Unofficial Portkey Archive

Summer Writing Series Challenge
Challenge: Harry or Hermione return from a lengthy trip (6 months+) and is greeted by the other.
Title: A Journey to You

It was a glorious afternoon, the skies were clear, the sun was beaming and there was an air of happiness at the Burrow. Today was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's wedding anniversary and there was a lively house party being thrown in their honour. All of the Weasleys were present, including their partners and children, distant relations and friends. The atmosphere was vibrant as a hundred people drank their way into the evening.

For Harry Potter, this would have been a perfect happy day, if only Hermione was present, but she wasn't, just like she hadn't been for over ten months. Hermione had been in Egypt on an exploration with work, she had originally planned to be gone for eight months but it had been extended and she had written explaining she wasn't sure when she would be back. It killed Harry, not knowing when she would be back. As the days dragged out people around him could see that he was becoming more and more anxious, he had been finding it hard to concentrate at work and that wasn't a good idea when you charm racing brooms for a living.

As the sun started to go down on the almost perfect day, Ron was becoming steadily drunk, flirting with Luna Lovegood and smiling brightly. Harry was seated at the far end of the garden on a table watching the festivities, with a butterbeer in hand. He liked to watch and be pensive, it was the Harry Potter way and he had grown accustom to it. He was startled out of his thoughts when Ginny sat down next to him and placed her hand on top of his.

"Hey, hun, are you okay?" she asked her voice filled with concern.

"Yeah, I'm okay," he answered, fake smile in tow.

"I've known you for what? Nine years? Most of which I've lived in close proximities to you, I think I know you slightly better than that." They just stared up at the party in silence. "Harry it's okay to miss her," Ginny told him with a gentle squeeze of his hand.

"I know, it's just, I can't stop thinking about her, Gin! It's driving me crazy not knowing when she's coming back, I..I..just..want her to be with me--he paused--be here with us," he added at the end shaking his head slightly as if he was confused. Ginny smiled at him.

"Harry, when Hermione comes home, are you planning to tell her?"

"Tell her what?"

"That you love her so much that it's tearing you apart not being with her every day," Ginny spoke as if this were the obvious truth and everyone knew it. Harry just stared at her open mouthed. Before he could answer Bill asked them to help him in the kitchen and they left with the question unanswered.

***

The sun was just about to set when everyone was seated and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were saying thanks to the crowd.

"Molly and I are so grateful that you all decided to be here with us today. You have made this day so special for us and we appreciate it so much," Arthur finished as Molly stood.

"Seeing you all here makes us feel so special, this family we have is a strong and it's a happy one and I'm all glad that we could gather like this, it's been amazing, I just want to say thank you." Everyone smiled as they toasted to family. "My only regret of the day is that an important family member isn't here to join us, Hermione…."

"I would have been her sooner, but the apparition wards in Egypt are tough," Mrs Weasley was interrupted by a figure who stood at the bottom of the garden with what looked like a ton of baggage. As Hermione came into view, Harry's heart stumbled; he stayed in his state of shock for only a few seconds and jumped up from the top table where he and the Weasleys were sitting.

He wound his way through the tables at great pace to the bottom of the garden; he was in such a rush to get to her that he cleared the last table with a jump. He rushed the extra few feet to her; she smiled at him as he approached and they reached out to one another, Harry twirled Hermione around in the air, he held her so close, so desperately, fearing that if he let her go again she'd be gone. Everybody looked on as he buried his head into her neck. He was so emotional that he was on the verge of cracking right there on her shoulder; Hermione could feel his emotion through his breathing and his grip. He took a few deep breaths and pulled himself together moving back to look into her eyes, which were glistened with tears.

"Did you forget how to write?" he asked her in a low whisper trying to conceal the emotion behind it.

"I thought I'd surprise you," she smiled back, wiping away tears. "So I take it that you missed me?" she asked him. He looked her with all seriousness

"I couldn't even try to describe to you how much," he told her looking her square in her eyes, there bodies still close to one another.

"Try," she whispered looking up at him tearfully. Harry couldn't pull any words together so he did the only thing he could think of to convey his emotion. He tilted her chin up to him and kissed her. Their first kiss. Hermione swore she heard the whole crowd sigh as she pulled him close and kissed him back. They broke apart and looked at each other with goofy smiles.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked her taking her hands in his

"Yeah it was great."

"Glad to hear it! Please don't go again" he begged with his eyes, they laughed and held each other.

The rest of the night was amazing, everyone was together, happy, laughing and dancing, Harry finally had his Hermione back and everything was perfect.

A/N: I'll post a lot more soon I promise!!

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