The Ties that Binds Us
Disclaimer: They're not mine to own
A/n: I'm a H/H fan! I'm binging Harry Potter, as a thing I used to do every year until I got busy :/ I'm back in school and I need a little mind cleanser and writing helps… takes places 4 years after the 7th movie.. the war is done, and now they're living their young adult lives…
Summary: Harry was just dumped, and gone back to visit the Dursleys in Surrey, only to run into Hermione who is running from her relationship she doesn't know to how to end…
Chapter One – You
*Flashback*
"W-We shouldn't be doing this" she said in between kisses as he pulled her shirt over her head.
"I know, shhh" he said. He looked into her eyes, "Don't think, please," he said.
She closed her eyes nodding and opened it meeting his intense green eyes. "Alright," she said as she pulled his head down meeting his lips with hers and she started unbuckling his jeans. "I want you now," she whispered in between kisses.
He lifted her up, and entered her in one motion. They both released a moan not knowing that this was only the beginning for both of them. That their friendship would never be the same.
**End of flashback**
(Two months later)
"Hermione, are you listening?" a voice asked interrupted.
Hermione blinked and looked up from her laptop not realizing that she had been staring at the blinking cursor on the blank document. She saw her assistant standing at the doorway of her office. "Jill," she said, "you frightened me."
"Are you alright?"
She nodded, "I'm fine," she said.
"I'm heading home if that's alright?"
"Yeah, of course."
"It's 6, you aren't heading home yet?" she asked.
"Uh, yeah. After I finish this proposal for the case tomorrow. Besides, it doesn't look good if I go home before 9," she said.
"I could stay if you need help?" Jill said.
Hermione hesitated. She did need a little help with the research, but she knew Jill was a new mom to a newborn and her husband worked at night, and she didn't want to take up the time. "It's alright Jill. Thank you," she said.
Jill turned around and paused. Then she turned back around, "I could call my husband to bring James, and I can stay," she said. "Besides it's about to be James's bedtime anyway, so he'll be sleeping the whole time."
"Okay, if you don't mind. I'll call for Chinese," she said.
Jill smiled, "We'll get this case closed," she said.
"Yeah," Hermione agreed. She paused, "Thank you Jill."
Jill nodded and stepped out of the office to call her husband. Hermione looked at her phone. She saw the text alert, and sighed. She dialed the number.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Ron," she said.
"Hey babe. What's up?"
"Hey, I uh. I –"
He sighed, "You're working late again?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry."
"I guess it's fine. Whatever."
"Ron, you know that I'm working on a case. The first court is tomorrow."
"You're a paralegal Hermione, not the lawyer."
"Exactly, which is why –"
"Oy, it's your turn," she heard someone say in the background.
"Alright, Alright hang on," Ron said.
"Who's that?" Hermione asked.
"Harry. He couldn't go back to London since he and Ginny broke up so he's here. I told him he can stay in the spare room."
Her eyes widened, "You mean MY office. The one I work at when I work from home."
Ron groaned, "He's OUR BESTFRIEND Hermione. I'm not going to just through him on the streets."
Hermione sighed, "It's fine. It's fine," she said. "Tell Harry I said hi."
"Hermione says hi," Ron said. "He says hi."
"Hermione, I ordered the takeout," Jill said walking into the office. "Brian's bringing James in an hour before he goes to work."
"Okay, thanks Jill," Hermione said as Jill setted her laptop up.
"Okay Ron. I have to go. Jill's helping me write this proposal."
"Okay babe. Love you."
"Bye," she said and hung up.
"You okay?" Jill asked. "You look like you were hit with a log or something."
"Yeah, an old friend showed up."
"Oh?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Harry."
Jill nodded, "Okay. And how long has it been since you seen Harry?"
Hermione pondered, "It's been a while. We've all been busy. His been working-" she paused. She had to remember that she was in the muggle world and not the wizarding world. "He's a firefighter in London."
"And he's here in Surrey?"
Hermione nodded, "Yeah, um. He has family here and grew up here. He got out of a relationship a few months ago, with Ron's sister.
"You seem shocked, are you okay?"
"Yeah um," she swallowed. "It's just, Harry and I always had this unspeakable thing between us. Since we were kids. We just never acted on it, and then Ron started showing interest in me, and he backed off and started a thing with Ginny."
"So, you liked Harry first?" Jill asked.
Hermione sighed and nodded. "It was all so complicated and messy. But we made it through all our years knowing each other. It's been a long time."
"So you all went to school together?"
"Yeah, a boarding school in Switzerland."
"Wow, so Ron's been your first and only?" Jill asked. "I went through a few men to find Brian, and I'm only 25."
"Well, I'm 22, and I've only been with-"she paused and drifted off.
"Ron," Jill finished.
Hermione nodded. "Anyway, let us get started with research and typing this proposal, shall we?"
"We shall," Jill said.
…
Harry was sipping on the beer that Ron gave him. They had just finished dinner. Pizza takeaway.
