Many Thanks to Komal - a great friend - for an amazing Chapter Image! ^_^ WARNING:
NARRATIVE MAY INCLUDE SOME PARTS OF ADULT CONTENT. READERS BELOW AGE OF 16, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. AUTHOR AINT RESOPONSIBLE. WORK IS BASED ON COMPLETE FICTION, DIFFERS A LOT FROM THE ORIGINAL HARRY POTTER SERIES. NARRATIVE MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE. SO TRY BEING AS OPEN-MINDED AS YOU CAN. THANKS.
‘Papa please don’t go! Please don’t leave me alone.’ She cried.
‘I have to go sweetheart. I have work to do. Papa will be back in a week, promise.’ Harry tried hard consoling Lily, but to no effect.
‘I don’t want to stay here with these mad people. I
hate them!’ She wailed louder.
‘Lily, behave yourself! There’s nothing I can do, to help it. I
have to go to South Britain. It’s the Ministry’s order. And look, Hugo is here to keep company, too. He didn't cry silly when his parents left him here with Mrs. Ronalds.’
‘At least he’s happy his mother’s alive!’
‘LILY!’
Lily’s voice echoed in his ears. His conversation behind, at Mrs. Ronalds residence kept his mind away from wok. He was over a thousand miles away from her, though. Harry sighed deeply, sitting by the edge of his bed, clutching a portrait of Ginny, Albus, James and Lily’s in his hands. He looked down at them, his glasses fogged out of tears. They all looked up at him, happy, smiling and laughing with joy. They looked so blissful together, as Ginny played along with her kids, at the park. Harry had clicked this picture three years ago. What a happy family they were, until last summer. It was a year, since Ginny had passed away. She had died of a Killing Curse. ‘What a fine Auror she is.’ The Minister had exclaimed. But now remained nothing of Ginny, except her memories.
Everyone from the Wizarding World, who knew Harry and Ginny, had come down for her solemn funeral. She was his first love. And he’d lost her, after years of togetherness. Harry refused to remarry, no matter what. His friends tried convincing him that it was only for the better of his kids. But he would not budge. He thought of it as sheer insult to her memories and their love for each other.
Harry kept looking down at his family, endlessly. His dinner, gone cold. But he could not take away his mind off Lily’s words. Had he done not enough to keep his kids content? Or was it his fault, that Ginny was no more in this world? If, only if, Harry had reached there earlier, to save her life. Probably, she would have been alive today.
‘Err… Busy are you, Harry?’ Harry looked back, to see who it was. Hermione stood at the door with a mug in her hand.
‘Oh! Hermione… what are you doing up so late?’ harry said, quickly hiding his portrait under the bed as he glanced down at his watch. It was nearly half past two.
‘Nothing really. I was down in the lobby flicking through old newspapers. I was wondering if I could find more clues about this murderer we are trying to locate. And then I was in the library. Oh… I spoke to the Minister though. He’ll be sending another Auror to see us, first thing in the morning. But he won’t come himself! He’s “busy” it seems.’ She went on animatedly. ‘And I’ve been rattling my brain all day, but I don’t seem to be coming to a conclusion. This Murderer just seems to be the best! And then, on my way back to my room, I saw that your door was open and the lights still on. So erm… I thought of dropping in.’
Nothing had really changed in here. Harry thought to himself. Twelve years down the line, but Hermione was still just the same, like she was at Hogwarts. Smart, intelligent and always running around the library. She had always been a great, rock solid support for him, at work and with his family, ever since Ginny’s tragedy.
Hermione had offered to come down to Godrics Hollow every alternate day to see if Lily was doing fine. She was young and naïve and needed a mother above all. Severus and James had tried hard, but were now getting used to it, as they kept their minds engaged at Hogwarts. But it was a different case of Lily, altogether. Harry was really grateful to god for his two best companions, Ron and Hermione. And prayed that they be a happy family, until eternity.
‘Harry?’
‘Hmm…?’
‘Are you alright?’
‘Yea…. Don’t worry. I’m... I’m fine.’ His throat was all chocked.
‘Here, Drink this. You’ve been hungry all day.’ She said and handed him her cup of hot chocolate and produced a plate full of plum cake from thin air.
‘Thanks Hermione, you’ve been a great friend all along.’ Harry took a sip from his steaming mug and looked up at her. She gave him a weak smile, as she saw him… pain and sadness spoke for themselves, through Harry’s eyes.
Hermione moved in closer, next to him and placed her hand over his. Harry looked at her, but did not say anything. It felt weird, as a sharp feeling hit is stomach. He thought it was probably the hot chocolate. But he did not ponder much, and quickly drew his hand away from hers.
‘So… uhmm… how’s Ron? Did he send word?’ Harry tried to change the topic, and rose from his bed to avoid eye contact with her.
‘Oh… Ron. Yea, uhmm… he’s doing fine.’ She said, startled at the awkwardness between them. ‘That idiot wouldn’t write back, until I did.’ She mocked a chuckle. Still feeling heavy and weird about what she’d just done. Her mind dashed past at Ron. He was in France at the moment. Playing Quidditch for Britain. She smiled meekly at the thought, but her mind raced back again, to Harry.
