I know, I know…it's about time, right? I'm so sorry, I've been so busy! I went out of town for two weekends in a row and this past weekend I had my ten year high school reunion to go to. That was eventful, let me tell you! So anyway, sorry it has taken me so long to get this out, but I hope you enjoy it and it was worth the wait! Thanks so much for your support!
~HM
Chapter 10
It was close to midnight when Harry walked into the new house he now called home. With spending so much extra time moving into the house, unpacking and shopping for new furniture, Harry had gotten behind at work. He probably should have called it quits closer to supper time, but there was still so much work to be done. It was a Friday night and he really did not want to come back to the office during the weekend, so he had owled Hermione to let her know he would be late.
Although Mike and his crew finished constructing the house quickly and sufficiently there was still so much to be done. The kitchen was pretty much finished, except for a few supplies and kitchen utensils that were packed up somewhere in a box. Merlin knew which one…the boxes were everywhere. His bedroom, plus Hermione and Nora's were done, but they still had the other kids' bedrooms to furnish and organize before the holidays.
He made his way towards the front stairs, avoiding boxes filled with memorabilia, pictures and artwork that had yet to find a home on the wall or a shelf. There were some pictures Hermione had hung up on the wall here and there…pictures of their school days, their kids in all different ages and even their wedding days. Hermione had hung his and hers side by side in the hallway of the second floor. One of him and Ginny and the other of Ron and Hermione.
Harry sighed as he studied his wife. She looked so young, so beautiful. He remembered being so completely mesmerized by her that day, felt so lucky that someone as beautiful as Ginny had picked him.
His eyes then shifted to his two best friend and couldn't help but smile. They had come a long way from that first meeting on the train. If anyone had told Ron after meeting her, that one day he would marry the mental girl with the wild hair, he would have laughed in their face. But there they were…Ron looking nervous, but happy…Hermione looking radiant in her wedding dress.
It was a long time ago, but sometimes it felt like only yesterday. That was the past though, he thought sadly giving both pictures one last look. The future was what was important, but as he turned to walk away, another picture on the wall pushed him back to the past. It was a picture of him, Ron and Hermione and it was one of the few Muggle photos they had. It was shortly after the war and Harry had wanted to get out somewhere with his two best friends. They had been through so much together and he wanted to celebrate the beginning of an end with them and no one else.
Not even Ginny…which she had been extremely unhappy about when he had told her he just wanted the night to be the three of them. She didn't understand at the time that it was a night for his friends and Ginny wasn't a part of that connection he had with them. It had always been a touchy subject between them.
Harry studied the picture with a big smile on his face…that night was probably one of the best nights of his life. They had went to dinner, then decided on a whim to Apparrate to New York City and they ended up partying at a Muggle club all night. Harry was not on the mood to be recognized.
Since they were at a Muggle club, Hermione had whipped out her Muggle camera and snapped away. She had asked their waitress to take a picture so they could have one of all three of them. Hermione was sitting down at the table and he and Ron were on either side of her from behind. Hermione was leaning back in her chair, her arms reaching up behind her, wrapping them around Harry and Ron, bringing their heads on both sides of hers.
The signs of heavy drinking were definitely there. They had goofy smiles on their faces and their eyes were watery and glazed. They all got pretty sloshed that night, but it was Hermione who was the worst. Harry couldn't remember her ever being that drunk before. With a grin on his face, Harry couldn't help but go back and remember that drunken, but unforgettable night…
"Harry…I have to tell you something," Ron slurred. "Something very important."
"What's that, mate?" Harry asked before taking a sip of the crown and coke the waitress gave him when he told her to surprise him.
"I'm starting to see two of you," he said seriously, before busting out laughing.
"Maybe that's a sign for you to slow it down, Ron," Harry said with a grin.
"Naaah!" he said waving it off. "I'm having a blast here in the…what do Muggles call it? The Huge Pineapple?"
Harry choked on his drink, laughing. "Yes, Ron…that's exactly right. Maybe you should go announce it to someone how much you love The Huge Pineapple."
"Okay," he said completely oblivious. "Maybe I will before the night is over."
"Harry!" Hermione came out of nowhere and plopped herself down on his lap, laughing hysterically.
Harry jolted when she had landed in her lap. "Woah…hey there, giggly."
That had just made Hermione giggle even more, causing Harry to lift an intriguing brown. "Maybe you should switch to beer and lay off the martinis."
"Don't be silly," Hermione scoffed. "I'm not even that drunk."
"Sure you're not, giggly."
Hermione snorted out a laugh. "Harry, stop it…I'm trying to tell you something."
