Family Ties
Chapter 7
Hermione and Arty looked around the living room. The room was decorated in earth tones. The floor was tiled with flagstones that continued up to the fireplace. The fireplace had a cherry stained wood mantle that is ornately detailed to perfection. T he flowers, the curves and each grove where perfectly finished. The painting on top of the mantle was of a dreary meadow with splashes of colors for the flowers and a blue stream that almost jumped out as if the water would start pouring into the room.
The mantle contained various pictures of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Arty and the rest of the Weasleys. On the other side of the wall are portraits for communication just like the ones at the parlor in Grimmauld Place. Above it are the clocks that contained everyone in the Weasley clan. She saw that Arty and she were both pointing to "HOME" while Harry was pointing to "LAIR" still. She wondered what was taking him so long, but didn't dwell on it too long.
She kept taking in all the beautiful things inside the room. There was a Victorian style couch with matching loveseat and armchairs. The coffee table and corner tables all matched as well as sconces used for lighting on the walls. There were paintings, both muggle type and wizard. She saw the dining room taped off with a sign of under construction.
"Aunt Hermione. Do you mind if I take a look around?" Hermione was exploring too slow for his taste. She was taking her time touching each item. Feeling the fabrics and such. He wanted to go look at other things that were in the house.
"Sure, but make sure you don't go into the places that have been taped off." He grinned up at her and tried to walk straight into the dining room. Instead he was thrown backwards when he tried to remove the tape. Hermione rushed to his aid as she shook her head. "All right there?"
"Yeah, I guess I will have to stay out of the taped up room. Maybe I'll go look for my room."
"Okay, you do that."
Hermione slowly walked into the kitchen and found a big beautiful kitchen with cherry stained cabinets as well as glass doors. The copper pots hung atop the island counter with stainless steel sinks. She knew that he'd been renovating, but he seemed to have gone all out with everything. The counters were made of granite and the floors were a continuation of the flagstone tiles that came from the living room. The earth tone continued. She'd found muggle appliances as well all stainless steel, top of the line brands. He seemed to have spared no expense whatsoever.
As she moved back towards the living room taking off her robe, Ron's letter fell out of her pocket. She picked it up, hesitating only for a moment before she opened it up.
Dear Hermione,
First of all, I love you. You have always been there for me through thick and thin. You were my other sister one I know would never fail me.
Secondly, I want to thank you. I know that because you're reading this letter that I am no longer among the living. I know I chose the perfect person for my son's godmother and you've proven it time and again especially when I lost Luna. You'd become Arty's surrogate mother even if he doesn't know it yet. I know that I have placed my pride and joy, my most precious treasure in capable hands - Harry's too.
Another thing is if you don't mind me saying, stop being so bloody stupid about your feelings for Harry. I know you've loved him more than a friend for as long as I can remember. You've always shared a special bond with him that you and I never had. You saw me as a brother, but you've always seen Harry in a different way. Tell him the truth before it's too late. Love him as if there's no tomorrow, because you never know. There might not be a tomorrow. That is the last thing I ask of you. Find happiness and love. Stop trying to find it elsewhere because you know your true love has always been right in front of you. You are just both too bloody stubborn and scared to admit it. Well, guess what? You'll both regret it if you don't do anything about it.
I leave you with this quote. I actually found it in a muggle book you lent me once. "Tomorrow is the future, Yesterday is the past, Today is a gift that is why it's called present." Stop wasting the gifts, please.
Love,
Ron
P.S. Please tell Arty I love him very much.
Hermione's tears were dropping freely. She missed Ron and she wished she had the strength to do as her friend wished. She clutched the letter to her heart. She looked up and found Harry staring at her.
Harry couldn't help but be drawn to her. She stood there reading her letter and moving her lips. He always loved her lips even before he tasted it. He loved to watch her when she read her books or letters. She was always in such deep concentration; nothing else seemed to exist except her and whatever she was reading. When she looked up him with tears in her eyes, he knew that she'd been reading Ron's letter. He stepped towards her and wrapped his arms around her for comfort.
Hermione couldn't believe the amount of gentleness that Harry was capable of sometimes. She'd seen him angry with his emerald eyes flaming. She'd seen him in the throes of passion. She'd seen him in moments of sadness and grief. She'd seen him express compassion and love to others, but she'd never experienced them first hand until now. But for some reason, it was still different. She'd never seen him display so much emotion with a single touch before, not with her and not with anyone else. Maybe their relationship had changed.
He wanted to kiss her badly. But he knew that once he started, he might not be able to stop. He was thankful when Arty came running down the stairs. It broke the moment and they broke apart.
"Hey, mate. Did you find your room?" Harry asked. He'd already decorated Arty's room a while back. He also had a room designated for Ron and Luna. Hermione's room had also been decorated and it was next to the master bedroom where he hadn't been able to finish with the decorations.
Arty ran up to him and gave him a gigantic hug, "Thanks Uncle Harry." He saw that his room had been decorated the same way as his room in the Lair. The Chuddley Cannon posters lined part of the wall and pictures of his parents and him lined the other wall. He had a four-poster bed made of oak and his closet was already full of his own clothes.
"Hey, does that mean that my room is already done?"
