Giving it the Old College Try
Harry managed to appear in the cavernous front hall of his house just as his children stepped out of the large marble fireplace.
"Wow," James said, his eyes wide in shock. "This house is amazing."
"And you've only seen the front hall," Harry said giving James and Lily their brooms. "Now let's get going. It's a clear day - beautiful flying conditions."
"Why don't we live here?" James said following Harry out of the front hall and through what appeared to be the dinning room.
"Well, I did live here for a while. I mean, why buy a house if you have no intention of living in? But it's so big and empty and well, I felt drawn to number twelve - I have a lot of good memories in that house."
"You mean of your godfather?"
"Yeah, of Sirius and of the Weasleys and of your mother - we spent a lot of time there before she left for America."
"So why don't we move here - now that we're all together?"
"I guess I'm just not ready to move on yet - maybe that's something we can consider doing sometime soon. You back there, Lily?" Harry said looking back over his shoulder to his daughter, who was yet to say a word. She was looking around the house, taking it all in, looking rather intimidated.
"Yeah," she said once she realized Harry had been talking to her. "Everything is so big here."
"You don't like it?"
"I like it, but it's big."
"I agree."
"Why did you buy such a big house?"
"I liked it. But the real reason I bought it is just out here." Harry said pushing open the large French doors that led to the back yard. There was a long sloping yard that led to a vast forest - one that went on as far as the eye could see.
"Do you own all that?" James asked pointing his broom in the direction of the wood.
"A good portion of it. The field I told you about is ten yards into the forest."
"You bought this house so you would have a place to fly?"
"Well, there's no place to fly in the city so it was either only fly when I was with the team, or find a place where I could fly whenever I wanted to. I spent seven years at Hogwarts only flying when other people told me I could and I decided I didn't want to do that anymore. So I bought this place during my first off season and have been flying here ever since."
"Are you rich?" James asked as they reached the tree line and Harry started to lead them along a well-worn path.
"I'm certainly not poor, but I'm not rich. My parents left me a rather handsome sum of money when they were killed and I was careful with it while I was a school."
"I bet you made a lot of money playing Quidditch."
"I was well paid, that's true. But James, money isn't important - it'll never make you happy, no matter how much of it you have."
"That sounds like something Mum would say."
"Your Mum is an amazingly smart woman - you'd do well to listen to her."
"But it must be nice to have a lot of money."
Harry stopped along the path and turned to James. "Money is a nice thing to have, I won't lie to you, and it's nice to know you're financially secure. But the best people I have ever known were never rich, they barely had enough money to scrap by and for the most part, they were always happy. Money can't make you happy James - I want you to understand that."
"I understand."
"Good. And trust me when I say that having you two in my life has made me happier then money ever could." James face split into a grin that mirrored Harry's perfectly. "Now enough with this serious stuff - lets fly." Harry's eyes sparkled with excitement as he turned and walked the few feet left on the path through the forest.
"I think he and Mum are made for each other." Lily said, stepping up next to her brother.
"They certainly give the same kind of lectures."
"But he doesn't take things nearly as seriously as she does."
"Yeah and she's been more relaxed since we moved here."
"I know - I think it's because of him. I think they really love each other."
"I thought you two wanted to learn to fly," Harry called back to them, seeing that they were still in the woods.
"We do, we do!" James and Lily said running down the path excitedly.
"What were you two whispering about?"
"Nothing," Lily said a bit too quickly.
"So - are you and Mum dating now?" James asked, giving Harry a very good idea what they had been talking about.
"Did you ask her that?"
"No." Which was true - Lily had asked.
"Uh-huh - so what did she say?"
"She avoided the question," Lily said, anxious to know the truth.
"So you were hoping I would just slip up and tell you something she didn't?" Neither of them answered him, but they had looks in their eyes that told him he was right. "All I'll say is that your Mum and I feel very strongly for each other and we trying to sort that all out."
"So you are dating?"
"I didn't say that, now do you two want to fly or do you want to stand around talking?"
"Fly!"
"All right then. Now I've never taught anyone how to fly before, so you'll have to bear with me. I'll try and teach you the way I was taught."
"Okay.'
