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 Tenth Tale
The second trip to Diagon Alley was almost exactly like the first. Some sarcasm along the way, ending in his silence all the while back. She found it rather annoying, but Severus didn't know what else to do, for something else was clouding his mind.
He was almost sure of it. Her reaction to him, the suggestive jabs at one another, and even that kiss… It all added up to one thing.
But Severus frowned at the thought. He knew what one-sided feelings did to you. They'd grab a hold of your mind and squeeze your heart until you wished that they'd just –just turn into birds and fly away from you, maybe soar the skies of your mind for a little while before they were nothing but fleeting hopes that would eventually dissipate over the horizon.
His mind wandered to the kiss for a brief moment. He had felt her passion then, but… No! None of that passion had been his! It was all her!
Of course… Severus paused in his homework-grading and looked over his sixth years without really looking at them. He remembered a kiss one time that had most definitely been full of his passion, a kiss with a master potions maker like himself. But he did not want to think of that other muggle-born witch.
No, he did not.
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Hermione wondered if their third get-together would be anything more spectacular, but she knew to not hope for the best. This was Severus. The most she knew to expect from him was a sneer and a glare.
"Hermione?" Clee asked. He cleared some space and plopped down more books. "Something up?"
She blinked and remembered she had rewriting to get done. "No, it's nothing. Can I have that?"
The blonde passed her the top book. After a minute, he removed his glasses and wiped them with his sleeve. "Tuesday's your birthday, you know."
Hermione paused and glanced at her watch. "Tomorrow? Merlin, I can't believe I didn't realize it." She put her pen down and ran her hands through her hair. "God, I'm so out of it."
Clee playfully tugged at her hair. "Would a birthday present help?" he asked with an impish grin.
She sat up straight. "You didn't have to, Clee…"
He shook his head. "Nonsense." Clee produced a small gift wrapped in pastel pink paper. "Ignore the paper," he said with a slight blush, "they didn't have anything nicer."
Hermione unwrapped her present and gasped. It was a white gold hair clip decorated with a gorgeous bird. "It's beautiful," she said, and then she looked closer at it. "Wait… Oh-! How cute! It's a book in the shape of a bird!" She turned to face him. "You guys really shouldn't have. It's too beautiful."
"There's no such thing as 'too beautiful'," he chided, and he tugged on her hair again. "C'mon, I'll put your hair up for you."
She acquiesced, and Struther appeared as Clee ran his fingers through her hair. The father raised his eyebrows. "How goes it, lass?"
"Fine," Hermione answered. "Thank you for the gift, Struther. You two didn't have to."
"'We'-" Struther began, but Clee shot him a dirty look. "No, never mind. You're welcome, Hermione." He glanced at her book stack. "Done for the night?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I've got to get home since I'm making dinner." Hermione gathered her things and pushed her chair in. "I guess I might take a break and see you guys Wednesday instead of tomorrow."
"You better," Struther warned, heading upstairs. He waved to her. "Good night, Hermione, and happy birthday. And Clee! Don't forget to lock up!"
Clee tsked. "I won't!!" he hollered back. "Old curmudgeon," the wizard muttered under his breath as he led the witch back to the front.
Hermione chuckled. "Just don't kill each other while I'm not here."
"I can't make any promises," Clee replied.
"Yes, yes…" She hugged Clee tightly for a moment. "I thank you again for the gift Clee. You two treat me like family." The genius pulled away and stepped outside, waving. "See you."
Clee seemed a little fazed. "Yeah… Happy Birthday, Einstein." He watched her Apparate away, but he still stood there even after she had gone. "Like family, huh…?"
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Okaaay… Not much to work with here, Hermione thought as she sifted through the food in the cupboards and in the fridge. But maybe… She grabbed a box of macaroni and cheese, and dug around for canned green beans and wax beans. Well, I can make something out of this.
She put the water on to boil and was opening the cans when she heard Harry arrive. The front door clicked shut, and there was a long pause. Though it was whispered, she also heard a high-pitched "Fuck!" Hermione emptied the green beans into a bowl and wiped her hands on the dish towel.
"Harry?" she called. She stepped towards the hall, but Crookshanks came over and id a figure eight in and around her legs. The witch knelt down and scratched his ears. "Crooksy…" And then her heart stopped.
Crookshanks gazed innocently (well, feigned innocence, really) at her and purred up a storm. He sat down and tilted his head up so Hermione could get a better look at his prize: A ring.
A yellow gold ring.
With little diamond chips around the main gem.
And a solitaire-cut garnet in the middle.
Harry walked in and halfheartedly smiled. "Crookshanks batted at me as I was checking on it, and it fell. The damn cat picked it up and sauntered off; I thought he was going to eat it…" Still, Hermione didn't speak, and Harry squatted down in front of her. "I was going to do this tomorrow night, but…"
The witch finally looked at him, but her mouth slightly hung open. At least she was listening.
Bashful, the wizard took the ring from Crooks and wiped it with his sleeve. "I hope I'm doing this right…," he mumbled as he knelt on one knee. Harry extended the ring to Hermione. "Will you marry me, Hermione?"
Instantaneously, the genius shut her gaping mouth. Her mind raced with a million thoughts, none of which she could focus on. "I- I- I-" Her eyes darted to Crookshanks, to Harry, to the ring, and back to Harry. Before she knew what was happening, Hermione broke into a huge smile. "Yes," she said.
Harry's face lit up like she had never seen before. He slipped the ring on her left ring finger and held gently onto her hand. She thought he was going to say something, but he didn't. He, too, was at a loss for words, so he smiled instead, and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
She kissed him back, despite the odd feeling developing in her stomach. This doesn't concern Severus, she told herself. Hermione paused and let Harry envelop her in his arms, and she hid her frown from him. So why do I feel at all uneasy?
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Short, but SWEET! KYAAA!!! Harry PROPOSED!! What'll Clee think?! What'll Sev think?!! …Does anyone even care about Clee? And Tamsin's been quiet, too… Hmm. Anywho, on to the fantastical chappie 11! AND REVIEW 10, PEOPLES!! (please, 10 reviews?)
-mew-tsubaki
P.S. –This chappie just added to the fire put up to burn Harry, didn't it? Don't worry, though, my readers who want Harry dead (even before you read this chapter); I'll take care of Harry in due time, so please be patient with me. Thanx!!!