Chapter 4 – End of the Year
Starting on the 1st, Harry and Hermione's carefree schedule became more regulated. Their tutors came to the house four days a week. A small den to the side of the main living room was converted into a potions lab. The tile floors were already sturdy and with some impervious charms and protective shields it converted well. The door was kept closed to the housekeeper and a muggle repelling charm dissuaded any curiosity. The charm was taken down once so that Hermione could show her parents some potion brewing. Since restoring their memories and rebuilding their relationship, she had tried to show them a variety of aspects of her magical life and potion brewing was something that muggles who enjoyed cooking could relate to.
The month of September passed quickly with the two friends kept busy with intensive studies. They still found time in the evenings or on weekends to explore different parts of city. They both missed their friends, but had settled into a comfortable domesticity together, splitting up the duties of meal prep and spending most meals together. Although they slept together frequently, there were plenty of nights where one or the both of them would be too tired and they enjoyed their space. The house seemed huge, but during the first week of October, they had their first visitor since their friends left.
Neville had started his internship with a magical nursery and in a short while had already shown his deft skills with even the most stubborn plants. The nursery was importing some new samples from the Kanangra region west of Sydney. Neville volunteered to make the trip and see that the plants were packed and secured for the long portkey travel. In his scheduling, Neville arranged to be in Sydney for four days and his friends looked forward to seeing him. He arrived late on a Thursday afternoon and grinned when he saw both Harry and Hermione waiting for him at the Ministry. After a quick welcome, they all walked out into the city and chatted as they wandered. Eventually they reached Chinatown to stop for dinner, and Neville was grateful for good friends and the ease they quickly settled back into. He had been working hard in the first few weeks of his internship and the break was welcome. After dinner they headed back to the house and he reclaimed the bedroom he had used before. As he left for bed, he watched the other two head for the opposite end of the house and vaguely wondered if they were together now.
Neville only had a couple of days before he had to work, so Harry and Hermione kept their studying as minimal as possible and enjoyed day trips with him. On Sunday they rented a car and Hermione drove them into the Blue Mountains for a day looking at the spectacular scenery. They all knew that on Monday Neville would be meeting with his supplier and would spend most of the day carefully packing plants for the return portkey that evening. Spring was coming to Sydney and the weather was beautiful in the mountains.
When they returned to the house, everyone headed for fun in the pool that entailed a lot of joking around and splashing. For his final dinner, Neville wanted something simple at the house and Harry grilled steaks again while they drank beers and passed a joint between them after dinner. Since Harry had done most of the cooking, Hermione's wand got busy and began to do the cleanup. When she headed to the kitchen, Neville couldn't help but enjoy the view since none of them had changed out of swimwear for dinner. Harry noticed and chuckled, causing Neville to blush.
"Sorry Harry. But damn, how can I not notice?"
"It's fine Neville. If you didn't notice, I'd be checking you for a pulse. You know she might not mind if you showed her your appreciation."
"But I thought the two of you…I mean you're living together and the way you act. You're practically bonded."
"Oh well yeah I guess it may seem that way, we sleep together and I love her, but she's made it clear that I don't hold claim. I wouldn't be happy to see her dragging blokes in from clubs, but you're not just any bloke. Anyway, up to the two of you."
Harry leaned back to enjoy his beer and a good smoke while Neville contemplated what he'd said. Deciding it was time for some Gryffindor courage, he got up from the table and went to the kitchen. Hermione was just about done, but had a few things left to put away. Neville remembered the kitchen layout and reached to help put something up high. As he did, he came up behind Hermione, pressing against her a bit as he reached.
"Oh hi Neville, you know I could have levitated that."
"I know, but then I wouldn't have an excuse to do this…"
Neville tilted his head down and nuzzled her neck lightly, making sure not to crowd her too much in case she wanted to pull away. Instead, she turned to face him and put her arms around his neck as she looked up at him.
"Well finally Neville. I was wondering when you would take a hint."
Neville kissed her as he pulled her closer and the last of the dishes were left out on the counter as they began snogging and stumbled toward Hermione's bedroom that was closer.
The next morning Neville woke to a pair of sleepy, beautiful chocolate eyes staring at him and he smiled. Last night had been a mixture of unexpected surprise and fulfilled dreams. He'd crushed on Hermione for years, but she was always impossibly beyond his reach. He knew that he didn't have the same bond with her that Harry or Ron did, but she had become a dear friend. Her mouth twitched as she looked at him and he wondered what was going through her incredible brain. He kissed her briefly and then pulled back.
