Disclaimer- I don't own anything but the plot and new characters I added.
AN- Thanks to all the reviewers! Sorry it took me long to update. Do forgive me since I have school for the better parts of my day and don't have all the time i need to write. Also, look out those who read Love Bond, the sequel will be up in no time!
Chapter 5- Shouts, Flowers and Plans
The next morning at the Potter Mansion was superb, well at least to the owner it was. Harry Potter work up that morning feeling better then he felt when he first got on a broomstick and that is saying something. Harry cleaned up to start his day dressing in simple black slacks and a tucked in wine bottom up shirt. He made his way down the hall stopping in front of Hermione's door not sure if she is awake or not but before he can check Alfred came up and told him.
"The miss is waiting for you to start breakfast sir." He was told.
"Thanks Alfred…" Harry said as he passed his driver slash housekeeper with a huge smile on his face. Making his way down to the dinning room he spotted Hermione sitting quietly reading a book on one of the chairs.
"What'cha reading?" he asked surprising her.
"Oh, you scared me." She said patting her chest to calm down, "Um, it's called Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens." She answered.
"Oh? How do you like it?" he asked
"It's interesting so far." She replied casually.
"That's good. I'll have to read it sometimes," he said and saw the smile on her face at his statement. "Now, it's time to eat because I'll hungry like whoa!" Harry mentioned as he order for the food to be brought out. He took a seat right next to her and started to make small conversations.
"So how did you sleep? Comfortable I hope." Harry asked.
"Oh, I slept well. In fact probably the best sleep I had in ages." She said with a smile that made her look like a little kid. Harry chuckled at that. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just that you are so cute when you smile like that." He told her and he can see her turn 2 shades of red. But before Hermione can say anything breakfast was served and that was when Harry's day started off in the wrong direction.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley is here for you." Alfred interrupted.
"What, why?" Harry said shockingly while dropping his spoon. He looked at Hermione who wore a confused expression, and told her he'll be right back. He made his way over to the guest room and found Ginny standing by the chimney looking at pictures. Her pictures.
"Ginny?" he called out making her jump which caused her to drop the frame she had in her hands.
"Oh, Harry! You frighten me," she said completely ignoring the broken frame. Harry hurried over to where she is and pulled her away from the broken glasses.
"Ginny, are you alright, get away there's lots of broken glass." He told her making her inside flip knowing that he cares. She then looked down at the broken object and realizes it contained a picture of Madison and Harry together looking rather cozy and in complete bliss. She wished to herself that one day those frames would have pictures of her and Harry looking happy like that. It was time for Harry to move on, she thought to herself. Looking down at Harry, who is picking up the picture and cleaning it from little specks of glass.
"Do you miss her Harry?" She asked randomly, and Harry looked at her puzzled. He then looked down at the picture and replied…
"Everyday, Ginny, every single day."
"Sorry Harry, I didn't mean to bring up old memories…" She said softly putting a hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright Ginny, I know you didn't mean to. Plus it is time for me to let go and move on." He told her and Ginny found this as a chance for her to be with him.
"Right…" she agreed and smiled. Harry then called for Dobby to clean up the mess.
"Dobby, can you please clean up in here for me?" he asked.
"Dobby will, Harry Potter sir." Dobby replied happily. "Master Harry Potter's miss is asking for you sir." Dobby said as a matter-of-factly. Harry tried to shut Dobby up before he said it but it was so sudden that Harry didn't get the chance. He saw the look on Ginny's face and decided that they should leave.
"Thanks Dobby. Ginny lets go outside." He said pulling Ginny out.
"Miss? Who is Dobby talking about Harry?" Ginny asked with a jealous expression playing on her face.
"Oh, a friend of mine." Harry said trying not to stutter. He didn't know why he was so scared. Maybe it's because he doesn't want to hurt Ginny's feelings or maybe he didn't want Mrs. Weasley to go stomping in his place screaming again.
"Can I meet this friend? I mean, a friend of yours sure can be a friend of mine as well." Ginny told him. Harry looked uneasy for a minute before answering.
"Sure, of course." And then he led her inside to the dining room. Ginny saw that someone is occupying one of the chairs but can't see who since it was facing the other way.
"Hermione…" he said and Hermione turned around and Ginny was shocked. She was beautiful. She might not be the super model type but she has this enchanting glow to her like Madison had as well. Hermione smiled at her and she just couldn't stand how lovely she looked and Ginny's jealousy level is now rising. "This is Ginny a close friend, and Ginny this is Hermione my new friend." He introduced the two.
