Disclaimer: I own nothing
Harry sat across from a pretty and talkative witch at the Muggle restaurant. She had the most annoying sounding voice, and he was working very hard to look interested and not cringe every time she said his name. This was his fourth date this month, with four different witches, and as he sat listening, he decided that it washis last. He didn't know what to do any more. Harry was tired of being alone and tired of witches only wanting to be seen with The Harry Potter.
Ron was no help; throwing women of all persuasions at him: Magical, Muggle, black, white, bisexual, pan sexual… Harry had not connected with any of them. It didn't matter their wiles, at this point in his life, he just wanted someone who he could relate to, talk to; someone who he could call friend and lover. Though, he acknowledged that he'd met some interesting people; a few of which, he would remain friendly, but no one with whom he could see spending a future.
A banging on the table jarred him out of his thoughts, and he blinked at the irritation he saw on her face- what was her name?
"Yes. Sorry. What was it you said?" Harry recovered.
The nameless witch sniffed and fell back into her chair, looking at her date with suspicion.
"Awite, 'Arry?" she asked with her cockney accent and nasal-high voice. It made 'Arry want to raise an eyebrow like his Hermione used to. His Hermione. Ha! That was a laugh, he thought.
"Yeh. Yeh. Just a bit buggered is all." Harry paused then took in a deep breath. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, looking at the table, but not really seeing.
At this point, his date, whomever she was, was beat red and frowning. "All right?"
"NO!" she shouted and hit the table once more with her hands. "I'm not all right. I don't fink you paid attention t'me all evenin'! Not much of a gentleman, you are, 'Arry Potter!" As she stood, she looked around the room and shook her head.
"I was 'opin' for somefing more by you." She sighed. "Maybe a real gentlemen. Ever'one says you are sweet n' kind. Cor love a duck! You are not t'ose fings. Just some bloke on a power trip, like all dee utters!" Stifling a hiccup that was swiftly turning into disappointed tears, she stood, grabbed her purse and marched out with her head high.
Harry exhaled in relief. "Well I cocked that up well and good, didn't I?" He wasn't expecting an answer, but it came any way.
"Right you did, Potter, but she wasn't the one for you anyway."
Harry looked up to see Theo Nott and a beautiful witch on his arm, who looked disapproving at the scene that played out just moments before.
Harry dropped a bill on the table to pay for drinks (they hadn't had dinner yet) and stood, coming face to face with Theo. "And you know this how?"
Theo patted the feminine hand in the crook of his arm. "I just do. But forgive me for being rude. Aria Selwyn meet Harry Potter. We attended Hogwarts together, not my House."
The elegant witch dipped slightly in a modern curtsey and held out her hand for him to take. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter."
"Ms. Selwyn, the pleasure is mine," he returned and bent his face towards her hand, but didn't kiss it. Aria was pleased at his manners and she fleetingly wondered what the other witch was alluding to when she accused Potter of not acting gentlemanly.
Standing straight, Harry looked at his colleague and nodded. "Nott, have a nice night."
Theo smiled and nodded. "You do the same." The two ridiculously good looking and graceful people walked away and Harry shook his head. Theo was always so vague and mysterious; it was annoying at the best of times.
OoO
Harry Apparated to the only place that made him feel at peace, Hogsmeade outside of Hogwarts. It was a warm night and Harry felt a sense of nostalgia that he hadn't felt in some time. He reflected on his school days and his friends and Hermione. He felt badly about not staying in touch, but she had been so clear that they could not be anything but friends. That Ron would never understand. Harry had been hurt and angry at her rejection. He hadn't even said good bye when she left. Lately, she had been on his mind and he felt like he needed to reach out to her. He needed to tell her what was on his mind; what was in his heart.
After the war, the Ministry had partnered with Hogwarts, and together, they had rebuilt Hogsmeade. It had a quaint and welcoming feel to it now, with gardens and trees and park benches to sit and admire the stars and moon, with a lover or dear friend. Harry strolled around the park, pausing at the koi pond and making kissing noises at the ducks. That was when he noticed the stumbling witch at the small bridged walk-over. He made his way to her just in time to catch her from falling. She smelled nice – Jasmine laced with whiskey. Harry smirked; he liked her already.
As he righted her position, he heard her teeth click in response. He meant to apologize for being so rough, but she was lighting up his life with a brilliant smile at the moment; his breath caught. She was a beauty. Cinnamon colored eyes and pink lips – "Harry?"
Bells went off somewhere in his mind. "I-I'm sorry, who-"
His eyes searched and recognition pounded down the doors in his brain. "Hermione?"
As they took in each other's presence and as the moments passed, they, she, forgave the silence and the distance. They heard the whispers and saw the flash, and silently, agreed to Apparate.
In a blink, they were gone, leaving speculation in the minds of those who witnessed the reunion.
OoO
Not sure why, but Harry landed them in the Forest of Dean, near the River Wye. Hermione, for all of her previous drunkenness, was now sober due to the strangling and nauseating sensation of an emotion-driven, side-long Apparition. Dropping to her knees on the river bank, she breathed in deeply through her nose and out through her mouth, with Harry looking on in both pity and hope. Once she got her bearings, she dipped her hands in the cool water and splashed her face.
