EIGHT
Harry saw the look on Hermione's face as she descended the stairs. He'd never seen a look like it. He wasn't sure if she was going to cry, but she certainly looked worried.
"The car broke down on the way home," Hermione told him. "He managed to pull over to the side of the road before it conked out completely."
Harry nodded, saying nothing and Hermione continued. "He sat in the car trying to arrange a tow truck on his mobile phone but he couldn't get reception. He says he was so mad he nearly threw the phone away. He got out of the car and crossed the street where there was a public phone."
Hermione paused; one hand had found Harry's and they had entwined together. He squeezed, silently offering support. He then prompted her to continue.
"What happened then?"
"Apparently a delivery van came screaming through the intersection just behind where the car was parked, and slammed into it."
"No!" said Harry.
"Dad says the noise was incredible, like a bomb or something going off. The car is a complete write-off. There's nothing left."
"What happened to the driver of the delivery van?"
"He thinks he'll be all right. The police said he was in shock and had some slight cuts. They took him to the hospital in an ambulance. If Dad was still sitting in the car, he'd have been killed instantly."
"My God!" Harry said. He drew Hermione in closer and hugged her. They remained together for a while until Harry asked, "Is he okay, your dad?"
"Mum thinks he`s in shock. She told him not to even think about going to work for the next few days."
"Good," Harry said. "After something like that he needs to take it easy."
Hermione nodded, and now tears could be seen in her eyes. There was more yet to tell.
"He..." she began but couldn't finish. He drew her into him and allowed her to cry against him, just as she had done for him two days ago. Hermione allowed him to hold her for a long time.
"He's going to be all right though?"
Hermione nodded. "Probably. He's very tough."
"I know. That must be a Granger trait." Hermione smiled up at Harry; the compliment had the desired result. "Go back to your dad. Go stay with him for a while."
"What about you?" she asked.
Harry threw a look at the clock in the kitchen and saw the time. "I'm making dinner," he told her.
Hermione's eyebrows arched, as if to say `You?' and he nodded. "Go. Go to your dad," he told her again.
"Promise me you won't go anywhere."
"Done! Now go."
She left him reluctantly, before briefly running back and kissing him on the cheek (she'd done a lot of that lately). She then went back upstairs.
"Dinner," Harry said to himself. "Let's see what we have."
***
Thirty minutes later, Emma and Hermione walked out of the bedroom and paused at the top of the stairs. They were speaking softly to each other, almost in a whisper, though Harry still in the kitchen could hear almost every word.
"I mean it, Hermione!" Emma said. "He's not going anywhere! I don't care what your father thinks. Harry still needs us and I WON'T ask him to leave."
"Thanks, Mum, but what about Dad?"
"I'll deal with your father. Now don't say a word of this to Harry. The poor boy has enough to worry about."
They walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Emma smiled broadly and headed to the stove to see what smelt so wonderful. Harry shot a quick stern look at Hermione. She knew in an instant he'd heard their exchange at the top of the stairs. So as to confirm her suspicions, he nodded.
"Harry, this smells amazing!" Emma said. "What are you making?"
"Spaghetti Carbonara. I hope that's okay."
"Okay?" Emma exclaimed. "Harry, it's brilliant! Who taught you to cook?"
"I pretty much taught myself. The Dursleys had me cooking all the time. Cook books were the only books they had."
"Harry, this smells pretty good," Hermione said. "Where did you get everything?"
"Bacon, cream, garlic, and parmesan cheese in the fridge, onions and pasta in the pantry. I was going to add just a little fresh parsley, but I couldn't find any."
Emma smiled and raised an eyebrow.
"Just a little... sometimes I add it. I was going to shoot down to the shop I passed on my run yesterday to get some, but Hermione made me promise not to go anywhere."
Emma looked at Hermione, understanding what she had meant by the promise. "I see. Well Harry, I'm glad you didn't go to any extra trouble. This smells great. When will it be ready?"
"It's ready about now. The garlic bread will only take another minute."
"Garlic bread?" Hermione asked.
"Under the grill."
"Harry," Emma said, "we don't have any garlic bread."
