Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!
...
...
Hari ran.
She ran and ran but the swishing noises of the large snake coming after her came closer and closer and she could practically feel its breathing at the back of her neck but she didn't dare look behind. She knew if she looked behind she would die.
And she couldn't die.
Not yet.
So she ran. She turned a corner in the sewer and found herself back at the large chamber and saw the handsome form of young Tom Riddle standing there relaxed and almost pleasantly. Like he was just waiting for his dinner date or something.
"Ah, you're back," he said. "Don't worry. The basilisk will be here soon."
Hari glared but no words came out and she tripped and suddenly it was like she couldn't move. The basilisk was right there coming closer.
Riddle laughed and it echoed around the chamber making it sound like there was a hundred Riddle's laughing.
"Why didn't you save me, Hari?" Ginny asked her pale skin even paler and eyes filled with accusation and hate. "You're supposed to save me! You're the Girl-Who-Lived!"
"I…I did…I saved you!" Hari protested.
"Liar! Coward!" Ginny accused.
"No…" Hari tried to say but her words clogged in her throat and it felt thick and almost blocked making it impossible for her to say anything.
"You were supposed to set me free," Sirius' voice suddenly sounded. "You're a failure, Hari. Your parents would be so ashamed of you."
Hari's eyes widened. What was Sirius doing there? He shouldn't be there… the basilisk hissed in the background but for some reason didn't come closer and all the while Riddle laughed.
"I sat in Azkaban for twelve years because of you!" Sirius said. "Twelve years! For a weak little girl who runs away from her life!"
Nononono…this wasn't right…
"What would James and Lily say about you running away, Hari?" Sirius challenged. "They would hate…"
"No!" Hari managed to choke out. "NO!"
Sirius vanished and Ginny was there again and looking at her with pained eyes and blood was flowing from her mouth and from her head.
"You were supposed to save me….why didn't you save me, Hari…you're supposed to save us all…"
"Why didn't you save my sister?" Ron cried angrily. "You let her die!"
"How could you, Hari!" Hermione looked so disappointed.
Hari's eyes filled with tears and she tried to break free from whatever was holding her down but nothing could get her out of it and she watched as Ginny collapsed and then Riddle stepped forward and smirked at her. Ron and Hermione disappeared.
"You're going to lose, Hari Potter…" he said. "It doesn't matter where you hide… I will always find you. You're going to lose, Hari Potter."
The basilisk lunged…
...
…Hari jerked awake and sat up breathing rapidly and erratically with the images from the nightmare still flashing in front of her eyes. She couldn't get them away and Ginny's pale face and blood…all the blood…and Sirius… She shuddered and pulled her legs up to her chest hugging them close as she tried to calm down. It was just a dream. It had to be just a dream. A very bad dream, but a dream all the same.
Right?
But it had felt so real. She inhaled and closed her eyes and for the first time noticed the tears in her eyes and the wet streaks on her cheeks. She rubbed it away with the back of her hand and sniffled slightly.
"Hari?"
Hari's head snapped to the door (she hadn't noticed the door opening) and saw Ryoga standing there with a concerned look on his face.
"Oh, Ryoga-nii," she said and looked away wiping at her eyes more forcefully not wanting him to see her cry.
"What's wrong?" Ryoga asked stepping into the room and Hari kind of wanted to tell him to leave but she swallowed the words back.
"Nothing," she said unconvincingly.
Ryoga was silent for a moment before he sat down at the edge of her bed and watched her with eyes that were so much alike Ryoma's. She glanced at him before looking away again not wanting to see the worry in his eyes. She didn't feel like she deserved that right now.
"I could hear you from downstairs," Ryoga said. "I was already awake, but…"
"I'm sorry," Hari said.
"No need to be sorry," Ryoga said, "but I would like to know what made you sound so scared."
Hari frowned but refused to say anything. Ryoga had seen and heard too much lately. She shouldn't have allowed him to be there when she talked to the Akiyama's. She had seen the looks he had given her like he was trying to figure something out.
He couldn't figure it out.
If he did, then he would be in danger…
"Fine," Ryoga finally sighed. "Just…don't keep everything to yourself, Hari. You do have a family that cares for you now. Alright?"
Hari looked up at him and felt tears in her eyes. The care and worry in his voice and eyes were almost too much. She swallowed painfully past the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat and nodded.
"I know," she whispered. "Thanks, nii-san."
He smiled almost sadly and reached out to ruffle her hair and got up. He walked to the door before he turned and smiled his crooked smile at her and some light was back in his eyes again.
"Oh, and happy birthday, Hari-chan," he said before slipping out of the room again.
Hari blinked. Right, it was her birthday.
What a way to start her 14th birthday. She sighed as she flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling with empty eyes.
