Chapter 16. The Best Birthday and the Morning After
As soon as Harry stepped back into the drawing room, Ron sprang up and pestered Harry to open his gifts. Reluctantly, Harry was forced to sit at the table as a large, long package, wrapped with dragons flying about on the wrapping paper, was shoved before him. He opened the present to find a brand new pair of dragon hide boots—just like the ones Bill wore, inside. It was a gift that all the Weasleys had chipped in to buy as well as Lupin and Tonks. It was the twins' idea: originally they wanted to get Harry a dragon hide jacket matching the ones they had, but Bill suggested that they at least do something a bit more practical (and not so gaudy).
The boots, Harry was told, would repel minor curses and spells and, if worn with the tops unrolled and pulled up and over his knees, would even render him nearly immune to many curses aimed at the legs, such as Jelly-Legs Jinxes, Trip Jinxes, and would help him to keep the use of his legs and feet even when hit with a Full-Body Bind. And of course, Bill said, they were frightfully stylish and real bird magnets (He had leaned over and confessed that after only two dates, Fleur had suggested that she would love to see Bill wearing only his boots.)
Ron had tried to get Harry to play a game of wizard's chess but Harry declined and excused himself saying that he wanted to go find Dobby and thank him for doing so much that day. Really, Harry was feeling the need to just get away. The cacophony of a room full of Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, (as well as others) was starting to fray his nerves.
Harry escaped down to the kitchens and found Dobby and Winky at the kitchen table seated and talking with Professor Dumbledore and Hermione.
"Hello Harry. Did you have a good trip into Diagon Alley today?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you, for arranging it. I assume you arranged it, anyway." Harry slid into a chair next to Hermione and nodded to the headmaster.
"Harry Potter is having a good birthday, yes?" Dobby cracked over to stand upon the chair beside Harry.
Harry smiled at him, "Yes, Dobby. Actually, I can down to find you, to thank you for all you did. Thank you. Dobby." He turned and added, "And you as well, Winky. I know you both must have worked very hard." Dobby beamed at the compliment and Winky seemed to blush, as well, at the praise.
"Oh yes, I nearly forgot. Harry, I have a letter here from Hagrid. He sends his regrets for not being able to attend today. He had some other, matters, to attend to." Dumbledore pulled out a small envelope from his deep sapphire robes and handed it over to Harry.
Harry opened the letter and read:
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday! Sorry I can't make it to your party but I'm finally making fine progress with Grawp and Madame Maxine is visiting here now and has been helping loads with him. I got your gift here. It is not something I can send along to you now so you will get it when you get back here to Hogwarts.
You finally get a birthday away from the muggles. Just make sure you enjoy it. Let me know when the Celebration will be for Sirius. I owe him a heap of thanks for all he did for Beaky.
Take Care,
Hagrid
Harry smiled at the letter from Hagrid but then began to frown as he wondered what kind of gift would have been difficult to send now. He hoped it didn't bite like some of the previous gifts from Hagrid. He handed the letter to Hermione and hesitantly asked, "So, Professor, have you met Hagrid's brother?"
Dumbledore only smiled as he answered, "Why yes, I have. Quite a rambunctious fellow, but a fine young man."
Harry saw Hermione's jaw drop to the table and he himself was having problems believing his ears.
"Professor!" Hermione regained the power of speech first. "Er, don't you think he's a tad … er, well …dangerous?"
Harry wasn't sure what the word was to describe Grawp but he was sure it wasn't 'a fine young man'. Dumbledore answered Hermione, "Well, there will always be those who see anyone or anything who can do harm, as being dangerous, irregardless of whether it will indeed be a danger. That choice is up the individual."
"But Professor, when we saw him—"
"He was acting upon the only instincts he had with the only knowledge he had. It's been a number of years that the Giants have been in exile. Their race and culture has been in a mere survival mode for many of those years and has not afforded younger generations with the knowledge that the rest of us take for granted."
He leaned forward onto the table and templed his hands, "Tell me, Ms. Granger, why is it that you started your movement for the improvement of the Elves' welfare?"
Hermione looked taken aback and answered slowly, "Well, that's, well, they're slaves. Enslaved by wizards. Not free." She paused in talking and stared at Professor Dumbledore. "Their race can't recall what freedom is. They were not always enslaved. I read about it and how they were oppressed at the same time of the Goblins. The Goblins, however, were able to fight and rebel. The Elves remain enslaved today."
Harry was frowning, "That wasn't in History of Magic." At least not a class in which he was awake.
Hermione turned to Harry and went on, "Of course not. No wizards had to die to keep the Elves enslaved. They died when the Goblins rebelled, though. History of Magic is really just History of Wizards. Haven't you ever heard that history is only told by the winners? The stories of those who lost in history aren't important to those who remain after the fight. Of course we'd never hear how we oppressed a race, especially one that still serves us!" She nearly spat out the last few words and Harry was relieved to see that Dobby and Winky were both nowhere to be seen.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly at her and said, "You are quite right, Ms. Granger. However, the Elves are not the only race that is still oppressed by wizards. Giants, because of their abilities to be able to cause us great harm and cause destruction, have been forced into exile because of the actions of a few. Now, their entire race suffers the stigma and struggles just to survive." He sighed heavily and went on, "We prevent them from living in their indigenous lands and then we condemn them for destroying the lands they do inhabit. We prevent them from being able to develop a society able to educate itself and then condemn them for not seeming of equal intelligence. We condemn them for the very reasons we have helped created."
