Here, There, and Everywhere

Sweet-Lemmon

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Mystery
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 06/04/2007
Last Updated: 15/10/2007
Status: paused

After five years, Hermione returns to Britain with a shocking surprise. And Harry won't like it a bit. H/H. Post-Hogwarts. Chapter 09:"What about his appearance?" she asked. "Did it change?" Mad-Eye’s mouth cracked, what someone could say was an attempt to smile. "Very good, Granger. I was wondering when someone would ask about it," he said, "but yeah, it changed." "And who was it?" "Gregory Goyle. Junior." Please read on my profile the inform about this fic’s status.

Chapters

1. Chapter 1/Prologue: wonder and stunning news

2. Brother-in-law

3. Not quite the same

4. The New Partner

5. Not so easy

6. Open wounds

7. Difficulty

8. Seeking Truths

9. Hurting

1. Chapter 1/Prologue: wonder and stunning news

Here, There, and Everywhere

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter.

WARNING: IT DOESN’T START H/H BUT WILL END H/H.

AN: Yeah, another story. But don’t b afraid- I didn’t abandon my other fics. Some of you may recognize it from my LJ and/or Fiction Alley.

I hope you like it.

Chapter 1/Prologue: wonder and stunning news

July 1st, 2006

Harry Potter heaved a sigh, taking another sip of his Butterbeer. Regardless of all the people taking loudly around him, he was alone or at least feeling that trick emotion of loneliness. It was strange to find yourself empty, willing for something you couldn’t be quite sure what.
With the Butterbeer trickling between his fingers, he rested his head on the sofa, but did not close his eyes. Not that it really mattered, anyway.

He was far away, even if his physical body was present at The Burrow living room, pretending to pay attention to the Weasleys, and their aggregates; Harry was, instead, in a wonder land, trying once more fathom about how, or maybe why, he was there.

There. This there wasn’t about the reunion in The Burrow. There was his life, the current stage of his life.

The slowing down, deadly stagnate state of his life.

If he was by himself he would have groaned. Loudly.

‘Get a grip, Potter!’ a voice oddly sounding like Snape’s hissed in his head. ‘Let’s not start another pity party, shall we?’

Forcing himself to look content, Harry shifted on the sofa, his eyes scanning the room in search of something.

Or maybe someone.

He actually smiled; he missed her. It’s strange how you only notice, how you finally realized the true importance about something-or someone- when you lost it, when you let them go away.
Damn Ron.

Harry breathed hard, looking across the room, and his gaze met Ginny’s eyes. The redhead girl- or better, woman- smiled, and nodded at him, before returning to her chat with her husband, Neville.

Ginny and Neville, who would have thought?

Seeing their cheerful faces, Harry couldn’t help but feel happy for them. He could see that he would never be able to make her happy like that.

And, in fact it seemed it had been in another life when he dated Ginny.

Bloody monsters in the chest...

...or in the pants.

A Big and Happy Weasley family.

What a joke!

Harry shook his head; whatever he had with Ginny was now gone. So much had happened in those five years...

So much- and at same time, so little.

Harry and Ginny’s relationship proved to be just wrong- the only thing they actually enjoyed to do was snogging, and even it started to lose its brightness after some time.

They were a boring couple.

As he watched Neville patting carefully Ginny’s seven-month tummy, Harry couldn’t help but think what would happen if it was he there. No, he wasn’t jealous. No, it was a different emotion. It was wonder.

A simple conjecture if the incident- as he and Ginny would call it later- wasn’t a false alarm. Obviously, he would love that child with all his heart and soul, but would it be fair? Would it be fair for everyone if they had married only because of a pregnancy?

And for more scare that those days, five years ago, might have been, the incident was also a blessing. It was when Harry and Ginny finally realized that they weren’t meant for each other. That it wasn’t the fact of having a child that was scaring them, but the thought of an upcoming wedding; the thought of need to spend their lives together.

Then, then they knew- they knew they weren’t in love.

And once more Harry wondered if one day he would fall in love; truly and desperately in love for someone. No, he was really looking for it, it was just a wonder. In truth, he had a girlfriend but...
Harry laughed to himself, poor Muriel hadn’t received ‘Mrs. Weasley’s seal of approval for Harry Potter’s girlfriend’

‘She’s a nice girl, Harry, dear, but the meeting will be only for family and very close friends,’ she had said.

Probably Hermione wouldn’t approve Muriel either.

Honestly, Harry!

Harry averted his eyes from Neville and Ginny, and looked down at his hands; a tiny smile was beginning to play on the corner of his lips.

He missed her.

When Hermione and Ron started to date, he, along with everyone else, thought that was the obvious thing to happen. After all, after years of bickering and not so subtle flirting, Hermione and Ron seemed to be perfect to each other.

However, the bickering never stopped after they started to date; it became worse. Harry wasn’t able to count how many times he had to listen Hermione complaining about how a prat (and others colorful words) Ron had been, or Ron complaining about ‘Hermione’s bossy nature’.

Harry just wanted to scream at them, ‘Then, why don’t you just break up?’

Of course, he never spoke that line aloud; even if day after day the idea of Ron and Hermione together was turning painful for everyone.

However, besides all the problems, Harry had never thought that Ron would do that.

He had never thought that Ron would cheat on Hermione.

With Romilda Vane.

If Harry closed his eyes, he still could see Hermione’s face- painful and lost face. She had not cried, not even a single tear. She had not screamed, or threw out Ron’s things out the window, or even cast some jinks towards him. No, she did nothing.

She simply said nothing.

And one week later she accepted an offer to work in Hungary.

Harry never saw her again.

If only he had asked her to stay...but he didn’t. He was too busy with his own problems, too scared with the possibility to have gotten Ginny pregnant to pay real attention to the fact that Hermione was leaving.
Maybe, deep inside, he didn’t believe that would leave Britain.
Maybe.

Of course they had written to each other; first almost every day, then, every week...every month...and with time, the letters began to arrive only on birthdays and other special occasions.
Obviously Harry had thought to visit her in Hungary, but every time he mentioned that, Hermione just would come out with an excuse that she was too busy. After a few tries, he finally gave up.
*

“Harry?” A hand on his shoulder brought him back to present. “Are you alright?” Remus Lupin asked him.

“Huh?” Harry’s head snapped at his former teacher. “Oh no, just thinking.”
Remus nodded his head in knowledge. “You and Ron seemed to be quite thoughtful this evening,” Remus commented, indicating Ron with his head. Harry looked at his best friend and realized that Lupin was correct; Ron was strangely quiet. He didn’t look angry, or even sad... just thoughtful.

Harry wondered if that had anything to do with Hermione’s last letter; the one Ron had simply forgot to mention to Harry- and the dark haired wizard only knew about because he had seen it on Ron’ s desk. Of course he wanted to know what Hermione had written that made Ron didn’t tell anything, but he supposed it was something between only Hermione and Ron.

And Harry would be a good friend and not mention anything; not that he did like that.

Uncertain exactly why, the idea of Hermione only writing to Ron didn’t please Harry at all.

“I guess.” It was the unsure answer. “When Charlie is arriving?” Harry asked, changing the subject.

Charlie Weasley. That was the reason for the excitement within the Weasley family.

Apparently, Charlie Weasley was returning for good to England, and bringing with him a fiancée. Mrs. Weasley was beyond herself to know the mysterious girl, who her son was dating- and was finally getting married with.
The fact that Charlie was getting married wasn’t really a surprised; about a year and a half ago Charlie started to send letters telling the family about a wonderful girl who had captured his heart.
However, he had never mentioned her name, and that was the all fuss about- the Weasley family would finally know who Charlie’s girlfriend-er, fiancée- was.

“Soon, I think-” Remus replied, but before he could continue anything he wanted to say, a loud ‘oh’ was heard.

Charlie Weasley had arrived.

And Hermione was with him.

Hermione with Charlie?

How? Why?

Why didn’t she tell me she was returning?

She looks beautiful...

Harry looked confused around the room, and realized that the others were confused as well. However, he smiled nonetheless.

Hermione was back. Quite timing indeed; she and Charlie had arrived in the same day.

He was still with a pleasant smile on his lips when Charlie began to speak.

“Well, I want everyone to meet my fiancée, Hermione Granger.”

“WHAT!?”

*************************

That’s it. The prolog. This chapter was ‘proof reader’ However, I’ll need a beta for the next ones. ^_^

HAPPY EASTER!!!

2. Brother-in-law

Here, There, and Everywhere

To lead a better life I need my love to be here...
Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with the wave of her hand

Nobody can deny that there's something there
There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking but she doesn't know he's there
I want her everywhere and if she's beside me
I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share

Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there

I will be there and everywhere
Here, there and everywhere

(Here, there and everywhere, by Lennon/McCartney)

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter- neither The Beatles’ lyrics.

AN: Okay, first of all, thank you so much for everyone who read and reviewed last chapter. You are great!

The first chapters will be a little short and in different POV’s- it’s just to ‘show’ the situation in different ‘angles’.

Some ‘things’ will start ‘unsaid’ but I am sure you’ll figure them out. :P

Now, to the chapter- I hope you like it. :)

Chapter 02: Brother-in-law

“What?!”

Ronald Weasley couldn’t help but grin when every single eye turned to stare at him. It was kind of funny to think that everyone in that room would think he was the one to have an outburst. After all, he was Ronald Weasley – red hair, short temper, and most importantly, Hermione’s ex-boyfriend and Charlie’s brother. In other words, he was the usual suspect. Him, not Harry.

The young Weasley was amused as he listened to his best friend’s tantrum. Harry had never been the kind of person that was constantly prying into his friends’ love lives. Not even when he, Ron, was having another argument with Hermione.

And it was that low profile personality that made Ron gaze at him, slightly bewildered.

‘Harry, mate, you are turning into a Weasley!’ Ron smirked to himself. However, the smile fell when he noticed Harry’s eyes; they didn’t look surprised or shocked, they looked hurt... and betrayed.

And when Harry dropped his stare from Hermione and Charlie and turned towards him, Ronald didn’t need words to understand what his friend was saying.

‘You knew,’ Harry’s eyes seemed to be saying, ‘You knew’.

