Unofficial Portkey Archive

Life and Times

Rating: R

Ship: HHr (main emphasis)

The (unlovely) procedure: all rights go to JKR for previous plot and characters, Scholastic, Warner, and whoever else has their hands in HP.

…Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end - Luna Lovegood

***

Chapter Seventy-four - Reveal

***

Inside Ginevra's apartment

"…I have word that in a few days the Elves will be laying their…fallen to rest, including Aedi…"

"So, you're just going to leave your sister like that? No one's told me when Neville will be-"

Gin, dropping her elbows on the island countertop between her kitchen and living space, placed her head in her hands. She gripped the fringe of her hair, combing through her ginger locks at a snail's pace. Her eyes wide, she stared at nothing but the air between her and Ronald's white tunic.

"I am sorry, Ginny…," Ron had come around, leaving now the backside of her sofa to stare at, and comforted his sister by placing a hand between her shoulder blades. He gave her a rub. "I'll try and be back for his funeral; but, I can't leave Luna by-"

"What about me?!" Gin bit, looking at him askance. "What about your own flesh and blood?!"

Ron remained silent for a while, keeping his cerulean-coloured eyes steadied on Gin's golden brown. His shoulders slumped, and he let out a breath of pent-up air. "…Aedi did so much for me, and Luna… I won't leave her to do this alone."

"Just get out of my home, Ron!" Gin's hands went back to her hair. Her eyes went in-and-out of focus. "Just get out!"

Ron, hesitantly, let go of his sister. He started his walk out, stating in turn, "You're going to see Hermione and Harry tomorrow-"

"What don't you understand about `GET OUT'!!"

Ron, again hesitantly, nodded, his hand on the knob of the door.

"I'll be back as soon as possible, sis."

Ginevra's heart stopped, and before she could say anything else was Ronald gone, disappeared without a pop.

He had only called her "sis" a few times in her life…

…And, those times she remembered vividly.

***

Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place

I could see the light from the lamp through my eyelids, eyes closed. My arms were above my head, my head on the pillow, my ears perked in the direction of the loo. I'd adjust a bit on the mattress, but my attention wouldn't leave the quieted noises from behind the slightly closed door. The light within slanted out onto the hardwood floor, and onto our white sheets. She was getting ready for bed, brushing her teeth, washing her face, doing whatever else that held me captivated.

I smiled a little when something dropped into the sink with the water running, her in her haste, and she mutedly offered an expletive under an octave.

My left eye peeked open when I heard the sound of the light switch, and then the opening of the door. She saw me, or I thought, stepping out and closing the door behind her without looking. She smiled, that I saw, and quickly closed my eyes again. I heard her race, her feet at a speeding pace, and then the bed bounce when she did beside me. Instantly I could smell her vanilla, that intoxicating aroma of which reminded me often when she was very close. Like a much needed signal always welcomed. I felt the bed become still.

And, that's when I peeked back open to see her inches away. Her head was level to mine; though, she lay towards me. She had her hands together beneath her cheek, her cinnamon irises beautifully attentive. One of my dark collared button-downs she so wanted to wear to bed lay about her; more like a tent and less like a top on her figure. The darkened coloured teased the colour of her flesh, so willing to be exposed as the shirt lay haphazardly unbuttoned. Before she slid underneath the sheets with me did I see her knicker-less, and I smiled.

She did, too, slipping a lightly chilled thigh against mine as she wrapped her leg around me.

Rolling over on my left side to meet her, I leaned across to dim the light with a click and was met once more by her sight when I lay back down.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her smile leaving for concern in that moment.

I hesitated.

Why wouldn't I be?

"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked in answer, having my mouth catch up to my brain.

I slipped my arms around her and she didn't wait to come in close, touching, gathering as much heat as my body could give.

"You haven't slept in ages. Surely after a while you'll get sick, and I wouldn't want that to happen. What did the Ministry say?"

"To give it time. It's not like they do this every day. How this happened was a miracle in itself."

Hermione grinned and leaned forward to kiss me. "You know me…"

I ran a hand up and down her back. "Well, I'm certain I'll crash soon. But, in the meantime…"

"Hm?"

"I'm just happy to get to see more of you without silly sleep getting in the way."

We both laughed through our nose.

Hermione stretched her arms, placing them around me and wrapped them about my neck. She settled in the nooks and crannies of my front and sighed with a smile, "But, honestly…"

"I'll be fine…," My hand slipped from her backside into a shirt flap, the flap no obstacle for my cooled hand. I felt her, saw her jolt to my touch and laughed. "And besides… I feel even better now that you're here."

She smiled and lifted from her resting spot. Her hair, all those loose, soft strands of dark mahogany fell atop me as she lowered, placing her pink lips upon mine. She pressed into me as I did with her, my hand-now hands-gripping, then releasing, gripping, then releasing down her sooth back. Until I had her bum, each supple arse cheek held as she crawled more topside, half-lying, half-straddling that one leg.

When I had a breath, I said through her smile, mine, "This is so much easier when you're already naked."

She tilted her head back and gave a light laugh, to come back to me, my lips, for another snog.

"Again?" Her eyes brightened to my notion.

"Look-no, feel what you do to me."

She went to say something, but I had her, kissed her, halting her breath. I'd sat up, sitting her in my lap, the shoulder of my shirt falling from her right shoulder in the expedited movement. She had me in her hand, framing my face as we kissed. I had her, from her bum to the slope of her spine, to the lovable indent. I heard her little moan when we switched, my hands intertwined betwixt her lovely strands of dark, and hers on my arms. In a hurry, I picked her up and sat her better on me, having her giggle at just how fast I acted.

