A/N: And I'm back!
Yes, I'm still in existence and would like to apologize of my absence. I was on a month's vacation to my hometown and then the States. It's pretty convenient staying in Dubai and having an incredible access to such places. But 15 hour flight to LA was tiring but amazing; had the whole of Harry Potter series to keep me company.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this installment which I rewrote. The previous version (which I never posted and which was written while I suffered jet lag) was not I had ever expected to write.
"Harry dear, don't be nervous!" My mother chuckled as her fingers ran through my showered hair. "It's just Hermione!"
"Mum, that's what it is!" I tried to reason out my nervousness. "It's Hermione!"
"Oh you've known her for ages-"
"Five years." I mumbled.
"And I'm sure she'll love everything you've set for her." Mum finished, and cupped my face into her hands. "My baby is going for his first date-"
"Mum," I whined as she placed a kiss on my head. "I'm sixteen-"
"But still my little boy." She said softly as her emerald eyes met mine in understanding.
As much as I was like my father, my mother was easier to approach. Ever since I was born, dad told me that my mum never let me out of her sight. I can't blame her if she trained me to become a mummy's boy. I love her, and always will till the day I die.
"Harry," I heard her speak. "It's written all over your face that you love her."
See, she could read her little boy's face like a book.
"I know you won't mess this up."
I smiled dearly at the woman whom I was proud of and hugged her tightly. "But I'll always love you more." I whispered into her ear.
"Oh sweetie," she chuckled. "Don't flatter me. Leave some for my future daughter in law-"
"Lily, is my son ready?" I heard my father from the other side of the door. "I need to have a talk with him before he leaves."
Mum chuckled and broke the embrace which made me want to hold on to her for some more time. "It's your 'man up' time," she said and placed another kiss on my cheek. "I'll be with Eliie in her room if you want me. She's sick and nags me every time she is left alone, you know your sister."
I nodded when my mother patted my cheek and left me alone, until my father smiled at her and invited himself in.
Major James Potter belonged to United Kingdom's Royal Air Force Although he was strict and hot headed, my father was the man I aspired to be. He may be a Major General everyone loathed, but to me he was a loving husband and caring father who had a vague sense of humor.
Elena was the apple of his eye; her daddy's girl. However, I was much more pampered than she was; being the eldest and all.
"So Harry," my father started. "I know I'm stating the obvious but you're nervous."
I chuckled and nodded my head.
"Almost twenty years ago, I was in the same position as yours." He further said with a smile. "Your mother was a hard girl to get."
I smiled back at him as he patted my shoulder in a fatherly manner and said, "Just be yourself Harry. Don't act unusual. Flatter her, tempt her, and prove to her that you can be a better man than what you already are. Hermione is so much in love with you that she wouldn't mind however you act."
"Thanks dad." I said, giving him a huge smile.
"Harry, you're more of a gentleman than I was towards my date." My father further admitted. "And she's my future daughter in law anyway, so why won't she enjoy your company?"
"Honey, Harry needs to leave now!" I heard my mother calling out from the adjacent room. "He's already three minutes late."
We men chuckled as my father gave another assuring pat on the shoulder and said, "Go get your girl son. I know you can do it."
And I knew if my father said I could, then I surely could make the girl I love fall for me again and again.
Except that now, I was all on my own.
However I knew, that my parents were by my side, smiling assuredly.
And here Harry sat, right next to his date who sat quiet in the car as he drove them through the beautiful countryside of England. The very last week after they had attended Luna's birthday dinner, Harry had the courage to ask Hermione on a proper date. They hadn't spoken much that night, but only shared shy, understanding gazes at the dinner table. Later, Harry was greeted good night by his date with a lingering kiss on his cheek and her acceptance for the date he had asked for.
"The weather seems pleasant." He heard Hermione say with a dreamy smile as she leaned against the car window and enjoyed the summer breeze kissing her face.
"It surely is," Harry said and smiled at her. "Truly beautiful."
Harry found the brunette giving him a funny look before flushing into shades of red.
"Anyway Harry, where are we going?" Hermione asked when Harry merely smiled and led them into a thin trail which led them into somewhere having huge trees.
"Harry, are you taking me into a jungle-"
"Hermione, patience."
Hermione sighed when the place started looking familiar to her. Her eyes grew larger as she started to recognize the trees, and that very familiar smell of leaves which had taken her to a different world in her teenage years.
"Trying to remember?" Harry asked her with a smile, to which she answered him with a confused look.
"Are we in our forest Harry?" She asked.
Before Harry could answer, Hermione's eyes were on the verge of tears at the beautiful sight of the sun shining proudly over the lake at noon while ducks and swans swam happily over the water. Suddenly, she frowned at the sight of the apple tree, still standing strong as it flushed that one unwanted memory into her mind.
Harry stopped the car. He didn't fail to notice her expression and felt extremely guilty for the change in her mood. Hermione had been extremely excited for this date of theirs. He didn't want her to remember the day she walked away from him ... The day he broke her heart.
"Hermione," he murmured softly.
"Harry, why?" She simple asked, looking at him as her chocolate orbs swam in tears.
"Please come out of the car. I want you to know why I got you here." Harry said, knowing she would consider listening to his words of explanations than turning back from their date.
