Chapter 8--Protection
"I want you to work with me," Hermione blurted out moments after they sat down at the restaurant they had chosen.
"I don't know if that'd be a great idea, Hermione. Truthfully, I have trouble taking orders from anyone and if they were from you, I think I may have issues with that," Harry responded slowly wondering if her way of asking for his help was the only way he could help her.
"I didn't mean for me to be your boss and you one of my team. I was talking about splitting my job. After two months of trying to everything myself, I realized I can't. I NEED help and you are the only other person I trust out there that could hold up the other end."
Harry stared at her, his water glass halfway to his mouth knowing how hard it was for her to admit she was failing at something. Slowly, he set the glass back down trying to make sure if she was serious. Her face was unreadable, which was unusual…but so had the last two weeks.
"Hermione…," he began in a measured tone.
"I'm serious, Harry. I can see you aren't sure whether to believe me or not, but every since I've had Ben I've realized that I can't do everything," she smiled as Harry rolled his eyes, having told her that numerous times over the past thirteen years. Reaching over she laid her hand on his. "I am asking for your help. But if you don't want to, there are no hard feelings. I can go through the applications and begin interviewing."
Giving Harry a bit of extra time to think the waiter appeared and began telling them about the specials for that evening.
They had decided on a Muggle restaurant in downtown London, not far from Grimmauld. Fleur was over watching both children, which was easy since they had gone to bed before Harry and Hermione had left. Fleur had seemed very happy that they were going out, even though Harry felt slightly uncomfortable that he was going on a date with someone who was still viewed as his sister-in-law. He knew that he should've felt this way months ago when they had ended up in her bed, but things happened so quickly the thought never entered his head. Now, they were broadcasting that they were going out, and Hermione had used the word "date". Fleur had just kissed their cheeks and told them to have a wonderful time.
"Basically I need someone to help me train the other aurors. Everyday we get new people and they need to be tested both physical and on written exams. We meet every morning to go over the various reports of any activity someone may have heard about. We have everyone read newspapers from all over the world to see if any Muggle news is really something for us to be concerned about. Once a quarter we will go on a drill and practice what we've learned, learn our physical limits, practice rotating watches, work with other groups that are dedicated as our section of the Ministry is. Does that sound like something you'd like to think about doing?" Hermione had talked to fast she didn't leave him any chance to jump in and question her so he sat back and made sure she was done her explanation. He took her biting into a warm roll as a `yes'; the ball was now in his court.
"It does, but I'd like to make sure Janie is able to handle herself in the ministry's day care facility. Would it be a problem to give it a few days? Charles is supposed to contact me when he returns from Australia and I'd like to observe Janie for a bit longer." He made his answer sound very formal when in reality he could feel his heart accelerate in excitement. This is what he had wanted to do and had briefly forgotten about it due to his daughter's needs.
"I totally understand, Harry. Take the time you need. The next few weeks will be the least busy for all of us aurors …unless something happens. Our next drill isn't until September and we'll begin working on the logistics of that at the beginning of June." She stopped abruptly as the waiter brought them their French Onion Soup.
"Now," Hermione looked away from the waiter's retreating back and at Harry, her grin reaching her eyes for the first time that day, "Shall we leave work behind us and just enjoy eating without any children?"
Their dinner passed by pleasantly and not once did they talk of Ron or Ginny. He didn't want their evening to end but when he looked at his watch and found it was almost 10:30, he reluctantly brought up the fact that it was time to relieve Fleur of her babysitting obligation.
"It's that late already?" Hermione gasped pushing back her sleeve and looking at her own watch. "I'm sorry…I guess I just lost track of time. Takes two glasses of wine for me to do that I guess," she laughed and Harry smiled amusedly. Rarely Hermione drank but when she did it was good wine, only two glasses, which was enough to get her tongue even more loosened and for her to become unusually touchy-feely.
As they walked down the block, only a half mile to Harry's house, she took his hand and held it between both of hers.
"Do you feel weird knowing that Ginny, and Ron too, are available for you to talk to at any time now?" she asked quietly leaning her head against his arm.
"A bit, but I could tell just in the few minutes I did talk to them it's not really THEM. Does that make sense?" Harry tugged Hermione back from the curb as a taxi sped around a turn ignoring pedestrians in the crosswalk. She stumbled back and he wrapped an arm around her waist, not knowing if her sense of balance was off from the wine or the way she wasn't really paying attention to her surroundings. They crossed the one way street and entered the residential area slowing down mutually, knowing that the stress of children would settle upon their shoulders once they approached Harry's house a few blocks away.
Hermione let go of his hand and slid her arm around his waist falling into step beside him.
