(PHEW! Wow it took me quite a while to finish this chapter… I've been so busy with school that I was just too exhausted… I had enough energy to eat my dinner and collapse in bed once I came home from my labs. But I finished it up today… Not too much happens in this chapter, but I think it really is a nice insight into the Granger family, Hermione's connection with her father, and of course, Harry and Hermione growing closer hee hee.. I hope you enjoy it, let me know what you think and I thank you all so much for your reviews… they honestly do keep me focused on quality and completion.)
CHAPTER 14
Mr. Granger sat comfortably in his lazy boy chair awaiting his daughter's arrival home. He studied the pages of one of the many photo albums within their home.
There was a picture of Hermione at the age of two sitting securely in his lap and resting her back against his chest, with a book held in her delicate petite hands.
She had always been a very bright girl, and never had Mr. Granger hoped for a
better child then his dear daughter. He didn't care much when his friends told him tales of their son's making the school football team, or hitting their first home run, he would just smile and recall how many spelling contests Hermione had won, the school plays she acted in, and when her article on preserving the rainforest made its way into a local newspaper. Mr. Granger swelled with pride at every achievement Hermione made through her young life.
Mr. Granger rested on a picture of himself, his beautiful wife and his darling daughter at their favorite local ice-cream parlor. It was a picture sometime just before Hermione went off to Hogwarts.
The Granger's had made it a routine to take a stroll down Bond Street, both the new and old division. They'd enter the many boutiques and designer shops, admiring the various products the shops would carry. Mr. Granger showered both his girls with gifts they often refused to accept, he was never afraid of spending outrageous amounts of money on the two people he treasured most. He loved seeing their eyes dance with excitement and their identical beautiful smiles that reflected the love they felt in their heart.
Next they would make their way to a theater, either to see a live show or a new movie that had just been released. They each took a turn choosing something they would enjoy watching and there were never any complaints or arguments about someone's choice, they all got along wonderfully as a family.
After the movie they would all take a trip to their favorite local ice-cream parlor which always gave large scoops of the cold treat and had rich, mouth watering flavors. That day, Mr. and Mrs. Granger would forget they were dentists and that sugar was bad for the teeth, they would choose their desired flavors and then share their choices amongst one another.
A few tears glided down his cheeks and hit the photo album page with a soft sounding pitter-patter.
He turned the page and stared at one of the many letters his daughter had written home in her neat handwriting.
Dear Mum and Dad,
How are you? I hope things are well. It's nearly summer vacation so I'll be seeing you in just a few short days, and although I love coming here to school, I do miss you both very, very much. I have so much to tell you about this amazing place, about my new friends Harry and Ron, and how we managed to save the Philosophers Stone (I'll explain it later, this is a story you'll never forget dad!) I think I managed to do quite well in my first year, I guess we'll see when I get my marks for all my classes, I'm already really nervous about it! I love you both very much, and I can't wait to go for a walk down Bond Street, see a movie or live theatre (Or both), and go down to the ice-cream parlor!
Love Hermione.
He sighed heavily wondering how Hermione had taken the news of her mother, or if she even knew what had happened. He didn't have the heart to write her a letter about the incident, he figured it might be easier if she didn't know while she was at school; a few days wouldn't have made much of a difference.
She had sent him a letter by a snowy white owl just yesterday.
I'm coming home for Christmas tomorrow, you don't have to pick me up, I can manage my way home just fine… I'll see you when I get home, I miss you.
Love Hermione
He heard the locks on the front door click, then the sound of the door creaking open.
His heart thudded in his chest.
He wasn't sure how he would tell her about her mother if she didn't already know. How would she take it?
Either way, he was still glad to have his little girl back; she would fill a part of the emptiness that flooded his heart, his soul and mind.
"Just put your shoes and coat in here… sorry it's kind of messy… I guess, well,"
Who was Hermione talking to?
"Don't worry about it Hermione."
Was that… a boy?
"Daddy?... I'm home."