...
Hari moved in what felt like slow motion and finished breakfast and watched as Nanako did the dishes (refusing Hari to help) and heard Ryoma and Nanjiro bicker while Rinko was reading some papers looking to be almost ready to go off to work.
Ryoga was also there looking like he was amused by watching his brother and father but Hari felt his eyes on her as well from time to time so she knew he was keeping an eye on her too. She really didn't want him to worry about her.
But what was more…no one had mentioned her birthday. She wasn't sure what to think about that. Had they forgotten? But Ryoga hadn't, but he didn't say anything now… She looked around at her family and wondered if they really didn't care about her birthday. Did they not remember? Maybe she should…no. She wasn't going to say anything.
"I'm going to go out," Hari said abruptly and stood up making the chair scrape against the floor.
"Oh, alright," Rinko said. "Are you meeting your friends?"
Hari nodded even if she wasn't sure. She wondered if they remembered…
"Okay," Rinko smiled at her and Hari just nodded in return and left the room and picked up her tennis racket just in case as she left the house.
She moved through the streets and wondered if she should make her way toward the apartment where Ron and Hermione stayed. But did she want to see them now? Hermione would see right away that she was upset.
Wait. Was she upset? Why? Hari paused and blinked. Why was she upset? It wasn't that she really cared about her birthday because she was used to it being forgotten or ignored. She never did anything on her birthday and her aunt and uncle had (at best) only given her a coat hanger or a pair of aunt Petunia's old socks. So, it wasn't that she….Oh.
Oh. She had thought that it would be different now that she lived with Nanjiro and Rinko. They were caring and both cared for her so she had thought… Hari felt tears press behind her eyes again and she closed her eyes while her hands clenched tightly into a fist.
It hurt that they forgot or didn't mention it. Not because she wanted to have a great fuss, but because she had thought they would at least acknowledge that it was her birthday. That they were happy that she was born…
"Idiot," Hari muttered to herself. What a thing to get upset about. They were busy and she was upset because they had forgotten her birthday. She should just be grateful that they had taken her in and that they allowed her to be a part of their family. In any way they permitted.
...
"Hari!"
Hari looked up and saw Ron and Hermione coming toward her and she spotted Bill and Charlie behind them again. She forced her face to relax and smile as she waved at them.
"Hey!" Hari smiled.
"What are you doing here on your own?" Ron asked looking around the empty park.
Hari shrugged, "thinking."
True, she had been thinking. About the fact that they had forgotten her birthday and the fact that she'd had another dream that was somehow connected to Voldemort. She had, in an effort to not think about her birthday, gone back over her nightmare and realised that the ending of it was strange. But there was no way that Voldemort had actually been in her dream, right? That he had actually told her that she couldn't hide and that she was going to lose? That was only her fear speaking, right?
It had to be…
"-ri? Earth to Hari!" Hermione called and her hand waved in front of Hari's face.
"Ah, sorry," Hari smiled sheepishly.
"No worries," Hermione said but looked a little worried. "Ryoga said you had gone out a couple of hours ago. He thought you had gone to meet us."
"Right," Hari nodded. "I was going to but got distracted."
"What…" Ron started but Hari turned to greet Bill and Charlie.
"Hey, Bill, Charlie," Hari waved. "How are you?"
"We're fine;" Bill smiled. "And you? Happy birthday, by the way."
"Oh! Happy birthday, Hari!" Hermione gasped. "We got side-tracked!"
"Happy birthday, Hari," Ron and Charlie said together.
Hari smiled but pushed the conflicting emotions away as she accepted the hug from Hermione before Ron hugged her as well.
"Happy…"
"…birthday…"
"Hari!" Fred and George said beaming before squeezing her in a hug between the two of them making her laugh.
"Thanks, guys," Hari said.
"So, what does the birthday girl wish for today?" George grinned.
...
Hari had fun going around Tokyo with her friends and visiting popular tourist spots that she hadn't really gone to before. It was fun, but at the same time, it was a little sad because she knew that they would leave the next day.
"I don't want you to leave," Hari admitted when they were at Tokyo Tower.
"We don't want to either," Hermione said. "I wish we could stay longer, but…"
"Your parents would want you back home now," Hari said.
"Mum and dad are asking what takes so long," Ron nodded and glanced over at Bill who was talking with Charlie. "We did use Bill's job as an excuse and he can only prolong it for so long."
"I know," Hari nodded. "But at least I got to see you."
"Yeah," Hermione smiled. "And we got to see that you are safe and happy."
Hari felt a flash of guilt for having made them worry but pushed it way like she did with so much lately.
"I wish there was some way for us to talk," Hari said. "To stay in touch without using Hedwig. The flight is too long for her to make regularly and she stands out too much."
