Chapter 29 - After Effects
(A/N - This chapter fits in right before the start of Chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.)
"G'night, Harry…"
"Good night, Ron. Thanks again for inviting me to your house! I've never been to a wizard home before…" Harry stopped talking as he realized, based on the snoring coming from the bed next to his, that Ron was already asleep. <Wow! And I thought Crabbe snored loudly! Good thing I know how to use a silencing charm, or else I won't be getting much sleep in Gryffindor Tower!>
At that thought, he again felt a warm, calm feeling come over him as if he were finally headed back to the House where he belonged all along. When he had gotten the invitation from Molly Weasley to come stay with them overnight before they left for the Quidditch World Cup, he had immediately felt like he was being released from prison early so he could go…well, the only word for it was home, something that Harry wasn't all that familiar with. His summer hadn't been anywhere near as unpleasant as previous ones with the threat of Sirius at the back of the Dursely's minds. But, he couldn't deny he was happy that his last view of Privet Drive had included Dudley pinned under Petunia with his engorged tongue flopping around on the floor, with Vernon and Arthur engaged in a duel. <Maybe that will teach Dudders to not be such a pig about sweets!> he thought to himself.
And then, coming to the Burrow for the first time, he knew somehow that he had been there before. Everything seemed so familiar…he recognized the Weasley's magical clock, the sounds of the ghoul in the attic; everything…even though he also knew it wasn't possible. Any thoughts of that nature were immediately forgotten at what happened next. He had been introduced to Ron's older brothers and was getting to know them a little while Arthur and Molly started discussing the twin's recent behavior, when…he saw her, walking in the kitchen doorway with Ginny and his heart surged with joy.
Harry had, of course, been in daily contact with Hermione over the summer (thanks entirely to Hedwig's tireless service - Harry knew that the Dursleys wouldn't let him anywhere near the phone, especially if they knew it was a friend of his calling from school). But, as soon as he saw her he knew that letters and parcels were just not the same. Of course, to a casual observer Hermione really hadn't changed much since he saw her walking to meet her parents at King's Cross station, but to Harry it was as if he hadn't seen her in years. She caught his eye for a second as she walked in the kitchen, and he knew immediately that she was feeling the same way about him. <I guess she was right…as usual…about that 'absence making the heart grow fonder' business…I'll have to let her know as soon as we get a moment together - alone!>
Unfortunately, they had yet to have that moment alone, what with all the hauntingly familiar gnome-chasing, Quidditch-talking, Percy-insulting, table-dueling, and feasting that had gone on that evening. However, just being near her, seeing her again was pretty wonderful in and of itself, and the few times he was able to sneak a look at her he could swear that he could almost hear her voice in his head telling him to be patient.
At that moment, however, he knew that the time for patience was over. He slowly got up out of bed, quietly dressed, and eased his way out into the hall and down the stairs so they wouldn't creak too loudly. When he entered the kitchen, he wasn't surprised at all to see a bushy-haired silhouette of someone sitting at the table waiting for him in the dark. "Took you long enough, Potter…" and those were the last recognizable words that were spoken in that room for a while as their mouths were otherwise occupied.
"Hello to you, too!" Hermione finally was able to murmur in his ear as they broke for air. "I guess this means that I was right, eh? You know - the absence thing?"
"You know, Hermione," Harry whispered softly to her as she sat comfortably in his lap, her head nestled against his neck with their arms tightly around each other, "that's exactly what I was thinking of when I knew I had to come down here to see you."
"Honestly, Harry, since it is rather dark down here, I don't know that you've actually seen me yet tonight, now have you?" she whispered back with a chuckle. "Tell you what - let's go outside so we don't have to keep whispering and we can take care of that problem. Since we're at a wizard family's house, the Ministry won't be too concerned that we're using magic, especially normal housekeeping charms. You did bring your wand, didn't you?"
"Won't go anywhere without it…or you, if I get my wish!" he answered her, sweeping her up in his arms and heading out the back door into the yard. Due to the lateness of the hour when they had finished eating and talking, the long tables were still set up in the garden. Molly had said she would take care of them after everyone else left for the campground the next morning.
"HARRY!" she squealed as he set her down on the end of the table, standing right in front of her. "Why are you putting me up here? Can't we sit on the bench?"
