8. Pie

"You don't have to do this you know." He said quietly to her as the party pressed forward.

"But I do." Hermione whispered softly. She didn't expect him to understand or be okay with it but she knew that the time was right.

He sighed, "I don't understand why it had to be now, of all times. It's Christmas."

Hermione shrugged and made an effort to catch his eye. "They need me Harry. I'm all they have."

"Then they should have realized that when you went back for them this summer." Harry said irritably.

Hermione felt her anger start to rise. "They had every right to act the way they did!"

"You saved their lives and they thanked you by getting upset and scaring you away! How is that justifiable?" Harry spat back.

Hermione felt her eyes get hot. He doesn't understand. She told herself. He's never had parents to know how it feels. She reminded herself. Her parents had been 'mildly' upset with her because she erased their minds and embarked on a dangerous quest. For people who had never had much experience with magic, it almost seemed unfair and unthinkable. "You wouldn't understand Harry." She said darkly.

She felt him tense up beside her and he knew an outburst was about to happen. "So what? You're just going to leave for two whole weeks on Christmas Eve?" He said loudly.

"Would you two like some pie?" Fleur offered holding two pieces in her hand. She glanced at Hermione giving her a wink. She had just saved Hermione from one of Harry's outbursts. They both nodded and took the plates. Fleur walked away hurriedly.

"This is why I have to go." She admitted. Harry gave her a questioning look. "My mom makes the best pie. If you ever meet her then you need to try it."

Harry sighed. Hermione watched as his hand slowly rubbed his square jaw. "When are you leaving then?"

"Soon. I have my stuff in the corner." She explained. She met Harry's worried some eyes and spoke, "I'll be fine."

Harry just shook his head and she sensed that he was angry with her. He wouldn't admit it but he was. And for what? This was her choice. She would be back before he even knew it and then this argument would seem silly to him. In Hermione's eyes, Harry was overreacting. He looked at her once more. His eyes said it all. He didn't want her to leave. She felt her eyes get hot once more as she shook her head. With this gesture, Harry huffed and went away.

The rest of the night had been uneventful for her. She knew what she was doing was right but still, the fact that Harry was not taking this lightly plagued her mind. When the time came she grabbed her bags and said her goodbyes. "Bye Ron." She said pulling him into a hug. He gently hugged her back and then gave her a look of sadness. Why was everyone acting like they would never see her again? She would be back soon. She scanned the people in search for Harry but he was probably brooding somewhere within the Burrow. She finished her goodbyes and gathered her stuff as everyone returned inside. Waving her wand methodically she began to chant the apparition spell.

"Wait!" She heard. She dropped her wand to her side immediately.

"Harry?"

"I'm coming with you." He announced.

"Why? It's something I thought I would do on my own." She chided.

Harry set his luggage beside Hermione's. "I'm coming. There's nothing you can do about it."

"Why?" She said with a hint of anger.

"Nevermind that. I'll apparate us." He said calmly. He reached for Hermione's hand but she swatted him away.

"No!" She protested. "You aren't coming with me! You'll just make a bigger mess of everything."

"I actually think I could take the blame for you." Harry said thoughtfully.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's going to be the most boring Christmas you've ever experienced if you come."

"So I can?" He asked eagerly.

"No! It's my parents and you think it's dumb anyways."

"I think it's dumb you're leaving on Christmas Eve." He corrected.

She turned her back to him and stated, "They're the only family I have."

"What about me and Ron and the Weasley's?" He disputed.

"Yeah but they're the only blood related relatives I have and you want me to just abandon them! They're my parents!" She shouted at him. "I know it's hard for you to understand but parents need their children more than we need them!"

She expected him to yell something back. She expected him to grab his things and storm off. She even expected him to forcefully grab her hand and apparate the two of them to Australia. What she hadn't expected was to feel his lips pressed against hers. Her eyes were wide from the initial shock. She was so shocked that once he pulled away she sat on her suitcase, afraid that she would fall over because of it. "I'm coming with you," Harry said casually. A million thoughts ran through Hermione's mind. What was the meaning behind that-that kiss?

She stood up readying herself for another fight, "But-"

He stopped her with another kiss. "You don't understand what I would do if you left me for ten days."

Hermione's thoughts became fuzzy as she tried to comprehend what was happening to her. "But you-" Another kiss. "What-"

"Shut up Hermione." He said forcefully. After the words fled from his mouth he crashed his lips onto hers and they began to passionately kiss one another, only stopping when they need air. Hermione was left with a goofy grin on her face. "Well we better get going."

