Chapter 2
A/N: The plot bunny continues to have its way. I think I will go 2-3 more chapters before I can get away from this one. Of course this is blatant H/HR, what else is there????
Gol
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Harry sat on his bed looking out the window. When the last rays of sunlight had faded he closed his curtains and looked deep into the mirror. His own tired eyes met his gaze. He spoke hesitantly, only half expecting this to work, "Hermione?" He thought he heard a faint reply, "harry?" He spoke up a bit louder, as though she was across the room, "Hermione!" This time he definitely heard her voice, "Harry!" Then suddenly his reflection blurred in the mirror and green eyes became brown, "It worked!" The picture was flawless, as though they were looking through an open window at one another.
She winced back from the mirror, "There is no need to shout, I can hear you perfectly fine you know."
"Oh, sorry I'm just glad to see you again."
She drew closer again, "That's alright, how are you doing?"
He hesitated before answering, "great."
She shook her head, her bushy hair whirled about. He pulled back for a moment forgetting that they were looking through a mirror and her hair was not really whipping about inches from his face. She looked back at him, fierce determination in her eyes, "Don't lie to me. You know I won't stand for it." She saw him frown and look away from her. Hesitantly he looked back at her. She could see he was going to need a lot of help, "Do you trust me?"
He nodded and cleared his throat, "Yes, you're the only one I can. The only one who isn't afraid to tell me… To tell me when I'm being stupid."
"Remus told me a trick that these mirror's can do. Put the mirror down on a table, I'm going to do the same."
He went to his desk and put the mirror down flat. Suddenly it grew to almost a meter in each direction. "Harry, come through."
He hesitated only long enough to make sure he had his wand. Then he dove through head first. He landed hard under a desk. His vision blurred and he thought the lights in the room were flickering for a moment. Then he felt her pulling him out from under the desk. He tried to help but only managed to pull her down on top of himself. He found himself lying on the floor of her bedroom. The door was closed and a small lamp was the only illumination in the room. Hermione twisted around and stood up quickly muttering something. Crookshanks nuzzled his right ear and he decided to just lay there for a minute absently petting Crookshanks.
"Do you see where my glasses went? I hope I didn't break them again." He heard her come close then felt her moving around his legs where they were still under the desk.
"Got them, looks like their alright." He held up his left hand and she placed them in it.
"Sorry Crookshanks." He sat up slowly, she moved to sit on the floor beside him while he put on his glasses. Hermione finally came into focus. She looked very worried and a bit embarrassed. "Sorry about that, I didn't think before I dove through. Um, sorry about pulling you down too." She was wearing a large white cotton shirt that covered her to her knees. Her curves were clearly visible beneath the loose fabric. He wrenched his eyes back to hers and gulped when he noticed she was turning red. "Sorry, I've never seen you, uh like this."
She smiled bravely and nodded, "It's my fault. I should have stayed dressed before I told you to come through."
Harry forced himself to keep his eyes on hers but with is peripheral vision he noticed how she swayed under her shirt, "Maybe I should go home now. We can try this again later." He started to get up but her hand held him down.
She shook her head no, "I trust you, hell that's an understatement. Harry, look at me!" His eyes had wandered over her head, refusing to look down where her shirt swayed with her every move. His eyes snapped back to hers, they sat quietly, communicating as they had since third year, without need for words. Finally she started talking again. "We think a lot alike. Some things must be talked about not just expected or understood." When he nodded she continued, "We have both taken some things for granted between us. I think we should spell them out. Just so we both understand."
"Yes I, I think that would be a good idea."
"You have taken it for granted that I would always be around to help you. Let me confirm that for you. I will, got that? Will always stand by you, help you, and try to keep you safe. I will try and be there whenever you need help. That includes, facing Voldemort. When, when the time comes. This will be a two way partnership however. We will not just do things your way. We must agree on what and how we are going to do something. I will never let you do anything I think is wrong again. Do you understand and agree?"
She knew the last part would hurt him but it had to be said. He struggled not to break down, he was breathing raggedly and only managed to whisper a choked, "Yes."
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. He took his glasses off and buried his face in the crook of her neck. He took a deep breath, "I need you Hermione. You're the only one I can turn to."
She felt him trembling, still trying to contain himself. "I know. I'm here Harry, let it out. You can't keep it bottled up inside. Let me help you through this. Damn Ron for convincing me not to talk to you before school let out." His arms slowly came up to return her hug. He squeezed her against himself hard then finally let himself cry. Huge wracking sobs wrenched their way out of him. Her soft whimper was masked by all the noise he was making. Her own tears joined his. A minute later the door suddenly flew open, he jerked away, fumbling for his glasses and wand at the same time.