"Knut for your thoughts."
"I was just remembering back to first year. That shy little boy who at the end of the year finally found his inner lion and stood up to us, only to get petrified as we snuck out of the tower."
Neville snorted and then laughed lightly.
"Well, we all certainly grew up. You do know that it hurts when you hit the floor after a petrificus?"
"Hmm, yes sorry about that. Perhaps I should make it up to you now."
Neville leered at her as she rolled over onto him and they began a long snog. They were both still sleepy and made love with a slow ease. They lay together for a while before Neville carried her to the shower. After using much of the hot water, they were finally clean and sauntered out of her room toward the smell of bacon in the kitchen. Hermione appreciated Harry cooking, but was surprised when she entered the kitchen and found her mum sitting at the counter drinking tea and talking to Harry. She looked up at her daughter who had an arm around Neville and smirked.
"Good morning dear. Hello Neville. Harry told me you were in town for a couple of days. It's still amazing to think that you can just pop from England to Australia for a long weekend like it's nothing."
Neville amazingly didn't seem flustered by Jean's presence and went to pour him and Hermione tea.
"Yes Jean, portkeys do make travel much easier than what I've read that muggles use. Still, it's not the most comfortable way to travel."
"Well, I can tell you that twelve to fourteen hours on an airplane is no picnic either. Anyway, I suppose I should have called, but I found I had a clear spot on my calendar and thought I would pop over and take my daughter to breakfast. Since you decided to sleep in, Harry offered to cook."
"No worries mum. And thanks as usual Harry. Neville has to leave in an hour mum, but then I'm free until this afternoon. Maybe we can go walk down by the shops."
Jean agreed and soon breakfast was ready. The meal was passed companionably as Jean found her daughter's friends as easygoing as before. The unusual cohabitation agreement was still a bit perplexing, but Hermione was an adult and they'd come too close to losing her to push her away.
After breakfast, Neville offered to clean up and then grabbed his bag to leave. He hugged his friends and Jean and gave Hermione a quick peck before saying goodbye. Harry went to read out on the patio while Hermione and her mum wandered some nearby shops. Later that afternoon, two tutors were scheduled and life returned to the usual schedule for Harry and Hermione.
October passed and then most of November flew by. Harry and Hermione stayed in touch with all their friends in England, missing them but not necessarily missing an English winter as the Sydney summer heated up. They kept busy with their studies and were making enough progress that they planned to take NEWTs in the Australian fall. Harry was surprised that his business studies were more interesting than he planned and he started to look over details on the family businesses that Gringotts was currently managing. Hermione wasn't enjoying magical law as much as she had hoped, but was finding advanced Runes studies to be her favorite. Unlike the classes at Hogwarts, her tutor incorporated a number of rare rune alphabets with unique spell potential.
As December approached, they talked with their friends back in England and everyone wanted to come to Sydney for the new year. Their families wanted them home on the actual Christmas holiday, but a portkey was arranged for the 28th. Hogwarts wouldn't start for another eight days, so everyone planned on staying for a week. During the first week of December, Harry had another idea and proposed it to Hermione one afternoon.
"Hermione, I've been thinking about Christmas plans. I know we're spending Christmas with your parents, which I'm grateful for. Your mum is serving lunch at one with their friends, right?"
Hermione nodded, waiting to see where this was going.
"Well, I was thinking. With the time difference, if we get to your parents at say nine or ten, then eat at one and stay until three, do you think that would be alright? I think I'd like to surprise the Weasleys. If we leave at three, we can be at the Ministry in time for a 3:30 portkey. It takes about two and a half hours with the stopover in Mumbai. That will put us back in London by around eight in the morning. Can you imagine Molly if we just pop in on Christmas morning?"
Hermione chuckled. She could indeed imagine Molly Weasley being beside herself.
"You know Harry, that's a great idea. We've been seeing my parents quite a bit and they'll have friends with them so I don't think they'd mind if we left a bit early. Then we can come back a few days later when everyone has their portkey scheduled."
"Sounds brilliant Hermione."
With the plans set, Hermione informed her parents when she went to dinner with them a couple of days later. They were fine with the plan, although once again found it surreal that Hermione was just popping up to England for a couple of days. The rest of December went quickly as they stayed busy with their studies. Free time was largely spent relaxing on the beach and both sported enviable tans.
