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Chapter Eight
HarryPOV
Eighteen today, truth be told I didn't honestly think I would make it to Eighteen. All of our time at Hogwarts and our near death experiences I honestly thought I was going to bite it at some point. It still surprises me sometimes that I am walking around, but then the sadness kicks in at all the loss.
My birthday was always over the Summer and the Dursleys never bothered to celebrate it. Several presents sitting on the desk against my wall made me appreciate my friends. I had everyone warned that I wasn't having a party, Hermione and I had arranged to go and visit Hagrid before he headed to France.
He had made the decision to leave and go to see Madame Maxime. Charlie Weasley has agreed to take on Care of Magical Creatures, apparently he had wanted to be closer to his family after the death of Fred.
So we had asked Minerva and it was no problem coming onto the grounds to see him and spend the night. We would be staying in my teaching quarters tonight because if I remember anything it's that Hagrids drinks are strong.
I pulled on a shirt and jeans before tying my hair up at the nape of my neck and making my way out of my bedroom. It will be bittersweet to see Hagrid go, I know I will miss him but he deserves a chance at a future.
Walking down the hallway on the second floor I had to duck as books came flying out from Hermione room and down the stairs towards where I am assuming the woman in question was.
I followed the tomes into the kitchen where lo and behold Hermione sat with her back to me. She had her lesson plans in front of her and it felt pretty nostalgic watching her work.
"No work on my birthday." She turned and smiled at me before coming over and hugging me tight to her body. It was comforting and warm and something I hadn't experienced in a while.
"Happy Birthday Harry!" I thanked her as she handed me a cup of coffee and a croissant before I sat down and she handed me a, small thin envelope which was wrapped in golden paper.
"What is this?" She just smirked into her coffee cup as I pulled open the Ministry seal. Inside was a dossier on Elena Evans. Her work and personal address, some pictures of her at what looks to be a festival.
She was tall and as pale as a sheet with dark as night hair and bright green eyes which looked a lot like my own. A man held her on his shoulders as lights were pulsing and music pouncing around the arena.
"I asked Kingsley for a favour. It turns out she went to Ilvermorny to study her magic and is now traveling around Central America. From what the ministry found she is due to go home in September." I almost couldn't believe what I was looking at.
Snape and I have been exchanging letters with ideas about how to find her and it turns out Hermione is more clued in than all of us. It was probably the best birthday present and it only occurred to me how good Hermione is to me.
"OK, so lunch with Andromeda and Teddy, then drinks with Hagrid. I told him we would be there around fiveish and Minerva told us we could use my quarters at school tonight and she wishes you a Happy Birthday." She had it all sorted out, she had a birthday Cheesecake sitting waiting in the kitchen under stasis along with bottles of Drink for the Giant man to try as well as a present for Hagrid which I still l don't think is a good idea. A Tamagochi, she, said she seen it and couldn't resist, although the man's hands might be a bit too big for it.
"I am gonna go shower and change and then we can head over to Andromeda, is that OK?" I nodded at her and squeezed her hand as she left the room to shower and change. A soft Pop echoed around the room and Kreacher stood in front of me.
"Hi Kreacher, thank you for the Croissants they are delicious." He bowed to me and handed me a Miniature Treacle Tart.
"Happy Birthday Master Potter!" Before I could thank him he popped away again and I couldn't help but be grateful for him.
Since finishing Regulus job he had became a completely different elf. He had a black suit on with the letter B plastered on it. According to the grouchy old elf it was the Uniform of a Black elf before the generations became warped with madness.
He had cleaned and redecorated with us and he seemed a lot more stable also, he had even came round to Hermione. Especially recently when she testified for Narcissa. Helping out the woman was almost like helping the Queen as far as Kreacher was concerned.
According to the Front Page of the Daily Prophet she had petitioned for divorce. Rita Skeeter of course stuck her nose in where it didn't belong again.
MALFOY DIVORCE! The headline wrote, a picture of Narcissa and Lucius at some sort of event. She looked incredible and that mask of ice plastered on her face was enough to frighten anyone. Knowing her a little bit better now I knew that was not who she was.
Draco stood ever the Perfect Pureblooded son with his mother's hand on his shoulder. Ever since the Potions left my system I had been trying desperately to figure out who I was. After a very Frank conversation with Hermione as she confided in me her own orientation I felt a light bulb erupt in my head.
