Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Muggle Summer

Chapter One: Leaving To Australia

It was some days after the final battle had taken place. Harry, Ron and Hermione were still at Hogwarts, trying to help fix the castle, tend the injured and bury the dead. There had been an huge funeral for all those who had fallen, and families from every angle of England and Scotland had come to honour their relatives who had died for the Light. Harry remembered well that day, as he, Hermione and Ron had stood on the first row, attending the ceremony.

It was hard for Harry to look at how many had died in his war, because that was how he had come to call it. His war.

And what pained him the most was that little Teddy would be without his parents, without the chance to know them, just like Harry himself had been. At least, he had been able to conjure them for a little while thanks to the Resurrection Stone. On the other hand, little Teddy wouldn't have to grow with relatives who despised him and treated him like a slave…

As he was pondering over that in a moment of pause, distractedly throwing pebbles into the lake much to the Giant Squid's amusement, he heard someone approaching.

“Here you are”

Harry had to smile. He would recognize that voice everywhere. It was his female best friend, Hermione Granger.

“Hi, Mione” he said, turning to greet her.

“Mind if I sit here a bit?” she said, and he shook his head.

“You're welcome” he said with a grin. She smiled back, and Harry felt his heart swell.

They stayed there like that, in silence, no awkwardness between them though. Something Harry knew was almost impossible with every other girl in the castle, except maybe Luna, thanks to her “weirdness”.

However, he could see his best friend was troubled, and he guessed why.

“You're thinking about your parents” he said, looking ahead of them toward the castle.

“Yes” she admitted with a whisper. “I'll have to go fetch them soon” she said with a resolute tone, like she was facing her worst fear.

Harry had an idea why she was so scared.

“I'll come with you” he suddenly blurted out.

“What? No, no, you can't” Hermione protested, “you've to be here, for Ron, for Ginny…”

Harry laughed hollowly.

“Ginny? Hermione, come on. She's going to try and have me take her back as my girlfriend, and as much I've enjoyed the snogging sessions with her, at the moment I am far better without any pressure in that field”

“Why?” she asked, curious. He and Ginny had seemed so happy, before the three of them had to leave for searching the Horcruxes…

“I…I don't know what I feel for her anymore” Harry admitted, looking at her sheepishly. “I start to think it was just a fling, a distraction, and nothing more”

“What about Ron?” Hermione asked.

“I think he and his family will need time to heal for Fred's death, you know” he said, suddenly serious. “And since he died in my war, I kind of feel responsible. Some time off from them will make me good”

“Honestly, Harry!” Hermione hotly said. “We both know it's not your fault”

“Believe me, Hermione, I know. Still, I don't feel completely comfortable around the Weasleys at the moment” he admitted with a sigh. “That's why I want to come with you to Australia”

Mentioning the trip she had to do to retrieve her parents made Hermione grow silent again. She looked at the water of the lake, the occasional wave created by the pebbles Harry was throwing reverberating through its surface.

“You fear they will hate you” Harry said, watching her with the corner of his eye. The reaction she had told him he was right. He could detect her shoulders move like she was sobbing.

“Come here” he said softly. And she let him hug her, rock her too, to stop her tears.

“Hermione, no matter what will happen, I will be there for you. I owe you that after all you've sacrificed to be on my side in this war” he said, holding her close.

She sniffed, and looked up at him.

“Thanks, Harry. You can't imagine how much this means for me” she said with a tentative smile, and he grinned at her.

“So it's settled. Once things here will become less hectic, we will go”

Just like Harry had predicted, his interactions with the Weasleys were quite reduced those days. Ron and his family were still in shock for Fred's death, so they barely talked to anyone and it pained the raven haired boy to see his other best friend, usually always full of life, so empty.

As for Ginny, after being with her family all the time for the first days, she had cornered him a couple times to talk about their relationship, but Harry managed to evade the questions busying himself in some activity in the castle.

So it was with a sense of relief that he listened to Hermione tell him how they would reach Australia.

“We will take Muggle transportation so we will go by plane” she explained, showing him some timetables about flights from London to Sydney. All of them included stops in Singapore to refill the aircraft's tanks.

“And how are we going to reach London?” he asked while gathering the few things he had with him when they had arrived at the castle for the battle.

“By Apparition, of course” Hermione said, looking at him like he had grown a second head. “We will need to go to my house, as I've to pack some fresh clothes for the trip, and maybe we should have you do the same”

He nodded. “Maybe we can go shopping? I have no swimming trunks and although we won't be there for vacation, I'd rather have a swim or two there” he said with a boyish grin that made Hermione speechless.

Or maybe it was the idea of seeing Harry half naked…

When they were ready, they walked up to the Headmistress' office, and told her they were leaving, and why.

“Oh, of course, Miss Granger. We can handle the situation here now, so you can leave without a worry” the older witch said, smiling at them, something quite rare for her.

As they were leaving, she called out.

“Mr. Potter”

Harry turned, and was met with a look of pure pride from his previous Professor.

“Good job” she said with a nod, and Harry nodded back before following Hermione out of the room. They then went to break the news to the Weasleys and their other friends, and needless to say, Ginny was the one who took it the worst.

“You don't have time to talk with me, but you find it to go with her to Australia, uh?” she spat, and Harry glared at her.

“We don't know how Hermione's parents are going to react when we will lift the Memory Charm, so sorry if I worry for my best friend” he spat back.

“What about me? Don't you worry about how I'll be now that Fred's gone?” the redhead said, and Harry's eyes sparkled dangerously.

“Don't try to use Fred's death to blackmail me, Ginny. Don't steep so low” he growled, then marched away from the redhead girl without looking back. Hermione was waiting for him at the entrance of the castle, unaware of the harsh exchange.

Following their plan, they reached Hogsmeade, from there they Apparated to Diagon Alley, as Harry had to make a trip to Gringott's, then quickly set foot into the Leaky Cauldron where Harry was cheered by an huge crowd, and Tom insisted for them to have a free round of something to drink, then they managed to get into Muggle London.

“Phew” Harry said once they were out. “They are already starting the celebrations” he commented, referring to the pub and the photos of himself in Diagon Alley.

“What did you expect?” Hermione said with a bright smile, squeezing his hand as they boarded a taxi. “You're the hero of the Wizarding World” she whispered into his ear, her hot breath tickling him, and giving him a reaction southwards.

“I'd have liked to Floo directly into your house from Gringott's” he lamented, and she scolded him like a child.

“Now, Harry, you know that wasn't possible, my house is not connected to the Floo Network” she lectured him, who stuck his tongue at her.

Hermione playfully rolled her eyes at him.

Once at the Grangers', Harry patiently waited for Hermione to pack her things, in the meantime having a look of the house.

“So you live here?” he called from the living room.

“Yeah, why?” Hermione replied from upstairs.

“It's nice” he said, coming up the stairs just in time to see her with a two piece swimsuit in her hands, ready to be packed.

“She wears that?” he thought, gulping, as an image of his best friend with that particular outfit came into his mind.

“Can you help me close this?” she said, and Harry, still a bit dazed from the image he had conjured in his mind, stepped into the room, brushing her hand as they pushed together on the suitcase to close it. Then, they were off for some shopping.

Three hours later, and with five swimming trunks more for Harry, they were back to the house.

“I could really use a shower” Hermione said, loosening her hair that she had previously confined in a ponytail. The mere sight of her hair cascading on her back had a sensual aura that didn't go unnoticed to Harry, although it was a perfectly normal action for Hermione to do. Humming a soft tune, she retreated into the bathroom and started running hot water, while downstairs Harry decided to surprise her with cooking dinner, or start to since it was unlikely he would finish before she came back there.

When she found him already cooking, Hermione couldn't help but smile and lean on the doorway admiring his skill.

Finally she spoke.

“I've never been able to cook more than a fried egg, and you can do this” she said approaching him and looking at the lasagne in the oven. “I'm jealous” she pouted, and Harry had to bit back a thought about how sexy she was when she was pouting.

They ate quietly chatting and mostly just enjoying the company of the other. Then, it was time for them to settle for the night.

“I'm afraid you'll have to settle for the guest room” Hermione said, looking at him apologetically. “Sorry if it's a bit messy, but there was no time…”

Harry stopped her rambling, although he thought she was rather cute when she rambled, gently touching her arm.

“Hermione, it's just one night” he said with a smile, and she couldn't help but blush a little.

“Well, I guess we better go to sleep then, since tomorrow morning we will be leaving soon” she reasoned.