I smiled, laying my lips back upon hers once before lowering. I had her lean back, my arms, hands her support she didn't fall as I spread further the unbuttoned shirt. She held onto the back of my head, her hands twisting in my mane. She gasped when I took hold of one hard little nipple, giving that piece of her much needed scrutiny, regard, satisfaction. Hermione laid her head back, a moan settling in her throat, a grin on her lips. She came back to see me switch, engrossed in ultimately in her and everything her.

I felt her caress the top of my head, cradling me to her.

Lifting from her, I crawled upwards to find her waiting lips where I kissed. I gazed into her eyes, our foreheads together, watching her pant those little pants in her smile when I said, "I don't say this enough; but, it's true."

"I missed you."

"I missed you, Harry," she said between breaths.

I kissed her, picking her up easily with my strength, in my arms, and further held her against me. "I missed you so very much, baby…," I breathed, kissing her once again.

I lay backward and rolled Hermione in such a way that she landed on her side facing away from me. She turned that inch or two to continue our kiss, her right arm up and around my neck snugly. An arm snuck underneath her where I held her along me, cupping her unclothed breast in my hand.

"Slide your bum back a bit more, love," I uttered when we left our kiss to gather breath within a second.

She did without pausing, and I grinned in our resumed caress.

I had her leg, the bend of her knee, her thigh in my hand, parting her body a distance like our moths did so softly together. We hushed briefly, my face in her hair when she turned. I saw her eyes flitter closed. I heard her sigh, and then that beautiful, sharp gasp.

"I love you," I stated in a softened smile.

Hermione, her eyes closed, her lips in smile too, inclined back into me and met, once again, my warm lips.

***

She lay sleeping in my arms.

With my fingers, I combed through her soft tassels, scratching her head. Her arms, hands were placed upon my chest as she huddled to me. Her forehead positioned where we last met before her movement to slumberland: alongside my lips. I had my eyes closed, the brushing methodic, breathing in that luxurious Hermione-vanilla scent.

My eyes opened to see the clock, the early morning hour.

She moved, a fidget, slight; and, said something in murmur.

My head inclined to get a better look at my lovely, the bundled angel in white.

I saw her eyes closed.

Her lips in a forever-smile.

It hit my suddenly, and I didn't wish to wake her.

But…

I moved, however slowly, it didn't matter.

The moment the pads of her fingertips left my chest she awoke. I had the sheet folded and off me, and a knee rose to step from the edge. I felt her move, heard those movements in that variety of different thickening layers. I turned to see her hands, arms move above her head; heard her yawn; saw her eyes blink open and close a second. She turned to look at me and immediately sat up.

"What's wrong…?" She said it in the most adorable whisper, and yawned terribly cute.

If I had any control of that function…

"Loo." I said, leaning back over to plant a kiss on her warm forehead.

She smiled and ran her fingers through the front of her sleep-wild hair. She yawn again, a hand at her lips and nodded in acknowledgement. "…Now all that's left is for some sleep."

I smiled, and said quietly, albeit antsy, "I'll be quick. Lie back down."

I looked back from the lavatory door to see her watching me as I went.

I pointed at her, and then down, a motion for her to sleep.

I laughed when all she did was yawn and grin.

Not but a minute or two passed when I had reopened the door silently, and shut it back behind me when I saw my Hermione…

…Or, that of her curly brunette tangles.

My look was quizzical.

It looked as if…

And, as I crept closer did my guess prove correct:

She hadn't lain down…but rather kept to her original sat up position…asleep with her shoulders slumped, her hands in the little concaved spot between her legs. I shook my head and did a tiny laugh, "…My smitten ickle kitten."

"Hermione," I spoke in an octave higher than a hush. I smiled when she didn't respond immediately, but sort of gave a belated grunt. "Love."

I ran my hand down her curved back.

She reacted, moving up, sitting erect to my touch.

I heard her sigh, and then look over at me with such a slow, drowsy, twilit-struck way.

"Hey there…," I whispered, smiling, tilting my head to the side and to her level.

She smiled in return, yawning, "Good morning, Harry…"

I chuckled. "Almost-lie down with me."

"It's not…?" She went to look around, to see the bedroom still darkened.

I had her follow me willfully, of her choice, straight back down on the soft mattress on her side. "Not unless you're not-"

She got still and remained still, suddenly.

"…Love?"

I couldn't see her face anymore.

Gently, I lifted off my side, to my elbow, and then on my hand. "Love…?"

I peeked around and could see her…

…Fast asleep.

I just shook my head, let out a happy sigh, and snuggled in right behind her warmth.

***

I…woke up?

Or, I think I did.

I remember feeling her move in my arms, and then I rolled over, blinked, began rubbing my eyes. I could've zoned out. I didn't what had happened other than feeling the slight weight beside me moving about. I was about to say something, ask what had happened, what was going on… I saw daybreak through the window, raised my head to get a better look when I felt one of the most amazing feelings any one man could ever feel in his lifetime.

My head hit the pillow once more before adjusting myself, first a lift on my left a bit, and then my right side to further see that of which fit between my legs. I closed my eyes when I felt her go down, the silky touch, her soft hands. I leaned my head back for a moment to sigh, breathe the morning, cool air, to look again and see the messy strands of brunette bedhead shaking beneath my core.

I first felt, and then saw my abdomen muscles retract when she lowered again, her warmth surrounding me.

With a hand, I took her hair away to one side so I could see her face better.

Maybe she hadn't known I was aware-or maybe she didn't care-but she knew it then, gazing up from her stroking, her pink lips having removed to smile in my direction.

She gave a lick, and every inch of me shuddered without control.

Her smile grew, kissing that part of me and moving back down.

I let my eyes roll backwards, a smug grin appeared.

I lifted up by my abdomen, having Hermione lift, too, from around me curiously.

