AN: It seems my best ideas lately come to me at work. This idea came while listening to He Didn't Have To Be by Brad Paisley. I ended it where I did because it didn't feel right to add anymore. I hope you enjoy this.
She should have expected him really. Her first visitor since she returned from the States. The little house was quiet at last when there was knocking on the door. Hermione was not surprised to see him standing there.
"Harry!" She threw her arms around him. Seven years away at Harvard Magical University in Boston had caused her to miss her best friend so much. With all the ups and downs she had she could have used him by her side. Still, he supported her through letters and floo calls; supported her on what she told him anyway. She had one big thing she had never told anyone in Britain except her parents.
"Hello, Mione." He hugged her back just as strongly.
"Come in. Sorry about the mess. Still unpacking." Her eyes quickly swept over the room, noting that anything that would give her secret away was put away.
The dark haired man grinned and shook his head. "You make a mess? Never!"
She laughed lightly. "Merlin, how I missed you. Sit, sit. I'll be right back." She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Harry to look around at what she did have unpacked. There weren't many pictures up yet, many were still packed in a box.
Harry grinned softly at one that was out. He picked it up as she was coming back. "I remember this." She set the two mugs of tea down and looked at the picture in his hand. "It was the day you went off to uni."
Harry and Hermione stood with Ron and Ginny in the magical section of London Heathrow airport. Ginny stood on Harry's right, Hermione on his left, and Ron on the other side of her. They were smiling and laughing.
"Those were the days."
Harry just smiled as he replaced the picture and joined her on the couch. "Tell me about your school." They spent the next hour catching up on each other, life, and anything else that came to mind. They fell into a companionable silence, both their mugs empty on the table.
"Harry, is something wrong?"
He has spent the last several minutes fidgeting. "I... I know it's sudden and you haven't been back long, but would you like to go to the movies with me? As a...a date?" He looked so hopeful that she hated her next words.
"I'm sorry. I can't." His face fell and he looked like he had just kicked his puppy. "I would love to, don't get me wrong, but I can't."
"Why?"
Before she could answer there was a small voice from the hall. "Mummy?" Two sets of adult eyes turned. A small boy stood in the doorway, one hand rubbing sleepy brown eyes. He had dark unruly hair that just brushed his ears.
"Come here, sweetie. There's someone I want you to meet." The child walked around the couch and held his arms up to Hermione. She pulled him into her lap and shifted him to face her best friend. "Alex, this is my friend, Harry Potter. Harry, this is Alexander Daniel Granger. My son."
Green eyes shifted quickly between the pair before settling on Alex. "Hello there. How old are you, Alex?"
He held up five little fingers before looking up to his mother. "Is he the one you told me about?"
Hermione smiled softly. "Yes, dear, he is." At Harry's raised brow, she explained. "His favorite bedtime stories are about Harry Potter, his friends, and their adventures."
Alex drifted off in his mother's arms. Hermione shifted him slightly so he was leaning more comfortably against her. "I would love to go on a date with you but I have Alex to think of."
"Where's his father?"
Sadness filled her brown eyes. "Brian was died just before Alex was born. He was an auror in Boston. There was a fight and he was killed." She sniffed. "We were going to get married after the baby was born and I finished my first round of studies. But it never happened."
"Oh Mione." He couldn't hug her with her son in her lap and so settled for taking her hand. He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to worry. I was half a world away. There was nothing you could have done."
"I would have been there in a heartbeat if you needed me." He reached up and tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. "You mean more to me than anything in the world. I couldn't be here for you then, but I promise I'll be here for you now. Both of you." Her eyes widened. "I love children, Mione, you know that. Why would Alex be any different? Him being your child makes him that much more special."
She shrugged. "I don't know. It seems like most guys find out about him and then turn and run."
He smirked. "I'm not most guys."
"Very true."
"The offer still stands. For the movie," he said at her confused look. When she opened her mouth, he stopped her. "A date to the movies with you and Alex." Her face lit up, almost disbelieving what he said. "I won't make you choose between me and your son. I want to take you both."
Hermione shifted Alex to the couch and dove into her best friend's arms. "I love you, Mione, and I'm sure I'll love Alex too."
Tears welled in her eyes as she smiled brightly. "I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything." He gently kissed her lips, watching the blush bloom on her cheeks. "Is tomorrow okay?"
"Tomorrow is perfect."
And so Harry took Hermione and little Alex to see Disney's The Wild. Alex talked about it for hours afterward, sharing with both adults. Hermione watched as Harry interacted with her son, feeling blessed to have such a wonderful best friend. The sparkle in those green eyes told her he really was enjoying his time with her boy. He stayed for dinner and even volunteered to put Alex to bed. It became their routine that a few times a week, Harry would come over for dinner and then help with Alex.
Hermione stood outside Alex's door one night, listening to them talk. She heard him tell Alex's favorite Harry story about the time they rescued Sirius on Buckbeak.
"Hermione, I know you're standing out there," Harry called. "Could you come in here?"
She entered, worry filling her at the slight fear in his voice. "Harry? Is everything okay?" She grew more confused with the glance he shared with Alex. "What's wrong?"
Harry smiled slightly. "Nothing. I just have a question to ask you. Come here." He took her hand and led her to sit beside him as Alex scooted back on his bed. On the child's face was a grin a mile wide and there was hope in his eyes.
"What's going on? Harry, you're scaring me."
"I love you, Hermione, more than anything. You know that. I love being with you and Alex but I want more." He took her left hand and slid from the bed to one knee. He pulled a simple gold and diamond ring from his pocket and held it out to her. "Marry me, Mione. Give me the family I've always wanted. You and me and Alex and any others that may come."
Tears spilled down her cheeks and she couldn't fight the smile that was forming. "Yes, A million times yes." She watched as he slid the ring onto her finger before she flung her arms around his neck and held him close. His arms wrapped around her and he laid a kiss in her hair.
He pulled away for a moment. "We can't forget one of the most important pieces of this family." She laughed lightly and they both turned to Alex.
Brown eyes were wide from his perch near his pillows. "Are you going to be my dad now?" he asked softly.
Harry's smile was soft. "If you want me to be."
"Yes!" The five year old launched himself at the couple. "I have the coolest dad ever!" That got laughter from both adults.