The Importance of Tea
Chapter 3
Flashback
The next time Harry came around, Ginny was no longer next to his bed and he found that he still couldn't move his legs. Still concerned about Hermione, Harry sat up to look across the room and with a heavy heart saw that her situation still hadn't changed; she still lay in the bed as if made from glass. Slumping back against the bed, Harry heard the ward door open and turned to see Lupin and Tonks walking in. They made straight for Harry's bedside. Tonks gave him a bone crushing hug and Lupin patted him on the shoulder.
"Any news on Hermione?" Harry asked before they had a chance to sit down.
"I just talked to her healer and she said that they are just waiting for her to regain her strength and magical powers. Harry, you shouldn't worry too much about Hermione; you're still recovering yourself," Lupin said, knowing that Harry bore the weight of Hermione's condition on his shoulders.
"I can't help it, it's my fault that she's like that." Remus shook his head.
"Harry, it is no-one's fault. Hermione chose to be the one to transfer her powers to you." Harry shook his head.
"That's why I didn't want her to go through with the spell. I knew something like this would happen." Lupin sighed softly.
"Harry, Hermione was the only magical person who could match you magic-wise. If it had been any other witch or wizard, they would have died; Hermione is a very lucky witch." Harry looked across the room to where Hermione lay and then looked back at his former professor.
"You call that lucky?" Harry snapped back. The doors to the ward opened again and this time Hermione's parents walked though. Harry watched them as they made their way to their daughter's bed. Mr. Granger stood by the end of the bed while Mrs. Granger kissed Hermione on the forehead; she then sat down and took her daughter's hand in hers.
"Excuse me for a moment," Lupin said, standing up and walking across to the Grangers.
"Do they blame me?" Harry asked Tonks.
"What?" she asked, puzzled.
"Do Hermione's parents blame me for what happened to her?" Tonks sighed and shook her head.
"No Harry they don't blame you."
End of flashback
Harry was awoken the next day by the sun streaming through the blind. He yawned, put on his glasses and stretched. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table; it was 6:30 am. Knowing that he couldn't get back to sleep, Harry pulled himself out of bed and made his way to the kitchen. He found Hermione sitting at the kitchen table, book in hand and a cup of coffee next to her.
"Morning, Hermione," he said as he switched on the kettle to make himself a cup of coffee. Hermione looked up from her book.
"Oh, morning, Harry, sleep well?"
"Like a log," he said, moving to the table, steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
"Must be the Cornwall sea air," Hermione said, closing her book as Harry sat across from her.
"Sea air?" Harry questioned. Hermione smirked.
"My Grandmother always used to say that the sea air is always good for a better night's sleep." Harry nodded and sipped at his coffee.
"How about yourself, how did you sleep?"
"Perfectly," Hermione said with a smile.
"So, plans for today?" Harry asked
"I was thinking about spending a day building sandcastles."
A few hours later
Harry and Hermione made their way across the beach. Hermione had taken off her shoes and socks and now walked barefoot across the sand.
"I think here will do," she said, and she helped Harry spread out the picnic blanket that they had found in the cottage. They had also brought the rest of the food Mrs. Weasley had given them. Harry plopped himself down on the blanket and Hermione sat down next to him. She lifted her face to the sun.
"I forgot how nice the Cornwall coast is," she said, closing her eyes against the glare of the sun.
"This isn't your first time here?" Harry asked her.
"No, I used to come down to Cornwall every summer with my parents, well, until I started Hogwarts."
"Sounds nice."
"It was, but it's nice with you as well."
"Thanks, so how about these sandcastles then?" Harry inquired.
"Oh," Hermione said suddenly.
"Oh, what?"
"We don't have any buckets or spades," she said.
"Does that really matter? Can't we just use magic? There aren't that many muggles about," Harry asked. Hermione gasped at him.
"Use magic to make sandcastles! Where is the fun in that? No, we need to have buckets and spades." With that, Hermione stood up and dashed barefoot across the sand in the direction of a small line of shops. Harry didn't have long to wait. Hermione came speeding back with a plastic carrier bag. She sat down on the rug, a little out of breath, and she handed the bag to Harry.