"Lemme guess…you're seeing two of me?"
"What? No…Geez, there's only one Harry Potter, you know."
"Of course," he said with a smile. "How silly of me. What do you want to ask me?"
"I met a girl at the bar…"
"Did you really?" Harry shifted in his chair so he could look at Ron. "Your girlfriend just met a girl. I'd be worried."
"Harry!" she laughed slapping his arm. "Stop! I'm trying to tell you that she fancies you."
His brows lifted. "Really?"
"Yes, that long legged blonde girl with the fake boobs….she said you were totally hot. Her words."
"Well…she's totally hot, too," Harry said eyeing her. "My words."
"What do you mean by fake boobs?" Ron asked frowning as he looked over at the blonde.
"Oh, some Muggle girls get work done on them…have doctors make them bigger, smaller…maybe have them lifted."
"Really?" Ron asked interested. "Do witches do that? Use magic?"
"I don't know, Ronald," she said with exasperation. "Does it really matter? I'm sure as bloody hell not going to do it." She rolled her eyes and turned back to Harry. "Anyway, she asked me if we were together, but I assured her we were just friends."
"And sitting on his lap is a good way to assure her?" Ron asked and then looked at Harry. "And I'm sorry…but aren't you dating my sister?"
"Technically, they're still broken up," Hermione argued for Harry. "And this is our night to have a little fun…it's not like Harry's ever going to see her again."
"So it would be okay if I go up and snog her?"
"First of all…Ronald…she doesn't fancy you, she fancies, Harry. Second of all, it wouldn't be okay, because we are actually together." Hermione got up from Harry's lap and sat on Ron's. "And I'd have to hurt you if you did," she added sweetly as she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair then clenched a handful and squeezed hard. "Understood?"
Ron winced. "Yeah…understood, luv."
"Good," she said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Now…Harry…why don't you go and buy the pretty blonde a drink."
"I think I might," he said standing up with a grin. "You kids play nice."
Harry couldn't remember the pretty blonde's name but he did remember how it didn't take long for her to start snogging him. It was the accent that finally set her off, he recalled. She was a sucker for it. However, as the hours had passed she became clingy and Harry wanted to escape while he could when she went to the loo. He had tracked down Hemione and Ron immediately….
"Hey, we have to go," Harry said urgently. "Blonde girl's becoming clingy."
"You fay vat like vat's a bad fing," Ron slurred while Hermione was giggling so hard she was practically red in the face.
"Dear Merlin, you two didn't slow down, did you? Well…come on, let's go. I'll have to side along the two of you, luckily I slowed down on the drinking when I was with the blonde."
"Too busy snoggin' her," Ron snorted with a laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just go."
It was difficult, but somehow he got the two drunkards out of the crowded club and to an isolated spot in the alley to apparrate them back to the Burrow. He had to practically drag them to the Burrow, with Ron laughing at Hermione who was in the middle of singing some muggle rap song they had played at the club.
"I don't know what ja heard about me...but ja can't get a dollah out of me…dah, dah da…da…something, something, something…I'm a mother fuckin, P.I.M.P."
Ron hooted with laughter. "Herimione said, 'mother fuckin'. Did you hear her, Harry?"
"Yeah, kind of hard not to," he said and then thanked his lucky stars when he noticed that George and Percy were up and out in the gardens talking. Harry immediately called them out to help him. "Guys, take your drunken brother to bed, will you?"
"Georgie!" Ron exclaimed throwing his arms around him. "I wuv you, broad…you too, Perthy."
"Geez, Harry…what did you three do tonight?" George asked amused. "And is Hermione…singing?"
"Rapping actually," Harry said with a laugh as Hermione kept on rapping. "Attempting to at least," he added as he pushed a strand of her hair out of her face.
"What's a pimp?" Percy asked curiously.
"Er…a question for another day," Harry said, not wanting to explain that one at the moment. "I'm going to take her up…Ginny can help her get to bed."
"Good luck with that, mate," George said. "She's down right pissed at you about tonight."
"She'll have to get over it," he said as he shifted Hermione closer. "Let's go, my little rap star."
Hermione found that extremely funny and was laughing the whole way to her room. Harry had to help her with the stairs, she had stumbled quite a bit but it didn't seem to faze her much. "All right, Hermione, here we are…just let me open the door."
Hermione giggled as she leaned against him. "I wuv you, Hawey."
Harry smiled. "Yes, so you've told me at least five times since we left the club. You've been slipping it between your rapping."
"Well, you are my bestest friend!" she told him as she stumbled into the room with him.
