The Beginning Of The End (chapt. 3)
Author's note: Ok, it's been awhile... but here's chapter 3 anyways there may be a couple of errors or misspelled words but my friend who usually corrects my chapters is very busy at the moment... so here it is chapter 3 let me know what you think.
They appeared out of thin air in front of Hogwarts gates. They knew the gates weren't locked so they went through. They made their way towards Hagrid's hut.
"It's bizarre coming here after everything that happened isn't it?" Hermione asked him
"Yeah, a bit I think it's bizarre to know that were never coming back" Harry told her.
"Yeah, that we won't be seeing each other every day, seeing Hagrid and all" she said looking up at him a sad smile on her face.
"Ah don't worry Hermione, we'll still see each other you, Ron and the Weasley's are my only family." He said putting his arm around her shoulders and giving them a squeeze. She smiled up at him and he smiled back. They had reached the hut now and they went to the door and knocked.
"Harry, Hermione what ar' ya doin here?" Hagrid boomed giving them both bone crushing hugs. They spent several hours with Hagrid telling him what happened while they were away and he talked about Grawp. Around lunch time Harry and Hermione both went to the leaky cauldron and ate lunch. After everything was paid they headed out the door.
"Do you want to go see Grimmauld place Harry? After we can go see Teddy if you want"
"Ok let's go" he replied. They made their way and when they got in front of the house everything seemed to be in good working order. They made their way to the door, passed to the entryway of the house. But this time they tongue wasn't sucked into the back of their mouths and no dusty Dumbledore came out. They continued forward and found not out of the ordinary, the kitchen was fine as were the rooms upstairs.
"Kreacher" Harry called out, a small pop was heard in the air behind them.
"Master Harry is everything alright?" the old elf asked him, He and Hermione both turned around on the spot startled.
"Kreacher! You startled us. Yes everything is alright. I wanted to speak with you, thank you for everything you've done you have been very courageous during this past year especially during the battle. He bowed and smiled up at Hermione. A first.
"I was wondering if you could do me the favour of cleaning out the house so that in a few days time I could come back and live here." He didn't want to put it as an order especially since Hermione was right next to him. He didn't want to start something with her and her S.P.E.W.
"Of course Master Harry, when will you be back?" Kreacher asked him
"Take your time Kreacher, I'm not in a hurry." He told him smiling
"Very well Master" Kreacher beamed up at him
"Thank you Kreacher." Harry told him
"Let's go see Teddy Harry" Hermione told him
"Ok sure, Bye Kreacher" he called back. They made their way to the front porch of Grimmauld place and with a faint pop arrived at the front of Andromeda's house. Harry remembered everything that happened a year ago and felt a twinge in the pit of his stomach. He thought of Hagrid, Hedwig and Mr. Tonks. Hermione put her hand on his arm somehow knowing what he was thinking about, he turned towards her and she gave him one of her soothing hugs. They stayed for a moment like that Harry felt a bit of moisture on his shoulder knowing that Hermione had let tears stream down her face. He took her shoulders and stood back looking at her face.
"It's Ok Hermione; we'll all be fine eventually. We need time to heal first." He told her
"Since when do you give good speeches?" she asked smiling at him. He burst out laughing and she joined in seconds after.
"I guess I learned from the best" he said pointing at her. She smiled up at him again.
"Are you ready to meet my godson?" he asked her. She nodded smiling once again.
"Harry!" exclaimed Andromeda as she opened the door and saw him and Hermione standing there.
"Hello Andromeda, I hope we're not disturbing you. I wanted to come visit Teddy" he said a smile on his face.
"Not at all, actually Teddy just woke from his nap. Who is your friend" she said turning to Hermione
"Andromeda this is Hermione Granger, she has been one of my best friends since my first year at Hogwarts and everything I've been trough she was supporting me the entire time." He said smiling at Hermione as she beamed up at him speechless.
"Well it's very nice to meet you Hermione" she said to her
"It's very nice to meet you as well Mrs. Tonks" she replied.
"Please do call me Andromeda Hermione" she said
"Ok Andromeda" Hermione replied as Andromeda smiled up at her. They went into the house, and Teddy was sitting on the floor playing. When they entered Teddy looked up at Harry and smiled, he crawled up to him and put his arms up wanting to be picked up. Harry took him under the arms and tossed him in the air. Teddy started into a fit of giggles. They all laughed in unison with Teddy now. Andromeda went to the kitchen and made a bottle for Teddy while he and Hermione played along with Teddy.
