A/N: I hope that you guys enjoy the conclusion to this piece.
Disclaimer: No money is being made on this piece and no infringement is intended on the intellectual properties for J.K. Rowling, her publishers, or Warner Brothers. Though, I really wish that she would start Deathly Hallows out this way…
Thank you again to Anndee Granger and madscientist, without whom, this would have dissolved into trite silliness.
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"Hi guys," Harry said, walking into the kitchen the next morning to see Ron and Hermione already sitting there with their coffee, while Dobby was working on breakfast. Neither looked rested and he assumed that he didn't look much better. "I don't want to talk about it more this morning. Let's just get some breakfast and start training."
The next few days, things went much better for the Trio, with Harry no longer locking himself away and all of them having reached a new understanding.
The morning of Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry and Hermione Apparated over to the Burrow early, Ron having gone home the night before to help. They had not even made it to the door of the house, before Ginny flung the door open to greet Harry. Her hair and make-up were already done up, but she had not yet put her bridesmaid dress on.
"Harry!" she shrieked and threw her arms around him.
Harry remained cool and did not embrace her in return.
"Oh, Hermione, you're here too. I'm sure mum would like some help in the kitchen, if you wouldn't mind." Ginny was staring into Harry's eyes intently, while smiling up at him flirtatiously. "After all, Harry and I need to talk, " and with that, she looped her arm around Harry's and pulled him to her.
Harry pulled away and, before he could stop her, Hermione stepped between him and Ginny.
"Leave him alone. Stay away from him or I promise you that you will regret it," Hermione said, her voice cold and hard as steel.
"You're just jealous because I got what you want, what you'll never have. Go back to your books, that's all your good-"
Hermione's fist slammed into Ginny's jaw and she fell backwards onto her bum. Her wand came into her hand and she pointed it straight at Ginny's face. "Leave us alone, child. We know what you did. Episkey. Scourgify."
Ginny struggled to her feet as Harry pulled Hermione backwards and Ron came out of the house behind his sister.
"She hit me! How could you let her do that, she hit me!" Ginny raged at her brother.
"You probably deserved it, after everything you've done to them. Go fix your make-up." Ron stepped around her and motioned Harry and Hermione away. "Now, Ginny."
She stomped away in a huff and Ron sighed, only to be startled by a tap on his shoulder.
"You did the right thing, Ronald, she has been off-balance for quite some time. I had asked her if she was having trouble with Wrackspurts or something, but she didn't answer me." Luna Lovegood stood there serenely in a flowered dress that shimmered when she moved.
"Thanks," he admitted, a bit shyly, "Want to go with me to find Harry and Hermione?"
"They're right over there, but I would love your company." She grinned up at him as he took her hand and led her over.
"How are you two doing?" Ron asked quietly as he and Luna walked over.
Hermione looked over at Luna, then back at Ron. "I'm sorry that I hit your sister."
Ron crooked an eyebrow at her.
"Ok, so I'm not. It's only Harry here, who stopped me from going further."
Harry glanced at Hermione, not having let go of her hand when he pulled her away. "How have you been, Luna?" he asked.
"Not so good, the fairies keep hiding my hairbrush. But, I'm sure with Ronald around, things will be better. They're not fond of red hair, after all."
Ron blushed, and then, "I think it's time to go get ready. Harry, we should go find Bill and Charlie and get changed into our dress robes. Hermione…"
"Can come over to my house and get changed," Luna chimed in.
Shrugging, Hermione agreed. "We'll meet up with you guys in a little bit." She squeezed Harry's hand and then linked arms with Luna. The two girls headed off through the woods to the Lovegood house, leaving the guys standing there.
"You'll see her again soon, Harry."
"Yeah…" said Harry, distracted as he stood watching Hermione walking away.
"If you don't hurry up and get ready, you won't get to dance with her in that dress she picked out," Ron said, poking Harry.
Harry swatted him in the arm, "I don't dance."
"Whatever, mate, let's go," and Ron pulled Harry away to find Charlie, and avoid his mum.
The ceremony was lovely, the bride stunning, and Bill's scars did nothing to hide his joy, Hermione thought as she sat at a table, running her finger along the edge of her wineglass. She originally was going to wear a simple yellow dress, but Tonks dragged her out of the house to go shopping, pointing out the fact that there were going to be many part-Veela at this ceremony. Her dress was pale blue with spaghetti straps holding up a fitted bodice, cut a bit lower than necessary, and a skirt that flowed when she moved. But, she wasn't moving; she was just sitting there with her glass of white wine.
"Oy, Hermione, will you please stop that!" Ron called across the table.
