Chapter 39: La Vie en Rose

Harry sat in the terminal, watching the planes move across the window in front of him. Wearing shorts, a polo and his new sneakers Harry drank in the sights around him.

"How's it hangin' Boy Wonder?" Tonks sat down next to him.

"I'm fine, Tonks," Harry deflected. His mind was still on Sirius Black and the threat he posed not just to Harry but Hermione and her family as well. "How are you doing?"

"Aside from my cousin supposedly stalking my other more distant cousin?" She smiled down at him. "I'm just peachy aside from that. You know, it's weird. My mum always had an issue with Sirius. Not what he did, everyone had an issue with that but she always had the hardest time believing he turned away from everything he believed in."

"What do you mean?" Harry cocked his head.

"In school, he was always the closest of friends with your father. They were more brothers to Sirius than his own brother, Regulus. She never could figure why he would do that."

"Something must have made him snap," Harry spat bitterly.

"Perhaps," Tonks shook her head. "But enough of that. We're on vacation for the next two weeks."

"I'm on vacation for two weeks," Harry did his best Malfoy impression. "You're on security detail."

Tonks pushed him, the both of them laughing as they cut the tension.

"Laugh it up, Boy Wonder," Tonks continued to give him a hard time. "You do have your wand, right?"

"Yes," Harry nodded, tapping his wrist. "The holder Auntie Amelia gave me last year has charms that make it go invisible. Hermione has hers as well."

"Good. You won't get in trouble for using magic in a life-or-death scenario which, for you, we just call Tuesday."

"Hey!" Harry protested.

"What'd you say to him this time?" Hermione sat down with steaming cup of coffee.

"That he gets into Life-or-Death scenarios on the regular," Tonks said.

"Why are you offended by facts, Harry?"

"Hey!" Tonks and Hermione laughed at his vociferous protestations. Next thing Harry knew, they were calling for the boarding of their flight. Harry pulled out the ticket and saw they were upgraded to First Class.

"Wow," Richard relaxed in his chair on the plane. "They really went all out, didn't they?"

"Most certainly," Helen relaxed with a glass of complimentary champagne. "We will have to find a way to thank them for everything once we get back."

Two hours later, they were checking into the penthouse suite the goblins booked for them in Paris.

"Wow," Tonks said with wide eyes. The suite had tall windows and even taller ceilings. The walls were pastel blue with gold accents around the doors and windows. "Remind me to ask for protective detail more often. They really spared no expense."

Once they got settled, they headed to lunch at a place next to the Seine river. Harry ordered a soup with a baguette while Hermione ordered Bouillabaisse. Richard and Helen opted to split a sandwich with some wine.

"Oh this is delicious," Hermione exclaimed after her first bite. "Harry you have to try this!"

Harry leaned over and let Hermione spoon a bite into his mouth. Closing his eyes, he let the flavor pass over his tongue, relishing the softness of the fish, the richness of the broth with the herbs giving the soup a dynamic flavor.

"Oh that's incredible. Would you like to try mine?"

Hermione nodded aggressively. Harry tore a piece of his baguette off and dipped it into the soup.

"Not as rich but easily more comforting," Hermione commented as she swallowed. Neither noticed that they had scooted closer and their knees were now touching one another. It did not go unnoticed by the parents nor Tonks who was a few tables over, disguised as a young blonde woman. Smiles blossomed across the faces of the five individuals, all for very different reasons.

Harry was taking in his friend as he never had before. He noticed her face had lost a lot of its roundness over the year and her growth had done her well. Even her hair, bushy as it was, was calming down into relaxed curls, looking more and more like her mother. Her eyes were shining with joy, the gold flecks shining in the sunshine. Her blue sleeveless blouse and skirt was entirely different from anything he saw at school and he was finding it very attractive.

"Well," Richard spoke up as they finished their meal. "Where do we want to go first?"

"I was hoping we could see Notre Dame," Harry said. "It's not far from here and the tour would probably take us the rest of the afternoon."

"Seconded!" Hermione agreed. "I've heard so many things of the stained glass."

"Let's head on over then," Helen reached into her purse to pay the tab. Hermione stood and Harry noticed their legs had been touching and suddenly he was missing that.

Half an hour later, they stood in front of the doors of the cathedral. Harry looked up at the buttresses, connecting to the superstructure. Elegant spires reached toward the sky and framed the windows. Harry studied the arch above the door with the intricate carvings.

"It's incredible," Harry looked on in amazement. "Think about how long it took to do even one of these. The craftsmanship that it must have taken…"

"I know," Hermione ran her hands over the stonework. "We could make this in a few seconds but the fact that it took them years makes it all the more special."