"I'm in the living room sweetie." Mr. Granger called out.
He heard two sets of footsteps make their way towards his sitting place.
"You have a really nice house Hermione." The male voice stated.
"Thank you… my parents had it built." He heard his daughter answer.
She spotted her father in his recliner, with a photo album covering his lap. He looked tired, and much older then he should look for his age. She felt Harry's hands rest on her shoulders; it was his way of making sure she knew he was there for her.
"Daddy?" She whispered.
His icy blue eyes studied her for a moment as they quickly glossed over with tears. She ran towards him and fell into his comforting embrace. Her father's hands trembled as he wrapped them around her back and allowed the tears to stream down his face.
Harry stood in the entrance to the room. He felt awkward, like he was intruding on an important moment between Hermione and her father. He noticed Mr. Granger struggling not to cry in front of his daughter's friend, and at that point, he quietly sneaked back into the entrance hallway of the house. He knew Mr. Granger would be grateful for allowing them a private moment.
"Harry?"
He turned around to find her peering around the corner of the living room to the entrance hall. Her eyes were swollen, red and slightly glossy, but a weight seemed to have lifted off her shoulders.
Harry made his way to her. They stood just looking into each others eyes for a moment, before Harry brushed a loose strand of her cinnamon hair behind her left ear and then took her hand in his.
She smiled softly at him and led him into the living room.
"Dad, this is Harry… Harry this is my dad."
Mr. Granger rose from his recliner and shook Harry's hand.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you face to face Harry." Mr. Granger said.
Harry nodded.
"Likewise sir."
"Just make yourself at home, treat it as your own."
"Thank you sir." Harry answered flushing slightly pink.
"I'll go show Harry to his room, and then we'll make some dinner okay dad?"
Mr. Granger nodded as the two young teenagers fled from the living room. He couldn't explain why he suddenly felt jealous of the young boy, and without a doubt he would have to keep a close eye on him around his daughter. He had always been very protective over her and never before had Hermione brought a boy into their home.
Still holding hands, Hermione lead Harry up the spiraling staircase to the upper floor and lead Harry to the last door at the end of the hallway. She curled her fingers around the door handle and opened the door for him.
"Just put your things anywhere you want, and I'll show you my room."
The room Harry peered into was about three times larger then the one he had while he was living with the Dursley's, of course, anything beat having to live in the cupboard under the stairs.
"Wow, this is great Hermione." Harry said placing his bag down by the neat empty bed and glancing out the large window, which had a wonderful view of the magnificent neighborhood.
She smiled softly at him and waited for him to return to her side.
Harry slung Hermione's bag over one shoulder and followed her into the room right next to his.
"This is my room." She said with a slight touch of nervousness as she allowed the door to swing open.
As Harry had expected, Hermione's room had shelves upon shelves of books, some small, some massive, and each was carefully placed according to size proportion in the appropriate place. She had a large light red mahogany desk that sat right up against a window just like Harry had in his guest bedroom, she had a medium sized bed with various scattered stuffed animals, and a really fancy sound system which, for some reason, surprised Harry. He then realized how little he knew about her life as a muggle, just as she didn't know much about his life with the Dursley's.
"It's really nice." Harry finally said placing her bag against the side of her wall beside her bed.
"I hope you feel at home." Hermione answered.
"Well I feel more at home here then I do at the Dursley's that's for sure." Harry laughed.
But Hermione didn't laugh with him, a look of pity seemed to come over her face and filled her eyes.
"Hey none of that." Harry said softly. "We both know I needed to be there for my protection, and maybe… I mean… I appreciate little things so much more because of it." he smiled snaking an arm around her waist. "Shall we make some dinner then?"
"Yeah I think my dad would like that." Hermione grinned.
"What's your specialty?" He asked leading her down the stairs.
"Me? … Cook?... Ha, you're joking right?" She laughed. "I can bake, but my mum's always done the cooking."
She suddenly looked extremely sad, and Harry felt her shiver slightly. He gave her a gentle squeeze for comfort.
