Chapter 6
They were surprised when the door bell rang soon after they finished showering. The bell followed a familiar voice and loud pounding on the door.
"Aren't you two bloody awake yet?" exclaimed the voice.
Hermione and Harry looked at each other like two little children whose hands were caught in a cookie jar. They started scrambling to get dressed. They'd forgotten they were magical beings and proceeded to try to dress the hard way until they conked each other on the head when they both bent down to get to their garments. They looked at each other again with foolish grins on their faces. They both realized the unnecessary panic they'd gone through. Hermione whispered a cleaning spell as Harry wrapped a towel around his waist and hurried to open the door.
"It's about bloody time," came an annoyed Ron. "What the bloody hell took you so long."
"I was in the shower, is that okay with you?" Ron's embarrassment looked comical. He whispered his apologies when he noticed Harry's state of dress, or in his case undress, as well as his wet hair. "Keep it down. Hermione is resting."
"No, Hermione is right here." She hoped the apparent blush on her cheeks did not give her away. She'd walked out of her bedroom after she'd dressed and whispered a drying spell for her hair. She was once again hit with a powerful surge of remembrance as soon as she saw Harry's half dressed body. She walked over to greet Ron while hoping her knees would not buckle and have her land flat on her face.
Upon realizing Harry's attire, Ron reprimanded him. "Harry, you can't go walking around that way." Harry almost laughed at the face Ron made and how close he was of sounding like his mother, Molly Weasley. He couldn't tell who was more embarrassed, Hermione or Ron. He excused himself to repair the situation. He smiled at the way Ron had turned from Hermione's fiancé to an overprotective brother. He couldn't be happier. He just hoped Ron will receive their newfound relationship well.
"Would you like something to drink?" Hermione asked when Harry left the room. She hoped she didn't looked to obviously guilty while Ron was around. She wasn't sure he was ready to hear about hers and Harry's relationship just yet. She knew he wouldn't understand and might be hurt if he found out that she'd always held Harry close to her heart even when she was with him. Well, he didn't have to know about that. But to have established a relationship after just a short time after Harry's return was probably going to be a blow on his ego. She couldn't do that to Ron. He was still a dear friend.
"No, no. I just came by to see if you and Harry had settled okay and of course to let you know that I'd be leaving today on a three week tour with the Cannons. I also wanted to talk to the both of you and get our stories straight should I be asked questions during the tour."
She was amazed at how mature Ron was acting. She hadn't even thought of that possibility. She was a bit busy last night, but even before last night, she wasn't thinking beyond getting home. She had a new respect for Ron at that moment.
"We're doing great." She felt herself blush and hoped that Ron didn't notice. "Although, I don't think we've had time to think about stories." She was sure her face must be crimson. Of course, only the ever oblivious Ron didn't notice. He was more concerned about the news she received yesterday regarding their none-engagement.
"Hermione, I also wanted to make sure that you were okay with, you know."
It dawned on Hermione that Ron must be interpreting her reactions to mean something else. She felt a little better. She would feel guilty if she let him continue to think otherwise. "I'm fine Ron. Like I told you before, it was probably a good thing for the both of us. I know I was probably the most difficult person on earth to get along with." Ron rolled his eyes. Hermione noticed and smiled. She knew she drove him crazy with her anal retentive behavior.
"No, not really." A white lie. There was a short uncomfortable silence between them.
Harry walked in with a straight face. He knew better than to laugh at Ron's previous statement which he over heard as he came around the corner. He remembered all of Ron's complaints when he wrote him. It irritated him when he complained about Hermione, but back then he didn't know what the root of his problem was. So he just ignored it, but he did advice Ron to talk with Hermione, which was what Hermione's main complaint about Ron was. According to Hermione, Ron did not like to talk about anything else except for quidditch. Of course, he had his moments but only after Harry would coach him.
Harry knew what Hermione liked and what she disliked - her idiosyncrasies. It amazed him that he knew so much about her yet Ron dated her and still didn't really know her as well as he did. Now, because of last night he knew her in an intimate level that no other man knew. His heart swelled. At that moment Hermione looked and their eyes met across the room. No words were needed. They already knew what the other felt even though they hadn't voiced them.
The tenderness in Harry's eyes when they met with Hermione's was all Ron needed to know for sure that Hermione would be all right. In his heart he knew that they belonged together. Even in the silence he could practically hear their heart beating for each other. He smiled. He was a little disappointed that they hadn't said anything, but then he wondered if they even knew what they felt for each other. He decided to wait until one of them brought it up. There were other things that needed to be taken care of. They're both intelligent people, he was sure they would figure out their feelings on their own.
"Ahem!" Ron cleared his throat. The two broke out of their reverie. "Sorry to break up the moment, but if you two are finished ogling at each other, can we get back to what we're supposed to be discussing?"
Harry and Hermione both turned beet red. Ron hadn't meant to say anything, but his big mouth was once again triumphant over his brain. "Ron?" Harry spoke up.
"Sorry, the way you two were looking at each other you'd think I wasn't in the room. I was…"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. She tried to sound like her practical self.
"Look. I've always known that we weren't meant for each other Hermione. And Harry, I know that you've always had a special place in your heart for Hermione." Again they both turned red. So much for trying to hide their feelings! They were in trouble now.
"Ron." Harry would be never hear the end of it from Mad-eye and Remus if they found out how he wore his heart on his sleeves so to speak. He was a trained Auror. Apparently, he wasn't too trained where Hermione was concerned.
"It's all right you know. I saw the way you looked at each other just now and believe me when I say that I don't think I'd ever looked at you that way before Hermione nor you me. You two always shared a closeness that neither of you shared with anyone else. I know that you both love me in your own way, but I think deep down we all knew that you two would end up with each other."
Harry and Hermione were speechless to say the least.
