11
Harry crept in through the backdoor and could immediately see nobody was in the kitchen. The Pensieve and the glass phials were where he had left them, but he could see damp spots on the cloth indicating they had at least tried his idea. At least once, maybe only once, he thought. He remained still, listening for any sound, but the only thing that came to his ears was the quickening thud-thud-thud of his heart. For the first time, for the VERY first time, Harry realised what a mistake he had made.
He had blown it, big time! He must have traumatised them all; he had no doubt that his minutes in the house were numbered, and he wasn't talking double digits either. Only now did Harry remember that many of his memories didn't involve Hermione at all.
Hermione wasn't there when he first saw Voldemort and he had protected the Philosopher's Stone. Or in the chamber, or the graveyard, or Aragog. Aragog!!
My God! he thought. They must have screamed when they saw the spider; Harry almost did. Dan must surely have reconsidered his original opinion of Harry as being a bad luck magnet. How could he not? Once he saw the things Harry had found himself the centre of, he would have moved heaven and earth, as well as his family, to make sure Harry was as far away from them as possible. The image of Grimmauld Place jumped into his mind. That was all Harry could look forward to. Dark, lonely, alone, for the rest of his days.
The only thing that could possibly save him was is if they didn't or couldn't use the Pensieve. He looked at the cloth again; perhaps he had spilt some water when he placed the Pensieve down. No, that wasn't right, he hadn't filled it; they had. They HAD used it. He HAD blown it.
Inching his way forward-literally inch by inch-Harry moved enough so that he could see the very tops of Dan and Emma's heads. They were sitting in their armchairs. They were waiting for him. There was no television, no sound. No one spoke. Hermione was standing between her parents with her arms folded. Harry couldn't see her expression because she was facing away from him, toward the front door.
Harry grimaced as he tried to imagine her expression, her sheer anger, her disappointment. Her father would never allow her to see him, or even to send word to him again, EVER again. Hermione wouldn't WANT to see him ever again. Harry looked at her hair, silently saying goodbye, and for the last time breathing in her scent. He remembered the night he had spent with her, and the look of the long strands of hair falling about the pillows as she slept. Gone, done, over.
Harry lowered his head, and made a step, a single step toward his room so that he could collect his things and leave. He fleetingly considered leaving his belongings; he couldn't care less about them right now. He couldn't leave Hedwig though. They would at least allow him to grab Hedwig and her cage before he Disapparated out of their lives forever. Then of course he would need his wand, but he couldn't care less about that either. Especially that! But he really did at least want to grab the Invisibility Cloak, a last gift from his father.
That one step he had taken was the last. Hermione had seen him and pounced upon him. Harry had the reflexes of a Seeker, but he wasn't fast enough. No where near fast enough.
Harry was lying on his back in the doorway of the kitchen with a buzzing sound in his ears and a massive headache. Hermione was on him, arms locked around his neck, crying-no bawling-into his shoulder. The shock of the collision between the back of his head and the floor had almost knocked him senseless. He felt groggy, and sick, and Hermione was on him crying, her head buried deep into his shoulder and her hair everywhere.
Blinking, he tried to look around but Hermione tightened her grip around his neck, not letting him move. Harry had only the presence to weakly put an arm around Hermione's back. At least he would have this last hug in which to say goodbye. He lowered his lips to her ear and hoped she would hear this, "Sorry, I love you, goodbye."
At hearing the last word she tightened her grip around his neck even more. If she increased it one more notch Harry wouldn't be able to breathe, and he thought maybe that wouldn't be so bad. She was still bawling against him, but managed to get out a strangled response. "You're - - not - - going - - ANYWHERE! Harry James Potter, I am not letting you out of my sight for an instant!"
Harry saw Dan and Emma looking down upon him. They looked worried, he thought, but they didn't seem angry, or scared. Harry blinked again a couple of times. His head really hurt! They smiled. Hermione's parents smiled at him, at the sight of him lying on his back in the kitchen with Hermione lying upon him. They smiled at Harry.
"Easy, Hermione," Dan said. "I think you may have hurt him."
"Good!" Hermione said through her tears. "And if he thinks about leaving again, I'll hurt him again."
Emma laughed and reached down to help her daughter up. Reluctantly, Hermione let go of Harry and stood up, no longer crying but sniffling.
"Are you okay?" Dan asked. Harry's head was throbbing and he blinked a few more times.
