Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot (and I am a terrible updater, I know. I'm sorry.).

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

"Don't be afraid," Harry muttered, feeling how tensed Hermione was next to him. Her body was laying on the bed — his bed —, but it seemed to him that she was not truly with him, not fulling here, by his side.

"What is going on?," he continued with the same voice, calm and peaceful, the kind of tone that Hermione needed at the moment.

Her eyes were wide open, and she was staring at the ceiling, doing her best to keep a steady breathing. It was hard though, given all the things that were harassing her mind. She was trying so hard to remain calm, to not show any sign of disturbance, but Harry knew better. Harry always knew better about her, about her apprehension.

"I don't know…," she eventually answered. "I mean… I guess that I am not really comfortable to stay here after all, in your house, in… your bed."

Harry took her hand in a swift movement, and noticed how cold it was.

"You're still thinking about what I said earlier," he simply retorted, his eyes searching for Hermione's, in a desperate act to connect with her.

"Tell me," he insisted. "The last thing that I want right now is to not understand you, Hermione. Please."

His concern was amazing to see, and Hermione took a deep breath to stop cerebrating everything.

"Yes, I'm still thinking about it. I don't want to harm you, to harm James, or turn this situation into a complete mess."

She stopped for a moment and sat up, her feet meeting the warm wood of the floor. Her back was turned to Harry, and she was relieved when he didn't try to touch her; she was weak under his touch, so weak.

"I thought that everything was clear," Harry muttered slowly, making an effort to remain calm; but it was to do so, since he was starting to realize that he was saying the same thing over and over to Hermione, and that she didn't seem to understand a single word of his speech. "I thought that you wanted to continue this relationship with me."

Hermione turned around to meet Harry's green eyes — even in the lit light of the moon, they were shinning in a beautiful way —, and shook her head.

"I do want to continue this relationship, I really do. I've always put everyone first and… and I still do in a way. I put you first. I chose you, Harry James Potter," she admitted, a smile on her face. "But as much as I want that, I don't want to compromise James' custody. I think that I should… I don't know, maybe spend less time here. Maybe that we should just see each other from time to time. I mean… I know that you are going to divorce from Ginny, and I don't want to be in the middle of this. Maybe that you are thinking that I am quite selfish here, but…"

"It's not a selfish move at all," Harry cut her off. He smiled at her, not certain if she would see it or not, and decided to reach out his hand, giving her the opportunity to come closer.

"Come here, Hermione…"

She didn't think twice and snuggled up in his arms, breathing deeply his manly perfume in the crock of his neck.

"I think that it is for the best," she murmured near his ear, hoping that he would agree with her at least this time.

"And I think that you are right, as always… I don't know what I was hoping for… It is not an easy situation, and I don't want you to suffer from it."

"I'm not…"

"You are. I hate to see this, but I can observe how stressed you are these days. I know that I didn't do the things right with you, and I apologize. I am the one selfish here, asking you to stay with me just because I don't know what to do anymore, because I don't want to be alone…"

Hermione didn't retort. She just put a kiss on his neck, and hugged him harder.

"I've never been alone since Hogwarts, Hermione."

The young woman still didn't move nor talk, wondering if Harry wanted to open up to her this time.

"I've never been alone since a long time," he repeated. "Ginny was here, by my side. The whole Weasley family, to be honest. They were everything to me, the family that I could rely on every time. Truth to be told, at some point, I wondered if I didn't steal Ron's place in this family."

"You didn't…"

"I don't know for sure. Anyway… The past is the past. But I am not lying; I don't know what it is to be alone, and I guess that it is the reason why I want you to be around every day so bad. That's being selfish, not doing what is probably best for everyone."

"And what is probably best for everyone?"

"Your decision, my love," Harry admitted before putting a kiss onto her hair. "You're right, and I'm sorry for not having seen it before. I should learn to let you go from now on."

"Not completely, I hope," Hermione said with a shy smile.

"Not completely, of course, silly woman," he chuckled. "I could never let you go forever."

A month later

For the first time of the week, Hermione Granger knocked at Harry's door, using the few seconds before seeing him to fix her hair. It was always weird to see a lover after a few days. It felt… new, fresh, as amazing as the first day. She hadn't seen Harry during almost a week now — 5 days exactly, she would be a liar if she had said that she didn't know exactly how many days had passed since their last encounter —, and she was now more than ready to be with him, at last.

The first thing that Harry did when he opened the door wasn't to greet her with a smile of a simple "Hello". He did a much more primitive thing, and captured her lips with his own, not letting her a second to open her mouth.

"We shouldn't do this here," Hermione eventually muttered against his lips, and Harry let go of her, a smile on his face.

"Hello…"

"Hello to you too," Hermione chuckled. "Do you mind if I come in?"

"It depends," Harry said playfully, still blocking the way.

"It depends on what?"

