The Seven Virtues and The Seven Sins

Harry85

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 7
Published: 07/06/2008
Last Updated: 20/06/2008
Status: completed

A collection of one shots regarding the seven holy virtues and the seven deadly sins, reply to cosmopolitan's challenge "My sin, My virtue".

Chapters

1. Chastity

2. Lust

3. Temperance

4. Gluttony

5. Diligence

6. Sloth

7. Kindness

8. Wrath

9. Patience

10. Envy

11. Humility

12. Pride

13. Charity

14. Greed

1. Chastity

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter One: Chastity

Hermione Granger was in her room, quickly scanning through her wardrobe for something to wear. Discarding a series of outfits, she finally pulled out a sleeveless black silky dress. Satisfied with her choice, she went to shower. She had to be quick, Steven would be arriving to pick her up in less than an hour for their first date and she didn't want to make him wait.

As she was under the shower, she didn't hear Harry coming back home from the Ministry where he worked as an Auror. She, Harry and Ron had shared a flat since after finishing their final year at Hogwarts, following Voldemort's demise.

They had lived together through thick and thin for seven years and couldn't fathom separating, although they knew the time would come for them to have their own families and homes.

So, it was with mild surprise that she left the bathroom only with her towel on and stumbled upon Harry in the hallway.

Blushing furiously, she quickly nodded at him to acknowledge the fact he was back, before retreating to her own room. Not that something like this hadn't happened before, but the incident made her think back to a couple weeks ago when she caught Harry leaving the bathroom after showering, and the sight of his naked chest and well built figure had made her blush even more than now.

However, there was no time for that now. She had to get ready for her night with Steven, her co-worker at St. Mungo's. He had been asking her out for a long time now, and she finally decided to give him a chance, mostly because she wanted to try and forget her crush on Harry which had been a constant companion for years now.

“Damn zipper” she muttered under her breath, as she tried to get it up but found she couldn't quite reach the top. “Harry, please, could you give me an hand here?” she called, and a moment later he was there, leaning on the doorway, a smirk on his face.

“Got stuck with the zipper, Miss Granger?” he teased her

Her huff was a good enough answer and he chuckled as he walked behind her, lifting her curly brown hair, exposing her neck, before pulling it up all the way.

“Who are you dolling yourself up for tonight?” he asked leaning over her shoulder, unconsciously sending a shiver down her spine.

“Steven Haltern, my colleague at St. Mungo's” she replied spraying a bit of perfume on herself and grabbing her purse. “He should be here about…” but her sentence was interrupted by a car horn outside. “Now” Harry finished for her.

She smiled at him, nodding, and then moved to go meet her date.

“Have fun” Harry called after her, before sighing once she was out of hearing range.

--

It was four hours later when Hermione returned, slamming the door after her. Harry and Ron were involved in a chess match, but upon her arrival, both looked up to see her sitting on the couch near Harry, tears staining her face.

The redhead reckoned he better retreat to his room before he managed to upset her even more, so that left Harry with the job of comforting her. Pulling her close, he whispered in her ear, “Want to talk about it?”

“Oh, Harry, it has been terrible!” she sobbed, before recanting the night events.

“Hermione, you're stunning tonight” Steven complimented her as she met him outside the house. He had the door open for her and she thanked him as she entered his car. Soon, they were on their way to one of the finest magical restaurants in London, “Merlin's Ambrosia”.

“I must say I'm pretty impressed” Hermione admitted as a waiter escorted them to their table. “I've heard it's mighty difficult to get a table here without a reservation made way beforehand”

“And you're perfectly right, but my family has been friends with the one of the owner for generations, so I'm one of the few lucky friends that don't need reservation” he said with a smile.

Soon a waiter came back to them with the menus and they placed their orders. Steven chose a grilled grouper with a homemade sauce, while Hermione chose a chicken salad. They also chose white wine to go with their meal.

As they ate, they quietly chatted, enjoying the company. Hermione had to admit that their cooking skills were top notch, as she took a bite of Steven's grouper.

“They pride themselves on having a long tradition of serving the freshest catches daily” Steven explained as he took a sip of his wine.

Of course, when the moment for paying the bill came, Steven insisted that Hermione let him pay, and she begrudgingly did.

“Well, till now he does seem to be a perfect gentleman” Harry pointed out, a bit confused at what had Hermione so upset.

She gave an hollow laugh. “He does, doesn't he?” she sarcastically repeated, shuddering lightly as Harry's thumb wiped away a lone tear. “But that's not the end of the story, and you'll soon see what was so ugly about it”

As they were in his car, Hermione asked him what they were going to do next.

“Well, I have a pretty good idea of what I'd like to do” he said with a wicked smile, eyeing her almost hungrily. She suddenly felt self-conscious about the dress she chose, which was pretty revealing of her cleavage and of her curves in general. She had developed through the years, and filled out nicely, so it wasn't rare anymore that a man would look twice at her, but right now she felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Steven, about that, I'll let you know that it is my desire to wait until my wedding night to indulge in that” she said, and he suddenly hit the brakes hard, stopping the car, looking at her in disbelief.

“What? You want to wait…till your wedding night?” he said, the last part leaving his lips as he almost laughed. “Who ever does that anymore, Hermione?”

“Well, I don't care about the others, but I do” she proudly replied, covering herself with her arms.

“You're telling me you chose that fucking skimpy little dress, but have no intention of having a good shag tonight?” he said, raising his voice a bit.

She just glared at him, and he glared back.

“You're nothing but a little tease, Hermione. I've been asking you out for so long, and you drop this on me now, when I've finally come to within an inch of having my fantasies fulfilled?” he said, leaning his hand on her exposed leg and inching it upwards.

“Well, sorry if someone is looking for more from a relationship than a good shag” she spat, slapping his hand away, before opening the door and leaving, Apparating to the front door of their flat as Steven got out of the car himself and started following her.

When Hermione was finished with her story, she turned toward Harry, wondering why he was so silent, and was almost shocked to see his murderous look.

“I'm gonna kill him” he muttered. “I'm gonna fucking kill the bastard”

“Harry, please, calm down” she said, cradling his face in her hands and forcing him to look at her. “I dealt with him on my own, and if he tries something at work, I'll hex him into the next millennium, so you don't have to worry. I was just a bit shaken as I came back, but I'm ok now” she reassured him, and Harry could see in her chocolate eyes that she was telling the truth.

With great apprehension, he leaned back on the couch, pulling her close. He made a decision right then, and to hell with the worry of ruining a wonderful friendship.

“Hermione” he started, and she looked up at him from the position she was in.

“I need to tell you something, too” he started, nervously gulping as he did. “Tonight, and all the other nights you went on dates with some other guy, I felt something inside me die. I knew I had no right to stop you from being happy, but I couldn't help wondering if that guy would be the one to take you away from me. At first, I thought it was worry over losing a big part of my life, and in a certain way I was right, I just didn't realize how big a part of my life I would be losing” he continued.

Seeing that she wanted to interrupt, he motioned for her to let him talk. “I'm not sure I could resume talking if you interrupt me” he said. “Slowly, I understood it wasn't only that, it was more, but then I was scared by the fear of acting on what I had discovered I was feeling. I was scared to lose you as a friend if I did. But what you told me tonight…I dunno, it triggered something inside me, and I can't rein it in anymore” he said, pausing to take a long breath, before continuing, looking her straight in her eyes.

“What I'm saying is that I'm utterly in love with you, Hermione” he said, before leaning in and brushing his lips against hers, giving her all the space to retreat if she so wished, but she didn't. Instead, she locked her arms around his neck, and kissed him back, deepening the kiss as her tongue ran on his lower lip, begging for entrance that he immediately granted.

As they remained there, on the couch, snogging their brains out, Ron was watching from behind a corner, and couldn't help a smile spreading on his lips. Satisfied with the outcome of the chat, he retreated to his room, leaving them alone.

Minutes later, when they were resting in each other's arms, enjoying the feeling of their new found love, Harry pulled her close and whispered “Just so you know, I'm more than ready to wait until your, our, wedding night, as long as we organise the wedding soon”

She just laughed, kissing him once more, before whispering back “I'm sure that won't be a problem”

Grinning like mad, both slowly fell asleep right there, on the couch, where the next great adventure of their lives had just started, one that they would, once more, experience together from the beginning to the end.

-->

2. Lust

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Two: Lust

After the war, Harry was a bit overwhelmed by his popularity. He had always been famous because of his surviving the Killing Curse when only a baby, but the fame that came with defeating Voldemort once and for all was something almost ridiculous. He couldn't move a step without reporters tagging him, asking him questions and taking photos of him.

Harry had always handled his fame well, not caring much about it, but as the hype slowly died down, he realized that he was almost eighteen years old, and had finally conquered his nemesis, so he had nothing to worry about. Sure, he still had to finish his final year at Hogwarts, because he had skipped it to go on the Horcrux hunt, but now that he wouldn't have to look behind his back every minute in fear, he would be able to enjoy it as a teenager should.

He felt free, and felt he deserved to have fun, as he had been deprived of that right for too long, first by the Dursleys, then by Voldemort being after him.

That was why when he talked with Ginny at the Burrow, few days before they returned together to Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione, he told her he wasn't ready to pick up their relationship again.

