What I Always Wanted
Chapter 9: Honeymooning
Hermione was knackered. As she and Harry apparated into the living room of their flat the only thing she wanted was to climb into bed and sleep for several days. It had been a long, tiring and eventful day. First of all had been Hermione's excitement over her elopement with Harry. Then there was of course the revelation of their new status to the Weasleys, the rather perturbing moment with Ginny, Harry mucking up telling the news to her parents, and last but certainly not least Molly's reception.
Molly had truly outdone herself. It seemed that everyone they knew had turned out to wish them well. Of course their family had been there; the entire Weasley clan, her parents, Remus and Tonks and Hagrid (who wouldn't stop howling over how wonderful their being married was). But so had many of their friends. Neville, Dean and Seamus were there along with Lavender and Pavrati. All of the Horntails were there as were most of Hermione's colleagues. Several of their Hogwarts professors had turned out including Headmistress McGonagall and professors Slughorn and Trelawney. There were even a few notable surprises in the bunch, Patrick Belby and Viktor Krum had both heard the news and dropped by to extend their best wishes to the happy couple. With such a gathering the newlyweds had been required to repeat the proposal and wedding stories endlessly much to the displeasure of Ginny Weasley who spent most of the evening in a corner of the living room glaring nastily at anyone who dared speak to her. Needless to say it made the evening quite unending for Ginny's beau of the moment, Marcus Gladdington. Hermione imagined that it must be awful to have to spend the entire evening with someone who was auditioning for the role of the World's Most Biggest Shrew but her concern over Marcus' plight was soon forgotten as she was altogether too happy to concern herself with Ginny's childish behavior.
Hermione made her way into the kitchen to put away the mountain of food that Molly had insisted they bring. She was actually surprised that there had been anything left to bring home considering how much Ron had eaten. As she moved to the cooler Crookshanks rubbed against her legs and purred while Hedwig hooted beseechingly. Hermione nodded as she mumbled a tired "Alright". With a wave of her wand she opened the kitchen window and watched as cat and owl disappeared into the night in search of their evening's entertainment. After quickly depositing the hamper of food in the cooler Hermione headed for the bedroom intent on crawling beneath the covers and perhaps sleeping for a fortnight or so when she felt Harry's arms circling her waist. His voice was low and husky as he whispered in her ear.
"Where are you off to Mrs. Potter?"
Hermione smiled at hearing Harry call her Mrs. Potter. Leaning back fully into his arms she replied.
"I am off to bed for a nice long kip Mr. Potter."
With a grin that was evident n his voice as he spoke Harry replied.
"Bed eh…excellent idea Mrs. Potter, excellent idea…all except for that kipping part!"
Having uttered those words Harry swung Hermione up into his arms and hurried off down the hall to the bedroom.
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As soon as Harry walked through the doors of Auror Headquarters he was met by tumultuous applause. It seemed that every single witch and wizard in the employ of the department had turned out to greet him. As he made his way to the cluster of cubicles in the back of the office that served as the Horntails assigned area Harry repeatedly had his hands wrung and his back slapped as he was congratulated over and over again. Several of the witches in the department (the ones who were already spoken for themselves) gave him hugs and pecks on the cheek as they told him not to hesitate to call on them should he and Hermione need anything. A request rose up from the throng for the full story of the elopement and Harry having grown accustomed to the request over the last twenty-four hours rattled off the tale in quite fine a fashion. News of the baby seemed to shock only a few in the assemblage. Harry and Hermione had guessed that most of wizarding society would guess the reason for their sudden tying of the knot so they'd agreed to just be forthcoming from the start. That and the fact that they suspected between Luna's overt bluntness and Lavender Brown and Pavrati Patil's knack for gossip the story would be all over London by the time they'd made it home to their flat. Once he'd finished the story Harry thanked everyone for their well wishes and made his way to his own desk, where he received quite possibly the biggest shock he could have imagined. There standing beside his desk looking sorely out of place was none other than Agamenous Melbourne. Harry stood stock still a clear expression of skeptical incredulousness washing over his features. Melbourne pasted on a smile that looked as though it was causing him great pain to attempt and said in a booming voice.
"Well done, Potter…"
Melbourne paused for a beat before adding.
"Quite a respectable thing you've done…wedding the mother of your unborn child…very admirable gesture."
Harry replied through gritted teeth.
"Yes well my wife and I are quite in love the happy news of the baby is just an added bonus."
Melbourne pasted on that wretched smile once again and added in a skeptical tone.
"Of course, of course…"
Melbourne's voice trailed off as he cleared his throat and continued on by saying.
"Considering the change in your lifestyle Potter, I expect you need a bit of time to get your affairs in order, to that end I've spoken with Minster Artaxerxes and he's agreed to allow you four weeks off to set things to rights."
Harry ran a hand through his hair as he pondered why Melbourne would do something for him that appeared to be a gesture of kindness. The man hated him surely he had some other motive. Harry composed his face in what he hoped was a non-suspicious expression and said.
"That's very kind of you but there truly isn't much of anything to set in order and I can ill afford to be away just now what with this case I'm working on…"
Melbourne interjection.
"Nonsense, Potter if nothing else I'm certain your new bride would appreciate a few days of a honeymoon and as for that trifle of a case I've reassigned that matter to Torrington's squad."
