The Music of Love Chapter 2, a harry potter fanfic

"Exile"

A/N: Please listen to Taylor Swift's Exile as you read. Composers: Taylor Alison Swift / Justin Deyarmond Vernon / William Bowery

All lyrics within this fic are property of © April Base Publishing, Songs of Universal Inc., Tasrm Publishing, William Bowery Music Publishing

It was the cold, the loneliness, the howling of the wind, the frustration, the war, the void, the fear of dying. Harry snapped. He couldn't take it anymore. Hearing Hermione cry herself to sleep each night over a traitorous prat who didn't deserve her was torture. Granted, to the wizard, no one would ever deserve her. But still. Harry really didn't mean to do anything other than cheer her up. But as they were dancing, he had gotten carried away. Can you blame him? He was in the middle of nowhere with -to him- the most beautiful witch he knew. Her eyes were so sad. He was willing to make a fool of himself to see a glimmer of a smile. When he started twirling and doing ridiculous dance moves, she finally laughed. It was the ghost of a smile first and then she was laughing and being ridiculous with him.

As Harry twirled her around, Hermione's foot caught on something, and he had to pull her flush against him to prevent her from falling on her bum. His seeker reflexes acted on pure muscle memory. By the time he noticed how close they were, their faces were about two inches apart. He was about to apologize profusely when he saw it. Her eyes looked at his lips. It was just a fraction of a second, but he saw it. He was sure of it. He could almost taste her breath. Would her lips be as soft and warm as he thought they had to be? She started to push him away, but he pulled her in and hugged her tightly. It was almost as if Harry wanted to make her a part of his body.

"H-Harry?" Hermione was shocked and didn't hug him back right away. Harry never initiated physical displays of affection. Maybe this was about Ron. Maybe he was finally ready to talk about it.

Harry began to freak out. Maybe he read her signs wrong. He couldn't have, could he? He was about to let go since she didn't return his hug, but suddenly, her arms went around his neck, and she nuzzled against his collarbone and squeezed him hard. His mind froze. The number of sensations that erupted all over him was not normal. Never had a slight touch ever made him feel so much. He could smell her hair. He could feel how soft it was. Hugging Hermione was like holding an endless hearth that kept you warm and happy and safe. While her arms were around him, he could forget all the cold, the hunger, the desperation. Nothing mattered but her. Her presence grounded him better than gravity.

"Hermione… I-"

"It's okay, Harry. If you want to talk about what happened with Ron, we can do that…" she trailed off, her voice unsure and pained.

Harry tensed in their embrace. He could have strangled Ron for interrupting their moment. Because it was a moment, right? "Mione… I… No. I don't care about him. Not anymore. He left you. I could have forgiven him for abandoning me again… as he did in fourth year, but you? No. No fucking way."

Hermione knew better than to argue with Harry, "Then what's wrong?"

"Huh?" He responded a bit hazily, mainly because her perfume was distracting him too much. He inhaled with gusto.

"You never hug me," she stated this like a fact, not a complaint. Harry noted that.

"Sorry. I just… I never really knew or had any physical affection from the Dursleys. I never know when it is appropriate or if it would bother you or…" he trailed off but didn't let go.

"Harry… It never bothers me. Ugh. I hate them. I hate the Dursleys for what they did to you. You can touch me. I am not going anywhere. You can hug me any time you feel like it. You know full well I am a hugger," she smiled against the underside of his clavicle.

Merlin, did he feel that! All over. His body was starting to act on its own. The yearning that sparked a fire in his chest was growing stronger by the second. "I always want to hug you… You were my first hug, you know that?"

"I- Wait! What?!" she pulled away only to be startled by the look of adoration and complete devotion on his face.

He couldn't take it anymore. Something in the way she looked at him, with so much understanding and acceptance instead of pity, broke his self-control. Before his brain could process what this would mean, he brought one hand to cup Hermione's face and kissed her. It was slow, soft, tentative. It was perfect. The first couple of seconds, he was kissing her, and she was too shocked to respond at all. But Merlin and Morgana… When she finally started kissing him back, Harry could have died of joy right then and there. Her lips were warm, soft, inviting, and willing to kiss him (!). The fire of yearning his chest erupted. As their kiss grew heated, suddenly hands were all over the place: touching lightly, squeezing, scratching, kneading, caressing. Pieces of clothing started to be thrown in all directions.

