Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's note: Well, here's the morning after Hermione's drunken night. I hope you guys like this! It's a little slice of fluff for you all…Please read and review! And yes I'm on a Michelle Branch kick lately with the songs…this one was playing just as I finished typing chapter! That's my creative process at work for you! LOL!

Chapter Ten
You Set Me Free

"Can't you see?
There's a feeling that's come over me
Close my eyes
You're the only one that leaves me completely breathless

'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see, yeah
And you set me free"

(Michelle Branch, "You Set Me Free")

Oh, God. I must be dead.

Hermione groaned and rolled over on her side.

Who started the Quidditch match in my head?

She tried to open her eyes, but one glance at the sunlight caused her so much pain, she shut her eyes immediately back and buried her face deep into the pillow.

What the hell happened to me?

She felt as if she was going to be sick at any moment, but she honestly didn't know if she had the capability---both mentally or physically to move from the bed to the bathroom.

She managed somehow to get up in a crouching position, all the while keeping her eyes tightly closed. As she rose up out of bed, the nauseous feeling she'd experienced the moment she woke up seemed to worsen.

Oh, God. I'm going to be sick!

Mustering up all the strength she could, she rushed out of bed and into the bathroom.

She couldn't say how long she'd been in the bathroom, but she figured that she threw up everything she'd ever eaten in her life. When she finally walked out of the bathroom, she yawned and looked down at her clothes. The foul smell she'd smelled a moment ago wasn't from the bathroom, but from her own clothes.

Hermione lifted her shirt up to her nose and took a whiff and grimaced.

I smell like a brewery.

She made her way back to the bed and for the first time noticed that Harry was in the bed, too.

Where did he come from?

HOLD ON! We couldn't have…I mean, I would have remembered that, wouldn't I?

She took a deep breath as she sat at the edge of the bed trying hard to remember the events of the night before. She remembered going dress shopping with Luna. She remembered going to the party for D.J. Malfoy and she remembered how painful it had been to watch Ginny with her son. Then, she'd gone up to the roof for some air when Harry found her. They'd had a nice moment up on the roof and then they'd come downstairs.

Then that stupid, shallow cow Lisa Turpin shows up and grabs Harry like he was the grand prize!

Not being able to watch Lisa hanging all over Harry, Hermione remembered how she'd walked through Hogsmeade and found herself at the pub. She racked her brain trying to remember what happened after that, but came up empty.

Harry and I couldn't have slept together, could we? I imagine I was pretty out of it, but he wouldn't have…I mean he couldn't have…

As she sat there deep in thought, it occurred to her that she was still wearing the clothes she was wearing the night before. She turned around on the bed and leaned over Harry and pulled back the duvet cover and saw to her relief that he, too, was fully dressed. She couldn't help a lingering look at him as he slept. He always looked so peaceful.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Hermione jumped back and nearly fell off the bed. His screaming hurt her head. She grabbed hold of her head and rubbed her temple.

"Jesus, Hermione!" Harry said, rubbing his eyes and sitting up. "You scared the hell out of me!"

"I-I'm sorry," she muttered, moving to the edge of the bed.

"What the hell were you doing?"

She looked at him sheepishly. She couldn't very well tell him she was looking at him sleep, could she?

"Nothing," she said unconvincingly.

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"I'm surprised," he said, with a laugh, as he reached for his glasses on the bedside table.

"Well, you missed my worship of the porcelain god this morning," Hermione said, rubbing her head again. "It wasn't my best moment. That's what I get for drinking. How, um, how much did I drink last night?"

"I don't know," Harry said, leaning back against the headboard. "I showed up at The Hog's Head and you were pretty much pissed by then."

"Oh," Hermione said. "There's a reason why I never drink and this is it."

Harry started laughing and Hermione looked up in surprise.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said, still laughing.

"What?" she asked again.

He continued to laugh; only enraging Hermione even more. She got up from the edge of the bed and walked over to him and promptly sat on his lap.

"Harry James Potter," she said, looking into his green eyes. "You tell me what you're laughing at or I'll never get up."

"Okay," he said, still chuckling. "You're quite the funny drunk, Hermione."

"Oh, God!" Hermione said, gasping. She put her hand over her mouth. A few seconds later, she brought it back down. "What did I do?"

"You were mostly incoherent, but you called Professor McGonagall, Professor McGonagallagallagall."

"I did?" Hermione asked. She was quite a bit relieved at this. If this was the worst her behavior was last night, she need not worry about embarrassing herself.

"Did I do anything else?" she asked, trying not to sound too concerned.

"You hit on me," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"I what?"

"You heard," he said, grinning at her.

"Well, I must have been drunk if I was hitting on you," she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Yeah," Harry said, stifling a laugh as Hermione got off of his lap and sat on the side of the bed. "You kept telling me that I smelled so good and how you wanted me to take you home. Then, you asked me to dance with you and I took you outside and you proceeded to nearly molest me right on the streets of Hogsmeade."