Hermione's hand jerked back from her glass, not having realized that she was causing any noise.
"That wasn't very nice, Ronald, I think the sound was quite nice and went well with the music playing. Speaking of which, it's time to dance now." Without giving Ron time to react, Luna pulled him onto the dance floor and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then again, it didn't look as if Ron was resisting at all.
Hermione sighed as she took another sip of her wine, idly noting Remus and Tonks dancing, and his occasional grimace as she stepped on his toes.
"I think, we may need to add permission for another person to be visiting Grimmauld, Hermione," Harry joked as he gestured over to Ron and Luna, the latter completely enthralled in whatever tale he was telling her.
"You wouldn't…by any chance…want to dance, Hermione?" Harry asked hesitating in his speech. His eyes focused on her hands, to avoid her eyes.
Reaching over to take his hand, Hermione stated, "I would love to, Harry."
He led her to a spot not too far from Ron and Luna, and as far away from Ginny as possible. Then, he wrapped his arms around her waist and grinned down at her. "You know I'm rubbish at this, right?"
"Well, you couldn't dance worse than Tonks," Hermione began, "and Remus still loves her. You're doing just fine." Better than fine, actually. She wished that he wouldn't put himself down all the time that instead, he could see what a wonderful person he was. He was so important to her, there was nothing that she wouldn't do for him.
"Maybe I just needed a better partner," whispered Harry, looking down into her brown eyes, ones that he had seen contain so many different emotions, but this one, he was unsure of. He continued to gaze into her eyes, thinking how wonderful it was just to be with her. Last year, he had missed her constant company. He had missed having her attention. Was he selfish to want to be the most important person to her? In actuality, he had taken her for granted, taken for granted that she would always be there for him. Without realizing it, he pulled her a little tighter.
Nibbling briefly on her lip, thoughts raced around her head, wondering if he could mean what she thought. Could she take this risk with him? Did he want her too? She wetted her lips briefly and then leaned forward, stretching up on her tiptoes to meet him as he leaned down…
"Hey!" Harry called out as Tonks backed into Hermione and pushed her face into his chest.
"Sorry about that, you guys, we were just wondering if you wanted to head back to Grimmauld and continue the party," Tonks apologized, with a rather large grin on her face.
Harry quickly agreed, still holding his arm around Hermione.
Hermione stood by his side, silently thinking up the most effective curse for Tonks.
"I was thinking Luna could join us as well, Harry, do you think that would be ok?" Remus interceded, noting Hermione's dangerous look.
"I'm sure Ron would like that," Harry answered, pulling Hermione closer, "Let's go, Hermione and I will get it set up, while you guys round up Ron and Luna."
"I think that's a great idea, Harry, let's go."
With a double CRACK, Harry and Hermione disappeared.
"Now, I wonder how long we should give them…" Remus winked at Tonks.
"I think an hour should be fine, let's go let Ron and Luna know."
Remus and Tonks started laughing, heading off to find Ron and Luna and avoid questions about Harry and Hermione's disappearance from a certain redhead.
Unfortunately, back at Grimmauld Place, things were not going quite how Remus and Tonks had anticipated.
"Well…uh…" Harry blushed, not wanting to meet Hermione's eyes after what had almost happened, or, at least he thought something was about to happen. What if he was wrong? Looking at his shoes, he rubbed his hands on his pants, as his palms were suddenly sweaty
Hermione had wanted to continue right where they had left off, but noting Harry's uncertainty, she changed tack, "Well, they're going to be here soon, do you want to help me get things ready?"
"Sure, Hermione, where should we start," responded Harry, both relieved and a little bit disappointed.
The two of them went to work, with Dobby's help, of setting out some food and drinks, rearranging the living room, and all of the time assuming that the rest would be there any minute.
Thirty minutes had passed, and Harry and Hermione were beginning to get a bit suspicious. Or rather, Hermione was suspicious, but Harry was worried.
"Do you think something happened after we left? Could there have been an attack? Hermione, maybe we should go back and check on them." Harry was pacing back and forth across the room. Never one to like waiting around, he was getting very antsy. And, of course, he would not let himself dwell on the other source of his discomfort.
"I'm sure they're fine, Harry," Hermione tried to keep herself from giggling.
"Are you sure? Maybe we should-"
"How about we just send Dobby? After all, you don't want me to ruin Bill and Fleur's wedding by killing his sister, do you?" cajoled Hermione. She had been rather enjoying the time they had alone, their comfortable camaraderie. "I think they just wanted to…give us some time…alone.
