My apologies for the delay.. I have to say that this story is a challenge for me, but i'm trying.. enjoy. Please R&R
"Neville, where are you? The mall? Fine I'll meet you there" he said and cut the call.
He walked into the shop looking at the jewellery when he saw Neville. 'Nev, are you looking to buy jewellery?" he asked and Neville smiled.
"It's gran's birthday and I was hoping to get her something nice" he said. Harry's mind was elsewhere, on a certain brown eyed Healer.
"I think I'll get something as well" he said absentmindedly and Neville looked at him curiously. And then Harry's phone buzzed then he left, Neville was perplexed, If Harry had someone his life, he would know.
"Neville, I have to go" he said taking his gift bag.
Hermione made her way to the coffee shop, as Harry suggested. She entered the café and scanned the area and it didn't take long for her to find the raven haired man and made her way over towards him. He stood and pulled out a chair for her to which she smiled and sat down.
"Would you like something to drink?" he asked as he signalled the waiter.
"I'll have a house blend thanks" she said giving her order to the waiter and surprisingly Harry ordered the same.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked getting straight to the point whilst looking at his watch.
"It's about Belle" she said firmly but not so firm as to be harsh.
"What is it? Does she have a problem with her teeth, because I'm sure we could have discussed it at your office" he asked a little annoyed by her.
"Belle is the most wonderful child I had ever met. You should be proud to have her as a daughter" she started and Harry remained stoic.
"Ever since we moved here, she has become somewhat of a ray of light in my life. I just love interacting with her" she explained smiling fondly at her memories of Belle.
"From what I've seen, she seems to enjoy being in your company. Why do I get a feeling that I hear a But coming along?" he asked sitting up straight causing Hermione to sober up.
"As you know I'm a Healer and as a Healer our studies involved psychology. And I've noticed that Belle has been showing slight signs of abandon child syndrome" she started as Harry threw her a seething look.
"She's always trying to gain your attention, by doing things for you. She loves you very much and it hurts to watch her be rejected by you timeously. I don't know where her mother is but" she started and Harry erupted like Krakatoa.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" he yelled standing up abruptly and knocking over his chair causing people to stare at them.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? HOW DARE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY benevolence AND TALK TO ME ABOUT MY DAUGHTER? HOW DARE YOU SIT THERE AND JUDGE ME? DO YOU NOT THINK I LOVE MY DAUGHTER? I WILL MOVE HEAVEN AND HELL FOR HER!" he hissed venomously and she flinched.
"That's not what I meant. All I'm saying is that later, it WILL affect her, either mentally or physically, sometimes both" she tried but he was not having it.
"Look, just do me a favour; spare me the lecture and don't meddle in our lives, okay. Cause I assure you, there will be hell to pay!" he said in a threatening voice.
"The coffee's on me" he said and then reached into his pocket and tossed her the bracelet he had just purchased.
"Belle had broken the one you gave her, I was told" he said and she looked at him incredulously.
"I don't need you to pay my way!" she said slamming her money on the table and standing up.
"The bracelet was a gift for Belle! I expect nothing in return for being kind to a child! A random act of kindness, you should try it sometime" she spat and walked away brushing past him.
In a blind fury she made her way out of the café. She was so aggravated that she slammed into someone. She quickly snapped out of her anger and realised that she walked into a man. A really handsome man, with dark hair and beautiful eyes.
"Forgive me" he said snapping her from her appraisal of him.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there" she replied and he nodded negatively.
"I was in a rush to get out of here" she said casting a glance over her shoulder to see if Harry was still there.
His entire day was nothing short of unbearable to his employees. He was even more unbearable than usual. He was furious. How dare she use Belle to lecture him on his parenting?
"Harry, why don't you go home and rest, you look like you could do with the rest of the day off" Neville said and Harry glared at him.
"Or not" Neville said trying to avoid his glare.
"Look Harry, it's not good for the moral of the employees that you're verbally harassing them, the last thing you need is a lawsuit, as your brother, please go home and cool off" he pleaded and Harry sighed deeply and after a while he nodded and then left.
As he drove home his thoughts went back to her words, although he would never admit it out loud, he knew there were truth to her words, he couldn't push Belle away because of her mother's mistakes, it wasn't fair that she reminded him of Ginny and those wounds were never fully healed. He hadn't realised that he had pulled up to into the driveway; he sighed heavily.
Lily was reading in the lounge and was startled when Harry plonked down on the sofa next to her. She looked at him over her book and saw that he was looking onto the fireplace with a pensive look.
"What's the matter Harry?" she asked trying not to make him feel uncomfortable. That's when she noticed his nose flaring and brows furrowed as he stood up.
"Who the hell does she think she is? Telling me that Belle needs my love to avoid mental and emotional damage in her adult life. Off course I love Belle, she's my daughter, what kind of father would I be if I didn't?" he ranted and Lily looked at him in amusement, he never expressed himself like this and it was rather amusing which brought a smirk to her face, but then thought that there was only one person that could get under his skin and that wiped the smirk off her face.
