Does that make sense? If not, ignore it. You see, I just go with the flow. I don't really plan my stories very much. I'm not very organised-so please bear with me.
IMPORTANT: at some point, I mention here that Mione has brown eyes, but before I said she has blue eyes. That's not a mistake-you'll understand later. But in the meantime, do any of you care to venture a guess?
And apparently because of my reviewers I can no longer write in text form, which makes this very hard for me! COUGH W.I.F.L.F.A.G. COUGH See how much I love you guys! Okay well you just have to review now! Doughnut-you are the only person who understands the necessity of writing in a NORMAL way! No offences to you reviewers-I love you all!
See? This wasn't meant to be a long A/N!
ANYHU-this chappie is dedicated to... um...
Kerrymdb, for great reviews, and great fics. (Psst read her fics-they're well good!!)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Good lord, just think what I could buy with that kind of money...
Chapter 3: Meeting again... And a hellish dinner"Whoops! Careful now!" exclaimed the young assistant healer as she caught Hermione just as she tripped over her bag and went hurtling towards the floor. "You just sit here, out of harms way," as she motioned towards a chair. Hermione tried to get up but the assistant wouldn't let her. "No, you stay here for now! You wouldn't want to be here for any longer than you have to, do you?" She smiled, and Hermione forced herself to smile back, but she wasn't sure. Could she face it? Would it be the same, or would he have changed at all?
She didn't much time to ponder. At that moment, Healer Stepanian walked in. He beckoned for the assistant to leave, and she did.
"Ready to go now?" he asked with a smile.
"Healer-when will you find out my results? What do you think they'll show? Will I-" she couldn't carry on.
"Don't worry, Hermione. I'm sure it's nothing. We just have to take these tests as part of routine. I don't want you getting stressed over them. That could make you even more ill, if anything."
Harry appeared in the doorway. "Hey Mione. Ready to go?"
They said their goodbyes and then the two left the room. Hermione wasn't feeling up to apparating just yet so they were going to drive home.
"Was it just me, or was that healer staring at me?" Harry asked as they made their way out.
....
The healer stood alone in the room now.
"Hmmm..." the healer said thoughtfully. "He was a nice boy...."
(A/N: I know, sick sense of humour-but I couldn't help it!)
....
Hermione paused when she reached the front door. Could she do it? Was she really going to let herself be sucked back into this world of unhappiness and misery? She knew that she had a choice; she did not have to keep doing this to herself. Just walk away, she told herself. You can do it. You don't deserve this pain that you've been inflicting on yourself.
She turned around and saw Harry coming towards her, holding her bag. "Here we are. Home sweet home," he said with a grin.
She forced a smile on to her face. She knew that she couldn't do it. She couldn't leave. There was a part of her that so badly wanted to be set free, free from this hell, but there was also another part of her, which was much more stronger, that wouldn't let her. "Yeah," she replied. "You got the key, then?"
He frantically searched through his jacket pockets for them. "Oh, crap. Where are they?"
Hermione could not help but grin as she watched him comically hunt for the keys. She laughed out loud when he stumbled into the bushes as he looked for them in the bag. He blushed and struggled to get up. Eventually he gave up and just stayed there, trapped in the bushes. After a few moments he called out, in a meek voice, "Um... Hermione? Do-do you think that you could...um..."
She ran over to him and burst out laughing. He looked ridiculous, with his glasses knocked askew and his signature messy hair looking more scarecrow-like than ever. He also looked vulnerable and innocent-like the Harry she knew from when they were younger, a Harry who rarely made an appearance anymore.
When she finally got a grip on herself, she bent over and grabbed his hand and pulled him up. In his other hand, he was clutching something shiny.
"Um... I found the keys..." he said quietly.
She couldn't help but burst out laughing again. Harry tried to keep a straight face but after a while he started to see the funny side of it and was laughing like crazy as well. The two held onto each other for support, as they were laughing too hard to stand still.
"Oh my god," Hermione said, as she struggled to catch her breath. Her sides were aching, but in a good way.
"It feels good to her you laugh like that again," said Harry, as he flashed her a sexy smile. "You look so much better."