I took her face in my hands and snogged her relentlessly, having her linger afterwards on the chord I struck before opening those closed eyes to give me the most sexy of her smiles.

She took her hand and pushed my chest, pushed me back on the bed with a bounce.

I kept elevated enough to watch her meticulous work…knowing exactly what to do to drive me utterly insane.

***

"'Mione…" I'd come from the shower, the heat and steam mixing and colliding with an otherwise cooled home. I stood just outside the door, adjusting the black leather belt around my waist to fit. I did so without watching myself, watching her and how she still slept in a much disorganized bedspread. Pillows were every which way, the sheets strewn and pulled all around her form, peaking on her side like a mountaintop. The only bits of her I could see was that of her shoulders and her arms wrapped around a pillow, the quilt, the white of the spread and that of the knitted dark grey-blue sweater she now wore.

She asked me to wake her when I was through, needing more time for sleep; that, she'd be awake when I got out.

In my sight, however, lay a very deep sleeper with her face in the crook of her left arm and that of her explosion of hair.

I called out her name again in whisper, "'Mione…," to see her remain still, unmoving, puttered out.

I shook my head and smiled, gave an eye roll when I could hear her tell me how she'd be awake. I walked carefully over to the bed and sat down where I could. Even the sag on my side didn't cause an action, her figure very much in slumber. I didn't want to wake her at first, brushing back some hair from her face, but knew she'd become excited to go to the zoo today and how minutes passed. We could go later, tomorrow even; but, breakfast needed to be made, her shower, however long she needed to get ready for the cold English day outside…

I leaned down, revealing a part of her throat I found bare underneath her mahogany locks and nuzzled, kissed her. Grinning in my caress, I felt her react, albeit a ever-so-slight move.

"Love…," I kept quiet.

She seemed to have gone right back to her dreams, stopping.

"Christ…," I gave a light chuckle. "What will I do with you?"

I nuzzled her throat, again; this time, nudging the bridge of my nose up along her jaw.

I heard her sigh, and murmur something inaudible.

I felt her legs shift, her feet move.

"Hun…"

"Mmmnn…"

I heard that, and saw her brow scrunch up, her face hide more in her arm.

I chuckled.

"Hermione…"

"Mm…"

"Are you awake…?"

"Mmmmn…"

"…You were supposed to be awake, Love," I laughed some, caressing her still.

She said something I didn't quite catch.

"Say it again for me…?"

She reached for me with the hand cradling the pillow she held and held now my cheek. She kept her eyes closed. "…ve more minu…"

"What?" I smiled a bit in a laugh.

She tilted from her hiding spot to say it clear, sluggishly, "…Five more minutes…"

"'Five more minutes'…?" I mimicked her little sleepy voice and continued the silent barrage of her neck.

I felt her nod, saw her nod, repeating, "…Five more minutes…"

"'Five'?"

She nodded again.

"…'More minutes'?"

"…Harrrrrrrrry…," she whined, not amused.

I was. "You sleep an awful lot."

"…Making up for all those years…"

"Aw…," Grazing my nose along the backside of her throat, up along her ear, I caressed her lobe, smelled of her hair.

"Did you still want to go today?"

"Mmm…," She lifted with one eye barely open to check the time. "…It's only ten o'clock. We've got time…"

"'We've got time'…," I playfully imitated in her cuteness.

I grinned when she sighed heavily, still not amused.

"…Haarrryyyy…"

I laughed. "Heeerrrrrmiiione…"

I had the pads of my fingers in her hair, scratching her head.

Her eye opened in a squint and I swore the look she gave me could kill. "…You're such an arse…"

"Aww… Hahaha…," I grinned when she further hid in her arm and inside the cavern of sheets.

"I'm going to come in there and get you."

"Mmmn…"

I had my left arm rested on her other side, where the sheets draped off in a slope, and peeled down the sheet now covering her face to get a better look at her with my right hand. Slowly, too, as I had ventured into the scary lioness's den…all the while in smile. She peered at me in squint, her face soured.

"Could I steal a kiss this morning?"

"No," she abruptly replied. "You most certainly cannot."

I couldn't help but chuckle more.

"I'm going to remember this when you begin a normal sleep regimen…" Her eyes narrowed.

I laughed a little. "Aww…"

Gently, I let down her oversized sweater's shoulder closest to me to see her lovely pale smooth skin, to feel the bare skin beneath my lips. I kissed first the rounded top, slipping further towards her clavicle without letting go of her sight.

"Pretty please…?" I made puppy dog eyes.

She did an eye roll and sighed. "You're utterly incorrigible…"

She rolled over between my left arm and onto her back, her arms spread above her head. She yawned. "…You know that?"

"I guess I'll need to be trained once more…," In grin, I slid to her mouth and kissed her lightly. "And, who better than by the most brilliant?"

I kissed her again.

"Giving sweets to the teacher won't give you any more points than those you've already lost…"

I cocked a brow when I saw her smile, and smiled too. "Well, I got what I wanted. Se le ve."

I lowered again and stole another.

"It's cold…," Hermione breathed after, gazing around as she settled between sleep and awareness. "…And, it feels so much better beneath…"

"The zoo?"

She looked back over at the clock. "Do we have to go now?"

I shook my head. "No, but we'll have more time to wander about…and the predicted snow for this evening."

She sighed, and then inhaled deeply through her nose, her eyes closing. She reopened them to ask, "…Could we get ready in an hour…I really just want to go back for a nip…"

"…You did use a lot of energy last night and this morning."

She smiled. "See?"

"We don't have to go today-we could go-"

"I want to!" She sighed, stretching. I could feel her legs roaming beneath the sheets aside me. "I just would like…"

"Whatever makes you happy I'm more than willing to do. If you want to continue sleeping, or-"

"Just another hour…at eleven?"

