Hasty Decisions, Getting Drunk, and Starting Over

We sat together in the very back pew of the church next to two children whose parents had sent them back there when they refused to sit still and an old lady who had long since fallen asleep. The small sounds of the children's scuffling playfulness still wasn't enough to completely block out the words of the ceremony, nor was the substantial snoring of the lady. Harry stayed completely silent.

I tried not to look at him too often or touch him more than necessary. I knew that right now he would take the attempts at comforting him as a sign of his own weakness and I didn't want to make him more upset. So we just sat together without a word spoken or a touch exchanged.

The lines in his black suit were sharp and unyielding from the ironing I had given them before and now I wished I hadn't thought to. It seemed unnatural for them to be so perfect for so long; like their owner had forgotten how to move right. His hands were clenched into fists that never relaxed at the sides of his legs and his shoulders were stiff. His emerald eyes, which used to hold so much emotion, held a metallic sheen that hid his expressions. The only part of him that seemed recognizable was his raven-hair that refused to be tamed and still like the rest of him. It stayed wild and daring like the rest of Harry usually was.

I was scared that if I watched him long enough, I'd start to see the same look every morning in the mirror. Scared that I cared too much for him. Scared about what I would do to take that pain hiding just below the surface away from him. I looked away.

The aisle was marked by a pale pink carpet that ran all the way up to the alter. The white chairs on either side of it held pink roses with ribbons around them. It was rather ironic that they used pink when it was sure to clash with all the red-heads in the audience. But then it was a hasty decision; just as the entire wedding was a hasty marriage.

I let my eyes stray up to the bride and groom. There she was; perfect as always. Her red hair hung down to the bottom of her waist and the white dress accentuated all the right curves while still hiding the little mound that had replaced her usually flat stomach. I found myself hating her because she could look so good when Harry looked so distraught and her entire family clashed with the decorations. Maybe she had planned it that way so she would look even more stunning.

The groom looked completely bored. He had perfect cheek bones and wonderful brunette hair that fell just right over his silver eyes. He was a male model and a muggle. The only person Ginny could cheat on Harry with without getting caught by the wizarding press. Not that it mattered very much when she got pregnant with the guy's child; she couldn't really hide it from Harry anymore after that.

Many people wanted to pity her. After all, she had told Harry in a public place so that the full extent of her crying-regretful-act and her I'm-still-in-love-with-you speech could be heard by all. On top of that, the model was obviously a womanizer and would cheat on her at the soonest possible moment. I thought she deserved every bad thing that came her way and a hundred times worse than that.

“If there are any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace,” Rang out through the audience like a poisonous tendril of gas that someone wanted to disguise as the sweetest candy. I started to turn and caught worried blue eyes; Ron's eyes. I gave him the weakest smile in the history of smiles as an attempt of reassurance. I knew he'd be sitting with us if he could.

My head made the full turn so that I could see Harry's reaction. Other than a tightening of his jaw there was nothing. That worried me more than anything; I started to believe it would have been better if he had stood up and yelled out his frustrations for a half an hour right there in the church. I slowly reached a hand out and placed it gently on top of his as I put my head on his shoulder. I needed him to know I was there.

Miraculously, a cold shaking hand closed over mine as the priest announced Ginny and her model man and wife. I looked up in time to catch Harry's eyes and almost as if he had been listening to my thoughts he let his guard down for a second. The pure pain and confusion in his eyes made me catch my breath and I felt a lump rise in my throat as his eyes slowly faded back into their metallic indifference again. I reached up, cradled his face in one of my hands, and gave him a slow kiss on the cheek.

The two children interrupted my attempts at distraction and comfort when they went careening past us and into the aisle shouting like they hadn't been able to so much as whisper in weeks. Harry stroked my hair once then stood up and offered me his hand. I took it and stood up, trying to get him to meet my eyes again, but the moment had passed. I heaved a sigh, took his arm, and let him lead me to the reception in the main hall of the church.

Ron swept up next to us after a few moments and wordlessly handed us each a glass of champagne. Harry took a few sips and looked at the dance floor without completely seeing it. Ron patted Harry on the back as we stood in a tight-knit little circle. Ron and my eyes met and we made a silent pact to help Harry through this, no matter what.

