***********
Comprehension
It was a thoroughly embarrassed, but much happier Harry who left Hermione's room. He closed the doors behind him to give her privacy while she prepared for that long and hot shower, and Harry realized he desperately needed one as well. He began to cross the living area to his own room when Ginny ambushed him from the couch.
"Ginny! Have you been waiting here all morning?"
"Harry please, it's hardly morning anymore, and no, I've not been here all this time."
Harry looked at the clock on the mantle and was shocked to see it was nearly four in the afternoon.
"Actually, I've been trying to study this," she held up a small book. "Seems Fleur picked a date close to the First Harvest because she wanted the ritual of fruition performed. Would have been bloody nice if someone had told me that earlier! And," Ginny sighed, "seeing as how she's French and we are in France, we have to do the bloody thing in her native language!"
"A spell of what?"
"A spell of fruition - basically it's a blessing that all the wedded couple's hopes for the future will come to pass. It's mostly ceremonial, but it's represented by having us each present them a seed and then making it grow in their hands. Then they collect the blooms and it becomes part of her bridal bouquet."
"With everyone here for the wedding, I'd say that'd be an enormous bouquet."
"Not really, it's just the wedding party and the parents. I'd ask Mum to help, but she's still working on her gift of Weasley family charms to pass on to Fleur."
Harry looked at the coffee table, which was littered with some small and wilted flowers.
"I could do the bloody thing in English!" She said defensively, noting his expression.
"Oh, um, actually, they don't look too bad," he lied.
"No, but they're supposed to look like this!" She jammed the book up towards him and it showed pictures of a variety of large and colorful blooms.
Ginny smacked the book, '101 Traditional Wedding Spells & Ritual Charms', down on the table, then set her wand down as well. She hopped up on her knees and placed her elbows on the back of the couch so she was now facing Harry, who stood behind the couch.
"But never mind all of that. What happened with Hermione?" She looked at him, eager to hear everything.
"Oh, she's fine now. Thanks for that potion by the way, made her feel much better."
"No, I mean, did you two finally talk things out?"
"Well, yeah... yeah we did."
"And?" She pressed.
"And what?"
"Did you apologize for being such an absolute prat?"
Harry was taken aback for a moment.
"Well, yes, I suppose I did."
"So she forgave you!"
"Yes, I suppose she did. We're going out today to spend some time together. Hopefully we can mend everything."
"Well I say you're rather fortunate. I don't know if I'd have forgiven you as easily. In fact I might have hexed you within a few inches of your life after all of that."
"It's not as if I did anything really horrible Ginny."
Ginny's jaw dropped.
"How can you say that!?"
Harry flinched as Ginny tried to hit him again.
"Honestly Harry, if I had said that to you, and you had done that to me, I don't know that I could ever be your friend again."
"Said what Ginny?"
"What Hermione said to you, you git!"
It took Harry a moment, then something clicked. Whatever Hermione had said that night, she'd told Ginny. And now Ginny thought that she'd told him!
'What did you say that would make you think I was cross with you?'
'Well, um... I don't really remember exactly...'
'Right - she didn't "remember" my arse!'
He'd have to be delicate about this. Make Ginny think that he knew what was going on and was simply being obtuse about the whole matter. It would certainly be a test of his pre-auror skills to say the least. What was it Hermione had mentioned? She thought he was cross with her all this time.
"Well Ginny, you know, people say all sorts of things when they're upset."
"Upset?! Are you mental?!"
"I, er, just mean that it took me awhile to get over it."
"TO GET OVER IT! YOU'RE OVER IT?"
"Well yeah, I am now."
'Okay, this isn't working! Think of something!!'
"Honestly Ginny, what would you do if your best friend said that to you?"
Ginny's eyes grew wide.
"Harry, Luna is my best friend!"
"Exactly! Wouldn't that upset you?"
"It's... it's hardly the same thing Harry, not to mention I'm sure Ron would have an absolute seizure!"
'Why would Ron have a seizure?'
"Er, of course he would. I'm sure he'd not want anyone, even Luna, insulting his sister like that."
She raised her eyebrows.
"Harry, I happen to be as tolerant as the next witch or wizard. I wouldn't consider it an insult, per se. I'd just think Ron would be terribly upset. Of course, if I wasn't his sister, he might find the whole thing somewhat attractive."