Unsure of exactly why, Ron averted his eyes- turning his gaze to Hermione and Charlie. The previous silence in the room had been replaced by a torrent of voices- everyone seemed to start talking at the same time. Everyone wanted explanations from the young couple.

He could see that despite her apparent coolness, Hermione was nervous; she was holding Charlie’s hand so tightly that Ron wondered if his brother would need a Healing Charm for his broken bones.

Hermione.

There were still moments in which he wondered what could have been. What if... But he knew that no one can live with what if’s. Of course, he regretted what he had done; he regretted the pain he had caused her- how much he had hurt her- the angry words they had shared, those hidden truths that had come to surface.

However, he didn’t regret or mourn the end of their relationship.

Their love relationship had died a long time before. Or perhaps, it had never really existed.

It doesn’t matter anyway.

Taking a deep breath, Ron got up from his chair and walked towards the couple.

He could feel the entire room watching him- Harry watching him, as he went to stand
before them.

“Charlie.” He shook his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

“Welcome back, Hermione,” he said with a genuine smile. “Welcome to our family.”

Without saying a word, Hermione let go off Charlie’s hand and launched herself into Ron’s arms, hugging him tightly.

“Thank you, Ron,” she whispered quietly into his ear. “Thank you.”

Ron didn’t say anything, just held her. The simple truth was that he should be the one thanking her. He knew he didn’t deserve what she had done, he wasn’t worth her consideration- but he also knew that their breakup wasn’t only about cheating.

*~*

“You are a great wizard,” Hermione said with a teary smile, “a great friend.”

He grinned at her. “You too, Hermione.” Then he rapidly added, “I mean, you are a great friend and a great witch.”

Hermione laughed softly, giving him a light hug. “Thank you,” she whispered after breaking the embrace, “thank you.”

“No, I’m the one who should be saying thank you,” he replied. “Thank you for everything.” He looked at her kindly. Hermione was a gorgeous twenty-six year old woman; the hair wasn’t so bushy, the legs seemed longer, and the body was just perfect. Yes, those years away from England had been good to her. “Thank you for telling me first.” The young witch put a hand on his cheek. “You had the right to be the first to know,” she whispered. “After everything, you had the right to know- to be the first to know.” She smirked. “And I will be your sister, after all.”

“My sister!” He shook his head in wonder. “Who would have ever thought?”

“No one,” she agreed, as she sipped some of her tea, suddenly sobering up. “Are you sure you are alright with it?”

He gave her a short nod. “I don’t have any right to say anything, do I?” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking up at the ceiling. “I made a mistake five years ago; I let you go.” Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but he held up a hand, making her stop. “I cheated on you.”

“Please...”

“No, Hermione, I need to finish this,” he insisted, and she agreed with a small nod. Hermione had never thought he would grow up so much in those years. “I committed a huge mistake when I cheated on you, and I am very sorry for all the suffering I made you go through.” He took a deep breath. “However, if I cheated you with my body, you had already been cheating on me with your heart, and...” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “I am not going there.” Ron gazed at her meaningfully, “but you know that I am right. You loved him, since forever. We just messed things up.”

“I’m engaged,” she pointed out. “My- my supposed feelings-” He snorted, and she pretended not to have noticed. “My supposed feelings towards him stopped when I left Britain.” She sighed. “What happened was... was a mistake- shouldn’t- shouldn’t ever have happened.” Hermione sounded unconvincing, but firm. “Not all feelings are about romance, or love. I’m not going to deny that there was an attraction- otherwise-” She cupped his face with her hands. “I would never have been with you if I had loved somebody else.” She smiled. “I am happy- really happy, as I never really have been. Silly mistakes stayed behind in our adolescence.”

I hope you are right, Hermione. I hope you are right.

**

Ron let go of her embrace and placed a hand on her right cheek, stroking her skin lightly with his thumb. He missed her more than he had thought.

A smile started to form on his lips, and he had opened his mouth to say something when he noticed that Hermione’s eyes were searching for something behind him.

He didn’t need to turn around to know what her gaze was looking for.

Harry.

“Hermione-”

“I was sure I had seen him- heard him-” she turned her eyes back to him. “He was the one who cried- He- He- Then everyone started to talk at same time, and- I need to find him.” Hermione tried to walk away but Ron grabbed her arm, shaking his head.

“Hermione-”

“I-I thought I saw him,” she whispered very quietly. “He’s angry, isn’t he?”

Ron wanted to shake his head, to say no- to say that Harry had gone to the loo, or wherever, but he knew it wouldn’t be the truth. Hermione would know that too. After so many years of friendship Ron could feel the bitter anger coming from Harry as he had realized that Ron already knew about Hermione and Charlie.

The young wizard then put a hand gently on her face. “He’s just surprised, Hermione.”

“I’ll talk with him,” she said quietly yet firmly, but Ron grabbed her arm tightly enough to stop her in her track.

“No, Hermione,” he hissed glancing sideways at his brother, who was looking at them intensely. “You stay here with Charlie-”

“Ron-“

“No, Hermione,” he repeated more definitely this time. “I won’t let you make the same mistake twice.” Hermione’s stare hardened, and she pursed her lips slightly. “Sorry, that was uncalled for, but you know I’m right. Stay here with Charlie. I can tell that mum and Ginny, and the others are dying to know how you two got together.” He closed his eyes for a moment, tiredly- suddenly feeling much older than his twenty six years. “I know how to deal with a temperamental Harry Potter. I’ve been doing it – without your help – for the past five years.” Ron knew that he was being, maybe, a little too harsh, but he felt it was necessary.

He didn’t blame her for having moved on, walked away, but part of him couldn’t forgive her for never coming to see them during all this time. It felt like all the previous years of friendship had meant nothing to her.

However, maybe, things could be different.

Seeing that Hermione had nodded, even if a little reluctantly, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and then looked at Charlie, nodding briefly before walked away.

***

Ron found Harry in the backyard, sitting on a bench, staring silently at the sky. The redheaded wizard took a deep breath, but before he could say anything, Harry spoke up.

“You already knew,” he said, still looking up at the sky. His voice was dull and laced with bitterness. “She had already told you.”

Ron closed his eyes only to open them a second later; he ran a hand through his hair before striding towards his friend.

“Harry-” he started in a consoling tone. However, Harry turned around and held up a hand, making him stop.

“No, Ron,” he spat wryly, “there’s nothing you could say. She told you- and not me.” He gave a dry laugh, shaking his head. “My best friend is getting married and I didn’t even know she was dating. Oh! And that’s even better! My other best friend already knew and never said a word!”

Ron sighed, shifting on his feet. He knew that it wasn’t the time for ‘Ron, the comic relief,’ or even ‘Ron, the short tempered Weasley.’ The shadows in Harry’s eyes were telling him it was time for the best friend.

He just wanted to know when he had turned into the mature one of the Trio?

*

Throughout the years, with all the deaths, the insurances, Ronald Weasley had learned to read Harry- not like Hermione, but in a slightly different way.

Harry wasn’t and never would be an easy human being.

“Such darkness can change any soul, Mister Weasley,” McGonagall had once said.

Truly, when she had said those words, Ron wondered if she was considering the possibility of Harry becoming dark- evil- and that kind of thought had frightened him. It wasn’t a matter of belief in his best friend. Merlin knows that he would die for Harry but Ron wasn’t innocent enough to not know that such power could mean doom for an already troubled soul.

However, time had passed- the war was over and Ron himself had mourned his deeds, unable to stop the change within his own demeanor- it was then that he truly understood the meaning of McGonagall’s words.

She was right.

No soul could be the same after such darkness, such death.

And then Ron felt sick with himself- nauseous at the thoughts that he had allowed himself to consider. That sickly feeling had hit him with such intensity that when their friendship was truly ‘shaken’ by the ‘happening’, Ron had managed to fight against his own insecurities and bad temper, and concluded that their friendship was more important than anything. Even a betrayal.

He had finally grown up.

The young wizard shook his head, trying to erase those memories, those thoughts. What had happened was meant to stay in the past. Like some pieces of the war, it wasn’t meant to be revealed.

It was something just between the three friends.

“Harry,” Ron spoke again, “the fact that Hermione told me and not you wasn’t something personally against you.” He looked straightly into Harry’s piercing eyes. “It had nothing to do with you.”

Harry snorted. “Of course it’s personal, Ron!” he said sardonically. “We’re friends, or at least we’re supposed to be.”

Ron shook his head. “No, Harry,” he replied in an oddly calm tone of voice, “You’re wrong. Hermione didn’t tell me because I’m one of her best friends.”

“Then why?” Harry inquired in disbelief.

“She told me first because it was right! She was being considerate. She told me as my ex-girlfriend, Harry! Not my best friend!” Ron exclaimed a little louder that he had intended. “My ex-girlfriend is getting married to my brother, Harry!”

“But I-”

“Fuck, Harry!” So much for controlling your temper, Weasley! “Not everything is about you! Hermione and I-” He stopped a moment, running a hand over his hair. “Some things are only between me and her.” Ron took a deep breath trying to cool down. “We’ve always taken her for granted.” Harry opened his mouth to protest but Ron cut him off. “No, Harry! You know I’m right. We did take her for granted. Even you. In certain aspects, especially you. I’m not saying that I’m proud of it but we both know it’s the truth.” He gave a tired smile. “She’s happy. She’s finally happy. And- And Charlie- And Charlie is a great guy. I- we – can’t be selfish enough to deny it to her.

Harry looked down at his hands, then raised his gaze to Ron’s a second later. “I know, I know. There’s nothing that I want more than to see Hermione happy. It’s- It’s just-”

“Mate, I won’t say that when Hermione told me, I didn’t almost freak out, but I think you should give Charlie some credit.” He gave a lopsided grin. “He’s a Weasley after all!”

Harry couldn’t help but smile. “I know, I know. I was just being a-”

“A prat,” a soprano voice spoke behind them.

It was Hermione.

***

Thanks playfulvixen08 for the beta!

3. Not quite the same

Here, There, and Everywhere

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter.

