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There, standing a relatively far distance away from them was a man. Raven black hair, electric green eyes, scar…baggy jeans and a navy Polo shirt. She gasped.
It was none other than Harry Potter.
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She acted purely on instinct, with tears in her eyes and running down her cheeks, she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck; crying hysterically into his chest.
"Harry…" She croaked. She could not believe what was happening. She hoped it wasn't a dream. But it had to be…he's dead. He's gone. No…no…this can't be happening.
He held her tighter, "Mione…"
She cried harder, she didn't want him to ever let go of her. "Why didn't…how did…I thought you were…"
"I know." He said, hands running through her hair. She loved the feeling of his arms after so long.
She only pulled back just enough to look at him and his electric green eyes. "You're here."
He nodded and hugged her again, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for leaving…I'm sorry."
She cried harder, "I missed you; I missed you so much…" She whimpered.
"I know. I know." He said, rubbing her back. Over her shoulder, Harry caught sight of a young girl, wide eyed; spitting image of Hermione. Hair, eyes, through her hair was a bit tamer than Hermione's was at that age.
"Your daughter?" He asked, pulling away a little and she turned to face her shocked daughter, still in Harry's arms.
"Uhh...yeah." She said, wiping away a few tears. "Gabby, come here."
Gabriella obeyed and walked over. Harry had no idea what he was supposed to say.
"Uh…Hi, Gabby, I'm…I'm Harry." He said, looking a little bewildered.
Gabriella nodded, "Hi."
"Gabriella, this was…or is, your daddy and I's best friend." Hermione explained nervously.
Gabriella raised her eyebrows. "How come I never heard of you?"
Harry looked at Hermione's bent head, "You…You never told her about me?"
Hermione looked up into his eyes and snapped, "Can you blame me? You left."
It hit him like 1,000 bullets to his heart. "I…I know. I'm sorry. You have no idea how sorry, Hermione, how much I missed you. We can talk…later; I do need to tell you why I left."
"Yes. You do." She said, feeling the need to shrug away from him. She was still angry at him for leaving.
"I know, I will." He said kissing the top of her head. He still loved her, though she didn't know it. She still loved him, though he didn't know it.
"I thought you were dead," She looked up into his eyes, trying not lose all her anger in front of all these peopel.
"Well I'm not, I'm here," He told her, staring at her; wishing it was possible to just erase the past 11 years or so.
She pulled away from him suddenly. "Harry...um, Gabriella and I...we should...check out. Um...maybe you should...come back with us. Ron would probably like to see you..."
"Alright," He said nervously, wiping away a tear she had missed with his fingers.
"And yes, Gab, You can get those." She smiled, looking into her daughter's shimmering eyes.
Gabriella smiled, "Thanks Harry."
"No problem, Ellie, your mom has her weaknesses." Gabriella like that had a nickname for her now. She was beginning to like Harry a lot. She smiled and laughed, hugging him as if she'd known him forever.
"What like you?" She asked curiosity and knowing in her eyes.
Hermione and Harry fell silent at this question and looked away.
Gabriella realized they were avoiding that comment, so she changed the subject. "Mum…that one's open!" She gestured towards an empty checkout line.
"Right!" Hermione said and the three let the cashier ring up their items.
Hermione walked back beside Harry on the way back to the car, though they kept their distance from each other as Gabriella ran ahead, skipping to the car. Gabriella enjoyed knowing that her mum was at least somewhat happy; she never remembered a time where her mum was happy. Not once. She was a wonderful mother; she never thought her mom didn't love her. Her mom loved her a lot. Most of the time, they only had each other.
"So, Harry…" Hermione started nervously. "How'd ya get here?"
"Here? Oh...appa-" Harry stopped, "Wait does she know?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes. But thank you."
"Apparation." Harry answered.
Gabriella squealed, "Oh! Good you're a wizard I wasn't sure! What's your name again?"
"Harry Potter." Harry told her with a smirk.
Gabriella stopped walking and her jaw dropped. Harry and Hermione turned back to look at her. "H…Harry Potter??!!"
