Chapter 3
Once his mind was made up, Harry wasn't sure what to do next. The last girl he'd actually 'dated' was Cho Chang in Fifth Year. He'd had other girlfriends, of course, but boarding school didn't offer much opportunity for true dates. As he graded essays, he wondered how he'd go about it. He'd never been any good at it.
Soon lunch time came around. Harry looked at the sandwich he'd brought with a scowl. He noticed his inbox was nearly empty and decided a hot lunch at the café nearby was the answer. He wondered if that would make the Prophet as well. He laughed as he pictured the headline, 'Harry Potter has Fish and Chips at Local Restaurant!'
He was shown to a table near the back, as he preferred, ignoring the whispers that surrounded him. Instantly he remembered why he normally took lunch at his desk. The server flirted with him outrageously. For once, he didn't mind, though he quickly put her in the mental column of potential mothers as a 'No way!'
As Harry was finishing up his fish, the whisperers suddenly fell silent as a couple entered. Harry looked up and saw his wife being seated with a man who appeared to be a doctor or possibly a Healer. It all clicked into place for Harry. Finally, it all made sense. She wanted to be with someone as clever as she is! He remembered her comments about Adrian's Healer and wondered when she'd changed her mind about being with him. Obviously it wasn't Adrian keeping her away. She still saw the boy every day. He clamped down hard on the urge to punch the bloke into next week. He couldn't do that to her no matter how much he wanted to, so he tossed a few galleons on the table and left, making sure Hermione didn't see him. He'd let her wonder this time, not him, not anymore.
That afternoon, he received an owl from Ron. The note said that this evening Hermione wanted Adrian to stay over for
his birthday the following day. He sent his response straight back to Hermione, declining in a rather crude fashion. He
couldn't bring himself to care. He owled Ron to let him know that he'd answered her request himself. Rather
than stopping by to yet again be ignored by Hermione, he decided to pick up the cake he'd ordered from Diagon Alley
and the mountain of gifts.
"Hi there! Buying out the toddler section?" he heard as he joined the queue to the cash register. He spun around, careful not to drop the armload of toys he was juggling. It was Corinna.
"Hi," he returned. "I might've taken one of everything, I expect," he grinned. "My son turns one tomorrow. I want to make it a big deal…"
"I can see that," she laughed looking at his loaded arms. "I'm sure he's adorable…"
"He's a handful, that's for sure…" Harry smiled.
"But you wouldn't trade him for the world…" she added.
"No, actually, I wouldn't. He's the best thing for me just now…"
"I'd wager your wife would find that fact depressing."
"Never wager more than you are prepared to lose," Harry cautioned cryptically with a scowl. "We're getting a divorce." The words sounded foreign, even to him.
"I'm sorry to hear that," she replied. "Is there anything I can do?"
Harry smiled. "Thanks, but no. I'm… It's…We're adjusting."
"I always thought you were the perfect couple."
"I did, too," Harry admitted as he laid his purchases on the counter. He pulled out his moneybag and handed over a stack of galleons.
"I cannot believe any woman would turn her back on Harry Potter…" she said slyly. Harry shrugged. "Are there any more like you at home?"
He shrugged again. "No, sorry, only me…" He's eyes grew large as if a surprising thought had struck him. "Forgive me for asking, but would you be flirting with me?"
Corinna laughed. "About time you caught on… I'd hate to think of what I'd have to resort to next…"
It was Harry's turn to laugh. "I checked into getting an assistant... Figured it might free up some time…" He lowered his eyes to the floor. "Maybe sometime you might want to…er…spend some of it….er…with me…" He continued staring at his shoes, which was easier now that he wasn't burdened with the stack of gifts.
"Are you asking me on a date, Captain?"
Harry raised his eyes and grinned at her. "If I were…not that I'm saying I am, mind, but if I were, what would the answer be?"
"I'd love to," she replied.
"Then I guess I am…" Harry smirked.
"How about this weekend?" she suggested. "Friday?"
