Unofficial Portkey Archive

What I Always Wanted

Chapter 2: Happy

"Oy, Harry, Hermione up you get now!"

As Ron's voiced echoed through Harry's bedroom. Harry rolled over onto his side and pulled his pillow over his head to deaden the sound.

"Budge up in there!"

Hermione likewise rolled over and emitted a soft groan as she extended her leg and kicked Harry sharply on the shin. Harry opened his eyes and saw the look swathing Hermione's features. It was what he and Ron had labeled her "Well, you should get a move on" face. Ron's voice rang out again.

"No time to be lazy layabouts! Get your arses out here!"

Harry sat up and tossed the tangled covers off his body. Standing to his feet he snatched up his discarded boxers from the floor and slipped them on. As he trudged to the door Hermione murmured sleepily.

"Do hit Ron with an itching hex or one of those really foul defense spells you know. Honestly bellowing at the top of his lungs when people are trying to sleep."

Harry chuckled as he opened the door and made his way down the hall towards his living room. When he rounded the corner he caught sight of Ron sitting at the kitchen table eating biscuits from the tin that Hermione's mum had sent over. Harry spoke in a conversational tone as he stepped into the kitchen and walked to the refrigerator to fetch himself something to drink.

"Those biscuits have been sitting there for at least two months you know."

Ron shrugged.

"They are a might dry I suppose but not bad otherwise."

Harry shook his head as he took a jug of pumpkin juice from the refrigerator and poured two glasses. Handing one to Ron he said.

"Well when you become violently ill be sure to tell Hermione I hit you with a time-lapsed vomiting hex."

Ron smiled at his best friend and said with a chuckle.

"Hermione asked you to do me bodily harm eh."

Harry nodded as he took a seat across from Ron at the table.

"Yeah she did. You know how cranky she gets when you pop in unannounced. I reckon she thinks you're trying to peek at us shagging."

Ron shivered as he replied.

"Trust me the last image I ever want burned into my mind is of you and Hermione having a shag. Although I suppose it would help Fred and George get the er…ahh…correct dimensions for the anatomically correct, fully functional, miniature models of you in the altogether they have it in mind to sell."

Ron paused as Harry chocked on his pumpkin juice then continued by saying.

"And while I reckon it would have be a big seller that's not the reason I'm here..."

Harry interposed.

"I should bloody well hope not! "

Ron grinned and went on.

"Mum's been going on and on about never getting to see all her grown-up sprogs together anymore. Think she's been driving Dad a bit mad really. Anyway she's been going on and on about wanting all her children and grandchildren together for dinner without it having to be some special occasion like a wedding…so Dad owled the lot of us with the idea of a family dinner. Sounded alright to us so after weeks of planning by the women we all surprised her today."

Ron paused in his soliloquy and grabbed another handful of stale biscuits. He popped two into his mouth and chewed vigorously. Harry shook his head in disbelief as he added in an obligatory "That's nice." Ron nodded in agreement and finished off his handful of biscuits before speaking again.

"Yeah well just as we were about to sit down to eat Mum says everything would be just perfect if only all the children had been able to make it. Well Prat Percy looks at Mum like she's gone round the twist and informs here that all of her kids are there. Fred and George called him every kind of idiot they could think of before Dad stepped and said that you were off on a field mission and that he reckoned Hermione was off as well seeing as how she never responded to his owl. So then Mum looked up at the clock of hers and saw your arrow pointing to "home" and Hermione's to "visiting"…and I was sent to fetch you two for dinner."

Harry nodded absently wondering why Hermione hadn't mentioned an owl from Arthur about a surprise dinner for Molly. He just caught the last of what Ron was saying.

"So get your trousers on."

Harry raised an eyebrow and repeated Ron's words.

"Get my trousers on?"

Ron quickly replied.

"Yes get your trousers on. Mum won't eat unless you two are there, so the sooner you two get dressed the sooner we can get out back to the burrow and all of the food!"

Harry answered back.

"Ron it'll take a bit more than just throwing on a pair of trousers…"

Ron interjected.

