A/N: We didn't get to respond to all the reviews like we normally try and do (Amy's fault---she's studying for a test and that's taking up the majority of her free time so if you want to be mad at someone, be mad at her-lol, plus PK was down just as she started responding). Don't be so hard on Hermione, guys. We know she's being naive, but Gordon is someone she's known since childhood and she doesn't want to think the worst of him. We know it's frustrating, but try and understand where she's coming from. Please read and review.
Next chapter is the big Valentine's Day fluffball ;)
Cho kissed the top of her daughter's head as she walked down the pavement in Muggle London. She had taken to walking for a workout until she could start dancing again. She had Chiaki wrapped in a carrier that would strap over her chest, enabling her to keep her baby warm.
Chiaki cooed up at her mother and Cho was thankful that she wasn't crying for a change. They were starting to wean her, as Chiaki would sometimes pull away quickly when Cho tried to give her milk. She also figured it would be good for when Neville's Gran would be watching Chiaki on Valentine's Day.
She slowed down a moment as she heard ballet music coming from inside a storefront. Cho watched with a small smile as several young girls giggled in their leotards and frilly pink tutu's as they skipped around the wooden floor of a brightly lit dance studio.
"I miss dancing Chiaki," Cho said softly. A gust of wind made her hair blow out behind her and hold her daughter closer to her. "Ready to go sweetheart?" she asked her daughter as she turned away from the window with a sigh. "It's going to be a while before your Mum gets to dance like I did before…"
It wasn't until she got home and set Chiaki down for her kip that an idea sprang into her head. And it wasn't until she made herself a cup of tea and was sitting at the kitchen table that Cho was convinced that it was a good idea.
"I'm going to open a dance studio in the Wizarding World!" Cho excitedly told her husband when he got home that night.
"You're what?" he asked.
"I'm going to start a dance studio!" Cho said again. "Neville… no one has opened one here, not ever! And think of the resources I could have- any sort of music I need through the Wireless, all sorts of spells…"
Neville smiled tiredly at her. "If that's what makes you happy love, then you should go for it." He encouraged.
"Really?" She was pleased. "You really think I should?"
"Well you'll have to get the space of course, and set everything up…" Neville replied.
"Oh I know all that," Cho said. "I've already checked into looking for some empty space and I would most likely have to take a loan from Gringotts…"
"Harry would probably lend you the money," Neville interrupted her.
"I don't want Harry's money," Cho answered. "I would rather open a studio and have it succeed on its own merits rather than have it succeed based on Harry's name."
"Fair enough," Neville answered. "It's good to see you so excited about something," he grinned.
"Well, it's that and the fact that Chiaki took a three hour kip today and she's already down for the night again," Cho laughed. "So that, Mr. Longbottom is our cue for some husband and wife time."
"Aye, you're right," Neville pulled her onto his lap. "And I like that idea very much."
*** *** ***
Gordon sat at one of the large marble tables in the library. All around him were large tomes detailing what he could find about the Adamo Infinitas spell. Admittedly, it hadn't been all that easy to find the limited information he'd dug up. He'd spent most of his nights and the early morning before classes in the library searching for whatever he could find.
Most evenings, he came up empty-handed. The past couple of nights, however, he'd managed to find an interesting book about Mythical Places in the Wizarding World that speculated about where the spell had to be performed. One 19th- century wizard narrowed the location down to one of three places before he'd died of mysterious circumstances. These three places, however, were never named. That wizard's notes were destroyed in a fire.
Bloody typical, Gordon thought to himself.
With each passing day, he became more and more frustrated at the lack of progress he was making. The spell itself was truly fascinating to Gordon. While most of his classmates in school spent their days memorizing spells and charms, he was more concerned with the why and the how of the spell. The inner workings and the history behind it were more important to Gordon and that had certainly helped him in his investigation.
He closed another of the books and leaned back in his chair. Again, nothing. He was running out of time. With each passing day, Hermione seemed to fall more and more under Potter's spell. At the rate Gordon was going, he had a feeling Hermione would be pregnant with Potter's brats before he could even bat an eyelash.
As he sat back in the chair, he remembered all too vividly the look of surprise on her face when he'd leaned in to kiss her. Why had he been so stupid? She'd not been ready for that. But, she'd looked so beautiful in the light of the fire. It was so difficult to be alone with her like that and not want to touch her and feel her and tell her how he loved her. It took an extreme amount of control not to.
Time was running out and he'd not come any closer to finding out where this spell had to take place. He racked his brain for a place where he could find the answers. He did remember hearing about a rare book store in Knockturn Alley that specialized in rare books on dark magic. Although he reckoned it probably wouldn't pan out, he had to try it. He was getting desperate and desperate times definitely called for desperate measures.
