Chapter 10: Flashes

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"So, Hermione, what do you want to do for your birthday?" asked Harry after work.

"Birthday?" I asked surprised. Was it already September? Summer in the countryside seemed to make time irrelevant and I was able to enjoy Harry and Rose. It felt like we had been there for years rather than just a short summer holiday.

"Yes, silly. Your birthday is in a week and a half," Harry said as he gently pecked my cheek.

Ten days until I'm twenty-one? Where has the time gone?

"So what do want to do?" he asked again.

"Uh…I don't know. Maybe just a family dinner," I replied.

"Well, do you want to have Molly and Arthur over? And maybe Fred, George, Luna and Neville?"

"Yeah, that sounds good. Just dinner though, please. I don't think I could handle a big party."

"Of course, honey." He kissed me once more gently on the cheek, leaving my skin where his lips touched to turn a faint pink.

I then cupped Harry's cheek and kissed him again. He only pulled away for a second to look lovingly into my eyes before he pulled me into a much deeper and intimate kiss. His hand started to tangle in my bushy hair while his other hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I then felt my hands slowly wrapping themselves around his neck. He held me tight against him, but it still didn't feel tight enough for me. Kissing Harry made time slow down and everything felt easier, simpler, and not perfect but good.

But this kiss was much more intimate than any of the other ones. This time we both actually had to pull away to take a quick breath before diving once more into the kiss with much more passion. Usually I would pull away before Harry ever needed to take a breath because even though I have moved on, I wasn't exactly ready for that kind of intimate relationship with anyone. But I let myself go deeper without thinking.

I didn't think of there being any consequences to this kind of intimacy, but there was. For a brief moment Ron's face flashed behind my closed lids and causing me to abruptly pull away from Harry. Ron looked angry, disapproving, and heart-broken all at the same time.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked.

I don't know, I answered in my head. That was really strange. Whenever I had dreams or thoughts of Ron it was always the version of him dead, never when he looked or was alive.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," Harry said.

"Sorry about what?" I asked.

"Kissing you like that…was a little too far. Sorry," he said as he turned to finish packing for work.

I stood there for a minute trying to figure out why suddenly Ron's face appeared because it's not like I haven't kissed Harry before.

Well not like that, I thought.

Harry was called to the Minister's office today, which left me to go over the information collected by Draco over the summer about Bellatrix with Connor; Draco was out sick today…food poisoning. Reviewing evidence is almost as exciting as searching through a pile of cow dung. Honestly, this was the least favorite part of my job, but the most crucial to solving any case. I know being the smart girl in school with top marks would probably make someone think that I enjoyed this, but no, I am normal and also hate doing work…sometimes.

"Hermione?" said Connor.

"Yes, Connor?"

"Are you alright? You seem a bit uneasy."

I looked at him and smiled. "I'm fine. It's just been one of those days."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Um, well, the thing is-"

"I'm sorry, I know you don't know me that well. It would be kind of awkward sharing your personal issues with a stranger." With that Connor went back to work.

I felt terrible. He was trying to help and I totally shot him down. He was only making an effort to make me feel better.

"Connor, you're not a stranger. We don't talk much, but I honestly do think of you as a friend." He looked up at me and smiled half-heartedly.

"Hermione, you really don't-"

"I've been really stressed and confused lately. I'm happy, but just all these recent events have been making me think a lot about how I got to this moment in my life? Like how did I end up here talking to you?"

"Because I was being nosy?" he said jokingly and I laughed.

"Well…" That seemed to break the ice and we just started talking. I didn't start talking about my problems but I shared some stories. I talked a lot about my time at Hogwarts and our "little" adventures around the school. I pretty much told him everything Harry, Ron, and I went through. I still find it kind of funny or strange how Harry, Ron, and I always were caught in some kind of trouble. Turns out it was because my best friend, now boyfriend, was the killing target for the most evil dark wizard of all time. Who would've thought? I didn't tell Connor all the dirty secrets of my school life and the war, but he does know about Rose and that Ron is her father…and that he died in the final battle. He too told me about his school days and we continued to chat and joke and laugh for a good two hours. Talking to Connor brought about some kind of peaceful atmosphere. I liked being around him and now have another friend that I can talk to and hang out with.

"Uh, Hermione, would you want to have a drink with me after work? I found this excellent pub in downtown with the best firewhisky arou-"

Oh no, perhaps I gave him the wrong impression. Plus, I guess he doesn't know about me and Harry…we keep it professional at work.

"I'm sorry, Connor, but I'm seeing someone right now and-"

"Perhaps I can change your mind," he said smugly.

"It's Harry actually."

"Potter? I thought you two were just really close friends."

"We've been together for almost five months. We keep a strictly professional relationship at work. I'm sorry. You are a nice man, but…yeah, I'm sorry."

"No, don't worry about it. I can take a rejection." His expression was that of a man who believed he could have any woman he wanted.

I started laughing. "You are one curious man, you know that?"

"So I've been told." He too laughed. Then he reached his hand over. "Friends then?"

"Friends," I agreed.

"Hello, there beautiful." Harry embraced me from behind as I was chopping vegetables for a chicken noodle soup. "That smells delicious."

"Hi there. Where have you been all day? And thank you." I turned my head to quickly give him a kiss and returned to placing the vegetables in the boiling broth where the chicken was already beginning to cook.

"Oh, I had a meeting and lunch with the Minister and I then went around the Malfoy Manor. No one was there, but I wanted to check the area out before we go next week."

"Why didn't you tell me? I would've gone with you," I said angrily.

"I'm sorry, it was a last minute decision. I didn't think it was that important to go all the way back to the Ministry to get you and possibly the others. It was only a broad, basic look-around. I was only there for fifteen minutes," he said defensively.

"But still, what would have happened if someone was around and you didn't notice since all you did was a 'broad, basic look-around'? You didn't even let anyone know where you were going."

"I'm sorry. I-"

"Harry, we've lived through enough danger and life-or-death situations. You always need someone with you. Next time just let me know where you are. You're too important for me to lose."

Harry stepped closer and pulled into comforting hug. "I'm sorry, love. I understand where you're coming from, but you also need to remember who we both are and that most, if not all, the Death Eaters have left the country. Obviously with the exception of Lestrange and Malfoy plus the few others who were there the day our Department detected activity in the house. But I do apologize. I promise I'll let you know where I go before I go out on a job…only if you do the same."

I removed my arms from his warm embrace and wrapped them around his neck. "Mmm…. Okay, I agree. Thank you."

He pulled me closer and gave me another one of those heart-pounding and very passionate kisses. Perfection once again. I lost all thought and let my feelings take control. Electricity shot through my veins as I brushed my hands through Harry's hair. Our breathing became rapid as Harry cornered me against the counter. I was vaguely conscience of the steam whistling from the covered soup, but immersed myself in sweet bliss. I was in heaven for a mere two minutes when once again Ron's image flashed across my mind just like this morning. I politely pulled away with the excuse of having to attend to our dinner.

"I love you," I said.

"Love you too, Hermione." He gave me a peck on the cheek before he went to go shower up before dinner. I watched him dash lightly up the steps to our room. Was this going to happen every time?

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Hello everyone, I cannot believe it has taken me this long to write this stinkin' chapter. It has been through various revisions and has been ready to post since yesterday. I apologize for the extremely long wait. Some of the writer's block has been lifted. I already know what is going to be in the next chapter, it's only the matter of having time to write it out. AP classes really leave no room for free time. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter and keep your eye out for the next one. Thank you all. Please R&R.