A is for Arsenal
The last week had left one Hermione Granger in a whirlwind. She typically prided herself in not having distractions. Harry's proposition had stunned her. She would be lying if she weren't the least bit curious as to how the next half-year would go.
She couldn't help but feel apprehensive. She feared that the outcome of this dating game would somehow hinder their relationship, and Hermione couldn't imagine ever losing his friendship. She depended on his friendship. She needed him to be there.
She also wasn't sure of his feelings towards her. Did he actually feel for her as more than a friend? When she voiced the question to Ginny and Luna earlier that week, they laughed at her.
It wasn't even a straight answer, they simply laughed. Hermione found herself frustrated at her friend's lack of answers for her, and in turn refused to tell them her plans for `A'.
To go along with her friend's wisecracks, she had barely spoken to Harry. She had seen and spoken to him once that week, and even that was brief. She was working her late night shift at St. Mungo's when Draco and Harry had been sent in to be checked out by one of her colleague's after a raid.
Their conversation lasted no more than five minutes. He assured her that he was okay, and they would speak on Friday to finalize plans. He left her with a light kiss on the cheek before disapperating.
She sighed to herself as she continued to poor over one of her patient's charts. It was closing in on noon. Fridays were typically days where both Hermione and Harry had half days, so they had planned to meet at her flat around four after owling each other that morning.
She vowed to finish the last of her paperwork before apparating back to her flat to get read for weekend A of Draco Malfoy's brilliant plan. Shaking her head, she got to work.
Harry Potter found himself in much the same position as Hermione. Friday's were typically days that he and Draco reserved to catch up on their paperwork. He found himself grow more anxious as the minutes ticked by, and Draco was quick to pick up on the raven-haired wizard's demeanor.
"You keep up like this on the date tonight and Granger is liable to tell you to fuck off entirely," the blonde said with a laugh in his voice.
"Sod off, Malfoy. I'm nervous enough without your commentary to add to it."
"Do you know what you're doing yet?"
Harry shook his head. "All her owl said is to dress muggle casual, but warm. We're grabbing a bite to eat at a pub first before her planned activity."
"Where the bloody hell is she taking you where you have to dress warm? And you have to dress muggle at that? Do you have any idea whatsoever?"
"None," he said as a smirk graced his face. "That's `Mione for you."
"Well, all I have to say is that if you plan on shagging her senseless tonight at least make sure you both make it to my son's first birthday tomorrow. Ginny would hex off my bits if his godparents didn't show," Draco said as he grimaced at the thought.
Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Ginny loves me too much to hex off my bits. Her mother would be deeply angry with her if she did that because then she wouldn't get any grandchildren from me."
Harry's laughed deepened when a piece of rolled parchment flew at him, and missed by a long shot.
Hermione smiled as she pulled a jumper over her head. Harry was due to arrive at any minute. She grabbed an ID and some muggle money from her dresser before she left the confines of her bedroom. She wasn't surprised to see Harry already sitting quietly on her couch flipping through a magazine.
He looked up the moment she entered the room, and smirked. "You know, my dear sweet, innocent Hermione, if you're so interested in finding out how to seduce a man. .I have no problem being used as a test subject," he said smugly as he held up her most recent copy of Cosmopolitan.
Laughing, she stepped forward to snatch the magazine out of her hands. "Hush. You ready to go? We don't have to be there until seven o'clock so we can grab a bite to eat first. Is that okay?"
"Sure. I'm famished. Malfoy wouldn't shut up today so I didn't exactly get to enjoy lunch with him."
Hermione laughed knowingly. She explained to him that they would simply take the bus to where they needed to go since the pub was within a block from her date destination.
"Have you picked up Ryan's birthday present?"
Harry shrugged sheepishly. "Not yet. I thought I'd stop in Diagon Alley tomorrow morning before the party."
"Don't bother. I got one of those kiddie brooms at Quality Quidditch Supplies. It can be a gift from both of us," she told him, lowering her voice so they weren't heard.
"Are you sure?
