Much Married
Chapter 1
Another Wedding
The old house was just beginning to show life for the day. The middle aged couple had gotten used to the quiet after raising such a large family, however several of the grown children had stayed over after talking late into the previous night when they came for dinner.
"Harry's getting married again," Mrs. Weasley stated calmly as she flipped through the Daily Prophet.
"Who's he marrying this time?" calmly asked Mr. Weasley, who was looking through another section of the paper as he drank his morning tea.
"Lavender Brown. Wasn't she in Gryffindor?" she responded.
Ron bounded into the room and grabbed a bun off the table. "Yeah, she was. Harry's been dating her? I didn't know that."
"Don't you see him almost every week?" asked Mrs. Weasley in confusion.
"Well, yeah, but he doesn't talk about that stuff. You know how he is…"
"I bet she's pregnant…" said George, rolling his eyes as he poured his tea.
"Haven't all of his other wives been pregnant when they got married?" asked Fred with a smirk helping himself to breakfast.
"Doesn't he know the charms to prevent that?" asked Ginny scowling into her all ready full teacup.
"The best prevention is to just keep one's trousers zipped!" lectured Mr. Weasley, eyebrows raised and looking sternly at Ginny, then his sons.
"The poor dear, bless him… never had any one to tell him about these things. He's having to find out on his own… " observed a tearful Mrs. Weasley.
"That's rubbish!" snorted Ginny. "Finding out on your own can explain away once, maybe twice. This is Harry's seventh marriage at least! It's disgusting."
After Harry's latest news had been fully dissected by the Weasley family, Ron prepared to leave for work. "Thanks for letting me kip here, Mum."
"You're always welcome, Dear," she answered. "This is your home." Ron kissed her cheek before leaving.
He found Hermione Granger pacing about his office, her hands clenched as she strode back and forth. "Did you hear about Harry?" she asked the moment she saw him.
"Yeah, what's up with him?" he responded. Ron casually tossed his rucksack on to his desk before turning to face her.
"That's what I'd like to know," she stated firmly. "He's just not been himself since after the battle. He's so closed off from us. I miss him, Ron." She dropped her head to her chest.
"I know what you mean. I miss the Harry we used to know. I'm not even in love with him and I miss him."
"I don't want to talk about that. Please don't bring it up," she grumbled before raising her eyes to Ron. "Do you still meet him every week?"
"Yeah, for all the good it does," answered a shrugging Ron. "All he talks about is quidditch or his kids. If Lavender is indeed pregnant, and I don't see why he's marrying her if she's not, then he'll have seven children, just like my dad. That's an odd idea…"
"Let me go with you next time…" she suggested, her eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Hermione…" argued Ron. He turned toward the desk and made a show of unpacking his bag.
"Just hear me out," she begged as she followed him. "I haven't seen him in ages, hardly at all since he broke off with me after…you know. I want to see for myself that he's alright. He's been avoiding me, I know it. What I want to know is why."
"Hermione…" Ron began again. "I won't betray his trust." Hermione opened her mouth to argue. "But…" continued Ron, holding up a hand to stall her, "if you were to be looking for me and he happens to be there…"
Ron was temporarily blinded by a mass of brown curls. "You are the greatest friend," she said as she hugged him. "I won't forget this, I promise."
"Just keep in mind; he's not the schoolboy you remember. The stories of his eccentricity are not just rumors. If he stays once he sees you, one lecture from you will make him leave. Bloody hell, if I say the wrong thing, he'll leave. Just don't push him on anything."
"I'll remember. Thank you so much. I won't forget this…ever," she said in a rush.
The following Thursday, Ron met Harry at the pub. Harry was in a relaxed pose, his arm casually resting on the back of the next chair. His other hand held a lit cigarette. "Hey, Ron," he said with an odd grin. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming…"
"Sorry, mate," Ron answered. "I got held up."
Harry took a long swallow of his drink and closed his eyes against the burning sensation coursing through him. "That's fine. So, tell me, what's going on with you?" he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Oh, the usual…" said Ron vaguely, knowing Harry didn't really want to know.
"Good…good," replied Harry.
"So…how's Lavender?"