"That's it?" Hermione said aloud.

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Do you want more or?"

"You just kiss me with no explanation? I hate to break it to you but I'm not apparating us there." She said crossing her arms.

"Why's that?"

Hermione scowled at him. "Because you're not coming with me."

Harry looked at her blankly and took her hand swiftly and apparated them there. They stood in front of a cozy house that Hermione instantly remembered. It was her parents house. "How did you- why?" She stuttered.

Harry looked at the house and put a finger to her lip. "I know a lot more than you give me credit for."

"But-" Hermione was cut off when the front door opened. A man with dark brown hair appeared in the light. His wide-brimmed glasses searched the premises of his property.

"Hermione?" He called out. Almost at once Hermione ran up the stairs and into his arms.

"Daddy." She whispered. She broke away from his embrace and hugged her mother who was not far behind.

"You came." She said, engulfing her daughter in a warm hug.

Harry watched the reunited family interact with each other. "We thought we would never see you again after our last reunion." Her father said beaming at her.

"I missed you too much." Hermione said as she finally let go of her mother. Harry could see the light reflecting off her wet face.

"Who's this?" Her father pointed at Harry.

"This is Harry." She said as if she were showcasing him in a museum. "Harry these are my parents."

Harry nodded at them awkwardly not knowing what he should do. "Nice to meet the both of you."

"Harry? THE Harry?" Her father said as a smile creeped onto his face. He made his way to Harry and Harry stuck out his hand politely. He was surprised when Mr. Granger went for a hug instead. "We've heard so much about you."

"Oh have you?" Harry smirked. His eyes met Hermione and saw pink occupy her face.

"Yes," her mother intervened giving him a hug as well. "Every time she came home from school all she talked about was 'Harry'."

"I'm flattered." He said.

"So..." Her father dragged. "When's the wedding?"

Hermione's heart jumped. Harry smirked and acted like he was going to respond but Hermione beat him to it. "No! We aren't- I mean we- There is no wedding." She said at last.

"Yet." She heard Harry mutter.

Hermione turned to Harry. A permanent scowl on her face. "Excuse me mother and father. I need to have a word with my FRIEND over here." She announced. Based on her parents blank expressions they had no clue what was going on.

"Umm sure." Her mother said at last closing the door.

"What are you doing Harry?" Hermione hissed once she felt her parents were gone. "Two hours ago we were just friends and now you're joking that we're going to get married. How thick are you?"

"I'm not trying to be Hermione. I just felt spontaneous today." He jabbed.

"Spontaneous?" She repeated much more dramatically. "You're blaming this on an impulse?"

"That's what spontaneous means." He said wryly.

Hermione huffed, "Harry I have never even been on a date with you!"

Harry thought about it for a moment and shook his head. "We've never been on an 'official' date." Hermione huffed once more and began to walk through the door. "Wait Hermione, you're right. I shouldn't be acting so immature. It's just, I've been in love with you for awhile. You can't blame me for getting carried away."

Hermione replayed the words in her mind to make sure it wasn't a trick. "You love me?"

"I do actually." Harry said rubbing the back of his head. "And I know it sounds crazy because we haven't ever dated but I've realized since we've left Hogwarts that my feelings for you are far greater than that of a friend."

Hermione turned to face him, "It's not crazy at all." Harry raised an eyebrow. "When you think about it, we've been together all these years. Sure we never kissed or went somewhere as dates but I fell in love with you somehow."

She watched his facial expression turn from solemn to happy. She saw his teeth as he smiled at her. Then without warning he kissed her. It was a chaste, short kiss and Hermione felt herself yearning for another one. So as he pulled away she grabbed ahold of his collar and pulled him in for one more. "Does this mean we can get married now?" Harry said wryly.

"I expect you to take me out on a few dates first." She grinned. "Then maybe I'll consider it."

Harry shrugged, "I'm still calling that a win." Hermione laughed before his lips met hers again. "Oh and by the way, I expect some of you mom's pies. That's the whole reason I came." He smirked.

Hermione pouted. "That's so selfish."

"You know what else is selfish? Leaving me on Christmas."

"Look what it lead to though." Hermione remarked. Harry smiled as Hermione opened the front door. She led him into the house, their hands intertwined. "This will be my best Christmas yet."