Hermione glared at him.

"I did not!"

"You can go back to The Hog's Head tonight," he said. "I'm sure they can corroborate my version of the events of last night."

"But, we didn't," Hermione said, her voice faltering. "We didn't do anything, right?"

Harry put a hand on her shoulder.

"We didn't do anything," he reassured her. "We apparated back here and I carried you into the bedroom. You wanted me to stay with you until you fell asleep, so I did. I must have dozed off, too."

She was silent for awhile.

"Hermione?" Harry asked her. "You know that I'd never take advantage of you when you were like that, don't you?"

She gave him a slight smile.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm just so embarrassed. What if this makes the papers?"

"It won't make the papers!" he assured her. "Most of the people who go into The Hog's Head usually don't want anyone to know they were there. I'm sure you're not the first person to get drunk in there and you won't be the last. No one's going to know. And if they do, they'll have to answer to me."

She smiled gratefully at him. "Always the hero."

"Well, I try," he said, pulling back the duvet cover and getting out of bed. He allowed himself a quick stretch.

"Do you know how to make a sobrietus potion?" she asked him.

"Yes, I do," he said. "Did you want me to make you some?"

"I'd be eternally grateful," she said.

"Okay," he said. "Let me just pop into the loo and I'll take care of you then, okay?"

"Okay," she said, smiling at him as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

A few minutes later, they were both in the kitchen. Harry was eating a bowl of cereal and Hermione was nursing a big goblet of sobrietus potion. Sam sat at her feet.

To her relief, there was no mention of her drunken behavior the night before in The Daily Prophet.

She was reading through the paper when Harry looked at her as if he'd just had a wonderful idea.

"What are you doing today?" he asked her.

"I hadn't planned on anything," she said. "Unless you wanted to sign those papers?"

"Not yet," he said, ignoring the glare she gave him.

"But how about a day of fun," he said, smiling at her. "Just you and me? We could take Sam for a walk? Go into Hyde Park for a picnic. The weather's supposed to be perfect today."

"Are you trying to woo me?" she asked him, her cheeks reddening a little.

"Woo you?" he asked her. "What makes you think I'm trying to woo you? And does anyone even use the word 'woo' anymore?"

"You're such a goofball," she said, laughing.

"I never said I wasn't," he said. "So, would you Mrs. Soon to Be Ex Goofball go with your husband, Mr. Goofball for a walk in the park? It'll do you good to get out."

Hermione thought about this. It would be nice to get out on a beautiful day. When she'd lived in London full time one of her most favorite things to do on a perfect sunny day such as today was to go for a walk in the park. She and Harry used to do it all the time. It would be just like old times, she thought to herself. A little voice in her head said that maybe this wouldn't be such a good idea.

I'm sick to death of that little voice.

"Okay," she said. "You're on. But no funny business, mister."

"I promise," he said, beaming at her. She got up from the table.

"I better go get in the shower, then," she said, walking out of the kitchen and toward the bedroom.

Harry smiled down at Sam and revealed that under the table he'd crossed his fingers as he'd made his "promise" to Hermione.

****

They weren't the only ones wanting to take advantage of the summer sunshine. They arrived in the park at just before noon and a number of people scattered the lawns, enjoying picnics or enjoying a quick break from their workday.

Hermione held on tight to the leash and laughed as Sam pranced ahead of them.

"He likes this, doesn't he?" she asked Harry.

"He doesn't come out this way much," Harry said. "We usually just keep our walks to Thackerey Drive."

"Why?" Hermione asked. "I thought you loved coming here!"

"I do," he said, looking away from her.

"Well, why haven't you come back here?"

"Because this was where you and I always went," he said. "I didn't want to share that with anyone else."

Despite herself, Hermione was quite touched by what he'd said. She couldn't imagine sharing this place with anyone other than him, either.

Hermione looked at him and felt that familiar closeness coming over her again.

"Um, so you don't ever see yourself bringing Lisa here?" she asked, trying to sound unconcerned.

He shook his head. "I don't think I'll be bringing her anywhere else, to tell you the truth. She probably wouldn't want to see me after I ditched her last night to come to your rescue."

"My hero," Hermione said, putting her free hand to her forehead and pretending to swoon. "But, seriously, Harry. I'm sure if you explained the situation to her, she'd understand."

"I don't think so," he said. "Besides, I don't think I see that going anywhere, anyway. We're too different."

As Harry walked a little bit ahead of her, Hermione couldn't help smiling at this news.

"So," he asked her, as they approached a food stand. "Do you fancy eating something now?"

She gave a faint smile. "I think so. Just something light though. And a club soda."

"Okay," he said. "Why don't you and Sam find an empty spot and I'll bring the food?"

"Okay," she said, tugging gently at the leash to steer Sam toward the grass. "We'll be right over there."