“Yeah” Harry agreed. “Goodnight then” he said, and acting on instinct he kissed her on the cheek. She stammered a goodnight and retreated to her room, which was in front of the one he was staying into.

As she changed to her nightclothes, she couldn't help a girlish giggle, touching the spot he had kissed.

Soon sleep took both of them, with pleasurable dreams involving each other to entertain them.

Next morning, after a quick breakfast, they took a taxi to Heathrow, then went through the necessary procedures for boarding a plane, which Hermione hurriedly explained to Harry as he had never travelled that way, they had to get a tourist visa, which would let them stay in the country for three months, and then they could finally relax upon finding their seats.

“Er…Hermione?” Harry asked.

“Yes?” she turned toward him.

“Can I take the window seat?” he grinned at her, and she couldn't say no to him, so she gladly let him take that place.

Once the plane took off, Harry watched in amazement as they rose up in the air, and the countryside began to look smaller and smaller, since they were surrounded only by white, fluffy clouds.

“Flying by broom is more exciting” he whispered into her ear, “but you can't go this high”

She giggled, and shook her head in amazement at how many things that for her were natural Harry had missed through the first years of his life, when he was coped up with the Dursleys.

Then, she buried herself in a book, as they had 24 long hours of flight ahead of them.

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Muggle Summer

Chapter Two: Finding the Grangers

Leaving the airport of Sydney, the two of them reached the queue of taxis waiting outside, boarded on one, then asked the driver to bring them to the city center.

There, they searched for a place to stay while looking for Hermione's parents, but every hotel they tried was fully booked. After all it was the start of summer and tourists from every part of the world came there. Their only hope was the five-star hotel directly on the promenade.

Hermione was a bit hesitant, as according to her guide that was the most expensive hotel in town.

“Harry, I'm not sure about this…”

“Oh, come on, Mione” she noticed it was the second time he used that nickname for her and she found that as long as it was him who used it, she liked it, “we need a place to stay if we want to find your parents, so if that's the only possibility, we stay there” She gave him a look, and he understood.

“Don't worry, my vault is full enough to let me live here for years without working, so few days won't bankrupt me” he joked, and she had to smile.

“Ok, then, Mr. Potter” she playfully said, leading the way inside.

Once they passed the threshold, both teens were astounded by the magnificence of the entrance hall. And, a bit shy too, to be in such a place.

However, mustering his Gryffindor courage, Harry took her hand and led her to the reception desk.

Clearing his throat, he spoke.

“Sorry…we would like to get a room”

The receptionist smiled at them. “Let me see…it's been a very busy week, but we should have something left…ah, yes. Room 218, perfect for a young couple like you”

Harry was about to correct him, but Hermione squeezed his hand as to say, “doesn't matter” After all, that was the only room left so they would need to take it anyhow.

Going up the floors to reach their room, the two of them were continuously amazed by the luxury of the hotel.

“Harry, are you sure about this?”

“Of course I am” he replied with a grin, and she smiled back. That grin of his was infectious and she found herself unable to resist it.

Perusing their room, Harry suddenly paled.

“Bloody Hell” he whispered.

“What's that?”

“There's only one bed!” he said, and she looked at him. The reality of having only one room caught up with them.

After recovering from a moment of surprise, Hermione gave him a fake pout.

“You don't like the idea of sleeping in the same bed with me?” she asked in a voice a bit huskier than normal.

Harry smirked at her.

“Are you, by chance, flirting with me, Ms. Granger?” he asked, and she blushed madly.

Harry chuckled. “I didn't know you could get so red” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, and that made her blush even more. At that, Harry erupted in an hearty laugh.

Hermione swatted him on the arm while entering the bathroom to freshen herself and muttering “Prat”. Harry instead busied himself in looking out of the window, as there was a spectacular view.

As he turned to call her and have a look together at the calm ocean idly lapping at the beach, he was stunned into silence by her appearance. She had exited the bathroom with just her bikini top and a couple of shorts on her as she had forgotten her shirt in the main room, and it was now his turn to blush.

“Oh….s-sorry…I didn't mean…”

She giggled. “Harry, you did nothing wrong. Now, if you had peeped on me while I was changing, that would have been bad. Have you?”

He shook his head, gulping.

“Then it's fine” she reassured him with a smile.

He changed into his swimming trunks and a t-shirt too, and then they were ready to start the research.

“Hermione, where do you think we can find them?”

“Well, don't really know as I don't know which job they are doing here…but, I know they think they are called Wendell and Monica Wilkins, so we might start to search for that surname in the area of Sydney”

“How do you know they are in this part of Australia?”

“Because I loved it so when I put in their minds that they wanted to move to this country I implanted the thought of wanting to live in Sydney or near the town” she sheepishly said.

“You didn't tell us that back at the Burrow when you spoke about modifying your parents' memories” he said with a smile, and she shuffled her feet awkwardly.

“Didn't think you'd reckon it important” she muttered.

“Because you didn't think I'd come with you?” he knowingly said, and she nodded.

He had the sudden urge to hold her as he could see tears forming again in her eyes, the fear of not being able to find them returning, and so he did.

“Hermione, I'd never leave you alone in this” he soothingly said to her.

“I know” she whispered giving him a watery smile.

“Good” he said with a wink that made her feel giddy inside, for some reason. “Then let's start searching for Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins, shall we?” he continued with a grin that filled her of enthusiasm.

However, they soon found that there were eight Wilkins families in the area, and there was no way to know which one was the right one if not visiting all of them till they found her parents.

“Let's see…the nearest one is just few minutes of walk from here” Harry mused. “Shouldn't be hard to reach”

So they set walking , Hermione's guide directing them toward the address they needed to find. They didn't, however, find anyone in the house, so they had to wait for the Wilkins to come back. It took some hours, and in their hiding spot, having Disillusioned themselves, Hermione felt the long trip start to catch with her. She leaned her head on Harry's shoulder and soon fell asleep, while he held her close with an arm draped over her shoulders.

As Harry was starting to get sleepy himself, and a bit sore from so long time in the same position, he heard a car park in front of the house.

Gently nudging Hermione on the shoulder, he woke her up. “They have returned” he said softly while she looked around to recognize her whereabouts, stirring as she had just woke up.

Harry couldn't help but think she looked angelic. He was lost in looking at her face and was a bit surprised when she spoke, turning to look at him.

“It's not them” she shrugged, but he could see in her eyes that she was disappointed. His heart broke seeing the hurt in her cinnamon orbs.

“Hey, why don't we go have a bit of fun on the beach?” he suggested, to try and make her not think about it.

“Sure. You wanted to have a swim in the ocean, right?” she said, brightening.

“Only if you come with me” he winked at her as they lifted the Disillusionment Charm from themselves, and started walking toward the promenade again, from there easily reaching the beach after having gone to fetch a couple towels from their room at the hotel.

Once on the beach, Hermione couldn't help but stare at Harry's back while he took off his shirt.

“My, Quidditch and all the adventures we've been through have made him lots of good” she thought while admiring his muscular back. Shaking herself from her reverie, she followed him into the water.

She just had to smile at his enthusiasm. “Just like a little kid” she thought while walking after him with an affectionate look in her eyes.

As for Harry, he quickly discarded his shirt and ran into the ocean, just to turn and call Hermione to follow him there.

However, he remained with his mouth open upon seeing her with only a bikini.

“My, she's gorgeous” he thought, forcing himself not to stare.

“Like what you see?” she whispered at him flirtatiously once she reached the spot where he was.

“Very” he growled, then dived into the water to try and calm himself.

Hermione did just the same.

As they were playing like kids and spraying each other with salt water, then running away to avoid being caught, Hermione slipped, and with Harry trying to steady her, the result was that she fell on top of him, her hair cascading around their faces. Their noses were mere inches apart, and neither dared to move.

Harry was sure Hermione could hear his heart beat madly in his chest, he stared into her brown eyes for what seemed an eternity before she cleared her throat and stood up, breaking the moment.

“Sorry” she apologized.

“No need to be” he said with a smile, albeit still a bit shaken by what had just taken place.

They enjoyed the last warmth of the sun rays lying on their towels and drying up before going back to the hotel to have a nice shower and head to dinner. They ate in the hotel restaurant, raising the gossip of other guests about how cute a couple they were.

Both took that lightly, chuckling about it, but deep inside they wondered if it may be true.

Upon returning to their room, another challenge awaited them. Their sleeping arrangements.

“Hermione, I can sleep on the couch if you want” he offered.

“Nonsense, Harry. We both need to be well rested for the search, as we will probably have to walk to reach the different addresses, so you take a side of the bed, I'll take the other”

“You sure?”