Christmas Day arrived and Hermione woke up in Harry's arms. They didn't sleep together every night, but both wanted to hold each other on Christmas Eve. They smiled at each other and traded kisses before Harry pulled back.
"Happy Christmas Mione. We've come a long way in a year."
Hermione shivered as memories of a cold tent with Ron long gone came back to her.
"I don't want to think about it Harry."
Harry nodded and kissed her long and deep, erasing all bad memories. They made love slow and gentle, welcoming the holiday in memorable style as they focused on mutual pleasure that saw them both reach their peaks simultaneously. As they held each other after, Hermione smiled and stretched.
"Mmhmm, Happy Christmas indeed."
After a few more minutes snuggling, they headed for a mutual shower that was quicker than usual due to both of them being excited to get to their gifts. A short while later, they were dressed in house robes and sipping tea as they exchanged their gifts. Hermione went first and was stunned by Harry's gift to her of a set of matching earrings and necklace set with Australian black opals. Harry's gift from her was a dragon hide jacket with a permanent charm that made it look like a black leather jacket to muggles. It also included a small set of runes that allowed him to activate a heating charm. In addition, the dragon hide repelled most spells. They both thought the other had spent too much, but mutually agreed not to fuss about it. They then opened their packages from back home before making a light breakfast and spending the morning cuddled up together before going to the Grangers.
They arrived at the Grangers shortly before eleven and received enthusiastic greetings from Hermione's parents. Despite how busy they had been, they had spent time regularly with Jean and Neil and they had grown fond of Harry. The other guests had yet to arrive, so Neil handed out eggnog and then they went to exchange gifts. Hermione gifted her mother with a couple of rare books and gave her dad a new wood engraving tool to boost his set of tools for his new woodworking hobby. She was surprised by her gift from them of a premium set of rune engraving tools. A quick look at Harry and a return smirk from him told her that he had been in on the planning for the gift. From the Grangers, Harry received a custom set of dragon hide boots that matched his jacket. He and Hermione looked at each other and laughed as they both realized that they had been planning behind each other's backs.
With gifts done, everyone went to the kitchen to finish working on preparations for the meal at one. At half past twelve, Jean and Neil's friends began arriving. In addition, Hermione's friend Maria from the Ministry stopped by on a circuit of three houses she was visiting for the day. They all sat down to eat promptly at one and proceeded to gorge themselves for over an hour until everyone finally had enough and slowly made their way to the living room. After a while spent socializing, Maria left and then Hermione and Harry said their goodbyes as well. The Grangers wished they could stay longer, but knew they would be back in a few days.
Leaving the house, they walked a few blocks to catch the train downtown and were at the Ministry in time for their 3:30 portkey. Everything went as scheduled, including their layover in Mumbai. They had actually eaten enough earlier in the day that they skipped the meal provided halfway. They arrived in England just before eight in the morning and were set to make their way through customs quickly since there was no line. Unfortunately, as soon as the official saw who was passing through, all of the skeleton staff had to come and wish them a Happy Christmas. By the time they got through to the local floos and headed for the Burrow, it was a quarter past.
Hermione led the way out of the Burrow's floo, dragging Harry along to help since he usually had trouble exiting floos. As she did, she announced their arrival.
"Happy Christmas everyone! Got room for a couple more?"
"Hermione?"
"And Harry."
Ron was beat to them by Ginny and Molly, then came Ron followed by all the rest of the Weasleys as Hermione and Harry were buffeted by hugs, backslaps, and handshakes. Molly was wiping tears and still overcome a few minutes later as Arthur directed them to nearby seats where everyone was finishing breakfast after the early morning gift exchange. Harry and Hermione accepted tea and began to thank everyone for their gifts that had been opened a few hours before. Then the conversation went back and forth as the friends caught up on all the news in detail that couldn't be relayed via letters.
Once everyone was done eating, they moved to the living room and Harry was especially interested in Fred's magical 'airchair'. It was a creation of his and George's that took a cue from muggle powered wheelchairs, but without wheels. Instead it had a sequence of runestones that powered a constant levitation charm on the chair, as well as small air blast spells that moved the chair in various directions dependent on hand operated controls. It was still disconcerting to see Fred so gravely injured, but he was proud of his invention and seemed to get around well, even though he admitted that it fed a lot off his magic when he wasn't in a highly charged magical environment.
