The sun didn't wake them until when it finally had the force to break through the clouds that were overshadowing London, it was past eleven o'clock. Hermione felt rested but petrified at first, she grew aware of the body that was pressed against her and the arm draped protectively around waist. While the shock of surprise ebbed away, her heart resumed at regular pace. She tried to close the little space that was between them, snuggling more into his safe arms. When the clock turned and noon came by she slowly turned around, rousing Harry by soft tickling in his side?
"Harry….Harry wake up." Hermione gently roused him.
"W-what time is it?"
"Almost noon"
"Do we have to…it feels good….euhm the bed..With…euhm you." He mumbled timidly. Hermione smiled at the sweet words.
"As much as I like it too, we have things to do, don't we?"
"Just a few things I think," He clarified, "Maybe we should begin with you…I…us." He was sometimes so clumsy with words.
They both got confortable again, looking at each other.
"Iwanto…" They laughed; speaking at the same time wouldn't make good conversation. Hermione gestured that he really should start.
"I….I I think I was shocked and I'm sorry that I probably ruined everything for you." Yesterday was a shocker but he hadn't really thought about the entire thing he should have asked, the day had been long and tiresome. He looked up to Hermione.
"I feared confronting you with this for almost four months, scared that you wouldn't come back or having second thoughts if you would hear that I was pregnant."
"Hermione, I think this is maybe the most important thing…I….," he realized he was jumping to conclusions he shouldn't yet jump to, "Do you want to keep it….I-I would pay if-if you don't want too. I won't be mad or anything." That took all his courage and could possible ruin everything altogether. He could image her bad reaction to his proposition already. He braced himself for a frontal attack from Hermione.
"I think it's a bit late for that now Harry and I would keep it anyway. You could say I'm attached to it." She smiled, "but thanks for the consideration."
"Maybe I should have asked you first a few other things. It felt insensitive didn't it, I…, I didn't even ask when you notice. How far are you along? Have you already made an appointment with a doctor? Why didn't you contact me directly? Have you thought about names?" his questions seemed to keep coming at a fast pace, Hermione almost didn't get the time the register all of them.
"I noticed second week after my period didn't come and I started having morning sickness. I think that I'm four months along now, give or take a week. I've been to a Muggle doctor so that it wouldn't become a media target, and as for contacting you, you made the world safer. I can't live with the guilt that someone would die because I stole you from what you deemed your goal. Last but not least, I've thought about names but I'm not settled on one of them."
"Promise me that next time you think something like that, that you will ignore it and tell me."
"Alright Harry I promise." She sighed, "What are we going to do now, you know….having a baby, and we're not engaged or know how to take care of a baby. People will talk bad about you and the child, I can't even think about what people will call it." She cried into his embrace. Every future she had already envisioned for them was a horrible future; however nothing is set in stone so it was really only a large question.
"It's alright Hermione; let's just take it a step at a time. I know one thing, the child might have been a so-called accident but I'm not going to treat it like an accident. We'll do great at parenting, how can we fail? I've got the best mom, sitting right next to me and who probably knows about everything there is to know about babies already from her books. "
"You're probably way to optimistic but we will try our best" He pulled her closer for a nice long kiss on the lips, before he moved over to her jaw. He continued down to her neck were he kept sucking slightly resulting in a hickey.
"I still feel guilty however, " he said while returning to look her in the eyes, "what about you….I mean you wanted to learn and everything before marrying and having children like you told me."
"We can't well change what happened now can we? Maybe it was just my excuse to get away from Ron; I don't know any more Harry. Maybe after we've had him or her and if not, I still got my books."
"And you'll have one other thing…me" He smiled before capturing her lips softly, lowering himself to her, shifting his weight slightly as to not have too much weight pushing on her. His little kiss became a passionate battle between them, only breaking contact for some air. Only then Hermione stopped him slowly.
"You do know what happened last time…maybe we should wait a bit before doing that again." Harry sat back, breathing heavily as was Hermione off course. He nodded; maybe it was best to wait before jumping into bed with one another again without a thought, even if she couldn't get any more pregnant than she already was.
