Good Evening
Welcome to Chapter 08 of my Fanfiction, A New Beginning. Once again, thank you all for your positive review. I appreciate it.
Please be advised that this scene contains mild adult themes.
Read and enjoy.
Chapter 08
I stare at the massive memorial wall that has been erected in memoriam of those who died during the Second Wizarding War. It's difficult to believe that the very courtyard I am standing in was full of rubble and bodies strewn all over the place less than a week ago. The Professors and many volunteers have done an excellent job of rebuilding the school thus far. Another eight or so weeks to go and the school will be home to a new generation of wizards and witches. I am sure many will be returning and I don't think I am going to be one of them. As much as I'd like to complete my education, I don't want to return to Hogwarts. There are too many memories and the sadness around us as has seeped into the walls.
I cast about for Harry and I spot him chatting to Professor McGonagall and I head towards them. I have not seen Ron or Ginny since we arrived at the school a couple of hours ago. The service honoring the fallen ended about twenty minutes ago and the last I saw of them was when they were heading towards the school. By the time I reach them, Harry is upset about something and it makes me frown.
"I don't want to return as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor McGonagall."
"It's only temporary, Mr Potter. We need someone with your skill to teach the students. Surely you can understand that?"
He sighs and runs his fingers through his already-mussed up hair. He looks sexy as hell and my stomach clenches deliciously when I think about running my fingers through his hair.
"Why me, Professor?"
"Because you are suitably qualified. With Professor Snape dead, we don't have anyone to teach them," she replies. Harry immediately tenses and balls his hands into tight fists. I will never ever forget the bitter-sweet moment when Professor Snape gave Harry his memories and then asked him to look at him. I frown as Harry has not mentioned what he saw in the pensieve… Swallowing hard, I rapidly blink my eyes. I knew there was a piece of Voldemort attached to Harry's soul and when he confirmed it, I thought my heart was going to break. It meant he'd have to die in order to destroy that part of Voldemort residing in his soul. I wanted to go with him, but he said no. He said he had to do it as it was the only way to end the terror and if it meant dying to save the rest of us… He has always been noble and honorable, except Voldemort thought he was a coward and less than-honorable for running around the school looking for another horcrux while the rest of us fought for our lives.
"What about Hermione? There is no way I am leaving her, Professor," he declares and she actually smiles at us.
"I was wondering when you were going to say that, Mr Potter. Ms Granger is more than welcome to return to the school in September to resume her education."
I shake my head, "I don't know if I am going to come back and even if I did, we wouldn't be allowed to pursue our relationship. It wouldn't be ethical," I point out.
She gives me an amused grin, "Since when have you followed the rules, Ms Granger?"
"That is not the point," I sigh, "He will have to set an example… Harry, are you seriously considering this? Please don't tell me you are. I don't think," I trail off over the unexpected lump in my throat.
"Mione," he says softly as he pulls me into his arms. "Professor, I will think about it. I can't promise anymore than that. I am sorry, but Hermione needs me and I can't…We've waited too long to be together and I don't think I can let her go."
She sighs, "I suppose I can't ask anymore of you, considering your victory over the Dark Lord. You've also been through enough, but please think about it. If I have to bend the rules to get you on board with Ms Granger, then I will do so."
I have to smile about this. She clearly wants him to teach the subject and who I am to stop him if he really wants this. "Harry, what do you want?"
Grinning at me, he slides his around my waist and kisses my cheek, "I want you to become a permanent part of my life and if passing up on the very tempting offer of teaching the young generation of wizards and witches, then that is exactly what I will do."
"I am already part of your life," I tease. "But if you want to do this, then I won't stand in your way."
"But what about your education?" he asks.
I shake my head and sigh, "I don't want to come back, Harry. I want to go to a muggle university and study law."
"Ms Granger? Why?" she asks, a frown forming on her wrinkled face, "You are the brightest witch I have even been privileged to teach. Why would you-"
"Professor, I don't want this life anymore. I want a normal life without magic and I want Harry. I can't have both."