'Attractive? Okay, now I'm thoroughly confused!'
"But we're not talking about me! We're talking about you and Hermione! How could you not respond to something like that?! All this time and not so much as a note? After everything she said?"
Just then Hermione opened the doors to her room and crossed to the lavatories.
"Good morning Gin'," she said rather cheerfully.
"Don't... urgh, nevermind. So," she turned to face Hermione, "Harry here tells me you two made up. And that he's over it!"
Harry watched carefully for her reaction.
"Um yes, yes we did." Her eyes got slightly wide and she gave an almost, but not quite, imperceptible shake of her head. Then she gave a wide smile. "I'll be out in a bit. Just need to shower."
"Great. When you're done, would you mind helping me with this?" She grabbed the book and held it up.
"Fruition spell?"
"Yeah, in French no less."
"Not a problem. I happen to speak French. Let me shower first and I'll help you out."
"Thanks Hermione."
Hermione went into the lavatory, and when the door clicked, Ginny slowly turned her head towards Harry. She narrowed her eyes and Harry held his breath. They stayed locked in a staring contest until Harry finally broke.
"Bollocks Ginny! What did she say!"
"Let me guess," she smirked, "you don't remember."
"Not at all! She tells me I was catatonic and she yelled at me to snap me out of it. She also said she didn't remember what she had said, which is obviously not true because she's obviously told you!"
Ginny cocked her head to the side. Then an evil grin that would have done Malfoy proud crossed her face.
"So what if she has?"
"Just tell me Ginny." Harry was not used to pleading.
"Nope, sorry. Not my place to tell you." She seemed to be enjoying this far too much. "But hopefully she'll tell you soon, because I may very well kill her myself if she doesn't." Then she sank back on the couch and reopened her book, the conversation obviously over for her.
Harry let out a frustrated sigh, then stalked off to his room to collect his things for a shower.
***
"You're keeping something from me."
"What?!"
Harry reached past Hermione's arm, which was presently blocking the small jug of milk. He grabbed it, then noticed the blanched expression on her face.
"The milk Hermione. You're keeping the milk from me." He held it up to show her and there was no mistaking her visible relaxation.
"Honestly, what's gotten into you?"
"Oh, nothing." She gave a nervous smile. "Just a bit lost in thought is all."
Harry looked at her, quite pleased that he could make her squirm like that. He didn't know if Ginny had told her that he'd sussed out she was hiding something from him, but he knew if he worked hard enough, he'd make her spill yet.
He poured the milk into his cup, stirred, then reached for another croissant. If nothing else, staying at a luxury resort afforded them the ability to have breakfast at nearly 5 in the afternoon.
"So, what do you want to do with the rest of the day?"
"Whatever you'd like Harry. I've been to Paris before, but seeing as how this is your first visit, is there anything in particular you'd like to see?"
"I learned about the Louvre in primary school, but I imagine it's closing soon."
"Actually, it's funny that you should mention that. I've never done it before, but I've read that the Louvre is opened exclusively to witches and wizards after they've closed to muggles. They remove the freezing charms from all the paintings and I've heard it's quite the experience."
"That sounds excellent! Let's do that."
Hermione smiled with the oddest look in her eyes.
"What is it?"
"I think it's going to take a bit of getting used to - seeing you like this."
"Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know. Uncomplicated perhaps? It's just that I'm so used to you being under constant threat of some kind that I can't recall ever seeing you just... just Harry."
He grinned at her assessment.
"Well get used to it. I've spent far too long looking over my shoulder for one threat or another. With the possible exception of the errant paparazzi, I hope that's pretty much over and done with - at least while I get through auror training, anyway. I plan on focusing on the things that are the most important - my friends and my future." He took her hand as he said this, and he could detect the slightest hint of a blush cross her cheeks.
"Honestly Hermione, there was a significant amount of time there where I wasn't even certain I had a future, let alone a career or possibilities. And as overwhelming as all of that is, I'm really, really looking forward to it."
She gave a soft laugh, then placed her hand over his and gave a gentle squeeze. It made Harry warm all over.
