AN: There is a slightly graphic scene of a sexual nature in this chapter, although I wouldn't consider it smut and I definitely don't describe in detail scenes of an actual sex act being performed, I just thought it should be warned about here for the people that don't like reading things of that nature. It is a scene (or the beginning of a scene at least) that people have private messaged me about, asking if it was ever going to happen. I'm sure some people will be happy that I have finally added it.
So many people are shut up tight inside themselves like boxes, yet they would open up, unfolding quite wonderfully, if only you were interested in them- Sylvia Plath
Harry had to stay another six days in St. Mungo's, grumbling all the while about being cooped up. In that time, he had received many visitors, including Olivia who had swung by a few times to make sure he was recovering alright and to talk to Ellie.
Strangely enough, Olivia was becoming a fast friend and Ellie couldn't believe that the first time she had talked to the woman, she had been less than friendly with her.
Olivia had invited her to Muggle London to go shopping which Harry had vehemently said no to until Hermione had interjected and said she would go with them.
Ellie understood Harry's hesitance at letting her out of his sight, especially after what had happened to him in Diagon Alley, but it didn't mean she had to like his paranoia.
"So, when are you going out with Olivia and Hermione?" Harry asked as they sat on the sofa watching a movie. He had been released from St Mungo's the day previously and had been in a much better mood because of it.
"This Saturday I do believe," she replied.
"I was thinking maybe I could take Isabella to the cinema while you all are out and then we can have a late dinner together in London," Harry said, before adding, "that is, if it's okay with you three."
Ellie giggled. "Trying to stay close to me so I don't get chopped to pieces by an axe murderer or something?" she teased.
"You can't blame me for being overly cautious when it comes to you. Not only is it my job, but look at what has happened to us just this year alone."
"Is it though?" she asked, and when she saw his confused expression, added, "Is it just a job to you? Is that all we are to you?"
"Of course not!" Harry denied immediately. "You and Isabella are very important to me."
Ellie frowned before replying, "Then why do you keep us at arm's length?"
"You know wh..."
"Yes, I know, everything gets taken from you," Ellie said, interrupting him. "You can't live your entire life in fear, Harry. I know that after the life you've lived, and after everything that has happened to you, it's hard not to, but you have to come out of the dark one day. You can't keep having this warped opinion on love and life like you do."
"You think I don't know this?" he asked angrily. "You think I want to live like this, Ellie? What do you want from me?"
Harry's eyes, now blazing with not only anger, but something else that Ellie couldn't quite place, were staring straight at her.
"It's not about what I want," she replied.
Harry now looked confused and if the situation weren't so serious, Ellie would have laughed. "What is it about then?" he asked.
"It's about what you want!" Ellie said forcefully as she looked into the depths of his emerald, green eyes. Eyes that housed a multitude of emotions; fear, pain, anger, and love, all vying for supremacy. "Because of the way life has treated you, don't you think you deserve to have what you want?"
Harry looked thoughtful after her words, which was good. Ellie wanted him to question everything. Maybe, then he would admit what he actually wanted.
"So, what is it you want, Harry?" she asked
"I don't know. I want..." Harry trailed off and Ellie looked at him inquisitively.
Ellie could see the war going on in his eyes as he fought with whatever it was he wanted to admit to her. The inner turmoil his eyes held gave way to a softness she had never seen before.
"Ellie?" His voice was suddenly quieter, his eyes flicking down to her lips before back up to her face.
"Yes?" she asked
"I want to kiss you."
Sweet fates, she had never heard more beautiful words. Was it fate? Ellie didn't know nor did she care. She met his now heated gaze, and instead of making him take the first move, decided to say 'screw it' and kiss him like she'd been wanting to since his accident.
Hell, since long before that.
She leaned up to reach him, her lips hovering over his, as a small tremor ran over her skin and her desire filled the air. She paused, deciding to let him take the last step to make sure this is what he really wanted. She wanted this moment to be burned into her subconscious forever. She never wanted to forget when his lips claimed hers for the first time.
He let out a throaty rumble before he closed the gap, melting their lips together.
Instantly, the monster in her chest roared in approval as the space between and around them filled with the sweet desire they had both been holding back for so long. His hand caressed her cheek and Ellie decided right then and there that she could die happy now. There was something still missing, though.