A woman's voice asked worriedly, "What's wrong dear? Do you need more tonic for the pain?"
Hermione turned sharply to the door and exclaimed, "Its Harry mum! Please! Leave us alone for now. We'll come talk shortly."
Harry had managed to get his glasses on but still couldn't see anything, he desperately tried to wipe the tears form his eyes. He heard the woman answer, "Alright dear, let me know if you need anything." He heard the door close and it got much darker.
His glasses were suddenly whipped from his face. Hermione pulled him into a desperate hug, "I'm sorry Harry. I didn't mean for anyone else to see you like this. My mum's ok though, she knows."
He tried to pull away, "I, I should really go now. What are your parents going to think, finding a boy in your room?"
She refused to let him go, "Nope now you're stuck here for a while. I told her we would come out and talk. That means both of us."
He tried again to stand, she wouldn't let him, "but…"
"No Harry, I won't let you go back and stew. You need to grieve and I will help you through it."
He returned her hug and took a deep, ragged breath, "Thanks, I really need you." He took another breath and continued, "Let's go talk to her then. I, think I'm done. For now." He pulled back and smiled wanly.
"Well, alright but just so you understand we are not done with this."
He nodded slowly. She placed several tissues in his hand and stood up. He composed himself and put his freshly cleaned glasses back on. She finished tying her red and gold robe on, over her t-shirt. He stood, she hugged him again and he tentatively returned it. "Come on hero, their just my parents."
He laughed roughly, "Yeah you're not a fifteen year old boy caught in a girl's bedroom."
She giggled quietly, "No, I'm the girl who got caught with a boy in her room."
They walked to the door, she opened it and Crookshanks darted out. They stood in the light for a moment letting their eyes adjust. She took his left hand in hers and led him from the room. They went down a short hall and down into the well lit living room. Her parents were standing in the middle of the room talking quietly. They were also both dressed for bed. Crookshanks was beside them and when he saw Harry and Hermione reach the bottom of the stairs he meowed and rubbed against her father's leg. He looked down and her mum saw them. She walked over to them, "Nice to see you again Harry."
Her father looked up and also came over. He looked rather distraught as he held out his right hand to Harry, they shook slowly. "We're terribly sorry for your loss son." Harry looked into his eyes sharply but he continued, "Mione has told us how much you've been through. Emma and I want you to know that you can consider this house your second home." Still holding his right hand he threw his left arm over Harry's shoulder and gave him a fatherly hug. Emma, Hermione's mum quickly hugged him when her father pulled away.
Stunned Harry could only nod. He had been ready for an angry diatribe. Instead he had been welcomed as a foster son. He glanced at Hermione and saw she was wiping tears form her own eyes. "Thanks. I, uh." He cleared his throat, "This isn't what I expected."
Emma smiled warmly at him, "Harry dear. You're probably wondering why we're not giving you two the third degree." When he nodded she continued, "I feel confident in telling you that we would never find another boy in Hermione's bedroom." Hermione turned red at that statement but her mum ignored her and continued. "The bottom line is we trust you both. Since we haven't received an owl yet you didn't break any rules getting here. Hermione has spoken so highly of you for the last five years that we feel comfortable with you in our house."
Her father continued, "I probably shouldn't tell you this but I think you have the right to know how we feel. And I want you to trust us as well, Albus was here a week ago, he confessed to us that he was afraid he had made a terrible mistake. He has lost your trust. He said that he wants desperately to get that back but explained that the only person you could turn to now, in your time of need, was Mione. He said you need a place to grieve and reaffirm your ties to the living. So Harry, I welcome you, our only child's companion into our home." He looked Harry straight in the eyes and put his left hand on Harry's shoulder squeezing tightly, "Son, for what its worth we want you to know we will support you as well."
Harry found himself unable to control himself. He nodded quickly and for the second time tonight he started crying. He quickly turned away, towards Hermione. She pulled him into another tight hug and his arms went around her automatically. Her parents patted his back softly. Their hands lingered, as though they longed to stay but knew it was not yet their place. He was overwhelmed, they were reaching out to him, not as a friend, but as if he was their own son. Emma said, "Turn out the lights dear." He felt Hermione nod her head then heard them going upstairs.
When the elders had gone Crookshanks looked at his mistress carefully then reached a conclusion. He went to the lamps in the room and carefully put a paw on their sides. The lamps went out as he did so. This left the embers from the fireplace and moonlight the only illumination in the room. He then leapt into his small rocking chair and watched them. Over his shoulder his mistress smiled at him and he was content.