"Pleasure to meet you Ginny." Hermione said while getting up to give her a handshake.
"Same" Ginny replied casually giving Hermione a fake smile that cannot fool anyone. Hermione felt taken back that this woman is acting cold towards her when they've only met for the most of 10 seconds. There was an awkward silent for a while before Harry spoke up.
"So Ginny, did you need something?" Harry asked
"Oh, yes I thought I ought to come by and ask if you like to have lunch today since you left dinner so early yesterday." Ginny finished and at the same time Hermione choked on her cup of water. Hermione looked up at Harry and gave him a 'what-did-you-do' look.
"Oh, well I would love too but uh…" He stutter trying to find something to say to get out of this invitation, "I uh, I have plans with Hermione here. We planned to have lunch. Unless you want to come with us?" Harry said giving Hermione a 'help-me-out' looks.
"Yes, do joy us. Harry does get quiet boring." Hermione commented. Harry looked at her in disbelieve but try not to show his shock.
"Uh, no I think I'll pass. Maybe next time." Ginny said looking displeased with Harry's choice of answer.
"Ok, next time, I promise." Harry told her. With that Ginny excused her self as she was tired of looking at Harry steal glances at Hermione while talking her. She left feeling extremely furious.
Back inside, Hermione kept giving Harry the look and giggling but not really talking to him.
"Stop giggling. It's not funny." Harry said firmly although he was quite amused himself.
"Yes it was. Tell me Harry, did you leave your date with her early to get to me?" She asked in between.
"Uh, no…" Harry started, "ok fine yes I did, but it was because your date was planned first. Hers, well hers was more of a force rather then planned." Harry told her.
"Oh…" Hermione utter looking at him, "she really likes you. I can tell"
"Yeah, you and like the whole ministry." Harry said.
"You don't seem to like that idea." Hermione said.
"Well, no its not like I don't like it. I'm flattered really but she's more of a sister to me then anything else. Dating her is just wrong. Plus her brother and I aren't what you call best mates either." Harry told her.
"Hrm, I see…" Hermione said smiling.
"Why are you smiling?" he asked her.
"Do I need a reason to smile Mr. Potter?" she replied.
"Well, I would love to know how to make a beautiful lady even more beautiful." Harry commented.
"Aw, do you say this to every girl?" she said while failing to keep herself from blushing.
"Only the ones I like." Harry replied which just caused Hermione's cheek to turn another shade of red. "Enough talk, we need to get you home don't we?"
"Yes. Home sounds good." Hermione said standing up.
"Ouch, I guess my house isn't good enough." Harry said acting hurt.
"Oh please Harry, your place is gorgeous. Its just that, my home is more comfortable and has that cozy feeling." Hermione explained.
"Ok then, that means you should come by more often so you can get comfortable and cozy here." Harry suggested hoping she would take it into consideration, but she only smiled and walk towards the door. Harry smiled and follow suit.
After dropping Hermione off and giving her a second chaste kiss Harry drove happily to work. It was 10:30 and it would probably be the latest he's ever been to work. He walked into his department and the first thing that presented him was a mass of people.
"Martha, who is these people," he asked.
"They are here for the union meeting with you sir. I called you and left you a message. Didn't you get it?" she told him and saw his expression, "I guess not. Here Mr. Potter, these are the information you'll need. It's about needing more defenses at west point and such." She finished, handing him the folders. Harry then turned around and gave her a big hug.
"Martha, you are the best! I would so die without you." He told her. "You are so getting a raise." Harry mentioned before going into his office with grumpy looking people. Martha found that Mr. Potter was rather joyous today and was happy for him.
The meeting seem like it was taking centuries to complete and Harry was getting frustrated because of the high demands, and for all he knows his day was going to get worst and it was only 12:45 in the afternoon. Then a screaming voice from the lower level was heard all the way from Harry's office witch was on the 10th level. Then, there it was closer and he knew who and why. This just increases his frustration and it was time for him to let it go.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY DAUGHTER?" Mrs. Weasley screamed bursting his office doors open. "You! How can you,"
"Mrs.-"
"You lied to Ginny and you lied to me! You, running off to some little…"
"Mrs.-"
"Scarlet-woman! Someone so below you…" With that Harry was more then angry he was furious.
"MRS. WEASLEY! This is neither the time nor place to discuss this situation!" He yelled at her in a firm voice.
"Don't you dare yell at me young man!" she snapped back…she kept on yelling and Harry was then fed up.
