Hermione walked down the stairs the next morning to see Harry sitting at the kitchen table reading a letter with the same owl from the other day sitting on the table. When she got closer she saw the look on his face which was projecting nothing but happiness.
"I take it everything went well last night then by the look on your face" Hermione announced her presence leaning against the door frame with a smile of her own on her face. She laughed out loud when Harry jumped off the chair and nearly landed on the floor.
"Gods 'Mione. Give me a heart attack next time why don't you?" Harry said as he settled into the chair again. "And yes, it did. We decided to call a truce and I think that we could become friends."
"Is that why he owled you this morning?"
"Kinda. He's just relaying a message from his mum that's all." Harry answered distractedly. He was re-reading the message trying to find the best way to respond. "On another note, why don't we have Bill, Charlie, Fred and Ron over for dinner tonight?"
"Uhm, yeah. Sounds great." Harry looked up at the tone of Hermione's voice and that's when he noticed the look on his face. He wordlessly opened his arms and moved the chair back in invitation for her to come and sit down and talk. She ran over and basically jumped on him. As she looked up, Harry noticed she had tears in her eyes.
"Oh babe. What happened?" She just looked up at him and the dam broke. He did nothing but hold her and rub her back to try to calm her down. He felt terrible. How had he been so wrapped up in his own happiness that he hadn't noticed hers? He hadn't even checked in on her last night and now he felt incredibly guilty. He felt like he let her down which made him want to cry, but he stayed strong for her.
"I broke up with him last night Harry. I couldn't be with him anymore. I was so unhappy and I just couldn't do it anymore. He said..."
"What did he say babe? I'm here for you. He urged her to continue.
"He said that going back to Hogwarts was a stupid idea, he's not going back because it's childish."
"No 'Mione. He's the one being childish, not us. If we want to better ourselves then so be it."
"Yeah but he doesn't realize that he wouldn't be anywhere without you. He wouldn't be one of the most popular names in the wizarding world; he wouldn't have been offered that stupid fucking apprentice with the aurous. He would be absolutely nothing without you."
"It's traineeship 'Mione."
"I don't give a fuck what it is; it's still because of you that he got it!"
"But this argument isn't with me Hermione, surely you realize that right? This is about you and his jealousy. Surely you can see that now?" Hermione just looked at him like He had grown another head.
"Jealousy? What has he got to be jealous about?"
"Do you really need to ask? Of you, of me and of us. I've thought this for a while now, but I've kept it to myself because of who he was to you, but honestly 'Mione, Ron and I have been on the outs ever since he left at Christmas. No stop." He put his hand up to stop her from interrupting. "Yes, I know he apologized but that doesn't stop what happens in my head. Every time he's done something wrong, he apologizes and we let it go, but it actually hasn't solved a single thing.
"The things he said that night were absolutely horrible and as hard as I try I can't forgive him, I can't. He brought my parents up 'Mione. My parents that died for me, for the wizarding world, to protect everyone and he brought it up like it was nothing. Don't forget everything else. Second year, fourth year. Because I can't 'Mione, as much as I would love to, I can't. This is the straw that breaks the camels back because he's hurt you now too and that's just a step too far in my books. Anyone, and I mean anyone that makes you cry, makes me angry. I'm sorry Hermione, but enough is enough."
Hermione looked up and smiled slightly. "Let's get the boys over and have a night in with drinks and dinner. I'll tell them not to bring Ron and we shall get drunk and forget. But I want you to remember, not just now, not just tonight but forever that I love you 'Mione. We stick together and I know we'll be okay because we always are. You and me."
"I love you too Harry. I can never thank you enough." She leant on him and wrapped her arms around him. All Harry could do at the point was lean down and kiss her on the forehead.
The floo alarm went off alerting Harry and Hermione to Bill, Charlie and George's arrival. Harry called out letting them know they were in the kitchen.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Charlie joked. "This looks cosy"
"Sit down you prat and have a drink. There's enough here to give half of Africa with alcohol and still have enough left for us" Harry gestured to the seats around the table. "I ordered pizza for dinner and we're going to eat, drink and forget."