I nodded. "All right. Eleven."

"Eleven…," she'd already went to move back in position, rolling to her original side; though, stated as she did, "Come in with me…it does feel marvelous."

With only trousers on, I had begun to get goose pimples.

Glancing over at the clock, I took note of the time.

Before I could look down, respond or anything, Hermione had already gone. I shook my head and sighed. "You are terribly something, you know that?"

I snickered, lowered to kiss now her temple and slipped in behind her quietly as if not to wake her anymore than I could. Snaking my arms around her underneath, she immediately attached to my right, holding her close. Smiling, I snuggled as she wanted, and gave her one more kiss atop her head.

***

All the while fixing my salt-and-pepper turtle neck and making sure the newsboy cap atop my head set perfectly symmetrical, a certain kitty loved upon my leg. Curling in-and-out, in-between, the orange fur ball purred, rubbing himself against the dark coloured trousers. He wanted my attention, and he wanted it badly; but, I couldn't help but stare at my reflection. There in the mirror stood the new Harry Potter, so very unlike the old; his visual uniqueness wiped away, I had become one of them.

The lightning bolt scar had vanished, leaving behind the same coloured hue as the rest of my lightly tanned skin.

I couldn't help but be mesmerized as all I had looked at for years, all that everyone saw me as, even my name paired with that one image. Bad. Good. Indifferent.

In a way, I missed it. The way one would miss an old pair of shoes.

In another, I was grateful for the weight to be taken from my shoulders. I had always wanted to be something other than "Harry Potter," and now I had a chance to experience just being myself-and enjoy life like everyone else.

The feeling of a beady head nudging along my inner-calf pushed me from the transcendence.

The moment I gazed downward and around the edge of the sink did I see Crookshank's stop to peer up at me. The eager kitty knew exactly when he had won, going so far as to wave his tail.

Rolling my sleeves up, I bent into a squat and said, lifting the feline from the plush lavatory rug I stood on, "C'mere you."

Crookshanks meowed, taken from the floor, the evidence of happiness fairly apparent when he began rubbing himself against my chest in my arms. I laughed. "You haven't been forgotten!"

The loo was left open after Hermione's shower. We'd changed places, my lovely at her vanity, clothed and staring at her own reflection. I could see my own, and she blinked, flicking her eyes back towards me and smiled. She'd sprayed some sort of liquid to tame her hair, the bedhead of which set camp on her head hadn't wanted to move out. She'd managed to get most of it down, untangling the strands at the bottom to even out a rather smooth look with just enough twirl for text.

She looked beautiful-more beautiful if Hermione could be. Layers upon layers, black and grayish-blue top underneath a fitted leather jacket. A pleated black skirt which leveled mid-thigh, exiting south with black tights to black knee-high socks covering just the tops of her Converse trainers. Coming forth from her leather jacket sleeves came fingerless gloves, and a checkered ebon-and-silver scarf. Her dark brown tassels complemented the motif, and the casual look exemplified wintry sexiness.

I'd come up behind her, her eyes never leaving mine. My lips went to her jacket-clad shoulder, the material lightly sticking to me as I leaned from the kiss. I heard her little laugh and grinned. My hand crossed her bum, to her hip farthest away. I squeezed.

"Look who I brought with me."

The ball of orange appeared within the reflection, and Hermione made an audible, but playful sigh. She placed her brush on the counter, but had it remain in hand. "You just cannot give Harry two seconds can you?"

I chuckled in my grin, Crookshanks turning to look when Hermione spoke; but, immediately shifted back to my sight.

"Don't look at me," I told the kitty. "I didn't say it. I'm innocent!"

He meowed, making both Hermione and I laugh loudly.

She turned and led me by fingertip, having placed it just below the point of my chin, to her lips. The turn gave movement with my hand, now holding that fit arse of hers. Whilst the kiss, I gave her a pat, making the kiss hesitate but for a second and a giggle escape from betwixt those lips in need of mine. They went back, gently touching mine, ending with a nudge from her, a nudge from me, and another kiss of her shoulder closer to her lovely neck.

Her head dropped as she nudged me again, the lioness with her lion. My eyes went to the mirror, to all the pictures cluttering the edges of the frame of our adventures, and some of us with friends, including one I'd always remember: a very ecstatic Hermione Granger, fiance of Harry Potter, displaying both a brilliant smile and her brilliant diamond engagement ring which still lay on her finger after all these years. Even after…

"Harry…"

I closed my eyes when I felt her hug me, and hug me tight.

I smelled of her, her skin, her hair… I'd have hugged her back just as tight if not for my arms carrying something precious.

"I love you," I said, brushing the tip of my nose against the side of her head, in her hair. I kissed her where I could.

I could feel her smile before I saw it, and tears welling in her eyes.

"Hermione…," I suddenly grew worried. "What's-"

"I need to tell you something I've never told you before, and I feel like I can't keep it secret any longer." Her speech heightened, fluctuating with the rise of her emotions.

I glanced down at Crookshanks who looked between his mum and me. "Crookshanks, give dad and mum a moment.

I let Crookshanks down to another meow, a purr as he slipped back against my trouser leg and stretched his way away from us throughout the bedroom.

I had my eyes set on Hermione, her hand having run itself under her sniffling nose. She looked to be embarrassed by her overrun sadness, or… I didn't quite know, or understand; though, my arms were free.

I gave her a tight hug, leaving only to ask, "You know you could've told me anything. I want you to tell me everything. I'd like to hear every one of your thoughts in that beautiful mind."

"If what had happened didn't happen…," she turned away from me briefly to get her composure back, and then returned, quietly. "I just don't think I can go on without telling you this if something happens-"

"Nothing's going to happen," I drew her close. "Ever again."