She smiled. "I feel so much better." And she did. Maybe it'll be different now, she thought as they stepped into their apartment. Maybe me going into hospital was a wake-up call for Harry.
"I'll just go and put this in our room," Hermione said, gesturing to the bag. The words had only just left her mouth when the phone began to ring.
"It's alright, you can go, I'll get it," Harry said.
She went into their bedroom and bent down to put the bag down. When she stood up, she noticed a vase of roses on her side of the dressing table that hadn't been there before. She smiled when she saw that they were a lovely lilac colour, and thought back to the ball that had taken place in their last year of Hogwarts...
(Flashback)
"God I'm glad that those girls are gone. I can't believe that the year sixes and sevens have to share rooms together!" Ginny exclaimed in disgust.
Even though as Head Girl she had her own room, Hermione had decided to get changed with the other girls, because it proved a much more enjoyable experience. Well, maybe not so much for Ginny...
"Hermione, for gods' sake, will you stop pacing? You're making me nervous too!"
These words startled Hermione, who had been totally immersed in her thoughts. "Sorry, Gin! It's just that I'm so worried. What if he hates this? What if I totally disappoint him?"
"That's a load of crap and you know it, Mione," Ginny replied. She looked really annoyed now. "You and Harry are meant to be together, and you know it!"
"But that's it-I don't know if we're meant to be together! You saw what it was like with Ron! Everyone said the same thing then!"
Ginny sighed. "Mione, that was totally different. I was against it, wasn't I? I knew that you two were too different to be compatible. But you and Harry-that's different. You two are meant to be together."
Hermione sighed and collapsed onto a chair, not looking at Ginny.
"Mione?" Ginny's tone had changed now: it was softer and much more friendly. "This isn't just about Harry, is it?"
Hermione turned around so that she was facing Ginny. "You know that Harry normally goes for the pretty types, right? People like Cho..."
Ginny made a noise that Hermione couldn't distinguish. "Tramp..."
Hermione just carried on, as if she hadn't heard Ginny, "...and I know that I'm not that good-looking... what if he doesn't think I'm pretty enough? What if he still thinks of me as an ugly frizzy-haired brainbox?"
"Then I'd be a fool. "
Hermione jumped when she heard his voice. "Harry! How long have you been standing there?"
Sensing that the two needed a private moment alone, Ginny made herself scarce.
"Not long. Just long enough to hear what you just said. Hermione, you are the most beautiful, intelligent, caring, sexy," (Hermione blushed when she heard this), "and loyal girl I know. How could you think that I might not want you?"
At this point, Harry walked over to her, and gently took her into his arms.
"Mione, I love you."
This startling revelation stunned Hermione. Harry had never said that to her before. She looked up at him, and they both leant in for a kiss. It was not their first, but it held so much more meaning for Hermione than any other kiss before. No one had ever told her that they loved her before, not even Krum, who claimed that he had "never felt that way about a girl before," nor Ron, who went bright red just hearing the dreaded "l" word. She felt safe and protected in Harry's arms, and felt that this was the happiest she'd ever been.
When they broke away from each other, she whispered in his ear, "I love you too."
Harry grinned wildly when he heard this, and then said, "I have something to give you. "Close your eyes, alright?"
Hermione obeyed. She heard him mutter "Accio flowers!"
"Okay, you can open them now."
She opened them and gasped out loud. In his hands was a bouquet of beautiful lilac roses. They went perfectly with her dress, which was the same colour.
"Where did you get them from?" she asked in amazement.
"Hagrid's been growing some roses near his rose patch." Harry explained. "I found out from Ginny what colour you were wearing, and I thought I thought that you would like these."
"Harry, I love them! They're stunning!" Hermione said as she grabbed Harry and hugged him. The two gazed fondly into each other's eyes, until a sudden noise from behind distracted the two. The turned around to see a very sheepish-looking Ginny standing in the doorway.
"Ummm... sorry you guys... it's just that it's kinda time to go and I've left my purse and shoes in here..."
Hermione started to laugh. "Sure, Gin. You can come in now. Soppy moment's over."
"You promise?" Ginny asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Harry replied, grinning himself now.