They entered the cathedral and sat in one of the pews. Harry smelled the stonework of the building with hints of the wood that made up the roof, as well as the wood items placed within the church. As they sat there, the organ started to play. It wasn't just music, it was an all-encompassing sound, seeping through every pore of Harrys body. He let the music wash over him, overcome by its majestic power. Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand. He had no idea why he did it but it just felt right.

Hermione was startled at first but then relaxed as she felt his hand slide into hers. She even leaned into him as the organ began to play the next hymn. They lost track of time as they listened to the music around them.

Once it was over, they took the narrow spiral staircase up to the next level. Walking on the upper level, Hermione's fear of heights came roaring back and she started to breathe erratically. There wasn't a quick way back down and Hermione was starting to panic a little.

"Don't worry," Harry was there. "We're here. You're safe."

"It's so high," Hermione squeaked out.

"I know," Harry stepped closer. "Put your arm around me. You'll be safe; I promise."

Hermione looked into his iridescent green eyes and knew what he said was true. Slowly, her parents in the lead, they walked to examine the big stained glass window at the end of the walkway. Looking up at the glass, Hermione forgot about the height and drank in each panel.

"Simply incredible," Richard said. "How long do you think this took?"

"Years, probably," Hermione said. "They date back to the 13th century. Not like they could craft these in a day back then."

"Wow..." Harry marveled at each panel.

That night, they ate dinner near the Eifel Tower, finishing their day with a tour of the tower itself. Once they got up to the second level, Helen- a little afraid of heights herself- decided to stop there, instead of going to the very top. Richard also elected to remain, to keep his wife comfortable.

"Would you like to see the top of the tower with me?" Harry asked Hermione. She bit her lip in thought, weighing her fears against being able to see all of Paris.

"Sure," Hermione relented. "But you have to stay close to me the whole time, okay?"

As the elevator opened and they stepped out onto the top of the Tower, Hermione was awed. The city was lit up in a wonderful splendor. Without even noticing, she walked to the edge. The River Seine stretched out below them, cutting through the city. Casting her gaze down, she realized that how high she was. Gasping, she stepped back only to find Harry right behind her.

He wrapped an arm around her and brought her in close.

"It's okay," he soothed. "I'm here, like I promised."

How can I feel so secure, so solid when the only thing keeping me from falling is the young man behind me? Hermione's voice echoed in her head.

You know you won't fall because he'll catch you, a new voice made itself heart. As much as you've ignored it away, you have to admit how you feel. This isn't a crush, this isn't a fleeting fancy; this is something much, much more. You've fallen for your best friend.

I have NOT fallen, Hermione's brain argued.

Okay, then move away, Hermione realized it was her heart talking.

I don't want to.

Of course you don't. You're right where you want to be. You've fallen and you're waiting for him to catch you.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry's voice cut through her internal dialogue. Hermione didn't move away from him. She just turned and looked at him. In doing so, she realized how close they were and that he was a little taller than her.

When did he get taller than me? She wondered. Looking up through her eyelashes, her eyes locked on his, her whole being lost in those green eyes. Brown locked on to green and she leaned her shoulder into his chest. He laid his hand on her elbow, drawing her in closer.

"Hermione?" Harry spoke again. She noticed their heads moving closer, bit by bit. She tilted her head up and he leaned in. They were centimeters apart and Hermione wondered Is it going to..

"Wonderful view, huh?" The teens broke apart at the new voice. Next to them was an old man, smiling at them. "My wife and I came here every year. This was her favorite place."

A tear rolled down his cheek as he spoke.

"That-that's lovely," Hermione stammered out a response.

"Forgive me for interrupting," he said in a thick French accent. "You two remind me very much of her and I when we were younger. It brought back a lot of memories and I couldn't resist."

"She sounds wonderful," Harry said. "What was her name?"

"Her name was Perenelle," the man smiled sadly. "We had so many adventures, her and I."

"I am sorry for your loss Mr..." Harry reached out his hand.

"Just call me Nicolas," the man smiled before turning back to the view. "Thank you for the reminder. Avec amour, Perenelle."

"We'll leave you be, Nicolas," Hermione said before pulling Harry away toward the lift to head back down. On the way back to the hotel, Hermione was worried. Harry hadn't said a single word since their near kiss.

Does he hate me? Her inner thoughts raged. What was I thinking!? He's my best friend, of course he doesn't think of me like that.

Meanwhile Harry was reassessing everything he thought he knew.

She's your best friend, his inner voice admonished. Why did you think of kissing her? You've never thought of that before.