"Then if this works, I can teach my godsons this way."
"You have godchildren?"
"Yeah, the triplets are all my godsons. I have quite a long time before I have to teach them to fly, but it'll be good to get the technique down."
"Will you and Mum ever have more children?" Lily asked, sounding as innocent as little girls do when they ask serious questions that they don't understand the answers to.
Harry tried to look as if he didn't hear her, but he could feel his cheeks flush slightly. Not saying a word to answer her question, Harry placed his broom down on the ground and had it hovering next to him with a quick hand motion and a nearly silent word.
"So put your brooms down on the ground, like I did, and we'll get started."
"You didn't answer my question."
"You're right, I didn't."
"I don't think he's going to either." James whispered putting his broom down onto the ground. Lily shrugged, admitting defeat, and put her broom down on the ground next to her brother's.
"Let's just not talk about your Mum and I anymore, all right."
"All right - you guys are boring anyway. So how do we make our brooms hover?" asked James.
Harry smiled at his impatient son and instructed them. In no time, James and Lily had their brooms in the air and were balancing themselves like professionals. It made Harry proud to see how quickly James and Lily took to flying. They both gripped their brooms perfectly, as if by instinct, and when the three of them took to the sky, Harry could tell that flying was just as natural to them as it was to him.
"This is so great Dad - why doesn't Mum like to fly?" James asked leveling out his broom.
"She's not a fan of heights, but maybe if the three of us worked together, we could get her out here with us."
"I doubt it - Mum is very strong willed."
"I've known your mother for nearly eighteen years - I know how strong willed she is. But maybe she'll come out with us - if not to fly then to at least to keep us company."
"What's next Daddy?" Lily asked leveling out with her brother and father.
"Well, you two seemed to have mastered the basic technique - so what do you say to a bit of a race? Say, three times around the pitch. The first one to make it back here and land, wins."
"Okay," they both said excitedly. Harry watched them as they straightened out their brooms next to his.
"All right, on three. Ready. Set. Three!" Harry called and the three of them sped off. Lily and James were soon yelling in excitement. Partially because they loved the thrill of flying, and partially because they were winning. Harry was letting them win of course - that's what dads do with their nine-year-olds, but they were extremely fast. In the last lap Harry gave them a bit of a challenge, flying up right behind them and forcing them to pick up speed. He wanted them to win, but he didn't want them to win too easily. James and Lily touched down at the exact same time; Harry touched down not five seconds later.
"You cheated!" Lily exclaimed when Harry touched down. Harry was about to come to James' defense when he realized she wasn't accusing her brother she was accusing him.
"How could I cheat? I lost!" Harry asked trying to sound hurt, but he could tell he's feeble defense wasn't going to stand up.
"You lost on purpose."
"I did not."
"Yes you did." Lily said jumping at Harry and hitting him on the arm, much like her mother did when she was annoyed.
"Hey now, no hitting," Harry said, backing away, successfully tripping on a rock and landing hard on his backside. Lily jumped onto his chest and started hitting his arms. Taking defensive action, Harry started tickling Lily's ribs. He had finally taken control of the situation when James jumped in. James pinned one of Harry's arms down, Lily pinned down the other, and they all started laughing madly.
"All right you two, all right," Harry said sitting up between laughs and pulling the twins onto his lap. "Oh wow, it already one in the afternoon. You two hungry?"
"Yeah Dad."
"Uh huh."
"Okay, so we'll go up to the house and I'll make you some lunch. How does that sound?"
"Good." James said getting to his feet and helping his sister up. Harry smiled to himself as he got off the ground. He loved seeing the way his twins were together; he loved the very idea that he was at his house, teaching his children to fly.
"You got your brooms?" Harry asked as they started towards the path through the woods.
"Yeah."
"Good, we wouldn't want to -" Harry started to say, but he got distracted by a strange clicking noise. He looked back to the practice field, where it seemed the noise was coming from, but there was nothing there. Harry turned back towards the direction of the house and saw the twins a few feet ahead of him. They were looking back at him, waiting for him to finish what he was say.
"We wouldn't want to what Dad?" James asked.