They needed no words. No questions, no explanations were required. The only words spoken were to obtain consent which the witch had granted wholeheartedly. Harry lifted Hermione in his arms. His heart squeezed painfully, noting how light she was. She had been feeding Ron and him more since their food reserves went low. He took her to her cot and was surprised to see that their cots had somehow become just one and that Ron's had disappeared. Words had never been Harry's forte, so for the next hours, he proceeded to show Hermione how much she meant to him, how grateful he was that she was still with him, and if he were honest, how much she loved her. Neither of them noted in their passionate haze that the locket that had been on Hermione's neck had fallen and partially disintegrated. That's how strong their love for each other was.

The next day, he woke up alone. Her smell was all over the bed. Only his Hermione would still get up to work after the previous night. She was outside doing her watch hours. When he went to her, he was about to kiss her, but she looked away. She said it was a one-time thing. He didn't love her, she said. He tried to talk her out of her denial, but she was adamant. It was just the stress, the loneliness, their fear of dying. They had the Weasleys waiting for them. Harry felt his heart wither at that. Did she love Ron? She couldn't. The way she had touched him, kissed him… The way she gave herself to him, with abandon, without restraint or hesitation… it had to mean something, right?

But Harry wouldn't get to know because Ron returned that night, and he was never alone with Hermione again. And then in the battle of Hogwarts, he saw them kiss rather passionately. He could have died right then. He truly had nothing left, no one left to live for. That kiss was what made his walk to the Forbidden Forest an easy decision. However, when she volunteered to go with him, his resolve had significantly taken a blow. His hopes had stirred again when she left the most heart-wrenching, agonizing scream as Hagrid walked over to the school grounds with what seemed to be his dead body. Harry noted Ginny didn't make a sound.

Then, after the funerals came the celebrations. So many fucking parties and balls and galas. Months and months of feeling extremely uncomfortable in public spaces. So many fucking camera flashes. People telling him to smile. Ron basking on telling exaggerated tales or plain lies about his effort in the war. Today they were in the Three Broomsticks. Once again, she looked like a dream. She was wearing a knee-length red dress that hugged her now recovered body in all the right places. Her hair was flowing down in soft curls, and her face had just the right amount of makeup.

I can see you standin', honey
With his arms around your body
Laughin' but the joke's not funny at all
And it took you five whole minutes
To pack us up and leave me with it
Holdin' all this love out here in the hall

He could see how she didn't find his jokes or his lies entertaining, even if she smiled. That smile never reached her eyes. While so many people fawned over Ron, she looked like she wanted to apparate away. They were always similar in their dislike of being in the spotlight. Ron pulled Hermione to him and kissed her, a bit forcefully with tongue. It was as if he wanted to make her choke on it. Harry knew what Ronald was doing. He was claiming her as his in public. Hermione turned them so her back was to him. Because of this maneuver, Harry missed her pushing the redhead off of her firmly, and the scathing look that she gave him to keep him in check.

I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending
You're not my homeland anymore
So what am I defendin' now?
You were my town
Now I'm in exile seein' you out
I think I've seen this film before

Harry wished he could vanish Ron to freaking China. The arsehole had never even tried to do anything about Hermione's parents. They were still in Australia. Hermione thought they were lost forever because she had gone there alone (or so she thought because Harry had been with her under the cloak always). Harry had found them after she went back to England when Ron got too bitchy and complained ad nauseam about her being gone. Harry had never forgiven him. He couldn't. They barely talked civilly for Hermione's sake. Never were more than a few words exchanged. Harry had spent an obscene number of galleons paying to bring over world-renown experts, both magical and muggle, to work with Mr. and Mrs. Granger and return their memories. The bill had gotten to the point that Harry had sold ancestral properties and heirlooms to afford it all. All he had now was Grimmauld Place, Sirius's bike, and the ruins of his parents' home at Godric's Hollow. After tapping his shoulder, the barkeeper pulled Harry aside and handed him a letter. Harry went away to a private room to read it.

Hermione had gone to the loo just to get away from Ron for a moment, and she followed Harry with her eyes as discreetly as she could. She had felt his stare the whole evening. The witch knew he was fuming at Ron's need to shine. Maybe he was angry at Ron's… inappropriate kiss. No. That couldn't be it. After Harry came back to life, she hoped against all odds that maybe he would want her back. Kissing Ron had been a horrible mistake, and now she didn't know what to do to get out of her situationship. But she had given Harry many openings to talk about them and he never did. His eyes were always on her, caressing her from afar. She could almost feel his touch from across the room, even if his hands never left his pockets. His eyes were just so green, so expressive, so him.

