Keeping with the Company

Keeping With the Company

by coven

Rated PG-13

Hermione offers her best friend Harry a place to stay after a girl discards him. Harry accepts, knowing that the arrangement is indefinite until he finds a suitable place for himself. But things take a strange turn when they both find out that keeping each other company is turning out to be a permanent thing after all.

Disclaimer: This is a Harry Potter fan fiction. Standard disclaimers apply.

I absolutely adored your reviews. They made really nice holiday presents, though I find it really amazing that people actually regard `Keeping…' so highly. I am actually as touched and honoured as I am baffled. I have never really thought that my idea of stress-relief is candy to another person.

Thanks again to all those who read and most especially those who took time to review. I would really love to respond to all of your reactions but free time is not my friend now (and has never been for a long time).

Happy new year and blessed be.

Chapter 7: That's Amore

Dinner was uneventful after the tickle-fight incident. To Hermione's surprise, Ron and Artie behaved themselves rather well as there was no mention of whatever the father-and-son team had witnessed a while ago. Even Harry himself was carrying on as usual.

“Ron,” Hermione snorted in mild revulsion. “Chinese take-out?”

Ron looked slightly offended.

“I did say we were to eat dinner right? Did I mention that I would make it?”

Artie shook his head and snickered.

“Dad tried,” the boy said. “But he burnt the shepherd's pie. You should see the smoke in the kitchen…”

Ron gave his son a withering look that only made Artie laugh harder.

“Thanks a lot pal,” Ron muttered, taking the boxes out of their bags.

Hermione took pity on him and kissed her ruffled friend on the cheek.

“Sorry,” she said. “I don't care if it's fish and chips. It's your day today. Congratulations.”

“Well,” Harry said, finding himself a spot beside Artie on the floor. “Take-out or not, I'm hungry!”

Hermione handed out boxes and chopsticks. The boys grabbed them eagerly and with the only girl in the room muttering something about the similarities between hungry men and pigs, they began to eat.

Since dinner was a pretty much informal affair, in the middle of it, Harry gave Artie two tickets with locker room passes to his team's first game of the season next weekend. Artie whooped in joy and started babbling on about which friend he wanted to bring along to the game. Hermione instinctively knew that the tickets were a way of atonement for not being a devoted godparent for months. She smiled as her three boys started a long and animated chatter on quidditch- a subject, which although her very close friends considered themselves experts on, she could find no affinity with. She then grabbed the opportunity to reflect on the circumstances.

She knew she overreacted earlier. She also knew that she could have handled the situation better. And she knew that what Harry said a while ago to Ron's teasing hurt her somewhat. Who wouldn't when you found out that the person you've just realized that you're in love with would not be able to return the feelings? But wasn't it what she wanted in the first place- better to save the friendship rather than indulge in a possible romance?

Wait, she was twenty-seven, for heaven's sake and not getting any younger. She was no longer interested in brief encounters. She's already looking for a lifetime partner! And here was her chance, an opening for exactly that. She knew she should just grab the opportunity, but Hermione had never been a risk-taker. She had gotten along with reason better since she could remember. She would rather weigh the situation up, find the pros and cons, and then settle on a decision that would benefit all those concerned. And what reason was telling her to do now was to save the friendship. For the first time in her life, Hermione doubted her mind and wanted to follow her heart. Could she do it? Would she do it? Could she just curse common sense to hell altogether and then face the consequences later?

Harry watched as a myriad of emotions played across Hermione's face. What was she thinking about? Did the thing he had said earlier bother her? Oh, he had indeed dug his own grave with that. He remembered the frown she put on afterwards. Could he dare hope that the frown was in his favour? But didn't she say that her having sex with him was improbable? Of course, the physical merits of the idea actually happening weren't his priority right now, but how could he be hopeful in the emotion department when judging by the discussion earlier, there was a huge possibility that Hermione find the thought of him and her together as not viable - or a blow to his ego, possibly revolting.

Ron watched as the wheels in both of his friends' heads turn. It was pretty amusing to see Hermione direct furtive glances at Harry when she thought the bloke wasn't looking, and Harry doing the same when he thought she wasn't looking. From his point-of-view, it was like watching a tennis match. Knowing his best friends very well, Ron knew that the two fools loved each other as more than platonic. He watched, observed, and took notes - uncharacteristic things for him to do but would surely make Luna and Hermione proud. Oh sure, it was really friendly in the beginning, but their years of being together, specially when Ron and Luna got married, made it certain that Harry and Hermione's relationship would develop into something more than friendship. He and Luna had discussed this often enough, and his wife had dissuaded him time and again to not meddle in his friends' lives. It had frustrated him, to say the least, at having to promise not to. But it was so hard, when the only people who didn't see this were the two of them! Heck, even his kid evidently knew about it too. Ron sighed and silently asked Luna for forgiveness. He usually kept his promises but drastic situations call for drastic measures - and this one needed more than that.