“I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes 'till I touch the sky
And I'll
Make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll Take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway”

(Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson)

AN: Here is another chapter. I just want to say that this story has nothing to do with my other stories. Harry and Hermione are 25/26 in this fic, which means they aren’t the same ‘teenagers’ we read in HBP (thank Merlin, mind you!). And really, if someone doesn’t ‘grow up’ in almost ten years...

Also, I want to Warn: this chapter has a little of Hr/Charlie. No explicit, but its there.

Chapter 03: not quite the same

“A prat,” Hermione spoke with a hint of good humor in her voice. She looked at the two young men in front of her and couldn’t help but feel a strange wetness coming to her eyes. She wasn’t innocent enough, or even naive enough, to think that being with the two of them, together again, after so much time wouldn’t ‘touch’ her. However, Hermione hadn’t anticipated it would be that much.

Seeing and talking with Ron had been an intense- and necessary- experience, but, in a way it had been easy. However many issues they had had, it was something concrete. They knew exactly what their scars were.

And they both knew that they weren’t only about Romilda Vane.

However, the same couldn’t be said about Harry. Nothing between her and the dark haired wizard had been clear for quite a long time. In fact, there wasn’t a specific problem- there was just that something, that unspoken truth, those half lies.

She hadn’t lied when she told Ron she didn’t loved Harry. Everything that had – and hadn’t- happened had nothing to do with love.

It had been healing.

They were just healing; like two friends helping each other.

They had decided - so long ago - that that was nothing.

So, why couldn’t she forget?

“Ron,” Hermione said, looking at her ex-boyfriend, “I think Charlie needs to be rescued from your mum and Ginny.”

She saw Ron looking between her and Harry before giving a short nod. He came towards her.

“Be nice to him, Miss Granger,” he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek and then walking away before she had the chance to reply.

“I don’t think you have the right to call me a prat, Hermione,” Harry blurted. “I’m sorry for having walked away after-” He let out a harsh laugh. “-after my exclamation, but you have no right to call me a prat. You lied to me. Worse, you didn’t say anything!”

Hermione couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Hadn’t Ron just talked to him? She wanted to scream at him, to tell him he had no right to be calling himself the victim. Where was he when she needed him five years ago?

Too bloody occupied with that damn Ginny Weasley!

Don’t go there, Granger, she instructed herself. It had taken her years to forgive.

Hermione glanced at Harry and spoke, “I’m sorry, Harry. I-I should have told you. I-” She looked down at her hands, biting her lips. Suddenly it seemed that all her walls had gone down. It was like she was a teenager, a shy little girl all over again. “-I should have written, I should have-”

“Yes, you should have, Hermione,” Harry cut her off. “I am not saying that I’m not happy for you, for seeing you after so many years.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Do you have any idea how much I missed you? How much it hurt me everytime you responded to my letters with a business note?” Hermione opened her mouth to say something but Harry continued on. “Charlie is a great guy. I’m sure he is. And part of me is happy for knowing that you found a good guy but this- this doesn’t excuse all those years of silence. We were supposed to be best friends, Hermione!”

Hermione felt a wave of anger rising inside her. She just wanted to say sorry, to apologize for not telling him about Charlie, but now he was complaining about the time she was away? If he missed her so much why hadn’t he Apparated or Portkeyed to Hungary? It wasn’t like he didn’t know where she lived!

“No to mention he was too busy when you needed him!” a voice hissed in her head.

“Oh that’s rich, Harry Potter!” she cried in annoyance. “I am trying to say I’m sorry and you decide to stay right there in your usual pity party?! What about when I needed you? What about five years ago when I needed a shoulder to cry on? Huh? Where were you then, Harry?”

Harry stood up from the bench, his face going crimson with anger and disbelief. “I can’t fucking believe you, Hermione!” He snorted out aloud. “Me? I am the one having a pity party? If I remember correctly, you are the one who wanted to be alone! Not to mention I had my own problems.” He shook his head. “Oh! Not to mention that even if I had talked to you, you had gone to bloody Hungary less than a week after!”

Feeling suddenly tired, Hermione decided she wasn’t in the mood for a row. She was mature enough to know that both of them had been wrong. She just wanted to be done with arguing about it over and over again. She wanted to go back inside, catch up with Ginny, eat Mrs. Weasley’s delicious food, nuzzle against Charlie’s...

“You know what, Harry? Just forget it!” She held up her hands in mock surrender. “I am too tired and too old for this! I’m not that little witch that seemed to love nagging you anymore. I already gave you my apologies. It’s up to you to accept them or not.”

Not wanting to hear any kind of reply, Hermione walked away.

***

July 2nd , 2006

00:15 am

Hermione’s apartment, London

Hermione’s bedroom

Lying on her queen size bed, Hermione absently watched Charlie finish putting on his clothes.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay here with you tonight?” Charlie asked kindly as he finished buttoning his shirt. He walked over to her and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his.

Hermione smiled at him but shook her head. “No, Charlie,” she said, “you better go. You know how Molly is.” Charlie rolled his eyes at her. “You go back to The Burrow. I’ll be fine. It’s not like I never lived alone or don’t know this apartment, for that matter.”

“I know, love.” Charlie brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “I am over thirty and my mum still doesn’t want me to share an apartment with a girl.” He let out a small laugh. “What a pathetic man!”

Hermione shook her head, and sat up on the bed, wrapping her arms around him. “No, not pathetic.” She closed her eyes briefly only to open them again a moment later. It was good to feel the fabric of his shirt scratching against her naked skin. “Just wise. You- we- know how antiquated Molly is.” She opened a couple of buttons and kissed his chest before looking up at him. “Besides, this way we look like two naughty and passionate teenagers.” She smiled slyly. “Isn’t that exciting?”

Charlie laughed playfully before sobering up. “But I’m not only talking about this, luv,” he said seriously. “I am talking about what happened earlier between you and Harry. You didn’t say a word-”

Sighing exasperatedly, Hermione let go of him and got off the bed. “There’s nothing to talk about,” she muttered as she began picking up her displaced clothes from the floor and putting them on.

Hermione didn’t want to talk about that. If Harry wanted to be childish, he had gotten his wish. She was too tired to beg for his forgiveness.

Goddammit, so she had made a mistake! Yeah! But she had said she was sorry! It wasn’t like he was most perfect human being in the world!

Humph!

She let out a deep breath as she felt Charlie wrapping his arms around her. “Hermione, love, I know that you, Harry, and Ron went through a lot of things that-” He let go of her and paused for a moment, then ran a hand through his hair. “I think you need to solve this situation with Harry while it’s still in its beginning.” Hermione groaned at her fiancé, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Don’t look at me like that, Hermione. You know I’m right. You made a mistake. You should have told him. He is your best friend. Even more so than Ron. And it isn’t just about that. You know you should have written back-”

“But I wrote!”

“Please, Hermione! I mean real letters!” he closed the distance between them and grabbed her on the shoulder, squeezing gently. “Talk to him, Hermione. Explain things. You two need to have a real conversation.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Not to mention that he’ll have quite a surprise tomorrow, won’t he?”

“I’ll talk with him.” Hermione laughed genuinely. She had forgotten... “He’ll be so pissed!”

***

Ministry of Magic

Aurors Department

Kingsley’s Office

07:45 am

Kingsley Shacklebolt was speaking, or at least his mouth was opening and closing, and words were coming out of it, but Hermione wasn’t really paying attention. Of course, she nodded occasionally, replying with the usual ‘yes, sir’, but that was all just an act.

She was dreading it.

Dreading the moment when he would open the door and walk in.

And once again Hermione wondered when life had turned out to be so complicated.

‘Since you received that letter when you were eleven, Granger!’ a voice replied in her head.

When she had gone to Hungary, she knew a new phase of her life was beginning. It wasn’t just about a new country, a new language, a new everything.

It wasn’t even about her breaking up with Ron. It was about herself.

Sometimes she found herself feeling so cliché, so like a heroine of one those sappy Muggle novels.

The girl that abandons everything to find herself...

Hermione Granger could have laughed.

However, moving to Hungary was the best thing she had ever done.

There, she finally discovered it was fine to- sometimes- be a little silly, a little more easy-going, and, most importantly, a little selfish.

It was fine to think about herself first.

Not that she actually managed to do it.

And there, she met Charlie...

Or re-met.

Her and Charlie Weasley.

Thinking about that could easily bring a smile to her face.

Who would have ever thought?

But then, after five years of living in her own self-made fairy tale, it was time to go back and-

“Hermione?” A very well known voice woke her up from her reverie. She turned towards the door and looked at Harry, who was looking between her and Kingsley, confused. “Sir?”

Kingsley got up from his chair and walked out from behind his desk, stopping in the middle of the room between Hermione and Harry.

She noted he had a big smile on his face.

Maybe too big, she thought.

“Mister Potter, let me introduce your new partner, Miss Hermione Granger.”

Harry just looked at them, mouth agape, eyes opened wide in shock.

***

That was chapter 03. I hope you liked guys. Thank you for everyone who read and review the last chapter.

4. The New Partner

Here, There, and Everywhere.

What's a home keep on got that rules you from me

Is a some kind of magic that I just can't see

At first you used to hurt me when you'd leave me behind

But at last I've finally found the way to help me pass the time

And I just cry a little then I die a little and I walk back and fort to cross the floor

Yes I just cry a little then I die a little and each time it hurts a little bit more

[ steel ]

I pretend that it's all right each time that you leave

And I don't show the hurt that hurts inside of me

For I know there's no use to ask you to stay in

You'll soon be gone and my usual night will began

(Red Simpson- I just cry a little)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Red Simpson's lyrics.

Chapter 04: The New Partner'

The first thought that came into Harry's mind was to shout.

And then destroy something.

`WHAT THE HELL?!'

But he knew- ah, what years of experience can do to a person- he knew better than that.

And above all- he knew that she was expecting something like that.

No, Harry Potter would not give her the pleasure.

With his jaw set, Harry asked through his teeth, his voice falsely calm, “What do you mean by partners, sir?” He did his best to not look at her. “I was not aware she was qualified for this work.”

Before Kingsley replied, Harry noticed with devious satisfaction that Hermione had suppressed an indignant huff.

Serves her right.

