As soon as the kitchen door swung shut, guilt bloomed in Harry's gut. Molly Weasley was still on her characterless tirade about Hermione, he may have even caught the term 'scarlet woman' before George cut in, stopping his mother mid-sentence. Silently, Harry stood to make his way towards the door; he couldn't resist following his girl. If he even could consider her his girl anymore; they hadn't spoken in two weeks, although he'd thought about her near constantly. Just the thought of losing her had panic gripping his heart like a vice. But Ron was there, blocking his path, hands out in placation.
"Let me go, someone neutral" Harry reluctantly nodded his permission, doubt about everything crept up his spine. He'd had it all planned out, finally made his decision; he'd go confront her at her place, damned who else in the building heard them, he needed answers. Certainly more answers than she'd given him up to now. When he'd turned up at Malfoy House the place had been silent and dark, her flat empty although one of the building's other residents, a Greengrass he thought though he couldn't remember which one, was able to tell him where she was. He'd thanked the woman profusely before dashing out the door, her shout of "She likes daisies!" ringing in his ears. He looked at those daisies now, lying on the kitchen table in front of Hermione's empty place. He hadn't known what had come over him when he'd seen her heart to heart with Ron from across the room. The way she smiled at something he said and the slightly wistful look in Ron's eyes. Jealousy like he hadn't experienced in years rose in him. He was jealous of Ron's friendship with her; jealous of Draco Malfoy's place in her life; he was even jealous that the Weasley's got to call Celeste family. Celeste; guilt struck again. He hadn't given the little girl a single thought once he's started on his rant about Hermione keeping secrets for way longer than was necessary. He had a lot of making up to do.
He didn't know why, but he hadn't expected Molly's response. Whilst at school she had been cold and aloof towards Hermione when she thought the young girl was playing with Harry's heart by dating Victor Krum. Today's words had shocked him; did she really think Hermione was some sort of Harlot who just ensnared men at will? Did she not see the love in Hermione's heart or the courage to hold onto something so important for so long? Granted, he was hurt and angry when she had told him a few weeks ago, but Teddy's misbehaviour at school had given him a distraction. A distraction he couldn't avoid of course, but coming back to Grimmauld Place to find a cold and empty home had challenged Harry. He made a mental note to never let Poppet know he ever found the house cold or empty, but he also knew that physical coldness wasn't what he'd felt. The house was quiet, too quiet. It was a house made for children to run around in and friends to have parties; it was a family house without the family it so desperately needed. And he needed it too. Hogwarts had been the first place he'd ever felt like home; Griffindor house had felt like his first real family; the Weasley's made him feel properly taken care of for the first time in his life. He'd wondered what he'd see if he looked into the Mirror of Erised again and realised not only would he see his ancestors, he'd see Celeste; and Hermione. Family. Even after all this time, all Harry actually wanted was a family to love him as much as he loves them.
Harry looked to Ron hopefully as he came back in the door, "She's gone. Disapparated as I got out there."
"Taken young Celeste with her too" Arthur Weasley interjected as he followed his youngest son through the door.
"What do I do now?" Harry asked no-one in particular "I'm gonna lose her aren't I?"
"Now Harry, there's no guarantee of that" soothed Arthur ever the diplomat, he continued, "I would say to just give her time, but I think you've already given her enough time. Don't you?" Ron's hand of support on Harry's spurred his courage into life. Some Griffindor he was today. Harry sighed; yes he had given her enough time; more than enough. He'd practically ignored her for over a decade and then run at the first challenge since his return. Life was never easy for Harry Potter.
"Well, that woman is not welcome back in our home" Molly's stern voice cut through Harry's thoughts, "she lied to us Harry, made us believe she loved Ron and wanted his family. And then she runs off with that Malfoy boy; refusing to ever tell anyone who Celeste's father is. That little girl has become part of our family; I've even allowed that boy into our house! For her!" Suddenly Harry was struck with realisation, how this dowdy housewife had defeated one of the strongest witches of the age; Belatrix Lestrange suddenly didn't seem quite so strong when faced with the protective force of love the woman in front of him radiated. Love was the most powerful magic, wasn't that what Dumbledore had always said? Sighing, Harry got to his feet; he understood that love far too well. He needed to go find Hermione; go find his daughter.
"I'm gonna go find her", the frown on Molly's face showed she didn't really understand how Harry could be so compassionate and willing to forgive Hermione. But the look on Ron's was one of complete empathy and support. Harry did have a tendency to quickly forgive people he loved after all. Grabbing the hand tied bouquet of daisies off the table, he launched himself out of the door and across the garden, trying to find a little space in his head to focus. Destination, deliberation, determination.