"SHUT UP MOLLY! We all do respect but do know that in this room I'm more superior then you. Even your husband the Minister would have to listen to me so don't you dare come in here and disturb me while I'm trying to have an important meeting on things that matters! Please excuse yourself, or do I have to call security on you." Harry commanded to a woman who was so taken aback by his Harry's outburst she was speechless. However, she pulled up a disgusted face and stalked out of sight. Harry felt terrible for shouting at her like that but she had no right coming in and starts yelling at him before knowing the whole story. He brushed it off and asked the members if it was ok if they finished the meeting another time. Everyone agreed and got ready to leave. It was about lunchtime and Harry wondered if Hermione was still up for a bite. He decided to find out. It finally got her number before dropping her off that morning and decided to call it. It rang twice before someone picked up but he was sure that wasn't her.
"Hello?" silent, "Hello?" the voice asked again.
"Yes, hello, uh is Hermione there?" Harry finally spoke.
"No, she is not but she'll be back in a minute," the voice said, "oh wait here she is right now…" they said and he heard the person hand the phone over and said 'some guy with a sexy voice called' and Harry smiled.
"Hello?" Hermione answered.
"Hey." He replied, "Do I really have a sexy voice?" he asked grinning.
"Yes very." Hermione said momentarily and he can hear her laughing a slight bit.
"I thought so. Anyways I wanted to ask if you want to join me for lunch." He asked quickly.
"Um, I'm at work and I don't get out for another 20 minutes." Hermione told him.
"That's fine. I don't have to be back at work any time soon. I'll pick you up in 20? Where do you work at?" he said in one breath.
"Uh, well I work at Grange Primary School in London." She said
"Great, I know where that is too. Ok, I'll see you in a bit. Talk to you then." He said and hanged up before she had anytime to complain, if she was going to.
"Hermione, who was that?" the lady whom answered asked nosily.
"A friend, who wanted to go out for lunch," She said blushing a bit.
"Just a friend Hermione? Or is he your boyfriend?" the woman said giggling.
"Oh, be quite Cathy. Just a friend, nothing more…" she exclaimed remembering their first kiss, although it was short, it was still her first kiss with him. She smiled and got Cathy's attention. However, Cathy did not continue to question her because someone had walked in.
"What are you ladies talking about that make you seem so happy." A man walking in said.
"About Hermione's new boyfriend." Cathy said loudly. At this statement the man froze.
"Oh uh, you-you have a boy-boyfriend?" the man asked trying to keep cool.
"No, Cathy is being random like always. He's just a new friend of mine, Jason." Hermione assured him. She saw him relax and felt awkward so she decided to go get ready herself before Harry came. About 15 minutes later Hermione stood outside saying good-byes to all her students. There are still about 5 more minutes before Harry arrived so she gather her things while Jason walked in.
"Hermione, you leaving yet?" He asked trying to find a way to ask her out.
"Not just yet." Hermione replied pulling up her things.
"Uh, there's this new place down the street and I would if you want to check it out." He asked quietly.
"Oh, I would love to but I've already got plans today. Maybe next time, we can also ask Cathy and the others to join." She replied
"Uh, yeah maybe next time." Jason said sadly.
While at the same time, outside stood a well-dressed man, Harry stood there in his Armani suit watching the interaction between a man and his friend Hermione. He knew exactly what that man was trying to do and he doesn't blame him since Hermione was one of a kind. He then pulled a kid over as he saw that Hermione was about to leave.
"Hey kid, what's your name?" he asked.
"Dylan" he kid respond
"Ok Dylan, I'll give you a bar of candy if you can give these flowers to that lady standing over there. What do you say, deal?" Harry suggested
"Okay!" the kid said excitedly. Then he took the bundle of flowers and walked toward Hermione's directions.
"Miss Granger, that man over there, asked me to give this to you." Dylan said, giving Hermione the flowers.
"Oh, thank you Dylan." Hermione said confused and looked up. She saw Harry outside smiling at her. She smiled a small smiled. Through this time Jason also turned to look outside and saw a well-dressed man standing beside a pretty expensive car.
"Is that your friend?" he asked Hermione.
"Uh, yes. That's Harry." She told him. "Well if you excuse me Jason, I must go now." She said politely and walked out. She made her way over to Harry and the whole time Jason was watching her with a frown.
"Hello stranger." Harry greeted her.
"Thanks for the flower Harry." Hermione said with a wide smile.
"Anything for a beautiful lady," Harry commented, "I see that you have an admirer."
"Who, Jason? No, he is just a co-worker." He explained.