Ron and Hermione both nodded but didn't say anything and Hari missed the look they exchanged.
"Where too next?" Charlie asked coming up to them.
"I want to go to the beach," Ron said.
Hari blinked and looked at him incredulously.
"The beach?" she asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
"Why?" Hari asked confused.
"Why not?" Ron asked and she noticed that his ears started to turn a little red and she looked at Hermione but the other girl just nodded and smiled.
"Sounds good to me," she said.
Hari sighed but nodded, "alright. If that's what you want."
She noticed the almost triumphant look they exchanged and tilted her head as she watched them curiously. What was up with them now?
...
Ryoma sighed.
"We're sorry!" Horio, Kachiro and Mizuno cried looking equally depressed and upset.
"It was an accident," Oishi said kindly but he did look a little worried. "You didn't lose the coupon on purpose."
"I can't believe we lost it!" Horio said. "And today of all days!"
Ryoma rubbed his forehead as he wondered what they would do now. They had all arrived at the beach and were going to get the preparations ready before Ron and Hermione brought Hari here for a surprise birthday party. Kawamura had gotten a coupon from his father to use at a restaurant here on the beach and they would get the free food and location for a great party, but now the coupon was lost and Ryoma knew they couldn't pay for it any other way.
He sighed. Again.
"What about you work at my store to earn the money you need for the restaurant?" a voice said from behind them.
They turned around and Ryoma froze while his eyes widened in horrified shock. His father, his stupid Oyaji, was standing there covered in bandages and watched them with a (creepy) smile.
"Um, eh," Oishi blinked.
"I heard you lost something," Nanjiro (not that the others had recognised him yet) said. "And I have an offer for you. You can work a couple of hours at my café and earn the money you need."
Ryoma wanted to bury himself in the sand. This was not happening… He could not be here with his Oyaji standing there looking like that with his friends right there… There was no way…He glared at his father who smirked behind the bandages. Why was he covered in bandages? Why… Ryoma sighed. Yes, again. He barely heard the other discuss the option but in the end, they agreed and Ryoma resigned himself to help.
Who knew that Nanjiro was helping around at a café at the beach at all?
The café was busy and it was chaotic.
Ryoma sold ice crème with Horio, Kachiro and Mizuno. They all called out in order for people to stop and buy while Sakuno and Tomoka served the tables together with Fuji and Kaido. Kaido scared the poor customers, though, with his fierce look.
He couldn't believe that Nanjiro had actually managed to con them into doing his work… He turned and saw him looking relaxed and happy gazing out at the beach and Ryoma didn't need to be told what he was looking at.
"I'll be right back," Ryoma said and walked away without waiting for a response and glared at Nanjiro who blinked at him. Ryoma grabbed his arm and pulled him into the alley behind the store.
"What are you doing here?" Ryoma glared. "I thought you were going to show up later."
Nanjiro laughed as he sat down at a box.
"Coincidence happens," Nanjiro shrugged.
"This is why you have been away from the house lately?" Ryoma asked.
"Well, you and Hari-chan are busy all the time," Nanjiro pouted. "And a friend needed help with his store so I have been helping out a little bit. Not that much, though…and there are a lot of bikini-clad women around too!"
Nanjiro grinned while Ryoma groaned.
"Why did you cover your face with the bandage? You didn't have that on this morning," Ryoma said deciding to not comment on the bikini-clad women part. It was best for his own sanity.
"I didn't want to be recognised," Nanjiro said. "And I'll see if any of the boys are looking at Hari-chan wrong…"
Ryoma shook his head, "you know they will figure out that it's you. I can't believe they haven't already…"
"Oi! Don't look that horrified by that, Ryoma!" Nanjiro cried dramatically.
"They can't know that you're my dad," Ryoma deadpanned. "I can't believe you actually did this…"
"Why?" Nanjiro demanded.
"You're so embarrassing!" Ryoma groaned. "Why are you so embarrassing? Why can't you be…I don't know…normal?!"
Nanjiro pouted, "you're so mean, brat."
"Stupid Oyaji!" Ryoma shot back and glared.
The two glared at each other until the door opened and Kachiro and Horio stood there looking at them uncertainly.
"Um…" they said and Ryoma almost groaned again.
"What?" Nanjiro asked carelessly with an easy grin.
"Can you come inside for a second?" Kachiro asked. "There's a little problem…"
...
The little problem turned out to be a rather big problem and Ryoma again wondered who was crazy enough to leave Nanjiro in charge of anything even if it was only for a few days. As it turned out Nanjiro had forgotten to order more food and now the fridge were empty.
Just great.
Customers were complaining and Oishi and Fuji had enough with trying to calm them down and apologize while Momoshiro and Kaido were arguing loudly taking their stress and frustration out on each other like they normally did.
