Reckless

Chapter Seven

"I think Derek and Penelope are planning something," a rather suspicious Harry said as he walked into the living room. Hermione craned her neck to look at him from over the couch. The book she had been reading momentarily forgotten. "They keep questioning me all week about our-well mainly my life in England."

"You know, now that you mention it, they asked me about you too," Hermione muttered as Harry jumped over the couch and plopped down next to her. She glared slightly. Harry ignored it.

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"Like what kind of girl you like," Harry furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at that. Hermione snickered slightly. Her brown eyes twinkled brightly with amusement. "Harry, I think they're looking around for a woman for you."

"But I'm content with life!" The pain of losing Ginny had faded into a dull ache. When he had first lost her, the pain had been consuming. It ate away at him like acid. He hadn't wanted to do anything, but Hermione had made him. She had pulled him up off the floor and gave him a swift kick in the rear as only she could: with brutal honesty.

"Yes, but will you be if I'm not living here?" Hermione asked. Harry froze. His green eyes were wide. It was common knowledge to the both of them that her constant presence was the only thing that kept him from sinking into depression. When she was gone for long periods of time, his mind would attempt to convince him that the past few years were simply a dream concocted by his lonely mind. Hermione had actually died that night inside Malfoy Manor. He was alone. Hermione's hand smacking his face brought him out of his depressing thoughts. She smiled slightly at him. Her hand fell away from his cheek as she elaborated, "Spencer and I have been talking about moving in together. Oh, I know it seems a little fast! But it just feels right, you know? Like-"

"Hermione," Harry muttered, "you don't have to stay here just for me." Harry reached forward and brushed a hand across hers to get her attention. "I'll be fine. It's not like you're moving continents away. You'll just be in Van Ness. Not that far away…" They fell into a comfortable silence after that statement.

Years of living together had given them an insight into one another's personalities that they hadn't had when they were teens. They could read into what the other person didn't say. Harry knew Hermione was worried about him falling into a depression if she wasn't around to remind him that they made it. Hermione knew that Harry was more than afraid of her moving out; he was downright terrified. But for right now, they wouldn't talk about it.

Harry shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Derek and Penelope had drug him out of his apartment to go clubbing with them. To officially welcome them, they had said. To Harry, it felt like a trap. Harry glanced back over at his sister. She sat curled up into Spencer's side. His arm was draped lovingly around her waist. Every now and again, he noticed Spencer would lean down and say something to her. She would laugh quietly and turn her attention back toward the man that was speaking to them.

"Harry!" He snapped his attention back toward Penelope. The blonde technical analyst pouted slightly. "I've been trying to get your attention for the past few minutes!" She glanced over at Spencer and Hermione for a moment before returning her attention back to him. Harry blinked when he noticed that her eyes were filled with sympathy. "You don't have feelings for Hermione, do you?" Harry let out a surprised bark of laughter.

"No!" He chuckled. Penelope eyed him closer. Harry reached for his beer and took a sip.

"You're not gay, are you?" Harry promptly choked on his sip. "Oh!" Penelope exclaimed as she moved to stand to help him. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" Once his coughs died down, it became apparent that he was laughing. "Oh, you're just awful…" Penelope huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Bloody hell, Penelope, no!" He choked out. "What's all this about anyway? In the past few minutes, I've been introduced to more women than I can count. I'm starting to think Hermione's theory is right."

"Theory?" Penelope questioned.

"That you guys are meddling in my love life," Harry answered as he took another sip of his beer. Penelope flushed slightly and looked away from his eyes. Derek said that he would handle it, but it had been a week since she revealed her plan to him! His way was just taking too long! Still, maybe he wouldn't have gotten caught in the act. He smirked. "She's right then, huh?" Penelope nodded.

"It's just you look so lonely!" Penelope defended. "I just…I don't know. You look like a kicked puppy each time you look over at Hermione and Spencer!" Harry set down his glass with a small sigh. The seriousness in his green eyes when he leaned forward took Penelope by surprise.

"Penelope, look, Hermione's been in my life ever since I was eleven years old. I have never had those type of feelings for her and I'm not going to start having them just because she's in a relationship. I am happy for her. Those smiles," Harry jerked his thumb in Spencer and Hermione's direction, "have been rare over the past few years." The intensity of his stare had turned his emerald green eyes to a deeper jade; and Penelope found that she couldn't look away from them.

"Oh…" Penelope muttered, unsure of what to say. In just that moment, Penelope had been exposed to a deeper side of Harry Potter's personality. If she hadn't been so in love with Derek, she would have found herself nearly swooning over the new agent.

"But, she is worried about me," Harry added. Penelope tilted her head. "That's the only reason I'm going to allow you to meddle in my love life," Penelope swallowed back a very loud squeal. "Not because I'm lonely…"

"You won't regret it, Harry! I promise!" Penelope exploded. Harry couldn't help but sigh that escaped him.

"Sure, I won't…" He mumbled. Penelope huffed and smacked him on the arm.

"Don't be so negative!" She scolded. "It'll be fun!"