Ginny grabbed her things and made her way out. Harry watched her leave, then turned around to look at Hermione.
"Should we go now?" he asked her. She smiled and grabbed her purse. She knew that this was going to be the most magical evening of her life.
"By the way," she asked, as they made their way into the common room. "How did you get into there? Boys aren't meant to be able to get into the girls' dorms."
Harry grinned. "Ah, now that's a little trick I picked up, thanks to some red-headed twins I know."
Hermione grinned back. "Of course. If anyone would find a way, it would be those two. Well, I thin it's best you don't spread this around. Remember, you set an example on the younger ones. They look up to us older ones, especially to "The Boy Who Lived."
"Aye, aye, Miss Head Girl."
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Harry walked into the room then, pulling Hermione away from her thoughts. She walked over to him and kissed him. It was the first kiss that they had shared in a long time, and it felt so good.
When it ended, Harry grinned at her. "I guess you found the flowers, then."
"They're beautiful. Thank you."
He flashed her a big smile. "Only the best for my Mione."
She noticed that he was still clutching the phone in his hand. "Who was that?" she enquired.
Harry looked really excited now. "It was Zacharias, calling from the office."
Zacharias Smith. He had had proved be an arrogant git when they had known him at Hogwarts-and to Hermione, time had made no difference. Unfortunately, for some reason, Harry couldn't see this. She would never have believed that Harry and Zacharias would become such firm friends-but they were. Almost as close as Harry and Ron had been, before... the thought brought a tear to her eye. No, Hermione-this isn't the time. Not now.
It was too late. He had spotted it. "What is it?" He asked in a gentle voice.
"I was just... thinking about Ron..." she couldn't bear to carry on.
The expression on his face became stone cold.
"Hermione, I promise, goddamit, I'll make them pay for what they did. I swore this on their graves... I'll make them pay."
She hated it when he got like this. Why did he have to do it? He knew how she felt about it. Why couldn't he find peace? He'd already ended the war: why did he have to start this now? He'd fulfilled his destiny: why couldn't he leave it at that?
"That was what he was calling about," Harry said after a moment's silence. "Zac says that he thinks he's discovered an organisation that they've set up. They're hiding all of those-criminals." Harry's voice was filled with such disgust, it sounded as if he was almost spitting out the words. "I've got to get down to the Ministry-this could be the major break through that I've been looking for!"
He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I'll be back by seven at the latest," he promised, then waved goodbye before he apparated away. Hermione sighed and made her way towards the kitchen. She might as well try and do something useful instead of just sitting around and moping all day long. She was very strict in the way that she thought that people should always try and use their time productively.
Hmmm... I wonder what I should make, she thought to herself, as she absentmindedly pulled on a lock of her hair. She kept twirling it around her finger, over and over again, while she thought of what to make. Nothing complex, just something nice that Harry and I can enjoy over a quiet dinner.
She went over to he cupboard where she secretly stashed away her cookbooks. She had to make sure that Harry didn't find him, as he would have highly disapproved of them, as they were muggle cookbooks. There was something about muggle books that she preferred to those written by witches and wizards. Hermione had to use them because she hadn't perfected her cooking skills yet, and still required a lot of help. This surprised everyone who knew Hermione, as she had somehow always managed to become instantly skilled at anything that was thrown at her. Cooking, though, was a skill she yet had to master, and it was something that Harry enjoyed teasing her about. He himself actually happened to have a natural talent for it. That was why he normally cooked for them, but as she was still on leave for work while she recovered, she thought it would be better for herself to temporarily take the responsibility. That was, if she could ever find something in the damn book that she could make. Everything that looked so appealing was also very difficult to make.
She kept flicking through the books, hoping that she'd find something that didn't look too difficult to make. Finally, she found a dish that looked like it wasn't too difficult to make, and also looked quite interesting. She also saw a recipe for a dessert that looked delicious. A dessert would really make the dinner complete. She started to gather all of the ingredients that she needed. She wasn't in the mood to do it all by hand; instead she used a few summoning spells to gather what she needed.
Oh crap, she thought when she saw that she was missing a few essential items. She looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Well, it's only half past four, and Harry won't be back till six thirty at the earliest, so I've got enough time to go over to diagon alley and grab the few ingredients I need, then come back and make the food.
