Hermione Granger looked out the window, enjoying the sunshine that
brightened the living room of her small apartment. She focused herself on
her book and continued to read, occasionally looking at the clock hanging
above her desk. She looked up shocked when Hedwig landed on the arm of her
chair and held out a piece of parchment to her. Harry's familiar scrawl was
evident on the front. She untied the ribbon and read the words, stroking
Hedwig's feathers lightly.
"Hermione, I need you, please come home. I love you."
Hermione scoffed as tears welled in her eyes. "Right, Harry. I believe you." These notes came to her on a regular basis, at least once a week for the past 2 years. Normally she ignored them, but now she found she couldn't. She rolled her eyes as she walked to the desk. "Hold on, Hedwig, just let me jot down a reply."
She sat at the desk, thinking of the time she and Harry had spent together after the war. Remembering the nightmares, the black eyes, and broken bones..remembering the baby she had lost. She sighed again and set to her task. Parchment in front of her and quill in hand, she found that the words came easily.
"Harry-
I know I used to cut myself open for you. I know I used to offer you fresh tears.
But I won't bleed for you anymore. I've hardened up over the last few years. I'm not so gullible, not so vulnerable. I've found someone who doesn't make me cry quite so much. My eyes aren't swollen anymore."
She didn't sign it. Harry would know it was from her. Without a word Hermione attached the parchment to Hedwig's leg and sent her on her way. Hermione watched her fly into the distance until she could no longer see her. When the apartment door opened, Hermione didn't turn around, just waited for the strong arms to wrap around her. She leaned into the embrace and turned to kiss the man on the cheek. "Hello Severus. How was work today Love?"
"Hermione, I need you, please come home. I love you."
Hermione scoffed as tears welled in her eyes. "Right, Harry. I believe you." These notes came to her on a regular basis, at least once a week for the past 2 years. Normally she ignored them, but now she found she couldn't. She rolled her eyes as she walked to the desk. "Hold on, Hedwig, just let me jot down a reply."
She sat at the desk, thinking of the time she and Harry had spent together after the war. Remembering the nightmares, the black eyes, and broken bones..remembering the baby she had lost. She sighed again and set to her task. Parchment in front of her and quill in hand, she found that the words came easily.
"Harry-
I know I used to cut myself open for you. I know I used to offer you fresh tears.
But I won't bleed for you anymore. I've hardened up over the last few years. I'm not so gullible, not so vulnerable. I've found someone who doesn't make me cry quite so much. My eyes aren't swollen anymore."
She didn't sign it. Harry would know it was from her. Without a word Hermione attached the parchment to Hedwig's leg and sent her on her way. Hermione watched her fly into the distance until she could no longer see her. When the apartment door opened, Hermione didn't turn around, just waited for the strong arms to wrap around her. She leaned into the embrace and turned to kiss the man on the cheek. "Hello Severus. How was work today Love?"