“I'm sorry, Gin, but I really don't feel like settling down into a relationship right now. I've finally found some freedom, and I want to enjoy it to the fullest” he tried to explain to her.

The redhead didn't take that overly well, she really expected them to start again once the war was finished, but she realized Harry deserved some selfishness after all that he had been through, so in the end she nodded.

As she excused herself, Harry remained there, sitting on the grass, enjoying the fresh breeze blowing and giving him a small relief from the heat of the sun. He sighed contentedly, and was slowly starting to fall asleep in the complete peace of the garden, when two well-known voices reached his ears.

“I'm so proud of you, Ron. I never expected you'd choose to go finish school” Hermione said. Harry was suddenly awake, his eyes closed as he pretended to be asleep, the strange pang in his chest returning, just like when she had kissed Ron in front of him during the last battle.

“But I'm happy for them. I really am. I just hope I won't end up being a third wheel” he thought, while he listened to Ron's stammered reply to Hermione's praise.

--

At the castle, Harry found himself constantly followed by girls. Hermione would roll her eyes at them now and then, but mostly she teased him about it.

“Aww, aren't you happy, Harry? You've your own crowd following you around, just like Krum in fourth year” she said, playfully batting her eyelashes at him. Ron burst out laughing, while Harry snorted.

He had a retort ready on his tongue, but he reined it in, as Ron was with them and Harry just knew the redhead would take it the wrong way. Inwardly sighing, he wondered how come he and Hermione couldn't get a moment alone anymore since she started dating Ron, if not for the few meters from the Gryffindor common room to their own as Heads.

“I think I'll go for a walk” he said, leaving his two befuddled best friends alone, looking at each other, wondering the reason for the sudden mood change.

As he strolled through the corridors, his authority as Head Boy allowed him to do that without risking detention for being out after curfew, Harry had his mind occupied by how much he missed the little jokes with Hermione, the almost flirting they did now and then in the previous years. Now that she was with Ron, knowing the redhead's easy jealousy, Harry found himself more and more biting back those remarks or compliments.

“Sickle for your thoughts?” a voice startled him.

“Lavender, you shouldn't be out of the tower at this hour. I should take points from you” he said, smiling at his classmate.

“But you won't, right?” she cooed as she moved closer. Harry may be a guy, and thus a bit slow when it came to girls, but even he knew what the beautiful witch had in mind. Acting on instinct as usual, he decided to go for it. Maybe it would distract him from his confused thoughts.

“No, I won't” he huskily said, suddenly pulling her closer and kissing her. Her arms quickly locked around his neck, as she kissed him back, their tongues battling together.

“We better go back to my quarters” Harry whispered to the blonde, taking her hand and using a shortcut to reach the Heads quarters. From there, it was just a few steps to his room, on the right of the Head Girl's, Hermione's.

--

Lavender's fame of gossip queen was well earned, and of course the morning after the whole school knew of what had happened between her and Harry, and also a bit more details on how it had been. That did nothing to discourage the young witches to seek Harry's favour, of course.

Hermione, on her part, had been the first to know, as she had been met with the sight of Harry and Lavender exiting his room together that morning, as she was waiting for him in their common room. They always went together to pick Ron up to go down for breakfast.

All day Hermione was rather cross with him, and Harry couldn't understand why. She had briefly glared at him when she had spotted him with Lav that morning, but he couldn't understand why she would care. She was with Ron after all.

--

As the months passed, Harry's list of flings kept growing. After Lav there was Parvati, then her twin Padma, all of them wanting to retake their last year at Hogwarts because the last one was clearly a nightmare with the Death Eaters in the school.

Then there were a lot of younger witches, Helen, Alexa, Kristine, and many others of which Hermione couldn't even remember the name.

It was always the same, a one night stand, and then the girl would disappear from Harry's life. On this, the raven haired boy had been clear with all of his bed companions. No strings attached. He had also been clear that he wouldn't even look twice at girls younger than fifth year. As randy as he seemed to have become, he still had ethics, and four years of difference seemed too much to him.

At least on that, Hermione had to give him credit. But his new politics of “dating” irked her. She didn't even know why but whenever she spotted him with some of those girls, she would feel her blood boil.

They were clearly wrong for him, mostly bimbos wanting a piece of the Boy-Who-Won, and she could only pray that her best friend would keep them as just fuck-buddies and nothing more.

However, her patience had a limit. They were less than three weeks away from the N.E.W.T.s and her patience always grew thin when exams neared.

Seeing Harry emerge from his room with his last fancy, a big-chested brunette sixth year Ravenclaw called Darla, she exploded.

“Did you two have fun last night?” she scathingly remarked.

“Why, yes, we did” the girl cooed, looking up at Harry, who gave her a smile, but he knew hell was just going to come upon them.

“Why don't you go ahead to breakfast?” he suggested, and she nodded, quickly leaving the room. She wasn't in Ravenclaw for nothing and she too had noticed the potentially explosive situation. Better be far away from an angry Hermione Granger, and it was better if there were walls between you and her, that she knew for sure.

Back in the Heads common room, Harry awaited Hermione's lecture with his hands in his pockets. He knew there was no way he would avoid it.

“Harry James Potter, you should be ashamed of what you've become!” she started, wriggling her finger at him, poking him in the chest. “You have no morals, you see a pretty girl and you shag her, you've become nothing better than a man-whore!” she kept shouting, and luckily the room was soundproof so outside none was the wiser of the fight happening in there.

After a while, Harry got tired of her shouting and accusations, and did the only thing he could do to shut her up.

He pulled her to him and kissed her soundly on the lips. For a moment, she stiffened, before she gave in and kissed him back. They stood there, snogging each other, for at least five minutes, before they finally parted, their foreheads resting one on the other.

“What has happened to the Harry I knew?” Hermione asked softly, her lips still tingling from his kisses. “He would never use his fame to shag girls only because he feels lust for them”

He shrugged. “It all started when you and Ron were still dating. I was out thinking how he was monopolizing your time outside this common room, and how you and I never have alone time like we used to. How I missed the friendly banter, even the slight flirting, we did at times, and that I couldn't do anymore now because he would get jealous and accuse us of going behind his back, or who knows what. As I was thinking about this, Lavender was there, and I had the idea, I admit not the smartest one, to distract myself with her. But the following days the thoughts returned, and so I fell into a routine. Even after you and Ron broke up, it was easier to keep shagging those girls than really think why you and Ron together bothered me. As you said, it was only lust with them, and that's pretty simple to understand, doesn't require much thought”

As she listened to his explanation, Hermione felt a smile spread on her lips. The boy hadn't the slightest clue yet, but she had already understood.

“As for my unusual way to silence you” he grinned then, “you must admit it worked good enough”

“Prat” she said, swatting him on the arm with her hand, before she grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for another kiss, their lips crashing together once more.

When they finally parted, she rested her head on his chest as he hugged her close.

“You know why I really broke things off with Ron?” she said. He shook his head.

“I was missing the closeness with you too. And that was my clue to know I didn't like Ron like I thought, because otherwise I wouldn't constantly think of you, and get angry over your dating habits” she confessed.

He kissed the top of her head, and then pulled her chin up so their eyes locked.

“Hermione, would you consider going out with me?” he seriously asked. It had been something creeping into his mind constantly since her break-up with Ron, one of the reasons why he kept shagging around, albeit he didn't tell her that. He had slowly come to the realization he truly liked her, maybe he was even in love with her, and he never thought she would consider him that way, but her words gave him a bit of hope.

“Do you think I'd be kissing you if I didn't?” was her coy reply, before she brought their lips together once more.

-->

3. Temperance

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Three: Temperance

I've always admired her. Even the brief period in our first year when we weren't friends, she has always had an influence on me. Sure, her obsession with schoolwork may have been a bit exaggerated, still every time she raised her hand in class I was drawn to look at her, and wonder how did she know things I'd never heard about. She was, after all, Muggle-raised just like me. I would have expected Ron to know more about magical things, not her.

As we became the best of friends, and went together through many adventures, my admiration for her has increased, and not only for her intelligence.

She has a natural elegance, and with all the taunting she had to endure from the likes of Malfoy through the years, the only time she lost her cool was in third year, when she punched him. Apart for that, not an insult, not a bad word. She lets their mocking and insults wash over her like nothing, and then she simply proves to them their prejudices are bullshit when she achieves top marks in class, once more, while they are lucky if they pass the exam.

That's what they call self-control, and I know I'm not able of that. More than once during our school years Ron and I found ourselves in fights with the Slytherins to defend her honour, just because we lack this self-control. We should have followed her example by proving them wrong with facts, instead of uselessly landing ourselves in detention.

I admire her when she eats. Strange, you may say. What is there to admire when one eats? Usually, nothing. But when it is her, then everything changes.

I admit I often sneak a glance at her while we are having breakfast, or lunch, or dinner. Sometimes, she catches me staring, and gives me a small smile, which I promptly return.

So, it was just natural that I would notice, sooner or later.

There are times when the elves prepare pumpkin pie for dessert, and I know it is her favourite sweet. But her parents, being dentists, have drilled into her the risks of eating too many sweets, I assume. One would think that being away from them, thus being away from the possibility of being caught, she would sometimes slip and indulge her cravings more than she should.

In the seven years I've known her, she never did. Oh, she eyed it wistfully, I've seen her do that. But she never takes more than a small portion.