"But I'm starving!"

Harry shrugged and said.

"So head back to the Burrow and tell Molly we'll be along directly."

Ron shook his head.

"You don't understand…Mum won't let us touch one bloody crumb until you two get there and I'm not to come back without you!!"

Harry stood to his feet and shoved the jug of pumpkin juice towards Ron as he said.

"Finish off those biscuits and help yourself to whatever's in the pantry."

Harry paused and a wide grin spread across his face as he added.

"I'll see about rousing Hermione."

Upon seeing the look on Harry's face Ron called out to his retreating back.

"Oh bloody hell! For the love of Merlin use a silencing charm!!!"

Ron, Harry and Hermione arrived at the Burrow some thirty minutes later. As soon as she saw them Molly carved a path through the assembled crowd, Arthur walking in her wake, and pulled Harry into one of her bone crushing hugs. As had become her habit when Ron and Harry became aurors and returned from a mission Molly began examining Harry for injuries as she simultaneously queried him about whether or not he'd been eating and sleeping properly.

"Oh Harry dear its so good to have you home, let me look at you."

Harry allowed Molly to turn him about a bit as he replied.

"It's good to be home."

Molly muttered offhandedly as she continued to eye Harry up and down.

"And you've been eating properly and getting proper amounts of rest haven't you?"

Harry smiled and replied.

"As much sleep as work would allow and I've been eating though nothing as fine as your excellent cooking."

Molly beamed as she looked up at Harry. Abruptly her eyes widened as she took in Harry's shoulder length hair and the beard he'd grown over the past six weeks.

"Merlin, Morganna and Circe, Harry what have you done to yourself!"

Ron shook his head wearily as his mother launched into one of her "You're such a handsome young man" speeches over Harry's sudden hair growth. Seeing that he was no closer to eating than he had been before Ron wandered over to a table loaded with nibbles and shoveled a handful of crisps into his mouth. Arthur Weasley patted Harry on the back welcomingly then left he and Molly to their conversation and ambled over to Hermione. After exchanging a few pleasantries Arthur said.

"Well I'm glad to see you here. I was a bit surprised when I didn't get an owl from you saying you could make it to the festivities, I assumed you must've been out of town."

Hermione shook her head as she puzzled over Arthur's statement.

"Harry asked about that as well. It's odd that I never received your invitation. As near as I can tell it must have come during the space of time when Glenda my old assistant left and Daphne my new assistant arrived. There was a week or so when I was without an assistant at all and my mail was being handled by the departmental assistants."

Hermione rolled her eyes and Arthur nodded knowingly.

"Ahh…well then that solves the mystery. I've yet to meet a ministry departmental assistant who can properly sort out mail."

Hermione and Arthur shared a laugh. Molly turned her attention from Harry, who'd promised her that his rather scruffy appearance had been necessary to conceal his identity while on his mission and that he would not be keeping it. She directed her attentions to Hermione and Arthur and giving the younger woman a warm hug said.

"Hermione dear so lovely to see, your visits have been rather scarce lately. I don't think I've seen hide nor hair of you since Harry went off on this latest mission."

Harry raised an eyebrow curiously as Hermione returned Molly's hug and muttered something about things being very busy at work of late. Molly stepped back and with a smile said.

"Work or not dear you should always make time for family."

Hermione nodded her agreement and promised to do better as Molly patted her cheek. Molly stepped back and called out to the assemblage of redheads and the smattering of brown, blond and black that dotted in-between.

"Well then, enough talk…this is a family dinner…everyone into the dining room."

As those words left Molly's lips Ron expelled a gigantic breath and bellowed out.

"Finally we can eat."

