RUNNING TO HOME
Chapter 2: As The Years Roll By
It had been four years since that faithful day Harry and Hermione had arrived in Australia and had decided not to return to England. Much had happened since then. Harry and Hermione moved into a rented flat near the local university, where they enrolled for criminology and midwifery courses respectively.
During the course of the classes the couple attended, they made many friends, but only a few really close ones. However, they never revealed their most important secret, even to these close friends. They used magic sparingly, as they didn't know if the English wizards were still looking for them as they had when they first disappeared.
Harry and Hermione regularly saw Reegan and Taylor and talked to them on the phone everyday. The pair was close to the only people who knew really them. After Reegan and Taylor had accepted Harry into the family, Harry had started to treat them like the parents he never knew and they treated him like their own son and they referred to him as such. Hermione's parents were always there for the important events in couple's lives. And today was no exception.
Today was the day that Harry and Hermione were to graduate from their courses. It was a hectic morning with Harry and Hermione running around trying to get ready for graduation. Hermione's parents had come over early in the morning to assist the couple to get ready. Taylor was with Hermione helping her to do her hair, and Reegan was with Harry.
Reegan was surprised to see that Harry was already dressed and not in need of assistance, and though Harry's hair was its usual mess, but he knew that there was no hope of trying to tame the bird's nest. For some reason, Harry appeared more nervous than what he normally was for events like this.
"Son, what's wrong?" Reegan asked him in a fatherly tone.
"Dad, can I ask you something?" Harry asked Reegan.
"You know you always can." Reegan told Harry, sensing that it was something important to him.
"I want to ask for Hermione's hand in marriage." Harry said softly.
Reegan looked at Harry for a moment before he spoke again. "Son, did you forget the conversation we have the day you arrived here four years ago?"
"Which part?" Harry asked him curiously.
"The part where I said that I would have agreed to let Hermione marry you at the time, even though you were so young and had only dated for two days." Reegan reminded Harry.
"Yes, I do." Harry told him as he remembered the day that led them to be standing here today.
"Well, if I approved then, what makes you think that I wouldn't now?" He asked.
"I… I… I honestly don't know, but I just wanted to ask. I wanted it to be done properly." Harry said softly.
"I understand, Harry. You have my permission. When are you planning to ask her?" Hermione's father asked.
"Right after graduation. I'm going to ask her in front of some of our friends and you at the after party." Harry told him.
"Good. Well, again, welcome to the family son. Now let's go or we'll be late and you'll be on the couch for the first day of your engagement and that won't be very good for you." Reegan told him.
"You're right, let's go." Harry said walking towards the door. However, Reegan's voice stopped him before he opened the door.
"Just make sure you have the ring, son."
"It's in my pocket." Harry responded, before continuing to walk out of the room, closely followed by Reegan.
"We're ready." Harry told Hermione and Taylor as he walked into the lounge room. He looked at Hermione and his breath caught in his throat. Even after four years, she still did this to him. "Mione, you look absolutely beautiful."
Hermione was wearing an emerald green Chinese styled dress with silver high heels. Her hair had been put up into a bun with a pair of black chopsticks. She wore little makeup, which complimented all her facial features and natural beauty perfectly.
"Thank you, Harry. And you look very handsome." Harry was wearing a black Armani suit and black shoes, accompanied by a green shirt.
"Right, everyone in the car now or we will be late." Taylor told the others, using her hands to shoo them out the door and into the awaiting car. A fifteen-minute drive had them situated at the entrance to the University. A parking spot was found and the four occupants of the car stepped out and made their way to the University hall.
The Hall was divided into two sections. There was a side for the audience and a side for the graduates. There was a stage at the front of the hall with beautiful floral arrangements situated in big blue pots in front of the stage.
"Right, good luck you two and we'll see you after the ceremony." Taylor told the two, giving them both a hug and a kiss before going to take a seat in the audience. Reegan also bid the couple farewell, before taking his seat next to his wife.
