More important things
Chapter 6: The Perverseness of Clarification
Following his disaster of a conversation with Ron Harry returned rather discontentedly to Hogwarts to fill Hermione in on the particulars of the discussion. However, upon his arrival at her quarters he was somewhat shocked to find a farewell do of sorts in progress. McGonagall had informed the staff of the fact that Hermione had agreed to take the position at the Ministry and would be leaving immediately. This information had prompted professors Flitwick and Vector who were especially fond of Hermione to come down to her quarters and wish her well in her endeavors. Several of the other staff also made the trek down to the head girl's quarters to say their goodbyes.
However, when Slughorn got wind of the news that one of his prized pupils was moving on to such an important post he hurriedly dispatched a request to the kitchens for several dozen trays of hors d'oeuvres to be sent round to Hermione's quarters. He then sent off a peck of owls to a few of his most influential old students. Finally, he rounded up the present members of the Slug Club and stormed Hermione's quarters bent on throwing her an impromptu going away party. Harry was certain that Hermione had tried to resist but Slughorn was not to be put off whenever there was merriment to be made. So it was an odd collection of students, professors and notables of wizarding society that greeted Harry on his return to Hermione's private quarters. As he entered the room a drink was pressed into his hand and his ears were assaulted by Slughorn's booming call of "Harry m'boy, so good to see you, so good of you to come!"
For the next two hours Harry watched as Slughorn presided over the room like a king. Hermione spent most of the afternoon clamped to Slughorn's side being shown around like a prize hippogriff while old Sluggie introduced her to his most influential connections and loudly enumerated her outstanding qualifications. Seeing that there was nothing to be done other than to wait Harry settled himself in the corner beside the mantle and quietly people watched. He passed the time by catching up Flitwick and McGonagall on how his training was going. He also met Aries Castor, a former auror who had taken on the position as the DADA teacher and the two of them chatted with Neville about the possibility of his joining the aurors at the end of term.
Harry was just about to fetch himself another drink when a flash of red hair caught his attention. He looked up and caught sight of Ginny rapidly making her way across the room towards where Hermione was engaged in conversation with Slughorn and some Ministry department head. Harry set down his glass and the bottle of wine he'd been about to pour from and started across the room intent on intercepting Ginny before she got to Hermione and caused a scene. He had barely made three steps when he felt a restraining hand on his forearm, Luna's voice sounded from beside him, "Don't move." Before Harry could fashion a reply to Luna's admonition, Ginny's voice carried across the room.
"Its true then… what everyone's saying… you're leaving Hogwarts to take a job at the ministry?"
Harry watched Hermione nod and reply.
"Yes it's true. I was offered the position as the junior assistant to the Minister of Magical Law, Delphinia Weaver, and I've accepted it." Ginny smiled broadly at Hermione's news before throwing her arms around her and exclaiming, "Oh Hermione, that's wonderful! I'm so very pleased for you!" Stepping back Ginny saw the obviously stunned look on Hermione's face and added sheepishly, "I know I haven't acted like much of a friend this past year, and I'm sorry for that, but I really am happy for you Hermione. I know you'll be brilliant."
At Ginny's declaration, Hermione lifted her eyes and for the briefest moment, her gaze locked with Harry's then abruptly she tore her eyes away from his. She turned her attention back to Ginny and asked, "Ginny, I wonder if I could have a private word?" Ginny readily nodded her head and the two witches disappeared into Hermione's bedroom.
Before Harry could make a move towards the bedroom Luna applied a bit of pressure to where she was still holding his arm and said, "Its better to let them sort this out for themselves I think." Harry shook his head as he replied, "This could get very unpleasant very fast. There's no telling what Ginny's liable to do once she finds out about Hermione and me. Ginny has a right nasty temper."
Luna shrugged, "Yes that is true. Ginny does have a rather foul temper. But if I had to put galleons on it I'd definitely go with Hermione." Luna paused as if she were really thinking about the outcome of a fight between Hermione and Ginny. After a minute or two of quiet reflection she nodded her head, emphatically, once, and said, "Yes, I would unquestionably put my gold on Hermione be it words or wands. So what would you like to wager, five or ten galleons? I'd go higher but I'm a bit low on funds at the mo but if you'd be willing to take my word that I'm good for the gold I could wager higher. Though I have to admit I'd have thought you would have bet on Hermione as well all things considered."