“Granger is very qualified, Potter,” Kingsley said. “She has been working as an Auror for almost four years now. Of course, she only graduated from the Auror training in Hungary last year, but even as a trainee she was the best Auror in there.” Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Hermione beaming at the praise.

That's great. Another thing that I didn't know.

“But I am still her senior,” Harry replied almost bitterly, getting a raised eyebrow from Kingsley and narrowed eyes from Hermione. “I finished my training six years ago, not last month.” He glanced quickly at Hermione. “I don't think its fair, sir.”

“Fair? What's not fair?” Kingsley asked, confused.

Harry shrugged, rolling his eyes. He knew he was being a prat- actually, more than just a prat. An arse, as a matter of fact. But he simply couldn't help it. “I am not willing to work as a baby sitter, sir. Maybe she could be placed with another-”

Kingsley Shacklebolt looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment before asking with narrowed eyes, “Is there a problem that I should be aware of?” Neither one said a word. “Good. Because you two will work together. If there is any problem I want it to be solved right now! I remember when you two used to be best friends, but now you look like you have to work with a Malfoy, Potter!”

Harry felt a pang of shame in his chest but didn't look down.

“It's okay, sir,” he heard Hermione speak before he could say anything. “Any problem Harry has with me will be worked out.” Her voice seemed clear and strong, with a kind of determination that Harry hadn't heard for a very long time.

In another time, he would have smiled.

“Good, good,” Kingsley said. “Now, let's finish with the pleasantries and talk about your work.” He half-turned his body towards his desk and took two files. “This is the information I want you seek.” He gave each one a file. “I have already talked about it with both of you, Potter. Granger in a previous conversation.”

“Is this about the fake wands?” Harry asked. “I thought that was already solved. We arrested the dealer last month.”

“It was only a distraction, Harry,” Hermione answered. “The man you arrested wasn't the real culprit.”

Harry stared angrily at her. After everything, now she was questioning his work as an Auror?!

What the-!

“Are you saying that I didn't do my job, Hermione?”

Hermione gave him a slight smile, gently touching his arm.

Her touch.

It had been so long since the last time he had felt her soft touch; and even with all his bitterness and anger towards her he couldn't help but feel himself calming down.

“Of course not,” she said quietly. “The man you arrested was Polijuiced.”

“Polijuiced? But the Potion could have been taken off while we were doing the interrogation.” He was confused. “We did tests on him when he refused to say anything and no trace of potion was found in his system!”

“The real Mr. Blueberry has been seen in Bulgaria, Harry.”

“How do you know-”

“I was told by a very truthful source,” she said simply.

“Potter,” Kingsley interjected, “when I realized that the man we had could be an impostor I asked Granger to examine him.”

It wasn't really a surprise that Hermione had been asked to perform tests on this man; before she went to Hungary, Hermione had been researching the combination of Potions and Charms in the Dark Arts. Actually, that had supposedly been the reason she had been invited to work in the Hungarian Ministry of Magic: the proximity to Durmstrang.

However, what caught Harry's attention was another detail.

“You went to Azkaban?” he hissed, unable to control himself. Even if he was angry, Harry couldn't stop his protective instinct towards her. “Alone?”

It was clear that Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes. “No, Harry,” she replied trying to sound exasperated but not very convincingly. “Actually, I went there with another Auror. Kingsley.” She looked briefly in Kingsley's direction, who gave her a nod.

“Anyway,” she continued, “I performed some tests on the man, and what I found was-” She stopped for a moment, biting her bottom lip.

“Was what?” Harry snapped.

“Disturbing,” she replied soberly. “He had a kind of magic inside of him that I've never heard of before. It was a combination of several potions and charms.”

“I don't understand.”

“He was given a very powerful Polijuice potion. It was more like a combination of a Polijuice Potion with a Disguised Charm, making him able to control when the effects wore off, not the length of time since he had taken it. Also in his system I also found some kind of spell, or potion- I'm still not sure- that makes him immune to Veritaserum and immune to the basic checking spells.”

“That's why the Polijuice couldn't be detected,” Harry spoke almost to himself, a set of various and utterly deadly possibilities beginning to play in his mind.

“Yes.” Hermione nodded. “I'm still doing tests, but it's something I've never see before.” She shrugged, looking helpless. “I don't know what to look for.”

“Did he say anything?”

She shook her head. “No. He refuses to speak.”

“I just- why all of this? All of this because of some fake wands?” It seemed too much for such a measly purpose.

“That's the problem, Potter,” Kingsley replied seriously, “I'm starting to believe that it isn't only about wands. It's a very tricky matter and you'll have to be extra careful. Until we figure out how to counter part of this new potion, or whatever- everyone is a suspect or a potential enemy.” He looked between Harry and Hermione. “For now, I want you two to have lunch together...”

Lunch together?

“But sir-”

“No buts, Potter!” Kingsley spoke firmly; his tone clearly stating that that was the end of the conversation. Harry refused to look at Hermione.

I bet she's smirking!

“I want you two to have lunch together at the `Golden Magic'. Mr. Blueberry, or whoever he is, was seen there before the arrest. I think it's a good place to start.” He paused a second before continuing. “You must pay attention if there is any kind of strange activity in there. And, of course, the fact that you two are best friends is just perfect. No one will see you two as Aurors, but as two friends that haven't seen each other for a long time. Perfect.” Kingsley clasped his hands together and looked straight into Harry's, and then Hermione's, eyes. “That's it. I hope there's no problem with this.”

Forcing a smile, Harry replied through clenched teeth, “No, sir.”

They exchanged some other details and then Hermione and Harry left Kingsley's office.

And thank Merlin for that, mind you!

Harry just wanted to get out of there and go straight to his office.

However, no such luck.

As soon as he, and Hermione, stepped out Kingsley's office Harry was ambushed.

“We'll talk right now, Harry Potter!”

“Love!” two female voices spoke at the same time, making him blink in bewilderment.

Hermione and- Muriel. For less than a second, Harry wondered what the hell his girlfriend was doing there but then the realization came to him - she worked there, just in another Department. And, really, she wasn't supposed to be there.

He truly felt like groaning.

Heaving a sigh, Harry turned to Hermione and before she could say anything he said, “Hermione, whatever you have to say I get the impression that it'll take some time.” He paused a moment, half expecting that she would interrupt him, but she didn't. Hermione just continued staring, her lips pursed in a thin line. “And seeing that we have to have lunch together-” At this, she finally held up a hand for him to stop.

“You don't need to continue, Harry. I get it.” Her tone seemed hard and maybe a little too formal, but the strange wet glint in her eyes caused an odd feeling in his gut.

He didn't understand why he was acting like that. Why he had suddenly turned into such an annoying guy?

He didn't understand.

He didn't understand: why couldn't he be happy for having his best friend back? For knowing that she had met a good guy, someone that truly deserved her?

She had even apologized, said she was sorry, but still a part of him couldn't, almost wouldn't let himself let the matter go.

He looked at her again and almost smiled sadly. She just gave him a short nod and then walked away.

And Harry watched her leave, immersed in some kind of painful fascination.

Hermione looked the same, but at same time, very different.

And even with her usual, but, now, not so pronounced bushy hair- he knew.

She was beautiful.

“Love?” his girlfriend's voice brought him back from his reverie.

“Yeah, Muriel?”

“Love, you're not paying attention to what I am saying!” Er, was she saying something? “Who's she?”

“I am sorry, Muriel,” he apologized, “but, I've already told you that I don't want you calling me `love', `honey', or `sweetheart' here in the Ministry.”

“But ho-”

“Please,” he interrupted her, “no.”

She nodded, giving him a smile. “I went to your apartment last night and you weren't home,” she pouted.

“I had dinner at Ron's parents' house. I thought I had mentioned it,” he said shortly. “I have to go, okay?”

“Oh, right,” she replied forcing a smile.

He could see that she was fighting an urge to shout at him. “What about we have dinner tonight, Harry?” she asked, and he really wanted to say no. “You could cook, and I could give you some dessert.” She smiled slyly, licking her lips.

“Of course, that would be great.” He still had the false smile on his lips. “Now, I really have to go. Bye!” And he walked away quickly, without giving her even a small kiss on the lips.

It wasn't even 09:00 am and Harry was already tired.

*~*

Golden Magic

London

12:15 pm

“So, are you still going to act like a spoiled arse?” Hermione blurted out as soon as they ordered their lunch.

Harry had managed to avoid Hermione all morning. He had even done some paperwork in an attempt to delay their talk.

Yes, he knew he was being childish.

And he simply didn't care.

“SO?” she insisted, looking hard at him.

She has beautiful eyes.

“What you want me to say, Hermione?” he replied with exasperation. “I was supposed to be your best friend and then-” He shook his head. “I have nothing against Charlie. He really sounds like a great guy, and-” He sighed. “That's not... let's forget it, okay? We came here to work. I accept your apology, okay?”

“No, that's not okay, Harry!” she hissed. “It's not okay when you don't mean it. What do you want me to do, Harry? Do you want me to humiliate myself? Do you want me to give up this job and go back to Hungary?” Her voice was low and hard. “Sorry, but I won't do any of that. Yes, I should have-” She suddenly stopped, shaking her head lightly. “This is not the place, or the time. If you want to talk, you know where I live.” She sighed. “Oh, well, did you read Shacklebolt's report?”

Harry gazed at her, and everything seemed so wrong that it was almost insufferable. They were supposed to be best friends. No, best friends would never have let things get this far.

He had missed her intensely during the years that she had been away; cursing himself for not being with her when she needed him. And then, when she was finally back everything had turned upside down in a way he had never expected.

And, seeing her looking back at him, her eyes widened slightly in confusion at his silence, Harry came to an uneasy realization.

He wasn't really angry, or shocked.

He was hurt.

He just couldn't understand exactly why.

***

That's it- chapter 04. I hope you liked it. Thanks Amy for the beta!

Ah, I also wrote a Hr/Charlie One-Shot, kind of a (not necessary) prequel to this story. It's called `There', and it's R. It's on my LiveJournal (My Memories).