“Positive” she smiled. “Now I'll go change”

And with that she went into the bathroom.

Harry decided to take the right side of the bed, and changed to his pyjamas, before finding out it was too hot. So, he decided to remove the upper half, and put on a lighter shirt.

He slipped into the bed, just moments before Hermione emerged from the bathroom, a flimsy nightgown which let him see her underwear on her.

“She sleeps wearing that?” he wondered, gulping, but not saying a thing. As she took her place on his side, they switched off the lights, and awaited for sleep to take them, which in Harry's case was a long time, since he kept imagining Hermione in bikini or with that nightgown on.

Eventually, he fell asleep dreaming to do not so friendly things to his female best friend.

He woke up next morning, after a particularly vivid dream involving a beach, Hermione and himself, with a weight on his chest. Slowly opening his eyes, he realized that somehow, through the night, Hermione had spooned against him, and her arm was currently over his stomach, her boobs pressing against his back.

“Bloody Hell” he thought while cautiously disentangling himself from her. Then he turned and looked at the girl, and he couldn't help but grin.

“She's so peaceful” he wondered, caressing her hair, which made her smile in her sleep, “and so beautiful too…”

Then he shook himself. “I shouldn't think about her this way. It's Hermione, my best friend!” Still, he couldn't deny she had grown up, and quite well at that, becoming a very attractive young woman.

“The man who will be with her will be lucky” he marvelled while observing her take regular, slow breaths as she was asleep.

Later, they went to have breakfast then resumed their research, and so they did for the next few days.

After every failure, Harry could see Hermione's hope to find her parents was waning, slowly but continuously. He wanted so much to find them, to give her happiness.

Finally, on the last Wilkins family they checked, after a long taxi ride to the outskirts of the town, near the famous Bondi Beach, Hermione suddenly jumped and down in excitement.

“Harry, it's them!” she grinned at him, hugging him tightly.

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Happy New Year to all of you!

Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Chapter Three: Lifting The Charm

“Harry, it's them!” she grinned at him, hugging him tightly.

She buried her face in his chest, and felt the tension of the research melt away as she started spilling tears of joy, staining his shirt.

“Hey, Mione” he softly whispered to her. “It's not good to go see your parents with your face stained by tears” he said with a boyish grin, and she chuckled through her sobs.

“I know” she whispered, and with a charm she refreshed her make up.

Then she took Harry's hand in her own and they walked to the house.

Nervousness engulfed the both of them as they approached the door, but Hermione found the strength to ring the doorbell.

Soon the door clicked open and Hermione's father appeared. She had to resist the urge to hug him, as she had missed her parents the most last year, knowing they were far away from her. Instead, she spoke.

“Mr. Wilkins?” she said, and the man nodded.

“We'd like to talk to you and your wife about something important” Hermione said.

“Please, come in” the man said, leading the way to the living room.

“Monica! Can you come here, dear?” he then called for his wife.

Few moments later, Monica Wilkins arrived in the living room, and Harry quietly studied her.

He could easily see from where Hermione had taken her beauty, as her mother was still a good looking woman in her fifties. She had curly brown hair just like her daughter, and the smile was exactly the same.

As for her father, he gave Harry the impression of being somewhat strict.

He heard Hermione inhale deeply from his right side, and he knew the moment had come.

Suddenly, two flash of light reverberated through the room, as Hermione lifted the memory charms on both her parents.

The Grangers' eyes remained unfocused for some moments, and both Harry and Hermione held their breath, then they returned normal.

“He-Hermione?” her mother stammered.

“It's me, Mum” she cried, hugging her tightly.

Harry couldn't help but smile, but he knew it was not over yet. There was a lot of explaining to do, and that was the potentially risky part.

“Mum, Dad, this is Harry Potter, my friend” Hermione said introducing him.

“Oh, Harry! Pleased to meet you” Ellen Granger said. “Hermione has told us lots about you and I feel I already know you, in fact”

Hermione blushed at this, “Mum!” she whispered angrily.

Harry chuckled, ands shook the older woman's hand. “I hope she told you only the good things then” he said.

Her father cleared his throat, looking a bit peeved about something.

“Not to interrupt, but can you tow tell us where are we and why?”

Hermione exchanged a look with Harry, then proceeded telling her parents everything, about the war, the risk they would have been in if they remained in England, the fact that they had won now so it was safe to go back home.

Then, she looked at her parents, waiting for their reaction.

After a minute or two of silence, Roger Granger stood up, and from his face Harry knew they were in trouble.

“Hermione, I'm appalled at you” he said, coldly. “This is not the kind of behaviour we have taught you, girl” Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but a sign from her father told her it was better not.

“How could you do this to your own parents? How could you change our lives so drastically without even telling us, without even asking for our opinion?” he shouted. His tirade continued for some more, then he finally took a long breath.

“Now, get out, the two of you”

Neither Harry or Hermione moved, but they noticed Ellen was kind of angry too. Harry mentally noted that she resembled Hermione even when enraged.

“GET OUT I SAID!” he bellowed, and even if they knew with magic they could easily overpower him, the two teens accepted defeat and left.

On the way back to the hotel Harry tried consoling Hermione.

“They'll come around, I know they will” he said in a soothing tone, but Hermione just nodded, her eyes empty. It tore at Harry's heart to see her like this.

“They are probably just scared because they tested first hand what magic can do without them even having an hint of it happening” he reasoned, but got no answer from her.

That afternoon no one was in the mood for going to the beach, so they just remained into their room, Hermione constantly sobbing, and Harry at a loss about what to do to right the situation.

One thing, though, he knew, and he realised he should have done it while they were in the tent too, months before, when Ron had deserted them, and Hermione had been crying just like now.

He held her close, and let her cry into his chest, letting her find a rock of comfort in him, letting her grip his body almost viciously, like she needed to know he wasn't going to abandon her.

“I'm not going anywhere” he whispered, kissing the top of her head.

Slowly, her sobs stopped, to be replaced by the regular breath of sleep, although by the way she was thrashing, it didn't bring pleasurable dreams.

More than once that night she woke up, and never she felt alone as Harry's arms were wrapped protectively around her, so she would snuggle more into him and try again to rest.

Next morning, Harry woke up as light entered the room, and he sighed, looking at the girl in his arms. She was so strong, and yet so fragile at times. But it wasn't fair that she should lose her parents because of him.

Slowly and carefully moving away from her, he went to get dressed, and with a last look at her now peacefully sleeping form, he left.

Half an hour later, he was again in front of the Wilkins' house, and knocked loudly on the front door.

Upon seeing who was there, Wendell Wilkins, or if you prefer Roger Granger, locked the door.

“It's no use” Harry called, hearing the locks being placed.. “I can open the door no matter what, and both of us know it” he menacingly said.

“Do it and I'll call the police”

“Ah” Harry sneered. “I've faced much worse than that, thanks” he smirked. “Now, open the door and don't act childish”

He heard the door opening, and stepped inside.

“What do you want?” Roger glared at him.

“Talk. It's not fair that you blame Hermione for what she did” he started, pacing the room. “She may not have done the right thing, but she had your well being at heart when she did that, and if you really want to blame someone then blame me, it's because of me that she had to do what she did. To protect you, because she knew my enemies would go after those my friends loved to try and tear them apart from me and leave me alone. She prevented them coming after you sending you here, so if anything you should be grateful to her, and angry with me because I was the reason she did that”

Ellen had joined them and had listened to Harry's words. If anything, she knew now that this young man cared lots for her daughter and would do anything to ensure she was happy. She guessed then what both teens refused to think about at the moment: they were in love.

“You care much about her” she whispered.

“Care much?” Harry chuckled, an affectionate look coming to his eyes. “I'd give my life to see her smile” he said, with an half grin, and Ellen knew she was right.

“What if something had happened to her and she couldn't come to get us?” Roger said. “We would be stuck here without even knowing we had such a wonderful daughter” he whispered, and from the tears pooling in his eyes Harry knew it wasn't a scolding, but just a consideration.

And, images of Hermione tortured in Malfoy Manor came to his mind. He could easily remember her screams, and that made him shudder.

Ellen noticed this. “Did something happen to her?” she asked

Harry didn't know if telling them would make things worse, but he felt he should be honest with them.

So, he told them the truth. “It has been because of my mistake. We were caught, and she was tortured to get information out of her. If she had died that night…” he said, suddenly starting to cry. Ellen just had to hug him.

“I'm sure you did your best to help her” she soothingly said, and he nodded, wiping away the tears.

