Author's note: To those I confused the bejesus out of last chapter, I didn't proofread as carefully as I should have before posting…that "and now?" line was not supposed to be there at the end. It was a typo on my part. It was late the night I posted that. I corrected it on the last chapter. Sorry about that guys. I hope this makes up for it. After this chapter, there will be one more and then an epilogue.
Chapter 26
Somebody Like You
"There's a new wind blowin' like I've never known.
I'm breathin' deeper than I've ever done.
And it sure feels good, to finally feel the way I do.
I wanna love somebody,
Love somebody like you.
An' I'm lettin' go of all my lonely yesterdays.
I've forgiven myself for the mistakes I've made.
Now there's just one thing, the only thing I wanna do, mmm, mmm.
I wanna love somebody,
Love somebody like you."
(Keith Urban, "Somebody Like You")
It was around seven in the evening when Harry left the hospital wing. He was a man on a mission. He wanted to find Hermione and tell her everything he'd just learned. Truth be told, he hadn't really let the reality of it all hit him, yet. Part of him still didn't want to believe Ginny was capable of all that she'd done.
Surprisingly, he didn't feel any ill will toward her. He hoped that she would have the support of her family to get her through all of this. He was amazed at how he'd been able to stay in control while he'd spoken with her. He'd never been so angry in his life, but it wasn't the time to argue with her and scream insults at her. That wouldn't do anyone any good. What was done was done. It couldn't be changed. And no matter how much Ginny wished it, an apology wouldn't make it all be forgiven. Harry didn't honestly know if he'd ever be able to forgive her.
He didn't have time to think about that now. There were important things to worry about now. He had to see Hermione and make sure that she knew the truth. For the first time in ages, he felt a sense of hope and felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him.
When this was all cleared away, he made a promise to do something to Ron and to Luna for what they'd done. If it hadn't been for the two of them, none of this would have ever come to light. He didn't have the words to truly thank them for what they'd done. They'd essentially given him his life back. What did you say or do to someone who did that for you? Harry didn't know, but he would surely try to convey to them how much it meant to him that they'd come through for him. He hoped to someday be able to return the favor.
He practically ran up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower and stopped to catch his breath as he stood in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she prompted.
"Carpe diem," he said.
The portrait swung forward and he scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room. It was nearly full with students who were enjoying sitting by the fire after dinner. Harry pretended not to notice as they all looked up in surprise as he nearly ran through the room and toward the staircase leading to the dormitories.
When he made it to the seventh-year girls dormitory, he knocked hard on the door. He stood back and waited for someone to come to the door. Nothing.
He knocked again.
"Hermione?" he called loudly. "I know you can hear me! Just give me two minutes to talk with you. Please."
Again, there was no reply.
This was the only place she could be, other than the library. Dinner ended a few minutes ago in the Great Hall. She had to be here.
To his relief, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door. He heard someone turning the doorknob and he looked expectantly at the door. He tried to stop from smiling, but found he couldn't. Well, that was until the door opened to reveal…Lavender.
"What do you want Harry?" Lavender said, her voice crisp.
"I, um, need to see Hermione, Lav," he said matter-of-factly. "Is she here?"
Lavender looked down at the floor and then back at Harry.
"She's here, Harry," she replied. "But she really doesn't want to see you. She told us about
what happened last night. And I really think you should be ashamed of yourself. How is she ever going to get over you
if you insist on doing things like that?"
Harry stepped closer. "Lavender! That's precisely it! I don't want her to get over me!"
Lavender looked at him in dismay. "And that's precisely your problem, Harry! You are being incredibly selfish and cruel, do you even see that? You can't have your cake and eat it too."
Harry looked at her helplessly and was about to reply when she said a quick good night and before he could get a word in edgewise, she closed the door firmly behind him.
He knocked again, but no one came to the door.
"UGHHHHHHHHHHH!" he wailed.
Well, he wasn't about to give up that easily. An idea had just come to him.
*****
"You're doing the right thing, Hermione," Parvati said, to her friend.
"Am I?" Hermione asked. "I don't even know anymore."
Lavender sat back down on Hermione's bed and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Don't even give it a second thought, Hermione. In a few short months, we'll be graduating and you'll never have to look at Harry Potter or that tart Ginny Weasley anymore. You'll have your own life to lead. As my mum always says, 'the best revenge is looking good.'"
Hermione nodded. She felt incredibly stupid for her behavior the evening before. She should have known something like that would happen. Although she and Harry were history, the feelings were still there, strong as ever. Putting them alone together like that was just asking for trouble. She was silently cursing Professor Snape for being so cruel, when she heard a tapping at the window.
"What was that?" Lavender asked, startled.
