AN: Ok, need to clear up a few facts. I'm getting reviews that the story is rushed all of the sudden. Maybe that is true, but it's with a reason. I hope that with the future chapters you will grow to accept that reason, and if not, I'm sorry, but it's not because suddenly I want this story to be over with. Please don't think that.
And keep in mind that Harry (in this story) is not a very introspective person. Maybe that will help when you're questioning his motives and his 'forgetfulness'.
*** *** ***
Chapter 37
As long as the Weasleys were at the manor, Hermione couldn't resume lessons with Lily. First, because Mr. Potter had decreed it still being a holiday. Aside from that, Hermione knew she wouldn't get the attention needed from Lily while the Weasley boys were still in the house.
Not wanting to mingle any more than necessary, she used the excuse that she didn't want to intrude on the family gathering. With that safety barrier, she could employ her time as she wished. This left her a day long at her leisure to finally finish the exploration of the Potter library and select a few books to peruse further in her own chamber.
Immersed in a weathered tome of ancient magical rituals, she didn't notice the time passing. Around the afternoon she wasn't called to join the guests for tea, but soon after a knock at her door disturbed the concentration she was in.
Confused she stood to see who would want a word with her. Her confusion only grew when again she saw Mrs. A. Weasley in the hallway, carrying the same box she had the previous time. Hermione had asked Winky to return the dress this morning, with a note expressing her gratitude. It was without understanding that Hermione pondered the meaning of Mrs. Weasley's presence. The woman would not enforce a gift which had been a loan in Hermione's eyes, would she?
The older witch didn't stand around waiting for Hermione to recover, though, and again she strode inside the chamber Hermione had use of. It struck Hermione that it was highly improper to entrain guests in a bedchamber. If Mrs. Weasley wanted to have a conference with her, she could've requested her to come down in one of the smaller parlours downstairs?
Nevertheless Hermione obeyed the request to close the door.
"Miss Granger, I'm not in the habit to accept the return of a gift. And I'm not at all satisfied with your claim of it being a loan," Mrs. Weasley started, referring to the note Hermione had sent.
"Now that is settled to my satisfaction," Hermione wanted to interrupt that nothing had been settled - least of all to her satisfaction - but didn't get a word in when Mrs. Weasley changed the subject, "I wanted to be the one to inform you that my daughter is going to stay with her parents for a moment."
Silenced, Hermione didn't know how to answer that comment, and waited for the woman in front of her to continue. Privately, though, Hermione held her own counsel about the reasons Miss Weasley was to go away from the county for a while.
"Miss Granger, I will not tolerate being toyed with, so I trust you will understand that I expect no advantage is to be taken from this situation?"
Hermione, though, could not - dared not - guess what the formidable witch tried to warn her off.
"Let me be plain, Miss Granger. My daughter's presence here has been more than an annoyance for me. Mr. Potter may be married, but my daughter is not. It has been very hard for me to accept her living here thusly. However, I entrain the hope that Mr. Potter will one day come to his senses and let his wife go in peace…
"Do not look so shocked, Miss Granger, only Mr. Potter entrains the foolish hope that dear Cho will ever wake up. The rest of us wish she may one day find the peace she so deserves. It is not natural to keep her attached to this world for so long.
"When that day comes, it is expected of him to take my daughter as his wife. She has been all but filling the role of mistress of this house already, so it would only be the honourable thing to do for our Harry to grant her the official position of that station in life. And I trust him to do the honourable thing.
"However, I must warn you. As much as Harry, Mr. Potter, is honourable, he is also a man. I do not say so to shock you my dear. And I know you to be honourable as well. However, with the removal of my daughter in this house, you will be a single female here. And as much as the outside world knows Mr. Potter is a married man, and Mrs. Potter - though ill - is also present in this house, we know better, don't we Miss Granger?
"Therefore, I must warn you to do everything in your power to protect your reputation and not to give into the temptation of entraining aspiring wishes to one day being Mrs. Potter yourself…"
With that Mrs. Weasley concluded. Much more difficult for Hermione, it was to formulate an answer to this. The words spoken confirmed that much more about what she had been analysing the night before.
However, her pride dictated her to respond with dignity - although she knew very well how much she was lying in that instant.
"Mrs. Weasley, I appreciate your concern for my reputation. But I assure you, you have no reasons of concern. As for Mr. Potter, he has always treated me with the deference proper to my station in this house. As such I see no reason to fear for my reputation now that Miss Weasley will be absent during the night, as well as during the day.
"In conclusion, I hope not to offend you by asking to leave my bedchamber. This is a highly improper conversation, however well meaning.
"Good day, Mrs. Weasley, and thank you for the fine dress!"
With calm resolution, Hermione opened the door.
Mrs. Weasley didn't show any annoyance, should she have felt it, but nodded her goodbye respectfully.
***
The day had passed quite manageable for Harry. He still felt the weight of responsibility for decisions to be made. But the happy disturbance of the Weasley presence distracted him enough - for the moment.
A short conference with Arthur brought everything to the forefront, however. Little was settled, other than an assurance that Harry still had time to make a decision.
Quite unexpectedly, Ginny expressed her wish to make a short visit back to her parents' house. It was just for a week, but she claimed she had missed her mother and father's presence lately. If anyone found it odd that Ginny would feel such, nobody commented about it, at least not in front of Molly.
For the remainder of the day, Harry indulged in the carefree company of his best friend and occasionally a game with the children. Before he knew what had happened, dinner time came around. He noticed the absence of Hermione acutely, but couldn't do anything about it when Winky informed her Miss Granger had a headache and would take her dinner in her bedchamber.
It was to be the last gathering with the Weasleys, since tomorrow morning, they would pack and leave…
In a way it was reassuring that Hermione was not attending. That way, he didn't have to put so much energy in fighting the influence of her presence. He could enjoy the Weasleys in peace…
***
Please, review?
***
For the reviewers on Fanfiction.net:
I'm glad to be back, too. And I hope you'll keep loving the next chapters!
Especially Nymoue: Merci pour tes reviews, ils sont vraiment une joie à lire (est ce que ça se dit comme ça? Mon Françcais, ça fait tellement longtemps que je l'ai utilisé…) En tout cas: merci, et j' espère sue je continuerais à te faire plaisir avec le reste de l' histoire!