Reaching for Normality by Alexius

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 02/09/2007
Last Updated: 02/09/2007
Status: Completed

Post-HBP. "And she knew better now, too. She knew what happened with Harry."




1. One-Shot
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**REACHING FOR NORMALITY**

For once, things were going right.

Last year was an atrocious period of her life she’d hope never to repeat again. The prophecy
Harry had told her and Ron haunted her all that year, the feeling of uselessness and inevitability
hanging over her head. The ‘E’ she received on her Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL only made
things worse, and what made it finally hit bottom was the Advanced Potions textbook that Harry had
attained later on that year. From that point on, Hermione didn’t seem to be needed. She couldn’t
help. She needed to, wanted to help as best as she could, but everybody around her seemed to had
been rejecting her, making her feel inferior, suppressing her and making her feel hopeless. And
even on top of all of that, Harry’s behavior and actions made her very confused.

It seemed that all fifth year, and especially immediately after it, he was becoming closer to
her. Forming a tighter bond that making her feel both hopeful and scared of the implications of
such a bond. But… what happened to it? Where did it go? They were questions she asked herself all
last year. It seemed that the only things that seemed to drive him at all last year were that wench
of a Weasley and that damned Potions book.

Frustration, feelings of inferiority, and sadness continued to grow and grow all last year
inside of her until finally she had to vent it out. She didn’t regret what she did to Ron Weasley.
She had to sacrifice her chance to go to the Slug Club party with Harry so she could stifle his
petty whines, and what did he do? He went and started feeding off of Lavender Brown’s face. But
what she did regret was the petty way she acted in return, taking Cormac to the party when she
harbored absolutely nothing for him, using him only as an object to frustrate Ron and make him
realize what he was doing. It was stupid of her, she knew that now.

And she knew better now, too. She knew what happened with Harry.

Harry didn’t deserve any of this. He spent the first ten years of his life under physical and
emotional abuse, only to be thrust into another world where problems for him only seemed to grow.
His aunt and uncle were no longer the only problem, and they alone were the sort of guardians
nobody should live under. His new problem was Voldemort. A despicable being she hoped would die a
horrible death. She hated him with her entire being. How could he have done such things to such an
innocent boy? Why couldn’t people live him alone? Not only was a dark wizard after him, but now he
had to have been betrayed from a closer source.

Ginny Weasley. The feelings of hatred she harbored for her were almost as strong in magnitude as
the feelings she harbored for Harry’s aunt and uncle, and maybe even Voldemort. How could she have
done what she did last year? That stupid girl lied to her when she said she was over Harry, and to
finally appease her own desires, she went and started using Felix Felicis. She supposedly said it
was only meant to be “one time,” but she knew that addictions to a potion don’t begin to happen
until the person drinking it makes it a habit. Ginny had taken it more than once before she was
addicted, that was for sure.

Her Quidditch performances last year were all due to this new-found habit of hers, and the
sudden attraction Harry had founded with her was only a forced effect of the Felix Felicis. It
explained everything about what happened between him and Ginny, and Ginny was the cause of it all.
She had to muddy up his confused feelings of his emotions even more than they already were.

Ever since she and Harry had overheard all this when Lupin and Poppy were looking over Ginny
while she was bedridden at the Burrow, only a day before Fleur and Bill’s wedding, Harry had become
very drawn into himself. He had immediately rushed off to the empty field outside of the Burrow as
soon as the words “Felix Felicis” came out in the open to explain the reason for Ginny’s
diminishing health.

But she immediately ran after him as soon as he had done so, ignoring any warnings her mind was
giving her, trying to tell her to let him go through this himself, and came down to sit by him
while he was situated on the field, still and quiet.

She just sat there. She knew he noticed her, but she also knew that no words had to be said
right now. She was there to comfort him, and when he’d like to talk, he would. And eventually,
that’s what he did.

