Growing Up Potter-Chapter 22
Harry and Hermione spent so much time trying to do everything they had to do that it seemed like they would never have the time for each other that they wanted. When they did get time together it always seemed as though they were talking about what they had to do. They sat across from each other in a little secluded two chair table in the back of the library studying.
"Harry, I feel terrible that we never get to do anything together anymore. I have to do all of the planning for the wedding and the baby. My Mum sends me messages every two days and…," Hermione was talking a mile a minute. She had that lilt to her voice as if she were the only one who knew the answer to the teacher's question.
Harry felt bad for her too. She was telling him that it was her fault they were in this mess. She was a mess. Harry looked at her and said, "Hermione, I know you don't want me to take the blame here, but it wasn't like you did this by yourself." He brushed her hair back leaning awkwardly across the table. "We are going to have to be a team to survive, sweetie."
Hermione sighed and a pleasant smile replaced the furled bushy eyebrows and down-turned mouth. "Harry, do you know the last time you called me that?"
"Yep and I believe your response was, `did you just call me sweetie?'. Then I said, `is that a bad thing?' to which you replied, `no, not necessarily.'" Harry said all of this remembering perfectly the night of their first kiss as if it were happening at that moment. "Some of the most wonderful times I have had in my life were when you gave me gifts."
"Oh, so you took the birthday kiss as a gift?" Hermione asked flirtatiously.
Harry scooted his chair around the table rather noisily. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. He lingered next to her left ear and whispered. "You have given me so much more than I deserve. I will never have another friend like you nor will I ever feel as fulfilled with anyone as I feel with you. The kiss was a gift, but your love…that's been like the gift of life you will give our baby."
Hermione looked at him. "Harry, you've said a lot of things to me, but that's one of the sweetest. I must look horrible. And, I know I have been rushing around and ignoring you."
"Listen Hermione, I know what is important right now and what isn't. We made a commitment to each other to do our N.E.W.T.'s and finish the year well. You are the really smart one with plans for a future, so let me do some of the planning." Harry said without batting an eye. "Why not let me do it all except where we need to work together? I mean we can talk about it as needed so you're part of it but you need your rest more than me."
"Are you sure you even know what you need to plan?" Hermione said as she took his hand. "Darling, you have no idea what kind of trouble you're asking for?"
"How in the world were you going to do it, if I can't do it with your help?" Harry asked.
"Well…you may have a point, but we can't get behind. We get married on June 19th and school ends on June 11th." Hermione said.
"Was I going to get an owl about the date or where you just going to have someone polyjuice themselves and stand in for me?" Harry laughed.
"You mean I didn't even tell you what I told my Mum?" Hermione blushed. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I've been losing my mind with everything going on."
"Apparently, you didn't. But at least one crisis is averted. Neither you nor I will be stood up at the altar. We'll make time for each other that day. I'll pencil you in." Harry said in his most arrogantly snooty voice, just trying to get under Hermione's skin.
"I'll pencil you in alright, Mr. Potter." Hermione replied with the same arrogance.
"I'll just have to be sure that the chauffeur is available that day. It's normally his day off." Harry laughed.
Hermione put her hand behind Harry's head and pulled him in for a kiss when a voice shocked them both. "Get a room, you two. I see you only three times a day outside of class and you're locked at the lips every time." Seamus had obviously heard them talking.
"Harry, you don't think he heard do you?" Hermione asked. "I know we have to tell them soon, but…"
"You know what? Tomorrow is our last visit to Hogsmeade until the end of exams. Let's just buy some invitations and announcements tomorrow. We can sign them and hand them out on Sunday or Monday." Harry proposed.
"Okay, sure, that'll be nice. Then we can tell everyone about You-Know-Who." She laughed at the irony of it. So did Harry. "So kiss me you fool." They kissed each other sweetly and smiled.
Harry could hardly sleep that night. He felt terrible that the most important person in his life was going get married to him in four weeks without a proposal suitable to her. He tossed and turned trying to think of a way to give her something close to the kind of proposal she deserved. Finally, his creative mind kicked into full gear.
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Finally, Harry felt like he'd gotten it right. He'd stayed up all night planning today. He went to find Dumbledore and Pappy as soon as he could. He told them his plan. He asked a lot of questions. Pappy looked at Harry with surprise. Harry asked how to get in touch with Tonks. She was the only person outside of the faculty who knew.