"Positive. What better than him godparents giving him his favorite gift? Ginny said he would be ecstatic and Draco is livid that he didn't get to buy the gift."
"A way to piss of Malfoy and make me the best godfather? I'm in."
Hermione laughed as she shook her head. "Sometimes you guys will never change."
She mused about how far they had come since their Hogwarts days. It was hard to believe that Draco and Harry were both partners in the Elite Auror Division, but they were the best the Ministry had. It made her proud to see how far Draco and Harry had come to actually become partners and friends. Though they picked on each other every now and then, it was all in good fun.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked softly with his mouth close to her ear.
She shivered slightly feeling his hot breath on her. "Just thinking how things have changed."
He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Everything okay, love?"
"Of course. Look! Here's our stop."
She stood from her seat, and took Harry's hand in hers as she guided him off the bus. Their hands, unbeknownst to the, stayed joined together even as they entered the pub.
They talked quietly throughout their meals. It was mostly idle chat about their busy weeks with Hermione discussing some of her current patients while Harry told her about the case he and Draco were working on.
"Alright, spill it. What are we doing tonight?"
Hermione smiled. She knew he was dying to know the answer to the question since the previous week. "You really want to know?"
He nodded his head. "Tell me already!"
She reached into her bad pocket and slid two slips of paper across the table to Harry. Curious, he picked them up only to realize that they were tickets. Two tickets to see the Arsenal football club play Fulhem that night at Emirates Stadium.
He may have been a Quidditch player, but he grew up in a muggle household. He knew who the Arsenal was.
"Where in the world did you get these, Hermione? This game has been sold out for weeks!"
"Daddy gave them to me a few weeks ago. He was originally going to go with my uncle but something came up. I was actually planning on asking you to come anyhow, but once you brought up the A to Z idea I knew that I should take `A'. I remember you telling me a few weeks ago that you always wanted to go to an actual football game. Is this okay?" she asked a bit sheepishly.
"Okay? This is bloody brilliant!" He stood from his seat to go to her. She felt his arms quickly lift her out of her seat. "You're amazing. Thank you."
She wrapped her arms around his torso to hug him in return. "My pleasure. I'm going to go play the bill so we can get out of here."
Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulder as they started towards the stadium. Once they found their seats, Hermione smiled as she watched Harry's bright and excited face.
Hermione knew next to nothing about football. She knew that there were players on the field who kicked a ball back and forth, but that was the extent of it. Harry fully enjoyed being the teacher when she had told him this little fact as they walked into the stadium together.
She listened intently as Harry explained positions, rules, and penalties. Harry had to admit that he enjoyed being the teacher in place of Hermione's usual role. By Halftime, Hermione was fully into the game just as much as he was.
Two and a half hours later, the friends walked hand in hand to Hermione's apartment.
"'A' is complete," Harry said as they approached the door to her flat.
She nodded. "'A' is done," she repeated softly. "I would have to say it was a success, wouldn't you?"
Harry's brow lifted in surprise. "You mean to tell me that I already won a Miss Hermione Jane Granger over?" he asked, full well knowing that it wasn't what she meant.
Laughing, she pushed him playfully. "No, you prat. I had fun. Thanks for explaining the game of football to me. Daddy will be proud that I'll actually know what he's talking about now."
Harry shrugged. "Might as well keep up the tradition. I had to explain Quidditch to you. Why not explain football as well?" He ran a hair nervously through his already messy dark hair. "Did you want to head over to the Malfoy's together tomorrow? I can meet you here around noon."
"That sounds fine." Without thinking, Hermione leaned towards Harry to wrap her arms around her waist. While hugging him tightly, she placed a soft and light kiss on his cheek when she felt his arms enwrap her body. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Potter."
He smiled as he pulled away. "Aye, Miss Granger. Thanks for a great first date. Your idea was brilliant. Now,
I've got to one up you."
Hermione laughed as she stepped away to open her door. "Goodnight, Harry."
With a wink and small wave, he said, "Night `Mione." Suddenly, he was gone and Hermione smiled to himself.