"Llet's get up, it's already far too late" Harry released his grip on her so she could get up, when she calmed down from his kissing she disappeared out of the room. Harry summoned Kreacher, asking the elf to prepare a light meal. Harry quickly pulled on his latest set of wizard robes before heading down.
Hermione came along ten minutes later dressed in a baggy sweater and t-shirt; she looked as if she ran away out of the eighties. It looked as if she wasn't concerned about anything for a moment, just little happy Hermione Harry thought and God, she looked beautiful.
"Sorry, I kept you from eating didn't I?"
"Don't be", He grinned, "it was worth the wait."
They ate their scrambled eggs in a confortable silence. They were just about to drink their tea when Harry cleared his throat.
"Could you move to the living room with me? …I have some things I want to show you. I would really love to have you with me as it probably will concern you too" he said remembering the earlier situation. Hermione nodded and took the tea with her. Harry came along after he had quickly cleared the table.
"What is it you want to show me?"
"I went to the bank, had some vaults merged and well I took some things with me….things that….well belonged to….." he mumbled not getting all his words out. Hermione looked at him with compassion, when concerning his parents he always had difficulty talking about it. Harry pulled out a bag and searched for the portraits, those seem to be awfully quiet when he pulled them out.
"I found these in the vault ….I would like you to….present you to….my pa …parents." He said as he enlarged the pictures and turned them around. Hermione was quit shocked. James and Lily had portraits made and enchanted, could it possibly be that they knew all along they would die eventually? Why didn't Dumbledore know of the paintings she questioned herself.
"Hello everybody" the man in the portrait said as he looked to Hermione. Harry kept them floating and came around to see them to.
"Mum…Dad…I like…you…to…meet Hermione." The image even just a painting was hard to bare. If he had only known sooner it would maybe been easier, Dumbledore could have explained some things to them too.
"Hello dear" his mother welcomed Hermione.
"Uhm… hello… Mrs. Potter."
"Please call us Lily and James. Hermione and hello son… it feels so good to be able to say that again after seventeen year."
"I take it we were killed in the house?" James enquired.
"Yes, Voldemort himself sough to your dead." Harry answered.
"Did the protective measures work? The old magic, did it work?" Lily asked again. Hermione as well as Harry stood stunned, had it been done intentionally? Dumbledore always said it was a sacrifice that led to unintentional ancient magic.
"You did it on purpose to protect Harry, not just by accident like Dumbledore explained to us?" Hermione was surprised woth these facts.
"Of course we did, we wouldn't be able to stop him, we knew that, so restraining Voldemort was all we could come up with and hope for. That's why I would die first that was the plan." James answered. Harry struggled to keep his tears from flowing as the painting of his father spoke.
"But please darlings can we go on to more pleasant subjects?" Lily forced, talking about one's death is hard, talking about your own was even harder at least that's what Hermione was thinking and concluding afterwards.
"You quit a man now Harry." His father remarked, trying as a good Marauder to get his son to become a bit unpleasant and giving diversity to the conversation.
"Yes, mainly because Hermione here saw to it that I didn't do too many stupid things. She saved me more than once actually."
"That sounds familiar. So you and Hermione are a couple or is there someone else?" His mother questioned. Both blushing as the question was dropped in their midst. They hadn't thought about it, everything had come naturally so neither had bothered for confirmation. They were both looking intensely at on another, asking if one of them should tell.
"Actually No, not at the moment…." the gears in his head began moving at top speed, not at the moment, did she really say that, could she possibly be in love with him. Having a baby was one things but being in love was another. People who have conceived a child aren't exactly in love always. "….we're really good friends, I took my leave from my boyfriend a few months back and Harry is the only one who would house me without thinking anything about it." His mother was silent embarrassed about her question now.
"I'm sorry I didn't want to… insinuate that you where or …you look good together" she clarified.
