Moving On

Chapter - 8

Ministry - Atrium

'How long till that stupid bint comes?' was thought by nearly twelve people that morning. Each one of them were disillusioned and held their wands ready as this was the only opportunity they might get. They were confident that surely twelve of them were needed for this, such as the nature of the person they were waiting for. But they were glad that at least the person was not that deadly with a wand.

Finally to their relief, a woman with a bag that would have been cute with a six-year-old arrived through the floo. For people knowing the woman, it would not have been much a surprise if it indeed once belonged to a six-year-old. As the woman started moving towards the security desk, twelve red spells hit the lady in the pink cardigan perfectly.

Later on, when the woman was moved to be held for the trail in the holding cells, nobody added in the report that the ten of the curses were cruciatus.

The Hog's Head

"Please tell me that you are not gonna send a goddamn town through my pub!" said Aberforth Dumbledore to the two teens who just entered. The two in question were not completely sure that it was said in jest. Deciding to push their luck, they sat as one of them replied with a chuckle.

"No, ," said Harry, feeling a bit awkward to use that last name.

With a roar of laughter, he asked "So, What you couple want for breakfast?" making the two blush at being called a couple. What further surprised them two was neither contradicted. Deciding to wait to see where it ends, they kept the silence on that matter.

Harry could not explain how he felt. It felt like his insides coming to life as he saw her. To admit, he had a crush on Hermione, but he had no other option than to let it remain as a crush. With the sun behind her, as the rays passed through her brown her, giving it a radiant look and highlighted her face. He could not think of a word to describe her at the moment. He saw something in her eyes, was It love? He thought, as continuing to look into her eyes. He hoped it was.

He could not think of anything much. That is much other than her. He wondered why. He prided on his iron-like self-control. Was it due to the Horcrux leaving him? Or is that he won't feel like he was cheating, now Ron left her? He did not want to think more about that. If Ron did not want her anymore, his bad!

He wondered why he was with Ginny at all! He now understood that he loved the girl in front of him. Not just for her looks. It was Hermione who stood with him every time. Whether it was fight or fun. She gave him his support. He should have seen it. He mentally berated himself for not making a move first. But not anymore he decided. He promised himself to do his utter best. He could only hope that she too saw him that way. A look in those cute brown orbs, he could hope.

There was another feel as he looked at her. It felt like hunger. He doesn't know why. Maybe it was just normal for his age? Lately, he could feel his magic in him. It was like a storm. But whenever he was near her, it flared up. Not in a bad way. It felt like peace. Like his magic reaching harmony. Hermione? He chuckled at the wordplay. He snapped out of it, as he heard her calling his name.

"Harry!" she called. As he jerked a bit, looking at her questioningly. She asked, "what happened? And, what do you want for breakfast?" she asked.

"Err… was just thinking… about…. Never mind… Ummm. For breakfast, whatever you are having. " he replied with a smile that mushed her brain for a moment. When the food appeared as she ordered. Both started eating, while one of them was deep in thinking.

What's happening? Thought Hermione. The look in Harry's smile was doing something to her. It was obvious that she fancied Harry. But now looking back, she wondered with a hint of disgust why the hell I even loved that red-headed prat! As she sifted through her mind, she could see it. She never loved him nor even a crush at first. But suddenly she was over on heels love with him and God! She even nearly once flunked a Transfiguration test. Why was I even jealous of him?

As her thought's turned to the person next to her, a smile with a pink blush crept upon her face, a blush that had nothing to do with the cold. She loved him. But did he love her back? Or will he? She knew very well about his will of iron. If there was any first move, it had to come from her. But the question was Is she ready to move on? Will he return her feelings? as questions poured into her mind, she saw his face, into the mesmerizing green eyes. She saw something there. Yes, she can hope.

He could see Hermione was thinking about something. He called her twice, getting no reply, he gently nudged her, calling her name again. As she thought how would he react if he had read my thought? When he gave a knowing smile, she could not help but blush with an inward sigh.

"As I was asking, so what to do now?" he asked.

She thought for a moment before asking back with the question "What are you planning to do?"

"I don't have any idea. I thought of visiting Gringotts, see whether there are any other properties. We still won't be able to go back to Grimmauld Place. At least till we are sure that all Deatheater's are caught. I think there must be some other properties... Where are you planning on staying?"

"Well... " she continued a bit uncomfortably. 'I thought of asking you first. Do.. you mind if I stay with you? I don't think I have.. anywhere else to stay..." Talking about it brought back her memories of what she did, making her eyes glisten.

