Note: Okay, sorry about the long delay... I had terrible writer's block... hope this is good... let me know what you think! And thanks to everyone who has given me feedback, you guys totally rock! Ciao!
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The rest of the year went by very quickly. Oliver would meet me on my visits to Hogsmead, he'd come by the school on weekends to be with me, spending his weekdays in London or up in the mountains training for Quidditch. It worked well, if I was a bit tired from out late nights out. I was happy and he was happy and that was all that mattered.£ £ £
I lay back on the ground and gazed up at the stars. "They're beautiful, Oliver."
He slid an arm around me. "You're beautiful."
I blushed, glad of the darkness so he couldn't see. "Thanks. How's training coming along?""It's good. Middleton had a fit yesterday when one of the beaters sneezed. He thought for sure Ronny had the flu. Sealed him away from the rest of us muttering about taking out the whole team. Terribly funny to watch."I giggled and nuzzled into his shoulder. "I love this."He tilted his head towards me. "What?""The stars, this night, lying here with you. It's comfortable."
He checked his watch. "Well, enjoy it because we haven't got much longer. I refuse to keep you late again tonight. If you doze off during class, I'll never forgive myself."
I laughed softly. "I won't fall asleep. I have naps. It's fine. I'm fine."
He pulled me closer. "I know you're fine but I won't be your academic downfall this close to the end..."
I poked him in the side. "Don't be so serious. I'll go to bed early tonight, okay mother?"
"Laughing at me now?" He started to tickle me. "I'll give you something to laugh about."
We tussled for a few minutes, ending up with me pinned underneath him, my arms held fast above my head.
"Give?" he asked softly.
I struggled one last time before giving up. "Give."
He smiled gently then bent to kiss me.
Someone cleared their throat a few feet from us.
We scrambled up from the ground and faced Dumbledor's stern face.
"Sir, I can explain. It's all my fault..." Oliver began.
Dumbledor held up a hand. "Please, Mr. Wood... I was young once too you know..." His eyes twinkled. "In the future can you please keep the visits to daylight hours. It's dangerous at night when one is not paying attention to his or her surroundings." He started away. "Good night Mr. Wood, Miss Granger."
I waited until he was safely out of sight and out of hearing before a nervous giggle escaped my mouth. "I thought for sure we were done for..."
Oliver was laughing too and I could see the tension drain from his body. "Oh, Merlin. I thought I was going to be murdered on the spot..." He straightened and held out his arms to me, in which I gratefully fell into. "He does have a point though," he added softly, glancing out at the Forbidden Forest.
I nodded. "I'd never thought of that..."
He smiled. "Well, let's clean up here and go in. When's your next Hogsmead visit?"
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Graduation was beautiful. My parents and Oliver came, and were waving madly from the tenth row, my mother's eyes misty when I went up to get my diploma. They took a zillion pictures of me, Harry, Ron, the three of us, me and Oliver before finally leaving us alone.Oliver led me away from the crowd to our tree by the lake with an air of excitement. "I got you a present for graduation but you have to close your eyes," he said, his eyes sparkling.
"Oliver, you didn't have to get me anything..."
He grinned. "Close your eyes."
I did obediently and he placed something in my hand. When I opened them, I was holding a small black box. Half-excited, half-scared, I opened it. Inside sat a shiny set of silver keys. I looked up questioningly at him, picking them up gently in my hand. "Oliver, wha-"
"They're to my flat. In London. Your parents told me that you were accepted to a job in London and I figured that since you would be there and I had a flat there where I stayed most of my time, except the days that I was off playing games, then we could live together. You don't have to pay for anything, the team pays for the flat, and then we could be together," he said, quickly, his words almost blending together. I almost didn't catch them. "I know that moving in together would be a big thing and we might try to kill each other after a few weeks but I figured that we might as well try, you know. Because we can now. We're both done school and we've got the beginnings of jobs. I just want to try, Hermione. That's all I ask." He looked so scared that I might say no that I almost wanted to laugh.
I closed my fingers over the keys and smiled at him. "I'm willing to try if you are."
He laughed and picked me up, twirling me around. "This is going to be fabulous." He kissed me then put me down. "Okay, so I'll redo the flat and it'll be ready for you when you want to move in."
I laughed along with him almost jumping up and down in excitement. This was going to be fantastic. Then I stopped. What was I going to tell my parents?
