Just One More Thing
Chapter two
JOMT
After Hermione's heartfelt statement, the pair continued to sit in a silence that was promptly disturbed when Lavender Finnegan approached their table. Two years after the battle, Seamus and Lavender became the first married couple of their year. The two united mid way through the fourth year of Hogwarts, and after the final battle they tied the knot practically straight away. Not ones for wasting time, they promptly started their café business and were also expecting a bundle of joy in a couple of month's time.
"Hi guys," Lavender said approaching them whilst rubbing her swollen belly.
"Lavender, hi how are things?" Harry enquired.
"Busy," Lavender continued to rub her stomach. "Seamus just told me you were here. I feel great although I really am looking forward to this little one's arrival."
"You look fantastic," said Hermione.
"Oh there's no feeling in the world like impending motherhood Hermione, you must try it soon,"
Lavender said happily. Harry and Hermione smiled.
"Yeah right Lavender. There's a small problem concerning no husband at this particular time," stated Hermione.
"Well you never know. How are things going with you and Steven?" Lavender cheekily asked. At this question Harry's ears perked up and listened intently.
"As well as can be expected. He's lovely."
When it came to the subject of Steven, Hermione was quite secretive. Sure she told Lavender and Ginny about her budding relationship with him, but as of yet was to reveal any side of it to Harry and Ron. As far as they were concerned, especially Harry, Steven wasn't a relationship for Hermione, he was company. He was someone to go to see a film with, someone to talk about books with. It was the only conclusion that Harry could come to seeing as how Hermione had only let them meet twice, and briefly at that. If the short subtle meetings that Hermione had allowed were anything to go by, Harry thought that Hermione must have had an inkling about his feelings towards her boyfriend.
In all truth, Harry detested Steven Atkins. He never saw him as someone that could make Hermione happy, just a blood sucking leech that wanted to be associated with one of "The Golden Trio." He didn't know why it bothered him so much, could it be that it was Hermione's first relationship to go past five months, or that another man got to know an intimate side of Hermione's life? What was he afraid of? Nothing. There was no way Hermione was going to set up house with someone she had known for five months and had only introduced to Harry and Ron twice.
"He's more than lovely Hermione," Lavender said. "He's confident, well mannered and handsome."
'Translation Arsehole,' thought Harry. He could never understand how some women were sucked in by these pompous, always wearing suits, idiots who over pronounced every word they spoke. Steven topped the list of that category. If slime ball was a word in the dictionary, Steven's face would be smiling at you from the picture below. 'God I hate him. I don't care if I've only met him twice, I've always been a good judge of character.' he thought. 'Except for when it comes to girlfriends, so it's understandable that Hermione is just as clueless when it came to boyfriends.' It won't last.
"Well I'm glad you approve Lavender," Hermione laughed.
"Okay well don't forget that its dinner at my place tonight, it's the last Saturday I intend to have some fun with before I go into labour," Lavender reminded them.
"But you're not due for two months, that's like eight Saturdays left," said Harry.
Lavender put a hand on her hip whilst the other still rubbed her bump. "Yes I am aware of that Harry but I can't eat spicy food too late in my pregnancy," Lavender stated in a matter of fact manner. "Otherwise It could cause an early appearance of baby Roots."
"First off who told you that rubbish? And second of all, what the hell is a baby Roots?" asked Harry amusedly. Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry.
"Healer Hermione told her that Harry," Hermione said as she referred to herself in third person.
"And baby Roots is my son I will have you know," Lavender said in a strained voice.
"You're calling your baby, Baby Roots?" Harry asked unbelievably.
"No NOT Baby Roots, Roots as in Roots," Lavender flicked a piece of hair out of her face.
"Roots Finnegan?" Harry stated.
Hermione looked at Harry, glared and then looked to Lavender and said, "I think it's cute."
"How do you know it's a boy?" questioned Harry. "Seamus said you guys didn't go for the Revealus spell."
"We made love in certain positions," Lavender answered dreamily.
"You have got to be kidding me, you believe in all that old wives tale stuff?" Harry joked. "So which positions did you try?"
