Disclaimer: I don't own JK Rowling's characters and whatnot. (Duhhhhhh.)
Author's Note: sorry this took so long, guys… Mumsie got mad and wouldn't let me go on the puter, lol. Meanie. But hey, here's a new chapter. Sorry for the cliffhanger at the end, in advance J
~*Unexpected Song*~
In every heart, there is a room,A sanctuary, safe and strong.
To heal the wounds of lovers past,
Until a new one comes along.
As their unexpected kiss drew to a close, Harry idly wondered whether it would happen again. As their lips parted, Hermione laughed awkwardly and disentangled herself from his arms.
"That was some welcome!" She noted, raising an eyebrow as she half-smiled. The expression was so comical that Harry couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah, well…. I haven't seen you in a long time, and I, um… I missed you." He finished awkwardly, his boyish face becoming closed and shy. She didn't seem at all surprised by this, and instead of replying, took his arm.
"Shall we eat?" She implored, grinning. "I'm starving!"
Linked arm-in-arm, Harry led them through what had been their dining room. Now redecorated and housing new furniture, it was the living room. Through an archway, the new dining room could be seen. Silently, they walking into the dining room, where Harry pulled out Hermione's chair before sitting down himself. He poured champagne for both of them and then they started in on the salad, idle chit-chat filling the room.
When they had finished the quiche and Harry got up to clear the table for dessert, the room became olddly silent. As he made his way to the refridgerator, where the chocolate mousse was, Hermione remarked quietly, "a lot's changed since I walked out that door, hasn't it?"
He stopped, his back facing her, really wanting to turn around and say, the house has changed, of course. How could I be surrounded every day by things we bought together? I tried to wipe away most of the things we had bought for 'our future'. But I still have them, in the basement. And I haven't changed – I'm still madly in love with you.
But he didn't. Instead, he turned around and sat back down at the table, the chocolate mousse forgotten for the moment. "I suppose," he said, choosing his words carefully, "that we both have changed".
This was the first time that Hermione had ever heard him speak so slowly, so deliberately. She leaned closer, her eyes catching his own. "Ginny and Ron say you've really grown up since… since I walked out."
Harry avoided her eyes as he answered.
"I guess I had to. There was anyone there to hold my hand anymore. It was either grow up and deal with it or be miserable…" Of course, I was completely miserable without you anyway, he thought. He rested his head on his hand, and the gesture was so weary and defeated, so unlike Harry, that it tore at Hermione's heart. She took his other hand in her own and they sat there silently for a long time, their joined hands resting on top of the wine-coloured tablecloth.
Harry spoke first.
"Mione, why did you really leave that day?"
Credits:
*The quote at the beginning of the chapter is from the Billy Joel song And
So It Goes.
*Once again, the title is from Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical Song and Dance.