hogwartsexpressed | CLOSED: The WORST Double Date to Date (for: coreofdragonheart)

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CLOSED: The WORST Double Date to Date (for: coreofdragonheart)

Harry walked into the private dining room that Hermione had requested for their use that evening. He took a moment to search and take down any eavesdropping instruments he could locate and knew Hermione would or had done the same already. He didn't want this to get out to the public if they could at all help it. He had spent most of the day putting his Aurors through their paces and had perhaps had been a bit too hard on them but honestly, it wasn't any worse than what they could possibly face outside the walls of the Ministry. It was at that time that he regretted, again, that he hadn't sought further education and training from the ICW.

Once he was content knowing he'd taken down anything that could listen in on them, he cast his own set of privacy charms around the room that would allow their guests and waiter/waitress to enter but would not be able to listen in. He turned to look at Hermione and gave her a smile. Spending the evening talking with her and having dinner had probably been one of the best nights he's had in a long time. It had infuriated him to know Ron had been an even bigger arse in regard to Hermione's parents after the war. What gave him the right?

"Are you ready," he asked, walking over to her and watching her face closely.

He'd taken the potion already today and was glad that his intelligent and beautiful best friend had found something that would work. Harry loathed that they'd been treated this way after all they'd done for the Weasley family.

Ginny would be getting off work momentarily and getting cleaned up before she made her way to the restaurant. Ron... well he didn't give a rats arse. He was looking forward to knowing just how much the man knew.

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"But we're not in love - there's no passion. It's safe," he finished with a little smile. "I cannot agree more, Ginny." He was just thankful he hadn't had to have an uncomfortable drawn out confession with her. Harry cared for her like he imagine he'd care for a younger sister. Only this one he's had sex with and married... so not quite like a sister but it didn't matter. Their feelings hadn't been consulted in the matter.

He watched as Hermione took Ginny's hand and smiled. "Of course," he walked over to them, leaving behind a silent Ronald Weasley. "We owe her at the very least dinner," he agreed with a smile, giving Hermione's should a squeeze then Ginny's. "Dinner is on me so decide where you ladies want to go as I settle our tab."

It didn't take long before the bill for the bottle of wine was paid and he rejoined the two women. "Did you decide on somewhere?"

It feels freeing, empowering. She's been through a war but suddenly, with this, Hermione finally feels she's free. Even if she's sure that it's not over, and won't be any time soon. They're going to make a scene, others are going to know about what's going on, and all of Molly's children are going to have to wonder if they're truly loved.

"We need to talk to Bill before we go public and prove to him his love is real. I don't want him to hear about what Molly did and think..."

Ginny makes a sound of pain. "Oh we have to! We can't let him think that." She leans into Hermione. "You believe it's real, right?"

Hermione nods. "I need it to be," she admits, meaning it. "But you're right, we'll start there."

Nodding as Harry goes off, talking with Ginny about their options. When he comes back, she smiles wickedly. "Ginny wants to eat in London, in the muggle world. Pick a bar."

Ginny smirks. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had a night out without the k... wait, you know," she says with a laugh. "I should be upset. Why am I not upset?"

The moment Ginny agreed that she wouldn't have married him if given an actual choice, Harry felt free. The only part that Harry was just a little concerned about were their children. But they'd come to that bridge later. For now, it just felt right that they their feelings, for once, were their own. Not the product of someone or something else.

"When we get back, we'll send an owl to Bill first thing," he said, because he too needed to know that what Bill and Fleur had was true.

Once he'd tucked his wallet into his pocket, Harry picked up Hermione's free hand and sent them an amused grin. "I know of a perfect muggle bar," he said. "Has great food and even better drinks." They definitely needed it after tonight.

"Because our feelings weren't our own and for once we can be who we truly are. If given the choice, I'm not sure kids would have actually come into play..." he ventured, leading them toward the pub he knew a few streets away from the restaurant. It wasn't as though he could, in good conscious, leave his kids with Molly Weasley for the rest of their lives.

Hermione squeezes Harry's hand. They have been through a lot in the last hour and even more in the last few days. Yet they're here now, together, and she is just glad to know that she is herself and she won't have to go back to that marriage. She can't stand thinking about it and how she literally feels free. Free for the first time since they literally had to fight a war. How does her marriage feel almost worse than that?

