Author's note: Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read and/or review my story. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank first, my lovely beta, Jax Granger. She's wonderful. I had so very much trouble with Chapter 5 and her suggestions made it into something I actually liked, which is quite a change from the first email of "I HATE THIS CHAPTER!!!" Thanks, Jax! I'd also like to take a second to give a verbal wave to my friends at that other site.
Slip of the Tongue
Chapter 6
Slip of the Tongue
Hermione had searched everywhere, the dance floor, the bar, she'd even sent Ron in the loo, to find Harry. Surely he wouldn't skive off his own party. Then it hit her. He'd said earlier that he would only go if the kids were there. He could only be in the nursery. The Ministry had set up a room for parents to drop off their children before the party. When she thought about it, if he were there, it would only help her plan. She'd asked the Inoh's to the party so they could see what kind of man Harry really was. This would be perfect.
With Mr. and Mrs. Inoh in tow, she cast a viewing charm on the nursery wall. She had to laugh as she saw her beloved bow to his oldest daughter, before taking her in his arms, with his youngest daughter clinging to his leg. She watched the older couple smile as Harry, in full dress robes, waltzed with his daughters.
"This is the Harry I wanted you to meet," she said to them. As you've found out tonight, the Harry the world sees and who the man truly is are widely different."
They watched for a few minutes more as Harry danced with the children in turn. For the twins, he switched the music to a wild Weird Sisters tune. Hermione laughed as Harry imitated a head banging guitar player.
Ron rushed up to them frantically. "They're calling for Harry. Did you find him? He's getting another Order of Merlin, the lucky sod…"
Hermione pointed at the transparent wall, where Harry was again waltzing, only with Emmie. Ming Tao was still firmly attached to his leg, giggling. Ron smiled. Hermione waved her wand at the wall and it returned to its original opaque institutional beige. She led the group around the corner to the door of the nursery.
"Harry," she called. "They are waiting for you…"
Harry grimaced and looked very much like an obstinate child. He picked up Mee Tao and swung her into his arms, knowing she would shriek if he left her. "Want to see Daddy get made a fool of?" he asked her.
Mee Tao clapped her chubby hands, "Dada Foo!! Dada Foo!!" she cried.
"Can we come, too, Da?" asked Janie.
Harry started to shake his head before reconsidering. "Let's all go! Potters past and present…" he called. "…in formation, please."
His children lined up by age and readied themselves to follow their father. As Harry and his troupe entered the ballroom, the hall went silent. After a few awkward moments, Ron began clapping. Everyone else joined in as the room was filled with a deafening applause.
Draco Malfoy returned to his speech. "The man that defeated the most horrible Dark wizard of our time; the man who allowed each and all of us to ridicule him in order to maintain his privacy, the most powerful wizard of the age, I present the founder and owner of PED Assistance, Harry Potter…"
An ovation began anew as Harry, still holding Mee Tao, stepped up on stage. "Thank you," he mumbled nervously. The Minister hung the medal around his neck and motioned for him to give a speech.
Harry reddened but began speaking hesitantly. "I started the company we are celebrating tonight to honor the people whose influence and sacrifice made me the man I am today. PED Assistance…Potter, Evans and Dumbledore… was begun so that my children and yours won't have to live through what we all faced.
I'd like to introduce my children to you now. Emmie is the oldest. She's going to give Gryffindor their next Chaser!" he said beaming with pride. At Marcus Flint's choking sound, Harry added with a chuckle, "…or possibly Slytherin. Next is Cindy. She is so quiet you almost forget she's there. Then, there's my twins, Bryce and Blair, who won't let you forget they are there. If you can't remember the Weasley twins when they were young, just watch these two. Sadly, they'll be moving away soon. I'm going to miss them terribly. Next is Janie, who is the sunniest child on this planet. And finally is Mee Tao, my baby, who will be soon joining her grandparents in China. These are the reasons for the choices I've made," he said extending his arm toward the children, "The children of the wizarding world deserve to grow up without fear…without the terror that some megalomaniac will destroy our world again."