I like women but I also like men, all throughout my teenage years all I heard was Vernon and Petunia talking about Homosexuals and how unnatural it was. The fear conditioning in me from my time growing up with them made me try and be masculine but realistically I am not that person.
Looking at that picture of the Malfoys further reiterates how much that is true. Narcissa is stunning, but looking at Draco I knew he was what drew my attention. He was an incredibly handsome man and if I was being honest with myself then all of those years bickering with him, now I felt something completely different.
"Ready to go Harry." Hermione standing in a pair of tight skinny fit jeans, a black t shirt, my band shirt with a chequered shirt and converse was enough to break me out of my musings.
"Is that my shirt?" She smirked and nodded before throwing everything into her beaded bag except the Cheesecake.
"I love Van Halen!" Honestly sometimes I didn't recognise the person Hermione has become. She had adjusted quicker than I did after the war and had grown into a gorgeous woman.
Once the influence of the Amortentia we had been spiked with wore off she of course was the first to put two and two together. I had confided in her how I had stopped missing Ginny, rather abruptly after Ron had left, she had felt something similar and her true feelings about women came to light. She had told me about a small girl crush on Minerva of all people. It seemed around Fifth year she started noticing Ron when she hadn't previously.
Seeing her now she was like a different person, she seemed happier and more content in her life. It had taken us the long way around but life felt good and there was nothing we could do to change that.
"OK let's go see Andromeda." I grasped onto her hand and we spun away and came to land on the familiar lawn. Teddy was sitting in some form of baby chair and had an Umbrella floating above him.
"Harry! Happy Birthday!" The Black sister rushed to me and hugged me close to her before pulling away and repeating the process to Hermione who seemed taken back slightly but hugged her anyway.
"Come on in." She ushered us on in and I noticed this was a pretty popular muggle road and the Umbrella was clearly floating.
"I take it the floating umbrella is for our eyes only?" At her nod I glanced at my godson who was giggling at us approaching, Hermione beat me to him.
"Hey my big man! Look how handsome you are getting!" Upon Hermione greeting him his smile got wider and he clearly wanted her now.
"Hermione, stop hogging my godson!" She, stuck her tongue out at me and lifted the baby up to hold close to her. Almost immediately his hand sought out her boobs and it amazed me how attached he was with Hermione.
"The only other person he is that comfortable with immediately is Cissy! Don't tell her I called her that." She directed us into the kitchen where there was a small present sitting on the kitchen counter.
"That is yours on the counter Harry." I thanked her with a hug and opened up the envelope and it was season passes to the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch Matches.
"I am not galavanting around Quidditch Matches Harry." Andromeda snorted into her coffee cup as Hermione wagged her finger in my face. It was very reminiscent of a younger Hermione, complaining we weren't studying enough.
"Oh my goodness, you could have copied that conversation from my memory. Draco had a major episode, he was going out of his mind when he saw those tickets. Apparently the Holyhead Harpies are very selective about who gets their season passes. Lucius had been trying to secure them for years but he wasn't worthy. Narcissa has Draco well warned that if he ever did get season passes she wasn't spending her time traipsing around at Quidditch Matches." I could see a lot of similarities between Hermione and Narcissa. Bossy, Intelligent, Brave and Beautiful.
After hearing the debates between Snape and Hermione and learning Narcissa was Snape tutor when they were at school together, then I knew what kind of way the two women were going to react to each other.
"Maybe you should ask Draco to go with you. At least someone would get enjoyment out of it." I couldn't stop the blush from appearing on my cheek but Hermione seen it. At least she didn't say anything to me, she knew it would embarrass me.
I think she has known about my crush for such a long time. Possibly even before I did. In sixth year I became almost obsessed, granted considering everything that happened I had a right to be obsessed. That paranoid obsession soon morphed into noticing him as a person and a good looking one.
Ever since then even with the Potions influence I still noticed him, it hadn't gone away as I had hoped. I would have to spend a full school year with him. How in the fuck I am going to stop him from finding out? His Slytherin brain will figure it out in minutes. I have a crush on Draco Malfoy and I didn't know how to feel about that
"Oh Harry, your Godson needs his nappy changed and it seems he wants you." The little shit was leaning over to me and as I lifted him from Hermiones arms and got a pong of poop the baby giggled at me. I swear it's a conspiracy, even the boy has turned from me in aid of the two cackling witches.