"For you," she said with a beam. Harry looked inside at a red plastic bucket and spade; there was also a pink bucket and spade which he guessed were Hermione's. Harry pulled out the red bucket and spade and glanced at Hermione with a bemused expression.
"You said you've never been to the beach before, so I'm guessing you've never built sandcastles before," she said softly, blushing slightly.
"The Durleys weren't much for beaches. Vernon used to complain that the sand would go everywhere; the only time I ever got close to sand was when Dudley threw me in the sandpit at nursery," Harry said, turning the bucket over in his hands. Hermione looked at him sadly, tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry, we don't have to build sandcastles if you don't want to." Harry shook his head.
"I'm not letting the Durley's spoil anything more." Hermione nodded.
"Come on, I'll show you how to build the best sandcastle."
Harry dipped his bucket into the sea collecting water and then walked back to Hermione.
"Where do you want this?" he asked. Hermione looked up from the small pile of sand she was kneeling next to.
"Pour some of it onto this pile of sand." Harry did as he was told and then waited for further instructions.
"Sand has to be a little damp for sandcastle making."
"Yes, Professor Granger," Harry said with a smirk on his face.
"Hey!" Hermione said
"If Ron was here, he would be complaining that you're making this more like work than fun," he said, smiling at her. Hermione knew he was joking.
"I'll put you in detention if we don't manage to make the best sandcastle on this stretch of beach," she said, her eyes alight with mischief.
"Will you?" Harry said dipping his fingers into the bucket half filled with sea water. Hermione watched him.
"Will I be put in detention if I do this?" he said, spraying her with water.
"HARRY!" Hermione squealed in response; Harry just grinned at her.
"No, but I will do this!" Hermione said, grabbing the bucket and throwing the rest of the water over Harry. It soaked his hair and t-shirt.
"This means war," he mock-growled as Hermione scrabbled to her feet. He jumped up.
"I'll give you a five second head start," he said grinning mischievously, and Hermione didn't need a second warning. She reached off, Harry quickly counted to five, and then he chased after her. He caught up with her just at the shore's edge. Hermione scooped up a handful of the sea and splashed Harry; he returned the favour and a full blown water fight started. Ten minutes later, both soaking wet, Harry and Hermione made their way back to their spot on the beach.
"So much for building sandcastles," Harry said, dropping down onto the blanket. He pulled at his rather wet t-shirt as Hermione sat next to him.
"We have all week," Hermione said as she pulled a out a towel and started to dry her hair. Harry meanwhile dug into the basket for something to eat. As he munched on a cold sausage roll, he watched the other holiday makers on the beach. Two young children nearby were burying what looked like their older brother, but then his attention was drawn away from them as Hermione pulled off her damp t-shirt. Underneath she was wearing a plain black bikini top which in itself was quite simple but did nothing to hide the fact that Hermione was a young woman, and Harry found himself staring. He smiled goofily and something else was getting happy.
"Harry!" He barely heard Hermione calling his name.
"Huh," he grunted.
"Harry, you're staring," Hermione said harshly, but her cheeks were glowing.
"Sorry," Harry said, feeling very embarrassed. He blushed and looked away to find that the older brother was free.
"Ice cream?" he heard Hermione say, he turned and forced himself to look her in the face.
"Do you want to get some ice cream, we passed a shop on the way to the beach this morning, we could go there?"
"Ice cream sounds nice."
Harry dropped his wet towel onto the kitchen table and ran a hand though his damp hair and down. He could hear Hermione heading towards her room. Harry still couldn't get the image of Hermione in the bikini from his mind; it was a very nice thought which made his blood pound in his ears and his trousers tighten, but Hermione was his friend and while it felt nice having those type of thoughts about Hermione, it still felt slightly wrong. Shaking his head free of the thoughts, Harry stood and opened the fridge and pulled out the bottle of fire whiskey. He took a drink straight from the bottle and immediately started to cough, but as he got his breath back a warm pleasant feeling was making it way down his chest. He took a longer sip but didn't cough this time.
"Started the party without me?" came a voice from the staircase. Hermione stood there dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt.