"Yes, Ellie, Potter." He chuckled.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, "I've read a lot about you when you were a baby and a little boy! Though I can't seem to find anything about when you were at Hogwarts…" They continued to walk.
Harry and Hermione both knew why. Hermione had hidden every book that had any indication of Harry, especially the trio's relationship. But it was impossible to hide Harry Potter completely. They chose to ignore that comment and tell her the truth later.
Harry sighed, "Just like your mother…"
Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and Gabriella laughed.
They finally reached a pricey black SUV and got in. Gabriella sat in the back, but leaned forward so she could talk to her mother and Harry.
There was a silence as Hermione put the key in ignition and turned on the engine. They pulled out of the parking lot and on to the London roads.
There was a vibe of awkwardness throughout the car and Hermione took a second to evaluate her surroundings. She was driving `home' in a car with her best friend whom she loved and she had thought dead of for years. This was a little too insane.
Harry was feeling the same way but decided they had to start some where.
"So, Hermione, what do you do?" Harry asked curiously.
"Umm…I'm a stay at home mum." Hermione answered, biting her lip.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked shocked.
"You heard me." She smirked.
"I…you…that's…whoa." Harry was at a loss for words.
"Why is that hard to believe?" Gabriella asked confused.
"I always thought your mum would have a career…I mean at school…You always were so set on having a successful career outside of your home life." Harry answered honestly.
"Yeah, but Ron's busy with the Cannons' so…I have to be around to be home." She answered, realizing how much she had given up for Ron.
"That's not right for you to give everything up for him, Hermione. I know you have Gabriella, but…" He didn't know what to say.
"Its okay, Harry…uh…later." She answered giving him a look saying they could talk later.
Her MagiCell started to ring. "I'll get it!" Gabriella exclaimed. "Oh...it's dad." Her voice seemed to soften in disappointment.
She answered, "Hello….oh, Hi dad…yea…no…really? Cool…no…yea almost…ok…bye."
She hung up and sighed, "It sounds like he's drunk again, Mum."
Hermione avoided Harry looking at her. She was frowning and focused on the road.
"Hermione?" Harry called her, touching her arm as she drove.
"I'm fine; Harry…Ron's just a little tipsy." She lied to him.
Gabriella sighed, "Don't lie, mum, I hate him."
"Lily Gabriella Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed, she didn't like Ron either but didn't want her to say she hated her own father, no matter how bad he was.
"Lily…" Harry said softly. "Lily…" He said a bit louder.
Hermione looked at him, "Oh, umm…I'm sorry Harry I didn't mean to…"
"No." Harry said, holding his hand up. "It's fine. I like it. Lily Gabriella..."
"What?" Gabriella asked curiously.
"Oh, we named you, your middle name, after Harry's mother." Hermione told her.
"Really?" Gabriella asked. "That's cool. Why dont you call me Lily then?"
"Because, Gabby, we don't. Ron...was never fond of the name and wanted to call you by your middle name. So we did." Hermione answered paitently.
"I'm sorry, mum, but I don't like daddy like this." Hermione closed her eyes for a moment.
"How long, Hermione?" Harry asked her.
"Just…well, a few months after we got married. He's gone all the time…he just gets really drunk and bad sometimes. I…" She didn't know what else to say.
"Hermione…" He started.
"Later, Harry, please." She told him.
They pulled into a long driveway of a big white house. The three got out of the car. Hermione opened the front door. They walked in.
"Well, hello." Ron said as they sauntered in the door. Harry noticed that Hermione was upset, but hiding it. Gabriella looked afraid. Harry wished he knew what she wasn't telling him.
"Hi, Ron." Hermione said.
Ron spotted Harry, "Well, you two were gone for a while. And look if it isn't our dear best friend, I thought he was dead." He hissed.
"Ron…stop." Hermione asked him fearfully.
"What is your problem, Hermione?" Ron walked towards his daughter, "You met him didn't you? Huh?"