Setting her book down roughly, looked up at him, trying to keep her anger in check.
Why on earth do you let that women get to Harry? I mean hasn't she ruined your life enough? When is she going to leave our lives for good?" Lily asked exasperatedly causing Harry to look at her in confusion. He watched as she went on and on rather animatedly and he had a hard time trying to figure out why she would hate Hermione as much as he did.
"Er, mother, who are you talking about?" he asked in confusion.
"Who on earth do you think? The queen of England? Your red headed ex-wife" she snapped throwing a glare his way causing him to flinch.
"Why would you bring her up?" he asked frowning.
"Don't you dare have a Ginny relapse on me!" she scolded and he tried to reply but all he could do was open his mouth like a fish out of water.
"What did she do to get you this worked up? Is she contesting Belle's custody again?" she flared and Harry was taken aback.
"Mum, I have no idea what you're talking about" he said causing Lily to stop mid sentence.
"Who are you ranting about?" she asked curiously and Harry cocked a brow at her, the dentist that lives next door. Who, why …" he stuttered and Lily's face softened then gave a small chuckle.
"What did Hermione do to get you this worked up?" asked settling back onto her seat as Harry explained his version of the incident. Lily laughed at his predicament,
"Son, I think she has a point. And she is right; Belle has taken to Hermione like you wouldn't believe. I guess it happens when you willingly put your life on the line for someone" she said and Harry frowned.
"What do you mean?" he asked and Lily sighed motioning him to sit next to her.
"I didn't want to worry you by telling you this but a few weeks back Belle and Heather were returning from the library; Belle was almost run over but thankfully Hermione got to her in time. Hermione saved her life" Lily said and Harry looked at her incredulously.
"Mother, how could you not have told me this, she's my daughter! What if the Ginny found out about it, she could take Belle away from me" he said exasperatedly and the stood up stomped off to his room.
He walked out to his balcony and stared at the overcast skies. "I will not let her take my daughter away from me" he growled and walked over to his cabinet and poured himself a glass of fire whiskey. Gulping the contents in one go, he poured another and walked back out to the balcony and to his dismay Hermione was walking home. He groaned and took a gulp of his drink and then walked back to the balcony. He was mildly surprised to her being escorted by a man around his age.
"Who knew she could find someone to match her loquaciousness" he snickered and then cocked an eyebrow when the man kissed her cheek and she nodded shyly.
Hermione's day had an amazing turn of events; Zachary was his name, the man with beautiful blue eyes that she literally ran into at the cafe. They had quite a few things in common, he was working for Doctors without borders and well she opened medical centers in poverty stricken areas around the world. They were discussed in great detail her next big project in South Africa and he told her that he was back from a 6 month long assignment in Uganda. They had hit it off so well that she had forgotten about her spat with Harry. They ended up at the park and he offered to walk her home. Where he made his intentions clear to her, he wanted to have dinner with her that Saturday. To which she found herself agreeing to, hence the kiss.
She smiled and waved as Zach got into the cab and left, turning on her heels she felt like a teenager as she walked into the house smiling dreamily without even noticing the scowling neighbor she fought with earlier.
Saturday came all too soon and she had her date with Zach. He asked her to be his girlfriend saying that it was a waste of time beating around the bush since they were both adults and there was no need to be reserved about it. At first she was taken aback by his direct approach, but then later conceded as they were not getting any younger and she needed to get her act together and move on from the past.
She spent time with Belle, without Harry's knowledge, well that's she thought anyways. They had grown even closer, she even stayed over for the weekend when harry was out of town. They were like two peas in a pod.
It had been 2 months since she and Zach started dating and things were going as well as expected between them and tonight they were going on a date, which she was preparing for. She hurried to get dressed and visit Belle before she left. Belle had developed a bad cold and she was with a babysitter since Lily and James were away for the weekend and Harry was at work. Grace and taken Lizzy to her friends and asked her to check up on Belle before she left since Harry wasn't going to home until later that afternoon to which she readily agreed. She would quickly give her a once over and make sure she was taking her medication on time.
She walked to the Potter's front door and knocked and was surprised that there was no answer. She knocked a few times and found it strange that there was no answer. She turned the handle and was even more surprised that it wasn't locked.
"Hello?" she called out and received no reply. She walked into the foyer and called out, still no reply. She began to panic as she climbed up the stairs,
"Belle?" she called out and still no reply.
As she reached the top she stopped dead in her tracks as her body turned to ice, there on the floor, was Belle, convulsing with foam coming out of her mouth.
"BELLE" she screamed out and ran to the form. She picked the fragile girl in her arms, calling out to her. She cursed herself for not carrying her wand. Distraught, she noticed a bottle of fever syrup she picked it up and noticed that it was expired. She carried Belle to the fire place and flooed to St Mungos.