A/N: This chapter is for the fluff-buffs. There's a bit of wedding planning and something else as well, but my sweet tooth was twitching. ;) Warning: some sugar-shock ahead!!
Also, I'm sorry this is a week late, but I had my best friend's baby shower last week and real life has had me in a choke hold!!
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As I sit here on the couch, barely listening to the Wizarding Wireless, I realize just how fortunate I am. Harry has fallen asleep with his head on my lap and I am absent-mindedly stroking his hair.
I really am the luckiest woman in the world.
It's so peaceful right now. I know I have stuff I should be doing. Wedding planning, re-organizing the library, the flat could use some cleaning, but none of it matters right now.
Harry needs me.
I glance down at his sweet face and gently remove his glasses. They're sitting so awkwardly on his face; it can't be comfortable.
His eyes are closed, but I imagine them being open and sparkling with life. I love his green eyes so much. I often see such pain in those eyes. I know he's happy now with our life, but so much has happened that can never be erased. I can try to make up for it, but how do you make up for 10 years of abuse? And then another 7 years of neglect and contempt? Those bastards have scarred him almost more than Voldemort. At least that scar was visible, tangible. These scars are buried deep within Harry and will be difficult to heal.
I see the way Harry watches families that we pass. A father with his daughter on his shoulders. A mother tending to a son's scraped knee. Parents pushing their little ones on the swings. It's hard for him. He had none of that. He'll never get that time back.
I can't decide if the Dursleys spoiled Dudley because they were psychotically fanatical about their son or if they just wanted to torment Harry some more. Perhaps it was a combination deal. I don't know. All I know is that as much as my mother has hurt me, the Dursleys were 100 times worse. And I hate them. As much as I have always been taught that "we do not hate people, we dislike what they do," I hate these people. Even if I didn't love Harry, I would find the situation deplorable. A tiny baby whose parents were dead doesn't deserve such awful treatment.
But I should move on. If I stay on this track, I may not come back.
I know how much this wedding is going to mean to him. It's a new beginning. To put the terrible past behind us and start fresh. We can't forget the past, but we can leave it and learn from it. I've learned to accept my children for what they are. Even if we have a house full of Squibs, I don't care. They will be my children and I'll love them!
Harry is stirring now. I hope he doesn't wake up. He needs some peaceful rest. Even now, the nightmares haunt him. They've slowed a great deal, but he still sees that bright flash of green light, still hears his mother's scream. He tells me sometimes he's sees me in Voldemort's clutches and he can't get to me. What a burden to have on one person's shoulders.
I hope that my love is enough. I love this man with all of my heart and my soul, but is it enough?
"It's enough," Harry whispers.
Was that out loud?
"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to wake you," I say, still stroking his hair. "Go back to sleep."
"No, it's ok. I'm awake now. Why wouldn't you think you're love is enough for me?"
I can only shrug. I guess even I don't know why I said it.
"Mione, there is no one in the world who can love me like you do. Even a simple glance from you makes me feel warm. Once you're holding my hand, I feel safe and loved. I don't deserve all the love you give me."
"Please don't say that, Harry. You deserve all the love in the world!"
"And I have it. It's right here," he says, sitting up and placing a hand on my cheek.
I close my eyes at the sensation. He's such a wonderful man.
"Do you want to know why I want to marry you?" he asks looking deep into my eyes, which I just opened.
"Is it because I'm making you wait?" I tease with a wink.
"Oh there's that. But more than that. I want the other piece of my soul. Hermione, you've had me for so long, I don't remember what it is to be without you. Even with such a hard background, all I know now is love and it's thanks to you. I don't need to be physically loved by you to know how much tenderness is in your heart. You are the best person I know and it means the world to me that you found me worthy enough to spend your life with me. A lonely orphan with a lot of baggage."
"And I don't have baggage? The bossy bookworm with abandonment issues, thanks to my mother. Harry, you make me feel like the world doesn't exist. Like it's only you and I and life is perfect."
"That's because it is perfect. And it always will be as long as we're together," he says.