She hid her face in my turtle neck sweater.

"I won't think of you any differently," I said in console, passion. "You don't have to hide anything from me."

I pulled her an inch away and saw her peek from behind that bit of hair covering her eyes. "We're a team."

"And," I ended. "I love you dearly."

She wrapped her arms tighter, laid her cheek against my shoulder. She fit wonderfully in my pocket, just beneath my jaw, as I held her.

"I've held this in for so long… I just… It…"

"You don't have to tell me."

We stood there in silence for a minute.

"…Harry…"

"Yes, my love?"

"…Please don't think differently of Ronald when I say this. He's not like how he was in our past…"

I had thought she told me everything about Ron…their fanciful past…

Though, I trusted Hermione more than anyone or anything in this world.

This wasn't a worried position about Ron; no, this was something else.

"…You saw how…horrible…"

"Yes," I tightened my embrace of her. "And, I took you out of there the minute-no, second-I could."

"…That night, though…"

"The first night here, or…?"

"No… When I ran out into the rain…"

"You fell down, and I picked you back up, and I held you as I do now."

Hermione went quiet.

Now… I became worried.

Slowly, she removed her cheek from my shoulder and stood that inch apart, again, to look at me.

I brushed the hair from her beautiful, vivid cinnamon eyes.

"…If you hadn't been there that night…"

I didn't say anything, letting her continue.

"…I would have done something…"

I inclined my head to the side, digesting what she said with a tiny bit of confusion.

"…Terrible…"

"Terrible…?"

"…Regrettable…"

I kept to that quiet once more.

"…I would have…I mean, I…would have…"

She lowered her eyes, almost as if picturing that terrible image she wanted to paint for me.

"…What?" My voice, caught in the silence, fell in whisper.

Her eyes went back to me, unblinking.

"I wouldn't be here."

My brow scrunched. "You mean…?"

"The War, and the safety of my parents, and you, and Hogwarts, and death, destruction, blood everywhere-"

"I'm sorry." Her apology took me off-guard.

I shook my head. "No-no, you don't have to be sorry for anything…"

I pulled her to me and hugged her, even going so far as to lift her from the floor a centimetre or two. I kissed her, and in release had our foreheads touching, our sight interlocked when her feet lay back flat on the wooden ground.

"There's not a thing you should say sorry for," I said this, and I meant it, firm. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing at all."

I kissed her again and said within the caress, "I love you."

Our foreheads were back together, the tips of our noses touching. "I love you. I want you to know that."

She just nodded her head.

And another kiss, watching her eyes close before mine.

When we reopened them, again, with warmth and that passion, "I love you. So much. So very much."

I had my arms wrapped around her shoulders, and her around my middle. Carefully, I led her over to the bed and sat her down, and I sat down, too.

"…I didn't mean to… Well, I don't want this to ruin-"

I shook my head. "You haven't ruined anything. You-"

I led my thumb along her jaw, my fingers grazing her cheek.

She kept her eyes on me attentively.

"You are so special."

She went to lower her eyes, but I wouldn't allow it.

Gently, I had her raise back to my level, her original level.

"…Do you know that?"

One tear fell and dripped down that cheek, staining her flawless, porcelain skin black.

I didn't hesitate to wipe the tear stain away.

I kissed her lips.

Her cheek.

Her nose, temple, forehead.

I gave her the tightest of hugs and led her to lay beside me, close.

"I didn't know what to do without you…," I watched her intently, listened with purpose. "…I was so…lost."

"I'm sorry…," I shook my head, or what I could shake lying against the made bed. "…If I could do it all over again I wouldn't have left you."

"But, you did great…"

"No…," I brought her to me, and kissed her. I looked behind her, above her head at nothing in particular as she curled and cuddled alongside me. I felt her grip of me, touch me, and added, concluding, "No, I didn't."

***

In an undersized cemetery outside of northern London

The drab, cold weather and muted sky set the scene wherein only a handful of watchers, a family, stood with Minister Malfoy. In black, those that weren't kept vigilant to their surroundings. Two white cloaks, their hoods covering their faces, their arms folded so none could see their arms nor hands, stood on either side of the Minister. Kingsley Shacklebolt, donned in black, kept silent behind his student. All heads were down, a coffin having been lowered into a rectangular-cut shape inside the earth.

This wasn't in memory of an Auror…

No, he'd already gone to several of those…and many more to come.

This was for a child who had died after being marked for death by Sarilda and Nolpho; an innocent child who had more than enough life left to live at the age of six.

His mother, also marked for death, had been laid to rest minutes ago.

Malfoy had been speaking, but abruptly stopped.

One of the family members, the father, glanced up at the Minister, evident tears in his eyes.

Kingsley could feel Malfoy.

He put his black leather gloved hand atop Malfoy's shoulder.

"I apologise…," Malfoy began again, standing with a lean on his cane. "I am just so, terribly sorry for your loss. I wish none of this would have happened…"

"Apologies won't bring my wife and child back!" the husband barked. "Apologies mean nothing!"

A family member stepped in to try and console the husband.

Malfoy glanced up at him, tears, too, in his ducts. "I swear on my honor that this will never happen again."

"You're nothing but a damned politician! Worthless! Just like the rest of `em!"

Kingsley squeezed Malfoy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry…," was all Malfoy could reiterate, trying to hold back his readied tears.

"Sir…," the angelic voice whispered next to him, an Auror, a female by her tone hidden beneath the pure white like the snow falling upon the black coats, and upon the ground at their feet. "Another seeks your counsel."

"I've been to so many of these now…," Malfoy breathed under his breath. His chest heaved.

Kingsley shook his shoulder, his effort to console.

