Chapter Ten: Limitations
The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man. Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC)
Harry woke up some time after he had cried himself asleep. While he and Hermione had decided to pursue a relationship, he wasn't quite sure that sleeping with her on the first day was kosher. Not that he slept with her, Lord knows she would have killed him. No, they shared the bed, with her asleep in his arms. He was horrible at relationships, even after all this time; he knew that she would tell him to let her go. But he couldn't.
No matter how much he told his arms to move, and release her, they would not listen to him. He would die happy at least.
Harry brushed some of the hair away from the face he was staring at, wanting a better look at her. With an errant thought, he transfigured their clothing into something more comfortable, something more casual. They still needed to talk, but their argument, if it could be called that, was out of the way. He knew she was angry, and he understood why too for that matter. But she still needed to tell him, and he still needed to listen. Oh, they were going to come back to this argument again, but for now, it was settled.
Running his hand through her hair, he wasn't surprised at the smile that formed on her lips. More than that though, he was surprised with her leaning into his hand. "Keep that up and I'm yours forever."
"You already got me, so I might as well make the most of it," Harry said with a sad smile. She really didn't understand it all, the effects of the bond and how it will keep them drawn together. "Do understand everything about it Hermione?"
"About what?" Hermione said, pushing him so he was lying on his back as she raised her head onto his shoulder.
"About our bond," Harry said, linking his hand with hers as they rested on his stomach. She looked up at him for a moment, staring into his eyes. She had somehow known how to send emotions through the bond, something that he knew would have come in time, yet she did within hours. "That you and I are stuck together for the next hundreds years or so, and the life after this." Hermione looked at him, staring deeper into his soul that he thought possible, even with the bond they now shared.
"I think I could live with that," Hermione said. He could not help the smile that formed, nor did he stop himself for leaning down. He had wanted give her a kiss since he had first returned. He brushed his lips against hers lightly, before pulling back to gage her response.
"You going to do that again?" Hermione asked. Her eyes were closed, her head still positioned for him to kiss her.
"To be honest, I was thinking about it," Harry said. She opened her eyes, her smile nearly blinding him.
"Let me help you out," Hermione said. Her hand wrapped itself around his neck, pulling him down to kiss her once again. He got lost in the kiss, feelings overwhelming him as their link expanded. He felt her pull away, though he wondered how much longer he would have lasted. "You figure it out?"
"I believe so," Harry said with a chuckle at the mischievous glint in her eyes. He lost track of the time again, this time though was a much more pleasurable experience for both of them. He felt her hands pressing against his chest as she removed her lips from his.
"We still need to talk a bit about what is happening," Hermione said, breathing heavily. Harry could only smile; he was used to going without air for a while, though he wouldn't admit it.
"Yes we do," Harry said. He pushed up on the bed, sitting up against the headboard. Hermione sat up and moved to the end of the bed, placing his feet on each of her. Her feet however just reached his waist. "What do you want to know?"
"What else do we have to expect for this, besides the obvious benefit?" Hermione said. Harry gave her a smile as she sent a gentle warm wave over their bond to him.
"Nothing horrifying, or at least from my perspective, it isn't bad," Harry said. He took her feet, lazily drawing circles on them. Hermione giggled, something that caused him to stop. She blushed under his gaze, before nodding, as if to tell him to continue. At the moment, he couldn't decide if it was the statement, or his impromptu massage. He start both up again. "We might be able to read each others thoughts eventually, like a form of telepathy, just only with us. It would take a lot of concentration to block the other, or shut the other out.'
"Like you did today?" There was no anger in her eyes, just the question. The topic was ill content between the two of them, understood to bring up a fight if brought up.
"Something like that, but I'm more apt to put up a road block then cut you off," Harry said. He grasped her ankles, pulling her closer. "I'll teach you how to train the mind, because that is where I've excelled at a lifetime ago." He moved a little, letting her wrap her legs around his back.
"That just means you'll need to come to me for a different type of teaching," Hermione said. She pulled him down to her lips again, not letting him go as she seemed to consume him.
"My little fox," Harry managed to get out when she let him go for a breath. She giggled again before tucking her head underneath his own.