There's that sparkle in his eyes I was waiting for. And here come the tears in mine.
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you, too, Mione. Honey, honey, don't cry."
"I'm sorry, I can't help it. I just can't believe that I am this happy. I'm getting married to the greatest man ever!"
Harry smiles at me. "Then that's that one thing you have to do! Marry that great guy."
"I plan on it." Then I think about it. I hate to ruin the moment, but we're going to need closure if we want to move on.
"You know, Harry, there is something else we have to do," I say softly.
I see the recognition in his eyes. "The Dursleys," he replies.
"Yes."
"Hermione, I know we dealt with your mother, but I don't think you understand how hard this will be."
"Yes, I do. And I think that's the point. I know how hard it will be to face your past, but you have to do it. You are going to have to stand up to them and tell them exactly what you have made of yourself, without them."
"What if I just turn into that scared little boy again?"
"You won't. You are stronger than that boy under the stairs. You took down the most evil wizard in history! You stood up to Molly and Emily! You took my mother down a few pegs! You can stand up to the bloody Dursleys."
Harry chuckles. "You've got a strange way of making a point, Miss Granger."
"Yes, well, whatever it takes, Mr. Potter, to prove to you how much I love you and how much I believe in you."
"Fine, fine. We're heading to the Dursleys. When do you want to go?" he asks.
"How's today?"
"Today?! We can't just go there! Hermione, I need time to plan for this."
"Oh you do not. All you need is a kick in the rump to get you up the front walk. And I'll wear my ass-kicker boots if you need me to."
"If there's one thing I don't want Dudley to see you in, it's those boots. I love those boots and I get the feeling that if Dudley saw you in them, well, waiting for our wedding night would become a moot point."
"Harry, you're exaggerating!"
"Just wait until you meet the little pig." He laughs to himself and I realize there's an inside joke going on. I decide to let him keep that piece of knowledge to himself.
"Ok, you win. We're heading to the Dursleys today," he concedes. "Go get ready. And find a cattle prod! I want Dudders to keep his distance."
I roll my eyes at Harry, but I begin to worry at the same time. What the hell is wrong with this family? If even now, Harry is this scared about going back, how bad was it?
I head to the bedroom to change into something "safe." I know this is going to be difficult, so I mentally prepare myself to come face to face with the people that made my fiancé's life a living hell growing up.
As I change, a thousand questions float through my head. What will I say to them? What will they say to me? Will they even answer the door when they see who it is?
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the doorframe.
"Are you almost ready?" Harry asks.
"Yeah. Just let me tie my shoes," I answer, pulling the laces and tying a neat bow. "All set. Am I safely dressed?"
Harry takes notice of my bulky sweatshirt, loose jeans and sneakers.
"Safe. Very beautiful, but safe."
"Good." I see the look on his face. I wish I could make this easier. "Are you ready for this?"
"I can do this. I just need to tell them how great my life is now and how that's all because of you. My beautiful and smart bride-to-be."
"That'll work," I say with a smile.
We take each other's hands and he Apparates us close to the house he "grew up in." If you can call it that.
He leads me to the door and he knocks lightly.
"Harry, I doubt they heard that," I say as I bang angrily on the door. "There. That should do it."
"Did you have to break the bloody door?"
"I could have blasted it off the bloody hinges. Which would you've preferred?"
Harry just shakes his head and stares.
I hear footsteps … and a long pause. Finally the door opens and I get to meet Dudley.
"What do you want?" he sneers.
"Nothing from you, that's for sure," Harry replies and tries to shove his way past his fat cousin.
"You can't come in here!" Dudley screams.
"And why the hell not?" Harry asks.
"Because … you left!"
"Great reasoning. Now get out of our way," Harry says while trying to not push Dudley. "Dudders, I'm beyond being a full-wizard now and I can move you if need be."
I notice Harry's hand heading for his wand and see Dudley jump.
"Ok, ok! What do you want anyway?" he asks.
"I want to collect the rest of my belongings - what your parents let me have at least - and to talk to them," Harry answers.
