Chapter Twenty-Three - Take My Hand

Touch my skin and tell me what you're thinking / Take my hand and show me where we're going / Lie down next to me, look into my eyes / And tell me, oh tell me what you're seeing / So sit on top of the world and tell me how you're feeling / What you feel now is what I feel for you.

Take my hand and if I'm lying to you / I'll always be alone, if I'm lying to you.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

2:00 AM

Ron and Dawn were sitting in Dawn's room talking. Ron kept assuring her that he wasn't going to leave her. Dawn was still worried that things weren't going to work out.

"What do I have to do to make you realize that I have no intention of leaving?"

"I'm opting for kissing" She leaned over and kissed him.

"I like kissing" He murmured against her mouth. "So do I" She responded.

She felt him smile against her lips. The two of them started kissing, and things were slowly but surely heating up. Dawn felt Ron's hands brush over her back and it sent shivers down her spine. His tongue was teasing hers, and it took every ounce of will power she possessed to stop herself from rushing through what she knew was inevitably about to happen.

They ended up lying down on her bed, both of their robes already somewhere on the floor. Dawn was reaching for the buttons on Ron's shirt and Ron had just unzipped Dawn's gown when he pulled away.

"What?" Dawn asked, breathlessly.

"Are you sure?"

Dawn nodded. "I'm sure. I'm very sure. Are- are you?"

"Yes"

She kissed his neck just below his earlobe and said, just above a whisper, "I love you"

Ron smiled and cupped her cheek in his hand. "And I love you"

He kissed her, their hands roaming everywhere at once, and...you can figure out the rest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

See my eyes, they carry your reflection / Watch my lips and hear the words I'm telling you / Give your trust to me and look into my heart / And show me, show me what you're doing / So sit on top of the world and tell me how you're feeling / What you feel is what I feel for you.

Take my hand and if I'm lying to you / I'll always be alone, if I'm lying to you / Take your time, if I'm lying to you / I know you'll find that you believe me, you believe me, you believe me.

You believe me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

3:00 AM

Hermione was awakened by a soft kiss on her lips. She was still sitting in the Common Room with a book in her lap.

"Mmm.." She opened her eyes. "This is a very pleasant way to be awakened"

"I thought so" He went to pull her to her feet. "C'mon"

"What?"

"I have a surprise for you" He yanked her up.

"Harry, it's three in the morning and I'm in my pajamas"

"I know, but I want to show you something"

'You weren't so anxious when we were in my room earlier.' Hermione thought. They were alone, kissing like there was no tomorrow, but it hadn't gone any farther, even though she desperately wanted it to. She loved him - what was it going to take for him to see that? He said it once but - she wanted to her it again.

Grumbling, Hermione climbed with Harry under the Invisibility Cloak. "This had better be worth it, Potter"

Harry grinned mischievously. "Oh believe me Granger, it is"

The trip through the hallways with Harry was both silent and very uneventful. She kept glancing at him and he had that same goofy smile plastered on his face.

When they reached what Hermione recognized as the Astronomy Tower, Harry crept up behind Hermione and covered her eyes.

"What are you - "

"Shh" The sound if his whisper made her tingle all over. The feeling was only personified as he kissed her neck slowly and deliberately. Hermione melted in his arms.

"Alohomora," Harry muttered and then whispered, right next to her ear, "Take ten steps and then keep your eyes closed" She nodded.

"One, two, three" He whispered. Harry's hands were still over her eyes. She was finding it increasingly difficult to count with the feeling of his breath on her neck.

"Eight, nine, ten"

Harry stepped away, and Hermione couldn't help but be disappointed. He must have opened a window, because she felt a cool breeze in the room. She suddenly realized how warm the room was - or was that just her?

"Okay" Harry said. "Open your eyes"

Hermione opened her eyes slowly and had to bite back a gasp.

The room was full of small, lit candles. She looked out the window and saw the lake in the moonlight. It was absolutely beautiful.

"Well?"

Hermione faced him. "It's perfect" She said smiling.

"Perfect for what, exactly?" Harry said, putting his hands around his waist.

Hermione stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed his earlobe, sending shivers down his spine. She whispered, "Something like this," and pulled his mouth to hers.

They didn't waste any time. In a matter of minutes, Harry's tee shirt was on the ground and Hermione's sweatshirt was gone, leaving her in a camisole, and him topless.

Hermione pulled back for just a second and looked into his eyes. She kissed him and said, "I love you"

Harry kissed her. "I love you too"

That was all the confirmation she needed.

They kissed again, this time a little more driven then before, and...you can decide how the scene plays out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Feel the sun on your face and tell me what you're thinking / Catch the snow on your tongue and show me how it tastes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

6:00 AM

Hermione awoke contentedly curled in Harry's arms. The sun was just coming up and she wrapped her robes around her as she went over to the window. She felt Harry come up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist She leaned back into him. He kissed the top of her head.

"We should go down to breakfast" Hermione said sighing.