Ryoma stared at the empty fridge from beside Kikumaru who was looking worriedly at the same fridge. Nanjiro was silent for a moment.
"Stupid," Ryoma sighed.
"Oi, brat!" Nanjiro said.
"What? I can't believe you forgot to restock the supplies," Ryoma shrugged.
"Oi, Ryoma-kun," Kachiro said worriedly. "Maybe you shouldn't…"
Ryoma glanced at him before he yawned. "I don't really care about all this and the café. We were supposed to prepare for Hari's birthday not be doing this."
The others shifted on their feet.
"Right," Momoshiro nodded and looked away from Kaido breaking their glaring contest. "What are we going to do now?"
Fuji looked pensive as he looked from Ryoma and over at Nanjiro before he smiled slightly.
"I don't think Hari-chan will care if we're at that restaurant or not," he finally said. "We can easily have a great time on the beach and ordering food from a cheaper place or something. If we all put our money in I'm sure we can make it."
"Yes, nya!" Kikumaru cheered looking cheerful again. "Hari-chan will like that!"
Nanjiro smiled slightly and turned his back at them before he frowned slightly at the empty fridge. He sighed and shook his head.
"I will still pay you, brats," he said before walking toward the customers and started to apologize for not being able to serve them.
"Really?" Horio stared after him while Ryoma shook his head and sighed.
...
Hari looked at Hermione who was talking with Ron about something and frowned. They were hiding something. She was sure of it. They kept glancing at the clock and had insisted on going to the beach in Chiba of all places and she wasn't even sure how they had heard of that beach in the first place. They wouldn't say so she had resigned herself to just follow and allow them to set the pace.
"You alright?" Bill asked looking at his brother's best friend.
"Sure," Hari said glancing at him and then over at Charlie before she smiled slightly. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" Charlie asked confused. "What for?"
"You must have better things to do during your vacation than to tag along with your brothers to find me," Hari said.
"Nah," Charlie smiled easily. "It's been a fun trip."
"I always wanted to see Japan," Bill added.
Hari looked at them and they seemed sincere but she was still a little worried. She hadn't seen them too much and according to Ron, they had been travelling around a little to explore the country while their brothers (and Hermione) had spent time with her.
"Still," Hari said.
"And we did want to meet you," Charlie said smiling at her. "Do you know how long we've been hearing about you? Ron's been talking about you in his letters, few and random they might be, for years."
"Fred and George too," Bill nodded.
Hari blinked at them a little surprised. They hadn't wanted to meet her because of her status as the Girl-Who-Lived? But because their brothers had talked about her? She wasn't used to that. Normally people immediately thought about her as the hero or the girl who had saved them from Voldemort. Only seeing that part of her and not just a part that was a normal girl and a friend like any other girl could be.
"Huh," she said but smiled a little.
"So, tell me," Charlie said with a smile that seemed a little too understanding but Hari pretended that she didn't notice that as she looked at him. "Are you really that good at Quidditch as Ron and the twins said you are?"
"Of course!" Hari grinned back. "I heard you also played seeker back at Hogwarts."
He nodded happily and they continued to discuss the game as the train ride continued and Bill joined in now and then. Hari didn't notice the warm eyes from Ron and Hermione as they had finished their conversation and was now watching her talk with the elder Weasley's.
...
"Okay, where are we going?" Hari asked trailing after Hermione who was looking for something.
"You'll see soon enough," Ron smirked at her while Hari rolled her eyes.
"I want to find Jiro-kun," Hari sighed. "Since we're here, I mean."
"Yukimura would be okay with you finding him?" Hermione asked looking over her shoulder at Hari who suddenly frowned. She remembered how Seiichi had reacted last time and grimaced.
"Hm, I don't know," Hari said. "But I won't stop being friends with Jiro-kun because of Sei-chan. Sei-chan knows that Jiro-kun is only a friend, though."
Hermione nodded, "you can call him later."
Hari sighed and looked around the beach and tried to remember if she had ever been on a beach before. She didn't think so. Her eyes lingered on the ocean and the vastness of it. She swallowed as she wanted to have fun in it, but…
"Come on, Hari," Ron said and she realised that she had lagged behind and she probably didn't want to get lost today so she hurried up to catch up to them.
They came closer to a large tent (though the walls were missing) and she froze when she recognised the people standing there with a large banner hung above them:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARI-CHAN!
What…? She blinked but they were still there and they were all grinning and cheering as they waved at her. It wasn't even only her team, but her family and even Seiichi and his team and Saeki and the rest of Rokkaku… and was that Keigo and his team as well? Everyone…
Hari wasn't sure how long she stood there frozen but then Hermione was beside her and pushed her gently in order to get her moving again.