"I made it myself. I mixed together butter and minced garlic I found in the fridge and then I cut up the French loaf from the bread bin. That's all right, isn't it?"
"No, Harry, it isn't," she said. "It's perfect." Emma kissed Harry on the cheek (now it must be contagious).
"Hermione, help Harry serve this up and I'll get your father."
After Emma turned and walked back upstairs, Harry leant to Hermione's ear. "I heard what your mother said. Your father wants me to leave!"
"Don't worry, Harry. You must have also heard everything Mum said. She wants you to stay. Dad's just been through a bad day."
"I bet he has. I'm just glad he's all right. But if he wants..."
"You promised, Harry," Hermione said, using his own words against him.
"But that's not what you meant," he said.
She smiled as she realised she was going to win this discussion. "You still promised."
Harry nodded; he really didn't want to leave: he was having too much fun. Also, things seemed so much clearer while he was around Hermione and her mother.
Hermione set the table and Harry served up the meal as Dan and Emma entered the kitchen together.
"Em, this smells great. When did you get time to make it?"
"I didn't. Harry did."
"Harry?" Dan asked, not believing what he'd heard.
"I cooked all the time at the Dursleys, Mr. Granger. I saw you had tons of pasta so I assumed Italian would be all right."
"Hmm, I see," Dan said.
"What Dan means," Emma explained, "is that you chose perfectly. Italian is our number one favourite."
"Good!" Harry said. "I was worried you might not like it. I almost made stroganoff instead."
Hermione squealed. "Can you make that tomorrow?"
"Sure, unless you're only teasing me."
"Oh I'm not, I promise."
***
"All right, all right, I get it!" Harry said laughing. "You liked it."
"Liked it? I loved it," Emma told him.
"Best pasta I EVER had, Harry," Hermione added.
Dan watched as the two girls went overboard in their praise of Harry's culinary skills. Then again, even he was impressed.
"Listen to them, Harry. They know what they're talking about. That was a wonderful meal. Thank you."
"Thank you, but it was only spaghetti. It's not like I whipped up Beef Wellington or something," Harry said.
Dan's eyes picked up at the mention of the dish. "Can you make Beef Wellington, Harry?"
"I've never tried. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, if you will excuse us, Hermione has volunteered to clean up so you can both go and relax."
"I did?" Hermione asked.
"See? She did."
Dan and Emma rose. Even Dan chuckled at the pretend look of indignation on Hermione's face.
"Mr. Granger?" Harry said.
"Yes, Harry?"
"I'm glad you're okay."
Dan nodded. "Thank you, Harry." He then left Harry and Hermione alone in the kitchen.
"Volunteered, eh?" Hermione said.
"Yep, about time too. I was wondering how long it was going to take."
"I suppose I better do as you say... assuming I want to keep the cook happy."
They collected the plates and stacked them in the dishwasher. Harry wiped down the table and the top of the cook top while Hermione put the saucepans and frying pans in the sink, filling it with hot, soapy water. Once the pans were sparkling clean, she put the dish towel away. The two left the kitchen even cleaner than when Harry had started. He gave an approving look once they were finished, then high-fived Hermione.
Walking into the lounge room, Dan was sitting in his chair, not watching television, while Emma was pretending to read the newspaper. Dan stood and grabbed his coat from the hallstand in the entryway as he opened the front door.
"Going for a walk?" Emma asked, putting the paper down.
"I just thought it would help to clear my head. I won't be long."
"Harry can go with you," Emma said, more strongly than a simple suggestion would indicate.
"That's FINE, dear," he replied.
Emma looked at Harry; when their eyes met, he knew in an instant what she wanted him to do.
"Wait up, Mr. Granger!" he called out. Dan sighed at the bottom of the steps; he knew he wasn't going to win this one.
"Keep an eye on him," Emma urged Harry with a whisper.
"Don't worry, I will. Sam?"
"Sure."
Hermione quickly went to the back door and grabbed Sam's lead as she led the dog inside. She handed the handle to Harry and he winked at her, telling her they would be okay. Harry walked out the front door with Sam and down to the bottom of the steps.