"What about if we were to...?" Hermione's voice trailed off and he felt his face warm for the first time in over forty years. Thankfully, he had his face hidden in her hair so she couldn't see him.
"I really don't know, that still uncharted territory for me," Harry said honestly. She pulled back again, looking into his eyes before returning to her position.
"Then we'll learn together," Hermione said. "Now unless you plan on going off somewhere, we've got at least another couple hours by ourselves before we have to meet with the Order."
"What do you suggest we do?" Harry said. He felt Hermione's legs untangle themselves from around him as she pushed him onto his back.
"I suggest you let me teach you a thing or two about relationships," Hermione said. Straddling him now, Hermione was in control, and there was a passion burning inside of her that he had rarely a chance to see. That was last thought he was able to hold before he let the bond expand once again.
I0I
Hermione found more that there was more to Harry's character then he had let on. There was still the little boy afraid of the world, thirsting to prove himself to everyone, yet afraid of them. She was here for that little boy, and with Harry leaving the bond open just a little more, she knew that he was coming to accept that he could rely on someone else.
She could not hold back the smile that he been planted upon her face. They hadn't been that far yet, and Hermione knew it was only a matter of time before they were. Their bond if anything only made the distance away from him worse. Not that she couldn't handle it, far from it, but rather she felt like she didn't know how to handle the thought of him being far away from him.
Which was how she found herself now. In her room, practicing "building walls" as Harry put it. She was reading up on more of the magic that he was trying to teach her. Hermione was proud with herself when she was able to get all of the books he had on the subject from him. Not that there were many, but enough to quench her thirst for a while.
"Relax Hermione, you can do this," she said. She wanted to construct a wall like Ron had the day before, yet out of her own powers. She hadn't been able to go back to the plains again, despite knowing she could. As hard as she concentrated, she could only feel the ocean that surrounded her. She felt the wind pressing against her, kicking up the waves and the sand.
Sitting down on the sand, she stared out upon the sea. Harry was right when he said that she was filled with knowledge and order, though she could not help but feel the calm that filled her as she sat there. She felt the cool breeze and salty air settled in her being.
Hermione sat there, watching the merfolk popping out of the surf, looking over at her from time to time. They had to be as curious as she felt, wanting to explore the depths of the sea before her as they wished to know the land she sat upon. Off in the distance, a storm was brewing. The merfolk saw it as well, looking off in that direction as well before going underneath the sea again. The waves were growing stronger as well, with the force of the wind pushing them against the beach. More than that though, was the uneasy feeling that seemed to exude from the sea. Like something worse than a storm was coming her way.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione began to draw the mana that she knew was around her. The waves were crashing harder now, and closer to her. Drawing more mana, she began to feel a burning sensation as she tried to picture a wall, like Harry had told her. With the first blast of a wave that hit her, she unleashed her mana, letting it meld into the waters that had risen from the sea.
Opaque waves of ice blue spread from her hands as the mana built her walls. Walls of the water moved around her, absorbing each wave that hit them, strengthening her walls and her spirit. She began to draw the mana again, letting her wall remain as she could make the outline of something approaching her faster than she had ever seen.
The walls turned into ice, letting a stronger sense of security overcome her. The ice strong and thick enough to withstand just about anything. Or at least that was what she thought. The wall had formed a dome over her, protecting her from the violent winds that shook her protection. She felt the ground beneath give way, the sand disappearing as she was lifted off the ground. Her luck promptly ran out after the shields formed beneath her. The winds grew dark and a pounding sensation could be felt upon the walls of ice.
She did the only thing she could think of, concentrate on the walls she had made, trying to hold onto them as the black winds hit harder and harder against them. She wanted to call something to her, something that could protect her. Something, anything that would -
"HERMIONE!" Her eyes snapped open, to see Harry's staring right back at her. There was something in them that she had never seen before, or at least only heard about from Neville. The Department of Mysteries. He was afraid, for her…?
"Harry?" He had his arms around her, holding her to his chest. Looking up at him, she was surprised. The fear was still there, now though, there were tears silently falling down his cheeks. Tightening her grip around him, she let him nearly collapse against her.
