Family Man
A/N:
One, I am not making any money from the following. This is just for my own wish fulfilment.
Two, I am not a native English speaker, please go easy on me for the grammar! Also, this is my first FanFic.
Three, I am a diehard HHr shipper, and the following contains lots and lots of fluff. Don't like? Don't read. If you do, please review!
After a gruelling thirty-six hour shift at St. Mungo's, a very weary Harry Potter stumbled through the entrance of 12 Grimmauld Place just as the clock struck midnight. Who knew a Healer's job could be so demanding?
"Harry? Honey, are you home?" he heard a familiar voice call out from the living room. Harry knew the voice all too well. Hermione. A moment later his wife had him enveloped in one of her famous bone-crushing bear hugs, the one he knew she reserved only for him, her husband. He reciprocated and wrapped his arms around her. Oh, love.
"I am." He mumbled, resting his chin on her shoulder. Finally, I'm home.
"Oh Harry, look at you - poor thing. You're spent. Have they been overworking you?" She pulled back and her expression turned from one of concern to anger as her eyes moved over his body from his drooping muscles to his worn-out eyes. Worn-out from lack of sleep.
"Well, Healers are expected to work this much. It's a tough job. Besides, we had an emergency case today, an injured Auror." Poor fellow. "He's stable now. Most likely, he'll make a full recovery. No need to worry." Harry flopped onto the couch and closed his eyes, groaning.
"Love, can you get me a -"
"Here. I had it ready. I knew you'd want it." Hermione interrupted.
Harry opened his eyes and there was his glass of pumpkin juice with essence of orange - just the way he liked it. She's wonderful. He gulped it down, instantly feeling better. Wait, pumpkin juice alone doesn't act this quickly. There must be something else in it...
Before he could say something Hermione broke in, "I added a Refreshing Draught to it. It would help you rejuvenate quickly."
She's amazing. "You're the best person I know, you are."
Hermione beamed at him. He lay down on the couch, placing his head in her lap as she lovingly caressed his face and his unruly hair.
"How're the kids?"
"James is - well, just a month old and sleeps pretty much the entire day, but he could sense your absence. Rose is cross with you though - your daughter demands an apology for breaking your promise to her. They are both in bed upstairs, asleep."
"Promise?"
"Well, you did promise to spend the entire weekend with her and then snuck off to work." She reminded him. Harry sighed and buried his face in her lap. Oh yes, I remember now. I had promised to take the little princess flying yesterday. I'll have to make it up to her somehow. Maybe a picnic next weekend...I'll see. Hermione leaned down to his ear and whispered in a tantalising voice, "You'll have to make it up to me too. I missed you as much and I'm not letting you off easily for ruining my weekend."
Harry shivered. Oh yes, he would love to make it up to his wife. In fact, he was ready to begin now, and he turned to look at her with a twinkle in his eyes. Oh baby, I'll make amends for that ruined weekend right now. But then a low groan escaped his lips and his eyes closed as another cramped muscle made its presence felt. Perhaps, not now...
"But that is for later. Right now, you're going straight to bed and I'm going to give you a special massage. You're about to collapse, for heaven's sake, don't work yourself so hard!"
"Massage? A special massage? Is that what I think it to be?" Harry asked, with a naughty grin on his face.
"Harry James Potter! It isn't that, you idiot. I've been researching massages while you were gone. It's Japanese Shiatsu - to relieve your muscle tension... we can have some fun later, though," she mischievously added, as an afterthought.
"Rest assured, we will. But I need to shower first, I feel terrible." Harry said, as he gradually got up. He hated moving away from her touch, but he knew that he really needed a shower after such an ordeal.
"I'll wait for you in the bedroom." Hermione winked at him, smiling as she got up.
After a cold, blissful shower, Harry stepped out of the bathroom and wiped himself dry. That was refreshing. On his way to bed, he passed by his kids' room. His mind insisted that his children must get a tender goodnight kiss from Daddy, even if they were asleep and he silently went inside. Though it was dark, he could make out the soft toys neatly arranged on the shelves and heaps of others scattered on the floor. Stepping carefully to not tread on them, he made his way to Rose's bed. Rose - oh Rose, my baby, my little princess.
His three-year-old daughter had moved on from soft toys to puzzles and now shared her mother's love for books. She had inherited her mother's brains. That, coupled with her almond eyes and wild chestnut hair made her a mini-Hermione. And that Harry could sometimes detect a slight hint of bossy in her voice, made her look so... adorable. Though, not everything about her resembled Hermione. What she enjoyed most was her Daddy taking her up in the air on a broomstick; she loved flying. Harry had taught her to fly - just a couple of feet above the ground on a toy broomstick - and she loved it. Rose was a real Daddy's girl.