She wanted more. She needed more. She was aching in places she hadn't ached in, in years.
Her hands gripped the bottom of his shirt and pulled up. He raised his arms and their lips separated for a split second as his shirt came off before it was tossed haphazardly to the side as their lips slammed back together in an almost primal need.
She explored his now bare torso with her hands as he continued to kiss her, something she had been dreaming of doing for months now. Ever since he had run into her room when the talking mirror had scared the shit out of her.
He jerked slightly every time her hands came across a scar, but he never pulled back.
Ellie lost all sense of time as they sat on the sofa. It could've been five minutes, or it could've been hours. Ellie didn't care.
Ellie was only broken out of her trance when Harry moved his hand from her face to grasp the bottom of her shirt.
Ellie jumped back, startled, which had Harry immediately apologizing. "I'm so sorry. I should've asked first or something," he said, breathing rather raggedly.
Ellie, breathing rather heavily herself, said, "It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. I was just startled."
"I should've known though," he said as he hung his head. "Particularly after what you went through."
"Look at me, Harry," she commanded.
His head lifted as their eyes connected. She could see the regret in them as plain as day.
Forgoing the fear she felt, and thanking God she had remembered to wear sexy undergarments that night, she grasped the bottom of her shirt and pulled it off before tossing it to the side.
"Merlin, you're beautiful!" Harry exclaimed softly.
His eyes were wide in amazement and full of desire as he stared at the lacy black bra she was sporting. She blushed as she replied, "Shut up and kiss me."
Harry didn't need to be told twice as their lips met with an almost frightful intensity that had not been there earlier.
Ellie's hands moved back to Harry's chest.
"Fuck, he's an amazing kisser," she thought.
Harry pulled back, separating their lips, giving Ellie cause to growl in frustration before Harry's lips moved down to her throat.
Ellie moaned loudly as Harry's lips nipped her neck, and she moved her hands from his chest to his hair.
Deciding she wanted a better and more sensual position in which to watch him claim her, she pushed him back into the sofa, swung her leg over his lap to where she was facing him; effectively straddling him, and continued to let him explore her neck with his lips and tongue.
Harry's lips didn't miss a beat as they trailed down her neck and collarbone, and without even knowing how, her bra was unclasped and tossed to the side.
"How in the…" Harry's lips gently brushed over her left nipple and she sucked in a breath, not even able to let it back out as all thought left her brain.
She was dead. She had died and gone on to Heaven; she was sure of it.
She subconsciously grinded on his lap and was rewarded with a low groan from him as he wrapped his arms around her.
As Harry moved to her other breast, she was finally able to let out the breath she had been holding in with a throaty moan.
Her moan seemed to bring Harry to his senses as he pushed her back slightly.
"What are you doing? Why did you stop?" she asked breathily, panting.
Harry chuckled, and it was like music to her ears, before he replied, saying, "I'm not assuming that we will go all the way tonight, but if you want this to continue, maybe we should move this to a more private place. We do have a child in the house after all."
"Oh, shit, I forgot about Isabella!" Ellie exclaimed.
Harry laughed again, "I did too, momentarily."
Ellie hopped up from the sofa instantly as she pulled on Harry's hand eagerly.
"In a rush, are we?" Harry asked with a grin as he let her pull him up off the sofa.
"Yes," she replied simply. "I'd have you carry me up the stairs but you're still technically a cripple.
"You wound me!" Harry replied with a laugh as she gathered the clothes that they had managed to shed so far.
He grabbed his cane, and with one hand still clasped in hers, followed her out of the room and up the stairs to his bedroom.
Harry awoke, disorientated, as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He was in his room, his arm was numb, and he was completely naked.
Why the fuck am I naked?
It wasn't until his eyes caught sight of Ellie, who was in an equal state of undress and sleeping on his arm, that he let out a yelp, wrenching his arm out from under her, as he fell out of the bed.
He stood as quickly as his aching legs would let him and looked back toward the bed as last night's events came rushing back.
Ellie had shifted in the bed but did not stir.
She sleeps like a rock.
