Chapter Twenty-Three: Isn't Life Wonderful?
(Hermione)
I awoke with a start instantly grabbing for my wand. Too late I had realized that it was just a nightmare, feeling foolish I put my wand back down. It had been two weeks since I had last seen Harry, of course he sent me word that he was doing well and that he missed me, but he was off traipsing across the world rounding up the Death Eaters in which Michael, after drinking some heavy Veritiserum, had given him their names. He didn't know when he would be coming back, so I just looked forward to any letter he sent me.
Knowing that I would not be able to get back to sleep I got out of bed and slipped my feet into my bed shoes and wrapped my robe around my body, hoping to incase some of the heat from my blankets. I went over to my sink and grabbed hold of my toothbrush and began furiously polishing my teeth. With both my parents being dentists I learned at an early age to take care of my teeth. Spitting out abscess drool and grime, I smiled at my reflection in the mirror before wiping my face and walking out of my room.
I made my way downstairs to where I could smell the coffee pot hard at work. The sun was just coming up over the houses around me, and I could tell it was going to be a beautiful day. What would make this day better, would be if my Harry would just come home. Did I actually call him, "My Harry"? I smiled, because I knew I had. I called him that because it was true. He was mine.
So many feelings had made themselves clear in the past two weeks. The first being, that I did as I said, loved Harry. I loved him more than I could ever imagine. I couldn't live without him anymore; I couldn't live without his unruly hair that he constantly tried in vain to tame. I couldn't live without knowing when I rolled over in bed; his form was going to be lying next to me. I couldn't live not being able to hear his obnoxious laughter ring throughout the room whenever something funny was said. In the famous words of Ronald Weasley, "I was mental", but the only difference…I was mental for Harry.
I also realized that I had a lot of people to tell about Michael, invitations of course had already been sent out. I knew I was going to have a lot of explaining to do to my parents, they though Michael was a gift from the gods. How wrong they turned out to be. I smiled in spite of myself. I didn't want to think about the horrible events, which transpired in my own home two weeks ago, so I moved about my kitchen, tiding small things.
At around eight I decided to hop in the shower, and get ready to greet the day. After a delectably hot shower that left mist floating from my skin as I exited the shower, I dressed myself and pinned my quite busy hair back. I went downstairs and poured myself a cup of coffee and was commencing to take the first sip when the owl that brought me my wizarding post soared through my kitchen window. He dropped the Daily Prophet and I gave him a Sickle in exchange, and he flew back out the window.
I flipped through the pages, not really interested in the articles, until one concerning a man from my past caught my eye.
Malfoy and Potter Work Together?
Draco Malfoy, Head of Department of Magical
Accidents and Catastrophes, and Harry Potter, well
Known Auror, have been reported to be working
Together on a serious case involving He-Who-Must
-Not-Be-Named's famous Death Eaters. There have
been no comment from either of the two, though it
is a mystery to us, as to why these two rivals have
been working together for the past two weeks. The pure
rivalry that is between these two young men stem all
the way back to when they both attended Hogwarts. It
appears though that whatever problems were between
these men has all but diminished, we have heard claims
from people in both departments that Potter and Malfoy
speak regularly, and would even go so far as to call them
friends. I wish one of them would let this witch in on the
secret, and when I do, you will all be the first to know.
I was totally in shock when I read that article. According to Harry, Malfoy was the reason we didn't speak for nearly ten years, why would he be associating with him now? I would need to speak with Harry about this when he returned, let him know what I thought of his being friends with a Malfoy.
Just then I heard a polite cough coming from my living room. Curiously I walked in to see Rons' head floating in my fireplace. I smiled as I saw him looking around for me. When he spotted me he smiled in return.
"Oy, there you are Hermione, I was just checking before I flooed over. Be right there."
His head disappeared, then moments later his entire body came through the fireplace covered in soot. I embraced my best friend in a tight hug and then planted a kiss on his dirty cheek.
"Here, Ron let me help you." I pointed my wand at him. "Scourgify." Magically all the soot was gone and Ron was as clean as a whistle.
"Thanks 'Mione, I was afraid it would be too early."
I waved him off, and walked back into the kitchen. He followed me and began going through the pantry almost immediately.
I snickered at him. "Doesn't Luna feed you at home?"
He turned and glared at me before resuming his search. He came back with some iced cakes and sat down at the table across from me.
"Of course she does, but you are the only witch I know who hides iced cakes, so I have to steal them from you." He laughed heartily as he bit into one of the pastries.
I rolled my eyes at him and began re-reading the article about Harry and Draco.
"Ron," I said his name nonchalantly. He didn't look up but rather concentrated harder on his food. I heard him say "hmm" before taking another bite.