"Well I'm glad to hear it. It's certainly about time you had a 'happily ever after', as it were."
"Oh, speaking of which," he was reluctant to let go of her hand, but had to in order to reach into his pocket. "I've been meaning to give this to you," and he gave her a small but heavy brass key.
"It's more ornamental than anything I suppose, seeing as how you can apparate directly into the foyer."
"I... I don't understand."
He looked at her, worried.
"The flat Hermione. You... you still did want to share a flat with me and Ron, didn't you?" There was no mistaking the apprehensive tone of his voice.
When she didn't say anything, he grew more concerned. Then she mumbled something he didn't quite catch.
"What was that?"
She was staring at the key, her eyes shining.
"I... I thought you'd changed your mind."
"Why on earth... oh, I guess because of everything else. Hermione, again, I am so..."
"No, don't. Don't apologize again. I think the both of us could spend a significant portion of the next few days apologizing back and forth, and I think we both realize how sorry the other is, so why go through all of that?" She smiled at him again and his heart swelled.
"Thank you Harry, really. But I thought, since you've been on vacation and all... I mean, when did you find the time to locate a flat?"
"Actually I didn't. Dobby found it for us."
"Dobby?"
"Yeah. I told him what we needed - three large rooms and someplace big enough to store all of your books." She gave that soft laugh again. "A wizarding community somewhere in central London, hopefully close to Diagon Alley. He brought me pictures that I'll have to show you, but I think he did an excellent job."
"I'm certain he did."
He smiled back at her, and they stayed like that, smiling at one another, for quite some time. And then after a moment, Hermione's stomach let loose a significant growl.
"Oh dear!" She looked slightly embarrassed. "I guess I'm more hungry than I thought."
"Considering I vanished most of your dinner last night and this morning, it's hardly surprising."
She laughed, and then almost immediately grew quiet.
"That was you this morning?"
"Well yeah. I could hardly let you alone in that condition. I didn't know how sick you'd be."
"I don't know why... I thought it must have been Ginny, and that you had just come in closer to when I finally woke up."
"Hardly. You know, my transfiguration skills could use some serious help. Even though I transfigured that chair in your room, it was still fairly uncomfortable to sleep on."
"You... you slept there all night?"
"Of course," and he blushed. "I just wanted to make certain you were alright."
It was Hermione's turn to blush.
"Um... thanks Harry," and then she suddenly found her plate of food much more interesting.
***
"And then I says, 'Signore Leonardo.' I says, 'what if I only smile like this?' Well, I guess he must have liked that one, because that's how I stayed. Mind you, it's a real pain to have to stay frozen with that same smile every day! Wish I had thought of that before opening my big mouth!"
The assembled group of wizards and witches gave an appreciative laugh as Harry and Hermione walked past.
"Hermione," Harry piped up as they walked past. "Isn't that...?"
"Yes, but she's always got a crowd around her. Being the most famous painting here makes it terribly difficult to get a good look at her anyway. Besides, I wanted to show you this."
Harry looked up at a painting further down the hall and opposite from the famed Mona Lisa. It depicted a pale, almost sad looking woman who was being embraced and kissed by an equally pale man with wings. It was one of the few paintings in the wing that wasn't moving.
"Is that meant to be an angel?"
"No, it's Cupid. See the quiver on his back. And that's Psyche."
"I don't understand. If he's kissing her, then why does she look so sad?"
"It's because she doesn't know he's there. He's invisible to her at that moment. It's actually 'Psyche receiving the first kiss of love.'"
"But, if he's giving her a first kiss, and he's in love with her no less, then why is he invisible?"
"He's not meant to love her, but he does. Did you notice he isn't even really touching her? He just hovers there. In the story they actually get married, but she's never allowed to see him. And then her sisters get involved and there's tremendous suffering when he leaves her..."
"But he loves her!"
"Yes, but she violates his trust."
"So he just left her?!" Harry was incredulous.
"There's quite a lot of misery like that in Greek mythology. She ends up having to endure all these horrible tasks to be worthy of him again, but he never stops loving her. Eventually they do have one of the happier endings in mythology. She becomes immortal and they're happily together forever."
She gave a small sigh.