"Sounds perfect," said Harry. He shifted his packages before finally shrinking them down to fit his pocket as they decided on a time and place. "I'll see you then…"
That night Adrian was awake more than he slept. His teething and drooling was making him miserable. Harry charmed a
flannel to remain cold and flexible and paced the floor with the boy as he mouthed it. "It's a good thing your
birthday is tomorrow, young man," Harry scolded in a teasing voice. "Otherwise, I'd have to work. Your
impeccable timing is going to allow us to have a lie-in. What do you say to that?"
"Gramoooooool," Adrian responded.
"Exactly…" Harry said not knowing what he was agreeing with.
Finally at around three-thirty, Adrian fell asleep. Unwilling to leave the baby alone and miserable, Harry summoned his pillow and blanket and lay down on the floor below the cot.
Adrian woke up before Harry and proceeded to pelt him with the various stuffed animals in his cot. "One-year-olds are vicious!" Harry sat up laughing. He picked up the toy hippogriff and threw it back at his son. Soon it was raining toys in the room as the father and son laughed and played.
Harry changed him and got him dressed before giving him a couple of the gifts. "How old is Adrian?" he asked. Adrian held up a finger. "Very good! My Alien is one today! Happy birthday, Son!"
***
Katrina came over and began her daily cleaning, which went much faster since Harry was playing with the baby. Harry and
his son spent the morning investigating the new toys and generally having a great time. Toward noon, Harry picked up
Adrian and answered the door when he heard a knock. The smile slid from his face when he saw his wife.
"Adrian, my beautiful boy, Happy Birthday!" she said smiling as she took Adrian from Harry. Harry backed away and said not a word. "I wanted to see him on his birthday. Did his tooth finally break through? He's been having a bit of trouble with that…" She hugged him and placed him back on the floor to crawl.
"Thanks for telling me, Hermione. I'm probably too thick to reason it out on my own…" Hermione looked at him in confusion. "But he felt better this morning. Maybe the good doctor can take a look at him for you." Harry strode into the sitting room.
"Da!" Adrian called. "Burpy!" Harry turned around. Adrian was crawling toward him as fast as he could.
Harry couldn't help but smile. "Yes, My Alien, it is your birthday…let's get you some lunch and maybe…..more…..presents?"
Adrian clapped. "Pents! Pents!"
Harry completely ignored Hermione as he prepared lunch. He placed Adrian in his high chair and gave him bits of bread while the sausages were cooking. He poured pumpkin juice in a sippy cup and gave that to him as well.
Adrian drank it before slamming the cup down on the tray. "Mo Deuce!" he cried.
"Let's try some milk this time…" Harry suggested. He saw Hermione leaning against the far wall with tears rolling down her cheeks. He wanted to comfort her, but knew she'd made her choice. He wasn't going to risk getting rejected again. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from asking the things he'd wanted answers to for months. Now wasn't the time. "Join us, if you want…" Harry said to her at last.
"Thanks," she smiled.
"Mummy Deuce!" called Adrian.
"The Birthday Boy has spoken…" Harry said as he poured Hermione's juice. Harry cut up a few sausages bits and was just about to tip them onto the tray of the baby chair when he noticed her doing the same. "I hope you are hungry…" he told his son. He kept the sausage on his plate in case Adrian wanted more.
"Harry…" she began. He looked at her coldly. She lost her nerve and remained silent. She gathered her nerve and began again. "May I take him this weekend? The whole weekend? Mum wants to…"
"No," Harry stated vehemently. "You can't do this. I won't let you…"
"Harry, look at me," she said gently. "I'll have him back Sunday evening around dinner time, I promise… Like I was saying, Mum wants to have a party for him…"
Harry nodded. "Sunday it is, then…" He couldn't deny her, not anything. He wondered if that doctor would be a part of it. He steered his thoughts back to just her. If she was happy, he'd learn to live with it…somehow.
"Thank you…" she said breathily as if she could hardly believe he'd agree.
The following day at work, Harry was distracted. He needed to make some decisions that were difficult. He pulled the
legal document out of his bag and read it carefully this time. He was shocked to notice that he was named as the party
with unreasonable behavior as the reason for the divorce. "I'm unreasonable now, am I…" he said sadly to
himself. If he was moving on, then it was best to truly do so. He would never be a doctor or a Healer. He was a
fighter. It was what he'd been raised to be. He trained others to fight. If the doctor made her happy, then he,
Harry, wouldn't stand in her way. He took quill in hand and signed the papers. He sent them to the solicitor before
he could change his mind.
