A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. They will get longer as we progress. I'd also like to thank for all the support on the story so far. You're all amazing : )
Chapter 3: Arguments and Nightmares
Sunset was taking place when Hermione appeared at The Burrow. She was close enough to the house but decided to walk slowly and gather her thoughts. She looked closely through the windows to see the Weasley family settling down for dinner at the table. She was about to walk back and do a circle around the house, but a sudden pop made her jump.
"Hey, Hermione" Came Ron's voice. He has just apparated to The Burrow himself. "What are you doing outside?"
Hermione was lost for words a while, before answering "I just arrived. Where have you been?"
"I'm back from the Joke shop. It's really great there! George decided to stay in Diagon Alley for the night." His face changed to a curious one, "Where have you been?"
"I was at Grimmauld Place with Harry. Didn't your mum tell you?"
"She did, but that was in the morning. You've been at Grimmauld Place all day?" Ron asked.
"I was helping Harry settle in," answered Hermione, almost defensively.
They stood there a brief while in silence.
"Wanna go inside?" Ron asked.
"Um… yes." She answered and went to the door.
As they stepped through, the entire Weasley family focused on them.
"Ron, Hermione! You made it just in time for dinner." Announced Mrs Weasley.
"Where's Harry?" asked Ginny, her face rather anxious.
All eyes turned to Hermione again, "He's at Grimmauld Place."
Ginny shook her head "He didn't tell me anything."
Hermione didn't know what to say to that. She hoped no more questions would be asked.
"I'll be upstairs if anyone needs me." She told them and headed for the stairs.
"You're not eating dinner?" Ron asked.
"I ate at Harry's"
Ron's expression hardened "fair enough," but Hermione was already halfway up the stairs to notice. She entered Ginny's room and collapsed on her bed. What's going on with you? She asked herself.
Hermione decided to kill the time by reading a muggle book on Australia. She was looking forward to going there, and with Harry for company, maybe she will be able to relax.
She was only getting started with the book when a knock came on the door. "Come in…" said Hermione, surprised to see it was Ginny. Hermione grinned, "Ginny, why are you knocking to come into your own room?"
Ginny shrugged, "You looked like you needed some alone time. How are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm fine… just a little antsy today. I'm just worried about Harry; Today will his first day alone in an entire house all to himself, I don't think he sees it the same way I do." She told her.
"I wished he told me, I would've gone with him." Said Ginny.
Maybe that's why he didn't tell you, thought Hermione.
"I wouldn't mind spending some alone time with him; he's been very… distant."
Hermione couldn't help it… "When was the last time you spoke with him?" she asked.
"Well… we speak all the time, ish."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"We speak about Quidditch, school, Quidditch, the war, Quidditch, Fred… did I mention Quidditch?" asked Ginny, with a grin.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"He's just been… different. He hasn't really approached me about anything yet. It's just like we're friends, like everything that happened last year between us doesn't exist."
"I think he just needs time," said Hermione.
Ginny shrugged, "I guess… but how much? A week? A month? A year?"
"Ginny… you know how Harry is… he's always trying to be nice to everyone, making sure to give them space, trying not to invade privacy, being helpful and trying to stay out the way as much as he can." Explained Hermione.
"You seem to know him much better than I do." Answered Ginny.
You have no idea, thought Hermione, and smiled. "I've known him ever since I was eleven. Yet, I still feel like there's more to him than even he wants to know."
Ginny was studying Hermione for a very long while when another knock came to the door. "Come in…" she said.
Ron appeared in the doorway "Hey, Hermione… could I, borrow you for a second?"
"Sure…" she said and stood up to leave. She followed Ron to his room where Ron closed the door. She turned around to see him smiling at her, "What is it?" she asked.
"Well… I've been thinking…" he began.
"Interesting." She added.
Ron frowned for a second before continuing. "Since Harry is gone, and I have room for another person…"
Oh no! Thought Hermione. Please don't say it!
