Authors Notes: *jaw drops* I always seem to do this when I'm writing- this is actually the second-to-last update! I thought I had ages left to go, but as I'm writing this, I'm putting the final touches on the final part.
It's the last memory- the end does come up rather quickly, but there's really nowhere else to go. So I hope you enjoy the last two parts!!!
And so you don't need to ask, there will be a companion piece to this posted sometime after I post the last update. It will be called 'Hermione's Box' and, yeah, I hope you enjoy it when I get it up :D
Hermione finishing her book was a major achievement for her- it had taken almost three years for her to finish it, but it was done and came out in the July, exactly three years after she had gone to Rome to start her research. And considering the subject matter, the book sold well and was continuing to sell. Harry was so incredibly proud of her- and he had even read the book from cover to cover.
But the book he was more focused on now was the album in front of him. He turned the page and there was a single newspaper clipping that had a giant ink circle around it.
Flat hunting.
The sun was shining in through Harry's bedroom window, causing him to wake up with a start and panic that he was going to be late for work. It took him several minutes to realise that he had a day off- he didn't have to go anywhere.
Sleeping peacefully curled up into him was Hermione. He loved watching her sleep, she was always so serene. He shifted himself slightly so he could watch her better, but the combination of the warm sunlight and the slight movement jolted her from her sleep and she woke up and just looked up at Harry a smiled.
'Morning, love,' she whispered, yawning slightly. Harry kissed the top of her head, giving him a slight whiff of the smell of her shampoo.
'Morning to you too.'
'What's the time?'
'Umm…' Harry rolled back slightly and checked out the clock beside the bed. '8:50am.'
Hermione sat bolt upright and swore rather loudly. Without giving an explanation she jumped out of the bed and began grabbing clothing from the floor.
'God damn it,' she muttered. 'I've got the plumber coming at 9am to fix that damn shower!'
She threw her pair of jeans onto the bed, along with one of Harry's t-shirts. She picked a few more clothes up and tossed them around, muttering to herself. Harry just watched, unsure of what she was actually looking for. With a cry of frustration she picked up Harry's jeans and tossed them across the room and turned around and faced Harry.
'Harry James Potter, where the fuck is my underwear?'
'Third drawer, as always,' he told her, somehow managing to keep a straight face. Hermione swearing was one thing. Hermione swearing at him whilst standing in the middle of his bedroom with nothing on was priceless.
She stomped over to the third drawer and grabbed the clothes from the end of the bed as she walked past again and went into the bathroom. Harry dragged himself slowly out from under the covers, his visions of the two of them spending all day relaxing in bed fading. His dressing gown was the first thing he found on the floor and he pulled it on and tied it tightly.
'Oh, I'm sorry,' Hermione said softly, coming out of the bathroom and kissing him. 'I completely forgot about this plumber. I'll be back straight away.'
'Well, why don't I make us some breakfast?'
'Excellent idea,' she said, grinning at him. 'See you soon.'
She was gone with a pop and Harry made his way slowly into the kitchen. He was pulling some pots and pans out of the cupboard when the doorbell rang. Sighing, he tiredly headed towards it and looked out the peep hole and saw a shock of bright red hair.
'Morning, Ron,' he said, opening the door, yawning.
'Hey Harry, hope you don't mind me calling in,' Ron said brightly, raising his eyebrow at Harry's dressing gown. 'I, erm, didn't interrupt anything?'
'What? Oh! No- Hermione had to duck back to her flat for a plumber,' Harry told Ron with a laugh. 'I was just making some breakfast. Do you want a coffee or something?'
'Coffee would be wonderful,' Ron said, following Harry into the kitchen. Harry magically made Ron's coffee and made one for himself to help wake him up.
'So I'm assuming you didn't just come for the coffee,' Harry said, lifting himself up and sitting on the kitchen bench.
'No, not for the coffee,' Ron said, sitting on the bench beside Harry. 'It's- it's Luna. I think she's getting ready to 'cut and run'. It's been years and we're not moving any further forward- I know she wants to get married, I just don't know if I'm there yet and-'
'I think you're there,' Harry cut over Ron. 'You love this girl. And she loves you. Don't worry about it. Buy a nice ring and just do it.'
'That's why I came over- I knew I'd get it straight from you,' Ron said, draining his coffee. 'Not that you can really talk.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, you and Hermione. You've been together for as long as Luna and I and you still live in separate flats!'
'It was easier, you know, when Hermione was writing.'
'Harry, it's November. Her book came out in July. You're too scared to take that next step, aren't you?'
'How did this end up being about me? Weren't you the one with the problem?'
'Yes, but yours is bigger,' Ron said and the two of them giggled like teenagers for a moment when they realised the double meaning of Ron's words.
'Hermione and I will take that next step when we're ready,' Harry managed to answer and Ron just smirked slightly at him.
'I think you've already taken it, just without realising. Does she have a drawer of clothes? Has she taken over the bathroom? Has she-'
'I get the picture,' Harry said. Ron smirked at him again, before slapping Harry on the back.
'I've got to get to work. Thanks for the advice.'
'What advice?' Harry asked- he'd said what Ron had wanted to hear.
'And think about it, alright?'
'Think about what?'
But Ron had already walked away and out the door.
'Mental. Absolutely frigging mental,' Harry muttered to himself as he sent food flying around the kitchen to make breakfast. He was just serving when the door banged shut and Hermione let out an exasperated cry.
'Honestly,' she said, coming into the kitchen. 'It's going to cost so much to get this shower repaired- I don't know what I'm going to do.'
'Why don't you move in here?' Harry said suddenly. 'Move in here with me and we'll find a place of our own.'
'Are- are you serious?' Hermione asked and Harry nodded.
'Yeah, I'm serious. You pretty much live here anyway. And you can move in today and never have to worry about that shower again.'
'This- this is big, Harry,' she said softly, standing in front of him with her hands on his waist. 'Don't think I don't want to, but it's a big step to take and if you're-'
'Hermione, I'm dead serious and dead certain. I want you to live with me, whether it be here, somewhere we rent together or in a cardboard box on the side of the road. I want you with me.'
'Oh, Harry…'
The plans for a nice relaxing day in changed after breakfast when Hermione ducked out and bought every single newspaper and they scoured the classifieds, looking at the rentals.
Harry found the perfect flat in the paper he was reading and using the thick black marker Hermione had bought as well, drew a big circle around it and quickly turned the page- he wanted to have a look at that one alone, surprise Hermione.
'This one- this ones perfect!' Hermione exclaimed suddenly. Harry stood behind her and read over her shoulder. The flat she had found was even better than the one he had found- it was everything they wanted and was in their price range.
'Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go have a look!'
The leasing real estate agent was incredibly nice and trusting, giving Harry and Hermione the key to the flat. It was a ground floor flat with a small garden and was in between their current two flats.
'What do you reckon?' Harry asked as they stood in the middle of the empty living area.
'I love it.'
'Well, we'll take it.'