Day Fifteen

In the past, spending a few days alone with Ron was always enough to remind Harry why Hermione was such a necessary component to round out their friendship. Actually, the first time that the two of them had been sent away on a mission was also the first time he'd realized how much he'd taken Hermione for granted in the past, and had vowed to stop doing that.

In the present, Harry didn't think he ever wanted to spend any significant amount of time alone with anybody other than Hermione ever again. Or, at least, not until they'd thoroughly consummated their relationship and- he hoped- the constant ache he felt for her had abated a little. Because at the moment two days without her was physically painful.

And to make things worse, Ron knew it and was enjoying his pain just a little too much. Harry couldn't so much as glance in the direction of his mobile without the idiot snickering. Even rambling off a litany of the greatest hits of absurd things Ron had done to try and impress a woman didn't get Harry a reprieve from Ron's infuriating, mocking looks.

"You know, I almost feel sorry for Mione having to deal with your sorry arse, but somehow I think you'll perk right up when you see her," Ron noted as they packed up their things and prepared to hand over their surveillance duty to the next team of aurors in the late morning on Wednesday.

Harry didn't dignify that with a response, just threw an apple at Ron's head, and apparated away without another word as soon as their relief arrived. He arrived in a quiet house and as he trudged upstairs he realized that he missed the presence of a little ball of fur leaping after him, happy he was home and begging for attention. That had happened quickly.

He took a quick shower, not even bothering to shave, pulled on a clean pair of boxers, and after setting an alarm to be certain he woke up before the end of the work day, crawled into the bed he'd left unmade so early on Monday morning and promptly fell asleep.

He woke up several hours later in the same position. He was somewhat surprised that he'd slept so well, then again, he'd only caught a couple of hours here and there while they'd been on stake out. Being bored could be much more tiring than being busy, depending on the circumstances, and the previous two and a half days had been exhausting.

He remembered to check his mobile, though he didn't usually keep it on or even with him at all times. When he was home he just didn't use it that often, he only even knew a handful of people who owned one. But he'd become accustomed to checking for messages while he was gone. And today Dudley was due to talk to Amelia.

Though he didn't know any of the specifics of his cousin's plan, Harry had promised to be available in case Dudley needed him to help explain or- and he dearly hoped it wouldn't come to this- somebody to perform a memory charm if it turned out that she was a danger to the Statute of Secrecy. But he didn't have any messages, and he hoped that meant that no news was good news.

He pulled himself out of bed, dressed, and then made himself a sandwich so that he could honestly tell Hermione that he had eaten. Then, before he could overthink the decision, he flooed to the Ministry and went directly to Hermione's office.

Her assistant smiled at him when he passed but didn't ask what he wanted or even attempt to stop him. He stopped in her open doorway and leaned up against the jamb, arms crossed, waiting for her to notice him. She must have heard him because she held up a finger to signal that she needed a moment.

He smiled to himself at the way she was working. It was typical Hermione, all her attention was on the parchment in front of her, a small crease between her eyes denoted her deep concentration. He was certain she didn't have any idea just who was waiting for her, and he was very much looking forward to her reaction when she saw him. She didn't disappoint, when she finally glanced up, she did a comical double take.

Her eyes went wide and the most beautiful smile blossomed on her face. "Harry," she said, like she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm back," he explained unnecessarily.

He expected an eye roll or a scoff, but she just kept her eyes locked with his as she pushed herself up from her chair. "Come in, and close the door behind you please, there's something I wanted to discuss with you."

Harry frowned, her voice had become formal, and her movements almost mechanical, but he did as she asked, watching cautiously as she rounded her desk. She closed the distance between them in a few measured steps and halted about a foot in front of him.

"You're here," she breathed in wonder, her whole body relaxing, then she went up on her toes, wound her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

For the space of a heartbeat he was frozen as the thrill of what she was doing shot through his system, until the pounding of that same heart jump started him back to life. He seized her hips, pulled her closer and responded to the kiss he had absolutely not seen coming with enthusiasm.

Despite not having anticipated it in the moment, he had thought about this. A lot. He had recognized that taking such a step with a woman with whom he shared so much history might seem strange at first, even awkward. He had promised himself he wouldn't panic if that happened.

He needn't have worried.

She immediately relaxed into his touch and he wrapped his arms around her until they overlapped on her back, bringing her as close as possible, but still not close enough.

He had learned to love the touch of another person in her arms. She had taught him that it could be good and safe. And he knew that that trust- offered and given between two hesitant children- would now be rewarded a thousand times over. They would find pleasure together that he previously hadn't even imagined, because there would be no barriers between them.

Joy and adoration sparked between them as their lips moved together, long drugging kisses between short pecks, as they began to explore and learn what the other liked, what they liked together. They stood there for what was probably a long time, touching and sampling, sharing breath and just being; when she let out the sweetest little sigh. He moved his lips to the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her jaw, and nuzzled her neck.

This time her sigh was his name, her fingers had tunneled into his hair, and he was supporting much of her weight with his larger frame. A simple allowance from the strongest person he knew. He pulled back ever so slightly, just so that he could see her face.

"Hi." He grinned.

She bit her swollen lip. "Hi."

"You kissed me."

"I did."

"You kissed me in the middle of your office, during work hours."

She pursed her lips, tried and failed to look stern. "Don't get used to it."

"Really?" He didn't think he could smile any bigger. "I think you liked it."