Everyone let out a laugh at Ron's declaration but it was clear that his sentiments were felt in kind by all as they hurriedly trouped into the dining room and seated themselves at the table. It was clear that Molly Weasley had outdone herself for this occasion. Two large wooden tables had been set end to end and were positively groaning under the weight of their abundant contents. There was steak and kidney pie, Yorkshire pudding, kippers, roast chicken, lamb and turkey, ham, sausages, roast pork, runner beans, jacket potatoes, aubergines, beetroots, courgettes, parsnips and carrots and salad. For afters there was treacle tart, cauldron cakes, pumpkin pie, apple pie, fairy cakes, trifle, gateau, spotted dick and lemon tarts. There were flagons of pumpkin juice, tankards upon tankards of an assortment of ales and endless bottles of butterbeer and Ogden's Fire whiskey. Harry was reminded of his days at Hogwarts and the amazing feasts they put on. Looking at the fare spread out before him Harry didn't doubt that Molly's cooking would rival anything that the house elves had ever served. And much like Ron Harry was immeasurably happy when Molly told them all to tuck in.

Hermione stood in the kitchen of the Burrow stacking plates, bowls, saucers, platters and tureens back into their proper places in their respective cupboards. The Weasley women were similarly scattered about the room attending to various chores, with the exception of Molly who had been sent off to relax considering the fact that she had done all the cooking. Luna stood to Hermione's left idly floating the glasses, cups and cutlery back into their drawers and cupboards. Angelina and Alicia, Fred and George's wives were at the sink finishing the washing up. Percy's wife Penelope having just finished the sweeping and mopping in the dining room came into the kitchen and set to work on its floor. Ginny was wiping down the counters and the scrubbed wooden table where a very pregnant Fleur sat chatting with Charlie's fiancée Paige Donnelly as they packed away the last of the leftovers that were to be handed out to each Weasley child at the end of the evening.

A series of snaps, pops, dings and whistles followed by deep rumbling laughter could be heard coming from the living room as the men had settled themselves down to sample Fred and George's latest amusements. There was also a fair amount of squealing, clapping and excited chatter coming from the area as well as the littlest Weasleys enjoyed the show being put on. As an outstandingly loud boom rang out the children exploded into requests for Fred and George to do whatever they'd just done again. Fleur smiled and speaking to the wives of the masters of mayhem asked.

"Angelina, Alicia exactly what will I `ave to search William and Christian's pockets for before bed tonight?"

The two women at the sink shrugged their shoulders. Alicia answered first.

"Who knows what George and Fred have cooked up. Just last week Adam got into bed with one of those exploding edible candies of theirs…covered the whole bedroom in chocolate. Right mess it was. Told George if it happened again it'd take more than a wave of his wand to sort things out."

Angelina chimed in.

"I know the feeling…Fred is always down in the basement mixing up trouble with Fredericka sitting right beside him. Sometime I think he even asks her for suggestions!"

Paige turned shocked eyes to Angelina and exclaimed.

"Asks her for suggestions…she only just turned three!"

Angelina simply nodded. Penelope inclined her head as well and said.

"Fred and George are always giving Perceus things to try…imploding slime filled slugs, and those treats of theirs that turn you into some sort of animal. Perceus is forever slipping them in with his dinner so he can turn into something or other at the dinner table…drives Percy mad it does."

Paige's eyes widened in surprise, Fleur patted her hand and with a giggle changed the subject.

"So ow are things coming along with ze wedding plans?"

Paige smiled.

"Haven't gotten much done actually. With Charlie off in Romania most of the time and my schedule at St. Mungos there isn't much time left over for planning. I spoke to Molly the other day and she's more than willing to take on the planning and while I'm grateful for the help I really want Charlie and I to have a hand in the planning as it is our wedding."

Silence descended over the room for several seconds before Luna said.

"Good luck with that."

As Paige turned a confused face to Luna, Fleur, Penelope, Alicia, Angelina, Ginny and Hermione all burst out laughing. Paige aimed her perplexed gaze to them all in turn before finally asking.

"What's so funny?"

Angelina answered.

"What you said about it being your wedding and you not wanting someone else to take charge of things."

Paige frowned again as she inquired.

"And why is that so funny?"

It was Ginny who answered this time.

"Because you're marrying a Weasley and Mum likes to know her boys are taken care of."

Fleur cut in.