‘Lucky chap, Ron! Playing for Britain and all. He’s been so busy with practice, I haven’t met him since long.’
‘It’s been long, since you’ve seen him last? Well, sometimes makes me wonder whether I'm his wife, or Quidditch. And thanks to our Ministry, I haven’t myself seen him in four months now.’
‘That’s quite long.’ Harry said still looking away, his back facing her. They both went quiet abruptly, and said nothing. It felt like years before Hermione broke the silence.
‘Harry? Harry…. Are you-?’ Harry fell to the ground on his knees. Spilling his mug of chocolate to the floor. His head clutched tight in his hands. He cried like a baby. Hermione ran towards him, drew him closer and put her arms around him, but he wouldn’t stop crying.
‘Hermione… I r-really miss h-her. I really miss... G-Ginny!’ He wailed.
‘I understand, Harry. I do understand your feelings’ She said, holding him in her arms. ‘But please, stop crying, please. It won’t do any good, except make it worse. Please stop crying.’ But Harry couldn’t control his emotions. He lay there on the floor, clutching on to Hermione, as he cried endlessly in her arms.
*
They sat alongside each others on a bench, as the moon shone down on them. Hermione had managed it finally, to get Harry feeling better. She tried real hard to console him, and took him out in the backyard of the Inn, for a stroll. It was completely dark outside, with only the moonlight and stars. The owner and workers of the Inn had fast fallen asleep.
The two looked about the lawns that were freshly mowed with flowers blooming glee. All of this and memories of his kids and also, Hermione, made him feel better. She had put her arm around his and had laid her head on his shoulder as they both sat in complete silence.
‘Seriously Hermione, thanks a lot, for being there. I’ve-’
‘You don’t have to thank me, Mr. Potter.’ She laughed. ‘That’s the least I can do, for an old friend.’ She tugged on to his shirt and looked up at him. He smiled down at her. Ron was very lucky to have her, Harry thought to himself.
They sat long in the damp of the bench, it was nearing dawn and thus they decided to retire for a little nap. The other officials would be there, in sometime. They rose and Harry took her in his arms and climbed up the stairways. There was a beginning of an intense feeling, but they tried to subdue it. But there’s nothing much one can do, at such times. They reached the top of the landing, and stood in front of Hermione’s room. She turned the knob and pushed the door open. Harry stood behind her, looking at her long curly tresses which she had let loose. She turned to see him, pecked him on his cheeks and said, ‘Good Nigh-…’
‘Harry.’ She added quickly in a whisper.
But Harry had already moved in close as he kissed her on her cheeks, she stood rooted for a split second as he moved in further close and placed his lips on hers. He kissed her passionately and in turn, she reciprocated. She could feel his touch so intensely, his tongue on hers. Harry clicked the door shut and turned her towards the wall, as he kissed her on… moving down to her neck.
He ran his hand in through her robes. And clutched her tight by the waist. Hermione had finally, let lose in him. They kissed on ardently, as if nothing in the world seemed to matter now. It was just the two of them, and the night, forever go on…
In no time, they lay facing each other, side by side on their bed, as they undressed each other. Hermione let out a gasp, every time Harry went lower and kissed her unclothed skin. They had lost themselves in one another, as Harry kissed her on her cheeks, lower still, on her neck, he could feel her pulse rising with every second. He glided further low and pinned her arms to the bed, as he moved in close and placed a kiss between her bare chest. Hermione closed her eyes, and arched her back, yearning for more, as the heat rose between the two.
Harry went lower still and pecked her bare belly, frolicking it with his tongue, while Hermione ran her fingers through his hair, as he went lower still, and unbuckled her skirt. Slowly, and gradually, he mounted over her, and she opened her legs for him. And from that moment on, they had created a little world of their own.
It really felt so surreal and yet so beautiful as Harry and Hermione made love to each other. It felt like they could go on, for the rest of the night, loving and doing good to each other’s as they caressed and kissed on. It was a year since Harry had let out his emotions and Hermione just too captivated and rotten with Ron’s absence. Why didn’t Ron realize the potential of their wedding? Can a person understand a things true value only after losing it, and not when they posses it? But everything lay forgotten. And all that mattered was the two of them, and their passion. They kept going until the break of dawn, as they reached their climax. The two feeling so complete, so alive and so loved in the others company.
Harry and Hermione finally laid back, exhausted, guilty and yet happy. It was their new found love. Something they couldn’t have ever imagined, but here they were, lying next to each other.
But there was something, something that Hermione couldn’t figure out. She couldn't place it in the right order. But she simply lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, as images of Ron, her kids, of Harry, their childhood, everything ran past her vividly. That lost feeling seemed to prick her insides. She couldn't get past her guilt, but nor could she let alone her new found love. Is this love? She thought to herself.
But she couldn't take it in, anymore as her thoughts killed her from the insides and she rolled on her side, clutching her sheets close to her naked bosom as a tear rolled down to cheek. ‘I’m sorry, Ron.’ She whispered and closed her eyes.