*“How could she have done this? I trusted her,” Harry said, almost whimpering and with that
strangely empty voice, tears began to come to her eyes. But she wouldn’t let them fall. This was
her time to help.*

*“Harry, I can’t begin to tell you how angry I am at Ginny right now, but I think it’s my
fault for not trying to be more suspicious last year. I should have known that something was amiss,
but I was too busy being frustrated… and stupid.”*

*Harry replied with a small chuckle, a sad look still on his face, and then said, “Yeah, I
guess we were both stupid last year. Me with that textbook, and you with…” He looked over to her
with a curious look.*

*“…With my petty acts of frustration with Ron. I was just angry with him because he had
treated me like dirt after that invitation I gave him for the party.*

*“I mean, Honestly! though, he’s such an ungrateful git at times. I can’t believe that some
people might think we’re* ever *going to get together,” She finished for him, finally feeling
a load off of her now that she had told Harry what was behind what she did last year. She betrayed
him, too, but not to the degree that Ginny did, and now was the time to heal their bond.*

*Harry looked slightly surprised so he said, “So, nothing’s going between the two of
you?”*

*She shook her head, and Harry smiled slightly, albeit with misery still written on his
face.*

*“And you and Ginny?” She dared to ask, only to be pleased to get a shake of the head in
return.*

*And then they returned to a comfortable silence. Both of them knew that they could get past
this, as long as they were together.*

Ever since then, they were closer. The bond they had, the unbelievably strong connection that
they began to form during fifth year, returned in full strength. Even during the horcrux hunt, she
and Harry were the masterminds of all their searches and efforts. They were the two who stretched
themselves to exhaustion looking over books and scrolls, finding any clue they could use to look
for and destroy the horcruxes.

But it thankfully all paid off.

*

She sighed and looked over to Harry, who was draped over on a sleeping bag, eyes closed and off
in a state of slumber. His still figure and sad demeanor made her heart break. Even in sleep, he
couldn’t find the peace and happiness he deserved.

They were in a dark and ominous cave, up in the Cambrian Mountains. After a frantic search
through tomes in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library, and through letters and diaries
that Dumbledore had left for them in his will, they finally pieced together that Voldemort’s past
had a strange connection to these mountains, and that there was rumored to be a strongly-enchanted
cavern high up here.

They had just stumbled across the path yesterday, a path leading straight into the mountain near
the top of the mountain. The path lacked a ceiling, the sky freely open to them as they had
followed the path and eventually found this cave. As soon as morning came, they all planned to go
out and search on farther ahead to see if they could find this cavern, and hopefully find the
horcrux hidden there.

Looking at Harry again, she could still not believe how much in love she was with him. The
more-than-friendship feelings she had for him began to form near the end of third year, and
eventually became solidified at the end of fourth year, when she was so close to losing him. That’s
when she realized the depth of her love for him. That’s when she realized the importance of the
part he played in her life. Their dreaded sixth year, however, were when her hopes, hopes so well
build up after fifth year, came crashing down.

But this year, things were going right for once.

She knew that she couldn’t live without him. That’s for sure now. They were too intertwined in
each other’s fates. If he were to die, she was sure that there’d be nothing left for her to look
forward to in life. Harry was the reason for her existence; without him, she’d still be trapped in
the worlds and realms of her books. She would still be without friends and without any dreams.
Because she thought then, before she met him, that it was foolish to consider that anyone would
ever want to associate with such a bossy, stubborn bookworm like her, let alone like her more than
a friend would.

But with Harry, she finally realized that there *was* something to look forward to. She
could look forward to spending her life with *him*. Harry, who was such an intense, silent,
uncertain, young man. The boy who saved her life in first year, from the troll that came across her
while she was in the washroom at Hogwarts. The boy who did so much for her throughout her life. And
she knew. She knew she had the power to help *him*, like he did for her, by giving him the
happiness he never had, and if they survived Voldemort, she vowed that she would, inconsiderate of
whatever position she had in his life.

Voldemort. She hated him for what he had done to Harry last year. It seemed as if he had stopped
his assaults on Harry’s mind all last year, but that had turned out to be completely false, like a
lot of things were last year. Voldemort decided against taking the route he had in fifth year,
strongly assaulting him from time to time with visions and dreams, and instead chose to do so at a
more gradual and passive pace. The result was the strange, arrogant behavior he began to have.

