Runaway
Chapter 9-Answers
By KZerina
Harry continued watching her. She could feel his scrutinizing gaze. "Hermione?"
She bit her lower lip in an attempt to give herself some confidence. "I didn't think it was that important." She looked up to take in his reaction.
He merely raised his eyebrows. "Didn't think it was important?" His tone revealed his surprise. "I think it's pretty important. As a warning to me about how he'd act, if nothing else."
Hermione shifted to sit next to Harry, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I don't know. I just never thought about it, I guess. I was so overwhelmed by finding you again and convincing you to come back that it completely slipped my mind."
Harry sighed as a contemplative look crossed his face. He didn't move as her head hit his shoulder, which Hermione took as a good sign. One that meant he wasn't angry with her.
He put his arm around her waist. "I won't assure much. I have to think about this some, but I will assure you that I won't leave. You won't lose me like that, again." He gave her a reassuring smile.
He stood from his place on the bed and gave her a gentle kiss before he left for probably his own room.
She flopped back on the bed with a heaving sigh. How could she have forgotten something like her engagement to Ron, even in the heat of excitement like that? It was a stupid mistake on her part, but at least he wasn't going to leave like last time. Relief flooded her at the final realization of what he'd said. At least she wouldn't completely lose him this time. She didn't think she could bear him abandoning her again, and if he did, she'd never find him again, even by accident like she had this time. He'd pick up and move again and would never return to any part of the Wizarding World.
She smiled that she didn't have to worry about that just yet. She stood and readied for bed, her thoughts on Harry.
***
The next morning at breakfast, Harry wasn't grumpy as she may have expected. He was smiling at her. He apparently wasn't too troubled by her uninforming him of her previous relationship with Ron, who was, on the other hand, quite grumpy. He hadn't gotten over their conversation last night.
Hermione shook her head and gave Harry a hug as she sat down at the table next to him. "Sleep well?" she asked with a smile.
Harry nodded and looked at the Headmaster who stood to make an announcement. "Good morning, students and faculty. If I could turn your attention from your starving stomachs for just a few moments, please." He paused and waited patiently for the din to calm before continuing. "I would like to announce that starting tomorrow night, there will be a dueling club, reprised from ten years previous to our current year.
"Professor Snape has so graciously offered to run it with an assistant, you new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Andrew Coleman. They will be looking forward to having the lot of you attend and all of you are welcome to do so. Please sign up some time today on your common room bulletin board."
Dumbledore sat down after the introductions with a gesture for all the students to continue stuffing their faces with food.
Hermione looked at Harry. "Really?"
Harry only nodded, having just put a forkful of egg into his mouth. She couldn't believe Snape. First he recommended, knowingly, Harry to be the replacement Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but now he requested that Harry assist him with a reprisal dueling club. The Potions Master must have completely broken his rocker, not gotten off it. He must have had some strong magical brain surgery over the five years she'd been gone.
Time for classes started, and she went quickly to the classroom for her Arithmancy with fifth years and Harry to his Defense Against the Dark Arts class with first years.
***
After a tiring day of classes and a filling dinner, Harry and Hermione went to Harry's office to work on some grading.
Hermione put her red-writing quill down and spoke. "Do you know what Snape's thinking? I mean, that's twice now that he's consciously decided to work with you."
Harry shrugged. "Out of his mind, if you ask me." He looked over at her. "I'm surprised, myself, but maybe he's finally realized that I'm not as dumb as my name tells him I am."
"Your name isn't dumb."
"To him it is. My dad all but tortured him when they were students here, remember?"
"I guess that's true. That man can really hold a grudge, can't he?"
"You're telling me." Harry chuckled and marked off a wrong answer on the paper he was grading.
Hermione opened her mouth to ask if he'd thought about the engagement, but she thought twice about it being inappropriate. She wanted to know, but if she asked too much or too early, he might get annoyed with her, and it would turn into an even bigger mess.
"What's on your mind?"
Hermione snapped her head up from the paper she had been staring blankly at. Harry was looking at her and had noticed her staring.
She turned back to the paper. "It's nothing," she replied quietly.
"I'm not stupid, 'Mi. Is it about last night?"
She moved her eyes to look out their corners so she didn't have to look at Harry and nodded a few times slowly. Harry stood and stepped slowly over to her. He kneeled next to the chair and place one hand on hers, the other gently stroked her jaw.
"You worry too much sometimes, you know that?"
Hermione looked at him once more and her eyes met with his normal green ones. "It's all right, 'Mi. I'm yours. Don't worry." He smiled at her as he stood and ruffled her already monstrous hair. He began to walk back over to his desk.
"Harry," Hermione called. He turned back around. She beckoned him back with a finger. He leaned down on the armrest of her chair. Hermione kissed him gently, and then smiled sweetly, pushing his shoulder away and back to his work. He chuckled and they both finished up their work.