Author's note: This is the dreaded chapter. Two words for you: brace yourself. I sure the heck had to! This was not a chapter I looked forward to writing and you all probably know why, but I please ask you to read it and keep an open mind. There's another note at the bottom of the chapter that should help you (I hope). Don't flame me, please!
I borrow a quote from a fabulous movie in here "Moulin Rouge" and also a line from one of my favorite movies of all time "Sliding Doors". Bonus points to the person who can figure that out.
Chapter 17
#1 Crush
"I will pray for you,
I will pray for you
I will sell my soul for something pure and true…
Someone like you."
"Violate all the love that I'm missing
Throw away all the pain that I'm living
You will believe in me
And I can never be ignored…"
(Garbage, #1 Crush)
On that Saturday morning, Hermione awoke later than she usually did. She'd had a big day yesterday. Since her father was feeling better, she and he took a walk around the neighborhood and even took in an exhibit at a local museum. Hermione was amazed at how good her father was actually doing. His doctors had prescribed a rehabilitation program that began with him watching what he ate (which he didn't particularly care for) and incorporating mild exercise into his daily routine. Yesterday, he'd surprised his daughter by asking her if she fancied a walk around the neighborhood.
Truth be told, she'd enjoyed being home. In the past few years, she'd only spent little time with them. She'd taken to spending her holidays at Hogwarts so Harry wouldn't be alone, so the only time she really spent with them was during the summers. She made a vow to herself to always have a close relationship with her parents. If she'd learned anything over the last few years, it was how important time was. You honestly didn't know how much you had, so you needed to value those people closest to you, namely your family and friends. Hermione recognized that she'd been neglecting her parents lately. She wasn't going to do that again.
That being said, she still felt homesick for Hogwarts. It was truly her second home. What was it her mother always said? "Home is where the heart is." Well, if that was the case, her home was Hogwarts because Harry was there. Gods, how she missed him! She knew logically of course that she would miss him, but she hadn't realized how much until she'd spent weeks away from him.
The truth was she'd gotten used to him. She'd grown accustomed to his face being the first one she saw in the morning and the last one she saw at night. She hadn't shared the fact that she and Harry were now sharing a bed with her parents. She had a feeling that if they knew this morsel of information that they might not take it the right way. Who am I kidding? Hermione thought to herself. They'd go ballistic!
Her parents were already wary of the fact that she was in theory "living" with her boyfriend. She knew that they might not see any of it as platonic and totally innocent. Her father was just recovering from a heart attack. Hearing this news would likely give him another coronary.
Her mother had teased her a little about mooning over her boyfriend. Hermione couldn't help it, though. She was in love and it was the best feeling in the world to her. She laughed to herself when she'd even listed it above making top marks on an exam. That was a tidbit of information she wouldn't share with Ron. He'd probably laugh himself silly over that information, but it was true. The other night she and her mum had watched a movie on the television. It was Moulin Rouge. Hermione had really connected to one line that was used in the movie. She truly believed, as Christian in the movie had, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
Fearing she was becoming a little too sappy and romantic, she decided to go downstairs and see what her parents were up to.
The Granger family had settled into a routine. On weekdays, Hermione's mum would go into the office. One of the Robert's friends from dental school offered to pitch in and help out when he could so he was taking some of Robert's patients. While her mother was away at the office, Hermione sat with her dad and helped out around the house. The majority of her time, she'd spend working on her correspondent assignments from Hogwarts. She could usually do these while her dad worked on his cardiac rehabilitation program. In the afternoons, she and her dad would share a healthy lunch. When her mother came home, Hermione made sure to fix dinner or at least order something for takeaway (making sure that there were no high-cholesterol foods, of course).
Her mum had told her time and time again how grateful she was that Hermione was around to help out. Hermione had blushed at the compliment and said it was something she not only knew she had to do, but wanted to do.
When she made it downstairs, she found her mother and father sitting at the table, eating breakfast.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Karen said. "There's fresh orange juice on the counter."
Hermione nodded, but she was staring intently at her father, who was eating a whole wheat bagel and spreading cream cheese on it.
"Daddy," Hermione said sternly. "What did Dr. McDougal tell you about that? That's got too much fat in it!"
Robert was about to take a bite of his bagel when he stopped short and gave his daughter a wry smile.
"Relax, Hermione," he said. "It's fat-free cream cheese."
He held up the container for her to see. Hermione relaxed.
"Well, that's okay, then," she said.
Karen laughed.
Hermione helped herself to some juice and popped her own bagel into the toaster.
"What are you looking at, Mum?" she asked, as her mother was poring over some paperwork.
"CV's," Karen replied, not looking up.
"Are you hiring someone?" she asked.
"Yes," Karen said, looking through the files. "A nurse."
"For the practice?" Hermione asked.
Karen shook her head. "No, for someone to stay with your dad during the mornings."
"But, I'm doing that now," Hermione protested.
"Yes, but you're going back to school," Karen said with a smile toward her husband.
"Not for another couple of weeks, though," Hermione said, taking a seat the table and taking a bit of her bagel.
"Well, if things go as well as we think, we should have someone sorted out by the end of this week," Karen said. "If you want, you could be back at Hogwarts in a week's time."
"A week?" Hermione repeated. She didn't want to sound too overjoyed at this news. She didn't want her parents to think that she'd not enjoyed spending time with them---she had really enjoyed the time they'd spent as a family.
"She says not trying to look too excited," Robert said, with a wink at his daughter. "She's already mentally a writing a letter to that bloke of hers, what was his name? Barry?"
"Daddy!" Hermione said, laughing.
"Just teasing," he said. "Go ahead and take your breakfast upstairs. You know you're dying to write that letter."