It was a twenty-minute wait before somebody appeared on stage. The person asked those in attendance to stand for the Official Party, so that the ceremony could begin. After the Official Party had entered the room and made their way to the stage, a woman with an aged face appeared at the dais and began to speak.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Beatrice Price and I'm the chosen representative for the graduating classes of Midwifery and Criminology. Through the course of the last four years, many a thing has been asked of these graduates in front of me. I won't go into to much detail, but some of these things included practical assessments and the all important theory assessments that accompanied every part of these graduates' courses. I'm proud to look down at these people before me and say that they passed all the course requirements and they are now certified University graduates. When I call your name please come to the stage and collect your certificates. If applause could be held to the end, as we have a lot of people graduating today, it would be much appreciated."
It was some time before Harry and Hermione had received their certificates. Once the ceremony had finished, Harry and Hermione made their way over to Reegan and Taylor. By the time they had reached them, their close friends had already reached Hermione's parents.
There was Harry's best friend, Miguel Sanchez, a twenty-three year old Spanish born and bred male. He was the typical tall, dark and handsome man that every girl dreamed of. He stood at roughly at about six feet and three inches, was muscular, but not to the extent that he looked like he was on steroids, had dark hair and eyes, mysterious features and was very fit. Miguel was graduating the same course as Harry.
Hermione's best friend was also there. Her name was Elena Banderas. She was also Spanish. She had long dark hair and eyes, fine features and was well built, which was contributed to the fact that she was on the University girl's soccer team. She was also Miguel's girlfriend of two years. Elena was graduating the same course as Hermione. The couple had meet through Harry and Hermione about three years ago and had started dating a year later.
"Well, to celebrate, how about the six of us go out to lunch?" Harry proposed to the group. "My treat." The group quickly agreed, knowing that it was useless to protest at the Harry's announcement of paying for all of them as he always won in the end anyway.
Harry rounded everyone up into the car and got into the drive's seat, having got his license with Hermione the previous year. A fifteen minute drive later, they were at a very classy Italian restaurant. Harry walked up to the front counter and said, "Potter, table for six."
The woman at the counter checked the reservation list and nodded to Harry and the others. "Right this way please." The lady said as she walked over to a table with enough spots to fit them all.
"You planned this." Hermione accused Harry.
"That I did, my dear." He told her with a grin, as he sat across from her.
A waiter came and gave them all a menu before taking drink orders.
"I know everyone here drinks white wine, so I'll have the best white wine in the house please." Harry told the waiter. The waiter nodded before going to fill Harry's order.
Five minutes later, the
waiter returned with the requested wine. He filled all six glasses
and handed them to the occupants of the table, before retreating.
"Now," Harry began. "There was something more than just
celebrating graduation that led me to choose this restaurant for
lunch. There was something that I wanted to ask Hermione." Harry
said as he stood up. Harry took Hermione's hand and asked her to
stand also. He pulled out the ring box from his pocket and opened it
as he bent down on one knee.
"My dearest Hermione," He began, "The day we arrived here four years ago, I told you that I would have married you right then and there. You are the only one that has always been there for me and for that, I am grateful. I can only hope that you will do one more thing for me and so I must ask you, will you marry me?"
The minute Harry had knelt down, the whole restaurant went quite. All the occupants were listening intensely at his speech and waited for an answer.
Hermione was looking at Harry in shock. After a minute, she started to give her answer. "Harry, we've known each other for eleven years and have dated for four. I love you. My answer is yes." She told him with tears in her eyes.
Harry slipped the ring onto her finger and stood. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. The whole restaurant filled with applause for the newly engaged couple. Harry and Hermione broke the kiss and turned to their friends and family. The four already had glasses in hand, toasting the couple. Congratulations were given and the other two females fawned over the ring, which was a 14k Yellow Gold Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring with ancient runes engraved on the inside. Harry had told her that it was his great-grandmother's engagement ring passed down to his grandmother and then his mother.
After lunch, the six went back to Harry and Hermione's home and celebrated well into the night.