AN: Hello everyone! This will be an H/Hr fic, but it will give proper credit to the pain and emotions Harry is feeling right now because of Ginny. Just hang in there and I promise you wont be disappointed. I am looking for a Beta reader if anyone would like to volunteer? Thanks for reading!

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I stood just outside Harry's front door waiting rather impatiently. I knew better than to just apparate in on him anymore, as he tended to act all surly when one did. As it was, he was probably hiding most of the hard liquor in some nameless spot that I would eventually find it in when he was asleep or passed out. I decided to give him thirty more seconds before I used my wand to blast through his door. I could do it; after all, I knew his wards.

Just as I was reaching for my wand, the door swung open and I was met by a drunk Harry, as I'd expected. His eyes were cloudy and his mouth formed a loopy grin when he saw me. He stumbled backwards to let me in and I had a hard time not pulling him into a tight embrace.

It had been six months since Ginny had admitted she was pregnant with another man's baby, three months since the wedding, and two months since Harry had started drinking. In that time I came to his house every other night after work just to be there for him; whereas, Ron came the other nights.

Harry hadn't mentioned Ginny once.

I marched through his house towards the living room and was met by the sight of a rumpled blanket on the floor by the couch and one bottle of beer. He knew better than to pretend he hadn't been drinking at all. Harry walked in behind me and rested his head on my shoulder. “Hi `Mione,” he whispered in my ear and I wished I could have stopped the shiver. He was too drunk to notice it anyway.

I found myself getting very angry; not at Harry; I never could get truly angry with him, but I was beyond pissed at Ginny for everything she had done to him. Harry had been the top in his auror program, happy and in love with Ginny, and thinking about a family. It killed me to see him like that with another girl, but I had been happy that he was happy. Now, not only was he crushed that he lost the woman he loved and had to watch her marry another man, Ginny was calling him every day, telling him she still loved him and just needed to talk to him. It didn't escape me how the calls started only after her model began cheating on her or how the first call coincided with when Harry's drinking had started.

Well I had had enough. It was time for Harry to start talking, to start healing. Ginny would never stop because Harry was miserable given that she watched him drop out of his Auror training, turn into a cold and destroyed person, and start drinking and yet it was still all about her. She wasn't getting proper attention from her model so she decided to come get it from Harry again. If she was going to be the same spoilt little brat she always was, it was up to Harry to change and since he wasn't doing it, it was up to me to make him want to change.

I turned into Harry's half embrace and gave him a long, hard hug. He seemed surprised for a moment and stiffened since, usually, I only gave him that hug when I was leaving. He sagged into it, though, wrapping his arms around my waist . “Please don't leave,” he whispered into my hair and I felt like crying. I wasn't leaving, but I was leaving behind my sympathy for a moment, it was time for tough love.

“Harry,” I started and was relieved to find my voice strong and unbroken, “Sit down. I have something to say to you.” His head tilted back and I looked up to see his loopy grin. He thought I was going to tell him about my day as I usually did. It calmed him to hear how Lupin was doing as the Minister since as Lupin's assistant I knew almost everything. Not tonight sweetheart, I thought.

“Harry,” I started when he was sitting down and I was kneeling in front of him to be at eye level, “I need you to talk to me. I need you to tell me about Ginny. Tell me what you're feeling. I can't stand to see you like this, please let me help.” Harry's eyes widened in surprise then turned into the metallic color they had been at the wedding, and I knew his answer before he said it.

“No.”

I must have pleaded with him for a half an hour and each time his eyes grew more metallic and he got further away. Finally, I stopped, staring at him for a couple minutes, I realized that, I knew a way to make him talk, but I didn't want to do it. I knew it would make him guilty, but it was the only way I knew that he would answer me.

“This,” I began and my throat burned as I thought about the pain I was about to cause. Harry's eyes swiveled to mine and he must have caught a hint of my emotions because his eyes softened somewhat. “This...…coming here and seeing you like this…it's killing me, Harry- me and Ron. It's so painful to see you throwing away your life and not being able to do anything but sit here with you. Please Harry…please, won't you tell me for me? Won't you let me help you so it doesn't hurt so bad?”

His eyes grew wide, shocked, and then pain-filled. I felt the guilt as he thought back to the past six months, how Ron and I came here every night perhaps feeling pain because of him. I wished I could take it back. I shouldn't have used that trick with everything that he'd been feeling already, even if it was true. I didn't know I had started crying until Harry wiped a tear off of my face and brought my face up to meet his own.