"Nope, I have something better in mind. First, some light on the subject!" While Harry reached for his wand in his trouser pocket, Hermione muttered "Lumos!" to her wand. They were both surprised to see Harry's wand was already lit when he pulled it out.
"Hermione…you…you're affecting my wand…and you're not even touching it!" Harry said. "Wait…let me try!" and he said "NOX!" The light on both wands immediately went out. "Wow…is it supposed to do that? I thought you had to be in contact with the wand for Lumos to work, especially with someone else's wand!"
"That's right, Harry…unless…" and she blushed as she considered how to say this, "Unless…you're, well, close to the other person." As he put his arms around her and started to nuzzle her neck, she said, "No, not that way, Harry…although… that is very nice…stop that, Mr. Potter, I'm trying to explain something to you…Harry…please…" Finally he moved away slightly, and she took a deep breath to calm herself before she could continue. She cleared her throat and said, "As I was saying…I have read that two people can use each other's wands without touching them when they are close to each other…emotionally, if you know what I mean."
"Wait a second, 'Mione", he said as he muttered "Lumos!", and both wands lit up as before. "That's much better! Are you saying…that because of what happened - well, that night by the lake, we're now able to control each other's wands?"
"In a nutshell, yes…does that bother you, Harry?" she asked cautiously, looking into his by now familiar green eyes.
"Of course not! I think it's great! That is, if it doesn't bother you?" he replied, taking the opportunity to lovingly examine her face in the combined light of their wands. He knew right then that he would never get tired of that sight, no matter how long he lived.
"No, of course not, Harry…I just didn't want you to…I don't know, get nervous about, well, what this implies. We're still teenagers, you know - this kind of thing usually only happens with older…couples."
<But I am older!> an insistent voice (that sounded a lot like himself, but deeper and more mature) in Harry's head seemed to shout. Instead, he said with a goofy grin, "So, do you want to think of us…that way?"
"Yes, if you're okay with that? Although, we'd better keep it quiet for now, you know, when we get back to school and all," she said apologetically.
"Yeah, you're right…what with all the other changes that will be happening at Hogwarts, I don't want people to get the idea that I changed houses just to be with my…girlfriend…" and he nervously looked to see if she was upset by his use of that word.
Her eyes glistened as she quietly said, "Harry…did you just call me…your girlfriend?"
"Erm…yes…is that okay?" Harry's confidence started to wane slightly. "I mean…if you don't mind…"
"Oh, Harry…of course I don't mind. Although, I am nervous about…well, how fast we're going - It seems so sudden sometimes, but …"
"…other times it just seems right, doesn't it?" Harry finished her thought for her. "Almost like we've been through this before or something and we're just doing what we should have done a long time ago."
"Harry…that's exactly what I was feeling just then! And, a minute ago, after I mentioned 'older' couples, I could have sworn I heard a voice in my head that sounded just like an older version of you saying that you were older…do you know anything about that?"
"'Mione…I heard the same voice in my head! But I promise it wasn't me! I just turned 14 less than a month ago, and I know that's not all that old…I'm still ten months younger than you, you know!", he grinned as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Yeah, one of us has to be the mature one in this relationship!" She smacked him lightly on his shoulder as Harry stuck his tongue out in reply. "Wow…we have a relationship!" she sighed happily. "But, Harry…we do need to let someone know… about what's happening between us. Especially the wand thing, and the …the voice in our heads just now. I mean, even in the wizarding world, hearing voices in your head isn't a good sign. We need to let the Headmaster know…or Harmony, maybe!"
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Although…I've already thought about writing Dumbledore this summer about something else, and I don't know how to contact him. And, isn't Miss Puckle staying at her flat in London during the summer? This isn't something I'd want to put in a letter, you know!"
"Yes, I've been writing her there. Wait a minute, how'd you know where she lives, Harry?" she said, eyes narrowing quickly.
"Don't tell me you're getting jealous, Hermione! No, she mentioned it during class last year for some reason. That reminds me; I just thought of something that I wanted to ask you, since you're a girl and all."
"I'm glad you noticed, Harry…I'm not sure that Ron has a clue even now that I am one. Honestly, if Ginny hadn't invited me to visit, I don't know that I would be able to stand being here. I kept on reminding myself just who I was waiting for, though, and it made it a lot more bearable."
"Well, if you're not a girl, I've been snogging the best-looking bloke at Hogwarts tonight!" he said cheekily, "And, I don't intend to stop, in case you were wondering." he said as he held her face in his hands, kissing her gently but repeatedly.
