This Feels So Strange
It was a two-week interval between their kiss and anything actually happening. Harry was timid about making another move. Not because he thought she would say no, but because it felt so strange. It was Hermione. The goof, slightly bucktoothed bookworm he had met on the first train to Hogwarts. Yes he had strong feelings for her, very strong feelings for her, but he had known her for so long that he didn't know how to approach her. It was only because she had brought it up that he had felt confident enough to even talk about it. But he had pulled the ball into his court by asking her if he could ask her out sometime, and now that he had "the ball", he wanted to give it back. He was just unsure, as ridiculous as that was.
Then there was the issue of timing; they day after they had kissed James and Lily returned to number twelve. Harry didn't want the children to know anything was happening between him and Hermione until he understood what was happening between them. He didn't want to get their hopes up and then disappoint them.
They were also busy helping with the triplets, who turned out to be a job for the whole family. Especially since Luna fell ill after giving birth; she got an infection that took four days to clear up and then she was too weak to do much. So everyone pitched in to help Ron, which took up a lot of time and energy.
Finally Harry worked up his courage while he and Hermione were "working the night shift", which is what they called taking care of the triplets at night so that Ron and Luna could sleep.
Hermione was sitting cross-legged on a couch in the living room; she had baby Oliver in her arms and a book propped up against her knees. She was reading to him, and his brothers who were in a crib in front of her, in a soft voice. Harry was sitting across the room listening to her read.
"Explain to me why you are reading Cinderella to three boys?" Harry asked softly crossing the room and taking baby Harry, who was starting to fuss, out of the crib.
"The fairy tales have nice rhythms to them. It has nothing to do with what the story is about."
"Oh," Harry said sitting softly onto the couch next to Hermione and rocking baby Harry to sleep. "So did you read like this to Lily and James?"
"All the time. They loved the sound of my voice when they were babies. And I'll have you know that your son loved Cinderella."
"Oh don't say that." Harry said and Hermione laughed.
"You know what stories he liked the best don't you?"
"No, which stories did he like the best?"
"Stories about you - about our adventures at Hogwarts."
"Really?"
"Of course, take out the fact that it was our lives and we had to suffer through some hard times and you have really great stories. Naturally I couldn't tell them the story of the Chamber of Secrets very well since I was petrified for most of it or the story of finding Sirius since he's your godfather, but you've already taken care of telling them that story."
"Yeah I did."
"You should offer to tell them about the Chamber of Secrets. I'm sure they would love to hear it."
"I'll do that. Did I tell you they want to make muggle books about it all?"
"Really? Whatever for?"
"Well like you said great stories; the ministry said it had something to do with plausible deniability."
"Oh, if someone blabs about the Wizarding world the government can point to the books and say that's where the idea came from."
"Something like that. They asked for my permission, but I don't know whether I want to give it to them or not."
"Why wouldn't you?"
"I think I'm famous enough for one lifetime."
"You have a point there."
"That would just be so weird if people knew all about my life."
"People already know all about your life."
"Well not all about my life, they don't know about the twins."
"That's true."
"Speaking of the twins, well really it was nothing to do with them, but I guess in general it's about them, but no not really -"
"Harry, you're rambling."
"Sorry, sorry, alright. This really has nothing to do with the twins `cause I wanted to do this before I knew about them."
"Just say it Harry."
"I guess I'm just a little nervous is all. So um, will you go out with me?"
"Of course I will Harry, I told you that two weeks ago and I stand by it now. I want to go out with you Harry, I really do." Harry couldn't help but smile. "Why were you nervous?"
"Well because it's you. I mean Hermione you're my best friend, the mother of my children, if things didn't work out between us -"
"Things will be great between us Harry and if in the end they don't work out we'll stay friends for James and Lily's sake."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know how you make me feel Harry and I can't imagine that not working out." Harry's smile broadened; carefully Harry stood up and returned little Harry to his crib before turning back to Hermione. "Would it be alright if I kissed you?"
"Yes." Carefully Harry took Oliver from Hermione and lowered him into the crib with his brothers. Then he turned back to her; she had taken the book out of her lap and was standing up. Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist and pulled her into him while capturing her lips in a sensuous kiss.
"Just so you know, you'll always have my permission to do that." Hermione whispered softly when Harry pulled his lips off hers.
AN: okay so as far as I've written in the story this is the last short chapter. Okay so on with the date...
Chapter 15 reviews: Rosali - : ) spaz141 - Lily wasn't bothered by the way Ginny was talking to her so I'm not sure why you are and I've written other stories where Charlie is married to a Witch I guess you just haven't read those - thought that might be because I havn't posted them Jillian84 -: ) hrhermione - : ) diggingupophelia - : )
Chapter 16 reviews: Misadies1 - : ) Rosali - I do have a beta actually - I suppose I could use you as a second one if you wanted the job Tomlove01 - Ginny met her husband at a party about a year after she left Hogwarts and they were friends for a few years before they started dating - if you want Dan's history too I'd be more then happy to give it to you tabitoo - : ) Mochie - have you been reading ahead raises eyebrow `cause it sure as hell souds like you have Alorkin - one can only hope Mani12191 - : ) Coolone007 - : ) spaz141 - I have to tell you that the only person I have ever known who had triplets had them vagianlly in 12 hours so 18 didn't seem the strange to me anyway I know coffee at 2am is a little weird but they went to sleep at such a strange hour that they're bodyclocks are screwed up and 2am feels like 7 or 8am traydr vic - : ) fairyp80 - : ) Austenlover - I know it could have but I saw it as two chapters so that's how I worte it sertad - : ) Chancellor - : ) ginnymalfoy21 - it was just a dream - more or less ; ) JayaMioneDurron - yeah I never did like Percy - his character in book 5 didn't surprise me in the least - he always was a bit of a snakey character izziq - nope no unresolved issues here just complications and unexpected (or expected depending on how could you are at seeing what's coming) turns lannereddy - : ) div - as far as Draco goes you'll just have to wait and see `cause yeah - well it'll make sense when we get there - Draco himself will explain it all to us (so I guess that answeres the crazy question) Francat - no it wasn't but I agree that was pretty great Jillian84 - hope springs eternal : ) moonshine - : ) DreamAngel - not quite everyday, but pretty close Tay - my favortie line was "everyday" I think that was the best answer to Hermione's question princess_hana2003 - : ) hpgirl476 - : ) Lettherainfalldown - I've said it before and I'll say it again the chapters are what they are, these are the natural brakes I see in the story I can't change that, but we are getting to the point in the story where they are a good 10 to 18 pages long oh and the outline has jumped again the story will now be 35 chapters long
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