Hey guys and gals! Here's another update. Enjoy and keep the reviews coming as always. I love 'em!
p.s. Any Americans out there excited about the football season as much as I am! Just weeks away! Man, I've missed it!
~HM
Chapter 29
On the first day of classes at Hogwarts, the sky opened up and rain poured continuously around the ground. It was the reason Albus was stretched out on his four poster bed instead of outside. He had his first class under his belt which was Potions and had a little over an hour until Charms, which he had with the Ravenclaws, which meant he'd get to see Mia.
However, as much as Mia has been able to occupy his mind, another matter was clouding over his mind. A matter that had occurred the night before they left for Hogwarts. A matter in which he saw something he shouldn't have seen and now didn't know what to do about it. Even now his mind couldn't help but wander to that night and what he saw.
It had been late and he was just about to go to bed when he all of the sudden he became incredibly thirsty. It was probably all that pizza and Dr. Pepper he had for dinner and now his throat was all dried up. He started to just go to the bathroom and take a few gulps from the tap, but a large glass of ice water sounded good, so he decided to make a quick trip to the kitchen.
He went down the steps to the second floor, trying to tread lightly so he wouldn't wake anybody. He knew how cranky Lily could get if someone woke her up. He was halfway down the second flight of stairs when he heard Aunt Hermione's giggle merging with his Dad's soft chuckle. Amused, he stopped for a second, wondering what was so funny to cause his Aunt to laugh like that. It was almost…flirty
Ridiculous, he thought shaking his head as he kept going, but couldn't help but go quieter so they wouldn't hear him. He was hearing low murmurs between them now, so low he couldn't make out what they were saying. He paused once more at the bottom of the steps, now knowing they're voices were floating from the den. He was about to open his mouth to make himself known but the soft distant sounds of low sighs and soft smacks made his heart plummet to his belly.
He knew those sounds…he know them well now that he had a girlfriend. But surely not…surely he was just imagining things. Surely. But even as he was trying to talk himself into believing it, he crept closer to the edge of the wide doorway that led into the den. With his heart racing he slowly inched his head around the frame only to snap it quickly back and shut his eyes as he leaned against the wall. It was quick, but he saw enough in that quick flashing peek. They were on the couch and his father had his aunt pressed up against the end of the sofa…snogging the hell out of her.
Merlin…oh bloody hell, he never should have come down. Why? Why did he have to see this? What was he going to do? How was he going to go on without seeing that image in his head. Dad's weren't allowed to snog…especially snog someone's aunt!
"Harry…wait."
Albus few open his eyes and his body tensed at the sound of her voice.
"What's wrong?"
He should go back. He really should not be eavesdropping. However, he stayed where he was and slowly peaked back around. His dad was looming over her, but they were no longer snogging.
"We should stop…the kids…"
"Are fast asleep," Harry assured her as he bent his head towards hers.
She placed a hand over his mouth before he could make contact and smiled. "Harry," she warned.
Although Albus couldn't see his mouth, he knew his Dad was smiling from the crinkles at the corner of his eye that was visible to him. Then all of the sudden she yelped, causing Albus to jump and quickly move back out of site.
"Harry! You bit my hand!"
"That's not all I plan on biting"
Ew! Gross!
Hermione laughed. "All right, back off…I need some air."
Albus heard him give a groan of protest but the sound of shifting made him realized he did as he was asked.
"You're killing me, Mione."
"I know…it's killing me, too…but better safe than sorry. I wouldn't want any of the kids finding out about us this way."
He sighed. "I guess you're right."
Silence
"Don't…Mione, I know that look…don't feel guilty."
Albus decided to chance it and snuck half his head out to see his Dad touching the side of Aunt Mione's cheek.
"We both agreed it was for the best…there's no need to tell them until we're sure…"
"That you and I will work," she finished for him. "I know…but I feel like we're deceiving them…I love them all so much…I don't like betraying them."
"Hermione…look at me. Look at me," he repeated cradling her face with his both hands now. "We're not betraying them…we're not," he said again firmly when she opened her mouth to protest. "You and I…what's happening between us…it's scary…exciting." He kissed her softly. "Wonderful." He kissed her again. "And you and I need time to ourselves to explore this scary, exciting and wonderful thing we've found between us."
"We didn't plan this."
"No…of course we didn't Mione…it just happened. We'll tell the kids…when the time is right."
