7. Always There
A couple of quiet weeks went by. That Friday it was Ron and Luna's turn to have the gang over for dinner. Usually, when it was their turn, they would either have take away or George and the girls, with the exception of Luna, would prepare something there. Neither Ron nor Luna knew or even liked to cook, but they loved having their friends over.
That night they decided to go with take away. George had worked late in the shop doing inventory and Ginny and Hermione hadn't had a chance to plan anything. So they went ahead and order a couple of pizzas from a muggle pizza place.
"It's been a while since we had pizza," said Ron with his mouth full.
"I made pizza for you guys last month!" George reminded him.
"Yeah, but it was not like this..."
Now that things had calmed down, they all knew about Steven and his indecent proposal. What kept them talking, and of course laughing, all night was Steven's encounter with Moody.
"I'm telling you,Ó said Ron. They had finished dinner and were now in the family room having coffee. "I' wouldn't be surprised if he's somehow related to Lockhart. Turned out to be a bloody coward as well, didn't he?"
"I guess it pays to be friends with the best Auror ever, doesn't it?" said George to Harry.
"Yeah, just as it pays to be son of the Minister." All the Weasleys looked at each other and laughed.
"By the way Harry, did you ask Moody to go talk to Steven?" wondered Hermione.
"No, he offered himself. He heard me talking to Lupin about it, and he just..."
"You were talking to Lupin about it?" asked Hermione. She couldn't help feeling ashamed of herself about the whole situation. "Oh god, what's he going to think about me?"
"Nothing Hermione, don't worry about it."
"Yeah, Hermione," added Ron. "You shouldn't feel bad. He's the one who should feel ashamed, Steven should."
Hermione nodded to him. She deeply appreciated the fact that her friends understood what she had gone through and weren't judgmental about it. "I'm just glad I'm not going to see his face anymore."
"How's that?" asked Ginny.
"He asked to be transferred to another department," said Hermione. They all looked at each other and laughed. "He's still going to be at St. Mungo's, but at least I won't have to see him every day." Harry couldn't feel happier about that.
They were certainly having a great time. Harry, however, looked absent and pensive most of the time. Hermione had noticed. As the conversation shifted to Ron and Luna's engagement (Ron had already proposed and Luna had obviously said yes) Harry took the opportunity to walk out to the patio and be alone for a while. But Hermione didn't give him much time to by himself.
After she saw he'd gone outside, she decided to follow him and find out why he'd been so quiet. She found him leaning on the wall, looking at the stars. It was a bright full moon night. "For sure, Lupin isn't enjoying it that much," Harry thought.
"I don't think Lupin is having a good time right now,Ó said Hermione when she was next to Harry. He smiled seeing they had been thinking the same thing. Then, Harry looked at Hermione. With the moonlight in her face, giving her eyes and skin a wonderful glow, Harry thought he'd never seen her more beautiful before.
When Hermione realized Harry was staring at her she turned her face to him. Once again, Hermione saw in Harry's eyes that same goofy look she'd seen when they had been at Hogsmead. Once again, she found herself trying to guess what it was he was trying to tell her with his green eyes. Unconsciously, Hermione looked at Harry's lips and felt a chill going down her spine.
He was getting closer to her. For a moment Hermione thought Harry was about to kiss her. She was actually leaning forward preparing herself to enjoy the moment.
"Can I ask you something?" said Harry bringing Hermione to her senses.
"Sure, ask" she said after she was able to regain herself.
Harry looked away for a few seconds as if taking the courage to ask what he wanted to know. Finally, he looked back at Hermione. "Do you... do you still think about him?"
For a while Hermione wondered whom Harry was talking about. "Who? Steven?"
Harry nodded. Hermione thought about it for a second. As a matter of fact, she hadn't. Lately, all she'd been able to think about was Harry, the wonderful kiss they shared and the unexplainable effect all this was having on her. But of course, she couldn't say that to Harry.
"Actually, no. You see... after I saw who he really is, a self-centered, presumptuous, egocentric idiot and on top of that a bloody coward, I realized that all this time I had been in love with an image of him I had created in my mind. I even think that it wasn't exactly love what I felt. I don't know exactly what it was, but I'm sure it wasn't love"
After hearing her words, Harry's expression completely changed. He just couldnÕt hide how happy he felt about it. And with that thought in his head, suddenly to Harry the night never looked more beautiful.