Harry couldn't answer; he was used to being disoriented but this time was it worse than all of the other times put together. Harry didn't move and didn't speak. He couldn't even raise a smile.
"You HAVE hurt him, dear," Dan said, now crouching by Harry's side. Dan's face had changed and he was looking very worried indeed. "Concussion?" he asked his wife, but watching Harry all the time.
"Possibly, let's see how he is," Emma said.
Dan very slowly helped Harry to raise himself to a sitting position. Harry grimaced at the change of position and watched as Hermione now turned toward him, looking worried as well. Harry looked up at the three, scanning their expressions. He saw no hate, or fear, or anger... only concern.
"Harry?" Hermione asked through her tears.
Harry smiled, his smile, and only then was the tension relieved. He rubbed the back of his head and looked up at Emma. "Do you still have that first-aid kit around?"
Dan and Emma laughed; Hermione could only offer up a weak smile. Slowly, Dan helped Harry stand, and he staggered slightly once he was on his feet.
"Easy, Harry," Dan said. "Here, have a seat." He dragged one of the kitchen chairs over and forced him to sit.
Harry smiled again; except for the headache, he was fine. He rubbed his head a few times as Hermione held his hand.
"Where did you go?" Emma asked.
Harry looked confused. "I went for a walk, with Sam. I told you that, didn't I?"
Emma nodded. "But you were gone so long?" she explained.
"I thought it would take you a while to go through that," he said, indicating the Pensieve and the memories with a nod of his head.
Dan crouched down so that his eyes were at the same level as Harry's. "Harry, are you aware of the risk you took tonight?"
"Er,, Mr. Granger, right now I'm not really sure of anything. Do you mean the walk?"
Laughing again, Dan hugged Harry. "I mean the Pensieve, Harry. You took the risk that I wouldn't allow Hermione to have anything to do with you after we saw your memories."
Harry nodded. He did realise the risk, but only now, not before.
"They make for quite a collection of horror movies, don't they?" Dan said, smiling still.
"Did you see the spider?" Harry asked.
Emma squeaked. "Yes, Harry, thanks for that! And if I wake up with nightmares I'll be coming straight down to shake you awake." She leant to Harry and whispered into his ear. "And I think I know where I'll be able to find you."
Hermione giggled and crouched down. "Harry, are you alright?" she asked.
"I think so. Damn, Hermione, but you pounced like a leopard. It was a blur, I didn't have time to think let alone move."
"Good!" she said again, still smiling.
"Come on, Harry," she said. "Come sit on the lounge. That will be more comfortable."
He allowed the three of them to move him to the lounge and they sat him at one end. Hermione plonked down right next to him and hugged him.
"You know, Harry," Dan said whilst sitting in his armchair. "If Steven Spielberg ever got his hands on one of those things, he would be a rich man."
"He is a rich man, dear," Emma said.
"See!" Dan replied, causing them both to laugh.
Hermione released Harry but still held his hand, watching his eyes and saying nothing.
"So how did it go?" Harry asked.
Silence. Emma looked to Dan as he considered his response.
"Before I answer, Harry, exactly what was your intention in showing us your memories?"
"I thought I already told you that Mr. Granger. It was so you could see Hermione, see her in action and what she can do. I wanted you to see how smart she is, how strong she can be, how brave she is, and how she can accomplish pretty much anything."
"Well then, Harry, you will be happy to hear that as far as all that went, mission accomplished."
Hermione beamed, and a single tear feel down one cheek.
"We already knew how smart she is, but we were really able to see how well she is doing in school, around her friends... where she needs to be," Dan said.
Harry was amazed. "Do you mean...?"
"Yes, Harry," Emma replied. "Hermione WILL be back at Hogwarts the first day it opens, where she will be surrounded by the protection charms, and hopefully with you."
Harry looked surprised. "Don't you mean IF Hogwarts opens?" he asked.
"I mean when. Didn't you tell him?" Emma asked her daughter.
Hermione shook her head; too much had happened today for her to have told him. "Harry, Ginny wrote me today and said her father had told her that after a week of meetings at the Ministry, it has been decided that Hogwarts will reopen in three weeks time. That will give them time to create all of the old protection charms as well as a bunch of new ones."
"That's great, Hermione!" he said and immediately thought of what the school reopening would mean. "I can't go back though..." Harry said quietly, remembering the sound of his mother screaming at him.
"You don't have to decide anything this minute, Harry," Emma said. "We can talk, okay?"