"Ron, do you know about Harry and Draco being friends?"
Rons' entire body stiffened at the question. So he did know something, the little prat, he's been keeping secrets from me. He shook his head, denying what I already knew was true.
"Are you sure you don't want re-think that answer, Weasley?"
Ron's head snapped up, he knew I didn't call him by his last name unless he was in trouble, and he knew better than to get in trouble with me.
"Well it wasn't supposed to happen." He started shakily. "But it just sorta did."
I looked at him urging him to go on. Eventually after taking another bite he continued.
"Harry and Draco obviously work in the same building so they are bound to run into on another. Well during the first year they worked there they ran into each other in the lavatory and had a duel. They both ended up in St. Mungos. I just laughed at the both of them, stupid gits. Well after that they began civilly speaking to one another in the hallways, then laughing even. Draco apologized to Harry for what happened during seventh year, saying it was wrong of him to make you and him suffer for what happened in his relationship with Ginny. I guess they began to get quite close when threats from Dracos' father, who had found out about him and Harry talking, began to fly in. He was threatening to once again kill you, and to disown Draco. Malfoy wasn't financially stable at this point so he did what his daddy wanted. He and Harry had tried to just ignore one another, but it was difficult because they had become such good friends, I was even in on it, but since I didn't work at the ministry we still hung out sometimes. Eventually Draco got tired of the whole thing, and began talking to Harry again. That was when you met Michael. He was the idea of Malfoy sr. He thought Michael was capable enough to kill you, guess he didn't count on Harry coming back eh? Well on the outside Draco and Harry played as if they hated one another, Lucius still had "friend" in the Ministry who were watching and on the inside they were still friends."
I had listened to Ron without interrupting him. I was letting everything sink in; it was still weird and a bit frightening to think that Malfoy and Harry were friends now after everything we all went through back in school. I supposed if Harry could learn to like Malfoy, I could, for his sake.
Ron could sense I was thinking, but he interrupted me nonetheless.
"So, you and Harry, eh? Eh?" He winked at me obnoxiously.
I sighed and smiled. "Yeah…"
Ron stuffed another cake in his mouth. "About bloody time, what'd it take, a good ten years?"
I smiled and let Ron keep talking. My thoughts had wandered to Harry once again and I didn't want to leave them right now. I was thinking of his hands on me, praying that he would be coming home soon. I needed to feel his touch.
I guess I didn't hear Ron tell me he was leaving because when I snapped out of my thoughts of Harry, he was gone. I cleaned up the mess he left and pushed in the chairs then went out to my sitting room.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a large gray owl perched on the windowsill with a letter tied to its leg. It hooted at me as I removed the letter, and then began to drink from the water bowl placed by the window.
I went to my chair and sat down, unrolling the parchment and revealing the familiar scrawl of Harry.
Dear Hermione,
We have rounded up the last of the known Death Eaters, thanks to Mikey. None of us managed to get a scratch on us, lucky us.
I can't stop thinking about you; no matter what else I am supposed to be focused on my thoughts are only of you. I will be home in a matter of days, be prepared for long days in bed. Oh close your mouth; you're going to catch a fly in it. Before the bed though, will come a wonderfully long overdue kiss and an ever longer overdue glass of wine.
I love you with all my heart.
Yours eternally,
Harry
I smiled at the letter, and placed my fingers on the parchment tracing the letters. Just then I heard a knock at the door. Surprised I put the letter down and grabbed my wand. And idea suddenly struck me; I went to the owl and looked at the tag post owls wore. This letter had been sent four days ago. Trust the owl post to go slowly.
Excitement overcame me as I replaced my wand on the table and ran happily to the door. Upon opening it, I came in contact with the most wonderful sight I had ever seen. His raven hair was mussed and windblown, and his emerald green eyes sparkled with mischief. I jumped as I saw him wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He held me to him as we embraced lovingly. All the thoughts I had of him while he was gone were nothing compared to actually being able to hold him in my arms once again.
I placed kissed all over his neck and face, his laughter reverberating through my entire body as he walked in my house with me still attached to him. He skillfully closed the door with his foot and walked into the living room.
I reluctantly released him and gave him a proper kiss. A kiss that said everything, it said, you are mine forever, I missed you, never leave me again, make love to me. It said everything and meant everything. I could tell it was the first of many to come.
We ended the kiss and stared into each other's eyes. Love over coming me, I smiled impulsively and grabbed his hand.
He returned the smile. "So now that I've had that kiss…"
He squeezed my hand.
"How about that glass of wine?"
AN: Well this is the end of my FIRST EVER FAN FIC!!! Don't worry I will be writing a sequel as well as others, I just wanted to start something new. Thanks for reading a reviewing everyone!