Author's note: Another super short chapter. Sorry.
O weary night. O long and tedious night.
Abate thy hours! Shine comforts from the east.
A Midsummer Night's Dream III.ii.430
Chapter 7 "House Hunting"
"Don't touch me." Hermione pushed his arms away, trying to twist out of his encircling arms. "Please…" she cried, now near tears. "Please…I don't…"
Easy Potter…Harry knew he was scaring her. Sodding buggering bloody spell…
He'd found Hermione in one of the drawing rooms in the old servant's wing. He'd caught her wrist and gathered her to him, whispering assurances as she tried to pull away. "Hermione, love, please, it's me…I'm so sorry…I'm right here sweets…"
"No, don't," she pulled away again. She was struggling against him now, her eyes wide and watery with fear.
"Hermione," he begged. "Please, It's me. It's Harry," he kissed her forehead. "Don't cry…please," he whispered as she started to still. "I've got you."
She stopped struggling but didn't answer him. Instead she stared absently at his hands as they ran over her shoulders and down her sides.
"Hermione…please sweets, look at me."
Her chin was trembling and her breathing hitched as he cupped her cheek.
"Harry?" She sighed as she brought her arm around him and pulled him into one of their famous hugs.
He gathered her to him, rubbing circles on her back and whispering in her ear as he cradled her to his chest and ran his hand through her hair. "I've got you…"
He eased back and stared into her cinnamon eyes, searching for a sort of permission. She worried her bottom lip and sighed her approval as he tightened his hold on her and lifted her to him and...
They both turned suddenly when the floorboard creaked.
"Harry?" Ron called, the green light from the Luminous spell momentarily blinding them.
Harry lost his grip on Hermione, who pushed passed him and strode towards Ron.
"Ron," Hermione shielded her eyes. "Turned off that light."
"Hey, how bout a thank you?" He pouted as he lowered his wand. "Ron to the rescue and all."
She swatted at him as she laughed.
"Rescue? From what?" She asked. They turned back to Harry. Hermione's eyes were now bright and inviting, with none of the barely contained panic Harry had seen moments ago.
"Well, Harry, for one." Ron said. "And, then there's all…the…end tables."
"End tables?" Hermione said skeptically.
"How'd you find us?" Harry asked, hoping he didn't sound as disappointed as he thought he did. It had been the first time he'd held her for days, or hours really, and he couldn't bring himself to feel guilty over wanting it to last another two bloody minutes.
Ron smiled. "Selnor spells." He gave the proper motion with his wand as Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Yep Harry." He gave a breezy sigh. "Who have thought all of Hermione's sixth year nagging and bullying and bothering and criticizing and insulting…hey!" She elbowed him in the ribs.
"Well," he went on. "Who would've thought they'd pay off?"
"Oh. Yes. Brilliant." Hermione bit her lip, trying to keep from laughing.
"Well that's gratitude for you," Ron grumbled as he turned to Hermione. Ron scooped up the laughing girl in his arms and called to Harry. "Come on then. I'm sure there's at least one person, somewhere, waiting up for us."
"Oh, put me down Ron," Hermione cried as Ron blithely ignored her and started back downstairs.
"Harry," she looked over Ron's shoulder. "Tell him to put me down."
It was too dark too see Harry's withering glance. Don't tempt me… he muttered as he followed them.
"I can walk you know," she added turning back to Ron.
"Not barefoot you're not…"
"Well, just transfigure me some shoes then," she said with a grin.
"No," Ron said sternly.
"Why not?"
He cocked his eyebrows. "Because carrying you makes me feel all manly."
"Oh dear gods…" she sighed, burying her face in her hands.
As they continued on through the unlit passages, Ron and Hermione's easy banter made the dark and narrow hallways as inviting as the best lit room in the house. However, Harry merely trailed behind his two friends, muttering annoyances under his breath.
Sodding spell…
Sodding Ron…
Oh sod it all…
---------------
"Of course the antidote is easy enough Harry," Tonks said nonchalantly after Harry, Hermione and Ron had returned. Harry was standing in Lupin's den, asking a smirking Tonks to end his misery.
Poor guy, she thought, grinning at the weary Boy in front of her. His hair was more disheveled than usual and his skin looked pale and clammy. And only twenty hours after she'd slipped Hermione the potion.
Men… She sighed and shook her head. At least I made good time with this one.
"Sure. Harry. The cure. Right. It'll just take a few weeks…"
"A few what!" Harry cried.
"Er…or days," she corrected sweetly. "Three days."
"Three days?"
"Well, this is what happens when you don't plan ahead…." She gave a tut-tut sound.
"Safe to say, I think we've all learned a valuable lesson about solving our problems through needless spells."
She nodded solemnly and looked at Lupin, who bit back a groan.
"Oh. Gee," Harry muttered darkly. "Thanks so much."
He then turned and left the room without saying 'good night.' Because, it wouldn't be 'good' night. Tonks had worked her own special locks on Hermione's door, but Harry planned to spend the better part of the night on watch in the hallway. 'Better' meaning all cramped up in the crook of her doorway.
"I hate to see him like this." Lupin said after Harry'd shut the door behind him.
"Don't worry Puppy." She patted his cheek. "Mummy will make everything right."
He gave a rare eye roll. "As per usual…"
She nodded. "Absolutely. But first we'll let him stew a bit." She took a seat, resting her head on his shoulder as she began tracing figure-eights on the back of his hand. "Three days. Do you think the number's a little heavy-handed? Symbolic-wise?"
He shrugged an arm over her. "Is there any reasonable answer to that question?"
She hummed her agreement as she absently ran her hand through his hair for a minute or two.
"Robin shall restore amends…" she muttered as she shifted closer to him.
"What?" Lupin asked suspiciously.
"I said 'what time is it?'"
"That's not what you said," Lupin grumbled before Tonks began the too easy task of shutting him up.
"Never you mind Pup-pup," she chirped as she merrily began nibbling her way down his front. "Leave the heavy lifting to me."