"You could say that. Why don't I show you?"
"Could I maybe play outside with your broom?"
"Go ahead Arty, but don't fly too high. If you hit the invisible protective cover, you'll get thrown down."
"Just like the tape?"
"Yup, exactly like the tape." He couldn't believe that the boy did not heed written and verbal warnings.
"Okay, then." He ran outside grabbing Harry's firebolt near the door.
"You think he'll go too high?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Not likely, unless he wants to fall of his broom." Harry held Hermione's hand and led her up the flight of stairs to the second floor. They stopped in front of her door and he opened it for her.
The scene that unfolded before her was breathtaking. The room was decorated in various shades of green and caramel. The bed covers were dark emerald silk with decorative pillows with flowers. The room smelled heavenly as well; her favorite scent. There were paintings and portraits hanging on the walls. But what caught her eyes was the bookcase. She moved towards it and found that it was filled with all the revisions of Hogwarts: A History. It also contained several classic muggle books such as Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, Huckleberry Finn. She was ecstatic and a little surprised to say the least.
"The other books are in the library across the hall, which is also your office," Harry told her. She was too choked up to answer. She just stared at him in disbelief. She knew that they knew each other well enough to know what each one liked, but to go all out and give someone what they liked was something else altogether. If she wasn't so in love with him already, this gesture would have done it.
He looked at her a bit puzzled, "Don't you like it?"
"Yes, I mean No, I love it. It's just that, well I don't quite know how to explain it right now." Harry didn't care that she couldn't voice her feelings in words. He'd only witnessed her speechlessness a few times; one was when she'd witnessed Arty's birth. He knew he didn't need to hear the words because he could see it in her eyes. She loved her room. A room he carefully created just for her.
"Hermione," he whispered as he walked towards her. He gently placed his hand on her cheek and rubbed it with his thumb. Knowing where it might lead, Hermione didn't want to get carried away; her practical mind overriding her passions.
"Harry, Arty might come in soon." She sighed knowing how much she liked to be touched by him. To be loved by him. But still she was frightened.
"You're right." Harry sighed and placed his forehead on hers. "But we'll need to have that talk soon. I don't think I can wait any longer."
Hermione raised her eyes up to look at Harry's face. "All right," she whispered. She couldn't wait anymore either. Every time she was close to Harry she just wanted to rip his clothes off and take him to bed. She would blush every time she looked at him because her thoughts became instantly wanton.
"Do you want to see the library? I'd show you the master bedroom but it's still a work in progress. Maybe you can help me out with it."
"You did a great job with my room, I am sure you'll do great with your own room," she saw the disappointment in his face so she added immediately, "but of course if you need my expert opinion, I'd be glad to lend it to you."
"Thanks, Hermione."
They looked at all the other rooms in the house. Harry explained that the dining room and the family rooms were to be renovated with hers and Arty's help. He told her that it would be a good thing for all of them to do. It may take their minds off the grief for a while. Arty was officially on vacation and Harry asked Hermione if she would also like to take the holiday for the Christmas season.
When they found Arty outside still on the broom, they talked to him about helping with the renovations. They explained that it would be done mostly the muggle way. He was hesitant at first, but since he didn't want to disappoint them, he agreed.
They also talked about having the Weasleys over for Christmas dinner. They had a short time to work on the rooms, but if they worked together Harry told them they would finish in time for Christmas.
"Well, do you think they'd like to see me after the way I acted today?" Arty asked.
"Of course, they will. They wanted to see you today, but I just told them to let you rest. So what do you think?"
"I guess it will be okay."
"Well, then I'll let you send out the message then."
"You mean you haven't told them?"
"No, I wanted to make sure it was okay with you and Hermione first before I plan anything. After all, we're family now, aren't we?"
Arty was surprised. He didn't think his thoughts or opinions would count in the least. There they were asking him to help out with renovations and asking his opinion or in a way getting his approval for having a party. He was overjoyed and he was beginning to get out of his shell. He was starting to feel as if he did belong.
Harry also felt as if his own family was coming together. He'd known for a while that Hermione would be the only woman he'd bring home to Godric's Hollow. From the beginning of his renovations, he'd had her in mind to live with him. That was why he'd never brought anyone to Godric's Hollow before now. It was going to be a home for his family, now with Hermione and Arty there, it looked as if his visions were coming true. He'd always envisioned Hermione in the house. He'd decorated every bit of the place with her in mind. Now the only problem was to getting her to be part of his life in a more permanent basis, a lifetime basis.
A/N: Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews. I apologize to all the people down under for all the confusion. Just to explain it again: I did not purposely leave out Australia in the list of continents in Chapter 1. I mentioned that all seven continents were represented except for Antarctica, but when I listed the continents, I inadvertently left out Australia. I know Australia is a continent and its own country. I'm sorry I left it out. It is now added in Chapter one. I do have one request. If you find something inconsistent in the story, please let me know politely. Like someone politely pointed out that I had Seamus in the list of mourners, but that he was killed with Luna. That has now been corrected from Chapter 4 and I appreciate the polite way it was pointed out. Thank you. Please don't crucify me for a mistake, I am after all human too and bound to make mistakes.
With that said. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what your thoughts are on it.