"Please, please, don't do that again," Harry whispered. She looked at him again, reaching up to wipe away some of his tears. His fears were beginning to pour over their bond, something that she knew he was repressing at the moment. Their connection seemed smaller. She began to push back at it, wanting to hold him in every possible way she could.
"Do what?"
"Leave me again," he said. The bond was opening up again, his fear disappearing faster than she had felt it appear.
"Oh Harry," Hermione said. She couldn't help her own tears as that little boy she promised to protect appeared. She pulled him closer to her, letting his body wait shift onto her. More importantly though, was that she was there for him, whether he knew he needed it or not. She was there for him.
She kissed his cheek lightly as he pulled back. Hermione had lost track of how long she had held him, yet she knew she had done her job for now. She had found a place for herself in his life, and if she wanted to be honest with herself, it was the same as before he had left.
"Thank you," Harry managed to say. She just smiled at him as she pulled him back onto her bed.
"I'm not going to leave you again, but you still need to tell me if there is going to be any problems with me learning this stuff," Hermione said.
"No, no problems," Harry said, pulling away. He sat up, holding his head in his hands. "None that you caused at least." He looked back down at her with a small smile. "Someone tried to attack you while you were in your trance. I think it was the same person that took you from us." Hermione moved so she could wrap her arms around his waist as she lay on the bed, not wanting to get up quite yet. She hadn't felt this tired before, but now she felt like a long winter's nap was a good idea. "No, I know it was the same person that took you from me."
"That's why you're here," Hermione managed to get out through a yawn. "To protect me from the big bad guy." Harry smiled down at her, brushing a strain of hair from her face. "And I'm here to protect you from you."
"I can be a bastard to myself sometimes," Harry said. She smacked his thigh, trying to look stern when she felt so tired. She really wanted to know what he had told everyone else, or even if he had gotten that fear at least.
"Don't swear," Hermione said.
"I'll be back in about an hour love, we've got to meet with the Weasleys," Harry said.
"I thought you did that already."
"I meant Bill and Fleur. They're really worried about you." Hermione smiled to herself as she felt her eyes getting heavier. "Sleep well. I'll be back in a hour."
"You better tell me what happened then." Hermione yawned again and loosened her grip on Harry's waist.
"Anything for you." The last thing she heard was Harry telling Grim to look after her.
Her dreams were from before this had all started, of their first year at Hogwarts. When she believed she had a sense of innocence to her still. She never told anyone of the crush she had on both boys who saved her, which only made it even more difficult when it came time to chose who to fall all the way for. She hadn't made that decision until their fifth year, when Harry had pushed both her and Ron away. After that, it only seemed natural for her to fall for Ron. Only it wasn't. It didn't feel right snogging him; it didn't even feel easy. Not the way love should be. Or at least that was how she thought was supposed to be.
The five years without Harry taught her that love wasn't something that just appeared overnight. Love is the little things that a person does. Like standing up for a person when they really don't need it. Or checking in on her parents when she couldn't. Holding her when she had a nightmare. Pulling her out of the way of danger. Staring at you from across the room, letting his eyes speak for him. Letting her stay close on the scariest ride of her life. Holding the scared hand of a thirteen year-old trapped in her own body. Even defending her when she was a total bitch to strangers.
Sitting up, Hermione felt a calm that could not be attributed to Harry's presence through the bond. No, it was something not quite as deep. With a fleeting thought that wishing Harry was there to help her, she began to picture her beach, only there was something different about it.
Huts were being built along the water's edge, above the surf as the waves crashed upon the poles of the huts. There were fishing boats out on the water now, and people were mingling it seemed with the merfolk that lived out there. Hermione had to stop herself from walking out there.
"Its okay, they know who you are," Harry said. She turned to see him standing beside her, dressed like one of those cowboys out of those Yankee movies. What was that guy's name? John something...John Wayne, that's what it was.
"You came through the bond?" Hermione asked before looking back at the small village.
"In a sense," Harry said. "But really, a part of me is always with you, and you with me."
