Chapter 14

Holding tightly to his hand, we walk into the Three Broomsticks, however he hangs back looking puzzled and confused. Biting my lip, I look away to gather my thoughts and to prepare myself for the question he is going to undoubtedly ask me. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes briefly and I finally meet his questioning gaze. I bring his hand to my chest and hold it there while he thoughtfully regards me. A small smile plays around my lips as I take in his light green cotton tee-shirt, the smart pair of beige three-quarter chinos as his sandals. That coupled with his mussed up jet-black hair and mildly amused expression, he looks incredibly attractive and devil-may-care…and it is enough to reach up and kiss the corner of his mouth as it quirks up into a smile.

"Hey beautiful," he murmurs, circling his arms around my waist, "Would you mind telling me why we are here?"

I take a deep breath and slowly exhale while I think of how to respond, however, he distracts me by sliding two fingers beneath my skinny jeans and he lightly circles the sensitive flesh just below my hip-bone. He knows it drives me wild and it takes a lot of effort on my part to remain in control, after all I still have my pride and after witnessing too many Lavender-Ron moments, I certainly don't want to stoop that level and the excludes what Harry and I did at Hogwarts all those weeks ago. The thought brings a hot flush to my cheeks, which he notices, because he tilts his head to the side and smiles softly at me as if he knows exactly what I am thinking about.

"It's your birthday and I wanted to take you out for the evening," I reply as innocently as I possibly can. I hope the others are here otherwise I am going to be very disappointed.

"Well," he laughs, "We are here, so let's grab a couple of fire whiskeys and drink up a storm."

"I'll second that, mate," says a very familiar Irish voice and we turn around, however, Harry slips his arm possessively around my waist and he discreetly slides his hand beneath my jeans to continue teasing the soft flesh beneath my hip-bone. I turn towards Harry and the surprise is unmistakable.

He shoots out his hand to accept Saemus' outstretched hand, "Saemus! How are you, mate… and your Mum?"

Saemus smiles as they shake hands, "I am doing okay and me Mum is just fine. Glad the Dark Lord is dead and glad with the decision I have made to return to Hogwarts in the Fall…and you…look different."

Harry grins and pulls me closer into his frame, "How so?"

"Well," he says as he steps back and eyes us for a moment with a puzzled, yet interested frown grazing his sweet face. To think he doubted Harry during fifth year when most people thought he was lying about Voldemort being back…I look away to my tightly clasped hands to distract myself from my threatening tears as an image of Cedric Diggory flashes behind my eyes.

During the Triwizard Tournament in fourth yet, Wormtail used the Killing Curse on Cedric and Voldemort's behest. It happened during the final challenge when both Harry and Cedric grabbed the winning cup that was a port-key to the graveyard where Tom Riddle's father was buried years ago…Cedric was not meant to go with Harry, but because he has always been noble, he suggested to Cedric that they could win the tournament and share the victory. None of it went according to plan and Wormtail killed Cedric.

It was devastating to all of us when Harry returned with Cedric's lifeless body and the Ministry of Magic tried to hush it up…and most people thought Harry had told a lie. The Daily Prophet was splashed with stories about The Boy Who Lied, when that was the furthest from the truth. I remember the pain and anger he experienced during that time and he confided in me, telling me about his nightmares and how Cedric's death haunted him. I think it still haunts him as he sometimes wakes up at night drenched in sweat and clenching the bedsheets in his hands.

"Are you and Hermione together?" he asks.

"We are," he replies without missing a beat, "And before you ask, Ginny and I did not work out just like Ron and Hermione did not work out and that is all there is to it."

He frowns, "I wasn't going to ask. It's just that everyone else assumed you and Ginny were together, considering the time you did spend together. I'm just surprised, that is all,' he explains.

"Why the tone of surprise?" I ask, shaking my head in annoyance.

"Um…Nevermind. It's none of my business anyway and I don't think we should keep the others waiting, Hermione," he laughs as he turns around and strides off to the centre of the room where the rest of our friends are chatting and having a good laugh about something. I notice Neville and Luna engaged in a conversation that draws her onto his lap. Compared to Neville - who is tall and big - Luna is small, with her blond hair hanging in waves around her pretty face and blue eyes. I also notice Dean and Ginny snogging while they both have tankards of God knows what them, but they sure seem happy to snog each other as if they are the only once here. Off to the side, sits Ron, looking as sullen as ever while Lavender is half-sitting on his lap. Both of them are drinking fire-whiskeys and my mouth positively waters at the thought of downing one of them. I am not a heavy drinker, but tonight I just want to be myself and I want Harry with me all the way.