"Fine, I guess…" Harry shrugged.
"'Fine, I guess?' Sorry, mate, but you don't sound like a man in love and about to be married." He studied the other man's face to see if he could read any emotion in it. He couldn't, as usual.
"What do you want me to say, Ron? She's pregnant and we're getting married. End of story…"
"There you are, Ron!" smiled Hermione in mock surprise. "Your Mum asked me to find you to tell you Charlie is coming home. He'll be here tomorrow. You are supposed to owl her and let her know if you can make it for dinner. Oh, hi, Harry…" she added as if it were an afterthought.
"Hermione…" Harry stated tonelessly. His eyes changed as if shutters were drawn over them. Ron had seen this before.
"May I join you?" she asked.
Harry waved a hand to indicate she should sit, extinguished his smoke and drained his drink.
The waitress came over. "I'll have what he's having." Hermione stated, pointing at Harry
"Hermione…maybe you'd be better off with something else…" cautioned Ron.
"If she wants to drink, let her drink," Harry stated coldly. The waitress nodded and left.
She returned and placed a glass in front of Hermione. Hermione took a tiny sip and spluttered and coughed; her eyes red and watery. "How can you drink that stuff?" she said with a grimace. Harry looked her and remained silent.
"How are your kids?" Ron asked in an effort to get Harry to join the conversation.
"They're brilliant! Amazing!" Harry said with a smile, his eyes regaining their previous sparkle. "Cindy just turned seven. She can ride like the wind. I had her last weekend. She is the smartest kid…"
Ron and Hermione shared a look at Harry's changed demeanor. Harry continued, "Emmie, she's five, will be coming next weekend. Bryce and Blair are almost four. I haven't talked to them in days…what?"
"Is Lavender pregnant?" asked Hermione bluntly. Ron glared at her.
"Why do you want to know?" Harry asked as he lit another cigarette. His eyes faded, the sparkle leaving as quickly as it had come.
"I was just curious, that's all," Hermione rushed to say.
"Does it matter to you?" Harry asked, as he began preparing to leave.
"Harry, please don't go," Hermione pled with him as she touched his arm. "I haven't talked to you in so long. Please stay. Do you have pictures of your children? I'd love to see them…"
Harry relaxed and dug out his wallet. He unfolded a long line of pictures. "This is Emmie, and these are of Cindy…These are the twins…this one is Bryce and that one is Blair…" Harry pointed out each child with pride in his voice. "This one is Janie, she's three and this one is Mee Tao, she's fifteen months."
"Quite a brood you have there, mate." Ron said.
"They're all terrific kids. I just wish I could spend more time with them, though. One weekend a month isn't nearly enough…" Harry replied with a heavy sigh.
Hermione tried several more times to get Harry to tell her about his life other than the children. Each time, his eyes glazed over and he prepared to leave. Finally she gave up and kept the conversation to the level of small talk.
Hours later, as the bar was preparing to close, Harry surprised them both by saying, "The wedding is Saturday, if you wanted to come…" They both eagerly accepted.
Hermione and Ron arrived at the church together. They noticed immediately that they were among only a small number of guests attending. Taking their seats, they waited for the service to begin.
Finally, the ceremony began and Harry took his place at the podium by the Minister. He stood aloof, until a line of small children paraded up the aisle, the last one crawling. When they reached the front of the aisle, they each blew Harry a kiss, then each found a seat by a different woman seated in the front row. Harry beamed down at them, looking happier than Hermione had ever seen him.
The Wedding March began to play from seemingly nowhere and Harry tensed. When no one showed up at the door, the music stopped. After a long pause, it began again. On the fifth round of starting and stopping, Parvati Patil, in her ruffled pink bridesmaid gown, rushed down the aisle and gave Harry a note. Harry read it, as his shoulders slumped. He almost imperceptibly pulled himself together and whispered to the Minister, who gave Harry a one-armed hug and whispered back. The conversation went on for a few seconds before Harry shook his head.
