Chapter 4
Truth and Scare
A/n: Hello everyone! I'm sorry that this took so long to get put up but my beta went on a trip and things were delayed a bit. I loved all the reviews you guys left and am answering them now. Let me say this, the more reviews I get the faster I write and the fast the next chapter will be posted. In this chapter you get a little bit more information about Hermione and Harry and fluff. Just remember that things are not always as they seem. And as always I don't own Harry Potter JKR does. And she's done such a fine job in HBP *sarcasm*. And thanks as always my beta Ken and Miscard who has taught me how to make Hermione's life miserable. *wink wink*. On with the chapter.
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Hermione felt like she was being held down. She opened her eyes to see that in a way she was.
Sometime during the night she and Harry must have moved closer to each other. Because now her back was plastered against his chest and his arm was wrapped securely around her waist.
At first Hermione panicked, they shouldn't be this close to each other. Then she felt Harry's breathe whisper over her cheek and she could help but relax back into him.
Hermione's eyes closed as she took in this small moment were this life felt real. Her marriage felt real.
The moment was broken by a `taping' noise from the window. Her eyes flew open to see the large barn owl sitting on the window ledge.
She knew that owl. It belongs to her parents.
`Why now?' Hermione asked herself.
Slowly and carefully she pulled herself away from Harry and out of the warm bed. Not bothering with a dressing gown Hermione quickly crossed to the window and threw it open.
After untying the letter she told the owl to go to the kitchen to get a treat and water.
The letter wasn't that big, Hermione noticed as she set herself in the wingback chair by the window that over looked the grounds.
Slowly she opened the letter and her mothers familiar hand writing came into view.
Dear Hermione,
How is your new married life going? I know we didn't leave things on the best of terms. But you must know that I was doing what I had to do.
We made the contract with the Potter's when you were just a few days old. I know that you don't like it but that is the way the world works, both muggle and wizard.
I feel that I need to tell you that we did try to get you out of this arrangement. But the Potters would not let us.
Please do not take this out on Harry he probably did not know about it. But think of this as your big chance to get into a society that without being a Potter you would never see. Your children will be able to have anything they want.
Will write you again soon,
Mother
Hermione stared down at the letter getting lost in thought. She almost screamed when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Is everything alright?" Harry asked as he knelt down beside her.
"Y-Yes."
"Then why are you crying?" He asked as he lifted his hand to wipe her cheek.
"Oh I didn't know I was." Hermione replied as she leaned into Harry's hand slightly.
"What made you cry?"
"A letter from my mother."
"Has something happened?" Harry asked worriedly.
"No, No, everything's fine. I just didn't realize how much I miss them." Hermione lied.
"I can understand that. Maybe we can go see them after Halloween."
"Yes that would be lovely."
Harry stood and offered Hermione a hand out of the chair.
"We should get dressed for the day breakfast should be ready soon."
Hermione nodded before going into her washroom to dress for the day. Winky was there waiting for her and helped her into her dress then left to help the other women in the house.
She walked back out into the bedroom and stood in front of the mirror making sure she looked alright.
"You look beautiful." Harry said as he came to stand behind her, his hands resting on her hips.
"I'm not beautiful Harry."
"You are to me." He said as he kissed her cheek. "Let go to breakfast."
Hermione blushed deeply as Harry took her hand lead her down the stairs. They only had to wait a few moments before they were joined by Neville and Ginny and Ron and Luna.
"Did you all sleep well?" Hermione asked as they started on their breakfast.
"Oh yes we did. The house is so lovely. You two must have been working very hard on it." Luna said as the others nodded in agreement.
"Yes we have but we've had a lot of fun doing it."
Breakfast went by with a comfortable conversation and as they all stood up to leave Ron spoke up.
"Harry what do you say you, me and Neville go a toss around a quaffle."
"Sounds like a right good idea to me." Harry said as he smiled. "Let me get my broom. Do you girls want to sit outside while we play?"
"It is a lovely morning." Luna said.
"If you don't mind me asking what is a quaffle?"
All five of the turned to stare at Hermione, Ron even had his mouth open.
"You've never heard of Quidditch?" Neville asked.
"I've heard of Quidditch the boys at school played but I never went to the games." Hermione explained. "Plus I was never taught to fly on a broom so I saw no real reason to go to the games if it was something I wasn't aloud to do."
"You weren't aloud to play?" Ginny questioned.