"While we are participating in a 'Mutual Admiration Society', I'd like to thank a few people, myself. To my team, without their help, none of this would have been possible. Remus Lupin, who handles the never ending paperwork and scheduling. Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Dean Thomas, Zachariah Smith, Oliver Wood and Blaise Zabini, I couldn't ask for better field support. I owe them my life, quite literally actually. Neville Longbottom is the one who keeps us all in line. And finally, Draco Malfoy; this is the man who challenges me when I'm ready to give up."
"Thank you for this honor, I accept it on behalf of my team. These people have kept my secrets over these many years. I can't thank them enough for their sacrifices and their hard work on my behalf." He looked each member in the eye as he said, "None of this would be possible without you. I'd also like to mention a couple of people who have accepted me unequivocally since our first trip on the Hogwarts Express. Ron Weasley is a friend who will never leave your side. Even when he thought I was mad…"
"I still think you're mad!" Ron called out with a grin that Harry returned. Luna slapped at Ron's arm for interrupting.
"...he stood by me without pressure, without prying. He just let me know that he was there. And Hermione Granger, the love of my life…" He looked at Hermione and saw tears rolling down her cheeks, "…I'm sorry I pushed you away for so many years. I hope you understand why I did that and can forgive me. I love you." Hermione mouthed the same back to him. Mee Tao gave a huge yawn. Harry laughed and concluded, "Now that I've sufficiently bored everyone, including my daughter, I'll close. Please enjoy the evening. Thank you again…"
Harry stepped from the stage as Malfoy called out, "Ladies and Gentlemen, there will be a press conference tomorrow at the offices of PED. We'll give a tour, and then answer questions from two to three." Harry glared at him. Malfoy just smirked.
Harry took the children back to the nursery, with the exception of Mee Tao, and returned to the ballroom. He was accosted as soon as he entered, which frightened the baby. Harry held up a hand and begged off answering questions until the press conference. He quickly found Hermione. Giving Mee Tao over to her grandmother, he led Hermione to the dance floor.
"We've never danced, you and I…" he observed.
"You were never much of a dancer…" she answered as went into his arms to dance.
"I'm still not," he grumbled. "I'm better than I was in fourth year, though."
"We'll soon see about that…" she challenged. Harry retaliated to her cheek by spinning her before bending her into a low dip. "Very nice, Mr. Potter…I stand corrected." Harry smiled as he pulled her close.
The next afternoon, Ron met Hermione in her Ministry office before they went over to PED. They were offering Harry moral support, knowing he'd rather have his toe nails removed than answer questions to the press.
Harry visibly relaxed when he saw them. "Thanks for coming," he said. "I didn't want to ask…"
"You didn't have to…" Ron answered. "We know you."
"You two are the best!" Harry replied. "Maybe Malfoy can handle it. He lives for this stuff…" The second Harry finished speaking, Malfoy opened the door.
"It's time, Potter," he said and received a glower in return.
"I don't want to…" Harry whispered. "Please don't make me do this…."
"Potter, you have to," Malfoy said urgently. "It's you they want to talk to. They were already disappointed not to see you in your office."
"Draco, give me a minute with him…" urged Hermione.
Draco nodded and turned to leave, saying, "So…Weaselby, how goes it at..."
Hermione pulled Harry close. "You have to do this, you know that…" Harry nodded. "How about this…" she leaned closer and whispered in his ear. "…since the house will be empty other than Mee Tao, why don't I come over and fix dinner. After we put her to bed, we can try out that lovely bathtub you've got…I won't even wear a swimsuit this time…"
Harry's mouth dropped open. "Y-y-y-you don't fight fair. Did you know that?"
Hermione chuckled before bringing his lips to hers. The kiss broke off at a muffled, "Sorry…" They looked up to find a very red Neville at the door. "We need you down there, Harry."
"I'll be there in a minute…" Harry replied before devouring Hermione's mouth again.
