Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's Note: - Apologizing in advance for spelling and grammar mistakes.

Disclaimer: - I do not own Harry Potter and anyone or anything related.

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Do You Want Me?

She so desperately wanted to ask Harry if he was still in love with Ginny. However, she couldn't bring herself to do that. She was scared of the answer she would receive from him. What if he still loved Ginny? Did she have the strength to let him go if he still loved Ginny?

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Weeks passed. However, Hermione couldn't bring herself to express her doubts in front of Harry. She was scared of his answer. When they were in school Hermione never really, let her feelings for Harry take over her life. She was content in loving him without letting him know. Since she never really expected Harry to return her feelings, it was easier to see him with other girls.

However, now that she knew how it felt to be with Harry with whom she had been in love with for so long, she knew consequences would be dire for her if she would have to live without his love once again.

Harry had become one of the most important elements required for Hermione's continued existence. It was almost impossible for her to think of living without him. However, his happiness was more important to her and the way he was around her, she was sure Harry was happy with her. He was. Wasn't he?

Hermione hadn't seen Ginny since the Christmas night. News of her and Roger's breakup was all over the wizarding newspapers and fashion magazines. She wasn't sure what Harry thought of the breakup. Surely he would have read and heard about it, but they never discussed about it.

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It was the last week of January. Hermione was leaving her office.

"Annie, I am leaving right now. I'll be back before lunch hour is over." Hermione said to her friend and secretary. Annie simply nodded as she was busy doing something.

Usually Annie and Hermione took the lunch together. However, Harry was leaving for a mission that night for next couple of days. Hermione was a bit worried about him and hence had decided to have lunch with him.

Leaving her office, she headed towards the lift. When she reached to the level where Auror department was located, she got out of the lift.

It was lunch hour and she hoped that Harry would be free. When she entered the department, it was almost empty save for few aurors who were relaxing in the lunch hour.

"Hermione," Hermione heard a voice.

She turned around to see the jovial face of her former fellow Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom.

"Neville," Hermione said in a jolly voice. Moving forward, she hugged him.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting at home right now?" She asked.

Last time Hermione had seen Neville, was a couple of months back when he was discharged from St. Mungo. His healers had told him to take full rest for at least 2 months. He was not allowed to be back at work up until he fully recovered.

"I have just come back today." Neville answered, "And I am feeling completely fit now."

Hermione nodded. "I am happy that you're all right, Neville." She said with a genuine smile.

"I am just glad that Harry has stopped blaming himself." Neville said. "After I woke up at St. Mungo, Harry just kept apologizing for what happened. He'd been a right mess. No matter how many times I told him that it's not his fault, he just won't listen to me." He finished with a sigh.

"I understand what you mean. But you know how Harry is. He always blames himself for every bad thing that happens in the life of his loved ones." Hermione said with a faraway look in her eyes, remembering the days of war.

Neville squeezed her hand. "But he looked very happy this morning. And if I am not wrong a certain Ms. Granger is the reason behind it." He said in an amused voice, as he looked at Hermione with a knowing look in his eyes.

Hermione blushed furiously at what Neville said. She smiled shyly at him. "I hope so." She whispered.

Hermione opened her mouth to ask Neville where Harry was, when with a clang, lift opened and Harry stepped out, followed by Ginny Weasley.

Hermione forgot whatever she was about to say, as she just stared at Harry and Ginny with a petrified look on her face.

Harry saw Neville and Hermione standing at the entrance of the department, as Ginny came and stood next to him.

Hermione felt a surge of uncertainty coursing through her veins as she looked at Ginny and Harry. They looked so good together. She hadn't expected to see Ginny there; she wasn't prepared to deal with the redhead girl right now. She was panicking; she had to control herself before she fell apart right in front of the Ginny and Harry.

"Hi Harry, Ginny," Hermione said trying to keep her voice under control.

"Hi Hermione," Ginny replied with a forced smile, looking uncomfortable.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Harry asked looking surprised, coming over to her.

Hermione could detect a hint of tension in his posture. "Just wanted to surprise you," She replied with a shrug.

`Instead you just gave me a shock.' She thought laughing humorlessly in her mind.

"I thought we could have lunch together." She spoke again.

"Sure," Harry replied. Hermione simply nodded and looked at the reason of all the insecurities that were hitting her mind like a precarious tornado.

"Ginny, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked, trying to sound curious, instead of bitter.

Ginny looked flustered under Hermione's gaze.

"I had some work in the transportation department. While going back, I just ran into Harry. He told me that Neville was back, so I came along with him to meet Neville." Ginny answered, managing to keep nervousness out of her voice.

As Ginny talked to Neville, Hermione couldn't help but wonder that if that was the real reason Ginny came along with Harry to the Auror's department. She refrained from asking nevertheless. She knew why Ginny came with Harry, but she didn't want to think about that at the moment.

"Would both of you like to join us for the lunch?" Hermione asked out of courtesy looking at Neville and Ginny, surprising herself, as well as Harry and Ginny.