"Convenient you always hand him to me as a bum changer." She just shrugged and winked at me as I kissed the baby on the head.
"Look he missed you." As he rubbed into my chest I rolled my eyes at the far too amused looking witches in front of me. Conspiracy I tell you and this little imp is joining in too.
"You both have a lot to answer for, I swear all of you ganging up on me is ridiculous." Teddy giggled the whole way into the house and I set him on his changing table in the living room and proceeded to change his bum.
Two nappies and toxic poop explosion later Andromeda handed me a bottle and I proceeded to take him up to his room for food and a nap. He was such a good baby and ate, burped and fell asleep on my shoulder.
I lay him gently onto his cot and activated the monitoring charm and realistically I could sit and watch him sleep all day. His morphed black hair had gone back to its original state. He had pretty good control over the change on his features but he always reverted back to his true self whilst sleeping. It was amazing how much he looked like Tonks, of course you could see some of Remus but he looked the spitting image of the pink haired auror.
I think it was hard on Andromeda, she had lost her daughter and became responsible for her grandson who looks just like her daughter. That's a small part of the reason why I come and visit every weekend, I don't want her to feel alone.
I know she has rekindled her relationship with Narcissa, it was good for her to have her sister back. I know I shouldn't worry but ever since the war she was always checking on me and giving me advice about things. She had became a substitute for something, I wasn't sure what it was. Either way she has became part of my family and having Teddy in my life means so much to me.
I want to be there for him, in a way that Sirius never got to do for me. I wouldn't waste a second of Teddy's life and would be a huge presence from his entire future.
Making my way down to the kitchen both women were inside now and Hermione handed me a small plate of sandwiches and a tea.
"I figured you would need a good lining in your stomach if you're going to be drinking with Hagrid. His homemade mead tastes like shit but it's strong gear. Remember if he offers you a mixer don't take it because you don't want to pass out." It was there and then I didn't know what I was in for. I had wanted a quiet birthday and once I told Hagrid that he offered to hide out in his hut.
"I have to say, the fireworks the other day was ridiculous, what is Ronald's problem with my sister?" I rolled my eyes and Hermione laughed lightly before taking a sip.
"I don't think it's your sister he has a problem with, it's Slytherins in general. He is so warped about wrong and right and who he deems to be unworthy. I am working on a Arithmetical Algorithm to determine how much dark magic a person has been exposed to. Mind healers isn't really a thing in the Wizarding world. Psychology isn't used and realistically after the war I think a bit of counselling and knowing you're not alone in your grief and pain would help." Only Hermione could be planning a way to save people from the horror.
"Theoretical Magic and Arithmancy was was not exactly my forte in school. Bella was dark arts through and through. I just wanted to pass my exams, I wasn't always the best student but I tried. Narcissa was always coming up with Arithmatical equations about everything, she would probably be a good resource Hermione. Are you hoping to publish your findings?" At her head nodding like a doggy on a dashboard I couldn't stop the laughing.
"I have a friend, she works for the Journal of Magical Innovation. She would publish your article in a heartbeat, if you come up with something let me know." She nodded and thanked her and we spent another hour just chatting before heading to Hogwarts to see Hagrid. I can only hope he doesn't get me too drunk.
-_-_-_-_-_-
Hermione
No matter how many times I stood at the Gates of Hogwarts it was always just as beautiful as what I remember it being in my first year. Everything looked exactly the same and you wouldn't have thought there was a battle fought on the grounds just over a month ago.
"Let's take the long way down. I wanna go around the lake?" I nodded at Harry and we were content enough to make our way around in comfortable silence. His hand holding onto my own as our memories came flooding past us.
"I can't believe how everyone rallied around each other. It looks exactly the same." I nodded at Hermione as we walked closer to Hagrids hut.
"I think Hogwarts means so much to so many people, seeing it destroyed and having the innocence of school taken away I think...people wanted that innocence back." I could see a small fire lit in the fire pit and Hagrid cooking on the Barbeque. Upon seeing us at the top of the hill he waved at both of us.
Hagrid is going to be missed by almost everyone, he felt like the glue that held everything together and once he leaves all will be different. Huge bear hugs and congratulations later he ushered us to sit down and handed us a drink.