"I wasn't aloud to fly. Girls weren't aloud to be taught how to at Beauxbatons."
"I'll teach you how fly." Harry offered.
"Are you a good flyer?"
This time the two other couples laughed lightly and Harry fought a smile.
"Harry here," Neville said as he clapped Harry on the back. "Is the best seeker to ever play the game and one of the best flyers I've ever seen."
"Okay I'll let you teach me but not today." Harry nodded in agreement. "I'm going to go get a blanket so we can sit on the ground and watch you three. I'll even get Dobby to bring out something for use to nibble on later."
A short time later Hermione, Ginny, and Luna sat beneath a large oak tree watching their men fly around tossing the quaffle back and forth.
"Harry is quite the good flyer." Hermione said after a while.
"Oh you should have seen him in school. Luna do you remember the game against Ravenclaw when Harry caught the snitch right out from under Cho. She was so mad. Well I think that and having Harry telling her that he didn't want to be with her before the match didn't help."
Hermione look sideways at the two women beside her. "Harry fancied this girl?"
Luna shook her head. "Oh no, he may have thought her pretty at one time but she wasn't the nicest of people. Plus Harry knew you were going to be coming back and didn't want to risk that. But Cho thought Harry a bit of a challenge."
"Luna you are being much too nice about her. She tried everything in her power to get Harry. But she didn't really know Harry and he knew that she only wanted the Potter name."
Hermione's brow wrinkled slightly. It was nice to know that Harry never had an eye for anyone. "What's so important about the Potter name?"
Both Luna and Ginny looked at her funny again.
Luna shook head slightly. "We forget that you don't know these things. The Potters are a really old family. Well our families are too. But well Harry was one of the only purebloods that didn't have his future wife at school with us.
"While most girls in school knew it was a lost cause Cho did not. Her father has a trade business that does very well but it wouldn't hurt for her to get someone like Harry. Plus when Cedric died, he was her promised one, it just fueled her on. She tried to use that you weren't good enough for him but I think that just backfired on her."
That stuck Hermione. "Why am I not good enough for Harry?"
Both Luna and Ginny looked at each other once again.
Ginny was the one who spoke up. "We don't think that Hermione and not everyone does. I'm going to tell you this because I think it will be better to hear this from us then someone who doesn't want you here. Some people don't think you should have been aloud to marry Harry because you aren't a pureblood."
"But don't let that worry you Hermione." Luna added softly. "When some people at school found out Harry stood up for you."
Hermione smiled slightly as she looked back at Harry who was flying fast toward Ron.
"Let's move on to a happier subject. When are you and Harry planning on having children?" Luna asked.
"We haven't really talked about that." Hermione said as she tried not to blush. "What about you two?"
"Neville and I have decided to wait until the New Year before we talk about it again."
"How can you wait?"
"Oh there is a potion that we take. It keeps me from becoming with child."
"I have never heard about that."
"Yes well that's because most people don't like the idea of it. They think it's unnatural." Ginny answered.
"Well Ronald and I are having a child. Harry didn't tell you?" Luna asked.
"No he didn't. How far along are you?"
"Only two months. But we had been trying for three months before it happened. We were worried there for a time that we might not be able to have children but then it happened." Luna said as she placed her hands in her stomach.
"Hey is everything alright?" Ron asked as he, Neville and Harry joined them.
"Everything's fine Ronald just telling Hermione our news because it seems as though Harry forgot to."
"Please forgive me it seems that it slipped my mind." Harry said as he bowed deeply in front of her.
The group laughed and soon they were all sitting eating the small basket that Dobby had fixed for them. The rest of the day was spent resting around the estate. The men flying from time to time while Luna, Ginny and Hermione talked of the child Luna was carrying and what it was like for them in school.
Hermione realized quickly that these two women were welcoming her into their lives and into their hearts.
Once they were seated at dinner talked turned to the two couple's departure in the morning.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow after breakfast." Neville said as he passed the wine to Harry.
"I wish you could have stayed longer." Hermione stated.
"Well we'll see you at the Halloween Ball in a few weeks." Ginny said as she smiled at Hermione.
"Where is that being held?" Hermione asked.
"Harry have you told her nothing?" Ron said causing Harry to blush darkly. "The Potters host it every year. I'm sure your Grandfather will be happy to show you off."
"Oh Ron that's tasteless." Ginny scolded her brother.
