A/N: Hey sorry I know I said I would post this in a timely manner but I've had a lot of personal drama happening right now so it's kinda been draining the desire to write. Hopefully it will all get better. Anyway you guys are great about reviewing and you totally make me happy so THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS it really makes me feel better!
Hermione wobbled once again as her feet touched down on Harry's hardwood floors. Regaining her balance she began to regret the three and a half glasses of wine she had had at the dinner. She jumped when she heard a few more pops as she was joined by Harry and Adrienne.
"So, can I get drinks for anyone?" Harry asked to break the silence.
"Sounds lovely," Adrienne said, taking a seat on the big white sofa next to Hermione. Ron remained standing, examining some of Harry's pictures. Adrienne turned to Hermione.
"So Harry told me that you were doing some side research on the magical abilities of house elves. I think that's absolutely brilliant. I've never quite understood house elves. I mean they have feelings just like everyone else; there's no use for them to be treated like slaves, so why do they allow themselves to be used by witches and wizards?" Hermione found her passion of the subject outweighing her hesitation towards Adrienne.
"Well, that's what I've always wondered too. House elves have a strong enough quality of magic to perform it without a wand, so I've been looking into the nature of the spell that binds a house elf to a witch or wizard that treats them poorly." Harry entered the living room and placed two glasses of wine in front of the women and handed a beer to Ron.
"So what are you two going on about?' He asked, taking a seat in one of the leather chairs. Ron snorted.
"House elves. Looks like Hermione finally found another member for spew." Ron said, sitting across from Harry in the other chair. Hermione gave Ron a hard look.
"Oh, you're talking about S.P.E.W!" Adrienne called out cheerfully. "Harry told me all about that too. Harry and I agreed that it's actually quite a thoughtful cause." Adrienne said, throwing a glowing smile to Harry before turning back to Hermione.
"Well, I kind of gave up on S.P.E.W a while ago; I feel that this research will be much more helpful in raising awareness of the mistreatment of house elves." Hermione admitted.
"Well, honestly if there's anything I can do to help… I'd love to read over your findings." Adrienne said helpfully. Hermione's eyes flicked to Harry's and she found him staring intently at her, his beer bottle posed just under his lips, his eyes flicked to Adrienne and then again to Hermione. He broke contact and took a long swig from his bottle. Hermione gave him a hard look, even though he wasn't looking at her.
"So Adrienne, you seem to know so much about me, but I don't really know too much about you." Hermione probed lightly.
"Well, there's not much to tell. My mum's a witch and my dad's a muggle. My great-great grandmum was a veela. I work in the Mismanagement of Potions and Ointments department for the Ministry which is actually very interesting." Hermione nodded.
"And how did you and Harry meet?" Hermione asked innocently. She looked over at Harry who was once again studying her intently.
"Harry and I had been work acquaintances for a couple of months before he finally asked me out!" Adrienne smiled.
"You remember Hermione, it was right around yours and Ron's two year anniversary. I decided it was time to focus on my own happiness." Harry said lightly as he swirled around the remaining beer in his bottle. The slight tone of challenge in his voice seemed to be lost on both Adrienne and Ron. Hermione felt her heartbeat quicken and her palms get sweaty. She felt as if she was being accused of something.
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, noting that Adrienne had struck up a conversation with Ron. She felt her heart hammering wildly against her chest, feeling trapped in between her boyfriend and Harry's girlfriend. She felt her face grow hot.
"Hermione?" Harry called out worriedly as he leapt from his chair and knelt down beside her. Ron and Adrienne immediately turned to Hermione.
"Hermione, you don't look so good." Ron said, also getting out of his seat to kneel in front of her. She shook her head.
"I- I don't know what came over me. I just, I don't know I guess I worked myself up a bit." She said, trying to move the attention away from her. She felt Harry squeeze her hand reassuringly.
"Maybe your dress is too tight?" Adrienne asked politely. Maybe Hermione was imagining it but she could have sworn there was something else in Adrienne's voice.
"Yeah, Hermione, why don't you go change? You have plenty of clothes here." Harry and Ron both helped Hermione to her feet as she felt her face flush even redder with embarrassment. Really what had gotten into her? Harry squeezed her hand and she instantly felt the pull that she always did when he got too close to her. Her stomach flipped over in excitement.
He led her down the hallway towards the guest room that was practically her room. Hermione tripped on her own feet and accidentally pushed Harry into the side of the hallway before her own body slammed into his. They were both caught by surprise as they found themselves looking into each other's eyes. She could feel the crisp fabric of his shirt underneath her hands that were sprawled across his chest to brace herself. She could hear his ragged breathing and feel the hammering of his heartbeat.
She bashfully met his eyes and they were staring down at her in a mixture of both amusement and concern.
"Blimey, Hermione!" Ron called out, "Are you okay?" Hermione pushed herself away from Harry and smoothed down her clothes.
"I'm fine, I just lost my balance for a second." She said with as much dignity as she could muster.
"Maybe it was all the wine you had at dinner." Adrienne added as she joined the group in the hallway. Once again, Hermione did not find Adrienne's input to be helpful.
"That's true, you're not usually too much of a drinker." Ron added in helpfully. Hermione was about to retort when Harry gently tugged on her arm.
"Come on, let's get you out of that dress." He muttered. Adrienne and Ron followed them to the guest bedroom. Hermione opened the closet and pulled out a comfy shirt and some jeans she had left at Harry's a while ago. Harry gently shuffled everyone out of the room and started to close the door behind him. Hermione looked up just in time to see Adrienne looking curiously at Hermione.
