A/N: Thank you for all my reviewers! Especially Jaded Angel and Fibinaci! You guys are amazing! I hope this satisfies you! If you haven't checked out Jaded Angel's: A Life Worth Living, GO NOW!! Also – I'm sorry for any confusion – I was getting ahead of my self last chapter. Right now they are just looking for proof that Hermione and Harry had a relationship. Thanks for pointing this out!
Without further ado, the seventh chapter!
Last Time: Because, on top of the stacks and stacks of envelopes, papers and photos, was IT. The thing she had been looking for. The proof.
Lily stared, to shocked to move. Shakily, she bent over and lifted the yellowing envelope. It was labeled Harry's Letters. She knew it wasn't between Harry and Ginny, because it was at Hermione's house and it was her aunts writing. She glanced at Hugo, who was standing there, frozen. Slowly, she slid off her backpack and unzipped it, stuffing the envelope inside. Keeping the bag open, she reached behind Hugo and picked up the walkie-talkie.
"James?"
"Yup,"
"Spread the word – we found them,"
"Holy shit, seriously?"
"Yeah, we'll be out in five, anything happened?"
"No,"
"Over,"
She shut it off and began digging through the trunk for anything more. Hugo got down on his knees and began helping. After a few silent moments Lily paused.
"Hugo?"
"Hm?"
"Do you feel bad?"
"About what?"
"You know – going through their stuff like this?"
Hugo looked up at her, exasperated. "Lils, this is your doing, you wanted this! Besides, this is our business too,"
"Okay…"
Once they had every bit of information they could find, Hugo slung the backpack over his shoulders and they began to make their way downstairs. As Lily shut the attic entrance, a though hit her. She gasped, causing Hugo to jump up, startled.
"What?"
"I just realized – that was… way to easy," Lily whispered, clutching her chest.
"What do you mean?" Hugo asked, looking at her.
"I think she means exactly what she means," a new voice said.
Slowly, the pair turned around to face Harry and Hermione, who were standing there, a golden old key, a key which looked as though it would've fit in the trunk, clasped in Hermione's hand. Hugo's and Lily's mouth dropped open as they stared at the adults. Harry sighed, stepping forward. Slowly he walked over to his daughter and gripped her shoulders. He let out another sigh.
"C'mon you two," he muttered, "We both have explaining to do,"
He didn't miss the look the two kids gave each other before he turned with Hermione and led them back up the stairs to the attic. Hermione hurried to catch up with him.
"Harry what are you doing? Are you crazy?" she hissed at him from between her teeth. Harry held back a smirk.
"You'll see," he mouthed back. He opened the door and conjured up four plush chairs.
Behind them, Hugo and Lily hesitated at the door – terrified. She couldn't believe that they had gotten caught. After all the planning, how could've it gone wrong? They hung in the door frame until Harry let out a small groan and sat down.
"C'mon, sit – we won't bite," he gestured to the seats. Slowly, they sat down, together, across for the adults. It was silent for a minute. Hermione spoke up.
"Before we go into details, I would just like to know, what in gods name were you doing?" she shook her head, staring at them expectantly. Lily shifted in her soft seat. She moved her slight shoulders up and down.
"We were ….." she trailed off and looked to Hugo, who stared right back. They gazed at each other until Hugo burst out angrily.
"Oh alright Lily!" he exhaled noisily. "Even though it was your idea, I'll say it!" Lily turned beet red at this and glared at him.
"Well?" Harry prodded gently.
"We were finding the proof of your relationship!"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other – and sighed.
"Alright," Hermione placed her hands in her lap and looked at Harry, raising her left eyebrow. Harry gave her a slight nod. Fortunately, Hugo and Lily missed it.
"Alright what?" queried Lily, squinting her eyes in disbelief.
"Alright we admit it,"
Lily gasped, Hugo stared stunned.
"Hermione! No!" Harry said, playing along. Hermione looked at him desperately, wringing her hands.