Harry's face contorted itself into a mask of utter confusion. "Luna, are you mad? I'm not about to stand here and bet on who could take who in a fight! I don't want it to come to that at all!" Luna smiled. "In that case Harry you should really stay put, your presence would only make things worse. Fancy a drink?" With that said, Luna steered Harry back towards the drinks and poured him a substantial glass of brandy.
For the next ten minutes, Harry stood anxiously watching the bedroom door as Luna chattered on about her plans following the end of her time at Hogwarts. Just when Harry thought he was about to go stark raving, mad the bedroom door swung open and a clearly livid Ginny emerged. Her cheeks were a violent red and her eyes were a good two shades darker. She must have felt Harry's eyes on her because she cast a baleful glare in his direction before pushing her way across the room and out the door. Harry's eyes swung back towards the bedroom door. Hermione was looking over at him. He saw that her eyes were brighter than usual full of unshed tears. He made a move towards her but she shook her head the tiniest bit, entreating him to stay put. She graced him with a tremulous, yet radiant smile before Slughorn returned and claimed her attention again.
Another hour dragged on before the food and drink started to run low, and people began to say their final goodbyes as they recalled work that required their attention. Hermione found herself beset by a crush of well-wishers who dispensed hugs and requests to keep in touch. At last only Neville, Luna and professors Flitwick, Slughorn and McGonagall remained. The quintet rolled up the sleeves of their robes and lent a hand in packing up the rest of Hermione's things. After three quarters of an hour all four trunks were packed and shut, the rooms tripled checked for any hiding items. Crookshanks was contentedly settled in Harry's arms watching as she said her goodbyes. Hermione had just finished hugging Luna, Neville, promising to owl Slughorn, and Flitwick as soon as she settled into her post at the Ministry. She then turned to McGonagall.
The headmistress embraced Hermione affectionately for a long moment. Stepping back she held Hermione's cheeks in her hands and said, "You've grown into quite an impressive young witch Hermione, I couldn't be prouder of all you've accomplished than if you were my very own daughter. I have no doubt that you will set the Ministry on its ear with your brilliance. But should you every need anything be it advice, a comrade in arms, or a place to call home, I trust you know where to find me."
Hermione bit her lip and the tears that had been threatening for several minutes began to slide unchecked down her cheeks. McGonagall patted her cheek and looked to Harry, "I am counting on you to look after Hermione Harry, and I trust you will not be derelict in that duty." Something in her look that made Harry certain she knew about him and Hermione. Clearing his throat he responded, "No professor, I won't." McGonagall nodded and turned back to Hermione. "Well enough of this sentimentality… its time for you to be off." With a look towards Flitwick she said, "Filus, the luggage."
Flitwick stepped forward and tossing a handful of floo powder into the fireplace, he then pointed his wand at the trunks and levitated them into the fireplace calling out the address of the Granger's Hertfordshire home. Harry watched the trunks as they spun out of sight. Hermione thanked everyone for everything, and hugged McGonagall and the others before taking Crookshanks from Harry's arms and saying one last tearful goodbye stepped into the flames and twirled out of sight. Harry shook hands all around before take his turn in the flames, his last clear image was of McGonagall wiping away tears.
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When Harry arrived in the living room of Edward and Jane Granger's Lectworth, Hertfordshire home, it was to find Hermione in the throes of explaining what she was doing home a fortnight before term ended at Hogwarts. It was evident from the fuss they made over their daughter that Mr. and Mrs. Granger were worried that something untoward had occurred again. The Grangers had not been happy when Hermione had tracked them down in Australia and restored their memories. Once they received the full story of what Hermione's time at Hogwarts had encompassed, Harry was certain that they would have prevented her from returning to the wizarding world if they had the power to do so. Thus, it took a full ten minutes for Hermione to explain her new job at the Ministry. But it was only after she had shown her parents the results of her N.E.W.T.S. (all O's), which she had taken the week before, that they truly settled down and began to enjoy the news that their daughter was home.