Harry nodded; that sounded fine. "We can talk." Turning to Hermione he said, "So my idea worked?"
"It worked," Hermione giggled. "Like a charm."
She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Not only did we see how smart she is," Dan continued, "we saw how brave she is, what a good team she makes with you and Ron, and how if ferrets like Malfoy try to bully her, she will respond with another smack in the nose!"
"She didn't miss, did she, Mr. Granger?" Harry said, grinning.
"No she didn't. Did she break his nose, do you remember?"
"I don't think so."
"Pity!"
Emma now sat next to Hermione and gave her a hug. "Harry, what you gave us tonight was our daughter. You showed us what she is capable of, and that we now know that we don't need to worry about her."
"She can pretty much do anything, can't she?" Harry asked rhetorically.
"Pretty much," Emma agreed. "The Time Turner was amazing. I know she had told us about it, but to see it, and her, was amazing."
Harry grinned again. "Did you see her on the train, the first time we met?"
"When she was being all bossy?" Emma asked and Harry nodded. "We saw. Her teeth were a bit bigger and her hair longer."
"Mum!" Hermione said, exasperated.
"What you didn't see, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Harry continued, "is how she has always been there for me. There are lots of things you didn't see because I wasn't there, things that Hermione might show you herself later: times when she was being teased or alone. She's ALWAYS been there for me. She's my best friend."
Dan smiled and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"Do you have any questions for us, Harry?" Emma asked.
"I don't think so. Do you?" he replied.
"Heaps!" Dan said. "We have enough questions to keep you here for weeks."
"That sounds fine with me," Harry smiled back and Hermione hugged him again, her head now on his shoulder.
"But Emma and I have decided to leave those for at least tomorrow. Except for one, Harry."
Harry's head shot up, so did Hermione's.
"The troll in your first year..."
"Yes?"
"The huge troll in the girl's bathroom..."
"Yes?" Harry looked at Emma who was remembering the sight and was recalling how frightened she had been.
"The one that was smashing the bathroom stalls with its club, and would surely have killed Hermione if you hadn't stopped it..."
"And Ron, Mr. Granger. Ron was there too."
"Yes, Harry, we saw that." Dan moved closer to Harry, looking him straight in the eye; their faces were only a meter apart. "But YOU were the one who jumped on its back, Harry. Not Ron, YOU!"
Harry shrugged; he really had no choice at the time.
"Why?" Dan asked. "What made an eleven year old jump on the back of a huge, vicious troll that could have killed you all?"
"I had to do something to stop it, Mr. Granger. I had to at least try. I couldn't let it hurt Hermione."
Dan nodded; this was the answer he knew he would get. "Thank you, Harry. Thank you for saving her, and for always being there for her, and for being her friend."
"My BEST friend," Hermione added.
Then Dan did something Harry would never have expected, something Hermione never expected... something Emma thought may one day be possible, but not this day. Dan reached forward and kissed Harry on the forehead, tears in his eyes.
"Thank you," he said.
***
They had sat in silence for ten minutes after Hermione's parents had kissed them both goodnight and gone to bed. They sat there together, on the lounge, saying nothing, holding each other. Hermione still had tears in her eyes. They both felt drained.
"Does your head still hurt?" Hermione finally asked. Her voice sounded strange, weak, and tired. She had been through so much this evening it was no surprise.
It did: Harry's head still hurt. He was about to tell her it didn't when he saw the look in her eyes.
"Yes," he said.
Hermione smiled and gently lowered his head, kissing it lightly about where it had hit the floor.
"Anywhere else?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
Harry nodded, and pointed to his mouth. She kissed him, deep, long; like they had kissed before.
Hermione broke the kiss and rose, still holding his hand. She turned off the lights and led him to her bedroom door.
"Hermione!" Harry started to say, but she just sighed and smiled.
"That's okay, Harry," she said softly, remembering their fight earlier. "No pressure, you sleep where you want. You know I'm here for you if you need me." Kissing him again on the cheek, she entered her room and closed the door.
Harry just stood there thinking when the door opened again and he saw Hermione standing there holding his Invisibility Cloak. Her eyebrows were raised questioningly.
Harry could not suppress his sheepish grin. "In case your father checks on you?"
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him, gently, into her room, closing the door behind her.
They sat on her bed kissing again, briefly. Harry could see she was tired. She looked to be emotionally drained and he knew she needed sleep. "I'll be back in a minute. I just need to get changed."
She smiled and nodded as Harry went to his room and changed into his pyjamas.
