FOR GRANTED

Chapter 7: Long awaited talk

Harry stayed in the bathroom just walking back and forth…thinking about the conversation he just heard. He was a bit confused at what he heard – one thing he finally got to know was the reason behind Ginny's strange behavior; that she had wanted to know things about him – things that he never wanted to share with anyone but Ron and Hermione. "Even Dumbledore thought that both Ron and Hermione have proved their loyalty beyond the expectations of many." Harry thought. Harry knew that no matter what – Ron and Hermione will always be there for him no matter what like guardian angels, his pillars of strength – he was thinking along these lines and felt great pride in having them by his side. He felt overwhelming warmth towards Hermione – she sabotaged her friendship with Ginny (her only girl friend) but didn't tell her any of Harry's secrets and he was grateful that she didn't tell her about his date with Cho and the little kiss he shared with her; though Ginny got to know eventually (Ron ofcourse!) but what he appreciated Hermione all the same. He knew that a lot of people had been there to witness the whole fiasco but he admired Hermione for not being the one to tell Ginny about it or the prophecy or his plans of facing the Dark Lord... He had been busy thinking when he finally decided to go outside…

Harry waited some more and once he was sure that Ginny cleared out – he opened the door and headed toward Ron's room. He entered the room without knocking and ended up bumping in to Hermione, "Aaah…", Hermione cried but Harry caught her just in time before she could fall on her back. "Got you!" Harry said pulling her towards him...

"I am glad you did or else I would've given you a bump or two on that big head of yours…" Hermione scowled with one hand one her stomach and other still in Harry's hand – Harry grinned at this and just joked,

"Hmmm now Hermione you know very well, I don't have a big head, the only big thing I have are the pants I am wearing, you see they are Dudley's and way too big…" Hermione laughed over this.

Harry sensed a calm feeling taking over him seeing Hermione laugh like that, "Anyway what are you doing up from your bed…U know you are suppose to rest…."

"I know…I know but I had to … "saying this Hermione turned a bit red.

"Why?" asked Harry

"Well I need to use the bathroom and I had been waiting for quite sometime and couldn't wait anymore…anyway I can walk just fine and I think it will do me better if I start walking around soon … you know!" replied Hermione getting all red.

"Hey I can ask Mrs. Weasley…" offered Harry – "Oh! No, please don't do that…she has enough people to take care of and I can manage just fine…" saying this Hermione continued walking; Harry took hold of her left arm and moved towards the door.

"Thanks – anyway Harry what did you come up for?" asked Hermione as they got out of the room.

At that very moment Ron came up – "hey you two! Where are you two going? Are you moving in to Ginny's room Hermione?" Ron asked

"Hey Ron…it would be nice if you didn't ask so many questions…and No I am not moving in to Ginny's room and Harry is helping me get to the bathroom…ohhh! But let's stop by at Ginny's room first; I'd like to collect some clothes to change in to…and hmmm…Harry – I think I can handle walking on my own…trust me…" Hermione stopped talking when she reached Ginny's room. She wanted to take out her clothes and some change of undergarments from her bag that was in Ginny's room and she was feeling a bit embarrassed "Maybe I should've accepted Harry's offer on Mrs. Weasley"

It was Ron who talked …"No I don't think Hermione that's a good idea…we'll leave you alone once you are inside the washroom you know…"

Hermione shrugged and put her embarrassment behind her and finally sat on bed, Ron placed her bag next to her on the bed so she didn't have to kneel down or anything. She took out a pair of beige overalls (dangrees) and a white sleeveless loose t-shirt. She didn't want to wear jeans/shorts or anything that needed to be tied up around her waist because it rubbed against her wound and sure caused burning. Then she opened another zipper pocket and with flushed cheeks took out a white bra and a pair of white panties. Ron and Harry who were watching everything as if it Hermione was giving them some sort of practical example or showing them how to do something…finally registered what Hermione last items were and both turned really red…redder than Hermione…and started looking around as if they had never seen Ginny's room before. Well for Harry it was quite true, he actually never had seen Ginny's room before so he noticed how everything seemed pink and she too had some quidditch posters in her room. He also saw a picture of two of them together on her study desk; he stared at it for sometime and remembered when was it taken, it was few days after they had gotten together and were having their first date in the premises of Hogwarts. Hermione had gotten up and was able to divert his attention from those thoughts …

"Uhh guys I am done so I think I will be leaving now…" Hermione finally got up with clothes in her hands…Ron immediately got by her side and grabbed her hand. Harry followed.