Glad they're working out things with Bill, she wants to focus on tonight before they do something to destroy a lot of lives, and hopefully only those that deserve to have their lives ruined.

"Okay, I love our kids but..." She sighs. "I can't help but think about where my career would be." She's playing professionally but having kids had slowed down a lot for her, and now she knows why she would have made that choice.

"I think it's safe to say that we would have all gone in slightly different directions in our careers had we not had kids...," Harry said with a small smile. "I turned down opportunities at the ICW, among others because of the kids." He stayed silent for a moment as they walked to the pub and exhaled a long breath. "It's one thing for my life to have continued to be manipulated but neither of you deserved that." It pissed him off that it had happened in the first place but all they could really do is change it from here.

However they could.

Harry gave Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it and opening the door to the pub when they reached it. "After you ladies," he said with a warm smile.

"Harry, you do know I wouldn't have taken that from you. Even with the kids. I..." She shakes her head. "I'm betting that potion she's been feeding us made us think you couldn't," she says, sighing as the enormity of the entire situation starts to weigh down on her. "I can't... I can't believe my mum did this to me," she says. "To us. I..."

She's lost a lot of her family, she realizes, and not knowing which side of things they would all come out on. She might lose all of her family if she's not careful but then if they side with her mum, does she want them in her life?

Hermione gave Harry's hand a squeeze back and then slid an arm around Ginny, leading her to a booth.

"I can't believe she did either, but none of this is your fault. She hurt us all, and now all we can do is pick up the pieces. You're not in this alone though. You've got Harry and me. Okay?"

"I have no doubt the potion influenced a lot of our decisions - careers, the number of kids... hell, probably even our kids' names," he said with a exhale and followed them toward the booth. He made eye contact with one of the servers and motioned over to the booth they'd chosen. For a weekday evening, even in London, Harry was grateful it wasn't packed to the brim yet.

"Hermione is right, Gin - none of it was your fault. Now that we know, you've got us," Harry said, sliding into one side of the booth.

He thought once they showed their proof to some of the more level headed Weasley's, there would be more on their side than not. "We will need to make a decision about the kids though... Lily is with Molly now. By now, I'm sure Ron has ran to her to tell her, I'm conflicted on how to proceed."

Edited 2020-04-08 13:45 (UTC)

"Let's see the fallout and what happens when we talk tot he authorities," Hermione says with a tight smile. "And we'll go from there. Together."

They ate, they tried to stay calm, but the dinner was tense but it was a few hours and a few muggle drinks later before Harry and Hermione made their way back to Grimmauld Place, hand in hand.

Once inside, the wards up and the doors locked, Hermione collapses on a couch in the parlor with a sigh. "I feel so free and so scared at the same time," she announces. To herself. To Harry and Kreacher. To the world, she guesses. "I hope Ginny's going to be okay."

Harry was glad the evening had turned as well as it did ultimately. It could have been much worse - Ginny could have been in on it and just as ugly as Ron had been. Ginny seemed just as pleased with the idea of Harry spending the evening somewhere else than the house they shared. His favorite part of the evening was perhaps holding Hermione's hand off and on throughout the evening - especially on their way home to Grimmauld Place. Because that was it, Grimmauld Place was more home than anywhere else was at the moment.

The moment the door shut and the wards went up, the tension in Harry's shoulders released and he exhaled a slow breath. He chuckled at the response and walked in after her, taking a seat next to her. "I agree with you there," he said and rest his head back against the back of the couch. "I feel freer than I have in a long time," he admitted, turning his head to glance at her.

She was absolutely beautiful.

"She will be," he said. "She's strong and has a really great friend in Luna. I believe she mentioned she'd be heading to her place."

A small pop signified the appearance of Kreacher, causing Harry to look over at him with a smile. "Good evening, Kreacher."

"Evening Master Harry, Miss Hermione - would you like anything to drink? Dessert?"

In the truth, Hermione's life has fallen apart. Though, when she stops to think about it, maybe it's not. She's lost her marriage. She has no idea what she's going to do about her kids. But she has her career. She has the Ministry that sees has as an amazing and brilliant witch. She has Ginny still, someone who has become like a sister to her. And she has Harry. No matter what or how things go, she has Harry.

"I feel for Ginny. She is losing so much. I worry for Bill. But for us, I think we're okay."

She knows it won't be okay but they'll be able to do what they can and they'll work it out.

