From the Past

A HariPo fanfic

by mew-tsubaki

Note: The 1st of To the Future's companion stories is here! I'm borrowing J.K. Rowling's charries once more and giving them a delighted storyline to star in. So let's start a little before when To the Future begins, and with another special pairing. And REVIEW!!!

*P.S. –Humphrey Blethyn is an O.C., as are Struther Calle, Clee Calle, Amasso Ronan, Tamsin Ronan, and Femia Gibbs.*

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The Ninth Tale

"You're awfully chipper today," Clee told Hermione that Friday. "Anything particularly good going to happen?"

"Maybe," Hermione teased. "Maybe not." She packed up her books and called it a night. "I won't be seeing you two tomorrow," she told Clee and Struther as she headed up front.

"Well, I hope you two have a good time," Struther said.

"'Two'?" Hermione squeaked.

"You and Harry, of course. It's been a while since he's been around."

Though she breathed a sigh of relief at what Struther had really meant, she couldn't help but think that, yes, Harry was doing his best to be around. Once the Aurors caught all the Dark Wizards, Harry would be back to case work and filing, which earned him little sleep.

"Well," she finally said, "I'll see you." Hermione left the bookstore and Apparated home. Surprisingly, Harry greeted her on the step. As soon as she has popped, he whisked her up and planted a deep kiss on her mouth. She was obviously caught off guard, and Harry laughed.

"Surprise!!" he joked.

Hermione nodded and closed her gaping mouth, for her words had escaped her. Harry took her hand and led her into the kitchen, where she was again at a loss for words. The dining table had been lavished in an orange cream cloth and dusk red candles. Two places were set, and some utensils had been bewitched and were now dishing up the delicious-smelling chicken and noodles casserole while two biscuits each went to the plates. Finally, the genius found her voice. "Harry! This is amazing!!"

"Well, I'm off tonight, so I figured we could eat together like normal people do." Harry rubbed her arm as she leaned into him. "I caught a mistake in the records we just finished filing, so they gave me a bonus and the rest of today off, so –tonight –I'm yours."

He walked her to her seat and even pulled her chair out for her, and Hermione just about melted. When he moved to go to his seat, she touched his arm. "Why did they make such a fuss? What did you find?"

Harry wanly smiled, and sat down before he answered. "Someone had incorrectly written the charges down on Yaxley's nephew's files. If those mistakes hadn't been caught, he would've been out in no time, taking more revenge for his uncle's murder –well, death."

"Oh." Hermione gazed at her plate for a moment. Yaxley, the Dark Wizard who had killed Fleur and Bill Weasley, had also died in the war. The genius was glad to know that his family was behind bars and thus prevented from killing others in retaliation.

"As for Yaxley's niece, we have our suspicions," Harry continued. "But we can't move until something solid shows itself." They were both silent for a minute. "But that's that, and we're both here, so let's enjoy ourselves," he added cheerily.

"Yes…" Hermione easily found herself caught in Harry's good mood, and the dinner was so light and romantic. As things wound down, Crookshanks meowed to be fed. The witch stood and scratched the cat's ears. "I'll feed him."

"Then I'll clean up," Harry offered. He rose and gathered the plates and took them into the kitchen as Hermione poofed some chicken and gravy into Crooks' food bowl. Hermione gave her cat some fresh water, too, and then brought the left over food into the kitchen. Harry scraped the rest of the meal into a plastic container, stuck it in the fridge, and then returned to the dishes. After a minute, he said, "Y'know… We haven't had dessert."

She blinked. "I hadn't really thought about it," she remarked. Before she even faced him, Harry caught her in an embrace and tenderly kissed her temple. She chuckled. "Your breath is so light, it tickles." In response, he kissed her temple again.

Then began a trickle of kisses along her jaw line. The kisses dripped down her neck and covered her collar bone, and then they moved back up her neck but on the opposite side. However, Harry didn't kiss her other temple. Instead, he moved to Hermione's mouth and gave her a deep kiss. She stumbled slightly backwards, but then the two were moving out of the kitchen towards the bottom of the staircase. In one swift motion –without even breaking their lip lock –Harry picked her up and carried her to their bedroom. He opened the door and Hermione stopped kissing him long enough to gasp.

"Harry!" She looked all around her as he placed her on the comforter. There were many small candles lighting the room, and a bowl of strawberries and chocolate rested on the bed stand. A smile graced her lips. "Now I understand why you mentioned dessert."

He shrugged. "Well, what can a guy do?" He brought her hand up to his chest underneath his tight T-shirt and loved the way her fingertips felt on his skin.

"You forgot one thing, though."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"The dessert's going to go to waste." With a devilish glint in her eye, she hooked a finger in his jeans and yanked him down towards her.

