A/N sorry for taking so long, I had a migraine then got sick (not covid)
Enjoy the chapter

Harry made a few discoveries.

He liked walking hand in hand with Hermione to classes. He liked running his hands through her hair when she put her head on his lap. Her hair was very soft and smelled like vanilla. He liked hugging her from behind when he was given the chance. He liked shamelessly flirting with her to make her blush. He really liked kissing her. Her lips were soft and he always got a spark of energy when he kissed her.

Hermione also made a few discoveries.

She liked getting little notes from Harry. She liked how warm his hugs were and how he always knew when to hug her. Was she easy to read? It didn't matter right now. She liked how nothing really changed but everything was new.

What she didn't like was all the looks she received from other girls. She never told Harry when she noticed but it really bothered her.

Everyone knew she was good enough for school amd for anything that had to do with her intelligence, she was the brightest witch her age after all. But was she good enough for the chosen one?

Harry was very attractive and he had a great title, no one would ever be seen as good enough for him. That was the big problem.

"Mione, you've been looking at the plant for a long time, are you alright?" Pansy sat next to her on the bed. Hermione nodded trying to shrug it off but Pansy scoffed. "what's bothering you?"

"it's just," she fell back on the bed, "it's hard dating Harry. Don't get me wrong, he's amazing and very charming and so nice and I really really like him. But then everyone looks at me like I don't deserve to be with him. He is the cause that the world is safe and even if I did help they'll always put him in a higher pedestal."

Pansy frowned, "have you talked to him about it yet?" Hermione shook her head. "You should talk to him then. If any relationship wants to succeed you need good communication."

Hermione pouted, "I don't want him to worry or to feel guilty because I know he would blame himself."

"He's already worried Mione. Why don't you owl him to meet you here and I'll go with Ron to take care of our plant?"

Hermione agreed and owled Harry. She knew this was what was best. Pansy left with her plant right away.

When Harry arrived he had a worried expression on his face. Hermione grabbed his hand and sat with him on the couch. She kissed his cheek and gave him a shy smile. "what's wrong Mione?"

"I just, it's just, it's stupid."

Harry picked her up and placed her on his lap. He kissed her nose and smiled, "you can tell me. I promise I won't laugh."

"Everything is great between us. I like it."

"but?"

Hermione sighed, "it's just the looks from others. It makes me self conscious." Harry frowned and hugged her close to his chest. "I told you it was silly."

"No, it's not silly. Look there's no one else Id rather be with than with you Mione." He kissed her forehead, "thank you for telling me and if there's anything I could do to make this all better please let me know. You're amazing and beautiful and so bright Mione, don't let other make you feel less. I would be dead if it wasn't for you."

"thank you Harry."

"let's take a walk by the lake before it's dinner time, yeah?"

Hermione nodded and got off of him. They walked together, Harry's arm around her shoulders. Hermione felt relaxed in the embrace. "Hermione you're amazing, I hope you know that."

Hermione kissed his cheek, "thank you Harry."

They walked along the school grounds for a while until it was dinner time. They met their Slytherin friends at the table.

Draco smiled at them, "hey umm how do you order a room at those muggle hotels? How early do you have to do that?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "why ?"

"Well, our manors are being searched and probably taken away by the ministry and I don't want to bother my aunt and we also don't want to stay here for winter vacations. We need a place to stay." Draco explained.

Harry perked up, "you could stay in the Black Manor. There's enough rooms for all of us and it'll be fun."

Blaise smiled, "sounds good. Thank you Potter."