“Harry” Ellen said, smiling. “Thanks for having come here today and having knocked some sense into our heads” she said, making both men chuckle. “We will be more than happy to welcome you two here from now on. “

“I'll tell Hermione that then” Harry said. “Speaking of which, I should go. I left her asleep and I don't want her to get scared if I'm not there when she wakes up”

As he was leaving, Ellen called him back, and whispered to him.

“Tell her how you feel, Harry” then she wished him good luck and accompanied him to the door.

----------------

In the hotel room, Hermione woke up and immediately searched for Harry. Realising he wasn't there in bed, she went to search for him in the bathroom, to no avail.

Going back to bed, she brought her legs to her chest and hugged herself.

“Harry…” she whispered. “You promised…you told me you wouldn't leave…please Harry…don't leave me alone…” she said, sobbing loudly, tears wetting their bedclothes. “I need you, Harry…” she whispered again to the empty room.

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Chapter Four: Reunion

“Harry…” she whispered. “You promised…you told me you wouldn't leave…please Harry…don't leave me alone…” she said, sobbing loudly, tears wetting their bedclothes. “I need you, Harry…” she whispered again to the empty room.

Few minutes later, the door clicked open.

“Hermione?” Harry softly called, and immediately he was knocked against the nearest wall by what he could just identify as a cloud of honey-coloured hair. Hermione had flung herself at him and was now sobbing into his chest.

He instinctively wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her tightly.

“Oh, Hermione…” he whispered.

“You promised me you wouldn't leave…when I woke up alone I was so scared you had abandoned me too…” she said through her tears and Harry's heart broke. But, he had good news for her.

Pushing her face gently away from his chest, he gave her a lopsided grin.

“I'd never abandon you” he said, kissing her forehead, and she smiled at him, albeit a bit weakly.

Then, he took her hand, led her to the bed, and told her to close her eyes.

Moments later, a tray with fresh pastries he had bought on his way back was in front of her.

“Harry, this is so sweet of you” she said giving him a much warmer smile than before.

He then joined her on the bed for their breakfast.

“You don't mean to eat them all by yourself, uh?” he teased her seeing how she had started attacking her third pastry.

“We skipped dinner last night, I'm famished” she said sticking her tongue at him.

The joy for discovering that Harry had not abandoned her put Hermione in a good mood, even if the thought of her parents rejecting her still hurt. But, as they finished eating, Harry approached the subject.

“You know, I've gone to see your parents this morning” he started. “That's why I wasn't here when you woke up”

“My parents?” she said, looking serious. Harry could see tears threatened to fall again from her beautiful eyes, and he wiped them away gently.

“Hermione, there's no need to cry. I've straightened out things with them, and told them they should blame me if anything, not you. It took some time, but they are now willing to accept you back, although it might take some time for them to fully heal after the shock” he said. “They don't even seem angry at me which I think is good, if you ask me. I'd rather have your family like me, thanks” he joked then.

“You did this for me?” she whispered.

“As I told your mother, I'd do anything just to see you smile, Hermione” he said, pulling her close as they were now again lying in bed. She rested her head on his chest as he lazily played with a lock of her hair.

“You're the sweetest guy, Harry Potter” she said with a smile, kissing him just on the corner of his mouth and making him blush.

Harry was very aware of Hermione's body being pressed against his own, and he hoped she wouldn't notice the reaction she elicited from him, but he would never willingly move from that position. It felt good to be snuggling like that with her, as weird it may be to say that about your best friend, and he kept rehearsing her mother's words in his head.

Maybe Ellen was right and he was really in love with Hermione. But, she liked Ron. He had seen them kiss in front of him, so there was no doubt about that.

Realizing it was getting late, Harry reluctantly moved.

“We've to get ready or we will be late for lunch with your parents” he said.

“I don't want to get up” Hermione pouted, and Harry chuckled. “Believe me, neither do I”

--------------

They took their time to get to the Grangers', enjoying the view of the town as they moved with the taxi toward their destination. Then, they made the last stint by feet, as Harry wanted to show Hermione something he had discovered previously that morning. Walking hand in hand, sharing an occasional laugh, they seemed to the outside observer a cute couple although they weren't completely aware of acting as one.

Finally reaching the door, Hermione rang the bell and soon Ellen was there to greet them.

“Harry, Hermione! It's good to see you! Come inside, lunch is just ready!”

As they chatted while eating, Roger spoke.

“We would like to tell you that we have decided to come back to England. Only, we expect it to take some time as we need to sell the house and such, so you two will probably go back before us. For the moment, though, it would give us a great pleasure if the two of you stayed here instead of in the hotel”

The two teens eagerly agreed, and so that was settled.

Once they were done eating, Hermione remained in the kitchen to help her mother wash the dishes and catch up, and Harry went to see a rugby match with Roger. He knew almost nothing of the sport, but Hermione's father was kind enough to explain it to him.

Later, as Hermione remained there to enjoy her reunion with her parents, Harry made a trip back to the hotel to pack their things and pay the bill, which he did with the special credit card he had got at Gringott's before leaving from London.

Hermione helped him settle their things in the rooms Ellen had assigned them, and both of them realised they would need to sleep in different beds since that night. The idea saddened both.

Just before dinner, Roger took Harry with him to show him the famous Bondi Beach, which was nearby, while Hermione and her mother gossiped in the living room.

“So, you and Harry, uh?” Ellen said, with a wink.

Hermione blushed. “Mum, it's not like you think” she said.

“But you would like it to be” the older woman said with a knowing smile. Hermione nodded with a shy smile.

“You know what? I think you should just tell him, or, you can make him notice what he's missing” her mother suggested.

“Are you trying to tell me to seduce him?” Hermione said, shocked.

“Well, I wouldn't go as far as to call it seducing him, but maybe be a little more flirty, dress nicer, and such” Ellen replied with a twinkle in her eye.

Hermione sipped her tea thoughtfully, but couldn't say more as the two men had returned.

That night, both Hermione and Harry lay wide awake on their beds for a long time before falling asleep, as they had somewhat gotten used to sleep with the company of the other, and now adjusting to sleep alone again was revealing itself to be troublesome.

Both teens kept thinking of the other one, and when sleep finally took them, the subject of their dreams didn't change.

Next morning, after a good breakfast, the two of them headed to the beach. Hermione decided to follow her mother's advice and kick the flirting into an higher gear.

So, once there, she revealed the bikini she had chosen that morning, which was much skimpier than those she had wore the previous days.

It was a light blue, and contrasted well with her now slightly tanned skin. Harry froze midway through removing his shirt as he caught sight of her in that attire. He knew he would soon need a swim to calm his southern regions.

But when Hermione, her back toward him, started wriggling her hips in an attempt to have her trousers slide down her legs, that was when Harry really had to suppress a groan.

“This is going to be a long day” he thought.

And right he was, because Hermione had just started her plan.

While they were enjoying the warm sun, she took a bottle of protective lotion.

“Harry, would you please apply this for me?” she asked, with a bright smile.

He gulped. Did she mean what he thought she meant? Would he really have to rub the lotion on her back?

He blushed.

“You're so shy” she teased him, then moved to sit on his bum, and started rubbing the lotion on his back.

“Just like this” she whispered into his ear. She felt him tremble and had to suppress a smirk.

However, when Harry did the same for her, it was him who felt her squirm under his hands, and had to suppress a grin. “Two can play this game, Granger” he thought.

Later, they went to have a swim, and Harry suddenly picked her up and dropped her into the water. When Hermione resurfaced, spilling the salt water she had drank, he was laughing merrily at her face.

“You think you're fun, don't you?” Hermione mock scowled at him. But on the inside she was glad to see him so carefree like he had never been able to be till now.

They then set for a swim together and even if Harry was fit by Quidditch, he had to admit Hermione was quite resistant too.

“Surprised?” she winked at him while they were drying themselves.

“Quite” he said with a smile.

“I used to swim for hours when I was little” she explained.

Harry nodded, taking a sandwich from the bag they had brought with them. They had prepared some back at the house, and charmed them so they would not be ruined with the heat of the beach.

That afternoon, they decided to try surf, as they had seen lots of people doing that. They found an instructor, and asked him for some lessons.

By the time the afternoon finished, Hermione had already managed to stand on the surf without falling, at least till a wave came. That would be next lesson. Harry, instead, had managed to stand but just for moments before he fell back into the water.

As they walked back to the house, Hermione teased him about that.

“Insufferable know-it-all” Harry retorted, playfully smacking her bum.