"Mione," he says softly as he regards me with so much love and concern in my eyes, "You love who you are. You have never been ashamed of being a witch. You can't change who you are."
"I love you, Harry, and if you won't support my-"
"Don't say that…If you will excuse us, Professor," he says politely.
"Of course, Mr Potter. Just think about it, please?"
"I will," he reassures her. She nods once before turning on her heel, cloak flapping behind her as she walks in the direction of the Great Hall. He regards me for a moment and when I can't stand it anymore, I burst into tears.
"Hermione," he says softly as he wraps his arms around me, "I will support you whatever decision you make. I love you and I have no intention of ever letting you go. Just…hush, sweetie," he murmurs into my hair, "And besides we don't have to discuss it now. The new term is still a long way off. Why don't we just try to find some normalcy in our lives?"
"Harry, I am sorry. You must think I am silly," I sob as I wind my arms around his neck.
He laughs, "Not at all. Your reaction is expected considering what we've been through. God knows, but I also need some normalcy, but-"
"What?" I whisper.
"Later, so what university do you want to attend?"
I pull away, smiling, "I don't know yet. I have to apply, but I don't know if I will get accepted in any of them. It's not like my education thus far has been normal. I might have to go to a normal high school for a year or more…But what do you want to talk to me about?" I frown when I ask him this. He definitely seems to be battling with something because his jaw's tightly clenched.
"In the pensieve," he sighs, "Snape's memories. It seems he and my Mother were very good friends and my father was an arrogant git just like Snape always told me."
"And-" I prompt.
"I want to dig a bit more. You know, find other information so that I can gain a better understanding of the man himself. He never hated me….He loved me, Hermione. He loved me because he loved my Mother. In the pensieve," he sighs and frowns, "He was devastated when she died….I mean, really devastated," he trails off and closes his eyes. He opens them and slowly exhales, "I guess I just need to find out for myself."
"Why is this so important to you?" I ask even though I know it is important to him.
"Because, I don't know if my father was my father," he trails off and I suddenly realise what he is trying to say and why he finds it difficult.
"You think Snape's your father?" I don't hide the incredulous tone in my voice nor the shock of his revelation and if it turns out that Snape is in fact his biological father, then I am going to have to my hands full. Harry made no secret of his dislike for the man, but then the feeling was mutual. For some reason, Snape had it in for Harry.
"What else did you see?"
"James Potter and his gang of misfits took delight in teasing Snape, Hermione. In fact, he went out of his way to make life difficult for Snape. Upon reflection, I wonder if Snape wasn't right in calling my Dad a swine." He curls his hand around his neck and blows off another sigh while he briefly looks at his feet. "I have to know, Mione. I have to know if my gut is right or wrong, and I want you to be with me."
"I am already with you," I tease.
"Yeah, I know, but I need your support on this."
"Then you have it, Harry. If you feel you need to do this, then I'm with you, but," I sigh.
"Yeah, I know. I don't want exclude him, considering we've always done everything together."
I turn towards him and run my fingers through my hair and I watch him from beneath my lashes. Harry, Ron and I have done everything together since our first year at Hogwarts and now if it is just the two of us, words and fists are going to fly and we don't want that, but Ron might not be so willing to help us. He was always game, but now I am not so sure and it would be awkward to say the least.
"We can mention it to him, but the decision will be his alone. I am not going to go behind his back as that will do more harm than good," I state.
Harry frowns and then a flash of anger crosses his features, "Yeah? Are you sure about that, Mione?" he asks as he tries to pull me towards the Great Hall, but my interest is well and truly piqued.
"What are you-"
"Let's go indoors, Mione," he replies, but I stand my ground. I may love him but it does not give him the right to tell me what to do. I laugh inwardly about this as I have always told them what do. As I watch him, his expression becomes well and truly murderous and I turn around, only to clap my hand over my mouth in shock at the scene unfolding in front of me. Ron has his arms and lips glued to none other than Lavender Brown, while Ginny helplessly looks on. She catches my eyes and makes a gagging motion with her hands. I don't know what to think or feel. Should I even feel anything? No, I don't. This is typical of Ron's behavior. He will do anything to hurt me, except this time.