Slowly, Draco hobbled in turn to walk back towards the waiting cavalcade of floating Ministry-approved broomsticks. As he walked passed, the Aurors fanned out with one he chose with a wag of his finger. The white cloak was at his side.

"…Tell the family, the husband of this tragedy, that he need only to seek us for anything-anything at all."

The Auror nodded while the others followed behind Draco, Kingsley at his side.

"How does one do this?"

"You must be tenacious, Draco."

Draco halted and peered heavily at Kingsley. "…It was a child… A child…"

"Sarilda and Nolpho cared not for whom they killed… Evil has no conscience."

A tear trickled down Draco's cheek, become cold where it dripped from the frozen air.

"I know, my brother…," Kingsley wrapped an arm around Malfoy's shoulder. "We will get through this."

"I saw my own lying there…"

"Be strong like your father."

***

It has to be a miracle.

No, it is a miracle.

It's truly mad, really, how the human body can process so much sadness…and we continue, and live our lives.

A zookeeper took notice of Hermione, my hand on the small of her back, lingering nearside the koala coop. The zookeeper trekked on behind us. I saw her. Hermione obviously didn't; her eyes caught on one of the tiny koalas plucking leaves from a branch to stuff in its mouth. The grey mammal's little fingers and thumb wrapped around the green foliage, its chewing almost gentle in a way. The koala's tiny black eyes set on Hermione…and the uniformed attendee startled Hermione, having her jump.

She jumped, placing a hand on her chest.

I gave a laugh, wherein my brunette elbowed me, her attention on the zookeeper.

He asked if she'd like to see one up-close, to hold one…

…And, there we were in a feeding room for abandoned babies left either by their parents or by poachers. I thought Hermione would cry when the attendee plucked a baby koala from its miniature habitat and cradle the infant creature in his arms.

"Would you like to feed Matilda?"

"Can I?" Hermione asked enthusiastically, full of energy.

The keeper nodded, said, "Absolutely, dear," and there she was…

Happy.

She turned towards me when the man positioned the koala safely in her arms and positioned the bottle of warm, imitation mother's milk-a special formula-in the ickle mate's mouth, and…

Hermione was smiling so much.

So very much.

Her gorgeous eyes twinkling as she peered down at the baby koala as it held, too, the bottle as she did.

The koala kept his eyes on Hermione, always, and she glanced up at me, and…

It truly was magical.

"Love…?" She nodded towards the bottle between her fingers and motioned with another quick glance. "Would you like to, too?"

"Of course," I replied with a smile, smiling, happy, seeing Hermione so caught up in her happiness and away from all the turmoil everything, absolutely everything-including myself-had caused to her.

I placed my hand back upon the small of her back.

"Like this he said…"

I took the end of the bottle, mimicking, per her instructions and saw the baby koala's bitty, glossy black eyes settle on me. The hand on her back shifted to the farthest shoulder, her left as I touched her right side, leaned in, and grinned between her and the…

Miracle.

***

"Hey."

She was adjusting and readjusting the seatbelt in the BMW.

I had one hand resting atop the wheel and my other lay on the armrest between us.

I leaned into her.

"Hey."

"Hm?" She gazed over at me a moment, looking back to see, and then hear, the click on the belt.

I saw her lovely face in portrait, the amazing silhouette turning back to me when I called another, "Hey."

"What?" She narrowed her eyes a smidgen; and, albeit with a dumbfounded look because of my consistency…stayed in grin.

"Hey." My lip curled; too, in smile.

Her whole body shook, exaggerated a shake of her head, that beautiful dark mahogany swaying to and fro across that one hidden eye. "Whaaatt…?"

We were sitting, ready to go, in the parking garage.

I ignited the engine.

"I love you," I stated in smile, utterly sincere, with my sight never leaving hers.

With the engine roaring the life, I saw her grin widen, her pearl white expose, and that coy part of Hermione from years ago come through. She turned her head, to turn again where I saw a rose-colour in her cheeks.

I lay my arm, my hand back in the centre and wriggled my digits, palm up.

Instantly, she took my hand, looping and interlacing her slender, soft hands through mine, against me.

I squeezed her hand lightly, and leaned further, over the middle to take an even lighter kiss from her lips.

Intimate it was, profound, Hermione was left with an even greater smile. With her eyes closed, slowly she had them open. She bit her bottom lip. She sort of swung in her seat, her legs shifting, giddy, with all the symptoms of love showcased from head-to-toe.

***

"What's in there?"

We sat at a private table amongst other couples chatting quietly. An out-of-the-way pub and restaurant, Hermione had remembered the spot being discussed when she worked at O'Brady's and we thought to go in, stay a while. We just didn't know how nice it would be; quiet, secluded, rather cosy with a little jazz on low for ambience. Our chairs were booth-like, velvet I thought, and red on stained wood with a fairly short table in-between. Perfect for our legs, our feet, which shared each other underneath.

"Lots of good stuff…," she grinned, merrily.

I grinned, seeing her lush and light.

Hermione's legs were crossed, but instead of crossing across hers had her left knee against my left and her right calf dangling between both of mine. My left and her right arms, hands were together; hands held. We'd eaten some appetizers, not really hungry after eating a morsel or two at the zoo. We relaxed, a mug of frothy beer in front of me. My love had ordered her second long island iced tea, and with a goofy smile on her face knew…she was feeling just that: relaxed.

My hand went to her head, her hair where I sifted through. Whilst during the scratching, our waitress wandered over to give that second beverage to Hermione. The waitress smiled at our intimacy, slipping in and out silently. Hermione hadn't noticed a thing, completely unaware at anything other than me and my rhythmic rubbing of her head. She could've easily fallen asleep I believed, her head falling, tilting into the palm of my hand.