Ron smiled as he took another bite of food. Nothing else was said on the issue. Soon the meal was over and everyone retired to bed early that night.
As Hermione climbed into bed she remembered what Luna had asked her earlier.
`When are you and Harry planning on having children?'
She needed to find out where Harry stood on this. She waited until Harry came out of his washroom and climbed into bed beside her.
"Harry may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you want to have children?"
She could hear Harry choke on the water he had taken a sip of.
After clearing his throat Harry spoke. "Yes I would someday. Why do you ask?"
"Oh it's just that we haven't talk about it that's all."
"Do you want to have children?"
"I never thought I'd have children. But I never thought I'd be married."
"If you don't want to have children we don't have to have them. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do." Harry said as he took her hand in his.
Hermione looked down at their hands. How did she get so lucky as to get him? She then started to wonder what had made him this way. Was it his parents because it did not come from his Grandfather. Slowly she brought her eyes up to his.
"I think I'd like to have children with you."
Harry smiled a sweet smile before dipping his head and kissed her. Hermione smiled as he pulled back from her.
"We should get to sleep. We'll have an earlier morning tomorrow."
Hermione nodded as she laid down in bed and turned on her side.
"Goodnight Harry."
"Goodnight Hermione.
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"Stop it!"
Hermione opened her eyes as soon as she heard Harry's voice.
"What is it Harry?"
There was no response. Slowly Hermione sat up at looked over at Harry who seemed to be still asleep. She lit a candle to get a better look at him.
His face looked as if he was in pain and sweat was dripping down his face. Hermione brought her hand up to wipe the sweat from his brow. In the process she uncovered a scar that seemed to be shaped like a lighting bolt.
"Leave her alone!"
Hermione pulled her hand back from Harry. He looked as if he was going to cry.
"Stop IT!"
"Harry. Harry wake up." Hermione said as she shook his shoulders lightly.
"STOP IT!"
He wasn't waking up and Hermione was starting to panic.
"Harry please wake up!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Harry screamed so loud that it caused Hermione to jump back in fright.
Harry started thrashing on the on the bed and nothing that Hermione was doing was helping.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" Hermione screamed hoping someone would hear her.
No sooner had she said this Harry start screaming at the top of his lungs.
The bedroom door banged open as Ron and Neville came running in towards Harry, with Luna and Ginny heading towards Hermione.
"How long has he been like this?" Ron asked as he climbed on the bed.
"Only a few minutes, what's happening to him?"
"He's having a nightmare about the war." Neville said as he stood at the side of the bed.
Hermione felt Luna and Ginny pull her off the bed giving Ron and Neville room.
"Do they know what they're doing?" Hermione asked Luna and Ginny.
"They use to room with him at school. He use to have them a lot when the war ended."
Hermione watched as both Neville and Ron grabbed Harry and shook him forcefully. With that Harry stopped screaming and he's eyes snapped open.
In a blur of bodies Harry shoot up from the bed throwing Ron and Neville off him in his rush to the washroom.
Soon the sound of Harry's wrenching filled the room. Hermione moved swiftly from her spot near the bed to where Harry was kneeling on the floor. She filled a glass with water and filled the sink with cool water dunking a wash cloth in it. After wringing it out she placed it on Harry's neck to help cool him off.
Harry looked up and smiled weakly at her before leaning over to wrench again. After that round Harry sat back and Hermione handed him the glass of water she had left on the counter. She dunked the cloth again before wiping Harry's face and chest. She could feel the heat radiating from his skin as she did so.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked as she rewet the cloth.
"I will be. Did I scare you?"
Hermione paused before wiping his chest again. "I couldn't seem to wake you. If it weren't for Ron and Neville I would have really started to worry."
Harry nodded before standing and brushing his teeth. After he did so he turned and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"I didn't mean to worry you. I haven't had nightmares in so long I didn't think I'd have to tell you so soon. Please forgive me."
Hermione felt him shudder against her. "It's okay Harry you did nothing wrong. Everything's okay."
"No not everything's okay, but it's getting better." Harry said softly. "Let's get back to bed."
Harry pulled back and took Hermione's hand leading her back to bed. Hermione noticed that Ron, Luna, Neville and Ginny had already left.
They both climbed into bed but this time Harry pulled Hermione to him so her head rested on his chest.
"Goodnight Hermione and thank you."
"Your welcome, goodnight."
Hermione settled in with Harry and quickly fell asleep to the sound of Harry's heartbeat.
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