-->

5. Not so easy

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. :)

6. Open wounds

Here, There, and Everywhere

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter

AN: Here it is a VERY short chapter (almost an in-between/interlude chapter) but at least it was a fast update, huh? ^.^ I hope you like it.

Chapter 06: Open wounds

Muriel Reisor wasn’t happy. The last two weeks hadn’t been what she would call happy ones. Actually, they were more like two long and insufferable ones.

And she didn’t need to think too hard to realize the reason.

Hermione Granger.

Ever since the return of Granger, Muriel’s life had become- difficult.

Even more difficult than it had been to turn herself into Harry Potter’s blond girlfriend.

She knew Harry and Granger had had some sort of strong friendship during their time at Hogwarts and then during and soon after the second war. He hardly talked about those times, though, especially the period after the war. Some would say it was a kind of wound, the horrors of the battle, but Muriel disagreed deep inside. There was something else.

Obviously it wasn’t a matter of simply asking him, of demanding answers. She was too smart for that. It would be better to continue being the naïve girlfriend.

And being the naïve girlfriend, unfortunately, meant being blind to Harry’s sudden moodiness.

She just didn’t know if it was a good thing yet. However, something seemed clear as crystal to her. And maybe to everyone else who dared to pay attention.

“Ah, Harry Potter,” she said looking at her reflection in the mirror in front of her, her hands running through her naturally dark hair. “So brave, and so stupid.”

**

Oblivious to the movement around him, Harry Potter stood in front of Hermione’s cubicle silently, wondering if he should enter.

He could still remember his evil pleasure of having his arms wrapped around Muriel, making it clear to Hermione what he had been doing- and then- and then saying that word. Such a simple and poisonous word.

Partner.

If he only could take it back. However, there aren’t ‘take backs’. It was already done, already said.

And the way, the sad and sorrowful way she had looked at him- a mixture of surprise and deception.

How she had tried to fight the tears with some dignity.

Almost the same way she had look back at him all those years ago.

“I’m back with Ginny,” he had said.

Two months later she and Ron had begun to date.

Harry sighed. All that was in the past- it didn’t matter anymore.

Everything had changed.

Or maybe not.

He wondered why everything had to be so difficult, so extremely hard. It would be so easy if he just could forget and move on.

“Harry,” Hermione had said as soon as they met each other the day after she had come to his apartment, “I’m tired and I’m only saying this one time. Because, really, I don’t think I really care anymore. First, I’m sorry for not telling you about me and Charlie. It was a mistake. I can see that now- Yes, I had my reasons and-” She smiled sadly. “maybe, deep inside you know what my reasons were, but that’s not important. You already made it clear that you didn’t want to hear. It’s your right.”

“Hermione-”

“Please, let me finish.” He nodded. “Secondly, about the Auror Partnership, I couldn’t say anything to you. Kingsley wouldn’t let me. The only person who knew about this, besides me and Kingsley, was Charlie. I’m sorry if you felt betrayed.

“Hermione, I-”

“So,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard him, “I only hope that these misunderstandings don’t affect our frien- partnership.”

And she walked away without waiting for a reply.

Harry shook his head, trying to erase those thoughts. He glanced again at the cubicle door but decided against it.

Perhaps all of that had been for the greater good.

And maybe she had been right; maybe he already knew her reasons.

Harry just didn’t want to hear them.

He had spent years just pretending to believe. Pretending to believe in the surface motives.

****

Somewhere

“We have to do something about the Mudblood’s return!” an angry voice hissed. “I want to know why no one told me she would be returning to Britain!”

“No one knew about it, uncle. She just showed up,” a second voice explained. “I think it was some kind of hidden transition. Potter didn’t know either, and I can tell he isn’t happy.”

“Do you think it will be a problem?” a third voice asked. “She is just a Mudblood!”

The man held up a hand. “Don’t underestimate your enemies, Avery! Your father never did. Granger is a brilliant witch. We can’t be blind and deny it. And she, back in Britain, isn’t a very good thing for our business.” The man scratched his chin, considering something. “You said Potter wasn’t exactly happy.”

“No, on the contrary, I think it has something to do with the fact she is engaged to Charlie Weasley,” the young man said in a bored tone. “The stupid hero is fucking Muriel but still seems to be jealous, or something, of the Mudblood.”

“Jealous you say?”

“I don’t know. I just know-” he snorted- “actually everybody knows in that damn Ministry that something happened. I’m just assuming.”

“Hm... ” A devious smile spread across his lips. “Perhaps her presence can be used in our favor.” The man smiled in disdain. “The Dark Lord once said she was an important person in Potter’s life. Probably the most important one.”

“What to do then, uncle? Kill her?”

The dark wizard dismissed them, his hand brushing the air, a slight smirk on his thin lips. “Her?” he repeated almost to himself.

***

At Night

The Burrow

Charlie Weasley smiled at his and Hermione’s photograph on his nightstand. It was taken two month earlier near her apartment in Hungary. They looked happy.

She looked happy with her curly brown hair blowing in the wind, a genuine smile on her lips. She was laughing at something he had said in her ear; his arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

“What had happened?” he wondered aloud.

He loved her more than anything in his life, more than he had even expected to. And he knew she loved him too. Maybe not in the same way- the passionate and almost desperate way, but she had been always more cool, quiet when it came to her feelings.

Yes, Hermione had changed since she had come to Hungary for the first time. She seemed to be stronger, more sure of herself.

But now, in these two weeks back in Britain...

Charlie didn’t want to pry about what had happened. He could act as if it was just because she hadn’t told Harry about them.

However, he couldn’t just pretend stupidity.

There was something else.

Heaving a deep sigh, Charlie ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t continue to see her dying inside day after day; he couldn’t bear to hold her while she quietly cried every night.

He had to do something.

He was going to have a talk with Harry Potter.

7. Difficulty

Here, There, and Everywhere

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN: I hope you like this chapter. Thanks Amy for the beta!

Chapter 07: Difficulty

Harry was doing some paperwork. It wasn’t very exciting but at least it took his mind off of a certain someone.

And to be honest it was necessary, as they didn’t exactly have many clues about Mr. Blueberry or whoever the person was. Harry had a strange feeling that he wouldn’t like the answers.

His work as an Auror had been somewhat peaceful during the past few years. There weren’t any important dark threats. Only the usual former Death Eaters- and sometimes not even them. In fact, the majority of the Death Eaters were killed or sent to Azkaban during or soon after the war.

Lucius Malfoy was included in that group. Hermione had killed him during an ambush in Hogsmeade. He remembered the ambush with a shiver: when Malfoy Senior had raised his hand at a badly wounded Ron, and he was about to pronounce those two terrible words, when Hermione cast a powerful Stupefy at him.

Harry had never seen someone cast that spell with so much power- and, perhaps, rage.

Not even him.

Days later, Remus would tell him that it had been the first time that anyone had ever done it.

Harry shook his head, trying to focus on the problem before him.

Lucius was dead.

However, there were still three names that hadn’t been captured or better, in Harry’s opinion, killed.

Antonin Dolohov, Severus Snape, and Draco Malfoy.

“Snape,” the young man repeated the name heatedly to himself. “S-” Then he stopped as if something had suddenly come to mind, something that neither he, Kingsley, or even Hermione had thought to consider.

Someone, who, unfortunately, was a Master in Potions and Dark Arts.

“Why didn’t I think about it before,” he asked himself, looking at his notes. It was then that he heard someone knocking on the door.

‘Why do people have to come at the worst times... I bet its Muriel,’ Harry groaned, standing up and walking towards the door.

“Muriel, I-” he was saying as he opened the door, but then stopped in the middle of his sentence as he noticed who it was. “Charlie?”

“Hullo, Harry,” the red haired said in an oddly serious tone, “I came here to have a talk with you. Is something wrong?”

It had been years since the last time Harry had truly spoken with Ron’s brother, and he couldn’t help but find the situation a little awkward. He blinked twice before nodding.

“Sure- I mean, no. Not a problem. Come in,” Harry replied, motioning for Charlie to enter the apartment. “Um, there‘s the couch...”

Charlie nodded absently as he entered the apartment. He sighed deeply as he sat down on the dark red couch.

“So, Charlie, how have you been?” Harry asked with a forced smiled. The young wizard didn’t know exactly what to say.

“You know very well I didn’t come here to chit chat, Harry,” Charlie replied seriously, his eyes darkening.

Harry sighed, sitting down on an armchair. “Yeah,” he replied, bitter at the thought that Hermione had sent her fiancé to have a talk with him.

You used to have more courage, Hermione Granger.

“And I didn’t come here to say Hermione was sorry,” Charlie continued. “And she doesn’t know I’m here in case you were wondering.” Harry gave him an almost imperceptible nod. “But like I was saying,” Charlie continued, “I didn’t come here to say Hermione is sorry ...blah blah blah....You already know that. You know that she is sorry and there’s no reason to repeat it all over again.” He paused a second, running a hand through his flame hair. “I came here because I’m tired. I’m fucking tired of all this little crap that’s been going on.”

“Charlie-”

Charlie raised a hand for Harry to stop. “Please, let me finish,” he spoke firmly. “I can’t pretend that I know what you, Hermione, and Ron had to endure. I don’t think anyone can. What you did, what you saw, what you fought together is only between the three of you. I can accept that. Even if it’s difficult.” He sighed heavily. “And it is difficult. It’s difficult to wake up in the middle of night because your girlfriend is crying- it’s difficult to hear her calling your name or Ron’s name during a nightmare. Yes, it is difficult, but I try to understand, because I know that some wounds from war will never go away.”

Harry shifted uncomfortably in the armchair. That simple statement just confirmed the level of Charlie and Hermione’s relationship for him.

He didn’t like it.

“Is she still having nightmares?” he suddenly asked before could stop himself. So many years later, he also still had nightmares, and even as he tried to deny it, a wave of concern filled his body.

Charlie looked surprised for a moment, but then nodded. “Yes, but now with less frequency. However, nowadays, she seems to be crying for other reasons.” Harry looked away, unable to control the blush on his cheeks. “And that’s what I can’t take. I can’t take anymore of seeing her cry because of you!”

Harry looked back at Charlie and his eyes widened slightly. Somehow that statement seemed wrong.