Returning minutes later he tapped on her door.
"Who is it?" she asked in a fake, childish voice.
Harry poked his head around the door and smiled. "Boo," he said jokingly.
Hermione was dressed and in bed, the covers drawn down waiting for him, her arm outstretched.
Harry hurried to her and climbed into bed with her. They lay down together, embracing, kissing.
"I didn't think I would see you again, like this," he said.
"Get used to it," she replied sleepily.
They lay together in each other's arms and Harry watched as Hermione closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. He watched her breathe slowly, her eyelids fluttering, her hair falling about her pillow. Harry didn't think he would see this again either. He sighed, taking in the sight, and was asleep himself minutes later.
***
Hermione shook him for the third time, and he still didn't wake. Harry moaned again. "Hermione!" he said softly for the second time.
"What is it Harry?" she asked. "Are you all right? Is this another nightmare?"
The moonlight on Harry's face meant she could see him clearly, and she could see he was smiling. Funny, she thought, people don't usually smile while they're having nightmares.
"Hermione!" he moaned again.
"What, Harry? What's happening?"
He smiled even more, and shifted slightly. "- - - sex - - -" he said dreamily.
Hermione wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her, but she really didn't think they were. "Pardon?" she asked, stunned.
"- - - having sex - - - you - - - me - - - item two."
Harry wasn't having a nightmare, he was dreaming. He was having a fantasy dream, and Hermione didn't know what to say.
"OH!" was all that escaped from her lips.
"Shhhh!" he said. "Sleep."
Hermione giggled. She couldn't wait to see his face when she told him in the morning... or her mother's. He moaned again like he had before, only this time she knew WHY he moaned.
She giggled again.
"Shhh!" he said again. "Sleep."
Harry rolled to his side, facing away from her so she couldn't see his smile. That didn't matter because the look on his face tomorrow was going to be amazing.
Hermione hugged him, and nestled into him. "Harry?" she asked wickedly.
"Hmmmm?" he said, still half-asleep.
"Is it good?"
"Mmm hmm," he said and moved again slightly, before going off to sleep.
Hermione had to suppress a laugh with her hand over her mouth. She kissed Harry's head and went back to sleep.
***
"Morning," Emma said, standing at the open door of Hermione's bedroom. Hermione was still waking slowly but Harry had sat bolt upright.
"How did you sleep, Harry?" Emma asked.
"Good, I think." Harry was confused and disoriented. What was Hermione's mother doing here in the room with them while he was sleeping in Hermione's bed, with Hermione?
Emma walked over to Harry and set the breakfast tray she was carrying on his lap. He looked down to see pancakes, maple syrup, sugar, and a cup of tea.
"Um, er - - thanks Mrs., er, I mean," Harry started.
"Breakfast, Harry: pancakes. I hope you like syrup, dear, Hermione loves it so even if you don't, she can have that one."
"Um, er, fine. Er - um," he started again. He was really making no sense.
"Syrup's fine, dear!" Emma called out behind her.
"Got it!" Dan replied loudly from the direction of the kitchen.
Hermione was now awake and had also sat up. She saw her mother, the breakfast, Harry's dazed look, and almost immediately wore a dazed look just like it.
"Mum?" Hermione asked weakly.
"Breakfast, dear," Emma said, then smiled.
Dan was now at the door to Hermione's room, and was also carrying a breakfast tray.
"Morning, sunshine! How are you?"
Hermione couldn't even raise a whisper, let alone the collection of stammering noises Harry was making. She looked at her father, at the tray, at Harry sitting in her bed next to her, and back at her father. Hermione nodded as if in answer to her father's question.
Dan kissed Hermione's head. "Here is your breakfast," he said and set the tray down on Hermione's lap.
Looking down at Harry, Dan asked, "Nightmares again, Harry?" Emma was standing behind Dan's back where he couldn't see that she was nodding `yes,' indicating to Harry he was to do the same.
Harry nodded, and looked at Hermione, sitting next to him, and then to breakfast.
"Not to worry," Dan continued. "Emma tells me you two are making real progress and she is sure you'll get on top of them eventually."
Emma nodded again, and Harry did likewise. Emma winked at Hermione and Hermione smiled back.
"We'll leave you to your breakfast, but don't dawdle because we want to talk to you both before we leave," Emma said.
"Leave?" Hermione asked.
"Eat!" Dan said, and he and Emma left the room, closing the door behind them.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, stunned. They could hear Hermione's parents roaring with laughter as they walked down the hallway.