It's amazing how she never exceeds in that. Even at the parties in the Gryffindor common room for a Quidditch win or something equally as exhilarating, she never overdoes it.

Always a small plate of sweets, a Butterbeer, two at tops, and that's it. Just like tonight.

I let a smile spread on my lips as I lose myself in these thoughts, and she looks questioningly at me. We are currently sitting on the couch in the common room, Ron doing his speech about our latest victory in the Quidditch Cup. We've won for the third time in a row, this year, and he couldn't be more proud, as he was the captain this year.

“What are you smiling about?” Hermione whispers to me, as our redheaded friend keeps thanking the team for the great plays we pulled off.

“Just about how amazing you are” I reply, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. She blushes slightly, looking down at her lap.

“Amazing? Me?” she says, almost disbelieving. “What's so amazing about me?”

“Absolutely everything” I murmur in her ear, before gently turning her face toward me, and briefly kissing her on the lips.

“You, Hermione Granger, are the most amazing girl I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and I thank God every day that you, for some reason I can't understand, agreed to be my girlfriend” I whisper before capturing her lips again.

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4. Gluttony

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Four: Gluttony

“Honestly, Ronald Weasley, you must be the worst pig I've ever had the displeasure to know!”

The redhead suddenly looked up to see his best friend, Hermione Granger, hissing the aforementioned sentence at him, her furious face making him gulp and stop with an half eaten pastry in his hand.

“It's your third plate of pastries tonight!” she continued in her tirade. Harry decided not to interfere, he didn't want Hermione mad at him too. Cautiously, he put down the pastry he had in hand, hoping their female friend wouldn't notice the gesture. Considering how hard she was glaring at Ron, it was a distinct possibility.

Finally gulping down what he had in his mouth, Ron tried to explain himself. “But Hermione, really, they are sooo good, how can you resist them?”

“It's not healthy, Ron! You can't eat so many sweets only because they are good, what kind of will-power do you have?”

Harry cleared his throat. Half the Gryffindor table was by now watching the exchange, and he thought he just had to do something to stop the fight from escalating further, even if he didn't want to.

“Hermione, why don't we reach an agreement here? Ron finishes his pastries, and takes no more” he said, giving his best mate a pointed look, to which Ron pouted but nodded, “and you let it go. I'm sure he got your point”

His attempt at diplomacy, though, was not appreciated by the brunette witch. “You condone of his eating habits?”

Harry suddenly couldn't help rolling his eyes. “Hermione, I'm not his father, nor are you his mother” he said, but it was clearly the wrong thing to say, as it earned him a slap, before their mutual friend dashed away from the table and the Great Hall.

“Mate, you really owe me” Harry said darkly, rubbing his stinging cheek, as Ron nodded, munching on his pastry.

The raven haired boy, instead, left his own on the plate. Suddenly, he wasn't hungry anymore, and the best sweets on the planet wouldn't tempt him into eating them. He hated being at odds with Hermione, and now who knows how long she would hold her grudge toward him.

He just had to go and try to patch things up with her, even if he would most probably get another round of yelling and possibly another slap.

Standing up, he left the Great Hall too, thinking where Hermione might have gone. The library was a possible option, but he reckoned she would guess he would search for her there, so she must have chosen another place to go. The Room of Requirements was a pretty good guess too, but even that seemed too easy. Suddenly, it came to him.

Running to the lake, he spotted a lone figure leaning on a tree nearby the shore. It was a tree where the three of them usually went to relax during the hot days at the end of term.

Finally arriving there, Harry grinned as he spotted her.

“Hermione” he said softly. She looked up, surprised that he could find her so easily.

“I'm sorry for slapping you, Harry” she said, looking genuinely concerned. “Did I hurt you?”

“Not more than I deserved” he said, sitting down near her. “I'm sorry for taking Ron's side, back there. I was just trying to stop the fight from escalating further” he explained, and she nodded.

“I know. It's just that his gluttony irks me so much! He really doesn't even try to rein it in, and it's a wonder he doesn't go around with a continuous stomach-ache” she said.

Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders, as he could see her slight shivering. She gave him a smile as she settled against him, comforted by his warmth.

“I know, but what I said before is true, Hermione. Even I am upset by his eating habits at times, but we are not his parents, and we shouldn't pester him too much about it” he reasoned. Then, grinning, he put his hand in his left pocket, taking out the one pastry he had saved from the table.

“Want some?” he joked, splitting it in two.

“Are you tempting me, Potter?” she teased back, before taking the half he was offering her.

“Maybe” he vaguely replied, munching on his own. They remained silent for a while, enjoying the clear night, before Harry risked a sideways glance at her. She was resting her head on his shoulder, leaning on him. He could feel her regular breath, from which he deduced she had fallen asleep.

Sighing, he covered her better with his cloak.

“If you were a pastry, I'd really be in trouble” he whispered to the night. “Because then I really couldn't get enough of you, Hermione” he admitted, his feelings for her surfacing now that he thought no one could hear them.

A smile spread on her lips, before she finally let sleep take her, knowing that her dreams had a chance to become true if she was patient enough to wait for him to gather the courage to tell her his feelings.

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5. Diligence

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Five: Diligence

Hermione Granger was surprised, as she stepped inside Harry Potter's office. She should be used to it by now, but having known him for seven years at school before they finally graduated, plus another three as they went through the training and finally started working in the Auror Department, she always found surprising to see how well-organised his office was.

For years he and Ron and been the death of her, with their last-minute essays, most of the time written taking ideas from her own, their continuous postponing what they had to do till it was the last available moment to do it, playing Quidditch and chess instead of studying, or later, during the Auror training, going after girls instead of applying themselves to their work.

Now, while Ron was more or less still his old self, and recently had dropped out of the Auror ranks to go play Quidditch, Harry had done a complete turn-around. His table had different stacks of papers for every different case he was working on, organised by alphabet, neatly arranged. He was already there when she arrived at the office at half past seven, and he would be the last to leave at night, together with her.

“Did you want something?” he asked, looking up from the file he was reading, and regarding her with a smile.

She smiled back, moving inside the room and sitting in front of him.

“Well, nothing important, but my cousin is celebrating her birthday tonight, and I was wondering if you were willing to accompany me. I know it's kind of last minute…”

He chuckled, and she looked at him, her eyes locking with his green ones.

“I thought I'd never see the day when Hermione Granger was not organised” he teased her. She blushed, and gave him a weak smile.

“Ok, I'll come with you. I just need to finish writing the reports on the Mulscrom case and then try to get an head start on the Natherbell one” he said, picking some papers from the pile in front of her.

Hermione couldn't hold it in anymore. She just had to know why the huge change in his work ethic.

“Harry, what triggered this change in you? I mean, in school you were always behind with the assigned work, and deadlines, and look at you now, you're one of the best organised officers in the Auror Department…”

He winked at her, giving her that boyish grin that always melted her insides. “I've learned from the best” he proudly declared, making her blush.

“Yeah, right. Well, I'll just see you later then” she stammered, standing up and quickly walking out of the room. Just as she was about to close the door, Harry looked up again.

“Seven o'clock at your flat, is that fine?” he asked her. She smiled warmly.

“Perfect”

--

All day long Harry kept working hard, as it by now had become a habit for him. Only when it was lunch time he allowed himself to take a break, and it was then that he gave more thought to Hermione's question.

Why did he change from his previous ways? He sighed, knowing very well the answer to that question.

See, Harry had slowly but continuously fallen in love with his female best friend, he couldn't pinpoint when it had started but he suspected it was during the Horcrux hunt, in the period they were alone without Ron. He had ignored it back then, and started rekindling his relationship with Ginny when the war had ended, but it didn't work.

Soon enough, Harry found himself single, and watching from afar his love being in a relationship with his other best friend. But that didn't last long either. Ron grew tired of the bickering, and admitted that while he had at first thought it was a sign they truly loved each other, soon he realised it was a sign, yes, but of them being incompatible.

In the meantime, though, Harry had decided to become a better man. He knew he hadn't been the best role model back in school, and in Auror training too, but seriously, first he had a madman after him, then he had decided to enjoy a bit of fun once the war had ended.

However, as time passed, he realized the time for playing and fooling around was finished, and he had to become a serious person, someone who could know when it was the time to laugh, and when it was the time to work. Someone who could be responsible enough to be a husband, and a father.

Someone Hermione could love.

She had always been a model of diligence, and still was, so it had been easy for him. He truly learned from the best, as he had said to her.

Realizing his break had lasted long enough, he took a last sip of his Butterbeer before returning to his desk to finish up for the day.

--

It was a good thing that Hermione wasn't like most girls who took hours to get ready, because precisely at seven o'clock Harry rang the bell of her flat.

“Coming!” she called, fixing the last strand of her hair before going to open the door. There he was, in a white shirt and a black suit.

Out of habit, she slightly fixed his tie, before letting him in.

“I'm ready, I just need to get my purse” she said, going back to her room. As she did, Harry stared after her. Her brown hair was styled in a cascade of curls, her form tightly hugged by the fabric of a velvety dark blue dress. High heels were on her feet.

She was really a sight for sore eyes, and he felt his own heart beat a little faster. He just hoped he wouldn't somehow make a fool of himself.

