The Sitting Room, 12 Grimmauld Place, Muggle World...
Night had fallen and Hermione Granger could not bring herself to sleep. Her weary mind had been busy searching for Severus Snape and wondering how he had been fearing out in the wilderness alone. She had been well aware that he had his doubts about their success against the giants but he had been capable of handling the situation, he was more than equipped to take on the creatures as well as strong enough to lead the werewolf army against the death eater forces, the young witch simply worried for her lover as she always would be given his struggle to keep his humanity in the wake of the beast running free. Feeling restless in the wake of her lover's absence, she ventured down the stairs toward the darkened sitting room. There was no telling what Severus had been up to or how long he would be given to Hircine's influence while leading the werewolf army, but she had hoped that he could return to her as he was and that once the fighting was over, they could be together in peace.
The cold night air had been less than inviting as she braved the minor taste of the elements to get control of her wayward thoughts. As she sat pondering the fate of the future, a seemingly exhausted Harry James Potter came wandering down the stairs wearing a gray t-shirt and blue plaid pajama pants. His messy brown hair had been unkempt and wild all over his head suggesting that he had attempted to get some sleep but was given to night terrors.
Shaking her head, Hermione noted the very child-like timidness the boy who lived exhibited when he crept into the sitting room in search of her. No sooner had he stepped foot into the sitting room, she turned on the lamp startling him instantly and amusing herself in the process in the wake of his fright.
"What are you doing here Harry?" she asked in a seemingly exhausted tone.
"I...well...I could ask the same of you," he replied in his defense.
Hermione shook her head.
"Bad dream?" she asked.
Unable to keep up the pretense for very long, he nodded and made his way to the empty sofa lined against the wall. The exhausted green-eyed wizard threw himself onto the cushions and leaned his weary head against a pillow.
"Can't get this bloody war out of my mind," he admitted. "It's as if everyone is counting on me and I haven't the faintest idea how to go about all of this."
"I doubt any of us know how to go about all of this," replied Hermione resting back against the large armchair she sat in. "Not even Severus is sure of what will become of us half the time."
Harry seemed to cringe at the mention of Snape's first name coming from his best friend. It was still not used to her being in a relationship with the dreaded Potions Professor but it was a moot point by now. She had made it clear that she was in love with the git and there wasn't a thing anyone could say or do to change it.
"If he's having a difficult time coming to terms with all this...what hope do I have?" asked the green-eyed wizard rather.
"You aren't alone in this, everyone has something at stake in this war," said Hermione meeting her friend's gaze. "You simply weight name recognition...but everyone will be with you on the battlefield."
Harry sighed looking up at the ceiling.
"I don't want anyone else to die because of me," he said sadly. "I mean...weren't my parents and...Sirius enough?"
"This war isn't about you Harry," said Hermione. "Not really, it's bigger than just being about you vs. Voldemort, and come to think of it, many of our friends have been fighting this war since before we were even born."
The green-eyed wizard found it difficult to accept that this had not truly been about him.
"It doesn't matter where I am or whom I'm with, he keeps coming for me," he said flashing back to the times he's faced down Voldemort.
"And each time you've defeated him," replied Hermione not worried in the least about her friend meeting his destiny head-on.
"Yeah with your help or Dumbledore's and even Snape's." admitted the restless young wizard.
Hermione sighed this time unsure what Harry wanted from her in terms of reassurance. As far as she has been concerned she was done with hand-holding. The angst she felt following Snape's departure had taken precedence over many emotionally draining aspects in her weary mind.
"I don't know what to say to ease your mind Harry." said the amber-eyed witch meeting her friend's gaze. "War is never easy...but we will be fighting this fight together as we always have."
Harry nodded finding himself slightly reassured.
"You... have feelings for him?" he asked not wishing to mention the Potions Professor's name.
Hermione knew whom he spoke of and nodded.
"It may be hard for you to understand this Harry..." She said. "But I love him."
"Does...does he love you?" asked the green-eyed wizard.
"He does," replied Hermione. "I don't have a clue as to what's in store for us in the future but it's enough to keep us going."
Harry stared up at the ceiling for a moment.
"Mione." He began unsure he knew what he wanted to say. "If things go badly in this war...well...I wanted you to know...that I appreciate everything you've done for me...And that maybe you and Snape aren't so terrible together."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at her best friend's attempt at an apology.
"It'll be alright Harry." She said hoping her chosen words had been correct.
The green-eyed wizard had closed his eyes finding himself drifting off to sleep on the sofa once his weary mind calmed.
Hermione Granger could only glance out the window into the cold night sky thinking of her werewolf lover and wondering how he had been faring in the wake of his departure from 12 Grimmauld Place.