"Oh, um, we don't want to leave them out there in the grass," Harry stammered out and then he stopped. He had just heard that clicking noise again.
"Daddy, are you all right?" Lily asked, walking back towards him and taking his hand.
"Yeah sweetheart, I'm fine. Listen I think we need to get back in the house now."
"Why, what's wrong?" James asked.
"Nothing's wrong, I'm just - just hungry, that's all. Come on, let's get going," Harry said, picking up his pace, nearly pulling Lily along behind him. When they reached the house Harry ushered them through the doors quickly. He was starting to get the sneaking suspicion that he knew what the clicking noise was, he had heard it countless times before. But no, that couldn't be it - it was impossible. But just to be on the safe side, Harry pulled the curtains closed and ushered the twins away from the windows.
"Daddy, what's going on?"
"Nothing love, nothing, everything is fine. So what do you two want for lunch?" Harry asked them, leading them to the kitchen. There wasn't any food anywhere - he hadn't lived in this house for years, but there was a store about two miles down the road that he could easily drive to. In the end they decided they wanted sandwiches and after a quick trip to the store, they ate.
After lunch the twins were anxious to get back into the air, but Harry, who was still unsure about the strange noise he had heard wasn't comfortable taking them back outside. Instead he suggested they spend sometime inside. In the end they decided to pass the rest of their afternoon playing hide and seek in the huge house. Harry had never played the game before; he didn't have siblings or friends to play with as a child, and he greatly enjoyed himself.
At half past six, they gave up their game, gathered up their brooms and the pads that they had stripped off before lunch, and headed back to number twelve. Like before, the twins went through the Floo Network and Harry Apparated. The second he appeared in the kitchen, he was bombarded by wondrous smells. Whatever Hermione was making for dinner, it smelled delicious.
"Right on time," Hermione said from where she was standing by the stove.
"Well when a beautiful woman tells me to be home at half past six, I make sure to be home at half past six," Harry said dropping the broom and pads onto the table and walking across the room to Hermione. She smiled at him as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck softly.
"I told you," Lily said from the fireplace. Harry and Hermione nearly jumped apart. "I told you they loved each other."
"Just because he was biting her neck it doesn't mean they love each other."
"He wasn't biting her neck stupid, he was kissing it."
"Just get upstairs you two," Hermione said, motioning towards the door. "Put your things away and get cleaned up - I'm dropping you off at the Burrow in half and hour."
"All right," the twins said together grabbing their things off the table. James and Lily eyed their parents suspiciously as they walked towards the door - backwards. They were obviously trying to find some piece of evidence of what their parents were so desperately trying to hide.
"Just go," Hermione said, becoming impatient with their slow progress. "We don't have the time for you two to straggle along so slowly."
"I bet they want to be alone so they can kiss some more." Lily said as they disappeared up the stairs.
"Not a bad idea," Harry said, stepping back to Hermione's side.
"Actually it's a very good idea, but one we don't have time for." Hermione said reluctantly as he kissed her softly on the side of the mouth.
"Fine. I'll kiss you more later. So what can I do to help?"
"You can go upstairs and get them ready." Harry nodded and turned towards the door. "Oh wait, how did it go?"
"It went really well, they're complete naturals, but while we were out there -"
"Dad!" James called from upstairs. "Hedwig is at my window with a letter for you!"
"All right, I'll be right there!" Harry called back while starting up the stairs.
"Wait Harry, what were you saying just now before James interrupted?"
"Oh I'll tell you later - at dinner."
"Okay." Harry heard Hermione call after him.
He reached the second floor landing and found Hedwig waiting for him - James had evidently let her in. She looked weary, so Harry took the letter from her quickly. She hooted thankfully and flew off. Harry watched her soar up the stairs for a minute and then returned his attention to the letter in his hand. It was from Ron.
Harry,
I heard from Mum that you and Hermione went out last night. She also told me you guys fought - hope things have smoothed over there. You could have told me you two were dating - thanks for keeping me in the loop mate. Anyway, I wanted to tell you and Hermione that Luna is already planning a party for the boys. She wants to have a little "lets meet the newest Weasleys" party - you know, like the one they had for Liv - well anyway it'll be in two weeks, the day the boys turn one month old. Let me know if you four are coming - oh and let me know how things are between you and Hermione.