She arches a brow though. "Wait, she mentioned Luna? Like... Oh." She lights up then. "Oh. I hope so. I really do."

Looking up to Kreacher, smiling. "I wouldn't mind another drink. Harry?"

Granted it had been a while, Harry was used to his life being pretty rocky. It was upsetting that a man he had once considered his best friend would be so manipulative but on some level, it wasn't that surprising. Which was honestly the most depressing part of all. The best part however was coming out of this with an even closer relationship with Hermione - no matter how it ended up and an even better relationship with Ginny. Neither of them wanted to truly be together at this point and that was okay. They would work out would happen with the kids but that would be a tomorrow problem.

"We're okay," he agreed with a smile and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I think we're more than okay."

And even if they weren't in the short term, they would be and they'd figure it out.

He chuckled and nodded. "I agree," he said. "She deserves some happiness." He hadn't fully realized it the day before last, prior to the potion, but he could see it clearly now.

"I would love another drink, Kreacher. Wine? Whiskey? I think I have a beer around..."

Hermione is glad for Harry. Glad that he has Ginny on his side in this. It made one thing easier for him, and he deserved that. She just hates that while she wouldn't have ever married Ron, that he had used her in such a horrible way. He'd done it with knowledge and forethought and it's rough to believe, but she heard the truth from his own lips.

"Yeah, we'll be okay," she says, leaning into Harry with a sigh as she closes her eyes. "I hate this so much. I hate that our friend did this to us," she says, explaining just what she meant. "Even after the war, I never would have thought he was this bad. How he could go along with this."

It's just mind blowing, and she definitely needs more to drink. "Whatever you have, Harry. I won't do this often but tonight being tipsy sounds good."

Harry smiled as Hermione leaned into him and tightened his arm around her gently. "I hate it too," he said, knowing what she meant. He hated that Ron had taken her right to choose who she loved and wanted to be with away from her. It was unspeakably cruel and for a man who they'd grown up with... it was unfathomable.

"I had hoped he'd change and grown up some," he agreed. "The war made us grow up... hell even made Draco Bloody Malfoy grow up. If that prat can grow up, then Ronald Weasley could have." But as always, the youngest boy had taken the easy way out of life.

He exhaled and nodded in agreement. He looked at Kreacher. "Let's start with one of the best bottles of wine we have in the cellar, Kreacher. If you have any of the lemon cake around... I'll take a slice of that as well. Thank you. And, thank you for getting the rooms taken care of yesterday so quickly. We will be staying here officially for a while."

Kreacher gave a toothy grin. "Right away, Master Harry and Miss Hermione," he said and popped out of the parlor. Two wine glasses appeared on the coffee table in front of them, then the bottle of wine as requested already opened, and finally a large slice of lemon cake with two forks. Kreacher was very happy they would be staying here. It felt like a home again, even if his former mistress would be having an absolute meltdown.

"Do you know what I think it is? Everyone protected him. Molly did. Dumbledore did in giving him to us, in setting us up to be there for him. Everything has told him he deserves what he wants. We didn't have that. Draco didn't have it either. He was coddled and we played into it, not knowing better. And when he learned he was being given the world, he didn't get insulted by it, he leaned into it," she says, sounding so angry and disgusted.

She speaks openly to Harry and in front of Kreacher because she trusts them. Right now they're the only ones that she trust wholly and fully. She wants to trust Ginny but she's still not certain of that either, but she's trying.

About to ask for cake as well as Kreacher vanishes and then smiling widely when the cake is left with two forks.

"Thank you, Kreacher. I'm glad you're part of my home," she says, pausing though when she realizes what she has said. "I mean, it's the home I'm living in and..." She glances at Harry. "It's the only place that's felt like home," she admits.

Harry considered that and how it confirmed what his initial thoughts were on the fact of the matter. "I had considered the very same thing," he said with a nod. "He was sheltered and didn't have to grow up and wanted everything that he was promised and given, as though it were his right to have it. Our friendship, your... affection," he said as though it had a bitter taste in his mouth. It was disgusting the level of entitlement the boy had.

He was glad she still trusted and felt as though she can be open with him - he'd want nothing more than for her to feel that way with him. He would do everything he could to keep her from feeling otherwise around him. Harry chuckled at the large piece of cake and two forks. "Thanks, Kreacher," he said and slid his arm from her so he could grab the plate and two forks, handing them to her before pouring them each a glass of wine.

