~A couple of weeks after about a year ago~
"Harry," Hermione whispered desperately. "I have to go."
His grip tightened around her hips. He kissed her neck. "No you don't. You have to stay here with me." She giggled slightly and he took advantage of her temporary loss of concentration. Making an unnecessary grunt, he picked her up and pushed her onto the bed.
"Harry!" She squealed.
"Now listen," he said sternly, kissing the base of her throat, "You're going to stay here with me."
"Um-hmm," she murmured, closing her eyes.
"Because I am not going to have anything else to do," He kissed her again, "If you leave."
She lifted her head and took his cheeks in her hands, bringing him into a soft kiss. "Harry," she whispered, "It's not like I want to go."
"Codswallop," Harry grumbled against her lips before kissing her again. He brought his hands to her legs and ran them up and down. "You can't wait to go."
"I'm excited for it," she admitted breathlessly, running her hands across his back. She would miss him. "But I'm going to miss you."
"Don't go then," he whispered again, kissing her cheek.
"As important as you are," she whispered, struggling to push him off her, "that doesn't matter."
He groaned, turning over and lying on the bed, draping his arm over his eyes. "It's just a convention, it doesn't matter."
She picked up a pillow and threw it at him. They laughed. He would miss her laugh. "It's not just a convention," she packed socks, "it's another chance to get more funding for Healers." She paused, scanning the suitcase for anything she forgot. She turned to him, closing the suitcase. "It's important to me, Harry."
He sighed. There was nothing to say when she said that. "I'm going to miss you, Hermione," he
whispered.
She sighed, pausing as she was putting on her coat. She turned and sat down next to him on the bed. "It's just for a week," she said softly, cupping his cheek in her hand and kissing him again. She leaned out and pressed her forehead to his. He closed his eyes. "Now listen," she said, "you're going to go downstairs, call up Ron and Ginny, and throw a party. You're going to invite everyone you can think of and you're going to have a blast. Then tonight, you'll be so tired, you won't be able to think of me."
He pecked her lips, making the motion of a woodpecker. She laughed and kissed him back. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, inhaling her scent. He would miss her scent.
"Haf to go," she mumbled against his lips. He was about to say something when she pulled away from him, jumped to her suitcase and ran out the door.
He followed her out of his bedroom and tried to catch her but gave up when he reached the top of the stairs. She was already at the front door. "Why run?" he asked with a smile.
She turned around, her hand on the knob. "Would you have let me go if I hadn't?" she asked.
He blushed. She grinned. She blew him a kiss and left with a soft, "I love you."
~A couple of hours later~
"Harry! Harry!"
Harry turned around and smiled when Ron greeted him with a bear hug.
"Glad you could make it."
The red-haired man leaned away and smirked. "No chance I'd miss a first row seat to see Harry Potter spend his first week away from Hermione."
Harry playfully hit his arm, then eyed his empty champagne glass. "Fill it up for you?" He asked, taking it
from his friend's hand.
"Yeah, thanks every much," Ron nodded, letting go of his glass and waving to Luna, who had just entered the room. He looked back at Harry. "I'll see you later?"
Harry nodded and made his way to the bar. He set the glass down on the table and muttered Champagne under his breath. The glass slowly began to fill with the clear liquid. It was then that Harry noticed the blonde sitting at the bar. He smiled at her but she didn't seem to notice him. She stared at her empty champagne glass and twirled the top of the rim with her finger. A soft ping sound reminded Harry his drink was done. He took the glass and put it out in the air. He muttered Ronald Weasley under his breath and let go. The glass began to float away. Harry turned his attention back to the blonde and almost frowned when a poor Ravenclaw graduate came by, obviously smashed.
"Ello," he slurred, his eyes threatening to close.
The blonde turned to him, sighing, as if she was expecting him.
"What's your name?" the man said, sitting himself down on the seat next to hers.
"I doubt you'd remember it," she said.
Harry smiled.
"Come on, luv," the man, who Harry had suddenly identified as Harrison Davison, said, poking her shoulder, "I'm just trying to make casual conversation."
"I don't think that's the only thing that came across your mind when you sat down," she said.
Harrison laughed a loud laugh that nearly made him fall off his chair. Suddenly, he tilted his head back too far and fell off the chair. He hit the ground head-first and fell silent. The blonde ran to his side and Harry did the same.
"Is he breathing?" Harry asked, whipping out his wand.
"I don't know," she whispered hastily, ripping open his shirt. She then proceeded to give the man mouth-to-mouth.
Harry looked with wide eyes. "Are you-" he whispered, "Are you sure you should be doing that?"
