AN: Like I would ever give this story up! It's giving me the biggest ego-trip ever!!! *evil*
No, seriously. I could never just abandon this story. Alright, I'll admit it, this story gave me more reviews than I've ever seen with any other writings of mine. But that's not all of it.
I loved the movie, and I loved how Harry and Hermione just… *fit*…
This story developed beyond my own expectations… I mean, I thought it'd be great, but I didn't have that much knowledge about that period, especially about that time for the wizarding world… so I tried to brush up a few things from 'Quidditch through the ages', because there I had read some things about that period, but really, that was it… And somehow it stimulated my own imagination… building all this around the angst-filled couple…
So, I ask of you: why would I abandon a story that's been so beneficiary to all aspects of my writing's instincts? And I know I take a long time updating, and you probably don't like me that much because of it, but be sure that the people at home like it even less when I disappear in my limited free time to write fanfiction…
Anyway, I couldn't abandon this story any more than I could stop loving H/Hr!
I hope that's setting all of your worries at ease?
Now, I know I've said I wouldn't be answering everything from the reviews anymore… But I underestimated myself… For the Portkey readers: I finally figured out how to reply directly to the posted reviews, so you'll best check there… Then for the fanfiction.net readers… Well, I just had to defend myself: so you can read the answers to your reviews at the end of the chapter.
On with the story now!
***
Chapter 31
Hermione woke up the next morning, alone. Slightly disappointed that she'd fallen asleep the moment she crawled into bed, because now she had no way of knowing if Harry had come to visit her or not.
The melancholy served to make her weary, though. It wouldn't do to let herself be ruled by emotions. Especially not when throngs of people were expected by this afternoon! It hadn't really been discussed if she was expected to attend the Ball. But even so, the children would be allowed to linger until a certain hour, and she would be expected to keep an eye on them for sure. So in her experience, she wasn't expected to participate…
Picking out her nicest dress, anyway, she knew it would still be very modest next to the dress robes she expected to see today. It didn't bother her, it never had, but still, a silly thought questioned her if she would look nice in such beautiful robes.
A bit frustrated at her frivolous thoughts, she went about her morning routine, welcoming the cold water that shook her awake from daydreaming. Startled by a knock on her door, she went swiftly to open, while smoothening down her dress as was her habit.
Not really knowing whom to expect, she was more so surprised at the sight that greeted her. Mrs. A. Weasley stood before her, carrying a large white carton box. Before polite morning greetings could be exchanged though, the lady demanded:
"Is that what you'll wear to the Ball?"
Hesitantly, Hermione responded: "Why, indeed, Mrs. Weas…"
She was silenced by the tutting from the older witch: "Miss Granger, my dear, you are not going to attend the Ball dressed like this!" Hermione felt somewhat scolded, and rebellious feelings bubbled inside her. Outwardly, she only frowned. The matron bustled into her room without invitation, looking like a busy mother hen, searching for her ducklings…
"I knew I couldn't trust our dear Mr. Potter to handle this. Dear, dear… Well! Don't just stand there, girl, close the door!"
Doing as she instructed, Hermione couldn't help but feel confused as to what the older witch would want from her behind closed doors. An awful thought petrified her for a moment: what if she had somehow found out about… about the Firelight? Feeling suddenly panicked, she wondered if Harry would be popping in this morning! He'd never visited in the morning before, and she was attending to breakfast downstairs at this hour, usually. But one never knew… He never did take notice of her privacy, apparating in whenever he caught the whim…
Outwardly, she remained calm as ever, and confident behind that front, she discreetly inhaled, encouraging herself.
Trembling slightly, she turned away from the closed door, bracing herself for anything, and praying Harry wouldn't be appearing in her rooms.
What she saw stunned her though. Mrs. A. Weasley had opened the white box she was carrying, and was peering expectantly at the governess.
***
Harry had worried about what to do about his future at the Ministry all night. Was he ready to ignore his past, work blindly for corrupt members of the Ministry? Did he really want to set aside his pride and honour for the well being of his daughter?
He would do anything to protect his daughter… But…
Something Hermione had said when she'd just arrived haunted him. He wouldn't always be there to protect Lily. And even though he had let Hermione teach Lily the way she wanted, that didn't mean he accepted that fact. He couldn't let go of the fact that Lily's position in this world was… hazardous, at best.
He couldn't just keep doing as he pleased. He couldn't just keep jeopardising everything, thinking all would still come around his way, as long as he kept working the righteous cause. The world didn't work that way… Apparently… And he really should've known that already: life had tried to teach him that lesson several times… the hard way… His family… His godfather. Cedric and Cho… Hermione…
The following morning, he felt anything but refreshed, but he also knew he had to concentrate on the ball, and socializing. He could never bring himself to crawl before the so-called important people in society, but it wouldn't do to be rude to them either. Even unresolved as he was now, he decided not to do anything irrevocably, he might regret later on. On short term's notice, this meant being the perfect host. He'd worry about long term later.
Pushing the worrying thoughts out of his mind, he went about his business, walking into his best friend on his journey to the kitchens for breakfast. Luckily, Ron didn't seem in the mood to discuss or even recall the grave matters said between the gentlemen the other night. He was only in the mood for food…
It was just the thing Harry needed. Enjoying the bantering and idle discussions of Quidditch, Harry gradually relaxed. By midday, they joined Arthur and Ron's kids, all of who were dressed impeccably already, in the parlour. They were under strict orders of Molly to keep an eye on the smaller Weasleys, making sure they kept their fancy robes clean.