He watched as she rolled over, stretching her hand out as if searching for something, before she grabbed his pillow and curled into it before she became motionless again.
She really was quite beautiful.
He looked at the bedside clock which read six in the morning. It was still early.
He gathered a new set of clothes, poked his head out of the door to make sure Isabella wasn't up yet, and all but ran as fast as his cane would let him to the bathroom to take a quick shower.
Thirty minutes later, he was in his study, Floo-calling Hermione, hoping she was already awake. She should be as today was Friday, and she and Ron would have to wake up earlier for work.
Hermione walked into her kitchen seconds after it materialized and jumped at seeing his head in her fireplace.
"Merlin, Harry, you scared me!" she exclaimed.
"Good morning to you too, Hermione," he replied with a laugh.
"So, what's with the early morning Floo- call?" she asked as she began making tea.
"I just wanted to let you know that when you, Ellie, and Olivia go out, I'm taking Isabella to the cinema. I was wondering if you three wanted to meet up after for dinner somewhere?"
"That should be fine," she replied as she moved a kettle to the stove. "That's the only reason why you called though?"
"Well, no. I had another question," he said. "Do you remember when you told me there was a bet going about me and Ellie?
"Listen, Harry, I already apologized for that."
"I'm not mad, Hermione," he said with a laugh, "I was just wondering who bet on by Halloween."
Hermione's head whipped around so fast, Harry was surprised she hadn't broken it, which caused him to grin. Hermione was staring at him with a calculating look, before she said, "Budge over, I'm coming through."
Harry backed out of his fireplace and had just sat down at his desk, when Hermione came strolling out, dusting the soot off of her robes. She moved a chair in front of his desk and sat down, before fixing him with that same calculating stare.
She continued to stare at him, not saying anything.
Just when he thought he would have to break the silence, she spoke up. "You're happy."
Whatever Harry thought she was going to say, it definitely wasn't that. "Is that a question or...?"
"It's an observation," Hermione replied.
"Well, then I guess, yeah, I'm happy."
Hermione's face split into a grin. "Good, now tell me everything."
Harry laughed. "I doubt you want to know everything, Hermione."
"You two shagged, didn't you?"
"Hermione!"
"Harry!"
They stared at each other for a moment, before breaking out in laughter.
Once their laughter had died down, Hermione said, "I'm so happy for you. You deserve this, you know. Both of you do."
"Do I?" Harry questioned.
"Of course, you do!" Hermione said with conviction. "No one deserves to be happy more than you. Think of everything you've been through."
"I know, it's just, I never thought I'd be happy again," he said, "at least, not like this. A part of me, a small part obviously, but still a part, is also still guilty."
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed sympathetically as she grabbed his hands. "I know a small part of you is going to fight this, but you shouldn't. You shouldn't feel guilty. This is exactly what Ginny wanted for you. I know she'd be proud of you."
"I'd like to think so too, Hermione."
"Just don't mess this up," Hermione scolded. "You have a chance to be happy and love again. Not everyone gets that. Don't let the little part of you that feels guilty ruin this."
Harry heard the shower turn on, probably Ellie, and smiled. "I'll try not to, Hermione."
Hermione squealed which caused Harry to laugh.
"Calm down, Hermione," he said. "It's not that big of a deal."
"But it is," she replied, "I don't think you realize how much all of us just want you to be happy. The Weasleys love her. You couldn't have picked anyone better."
"They do?"
"Of course, they do, you dolt!" Hermione said with a laugh. "Why do you think they all joined George's bet?"
"Even Mrs. Weasley?" he asked in surprise.
"Especially Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said with a grin. "She won the bet after all. I don't think anyone wanted you and Ellie to get together more than her."
Hermione leaned forward, in a conspiratorial fashion, before adding, "But, between me and you, I expect she just wants more grandkids."
"I'm not... that's not... I mean," Harry sputtered. "We're not ready for that yet!"
Hermione laughed. "Let me tell you how I think it went," she said as she leaned back in her chair. "I think Ellie was tired of waiting for you to admit your feelings to her so she pushed you into telling her what you wanted which you eventually did judging by your still swollen lips, I mean, Merlin how much did you two snog?"
Harry looked at her with a sheepish grin before replying, "Quite a while on the sofa."