"Come on," Hermione said smiling. "Go and greet your friends, Hari."
Hari glanced at her and she could tell that Hermione understood making Hari smile at her and blink away tears (stubborn tears that refused to go away).
Hari walked (almost ran) the last few meters to the tent and was immediately surrounded by the people that had become her friends here.
"Happy birthday, Hari-chan!"
"Happy birthday!"
"Are you surprised?!"
"Surprise!"
Hari laughed and smiled as she hugged them or accepted a pat on the shoulder or smiles. She didn't really care about the tears in her eyes (they didn't fall yet) anymore. She pulled back from hugging Keigo who smiled his confident smile and ruffled her hair making her swat his hand away and mock glare at him before moving over to his parents who both smiled at her. She hadn't seen them much since meeting them but she was glad they were there.
"Happy birthday, Hari-chan," Atobe Yukiko smiled. "Lily would be so proud of you."
"Thank you," Hari smiled shyly.
"James would too," Atobe Jurou added. "Happy birthday, Hari."
"Thanks," she smiled.
"You have to come over for dinner soon, okay?" Yukiko said.
"Okay," Hari nodded. "I would like that."
"Keigo tells us you have a boyfriend?" Jurou arched a brow as he looked at her and Hari knew she was blushing.
"Um, yeah," Hari nodded.
"Invite him over too when you come, alright?" Jurou said. "I would like to meet him properly."
Hari wasn't sure what to say so she just nodded and promised she would try.
She moved again and realised that she was in front of Rinko and Nanjiro now and blinked when she saw the bandages on Nanjiro's face.
"Do I even want to know?" She asked Ryoma who was standing close by and was glaring.
"No," Ryoma said.
"Eh?" Kikumaru said. "You know him, Hari-chan?"
Hari realised that they hadn't recognised him and she snorted as she looked at Ryoma who looked resigned.
"Stupid Oyaji," Ryoma muttered.
"I'm afraid so," Hari said with a longsuffering sigh. "Otou-chan has a way of making everything embarrassing."
"Otou-chan?!" Momoshiro, Kachiro, Horio, Mizuno and Kikumaru exclaimed while the others looked a little surprised. Though, she did notice Fuji smiling like he had already guessed as much. /p
"Yo!" Nanjiro grinned and removed the bandages.
"Idiot," Ryoga snorted from the side. "Poor Ryoma and Hari-chan…"
"Happy birthday, Hari-chan," Nanjiro said hugging her tightly.
"Happy birthday, dear," Rinko smiled warmly and hugged her when Nanjiro let her go and Hari felt a little stupid for thinking that they had forgotten her birthday.
"Thank you;" she whispered blushing slightly. "I…"
"Ryoma and your friends thought it would be nice to surprise you," Rinko said warmly. "And this time is perfect for a day on the beach."
Hari grinned and nodded.
Hari wasn't sure how she had ended up with Seiichi last but he had stayed back and allowed her to greet the others first and she had been aware of him watching her and smiling softly as he did. She wondered what he was thinking but she knew better than to ask.
"Happy birthday," he said when she stopped in front of him and she smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
"You know…" Seiichi said pulling her closer and she felt his hand on her waist. "It's normal for a boyfriend to know when his girlfriend's birthday is."
Hari blinked, "I didn't tell you?"
"No," Seiichi said gently, "you didn't."
"Oh," Hari said realising that she hadn't. "I…"
"Any reason for that?" he asked never looking away from her.
"Um, no," she said looking down and missing the frown on his face but he let it go for now as he reached up and cupped her face with one hand before pushing her hair out of her face again and smiling at her.
"Hm," he said. "Well, let's enjoy your party, eh?"
"Yes," Hari smiled and grabbed his hand in hers and turned back to the others and noticed that Fred and George were already having fun and laughing as they looked at Marui who was on the ground clutching his stomach. "Oh boy…"
Seiichi shook his head and Hari saw Nio bending over laughing hard as he clutched his stomach as well but obviously of a different reason that his teammate.
"The twins are on the loose," Hari muttered.
"They're funny," Seiichi commented.
Hari glanced at him and was relieved to see that he wasn't upset that the twins had pulled a prank on one of his teammates.
...
"Let's play volleyball!" Nanjiro called. "Hari-chan and Ryoma! You will challenge others and win us money!"
"No way!" Hari protested.
"O-oi…" Nanjiro stilled as he saw her and scowled. "What are you wearing?"
Hari stared at him not surprised at all that he seemed to be reacting to her change of clothes. She had changed into a bikini, though she had pulled a pair of shorts over her bikini bottom, that Rinko had given her.
"Cover up! Cover up!" Nanjiro said.