He found a way to talk to talk to Tonks via the Floo Network. At first no one answered in her apartment in London near the Ministry. "Harry, what the bloody hell are you doing up so early?" Tonks looked like she could use another three or four hours of sleep.
"Tonks, listen. You are Hermione's best mate." Harry said.
"I am?" Tonks said.
"Yes, I have this plan for our visit to Hogsmeade today, but I need your help. It's going to sound crazy." Harry said.
"Well as long as I can go back to bed for a while I'll promise anything." Tonks looked exhausted.
Harry explained very quickly his plan to surprise Hermione and how Tonks could help. "Can you do that for me, Tonks? Do you think she'll be too embarrassed to enjoy it?"
"Harry, you two may think that no one knows about her being pregnant, but when you sit in the library and talk about it by discussing names, people hear." Tonks said. "So that bit of news will not shock anyone. On the other hand, the date, time and place of the wedding will be great news to everyone. So tell me again what I have to do?" Tonks was wide awake now.
Harry went over the plans again. "Do you think that's doable?"
"Yep, this'll be great fun." Tonks said as she hurried away. "See you later in Hogsmeade, Harry. I have to get ready."
"See you then, 4 PM. Please don't be late." Harry pleaded.
He looked down as his watch and saw her beautiful smile. "I can't make it as romantic as it should have been, but I can make it special." He closed the watch and turned away from the fireplace in Dumbledore's office.
"Harry, could I have a word with you? Please sit for a moment" Dumbledore sat Harry down in the chair across from him.
"Of course, Professor, but…" Harry knew he didn't have to explain, Professor Dumbledore understood. There was something about the Professor's demeanor that put Harry at ease this morning and rushing to get things done seemed less important.
"Harry, throughout the time you have been here I watched you grow up into a fine young man. We are all prone to mistakes, but some make mistakes that alter the course of their lives." He said. "Do you follow me so far Harry?"
"Yes, Sir, Professor." Harry said.
"You, at the age of sixteen, have made more mistakes and had more success than most people have the fortune of experiencing in their entire lives. Yet, I see your father's determination and zest for life in your eyes now. He had that because of your Mum, Harry. James and Lily were not perfect. But they knew that they could make one thing in life that was perfect. And, that thing, Harry, was commitment. It was commitment to you and to each other." Dumbledore seemed to be reflecting as he spoke.
"They would have been just as disappointed in your decisions that led to Hermione's pregnancy as the Granger's were. And, Harry, they would have been just as proud of the man you have become in committing to your family and the love you show Hermione." Dumbledore's eyes glistened slightly as he spoke.
"Yes sir." Harry said with a feeling of contentment at those words, but sadness that his parents would never see their grandchild.
"If I have not ever spoken these words to you, it is because I have tried to maintain my objectivity with all of the students. Harry Potter, you are a fine young man. I am proud of you. And, I have grown to love you as if you were my grandson, just as Pappy has." Dumbledore sat silently.
"Professor, I probably saw you more as my father than anyone. You had to teach me things that a father would have taught, just as Pappy has. You have done it my entire life though Professor Dumbledore. You could have kept me here. You and Professor McGonagall, but you knew what was best." Harry said. "You knew the awful lessons that we all must learn in order to grow. It could not have been easy for you either."
Professor Dumbledore stood and said, "Run along now Harry, you have a surprise to give to Hermione." If Harry didn't know better he thought Professor Dumbledore was more emotional than normal.
Harry walked over and put his arms around Professor Dumbledore and hugged him. "I have always known what you've told me today in my heart, Professor. Thank you for being the one who showed me how to live life." He was right. Professor Dumbledore maintained his composure but only by a thread.
"Good day, Harry." He said with a misty smile as the door closed. "Good day, my boy." He said again as the door to the library opened.
"Albus, you have done all you could. And the wisest of us could not have been nor ever will be wise enough." Minerva said as he stood just inside the door with Pappy next to her.
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Harry found Hermione in the common room at eight o'clock reading. "What do you have there, sweetheart?"
"It's a list of the things we either have to buy or do before the wedding and the baby is born." Hermione said as she handed it to Harry.
Harry looked at this list as if he were reading ancient Greek. It read:
Wedding:
What we need for wedding: Place, time (these two were crossed out) June 19th, 2 PM
Maid-of-Honor (Tonks)
Best Man (your decision?)