"Don't worry `Mion… I've had to do quite a bit of cooking with the Dursley's, I can show you."
She nodded, and they made their way to the kitchen together.
Hermione felt Harry turn fairly stiff and she could tell he felt uneasy holding her with her dad's presence in the house, but he didn't take away the arm that encircled her back and the hand that rested on her slender curve.
Soon enough wonderful smells filled the Granger's kitchen as Harry paced around the kitchen sometimes checking the oven, then back to cutting vegetables into small pieces, and rushing from one cupboard to the next and back to the fridge. Hermione's job was to stir the soup every so often and make the large apple cinnamon pie.
"It smells wonderful in here." Mr. Granger stated watching the two young teenagers who stood close to one another, scatter into opposite ends of the kitchen.
"Dinner's nearly ready." Hermione stated removing the cutlery and napkins from a nearby drawer.
"I'll set the table then." Mr. Granger offered.
"If you want to sir, if not I'd be happy to do it." Harry said before checking the oven.
"No I don't mind." Mr. Granger answered taking the cutlery and napkins from Hermione and strolling over to the kitchen table.
Harry had the strange feeling that Mr. Granger was watching him and Hermione very closely.
The three figures sat around the kitchen table and picked at their meal in complete silence, only the sound of a ticking clock in the distance echoed through the lonely home.
"The funeral is tomorrow morning." Mr. Granger spoke in nearly a whisper through the deathly silence.
Hermione nodded and continued to peck at her potatoes with her fork.
"May I be excused?" She choked.
"Yes Hermione, you may." Her father answered softly.
She pushed back her chair and quickly made her way out of the kitchen.
Harry put down his cutlery and was ready to follow her when Mr. Granger placed a hand on Harry's arm.
"Leave her be, she needs a moment." Mr. Granger said.
Harry did as he was told, but he didn't agree with Hermione's father, he felt she needed him there. Why couldn't Mr. Granger understand that? His stomach gave an uncomfortable toss when he pictured Hermione crying alone in her room, and he felt like his heart was a dartboard for hundreds of pins and needles.
There was a long awkward silence between the two remaining figures.
"She means a lot to you doesn't she?" Mr. Granger asked.
Harry felt his face grow warm, and he was sure his cheeks were flushed a deep red.
"Yes sir." He answered averting his eyes from her father's scrutinizing stare.
Harry watched Mr. Granger as his face filled with thought, it was familiar to the way Hermione looked when she was doing some serious thinking. After a moment, he sighed heavily.
"I think you can go to her now."
"Thank you sir." Harry said refraining from leaping off the chair and darting towards her room.
"Just one more thing Harry."
Harry turned around to face Mr. Granger.
"Call me Trevor." He said with a small trace of a smile.
Harry grinned back, and then he briskly proceeded towards Hermione's room until he arrived at her closed door.
With three fingers, he gently tapped on the door.
She didn't answer.
Harry closed his eyes, rested his forehead against the front of the door, and contemplated whether he should just enter without being invited. With some reluctance be put his hand on the cold knob, turned and pushed slightly, just so there was a small crack in the door.
"May I come in?" He asked softly.
"Yes." He heard her reply, before he entered and closed the door behind him.
She was sitting in her bed which rested against the side of the wall next to the guestroom where Harry was staying. She had her back leaned up against the wall, and although her eyes were lightly glossed, Harry knew she hadn't been crying this time. She patted the spot next to her on the bed as an invitation.
Harry gave her a lopsided grin before he settled himself next to her and with one hand he brought her head down upon his chest.
She closed her eyes and a soft sigh escaped her lips as the comfort of his arms brought her at ease, and the steady beating sound of his heart gave her the tranquility she longed for.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Mm Hmm." Harry felt her nod against his chest.
"I don't know if you want them Hermione," He said gently while reaching into the back pocket of his jeans. "But I took these for you."