Ron
Harry laughed a bit at Ron's letter. He could almost read Ron's excitement in his words - he loved being a father as much as Harry did. Making a mental note to tell Hermione about the party and write Ron, Harry tucked the letter into his back pocket and continued down the hall to James' room.
"You almost ready James?" Harry asked through James' door.
"Yeah," James answered.
"Good, because you only have about fifteen more minutes."
"Are we staying there over night?"
"Yes, so you need to pack up your pajamas and a change of clothes."
"Okay."
"I'm going to go check on your sister. When you're ready head back down to the kitchen since your mother will be the one taking you to the Burrow."
"All right Dad."
"All right Son - remember, only fifteen minutes," Harry called, walking back to the stairs and heading up to Lily's room.
"Lily sweetheart, how are you doing?" Harry asked Lily through her door.
"I'm ready." Lily said pulling open the door. She was cleaned up and had a bag over her shoulder. Harry glanced into her room and saw that everything was put away neatly.
"Well, all right then. Let's go back down to the kitchen - you can tell your Mum all about your day."
"Okay," Lily said excitedly and sprinted down the hall to the stairs. Harry laughed inwardly at her - she was so full of energy and life; she was just amazing to watch. On his way down the stairs Harry was met by James. He looked as if he had only just changed his clothes, not washed up, and Harry doubted if his room was picked up like Lily's. It was amazing how different the twins were. Lily was like Hermione and James was like Harry; he wondered if that was because of their gender or because of lucky chance. By the time they reached the kitchen Lily had launched into the story of the day.
"- and then we raced." Lily said enthusiastically.
"That's sounds exciting."
"It was. James and I tied and we beat Daddy even, but I think he let us win."
"Oh, your father would never do that," Hermione said, catching Harry's eye and giving the smallest hint of a wink.
"I think he did - he didn't fly that slowly at The Cup."
"Maybe he just had a slow day. So what did you do after the race?"
"We had lunch and then we played hide and seek. Did you know that Daddy never got to play that as a kid? I think that's sad."
"I think it's sad too, but now he has you and James to play with. So anyway - if you two are ready, we should get going."
"Okay," Lily said, moving over to Harry and hugging him tight. "Bye Daddy," she said softly, burying her face in his leg. Harry lowered himself to her level and hugged her tight.
"Goodbye my sweet love - be good for Molly and Arthur, they're good people. And keep an eye on your brother for me."
"I will Daddy," she said letting go of him and moving towards the fireplace. "Are we going through first like we did earlier?"
"Yeah, and give me you're bags. I'll bring those with me." Hermione said holding out her hand. Lily passed her mother her bag, threw a handful of glittering powder into the fireplace, called out "The Burrow", and quickly disappeared into the glowing green flames. James quickly followed suit.
"So you should go get ready - I'll be back soon." Hermione said to Harry once the twins were gone.
"What? Now I have to look all fancy for you?"
"Well, I worked on this dinner all afternoon. The least you can do is dress up."
"I guess you deserve that much," Harry said, kissing her softly before she dissapparated. "I love you," he whispered softly to where Hermione had just been standing.
Hermione appeared in the kitchen of the Burrow to see Molly Weasley with James and Lily in a huge hug. She smiled; it was great to see Molly accepting the twins. When she released the twins, she turned to Hermione with open arms.
"Thank you again for taking them for the night." Hermione said in Molly's ear as they hugged.
"Oh it's no problem dear. You know Arthur and I love kids, and yours are wonderful."
"Harry and I really appreciate it."
"Well of course you do. You two need some time alone together if you are ever going to have a relationship."
"Yeah," Hermione said pulling herself out of Molly's arms. She put the twin's bags down onto the kitchen table and turned to say goodbye to her children. They were standing just behind her, being greeted by Arthur. They were hugging him and saying very enthusiastic hellos.
"But what do we call you?" Hermione heard Lily ask when Arthur let go of her.
"You could call me Arthur, or you could call me Grandpa if you want - I know you don't have one."
"Okay Grandpa." James said happily.
