Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine!
Chapter 27: The one he really loves.
The youngest Weasley looked at him with brighten eyes, leaned down to his face and kissed him on the mouth.
And Harry…
…and Harry kissed her back. Yes, he kissed her back. He kissed her back and realized that he felt…nothing. Nothing at all. Neither love nor lust. Nothing.
So, Harry broke the kiss, pushed her off him and stood up.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded.
The smile on Ginny's face rapidly disappeared after she saw Harry's expression but she quickly 'covered' that with a nervous laugh.
"Oh, Harry! I am so sorry but I need to do this, you know? I had to proof myself that I feel nothing for you!"
"W-What?" Harry was confused.
"Oh, well, it's embarrassing! I suspected that I didn't love you anymore but how could I have certain…so, er, I kissed you and…felt nothing! Sorry, Harry."
"Er, that's okay, Ginny," said Harry. He didn't know really what to say.
"Thanks, Harry. Friends?"
"Yeah, sure." Harry looked around and saw Claire looking at them with a strange expression. She called his name.
The young wizard walked towards her.
"Professor-"
"You don't need to say anything, Harry, but may I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"What did you feel when Miss Weasley kissed you?"
"The truth? I felt nothing."
Claire's expression softened and she smiled. A happy smile.
"Good to hear, Harry. Now, I think that a certain brown-hair girl needs to know this too."
Harry looked at her in surprise but nodded.
"But I have training with Moody."
"Don't worry. I will talk to him. Now, go!"
"Thank you!" Harry said and disapparated.
"Where's Harry? Why he disapparated?" Ginny asked Claire.
The young professor glared at Ginny and said, "Don't you ever do this again."
"Er, professor, I don't know what are you talking about."
"Oh, please! I know very well what are trying to do, missy! You see, I can recognize a snake when I see one. So, just to make myself clear…stay away from Harry. He loves Hermione not you."
Ginny didn't say anything. Fighting back angry tears, she only nodded.
But she knew that Claire Larousse was wrong.
Harry Potter didn't belong to her.
He belonged to Ginny Weasley.
Grimmauld Place
James' bedroom
Hermione was watching her little son sleep with a sad expression.
"He is so little, so innocent," she thought.
Looking at his sleeping figure she could realize how similar to Harry he was. There was no way to deny that the Boy- Who- Lived was James' father.
They had the same features…even the same smile.
Harry's smile.
It had been ages since the last time she saw him smiling. To tell the truth, she couldn't remember the last time she smiled.
Everything was so difficult.
Absently, she put a hand on her face…right on where Harry had hit her.
She still couldn't believe that Harry had done that. However, somehow, Hermione knew she wasn't totally innocent in that matter. Not that that justify a man hitting a woman but what she had said about Lily Potter was uncalled. Mean. Even she couldn't believe herself. It was like she was possessed or something…
Hermione was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the bedroom's door opening or the tears falling from her eyes.
"Hermione."
The young witch turned around in surprise. It was Harry.
"Hermione, I-" Harry began to speak when he noticed her tears. "Oh! Sweetie, something happened?"
She quickly tried to wipe her tears while she shook her head.
"N-Nothing happened. What do you want?"
"I want to talk to you."
"We have nothing to talk about, Harry," she coldly replied.
"You know this isn't true. Please, Hermione-"
"Okay, Harry, you won. Let's talk. But not here. James is sleeping and only I know how hard it was."
Harry looked at his son in concern.
"Is he having problem in sleeping?"
"Yes, I think he can somehow sense that things aren't very well between his parents."
"Oh. You should have told me."
"I didn't think you would care."
"Of course I care, Hermione!" Harry held up his hands in frustration. "He is my son, for Merlin's sakes!"
Hermione sighed. She didn't want to fight again but it was almost like she had an urge to hurt him- to say mean things.
"I don't want to fight, Hermione," he said in a tired voice. "Please, let's go to our bedroom and so we can talk."