"Okay, so in the heat of the moment you started slinging clothes off in the sitting room," Hermione said without missing a beat. "At some point, one of you realized that Isabella was still there in the house and suggested taking it upstairs."
Harry was beginning to wonder whether Hermione was a mind reader as she continued, "and after you made it upstairs and into the room which you hopefully Silenced and spelled shut, you did the deed."
"Are you a mind reader?" Harry asked in awe. "And yes, I Silenced the room."
"No, I'm not a mind reader, don't be thick," Hermione replied, "I just know you better than you know yourself, which is how I know you forgot to perform the charm."
"The charm?" Harry asked, nonplussed.
"Honestly, Harry, you're almost as thick as Ronald," Hermione said with a sigh. "What were we just talking about, about what Mrs. Weasley really wants?"
"Well, you said she wanted more grandkids, to which I replied we're not ready for that," Harry said, still confused. "But then you start harping me about some charm and..."
Hermione grinned like a Chesire cat as he trailed off.
"Oh!"
"Oh, is right, Harry," Hermione said.
A pit of dread started to form in his stomach. How could he have been so stupid? "What do I do, Hermione?" he pleaded.
"Don't worry about it, that's what you do," she said. "Worrying about something only means you get to suffer twice. It's still way too early to tell or worry about it anyway. Just act like normal and deal with it when or if it comes."
"I guess you're right," Harry said.
"Of course, I am," Hermione said in an uncharacteristically haughty tone. "I usually am."
Harry laughed. "That you are, Hermione, that you are."
Hermione stood up. "I should be going. I left a note for Ron but he's probably wondering what's taking so long."
They said their goodbyes, and as Hermione left through the fireplace, he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
Ellie woke up oddly well-rested if not a little sore. She thought back to her night with Harry and smiled stupidly as a giddy sense of excitement arose in her. He couldn't have been more perfect even if he had been a little hesitant at first.
She rolled over, saw that Harry wasn't in bed, and looked at the clock. Harry usually woke up early and was probably already in the kitchen or his study.
She eased out of bed and gathered a change of clothes before she made her way to the bathroom to take a shower.
After checking herself in the mirror and brushing her teeth, she headed downstairs and to the kitchen to start breakfast.
As the sausages sizzled on the stove her mind went back to last night.
How did I get so lucky?
"Mum!" a voice said from the doorway.
Ellie jumped and turned around to see Isabella staring at her from the doorway.
"Good morning, Bella."
"Don't you good morning me, Mum!"
"Um, what did I do?" Ellie asked.
"Better question, why are you daydreaming about kissing Harry and taking his clothes off?" Isabella asked her.
Shit!
Ellie had completely forgotten that her daughter could read minds or whatever it was she did. She tried to force the extra-curricular activities that she and Harry had done out of her mind as she blushed, and said, "I'm sorry, Bella. I'll try not to daydream too much in front of you. Sometimes I can't help it. You should try turning off that superpower you got every once in a while."
"I can turn it off," Isabella replied. "Well, I mean I kind of can. I can focus on something else usually. But not so early in the morning when I'm still waking up."
"Well, whatever you just saw me thinking about, try to forget about it," Ellie said.
"It's gonna be kind of hard to forget about you dreaming of Harry kissing your boobies," Isabella said as she finally moved from the doorway and sat at the table.
"Are you hungry?" Ellie asked, quickly trying to change the subject.
"You know I am, Mum!" Isabella said exasperatedly.
"Hey! Not all of us can be mind readers, you know," Ellie replied teasingly.
"Yeah, well, sometimes I wish I wasn't."
Ellie placed Isabella's plate in front of her with a glass of orange juice before turning back to make the other two plates.
After the table was set, Ellie was just turning back to put the coffee on the table when she saw Harry leaning against the doorframe, cane in hand, watching her with a smirk on his face. She felt that familiar ache between her legs that made her want to rip his clothes off, and blushed.
"Goo... good morning, Harry," she managed to stutter out.
"Good morning, Ellie, Isabella," he replied as he walked in and sat down.
"Moring, Harry," Isabella said through a mouthful of egg.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Bella," Ellie chided as she placed Harry's coffee in front of him and sat down.
