Chapter 14-Revelations
Life went back to normal for Harry and Hermione…well, not so normal. For reasons that neither could explain nor even think about they stayed living together. They acted as if Hermione's life was still at stake and that they needed to stay married. Of course, they didn't say anything out loud. There was an almost awkward silence between them, memories still fresh of their night together, or almost together.
Hermione kept working out of Hogwarts on some light ministry work. As of late, her enthusiasm for her job seemed to lessen.
Harry's lessons were not up to par. Most of the students noticed that he seemed distracted these days and he did not put as much energy into his job.
Harry left his classroom late one evening and walked through the silent corridors to his own room. He barely noticed where he was going. However, he was startled back to reality when he opened the door to his room and found that there on the floor were numerous packed bags that he recognized as Hermione's luggage.
Harry looked around the room and the bathroom for a sign of where Hermione was, but she couldn't be found. Harry's insides tightened as the thought of her leaving hit him. He didn't know what to do.
He walked back to his bed and found a note lying neatly on the blankets.
Dear Harry,
I went up to meet with Dumbledore to say good-bye. I will be back soon.
Hermione
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"Well, thank you again for seeing me Professor. I must be going, I just wanted to say good-bye before I left," Hermione told Professor Dumbledore before getting out her chair.
"Before you depart Ms. Granger," there seemed to be a tone of amusement when saying her name, "I wanted to say one more thing."
Hermione sat back into her chair and looked expectantly into the twinkling eyes that were a trademark of Dumbledore.
"I was just informed recently that our own Professor McGonagall will be retiring after this year. I can't help but remember that you had exceptionally high marks in Transfiguration and I thought I would offer you the position."
Hermione was speechless. That was the last thing she was expecting Professor Dumbledore to say. She instantly wanted to take it to stay near Harry, but then her mind wandered back to his room where all of her bags were packed and the job that was waiting for her back at the ministry. But there was more. She thought of her heart, and how she didn't know if it would be good for her to be in the same castle as Harry. It would just hurt her so much.
"For a brief moment I thought I could say yes," Hermione began. "However, I really can not accept. I really need to get back to my job at the ministry." She decided to go with the half truth.
Dumbledore's eyes bored into her own as he gazed at her from behind his desk. There was a smile in his eyes, as if he could see into the future. "Of course I understand. I thought it was worth a try at the least. However, if you by any chance change your mind, I will not be advertising for a replacement well into late spring."
Hermione rose again from her chair. "I will definitely keep that in my mind." She knew that information would be gnawing at her for the next couple of months. "Well, I need to be going, good-bye Professor."
Dumbledore nodded and watched her leave. Only after he heard the door did he whisper, "Good evening Mrs. Potter."
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Harry lay in deep thought on his bed. He had a book in hand as if he was reading, but his mind was too busy with other thoughts to even concentrate on the book. He was trying to put names on things he was feelings that were inside of him, and words that needed to be spoken before Hermione left him. She couldn't go without knowing were his main thoughts.
He didn't notice the door open. What brought him back to reality was the drop of metal onto his night stand that was near his head.
"This belongs to you. I need to be leaving now. I have overstayed my welcome. Bye Harry I hope we can keep in contact. I don`t want to lose you again," Hermione spoke, unable to keep her voice from quivering with emotion.
Harry didn't look at her, but looked at the ring that was sparkling in the candlelight. It hurt him to think of her not wearing it. He had gotten accustomed to seeing it on her hand and he liked the thought of her having something that belonged to his mother. He couldn't explain it.
Finally he sat up and picked up the ring and grabbed Hermione's hand. "I want you to keep the ring. It belongs on your hand."
"I can not possibly accept it. That ring belongs on the hand of your future wife." One silent tear fell from her face as she collapsed on her knees so that she was eyelevel with Harry.
Harry let a small smile play across his face. "I thought you said that this would be my only marriage."
Hermione sighed, "Oh of course you are going to get married again. How could anyone not want to be married to you?" Hermione closed her mouth abruptly, fearing she had told him too much. Another tear fell down her face and she tried to push herself up to leave, but Harry wouldn't let her.
Before Hermione could do or say anything else, Harry spoke suddenly, "I don't want to get a divorce."
Hermione was wondering why Harry was torturing her. She felt like the room was closing in on her and she couldn't breathe anymore. She needed to leave. "We have to Harry."
Harry noticed that Hermione was looking very pale and was having a hard time meeting his eyes. He thought that she really didn't understand what he was telling her. He would have to be more obvious and it was really hard for him to say what he was feeling, after all he didn't really have much practice at it. "Hermione, I want to stay married to you, because I love you. I could start reciting beautiful and fancy declarations of love, but let's face the facts, that's not my style. It's very simple. I love you and I want to stay married to you. With you, there is clarity to my life and I see a future for my life."
Hermione's breath left her in one fell swoosh. Every muscle in her relaxed as she searched Harry's eyes. She looked through them, trying to find reassurance to what he was saying. All of a sudden it came to her. She recognized the unknown emotion in his eyes that she had been seeing for weeks, but have been unable to put a name it. It was love. Plain and simple, he truly did love her.
That was when the waterworks. Hermione broke down crying and lunged forward, knocking Harry backwards on to the bed. Hermione was lying on top of him kissing him all over his face, murmuring "I love you" over and over again.
After a few minutes of this they sat up and Harry took the ring in his hand and got down on the ground on one knee. He held up the ring in his hand as Hermione sat on the bed silently crying with a huge smile on her face.
"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"
Hermione laughed, "I am married to you."
"But, will you marry me again. At our previous wedding," Harry was speaking as if they had numerous weddings. "I was under the impression that it was not real. I would like the chance to do it again, knowing that it is real this time."
Hermione smiled sweetly at Harry. "Of course I will marry you again."
Harry slipped the ring back onto Hermione's hand and they both fell back onto the bed, each just cuddling with each other, reminiscing over the last couple of weeks and how silly they have been to not see what was obvious to the rest of the world, even Severus Snape, that they belonged together.
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