how in love her surrogate nephew was with his bushy haired best friend. The mother knew that he had trouble expressing his feelings through words but his actions spoke for themselves. She only hoped Hermione would be able to see that, not that she doubted the girl was in love with him as well. Really, the only two people who didn't know the truth were them.

"Should I dress up? I mean it's cold outside but I mean...I don't want to meet her and look all...scraggly," Harry hesitantly spoke up after a moment passed.

Molly was surprised by Harry because he almost never asked for help and never did care too much for his looks. He had it bad for Hermione if he was even considering dressing up for the girl. It was truly heartwarming and tooth achingly sweet. She couldn't help but laugh at him faintly before going around to him and taking him in an embrace while he sat.

"Oh, dear, just be yourself for her. She'll love you all the same." He nodded his agreement as his head rested against her bosom. "That doesn't mean you can just wear anything, though. Dress nice but dress like yourself," she ordered.

"Yes ma'am."

With that she kissed the top of his head and went back to her soup as the rest of the family began ambling into the kitchen. Soon, Ron, George, and Arthur were all seated and hungrily awaiting the decadent meal she made for them.

"Oi, George, you think Hermione's written to him again?" Ron sarcastically asked his brother, an evil grin on his face as he watched Harry blush.

"Definitely, dear brother, I think our boy is blushing, isn't he?" George leaned over to inspect Harry's face before chortling with Ron while Mister Weasley clicked his tongue at them both. Even so, he couldn't help but snort behind his glass of pumpkin juice.

"Stop it you two, leave him be," Molly gently asserted to the two pranksters. She shot Harry a comforting look and then swatted Ron's shoulder when he wouldn't stop chuckling at the blush that was now on the tips of the boy's ears.

"Come on, mum, we're just having a bit of fun," George threw an arm over Harry's shoulder, "it's not our fault he turns into a tomato at the mere mention of the lovely Hermione Granger." He wiggled his eyebrows at the green eyed wizard and received a light punch to his arm for his efforts.

"George Weasley, you be silent now," Molly more firmly told her son. The effect of it was lost, however, as she couldn't stop her lips from slightly curling upwards at the sight of her boys.

"George, enough. Now, Harry, what did Hermione say?" Arthur asked conversationally while hiding his amusement.

Harry told them the same thing he told Molly and that he was planning to take up Hermione's offer to meet her in Hogsmeade during the upcoming weekend. It didn't help that Ron and George made gagging sounds at him while snorting at him the entire time he talked.

"That's enough, you two," Arthur chastised his sons and regarded Harry warmly. "That's wonderful, son. I know she must miss you just as much as you do her." He glared at Ron and George who were just about to make another snide remark and shut them up instantly. "It'll be nice for you to see each other again, especially in Hogsmeade during the winter. That's exactly where I took my darling wife on our first date."

Harry grinned at the man while the boys next to him made a show of shuddering and looking disgusted by the open affection their father was showing to their mother. He felt inspired by the story, though. He wondered if he and Hermione would end up like them. He hoped it would be so.