She looked up to see Harry still watching her, blushed, and looked down as she started eating.
What was wrong with her? She was acting like a fourteen-year-old schoolgirl in front of her first crush.
The silence around the table was awkward and yet she couldn't seem to bring herself to speak up.
"Are you excited to go to the cinema tomorrow, Bella?" Harry asked.
"Ooh, yes!" Isabella exclaimed after she swallowed a bit of egg. "What are we watching?"
"I don't know yet," Harry said with a laugh. "I'm sure we'll find something good, though. We'll meet up with your mum and her friends after, to eat dinner somewhere."
"And then we can have ice cream for dessert!" Isabella said happily.
Harry chuckled. "Ellie, are you okay? You're kind of quiet this morning."
"Oh, er, yeah, I'm fine," Ellie said as she mentally kicked herself for her awkward shyness.
Silence fell across the table again and was only broken five minutes later when Isabella scooted her chair back. "Well, I'm gonna go up to my room and draw. You two are acting weird."
After Isabella left, the silence and tension became even more awkward, as if that were even possible, as they ate their breakfast.
After a minute, Harry spoke up again. "Did I do something wrong?"
"What? No! Of course not," Ellie replied as she finally looked up at him.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, "I just wanted to make sure I didn't do anything wrong. Was I... Was I okay?"
Ellie snorted. "You were more than okay."
Harry's face split into a grin.
"And er, was I okay too?" she asked shyly.
"You were perfect," he said.
"That's good," she replied. "So, what happens now?"
"I dunno," Harry said. "What do you want to happen?"
"I kind of want to take you back upstairs and let you have your way with me again."
"Why did I say that? Why did I just fucking say that?" Ellie scolded herself.
She dropped her gaze back down to her plate as her whole face turned bright red at her admission.
Harry chuckled, before saying, "You know how to boost a bloke's ego, you know that?"
"Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn't have been so amazing last night," she mumbled.
"What do you really want, though?" he asked.
Ellie thought about it for only a split second but didn't answer for a few minutes. She was too busy entertaining the idea of what it would be like just in case he didn't want the same thing.
"I want you, all of you," she said finally. "I don't presume to think that just because last night happened, I'll get everything I want, but... I want us to be together. I don't want to have to leave when all this 'people trying to murder us' stuff is over with. And, after it's over with, I want us to be a family. I want to give that to you because you deserve it."
"Ellie," Harry said, causing her to look up at his piercing emerald green eyes, "you deserve everything in life that you want."
"I hardly ever get what I want in life, Harry," she replied.
"Me neither," he replied. "Maybe we can get what we want out of life this time around, together. If you want that is?"
Ellie stared into his eyes, and seeing the same desire and passion that she saw from last night, said, "You want me?"
Harry only hesitated a second before he stood up and walked over to her. He leaned down and kissed her soundly on the lips.
He pulled away and stared at her with that smoldering gaze that made her ache for him in ways she never thought were possible.
"I've never wanted anything more."
"So, are you going to tell us how it happened?" Hermione asked Ellie as the three of them made their way down the pavement to a different shopping district than the one Harry had taken them to. "How was it?"
Olivia perked up at Hermione's words as Ellie burned crimson. "That's kind of private," Ellie mumbled.
"Did Harry finally shag your brains out?" Olivia asked, causing Ellie to turn an even deeper shade of red and cough, which made Olivia laugh. "I'll take that as a yes."
"He did," Hermione said with a grin before turning to Ellie. "We're your best friends. You have to tell us. It's like written in the rule book somewhere."
"There's a rulebook?" Ellie questioned. She had never heard of any rulebook.
Hermione nodded emphatically before replying, "Of course there is. You know how stupid boys have that thing called the bro code or some such nonsense? Us girls have the rulebook, and the rulebook states that you have to give all the slimy and sordid details whenever you shag someone new."
"Even if those slimy and sordid details are about your best friend?" Ellie asked with her eye raised.
"Harry will always be my best friend," Hermione said. "But, tonight, you're my best friend and you're going to tell us how it was. Did he at least act like a gentleman and treat you right?"
"Too much of a gentleman, if you ask me," Ellie said.
Olivia and Hermione were both grinning now as Olivia said, "Oh, do tell!"