"It's coming from the window," Parvati said, pointing at the only window in their room.
Hermione got up from the bed and pulled her dressing gown protectively around her as she went to the window and pulled back the curtains. She gasped when she saw Harry, flying on his broom, just outside their window.
She unlatched the lock and opened the window.
"Harry?" she asked, angrily. "What the hell are you doing out there? If you get caught, you'll get in trouble and you know it!"
He smiled at her and flew closer. "I know that and I don't really care, Hermione. Besides since the mountain wouldn't come to me, I went to the mountain."
Hermione looked at him, bemused. "What the hell are you on about? And why are you grinning at me like that?"
"I need to talk to you."
Hermione shook her head. "No, we've said all we needed to say to each other, Harry. It's over and done with."
"If you feel that way after we talk, fine. I'll never bother you again, but I really need to talk to you. Please. Just five minutes."
"Why?" she asked. "It won't do any good. Just go away, Harry. Please."
"Okay," he said stubbornly. "I'll just stay out here until you cave in, then."
She put her hand to her forehead. "You can't do that!"
"I bet I can," he said, his eyes twinkling.
"Oh, all right," Hermione said, exasperated. "I'll talk with you. But you and I both know you're not allowed in here."
"How about in our suite?" Harry suggested.
Hermione shook her head vehemently. "That's not a good idea. I'll meet you at the quidditch pitch. Give me a few minutes."
He nodded. "Thank you, Hermione."
Hermione closed and latched the window and turned to see Lavender and Parvati looking at her.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Hermione?" Lavender asked.
Hermione walked over to her trunk and pulled out a pair of jeans and a jumper.
"Like having him flying outside our window is an even better one?" Hermione asked.
"What are you going to say to him?" Parvati chimed in.
"I have no idea," Hermione said, heading for the bathroom to change clothes. "I have absolutely no idea."
***
Harry paced in front of one of the benches on the quidditch pitch, feeling anxious. He hoped that she hadn't told him she'd meet him just to get rid of him. It had been fifteen minutes since she'd agreed to talk with him. He was about to grab his broom and head back to her window when he saw her walking across the pitch towards him.
"Hi," he whispered when she reached him.
"Hi," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "You have five minutes."
He nodded. "Thank you for agreeing to talk to me."
She didn't respond.
"Look, Hermione," he began. "I know I have no right to expect anything of you."
"That's right," she said indignantly. "You haven't."
He sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.
"That thing with Ginny," he began again.
She held up her hand. "I don't want to hear about it."
He stepped closer to her and put a hand on her arm. "You need to hear this, Hermione."
She felt tears coming to her eyes, and she tried to stave them off.
"I didn't sleep with Ginny," he said abruptly. "The baby she's carrying isn't mine."
Hermione gave out a laugh. "Another lie."
"This isn't a lie," he said, shaking his head. "Listen, last night Ginny had a problem. She took a potion early in her pregnancy that caused some complications. Ron took her to the hospital wing."
Despite her anger, Hermione put a hand to her mouth. She didn't wish any ill will on Ginny or the baby.
"Are they okay?"
"They're going to be fine," Harry said softly. "Madame Pomfrey came through. Ginny's in the hospital wing recovering right now."
"Well," Hermione said, looking at him properly. "I'm glad that they're both okay."
"Yeah, me too," Harry said. "Don't you want to know what she took? The potion that she took?"
Hermione looked at him as if she could care less, but she muttered "What?" before she could stop herself.
"Polyjuice," he said simply.
Now, Hermione really was confused. Why on earth would Ginny want to take Polyjuice Potion?
Harry led Hermione over to the bench and they sat down. He related the entire sordid story for her down to the last detail.
When he was finished, Hermione felt…numb. It seemed too good to be true. It explained everything away. Yet, if she believed this version of events, she'd have to believe that someone she called a friend was capable of such betrayal and deceit. She knew Harry was expecting her to say something, but she didn't think she could. She was utterly gob-smacked at what he'd just told her.
He took her hands in his. "I love you. I never loved her, Hermione. Don't you see what this means? I was never unfaithful to you. We were both tricked into believing that this happened."
Hermione pulled her hands away from his. "You still lied to me, Harry."
"I didn't want to lose you, Hermione," he said honestly. "I know it sounds selfish, but it's the truth. I knew that if you knew about this, you'd walk away from me. And I didn't want to lose you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
She stood up and walked a few feet away from him, her back to him.
"I suppose I have messed things up, for us," Harry said morosely. "I want to make it up to you. If you'll give me another chance I will. Please."
He got up from the bench and walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her around to face him.
"Do you think you could love me again?" he asked hopefully. "Because for me, it's always been you. There could never be anyone else."