Harry looked at the cute form of his daughter, nestled under the baby blanket. Her head rested on a tiny pillow, a sweet smile on her lips. Harry softly pressed a kiss to her forehead, careful not to wake her up. Sleep tight, my love. We'll talk about that picnic tomorrow. With that, he turned to his son's cradle.
It was empty.
Harry froze. What the... where is he? Harry rushed out of the room, his paternal protective instincts aroused. He ran to his bedroom and called out, "Hermione? James is..."
And then, he stopped. The tenderness of the sight before him melted his heart. His darling wife Hermione, breastfeeding his son, his son, James... this was... this was... the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Harry had no proper words to describe it. He was choked by emotion.
A few years earlier, Harry would never have thought that one day he would have a family - a real family - one which he could call his own. Well, I was too busy trying to remain alive, wasn't I? What with Voldemort, his Death Eaters, Horcruxes and deadly snakes, prophecies and plots, conspiracies and betrayals, suspicions and lies, dangerous tournaments he was forced into - involving dragons, sphinxes and acromantulas, basilisks, werewolves, deadly curses, torture, murder - the death of so many loved ones including his parents - a whole bloody war he was in the midst of. Not to mention the fact that I was carrying a piece of Voldemort's soul inside me. And now - sweet Merlin, I am married. I have a loving wife and two beautiful children. I am a father. I have a family. I am a family man. All this struck him at the same time as he watched Hermione sing a lullaby and gently rock his baby to sleep. She stood by me like a rock, through thick and thin. And now, she's my wife. Oh, what did I do to get so lucky?
"What's the matter, love? James woke up while you were in the shower. I'm just putting him to sleep," Hermione told him softly.
"Nothing, I just..." Harry shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the scene in front of him.
"Well, don't just stand there staring. Come on here," she patted the bed beside her.
Harry came over and sat down by her. His son looked charming as ever - the epitome of cuteness. His pink cheeks, sweet lips and plump limbs, which ended in tiny baby-sized fingers and toes - Harry loved all of it. James was the apple of his eye. The little hair he had was all jet black which would grow up to look just like his father's, Harry knew. He had his grandmother's - and Harry's - green eyes, though they were closed now, as he gently suckled on Hermione's breast. I can keep looking at this all day long, and never get bored.
"Isn't he lovely?" Hermione whispered.
"Absolutely. He's our son, after all." Harry replied, as he put an arm around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He couldn't resist pinching his son's cheeks gently.
"Hush, you'll wake him up," Hermione huffed and lightly swatted his arm. Harry just smiled, this was his son, after all. As James finally fell asleep, it was time to put the baby back in his cradle. Harry gave his son the intended goodnight kiss and the couple moved out of the kids' room.
"How can I ever thank you, Hermione, for bringing my children to this world - for giving me the family I never had?" Harry said, embracing her.
"You don't need to. I've wanted them too, Harry and I love them as much as you do, if not more." She replied, putting her arms around his neck. "And I love you, Harry - I love you so much."
It was as if someone had turned a switch on inside him. Suddenly, he took a step aside and swept her into his arms.
Hermione squealed, "Harry! Put me down, you need to rest - you're exhausted."
"I'm never too tired for this." Harry told her as he carried her bridal style to their bed and peppered her face with small and big kisses to silence her. They collapsed on the bed - limbs tangled, feeling, enjoying each other's touch and topped with hot kisses.
"Time for your massage." She whispered breathlessly, coming up after a round of sensual snogging and started tugging on his robes.
"Mmm... later... I just want to enjoy you now, " Harry murmured in her ear pulling her close, running one hand over her back and another through her hair, taking in her scent. Wow! "Hmm... you smell so good. Why do you remind me of coconuts?"
"It's my new shampoo. Do you like it?"
"I love it. It adds to your... enticing, rather seductive aura, Mrs. Potter." Harry said, his hands now exploring her all-too-familiar curves he was so fond of.
By the way she whimpered under him, Harry could tell that Hermione was pleased he found her so alluring. I am so turned on right now. Before she could say anything, Harry covered her mouth with his own. I'll show you how much I missed you, love.
After a much-needed romp under the sheets, Harry and Hermione finally surfaced, content and utterly satisfied. This is bliss. "Wow, that was amazing. It gets better every time, don't you agree?"
"Of course it does. You're the best, always." She remarked into his chest.
"I love you Hermione. Good night... dream of me." Harry said, cuddling his wife in his arms.
"I will. Good night, love."
As Hermione snuggled up to him, Harry felt all the fatigue gradually ease out from his body. My life couldn't get any better, he thought, as he finally drifted off to sleep.