The rest of Christmas went by quickly as the large extended family enjoyed their time together. Christmas supper was eaten in the mid-afternoon and then leftovers were eaten in the late evening. In between Molly continually conjured up trays of biscuits and savories, determined that no one would ever feel the slightest bit empty. The day was the perfect Weasley Christmas, leaving everyone stuffed and tired as they all headed off to bed early that night.
Harry and Hermione spent two more days at the Burrow before they, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna all took the planned portkey back to Sydney several days before the new year. The portkey trip was long and tiring as usual, so everyone happily headed to the house and then went down to lay on the beach and relax, amazed at the beautiful Sydney summer. Bondi Beach was packed, but it was great fun to watch the variety of people. Ron was the only one who didn't get in the water, he seemed fine with laying on a lounger with a cooler of cold beers nearby.
That evening the group of friends picked up a large selection of takeaway seafood and went back to eat it on the rooftop deck. The day had been perfect and Ron was voicing his surprise.
"I have to admit, I didn't think a day out on a muggle beach would be so great, but it was. Watching the surfers, and some of the kites, not to mention the birds!"
Hermione and Ginny both rolled their eyes at Ron, although they couldn't really say too much since they had been caught ogling a few surfers on the beach. There was plenty of eye candy, but they were lucky to have three quite good catches right at home with them.
The next day the group of friends went to the zoo and then New Year's Eve was spent back at the house as everyone relaxed to be ready to party that night. As everyone settled in the living room with cold drinks, Harry looked around at the group and thought about his unique group of friends. He loved them all in different ways and he knew that their unusual sharing arrangement would seem bizarre to some, but within this 'family' it just seemed natural. Neville noticed that Harry had grown contemplative and raised an eyebrow.
"Knut for them Harry."
"Just thinking about us, about our group. We're really special. Society may say that what we have is strange, but this feels so perfect and wonderful that I don't know how it can be wrong. I love all of you, the guys are like my brothers and each of you girls are partners. I don't want to say girlfriends. That seems to transient. I don't know, it's hard to put into words what I feel for you all, but I just want each of you to know that I love you."
"We love you too Harry. I think it's time to stop labeling us. We live our lives, do good, love each other and those around us. The rest will take care of itself and the hell with what anyone else thinks."
Ron raised his glass and issued a toast in honor of Ginny's words, and everyone joined in the toast.
"Hear, hear!"
For the actual New Year's celebration that night, one of Harry and Hermione's tutors was friends with the cousin of the owner of the premier wizarding nightclub in Sydney. Although the connection was tenuous, he made the inquiries for them and, combined with Harry's notoriety, they had acquired passes to the hottest party in wizarding Sydney for the night. It also helped that Harry hadn't balked at buying expensive VIP passes at an initial cover charge of 100 galleons a person. The club was situated under muggle repelling charms in a warehouse on the edge of the Rocks and everyone was beyond excited as they dressed up and made their way to the train shortly before nine that evening.
When they arrived in the neighborhood it was only a short walk before the group of friends found the unusual alley that seemed to be getting ignored by the large crowds that were everywhere. The small group ducked down the alley and immediately were bathed in magic as a couple of steps in, the lights went on and they were immediately guided to a door highlighted in a purple glow. An enormous man who was obviously part giant filled the doorway, but he smiled kindly after scanning their passes and directed them to the upstairs loft with a grunted 'VIP' acknowledgement. Following the directions, they made their way inside and upstairs and everyone was soon grinning as loud music assailed them and they stepped into a swanky lounge that lined a flashing dance floor. Much to their surprise, a table was waiting with Harry's name and soon a hostess was at their side. Everyone knew that Harry had spent a lot on the VIP tickets, but now they were seeing what he had really paid for.
The next several hours leading up to the countdown were spent in a haze of dancing and drinking with a bit of smoking and eating mixed in. The lounge surprisingly was attached to a premier restaurant as well and the group enjoyed a regular parade of small savories and sweets throughout the evening. The music was a mixture of muggle and magical, mostly industrial and rock, although occasionally it slowed down to allow couples a chance for closer dances. Although the VIP area wasn't crowded, there were plenty of other well-clad, beautiful people around, but the group of friends found themselves largely keeping to their own circle.
When the countdown to the new year finally came, the club lit up a bit and everyone had champagne in hand as raucous cheers went up and wands were raised as various sparks and spells went off. Each of the group of friends grabbed someone close by to kiss and then passed their partners off and kissed someone new. It was officially 1999 and everyone had the feeling it was going to be a good year.