She looked at him and nodded.
They were sitting side by side on their bed. Harry was nervous. He had so much to say but at the same time he didn't know how to do it.
"Hermione," Harry finally broke the silence. "What happened to us?"
Hermione, who was looking at her hands, said in a small voice, " I don't know, Harry. It's have been so difficult."
"I know, Mione. But I want to give us a chance. I love you."
"Do you?" she whispered without look at him.
"Yes," Harry said, using his hand to gently raise her chin so they were eye to eye. "I love you more than anything."
When Harry realized that she wouldn't say anything he continued, "I know that you think I am only saying it because of James but this isn't true. I realized I loved you before I found out about James. I know I am not the most romantic guy in the world but-" He took a deep breath. "I swear I have nothing with Claire, er, Professor Larousse. You have to believe me. I-"
"I know," Hermione said, surprising Harry. "I know you have nothing with her. That's not the problem."
Harry closed his eyes.
"You should have told me she was your professor, Harry. Of course I would be jealous in the beginning but- I trust you. However, you didn't say a word. You lied. And when I discovered the truth…it hurt so much!" she finished with an angst sob.
"I am so sorry, Hermione! I thought you would leave me or something if you found out about her. I am so sorry! I don't know what I would have done if you had leave me. Oh, god, Hermione, when I saw you talking with Oliver-"
Hermione giggled softly.
"Are you laughing? I really wanted to punch that-that Scottish face!"
"Oh, Harry! You know I would never-"
"I know. Uh, Hermione?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes, Harry?"
"C-Can I kiss you?"
She smiled timidly.
"I thought you would never ask."
Harry leaned towards her. He pressed his lips against hers and parted them slightly…his tongue stroking her lips gently in search of the warm, safe harbor of her mouth.
That kiss had everything he couldn't feel in Ginny's. That kiss had fire, desire, passion and the most important thing-love.
"Harry," she moaned against his mouth. "Please, make love with me."
Harry broke the kiss and looked at her in surprise.
"Are you sure, luv? I don't want to pressure- if you aren't ready…"
"I am sure, Harry. I want to make love with you. For the first time."
Harry looked confuse. First time?
Hermione smiled at him, putting a hand on his cheek.
"What we had was sex. Amazing, incredible-" she blushed," But only sex. We never made love. Real love."
"You are right," he murmured and slowly began to nuzzle her cheek. Hermione's face lit up with a dreamy smile as Harry began to press sweet little kisses up across her cheekbone and into her hair.
So, he began to undress her carefully, unbuttoning her blouse and took it aside…then unclasping her bra; he made it slid down her arms and started taking one nipple in his mouth, caressing the other with his hand.
Hermione moaned in pleasure. Oh, god, how she missed him!
Just that small taste of her lips made him feel drugged and he remembered how much he had wanted her lately. He missed the feeling of her skin under his hands, the taste of her skin and how it felt to be buried deep inside of her. Merlin, he wanted her so bad.
Moments later, the two of them were totally naked making love- real love- for the first time in their lives.
Oh, how that felt good! How felt good to have Harry inside her- completing her- whispering against her hair, "I love you. I love you."
When Harry woke up he didn't know how much time had passed. The only thing he knew was that he was laying- naked- in his bed with the love of his life by his side.
He smiled when Hermione began to stir and sleepy opened her eyes.
"Hello, beautiful," he said.
"Huh…huh…" Hermione nuzzled against his bare chest. He held her tightly.
"Thank you, Harry," she finally said.
"Thank you for what?"
"For make me feel loveable, desirable, beautiful…"
"You are loveable, desirable and beautiful."
"Harry-" began Hermione, a little unsure about how to say it.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"I also want to say…I want to say that I am sorry." Harry looked at her in confusion. "I am really sorry about what I said about your mom. I-"
Harry put a finger on her lips.