--

The party was pleasant enough, but since both had to wake up early the next morning, Harry and Hermione excused themselves a bit early. He accompanied her up to her flat, and she invited him in for a last drink before parting ways. As they relaxed on her couch, she looked sideways at him.

“You know, I quite like this new Harry you've become” she complimented him. “not that I didn't appreciate you before” she quickly added. “But it's nice to see you so focused on something”

“I was focused before too” he replied, smiling bitterly.

“Yeah, I know” she said, coming to sit near him, and placing a hand on his knee. The gesture made him look up in surprise.

“The war affected us all, Harry” she said. “But if this new Harry is what came out of that, a Harry who can both have fun and be responsible about his duties, then maybe it wasn't all for nothing” she said, and following her heart and not her brain for once, she settled against his chest, her head tucked just under his chin.

He wrapped an arm around her, and sighed. “It wasn't the war, Hermione. It was you” he admitted, and she pushed herself slightly away from him to look into his eyes. He leaned in, summoning all the Gryffindor courage he had, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“I changed to become someone you could be proud of, someone you could love” he whispered then, before he kissed her again, her own arms linking around his neck as she kissed him back, their tongues entwining, battling in their mouths, as both poured all their feelings for the other in that kiss.

“You've always been someone I could love” she whispered against his lips when they finally broke apart. “In fact, I think I've always loved you” she added before kissing him again, their drinks forgotten, and for once their need to wake up early to go to work too, as they were too wrapped up in each other to be organised, diligent people.

-->

6. Sloth

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Six: Sloth

Harry Potter woke up, as usual for him by now, well past the sun was up in the sky. Yawning, he trudged to the bathroom, took a long shower, then lazily walked down the stairs of Grimmauld Place to the kitchen to prepare himself breakfast.

Imagine his surprise when he found his best friend of many years, Hermione Granger, already there and preparing coffee for him.

“Hermione! What a pleasure to see you here! I thought you had to work at this time of the morning” he greeted her, walking near the stove to help her.

She scoffed, and then finally turned to look at him, her brown eyes not warm as they used to be when she looked at him, but cold and angry.

“You don't even know what day is it, do you?” she hissed, and he ran a hand through his hair, thinking hard. It couldn't be her birthday because they were currently in May and her birthday was in September. Nor could it be his birthday, because he was born in July. They weren't a couple so it couldn't be their anniversary…

After a few minutes, he finally gave up. “Nope, I don't know what day today is. Care to enlighten me?” he said, snagging a cup of coffee from her hands.

Her outraged look almost made him laugh, but he was smart enough not to do that.

“It's Sunday, Harry, that is why I'm not at work!” she finally exclaimed, pouring another cup of coffee for herself. “For Merlin's sake, you don't even keep track of the week days, they are all the same for you, because you are always on holiday, no matter if it's a Monday, a Wednesday, or the weekend!” she screeched, slamming her cup on the table, and turning again to face him.

“What has happened to the Harry I knew?” she asked, almost sadly now. “It's been more than one year since the end of the war, Harry, and all of us are doing something. Ron is playing Quidditch for the Cannons, not the best profession out there if you ask me, but at least he's doing something, and he's happy with it. Ginny works at the Quibbler with Luna now that it has become a respectable publication. Neville is doing an internship with Professor Sprout to be able to take over her post next year, and I'm working at St. Mungo's as an healer. What about you?”

Harry rolled his eyes. It wasn't the first time she lectured him about his lack of a job. More than anything, the fact he didn't even try to find a job.

“I did what I had to do. Now it's time for me to have fun and do what I want, like I couldn't in my childhood and school years” he replied, taking a biscuit from the jar and then biting it.

Hermione sighed. He was almost as stubborn as her and to push something through that thick skull of his it would take a miracle.

“Look, Harry, I know that you never had a childhood to have fun and be carefree. But must I remind you that since we started school, none of us had that? Me and Ron were with you on everyone of your adventures, by choice, and still, we are working now. Ginny, Luna, everyone involved in the war, they all have a job. You don't have any looming danger over you, and that doesn't mean you should waste yourself like this” she said, before finishing her coffee and heading for the door.

Before leaving, she looked at him sadly, shook her head sighing. “I miss my best friend, Harry. I admired him, but this is not the Harry Potter I knew” she said, before Apparating away, defeated.

As he finished his breakfast, Harry pondered over the exchange he just had with her. Deep down, he knew she was right. She always was, he thought with a smile. So what was stopping him from following her advice and finding a job?

He had to admit more than one year without doing anything was starting to get boring. Sure, he could go out at night and not worry about waking up early the next morning, he could spend his time buying whatever he wanted and enjoying it, but was he really happy?

He didn't know. But there was something in Hermione's expression that morning that he had never seen. When she had gone, her eyes looked dull, like their flame had gone out. It was like she had given up and no longer had any faith in him and wasn't willing to fight to convince him anymore.

It scared him shitless, because Hermione's nagging, while a bit annoying at times, had been a constant in his life for so long now that he didn't know how to live without it. He didn't know how to live his life without her in it, but if she was so disappointed in him, she probably wouldn't want to spend time with him anymore.

He needed an objective point of view.

Hastily dressing, he Apparated to the Cannons training field. Ron was up there, flying and defending the goals. Harry couldn't help but smile. His friend was truly in his element. They were training on a Sunday because for the first time in a century the Cannons had reached the semi-finals of the Queen's Cup and they had the next match in a week against the Holy Harpies and they needed to be at their best.

He waited for the team to stop the practice to go have lunch, and when his redheaded friend landed, he went to clap his hand on his back.

“Good job up there, Ron” he said. His best mate beamed. “Harry, it's so good to see you, mate. We're going to crush them, I just know it”

“Don't be overconfident, Weasley” he teased his best friend as they went to grab lunch together.

As they ate, Harry told Ron about Hermione's visit that morning, and the effect it had on him.

“Tell me the truth, mate. Do you think I'm wasting my life?” Harry asked, serious.

Ron sighed. “Honestly, Harry, yes, you are. You could do anything, anything really, Quidditch, Auror, healer, whatever you want to do, you can. You've always been a bit lazy, don't get offended but it's the truth, but I've always thought you had the brains to give Hermione a run for her money, if you really wanted to study. It's just, you never did” Ron said. “Mostly because I distracted you, I admit” he joked then, “but seriously, Harry, don't just let time pass and consume you in that old house. Having a job is part of living, and if you don't do it…well, you're not really living, just existing”

--

It was Thursday morning, and like all week days, Hermione had set her alarm at half past six so that she could be at the hospital at half past seven. So when she heard pounding on her door, she wondered if maybe her alarm had gone off without her noticing. Checking her watch, she groaned. Who in the world was pounding on her door at six o'clock in the morning?

“Coming!” she sleepily shouted, as she groggily walked toward the main door of her flat.

When she opened it, she was surprised to find herself staring into the green eyes of no one else than Harry Potter, grinning madly at her.

“Harry, what are you doing here at this hour?” she asked, letting him in.

“I did it, Hermione! I found a job. Took me some days to get it finalized, but I've been accepted into the Law Enforcement Department at the Ministry. Not really the Auror ranks as I think I've had enough catching bad guys to last me a lifetime, but I'll be in the section of the Ministry working on applying the laws and proposing new ones” he explained.

She squealed, hugging him tight. She even felt a couple tears of joy escape her eyes. When she finally pulled back, Harry noticed them, and gently brushed them away.

“You were right, I was wasting my life in that house, but what really got me was seeing your expression as you left the other day. It really pulled at my heart how you seemed to have lost your will to fight to convince me, like you seemed to have lost your faith in me, and I wanted to show you I'm still someone you can be best friends with and be proud of”

“Oh, Harry” she said, shaking her head, but still smiling. “It's not for me, it's for you that you need to do this”

Grinning mischievously, Harry bent down and kissed her, surprising her. She didn't protest though, her arms moving to circle his neck as she responded to his kiss, their tongues meeting each other for the first time, exploring, as sensations flooded through them, powerful and new, better than anything they had ever experienced before.

“Let's say I'm doing this for us” he whispered against her lips once they parted, before claiming her lips again.

-->

7. Kindness

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Seven: Kindness

Harry Potter hated being at odds with his girlfriend, Hermione Granger. He had never been able to bear it, even in school, even for the smallest things. That's why he was barely concentrating on his work today, after the fight they had last night, that had him tossing and turning without getting sleep. He had tried calling her this morning on her cell phone, but she stubbornly didn't answer him.

Berating himself for the umpteenth time for his stupidity, he finally devised a plan. Going to see his boss, the Head of the Auror Department, he asked to be let off for the rest of the day.

Now, Harry was one of the best Aurors at the Ministry, and he rarely took a day off, seeing how distraught the young man before him was, Nathan Fanth sighed and nodded.

“You're clearly not yourself, Harry, so go and resolve whatever is distracting you from doing your job. I expect you here tomorrow morning though, understood?”

“Yes sir” the raven haired man said, before leaving the room, and sprinting out of the Ministry, Apparating home.

He quickly showered, and changed into casual clothes, then he left to go do some shopping. It was one hour later, and with several bags, that he entered Hermione's flat. They had each other's keys, so it wasn't really a strange for him to be able to enter.

Knowing she wouldn't be home for at least a couple of hours, he hummed to himself as he started working in the kitchen. The only thing he could thank the Dursleys for was that he had become a very good cook, and that served his purpose just right at the moment.