She never could understand how he could apparate without a sound.
"Aunt Mimi!" Hermione smiled softly when she saw young red head make a beeline straight for her and Harry. The young girl stopped in front of the duo and looked at Harry with a wide smile. "Hi Uncle Harry!"
Harry crouched down to meet the young girl at eye level. "Hi there, Miss Emily. How are you?"
She giggled as she threw her tin arms around Harry's neck allowing him to lift her. "I'm great! Mommy said we get to have cake after Ryan opens his presents! Daddy told me we could taste it before though. You know. Just to make sure it's okay for everyone to eat."
Hermione had to cover her mouth as to not laugh at Draco's antics. "Where is your Mommy, Emily? I want to make sure she doesn't need any help."
"She is inside changing Ryan's nappy. Gramma Malfoy and Grammy Weasley are inside with her."
"I'm going to go inside, alright Harry?"
He nodded, playfully jiggling the young Malfoy in his arms. He smiled while the young girl giggled. "This one is going to show me where her uncles and Daddy are hiding. Let me know if you need anything, Hermione." He told her as she walked towards the house.
Harry talked with Emily as he made his way over to the backyard where the pint sized red head had told him where her uncles and father were. Her cousins were played a few feet from the men of the Weasley family, and Harry immediately realized that they had babysitting duties while the `women' prepared for the party. The group was gathered around a large picnic table with glasses ale in front of them. Behind them was another table loaded with gifts and a spot where the birthday cake was to go.
The small pint started wiggling in his arms wildly. "Uncle Harry! Let me down!"
Harry laughed trying to keep a hold on her. "Why would I want to do that, little one? I want to keep you!"
"What are you doing to my daughter, Potter?"
Harry sent a smug smirk at his partner and friend. "I'm spending quality time with my goddaughter, Malfoy. Problem with that?"
"I do! I want to spend some quality time with my niece, Harry!"
Harry looked to see his oldest friend sitting amongst his family of five brothers with the `adopted' brother Draco Malfoy, his blonde hair a dark contrast to the Weasley's red.
"Oh hush up Weasley," Harry joked back as Emily finally broke free. The young girl laughed as Harry chased her towards the swarm of men. Within minutes, she found her seat in her father's lap.
But not before placing a wet kiss on her Uncle Ron's cheek. Harry couldn't help but smile. This was his family, and the only thing to make it complete was for Harry to be with Hermione. He was determined to prove to Hermione that it was supposed to be Hermione and Harry in the end. They were perfect together and they were perfect for one another.
Harry was so mixed up in his thoughts that it took Malfoy throwing a napkin at him for Harry to realize that Draco had asked a question.
"What?" he asked, a bit annoyed.
"The date, Potter. How did the date go?"
Harry smiled. "It went really well. We grabbed a quick bite at pub in North London and then walked a block to go to a football game."
Draco laughed. "She took you to a bloody football game?"
Emily giggled. "Oooh! Daddy said a bad word."
Ron took the opportunity to get his dig in while he could. "Yes he did, Emily Jane. You need to make sure you tell Mommy that, you hear?"
The young girl looked at her uncle with curiosity before turning her attention back to Draco.
"Don't listen to your, Uncle Ron. He doesn't know what he's talking about. You don't want Mommy to get mad at me, do you?"
Emily shook her head with a frown. "No! I won't tell, Daddy. I promise. Uncle Harry. Can I ask a question?"
Harry couldn't help but smile at the young girl's curiosity. "Of course, love."
"Are you and Aunt Mimi getting married?"
He could help but laugh loudly at the shocked expressions of the old men's faces. "Merlin no, Emily! Where did you get that idea?"
She shrugged as she leaned against Draco's torso. "I heard Uncle Ron tell Uncle Bill and Uncle Charlie and Grand pappy that you went on a date with Aunt Mimi. A boyfriend/girlfriend kind of date," she explained. She looked to Arthur Weasley in confirmation that she had her comment right and smiled when the older man nodded. "Well, then Daddy said he wished you were get married and get it over with. Why aren't you getting married to Aunt Mimi? I want you to get married!"