"I was highly uncomfortable at first, thinking he was watching my every move, thinking he'd be talking constantly, but I found that wasn't the case. He asked about Ben, you, Janie, Neville…everyone I thought he'd ask after but I agree…they just seem…flat."
"Well, they are a painting on canvas you know," Harry joked feeling Hermione's silent laughter under his arm.
"Yeah," she sighed smiling, "that is true. But I wonder…I wonder what he'd say if he knew we went out on a date tonight." She stumbled over a break in the sidewalk and Harry steadied her then stopped in mid-stride hearing Ron's last words ringing in his ears. Her arm still around him she turned and looked at him, questioning with a raise of her eyebrow why they had stopped.
"He told me, as you know, to take care of you and Ben," Harry started feeling an anxious heaviness settle in his chest, one that he had felt moments after Janie was placed in his arms.
He recognized it as a fierce protectiveness that had now encapsulated Hermione and Ben; as much as she said she didn't need it, he could tell that she did whether she realized it or not. The old Hermione could've handled the new job without a hitch, but the one standing against him who had her legs pulled out from under her quite suddenly was a newer, more cautious, more family oriented Hermione. He was fairly sure by the way he felt holding her on the street that he was experiencing more than friendly feelings for her which made him want to keep her safe at any cost.
"And," he pulled her closer, cupping her face in his free hand locking his eyes with her. "I hope I have made him proud…and I want him to know I'll never stop trying to keep you two safe."
A realization dawned on him so quickly he froze not hearing Hermione ask him what was wrong.
"Nothing. I just realized that the root of my anger with you leaving was because I couldn't keep you safe." His eyes widened as sense began trickling into his brain and he continued talking while looking at a point over her shoulder. "It wasn't you specifically, Hermione. I was never mad at you, I don't think I ever could be…but it was the fact that I didn't know where you were so if harm came to you I couldn't be there. That's one of the reasons I took Ben from your parents, I truly wanted them to go on that trip but if he was in my care I could watch him."
"Harry," Hermione tried to interject but he just shook his head knowing that he would have to accept that Auror position and tell her, now. He felt Janie was doing well and given that she'd only be around little kids there wouldn't be that much magic for her to absorb.
"Hermione, I accept your job offer. It's something I truly want to do and it'll calm my fears of not being there for you when you do need me." He realized how selfish it sounded, but he wasn't about to lose anymore of his loved ones; and this way he would be able to help keep the rest of society safe at the same time.
The hug he received from Hermione was an indication that she didn't think he was selfish at all.
---
After checking on the children, Harry joined Hermione on the sofa and gratefully took the small firewhiskey she offered him. They relaxed in a comfortable silence and even though Harry couldn't tell what Hermione was thinking he figured it couldn't be too serious. She had her legs stretched out on the coffee table, her head rested against the back of the sofa and while her eyes were closed she was smiling just a bit. The thoughts that ran through his head had to do with bedtime. Was she going to move Ben or leave him in the other twin bed in Janie's room? If so, where was she going to sleep?
"You're quiet Harry, what're you thinking about?" she asked while keeping her eyes closed. Quickly, Harry thought of an appropriate response.
"That next time, I'm paying."
"Ah, well. I asked you so it was only fair that I paid for dinner this time around."
"Still…," Harry murmured trying hard to tear his eyes from her restful face but the moment she reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear he realized there was no hope of that happening.
"You can pay me back another way," Hermione said slyly leaving Harry unsure as to whether there was a double entendre there or if she was just tipsy. His small glass of firewhiskey was settling warmly in his veins, loosening him up enough to take the road that was very well less traveled.
Carefully setting his almost empty glass on the table he moved closer and without touching her anywhere else, he leaned in and kissed her slowly. The coil of indecisiveness began unraveling as her free hand slid up his back then using him as leverage she pulled herself up, managing to place her drink on the table without so much as breaking their kiss. Taking each moment as it came but paying close attention to her body language ready to pull away when she gave any type of signal he drew her close, curling his hand in her hair.
In unison they fell back on the couch, limbs tangled, movements becoming more sensuous, more meaningful. As her lips traced the contour of his ear he arched against her, the involuntary movement startling him as much as it did Hermione who pushed right back against him.
"Hermione, I don't want…I don't want you to think…," Harry faltered trying to tell her his thoughts but failing miserably. His hands had settled on her hips, relishing in the feel of her pressed against him and the way her lips skimmed across his jaw.
"Shhh, Harry." Her lips moved against his. "What are you worried about?"
"Us," Harry admitted reaching up and pulling her head back a bit so he could look at her. His hands framed her face and he felt her hands gently mimic the position on him.