"I won't think anything bad about it. Harry more or less had relation with Ginny but that kind of chipped off for good as well more than a year back. She kind of forced herself on him in front of the cameras a few days back which led Harry to be blunt about it, but the story is his to tell someday. I had something similar with her brother, a fight over Harry" Hermione declared already feeling not at ease about telling that much. Harry cleared his throat.
"But I think we will be soon enough acting and maybe being a couple. You see, you're going to be grandparents in a few months." James and Lily were taken aback by the news; even being portraits, they could drop the color from their faces.
"Harry, Hermione, isn't this irresponsible of you? Your still so young, you're not 'in' love with one another so why did you? You could have enjoyed your life together before getting ready for children" Both blushed furiously thanks to her words. Lilly realized what had gone on, "You forgot double protection didn't you?" Hermione was crimson by the revelation; the brightest witch of the century had probably made the biggest blunder of the century too by not thinking straight.
"Mrs Potter, we didn't really asked for this, we did something crazy one night and yes we took precautions but somehow we got it messed up, alto I was convinced that one protection was enough because it's a 100% safe method." Lily had to laugh at her response, before she clarified.
"No magic is safe with a Potter, next time I would suggest condoms and the magic spells because you'll need it that's what they suggested me when we started our relation." James grinned broadly and blushed. "If not Harry would have had many brothers and sisters.
"So you're going to get married I presume BEFORE the child is born?" James had sat quiet through the whole conversation but obviously this was important to him, Potter honor was at stake for him. Harry turned in the direction of the kitchen.
"I'll tell you our plans later dad; the wards of the fireplace in the kitchen have gone down."
Harry was already walking to the kitchen conjuring shields around him before his father could protest. But before he could enter Ron came barging into the room, barely able to avoid him.
"Bloody hells Harry, why can't we come in, we're family for bloody sake!" Ron spoke, resentment clearly audible in his voice. Harry rushed passed him directly erecting new wards around the fireplace.
"Kreacher enforce the wards, ask Dobby to help you!" The elf directly vanished, doing what he was told. Harry came back to the living room.
"We know each other Ron, for that you have to thank your mother. It was for a reason Ron, that I blocked everybody out except for Hermione. And I do think you know which reason." Harry spoke directing his attention to him. Ron ignored his responds completely as he went on. He stared intensely at Hermione before opening his mouth.
"Mom isn't happy about it nor is she happy about Hermione but she can come back now…Mon said she could." Ron pronounced reassuring himself, so it seemed.
"I got the bloody howler Ron, I'm the one who should be pissed. What Ginny did isn't something I like and in front of the cameras."
"YEAH well you vanished…AGAIN! Leaving your girlfriend crying, and in front of the press."
"SHE ISN'T MY GIRLFRIEND ANYMORE NOT SINCE DUMBLEDORES FUNERAL! IS SHE STUPID, OR ALL OR ALL OF THE WEASLEYS LIKE THAT?!" Harry yelled and before being able to open his eyes again Ron had already planted a first against his cheek.
Hermione watched it all in horror as Ron gave a second and third punch. After the third punch we was satisfied, Ron left him to regain composure. Harry whipped and swallowed the blood, before he waved his hand in Ron's direction; he immediately flew to the wall and was pinned against it. Hermione rushed to Harry trying to look at the damage Ron had conflicted to his face. Harry told her no with his head, he signaled that she should stay where she was so that Ron couldn't possible attack her, even when he was pinned to the wall.
"Hermione! DO SOMETHING, HAVE THE IDIOT RELEASE ME OR YOU'LL BE SORRY." Ron commanded here but all she could do was stare at him, repulsion for him growing even more in her heart. Harry angered himself with the way Ron dared to speak, the room was getting slowly darker the only thing still clearly visible was Harry who apparently suck away all the light.