"And as she thinks no one can do zat better zan she can you are in for a bit of a bumpy road until Molly believes you worthy."

Paige swallowed nervously. Hermione walked over and patted her on the back and said.

"No need to worry Paige, Molly may be a bit too overprotective at times but it's only out of love for her children. Once you get to know her better you'll see that she is really quite sweet."

As the Weasley wives chimed in offering support of Hermione's characterization of the family's matriarch Ginny sarcastically tossed out.

"And she's forgiving too isn't she Hermione."

All the light-hearted banter and laughter that had filled the room moments before evaporated as Hermione slowly rotated her head so that she was staring directly at Ginny. The two women stood glaring at each other. Ginny's hazel brown eyes sparkling wickedly as her beautiful red hair cascaded down around her shoulders. Hermione's chocolate brown orbs remained focused across the table on Ginny as she patted Paige's back a second time and said.

"You really have nothing to worry over Paige…I'm certain Molly adores you already."

The tension in the room was evident as not another word was spoken. In the months since she and Harry had become a couple saying that Ginny had been cool towards Hermione would have been the grandest understatement of all time. And honestly Hermione had expected things to be a bit strained between them. Ginny had been infatuated with Harry since she was ten years old. Had even gone so far as to fancy herself in love with him, thus it was a given that she would be less than pleased with his and Hermione's relationship. But Hermione had sincerely hoped that given time Ginny would let go of her anger and move on. While she had moved on, Ginny was presently dating Marcus Gladdington heir to the Gladrags wizard wear empire, she still had not let go of her anger over her failed relationship with Harry and her annoyance at Hermione for landing him.

Hermione had felt it necessary that she and Harry be exceedingly forthcoming about what happened between them. Thus they had informed their family and friends of their dating almost immediately. Sure they received a few bewildered expressions but for the most part everyone had been supportive. Telling the Weasleys had been the hardest. Hermione didn't anticipate that they would all react like Ron had and to a point she had been right. Percy had been a git of the first order blatantly accusing she and Harry of carrying on behind Ginny's back. Ron had immediately jumped to their defense by telling Percy that unlike him neither she nor Harry were that disloyal and opportunistic. Bill, Charlie and the twins seemed a bit taken aback but took in their stride. All the Weasley wives mirrored their husband's reactions. Arthur and Molly while being understanding and supportive had worried how seeing them together would affect Ginny. Hermione understood their reservations and she made a point of keeping the more intimate side of their relationship away from public view out of respect for her long time friend.

Gradually everyone seemed to accept the new order of things and life went on as usual. But Ginny had yet to accept things and Hermione was beginning to doubt that she ever would. From the moment Harry and Hermione had revealed their new status to the Weasleys Ginny had been distant. She was never outwardly nasty considering that she had been the one to actually end things with Harry, and Molly and Arthur wouldn't have allowed her to behave horribly in their presence. But Ginny had become quite adept at making snide comments disguised as normal remarks in regards to Hermione herself or something that Hermione had said or done. In the beginning Hermione had accepted Ginny's actions as a natural part of the process of accepting things that would run its course in due time. But now with six months of said behavior in and no end in sight Hermione was fast approaching her breaking point. Suddenly the silence that blanketed the room was lifted as Fred and George's voices rang out through the room.

"You birds are awfully quiet in here."

"What're you up to?"

Eight sets of eyes turned to the doorway to see the men traipsing into the kitchen. Hermione stepped away from the table and returned to the task of setting the dishes in their proper place. Ginny answered George's query with one of her own.

"Where are you lot off to?"

Charlie answered.

"Off to the orchard for a bit of Quidditch. You ladies care to join us?"

Fred turned his eyes towards his wife and raised an eyebrow. Angelina smiled as she said.

"No need to ask…of course I'm playing."

Alicia smiled.

"I'm in."

"So am I."

Ginny chorused.

There was a moment when all that could be heard was the sound of chairs moving and people heading out the back door. Will, Christian, Adam, Perceus and Fredericka could be heard scuttling out the door whooping joyously about getting to see their parents, aunts and uncles play Quidditch. Molly and Arthur were even heading out to watch the impromptu match. Hermione however, remained where she was. Molly looked over and noticing her still putting away dishes said.