"I think I like that," Hermione said. She looked back at him for a moment before leaning against him. She couldn't help the giggle as his body stiffened at the contact. That didn't last long as he wrapped his arms around her stomach, pulling her closer. "You're learning fast."
"I have a good teacher," Harry said. "Those people are a part of the mana now Hermione. As you draw more mana, more life can be sustained upon what you have, while still letting you draw upon it."
"But you didn't have that many creatures," Hermione said, looking back at the fishing boats.
"That is because they just didn't want to be seen, many of them are on the plains, and then hidden in the mountains," Harry said. "But that's not important right now. Look out into the waters, as far as you can see." Hermione looked up at him for a moment before nodding, doing as he asked. "How many islands can you see?"
"Seven," Hermione said. If Harry hadn't been holding onto her, she would have fallen over from the shock. That was more than double what she had started with.
"Let's turn around for a moment," Harry said, lifting her off the ground ever so slightly as he turned them. "Anything different?" The mountains looked so much smaller now. The plains looked fuller, more like savannahs out of some of the African based novels she had read.
"I'm going to teach you a few healing spells, but for the most part, it will all be up to you," Harry said.
"Really, I could do anything?" Hermione asked.
"Just about,"Harry said. "More importantly though, you need to know your own boundaries, I can't teach those to you. While we are the same, we're still different, and we each have our own paths." Hermione turned around in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You are mine, and whether are paths cross or diverge doesn't matter," Hermione said. She kissed him gently on the lips, feeling the world around her meld back into her room. They snogged for a few more minutes before Hermione pulled back, staring at him. "You going to tell me what you did while I practiced and napped or am I going to have to get it out of you?"
"Depends on your method," Harry said. Hermione just smiled.
"You were always susceptible to disciplinary actions," Hermione said, pinching his rear. His face turned red at this, stammering for an answer. She giggled at him, glad to know that he still was a kid where it counted. Kissing him again, Hermione smiled to herself at the punch-drunk look on his face. "Now, what have you been up to?" Shaking his head, Harry smiled to her before letting her go and taking a seat at her desk. She sat on the bed's edge, far enough to give him his space, but close enough for their knees to touch.
"The Order knows that you were taken and that Ron and I were able to ensure your safe return," Harry said. He blushed at this point, turning his head toward the door, away from her eyes. "They don't know of our bond."
Hermione smiled, touching the mark of the Phoenix that overtook the rune on her breast. It would make wearing some dresses difficult, but she really didn't mind. Touching the small blue and white flame, she felt the warmth spread through her. Harry returned the smile, touching a mark on his chest as well. She could not help the squeal as he sent her a wave of happiness and love.
"What else?" Hermione said. She took his hand in hers, squeezing it lightly.
"We're to meet Fleur and Bill soon, so if you want to shower while I get you something to eat, we should have enough time," Harry said. Hermione stood, kissing him deeply again. She smiled at him, dropping her eyelids as much as she could while looking at him.
"Care to join me?" Hermione said, dragging her kiss across his cheek. She pressed against him, pushing her breasts into his chest before kissing him again.
"You are going to be the death of me," Harry said. She pulled back before heading off to the showers, sending him one more glance and then a shake of her hips. She released the giggle she had been holding in once she was behind the closed doors of her bathroom. She had never more loved or wanted in that moment there, and he hadn't even said the words to her yet.
I0I
Harry walked with Hermione to the expecting parents, trying to remain calm. This was the first time he did not have his age on his side when he worked with a patient. Usually it worked in his favor, made up for eccentric ideas and herbal remedies. Which worked no less, just made him seem less crazy.
"You'll do fine, especially if you still remember everything," Hermione said, bumping his shoulder with her own. Harry tried to smile, yet everything seemed so foreign at the moment.
The repairs to Hogwarts were almost complete. He was going to working on the wards the following week, mapping out the areas he planned to extend into, mainly parts of the forest and the town itself. Hagrid had expressed his wishes to move back into his hut, allowing him to take care of their field of produce. McGonagall had expressed her wishes for his help with the teacher selection process, which he really had no idea what to do. Mad-eye wanted him to help with the training regimen for the army and for the Order. Everyone had a need for him, well, everyone except Snape, but that was only because the bastard knew what he needed to do and had for months.
