Author's Note
Please note that the Snape idea was something I was playing with. Has one ever considered that Harry may have had doubts? He named his son after Snape as per canon novel, so he clearly did not think he was the bad guy. For now, he has let the topic rest. If you read the rest of my story, it does not come up again, but that is not to say I am leaving it as it is. If Harry wants to explore the possibility, then he will, but as most good writers are aware, sometimes the characters talk to you.
Welcome to Chapter 11, through to 15. Please note there are 5 more chapters to come. At the moment, I have not made a decision to continue with a sequel, however I will ensure there is a good epilogue that I hope will be well-received. And once again, I express my thanks for all your honest reviews and opinions. I do appreciate it.
Kind Regards
SammyGal123
Chapter 11
I wander away from the excited chatter at the breakfast table to stand by the backdoor. I take a deep breath and the sweet scent of flowers in full bloom assault my senses. The garden is a rainbow of color set off by the dark green grass, yet there is a definite chill in the air. In six weeks it will be the start of autumn and the start of a new school year for those returning to Hogwarts and for those starting the first semester at university. I smile about this because I received a response from the university I would like to attend. They are willing to accept me on condition I provide an essay on British Law and a motivational letter as to why I feel I should be given the opportunity to study with them. I am excited and anxious all at once about it. What also makes me smile is that Harry's birthday is coming up and I have absolutely no idea what I am going to give to him as a gift. I have asked him and he insists he has all he wants, me being what he wants.
As I turn back to the table, a commotion by the stairs draws my attention and a sugary, silly voice floats on the air and I press my hands to my ears when I realise who it is. I don't even want to turn around when I hear them stumble into the kitchen. I wasn't even aware he was at home. Since he moved out he has visited once, maybe twice just to give his Mother peace of mind, and the last thing I expected was seeing him again with Lavender's arms wrapped around his waist. He is a sight for sore eyes with his blood-shot eyes and too long hair. His cheeks and ears are beet-red and there are love-bites all along his chest and neck. He doesn't even have the decency to pull on a vest or shirt to hide the evidence of what he has been up to…with that silly bimbo.
"Well, aren't you a sight?" I mutter sarcastically as I fold my arms across my chest in an effort to keep my emotions under control. I don't know whether it is anger or jealousy I am currently feeling, but the urge to hurt him is overwhelming and I shouldn't even feel anything at all, but I do. While I consider the nature of my current feelings, I realise I am angry more with the fact he has brought her here more than anything else. The Burrow is my place of comfort and without his presence, I have been very happy and relaxed which has not gone by unnoticed by Mr and Mrs Weasley and my boyfriend.
He regards me with narrowed eyes and the antagonism radiating off him is almost too much to bear, but I will not be intimidated by him. I am over that and I don't need him to set me back. It's been weeks of endless patience for everyone here to help me work through what Bellatrix did to me. It's only the last couple of weeks, if not more that I have been able to sleep without interference - apart from Harry when he wants intimacy with me and that happens any time of the night…or day - from my nightmares, and now Ron is here looking as smug and arrogant as ever with a blond bimbo hanging onto him and his every word.
"You've cut your hair," he states and I shrug my shoulders. Harry and I went into London a couple of days ago to look at apartments and we both had our hair cut. Mine was styled into a short layered bob with my fringe cut in such a way that it hangs just above my right eye - it's long enough to tuck it behind my ear.
"Well noted," I return, lacing my words with sarcasm. I look away when another memory of Ron pointing out the obvious fact that I am a girl. That was also during the Triwizard Tournament. I remember feeling put out when I realised he had always seen me as one of the guys. I drop my arms to my sides and clasp them behind my back. Today I am wearing a snug pair of light blue jeans and a cream tight-fitting tank-top that hugs my curves just as much as my jeans hug my hips. Today is one of those days when I feel really good about myself and I can't help blushing or the huge smile spreading across my face when I become aware of Harry's intense piercing green gaze. Automatically I turn towards him just as he gets up. I wait for him to join me and when he does, he slips his arm possessively around my waist and he gives me a quick kiss on my cheek. There is no mistaking the claim he is making on me in front of his best friend. I don't even know if they are friends anymore.
"So, when did you arrive?" I ask, eyeing both Ron and Lavender and taking delight in their discomfit.
He scowls, "You say that as if I should be invited to stay in my own home, Hermione."
"Well, you should be, Ronald, after all you and Lavender were very vocal when you walked in at two this morning," says Mrs Weasley in that scolding way of hers. Surprised, I turn towards her and what surprises me even more is the anger flickering in her blue eyes.