"The first time I saw this painting I was seven, and I didn't know the entire story. I just knew that he loved her, and that she couldn't see him. I've actually thought of this painting quite a bit over the years. It's like a spot of hope really. Somewhere out there, whether we know it or not, someone might love us that much."
Harry continued to quietly stare at the painting, trying to see all that Hermione did. The girl looked so terribly alone, sitting mostly naked in a green field, vulnerable and afraid. What if she had known that love was right there the entire time. That she really wasn't alone at all. Would she have felt so terrible then?
"I know... that must sound rather silly."
"No... not at all. I've just never heard that story before."
"There's actually quite a few pieces here dedicated to them. I just wanted to show you this one, because it's one of my favorites."
And knowing it was one of her favorites gave Harry a deeper appreciation for the painting.
***
They spent more than four hours walking the halls of the Louvre. At one point, while resting on a bench to speak with one of the many portraits, Hermione came up the brilliant idea of casting cushioning charms on their trainers. That made their remaining time in the museum much more enjoyable.
Despite the fact they were in another country altogether, quite a few of the vacationing wizards couldn't help but recognize Harry. However, to their credit, they were neither rude or intrusive. They merely shared words of thanks and congratulations, and Harry had learned to be ever the gentleman when it came to accepting compliments gracefully.
They took a moment to chat with one couple and their young daughter, when the little girl had come running up to Hermione, proclaiming that she wanted to grow up to be just like her. Quite stunned at such open praise, Hermione had to follow Harry's lead in graciousness.
The girl's family had come chasing after her, at first uncertain as to why their child had run towards this stranger. But, as they realized who Harry and Hermione were, they couldn't help but admonish their daughter for intruding on their privacy.
"Oh no, it's quite alright, really." Hermione couldn't help but defend her small admirer.
"I'm really so sorry Miss Granger, Mister Potter," the mother scooped up the girl in her arms. "It's just that she's, well, that is to say, we've all followed the events of the last few months rather closely."
"And now that," the father stammered, "well, since you managed to pretty much save the world..."
"It's all little Evie can talk about," the mother explained. "How she wants to go to Hogwarts and be smart like that Head Girl who helped save Harry Potter." She smiled and the little girl beamed and nodded vigorously at Hermione, which caused her to blush furiously.
"Well, um," Hermione paused, "I don't know that I..."
"She doesn't know that she'd have been able to do it without reading all those books of hers." Harry spoke directly to Evie. "You know, she really has saved my life, several times in fact, and it's because she worked really hard on her studies. Not to mention that she's terribly brave as well." Harry smiled at Hermione, and she couldn't help but smile back. "I could never have defeated You-Know-Who without her help." Harry refrained from spooking her with Voldemort's name.
"Really?" Evie's eyes grew wide.
"Really."
"Wow!"
They spoke for a short while after that, Harry explaining that it was his first time in Paris, and the couple offered a host of suggestions for wizarding establishments and venues to see. Hermione spoke with Evie, encouraging her to remain steadfast in her studies, then perhaps one day she might be Head Girl as well. Before they parted ways both Harry and Hermione signed Evie's map of the Louvre, causing the little girl to go stark quiet with admiration.
"That's... that's not happened to me before," Hermione said softly as they walked away.
"What, you mean the awestruck compliments of strangers?" Harry laughed.
"No... that is, I'd gotten some things in the post, you know, words and thanks and such. It's just... that little girl."
"That was sweet, the way she came running up to you like that."
"But... but she said she wanted to grow up to be just like me."
"So what's wrong with that?" Harry teased.
"Well, I mean, what's so great about me?"
Harry laughed again, and Hermione still held a puzzled expression.
"You're joking, right?"
"What? No.. no I'm not." She was still quite shocked.
Harry sighed, then stopped walking and turned to face her. He grasped her shoulders lightly and stared directly at her.
"Hermione."
"Y-yes..."
"You know how you're always telling me not to feel guilty about everything all the time?"
"Yes."
"Well, now I'm telling you, stop feeling that you're somehow not worthy."
"But... but I'm not. Not of things like that."
"Hermione, you said it's silly of me to feel guilty all the time."
"Well it is."
"Right - and it's the same thing with you feeling somehow less than remarkable. You have to know, you are remarkable, in so many ways. I wasn't joking with that little girl, you really are remarkably smart and remarkably brave. I'm honored to have such a remarkable friend."
