Chapter Eleven
Hermione walked slowly through the village of Hogsmeade, oblivious to the looks she received as people recognised as the elusive member of the famous trio. She knew Harry had sorted his life out by himself. She'd had a hunch he had feelings for her long before Ron had oh-so-subtly told her that Harry had feelings for her… Oh this shouldn't be so difficult, I'm a bloody Gryffindor for goodness sake, where is all that Gryffindor courage when you need it?
Her feet had taken over as she thought, and looking up she realised she was standing right outside the Leaky Cauldron. Sighing at just how pathetic she was being, she pushed open the doors and walked into the familiar pub. Rosmerta greeted her with a smile and a wave and Hermione, waving back, headed to their old `usual' booth in the back corner of the pub.
"Good to see you again Hermione. You meeting the boys? Harry mentioned he'd be in this afternoon."
Hermione looked up in surprise, shaking her head.
"No, I didn't realise he was coming in, I just thought I'd pop in for some lunch. I've been up at Hogwarts."
Seeing Rosmerta's look of interest, Hermione invited her to sit down with a smile. Leaning across the table a bit she continued.
"I've taken the post of Care of Magical Creatures Professor. No one really knows yet."
Rosmerta beamed at her.
"Oh I'm so glad you're back to stay dear. It's not the same seeing Harry and Ron in here without you, they look like a part of them is missing, especially poor Harry as Ron has Lavender after all." Hermione smiled, having heard this many times over the years of their friendship.
"I'll admit I'm so excited to be coming home for good…it was easier to go away at first…"
"What do you mean, easier?" Rosmerta interrupted concerned, placing a hand gently over Hermione's.
"After the battle, losing Ginny, and well, Harry needed time to figure out who he was for himself…I knew he'd hate auror life but it wasn't my place…you know what I'm like Rosy, I would have had to bite my tongue to stop myself running his life, and Rons for that matter…going away gave me a chance to sort my head out, and gave them the chance to sort their lives out…and now it's all worked out…"
"Oh Hermione I never realised…" Rosmerta said, her eyes a little damp with tears. Hermione looked up, and realised she had revealed a little too much, though it felt like a relief to let some of the pent up feelings out.
"You poor dear…I see it so clearly now, I can't believe I never noticed before how much you love him. But shouldn't he have made the decision whether or not he wanted you with him?" Rosmerta asked confused.
Hermione shook her head sadly, unshed tears in her eyes.
"You didn't see him…those days immediately after the battle, he was just a shell walking around, Harry wasn't there anymore. He didn't know who he was. He never understood that we loved him for him, not for being the-boy-who-lived; he needed to understand we loved him for being him and not the-boy-who-saved-the-world…it absolutely killed me to walk away. I hated being away from him and Ron, but I still think I did the right thing. This will mean so much more to him, knowing he found his way in life by himself, knowing that it's definitely what he wants…"
"And if he wants you?" Rosmerta asked gently.
"He's got me. I've always loved him; I always will love him…I just have to find someway to tell him that now. I'm just so scared. What if he's angry with me for going away? What if he doesn't feel the same way? If I ruined our friendship I'd be completely lost…I wouldn't have anything left." Hermione finished in a whisper, unable to stop the flood of emotions and tears once she'd started.
Rosmerta leaned over and touched Hermione's cheek gently.
"The three of you have the strongest friendship I've seen since Harry's father and his friends…nothing can take that away - nothing. Be brave Hermione. And in the meantime I'll go out back and get Oliver to whip you up some of that French Onion Soup you love so much."
Hermione smiled gratefully and dried her eyes, looking at the table as Rosmerta walked away.
Rosmerta walked away from the table slowly, shaking her head slightly in a disbelieving manner, that was one brave young woman. She suddenly paused instinctively and looked to her right, her mouth dropping slightly. There in the booth behind the one she had just left, directly behind Hermione, sat a very shocked looking Harry Potter. Looking around the pub she saw she had only one other customer in the early afternoon lull, and silently managed to usher them out of the pub, placing the closed sign on the door.
Harry stood and walked towards the door as if to leave. Rosmerta quietly moved to block his path, seeing the unshed tears in his eyes, the pain, anger and confusion fighting against his own feelings for Hermione. He must have walked in while they were talking, and heard nearly everything.
"I think the two of you have waited long enough to tell each other the truth my dear…you both had your reasons…try to understand hers…she would risk her life to make you happy as I believe she's done many times. Don't be angry." Rosmerta said very quietly, watching as emotions flitted across Harry's face. She gently placed her hands on his shoulders and turned him around, giving him a gentle push in the right direction.
Harry stood completely still for a moment, knowing Hermione was there though he hadn't yet seen her. Then he let his legs take over and put one foot in front of the other until he was standing next to their usual booth.
"Hermione…"
-->