A Map of Good Intentions by Suzanne of Dragons Breath

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 04/04/2005
Last Updated: 04/04/2005
Status: Completed

“I can’t believe I’m talking to an inanimate object.” Hermione muttered under her breath.
Apparently the map heard. “Mr. Padfoot does not appreciate being referred to as an inanimate
object.”




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A Map of Good Intentions

Author's Notes: Based on a comment I made to my roommate (and wonderful beta), Lady
WhiteHaven. Why did you have to tell me to write it?

~*~

A girl with tear-stained cheeks walked quickly down the hall towards Gryffindor tower with a
book clutched in her hands as if it were a lifeline. Pausing before a portrait, she whispered a
password and quickly entered the hidden room. She walked into a smaller scale version of the
Gryffindor common room and flung herself down onto the couch in front of the fire.

“How could I be so stupid? How could I say that to Harry?” She shook her head and curled herself
into a ball as she watched the fire flicker. All she could see in her mind was Harry's face,
freezing in place and then turning cold as he turned and walked away from her after her scathing
statement.

She had watched him for a few moments, until she lost sight of him and then had turned and
almost ran back to the Head Boy and Girl's quarters. Her remark had cut Harry deeply and she
had regretted it the instant she had said it. But it was too late; he had run off.

“I have to find him! I have to apologize. I can't believe I said that.” She buried her face
in her knees for a moment before a thought occurred to her. “The Map! Of course!”

Standing quickly she ran to Harry's bedroom and opened his trunk. Pushing aside various
items she found what she was looking for. Grabbing the Marauder's Map and invisibility cloak,
she sat down on Harry's bed. She pulled out her wand, and tapped the map, saying “I solemnly
swear I am up to no good!”

The familiar lines started to draw themselves on the map and then paused for a moment, as if the
map were processing something. Leaving what it had already drawn it began to write something
else.

*“Mr. Padfoot would like to register his surprise that Ms. Granger would ever be causing
mischief.”*

*“Mr. Moony concurs with Mr. Padfoot and wonders if someone has cast a curse on Ms.
Granger.*

*“Mr. Prongs would like to add that as there is no way Ms. Granger would cause mischief she
must have made a mistake in activating the map.”*

*“Mr. Wormtail agrees and wishes Ms. Granger a good day.”*

The words disappeared and then what had been drawn of the map began to as well. “Wait!” Hermione
cried out. “I need to find Harry! Please!”

The lines paused in their erasing. Words again began to appear.

*“Mr. Prongs would like to know why Ms. Ganger is looking for* *Mr.*
*Potter.”*

“I can't believe I'm talking to an inanimate object.” Hermione muttered under her
breath. Apparently the map heard.

*“Mr. Padfoot does not appreciate being referred to as an inanimate object.”*

*“Mr. Wormtail agrees and asks that Ms. Ganger not insult him again.”*

*“Mr. Moony would beg that Mr. Padfoot and Mr. Wormtail wait as Ms. Granger is never rude and
there must be a reason why she is being so now.”*

*“Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony and is waiting for Ms. Granger's explanation.”*

Hermione sighed and was glad that the Head Boy and Girl got their own rooms so no one could see
her talking to the map. “Harry and I had a fight. We both said things we didn't mean. Well, I
said things I didn't mean and I hope Harry didn't mean what he said either…”

*“Mr. Prongs would like to point out that Ms. Ganger is babbling.”*

She wrinkled her nose at this comment. “Excuse me! I just had a fight with the man I love and
now I can't find him. I have to find him! I didn't mean what I said!” The lines disappeared
completely, much to Hermione's dismay. “No!”

A new line of text appeared.

*“Mr. Prongs apologizes for his treatment of Ms. Granger. Mr. Prongs would like to state that
he remembers having arguments where he said things he didn't mean as well. He asks Messrs.*
*Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot that Ms. Granger be allowed to use the map.”*

*“Mr. Moony agrees with Mr. Prongs and wishes Ms. Granger luck in finding Harry
Potter.”*

*“Mr. Padfoot would like to add that sometimes Mr. Potter is too much like Mr. Prongs and
might be found on the Quidditch pitch.”*

“The pitch…but it's after curfew!”