“I know she made a mistake in not telling you, but what’s done is done. In your place I would be hur- mad too, but I would have accepted her apologies or at least have tried to listen to her reasons. And you know why? Because... me- I- would be happy to have my best friend back. However, I am not you and I can’t put the two of you together and order you to shake hands and forget all about it like two five year old kids. I can only ask if Hermione’s mistake was enough for you to start hating her so much.”

Harry was taken aback by Charlie’s last statement.

“I don’t hate Hermione,” he said quietly and for a second he thought that he saw a slight glimpse of sadness in Charlie’s eyes, but dismissed it quickly.

“I am not a stupid bloke, Harry. I may not be as powerful as you or as smart as Hermione, but...” Charlie heaved a sigh, closing his eyes painfully. “Just think about all this.” He opened his eyes again, looking straight into Harry’s emerald ones. “I love her. I love her with every fiber of my being.” He stood up, and began to walk towards the door. “I don’t want to have you as my riv- enemy.”

And without waiting for a reply, Charlie opened the door and left.

*

Neville and Ginny’s house.

“Ron,” Ginny spoke in a soothing tone, rubbing her seven month tummy gently, “you need to calm down.”

“Calm down? Calm down?!” He shoved his arms into the air. “How can I calm down when I have two bloody brick-heads as best friends?”

“Mate, Gin is right,” Neville broke in, “you need to calm down. I’m sure Harry and Hermione will come to their senses. Merlin, they’re Harry and Hermione!”

Ron turned his blue gaze at his former housemate, and gave him a sad smile. “Yes.” He sighed heavily. “However, they aren’t the same Harry and Hermione. I’m not the same me from...A long time has passed and still-” Ron stopped, and looked down at his hands, all those memories flashing in his mind.

1999

Ron could hear the fireworks exploding outside Grimmauld Place. The wizarding world was still celebrating the defeat of You-Know-Who by the Chosen One, the Boy-Who-Lived. Everybody seemed so hyper and happy...

He sipped his tea and then looked at Hermione, who was quietly having her breakfast, her eyes focused on her plate.

She was wearing one of Harry’s old shirts and a pair of pajama shorts. It wasn’t an outfit that Ron had never seen her wear before. She had started wearing his and Harry’s old clothes a while back. However, he knew- and that hurt him more than anyone could ever imagine- that this time was different.

Ron closed his eyes as flashes of the previous night came back into his mind.

He hadn’t slept.

He had heard them.

“You slept with him,” he blurted out, his voice wasn’t angry, but sad.

Hermione practically choked on her coffee, as she looked up at him, her eyes widening. “W-What?”

“You slept with Harry last night,” he repeated flatly.

“Ron, I don’t kn-”

“Please, don’t tell me you don’t know what I am talking about. It wasn’t a question. I was stating a fact.”

Hermione played nervously with her napkin. “I’m sorry, Ron,” she said softly.

“I guess I never had a chance, huh?” He gave a dry laugh.

“Ron...”

“I am not going to shout or whatever, believe me. I-I just need some time to myself, okay?”

Hermione nodded and tears began to fall from her brown eyes.

He wanted to ask if she loved Harry, but he already knew the answer.

However, he did ask her some weeks later.

And she lied.

*

“Ron, mate?” Neville’s voice broke his reverie. “Are you alright?”

Ron blinked and then forced a smile. “Yeah... just lost in thought for a second.”

“Ron,” Ginny spoke again, “do you want to talk?”

“What have I been doing, Ginevra?” he replied in disbelief.

She sighed. “I know you, dear brother- and I know that you have been bottling too many things inside that heart of yours.”

“I am fine, Ginny.”

But he wasn’t.

Ginny nodded, giving in, and Ron was glad for that. Sometimes, he wondered if he could go back in time.

But then-

What was done- was done.

But he had a strange feeling that wounds from the past would be showing up again soon.

No matter how hard Harry and Hermione had been trying all those years to ignore it- no matter how much they had been fooling themselves.

And Ron just kept hoping that his brother wouldn’t get hurt.

**

The Burrow

Charlie Weasley lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling above him. Somehow he didn’t think that his little chat with Harry had gone well.

In a way, it had been much worse than expected.

Who had he been kidding?

He closed his eyes, remembering the day when Hermione had told him about her needing to come back to Britain. He had thought it was a good idea- he missed home and Bill had already spoken to him about working with Gringotts’ dragons.

It had all seemed so perfect then...

He would have a job in Britain, and twice a week he would take a Portkey to Romania to see his dragons.

He had made plans, and when Hermione accepted his proposal... it was probably the happiest day of his life.

Charlie covered his face with his hands as he swallowed the scream that he could feel coming up his throat.

He wanted to be a bad man.

He wanted to be angry.

But, instead, whether he wanted it or not, he was... afraid.

***

Have a good Weekend everyone! :)

8. Seeking Truths

Here, There, and Everywhere.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter.

‘Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It's the wrong time
For somebody new
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse’

(‘Nine Crimes’, Damien Rice)

Chapter 08: Seeking Truths

Grimmauld Place

1999

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in Number Twelve’s living room. The place was filled by an awkward silence. It seemed that the best friends hadn’t anything to say to each other anymore.

Hermione glanced at Harry and felt herself blushing. Unconsciously, she brought a hand to her lips, the images of that night playing in her head. She wasn’t supposed to feel that way, but still-

She closed her eyes briefly, smiling nonetheless, but then when she opened them once again, and let them wander on her two best friends, Hermione felt a sick sensation in her stomach; A dread feeling that things couldn’t be the same.

She wasn’t the same.

However, a part of her still had hope. A silly and romantic hope that, perhaps, everything would be alright, and they could be happy.

A perchance...

... and she actually dreamed about it. She and he could be happy.

"Ah, guys," Harry suddenly spoke out causing to both Ron and Hermione look at him, "Ginny and me- we’re together again."

Hermione blinked, a lump forming on her throat. She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t think.

"Oh, t-that’s nice," she chocked out, getting up from the armchair she was sitting on. "I-I have to see something in my room."

And she ran up the stairs, a hand on her mouth suffocating an angst sob.

**

Hermione splashed the cold water on her face, in a silly attempt to remain awake. It was only nine in the evening but Hermione was feeling herself drowning in tiredness. She still had to do some paperwork, read some books about dark magic. She needed to distract herself Hermione turned off the tap, and then took a towel to dry her face. Looking up at her reflex, she could see the dark holes under her eyes; her skin was paler than it was almost a month ago.

Hermione sighed, thinking that she should be going back to her papers and researches, but differently from that bushy haired teenaged girl from years ago, this Hermione knew that going back to her desk in her bedroom wouldn’t help anything on the case- or in anything else, really.

Actually, she was feeling more and more frustrated with herself.

"It wasn’t even me who thought about Snape," she said to herself, slightly bitter at the thought that she hadn’t thought about it first.

Of course, it was something silly to be feeling, but she couldn’t help it. It was the brushy haired teenaged girl wishing to be the first, the fear of being a failure all over again.

She then cast her gaze down at the sink, silently staring at her and Charlie’s toothbrushes.

Charlie.

It had been two days since he had come to her apartment. Yes, they had had a dinner together in Diagon Alley just the day before, but he only accompanied her to her apartment’s door.

He didn’t enter.

He hadn’t wanted to enter.

He said he was tired and had to work earlier in the next day.

Hermione knew it was a lie, but didn’t persuade the issue.

And looking now at herself, she was beginning to realize that her mistakes could not only affect her friendship with Harry (God, if there still is a friendship between them, she thought sadly) but also her relationship with Charlie.

"Granger! Granger!" Kingsley’s voice coming from her fireplace. It had been very useful that so many years ago her parents had bought an apartment with a fireplace; something not so common.

"What is it, sir?" she asked as soon as she came near the green flames.

"We have a situation in the Diagon Alley. Potter is already there." Without waiting for a reply, Kingsley disappeared through the flames.

"Just great," Hermione murmured before going to change her clothes and head off to Diagon Alley.

***

Bill’s and Fleur’s apartment

"Charlie, my brother, this isn’t you," Bill said after listening to his brother.

Charlie covered his face with his hands, sighing. "I know." He looked up at his older brother. "I know, but- I just don’t know what to think; what to do."

"Charlie, it has been almost two months since you returned," Bill pondered.

"Yeah..." Charlie closed his eyes briefly to open them again a moment later. "I love her, Bill." He fixed his eyes on his brother. "And I feel like I’m losing her."

"I think you are being a little harsh about it, Charlie," Bill said. "Like I said this isn’t like you. You can’t be worried- afraid- of something that doesn’t exist."

"But that’s the problem, Bill!" Charlie slapped his thigh, frustrated. "I just don’t know if `doesn’t exist´ is anything. I was always sure that she had left Britain because of Ron- his betrayal." He shrugged. "But now...something happened between her and Harry. I had this-"

"What, feeling?" Bill snorted. "Merlin, Charlie! Even if they had something- the tense says everything- they had." His expression became serious. "What you can’t do is push her away. Not talking, staying at home brooding suspicions won’t help in anything." He took a deep breath, a serious expression on his face. "You didn’t talk to her about it, did you?" Seeing that Charlie wouldn’t respond, Bill continued, "What are you afraid of, Charlie?"

"I am thirty-three, Bill. I had other women- I-" He shook his head. "I’m feeling like a bloody teenager!"

"What are you afraid of, Charlie?" Bill repeated the question, looking straight into his brother’s eyes.

***

Diagon Alley

"Tonks, look out!" Zach Smith shouted, blocking a stunner spell. He looked around and could only see darkness. "Where in Hell is Potter and Hermione?" he asked to no one particular.

"I think they went that way," someone replied. "Merlin, what the bloody hell is happening here?!" It had been a while since the last attack in Diagon Alley. Actually, it had been years ago- just after the end of the war. It was just seemed strange that suddenly a group of hooded men decided to desecrate the shops in Diagon Alley.

At first sight the attackers seemed to be former Death Eaters, but their robes and masks were different from the ones used by the Death Eaters.