But this was one need he was more than happy to fulfill. Once again his favorite part of the job as a doctor was checking up on the unborn child. Knocking on the door, he felt his nerves leave him, relishing in a familiar setting.
"Come in," Bill's voice said from the other side of the door. Opening the door, Harry let Hermione enter first, letting both of the Weasleys get a look at the young him.
"We weren't quite sure what to expect out of you, after what happened recently," Bill said as Harry closed the door behind him. Fleur was once again sitting in the chair that she was in upon their first visit.
"How have you been?" Harry said. Taking a chair with him, he sat across from Fleur. "The tea been helping any?"
"Very much, thank you," Fleur said. Bill moved around behind his wife, placing his hands on her shoulders. "We 'ave been taking it eazy, not wanting to upzet ze baby."
"That's about all anyone can do," Harry said. "Hermione would you care to run the diagnostic charms please?" Hermione gave a smile before removing her wand, casting the spell as Harry began to talk again. "I'm thinking of setting a charm that you can use to notify both of us when you start your labor." Hermione nodded, letting him know there were no problems or anything. He gave them a smile, relaying the information.
"We were going to ask how you we should contact you, or rather who," Bill said with a smirk. Harry felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he looked over at Hermione who just smiled at him.
"While we are together, we are not at that stage yet so it would be best if you contacted both of us," Hermione said. Taking out two galleons, she charmed them both the same way she had in their fifth year. "Just tap this once and we'll be notified." Hermione handed it to Bill, stepping back to Harry's side. "We'll be here almost immediately after you activate it."
"How's Harry going to know?" Bill asked, still holding the galleon. Harry took the one from Hermione's hand, palming it in his. He could still feel the magic within the object, just like an enchantment, only it would not last as long as one. He was thankful for that at least.
Gathering his magic, he spread it into the galleon. He held back a smile as he felt Hermione shudder slightly as he touched her magic, both through the bond their now shared and through the galleon. Opening his eyes, he let the galleon roll across his fingers, watching the silver glow dissipate as it did.
"I'll know now," Harry said, flipping the coin in the air. As the coin turned, it seemed to fade away before finally disappearing altogether. He smiled to himself as he looked at the others. They were shocked, whether at the coins disappearance or at his wandless display of magic, he wasn't sure. "Check your pocket." Harry said as he stood from his chair. Hermione's hands immediately searched for the galleon, finding it in the same pocket she had taken it from, still glowing slightly.
"There is one more piece of business, but I'm going to hold off on offering you the job Bill," Harry said.
"What job?" Bill asked. He could not hold back the smile that had begun to form. Sometimes knowing everything was pretty fun. He could see why Hermione liked it so much.
"Oh, damn that's right, I was supposed to not say anything," Harry said, moved his chair back slightly before levitating the round table between them. He motioned for Bill to take a seat next to his wife, while conjuring a chair for Hermione next to him. She gave him a look before pushing him back in his chair slightly and sitting on his lap. Holding back his blush, he wrapped his arms around her instinctively. He had to really grab at his train of thought as it left station when she sat.
"Right, the job," Harry said, shaking his head after a moment. Hermione just giggled at him as both Bill and Fleur shared a smile. "We will be restarting the school, come the new year."
"Is zat a good move, `Arry?" fleur asked. "What about ze war?"
"The war isn't going to end overnight, and I'd rather have the children here, where we can watch over them, then let something happen to them out there," Harry said. "I've been talking with Minerva and she agrees with me. Which is why we're going to send out word before the Christmas holidays begin."
"She agrees with this?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded, relaxing as she leaned back into him. "What will I be doing during this time?"
"You and Fleur when she feels up to it, will be in charge of the Hospital Wing," Harry said. "Most of the jobs have already been filled, and the ones that aren't we've either eliminated for now until we can find a replacement or we are asking members of the Order to fill in."
"You want me to 'elp you 'Arry?" Fleur asked, looking at her husband. Harry just smiled at her.