Yeah but now that you have, you can't think of anything else, a softer voice stated.

It's wrong. Her parents have taken you in and you're going to repay them by dating their only daughter.

They already love you. Why would they hate you dating their daughter?

But what if it doesn't work out? What if she hates me?

What if it does? She's your best friend, the one you rely upon when you can't rely on anyone else. Isn't it worth a chance to possibly see if you could be something more?

On and on, his brain spun ad nauseum. He admitted to himself that Hermione was beautiful. He loved her eyes, her smile, her laugh. Beyond her physical appearance, she was kind, loyal, intelligent and fierce force of nature. He felt comfortable around her in a way he was comfortable around no one else. She inspired him, comforted and motivated him. She understood him and he felt he understood her as well. He knew when she was upset and knew how to comfort her when she was. But what did he feel about her?

Harry moved on autopilot up to the hotel. He sat on his bed for a long, long time until finally he knew what he needed to do. Exiting his room, he walked across the suite and knocked on the door.

"Can I come in?" He asked.

"Sure, come on in," the voice Harry needed to hear said.

Opening the door, he spotted Richard reclining on the bed while Helen brushed her hair in the bathroom.

"Can I talk to you?" Harry spoke softly, avoiding eye contact with the elder Granger.

"Sure," Richard said, sitting up on the bed. "What's on your mind?"

"Well..." Harry's eyes flicked to Helen.

"I'll go make myself some tea, I think," Helen shut the door behind her as she left.

"I'm having a bit of an issue and I'm not sure what to do with it."

"I'm guessing this has something to do with why you've been quiet since you came be down from the top level?"

"When we were up there, we had a... moment."

Richard let the silence draw out. This was Harry's

"We were looking out across the city when Hermione stepped back into me. I know she gets scared of heights so I just stayed close. She looked up at me and I started to lean in. I thought she was going to kiss me."

"Did you want to kiss her?" Richard's inner protective father was throttling him for his measured reaction.

"I... don't know," Harry started to pace around the room. "When Hermione was petrified, I felt off. I missed her so much it made my heart hurt. Like a piece of me was just... gone.

"When I administered the restorative, I sat there and wished that she would come back to me. At the moment, I would have given anything to see her smile again, to hear her laugh. Since then, nothing has been the same. I want to be closer. I'll sit close, lean into her. I've never been one for physical affection but with her, I'm just..."

"Comfortable," Richard nodded. "Look, kid, I see the way you look at her. I also see the way she looks at you. I know you care about her; you probably have since you met. Now, as you're getting older, you're starting to notice things. Suddenly, she looks a little different, yes?"

Harry nodded without looking. He had caught himself checking her out a few times but caught himself before anyone noticed- or at least so he thought.

"I wasn't intending to have this conversation quite so quickly but I think it's time. You're about to go through some changes, some I expect you've already encountered."

Harry nodded again.

"It's a confusing time. Soon you're going to experience some urges and you're going to notice things you never noticed before. That's perfectly natural and normal. There's nothing wrong with exploring your feelings and urges. However, there are two things I must make clear.

"One: consent matters. Whatever you are doing, whoever you are doing it with, if anyone says no- it could be you, it could be your partner- everything stops. If you aren't sure if you have consent, you need to ask. Do not push this and do not be afraid to stop someone from pushing you to do something you don't want to do.

"Two: protect yourself and your partner. You are going to have a lot of urges and you might want to act on them. Don't get yourself into something you aren't ready for. Always remember that it isn't just a physical act; there's a lot of emotion involved, for both of you. Communicate your wants and needs and listen to theirs. Protect yourself from unintended consequences that could ruin your or your partner's life, to say nothing of your relationship.

"Back to Hermione..." Harry recoiled a little in fear. "Do you see her as a friend or as something with the potential for more?"

"I definitely see her as my friend but lately... I don't know. I feel more toward her, like it's building toward something bigger. But I don't know how she feels. What if she doesn't feel the same? What if she's not willing to risk what we have? What if..."

"Whoa whoa whoa," Richard stood up to stop Harry from pacing all way through the floor. "Have you thought about talking to her about this?"

"What would I say?"

"Just tell her the truth; tell her how you feel. See how she feels and work with her on navigating the best way forward."

"Thank you," Harry relaxed back onto the bed. "I do have one more question."

For the first time, Harry looked into his eyes.

"Would you be okay if I started dating Hermione?"

Richard couldn't resist, he let out a laugh.

"Harry," he clapped the younger boy on the shoulder. "I've been quietly hoping for this for a while now and even if I wasn't, my wife certainly is and I'm not going to cross her anytime soon. Now, go on. I'm sure my daughter is waiting on you."