Hermione was silent at this and Harry was already imagining that S.P.G.W. or some other catchier group would soon be her new pet cause. Dumbledore went on, "Hagrid, perhaps unwisely so at the time, but nonetheless, brought his half-brother back from that place where we he suffering from not only the oppression of being of the Giant's race, but also being mistreated for being different and not as fit to survive. In a culture where only the fittest can survive, he had not a lot of hope. Now, with the chance to get away from those who've mistreated him and with help to learn how to communicate his needs and how to act with others, he, finally, can feel he has hope to live. That's a very powerful gift Hagrid gave him."
Harry couldn't help but feel a sudden soft spot with Grawp. Dumbledore added one last thought as he rose from the table, "Of course, the nature of all living creatures assures us he will not be content to just live a life alone. I believe Hagrid and Madame Maxine are working on finding a suitable mate so that he might enjoy life. Well," Dumbledore laid a hand on Harry's shoulder, "I must be off now." He peered over his half-moon glasses at Harry, "I do hope you've had a good birthday, Harry."
Harry gave a smile as he considered it, "I think I have, sir. I think I have."
"Good then. I'll see you tomorrow night." Dumbledore nodded and disapparated with a soft 'pop'.
Harry turned back to the table to see Hermione rereading the letter from Hagrid. She asked him, "Harry, what do you think it could be that he couldn't send along with Professor Dumbledore?"
"I dunno. Last year he gave me a furry wallet that bit anyone that tried to open it. I just hope it's not the matching satchel."
Hermione looked up at him, horrified.
Harry narrowed his eyes and decided to take advantage of having her alone for a moment, "So." Her eyebrows raised and he went on, "Are you going to tell me what's going on with Ron?"
She looked surprised for a moment and then a deep scowl took over her face. "I'm sorry Harry, I know he's still one of your best friends, but right now I can't believe I ever considered that arse a friend!"
Did Hermione just curse?
"Ergh! I can't believe he is supposed to be staying here the rest of the summer! I'll go mad with him here!" She pounded the table in frustration.
The rest of the summer? Harry felt a jolt of dread at the idea of having to share his newfound solitude with the Weasleys. It wasn't that he didn't like them; he loved them. They were as close to family as he really had now. But, like tonight, he could only take them for so long right now. He was grateful that he at least had his own room now.
He ventured to ask for details, "So, er, why exactly aren't you two speaking to each other?"
Hermione did the last thing he expected and dropped her head into her hands and took a deep breath that sounded like she was trying not to cry.
"Er, I mean, I'm just guessing. It rather looked like you didn't want to speak to each other. I might be wrong. Am I?" Harry had no clue what to do with a Hermione like this.
She looked up at him with her eyes shinning and pleading, "Oh Harry, I don't know what to do!"
He reached out in what he felt was an awkward attempt to comfort her and, instead, found her flinging her arms around his neck. He moved his own arms around her and it was only a few seconds before he forgot he was supposed to be comforting her and he was just thinking about how brilliant it felt to hold her and breathe in the scent of her hair.
After a few minutes, Hermione sniffed again and drew back and asked in a low, tentative voice, "Harry do you remember what we said last night about—"
Just then they were startled to hear the sound of footsteps coming down the kitchen stairs. They slipped apart and Harry stood up as they could hear Mrs. Weasley's voice muttering, "…they think they know what they're doing! As if they could ever know—Oh! Harry dear, and Hermione. Here you both are. It's quite late and you kids ought to be getting to bed now."
She bustled in with the remaining cake and several dirty plates as Winky followed her doggedly, saying, "Yous isn't to be doing that! That's elf work, that is! Ms. Wheezy, you is not a elf!"
Hermione had also stood up and Mrs. Weasley gave Harry another crushing hug and wished him a happy birthday again before Harry and Hermione headed up the stairs to leave Mrs. Weasley to go back to muttering.
As they started up the stairs in the Entry Hall, Harry asked, "So what were you saying abou—"
"Harry!" The twins were bounding down the stairs.
"Jolly good! There's our man!"
"Hey mate, we need to talk to you quick before we pop on out." George gave Hermione a look that said they wanted a private chat with Harry and she rolled her eyes at them and told Harry, "We can talk later. Good night Harry." as she turned to walk on up the stairs.
"All right, Harry," said George as he pulled Harry off and into the dining room.
"We have one last gift, or two, to give you." Fred's eyes were bright with mischief.
"Yeah, couldn't let Mum see it though. Or anyone else for that matter." Said George as he dug into his robes. He pulled out a rectangular box that read 'Paopyr's Fine Parchments'. He handed the box furtively over to Harry.
"You got me parchment?" Harry thought this was a little absurd for the twins; unless it was all the parchment they never used when the skived off homework the last few years.
George and Fred shared a look and Fred answered knowingly, "When a young man turns sixteen—"
"It's really a milestone age."
"There are certain rights of passage."
"It's the last year you have before you're a real adult."
"It's important to make that last year a worthy one."
"Now as Bill did for Charlie and Charlie did for us, we—"
"--Gred and Forge—"
"—wish to do for you." George then motioned for Harry to open the box.
Harry opened the top of the box and saw a bottle of some sort and pulled it partway out to reveal, 'Ogden's Fine Firewhiskey'. "Er…" Harry looked up at Fred and George, unknowing what to say.
They just nodded knowingly, yet again, "You don't have to thank us."
"Your silence is thanks enough."
