Chapter 4: The Not-So Hidden Relationship
A/N: Hey, I wanna thank my new beta, Sage05, for helping me with this chapter, with the editing and all that fun stuff!!
Here's chapter 4 everyone, it's starting to get interesting, with a few little twists thrown in! Hope you enjoy!!
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Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
- `At the Beginning' by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis from the movie Anastasia
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"And the sound you hear is
the sound of shit hitting the fan." - Phil from the movie `Elizabethtown'
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"Oh, I almost forgot to ask, how'd the interview go today?" Hermione asked cheerily, asking out of politeness, though the tone in her voice said she had a feeling where the topic might lead to.
"Well, I was going to tell everyone at dinner, but it seems that Bill and Fleur have more important news. Which is ok, I wanted to tell you first anyway." Harry could tell that Hermione's suspicions were probably confirmed right then.
"Well, how'd it go?"
"I got the job."
"Ron, that's wonderful! I'm happy for you!"
"Yeah, and I wanted to talk to you about something then, Hermione. Pretty soon I'll be able to save up money, buy my own place, and-maybe you and I could settle down, if you like." Hermione sighed.
"Ron-"
"Right now I don't have much to offer you, Hermione, I don't even have a ring or anything, but I will, eventually."
"Ron, I-"
"And I promise I'll take care of you, you won't have to worry about a thing."
"Ron, can I speak? Please?"
"Of course," he said.
Hermione sighed again. "Ron, I do care for you. But…I don't love you like you think you love me. I don't think I could marry you right now. It's too soon. The Final Battle just ended a little over a month ago, and we've only been dating officially for that month. And-"
"But you could grow to love me. I know you would."
"No you don't, Ron. And I couldn't go into a marriage unless I loved the man wholeheartedly, not on the basis that I'll grow to love him."
"And as to not having dated long, we've known each other for seven years, that's got to amount to something."
"Yes, but up until right after our sixth year you were a complete jerk to me. Then all of a sudden you had a change of attitude, and were nice to me. Nicer than you had ever been before to me in your life, save for the times when you were trying to get me to let you copy my notes for school. I'm getting to like this new Ron Weasley, but I can't marry you unless I love you. That's all there is to it. And besides, I don't think I'm ready to get married, there are still so many things I still want to do. I want to go back to school and become a healer. If I can't become a healer necessarily, then I want to try something else. I want a career."
"But Hermione, if we get married, you won't have to go back to school and become a healer." Hermione sighed again.
"Ron, the feminist in me says that I do, I can't just give up my dreams because I'm marrying you. I can't just be a housewife and a mother; I have to be doing something else."
"You don't want to have children?"
"I didn't say that, Ron. It's just I don't want that to be my only job and purpose in life." Ron angrily sighed.
"Is that it? Is that the only reason why you won't marry me now, because you need a job? Or is there something else, or rather someone else?"
"No there's no one else, Ronald, what kind of person do you take me for?" Hermione snapped. "Someone that just runs around bouncing from guy to guy running them all on a little string to keep them close?"
"I stopped by your flat last night, you weren't home. You were at Grimmauld Place, weren't you?" Harry rolled his eyes; he was hoping he wasn't going to get dragged into Ron and Hermione's row.
"So what if I was? I was helping Harry take care of Teddy for that first night. Harry asked me to stay for that first night till they got settled in, and I did. That's all it was."
"I wanted to talk to you about that, about Teddy."
"What about Teddy?"
"I don't think you should be spending time with those two."
"Why?" Hermione's voice was starting to get an icy tone to it.
"Because, he's a werewolf, Hermione, he's going to be dangerous." Harry heard the front door open and Ron ask, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going outside. We'll finish this out there. We've already woke Teddy, I don't want to upset him if I happen to start shouting." The two left, and Harry went into the living room, wondering how he was going to hear the conversation, and feeling guilty for eavesdropping. Luckily enough, the window was open, so Harry sat down and listened to what he suspected could be a big fight. He leaned over and looked into the little playpen Mrs. Weasley had put Teddy in. The child was staring up at the ceiling, waiting for something or someone to come into his limited vision, sucking on his fist. His hair had turned baby blue, and when Harry came into view, it turned to orange again as the baby grinned and kicked his feet.
"Orange must be your happy color," Harry mused. Teddy kept staring up at Harry, and reached his feet up and grabbed them with his hands and stuck them in his mouth. Harry laughed softly.
