A/N: Not much to this chapter, a little drama and a little Brodsky. To attempt to make up for my long time departure I am posting this a little sooner than I would have normally. As always, thanks for all the great reviews folks, they are what keeps me going with this sagaeven when I feel I can't write one more word. Hope you enjoy this little filler.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE MOST AMAZING FEELING
~~~~~November 24th, 1996. Hogwarts.~~~~~
It was a Sunday, therefore Harry had been lazing around the common room for most of the day. He had his feet propped up on Hermiones lap as he lay back on the couch with his eyes closed trying to catch some rest.There was a heavy tome resting on his shins, since Hermione was busy reading just for the sake of reading. And every now and then he'd smile a little when he felt her hand rub his leg absently.
The common room was empty and silent, since everyone was outside enjoying their day off. Harry and Hermione preferred to enjoy it in the warm common room, in front of the fire, alone and relaxing. They hadn't told anyone about their blossoming relationship yet, opting to keep it as quiet as possible, though they both thought Ginny had picked up on it immediately.
Then again Ginny had been acting strange lately, even Harry had noticed that. She'd been distant with everyone, including Hermione, which was extremely unusual since any time when the two girls had a problem they didn't want to share with anyone, they went to eachother. She'd been late toquidditch practice a few times and when asked where she was she just said 'busy' and changed the subject. Neither Harry nor Hermione could figure out what was going on with her.
The stillness of the quiet common room was broken by the portrait hole bursting open and a sobbing Lavender running through and up the girls stairs, almost tripping on several things along the way.
Hermione looked at Harry, closed her book and shifted his legs so she could get up, then followed Lavender up to the girls dorm. Harry sighed deeply, upset that his pleasant day resting silently with his girl was ruined. He only hoped she wouldn't be up there too long.
He looked around in time to see Ron walk through the portrait hole and wander over to him. Harry sat up, so Ron took Hermiones seat.
"You know Lavender just ran through hear in hysterics, right?" Harry started the conversation.
"Yep. I think I may have been the one to make her that way." Ron said casually.
Harry looked over at him, "What'd you do?"
"Broke up with her."
"Why?"
"Wanted a change, I guess. Nah, I'm not really sure. I just didn't feel like I wanted to be with her anymore. And there's this Ravenclaw girl I wouldn't mind gettin' to know." Ron smiled a little.
Harry looked at him with a furrowed brow, "Do you not even care how Lavender feels?"
"Course I do. But best I be honest with her, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I suppose. Good you tell her now and not leave it until she finds you snogging some blonde in a broom cupboard."
"I'd never do that! Well.....not to Lav I wouldn't, 'cause I liked her as a friend too. Anyway, she'll get over it. Herms up there with her?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Say, you wanna' go flying or something?"
"No thanks, mate. Today is my day of rest and relaxation and I plan on doing as little movement as possible. I'm not leaving this couch until I'm literally dragged away."
"I could try it." Offered Ron with a grin.
"I'll stun you if you do."
"Alright then, you just lay there and be lazy." Ron said as he stood up, "I'm going outside on this beautiful day."
"Beautiful day? It's freezing out there."
"Great isn't it? See ya' mate."
"Bye." Harry called.
It only took a few moments after Ron left and Harry made himself comfortable again that he was nodding off and only a second after that he was dead to the world.
Bleary eyes fluttered open and looked around. Straightening his glasses Harry caught sight of Hermione, right where she was before, rubbing his leg. He lifted his arm and looked at his watch, he'd been asleep for hours.
"Hey, Love, I hope I didn't wake you." Hermione said when she noticed he was awake.
"No. Hey, did I dream Lavender burst in here crying, and her and Ron broke up?"
Shaking her head Hermione responded, "No, you didn't. Did you talk to Ron?"
"Yeah. He said he just wasn't interested anymore so he called it off. What did Lav say?"
"Nothing for the first half hour, I couldn't understand a word through the blubbering so I told her to cry herself out and then tell me what happened."
"She told you what Ron told me?"
"That he broke up with her? Yes. He could've handled it better."
"Hey best it happen this way, then in time when her feelings are stronger."
"That's not what I meant. When he was breaking up with her, he didn't even try to soften the blow. He just said, 'Lav, I'm not interested in you that way anymore and I don't want to be with you.'"
"Ouch. I suppose he could've handled it better." Harry admitted.
"Promise when you get bored with me you'll break it to me easy."
Harry sat up and moved closer to her, looking around to see the room was empty. He closed her book and put it on the ground beside them then wrapped his arms around her waist, laying her back.
Placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, he said, "I'll never get bored with you."
"Come on, Harry, I'm not the most exciting person."
He just laughed and said, "You are to me. I learn something new everyday with you, because you're the smartest person in the world. You've got a wit so quick that no one can keep up. You're one of the funniest people I know. You are absolutely beautiful, might I add, and damn sexy in that work out gear."