“Oh look Dad, there's an owl at the window!”

Three heads turned towards the magnificent snow owl perched impatiently on the window ledge, waiting with an air of royalty about it.

“Draco's new owl,” Hermione muttered as she got up from her place on the floor and proceeded towards the window.

“Well,” Ron said, a little put off for having been interrupted. “Will you look at that? Even the git's owl has caught up with its owner's conceit.”

Harry scowled as Hermione got the note attached to its leg. What did Malfoy want now? Wasn't it way past office hours?

As Harry was contemplating evil thoughts towards Draco, Artie, fascinated with the bird, offered the owl a small bowl of water and some snacks-all of which the bird scoffed with an imperious hoot, and to which Artie only laughed and said, “Wicked!”

“Uncle Harry, the owl is so cool!” he said, running back to his godfather's side. “It has got a personality. I wish Hedwig is here, I'm sure it would be fun to watch how she would size that one up.”

Harry only grunted his agreement, still watching Hermione's face for clues on to what the letter was about. Well, she was pursing her lips. It was definitely about something serious then.

“Oh…” Artie said knowingly.

“So,” Ron said walking behind Hermione. “What does Malfoy want?”

Harry tried not to perk his ears up too much.

“I have to go,” Hermione said absently. “I'm sorry Ron, Artie. I'll make up for it next time. Harry, I'm not sure what time I'll get back. Don't wait up for me, okay?”

Harry nodded and accepted Hermione's kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks Ron,” Hermione added as she kissed him and Artie. But to the boy she whispered, “Hide the brownies where your Dad won't find them.”

“Thanks Aunt Hermione,” Artie said giving her a hug in return and whispered back. “He won't stand a chance.”

She laughed and with a wave, disapparated.

Ron let out an audible sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

“Imagine that,” he said. “What could Malfoy want with her this time?”

“This time?” Harry asked, plainly curious.

Ron hid his smile by taking a sip from his glass.

“Yeah,” he said nonchalantly. Apparently, this was the opening he was waiting for. “Sorry to say this mate. But ever since you took off with Bianca, those two, well… they got a lot closer. ”

“Oh yeah?” Harry said, frowning. “What do you mean by closer?”

“Well, every week they would usually have a… what does your Aunt Hermione call it again?”

“Muggle Friday,” Artie said, busy answering a crossword puzzle on a magazine. “Uncle Draco and Aunt Hermione would do muggle things every Friday. They would even let me tag along sometimes.”

“There you go,” Ron said, stretching his tall frame on the sofa. “Muggle Friday.”

Harry ignored him, and focused more instead on Artie.

“You call Malfoy, Uncle Draco?” he asked.

Artie nodded.

“He's okay,” he said, knowingly adding fuel to the fire. “He often takes me and Aunt Hermione out for ice cream, and he knows a lot about conspiracy theories. He has this incredible premise on dragons that I'm sure Uncle Charlie would find amusing… by the way Uncle Harry, do you know an eight-letter word for smitten?”

“Besotted,” Harry answered absently. “So what do you do on Muggle Fridays?”

The boy shrugged.

“I've only been with them a few times, but they were lots of fun. We would go to picnics, or just window-shop around the department stores. Twelve letter word for envy?”

“Covetousness,” Harry replied.

“Oh yeah,” Ron added, almost choking on his drink this time. “Hermione mentioned that at first it was practical education for Draco since they always had to pose as muggle couples on assignment, but they had started to enjoy it so much, they decided to make it tradition.”

“I bet Malfoy did,” Harry muttered. “Anything weird going on during this tradition?”

“What do you mean by weird, Uncle Harry?” Artie asked innocently.

Harry caught himself and had the grace to look embarrassed. He knew it wasn't fair to ask a child these questions, but a guy whose woman is being taken from under his nose must take some form of action. He was going to mask the question, hoping that the kid was buying it, but knew at the back of his mind that Artie knew what he was talking about. So, Harry decided to do the direct approach.

“Were they acting funny?”

“Oh,” Artie said. “You mean like were they doing lovey-dovey stuff?”

“Whatever,” Harry said sulkily.

“I want to hear this,” Ron said eagerly, to which Harry answered with an impatient shush.

