A/N: I have finally figured out I have to do this before I submit. Learning as I go. Sorry folks. I hope you enjoy this story as I am just kind of cranking it out as I go. I have the idea of what I want, but it is just putting it in a story line that I think someone would find interesting. Hope you will read and review.
A/N: I also own nothing. Just stating it up front, er, second chapter...eh whatever. You get the idea. If you recognize it, it doesnt not belong to me. All Hail JKR! Thanx for reading.
"Auntie Mione!" a small voice shouted before a little person with freckled arms and vibrant auburn curls launched themselves at her waist, as if their life depended on it.
"Hey Chels!" gushed Hermione. "How is my favorite little god-daughter today?"
"I'm okay, but you wouldn't believe the neat stuff I found in the attic the other day," she exclaimed. "But don't tell Mummy," Chelsea whispered, "She always gets mad when I go snooping." A small giggle escaped her lips.
"Oh, okay, your secret is safe with me," whispered Hermione conspiratorially. Chelsea beamed.
Hermione still couldn't get over this amazing little girl. Although she was only five years old, Chelsea Lily Potter was a bit of an enigma. She had the unstoppable energy of the average five year old, the constant babbling about nothing, and the ability to wrap most adults around her little finger. Her appearance was as most young children as well. Dirt streaks on her hands and little scratches here and there on her legs were marks of her Weasley heritage. They were a rough and tumble group and it showed. Once, Hermione recalled, Chelsea had been climbing the huge tree in the back yard of the Burrow, when she missed a limb and lost her grip. It was a scary moment to hear her scream pierce the air as she fell. Everyone rushed over to check on her and she lay there, as if unconscious. Ginny was beside herself and Chelsea popped up and said, "Oi! That was fun! I wanna do that again!" Everyone clustered around and hugged her and told her to never climb the tree again. She nodded her head and went to play with her cousins. Not two days later, Hermione caught her at almost the very top of the tree. She made sure that no one knew and coaxed Chelsea back down again. They made a pact right there that if she promised not to climb trees anymore, Hermione would buy her an archeology book. Shameless bribery really, but it worked. Now, Chelsea was fixated on finding things hidden in the dark corners of her house. Hermione looked down at Chelsea again. Her dark auburn hair hung down to her shoulder blades in soft curls and was just as untamable as her father's used to be at Hogwarts. Her bright emerald green eyes were bright and infinitely curious. And, she adored books and learning. Go figure.
Hermione heard a whoop and the rest of the house came out the door at her. Harry raced over and scooped up Chelsea with a great flourish and kissed her noisily on her stomach. He reached around the squirming, giggling little bundle and gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey there, Mione. Is this little imp bothering you?" Harry growled as he tickled Chelsea.
"Oh absolutely! You should put a leash on that girl. Honestly, she runs around just HUGGING people, Harry!" Hermione said in a stern voice. Harry looked up and saw the twinkle in her eyes.
"Well, then I guess it is off to the pet store with you, little lady!" He said sternly.
"Daddy! Stop! I can't breathe!" Chelsea giggled.
"What is this I hear about a pet store?" Ginny came up and hugged Hermione. Ginny Weasley Potter was 5 months pregnant and glowed as if there were no sunshine anywhere else the world. It all radiated from her face.
"We are not getting that Crumpled Horn Snorkack! I will not allow it, Harry James Potter!"
Everyone dissolved in laughter.
"Hey, is this a party or what?" a deep voice boomed from behind Hermione.
"Hey Ron!" Harry boomed back.
"Uncle Ron!" Chelsea squirmed from her fathers grasp to run into Ron's arms.
"Hey little imp! How are you?" Ron asked, picking her up and slinging her over his shoulder.
Hermione and Ginny just rolled their eyes. Ginny jerked her head towards the house as they all made their ways inside. Ron placed Chelsea down on her feet and she was off like a bullet, into the living room.
"Hey Hermione. How is the smartest witch in this generation?" Ron asked as he pulled her into a hug. The three sat around the kitchen table as Ginny went to the sink to finish dinner.
"Ron, you know how I hate it when you mention that. I wish Remus had never said that. It has proved most difficult to live down." Hermione stated.
"Eh, we all knew it long before then Mione. So, how are things?" Ron queried.
"Things are fine. Work is going well. Same ole, same ole," She replied quietly, picking at the tablecloth.