Harry faced the crowd. After waving to the children, he made an address to the audience. "I apologize for bringing you here under false pretenses, but there isn't going to be a wedding here today that I will be involved in." A gasp went through the small crowd. "But thank you for coming. Do you guys still want cake and ice cream?" he said with a smile to the row of children. The children giggled in pleasure as Harry went down to greet them. The women, a few recognizable, allowed their children to gather around Harry. He embraced them each, and then kissed their mother on the cheek, before walking away to the room where the reception was to have been held. Harry took the youngest in his arms. The other kids gathered around Harry as if he were their hero and followed him out of the room.
Ron and Hermione trailed Harry into the other room, where he was busy cutting the cake. A few women were tying bibs on the younger children. The couple approached Harry.
"Hey, guys, thanks for coming. Want some cake?"
"Harry, what's up?" asked Ron confused.
"I can't talk now. Bryce, don't smear cake on your brother…" Harry scolded. "Kids, these are my friends, Ron and Hermione… Say hello to Daddy's friends…"
A chorus of greetings ensued. Ron and Hermione smiled at them; offered their own responses and immediately began to help Harry serve the cake.
"Deidre," Harry began, "You remember Hermione from the Ministry, right?"
"Yes, how have you been?" the woman asked pleasantly. Hermione replied and introductions were made all around.
Red-faced and puffy-eyed, Lavender entered the site of the reception, accompanied by Seamus Finnegan. "Can we talk?" she asked her former groom.
"Sure, let me just get these guys started. I'll be right out," Harry responded. "Listen," He said to Ron and Hermione. "I need to talk to her. Can I meet you at the same place as Thursday? In…say…about two hours?"
A thoroughly confused Hermione agreed. "We'll be there," she said as she elbowed Ron.
"Yeah, mate. Order you the same?" Ron added.
Harry nodded and went back to his task of scooping ice cream and keeping order.
Just past dark, Harry strode into the pub, still dressed in his dress robes from the ceremony; which now had white icing spots here and there. His eyes were blank and he already smelled of strong drink.
"Thanks for coming," he said as he sat down and immediately lit a cigarette.
"Harry, I wish you wouldn't…" Hermione started. At his fierce look, she broke off.
"What's up, mate? What happened?" asked Ron.
"Lavender decided she'd rather marry Seamus, that's all." Harry tossed back the amber liquid.
"You don't seem upset by this…" observed Ron, even more confused than he was before.
"No, why would I be? I don't love her anymore than she loves me. If Seamus can make her happy, then who am I to interfere?"
Hermione suddenly got a look of understanding. "She isn't pregnant with your child, is she?"
"I never said she was…" answered Harry, signaling the server for another beverage.
Ron shook his head to clear it. Hermione added, "Harry, I looked very carefully at all 'your' children and couldn't find even a hint that favors you. Are any of those children yours biologically?"
"No," answered Harry as if confused as to why she was asking.
"You mean you married all of those women when they were pregnant by other blokes?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Yeah, so what?" asked Harry. "They were in trouble and came to me. I helped them out, that's all."
"You are as mental as everyone says…" said Ron. Hermione was strangely silent.
"Why?" asked Harry angrily. "Why does that make me mental? They needed a husband to make their child legitimate, I provided that. As soon as they were back on their feet, we divorced. In return, I get to know all of these amazing kids and call them my own. They each visit one weekend a month and they are genuinely glad to know me. How can that be mental? It's a bit unorthodox, I agree, but I get the better part of the bargain, I can assure you." Hermione silently remembered back to their seventh year when everything went so wrong between her and Harry.
"Hermione, we need to talk about it," Harry said pleadingly; his eyes full of desperation.
"No we don't, not yet," she replied. "I love you and you love me. Let's not plan for the future until after school…"
"You mean after Voldemort, don't you?" he asked, his face closing off.
"Harry, we can't just pretend he doesn't exist, that he isn't dead set on killing you…"
"You weren't thinking about Voldemort last night when you came to my room…"
"Harry, listen to me, please. Just because we love each other, doesn't mean we have to plan our futures before we leave school. I mean, of course as far as classes go we do, but I'm not ready to settle down. I don't know if I even want children at all, much less when to have them. Voldemort is still out there…waiting. If you don't survive the final battle, then where will I be? Alone and pregnant…that's what you are suggesting. I'm sorry, Harry. I can't do that. I love you so much, but I won't sacrifice 'me' over 'us'."
