Chapter 3 - A Welcome Home Indeed
Disclaimer: None of these phenomenal characters belong to me. They are the wonderful brain children of the amazing JK Rowling.
Rating: R/NC-17 (some chapters)
Pairing: H/Hr (eventually)
Summary: Sometimes love finds us in the all the wrong places. We just have to wait until it finds the right one.
Author's Note: This is a continuation of the last chapter. This chapter features a little fluffiness and some jealousy. Please read and review, after all, it's the holidays. Poll question: What would you like to see happen in the next chapter?
This is Harry's partner!?! thought Hermione wildly. That lying sack of … Well, he never said it was a man…But he never said it wasn't…That's lying by default isn't it?
Hermione watched Chris rip into Harry, only catching phrases containing words like "revenge" and "bloody murder." She watched as Harry allowed her to rant and rave, even as Fred and George emerged from the backyard wondering who the beautiful woman was yelling at Harry. The blue eyed blond woman.
Tonks gave Hermione a little wink before walking over to the irate Auror apprentice. "Thomas, stand down. You know damn well that you'd do the same to Potter if given the chance."
The woman grumbled her acceptance, giving Harry one more dirty look before turning to Ron and holding out her hand. "Since my partner here doesn't have any manners; I'm Chris Thomas." She looked Ron up and down while they shook hands. "I see Hogwarts is where all the good looking wizards are. Shame Potter here doesn't have the personality to match his looks."
Ron blushed crimson before replying "I, um, Luna is, um, I'm Ron Weasley," he finally stammered out, "I didn't think Harry's partner was, well, a girl."
"What's the matter, Harry?" she asked him sweetly, "Didn't want to tip anyone off to our illicit affair? I'm sure Tonks here won't report back to our superiors. Will you, Tonks?"
Tonks laughed at poor Harry's fish out of water expression before he hastily responded to Chris. "Thomas! Enough teasing you have to meet everyone else. That there is Fred and George or as they liked to be called 'the terrible twosome'."
Fred and George playfully shoved each other trying to be the first to greet Chris, "How do you do? I'm Fred."
"No you're not, I am," replied the real Fred, "That's George…I think."
"Very funny guys," said Harry, "Chris, don't bother trying to figure it out; they're likely to swap clothing to throw you off later." Everyone laughed and the twins gave each other smirks which certainly confirmed Harry's suspicions.
Harry's eyes cut across the room until they landed on the hesitant Hermione. "Hey Hermione! Luna! Come on over here; I'd like you to meet someone." Taking a deep breath Hermione made her way over to crowd relaxing a bit as Harry casually threw his arm over her shoulder. Luna meandered along behind her.
"I'd like you to meet my good friend, partner, and all around pain in the arse, Chris Thomas," said Harry cordially, causing Tonks to smile at his introduction, "Chris, this is one of my best friends, Hermione Granger. And that there is Luna Lovegood."
Chris held out her perfectly manicured hand and gave Hermione's hand a firm shake. "It's nice to finally meet you, Hermione. I've heard so much about you." She let her eyes wander down Hermione giving her an appraising look before turning to Luna. "It's nice to meet you as well, Luna. You're the handsome Weasley's girlfriend aren't you?"
"Hey!" exclaimed Fred and George before Luna could greet the newest addition to the party.
"Handsome Weasley!?!" asked Fred in mild shock.
"Double the pleasure, double the fun." George countered, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.
Ignoring the twins Luna offered her hand in greeting, "Lovely to meet you; you're right, Ron is the handsome Weasley."
Introductions having been made, in what was the typical young Weasley fashion music was played and the firewhiskey bottles were opened. Fred and George stood whispering in a corner with Luna, no doubt trying to entrance her to be part of their scheming. Harry and Chris sat at a small table goading one another into drinking more and more, while the rest watched in an almost incredulous way.
"Five galleons says she drinks him under the table," said an amused Ron as he watched Harry wobble in his seat. Chris did a little victory dance as Harry had a bit of trouble refilling their glasses.
"That's a fool's bet, Hermione, don't take it," replied Tonks, "By Merlin, Chris has a hollow leg! They went on quite a few pub crawls together and Chris usually had to apparate them home. You should have seen those two in the academy, practically joined at the hip."
"I'll bet they were," Ron said, giving Chris the once over, "He'd be a fool not to, uh, nevermind. I forgot I wasn't speaking with Fred and George for a moment there." Tonks and Hermione were looking at him with disapproval written all over their faces.
"I'm going to send a note to Molly and Arthur to recommend their surprise wait until morning. I don't think Harry is in the condition to fully appreciate it tonight." That being said, Tonks rose and left the room presumable in search of the Weasley's resident barn owl.
"I saw Moody talking to Griphook at the Leaky Cauldron today. Have you ever known goblins to venture there?" Ron asked of Hermione, seemingly trying to test the waters after his obvious previous blunder.
"Do you think they're lovers?" Hermione asked, her face whipping around to look at Ron.
"Mad Eye and Griphook!?! Ew!" exclaimed Ron while his face contorted in disgust.
"No Ron," said an exasperated Hermione, "Harry and his partner." She looked over at the two of them and saw that they did indeed have what seemed to be a strong familiarity between them. No subject was taboo and they had been laughing and/or arguing the entire time they had been speaking.
Ron, fully prepared to make a lecherous remark, replied, "I don't know Hermione. If they are, he's never mentioned it to me. If you ask me, it's about time the Boy Who Lived became a man; he's mental waiting so long, especially with all those witches throwing themselves at his feet."
"He's never, what I mean to say is, Harry never…" Hermione gave a frustrated sigh, "Forget it."
Ron looked at her a bit perplexed and decided to grant her a reprieve, "No, well, not before he left anyway. I can't exactly say that for sure anymore."
They both looked over at the drunken duo. Chris had her head leaning on Harry's shoulder as he was belting off some muggle song that Ron had never heard of. His eyes caught Hermione's and he struggled to get to his feet, nearly causing Chris to fall over in the process. She gave him an angry little shove as he walked toward Ron and Hermione.
"I have to go…over there," said Ron hastily, quickly vacating his seat and scurrying over to Luna and the twins.
"Hermione," Harry slurred, plopping himself down on the seat next to her, "I've missed you so much while I was gone." He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her a little closer to him.
"I miss you too," she said softly, leaning into ever so slightly.
She looked up at him and their eyes locked. They were still as green as ever, though currently darker than she had ever seen them.
"There's so much I have to tell you," he whispered, leaning closer to her.
He pulled her into a slightly uncomfortable hug and she found herself pulled flush against him. She chanced a glance
over his shoulders and spied Chris shooting daggers at them with her eyes, quickly looking away when her eyes met
Hermione's.
He loosened his embrace and pulled away from her slightly. "Hermione…" He spoke her name softly. She realized he was ever so slowly bringing his lips nearer to hers giving her the opportunity to back away if she wanted to.
"Oy! Hermione! Your boyfriend is in the floo for you!" shouted George from across the room.
Harry dropped his arms from around her like she burned him. "Boyfriend?" he asked.
Author's note 2: Reviewing is good for the writer's soul….I'd love to hear some feedback.