And Harry strongly suspected the smaller Weasleys were under the same orders concerning the adults. Molly never trusted them to have grown up…
While the males tried to amuse themselves without wrinkling or otherwise muss up the robes, the females had retreated into Ginny's room to get ready for the ball.
It was only then that Harry wondered where Hermione had been all morning, normally he'd had to pretend she didn't exist at one time or another by this time…
***
Hermione'd had quite a morning. Despite the great honour she was given, she couldn't help but feel undeserving. She felt sorely out of place… Uncomfortable… And she didn't like that feeling one bit.
She felt safe in her sever hairdo, and sober dark cloths. It helped her… It was her… Now, she was expected to…
Excitement racked her nerves… In a rather unpleasant way…
Normally, she wasn't even expected to attend a Ball given by the family she worked with! Only the short time the children were allowed to participate at the start of the Ball, she was expected to hover around, making sure they behaved. And even that wasn't a real presence… There was no participation!
But this morning it had been quite clear that Mrs. Weasley considered her as one of the guests. Even more so, she had made sure to get a beautiful dress for the governess. Nothing too frivolous, but Hermione wouldn't have liked the trinkets on Mrs. Ronald Weasleys's dress, nor the vivid colours of Miss Ginevra's dress, for herself.
Her gown was a modest dark blue, but it was the snit… The design… It was very elegant, and it was plain to see the expensiveness…
The thing she worried about the most was Harry's reaction… She was sure he hadn't hinted at her being present at the Ball for a reason. He had always been adamant about her secret bond with him… with Lily… to be kept just that: very much secret. He wouldn't put that in peril by having her at his Ball, in an expensive dress…
It became more and more clear to Hermione, in the passing hours of the morning, that this wasn't Harry's idea at all… It was Mrs. Weasley's…
After sending the boys, finally readied, off, Hermione summoned her courage and went up to Mrs. Weasley, while Ron's wife and only sister were fussing over their niece.
"Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione couldn't help but let her hands glide over her skirts, as if to banish none-existent folds. "Could I have a word?"
The older witch looked up pensively, nodding curtly to her plight.
"It is to say… I am very flattered… The dress… is…" Hermione was a woman of little words, and just as that morning, when she was speechless at the sight of the contents of the white box, she had trouble finding her words now.
"Yes, yes, the dress is gorgeous. You will wear it well, my dear, and do not even pretend you didn't like it! I saw your face when you first laid eyes on it!"
Hermione's resolve came back to her at those words. They weren't unkind, but Hermione didn't like to be controlled in ways she could be free…
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Weasley. Like I said, I'm very honoured you thought of me in such respect. But I cannot except your offer to attend the Ball, and certainly not dressed this finely. I will not put shame to this family. And when I show myself in that dress, people will draw conclusions. Wrong ones… and I will not stand for this. I will not!"
Hermione had managed to say her piece calmly, without attracting unwanted attention from the other ladies. But for a moment, she feared she had angered the matron… And her anger would certainly invite the curiosity of her relatives…
But the older witch surprised Hermione: her only reaction was a smile…
***
Please, review?
Replies to reviews posted on fanfiction.net:
Wytil: There is no question about Hermione marrying Harry? Where did I write that? First of all, Harry's still married… as for the getting rid of Cho thing… As much as he wants Hermione, Cho is still his wife! And what you're referring to about living abroad is all Muggle! You have no idea if there's even a British wizarding community in Australia… Much less that they used Australia the same way Muggles did… So if Harry were a Muggle, and in a Muggle profession of law-enforcement, you'd have a point, but he really isn't… And as for him marrying a nanny… It should rather be the fact that she's Muggleborn that would cause the 'scandal' in the wizarding world, not the fact that she's a home-teacher. As a Muggleborn she's doomed to such professions: it's even one of the most respected ones Muggleborn witches can do! As for Cho's autopsy… First of all: she's still alive… A plant, but still alive… And secondly, she did have a child, remember: the reason she's in a coma? After bringing her and Cedric's baby into the world? Furthermore I'm baffled at your assumption that Malfoy just needs to be killed. There is no proof that Malfoy had anything to do with the Potters' murder: he was a toddler himself at that time! Where in my story is there any real proof that he is somehow involved in the murder? Even his parents? The only thing that Harry wants is to question Narcissa Malfoy about her sister. Because the Lestranges were a lead to his family's murderer… And for now, the only reason they're working against him at the Ministry, is because the unsolved case of the murder so many years ago is a scandal for the Ministry, and if word got out that Narcissa Malfoy, who belongs to the 'upstanding' pureblood high society, was questioned in a cold case… it would just put shame and embarrassment on the Ministry… Really, I'd hate to have you on my jury…
arieslily17: You're a sweetheart, and you made me blush with all your compliments! Thanks!
liliboo: Well, I did put it in the first posts: this follows the plot from the movie 'Firelight' - to a certain point, and it puts it in the HP world with Harry and Hermione as main characters… As for me being unimaginative… You might be right… But it hasn't been easy to recall the movie's plot, when all you have is a tv-taped French version… And I can also tell you that putting the emotional depth I thought lacked in the movie, into writing, hasn't been the easiest thing to do either. Also, putting different spins on happenings, making it fit in a totally different world, with different rules, wasn't easy either. So maybe it's all very unimaginative, but at least I fancy myself proud of the work involved…
Rayne: Thank you so much for giving me that praise… Your review really makes my above defence obsolete…Thanks, *blush*