Title: Father's Day
Rating: R (This chapter)
Disclaimer: Is this even necessary anymore?
Author's Notes: I know it seems confusing that Harry wouldn't have contacted her for nearly eleven years. Keep in mind that it's not wholly his fault. His job required he sever a lot of his ties. More explanation will come up, but you have to be patient. Also, I don't believe it was at all out of character for Hermione to punch Harry. I would have too. *Blushes*. Don't fear, this is a H/Hr story. But you have to be patient. I'm an evil one. I like to drag out suspense. Because of the adult content, I decided to bump up the rating. I tried to avoid going into detail, so it was a tradeoff, contemplating whether or not to leave the rating in place or bump it up. I decided to err on the side of caution.
Chapter 4: Nostalgic Moments
Eleven Years Ago, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
It was the final day of school, but it was not a happy occasion. Tomorrow, Harry would graduate, and at the end of the week he'd begin his Auror training. There was a large party in the Gryffindor common room, but Harry didn't feel much like celebrating. He glanced at his half-empty mug of butterbeer and then looked around the common room. Dean, Seamus, and Ron were chatting about something in the corner. Neville seemed to be asking Ginny a question and Parvati and Lavender were giggling like usual. Hermione was nowhere to be found.
That was odd, considering tests had ended. Harry would have thought Hermione would want to spend the last day of her education with her friends. He frowned, slipping quietly away and grabbing his invisibility cloak. Maybe some time outside would help clear his head. He could also look for Hermione, assuming she wasn't in the girl's dormitories.
He made his way down the sloping hills to the Quidditch pitch, a smile crossing his face as he recalled how Gryffindor had managed to beat Slytherin for the cup this year. The look on Malfoy's face was something he'd never forget.
The thought brought the sadness back to the forefront. Hogwarts was his home. It was here that he'd first rode a broom, caught his first snitch, even had his first kiss. Now it was all coming to an end.
A cool breeze nipped at his shoulders and Harry rubbed his hands protectively together. His invisibility cloak afforded him some protection, and he drew it around his shoulders. It felt strangely eerie to be wandering around the Hogwarts grounds after dark. It shouldn't have, considering the sheer number of times he had done it over the years. But the irony was not lost on him that this would be his last night of rule breaking. The thought made him sad.
The faint sound of crying broke through the stillness of the night, and Harry frowned, squinting against the darkness. About seven meters away he could make out the dim outline of someone crouched along the edge of the lake. It was Hermione.
Throwing away all pretenses, Harry pulled off his invisibility cloak and raced the distance between him and Hermione, skidding to a stop beside her and dropping to his knees.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry asked, his pulse racing. Hermione's tearful gaze met his, and Harry felt his heart breaking at the distress on her face. He quickly threw his arms around her and drew her into a tight hug.
"What is it? Did you get hurt? Are you scared? What's wrong?" Harry said quickly. Hermione shook her head, sniffing loudly and pushing him away just a bit.
"I'm okay, Harry," she said finally, the control on her voice tentative. Harry frowned at her.
"If you're okay, why are you crying?" He asked insistently. Hermione shook her head again, and began to turn away as if she were to head back to Hogwarts, but Harry grabbed her arm, shaking his head.
"No, you're not getting away that easily. Tell me what's wrong or I'll try Ginny's bat bogey hex on you."
Hermione sighed softly. "Okay, but can you let go of my arm? You're starting to hurt me." Harry quickly released her, unaware of the grip he'd been maintaining on her, blushing furiously.
"Sorry about that," he said ruefully. He took a seat on the grass and motioned to his side. Hermione sat down next to him, drawing her knees up to her chest. As an afterthought, Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head on his left shoulder.
"Now, tell me what's wrong."
Hermione sighed, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply. When she opened her eyes again, there were no tears, only a deep sadness.
"Today is our last day at Hogwarts," she said quietly. Harry frowned. Surely Hermione had realized this before today.
"You just realized that?" Harry asked, confused.