"We all have a reason to be fighting in their war, Fleur. I want to give you way to help out, and still protect your family the best way you know how," Harry said. He watched the byplay between Fleur and her husband, getting as much of a read off them as he could.
Both of them wanted to be involved with the war, and with the future of their world. A world for their child. He had given them a way, laid out the roadwork for them to build their own paths. Holding Hermione, he could not help but feel like he wanted the same. A sense of security that he, even in his past life, did not have. He never had a secure fortune or goal.
Hermione turned on his lap slightly, so she could look at him. He gave her a sad smile. "I'm done taking the choice from a person, its up to them what they want to do, or not." She gave him one of her looks. The looks that meant that they were going to have a long talk after this.
Motioning for Hermione to stand, Harry stood from the chair, moving the table back to where it was in the room. "I'll let you think about it. I've got some things to take care of, mainly checking on the wards and Snape."
"You have him under a tight leash?" Bill asked, standing up from his chair. It promptly disappeared, causing Harry to smirk slightly.
"He knows what to do and what he is worth," Harry said. Everyone looked at him, trying to figure out the double meaning of his statement. They wouldn't. Saying his goodbye, Harry walked out of the room, holding the door open for Hermione when she figured he was leaving.
"So why do you have to check on Snape?" Hermione asked once they were out of the room. Harry gave her a smile before he gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"Because I know how to handle him," Harry said. He gave her another smile, leaving her standing in the hallway staring at him before he took off down another corridor. He may have been new at with maintaining relationships, but he certainly knew how to keep people asking for me. What else was he supposed to do as Fawkes, but learn from a master at that art?
I0I
After Harry had left her in the hall, she could not help but giggle lightly at his antics. While he had no formal relationships in what she had to assume was seventy years (she refused to allow herself to think otherwise), he was learning fast. She had to admit that she was glad that Harry didn't ask about her past experiences with other men. Not that there were many, she just was not proud of the one that she had been with.
Krum.
Krum had returned for a little time after Harry left, saying he wanted to help with the Order. Not that she didn't believe him. She did, but she knew he really wanted to get closer to her. At the time, it had been something she needed. She had a failed relationship with Ron, and really couldn't handle being around the Weasleys too much despite their support that they offered her. But more than that, it let her forget Harry, if but for a little while.
Shaking her head, she left those thoughts alone. She wasn't proud of that person she had been the past five years and she could not help but feel that she would not have been as submissive to Krum's whims if it wasn't for the potion Ginny had given her.
She felt a flare of anger rise in her. Her thoughts would have continued along that line, but she felt the comforting wave from Harry seep through her. He relaxed her, slightly.
It still did not sit with her well that Ginny was able to manipulate her like that and for so long. She knew there weren't going to be any lasting affects like there would have been if she had been flushed of the potion any other way. If anything, Hermione felt stronger than she had before she was given the potion.
"Speak of the devil," Hermione muttered as she turned another corner to her room. Ginny was walking toward the library, looking for her probably.
"Hermione," Ginny's face brightened up at this. Hermione glared at her, stopping several feet away from the girl. Ginny stopped short, her face falling slightly. "I just wanted to apologize."
"I don't want an apology from you," Hermione said. She shook her head, that was wrong. "Not now at least. I'm not even sure if I should even forgive you for what you did." Ginny looked away, finally looking the age that she was, instead still seventeen. Maybe even older. "Do you have any idea what you did to me? You made me less than a human. You made me almost into an enslaved house elf Ginerva."
"I know," Ginny said. Her voice was barely audible while Hermione felt hers rising in volume.
"If you knew why did you do it?" Hermione said. "We didn't even know if Harry was going to come back."
"You did," Ginny said, finally making eye contact with her. Hermione stopped at this. She could remember that even when she was with Krum she had been insistent that Harry would return. But now much else....
"Yes, I did, but what does that have to do with anything?" Hermione asked. She relaxed her stance slightly, holding to her anger.
"You're the only one who wanted to keep going on, working on whatever it was that you were working on," Ginny said.
"After a while you came around to think he was going to come back too," Hermione said. Her tone was flat; she was trying hard not to think about the damages Ginny had caused her. How much of the past fives years did she remember to begin with? More than that, how much of it was a lie?
