Chapter 5
Another Definition of Love
Late night, inside the Room of Requirement, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger lie on a bed, face to face, with heavy blush on their face…they feel content, loved, and unsure at same time…Hermione just admitted her feelings toward Harry, and Harry responded to it as well. Then they kissed, and before anyone realized, they had going far already…
Now, here they are, on the bed, together…with their clothes piled on the floor, everyone could guess how they spend the night together. Covered in bed sheet, Harry protect Hermione in his arms. Being a gentleman he is, he bear a lot sense of responsibility for what he have done…Hermione, of course, could feel his feelings as well…She loves Harry…a feeling that she just realized recently, thanks to a certain someone who helped her…She did not regret this, so she also hoped Harry did not regret this as well…She wonder, how could she did not realized her feelings toward Harry all this time…But now she feels so grateful that she finally able to resolve it…
"Harry?"
"What is it, Mione?"
"Did you…did you regret it.?"
Harry somehow, did not answer immediately. It is as if he thinking about something.
"…No…I think…"
Hermione afraid, afraid if Harry feeling guilty or regrets. She is happy, and she wants him to be happy too…
"Please…do not feel guilty…please, for me Harry?" she pleads. "I really did not want you to feeling down…"
"Why do you think I regret this?" Harry asked, out of curiosity.
"Because…because I'm…I…I..." Hermione said, stuttering, she tried to say something, but unable to form the words.
Harry quietly silenced her by placing his finger across her lips, and she obeyed.
"Ssh…It's alright if you cannot say it…" he said, comforting her. "I just want you to know, Hermione…I did not regret this…I just thinking about you, that's all…"
"About me?" she asked.
"Yes…about you…" Harry replied.
"And why is that?" she persisted.
Harry took a deep sigh before answering.
"Should I explain to you?"
"…I want to hear it…"
"…Because…you are my responsibility now, Hermione…"
"You mean……Oh, Harry…"
Harry sighed again and tightening his embrace, causing a soft gasp from Hermione. Harry found it so difficult to saying his next words…for that words will come along with such responsibility that is unlikely to bear by such boy at his age…
But then again…why should he? He should has already gotten used with such heavy responsibility, as well as burden…But Hermione is not a burden…no, Harry knows…he feels that Hermione someday will become his strength…his reason to move on…They will facing danger, death eaters, even the Dark Lord himself…but Hermione did not scared, never. Oh, indeed she is a strong girl. How could he forget that? How many times they facing danger together before this? He must believe in Hermione…No, he will believe Hermione…
"Yes…I'm sure of it…" said Harry, whispering to himself.
"What is it, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"It's nothing…I just remembered how strong you are and how stupid I am…" Harry said in response.
"Harry…do you…thinking about our future?" asked Hermione, only responded by a nod. Inside her heart, she felt grateful to know him, and even more for fall in love with him, and he loved her back. Well…she might should thanked Fiona for this…It was her who made Hermione realized her feelings toward Harry, after all…
"I promise you, Hermione…I will give my best to be a man worthy for you…" Harry said.
"And I promise you too, Harry…I will give my best to be a woman worthy to be on your side…" she promised as well.
They looked deep into each other eyes…before finally kissing. Passion is no more, feelings simplified, all that matters to them only content…and love of each other…
-------
The young Harry potter trying hard to open his eyes. After finally succeeded in his fifth attempt, he greeted with a sight of Hermione's sleeping face directly in front of him…only several inches from his own…His first reaction was, of course, admiring the sight of beauty before his eyes…admiring every details of her face…her eyes…her lips…her hair…
And greeted with a pair of crimson eyes of a black, small dragon like creature with four wings and long horn, which enjoying its time atop of Hermione's head…occasionally licked her face slowly with its long tongue…
All blood in Harry's vein turned into solid ice.
The small dragon only looked at him, yawned, and stares at him again. Meanwhile, Harry could only frozen in fear if this creature is one of Voldemorts servants sent to harm him or his friends…and now its just so close to Hermione, his beloved…yet he didn't have his wand right now. Fighting this creature seems pointless, since it posture gives it a lot advantages for sudden strike…His wand is about several feet away from him, but he can't reach it before attacked first…but he must do something…
"What are you afraid of, Harry?"
Harry, though he thinks he couldn't be surprised anymore, was actually caught off guard. The voice was sounds no harm, in a soft female voice… but with the hint of hiss of snakes and growl of a dragon…Without notice, the crimson eyeball, which actually its third eyelid (just like snakes and other reptiles), snapped open to the side, revealing blue irises behind it.
"Did you not recognize me in this form?"
With that, the dragon like creature revert back to its original form, revealing Fiona in her usual white dress, nuzzling still asleep Hermione from behind, looking to Harry like she just have fun with him.
And Hermione choose that time to awake. She could smell Fiona, give her 'good morning' greetings, and kissed Fiona full on her lips (not passionately, but loving good morning kiss). Fiona smiled happily, but then she pointed to Harry's direction, reminding Hermione that they still had a shocked Harry to take care about. Hermione frantically trying to explain the still shocked Harry, with apparently no avail…
"Now, now, Harry…I think we need to talk…" she said with a giggle.
-------
"So…basically, you Akzeriuths can have more than one lover in condition that you indeed truly loved them…and in this case, Hermione is your…lover…" asked still-a-bit-confused Harry.
"That is correct, Hermione is indeed the woman I love most…" Fiona answered. "However, I realized that she had strong feeling, love that is, towards you…and it is as true as she feels about me now…"
"And so you encouraged her?" asked Harry once again.