Hermione shook her head, her messy mahogany hair billowing in the breeze. "No, it's just that … well, Hogwarts is my home. You and Ron are like family. What am I going to do when it's all gone?"
Harry frowned. "What do you mean what are you going to do? Don't you have that position with St. Mungo's?"
Hermione sighed and nodded briefly. "Yes, and I start training in a month, but that's not the point." She sighed deeply. "Harry, it feels like all I've ever known has happened on these grounds. But everyone is celebrating as if they're glad to be finished. I … I'm not…" Her eyes began clouding with tears. Suddenly, Harry understood exactly where she's coming from. He hugged her closer, pressing his nose into her hair and inhaling deeply. It smelled faintly of citrus, and Harry briefly wondered if it had always smelled that way.
"Hermione, I understand," he whispered softly. She pulled away, confusion evident on her features. Harry continued, "Hogwarts is my home too. It's going to be hard to say goodbye. I'm going to miss the classes and the Quidditch and the Hogsmeade trips. I'll even miss old Filch." Hermione snorted, and Harry gave her a lopsided grin.
"But you're going away," Hermione said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "For two years. And Ron is going to be gone all the time for Quidditch training. I'm the one who's going to be left here all alone."
"But you won't be alone. You'll still have your friends from school. Wasn't Lavender accepted into the healer trainee program?"
"Yes, but she's not Ron," Hermione whispered softly. "She's not you."
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. She's not you. What did Hermione mean by that? When he opened his eyes again, he slowly reached up, brushing the tears from Hermione's cheeks. "I won't be gone forever. I know they won't let me keep in touch at first, but I'll find a way to make it up to you."
Hermione let out a muffled sob, and Harry pulled Hermione closer, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. He lowered his mouth to her ear, whispering in a soothing voice, "You won't be alone. I promise. I'll come back for you."
His best friend slowly drew her face off his shoulder. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from the tears, but Harry could see she was at least making the effort to try to smile.
"You promise?" she whispered quietly.
Harry's breath caught in his throat. At that moment, with the moonlight streaming down and hitting at just the right angle off her cheeks, the tears that dotted Hermione's face glistened like little crystals on her face. Had she always been that pretty?
"Harry?"
Hermione's tentative whisper shook him out of his reverie. He felt his breath catch in his throat as his emerald gaze met her mahogany one.
"I promise," Harry whispered. And then, just as suddenly, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her.
Electricity coursed through his body as he felt her lips brush his. Merlin, they were so soft. He felt Hermione stiffen a bit - he could feel her registering her shock - but he didn't draw back. If he was going to be on the receiving end of one of her hexes, he at least wanted to get his money's worth.
What he didn't expect was that she would return the kiss. But she did. Now it was his turn to be shocked as her arms slid around his body and her lips parted beneath his. Harry let out a small gasp as he felt her tongue trail across his bottom lip. Harry hurriedly pulled back, his eyes wide. Hermione stared at him, a confused expression on her face.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked tentatively. Harry could see her cheeks darkening in the moonlight.
"No … you were great … I mean it … I mean …" Harry stuttered, feeling the heat rush to his face. Hermione gave him a small smile, pressing a forefinger to his lips.
"Then kiss me again, Harry."
Harry felt a stirring in his stomach at her request and promptly acquiesced, his lips crashing to hers. He felt her body pull to his and to his amazement he could feel her heart racing. Her hands slid around his waist, lazily tracing his spine, sending tiny darts of pleasure throughout his body. Harry's breath caught in his throat and he shifted his weight, forcing Hermione to lean back as he assaulted her neck with kisses. It was madness, he knew, to be doing this on the lawn with his best friend. But it felt incredible, and the painful feelings inside his groin quickly shoved all thoughts of propriety out of his mind.
He wanted her, not just as a lover, but as a partner. What would his life be like without Hermione? Harry found himself
strangely despondent at the thought. Why on earth had he not realized this sooner?
"Harry?"