Hermione gave a sheepish look up at her dad. "Well, I mean, I should probably tell him so he can get the suite cleaned up. There's no telling what kind of damage he's done to it without me there to remind him to clean up after himself."
"They already sound like an old married couple, don't they?" Karen asked her husband.
"Just about," Robert said. "What are you waiting for? Go."
Hermione smiled and grabbed her plate and glass of juice and heading upstairs to her bedroom. She had a letter to write, after all.
****
Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie MacMillan hadn't planned on getting drunk when they'd decided to go to The Hog's Head. They were just going to order butterbeers, after all.
Seamus had been the one to ask for a glass of Ogden's Fire Whiskey first. The others had been quite shocked to hear him ask for it, but that had nothing on the looks on their faces when the bartender actually gave it to him. The others quickly changed their orders from butterbeer to fire whiskey, as well. One drink became two and then so on and so on.
Harry had never felt so light-headed before in his life. He was nearly laughing himself silly, along with Ron, Dean, and the others as Justin and Ernie were singing at the top of their lungs a Weird Sisters song. They were both totally off-key and singing all the wrong verses, which only made their impromptu performance even funnier.
When the skies grew darker, the boys decided to head back to the castle. It was getting late, and while they were drunk, they weren't stupid. If McGonagall caught any of them like this, she would be none too pleased, to put it mildly.
Harry and Ron broke apart from the group as they made their way back to Harry's suite. Out of the group, Ron was the least drunk. He felt a buzz, but he was no where near the level of Harry or the others. He was trying to help Harry navigate the stairs as they made their way toward the suite.
"You know what Ron?" Harry slurred.
"What Harry?" Ron asked, wincing as his friends foot stepped on his yet again.
"You have red hair," Harry said with a smile. "RED HAIR!"
"Shhhhh," Ron hissed. "Keep it down! Harry, if Filch catches us like this, you're going to be in big trouble. That whole scar thing won't even be able to get you out of it. And try not to breathe on me. You smell like a brewery!"
"Hey!" Harry protested, with his words coming out slurred. "I'm not as drunk as thinkle peep I am, Ron!"
"You're quite hilarious when you're drunk, Harry," Ron said, pushing Harry up the stairs.
"I really miss Hermy, Ron," Harry said softly.
They'd finally made it up the stairs and down the corridor to the entrance to the suite.
"Well, I'll bet she'd not want to see you like this," Ron said. "She'd probably lecture you for two hours on the dangers of drinking. You're not really at your best right now, mate."
Harry only nodded as he stood against the wall. "You're good people, Ron."
"Thanks," Ron said, pushing his friend through the portrait hole and then the door to the suite. "I like to think so."
He supported Harry until they made it to the sofa. Harry plopped down on the sofa.
"Are you going to be alright?" Ron asked, his friend. Harry had passed out on the sofa. "Sleep this one off."
Ron had to laugh. He supposed Harry deserved a night like this, to just let loose with his friends. He'd certainly done that tonight. Ron thanked Merlin that Hermione wasn't here to see it. She wouldn't be pleased at all and she'd probably put the blame on Ron for allowing this to happen.
He left the suite and made his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He hoped to see his sister either tonight or tomorrow. He was determined to get to the bottom of what was going on with her.
***
What was going on with Ginny was that she was in the second-floor girls' bathroom. She'd taken the polyjuice potion a couple of minutes ago. She stared into the mirror and instead of seeing her own reflection; she saw Hermione Granger's chocolate eyes staring back at her. It was quite surreal. This had worked. She didn't have much time to think about it. She only had an hour. She looked at her watch. It was just past 1 a.m. Feeling certain that no one was in the halls, she quickly and quietly made her way to the Head Boy/Head Girl suite. It was now or never.
***
Harry awoke to a ringing sound. He felt certain it was something going off inside his head because it was a little sore. He'd sobered up a bit, but still felt quite out of it and his vision was cloudy. He didn't know where his glasses were and he felt as if his legs were made of jelly as he tried to stand up. The ringing sound continued as he made his way, mostly on memory, toward the door.
The sight at the door couldn't be what he was seeing. He rubbed his eyes and tried to focus. Staring back at him was Hermione. She was a sight for sore eyes; he couldn't help thinking to himself. He'd just been dreaming about her and here she was, in the flesh. He'd missed her so much. And here she was. It was almost a miracle!
"Hermione?" he asked, rubbing his eyes again.
"Harry," she said, smiling seductively at him. Her voice was soft and throaty. It almost didn't sound like her, but he didn't care. He was so happy just to see her. He was suddenly on autopilot as she walked through the entrance and without saying a word, kissed him passionately. He didn't have time to think of anything as she continued to plant kisses on him. In response, his arms wrapped tightly around her as they maneuvered clumsily back into the suite. Hermione broke away from him and he stared myopically after her as she made her way toward his bedroom. She crooked her finger at him and beckoned him to follow her.
"Hermione?" he asked.
She put a finger to her lips. "I'm ready, Harry. I've missed you so much. Let me show you how much."
He smiled at her before following her into the bedroom. She closed the door behind them….
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: OKAY, I'M PREPARED FOR YOU ALL TO HATE ME NOW. I KNOW THIS IS A CLIFFHANGER AND THIS IS THE WORST ONE YET, BUT STAY WITH ME. THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND AND FORGIVE ME. PLEASE? COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT. PLEASE. DON'T HATE ME! I'M A NICE PERSON. I REALLY AM. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT I AM A DIE-HARD HARRY/HERMIONE FAN---I DON'T LIKE THEM WITH ANYONE ELSE. KEEP THAT IN MIND, OKAY? PLEASE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME? I'LL BE YOUR BEST FRIEND, I PROMISE?)
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