"We'd love to help you use it all, but—"
"We just can't risk it here with Mum."
Just then the sound of Mrs. Weasley coming up from the kitchen and going up the stairs, still muttering away, made the twins freeze and they all waited around the corner in the dining room, for her to pass.
"We need to leave. She'll be looking for you in no time." Fred rushed on.
"Yeah, tuck it into your robes and don't let her near it." George was looking warily around the corner.
"You'll find the other thing we left for you sooner or later!" Said Fred as he helped Harry make sure the box didn't show from under his robe.
"Hopefully sooner." George said as he waggled his eyebrows.
The sound of Mrs. Weasley's voice cut in then again, "Harry!"
The twins stiffened, and with a salute to Harry, disapparated with a 'crack'.
"Cheers." Harry said to himself as he trudged up the stairs to go to bed.
Mrs. Weasley was waiting with her hands on her hips at the main floor landing. "You should be off to bed now." Harry was taken aback by her stern voice and he slowed as he came to the landing. She seemed to soften though as she backed up and moved to usher him down the hall, "Ron's already in bed now, dear, so just head on in."
Harry was just about to explain that his room was now on the top floor when Tonks came out of the drawing room carrying the box with Harry's new dragonhide boots. "Wotcher, Harry! I was just about to take these up to your room." Tonks stopped and lifted the top on the box. She shook her head and gave a whistle as she looked inside, "Can't wait to see these on you. Make sure you wear those tomorrow. Ought to give Shack a shock when you don't lose a step when hit with a Body-Bind!"
Mrs. Weasley gave the boots look of censure, as she had been all night, when Ron opened his door, "Harry! There you are, mate. Thought you might have went and hid on us again."
"Ronald! It's well past your bedtime!" Mrs. Weasley rounded on him.
Ron just waved her off, "Go on Mum, we'll be up all night talking anyway."
But Harry gave a great, huge yawn just then, and Mrs. Weasley wouldn't back down, "Harry's had a long day and he needs his sleep!" She turned back to Harry, "Now c'mon dear, off to sleep."
Tonks threaded her arm through Harry's and turned with him towards the hall to go on up the top floor, "I'll help him and make sure he doesn't nod off on the way!"
They only took two steps when Ron asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Nymphadora, you're not making him try those on now! The boy needs his rest." Mrs. Weasley was looking like if she could, she would pick Harry right up, cradle him, rock him to sleep, and then tuck him into a crib.
Harry had enough, "Hold up!" He held up his hands and looked between Ron and Mrs. Weasley. "I am trying to get to—" he was caught by another yawn, "—bed if you would all just let me! Ron—my room is upstairs now. You get your own room now when you stay here. Mrs. Weasley—my room is that way," as he pointed up at the stairs.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and then went on in a quieter tone, "Thank you all for a such a brilliant birthday. I can' tell you what it means. But it's been a very long day and tomorrow's set to be even longer. Good night." Harry turned and climbed the stairs with Tonks quietly following him.
Tonks was quiet until they reached Harry's room and she set the box down on the foot bench by his bed. "So, who's all mad at who? It's right clear Ron's brassed at Hermione—"
"I don't know. I really am tired so right now I just don't care." Harry was trying to clear off his bed of the packages from his earlier shopping in Diagon Alley. He had been up since six-thirty that morning and barely slept the night before. His eyes were getting bleary and the voices had struck up a lullaby in his head.
As he tossed the last package off his bed and onto the bench, he looked up to see Tonks grinning at him. "You look like you're sozzeled."
That reminded Harry to pull up the twin's gift from inside his robes, too. He slipped off his robe and set down the box. Tonks grinned even wider at the 'Paopyr's Fine Parchments' box. "You let me know if you need any help using up that paper." She winked and went on, "I'm heading out tonight; be back tomorrow night for the meeting but I won't see you until next Tuesday. That's my normal day off and I'll be here to work with you then. Maybe sometimes-on Saturday's to spy on old Moody, too.
"Speaking of which, that perimeter charm—he wants to test your awareness next—I suggest you sleep with the charm up from now on. It's 'Divellipromptus' and you just draw your wand around and trace the area you wish to monitor. You'll get a shiver or something when someone breaks in through the ward. You can work it so you get different alerts for different people and such—" she broke off as Harry yawned yet again and swayed on his feet. "Well, anyway, you should get to bed—see you later!"
Harry gave a half-hearted wave as she left the room. He peeled off his t-shirt as he walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out his pyjama bottoms. He toed off his shoes and was just unbuttoning his jeans as he heard a gasp from the doorway. He looked up to see Hermione searching the floor and turning crimson, "I'll – er – I just—I mean …" she turned around and Harry hastily rebuttoned his jeans and went over to her. He checked down the hallway and pulled her in by the elbow.
He whispered hastily, "We need to talk." as he quietly closed the door.
Hermione was not meeting his face so he went on, pleading, "Please tell me what the story is on Ron. Nearly everyone's had something to say about it and –"
Hermione looked up at this, "What are they saying?"
Harry looked uncomfortable and shifted on his feet and answered, "Well, what they're saying is – it's not so much what they say as what they think really. Or maybe they're just guessing, they could be wrong."
"Harry! What are they saying?" Hermione had him fixed with a worried look.
Harry stepped back for safety and answered, "They think, well, they think, that, maybe, perhaps, that Ron fancies you. Fred and George do at least. And Ginny."
Hermione's face was unreadable as she asked in what Harry construed as a slightly dangerous tone, "And what do you think?"