I can see you starin', honey
Like he's just your understudy
Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me
Second, third, and hundredth chances
Balancin' on breaking branches
Those eyes add insult to injury

She did notice how Harry's hands balled into fists when Ron kissed her so grotesquely. She had to turn them around and pushed him away. She even had to use a napkin. Ew. Wait. Did she just feel disgusted at her boy-who-was-more-than-a-friend-but-not-a-boyfriend-because-he-had-never-properly-asked for kissing her? Bloody hell. But Harry had no right to be mad. She had asked him how he felt about them being sort of together and the only response she got was, "It's none of my business, is it? As long as you are happy…"

I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending
I'm not your problem anymore
So who am I offending now?
You were my crown
Now I'm in exile seein' you out
I think I've seen this film before
So I'm leavin' out the side door

As Harry folded the letter and placed it in his pocket, he pulled up his collar and scarf and left the bar. Hermione's parents were awake, and they were raging to see her. Two healers had been hurt already. He looked at her with all the love he felt. She had noticed something. Before she approached, he went outside. Harry loved her too much to have her make any decisions because he had brought back her parents.

So step right out
There is no amount
Of cryin' I can do for you

Hermione tried not to move. She tried to let him leave, but she couldn't. Her feet rushed to the door. The last time he had looked at her like that, he had walked to his literal death. She had cried so much when she thought she lost him. She wouldn't lose him again. Nothing mattered. Not even Ron's "Oi! Where are you going?" stopped her. She grabbed Harry's arm as he was about to apparate away.

"Wait!" she exclaimed.

Harry sighed. "What is it?"

"Where are you going?" she asked, holding his arm tighter than necessary.

He felt the heat begin to warm his arm. "I have something to-" he trailed off. It suddenly clicked. The only thing that could calm Hermione's parents was… Hermione. They had met him briefly and probably wouldn't recognize him now. "I have to tell you something."

Her heart began to raise. Could he be-? No. Right? "What is it?"

All this time
We always walked a very thin line
You didn't even hear me out (you didn't even hear me out)
You never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

"I found your parents, Mione," he said, looking down as if expecting to be told off. This wasn't even near what she was expecting to hear. She was too shocked to respond. Harry went on, "I am sorry I didn't tell you. I found them six months ago."

She gasped. Her knees felt weak. This was not what Hermione thought he would say, not in a million years. "W-What? But when I asked you... You said-"

"I know what I said, and I am sorry. The reason I didn't tell you is that… Mr. and Mrs. Granger weren't okay, Hermione."

Hermione stared at him as if expecting to wake up from a dream or for him to say, "Gotcha!", but she knew he wasn't cruel like Ron. He would never play with her feelings like that.

"It has taken all this time and lots of healers and doctors and therapy of all kinds as well as potions and medications and-"

She did quick math on her brain and grabbed his other arm, stopping his rant. "Are they o-okay? Why are you rushing away?"

Harry sighed. He had to make a considerable effort not to wrap his arms around her small waist. It was the closest they had been for months. He could smell her perfume. No. Focus. "They were in advanced mental therapy doing a recall exercise, and they recognized you in a picture. They got understandably upset when they were told a summary of what happened. They attacked two healers that were working with them full-time. The healers are fine, but they say that they had to restrain them with fabric ties. Because of the memory issues, they don't want to risk rendering them unconscious magically and have that possibly undo the months of work."

"Hermy? Why are you out- Oh!" Ron stumbled out in his drunken state. "Why is he here?"

Hermione didn't reply. Harry noticed Ron talking about him like he wasn't standing there. Hermione just held Harry's hands and whispered. "Take me to them."

"What? Wait! To whom?"

But Harry apparated them away without any reply. They didn't owe him anything.

After a long conversation that included yelling, expletives, crying, hugs, and laughter, Hermione had her parents back. She had fallen asleep on a sofa in their room. They were at Grimmauld, in one of the guest rooms. Harry hadn't wanted to intrude. He kept away most of the time. Now, he just went up there to see if Hermione was hungry but found her lying down with the most contented smile on her face. He stared at her for a long time, not daring to move. He didn't notice, but both Mr. and Mrs. Granger saw the way he looked at her, and they knew no one would be better for their daughter. Harry blushed when he noticed their staring. Wandlessly, he summoned the coziest, softest blanket in the house -his own. Ever so carefully, he draped it over her. She pulled the edge of the blanket closer to her face, smelled it, smiled, and held on a bit tighter to the pillow in her arms. Harry felt his heart squeeze. Did she think she was holding him? Was she dreaming of him?