Harry and Hermione, hand in hand, arrived in the courtyard where the conference was held, only a few minutes late. They were immediately blinded by flashes as they moved to the podium.
Harry, more patiently than expected, answered question after question. He was asked from the final battle against Voldemort to how the company was funded to his future plans. He brilliantly gave non-answers to questions that would compromise the security of the company. Finally, two hours later than scheduled Malfoy called a halt to the conference. The employees, along with Harry's guests, returned to the building. They met in the conference room, where Malfoy had sandwiches and an assortment of beverages. Harry quickly drained a glass of Ogden's and reached for a sandwich.
"I know that was uncomfortable for you, Potter, but as much as it pains me to say it, you were brilliant. Some of those questions were ridiculous and they never even knew you talked in a circle, but didn't say anything at all. I'm impressed."
"I never want to do that again…" Harry stated as he tossed back another glass of firewhiskey and reached for his cigarettes.
Remus looked concernedly at Hermione. She shook her head, answering his silent question. The group rehashed the conference before calling it a day. Harry, despite having consumed a volume of alcohol, didn't appear impaired in any way.
Before he could leave, Harry received an urgent owl from his barrister. He Apparated to the legal office and stormed through the door. His barrister met him and quickly led him to his private office. "You've had a busy week, Mr. Potter," the barrister began. "I'm about to make it better…" Harry didn't respond, but listened intently. "I don't know how you did it, but I obtained a document today from the barrister representing the Inohs. According to this document, as long as you agree to the stipulations provided therein, once you sign it, in sixty days, you will have full permanent custody of Mee Tao."
Harry's eyes grew wide as his mouth dropped open. "What are the stipulations?" he asked skeptically.
"They want two weeks every summer, every other Christmas; you have to provide lessons in Chinese culture, heritage, etc., and finally according to the grandmother, 'Feed that child some meat!' Apparently, they don't share Ming's vegan lifestyle. They want her to experience and decide for herself."
"So much for a five percent chance…." Harry beamed.
"I almost feel like I shouldn't charge you for this. I really didn't do anything…" At Harry's raised eyebrow, the barrister added, "Almost, I said. You'll still get my bill."
Harry chuckled. "I'd hate to be the cause of barristers getting a good name…"
"Sign the bloody form and go pick up your child, Mr. Potter," the barrister stated laughing.
Harry stopped by Grimmauld Place to see how everyone was settling in. He liked the couple they'd hired. The young witch was formerly a nursery school teacher and her husband taught Defense against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts for a year. Harry was pleased with the choice and the couple was happy with the arrangement as well.
Arriving home, Harry was pleased to see that Mee Tao was busy with Hermione in the kitchen. Hermione was dashing around preparing dinner, while Mee Tao sat in her highchair engrossed in the birds that Hermione must have conjured to fly above the child just out of reach. A feeling of giddy happiness that nearly took his breath away swept through him as he leaned against the doorjamb.
"Dada!" Mee Tao squealed, spotting him first. Hermione spun to look for him. Their eyes met and she knew something wonderful had happened.
"How was your day?" she asked with a mock casual tone.
Harry frowned. "The day was lousy, but the evening is starting off rather nicely…" he grinned.
"Did anything…er…happen that I would need to be aware of?"
"If you are asking if your little scheme with Mee's grandparents had any effect, then, yes, something happened…."
"Oh, Harry!" she cried as she launched herself at him. "That's wonderful news! They are going to let her visit you! I'm so pleased! This…."
"Hermione…" Harry interrupted. "Mee Tao won't be 'visiting'…I've adopted her! They gave me full custody…with certain conditions, of course, but in sixty days, she's mine!" Tears streaked down Hermione's face as Harry's news sunk in. "No one can take her from me…ever…So, no matter why you did whatever it was, I am eternally grateful."
"Honestly, Harry, I didn't do that much. I just made sure they attended the party last night and got to see the real you. It just wasn't fair that they judged you on all that rubbish that wasn't even true!"