--

When Hermione arrived home, she clicked the door open, and was surprised to see it wasn't locked. Frowning, she drew her wand and cautiously proceeded to check if someone had broken in. When she smelled the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen, she relaxed and a smile spread across her lips.

She put her wand away and went to greet her boyfriend. Although she had been the one to leave his flat last night slamming the door in his face, she had to admit she had exaggerated a bit. The matter had been sensitive to her so she overreacted.

“Hi” she timidly said, poking her head inside.

Harry turned and grinned at her. “Hi” he said. “You go have a good shower, relax, and when you come back, dinner should be ready”

She nodded, and went to do just that. It had been a long day at the hospital, and she really needed a good, long bath to relax.

When she returned to the kitchen more than half an hour later, clad in a simple T-shirt and trousers, she found Harry placing the finishing touches on their meal.

“Here it is, my lady” he joked, with a small bow, “your roasted grouper with lime sauce on the side”

She laughed as he pulled back her chair, before going to sit himself.

“So” he started, nervously uncorking the wine. “I want to apologize for last night. I shouldn't have belittled your views…” but she interrupted him.

“I should apologize too, Harry. I overreacted, I should know that you don't really condone the Ministry politics about werewolves and giants” she explained. “It's just that I've heard about that new law they want to pass, only because a child had been killed by a stray werewolf a couple weeks ago, and it makes my blood boil”

“Believe me, I don't approve of it any more than you do” he said, nodding. “It's just that being inside the Ministry, I know how it works, and I know your views won't have a chance to pass at the moment. I may have expressed myself a bit harshly last night, and I'm sorry for it, but I only wanted to spare you more disappointment”

“I know, and I appreciate it. I guess I took your words the wrong way too, as I was merely seeking an outlet to unleash my frustration on” she admitted, blushing the lightest bit.

“So, are we ok now?” Harry tentatively asked. Hermione nodded, her brown eyes sparkling. “I can't just kick such a good cook out of my life, can I?” she joked, and he laughed merrily.

“Glad to know I'm useful for something” he said, giving her a mock salute that had her in a fit of giggles.

“I can think of at least one other thing you're definitely useful for” she mischievously suggested, wriggling her eyebrows, and Harry chuckled. When they finally calmed down, Harry looked tenderly at her, clasping her hand in his own.

“I love you” he said, and she nodded. “I love you too, Harry. And thanks for the wonderful dinner” she said.

“Consider it a peace offering” he winked, and she smiled. “You didn't need to, you know that, right?” she said.

“I know, but I wanted to”

--

As they cuddled together on the couch to watch a film after washing the dishes, Hermione couldn't help thinking that this was just how things were supposed to go. After a fight, which could always happen even with the best couples, one was supposed to talk about it calmly, rationally, and finally come to an agreement, with kindness and willingness to hear the other out, not thinking you're always right.

She looked up at Harry's face, and as a smile spread once more on her lips, she nestled her head under his chin, feeling lucky to have such a wonderful man in her life.

-->

8. Wrath

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Eight: Wrath

Two white coffins were lowered into the ground, and covered with dirt, as many let their tears fall freely. Amongst those stood Hermione Granger, completely dressed in black, sobbing into the embrace of her best friend Harry Potter, as she mourned the death of her beloved parents.

Harry gritted his teeth, if there was something that always made him sad was to see Hermione crying. She had been doing that often, in the last couple of years, but always for good reasons. Mourning Dumbledore, mourning Moody, mourning Fred, Remus and Tonks after the final battle. There were the happy tears of Fleur and Bill's wedding too, of course, but they seemed to disappear confronted with the amount of sad tears his best female friend had shed.

He berated himself for not seeing the danger, blinded by the happiness of the victory over Voldemort. He never considered that with his own parents already dead, and the Weasleys being magical folk, that some of the vicious Death Eaters who escaped would see fit to take revenge for their Master's demise. Their ruthless attack on the family who was completely defenceless was a crushing blow to the female member of the Golden Trio.

He should have thought about it, and sent them into hiding, although for the little he had known them, and if Hermione herself was any proof, they would have probably refused and happily taken their chances at continuing their normal daily routine.

As he held Hermione close, letting her cry against his chest, he felt rage surge through him. He may be devoid of the Horcrux in his forehead now, but he had suffered enough through the years to have any reason to muster anger and resentment of his own. He was tired of seeing those he loved suffer, even after the war was finished, and he wondered who else would be affected next.

That was the moment he realized Hermione had stopped crying, clenching his shirt in her fists. He dared to look down, and at the same moment she looked up, green meeting brown.

He could see determination, and fury swimming in those chocolate pools, and for a moment he felt frightened. He had rarely seen Hermione so irate, and it never bid well for the object of her wrath, usually Ron or Malfoy.

“I'm gonna catch them” she whispered, almost challenging him to stop her, to tell her Aurors would catch the murderers of her parents and punish them. He didn't.

He knew that would have been the right course of action, but honestly, he had no faith in the Ministry and thus by extension in the Aurors. Sure, there were good ones like Kingsley, or Tonks, Merlin bless her soul, or Mad-Eye, replacing these last two was going to be hard in fact, but the problem was that if their superiors were corrupted or lenient, they could do just so much.

He would have also felt hypocritical to tell her that, because the first thought he had when Hagrid told him his parents had been murdered and not dead from a car crash was to see the bad guy who had killed them punished. He then thought the same once he learned about the prophecy, the only reason why he was a tiny bit happy because he would have the chance to avenge his parents' deaths. In the end, he did just that, and he could perfectly understand Hermione's desire to do the same.

He nodded, and crushed her against his chest.

“We will catch them, Mione. I promise you, we will catch them”

--

It took them several months, but they were finally able to corner the two Death Eaters responsible for her parents' deaths.

“Avery and Dolohov” Harry spat after Accioing their masks. He wanted to know who they were dealing with.

“Potter and Granger, what a nice meeting” Dolohov mocked them, his wand already in his hand. Avery was silent, his eyes trained on the two in front of him. “Granger, did you like the little surprise we left you?” Dolohov taunted her, and Harry could see Hermione shake with rage.

He silently hoped she wouldn't loose her cool, it was just what Dolohov wanted.

“You bastard” Hermione icily hissed, before sending a curse flying his way. And so it started.

The lights from the spells flew back and forth, but if Avery and Dolohov had been to Hogwarts with them, they would have known that it's highly advisable to stay away from the business end of Hermione's wand if she's pissed, and boy was she angry at the moment.

When the fight ended, a hour later, the two Death Eaters, especially Dolohov, were hardly recognizable given the amount of bruises and cuts they had on their faces and bodies. Their wands snapped by Harry as he had Accioed them to put a final stop to the duel, they lay defenceless on the ground. Hermione went and kicked Dolohov in the face, a loud crack signalling that she had broken his nose.

She would have done more if Harry hadn't dragged her away, the tension of the fight leaving her as she started struggling against his tight embrace, sobbing and crying, the void of her parents' deaths more painful now that she didn't have something else to focus on anymore. Harry silently bound the two murderers, and making a Portkey with a nearby pebble, he tossed it at the two Death Eaters. The stone activated on contact, and whisked them away to a Ministry cell. There would be time to go and see that they were sent to Azkaban later, now Harry's concern was Hermione.

She had been driven by revenge all this time, and now that her “mission” had been accomplished, he feared she would break down.

“We did it, Mione. We caught them, your parents have been avenged”

“I know, Harry” she said in a small voice. “But this doesn't give them back to me”

“No, it doesn't” he agreed. Revenge felt good, but it couldn't completely fill the void. If anything, in time she would feel bad about what she had done, the injuries she had inflicted. Of course they deserved that, and much more, but still, a good person like Hermione, and like himself Harry liked to think, was just bound to beat herself over that, given enough time to calm down and think about it.

“Thanks for being there for me, Harry, when no one else would”

“No one else could understand, Mione. Only Neville, maybe, and not even completely, because he still gets to see his parents, even if only in that wretched state Lestrange left them. Sure, the Weasleys lost Fred, but it's not the same thing”

She looked up, and gave him a small smile. “Am I a bad person, Harry? For actually wanting to kill them? If you weren't here to stop me, I might just have, with my bare hands”

Harry shook his head. “You're only human, Hermione. It was a natural reaction, even if it was wrong. But we are not robots, Hermione, we feel, and because of that we might feel bad emotions like these too. Believe me, I wanted to kill them too. I kept remembering you at the funeral, and it was very hard to restrain myself from using the Killing Curse on them. I don't think this makes me a bad person, so it doesn't make you one either”

She nodded, settling once more against his chest, sighing loudly.

After a couple minutes like that, in complete silence, she finally pushed herself away from him, and taking his hand she looked at his worried face.

“Let's go home, Harry” she said, and he grinned, taking off after her as they both Disapparated with almost silent pops.

-->

9. Patience

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Nine: Patience

Harry watched his friends, a few days after Voldemort's demise, paying their respect to those who had fallen. There would be a time for partying and cheering, and some of that had already been done, but right now it was time to acknowledge the sacrifice of those who had died to help them survive the war.

The list of people close to Harry who had died was quite long, his parents just to start, then Fred, Tonks, Remus, Sirius, Dumbledore, Mad-Eye and many others amongst the students and their families, not to mention his much loved Hedwig.