And that was also the reason for his oppressed magic. She knew she should have been suspicious
for the way he couldn’t get non-verbal magic, and how weak he was with his other spellcasting. A
witch or wizard’s body is filled with magic, and that magic, in times of needs when other magic
assaults the body, works itself to defend the body from harm. That was what happened to Harry last
year. The magic inside of him was trying to defend him from both the effects of Felix Felicis and
Voldemort’s steady assaults to his mind. It oppressed all his other magic and now Harry was having
strange surges of magic and power he’s never had before.

It seemed as if the negative things from last year might still be the reason for a thankful
asset this year. The magic that was working to defend his mind subconsciously from Voldemort ended
up building Harry’s defenses so now he no longer needed Occulmency. His body subconsciously learned
it. And now, Harry’s magic was more powerful than ever as it began to heal.

And once again, she began to realize the immense stupidity of Ginny Weasley. By trying to serve
her own greed, she had possibly destroyed the Wizarding World’s only chance. After the wedding at
the Burrow, Ginny had finally awoken two weeks later, still looking as if she had aged a decade or
two, but when she realized that the secret of her deceptions were out, she immediately trapped
herself in her room and refused to talk to anyone.

To Harry and her, though, this particular decision on Ginny’s part was cause for a great deal of
relief. They were unsure about how the either of them would act when they would finally talk to her
about what happened, but she knew that Harry would probably end up forgiving her. It was in his
nature to, but she was not as generous. She would make Ginny pay; she was sure of that.

But, thankfully, that was all behind them now. They were getting closer and closer to the
possibility of destroying Voldemort once and for all.

*

She used to be quite sure that she could never be angrier and more hateful of Voldemort than she
was. But she was wrong. Very wrong. It had turned out that the final horcrux, the last one they had
to destroy, was Harry’s scar itself.

She should have known, and she might even have had suspicions, but she had always oppressed any
thoughts of it, any assumptions. She never could imagine Harry ever having lived with such a
despicable and abysmally revolting piece of a soul, and the fact he had made her want to cry.
Because she knew that they would have to destroy it, like any other horcrux.

At first, she was very close to wanting to just trap herself in a room and cry until she starved
to death. She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to. She couldn’t live without him. But,
eventually, the logic in her brain kicked in. She realized that this is the time she should be more
helpful, more caring to Harry, even if it was to help him embrace the possibility of his death so
he could save everyone else.

He might have been saving everyone else, but he’d be failing her. But she didn’t blame him. She
never could blame him for anything. Not with the sort of pain he’s gone through and is still going
through right now.

*

She was the first to figure it out. The possible way to separate the soul piece in Harry’s scar
from Harry himself without having him to die; but the thought of it made her shudder and remember
the memories from such a place.

And that was way they were there: in the Ministry of Magic.

It seemed tragically ironic that their journey might end here, where it truly started.

But she mustn’t think that. She mustn’t have such thoughts in her head.

Harry was standing in front of the veil, only his wand in his hand and a black cloak around his
shoulders. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling at such a sight. This might be the last time
she’d see him, and so she made a decision which might change her life for better or worse.

If this could be the last time they’d look upon each other, see each other’s faces, she had to
tell him. It was undeniable that he would pass on without knowing how much love there was out there
for him, in the shape of her heart.

And with that thought in mind, she came up to him slowly but with a decisive air, and touched
his shoulder gently. He turned around, a frown on his face that only seemed to become more defined
as he took his hand and started rubbing away the tears on her face.

“Hermione.” That simple word, her name, spoken out loud, made her breath quicken. She could feel
the raw emotion inside of it, could feel the compassion he felt for her, and she realized she never
had to doubt it before.

He felt the same way.

Ignoring the fact that several members of the Order, and Ron, was around them, she let logic and
reason go to the wind and snaked her arms around his waist as she slowly tip-toed up so she could
join her lips with his, smiling as she found Harry doing the same, his hands coming to rest behind
her neck.