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Harry had decided to give it a couple days before he'd make his move. He was planning to take Hermione to a nice romantic dinner and then tell her about his feelings. So, first thing Monday morning, he sent Hedwig to St. Mungo's to deliver a note to Hermione. However, Hedwig came back with the note still tied to her leg.
A hundred wild thoughts run through Harry's mind in a matter of seconds. He thought that perhaps Steven had done something to her to retaliate for what Harry had done to his pretty face. Knowing he wasn't going to relax until he'd know what was happening, Harry went to find Moody and told him that something urgent had happened and he needed to leave.
In many previous occasions, Harry had wondered if Moody's magical eye was able to see inside his head or perhaps Moody was an expert on occlumency 'cause he always seemed to know what was going through Harry's head. Moody didn't ask him what the emergency was and let Harry go without a question, not before telling him that in case he needed Moody's help, he shouldnÕt hesitate to call for him.
A couple of minutes later, Harry apparated at St. Mungo's and went straight to Hermione's office. It was locked. He walked up the hallway trying to find someone who could tell him where she was. Finally, he saw a healer and immediately bombarded her with questions. Since the healer didn't know Hermione's whereabouts, she directed Harry to the right department where he could be informed.
Five minutes later, Harry found out Hermione was sick and had sent a note saying she'd take the day off. Still a little anxious, but definitely not as apprehensive as before, Harry wasted no time and went immediately to Hermione's flat.
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That morning Hermione had woken up with a terrible cold. She had fever and worst of all a headache that made her feel dizzy. Ginny would've stayed with her all day, but she was supposed to cover the grand opening of a new robes' shop in Diagon Alley that would offer the latest styles in wizarding fashion. There wasn't anybody else to take her place.
So, after Ginny gave Hermione a strong potion to bring down the fever and hopefully reduce her headache, she went to work, not without telling Hermione she should call for her if she'd feel worse and that she'd be back as soon as she could. Hermione stayed in bed. Every muscle of her body ached and she didn't even feel like getting up.
About half an hour after Ginny had left, there was a knock in Hermione's bedroom door. She wondered for a while who could it be. She was quite sure Ginny had already left, and there was nobody else in the flat. Then, she heard Harry's voice.
"Hermione, can I come in?"
"Harry? It's that you?" said Hermione for all response. Harry opened the door and walked in. Hermione instinctively looked at herself. She was still wearing her pajamas, a white cotton cami and a drawstring pink pant. "Well", she thought. "It's not the first time he seems me like this." Still she tried to fix her hair with a hand, but the pain in her joints didn't let her do a good job.
"They told me you were sick." Harry came all the way to her bed and sat right next to her. Even though she was sick, Hermione felt a little self-conscious about her early-morning, sick appearance. Something she had never paid attention to before.
"Who told you?"
"In St. Mungo's. I'm sorry I apparated inside your flat without letting you know, but I assumed you were in bed and I didn't want to make you get up to open the door for me."
Harry was looking at her with concern. He noticed that even when her cheeks were pink due to the fever, she still looked pale. He also noticed the remains of the potion Ginny had given her on top of the night table.
"Oh good, I see you took your potion already."
"Ginny gave it to me before she left."
"How long ago did she give it to you? This is supposed to make you sleep." asked Harry while fixing her blankets to make sure she was well covered.
"Dunno, a while ago," responded Hermione. In fact she had began to feel drowsy just before Harry had arrived, but had gotten a little distracted by his presence.
"Okay then, no more talking and just sleep for a while. I'll stay here."
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Almost two hours later, Hermione woke up. For a few seconds she had forgotten why she was still in bed. Then as she tried to lift her upper body, the pain she felt in her arms reminded her she was sick. She gave up and laid back in bed.
Just then, Harry walked in. He was carrying a tray, which he placed in the night table. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. That potion made wonders. At least my head doesn't hurt anymore."
"And the fever is gone," said Harry while placing his hand on her forehead. "I brought you something." After he said this, he helped Hermione to sit up placing a couple of pillows behind her back for support. Then, he placed the tray before Hermione. It was holding a steaming bowl that smelled awfully familiar.
"Chicken soup?" said Hermione amazed.
"Yeah!" Then, after Hermione gave him a puzzled look he added. "Aunt Petunia always used to give Dudley chicken soup when he had a cold. I figured it must be helpful." He of course had never had anybody to give him not even a glass of water when he had been sick.
"That's what my mum used to give me too." Hermione was pleasantly surprised to see how once again their thoughts were similar as if they were always connected.
"Eat up, then."
