Chapter Three: Arrivals and Surprises
***Friday Afternoon***
Harry smiled to himself as he packed up his belongings to dump off in Hermione's flat.
I honestly did not believe that she would agree to letting me stay at her place for two weeks, Harry thought to himself, I guess I'll have to control myself…… I'm doomed.
Slapping herself in the forehead, it finally hits Hermione just what she has agreed to do.
This is going to be a very embarrassing situation, she worriedly thought, all I need to do is retain my self control. I'm Hermione `brightest witch of her age' Granger for crissake! I…am so dead!
Hermione had just finished cleaning her flat when the doorbell rang. Opening the door, she saw a tall, raven-haired, handsome young man. "Hullo, Hermione!" he said happily.
"Hey, Harry. Do you have all of your necessities yet?" she asked him, pretending to be impatient.
"Nope, but I think one more trip oughta do it." he informed her.
"Do you need any help?" Hermione offered.
"Sure. Just follow me." He said waving her to his side. She glided over next to him, and followed him up the street. Harry's flat was only one block away, so it wasn't much of a walk. They arrived at the door, and Harry fiddled with the knob.
"Damn, it's locked and the key is inside." He told her.
"Oh, Harry." She said. A few seconds after her statement she vanished from his sight with a soft pop. Two minutes later she reappeared opening Harry's front door.
"Harry, did you forget about apparation?" she asked him, smiling.
"I knew that." he laughed. She let him enter the messy flat.
"Harry, do you ever clean this place?" she asked him picking up a dirty sock off of the nearby lampshade.
"Clean? What's that?" Harry made a face like he was seriously thinking about it. Hermione laughed, and threw the sock in his direction. The sock hit him square in the nose, and he laughed.
"Alright, since I'm already here I suppose I could clean this place up a bit." She said examining Harry's living room.
"If you really want to, then help yourself. I won't stop you, but first can you help me with these bags?" he held up two large garbage bags.
"What exactly is in those?" she made a half disgusted, half curious face.
"Do you really want to know?" he asked her.
"Yes, I do." She stated inquiringly.
"Well, it's a load of dirty robes and muggle clothes." He said, hoisting each of the bags up to eye level in turn.
"You can use my wash, if you want." She informed him.
"Thanks." Harry said with a smile.
"You know what?" Harry asked Hermione.
"What's that?" she asked back.
"I'm happy the students are getting two weeks off. We have a two week break." He said happily.
"Oh, right. I forgot. That will be relaxing." She said.
With Harry around? Highly doubtful! She added, only as an afterthought.
Hermione's face must have looked like she was concerned or worried, because it caused Harry to ask her, "What's wrong?" She looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "Well, you started to look worried that's all." Harry told her.
"Oh, it was nothing." Yeah, right.
Why is she making her face like that? Is she doing it on purpose, or by accident? I hate it when she does that! Harry thought spitefully. Both were quiet as they walked back to Hermione's obsessively clean flat. When they entered, Harry set one of the garbage bags on the black leather couch.
"Harry! Don't put that there! That's disgusting! Put it in the washroom!" Hermione said instantly.
"Okay! Okay, calm down." Harry picked up the bag and threw it on the floor of Hermione's washroom.
"Harry! Put it on the table, not the floor! Honestly!" she nagged.
I hate it when she does that too! But she does look very cute when she's flustered………Bad Harry! No! Keep the mind on track, and not on Hermione's bloody cuteness! Harry told himself sternly. As he laid the bag onto the table, he turned to see Hermione crack a huge, and beautiful smile.
Oh no. Why does she do that to me?!?
**********
He's so messy. Honestly! But, he does make me laugh……Hermione smiled just as Harry turned around. He had a look on his face, and Hermione couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but before she could ponder it further, he snapped out of his daze, and picked up the other bag of dirty clothes.
"So, how've you been?" Harry asked nonchalantly.
"Harry, you see me every day." She told him.