Everyone but Hermione locked eyes and raised eyebrows. Ginny again jerked her head, this time towards the dish cabinet for the guys set the table in the dining room. Both men rose from the table and began removing dishes as Hermione looked up at Ginny with a look of understanding. The two moved to the dining room, discussing the newest addition to the Puddlemere United team, Marcus Flint, and how it would affect the team dynamics.
Ginny sat down at the kitchen table and smoothed her hands over her small but prominent belly.
"So, you wanna talk about it?" she asked.
"Not particularly, but you won't let that happen, so maybe later, after the game is on?" Hermione asked.
"Sounds good. We can listen to the storm rage from the sun room." Ginny winked. She distinctly remembered Hermione's affinity for storms.
"Okay, so, what can I do to help?" Hermione brightened.
Once dinner was finished and the dishes put away, the guys settled down in the living room to watch the Quidditch match that was on that night. Chelsea snuggled in between her dad and her uncle, looking like she was in heaven. Hermione watched her from the doorway and sighed. It was with a pang that she turned to follow Ginny's lead to the sun room. The storm had begun during dinner and was raging fully by now. They both settled in their seats and watched lightening flash across the sky and felt the rumble of thunder through their chairs, while they sipped their tea.
Muffled shouts could be heard through the house as the game progressed inside. Hermione and Ginny both laughed slightly and smiled.
Hermione was fidgeting with her cup and saucer while Ginny observed her over the rim of her own cup. Hermione hasn't changed that much since school, she thought to herself.
Her long coltish legs were clad in taupe slacks and curled under her, while a chocolate brown cashmere sweater encased her small shoulders and her average bosom. The wild mane of brown hair that terrorized her throughout their school years had calmed down some, but was still a bit unruly some days. Today, with the high humidity, it had curled in on itself almost completely. The spirals fell down to her lower back and the clasp she used to hold it all back while she worked was coming loose. The soft tendrils next to her cheeks were lighter than the rest. Her brown eyes were focused on the horizon and then as if she could feel Ginny's eyes on her, swung over to look surprised at her best friend.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing, just noticing how you haven't changed much since your 6th year," Ginny replied.
Hermione snorted.
"Really. You have the same figure, the same look of brilliance in your eyes, the same..."
"Thanks, really. No need to go any further," Hermione blushed.
"What? I can't compliment my best friend on how she hasn't changed in seven years time? Except that you have this depth to your eyes that wasn't there before." Ginny remarked.
Hermione looked surprised.
"I don't know what you are going on about. I think I have changed a lot, except where it is important."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Just what I said. The things that are the same in me are things that I don't ever want to change. My thirst for knowledge, the things that fulfill me are the same. I will be an old lady and still want to know it all." She laughed.
"But as far as my looks go, it is just window dressing. It doesn't show anything but what people want to see. I know what has changed and what hasn't. Most people won't see what has truly changed me, and for that I am thankful." Hermione stated.
"Like what?"
"What we went through in the war. What our lives could have been like. Those are the things that I am thankful no one will ever know. And," She stopped and took a long sip of her tea.
"And?"
"And would you look at the time. I have to go." Hermione said with finality.
"Mione?"
"Yes?"
"You can try to make out like things are all fine and dandy, but sooner or later; it will catch up with you." Ginny said.
"Well, when it does, I will hopefully be ready."
Later on, as Harry was putting a sleeping Chelsea to bed, Ginny watched from doorway.
Harry tucked her blanket around her and brushed her hair back from her forehead to lay a gentle kiss there. It still amazed Ginny that given everything that Harry had been through as a child and young adult; he was still able to love so sweetly, so gently.
"Good night, sweetheart."
"Night, Daddy." Chelsea mumbled.
As they walked to their own bedroom, Harry wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist and rubbed her back.
"Oh, that feels so good." She said quietly.
"You had a hard day, Gin," he said. "You shouldn't work so hard, put your feet up every once in a while."
"I do dear. But it isn't always easy with a rambunctious five year old flitting around." She chuckled. They pulled pillows from the head of the bed to fold down the comforter together.
"I know. Gosh, where does she get it from?" he asked.
Ginny quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, I know. Weasley genes." He laughed. "So, how did the talk go?"
"Okay, I guess. She is in denial about something, but won't let on what."
"Well, she will tell when she is ready I guess. Hermione never did like being pushed on anything. Usually it was the other way around." Harry said.
"Right. But I am worried that whatever it is, it will keep her locked in that office for the rest of her life, and won't let her live fully." Ginny countered as she removed her clothes from the day and slipped on her nightgown.