"Ron do not take me for some cheap wizard, I'm going to say it once and once only, do it again and they won't be anything left to find of you. I don't want to see you nor your sister I've got feelings for someone else, someone that doesn't forces herself onto me and wants me for the regular Harry. Besides that she is expecting a child and I intend to fully support her. Voldemort controlled my life for the past years and now Ginny and your bloody Mom try to do the same thing and I have fought way too hard to be controlled again." Harry spoke calmly in an air that reminded Hermione of Dumbledore although the room was kept dark by his anger.
"SHE WANTS THE BEST FOR YOU…AND THE BEST IS GINNY. I'M THE ONE THAT HAS TO DO WITH SECOND BEST ALWAYS. I'm left with the whore you shagged and who's going to bare your bastard." Ron screeched still struggling in his cuffs.
"Ron…thoughtless boy…do you really think that you have second best? I encouraged Hermione to stay with you even if she had pointed out that she didn't see a relation between you and her. I asked her to give it a try and you with your stupid mouth and brain had to ruin what you had. You had more than the best and you ruined it. The only thing Molly wants is that her daughter would have money, you all think money and fame make everything in this world, I may have those things but you got a family that loves and supported you and still does, and that something money can never buy you idiot. And finally, if you ever as dare point at our children again, hinting their bastard or otherwise, god help you because I'll track you down and gladly dispose of you! Now leave and don't dare to return ever again."
"FINE, HERMOINE COME WITH ME NOW, MOM SAID YOU SHOULD COME TO YOUR HOME WITH ME THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG, YOU BELONG TO ME!" again Ron commanded and again Harry felt anger boil inside him.
"No Ron, I'm staying with Harry, he respects me where you only would only use and abuse me for your pleasure." Hermione exclaimed powerfully as she stepped besides Harry and took his hand in hers.
" YOU LITTLE WHORE, I KNEW YOU WERE EXPECTING, REAL CLASSY HERMIONE; THE FIRST FUCKING AND MOST STUPID GUY TO COME AROUND YOU SHAG AND YOU' RE SOLD, YOUR NOTHING BUT A MUDBLOOD, A COMMEN WHORE THAT'S ALL YOUR GOOD FOR! A CHEAO FUCK IS ALL SOMEONE CAN GET FROM YOU! YOU PROBABLY JUST SHAGGED HIM TO GET HIS MONEY, WHORE!" Ron screamed struggling to regain freedom but Harry didn't let him move an inch.
"Goodbye Ron" Harry had enough of it; he had seen how Hermione crumbled down beside him at Ron's words. Feeling enraged he guided Ron to the front door. Harry breathed heavily when he closed the door; it took all of his willpower to not do inflict something upon Ron. Why couldn't life be simple and why couldn't people avoid conflict and resolve things by reasoning and self-evaluation, he didn't have an answer to any of those questions.
"Kreacher enforce the outer wards also please." as he was ordering he entered the living room again to see Hermione lying on the sofa, her face hidden away in a pillow. Harry rushed to her side so he could take over comforting her. See snuggled into his embrace letting a few tears flow freely. It took a while before she was able to talk again; having someone who has been close to you for years say things like that really hurt her.
"I…I shou…shouldn't be getting this emotional…over it…I'm sorry I …"
"It's alright, I'm there for you, what he said was foul…Fortunately I know better than him…fortunately I know that everything he said is not true….you can't let him bark you around. Since when, is he that bossy?"
"Almost…directly after you left, he began…commanding and…demanding things." A silence fell; he heard a sharp intake of air. "I always refused him enraging him more and more. He obviously thought that with you gone he had control and power isn't something a Weasley can handle."
"If we may butt in Hermione, Harry, we think you did the right thing by leaving. We don't think less of you because of what he said nor because you're pregnant and so young. We gladly welcome you the family" Lily peeped still shocked about the whole event.
"Does it still hurt? Maybe I can do something?" Hermione offered, while examining Harry's cheek. He pulled her hands from his face, taking them in his hands.
"Its fine, I've had worse in the months that have passed. Don't worry about me"
"I can't do that and you know it." Harry had to laugh because of her comment; she had indeed always taken care of him and his injuries.