"We're on a beach, Otou-chan," Hari rolled her eyes. "So, stop acting like a fool."
He pouted and scowled at the nearest boy who happened to be Horio who yelped and scurried off. Hari shook her head.
"Stop scaring everyone, Otou-chan," she said tiredly. "And I'm not going to play volleyball."
She didn't want to at the moment. Nanjiro pouted more but pulled Ryoma away from his conversation with Aoi who seemed to be trying to challenge him in a tennis match.
"You two!" Nanjiro said and Aoi blinked.
"Me?"
"Yes! You and Ryoma will take on challengers in volleyball!" Nanjiro declared and pulled them both to the nearby volleyball court on the beach.
"Your dad is a force to be reckoned with," Saeki smiled stepping up to them.
"Jiro-kun!" Hari grinned but didn't hug him because Seiichi was right there and she didn't want to upset him again. "You're here too. I'm glad."
Saeki smiled and nodded, "Shusuke called and invited us."
"I'm glad he did," Hari said. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Saeki smiled. "Can't wait until our match, though."
"Tomorrow's the day," Hari grinned back. "We'll beat you!"
Saeki laughed and shook his head, "we'll see. Nice seeing you again too, Yukimura-san."
"You too," Seiichi said.
Hari smiled and squeezed the hand she was still holding.
"Well, I think I'll go and watch Aoi and your brother attempt to work together in the volleyball match," Saeki said and smiled at Hari and nodded at Seiichi before walking away.
Hari and Seiichi moved and talked with more of their friends and Hari were glad that Seiichi was there and by her side. Everything always seemed better when he was there as well, even if he remained silent and allowed her to talk to her friends and laugh she knew he was watching her and smiling.
Ron and Hermione showed up beside her a lot too and she knew they were trying to get as much time spent with her before they had to leave.
"Your dad is crazy," Fuji said coming up beside them.
"He usually is," Hari nodded and glanced at Fuji curiously. "Why is he now, though?"
"He has Echizen and Aoi challenge others and if anyone wins they will win a trip to Hawaii and if they lose then they have to eat at the café he helps run," Fuji said.
Hari groaned, "so basically Ryo-chan and Aoi-kun have to win. There's no way that there's a real trip to Hawaii…"
"Yup," Fuji laughed.
Seiichi chuckled and Hari dropped her head on his shoulder groaning again.
"Worrisome…" she said.
...
"Want to go for a swim?" Seiichi asked as Hari watched the others having fun in the water and splashing each other.
Hari stilled before half turning away from Seiichi as she shook her head. She fisted her hands and swallowed down the embarrassment and frustration. Yes, she wanted to go into the water and have fun with the others, but…
"Hari-chan?" Seiichi said gently and worriedly.
"You go," Hari said. "I…"
"Hey," Seiichi said turning her back toward him and placing his hands on her shoulders. "We don't have to if you don't want to. I just thought you looked like you wanted to…"
Hari bit her lip as she glanced at the water again before looking back at Seiichi who was watching her with so much care and she couldn't help but wonder if he would understand. She felt embarrassed. He would think she was pathetic…
"I can't," she whispered tensing.
"Sorry?" he blinked. "Can't what?"
Hari forced herself to look at him as she spoke, "I can't swim."
It wasn't like the Dursley's had ever taken her to the sea or the pool, or anywhere that would require her to learn how to swim. They would probably just hope that she would drown if she ever got into the ocean.
Seiichi's eyes widened slightly before they turned understanding.
"I can teach you if you want," he offered.
Hari wasn't sure what to do or think. She had expected…she wasn't sure what she had expected but she had not expected him to just offer to teach her. She couldn't help it as she threw her arms around him and hugged him. Though the feel of his bare skin (he was only wearing swim trunks) was enough to make her blush and feel warm all over and it was suddenly a little difficult to breathe…
...
Hari followed Seiichi into the water, it wasn't cold but it didn't feel warm either. She couldn't help but wonder about the almost silky feel of the sand underneath her feet and smiled.
"We don't have to go far," Seiichi said.
Hari nodded and laughed as Kikumaru ran past them splashing water on them making Hari move closer to Seiichi. Momoshiro and Kaido came running after Kikumaru yelling and laughing at the same time and she watched as Momoshiro threw himself at Kikumaru making them both fall into the water.
"I have never been to the ocean before," Hari said looking around at her friends having fun. Even Keigo had entered the ocean with Kabaji tossing a beach ball back and forth.
"Really," Seiichi said looking at her.
"My…my aunt and uncle took Dudley but they never brought me," Hari admitted quietly. She wasn't sure why she shared that with Seiichi, she hadn't really talked about her relatives with anyone here before (not counting Ryoma and her family of course).