He rested his forehead against mine and cleared his throat. “Okay,” he said, “okay.” I was stunned by the hoarse quality of his voice, almost as if he hadn't used his voice box enough. Yet, thinking back on it, he really hadn't done anything but whisper for the past two months. Couldn't Ginny have at least left him his god-damn voice, she already took almost everything else.

“I,” he started and then cleared his throat, “I really loved her, Hermione, I thought I was going to marry her. I thought we were going to be just like my mum and dad. Those thoughts…they helped me get through the war. I needed to live because…because I could finally have a family. I could finally know what it was like to love and be loved.” His voice cracked on the last word and his hands slid down my face to rest on my cheeks.

“What did I do wrong, Hermione?” The pain in his voice made my heart race and I felt my stomach clench with worry for him and anger for Ginny. He didn't blame this on himself, did he? He couldn't. “I thought I was loving her correctly. I thought I was a good and devoted boyfriend, but I messed up again on the most important thing. I messed up because I didn't know how to love her right. If I did, then she wouldn't have gone looking for it with someone else…she wouldn't…she wouldn't. That was supposed to be my baby, Hermione. Mine. But I can't love. I don't know how. I tried and I failed. And if I couldn't love her, when I tried so hard, then I don't think I can love anyone. Even if I ever got over her, I wouldn't have anywhere to go. I'm stuck. I'm stuck because I'm not good enough and the worst part is that I don't know how to get better or if I even want to try to get better.”

Tears flowed slowly down his face, wetting my face that was pressed against his. I had never seen Harry cry before. After the war, when we went to all the funerals he was sad, but he never cried, and now here he was, devastated. I pushed aside the immense amount of rage I felt washing over me and focused my attention on Harry and what he had said. I sat with him, wiping away his tears, and staring into his worried and pain-filled eyes-worried he didn't know how to love, that all of this was his fault. I knew that I could show him that he could love right, I could show him how very good he was at loving.

“Harry,” I said and was surprised by the passion that filled my own voice, “There is more than one kind of love. I don't know how Ginny felt, but from what I saw you loved her so well, more than anyone I had ever seen, better than the most functional couples. I can also tell you how well you love me, you are one of the very best friends in the world, Harry. You are always there for me and you can always make me feel that much better. And I can also tell you how well you love every single living being on earth, you care for the well-being of everyone and you hate to see people get hurt. You have so much love in you that it's amazing and I hate to see you question it. Never doubt that you do love right; I'm living proof that you can and do.”

Harry's eyes filled with more tears, but he was silent. We sat together and let the heaviness of our previous conversation drift away as we held each other and wiped away the tears that continued to fall. I could have stayed like that all night, or for eternity if need be, but eventually Harry said he needed to go to sleep. I gave him a long, deep hug and a kiss on the cheek before leaving his house, a plan already forming in my mind. It was time for Harry to start living again.

AN: Well, here's another chapter! I was so excited by the response I got and I'm glad you guys are liking it so far! Mucho thanks to my wonderful Beta reader's cosmopolitan411 and KillerQueen, they made this chapter readable!!!

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It was late and the houses lining the street were just starting to turn dark. An old man was whistling as he walked his dog and I felt myself wishing that I could switch places with him, no more worrying and stress, but, then again, he probably had worries and stress of his own. I swiftly walked down the street, trying to collect my racing thoughts. I wanted to free my mind so that I could rant and rage about Ginny, but I had more important things to attend to, namely Harry.

I pulled my cell phone out of the side pocket of my little black purse and felt a small reminiscent smile tug at my lips. I remembered the day Harry, Ron, and I had gone to the muggle store to purchase our three matching cell-phones. I think the salesman almost fainted when Ron asked him what the little numbers were for and he realized Ron wasn't joking. It probably didn't help that Harry and I were sniggering in the background instead of trying to help.

I dialed the now familiar number to Ron's cell phone and waited impatiently for him to pick up the phone, the ringing resounded in my ears like a ticking clock, only adding to the hyper energy I was feeling because of my rage.

“Hello?” Ron asked in a voice that was twice as loud as it needed to be. He never quite believed that talking normally would get the job done. “How's Harry doing tonight?”