Her gentle whisper pulled him out of his train of thought. He lifted his chin so his gaze met hers. Her eyes hinted of confusion.
"You stopped," she said quietly.
"I'm … I'm sorry." Harry said, blushing furiously as he pulled himself away from Hermione. He sat up, staring at the ground, avoiding her inquisitive gaze. "I was just thinking that … I mean why now? Why does this happen tonight, of all nights?"
Hermione's shoulders slumped forward, the expression on her face falling. "You mean, with us? With me?"
Harry's eyes widened and he shook his head furiously. "No, not you Hermione. You … you're amazing. You …"
"I'm not pretty," she said quietly, her gaze flickering to the ground. Harry's insides screamed at this proclamation. How could she think that?
"Hermione, you are beautiful," Harry said, honestly. Her gaze jerked up to meet his, unasked questions hovering behind her eyes. "You are. Both inside and out."
Her face lit up brighter than the day she found out she was going to be Head Girl. Harry loved that smile. He loved the tiny wrinkles that bunched at the corners of her eyes when she became truly happy.
Too quickly, that smile disappeared and was placed by a by a frown. "Then you … you don't want to …"
Again Harry felt his eyes widening. He shook his head furiously. Did she think he was some kind of monk? "No, Hermione. I do. I want to …," he felt his cheeks reddening. "I mean I want to, with you. But …," he paused, his mind searching for the flimsiest of excuses. "What about the rules? I mean, if we're caught…"
"If we're caught, Harry," Hermione interrupted, rolling her eyes. "What's going to happen - detention? Harry, this is our last night at Hogwarts. Besides, isn't that your invisibility cloak?"
He couldn't believe he was having this conversation with his best friend - and Hogwarts Head Girl, no less. Hermione's gaze met his seriously.
"I mean … if that's what you're worried about … I mean we could stop. It is getting late, and …"
"No!" Harry said a little too loudly. Hermione jumped at the sudden forcefulness of his voice, causing him to cringe sheepishly. He closed his eyes, calming down the nervous jitters that erupted in his stomach, before returning his gaze to his best friend. Merlin, she looked beautiful. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers intertwining with hers as he slowly pulled her hand to the source of his discomfort. Hermione's eyes widened in shock at Harry's bold action.
"Does this feel like I want you to stop?" he asked quietly. Hermione's mouth opened and closed, as if she was trying to formulate an answer, but shock seemed to prevent her from speaking actual words.
Emboldened by his actions, and deciding that he'd rather risk his life than spend an eternity in ignorance, he slowly pushed back on her shoulders, closing the distance between their mouths as he lowered his weight on top of her. After a moment, he broke the kiss, his eyes meeting hers.
"I love you," he whispered quietly. Tears seemed to well in her eyes at this simple revelation.
"Oh Harry, I love you too," she whispered hoarsely, her fingertips entwining around his collar to draw his mouth back to hers. This time, they kissed without reserve, their bodies pressing together heatedly as they made up for lost time. Inexperienced hands fumbled. Clothes got discarded, and pretty soon Harry found himself in a compromising position, propped up on his elbows as he stared at the face of his best friend.
"Are you sure, Hermione?" he asked, his throat dry at the prospect of stopping now.
"More than anything."
Harry felt his heart skip a beat as he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her gently. After a moment, he broke the kiss, meeting her gaze.
"We have a long way to go if we're going to break Fred and George's record of Hogwarts violations."
Hermione giggled, wrapping her arms around Harry.
"Then I guess we better get started."
* * *
Present Day…
They broke more than a few Hogwarts rules that evening, and they had crossed a line in their friendship that they could never uncross. Still, Harry remembered the moment in vivid detail. He remembered how she smelled; how she felt, even the tiny shudder she gave as they joined in the most intimate of ways. He remembered the shivers that ran up his spine and the stars that had exploded behind his eyes. He remembered laying beside her, the invisibility cloak pulled across their naked bodies; and his heavy panting as she rested against his chest, their hearts beating in perfect rhythm.
