Chapter Five
Hermione was greeted with cheers and hugs from her roommates when they arrived home about an hour later, due to her inability to wipe the grin off her face. She spent the rest of the afternoon sitting and talking with Jen and Max who eventually managed to get her talking about Harry.
"So when did you become friends?" Max asked curiously.
"Well, we met on the first day of school, but we weren't friends until Halloween. Ron had been moaning about how annoying I was, I overheard and hid in the bathroom crying." Hermione smiled sheepishly remembering the day.
"And Ron's your other best friend?" Hermione nodded.
"One of the girls told them where I was so they came to find me… We've been best friends ever since, the three of us."
"Your best friends are all male?" Jen asked curiously, she found it odd considering how close she and Hermione had already become in the last few months. She watched her friends face fall and instinctively placed a hand on her arm.
"Well I never really got along with the girls in my own year, but Ron's sister, she was a year younger than us…Ginny…" Hermione trailed off sadly, her eyes distant.
"What happened?"
"She…she died. Two years ago last Sunday." Hermione said quietly.
Jen nodded, now understanding why Hermione had drunk so much, and been so out of control on Sunday night.
"It's still…well, I just can't believe she's gone. She always knew how to make me laugh. Always pranking everyone but no one ever suspected it was her." Hermione remembered with a sad smile.
"So, tell us more about Harry then?" Max asked with a grin, getting a laugh from the two girls.
"You are such a gossip!" Jen teased him. Max held up his hands in defeat.
"I fully admit to being a gossip. Now tell us!" He demanded.
"He's…well, he's Harry! He always knows exactly what to say, he's so brave around everyone, but he lets his guard down with me and Ron…he's been through a lot…he's an orphan, he lived with his Aunt's horrible family who mistreated him…he never had anyone to love until he came to school. Ron's family practically adopted him. He's so funny, always getting me into trouble for breaking rules…" Hermione said with a grin, remembering so many adventures the four of them had had with the Marauders Map and the Invisibility Cloak over the years.
"You missed out the fact that he's incredibly good looking." Jen said poking Hermione in the side with a laugh.
"Ok, he's amazing good looking. Who could resist those eyes? And the way his hair is always completely out of control." Hermione smiled.
"He sounds a bit too good to be true." Max said, worried Hermione would be hurt.
"Harry would never do anything to hurt me. He's one of the good ones." Hermione reassured Max.
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Hermione found herself daydreaming in her lecture on Thursday afternoon, gazing out of the window and reliving her favourite memories of Harry. His face after winning the Quidditch Cup in their Seventh Year, helping her carry her books from the library to the Common Room, sitting talking with Dobby, losing to Ron at chess for the umpteenth time, the fear in his eyes when she was cursed in the Department of Mysteries, and the confusion when he finally defeated Voldemort. She shook her head, trying to focus on her Professor though she'd already read the textbook and all the recommended extra reading. She couldn't let herself daydream about Harry; she'd never get through the next months if she did that. She spent the rest of the day focusing on reciting Arithmancy equations in her head to prevent her thoughts from wandering back to Harry.
She was happily still doing this as she let herself into her flat two hours later. Harry and Ron had always considered her insane for being relaxed by equations but they humoured her, knowing that if she didn't recite them in her head she would have hexed them to hell and back before their final exams. Damn, she thought about Harry. Well, it wasn't like he didn't return her feelings, she didn't have to worry so much about it, and he was so adorable, maybe she could designate a few minutes an hour to thinking about nothing but him…She chuckled under her breath.
"I'm a basket case." She muttered to herself.
"What's up Hermione?" Mel asked from the kitchen, having overheard her friend's mutterings.
"I don't suppose you know who Brown in?" Mel asked with a smile, having already guessed the answer. Hermione's head snapped up to look at her friend questioningly.
"It was delivered earlier. Jen put it in your room." Mel said with a grin as Hermione threw her bag onto the sofa and rushed to her room with a grin. Mel followed, yelling to Jen as she went.
"She's home!" Jen came rushing into Hermione's room and the three of them sat on her bed looking at the box on the desk.
"Well - open it!" Jen exclaimed.
"It is from Harry isn't it?" Mel asked. Hermione nodded with a smile.
"He must have done this before he went back to training." She said with a smile as she found a pair of scissors and opened up the parcel, removing a smaller gift-wrapped box. Hermione laughed as she pulled out a small cuddly phoenix. Jen and Mel exchanged confused glances, not understanding the significance, Hermione looked up and blushed.
"We both like um…mythical animals. It's a long story really, but this could only be from Harry." She said happily, smiling even more when she found the Greatest Hits of Van Morrison in the parcel.
"Brown-eyed girl." She explained to her friends who now began to understand Hermione's nickname.
"It's our song." Jen and Mel nodded and moved back to give Hermione a little space as she pulled out a note from the box. Hermione looked a little tearful as she read the note, but she smiled as she placed the note in her pocket.