Hermione faked to be outraged, before bursting in a fit of giggles. Harry chuckled too, pulling her close.

“You know what? I really like this new side of you I'm discovering lately” he said, looking at her affectionately as they entered the house, and were met with the wonderful smell of dinner being cooked by Ellen.

Hermione was left wondering over his words as they headed to their rooms to change their clothes, and felt giddy as she repeated them over and over to herself.

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Chapter Five: Back To England

The following days went more or less the same way. Harry and Hermione would stay at the beach as long as possible, and that resulted in both of them developing great tans. Hermione had to admit Harry's appearance, already impressive in her opinion, could only gain from being tanned.

They continued the surf lessons, and while on the first day it had been Hermione to learn faster, once they arrived to the point they had to face the waves and control their equilibrium on the surf while facing them, Harry was the one who found it easier. Maybe because he was used to fly on a broom, but he had no problem on maintaining himself on the wave crest once he had understood how to balance his weight on the surf to remaining standing.

Hermione was amazed and a bit envious.

“Not fair” she pouted while they were walking home, and Harry heartily laughed.

“I can't believe it, I am better than mighty Hermione Granger at something!” Harry said, improvising a victory dance.

“You're so silly” she stuck her tongue at him.

“What did you say?” he retorted, starting to tickle her. Soon, the two of them were rolling on the warm sand in a tickle war, raising the looks of some other tourists, but they didn't care.

Hermione's crystal laughter was music to Harry's ears and he couldn't stop the goofy grin spreading on his lips as he heard it.

When she finally gave up and admitted defeat, he found himself on top of her, green orbs meeting brown ones, and they stayed still for a minute or two, Harry's hand automatically going to push a strand of her loose hair behind her ear, before he broke the moment standing up and offering her an hand to get up.

She eagerly took it, and then they walked to the house both thinking about what had happened.

“Why haven't I kissed her?” Harry asked himself. “Of course you didn't, you git. She's your best friend and you don't do such things with your best friend!”

Frustrated at the internal debate he was having, Harry didn't hear Hermione calling him.

“Sorry, spaced out a bit” he sheepishly said when she touched him on the shoulder to have his attention.

“Ok. Now, could you tell my mother I'll have a quick shower and then I'll be immediately in the kitchen helping her?”

“No problem” he said, flashing her a grin that almost made her weak at the knees. She nodded and got out of the same room he was in before she did something rash.

---------------

It was already a week since Harry and Hermione had moved from the hotel to stay with the Grangers, and Ellen had been able to witness their antics together, which strongly confirmed what she had guessed.

Her baby girl had become a young woman, and as such she had fallen in love with Harry, who did love her back, although they had not admitted their feelings to the other yet.

As she was washing the dishes after dinner, she had a brilliant idea.

“Roger, dear” she called, and her husband pocked his head into the kitchen. “Yes, luv?”

“I was thinking, why don't we give Harry and Hermione some more time together on their own?”

“But Ellen, you know we signed the contract for selling the house this morning, and the four of us are due to leave in a couple days…”

“I know, I know. But it's not easy to pack everything, it surely will take us more than two days…” she suggested with a smile, and Roger sighed.

“You really think he's the one for her? I mean, I know it's not his fault but he put her in a lot of danger through the years…”

“And he always did his best to protect her from that danger. This is good enough for me” Ellen said, turning to give her husband a pointed look. “Plus, since she is in love with him, there's nothing we can do if not support her, right?”

“Right” Roger said, a bit tightly. The concept of his baby girl being in love was still a bit difficult to accept for him, for he should recognize she had grown up before he could fathom her being in love.

Still, they followed his wife's plan, and told the teens that they would need some more days to settle things there so they would return to England few days later than Hermione and Harry.

As much as they tried to convince her parents that they could help and make things quicker, Ellen's decision was final, and Hermione knew better than to try and change her mind.

Their final night in the Australian territory rolling up, Hermione and Harry decided to have a night tour of the town.

“Oh, Harry, we can't leave without seeing the Sydney Opera House!” Hermione squealed, and he chuckled at her enthusiasm. However, once they were there, he had to admit the view was astounding.

“This was engineered by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon and Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated it in 1973” Hermione read from her guide, and Harry had to smile.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as she read all the info about the structure.

Then they proceeded to take some pictures of it, and asked a man who was passing by to take a photo of them with the Opera House on the background.

While walking back to the house, Hermione was on cloud nine, and snuggled into Harry's embrace. She looked lovely and he would have wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but restrained himself.

“No need to ruin a wonderful friendship like that, Potter” he chastised himself while entering the house and heading to bed. They had developed a way to go around the problem of their sleeping arrangements.

After the Grangers had gone to sleep, Hermione would snuck into his room and join him in bed, setting the alarm for an early hour so that she could wake up and go back to her room before her parents got up and could catch them in a compromising situation.

Next morning, Ellen and Roger accompanied them to the airport with their car, and waited with them till their flight didn't board its passengers.

“We will see you in a week at the most” Roger called to the two teenagers while thye were walking away. Hermione and Harry nodded, then got to the airplane and found their seats.

“I get the window seat this time” she warned him, and Harry complied.

“You know what?” he said, while waiting for the plane to take off. “I really enjoyed this holiday here with you”

“Me too, Harry. Me too” she replied smiling affectionately at him. “Too bad you are so daft that you haven't picked up my feelings even with all the flirting I've been doing” she thought, looking outside.

She took out a book and started reading, while Harry was browsing between the aircraft radio channels to find something he could like to listen to. Later during the trip they would also project movies so there was a chance to pass time, at least for part of the almost 24 hours of flight.

When he thought she had fallen asleep, Harry sighed.

“What am I going to do with you, Hermione Granger?” he whispered while looking a her. “I want so much to be with you, but I'm scared of ruining our friendship…”

Hermione had to force herself to stay still. She wanted to shout in joy, because she knew now that he felt the same for her, she just needed to get him to admit it.

A smile playing on her lips, she fell asleep for real, and the long flight passed in a blur.

Once landed on the British soil, the two teens hired a taxi to get to Hermione's house. After paying for the bill, Harry helped Hermione with her luggage.

“I guess this is it then” he nervously said.

“Yes. I'm really glad you came with me for this trip, Harry” she said, kissing him on the cheek. He blushed a bit, then ran his hand through his hair.

“Oh, come on you git” he scolded himself. “Ask her already!”

Finally, he stammered some words. “Hermione…I was wondering…would you mind if I stayed with you the rest of summer? I'm really having fun and as good it feels to be at the Burrow, the Weasleys can be a bit overbearing at times, plus I still don't feel like being around them yet”

Hermione smiled brightly at him.

“Of course, Harry! You're always welcomed in my house!” she said with a playful bow, as she indicated for him to enter the house.

Harry shook his head in amusement. “Same guest room?”

“Yeah, but we are going to tidy it some if you're going to stay there for a month or so”

“I'll do it” Harry volunteered, but Hermione wasn't having it. After calling her parents in Australia to tell them they had arrived, she set to work and barely let Harry help her, nor she listened to his complaints that they could do it the next day. A couple hours later, the room was shining.

“Ok, now you'll listen to me though” Harry said in a commanding tone but it was still gentle. “Tonight we go out and have dinner, and it's on me as a thank you for letting me stay”

Seeing she was about to protest, Harry spoke again. “I won't take no as an answer”

She smiled and threw up her hands in defeat.

“Good” he grinned. “Now, let's get ready” he said and bolted to the bathroom. Before Hermione could catch him he was locked in, and started laughing.

“You'll have to get faster at getting ready now, as we don't have so much time” he playfully called to her, then set to have a nice hot shower.

When he exited, with only a towel wrapped around himself, he met Hermione coming out of her room. She had just her underwear on and as soon as she realized he was there she ran to hide herself in the bathroom, shouting at him not to look.

Few minutes later Harry was ready, and went to watch the telly in the living room, waiting for her. When she came down the stairs, Harry's mouth dropped. She was wearing a tight pair of jeans and a black top that barely reached her belly, and showed a nice amount of cleavage too. A light sweater was on her shoulders.

“You're smashing” he said, recollecting himself.

“Thanks” she blushed.

Since she knew the zone better, she chose the restaurant, it was an Italian one, so they shared some spaghetti then Harry chose tuna with fries and Hermione set for a lighter chicken salad.

“It was delicious” Harry said while they were walking out of the restaurant. “Good choice”

“I told you this was a great place to eat” she said, smiling.

“I was thinking…since I've never been to one of them, would you like to go to a Muggle Pub?”