Just as Lavender was about to answer Hermione intervened.
"Harry," she said in a shocked manner. "You need no knowledge of such things!"
"Oh come on Hermione, if I decide to become a father one day I want to know which angle to execute."
Lavender laughed and Hermione shook her head in disgust. It wasn't the topic of sexual positions that made her want to barf, it was the fact that somewhere in the world a very lucky girl was going to bear the children of Harry potter, and it wasn't going to be her.
Harry continued to grin whilst Lavender retorted, "If you want to know the sordid details Potter, I'm sure Seamus will be all to keen to brag about it when you go to the Three Broomsticks tonight."
"You said you had no plans for tonight," Hermione stated to Harry.
"Well apparently I'm going to The Three Broomsticks tonight whilst you and Lavender have a spice feast," Harry said.
"Oh and Ginny and Luna don't forget," added Lavender. "That's why Ron and she are going out during the day, it was the condition that she at least got to spend a few hours today with Ronniekins before hitting our party tonight."
"Great," Hermione said happily. "It should be fun."
"Listen I gotta go take a lie down, see you tonight Hermione say 7.30. And you Harry, make sure Seamus doesn't get up to no good, I know what you guys are like after a few beers. Last time he came home he thought he was a Ninja Turtle."
"Now that was Ron's fault," Harry defended.
"I don't care whose fault it was Harry, just remember that he has responsibility now," Lavender said whilst patting her belly. "Later guys." With that she left Harry and Hermione alone.
"A Ninja Turtle?" Hermione enquired.
Harry raised a hand and replied, "Don't ask."
After finishing their breakfast, Harry bid farewell to Seamus and said that he, Ron, Draco and Neville would meet him at the pub later that night. Yes Draco had turned to the good side when he discovered that all he was to be known as was the Hogwarts bully, not a follower of The Dark Lord much to his father's dismay. That and the small matter of falling head over heels in love with Ginny Weasley. She had changed him for the better, and even though he could still be an enormous git, he was a softy at heart.
On their way back to their flat, Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "Are you doing anything tomorrow night? Because I've got an auror dinner at the ministry headquarters' and I need to fetch a date."
"What about Kate?" Hermione asked. For the last few weeks, Harry had been seen cavorting with a tall leggy blonde who worked as a receptionist at the ministry by the name of Kate Johnson. Harry saw her as a bit of fun but never thought of it as anything serious.
"What about her?" Harry asked with a bewildered look.
"She's your girlfriend," Hermione replied in an obvious tone.
"Kate's not my girlfriend Hermione." Harry looked at her questionably. At this remark Hermione stopped in her tracks and looked at him.
"But you went to bed with her," Hermione said softly.
"So," Harry Laughed.
If there was one thing that she couldn't understand about her best fiend, it was the string of women Harry would engage with on a regular basis. Hermione could never imagine showing that part of herself to anyone without knowing that they were the one that would see it always for the rest of her life. She always thought of sex as an intimate act that showed mutual love and respect towards the person you shared it with. A passion so intense that words couldn't explain. She never felt comfortable enough to share that part of her life with anyone yet, not even Steven no matter haw hard he tried, and here was Harry Potter talking about such an act as though it was no big deal. When the time came for her to indulge in such pleasures, she didn't want it to be just sex, she wanted someone to make love with. But who was she to judge? He had his life and lived it the way he wanted too.
Hermione broke away from her thoughts and said, "I'm sorry Harry but Steven is taking me to dinner tomorrow night."
Harry flinched at his name. "Ok no problem. Maybe I'll give Jay a call."
Jay Lewiston was another Potter groupie as Hermione often referred to them.
"Well that's settled then," Hermione said with a touch of sadness in her eyes. "It really is the time to get on with my life,' she thought. As they were walking home, Hermione had never known there to be an uncomfortable silence between herself and Harry until now.
****
Later that night, the guys and girls dispersed to their gatherings. Harry, Ron and Draco met up with Neville and Seamus, whilst Hermione, Ginny and Luna headed to the Finnegan residence.