"Hey babes, I'm going to get going." Hermione said hugging James and then Lily. "Be good for your - grandparents," Hermione added, looking to Molly and Arthur, who were beaming. They had been Hermione's surrogate parents when she was at Hogwarts and then when her parents died they had been the family she had needed.
"We'll be good Mum."
"Yeah, we promise we will."
"Good - your father and I will be by in the morning to pick you up." Hermione hugged them again quickly and was about to apparate when she felt a hand close on her wrist. She looked down and realized it was Molly's hand.
"I just like a quick word with you before you go."
"All right," Hermione said as she followed Molly down the hallway that led off to the kitchen.
"I realize I've been a bit short with you recently and I would like to apologize," Molly said when they were out of earshot of the twins.
"Oh it's all right, really it is, and I know how hard this is to deal with."
"No Hermione, you didn't need us to judge you - you needed our support. I just love you and Harry so much - as if you were my own. All I want is for you two to be happy and if that's together then that's wonderful. I do adore your twins, they are so much better behaved then mine were, and I'm glad they think of Arthur and I as their grandparents."
"Well Harry and I think of you as our parents so it makes sense."
"Enjoy your dinner with Harry; I hope everything goes better this time."
"I hope so too, but speaking of dinner I need to get back - I haven't even gotten dressed yet."
"Well you get along then - the twins are in good hands."
"I know they are." Hermione said hugging Molly again before Disapparating.
Appearing in the kitchen of number twelve, Hermione checked that the dinner was all set. In too much of a hurry to do it the muggle way, she waved her wand and the food laid itself out neatly on the plates. Carefully hovering the dinner in front of her, Hermione walked up the basement steps and into the dinning room. She arranged the dishes on the table and then apparated up to her bedroom to change quickly into the simple, deep blue strapless dress she had decided to wear. She slipped into her shoes, but then decided to go barefoot. After having been on her feet all day it felt better not to be wearing shoes, besides Harry never noticed her feet anyway. She put her hair up quickly into an eloquent knot, checked that the little makeup she was wearing looked good, and stepped out of her room.
Harry was standing at the top of the stairs, like he had been the night before. He was wearing a red shirt and black pants.
"You look amazing," Harry said as he scanned her head to toe.
"Oh, I don't look that good. I've been on my feet all day and I -" Hermione's complaints about herself were cut short by Harry's lips softly touching hers.
Harry deepened the kiss by moving one of his hands to her hips and gently pulling her body closer to his. His other hand rested lightly on her cheek. "Hermione, never doubt how beautiful you are. It would be like me doubting my ability to fly - it's just not natural."
"You're so sweet to me," Hermione said, putting her hand on top of his, which was still resting softly on her cheek.
"It's because I love you."
"I love you too." Harry smiled at her; he loved it when she said that.
"I could stand here forever, just looking at you."
"But then we'd miss dinner," Hermione said softly, not really sure what to say in response to something so sweet.
"Oh yes, and we can't miss dinner," Harry said, smiling.
"After all the work I put into it, you're damn right we can't miss dinner," Hermione said linking her fingers through the hand on her check and taking it down to her side.
"You know it's your own fault that you put so much work into it," Harry joked, leading her down, towards the dinning room.
"I know. I chose to prepare the food the muggle way and cook it as close to the muggle way as possible, but I thought you deserved it."
"Well, if you thought I deserved all that effort, who am I to object?" Harry questioned.
"Wait here for just a second, all right?" Hermione asked, letting go off his hand when they got to the door of the dinning room.
"Got a surprise for me or something?" Harry asked her back as she walked into the dinning room.
"Something," Hermione called back. She stepped into the room and checked again that everything was in order. It was; the food was still where she had laid it; all she needed now was the candles. With an eloquent wave of her hand, about a hundred candles suddenly burst into life and the room was full of a soft light. "You can come in now."
"This looks great Hermione. Perfect for a nice, romantic dinner," Harry said as he steeped into the room.
Hermione had covered the ancient table in a crimson cloth and put candles everywhere. They were on the sideboard, on the far end of the table they wouldn't need, and some were even floating in midair around the two place settings Hermione had laid out.