Once the Grangers were satisfied that nothing was amiss they turned their attention to Harry. Both of Hermione's parents were great fans of Harry. Like Molly Weasley before her Jane found herself unable to resist Harry's humility and his unfailing politeness and cordiality. Since truly getting to know him, it had become her fondest wish to see him happy and thoroughly removed from any type of danger. Whereas Jane Granger saw Harry through the eyes of a doting mother, Edward Granger saw Harry as a thoroughly remarkably extraordinary young man. When he thought of the dreadful things Harry had endured, he was amazed that he had grown into such a well-adjusted young man. Even more Edward found himself impressed by Harry's sense of honor and duty. With the hand life had dealt him no one would have thought less of Harry had he opted for a quiet life away from the public eye. Harry felt he owed it to those who had sacrificed their lives for his own to do something more than merely be a famous face. He wanted to prevent his childhood from repeating. This mindset made Edward Granger a great admirer of Harry Potter, an admiration that at times had prompted him to hope for a change in his daughter's dating status.
Edward walked over to Harry and greeted him jovially with a hearty shake of his hand. "Harry! So good to see you again! How goes the auror training?"
Harry smiled as he shook Mr. Granger's hand. "Fine sir, good to see you as well." Before Edward could say more Jane came over and gave Harry his customary hug and peck on the cheek. She then ushered both he and Hermione towards the couch. Once assured the pair were comfortably seated, she and Edward hurried off to the kitchen and set about making tea. Fifteen minutes later the Grangers returned with a tray bearing tea and sandwiches. As Harry hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, he helped himself to two turkey sandwiches as Hermione went into more detail about her new position with the ministry. Harry was on his fifth sandwich by the time Hermione finished. Seeing the dent he'd made in the sandwiches Jane determined that he wasn't looking after himself and insisted on making he and Hermione a proper dinner. Harry's protests went unheard and shortly thereafter found himself parked in front of the telly with Edward while Hermione assisted her mother in the kitchen.
Harry and the Grangers sat down to a dinner of roast chicken, jacket potatoes, and salad an hour and a half later. For desert, they had pumpkin tart, which Hermione had ducked out for while they chicken was cooking. After dinner Jane declined Harry and Hermione's offer to do the washing up. Instead, she suggested that they move Hermione's things upstairs while she and Edward handled things in the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen Jane closed the door, turned to her husband and stated flatly, "I think Hermione and Harry are carrying on."
Edward, who was just finishing off the last slice of pumpkin tart, looked rather bemusedly at his wife and asked, "What in God's name gave you that idea?"
Jane sighed and rolled her eyes in a manner that said the reasoning behind the conclusion she had drawn should be obvious. "What gave me that idea? Probably the fact that our daughter's come home a full two weeks before she was expected and we haven't seen hide nor hair of her boyfriend." Edward shrugged noncommittally. "I expect Ron's working. Any time we ask after him, Hermione always says how hard he's working at the family shop."
"I would think that seeing as Hermione's leaving Hogwarts would mean more time for her to spend with Ron he'd have been here with bells on. Hermione's been here for hours and we've not heard a peep from him. Even if he was busy with work I'd have thought he would have checked to make sure that she got in alright." Jane stared after her husband with a look that demanded he explain Ron's inexplicable behavior.
"Honestly Jane I'm sure the lad felt no need to check up on Hermione. What need is there to check up on her if she coming home to her parents with Harry there to look after things."
Edward had barely gotten the words out of his mouth before Jane, smacked her hand down on the counter as she triumphantly crowed, "Exactly my point!" Edward frowned. "What point would that be dear?"
Jane rolled her eyes again. "You don't find it the least bit strange that we see more of our daughter's best friend than her boyfriend. Its been ages since we've seen Ron. Every Saturday that Hermione took off from Hogwarts she spent with Harry because Ron was working. Awful lot of work Ron has nowadays considering that when they first started seeing each other he had no trouble skiving off at the drop of a hat."