Bride's Maids (Ginny, Luna)
Groom's Men (your decision)
Cake (Triple Chocolate, at least that's what I crave this morning)
Theme (Discuss this together, I like Camelot)
Clothes ( thematic, dress robes, or traditional muggle tuxedos and bride's maids/wedding dress)
Baby preparations: first things first…worry about the wedding!
Harry looked at it and said, "Thank Merlin, you have an idea of what you want, because I would have been lost."
"See, I told you. Wait until my list for the baby comes and you have to find a `booger sucker'." Hermione said.
"A what?" Harry looked disgusted.
"Well, you don't expect the baby to blow its nose right away, do you?" She smiled with an evil grin. "If it's a boy, it'll take him at least ten years to learn to pick his nose as subtly as you do now." She held back her laugh for as long as she could while Harry turned red.
"I don't…" he knew she was having him on, but for some reason he didn't see it coming and it got him good. All he could do was sit there and turn red. "You'll pay for that."
"So when do we leave for Hogsmeade, Harry?" Hermione said.
"They should be calling everyone right after lunch like always." Harry said.
"I thought we were going to be allowed to go early. That's what you wanted, right?" Hermione asked.
"I did, but it really won't be that fun going without Ron, Luna, Ginny and Draco, will it?" Harry asked.
"No, I suppose not." Hermione said with a suddenly gloomy look on her face. "I just thought you had something special planned before everyone else got out and about. I got my hopes up." Harry hated to see this but he couldn't give away his plan.
"Sweetheart, I thought you were tired last night so I thought you could use the rest. We'll be walking around a lot as it is." Harry said trying to hide the excitement he had planned.
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Hermione was grateful that Harry thought about how tired she got these days even though she really wasn't being to show yet. She had just hoped that this would be a special day since it was the last they'd spend before the craziness of exams and the wedding preparations.
At 1 PM, Professor McGonagall and Filch took the permission slips from students whose parents had not submitted them
before and told them the off-limits areas. "As you know, occasionally, there are places that are reserved only for
adult entertainment and this weekend, Madam Puddifoot's has been reserved for a private party. Otherwise there are
no limits this weekend."
Hermione looked sad it was the one place in all of Hogsmeade that Harry and she had never been in as a couple. He'd gone there with Cho, but not her. "Harry, I was so looking forward to going there."
"So was I, sweetheart, but we can have just as much fun in The Three Broomsticks. We can walk out by there like we always do. It'll just be nice to take you away from the monotony of school for a while." Harry said.
They walked slowly, letting all the younger kids run toward Zonko's, Honeyduke's and The Three Broomsticks. "So, if it's a boy what should we name him, Harry?" Hermione asked. "Do you want to name him after your father?"
"I hadn't really thought about it, to be quite honest. I would like that though. What if it's a girl?" Harry asked hoping she'd say `Lily'.
"Well, that's a dumb question. Nymphodora; of course." Hermione said without hesitation looking for Harry's expression. "Harry, there has never been any doubt I would name my daughter after your mother. Lily is what I'd like to name her."
"I knew I loved you for a reason." Harry said with a sly smile. "You know just how to make me feel like crap and then when I can't take it anymore, cheer me up." He smiled.
She thought about that statement for a second said, "Harry, are you still angry about this summer?"
`Huh oh,' thought Harry. "No, Hermione sweetheart, I was only talking about right now when you were having me on." Harry could see that something was bothering Hermione.
"Oh, well, that just sounded a bit more serious than that." Hermione said.
They walked silently for another twenty minutes and sat at on the bench just west of the post office. "Harry, seriously, do you think I tear you down when I'm joking? Because I don't mean to, if I do." Hermione looked serious and Harry didn't know why. So far they had just walked around out of the hustle and bustle of the crowds like they always had.
"Not at all, Hermione. What happened this summer was because we didn't know how to express ourselves to one another. I never worry about it because it's just our way of joking with each other." Harry realized she just might be feeling a little down because this was so boring and she had such high expectations. "You are wonderful to me."
"I am just afraid that what happened this summer and then what happened when I went to Pappy's might make feel…I don't know what." Hermione said.
Harry looked at his watch. It was just 2:30 PM they had an hour and a half to be at the Three Broomsticks. "Hermione, that's just not true. I feel like I haven't done enough. I know you deserved a better proposal than you got. I feel like I haven't done enough. We're just under a lot of pressure."
Harry walked with Hermione to Scrivenshaft's to buy quills and invitations. They made sure that no one saw as Hermione looked at some baby shower invitations. "Hermione, won't someone do that for you after they know?"
