Chapter 4: Confrontations

Hermione awoke the next morning by the delicious smell of a large breakfast cooking. She wondered who on Earth was cooking this meal, then remembered Harry was staying with her. But when did Harry learn to cook?

There was a knock on the door and Harry poked his head in. He grinned, seeing she was awake.

"Good Herm you're awake. Now come on I fixed us breakfast," he said. Hermione rolled out of bed and followed him to the kitchen.

"When did you learn to cook?" Hermione asked him. Harry just smiled.

"You think they cooked for us in the desert?" he asked her. He set a plate of waffles down on the table and sat across from her.

"Go on, dig in." he said. Hermione carefully cut up a piece of waffle, studied it for a moment, then popped it into her mouth.

"Wow Harry, I admit I didn't think you had it in you" Hermione said with her mouth full, obviously impressed. Harry beamed.

"Anyway I want to see the Wizarding World again. Care to come with me to Hogsmeade Herm?" Harry asked, his green eyes glinting behind his new spectacles. Hermione nodded, as her mouth was full and didn't wish to be rude again.

"Great, now you eat and I'll go get dressed," Harry said, jumping from the table. He quickly kissed her on the cheek and hurried to his bedroom.

"There you go kissing her on the cheek again Potter. You know you like her, you're just to stupid to admit it," Harry thought to himself. He entered his bedroom and went straight to the closet. He found his dress robes from seventh year still there; Hermione had kept them all these years.

"These won't fit," he grumbled. He rumaged through some more and found a box. He opened it and found pictures of him, Hermione and Ron during their years at school. It brought back memories, good and bad to Harry. He thumbed through them and pondered "Why does Hermione have them locked up like this?"

"Maybe," a nasty little voice started. "She didn't think you would come back.

"Don't be silly" Harry thought quickly. "Hermione knew I'd come back, right?"

"Well why don't you ask her you idiot?" the nasty voice stated. Harry grumbled but went back out to the kitchen where Hermione was doing the dishes.

"Herm? Can I ask you something?" he said. Hermione turned off the water and faced him.

"Bloody hell she's beautiful," Harry thought, studying her smooth tanned face. Hermione's honey eyes looked worried.

"What is it Harry?" she asked, and Harry noted her worried tone.

"Did you...er...think I was going to come back?" Harry asked. Hermione's expression softened and she took his hands in hers.

"I had some doubt after you lost contact, but I knew in my heart you would," she told him, her expression serious.

"But the box..." Harry said.

"Oh, you found that? I just put them in there to remember the old times when I needed cheering up," Hermione explained.

"Oh, ok," Harry said, feeling quite stupid. Hermione squeezed his hands.

"Don't feel stupid, I can tell you think that from your expression," she whispered, winking. She let go and walked to her own bedroom to dress. Harry shrugged and walked back to finally get dressed.

A half hour later, Hermione emerged in navy blue robes, her hair in a long braid down her back. Harry gaped at her.

"Oh come on Harry," Hermione giggled, blushing madly. She thought Harry looked dashing in his emerald robes herself, but she kept it in. She took his hand, and they Apparated to Hogsmeade.

"Well, well well if it isn't Potter and Granger. Or is it Potter and Potter now?" sneered an all-too-familiar voice. The pair turned to see the sniveling face of Draco Malfoy.

"Shove off Malfoy, I just got back from a long trip and I don't need your ratty face ruining it," Harry snarled. Draco's smirk widened.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, I'm a member of the Ministry of Magic," he said proudly.

"Oh please Malfoy, I'm an Auror," Harry said rolling his eyes. Hermione was pleased to see Malfoy go paler.

"You got lucky this time Potter, I have a previous engagement" he said, and with that he strolled off.

"Don't you pay him any mind Harry," Hermione said. One thing was nagging the two though: "Or is it Potter and Potter now?"

"Herm, do we act like we're married or something?" Harry asked her. Hermione felt a flush come up onto her cheeks.

"Only in my dreams," she thought to herself.

"No Harry I don't think so," she said confidently. Harry nodded, a little down.

"You idiot, Hermione likes you as a brother," he told himself.

"Oi Harry! Hermione! Glad to see you've finally gotten together!" Seamus Finnigan came over, along with Lavender Brown. Both blushed.

"Oh we're not a couple" Hermione said quickly. Lavender raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Seamus shook Harry's hand.

"Good to see you again mate. Heard Auror training was tough," he said. Harry nodded.

"We couldn't keep in contact with anyone either," he told them. Lavender shook her head sympathetically.

"That must have been tough," she said. Hermione nodded without realizing it.

"Hey we were about to meet up with Parvati and Dean at the Three Broomsticks. Why don't you join us? We have loads of catching up to do," Lavender suggested. Harry and Hermione quickly agreed and the four set off towards the Three Broomsticks.

"This brings back memories," Harry said, looking around. The place looked the same, but with new faces inside.

"Lavender & Seamus!" Parvati Patil called, coming over.

"Hey Hermione, and Harry! I haven't seen you in ages!" she said, hugging him. Hermione couldn't help feeling a little jelaous. Parvati hugged Hermione as well and led them back to the table where she and Dean Thomas had been waiting.

"We have so much catching up to do! What have you two been doing, planning the wedding?" Parvati asked.

"We're not together," Harry and Hermione said quickly in unison. Parvati rolled her eyes and muttered 'Typical'.

"I've been teaching fourth grade at a Muggle Elementary school in London," Hermione told her.

"Using your brain for the best. Congratulations Herm!" Parvati exclaimed.

"And you Harry?" Dean asked him.

"Oh, Auror training," Harry said. Clearly he did not want to talk about it, but Parvati pressed on.

"For five years? Oh do tell Harry what was it like?" she said excitedly.

"Er...I dunno. Hot, dry, dusty, it was a desert so..." Harry said.

"Parvati I don't think Harry wants to talk much about it," Hermione said carefully; she knew Parvati could get moody at times. Sure enough, Parvati's dark brown eyes stormed over.

"Harry can speak for himself," she said coldly. Harry cleared his throat.

"Erm, actually she's right, I don't like talking about it much" he said. Parvati shut up after that.

"Well we'd best be off," Hermione said after they had had a few butterbeers. The day was growing old and they wanted to get home to watch a Muggle movie Hermione had wanted to see.

"Come on Harry, I know you don't like Muggle things much, but this is supposed to be good," Hermione pleaded, putting The Others into the VCR. They sat down on the couch, and within the hour were asleep, Hermione's head on Harry's chest, and his arm draped around her back.