A/N - so this is it, the last chapter and hopefully this will satisfy you. There is fluff but of course, things don't go 100% smoothly for young Harry. There is a bit of a long A/N at the end, but I just wanted to let you guys know how much I've appreciated your comments. So read, and hopefully enjoy.
Chapter 11 - Happy Ever After?
Harry rushed up the stairs to the flat with a huge grin plastered on his face. He couldn't wait to see her reaction when he told her of his news - he tried to guess what it would be, but couldn't choose between happiness or disappointment at the choice he had made. Stepping out of the cold of the December winter and into the warmth of his home, he peeled off the layers of clothing that had protected him from the weather and made his way into the heart of the flat.
"Hermione?" he called out, "are you home?" He smiled when a head poked out of the study, her curly hair haloing her face that still wore the round glasses that reminded him so much of his youth.
"Yep," she replied, returning his smile as she made her way to where he was standing, "my, don't you just look like the cat that ate the cream."
"That's because I have a job." Harry stopped and watched her. Dressed casually in jeans and a jumper, she looked beautiful.
Six months had passed since the curse had been eradicated and the change in her had been dramatic. She had kept to her word and spent the first two months looking after Harry, making sure his every need was catered for (well, not his every need…) while also continuing to update 'Hogwarts: A History'. When Harry had been well enough to look after himself, she went back to St Mungo's to continue her studies, once more excelling now she had nothing holding her back.
Meanwhile, Harry's healing progressed well and with little complication. His abdomen returned to normal first leaving only faint scars to remind him of the wounds that were once there. However his eyesight took a bit longer with it still not restored back to its usual blurry self (his new glasses were definitely thicker than his old ones) but at least now he could see. Plus he could once more say he had his mother's eyes - the familiar green returned with his vision.
He hadn't brought up the conversation that had taken place the minutes before he had performed the counter-curse, or the kiss. But Harry hadn't forgotten and revelled in the knowledge that even though she hasn't actually said anything to him since then, she loved him. He hoped.
Still, he and Hermione were as strong as ever. They spent most of Ginny and Neville's wedding dancing and joking around. Harry had still been blind so Hermione made it her personal duty that he would enjoy the day (and stop any mischief from the Weasley twins at his expense).
The birth of Trixie Scarlett Weasley happened a week early and arrived a few days before Hermione turned twenty-five. Being the second Weasley girl born to a family known for its male population caused great celebration within the red headed clan. Harry and Hermione were named godparents.
"So, are you going to tell me where this new job is?" she asked, her hands on her hips.
"You are looking at the new Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Say hello to Professor Potter." Harry saw her smile grow into a grin as she squealed and pulled him into a bone crushing hug.
"Oh Harry, that's fantastic!" she gushed.
"You don't think I'm just returning to what is safe and familiar to me? That this is a step backwards…"
"No!" Hermione exclaimed, frowning, "why would you think that?"
"I don't know," he answered, flopping down on the couch, "I guess I thought that people would expect me to be an Auror, or Unspeakable or something more…exciting."
"I think you're thinking too much," Hermione replied, sitting next to him and taking his hand in her own, "you've had enough excitement to last a lifetime. Harry, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - you need to do what is right for you."
"This feels right Hermione," he said, searching her eyes, "really right. As soon as I said yes, I felt like I was coming home." Startled, he frowned when Hermione pulled away from him.
"I guess that means you'll be shifting out," she said softly, her eyes breaking away, "that you'll have to live in the castle."
"No I don't," he replied just as softly, reclaiming her hands, "not all teachers live there. I can still live here if I want to. But, if you're sick of me…"
"You are rather messy," she mused, a smirk tugging her mouth, "but you do put the rubbish out. I'd miss that."
"You want me to stay just because I put the rubbish out?"
"Maybe not just because of that," she looked back at him, this time her smile wasn't hiding.
Something happened to Harry when he saw that smile. He suddenly decided he wanted more. They loved each other yet they had spent a lifetime trying to ignore what they were feeling. He didn't want this to continue any further - he was a Gryffindor, chosen for his courage! He had defeated Voldemort! He was supposed to be brave - why couldn't he tell her the truth? Why was it so difficult? Why did he always feel so scared whenever he had the opportunity to outpour his feelings to her? But not today, not now.
"This isn't working," he said, abruptly standing up and beginning to pace, "I can't do this anymore."
"Do what? What isn't working?" asked a very confused sounding Hermione. Harry stopped pacing and looked down at her.