"I understand," he answered, his face looking like he was far from understanding.
"You still love me, don't you?" she whispered to herself, "just like I love you."
The next day, Hermione arrived at Ron's office just as he was heading to lunch. "Let's go to Harry's tonight. I know you know where he lives," she suggested slyly, her voice full of anticipation.
"You don't understand, Hermione," Ron explained. "You don't just show up at Harry's. He's got wards and all sorts of booby traps. It's too dangerous."
"Then owl him and let him know we are coming. It's not as if he works regular hours. No one knows where or if he works…"
"I've got that dinner with Charlie tonight. I can't just go…"
"Then I'll go myself. Where's your owl?"
"Hermione, please, just let this go," begged Ron.
"Look, here's what I know. In seventh year, Harry wanted to plan our lives…our futures. I wasn't ready to do that. Now, I understand that his fear over losing to Voldemort was causing him to seek something he could grasp as hope. I didn't understand that then. I hurt him. I said that I didn't know if I even wanted to have children. Within a week, he broke up with me. It all makes sense!" Hermione beamed.
"So, if I'm hearing you correctly," Ron stated. "Harry keeps marrying pregnant women so he can have kids?"
"Yes, he can have children without risking his heart. They aren't even his kids, but he loves them and claims them as such so that he can have the family he's always wanted. He still loves me."
Ron looked at her dumbfounded. "How in the devil did you come up with that?"
"Simple," she explained. "Why else would he go to all of the trouble to make sure he had children? He loves me, so he can't love anyone else. He desperately wants children of his own, so he offers unwed pregnant witches a way out of their troubles. It wouldn't even surprise me if he pays them all every month to provide for 'his' kids."
"And, just because he has a soft spot for the little snotrags, means he still loves you? You've lost your mind…"
"Look at it logically," she replied. "Has he ever really dated anyone but me? It's been nearly ten years."
"It's a bit hard to date around when you are either in the process of getting married or in the process of getting divorced."
"That's my point exactly. None of his marriages has lasted because he wasn't in love with them. He loves me. He's always loved me. I haven't lost him!"
"Let's say your theory is true, and I am not saying it is, just if…then why has he effectively avoided you for the last seven years? If you hadn't been there the other night, he'd still be avoiding you."
"I know that, Ron. Let me ask you a question. Why, after all this time, did he invite us to his wedding? Why did he make a move to fix things between us? Why did he finally tell you the truth about his life?"
"I don't know." Ron paced around his office. "But anything is as plausible as what you are describing. I need to eat. I'm starving, so if you want to finish this conversation, it will have to be over food." Ron and Hermione grabbed some lunch at a nearby cafeteria and finished discussing Harry and his possible motives.
Ron met Harry the following Thursday at their regular pub. Ron had arrived first and was left to wonder when and if Harry would show up.
"Sorry, I'm late…" Harry said as he rushed to the table. "Emmie is sick and Colleen had to work late." He fished a pack of muggle cigarettes out of his pocket and lit one immediately.
"Do you smoke all the time or just when we are out," Ron asked hesitantly. "Not that it matters, I was just curious."
"Just when we are out or I'm out…whatever," answered Harry. "Why?"
"Dunno…" Ron replied. "The thought crossed my mind so I asked it? Would you rather I didn't?"
"No, that's fine," said Harry with a grin. "That's what I like most about being friends with you, mate. I don't have to be on guard all the time. I can relax and just be."
"So, is it alright if I ask questions about it? It was kind of a bombshell that you dropped the other night…"
"Alright, as long as you drop any question I don't want to answer…"
"Thanks, mate," Ron smiled as he thought of all the questions he'd been wanting to ask over the years. "How many times have you been married?"
"Eight total…"
"What happened to the other two? You've only told me about six kids…"
"Same as with Lavender. The father of the child showed up and wanted to make things right, so I backed away."
"How do these women know you'll do this?" Ron asked in almost a whisper leaning closer to his friend.
"Word gets around…" Harry shrugged.