I paused for a second before answering. I knew that if I told him my plan I'd have to tell him everything Harry had told me tonight. Yet, on the one hand, it was private and heart-wrenching and I wasn't sure if Harry would be alright with Ron knowing while, on the other, Ron was also Harry's best friend and had done just as much as I had for him. Besides, I knew I needed his support and help, as did Harry.

“Not so good,” I nearly whispered. “Ron…I finally got him to talk and oh… I guess I should have known, but… Merlin, he's blaming himself. He thinks that Ginny cheating is like a…a sign that he doesn't love people the right way or enough or…I don't know. He thinks he lead her into cheating by not doing enough. It's just…it's really bad Ron.”

There was a brief silence and then, “Typical Harry, he should be horribly angry at Ginny, but instead he blames himself. Bloody hell, Hermione, what are we supposed to do? You know how Harry is when he gets like that. Yeah, this is the first time he's turned to drinking, but he's still going to be sullen and withdrawn. It'll probably be even worse because he's drunk. You can't just pull a bloke out of that, in the end, he'll have to want to get out of it himself.”

“I know that,” I said and couldn't help but be nettled with Ron's unhelpful response. “That's why we're going to put him in situations where he can want to live again, where he can love and be loved and make a difference. That's why I'm calling, I need your help.”

“You know I'd help with anything, anytime,” Ron sounded just as annoyed as I felt. “You don't have to be so cryptic! Just tell me your plan, what part I play in it, and I'll be there.”

I took a deep breath and let my tension slide away. I wanted nothing more than to have a yelling match where I could vent all my frustrations, but I knew better than to do that with Ron, because he wanted to do the same thing. The truth was we were stretched to our limit with worry for Harry and all the stress made us even more combative than usual. Still, we also needed each other. Plus, Harry needed both of us more than anything and our fighting wouldn't help that.

“Alright,” I said, glad to hear my more normal and friendly tone. “You know how Harry's been just as well as I do. He is withdrawn.. First, he just pulled away from the general public, then he got that cold edge when it came to everyone but us, and now he's getting drunk so that he doesn't even have the same connection with us anymore. He's backing away from emotions because he doesn't think he can express them well enough... that needs to change.”

“Yeah,” Ron agreed, his voice relaxing along with mine. “But I don't really see that happening, Hermione. He hardly goes outside anymore and the only people he even talks to- if you can even call it that- is you, me, and Ginny. That's not healthy and it's definitely not going to get him anywhere towards getting better.”

“That's why,” I slowly spoke, “I want him to come and work with me and Lupin. I think if he's out there, petitioning to help the wizarding world and getting people to change biased and harmful opinions he may start to feel again. You know how caring Harry is, if he fights for werewolves to get into teaching positions and goblins to get better pay his natural heroic instincts will kick in, he can't be indifferent.. Plus, you know it will be a success if Harry's supporting a cause, who wants to disagree with the wizard who saved them from You-Know-Who? It will get him out into the world again and into a position where he has to love whatever it is he's fighting for.”

“That's all well and good when you're making a speech about it,” Ron retorted. “But Harry loved Auror work and he still dropped out of it, why would he get up to go and do this when he wants to be miserable? Why should he get off the couch and out of his house for a job he doesn't even want?”

“That's where you and I come in,” I answered. “He'd do it if we both wanted him to. All we have to do is convince him.”

~*~

It was Friday night and Ron and I patiently waited outside Harry's door as he hid everything he had been drinking. This was the first time Ron and I had come together in about a month and I knew Harry would be surprised to see Ron on my day, but that wasn't the only thing he would be surprised about.

The door swung inwards and Harry opened his mouth, saw Ron there as well, faltered for a moment, and then smiled again. He stepped out of the way without a word and obediently followed us into his living room where there was the rumpled blanket and bottle of beer, just like always.

“Hey mate,” Ron greeted Harry as I cleared my throat. “Anything interesting on the telly today?” His voice cracked nervously on the last word and I saw Harry's eyes narrow suspiciously. He always was too observant for his own good. I went to sit down on the couch and patted the space next to me for Harry. He came and sat by me, but he was very stiff, he knew something was going on.

“Harry,” I said, figuring that I might as well just get it out of the way becuase I always hated beating around the bush. “We want you to do something for us. It's not going to be easy and its not going to be something you're very happy about at first, but it's something we all need, most of all you.” Ron shot me an annoyed look that clearly said `Very subtle half-wit' but he kept his mouth shut and sat down on the armrest next to Harry's elbow.