"Where would you be when they went?" Seiichi asked quietly.
Hari was silent for a moment and Seiichi didn't press her.
"With a neighbour, Mrs Figg," Hari finally said. "She…has a lot of cats. Like a lot."
Seiichi nodded and Hari glanced at him before she smiled and shook herself out of her memories.
"I'm glad I'm here," she said. "I can't believe you all did this…"
"We all wanted to celebrate with you," Seiichi smiled.
Hari smiled and nodded and turned her attention back to the water and accepted Seiichi's advice in how to float in the water. She felt a little nervous but mostly she just felt a thrill of excitement.
...
"Get back here!" Ron yelled running after Fred who was laughing as he went.
"Really," Hermione sighed and shook her head.
"He got pranked?" Hari asked plopping down beside Hermione on the towel and accepted the extra towel from Sakuno to dry off after her time in the water. "Thank you, Sakuno-chan."
"Of course he did," Hermione said closing the book she had been reading. "He should know better by now."
Hari laughed, "well, Fred and George know him too so they know how to trick him, I guess."
Hermione nodded and looked at Hari. "You and Yukimura looked to be having fun."
Hari blushed but nodded, "he's teaching me how to swim."
Hermione nodded, "I guessed. I'm glad you told him."
Hari frowned slightly and worried her lower lip before looking at Hermione. "I'm…scared."
Hari knew she wouldn't admit that to anyone but Hermione. And she knew that she didn't have much time before Hermione left.
"Scared?" Hermione asked surprised. "Why?"
Hari looked over at Seiichi who had gone over to Sanada and Minoru who had also come to celebrate with her. She had seen him hanging around Ryoga earlier but was now sitting quietly beside Sanada who glanced at the younger boy but didn't seem to comment on the small frown on the younger's face.
"I…I don't want to be hurt," Hari whispered.
Hermione followed her eyes and looked at Seiichi as well before looking back at Hari.
"You think Yukimura will hurt you?" Hermione asked.
"I am not…" Hari trailed off a little frustrated. "What can he possibly see in me? He's so…perfect and I can't help but trust him and he's not even trying…No one has made me trust them so fast as he has, Hermione. I can't help but…"
"Hey," Hermione interrupted. "You're worth it, Hari. You're a great judge of character and Yukimura really cares about you. I can't promise that you won't be hurt because life isn't that fair, but…I think that you will be more hurt if you push him away because of your own fears."
Hari looked at her and then nodded slowly. She didn't want to push him away either, but if he was in danger because of her…the dream came back and she remembered Voldemort's last words, warning? What if that was real?
"Hari?" Hermione looked worried.
"I'm fine," Hari said deciding that there was no need to worry Hermione right before they would leave and go back to England. "Thank you."
"Hari-chan!" Keigo stopped in front of her and arched a brow. "You've been ignoring me, the Great Atobe Keigo!"
Hari snorted, "How rude of me."
He grinned and pulled her to her feet, "come on! Let's play with the beach ball."
Hari followed and smiled at Kabaji who nodded at her and wished her a happy birthday while Otori and Shishido waved at her. The latter looked a little gruff but not unwelcoming.
"Let's have fun, Hari-chan," Otori smiled warmly.
Hari nodded and laughed as she joined them in their game.
...
"Hari-chan told me you were leaving tomorrow," Seiichi said looking at Hari's friends, Ron and Hermione. Both looked a little sad as they nodded and looked over at Hari who was having fun with Keigo and his team and some of the others had joined them as well now.
"Yeah," Hermione nodded. "We can't stay any longer."
Seiichi nodded thoughtfully.
"Hari really cares about you, you know." Hermione suddenly said making Seiichi look at her. She looked almost sad.
"I care about her too," Seiichi said trying not to blush.
Hermione nodded slowly. "I know."
"She seems strong and she is," Ron said seriously. "But…she's also too used to doing things on her own and can be a little too independent at times."
Seiichi frowned slightly as he looked at them before looking over at Hari who was now laughing and almost hanging over her brother who had come to join her. He looked a little annoyed but mostly fond.
"What Ron means to say is," Hermione continued making Seiichi look back at her, "we know we don't have the right to ask you this because we don't really know you that well, but please; look after her for us. She has let you in deeper than you know."
Seiichi nodded slowly and smiled slightly, "so basically; don't hurt her, right?"
"Yes," Ron nodded, "but mostly just…be there for her. She's used to being let down."
"I hadn't planned on anything else," Seiichi said.
Hermione smiled more genuinely now and seemed to relax, "you must think we're strange. This is normally not the kind of conversation you have with your girlfriend's friends at this age, right."
Seiichi shrugged, "I don't mind."
