Memories That Remain 2
By Gypsy Esmerelda
Rating PG
"Harry!"
Ginny's shout brought Hermione back to the present and she stood up and turned to face her old school friend. Ginny hugged Harry tightly.
"I'm nearly ready, just need to finish my hair and makeup." She kissed him lightly on the cheek and vanished back into the bedroom, leaving Harry and Hermione alone in the lounge. For a few moments neither of them spoke. They just stood watching each other, waiting for the other to break the silence. Suddenly, Hermione found she couldn't bear the silence any longer.
"It's good to see you again, Harry."
Something flashed briefly in Harry's eyes but Hermione couldn't be sure what it was. Anger? Hurt? Or was it pity or regret? The moment passed and Harry smiled at her, and suddenly it was as if the past five years hadn't happened and they were school friends once more. And then Harry was by her side and she was hugging him, scared that if she let go, he'd disappear.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry about Draco. He must have loved you very much."
Hermione sniffled against his shoulder and nodded.
"Yes he did, I didn't deserve the amount of love he gave me, for I could never give him the same amount of love back.
Harry nodded but shushed her.
"Please don't, Hermione."
Hermione looked up at him, her dark brown eyes filled with sorrow.
"Oh Harry, please say you've forgiven me. That's all I want, you and Ron to forgive me for leaving."
Harry gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
"Of course I forgive you. I can't speak for Ron but I'm sure he has too. He probably forgave you as soon as Lisa did, he always listens to her."
Hermione smiled.
"Yes he does. He's besotted with her."
Lisa Edrickson had been Ron's sweetheart since Hogwarts and finally after their Year Seven exams, he'd married her, settling down in a lovely cottage not far from the Burrow. Only a year later, Lisa had given birth to triplets Lily, Damon and Brenden, all with the traditional Weasley red hair and their mothers beautiful green eyes. There had never been anyone else for Ron, not since the moment he'd laid eyes on Lisa. Ginny came back into the room.
"I'm ready."
Hermione released Harry and smiled.
"I needed that hug. And thank you."
Harry kissed her forehead gently.
"You're welcome, Mione."
He smiled again and then crossed over to Ginny.
"Well, we'd better be going. I don't want to be late."
He offered Ginny his arm and she took it. She turned to Hermione and smiled.
"Thanks again for babysitting, Hermione. They should be no trouble at all, they'll both be asleep in no time and should sleep right through. Help yourself to anything to eat or drink, we shouldn't be home too late."
Her words tailed off as they apparated out of the room and Hermione was alone again. She took Molly through to the nursery and settled her in her crib. After checking on James, she wandered through to the kitchen and made herself a sandwich and poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice. On returning to the lounge, she placed her snack on the coffee table and walked over to the bookcase. She scanned through the titles, looking for something to read. She noticed one without a title and pulled it out. As she removed the book, something fell out of it. She picked it up and turned it over. It was a photograph. She gasped softly as she realised what it was. A boy and a girl sat on the banks of a river and in the background, the Eiffel Tower stood proudly. She looked back at the figures in the foreground of the picture and tears pricked her eyes.
"I can't believe he kept it."
She looked at the book in her hand and realised it was a photo album. Hesitantly, she opened it and as she gazed at the photos inside, her mind took her back. Back to that summer Hermione Granger had spent in Paris with her one true love, Harry Potter.