“Sure, why not” Hermione taking his hand. “Come with me, I know one you'll like!”

Indeed, Harry liked it. The place had comfy seats, a nice atmosphere and music playing in the background, not too loud though.

After Harry placed their orders with the barman (“One Mohito and one Sex on the Beach”), he commented with Hermione on her choice of drink.

“Sex on the Beach, uh?” he said, wriggling his eyebrows. Hermione swatted him lightly on the arm.

As she did that, she noticed a group of girls entering the pub, and snorted.

“What was that?” Harry asked.

“Nothing, just a group of stupid girls I happen to know from childhood” she said, hoping they would not come their way.

But, as the Murphy Law goes, they did instead pass near their table. “Hey” one said, looking at Hermione. “Look who's here, the bookworm”

Harry instantly knew he didn't like the girl.

“She's with an hot guy though” another commented, checking Harry out. Hermione felt her blood boil.

“Must be someone she paid to spend the night with her, poor him” a third girl spoke, and Hermione was about to retort when she heard Harry speaking.

“I don't know the three of you, and I'm actually glad I don't, but I won't have you talk like this about my girlfriend”

Hermione looked at him almost in shock for a moment before she smugly looked at them. “Suit these cows right” she thought.

“Girlfriend? Come on…” one said, rolling her eyes. “As if plain, boring, bookwormish Hermione Granger could ever put her hands on…” but she fell silent upon witnessing something she would have never expected.

Harry had just pulled Hermione on his lap, and then he kissed her.

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Chapter Six: Together, At Last

Harry had just pulled Hermione on his lap, and then he kissed her.

Hermione stood in shock for a moment, her eyes wide, but since she was with her back toward the three annoying girls, they could not see it. “He's kissing me! He's kissing me!” she thought before she realized she should kiss him back to make it believable.

Lacing her arms around his neck, she did just that, and till their lips were pressed together no one else existed in the world.

Then, when they finally parted, Harry held her close and smirked at the three girls.

“Satisfied?”

They stood rooted to the spot till one snorted. Then, she shoved Hermione away and sat on Harry's lap, kissing him fiercely. Only, a moment later she was on the floor, where Harry had dropped her.

Standing up, he took Hermione's hand.

“Come on, luv, let's go” he smugly said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading her toward the exit. Hermione was happy for having put those cows in their place, too, but she was also pissed because they had interrupted their night out.

She couldn't believe the nerve of the other girl. What did she thought that Harry was, some kind of male slut?

“Sorry about that” she finally said. “They were old classmates of mine and as you can see we didn't get along so well”

“Guess they got a show, uh?” he winked at her. She smiled, nodding. “Thanks for doing that for me” she whispered.

“No problem” Harry replied with a grin of his. “I must say it has definitely been pleasurable” he winked at her again making her blush.

Having reached Hermione's house, they entered, and she sighed.

“Harry, I think we need to talk” she said then, voicing what she had been thinking most of their way back. .

“Now?” he asked.

“Now”

“Ok ma'am” he agreed with a mock military salute.

“Git” she giggled, and led him to her room.

She sat on the bed, while Harry went to take a look from her window. “Hey! There's a pool in the backyard!” he exclaimed.

“Yes” she nodded.

“I didn't notice before. Do you think we could try it tomorrow?” he said giving her his best puppy dog eyes and she laughed. “Ok, ok. It's summer after all so why not?” then she got serious. “Now, though, come here. We really need to talk about tonight”

As he joined her on the bed, she sighed. “Harry, I don't want you to think I'm some kind of slut” she started. Seeing he was going to protest, she shushed him.

“I know you saw me kissing Ron during the final battle”

Harry nodded, although the image wasn't exactly his fondest memory. “Yeah, and I must admit I've kind of always known you two would be together” he said, slumping his shoulders. He had an idea where this was going to end, and it was not with him and Hermione being together.

Hermione looked at him like he had grown a second head. “Me and Ron?” she said shocked. Then, she just had to laugh.

“What's so funny?” he said, confused.

“Nothing, is just that out of everyone who knows us, I'd have thought you would be exactly the one to know me and Ron would never work as a couple”

At Harry's puzzled look, she rolled her eyes. “I admit he's grown to be a nice looking bloke, and he seems to have matured some this year. Still, he hurt me too bad in the past, what's to prove he won't do it again? We have always been at each other's throats during our Hogwarts years, and more than once ended hurting the other's feelings pretty bad” she said, and Harry had to admit it was true. He had always thought it was their way to hide their attraction for the other though.

“I don't want a relationship like that, thanks” she said, shaking her head. “Plus, I can't forget he deserted us, you, in the two moments you possibly needed him the most. What if we got married and then we had an huge row? Would he leave too? I can't help asking myself these questions, and it's not the better base to start off a relationship”

“So why did you kiss him?” Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged, putting her face in her hands for a moment before taking a deep breath and talking again.

“I guess I kind of settled for him. I knew you'd prefer Ginny to me, so to not end alone I knew I had to hook up with Ron. I mean, if I was to settle for someone who wasn't you, then at least Ron had been my friend for years”

“Are you telling me that you fancy me, Granger?” he said with a smile. “Because I definitely fancy you, you know”

“Actually, Harry, I don't want to scare you but I think I'm in love with you” she whispered, looking down.

He raised her chin so that their eyes met, and from those green pools she could see he felt the same.

“Hermione, I don't really know what love is” he started, “but I think I'm in love with you too”

“Well, we will just have to find out together, then” she whispered with a smile dancing on her lips.

He grinned at her. “I like the sound of that” he said, pulling her close and claiming her lips with his own.

She kissed him back, and tentatively ran her tongue on his lower lip. He gave her access, and their tongues met for the first time. It was a bit clumsy, but they enjoyed it all the same.

As they parted, they grinned at each other, then Hermione noticed it was almost three in the morning. They had been talking for almost two hours.

“We better get some sleep or we won't be able to wake up tomorrow” she said.

“I'm not moving from here” he said, with a gleam in his eye.

“Harry James Potter, if you think I'm gonna give you a private show just because you're my boyfriend now, you're sorely mistaken” she mock glared at him.

“Boyfriend?” he smirked. “I like the sound of that”

“Me too” she shyly admitted.

“But, don't boyfriends get special rewards or something?” he asked as innocently as he could, but she saw right through him, and her glare was enough of an answer.

He threw his arms up in defeat. “Ok, ok, I'll go change and then I'll be back. If you're not finished changing by then, it's your problem” he said with a challenging grin.

“Fair enough” she said, quite formally shaking his hand to seal the deal, then they both burst laughing. Finally, Harry bolted from her room to his own and got changed in a record time. Then, he was back, but he inwardly cursed when he noticed Hermione was already stretched on her bed in her nightgown.

“A bit slow, aren't you?” she teased him, and he grumbled. Giggling, she moved to give him space, then let him pull her close. Her back leaning on his chest, and his arms wrapped around her waist, she sighed contentedly, till he started nuzzling her neck.

“Harry, are you aware of the fact we are definitely not going to sleep if you keep doing that?” she gently scolded him, and he stopped, albeit quite reluctantly.

Finally, sleep took them, and they were met by really pleasurable dreams.

Next morning, Harry woke up with a grin on his face as he realized where he was and remembered what had happened the previous night.

“I can't believe we are together now” he thought to himself, while kissing her neck and eliciting a soft moan from her.

Deciding she would hex him into next millennium if he was to step over his boundaries, he reluctantly got up and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. When Hermione finally appeared in the doorway, she was met with a wonderful smell of coffee, bacon and eggs.

“Morning, beautiful” Harry called out to her, and she smiled.

“Morning, handsome” she retorted while grabbing a toast and taking a bite. She then sat in front of him, poured herself some coffee and started filling her plate.

“So, you wanted to enjoy the pool today?” she asked.

“Yes, but if you don't mind, I'd do that in the afternoon. This morning, since it's almost eleven already, I'd go for a walk and then maybe we could have lunch at some place”

“Eleven?” she said, widening her eyes in surprise, and looked at the watch to see it was ten to eleven.

“We slept in, uh?” she smiled, and he gave her one of his boyish grins who always made her insides melt.

“So, what do you think of my plan?” he asked then.

“Sounds good to me”

So they got dressed and headed for the mall, where they could window shopping.

As they were there, Hermione felt a bit nervous. They walked in front of a videogames store where she knew some of her old classmates used to go everyday and she wanted to avoid a repeat of last night's events.

“Hey, Granger” she suddenly heard, and rolled her eyes.

“What do you want, Feskins?” she turned to see a tall boy with another two in tow.