He snuck away after that, quietly heading upstairs until he was alone in his room. He had a difficult time getting to sleep that night; he was too wrapped up in what he saw and was trying to figure out how he felt about it. Now, days later he still had no clue how he felt.
He hadn't told anyone, although a part of him was dying to share. It was something that had always been in the front of his mind since it happened. The first time it completely left his mind was when he first saw Mia at 9 ¾. She was good at distracting him from time to time.
"Albus?"
He turned to the sound of the voice he knew all too well. "Hey…I was just thinking about you."
Mia smiled. "Really?" she asked walking to his bed. "Good things I hope."
"Of course."
"Am I disturbing you?"
"Not at all," he said scooting over and patted the spot beside him. "Come join me."
Blushing slightly, Mia crawled onto his bed next to him, then immediately felt safe and warm in his arms. Yet, she could still feel some distance from him…like something was troubling him. "Albus?
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay? You've seemed…distracted lately."
He sighed. "Have I?"
"Yes…I'm sorry if I'm prying, I'm just a little worried."
"No…don't' be sorry, Mia…it's not your fault, and you're right…I have been a little bothered about something."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
He opened his mouth to politely decline, but instead words describing that night started pouring out of him. He told her everything…every word, every touch and every kiss that he witnessed between his Dad and Aunt Mione. She didn't say a word while he talked or interrupted him with questions or opinions. She laid perfectly still with her head resting against the crook of his shoulder and just listened.
"Wow," she said once he was done.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Wow."
"That's a lot to take in…no wonder you've been distracted." She shifted so she could look down at him. "Are you angry?"
"I'm a lot of things," he said as he started to play with the strand of hair that had swept over his chest when she moved. "Surprised, confused…maybe a little weirded out…but no…I don't think I'm angry."
"Do you think the mistletoe incident started it?"
"I've thought about that actually, and I don't think so. I remember how relaxed Dad had been when he asked James to go get Aunt Mione…he didn't look nervous or awkward at all. At the time I didn't give it much thought….I was too anxious to get back in the pool with you." He paused to lift her hand and kissed her fingers. She blushed and Albus smiled in amusement. She was so darn cute.
She cleared her throat. "Ah…so…you think something happened before that?"
"That's what I'm guessing…Those two have been best friends forever. I guess that's why a part of me isn't really surprised. They've always had this connection…a different kind than the one my dad had with mum…but the connection was strong. So…the more and more I think about it, the more it…"
"Makes sense?" she finished for him when he hesitated.
"Yeah," he admitted, relieved she understood him. "I know it sounds weird, but it's like a hazy cloud lifted from my mind and the two of them together is the most natural thing in the world. Of course…of course they belong together…of course they've discovered these new feelings. No one out there knows them as well as they know each other. No one out there could make them happy like they can make each other happy."
"It's not weird," she assured him. "Are you going to tell Rosie and the rest of your family?"
"I've wanted to," he said after a pondering moment. "It's been torturous keeping the secret, but the truth is…it's not my secret to tell. I shouldn't even know about this…I only know because I'm a conniving little eavesdropper. They'll tell us when they're ready. I don't want to ruin anything or cause any drama. I have no idea how everyone is going to feel about it."
"Probably exactly how you felt. Shocked at first…a bit odd to think about…then they'll realize how happy they are together and will embrace it. Who wouldn't? It's wonderful. Just wonderful." She let out a dreamy sigh. "It's almost like a fairytale. Love is lost through tragedy, yet found again through friendship…the first step to love is friendship."
Unbearably moved, Albus kissed her fingers again. "You're right, Mia. We started out as friends."
"I hope we still are," she said as she shivered.
"Yes, but I can't do this to just a friend," he said with a teasing grin before quickly rolling her over on her back.
She let out a breathless laugh as he loomed over her. "You have a point," she said before meeting his eager mouth with hers.
"How much time do we have till Charms?" he asked as he carefully let most of his weight press down on her. The discussion about his dad and aunt was now over as far as he was concern. They've occupied too much of his time and now that he was alone with Mia he surely wasn't going to waste it.
She sighed at the feel of his body pinning her to the bed. As he kept his mouth busy on her neck she managed to lift the arm that held her Wizard Wristwatch she had programmed to match her schedule. "My watch says, Plenty of time. We're okay until it says…wow…that feels good."
He grinned as he trailed kisses up her jaw. "Until it says what?"
"Hmm? Oh…um…You're cutting it close."
Albus chuckled. "Well…we better take advantage of the time we have left."