She shook her head but it was impossible to hide her smile or that blush. She dropped her arms and covered her face with her hands. "What are you doing to me?" She was still trying so hard, this time to make it sound like a complaint, but it was full of awe. One hand drifted down, her fingers began to toy with the necklace she was wearing.

Harry chuckled as he started to understand the source of at least some of her emotion as he eyed the necklace, the necklace he and Teddy had made for her. "I see you've already opened the calendar today. I'd be insulted, but I happen to know exactly how you feel. That kid really gets to you, doesn't he? I almost feel bad taking any credit, but if this is the kind of thanks I get, then I'll have to remember that clay beads and string are the way to your heart."

"He really is so sweet."

"I said that I helped!" Harry pretended to protest.

She looked up at him. "Oh, don't think I don't know that this was your idea."

"Actually it was Teddy's," he tried to make it sound like he was reluctant to admit it, but it was overruled by his pride in the little boy, and he knew she could hear it in his voice.

"What?"

"Yeah, I took him with me on some errands while I was getting the calendar ready. I explained it to him the best I could, and without telling him too much because as you know he's not the best with secrets."

"I guess we can excuse him for being six."

"Right. So, I basically just told him that I was making something special for you, and he said that he wanted to make something special for you too. He's been making these clay pots and figurines and stuff in his art time at school, so I did some research and we made something for you and Andromeda. Oh, by the way, you can't wear that in front of her until after Christmas when she's opened hers."

She stared at him for a long time. "That is possibly the most adorable thing I've ever heard."

Harry shook his head. "Ironically, I chose it for today because I knew that as soon as you saw my note that it was from Teddy, you would wear it to work, and that would make my Wednesday just that much more enjoyable. But then I got called away."

She smirked. "Seems like it still worked out pretty well for you."

He tilted his head this way and that and pretended to consider that. "It could always get better," he brushed his lips against hers, but she pressed on his chest when he went to deepen the kiss.

"If I didn't know you better I'd think you planned this," she said.

"Hmmm?"

"This whole set up, the calendar, all the sweet gifts. Just the way you've been acting lately. It all reads like an elaborate seduction ritual."

Harry couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "Good thing you do know me better than that," he said when he got himself under control. "Seriously, if I'd had any idea how I actually felt about you, I would have been a wreck, and I certainly wouldn't have been able to concoct some elaborate plan to win you. And if I had, you would have caught on immediately. So, I'm sorry to say, don't expect me to be able to repeat anything like this intentionally."

Her smile was soft, loving. "I think you're underestimating yourself. But it doesn't matter, I don't need any of this, you know that, right?"

"Maybe," he shrugged, "but you deserve everything."

Her fists clenched his tee shirt. "I have everything."

He dipped his head to rest his forehead against hers. "Maybe remember this when I inevitably screw up."

She laughed lightly.

"Can you leave now? I assume you don't want to be in here with me too long with the door closed. That'll start rumors."

"Yeah, I can be done now. But Harry?"

"Yes?"

She looked down and played with his shirt nervously. "We probably should have had this discussion a few days ago."

"What's that?"

"Are we a secret? I mean, are we keeping 'us' a secret, or just quiet, or what?"

Harry laughed. "I hope you didn't want to keep this quiet, love, because any hope we had of that went out the window when you decided to practically grab my crotch in front of Ron on Friday night."

"I did not! And you started it in front of the movie theatre!"

"We'll have to agree to disagree about that. Anyway, I know you've been talking to Ginny, so you might as well have just taken out a full page ad in the Daily Prophet."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Of course. I'm not planning on giving an interview or anything like that. But I'll answer the Weasleys' and I guess our other friends' questions within reason. Why?" He asked, when a thought occurred to him. "Do you think we need to make some kind of formal announcement?"

"No, definitely not," she shook her head vigorously, "but do you already have a date for Friday night?"

Harry stared at her as he tried to make sense of what she'd just said.

"The Ministry Yule Gala, Harry," she prompted him.

He almost laughed again, but something about her demeanor stopped him, she actually seemed uncertain. "Do I have a date?"

She nodded.

"No, Hermione, when was the last time I brought a date to one of these things?"

She just shrugged but they both knew that it had been years, since shortly after his break up with Ginny. He'd concluded, after taking a few casual dates, that the benefits of having somebody at his side to help him fend off overly enthusiastic party goers, were outweighed by the costs of the talk that bringing a woman to a high profile event caused, and worse, the expectations it too often created with the woman in question.

He kept his dating life very private and preferred to stick close to his friends at work parties and the fundraisers he was expected to attend. And because he could be an oblivious fool, it hadn't occurred to him that within the last year or two it was Hermione, in particular, who he depended on to keep him company. He could hardly remember the last time he'd been on one of those private dates either, it had been months, and even longer since it had been more than one date with the same woman. He rolled his eyes to himself.

"I would like to remind you of not five minutes ago, when I admitted that if I ever tried to do anything romantic intentionally, I'd inevitably mess it up. I had forgotten about the gala, but last time I checked you didn't have a date. I would very much like it if you'd go with me."

She immediately relaxed. "Well, I promised to be your fake girlfriend for the month, it would have been wrong to get a date."

He knew she was teasing but he looked at her seriously, wanting to avoid even the possibility of a misunderstanding, this was too precious to risk. "And just to be clear, we're done with the fake bit, right?"

"If we ever really started," she laughed.

"That is actually a very good point," he agreed.

"I should get my things so we can go," she said, but she just kept looking at him and didn't even try to pull out of his arms.

"Okay," he agreed, leaning in for another kiss.

"Okay. Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Welcome home."