"I was just having a taste," Harry mumbled, putting the lid back on the bottle.
"Let me have a taste?" she said holding her hand out for the bottle. Harry passed it to her and watched while she took a sip.
"Nice," she said, licking her lips. She moved to the cupboard and brought down two glasses. Harry looked at her, bewildered, as she poured out some of the fire whiskey.
"I thought you wanted to get some ice cream," he said.
"We can later."
A little later
"Mrs. Weasley's -hic- won't be peased that we drank most of this," Harry said, picking up the bottle and looking at it.
"Pfft, stuff Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, a little merry due to the fire whiskey.
"Hermione Jane Granger, it looks like fire -hic- whiskey seems to have loosened your tongue," he said with a grin, "which I think I like." Hermione smiled, her eyes sparkling.
"Ri- I mean, ice cream?" she suggested, and Harry nodded.
Hermione stumbled to her feet and swayed on the spot.
"Either I'm spinning or the room is." Harry grabbed her arm.
"Room stopped spinning now?" he asked; she nodded, linking hands with him.
Together they staggered to the ice cream shop. Hermione let go of Harry's hand and pressed her face against the shop window, looking like a small child.
"Mmm, ice cream, lots of ice cream," she said.
"Let's go in before it all sells out," Harry said, dragging Hermione away from the window. Once again she linked hands with him, which he didn't mind.
"What would you two like?" the lady behind the counter asked.
"Chocolate, please," Hermione said, her words still slightly slurred; the woman raised an eyebrow but still filled a wafer cone with the chosen ice cream flavour. Hermione smiled and took it from her.
"Thank you," she said before waiting while Harry got his own and paid.
"Let's walk along the pier," Hermione said once they were out of the shop. She surprised Harry by taking his hand again. Her hand was soft and warm in his and he found himself linking his fingers though hers. She looked down at their joined hands and smiled and gave his hand a quick squeeze. Harry decided that he liked a merry Hermione. She was more relaxed and carefree, and as if to state the point, Hermione started to swing their joined hands. Together they made their way up the pier. It was late afternoon and the pier was full of activity. Harry and Hermione finished their ice creams as they reached the end of the walkway. Harry leaned up against the fence. Hermione wiped her hands and face with a napkin.
"I think you missed a spot," Harry said, leaning close to her, and dabbed away a smudge of ice cream from the corner of her mouth.
"Thanks," she said softly, her face close to his. She wrapped her arms around him and looked up at him.
"You're welcome," he replied, catching her gaze, and he felt the sudden urge to kiss her, but a little voice at the back of his mind warned him that it could easily spoil their friendship - but there was another saying that he would never find out if he never tried. Taking a deep breath and not speaking a word, Harry leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Hermione returned the kiss. Standing on tiptoes, she captured his lips. She tasted of chocolate ice cream and whiskey and Harry slid his hand into her hair, bringing her closer to deepen the kiss. He felt her sigh softly against his lips and her grip tighten around him as she pressed her own harder against his. A drop of water touched Harry on the cheek, and for a moment he thought Hermione was crying. He pulled away to apologize for stepping over the 'friendship' boundary, only to find that it had started to rain.
"Its raining," he said to Hermione, who was looking up at him with hooded eyes.
"I know," came Hermione's reply, her voice slightly hoarse.
"We'll get wet."
"I know."
"Do you want to head back to the cottage? We could watch TV if you want," he asked, but he really wanted to say, we can kiss more. Hermione dropped his gaze and stepped away from him.
"Well, if you want to do that," she said a little harshly. Harry nodded in agreement and went to take Hermione's hand, but she stepped away from him and started to walk. When they arrived back at the cottage, Hermione complained that she had a headache and went to her room. Harry watched as she headed up to her bedroom, his heart heavy. Once he heard her door close, he slumped down on the sofa and cupped his face in his hands.
"Idiot," he whispered to himself. The voice at the back of his head was telling him that he had overstepped the friendship boundary and that Hermione was most likely packing up her stuff to head back home. The other voice was telling him that it would be alright, that Hermione needed time to think. Harry groaned into his palms and then picking up the TV remote, he switched on the TV and tried to drown out the two voices.