"Are you ready to face them, Mione?" he asks softly while he regards me with utmost concern in the deep greens of his eyes. "Because there are going to be questions asked. They are going to want to know why we are together when they always assumed-"

I cut him off, "Why should it be of any concern to them? Nothing is as it seems, Harry. You know this as well as I do. We've known for a long time how we feel about each other and I am not going to let that lot spoil what we share…" I sigh and shake my head, "This was not what I wanted, Harry. I wanted you to relax and enjoy yourself. You of all people need it."

He chuckles, "I am relaxed, Mione. I was just giving you the 'heads-up' of what to expect from our friends…. Now, why don't we order fire-whiskeys so that we can get hopelessly drunk?"

I roll my eyes, "That coming from a teacher is unheard of, Harry. You do realise you will be teaching them?" I ask as we wander over to the table where our friends are seated. They quieten down and turn their eyes on us and I instinctively slip both arms around his waist, just to so that I can experience the warmth I have come to love as much as I love him.

"Yeah, I know. I am going to be teaching then. It's going to feel…strange. Imagine teaching your fellow school-mates?"

"Harry. Hermione."

I laugh softly. Neville always greets us as if he is seeing us for the first time. He shakes Harry's hand and then he wraps his arms around me. I literally disappear into his frame. He is like a big cuddly teddy-bear. Luna is a lucky girl to have him in her life considering her father died when he betrayed us to Voldemort and his death-eaters in a bid to keep Luna safe.

"Hey, Hermione… How are you?" he asks softly as he gently holds me away from him. He regards me with a slight frown and utmost concern in his warm brown eyes and his gaze is also affectionate.

"I'm okay. Thank you. You?" I ask as I wind my arms around Harry's middle.

"So," he smiles, "You and Harry, huh?"

"Yeah," says Harry, "Hermione and me. Not quite what you were expecting now, was it?"

"Well, to be fair and honest, it is not what any of us expected considering you were hot for Ginny… What changed, Harry?" he ask quietly as we take our seats opposite him and Luna. Luna with her blond hair and pale complexion and her eccentric ways. She's like a fresh breeze after a hot day and she always says the right things when you need to hear it the most.

She regards us with her too large, dreamy eyes and she smiles, "I knew there was something more between the two of you. Both your heads are full of wrack-spurts," she laughs a soft tinkly sound that seems to ease the tension Harry and I are experiencing. Everyone in Gryffindor always assumed Harry would get together with Ginny and that I would get together with Ron. Scowling, I look at my tightly clasped hands. The last person I want to think about is Ron and the way he always looks at me as if I am a piece of meat. I shudder at the thought and I move closer to Harry and his warmth. I rest my head on his shoulder as he closes his hand over mine.

"Hey, I've got you, Mione," he whispers for me alone.

"I know," I sigh, "But don't worry about me. All I need is a fire whiskey to loosen me up a bit and I will be fine."

"At least we can both drink fire whiskeys," he chuckles just as Saemus places two tumblers of the said drink in front of us, however he eyes Harry warily as if expecting to be reprimanded for the fire whiskey in his hand. I realise everyone knows he will be returning to Hogwarts as a teacher in the Fall. He realises it at the same time as I do, because he grins at the expectant faces around us.

"It's my birthday everyone. Enjoy yourselves. I only officially start in the Fall, so you needn't worry about me reporting you to Professor McGonagall or giving your detention. Most of you are eighteen anyway, if not nineteen," he chuckles as he lifts his tumbler and prepares to toast everyone.

"Happy birthday, Harry," they all chorus as we clink our glasses together, "And," says Neville, "May you and Harry have more happy days ahead, and frankly," he says lowering his voice to a mere whisper, "You deserve each other. You look good together."

"Is that so?"

I jerk back, nearly spilling my drink in the process and for the first time in my life, I see red. I jump up, round on Ron and I glare at him, "Why don't you just fuck off and leave me alone, Ron? I have made my choice and it is not going to change."

"Yeah?" he smirks, "I'll fuck you first and then I will fuck off. How does that sound, Hermione?"

"Damn you," I snap, "I am sick and tired of your attitude. I happen to love Harry and it is about time you accepted that."

By this point, Ginny is glaring at her brother while he makes an absolute fool of himself and for the first time, I realise he is inebriated…again and this time, Harry is seething with unbridled anger.

"I think you should go, Ron," says Ginny quietly but firmly and I am surprised by her attempt at trying to diffuse the situation.

"Why should I leave, Ginny? It is after all, Harry's birthday."