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!" Tonks shouted blocking a spell from hitting her. She jumped back when another spell was cast in her direction. "Smith! I need back-up here!" she cried at the younger Auror. The local was totally a mess, but Tonks had a feeling that something was out of place- something was wrong.

She couldn’t exactly say which was- it was just a feeling of uneasiness. It was almost like that those men were holding them (the Aurors) back, distracting them.

"But distracting from what?"

***

Knockturn Alley

"This way, Hermione!" Harry hissed, wand at the ready. "He went this way."

Hermione looked around them. It was dark; each step into Diagon Alley looked more into the distance. "We should call backup, Harry."

"There’s no need or time!" he said irritably. "You didn’t see who it was? Merlin, Hermione, if you want to be an Auror you can’t cower on the first assignment."

"I’m not cowering, Harry!" she hissed in an angry tone. "I’m just using my brain. I thought you had learned about acting and thinking." As soon as those words came out, Hermione’s hand flew to her mouth. Harry had stopped on his tracks and stared blankly at her. "Oh god, Harry, I’m sorry!"

"That’s okay," he said quietly.

Hermione leaned closer to him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I’m really sorry." And for a moment it seemed that everything was fine, that they were the best friends all over again- that hadn’t happen any fights, any discussions.

Harry blinked, and then heaved a sigh. "Come on, let’s go."

"I just don’t understand, Harry," Hermione said as they went further into the dark alley. "Blueberry is supposed to be in Azkaban. Unless-"

"Unless this is the real Mister Blueberry, Hermione."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something when they heard a strange noise coming from one of the stores.

"What is this-" Harry hissed as suddenly a black bird came out from no where and flew between him and Hermione. Surprised, they both jumped.

"What in hell-"

"Harry! Look out!" Hermione cried. "Behind you!"

Harry turned around quickly, but before he could do anything, the man they thought it was the real Mr. Blueberry stepped closer and stabbed Harry on his left side, in the ribs.

The young dark haired wizard immediately hissed in pain, bringing a hand to the wound.

"This is just a warning, Potter," the man hissed. Hermione shouted a Stupefy, but the man just disapparated on the spot.

*

"Harry!" Hermione hushed towards Harry’s side, who was trying to control the pain. "My god, are you alright?"

"I’m fine, Hermione," Harry hissed through his teeth. "He got away, damnit!" he muttered almost to himself.

Hermione went closer, and looked at Harry and then his hand pressed against his rib. "Let me see it, Harry," she said quietly, her hand searching his.

"It’s nothing!"

"Let me see it, Harry!" Hermione spoke firmly. She raised her wand and cast a Lumos at Harry’s´ ribs direction. Harry hadn’t taken his hand off the wound but Hermione could see the blood flowing through his fingers. "Let me-"

"Harry! Hermione!" They turned around and saw Tonks, Kingsley, and Zach Smith running towards them. "There you are!" Tonks said.

"It was Blueberry."

"Harry is hurt." Harry and Hermione said at the same time.

"Blueberry? But he’s in Azkaban!" Smith exclaimed.

"I-I don’t know, Smith, but it was him," Harry replied. It was difficult to control the pain.

"Harry needs to go to St. Mungo’s," Hermione interjected. "Discussing this here isn’t going to improve anything." She didn’t pay attention to the angry glare Harry was sending her. "Where´ re the others, sir?"

"I dismissed part of them," Kingsley said. "MacMillan and Jones are processing the scene. Not that I think it will help anything."

"Did you a-arrest s-someone?" Harry asked, the pain was almost uncontrollable, and he could also feel a strange sensation through his veins. It was like his blood was turning hot.

"No," Kingsley said, looking at Harry strangely. It was clear that there was something wrong. "They simply disapparated. Granger is right, Potter. You don’t look good. We better go to St. Mungo’s-"

"I-I’m fine-it’s just a cut. Nothing to worry about," Harry snapped. "I won’t go to any Hospital!"

"Harry, you’re bleeding. St. Mun-"

"I don’t want to go to a Hospital, Hermione!"

"Good! Then you’ll go home with me!" They stared at her. "I did some Healer training during the war; I think I can deal with it if it is `just a cut´, like you said." Harry opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione didn’t give him the chance." She turned to Kingsley. "Sir, we’ll be in my apartment."

And without waiting for a reply, Hermione grabbed Harry and Apparated away.

***

"Are you fucking crazy, Hermione?!" Harry howled angrily, forgetting the pain for an instant.

"Shut up, Harry!" Hermione cried back. "And sit down on the chair already. I have to see this cut."

"I don’t need to sit," Harry said stubbornly. "I am fine, thank you."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but didn’t say anything. "Whatever." She stepped closer to him and began to unbuttoned his shirt.

But Harry caught her arm. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I need to take off your shirt to see the wound, Harry," she responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the word.

"I can take my shirt off myself, Hermione," he said, "it’s not that I’m dying here." But this is hurting like hell!

"Oh." She blushed, looking away. "Right, sorry. Go on."

Harry raised an eyebrow at her, but remained silence. Carefully he took off the shirt. The wound seemed to hurt even more since he wasn’t pressing his hand against it.

As soon as the shirt fell down on the floor, he heard Hermione gasping.

"God, Harry!" she said looking at the wound, a hand brought to her mouth. Harry looked down and what he saw didn’t seem good: there was practically a hole in his rib. No wonder it was hurting so much. "You were stabbed."

Hermione looked at Harry and then back at the wound. She leaned her hand in to touch it, but thought better, shaking her head.

With a movement of her wand, she summoned a jug with hot water, gauzes, and some Potion’s vials.

Hermione moistened the gauze and then began to clear off the blood carefully.

Harry hissed in pain as the gauze touched the wounded skin. "I’m sorry," Hermione said with a tiny smile, "but I have to clean it first. I can’t use a Cleaning Spell; it doesn’t prevent from infections."

"That’s okay," Harry said quietly, closing his eyes. It was a strange feeling having her touching his skin- not so much for the pain, but from memories that insisted to not go away.

Hermione cleaned the wound quietly, suppressing a sigh as her fingers touched his skin.

Oh god...

When the wound was finally clean, Hermione cast some Healings spells at it and then made a curative with gauze and covered it.

She was relieved that the wound wasn’t too deep.

"Did you see what he used, Harry?" she asked.

Harry shook his head, his eyes snapping open. "W-What?" he looked down and saw that she had already finished. "Oh, you finished." He gazed at her.

"Yes," she said quietly, not meeting his eyes, "I made this curative to protect the wound. You will have to change it in five days."

"Right," he replied. "Y-You did an amazing job, Hermione. Thank you." He had a small smile on the corner of his lips.

"Thank you," she replied timidly, finally looking at him. His eyes were brightening, but they seemed sad. "Oh! I almost forgot!" she suddenly cried, almost causing Harry to jump.

"What?´

Hermione took one of the vials- the smaller one- and gave it to him. "Drink it, Harry. It’s for infections and pain release."

Harry took the vial from her hands and drank its content in one large gulp. However, the pain didn’t fade away. Actually, even with the wound cleaned and covered- it seemed that it hurt even more second by second.

"It will start to be effective in a few minutes."

"That’s alright."

"It’s hurting, isn’t it?"

"No," he shook his head, "I’m f-fine." He was feeling his head heavy.

"You don’t look fine!" Hermione went closer, escorting him to the couch. "Here, sit down."

Harry was about to open his mouth to say something when he felt another pang of pain- and it didn’t seem to be coming from the wound, but his entire body. It was like his blood was boiling inside his veins.

"Argh!" he cried in pain. "Argh!"

"God, Harry!" Hermione cried, touching him. He was burning up. "You need to go St. Mungo’s! I only know the basics. You might have an infection!"

"No," he hissed, "not St. Mungo’s."

"Harry, you are burning up! It’s not time to-"

"Call Susan Bones! She’s a Healer." His vision was blurred, and his head seemed on the verge of exploding. Thanks to the war, Harry was accustomed to tolerate pain- to stay focused, but at that moment, it seemed practically impossible. "S-She-" Harry suddenly stopped, bringing his hands to his head. "Argh!" he screamed again, just before the darkness came over him.

**************************

*Thanks Oliver for the beta!

9. Hurting

Here, There, and Everywhere

Disclaimer: I don’t Harry Potter.

Thank you all for all the kind reviews, especially Harry_mione_love. Thank you, dear. Ah, and that one who said my writing is brainless: I don’t give damn for your opinion. ^.~

Ah, another thing, I will delay the next chapter of LLS. I’m having some RL issues, but do not worry, I’ll post as soon as I can

I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 09: Hurting

Hermione was pacing back and forth. Her eyes were closed, her hands clasped together so tight that her knuckles were white.

"For Merlin’s sake, Hermione!" Tonks cried. "Keep pacing like that and you’ll make a hole in the floor."

The young brown haired witch stopped, staring at Tonks. "I need to know what’s going on!" she cried.

"Bones is an excellent Healer, Granger," Kingsley said, "we just have to wait."

"Wait?!" Hermione huffed, but didn’t say anything.

Soon after Harry had lost consciousness, Hermione called Susan Bones. First she had tried St. Mungo’s, but a nurse had said it was Susan’s day off. Not wanting to waste time, Hermione flooed Susan at her house.

Luckily, the former Hufflepuff was home.

Not even five minutes later, Susan Apparated in front of Hermione’s door.

Kingsley and Tonks arrived soon after that.

"You said it was Blueberry, the man you and Potter were chasing after in the Alley?" Kingsley verified.

Hermione stopped pacing. "Yes," she replied, "it was him. I know it doesn’t make sense because he’s supposed to be in Azkaban, but-" She paused for a moment and looked meaningfully at her boss. "We know it’s not impossible."

"I’m aware of your assignment, Hermione," Tonks said, "Smith and I are also working on it."

Hermione nodded holding back her sigh. "I see." She took two steps before stopping again, facing the two Aurors. "This attack was just a distraction. Blueberry knew Harry would be there. It was a trap."

Kingsley took a deep breath. "Damnit! A bunch of Aurors were fooled like Hogwarts´ first years!" he cried angrily. "I should have anticipated this!"

Tonks put a hand on Kingsley’s shoulder, signaling to calm down. "Yes, you should have," she said.