"Why not?" Neville said in a cheerful voice, unaware of the tension between other three people. Ginny simply nodded with a forced smile, agreeing with Neville. They decided to go to a muggle restaurant, which wasn't very far from the telephone booth that was used for entering into the Ministry.

Four of them were sitting in an open restaurant. While eating their lunch they chatted about their school days and their current jobs. Time passed very quickly and soon it was time for Harry and Neville to leave.

"Well, we better get going." Neville said looking at his watch.

"But there's still 20 minutes left before lunch hour gets over." Hermione said.

"Yeah, but we have to report back early." Harry said looking at Hermione with an apologetic smile, as he stood up along with Neville.

Hermione felt sad. She looked at Harry and tried to smile, which faltered in the next moment. She didn't know what to think. She couldn't help but worry about him. She stood up and hugged him tightly, forgetting both Neville and Ginny for a moment. Harry hugged her back. Pulling back slightly (though not letting go completely), he kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful." Harry said gently, recognizing Hermione's apprehension.

Incapable of saying anything Hermione simply nodded. She pulled back from him.

"You better come back in one piece, Harry Potter." Hermione chided good-naturedly.

"Yes mam," Harry said in a dramatic voice, giving a mock salute to Hermione.

Hermione just laughed at his antics.

She stepped closer to him. "I'll be waiting for you." She whispered in a heartfelt voice.

Harry kissed her forehead, looked into her eyes and said, "I know."

He turned to look at Neville who was trying his best to look anywhere but at the couple sharing an intimate moment in front of him.

"Let's go Neville." Harry said amusedly, looking at a blushing Neville.

Neville looked at him with wide eyes. "Yeah, let's go." He said in a rushed voice.

Harry looked at Ginny who was still sitting in her chair looking very uncomfortable.

"Bye Ginny," He said.

Ginny looked at him and stood up. "All the best, Harry, I know it's your first mission as a fully trained Auror and I am sure you'll do well." She said with a genuine smile, and hugged Harry, that made Hermione wanting to hex redhead girl into the next millennium.

Hermione felt extremely angry at Ginny's daring gesture, but controlled her anger. She knew Harry was already feeling perturbed with the whole situation and she didn't want to make it worse.

Hermione and Ginny watched Harry and Neville walking towards an empty alley next to the restaurant where they ate, to apparate back to the Ministry.

"Would you like to sit with me for next 20 minutes?" Hermione asked, turning her eyes to look at her redhead friend.

Ginny looked at Hermione with a sense of wariness in her eyes.

"Sure. I don't have anything else to do for next two hours." She said, agreeing with Hermione's offer against her better judgment. They both sat back down on the chairs they were occupying earlier, which happened to be in front of each other.

Hermione's mind was swirling with various unwanted thoughts right now. She felt her anger rising at the mere sight of Ginny. Who the hell she was? What right Ginny had to interrupt in Harry's life when he is happy with her? Is he? Of course, he is; he's always smiling these days. Did Ginny really think that she could take him away from her? Did she still hold that much effect on Harry? Will Harry leave her for Ginny, if Ginny told him that she wanted him back?

Hermione shook her head to clear her mind of wounding thoughts, but she could still feel her anger bubbling just under the surface.

"What were you doing at the Ministry, Ginny?" Hermione asked in a cold voice.

Ginny who was looking around her in an attempt to avoid Hermione's eyes heard her voice. Her eyes snapped towards Hermione's face that was looking back at her emotionlessly.

"I…I have already told you about that." Ginny said trying to sound calm, even though every nerve in her body was fluttering with nervousness and anxiety.

She had come to the Ministry to meet Harry. Since, she had broken up with Roger, her heart once again desired to reach her childhood fantasy. She was once again feeling like 11 year old girl who wanted Harry Potter to notice her. But equation had changed greatly since then. Now she was not the young girl with a huge crush on boy-who-lived. She was grown woman now. And Harry was not single. Moreover, he was in a relationship with his best friend, that he had always been very close with.

"Let us not play these games, Ginny." Hermione said in a cold voice.

"What do you mean by that?" Ginny asked guardedly.

Hermione leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on the table.

"Just stay away from Harry." She said in a low voice so that only Ginny would hear her. After saying that, Hermione got up from her chair to leave. She didn't want to spend a single moment in the company of Ginny. However, before she could leave, Ginny spoke.

"And what if Harry doesn't want to stay away from me?" She asked standing up and looking straight into Hermione's eyes.

Hermione felt as though if a hand was squeezing her heart tightly as she heard her deepest fears coming out of Ginny's mouth. She straightened herself, trying to infuse some confidence in her voice and posture.

"Harry's with me now. He loves me, and sooner you understand this better off you will be." Hermione said glaring at Ginny.

Tears welled up in Ginny's eyes. She didn't want to believe Hermione's words. Harry had confessed his feelings for her. Those feelings just could not go away so quickly.

"What if he still loves me Hermione? Would you let him go?" She asked.

"He loves me." Hermione whispered and walked away from Ginny without looking back.

Hermione wasn't sure whom she was trying to convince with those words, Ginny or herself.

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