Edward considered this bit of information thoughtfully. Seeing that she had his attention Jane pressed her point. "Did you notice the way they've been watching each other all evening? Or how careful they've been not to touch? I'm telling you Edward something is going on between those two, mark my words." Having said her piece, Jane turned and set about cleaning up the kitchen. Edward thought over what his wife had said, and wondered if Jane could possibly be right.
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Harry sat in the oversized armchair in the corner of Hermione's bedroom. He was watching Hermione unpack the last of the two trunks containing her extensive collection of books. They had been oddly quiet since bringing the trunks upstairs. Hermione had immediately set about putting her things away and Harry had taken a seat and waited for her to say something about what had happened with Ginny but nothing had been forthcoming so far. Finally deciding to broach the subject himself Harry cleared his throat and said, "Are you going to say what happened with Ginny or not?"
Hermione turned around with a rather surprised look on her face and answered his question with a question. "You want to hear about that?" Harry glared at Hermione as if she were daft. "Do I want to hear about that? Of course, I want to hear about it. It does concern me after all!" There was a snappish edge to his tone that caused a raised eyebrow from Hermione. She levitated the last of her books into place, walked across the room to where Harry was sitting, and took up a sit on the edge of the bed. "There's not much to tell really. Ginny heard that I was leaving Hogwarts and it got her feeling a bit sentimental I suppose. She wanted to apologize for the way she'd treated me since you'd called things off with her."
Harry already knew that much as he had overheard the beginnings of their conversation, but he kept his mouth shut all the same, listening for the parts he had missed.
"Her coming to me like that… swallowing her pride… well it got to me and as she was bound to find out about you and I sooner or later I decided to take a page out of your book and do the honorable thing and just tell her myself, right then and there."
Unable to stop himself, Harry asked, "How did she take the news?"
Hermione chewed her lip a bit before responding. "She was confused at first; I started off by telling her that I'd called things off with Ron you see. She couldn't understand why I would do such a thing so I explained about my feelings for you and yours for me. She was quiet for a bit then she started raging and storming about me being a manipulative, backstabbing, bitch who'd used the entire Weasley family to get close to you and turn your head. She said she reckoned Rita Skeeter had been right about me all along and then she turned round and stamped out the door."
When Hermione finished Harry realized he was sitting there staring at her with his mouth hanging open. He quickly snapped it shut then immediately opened it again to ask, "I don't suppose she said exactly how you used the Weasleys to get close to me and… er… ah… what was it again?"
Hermione smiled faintly as she replied. "The exact phrase was 'turn your head' and she did go into a touch more detail, I was paraphrasing. Ginny seems to think that all those summers I spent at the Burrow were carried on just so I could put myself in your line of sight so you'd take notice of me."
Harry frowned. "But we were all friends, you, Ron and me. And we were friends long before either of us took to staying at the Burrow on vacations." Harry screwed his face up in concentration as if thinking over something. He then said, "None of that makes the least bit of sense, the first time I stayed at the Burrow was in second year and you weren't there at all. Three year we all stayed at the Leaky Cauldron after I'd blown up Aunt Marge, fourth year we were at the Burrow again on account of the Quidditch World Cup and fifth year was Grimmauld Place, and for most of that summer you'd all been there without me. I was stuck back in Privet Drive being attacked by Dementors as I recall. Then in sixth year…"
Hermione interrupted Harry's analysis of their childhood summers. "Harry, none of what Ginny was saying was going to make any sense, she was angry and hurt. I expect she feels that I've betrayed her two times over. Not only did I chuck her brother for someone else but that someone also happens to be the great love of her life…"
"What!" Harry exclaimed so loudly that Crookshanks hopped from his perch on the windowsill, and hissed angrily at being disturbed before slinking across the room and out the slightly cracked door. The faint smile that Hermione had worn earlier came back a bit wider. "Honestly Harry you have to have known that Ginny has always considered you to be the only man she could ever truly and completely give herself to."