"Not really," Ginny said. "I just thought that it would make me look better if he did return." Hermione felt a flash of something burst inside of her. Her chest felt warmer than it had before; She felt walls being built inside of her, protecting something...her heart? No....her Harry....
"Did you know Ginerva," Hermione started, walking closer to Ginny, "that I dont remember much of the last five years? That for the life of me, I can't recall when the army settled in or when the attack was on Hogwarts?" Ginny looked away, tears were falling down her cheeks by now. She did know what she had done. "Why? Why did you do that to me?"
"Because you had something I could never have," Ginny said through her tears.
"It was Harry's choice Ginny," Hermione said. She put a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "You might have had a chance if you treated people better Ginny, instead of just as objects you could control." She felt something warm spread through her; she knew Harry was sending that to her. Somehow, she also knew he had been listening in, and he knew how it was going to end too. She couldn't say how she knew that, but it was just another one of those talks that she was going to have to have with him.
"My mother used a potion on my father to get him," Ginny said, nearly crumbling into the floor. Hermione knelt next to her, finally taking a good look at Ginny.
She wasn't the same person Hermione remembered. She looked like she had barely been sleeping, and certainly wasn't taking care of her hair, a contrast to how she had been know to fawn over it. She was in no ways the fashion hound she had tried to portray before.
Looking down at Ginny, Hermione could not help but feel sorry for the younger woman. She still did not know if she could forgive the youngest Weasley for her transgressions, but listening to her might be good for both of them.
"How are you Ginny?" She asked. Gone was the anger, hidden under the layers of kindness that she knew she had. She would work out her anger later, with Harry, or at least try and figure out the conflicting emotions as he listened. Right now though, there were more important things to deal with.
Ginny's eyes shot up to look at her, trying to distinguish any malice or anger. Hermione offered her hand to her, pulling her up off the ground. "While I may not forgive you yet Ginny, I do know what it is like to have no one to talk to." Ginny nodded, wiping her eyes of her tears.
"Thank you, I don't deserve this, but thank you," she said. Hermione tried to offer a reassuring smile, but found she could only make a small one. Ginny was right, she didn't deserve it, but sometimes that was just how things are.
I0I
Harry relaxed in the office that McGonagall had given him. He had sent Hermione an owl earlier, telling her to meet him in the office behind the Transfiguration room after she was done talking to Ginny. He was still unsure of him taking over for the position, but McGonagall had been rather persistent about this.
He really didn't know the first thing about teaching, and knew that he would have to begin to look over the text books from previous years for what he wanted to teach. Charms had always been easier for him, especially with his limited magically abilities from the last couple of months. He'd have to get back into step with transfiguration, though McGonagall seemed to have little doubt in him. He was thankful that at least one of them thought that.
"Hey Hermione," Harry said, flipping through a basic book from several years before. People had not stopped writing it seemed, even with the war that was going on.
"You weren't kidding when you said you were going to be teaching Transfiguration were you?" Hermione said, taking a look around. Harry looked up, giving her a smile. "Already moved in?"
He had unpacked half of his massive collection of books. His magical books lined the walls to the left of and behind him, while all of his fiction books took up the right wall. He was rather proud to surmount such a collection over the years. He knew Hermione would pick through all of it before Christmas came.
"I figured we keep up propriety," Harry said. "I hope I didn't impose on you too much." Hermione gave him what he could call a seductive smile on her, yet he couldn't tell that anything was different with her smile. It was her eyes, he decided as she walked around the desk and pushed him back, causing his chair to roll across the floor. Definitely the eyes, he decided as they bore into his soul.
"Harry," she purred his name. How the hell could she do that? "You could never impose on me." She sat down in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips were on his before he even had a chance to respond again.
After several nirvana-esque minutes, Harry felt Hermione pull back, staring at him with such power in her eyes. Such emotion, such love. He let the bond relax, and with barely a touch, he sent a wave of his own emotions over to her. Seeing her eyes light up and pounce on him was enough for him to know that he had done something right.
When she finally pulled back, he doubted he could have had felt this aroused once over the last seventy years. It was his curse, he knew that much. But now, it was as his curse had been lifted.