"What 'real me' are we talking about?" asked Harry suspiciously.
Hermione blushed and said, "I may have shown them you in the nursery, dancing with the kids…but after the party, they had many questions about you. I just answered them truthfully…"
Harry snorted. "And without prejudice, I'm sure…but no matter…" he smirked. "You've enacted something my barrister said I had nearly no chance of accomplishing and I promise to try to never get on you for your manipulations again…"
"I'm not manipulative!" shouted Hermione in pretend outrage.
"Hark! Rita Skeeter ring any bells?" he grinned. "You are only calculating when you see an injustice that needs righted…Better?"
"No," she purred as she hugged him, "but it's true, so I can't complain."
Harry helped her finish supper, and then got Mee Tao ready for bed. He was mentally noting everything that happened….her first bit of ham…her first bath as officially his daughter, his first kiss from his child as her legal father…
He reluctantly left his sleeping daughter and went into his bedroom. There he found Hermione drinking a glass of wine and staring into the flickering fire. "Hey," he said softly.
"Hey," she replied.
"You look deep in thought. Anything you wish to share with the class?" He gave her a warm smile.
"I was thinking about you," she returned.
"That sounds ominous…" he said hesitantly.
Hermione laughed softly. "No, not at all... This room seems to be your only personal extravagance. This tells me that this is where you escape. It's so very opulent…I could daydream all day and still not envision a bathroom as grand as yours…"
Harry shrugged. "I guess I may have overdone it just a bit…"
"Of course not! If anyone deserves a bit of extravagance, it's you. Your house is so homey, yet this room feels like an entirely different world. I could just get lost in here…"
"I'd always find you…" Harry said as he crossed to join her on the sofa. "Anyway, let me check on Mee Tao and then you can tell me more about this bath you mentioned earlier…"
As he left, Hermione smiled before heading to the bathroom. She was awed by the gold fixtures and Gryffindor coloring. She drew a warm bath in the enormous tub with lots of bubbles and climbed in up to her neck. She was swimming an even backstroke when Harry returned.
"Don't stop," he said. "You look beautiful."
Hermione stopped anyway and snorted. "Next you'll tell me I look like a mermaid…"
"Er…no…" said Harry with a disgusted expression. "Since our fourth year, mermaids hold no attraction for me…"
"Is Mee sleeping peacefully then?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah," replied Harry. "I used a combination locator charm. If she stirs much, her nightlight will go on. If that happens, I'll be alerted as to the frequency and severity." Hermione looked at him astonished and impressed. "It's just something I was tinkering with last week for work and decided to see if it would perform in other applications…"
"You should register it at the Department of Experimental Charms…." Hermione chided.
"Remus takes care of all of that…He registers my charms under a pseudonym, so that they can't be traced back to me…and I can't get into trouble for using them. It's a great set up…"
"It sounds perfect for you…you ignore the rules and someone else maneuvers the situation to where no rules were actually broken…" she retorted teasingly.
"Well, that just sounds dishonest when you put it that way…" he chided just as mischievously.
She gave a high tinkling laugh before submerging into the water. Harry slipped off his robe and slid into the foamy water. Hermione swam over to him. He pulled her into a hug. He rested his head against the top of hers, his arms around her bare midriff. His fingers were toying with the straps of her bikini top.
"We've been very good at restraining ourselves. We haven't let things get out of control once since that first night…" she reminded him.
He mumbled, "Mmhmmm…," against her wet hair.
"I think that calls for a reward, don't you?" she asked coquettishly. He looked her in the eye as she continued. "I know your rules state that women don't sleep over when there are children here; but that seems a bit unfair, since Mee Tao will live here permanently…"
"A bit of alteration might be in order…" he replied with a smirk as he pulled the bikini string. His hands lowered to play with the strings at her hips.
As the bikini bottom sank to the bottom of the pool, Hermione pressed her body against him. Her hands dropped to his bum and pulled him tight so that there was no part of her body that wasn't in contact with his.