"I thought so," Hermione said as Harry kissed her softly before pulling out her chair for her. "So I have a bit of a confession to make."
"And what would that be?" Harry asked as he sat down and poured them both a drink.
"When you were flying with the kids, I went to talk to Jenna."
"And what did she tell you that you couldn't have asked me?" Harry asked, sounding slightly miffed.
"Nothing new really, I just wanted to hear her side of it."
"So now you're satisfied that I was telling you the truth."
"I never doubted that you were telling me the truth. I just wanted to completely understand."
"Okay Hermione, and now you understand so let's just forget it."
"Harry," Hermione said taking his hand gently. "I love you."
"I know that Hermione, don't worry about it."
"No, you're annoyed with me."
"I guess I don't understand why you felt like you had to talk to her - I had already explained what happened."
"You explained what happened as you saw it, and honestly I was a bit worried that she might still have feelings for you. I didn't want that."
"Oh," Harry said softly feeling rather foolish. "She's getting married. She doesn't have those feelings for me anymore."
"Well I didn't know that. But I do now."
"So - she um… she told you about that Tom guy?" Harry asked taking a nervous sip of wine.
"Yeah and showed me a picture of the two of them."
"Doesn't he look just like Malfoy?"
"Yeah he does."
"He makes her happy."
"I'm sure he does."
"Not nearly as happy as you make me," Harry said, cupping her face in his hands.
"I'm sorry I went to talk to her -"
"Don't be sorry, `Mione. I don't even know why I got upset."
"What did you call me?"
"I called you `Mione - should I not?"
"No, I like it - it's just no one has ever called me that before." Harry smiled. He'd wanted to call her that for years, but he thought it might be a bit too intimate. He was glad she liked it.
"So, `Mione," Harry started, making a point of emphasizing the nickname she liked. "Last night you started to tell me about your writing; how is that going?"
Hermione smiled at him; he was the only person she talked to about her writing, if she talked about it at all, and she liked that he was actually interested in what she was so secretly passionate about.
She told him all about an owl she had received that afternoon from the agent she was working with. A book series she had been writing for nearly seven years was possibly going to be published in the muggle world. The books were about a brother and sister who could do powerful magic; it was inspired in her children, but set in an ancient time in a far off place. Hermione hadn't held out much hope of it getting published in the Wizarding World since they involved magic, and frankly Wizards and Witches lived it, they didn't need to read about it. But she had sent it out there anyway. Apparently a muggle publisher got sent the manuscript by accident and they were interested. There were some concerns, but they were sure all the kinks could be worked out, and move forward with publishing.
"That's great `Mione," Harry said moving the now empty main course plates aside as Hermione got up to get their dessert from the sideboard. She had made a soft chocolate layer cake with a milk chocolate moose.
"I just hope it all works out. I put my heart into those books; it would be amazing if people actually liked them."
"I'm sure people will love it - anyone who gets to see into your heart can't help but love you, and everything you stand for." Hermione felt her face flush and she smiled as she leaned over to kiss Harry. Her lips tasted like chocolate, which made Harry laugh - he would have expected it if he had thought about it, but it took him completely by surprise, and for some reason his first instinct was to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked sounding slightly miffed; no one had ever laughed when she kissed them before.
"Your lips taste like chocolate," Harry said trying to stifle his laughter.
"Why is that funny?" Hermione asked as a smile spread across her face and she started to laugh too; she couldn't help it, Harry's laughter was infectious.
"It's not really; it just took me by surprise. Actually, I rather liked it."
"Oh, really?" Harry nodded enthusiastically. Hermione smiled as she pulled herself out of her chair and slid into his lap. She picked up her cake and feed a bit to Harry before kissing him.
He smiled into her kiss as her lips parted softly and her tongue met his. Harry wrapped one of his arms around her waist and pulled her as close to him as was possible.
"You're right - that does taste good."
"Yes it does." Harry said kissing her once again; the cake now lying forgotten on the table. Hermione ran one of her hands through Harry's shaggy, and pulled his face closer to hers.
"I love you," Harry whispered in her ear before kissing the tender flesh of her neck. Hermione moaned softly and moved her neck towards him.
"I love you too," Hermione breathed quietly as Harry started kissing her shoulder.