"…mmm…Harry…" she said after a pleasant interlude, reluctantly breaking contact with him. "…What is it you wanted to ask me…as a girl, you know?"
"Well, it's about Miss Puckle, actually. I just wanted your opinion…on whether or not you think she has a crush on me. I asked Professor Lupin once, and he said something about her just being concerned about me because I was a half-blood in Slytherin. I'm not too sure he was telling me the whole truth. I've heard a lot of gossip about her having 'feelings' for me, and I just wanted to know if you knew something. I know you're pretty good friends with her."
"You know, Harry, I noticed that too, last year, and I heard the rumors, so I just asked her myself. She…well, she told me a secret that explained to me what is going on. Don't worry, Harry - reading between the lines of what she said that day, I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a crush on you. I think she actually does love you, to tell the truth, but she has a good reason. Before you ask, no, I'm not really too jealous under the circumstances, if you must know. But, I promised I wouldn't say anything about her reasons. Maybe you can ask her yourself sometime - as long as I'm there, of course!"
"Of course, 'Mione! Yeah, it would be kind of awkward to talk to her alone, wouldn't it? Tell you what, the next time we see her alone, we'll have to tell her about…well, us…and then we can ask her together. Now that that's settled, though…I have a few things I'd like to go over with you…" he said with a definite gleam in his eye.
"Like what, Harry… Now what do you want to discuss?" she purred back at him, hoping that he had the same thing in mind as she did.
"Oh, I was just thinking…remember that time in the train compartment at the end of term? You know, when Ron went to the loo, and he had so much trouble opening the door when he got back? It was a good, oh, 15 minutes or so before the door finally unlocked, even with Ron doing his best Alohomora charms? I was wondering…did you have something to do with that? I mean, not that I minded, under the circumstances," he said, turning quite red at the memory of that particular snogging session, "…but I was hoping you could teach me a few of those spells. They may come in handy for what I have planned for you this year, and I'd hate to have to rely on you for that each time. We could take turns, you know…"
…
After a while, the two teenagers (sporting two sets of very puffy lips, not to mention noticeably disheveled hair and clothing) took a break for a moment and sat on the bench beside the table, cuddling close to each other. "So, Mr. Potter, you would like to learn a few locking charms, eh? Hmmm, let me think…Yes…I may just be able to work you into my schedule this year… although, I'm sure it will be difficult, what with all the work we have to do during our fourth year." She was trying very hard to keep a straight face while she said this, especially as she saw Harry's expression.
"You think…you might be able to work me in, do you?" he said with mock indignity. "Hmmm… let's just see if I can give you a better reason to be accommodating, why don't I?" And with that, he did his best to show her some of the advantages that she could look forward to if she was more flexible with her schedule.
After a very intense (but enjoyable) negotiating session, Hermione finally capitulated. "Okay, Harry, you win!" she said, kissing him lovingly on the tip of his nose, which was one of the few areas on his face that wasn't too flushed. She grinned wickedly as she continued. "Now that I think about it, all I have to do is to let all my other boyfriends know that my schedule is otherwise occupied on their assigned nights, and that should free up plenty of time for you…"
"Oh…you…you're going to pay for that one, Miss Granger!" And he proceeded to exact his revenge for her little joke, until they finally noticed the lateness (or was it earliness…) of the hour. "Hermione, as much as I would love to stay out here until sunrise with you, I just don't think that now is the best time for that. Especially if you want our relationship to be kept quiet! If Ginny, or worse, the twins caught us like this, everyone at school would know before the train cleared the platform at King's Cross. I'd also like to get at least some sleep before we go see the World Cup match, or else I'll be falling asleep in your lap…not that I would mind that, either, now that I think about it…"
"You're right, Harry. Although, we'll have to try that 'staying out until sunrise together' thing someday soon…that sounds very nice. Yeah, if Ginny sees me like this, she'll probably know just what I've been doing all night!" she beamed happily at him. "And, I don't quite think I'm ready to have to explain that to her…she's still got a bit of a crush on you herself, I think. Oh, don't look so clueless, Harry! Don't worry, it's not really that big of a deal - I think she was just a bit taken by the whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' thing, and she was hoping that you'd pay some attention to her."
