Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of HP but I do own this little plot.
Author's note: This chapter is dedicated to my best BFFFF Melissa who is an awesome writer and friend. I love you dear, even though you hate sap and I hate cynical.
Alright. Let's move on to the ninth step, which is of course just as important. However it is one of last few steps towards the final step and therefore is more than vital in securing her for life.
Now I may sound final when saying that but having proceeded thus far into the book, we will emphasize more on long-lasting relationships, and so if you are looking more of for flings, I suggest you put down this book immediately and peruse yet another book of mine, 8 Ways to Sweep Her off Her Broomstick.
Right, now let's move on to the ninth step:
9. Support her in all she does.
Like I've said before for the umpteenth time, this is simple. You have to support everything she does. If she's thinking about taking up a new sport like Quidditch or water-skiing, tell her you'll be there to watch her by the sidelines or help her. If she's thinking about starting a new book club or something of the sort, tell her you'll be there for the first meeting.
Essentially, whatever she wants to do, tell her that you'll be there to cheer her on and support her. Even if what she's planning to do sounds completely demented, offer the same line and try to be there to help her and support her.
The punch line of this chapter:
"Well, I don't really know much about it but if you want to do it, I'm behind you all the way." (Feel free to make it more supportive but this is just the basic line.)
So go out there and support her in all she does!
-12 Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, Chapter 9, Supporting Her
It was a perfectly normal Saturday morning in the apartment. Ron expectantly watched as Hermione carried over a steaming plate of eggs to the table while Harry carried the jug of orange juice over to the table, bringing up the rear. As Harry seated himself, Hermione slapped Ron's hand away from the plate of bacon rashers, while Ron pulled back his hand from the plate with a sheepish look gracing his features.
As usual, Hermione and Harry shared a look of amusement when Ron immediately went on to pile his plate high with eggs, sausages, and bacon rashers. Hermione picked up the jug of orange juice and poured three glasses of bright orange juice while Harry smiled his thanks silently as he took a sip from his glass before taking a bite of his bacon.
Yes, it was a perfectly normal morning in their household anyway.
Hermione speared a sausage with her fork and took a bite of it thoughtfully, chewing before she spoke into the serene silence that usually surrounded their breakfast table in the morning. "You know, I've been thinking lately."
Ron shot Harry an uh-oh look before trying to speak furtively with his mouth full. "Not a good sign, mate. Remember the last time she said that?" Harry hid his amused smile with yet another sip of his juice, remaining diplomatically silent, motioning Hermione to go on who gave him a grateful smile after shooting Ron a warning look, which Ron raised his hands at in defense, his mouth still full of bacon and eggs.
"Thank you Harry." Hermione said primly before setting down her fork, her eyes sparkling with interest as she continued. "I've been thinking lately and I want to try and branch out into other areas, other than just being a Healer." She clasped her hands at this and looked around the table, her eyes clearly seeking their comments and approval.
Harry spoke before Ron could, setting down his glass of orange juice. "You want to quit your job?" His voice held no hint of judgment but rather was an invitation for her to go on as he signaled to Ron not to say anything more which was not possible for the redhead anyway who was trying to swallow the food in his mouth.
"No, of course not!" Hermione shook her head vehemently, "I love my job and I don't want to quit. It's just…" She paused thoughtfully, "I want to do other things too." Ignoring Ron's derisive snort, Hermione picked up her fork to take a bite of the abandoned sausage. "You know how Kingsley's been elected Prime Minister, don't you?"
Harry nodded, recalling the elections which had taken place the other week which had had such feeble competition against the Auror and the member who had obviously been made for the job. He smiled at the thought of the Auror who had been a comfort to him during the war and was glad that now Kingsley was working as the Minister of Magic where hopefully he could undo the wrongs his predecessors had made.
"So," Hermione went on, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, an almost nervous and endearing habit Harry recognized. "I was thinking of setting up S.P.E.W." She gave a short nervous laugh, indicating how much she really wanted their support on this. "You know, professionally."
Ron choked on the bit of egg he had been swallowing, while Harry simply took a bite of his bacon rasher, more calmly.