Harry turned her around. "In a little while" He kissed her, slowly and thoroughly, putting his whole self into it. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into the kiss.

This, in her eyes, was absolutely perfect.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Take my hand and if I'm lying to you / I'll always be alone, if I'm lying to you /Take your time and if I'm lying to you / I know you'll find that you believe me, you believe me

You believe me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

7:00 AM

Ron awoke to the feeling of fingers trailing down his chest. He smiled and looked over at Dawn, who was already awake.

"Been up a while?" He asked her.

"No. Just a few minutes" She leaned up to kiss him.

"Good morning" He said, still kissing her.

"Yes, it is a VERY good morning" She kissed him one last time and stood up, wrapping a sheet around her.

She walked over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of plaid pajama pants and a red tank top. She felt arms go around her and pull her down onto the bed. She laughed.

Dawn turned her head around and kissed him, not ever wanting to stop.

"Dawn," Ron said between kisses, "as much as I'd love to stay here all day," still kissing, "we need to leave before your sister comes looking for you"

Dawn groaned. "Do we have to?" They were still kissing.

"Unfortunately"

Dawn sighed and pulled back a little bit. "We should go change then"

"Yeah"

She kissed him again and smiled. "I love you Ron"

"I love you too Dawn. Always"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

7:30 AM

It was like Seventh Year pajama day. All of the Seventh Years went down to breakfast in their pajamas, no exception. 'There must have been a memo.' Dawn mused wryly. She was sitting next to Ron. He said something and she laughed.

"Did we miss the memo about the pj's?" Buffy asked.

"Apparently so" Angel said. "Look at those two" He motioned to Ron and Dawn. "They - "

"Oh my" Buffy said, realization striking her.

"What?"

"Angel, look at her face. When was the last time you saw me like that?"

"This morning, but I don't - " It finally hit him. "Oh. Now, Buffy, stay calm" He said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"You know what?"

"What?"

Buffy smiled. "I'm happy for her. They're in love. Besides, she's already asked if she can go live with him"

"Who's living with who?" Xander asked yawning.

"Oh, Dawn wants to move in with Harry, Ron, and Hermione after the summer"

"And you're letting her?" Faith feigned surprised. "B, I'm shocked"

"Hush Faith. She's allowed"

"Why after the summer?" Xander asked.

"Because she won't be eighteen until July"

Buffy looked at Willow and they both burst out laughing, for no reason in particular, besides the fact that all was well with the world -

For now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

8:00 PM, Friday

The Seventh Year's last week at Hogwarts went by in the blink of an eye, so fast that before anyone knew it, it was June 2nd. Preparations were being made for the ceremony - a huge area was being set up outside for the graduates and their family members. Between graduation and the final Quidditch match for the cup between Gryffindor and Slytherin (Gryffindor won), everyone was in a frenzy.

That night, Buffy was struggling to settle down her very rowdy group for her very last story-telling session - coming back to life.

"Guys" Buffy called. "People!" Buffy struggled to get their attention. "Oh, screw it - SHUT UP!" Faith yelled. The room went silent.

"Christ, I forgot how bad Senioritis was" Buffy shook her head. "I know that most of you are excited about tomorrow, but please, calm down for two hours, and then you can all go on your merry way" There was a nod of agreement. "Okay, so, where were we? Ah yes. I died. Well, obviously, I'm not dead anymore. This is how it happened"

Buffy launched into a long story about how Willow was able to bring her back and how she was so disoriented and confused that she didn't know what was what. She had the class on the edge of their seats until she got to the part about Iris.

"So I told Faith to hand me a pen and said, 'Looks like we're going to Hogwarts.' And the rest you know. We came, we fought, we conquered. That's pretty much the end"

The class was completely silent.

"Wow. That's amazing" Ron said even though he heard the story before.

"Yeah, I guess I've had an eventful life. Most slayers do. Ask Faith"

"Oh yeah, jail is loads of fun" Faith joked. Some of the Muggle born students laughed.

"Look, I didn't tell you this story all year to impress you. I - we told you so you would learn something. No matter how bad life gets, it can always get worse. And once it does...one person can make a difference as long as they have friends. Willow and Xander have been with me from the beginning. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I couldn't fight without them"

"Awe Buffy" Willow said.

"I feel a group hug coming on" Xander said, rubbing his hands together.

"NO!" Willow and Buffy yelled.

The whole class burst into hysterical laughter as Xander pulled both of them into a hug. The laughter resonated throughout the castle.

It was music to Professor Dumbledore's ears.

"Well Rupert, I didn't think she could do it. You knew all along"

"Knew what, Albus?" Giles asked.

"That Buffy could bring laughter back to these students. This has been the most eventful and interesting year in their very short lives. And I have you and the other professors, and Dawn, to thank for it"

"Albus, truly, I'm honored, but.."

"No. In fact, I have an idea. Graduation will be truly special this year, I can assure you.

Now, for my plans"

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