"Us. You and me," Harry replied, sitting back down, "Hermione, I can't be your friend anymore…"
"What?" He saw the fear in her eyes, the hurt and realised what he had said.
"I mean, I can't just be your friend anymore," Harry paused and took a deep breath, "I want more, I want to be with you. Hermione, I love you and I've loved you for so long. I love the way your hair has flickers of gold in the sunlight. I love how you chew your lower lip when you're thinking, how you have this tiny frown when you read something challenging. I love how you have stuck by me, through everything I've put you through, the danger - everything, you've always been there. I love how you look out for me, always making sure I was and am alright. I love your intelligence; you need for things to be equal and right. I love how you stand up for what you believe in, even if it means you are alone. You have never conformed to what others think you should be because you know what you should be. You are the strongest person I know, the kindest, the sweetest, the most caring…"
"Stop."
Her single word was just above a whisper but it made Harry freeze. She had gone very pale and wouldn't look him in the eye. His heart sank and he realised that he may have just made the biggest mistake of his life - next to leaving her nearly six years ago. He watched as she stood, swaying slightly, before she turned and made her way to the door.
"Hermione?" he asked tentatively as he followed her, cringing when he saw her put on her coat and scarf. She turned and looked at him, but didn't speak. And then she left.
Harry stood and stared at the closed door before his mind comprehended what had just happened. He had confessed to her, laid out bare how he felt - and she walked away. Dejectedly he made his way back to the couch and sat down heavily, his eyes staring unblinking into the fire that burned in the grate. What had he done? He was so sure she would tell him she loved him back, that they would kiss and then be ecstatic with what they had found with each other. Later they would marry and then start the family they both wanted so much.
Instead he may have ruined the best friendship he had ever had. Instead he may have lost the only person that meant the world to him. What would he do if she didn't want him in her life anymore, that what he had said made things so uncomfortable that they couldn't be even in the same room? What would he do without her?
Harry didn't know how long he sat staring at the flames, or when Crookshanks had made his way onto his lap. He did, however, realise that it was now getting dark. Ignoring the disgruntled Crookshanks, who fell from his lap in an undignified pile, Harry stood and went to the window. It had started to hail and it definitely looked unpleasant out there. He began to worry - she had been gone a while, seemingly a lifetime, and it was now dark and stormy. He wanted to go after her, to find her and make sure she was safe. But this was London and she could be anywhere.
Harry began to pace. Why had she stayed away so long? It confirmed to him that he had made a huge mistake. He stopped and let the feeling of loss sweep over him briefly before continuing to pace. Whether she loved him or not didn't matter at the minute. She was out alone, in the dark and a storm was coming. She could be in danger. He had to go and try and find her.
With a new sense of purpose, Harry ran up the stairs to his room to find warmer and more rain repellent trousers, changing as quickly as he could so he could begin his search. His mind went over the spells he knew that would help him locate Hermione, spells that she had taught him back in Hogwarts. Ready for his new adventure, he bounded down the stairs and headed towards the door.
But his way was blocked as a wet, bedraggled woman standing framed in the open door way.
"Hermione?" he asked, not sure if it was really her, "are…are you okay?"
"Pretty bloody cold," she replied, her teeth slightly chattering together. Harry quickly helped her off with her wet coat and led her to the couch by the fire. With a wave of his hand, the fire grew in size and began to heat up the dark room. Another wave of his hand and the rooms lights flickered on.
"I thought you were a normal wizard," she stuttered, hugging herself in an effort to get warm.
"I am. I just don't need a wand," he replied, glad that she was at least talking to him.
"Harry, I'm sorry…" she started.
"Hermione, I'm sorry…" he said at exactly the same time. They looked at each other and smiled. Unwrapping herself, she sat so she faced him, absently patting the purring Crookshanks that had jumped up into her lap.
"You don't need to apologise," she said, "you had the courage to do something that I've wanted to do for so long - tell you the truth on how I felt. You scared me and I needed to think. That's what I've been doing for the last three hours, thinking about why it scared me so much."
"Did you come up with an answer?"
"Before I found out I was a witch," Hermione sighed, "I was very much a loner. I had buck teeth, all this hair and I guess pretty smart which made other kids scared of me. Then I found out I was witch and that I had a chance to start over, make new friends with people who didn't know me, who would give me a chance. Trouble was I was so sure I would know nothing when I got to Hogwarts, that they would find out their mistake and send me home that I learnt all I could about this new world I was going to be part of." Harry smiled at himself - she had had the same insecurities he felt on entering Hogwarts, that the school had somehow made a mistake. And of course, only Hermione would over-compensate with learning absolutely everything.