"Er, well, it's to say, at least, that I probably wouldn't be one to know much at all," he swallowed and wondered at how his mouth could go dry so quickly, "I was being a, er raving prat much of last year and really wasn't paying much attention to anyone else and so if he were, to, er, fancy, er, anyone that is, I probably wouldn't know." That sounded good he thought.
Hermione nodded once. He went on, "But I think I thought he might have had a tad crush in fourth year. After the Yule Ball and all? With Viktor and…" Her look was back to dangerous and Harry stopped in fear.
She was silent and Harry couldn't tell whether she was seething mad or about to cry. He whispered a meek, "Please don't cry." He would much rather she'd be mad; he didn't do well with sobbing girls.
She laughed, "Oh Harry, I am not about to cry over him. I can promise you that." She looked thoughtful then, "Although I did think he was my friend. But I guess I was wrong there."
"Why?" Harry asked as he sat back on the edge of his bed. Hermione moved to sit on the bed, too and Harry then moved back and crossed his legs in front of him. Hermione did they same, facing Harry. "Why don't you think you are friends anymore? We've all been best friends since – forever. What happened?" Harry pulled a pillow from behind him and put it in his lap as he leaned forward, eager to hear the explanation for his best friends' behavior.
Hermione started, 'Well, remember the curse that Ron was under that night at the Ministry? The Inebriation Jinx?" Harry hadn't known what it was called but definitely remembered how it made Ron act. He nodded and she went on, "Well, after we were all portkeyed back to Hogwarts and to the hospital wing, I was the one in the worst condition and they revived me before they were able to work on him. I don't recall where anyone else was but Ron and I were with Madam Pomfrey in a back room. They had to do a lot of work to stabilize him from the attack by the brain, before they could even begin to remove the jinx." Her and Harry shared an inappropriate smile at hearing those words voiced out loud together. Ron was attacked by a brain.
Hermione continued, "Well, he was cognizant enough to know that I had been severely injured and there he was, blabbering on in the next bed. He must have heard them talking about what I'd been hit with and, well, how, close, it had been for me."
She watched Harry get a pained look on his face and covered is hand with her own as she spoke again, "Well, after I was revived and awake, she wouldn't let me go to sleep for a few hours; she wanted to check on me every few minutes and make sure there were no other internal injuries. Madam Pomfrey really is very good—but anyway. She went to work on Ron next then— I watched as she tried to free him of the thought scars and their remaining tendrils—it really is fascinating that thoughts are so—"
Harry raised his eyes at her near derailing of the story and she sat up straight, took her hand away from his and shook her hair back and then got back on track, "Anyway, after she had the thoughts removed, she could only then begin to remove the jinx. But before she did, she had to make a fire call to St. Mungo's for some Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Unction. When she left…" she trailed off.
Harry flipped the pillow from his lap to behind his head and leaned back against the headboard. "And?" he prompted.
Hermione moved over so he could stretch out his legs and she rolled over onto her stomach in the middle of the bed. She was fiddling with the pattern on the duvet and biting her lower lip. She mumbled something incoherent and Harry had to ask her, "What was that?"
She buried her head on her arms and this time Harry could decipher her muffled voice, "He said he was in love with me."
Harry had a mental image of Ron saying, 'Guess what Hermione, I saw Uranus. Know what else? I think I love you…' Harry had to stifle a snort at the thought and Hermione snapped her head up to see his eyes shinning with amusement.
"It's not funny! How would you feel if Ron told you he was in love with you?"
Harry burst into giggles and whacked his head on the headboard as had thrown it back in mirth. He was rubbing the back of his head now and still grinning and chuckling, "But, I still don't … I mean, so why … the whole thing now, though?" He spoke between laughs as Hermione glared at his enjoyment of the story, thus far.
"Oh Harry, that isn't even the worst part!" This shut Harry up and she went on, "He kept going on and on then about how he thought I was the only one for him and how every time he argues with me, he has to restrain himself from—" she shivered in repulsion as she said, "—snogging me! On and on! Even when Madam Pomfrey came back, he kept saying how he always knew he would marry me and that we'd have a dozen children, all with red hair—it was awful!!"
Harry's mouth was open now in shock. Hermione said, "It was embarrassing." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she said, "He even tried to get out of bed to kiss me!" Her face looked horrified and pleading at the same time. Harry felt a pleading of his own, in his mind, as he hoped Hermione didn't think of him like that after he had kissed her.
"Thank god that Madam Pomfrey stopped him from getting out of bed. I couldn't have moved to stop him if he tried. Oh Harry, I had hoped that he would forget everything that he had said—that it was just the jinx or some few misguided remaining thoughts—but, well, the jinx lets you remember everything—not like if you really were inebriated!"
"Right before we were let to leave the hospital wing, he pulled me aside—I thought he might try to kiss me again but, thank god, he only wanted to talk. He tried to tell me that it was the curse that made him delirious and that if he had said anything that he never meant it and I should disregard whatever he said." Harry was very relieved to hear this and Hermione saw him breath a sigh of relief, "Yes, I was relieved, too. However," she was back to worrying her lower lip again and continued softly, "he must have seen how relieved I looked then and well, I now know, after looking up the jinx in some books, that what he had said wasn't from being delirious but it was really what he felt, but could say it because he was without his inhibitions. Oh, he knew exactly everything he had said—I'm sure of it! And when he saw me look relieved at having an excuse to forget the whole incident, he blew up!