Ellie thought back to that night, about how hesitant Harry seemed after they had moved it upstairs. He had been in control and slightly demanding downstairs which got her wet just thinking about it. When they had moved upstairs though, that was a different story. He had seemed shy and hesitant, like he didn't want to break her.
"I think he was afraid of pushing me," Ellie said. "You know, after what happened to me and all. I understand it, but it actually was irritating me just a tiny bit how careful he was being with me, like I would break or something."
Hermione nodded understandingly as Olivia looked confused.
"Oh, I forgot I haven't told anyone but Hermione," Ellie said. "When I was living in that dungeon after being kidnapped, one of the Death Eaters raped me.
Olivia gasped, and said, "I'm so sorry, Ellie!"
"I've come to terms with it," Ellie shrugged. "Anyway, I told Harry that I loved the fact that he was a proper gentleman, but a proper gentleman isn't what I was looking for that night. It had been so long since I'd been with someone that I actually love, and we've been dancing around each other for months now. I needed a more, how do you say, rougher approach."
Hermione and Olivia giggled. "So, you two did some hard shagging?" Olivia asked
"The first time yes. The other two times, however..."
"You two shagged three times?" Olivia said, eyes wide in surprise.
"Well, yeah, so?"
"Most blokes don't have the stamina for even two times," Olivia said.
"Harry isn't like most blokes," Hermione said before she popped her hand to her mouth in horror at what she had said.
"What do you mean by that?" Ellie teased. "Do you have some sordid details of yourself and Harry you need to share?"
"No, nothing like that," Hermione said hurriedly. "Ginny and I were friends and she talked about it occasionally."
"Relax, Hermione, I was just kidding," Ellie laughed.
"Enough about Harry the sex god," Olivia said, "As juicy as these details are, we came here to shop!"
The other two girls giggled as they walked, arms linked, down the sidewalk.
"Did you enjoy the movie?" Harry asked as he and Isabella walked out of the cinema.
"It was different," Isabella said as they started making their way down the pavement and to the café where they were to meet up with Ellie and her friends. "I'm used to just watching cartoons or animated films."
"I feel like 'The Little Vampire' was a good choice since it's so close to Halloween," he told the child with a grin.
"It was good," she agreed.
They continued walking in comfortable silence as Harry mulled over how he was going to bring up to Isabella that he and Ellie were now dating. It was important to him that Isabella accepted them dating. He almost wished she would read his mind so he wouldn't have to bring it up.
"Where's that Gryffindor courage you're supposed to have, Harry?" Harry chided himself. "She's just a child. You can talk to a child."
Even though Harry was almost sure Isabella wouldn't mind, a small part of him feared that she would. What would he do then?
They passed a small park and Harry motioned for her to follow him. "C'mon. Let's make a little detour really quick. My legs are getting sore."
Isabella shrugged her shoulders and followed him to a bench where they sat down.
It wasn't quite sunset yet, but the sun was dipping dangerously low in the sky. The only other people in the park were a mother pushing her son on the swing.
Here goes nothing.
"Isabella, I wanted to talk to you about something important," Harry started.
"I know," Isabella grinned.
"Do you know what I want to talk to you about?"
"No," she replied simply. "I try to give people privacy. Well, at least you and Mum. I didn't want to ruin whatever you wanted to talk about so I've been focusing on other people. Did you know that mum pushing her son just got a promotion at work?"
"Um, no, I didn't know that," Harry said with a chuckle.
They watched as the little boy finally climbed off the swing and followed his mother to their vehicle.
Harry looked at the blood-colored sky. There was just something more fascinating about a sunset than a sunrise.
"I wanted to ask you a question," Harry started, "and your answer to me is rather important."
"Okay, ask away," Isabella said.
"I want to know how you would feel about your mum and me dating?"
Isabella looked thoughtful as she mulled over his words. It was at times like these that Harry wished he could read minds.
"Would you treat her nice and make her happy?" Isabella finally asked.
"I'll always treat your mum nice and try every day to make her happy," Harry said.
"What about you?" Isabella asked.
"What about me?"
"Is this what you want? Is my mum going to make you happy?" she asked. "I want you to be happy too."