"I felt the same," he said and she smiled.
"But you made friends, I didn't. Lavender and Parvati were as opposite of me as you could get. Their focus was always boys, clothes and…well, that was it really. And I had fallen back into my safety net of books, facts and rules once again separating me from everyone else. When I heard Ron calling me a nightmare and pointing out how nobody could stand me, everything just seemed too much. I thought to myself that I would have to go through the world alone and just get used to it. I would never have friends, which, believe it or not, was quite upsetting. And then something startling happened, something that changed my life."
"The troll…"
"No Harry, not just the troll. You. Someone who I knew from books, a hero to the wizarding world, but someone who didn't really know me or even like me. Someone who hung around with a boy who had just insulted me. That someone remembered me." She paused as she took Harry's hands in hers, intertwining their fingers, making his heart explode.
"When I met you for that first time, in the carriage, you were the Boy-That-Lived. When you saved me from the troll, you became the boy who remembered. From that moment I owed you a life debt, but I also pledged to myself that I would do anything and everything in my power to help you in any way I could. As I got to know you, you became Just Harry, a wonderful person and someone I was proud to call my friend. I never thought of you more than just my best friend, but I understood the connection we had and I knew that somehow, that was more than just friendship. I didn't understand what it was, but it was something."
"We can be just friends if that's what you want…."
"Let me finish Harry," Hermione interrupted, "when it came closer to the Final Battle I began to realise that I couldn't picture my life without you in it. After my parents died and you kissed me in the attic, I knew I loved you and that there would never be any man in my life who would ever take your place."
"You love me?"
"Oh Harry, of course I love you. You are and always will be the most important person in my life."
"Then why did you leave?" His question hung in the air for a moment as she thought about her reply.
"For five years you had been dead to me," she began tentatively, "I tried not to think of you because when I did, it was just too painful. For five years I knew I was going to die young and not have the family or career, for that matter, that I wanted. I didn't let myself get close to new people because I didn't see the point. Any man I did meet, I compared with you. When I did think of you, when I accepted that you were actually alive somewhere in the world, I wondered if you had met someone, if I had been replaced in your life, if you even remembered me…"
"You were the reason I came back…"
"You said that," Hermione smiled, "but I didn't really believe it. Harry, I have dreamt for so long to hear you tell me that you loved me, that you wanted me in your life. In one year I have gone from thinking you were dead and I would soon be joining you to having you back in my life, living in my home and then risking your own life so I could get mine back. The last year, even when I was sick, has been the happiest in my life because you were part of it. And then you tell me you love me? It was too much and my brain just stopped. I had to think, to sort it all out."
"So have you sorted it out? Are you going to give us a chance?"
"Maybe." Hermione looked at him and he couldn't quite read her eyes, so he waited patiently for her to continue, "you told me all the reasons you love me and I want to return the favour. I want you to know why you deserve to be loved. Harry, your life has been hellish. You lost the love of your parents before you could speak and then was abused by the only family you have ever known. You were forced into a roll that you felt didn't suit you and faced horrors that no-one should ever have to face. You have seen friends, family and a great, great man die in front of you but instead of wallowing in destructive pity you continued on the path that was your destiny. You thought you were going to die, but you did it anyway. And all through this, you remained a fantastic human being. You showed all of us around you how to live. And though you don't realise this, you showed us all how to love. Because that was all you did - love us enough to be willing to sacrifice yourself for us."
"You all gave me a reason…"
"But you could have turned away. And then when you thought you were a danger to us, when you were actually a danger to yourself, you once more sacrificed your happiness for us. You are amazing, Harry, truly amazing.
"Under the persona of the Chosen One was the boy and then the man I fell in love with. The brave, selfless, caring, loving, funny, smart, athletic, handsome and beautiful human being that is sitting in front of me."
"Thank you," Harry whispered.
"Thank you," Hermione repeated.
"Does that mean you want to give us a chance?"
"Only on one condition…"
"Which is?"
"That you kiss me now."