After our umpteenth kiss, the second iced tea finished and my mug empty did I wave at the waitress for our check.

In those seconds, Hermione had taken privilege in my haste of slight absence to fold her arms in front of her and lay her head down, cheek first, on the table.

"Sleepy time…"

"Aw… We're going home, love."

When the waitress brought over the change, she saw the massage of Hermione, my hand on her shoulders, her back where she lay across the table.

She made a grin and said with a soft laugh, "You two are so adorable."

"Thank you," I grinned, too, giving another when I looked down at Hermione asleep and back up at the waitress.

"You two have a wonderful evening."

***

I thought Hermione would sleep all the way home and I'd have to carry her up to bed. Alas, and well off, she awoke the moment I removed the keys from the ignition, the vehicle stopped and parallel parked outside Number Twelve. Well off, because the last minute home I finally felt the inevitable, what any normal human body could and should do… And, I could feel the crash, my eyelids heavy.

I sat sort of slumped in the seat, watching Hermione stretch laterally, or as much as the car willed her. I had the keys in my lap, in my hands, and I smiled through sleep when she gazed over at me in a yawn.

"What's wrong?"

"I…," My yawn was incredible, and I swore I could've just laid the seat back and slept for two days here. "…I think it's time for bed."

Hermione paused a second, observing my posture, the behavior, the way I sort of leaned forward until she left the car. She'd come around and opened my side. Gently, she slipped an arm around me. Heavier than her, I gave a chuckle when she tried to shuffle me out. My body had become flaccid with exhaustion, and it took might and a load of effort to remain standing upright. She took the car keys from me and we both waddled through the wrought iron gates, down the cobblestone pathway, and into the magicks surround our beloved home.

The door became trouble; moreso for me, as I stumbled my way in when she turned to shut it. She caught me, slipped that arm under me and we were off once more. She had drunk more, and I felt drunk. The world blurred, and I remembered putting my arm out to catch my fall along the hallway wall.

She asked when we came into the foyer, the many openings and routes we could take, "Think you can make it upstairs? I'll turn down the sheets and you can just slip right-"

I shook my head and limply nodded off in the direction of the sofa. That one image looked more inviting to me than those flights of stairs, up and up and up. Added, there would've been no way to catch me if I had fallen. I would have rolled back down, injuring her, injuring me.

"The couch?"

I nodded again.

I wasn't much for conversation.

Frankly, I wasn't much for anything but for one goal:

Sleep.

"Wow, they were absolutely right," I heard Hermione say beside me, assisting in my walk around the sofa.

When I saw the cushions before me clearly, I hadn't a care anymore.

I fell towards my side and twisted, turning to land straight on my backside with a bounce.

I heard only pieces of pieces when Hermione spoke. She something about the Ministry, about how I had said before that I'd crash as they predicted, and hard. She had my feet, my shoes. She unlaced them, and I felt the constriction release. I felt my socks removed and the cool of Number Twelve atop the new exposure. I think she asked if I wanted something else off…maybe the turtle neck? That, too, eventually was slid off.

Bare-chested, all I could comprehend next was Hermione's directions, for me to climb up on her and lay. I did, floating above her and landing face-first into her bosom. I heard only mumbles… Something about her chest? Pillows?

I wasn't very tactful, but honest, when I slurred out the statement, "…But, I love your bristols…"

"…Yeah, you…my breasts…"

"…So soft and so lovely and so mine…"

Hermione made a giggle.

"Oh, Harry…"

"…Beautiful naughty bits…"

"Christ!" Hermione whispered with a bit of excitement, a laugh when I purposefully rubbed my face between her breasts. I sighed, and she sighed, too. "…You're simply…"

I didn't quite catch the last words.

The crash had taken me.

***

An incessant reverberation of the headache-inducing nature woke me up first. Then, the softness which had become my pillow, my bed, began to move from beneath me. In that split time was I confused as mattresses…don't move…until I realised in my state of sleep that-of course-Hermione.

Raising my head, I watched her through squints first smile, sliding from me and slowly comforting me to lie back down on the sofa.

"I'll be right back…," she whispered, the room dark but the lamp light behind her. That one light produced such a halo around her head. I smiled, lying back down per instruction on my spread out arms. I realized then, too, that the bell-like sound striking my skull became a ring.

"…I've got to get the phone…"

The sounds of Hermione pitter-pattering steps growing distant, and then her "Hello?" was the last sound I heard.

I'd fallen back in slumber.

***

Hermione's kindly words woke me.

"Come," she said quietly, having me to rise. My eyes blinking alive, aware, her vanilla scent enveloped me to awake. Or awake enough to understand that she was trying to get me to rise from the sofa. "Come, Harry. Time for bed, love."

My ears perked to another voice.

My sight quickly went to my chair, the recliner I had spent many a day pondering the past in, the present, and future…and many games of Quidditch on the telly. Her fiery, Weasley-red screamed Ginevra. The fireplace had been lit, its warmth focused on us, the orange light flickering against Gin's face. The shadows produced a line along her face, and I could only see one glistening eye of hers on me.

She just stared vacantly, her head turning ever-so-slowly as I did bundled in Hermione's arms supporting me.

My mind only processed words at random in the beginning.

"…Always…as usual, Hermione…"

"…can't help it. I…"

"…You… What do you want me to…?"

"…Please, Gin. I'll be…"

Only when Hermione had me on the first few steps of the staircase did my mind finally fully develop sentences.

"…You forgot about me, `Mi."

"Please," I heard Hermione's stress en masse in her voice. "Gin-I'll be back down. Let me just get Harry in bed."

"This isn't the first time you've forgotten about me-I've never forgotten about you-you're always in my mind."

