Chapter 6
A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays! Here's a shorter chapter to tie you over. As for feedback for last chapter, I wanted to make it clear that it wasn't the new dress that made Harry realize he had feelings for Hermione, but rather his memories of Godric's Hollow and all she has done for him.
They returned to their cottage after stopping by at Lucy's to apologize. When Lucy saw them enter her yard, hands entwined and a joyful look on Hermione's face, she knew that her plan had worked. She told them there was nothing to forgive and told Hermione that they should make plans to hang out again soon. Hermione also wanted to apologize to Justin, but Lucy said that he had already left to go meet another girl.
Harry and Hermione let go of each other's hands when they entered their kitchen.
"Do you want some tea?" Harry asked.
Hermione shook her head and yawned. "No, thanks, I think I'm going to change and go to bed."
"Okay, I guess I'll do the same. I'll go use the bathroom."
There was a tense silence as Hermione left the kitchen to go into her room to change. This was definitely weird. Although she was happy that things were starting to progress between them, it would be a little awkward to be sharing the same living space.
She took off her cardigan and dress and changed into a baggy t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts. She put her hair, which had started to frizz in the beach air, into a pony tail and waited for Harry to emerge from the bathroom.
He knocked on her door. "I'm out of the bath, Hermione."
"Thanks."
She opened the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but he had gone into his bedroom and shut the door.
As she removed her make-up and washed her face, she decided that maybe she should talk to him before things got even more awkward. When she finished her routine, she knocked on Harry's door.
"Harry? May I come in?"
"Sure."
Hermione opened the door and found him sitting on his bed, also dressed in a t-shirt and boxers, reading his learner's permit manual.
"How's the studying coming?"
"Okay, I guess. It's a bit frustrating you know, learning this stuff in a book. I've always preferred learning by doing."
Hermione nodded. "I know, but they won't let you practice driving until you learn the rules of the road."
"As you keep reminding me," Harry said, with a smirk. "So what's up?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "I guess I wanted to talk about…our new status."
"New status?" Harry asked, amused.
"Well, you did ask me out tonight," Hermione reminded him.
"And you asked me to be your boyfriend," Harry countered.
"Right, I was just thinking that it might be a little awkward since we're, you know…living together."
"You mean living in sin, like Mrs. Weasley suggested?" Harry replied, his eyebrows waggling.
"We are not living in sin!" Hermione protested.
"I'm just joking, Hermione," Harry said. "Listen, I agree with you that things might be a little weird between us, but I think we'll be fine. We can take things slow."
"How slow?" she asked.
"As slow as you want. I'm in no hurry, I've got all the time in the world now."
Hermione smiled at him. He looked truly happy and relaxed, for the first time she could remember. "Thanks, Harry."
"You're welcome."
They smiled at each other and made eye contact. Hermione felt as if there was an electric current between them. She tried to remember why she had come to talk to Harry.
"But isn't it still going to be weird - dating while being house mates?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Well, I guess it will be, but we'll deal with it," Harry shrugged.
Hermione sat deep in thought for a minute. "Maybe we should come up with some rules."
"Rules?" Harry asked. "You mean like boundaries?"
"Yes, maybe, I mean after tonight, your bedroom is off limits to me, unless of course you invite me in and vice versa. Same thing with the bathroom."
"Hermione, we don't really use the bath at the same time, even now."
"Yes, but you've brushed your teeth while I was in the shower. I don't think I'd feel comfortable doing that now."
"Why, because I might start thinking about your naked soapy body while I'm brushing my teeth? Believe me, I don't need to be in the bathroom with you to enjoy that image."
A scarlet Hermione picked up one of Harry's pillows and whacked him in the head with it, knocking off his glasses.
"What am I going to do with you?" she laughed in spite of herself, shaking her head.
Harry laughed and put his glasses back on. "Well, I have some ideas," he replied, lowering his voice.
"I'm sure you do." Sensing his amorous mood, Hermione got off the bed. "I think I'm going to turn in now and get out of here before I get myself into trouble."
"Sounds like a good idea," Harry said, laying on the bed and putting his hands behind his head. "Sweet dreams, Hermione."
"Goodnight, Harry." Hermione closed the door behind her.
This new thing between them was going to take some getting used to, but she was determined to enjoy every moment instead of worrying, like she usually did.
She smiled to herself; did Harry really fantasize about her being in the shower? She thought ahead to their date tomorrow night, and the notion that they might share their first kiss. The thought made her positively giddy.
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The following day, Hermione uncharacteristically slept in. When she woke up, she saw that her bedside clock read 11:00. She stretched and yawned and smiled to herself, trying to remember the dream she had, something about Harry lying on top of her and devouring her mouth with his tongue….
She got out of bed and went to bathroom to relieve herself. She then looked around for signs of Harry. The house was unusually quiet and she found herself in the kitchen. On the table was a note.
Hermione-
I went out to run some errands. Be back later.
Harry
She wondered where he went, but was grateful to be alone. There was no pre-date awkwardness without him hanging around the house. She took a shower and put on a t-shirt and shorts.