"But..."
"No - no more discussion on the matter. I've given up my guilt. That means you have to give up your self doubt."
It took a moment for Hermione to think on this, and in the meantime Harry grasped her hand and resumed their walk.
"C'mon Hermione. After all those places that couple mentioned, I'm dying to see how many more things we can manage tonight."
She let go of his hand and knelt to tie her shoes.
"Hang on a bit Harry."
But he wouldn't be deterred. He began to playfully whine at her.
"Her-miiiii-oooneeee! Hurry up then!" He rocked back on his heels, practically bouncing. "There's so many things we're still meant to do."
He stopped suddenly.
'...so many things we're still meant to do....'
Where had he heard that before?
'...so many things we're still meant to do....'
He had heard it before, he was certain. And it was terribly important... why couldn't he remember?
Hermione pulled her laces tightly in a double knotted bow, then spoke to him like a mother supplicating a small child.
"Alright then Harry. What is it you said? So many things we're still meant to do then?"
His head snapped at her when she said this.
'There's so much I've left to tell you, so many things we're still meant to do.'
She had said it!
Hermione noted the pale, wide eyed expression on his face as she stood.
"H-Harry?" And he could see a spark of fear in her eyes. "Harry!" She gripped his shoulders and her voice became raised. "Are you alright?!"
For just a moment, he saw Hermione. But instead of standing in the museum, he saw her standing outside in the night, lit only by the moon. She was crying and screaming at him. Then he blinked and she was just as she'd been before.
"I... I'm sorry Hermione. Just got lost in thought there for a moment." She released a heavy sigh and her head drooped forward.
"Harry... don't, don't do that again. You gave me a fright." Her tone was relieved with just a hint of fear.
"Sorry about that," he gave her a calming smile. "C'mon then, let's go." And he held out his hand to her. She took it and they walked out of the museum.
***
A few hours later found Harry and Hermione resting on a bench along the Rive Gauche. After hitting quite a few lesser known wizarding shops and tourist haunts, they had stopped at the cart of a street vendor and were now enjoying freshly made apple crepes. They had set their bags of sundry purchases down and watched the city lights reflecting off the surface of the Siene.
"Hermione?"
"Yes Harry."
"I think there's something you should know."
She finished her crepe and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, then turned to face him.
"And what is that Harry?"
"It's about these," he picked up her left hand and held his alongside, indicating their rings.
"What about them?"
"Did you know, when you were making them, about their other properties?"
"Other properties? What do you mean?"
Harry sighed.
"You don't know then? I thought it might be some sort of fail safe, you know, if you really needed to be certain that the wearer was still alive."
"Harry, what on earth are you on about?"
"Alright," and he took a deep breath. "What I said to you this morning, about having a good understanding of how you were feeling?"
She looked uncomfortable, but nodded.
"Well, it wasn't just because I was really good at empathizing with your situation. I actually, I mean, quite literally, knew what you were feeling."
"I don't understand."
"Right, you know how we concentrate to find each other?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever tried concentrating past that?"
"Past that?"
"I know, I'm not explaining this right." He was beginning to get frustrated. "Imagine you're looking for me, and you start to get those flashes, and then you apparate. Well, what if you kept focusing your concentration on me?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Well, what if I were someplace too dark to see? Or what if I were unconscious?"
"I imagine it'd show you the last thing the person saw."
"It does, but if you concentrate just a bit harder," he took a breath, "alright, please, just promise not to get too upset with me."
She raised an eyebrow, but he refused to continue without her assent.
"I promise I'll... I'll do my best."
If that was the only assurance she could give him, he'd have to hope for the best. In the interest of self preservation Harry decided to be extremely selective about what he told her next. In fact, he decided it was best that he not mention when he first discovered the other qualities of their rings.
"First, you have to understand I was desperate to find you last night."
She nodded, then shifted uncomfortably.
"And when I couldn't find you in the club at first, I was afraid I might have missed you. So I concentrated, and I think, because I was worried, I think I concentrated a bit too hard."
"Too hard?"
"You know how," he stammered a bit, "how powerful my magic can be sometimes, especially if I'm upset?"