Harry's eyes narrowed in anger, now he knew exactly what Melbourne was up to, he was trying to get him off the case. David Torrington could barely catch a cold so it was a complete wonder to Harry how in bloody hell Melbourne expected him to apprehend some dark wizard who was possibly a disciple of Voldemort. Harry took a deep breath and tried to speak in a respectful tone.
"Sir, again, it's most kind of you to offer me the time off but Hermione and I think it best to wait until after the baby's born to worry about honeymoon's and such…and as we'd both likely go a bit nutters if we had to sit round the house for a full month. I think it best for us both to keep as busy as we can. And it'd be unfair to throw all this off on Torrington when he's no idea what's going on."
Melbourne waved a hand dismissively.
"It has already been decided Potter, Torrington has been given the file…your squad has been reassigned…and as of this moment you have been officially relieved of duty."
A truly satisfied smirk swathed Melbourne's face as he added.
"Now then, why don't you head down to the Department of Mysteries, where I'm certain you'll find the newly dubbed Mrs. Potter has likewise been released from duty. Once again Potter my heartiest congratulations to you."
With that said Melbourne turned and strode off towards his office a definite bounce evident in his step. Harry barely had a chance to process what he'd just been told before the aurors in his command descended upon him asking what in the name of Merlin was going on. He did his best to calm them and asked them to just go along with things as they were until he could sort out what to do next. He then collected a few essentials from his desk and headed to Hermione's office.
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Hermione was seated behind her desk going over a to do list with her assistant Daphne Greenfendle when the door that led to the hall banged open as Harry stormed in, slammed the door shut and bellowed.
"I JUST WANTED YOU AND OUR UNBORN CHILD TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU BOTH AND I'M TRULY SORRY FOR GETTING LANDED IN AZKABAN FOR MURDERING THAT ARSE MELBOURNE!!!!"
Startled at the vehemence of his tirade Daphne let out a frightened yelp as she jumped right out of her seat and bumped into the desk causing the brass and pewter inkwell that resided there to overturn. A multi-colored river of ink began to creep across Hermione's desk. Daphne flashed an apologetic look to Hermione who smiled understandingly and with a wave of her hand cleared away the mess and said.
"That will be all Daphne."
The younger brunette witch nodded then exited through the side door. Hermione waited until she heard the clicking of the closed door before getting to her feet and responding to her husband.
"Your unborn child and I want you to know that we love you as well but you will not be spending one day in Azkaban because you will not be murdering Melbourne no matter what he's done."
Harry eyed Hermione and said.
"That's easy for you to say considering you've no idea what he's just done!"
Hermione, who'd, made her way across the room to stand beside Harry looped her arms about his waist and with a gentle tug and lowered them both to the couch before she answered back.
"Actually I know precisely what he's done. He's just given you an entire month off so that we can go on a honeymoon…Moore was in here earlier telling me all about the wonderfully thought gesture Melbourne was extending to you. Which would only work if Dalton did the same for me…wouldn't be much of a honeymoon with only the groom now would it? Undoubtedly you've come to the realization that this seemingly kind act was just a ploy of Melbourne's to get you from under foot. And now you're trying to suss out a way to get around Melbourne's plotting."
Harry's face registered a moment of shock before he nodded his agreement to what Hermione had just said.
"He gave the case to Torrington! Everybody knows what an idiot he is, it's a wonder the dolt even got through aurors' training. Kingsley or Tonks would have been the logical choice seeing as they'd both been briefed on the case already! But oh no that bleeding sod gives it to Torrington to muck up! I tell you Hermione it's almost like he's trying to intentionally sabotage this case! I mean honestly, does he really hate me that much!"
Hermione patted Harry's arm affectionately.
"Well given that you did undermine his authority with Minster Artaxerxes I suppose he imagines this as some sort of payback…"
Harry interjected.
"Hermione this goes well beyond one-upping me for subverting his authority…its almost as if Melbourne is trying to hide something…but as I've been relieved of duty chances of my finding out if that is the case just dropped down to squat!"
Hermione laid her head in the crook of Harry's neck and cooed.
"Is the idea of a whole month off spent in my company really that repulsive to you?"
Harry frowned.
"Hermione, love, its not that I wouldn't love to take the time off and spend it with you but …"
Harry's words disappeared amid a sharp intake of breath. Hermione had slid her delicate hand down his chest and was now gently massaging his thickening manhood. As she placed soft kisses along his jaw line she spoke in a husky whisper.
"Let's look at this sensibly…Melbourne has usurped your case quite completely. If you refuse the time off or go to Minster Artaxerxes and accuse Melbourne of something untoward you look like the fanatic he's always accused you of being. But if you take the month off and take your gorgeous wife on a fantastic honeymoon to Greece, where she always wanted to go, perhaps you can do a bit of investigating in between snoggings."
By now Hermione had made her way onto Harry's lap as she slowly drew his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. Harry tangled his fingers in Hermione's hair and pulling her head closer to his and deepened the kiss. Their tongues clashed frantically for several minutes before they parted. Harry smiled as he spoke.
"Greece eh…gods I love the way your mind works."
Hermione smiled as well.
"I am rather brilliant aren't I."
Harry nodded as he leaned forward and while nuzzling Hermione's neck cast synchronized silencing and locking charms. He then slipped his hands beneath Hermione's robes and cupping her backside said.
"You're also sexy as all bloody hell."
Harry slipped his hands inside Hermione's knickers as he sucked passionately at her neck. A tiny moan escaped her lips as she panted out.
"Harry we're in my office."
With a mischievous smile Harry turned and pulling Hermione beneath him said.
"I know."
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