"We have to stop this," Harry said, his hot breath clouding her soft, alabaster skin.
Hermione looked at him strangely - that was the last thing she had expected to hear from a guy. Harry reluctantly forced himself to let go off her waist.
She pouted a bit, she had been enjoying that, but she knew they had to stop before it went any further. Hermione released her hold on his hair and went back to her seat - though she did pull it closer to his.
"I just love you too much," Harry said softly, putting his hand on her leg. "I love you too much to go with some lust thing - I want our first time as us to be special."
"I understand Harry, and you're right," Hermione said, getting a piece of cake onto her fork and offering it to Harry. He smiled at her, understanding, and ate the cake she was offering.
Harry watched her as she took a bit herself. She studied the soft curve of her face, the way the candlelight brought the warm brown color of her hair to life, and the soft glow on her perfect skin; which he greatly wanted to kiss again.
"You're so beautiful," Harry announced, causing Hermione to smile and blush.
"You keep saying that," Hermione said softly, Harry was the only person who had ever told her that and it still surprised her when he said it.
"It keeps being true," Harry said, putting a soft hand on her cheek. "This dinner has been wonderful."
"Thank you."
"But I have to tell you - I'm completely exhausted. Would you ever forgive me if I asked us to end this here?"
"Of course I would Harry, you spent the entire day playing with the kids - I understand how you feel."
"So you're not upset?"
"I'm not upset," Hermione said kissing him softly.
"This was nice - we'll have to do it again soon."
"Yeah we will - luckily we have tons of people willing to baby-sit for us," said Hermione as she stood and started clearing up the dishes.
"Hey, you cooked. Let me do that," said Harry, taking the dishes out of her hands.
"But I thought you were exhausted," Hermione said seriously, gathering up more dishes from the table.
"I have enough strength to clean up for you," Harry assured her, taking the new dishes from her.
"Okay then, I'll let you do that."
"Ah, but first, since I see that you are tired too, I'd like to ask you if I may escort you to your door" Harry asked with a dramatic flourish, holding out his arm to her. She smiled and couldn't help but laugh lightly at him as she took his arm.
"So when are we getting the twins tomorrow?"
"Sometime in the morning. Probably around ten I would say. Do you miss them?"
"I do - I love spending time alone with you, but I do miss them."
"I'm glad you guys had so much fun today."
"We really did - they're such naturals, they make me so proud."
"They'll do that when you least expect it," Hermione said as they reached her bedroom door. "Well, kind Sir, this is my door."
"Yes it is," said Harry kissing her softly.
"I love you," Hermione whispered as she opened her door and reluctantly stepped into her room; she didn't want this night to end.
"I love you too `Mione - goodnight."
"Goodnight Harry," Hermione said letting him kiss her softly on the cheek before he stepped away and closed the door. As the door shut tight between them they both smiled widely; that had gone much better then their date the night before.
Harry sighed happily as he started towards his bedroom, but then remembered he told Hermione he would clean up and headed back down to the dinning room. He quickly regretted volunteering to clean, as his sore shoulders suddenly flared up. Luckily he had magic to help him out. He hovered the dishes down to the kitchen, put them to work cleaning themselves, and went back up to the dinning room, putting out the candles. He then climbed back up the stairs and settled into a long hot bath to relax his quickly tightening muscles. He greatly wished that Hermione were there with him - perhaps giving him a massage or just sitting in the tub with him. But he had meant what he said downstairs, he planned on Hermione being a part of his life forever and there was no rush, he wanted their first time together as a couple to be a special thing; not a rushed, lustful one. Though at the moment, he wouldn't mind a rushed, lustful thing.
After about an hour in the tub, Harry climbed out, dried himself off, pulled on clean pajama pants, and fell into bed. He was almost asleep when he sat bolt upright, remembering that he had forgotten to tell Hermione about the noise he had heard in the woods.
"Oh well, I'll tell her in the morning," Harry said lazily as he lay back down and drifted off to sleep. When he got up the next morning he would greatly regret that decision.
AN: the shit hath hit-ith the fan ith - oh and a gold star goes to anyone who knows where that quote is from ; )
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