"Mione?"
Harry's hand closes over mine and I turn towards him.
"Are you okay?" he asks softly.
I glance once behind me and roll my eyes. This is beyond exasperating and would be funny if he wasn't drawing a crowd of people and a fair amount of catcalling ensues. We are at a memorial service and this is how he behaves? He should be ashamed of himself. A flare of anger shoots through me at the spectacle he is making of himself. I wonder who made the move this time. Last time, she made the move. It was after a successful Quidditch match where he played extremely well. We were all in the Gryffindor Common Room and I was lecturing Harry about using Felix Felicis - a liquid luck potion in Ron's pumpkin juice - when in actual fact, he did well because he thought he had being given some of the potion. While we chatting about it and the Confundus Jinx I used on Cormac McLaggen to ensure Ron was accepted into the team - yeah I was that crazy about him - Lavender locked lips with him and they engaged in a passionate kiss in front of our school mates. I remember feeling absolutely crushed about what I'd just witnessed. I walked out, in tears and Harry found me sitting on the stairs sobbing my heart out. He comforted me and admitted he felt like this whenever he saw Ginny with another boy.
Turning towards him, I nod and smile. "Yes, I am. I can't believe he is doing this again, Harry. What is he trying to do?"
He tilts his head to the side and grins cheekily at me, "I think, Mione, that he is trying to get a reaction from you."
"Clearly," I sigh, "But guess what?"
"It's not working?" he states and I start laughing.
"Surprisingly, it is not working. Yay. I've been well and truly cured," I chuckle as I link arms with him. "Let's pay our respects to Professor Dumbledore."
"Do you mean that, Mione? Are you sure you don't feel an inkling?" he asks softly.
I shake my head, "I don't feel anything, Harry. Stop worrying and stop frowning," I tease as I brush his fringe back, revealing his lightning-bolt scar. I stretch towards him and plant a soft kiss on it.
"Mione," he sighs and as I step back, I notice his darkening eyes and a bolt of lightning shoots through me. He enjoyed that and I grin like an idiot.
"Harry?" I murmur as I trail my fingers along his jawline to his lips and he blows off air. He is definitely affected and I can't help feeling triumphant about that. Tonight he is in for something else. Tonight, I decide, I am going to make love to him. The thought does delicious things to me and I blush.
"You know," I murmur, "Are you up to play out your library fantasy?"
He blushes beet-red, "Hermione Granger…Oh my God," he breathes as he quickly provides distance between us, but not far enough to release my hand. He regards me up and down for a full minute before stepping up to me.
"I can't believe you've just said…Damn it, Mione. You have no idea," he trails off as I slip my arms around his neck and suggestively grind my hips.
"I think I do," I breathe when I feel the extent of his arousal and I blush. I can't believe my boldness and audacity of suggesting such a thing to him, but his reaction is exactly what I wanted and if we were not in the company of so many others, I would kiss him senseless, but common sense prevails and I provide distance between us. I still have my pride and I am not going to hurt it by behaving like Ron and Lavender, so I gently grab his hand and lead him towards the Great Hall. His hand is firm and warm in mine and I love the way he moves his thumb along my knuckles, sending shivers along my spine. I don't have to look at him to know he is enjoying himself. As we walk through the doors, he tugs me into corner where we are partially hidden by one of the many gargoyle statues dotted around the school. From the hall, there is a smattering of low voices, but what draws my attention is the way he presses himself into me. I feel his hands on my hips as he captures my mouth in a deeply passionate kiss that has me moaning wantonly. My hands creep up and thread themselves through his hair, locking him firmly in place as he literally devours my mouth. His one hand creeps along my side all the way to my thigh where he starts tugging up my black skirt. I want to mentally chide myself for wearing a black skirt. It makes me easily accessible and that does nothing to ease my need to be claimed by him, so I don't protest. I concentrate on the warmth of his mouth as he kisses me. I don't protest when a cold draught of air tickles me down there and I don't protest when I hear the familiar zip of a zipper being pulled. I feel his hands close around my buttocks as he gently lifts me and I automatically wrap my legs around his waist. He continues kissing me as he reaches between us and painstakingly slowly pushes into me, forcing out a low moan from my lips. Thankfully he quickly smothers it with another passionate kiss.
