Chapter Twenty:

Harry had the worst hangover ever. So glad the day was almost over, he grunted as he put some of the stock back into the stores until tomorrow. He turned to go back into the closed bookstore, but stopped at the sight of Hermione leaning against the door jam. Perfect. Just what he needed.

"Not now Herm-mmf!" His green eyes widened in shock as Hermione kissed him. He continued to stare as she backed away.

"Now that I have your attention...will you hear me out?" she asked softly.

He nodded in a daze.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong, but I HAD to know!"

"Why?" he rasped.

"I'm not done."

"Sorry."

"Be-Because I love you and subconsciously I didn't want to invest any feelings until I knew that you were over Gin...because I have five, no six, boys to worry about. It's not just me..." she quieted at the calloused fingers on her lips.

"Stop talking," Harry whispered, as he stepped closer to her. "Just don't go behind my back again. Promise?"

"But if I want to plan a surprise party or-"

"Hermione."

"Right. I promise not to go behind your back on the big things." She gazed up into his twinkling green eyes, licking her lips nervously as her heart beat into hyperdrive.

Harry grinned, sliding both his hands up her neck to cradle her head gently. "Hermione Jane...may I kiss you?"

"I really wish you would..."

Her eyes fluttered shut as his lips met hers in a warm, questioning kiss. When her slender arms slid up and locked around his neck, Harry hummed in approval and pulled her closer, backing her into the shelf. He deepened the kisses, moaning when one of her hands shot into his dark hair. His large hands slid down to her ribcage, his thumbs rubbing lazy circles through her cotton blouse. Hermione pulled back, smiling as she gasped for air. Harry had a lopsided boyish grin on his swollen lips. She played with his hair a moment, gazing into his happy eyes. She cuddled into his chest slipping her arms around his trim waist. Harry hugged her close, resting his head on the top of her head.

"We still need to talk about it, don't we?" he sighed.

"You haven't talked about it with anyone, Harry...she hurt you...I'll put you back together," she said softly.

"It's going to be a long night isn't it?"

"Yep," she stated.

"Well...once we tear this all apart and put it back together...we need to have a joint family meeting...will it be weird for Eli and Chris and Zane and Gabby?"

Hermione exhaled. "It better not be, because I think there's something between Dan and Dell too."

Harry squeezed her closer still. "We'll have to come up with some very interesting parenting for this."

"Mmhmm. Let's go."

Hermione woke up pressed up against something very warm, the alarm clock beeping in the background. The very male grunt, caused her to try to remember what happened the night before. Regardless...she was still dressed and on top of the covers. She recalled her kiss with...Harry! She rolled over to see that it was her...boyfriend...spooned behind her. She smiled at his peaceful features and then everything flooded back to her. They had stayed up all night talking about him and Gin and then her and Derek...both cried at some point and clearly they had fallen asleep here. She reached over him to hit the alarm and he blinked awake at the movement.

"Just go back to sleep, Harry. I've got to get Jake off to school," she whispered. She went to get up, but Harry stopped her, stealing a brief kiss. She smiled as she went to task.

It took her about an hour to get him fed, dressed, and through the floo to Hogsmeade Primary. She came back into the bedroom with two cups of coffee. She furrowed her brow at the sight of him on his stomach scribbling on parchment.

He looked up, smiling briefly. "I'm owling the girls about the family meeting after dinner tonight," he stated. He took the coffee, receiving another kiss.

Hermione rubbed his back as she dictated her quill to do the same and then duplicate it four times. The pair sent off the messages. She looked over at the clock and sighed. "Almost time for breakfast...better get dressed..."

Harry was on his back now gazing up at her. He felt high. Abstractly he realized that this was what being on cloud nine actually felt like...that spoke volumes to why he and Gin didn't work. "Damn responsibilities," he exhaled playfully.

Hermione snorted rising to her feet. Harry smiled as she pulled him to his lazy feet. He sprung forward wrapping his arms around her, nuzzling her soft neck. Hermione chuckled, clutching the folds of his shirt for balance and humming at the chaste kiss he planted there.

"See you at breakfast," he said softly, stealing a soft kiss from his girlfriend.

She smirked as the flooed back to his rooms. This was great...but telling the kids was gonna be hell.

Zane slid his hand into Gabby's hand under the table. The morning sickness had finally stopped, but now an entirely different problem arose. How was he supposed to be a gentleman when the woman was clearly hornier than a hellcat in heat under a full moon?? His will power was crumbling slowly under the assault on his psyche.

His green eyes glanced across the table at Eli who was whispering into Christie's ear playfully. All four looked up in surprise when letters were dropped on their plates. Jonah, Samson, Dell, and Dan got one too. He tore it open and read quietly, glancing over at Gabby's too. They said the same thing: "Family meeting in the student lounge after dinner."

"This is brilliant," Gabby breathed softly, a smile on her lips.

"What?"

"They're starting to date."

Oh boy...this meeting was going to be hell.