As he sat there, watching his friends grieve, he couldn't help noticing that Ron had Hermione tightly hugged to him, her head resting on his shoulder, and even from where he was, some rows behind them, he could see she was sobbing, and leaning on him for support.

It was strange to see them that way, even after what he had witnessed some days before, when she had jumped on their redheaded friend and planted one passionate kiss on his lips. Harry was too focused on the battle to dwell on it at the moment, but he had had some time to think since then, and he realized he was happy for them, but not like he had expected to be.

He had thought he and Ginny would rekindle their flame, and Ron and Hermione would be together, and everyone would be happy. After all, didn't he miss Ginny during the Horcrux hunt? He kept looking for her on the Map, didn't he?

But reality was different. After killing Voldemort, Harry realized that once the huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders, he didn't need anything distracting him anymore. And as shocked as he was at the truth of the matter, his time with Ginny was nothing more than a distraction, an escape from his troubles, which she provided perfectly.

So, now that he witnessed one more proof of the budding relationship between Ron and Hermione, Harry felt odd. He was happy for them, because they deserved to find happiness after all the adventures they had been through because of him, and if they were happy being together, well, who was he to stop them? However, he wasn't completely happy. There was a longing in him to be in Ron's place.

“One day, maybe” he thought to himself. For now, his best friends were happy together, and that was enough for him. If Fate wanted Harry to be with Hermione in the future, then it would happen. Otherwise, he would support his friends no matter what, in every step of their newfound love.

With a curt nod to himself, Harry knew that was the right thing to do. Patiently wait, and if one day his time would come, make the most of it.

--

Sticking to his word, Harry never envied Ron for being Hermione's boyfriend, although he had many the reasons to. After all, growing up Hermione had become a lovely young woman, although her brains were always her best feature.

Tonight it was no exception. It was Hermione's twentieth birthday, and Ron had asked for Harry's help to organize a nice party for her, with all their school friends, although now all of them were employed in different fields, and quickly becoming true adults.

Having Harry involved in the preparations for the party meant that Ron had to outline his plans for it to his best mate. That was how Harry knew that Ron was going to propose that night. When he heard that, he clapped his best friend on the back, and gave him his congratulations.

“I'm sure she will say yes, Ron” Harry said, a sincere smile on his lips as he tried to reassure his nervous best mate. “And we will have another reason to celebrate” he added then. Yes, if Hermione was happy with Ron and wanted to marry him then Harry was fine with it. He just wanted her to be happy, even if not with him. As he had happened to read in the Bible, “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered. It bears all things, endures all things” and he had no doubt by now that he was in love with Hermione. As his final act of love, he would be happy to see her married to their mutual friend, to the man that made her happy.

But Fate has a strange way to conduct his affairs, and when the moment of the proposal came, everyone watched with baited breath as Ron got on one knee, and asked her to become his wife.

She stood there, frozen, surely not expecting that. The fact that all of their friends were there put a huge amount of pressure on her, but she knew what her answer would be.

“No”

Everyone gasped. Harry looked at Hermione, confused. Wasn't this what she wanted? Wasn't she happy with Ron? He never had a clue she would say no.

“What do you mean NO?” Ron said, standing up, his ears quickly becoming red, clear signal that one of his outbursts was brewing.

“Ron, I've just turned twenty, you're not even that age yet. It's too soon to get married, we're still too young…”

So that was the problem. Thinking of it, Harry could see Hermione wanting to secure her career before settling down.

“Bollocks. We could get engaged and then wait to actually get married, and you know that, Hermione. If you said no, it means you're not sure you want to marry me, not now, not ever, so maybe it's better if we call our whole relationship off” Ron said, storming out of the inn they had booked, and Apparating away.

Hermione stood there, her face in her hands, sighing. Harry, always the kind best friend, went to comfort her, and announced that the party was over.

In a few minutes, he and Hermione were in her flat, sharing a cup of chocolate.

“He's right, you know” she finally admitted. “I've been having doubts about our relationship for a long time now”

Harry said, nothing, just listened to her.

“I just clung to it, because you know, Ron was my first real boyfriend, and not many other blokes paid attention to me back in school, no one if we exclude Krum so I was scared I'd be alone” she told him. Harry nodded, he could understand the feeling. After the war, he had not dated. It was almost impossible to find a girl who didn't fawn over his fame and gold, someone interested only in who he really was, just Harry.

They sat there, in her living room, chatting, for a long time before Harry finally declared he better go home and get some sleep.

--

With time, the hard feelings between Ron and Hermione subsided, thanks also to Luna Lovegood, who was currently Ron's girlfriend. If he had to give his opinion, Harry thought she was even more suited to Ron than Hermione, in an odd way.

Ron himself had declared at a pub night with the guys that he felt much more relaxed around Luna, because he didn't fear sticking his foot in his mouth and upsetting her.

It was time, Harry deemed, that he claimed the fruits of his long exercised patience.

That afternoon, he surprised Hermione at work, in the Magical Law Enforcement Department.

After a bit of catching up, they hadn't seen each other in a few days due to being busy with their jobs, Harry cleared his throat, and finally asked:

“Hermione, would you like to have dinner together tonight?”

She was caught by surprise by his question, and remained speechless for a moment.

“You mean like a date?”

“Yeah” Harry nervously said, ruffling his hair with his hand, a habit he seemed to have picked up from his father James, although he only did it out of nervousness.

“I'd love to” Hermione finally replied, with a bright smile and a soft blush that made her even more enticing to Harry, just like her sparkling brown eyes.

As he went home to get ready for the date, Harry couldn't help thinking that maybe after waiting so long his time had finally come.

-->

10. Envy

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Ten: Envy

That cow stole him from me! He was destined to be my knight in shining armour, the hero who falls in love with the little humble girl. I was to be his princess, and give him a family. Look at that bitch, her frizzy hair, how she's always locked in the library studying. What fun can she be? I'm sure she is completely frigid in bed too. That's if she lets him shag her, which of course I doubt. The little saint surely will want to wait for her wedding night. Whoever does that anymore, anyway?

Now I would be a good girlfriend for him. Look at me, my long, flowing red hair, and let's say it, I've got the looks she doesn't have. A nice bum, like many boys have mentioned, and a big enough chest. Of course, the fact I reduced the size of my shirts to show off more cleavage helps to get their attention, but really, I am sexier than her. And I'd let him shag me senseless for hours, our cries of passion mingled together. Yeah, I'd be a much better girlfriend for him than that bookworm. She has no fashion sense at all, what kind of girl is she anyway?

He should have been mine, his lips should have been on mine now, not hers. Mmh, I'd love to feel his hands run on me like he's doing now to her. It's unfair. I want him, I deserve to have him. Haven't I been a good girl for years? Where's my reward for that? I can't fathom why he would choose her over me, I mean, she's plain, boring, doesn't even play or like Quidditch!

I would be a much better match for him, that's clear. Oh, well, I'll just have to show him what he's missing out on. I'll find myself a boy toy and make him jealous, and then he'll leave the cow and come to me, and I'll be the good one and forgive him for his mistake and let him have me like he should have all along.

--

I really can't stand them anymore. They are constantly flaunting their relationship in front of everyone, with that horrible lovey-dovey attitude. Many say it's so cute, so sweet that long time friends ending up falling in love, and that they are perfect for each other.

I constantly hear Parvati or Lavender say that they had always known it would end this way. Someone even made bets on it, from what I hear. Disgusting.

All of them, they don't understand anything. It's me who is perfect for her. She should have been mine, not his. Why it is that he always gets everything I want?

He's rich, so rich that he wouldn't have to work if he didn't want to. He's famous, so that he could have any girl he wants, and he now has Hermione too, the girl who should have been mine. Some best mate he proved to be, he knew I fancied her since fourth year, and he never showed any interest in her in that way before, but suddenly now he does.

They cuddle together on the couch in the common room, and I can't help thinking that it should be me holding her close, kissing the top of her head, giving her a good, long goodnight kiss.

They walk the corridors hand in hand, and I want to rip off his arm for touching her the way only I should be allowed to. They don't have sexual tension, it's quite obvious that she craves my touch from the way she's always ready to jump down my throat with her scathing remarks. That is a clear sign of unresolved sexual tension, the way we bicker.

They never fight for anything, they should just be friends. That's not the way relationships are supposed to work.

On Valentine's he came down to breakfast with a single white rose and a box of chocolates, and I barely restrained myself from gagging when she gave him his reward, a very thorough kiss in the middle of the Great Hall, with most of the students cheering and the girls sighing over the extremely mushy gesture.

Whatever.

I want her, I want what he has. Why can't I have it? I deserved it, didn't I? I've been through hell with him for years, following him on all his crazy adventures, and what's my reward? A bloody prefect badge that was given to me just because Dumbledore felt the poor guy had already too much on his shoulders. Not even that was completely mine, the only time I bested him it was out of pity for his circumstances.

What does he have that's better than me anyway? He's a sixteen years old boy just like me, although they make him a celebrity for something he doesn't even have a clue about how it had happened, when he was a baby.

