Coming Home
Chapter 3
By: FayeValentine00
I turned to Harry and forced a smile I didn't quite feel. "I didn't know where else to go. I haven't spoken to anyone… Not even my parents. I'm not sure they'll forgive me but… but somehow I knew that you'd understand. Does that make sense?"
Harry smiled and pulled me into a hug. "I'm just glad your home."
I allowed myself to sink into his embrace. I let all the feelings of childhood friendship sink in and when I finally pulled away, a piece of me felt a lot better. "Thanks, Harry. I-"
My words broke off when Alicia started crying. With an apologetic smile to Harry, I leapt up, crossed the room and picked her up. When I turned around, Harry was standing there with a bottle from the diaper bag in hand. "Where are you planning to live?"
"I'm not sure just yet. I was going to look at some flats tomorrow and see what I can afford. I also need to get a job but I need to find a job where I can make some money but still spend time with Alicia."
"Finding a job should be easy for you, Hermione. Everyone still knows that you were one of the smartest witches around. They'll be falling over themselves to hire you no matter what time constraints you have," Harry said with a true smile, squeezing my shoulder supportively. "By the way, how did you know where I live?"
I tried to cover my laugh by adjusting Alicia onto the other arm. "I don't think you want to know."
"Try me." Seeing the humor in my eyes made him suspicious and there was a playfully wicked gleam in his eyes.
"Well, Harry. You must know that you are the most famous wizard alive today," I said, falling back into my know-it-all voice. I waited for him to roll his eyes and nod before continuing. "And you must know that every teenage witch magazine on earth still writes stories about you nearly every issue, right?"
Again he nodded but pretended like he was going to be sick. "Well, somehow all those little girls know where you live. All you have to do is ask and they will tell all."
"Oh my god…" Harry said under his breath but then looked up at me with a smile. "Well, at least something good came out it for once. I got my best friend back."
We talked for a while about little things that had happen in our lives. We laughed and got reacquainted. Then I looked down at Alicia, trying not to let Harry see my concern. I was really worried about how I was going to provide for my daughter and myself but I didn't dare let Harry know. When I looked back up to meet his eyes, I knew that he already knew.
"Hermione, I want you and Alicia to stay here."
"Harry, we can't do that. If it was just me, maybe, but having a baby in the house is a big distraction. I can't do that to you."
"I want you to stay, please. I live in this 3 bedroom flat that I really don't need for myself. Besides, it will be nice to have a friendly face around."
I was trying not to panic. Quickly Harry was turning into my savior and I didn't want that. He didn't owe me anything. In fact, I owed him quite a bit. The last thing I needed to do now was add to that debt. "You're so sweet but I can't. I mean, what if you bring a girlfriend home and Alicia starts screaming. It happens and that would be the ultimate mood-breaker."
Harry just laughed good-heartedly and looked done at Alicia with a smile I'd never seen on him before. When he looked back up at me, he was still smiling. "Well, number one, that is what a sliencio charm is for. Number two, not much in that part of my life has changed over the years. I am not one to bring woman home very often. In fact, I avoid the crazy ones like the plague."
"So, are you bringing men home now?," I retorted with a snort of amusement as I watched his jaw drop in shock.
"As soon as you put Alicia down, you are going to pay for that." We both laughed long and hard about that but when we calmed down, he reached out and touched my hand gently.
Our eyes met and a little shock went through me that I didn't quite understand but didn't dare examine. "Please stay, Hermione. I want you both to stay. Besides, I can help with Alicia when you need to go on interviews and things, ok?"
"Harry…" I started but his eyes were pleading. "Okay. … Thank you but … but you have to let me pay you rent, okay?"
"Deal."
I looked down and saw that the baby was asleep so I waited while Harry put the crib in the room that would be ours. When everything was settled, I laid her down again. We quickly left the room, and went back to the couch. I felt like I had so many other things to tell him and so many other confessions to make about smaller things but I couldn't, not just yet. I had already done so much. Some things would just have to wait. However, other things probably couldn't wait and Harry mentioned it when we sat back down.
"We should really tell Ron that you're back," he said looking a little worried about bringing it up but I smiled and he seemed to relax.
"I know. I would like to see him. How has he been?"
"Good. He has been really good," He started and then paused as if he wasn't sure he wanted tell me something so I pushed.
"What is it, Harry? What's happened?"
He paused for a long time but finally met my eyes and spilled the secret. "It's just, Ron got married last summer and I wasn't sure how you would take it."
I was surprised but not shocked. Ron was a great guy and he deserved to find happiness. Smiling my best to make Harry relax, I nodded. "Good for Ron. Is he happy? Who did he marry? Do I know her?"
"You know her, alright," he grinned, sensing that I had taken it well and obviously wanting to see my reaction to the name. "He married Luna and, yes, he is very happy."
"Luna?! … Wow. Well, good," I am sure that my eyes were wide as saucers in amazement but I guess it made sense. "Wow…"
"Is it okay if I owl Ron and tell him to come?" Harry asked, trying to look more confident than he felt but I did not say anything. It was clear he wanted to get this portion of the reunion over so we could move forward.
"Of course. Are you going to tell him that I am here?" I was nervous. In fact my hands were shaking just thinking about it but I knew that seeing Ron was the right thing to do. I needed this and maybe he did too. Besides, if he and Harry were still close, I would be seeing a lot of him in the future.
"No, I think I will just say it is important."
The owl was sent and fifteen minutes later, I heard the familiar pop of an apparation, quickly followed by a knock on the door. When Harry answered it, I stood up but stayed around the corner. Quickly, I ran my fingers through my hair, took a deep breath and tried to hold myself together. I heard his voice first.
"So, where's the fire? What is so important that it could not wait until later?" He'd followed Harry into the living room but didn't lookup at me until Harry pointed. When he did, he froze. Our eyes met and I smiled despite the tears running down my cheeks.
"Hi, Ron." I stood frozen as I said those words. I didn't wipe my eyes or reach out for a hug. I just stared and he stared back. "I hear I-I owe you congratulations. I-I'm sorry I missed your wedding. … I am so sorry… about everything"
He just nodded and Harry must have thought that we were mad but we stood on opposite sides of the rooms just staring. I didn't dare move to hug him. I didn't deserve it but I didn't think I could bare it if he moved away so I waited and after what seemed like an eternity, he cracked a smiled and moved forward to give me a hug. Of course, I hugged him back tightly.
"Good lord, Hermione. We thought you'd vanished for good." To my surprise, his voice sounded thick with emotion.
"I'm so sorry." I repeated. I guess I was happy that there was no lingering spark of romance. That would have been horribly inappropriate and uncomfortable knowing that he had a wife but it was not a problem. I was just grateful to have my two best friends again.
"I'm glad your home." He pulled out the embrace and looked me over. "Where have you been? What have you---" His words broke off, when Harry put a hand on his arm and shook his head.
"Let's go over that stuff later, ok?"
Ron nodded and I smiled. "There is lots to tell, Ron and I want to hear all about married life but first I want you to meet someone new."
To be continued…
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