"However, this isn’t only your fault, Kingsley. Times of peace are wonderful, but also permit us to be a little too accommodated. It has been years since the last attack- we haven’t had to deal with a real crisis in a long time." She sighed. "After such a long time, it seems we’re forgetting Alastor’s lesson."

"Constance Vigilance."

Hermione was silent, her eyes focused on the corridor to her bedroom. She wanted to go there, to see if Harry was alright, ask Susan if she needed help, but the Healer had said it wasn’t necessary, that she worked better alone.

Hermione couldn’t help but feel it was her fault. It was her first assignment (at least in Britain) and she’d already failed. She had managed not only to let her partner get hurt but also allowed the attacker to escape.

Her partner.

Harry.

She shook her head slightly as if she was trying to clear her thoughts. She needed to focus. Hermione whirled around and faced Tonks and Kingsley once more. Kingsley was about to ay something when they heard noise coming from the kitchen.

*

"Finally!" Alastor Moody grunted through the green flames of Hermione’s fireplace. "Took you long enough."

"Prof-" Hermione stopped in the middle of the sentence. "Mad-Eye. How are you?"

"Fine," Alastor groaned in reply, "but there’s no time for chit-chat, Granger." He turned his head to look at Kingsley. "We have a situation."

"What happened?"

"Smith and I went to Azkaban to check this false Blueberry. However, we found Blueberry dead in his cell. Smith is still there."

"Dead? How?" Tonks asked.

"We don’t know yet," Moody replied, "at first it seems he killed himself. Hanged."

"Bu-" Kingsley was about to say something when Hermione interrupted him.

"What about his appearance?" she asked. "Did it change?"

Mad-Eye’s mouth cracked, what someone could say was an attempt to smile.

"Very good, Granger. I was wondering when someone would ask about it," he said, "but yeah, it changed."

"And who was it?"

"Gregory Goyle. Junior."

Hermione couldn’t help but let go a small gasp. "Goyle?" She shook her head, an incontrollable urge to snort. "Goyle!? I mean, he really fooled us-and-" Her eyes darkened, just a perceptible shadow crossed her face. She looked at Moody’s head, who nodded grimly.

"Yes, Granger."

"Former Death Eaters." Kingsley caught their thoughts. "Maybe Potter’s suggestion about Snape’s involvement isn’t only a conjecture."

"If Snape is behind all this we need to be cautious. Severus is anything but stupid." Moody paused for a second. "I didn’t ask about Potter. How is he?"

"He collapsed after I healed his wound," Hermione said quietly, trying to keep her emotions under control, "but Susan Bones is with him right now."

"Bones is a good Healer," Moody replied absently. "He was stabbed, wasn’t he? Strange," he said, almost to himself. Then, he shook his head. "Well, that’s it. I’ll see if Smith has some news. And remember-"

"Constant Vigilance!"

Moody nodded. "Yes, that’s it," he said before in the green flames.

Hermione was opening her mouth to say something when Susan appeared in the kitchen, looking concerned.

"How is-" Hermione was saying, but Susan raised a hand, causing her to stop.

"I gave him some Potions I’ve brought with me," Susan said, "and he seems fine for now. He’s sleeping."

"Thank Merlin," Hermione whispered. "What happened, Susan? D-Did I do something wrong? It has been much time since the last time I had to use Healing Spells. I knew we should have gone to St. Mungo’s. I-" Hermione was getting closer to hysterics.

"Calm down, Hermione!" Susan cried, holding up her hands. "You did nothing wrong! Actually, you did what any Healer in St. Mungo’s would do- and without the press. Because we know that the minute Harry arrived in the Hospital, all those reporters would be there a second later."

Hermione forced a smile onto her face. "I know. That’s why Harry was so adamant about not going."

"Potter is fine, then?" Kingsley asked.

Susan gazed at the older Auror as if as if she was trying to find the words. "This faint, this reaction, had nothing to do with the cut itself." She took a deep breath. "The problem was the weapon that was used against him. The blade was poisoned-" Hermione controlled a gasp biting her lips hard. "I found traces of Lethifold’s blood in his system."

Hermione felt the floor disappearing under her feet. She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t breath. Hermione closed her eyes painfully, willing herself to not cry.

"But Lethifold’s blood causes paralyses," Tonks said quietly. Hermione opened her eyes and looked at Susan.

"Yes, it causes paralyses," Susan confirmed, "but only if the person affected doesn’t receive the antidote in 72 hours."

There was an audible sigh of relief in the room.

"Of course, I’ll have to prepare the antidote, but don’t worry. Everything is going be fine," she reassured everyone, and then turned to Hermione. "I heard you’re engaged to Charlie Weasley."

Hermione was slightly surprised at the statement. Not at the fact that Susan Bones knew about her and Charlie, but because it seemed a little out of place.

"Yeah..."

"Congratulations," Susan said in what Hermione thought was a strained smile. "He’s still working with dragons?"

"Yes," Hermione confirmed, "He’s working with Gringott’s´ dragons and twice a week he goes to Romania to continue his researches there. Why?" Hermione couldn’t help but ask.

"Oh, it’s just that one of the antidote’s ingredients is the Common Welsh Greens´ nails. I’m almost sure I have it in stock, but- Oh well, I’ll ask if necessary."

"Right."

"Well, I’m going," Susan said after a few seconds of an awkward silence. "Harry will probably sleep all night. When he wakes up, he won’t be able to move his legs, at least not completely. With some effort he’ll be able to go to the look, and do small things like that, but he needs to stay in bed. I also recommend that he doesn’t get removed from his spot." Susan’s eyes bored into Hermione’s. "I know he’s in your bedroom-"

"It isn’t a problem.."

"Right." Susan nodded. "I conjured a cane. It’s beside the bed. It’s for him to use when he needs to go to the look. Unfortunately, bathing is out of the question, but I guess he can survive a couple of days using only a Cleaning spell." She sighed, feeling tired. "I guess that’s it. Tomorrow I’ll come to take a look at him," she said, and walked towards the door. "Mr. Shacklebolt, Tonks." She bowed her head. "´Night."

"Night, Susan."

"Good Night, Miss Bones," Kingsley said, "You did good work."

"Thank you, sir." She turned at Hermione, who had come to the door with her. "I’m glad you’re back, Hermione."

"Thank you," Hermione spoke truthfully, "and thanks for coming. The nurse in St. Mungo’s said it was your day off. I’m sorry-"

"It’s alright. I’m glad to help." She didn’t wait for Hermione to open the door for her, opening it by herself. "Bye," she said, stepping into the hall and then disapparating.

***

Some time later...

Hermione entered her bedroom quietly and closed the door behind her, leaning over her bed. Kingsley and Tonks had left just a few minutes after Susan. Hermione knew they only had stayed that long for her own sake. And Harry’s.

She wasn’t able to deny that Harry, and she- at some point- weren’t two ordinary Aurors. Even if Kingsley, or any other `superior´, had always treated them fairly, she knew they always would be Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, war heroes, the savior of the Wizard World and his Muggleborn best friend.

Hermione sat down on the edge of the bed and took Harry’s hand into hers. She looked at his sleeping figure. He looked pale, his dark hair tamed with sweat.

"I’ll always see you as just Harry. My Harry," she whispered, gazing down at his bare torso and then at the bandage on his rib.

She closed her eyes, heaving a sigh. "I’m sorry, Harry," she spoke quietly, the tears running down her cheeks freely, "I’m so sorry." Hermione opened her eyes slowly. "I’m sorry for everything."

The young witch lowered her stare at his hand on hers once again, a tiny and sad smile on the corner of her lips. She couldn’t help but feel a little mesmerized at how her own hands looked so small in comparison to his. Hermione had never considered herself a fragile woman, neither physically nor emotionally. She had, of course, suffered some issues with herself when it had come to her appearance and principally with her Muggleborn status. No, she wasn’t ashamed of her origins- on the contrary; she felt a rising pride in her chest when she thought about her parents, but she wasn’t naïve enough to believe that with Voldemort gone the prejudice would simply disappear.

She knew she would have to work harder than anyone else, but she wasn’t afraid of that.

After all those years, Hermione had gained some sort of self esteem; pride of herself. All those years away- and Charlie...

Oh Charlie...

All those years away- and Charlie had transformed her into a stronger, more independent woman. Even about her physical appearance she felt different, more confident. While she was far from dowdy, Hermione knew she wasn’t a classic beauty like Ginny, or Cho, or even Lavender, but she knew she was pretty, even beautiful in her own way.

However, all that confidence about herself seemed to come to earth when it came to Harry.

Harry.

Even if she would never admit it to herself, she knew- she knew deep inside her heart, that he was the reason for her departure.

It always had been him.

Always because of him.

Hermione knew she had made a mistake for not getting in contact for all those years; she was painfully aware of how Harry despised her for that.

And she wanted- she wished- to be able to tell him; tell him how much he had hurt her, how many nights she had cried herself to sleep; how her relationship with Ron was a silly mistake, the baby...

But she wouldn’t say a thing, never. It was in the past, buried- or so she believed. And now she had Charlie.

Her sweet and lovely Charlie...

Hermione let go of Harry’s hand, lowering her body onto the bed. She laid down at his side, her head resting against one of his shoulders. She was tired. Exhausted.

"I guess I wasn’t´ the best of the partners today, Harry," she whispered quietly, her eyes closed. "I’m sorry, Harry. I’m sorry for everything." She took a deep breath; letting his scent invaded her system.

Oh god, it had been so long...

"I’ve missed you so much," she whispered, and the tears began to fall once again. "If I could...If I..."

Not capable to control herself, Hermione let escape a small sob from her lips.

Unconsciously, Hermione snuggled her body against his. Her sobs started to become louder and louder, nearly hysteric.

She continued to cry, in what it seemed to be not only a desperate plea for forgiveness, but also for understanding.

"Why do you keep hurting me like this, Harry? Please, set me free..."

************

Ah, I started a new community on LJ. It’s a centric-Harry newsletter. potter_news.

Oh my, I was almost forgetting- Thank you Oliver for the beta! :)

Have a great week everyone! :)