A/N: This is another short chapter but well, this is the start of the change in their relationship dynamics. So I do hope you like it.
There are lyrics to the song, "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke mentioned here.
I'm excited to hear what you think...
Anyway, before we carry on, I'm targeting this fic to reach 100k in terms of word count. What do you think about that?
Well, on with the chapter.
P.S. The medical and scientific stuff on the elements are based on fact. HAHA.
My Cheating Heart
By: tweety-src-clt9
Chapter Nineteen: Blurred Lines
One week after her rest period, Hermione was given the all-clear from Healer Watson. She is finally allowed to do magic again! When she first cast a Lumos spell, just to test if everything was alright, she gasped. Her magic has never felt this powerful before! It seemed that she just needed the rest to be able to recharge her core. She can't recall a time when she is this in-tuned with her magic ever since she first found her wand at Olivander's. She needed that rest after all!
Aside from her newly found stronger connection to her magic, she had another reason to be happy. When she told Irie about her theory that non-magical substances could be the cause of the epidemic, she secured his help during their daily two-hour research time. And she is right! Using the internet connection in Harry's penthouse, she now had her suspicion. Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium are the three most probable harmful elements that when injected into the body could cause severe harm to the different organs experienced by those who caught the epidemic.
Lead causes weakening as a side effect of anemia, kidney, and brain damage. Mercury, when inhaled, is harmful in the sense that it can cause neurological and behavioral disorders in the form of tremors, emotional instability, insomnia, memory loss, and headaches. Meanwhile, high exposure to Cadmium causes bone damage. These three elements and the harmful effects they cause to the human body all have tick marks on the symptoms the infected children are experiencing.
It is a great victory that they finally have a good lead as to what substance they have to counter. All they need to do now is to extract the unknown substance from the contaminated toy, chemically test the extract for a match, and if it does, then they can now generate a cure. Of course, they still have to kill the magic on that blasted toy so that it will never harm anyone again, but for now, curing the kids is their top priority.
When their research findings online matched with the symptoms, she and Irie were jumping up and down in excitement. They both have a good feeling about this! This is it! Finally! A miracle has been found.
So, her rest period has been a huge success. She's well relaxed, her magic more potent, they have established a solid lead, and managed to change her look.
Since she'll be back to work in two days, Rosier and Irie had an idea for them to celebrate her victories with a night out in muggle London. The three of them, being the younger members of the medical research department, always took the time to visit non-magical clubs for a drink or two. With a solid plan to escape her auror guards, they set out to enjoy the Saturday night.
So, here she is… Standing by the bar and sipping a cocktail drink. She laughed as she saw Kei Irie flirting with a good-looking blonde bloke. Meanwhile, Evangeline Rosier was enchanting a blue-eyed dreamboat with her sexy French accent. She is certain that like usual, she would be apparating back to Harry's penthouse alone. Her friends always find people to share hot one-night stands with. Rosier and Irie don't do love, they shag. And well, clubs like these are the best places for them to find what they're looking for. Ah well, at least the drinks are good and the music is fantastic…
Harry apparated into the main hall of his penthouse at one in the morning. He was very quiet since he knew that Hermione and her companion, that cheeky Japanese healer Irie, are most likely asleep. It's been a very tiresome two weeks for him. From Hermione's accident, the threat to her life, and him being called by the ICW to go to Switzerland so they could plan a risky bust operation on the Red Triangle, well now, all he wanted to do is rest.
Aside from the stress from all the events that happened lately, it was hard to be away from Hermione. He missed her terribly. Adding to his negative feelings and overall tiredness, he is uneasy about the fact that he had to leave her all alone in the company of a man who cared for her. To add to his concern, the man is a good-looking and smart sort! Someone Hermione could easily fall in love with...
Yes! He is a jealous and insecure git. After all, he knew how much he hurt her in the past and seeing this Irie who is quite honestly, a better man for her, just saddens him.
He was about to enter his bedroom when he felt that something was wrong. The house oddly felt empty. He can't feel any magical aura aside from his own. He closed his eyes to concentrate. Still, none. He ran to Hermione's room and to his surprise, the door was unlocked. He cursed when he saw the well-kept bed. Her things were still there but she wasn't.
He closed his eyes once again to focus his connection on her ring. He could see so many people. Blinking colorful lights. Dancing. Drinks. Smoke.
Shit! Hermione Granger is somewhere in muggle London partying at a club.
His headstrong wife escaped her auror guards with that bloody Japanese and partying the night away when she should have been fast asleep and resting.
"You are in so much trouble, Lady Potter!", his jaw clenched. He disapparated with a loud angry pop.
Harry apparated into a dark alley near the club Hermione was partying in. Quickly transfiguring his auror uniform to look 'muggle club' worthy, he immediately ran towards the front door and entered the jam-packed club. He prepared himself to spend some time looking at the many faces dancing in the crowded dance floor, so his eyes immediately scanned the room for a mass of curly brown hair.
You're a good girl
Can't let it get past me
You're far from plastic alright
Talk about getting blasted
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
But you're a good girl
How ironic! The song just had to bloody remind me of the fact that my good girl is in this place, he thought angrily.
The music was pumping loud. Hips were gyrating. And people were cheering.
His eyes were drawn to a beautiful feminine figure dressed in a nude-colored tight-fitted dress. Her back was bare and she had a mixture of brown and blonde hair in a pixie cut. The woman was very attractive. And very drunk. She was dancing on top of one of the bar counter-tops. Something about her seemed very familiar. She was grinding her hips sexily and her hands sensually moved up and down her body. When she turned around, he cursed.