"Why the hell not?" She asked distractedly, not taking her eyes off Harrison. She pushed her blonde hair behind her ears and continued.
Harry wanted to respond, "Because he's unconscious, not dead." But he said nothing and simply watched in
silence, wondering why no one else at the party was helping. Slowly, he put his wand away.
"Come on," she kept whispering under her breath. Harry looked at her, wanting to laugh.
"Ready to try it the magical way?" he asked, coming off more cocky than he meant to.
She sighed and took her hands off his chest. "Fine," she said, wiping her hands and lips. She got up, smoothed her red dress over and got back into her seat.
Harry laughed as he took out his wand and performed a simple spell on Harrison's chest. Harrison gasped loudly and shot up. He looked at Harry, then the blonde, then at the floor. Slowly his eyes closed. "I should go," he said quietly.
"Order a taxi," the blonde said as she continued to circle the rim of her glass.
Harrison got up and buttoned his shirt. He mumbled a quick thank you and goodbye. Harry got up slowly, eyeing the blonde. She looked sad. She looked like she was a million miles away. He sat down next to her, at his previous seat. He wasn't sure what to say. He glanced at her empty glass. He leaned forward slightly and pointed at it, making sure his finger was within her view.
"Can I fill it up for you?" he asked.
She turned her head, as if suddenly noticing him there. She looked at him with her bright blue eyes, her mouth half open. For a second, he thought she was going to slap him.
"Hmm," she said, smiling for the first time that night, "You have no idea who I am, do you?"
He looked at her, almost staring. He never recognized people who knew him and always felt horrible for it. He searched his mind for her face in Hermione's healing ward. She didn't ring a bell. He searched for her face in the Department's healing ward. Nothing.
She laughed, flashing her white teeth. "It's okay if you don't." She tucked her hair behind her ear shyly and turned to him. She shoved out her hand to him. "Nicole."
He took her hand and shook it slowly. Nicole...
She looked at him with question in her eyes. "Nicole James?" She tried.
He nodded slowly. Almost as slowly as he was shaking her hand.
She laughed again. Less, this time, as the humor was dissipating. "I was training to be an Auror. I worked with you on the Highlander case?"
Harry felt so stupid. "I'm so sorry," he said, shaking her hand firmly. "Nicole James, of course. You were kicked out because you used a level four spell."
She laughed. She took her hand out of his grip and readjusted herself on her seat. "I break the rules when I'm pushed." Her eyes danced around nervously. "I'm sort of a loose cannon."
"That's alright," Harry said, happy to meet someone so honest, "I thought you were a healer what with the…" He motioned to the spot on the floor where Harrison laid unconscious just moments ago.
"Oh," she said, seeing the floor. She laughed again and covered her mouth, embarrassed. "I sort of freaked out there, sorry."
"It's alright," Harry said again, loosening up. He suddenly got quiet when he saw the sad look in her eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked.
She turned to him and forced a smile. "Bad day," she said simply.
"Yeah," Harry replied, sighing. He knew that feeling all too well. Suddenly feeling homesick for Hermione,
sadness crept over him. He got up from his seat and shook Nicole's hand again. "Enjoy the party, Nicole."
He turned to leave before waiting for her reaction.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter," he heard her say.
He stopped in his steps and turned around, smiling. She turned to face him, still playing with the rim of the glass. "You don't have to call me Mr. Potter," he said.
"Why not?" she asked, setting her glass down and walking towards him.
"We're not on a battlefield anymore. If you don't listen to what I say, you won't die." He was well aware of the sadness in his voice. He would rather be on a battlefield. At least then he wouldn't have time to think about Hermione.
Nicole got closer to him and he realized how tall she was. She leaned forward and fixed his tie. The feel of another woman so close to him felt strange. Strange yet comforting. He missed Hermione and Nicole was reminding him of her. "Oh, I don't see the difference between a battlefield and a dance floor, Mr. Potter." She eyed the dance floor.
He turned to see it. Couples were dancing crazily and men's ties and women's broken heels were scattered across the floor. The floor was filled with laughing and uplifting music. He smiled, happy to see everyone enjoying themselves. He turned to Nicole. "Dance with me?" he asked.
"I thought you'd never ask," she smiled.
Like a little boy, he took her hand and pulled her onto the floor where they began to dance themselves silly.
"Who invited you?" Harry shouted over the blaring music.
"More like who didn't invite me!" she shouted back. "Everyone knows about Harry Potter's famous parties!"
"I hope people don't remember me for them," he smiled, twirling her around him.
"I think they'll remember you for your other accomplishments, Mr. Potter," she laughed.
A trumpet trumpeted loudly and he pulled her close to him. "Like what?" he said, relieved to continue the conversation without shouting.