"I thought… maybe you could move into my room… since… you know." He finished, scratching the back of his neck.
"Ron… I…" Hermione didn't know what to say. She looked at him, his face gleaming with hope. "I guess, I could." She finished, I hate myself.
Ron's whole face lit up "Great! I can help you move your things!" he told her and manoeuvred to Ginny's room.
Hermione spent the rest of the evening moving her clothes and books to Ron's room where she decided to store them in her handbag; it was the safest place.
Ron wanted to merge the beds together, but Hermione managed to slip out of it by saying she can feel the flu coming. That left them with nothing else but to talk.
"So… what are your plans once Holidays finish?" Ron asked.
This very question has been in Hermione's head ever since the arrival at the burrow from Hogwarts.
"I think I want to finish my seventh year." She answered.
Ron looked up at her "Really?"
Hermione glanced at him, "why not?"
"Well… McGonagall said that you don't actually need to, you can pursue whatever career you want anyway. So, I don't see why you would want to go back."
Hermione felt rather affronted, "Because, Ron. I don't care if anyone will hire me… I want to feel as if I actually achieved something in education. All these years of studying and revising would've all went to waste if I just decided to leave now." It felt like a load off her chest once she said that.
"Well… I have no intention of going back. That's for sure." Ron answered with a cold voice.
Hermione turned to look at him, "So what are you planning, then?"
Ron was silent for a while before answering, "I want to run the Joke shop with George full time."
Hermione couldn't believe her ears, "I beg your pardon? You want to work full time in the Joke Shop?"
Ron sat up to look at her, "What's wrong with that?"
Hermione smirked, "Nothing… nothing is wrong with Having 'seven OWLs' and then advancing to a full-time job at a joke shop." She didn't need to look back at Ron to know he got offended.
"So what if I want to work in a Joke Shop? At least I'm not scared to leave school and go out into the real world." He barked.
It was Hermione's turn to feel offended. "That's what you think?"
"That's what I know!" He answered.
Hermione wasn't going to have it. She stood up from the bed, grabbed her handbag which luckily had everything she needed and left downstairs.
"Hermione, where are you going, dear? It's almost night time." Mrs Weasley asked as Hermione swarmed towards the door.
"I need some air" she muttered, as she disappeared into the night. She walked for a while, making the distance between herself and The Burrow, before deciding to apparate. She wasn't sure where to go, so she settled on the first place that came to her mind. Anywhere but here! She told herself.
Harry was sitting in the living room, warming up by the fire when he heard a knock on his door. Who the hell? He thought as he made his way down the corridor. Harry opened the door to see Hermione standing on the steps…
"Hi…" she said.
"Hi, Hermione."
"Is that request on staying overnight still available?" she asked.
Harry almost jumped up as he took hold of Hermione's hand and pulled her inside "of course! Come in." he told her.
They stood in the corridor, both looking at each other. Harry was the first to react, "Let's go to the living room, I just managed to get the fireplace started." As he led her down the corridor.
"Kreacher" Harry called as the elf appeared in the living room.
"Master Harry?" the elf bowed.
"You really don't have to bow to me every time, Kreacher" Harry chuckled and cleared his throat, "could you make us some tea?"
"Of course, Master Harry. Does the Mistress require anything else? Perhaps something to eat?" the elf asked.
Harry looked over at Hermione
"No, Kreacher. Thank you." She answered.
The elf disappeared into the kitchen, as Harry led Hermione to the sofa, facing the large fireplace.
"What happened?" He asked, "Was it Ron?"
Hermione felt something form in her throat, then simply nodded.
Harry sighed, "I honestly don't know about that guy sometimes… what happened?"
"We had a little argument."
Harry took hold of Hermione's hand, "Hermione, if it was a 'little' argument, you wouldn't have left The Burrow. What was it about?"
