Chapter 8
Harry and Hermione were exhausted after the trip to the burrow. The nice thing that did come out was that their relationship was readily accepted by their family and friends. As they sat on the couch talking about the last few hours they'd spent at the burrow, they realized they probably sped up the process of trying to find Hermione's assailants.
"You know if someone did try to hurt you for selfish reasons, having the status of our relationship would basically was a slap in the face for him."
"If it is a him." Hermione added.
"You're right. I shouldn't be narrow-minded at this point. It may be for a different reason all together other than some guy wanting you all to himself." He smiled to let her know he was joking.
"I think you're the only one who's willing to put up with me."
"You're right, as usual." He smirked when she playfully slapped his arm. He turned her to face him and became serious. "So, will you marry me?"
Hermione immediately became teary eyed. She was surprised that he'd asked. She was hopeful that he would ask, but she didn't think he would ask so soon especially with everything else going on around them.
"Harry.." Her voice hitched. He took something out of his pocked and held it out in front of him. The ring was a simple platinum band with a simple square cut emerald.
"It was my mother's. I'd like you to wear it. That is if you say yes."
Hermione was speechless. Her throat dried up like the Sahara, but her eyes filled up like the sea. She couldn't see Harry beyond her tears.
"Hermione?" She nodded vigorously then her tears fell incessantly. Harry took her right hand and slipped the ring on her finger. Harry gathered her in his arms and whispered "Thank you."
Hermione let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. She'd never felt such joy in her heart until that moment. She didn't think it existed. She'd heard people talking about it, but her practical side just couldn't see the logic in being incandescently happy. She thought it only happened in the books, in fairy tales, but not in real life. She couldn't stop all the tears from flowing.
"I hope those are tears of joy," he joked.
Hermione chuckled through her tears, but all she could was nod.
"Have I done the impossible then and rendered the Hermione Jane Granger speechless!" Harry felt uncomfortable with all the tears. He knew she was crying because she was happy, but he'd rather see her smiling and laughing instead of crying. The comment did earn him a slight slap on the head.
"Shut up, Harry!"
"That's more like it. That's the Hermione Granger soon to be Potter I know."
"I can't help it Harry. I think I've been waiting my whole life for this moment."
"I love you Hermione. I don't ever want to see you hurt or sad."
"Oh, Harry. I love you so much. I don't think I could have ever married anyone else if you hadn't asked me."
"I don't know what to say to that."
"Just hold me."
The man looked into the mirror and turned away. The reflection seemed to mock him to no ends. He had her and lost her, but he would get her back. His master did not tolerate incompetence and knew that he was relying on him to get the task done. It was simple enough. Take her and hold her until he returned. Who'd have known that the bitch would escape him?
It wasn't his fault really. He looked at the mirror again and his reflection looked back and called him a liar. It wasn't my fault, he screamed out loud. It was the people he hired to help that caused the problem. They should not have been drinking fire whiskey while they were standing guard. He warned them that she was clever, but did they listen. Of course not! Those fools looked at her and thought their strength would outweigh her cleverness.
No matter, he had a few more days until his master returned. If he wanted the job done right, he'd have to do it himself. He was done with hiring goons. Of course they were easier to rid off, but he was merely doing the world a favor by killing them anyway. Next time she wouldn't get away. He had a much better plan in mind.
A few days after the celebration at the Weasleys, Ginny popped in front Hermione's door. She had the biggest smile in the world and looked like a boiling pot of water that would soon bubble over. When Harry opened the door for her, he knew why she was there. He also knew that the others would follow. It was the girls' night out. Hermione received the notice following the party and tried to beg off, but they wouldn't let her. So they compromised and decided to have it at Hermione's flat with one condition; Harry would have to leave.
Harry and Hermione didn't like that one bit, so they opted for letting Harry spend the night under his invisibility cloak. He didn't know if he could pull it off.
"Hermione, it gets hot under the cloak. How do you expect me to stay inside the whole night? And what am I to do when I get hungry?"
"Really Harry," she scolded in her condescending tone. "You're a wizard Harry, remember? You can conjure your food when you want can't you?"
She got him there. He was just giving her a hard time because he wanted to spend more time alone with her. The past few days had been magical for the both of them. He knew that it would have to end when they had to go back to work. Still he needed to solve the problem of who wanted to hurt her. They weren't any closer to the answer since the beginning. He'd ask his Lupin and Mad Eye for help, but so far they'd come up empty handed. Whoever they were looking for covered his tracks well. They'd found two men found dead near the vicinity in which Hermione was found. They were just hired men who would do anyone's bidding for a price. It didn't help their case in anyway. Dead men don't talk.
"Well, I'm sure one of them will probably hear me."
She tsked at him. "You can put the silencing charm over the cloak Harry"
"Now why didn't I think of that?" That would have come in handy while he was in school and tried to find a place to snog besides the broom closet he added to himself.
"I know Harry. It would have come in handy back at Hogwarts had you known. But your hormones took over your brain at that age."