Hermione. She was all he could think about. He loved nearly everything about her. He couldn't name just one thing that he loved most about her. He liked the way her eyes lit up when she was talking about something that interested her. He loved how passionate she could get about something that she cared about. He loved her sense of humour and the way she could light up a room with her smile. And she had such a big heart. She trusted and loved with everything she had.
If there was one thing he didn't love about Hermione, it was that never-ending devotion to Potter. Gordon wasn't stupid. He knew that without this spell, he'd never have a chance with her. He'd like to have her come to him on her own volition, but it wasn't going to happen. He knew that. Begrudgingly, he'd accepted that.
Adamo Infinitas was his only chance. No, it was his last chance. He wouldn't fail.
*** *** ***
Hermione laughed as Chiaki gurgled at her from the carrier she wore strapped across her chest. "You walk like this every day?" she asked Cho.
Cho nodded. "I really enjoy it and she seems to as well so we try to go out every afternoon at least."
"That's good," Hermione smiled down at the baby. "Merlin, I really can't believe how gorgeous she is Cho. You're so lucky."
"She is pretty amazing, isn't she?" Cho asked, making a funny face at her little girl. "Don't tell Neville this, but sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to just watch her sleep."
Hermione smiled. "That's so sweet. You know, I'll bet he does the exact same thing and just never told you."
"Probably," Cho said, laughing. They continued to walk making small talk as they went and they both heard a familiar voice from a few feet ahead. The next moment two young boys came running out of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, followed hot on the heels by Ron. "What on earth?" Cho asked, as the two boys quickly ran between her and Hermione, nearly knocking Hermione down in the process.
"Hey!" Hermione curled her arms protectively around Chiaki. "Watch out for the baby here!"
"YOU BETTER RUN!" Ron shouted angrily to the two boys who disappeared out of sight around the corner.
"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Hermione asked, still holding Chiaki close.
"Those two jokers decided to get a five-finger discount," Ron answered crossly. "Are you two alright?"
"We're fine," Cho replied and Hermione nodded as well. "Honestly, what a Muggle thing to do." she frowned where the two boys had disappeared. "What did they take?"
"Dungbombs," Ron said, shaking his head. "I don't think Harry and I ever acted as bad as that when we were that age."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "How juvenile. Can we come in for a bit and warm up?" she asked.
"Of course," Ron said, leading them to the entrance of the shop and holding the door for them.
"Thanks," Cho said as she followed Hermione inside. "What's been going on Ron? Any news on that flat you and Luna were looking at?"
He nodded. "Yeah. We found a place we both really like. I wanted to go and look at it again, but she had to go back to Boston late last night, so..."
Hermione handed Chiaki to Ron, who grinned as he kissed her little face. "Do you miss her when she's gone like this?"
"More than you could imagine," he said, his tone sad, but he smiled down at the baby. "But, she's doing what she's always wanted. I can't begrudge her that, can I?"
Cho gave him a one armed hug. "Well... for what it's worth we all think you're being fantastic about the whole thing Ron."
"Thanks," he said, grinning sideways at her. He noticed that Hermione had a sort of far-away expression on her face. "Hermione? Everything okay?"
"What?" Hermione jumped. "Oh... yeah everything's fine." she sat on the counter. "I... actually have something I'd like to ask you two."
"Okay," Cho said, looking at Ron. "What is it?"
"Well..." Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable. "Has Harry... ever... has he ever talked to you both about what happened between him and... Voldemort?" she said the name quietly but both Ron and Cho shuddered.
Cho looked thoughtfully at her friend. "Is he having nightmares again?" she asked.
Hermione nodded slowly. "It seemed to be a really bad one, but he wouldn't talk to me about it."
"He's always been like that," Cho said, looking to Ron, who also nodded. "He hasn't really talked about it to anyone, I don't think. Well, other than Dumbledore."
Hermione looked at Ron. "He hasn't even talked to you about what happened?"
He shook his head and shrugged. "He was pretty out of it right afterwards. It was touch and go for awhile as to whether or not he'd make it. When he finally woke up, he didn't really want to say much about it and we all figured he'd tell us when he was ready."
"But he never really was ready," Hermione finished.
"I once tried to get him to talk about it, but he became really cross with me," Cho remembered. "Told me that it was in the past and he didn't want to dwell on it and he didn't want me bringing it up either."
"Wow," Hermione was surprised. "I didn't push him into talking about it, now I'm glad."
Ron stared at Hermione. "I would have thought he'd have talked to you about it though. You're the closest to him now."