And she did, with a little bit of pain each time she'd rise her arms, but pleased to know that Harry had bothered to prepare it for her. The warm liquid did help. She could feel how its warmth invaded her insides as it went down her throat giving her back her strength.
"It seems that lately, you've been coming a lot to my rescue."
"It's okay," said Harry, who didn't mind having excuses to run to her. "I wouldn't mind doing it every day."
"Oh! So, you think I'm that helpless I can't take care of myself?" said Hermione trying to sound indignant, but deeply pleased by his comment. Harry sat next to her and smiled. Hermione almost spilled her soup when she saw Harry's captivating smile.
"C'mon, you know what I mean. You're the last person in the world that I would think of as helpless. Besides, it's normal that you got sick. You've been in so much stress lately that your body just couldn't take it anymore."
Hermione smiled. She just loved to have him this close to her, doing everything to make her feel comfortable. After she finished her soup, or at least ate as much as she could, Harry suggested she'd got out of bed and change clothes. Hermione, however, remembering that she wasn't obviously looking her best, opted to take a shower.
The hot water hitting her body, along with the hot soup in her stomach, helped her to feel better. Fifteen minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom to find that Harry had walked out of her bedroom. He wanted to give privacy to get dressed. After she jumped into her favourite gray sweat pants and put on a baby blue tee, she went to find Harry.
He was in the living room, waiting for her. Since her body was still aching a little she went straight to the couch and sat down. Harry, who had been standing next to the fireplace looking at the pictures in the mantelpiece, stayed rooted to the same spot looking at her for a few minutes.
Finally, he walked and sat next to her. Trying to break the awkward silence, Hermione talked.
"Thanks Harry."
"For what?" He turned his body so that he was now facing her.
"For everything, for coming to nurse me, for helping me with my problems, for being here."
"You don't have to thank me." Then taking Hermione's hands in his he added, "I'm... I'm here 'cause there's no other place I'd rather be." Harry looked at Hermione's eyes. For a moment he thought he was seeing in her brown eyes exactly the same thing he was feeling at that time, a little bit of anxiety, but love, most of all love. Making up his mind, he decided he'd have no better chance to talk to her than this.
"Hermione... there's something I have to tell you." He took a deep breath trying to calm himself. "But first I want you to know that you're very important to me Hermione. Our friendship is the most important thing that I have and I would never do anything to mess that up. You... You've always been there with me, helping me to survive, 'cause Hermione, without you... I don't think I would've survived."
"Harry..." Hermione tried to interrupt, but Harry made her stop by putting his fingers over her lips. Even to his fingertips, her lips felt soft and desirable. In order to keep his mind focused, he removed his fingers.
"Please Hermione, let me finish" begged Harry. Then after looking at her hands for a few seconds, he looked up and kept talking. "When I saw what Steven did to you, how he made you cry, I was so angry. I wanted to have him in front of me and rip his heart out with my bare hands to see if he could feel at least half of the pain you were feeling. Hermione, I can't see you like that. I'd give my life to keep you from harm."
Hermione looked at him and again tried to say something, but Harry didn't give her a chance. He just kept talking. "I care about you Hermione, more than you think, more than what even I used to think. Not only that but I also need you with me. I know I shouldn't say this, but I'm glad things didn't work out with Steven 'cause if that would've been the case, I... You see in a way he helped me realize what my feelings really are. He made me open my eyes and understand how important you are for me. I realized you've always been the one Hermione. It's always been you. The most wonderful woman in the world and the woman I couldn't live without."
He finally stopped. He had said all that in a breath; once he started, he couldnÕt stop. Harry looked at Hermione. She hadn't said a word, and Harry couldn't read the expression of her face. Finally after was seemed like an eternity to Harry, Hermione gave signs of life. But she didn't say a word, for all response she threw herself on top of Harry and started kissing him like she'd been longing for a while.
Harry responded to the kiss with all the emotions he'd been holding down, pulling her towards him. Their kiss became more intense as their tongues began to invade each other's mouth. They were so focused on each other that they didn't hear someone had arrived.
"Well, it's about time!"
"Ginny!" Hermione quickly sat up, her face once again red as a radish, but this time it wasn't out of fever. Harry's face was as red as Hermione's.
"So you guys finally found out you were meant to be together." Ginny was really pleased to see that her two friends had finally decided to accept their feelings.
Harry chuckled at Ginny's words. Hermione couldn't speak. "I'm really happy for you guys, really happy."
A/N - Just one more chapter to go! Thanks for all of your reviews.