"Harry we have to tell them! They have a right to know!"
Lily looked from her dad to her aunt, brown eyes wide. She smiled with anticipation and horror. Finally they were getting somewhere, but did she really want to know?
"Go on!" Lily whisper-shouted.
"We admit it! Me and Harry are have … having…. A FRIENDSHIP!!" Hermione and Harry burst out laughing.
Lily and Hugo looked at each other, confused.
"What the hell?"
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Hermione wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes as Harry answered.
"Did you kids honestly think that we were in a relationship?" he asked them, wiping his glasses on his shirt. He blew a quick breath of relief as the two looked at the wooden floor, red faced.
"Well, its just they way you guys act around each other…it made us curious," Lily spoke up, looking at the adults earnestly.
"Yeah, and James said so," Hugo added.
Hermione's smile wavered for a faction of a second, but it could've been a trick of the light.
"And you listened to him? You should know better than that! That boy has some serious honesty issues!"
The two kids looked at their feet. Harry rolled his eyes at Hermione and spoke up.
"Its alright, plenty of kids at school asked the same thing…this'll be our little secret, 'Kay?"
"Fine,"
"Alright"
"You can leave now," Harry added, moving as though he would leave right after them, "We're just going to tidy up here,"
Slowly and untrustingly, the pair left, leaving Harry and Hermione alone. As soon as they heard the door close, and the footsteps fade, Hermione let out a heavy sigh and sat down on one of the armchairs. Harry sat down slowly beside her. Hermione looked at him. He smiled slightly and reached out with his strong hand to gently rub her delicate cheek.
"That was way to close," she whispered, covering his hand with her own.
"I know,"
"Do you think we fooled them?" the hope in her voice was pathetic.
"Absolutely not,"
Hermione groaned. "Didn't think so,"
"It'll be fine," Harry attempted to reassure her. He got up and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. She rested his head on her shoulder.
"We used to be so good at this – no one even guessed anymore," she murmured. Harry tilted her head up and pressed his lips to hers. After they broke away Hermione took a deep breath and relaxed.
"Okay, let's go,"
"That's my girl,"
--
They left the attic one after the other and quietly made their way to the patio, where the rest of the family was gathered. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Hugo and Lily playing normally with the others. She moved over to Ron and planted a large kiss on his cheek. He looked round, surprised.
"What was that for?"
She smiled at him patiently, "Does a woman need an excuse to kiss her husband?"
"No, it's just that-"
Hermione silenced him with a grin. She ignored the way Harry tensed, just as Ginny did, when she was certain Harry had just broken her fingers.
"Um, Harry?" Ginny looked down at her fingers. He nodded an apology and let go. Ginny frowned. That wasn't like him at all. She tugged his arm.
"Babe, what's wrong?"
Harry turned to her. "Nothing, why?"
"You seem tense," she replied, rubbing his shoulders. He shrugged out of her grip.
"I'm not tense!" he spat through gritted teeth. Ginny took a step back. She knew that look well. Time for the puppy eyes. She quivered her lips slightly; keeping them parted and creased her brow.
"I'm sorry, Harry – I don't like seeing you like this," she pouted. Harry somehow refrained from rolling his eyes and said, "I'm not made Ginny, sometimes, I just wish you weren't so, so…"
"So what?" Ginny demanded, hands on her hips, all traces of putting gone. The couple was oblivious to the fact everyone had stopped and stared.
"So self-absorbed, clingy, whinny and skanky!"
The silence that had already hung in the air suddenly became deadly. Ginny stared at him, stunned.
"Harry, you – you don't mean that," her voice cracked.
"Sure as hell I do Ginny," he replied.
A/N: Again, I am SOOOOOO SORRY on how long it took me to update. But I'm on holiday now, so I hope to update at least three more times these next two weeks! Thanks for reviewing and don't forget to check out my poll on my page. Thanks!
You Rock!
~MJ