Cho glared at him. "Ron, I thought you were going to start thinking before you opened your mouth?"
"Oh, right," Ron said sheepishly. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay," Hermione forced a smile onto her face. "It's like he said- when he feels like he wants to open up about it he will."
The door to the shop opened and Ron handed the now sleeping baby gingerly back to Cho. He excused himself to go and help the customers.
"Hey, Hermione," Cho said softly. "Don't take it personally about Harry. That's just the way he's always been about this."
"Really?" Hermione got down from the counter. "I guess I just thought we would share everything... but then again being Harry Potter's girlfriend has got to have its drawbacks right? It's not every wizard who can bring down a Dark Lord."
Cho laughed, but knew her friend was still hurt by Harry's reluctance to share that part of himself with her. "Do you want to know what I think?" she asked rocking slowly back on her feet to keep Chiaki asleep.
"What?" Hermione asked.
Cho looked at her friend. "That was a dark time for him, Hermione. He did a great deal of things he's not proud of and I think a part of him feels guilty that he couldn't save everyone. It can't be easy for him to talk about that. I can't even imagine..."
Hermione nodded. "You're right Cho... I really shouldn't feel bad for myself here."
Cho grinned. "Just give him time and he'll come around. Though it pains me to admit it, Ron's right. If he'd tell anyone of us, he'd tell you. You're the most important person in the world to him."
Hermione smiled at that. "And the two of you really know what to say to put my mind at ease," she joked.
"Always," Cho said proudly. "Hey, I've got an idea!"
"What's that?" Hermione asked as Ron finished with his customers and rejoined them.
"How about we go and surprise your boyfriend and my husband at headquarters," Cho said, looking down at her watch. "Neville said they were having a late lunch today...maybe we can catch them in time. What do you say?"
"That sounds fantastic," Hermione replied. "Can you come with us Ron?"
Ron frowned. "I don't think I can. I'm the only one here today and my brothers would have my head if I left."
"All right," Hermione gave him a hug. "Come by if you feel too lonely okay? And when Luna comes back we can all get together if you want."
Ron nodded and they exchanged a quick goodbye. As Cho and Hermione walked out of the store, Cho grinned at Hermione. "I guess we'll get to see this Thackeray bloke in person, won't we?"
"You'll have to keep me from hexing him if we do," Hermione said. "He sounds like such a bastard."
"We'll keep each other in check," Cho promised.
They arrived at the Ministry building quickly and Cho led Hermione to the room where Neville and Harry's class was. Hermione smiled as she saw her messy haired boyfriend inside. "Merlin he looks so cute when he's being serious," she smiled.
Cho giggled as she looked down at Chiaki, who was still fast asleep. "You think he's cute all the time and you know it."
"You think the same about Neville," Hermione shot back teasingly.
Cho peered over Hermione's shoulder to catch a glimpse of her husband who also wore a rather serious, grim expression. "He is pretty cute, isn't he?" she asked.
Hermione laughed quietly, not wanting to wake the baby. "We're both just biased is all."
Cho nodded and they both watched as the trainees began packing up their belongings. The class was obviously over, but Hermione and Cho could vaguely hear a rather stern voice call out the names "Potter" and "Longbottom" and follow it with "extra assignment".
"That doesn't sound very good, does it?" Cho asked, standing back from the door.
"No," Hermione's eyes narrowed, her fingers unconsciously grasping her wand.
The door opened and the trainees began emptying the classroom. The last two to leave were Harry and Neville who were grumbling as Neville closed the door behind them.
"Surprise..." Hermione and Cho said together, their voices trailing off as they saw the annoyed looks on their respective other's faces.
Harry looked up to see Hermione and Cho standing off to the side. As usual, he couldn't stop a smile from coming to his lips as he looked at his girlfriend. If he'd ever needed to see her, he certainly did now. "What are you two doing here?" he asked.
"We thought we'd stop by and have lunch with you," Hermione answered.
Harry dropped his bag to the floor and quickly crossed the distance between them. He scooped Hermione up in his arms and kissed her gently. Unfortunately, this was also the same moment that Thackeray decided to exit the classroom.
"POTTER!" he boomed. "What is the meaning of this?"
Harry tensed as he slowly put Hermione down. "Nothing," he said tersely.
"This is NOT the place for you to be snogging your girlfriend," he sneered.
"We're not in class," Harry said, still holding on to Hermione's hand. "And I believe we're on lunch break. We can do what we want on our own time, can't we?"
"Not in this building," Thackeray snapped.
"Fine," Harry said, fighting the overwhelming urge to retaliate. It was getting harder and harder to keep quiet while this bloke kept pushing his and Neville's buttons on a daily basis.
