Sparks and Embers – Chapter Two

Author's Note: I'm sorry some of my scenes seem to suddenly switch with no warning. The decorative scene breaks that I have in my Word doc aren't translating to this site. I'm going to try something else and hope that it works. If it doesn't work, and anyone has suggestions, please let me know. Also, someone asked if this would end H/Hr. It definitely will! Thanks for reading!

Hermione reappeared in her flat, stumbled, and collapsed to her knees, finally allowing her feelings to break through the façade she'd kept up at Harry's. The wail that had been building in her chest now rose painfully through her throat. She dropped the bottles of butterbeer, covered her face with her hands and curled over, resting her forehead on the floor.

'How could she have been so stupid? How could she have let herself get carried away like this again? She must have seemed so pathetic to Stephanie, who had been obviously aware of Hermione's feelings.'

Horrible sobs began to escape her lips, racking her body, but she reached for her wand and managed to perform a silencing charm on the room. Another thought slammed into her consciousness, causing a sharp intake of air.

'What if Harry, knowing that she had been upset about something, followed her here?'

She couldn't, no, wouldn't let him see her like this.

Hermione stood quickly, her chest still heaving, and hurriedly wiped her eyes on her sleeve. She could feel herself growing dizzy with her erratic breathing, but made a hasty decision to Apparate to Ron's empty flat. When she got there, though, she almost immediately realized that this was the second place Harry would look.

'Ginny's?' She wondered, pacing back and forth within a small space, holding her aching head. 'No, he would check there next.'

Making a split-second decision, Hermione disappeared again.

ooooooo

"Well…" Harry began disquietly, pausing for one more glance toward his entryway. "Ready to go to dinner?"

"More than," Stephanie replied, keeping her voice bright, trying to lighten the mood. "Seems like ages since lunch. I'm starved."

Harry held out his hand, and Stephanie slid her fingers in between his.

They Apparated to a narrow alley just off Haymarket, and walked the rest of the way to Galileo's. Harry and Stephanie had discovered that they shared a liking for Italian food, and Galileo's was a place that Stephanie had enjoyed for some time.

They were soon seated by one of the windows and each was looking at their menu, trying to decide what to eat.

Harry wished his stomach wasn't in such a knot. All he could see was the look in Hermione's eyes, and he had a very uncomfortable feeling that he had somehow caused it. Although he couldn't imagine what he'd—

"Harry?" Stephanie's voice broke through his thoughts. "I don't think you've heard a word I've said."

Harry tensed just a bit, embarrassed. "Oh, sorry. What were you saying?"

"I asked if you'd ever seen Phantom?" She gestured toward Her Majesty's Theater, where a steady stream of theater goers was adding to the queue to purchase tickets.

"Yes, actually, but it's been about a year," Harry answered, trying to give his full attention to this conversation.

"What did you think?"

Harry shrugged. "I thought it was very well done." He tried to push aside his memory of Hermione clutching at this arm when the phantom's voice ghosted eerily from different parts of the theater. And how she'd buried her face in his shoulder when Christine had been kidnapped from her dressing room.

"Well done?" Stephanie raised an eyebrow, surprised that had been the extent of Harry's reaction to the lavish production.

"Well, yes…I enjoyed it." Harry replied, still distracted no matter how hard he tried to concentrate on the conversation at hand. "So, have you seen it?"

"Mmmhmm." Stephanie studied Harry's expression covertly. It was obvious to her that he was still thinking about what had happened in his flat, and she was determined to put his mind back on her and their date.

"What did you think of it?" Harry asked, trying to sound interested.

Stephanie was pleased that he had asked. "I thought it was a lovely show, but I took my niece with me, and I think she was a bit young for it," Stephanie smiled at her memory. "She was a bit clingy most of the way through."

Harry nodded. "I had a similar experience."

"Really?" Stephanie asked. "Were you with someone too young for the scarier parts?"

Harry smiled. "Er, no. I went with Hermione and she got a bit spooked during some of the scenes. I think I lost circulation in my arm several times, she was holding on so tight."

