Accidentally in Love
Chapter 2: A dance to remember
In the next days, the magical community was flooded with headlines about the new government and all the changes that had been sought instantly. Death Eaters that tried to escape were captured, put on trial and afterwards send to Azkaban. Kingsley was busy cleaning up the ministry and as far as Hermione could tell, he did a great job. The investigation of muggle born wizards and witches stopped and the Ministry of Magic got a new make-over. Hermione was especially happy to hear that the terrible fountain she'd seen a couple of weeks ago had disappeared.
Percy, Mr. Weasley, Bill and once even Kingsley brought all kinds of news and were working a lot. Even though Mr. Weasley could have stayed home, he insisted helping to reconstruct a stable government. Mrs. Weasley didn't even seem to notice. She was still in a shock-like state. Sometimes Hermione felt as if she would never again be the woman she'd known for all those years. But there were moments when she cracked a smile or hugged her other children lovingly and that gave Hermione hope. Time could heal nearly every wound.
The big funeral in Hogwarts was held a week later and was beautifully done. There were hundreds of people attending and the castle was already rebuild from the outside. It would take much longer to finish it, but it was a beginning. Summer was close and everybody was sitting on white chairs next to the newly build memorial, stating every single name of the people who had died fighting. Hermione could hardly stop crying, and she wasn't the only one. Nearly everybody had lost someone close during this war and it was hard to imagine that those persons would never come back.
The one who probably suffered most was Harry. Hermione knew that he felt guilty, as if he was responsible for every single name on that memorial. Which was stupid of course, but so typically Harry. He tried to hold back tears and be strong, but Hermione knew that he felt miserable and would be happy when this was over. She felt the same way if she was honest.
Harry had been asked to say a couple of words and when he stood up, Hermione gave him a reassuring nod. He approached the podium slowly and finally he stood in front of all those people, nervous and paralyzed, probably overwhelmed and not sure what to do or say. Hermione softly called his name and this seemed to wake him up. He sought her eyes and she once again nodded. "You can do it." She thought and he gave a small nod back before he started talking in a loud and clear voice.
"I just want to say thank you. Thank you all for believing in me, for supporting me, for being brave enough to fight one of the hardest fights and for being here to remember all those who had to give their life for trying to make this world a better place for all of us. Every single name on this memorial has a deep meaning for me and will accompany me for the rest of my life. I want to help to rebuild our society to one of tolerance, peace and affiliation. And I hope to be part of a future that every one of those beloved persons we have lost, helped to establish."
Hermione had goosebumps from Harry's voice, the look in his bright eyes and the words he'd chosen. He hadn't wanted any help because he felt as if he owed it to everyone to use his own words. Hermione had been very proud of him. Harry had always been an incredibly righteous person and it was one of the things she loved about him. He knew what was right and he always stood up for it.
They didn't really have any chance to talk in private the last week. Ron was so lost in thought that he fortunately didn't want to talk a lot either and even Ginny didn't say much. They discussed the changes in the ministry, their worry about Mrs. Weasley or things like Quidditch but they all seemed to agree silently that now was not the time to talk about their messed up love lifes. Hermione was grateful for every delay she got to avoid this conversation. And honestly, at the moment there were far more important issues.
Kingsley had offered them to let them work in the Ministry, even though they didn't finish their education. Harry and Ron seemed to be thrilled about it, Hermione knew that she wanted to finish school first. She didn't really say so, but she was pretty sure at least Harry knew. He always seemed to know how she felt and what she needed.
The rest of the funeral passed with more tears and Harry's short speech was praised by everyone afterwards. Rita Skeeter was even bold enough to tell Harry she was planning a biography about him and that she would be glad about some insight interviews. Harry just shook his head but Hermione had a nice little talk with Rita, telling her that if she planned on writing anything inappropriate it would be the last time she would be capable of using a quill. Rita seemed to know that she was better off taking Hermione seriously.
ooooo
In the evening they all had a big dinner at the Weasleys. Even Kingsley was able to attend and they all clinked glasses to Lupin, Tonks, Fred and all the other ones that had lost their lives. It was a sad gathering, but at the same time comforting. Hermione felt that from now on, life would change again. Even though they would never forgot those who died, there was a time to mourn but there also was a time to go on with life. And she wasn't the only one who felt that way. Ron glanced at her again and again and Ginny sat next to Harry, leaning into him as if seeking his closeness. Hermione couldn't blame her as she felt the same way.