"Shhh, it's okay," he said. "I also have to apologize. I shouldn't have hit you. Merlin, no matter how mad did you make me I shouldn't never- what I don't understand is why you said those things. I know you were hurt, but-"
"I don't know either. I just had so much hate inside me. My only goal was hurt you. I felt like I wasn't myself."
That made Harry realized about something. Hermione's eyes.
"I think you are right, Mione. I think you weren't yourself that day- and, somehow, I wasn't myself either."
"W-What do you mean?"
"Your eyes."
"What about my eyes?"
"That day your eyes were dark. Lifeless. Even Remus noticed that."
Hermione didn't say anything.
"Hun, is there something you want to tell me? Please, I want to help. Even when we weren't in best terms I noticed-"
"Yeah, Harry, I am not myself these last weeks," Hermione said, tears falling from her eyes. "I just don't know what's happening with me. I just feel so much hate- angry…"
"Are you still having those dreams?"
"I- I don't know what are you talking about," she stuttered, looking away.
"Hermione-"
"Harry, my dreams have nothing to do with this, okay?"
Harry didn't believe her but decided to not purse the subject.
"Okay, that's alright, but promise me that you will talk to Remus or Tonks about this angry thing. Maybe this is some collateral effect from Snape's potion."
"Yep, maybe. Huh, Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's not talk about this," she said leaning for a kiss.
Harry replied kissing her back.
"Hermione," Harry said between kisses. "I-I need to tell you something."
"Mmm," Hermione moaned.
"I kissed Ginny. Today."
Hermione abruptly broke the kiss and starred at him.
"W-What did you say?"
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I kissed Ginny," he said, and then told her everything what had happened.
When Harry finished his tale he looked at Hermione in expectation. She was just looking back at him. In silence.
"Er, Mione, please say something. Anything. Please, scream, cry or even slap me but please say something!"
"What do you want me to say, Harry?" Her tone was cold.
"I don't know. Something." He bit his bottom lip.
"You know Harry, I won't say that I am happy. But I am glad. I am glad that you have told me. That's it. I am glad that you told me- that you didn't lie. And, " She smiled. "I am really glad that you realized that you love you me."
Harry gently began to stroke her cheeks and whispered against her ear," I will always love you."
The young wizard was about to kiss her one more time when…
"Harry? Hermione?" Remus called through the door.
Instinctively, the young couple wrapped the sheet around themselves.
"Y-Yes, Remus?" Harry managed to ask. Hermione had just place her hand in a certain place…
"Are you guys okay?" Harry could swear that Remus was trying hard not to laugh.
"Yes, Remus! Do you want something?" asked Harry in annoyance.
"I know that you two are, er, busy but I am here with a little guy that is quite hungry.
Hermione put a hand on her mouth. She had totally forgotten about James. Merlin, what kind of mother she was?
Harry quickly stood up from the bed and put on a T-shirt and some boxers. He walked over the door and opened it.
"Remus," Harry said stepping outside and closing the door behind him.
Remus Lupin, who carefully caring James, looked at Harry with a wide grim. He was very glad to see the happiness in the boy's eyes.
"I can see in your eyes that everything is okay between you and Hermione."
Harry smiled broadly and nodded, taking James from Remus' arms. The little one giggled and Harry's heart melt.
"He is beautiful, isn't he?" said Harry proudly.
"Yes, he is. He is very lucky to be a father like you, Harry."
"You know, Remus, I won't say I wasn't scared when he was born but now, looking at him, knowing that everything is alright again with Hermione…I just feel… happy."
Remus smiled and hit playfully Harry's arm. "Go, Harry. James needs to be feed."
Harry nodded. He was about to open the bedroom's door when Remus spoke again.
"You see, Harry, Alastor came here very angry looking for you. I told him that you were talking with Hermione. I asked him to not come upstairs but…er, when he returned to the living he was a little shocked," Remus finished with a laugh.
Harry went pale.
Oh Boy!