I don't know how many drinks we had but around midnight and after a rendition of Dancing Queen Hagrid passed out and Harry wasn't too far away. When I rest my head on his shoulder I was humming go myself and the next thing I know I am waking up with a snoring in my ear.
I couldn't even move, I knew I had to get up but getting everything coordinated enough to stand was proving difficult. Harry's head on my shoulder was cute but I needed a Sobering, Hangover and Invigorating Draught.
"Harry...Harry...Harry get the fuck up!" I felt him jump awake with a, snort and grunt before groaning in pain as his head exploded. Slowly sliding backwards until his back hit the chair again, his hand came over to rest across his head.
"Merlins saggy ballsack! What the fuck was in that Mead of Hagrids?" I could just shrug at him as my voice was barely functional at this point.
"I don't know."
"Did we ask?"
"No Harry we didn't." It came out as more of a croak but at least I was able to speak, sort of.
"Should we have asked?" A small smirk and scoff from myself at this point told him everything he needed as he, smiled too
"Yes Harry. Probably." I could see he wasn't any further on, moving was difficult. I only had a couple of headache Potions, I needed to brew or else maybe sweet talk Madame Pomfry.
"OK we need to get up. On three let's go. One, two, three!" Neither one of us moved, and I couldn't stop the smile from overcoming my face.
"Seriously though, Hagrids soup is smelling funky I need to get out." Slowly we somehow managed to pull each other up and left a note for Hagrids to let him know we would be down tonight to say goodbye.
As the large wooden door to Hagrids creaked open the sun fell like needles in my eyes and it took a few seconds of black dots before I could half focus.
"OK, my quarters are five minutes away, I have a huge tub!" He groaned and nodded before we slowly made our way up the hill. When I said five minutes away I meant five minutes for someone who didn't drink their bodyweight in alcohol the night before.
As we reached the top of the hill I was met with the most curious sight. Running at steep incline at seven in the morning was Draco and Narcissa.
Full running gear which meant tight slippy material which was plastered on her body like a second skin. This is so inappropriate but I realistically can't help it. I most definitely have some form of obsession with the woman.
Seeing her run ahead of Draco up what looked like a cliff, I was not looking at her normally, I was looking at how her arse looks in her trousers or how kissable her lips were when she bit it.
"Oh bloody hell! Who in their right mind would chose that instead of their beds?" Harry must have looked how I felt because I realistically didn't know why anyone would want to do this also.
There was a ridge that came out from the mountain and across the black lake and hung over the deep water. She didn't even stop but ran straight out and leapt over the edge into the water. A gasp came out of my mouth as Harry grasped my arm in fear before Dracos laugh could be heard all around the lake and valleys.
"Showoff." He screamed after the woman and the next thing I saw was a small animal leap out of the water and from this distance I couldn't tell what kind of animal it was very well but Draco took a few steps back from the edge and slapped himself. He was jumping up and down trying to gain the momentum to run out after her. He seemed to close his eyes for a second before before running closer to the edge, screaming and launching his body from the edge before falling closer and closer to the water.
At the last moment before his body hit the water he transformed into the most beautiful white bird of some sort. His wings skimmed the water and he flew across and rapidly catching up with the little creature who was jumping out of the water.
"They are animagus? Both of them. Jammy so and so, Draco Malfoy is an Animagus." I shook my head in disbelief also, other than Minerva, and Rita Skeeter, I didn't know anybody else who was an Animagus. No one alive anyway, both of them had completed the transformation. I had been meditating to try and complete the first step of Animagus Training.
They had came to the boathouse and Narcissa had changed back into herself again and was getting out the steps and was soaked to the skin. My mouth dried up at the water falling from her body and I felt like one of those cartoon characters whos eyes fell out of their head and the tongue rolls from the mouth because Harry just nudged me and I caught a grip of myself.
As Draco swooped down and landed onto the deck beside his mother he grinned. It was the first genuine smile I had seen on his face. It was mirrored by her own and to see them both being so open and free was distracting.
"Always having to show off!" She waved her hand in response to him and with a wave of her hand she was now dry as a bone. He grabbed her arm and they got closer and closer to where we too were walking. Upon reaching the top Draco seemed to notice us and started laughing slightly.