"Uh-huh, you might think that but I'm a guy and I know when other guy have other ideas. If you know what I mean." Harry said smiling and giving her a wink, but before she could reply he changed the subject. "Where would like to go?"
"Anywhere is fine." She replied as she got into the car that Harry opened the door for. Running to the other side to get in himself he suggested they should go eat something light so he took her to Togo's.
Lunch was probably one of the best things that happen today for both Harry and Hermione. They sat, ate, joke and laugh for a couple hours and decided to walk to Hermione's place since it was only a couple blocks away. They kept chatting about random things such as schools, what they like doing or even what movie is good at the moment. Hermione had a question she was dying to ask him but didn't know how. Thinking she should just get it over with she stood still once they reached her place.
"Harry, can I ask you something." She started.
"Yeah, sure of course." He answered.
"Uh, did, uh did the kiss last night mean anything? You know if we-if we are you know…" she struggled to get the right words out. Harry at the same time was having fun watching her try but pulled a straight face to answer her.
"Do you want it to mean anything?" he asked and she looked rather shocked at his answer, "I mean, yes of course to me it does. I don't go around kissing every girl I know good night, you know." Harry said teasingly. "I'll admit I really like you Hermione but I know we just met and let's not rush into anything, but I do want to go on some more dates and take things further, of course if you do too." He finished.
Hermione was carefully listening to his answer and found that he was one of the few guys that would not want to rush into things. She was thinking of all the time the spent in the short times. They were short moments but wonderful so to speak. She can see herself dating Harry, she thought to herself.
"Harry, I would love to go on more dates with you and you never know, things might be better in the long run." She said smiling.
"Sounds fair. So then Hermione, would you like to go see movie tonight. We can go see Tristan and Isolde. I heard it was a good one. So what do you say?" He asked and saw Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Sure, that would be fantastic." Hermione replied happily since she really wanted to see it and to know that Harry would pick a love story over something like King Kong or another.
"Great, I'll pick you up at, what do you say 8?"
"Yeah, 8 would be perfect." She replied. He then nodded and turn to leave when she called out, "Harry…" he turned around, "Thank you." She said and gave him a peck on the cheek making but blush as they were out in the cold still. She smiled and left for her flat while Harry was floating on cloud nine. At the same time, on the other side of the street stood a man who was completely crushed as he witness the incident before him. Jason was hurt that Hermione lied and told him they were just friends when what he saw was something different. He threw the flowers and tickets to King Kong he planned on giving her as a gesture of his feelings away, but he now know that he was too late. He slowly walked away in to the direction the man name 'Harry' took off happily. He was determined to have Hermione and no one was to get in his way. But what Jason doesn't know is that Harry is a wizard, a powerful one at that. He was about to mess with the wrong guy.
On the other hand Harry got into his car and drove off back to work to tell Martha that he would be leaving early today. He got there and was greeted by a bunch of ministry people.
"Great, not again." He muttered.
"Harry! There you are. Where have you been? We've been looking for you. You wouldn't even pick up your phone…" the man trailed off.
"Slow down, don't hurt yourself, Seamus." He told him.
"Harry the ministry has a favor to ask you." Seamus proposed.
"Ah, yes I get one at least once a month. What now?" Harry replied.
"You know that the Annual Masquerade Ball is coming up and they…" Seamus was then interrupted.
"Want to use my ballroom for the party. Is that right?" Harry finished.
"Uh, yeah. What do you say?" Seamus asked.
"I say bull! I mean why mine? The minister has a ballroom and last time I check it was the same size as mine. Why not use theirs." Harry fumed.
"I-I don't know Harry. I'm just here as an order." He said.
"Sorry Seamus, it's just that it's always me for some odd reasons. Who suggested it anyways?" Harry asked
"Mrs. Weasley did. She seemed thrilled about it as well." Seamus told him.
"I'll bet. Tell them I would agree only on certain conditions and I will those conditions with Mrs. Weasley. So if you be so kind to tell her to come meet me here tomorrow morning when you get back that would be delightful." Harry asked, "Oh, and tell her its an order not an invitation." He then finished and saw Seamus leave.
"Tomorrow is going to be fun." He told himself then got some work done before it was time for him to tighty up for his date tonight with Hermione. Times sure fly when you're having fun, he thought sarcastically. Then pulling on his coat he was off.
AN- I'll tell you now throughout this, Harry and Hermione are together but not really. Confused? Yeah I am too. Anywho, so don't be surprise if they do stuff when they arenot together. As Harry said, just DATING.