"Okay, let's get you over to the bed," he whispered then winced when Ginny turned on her oil lamp by her bed. "Ginny…sorry to wake you…but can you help me out with her?"
Ginny scowled as she watched him plop a giggly Hermione on the bed and Harry nearly stumbled down with her. "Shouldn't Ron be putting his drunk girlfriend to bed?"
"Ron's just as bad as his drunk girlfriend," he said sitting on the bed next to Hermione, who was lying on her back singing a different song.
"Backstreets back, all right!"
Harry rolled his eyes and chuckled while he reached down to take off her shoes. "Are you going to help me, Ginny?"
"Why would I do that when I was completely shut out tonight? No…you got her this drunk, you take care of her."
Harry lifted a brown at her. "Fine…have it your way, then. Hermione…sweetie." He pulled her up to a sitting position. "Lift up your arms so I can remove your jumper…we need to get you out of these clothes."
Hermione giggled. "Okay," she said shooting her arms straight up over her head. "No peaking, Harry."
"I'll try not to."
Harry had barely grabbed the hem of her jumper when Ginny jumped out of bed. "On second thought…I'll put her to bed."
"Mmm-hmm, that's what I thought," he said letting go of Hermione's jumper. "Go grab her pajamas." While Ginny was furiously rummaging through Hermione's drawers, Harry knelt back down in front of Hermione. "Hermione, you can put your arms down, luv," he said, chuckling softly as he pulled them down to her sides. "Ginny's going to help you get dressed, okay?"
Hermione gave a little shrug. "Okay."
"Okay," Harry said with a smile. "I had fun with you, tonight."
"Me, too," she said throwing her arms around him. "Have I told you that I love you to pieces?"
Harry smiled. "Once or twice," he said pulling back and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "And the feelings mutual. You sleep good tonight…I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay…Night Harry," she said before lying back again and started singing.
Harry laughed, giving her one last look before turning and walked out of the room.
He had known Ginny was behind him, waiting for him to turn around or say something, but he hadn't wanted to deal with her. The morning was soon enough as far as he was concerned and he hadn't wanted anything to spoil that night. So needless to say, their relationship started off a little rocky, but they eventually got passed it.
But that night was one he would never forget. It was the start of their new lives. Where they could go out and act crazy, get drunk and be with people you cared most about, without having to look over your shoulder for danger. It was probably why they had all gotten so wild. For so long they had to keep themselves reserved, focus on the serious side of things, hardly ever being able to have any fun. That night they had let it all loose.
Harry gave one last fleeting look at the picture before he walked towards Nora's room. He opened it slowly and walked over to her crib that she was almost too big for. She was lying on face down on her stomach, but her knees were tucked under her, causing her little butt to be up in the air. She had her right cheek on her pillow with her passy half hanging out of her mouth while she was breathing deeply in her sleep.
"How do you sleep like that, munchkin?" he whispered as he pushed the passy gently back in her mouth and smiled softly when she started to suck lazily on it. "Love you," he said leaning down to kiss her temple. "Sweet dreams."
Harry let himself back out of her room then went to Hermione's since light was still glowing from beneath the door. He knocked softly before opening the door and smiled when he saw her on the bed with her laptop on her legs, typing away.
A few years back, when Hermione's kids were older and before Nora made her surprise appearance, Hermione had decided to take up writing. Something she had always wanted to do, but never seemed to have the time. Since she was a mother she had been inspired to write children's stories, but wizard and muggle. She was successful in both worlds, of course she was more recognized in the wizarding world, but every once in awhile a child or a mother of one would recognize her and ask for a picture or autograph.
She kept pretty private in the muggle world though, only doing a few book signings here and there. She would write up story after story for years, but once she found out she was pregnant with Nora, she took a step back from that world to focus on the newest member of her family. Harry knew she had missed it, so it was wonderful to see her at it again. She had mentioned that she was thinking about it and wondering if she could use the spare room downstairs off to the right of the living room as an office. She hadn't been sure then, but it looked like she was now. Nothing could have pleased him more.
"Hey."
The clatter of the keyboards stopped and she looked up and smiled. "Hey…I didn't even hear you."
"Not surprising since you were in a another universe," he said walking over and sitting next to her hip on the bed. "You're writing."
"Yes, I…I didn't even plan on it," she said and blew out a long breath. "I was just planning on getting here and…fiddling around the Internet. I was bored and decided to wait up for you, but the next thing I knew I was opening up a new document and I haven't stopped since. That was about…" She looked at the clock by her bed. "Two hours ago."
"I'm glad to see you writing again," Harry said with a smile. "Ron would be, too. So what are you writing? Muggle or Wizard version?"