Hermione reluctantly left the car seat came to stand in front of the mesmerizing scene. She sighed and angrily wiped off the tears from her eyes before they rolled off the cheeks and crossed her arms firmly over her chest. Harry then came to stand in front of her as his head hung low in shame and regret.
"Hermione, there is a reason I got you here," Harry started, tucking his hands into his trouser pockets. "You know we've grown up in this place and shared our many firsts right under that tree." He pointed at the apple tree by the lake. "Our first meeting, our first picnic, our first kiss, our first fight, our first night ... Our separation."
Hermione quietly looked at him as he continued. "And you see, every year on your birthday I used to come here and spend the evening here, hoping to see you sitting by the tree, enjoying the view or even crying. I used to think of one day, bringing you here and make up for the abrupt parting I had caused ten years ago. And now when I have the chance, I want us to run that circle again, minus the breakup. It only made sense to me."
The brunette sniffed as tears finally rolled off her cheeks and it was clear that Harry couldn't see her in tears, not anymore. So she felt him come closer and take her face into his hands. "And this is what I expected. You women and your tears," he chuckled, wiping the tears off her face. "Can't you not cry for once?"
"Like you men ever stop being such stupid, romantic arses." Hermione said between her tears, causing both of them to laugh. She further leaned into Harry's touch. "I can't complain though. This place brings back many memories." She added.
"It does," Harry agreed. "And I intended to fix us, right there, under our tree." He then placed a kiss on her forehead, letting his lips linger on her skin. "I really want to do that."
"Then take your chance," Hermione said softly, finally looking into his emerald pools. "Bring back whatever we had, make me happy again."
Harry smiled back at her and caressed her cheeks. He really wanted to kiss her, however he had promised to take this relationship as slow as he could.
Hermione knew what was he about to do as Harry finally started to lean in until their foreheads touched. Eyes closed, they gave out steadied breaths as they mingled ... As their noses touched-
"Don't get me wrong, but this is supposed to happen when I drop you home." Harry said playfully, knowing that Hermione had started to smile. "Besides, I know you're about to say that it's rude to kiss the girl after her first date."
Hermione chuckled and opened her eyes to find Harry looking at her with his brows furrowed. She smiled and placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
"Such a gentleman." She commented and then took his hand into hers. "So Sir Potter, what have you planned for us today?"
After a round of the lake on the boat with wine and sandwiches, Harry and Hermione shared a small dance under the gazebo next to the lake to the actress' songs. The brunette couldn't help but sing to her tune with a voice which Harry deeply admired. Their laughs and giggles echoed the peaceful atmosphere as Harry clumsily kept stomping on his date's foot; not that Hermione minded. It had taken her back to the times they shared such moments when she was seventeen.
They now were under the apple tree as Hermione rested herself against the tree with Harry's head happily resting on her lap. The two laughed and interacted, reminiscing their old times together.
"Anyway, I guess we should stop that." Harry suggested. "I don't want my nose to get insulted anymore-"
"But your ginger sized nose is cute," Hermione said dreamily. "It was and it still is!"
"Whatever." Harry said gruffly, earning another laugh from his date. He could hear her laughter all day.
Silence embraced them as Harry closed his eyes and comfortably snuggled his head deeper into her lap. He had missed being this Harry which had been missing within him for the past decade.
His breathing hitched when her soft fingers threaded through his messy locks. Giving out a huge breath, Harry relaxed at her touch and smiled, enjoying the feel of her fingers massaging his scalp; it felt intimate.
"How much I missed this." Harry whispered to himself.
"I missed this too." Hermione said when Harry opened his eyes and looked at her. "Harry, I wanted to ask you something personal. Are you sure you can answer me truthfully?"
All Harry did was to grab her free hand and gave it a kiss.
Hermione obviously took that as a yes.
"After we separated, did you engage yourself in a relationship?" She asked, finding his eyebrows raising on question. "I mean, a relationship of any sorts, sexual or mental-"
"Hermione, if we were still together, I would've been true to you." Harry answered in all honesty, giving her hand a squeeze. "I might've gone for some dates because Ellie insisted but, I never found myself being drawn towards any of those women." He paused and caressed her hand with his thumb. "They were not you."
The look he saw in Hermione's eyes were of pure guilt.
"Oh Harry," Hermione cried. "I feel so stupid! I mean, I tried to get over you. I even got married-"
"Hermione-"
"While you were true to your feelings-"
"Hermione, I asked you to." Harry stopped her ranting as he sat up and held her shoulders. "I'm glad that you listened to me."
Hermione weakly smiled at him as he continued "At least you tried and even succeeded till some limit. I didn't even try. I failed to do something I had vowed. And I'm glad I failed."
At an instant Harry felt like a teddy bear. Hermione hugged him hard, making his breathing difficult. He couldn't complain though; she always used to do that whenever he was upset. All he did was hug her back.
"I'm glad that you're back into my life." He murmured against her shoulder.
"I'm glad that I gave you a chance." She whispered softly.
I love you, the two said aloud in their minds, keeping their words in their throats.
The two then broke apart and looked deep into each other's eyes.
Regret, guilt, happiness and love were witnessed in both.
The only way to seal this deal of hope and trust was by a small action.
And they sealed this agreement with a sweet, sinful kiss.
A/N: And the next chapter will be revealed shortly; like REALLY shortly. I'm almost done with it. However, it depends on my dear friend and beta Fiction Recipe; she needs time to edit my silly mistakes too!