"So I'm lucky not to be bobbing around the Eiffel Tower like a balloon then," she joked, trying to ease his obvious discomfiture.
It took him a moment to realize what she meant, then he broke into a relieved grin before continuing.
"Hermione, I think these rings, they do much more than you think they can. They not only link us for apparation, but I think they link us like in leglimency, but not exactly the same way."
"Y-you... you don't mean you could read my mind?" She went deathly pale.
"No... oh no!" He quickly reassured her. "It's not as specific as that! I mean, you designed them so we could see each other's point of view. Well, with a bit of a push, I also managed to feel from your point of view."
"Wh-what?"
"It's like some type of empathy I imagine. I could not only see from your point of view, but I could feel everything you were feeling. But look, I'm not very good at explaining this. Maybe you should just try and see for yourself."
He could see she was torn between the embarrassment of it over the sheer academic curiosity. Eventually the curiosity must have won out, because he hadn't been reduced to a pile of ash.
"Alright then, show me how."
"Just pretend you're looking for me, but once you get the images, just keep concentrating."
She turned her ring and closed her eyes, then furrowed her brow in concentration. Harry could see the topaz in his ring flicker. She stayed that way a bit longer, then opened her eyes in disappointment.
"It didn't work."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure! Unless you're feeling exactly the same way I am, which I highly doubt."
Harry meant to question her on that statement, then decided he best not, for right now his heart was beating a bit faster than normal, his palms were somewhat clammy and those damn butterflies in his stomach had been with him since he woke up. He remembered once, the first time he had discovered this hidden quality, that Hermione was experiencing something quite similar to him, but that was a long time ago, and right now, he imagined she was operating under some sort of controlled anger, which was quite different than what he was feeling.
He sighed.
"Maybe we're too close to one another or something."
"But that should make them work better, not worse."
"What if you try Ron?"
Again, that conflict washed across her face. She most likely didn't want to intrude on Ron's feelings, but at the same time her curiosity was undeniable.
"Oh, alright then." She twisted her ring to the sapphire, then tried again.
Harry watched her, her brow knit in concentration, and he couldn't help but think how cute she looked at the moment. He sat serenely watching her, completely unnoticed. Then Hermione gave a startled shriek that made his heart nearly leap from his chest as she jumped up from the bench.
"Oh no... oh ewww... blehhh!" Hermione was shaking her hands frantically while pacing in small and tight circles.
"What happened?!"
"Oh Harry, that is just so... it's just so wrong!"
"Did it work?"
"Oh it worked, all too well!"
"What did you feel?"
Her face twisted up in a pained expression.
"Was it that bad Hermione?" Harry became quite worried.
She nodded her head vigorously.
"Were... were you hurt? Are you alright?"
"No... no I'm fine! I mean, I'm not fine - I'm most likely scarred for life though!"
Harry let out a sigh of relief.
"So what happened?"
That pained expression returned to Hermione's face, then she looked at Harry.
"We're never to speak of this again! Is that understood?"
Harry nodded, the curiosity killing him.
"Let's just say, that I now have much more...," she squeezed her eyes shut, "intimate knowledge of Luna, and how she effects Ron!"
Harry was quiet, then Hermione opened her eyes again and looked at him.
"EWWW," they both groaned in unison.
***
After Harry and Hermione spent another hour talking about anything and everything to burn the images of their two friends from their minds, the subject slowly came back around to their rings.
"I wonder why you couldn't get it to work on me," Harry asked her.
"I don't know. I was wondering that myself. Maybe you've spent so much time learning how to block things like that, that maybe you just do it unconsciously all the time now."
"Hmm, hadn't thought of that." They continued to walk back towards the hotel.
"What if I concentrate on lowering my defenses? Then maybe it would work then?"
"Would you mind?"
"No, not at all. I mean, I'm the one who intruded on you initially. It's only fair you get the chance to do the same."
"And at least I know you're not in a compromising position with Luna."
"Ewwww," they said in unison again.
"Alright Harry, let's give it a go then." They stopped walking and Hermione dropped her bags then pulled out her wand. She spoke the incantation, then put her wand away and concentrated.
Harry stared at her, then lightly grabbed both her hands and concentrated as well.