Gabriella was trembling. He grabbed Gabriella by the arm.
Harry was shocked, "Ron!" He exclaimed.
Ron let go of his daughter and looked to Harry and Hermione. He stepped toward Hermione and she took a step back. He walked toward her fast. He grabbed her arm, squeezing it tight and raised his hand. Gabriella closed her eyes.
Harry jumped forward and pushed him off of her. He slammed Ron against the wall, "Don't you dare! Don't you dare touch her!!"
"What do you care? You left us?" Ron said harshly.
Harry pushed him harder against the wall, "Your right, that was terrible of me, but I'm back and I swear to Merlin I will not let you touch her! Or Gabriella!"
Hermione was breathing heavily; she turned to Gabriella, cowering in the corner, watching the events fold out. "Gab…go…get your stuff, pack as fast as you can and come back down." Now was the time, after all these years. She didnt know why she decided just then, but there was no turning back.
Gabriella didn't waste a second, she bolted up the stair. Hermione stayed where she was, "Ron, I'm leaving."
"No." Ron said defiantly.
Harry held his wand to Ron's neck, "She is leaving. What is wrong with you?"
Hermione ran up the stairs and magically had all her things together and downstairs in no time at all. Gabriella was already down stairs when she walked down the steps.
"Don't even think about touching either of them again. If you say anything threatening to them again, I'll kick your arse. And if you lay a hand on them, I'll kill you." He said, punching him in the gut. Ron must have had too much to drink and that punch did him in. He passed out. "You're pathetic," He whispered, following Gabriella and Hermione out the door.
Once outside, they walked all the way to the car before stopping. Hermione took her daughter in her arms.
"I can't believe that he just…Has he done this before?" He asked her, watching her.
"A few times. I tried to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to do it and…" She said. "This time...when you were holding him there...I figured we could get out..."
"I promise. I won't let him hurt you anymore." He let one of his hands brush way a strand from Hermione's eyes.
"No offence, Harry, but I don't really take your promises that seriously anymore," Hermione snapped. She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didnt mean it. All I'm saying, is that you can't promise that...because after you leave, I'll just get sucked right back there. Ron's been very touchy about you."
"So you're saying this is my fault? He started drinking after I left?" Harry asked, knowing very well it was probably true.
"No," Hermione argued. "But it did have something to do with that. Do you have any idea what you did to us? You know I cried myself to sleep for months."
"Hermione..."
"Look, thank you...for...intervening. I didn't know he'd be that bad today. But...I think it might be best if Gabriella and I just...stayed at my parent's house for now..."
" Why can't you stay with me?" Harry commented.
"Mummy?" Gabriella looked between them.
"Harry..." Hermione shook her head. "I need to stay with my parents now...not with you...I'm not...just, please don't make this difficult."
"Okay," Harry held his hands in the air. "At least let me take you there. I remember exactly where it is."
"Fine," Hermione conceded.
"Yay!" Gabriella smiled and jumped unexpectedly into Harry's arms.
Harry laughed slightly and hugged her. He wiped away a few of Hermione's daughter's tears and knelt in front of her. "You know, your daddy wasn't always like that. He's a good guy, Ell. I don't know what's gotten into him, though. I'm sorry."
"He's always been like that, Harry. As long as I can remember. It's okay." She confessed, before whispering to him. "My mum's never tried to leave him before. She's always been too scared. She's mad now but I know she'll get over it."
Harry smiled at the little girl's comment and said, "C'mon, let's go take you to your grandparents."
Each of them climbed in the car, Hermione reluctantly letting Harry take the keys.
"My parents will be absolutely thrilled to see you," Hermione shook her head.
~*~
A/N: So that's been a long time in the making. I'm not making any promises about updating. I know, I'm terrible and you probably want to strangle me but i since i paused this story i have had four popular, successful stories, three of which are still in progress, so this pause was good for me.
I wrote this chapter a LOONG time ago, so its not as good as my current writing skills are. The next few will be better. Hopefully it wont be long before those are out.
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