"But…I do pay attention to her! I mean I say hi to her all the time and I talk to her nicely, don't I?"
Hermione had to giggle at his utter naiveté when it came to other girls. "Honestly, Harry…you ARE worse than Ron sometimes…No, that's not the kind of attention she wants from you. I'd say she's more interested in…the kind of attention you've been giving me all night tonight…and before you go any further, Potter, rest assured that you'd better not even THINK about that. I know quite a few hexes myself, you know! Now, let's get back to bed…although I doubt either one of us will be sleeping too much, now will we?"
Harry groaned as he realized how right his girlfriend was while they entered the kitchen and walked slowly towards the stairs. "Guess I'll have to hang in there until we set up our tents at the campground in the morning. But I'll be so knackered by then, I'm sure I'll need a long kip, eh?" He grabbed Hermione's hand gently as they started to walk up to the room Hermione was sharing with Ginny. "You know, of course, that I'm going to want to hold your hand like this all day while we're waiting for the match to start, but we won't be able to if we want to keep things quiet. So, just remember what you're feeling right now," he squeezed her hand gently as he said this, "and be as patient as possible. After I wake up, I'm sure we'll be able to find a little time together, if you can work me into your schedule, that is!"
"Oh, you! Just shut up and kiss me, Harry!"
"Yes, ma'am!" he said seriously as he hurried to obey. "See you later, then?" and he hugged her one last time before she quietly opened the door. From what he could hear, Ginny was not quite as loud of a snorer as his roommate was, but she was close. "See what I mean, Harry? I doubt either of us will be able to sleep…not with that racket!"
*
Harry felt as though he had barely lain down to sleep in Ron's room (which was almost literally true) when he was being shaken by Mrs. Weasley.
"Time to go, Harry," she whispered pleasantly, moving away to wake Ron…
*****
"Whew," panted Mr. Weasley, taking off his glasses and wiping them on his sweater. "Well, we've made good time - we've got ten minutes…"
Harry, taking some deep breaths himself, looked back at Hermione as she finally crested the hill, clutching a stitch in her side. He so wanted to rush over to her to help her, but she caught his eye and shook her head slightly while smiling a little to reassure him she was fine.
"Now we just need the Portkey," said Mr. Weasley, replacing his glasses and squinting around at the ground. It won't be big…Come on…"
They spread out, searching. They had only been at it for a couple of minutes, however, when a shout rent the still air.
"Over here, Arthur! Over here, son, we've got it!"
Two tall figures were silhouetted against the starry sky on the other side of the hilltop.
"Amos!" said Mr. Weasley, smiling as he strode over to the man who had shouted. The rest of them followed.
Mr. Weasley was shaking hands with a ruddy-faced wizard with a scrubby brown beard, who was holding a moldy-looking old boot in his other hand.
"This is Amos Diggory, everyone," said Mr. Weasley. "He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Cedric?"
Cedric Diggory was an extremely handsome boy of around seventeen. He was Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team at Hogwarts.
"Hi," said Cedric, looking around at them all.
Everybody said hi back except Fred and George, who merely nodded. They had never quite forgiven Cedric for beating their team, Gryffindor, in what would have been the final match of the year. As it was, Hufflepuff's victory (their only one of the year) resulted in Gryffindor losing to Harry's Slytherin team in a tiebreaker match. Fred and George had been quite cool towards Harry last term, also, until they heard about his change in house assignment from Ron.
"Long walk, Arthur?" Cedric's father asked.
"Not too bad," said Mr. Weasley. "We just live on the other side of the village there. You?"
"Had to get up at two, didn't we, Ced? I tell you, I'll be glad when he's got his Apparition test. Still…not complaining…Quidditch World Cup - wouldn't miss it for a sackful of Galleons - and the tickets cost about that. Mind you, looks like I got off easy…" Amos Diggory peered good-naturedly around at the three Weasley boys, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny. "All these yours, Arthur?"
"Oh, no, only the redheads," said Mr. Weasley, pointing out his children. "This is Hermione, a friend of Ginny's - and Harry, a friend of Ron's -"
"Merlin's beard," said Amos Diggory, his eyes widening. "Harry? Harry Potter?"
"Er - yeah," said Harry.
Harry was used to people looking curiously at him when they met him, used to the way their eyes moved at once to the lightning scar on his forehead, but it always made him feel uncomfortable.