I'll have to apparate, though. Well, the healer did say I could when I felt better. Why the hell not? I'll be able to grab a bottle of wine, too, if I do.
She made a list of all of the things she needed. Then she pointed her wand at the food she had just taken out and muttered "Retunio," to put them back in their places. "Accio purse and coat," and they were in her hands. She put them on, then apparated away.
She stood there, outside the shop, feeling as if she had forgotten something.
"Oh, damn!" she exclaimed, scaring a few elderly women nearby out of their wits.
She apparated back, grabbed the list, then apparated back. In less than a moment, she was standing outside the shop once more. She stuffed the list into her purse, then walked in just as a woman from the group that she had startled before muttered, "The youngsters of today. I don't know..." The rest of the group replied with a chorus of "Uh-huh's".
(A/N: I tried to say "mm-hmm" or however you write it. Does anyone know? 'Cos I can change it then.)
.... (from now on, they replace stars, alright?)
He felt ridiculous, standing here, in this uniform. It was so cheesy in this place. And the woman who ran the place? He didn't know how he could bear it!
"Come on, now, son, cheer up! You young men today, always looking so broody and miserable!" Then she dropped her voice to a whisper. "'Course, that's meant to be cool nowadays, isn't it?"
He forced a smile on his face, when he really felt like throwing up. Anything to get this ghastly woman away from him.
Eventually she left him alone. Out of all of the places to be assigned, why here? I know, I know, it's a place that they wouldn't suspect me to be at, he thought. But god, it's humiliating.
He looked around the store. There must be something good about this place. Please god, let there be.
At that moment, it was as if his prayers had been answered. The shop door opened, and in stepped in a vision of loveliness, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. But, strangely enough, she looked familiar to him. He couldn't figure out where he had seen her before. Then it him. Hard.
It was the girl that he had taken to St. Mungo's the other day. When he had grabbed her, she had looked deep into his eyes, and the two had shared an intimate moment before she had collapsed. He had then taken her to the wizard hospital, and had left her there. He'd been thinking about her a lot since, but with all the problems going on at the moment, he had been briefly distracted. Now, though, his attention was once again focused on her.
"Hi," she said, with a smile.
"What a smile, he thought. God, she's beautiful.
"H-Hey," he stuttered. "H-How can I help you?"
She looked at him in concern. "Are you alright?"
He panicked. Stay cool, man. She doesn't know who you are! Remember, you don't look the same. She can't recognise you!
"Yeah, sorry. Umm, so what do you need?"
Yes, that was good. You sounded totally calm.
"I need everything on here," she said, as she produced a list from her purse.
He took the list from her, and in doing so, he accidentally brushed his hands against hers. He blushed, and then hastily looked down at the list in the hope that she wouldn't notice how red-faced he was rapidly becoming. "Alright, I'll just get them for you," he said, as he went to collect the items. He observed her from a distance as he did. Even the simple action of her twirling her hair made him weak at the knees. He didn't think he'd ever felt like this for anyone else before. Of course, he hadn't really been able to get involved with anyone before, because of the position he'd been in. but now-no, he couldn't. It was still too dangerous. It made him feel so angry-why was he being persecuted for something that he hadn't done? He couldn't help where he had been from. He had never given in, done what they all wanted him to do-so why was he still being persecuted?
It was because of the madman, he thought to himself. That bizarre prejudiced man, who thought that he was doing the right thing. How hypocritical, he thought. He had always attacked those who persecuted muggles and muggle-borns, but now he's persecuting people like me in the same way. God, is there no one who can help us?
"Um, hello? Are you done? It's just that I'm in a bit of a hurry."
Her sweet voice interrupted his thoughts. It was then that he realised how foolish he must have looked, just staring thoughtfully at the last items on her list. He levitated it with the other items, then dashed back over to behind the counter with them where he bagged them for her, after pricing them.
"That's 4 sickles and 3 knuts, please."
She handed him the money, and he gave her the bag.
"Thanks very much. We hope that you come again soon," he said, reciting the line that he had been told.