"Have you slept with any of them?"
"What kind of question is that?" demanded Harry.
"Just asking, you know, bloke to bloke…" Ron gave his friend a sly grin.
"A couple…you know Estelle and I were married for over a year…but I've always kept my own place. Fidelity has never been required of me. I've never cheated on any of my wives, but I could, you know?"
Ron goggled at his friend's candor. He thought a minute before hesitantly asking, "Are you still in love with Hermione?"
Harry's eyes blazed. "This conversation is over," he said as he stubbed out his cigarette, downed his drink and strode from the pub.
"She was right," Ron said to himself. "I cannot believe that she was right!"
The subsequent Thursday Harry never showed up for their weekly meetings. Ron had known he wouldn't, but came anyway, just in case. Hermione joined him hoping to see Harry again. Ron told her what had transpired the previous week.
"…so I asked him if he was still in love with you, right? He got all furious and left. What do you make of that?"
Hermione grinned. "He loves me! I knew it!"
"Well, that may all well and good, but what do we do about it? He won't discuss it."
"Leave that to me…" she smirked.
"What are you planning, Hermione?" Ron asked recognizing the calculating look on her face.
"He can't have changed that much. I think he's still the same person at heart. I've never believed that reclusive eccentric persona he uses as a shield. I can get passed it. I know I can…"
"What do you need me to do?" asked Ron.
Hermione was silent in deep thought for several minutes. "Throw him a party…" she answered at last.
"Are you mad? What makes you think he'll attend a party?" Ron exclaimed. "What part of reclusive need I define? How are you going to get him to come to a party?
"Simple…" she said. "The party will be for one of his kids. He said that the twins were turning five soon, so let's throw them a birthday party and invite all of the children. We'll have it at my house. After the kids are gone, you make yourself scarce." She smiled almost evilly. "He won't know what hit him."
Ron looked at her skeptically. "Are you sure you know what you are doing?"
"Oh, yes…" she said very slowly.
To Ron's amazement, Harry agreed to the birthday party. Ron enlisted his mother's help in setting it up. Mrs. Weasley was in her element, hiring clowns, ordering cakes and cooking up a storm.
The day of the party finally arrived. Harry, carrying little Mee Tao, greeted Mrs. Weasley with a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for all this, Mrs. Weasley. The twins will have a blast," he said as he looked at the preparations.
Ron had invited every child he could think of, nieces and nephews, friends' children and their classmates in nursery school. Nearly thirty children had arrived. He thought Harry looked like he was in paradise surrounded by all of the children.
Harry gave piggyback rides, rides on his broom, played 'Duck, Duck, Goose', 'Musical Statues' and 'Hot Potato'. He'd even let the kids tie him up. He roared like an enraged troll as he broke the bonds, much to the delight of the shrieking youngsters.
Ron and Hermione watched in awe at their friend as they prepared the table for pizza. They had never, in all of the years they'd known him, seen him so carefree. In seeing him like this, as opposed to the brooding recluse at the pub, Hermione reaffirmed her intentions.
After lunch, the presents were opened and the twin boys were amazed at the gifts they'd received. Parents soon came to get their children, most cried when they had to leave.
Soon Mee Tao was the only child remaining, as she was Harry's for the weekend. Mrs. Weasley, who had developed a bond with the sweet Chinese tot, offered unsuccessfully to mind her for the night. Harry declined as didn't want to miss a minute of his time with his kids.
"Harry, can I come over tonight?" asked Hermione. "I'd like to talk to you."
Harry looked her quizzically. "Can't it wait? I've got to get Mee Tao her bath and ready for bed."
"I can help with that," she offered. "Wouldn't it be nice to have a spare set of hands around?" Hermione paused, and then got what she considered to be a brilliant idea. "I can fix dinner while you spend more time with her."
"Alright, you win. Here's the address," He handed her a small scrap of paper. "When you get there, think of the password to my map of the school. The house will show up…just walk on in."
When Hermione arrived, she found Harry assisting Mee Tao with her walking. The toddler found it to be much more fun to step on Daddy's feet and let him walk.