Harry smiled. Taking her face gently in his hands, he leant in and put his lips softly to hers. He became lost in the emotions he felt, more powerful than the feeling on the Quidditch field all those months ago. He felt her mouth open and her tongue begin to explore his mouth, something he returned with passion. Her hands had made their way to his hair, as had his to her drying ringlets, and soon their kiss turned to something stronger. He felt her fall backwards and soon his body was covering hers, their hands both exploring each other in tentative caresses.
With shock Harry felt Hermione break away and he looked down at her with unhidden disappointment.
"I…I think we should stop now," she panted, her face flustered but a grin twitching up the corners of her mouth. Harry sat up and tried to hide the erousement their embrace had caused, glad when she snuggled into him, her head resting on his shoulder.
"That was incredible," she said.
"Tell me about it," Harry replied, fingering her hair, "so does that mean we're dating now?"
"I think it certainly does," Hermione laughed, "oh God, think of everyone is going to say when we show up at the next dinner arm in arm."
"What, I told you so?"
"Plus the rest. I think Ron, Ginny and Molly are already planning our wedding."
"You know, you may be right," Harry laughed with her.
He couldn't remember a time where had had felt so happy or contented, already thinking of the perfect way he would ask Hermione to marry him, his mind so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't really noticed Hermione had slipped a hand up his shirt until he felt her touch on his chest. With a surprised intake of breath, he looked down into the familiar darkness of her eyes, smiling when he saw that there were now flickers of green within the brown.
"Hermione?" he croaked, his voice slightly higher than he would have liked, fully aware that there were more uncontrollable movements in his groin area once again.
"This isn't working," she said, a strange grin on her lips, "I want more."
"More? But you said we should stop…" Harry suddenly felt nervous, the part of his brain still working realising that there was a good chance that he was going to do something very soon that he had been dreaming about for a very, very long time. But there was a larger, more powerful part of his brain that was connected to something within him that was instinctive, more primal - and that part was winning. Her face was flushed, and she was licking her lips with tiny flicks of her tongue making them glisten enticingly - she had never looked so beautiful and he had never wanted anyone as much as he wanted, no needed, her right now. He smiled at her in what he hoped wasn't a leer and when she spoke, all rational thought left him.
"I was wrong. I want more," was all she said and with a speed that surprised even him, Harry picked her up in his arms and stood, making her squeal with the suddenness of the movement. She quickly got over her surprise, however, as she took his face in her hands and began kissing him. He knew he could never make it to his room, up the stairs, so he blindly made his way to hers, deftly missing the furniture in his way and making sure he didn't bang her into anything that would spoil the moment. By the time he reached the bed, his passion had grown to a level he didn't know existed, but as he lay her down and he looked at her, he paused - making a small frown cross her face.
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"I can't believe this is happening," he replied, with a small smile, "I can't believe I'm finally with you."
"I know, but you…you want to be with me, don't you?" Hermione continued hesitantly and Harry could see insecurity in her eyes.
"More than anything," he breathed before leaning down and kissing her. But he hadn't finished, he had to find out one more thing before he could go any further, "Hermione?"
"Yes Harry," she answered softly.
"You'll never leave me will you? It will always be you and me, together, right?" Harry asked, knowing that his own insecurities sounded in his voice. He watched as tears shinned in her eyes and melted as she reached out and stroked the side of his face.
"Forever," she replied before drawing his face down and kissing him in a way that confirmed everything that he needed to know. She was his and he was hers - the connection between them that formed thirteen years before in the bathroom of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry cemented as their bodies and soul became one and Harry Potter finally felt complete.
A/N - well ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls - that's it. Thank you for joining me on the ride and thank you soooo much for the reviews. I had never let anyone read anything of mine (other than a few very close friends) before posting on Portkey and was so nervous that people wouldn't like what I had written so your wonderfully positive comments have let me know I'm not so bad after all. I could never really let you know how that has made me feel.
I don't know if I will do another chaptered story although I have an idea in my head. Things will be changing where I work (which is where I wrote most of this - naughty huh) and I don't think I will have the time. Also, I've vowed to continue a non-HP book I started years ago and has been untouched for quite a while. Trouble is, I'm addicted to Harry and this site so maybe I could do both…however if I did, the chapters will obviously not be daily (actually, that only really happened because I'm on holiday - back to work tomorrow).
To those regular reviewers - I hope to return the favour with your own work and I will miss your comments. If you feel like a chat - drop me a line on bevkim@clear.net.nz - I have very few friends who are as passionate about Harry as me.
Thanks again and I'm glad you seemed to have enjoyed it. Oh, and Harry and Hermione forever!!