Chapter 21: Strategy Space“No,” she said again, softly, the word escaping in a puff of f

Chapter 21: Strategy Space“No,” she said again, softly, the word escaping in a puff of frosted air that shone silver in the deepening twilight. Harry shifted at her side, and when Hermione looked at him he turned his eyes from where Neville stood, flanked by Ron and Pansy, to meet her gaze. She could see her own disbelief reflected back at her, but beneath it something else: a grim certainty of purpose that she had not seen on his face in over a decade.It was the truth of loving him, Hermione knew, to live with the fact that Harry was the person who would always run towards rather than away, would throw himself in front of curses and lay down his wand and walk straight into the flames. She hoped he could see it in her face as she squeezed his hand, that this was what she chose - that he, Harry, was what she chose - even knowing just how easily he could break her heart. Even knowing what he was about to do, and knowing that she would love him for it all the more. Harry swallowed, hard, then nodded. For a moment he squeezed Hermione’s fingers tightly between his, and then he dropped her hand, and stepped forward.FFN / AO3 -- source link

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