All this time
I never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind)
I couldn't turn things around (you never turned things around)
'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)
So many signs
So many signs (you didn't even see the signs)

The next day Ron came the muggle way. He was blocked out of the wards and the floo to Harry's home. Not that the git would ever admit that to his fans. The ginger even phoned Hermione. She asked Harry to let him in. That had hurt more than a punch to the gut from Gawp. Harry opened the door with a frown.

"Weasley," he said as a greeting.

"Potter," the ginger bit back in a tone that would have made Draco Malfoy envious. He was still hangover and furious that Hermione had left with Harry, abandoning him.

"Look, I know we are nothing to each other anymore. But, in honor of the friendship we once had, please don't upset the Grangers. They have been through hell. Their recovery has taken half a year, and if you do anything to hinder it, Hermione will never forgive you, and I will have to beat you to a pulp, no wands. They are excellent people and deserve your respect," Harry said all this in his most menacing tone.

Ron nodded with a grimace. The tips of his ears were red. Harry knew the man hated being told off, but he didn't care. Hermione and her parents were first. The witch approached, and Harry walked towards the studio. But before he did, he saw how Ron went in for a kiss, and Hermione took a step back.

Hermione pulled Ron into an empty room and silenced it with her wand.

"What the bloody hell gives you the right to abandon me in the middle of the party? Everyone thought I was a fool. And you left with him! Do you know how many cuckold jokes I had to put up with?!" Ron exploded as soon as she had done the spell. "You didn't even tell me where you were going, and Harry bloody Potter sends me a note saying you are in his home and you are alright. That you are with your parents! When in hell were you going to tell me you were working on this little project together behind my back, huh?"

I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending
You're not my homeland anymore
So what am I defending now?
You were my town
Now I'm in exile seein' you out
I think I've seen this film before
So I'm leaving out the side door

Hermione snapped. She slapped Ron as hard as her anger fueled her arm to strike. "You absolute, consummate hypocritical, self-centered ass, Ronald Weasley!" Ron would always be like this. There was no waiting for him to grow up.

Ron had not expected anything physical, and he fell with a thud. His face was completely red, and he looked ready to slap her back. But before he even touched his wand, Hermione had him bound, gagged, and petrified.

"I didn't abandon you. You didn't need me. You were having a lot of fun without me… You have a lot of nerve complaining about me abandoning you in a party of all places when you abandoned me to my potential death in the middle of nowhere without any provisions during a bloody war! All just because you were hungry and cold! You didn't give a fuck about us. We were also hungry, cold, desperate, exhausted, and when you left the load that had been split into three parts to be carried by two! And you know what? You ARE a fool. Of course, I left with Harry! I left with Harry; Harry who spent months looking for my parents! Harry who found them! Harry, who has spent an exorbitant amount of money healing their minds!"

Ron tried to retort to that through the gag. She understood he meant that Harry had money to spare.

"That is not the point, you idiot! He did it because he cared. You told me to leave things as they were. You never even tried to help me look. I stayed with you to mourn your brother for a whole month when I should have been looking for them! You couldn't even join me for two weeks in Australia as I tried to find them. Oh, and by the way, we were not working on this together. Harry did everything on his own. I just found out last night. He told me they were here only after they finally remembered me because he knew I would go mad if they were here but had no idea who I was! Be glad Harry sent you a note. He put you out of the wards and the floo for a reason. He only let you in here because I asked."

Hermione removed the gag. Ron spat, "Of course he did – anything for Hermy, his pathetic little crush."

Hermione gasped. "What the bloody hell did you just say?!"

"Nothing. Um, can I meet your parents?" He tried to correct himself hurriedly, but it was too late.

"He has a crush on me? And you know this? How long have you known, and how dare you mock him for it?!"

"Ugh. The brightest witch of her age, my ass! Are you kidding me? He has always had a crush on you. The only reason he never made a move was that I told him I liked you. He's such a selfless idiot. He could have all the pussy he wanted now and he's still nursing his school crush," Ron laughed mockingly. "So very in love with you and such a coward to fight for it."

So step right out
There is no amount
Of cryin' I can do for you

Hermione felt two tears leave her eyes. "We're done."

"What?!"

"You don't get to call Harry a coward. He is ten times the man you will ever be. I don't want to see you ever again. Forget I exist. I will remove you from my wards and my floo. Never contact me again."

"You can't be bloody serious. You are choosing him again!?"