"Why did you lower your shield and let him hit you?" The way Hermione voiced her concern and remark would have made McGonagall proud.
"If I didn't then maybe he would have tried to hit you." She was bit surprised of the protectiveness he displayed for her, and then she got sentimental again, flinging her arms around him. Hugging him tightly, Harry had to struggle to get air in his lungs again. "I can't allow you or our child getting hurt because of me ever again Hermione."
The next morning, for both, they were snuggled together, enjoining each other again as they lay there so peacefully. Unfortunately that was about to change much too fast. Harry heard the door crack as a small creature entered. The elf tried to be as quiet as possible and located Harry. Kreacher began to float so that he could whisper something in his ear.
"Master should wake, troubles are ahead, wards are going to be compromised, Kreacher isn't sure but he can feel, yes he feels" the elf whispered. Harry made his way out of bed fast, yet trying to do so he wouldn't wake her up. Visibly concerned he took new clothes out his dresser at the end of the bed and directly after he rushed downstairs.
"Kreacher please make breakfast." Harry entered the living room and directly opened up one fireplace and within minutes people where standing before him. Ginny and Molly Weasley seemingly fuming, they were about ready to begin scolding him. Within the minute he took their wand with a sweep and silenced them as stunning them for he did not want a repeater of yesterday. The paintings had been made invisible to them to. They didn't need to know everything anymore about him, only family should really.
"Before having the chance of scolding me or Hermione you will listen. Breaking wards is illegal and so I do have the right to let you be imprisoned by Aurors, however I'm not going to do that. Ron got the message of never returning here and you'll have the same message as well as all other members of your family. Besides that I'm hurt that your whole family thinks that you don't see more than money & fame in me. And scolding Hermione of being a tramp and me of being nothing less than someone who goes with a tramp is low, obviously too low for you so I don't think that we should meet again as only people who value each other an equal amount visit each other. I can do on my own just as fine as with you as family. Hermione told me two days ago she has already started our family." Harry smirked and removed the silencing spell from Molly first. She was furious with him, her face depicted that clearly.
"Outrageous that you dare say something like that and that you dare cheat on Ginny who has been nothing but faithful! And then Ronald told she's carrying a fucking child with her."
"Since Dumbledore's funeral we haven't been together. And I can do what I want; you on the other hand are meddling with stuff you don't know the slightest thing of. I haven't fought Voldemort so that I could now dance to your and Ginny's commands. Harry potter, and yes this time I'll use it, has to listen only to whom he wishes too and that doesn't include you or your family so I want you to get lost. And yes Hermione is pregnant because of me, yes we did something in a crazy moment, that child will be loved. Mark my words Weasley if you as much as dare point a finger at them or give them a bad reputation, then I'll be coming after you, so don't upset me." Molly was alarmed; a wizard's threat like this wasn't made often.
"I…I'm sure you do still love her, I'm sure there's an explanation for everything, she…the tramp probably drugged you or something…yes I'm sure of it. What could it be if not for that; you can't get a change of mind that fast, it's not logical. Come on Harry fight it, I know she's playing you!." Molly assured herself as she was talking. Harry had to laugh with the pathetic attempt.
"Love potions don't last longer than 10 minutes. You think because you did it on me last year that now Hermione is doing that. You had your chances to talk now I want you to get lost forever." Harry took a deep breath, "I hereby invoke the life debt Ginny, Arthur and Ron Weasley. From this moment on you'll never come near us again nor try to harm us in any way. If you comply I'll consider that life debt repaid if not, Then I got other methods to dispose of it. And now out!" Harry yelled the last sentence through the house. He immediately when to the fireplace took some powder and yelled "The Burrow". The green flames danced as he threw the two of them into it.
He sighed in frustration, everybody had to meddle with his life think to know what's best but was mistaking badly. He tried to lose these thoughts as he made his way to the kitchen where Hermione already was eating and reading the paper.
"Did I wake you?"