Hermione glared at the older man fiercely as he turned and walked away. "Harry I want to hex him within an inch of his life," she was still holding her wand.
"You and me both," Harry said, shaking his head.
"You two weren't kidding about him," Cho said, trying to calm the baby who had awoken with all the noise. "He's horrid!"
Neville was also glaring down the corridor. "He's such a bastard. He was especially vicious today because Lupin wasn't sitting in."
"What's this extra assignment he was talking about?" Cho asked, handing Chiaki to Neville.
"Some essay that we have to write because Matt Smith is a wanker," Harry replied.
"I'm nearly afraid to ask," Hermione said. "But what did he do?"
Neville gave her a dark look. "He's got a habit of shooting off his bloody mouth a lot, and Thackeray turns a deaf ear towards that."
Hermione put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "How much time do you get for lunch?" she asked, hoping to change the subject.
"An hour," Harry replied, sliding his arm around her. "This is a really great surprise," he smiled at her. Just having her there made his day seem better.
She grinned and looked to the left and to the right down the empty hallway before leaning in to kiss him. "It's a shame we can't sneak home for a few minutes," she whispered in his ear.
Neville looked at Cho and rolled his eyes. "Save it rabbits," he said.
"Ignore them," Hermione said, giving Harry's hand a squeeze. "They're just jealous."
Cho scoffed as they all walked down the corridor. "I'm starving and I need to feed Chiaki so let's figure out where we're going." she said.
"Anywhere but here," Neville said wrapping an arm around his wife.
"I have half a mind to not come back this afternoon," Harry pulled Hermione closer as they went outside.
"You know that's what he wants," Hermione said. "You and Neville are already on probation."
"It just makes me wonder if this is really what I want to do with my life." Harry replied.
"Harry, this is all you've ever talked about," Cho said, turning around to face him. "You were born for this job and I know you aren't going to let some snivelling arsehole instructor stop you from pursuing your dream."
"You're right, I know." Harry sighed as they came upon a pub. "And it's only another three weeks until we're finished with him." he sat down next to Hermione in the booth, Cho, Neville and Chiaki across from them. "I'm just tired of it all."
"I know you are," Hermione said softly, resting her head on his shoulder.
"We'll get through it mate," Neville held his daughter as Cho dug for the bottle.
"Let's talk about something else," Hermione said hoping to lighten the mood. "Valentine's Day is coming up. Do the newlyweds have big plans?"
"Aye," Neville replied. "My Gran is watching Chiaki for us so we can have an evening to ourselves," he grinned at his wife.
"Going out or staying in?" Hermione asked.
"Staying in," Cho and Neville said together.
Harry and Hermione laughed. "No baby...what ever will the two of you do?" Hermione asked teasingly.
Harry poked her side. "I know what WE'LL be doing," he said, giving her a seductive look.
"Anyone with half a brain knows what you'll be doing," Neville joked.
Harry laughed and kissed his girlfriend on the cheek. "You make that sound so bad," he replied.
"Can we please not talk about this in the presence of an innocent child?" Cho asked, glaring good-naturedly at her friends. "You two keep this up and her first word will probably be 'rabbit'."
Harry laughed harder, making Hermione giggle and Neville started chortling as well.
Hermione looked at her watch. "Blast! I'll be right back. I was going to check in with Gordon to see when he wanted to meet for our project. I'll be right back." She slid out of the booth and went off to look for a payphone.
"He's still around, is he?" Cho asked Harry.
"As always," Harry replied. "I wish I could make him trip up in front of Hermione so she could see what a wanker he really is. She wouldn't even listen to Lavender when she and Seamus said they caught him skulking around in front of our house."
"He WHAT?" Cho asked taken aback. "When did this happen?"
"A few weeks ago," Harry replied. "When they came over for dinner one night."
"Are they sure it was him?" she asked.
"Pretty sure," he replied. "Lavender remembers him from school and she's seen him at the wedding." Harry saw Hermione coming back towards them. "More later," he said so she wouldn't hear.
Hermione gave an apologetic smile as she slid back into the booth beside Harry. "He wasn't home," she said shrugging. "I'll try again later."
Harry put his arm back around her as Cho finished feeding Chiaki. "Want me to hold her?" he offered.
"Sure," Cho said, standing up a bit in the seat to hand the baby off to Harry.
"Hey you..." Harry grinned at Chiaki as Hermione took a piece of cloth and put it over his shoulder. "What's that for?" he asked.
"You don't want her to spit up all over your shirt, do you?" she asked with a laugh.
Harry made a face. "Probably not," he grinned. He kissed Chiaki's soft head and held her up on his shoulder, patting her back gently.