"Harry's my heart, Gin-listen to yourself! Do you really believe I'd-I'm not leaving him to fend for himself."

Wobbling upstairs, and wishing my mind wouldn't have comprehended any words…none…

My dander was up.

I'd had enough of Ginny making Hermione feel guilty for…loving me?

"Hey!"

I shouted, causing both Hermione to stop walking and Gin to shut her mouth.

I had turned around, glaring at Gin. Tired, I'd had enough of this shit, and my body language eluded that fact. Forcefully, and firmly, I pointed Gin down from my height where she stood at the base of the stairs. I think I went to walk down a step, and nearly stumbled, feeling Hermione's hands on my torso for balance.

"Pardon me for being such an obstacle in your life, Gin; but, I swear, if I hear one more line from you about how Hermione hasn't thought about you or whatever stupid shit flies out of your mouth… I'm sorry Neville's gone-but don't take your anger out on her because," I pointed at myself. "I'm here, and I'm staying here beside my fiance and wife till the end. I'll be in your face in a half a second and knock you down a peg if you make one tear of hers shed. So, just shut the fuck up and pipe the fuck down."

"Don't come over to my house and spread your hate around," I ended. "I'm tired of your shit. I'm fucking tired of it Gin. Don't push me, or her, anymore. Do you hear me? I want us to be clear."

"Harry…," I felt Hermione pulling me back up. Somehow, without knowing I had done it, I had walked those steps down and was about three inches from Ginny's statuesque face. "Harry, come on… He's just tired, Gin…"

"Let's go, love…," She pulled on me again, and I stood, stiff in my stance. I looked Gin down, and her Weasley way sized me up, too. The tension between us was thick enough to be cut with a knife. She pulled on me once more, and my body finally moved upward. "…Come on. I've got you. Let's just go to bed."

"Gin," Hermione had turned around on the way up to see Gin still standing still at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes narrowed at our scene. "The guest bedroom is made. I'll come check on you after Harry's settled down… Okay?"

"Whatever, `Mi…"

"Whatever, `Mi," I mimicked Gin's perturbed, mousy voice.

"You want to start something, Harry?!"

I flicked back around and started back down after her, "You're the one who fucking came into my home, and-"

"Harry!" cried Hermione, tugging me back up towards our bedroom.

"And, Gin!" she shouted. Hermione pointed at Gin over the banister. "Both of you: enough! Now! Not another peep!"

Lumbering forward, I fell face first into the pillow, landing diagonally on the bed. I heard our bedroom door close and Hermione begin removing various pieces of clothing on the way over, starting with her shoes.

I'd fallen backwards into twilight sleep when I was woken, again, briefly. I felt the jumper being taken off, my shirt progressively being taken from my shoulders and over my head. I lay back, vertical now, my head hitting the pillow. My eyes blinked open once to find Hermione unbuttoning and unzipping my trousers, removing them along with my socks.

Glancing at Hermione in another blink did I see her with her jacket off, her shoes, socks, on her knees rolling the trousers neatly in her arms. Steadfast, she didn't know I was awake until I said, "…I'm not sorry."

She looked up, and put her hand up, sighing, "Harry… Not now, love."

"I know," she added. "Just not now. Get as much sleep as you need; and, you need it."

Flipping around, she crawled her way off the bed and deposited the clothes of the day into the laundry bin to wash later. I kept an eye on her in the lamplight as her lovely pale skin appeared more and more as she peeled layer after layer off her exquisite form. She traipsed into the loo for a bit, keeping the door open enough so I could see her walking about as well as hearing her maneuver between the sink, the towels, getting prepared for bed.

The light went out, and the door opened.

She came from the loo with her pink-and-white striped satin pyjamas on. The shirt was left open, and I could see every softened curve of my Hermione as she traipsed back over to the lamp and pulled on the chain to shut the bulb off. She went to slide in, her hand inside the sheets to get beneath when she saw me still awake…and my smile.

"You're supposed to be asleep…, she grinned, sliding right over to me.

Always one to help, I took her halfway and pulled her towards me in haste the rest of the way. I heard her subtle laugh as she buried herself into the sheets, and I buried myself in her chest. The warmth was more than inviting, and her smell intoxicatingly sweet.

She wrapped an arm around my neck, holding the back of my head, and me, to her.

"Do you feel any better?"

"Tired…," I smiled into her.

"Mm…," I heard her quieted laugh.

After some silence, I felt the need to…

"I'm sorry…"

"You don't have to be sorry…," she replied, rubbing my head.

"She just…"

"I know…"

"And, she's your best friend…"

"She is…"

"And, I don't care who it is… I'll always harbor ill feelings for anyone who talks to you that way. You don't deserve any of it."

"She's just saddened and angry…"

"Which is why I apologized."

"It's all right… It'll blow over. Everyone's emotional right now."

"Are you going to go check on her?"

"Yeah… But, later."

"Want me to…?"

"No… You just get some sleep."

She kissed the top of my head. "I love you."

I caressed where my lips lay on her chest. "…Love you."

***

{Author's Note: I know it's been a while, but I've begun clinicals with nine to ten hour workdays. Life first and all. The story will be finished; so, no one think it won't. It'll just be slower. Thus is why for a bit there beforehand I pumped chapters out to consolidate the coming downtime. Wanted to get this chapter out; so, if there are errors realize they will be fixed over the coming days, too.}

{Musical inspirations: The Scientist by Coldplay, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, Collide by Howie Day, Feel So Close by Calvin Harris, Back Home by Gym Class Heroes, Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap, Blackout by Breathe Carolina, Death of Cedric on Goblet of Fire soundtrack, Dumbledore's Farewell on Half-Blood Prince soundtrack, and some Audiomachine}

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