"Hermione dear aren't you coming?"

Hermione replied easily.

"I'll be along as soon as I finish up here."

Molly was about to tell Hermione that the kitchen would keep just fine when Harry waved her off and signaled to her that he'd handle things. Molly nodded and slipped out the back door without another word. Quietly Harry walked across the room until he was just behind Hermione. Reaching out he wrapped his arms about her waist and drew her to him and whispered softly in her ear.

"Want to tell me what went on with you and Ginny that has you so upset?"

Hermione asked.

"What makes you think something went on with Ginny and I or that I'm upset?"

"One of the amazing things about your girlfriend also being your best friend is that you can usually tell when something's wrong. And judging by the way you two were glaring at each other when we walked in it wasn't too hard to put things together and figure out what was happening. So what did she do…do I need to have a word with her…"

Hermione shook her head and said.

"What she did doesn't bear repeating and saying anything to her about it would give her the false impression that she and her pettiness dictate what we say, think and feel. And I'll not give her that satisfaction."

That said Hermione stepped out of Harry's embrace and with a sweep of her arm set the kitchen back in its proper order. She then turned and weaving her fingers through Harry's said.

"First seeker to get the snitch gets a kiss from me."

Smiling broadly Harry reached into his pocket and pulling out the snitch said.

"I'll take my kiss now thanks."

Hermione grinned as Harry lowered his head and caught her lips in kiss that left her breathless.

Harry stood by the door with Ron waiting patiently for Hermione and Luna to finish saying the last of their goodbyes before they all headed home. Hermione was at the moment being hugged by Molly who was also handing her a rather large hamper of leftovers from the evening's festivities. Harry noticed that the hamper was the same size Molly tended to give to the married members of the Weasley clan…Molly and her hints. Ron followed Harry's gaze to where his mother stood conversing with his best friend and said.

"Looks like Mum's still waging her campaign to get you properly married off."

Harry briefly lifted his gaze from Molly and Hermione and directed it towards Ron and mumbled an indistinct reply. Ron allowed his eyes to roam the room and they settled on his sister. Ginny was talking over something with Fred and George but her eyes kept wandering back and forth between Harry and Hermione. Ron redirected his gaze back to Harry and asked.

"Everything alright with you three?"

Harry looked up to see what Ron was talking about. Ron nodded his head slightly in Ginny's direction and continued.

"Things have seemed a bit tense since we went out to play Quidditch. Hermione and Ginny seem a bit…ummm…I dunno…narked with each other."

Harry shrugged.

"Something happened but Hermione won't say what…says it doesn't matter and to leave it be. I reckon Ginny's still angry over Hermione and I being together."

Ron nodded then asked.

"And how are things with you two?"

Harry smiled.

"Good. Really good."

Ron raised an eyebrow and asked a second question.

"What exactly does that mean?"

Harry paused for a second before answering.

"It means that we're good…that we're happy…that I'm happy…things are good…really good."

Before Ron had a chance to respond to Harry's declaration Luna and Hermione joined the two. Handing him the hamper of food and linking her arm through his Hermione looked up at Harry and posed a one-word question.

"Ready?"

Harry smiled and nodded in reply. Harry and Hermione then turned and said their goodnights to Ron and Luna and the rest of the Weasleys still at the Burrow. Ron watched as they stepped out the door arm in arm and walked to the apparition point. Once there Harry pulled Hermione close to his side and they disapparated with a pop. Ron stood watching the spot where his two best friends had been for some time. Curious as to what had her husband so preoccupied Luna gently squeezed Ron's forearm and inquired as to what he was mulling over.

"Ronald Whackspurt got you?"

Ron shook his head.

"No just thinking over something Harry just said."

Luna patted his arm as she went into a discourse on Whackspurts and their dangers. Ron was only partially listening. He was still rather gobsmacked over the fact that he'd just heard his best mate of fifteen years say he was happy!

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