"I don't know what to say really. I mean Hermione and I wanted to wait to tell you. Under the circumstances, we don't even know if Hermione is involved with anyone. She hadn't written to me about anyone else after you and she broke it off." Ron grinned almost saying "I told you so."
"You can wipe off the grin off your face Ron. Harry and I only realized how we felt about each other last night." She blushed. She couldn't seem to get past the wonderful feelings every time she thought of what she and Harry did last night. Ron kept grinning.
"So did you two, you know."
"Ron!" She was crimson. Harry gave Ron a look that told him they'd talk about it later.
"Sorry. You both know I can't help what I say sometimes." He grinned again and all was forgiven.
"Anyway, do you know if I was seeing anyone? Maybe Ginny's told you."
"Nope. You weren't seeing anyone in particular. You dated though." Harry felt a little angry at the news. This time he masked his emotions as best he could for Hermione's sake.
"Do you know who?"
"A bloke named Christian and some other bloke named Matthew. I think you really like Matthew. You even brought him over to the Burrow once." Hermione's heart fell. How could she have dated so capriciously when she knew that she must have thought of Harry day and night?
"Hermione?" Harry went to her and held her. "It will be all right. We'll sort it all out."
"Hermione, I was just joking about the Matthew guy. Matthew is just a good friend of mine from the Cannons. He does fancy you, but you never went out with him. You turned him down when he asked you out." Hermione glared at him. "I'm just trying to lighten things up here."
"What about the other bloke?"
"Christian? Hermione did date him more than once to go to some kind of charity ball for St. Mungos and some other events. I think you two merely had an understanding that you and he would provide company for events such as the charity balls and stuff like that. I don't think you ever showed him any interest as to furthering your relationship, but I can't say the same about him. I didn't trust him much."
Harry didn't either. When Hermione turned around to face Ron, Harry put a possessive arm around her waist. He was letting her know that he was there. "Do you have a picture of him anywhere?" He whispered in her ears. Shivers shot up her spine. Merlin, she didn't know how she survived all those years without an intimate relationship with Harry.
"If you still keep your copies of the daily prophet, Hermione, you two had a picture in the front page once. Something about the both of being the toast of the ball or something like that. I only remember because mum held it up and asked me if he was your new beau."
"I'm sure I'll have a stack of the prophet lying around in the study. I'll go check." Hermione hurried out of the room. The uncomfortable feeling of discussing men in her life was just too overwhelming when the love of her life held her.
When Hermione was out of hearing distance, Ron asked Harry again if they'd consummated their relationship. Harry actually blushed.
"I don't really want to talk about that right now Ron."
"Oh, that's rich. You did. You know I should be angry, or maybe jealous because once again the Harry Potter was able to get something that I never could …"
"Shut it!"
"Hey, I was going to say I'm not." He grinned when he noticed that Harry looked calm. "I'm happy with Luna and I knew that Hermione well, let's just say we argued more that made out."
Harry laughed. It was the first time in a long time that Ron heard him laughed without restraint. It was like music to his ears. Growing up with the threat of Voldemort over him always held him back from truly enjoying life. Ron was man enough to admit that he was stupid to think that Harry was doing everything to get attention. He remembered how many times their relationship had become strained because of Harry's ready recognition and fortune. It took him a while to realize that he was far richer than Harry even with his family's lack of fortune. He had something that Harry never had and could never have again. He had his mum and dad, a family that loved him even when they annoyed him to no end.
Over the years, Ron shared his family with Harry, but it wasn't until after the battle that Harry finally understood his role within the Weasley family. They were his family just as much as Hogwarts had become his home and the people inside had become his family; well most of them anyway.
"You think that's funny do you?"
"Sorry Ron, but you and Hermione was something I never understood. I accepted it because I love you both, but I was always stuck in the middle."
"Yeah, I remember when you finally got fed up and declared yourself Switzerland."
"Yeah, well you two were a piece of work together. I'm just surprised you lasted as long as you both did."
"I think we were just both stubborn and didn't want to become failures in our relationship. You know how Hermione is when there is a challenge ahead of her. I think maybe she thought of me as a challenge." Ron smiled to soften what could be a criticism on Hermione. Harry had always been so protective of her, now he knew why. He didn't think he would have been able to handle seeing the woman he loved with someone else. He had new admiration for Harry. Then again, he wondered if Harry knew how he felt about Hermione until recently.
"You were a challenge, Ron" Hermione called out from the doorway.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Not long Harry. Is there anything I should know?" Of course she heard most of what they were talking about. She became curious when she heard Harry's laugh all the way from the study.
"Not really. Ron just trying to pry more information about us." Hermione sent Ron what she thought was a reprimanding look. It always scared Ron when she looked at him with the McGonagall look of disapproval. She did so now and as if like clockwork, Ron cowered to silence.
"He didn't tell me anything, honest."
"Never mind that. I found the picture."
Hermione noticed Harry stiffened at the picture. It showed Hermione laughing at something Christian whispered in her ear while his hand on her waist settled with familiarity that intimacy created. She didn't remember what it was at that moment, nor did she remember the face that appeared next to hers in a most intimate fashion. The headline read "A new man for Granger" by Rita Skeeter. She never did learn, she thought. Hermione was a bit giddy from Harry's reaction and a bit concerned. It touched her that he was a bit jealous, but she was worried on how close she actually was with the man in the picture.
Harry wasn't a bit jealous at all. Harry never hated anyone in his life other than Voldemort until then. He had never had a problem with Hermione dating, not even with Ron. Somehow, everything changed. He felt more possessive that ever. He'd never thought himself a jealous person and it was humbling to find out that he was, even embarrassing.
A/N: Thanks for your reviews. I must apologize once again for the length of time it's taken to put up another chapter.
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