"Come on, princess, I've seen you walk. I know you can…" Harry chuckled. "I'm beginning to think you are going to crawl into Hogwarts. Walk for Daddy…"
"Anyone home?" Hermione asked letting him know she was there.
"I see you found the place," Harry responded.
"Yes, it's a lovely home, if a bit….remote. What did you do with Sirius' house?" she asked. "I thought you were planning to live there?"
"I did for a bit. Then after awhile it kind of got to me, you know? I rent it out now. I converted it into about six flats."
"Where do you work?" she asked.
"Who says I do?" he responded. "Isn't that the story? Harry Potter, wealthy, reclusive nutter, doesn't work, just keeps getting married…"
Mee Tao took the opportunity to fall on her bum and cry.
"Ah, Princess, you were doing so brilliantly," Harry said in a soothing tone as he reached for her. "Let's try it again, shall we?"
Mee Tao raised her arms to let him know she was done walking. Harry picked her up and danced around the room with her. Hermione smiled at the pair.
"It's almost nap time for you, young lady," he said as he made a huge show of smelling her with a grimace. "And a fresh nappy wouldn't be out of place, either."
Hermione followed Harry up to an enormous nursery. She watched amazed as he changed the baby efficiently.
"So did you want to play a bit before your nap?" he asked the girl
"Pay keen!" Mee Tao chortled clapping her hands.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Maybe Hermione wants to be queen this time…" he offered.
Mee Tao jumped up and down in excitement. "Dada keen!! Dada keen!!"
Harry, obviously embarrassed at the idea, looked over at Hermione, then back at Mee Tao. "Er…alright, I'll be queen again," he said with significant reluctance.
Mee Tao crawled over to a child's vanity and started her preparations, Harry sat down beside her.
"Hermione, when did you want to start dinner, or maybe we could order out…There's a muggle phone downstairs, or Hedwig could take a note to the Leaky Cauldron."
Hermione laughed. "If you think I would miss this…" she waved a hand toward the girl getting out a variety of bows and play cosmetics…"then you are a nutter."
For the next hour, Hermione played 'assistant' to Mee Tao as she put all sorts of colors on Harry's face, an enormous gaudy tiara and bows in his hair. She thought she'd never laughed so hard in her life. Harry didn't help matters by speaking in a decidedly feminine voice.
"If you tell Ron about this…" he cautioned her. "Or anyone else either…."
"Your secret is safe with me, Madam," she giggled.
Soon Mee Tao was ready for a nap. Harry washed her hands and face, then put her in her cot.
As she fell asleep, he kissed her cheek and walked from the room, closing the door. "Sonorus," he called aiming his wand at the child.
He went downstairs with Hermione following. "She'll sleep for about an hour, maybe longer. She's had a busy day," he said as he descended the stairs.
"Did you want to talk?" she asked.
"What about, Hermione? My reputation? I could care less." He retorted while removing his hair and face decoration.
"About what I said to you back in seventh year…the reason we broke up," she said.
Harry paused in what he was doing and exhaled deeply. "Why bring that up now? You and I didn't make it, it happens…" He scrubbed his face viciously with a towel.
"I don't think anything about that time was typical, Harry," she replied.
"That may be true, but what happened between us is ancient history. Why bring it all up again?"
"Because I was wrong to hurt you," she said. "I was wrong to not look at what you were facing and see how you might have been feeling…"
"What will talking about all of that now change?" he asked skeptically.
"Harry, you've avoided me for the last seven years. I know why now and I want to fix it between us."
"What if I like things the way they are? You come here with all of your talk about not looking at how I might have been feeling and yet you are doing it again. I like my life. I… am… happy," he said enunciating each word; his temper was rising. "Why isn't that good enough?"
"Why is 'good enough' acceptable for you?" she shot back. "I still love you, Harry Potter. I never stopped. What I want for you is a marriage that will last for the rest of your life. I want to give you children that will have messy black hair or vivid green eyes, children that are part of you and part of me..." She stopped and took a deep breath. "You have wonderful children, Harry. They adore you for the wonderful father you are. I won't take that away from you, but we can build on it, have children who are yours for more than one weekend a month…"
"Why?" he asked in a whisper. "Why this? Why now?"