"I don't care what you say about them, Hermione," Harry said with a grin. "I'm staying!" As if to demonstrate the point, he reached over to where his Invisibility Cloak sat on the bedside table and threw it over his head. At seeing this, Hermione laughed even louder than both her parents combined.
***
Harry and Hermione sheepishly brought their breakfast trays out to the kitchen. They stood together, side by side, both wearing pyjamas and with huge beaming smiles.
Harry was the first to speak; Hermione was still a little stunned. "Great breakfast, Mrs. Granger," he said.
"It was Emma's idea," Dan said.
"Hermione loves pancakes and I knew she would appreciate them after the evening we all had," Emma said.
"Mum?" Hermione started, "Everything is all right, isn't it?"
"Why wouldn't it be? It's such a pity Harry wasn't able to have a peaceful night's sleep without his nightmares again, wasn't it?" she said with another wink.
Hermione hugged her mother, understanding what her mother must have said to her father. "Terrible! That and his near concussion!"
"How's the noggin, Harry?" Dan asked.
"Great, never better," Harry replied.
"Good enough to take on a troll?" Dan asked playfully.
"A troll and half a dozen basilisks," Harry said back.
"Attaboy! Well, if you will excuse me I have some calls to make before we're off," he said to them all and left the room.
"Off?" Hermione asked.
"Just some little matters he needs to attend to. We'll be back in a few hours and I haven't forgotten the things you'll need for your own little dinner party."
"What dinner party?" Harry asked.
"Hermione, don't you tell Harry anything?" Emma asked.
"Sorry, I forgot. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Gabrielle are having dinner with us here tonight while Mum and Dad are dining with Dr. and Mrs. Haladin," Hermione told him.
"Gee, Hermione, I'm glad you got around to telling me," Harry said to her.
"Me too, Harry, because you're cooking. Do you think you can manage it?"
Harry laughed and hugged her. "I'll give it a shot!"
"I'm sure you two will be okay on your own until then," Emma said again with a smile.
Hermione smiled and held Harry's hand. She knew her mother was addressing them both as a pair.
"Mrs Granger," Harry started.
"Yes, Harry, he did. Dan saw that you and Hermione were together, in Hermione's bed."
Harry was blushing and laughing at the same time.
"I mean," Emma continued, "it would have been a little hard for him to miss it, wouldn't it?" Harry nodded. "I explained to him that you've been having nightmares and it helps when you jump in with Hermione."
Hermione couldn't believe it; now she didn't have to hide this information from her father anymore.
"But Mum, nothing happened!" Hermione told her.
"I know, dear. I said this to you both individually yesterday, so now I'll say it to you together. If something DOES happen, all I ask is that you think about it beforehand."
Hermione didn't quite understand. "So are you saying that if Harry and I..."
"Yes, I am, Hermione," Emma said, kissing Hermione on the cheek. "If you two decide that something WILL happen, think about it before you act. That's all I ask."
"So, Mum," Hermione tried for a second time, "If Harry and I..."
"Ease up, Hermione, I get it, I get it!" Harry said. He didn't need to hear, and didn't WANT to hear, the same answer again. "You two talk, I need a shower." He practically bolted up the hallway.
Hermione watched him run away, much the same as any teenage boy would when the conversation turned to sex. Hermione and Emma laughed together and hugged.
"Mum. I don't know what to say," she said.
"After yesterday, dear, I know you can deal with anything that comes up. Anything at all. I'm always going to be here for you, as will your father, but we'll support whatever decisions you make for your life."
Hermione hugged her mother again; she felt this was a watershed moment in her life, and in their relationship.
"So, Hermione, is there anything you need to ask?"
Hermione had a thought, and a mischievous smile. "Just a sec!" and she ran out of the kitchen, only to return a minute later, giggling.
Hermione walked over to the stove and put the kettle on. "Well I suppose seeing the subject has come up," Hermione started, "Harry had sex with me last night." She grinned at her mother, who although not shocked clearly wasn't expecting to hear what Hermione had just said.
Emma paused before answering, and slowly something dawned upon her.
"Judging by the way you said Harry `had sex with you' instead of saying `you had sex together,' I feel there's more that meets the eye?"
Hermione laughed and nodded. "Harry was dreaming about it," Hermione said in a whisper.
"Did he?" Emma asked, laughing. "Well, all I can say is that if you two are already at that stage of your relationship where you can tell..."