Once Hermione entered the bathroom, she asked Ron to bring her wand … amazingly she had totally forgotten about her wand ever since she came back from St. Mungos; when he couldn't find it – he went downstairs to ask if anyone had seen her wand.

Tonks had made an appearance at the burrow during Ron's absence from the lounge so she told him that it was with Remus. Ron told his mother that Hermione needed it for something and was waiting for it in the bathroom…Mrs. Weasley immediately got up to aid Hermione.

Hermione needed something to protect her wound from getting wet – so Mrs. Hermione helped her clean up and change. She put some kind of charm on Hermione's panties so they wouldn't bother her wound. It was a deep one, actually the wounds Hermione had come across in her fifth year at the ministry – worsened with the two new curses that she got hit with on Bill's wedding day. She still had the mark of that wound on her stomach. Hermione didn't realize that the bruises on her arms were visible now that she stood their wearing a sleeveless white t-shirt. She felt much better now that she took a shower, washed her hair and all.

When she came outside, Mrs. Weasley gave her a walking stick so she could walk better.

"Thanks" – Hermione said with true gratitude and hugged Mrs. Weasley. She entered Ron's room where she saw Harry and Ron engrossed in some serious discussion. Harry gave her a smile and Ron chuckled at her stick. She smiled back and ignored Ron.

"Let's go out in the sun guys, and I think the three of us should talk...", suggested Hermione, they both nodded. When they got up; they noticed the wounds and cuts on Hermione's arms, when Hermione saw them staring at her arms, she got a bit embarrassed at how ugly her arms much be looking plus she didn't want them to feel sorry for her.

"Hermione…umm have the healers given you any medicine for to put on your arms…? Must be hurting a lot?" Ron said the last part by looking down as if guilty.

"Ron, they are just marks, I have been healed. The marks will go away in a day or two and they don't hurt" Hermione lied. "Anyway guys lets go, I really think we should talk and I want to get some fresh air".

The three of them headed outside, Hermione was trying to get use to the stick – they quietly slid out of the house in order to avoid greeting so many people, Hermione felt guilty for doing so but she knew once she greeted everyone, she will lose her chance to talk to Harry and Ron. She really wanted to talk to them about their plan to leave for The Dursleys.

Once they were outside…they kept walking. It was a beautiful sunny day, Hermione stretched her neck to look at the sky so she could feel the heat on her face directly. Harry thought she looked cute and childish in her outfit. Hermione took out a band from her pocket to tie her hair in a lose pony tail. They finally reached the bench under the tree that Mr. Weasley recently fixed well recently as in sometime when they were in Hogwarts. Harry and Ron sat on the grass while Hermione sat on the bench.

Once they settled down, Hermione started, "So what had you guys been talking about when I entered the room…?"

"Wait! Before you answer….I have to do something" said Hermione. "Harry give me your wand!" – Harry gave her his wand, Hermione uttered some complicated spell and gave it a swirl around the three of them and all three of them felt a boundary wall around them…there wasn't any visible but they could feel it.

"What did you do?" Harry asked looking around and looking amazed.

"Don't want any extendible ears or spying in on our conversation" said Hermione with a smirk…"Anyway…so what was it you guys were talking about?"

Ron looked at Harry and replied, "We were thinking about how to break it to everyone about our plan. You know how Harry doesn't want to tell anyone about the horcruxes or us leaving with him to destroy them – without the help of aurors…"

"So did you come up with any idea?" asked Hermione

This time Harry replied. He looked up at her and said, "Well you see Hermione we thought you probably had some ideas…since you always come up with better plans than the two of us. You see Remus told me that I am here for another day and then I have to leave for Dursley's – strict orders from Prof. McGonagall but before that Moody wants to talk to me, only due to that particular reason I am staying here for one more day. I think they are all interested in knowing about the last trip I made with Dumbledore…Prof. McGonagall tried to ask me last year but I didn't tell her anything and now…well you know?"

Hermione was listening to him very carefully as if listening to one of the lectures…then after staying quiet for sometime she spoke, "I knew they would try to get information out of you. I had been thinking about it a lot when I was home. Listen I have a plan or two – both very risky to pull off. You see I got some news from Oliver when I was at St. Mungos…and if the news is correct then we have greater chances of pulling it off…"

Both Harry and Ron moved closer towards Hermione to listen to her plans.

Author's Note: Well here you go! I hope you like this chapter. Hey it's going to be a long fic so I hope you won't get bored or anything. There is still time for H/Hr to happen so please be patient. I am again Thankful for the wonderful reviews you are giving me. Very encouraging! Thanks 