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Hermione was greeted with a double hug from Fred and George as she let herself into The Burrow on Friday evening. She laughed and kissed her two honorary brothers on the cheek before heading into the house to find Molly and Arthur who were in the midst of the Weasley family gathering. Hermione had felt rather uncomfortable attending these gatherings for the last few months, as Ron and Harry's absence only seemed to highlight the gap at the table where Ginny had always sat. She had still come to visit Molly and Arthur, but she had tried to visit on days when the house was less crowded, but she had felt her selfishness while reflecting on Ginny's death. She was lost to them all.
As Hermione stood talking with Molly in the kitchen however she felt more at ease at The Burrow than she had since Ron and Harry had left for training. She knew exactly why.
"Molly. The boys are ok." Hermione reassured her Mother. Molly turned to her.
"That's what everyone keeps telling me, but how can we know?" Molly asked despairingly. She paused at the sparkle in Hermione's eyes.
"What is it?"
"They are ok Molly. Harry let me know on Wednesday. Ron sent a message to you not to worry. Although Harry mentioned Ron had become tidier, so there is still the possibility that he's under the Imperius…" Hermione teased her second Mother. Molly's eyes teared up though she chuckled at the thought of Ron being tidy.
"Really?" Hermione nodded and hugged Molly tight.
"How did Harry get a message to you?" Molly asked pulling back from the hug and wiping her eyes on her apron.
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"You know Harry. He used some of those powers he dislikes so much. I think being cooped up in the compound was really getting to them, they needed to rebel a little." Hermione said, and the two women grinned at each other before gathering the dishes together and carrying them through to the dining room.
Hermione took a seat between Alicia and Charlie and happily took Charlie and Laura's young daughter in her arms to allow the couple time to eat interrupted. She was gazing happily at the baby while chatting to Arthur, who as always was fascinated by everything Muggle, and Hermione attending a Muggle University was like Christmas morning to him. She held back a giggle as Molly rolled her eyes behind her husbands back. Hermione was in the middle of explaining the basics of electricity yet again when she paused mid-sentence. She closed her eyes, and received worried glances from around the table. After a moment a wide smile spread across her face and as she reopened her eyes they saw her eyes were smiling also.
"Molly, there's someone at the door for you." She said softly. Molly stood abruptly and turned towards the front door, just reaching it when it opened and Ron walked into the room. Hermione silently handed baby Emily back to Charlie as everyone stood. She silently began to weave her way through everyone. She couldn't see Ron anymore, could only hear everyone's shouts of excitement and Molly's tears as she hugged her son. Finally she moved past Fred and George's excited and rather hazardous dancing and she could see him. Harry was wrapped up in Molly's arms, as was Ron, both being hugged as if she'd never let them go. Hermione paused, now only a few feet away from them. Harry was released from Molly's arms and Hermione watched as his eyes anxiously scanned the sea of faces in front of him while Ron was engulfed in a hug from his Father.
Harry's eyes finally locked on hers, a huge grin spreading across his face. He took a step towards her and before Hermione knew what she was doing she was running at him, jumping to wrap her legs around his waist, her arms weaving around his neck, hugging him tight. Harry caught her and held her tight, though she could feel his chest reverberating as he laughed.
"I missed you too 'Mione." Harry whispered into her ear. She leant her head back a little to look at him with a smile and kissed him.
Harry put her back down on the floor and kissed her again, and only then did the pair remember their audience. Fred and George were leading the cheering, and Ron was laughing. Molly and Arthur looked shocked, but Hermione could see Molly was holding back giggles. Hermione blushed and Harry laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and hugging her close to his side.
"When did this happen?" Charlie asked with a grin, approaching Harry.
"Depends what you mean, either our Seventh year, or two days ago depending on how you look at it." Harry and Charlie grinned at each other as Hermione pulled away from Harry and ran at Ron for a huge hug.
Ron laughed and held her close.
"That was some welcome Brown." He teased her, kissing her hair lightly.
"I missed you Ron." She said softly as she took his hand and led him towards the dinner table where everyone was now returning. Bill had rearranged the seating to accommodate Harry and Ron. Ron smiled at his best friend, knowing that he would never be excluded, they would always be The Trio even though Harry and Hermione were together, and he loved Hermione even more for subtly letting him know that. Harry looked up from his conversation with Arthur and taking in his two best friends holding hands he grinned and went back to chatting.
Hermione took a seat next to Harry who took her hand in his, and refused to let go all throughout the meal. She smiled at him.
"Are you going to tell us how you're here then? Last I knew they might throw you out of the training program for your rule breaking - I take it that didn't happen?" She asked, getting the attention of most of the table who also wanted to hear the answer. Harry shared a grin with Ron who was sitting opposite him.