“Heard from Jeannie that you were back from that boarding school you go to” he shrugged, “and that you have a boyfriend now, although I can't really believe it. You've never been able to attract boys when we were classmates”

“We were ten, Feskins” she said, rolling her eyes again. She felt Harry take her hand, and the boy noticed it too.

“Who are you, her bodyguard?” he asked. “Can't you even go to the mall on your own, Granger?” he said, starting to laugh.

“You'd be amazed to see what she can do on her own” Harry nonchalantly said, pulling her close. “Oh, by the way, I am her boyfriend”

“You? No way!”

Harry rolled his eyes and kissed her soundly. She eagerly complied, and they were lost in each other for some minutes.

When they finally parted, the three boys looking at them were speechless.

“You believe it now?” Harry said. “If you don't mind, we would like to grab a bite before going back home, so goodbye, and believe me it's not been a pleasure to meet you”

Hermione giggled at this and followed him, leaving the three of them stupidly scratching their heads in wonder about what they had just witnessed.

That afternoon, they relaxed in the backyard, enjoying the sun, which albeit obviously cooler than in Australia, was still quite hot for England. Harry lay on a towel on the border of the pool, waiting for Hermione to join him, and he couldn't help grinning at the thought that she was now his girlfriend.

Soon she arrived, since they were in her house she didn't bother with shorts and a t-shirt, so she was wearing just a bikini. It was one of the few things they had bought that day, as they had mainly strolled through the mall, but she had seen it and decided she had to have it. Harry didn't know though, as he had stayed outside of the shop waiting for her.

“He's going to be surprised” she grinned to herself while walking there.

And surprised he was, because his mouth dropped when he saw her, and he almost started drooling.

“Tease” he growled to her as she settled near him.

“Me?” she innocently said, turning to lie on her belly, and giving him a nice view of her bum.

Harry decided some retaliation was in order, so he entered the pool, and after a minute or so, seeing she was relaxing and had her eyes closed, he suddenly pulled her into the water with him.

As she emerged, she glared at him.

“You're so mean” she pouted, and Harry sucked his breath. She looked damn sexy when she did that.

“You're going to be the death of me” he huskily whispered into her ear, and she shivered, turning into his embrace so that she was facing him. She lazily wrapped her arms around his neck.

“It's going to be a good death then, I hope” she flirtatiously whispered back, and he growled.

“Wonderful” he said just moments before kissing her hard, at which she could just respond in the same fashion.

Their tongues danced together into their mouths, fighting for dominance, in a well established rhythm. The slight nervousness of their first kisses was rapidly ebbing away as they got more used to it, so this time neither held back, pouring into the kiss all the pent up passion for the other. Harry felt like he was in Heaven, and as good as his kisses with Ginny had been, they were nothing compared to this.

Hermione fit perfect against his body and he caressed her back with his right hand while she squeezed his buttocks, never breaking contact of their lips. She gently nibbled on his lower lip, and he could see the laughter in her eyes at his slight surprise, but he retaliated making the kiss even hotter. A small moan escaped the back of her throat.

They were so focused on each other that they never heard a taxi arriving in front of the house.

However, they did hear Hermione's father enraged voice.

“What's going on here?”

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Chapter Seven: The Talk, And Some More

“What's going on here?”

The two teens sprang apart, guilty expressions mixed with shock on their faces.

“Dad!” Hermione said, blushing scarlet red.

Her mother was few meters behind, and ducked into the house as she couldn't help but grin. Her plan had succeeded, just like she had predicted.

“Hermione, go inside” Roger commanded, and she knew it was better not to argue with him at the moment, so she left and went to change in her room.

“So” her father started after she had disappeared inside.

Harry gulped. This was going to be bad.

“Harry, I want you to know that I like you” Roger started, sitting on a nearby chair.

“Thanks sir” Harry nervously replied. Roger just smiled.

“But” he continued, his eyes flashing dangerously, “if you were by any chance to hurt Hermione, I'll come after you, magic or not, and you can bet it won't be nice” he growled.

“Is that clear?” her father asked then, looking at Harry

He gulped again and nodded.

“Very well then” Roger grinned. Harry felt relief flow through him.

“You mean you're ok with me and Hermione dating?” he asked, just to be sure.

“As long as you make her happy, yes” Roger smiled. “And, I'd say you were definitely making her happy some minutes ago” he joked then, with a grin. Harry grinned back. “She makes me happy too” he said, and Roger nodded.

Now, what about going to see a nice rugby match?” Roger suggested. “There's nothing better than that to release tension. A good beer in hand and we're going to have a blast”

So they did, while Hermione was in her room, reading a book, but not really concentrating on it. She kept imagining what her father might have told to Harry, when she heard a soft knock on her door.

“Come in” she said, and turned to see her mother in the doorway.

“Care to have some girl talk?” Ellen winked, and Hermione grinned, nodding.

“I'm worried about what Dad might tell him” she started, and Ellen patted her back.

“No need to. I've just proceeded to tell your father that he will be sleeping on the couch for the rest of the summer if he scares him away from you after all the effort I put in you two hooking up” she said with a mischievous smile.

“Mum, you're great” Hermione said, hugging her.

Later that night, after dinner, Harry and Hermione went to the cinema. As they walked hand in hand, he couldn't help wonder what he ever did to deserve such a wonderful girlfriend, and pulled her close.

They were going to see “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End”.

“You'll like it, for sure” she said. “And, we might watch the other two at home tomorrow, as I have the DVDs”

“Sounds great” he grinned, purchasing the tickets and some popcorn.

He had to admit Hermione was right. The movie was great, but even better was to have her on his side. While walking back home, they stopped to have an ice-cream, and you could see in their eyes that they were enjoying every minute of being so carefree.

Seven years of adventures, perils, and death had taken their toll on them, but now it was the moment for happiness, and a bit of fun, before they started their lives as adults.

When the moment came to go to sleep, they knew they would be forced to be apart, and the thought never appealed them. But, as Hermione was brushing her teeth, in just her nightgown, Harry happened to step into the bathroom, and seeing her like that, her parents or not, he just had to snog her.

“You're crazy” she murmured against his lips, caressing his cheek, after they broke apart for lack of air. “If my father sees us he will shred you to pieces, you know that, right?”

“Nah” he shrugged. “He promised he will shred me to pieces only if I hurt you” he boyishly grinned, and she giggled.

“Well, I'll let you get changed” she said.

“What? You mean you're not going to stick around to see me in just my underwear?” he said with mock shock, feigning to be mortally wounded by that.

“Prat” she laughed

“But you love me for it” he cheekily retorted, pulling her close again, nuzzling her neck. She could feel her knees go weak, but found the strength to push him away gently.

“You want to be able to stay here, right?” she reminded him. He nodded. “Then behave” she grinned, before pecking him on the lips and leaving, for real this time.

Next morning, Ellen sent them to buy some things, namely some vegetables, beer, and other things they needed.

As they browsed the supermarket searching for what they needed, Harry couldn't help imagining himself in some years doing the same with her for their own house and family.

“I wonder how many kids she would like to have” he daydreamed, and Hermione had to nudge him on his shoulder to get his attention.

“Sorry” he sheepishly said.

“No problem” she smiled, and went to pick up something on the shelves. As she stretched to reach the box she needed, which was placed on the higher shelf of that row, Harry almost groaned.

“She really has a nice bum” he fleetingly thought, trying not to gawk too openly at her but finding it difficult.

On the walk back to the house, he was silent, as he was wondering how could he have missed Hermione becoming so feminine and attractive through the years. Ok, they usually wore school robes, but he didn't ever notice her being this damn right sexy during the summers they passed together.

“Maybe because we passed them with the Weasleys and the Order and she couldn't let herself dress in this way” he guessed.

“Something on your mind?” she asked

“Nothing important” he reassured her. “Just wondering how could have I missed you becoming so beautiful through the years” he said, making her blush.

“Smooth talker” she whispered, and he chuckled.

When they entered the house, Ellen had already prepared lunch, so they joined her parents in the kitchen to eat. The four of them chatted through the meal, and Ellen asked Harry what he wanted to do in the future.

“I don't really know. A couple years ago I'd have liked to be an Auror, a sort of Wizarding police, searching for Dark Wizards, but I kind of feel I've seen my fair share of darkness through the years” he said.

“You could always be in the Magical Law Enforcement as some kind of lawyer” Hermione suggested. “So you would have to make the Dark Wizards get their deserved punishment, without being in the field”

“I guess” he said. “But, I think I'd get bored after few months” he chuckled, making everyone laugh.