It's safe to say the door was immediately Charmed to discourage feline intrusion. :)

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The next morning, Hermione awoke alone. On Harry's pillow was a quickly scrawled note saying he had a lead and would be home late tonight. She shrugged it off. Last night had been special, so she knew to not get used to it. Besides, she had plans.

She blinked and sat up. Plans. Plans. PLANS. Crap! How could she have forgotten?! Her mind raced as she jumped in the shower. Yesterday, she had been so happy that she might be able to turn Severus around. Then her thoughts had become muddled as soon as Harry's soft lips had met hers, and thinking back on those fervent kisses and the feel of his fingertips barely grazing her arms and back… She had to pause to release the breath caught in her throat. Must focus, she ordered herself.

Luckily, focus stayed with her for the next twenty minutes, and she was ready to leave after eating with Crookshanks. As she shut the door behind her, she glanced at her watch, which read twelve forty-two. Ooh. Time. She Apparated to London and headed straight for Struther and Clee's, off the main part of Diagon Alley. All the while, she searched the faces for that hooked nose and lump of long greasy hair. I can't believe we didn't set up a time. Well, one o'clock should be good enough. Not too early, not too late, so it's just about right. But should I wait outside, or should I- "OW!!" She rubbed her nose. "S-Sorry, sir, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going-"

"Doesn't that usually include a distracting book for you?"

"Severus!"

A wind blew some hair in his face. "The one and only." He reached up and brushed the strands out of his face, then stuck his hand back in the pocket of his long, trench-coat-like jacket. A smirk upturned the corners of his mouth. "Fancy bumping into you here, Miss Granger."

She raised an eyebrow. "Fancy seeing you in daylight, Mr. Snape."

His smirk flatlined. "Don't push it."

Hermione smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it." She looked around them, at the people milling about. There were the usual shops and stands, but she couldn't think of where to go.

"Shall we walk?"

Her heart beat so fiercely, she thought he could hear it as she barely managed to keep up with his long stride. Maybe she was too easy to read, if he could make a decision like that for her. She shivered against the blustery wind that did nothing to cool the rising heat of her cheeks. "So how did the first week go?"

"Passed by annoyingly slowly. The Weasley girl was forced back to the school for her last year, and the insufferable female is in my class."

She laughed. "What? Is she a troublemaker?"

"No," he said, his heavily lidded eyes dark. "She answers all my questions correctly and has yet to make a mistake."

"Oh." Hermione watched her feet. "I see."

"But I did hand out two detentions to two third-year Gryffindors," he stated with his familiar smirk.

She mockingly glared at him. "Snake."

"Fool."

"Lily-livered weasel."

"Dung-for-brains."

"Hippogriff ass-face."

"Virginal agony aunt."

She paused, and an impish idea crept to the front of her mind. Name-calling was sooo childish… "Wouldn't you like to know?" The effect was quick and obvious, as Hermione continued walking alone. After a few feet, she stopped and turned around. "Why, Severus! Whatever is the matter? Your face is as maroon as Gryffindor's banner!"

The Potions master glowered at her and sped past. "I'll get you for that."

Hermione followed right on his heels, chuckling, and entered Blood, Breath, and Beyond after him. Of course, she remembered a second later just who worked there. "Oh, crap. Is What's-her-name here?"

Severus looked around the corner of a shelf. He squinted his eyes. "No…just some old crone with a pair of truly garish fuchsia spectacles."

"'Garish'? Can't remember when I last heard that one," she said, turning to him, "brainiac." The grimace he gave her was so expected, she almost burst out laughing. "Oh, lighten up!!"

In response, he silently reached for a book over her head, but he stood so close behind her that she felt as if that outstretched arm was going to come down and wrap around her. Of course, that didn't happen, but he moved very slowly; it was as if he were tormenting her. When he brought the book down beside her head, he blew the dust off the cover ever so gently, and some of his breath brushed her ear. Immediately, her face burned red. "So it appears I'm right," he mumbled.

She turned her head, taking care not to touch him. "Right about what?" she asked.

Severus didn't answer her. Instead, he went to the register and paid for the tome. Hermione waited to rejoin him until he left, and even then she trailed a bit behind him. After all, he was being quiet again. He'd probably filled his conversation quota for the week.

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As usual, Harry wasn't there when Hermione got home later that morning. The genius breathed a sigh of relief. The playful banter she had enjoyed with Severus had seemed too good to be true –and she couldn't help but feel as though she was right. She grumbled to herself as she sat down on the couch. With him being a mute after the store visit, it almost seemed liked a dream, him being in the least bit pleasant!

Hermione released another sigh. Suddenly these weekly rendezvous didn't sound so nice.

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The first date! ERR –I mean…'meeting'! Heh. Oh, well, they go together nicely. And I decided: It's actually hardest to write RemusXLuna, since I'm having trouble with that story right now. Oi… Anywho, chappie 10 will be awesome, and 11 will be fantastic, so keep reading, peoples!

AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!

-mew-tsubaki