"I love when Harrykins takes charge, don't you Bill?" Bill had stepped into Fred's shoes after the war. He had taken over the care for George, he was the only one George had let get close enough. Probably because he reminded him the least of Fred. Harry knew that George felt a little guilty for 'replacing' Fred but they had constantly reminded him that he wasn't. Fred would of wanted him to be happy.
The drinks started flowing, the pizza arrived and then George being George had suggested playing some stupid drinking game. Harry didn't think it was anything special, but he played along. With lots of laughs had by all, and talking about everything but nothing. By 10 that night they were all pretty drunk. As Harry looked up he realized he was once again staring at Charlie. Harry's thoughts where a little all over the place. He needed to talk to Hermione and he needed to talk to her now!
"'Mione, Kitchen please. Now!" Hermione got up and walked, well attempted to, towards the kitchen.
"What's wrong Harry?" She was slurring but tried not to. Harry whipped his wand out and hit Hermione with a sobering Charm. He needed her at least some what coherent. "Wow, okay it must be serious then. What's up babe?"
"Sitting here tonight and watching everyone, playing these stupid drinking games, which I mean is only making things worse because my heads already all over the place and now the alcohol is making it worse and I can't think straight, because I don't think I am. Sitting here and gah!" Harry took a deep breath and took a seat. He knew it was making no sense but he trusted Hermione would pull it apart and get to the right point. "I think Charlie's hot and I kind of want to fuck him."
Hermione's jaw hit the floor. Well, at least Harry still had the element of surprise behind him and for the first time since he had known her, she was rendered speechless. She looked down at him, and smiled.
"You don't care?" Harry asked.
"Harry," she took his hands in his. "No matter if you're gay, straight, bi or pans. You will always just be Harry to me. You are my best friend and I see you as my brother I never had, or knew I wanted until it was too late and you had firmly wormed your way into my heart to stay. I love you Harry, and I will until the end. Being Gay or Bi, just adds to your character. Who you sleep with, or want to sleep with and you need to remember not just now, not just tonight but forever, that I love you." Harry recognized the words he said earlier. He just smiled up at her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Go get them tiger."
That was all the encouragement he needed.
"Time for bed boys, come on" George and Bill helped each other up the stairs and automatically went to their room. "Charlie, uhm, Can I talk to you for a minute please?" Harry asked just as he was about to go up the stairs to his room.
Charlie nodded and turned around as Harry walked up and landed his lips on Charlies. Charlie responded immediately by opening his mouth and allowing his tongue to be touched by Harry's as Harry moaned into the kiss and deepened it.
"Upstairs, now" Harry requested. He felt rather than saw Charlie hesistate. Harry looked into his eyes, and nodded. "Yes Charlie, I'm sure if you are. I haven't stopped thinking about it all night. The things I want to do to you. I've never been so sure of anything in my life."
Charlie responded by grabbing him around the waist and placing open mouthed kisses on his neck. Harry dragged him up the stairs to his room. After placing silencing charms and a locking charm on the room he turned and stood looking at Charlie.
"It's okay to be nervous Harry. Come and join me on the bed and we'll only do what you feel comfortable with" Harry walked over as he was unbuttoning his shirt and dropped it on the floor. As he laid down he undid Charlies and ran his hands all over his chest. Lips connected again and Charlies hands hesitated at the waistband on Harrys pants. Harry nodded his accent and continued to play with his nipples, twisting, turning and biting them. The moans coming from Charlie encouraging him to continue.
Harry suddenly jerked as Charlies hand connected with his cock that was hard as a rock and pulsing with need . Harry moaned wantonly but he didn't care. He needed something to happen anything to happen. He jerked again as he was suddenly engulfed in a unfamiliar but comfortable warmth. As Harry looked down he realized the warmth was from his mouth. As he watched charlies head motion up and down on his cock. Within seconds he was screaming his release and he came harder than he had ever come before. He felt Charlie chuckle around his cock.
"God Charlie. Where did you learn to do that?!" He exclaimed once he got his breath back.
"A magician never tells his secrets Harry" Harry just laughed.
"I bet I can learn from you." Harry mentioned as his head moved down towards Charlies cock.
One thing was for sure, Harry fell asleep with a smile on his face that night, and a handsome man in his arms. That was the night that Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived-twice, the chosen one, the savior of the wizarding world, realized he was most defiantly gay.