"Molly did, it took you longer than expected to get them out." She said, "I didn't come in because it would only have made things worse for you to explain."
"Thanks, for supporting me. Pissing her of was exactly the reason for which I crawled out my bed. Did you hear much of the conversation?" he ended his sarcasm rather quick when facing her. Hermione's heart leaped as her heart speeded up after the question. She had indeed heard everything he had said and it warmed her heart yet again. Breaking up with the Weasleys was the best thing as she was seeing it now, maybe things really would go smoothly from now on. Maybe she finally got a real chance at getting happy.
"I heard everything you said" He blushed as he realized that his feeling had taken the better of him. Harry sighed heavily as he thought to have blown his chances.
"So you aren't mad or anything for the life debt and the threat I made?"
"No Harry, I think is nice that you don't shame you for someone like me" Harry hugged her strongly, placing a small kiss on her forehead, "Honestly Hermione, I would never, ever have shame for what we have"
"Harry…you're almost crushing me"
"OW I-I'mm So sorry, so Sorry" he was surprised that he had almost crushed her in all his happiness. Hermione chuckled a bit
"It's alright Harry, you shouldn't be afraid to hug me, just a little less strong for now" He hugged her again, almost like a two year old; he didn't even let her continue her breakfast. Hermione had the laugh a bit about his sudden outburst; I didn't take more than a soft kiss on his cheek to release her.
"So what are we going to do today, Harry?"
"There…there…still some packages that…need opening and talking to my parents but after that I was thinking I have enough money with me, Muggle that is, maybe we could well go to Australia today or tomorrow or even next week, getting your parents back home should be a priority."
"Would you, do that for me? Going with me to get them and explain them why?"
"I don't seem to see a problem why I wouldn't; you sacrificed a year of school and your family. And I think since now that I'm your love that I should 'go meet the parents'. And take the blame for your condition"
"It's not only you, you have to be together to make a baby, alone is rather hard to do."
"Fine but give me the prophet if you would please."
"I don't think that you will like what they're writing" she prepared him for the head liners that where clearly give him a bad day.
HARRY POTTER LEFT GINNY WEASLEY FOR HERMIONE GRANGER AND CHILD
As we reported earlier this week about the event at Gringotts concerning Harry Potter, who stated before the assembled press that he didn't want Ginny Weasley anymore after a 3 year long relationship with her. Sources close to them claim that he has run of with Hermione Granger who had a relation with Ron Weasley, they claim that he isn't at his right mind; Ms. Granger has intoxicated him and forced him to have a child with her. However seeing as this comes from the 'wronged' party we find it insensitive to offer this as our own opinion. Read more page 1 to 4 Page 5 -6 timeline.
"Fools, you stumbled into their little plan to try and get to me but soon enough I'll see to it that it ends" he spat obviously upset with the reporter and even more with the 'source' as he knew well who it would be.
"I told you that it was crap." Hermione pointed out.
"I know, well I'm done too. Let's go." Harry said as he was began collecting the plates and handing them over the Kreachter.
"Harry I would like to take a shower first before we go book a flight."
"Alright, I'll be in the living room talking if you need me" She nodded in acknowledgement and left.
"Mum, Dad. About the other packages in the vault. What are these?"
"Dairies Harry, books and albums with photos of us, we packed them away before we went into hiding."
"And this, he moved the jeweler box into view.
"Lily, he found it, the jewelry and our wands everything!" James exclaimed being astonished that of all the things he took that.
"They are our rings, marriage and engagement, that you found." his mother was surprised.
"They bumped into me"
The conversation went out about memories and Harry told them many adventures he had lived together with his friends, the final battle and more but with pain in the heart as he also remembered those who were less fortunate and gave their lives so that others can now live.
"Harry, are you ready to go?" the voice came from behind the door to the hall; Hermione didn't want to break things with his parents.
"Yes…just a sec…I'll be back in the evening." The paintings nodded and Lilly and James grew convinced that, even if Harry or Hermione didn't fully realize that they were meant to be, they realized it for them.