“Nothing really,” Harry said quietly, looking somewhere in the vicinity of my ear. “Some Gilligan's Island reruns, but besides that complete shite. Some Friday, huh?” Ron and I exchanged a glance. Harry was trying to change the subject, not good.

“Listen, mate,” Ron said, “we think it would be better for you if you got out of the house some more. You know, proper sunshine and all that.” Starting small seemed to be Ron's game plan tonight. I considered doing the same.

“I'm fine as I am,” Harry said harshly and all thoughts of taking my time flew out the window. Fine? What planet was he living on? I forced myself to be calm.

“You know how Lupin and I are trying to get equal rights for vampires, right?” I burst out, “We think it would be really…beneficiary if you were to help with that project. Not only for you, although it would be nice, but also for the vampires. You don't have to work there full time, but if you liked the project you could always stay on to help with others…” Maybe it was the desperation in my voice or eyes, but I saw Harry's face soften and he seemed to consider the offer for a moment.

“No,” he finally whispered. “ I don't think I'm ready. I just want to stay here.” It was quiet for a moment as Ron and I let the dejected undertone in his voice fade. Then I knelt done in front of him and took his face in my hands.

“Do you remember when my parents died?,” I said softly and Harry's eyes shot up to meet mine, “You came and held me when I cried for weeks and weeks and never once complained. You'll never know how much it truly meant to me. I remember how it felt, I didn't want to leave the comfort of my bed, I wanted to hide, and cry, and keep the pain as far away from me as possible. I didn't want to go out and see people with pity in their eyes and places I'd been to with them knowing they weren't there anymore. Do you remember what you told me then? You said that they wouldn't have wanted me to throw my life away, that they loved me too much to see me do that. Well, Ron and I are telling you now: we love you too much to see you do this. You may not be ready, you may never be, but you have us to help you and you know we'd never let you fall.”

There was complete and utter silence for a full five minutes. I didn't so much as shift my gaze from Harry's as I held him and watched emotions pass across his face. There were so many emotions: pain, sadness, confusion, guilt, and just peaking through, a little bit of hope. He leaned his forehead against mine and I felt Ron's arms stretch around us until we formed a little circle.

“Okay, just until vampires have equal rights,” he said.

AN: Love it? Hate it? Lol, I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions on this one. Thank you to my wonderful Beta's cosmopolitan411 and KillerQueen!

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The room was so quiet that you could hear a quill drop and I found my heart racing as the clock slowly ticked by. I could see all around the table because of the round shape and I found myself trying to gauge the reactions of the colleagues with whom I had sat here and joked around with just yesterday morning. Some looked tense and nervous, ready to switch their positions based on the majority feeling. Some looked excited at the prospect while others just avoided my gaze. Those were the ones I’d probably have to worry about.

Beside me, Lupin exuded calmness and tranquility, but I could tell that, regardless, he felt the tension, given his clenched jaw and white knuckles. I tried to slow my breathing and focus my mind, but I couldn’t help but feel as if my life hung in the balance of this committee’s decision. I needed Harry to get better more than I needed the air I breathed; in a way our friendship was the air I breathed.

I found myself wishing that Lupin wasn’t so noble, but I knew he needed to be if he wanted to be respected as Minister. This was a decision he could have made completely on his own, but, like a good leader, he had left it up to a vote because it affected more than just him, and it all just made me curse myself more. Why had I stupidly believed that Lupin would jump at the chance to have Harry working with us? I knew it would be a controversial issue to the entire group, but I didn’t even consider the possibility that Harry might be voted out.

Now Harry had agreed to finally get out of his house and help and I didn’t even know if I could let him, all of my plans seemed to be slipping through my fingers and I could barely breathe. And, still, the only sounds were the tick-tock of the lonely clock and my galloping heart beat.

“Before we put this to a vote,” A nasally voice, that meant no good for me, spoke up across from the room. “I’d like you all to remember why Mr. Potter got kicked out of his Auror program. He was drinking too much, he never showed up, was talking back to his instructors, and we’ve seen no progress on sobriety thus far. If we elect him into RARP there is a definite possibility he won’t even show up to his speeches, or that if he does appear, he’ll only make rude remarks to our audiences. His name is a bonus only so long as he uplifts it, anything other than that and we’re likely to digress in our cause.”