"How do you do that?" he whispered. "I've never seen anyone be flexible like that. It must be a baby thing." Teddy let his feet go and went back to kicking them still smiling at Harry, sticking his fist in his mouth again. "I guess there's going to be a lot of things I'm going to learn about you, Teddy. About how to raise you. I know I don't know anything about this, but we'll learn together, right? Just you and me. We can't be depending on everyone to help us; we'll have to be on our own. But we'll be fine, won't we?" Harry tickled the baby and Teddy squealed and giggled, making Harry laugh too. "You know you're a very ticklish little squirt. You're going to have the girls all over you when you're older." Harry was concentrating so much on his godson that he almost forgot about the fight between his two friends outside.
"Ron, I know it's going to be dangerous, but Harry's going to be taking care of him, we can't leave him to take care of Teddy by himself, especially since Teddy is a werewolf. It'd be safer to have more people to look after him on the full moon."
"Well, Harry has thrill issues. I don't really think he should've adopted Teddy. But that's not the point. Hermione, I don't want you taking care of him, in fact-`' Ron's voice got a little shaky as he summed up the courage to say what he was about to say. "I forbid you to help raise him. And to see Harry." Harry's jaw dropped, and he could tell Hermione's probably did too, and her face was probably red with fury.
"What? You forbid me to take care of Teddy and to see Harry? Did you honestly just say that to me?"
"Y-yes I did."
"I am not just some person that you can command, Ronald! You can't forbid me to do anything! I can't believe you, Ron!"
"Hermione, I'm afraid for you, I'm afraid of what would happen if you spend too much time with Teddy, you could be bitten! And Harry needs to do this on his own, he can't be depending on you to make it all better and bail him out if he needs help."
"Sure, it's alright for you to do it, but not him? I've been bailing your butt out ever since we've been friends, Ron!" Ron didn't answer, but Harry heard Hermione sigh. "I don't want to talk about this anymore, Ron. I feel if I do, we're both going to say something we'll regret. Tell your mother I'm leaving, and thank her for dinner for me. And I'll stop by to see her again soon." Without another word, Hermione Disapparated, and knowing Ron was going to come into the house through the living room, Harry quickly apparated back to the garden, where he got curious looks from the Weasleys.
"Harry, dear, what's wrong?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Harry didn't answer her question, just shook his head.
"Um, I should probably get going, get Teddy home and all that. I'll see you all later. Thanks, Mrs. Weasley, for dinner. Again, Bill, Fleur, congratulations." He met Ron on the way back into the house, who didn't speak to him, or really do anything to acknowledge he'd even noticed Harry. Which was fine, in Harry's opinion, he didn't want to let on that he heard the fight. Taking Teddy in his arms, the child woke up and tried to grab Harry's glasses. Harry leaned his head away, muttering `no'. They Apparated back to Grimmauld Place, and Harry had a feeling there was probably someone already there, a brown eyed, bushy haired someone. And sure enough, he found her lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Do you think I overreacted?" she said, still staring at the ceiling. Harry didn't know what to say, she knew he was listening to the conversation. He decided for the playing dumb approach.
"What do you mean?" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Don't play dumb, Harry, I saw you through the window and I heard you come in right after Ron." Harry sighed. He was caught.
"No, you didn't overreact. I'm sorry, though."
"For what?"
"That because I asked for your help with Teddy, it's put yours and Ron's relationship on the rocks." Hermione sat up and looked at him.
"Harry, this has nothing to do with Teddy or you. Ron's just looking for someone to blame because he knows this has been a long time coming. It's not about that he's worried about my safety taking care of Teddy; he's just afraid it's going to take me away from him and it'll speed up the process of us drifting apart. That's why he wants to marry me, to solidify this relationship and make sure it doesn't end. And I suppose on some levels, he is afraid of losing me to you."
"That's crazy." Hermione didn't answer. Harry found that odd that she didn't reply, he expected her to agree with him. "But Hermione, in all seriousness, I think he's right." Hermione gave him a defensive look and opened her mouth to speak, but Harry didn't let her get anything out. "Not about everything, but about Teddy. You shouldn't have to feel obligated to help me. I can do this on my own. I want you to go live your dreams, not have to worry about helping me. Teddy and I will be fine. If you stay, you might wish you hadn't later." Hermione smiled and shook her head.
"Harry, I could never regret helping you. I care for Teddy so much already, and I've only known him a day. There won't be a moment when I'll wish I hadn't been there to watch him grow. Even with a career, I can still be there for you both. That I can guarantee."
"What about Ron, though? If, hypothetically, he stops being a git about this and grows up a little more and you two get married and have your own family, how's he going to feel about you spending time with Teddy and me?"