Harry nodded and quickly placed an order. He ordered Hermione's favorite sandwich---roast beef of whole wheat toast with light mustard. He grabbed a bag of pretzels and got a BLT sandwich for himself. He was loaded down with a carton of food when he finally found Hermione and Sam, who were sitting under a tree on the blanket Hermione had brought along.

Hermione took off her sunglasses and leaned back on her elbows as she took in the sunlight.

Harry handed her a sandwich and her soda and she sat up and unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite. Sam whimpered beside her so she took a piece of her roast beef and watched as Sam nibbled it.

"So what is it that you're going to be doing?" she asked him.

He took a swig from his soda and looked at her. "What?"

"This business venture of yours?" she asked him. "It must be something great if it's made you give up your old job, Harry."

Harry looked a little uncomfortable.

"I hope so," he said.

"Do you think you'll be able to live without saving people's lives on a regular basis?" she teased. "You do have that terrible 'saving people' complex."

He laughed.

"Not that I'm complaining," she said, shaking her head. "Because that 'saving people' thing saved me on a number of occasions, apparently as early as last night, too!"

"Well," Harry said. "I imagine I'll still be open to save damsels in distress."

"Of course," Hermione said, winking at him. "So what is this venture? You can tell me, can't you?"

He looked at her, wanting to tell her, but he just wasn't ready to share it with her, just yet.

"I would like to tell you, believe me," he said. "But, I just don't want to jinx it. Just know that I'm very excited and scared about it all at the same time."

"Well, that sounds mysterious," Hermione said. "Okay, how about if I ask you questions and you tell me if I'm warm or cold? Just to ease my curiosity a bit, please?"

"Okay," he said, a little uncertainly.

Hermione smiled and sat facing him. Her nose scrunched up as she was deep in thought. Harry thought she'd never looked more adorable as when she was trying to figure something out.

"Okay," she said. "You're not going to be teaching at Hogwarts, right?"

He shook his head. "Definitely not."

"Okay," she said, scratching her chin. "I've got it! You're going to take up Quidditch again?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "Way off, Hermione."

"Hmmm," she said, thoughtfully. "Okay. You're going to become a magical contractor and paint houses all over London."

"Oh, yeah," he said. "I don't think I'd get very far without you barking orders to me like you did with the cottage."

She looked affronted at this and punched him playfully on the arm.

"I didn't bark orders at you!" she protested. "I led the organization of her design process. There's a big difference."

"We need to ask Ron," Harry said.

"We don't need to ask Ron," Hermione said. "He'd only take you're side."

"For good reason!" Harry said, teasingly.

Hermione pretended to scowl at him. "Okay, well, if you're not going to tell me, then I'll just have to---"

Harry looked at her. "You'll just have to do what?"

"This," she said. And before he knew what she was doing, she'd grabbed his glasses from his face and took off running through the park. Harry laughed at her before taking off to follow her, Sam in tow.

Neither of them noticed the American gentleman who had taken a number of pictures of them as they enjoyed their picnic and as they took off on their playful game of tag.

****

It had been a fantastic day. They'd spent the whole day in the park. After he'd finally caught up to her and retrieved his glasses, they walked through the park past the different monuments and sights. They people watched and tried to pick out the older people in the park and say which of their friends would be like that person when they got older.

They enjoyed ice cream and even played a quick game of croquet with another couple who needed two more people for a game.

They were both somewhat tired as they made their way back down Thackerey Drive toward the cottage.

Hermione rested her head on Harry's shoulder, stifling a yawn as they walked.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd had such a perfect day.

When they walked back into the cottage, Sam ran for the kitchen to get some water from his dish and Hermione put his leash on the table beside the door.

"It's late," she said, looking down at her watch.

"Yeah," Harry said, dreading what she was going to say next. He knew that she was going to say that it was late and that she should get to bed, but he didn't want to let her go just yet. They'd had too nice a time.

She walked toward the bedroom, and Harry hesitated only a moment before quickly walking over to her, grabbing her hand and turning her to face him. She didn't say anything and he just looked into her brown eyes.

He pulled her to him and their faces were just inches apart.

"Good night," she whispered.

"Good night," he said. Neither of them moved.

Harry took his hand to caress her cheek softly.

"Harry, I-"

But she didn't get to finish her sentence as he leaned in and claimed her lips. She didn't respond at first, shocked at what he'd done. But, as she gave into the warm feelings he was inciting in her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

****

"Governor?" the private detective said on his mobile phone.

"Yes?" Joe Keegan said impatiently. "This better be important, Miller. I have a briefing in ten minutes."

"It is," Miller said. "I got some photographs of that girl. Apparently, your son isn't the only man in her life, sir."

"Good," Joe said. "Send them to me via e-mail as soon as possible."

"You've got it," Miller said. "You should have them within the hour."

Author's note: Cliffhanger Amy is back and worse than ever before! I'm sorry, guys! It was the perfect way to end the chapter!!!! I hope you aren't too mad with me!!!! I'll honestly try and not keep you waiting too long!