Hermione leaned against a wall, crossed her arms and bent her head.
Harry gave an almost evil smile. "I think I've got this sorted out…" he said at last. "You still are trying to 'fix' me," She shook her head obstinately. "Yes, you are. 'No one is as perfect as Hermione Granger.' I have faults, so what? I drink. I smoke on occasion. Well, guess what, Hermione. I'm an adult. I'm allowed. I've been married more than once. That's my choice. I've lived too long with people deciding my life for me. I won't do it again." He stalked into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Hermione trailed behind him. "Harry, please listen to me. I love you and I know you still love me. I am not perfect and I'm not trying to 'fix' you or whatever else it is that you think. All I'm asking is for a chance," She grabbed his arm and spun him to look at her. "If it takes getting pregnant to get you to look at me, well then, let's get to it. I want you. I always have. We were great together and we can be again. Why can't you see that?"
Harry spun away from her. "Maybe because I'm not looking…" A whimper came from upstairs. "I've got to check on her…"
Harry returned a few minutes later with Mee Tao rubbing her eyes. Hermione was chopping vegetables and meat. "I didn't know what you had planned for dinner, so I just dug around until I found something I could make. Is that alright?" she asked.
"Its fine…thanks." He responded, putting Mee Tao in her high chair. Kneeling down in front of the baby, he made faces at her while she banged a toy off his head while Hermione cooked. "So, that's the way you want to play, is it?" He grabbed another toy and began hitting her toy with his.
Soon, Harry was dishing up a small plate and cutting everything into tiny pieces. "Mee Tao is a vegetarian," he stated as he avoided putting meat on her plate.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked.
"Mee wansum…Mee wansum…" called Mee Tao letting Harry know he wasn't getting her food to her quickly enough. He smiled at her.
"Ming wants it that way," he replied. "I abide by her wishes."
"I see," said Hermione. "Are you listed as the father on all of their records?"
"Yes, unless something else is better. When Estelle got back together with Flint, we had the record changed. Cindy still calls me Da, but Flint is Daddy." He placed the plate in front of the appreciative child. Mee Tao immediately started picking up bits of vegetables and putting them in her mouth.
After they'd eaten, Hermione helped him bathe the squirming youngster. She was amazed at how skillfully he washed Mee Tao, avoided getting soap in her eyes, and the gentle way he brushed her squeaky clean hair.
"What does her name mean?" she asked.
"Mee means beautiful and Tao means long life," he responded. "I picked out the name, with Ming's help, of course. That's what I want for her, a beautiful long life."
"Tory time…" said Mee Tao in a sing-song voice.
"Yes, darling, it is story time," he said lovingly. "Hermione did you want to fix us some drinks? I'll be down in a bit."
Hermione returned downstairs and opened a chilled bottle of wine. A bit later, Harry appeared. He poured Hermione a glass of wine and made tea for himself. "I don't drink if I've got kids here, thanks, though," he explained.
"I'm amazed by you…" she stated evenly.
"Why?" he asked.
"You have totally built your life around these children that aren't even yours…"
"You've got it wrong. They are mine. I may not be their father biologically, but in every reason that counts, I'm their dad."
"I didn't mean that like it sounded…" she rushed to say. "You just deserve so much more than being a part-time father…" Harry walked over and kissed her soundly. "What was that for?"
"I don't know, really," he answered. "I wondered if you tasted the same and I guess I wanted to find out…"
"Give me a chance to make things up to you. Let me make love to you tonight…"
"I can't," he answered. "I don't…"
"…have women sleeping over when you've got children here. Am I right?"
"Well, yes, but…" he sputtered.
"After all you've done for them, they won't let you…"
"It's not their mums, Hermione. It's me. It's my rule. They think I'm mad. Well, more so than normal…" Harry chuckled.
"I don't think you are mad. I think you are lonely. I think that you want these children to feel wanted and loved, all the things you didn't feel while growing up. That's exactly what I want, too. I just want to make you feel those things. Won't you let me try?"
"Maybe," he said putting his arms around his waist. "You should maybe come over Monday night. I'll be alone then..."