"So, have you been back to the flat since you and Ginny broke up?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded, "I do go back to London for work. It's civil I suppose."
Ron nodded. "Had to get out of the Dursleys."
"Of course, I spent two months with them. Couldn't stay with them longer. It's just a few months until Malfoy and I find a place."
"I can't believe you and Malfoy are friends."
Harry shrugged, "He ain't that bad. We work together and we became friends."
"I can't imagine."
"Give him a chance Ron. He may surprise you."
"That'll be the day," Ron said drinking his beer. "So Herm said she's working late."
Harry nodded, "Alright. I guess I'll catch up with her tomorrow."
Ron nodded. "You want to go together to the Ministry?"
"Sounds good."
"Alright. Well, you know where the room is."
Harry nodded as Ron poured the rest of his beer into the sink and headed to the room. Harry leaned back on the couch and chugged his beer.
…..
Hermione leaned her head back on her chair and rubbed her eyes. She looked at the sleeping baby in the bassinet that was on the table. Jill was researching something through the paperwork on the desk. "We're almost done," she said. "I'm sorry to keep you here so late," she said looking at her watch.
"It's alright," Jill said. "Blimey, it's 10."
"Yeah, I can finish up."
"No, we can stay. He's sleeping anyway," Jill said. "And Brian is gone til 4:30am anyway."
"Must be hard," Hermione said.
Jill looked up giving her half a smile, "It's easier since James sleeps through the night. Brian gets home, sleeps, I give James his 6 am feeding, and then the 8 am and head to work. Then James takes over from 10 am til I get home."
Hermione nodded. "Thank you Jill. For your help tonight."
"That's what assistants do."
Hermione gave her a small smile, "I still appreciate you."
"Hermione, I know you have a lot on your mind. I'm here for you."
"Me too Jill. Anything you need."
Jill nodded, "Thanks Hermione."
"Lets finish up, and call it a night."
"I'm game."
…
Hermione walked tiredly into the two-bedroom flat a little after midnight. She noticed a figure in the living room sitting up passed out. She quietly removed her shoes and hung her purse and coat on the hangars on the wall. And hung her key.
"Hey," he said in a hoarse voice startling her.
She inhaled sharply and stopped. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"No," he responded.
"What were you doing sitting in the dark then?"
"Drinking."
She flipped on the light, and he squinted looking up at her. "Hey, Harry. It's been a while."
He gave her a small smile, "I know."
"Well, I-I'm going to bed," she said.
"He doesn't know, does he?" he asked softly.
She licked her lips and sighed. "No, otherwise he wouldn't have let you in if he knew."
He chuckled and got up. "I reckon I'd have a black eye," he smirked.
She gulped. He looked good. Why did he have to look so good? "Yeah."
"Well, good night, Hermione," he said softly and turned to walk down the hall to the guest room.
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and held the counter trying to catch her breath. He still did it to her. Everything about him. She cursed him for being there. That room was the place she could escape to when she didn't want to be next to Ron.
…..
Harry closed the door and leaned his head against it. He had been waiting for her. He just couldn't go to bed without knowing. It took everything in him from picking her up and bringing her into this room. It had been 2 months since they had seen each other. Two months since they touched. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't thinking about her. He heard the door close, and he sighed. He wasn't drunk enough. If Ron knew, he'd be losing the best friend he'd known. He was sure of it.
**Flashback**
(Two months ago)
He was downing another whiskey and didn't notice her.
"Harry," her voice said she was shocked.
He turned seeing her. She was in a black coat, a white blouse and thigh length skirt with two-inch heels. She was there obviously done with work. "Hermione," he said smirking.
"Oh Harry. Ginny told me she thought you'd be here."
He chuckled, "She called you huh?" he asked.
"Well, Ron's at the Burrow visiting."
"And you didn't tag along?"
"I-"she drifted off.
"Have a drink with me."
She sat next to him.
"Whiskey on the rocks for her," Harry told the bartender.
She sighed; she knew it would be a long night as the bartender handed the drink to her. "What are you doing in Surrey?" she asked.
"Ginny and I broke up, and I came here. I don't know," he said. "Staying at the Dursleys."
"Petunia and Vernon?"
"Well, it's only Dudley there now. His parents moved a year ago. Drink up. I'm five ahead of you."
She drank her drink and cleared her throat. "I don't know how you can drink that."
"It starts getting easier. Drink" he said downing his straight whiskey.
**End of flashback**
He shut his eyes and sighed. He started undressing to his boxers and got in bed. He didn't know what he was doing there. He could have stayed at the Dursleys, but he didn't tell Dudley the truth about breaking up with Ginny and being homeless basically. It's not that he didn't have money to live on his own, when Draco suggested that they be roommates, he was grateful, so he didn't have to get his place. It's only a week, and he was out of there.
….
Hermione walked out of the shower. She had her hair up with a towel, and another towel wrapped around her body. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She walked to the door and opened and looked at the sleeping figure on the bed. She then looked at her door knowing that across the hall another body slept. She sighed and walked to the closet to get clothes out.