Artie grinned at his Dad before proceeding, “The first time I was with them, we watched a muggle cartoon at the theatre. Uncle Draco bought us a tub of popcorn with lots of butter. I asked to sit beside the aisle because I tend to go to the bathroom a lot. Well, Uncle Draco had his arm around Aunt Hermione and she didn't seem to mind. I didn't really pay attention to them because the movie was really good. Besides, they had a world of their own. They were always whispering things to each other. Dad, any ten-letter word for angered?”

“Infuriated,” Harry answered easily, after all that was what he was feeling at the moment.

Ron cleared his throat as he saw the vein at Harry's temple pulsing wildly.

“Son,' he said to Artie. “Why don't you take your crossword with you downstairs? Your Uncle Harry and I need to talk.”

Artie rolled his eyes and reluctantly got his magazine.

“Dad,” he whispered to Ron as he walked past him to the door. “I'm not really working on a crossword puzzle.”

“Which is what I consider lying, my boy,” Ron replied, also in a whisper. “Now scamper along mate, and leave the rest to the expert.”

“Good luck then,” he answered with an impish salute and ran out of the room.

Harry, who was too lost in his jealousy, was unaware of their exchange.

“Okay,” Ron said. “Spill it out.”

“Spill what out?”

“Whatever hex or curse you've been conjuring to get at Malfoy,” Ron calmly explained. “Aren't we friends here, mate? Admit that you are in love with our best friend and that you are jealous of the ferret.”

Harry whipped his head towards the other man.

“What… how… why…”

“Bloody hell Harry,” Ron guffawed.

“Is it that obvious?” Harry said sheepishly.

“What do you mean?” Ron gaped at the gob smacked fellow. “I can tell you love her when I come within a ten-foot radius of the two of you.”

“I'm sorry because I only found out today,” Harry replied sarcastically, suddenly feeling foolish about everything. Was he really that clueless? Hold the question because he already knew the answer.

“Well that's pathetic mate,” Ron clapped Harry at the back. “We've been waiting years for this moment.”

“We?” the other bloke asked incredulously.

Ron shrugged.

“I, Luna, Mum, Dad, my bloody siblings, people from school, even Artie knows about it.”

Harry tiredly rub at the nape of his neck and smiled wryly.

“No wonder that boy has become too much of a wise-crack lately.”

“Still is smarter than you though,” Ron commented. “I was worried that you would wait twelve more years, when Artie is old enough to marry Hermione himself, before you do anything.”

“Hahaha…”

The two friends drank the last drops of their snifter, each deep in his thoughts. Harry was embarrassed to know that he was the last to realize. He thought it only happened in books or movies.

“So when did you know?” Harry asked.

“Is that a serious question?” Ron stared down at his friend who was sitting on the floor.

Harry looked up at him and nodded.

Ron exhaled, forehead furrowed.

“Actually mate, I really don't have the exact time or date,” he admitted. “It just felt right you know. You always had this thing going on, and you had always understood each other on a level that even I couldn't get into. You could communicate by merely exchanging looks and stuff like that.”

“You know what's funny?” Harry asked rhetorically. “In all the years that we've been in and out of relationships with other people, why find out now? Why not then so it could have spared me the trouble of going through all of that!”

“Ah,” Ron said. “That's the mystery of life. For everything there is a purpose, you know that mate. If you had realized it before, would you value her just as much as you do now that you've both been through so many things together?”

“Well it sucks,” Harry said grudgingly. “Besides it's still Hermione. Then or now, it's still her.”

Ron laughed then turned serious.

“So now that I know that you know that you love Hermione what are you planning to do?”

Harry grimaced. He hadn't gotten to that part of the problem yet.

“I don't know.”

“What do you mean you don't know?”

“I don't know if she loves me,” Harry mumbled.

“That's ridiculous,” Ron roared. “Of course she does!”

“She does?” Harry asked, looking like a hopeful child.

“If you don't know then I won't tell you,” Ron answered in distaste.

Silence.

It was Harry who spoke first, “I'm willing to take a risk Ron, but I'm not sure if she does, being Hermione and all. Besides, I don't want to lose the friendship.”

“Friendship? Sorry, but that is bull!” Ron sneered. “I am not sure if you're really getting this, Harry. You've been friends for so long to let anything come between the two of you. Trust me on this mate, she loves you. And she won't do anything unless you do something first.”

“How?” the poor man desperately implored. “Without even twenty-four hours of breaking things off with Bianca I just go at her and tell her I love her, that I want to marry her? I'm still winning her back as a friend as is…”

Harry sighed, “I'll give it a week Ron. Just a week to find my footing.”