Harry barely registered the grip on his arm as he disapparated; but he knew it was friendly, someone he could trust all the same. Dragging two people into the void wasn't his plan though, he redoubled his efforts to focus; landing with a thud in the small square gardens at the centre of Grimmauld Place. He didn't need to look round to know Ron was stood behind him, still clutching his arm; he knew the man better than most, could feel his presence, his aura.
"Come on," Ron murmured "get inside the house, let Poppet take care of you. I'll go get Hermione & Celeste". Relief and gratitude flooded Harry.
"How do you know about my house elf?"
"I'm an auror Harry, not an idiot."
"I didn't say you..."
"Hermione told me"
"She talks to you more than me", jealousy flared in him. "You know Ron, I'm starting to wonder about you two."
"Wonder away mate, Susan would have my head on a stick I'm sure. You've nothing to worry about there." Harry frowned in confusion; who was Susan? Susan...
"You're dating Susan Bones?!" Harry exclaimed, gosh, how much of his friends' lives had he already missed? He vowed there and then, he wasn't going to ignore anything in his friends' lives again; starting with his two best friends, and then maybe working outwards from there. He wasn't 100% sure, but he had his suspicions that George Weasley wasn't as put together as he seemed to everyone else and he realised he should make an effort to get to know the Slytherins Hermione had chosen as her family. He huffed out a breath, "never thought you'd go for a Hufflepuff".
Ron smiled the smile of a man in love, "she's more than just a school house Harry; she's amazing!"
Harry couldn't help but smile back, although the expression fell when thoughts of his lost girl flitted across is mind. Gathering his courage and with determination, he crossed the road and walked into his house, unlocking the door with the barest movement of his wrist. He smirked to himself, remembering the elderly Alaskan native who had taught him that spell. Being able to enter a place wordlessly without moving much really helped in a snow blizzard.
"Poppet" Harry called out and was surprised when she didn't immediately appear. "Poppet?" he called again. Where was that elf? She usually responded straight away. His breathing increased as he heard the distinct sound of a china cup crashing to the tile floor in the kitchen. Signalling to Ron for silence and to follow him, Harry gently put the bouquet of daisies he was still clutching onto the hall table as he drew his wand from its holster on his arm.
Ron Weasley noted the way Harry and he made a great team stalking silently through the house to the kitchen door. He briefly wondered what working with Harry as an auror would have been like. Another crash of china from the kitchen focuses his thoughts again, the chestnut and dragon heartstring wand gripped in his hand practically vibrated with energy. Out of all of the wands Ron had had since he was 11, this one worked for him the best, even if it wasn't made for him. Ron pushed thoughts of Peter Pettigrew and winning the wand's allegiance out of his head, he needed to focus as Harry reached the kitchen door, silently turning the door knob and pushing the door open. Ron wasn't expecting the sight in front of him at all.
He certainly wasn't expecting to find Hermione Granger sat on Harry's kitchen floor laughing so hard she was struggling to draw breath. The small house elf next to her was emitting such a high squeaky noise Ron wasn't sure if she was in pain or laughing. Considering the situation in front of him, he settled on the elf laughing. Sharing a glance with Harry, he wasn't at all shocked at the love and trepidation in his eyes. The slow, warm smile spreading across Harry's face confirmed Ron's suspicions his best friend was madly in love with his other best friend. Ron suddenly understood what was meant by the term 'third wheel' and made to back up the few steps and out of the room, missing the first step completely and falling flat on his bottom.
The thudding noise of Ron landing on the floor and his subsequent laughter had Hermione finally comprehending there were others in the house, let alone the room. She'd thought she was finally getting over her giggling fit until she realised Ron had just done exactly what she'd done minutes beforehand. More giggles bubbled up her throat and before she knew it, all four occupants of the room were sat on the floor giggling like they were school children again.
She'd worried about tension being unbearable between her and Harry once he finally got home, but their laughter had chased any anxieties away. Harry reached out, clasping his hand around her own. The small smile on his face spoke of the compassion and love she'd come to associate with Harry early on in their friendship. She could never fail to be overwhelmed by his capacity to love; Dumbledore had always recognised and encouraged it.
"I've missed this" she whispered, "missed my best friends"
"We're still here Hermione" Ron responded, laying his hand over Harry and Hermione's clasped ones.
"All for one and one for all?" Harry smirked before they all descended into giggles again.
And that is where Andromeda Tonks found them some time later, giggling on Harry's kitchen floor, sharing stories of years gone by and reminiscing about school, just as if time was stood still for the day and all the worries of their world had vanished.