"I suppose you're right, Harry." Hermione looked around for wedding invitations and bought two boxes of fifty.
"Hermione let's go sit under the tree over there for a while." Harry grabbed her hand. He made sure she didn't face The Three Broomsticks. He didn't want her to see everyone going in just before four.
Harry leaned against the tree and Hermione leaned against him. To their surprise they found themselves very sleepy and they dozed off.
It was four fifteen when they woke up and Harry realized what time it was. "Shit." Harry said.
"What?" Hermione woke slowly. "That was weird. What do you mean `shit'? What's that all about?"
"Oh, we were supposed to meet Ron and Luna at The Three Broomsticks at four." Harry said.
"Harry, what time is it?" Hermione asked.
"Four fifteen." Harry said. "Let's go." Harry felt horrible now `Well, at least, everyone got inside to surprise her.' He thought.
They walked up to the front of The Three Broomsticks only to find a sign. "Private Party. No admittance. Closed to the Public." Harry smiled. `That was a nice touch,' he thought.
When he walked to the door he found it locked tight. He didn't even see anyone inside. He looked around and said to Hermione. "Does something seem strange to you Hermione?"
She looked around and realized that no one was on the street. They looked across the street and the businesses were shut down over there too. "Yes, we are alone. Is this your doing Harry Potter?" Hermione asked.
"No. I had a party set up for you here at four, but there is no one here. It seems funny that we fell asleep too." Harry said with a confused expression. "Listen. Do you hear that?"
Hermione listened for a second. "Yeah, it's the party at Madam Puddifoot's. So why is The Three Broomsticks closed? I'm getting a weird feeling." She said.
"Me, too." Harry said. He looked up the road toward Hogwarts and there was nary a soul on the road back that way either. "Let's walk over toward the sounds coming from Madam Puddifoot's."
They walked cautiously. As they got back out on the path through the village they noticed signs that said, `Welcome, this way for the Private Party.' Harry began to feel that emptiness in his stomach that he'd get when he wanted to do something so bad that he'd thought of nothing else and it didn't work out. He didn't want to go and see a bunch of other people having fun and them not.
"Hermione, I was…" Just as Harry spoke and they turned the corner toward the gleeful sounds of a party. There was an unfamiliar sound like rushing wind over their heads. In single file the members of the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff Quidditch teams flew by ten feet over their heads and climbed steeply. Smoke began to appear from the last rider's broom.
Harry looked at Hermione with a smile and she looked at him with a smile too. "Harry, you devil you!"
Harry shook his head as he looked at her. "It was supposed to be at four over The Three Broomsticks. I thought this was your doing."
They watched as the riders slowly wrote in the sky. They watched so intently neither of them noticed the huge crowd of people gathering in the street with them. "Harry loves Hermione. Will you marry me?" And, just as they finished writing that message, they started again.
"Well, what do you say?" Harry asked. Hermione was still looking skyward.
"Be quiet Wizard Boy. This one was mine. Watch." Hermione smiled as she glanced quickly at Harry for his expression. They wrote, "Hermione loves Harry. Yes, I'll marry you!"
It was then that they noticed the gathering crowd. "Kiss her Harry. You don't need a room now." Seamus was yelling from the front of the crowd. The cheers from their friends and a fair few of the faculty made their hearts leap for joy.
Harry took Hermione by hands and pulled her close. He put her hands on his waist and she moved them to over his shoulders and put his to her waist. They kissed briefly and held one another close, almost nose to nose looking in each other's eyes. "I love you, Hermione." Harry said.
"Harry, I love you with all my heart." Hermione whispered. "They know about the other part by now too, I suppose."
"So, come in here you two." Ron was standing at the entrance with Luna having just put his broom at the corner of the building with the others. As they walked toward the entrance, one by one the other team members landed around them. "So you two must think you're something special."
"How the bloody hell did this get set up?" Harry asked.
"Well, first, you shouldn't ever tell Tonks anything you don't want everyone to know?" said Tonks as she walked out from the corner. "How'd you like the little sleeping spell to get you guys out of the way? Do you know why I didn't come down sooner, Harry?" Tonks asked.
He looked around. It was obvious a spell had been put on the place to allow this many people in. The room was set up with a little stage and a juke box that played all the latest hits. He was impressed. He realized through his revelry that Tonks had asked him a question.
"No, I don't." Harry said. "Was the party here your idea Tonks?" She nodded. Harry looked at Hermione as she pulled something out of her pocket, he hadn't noticed.
