Chapter 7
Harry stood in front of the bathroom sink. He still felt upset about everything and he wished he could make it better. But after he had said it he began to wonder if it was true. Maybe it would have been better for her not to come back. He had sat in his bedroom just thinking everything over. Seeing her brought back all kinds of painful memories. He had finally managed to get over it and move on, it had taken a lot longer than he had let on. Now she was back and all his feelings had come rushing back. And now he knew that he wouldn't be able to hold up any longer if she left again.
He splashed water into his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror. The water streamed down his face and dripped off his nose to splash into the sink. He grabbed a soft towel out of the closet and dried his face. He couldn't give in to his feelings now or ever, he was in love with Bridget, they had a daughter and they were a family together. He knew that no matter how hard Bridge tried to say that she wasn't a powerful seer he knew above anything else that she was terribly perceptive. There was no reason that she shouldn't realize something as big as that. He shook his head and stalked into his room.
He grabbed a clean pair of pants and a shirt. He had been thinking about all of this way too much in the past few hours. In some way life had in fact been easier during the last few years, even with Hermione gone. Seeing her had made him rethink his future and everything that he had become. He shook his head again and took one last look at the room wishing that he didn't have to go downstairs for dinner and face them all.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bridget looked up as Hermione and Kate walked into the room. "Well Hermione how are you feeling?"
Hermione managed a smile. "As well as I can be."
Bridget nodded. "Sit down. I am sure Luna and Ron will be here in a few minutes."
"So do Ron and Luna have any children?" She had been wondering that but her and Harry hadn't actually got to talking much about that.
Bridget smiled at her. "Not yet. You see their marriage is relatively new. I believe they want to take it slow, no kids just yet but definitely some in the future."
Hermione smiled uncomfortably. Earlier it had seemed as if it was very easy to talk to Bridget but right now it didn't feel that way. She sat perched on the edge of the armchair.
Her head snapped up as the door opened and Harry walked in. He had cleaned up and changed into something nicer for dinner. He met Hermione's gaze with a calm indifference and went over to the loveseat on which Bridget sat. He bent down, kissed Bridget on the cheek, swept Kate up into his arms and sat down on the loveseat balancing her on his lap. Hermione bit her lip. They looked so happy together. She found that she had no place in this family.
She sat back and closed her eyes, rubbing her temples slowly. Bridget looked to her and placed her hand lightly onto the arm of the chair. "Hermione are you feeling okay because if you are too tired or you aren't up to it Luna and Ron can come at another time."
"Oh no I am feeling okay, I am just thinking about stuff."
"Well okay then. May I ask you some questions? I hope I am not prying but now that I finally get to meet the famous Hermione Granger I would like to get to know you better."
"Um…well…okay," Hermione relied nervously. She was still puzzling out what Kate had said before they had walked into the room. Answering questions would be easy enough.
"Okay well you are a muggleborn right?" instead of letting Hermione answer she just went on. "How was your life before you got your letter? It must have been really different. I mean I can't really imagine how one morning you are one person and the next you are someone totally different."
Hermione was startled by Bridget's over all excitement. She looked at Harry was sitting next to Bridget with an amused expression on his face. Before Hermione could answer there was a big knock on the front door. She jumped, startled and stood up instinctively walking toward where she guessed the front door to be. Bridget stopped her with a delicate hand and a chuckle.
"Don't worry, Kya can take care of that. After all that is what we pay her for. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback when he told me that he paid her but after he told me all about your S.P.E.W. efforts I thought it a fine idea." She stood up as Kya came into the room with Ron and Luna behind her. She hugged Luna and held out a hand to Ron who took it and kissed it, laughing softly. Obviously that formality was some kind of inside joke that Hermione knew nothing of.
When she saw her too old friends Hermione had sat back down heavily on the chair feeling as if her legs had been kicked out from under her. She stared up at Ron and Luna with wide eyes. She felt faint. For eight years she had pictured the reunion of herself with her friends. So far it was painfully different. She stood up on shaking legs and looked at Ron who stood across the room. She took a cautious step forward. All of a sudden she flew forward and launched herself into Ron's arms, tears streaming down her face. Ron stood stiffly for a second but then leaned into her embrace.
They stayed like that for a solid five minutes. When they finally broke apart tears were coming from both of their eyes. Hermione hugged Luna too and they all sat down.
Ron started talking first. "We missed you," he said in a lightly strained voice.
Hermione tried to keep herself from crying again. "Yes and I you. Oh you and Luna. I am so happy. I never thought…but I am really glad you both have each other."
"Yes," Luna answered in a voice that was very unfamiliar for Hermione. She could tell that Luna had really changed a lot. "I never thought that Ron would ever fall for me but I guess I was lucky." She smiled and looked out into the empty space. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the dreamy look on her face. Maybe she hadn't changed too much.
Soon enough Kya walked into the room. "Dinner is ready." Hermione was half expecting her to bow. After all she had seen crazier things today. She really never expected Harry's life to be like this. But what did she know? After all she had left without telling anyone where she was and then she cane back expecting everything to be normal. She hadn't thought about it logically. It had always been her and her damn logic but in the time she needed it the most it had left her. But enough dwelling on the past.