Hermione looked outside and it looked like a beautiful day. After eating breakfast, she took a blanket and headed to the beach to read a romance novel she had picked up in the airport magazine shop.
Hermione was not usually the type to read romance novels, thinking that they were silly trash. But now that she had a real romance in her life, she found herself identifying with the novel's heroine. She was a high powered lawyer who always put her career first but found herself attracted to a man representing the side she was prosecuting.
She was so absorbed in the novel that she didn't notice a person standing over her, blocking the sun.
"Hermione?"
When she heard her name and looked up, she saw Lucy, dressed in a tank top and cargo shorts, her blond hair up in a twist.
"Oh, Lucy! I didn't see you."
"What are you reading?"
"The Law of Attraction," Hermione replied, a bit embarrassed. "It's a romance novel."
"Any good?" Lucy asked.
"It's trite and predictable, but the sex scenes are good."
"Oh, sounds like a must read," Lucy said, sitting beside her. "So, speaking of romance, how are things with Harry?"
Hermione blushed and smiled at the mention of his name. "Good, I think. We have our first date tonight."
Lucy clapped her hands. "Congratulations!"
Hermione's smile faded a bit. "Thanks, but I'm a bit nervous."
"I understand. I was so nervous when Ben and I had our first real date. We were both on our best behavior when the evening started that we forgot to be ourselves. Once we admitted that we were nervous, we relaxed a little and everything was great."
"What did you do on your date?"
"Ben took me to a nice restaurant near campus and then we spent the rest of the night walking and talking. I remember when we had our first kiss, we were standing on the top of this hill that overlooked our university and he just kissed me, no warning. But it was amazing, I'll never forget it."
Hermione sighed, seeing Lucy's rapt face. "I hope I will have a memory like that."
"Where is Harry taking you?"
"Honestly? I don't know. He said he wanted to take me to dinner and maybe a movie."
"Where is he now?"
"I don't know, he left me a note saying he was running an errand."
"Well, maybe he's planning your date right now."
"Could be, but Harry's not much of a planner. He tends to fly by the seat of his pants."
"And you are the planner, I take it?"
"Yes, I am. But since he did the asking, I suppose I have to leave it up to him."
Lucy stood up. "Well, I'm going to meet Ben for lunch, do you want to join us?"
Hermione shook her head, not wanting to be a third wheel. "No, thanks. I think I want to finish my book."
"Okay, well good luck tonight," Lucy said. "I can't wait to hear all about it."
"Thanks, Lucy. Say `hi' to Ben for me."
A couple of hours later, Hermione finished her book, disappointed by the ending. The heroine got pregnant and married her lawyer, but gave up her career to be a stay at home mom. This ending didn't ring true for Hermione, because the character loved her career. Perhaps she was projecting her own desires onto the heroine, but Hermione didn't see why a woman should have to choose to be a mom or a have a successful career.
She walked back to the cottage, hoping to find Harry waiting for her. She was disappointed to find out that he still wasn't back yet. Feeling a bit anxious, she made herself an egg salad sandwich for a snack and then sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.
Hermione aimlessly surfed through the channels and turned off the TV. She thought of her parents and felt guilty that she hadn't made any headway in her plan to restore their memories. She knew she couldn't stay here forever without doing anything, so she resolved to go see them later in the week.
She went into her bedroom and examined her closet for something to wear on her date with Harry. She didn't know where he was taking her, but she pulled out the jacket and camisole that she bought when she went shopping with Lucy. She had a simple a-line skirt that she could pair it up with if Harry took her somewhere nice, or the designer jeans from her shopping trip if they were going somewhere more casual.
Soon she heard the front door open. "Hermione?" Harry called.
She rushed out of her room and saw Harry standing in the living room with a shopping bag in one hand and bouquet of flowers in the other.
"Where have you been? I was starting to worry," Hermione admonished.
"Hello to you to," Harry smirked. "This is for you," he said, handing her the bouquet.
Hermione softened as she took the bouquet of lilies from him and inhaled their scent.
"Oh they're beautiful, thank you Harry."
She went into the kitchen and put the flowers in a vase, with Harry following close behind.
"I have something else for you," he announced.
Hermione turned around and watched Harry remove something wrapped in tissue paper from his shopping bag - she noticed the bag was from the Funky Femme, where she and Lucy had shopped.
He unwrapped the tissue paper and held up a lacy, white halter-style dress. "What do you think?"
Hermione giggled. "Well, I'm not sure if it's your style, Harry."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Very funny. I bought it for you, you know for our date tonight."
"You bought me a dress?" Hermione asked, not quite believing what was happening.
"Do you like it? I bought it from Lucy's friend, Sarah. She said it was your size."
"I can't believe you bought me a dress. And that boutique is not exactly cheap."
"Well, Sarah gave me her discount, and you know that money has never been a problem. And I'm taking you somewhere really nice tonight, and I didn't think you'd want to wear the same dress two nights in a row."
"Where are we going, Harry?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's a surprise. I think you'll like it."
"But I already picked out an outfit to wear tonight, you really didn't have to do this."
Harry put up his hands. "Hermione, just trust me, okay? Please just wear the dress and just let me plan everything. I promise you it will be a night to remember."
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