Summer Writing Series Challenge (June 17)
Challenge: Harry and Hermione take an impromptu nap.
Title: Late-Night Clearup
Word Count: 1,000
The room was abuzz with the laughter and conversations of the majority of Harry's closest friends and his unofficial family, the Weasleys. Three years out of Auror training and he'd finally made it back to London, to home, after his first long-term assignment. He looked around happily at the guests and his face fell slightly to a smile meant to obscure his unhappiness. Hermione and Ron were laughing happily at a private joke the two of them shared, one that Harry had not been present to participate in. He turned away when Ron leaned in and kissed her cheek, eliciting a snort from his female best friend but Harry didn't find it enjoyable. He turned instead, to Cho, who had been talking with Ginny about a new wizarding fashion magazine and took her hand in his. Cho looked up with a smile and kissed him gently on the cheek before going back to her conversation.
It was truly amazing how much people change in six years. Cho had gotten over Cedric's death after two years of mourning and tried to rekindle the relationship they once shared. She apologized for her jealousy and insecurities during their first attempt and it was a suspicious young man that accepted a tenuous friendship as a compromise.
He smiled at everyone once again, realizing that the night was soon to end and the cleanup of his new flat would begin. Tonks was the first to excuse herself with an excuse of an early morning assignment. Fred and George were next because they had to open the store. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, though far from old left shortly thereafter followed by his other guests. Cho, Ron and Hermione were the last three present when Harry stood and began the cleanup.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Cho said sweetly, "But I've got class in the morning ... do you mind?"
Harry smiled and shook his head. "I'll see you this Friday, Cho." He hugged her with one arm and accepted another kiss on the cheek before she disapparated. Ron had apparently done the same, leaving Harry and Hermione alone in his flat. "Why don't you head on home, Hermione?" He said with his fake smile firmly in place as he stacked another few plates to be taken to the kitchen.
"Is there something wrong, Harry?" She asked quietly, stepping up to him and placing a hand on his arm. "You've been quiet all night."
Harry smiled again and shook his head. "I'm just tired and I have to get this place cleaned up, old habits, you know."
She nodded skeptically but her knitted eyebrows didn't relax. "Do you mind if I help?"
"Mind? If you want to help clean up this mess, I wouldn't mind at all." Harry said with a laugh.
The better part of three hours had passed by the time the two friends had cleaned the dishes, table, and set the napkins, and other fabrics used for dinner, in the washing machine. Harry plopped on the couch as exhaustion overtook him and the room began to blur.
"I can't believe how tired I am." He said groggily, setting his glasses on the end table and pinching the bridge of his nose. Hermione slumped onto the couch next to him and yawned fiercely.
"How many dishes did we go through tonight?" She asked in a similarly weary voice. Harry didn't answer her question since he hadn't the energy to open his mouth. He mumbled something incoherent and felt Hermione's weight slump against his shoulder. They were too tired to adjust their positions and the next minute they knew, they were sound asleep.
Harry woke to the clang of his grandfather clock and yawned. He felt the weight of someone laying on him and the thought of Cho sneaking into his bed made him grimace.
Wait, I'm not in my bed ... He reached for his glasses and after sliding them on, smiled despite the problems that would arise if someone happened to walk in and see Hermione lying atop of him. Harry stroked her hair gently and kissed the top of her head.
"Hermione ... Hermione, wake up ..." He whispered quietly into her ear.
She shifted slightly and smiled into his shirt. "Not now, Harry ..." She mumbled sleepily.
Harry chuckled and kissed her now accessible forehead. "Hermione, my leg's fallen asleep, wake up." He whispered again with a soft laugh.
Hermione adjusted herself so she was lying between his legs instead of on his numb one and moved up a bit farther. She smiled sleepily and lay her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder. "Mmm, better?" She mumbled and kissed his cheek.
Harry gulped. Did Hermione just kiss me? He looked into her sleeping face and saw the content smile splayed across her lips and his nervousness flooded out of his body. Feeling daring, he kissed the tip of her nose.
"Hermione, if Ron shows up, you could get into trouble lying there ... Wake up ..." He whispered to her again, followed by a gentle shake.
She slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the sleep that she was enjoying and found herself looking into the eyes of Harry Potter. "What about Ron?" She said sleepily.
"Aren't you two dating?" He asked glumly. Hermione shook her head and glanced to his lips. "Y-you're not?" He asked nervously. Hermione shook her head again. "What is it?"
"I was wondering if you were going to get the courage to continue." She said quietly with a slight tremble in her voice.
Harry fully understood the nervousness he had heard and without warning her, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. She was surprised he'd actually done so, as evidenced by her sharp intake of air and a slight squeak as he tightened his arms around her. The next few hours went by in a blur and Harry looked to the woman curled next to him in his bed. Something in his heart told him this felt right.
A/N: I based this ficlet on a scene from the movie Boomerang with Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry. That was the turning point in Eddie's carreer, I think and the movie was fluffy and angsty all at once. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to try a movie translation of a scene. Hope you like it ;)