Ron stood up, got the empty glasses, and refilled them.

“I don't know Harry, that's moving things too slow.”

Harry accepted the glass and thoughtfully stared at the pale amber liquid.

“I want this to be perfect, Ron. I want it to be her.”

“Well I hope you make good use of your week because there is also Malfoy to consider.”

“Yeah… Malfoy…”

“Well,” Ron raised his glass. “This is to you then, mate. May you succeed in winning your fair lady's heart.”

“Hear, hear,” Harry said, downing the whole glass.

XXX

“Draco Malfoy, I swear I'm going to tie you to your broom and send you off to the Womping Willow and then I'll dump your stinking corpse in the Forbidden Forest.”

“Baby, don't be mad at me!”

It would have been really amusing to watch the two, if it was the Comedy Hour. Hermione was clutching at her wand so tightly, that the sides of her hand had gone white. Draco, on the other hand was holding his hands in surrender, behind an enormous potted plant.

“Oh, don't you oh baby me, you big fat arse!” Hermione emphasized each word clearly. “And when did you learn to say that stupid form of endearment?”

Draco shrugged.

“Uhh, muggle ladies seem to like it.”

“Well, it doesn't suit you using it so quit the word,” Hermione dismissed, transfiguring her wand back to a ring, and violently shoved it on her finger. She breathed deeply before continuing, “And what in Hagrid's hut were you thinking of making me worried all for a jolt of your ego.”

“Hey,” Draco brightened up, deciding that the coast was clear. “You were worried?”

“Don't change the subject Malfoy,” she warned, plopping herself on Draco's living room couch, and sighed. “Of course I was worried. You're my friend! Congratulations on debunking the Doctor's diagnosis, by the way.”

Draco cautiously seated himself beside his partner, and propped his feet on the coffee table. “I don't know why you're so worked-up with all of this.”

“It's not just that you git…”

“Then what is it?” he asked. “What's twisting your knickers up? Because honestly, you look like Peeve's girlfriend.”

“Oh yes, thanks a lot,” Hermione swatted Draco's arm. “You sure make it easy to be sympathetic with you. And stop mentioning my unmentionables. It doesn't sound decent coming from you.”

“And you're making me feel better,” Draco said, dramatically clutching at his chest. “That's the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. So Miss Granger, what is bothering you? I'm sure I didn't write in my letter that you come barging here right now. My news could have waited until tomorrow.”

Hermione suddenly became absorbed with the hem of her sweater. She even tried clearing her throat, but all that came out was a, “AdjusgadagetaweifromHarry…”

“What is that again?

“I said,” Hermione said through gritted teeth. “I just had to get away from Harry and I used your letter as an excuse to flee.”

“Well, well, well…” Draco rubbed his hands together and smugly continued. “Finally you've had your moment of revelation then. Good for you and about time I must say. But where is that Gryffindor courage? I didn't know members of your house can be so cowardly as to run away from something as dreary as staying in the company of Potter, and which mind you is something that you have been doing all your life?”

“Oh, it's your entire fault,” Hermione jabbed at Draco. “Without your damn teasing and… and pushing then it shouldn't have happened.”

“This is bloody fantastic! My Hermione is having a dumb moment. Do you honestly believe what you're saying?”

“No…”

Draco laughed out loud.

“You're too cute for your own good Hermione.”

“Malfoy…”

“Now it's Malfoy,” Draco said with an eyebrow raised.

“I don't feel like calling you `Draco' right now,” Hermione retorted childishly. “I'm warning you… Your fountain of wit and humour has long gone dry.”

“Okay,” Draco surrendered. “I apologize for my offensive behaviour. What gives?”

Hermione stood up and started pacing in front of her partner who just patiently sat and watched her. She took her time to answer.

“I love him.”

“Ouch, I shouldn't have asked.”

“Draco…”

“Good, it's now back to Draco. Okay, go on.”

“He was there,” she said with a frown. “He was standing in front of me, and then- wham!”

“Ah,” Draco said. “That's amore!”

“Are you quoting a muggle song?”

“Maybe,” he grinned. “And why are you telling me this and not Weasely?”

“Because there was no opportunity. Harry was there, and I needed to unload this.”

“Well, I'm honoured.”

“Not so fast,” Hermione sneered. “You were just filling in.”

“Hey, you're learning fast!”

“Well, that's me brainy Hermione Granger for you,” Hermione said and did a nice genuflect. “Smart in everything except her own troubles.”

She sat back down beside Draco.

“Of the heart,” the man added.

She nodded at that, “Yeah, of the heart.”