"Well if we'd known that Harry's little rebellion would have ended this way I would have made him do it a lot sooner." Ron said with a laugh.
"What rebellion would this be?" George asked.
"Ah, well I apparated out of the compound to see Hermione." Harry said blushing. The Weasley boys laughed and Alicia leant close to Hermione whispering something in her ear and the girls smiled at each other.
"So you could apparate out of there the whole time?" Fred asked incredulously. Harry nodded simply.
"And you resisted?" George asked.
"We thought we'd better stick to the training rules and just use basic magical powers." Harry said sheepishly.
"You should have seen their faces." Ron said with glee.
"I thought Moody was going to burst his face went so red. Serves him right for that Acromantula attack training week." Ron said with a cheeky grin. Harry and Hermione laughed at the expression of pleasure on Ron's face.
"So what did they say when you apparated back." Hermione asked, determined to get some answers.
"They wanted to know what else we'd been keeping from them." Ron said with a laugh. "So we headed back into the training room and kicked some butt. That's where we've been since Wednesday evening. After that they said we were ready to graduate from the training program. We get a week off and then it's straight to work in the Auror Division!" Molly looked at Ron and Harry proudly, and the table was once again overtaken with conversations.
"So you used your full magic?" Hermione asked Harry quietly so only they could hear.
"No, not everything. You know I wont use that one power again. I wouldn't need to…I'd only need the Basilisk to defeat Voldemort and we've done that now." They shared a silent look of understanding.
"Congratulations Harry."
"Hey, what are you two lovebirds whispering about?" Ron teased them affectionately.
"Hermione was just telling me she's got a date lined up for you mate." Harry said with a grin. Hermione shot him a glance.
"You know that Ron and Jen would be perfect together." Harry said with a laugh. Hermione thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
"I'll introduce you tomorrow Ron." Hermione said and Ron blushed before continuing his description of their final training battle. Harry chipped in every now and again to correct Ron or tease him, but it was Ron's show and Hermione moved her chair closer to Harry's and happily leant against him, her head resting on his shoulder.
Molly and Arthur stood in the kitchen doorway an hour later, watching their children interact. Ron and Charlie were playing chess, Laura was referring an exploding snap game between Fred, George, Alicia and Angelina to prevent their outrageous cheating, holding her daughter in one arm. Hermione and Harry were curled up on a small sofa watching the chess game and talking softly.
"Ginny would have loved this." Arthur said softly.
Molly nodded and hugged her husband as they observed their family.
As Mr. And Mrs. Weasley watched, Harry and Hermione stood, and made their way around the room saying goodnight to everyone. Ron stood to talk with them and Molly felt a tear slip down a cheek as the three exchanged a long group hug. She could overhear snippets of their conversation.
"So lunch tomorrow at the Leaky Cauldron? You going to be up by twelve Red?"
"See you there Brown. You take care of him ok? He still has those nightmares." Harry glared at Ron at this point until his best friends looked at him pointedly.
"What? They aren't as bad as they were!"
"Thanks for telling me Ron. I've got some dreamless sleep potion kicking around still if it's bad… It's so good to have you back." Hermione said hugging Ron again. The three smiled at each other before Ron headed back to his chess game and Harry and Hermione bade goodnight to Arthur and Molly, promising to be back for Sunday lunch.
Hermione awoke on Saturday morning to find Harry lying next to her, watching her intently, his unruly black hair standing in stark contrast with the white pillow.
"Morning." She said shyly. Harry kissed the tip of her nose gently before wrapping an arm around her and hugging her tight.
"Good Morning." Hermione said with a smile, kissing him lightly, sighing with happiness as she hugged him.
THE END
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This fic included two songs - 'Lost Without You' by Delta Goodrem, for the lyrics which seemed to fit the situation perfectly, and Van Morrison 'Brown Eyed Girl', not particularly for all the lyrics, but because I like the song, and I could just see Harry drunkenly singing "you my brown eyed girl" - no idea why - but I knew it had to be their song!
Van Morrison - Brown eyed Girl
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
I hear a song makes me think of a girl I used to know
I sing along when I hear it on the radio now
Hey now where did we go
Ooh yeah days when the rains came
Way down in the hollow
Ooh yeah playing a new game
Laughing and a running (hey hey hey)
Skipping and a jumping (yeah yeah)
In the misty morning fog
Oh baby and our hearts a thumping
And you
My brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
I hear a song makes me think of a girl I used to know
(Hey hey hey)
I sing along when I hear it on the radio now
Now that the years gone by
Yeah now that I'm on my own
Saw you just the other day
Oh my baby you have grown
Cast my memory back there
Sometimes I am overcome just thinking about it
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
Do you remember when
Yeah' we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la
I hear a song makes me think of a girl I used to know
(Hey hey hey)
I sing along when I hear it on the radio
(Hey hey hey)