"Oh my God," he groans as he establishes a steady rhythm. By now, my heart is hammering loudly and the blood has rushed to my head making me lose all sense of logical thought and pride. He is making love to me in the school, for God's sake, but that does not stop me from seeking out his mouth for his kiss. I feel his heart beating against my chest as we climb higher and higher.
"Harry," I groan, digging my fingers into his shoulders.
"I know," he whispers, "Wait for me, Mione."
"I am trying," I whisper in between delicious waves of pleasure. I move away from his mouth to his nose, his closes eyes and finally I press my lips on his scar.
"Mione…Now," he groans and with that said, I shatter magnificently around him and with him. I feel his jerky movements and I lean back against the wall to ride out the rest of the pleasure we give to each other. As we come down from our magnificent high, he gently cups my face and plants a tender kiss on my forehead. He is going to pull away and I don't want that. I want his warmth so I tighten my arms around him.
"Just give me a minute, please?" I rasp.
"A minute is all we have before they send out a search party," he chuckles as he cradles me his arms. I like the way we are joined. It feels so right and he feels so warm. He warms me up from the inside out.
Sighing softly and biting back my disappointment, I manage to unwrap my arms from around his shoulders. He gently withdraws, leaving a hollow and it is enough to make me cry. I hastily turn away before he sees my tears and I busy myself with neatening my hair and straightening my outfit. This really sucks and all I want somewhere quiet to go so that I can rationalise everything. It's been an emotional week. From pure bliss to profound sadness. I am the point where I don't know which way is up anymore. Without looking at him, even though his eyes are searching for something, I walk past him and out into the courtyard.
"Mione? Where are you going?" he calls after me and I sigh softly as I turn around to look at him. His hair is mussed up and his cheeks are slightly red. He is still trying to straighten his suit and I roll my eyes in mock exasperation.
"Let me," I murmur as I catch his hands that are trying to straighten his tie. He nods. His hands slip free of mine enabling me to straighten his tie.
"What happened back there?" he asks after a moment's silence.
"I…I don't know, Harry. It's just that I feel like an emotional wreck, ready to explode."
I continue with his jacket next, however he circles me in his arms and pulls me tightly into his body and I let out a contented sigh. This is exactly where I want to be. I don't like it when we are apart.
"Then explode, Mione. Let it out. Get it out of your system," he half-jokes.
"Mmm," I whisper as I pick imaginary lint off his jacket, "It's easier said than done," I muse as I finally meet his probing green gaze. He tenderly touches my cheek before pressing his lips to my forehead.
"You know what I think?" he asks as he thoughtfully studies me.
Shrugging my shoulders, I reply, "Enlighten me."
Laughing, he places his hands on my shoulders, "You think too much, Hermione, and that is why you feel the way you do. If you just let go, like you did back there, then you wouldn't feel like this this."
"We made love in the school," I blurt before stopping myself.
He shrugs his shoulders, "So what, Mione? So what?"
"Harry," I sigh and then I smile at his amused expression. "Oh alright, I will try…Perhaps a few fire whiskeys is what I need."
"Fire whiskeys?" he grins. "That sounds like an excellent idea, but not today…Not when I need to return this," he says softly as he withdraws the Elder Wand from the bag Hagrid gave to him for his birthday. It hangs around his neck beneath his clothes. It works on the theory of an extendable charm.
I reach for his hand, "Let's do it, Harry."
He nods once before interlocking our hands together and briefly I wonder where Ron is as he should be with us to share in this, but he is nowhere to be found. He has no doubt gone off with Lavender to do know God only knows, not that I care, but I do. In spite of the tension between us, I still regard him as a friend, but he has made it perfectly clear that the feeling is not mutual and it saddens me, but that is nothing in comparison to the way I will feel when we restore the wand to its rightful place. I don't have to look at Harry to know he feels exactly the same about the task ahead.