"Ced's talked about you, of course. Told us all about your little problem keeping on the broomstick during that one match. I'm surprised, Harry…if you can't handle a broom that fast, you shouldn't be riding it, now should you?"
Harry couldn't think of any reply to this, especially considering that Slytherin had easily beaten Hufflepuff the previous year, so he remained silent. Fred and George were both scowling again at the perceived slight to their soon-to-be Seeker. Cedric looked slightly embarrassed.
"Harry fell off his broom, Dad," he muttered. "I told you…it was an accident…the Dementors, you know…"
"Yes, but you've never fallen off your broom in all your matches, Dementors or not, now have you?" roared Amos genially, slapping his son on the back. "Always modest, our Ced, always the gentleman…but one Seeker falls off his broom, one stays on, you don't need to be a genius to tell which one's the better flier!"
"Must be nearly time," said Mr. Weasley quickly, pulling out his watch again. "Do you know whether we're waiting for any more, Amos?"
"No, the Lovegoods have been there for a week already and the Fawcetts couldn't get tickets," said Mr. Diggory. "There aren't any more of us in this area, are there?"
"Not that I know of," said Mr. Weasley. "Yes, it's a minute of…We'd better get ready…"
He looked around at Harry and Hermione, who had moved very close to each other when Amos had been speaking unkindly about Harry's flying skills. Hermione found herself standing directly in front of Harry, with Ron crowding in behind him.
"You just need to touch the Portkey, that's all, a finger will do -"
With difficulty, owing to their bulky backpacks, the nine of them crowded around the old boot held out by Amos Diggory.
They all stood there, in a tight circle, as a chill breeze swept over the hilltop. Nobody spoke. It suddenly occurred to Harry how odd this would look if a Muggle were to walk up here now…nine people, two of them grown men, clutching this manky old boot in the semidarkness, waiting…He chose to think of this mainly to distract him from noticing just how close he was to Hermione, and how nice it was to feel her warm back pressed up against his chest on such a cool morning. <Too bad I can't just…>
"Three…" muttered Mr. Weasley, unknowingly interrupting Harry's thought, one eye still on his watch, "two…one…"
It happened immediately: Harry felt as though a hook just behind his navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward. His feet left the ground; he could still feel Hermione in front of him and Ron behind him, their shoulders banging into his; they were all speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling color; his forefinger was stuck to the boot as though it was pulling him magnetically onward and then -
His feet slammed into the ground; Ron staggered into him and he fell over on Hermione, who grunted softly as he landed on her, none too gently. The Portkey hit the ground near his head with a heavy thud.
Harry looked up. Mr. Weasley, Mr. Diggory, and Cedric were still standing, though looking very windswept; everybody else was on the ground.
"Seven past five from Stoatshead Hill," said a voice.
Harry disentangled himself from Ron, then, as nonchalantly as possible, he reached out his hand to help Hermione up. She smiled at him quickly, but the smile turned to a glare as he was entirely too thorough in brushing the dust off her. "Watch it, Harry!" she whispered quietly. "Later…"
They had arrived on what appeared to be a deserted stretch of misty moor. In front of them was a pair of tired and grumpy-looking wizards, one of whom was holding a large gold watch, the other a thick roll of parchment and a quill. Both were dressed as Muggles, though very inexpertly: The man with the watch wore a tweed suit with thigh-length galoshes; his colleague, a kilt and a poncho.
"Morning, Basil," said Mr. Weasley, picking up the boot and handing it to the kilted wizard…
*****
(A/N - That seemed like a good stopping place for this chapter. Hope you liked the continuation of the H/Hr fluff. If anyone thinks things are going "too fast" with their relationship, considering they just had their first date just over two months before this chapter, I have two things to say in my defense. First, remember that Harry, even though he really doesn't know it, is 19 by this time - internally, anyway; and Hermione is being encouraged in her actions by Harmony. Second, they HAVE been apart for two months, which can be an eternity in a budding romance - so, I let them have a little time to re-acquaint themselves with each other, because with one thing and another coming up this year, they're going to be pretty busy.
By the way, in case you were wondering, I had to include the long "canon" section about the Portkey to account for a few differences in the timeline. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the changes. The only canon section I didn't include was after Molly woke Ron up that morning, including finding the twin's stash of toffees. The whole section, up until they get to Stoatshead Hill, would be pretty much the same as canon.)