Harry frowned and replied rather touchily, "She sure as bloody hell seems to get on without me pretty well considering the number of boyfriends she's had!"
Hermione raised an eyebrow and asked, "Jealous are we?" Harry snorted derisively. "Shocked more like." Innocently Hermione queried, "Shocked about what?"
Harry heaved an exasperated breath before speaking again. "I'm completely at a lost as to how Ginny could possibly see me as the love of her life. I mean let's be honest here, for five full years I never gave her a thought as anything other than Ron's little sister; she watched me moon over Cho Chang for a year and a half for Merlin's sake. Then when I finally did notice her and got around to doing something about the attraction I felt, it barely lasted three months before I was calling things off to go on the Horcrux hunt. That's not enough stability to fill an eggcup let alone build a relationship on. Add to that the fact that when we were together all we did was snog it's not as if we knew each other particularly well."
Hermione sat quietly listening. She had never heard Harry expound so much on his relationship with Ginny. After a somewhat protracted pause, Harry continued on.
"After the war ended I realized that what Ginny and I'd had was sort of a passing fancy, you know that first real relationship you have where that person is everything that matters in the moment but after that moment's gone you wonder why you were with them to begin with."
As he spoke those last few words, he stared straight at Hermione. She nodded her head in acknowledgement of his sentiments then silence stole over them once more. Several minutes of profound quiet passed before Hermione plucked up the nerve to ask another question. "But you loved her once, didn't you?"
Harry raised his head and answered after a moment's reflection. "I loved the idea of Ginny, of being a part of a proper family. The Weasleys seemed like the kind of family I would've had if it hadn't been for Voldemort," Harry shrugged, "I suppose it didn't hurt that Ginny had something of a soft spot for me and with things going the way they were with the war… it just sort of happened. But after the war was over and I looked back on things I recognized that as much as I cared for Ginny I wasn't in love with her."
Harry paused again and added, "Of course by then I was beginning to cotton on to the fact that I was a bit over attached to a certain someone else." He strongly emphasized the last two words. Hermione rolled her eyes as she muttered. "Kept mum about it though didn't you."
Harry reached out, grabbed Hermione about the waist and deposited her in his lap. He grasped her face firmly within his hands and softly replied, "I was a git, and I'm not keeping mum about it any more." Before she had a chance to utter a sound Hermione found Harry's lips pressed against her own. All coherent thought fled her brain as she lost herself to the moment. Harry's hands gripped her firmly yet gently as he settled her more comfortably against him. A soft whimper slipped past her lips as his fingers touched the strip of exposed skin between the bottom of her shirt and the top of her jeans. The kiss rose perceptibly in temperature and passion, then suddenly the door burst open and Jane Granger's voice permeated the room.
"Hermione, dear, would you and Harry care for a spot of…" Jane's words disappeared in a loud gasp followed by an inarticulate apology. They pulled away from each other, tousle haired and breathless just in time to see Jane retreating quickly from the room. Hermione watched her mother disappear with an expression that was half comical, half exasperated. Harry watched her for a moment and then asked. "Hermione, are you alright?" With a resigned smile she replied, "I'm fine. I just hadn't planned to tell my parents about us so soon and… well… I was rather enjoying that kiss." She sighed, and standing to her feet said, "Well we'd better get downstairs and explain things otherwise my parents will start to think they've raised a trollop." Harry stood and taking Hermione's hand in his they headed off to explain.
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It was just gone eleven when Harry apparated into the foyer of 12 Grimmauld Place. He and Hermione had spent an hour explaining their current situation to Edward and Jane, neither of whom had seemed the least bit surprised by the sudden change in their relationship. After the interview with her parents, Hermione had felt the need to get out of the house. She borrowed her father's car and the two of them drove into the village. They found a spot to park and after a stop at a coffee shop and grabbed a couple of coffees before wending down to a park, settling down on a bench to figure out exactly where their present relationship stood and to define precisely what "taking things slowly" meant. By the time they'd driven back to the Grangers home they had decided to concentrate on building upon the friendship they already shared and restricting any romantic exchanges to Harry's house.