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I waited until we were home and then sprung the news on them.
"What?" Mother asked, her eyes wide. "You can't just start living with the boy since you just got out of school. Are you going to marry him next?"
"Mother!" I said, shocked. "I've only been with him for a little over a year. We haven't even talked about that at all... I can't believe you even thought of that..." Oh god. Thinking of me married made me giggle. "Honestly..."
"Well, Oliver is a decent boy," Dad started slowly. "He's got a flat and a job – of sorts – and he's a bright and honorable boy... at least she's chosen a good one. Remember when Annie's daughter took up house with that dreadful boy, Hatch, was his name, or Hutch..."
My mother shuddered. "Alright, Hermione, if your heart is set on this, I will allow you to move into the flat with him, you're mature enough to make your own decisions I suppose... But you must promise me that you'll be careful. If at anytime you feel uncomfortable, I want you straight home, understand?"
I was so embarrassed. "Mo-ther... it's fine. We're not getting married or anything... we're just sharing a flat..."
She wiped her eyes. "I know but you're just growing up so fast that I'm afraid that it's too fast..."
Dad went over and put his arm around her. "She'll be fine, Francine. She's a mature, brilliant, and balanced girl. If anyone can handle it, it's her..."
I blushed. "Well, I should get packing... I'm to move in in two weeks."
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He was being very secretive when I arrive at the flat, leaving me at the bottom and carrying all my things up for me then leading me up, his hands firmly over my eyes."Oliver, what's going on?"
He laughed. "Shh, you'll see... almost there..." I heard him push open the door then let go of my eyes.
"Surprise!"
I was standing in a newly furnished flat, everything had been redone. It was amazing what cleaning up and a few coats of paint did for a place.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and the twins were watching me with identical grins on their faces.
"Had to help Oliver get ready for the big day," the twins said in unison. "He's slightly interior decorating handicapped..."
Ginny giggled. "Come see everything!"
I followed her and the boys followed me to Oliver's old room, the bathroom, the living room, the kitchen. Everything was refurbished and clean and beautiful. I turned to face them. "I love it!"
They all grinned back at me.
Oliver came over, putting his arms around me. "I'm glad you love it."
"It's perfect." I stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly.
He pulled me closer. "Mmm, that's what I missed..."
"Well, that's our cue," Harry said, gathering his jacket.
"Yeah, just don't say we didn't warn you, Oliver, old boy. As soon as we walk out that door, you're through. No more boys' night, no more freedom," Fred said.
"And suddenly it'll be twenty years from now and you've traded in your flat for a colonail and your broom for a minivan," added George.
"God, you jerks! Let's go... bye Hermione," Ginny cried, pushing her brothers to the door.
"See you," Ron said, pulling the door shut. "Give us a ring sometime!"
The door shut and then we were alone. It was unsettling, really. I mean, I've been with Oliver alone before but never like this. Never something so permanent...
"So..."
I guess he'd caught the uncomfortable vibes because he started to fidget. "So... what would you like to do?"
"I guess I'll move my things in?" I said, half in question.
"Sure, that's great."
I went into the room and started to pull out my things, putting them away in places that I could find. I could hear him in the kitchen.
"You want something to eat, Hermione?" he called.
"No thanks," I called back. "I'm fine." I pulled out a picture of us and went to place it on the side table but instead found an identical picture already in place. My eyes softened and I smiled. So adorable... I went out into the living room to put it on the mantle then returned to unpacking. I was trying to find a place for the pictures of Harry, Ron and me from first year and then seventh year when he poked his head in.
"Hey, Hermione, what do you want to do tomorrow?"
"Well, I have to go in for orientation with the Ministry of Magic tomorrow so that'll take up most of my time."
"Oh, alright then." He left then after a few seconds came back. "What about tomorrow night?"
I blinked. "Well, I'll come home and then we'll figure things out from there, alright?"
He nodded. "Alright." He turned to go then turned back quickly. "Oh, and about the sleeping arrangements..." He trailed off.
I nodded. "Yes, I've been wanting to talk to you about that... I just... it's just..." I didn't know how to put this without sounding like a complete prude.
He leaned against the doorpost. "I think I know what you're going to say and I want you to know that I won't touch you without your say so...I promise..."
I sighed in relief. "Well, that was easy enough."
He grinned. "So, need any help with anything?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm fine, thanks."
"Okay, I'll be in the kitchen if you do."