Harry flopped down on the bed and began removing his shoes.
"Is it really that serious?" He asked, turning to see Ginny pull her nightgown up over her full belly.
"It could be, Harry." She replied as she rubbed lotion all over her stomach.
"Remind again why you do that?" He asked.
"To keep from getting stretch marks, my dear."
"Oh," he said, turning back around. "I thought it was just to drive me insane with lust," he muttered.
"Hun, I don't have to do anything to do that. The proof is sitting right here in my stomach."
Earlier, as the Potters and guests had sat down to dinner, Oliver Wood had just come out of the locker room at Puddlemere United's practice pitch. His teammates would be meeting at a local restaurant and he was running late. 'A captain's job is never done' he thought to himself. Oliver hadn't changed much since his last year at Hogwarts. He was still dashing, in a romance novel sort of way. Since reaching adulthood, he had grown to a tall 6'3", and his shoulders were slightly wider than before. He was in good shape for a 29 year old man, but Quidditch was responsible for most of that. It certainly wasn't his diet. He could eat a horse and still be hungry.
His face still had that sweet boyish quality, but it was also a very masculine face, with strong features. His eyes were still brown, warm chocolate brown to be exact, but they were also mischievous in character. They also conveyed intelligence, once someone looked past the package to see it. Most people, women especially, were inclined to remark on his physique, his smile, or his Scottish accent. It was overwhelming as a younger man, but he was more mature now, more knowing. As long as Oliver treated everyone as a fan, and not as potential best buddies or girlfriends, he coped remarkably well. All were things he took in stride, and sometimes, he was allowed to show his smarts. Usually it was to men, who took it as an insult that such a man existed. Smart, good looking, popular, rich, and modest. Men didn't respond to the competition well. Well, most men. His teammates had similar outlooks and demeanors and so he was content within this small circle of friends.
As he strolled into the restaurant, he could already hear his teammates table from the door. The hostess smiled brightly and led Oliver to their table. The team was giving the waitress a hard time and Oliver had come up just as her face was about to explode into flames of embarrassment.
"Alright folks, show's over. Let the lady do her job," Oliver barked.
"Ol, don't ruin the fun, man!" Jon O'Shaunessy cried.
"Only one I see having fun is you blokes," Oliver replied while taking his seat.
The waitress moved over to him and he placed his order. She blushed and said, "Right away sir."
The team just looked at Oliver. He was moving his silverware around and situating his water glass when he caught them staring.
"What?"
"Right away sir" Chaser Ted Hereford mimicked in a high voice. "You are such a dolt, Oliver. Don't even recognize when a prime bird like that is hitting on you."
The team chuckled.
"For your information, Ted, I don't look at every female in my line of sight as a future conquest." Oliver replied calmly. "Mostly, I see them as people who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity."
The entire team was quiet for a moment, and then loud boisterous laughter burst forth and enveloped the surrounding tables.
"Yeah, okay, Ollie, whateva," muttered Simone Dubois, the Seeker for the team.
"You all are children," Oliver remarked as he drank his water.
"Oliver? Oliver Wood? Of course, it is you!" a tall man with large eyes and graying hair came up to the table.
"Evan! How are you, good man?" Oliver rose out of his seat to shake his friend's hand.
"Fine, fine. And yourself?"
"Couldn't be better. Let me introduce my teammates." Oliver introduced all the folks on the team and invited Evan to sit down.
"Oh, no. Thank you though, I have to be running along. The store will be opening in exactly," Evan looked at his pocket watch as he stated, "12 hours and I have much to do before tomorrow."
"Oh, okay. Erm, speaking of the store, I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time tomorrow. I have a new acquisition that I need to be verified and I was hoping you could help." Oliver questioned.
"Well, I don't do that part of the business anymore, I am sorry. But we have a brilliant researcher there who I am sure would be more than willing to look it over. She is quite accomplished and a veritable genius with old texts. Quite the dedicated worker she is, almost reminds me of myself in my younger years. At least in passion!" Evan blushed a little.
Oliver watched his eyes glaze over a bit when he spoke of the researcher. 'Hmm, must be a right hot little spinster to catch his eye!' Oliver thought.
"Yes, well, hmm hmm, I must be going, but I will be certain to let her know you will be by tomorrow, say around 11?" Evan was shaking Oliver's hand.
"Sounds great, Evan. See you then."
I would like to thank anyone who has read the story and reviewed. I am quite excited for the next few chapters as it will display a bit of fun and flirting.
Ta Ta