Hermione changed out of her tight dress and instantly felt more comfortable in her new clothes. She walked down the hall and saw Adrienne and Ron in conversation.
"Have they always done that?" Adrienne asked quietly.
"Done what?" Ron asked, picking up a picture frame then putting it back down. Hermione rolled her eyes, she hated how Ron could never just sit still. Knowing that she shouldn't eaves drop, she still hung back a bit and listened to their conversation.
"You know, keep so many things at the other's place. It seems weird doesn't it?" Adrienne asked again. Hermione could practically see the gears working in Adrienne's head. Dear Merlin, Adrienne seemed to be more and more like her by the minute. Ron shrugged.
"That's just how they've always been. I mean, we're all best friends." Ron said, seemingly not bothered by the idea.
"So what you all just have slumber parties or something? I mean, how else would Hermione have so many clothes over here?" Adrienne asked determinedly. Hermione felt it was best to end the conversation now.
"Where'd Harry go?" she asked. They both looked up at her, taking in her change of clothes.
"He's in the kitchen." Adrienne said looking at Hermione curiously. Hermione began to feel awkward under her penetrating gaze. Even Ron seemed to be studying her closer than he had in years.
"I guess I'll go see if he needs any help." She said backing away from the awkward situation and heading to the kitchen.
"Hey, there you are!" She called to Harry, his back was turned to her as he seemed to be doing something at the counter. He jumped a bit as he turned around quickly.
"Hey you, already done changing?" He asked quickly. The note of anxiety in his voice was not missed by Hermione.
"What are you hiding, Harry?" She asked suspiciously while walking closer to him. His hands clutched the side of the counter even tighter as he laughed.
"Nothing Hermione. Why don't you see what Ron and Adrienne are doing." He said. Hermione tried to peek around Harry.
"They're discussing the queerer parts of our relationship." She answered, preoccupied with trying to snoop. Harry let his guard down for a moment, releasing the counter just as Hermione was close enough to grab his shoulders and move him to the side a bit.
Behind Harry on the counter was a small cake that read "Congratulations Hermione."
"Oh Harry," she said smiling brightly, "you shouldn't have!" She smiled up at him but he just looked down seriously at her. She suddenly realized they were much closer than she had meant to get. She was practically pressed up against him.
"I wanted to," he said softly, brushing a piece of hair away from her face. The movement seemed to happen on it's own as his hand paused inches away from her face until he dropped it back at his side. Hermione just looked away, but didn't dare move away from him, her hands still holding his shoulders.
"Hermione," she heard him whisper. He touched the sides of her lightly, brushing his fingers against her hips, "what are the queerer parts of our relationship?" She looked up at him, eyes shining and she noticed now would be the perfect time to kiss him. The thought struck her so plainly and so clearly that she was shocked by its presence.
She stared at the face of her best friend. Her eyes grazed over the familiar contours of his cheeks and nose. She almost smiled at the constantly messy hair that always seemed to be staging a resistance against any kind of taming. Her eyes met his, burning an emerald that was greener than she was used to, and she realized that she merely didn't want to study his face but she wanted to take it in her hands and trace every line. She wanted to feel him beneath her fingertips, and the feeling was so overwhelming it took all her willpower not to move her hands the inches it would take to make it a possibility, or even worse, she tried not to lean in the mere inches she would have to cross to meet his lips.
"They think it's strange I keep a lot of my stuff here." She whispered, entranced by his green eyes. It was like he was feeding her vertiserum and she would share all of her secrets with him tonight. Anything he wanted to know she would tell.
"Do you think it's strange?" He asked, playing with a lock of her hair. She sighed deeply for a moment. Was it strange? It probably wasn't something everyone did, but it just seemed right for them to keep stuff at each other's flats.
"I like it here." She said softly. He smiled at this.
"That works for me." He leaned down slowly and for a moment panic ran through her as she saw his eyes close. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt his lips land gently on her forehead.
"Is it serious?" She finally asked the question that had been burning in her chest ever since Ginny had brought it up.
"Is what serious?" He asked hesitantly.
"You and Adrienne." She answered, suddenly overly aware of how much this answer actually mattered to her. He looked down into her eyes, biting his lip thoughtfully.
"I don't really know." She let her arms drop from his shoulders and took a slight step back. He sighed looking at her with a mixture of affection and agitation. She looked back with the same things in her own eyes.
"That wasn't the answer I was expecting." She said truthfully and he shrugged.
"I don't really know what you expect from me sometimes, Hermione." When he saw the hurt in her eyes his will to fight disappeared, as always and once again he felt like a git for upsetting her.
She took a step back, realizing that her… Ron and Harry's…female friend, were in the other room.
"I bet they're wondering where we are." Harry said in a much lighter tone. He turned around and grabbed the cake. Hermione noticed the cake was shaking slightly and knew that her own hands were shaking too. She made to make her way out of the kitchen but Harry called her back for a moment.
"Hermione," he called and she paused, turning back around to face him. He was holding the cake and the candle was now lit, adding a warm glow to his features, "I'm gonna miss you." He said with a sheepish smile. She goofily returned it before heading into the other room while he followed. She was going to miss him too and that fact struck so true and so painful to her it scared her in a way that made her feel like something had to be done. She only hoped that the luck that had followed around the trio for years, mixed with her Gryffindor courage and bookworm smarts would get her through it, but honestly, those things are hardly useful in matters of the heart.
A/N: Alright there's your continuation of chapter 4. Hermione is going to be in for some surprises when she gets back from France; that's all I'm going to say!