Harry abruptly stopped his pacing, his head whipping around to look at Hermione, "They wha…"
"Does that bother you, Harry?" Hermione inquired, trying hard to keep a smile off her face.
"Wha… No… I think," Harry was looking anywhere but at Hermione.
"Would it make you feel better if we sent Dobby, just to check that everything's fine, and then we can go back to wondering why they haven't arrived yet?"
"Yeah…thanks, Hermione," Harry looked up at her now, grinning sheepishly.
Dobby appeared before Harry could open his mouth, "Wheres your friends, Harry Potter, sir?"
"That's what we were just wondering, Dobby. Do you think you could just pop by the Burrow and make sure they're still there? That nothing's happened?"
With a nod and a snap of his fingers, Dobby was gone.
"So…" Harry began, suddenly very interested in the toe of his shiny shoes, never having changed them since they got back.
POP. "They is still at the party, Harry Potter, sir, do you want me to go back and tell them to come?" Dobby looked up at Harry, his body tense as he waited for Harry's response.
"No Dobby, that's ok. They'll come when they're ready," Hermione answered.
"OK," and Dobby disappeared.
"Do you want to…finish our dance?" Hermione stood up from the couch and slowly walked towards Harry. Her earlier apprehensions were gone, or well, severely repressed at the moment. She had to take her chance; she had to know. She didn't want this thing sitting between them unresolved when they had other matters to focus on.
"But there's no music," Harry protested, suddenly wary of getting too close to Hermione. He couldn't help but notice how she looked in that dress, the way it clung to her, thoughts one should definitely not be having about one's best friend.
"You're a wizard, Harry," Hermione smirked as she flicked her wand at a nearby table. Gliding up to him, she placed his hands at her waist, slung her arms around his neck, and started to move to the music that had started to play. "This is much better, no one to bother us."
"I'm sorry about Ginny, Hermione. I should have known…" Harry began, his ever-present guilt complex kicking in.
"We don't need to talk about her. She was a distraction, but she's not here, so don't worry about her," Hermione soothed. She was not in the mood to discuss another girl, not when she had his attention all to herself. It wasn't until Ginny interceded that Hermione realized how much it meant to her to be the most important woman in his life.
"It is nice, just to be with you."
Hermione laid her head down on his shoulder, allowing her body to follow his slow movements for a little while. Theirs was a comfortable silence, the silence of two friends who could trust each other enough to say anything and nothing. However, both of their thoughts were racing, wondering who would take the next step and wondering what that step should be.
"What is this…between us?" Harry asked quietly, breaking the silence.
Hermione raised her head to meet his eyes. "What do you want it to be, Harry? We're friends, best friends. Are you content with that?"
"I don't know, Hermione. What if…it didn't work out? I couldn't lose you as a friend."
"I'll always be here for you. I would do anything for you. But, I'm asking you what you want."
"But, he could come after you, Hermione…and I can't…I can't lose you," Harry pleaded with her, while a part of him knew that there was nothing he could to change her mind once it was set. He started to physically pull back from her, but her arms only tightened around him.
"Honestly, Harry," Hermione chided gently, "if Voldemort hasn't learned from Snape, or Malfoy, or Pettigrew, or Barty Crouch Jr. that I'm the brains of this operation, then he is far dafter than I thought. The truth is that you need me, Harry, and I need you. Ever since two 11-year-old boys locked a troll in a bathroom with me… You are my life and have been for a long time."
Harry was speechless. After all, who could argue with what she had said? Not him, certainly. He opened his mouth to tell her so…
"Don't try to send me away, Harry, because there is nowhere else for me to go. There is nowhere safer for me than by your side."
Raising a finger to her lips, Harry's face broke into a large smile. "I can't think of a better place for you than right here."
He moved his finger away from her lips and opened his hand to cup the side of her cheek.
Standing up on her tiptoes, she moved towards him, not giving him a chance to pull back.
Harry captured Hermione's lips in his own, starting slowly, gently, exploring this new thing between them. Soon, she became more insistent and he gladly responded, deepening the kiss, wondering why he had ever looked at anyone else but her.
She tangled her hands in his hair, his glasses had been discarded, though she didn't remember doing it. So much happiness filled her, that she thought she could nearly burst, but only kissed him harder.
The door to the room, which had recently opened just a crack, slowly and quietly closed.
"I think we should continue the party elsewhere," Ron said, his face breaking into a huge grin, "They've got some catching up to do."
"They've only just started snogging? That's a bit of a disappointment," Tonks quipped.
"The kitchen's open," Remus replied, "let's go."
Ron, Luna, Tonks, and Remus headed off to continue the celebration, and start placing bets for the engagement.