“No, I need to be in the field. I might just take some months for myself before starting Auror Training though” he decided. “What about you, Hermione?”

“I'd like to be an Healer” she said with a smile.

“Tough job, that one, but I think you're perfectly suited” he complimented her, and it was like they were alone, lost in each other, as their eyes met.

Roger cleared his throat, bringing them back to reality, and both blushed while her parents smiled.

Later that day, they headed for a walk in the park. “Feels good to be outside” she commented, and he just nodded.

Fate wanted that while walking back to her house, they met an old rival of Hermione.

“Granger” she said. “Is it true that you have a boyfriend now?”

Harry was already tired of this people giving Hermione an hard time, so he spoke before the brown haired witch could.

“What do I look like to you?” he said, clearly annoyed.

“You, her boyfriend?” the girl said, before laughing. “Yeah, right” she dismissively said. Then she looked appreciatively at him, licking her lips. “You'd be good for me though”

Harry glared at her, and kissed Hermione with such raw passion, and desire, to almost make her toes curl. She gave as much as she got, battling his tongue fiercely, and moaning from the back of her throat as the kiss grew even more heated.

“No way” they heard the other girl mutter, then they heard the clicking of her heels on the street as she left, but neither wanted to stop the kiss.

When they eventually did, some minutes later, both had swollen lips and a goofy grin on their face, and both were absolutely breathless.

“Merlin, this must have been the best kiss of my life” she giggled as they resumed their walk.

“Same here” he grinned.

That night, not caring for what her parents would say, Hermione invited Harry to sleep in her bed.

“What about your dad?” he warily asked.

“You're scared about him” she teased him, and he stuck his tongue at her.

“You'd be too if you were in my place” he retorted.

“Come on, where's that Gryffindor bravery?” she teased him again with a wink, and he relented. So, after her parents had gone to sleep, he snuck in her room and joined her.

“I was starting to feel lonely” she pouted, and he slid his arms around her waist. “Feeling better now?” he whispered into her ear, making her shiver.

“Much” was her reply before she kissed him.

Once they parted, she snuggled against his chest. “I love you, Harry” she sleepily whispered.

“I love you too, Hermione” he whispered back before setting the alarm early so he could go back to his room in the morning and then falling asleep.

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Disclaimer: I don't own it, otherwise OBHWF would be just a delusion of someone and not canon…

A/N: My response to the challenge “Harry at Hermione's” by vivitribal. The requirements can be found here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=1356&st=0 Please if you read leave me a comment, it takes you few minutes and it makes me happy! *grins*

This is going to be the last chapter of the fic, I hope I can wrap it up nicely…

Helping Hermione Find Her Parents

Chapter Eight: Wizarding World, Again

The summer was drawing to a close and with it also Harry and Hermione's time in the Muggle World. They would need to go back to where they really belonged, the Wizarding World, although Harry wished he could stay at the Grangers' some more.

“You know, we would still need to go back soon or later” Hermione reasoned, and he sighed.

“I know, Mione, I know” he said, while packing his things. They had managed to convince her parents to let them enlarge her room and have him stay there too, so the room was currently a mess as both the teens were searching for whatever they might need to bring with them.

Suddenly, Hermione stopped.

“You think the Weasleys are ok?” she asked, a bit concerned, and feeling guilty for not having thought of them in months.

“As well as you can expect them to be” Harry said. “George will be devastated for much longer, and the others…I don't know, I just hope they can adjust”

“Maybe we should keep our relationship secret for a while…for Ron and Ginny's sake…” she suggested, hoping not to make him grow angry.

“I don't think I could even if I wanted to” he admitted with a chuckle. “I've become addicted to you, Hermione Granger” he said, nuzzling her neck, and she relaxed in his embrace, forgetting the stress of having to face their friends, the fear at how they would take the news.

It was just the two of them, and nothing else mattered.

But, things could not stay that way. They could not simply escape, as much as they might desire it. Forcing herself to resume her packing, Hermione gave him an apologetic look, as she knew he was frustrated at her at the moment. But if she didn't stop it immediately, things would easily get out of hand.

“So you think we should just tell them?” Hermione asked.

“I dunno. I mean, you're right that it may come as a shock to them and Ron and Ginny will be hurt. But, on the other hand, since they fancy us, if we keep it secret, they might think they have a chance. It would be almost like leading them on…”

“I think the wiser thing is to just go with the flow, then. If the occasion arises, we tell them, otherwise, we keep it secret for a while” she suggested, and after a minute or two mulling over this idea, Harry nodded.

“Now that this is settled, I guess we should head down and have breakfast” she said, hearing Harry's stomach rumble softly.

He sheepishly grinned at her and followed her downstairs.

After having grabbed a bite, they shrunk their luggage and put them in their pockets. Then, they went to say goodbye to the Grangers.

Ellen pulled Harry in a tight hug, and then smiled at him.

“Harry, it's been a pleasure to meet you. Please come whenever you want, although, I'm sure we will see a fair share of you from now on” she ended winking at her daughter, who blushed.

Roger clapped Harry on the back as Ellen was saying her goodbyes to Hermione, then the two teens vanished with a soft “pop”.

As they landed in front of the Burrow, Harry felt the palms of his hands cover in sweat, due to his nervousness. However, just a look at Hermione's smiling face reassured him that all would be fine.

Knocking on the door, they waited for someone to let them in.

“Harry! Hermione!” Arthur said, welcoming them. “It's so good to see you!”

Soon everyone was reunited in the living room, and Harry noticed that George was the quietest, something unusual for him. As predicted, Fred's death was really affecting him more than anyone else.

Ron and Ginny, instead, were still a bit sombre but much more similar to their normal selves than they had been when Harry and Hermione had left.

The two redheads kept firing them questions on Australia and such all morning. After lunch, Harry went for a walk in the nearby woods, as he found it all to be overwhelming. “And I haven't met the press yet” he thought, rolling his eyes.

“Quiet, isn't it?”

He turned and saw Ginny smiling at him.

“There she goes” he thought. Taking a long breath, he waited for the moment she would ask him to get together again. Probably, the occasion to tell them would come sooner than he and Hermione had expected.

Instead, Ginny just sat near him, looking longingly toward the village.

“I know what you're thinking” she said softly.

“No, you don't” he retorted.

“Not like her, no” she wistfully said. “I just wanted to wish you good luck for whatever you're going to do now” and with that, she was gone.

Harry wondered if they had been so easy to see through, even if they had tried to restrain themselves from physical touch and everything since arriving there. Walking back to the house, he set for a game of Wizarding Chess with Ron.

He was losing, as usual, when they heard a voice call.

“Ron, are you there?”

The redhead suddenly stood up, and walked toward where the voice was coming from. At the same time, Luna peeked into the room, and Harry could see her smile brighten as she saw his friend walking toward her.

“Luna” Ron said, more cheerful than Harry had expected him to be. After all, Ron had always stuck with calling her “Loony”…

But he could see things had changed in the months he and Hermione had been away, because before he knew it, the other two were locked in a tight hug.

Then, Ron turned and met Harry's puzzled look.

“She's been around a lot lately, and we talked, and it was just what I needed, you know” he started, and Harry listened to him rambling for while, with Luna comfortably snuggled into his embrace, her expression serene as usual, but with something different in her eyes.

Something Harry found reflected in Ron's, and he understood then that the two of them had found each other, just like him and Hermione.

“Congratulations, Ron” he grinned. “Just, don't give me too many shows of the two of you snogging, ok?” he teased his friend, while leaving them alone.

He felt a need to see Hermione and have some quality time with her, as they had barely spoken to each other since reaching the Burrow.

“Hey” he said softly, finding her outside, reading a book while leaning on a tree trunk.

“Hey” she replied, looking up, affection filling her warm, brown eyes. “Can you imagine what has just happened inside?” he said as he sat near her, pulling her close.

“Harry” she warned him, but he shrugged. “Ron and Luna are together” he said with a grin. Hermione couldn't help but smile back.

“Was about time” she said, relaxing and leaning on him a bit more.

“And, Ginny seems to have guessed about us” he told her about the previous encounter in the woods. “She seems to have taken it well”

“That's good” Hermione said. “Because I've wanted to do this all day, and was going mad because I couldn't” she whispered into his ear before claiming his lips, her book forgotten on the grass as they got involved in a battle of the tongues.

The last coherent thought Harry had before surrendering to the burning passion he felt for her was that whatever the future may have in store for him, he would be able to face it, as long as he had Hermione on his side.

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