All gone.
Reality began to buzz behind his eyelids, and groaning, Harry woke up. He absently passed a hand over his cheek, wincing at the tenderness. Mrs. Weasley had been quick to patch him up when he'd finally returned from Diagon Alley, and Harry had endured all of her comments about the inappropriate example he had set because he wanted to feel miserable. He deserved worse. A lot worse. He had already lost one friend, and now the woman he loved was gone forever.
Harry winced, shifting to his elbows as he glanced around the room. It was still reasonably dark, hinting that sunrise had just begun. Today he would board the train for Hogwarts. He would return to the one place he knew as home. But his heart remained heavy. How could he be happy when he had lost his best friend?
He kicked his feet over the edge of the bed, enduring the pain that shot up through his spine in silence. Shakily, Harry rose to his feet, running a hand over the stubble that had formed on his lower lip and chin. Making a mental note to shave before he boarded the Hogwarts Express, Harry slowly began gathering his things, tossing them into a large trunk. He would live at Hogwarts during the upcoming year. He wondered if that was a wise idea, being so close to her. But he had no other place to stay, and he really needed to be around for Artie.
He reached for a towel, wrapping it around his shoulders as he headed for the showers. He'd have to take a cold one before he felt comfortable enough to enter into the presence of the Weasleys.
Thirty minutes later, Harry plodded down the steps, buttoning the front of his dress shirt as he made his way to the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was hurriedly bustling around the kitchen, giving last-minute instructions to Artie, who seemed to be cheerfully ignoring her, focused instead on the magazine he was reading. Harry smiled, helping himself to a few pancakes and several pieces of bacon. Artie didn't acknowledge his presence at the table.
"Excited, Artie?" Harry asked, pouring warm maple syrup over his stack of pancakes. Artie shrugged his shoulders, and Harry felt the frustration at the boy's indifference. For the thousandth time, he asked himself what Ron had been thinking appointing him guardian. Pretty soon they'd loaded up the car (a loaner from the Ministry) and were standing in front of the entrance to Platform 9 ¾.
"Arthur, dear, why don't you go in with Artie," Molly said, not-so-helpfully. "It's his first time."
"Molly, I'm sure Harry is more than capable of helping Artie," Mr. Weasley said, flinching a bit as his wife's stern gaze leveled on him. Seeing Mr. Weasley's discomfort, Harry decided to save him further embarrassment.
"Really, it's okay, Mrs. Weasley. I can do it," Harry said, kneeling down beside Artie, who had been watching the exchange with a bemused expression on his face.
"Now Artie," Harry said quietly. "Take it at a bit of a run, right into the middle of the pillar. Okay?"
Artie shrugged, not bothering to look at Harry as he began to speed up, taking his cart straight to the center of the barrier. Harry held his breath, forcing himself to watch. He breathed a sigh of relief as Artie disappeared through the barrier. Turning, Harry gave Mr. and Mrs. Weasley a cursory nod. Mrs. Weasley stepped up and gave him a hug.
"Now Harry, if you have any problems, any at all, don't be afraid to owl," Molly admonished, trying to flatten down the top of his unruly hair. Harry blushed, but thankfully, Mr. Weasley came to his rescue.
"He'll be fine, Molly," he said, stepping up and embracing Harry. To Harry, he whispered, "Send me an owl at the Ministry if you have problems." He stepped back, giving Harry a wink. Harry smiled, and turned towards the barrier, taking the entrance at a run.
He made it in short order, but Artie was nowhere to be found. Harry frowned, his eyes searching the crowd of wizards and witches for any sign of the bright red hair, but all he could see were parents waving off their children. He frowned, dragging his trunk to the luggage compartment, relief flooding his body when he saw Artie's things. Harry quickly stowed his trunk away and made his way up the steps. Originally, he'd intended to offer to sit with Artie, thinking that it might help if the two of them got a chance to talk. But he came to an abrupt halt outside of one of the compartments, his eyes widening.