The three had walked for ten minutes before anyone spoke. Harry could easily feel that Dan wasn't happy for him to have tagged along, so he remained silent.
"Looks like rain later," Dan said, mainly to break the silence, though a quick check of the evening sky was all that was necessary to agree with Dan's prediction.
Harry said nothing, but merely nodded in agreement. Sam was pulling against the lead and Harry had to use a great deal of strength to keep him under control. They walked along the footpath and beneath an under crossing that was poorly lit. Harry scanned around, looking for signs of trouble. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dark and for once he was glad that he was able to see much better than he ought to be able to. After another few minutes of silence, Dan had decided he'd had enough.
"You are allowed to talk, Harry. I won't bite you or anything."
Harry's face became that innocent wide-eyed smile that Dan had already become accustomed to. "Good, because if I had to hold my tongue for another minute, I thought I was going to explode."
Dan grinned. "Hermione tells me you often go quiet for days at a time."
"That's when I have a problem stuck in my head and can't get it out. I don't LIKE to go quiet, Mr. Granger. Sometimes I have no choice."
"Choices again, Harry?" Dan said, remembering their earlier conversation.
"Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde. Like now, when everything is going good and I'm having a great time. The next day something happens, and it's boom!"
"Boom?"
"Him again. Or the Death Eaters."
"So what you're saying is you feel you can't have a normal life until he's gone?"
"I'm saying I have to face him and I don't know how."
They walked silently for another thirty meters before Dan started again.
"Are you scared?"
"I don't know. I know I should be, but I think I'm more tired than anything else. I'm just so tired of everything."
"Are you sleeping better?"
"A little. I still have the nightmares."
"Emma hasn't been able to help?"
"Sure she has. I feel so much better already. Every time we talk I feel better. Did Hermione tell you I spoke with a counsellor from the Ministry?
"Yes. She said it went for ten minutes."
"Maybe not even that long. He said `How are you?' I said `Fine.' He said `How are you sleeping?' I said `Fine.' And then he asked me something really stupid, and he left. Really, Mr. Granger. If the Ministry had people like Mrs. Granger working for them, a lot of us would feel so much better.
"What was the stupid question?" Dan asked.
"He said, `If I could be any flower in the world, which one would I choose?'"
"You're right, Harry, that is odd. What did you say?"
"I didn't know what to say, so I looked out the window and saw the Whomping Willow. Then I told him that's what I'd be, so I could smash anyone who tried to hurt me."
"I see," Dan said in a very Emma-like way. "Technically speaking though, the Whomping Willow isn't a flower, Harry."
"I know."
"So which flower WOULD you choose to be?"
Harry thought about it for a minute before answering.
"A sunflower," he said.
"Why is that?"
"Well, Mr. Granger, have you ever seen a field of sunflowers?"
"I haven't seen a whole field in person, but I have seen photographs and paintings."
Harry nodded. "I haven't either. But if you imagine a whole field, with nothing but sunflowers... all orange and yellow and standing up tall. Well, if you look at just one sunflower..."
"Yes?" Dan prompted.
"Well, then that sunflower knows that it isn't alone. It has its own kind all around, all the time."
Dan stopped, causing Harry and Sam to stop as well.
"Is that how you feel, Harry? Alone?"
"A lot of the time I do. But like I said before, I'm just trying to be the best I know how to."
Dan stepped closer and patted Harry's shoulder. This was the closest they had been and Dan could feel any antipathy he had for the boy falling away like rain. Only because he was married to Emma did he realise he was able to talk about his feelings. He knew therefore what it would have taken Harry for him to open up in the manner he had.
A flash of motion in Harry's peripheral vision caused him to stand straight up, his shoulders tensed; his arms quickly moved to his front in readiness. Still holding Sam's lead, Harry turned to face the motion and heard the snarl of a dog only a few meters away. Harry reached out and thrust the strap of the lead into Dan's hand as he quickly put himself between the unknown threat and his walking companions.