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes as the men around him laughed. "You guys are no help at all." He leaned in closer to where the young girl looked at him. "Do you promise to keep a secret, Emily Jane?" he whispered in her ear. He smiled when she nodded energetic yes. "I plan on making that happen eventually. Not now, but eventually."
Emily Jane Malfoy smiled brightly. "Really?" she asked when her godfather pulled away.
"Really. That's our little secret though, right Miss Malfoy?"
She nodded her head again. With a big smile she patted her father's chest. "Down Daddy. I want to go inside and see Mommy and Aunt Luna and Aunt Fleur and Aunt Mimi."
Harry scooted over so Draco could set her on the ground. The group watched as the young girl ran into the house.
"What did you say to my daughter to get her so excited, Potter?"
Harry smirked as he folded his hands calmly. "Oh no. That's a secret between Miss Malfoy and myself. So, boys, who's up for a game of Quidditch?"
Inside, the conversation seemed to somewhat mirror the conversation between the boys.
"That's all you're going to give us, Hermione? It was nice?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What else is there to tell, Ginny? We went to a football game, and we had a good time at the said football game. Now, it's up to Harry for the next date next weekend."
"Is Uncle Harry your boyfriend, Aunt Mimi?"
Hermione stood still. Not knowing what to say, she turned her attention to the newest body in the kitchen.
Little Emily Jane Malfoy stood in the doorway looking at Hermione expectantly.
"Is he, Aunt Mimi?"
"Um. Uncle Harry? My boyfriend?" Hermione looked to the woman in the kitchen for help. Luna and Ginny were looking t her with a knowing smile while Mrs. Weasley, Fleur, Angela, Katie and Penelope looked on with curious expressions. Upon entered the kitchen, she was immediately bombarded by the Weasley woman with questions about her date with Harry.
"Where did you go?" came from Ginny. "Did you have fun?" came from Angelina Weasley, Fred Weasley's wife. "Was he surprised?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Did you kiss?" asked a dreamy eyed Luna. "Why didn't you take him to a Quidditch game?" Katie Bell Weasley, George's wife asked excitedly. "Iz he ze one?" Bill Weasley's pregnant wife, Fleur, asked.
Exasperated by the questions, she had turned to Charlie Weasley's newlywed wife of a few months, Meghan, to ask, "Have they been talking about this all afternoon?"
Hermione sighed when the brown haired witch nodded solemnly.
And that brought them to this moment. Hermione had expected the interrogation from her surrogate family, but not from her own goddaughter. "No, Em. Uncle Harry isn't my boyfriend. We're just dating right now. I know you're too young to understand. We might be boyfriend and girlfriend eventually, but we're getting to know each other right now."
The young girl rolled her eyes. "You've known each other forever already. Daddy's right. I think you should just get married and get it over with. I want more cousins."
The adult woman looked at the child with shock and bewilderment. No one knew what to say to the girl her simply responded to their looks by stomping her foot and running to the backyard to find her cousins.
A child's laugh rang out among the group, and Hermione turning to see young Ryan Malfoy laughing brightly in his mother's arms.
Ginny joined in her son's laughter. "Well. I think the minister has spoken Miss Granger."
Hermione found herself rendered speechless for the first time. It was Harry after all. It was her best friend of over a decade. The first friend she ever had. He was her rock. But surely he couldn't be the one.
Could he?
Author's Note: WOW! I have to first say thank you for the overwhelming response to this story. It truly is amazing to see that people are reading this story and are enjoying it as much as I am enjoying writing this.
At the moment, this story is planning on being about 26-30 chapters long. Obviously, it will be at least twenty-six chapters because of the plot. Haha. I have a lot in store for Harry and Hermione.
The next chapter should be up within the week, and maybe even by this weekend. Next weekend is Harry's date, and he's got the letter `B'. Hermione went the safe route, but will Harry?
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