They both looked at him with something he couldn't name and he had a feeling that they had been testing him for something. He just hoped that he had passed whatever it was they had been testing him for. He didn't want Hari's friends to dislike him or anything.
...
The party neared its end and people started to leave and Hari smiled as Minoru hugged her and smiled up at her (though he wasn't that much shorter than her).
"Did you have fun?" Minoru asked.
"Yes," Hari nodded, "thank you for coming."
"It was fun!" he nodded and glanced over at where Ryoga was talking with Bill and Charlie. "Um, do you want to come to my birthday party?"
"I'd love to," Hari smiled.
He looked like he wanted to ask something else but shook his head and just smiled at her again before stepping back. Hari blinked but didn't question it as her eyes landed on Seiichi.
"We have to go," he said. "Good luck tomorrow, Hari-chan."
"Thanks," she smiled. "And I'm glad you came today. It really made the day perfect."
She blushed and felt silly admitting it. Also, her stomach felt like it was going crazy with all the fluttery feelings.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Seiichi said with such certainty that Hari blushed deeper and smiled again. Suddenly he was closer and Hari held her breath as he bent down and pressed his lips to hers in a short but deeper than normal kiss. "Your gift is at your house. I had someone send it over earlier today."
Hari blinked dazedly before she found the words again, "you didn't have to get me anything."
"Of course I did," he said stepping back and Hari suddenly felt like someone was glaring behind her and she saw Seiichi glance over her shoulder before he smiled down at her amusedly. "I guess I should go before your dad finds another reason to hate me."
Hari snorted but nodded. "See you later."
...
They arrived back at the house and Hari still felt warm and happy after the day spent with all her friends. She still couldn't really believe that they had come to celebrate her birthday with her like this. It was the first time she hadn't been alone on her birthday.
"We won't be able to see you tomorrow," Hermione said breaking the silence that had fallen in the living room.
Hari turned and saw Hermione watching her with tears in her eyes and Ron and his brothers were also looking sadly at her even if they did try to smile.
"We have to catch an early flight tomorrow," Bill said.
"I see," Hari swallowed. "I guess I already knew that."
Hermione didn't seem to be able to keep it together anymore as she let out a sob and lunged for Hari in a hug and hid her face against Hari's shoulder. Hari hugged her close and inhaled shakily trying to keep control over her own emotions but she could feel the tears threatening to overpower her.
"I don't want to go," Hermione admitted.
"Me neither," Ron said pushing his hands into his pocket as he watched them.
Hari wasn't sure when they had gone but her family had left the room to give them privacy something she was grateful for.
"I wish you would stay too," Hari said. "I wish I could keep in touch…"
"Actually," Ron said making Hari look at him and Hermione pulled away from her sniffling slightly as she did and used the back of her hand to dry her tears. It was not often Hari saw Hermione lose control over her emotions like this.
"We have something for you," Hermione said. "A birthday present."
"Eh?" Hari blinked as they held out something wrapped in paper. Hari looked at them for a second before she opened it and noticed a black leathered book. It looked rather ordinary in Hari's eyes and flipping it open revealed blank pages.
"It's a special kind of notebook that allows us to write to each other," Hermione explained. "Ron and I have one as well. We'll have to share on, though. They are pretty rare."
Hari blinked looking down at the book and then at her friends again.
"So…we can write to each other?" she asked barely daring to hope.
"Yes," Ron nodded.
Hari didn't attempt to fight the tears now as she threw her arms around her two best friends and hugged them both at the same time with tears running down her cheeks.
"That's great," she cried.
Eventually, she calmed down and pulled back and again looked at the book.
"How does it work?" she asked.
"It's a charm that allows what you write in this to appear in a sister-book," Hermione explained. "Bill got it through his connections at work. It's something that they use in their work to communicate with other curse-breakers on other sites if they are on sites that can't handle a lot of magic at once. It's really fascinating, actually and…"
"Maybe we shouldn't go into it now," Ron interrupted making Hermione glare at him but stopped talking.
Hari smiled slightly, "it sounds fascinating."
Hermione nodded, "right? But, anyway, I thought it was a good way for us to stay in touch."
"It is," Hari agreed and looked over at Bill. "Thank you, Bill."
"No problem;" he smiled. "Though be careful not to lose it."
Hari nodded.
They stood in silence once more and Hari wasn't sure what to say or how to say everything she wanted to say. It burned in her throat but nothing came out and all she could do was hug them again thinking that she was going to miss them.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
It's finally time to say goodbye to Hermione and the Weasley boys. I decided that they had stayed long enough for now and it was natural for them to leave. I know it might be a little abrupt, but it just felt right to end their visit here. Though, they now have a way to stay in touch. XD
Hope you liked the chapter and thank you for reading and supporting the story! XD