She couldn't stop the tears from falling down her cheek.
"Do you think you could love me again?" he asked again.
She looked down at the ground and then looked up at him.
"No," she said. "I don't think I could."
Harry felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him with her words.
"Well," she said quickly. "That's a lie. I could love you again, Harry. But I'm not sure that I want to."
He nodded. "I understand. I'll um, leave you alone, then."
He walked back over to the bench and picked up his broom, feeling as low and sad as he ever could remember in his life.
"That's it?"
He turned around, in surprise. She was walking toward him.
"I thought the great Harry Potter never walked away from a challenge," she said, wiping a tear away from her cheek and smiling at him.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Harry," she said, looking intently at him. "The truth is that I never stopped loving you. I'm glad the truth came out and everything, but you broke my heart. I know you were tricked into doing it, but it still hurts. I'm not the same person I was back then and neither are you. So, if you're serious about wanting to get back together, I figure you'll have to get to know me as I am and I'll have to get to know you as you are now, and then we'll just see."
He smiled at her. In an instant, he dropped his broom and picked her up in a warm embrace and swung her around. They were both laughing by the time he set her back down on her feet.
"Do you think it would be out of line to give you a quick kiss?" he asked her.
"Oh, I think you'd better," she said, with a laugh, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He smiled as he pulled her to him and their lips brushed softly. Without pulling away, he deepened the kiss and she melted into him. There was no guilt, there was no shame. This kiss was full of hope, longing and forgiveness.
When they pulled away from each other, Harry rested his forehead on hers.
"I missed you," he said.
"I missed you, too," she said.
"You know there is something that I wanted to do with you," he said, smiling at her. The twinkle in his eyes was nearly blinding. He leaned down and picked up his broom and twirled it around.
"Now?" she asked him. "You want me to fly with you now?"
"Now's as good a time as any," he said. "And I do believe you agreed to it."
"I do not recall making any such statement," she said, turning away from him.
"Besides, it's cold out here."
"It's not that bad," he said. "And I'll let you wear my cloak. Come on."
"It's dark," Hermione said, obviously trying to get his mind off the flying.
"So?" Harry asked her. "I get it. You don't trust me up on that broom, do you? I swear, I will keep my eyes focused and my hands will be firmly planted on the broom. All you have to do is look beautiful and hold on tight. What could possibly be scary about that?"
Hermione grinned at him. "If I do this once, you will never ask me to do this again."
He nodded. "I won't have to. Because once you get the chance to do this once, you'll be begging me to take you back up again."
"Don't hold your breath on that one," she said. She gave out a peal of nervous laughter as she watched Harry mount his broom.
She bit her bottom lip. "Harry. I think I've changed my mind."
"Are you a Gryffindor or not?" he asked, teasingly. "Come on."
"Wouldn't you rather go upstairs and snog?" she said, trying a new tactic. "I mean, we are supposed to be having a wonderful reunion right about now."
"We are going to have the wonderful reunion," he said, reaching behind his back and patting at the empty space behind him. "This is the beginning."
She took a deep breath, and climbed onto the broom behind him.
"Promise you'll go slow?" she asked.
"I promise I will go slowly," he said seriously. He turned around and looked at her, his green eyes focused solely on her. "Are you ready?"
She smiled back at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her head on his back as he prepared to take flight.
"I'm ready," she said, closing her eyes as she felt them rise off the ground.
She didn't dare open her eyes. To her great relief, Harry did as promised and didn't do any jerky movements or quick turns. She didn't realize how tight her hold on Harry's waist was until he spoke up.
"Hermione?"
"Hmmm?" she responded.
"Oxygen is becoming an issue, here," he said.
"Sorry," she said, loosening her grip a little.
"Don't get me wrong," he called to her. "I really do like you holding on to me."
She pinched his side playfully.
"Ow!" he said, as he maneuvered the broom just above the pitch. He looked back at her and stifled a laugh as he saw her eyes tightly closed. "You know you're really missing a great view. Open you eyes, Hermione."
She did and looked down and although the height scared her, she had to admit that it was a beautiful view.
"Wow," she whispered.
"Told you," he said. "See, flying's not so bad, is it?"
She nestled in closer to him and smiled "It's not so bad when I'm with you."
*****
Author's note: That's it for now, folks. There will be one more chapter after this and probably an epilogue. Next chapter you can look forward to Hermione and Harry's reunion and a little talk between Miss Granger and Miss Weasley. It will not be pretty.
And for those of you who complain about my cliffhangers, I must say that you can't spell the word "INFAMY" without A-M-Y.
Thanks to all who have reviewed, you guys don't know how important they are to us writers. They keep us going. I am amazed that I've had over 1100 on this one! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.