"He got all steamed and said I didn't have to look so relieved to hear that and if his presence was so unbearable for me, that he could make sure I'd never have to be around him again. He was awful! He kept saying awful things about me and about Viktor—he was really hurtful."
Harry couldn't believe this, "Like what? What did he say?"
Hermione just looked down and shook her head. Harry felt a swell of anger towards Ron for being hurtful towards her; she had been their best friend for five years and Harry wondered how Ron could ever turn on her like that. He could see Hermione really didn't want to repeat what he had said and he told her, "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. But why was he flaming Krum?"
"Oh, well, he thought I was still seeing him." She looked at Harry and added quickly, "But I wasn't. I never really was. I told him it would never work when we lived so far apart and I was still in school. But well, Ron was always so riled by thinking I was still seeing him that I never bothered to tell him otherwise. Ron thought the reason I wouldn't be interested in him, was because I was still with Viktor. But, then I told him that wasn't true. I told him it wasn't Viktor who I fancied at all.
"He got all belligerent and tried to push me to say who it could be then. Oh, he is such an infuriating arse! He felt he had the right to know in whom I was interested! He said he ought to know and all—oh, I lost it then and told him that there was no one else and that I would rather live alone the rest of my life than with such a moronic prat as him." Hermione looked sheepish now, "I guess he didn't like that at all."
Harry was still caught up on the part where it sounded like she had meant that there had been someone she fancied. "So, were you lying?"
Hermione looked indignant, "What! No! I would never like him! Harry, we really do only barely get along and that's always probably just been because we're both your friends. You see how we are! I swear he's only grown to be less mature over all these years!"
"No, that's not what I meant, I mean," Harry was relieved to hear that she definitely was in no way interested at all in Ron like that but there was still that one questions, "were you lying about saying there really was no one else who you, er, fancied, I mean…?" He realized it was over a month ago and her feelings for someone might have changed since then but he had to know.
Hermione rolled over on her back away from Harry. She flung her arm over her head and Harry was temporarily devoid of all thoughts but those focusing on the curves of her body through the thin, white t-shirt she was wearing, that, with her arm over her head like that, was currently being stretched to be rather revealing.
He was brought crashing out of his staring when she answered, "Yes." She took a deep breath and said, "There is. But I couldn't tell him that."
'There is.' Her words reverberated in his head. *Is* means *still*. Her voice sounded hollow as it echoed in his head and he was barely listening as she started rambling.
"In fact, I don't think I really even realized it until he got me thinking about it. Thinking about what it would be like to fancy your best friend and all. It really got me thinking, you know? I started to realize that, well, maybe I could see myself with someone like that, you know, someone who knew everything about me already and someone who I already knew all about. I was thinking then, too, about how ridiculous you were about Cho and all last year. I mean she knew nothing about you, really, and she was a wreck herself. She really was all wrong for you, you know? Add on top of that, her hang up on Cedric and, well, you were doomed from the start."
Harry hadn't heard a word she was saying but caught the name 'Cedric' and asked, "Huh?"
Hermione went on as she stared at the back of her arm, "So I began to think that maybe we would be good together, you know, right for each other and all. I mean not in such a –"
Harry was awake as ever and he wanted to know who this was who Hermione really fancied, "Who?" He could just imagine some Ravenclaw or other who she kept seeing in the library and at—
His thoughts were cut off when she rolled back over onto her stomach and looked at him, "Harry—haven't you been listening? You! I thought…" As she trailed off looking at his eyes widen in surprise, her own eyes were beginning to moisten.
Harry was trying to recall the words she had spoke up to this point. He could feel his mouth drop as he began piecing it together, "Me? You think … me? I mean, you –do you?" He didn't want to hope, but he did.
Hermione struggled to push back any tears and rushed on, "Well, it's not like I've thought it all through, but I kind of think, that yes, we might be okay and that I do think, you know, that we, you know, if you were to think you might want to, that is. Do you? Have you ever thought about it?"
Harry had never heard her make less sense than the last time she went into an in depth explanation of a transfiguration theorem. He asked, "Think what, exactly?"
She rolled back and repositioned herself to sitting and drew her knees up to her chin in an effort to protect herself from feeling vulnerable and asked, "Me. Do you think you would ever like me? Like that. Fancy, that is, I mean. Do you?" She looked down at her knees as she finished.
The elation he felt as he grasped what they were both stammering about was welling inside him and he sat up and leaned over on his arm so he could look at her face. He fought the urge to grin like an idiot and said, "Hermione, look at me. You think, you mean, that you think you may want to fancy me? Right?" She gave a weak nod and he lost the fight to hide his grin as he drew hand arm away from her knees to held onto her hand.
Her hopeful eyes looked into his own and she began to stammer and babble some more. "It's not like I've just been pining away for years, but it's more…" on and on she went and he felt a warm surge of elation erupt within him; all his own; from no one else. It was a warmth and glow that Voldemort could not take away from him no matter what. It grew from the knowledge that as he inched closer to her, that this next kiss, would, most definitely, not be their last.
Harry was still gazing into Hermione's eyes as his lips first touched to hers, stopping whatever word she was about to say from ever being voiced. They kissed tentatively at first, as they both kept their eyes open and fixed upon each other. The well of warmth within him would grow whenever he would look into her eyes. He even had a fleeting thought that if one could read minds; or emotions, by looking into another's eyes, then perhaps what he kept feeling was, indeed, something a little like love.
