Chapter 1: Nice to see you too, Harry
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the product of J.K. Rowling's imagination.
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For the first time in four years, Harry Potter sets foot in London. And for the first time in four years, Harry Potter sets his eyes on Hermione Granger. Beaming, radiating, glowing Hermione Granger, with her pink cheeks and her bushy hair. For a second, the hustle and bustle of Waterloo Station goes still. And all Harry sees is Hermione.
He looks at her, and he feels his heart burst. He looks at her, and he feels his heart break. He suddenly remembers why he's in London. He suddenly remembers why he's meeting up with her. He suddenly remembers that she's getting married. For a split second, sadness crosses his face, but he immediately wipes it off. He chides himself that this is no time to wallow. So, instead, he slowly makes his way to her.
But when he finally reaches her, he is speechless. All he can do is smile.
"Nice to see you too, Harry," she finally says.
Instead of replying, he hugs her. And when she hugs him back, all he can think about is that he can stay this way forever.
But Hermione has other plans, and she lets go of him.
"You haven't said one word," she says.
"I don't know what to say," he replies. He really does not know what to say.
"Oh Harry!" she throws herself at him, and hugs the daylight out of him. He hugs her back, and runs his hand down her hair while she sobs on his shoulder.
"I missed you," he finally says, and Hermione gives a whimper. He disentangles himself and stares at her tear-stained face.
"Why are you crying?" he asks, as he wipes the tears off her face.
"It's good to see you," she manages to say. Harry kisses her forehead.
"Let's get out of here," he whispers. Hermione gives a nod.
With one hand holding a suitcase, and the other holding Hermione, Harry finally feels content. Kissing the top of her head as they walk out, he realizes that four years does not really change anything.
Waterloo Station is still Waterloo Station.
Hermione is still Hermione.
And he is still in love with her.
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He was at the foothills of the Himalayas, when a foreign owl dropped a rather tattered envelope in his hands. He was quite shocked when he received the letter, and immediately deduced that it contained something very important. He hadn't entertained any of his friends' letters since he started his sojourn, and as expected, they stopped writing after two years of no reply. To receive a letter after two years of silence, something special then must have happened. With deep curiosity and excitement, he opened and read the letter.
Harry Potter cursed the day he decided to `find himself'.
Dear Harry,
How are you? I haven't heard from you in a long time (four years is a long time)! I'm sure you're enjoying yourself, being yourself for once, without Rita Skeeter's henchmen following you around, and prepubescent girls kissing your shadow! Putting my lame jokes aside, I'm writing to tell you that something very special is about to happen to your best friend.
Your bushy-haired, buck toothed, miss know-it-all best friend, is going to be Mrs. Krum in a week. I'm getting married Harry, and I am so happy, and so content, and, oh, I can just see you roll your eyes! I sound pathetic don't I? Sometimes I find myself sickeningly happy that I have to restrain myself!
But anyway, I'm also writing to force you to please, please, please, come to my wedding. It's very special to me, Harry, and it's just not right without you there. You have to be there Harry. Please. You don't even have to bring anything (although an Asprey dinner won't hurt! Kidding!), just be there. So Harry, I hope I convinced you enough. Please make this day really special for me. It's just not the same without you.
Love, Hermione
Harry was thankful that he received the letter at the foothills of the mountain range, rather than at its peak. Given his state of mind, he would probably have jumped off to his death. But fate decided it wasn't the right time. Instead, he found himself at the bottom-at the bottom of the ranges, at the bottom of his life. Hermione was getting married.
He tried to console himself. He tried to chide himself. He tried to reason that nothing happened between Hermione and him. He reminded himself that he left Britain not only for soul searching, but to repress the not-so-friendly feelings he had for Hermione. He left Britain in hopes that the feeling would pass away, to no avail.
He left Britain because he was a coward.
Sure, he defeated Voldemort and saved the population of probably the whole world, but he never got the courage to tell her that he loved her. He was a coward, and for that he had to pay the price.
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"What are you thinking of?" Hermione asks him quietly. Immediately, he returns to his senses. He feels like saying the truth- that his world is slowly breaking to pieces now that she's getting married. Instead, he just gives her a shrug. She seems content with that, and gives a small smile.
"So, tell me, what have you been doing those four years?" she asks again as they walk to her apartment.
"Well, I've been traveling really. Seeing all those places in Dudley's `Amazing Sites of the World' picture book," he answers with a chuckle.
"That's nice, so what was your favorite?"
"Hmm, I haven't really thought about that, good question." They fall silent again. He searches his soul for the answer. He tries to think of the time when he actually felt the happiest. And then it hit him. Today. Seeing her again, seeing her smile, seeing her and touching her, and just being with her. Today, he realizes, is the happiest day of his life-despite the fact that he feels her sliver band against his fingers.
He gives a sigh. He wonders why he punishes himself. And immediately, he knows the answer: Hermione, anything for Hermione. This is why he's once again in London, this is why he's holding her hand, and this is why he's allowing himself to lose her.
The next thing he knows, they're in front of an old Georgian building, in a quiet district of London. She gives him a smile again as she searches her bag for her keys. She can't find it.
"Alohamora," she mutters instead. The door opens, and she goes in.
Harry lingers for a second. He has a tear in his eye, but she does not notice.
Author's Note: Kindly review please! It's what keeps me going! If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them!
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