" Wow Potter! Good night?" His loud voice was the first thing to register and the flinch that came from it made him laugh louder.
"Happy Belated Birthday Mr Potter." Harry thanked her and smirked at Draco before heading off muttering about coffee. A still giggling Draco trailed off after him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It was only after I conjured sunglasses did I register Narcissa was standing smiling at me. I just shook my head at her and walked away before hearing her behind me.
"Let this be a lesson to you, never accept a drink from Rubeus Hagrid, the mead is lethel." She smiled softly toward me showing her front teeth which were perfect. I just moved closer to the castle where I can doe in peace.
"Would you like a potion for that headache?" She was literally an angel, I would have had to brew all morning to soothe our heads.
"I would love one but only if it's OK." She nodded before taking me by the arm and guided me down to the side of the castle and down into a small alcove which led to a door. She pressed her hand against the door and it swung open for her.
"This is the door I used to visit Severus." My heart sank to my stomach, her and Snape, were they a couple? God, I don't think I could look at Snape the same way again.
"My goodness, I thought you were doing a good job of keeping those thoughts quieter but just now it nearly deafened me." I couldn't help but bristle under that and tried to bring up my defenses again and she bit her lip and was trying to hide a smirk.
"Come on in." She swung open the Potions classroom door and went over to the storeroom and produced one vial of some sort of Yellow Liquid. I had never seen it before and it wasn't a headache draught.
"I don't recognise this potion? What is it?" The smirk hadn't left her face in a while and I opened the Cork and sniffed it.
"Severus and I were sick of the complaining of Hangovers and having to brew three different Potions to use together and we just created one that could amalgamate them." I went to knock it into me but she shook her head and stopped it just before it hit my lips with her hand getting trapped between the vial and my lips.
She smelled of Cherries and Vanilla and I couldn't stop from inhaling as she got close to me. Fuck you could bottle that scent and sell it to crack addicts.
"Half a vial only little witch." I didn't know whether to be offended, pleased or aroused when she called me that. There is probably some freaudian reason for it but at this, present moment I just wanted to pin her to the wall and Bury my head between her legs.
At the blush and choked gasp that came from her I knew she heard me. I needed to get a hold of these thoughts before she thinks I am a lunatic. I slowly gulped half a vial into my mouth and left the other half for Harry. Instantly the pounding in my head stopped and I felt relatively normal.
"You should publish it, it's a great potion." She shrugged and was standing two feet away from her at this point, seeing her up close was very distracting.
"Maybe we will someday. How do you feel?" I nodded my head and thanked her because I feel incredible. I suppose Snape could speak her language, at least a lot more than I could. It makes sense they would work together as a couple. She pulled on my chin and aimed my face to look at hers before smiling.
"For the record, Severus and I are not a couple. Have never been a couple. My relationship with Severus is almost like your relationship with Mr Potter. Completely Platonic." I couldn't stop the smile that came over my face.
"The scent is homemade by the way. I make my own beauty products so if you ever want something tailor-made come to me." She deliberately did not seem embarrassed and was happy enough to just ignore my overshare.
"OK, I should go and make sure Harry isn't murdering Draco because of his hangover." She nodded her head and turned her back to me and I couldn't stop the eyes from drifting to her rear. You really could crack a walnut on that thing. She stiffened and I needed to keep my fucking shields up.
" Thank You again. I'm sorry for the thoughts and objectivism. I'm gonna go Bury my head in my pillow now." I went to leave but her finger slipping through the loop on the back of my jeans and pulling me back to her set my insides on fear.
"Don't apologise for what you feel Hermione. Sexual desire is not a sin." I couldn't look at her, I wasn't pressed against her body but I could feel the heat radiating from her at the close proximity. If I looked at her I will throw her down on the desk and taste Nirvana.
I could feel her fingers form a fist at the top of my jeans and for a second the room was charged with so much electricity I felt like I was attached to a, socket.
"Go little witch. Please." I didn't look back and just sprinted from the room as if my arse was on fire, I could feel the heat from my jeans where her hand just was and all of my own heat was between my legs.
I cannot do this, I cannot spend a year in this school crushing on this woman, its not going to happen I am gonna end up insane. I met Harry and surprisingly Draco in the living room of my quarters laughing. Fuck! I need a cold shower.