Ginny Weasley had perched herself at the table, that was full of wine bottles, soda for the expectant mother, and nibbles, with the rest of the girls. "Lavender this pate is divine," she said shoving another load into her mouth.
Hermione, Luna and Ginny were well on the way to being merry, when all that a heavily pregnant Lavender could do was sit back and watch.
"To hell with the pate Gin, I think we all want to know what's going on with Hermione," Luna said.
"Good shout," Ginny added. All girls turned their attention to Hermione.
"Well," Hermione Said. "What do you want to know?"
"How are things really going for you and Steven?" Lavender asked.
Hermione looked down, blushed and in a very girly fashion said, "He proposed to me."
The other three girls got excited and demanded in unison, "And?"
"Steven is an amazing guy, and in some ways we connect very well," Hermione said and started to smile. "But some thing is stopping me from saying yes."
Lavender, Luna and Ginny all looked at each other with knowing smirks when Ginny spoke up. "Would that some thing be a tall dark wizard with a scar on his forehead?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Well I hate to be the one tell you this, but you're wasting your time with that one," claimed Lavender.
"How can you say that?" Hermione asked softly.
At this point Luna saw the uncomforting look on her Hermione's face and intervened.
"Hermione," She said softly. "What Ginny and Lavender are trying to convey I think, is that some men aren't very comfortable with their feelings, they find it very difficult to open up. Especially when they've been through what he has."
Hermione looked down when she started to feel tears forming in her eyes, and then felt Ginny put an arm around her. "Hermione if you think that you can get him to open up to you then by all means go for it." Ginny encouraged.
Only to have Lavender kill all hope. "But you will probably find that you're wasting a lot of valuable time, waiting for nothing."
****
The following night whilst Hermione was out with Rat Boy as referred to by Harry and Ron. The two decided to sit down and discover what was so special about Captain Jack Sparrow and a bunch of Pirates. Seamus the night before had recommended the muggle movie that he was sent from Dean Thomas the week before. Harry had returned home early from the dinner at the ministry, citing to Jay that he had a headache, which was true to some extent. He couldn't help but think what creepy Steven was saying or doing to Hermione, and that made his head pound. Hermione was still out by the time he returned to the flat. So Jay went home and he decided that the best way to forget about the things swirling around in his head was to have a good banter with Ron.
Both lounging on the huge recliner chairs either side of the living room table, Ron piped up, "This guy rocks."
"Yeah he does," Harry replied. "The blonde isn't half bad either."
"Seamus was right," said Ron. "That Keira Kiteley does have great tits!"
Harry looked over to his friend like he was nuts but corrected him anyway. "That's Keira 'Knightly', Ron."
Ron met Harry's look, shrugged his shoulders and corrected himself.
"Okay. That Keira 'Knightly' has great tits! Don't tell Luna I said that."
Harry laughed, and turned to the front door to see Hermione walk through and close it behind her.
"Hi Hermione," Ron beamed. "How was the date?"
Hermione put her coat over the back of the sofa. "It was fine."
Harry couldn't help but sense that Hermione seemed nervous about something.
"Hermione are you ok?" he asked.
"Yeah. Actually I have some wonderful news," she said.
"Yeah what?" Ron asked intrigued.
She looked at him and smiled, then threw a nervous glance at Harry, where she looked at him straight in the eyes. "I'm getting married," Hermione announced.
Harry struggled to breathe, who knew that those three little words could knock the wind out of him? He stared at Hermione for what seemed like an eternity. "No not Steven. There was no way that this was happening. It can't be true." No matter how many times these thoughts went through his head, to hear Hermione say, "I'm getting married" was something that Harry couldn't digest. If he wasn't to know for sure how it felt, he was definitely going to know what it felt like now. Because for the first time in his entire life, Harry Potter felt and heard, his heart break in two.
****
The first review I received, thank you so much. I hope the course of Harry and Hermione's romance doesn't fail to disappoint you, but as you know, things have to get a lot worse before they can get better. I find it hard to write too much detail also. The authors who can blow my mind, gee they have talent. I sincerely hope you stick with the story. Thank you so much for the review. It means a lot to me.