S.P.E.W had been a society which protected house-elves that Hermione had thought about setting up in their fourth year at Hogwarts and he and Ron, Harry remembered with an almost fond smile, had been vehemently against the idea but had gone along with it, just to humor Hermione, taking part in all the meetings (which comprised of only the three of them and a few odd others like Neville) only out of mere obligation to Hermione.
"Are you crazy?" Ron managed, after coughing violently to spit his sausage out into a paper napkin. "Why would you want to do that? It's just so… so…"
Harry signaled with his eyes to Ron to stop talking which Ron did. Hermione was looking up at the both of them with a mixture of defiance and dismay. "You really think so?" Her voice was hushed slightly but she spoke firmly, and stood her ground. "I think it's a good idea. Now that Voldermort's gone, I think its something…something feasible." She looked straight at Harry, her eyes seeking his opinion earnestly.
Harry leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful as he answered the unspoken question in her eyes. "I think…" He paused to draw out his answer. "I think it's a good idea."
Immediately, Hermione's eyes brightened and Ron narrowed his at Harry. But Harry remained unfazed, his eyes distant as he continued.
"I've been thinking about Dobby lately." Harry admitted, looking down at the tablecloth now. "I want to do something for him and I think this might be the way to do it."
Hermione and Ron were respectfully quiet for a minute there. But Hermione was remembering that night at Shell Cottage, when although Ron had helped her in, insisting that she sit down at least, she had struggled to her feet to stand by the window and watch as tears streamed down her cheeks silently as she watched Harry, the intense pain of losing yet another dear one written all over his face, how he had laid Dobby to rest gently, almost reverently and how he had dug Dobby's grave personally, with every mechanical thunk of the shovel hitting the dirt, his misery had become almost unbearable for her to watch as she could almost feel her own heart writhing in pain.
She remembered it now, sitting in the morning sunlight and gently covered her hand with his, with a small smile. Harry looked up from the tablecloth, smiled and grasped her hand tightly as Ron watched them, another small smile on his own lips.
"We'll talk to Kingsley tomorrow if he can make time to speak to us." Harry promised her. "Let's make it official in Dobby's memory."
And Hermione nodded, her smile growing wider.
**********************
And so they did. Kingsley listened to their idea, and applied it in a methodical way of his. He had been all for it, although they weren't exactly sure how the rest of the wizarding world would take it, but Kingsley reasoned that they would have to accept it eventually. It would be a new change for the elves in status, a new change that would rock the foundation of the wizarding world, something that would be not be as big as Voldemort's death, but something sensational.
And now S.P.E.W was officially up and running, with Hermione as the head of it. Already, they had more than 20 elves trying to find real jobs under them, which was something to celebrate, seeing as how S.P.E.W had only opened last week. And now, Hermione thought, smiling to herself, as she leaned against her new desk, with a pleased smile on her face, what she had hoped for had eventually come true.
She would be very much busier of course but she would continue her job at St. Mungos' out of the office, still helping to find cures for elusive illnesses but she would be very much attached to her office here and she had already met all the elves who seemed to be adjusting quite well to being free and were even beginning to like the idea of having real work to do and being paid for it.
Just then, a knock came at the door. "Come in," She called, the happiness in her voice evident and her smile widening as she saw it was Harry.
He walked in, wearing his trademark grin, his emerald eyes sparkling. "How's the new head of S.P.E.W? Feeling a little overworked?" He teased as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he tightened his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"How could I be?" Hermione smiled, leaning away from him slightly, his arms still looped around her waist. "I couldn't be overworked, doing the things that make me happy."
Harry grinned down at her. Merlin, he loved to see her smile, to see her happy, like this. "I'm glad to see you so happy." He admitted softly, removing one of his hands from around her waist to smooth a curl out of her eyes.
Hermione smiled up at him and gently kissed him on the lips, surprising him, "Thanks for always supporting me, Harry." She reached up to push some of his raven locks out of his eyes. "I could never have done it without you."
"Anytime." Harry lowered his lips to hers once more in a tender kiss before pulling away to smile at her. "Ready to go for lunch?"
"Let's go."
And the both of them walked out of her office, hand in hand as a beam of sunlight from the crack in her curtains hit the wall opposite where a gleaming plaque hung. And it glinted almost proudly in the sunlight, its words in polished brass reading:
For Dobby, A Free Elf.
I wasn't planning on making it this long but it just wrote itself! Hope you guys liked it and please review!