Stephanie forced a laugh. 'Great. Way to keep things focused on Hermione,' she mentally chided herself, but then replied, "It can be rather creepy in parts."

They ordered their entrees, then sat quietly as they munched on the bread that the waiter had brought to their table. Harry's silence made Stephanie feel even more uneasy. She had always heard rumors regarding Harry and Hermione's relationship and was well aware of the history they shared from their school days—who wasn't, as it was common knowledge in the Wizarding World? She'd even been warned by a well-meaning co-worker that she was fighting a losing battle if she planned on winning Harry's heart.

'Well, he's here with me now. If he has such strong feelings for Hermione, then why aren't they together?'

But the longer Stephanie watched Harry, and worked to negotiate around the long silences in their conversation, she grew increasingly sure that the rumors were true, whether or not the best friends were aware of their feelings.

Whether or not Harry was aware, anyway. Stephanie was pretty sure that Hermione knew how she felt about Harry.

Stephanie looked at him from under her lashes as she took a bite of gnocchi. He was obviously worried, his mind still on the recent events that had unfolded in his flat.

Still looking at Harry, Stephanie couldn't help but want to hex Hermione. Harry was such a great guy. Handsome, well-mannered, kind, generous…and a fabulous kisser. Stephanie had wanted to see what else the great Harry Potter was fabulous at doing, but it was still early in their relationship, and he hadn't shown any overt interest in taking things that far yet.

Harry picked at his food. The bites he'd tried to swallow earlier had seemed too bulky for his throat.

Questions spun through his mind, making him even more uncomfortable. 'What had Hermione so upset? Where'd she gone? Why hadn't he just excused himself from this date and gone to check on her?'

Harry put his fork down on his plate, folded his napkin, and slumped slightly in his chair. He knew he wasn'tbeing good company for Stephanie, and although he felt badly about it, he couldn't seem to wrench his mind from his best friend.

Stephanie took note of Harry's giving up on his dinner and thought long and hard for a moment. She didn't expect for Harry to put her before his best friend at this stage of their relationship, but Stephanie knew that if Harry ever figured out what Hermione likely felt for him...

"Would you like to leave?" Stephanie asked hesitantly, hoping with all her heart that Harry would say no.

After a long moment, Harry looked apologetically at Stephanie and nodded. "I think I need to check on Hermione."

Stephanie sighed inwardly, but put on a brave smile as Harry paid the bill and they went back to his flat.

He stood for just a bit, running a hand along the fireplace mantle, his eyes lingering on a picture of Hermione and him just after they'd completed Auror training. Then his gaze shifted to where Hermione had last stood.

"I know she's been working hard for quite a while, and she's tired—that's obvious. I just can't figure out what's got her upset. She seemed to be having success with her research when we talked at lunch. Maybe she's had a hard day?" He looked at Stephanie as though wanting confirmation of his thoughts.

Stephanie remained silent for a moment, struggling internally. She didn't want to have this conversation with Harry. Everything in her wanted to shrug and agree with what Harry had just said. But in the end, even though she knew what it would cost, her conscience won out.

Putting her hand gently on Harry's arm, Stephanie began, "I don't think she was upset because she'd had a hard day."

Harry gave her a questioning look.

"Couldn't you see it?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"See what?"

"Harry, didn't you see her eyes?"

"Well, yes…I could tell she wasn't feeling well but—"

"For an Auror, you're missing something important," Stephanie shook her head with a rueful smile. "Hermione wasn't feeling unwell, and she wasn't upset because of a hard workday. That was pain in her eyes."

"Pain?" Harry tensed and wheeled round toward the entryway. "I need to go to her, then. If someone's hurt her—"

"Someone has…you."

"Me?" Harry turned to stare at Stephanie. "What in the world are you talking about?" But something inside him knew that she was right, even though he still didn't know what he'd done.

"The last thing she was expecting tonight was to find you with another woman."

"Well, I could tell she was surprised, but—"

"Can you not see how she feels about you?" Stephanie fought the urge to let the exasperation show in her voice.

"What d'you mean?" Harry said, flummoxed.