And when their lips met, it was euphoria. It was heaven. Nirvana. It was every good and happy
feeling all wrapped and intertwined in one. This was the purpose of her meeting Harry, helping
Harry, and becoming closer to Harry. This was the resolving and dismissing of every doubt that the
either of them might felt. This was completion in every form. They both knew that there was
something to come back for.

The kiss they shared was soft yet fervent, gentle yet passionate. It held the promise of future
kisses like these, but also held the doubt that this might be the last, and so they continued to
kiss like that for what seemed like hours.

And when their lips came apart, the feeling of dread and anxiety came back. But now, there was
another feeling inside of her. Love. And she knew. She knew he knew that he wasn’t going to go kill
Voldemort for the Wizarding World. He was going to kill him for her.

And inevitably, “I love you.” His voice was a whisper, yet held the tone of a heralding cry.

She smiled, her breath coming out in short strong gasps. She knew she shouldn’t feel this happy,
but she did. And she knew exactly what to say in return.

“I know, of course.” And she did. The two of them always could tell what the other was thinking,
and this was no different. And the smile that came on his face was worth a thousand proclamations
of love. She found her soul mate; no more doubts were between them of that. “I love you too.”

When they came apart, she couldn’t help but notice Ron’s grin, and the knowing looks on some of
the other faces. Ron was the only person she told of her feelings for Harry, while they were in the
hospital wing last year, and she knew that he undoubtedly approved.

Even amongst such evil, she realized, happiness could be felt. And she hoped that after that
evil was gone, the immense and endless happiness she felt would still be there.

*

But she found out that there was no reason to doubt, just like there was no reason to doubt
before. The minute he came out of the veil, intact yet looking weak, as if he had run a marathon,
she immediately lunged for him before anyone else could even move a muscle. Her arms came around
him, and held him before he could fall from his failing strength. And when he saw her he smiled.
Such a sight made herself want to move mountains so she can always make him feel happy. Sobbing
freely, her arms around his waist, she said, “You’ve come back.”

And he weakly replied, “I promised.” She knew he really never said so in words, but understood
all the same as she beamed at him brightly and helped him walk over to the others, knowing there
was still work to do.

“It’s done? The horcruxes are gone?” Ron asked with obvious relief in his voice. And Harry and
Hermione both said in unison, “Yes.” The grins that came on their faces and the others made her
want to simply cry out in the heavens about how happy she was, but it’s too early for that. One
more task awaited them, she reminded herself.

And she *knew* that Harry would not be alone for that.

**Author’s Note**:

For anyone who’s wondering, I am *still* working on Harry Potter and the Blossoming of
Fates, so don’t worry! I haven’t abandoned it, and I hopefully won’t in the future. It’s just that
*Deathly Shallow* has left a bad taste in my mouth that I’ve yet to clean out, and I felt that
this Post-HBP one-shot was a good way to make things right. I am also working on another Post-HBP
fic (a novella) called *Finding the Path*, which will be my personal depiction of the
Harry-Hermione relationship after HBP – it’ll be definitely much more defined and adventurous than
this fic and I hope that it’ll please all of you as much as it is pleasing me to write it. I’m
probably not posting that until it’s all completed and completely edited, so look forward for that
in the next few weeks.

I sincerely hope that this fic wasn’t too OOC, or too cheesy. It was just one of those moments
of inspiration where I just had to write this down. I wanted to give Harry and Hermione the justice
they deserve, and I hope that that goal carried across well with the story. If it’s well-liked, I
might even consider writing a sequel, but I think I wrapped this up quite nicely as it is.

I also suggest that anyone who was as disgusted as I was by JKR’s latest attempt at writing an
ending to the HP series (which she obviously dreadfully failed) to go and check out the Rewrite Project I’m a part of – we’re trying our best to create
a to-canon ending to the HP series that all of us, especially us Harmonians, can treasure.

So, until next time,
**Alexius**