Hermione bit down on her lip again. "Because it was that Summer that I decided to pull away from you. I don't know if I convinced myself that you wouldn't return my feelings ... or if I was actually afraid of what it would mean if you did. Both outcomes were equally terrifying. My solution was to distance myself from you. I don't know ... I suppose I just don't want you to see a version of me where I was actively trying not to love you. You don't want me to see your scars, Harry ... and I never want to risk you getting another one on account of me."