"I want you so very badly…." He kissed her soundly before he added, "Maybe we should take this into my room…" He slid his arms to her knees and lifted her carefully. She kissed and nipped at his neck as he ascended the pool steps.
He strode toward the bed and laid her down on the massive bed among the many pillows. "You look so amazing….My fantasies haven't done you justice…." He, still wearing his dripping swimming trunks, climbed up beside her.
"You've had fantasies? About me?" she asked stunned.
Harry snorted. "Of course I have. I purchased this bed for that very reason. Remember when we fell out of my four-poster at Hogwarts?"
"I remember," she replied. "We were so tangled in the hangings that you had to call Ron to free us…"
"Exactly, I've never been so mortified in my life," stated Harry. "This bed allows the occupant to roam, so to speak, at will with no danger of falling off. I think of it every time I come in here."
"Very clever of you…" she said as she rose to meet his lips in a fiery duel. Panting when they parted, she added, "You seem to be a bit overdressed…not to mention soggy."
He cast a drying charm on his shorts, not allowing her to remove them just yet. "You first…" he whispered trailing kisses down her neck and beyond.
Upon fulfilling her craving for that ever eluding plateau, he moved over her and made her his own once more. In what felt like minutes, yet could have been much more, he felt his impending pinnacle approach.
She began kissing his neck as she curled her fingers in his tousled hair. She thought she heard him sigh, "Bite…", so she nipped as well. The satisfying growls he voiced convinced her to bite harder, which promptly sent him right over the edge.
He collapsed against her and whispered into her ear, "Merlin, I love you…Will you marry me?" His eyes flew open and he flung himself from her as if he were doused in icy water, clapping a hand to his mouth. "I'm so sorry, Hermione…I didn't mean to say that…"
"Why would you be sorry?" she asked. "I've wanted you to ask…"
Harry rose, donned his dressing gown and began pacing. "You deserve a proposal that you can tell your friends about, not just tossed out in the throes of passion…I wanted to plan the perfect setting, something special…"
She called him over to her and held him as she explained, "I don't need all of that," she replied. "I only want honesty. You can't get more honest than the way it happened. Personally, I find it kind of complimentary. You have erected this wall around your feelings that I seriously doubted ever breaking through. Your words came straight from your heart."
Harry rolled his eyes at her. "I've been married before…which could be an understatement, I understand. The first thing any female friend will want to know is 'How did he ask? You can't tell them this…It's just…dirty…besides there's a few more secrets I need out in the open before you make your decision."
Hermione chuckled. "You are so sweet. You don't need to tell me every secret. You are a complicated man. I long ago accepted that you would have secrets from me. As far as what I'll say...I will just say that I came over and made dinner, we put Mee Tao to bed, and you asked as we were relaxing…Nothing dishonest…as long as you meant it..."
"Of course I meant it…I've been trying to keep from saying it since I got home!"
"Well, then, I accept your proposal, Harry. Nothing would make me happier than becoming your wife."
"Wait! Wait!" he stopped her. "Let's at least finish the thing correctly…" He sprang from the bed and began dressing hastily. "Meet me in the living room."
Humoring him, she dressed and made her way down the stairs. He was there waiting with two glasses of champagne. He handed her one and dropped to one knee and looked up at her. "Hermione Granger," he began. "All I've ever wanted was to be loved…to have a loving family. I wanted someone to love me for who I am not for what I've done, because believe me, I've done quite a bit that I'm not proud of. You've always been the one to see that person and for whatever reason, want me anyway. I cannot imagine living the rest of my days without you." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box and opened it to reveal a ring with a large solitaire diamond. "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Tears shone in her eyes as she accepted with a breathy, "Yes."
He stood and placed the ring on her finger. "I still need to tell you some things, though," he said as he tipped the champagne glass to her lips.
"You can tell me everything you need to on our honeymoon," she stated assuring him that she would accept him regardless.