"Well, he'll just have to understand that like you, Teddy comes with as part of the package. I know I have no official obligation to him, but I feel like I do," Hermione smiled again. "You can try to get rid of me all you want, Harry, but I'm not going anywhere." Harry smiled too.
"As much as I shouldn't admit this, I'm glad you're not going anywhere then, Hermione. I'm glad you're along for the ride." Hermione laughed.
"Harry, I've been on this ride since I was eleven, I'm not about to get off now, it's been too much fun! Dangerous, yes, but fun. This ride as one of your best friends never been dull, that's for sure. You said yourself that I was at the beginning with you, and we haven't even come close to the end." Harry smiled again, and bouncing Teddy a little in his arms, he turned and left Hermione's room, his spirits feeling high for some reason. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't going to be alone, or maybe it was Hermione's words that raised his spirits. He couldn't deny that what she said had touched him. And she was right, she had been along for the ride since the beginning, she'd been there on that first train ride to Hogwarts, even though at that time he had thought she was annoying and bossy. And she was also right about the ride not being boring, it was far from that. What with mountain trolls, freeing Azkaban prisoners, saving prophecies, and even saving each other from a snake attack, the last few years had been adventurous. There was no doubt about that. Harry was glad that she said nothing was going to drive her away, but little did he know that Hermione's words of not leaving were going to be tested to the limit in a few days.
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A few days later, Harry was changing the again orange haired little baby Teddy in the morning, dressing him for the day. Or at least until he spit up or something where he'd need a new outfit. Harry was telling him a story while he changed him, and since he hadn't had a chance to acquire a pensieve to see Remus's memories, he told Teddy one about himself, about his first trip to Hogwarts. Teddy stared at Harry wide eyed, giving him all his attention, every once in a while sticking a fist in his mouth.
"See, Teddy, when you go to Hogwarts, you ride a train there, and to get to it, you have to go to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Muggles don't know it's there, and even wizards can't see it until they go through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Then when you get there, the Hogwarts Express is a scarlet train, and it always leaves at eleven o'clock. When I first went to Hogwarts, I was by myself, and didn't know how to get onto the platform. But the Weasleys helped me. Later I met Ron and we became friends right away. On the train mid-way through the trip, a witch comes by with a trolley full of every sweet imaginable. But you've got to be careful of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans…they aren't joking when they say every flavor. Sometime on the trip, a boy named Neville came into Ron and my compartment asking about a toad. Neville's always been a little forgetful. He didn't find Trevor until we got off the train when Hagrid found him. After Neville left, Hermione came in, also looking for Neville's lost toad. She had a very bossy air about her, but don't tell her I said that. Ron was about to show me a spell his brother Fred gave him to try and turn his rat yellow. This naturally peaked Hermione's curiosity, anxious to see others her own age who could do magic. The spell was dud, of course, Fred or George were always giving Ron a hard time. Hermione then went into her whole know-it-all-ness, and went on and on about how she had performed spells already and they had worked. She was a bossy know-it-all back then, Teddy, mind you, she still is a little bit-"
"What are you telling him about me, Harry?" Harry jumped and whipped around to find Hermione standing in the doorway, hands on her hips a look of mock anger on her face. Teddy gurgled happily. "You're going to turn him against me before he can even talk. Thanks, Harry."
"I was just telling him about our first trip to Hogwarts. How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to hear you tell him that I'm a bossy know-it-all."
"I'm not going to turn him against you, Hermione. I'd never do that."
"You'd better not, or I might have to hex you or something." They both laughed, and Teddy joined in, though not knowing nor caring why they were laughing, he was just happy.
"Breakfast is ready if you're hungry." Harry nodded and picked up Teddy.
"How does breakfast sound, squirt?" Teddy gurgled again in response. The three went downstairs into the kitchen where Kreacher was finishing the last minute preparations for breakfast. The two adults sat down, and Kreacher handed Harry Teddy's bottle to him, which Teddy took happily, staring at back and forth at Harry and Hermione who sat across from each other. The owl that came to deliver the Daily Prophet flew in the window. Hermione paid it, and took the paper from the delivery owl as it took flight again. She unfolded the paper and disappeared behind it. Harry didn't expect much conversation from her; this had been her routine for a few years now. What he hadn't expected was her to gasp right away and say, "Oh. My. God." Harry looked up from Teddy to see what was wrong.