Hermione ran a hand into his hair and Harry let his eyes close at the sensation. He leaned back into her hand and found himself falling back on the pillows and pulling Hermione to fall back with him. He rolled to his side and they lay facing each other, and Harry tipped his forehead to hers and smiled wryly and said, "I think I might be able to live with this."
The feeling of warmth, hope and utter comfort surrounded them as Hermione snuggled her face into Harry's shoulders and held him to her. Harry closed his eyes to revel in the feel and that's how they fell asleep, to end the best birthday, Harry had ever had.
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* * * * I'm not ending two chapters like this (fluffy and mushy, I mean) in a row. So, here's some more. Two chapter for the price of one, really. * * * *
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Harry was dreaming a quite brilliant dream that, for the second night in a row, had absolutely nothing to do with the ever-present voices that lived in his head. It was wonderful. It felt spectacular. It was better than flying on his Firebolt, with not a bludger in the sky. He dreamed of moaning in pleasure and leaned into the burning presence he felt pressing against him.
His dream intensified as the presence beside him moaned along with him. He always remembered these dreams quite vividly after having them and there was always an immense disappointment to wake up from one, alone and in need of a cleaning and drying charm, or even worse, a shower and silencing spell. He knew he was having one of these dreams and he sensed a voice in his head, a little like when he was practicing Occlumency; saying that if he just tried to steer the dream in the direction he wanted, then at least he could enjoy whatever he dreamed, whilst he could.
He held on tight to the other half that seemed to complete him and he found, if he tried and concentrated, he could nearly smell a deliciously fruity smell and feel wisps of hair tickling his nose. He moved his hands, eagerly mapping the curves and contours of the body he was pressed against. They lay, spooning, as hand moved up and down the side of the woman in front of him and he pressed against her in slow rhythm to his exploring hand.
She moaned again and her body was pressing back against his own, furthering him into a delirious frenzy, and she twined her arm back around and pulled his head into to the crook of her neck. He began to lick and taste, to kiss and suck as she encouraged him by running fingers through his hair. Her arm being over her head, had now left him with even more unmapped territory, over which to run his hands, which slipped beneath her shirt. Her back arched as his fingers glanced over the slight swell of the side of her breast and she moaned again. His hand slid forward to cup her breast and he kneaded it while running his thumb across the hardening nipple.
"Oh Harry." she breathed. The sound of his own name made him eager to make sure he wasn't left disappointed after this dream. He slipped his other arm beneath her and began using both hands to explore and feel her. Her head tipped back against his shoulder and he took advantage of her fully exposed neck and spread his kisses out to taste as much of her as he could and then placed one hand on her hip to hold her in place as he pressed himself feverishly against her.
The dream broke abruptly as the sound of a shrill voice calling, "Harry, dear! Up for breakfast! Are you up dear?" The sharp rap on the door had Harry flying out of bed and pulling his wand to seal the door in a flash, but he found it wasn't necessary as, with a 'crack!', Dobby had appeared in the room and was pointing his finger and a shimmering light at the closed door.
Harry could hear Mrs. Weasley trying to turn the doorknob and then cry out, "Ow!" and sharply pull back.
She knocked again, more insistent this time, "Harry? Are you awake? It's time for breakfast and then we can all have a day in Diagon Alley. Ron and Ginny need their school things. Dear, are you up?" He even heard her whisper, "Alohamora!" followed by a 'ting!' from the other side of the door.
Harry cast a silencing charm on the room and looked at Hermione, wide-eyed on his bed. That wasn't a dream, idiot. He knew they were both in deep trouble if Mrs. Weasley found them in there. Despite the silencing charm, he still whispered, "Dobby, keep her out! Get rid of her if you can!" Harry saw Dobby nod and continue pointing at the door.
Harry turned to Hermione on the bed, "Er, now would be a great time to disapparate into your room, you know."
She seemed to snap out of her daze and nodded and stood out of bed. She looked like she was about to disapparate when she panicked and grabbed his arm and said, "Oh Harry, I haven't learned yet! What should I do? Your cloak!! Where is it?"
Dobby, with a point of his finger at Harry's trunk and a soft 'pop', the cloak appeared in Hermione's hand. As Hermione whipped the invisibility cloak over her head and disappeared, Harry was back on his bed and under the covers in a trice.
Dobby cracked over to stand on the bed and the door opened, "Harry! It's nearly ten o'clock! Oh—Dobby, why are you in here?" Mrs. Weasley strode into the room but stopped when she saw the house elf on Harry 's bed.
"Dobby is waking up Harry Potter, Ms. Wheezy. Ms. Wheezy is not strong enough to get in past Harry Potter's wards without Debby's help, ma'am. Harry Potter has told Dobby how to wake him."
Harry was staring at Dobby and planning to buy Dobby a dozen socks and new outfits the next chance he got. Of all the times Dobby had tried to save Harry's life, for this one, he was most grateful. He couldn't help a small smile as he said, "I'm awake now Dobby. Thank you very much for helping."
Mrs. Weasley looked like she was trying to find something to say as she looked all around the room. "Well come on now, dear. Your breakfast will be cold if you don't hurry." She motioned for him to get out of bed.
Dobby, however, snapped his fingers and a steaming tray of breakfast appeared on Harry's lap. "No is not! Dobby can feed Harry Potter whenever Harry Potter likes."