It had been a hectic few months, but it was the happiest that Harry and Hermione had ever been. Harry had immediately been recruited for the Wollongong Police Department and the Wollongong Hospital Maternity Ward had taken Hermione. They had spent the last three months working and, with the help of Mrs. Granger and Elena, planned for the wedding that was to be held three months to the day that Harry had proposed. It was to be held at the Wollongong Botanical Gardens.
The day of the wedding had arrived quicker than the couple had believed it would. Mr. Granger, Harry and Miguel had organized all the decorations, with some help from the female assistance at the Gardens. Hermione had been left alone to get ready with her mother and Elena.
Elena was to be Hermione's bridesmaid, Mrs. Granger would be the Matron of Honor, Mr. Granger was to walk Hermione down the aisle and Miguel was to be Harry's best man. It was only to be a small wedding with a maximum of fifty people, most being classmates and Hermione's family who had flown in from all over the world.
At present, Hermione was in her room at home getting into her wedding dress and having her hair and make up done by the professional hairdresser that they had hired. Hermione's mother was next in line and Elena was after her. The women were all having a glass of champagne and were toasting Hermione.
At the same time, Harry, Keegan and Miguel were getting ready in a room that the Botanical Gardens Manager had supplied them with for the short amount of time that it would take for them to get dress.
Before they knew it, Hermione, Taylor and Elena were in the limo on the way to the Gardens, where Harry was standing at the end of the aisle with Miguel. Mr. Granger was waiting for the limo to arrive so that he could walk Hermione down the aisle. It wasn't a long wait before the limo pulled up and the women got out of the car.
"You all look wonderful." Mr. Granger complimented the women.
"Thank you, daddy." Hermione said with a small blush on her face.
"Are you ready, pumpkin?" He asked her.
"More than you will ever know." Hermione replied.
"Well, let's do it then." Me Granger responded as he took Hermione's arm in his.
Music filled the air as
Elena started walking down the aisle, closely followed by Taylor.
They were wearing the same soft blue dress and held a simple white
orchid.
As the reached the end of the aisle, they turned to stand
opposite Harry and Miguel. Harry was wearing a traditional tuxedo
with a green shirt in place of a white one and Miguel was wearing a
tuxedo with the same blue that Elena and Taylor were wearing.
The music changed to the bridal march as Hermione and her father started up the aisle. Reegan was wearing the same tuxedo and shirt that Miguel was wearing. Hermione was wearing a stunning sleeveless gown that flowed out from under the chest and trailed along at the back a little. A beautiful silver tiara held Hermione's hair up in a bun. She wore minimal make up, but it was clearly professional done. Hermione's bouquet was made up of lilies surrounding an orchid.
As Hermione and her father reached the end of the aisle, Harry walked up to them with a smile on his face. Hermione's father gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek before giving her hand to Harry. The couple walked the short distance to where the celebrant was pointing to as the celebrant began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining together of two souls. Harry and Hermione have each chosen to recite their own vows. Harry will you recite your vows to Hermione, please." The celebrant said as she began the ceremony.
Harry took both of Hermione's hands into his as he began to recite his vows. "My dearest Hermione, not a day goes by that I don't thank God for having you in my life. You are my best friend, my lover, and my soul mate. You are the rock that I cling to when times get hard. The moment I met you was the luckiest day of my life. You are the only one that has been there for me through all the trouble I seemed to get into. But I still swear that I didn't go looking for trouble, it always came looking for me." Harry paused and waited for the soft laughs to stop. "You are the only one I know I can count on. I have loved you since the first moment I met you and I will continue to love you for all eternity."
"Hermione, please recite you vows to Harry." Said the celebrant.
"Harry, you are my life. I knew the moment we met that we would have something that would last a lifetime. There have been times when you tried to push me away, but I stood strong and never gave up on you. I stand here before you today and I forget all the bad things that have happened to us and I remember all the good. As I am your rock, you are mine. I know that when trouble finds me, you will always be there for me. I love you and will continue to do so for all eternity."
By the time Harry and Hermione had finished saying their vows, there was not a dry eye in the house. Even the men had tears in their eyes. No one had heard more meaningful vows before, including the celebrant.