His wife was pissed drunk and putting on a sexy dance for the entire club to see. He gritted his teeth as he saw the disgusting leers the men gave Hermione. If any of these bastards will lay a hand on her, I swear...It will be the last mistake they will ever make in this life.
He was livid! His magic flared. Since she was half-way across the room, he wandlessly cast a confundus charm on the crowd so he could pass without difficulty. When he was right in front of her, he took a deep calming breath.
"Hermione!", he called out. Despite her drunken state, her chocolate brown eyes looked around to search for the voice who called her name. Their eyes met.
"I – hic – know – you", she said in a drunk sing-song voice as she pointed to him. She was wobbly now. To hell with it! He walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her close. She stumbled a bit, but he immediately caught her. He wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He carefully cradled her straddling form without breaking eye contact.
"You are in so much trouble, Lady Potter", he growled.
"Potter haha – I – hic – heard – of that – hic – name", she giggled.
"Let's go home", he said.
"Excuse me, sir? We can't let you take the lady from this place", a big man wearing a fitted black shirt blocked his way. He was certain it was one of the bouncers in the club.
"I am taking my wife home", he said with gritted teeth.
"Sir, anyone can claim this lady as their own", the man rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Ask her", he growled.
"Miss?", the man focused his eyes on Hermione.
"Yes?", at least she was able to reply.
"Do you know this man who is carrying you?"
"I'm not – hic – sure – but his eyes – hic – are so – beautiful", she swooned. Oh, Merlin! She doesn't even remember! She must be drunker than I thought!
"Sir, you have to put the lady down!", the man insisted.
"Look, my name is Lord Harry Potter, and this drunk woman is my wife, Lady Hermione Potter", he replied.
"Miss?", the man tried again.
"Hermione – hic – hey – that's my – hic – name!", she laughed. He had never seen Hermione so carefree. It was so adorable if only he wasn't angry at her for getting drunk and risking her safety.
OK, now he was close
Tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal
Baby, it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you
You don't need no papers
That man is not your maker
And that's why I'm gon' take a good girl
"Oh. Alright then. I'm sorry Lord Potter", the man finally stepped aside.
"Come on – hic – green eyes – hic – take me – home", Hermione whispered into his ear before she giggled again. Merlin!
"Hold on tight, Hermione", he said as he tightened his hold on her.
"World is spinning", she muttered.
"Don't worry, I got you", he reassured her.
"Green eyes?", she asked.
"Yes?", he said with amusement.
"You – hic – look like – hic – Harry", she laughed.
"Well, I am Harry, sweetheart", he shook his head.
"No – hic – Harry – is – hic – working – hic – abroad", she replied in a groggy voice. He quickened his footsteps. He needed to get her home.
"I – hic – miss – hic – Harry", she whispered before giggling again.
"You do?", he can't believe what he just heard.
"Green eyes – hic – won't tell – hic – Harry – right?", she whispered.
"It will be our little secret", he smirked.
"Hmm 'kay – hic – sleepy", she yawned. He sighed. When he finally reached the exit, he walked to a secluded area, wandlessly cast notice-me-not charms and apparated straight into his bedroom.
"Hermione?", he called to the woman in his arms. He glanced down and he saw that she was already asleep. He carefully set her on top of his bed and untangled her limbs from his body. He was about to remove her shoes when she opened her eyes.
"Harry?", she whispered.
"It's okay, Hermione. I'm here", he replied.
"Shoes", she wiggled her left foot.
"Don't worry, I got it. Just go sleep", he told her.
"Hmmm… 'kay", she muttered. He gently removed her strapped sandals. He was about to tuck her under the covers but she moved again.
"Hot! Dress – hic – off", she said in a sleepy voice as she righted herself in a sitting position. To his surprise, with what must have been her last bout of strength and energy, she easily lifted her dress off her body and threw it haphazardly across the room. And then, she casually laid down on the mattress once again. He gulped. Hermione was now sprawled on her back on the center of his bed wearing nothing but nude-colored knickers. This is the greatest test of self-control!
Taking a deep calming breath to control his arousal, he was determined to tuck her in and leave the room. Just as he was about to release the covers that he successfully used to conceal her half-naked state, she suddenly raised her arms and dragged him down.
"Stay – hic – lonely", she muttered as he was now awkwardly plonked on top of her. What did I do to deserve this torture?
"Er, Hermione, I'm too heavy", he muttered. Her eyes opened again.
"Stay", she whispered. He nodded before sighing.
"Let me go. I'll stay. I promise", he reassured her. She gave a sleepy awkward nod and he untangled her arms around him. He slowly rolled over and he laid by her side. He was still trying to settle himself on the bed but she immediately wrapped an arm around his waist. Her left leg thrown over his own.
"Harry", she murmured sleepily.
"Hmmm?"
"Miss you", she said before settling into her slumber. Harry sighed. He forced his magic to wandlessly transfigure his uniform once again. This time into a comfy t-shirt and boxer shorts. He wanted to take a relaxing hot shower but with Hermione's body draped all over him, that is impossible. Besides, what he needed right now is a cold shower.
"Sweet dreams, Hermione. I love you", he whispered before he too closed his eyes. Whatever happens, when she wakes up tomorrow, I'll just have to explain it… I could only hope that she won't think I'm taking advantage of her…
Those were his last thoughts before he succumbed to the realm of dreams.