All the other times he did something big, it was mostly luck. You want to tell me he knew to put his hands on Quirrel's face to stop the Professor from killing him? Or that the Sorting Hat would provide him Gryffindor's sword, and Fawkes would heal him from the Basilisk venom? Did he know that a future “him” would go back in time and save him from the Dementors, or that a simple Expelliarmus would trigger the Priori Incantatem thing in the graveyard, saving his ass once more? The only time he did something because he really thought he was doing the right thing, he ended getting his own Godfather killed.

He should have listened to Hermione telling him it was a trap. I would have. Doesn't this prove I'm better than him at listening to her? This shows how she would be happier with me than with him.

“You know, you shouldn't envy him” an airy voice startles me. I turn just to find myself staring into the big blue eyes of Luna Lovegood.

“What do you mean?” I ask her, rather gruffly I admit.

“They are clearly happy together, and as their friend, you should be happy for them, not envy him. Think about it, he's lost so much already, his parents, the chance to grow up in a loving family, and he has had to face the darkest wizard of all times more than once already. Would you really want to be him just to enjoy his money, his fame? And Hermione, she's clearly not suited for you. The two of you always fight, and end hurting each other. Do you think that would change if you were in a relationship?”

Thinking about it, her views about Elves, and the need to study, for example, wouldn't change even if we were together, and I'm sure I'd call her on it just the same. We would still be fighting.

As for what Luna said about him, I guess I can see where she's coming from. Sure, it would be nice to have his money, and to be famous so that pretty girls would throw themselves at me, or the papers would be interested in what I do. But if the price for that is to not have Mum and Dad, or my brothers…heck, even Percy and the twins, they can be annoying, but I'm sure I'd miss them. That's not worth losing my family.

I begrudgingly admit Luna's right.

“Plus, Hermione's not the only girl on Earth, you know. There may be someone interested in you like she is in Harry” she remarks. I turn to look at her, and as I do, she gives me a pretty smile. I find myself smiling back, my hand moving to grab her own. She doesn't pull away, instead she entwines our fingers together.

“Let's go for a walk” she suggests, and I nod. Maybe I won't have to envy him anymore for having found love, I may just have started my way to it myself.

-->

11. Humility

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Eleven: Humility

If you ask him, he will tell you he isn't the hero of the Wizarding World. Or, better, he is, but only because the others say he is.

To him, having killed the most vicious Dark Wizard of all times is not something that should make him a hero.

“I should be labelled as a murderer” he will tell you. And it's not false humility. He really thinks so. In fact, it took him quite a while to understand why his birthday had become a national holiday in the Wizarding World, and why there were parties in his honor, most of which he didn't even want to attend.

He's never liked his fame, he has always thought he shouldn't be known for his name and for something he did as a baby, something he didn't even know how had happened, or why.

“Why do they celebrate me if I don't even know how I did that? Anyone else might have done the same” he told me once in our first year, as we were in front of the fire in the common room. He has always wanted to be known, and loved, one day, as just Harry.

He will never admit it, but I know that's the reason why he broke up with his long-time girlfriend Ginny a couple weeks ago. She has always seen him as her knight in shining armour, and even if with time she lost her shyness around him, thanks to my advice too I must say, she never stopped seeing him as “Harry Potter the Hero”. Sad, really, because I know how much she wanted to be with him, and I knew she needed to let go of that vision to be able to make him fall in love with her. I tired helping her on that road, but it worked only to a certain extent.

Well, that works fine for me. I won't deny it, Harry is an amazing guy and any girl would be lucky to be dating him. So yes, add me to those who would want to be his girlfriend. If only he asked…

Now he's up on that stage, giving his speech as Head Boy, the seventh year students gathered in the Great Hall for this graduation ceremony. There are many known faces, even if we should have graduated last year. But you know, Horcrux hunts tend to get in the middle of attending your last year at Hogwarts, so Harry, Ron and I did it this year. With us, were many of our classmates who decided to repeat it because last year was a farce with the Death Eaters in charge of the school.

I hear him say that we shouldn't be afraid of doing what's right instead of what is easy, and I smile to myself. Dumbledore taught his lesson well, and while Harry doesn't realize it, it's just that which makes him a hero. Not everyone would be able to stay and fight the Death Eaters, if given the chance to flee to safety. He did. Of course me and Ron too, but only because he was there. Had he fled, we would have too.

He looks at me with a radiant smile and a nod, and I nod back. It's time for my own speech now.

--

I watch her speak to our classmates, and I can't help smiling. She will never acknowledge it, but she's a hell of a witch. Smartest, and probably most powerful one in our generation, in fact. Although, she won't admit it.

“Books and cleverness, this is all that I am” she will say “There are other qualities that make a great wizard or witch”

Of course she's right, she just doesn't see she has those other qualities too. She's brave, otherwise she wouldn't have been in Gryffindor. She's loyal, and I know that more than anyone else, as she never left my side. I can't say that of anyone else, not even my best mate. She's caring, and her campaign for house elves proves just that. Few would look twice at the friendly creatures and wonder about their rights, but Hermione did. It didn't go too well, admittedly, but it's the thought which counts and gives you an idea of who she really is.

And, of course, she's humble. As I said, she'll never think she's better than someone else. At max, she might say she has worked harder, which is probably true anyway, but that's not the point.

She's become a beautiful witch in her own right, even if she denies it, which I've found is something most girls do, but I don't understand why.

I barely hear her words, transfixed by her, lost in my thoughts about my best female friend. She's always seen me as nothing else than just Harry, probably the only one to do so because she didn't grow up in the Wizarding world with legends about me told to her every day. I'm sorry I can't say the same for Ginny.

I tried, I really tried, but in the end I couldn't see myself spending the rest of my life with someone who idolises me, so why keep the relationship going?

Which brings me to the point I am now. I can see myself spending my life with Hermione, because with her I can be myself, not a hero, and that's a reassuring thought. The terrifying one is to ask her out.

I'm scared she will laugh in my face, which she should do, because really, who would want to date a murderer? Ok, maybe I'm making this over-dramatic, I know I'm not exactly a murderer, after all it was a case of “you or me” so I just did what I had to do to survive. But I surely am not a hero. I don't even want to be, honestly.

Here she comes, her speech finished, and I'm ashamed I can't tell you what she was talking about because I wasn't paying attention. She smiles at me, and squeezes my hand as we go back to the Gryffindor table, waiting for Headmistress McGonagall to hand out our diplomas.

As we are called, one by one, to the head table to receive it, I can't stop looking at her. She's gorgeous, she truly is.

She must have felt my gaze upon her because she looks at me questioningly. I grin at her, and lean to whisper in her ear.

“You're gorgeous”

I sense her tremble from my closeness, and when I pull back I notice she's blushing. Does this mean…?

Oh, heck, I'm a Gryffindor, I can face rejection, right?

I lean in again. “Would you laugh at me if I asked you to be my girlfriend?”

In the absolute silence of the Great Hall, the crash of her glass on the ground, shattering in a million tiny shards. Everyone is looking at us now, but I'm more concerned about Hermione's reaction.

She turns toward me, her eyes still wide, before a smile starts to spread on her lips.

“I'd love to” she shyly whispers, and I feel my heart swell.

From now on, I'll be more than glad to be a hero, as long as I'm her hero.

-->

12. Pride

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not a Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Twelve: Pride

Hermione Granger was exiting her office at St. Mungo's hospital, to get a cup of coffee and start her day like always, when she met her co-worker just steps outside her door.

“Malfoy, you're late” she chided him. After the war, probably propelled by the fact they had saved his life, Draco Malfoy had changed his ways, and while still not overly fond of Muggles and Muggleborns, he had learned to be civil to Harry and his friends.

At first, it had taken quite a while for Harry and Ron to accept him, but due to Hermione's insistence, they did. Now the ferret was part of their group of friends just like Luna and Ginny.

“I'm never late, Granger. Nor am I early. A Malfoy arrives exactly when he wants to” he drawled as he fell into step by her side.

Rolling her eyes good naturedly, Hermione slightly nudged him. “Are you ever going to step down from that pedestal you built for yourself?” she teased him. “You're only human, just like everyone else”

“I am?” he asked, feigning shock. She laughed, handing him his mug of hot dark liquid.

“I'll see you in a hour in my office, we need to plan a new course of treatment for Mr. Tenterfill because the one we are using now is not working well enough” she reminded him, before she walked away down the hall.

Malfoy quickly finished his coffee and then got to work.

--

Planning a new method of treatment took away most of their morning. Hermione asked him if he was interested in grabbing a bite together. The blonde agreed, so they headed to the cafeteria and after grabbing a plate of chicken salad each, they sat down at a table.

“So, what is it that you see in Potter?” Malfoy asked her, referring to the fact she and Harry had recently hooked up. It had been quite the talk among their circle of friends, not for the fact per se, but mostly because everyone couldn't fathom why they didn't hook up earlier. “After all, I'm far better looking than Scarhead” he said, giving her his best charming smile.

She tossed a chip at him. “Keep doing that, and Ginny will hear about it, and then she will chop off that thing you have between your legs” she admonished him with a smile.

He smirked. “That would be a rare opportunity for you, eh? To see the equipment of a real man, not that toy Potter has”

Hermione scoffed. “Like you know how he's equipped down there” she said after taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. “But if you really want to know, he's definitely not a toy”

Draco leaned closer, and whispered into her ear. “Nobody is better hung than a Malfoy, remember that” then with a suggestive wriggling of his brows he left her there, speechless at the amount of pride he still carried around at being a Malfoy.