It took a moment, then, in a soft voice, "Harry, I don't think it's working."
Harry opened his eyes and looked at her, her brows still knit.
"Really?"
She gasped, then opened her eyes and looked at him.
"You alright?"
"I'm... I'm fine."
"So it didn't work then?"
"Um.. no. No I guess not," she said, almost a bit too quickly. "I guess we can try again later." She smiled, then quickly changed the subject.
***
It was already well past 2am by the time they found their way back to the hotel. As much as Harry would have loved to stay out later, they had both agreed to try and get as much rest as possible for the wedding the next day. Harry had such an enjoyable time the entire evening that he nearly forgot he had meant to wheedle out Hermione's little secret.
'Oh well, if she doesn't tell me here, at least I'll have time to work it out of her back in London.'
He smiled, then unlocked the doors to the suite, only to find Ron and Luna snogging on the sofa, oblivious to their entrance.
Harry and Hermione exchanged pained grimaces, then decided it best not to disturb them.
"Goodnight then Harry. Thank you for this evening," she whispered.
"Thank you Hermione. I'm glad I could make it up to you," he whispered back.
Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, and, much to the dismay of the flutters in his stomach, she lingered there. Her breath was hot against his ear and he could feel himself flush all over.
"Sweet dreams Harry." Then she slowly pulled back and looked at him, her eyes dark. Then she turned and went to her room.
"Sw-sweet dreams Hermione," he stammered back, his heart pounding in his chest.
He watched her go into her room, then turn and smile at him as she slowly shut the doors.
In his entire life, he had never gone weak in the knees before. Now he knew what that felt like. He waited a moment for the rapid staccato of his pulse to slow, then he walked to his own room.
He was tempted, oh so tempted to use his ring now. He wanted to know what she was feeling, if she was feeling anything like he was right now. He was also tempted to rush across the living area, fling the doors to her room open and just snog the hell out of her right then and there. However, Ron and Luna were right there, literally in his way, and even though he was a Gryffindor, he lacked the necessary courage to make such a bold move so soon.
'It has been seven bloody years mate!' A voice much like Ron's piped up in his mind.
'But what if I'm wrong?'
'But what if you're not?'
'But... I mean, am I in love with Hermione? Is that what's going on here?'
'Dunno mate, but I do know she's quite the sight for sore eyes in that little number she had on last night!'
'Hey!'
'Well it's true! Don't tell me you were so busy playing hero that you didn't notice that?'
'That's... that's none of your business!'
'I'm you mate! Of course it's my business!'
'Alright then, but this didn't all start because I saw her in some tight little outfit!'
'But it didn't hurt either, did it?'
'Shove off!'
'Alright then, when did it start?'
'I... I don't know. I mean, she's been my best friend forever.'
'And you're sure it has nothing to do with that outfit?'
'I don't like her just because of the way she looks. If it were all about looks I'd go for someone like Ratia. But with Hermione, she's... she's everything.'
'Everything?'
'Everything! She's beautiful and she's smart, witty, funny - just about the bravest person I know. And I don't even know where to begin when it comes to everything she's done for me.'
'Well that sounds pretty bad mate... could be fatal!'
'Fatal I can handle. I've been living with 'fatal' for most of my life. Don't know if I can handle love though.'
'Not much experience, eh mate?'
'Plus, what if I ruin everything? What if I scare her off? It's not like we're in school anymore. I have no guarantees that I'll be able to see her from one day to the next.'
'Well yes, there is that.'
And feeling somewhat defeated, Harry dressed for bed. He got comfortable under a mass of blankets and pillows, then let his mind wander some more.
'Wonder what she's keeping from me though?'
As he drifted off to sleep he remembered that glimpse he'd gotten in the museum. Hermione crying and yelling... screaming at him. He could hear her, and he wanted so desperately to comfort her. To let her know that he was alright. But he couldn't, and so she stayed there, holding him and crying.
And then, somewhere between waking and dreaming, Harry remembered. Harry remembered everything.
*************
A/N - So sorry, really! I did mean to wrap this all up in this chapter, but, again, the amount of baggage these two have is phenomenal! I really needed them to get back to themselves before sealing the deal, as it were. Please don't hate me, but we've one more go 'round kids!