He looks away, running his fingers through his messy hair and I stifle my exasperated sigh. It's been six weeks since we defeated the Dark Lord and he still has the emotional range of a teaspoon. One would think he would have grown up by now, but considering his irresponsible behavior, he hasn't and Lavender is not helping the situation either with the way she has literally wrapped her arms and legs around him. She gives me a triumphant smile and I roll my eyes heavenward as if she has been so successful in wrapping Ron around her little finger. I laugh inwardly - who am I kidding? She has got him wrapped around her little finger and he is lapping it up just like the immature boy he is.
"What do you want me to say, Mum? We had nowhere else to go when we went home last night as George refused to let us in," he explains.
"Won-Won, we could have gone to my parent's place. It would have been the perfect opportunity to introduce you to them after what we discussed last night."
He scowls, "Whatever we discussed is not going to happen."
Her smile falters and she looks away. As I watch her struggling with her emotions, I realise that he more than likely promised her the world in his drunken stupor without realising it. If I really think about it, she does not appear hungover, unlike Ron with his bloodshot eyes, dark circles and the lingering sour scent of liquor that seems to permeate everything. I scrunch my nose in disgust as I turn towards my boyfriend, but I step back when I notice the tension on his face and I notice his tightly clenched fists pressed against his sides as if he is trying his utmost to keep his temper under control. I reach for his hand as I move to stand behind him and I wrap both my arms around his middle.
"What did you discuss, Ron?" asks Mrs Weasley while she regards her son and his girlfriend who still appears to be struggling with something.
He shrugs, "I can't remember. I was drunk," he replies and the tension in the air thickens and settles around us like a black cloud, "And besides that, it has nothing to do with any of you," he continues as he eyes Harry and me.
"Won-won," she whines.
"Shut up," he snaps, "Otherwise you can find your own way home, Lavender. I am not in the mood to listen to this…bullshit."
"You never are…," she shrieks as she disentangles her arms and legs from around his body. With blond hair flying in different directions, she rounds on him, "Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps I…I love you?"
"You don't," he says quietly as he folds his arms. "I thought we agreed on no strings attached, Lavender."
She glares at him, "That was you, not me, Ronald… I never agreed to it, but then perhaps you were too drunk to remember." She flips her long mane of blond hair behind her shoulder and turns around, "I will not be used."
"Yeah?" he smirks, "It's not nice, is it, Lavender?"
She stamps her foot and mutters something unintelligible before sashaying back the way they came. I close my eyes and count to ten to relieve the tension building up. All I want is peace and quiet and it looks like I am not getting it today. I release Harry and I sit down in his vacated seat. I reach for his half-empty glass of orange juice and I down it in one go.
"No strings attached, Ron?" Harry comments as he sits next to me. I instinctively reach for his hand, interlocking our fingers together.
"What do you care, Harry? You have what you need. What I do in my own time is no concern of yours."
"Yeah?" he smirks, "You won't find anyone if you keep on behaving like a spoilt child."
He glowers, "I had someone before my so-called best friend stole her from me."
Sighing softly, I shake my head, "Grow up, Ronald. We are not in school anymore. You had your chance and you blew it more times than I care to count. I love Harry and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it."
"You mean you are not in school anymore?" he states. "From what I've heard you are going to a muggle university. What witch or wizard in their right mind would do that?" he asks as he sits down and helps himself to orange juice and a piece of toast.
Harry tenses next to me and I quickly turn towards him. I squeeze his hand letting him know I'm okay. He relaxes but not completely and he keeps his eyes firmly glued to Ron's face.
"I want a normal life free of Hogwarts and everything magical, Ronald," I reply, thinking back to the conversation I had with Harry when I received the letter from the university. Our conversation became heated and almost unbearable while I explained my reasons to him.
"You will never be normal. You are a witch, Hermione," he observes and I roll my eyes.
"How very observant of you, Ronald," I say as evenly as I possibly can even though there is a definite tremor in my voice. A tremor Harry only understands. He knows I don't want him to go back and that I am afraid the nightmares will return because he will be staying at Hogwarts in between school holidays and the occasional long weekends.
"Cut it out with the sarcasm, Hermione. I get it, okay?" he snaps as he tears his piece of toast in half.
"I don't know why it should bother you so much. You will have your best friend back, Ronald," I point out as I jump to my feet as I am sick and tired of his attitude. He is getting under my skin more than I realise.
"Who said I am going back, Hermione?" he retorts.
"You are" says Mrs Weasley, "Discipline is what you need and considering you refuse to listen to your father or myself, you will do exactly as I tell you. You will return in September, Ronald, and you will see out the year. Perhaps you will finally grow up into the man you are supposed to be, but this," she continues, "This irresponsible behavior will land you in trouble, if it hasn't already."
"And what man is that, Mother?"
"The man I know is in there…somewhere, waiting to shine through and that will only happen if you give it a chance. I don't want you to end up in the gutter."
"What man can I be when the woman I love-" he trails off, looking directly at me.