"Goodness, you're like an old pro," Cho was impressed. "You don't know what a spit up cloth is yet you know exactly how to burp her."
"You do remember who he is, don't you?" Neville said jokingly. "He excels at everything he does."
Harry smirked. "And that's why you made me godfather," he replied.
"That and the fact you'd never let us hear the end of it if we hadn't," Cho said with a cheeky grin.
"Hey I'm an adult, I could have dealt with it." Harry replied, making Hermione laugh. "What?"
"You would have had a right sulk about it and you know it," Hermione said, looking across the table at Neville and Cho who nodded in agreement.
"Maybe a little one," Harry conceded as Chiaki burped.
"She's on our side, too," Hermione said with a laugh as the baby then rested her head on Harry's chest. Her heart leapt as she watched Harry with the baby. Cho was right, he was a natural at this, she thought to herself. For a few moments, she allowed herself to daydream about a day in the future when he'd be holding their child like that.
Harry kissed Chiaki on her head and gently passed her back to Neville. "I don't know how she can sleep in such a noisy place." he said quietly.
"She gets that from her mum," Neville said. "Cho could sleep through a gunfight."
Cho gave her husband a dirty look. "I don't sleep through this one's cries," she replied. "Although I don't think anyone could."
Their waitress arrived with their food just then and gasped just as she was about to put Harry's plate in front of him. "Oh! It is you!" she exclaimed rather loudly. "I didn't know for sure, but there's the scar! Oh my! I can't believe it!"
Harry smiled politely as Hermione hid her smile. "Nice to meet you," he said cordially.
"Gosh, you're even more handsome in person," she said shyly. She set the tray down absently on the table and stared at Harry. "Wow...I...wow..."
Harry kept smiling unsure of what to say, so he stuck his hand out. "Well... thanks..." he said, kicking Hermione's ankle under the table as she had started to snicker.
The young woman's eyes widened as she just stared at Harry's outstretched hand. Finally, she shook his hand and held on for what seemed like a long time as if unwilling to let it go. "This is such an honour to serve you. Wait until I tell all my friends who I waited on today. I mean this is just the best thrill of my entire life!"
Harry shook her hand graciously. "Well I appreciate that, and I'm glad I could make your day," he said.
"My day?" the girl asked incredulously. "You made my year. Possibly, my whole life!"
Cho and Neville were trying hard not to laugh as was Hermione. Thankfully, the girl seemed to remember what she was supposed to be doing and hastily served them their food, but giving everyone the wrong dish.
"Goodness," Cho traded plates with Hermione after the waitress left. "Harry has another new fan."
Neville laughed and batted his eyelashes at Harry. "My goodness and we get to sit across from him like this and he burped our baby! Sweetheart, we have to save the spit up cloth that he had on his shoulder. We could sell it to the highest bidder!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay..." he said. "Laugh it up Longbottoms."
Cho giggled. "You should have seen the look on your face with her, Harry. It was priceless."
Harry glared at her as Hermione kissed his cheek. "I can't help it," he muttered.
"He can't help being irresistible," Hermione said defensively. "And you are much cuter in person. Those pictures certainly don't do you justice."
Harry grinned at her. "Thanks love," he gave her a quick kiss.
"Hey, we're trying to eat here," Neville teased.
"So eat," Harry said. "You don't have to look up."
Neville laughed and before too long, the two couples were engaged in their own separate conversations as they ate their food.
"Is everything really okay?" Hermione asked Harry as he snuck a chip from her plate.
"Aside from Thackeray?" Harry asked.
She nodded. "We didn't get a chance to talk this morning. You were gone before I woke up."
"Everything's fine," Harry gave her hand a squeeze.
"Aside from the tyrannical instructor, right?" she asked with a laugh.
"Exactly," Harry replied. "Maybe tonight you'd be interested in a date with a handsome and famous wizard?"
"I might," she said coyly. "Do you happen to know of any who are available tonight?"
"Maybe one," Harry stole another chip from her plate.
"Do you really think Matt Smith would go out with me?" she asked trying not to laugh. "We've never really met and all..."
Harry squeezed her side. "Not funny Granger."
She laughed. "But say that I was interested in going out with this handsome, famous wizard...what would the two of us do?" she asked.
"Have dinner, and after that..." Harry leaned closer. "I want to make passionate love to you..." he whispered in her ear.
His breath tickled the skin on her neck and she felt light-headed. "T-that sounds like a great idea," she whispered back. "Count me in."
"Great," he gave her a gentle kiss. "Love you."
"Love you," she replied. "Do you think we might have a couple minutes alone before you have to go back?"
"I could arrange that," Harry grinned.