Stephanie sighed resignedly. "I think she loves you."

He smiled, and started to interrupt with, "Of course, she's my be-", but Stephanie silenced him with, "And not as your best friend. She's in love with you."

"In love with me…" Harry stood stock still for a moment, and then sat heavily on the sofa. He felt the cushions shift as Stephanie sat down beside him, and he turned to her.

"From where I was standing, it was fairly obvious, and I'm surprised you haven't been able to see it." Stephanie smiled wryly, then continued, "I really like you, and I'd be happy to continue this relationship with you and see where it takes us. But even though I would, I want you to talk with Hermione. I know from the way you've spoken about her that your relationship is far too important not to talk about this. She's a huge part of your life. Frankly, I've wondered in the past weeks just how important, given the way you act when you talk about her."

Harry nodded, unable to reply.

"Harry, just go."

"I really—"

"Please go, it's all right."

He stood quickly, compelled to see if Stephanie was right. He turned, clasped her hand quickly, and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.

"Thanks," he said breathlessly. "I guess I'm going, then. Can you get home all right?"

Stephanie nodded. "Go."

Harry hesitated but after one last nervous look at Stephanie, disappeared.

"You owe me, Hermione Granger. Damn it, you really owe me," Stephanie whispered as she looked around Harry's flat for what she knew would be the last time.

ooooooo

"Hermione?!" Harry called as he hurried through her flat, pausing only long enough to glance into each room that he passed.

"Damn it, where could she be?"

Harry knew she had been there. He had seen the two unopened bottles of butterbeer lying haphazardly on the floor of her reception room. Hermione wouldn't have just left them there like that unless something was very wrong. Harry's stomach began to feel like a squeezed-out tube of toothpaste.

A thought jumped into his head, 'Ron's!', and he Apparated.

He went through the same thing in Ron's flat, but no Hermione. He could tell she'd been there too, though. Her scent still lingered in the air in Ron's entryway.

'Where is she?' he thought desperately, as he paced back and forth.

The only other place he could think of was Neville and Ginny's, but he wasn't about to just appear unexpectedly in the newlyweds' home. Harry strode quickly over to the fireplace, retrieved the jar of Floo powder, and knelt in front of the firebox. He stuck his head in the green flames, and shouted, "Havenhill!", making sure to keep his eyes closed until Ginny answered his call.

"Neville, it's Harry," Ginny said, and he could hear her footsteps coming to the hearth.

"Hermione—have you seen her?" He interrupted as he opened his eyes. Ginny's expression became worried as she heard the tone of Harry's voice and saw the look on his face.

"I saw her at the Ministry today just as she was leaving," Ginny replied quickly. "I walked with her down to your office because she wanted to give you the news that she'd finished her work on some case that you're heading up. She said she might pop over to see you, though."

"She did."

"Well, then what's happened?" Ginny asked, growing more worried.

Harry was silent for a moment, but then answered, "I don't think she was expecting me to have company."

"What do you mean, 'have company'?" Ginny asked warily, raising her eyebrows.

"Well, she kind of walked in on me and another woman." Harry's eyes darted away for a moment, but then returned to Ginny's. "We were…kissing."

"Oh, no…" Ginny breathed, her eyes going wide.

He could see knowledge in Ginny's eyes, and felt even more frustrated.

"You knew?" he demanded, his eyes flashing.

Ginny tried to remain calm and regain control of her facial expression. "I'm not going to discuss Hermione's feelings with you—you need to talk with her."

"Why do you think I'm trying to find her," Harry ground out, not at all pleased with Ginny's response.

"You've been to her flat?"

Harry nodded dejectedly. "I'm at Ron's now, and she's not in either place. Any ideas?"

Ginny thought for a moment. "The only other place I can think of is my parents' house. If you'll get off the Network, I'll check and get right back to you, all right?"

"Thanks, Ginny." Harry said, then drew back from the firebox. He sank heavily down on the hearthrug to wait as thoughts surged through his mind. Hermione…in love with him. Oh, God...how had he been so stupid?

His face dropped into his hands.