"Yes, I am…" Fiona replied. "…I'm sorry if you are confused with this, Harry…I just want you both to be happy, that's all…Please believe me…"
After meet Fiona in their several shorts encounter before, Harry already known that this girl is somewhat very naïve…So naïve that even if you just met her once, you will get the exact same impression. Harry couldn't even believe how a girl could be that naïve, but such girl is right in front of him anyway…But…shouldn't her feel jealous if Hermione loves him?
"Didn't you feel jealous?" Harry asking, voicing his doubts…one of it, at least…
"Jealous? To whom?" she asked back.
"Well…uh…didn't you jealous…to me?" he tried to clarify his answer. "I mean…you loved Hermione, didn't you?"
"Ah, did you worried about me, Harry? That's so sweet of you…" Fiona said, finally understand. "It's Hermione that loves you, and I loved her and want her to be happy…was it that difficult for you to understand?"
"…Did that mean…you are…giving me chance?" Harry asked once again.
Fiona just smiled, and then walked towards him. Harry feels a bit awkward, but Fiona told him not to move and that she wouldn't do anything bad (she smiled when mentioning this). She just stands close to Harry, but stay there still.
"You know, Harry…Its much easier if you see what I mean rather than I tell you…well, not that your kind of 'see', but you will understand…" Fiona said. She can't help herself but to think Harry was a very cute and kind young gentleman. She then lift her hand. "Don't worry, it's very safe…I have did this with Hermione many times, since it's much more efficient than words. All you need to do is just touch my hand, Harry…"
Harry raised his hand to met Fiona's. In instant when their finger touched, Harry felt the initial shock of image connection, and pulled his hand in reflex, breaking the connection. Fiona just smiled of his newfound experience and telling him to try again. Trying not to awkward, Harry finally able to connect properly. Suddenly, without warning, memory, feelings, thoughts, and images…flow directly to into his mind. It contains of Akzeriuths livings, Fiona's own thought, her feeling toward Hermione, toward Harry, and some records of her conversations with Hermione.
Now Fiona entwining his finger with Harry's…not so tight…not even like lovers…more like to a trusted friends from the heart…Harry, on other hands, did not object at all…He knows what she doing…Fiona just acknowledged him as her trusted friend…for they shared the same wish and loved same person, truly…Somehow, he feel happy with that…
"…I wish…to make her happy, Harry…" Fiona suddenly exclaimed.
"…Me too…" was Harry reply. "But, don't you want your own happiness?"
"I do not want to be selfish, Harry…" she softly said. "You are deserved of happiness as well."
"I do not want to leave you unhappy…" he insisted.
"And why must I? The person I love is happy and I loved to see her happy…" she replied. "I have learned a lot to feel content, Harry…not that I forced to…"
"…Why must you being so un-selfish…" Harry said. "I almost feeling guilty because of that…"
"Silly…don't be…" Fiona said, kissing Harry softly on his cheek. "Now say…what do you think of us as a family?"
"I guess…I can accept that concept…" said Harry.
"Good…I'm glad…" replied Fiona.
With those last words, Fiona's hand parted from Harry's. Both are still a little bit awkward. When they heard a footstep, they turned to find Hermione, still covered only in bed sheet, standing on the doorstep, silently watching them. It was Fiona who break the little awkwardly silence.
"…I will leave you two for talking now…" she said, turned to the door. She walked slowly to Hermione, and then kissed her cheek before leaving the Room of Requirements. That practically leaving Harry and Hermione alone for the moment. They say nothing, until Harry opens his arms to embrace Hermione. Hermione snuggled closer into Harry's embrace, while Harry comforting her, caressing her hair and her back.
"…I guess…I should thanked her a lot, Harry…" she said.
"…Yes, Hermione…you should…I guess we should…" replied Harry, before both of them fall into silence.
-------
Fiona walking silently near the lake shore. Its midnight, and the breeze was very cold, but she did not care. She feels calm, and somehow, she wanted to stay outside tonight. So she finally sit on the grass, lies on her back, and gazing at the stars. Staying like that for a moment, she could feel the peaceful atmosphere of the night, just like her brother usually did…
"Kevin…"
She can't help that. His name escaped from his lips. It is true that she happy when Hermione finally realize her feelings toward Harry, and that both are loving each other. But it would be a lie if she said she wouldn't be jealous. Well…a little bit, just a little…nothing more…still…
"You've did the right thing."
Fiona turned her head to side. It was Kevin. Still in his formal robe, it seems he just came straight from Junan after take care of his matters, just as he promised to her. She didn't know when he arrived or when he sit beside her…or how long…it's just like him…Whenever she need him, he always be there…That's exactly why she loved him so much even since they are still child back then about hundred year ago…Hundreds of fights as well, indeed…but they made up just as fast as they started fighting…and that means nothing since both will love each other, no matter what…
"Am I a good girl?"
"Yes, you are…you are a very good girl…"
"Did I deserve some praise?"
"I did already, am I?"
"Not enough."
"Silly…"
And with that, he planted a soft, very soft kiss on her forehead. That was more than enough. That was all she need to feel content, and slowly that feeling drifting her into her slumber. Smiling, Kevin lifted her and bring her to their quarter.
"…This girl sure is heavy…"
Before he could even regret what he said, Fiona's fist connected squarely to his chin, sending him good to the ground. Well…another round of cat fight, then…