"They won't be happy about this," Dudley whines as he leads us to the kitchen. They must have been having lunch.
"What are you doing here?!" Vernon bellows as he stands up.
"I want to talk to you," Harry replies calmly.
"What can you possibly have to say?" Petunia asks, obviously afraid since Dudley is hiding behind her.
"I just wanted you to meet someone. This is Hermione Granger. We're engaged. Show them, Mione."
I hold up my hand and the Muggles are enthralled with my magical ring.
"Pretty …" I hear Dudley mumble.
I laugh quietly at the brainless response and allow Harry to continue.
"I just wanted you all to know that we're very happy and it has nothing to do with you. I've overcome everything you did to my life and I'm a better person for it. You know, maybe it's a good thing that I lived here and suffered so much under your torture. Maybe because of that, having love in my life seems all the more fulfilling. I can appreciate what Hermione does for me now. I can see her love perfectly and without any questions. It's beautiful. I feel sorry for you that none of you have it or likely ever will. And I've become a teacher at Hogwarts. That's right, the school you never wanted me to attend. Now I'm teaching other young witches and wizards to defend themselves against dark magic. To keep the world safe for magical folks like us and for Muggles as well.
"Does it matter to you at all that I finally defeated Voldemort? Did you even know? Probably not. You're too dense to feel the difference in the air. Doesn't the entire world just feel lighter now? It does to me. Trust me, I didn't kill him for you. I did it for Hermione and her family. They're Muggles, too. Most of them are good people. And I killed him for my parents. I don't know if it ever bothered you, Aunt Petunia, that your sister was murdered, but I've avenged them. I've brought their killer to justice, so sleep well.
"Now, if you don't mind, I'm heading upstairs to get my few belongings and then I am out of your lives forever."
Harry turns on his heel and heads for the door.
"Mione, are you coming?"
"In a minute," I hear myself saying. I don't know what's coming over me, but I feel compelled to give these people a piece of my mind.
"I think you need to know something, Vernon, Petunia, and yeah, even you Dudley. Harry is a good person. He has more love in his heart than anyone I know and he cares for people, which is more than I can say for you. Do you even care that there is a world outside of your "happy little home?" People out there died for you and you don't even give a damn! But it's all over now thanks to your nephew. He's not the small little boy that you shoved under your stairs anymore. He's a strong man who took down one of the most evil men in history. He's a hero and he deserves to be treated as such. He deserves your respect, if anything. Now, after today, I hope I never see any of you again. You all should be ashamed of yourselves for trying to stamp the spirit out of such a beautiful person. But what matters is that you failed. Miserably. We're going to live our lives without giving you another thought. Have a good life." And with that, I'm turning to leave with my fiancé.
"What's the matter, Potter? You need your witch to fight your battles for you?" Vernon says with a slimy smile.
And I know he didn't mean "witch" in the magical sense.
In an instant, Harry's wand is out and pointed right at Vernon's head.
"You take that back," Harry growls.
"Or what?" Vernon challenged.
"Or you will see just how much resentment can grow out of 10 years in the cupboard under the stairs."
Harry sends a small spark from the end of his wand and shocks Vernon. It's so funny to watch him jump.
"Better yet," Harry begins and hands me his wand. "Remember what I did to "Aunt" Marge? And I did all that without my wand! Ready for an encore?"
Harry begins cracking his knuckles and looking around the kitchen. I can feel the magic radiating off of him. It's very, very exciting.
"Let's see. I think I made the lights flicker …" Cue the flickering. "Some plates fell …" Crash! "The drawers fell out …" Bang! "And of course … Aunt Marge became a helium balloon."
Harry turns to Vernon and looks him straight in the eye. His look is priceless. Pure terror! I hate to say that I'm loving this … but I am!
"Don't worry, Vernon. I won't waste my energies on you," Harry says with a cold tone. "But I could always slip, unless you apologize to my fiancé."
"Yes, well … I'm … I'm …"
"Vernon …" Harry warns.
"Ok, I'm sorry! All right, Potter? I'm bloody sorry!"