Artie was chatting animatedly with another boy with thick, messy brown hair. Beside them, a girl with darker hair listened to the exchange, occasionally interjecting bits of wisdom here and there.
Harry felt his eyes begin to cloud up, and was about to turn away when the brown-headed boy spotted him and called out.
"You … you're Harry Potter!"
Harry turned, looking inside the compartment and gave him a slight nod. Artie's face fell as he caught sight of Harry, slumping into his seat dejectedly.
"Are you going to be teaching at Hogwarts?" The raven-haired girl asked, her eyes as round as saucers. At Harry's nod, she smiled broadly. "That's great. Will you be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Yes," Harry said, a bit surprised she'd guessed accurately on her first try.
"Hey, how did you know that?" The brown-headed boy scoffed.
"He's an Auror. It's in the book Famous Wizards of the Twentieth Century. It only makes sense the Headmistress would have hired him for that job. He's obviously the most qualified."
The two boys stared at the girl, amazed. Harry forced back a smirk.
"Could you just go away?" Artie mumbled, immediately dampening Harry's spirits. The other two students looked at him in amazement.
"Are you mad? That's Harry Potter!" The other boy exclaimed.
"I know who he is," Artie mumbled.
"I'm his guardian," Harry said, watching as Artie blushed a deep crimson.
"Guardian?" The boy exclaimed. "You live with Harry Potter? Wicked." He said, a grin spreading across his face.
Artie just slumped further into his seat.
Harry, sensing that this might be a good time to leave, bid the other two farewell, and quickly took off down the train. When he finally reached an empty compartment, he slid inside, closing the door behind him as he slumped into a seat. He couldn't seem to do anything right where Artie was concerned. The frustration was starting to grow.
"Hey, stranger. Mind if I join you?"
The frustrated man looked up at the familiar voice, his eyes widening as Ginny Weasley strolled into the compartment, closing the door behind her.
"I thought you didn't live at Hogwarts," Harry asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"I don't," Ginny said, nonplussed. "But I find that I do enjoy the train ride. It brings back a lot of memories. Harry nodded, understanding what she was talking about. It seemed too easy to recall all of the times he'd ridden the train to Hogwarts.
"I saw what happened back there," Ginny said. Harry looked at her in surprise. Ginny shrugged, "Well, I was patrolling the corridors. You mustn't take it too hard. Artie misses his father terribly. He needs time to heal."
Harry sighed, leaning his head against the back of the chair he was sitting on. "I know. But it seems like I can't do anything right. All I do is say the wrong things or do the wrong things. It's frustrating."
Ginny touched his arm. For some reason, the gesture felt reassuring to Harry, and he forced himself to meet her small smile.
"He will come around, Harry. Trust me on this. You've done a great job with him, save perhaps the embarrassing fight with Hermione in Diagon Alley."
"You heard about that?" Harry asked with a grimace.
Ginny smiled. "Harry, everyone heard about that. It was practically front page news the next day." She paused, then added, "Don't worry about Hermione either. She'll come around. Just give her time."
Harry sighed. "I'm supposed to give Artie time. I'm supposed to give Hermione time. Great, anyone else who needs time to accept that I've been the world's greatest prat?"
"I might need some time."
Harry's eyes widened. "You?!? What did I do to you?"
"It's not what you did, Harry," Ginny said softly. "It's what you didn't do. No, don't give me that look. I've had some time to think about it. I know that you tried to act in our best interests, but it hurt when you went away so suddenly, without as much as a goodbye. Now you're back, and that hurts too. I'm not going to ask why you stayed away so long, because I think Hermione deserves to hear that explanation first. Just understand that it's going to be difficult trying to fit back in. You left a lot of trampled hearts in your wake."
The former Auror stared at her, jaw gaping, as Ginny rose to her feet and left the compartment. He sat in stunned silence before collapsing against the back of his chair.
Great year, indeed.