I winced then set my face back into an emotionless mask. Members of the RARP, the Race against Race Prejudice, shifted nervously and cleared their throats, considering what was just said. Damn Steinbeck, the snotty owner of the nasally voice, for having a plausible point. I squeezed my hands together and waited for someone, anyone, to say something. I couldn’t speak up because my point would be received as biased.

“That’s one possibility,” Dean Thomas piped up from the side. “There’s also the possibility that he’ll do a damn good job, and just think of how much publicity he’d bring if he did. Everyone, no matter what race or species, respects him for getting rid of Voldemort. Even former supporters of Voldemort would be willing to follow Harry because they believe he has more power than Voldemort. What it comes down to is if we’re willing to give Harry the chance we’re willing to give vampires, goblins, werewolves, and even giants. Are we going to give him the chance to redeem himself just like we’re fighting to give every other race? Is he somehow less than them?—That’s a dangerous thought process for someone whose fighting to give everyone equality.”

A few people murmured their agreements, the undecided shifted their gazes faster than a tennis match, the others cast their gazes even further down, and Steinbeck went bright red. He opened his mouth to answer back and question Dean’s own authority, but Lupin cut in with a clearing of his throat. We didn’t need another credential, experience, or morality fight right now. I felt like running around the table to Dean and kissing him.

“Alright,” Lupin cleared his throat again a few minutes later. “Unless anyone has anymore to say, I’d like to put this up for a vote.” I looked around the room cautiously for the next couple of quiet minutes and let my gaze linger uneasily on Steinbeck. He was still rather red, but his mouth was clamped shut, I wouldn’t let myself feel relieved yet.

“All those in favor of letting Harry Potter join the RARP please raise your right hand,” Lupin continued, and a silence descended upon the group and it took more effort than it should have for me to turn my head and look. It was close, very close. Just about half were raising their hand. I began to count, but fumbled in my anxiousness and had to count again. My heart was beating faster than it did after a mile run.

“The motion has passed,” Lupin breathed out and the relief was tangible in his voice. “Harry Potter is the newest member of RARP.” Some people cheered while others remained silent, I couldn’t really say because I wasn’t paying attention. I just sat in my chair and slowly let the tension wash out of me and the stark sense of relief and happiness overwhelm me.

*~*

I walked as quickly as possible to my office, but as the Minister’s assistant I couldn’t look too excited. The extra minute and a half that it took me to go slowly cost me in quick breaths as well as a world of impatience. I heard people greeting me and I waved back distractedly. My mind was focused on one thing, and that was Harry.

When I finally burst into my office and saw Harry leaning against my desk, looking at a picture of the two of us last Christmas, I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed the door shut and ran into his surprised arms. I lay my head into the crook of his shoulder, breathing out “Welcome to the RARP!”

His arms slowly snaked around my back and one came up to cradle my neck. His head tilted glacially, before resting against my own and I began to realize I was pressed up against him, far closer than I usually allowed myself to be. I tried to pull back a little bit to give him space and myself an ounce of brain power, but his arms pulled me back tighter than before. I began to wonder when the last time he’d been held like this was, but then I threw the thought out when I realized I probably wasn’t the one who had done it.

I could feel the contours of his chest against the curves of my own and the strong muscles of his arms around my waist and arms. I tried to keep my breathing steady and my heart rate slow, but knew I was failing miserably. I settled for trying to keep Harry from noticing and, belatedly, thought that my heart had gotten more of a workout today than it had in the last year. All those thoughts were swept away when he moved his head slightly and I could smell the musky evergreen scent that was all Harry. I had always been intoxicated by it, but now more so than ever, seeing as this was the first time in months it wasn’t covered by the smell of alcohol.

He pulled back before I made a complete idiot of myself or ruined our friendship by pushing him back onto my desk and snogging the hell out of him. I gulped nervously and looked up into Harry’s forest green eyes, sharp and clear without the haze of alcohol. He looked utterly confused and I immediately felt horrible.

The guy was getting over the love of his life and what do I, the stable best friend who’s always supposed to be by his side, do? I go and jump on him the way a starved kid would a muffin. I flushed and cleared my throat as he shifted a bit and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. It was silent for a few moments before Harry said something and then again for another minute while I tried to force my over-stimulated mind to understand English.

“So…erm, vampire rights?” Harry asked in a quiet voice.