Hermione took a long time to steady her breathing before starting, "We were talking about the future, and Ron said he wants to work full time at the Joke Shop with Geroge."
Harry laughed, but after seeing Hermione's face, he stopped. "You're joking, right?" He studied her face a little longer, "No! You have to be! He wants to go full time in a joke shop? With nine OWLs?"
"That's exactly what I said to him! Then he started making fun of me for wanting to attend Hogwarts… he said the only reason I'm going back is because I'm too scared to face the real world." She finished.
At first, Harry looked stunned, then his face turned to something like anger, he stood up and headed for the door when Hermione stopped him.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I'm going to have a little chat with him…" he answered.
Hermione pulled him back to the couch as she said: "don't be silly, it's nothing."
"Hermione, he shouldn't say things like that to you! I mean… you're the bravest person I know. We wouldn't even have survived out there if not for you! How can he just go out and say stuff like that? It's bloody funny coming from him, considering he was the one who left us…" Harry paused, realising he said too much.
"I'm sorry, Hermione."
"It's okay… I just… I didn't want to stay there after that."
Harry looked into her eyes for a while. Just do it, you coward, he thought and closed in on her "I hate how easy it is for him to get under your skin," and then he hugged her. At first, she was quite surprised, both at his words, and at his hug, but she hugged back none the less.
"It's fine. Bill and Fleur are coming by tomorrow, you have to come… they have some sort of an announcement. I'll talk with Ron and maybe you can talk with Ginny."
Harry didn't look very excited about that idea at all. "Yeah… I think it's time I spoke to her about all this; I don't want to be a problem for her…"
Hermione didn't like where the conversation was going. "So, would you mind if I stayed round for the night?"
Harry smiled, "Hermione, I already said it before; You are always welcome to my home. No matter the time or hour, I will always be happy to have you round. That's what best friends are for, right?"
"Thank you, Harry."
They spent the rest of the night drinking tea and talking about Australia. Harry showed Hermione her room and left for his own.
Hermione was standing in the Hogwarts Courtyard, students and staff all around her. People were crying and children were screaming. She looked ahead and saw a figure in a black robe, standing over a dead corpse. She got closer amongst the crowd and neared the edge to have a better view. Right there, in front of her very eyes, lay the dead body of Harry Potter. She looked up to see Voldemort standing above him as he looked up right into her eyes.
"Harry Potter is dead!" he shouted.
Hermione opened her eyes to a pitch black room. One of the biggest pros of Grimmauld Place was how dark it could get, it helped you fall asleep so much faster. She crawled out of bed and made her way to the door, still shaking. She paused at the corridor and entered Harry's room. She was pleased to see that thanks to all the banners and posters, the room was a lot more reflective and bright. She could just about make out Harry's face, he was sleeping and looked more innocent than ever.
"Harry" she whispered.
Harry shook awake and looked right at her, he reached for the nightstand and placed glasses on top of his nose.
"Hermione, you ok?"
Hermione shook her head, "I had a nightmare."
Harry shifted on his bed and stood up to face her, "you want to talk about it?"
"No… I… could I sleep with you? Just for now?" she asked. She was still shaking, cold and afraid.
Harry reached his arm over her shoulders and led her to his bed. She crawled under his sheets, still warm from his body heat and waited for him to lie down too. He crawled in with her and wrapped the sheets around them. He reached his hand across to her back and started massaging it.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked.
Hermione nodded, "I just… never got used to sleeping alone. During the Horcrux hunt we always slept together in one room, and up to when I was eleven I slept with my mum. I just never got used to sleeping by myself."
Harry pulled himself closer to her, "I can understand. Not relate, but I understand. Now that I think about it, I haven't slept by myself for a while too. I guess you just get used to someone's presence."
Hermione curled up next to him and pushed her head against his neck. Harry noticed the need for company, so he embraced her and rested his chin on top of her head.
"Thank you, Harry." She whispered as they both drifted off to sleep.