Harry grinned. "Yeah," he said. "This is what I want."
Isabella grinned as well before saying, "Took you long enough."
"I've been told I'm rather dense at times," Harry said with a laugh.
"Does this mean you can be my real dad and not just my fake dad to get into a highly private hospital ward for dying people?"
Harry chuckled. "Is that what you want?"
Isabella nodded, simply saying, "Yes."
"Well, I see no reason why we all can't get what we want out of this situation," Harry replied with a soft smile.
All of a sudden, Isabella jumped up and started tugging on his hand. "C'mon! Mum and the others are probably waiting for us already," she said excitedly.
"Slow down, Bella," Harry laughed as he picked up his cane. "You know I'm still a cripple, right?"
Isabella giggled as she dragged Harry out of the park.
It only took them ten more minutes to reach the designated café. Isabella had been correct, and the girls were already seated, talking to each other at the table. Ellie was wearing that sundress that she had picked out the first time Harry took them shopping. It had been a nice day and it was probably the last chance she'd get to wear it until next spring. What surprised him most, however, was that her usual black and blonde hair was now a soft shade of light brown.
Olivia looked at him and giggled as Isabella hugged her mum and sat down. "I think you've broken him, Ellie," Olivia said.
Ellie looked up at him and gave him a smile so dazzling, that it took his breath away.
Harry sat down on Ellie's left and cleared his throat before saying anything. "Your hair is brown."
"It is," Ellie said with a laugh, "You thought the black and blonde was my natural hair color?"
"This color is?" he asked.
Ellie nodded at him but said nothing else. He should say something right?
"It, uh, looks good," he stammered, "You look good."
Hermione snorted. "Real smooth there, Harry."
They all laughed as Harry blushed.
Almost as soon as the food appeared on the table, Ellie placed her hand on his thigh. She only moved it to grab something off the table. It was surprisingly comforting to know that she felt the need to touch him and be close to him. He was still amazed that someone so beautiful could want him.
When the dinner was over, he spoke up, turning to Hermione, "Do you think Isabella could spend the night with you and Ron tonight? I was going to take Ellie to Godric's Hollow. Plus, Ron could use the practice of looking after a child.
"I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem. Ron can take her to the park tomorrow morning," Hermione said. "Are you sure you're ready for that? You haven't been in months."
Harry had never told anyone, but he hadn't ever actually been. At least, not since Ginny had been buried there ten months ago. He couldn't ever bring himself to go.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "I have to introduce Ellie at some point."
Hermione smiled at him as Ellie asked, "What's at Godric's Hollow?"
"You'll see soon enough," Harry replied. "I'll take Isabella there one day I'm sure when she's older."
They said their goodbyes to Olivia and she Apparated after they left the café.
Harry watched as Hermione pulled Ellie off to the side and whisper in her ear as they hugged.
As Harry was waiting for Hermione and Ellie to say their goodbyes, Harry turned to Isabella, "I want you to behave for Hermione and Ron while you're there, okay?"
"Yes, Dad!"
She said it sarcastically, but it still made him smile nevertheless.
"I'll Apparate Isabella to your house so she can get some clothes and anything else she might need," Hermione said as they walked back over to him.
"Sounds good," Harry said as he hugged Hermione.
"Good luck," she whispered in his ear.
Harry thanked her and pulled back just as Ellie did with Isabella.
Hermione grabbed Isabella's hand and disappeared with a pop, leaving Ellie and Harry alone on the sidewalk.
"We're going to have to Apparate too," Harry said apologetically.
"Gross!" Ellie said, grabbing his arm, as they too, disappeared from the London street.
Ellie landed, stumbled, and would've fallen if not for Harry supporting her. Thankfully, she didn't vomit like the last time.
She looked around at her surroundings. She was on a secluded road at the edge of a small village. It was already dark but hanging lamps cast enough light down the street for one to be able to see slightly.
"Welcome to Godric's Hollow," Harry's voice said from beside her. "This is where I spent the first fifteen months of my life."
He waved his wand at an empty lot and a dilapidated, run-down house appeared out of thin air.
The fence was missing pieces of wood and the gate was hanging off its hinges. Time had eroded whatever color the fence used to be.
