===July 4 1992===
Hermione wakes in the morning following her first date. She smiles as she remembers the feeling of Harry's lips on her own and his hand. She blushes as she rubs her thigh remembering the feel of his hand on her thigh. She remembers laying there last night and hearing the shower. When it occurred to her why he might be in the shower she blushed harder. With that thought she grabs some clothes and heads into the bathroom to shower and such herself.
Once she's clean and dressed she opens the door to Harry's room. Surprisingly enough he is still asleep. "Shower was still running when I fell asleep." She mutters as she goes and cracks the door to the hall so they don't get in trouble. Then she goes and gets into bed with Harry and snuggles against him, her back against his.
Harry wakes up as she pushes her weight against his back. "Her...Hermione?" His voice squeaks.
"I didn't mean to wake you." Hermione says.
"You're lucky I remembered where I was." Harry says quietly. "Occasionally my uncle would drag me out of bed cause he deemed me lazy. I often fought him. For a second I thought…"
"I was him." Hermione mumbles.
Harry nods. "Yeah."
"Do I need to go?"
"No, it's fine." Harry says. "I don't mind having my girlfriend press herself against my back."
"Good."
After a few minutes Harry speaks. "Hermione, there's something you need to know before we get any closer to each other."
"What's the matter?" Hermione asks. She feels Harry get up.
"I've told you a lot of my childhood, but you need to see this." Harry says, sounding sad. "Get up and look."
Hermione gets up and gasps as she looks at his scarred back. "Who else has seen these?"
"Madam Pomfrey and your dad." Harry answers. "Your dad caught me just coming out of the shower the day I had run off. I made him promise not to tell you."
Hermione nods and walks over to him. "Can I touch them?"
"If you want."
Hermione carefully traces the scars. "There's so many. Do you remember what they were for?"
"Most of them, no." Harry answers then feels her fingers on the belt imprint. "That one I do."
"Will you tell me?"
"I brought home a better grade than my cousin."
Hermione gasps now knowing why he sometimes didn't care about his school work. "That's horrible."
Harry nods. "Are you two coming downstairs for breakfast?" Helen asks as she pushes open the door. She sees Hermione touching Harry's back. "Oh goodness! Richard said your back was bad, but I never imagined."
Harry puts on a fresh shirt. "Now you've all seen it."
He turns to walk away trying to hide the tears in his eyes. Hermione grabs his arm. "Don't run away again."
"I wasn't going to." Harry says as he cries. "I just didn't want you to see me crying again."
Hermione hugs him. "I'm here for you, so if you need to cry go ahead." Harry hugs her back and buries his head in her shoulder.
While he's crying Helen gets a wet washcloth and gives it to Hermione before leaving. "I'm sorry you have so many bad memories." Hermione says.
"I wish I could make them go away." Harry says as he pulls his head away, his face and eyes red.
"You silly boy." Hermione says as she carefully wipes his face with the washcloth. "There's only one cure for bad memories."
"What's that?"
"You replace them with good memories, make the good outweigh the bad."
Harry smiles weakly. "I'll try."
"I'll help." Hermione says then kisses him.
Harry kisses her back for a second then breaks the kiss. "You still kiss me after seeing my back?"
"Of course, you silly boy!" Hermione exclaims. "You really think I'd let something your horrible relatives did to you come between us?"
"I honestly wasn't sure." Harry says. "I can't see them myself, but the reactions tell me that I'm not exactly eye pleasing."
"I'll admit it is hard to look at, but scars fade with time." Hermione says. "When Madam Pomfrey saw them what did she say?"
"She mentioned a cream that might help if I had someone rub it on my back every night."
"So I just need to rub cream on your back every night." Hermione says and realizes what she said. "Oh."
"Yeah, how exactly are you going to do that at Hogwarts?" Harry asks smugly.
"Until we're married I'm not sure I could." Hermione admits. "But I could anytime we're here. Like when we can come home for Christmas and Easter."
"If you want to do that we can." Harry says.
Hermione nods. "You act like you're not going to like having your girlfriend rub your back."
"I think you misunderstand the problem." Harry says. "I'm going to enjoy it thoroughly."
Hermione blushes at the insinuation. "So I did hear you get in the shower last night."
"I swear I couldn't get the shower cold enough either."
"So check the box marked, does he find me physically attractive?"
Harry grabs her and kisses her passionately, rubbing his groin into her leg as she does. Hermione's eyes widen at the feel of him through both their pants as she returns the kiss. After a minute he breaks the kiss. "Does that answer your question?"
Hermione nods. "Box checked several times."
"Now I need another shower." Harry says.
"After that, so do I." Hermione admits.
"Good to know I can check that box too." Harry says.
"Oh most definitely."
Harry nods and decides to change the subject. "So breakfast?"