Hermione showed him the two-way mirrors in each of their hands. "We were talking from up in my room, when we heard you downstairs. I told her I'd talk to her in a few minutes after you and I were finished. She wanted to know what you planned for today. I told her I had it handled. She trusted me."
"Ron, Charlie told me this summer to be fearful when women get to doing their little girls-only talks. I should have listened then." Harry said as Ron handed him a butter beer.
"Yeah, you should have listened to me, Mister-She's-Like-Our-Sister." Harry heard Charlie's voice behind him. "I'm sure Ginny's glad you're not her brother based on what I've heard." He smiled slyly.
"What are you doing here?" Harry said as Hermione joined him after chatting with Tonks.
"The contract in Romania was supposed to finish at the end of August, but they terminated it early last week. I got back to The Burrow on Thursday. I didn't know about this until about an hour ago." Charlie said.
"So, this is Charlie." Tonks said. "Hermione has told me what a nice guy you are. You do what? Wrestle dragons?"
"Well, sort of, I…," Charlie was saying as Hermione dragged Harry away. Charlie explained his work to Tonks.
"Hey! I was talking to Charlie, Hermione." Harry said annoyed that he was pulled away.
"Sh. He's the only unattached, non-Auror wizard she's met in four years. Give them a chance." Hermione pleaded.
"Yeah and probably a pretty randy one at that, I'll bet." Harry joked.
"Harry, you don't have to put it that way. At least they each have someone their age to talk to." Hermione smiled.
"Women, I swear. Right little matchmakers you are." Harry laughed. "Sweetheart, I don't want to live without you so don't get any ideas of retaliating." He winked.
"Be careful what you say there, Wizard Boy." She smiled and winked back. "Oh, by the way, the surprises aren't over. Tonks told me that Professor Dumbledore is coming here a couple of minutes ago."
"Surprises? How many more surprises can we take?" Harry said.
"I don't know either." Hermione said. "There he is."
"Please could I have everyone's attention? I have to return to Hogwarts shortly. I have many other students back at school." Dumbledore began as everyone quieted. "It is no surprise that the reason for Harry and Hermione's wedding is that they will be having a baby in October. As an early wedding gift, I am going to allow Harry and Hermione to reside in the castle here next year during classes. I do this not because they have made a gross error in judgment that has changed their lives, but because Harry is like a son to me. As any good parent, I am doing this as a means of looking out for a child." Dumbledore looked at Harry.
"Years ago, I had the option of doing this when his parents died, but chose a different route. But I will do it now. I am announcing this so that Harry and Hermione have one less problem to look after. These are the only reasons. I am giving Harry Potter special treatment and I am not apologizing for it. Therefore, I warn the rest of you against such behavior. You will not have the same options nor will I fail to expel students who caught engaging in such activities or end up in a similar situation. They will be the responsibility of their parents." Dumbledore looked relieved.
"As Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I want you all to know however that I am not saying that you are less important than they are. I am saying that they are my family and will be living here. If there is a problem with this decision on your part or your parents, please make it known. I wish that you have time to discuss your future plans with your parents. If I had waited until the wedding, there would not have been time for you and your parents to decide what to do. I will resign and continue their education by other means, if the arrangements I have described are unacceptable. Thank you." Dumbledore came over and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "That is the decision you saw me struggling with this morning."
"Professor, how do I thank you?" Harry asked.
"Don't have any more besides these two children here at school." Dumbledore said.
"Sorry, Professor, what did you say?" Hermione asked.
"Pompy told me the results of your five month examination. You will be having twins. Boys, girls or a combination is not known yet." He said. "By the way, I would have told you about the twins if you hadn't asked that question, Harry."
Hermione and Harry looked at each other and sighed simultaneously. Harry looked over at Ron and Luna. Then he looked over at Charlie and Tonks who seemed to being hitting it off at least for the day. "Hermione, so is it, James and Lily? Or, is it Harry, Jr. and James? Or, is it…" he smiled and shook his head.
Hermione looked at him still shocked. "Well, when it rains, it pours." She smiled nervously too.
The music changed dramatically from pop to classical.
Harry would never forget that sweet melody ever again. Claire de Lune played softly. He took Hermione by the hand, pulled her close, and they just stood together. No one knew if they were dancing or not. But at that moment, Harry could feel the strength of their love again. "Hermione, I hear this in my head whenever I need strength." She put her head on his shoulder and held him close.
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