"He didn't tell me!" Hermione giggled. "Harry dreamed about it. He was lying next to me, calling out my name. When I asked what was wrong, he told me. But he was still asleep when he said it."
Emma laughed again. "So he doesn't KNOW you know?" she asked.
Hermione shook her head. "Nope! I know, you know, but he doesn't know. And I can't WAIT to see the reaction on his face when he knows I know."
Hermione and Emma laughed together again. "Hermione, don't tell him straight away, let me think about it first. Now it's my turn to tell you something."
"What, Mum?"
"Well, I'm sure you remember our little girl talk yesterday."
"Yes, Mum. I DON'T need to go through it again."
"No, dear, but Harry does."
"Huh?"
"I was talking to your father about our talk, and he has taken it upon himself to sit down and have a man-to-man chat with Harry."
"Do you mean Harry has to go through all that again, with Dad?"
"All over again," Emma answered. "From the beginning."
From the bathroom came a desperate cry. "HERMIONE!!!!" Harry yelled.
Hermione laughed again and took her mother's hand, leading her to the hallway, just outside the bathroom.
Dan also walked into the hallway when he heard the yell. "Is something wrong?"
The bathroom door opened, and a soaked Harry stuck his head around the door. Hermione almost couldn't stand up she was laughing so hard. Emma could only see the top half of Harry, but she could tell he had neither clothes nor a towel around him.
Harry saw Hermione, and he gave her a mock evil stare. "You!!!" he said and he walked out of the bathroom with only a bath mat around his lower portion.
Emma and Dan were also laughing and Hermione had tears running down her face.
"The funny thing is, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, my clothes and all the towels have just vanished."
"Top that, Mr. Potter!" Hermione said to him; Harry smiled back.
"I think I shall, Miss Granger!"
"Hermione!" Dan said. "Did you go in there while Harry was in the shower and take all of the towels?"
"Yes!" she confessed.
***
Hermione walked out into the lounge-room with a big Cheshire grin. She had showered and changed and she fell into the lap of Harry who was sitting on the lounge.
"They've gone?" Hermione asked.
"They've gone!" he replied.
Hermione gave Harry a deep kiss, and he kissed her back.
"Not that I think we have any secrets in this house anymore," Hermione added.
"Well, maybe just one," Harry said, blushing.
Hermione laughed again and kissed him again.
"What was that smile for?" Harry asked.
"Nothing!"
"Tell me, Hermione, and I promise I won't tell your father that you used magic."
"Ah, but Harry, I haven't used magic. Besides, Mum said they were going to throw that silly rule out anyway," she answered back sweetly.
"But they haven't yet, have they? Surely it can't have escaped your attention that while you were in the shower, all of YOUR clothes and towels, as WELL as the bathmat all disappeared."
"I noticed, Harry. In fact I heard you when the door opened. I knew what you were doing, though I must say you took your sweet time taking them," she said smiling back.
"Well you DID tell me to top your effort!"
"And you did. I ALSO saw you left my wand in the bathroom. You expected me to Accio my clothes, didn't you?"
Harry nodded; that's EXACTLY what he expected.
"Well, Harry James Potter, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I DIDN'T use magic!" Hermione told him.
"Oh really? I expect you're going to tell me you ran NAKED out of the bathroom?" Harry asked.
"No!" Hermione answered. "I WALKED naked out of the bathroom."
Harry blushed deep crimson, thinking Hermione must have done EXACTLY as she said. "But, Hermione, what if I had been standing outside the door, like you were for me?"
"Then you would have seen everything, Harry. Everything!"
Harry's jaw dropped and he looked as though he was going to explode, but Hermione laughed and kissed him again. She couldn't wait to tell her mother.
A/N -Madness? Guilty as charged. This was as much fun to write as you can expect. Though I have to make a point that should will explain something here. As I was putting together this chapter, I "bumped into" another HP FF fan (my but there are a lot of us), by the name of Mione. I've mentioned here before, I know. But anyway if any eagle eyed reader jumps to the same conclusion I have, that the characters in Healing havebecome better; more real, then the credit for that goes to Mione. I can't say how wonderful it has been to use her to bounce some of my ideas off, as well as to hear her own. Mione has brought a whole new dimension to this work that makes it better than it would otherwise have been.
Mione, thank you for your encouragement, your help, your breath-taking ideas, and for moving me.
One last point? Happy Birthday Mione! I hope your day is an awesome one.
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