"Thanks," she said with a smile. It was then that he noticed something about her; her eyes were a chocolaty brown colour. But hadn't she had blue eyes when he had last seen her?
.....
There. It was done! After much hard work, she had a lovely dinner laid out in front of her. Now all she had to do was wait for Harry to come home, and they could enjoy it together. She looked at the time on the clock. A quarter past six. It wouldn't be long now, then.
....
It was a quarter to seven now, and no Harry. It's all right, she told herself. He said he would be here seven at the latest. He's still got plenty of time.
Although, Harry had always been so punctual when they'd moved in together, He had been slacking off in the last few months, but he wouldn't be late today, would he, when she had just come from the hospital? Or was she just kidding herself?
....
It was a half past eight now. The food was cold. She heated up some for herself and started to eat. At least she'd made a cold dessert.
....
The clock struck ten. She wiped the tears off her face, and started to put everything away.
....
A half past eleven. There was no stopping the tears now.
....
A quarter past twelve. She started to get ready for bed.
....
Half past twelve. Just as she was about to get under the covers, she heard someone come in the front door. Finally. He'd made an appearance.
She went to greet him, expecting to hear some excuses followed by grovelling. Something like, "I got held up at the office," and "I'm sorry I forgot to ring," and "Please let me make it up to you." Something along the lines of that, and maybe she would have been able to forgive him.
She didn't expect him to stumble over to him, with the smell of alcohol on his breath.
"Helloooooo, Herm-Herm- you have a funny name!"
She pushed him away from her. "What the hell? Have you been drinking?!"
"Sleepy time now," he muttered, as he collapsed onto the living room floor.
Sprawled out there, on a heap, he didn't look sweet or cute, and certainly not sexy anymore.
"Good night Harry," she said in disgust, and then made her way into their bedroom to get some sleep.
....
The next morning, she was up before him. She got dressed and then made her way into the kitchen to make some breakfast. The living room was on the way to the kitchen, and Hermione didn't hesitate to step on Harry as she crossed it.
"Ow!" he groaned.
She looked at him with an innocent look on her face. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there. Did I hurt you?"
"Yeah, you kind of did," he grumbled, as he struggled to sit up. "Shit, my head. God, I have the worst hangover ever!"
She bent down." Let me help." She pretending to be massaging his head then slapped it really hard. "Of course you do! That's what happens when you go out and get drunk, you stupid jerk!" she yelled at him.
"Damn, Hermione, what was that for?" he shouted.
"That was for last night," she shouted back. "That was for going out and getting wasted when you were meant to be having dinner with me!"
"So what?"
"So what? SO WHAT?!" Hermione looked as of she could kill someone now. "The fact of the matter is that I slaved away last night, trying to make you a great dinner, and you couldn't even have the decency to come home when you said that you would?! I've been in hospital and I might be dying of something, and you can't even spend one freakin' evening with me?!"
She expected for him to start apologizing now. After all, he had been too wasted last night to say anything.
But all he said was," You're my girlfriend. And that's that. I do what I want, and you do what I say. So shut up, all right?"
Then he stormed into their bedroom and slammed the door shut.
She was stunned. She hadn't expected that. His words had been so harsh, and the expression on his face had been so cold.
She collapsed onto the floor, and burst into tears.
....
Okay then- I hope you liked that! It's a bit hard to write this angsty stuff without it sounding too over the top. And there's going too be quite a bit of romance soon, hopefully-the only thing is, that I'm not very good at writing it. I'm having a few problems deciding why Harry's become like he has. I've decided why, but I'm not exactly sure whether it's a strong enough explanation. I'm not doing it from his point of view 'cos he's not one of the main characters, even though he looks it. The main characters are Hermione and though mystery guy. Also, it's hard to get inside his head, 'cos even I'm a bit unsure of what his thoughts are.
You should be very happy 'cos this is way long and I find it very hard to write long chappies! (Long for me anyway, if not for you!)
I'm not doing any responses 'cos my A/Ns are long enough with having too explain stuff-maybe later. It's 'cos I don't want to get banned again.
Am hoping to update soon-am a bit stuck for what to do next-but till then, please review!!