"Harry, now take Hermione's left hand and place the ring on her finger and repeat after me. With this ring I, Harry James Potter, take you, Hermione Jane Granger, to be my lawfully wedded wife." The celebrant said.
Harry repeated the vows as he slipped the ring on Hermione's finger.
"Hermione, take Harry's left hand and place the ring on his finger and repeat after me. With this ring I, Hermione Jane Granger, take you, Harry James Potter to be my lawfully wedded husband."
Hermione repeated the vows as she slipped the ring on Harry's finger.
"Harry and Hermione have pledged their love for one another before all of you this day. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Harry you may now kiss your bride."
Applause and cheers were heard through the gardens as Harry cupped Hermione's face with his hand and kissed her for the first time as man and wife.
The reception was held in a tent that was not to far from the place were Harry and Hermione were wed. The couple danced their first dance to a song called "Everything I do, I do It For You' by Clay Aiken. The best man as well as Reegan and Taylor, who gave a combined speech, made the speeches. The photographers made the night more special. They had filmed the whole wedding and had played it on a big screen for everyone to see. Before long it was time for Harry and Hermione to leave for their honeymoon.
Harry and Hermione both made the decision to honeymoon for four months in Italy and had asked for the time off from their jobs. It wasn't long before they were on the plane that would take them to Italy. After a long flight, the plane touched down in Rome just after the sun had set. The newly wedded couple exited the plane, collected their luggage and took a taxi to their hotel 'Roma di casa', which meant 'House of Rome. This was the most expensive hotel in the area, and rightly so. The building itself was exquisite.
The couple barley made it through their door before their hands were all over each other. This would be the first time that either of them had made love. They had promised to wait till they got married, so that it would be more special for both of them. (A/N: I'm going to leave it up to you to imagine what they do next.)
Over the course of the next four months, Harry and Hermione visited every famous landmark that the country held. They even spent time in the Otzal Alps where Otzi the Iceman was found in 1991. However, the honeymoon was almost ruined when Hermione started to get sick. She felt nauseated every morning, tired and her appetite had increased. The pair was worried and went to see a doctor at the hospital in Venice.
The doctor conducted some routine tests, including blood and urine samples and informed the pair that it would be about a week before the tests came back. The couple was forced to extend their stay until they got the news. It was the longest week of their lives. Time just seemed to stand still. That was until they received the phone call from the doctor informing them that the test results had arrived.
Harry and Hermione left for the hospital straight after the phone call. It was a five-minute wait before they were called in to see the doctor.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I have some good news for you. Mrs. Potter's tests have come back positive for pregnancy. Congratulations, you are going to have a baby." The doctor informed them with a smile on his face. "When you return to Australia, you will have to make an appointment with an OBGYN so that you can get regular check ups."
"Wow. A baby. We are going to have a baby." Harry said.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize the signs." Hermione said. "I'm a midwife; I deal with this on a daily basis. Why couldn't I tell?" Hermione said to herself.
"I think it is the fact that you were more focused on the things that you could have caught from traveling overseas, rather than looking at something as simple as being pregnant. Don't be worried, I see a lot of first time mothers that don't consider the fact that they might be pregnant." The doctor told Hermione. "Well, congratulations again and good luck."
The couple recognized the dismissal and left the office. The minute they got out the office, Harry surprised Hermione by kissing her.
"I can't believe we're having a baby. I'm so happy." Harry told her.
"I know. I'm happy, too. I can't wait to tell mum and dad. They are going to be thrilled." Hermione said to Harry.
"Well, let's get you back to the hotel then, shall we? You can call your parents right away." Harry told her.
"Oh no, the protectiveness has already started. Please God, save me." Hermione groaned.
"Oh yes." Harry replied. "Now you better run because I'm going to get you for that comment."
Hermione took the hint as Harry started after her. The couple received many smiles and shakes of the head for their behavior, but they paid them no heed, as their attention was only on one another. This would be the start of many good memories for the pair, but the future also held troubled times for them.