"You are going to be the death of me," Harry said, his smile spreading across his face.
"At least you'll die happy," Hermione said. Again with that damn smile. She pulled back, her face growing serious. "Now, you are going to tell me what that comment of yours was all about." Harry nodded, trying to come up with a small smile.
"I mean that I'm done deciding for you what is right, and what is safe," Harry said. He never wanted anything to happen to her. He wanted her to live and happy life, but he could not take away her choice again. That had cost him too much. "My decision had cost us the chance to make things right, the chance to be together sooner." Pushing her off his lap, he stood. He wasn't surprised to see her take his chair as he walked around the desk closing the door. "I knew I had made that mistake when I told you my decision to leave. I thought I was going to come back, and you were going to beat me up because I left without you, but hug me to death because I returned. I really did believe that.
"It didn't take me long to realize that I had messed up when I was flung back," Harry said. He rubbed his right arm and the scar he had given himself. "I'll admit that I enjoyed the time alone, but I still felt something was missing as I traveled. I was going to come back." He finally looked at her, pleading with her to understand. She had to know he didn't mean to be gone for so long. "But it just all went to hell."He finally looked away, not wanting her to see his pain.
"I know Harry," Hermione said. Stood from the chair before walking over and wrapping her arms around his stomach. "You came back when you could."
"I almost didn't," he said in a soft voice. He looked down, slightly surprised to see her rubbing his scar. No one wanted to touch it, the monks even said it tainted the purity of his soul. Yet that simple act, her touch healed him.
"But you did," she said, running her fingers up and down his arm again. He shivered again, this time at her breath on his neck. He didn't know when he pulled her into a tight embrace, only that he needed her closer.
Again, he lost track of time, but it was no where near the nirvana he had felt before. Holding her in his arms, Harry sorted his thoughts, trying to grasp at ones he knew to be happy, and tossed away ones he didn't want to remember.
Hermione pulled back, giving him a chaste kiss on the lips as she did so before sitting on his desk. He gave her a smile before turning back to his shelves of books, trying to find any more he had on transfiguration.
"You okay?" She asked after he took a book off the shelf. He looked back at her for a moment, nodding, before he turned back to the books. "You need help?"
"I need to select the books for next year, and I really don't know what to choose," he said, looking between two books. She hopped off the desk, picking one out of his hands before placing it back onto the shelf.
"That one will do fine for the first years," Hermione said. "now before I pick out the rest of the books, you have to answer a question for me." Harry looked up from the book. He was flipping through it, looking quickly at the spells that the first years would be learning, probably earlier as well. "How did you know I was talking to Ginny?"
Harry could not help the smile that grew across his face. He was surprised that he figured out that before she did, but then again, he had more practice with talking with your mind. He had done so with Dumbledore a few times, or at least suggested things that made Dumbledore suspicious of him.
"I told you I would always be there for you," Harry said. He gave her a pointed look before turning away. As he looked at his books again, he sent a wave of happiness toward her. He smiled again at the squeal she let out before turning around to look at her. "You going to keep squealing every time I doing that?" She blushed under his gaze before he felt a wave of...something rush over him. Whatever that wonderful was he could not help but shudder as it rushed through his body. Looking at her, he was surprised she was holding in her laughter.
"You're not the only one that needs to learn control," Hermione said. Again, how did she switch from best friend mode to seductress?
"I thought I was the professor," he said, taking a step toward the desk. "I was the one who was supposed to discipline you, Miss Granger." He wrapped his arm around her, nearly pulling her off the desk as he drew her to his chest. She didn't respond; instead, she sent another wave of that wonderful emotion from before.
"Mr. Potter, I'll have you know that trouble is my middle name," Hermione said, pushing against him. There was that purr again. How did he miss this side of her? "But we'll deal with your control before anything else."
"If that means that I have to keep my hands off of you, I don't want to learn about control," he said, kissing her again. He could not help it as his hands moved a little further south, and around her wonderfully shaped ass. He could not help but smile into their kiss as she squealed again. That time, it had not been from a wave from him. God, he could get used to this.
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