The practical training that morning went horribly. He knew he shouldn't have even attempted dueling in his current state of mind. He'd been soundly beaten and for the first time since his teaching career began, he was sent to the hospital wing. His reputation was still intact, however. The trainees figured he threw the duels on purpose to demonstrate how concentration played a part. Luckily for him, it was a rookie class. He went home stiff and sore, but with no permanent damage.
His luck held out that his son was so tired from the previous day's activities. He was able to sleep for an hour while Adrian extended his afternoon nap. Once awake, Harry took his son to the Muggle grocery store to pick up a few staples. In queue for the check out stand, he spotted a magazine for women. The headlines proclaimed an article describing the perfect date. Harry tossed the magazine in his basket, careful to not squash the bread and paid for the lot.
Friday night, he Apparated to the address Corinna had given him. When she opened the door, he held out a bouquet of
flowers.
"Thank you, Captain. No one's ever given me flowers before…"
"Oh, it isn't done anymore? Sorry, I'm rubbish at this…"
Corinna gave him a dazzling smile. "I think they are beautiful and you are very sweet to think of it." Harry smiled shyly. "Are you ready?"
The couple Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and passed into Muggle London. Harry had made reservations at a trendy
restaurant. They were shown to a secluded table and Harry held her chair for her then sat down himself.
"Why do you say you aren't good at dating?" she asked as they finished their dinner. "You're doing fine so far…"
"Thanks," Harry replied. "I've haven't done it much. Hermione was my best friend, so it wasn't really a date when we went out. Usually Ron was with us. The only difference was that I would hold her hand."
"May I ask what happened? I mean, you don't have to tell me…."
"I'm not sure, really. Shortly after the baby was born, she just pulled away. Then she moved out and now she wants a divorce. She hasn't said anything to me. I mean I've figured out some of it, but… I don't know. I think she's decided that I'm not clever enough. I think she's dating a doctor or Healer or something…"
"You were clever enough to win the war…" Corinna reminded him.
"That wasn't cleverness. I had loads of help…"
"I think you were very brave…I've read all about it…"
Harry snorted. "Thanks, but I'm a Gryffindor. It sort of comes with the territory. Besides, what is bravery? To me, it's only being able to stand and not run for five minutes longer than everyone else."
"What type of relationship are you looking for?" she asked. "It's best to know up front, you know…"
"I haven't thought about it much," Harry replied. "I'm quite sure my son needs a mum. My parents were killed when I was very young, so I know I want a two parent environment for him."
"I'm sure he's adorable…and I do love kids, so we're compatible there. Are you looking for a new wife or just someone to spend time with?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead and I won't, at least until I'm single again. You should know…I still love her. I'm not looking to fall in love again."
"That makes sense," she agreed. "I was engaged once. I can understand a bit about how you feel."
"What happened?" he asked.
"We just wanted different things. He wanted to travel, see the world and have fun. I wanted to stay home, raise a family and enjoy the country we were blessed with."
They talked for awhile longer before Harry paid the bill. They walked around Muggle London, talking and window shopping. "Why did we go to a Muggle restaurant?" she asked.
"It gets complicated in the wizarding world. Every move I make is reported in the paper. The Muggle way is easier. I'm just another face in the crowd."
She took his hand. "I'm finding you to be entirely different than my preconceived notions…"
"Is that good or bad?" he chuckled. She stopped walking and placed herself in front of him. He looked at her. She kissed him. He smiled. "Oh, well it's good, then. I can handle that."
They stopped in a quiet pub and talked a bit more before he noticed that it was getting quite late.
"I should get home soon," she said sadly. Harry nodded. He led them around the corner of the pub to a dark alley, where he kissed her again before Apparating back to her house. They said good night on her doorstep and he Apparated home.
Ron was waiting for him when he arrived. "Where've you been off to until…" he made a great show of
looking at his watch, "quarter past midnight?"