"Why?" Her eyes searched his carefully and now that he was this close to her with a light on he was amazed to see a bit of dark green glinting in her eyes. Or was that his reflection?
"I care for you and I think I want to make sure we are doing this because…well…so we…dammit," Harry sighed exasperated and let his hands fall to her shoulders. It was never this difficult with Ginny because he knew they had the same feelings from the moment they first kissed.
"Look at me."
Harry opened his eyes and focused on her eyes realizing that his glasses had somehow come off during their little session on the couch.
"I'm just as unsure as you, Harry. But I do enjoy and always have enjoyed, being with you and I'd like to think that since we are here obviously enjoying this moment, that we are a bit beyond just plain friendship. I think of you a lot, Harry…you don't know how much your face crosses my mind every day when I'm not with you."
Harry raised his hand to her cheek, staring in wonderment. She whispered something as she kept her eyes locked to his and suddenly, he felt himself rocketing into thoughts that weren't his:
Being proposed to by Ron at a Quidditch game on Hermione's 20th birthday.
Himself giving Hermione a huge hug after seeing her ring.
The guests at the double wedding with Viktor among them; he was standing next to Viktor talking about the latest Quidditch trades.
Seeing Hermione hold Ben seconds after he was born.
It was at that moment he collected himself enough to know that these were private memories she was sharing with him. He hadn't made it to the hospital until hours after Ben was born since he was home with Janie, who was only a month old at the time, and a tired, cranky Ginny. He wondered if this invasion on her private thoughts was a mistake and was about to retreat and pull out until he caught sight of Hermione walking into her office, sitting down and dialing his cell number.
He saw her place the picture of him and Janie on the desk and watched her turn towards the hall where Ron had called her name from his portrait.
His voice sounded distant but he could make out every word.
"You miss him don't you?"
Harry could feel the conflicting emotions in Hermione and was shocked at how powerfully she felt them. He was actually feeling them for himself, through her. (He briefly had an independent thought thinking Ron was right back in their 5th year; a girl couldn't feel all this or she would explode!) Harry could see the guilty look cross her face for thinking "Yes" immediately. He could tell she was unhappy that she wasn't able to be in Rome and help Harry plus she was also a bit mad at George for blindsiding her with the portraits and, finally, excited that Harry called her back after not answering his cell the first time she called.
He saw a moment of them in bed together and felt a thrill run through his body.
He saw her stressing out at her parents house hurriedly giving instructions about Ben.
Suddenly, he was taken to a very hilly area with numerous people he didn't know and saw Hermione go flying backwards after being hit by a spell. She clamored to her feet, smiled and pointed at someone congratulating him on a job well done. He heard a voice out of the field of her vision laughing at Hermione.
"I bet Harry Potter couldn't knock you off your feet like that!"
Hermione turned and Harry could see a small smile on her face, barely being able to decipher her response, "He already has."
Switching memories, he know saw her in a large training facility doing what looked like karate. Moments later he watched her take a rest, flip open her cell and glance down at a picture Harry had sent of him and Janie standing near a pile of historic ruins in Rome.
He saw her sitting at a table in a conference room somewhere in the Ministry talking to Charles who was nodding and listening intently, finger tapping his chin as he took in her verbal history of Harry, Ginny and Janie.
Feeling dizzy from all the memory switching he was abruptly dropped into her office where she was sitting at her desk, door half closed, head in her hands and a letter open next to her which was in her handwriting. He caught a glimpse of it as she turned it towards her: Harry, I know you are angry, as I would be if you had just up and left without telling me. I'm so sorry, but my work demands…
Harry heard Ginny's voice telling Hermione that Harry would be angrier to get that in a letter rather than her talking to him in person. It was then that Harry realized how scared she had been of confronting him in person to apologize.
An image of her holding an infant that looked like Baby Alison flitted across his vision before he pulled out blinking rapidly to bring her face into focus.
"Hermione you never have to be scared of me. I was angry but would never hurt you, you have to know that!" he
said fervently leaning up and pressing his lips to hers.
"I know, but I wasn't sure if you'd even talk to me. I know now everything is fine," she said meekly, sounding exhausted with what she had just shared with him. Harry felt the tide shift giving him the strength to discuss his feelings with her as she rested her head on his shoulder. Not being able to see her face he wasn't sure if she was truly tired or just a bit embarrassed for sharing all her personal thoughts.
"I can not imagine anything you could ever do where I would never talk to you again," he ran his hand down her back, smoothing her shirt with the palm of his hand. "I've told you that many times."
"Yes, you have and you know I feel the same," she mumbled into his shoulder. He couldn't think of any response to her but none was needed as she twisted off of him, laid her head on his shoulder and promptly fell asleep.
-->