"What is it?" Hermione lowered the paper slowly and laid it on the table. On the front page of the Daily Prophet was his own picture, staring up at him, reluctantly smiling. It had been a photo taken of him years ago. There also was a picture of Hermione, though it looked rather old, like the one taken when they were fourteen. And beneath their pictures, was one of Harry and Hermione together, at the Burrow, walking up the sidewalk with Teddy in Hermione's arms. The headline read, `The Not So Hidden Relationship', The Detail of Harry Potter's Love Life that was so Well Hidden Until Now.'
"You've got to be kidding me," Harry said, shocked. "How did they get a picture of us with Teddy? What do they say about us?" Hermione read,
"Ever since the defeat of He Who Must Not Be Named a little over a month ago, the Boy Who Lived, or rather, Man Who Conquered, has been keeping a pretty low profile lately, writes Rita Skeeter. ` Oh, she wrote this article, well, she'll get what's coming to her.' No one but his closest friends know where he is or what he's up to. But luckily, after a tip off and a strategically placed photographer, we are finally able to give you avid readers a piece of information you so dearly crave. And the best bit is, it's about the recent witch who has stolen Harry Potter's heart. Last anyone heard, Ginny Weasley was the object of Harry's affections, but not anymore. This time, once again, it's Miss Hermione Granger that holds Harry's heart. And, it gets better, my dear readers. They've also adopted a child together. Little Ted Lupin, son of deceased werewolf Remus Lupin and deceased Auror Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin, was legally adopted by Harry and Hermione, who they've vowed to raise as their own. It also has been rumored that the Harry/Hermione relationship has been going strong since before the final battle, that they've been seeing each other in secret, behind the backs of their significant others, both being Weasleys. Our informer told us that a few nights ago, after a conversation about the future, Miss Granger overreacted and fled the Burrow, arriving at Mr. Potter's home, and we can only assume what happened there that night.' Oh, I can't read anymore, this is starting to get ridiculous. Well, I hope Rita enjoys Azkaban, because this just might be a good enough reason to expose her as an unregistered Animagus."
"Who's this `informer' she was talking about?"
"Well, glancing through the rest of the article, I'd say it was an angry girl with red hair," Hermione said, sliding the paper across the table to Harry.
"Do you really think Ginny would do this?"
"It's hard to say what anyone will do anymore, Harry. Things are starting to get shook up. They're getting thrown out of whack, not turning out like they apparently were supposed to, like everything was all destined to end a certain way."
"So what happens now?"
"I think-I'm going to go to Australia to bring my parents back. I think a week should be long enough, maybe this will die down a little. I'll leave this afternoon, and I'll be sure and be back before the full moon, so I can be here to help you with Teddy."
"You're going to run? Hermione, it's what they want, they want us to run from this, to go into hiding so it looks as though they're right."
"Harry, I need a break, everyone keeps throwing it in my face that I fled that one night, I don't know why it's such big news. That all of a sudden, the level headed Hermione Granger is suddenly afraid of commitment, and it should make the front page along with that she's sleeping with famous Harry Potter on the side. They're making me out to be a whore or something. It's ridiculous."
"Yeah, it is, but-"
"Harry, I'm sorry, but I'm going. I'm not as used to this as you are. I need to get away." They didn't speak for the rest of breakfast, and didn't really look at each other much. They pretty much ignored each other for the rest of the day until Hermione left. Teddy kept looking from one adult to the other, not understanding why the two people he was beginning to like and trust were not acting as they usually did toward each other. In fact, his hair turned a dark blue. Hermione was ready to leave by two o'clock, she had her bag packed and shrunk to fit in her pocket. Harry and Teddy came to say goodbye at the door. Hermione took Teddy in her arms and planted a kiss on his forehead. Teddy looked up at her wide eyed and sad, not understanding any of this.
"Bye, little squirt. I'll see you in a week. Don't cause Harry too much trouble, just enough to keep him on his toes." She handed him back to Harry and gave him a small smile.
"Bye," she whispered.
"Bye. Have a safe trip. Hope everything goes well with your parents."
"Thanks. Don't forget, the full moon is a week from Wednesday, so you need to make sure and give Teddy the potion a week prior to the full moon. Make sure you don't forget."
"I won't."
"Bye, Harry." With that, she Disapparated, leaving Harry and Teddy alone in the big empty house. It already felt like something was missing. Harry sighed. This was going to be a long week.
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Hey hey! Here's chapter 4, sorry it took longer to get out than I promised!! Hope you enjoyed it!!
Lol, I thought about ending the chapter after Ron and Hermione's fight, but figured enough shit hadn't hit the fan yet, so I had to keep going, hopefully it was good enough!! Thanks for your reviews!!
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