Harry wasn't sure if he should tell Ron what he'd been up to or not. "I was out…" he answered vaguely.
"Oh…" Ron answered as if his friend had given him a detailed answer. "You missed a great party. Adrian had clowns and Muggle magicians. It was hilarious…"
"I wasn't invited, Ron!" Harry replied angrily. "She didn't want me there…"
"You're his father. Why wouldn't she want you there?"
"You seem to be forgetting we are getting a divorce. That means she doesn't want me around…besides, three's a crowd…"
"So where'd you go?"
"I was out," Harry repeated.
"By yourself?"
"I never said I was by myself, Ron…"
Ron looked as if he'd been struck. "What about Hermione?"
It was Harry's turn to be shocked. His anger rose as he turned toward the window. "What about her? She wants a divorce, Ron! What am I supposed to do…sit around and wait in case she changes her mind? Forget it. She has her new life and now I have mine…I'm going to bed. You can show yourself out…"
***
The next morning, Harry followed the wonderful smells of breakfast into the kitchen. Ron was still there and had
prepared an enormous amount. "I'm sorry, mate. I had no right…" Harry looked at him. "So who's
the lucky lady?" Ron grinned.
Harry forgave him instantly and grinned. "Just someone I know from work…"
"What did you do?"
"We had dinner, walked a bit, had a few drinks and talked…"
"Oh, that's okay then. Are you going to see her again?"
"She's invited me over for dinner tonight."
"A bit soon, innit?"
"I don't know, Ron, you tell me…I don't have much experience with this."
"Just keep it simple, mate. Don't rush into to anything."
Harry found himself at a loss for what to do. Corinna had prepared a very nice dinner. They'd watched the telly for
a bit and now she'd left to do… something. He didn't know what. He'd assumed she'd gone to the loo, but
she'd been gone too long. He wondered what the cool thing to do would be. Changing the channel was too
presumptuous; the magazines on the table were all of women's fashions; he'd look like an idiot glancing through
those. He decided he'd just sit quietly and wait; but he found himself too restless for that. He got up and crossed
to the window. That was a safe option. He'd just stand by the window and look out. "Harry…" she said. He
turned around. She was wearing an extremely short nightgown that left very little to the imagination. His jaw
dropped.
"You look…beautiful…" he said as she sauntered toward him. She reached for his hand and led him back to the couch. He was suddenly glad he'd made an embarrassing trip to the chemists that day…just in case. "We need to talk about this first…" he said. "Are you sure you want to do this? I've only been with one other person…and…er… it's been a really long time…"
"I understand," she replied. She kissed him long and hard. Harry excused himself and went into the loo. He looked at himself in the mirror and wondered if he could go through with it. The mirror, sensing his anguish, remained thankfully silent. He gave himself a mental shake before he cast every protection and anti-fertility charm he knew on himself. He checked his wallet for the condom he'd placed there earlier and opened the door.
She smiled at him and crossed the room to stand in front of him. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Sorry," he answered, "just a bit nervous…"
"There's no reason to be…" she answered. He kissed her again before she led him by the hand into her bedroom….
Harry walked slowly back to the couch and put his head in his hands as he sat down. She joined him there. "I am
really sorry," he said.
"No," she answered. "It's my fault. You obviously weren't ready…"
"It's not that I was picturing her or pretending… I wasn't…"
"I know," she said gently. "You still love her and…"
"I said her name without meaning to…"
"While making love to me…"
"I really am sorry... It's just…every experience of… well…that, has included her."
"I understand, Harry. It's just… you aren't willing to give her up yet." She thought for a minute before she continued. "I get the feeling, especially now, that if she were to come back, you'd be the happiest man in the world…" Harry agreed with her, but felt he should probably not say so. "I also think we should probably not see each other anymore…for awhile." He looked at her. "Who knows, maybe in time, you'll be eager to try again… If I happen to be free, I'd like to give us another chance."
"That would be nice," he said.
"I'm not going to wait for you, Harry. I can't, and you don't want me to, but if ever or whenever you are ready, just say the word…"