They all followed Kya into the dining room and took their respective seats. Harry at the head, Bridge at the foot, Ron and Luna occupied on side and Hermione and Kate shared the other. Kya brought out the food and then took her seat at the little table in the corner of the room. Under normal circumstances she would sit at the table with the family but since there were guests she was not allowed.
Conversation was easy and light. Nothing was mentioned about Hermione's sabbatical or anything else of the sort. Harry and Hermione hardly talked throughout the whole meal; in fact they didn't even look at each other. Hermione, Luna and Bridget all talked laughing and enjoying their selves. Every once and awhile Ron or Harry would add a comment in but otherwise they kept to their own conversation. Kate sat quietly, eating her food. In her head she was thinking about many things. Namely Hermione, her father and her mother. She was thinking about what was going to happen, things that were to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron looked around the table, his eyes finally resting on Harry. He could tell that Harry was happy but there was also something else underneath it, some confusion or regret. He knew Harry well and all through his life he had never seemed as troubled as he did now. He seemed distracted all through dinner and kept stealing glances at Hermione. Ron could tell something was wrong. Harry and Hermione were carefully avoiding each others yes and didn't talk to each other once. Ron frowned. He knew that his friends thought he wouldn't notice it. They had always underestimated him.
Shaking his head he turned his attention to Hermione. It was good seeing her again, he had really missed her. She was laughing and talking with Luna and Bridget. Luna was telling Hermione about how here and Ron had gotten together.
"So you know we all kept in touch after school ended but we didn't all see each other too much. I was working on the Quibbler then. Neville was working there too before he got the position at Hogwarts as Herbology professor. We actually met at Harry and Bridge's wedding. He didn't recognize me at first and he asked me to dance. I was so surprised that Ronald Weasley was asking me to dance. I had always had a crush on him."
Hermione giggled. "Really? I didn't notice." No one could tell if she was being sarcastic or not.
"And then when he asked my name he was surprised but he kept dancing. The next day he called me up to go on a date. I actually refused him for the first year. Tried to pay him back for all those years he ignored me." Luna laughed, not actually looking upset about those years. "But he kept at it. Finally I said yes and two and a half years later we were getting married."
Hermione smiled. "That is quite an interesting story. I am so sorry I missed your wedding." she stopped and took a deep breath. "I wish I could have been there for both of them." she choked the last part out. All of them knew she was talking about Harry and Bridge's wedding too.
For the first time that night Harry looked at her and smiled. It was fleeting but it made Hermione grin. But other than that dinner went on much the same.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After dinner Kate went to bed and Harry retired to his study to do some of his work, Luna and Bridget were chattering about something in the living room. Ron took Hermione aside to talk.
"So during dinner Harry told me of some of the places that you went when you were on your trip."
Hermione found it amusing that he referred to her leaving for eight years as a trip. "Yes. It was nice but I just missed home and all of you guys."
Ron shifted uncomfortably. "So what is up with you and Harry?"
Hermione looked up sharply. She began to say that there was nothing wrong but she stopped and sighed. She was tried of telling this story over and over again. "We said some things that we shouldn't have and it just got us both kind of upset."
Ron nodded. "So what do you think about Bridge?"
Hermione smiled. "She is really nice. We have already become pretty good friends."
"What do you think about Harry and Bridge?"
"Well I ha-wait what?" her eyes glazed over and she looked at a spot somewhere over Ron's shoulder. "I think that they are good together. I am happy for them." she said this in a monotone. She sounded like a robot or a young student reciting her lessons.
"But that is not what you really feel is it?"
Hermione looked at Ron disbelieving. "What are you a psychiatrist?"
Ron spread his arms out in front of him and shrugged. "Just trying to be of help."
"Okay maybe that is not exactly what I feel. There hasn't been a second that went by today that I didn't envy Bridget. But she seems to make him really happy and that is all that matters isn't it?"
"Yes but are you happy?"
"Again the psychiatrist thing. But you know I have no idea what was more ridiculous: that I expected him to have no life until I came back or I even expected him to actually love me back."
"So you love him?"
"Yes I do. I admit it, I love him. I have to tell you that I didn't realize it until after I left. I guess I had a lot of time to think about it." Her voice cracked. "But how could he ever love me?"
"Well if it makes you feel any better I know that Harry loved you to."
"When you say loved…"
"After you left he was very withdrawn. I am not oblivious and it was kind of obvious. He took it so hard there was no other explanation. He never told me but I guessed. I am not sure about now. But you can know that he did in fact love you at a time."
Hermione gave him a small smile. "Well, okay. I have a question for you. What was up with the thing when you kissed Bridget's hand?" She was obviously trying to change the subject and it worked.
Ron laughed. "Well, when I first met her I have to admit I was quite taken with her. The first time I met her I took her hand and kissed it like a gentleman. I think that she might have liked me a little then but then she started going out with Harry. It is kind of a joke now."
Hermione laughed. "I was guessing that it would be something like that." They talked for a little longer, catching up after so long.
-->