"Harry, Hermione will you guys be staying for dinner?" Andromeda asked them handing Teddy the bottle.
"We wouldn't want to impose Andromeda" Hermione told her.
"Oh nonsense I already have some stuff here that I can whip up." She said
"Well in that case we would love to stay for dinner." Harry told her and Hermione nodded.
"Wonderful, I'm sure Teddy will be delighted." She said looking down at him.
They ate, laughed and played with Teddy all night when Harry finally looked at his watch Mrs. Weasley had given him at his 17th birthday.
"Hermione I think we should be heading back to the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley will be nervous and we need to get up early tomorrow for the funeral." Harry told her.
"Um... Ok well good night Andromeda." She said to her and looked down to see Teddy sleeping on the floor. She bent down and gave him small kiss on the cheek. Harry bent down and picked Teddy up in his arms.
"Where's his room?" Harry asked Andromeda.
"Follow me I'll show you." She replied and started walking, Harry followed. He entered Teddy's room and set the toddler in his crib.
"Thank you Harry" she told him.
"What for?" Harry asked her a bit confused.
"Being there for Teddy." She said simply
"I'm glad I could be there, I know what he's been through; not having a family to turn to at least he has you Andromeda he's even luckier than he thinks. And never hesitate to ask me anything if you need him to babysat I'd be happy to, and if you ever need any money don't hesitate I've inherited quite some money so I won't be poor." He told her.
"I will Harry thank you again" she said.
"No problem, now I really do have to go I don't want her to be worried god only knows she doesn't need that right now." He told her heading for the door.
"Well I guess I will see you tomorrow because I have been invited to the funeral I'll bring Teddy along as well. Bye Harry"
"See you tomorrow Andromeda" he told her. He went back to Hermione and they stepped out the door, and with a faint pop found themselves in the kitchen of the Burrow.
They were headed toward the kitchen thinking that everyone was already asleep.
"He was very sweet Harry, I know you will take good care of him as Sirius would have had he not been in Azkaban your whole life." She told him, he gave her a weak smile. And she gave him a hug they stayed like that for a while just a hug that felt good.
"I thought I heard you guys. Where have you been?" Mrs. Weasley asked them, behind her followed Ron and Ginny. They broke apart but not at all awkwardly for them.
"Sorry Mrs. Weasley" Hermione began but Harry cut across her seeing the faces of Ron and Ginny. They looked angry, but he had no idea why.
"He went to see Hagrid this morning, and we stayed pretty late in the afternoon, after we went to Grimmauld place to see if anything had happened. Everything was fine. When we were done there we went to see Andromeda and Teddy and she asked us to stay for dinner and before we knew it we needed to come back. Sorry if you were nervous Mrs. Weasley." He told her, an apologetic look on his face.
"Very well then. You ought to go to bed soon, all of you. We have a very big day in front of us." She said taking one last glance to all of them and heading upstairs for bed.
"Ok Mrs. Weasley." Harry and Hermione replied. They looked at Ron and Hermione for a while both not sure what to say. Harry glanced at Hermione and she made her way toward the living room, Ron followed. Harry looked at Ginny and she looked upset. He sat at the kitchen table and she made her way toward the stairs but Harry took her hand and sat her next to him.
"What's wrong Ginny? You looked mad earlier when I was with Hermione and now you look upset." He asked her. She just kept looking at him. She stood up and headed up the stairs to her room. And seconds later Ron also headed up to his room, it was going to be a long night. He made his way to the living room knowing Hermione was still there he sat next to her and she looked up at him.
"Do you know what that was about?" he asked her a puzzled look on his face.
"Well they thought something was going on between us. Something more than were telling them." She said not feeling awkward at all. They both knew they were only friends they always thought their friendship was more like brother and sister. They could tell each other anything and Hermione always knew how to make him feel better. They never thought about being in a love relationship together ever, they hadn't felt awkward before because it was nothing more than friendship.
"How could they think that?" he asked her.
"I dunno Harry but if you ask me it's really stupid, both of them are suffering allot right now and they don't need to be hurting themselves more by thinking this nonsense. What do you think?" She told him.
"Like always you're right, maybe we should just all go sleep and see how it turns out in the morning." He told her.
"You're right Harry. Let's talk to them in the morning." She said and stood up.
Ginny ran to her room, she was coming down the stairs to explain what she was feeling to Harry and she heard that. What were they going to tell them in the morning, what was going on? He told her he loved her that very morning when they were on the couch together, he was comforting her. It was going to be the worst day of her life, because she knew he wouldn't be there for her during the funeral. And knowing that hurt her more
than anything. She heard steps outside her door and knew Hermione was coming to bed and did not want to talk to her she feign sleeping while she entered the room.
Harry and Hermione made their way up the stairs to their respective bedrooms; they went in front of Ginny's bedroom.
"Night Hermione" he told her. She smiled and he made his way up the stairs to Ron's room. When he walked in he looked over to Ron's bed and saw that he was still awake lying across his bed still dressed in his days clothes. Ron didn't even take a glance at him. It felt like in their 4th year when Ron thought he had put his name in the Goblet of fire. He hated that time because he was alone and felt like had lost his best friend.
"Listen Ron, nothing is going on between me and Hermione. She's like my sister and I'm a brother to her." He told him. Again he resumed looking at the ceiling; he was frustrated he loved Ginny and always will. He couldn't believe how they were reacting, he had told her that very same morning that he loved her and would always love her. He made his way to the camp bed and tried to fiend sleep that he knew would never come.
He woke up when the sun was bright in the room. He hadn't changed and fell asleep on the bed. Ron wasn't in his bed so he got up and made his way downstairs. He spotted Hermione walking out of Ginny's room as well dressed in yesterday's clothes.
"Nice clothes." She told him smiling.
"Same goes to you" he said grinning back at her. She started to laugh and he joined in as well. They made their way down and saw that everyone was eating at the table all a sombre look on their faces, they suddenly felt a twinge of guilt for being funny a second ago but he knew deep down that he shouldn't. They both looked at Ron and Ginny who were sitting next to each other leaving the only two places left in front of them.
"Come and eat dears." Mrs. Weasley said. They made their way to sit in the empty seats. They ate their breakfast with an awkward tension in the air or maybe it was only for them.
"Now everybody get dressed, it's almost time for the funeral." Mrs. Weasley choked out the last word.
They stood up and went to change, all in silence. Harry didn't feel one ounce of guilt because he knew nothing happened between him and Hermione. He went downstairs and decided to go outside for a walk. He felt lost without Ginny right now, he knew she thought the same as Ron did, and he hadn't seen her for a whole day. He saw the people
coming around the house and the rest of the Weasley family coming around where all the chairs were placed for the family and friends. He made his way to them and found Ginny sitting alone, he went to sit beside her. Even if she didn't want him there he didn't care, he said he was going to be there for her and he would.
The funeral was very hard on everyone there, after all Fred was someone who you could love easily and he was very young to die. Harry looked at Andromeda and Teddy and he saw tears streaming down her face and he knew it reminded her of Tonks and he felt the same way about Dumbledore and Remus. He felt moisture on his shoulder and he looked down to see Ginny's head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her shoulder and took her hand in his. She didn't move which was a good sign.
Ginny put her head on Harry's shoulder she couldn't take it anymore; she just wanted to touch him. He put his arm on her shoulder and he took her hand in his, she crushed into him letting her tears flow. They could talk later; she would tell him how she felt yesterday morning and last night.
Hermione looked over at Ron and she saw tears streaming down his face, she took his hand in hers and rested her head on his shoulder. She knew he would talk to her when he was ready.
The funeral ended and everyone dispersed for the reception, Harry took his arm off around Ginny and stood up. She looked up at him confused. He walked away not even looking at her. He spotted Andromeda, Teddy and Hermione sitting at a table and headed towards them.
"Hi Andromeda, Hermione and Teddy" he said looking at him and smiling.
"How are you Harry?" Andromeda asked him
"Not too bad you?" he asked her back.
"Not too bad either." She told him. They heard a low whimper and they all looked down at Teddy sitting at Harry's feet his arms upward trying to reach him. Harry bent down and pulled him up. Teddy grinned happily at Harry and put his head on his shoulder. Hermione and Andromeda both laughed at Harry's stunned face and Teddy's calm and relaxed face. The three sat and talked for awhile as Teddy had fallen asleep. When he started to stir Harry sat him on his lap.
"Harry, can I talk to you?" Ginny asked him. He looked up, he hadn't realised she was there. He looked at Hermione and she nodded to him. Teddy reached out to Hermione and she took him setting him on her lap.
Ginny led the way, Harry walked next to her with a weird tension in the air.
"Ginny, where are you taking me?" he asked her.
"Somewhere I like to go when I want to be alone or think." She told him. He didn't reply. When she stopped he looked around. There was a small creek, trees, flowers. It's was beautiful. He looked at her and she had her back to him.
"What did you want to talk about?" He asked her after minutes of silence.
"About yesterday." She said in a faint voice.
"Oh." He said. She turned around looking at him her face looked torn.
"Yesterday morning when I saw you leaving with Hermione, I... I..." she paused it was hard to admit jealousy.
"You were jealous" he stated. She looked him with a frown on her face.
"How did you know?" she asked him.
"Oh. Come on Ginny, I saw how angry and upset you looked last night when you found me and Hermione hugging, I'm not that unobservant." He said a smile on his face.
"I'm sorry Harry, I don't know why but I just felt it. I knew I shouldn't have been thinking that, but you've been friends with her since your first year and I haven't seen you in a year, I didn't know any better." She said.
"So you were really jealous? Wow." He said, while she nodded.
"Listen Ginny, I'll say it once. Me and Hermione are only friends, she's like a sister to me and I'm like a brother to her, I'm sorry if you thought differently but next time just tell us so we don't get the silent treatment" he told her. She smiled. She came closer to him and he wrapped his arms around her waist and hers around his neck. He leaned in and kissed her passionately. After several minutes they broke apart panting.
"Thanks for being there for me Harry even after everything that happened, I mean during the funeral. It means allot." She told him.
"Don't worry Ginny. I'll always be there if you need me." He told her.
"Thanks" she said giving him a peck on the lips.
"Now, do you want to meet my godson?" he asked her grinning.
"I'd love to." She said smiling in response.
They made their way back to the reception. Harry was glad to see that everyone was having some sort of fun. Fred would have wanted that. He spotted Andromeda and Teddy alone and wondered where Hermione was. They both walked hand in hand to Andromeda.
"Hi Andromeda, where's Hermione?" Harry asked her.
"Oh. She and a boy named Ronald went for a walk." She told them.
"Oh. Good. I'd like you to meet my girlfriend Ginny" he told her smiling.
"It's nice to meet you Ginny, I'm Andromeda and this is Teddy." She said pointing at him.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you too Andromeda." Ginny replied.
Teddy reached his arms out again for Harry. He felt some sort of pride that he seemed to recognise who he was.
"Teddy, this is Ginny. Ginny this is Teddy" he said smiling. Teddy reached out for Ginny, she took him and he set his head on her shoulder a bearing his face into her. She looked over to Harry and saw him smiling at her.
"What?" she asked him.
"Nothing it's just a beautiful picture. Teddy in her arms" he said putting his arm around her shoulder. She smiled back and handed him Teddy.
"I'll go see how mum is doing." She said giving him a kiss on the cheek. He stared after her, had he said something wrong. He was interrupted by Teddy tossing and turning in his arms.
"I think it's time I brought him home." She said as Harry handed her the toddler.
"Oh. Ok well I'll see you soon Andromeda and like I said if you ever need me to babysit or for anything at all tell me and I'll be right there." He told her.
"Thank you Harry. Stop by whenever you want" she told him.
"No problem." He said smiling. She left and Harry started wandering around. He saw Hermione sitting on the grass looking at the trees. He sat down next to her and she looked up at him.
"So what did Ginny want to talk about?" she asked him.
"About yesterday, everything is fine now just a jealous moment." He said laughing.
"Really, that's great! I'm really happy it worked out." She said smiling.
"So how was your walk with Ron?" he said amused.
"Same as you and Ginny. We talked about yesterday and his jealous moment, it brought back the memories from last year when we had our fight in the tent, but everything is fine now." She said smiling.
"I think you guys should talk." She said suddenly, he turned to look at her eyebrows raised in confusion.
"I mean you and Ron. It must have been odd last night when you went upstairs and not talking to Ron, I mean it was odd with me and Ginny." She said.
"Yeah well you should talk to Ginny too." He said and she nodded. They sat up and made their way to their respective friends to sort this whole mess out.