Chapter Seventeen:
"Yes Master." Said a high squeaky voice. "I will find out what they know."
"And then you will kill them." Added a much deeper voice.
The man with the squeaky voice who was considerably shorter than the man with the deep voice nodded his head in sullen agreement.
" I will kill them, and anyone who gets in my way."
"Good now go, leave me." The man with the deep voice waved his hand towards the door, and the other man exited.
He laid his head in his hands and breathed a sigh of relief. He hated being around that incompetent man so often. He could almost guarantee that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were not going to be murdered. He knew he was going to have to do it himself. The thought angered him immensely. But what needed to be done would get done. He liked to remember the old motto in times like this, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."
(Harry)
I took a large swig of my butterbeer and swallowed happily. Ron who was sitting next to me on my right did the same. Hermione had not shown up yet and I was beginning to get worried that she had stood me, well us, up.
"Don't worry Harry, she's not one to stand someone up." Ron said reassuringly giving me a hearty pat on the back.
I let Ron cheer me up for a bit, then continued drinking my butterbeer. Just then the door to the Three Broomsticks opened up, sending in a gust of wind. I looked up and saw Hermione making her way to the back of the room. She didn't even look up but she knew where she was going. I guess that comes from sitting at the same booth for so many years, it became something like autopilot once you entered the building.
She walked right over to the table and looked down at me and smiled, then glanced at Ron and glared. He smiled nervously. Finally she sat down to my left and we ordered her a tankard of butterbeer, and she began to futile attempt to catch up with us.
We talked and laughed long into the night about old times at Hogwarts and the crazy things we had seen. It was almost like old times, but obviously wasn't. There was still somewhat of a strain between Hermione and I, but I was determined to work through it. Sometime during the night we had switched from butterbeer to good old fashioned fire whiskey. Ron declined, feigning Luna as the excuse. He then excused himself and left. For a while Hermione and I hadn't the slightest clue how to act around one another without the company of Ron, as we had both witnessed what happens when left unsupervised.
After drinking a few shots of fire whiskey I was feeling slightly braver than before. "Alcohol is liquid courage," I remember Ron saying before Hermione arrived tonight. And it was, I was now reaching my hand under the table searching for her hand to hold in mine. I couldn't find it, so I decided to take the wizards approach to it.
Pulling out my wand, I pointed it at her under the table, and muttered a simple spell.
"Accio hand"
Instantly her hand flew into mine. Her head swiveled around and her lovely brown eyes were boring into mine. She looked appalled, but she did not remove her hand. For the rest of the time in the Three Broomsticks, our hands were together, fingers intertwined together.
(Hermione)
That little stunt that he had pulled in the pub was actually quite delightful, which surprised me. Another thing that rather bloody surprised me was, when Harry offered to walk me home, I didn't decline. He continued to hold my hand tightly in his, I would never have told anyone this but, the feeling of his hand in mine was such a nice comfortable feeling, I didn't want it to end.
"So tell me what you have been up to Hermione." Harry said nonchalantly.
I knew he was looking for information about Michael but I wasn't going to give it up quite that easily.
"Oh you know, just university, and dating Michael. I'm going to apply for a teaching position at Hogwarts soon."
Harry looked at me with round eyes. "But Mikey doesn't know you are a witch. How ever are you going to deal with that?" his voice dripped with sarcasm. I personally wanted to slap him. But then chuckled to myself at the thought.
"I do plan on telling him…"
"Before the wedding?" He interrupted me.
I shot daggers at him with my eyes. "Yes before the wedding. Oh but Harry,"
He looked at me intently. I smiled charmingly and went on.
"I thought you said there wasn't going to be a wedding?" I giggled at what I had said, though he remained quite silent and straight faced.
He suddenly stopped walking and using our entwined hands he pulled me in front oh him, then looked seriously into my eyes.
"There won't be."
He then continued walking with me trailing behind. I don't know why but the determination in his voice confused and bewildered me.
Just then I heard a loud pop behind me. Before I could crane my neck to see what it was Harry had already pulled me behind him and had his wand at the ready. I could feel his body relax when we both realized it was only Remus Lupin, our third year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He smiled toothily at us.
"I'm sorry to intrude Harry," He nodded his head first to Harry then to me. "Hermione, but we just got word from the Russian Minster of Magic, and he said they have a pretty good idea that Nie…" He trailed off. Obviously he felt uncomfortable talking to Harry with me present.
"Go ahead, talk with him Harry, I will be over here." I motioned to a bench on the side of the street. He nodded his head then went over to Lupin to continue their conversation. Occasionally one of them would glance over at me, and smile or wave, but every one and a while Harry would look over at me with a look of concern.
Quite suddenly I wanted to know what they were talking about. If Harry was looking at me like that, then it very well might have something to do with me.
Just then they both swiftly walked up to me, looking grave.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry to cut the night short but I'm needed in Russia right now." Harry looked so apologetic, as if he were about to cry.
I shook my head, dismissing it. "It's your job Harry, I completely understand."
He put his arm around my waist, then looked at Lupin.
"I'm going to apparate home with her to make sure she's alright then I will meet you at headquarters."
Lupin nodded his head, bowed low to me, and bid me good night, then apparated away.
Harry and I soon reciprocated his actions, and we swiftly appeared in front of me home.
"Thank you Harry, I really did have a wonderful night tonight with you and Ron." I turned to walk to the door, when I heard him mutter something. Suddenly I could feel myself being pulled towards him. I landed hard against his body as he put his arms around me extremely tight. His abuse of the Accio spell was going to be annoying I could tell. I laughed to myself as I slid my arms around his waist and hugged him back.
"You're right it was a wonderful night tonight, we should do it again. Almost felt like old times eh?" He smiled his row of perfect white teeth at me, and I blushed.
"Yeah, that would be great."
Harry laughed aloud. "Granger are you blushing?"
Great this was all I needed Harry sodding Potter to be making fun of me because I blushed at how gorgeous he was. Wait did I just say Harry was gorgeous? Ron was right, I am mental.
"No I am not, I'm merely feeling suffocated." I tried to push myself away from him but he held onto me tightly.
He chuckled lightly, then leaned in a lightly placed a kiss on my cheek.
"I'll owl you tomorrow from Russia, how does that sound?"
He was being to sweet for words, I just nodded my head in hopes of escaping further embarrassment. He then let me go, though I sensed some reluctance. I turned from him and walked up to my door. Digging through my purse I found my keys, I craned my head behind me to see him still standing there. Upon entering the house, I took one last look at him. He smiled, blew a kiss then with a pop he was gone.
I went and sat in my favorite comfy chair, mulling over the revisitation of my feelings for Harry. This was going to be a long night I could tell.