Mrs. Weasley rounded on Dobby and looked like she wanted to send him to his room. "He shouldn't eat in bed! There'll be crumbs!! And then his sheets will need to be changed and cleaned—"
"No Mrs. Wheezy! Dobby and Winky clean all the beds and rooms, every day. We is changing and cleaning sheets, everyday!" Dobby still stood on the bed, looking defiantly at Mrs. Weasley.
Harry saw her face grow a radiant Weasley-red and her mouth worked. But instead of saying anything, she turned on her heal and left the room, calling from the hall, "Well unless you want to be left at home, then you best hurry up! We are leaving shortly—and you can wake Hermione up then, too!"
Dobby waved the door shut again and Hermione whipped the cloak off her head, with a look of astonishment, "Dobby! That was incredible! Oh, we owe you so much…"
Harry was nodding his head as he set the breakfast tray over to the side and slipped out of bed. "Yeah, Dobby, I owe you a whole new wardrobe for that."
Dobby looked at the floor and blushed at the praise, "I is only doing my job, Harry Potter, sir. I is knowing she is coming and I is knowing yous is not to be found." He looked up adoringly at Harry, "Dobby looks out for Harry Potter, sir."
Harry crouched down to Dobby's level and braced his hands on the little elf's shoulders, "You are a life-saver Dobby. Honestly, that was brilliant of you."
Hermione said, "Yes, it was brilliant. And now she thinks that she won't ever be able to burst into Harry's room because of his 'strong wards'—that was brilliant." She laughed and said, "You'd better practice those wards, Harry, in case she asks for a demonstration and wants to try to break them down."
Dobby shook his head, "Oh no, miss, Harry Potter is stronger than Ms. Wheezy. He was warding the door shut. Dobby just made sure she couldn't try to open the door and couldn't hear any noises before Harry Potter was ready."
Before Harry or Hermione could ask Dobby what he meant, there was another knock on the door and Ron's voice called out, "Harry! You ready to go to Diagon Alley today? Hurry up—"
Harry opened the door and Ron looked at him, "Good, you're almost dressed." Ron then craned his neck to look in the room. Harry saw his eyes narrow, as he must have spied Hermione. "What are you two doing in here? With the door closed…?" He spied the breakfast tray on the bed and then looked at Hermione's attire of pyjamas and turned back to the shirt-less Harry with a searching look.
Harry decided denial was the best possible route and scowled, "What?"
Ron gestured at his topless state, "Er, you're half starkers, Harry!"
"Well, yes, one must be starkers before one is completely dressed." Harry was already annoyed that Mrs. Weasley seemed to want to put him on a regular bedtime/wakeup schedule. Now, with Ron getting all accusatory, Harry's patience was wearing thin. (That, and he really was rather sore from such a rudely interrupted dream.)
Ron was not to be deterred, "Well, what about her! She's in her pyjamas! Was this a private party? Breakfast in bed? Am I interrupting?"
Harry knew Ron had crossed the line when he referred to Hermione as if she wasn't there. Hermione stepped forward, between Ron and Harry and snarled at Ron, "'She' is right here you know. And it's none of your business what I do!"
Ron began shaking his head and looking between Harry and Hermione as if it were all clear now. "I see how it is." His eyes were narrowed and his face was red. "Well, I guess I'm not wanted here." He turned around to leave, banging into the side of the door and cursing, as he stormed out.
Harry turned to look desperately at Hermione, "We can't tell him. We can't!"
She was still glaring at the door where Ron had left, "We shouldn't have to hide what we want to do just because he is too immature to handle it!"
"No, Hermione—look, they are all supposed to be staying here for the next month. I don't want to live in a war zone like that! It's hard enough being around everyone who never shuts up and someone always has something to complain about... I can't take it right now! I just need Ron to be my best friend—not a sore prat who's constantly at odds with my other best friend." He was pleading with her, "Please, let's just wait to tell him. It will have to be a secret--for now. I'm sure this will all blow over. That's how Ron is, he'll just get sick of fighting and forget about it."
Hermione breathed and considered him for a moment and said, "Fine. You'd be go and talk to him then. But, Harry, you really should put on a shirt." She smiled as she gave him a pointed look at his chest.
Harry locked the door again and stepped closer to her, grinning, "Half starkers, indeed. Lucky he didn't recognize these as the same jeans I wore yesterday."
She rolled her eyes at him and stepped in to give Harry a short kiss. Harry mumbled, "Sorry, er, about this morning and all … I wasn't, er, completely awake and …"
Hermione looked him in the eye, "Don't be, it was divine."
Harry raised his eyes, "You were awake?"
She faked a scandalous look, "Of course! What did you think you were doing?"
"Er, well, actually, I think I was rather, dreaming, or, thought I was dreaming and I really didn't, er, completely wake up until I heard the knock on the door…" he trailed off.
"Oh." Then her eyes widened and she said again, "Oh."
Great, Harry thought, she's probably read about it somewhere.
"Well," she eyed him impishly, "Then imagine how much more I'll enjoy it when you're actually awake." She winked at him, leaned up to give him one more brief, chaste kiss and then left him alone.
Harry called into the drawing room, "Ron? Ginny?" No one. He went down to the Entry Hall and still saw no one. He went further down to the kitchens and could hear voices.
Harry pushed open the kitchen door and walked in and they all fell silent. Lupin was sitting, looking weary at the table. Mrs. Weasley was over by the oven where Winky and Dobby were on either side of her, Winky tugging at her arm as she held a pan in her hand. Ginny sat over by the fire, on the floor with Crookshanks in her lap and Ron was standing right before Harry, looking sullen.
