Here, There, and Everywhere
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Thanks to playfulvixen08 for the beta. And congrats again, dear!
Just a short chapter, but with some useful information. I hope you like it .
Chapter 05: Not so easy.
Hermione's apartment
"Okay, so can you please tell me what kind of strange universe is this where I have to be the mature one?" Ron was pacing back and forth in the living room, his arms flying through the air. "I don't understand you two! Is it just some kind of bitter contest of who can be the greatest arse?"
Hermione huffed angrily at her ex-boyfriend. If there was someone who could be called an arse, it would be Harry James Potter, the biggest prat in the world!
"It's not like I haven't apologized, Ronald!" she stated. "I can't even remember how many times I've apologized! He's just a big ars-" She suddenly stopped as she noticed a slight smirk playing on the redhead's lips. "What are you smirking at?"
"At you," he simply said, and went to sit at her side on the couch, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "You two are my best friends in the whole world, but Circe help me, you can be really stubborn when you want!"
"I am not the one who's being stubborn!"
"Not the only one, you mean?" Ron raised an eyebrow at her. Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but closed it a second later, staying silent. "You are both right and wrong. You know that, I know that, even Harry with his big head knows that." Ron sighed, running a hand through his flaming hair. "I don't even want to start on the Charlie matter or why you didn't tell Harry, or your reclusion in Hungary- no, I don't want to talk about it. This is something you and Harry need to sort out by yourselves. A conversation you two have postponed for almost ten years."
"Ron-" He doesn't understand. He thinks he understands, but he doesn't. Only she- only she knew why it was that hard.
"No, Hermione." He held up a hand to make her stop. "Again, let's not go there. I just want to ask something though. Why in the hell didn't you tell him, or me for that matter, that you were to be working as an Auror?! Even better, as Harry's partner!"
"I couldn't!" she cried.
Ron couldn't help but let go a short groan. "Oh, please, Hermio-"
"No, Ron," she cut in, "I really couldn't. Kingsley wouldn't let me. I couldn't tell anyone. I only told Charlie because he needed to know why I was coming back." She closed her briefly, to open them again a moment later. "I really couldn't, Ron. It's been only a day since I'm back and I'm already tired. " She smiled weakly at him. "I don't want to fight, Ron. I'll admit that I made a mistake, but the Auror thing- I couldn't. "
"So tell it to Harry. Tell Harry everything, Hermione."
"I-"
"Ron's right, love," a strong voice spoke out. Charlie was buttoning his shirt, his flame red hair still wet from the shower. He had never liked to use the Drying spell. "You and Harry need to talk. The sooner, the easier."
"Thank Merlin you're not naked!" Ron exclaimed, receiving a tap behind his head from Hermione.
"Of course he's not naked!" She tried to sound stern. "Honestly!"
Rolling his eyes, Charlie walked towards Hermione and placed a quick and gentle kiss on her lips. "Sorry, love, I couldn't help but overhear the last bit."
Hermione nodded heavily. "That's alright," she said, feeling tired, "we didn't say anything...Ron is just telling me what you already told me before."
"Go talk to him," Charlie insisted, "tonight. Don't delay it anymore, Hermione. I'm already going to The Burrow since I have to take an unbelievable early Portkey to Romania tomorrow." He tenderly caressed her cheek. "Go."
Harry's apartment
Hermione felt somewhat uneasy, slightly uncomfortable as she stared at the door before her.
It was almost ridiculous that she could feel that way- that she could still feel that way. Maybe some part of her knew about everything that caused the fight between her and Harry. Some kind of reason, past- that she had sworn to never think about ever again. However, like everything in her life, it was easier said than done.
She wasn't the same girl, the same woman she had been when she left Britain. She had worked out her insecurities, weaknesses- or at least a large part of them. Hermione didn't have the almost desperate need to be accepted, to not fail, anymore. Obviously, it didn't mean that those characteristics had been ripped off her personality, but they had been attenuated.
Charlie had helped her to feel more confident, more secure with herself, with her intelligence, her body, her sexuality.
However, everything- all her resolutions seemed to go down when it came to Harry.
She was still that bookworm teenager girl around him.
And she couldn't be like that anymore.
Heaving a sigh, Hermione briefly closed her eyes before opening them again a minute later, and then knocked on the door.
The young brown haired witch knocked about three times until the door was finally opened and-
"May I help you?" the person asked.
Hermione just stopped dead, unsure of what to say or to do. It was that blonde from Ministry- the one that had called Harry love. She couldn't reckon her name, or which (if any) Department she worked for.
Hermione gazed hesitantly at the beautiful witch in front of her.
She's wearing Harry's clothes.
"I-I," she started to say when a voice interrupted her.
"Muriel?" Harry. "Who's- Hermione."
Hermione opened her mouth and then closed it a second later. It would have been hilarious, if it wasn't tragic. Harry was wearing only his boxers and-
You have been good since the last time...
She stopped at that thought, her cheeks suddenly burning like fire.
So much for a modern woman, Granger!
Yeah yeah...Harry and this *blond* were shagging- so what?!
Yeah- so what?
"Hermione?" he asked again, his voice didn't sound bitter or annoyed like in the morning. It was nearly concerned.
"Oh, ah..." Nothing really intelligently seemed to want to come of her mouth as Hermione tried desperately not to look at his chest.
Oh dear Jesus...
"Huh?" Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Her-" But then he suddenly noticed what her eyes what was trying to avoid.
And he smirked.
"Well, Hermione, this is my girlfriend Muriel." He went towards Muriel, who was still at the door, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I think you met her this morning in the Ministry." His green eyes were boring into Hermione's, almost daring. "Love, this is Hermione. My new partner."
Partner.
Not friend.
She felt her mouth going dry, a strange lump in her throat, her chest suddenly tight. The urge to cry was practically unbearable.
I deserved that.
I deserved that.
Forcing a smile Hermione greeted the other woman. "Nice to meet you," she said but didn't held up her hand. She turned to Harry. "I-I wanted- I wished..." She fidgeted. "No matter, I-I... better... go." Hermione bit her lip.
These tears aren't going to fall.
These tears aren't going to fall.
"I'm sorry," she managed to choke out before Apparating away.
**
She thanked Merlin, God, the Heavens for living alone.
She didn't see, talk to anyone else.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Hermione lay down on her bed, the tears falling freely.
She knew- she knew she had deserved that but it didn't mean it had hurt less. Everything seemed to hurt her, to touch a not-so-closed wound.
She should be happy.
Content.
He also had a life. He had a life. Without her.
Hermione felt selfish, and lonelier than she had ever been.
She hadn't intended for everything to turn out like that.
She was now- only the Partner.
Her eyes closed, and those memories- those memories she didn't- she couldn't...
She still remembered the scent, the touch.
She still remembered.
"It's hurt so much, Hermione. So much."
"I know, Harry. I know."
"I don't know if I c-can take it any..."
"Shhh..."
"Make me forget, Hermione. Please, make me feel normal."
****
AN: Here it is a Pimp: http://quilltoparchment.com/nominate.html is an award site for HP fanfiction, go there and nominate your favs ones. There're a lot of categories. :)