Ellie looked at the two-story home and could tell that at one point it had been rather beautiful. Like the fence, time had ravaged the beauty of the house and for some reason, it made her sad that a house so beautiful could've ever been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair.
She looked toward the second floor and noticed a hole in one of the walls where it looked like a bomb had gone off.
"That was my room," Harry whispered, apparently following her gaze. "That is where Voldemort killed my mum and tried to kill me."
Ellie grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently but said nothing, content to silently look at the home that Harry had once lived in.
"C'mon," Harry said as he waved his wand making the house disappear, "We've got one more stop."
He led her back down the street, turning right before they reached the square, and down another side street lit by the same hanging lanterns.
They reached an arched entrance with lanterns on either side, and Harry's demeanor suddenly changed as they walked through, and into a graveyard.
He became slower, more hesitant, as he gripped her hand tightly and led her to a group of headstones off to the side.
They stopped, and Ellie just stared at the headstones of Lily and James Potter.
Harry's parents!
The young couple she saw dancing in Harry's Picture Frame Pensieve were right in front of her.
"You know," Harry's voice spoke up, "I never knew them, not really. They died before I could really remember them. It's strange to think that even though I never really knew them, their absence still affects me after all this time."
"Of course, they still affect you," Ellie said. "Their deaths mark the time when your life went in a direction it shouldn't have. You should've grown up in a loving household, with your parents. Not with those nasty people you ended up with."
"I know," he said quietly. "I sometimes wonder what life would have been like had they survived and raised me. I can't change what's happened though; just gotta look to the future, I guess."
He waved his wand, summoning flowers that he set in front of both graves before taking a step back.
They moved past a couple of empty plots to another headstone that made Ellie gasp.
It was Ginny Potter's.
Harry sunk to his knees and started crying.
In another life, Ellie might have been jealous, but after everything that Harry had been through, after everything that they had been through, Ellie just wanted to comfort him.
She kneeled down next to Harry and embraced him as he cried into her shoulder.
Harry's sobs quieted after a while and for a solid five minutes after, neither spoke a word.
"Could you help me up?" Harry asked her softly. "My legs are starting to ache again.
She helped Harry up, wrapped her arm around his, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Harry said. "The last thing you want is to see me cry over my dead ex. I just... I haven't been to see her since she died."
"You don't have to apologize, Harry," she said. "It's just one more experience you shouldn't have gone through. You're going to love her for the rest of your life. I knew that when I fell for you."
"It doesn't bother you that I still miss her?" Harry asked.
"Harry, you care for me. I can see it in your eyes," Ellie said. "It would be extremely selfish of me to be jealous that you still love and miss Ginny."
He was silent for a moment before he replied to her. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
She smiled at his words. "I am pretty great, aren't I?"
Harry laughed, summoned flowers for Ginny, and started moving away.
"Give me a moment, will you?" Ellie said.
Harry nodded and walked slowly down the row of headstones as Ellie kneeled down at Ginny's grave.
"You left some pretty big shoes to fill, you know that?" she said out loud. "I'm Ellie by the way."
She looked off to see Harry still meandering slowly down a row of headstones and turned back. "I love him. I'd like to think that you approve even though I have no way of knowing. I hope that wherever you are, you're as proud of him as I am."
Ellie paused for a moment before finishing with, "It was nice meeting you, Ginny."
Ellie stood up and walked over to Harry before taking his arm. "Are you okay?"
He smiled. "Yeah, yeah, I think so."
He Apparated them home and as Ellie made her way up the stairs, she stopped. Harry was still standing in the entranceway looking torn on whether to follow her or go into the sitting room.
"Do you know what Hermione whispered to me before she left?"
"No, what?"
"She said that I was going to have to be there for you and help you tonight," Ellie said.
"Really?" Harry said.
Ellie nodded. "I think it's time for you to be there and help me."
"How can I do that?" he asked
"Well," Ellie smirked as she turned around and pulled up her sundress just enough for Harry to catch a glimpse of her scantily clad bum before slowly slipping off her already damp knickers, making sure to give him an excellent view of her bits, "you can start by helping me take off the rest of these clothes."
She had never seen a man with a cane move so fast up a flight of stairs.