At the last moment when Harry's body was protecting Dan and Sam, the dark flash leapt out. Harry grabbed its snarling head with both hands. The sheer mass of the attacking dog made it impossible for him to hold; Harry fell with it to the ground. Never taking his hands off the dog, Harry's fingers worked their way to the collar.
When it snapped at Sam's throat, trying to attack the Grangers' Labrador, Harry held the dog with both hands and used all of his strength to drag it away. Sam was now cowering behind Dan, and the attacking dog jumped again. Harry kept it under control, though only just.
It was dark by now, but still light enough to see that the dog was a pit bull terrier. Judging by the barking and snarling, Harry knew he couldn't afford to let go of it for an instant. The dog tried to attack again and was thwarted for the third time. It turned its attention away from Sam and rushed at Harry's arm. He tried to move his arm out of the way of the dog's bared teeth while not letting go of the beast's collar, but he wasn't fast enough. The dog bit Harry full on his left arm, a couple of centimetres short of the elbow.
Dan saw the bite and knew it was going to be a bad one. He took one step toward Harry. The dog, sensing the motion, tried to leap at him. Harry caught it in mid-air, having never let go of the collar, and then flung it around and down to the ground. The dog tried to rise again but Harry had it completely under control, using his full weight to pin it to the footpath and keep it there.
A woman appeared from the dark with a dog lead in her hand. She ran towards the attack and watched in horror as blood started to drip down Harry's arm, pooling on the footpath.
"Oh my God!" she said. "Are you all right?"
"It's just a bite. We're okay but I can't let go of this dog or it will attack again."
A man also appeared from the dark and fell upon the dog, holding the collar with both hands in the same way as Harry.
"You've been bitten," he said. "I'm so sorry. It jumped through a hole the fence. I couldn't stop it."
The dog stopped struggling and snarling at the arrival of its owners, allowing itself to be grabbed by the man. He attached the empty lead and held it tightly. Dan now took the few steps to Harry's side to see his arm.
"Harry? Are you all right?"
"It doesn't hurt, Mr. Granger. Just a little bite, that's all," he said smiling.
"Not so little, Harry. You may need stiches, and you're definitely going to need a tetanus shot," Dan told him.
"What's a tetanus shot?"
***
Hermione and Emma had both noticed how quiet it was without the three boys. Hermione used the time the walk had offered to inquire as to the condition of her father after his near accident earlier in the day.
"It had nothing to do with Harry! He wasn't even there, so how could it be his fault?" Hermione asked.
"I know it doesn't make sense," her mother had answered. "You heard what I said to him, but I'm not entirely sure I got through."
"So what do we have to do to get him to listen?" Hermione asked.
"Maybe he'll come to his senses in a few days, honey. It was a huge shock to see the car destroyed right before his eyes and to know that he was sitting in it only a minute before."
"Did you mean what you said about not making Harry leave?"
"I meant every word of it. I can be every bit as stubborn as your father, as you well know. As long as Harry is happy to stay with us, he'll be welcome."
"Thanks, Mum," Hermione said.
"No need to thank me. Harry needs us. And I suspect we need Harry as well."
Hermione looked puzzled at this response and waited for her mother to explain.
"It's good to have another boy in the house. Your Dad probably feels outnumbered by us girls every now and then. With Harry around, he can let himself relax a little. Who knows, he may even take him to golf with him," she said with a smile.
"Yeah, right!" Hermione retorted.
"So now that we have THAT out of the way, young lady," Emma said with her laughing eyes, "now is a perfect time for us to talk about something important."
"Like what?"
"Like Harry. How do you feel about him?"
Hermione tried to turn her head away and avoid the conversation she'd been hijacked into, but Emma wasn't going to let her.
"Honey, you should hear what your father says about you two. He knows. I know. But I want to hear what you have to say about it?"
"I don't know what you mean," she tried again.
"Then why are you blushing?" Emma asked.
Hermione laughed, accepting defeat. "You want to know if I fancy Harry or not," she told her mother.
"I think I know the answer to that, but you can go on and tell me anyway."
"We've been friends for so long I almost can't remember a time before I knew him."
