In Her Touch
Absence
We had a few weeks before the Quidditch season was due to start and struck by some beneficent spirit heretofore unknown to her Gwenog granted the team four days off to relax. As I hadn't seen much of my family and Harry since finishing Hogwarts and getting taken on by the Harpies I was keen to get home. I stopped in at the Burrow first of course. I reckoned I owed mum and dad at least one uninterrupted day to fuss over their only daughter. I told them I had a team function to attend in London and that I'd be sure to make Sunday dinner before heading back. Yes, it was an awful lie to tell but I certainly couldn't tell my parents that I would be spending the next two days holed up in Harry's bedroom. Although to be perfectly honest I suspect mum had some idea of what I was up to but she was good enough not to let on. So it was with a slightly guilty conscious I set off for Grimmauld Place.
I had it in mind to surprise Harry so I hadn't owled ahead. Since he'd just passed his second round of qualifications for the aurors he was allowed to work in the field. As such he'd been keeping longer hours and Kreacher was spending much of his time at Hogwarts. The old house elf had grown rather fond of the castle and spent a good deal of time there with his fellow house elves when he wasn't needed by Harry. I let myself inside and after putting my bag in the bedroom decided to spoil my bloke a bit by cooking him dinner. I proceeded to the below stairs kitchen to see what Kreacher'd left on hand for me to work with.
It was about an hour after my arrival; I was just about to put the chicken in the oven when I heard the tell tale pop of Harry's arrival. Wiping my hands with the kitchen towel lying on the draining board I strode across the room to the door. Just as I placed my hand on the door the thought that this would one day be my life entered my mind. I envisioned myself in a bright sun filled kitchen next to me stood a messy haired green eyed little boy helping me to make dinner before his father arrived home. I smiled brightly as I pushed the door open and hurried up the hall. At that moment the doorbell sounded.
The ringing of a doorbell at Grimmauld Place could only mean one person, Hermione. Being that they were both raised as muggles up until they'd come to Hogwarts; Harry and Hermione had retained the odd habit or two from their childhoods. Like watching those ruddy picture boxes, telly something or others they call them and insisting on ringing doorbells when it's perfectly acceptable to floo or apparate over. Harry'd been half way up the stairs when the doorbell rang. Just as I reached the corner I was able to see Harry hurrying across the foyer. He threw his recently stripped off robes across the back of the nearest chair and flung the door open.
Hermione stepped across the threshold and before she'd uttered a single word Harry was reaching for her. He pulled her into a close embrace; his arms wrapping tightly about her waist. Hermione went willingly into his arms; her left arm wound around his back while the right rose slightly higher up. The fingers of her right hand settled in the wild messiness of Harry's hair. They embraced for several long seconds before they drew apart. As they drew apart Harry placed his lips to her forehead and kissed her fondly. Hermione laughed as she remarked that her recent absence seemed to have caused her to have been missed. Harry replied that she had indeed been missed and he'd much prefer her not going away for that long ever again. Hermione playfully replied that she'd been in Heidelberg for less than a month and that they'd spent far more time apart than that in all the years that they'd known each other. Harry retorted by saying that during those times he had at least gotten weekly letters.
Though their tone was light and bantering there was a strong undercurrent of truth in Harry's voice and manner; he'd genuinely missed Hermione. I felt a pang of hurt. In all the months since we'd rekindled our romance we'd been apart more than we'd been together and I couldn't remember him ever being so pleased to see me. I was brought back to the present by Harry proposing to Hermione that she make amends for her prolonged absence by allowing him to treat her to dinner. Hermione smiled and nodded her agreement. A minute or so later they disappeared out the door.
I returned to the kitchen and with a wave of my wand cleared away my dinner preparations. I then summoned my belongings from upstairs and made a hasty retreat from the confines of Grimmauld Place. Instead of going back to the Burrow I returned to the flat I shared with my fellow Harpies chasers. I owled mum saying I'd been called back to training unexpectedly and wouldn't make Sunday dinner. As I sat in bed late that night I wrote to Harry. I told him that I thought we should call things off. I said that with his being so wrapped up in his work and my being away at training so much of the time that it'd be better if we just focused on ourselves for awhile. His reply came two days after I sent the owl. It was only ten words.
If that's what you think is best, I understand. Harry
As I read those ten words I cried.
A/N: Question…would you all like the story to remain completely dialogue free or would you like a bit of conversation. Please let me know which you prefer. And now, on to Mr. Potter.
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