"Do you plan to spend the night here or are you going to rush to your flat in a few hours, just like always?"

Hermione knew that he was playing with her, but inwardly, she realized that it was a real question. She couldn't blame him: since the decision that they made together a month prior, she had seen him just five times. Every time, she had ran away as soon as possible, with a last kiss as a goodbye.

"Please, let me in, and we'll have plenty of time to discuss."

Harry nodded and let her in before closing the door behind her.

"Give me your coat."

She did as he told, and headed to the living room just to notice how empty it was compared to when James was here.

"James is asleep."

"Good."

It was quite painful to know that this adorable little boy was so close, but yet so far, but Hermione knew that it was for the best; she didn't want James to be too attached to her, especially when Ginny's return was almost inevitable: she was still her mother, and Hermione didn't want to replace her at all. Moreover, it would be hard for the almost 2-year-old boy to see his real mother after spending so much time with her as a mother figure.

"So can I have an answer to my question now?," Harry insisted. "But before, tell me if you've already eaten."

"I haven't, but don't bother."

"I haven't either, I'll cook something. James was quite demanding today," he sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"I guess that he felt how stressed I am," Harry said with sarcasm in his voice.

Hermione bite her lower lip and gave Harry some time to check the fridge, looking for something to eat.

"Why?"

"I saw Susan two days ago."

"And?"

Hermione wasn't sure whether she wanted to hear his answer or not, but this short question came out from her mouth almost without her consent.

"And things are still going slow," Harry snapped. "But she is going to send Ginny the divorce papers before the end of the week. Well I hope so. The situation is driving me nuts."

Harry wasn't looking at her, and Hermione took a step toward him, eliciting a reaction from him; he looked up at her and gave her a shy smile.

"I'm sorry. It's just that it takes time, and not being able to see you… It doesn't help. But I'm happy to have you with me tonight, even if it's just for a few hours."

Hermione didn't think twice and erased the distance between them in a couple of steps. Her lips were on his in a second, and Harry let go of the mushrooms and carrots that were in his hands a moment prior to take him into his arms.

"I'm here now," she said after a last and gentle kiss to the man whom she loved. "And I can stay the night if you want me to."

"I want you to stay, yes," he muttered before kissing her again, like an a non satiated man. "Please."

"You don't have to beg me…," she chuckled close to his lips, happy to be reunited with him after so long. "But you still have to feed me though."

"Damn you, woman," Harry growled, amused by her repartee.

"Go back to work, Sir, I'll take care of you later," she whispered before gently biting his lower lip.

XxX

When she woke up, Hermione searched for Harry's body next to her, but her hand just entered in contact with the cold sheets. It was hard, but eventually, she managed to open her eyes, just to be blinded with the bright winter's sunlight.

"Harry?," she tried shyly, not wanting to disturb James.

No answer. After a few seconds, she decided to go to the living room, hoping to see him there. She put her sweater on, slipped into her jeans, and left his bedroom. Harry was in the living room, just as she had thought.

"What are you doing here alone?"

He was at the window, and Hermione quickly noticed that the window was open, despite the freezing cold outside at this time of the year.

Harry didn't jump when he heard her voice, but he took a few seconds before turning around to look at her. His smile wasn't a real one — the kind of smile which genuinely reach his beautiful eyes —, neither seemed to be his answer.

"I was just thinking. Everything's fine, go back to bed, you don't work on Saturday. I'll come in a minute."

"What is in your hand?," Hermione said, acting like she hadn't heard a single word of what he said.

"Nothing important."

"You are not going to start hiding me things, are you? Harry, please. Is it about Ginny?"

"I don't want you to be involved in this, Hermione…"

"But I already am!," she almost shouted. "Please, tell me what is going on."

The tension between them two was palpable. Hermione could almost feel the electricity between them, going from one to the other, making them more worried than they already were — and it was quite an achievement.

"Read it then," Harry muttered before walking toward her to take her the piece of parchment.

Hermione looked at him intensely before sitting down, the parchment onto her lap.

"Harry,

I've received your lawyer's parchment. Thank you very much, I wasn't expecting less from you after our last encounter. I guess that you're happy now: you are desperately trying to ruin my life and my career just for your own pleasure, as always. I am not going to let you do this, Harry. I know my rights, and I intend to take advantages of them, just like you seem to do.

Enjoy your last days of peace.

Ginny Weasley-Potter"

Hermione remained several minutes in front of the parchment, not knowing what to do, not knowing what to say after reading what seemed to be a declaration of war.

"She is coming," Harry broke the silent after a long moment.

"I know," Hermione retorted, her eyes searching for his. "What are you going to do, Harry?"

"I'm going to fight for my son," he answered, his eyes cold as the air that was entering from the window.

Hermione didn't say anything back, but inwardly, she was saying one thing to herself over and over.

She would be there for him until the end.