"So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I don't want to spoil anything between us. He's my best friend and if I do something that wrecks our friendship, I'll never forgive myself. Besides it's always been Harry, Ron, and me. If I choose to fancy Harry, what happens to Ron?"
"Well, firstly you can't CHOOSE to fancy him. You'll find you either do or you don't. And secondly, you can't live your life by worrying about what other people may or may not think, or how they'll react. At the very least you should be honest with yourself."
She paused a minute and before she said when she had long known. "All right! I fancy him. I fancy him a lot, even. There! Satisfied?" Hermione said, but without any regret.
"Very! So now that you HAVE decided to be honest with yourself, what is your next plan of attack?"
"I can't tell him, Mum. What if I do and he runs a mile. Or worse still, what if I tell him and he doesn't like me back, in the same way?"
Emma smiled again and hugged her daughter.
"What if he does?"
Now it was Hermione's turn to smile again, but she had no answer; she could only shrug her shoulders.
"Honey, I know this is all a little new. Not just to you, but to all of us. Three weeks ago, if your father had told me we'd have a boy living with us, a boy you fancied, then I wouldn't have believed it. I'm glad we've gotten the chance to get to know him. And I sense he's been able to work some things out while he has been here."
Hermione nodded; she couldn't disagree.
"But Dad..."
"Dad will learn to like him in time. Harry's a sweet boy, dear. I probably don't need to tell you that."
"No, not while I have Ginny, Tonks, Luna and you all playing matchmaker."
"And the REASON you have Ginny, Tonks, Luna and me playing matchmaker is that it's so blindingly obvious to us. To all of us."
"What is?"
Emma smiled, letting Hermione's inner voice answer her own question. "You forgot about Mrs, Weasley, dear," Emma said.
"What did I forget?"
"She sees what a natural couple you two make as well. She was telling me all about it at the wedding."
"She was?" Hermione said, surprised.
"Yes, and it wouldn't have been any surprise if your ears were burning. You were the popular topic of conversation."
Hermione's jaw dropped, for the first time realising how widespread the talk about her and Harry had been. After she had composed herself, she decided to examine something her mother had said.
"I'm almost surprised Dad agreed to let him stay in the first place."
"I think he was as well. Like I said, the idea of having a teenage boy sleeping in the next room to his only daughter..."
"So you're saying it ISN'T a good idea to tell Dad that I was in Harry's room late last night?" Hermione asked with a cheeky grin. This drew a slightly surprised look from her mother.
"It's okay, Mum, we didn't do anything. I was just checking to see if he was okay."
"And was he?"
"Not really. He just lay there. He couldn't sleep. I talked with him about some things. Once he got that out of his system he couldn't stay awake," Hermione giggled. "I thought I might have to read him a bedtime story."
"I see," Emma said. "Tell me," she said in her playful tone, "does he snore?"
"Nope! Not even a little. Ron told me he did, but Seamus says Ron snores like a cartoon bear!"
"So are you planning any more late night visits to Harry's bedroom?" she asked with a grin.
"Maybe. Why, is that a problem?"
"Not while I know how sensible you are."
"So you haven't decided to marry us off just yet then, I take it?"
"Not just yet."
Hermione decided to end this conversation before it got any deeper, and she knew just how. "What if I decide to have Harry visit MY room late at night instead? After all, he's only got a single bed and I have a double."
Normally, this would've had the desired result, but this time Emma had the perfect comeback.
"That's a great idea, dear! Let's talk about sex."
Hermione jumped up and tried to make her escape when she saw her father.
Dan walked in with Sam still on the lead while Harry remained outside. The look on Dan's face indicated something had happened. Before they could ask, he explained.
"We were attacked by a savage pit bull. Harry protected us by putting himself between us and it, and the dog bit him."
Hermione and Emma went outside. Emma had Harry's arm in her hands, looking at the wound. "Are you okay, Harry?"
"I'm fine. I didn't want to come in and get blood everywhere."
"Stay here. I'll get the first aid kit." Emma went back inside while Hermione stayed with Harry.
"Dad says you saved him and Sam."