Harry placed a bundle of carefully folded letters in her lap, he had made sure he wouldn't loose them by transferring them from his school robes to his jeans, and he also thought he would have the chance to bring them up on the train ride to platform nine and three quarters, but he just didn't feel it was the right time. Harry was glad he had waited until now, because he knew that she was now ready for it.
"Thank you Harry." She said after a quick moment of silence. "You've been so good to me."
Harry shook his head. "It's the least I could do for everything you've ever done for me."
"Don't you dare start that with me again, we're even and that's final." She said with a warning tone of voice.
"I thought you would have liked the idea of me being your slave for the rest of my life."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, but when she looked up and saw Harry smiling at her, she couldn't help but break into a loving grin. With the tips of her fingers she softly traced the lightening shape scar on his forehead, and remembered his face through touch.
"Harry?"
"Hmm?" He asked running his fingers down her spine and sending tingling pulses through her body.
"I know you're not telling me something." She said searching his emerald green eyes.
"I can't tell you."
"Please Harry… tell me."
Harry shook his head. "I don't want to hurt you Hermione." He averted his eyes from her.
She caressed his cheek with one of her delicate hands and brought his eyes back to hers. "Don't you see that you are hurting me by not telling me?" She whispered.
"Don't make me Hermione, please don't." He pleaded softly.
He saw the hurt in her eyes, it was unbearable.
"Okay, I'll tell you… but I don't want any pity, I'm only telling you this because… because,"
Hermione's heart stopped.
"Because you mean a lot to me." He finished.
Hermione felt slightly disappointed, but was more then grateful he was ready to open up to her, even though she already knew what Harry's fate was; she wanted to hear it from him.
"You know the day you told me how you felt about me, the time we had detention and were cleaning trophies?" He asked.
"Yes Harry, I remember."
"And I said that I didn't have any feelings for you?" He added.
She nodded.
"I… I, lied." He said under his breath feeling extremely ashamed of himself.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could hear the sound in her ears.
"Please don't be angry with me, there's a reason I lied to you."
Suddenly, Hermione understood, she didn't know why she hadn't put one and one together before.
"The battle with Voldemort, you were trying to protect me." Hermione said without thinking.
Harry's eyes widened.
"You know about the prophecy?" He asked frowning.
"Not entirely, I overheard you and Professor Dumbledore talking." She admitted.
"That's not how I wanted you to find out." Harry said with a slight tone of fury in his voice.
"I know… you wouldn't have told me at all."
Harry ran a hand through his jet black hair, it was true what Hermione had said, he probably wouldn't have told Ron and Hermione about the prophecy.
"Dumbledore knew the prophecy because he was there when it happened." Harry said calmly.
"It was Professor Trelawney, wasn't it?" She questioned.
Harry was expecting Hermione to start saying how bogus she was and how stupid it was to believe a word she said, but instead, she waited quietly for Harry to answer and continue.
"Yes, it was." He nodded.
"Do you remember it?" She asked.
Harry noticed her voice faltered slightly.
"I just know that one of us has to die and that I was marked as Voldemort's equal. He didn't know I had some power which was what protected me the day my parents died." Harry recalled slowly.
There was a long silence as Harry's words slowly seeped through her and embedded in her head, the thought of loosing Harry clenched at her heart. She buried her face into his chest and held him tightly against her. It took her so long to finally gain the missing piece to her heart, and she couldn't allow anyone to pluck that away from her.
Harry buried his face into her wild bushy hair, and allowed her sweet scent to intoxicate him.
He felt her slender body shake against his as she broke into a silent cry.
"Don't cry Hermione… please." He said softly, and held her tighter.
"I'm scared Harry."
"Don't be, you'll be safe."
"I, I… I'm n,not, worried about m,me." She sniffled. "I… d,don't …want to l,lose you."
"You'll never lose me Hermione… I'll always be with you, no matter what happens."
"B,but if V,Voldemort w,wins,"
"I won't let him win Hermione, I won't… and if it should happen, I'll watch over you… I won't leave you, I promise." He said caressing her delicate body with his strong arms. "I'm so sorry for all this Hermione, I didn't expect my feelings to take over your protection."
