A/N: Thank you everyone for all the support, I'm really happy that you all are enjoying this story also I want to thank my beta and friend for beta-ing this story.
Chapter Four: Moments
Dinner was ready and Harry was only waiting for Hermione to return from changing after her bath. Her unexpected appearance at his front door had turned into an offer for her to stay for a few days, an offer she quickly accepted. But now she walked down the stairs, into the living room and saw Harry in the kitchen. Dinner smelt too good not to check out immediately. She entered the kitchen and smiled.
"Harry this smells so good." Adam never cooked at home and for somebody to have gone to this much trouble for her was a pleasant surprise.
Harry turned around and had to stop his mouth from falling open at the sight of her. Hermione wouldn't have agreed that she was wearing anything fancy; in fact she was dressed very casually in a pair of black shorts and a baby blue tank top. She stood in the kitchen in her bare feet and had let her hair so that it the soft brown curls fell about her face. Harry only recovered from his trance like state when he heard her giggles.
"Is this too much for the great Harry Potter?" she asked in a teasing voice although complimented by how silly he had reacted.
"Mione, I have to say that you look amazing in everything you wear." He walked to her and kissed her cheek making her blush "Now sit down while I serve up."
"What are we having?" she asked
"Something terrible, something you'll hate," he jokingly replied.
"It's Italian I can smell it. And I know that YOU know Italian is my all-time favourite."
He sat the Veal Parmagna before her and it looked every bit as good as anything she had ever ordered from a restaurant.
Soon they were eating and Harry was making small-talk, talking about almost everything and nothing, but Hermione decided she needed to ask a question.
"Harry can I ask you something?" she asked looking deep into his eyes.
Harry just nodded and after silently held his breath. The way she had asked let Harry know she was going to ask something serious.
"Why did you make the offer? I've always known that you always wanted a family of your own Harry. And I saw the look on your face when you realised I might never have one."
Harry shrugged.
"And today when you said that you knew that you would never have a family, that threw me. I'm wondering why you said that."
Harry put the glass he had been holding back down on the table "Hermione you know very well how my last relationships went. We both know any girl is too blinded by being with the world famous Harry Potter, and not me. I wouldn't want someone to just be attracted by my fame."
"Harry, I'm sure not EVERY girl is like that. I know you WILL meet the girl for you." She affectionately squeezed his hand.
"You're right Mione, not EVERY girl is like - - ."
"And?" she prodded, forcing Harry to continue.
"Maybe I have already met the one for me - - ."
"Do I know her?" Hermione asked quickly and Harry paused before answering.
"No, you don't."
"Well- - ?"
"She's no longer available. Before I could act another guy stepped in and won her heart."
Hermione frowned slightly and resumed eating, thinking it was probably best to change the subject. She didn't want to make him sad, especially as he was doing her such a big favour. After dinner was over Hermione insisted on cleaning up, but Harry tried to prevent her by stating that she was his guest. When that didn't work he next made up an excuse that he only ever cleaned up the Muggle way; without magic. This only had the effect of Hermione turning it into a game, and she insisted. Halfway through (Harry washed, Hermione dried) Hermione in a friendly mood splashed Harry slightly, and he laughed and splashed her back. Minutes later they were splashing each other like children and the kitchen looked as if a small war had taken place.
Harry couldn't take his eyes away from her. Here she was laughing like nothing bad had ever happened to her, as if she didn't have any worries in the world, yet she was and almost saturated from head to toe. She was the most beautiful person that Harry had ever known, and right now he just wanted to kiss her, but he also knew he couldn't. Harry fought with himself to get a grip on his emotions so as to not do anything that would ruin their friendship.
Hermione was laughing and mopping up the now drenched kitchen bench with her wand (she argued cleaning up the mess made by cleaning meant she could use magic) while at the same time trying to remember the last time she and Adam had fun like this. The answer shocked but didn't surprise her; never! Never had something as silly as cleaning after dinner turned into a water fight. They never laughed like Harry and Hermione just did. She was even starting to wonder what she saw in Adam to have made her want to marry him in the first place.
The kitchen now back to normal, and Hermione's drying charm meant they were dry again. Harry walked to the living room and sat down on the couch. He was watching a movie when Hermione sat beside him and then snuggled up closer to him to be more comfortable. Without either even noticing he had put one arm around her back and was absent-mindedly running his fingers through. Harry could feel her really relaxing into him.
"Are you ok?" he asked almost whispering when he realised what he was doing.
"I'm fine, actually better like this." She snuggled even closer to him and sighs contently.
Harry smiled at her reaction and kissed the top of her head. This was like a dream come true for him. Neither needed to talk, they were just together and feeling great. Hermione was in Harry's arms and together they watched TV. When the movie ended it was late, and Hermione was already asleep, still on the couch next to Harry. He looked at her and gently started to wake her up by caressing her cheek with his hand.
"Mione, the movie is over. You should go to bed." He whispered in her ear but Hermione didn't move.
Harry smiles and kissed her cheek "Mione wake up sleepy head or you are going to miss classes and Snape has a potions exam first period."
Hermione jumped, startled and sat up very quick only to see Harry laughing. She frowned and hit him with a cushion "You are such a git."
Harry was still laughing at the sight of her reaction but she looked so cute when she was mad "Come on Mione I needed to wake you up and well that was the first thing that came to my mind."
She couldn't help but smile as she watching him laughing "You're just lucky I like you Harry or I would have hexed you."
Harry smiled and hugs her "Well that makes two of us glad that you like me then. Now off to bed. You are tired and it's late." He kissed her forehead "Sweet dreams Mione."
Hermione kissed his cheek in return "Sweet dreams Harry."
She changed into a pair of her pyjamas and made herself comfortable in his bed. Sighing contently she felt very happy, but a yawn told her she should be asleep again soon. Instead of sleeping she was tossing and turning. Hermione knew why she couldn't sleep; persistent thoughts were running through her head. It felt like something was missing, and she knew it wasn't Adam. This wouldn't be the first time in a long time that she slept alone.
In the living room Harry was having the same problem. He couldn't sleep, but instead of tossing about he lay in place, starting at the ceiling. Like Hermione, Harry knew why he couldn't sleep. He missed having Hermione in his arms and he missed having his arms around her.
"Great," he thought to himself. "That wasn't the first time she was ever in my arms, and I normally sleep like a log." But this WAS the first time that she was sleeping just a few feet away from him after having been in his arms for a few hours. He turned over and flung a pillow over his head, this was going to be a very long night.
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