"I know that. It's just that we never get to really talk to each other about the little things anymore. That's all." He said, without looking at her directly.
"Oh, well I've been alright," she started, "nothing too new in Granger-world. How about Potter-land?" she asked jokingly.
"Wait, you get your own world, but all I get is a measly piece of land? That's not fair!" he said, faking a hurt look.
"Well, life's not fair Mr. Potter." She replied smiling.
"Oh, really? Then that means I can do this!" he grabbed one of the garbage bags and threw the contents all over her sitting room.
"Harry! What are you doing? That's not fair, I just cleaned this place!" she started to gather up some of the clothes.
"Life's not fair, Ms. Granger." Harry stated. She looked up realizing how obsessive compulsive she must look, and started to laugh. Harry joined in, and they laughed for a few good minutes.
Hermione glanced at the clock, and realized that in ten minutes time Ron and Luna would arrive.
"Harry, we need to pick this stuff up. Luna and Ron'll be here later and I don't want this place looking a mess." She commanded him.
"Alright. You win this time." Harry started to pick up robes and shirts.
**********
***Friday Evening***
Dear Harry and Hermione,
We'll be coming at around 8:00 pm. We'll be stopping
By Hermione's place, as Ginny's told us you'd both be there.
Thanks Harry, for allowing us to use your flat for a couple weeks.
Can't wait to see you! By the way, we have something
tell you guys, but it'll have to wait until we get there.
It's pretty big!
Love From,
Luna and Ron Weasley
**********
"It says eight o'clock, right?" Hermione asked, while Harry re-read the parchment.
"Yes, it does." Harry assured her.
"Then why aren't they here yet?" she asked impatiently.
"Hermione, they're only two minutes late so calm down. They'll be here, they will." Harry patted her on the shoulder.
Ten minutes later, a knock was heard on Hermione's front door. Quickly, Harry got up and opened it. Standing in the doorway was a tall, lean (and quite muscular due to his new Quidditch sessions during tour), red headed man and a slightly shorter, very beautiful, blonde woman. Harry stuck out his hand to the red head, and he gladly accepted pulling Harry into a manly hug.
"Hey, Harry. We've missed you," the tall man started, "Now, where's our Hermione?" just as the question came from his mouth, Hermione walked out of the back room and ran up to her guests.
"Luna! Ron! We missed you lot!" she said, excitedly.
Ron bent down to Hermione, and gave her a peck on the cheek. Luna hugged Harry, then grabbed Hermione and hugged her too. After a moment of reminiscing, Hermione showed the two of them to the dining room, where a lovely dinner was now set up.
"Hermione! Did you do all of this for us?" Ron asked in amazement, staring at all of the delectable food.
"Um, right. No, I didn't. I called in to the Three Broomsticks, and Rosemerta delivered." Hermione told the couple.
"Rosemerta is still running that place?" Luna asked.
"Surprisingly, yes she does." Harry informed her.
"Well, I'm starving as usual so why don't we sit down and tuck in? Hmm?" Ron pulled out a chair for Luna, then for Hermione.
"Ron, nothing has changed, has it?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"Yes, some things have." He replied kissing his wife.
**********
After dinner, they all started to catch up. They had been gone for six months now, and they all had a lot to tell. After listening to Ron's third story about one of the Quidditch matches he was in, Harry remembered what they had written in their letter.
"Ron, in your letter you said that you had something important to tell us. Care to share?" Harry asked curiously.
Ron made a very large grin, and Luna's smiled. "Well," he began, "we do have some really big news to tell you guys." Ron stopped and looked into Luna's eyes for a moment.
"Well, what is it?" Hermione asked frustrated.
"Well," Luna started, "I well… we… we're pregnant!" Harry dropped his fork to the floor and Hermione choked on the food in her mouth. They both stared blankly at each other, then looked at the couple across the way. They both thought the same thing at the same time,
This is going to get really complicated, really fast………………
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