"Thanks."
"Anything at all."
"Okay, thank you."
"Like, lifting heavy things or putting things on top shelves..."
"Oliver, I'm fine, thank you."
"Sure, I know... I just..."
"I know. Thanks."
He left and I sighed. If he was going to be like this – a nervous little boy – the whole time then this was going to be a long stay.
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When we climbed into bed that night, I sighed in contentment. Wrapped solidly in Oliver's arms, I felt only safety and happiness."Goodnight Oliver."
"Goodnight, love," he replied sleepily, kissing my head then falling back into slumber.
I lay awake for awhile, too excited and too happy to let sleep take me. This was our apartment and this was going to work out so well! It was going to be great.
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"Oliver, what kinds of things do we need for dinner tonight? I'll stop by the store on my way home," I called out as I was going out the door."No, I think we're fine," he called back, coming out to give me a kiss goodbye.
I kissed him back and left.
It takes me thirty minutes by tube and then I have to walk for fifteen to get to the Ministry of Magic. I have a job as a junior Auror. Right now, all I could do was research but as long as I kept working at it and didn't give up, they said I would be able to be promoted in a short time.
"Morning Hermione."
"Hiya, Harry," I replied.
Harry was working with me in the Auror department and Ron had gotten in under the head of Sports and Gaming.
"How's married life?" he asked, grinning.
I sat down at my desk and tactfully ignored him, setting out my things for the day. There was a running joke with the Weasley family and now in the office that Oliver and I were married or at least well on our way.
"Granger, we need to check out this batch of spells to see if they're authentic," Amber Thistlematch, my boss, said, dropping a pile of scrolls on my desk.
And so the day began.
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"Well, see you, Hermione.""Bye Harry," I called, waving as I walked to the tube.
He lived just a short walk away from the Ministry, had his own apartment.
The best part of my workday is the ride home, I think. It's when I get my alone time and I can sort everything out and it feels like limbo – like nothing is going to change and everything is perfect and balanced in the world.
"Hello?" I pushed open the door to our flat. "Oliver?"
He picked me up in a hug, giving me a kiss. "Hello. I'm just on my way out. We have an interview til seven... oh, and I forgot. We need something for dinner... see you..." He was out the door before I could say one word.
"G'bye then," I said to the shut door, frowning. Something for dinner? I went into the kitchen. It was a mess. Dirty pots and pans strewn around the kitchen, dirty plates on the table.
The door opened and closed as Oliver made his way our room. "Sorry, forgot something..."
"Oliver!"
He came into the kitchen, a sheaf of papers in his hand. "What?"
I spread my arms out. "What is this?"
He shrugged. "Sorry, had a few mates over for lunch. I'll clean it up when I get back..."
I shook my head. "That's disgusting. We're going to get insects, Oliver..."
He checked his watch. "Well, I have to go. I'm sorry. I should have done it before."
I sighed. "I'll do it. You go. But you owe me."
He kissed me quickly. "One hundred times over." Then he was gone.
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I woke up in the middle of the night to an empty bed. "Oliver?" I whispered, reaching out. Nothing. I could hear him moving around in the kitchen. Sliding out of bed, I padded out to the kitchen. I was met with the sight of Oliver drinking from the carton of milk. "Oliver!"
He started, splashing it all down his front. "What?" he asked, wiping his mouth.
"You can't drink from the carton!"
He sighed. "Hermione, the only people who drink from this carton are you and me and I don't think you would be too disgusted with my germs." He grinned at me.
I shook my head. "That's not the point. I mean, what if I'm bringing my parents home and we walk in to that?"
"I'm not stupid, Hermione. I know when it's time for manners, alright. So stop pestering me like you're my mother. It's really not putting you in a good light in my mind..."
I threw up my hands. "Fine. Do whatever you bloody well want. I'm going back to bed." I spun on my heel and marched back into the bedroom. I flung myself into bed and pulled the sheets over my head.
Minutes later, I heard him come in and the sheet was pulled back from my head.Oliver's chagrined face came into view as he crouched beside the bed. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't realize that moving in together would cause so many problems. I guess we both have to make adjustments to our lifestyles, me more so than you..." He chuckled. "...but I just want you to know I'm going to try, alright?"
I nodded. "Alright," I whispered back.
"Good, now I'll just go finish off the carton then come back to bed." He stood up and turned to leave.
"Oliver!"