Harry did not wish to make her cry, wanting to act quickly to stop her from crying, he hugged him from the side. Giving the support she needed. He spoke in a low voice. " 'mione, you did what you could to protect them. At least, now they are safe. " he paused a bit before continuing "There would be always a place for you in any home of mine... If you want, I'll too come with you to Australia."

There was a brief pause as both of them drew the strength needed to continue from the other. She sniffed before continuing "Thank you, Harry. And yes, if you wish, you too can come with me."

After they parted from the hug, both finished their meal in silence. As they stood from the bench, Harry fished out the Galleons from his pocket and placed it on the desk.

"To Gringotts?" asked Harry

"To Gringotts," replied Hermione.

The Burrow

Silence. A word that could have never been used in the house before, but now it did the job of defining the condition at that place very well. Everyone was asleep. The only sound was the famous Weasley clock ticking. For once in a long time, the hands were not pointed at 'mortal peril', but it was no longer noticed by the house's inhabitants. As none of them ever wanted to see the fallen hand. Tears flowed heavily the night before, not only for Fred. But also for one Ronald Weasley they remembered.

*Flashback*

It was dinner time. Trying their best to not forget but not remember the demise of Fred, everyone was trying their best to distract others. It was then, a smug-looking Ron Weasley entered the house, no one the wiser of what's coming.

"Ron! What happened? How did it go?" asked an expectant looking Molly.

"I got into the training program!" exclaimed the person in question.

As everyone cheered, nobody noticed, at least for a short time, that Ginny did not even bother to clap.

"This must be celebrated," said Molly, as she moved towards the kitchen, planning to whip up a quick treat. It was then an unsuspecting Bill Weasley unknowingly triggered the red-head who was showering in the praises of his family with an innocent question.

"So, Harry and Hermione too got into the training?" he asked before eating a spoonful of food.

"Who cares about the attention-seeker and the mudblood," he replied with a dismissive look that Draco Malfoy would have been proud of.

Chaos erupted. Everyone was shouting. Even the silently moping George Weasley was infuriated. The only one who was silent was a shocked Arthur Weasley, who as seconds passed appeared to look as if he started to chameleon an angry-looking Vernon Dursley.

"SILENT!" shouted the man, who has never been known to raise his voice to such extents before. Everyone quietened, as they saw his face which was a mixture of emotions of different kinds. He turned to a puzzled looking Ron and asked in a cold voice, "What did you just say?"

"What? I called them for what they are! Lucky, I escaped! Who knows what else they have been doing behind my back." he said without a hint of repentance. As everyone looked ashamed, even confused at how a Weasley could say this. An answer came from the youngest of them.

"He has been speaking like this from the morning we returned. You were not here. He thinks that they cheated him! Hermione said to me." She declared as she looked at Ron, feeling ashamed to be even related to him. Still, she continued "This idiot had left them and ran away when they were on the run. Apparently "She said in a mocking voice "He did not feel comfortable enough" She looked briefly at her favorite brother "He went to Bill's place. Later on, he again changed his mind and with something Dumbledore gave, he managed to get back to them. Then he starts thinking that they both were cheating with him when he left. So what this shit does is, he confronts them. Even though they denied, he still maintained that. It never reached this prats mind that they were the ones who had to forgive him. He took everything for granted and act's like he owns her! I'll say again, it's them who are lucky! At least they won't have to put up with you anymore!" She paused, drawing air. As much as she did not like it, she had to say it, at least to save one of them from a Dark Path. She calmed down and continued "He called Hermione that to her face. That's why Harry or she did not speak with any of us. I had to pull this idiot away. I don't know why. But he has changed and that's not for good." she finished, seeing the outraged look on everyone's face, she decided it was enough for now. Particularly, she did not know how her parents would take the other news. Well, it would do no good if she had to reveal how she knew it.

"What are you thinking! They are your friends!" exclaimed an angry yet distraught Molly.

"Well, they are not anymore. They are what I said! And I am not taking back my words. I can see that you are not happy with ME! After all, you said you would have rather had that cheater for a son. I am going! I don't think I can be here anymore. After all, she was right!" he shouted at Molly before walking through the door, slamming it while ignoring the shouts of every male Weasley there to stop. They could hear a well-known crack that indicated an apparition.

The only thing on every mind there was What the heck happened? While the parents had a different thought of How did he change this badly?