Harry had the distinct impression that they had been talking about him. He nodded at Lupin, "Good morning, Remus." He looked back to Ron and said, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Mrs. Weasley slammed the pan onto the stovetop and walked to the door and huffed, "I'll be upstairs. Be ready to leave in ten minutes—all of you." Harry ignored her and was still looking at Ron who seemed to shrink in on himself.
Ginny stood up and said, I can leave you two alone."
Harry waved dismissively at her and said, "I really don't care who hears this. This isn't about anything. That's the point. I think Ron may have misunderstood whatever he thought he saw." Harry looked back at Ron and said, "Ron, Hermione was in my room this morning because I wanted to talk to her about what in the world is going on between you two." Harry held up his hand as Ron started to open his mouth, "Let me finish what I have to say. I don't know exactly what all happened between you two but whatever it is, you'd better get over it. You two bickered constantly before and that was hard enough to be around all the time. Now, you're at her throat about any and everything and you can't even stand to acknowledge her or be in the same room. You are supposed to be here for the next month with her? And then at school, after that? Ron—this can't go on."
Ron broke in, "Me? Did she tell you that she's the one who can't stand to be around me? Did she—"
"Ron, from how I saw you treat her this morning, you are being insufferable! No wonder she can't stand you! I can't stand it! You guys can't expect me to be both your best friends and you not be able to stand each other. And then, if you do, you can't go getting all hacked off because I happen to be talking to her and not you!"
Harry could see Ron just growing more and more angry and he shot a quick look at Ginny and Remus who were both trying not to watch as they listened, "Listen Ron, I'm not about to get in the middle of this. You two need to just get over it and work it out. I can't—I just…" Harry ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. There has to be some way to get him to understand. He rubbed his temples and said, "I just can't do this—I need my friends right now; the best friends who've always been there. Please, can you guys just work out whatever this is all about?" He really hoped that this would propel Ron to just let it all go.
Ron looked like he was on the verge of a decision. Harry thought he was about to say something but instead, Ginny walked over and stood between Ron and Harry, "I agree with Harry. Ron, you've done nothing but rag about Hermione since the summer began and I'm tired of it, too. We all have to live together and it's not fair to ask Harry to choose between the two of you." Ginny turned to Harry, "Harry, I'm sorry about Ron—I should have stood up for Hermione weeks ago to him and not let it go on so long." She shot a glare at Ron, as he was about to speak and said, "Oh get off it, you were wondering why you don't have a girlfriend—it's because you're always acting like an arse." She rolled her eyes at Harry then to show her exasperation with Ron.
Harry saw that Ron now looked embarrassed and he gave him a slap on the shoulder, "All right?"
Ron gave his typical lop-sided grin and shrugged, "Yeah, mate, sure." He gave Harry a slug on the arm, too and opened the kitchen door to let Harry go up, "You ready for Diagon Alley today?"
Harry had been thinking since he heard Mrs. Weasley mention it, that he had just been there and after yesterday's whirlwind day, he could use the time now to just be alone and think. He also needed to catch up on some work before Kingsley arrived for training and then there was the Order Meeting tonight, too. "Er, well, actually I already went yesterday."
Ginny, who was following them up the stairs, said, "Oh! But Harry, it's Lunasadh! There are all kinds of games and street vendors today!"
Harry perked up a bit at that. Ron added, "Yeah and they are revealing a new racing broom today!"
"Really?" Now that definitely got Harry's attention. "What kind?"
"A whole new line—tons of secrecy—no one knows yet what it's even called. The revealing it at Quality Quidditch at three today."
They reached the Entry Hall and Mrs. Weasley was waiting for them impatiently. The release of a new broom was really very tempting to Harry but then Ginny added, "Mum says we can stay through the afternoon and even go out to dinner with Fred and George."
Nope, Harry knew he had training this afternoon before the meeting. "Sorry, I can't I have training this afternoon."
Ron turned to look at Harry with a confused look and Harry saw Mrs. Weasley narrow her eyes at him. "Harry, you can take a break for a day. Come along now." She turned towards the door then to leave.
But Harry didn't move. "No really, I can't. I have work to catch up on and I have a lot to do." He saw Mrs. Weasley turn back and blink at being disobeyed. But Harry felt obligated not to just skiv off a visit to train with someone who was talking time out of their day to help him. "Let me know about the new broom, okay?"
Ginny waved and went out the door and was followed by a stone-silent Mrs. Weasley. Ron was still looking at Harry like he lost his puppy. "Harry? What are you training for? What do you have to do?"
Harry just looked at him with a small smile and simply said, "Voldemort—you know the crazy dark lord who tries to kill me off once a year?"
Ron shivered at the sound of his name, grimaced and went out he door with a half-hearted wave.
Harry turned to find Lupin standing behind him, over by the stairs and looking tired. "Well, I'd say Molly knows now."
Harry looked confusedly at him and Lupin explained, "Albus said Molly might not take well to hearing about you spending your summer working all the time. She said not to go on and tell her if it wasn't necessary. I'd also say she was trying to make sure all you kids were out of the house for tonight's meeting."
Harry recalled that Dumbledore had said not to tell anyone about him going to the meeting that night so he just nodded and was thankful he didn't go on to Diagon Alley today, where he might have had to explain to a stubborn Mrs. Weasley why he had to be home by seven.
Lupin said, "Well, I have to get going for the day. I'll see you later tonight, Harry" and walked out the front door.
A/N: Next: The First Order Meeting