Harry walked a little closer to her small form. "All right, 'Mione?"
She nodded, but didn't look up just yet. "Yes, just give me a moment, okay Harry?"
"Okay," he chirped.
If she meant that he should go somewhere else, the message didn't convey or he ignored it, because a second later, he plopped down beside her to await her recovery.
A few minutes passed while the two friends listened to the sounds of nature calm them. Being there brought so many memories back to the fore front and Hermione found herself frowning as one image after another flashed in her mind's eye. As if he had the ability to read her mind, Harry took her hand in his and gently squeezed. "We'll stay clear of the Acromantula this time."
Hermione looked at him and they both laughed. It was healing to be able to see humor in the chaos of the past.
Once quieted, they let the sounds of the rushing river soothe their nerves.
"I missed you, Hermione." It was a whispered statement and said with so much feeling that it brought tears to Hermione's eyes. Harry was fidgeting with blades of wet grass with one hand and the other was still holding hers.
"You didn't even say good bye, Harry. You didn't write me back. You took your friendship and everything we went through and left me." She was shaking her head, but didn't pull her hand from his.
"Give me another chance. I'll make it up to you. Please Hermione. I need you in my life."
Hermione huffed and abruptly stood. "You don't need me, Harry. You feel guilty for treating someone who was always loyal to you, badly."
He twisted his neck to look up at her. She smiled at the angle. His body facing forward, and his head tilted and lifted, looking at her sideways. He wore a pleasantly irritated expression; one that said, always cutting to the chase, Hermione. And it was true, she had no time for fluff. …Well, not when Harry was involved in the fluff. Perhaps if Marcus or Draco- she stopped herself from that line of thinking. She reminded herself that she needed to be in the here and now, and that Harry was an entirely different animal.
Harry stood gracefully and dusted the grass of his trousers. He then stepped close to her and took both of her hands in his. He paused, letting his eyes trail the contours of her cherub lips and doe eyes, making a valiant effort to refrain from lingering on her rather shapely body. Green eyes met brown. "I heard once that you are supposed to compliment a smart lass on her beauty and a pretty lass on her sharp mind, but I'm at a loss here, Hermione. What do I do when I am in the presence of a woman who is both beautiful and brilliant?"
Hermione smiled, and lowered her head. She could feel the heat in her cheeks at the compliment.
Harry's eyes never left her. He smiled at the pretty blush gradually spreading across her cheeks and neck.
Hermione took a deep breath and then cleared her throat. "Harry, I-"
She was interrupted by his lips upon hers; softly, tentatively asking for permission to continue kissing her. She gave over to the warmth that spread throughout her body and stepped into him, gently opening her mouth to breathe him in.
OoO
Slamming the door and practically throwing her back into it, Hermione could not believe what just happened. She slid down, landing roughly on the ground, with a whomp sound then giggling like a mad woman.
Once prostrate and trying desperately to catch her breath, she opened her eyes to see the up close and personal bright green cat eyes of her Kneazle. The cat moved closer, as if to inquire whether everything was alright and would he still continue to be fed on a regular basis. Hermione giggled again at the feel of his whiskers on her nose and the warm puffs of cat breath across her cheek.
"Yes, Wesley, everything is just fine." She scratched between his ears, causing him to purr. She watched the pretty Kneazle flop down on his side near her, so she could rub his belly then attacked her fingers or daring to take liberties that he only meant to tease her with. She must have zoned out, because his sharp teeth made her pull back her hand.
He meowed quite loudly in protest and rolled on his back once more. "I need to think, Wesley, not play your little catch-me-if-you-can games. I just snogged the day lights out of Harry!" That confession earned her another meow. She continued the one-side conversation. "In a short time since my return, I have moved into the Malfoy's cottage, been hired as an editor by four witches whom I have just come in acquaintance, am being courted by their sons, and got pissed with Severus and Mini. And now, I've snogged my dearest friend." She looked at Wesley and made a face. He was busy licking his fur and ignoring her rant. She went on any way. "What am I to do?"
No response.
Just as she made to get up, her wards shifted and she heard a knock at the door.
Looking through the eye hole, she pulled back and opened up the door. "Ronald?"
He nodded and walked right in. His face was serious and his body language dire. "What's the matter? Is everyone safe?"
He walked to her kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "Yes!" he yelled from inside.
Standing up and chewing something he'd found, he sat on her couch. Hermione was still frowning and worried.
"Now that you're back, I think you should date Harry."
Nothing could have prepared her for this. "Come again?"
"Stop dickering with the Slytherin blokes and date Harry."
Blinking with surprise, Hermione couldn't find the words to either dissuade or agree with him, so she went to the door, opened it up and motioned for him to leave. He nodded. "It's late. I know. But think on it, yeah?" He kissed her cheek and exited the flat.
Hermione shook her head and went to bed. This must be all a dream, she thought.