"W,what do you m,mean?"
"I shouldn't have kissed you… I shouldn't have let you know how I feel." Harry struggled to keep his voice steady.
"Don't ever say that." Her voice was firm, but there was a lot of pain in her words. "That was the best moment of my life… not having you was eating me up inside… your… your,"
"My other half." Harry whispered holding her face in his hands.
Harry heard her gasp softly as his words took her breath away.
Overwhelming hunger suddenly grasped Hermione, and his loving brilliant green eyes mesmerized her. She was starved to touch her lips against his, to playfully search his mouth with her adventurous tongue, to feel his hands against her, and to allow herself to become completely reckless with desire.
She nibbled his bottom lip to lure him into a kiss and to persuade him to a closer contact. The closer he was, she just couldn't feel him being quite close enough, her heart raced into a speeding frenzy and her breaths became husky with passion. Quite forcefully, she collided her lips against Harry's, she was aware she was beginning to lose control over her actions, it felt too good to let go. Her hands fisted in Harry's shirt as he deepened the kiss.
Suddenly, Harry nearly jumped out of his own skin when he heard footsteps at the base of the staircase. But Hermione didn't seem to care, and softly kissed his neck.
"Hermione… your dad!" Harry mumbled through gritted teeth as the blood continued to rush from his head downwards.
Hermione immediately stopped kissing Harry's neck as her eyes widened, and she leapt off Harry as if he was a burning stove.
"Oh Merlin, I can't believe I didn't hear him!" She cursed breathlessly while frantically trying to fix her tangled hair.
Harry realized just how awkward it would look if Mr. Granger just walked in and they both happened to be sitting quietly at the edge of Hermione's bed, not doing a thing in the world. He slid himself back, rested his back against the wall, grabbed a book Hermione had left on her bedside table, and flipped to a random page. He smiled to himself when he realized it was New Theory of Numerology, the book he had bought Hermione a few Christmas's ago.
"Hermione, this numerology stuff looks really hard." Harry said slightly louder then normally.
"I already told you countless times that it's very interesting and that Arithmancy is my favourite subject." She answered frowning slightly, wondering why in the world Harry was speaking so loudly when she was just an arms length away. "Honestly, you really should know, we're nearly done school Harry."
Harry noticed the frustration in her voice, and tried hard not to burst out laughing because she hadn't caught on.
There was a tap on the door.
"Come in." Hermione said.
Harry noticed her cheeks went detectably rosy.
Mr. Granger peered into the room. His sharp blue eyes went from Harry holding the numerology book, to Hermione sitting innocently at the edge of her bed, a whole arms length from where Harry was. He gave them both a gentle smile.
"I'm going to retire for the night, if either of you need anything, don't hesitate to wake me, Hermione… you know I'm here for you sweetheart." Trevor stated softly.
Hermione smiled and gave him a nod before gliding to her father's arms.
"Goodnight Daddy, I love you." She said.
"I love you too." Trevor answered softly giving his daughter a kiss on the forehead.
"Are you feeling okay sweet pea?" Mr. Granger asked furrowing his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I'm just fine." She answered leaving his arms and giving him a reassuring grin.
"Your face is a bit warm." Trevor stated putting the back of his hand against her cheek.
"Uhh… well, it is rather warm in the house dad."
Harry held back a cringe when he saw the hot heavy sweater Mr. Granger was wearing.
Mr. Granger's eyes darted towards Harry. Harry tried to give Hermione's father an innocent lopsided grin.
"Err, yeah, it is a bit warm… I guess we've gotten used to the school being so cold." Harry added.
Mr. Granger seemed satisfied with Harry's answer.
"I'll turn it down a bit before I go to bed then." Trevor stated. "Goodnight to you both, and don't stay up too late."
"Goodnight Daddy."
"Goodnight Mr. Gra-…. Trevor."
Hermione's father nodded and closed the door behind him.
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