"You are not welcome, Ron, not when you can't even behave like a mature young man. This…whatever it is…has got to stop. Hermione has made her choice and you have to accept that…You cannot force someone to love you, Ron. You know this as well as I do…and," she continues, flashing Harry and I a hopeful and encouraging smile. My heart thaws slightly with her attempt at trying to be my friend and I return her smile…somewhat weakly as I am too afraid to move, considering Ron is now towering over me. I recoil away from him until I feel Harry's hands on my hips as he stands up behind me. He wraps his arms around me and holds me extremely close and he also murmurs protego, surrounding us in a protective shield, just as a precaution.

"Since when have you moved on so quickly?" he demands and then he snarls at her, "Fucking whore," he mutters. Ginny visibly pales and sits down next to Dean, who is barely keeping his temper under control. He wraps his arm around her shoulder and gives her a kiss and they exchange a few words. She smiles weakly at him as he gets to his feet. Dean is African and one of the nicest guys I know. He is tall, thin and lanky and quite attractive by my standards. He has always been interested in Ginny. They dated a few times during our sixth year, but when she made her intentions clear with Harry, he faded into the background, but considering he is here and treating her so well and with respect, I am grateful they are together.

"Please apologise to Ginny, Ron," he says quietly as he folds his arms firmly across his chest.

"Why should I apologise when we know it is true?" he asks.

"Because, contrary to what you and everyone else thinks, I am her fourth boyfriend… Second if you want to include the few months we dated in my sixth year."

I think my face is more shocked than anything else. It was never like that. I saw her literally with every Tom, Dick and Harry during my fifth and six years. She was never without a boy following at her heels. She was always seen snogging one boy or another…I realise he is trying to shelter her from further insults and for that I am grateful.

"Or we can escort you out, so that we can celebrate the rest of Harry's birthday in peace? Is that not why Hermione asked us to be here tonight? To give Harry a good time and in her own special way, to thank him for everything he has done over the years? Or are you going to be a git and spoil it for the rest of us?"

I feel Harry's eyes on me. Questioning my motives for bringing him here and with my heart sinking into my stomach, I turn towards him so that I can explain why we are all here, but his expression gives me reason to pause. His eyes are shining too brightly and a single tear slowly rolls down his cheek and I do the only thing I think of - I wind my arms around his neck and I kiss him just to let him know it's okay to cry. It's okay to feel saddened by everything that has happened and it is most definitely okay to cry because you are happy and by his eager and rather passionate response, he is happy. He tightens his arms around me and deepens our kiss until the sounds of our friends cheering us on fades into the background. He has kissed me many times, but this kiss means something far more…But what that more is, I would not know. All I know are the warmth of his lips melding with mine. All I feel is the strength of him as he pulls me intimately close…Close enough to feel the reaction I bring out in him and close enough for me to gently pull away from him…

I grin at him before planting a soft kiss on his forehead, "Let's party, Harry. You deserve it. Have another drink. Saemus?"

"On my way," he grins as he heads for the bar for another round of drinks…While we wait, I cast about for any signs of Ron and I am relieved to see his nowhere in sight, but that does not mean he is not around. He is more than likely lurking around somewhere in the back with Lavender hanging onto his every word while they both get inebriated.

"Hermione!"

I turn towards Ginny and I smile, "Thank you for what you did back there."

"I couldn't let him get away with it, Hermione. Frankly, I cannot wait until we are back at Hogwarts so that he can grow up. I can't believe the way he acts around you. It's immature and unnecessary. I understand his pain, but this is something else entirely."

"He'll get over it, Ginny," I murmur as I stare into my tumbler of whiskey, "At least I hope he will. He is Harry's friend…"

"Not anymore, Mione," murmurs Harry as he touches my elbow. "How can I be friends with him when he insults you at every given opportunity?"

"Because he is angry with me, Harry. Not you. He is angry because I hurt him…"

"And you still give him the benefit of the doubt, Mione? After everything he has done to you? After all the insults he's thrown at you? How can you keep on giving him the benefit of the doubt?"

"Because I have to try, Harry. That's why. I have to make him understand."

"Why? Damn it!" He slams his fist onto the table. "I don't understand. Are you sure, Mione, are you sure you don't feel something other than friendship for him? Because if you do-"

"I don't feel a fucking thing when it comes to Ron, Harry. How can I when my heart belongs to you?"

"Yeah, whatever," he mutters as he pushes himself up. I watch helplessly as he turns around and walks away from the too quiet table. I jump up, grab my bag and I bolt out into the warm summer evening. I wrap my arms around myself and I walk with my head bowed to the point that will take me away from here. If this is how it is going to be with Harry - the man I've bared my soul to for two months, then it is better if I leave and don't look back. I am not going to explain myself just because he is too stubborn to listen to me.