All this time
We always walked a very thin line
You didn't even hear me out (you didn't even hear me out)
You never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

"You are damn right I am. I need to start choosing the people who have always chosen me. You are not on the list. Oh, and just so you know. You would never be a cuckold because I could have never married someone like you. But if this hurts you somehow, I want you to know that Harry and I made love in the hunt. We were each other's first. I stupidly gave that up with a tiny bit of guilt and regret, thinking he didn't love me. For the longest time, I thought it was just the loneliness and the cold that had finally gotten to him… But THANK YOU for telling me he is in love with me. Now I will do everything I have to do to show him that we are right for each other. I am so glad you and I never slept together. I would have regretted letting you touch me with those slimy, disgusting hands."

Ron's face was now pale and shocked. "You don't mean that."

"I do. Get out. I don't want my parents to see you."

Ron looked at Hermione for a long time. He was waiting for someone to tell him it was a joke. His brain was too slow for hers. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Hermione opened it and canceled the wards and spells.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but your mom wants to talk to you… Uh… If you want to take him upstairs, go ahead. I'll be in the library," Harry was about to leave, but Hermione walked towards him and held his arm.

"Don't go, Harry. Ronald was just leaving."

All this time (so many signs)
I never learned to read your mind (so many signs)
I couldn't turn things around (so many signs)
'Cause you never gave a warning sign (never gave a warning sign)
You never gave a warning sign

Harry frowned and looked at Hermione and then at Ron. The ginger had a handprint on his face. It was angry red. "Did he do anything to you?" he asked Hermione with an intense searching look. His wand was already in his hand. Ron stood up from the floor. His wand in his hand as well. Harry knew Ron was pointing his wand at his back. Without turning, he said slowly. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Weasley. You know I can wipe the floor with you. Or rather," Harry turned with a smirk that would have made Voldemort proud. It sent horrible chills down Ronald's spine. "Do it, Weasley. I beg you. Give me an excuse to do everything I wanted to do to you when you abandoned her."

Harry's wand was vibrating with angry energy. Hermione's hand snaked to his chest from her position behind him. Her touch cooled him off immediately. Hermione noticed that Harry was purposefully covering her with his body in case of a confrontation. She side-stepped Harry to stand before Ron, her wand in her pocket. Harry tried not to panic. Was she changing her mind? Then she said, "Have some dignity, Ronald, and leave before the Aurors come to pick you up with a cadaver bag."

Ron gave them both one last scathing look. He pushed past Harry and ran out, slamming the front door behind him.

"Are you al-?"

But he couldn't finish the question because she was kissing him hard. After a full passionate heady minute, she came up for air. "I love you, you selfless wonderful man! Never EVER sacrifice your feelings for me again. You hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am," he sighed. "I love you too… so much."

They kissed again, and hands began to roam. Suddenly Harry stopped and jumped away.

"What's wrong?" she asked, startled.

"Your parents. They're waiting for you," he blushed deeply.

Hermione laughed freely for the first time in months. "They will be thrilled," she said with full confidence. She was certain that her parents would love Harry as she did. She had always been positive that they wouldn't have approved of the ginger prat.

Harry offered her his hand. "If you're sure…" he said in a doubtful tone.

"I have never been more certain of anything in my life," she took his hand, intertwining her fingers with his, and pulled him in for a chaste peck.

Somehow, he knew she meant that in more ways than one. "I love you, Hermione. Forever."

"Is that a proposal?" she teased.

"Don't tempt me," Harry smiled against her lips.

"Try to stop me," she whispered. Then she dragged her delectable bum against the wizard's groin but stepped away before he could hold her in place. She pulled him towards her parents' room.

"Minx."

"Well, perhaps, but I am your minx only," she replied with a smirk.

"Thank Merlin and Morgana!" he pulled her back against his chest and chuckled against her hair. "I thought I would be exiled from your life forever."

"I thought so too."

"It's a good thing we are back home," Harry kissed her forehead with adoration, and hand in hand they walked towards the Grangers' room.

Harry and Hermione were sure many people would be shocked at this new development, but they didn't care. The change in the following weeks was so natural and so easy that by the end of the first year, once they helped the Grangers settle back and reopen their practice, they were engaged and living together. Each was happier than they ever remembered being, and although they did have to deal with some drama, lose some friends, and sue some nasty reporters, their relationship grew stronger every day and they were building a great life together. They would marry and one day they'd have children of their own. Their lives would be calm and restful because they had each other for better or for worse. There would be no exiles anymore.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Remember that each "Chapter" here is a One-Shot. If you have a song suggestion that I could perhaps use for inspiration, let me know. I make no promises that I will use it, but I will strongly consider it if I listen to it and hear some 'harmony' within. -Lux-