"I love Harry," I murmur.
"Do you really love him, Hermione or are you just trying to convince yourself otherwise?" he asks softly as he leans forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"I love him, Ron. More than I care to admit. I love him," I reply softly and sincerely as I turn towards Harry watching us…well me, closely. I bring his hand to my lips and I plant a soft kiss in the centre of his palm. He alone knows what it means and he visibly relaxes, "I love you," I mouth as I return his hand to my lap.
"And we are moving into our own apartment in a couple of weeks," I continue as I warily look at Ron, not knowing what I will see. I don't know what I expect to see, but what I see is nothing. His expression is carefully guarded as if he is afraid of feeling too much. I realise I have hurt him deeply and that the chances of him forgiving me are getting less with each passing minute.
"I guess we can expect to hear wedding bells soon," he mutters and for once I decide to keep quiet as there is no point in adding fuel to the fire when he is this hurt and angry. We have touched on the subject of marriage a couple of times during the last couple of weeks, but we have not decided on anything yet.
"Do I really have to go back to Hogwarts, Mum?" he asks, pushing himself away from the table.
"You do and Ginny will be returning as well," she replies and this thought fills me with dread. What if she makes a move on Harry? What if Harry allows it? Will he really allow it? The thought of not seeing him or waking up next to him is too much. I hastily get to my feet and excuse myself. I bolt out into the back garden and I make my way to the swing George and Harry installed a couple of weeks ago beneath one of the trees in their garden. I sit down and stare resolutely at nothing in particular. That is not the only thing I am concerned about. For the last week or so I have been feeling out of sorts and out of whack and I don't know why. I sleep well. I eat well and I have gained a pound or two, which is a good thing considering I lost a lot of weight during our search for horcruxes and being constantly one step ahead of the body snatchers. I don't know if it is anxiety about moving in with Harry or anxiety about this essay I have to put together before they will accept me as a sophomore student.
"I thought I'd find you here."
"I needed to think, that is all."
"What's wrong, Mione?" he asks as he crouches in front of me.
I sigh, "I don't want you to go back, Harry. Do you really have to go back?"
He tilts his head to the side and frowns, "If you don't want me to go, Mione, then tell me."
I regard him for a minute, "Even if I asked you to stay, you won't."
He sighs and lifts his hand to my cheek, "It's only for a year, my love."
"A year too long," I whisper over the lump forming in my throat, "Please don't go. I don't want to be alone."
"Love," he sighs, "Do I really have a choice? The school needs a teacher and I need to complete my education so that I can give you the life you deserve. So that I can build a home for any children we may have together…and besides once you have been accepted into university, you are not going to have much time to think about me as you will be too busy studying like the dedicated student you are."
Biting my lip, I look him in the eye, "Harry, I have been feeling out of sorts for the last week or two-"
"I know…I figured that out myself. Do you know why?" he asks.
I shake my head, "No, I haven't figured that part out just yet."
"Mmm…I think you are overly anxious and that is to be expected considering the challenges we have faced so far. You just need to relax a bit. That is all. Come," he says softly as he reaches my hands and pulls me to my feet. Laughing, I stumble into his arms and kiss him, earning a rumble of appreciation from him and he wraps me securely in his arms. I tighten my arms around him and I tuck my head beneath his chin.
"I love being in your arms like this," I whisper. "It makes me happy and contented, as if nothing can go wrong in the world we've created for ourselves."
"I love holding you in my arms like this, Mione. You have no idea how happy it makes me to know that you love me."
"What would you like for your birthday?" I whisper.
He laughs. "I have everything I want and need right here in my arms, my love."
"There must be something I can give to you," I muse.
"Well, there is one thing," he whispers as he gazes at me with all the love in his eyes for me.
"What?" I murmur over the unexpected thudding of my heart. Grinning at me, he tilts my head to the side and whispers what he wants from me. By the time he has finished with his request, a warm flush has covered my entire body making me feel completely flustered.
"Harry," I breathe, "You can't be serious."
"I am, my sweet girl and I know you will give me exactly what I want…Now, before we get carried away, why don't we go for a walk?"
"Mmm," I muse, "That sounds like an excellent idea. Anything to clear my head from my feelings of despair."
"Despair?" he frowns, "Why do you say that?"
I shrug my shoulders, "I don't know. It just popped out…Now, are we going for a walk or not?" I ask as I grab his hand and start tugging him towards the field beyond the Weasley's garage.
"It just popped out?" he asks incredulously and I start laughing.
"Yes, it just popped out… Now, are we going for a walk or not?" I ask as he tugs me back into his arms. He nuzzles my hair and kisses the tip of my nose.
"Yes we are, even though I have something more exciting and mutually beneficial in mind," he chuckles.
"Such as?"
"Now that would be telling," he chuckles.