Roused from his wandering thoughts by the sound of movement in the downstairs kitchen, Harry supposed Kreacher was below keeping his dinner warm. Shaking his head at the faithful intractability of his house-elf Harry headed downstairs to tell Kreacher that he'd already eaten and to remind him that he needn't make dinner for him every night, as his schedule was so erratic. He drew up short as he pushed the door to the kitchen and came face to face with Molly Weasley sitting at the table nursing a cup of tea. Kreacher was hovering near the sink slowing washing the already clean breakfast dishes.
An uncomfortable silence bathed the room and its occupants, Kreacher's croaky voice broke the silence. "Good evening master, Kreacher is not cooking as master was out but if you is hungry I can makes you something. Master sees we is having a guest, Mrs. Molly Weasley is wishing to speak with you master."
Harry nodded but Kreacher erupted into speech again before he could voice a reply. "I is explaining to Mrs. Molly that you is very busy with training and is needing to rest but she is insisting on seeing you and Kreacher is making tea. Would master like a cup of tea? Or perhaps you needs something else… whatever master is needing Kreacher will do." At this pronouncement, Kreacher cut his eyes towards Molly as if offering to throw her bodily from the house. It was clear that Kreacher knew something was wrong. It was equally obvious that he was doing his utmost to prevent whatever scene was about to occur from occurring. Harry was grateful to Kreacher for his devotion but as he had rather been expecting something like this to happen, though he had thought it would be later rather than sooner, he thought he might as well get on with it.
Harry cleared his throat and said, "Thank you Kreacher, for attending to Molly but I can handle things from here." Kreacher quirked an eyebrow and hesitantly replied, "If master is sure?" Harry nodded, "I'm sure, good night Kreacher." With a snap of his fingers, which cleared away the washing up, and a bow Kreacher bid Harry and Molly goodnight and shuffled off to the converted that served as his bedroom.
Following the snap of Kreacher's bedroom door Harry turned his attention to Molly. He decided not to bother wasting time beating around the bush, with a sigh he seated himself opposite Molly and matter of factly stated, "I take it you're here because you've spoken to Ron." Molly set down her cup. "Yes Arthur and I have spoken to Ron and we've had an owl from Ginny as well." Harry bobbed his head once in acknowledgement. "Well I don't imagine that you've come by just for a cup of tea…" The rest of his sentence hung in the air as Molly squared her shoulders and cut across him.
"Why Harry? Why would you do such a thing to Ron? After all the years of friendship how could you allow yourself to be taken in and ill use someone who has been like a brother to you?!"
As Molly had been speaking, Harry had been mentally preparing his answer. But as Molly's words sunk in, he lost the thread of his thoughts. "Wha… what do you mean taken in?" Molly made an impatient tuting noise, "Hermione of course! I've long had my reservations about that one, always so helpful, so ingratiating… humph… I reckon it's clear to everyone now that Rita Skeeter had the right end of the broom about her. Taste for famous wizards indeed! I suppose she's been laying the groundwork for this little coup since the first day she met you both…"
Harry interjected, struggling to keep calm. "Molly, Hermione is not to blame for this, I'm the one…"
Molly's exploded violently, "Not to blame! That trollop used my children to get close to you and broke my son's heart in the bargain! She turned you against Ron who has been like a brother to you. After all we've done for you… bringing you into our home, treating you as if you were family… this is how you repay us, by shunting us all aside for a bit of skirt!"
Harry stood very slowly and in a quiet voice replied. "From the moment I met you on Platform 9¾ you have been nothing but kind to me. You and Arthur opened your home to me without hesitation and I will be forever grateful to you for that. I understand that you're upset and that you're concerned about your son, but I'll not sit here, in my own home and allow you to insult Hermione."
Striding over to the fireplace, he grasped a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the grate. The logs glowed green; Harry turned to Molly and brusquely added, "You've said what you came here to say; now you can leave." Molly seemed to swell with indignation as she rose from her seat and marched to the fireplace, stepped inside and shouted, "The Burrow!" Harry watched her swirl out of sight, before turning and heading upstairs.
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