"Muggle, but…I decided to make it a series." She smiled as she leaned back against the pillows. "About three good friends who meet at a mysterious magic school."
"Really?" he asked. "Sounds familiar."
"Yeah, a lot of these adventures I'm writing are definitely inspired by our own," she said with a laugh. "It's going to be an uplifting story, though, no Dark Lord in my little world."
"Good to know. They'll have to be some bad guys right? Maybe a Malfoy or a Goyle?"
Hermione laughed. "Oh, I've already made up a character that has Malfoy written all over it."
"I can't wait to read it."
"I'm actually going to dedicate the first book to Ron and Ginny," she added sheepishly. "Seemed the right thing to do."
Harry's heart melted as he reached over to take one of her hands. "I think that's a wonderful idea. They would love it I'm sure. It's a good way to let them know that they're gone, but not forgotten."
"I thought the same thing." She shared a smile with him, than sighed tiredly as she closed her laptop and set it aside. "I better call it quits before my hands start to cramp up."
"Tired?"
She gave a little shrug. "Not really surprisingly. You must be though…did you get stuff done at work?"
"Yeah, I'm caught up now," he said stifling back a yawn. "But yes, I'm pretty exhausted. By the way, I like where you put the pictures up so far…the wedding pictures side by side is a nice touch."
"Good, I'm glad you think so…I wanted to ask you about that…just seemed fitting to put them next to each other."
"I think it's great…I also loved the muggle picture of us in NYC. Took a little side trip down memory lane after seeing that picture."
Hermione groaned out a laugh. "I don't remember much towards the end of that night. I still don't believe that I was rapping."
Harry laughed. "I'll never forget it…it was the funniest thing. You were complete rubbish…but you put in a good effort."
"Yeah well…it was an interesting night and…" She trailed off as she looked at his cloak. "Harry, have I been looking at a computer screen too long or is your cloak moving?"
"My cloak?" he asked looking down and then his eyes widened. "Oh…I forgot! It was the craziest thing…I was leaving for work…passing an alley when I heard a little squeak. It was such a pathetic little sound I almost didn't hear it, but…I went in with the tip of my wand lit and…this little guy came running up."
He reached into his inside pocket of his cloak and pulled out a tiny black kitten that had obviously just woken up, because his green eyes were barely squinting open. "I just couldn't leave him."
"Oh, Harry," she cried softly reaching out to take the kitten. "He's so small…poor little thing." She curled the kitten to her chest and the kitten started to purr as he nuzzled against her neck.
"I know you never wanted to get a another cat after Crookshanks passed away," Harry said as he reached up and ran a finger over the kitten's tiny head. "But like I said, I couldn't leave him and…if you don't want him, I'm sure we can find a good home for him."
"No, I want him," she said giving the kitten kisses on the head before placing him down on the comforter. "This little guy found us, so it's only fitting we keep him. He looks like a Potter anyway…with his black hair and green eyes."
"I never thought of it that way," he said with a laugh as he shifted and lied back on Hermione's pillows since she was now sitting up playing with the kitten. "What should we name him?"
"I don't know," she said giggling when the kitten rolled on his back and batted his paws at her fingers. "It will come to us." Hermione smiled like a little kid as her and the kitten continued to play. She scratched his little ears, rubbed his tiny tummy and then slipped a hand over the covers creating circular movements for the kitten to pounce at playfully at. "Harry, he's just precious," she said looking over at him. "I…" Her words stopped abruptly when she saw that Harry was fast asleep, with his arms folded on his chest that was moving up and down slowly as he breathed deeply. "Just look at him, kitty," Hermione whispered as the special love she had for him swelled in her heart. "Fast asleep…completely exhausted."
The unnamed black kitten walked over on Harry's chest and then curled right up against the crook of his shoulder, burying his little head under his chin. "Oh, I see how it is," Hermione said with a smile. "Since Harry went and saved you and all, you already adore him." Hermione sighed as she removed his glasses, then leaned carefully over Harry to put them on the nightstand and turned off the light. In the dark she reached up and touched his messy bangs that brushed his forehead and caressed it back. "I guess I don't blame you, kitty." She leaned down and planted her lips on his forehead. "That's how he got me, too."
She then shifted and lied down right beside him, sharing her pillow with him. She probably should have moved over to the other side of the bed, but she couldn't make herself. Although she had gotten somewhat used to sleeping alone, she still missed his presence. She still missed the feel of a man wrapped up tight around her. So just for this one night, she'd indulge in the warmth and closeness Harry provided. He may not have his arms around her, but this would have to do. She lifted a hand and put it over Harry's that was lying on his chest and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep.