Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
When Hermione had finished crying, she did the worst thing he could possibly imagine: she went silent. It wasn't the silence he was used to from her. He could handle the disapproving silence that she gave him when he said or did something that she disliked. He could handle the silence that came while she was deep into her studies or even when she was silently angry with him. This time, however, it was thick and deadly and the look of unadulterated rage in her brown eyes made him uncomfortable. He wanted to say something to her but really didn't know what.
Harry knew that finishing her education had been her way of coping through the war. When they were on the hunt, she'd talk about how when the war was over they could be normal kids, struggling with assignments rather than fighting for their lives. Now, it was like she had worked hard on finishing a puzzle only to be told in the end that someone decided to tell her in the end that a piece was missing, like it was her fault that it was gone but it was gone nonetheless.
"Let's get a bite." Harry said nervously upon hearing the sounds of both their stomachs growling. She didn't move or make any indication that she had heard him and the uncomfortable feeling he got whenever he dealt with an upset woman began to grow thicker. Just as he was going to open his mouth once more, two small pops startled him.
"Winky and Mitsy is here to bring Harry Potter and Hermy Granger lunch." Winky announced proudly while Mitsy nodded her head in agreement.
Harry gave them a forced smile as he was still not used to seeing any sort of house elf. He looked warily at Hermione and saw that her face softened a bit at seeing the two in front of her.
"Uhh Winky, I don't think Hermione is-"
"HER-MY-KNEE." A confident voice interrupted and all three looked down to see a smiling Mitsy looking at all of them. Winky pat her head gently and Harry watched as Hermione smiled at her.
"I'd like it very much if you called me that, Mitsy." Hermione told her gently, patting her on the head just at Winky had done before. The little elf beamed up at her and Harry watched in amusement as she tried to hide her excitement.
"Mitsy is seeing you sad, HER-MY-KNEE." The elf spoke once more, earning a "tsking" noise from her mother. She looked up at Winky, confused as to why she was being reprimanded.
"It's quite alright, Winky." Hermione assured her, smiling at them. "You're very observant, Mitsy, as I am a bit sad right now." Harry looked over at her to see that the fire that had been in her eyes earlier had dulled a bit and he was glad. He squeezed her hand tightly and when she looked up at him, the two held the each other's stare as if they were silently communicating with one another. It wasn't until she gave him the slightest of nods to signal that she wasn't angry with him that he released his grip on her hand and the two looked back over at the house elves.
Mitsy watched the witch and wizard almost pensively before jumping up and grabbing their joined hands.
"Mitsy can make HER-MY-KNEE better." She proclaimed, pulling them with all of her might. Winky shook her head and tried to once again reprimand her when Harry put his hand on her shoulder, letting her know that it was alright. They stood up (to the small creature's joy) and began following the two elves as they led the way out of the infirmary.
They followed for a while longer, down the empty steps of the entrance floor and near the dungeons.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked lamely, aware that although the halls were empty his voice still traveled quite loudly. He knew it was a silly question but he felt even sillier not asking it.
"No, I'm really not." She told him, her voice almost unrecognizable. It made him think that last night seemed almost like a happy tone compared to how horribly bitter she sounded now.
"What will you do?" He asked carefully, cringing as he thought of how she would break the news to her parents. She tensed a bit and he watched as her jaw clenched and the wheels in her head turned for a moment.
"I don't know. I haven't had enough time to think about it." Harry narrowed his eyes at her a bit as her voice came at rougher than it needed to but he let it go. He knew it wasn't him that she was angry with, just the rest of the world…and Ron.
They didn't say anything after that, instead they listened to the no longer shy house elf continue telling Hermione that she had the right thing to make her feel better. As they walked down the corridor, they saw the familiar portrait of the bowl of fruit and Mitsy clapped excitedly as they arrived at it.
"Mitsy is still young-" Winky told them, trying to apologize and sounding exhausted with her talkative offspring. Hermione smiled at her politely and Mitsy continued bouncing up and down, waiting for one of them to tickle the pear.
"Really Winky, it's not a bother. She's a lot like Dobby." Harry assured her, raising his eyebrows as Winky's eyes watered appreciatively. Hermione tickled the pear, smiling as it squirmed a bit and giggled under her fingers until eventually turning into the door handle to the kitchens. As they pulled it open, neither was prepared for what they saw.
Amongst the fray pf working elves were ones with all sorts of clothing on. She saw one with a T-shirt that fit like a long dress and another with what looked like a Minnie Mouse bow atop her head. If it weren't for the fact that she was connected to Harry, she thought that she might've fallen to her knees in shock. Harry, just as surprised, looked at the sight before him with a look of awe. The two looked at one another and watched as a wide smile graced the others face.
"I can't believe it. There's so many of them, Harry." Without meaning to, she leaned into him and the two watch the dedicated workers keep themselves busy.
"Dobby did this…" She whispered proudly, her fingers rested on her lips as she watched them work. Harry turned to look at her once more, watching her face as she stared out at them. He wasn't sure if it was the love she had shown for the house elves or the closeness they'd grown into for the past year but he leaned over and whispered to her.
"You did this too."
They sat amongst the elves for a long time, listening to how Dobby had become a hero to their little community. Hermione smiled as Mitsy sat in Harry's lap the entire time and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't bother him as much as she thought it would. While Harry adored his godson, he was always so frightful to hold him or even touch him. It was nice to see him so comfortable with the excited girl. She was also surprised at how the little elf was right: she knew exactly what would change her mood.
While he was busy chatting, Hermione took a moment to appreciate how great he was being. She had expected him to be angry with her once the realization hit that he wouldn't be able to join the Auror program alongside Ron and she hoped it wasn't because of the comment that she had made the night prior. He was also being rather caring towards her emotional state, something that he usually avoided like the plague. Then lastly, she thought of the comment he made when they had arrived in the kitchen and she could feel the blush on her face.
"Alright there, Hermione?" She jolted out her thoughts to see that Harry and three other house elves were looking at her curiously and she shook her head.
"Yes. I was just thinking that it might be a good idea for us to floo the Burrow. They're probably waiting for word from us and Cosette is still with my parents. Speaking of my parents, I have a lot that I need to talk to them about. They're probably worried about me." Hermione told him, smiling at the disapproving look on Mitsy's face. She was about to say something when Winky pinched her arm and looked at her pointedly. She had to grin at how different Winky was now that she was a mother.
Harry frowned at the idea of going to the Burrow, especially after the news that they'd received.
"I don't think it will go over well." Harry told her, earning a nod from Mitsy in agreement.
"I agree, which is why we need a plan. I don't know about you but I really don't want to sleep in the same bed in the same house as your girlfriend and Ron." Hermione told him, resisting the second helping of cake that Winky was trying to push her way. Harry wanted to ask why she didn't refer to him as her boyfriend but thought the better of it.
"And I don't want to sleep in the same bed and bathe in the same bathroom while your parents are in the next room." Harry chimed in.
"Well we have to live somewhere, Harry." Hermione countered, not seeing the elves grin as she dipped her finger in the frosting as she talked.
"Somewhere, yes, but not there." He told her, earning a smear of chocolate frosting on his cheek. Harry blinked at her as she chuckled at him, watching as she dipped her finger in the frosting once more. He narrowed her eyes at her for a second before surprising her by pulling her closer to him and pressing his cheek against her arm causing her to yell out and try to pull away. Just as he were about to raise his head to grin triumphantly, Hermione made another line on the opposite side of his face.
The two laughed at each other for a long time while the Mitsy watched confused as to why putting food on ones face was entertaining. As the little elf was about to ask, she was nudged by her mother who only held a knowing smile on her face.
"You realize now we'll definitely have to bathe tonight." Harry told her suddenly. Hermione's face went slack for a moment and they stared at one another before breaking out into laughter again.
"Are you sure we can't go to the Burrow first?" Harry grumbled as they walked down the street of the muggle neighborhood. He rubbed his cheek once more as the sticky feeling from the frosting was beginning to annoy him.
"They're my parents- they come first." She told him in a matter-of-fact tone.
"How are you going to explain this again?" Harry asked worriedly as they reached the front gate to the home rolling his eyes as Hermione squared her shoulders and held her head high.
"We're going to explain this calmly and rationally." She told him as she pushed through the gate and walked up the pathway to the house. Harry groaned aloud and tried to tell himself to find his Gryffindor courage while the sane part of his brain was telling him that it was perfectly normal to panic before telling a man he was glued to his daughter.
"Harry, we discussed this before we left and it'll be fine." She assured him, opening the door to the house and searching for her parents. Harry could see Cosette perched on the window sill and swore that even the bird knew that they were in for it.
"Really, it's alright. Just let me do the-" They were interrupted as they saw Jasper Granger come down the stairs. Harry steeled himself, wishing it was a death eater instead. A mantra of the word 'courage' played in his head and he was afraid he'd get sick.
"There you are Button, your mother and I were worried that something bad-"
"We're glued together for three months and there's no other way for us to detach ourselves."Harry burst out, holding their hands in the air.
Hermione groaned and started rubbing her temple in an attempt to prevent the headache that she knew was bound to start pounding away. Jasper froze on the last stair, his mouth opened and closed as he tried to figure out just what to say in response.
"Are you taking a piss?"
Harry blinked at him and shook his head while Hermione rolled her eyes.
"No, Daddy, he isn't. Can you get mum so I can explain what's going on?" Hermione pleaded, shooting Harry a dirty look before dragging Harry to the dining room table. Harry forced out a laugh as Jasper's eyes followed them curiously before leaving to get his wife.
"Really, Harry? Really?" Hermione asked him, the disbelief on her face and in her voice evident.
"I panicked!" His face was growing red and once again he rubbed at his skin to wipe off the stickiness of the frosting. He glared at Hermione as she slapped his hand away much like she'd done when he tried to touch her time turner in third year.
"Oh? I hadn't noticed." She mocked, earning a groan from him as he plopped down on one of the dining room chairs.
"Your dad could kill me-"
"How in the world did you kill Voldemort-"
"This is different! You wouldn't know because you're a girl and on some level girls secretly enjoy the fear that their fathers and brothers give us guys." He was practically yelling but his nerves were so high that it sounded comical mixed with the pointing of his finger at her accusingly. Hermione opened her mouth to argue and shrugged her shoulders instead, a small grin forming on her face when Harry muttered under his breath something along the lines of 'I knew it.'
"You had every right to be nervous, Harry, but honestly…you were about as subtle as machine gun in a library. What happened to letting me talk calmly and rationally?" She asked him.
They could hear her mother's worried voice as she and her father bounded down the stairs and Harry felt the need to slip under the table and not be seen. Before he could answer her, the two teens sat up properly as Hermione's parents walked into the room. Jasper gave them both a confused look before sitting opposite of them while a worried Aurélie Granger rushed over and hugged her daughter.
"Are you alright, dear?" Her mother asked carefully, her hands on both sides of her daughters face. Hermione smiled and covered her mother's hand with her own.
"I'm sorry for worrying you." Hermione told them genuinely, earning a sad smile from her mother.
Ever since they had returned from Australia her parents constantly worried for her and while most of the time it was unwarranted, Hermione felt that tug of happiness in just knowing that they knew who she was again. Her mother smiled and kissed her forehead before turning to smile at Harry.
"It's nice to see you again, Harry." Aurélie told him, squeezing his shoulder as she passed him to sit down.
"It's nice to see you again as well, Mrs. Granger."
There were times where Harry couldn't believe how alike Aurélie Granger and her daughter were. Physically, they shared the same petite build and the almost all the same features except for the fact that Aurélie had wavy blonde hair. What threw him off though were the little things that Hermione seemed to inherit, like the way he watched her mother cup her face the same way she had done to him the night before. There were even moments when the older woman would smile and he swore the same genuine look in her eyes was the one he'd grown familiar with in Hermione. Jasper, on the other hand was the opposite of his wife, a tall man with a strong build and a dark brown hair and dark eyes. After getting to know the man even for a little when they went to Australia, he knew that the man was where Hermione earned her unwavering strength and tenacity. He also knew it was where Hermione got her sometimes odd sense of humor.
"So, care to explain what Mr. Potter told me a few minutes ago?" Jasper asked, sounding more curious and disbelieving than angry. Harry opened his mouth to apologize when Hermione shot him a look to let her talk; he was only too happy to oblige.
"Do you remember when I was about eight and I got detention from the librarian?" Hermione asked, causing Harry to sit up and look at her in shock.
"Yes-"
"You got detention?" Harry blushed at realizing that he interrupted her parents while her mother just chuckled. He watched as Hermione's face grew red with embarrassment.
"It wasn't my fault. I wanted a book from the adult fiction section and the school librarian told me that I wasn't old enough to read them. The reason I got detention was because I accidentally magicked three of the books that I wanted to my table and when she saw the covers of what I was reading gave me detention for it." She told him, a bit flustered at the idea of getting into trouble in school. Harry had to grin at that, amazed that she would still get upset even after all of the trouble they had gotten into during their friendship.
"The woman who came to speak to us after you got your Hogwarts letter said that it was accidental magic. I thought she said that once you went to Hogwarts, those sort of things would stop happening." Aurélie asked, sounding confused and a bit skeptic.
"Well, she wasn't lying but there's more to it than just controlling your magic." Hermione paused, trying to find the words.
"Magic isn't just something you have that you can turn off and on. It ties into your soul, your emotions. While we all learn to manipulate our magic sometimes we can't help that our emotions get the better of us-" She was beginning to get off topic when she felt Harry squeeze her hand gently and stopped. Harry realized that it wasn't explaining how this happened but why it happened that was hard for Hermione to say. Let's face it, he thought, no one wants to admit to their parents that their partner screwed up so badly.
"You see, there was a bit of heated argument between our group of friends. In the middle of the argument, Hermione and I ended up grabbing onto my rucksack at the same time and somehow between the three of us an accidental charm was used that glued us together." Harry told them, lifting their adjoined hands in the air. Her parents were stunned for a moment but seemed to accept their excuse before springing into questions. It took a while but eventually Hermione calmed them down.
"Is it permanent?" Her dad asked carefully.
Hermione exchanged a look with Harry and the two shook their heads.
"It's not permanent but we will be stuck like this for some time." Hermione tried gently, watching as her parents eyebrows raised.
"The healer at Hogwarts that specializes in obscure charms like this said that the soonest we could possibly be detached is in three months." She told them, cringing a bit.
"Three months? What-what-what about school or work or-or your common privacy?" Her mother asked.
"The only way for us to counteract the spell is a Gluten Amotio paste. It's the only thing potent enough to get us unglued. The problem is that the only reason it's so potent is that a few of the ingredients are plants that give off chemical reactions on a full moon."
"Which if I'm correct was a few nights ago…" Jasper announced, rubbing his face tiredly as he took in the information. Hermione looked at her mother and father with a look of shame on her face that made Harry look away. He hated that this was happening, it wasn't fair.
Their conversation continued and Hermione couldn't help but feel the swell of appreciation growing in her as Harry helped explain their situation to her parents. He was surprised at how calmly they took it and from the look on Hermione's face, she was as well. It wasn't until Hermione began broke down once more to tell them about Harry's delayed training and her denial to go to school that either parent grew genuinely angry. It didn't take long for them to convince Hermione that they would be sending word to Professor McGonagall to set up a meeting with the headmistress and it made Harry yearn for that parental guidance and stability that the Grangers were giving their daughter.
It wasn't until a few cups of tea and hours later that the Grangers felt they were sufficiently informed on the newest development in their daughter's surreal magical life. Even Harry was happier when the Granger's swore that they'd hire a private tutor for three months if it meant she could go back to school when it was all over.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Jasper asked as he realized that it was getting late in the afternoon.
Harry and Hermione exchanged looks and although Hermione wanted to stay with her parents, she knew they needed to face their other halves sooner rather than later.
"We haven't gone to the Burrow yet. The Weasley's are probably anxious to hear the news as well…" Hermione told them slowly, hating the look of sad understanding that flashed over her mother's face.
"So you'll be going to the Burrow and then back to Hogwarts?" Her mother asked, slipping an arm around her husband's waist.
"Yes ma'am." Harry answered politely, earning a nod of respect from Hermione's father.
"Harry, I know you two didn't ask for this but I expect you to be on your best behavior with my only daughter." Jasper told them as they walked out of the house. Harry's green eyes widened as the meaning behind his words sunk in and Hermione slapped her father's shoulder.
"Daddy! Honestly!" She admonished, her face growing red once again.
"Don't Daddy me, Button. I was a teenage boy once too and magical or not, boys will be boys." Jasper told her, giving Harry a stern look that he could only swallow nervously to. Aurélie "tsked" him, waving him off and embracing Harry in an attempt to comfort him.
"You'll be a gentleman, won't you Harry?" She asked him kindly.
"Of-of course, a gentleman." Harry told them both, earning an amused smile from Jasper and a trusting one from Aurélie.
"Oh Merlin, goodbye mum and dad." Hermione ground out, properly embarrassed. Before Harry could even wave goodbye to them, Hermione was already pulling him down the pathway and towards the front gate.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Hermione asked carefully, a smirk on her face as Harry gave her a dirty look.
"Oh no, your dad only stared at me the entire time you explained that we needed to sleep and bathe together." He grunted, nearly running into a pole as he wasn't watching where he was going.
They were quiet for a while, Harry still a bit angry at how silly he felt in front of her parents when Hermione spoke again.
"Thank you, by the way." She told him softly as they reached a good spot to apparate. Harry looked at her curiously and she bent her head down, feeling bashful.
"For that lie you told my parents; for not telling them it was Ron. My dad doesn't care for him as it were and even though I'm downright furious with him-"
"He doesn't like Ron?" Harry asked, his anger from earlier gone and replaced with genuine shock at her revelation. He had thought that her father got on pretty well with his best mate and he wondered why it was that Jasper didn't like him.
"I- He just thinks Ron isn't good for me." She told him blandly, not wanting to look at him fully. Harry face scrunched up and he made a mental note to have her explain it more to him when he felt the familiar and unwelcome tug to his navel.
The afternoon light at the Burrow was beginning to fade out as they walked down the gravel road that led to the house. Even though the war was over, the wards on the house were still placed so that unless side-apparated by someone of Weasley blood, you were sent to the edge of the property. Even though they could see the house in the distance, it was still a long walk and they both secretly wished that her parent's would be hooked up to the floo network already.
"Why doesn't he think Ron is good for you?" Harry asked, earning a sigh from Hermione as she kicked a rock ahead of them.
"Can't we drop this?" Although she asked the question, she knew she wouldn't get the answer she wanted.
"Nope, you're stuck with me." Harry answered her smartly, grinning at the snort he earned from his bushy haired friend.
"Sometimes I forget how original you are, Harry." She told him playfully, nudging his shoulder with hers. He laughed and nudged her back.
"Don't drop the subject." He told her, sending the pebble that she kicked earlier farther down the path.
"I thought you didn't take sides, Switzerland." She told him with a grin, earning a grunt in reply before waving her on impatiently to answer his question.
"Fine." She sighed tiredly and Harry waited impatiently as she thought over how to answer him properly before continuing. "It's just that, well, Ronald is not the man my father sees as being compatible with me. My dad thinks that he doesn't respect my ideals the way that a boyfriend should and he thinks that Ron doesn't try hard enough to understand the muggle world. He just didn't give off a very good first impression in Australia."
He was surprised that she didn't sound angry or distraught at the things that she was telling him but rather defeated instead.
What shocked him more was that he couldn't think of any valid argument against her father's concerns. He had always known that at some point, Hermione and Ron would be together but upon thinking on it now, he didn't see them continuing on together. It was true that Ron didn't see the point in most of the things Hermione found important and he even remembered how Ron grew easily frustrated during their time in the muggle world despite their attempts to help him. Just as he was growing lost and quite disturbed by his thoughts, he heard Hermione calling for his attention.
"Harry!" She yelled, causing him to realize that not only was she yelling at him but that they had stopped walking all together.
"Sorry, just thinking." Harry told her, shaking off his thoughts for the moment and giving her a tight smile.
"Oh, well alright. Well, I was just saying that I hope you won't tell anyone about what I just told you. I don't want anyone to think badly of my parents because of their opinion of Ron." She told him nervously.
Harry shook his head and assured her that he wouldn't, all the while the thought in his head told him "Don't you mean, think badly of Ron?"
They walked silently after that until they finally reached the Burrow. While the house was definitely not traditional in any sense of the word, it was still a wonderful home. Harry always knew that a large piece of his heart was with Hogwarts, but there was always a part that was here as well. Yet this time, when he looked at the house, he felt a horrible sinking feeling in his gut that it wouldn't be a good visit and though Hermione didn't say anything as they walked into the house – she felt it as well.
As they reached the front door, Harry could hear the Mrs. Weasley yelling that they had arrived and both weren't surprised as the door was thrown open before they could turn the knob.
"Come in, my dears! Oh, you poor things had to walk from the property line? You must be hungry!" Molly told them both, hugging them each in turn before dragging them into the kitchen.
"We've been worried sick about you two! Been wondering when you'd drop in to give us the news." She told them, summoning two plates from the cupboard. Harry and Hermione could only smile as the older woman fussed over them and shared a look as they heard Ron and Ginny's arguing grow closer and closer to the door. Molly turned around with a look of annoyance as they entered the room, bickering.
"I swear, if you two don't stop all this fighting…" Her threat trailed off on a threatening note and the two siblings rolled their eyes before turning their attention towards Harry and Hermione.
"How did it go?"
"Do they fix it?"
Harry and Hermione shared a look, trying to silently communicate to the other as to who would answer their questions.
"It didn't go so well actually. We don't have much good news, I'm afraid." Hermione said finally. She raised their hands above the table and showed them that they hadn't been healed, earning disappointed looks across the board. Arthur clapped Harry on the shoulder comfortingly and made a face. Harry had to smile at how no matter the situation, the head of the Weasley clan could make someone feel better without doing very much.
"Madame Pomfrey, Professor Sprout and Professor Slughorn are going to work together on a paste that will eventually undo the charm." Harry told them, raising a hand to stop them from getting too excited. He looked at Hermione before she sighed and continued where he left off.
"That's the good news. The bad news is that we're going to be stuck like this for at least three months." Hermione told them. Molly gasped, forgetting the food that she was fixing up for them and staring at them in shock. Ginny's hands were covering her mouth while Ron reminded Harry of the old cartoon Dudley used to watch in the morning for the redness in his face seemed to be filling up from his neck up.
"What do you mean, three months?" Ron practically barked out, earning a sharp glare from his best friend and girlfriend.
"What we mean, Ronald-" The venom in her voice unmistakable as she pronounced his name. "Is exactly what we said. Three months. WE will be STUCK for THREE months." She told him, speaking slowly and purposefully as the anger that she didn't unleash the day before began to surface.
"Is there nothing else they can do?" Molly asked, sending a glare Ron's way that made him close his mouth. Harry looked at Ginny who was silently staring at their joined hands before looking up to address Molly.
"No. The only reason we have to wait the three months is that there are plants used in the paste that have to be added in on a full moon-that is if we can get them in time. Professor Sprout said she'll need to see if she can find them by the next full moon." He explained, looking over at Hermione to see her glaring at Ron.
"That means that you'll be going to school with us then?" Ginny finally said, her voice sounding a bit more hopeful than Harry liked. He was always under the impression that Ginny was completely happy with his choice to forgo his last year of schooling. His jaw tightened a bit as he knew how hard it would be for Hermione to explain this part of their situation for the second part of the day.
"Actually, as of this morning, Professor McGonagall will not be accepting my attendance at Hogwarts." Hermione told them quietly, earning another round of shocked gasps. She looked up to see that Remus, Tonks, Bill and Fleur were standing at the doorway listening in.
"Sorry for intruding, dad flooed us to say that they'd arrived…" Bill told them trailing off with a tone that said just how awkward he felt then.
"We caught the part about the three months. I'm assuming they're using an type of Amotio paste?" Bill asked, earning a nod from both Harry and Hermione.
"Why wouldn't they let you into school though Hermione?" Remus asked as he was quite aware of how crushing the new development must be for the Gryffindor.
As calmly as she could, Hermione explained the reasoning behind Professor McGonagall's decision. She was thankful that Harry had slid their hands under the table once more, appreciating the pressure he applied whenever her voice would crack even in the slightest way.
"That is 'orrible!" Fleur yelled, earning a nod of agreement from her husband. Tonks and Remus spoke quietly amongst one another while Molly shook her head at the news.
"They can't just dismiss you over this, I mean I understand their concern because of your influence but who's to say you can't go back to school once you're separated?" Bill told them, earning murmurs of agreement from almost everyone in the room. Harry said nothing as he realized that it was the once piece of information that Ron didn't get angry about. He looked over at Hermione who hadn't seemed to noticed Ron's small look of happiness and shared a look with Ginny who seemed to have caught it as well.
"Well my parents are going to meet with Professor McGonagall as soon as possible. They're going to try and work something out." She told them quietly.
"What about you, Harry? Your Auror training starts October first." Tonks asked suddenly, turning the attention on him, much to his dismay. Harry explained to them that he would have to speak with the recruitment head of the Auror sector of the DMLE about postponing his start date until the January term. The information earned him looks of pity and understanding that irked him rather than comforted him. It was getting to the point where while he had been glad to be there earlier, he just wanted to go back to the emptiness of Hogwarts already.
"There is a small spot of good news though. Professor Flitwick might have a spell that could confuse the charm into being satisfied by just our skin touching rather than our hands. If it works then at least we'll get some freedom to move around." Hermione chimed in, receiving a silent thankful look from Harry as everyone began speaking excitedly at the news, forgetting about their attempts to comfort him.
"That's wonderful." Molly told them. Bill looked thoughtful for a moment and shook his head, a grin on his face.
"That's really clever of Filius. Be sure to tell him that if he needs any help with the spellwork that Fleur and I would be happy to assist him." Fleur smiled happily next to him appearing to both Harry and Hermione as eager to help them.
"This may sound like a silly question but how did you get your shirts off from yesterday?" Tonks asked curiously, shifting the conversation to the part that they really didn't want to get into.
"House-elves magicked them off and on. Did any of you know that Dobby had a daughter?" Harry asked, earning somewhat shocked looks around the table. This time, Hermione gave him the look of appreciation and although they knew that they would have to broach the subject eventually, it was nice to be able to avoid it. Ron snorted from where he sat and everyone turned to look at him, causing the smirk on his face to disappear.
"And what, may I ask, is so funny?" Hermione asked angrily. Ron's face went slack and he paled a bit under her deadly glare.
"Nothing. I- nothing at all." Ron answered quickly, attempting to cover up for his slip. Harry shook his head while the other's turned away from the redhead.
"Where is the daughter now? Hogwarts?" Remus asked worriedly, causing Harry and Hermione to worry as well.
"Yes. Winky is her mother. Is something the matter?" Hermione asked, not liking the look on Remus' face. The former professor looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.
"When a house elf is young like that they usually need to magically bond with an owner in order for their magic to mature. I've never heard of there being any young elves like that in Hogwarts." Remus told them. Harry frowned at the thought of Mitsy's magic being in danger over not having an owner and although Hermione was still strongly against the enslavement of the creatures she frowned at well.
"That's not good, what happens if they don't-" She started asking when suddenly they were interrupted.
"I'm sorry but does this mean you slept together last night?"
The eyes of every occupant in the room shifted over to the Ron while he stared over at his best friends. Ginny's mouth opened slightly and she looked over at Harry and Hermione, staring at their touching arms. While it had seemed like an unspoken and understood fact that they had slept in the same bed together, the entire room suddenly felt as if the house were too horribly small to be having this conversation.
"I think we should go." Bill said quietly. His announcement was followed by nods of agreement from Fleur, Tonks and Remus as they all wished to leave the room as quickly as possible.
"Owl us if you need help with the spellwork." Bill muttered lamely as the awkwardness grew thicker by the passing moment. The thought of sitting and listening to the strange romantic squabbles of his two youngest siblings seemed downright wrong to the eldest Weasley brother. Hermione was about to comment when the four adults practically threw themselves out the door. Molly on the other hand, stood staring blankly at her youngest children. It was as if she had just realized that they were worrying themselves with such intimate things and it shocked her a bit.
"Molly, I think we can give these kids our leave. I found something called a remote controlled car that I think you'll find amusing." He winked at Harry would gave him a small smile of gratitude. The four watched as Molly slowly made her way out of the room, escorted by her husband who had begun talking excitedly about his latest addition to the what was fondly known as "The Muggle Cave."
"Well, that's one way to clear a room-"
"So, you did. You slept together?" Ron asked, an edge to his voice that neither of his friends appreciated.
"What did you think, Ron? Did you think we got unglued last night, slept in separate rooms and then glued ourselves back together in the morning?" Hermione hissed, causing Harry cringe a little at how deadly her voice sounded. Ron's face grew red and he clenched his jaw, a mixture of embarrassment and anger flooding his features.
"You've had to use the loo together as well." Ginny mentioned quietly, sounding as if she were making a statement rather than a asking a question. Harry's face softened as he looked as his girlfriend and he nodded.
"If I'm using the bathroom, I'll put a deafening charm on Hermione and she'll stare at the door and vice versa." He told her, feeling as if his own spots of embarrassment were showing.
"Are you moving back to the Burrow?" Ginny asked them, sounding hopeful once more. Harry and Hermione exchanged looks of uncertainty and went silent.
"I'll take that as a no." She murmured having caught on to the meaning behind their lack of answer.
"We just think that it would be really strange sleeping in a bed together and bathing together with both of you in the house-" Hermione sounded sheepish as she tried to explain their reasoning behind not moving back to the Burrow. Harry knew that from the tone of her voice she was doing it more for Ginny's sake rather than Ron's and he was thankful.
"Wait, bathing together? You mean to tell me that you've seen Hermione without a stitch of clothes on?" Ron asked, unable to get off the subject. Harry sighed, partially tired and partially annoyed with his best friend.
"No, I haven't Ron. Hermione and I decided that we were going to wait until we told you both the results of Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis." Even as he said it, Harry began feel the stickiness of not bathing and it annoyed him even more. Ron seemed to be having an internal battle with himself over whether or not to blow up any further than he already had for the afternoon while Ginny began to look a bit frustrated.
"So now that you've told us, what are you going to do?" Ginny asked, her voice with a bit of an edge. Harry stared at her with a look of confusion while Hermione answered for them.
"We don't know, we haven't figured that part out. I promise that we'll try to be as discreet as possible when we do though." Ginny looked at them incredulously for a moment but said nothing causing Harry to look at her questioningly once more.
"I meant where are you planning on living? I mean, since you won't come back here and you only have less than two weeks until school starts." Ginny's voice was a bit hardened as she spoke and while Hermione brushed it off as being a natural reaction from a girlfriend. Harry, however, was slowly growing annoyed.
"Well we talked about it and we thought maybe we'd try to find someplace near Hogwarts to rent out until we're fixed up." Hermione looked at Harry who didn't seem to want to talk and continued.
"It's close enough to Hogwarts so that we can help the professors with whatever plant watching or potion brewing for the paste and if my parents can make a deal with Professor McGonagall I'll be able to do my assignments a bit easier..."
"So, this is all for you then? What good does this do for Harry?" Ginny asked, sounding a bit rougher than even she had intended to. Hermione looked at her with surprise written on her face while Harry glared at her.
"Gin, we're just trying to make the best out of the situation." Harry started, his voice quiet. "It's not Hermione's fault." His eyes shot over towards Ron, who seemed content with not getting involved. It seemed any attention that would divert Hermione's anger away from him was alright in his book. Ginny shifted in her seat, letting an annoyed huff escape her.
"I just don't understand why you can't live here, Harry. Mum would love to have you and we have enough room. We've already spent a year apart because of the war and then you were in the hospital and then right after the hospital you were in Australia. Now, you're glued to another girl and you're going to have your own home together? That's a lot to take in, Harry." Her voice had started off as trying to be a private sort of whisper and ended with it growing louder as she grew more upset.
"What do you want from me, Ginny? It's not like I planned this. I'm sorry, I just don't want to sleep in the same bed with another girl while your in the opposite room. It's just too strange and we're both uncomfortable as it is. I thought you would be happy that we'd be close by to Hogwarts." Harry told her, too frustrated to be understanding and embarrassed as it was at having a fight in front of Hermione and Ron.
"Ginny's right, Harry. You both should just stay here, it'll be easier on everyone." Ron's voice sounded as if he were finalizing the discussion and Harry accidentally clenched his hand over Hermione's causing her to wince.
"It's not about it being easy on everyone! You do realize that we have absolutely no privacy as it is, right? That no matter what we do, even our closest friends can't help but stare at the fact that we're joined like this? I'm sorry, Ron, but you have absolutely no say in this." Ron was ready to argue when Ginny spoke up first.
"Well I do have a say in this and I say that you're both being selfish. There's a reason it would be awkward for everyone and you're both too immature to deal with it and let it pass. We'd all get used to it eventually." She stood up angrily, her arms crossed and a glare being sent Harry's way. Harry shot up as well, not noticing that he jerked Hermione around in his movements.
"Selfish? I'm being selfish?" Harry yelled, beyond caring that they were fighting in front of anyone. He started thinking of all the things he had done in the past year and even before that. He wanted to scream at her that even if he was being selfish that he deserved a little bit of selfishness.
"Yes, you are." Ginny told him, standing her ground. Ron made to agree with her but stopped short under his younger sister's glare to stay out of it.
Harry gave her a frustrated glare before shaking his head and stepping back. "Let's go, Hermione."
If it had been any other moment, Hermione was sure that she would have chastised Harry for assuming that she would do as he commanded. In truth, she wanted to continue yelling at Ron and while she usually got on well with Ginny, she wanted to yell at her too. A part of her wanted to throw her arms out and yell "SEE! This is why we can't live together!" but she kept it to herself. It was obvious that this wasn't just a small bickering between her best friend and his girlfriend and she knew better than to get involved.
It was to Harry's surprise that Hermione stood up upon his request and let him pull her towards the door.
"And where do you think you're going? We aren't done here!" Ron called after him. Harry stopped at the door and glared at Ron.
"I'm off to have a bath, of course."
He never stopped to see the utter rage on Ron's face or the upset frown on Ginny's.
Even Hermione seemed speechless and that was an achievement.
A/N: Thank you for all of your amazing reviews! I had a great response and I'll definitely be continuing this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and for any of you who are worried, I assure you that this is not a sort of Ron-bashing/Ginny-bashing fic (not that I mind those, this just isn't it).