As always when desire haunted her, her thoughts went back to those nights a couple of weeks ago. To those moments that were both unexpected and blissful. It had all started with Ron leaving. Ron, who couldn't wear that locket without turning into a huge dick. Hermione remembered as if it was only yesterday…
He was gone. Just like that, he'd left them behind. Left HER behind. After holding her hand at night and finally showing his true feelings, Ron had really left. She stood outside of the tent, screaming his name for what felt like hours. But he didn't come back. He'd abandoned her. And not only her, Harry as well. She couldn't believe it.
Ron had been awful lately. His constant moods had annoyed not only Harry but Hermione as well. She tried to be sympathetic, tried to comfort him, to explain that it wasn't Harry's fault for not knowing where to look for the Horcruxes. For Hermione it had been always clear that this task would be hard. She expected it to take a long time, maybe even years. She was ready and knew what had to be sacrificed. It seemed as if Ron hadn't expected it to be quite as difficult. It had been too much for him. He wasn't strong enough.
Hermione cried for days. She tried not to show it to Harry, but he knew of course. He always did. While nobody knew what she was really thinking, Harry just needed to look at her and knew. He'd always understood her in a way Ron just wasn't capable of. Being left behind forced Harry and Hermione to be together in a way they didn't know before. It felt natural and easy to be around Harry. It had always been like that. Hermione was too heart-broken to think about what that actually meant. Her head and heart were full of Ron. But as days passed without him and she kept playing the words he'd said in her mind again and again, Hermiones sadness and despair turned to fury. Ron had left her. He knew they could die or be captured any minute and he'd left her anyway. He'd cared more about himself and his ego than about her. And now that she was strong enough to see it, she knew that it always had been like that. Ron Weasley had always searched for the easiest way. Not even his feelings for her had been able to change that. And then another thought struck Hermione. Harry would have never left her. Harry would have rather died than leaving his friends behind. And Hermione was just like him. That's why Ron was gone and she and Harry were still there. Still fighting.
That was the first evening she didn't cry. Instead she started making new plans with Harry, trying to find a way to find the next Horcrux or at least a trace as to where it might be. But as they didn't have any new leads, they had to stick to their old plans and didn't really come up with something new. Hermione enjoyed talking anyway. And Harry seemed to relax for the first time in days. He was kind, attentive and tried to make her feel better. No matter what she made for dinner, he tried to help and ate without complaints.
Afterwards one of them would keep watch while the other one relaxed. Even though the protective spells worked fine, they didn't want to risk being found. In the beginning Hermione wanted to wait with the spells in case Ron would appear, but she gave up quickly. Ron would never be able to find them. It was too risky anyway. And maybe he wasn't worth it.
Harry tried again and again to convince Hermione that it was time to visit Godric's Hollow. She had a bad feeling about it, but Harry was right. They didn't have any clue how to go on and Godric's Hollow was their only lead. Hermione knew that sooner or later she would have to agree to it. And Harry knew as well, that's why he didn't push her.
One evening it was so stormy and cold outside, that it was impossible to keep watch. Hermione felt sad while listening to the radio playing some cheesy Christmas song. She hadn't said a lot the whole day. There were moments when she just couldn't believe that he'd really left. How could Hermione have ever thought that Ron truly cared about her? She'd been stupid. She'd forgiven all his mistakes, all the times he'd treated her unfair, even when he started snogging Lavender just to show off. Hermione had forgiven it all because she'd truly liked him. And deep inside she'd always hoped he felt the same way. She wanted a guy that cared about her just as much as she did. She wanted someone who would stick to her no matter the circumstances. Someone who would hold her hand not only at night but also at day. She needed someone who didn't feel threatened by her brains but who acknowledged her and made her feel special. Hermione wanted love. Now that she was in a war that could end with her death, she wanted it more than ever. And she'd thought she'd found it with Ron. But she'd been wrong.