"It was Sam the dog was going for, though it would have bitten anyone that got in its way. I'm all right."
Hermione looked at Harry and he could see tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Harry," she said.
"For what?"
"For always being there."
***
Two hours later, Emma and Harry returned from the Medical Centre. Harry's arm was bandaged and Hermione walked up to him, standing at his side with her arms around him.
Emma was smiling as Dan and Hermione started to ask them what happened.
"Three stiches! He cleaned the bite and gave him a tetanus shot but the good news is he should be right for rabies. We had to wait for an hour and a half before the doctor could see us," she said.
"He wouldn't even give me a lollipop," Harry said with a grin.
"Can you believe it, Dan? Harry is attacked by a vicious dog and all he could think about was to ask for a lollipop after he got the needle."
"Well, they were just there," Harry said. "The doctor got all uppity and said they were for the children and that he wouldn't give me one."
Dan, Hermione and Emma all laughed. Any tension that was in the room earlier in the evening had faded entirely.
"Harry, I don't know how to begin to thank you. If you hadn't been there..." Dan started.
"That's okay, Mr. Granger."
"Dan, Harry. Please I have to insist."
"Dan. It was just lucky I could stop it before it bit Sam or anyone else."
"Did you call the owners?" Emma asked Dan.
Dan nodded. "They are beside themselves with shock. It's a good thing the UK has been rabies-free for decades and the dog is up-to-date on its vaccinations. I'd hate to have to deal with THAT. The husband has already taken it away. He's on his way to his brother's property up North. They kept saying over and over again what would have happened if small children had been around?"
"Harry. I'm so sorry if I have seemed rude to you these past few days."
"You haven't been rude Mr., erm, Dan. Really! I can't thank you all enough for everything you've done for me."
"Harry, you saved me tonight. It's probably not too far short of the truth to suggest you probably even saved my life."
Harry started to protest before Hermione put a finger to his lips; Emma and Dan would hear none of it.
"I mean it, Harry. You put yourself between it and us without even thinking of your own safety. It's no small wonder you're in Gryffindor if you go around being that courageous all the time," Dan said.
"Isn't he?" Hermione agreed, and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.
"It's been some kind of day for you, hasn't it?" Harry asked Dan. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, Harry, thanks to you. But now you mention it, I am quite tired so I hope you don't think me rude if I go to bed. Goodnight!"
"Great idea, Dan. You must be dead on your feet," Emma said. "Go upstairs and I'll be there in a minute."
Dan smiled and turned up the stairs to his room. Hermione remained where she was, hugging Harry, and not caring anymore who knew.
"Thank you, Harry. Dan's right, you are very brave." She reached over and kissed him on the cheek as Hermione had done, but in a much more motherly way. Harry felt that if his mother had lived, this is what a mother's kiss would have felt like. Emma then went around to kiss him on the other cheek. "And that's from Sam," she said.
She turned for the stairs to go to bed, but not before saying, "Now don't you two stay up ALL night. It's been a big day for all of us." She then gave Hermione a smile before leaving them alone.
Hermione squeezed Harry tightly, seeing how well the day finished; Harry squeezed back. She let him go so she could look at him, placing one hand tenderly on his face. Drawing him towards her, she gave him a deep kiss on the lips that lasted until they both had to come up for air.
"And THAT'S from me," she said, before kissing him again. Harry responded by holding her to him. Hermione felt as if she was melting into him. So THIS is what Ginny was talking about! She thought.
"And tonight, if you can't sleep, come to my room. I'll leave the door open."
Harry's eyebrow arched and he shot a look at the door to her parents' bedroom.
"I already mentioned it to Mum," she said with a giggle.
"You DID?"
"Yes. I told her I was in your room last night, and next time you'll be in my room... because I have a double bed," Hermione told him with a funny look on her face.
Harry started to blush beetroot red; Hermione laughed.
"And you said this to your Mum?"
"I did!"
"And she hasn't thrown me out of the house yet because...?"
"In fact, her exact words were `That's a great idea!'"
Harry didn't know what to think, and didn't have to because before he could do anything else, Hermione was kissing him again.
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