Her eyes went wide. "Mr. Potter, don't tell me you've forgotten where you got that scar from." Her fingers pushed his bangs away.
He reacted quickly. His arm fell from her waist and he shook his head away from her grasp. "Don't."
The sadness returned in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said genuinely. Her gaze turned to the floor. They were now moving slower, not keeping up with the music. "The War was hard on all of us," she whispered.
Harry couldn't stop looking at her sad, sad eyes. "Did you lose…"
She nodded and bit her lower lip. "My father and brother."
Harry sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Why, is it your fault?" Nicole asked quickly.
It caught him by surprise. "No, it's not," he stammered, hoping it actually wasn't. Too many civilians were lost in the War.
"Then don't apologize for it," she said. Her sad eyes returned.
Harry took advantage of the chance to change the subject. "You're sad," he said, "why?"
She turned away and looked at the other dancers on the floor. "I broke up with my boyfriend today."
Harry tried to understand. "Did you love him?" he asked, unaware of the personal question.
"No," she giggled, and turned to face him. "He was fun."
Harry raised an eyebrow, immediately thinking of Hermione. "Just fun? Why did you stay with him?"
Nicole smiled again. "Because he was fun."
Harry thought for a while, trying to drone out the loud music. "Why did you break up with him, then?"
Nicole seemed to think for a minute as well. "Remember when I said I'm loose cannon?"
Harry nodded.
"He made me that way."
Harry sighed, understanding. He opened his mouth to say something else when Ron interrupted the dance. "Evening, Nicole!"
Nicole dropped her hands from Harry's shoulders and smiled. "Hello Ronald."
It was then that Harry noticed Luna holding Ron's hand. He raised an eyebrow to his best friend. "Need a place to sleep tonight?"
Ron smiled, patting Harry's shoulder. "Knew you'd understand, mate. Come on, Luna." With a nod to Nicole and Harry, Ron took Luna upstairs to his usual pre-maid room in Grimmwauld's Place.
Harry shook his head, smiling. He had been waiting for those two to hook up. He turned his attention back to Nicole, who was still smiling at him. "What?" He asked, grinning.
"You're a good friend," she said simply, starting to dance again.
"I'm glad to see him happy," Harry replied, dancing along.
"Are you happy with Hermione?" Nicole shouted once more.
"Yes! I am!" Harry cried happily.
"Good!" She said, brimming with happiness. "You deserve happiness, Harry!"
He was dancing but he still realized she called him by his name. They shared a smile and continued to dance.
~About a year later~
"You clicked, basically," Dr. Knight said, scribbling on his notepad.
Harry turned around from his chair, facing the doctor. He sneered. "I just told you all of that and all you've retained is that we clicked?"
The doctor set down his pen and looked at Harry from below his glasses.
Harry sighed and turned back around. "Yes, we clicked, basically," he said with spite.
"She knew about you and Hermione?"
Harry played with the chair's leather armrest. "Everyone knew about me and Hermione," he whispered. He heard Hermione's voice in his head. Hermione and I.
"That was the first week she went away?"
Harry smiled, remembering. "Yeah, after we got together that night, we couldn't keep our hands off of each other. We spent every moment together, awake and sleeping."
Dr. Knight wrote a couple of words. "It must have been hard for you when she left."
Harry swallowed. "It was. I was lonely. I couldn't contact her, she worked in muggle places. When I suggested we keep in contact with phone calls, she said it'd be better if we spent some time apart." He played with his fingers. "She said I was clingy and even though she loved it, she insisted absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Smart girl. And did it?"
Harry smiled. "Yes. It did."
"Was it what tore you two apart as well?"
Harry thought for a second. "No."
He sighed; this was going to take a while. "So what did?"
He turned around to face the doctor with a sad grin. "That's what you're here for, right?"
Dr. Knight almost grimaced. "I'm not a mind-reader. As much as I want to be, this session could go much faster."
Harry's eyes turned desperate and narrow. "Help me."
Dr. Knight remained emotionless. "Tell me more. Help me help you."
Harry turned back around and pushed his back up against his seat. "I don't like this constant remembering."
"Why?" He scratched at his eyebrows, suppressing a yawn. "Scared you'll actually remember why things ended so badly?"
Harry was quiet for a while, not thinking of anything, really. Finally he sighed. "Nicole and I got closer and closer. I hung out with her at the office and outside of work. Hermione knew but she never really did much about it. One day she got back from another trip and something was just…different."
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to my recently-passed grandmother and *someone special* out there. You're the one who makes me laugh when I don't even want to smile. Thank you for being there.
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