Hermione was giggling by now, but Harry kept going, "You've got a big heart, you're loving and loyal. And
I wouldn't want to do anything without you there with me, not only because it'd be too dangerous if you
weren't there, but also because you make it that bit more exciting. I won't ever get bored with you, Mione. And
I will stand by your side with all of my heart forever."
He kissed her firmly on the mouth and sighed when she instantly responded. Parting he rested his forehead on hers. "Don't you ever worry about me losing interest in you, because it simply isn't possible."
He kissed her softly again and moved back, helping her to sit up. Then he picked up her book and handed it back to her.
"You really are just the sweetest guy." She said as she opened her book.
"Yeah, I am." He grinned, relaxing back in the couch.
"You really should tell Ron, you know."
"What? About me and you?" Harry asked, looking up at her.
"No way! Well, not yet anyway. I meant about the prophecy. He really does deserve to know. But it's your decision if you don't."
"I know I should." Harry sighed, "But I like that he's in this oblivious little world at the moment, the only worries on his mind are girls and quidditch."
"He also has a brilliant strategic mind, Harry, he may be able to help out."
"I know. I will tell him, but I'll wait for the right time."
~~~~~November 29th, 1996. Hogwarts.~~~~~
Harry slumped in a chair in the Defense Against The Dark Arts room. The occlumency lesson were more than a little tiring. He looked up at Professor Brodsky standing in front of him."It is getting easier." Harry tiredly told him.
"Indeed. You are getting much better at blocking my attempts. Are you still using the same memory?" Brodsky inquired.
"Most of the time. I can't remember being more calm so I use it. I'm just worried it's not good enough, because it's taking so long."
"Learning occlumency is a long and difficult process, Harry. I will admit that you are doing better than I did when I first learned."
"I am?"
Brodsky sat down across from him, "Oh, yes, I couldn't find a memory. I couldn't think of a time when I was completely calm."
"Who taught you, Sir?"
"Professor Dumbledore, himself."
"Why did you learn in the first place?" Brodskys face darkened a little at Harrys question, so Harry quickly said, "Never mind, Sir."
"No, Harry, you deserve to know. It was a while ago. My family....was taken from me, Harry. I fought against Voldemort and his minions since his first rise. I'm a member of the Order, as you may already know."
"I figured you were."
"I was an auror and I locked away many of the Dark Lords death eaters. That, plus all the work I did for the Order made me a target. They came for me, came to my home. And that night my family was taken from me."
"I'm sorry, Sir."
"Don't be, Harry. I came to Dumbledore and that night I made a decision to walk away from my old life. He trained me in occlumency and Legilemency so that I'd be able to infiltrate certain circles and rip information from minds. Then I left."
Gently Harry asked, "Where'd you go?"
"Everywhere. I hunted down as many death eaters as I could find. I killed them, everyone I could. They didn't receive any second chances from me." He paused then met Harrys eyes, "I hope you don't feel less of me for that."
"No, Sir. I would probably do the same."
"I will say though, Harry, that I lost a part of myself with every life I took, but I don't regret it. There was very little of me left to lose anyway. Still, I am no longer the man I was before my wife died, before I lost my little girl."
"You had a daughter?" Harry asked.
That brought a small smile to Brodskys face, "Oh, yes. Quite the child she was. I was thankful she was the
spitting image of her mother. And smart for her age, too. She was less than a year old and we could have complete
conversations. Of course they were in a language I believe only children know, and I was mostly following hand
signals."
Both of them laughed at that. Harry asked, "Were you scared of becoming a father?"
"Yes. My own father died shortly before I came to Hogwarts. He was never a loving man, except to my mother. When he was with my mother it was like he was a completely different man than when he was with me. He never showed affection or anything towards me, being a mans man.
"So when my wife told me she was pregnant I got horrified because I didn't know what it meant to be a good, loving father since I never had a close relationship with my own. But as soon as I held that little angel in my arms I knew it would be different. I knew I'd tell her everyday that I loved her. I never got to do that, however." He finished sadly.
There was a long silence between the two until Brodsky broke it, "I don't mean to pry, Harry, but I saw in your memories that you and Miss Granger have gotten much closer."
Harry blushed a little but there was a smile on his face, "Yeah, we did. But we want to keep it quiet for a while, we haven't told anyone, so...."
"My lips are sealed, Harry. So you told her everything then?"
"Yes, it worried her quite a bit, but she's okay now. You wouldn't believe how happy she makes me. I feel like I could do anything as long as she's holding my hand."
"You wouldn't believe how much I believe that." Brodsky smiled, "I've felt the same way before."
"It's the most amazing feeling I've ever known."
"And it'll be the most amazing feeling you ever do know. There's nothing you can compare it to, Harry. Just treat her well and do anything you can to hold onto her love. Now you should go and rest up."
The two stood and Brodsky walked Harry to the door with a hand on his shoulder. "Thankyou, Sir." Harry said sincerely before he left.
"It's been my pleasure, Harry."
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