“Well,” Draco exclaimed. “What's your plan? Because you should better do something about this.”

“Yeah,” Hermione agreed morosely. “I'm aware of that.”

“Why the long face?” Draco asked. “You're an Auror and one of the best, if I might add. I mean why not see this as a covert operation or something?”

Hermione cheered up a bit at that. If there was anything she was best at, its being an Auror.

“You know what,” she said, gaining a little confidence. “You're absolutely right.”

“Then you go on tell him out right!”

“Yes!” she exclaimed then checked herself. “No… wait… how can it be a covert operation if I just tell him out right?”

“I was just trying to catch you there,” Draco admitted with a smile. “Besides, what's wrong with just telling it to him straight?”

“Because I don't want to look like I'm the one doing the pursuing.”

“You are so old-fashioned. At this day and age, women can actually speak their minds.”

“No, I am not giving him the satisfaction of being the one to say it first,” Hermione spoke adamantly.

“Aha, so that's the root of it all. You're just scared.”

“I am not!”

“You are too!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Oh, this is so immature,” Hermione scoffed. “All right, I'm scared. Okay? I admit it. I'm scared. I don't want to be rejected. Besides, I want to make sure …”

“That he loves you back?” Draco asked knowingly.

“Yeah, I don't want to lose him, Draco,” she said softly. “Besides, I just want to be sure that he loves me back and not because I gave him the idea first.”

“I don't think you'll ever lose him,” he replied confidently.

“But this changes it all,” Hermione moaned. “I can lose the friendship and gain a love, or lose a love but then lose a friendship in the process too.”

“Or you can gain both?” Draco offered.

“But that would be wishful thinking,” Hermione sighed.

“You know,” Draco said in a disbelieving tone. “You are the most insecure achiever I know. Have faith in yourself for a change.”

“Easy for you to say,” Hermione scoffed. “Have you seen the girls Harry dated? Bianca for one… Perfect hair, perfect smile… my god even her breasts are perfect.”

“Well, has it ever occurred to you that those are also the reasons why he just discards them easily?”

“You are completely missing the point here…”

“No, you are completely missing the point here,” Draco said, grabbing a hold of Hermione's arms. “If you accuse me of being that shallow then I'd be angry with you. Are you accusing of Potter that?

“No… he's the least shallow person I know.”

“And I am just beef jerky,” he joked. “Hermione Granger, look at me.”

Draco gently cupped her chin with his hand.

“You can't be unsure of yourself over looks. Who says you aren't pretty?”

Hermione stayed silent, but allowed herself to be embraced by the man. “You have the prettiest brown eyes, that can make a man drown in them… and from my current vantage point, I can feel that your breasts aren't that bad.”

She instantly broke free from his hold and scolded him.

“Draco!”

“Kidding,” Draco gamely let go and laughed. “Woman, you sure are worked up.”

Hermione laughed with him. Later on, she took his hand in hers and looked him in the eye.

“You know Draco, I could never have imagined going to you for anything seventeen years ago. I am so glad I got to know you better.”

“Well, I am the regular Doctor Love,” Draco winked. “And believe me Granger, if my old self would see me now, he would have committed suicide. But then again, he would've been too scared to do that.”

“Thanks,” Hermione said, and she meant it.

“Hey, anytime baby!”

Hermione grinned and accidentally caught the time on the grandfather's clock.

“Goodness, its midnight!”

“Yep, it's midnight,” Draco confirmed, letting go of her hand. “Someone is probably wearing the floor of Granger-Potter residence off at the moment.”

“Well, I guess I have to go,” Hermione said as she stood up to leave. “Congratulations on the… er, test result. Thanks, again.”

Draco stood up also.

“Go now before I decide to celebrate my rediscovered virility with you.”

“Ewww….” Hermione stuck a finger in her mouth. “You do have the knack of ruining a moment at the last minute do you?”

“Graduated summa cum laude on it. And Granger…”

“Yes?”

“I' m rooting for you!” Draco said simply.

“See you tomorrow,” Hermione smiled before disapparating, leaving Draco standing alone in the living room of Malfoy Manor.

“And that, Draco Malfoy,” he said with finality. “Is it.”

XXX

“Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“You don't have to get up. I just wanted to know if you're awake.”

“Well, I'm awake.”

“Obviously. Listen, I… well…”

“Is there something wrong? Look, I'll get the door…”

“No… nothing's wrong. I just…I'll see you tomorrow, then.”

“Uh, okay… yeah, tomorrow.”

…

“Goodnight, Harry.”

“Goodnight, Hermione.”