When she was just about to dwell on different methods to hurt Ron Weasley, Harry suddenly stood in front of her. She looked up at his outstretched hand and his bright eyes and without thinking she put her hand in his and stood up. He took the locket from around her neck and put it aside, for the first time in weeks. The cheesy Christmas song had changed into a slow ballad and Harry started moving from side to side, holding her hands and giving her a crooked smile. Hermione couldn't help smiling back. Harry had never been a great dancer, but they kept swinging, moving together and laughing for the first time in a long row of sad days. Finally he pulled her close and slid his arm around her waist. Hermione leaned her head on Harrys shoulder, grateful for the warmth of his embrace and for one moment in perfect harmony in a world of chaos and uncertainty. They enjoyed the song and kept dancing to the next and with that the glum atmosphere vanished and they both laughed and felt a bit lighter.
And then, for the first time ever, Hermione and Harry stopped laughing and started noticing how close they were standing. This was one of those moments when light-heartedness suddenly vanished and was replaced by a kind of tension that made your stomach flutter and your cheeks hot. A kind of tension that made you forget that the guy in front of you was actually your best friend.
Hermione couldn't say if they stood like that for a minute or an hour, she just knew that her heart started racing, that she could smell Harry's aftershave and see the golden dots in his green eyes. And that for the first time she noticed clearly that he was no longer the sweet 11-year old boy in the Hogwarts Express. Harry had been through so much, it had forced him to grow up much too quickly. In front of Hermione stood no sweet little boy but a man. And he did funny things to her insides. Things she shouldn't feel. Hermiones gaze finally locked on Harrys lips. Sensual lips made for kissing. As if on cue, Ron's face appeared in front of her inner eye and Hermione took a huge step back. She saw some of her own confusion in Harrys eyes, but didn't have the courage to look more closely. She was too scared what she might find in the depths of those green eyes.
"Thanks, I should probably go to bed now. It's late." She stammered, cursing herself for sounding so pathetic, turned around and went to the small bedroom, closing the door carefully. What the hell had just happened? It was Harry for God's sake! Was she mental? She'd just behaved like a child. He probably thought she'd finally gone mad. Hermione sighed, annoyed with herself. How should she ever look him in the eye again? He'd wanted to cheer her up, to comfort her and make her forget Ron for at least a bit. And wow he'd been successful. For the first time in years she hadn't wasted a single thought about Ron. Hermione shook her head astonished. After having fought in numerous battles and being in the middle of a war, this was probably anyway the strangest feeling she'd ever had.
She couldn't sleep that night. And when she woke up the next morning, Harry was still asleep. He was on the small couch, the locket around his neck, one of his arms on his stomach, the other one around his wand. Hermione felt like touching his face and burying her hand in his dark and tousled hair. She didn't do it of course. Instead she tried making coffee and when Harry woke up they both acted as if nothing strange ever happened and as if nothing had changed. But things had changed. Hermione didn't know yet how much. She started looking at Harry differently. And this was just the beginning. Without noticing, Hermione stopped being desperate about Ron's betrayal. She stopped looking for him before they disapparated to a new location and she stopped waiting for him before putting up the protection spells. And she stopped crying. Things had definitely changed.
Author's note:
Not sure if I need to mention this, but Harry Potter and all the characters always belong to J.K.R.
So this is chapter 2 of my new story and I really hope you liked it I got a few reviews for chapter 1 which made me really happy and I'm glad you liked the start. I hope you keep reading and look forward to the next chapter. And please keep reviewing, I really like your thoughts
One of the reviews said this hopefully won't be a story where Harry and Hermione live their love secretly. I won't say a lot, just so much: there will be moments when they have to, just because breaking Ron's and Ginny's hearts when they are mourning for Fred would be just not like Harry and Hermione. And I don't want this story to end within 5 chapters, so there will be some obstacles to overcome, but I hope you enjoy their journey and have fun reading it