Damn, how did she know what he was thinking? He just gave her his lop sided grin of his and pulled her in his arms for a long snog. The discussion ended and the decision made. He would pretend to leave and go back in with his invisibility cloak.
"Oh, hey Ginny. I was just on my way out." He kissed her on the cheek. "You ladies have fun tonight.
"We will Harry. And don't worry. We'll take great care of Hermione."
Just as he was about to disapparate, he heard a few more pops. He decided it was a great time to disapparate to get the cloak and quickly apparate back in and enter with the others while the flurry of guests came in. It worked perfectly. He was back inside the flat undetected.
He rolled his eyes heavenward when he found a corner to settle himself in. The endless chatter from all directions was enough to make a man wish he were deaf. It was like being back in school and in the Griffyndor common room. He scanned the room.
On the couch sat Ginny, Mrs. Granger and Hermione. Hermione and Harry decided to let Ginny in on the memory problem because they thought she would be able to enlighten them on a few things that Ron may not have known. They gave her the summary yesterday and she felt thrilled to be in their confidence.
She'd always longed to be included in the trio's world, and they did include her for the most part, but still there were some things that they kept from her. She resented that fact when she was younger, but as she grew older, she realized that there existed a bond within the trio that even the three of them could not share with each other.
After being with Harry for a short time, she knew that their bond was weak compared to the one he shared with Hermione. Even when Hermione agreed to marry Ron, she knew that the engagement wouldn't last long. It wasn't because of her brother or Hermione, but it was because of Harry. Even if Harry had not recognized the way he felt for Hermione, Ginny could tell that Harry loved her far more beyond friendship that they both realized or were willing to admit at that time.
The fact that Harry did little to fight for Hermione back then was proof to her that he loved her deeply enough to want to see her happy. So he let her go. And maybe they needed that time apart to figure out what they really meant to each other because seeing them together during the party and while they explained to her about Hermione's memory; she could tell that the affections she saw before were not half as strong as the ones she was seeing now. She doubted that she and Dean even compared to them in that aspect. She knew they loved each other dearly, but she thought that Hermione and Harry just brought the definition to another level. She would do anything to help keep them together as their friend, sister and admirer.
Ginny and Mrs. Granger explained what would take place. Ginny already gave her some highlights, but things tend to vary depending on who attended. They planned to use prompts to let Hermione know how to answer when needed.
Harry was satisfied that Mrs. Granger and Ginny have everything under control with Hermione so far. He turned his attention to the far end of the room. Someone conjured a small table with three chairs. There sat Fleur, Angelina and Susan Bones. Angelina was talking animatedly about the new inventions the twins had at their store.
"I swear I could have killed those two when they'd slipped one of their concoctions in my pumpkin juice. I walked like a bloody duck for two days."
Susan kept smiling and Fleur laughed out loud. It was funny and Harry wondered why Susan merely smiled. In truth she'd had that same smile plastered on her face since the moment she walked in the door. He made a mental note to keep on eye on her. He didn't think Susan was a threat, but he should check her out anyway just to cross her out of the suspect list.
He moved his eyes to the left side of the room and found Mandy Blockerhurst, Mrs. Weasley, Luna and a girl who was introduced to them as Sara. She was Mandy's cousin on the mother's side. She was there in the hopes of landing a position in the Ministry with Mandy as a reference since she just graduated from a school in the southern part of Europe. Harry made a mental note to check on her as well. Nothing and no one else seems to look out of the ordinary.
"Ok ladies, why don't we all gather around the coffee table," Fleur announced with her slight French accent. She'd been practicing ever since she and Bill were married and only reverted to the strong accent when she was really angry.
They all moved to the place near the fire place. Hermione had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. This wasn't in the explanation she was given.
"Susan had a wonderful idea and since this is her first time with us, I think we should try it. First we want to say welcome to Susan and Sara as well. They're newcomers to our little get together and Victoria, Gabriel, and the Patils send their regard. Anyway, since this is your game Susan, why don't you explain what it is we should do."
With the smile still on her face she turned to her audience and started to explain. "Since some of us may not know each other well, we should try a little ice breaker. On a piece of paper, we write down something that no one in this room knows about us. We'll put it in a hat. Of course the hat will be enchanted to display what we write and keep track on who wrote it. The hat will also know if what you wrote is a lie, so no lying. It is almost like the Goblet of Fire, but not as elaborate or dangerous. If you do put something of a falsehood, the hat will think of just punishment. Nothing deadly or elaborate, but everyone in the room will know that you lied. The hat will display what was written and we write down our best guest on who we think the person is. In the end we'll know a little more about each other and who ever has the most guess can have the privilege of choosing the next game."
Ginny and Hermione looked at each other as if they'd read each other's minds. They knew it was too good to be true. They knew that with two new people, there would be a change in the agenda. It was going to be a long night.
In his corner of the room, Harry sighed. He hoped to Merlin Hermione will think of something else no one else in the room including him does not know. Even if he was invisible under the cloak, the enchanted hat would know if he knew anything that was written and placed in the hat.
A/N: It's been awhile. I hope this chapter kept you entertained. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Let the games begin.
As always, thank you for your reviews. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
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