She guessed it was so hardly engrained into him that he would never truly get rid of it. But after all, as Ginny liked to say, it was part of who he was, so they had all learned to accept it, as long as he didn't let it go too much to his head, and that didn't seem to be the case.

Ginny knew how to handle him anyway.

Shaking her head with an amused smile, she quickly finished her lunch, and then went back to her office to finish for the day. She had some patients to check on, and that should take her a couple hours at max, then she would go home to get ready.

Tonight, the six of them were meeting at a restaurant in Muggle London. She wondered how would Ron and Malfoy fare there, but since they had agreed to go, she hoped they would behave.

Admittedly, she was more worried about Ron, the redhead had always managed to make a mess whenever they went together to the Muggle world. Malfoy instead always had a certain elegance about him, even in an environment he wasn't overly familiar with. But she wasn't going to tell him that, lest she encourage that inflated ego of his.

--

That night, dinner was a pleasant experience, and Luna managed to keep Ron under control. The redhead didn't slip about talking of the Wizarding World amongst Muggles, nor did he make a fool of himself when things didn't work the way he was used to, namely the plates didn't keep filling themselves until you told them to stop like in many Wizarding restaurants.

But what surprised Hermione the most was seeing Draco nervous. She wanted to tease him about it, because really, a Malfoy nervous was something unheard of, but she reckoned if he was that way he had a good reason for it. He had always been the perfect example of an overconfident person, so to render him like this something must be up, and something big.

Her reasoning proved right later that night, namely during dessert. As she was leaning into Harry, Draco suddenly got on one knee, and proposed to Ginny. The redhead girl sat speechless for a moment before jumping into her boyfriend's arms and kissing him soundly on the lips.

Seeing Draco's relieved face once they parted, Hermione knew then that if there was someone on Earth able to turn Draco Malfoy into a humble person that was Ginny Weasley.

Although, she probably wouldn't want to do it, seeing how in love she was with the current Draco, even with his huge pride and even bigger ego.

-->

13. Charity

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Thirteen: Charity

I've always known that Harry was a good person, even when he was moody or angry because burdened with having to face Voldemort and kill or be killed.

He's always had what I called his “saving people thing”, and at times I regret labelling it so. I mean, I was the first person he saved, from a troll when he was only eleven, so one would expect a bit more gratitude from me, right? But he knows. He knows I am grateful, and he knows I didn't mean to offend him when I said that thing in our fifth year.

But now that the war is finished, Harry hasn't stopped amazing me. Sure, he never cared much for his fame and money, and he's always been ready to share his fortune with us. More than once Ron and I have had to deflect his attempts at buying us things.

Ron may have done it more out of pride, while I did because I didn't want him to waste his money on me.

I guess he found someone else not so lucky, who really needs his help, and he is more than willing to give it.

I stand here, on his right side, while Minister Shacklebolt is giving his speech, both of us attending the inauguration of the “Harry Potter Centre for Magical Orphans”. I know how much he fought to keep his name out of it, but the Minister was adamant.

“These kids ought to know who is the gentle soul that is paying for their schooling, meals and clothes” Kingsley had said. In the end, Harry had relented.

I slip my hand into his, and squeeze. He looks at me and smiles. I beam at him, I'm so proud of him right now. He has learned from his own experience, and Tom Riddle's too.

A mistreated magical child can become really dangerous, even if that wasn't the case with Harry. He's smart enough to know it could have, though, just like with Tom Riddle aka Voldemort. This is the reason why he gave most of the money his parents left him to build and manage this institution, and I never met Lily and James, but I'm sure they would be proud of how he spent their money too.

Harry's always been generous with those around him. Just look at the money he won with the Triwizard Tournament, he gave it to the twins without a second thought, so that they could start their business. Of course, he has by now received back much more, considering how well business is going for WWW and the fact he's a partner and receives a regular share of their earnings. But when he gave it to them, he didn't know it would work, still he didn't hesitate.

He just asked them to buy Ron something now and then, and Ginny too, since they wouldn't accept it from him, if not something small for Christmas or birthdays.

But when I say he's generous I don't mean only on a material point of view. He's always been ready to give up his own happiness for others, just look at how he decided to give up on his feelings for me during the Horcrux Hunt. When Ron came back, Harry told him he saw me only as a sister, while I later on discovered he already had romantic feelings for me. I'm sure you can imagine how angry I was at him when I found out, especially because he assumed my own feelings for him.

But the fact is, he didn't think twice about sacrificing his own happiness to make Ron happy.

Minister Shacklebolt has called him on stage for a few words, and I can tell he's nervous. I try to reassure him meeting his eyes when he's up there, and smiling brightly at him. He nods, before clearing his throat and starting his little speech.

Just a small piece about how caring for the upbringing of the new generations is key to avoid new wars, and how everyone who has the opportunity should help those less fortunate, nothing huge and overwhelming, but I like his words all the same. You can tell that they come straight from his heart, and that's the most important thing.

When he joins me again in the first row of seats, before the Minister officially declares the orphanage open, he looks at me almost asking me how he did.

“You were wonderful” I whisper into his ear as he wraps his arm around me. I snuggle closer to him as I take my first look at just another amazing act of his selfless heart.

-->

14. Greed

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I'm not an Heron shipper, thank you very much.

A/N: My response to the “My sin, My virtue” challenge from cosmopolitan, here's the link to it: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26784 Hope you will enjoy, and as usual if you read, please review, ok? Thanks! Oh, by the way, I think this could be considered a collection of one shots, everyone focusing on a different sin/virtue. Just so you know and aren't disappointed by the lack of continuity between the chapters, lol. Also, the chapters will feature a virtue, and then the opposing sin in the following chapter.

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

The Seven Virtues And The Seven Sins

Chapter Fourteen: Greed

“Mum! Dad! Look at that boy, he's got a new Firebolt 3000!”

The two parents looked at each other, green meeting brown, before they grinned. “And what would you want to do about that, Benny?” Harry Potter asked his son.

“I want one too!” the fourteen years old said, like that was just obvious.

Hermione sighed. “Benny, you're not going to get the fastest broom on the market only because someone else has one. You got a Firebolt 2500 just last year!” she chastised her son, her hands on her hips. Harry was reminded of when she used to do that to him and Ron, back in school.

“Your mother is right, son. You don't need it, so you are not going to have it” Harry confirmed. Their son glared at them, before running to Quidditch Quality Supplies, to look at the broom from the window.

“Did we do something wrong with him, Harry?” Hermione wondered. “He always wants something new, I don't think it's healthy for him to be this greedy”

“No, it isn't. Maybe we did spoil him a bit when he was a child, but we're going to rectify that from now on. He shouldn't grow up with the idea that his name and our money can get him anything he wants. Besides, the best things in life can't be bought” he said, squeezing her hand in his own. She smiled fondly at him.

“That's true” she whispered.

For the rest of the day, occupied by shopping for Benny's school supplies, their son barely talked to them, but the two adults knew they were doing the right thing in the long run, so they weren't overly concerned. Their son could give them the silent treatment as much as he wanted, they wouldn't give in to his selfish desires and wants.

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A few years later, Benjamin Potter was sitting on the grass of Hogwarts grounds, his back leaning on the trunk of a tree nearby the lake. His right arm was draped over the shoulders of his girlfriend, Stephanie, and they were chatting quietly.

They had been dating for two years now, and they were planning to get a flat together in a month, once they would be out of school for good.

Benjamin couldn't believe how lucky he had been to meet her.

“You know, we never truly talked about our childhoods” she said, her blue eyes looking up at him. The young man looked down, meeting her gaze with his brown orbs.

“We haven't” he admitted.

“Well, then, come on! Yours must have been more exciting than mine, I'm sure!” she teased him

“Oh, just because my Dad is Harry Potter I must have had an exciting childhood?” he said, feigning to be offended. In the end, though, he did tell her about it. It took him a good fifteen minutes to explain to her how he had grown up.

“So I guess they spoiled me a bit when I was really young, but as I grew up, they must have thought I was becoming greedy because they became much more severe about buying me things. I mean, they didn't buy me a Firebolt 3000 when I had only a Firebolt 2500!” he pouted.

Stephanie giggled. “Poor thing, that must have been terrible!” she cooed, cradling his face in her hands. “Will a kiss lessen the hurt of such an ungodly blow?” she teased him.

“Let's make it two kisses, uh?” he huskily said, pulling her on his lap and kissing her fiercely.

When they finally parted, minutes later, both had ragged breath, their lips swollen.

“I love you” he whispered in her ear.

“I love you too” she beamed at him before kissing him on the nose. “As long as you're not greedy” she joked, and he laughed merrily. “Then I'll have to thank my parents for breaking me of that nasty habit, won't I?” he winked, and she laughed.

“But you know, there's still something I'm greedy for” he said, his eyes twinkling in a mischievous smile as he looked appreciatively at her.

“And what would that be?” she coyly asked.

“You” he growled before assaulting her mouth again, her own arms locking around his neck as she kissed him back.

“I…guess…that's…a good…kind…of…greedy…” she whispered between kisses. “I bet…your parents…are greedy…like that…with each other…too…”

As they caught their breath, still in each other arms, Benny couldn't help thinking that she was right.

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