Disclaimer: Not mine. You know how it would have ended if it was,
right?
A/N: My response to the "Kissing Santa" Challenge by leochick, which can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26200. Hope you'll enjoy it, and please leave me a comment if you read, so that I know what you think of it.
Kissing The Wrong Santa
Chapter Five: Faithful To The Promise
Entering the house, Harry found everyone in the living room. He plastered a fake smile on his face, and joined the happy reunion, although he felt like shit, and wanted nothing more than to go back home.
Only Hermione noticed that smile didn't reach his eyes, and felt guilty for that, but wiped the thought away hastily, as it was burning her from inside.
She snuggled more against Ron, who was sitting on her left on the couch, an arm around her waist, and Harry inwardly cringed at the sight. However, not a muscle moved, and no one, not even Hermione, was aware of his reaction.
He had promised himself he would not come between them and he wouldn't, may it be the last thing he did.
He let the kids involve him into their games, and tried his best to be happy for their sake, and Teddy's more than anyone else's. He found that their enthusiasm was infectious and he actually enjoyed the company. At least, for some time he didn't think about his problems.
From the couch, Hermione watched him, and couldn't help but think how good a father he would be someday, and how loved his kids would feel. She thought the girl who would give birth to his kids would be really lucky. But it could not be her. She had Ron, and she was happy with him. The redhead had improved lots since Hogwarts, after all.
Finally the time of leaving from the Weasleys' came, so Harry and Teddy said their hellos to everyone. Ron clapped Harry's back, recommending him to keep in touch, since they didn't work together anymore it had been only rarely that they wrote or saw each other, with their busy schedules, and Harry promised he would. But after all, they would see each other again for New Year's Eve, he reminded his best friend, who chuckled, nodding.
"Too true, too true. I forgot that" Ron said, grinning, at which Harry grinned back, albeit not with the same enthusiasm.
Then it was Hermione's turn, and she hugged him too. She could feel him stiffen into her embrace, so she let go. She didn't want to hurt him more. Working together was going to be hard from now on, she thought.
Yes, Hermione was an Auror too. She had worked in the Law Enforcement Department as a barrister for a couple years, but ultimately decided she missed the field action of the Hogwarts days when she, Harry and Ron would embark on some kind of adventure, so she decided to be transferred to the Auror Department, after the proper training.
She looked Harry and Teddy vanish in the green flames of the Floo, then joined again the conversation, trying to push the events of the last day out of her head.
Few days passed, and they were once again all reunited at the Burrow for New Year's. Harry had once more brought Teddy with him and the boy was more than happy to be bale to see the other kids again so soon. Harry, on his part, would have spared himself the pain of seeing Hermione again, but he knew he couldn't avoid Molly's wrath if he missed the meeting, and he would gladly endure anything but that, given the mood he was in since Christmas morning.
Plus, this was a test of some kind. If he was to be the happy best friend he wouldn't be able to isolate himself much, otherwise everyone would guess something was wrong. He had to learn to live with seeing Ron and Hermione together, and the sooner he started, the sooner he would get used to it. Maybe.
During the whole night, he was cheerful, maybe a bit too much, in his attempt to cover his real feelings, and chatted quietly with everyone.
Hermione observed him attentively all night and while she knew he wasn't ok, she could see it in his green eyes which had lost the usual sparkle, she admired how he was pretending to be. She knew if the roles were reversed, Ron wouldn't have been able to fake it, otherwise he would have blown up at everyone, or isolated himself for months.
After midnight came and they all cheered for the new year having arrived, Harry excused himself for a walk. He deeply inhaled the cold air of the night, and sighed. His feet automatically led him to his favourite spot, and there he stood, dominating the village from the hill, the wind blowing across his face. He closed his eyes, and simply stood there, in silence.
"Cold night, isn't it?"
He inhaled sharply.
"What do you want?" he said, a bit harsher than he intended to.
"Just let you know I'm proud of how you're taking this" she softly said.
"Oh, thanks. Did I achieve full marks?" he snidely commented. "Is Professor Granger satisfied?"
Hermione was hurt by his tone. "Harry, honestly...I don't like seeing you hurt, but it's not my fault if I'm happy with Ron!"
"Then go back to your precious Ronniekins! Don't you worry, I'm not going to break my promise, I won't say a bloody thing!" he snapped, finally turning to look at her, then he stormed further into the woods.
"Harry!" Hermione called more than once, but to no avail. She knew if he didn't want to be found she would not find him, so she sighed and walked back.
Things were going to be strained between them for a while, but she hoped he would be back to normal soon or later, because she already missed him as a friend.
Inside the forest, Harry vented his frustration on a fallen tree, effectively smashing it into pieces with a few flicks of his wand. But it wasn't satisfying like physical workout could be, so he started punching another one, just to end with a bleeding hand.
"I needed just that" he sarcastically commented as he fixed it with his wand, letting himself slide along the tree trunk, till he sat on the snowy earth.
"Why did this have to happen to me? Haven't I suffered enough already?" he muttered to himself, letting a tear fall and then angrily wiping it away.
Half an hour later, he was back to the Burrow, and after saying goodbye to everyone but Hermione, he picked up Teddy and headed home for what he knew would be restless sleep.
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