Right. Right! Oh hell, we were supposed to be in Lupin’s office five minutes ago! I grabbed Harry’s arm, said something in the general vicinity of, ‘late, office, and now,’ and high-tailed it out of the office. How low the Brightest-Witch-of-Her-Age had sunk and all because of a man—a wonderful, sexy, heartbroken, utterly cuddly man.

*~*

When we finally arrived at Lupin’s office, he was on the Floo. I took the few moments to regain my ability to think, a task made harder by the fact that Harry’s arm was still in my hand and I immediately dropped it, trying not to flush. Sensing my discomfort, Harry rubbed slow circles into my back and whispered, in my ear, “calm down, I know you’re excited I got in, I am too. It’ll be alright.”On the day I was supposed to be comforting him, he was reassuring me. That realization snapped me back into reality. I gave him a slow, steady smile, saying “you’ll do great.”

We entered Lupin’s main office and I was touched by the warmth in his face when he saw Harry. He gave him a quick hand-shake, clap on the shoulder, and wink, before saying “lets get down to business.” That was my cue, and the three of us went and sat down at Lupin’s desk and I opened the files I had left there earlier.

“For the past year, the Ministry has funded a special program towards the creation to make vampirism less blood-thirsty and dangerous,” I informed Harry. “They’ve finally succeeded. There is a potion, much like wolfsbane, that they can take every other week to keep them in control and an easy spell to transfigure blood so they can have sustenance during that time without killing. We’ve contacted the vampires and they’re giving our solution a lot of consideration. However, we are still trying to convince them. Once have their cooperation, we’ll have to clear the other races of their fear of vampires. Our ultimate goal is to have Vampires attain entirely equal rights. Our short term goal, however, is to get them jobs and in school.”

“We’ve set up a campaign to visit each and every race with more times spent on the races that have had bad experiences with the vampires,” I explained, “We’re planning on comparing them with the calmer werewolves, especially Remus, hoping that they’ll feel more secure with Remus’s good example and the support he’s received—mainly, with war heroes and you, of course.”

“I like the idea of showing prominent people’s support,” Harry said after a moment, “but isn’t it dangerous to use Remus? There are a lot of people who weren’t happy to have a werewolf Minister. Plus, many races who didn’t have a vote when Remus was elected, that can vote now and aren’t convinced. It could degrade Remus’s power and put him on the level of what other races are still convinced is a beast. Why not just show straight support for the vampires? If prominent individuals spent time with these calmer vampires and testify that the potion works, wouldn’t it have more clout than just saying it worked for Remus so why not them?”

I stopped and considered that for a moment. He had a really good point. Not everyone was happy with a werewolf as Minister, either because they didn’t trust the potion he was taking or because they wanted someone of their own kind to be Minister. We knew Harry’s idea would work; after all it was how we campaigned to get Remus into office in the first place. I started running different ideas of which famous figures could talk to which race and glanced briefly at Remus.

He was pleasantly surprised, eyes widening and a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I was so used to Harry being an intelligent leader that I just readily excepted his ideas, but now that I stopped to consider the situation, I felt a lump rising in my throat. Maybe Harry wasn’t completely himself again, but I could feel the changing of the tide as his caring and leadership were starting to pull through again.

“That’s… that’s brilliant Harry,” I said after I could control my voice. “Absolutely brilliant. We should have thought of that before.” He turned his piercing gaze to me and gave me the ghost of an-honest-to-Merlin-smile. The first one I could feel relieved about in the last few months, and I was lucky I didn’t start bawling.

“Of course it is, Hermione,” he teased, “since it was your original idea. It won Lupin the title of Minister. How couldn’t it be brilliant?” He gave me a slow wink and I nearly toppled over. Merlin, Harry had been so depressed before that his personality had taken aback seat and now even the smallest “Harry traits” returning knocked me off my feet, I really needed to get a hold of myself. I looked back at Lupin who was giving my blush a considering look, still smiling, before pulling myself back together quickly.

“So, I figured Dobby should be a main representative when we’re talking to the House Elves,” I trailed off. “Griphook could talk to the Goblins again, Firenze can handle the centaurs…” The list continued on and I tried to figure out how to reign in my hormones, too bad that wouldn’t stop all the other feelings I had.

AN: I hope you all liked the H/Hr moment in this chapter! Tell me what you think! Thank you to my wonder Betas!!!