Grimmauld Place
July 30, 1998
Harry, Hermione and Ron were talking animatedly. James was sleeping in his crib
"So, Ron," said Harry. "How are doing with the animagus thing?"
Ron's ears suddenly went red and he muttered, "Not so good. I still can't make that bloody potion."
"Ronald Weasley!" cried Hermione in exasperation. "I thought you were taking this seriously! We are in a war!"
"I know, Hermione! I know! But it's very difficult, you know! Remus said that took years for Sirius and Harry's dad!"
"Still!"
"And," Ron continued, "I am not you! I am not smart like you!"
Before Hermione could reply, Harry decided to intervene.
"Children, stop!"
"Sorry, luv."
"Yeah, sorry, mate."
"First, Ron," started Harry. "I think you should try a little harder. When my dad and Sirius were trying to become an animagus was different. They were doing that for a friend. Not because they were in a war. And you have McGonagall's help. She is a good teacher."
Hermione smiled.
"But," Harry continued, "I know how can this be hard. And yours lectures, Hermione won't do any good. I, for example, am not doing very well in my training either."
"Aren't you, mate?" asked Ron. Hermione looked concerned.
"Nah," answered Harry, running his hand through his messy hair. "Remus said that I have to focus. But something tells me that I will be better now." He smiled at Hermione and kissed her cheek.
"Guys, please behave! Best friend in the room!" joked Ron, rolling his eyes.
Hermione looked at the redhead as she was remembering of something.
"Um, speaking of best friend," she said in a sly voice. "Why you, mister Weasley, didn't say anything about a date with a certain Miss Lovegood?"
Ron's face was so red that seemed he was about to explode.
"What are talking about, Mione?" asked Harry, truly curious. Ron and Luna?
"Oh, our dear Ron went on a date with Luna last week! And don't try to deny, mister Weasley! Luna told me everything in her last letter."
"Yeah, we went on a date-"
"How? When? Why didn't you tell us?" asked Harry.
"It was last week. You know, that time you guys were, er, you know." Harry and Hermione nodded. "It was a bloody nightmare to be here with you. Sorry, but it was. So, I decided to visit the Burow. Well, that's it. I saw her in the village and we decided to lunch together in the next day…"
"So? Tell us, mate! How did it go?"
"Itwasverygoodandwekissed," Ron said very fast.
Harry raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He was happy for Ron.
"I am happy for you," Hermione said in a sweet voice. "Luna is a good girl. A little, er, different but- I will never forget what she did for me during my pregnancy."
"Yeah, mate, Luna maybe a little odd but I am also happy for you."
Ron smiled, "Thank you guys. It means a lot for me."
"Ah, I remember something!" exclaimed Harry, changing the subject. "Remus said something about Snape. You know, something that the git told him."
"What Snape said?" asked Hermione.
"Remus said that Snape had told him we were wrong."
"He said that we were wrong? What the hell he is talking about?"
Harry shrugged and looked at Hermione. She seemed a little pale than usual.
"Hermione?" he asked tentatively. "You know, don't you? I mean, you know about what Snape was talking about."
"Maybe I am wrong, Harry."
"Please, Hermione, tell us what are you thinking."
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "I think he was talking about Nagini, Harry. I think he was trying to say that Nagini wasn't a horcrux or, at least, it wasn't the last one."
"Let me get this straight," said Ron. "Are you trying to tell us that there is still a horcrux out there and we don't have a clue about where it is and what it is?"
"Yes, Ron, this is exactly what I am trying to say."
AN: Well, what do you think?
I want to thank everybody who reviewed last chapter. You are great! I really appreciate the reviews and the fact that you guys, somehow, understood why Harry hit Hermione. Of course, I am totally against a man hitting a woman but that was necessary. Like I said there is a reason for Hermione's behavior (any guess?). And Harry and Hermione are still teenagers.
Oh, now things are really alright between the two of them and Harry will start to show how really powerful he is.
Kisses!
And don't forget to review!