Amen, and I can see it happening. It's an even split for who could work up the courage to say something first. Their level of understanding goes beyond words; words will just clarify it later. Gradually they may just come to realise it, then act upon it.. You never know..

Hear, hear! It's just a matter of time..

Would they really need to exchange words though? I doubt they would.

Harry was noted to be able to see the shift in Hermione's eyes when she becomes passionate about something like House Elves, so I think they'll come to the realisation but won't say any words.

BTW forgive mine good spelling and gramma english

Well, maybe neither will confess. Maybe the whole series will end with them kissng and that will be their confession to one another.
Wishful thinking I know

I doubt that we'll have to wait until the end for the revelation, I think we'll see it in HBP, maybe not in words, but in actions.

You are forgiven

On topic - I have voted Hermione, but I have this growing feeling that Harry will be the first one to do something about it. We've seen how Hermione will do everything to protect Harry, and she certainly wouldn't want to bother him with something like that... Meaning she would be afraid to make him feel uneasy and all - and of course being rejected...

I'm stuck in the middle... can't make up my mind really lol

But still, Harry has no such 'barriers'(if I may say so) if he wants to do something about his love for her, when he finally comes to a realisation.

We will see what happens - and I have a feeling it will be sooner than we thought

Thankyou for forgiving me

That is an interesting point you brough up regarding barriers. Wouldn't the prophecy and Ron's possible feelings act as barriers to Harry, assuming that Ron does have feelings and that Harry knows about them?

This is actually one of the biggest reasons why I'm "on the fence" concerning this particular topic. The Prophecy I mean. Because I don't know if Harry has noticed Ron's crush on Hermione... Nor if this crush will still be there in HBP. IMO, by the end of OotP it had pretty much faded away. But if that's not the case, just think how clueless can Harry be sometimes(most of the time).

As for the Prophecy, I don't know. If(when) Harry does realise his feelings for her in the next book(probably near the beginning, or at least, in the first half), he'll probably have too much on his mind to act on them.

That's why I can just see Harry and Hermione talking about the Prophecy, sitting far from everyone else, by the lake, Harry saying silly things and Hermione conforting him... and in the end they just kiss...

It just... happens...

Honestly, there are so many factors to consider here that I can't make a choice

That does make a lot of sense. Hermione might worry that he doesn't feel the same so she may not say anything. But Harry being Harry, will probably do something to get what he wants.

She'll probably be devestated. She'll be very emotional imo.
I'm okay if it's unspoken. As long as they fall in love.

It might just take such a shock to begin to get such things into the open.

I imagine that if he tells her while they are alone, we could have the makings of a very dramatic scene. Who knows, one thing might lead to another, and we might just end up with our unspoken confession.

The possibilities of how it will play out are almost endless, but I'll live with whatever JKR has got cooking.

HAHA!! That is priceless smuggled_muggle. I can somehow seeing her do that if my vote ends up being wrong.....

Which means I voted for Harry. Hermione's Twin brings up some good points for why Hermione wouldn't do it but I think Harry might do it for a couple of reasons himself...

1. The near-death of Hermione at the Department of Mysteries. While she didn't die after all, I would be supremely shocked if we didn't see some time at the beginning of HBP where Harry starts piling more guilt on top of himself with the thought of Hermione possibly dying and it being his fault. This could then lead to his realization of his feelings for Hermione and him being the first to admit the feelings.

2. I wouldn't be shocked to see another outsider pointing to the relationship Harry and Hermione already share. Maybe a third person following in the footsteps of Krum and Cho would force Harry to look at what he has with Hermione. It was Harry that this issue was put on by Cho and Krum. Krum came to Harry about Hermione and Cho got jealous of Hermione right there in front of Harry. A third person putting this in his face might get him to sit down and figure out what he really has with Hermione.

3. Someone else might go out with Hermione first which leads to Harry starting to see Hermione differently. I liked this idea at first but it has started to seem a bit soap opera-ish. Anyways though, I think it still stands a chance since a very possible scenario would be R/Hr happening and then it ends up wih Harry and Hermione together in the end.

I think there were a couple other scenarios popping through my head but my mind just went blank so I will leave it at that and say, like others before me, it don't matter who does it so as long as they end up together.

I've thought of one person, who surprised us with thought-provoking insights on death without so much emotion but a calm, almost dreamlike, expression, who could ease a troubled heart and mind like Harry's. Without the symbolism hinted through Hermione's connection with Harry's glasses ( needing her to see things more clearly ), it's Luna's seemingly high EQ, by giving him another 'talk' similar to that towards the end of OotP, may just do the trick to make Harry reevaluate his relationship with Hermione. All that third person has to do is tell him WHERE to start and surely, his heart will lead him to the right direction.

*Falls off chair laughing sooo hard* That is so something Hermione would say if she got a little ticked off... Hahah! Very cool!

~Bec

OMG, Smuggled_Muggle, that was hilarious. ROFLMAO. I can definitely see her doing that. harry is just so clueless, it needs something like that for him to finally notice her.

I think that the prophecy will be the breaking point for Hermione to admit she loves Harry. I believe that she'll find that this is something she can't help Harry with. She can't look up a spell for Harry for him to use this time (that we know of). After Hermione has exhasted the library ( ), she'll admit her love.

Hmm. Good point Moonstruck. I can kind of see her throwing herself onto Harry at that point. I also think Harry will reciprocate her feelings. The act itself will say more than any words.