On the other side of the suite, Hermione was sitting on her bed, deep in thought. The door to the adjoining bathroom opened and Tonks walked out.

"Penny for them?" Tonks asked as she dried her hair.

"Harry almost kissed me," Hermione said. "We were interrupted and he hasn't said anything since then. I'm worried I pushed things too far and now he regrets it."

"You didn't," Tonks said from the doorway. She pulled the towel through her hair as she talked. "I was there, doing my job you know? He was leaning in just as much as you were. I think it just freaked him out a little. Like he's suddenly aware that everything is different and he's processing it."

"What if it was just a moment?" Hermione growled she sprawled back on the bed in frustration. "I mean look at me. I'm just a buck-toothed, bushy-haired, bookworm. Why would he choose me when there's so many girls who have everything I don't?"

"I used to think like you, Hermione," Tonks sat on the edge of the bed. "When I was in school, I used to change my appearance to attract the boys. Some wanted bigger tits, others a firmer ass. Some wanted me shorter or taller. It was when I realized they were just dating me to mold me into their dream girl that I realized the only person I should change my appearance for is me. The boys who accepted me as I was were the best ones and the ones who tried to change me were the pigs I should avoid."

"Whatever physical deficiencies you think you have, I promise you Harry sees none of that. All those other girls, while they're beautiful but do they know him? Does he trust them? Does he let them close? Or support them the way he does you?"

"Well, no" Hermione relented. "But what if he doesn't see me that way?"

"Hermione, I love you but sometimes you think too much for your own good," Hermione looked up to see her mother leaning on the doorway. "Listen to your heart and trust your instincts. And, yes, talk to him. See how he feels and figure out how you want to go."

"I need to grab some air," Hermione brushed past her mother and stepped onto the balcony. She closed her eyes and listened to the traffic of the city below, letting the cool breeze calm her troubled mind.

"Hermione?" She turned to see Harry standing on the balcony, his hands in his pockets. "Do you have a minute?"

"You haven't said a word in hours and now you want to talk?" Frustration was bleeding off her.

"I know, I know and I'm sorry. I've been... thinking." Harry looked suitable abashed. "This is all new to me. I've been thinking about life since you were petrified and the role you play in it. It's not a shock for me to say you're the most important person to me and those weeks without you really revealed just how important you are to me. I guess today, tonight specifically, gave me sudden clarity and I saw what was right in front of me all this time."

Hermione's frustration dropped off like stone over a cliff, replaced with hopeful curiosity.

"Recently, I've been thinking about this relationship and what it possibly could be," Harry started fidgeting with his hands. "I have no idea what the future holds for me. There's so many people out for my head, that want my blood. On one hand, it makes me nervous for anyone close to me. On the other, it makes me want get the most out of the time I have."

"What are you saying?" Hermione asked, not daring to hope.

"I guess what I am saying is that I've developed feelings for you, feelings beyond friendship. I don't know where they'll lead but I'm hoping to explore them together. I don't know if you feel the same way but I'm hoping you d-oop."

The rest of Harry's words were drowned by Hermione throwing herself at him and covering his lips with her own.

"Harry Potter," she smiled as she placed a hand on either side of your face. "I have had a crush on you since you stood between me and a fully-grown mountain troll. That has only grown since then. I started to fancy you when you stayed by my side when I couldn't see last February. Yes, I would very much be interested in exploring something more. Together."

"Really?" Harry couldn't believe his ears. He also couldn't wipe the smile from his face.

"Really, really," Hermione leaned in and kissed him again. The two smiled into the kiss and just reveled in the embrace of their new relationship status.

Richard stood in the doorway of the room and watched them, smiling like a loon. Helen approached him and gave him a long kiss.

"What was that for?" Richard asked his wife.

"Just you being you," Helen kissed him again. "Come on, let's give the new couple some privacy."

While the Grangers disappeared into their room, Harry and Hermione were still locked in their embrace.

"So what does this make us?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Hermione said. "We'll just say it makes us closer and take it day-by-day. No need to put a label on it just yet. Let's just enjoy the moment."

"Yes ma'am," Harry smiled and leaned in for another kiss. While it wasn't the top of the Eiffel tower, kissing his best friend on the balcony of a penthouse suite, looking out onto the city was pretty romantic location for a first kiss.

(A/N: I wasn't intending for this to happen this soon but the scene, specifically the one in the Eiffel Tower took on a life of its own. It was going to be soon... but not this soon. It was initially going to happen at Christmas of this year but I didn't want to have a moment that close only to string the two of them - and the readers- along in a "will they, won't they" scenario.)