*“Mr. Wormtail would like to remind Ms. Granger that curfew has not mattered to Mr. Potter
before.”*

*“Mr. Padfoot would like to point out that after curfew is the best time to sneak out to cause
mischief.”*

*“Mr. Moony concurs with Mr. Wormtail and Mr. Padfoot, but also points out that Ms.*
*Granger is not looking to cause trouble.”*

*“Mr. Prongs agrees and believes that Ms. Granger should get going and wishes her good
luck.”*

*“Mr. Padfoot wishes to make Ms. Granger aware that now is the perfect time to get to the
pitch.”*

*“Mr. Moony* *would like to remind Ms. Granger to take the Map with her as she leaves on
her quest of non-mischief.”*

*“Mr. Wormtail wishes Ms. Granger a good day again, and good luck.”*

The words on the parchment faded and then suddenly the outline of Hogwarts was revealed. She
looked to the pitch and saw a small dot labeled with Harry's name. Reviewing the locations of
certain professors (One named Snape sprang to mind) as well as Mr. Filch, she donned the
invisibility cloak and slipped out the portrait.

Reaching the outside without getting caught, she tapped the map one more time and whispered
“Mischief managed,” causing the map to blank itself. She walked onto the pitch where Harry sat,
staring up at the moon and stars. Pulling off the cloak she sat next to him.

“ Mione.” Harry whispered. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and could see tracks
of wetness gleaming in the faint light.

“Harry.” She paused for a moment. “It's after curfew you know.”

Harry nodded. “If that's all, I want to stay out here for a little while longer.”

“Mind if I join you?”

“Free world. Well, mostly free anyways.” Harry said.

She leaned against him. “I'm sorry for what I said earlier Harry. I didn't mean it.
It's just… I'm under so much stress right now. NEWTs and graduation are coming up. Then we
are on our own, out in the real world. No Dumbledore to watch out for us. Voldemort constantly
after you…me…us.”

“I know Hermione. I can feel it too. And I'm sorry as well. I guess we both said some
hurtful things huh?” Harry pulled her onto his lap. “I guess it's a part of a relationship to
fight every now and then. We were just due.”

Hermione nodded into his shoulder. “I love you.”

Harry breathed in the scent of her hair. “I love you too, Hermione,” Harry said, and kissed her
temple.

The two sat there like that for a while. “Where do you see us some day, Harry?”

Harry sighed and drew in a breath. “Well, hopefully Voldemort will be gone soon. I'd like to
think that we're married and have a kid or two. Maybe more. We are so in love that you can
almost feel it in the air. We have our dream jobs and the world is peaceful. The only things we
really have to worry about are what stunts our kids will pull next.” Harry trailed off seeing that
Hermione had fallen asleep. Smiling, he grabbed the map and stuck it into his pocket and pulled the
invisibility cloak around them before standing.

He walked to the nearest door and adjusted her slightly so he could open it. She murmured
something but soon was back to sleep, her head against his chest. Walking to one of the secret
passages he froze when he heard the familiar pace of Professor Snape coming nearer.

He drew in a breath as Snape stopped a few feet away and then muttered something before bending
and tying his shoe. Harry moved closer to the wall, his eyes never leaving Snape's form. The
Potions Master stood and glanced around before briskly continuing on his path around the school,
looking for troublemakers.

Harry let out the breath he had held and whispered the password to the wall. A hole appeared and
Harry slipped through it. Exiting the other end, he had another moment of panic. Just after the
passageway had closed behind him he heard a whistle approaching.

As the whistler turned the corner into the hallway it turned into muttering. Well, most people
would call it muttering, but then Albus Dumbledore never muttered as far as most people were
concerned. He seemed to pause for a moment as he passed Harry, then winking at him, continued on
his way. Harry grinned, knowing the headmaster had seen him and nodded, before continuing on his
way.

Reaching their rooms without further problem, Harry entered her room, and muttering under his
breath, the covers drew themselves back. He deposited her on the bed and removed her shoes. After
he pulled up the covers, he turned to leave when he heard a soft voice.

“Stay?”

~*~

End

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