"I know you don't mean it, but it was good to hear. Come on, Hermione. We're getting my things and leaving."
He grabs my hand and practically drags me upstairs.
"Harry!" I exclaim once we get up there and he locks the door behind us. "What was that?"
He conjures a small suitcase and begins looking around and tossing things into the case.
"That was years of oppression coming out."
"Is that really what it was like when you blew her up?"
"Pretty much. Though it was much more fun to watch her float away," he says with that smile that melts me.
"I don't know … Vernon's face was pretty entertaining!"
"Very true. Ok, let me finish and we'll get the hell out of here."
I look around and notice that this won't take very long.
"So this is it, huh?" I ask. "This was your room?"
"If you don't count the cupboard, yes."
"I'm trying very hard to forget that you ever lived in that cupboard. If I think about it too much, I may march down there and hex those evil cretins into next week!"
"Yes, well, leave them alone. They're really not worth it."
I notice what Harry has packed. He really doesn't need the suitcase. It only has in it: a Gryffindor tie, a few shirts that seem like they may still be big on him, some loose photos and a few very old school books.
"That's it?" I ask.
"Well, what did you expect? Toys? Nice clothes? Sorry, wrong tragic hero," Harry replies with bitterness in his voice. He must notice that I look hurt from that and pulls me into a hug. "Come here, Mione. I sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just a bit painful being here. But we're going to go home and I'll forget all about this place. How's that sound?"
"Sounds wonderful."
"What do you say we go Apparate out in front of the Dursleys?"
"Sounds even better!"
So that's exactly what we do. We run down the stairs, bounce into the kitchen, wave goodbye and suddenly disappear.
But not before Harry can yell, "So long, suckers!"
Once we arrive at home, he's almost falling on the floor laughing. "That was great!"
"Harry! I cannot believe we just did that!"
"Why not? Didn't we practically do the same thing to your mother?"
"Yeah, but that was different. I don't know how, it just was," I say, exasperated at the look on his face.
"Oh, Hermione. Don't worry. That felt wonderful! Brilliant! That was the most freeing thing I've ever done!"
"So you feel better?" I ask.
"Unbelievably! Thank you so much, Mione! Thank you for convincing me to go!"
I love knowing that I've made him happy. That smile on his face is all the reward I need.
"So, Miss Granger, how would you like to celebrate this momentous occasion? How does dinner on me sound?"
"That, my love, sounds amazing."
And with that, we head to our favorite dinner to celebrate freedom.
As we eat, Harry looks over at me.
"So, you do realize that there are a few more wedding details that we have yet to work out, right?" he asks.
I cringe at the thought. "Yes, Harry, I know. But do we really have to think about them now?"
"Well, no. But we did schedule the wedding less than a year away. We should have plans together," Harry notes.
"True. So what do you have in mind?"
"Well, we'll need a photographer. But that one should be easy."
"Colin Creevy," we say together.
"Exactly. And then there's the matter of our honeymoon," he says, waggling those eyebrows again, suggestively.
"Well, I guess I never really thought about it. Where were you thinking?"
"Somewhere they'll never find us. But somewhere warm and fun."
"Ok, and where is that?" I ask suspiciously.
"Don't laugh at this, but I was thinking Disney World in America."
I smile brightly and giggle a little.
"Hey! I said don't laugh!" he says, obviously hurt.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart. I wasn't laughing at you. I'm excited! I've never been to Disney. And isn't it the "Happiest Place on Earth?"
"Well, since we're the happiest people on Earth, then it's quite appropriate. Wouldn't you agree?"
"As a matter of fact, I would!"
"You know what, no more wedding planning. Tonight is for us. Let's go home, pour some wine and cuddle by the fire?"
"You're such a romantic, Harry."
"And you love me for it."
"Every minute of the day."
As Harry calls for the check, I think again at just how lucky I am. I couldn't begin to ask for a sweeter man than Harry Potter. He's my heart and soul and I'm his. I've found my soul mate and my life will never be the same … thank goodness!