Harry could feel his heart race when she admitted that this was her home. He couldn't remember a time when something said made him so happy - other than Ginny admitting that she'd likely not have married him if given a choice. "I'm really glad that you feel that way," he said and held out a glass for her. "Because it's your home as long as you need it or want it."

She nods. "Peter Pan, though he'd never know what that meant," she points out. "It's often odd to think about that he is the epitome of something he'll never understand. In the original, when the lost boys got too old to be boys, he murdered them. I worry we're facing quite the same," she admits.

"We've outgrown him, have no need for him anymore, and I worry he'll lash out and do something about it," she points out. "We'll have to be cautious of that. More than that if he doesn't, she will."

Molly was deadly. She'd known that before but not to the extent they had to be careful now.

Harry moving away, even to get the cake and wine, leaves her feeling cold, wanting him near her again. It was wrong, and she had no way of knowing if he felt the same way she does, but she can wish for that connection anyway. She needs him now, more than ever, just as her friend, near her, in her life.

Taking the glass, she smiles at him. It's genuine even if she's worn and upset. "Good. I plan on moving in tomorrow," she says suddenly, wincing. "I mean... I know it's okay but it's okay?"

He chuckled at the reference. He had loved to read as a child. It was something he had to keep hidden and only do in primary away from the Dursley's. "Why should they know anything about it - it's beneath them," he asked with a roll of his eyes. Harry nodded and looked at her. "We'll be as careful as we can," he told her. "If he doesn't lash out, she will," he agreed.

Harry didn't like moving away from her anymore than she did. He leaned back with his glass and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. "It's more than okay. In fact, I insist... if that helps," he said with a grin. "I wouldn't want you anywhere else."

"We will take this a day at a time, okay? But no matter what, you have me."

"We're better at defensive magic than he is. It's really only Molly we have to be cautious about." She sighs. "I hope Arthur wasn't part of this. I rather liked him," she says with a shake of her head because there's just so much in her life she's losing and not sure what to think about it.

Her heart races at those words, lighting up. Between those words and that kiss, she feels herself acting like, well, a schoolgirl. Which makes sense since it's the last time she's felt these emotions for him.

"Good. I'll get some things tomorrow, and let the Ministry know to contact me directly and not through the family. When we talk to them about the misuse of magic."

"We're better at magic period than he is," Harry said with a snort, giving her a look. "But you're right, Molly is the one that we need to look out for and be more cautious about." His feelings toward the patriarch were mixed, honestly. If he had been aware of what his wife was doing and didn't attempt to stop her, he was just as much at blame as she was. "We'll have to just see how much he knew of his wife's extracurricular activities. On the one hand, if he knew about it then he's just as much at fault as she is because he allowed it to continue without trying to stop her. If he didn't, and considering how much time he spends at the ministry or tinkering with muggle items, then..."

Harry paused because to be honest, the situation simply infuriated him. There was no excuse to their manipulations of Hermione and his lives. None whatsoever.

Now that the cure had run its course through him, Harry could very well admit that he found the witch next to him absolutely beautiful and would have (and wanted to) date her... see where it went. He remembered at the end of their third year, where he started to crush on her.

"They shouldn't be contacting you through the family anyway if it's for you directly. But this world is very backwards still, isn't it," he asked rhetorically. He picked up a fork and took a bite of the lemon cake that he sat on his lap. Sharing a drink and a piece of cake with Hermione was definitely the best part of his day so far.

It's not funny but Hermione smirks at that. Because it's true. There is no magic that Ron can do they can't handle or correct. If she's honest, sometimes she's not sure he even has magic of his own really.

"How close can one get to being a squib and not actually be one? I mean, I would say it's the number of children but then there's Ginny and she disproves that, doesn't she?"

At least they have her in this and it's nice to know someone in this is on their side. She worries what's going to happen when they go to the ministry. That they'll be fighting against the belief that a pureblood family is somehow always right. Even the Weasleys despite how they're looked upon.

But even if they won't listen to Hermione, there's Harry. The Boy that Lived. It's going to be fine. She hopes. Merlin's Beard, she hopes.

She snorts, rolling her eyes at that. "To some in the Ministry, even now, I'm still Muggle born. That means something to them and it's not a good thing. It's their games and sometimes they will look to the family rather than to me."

She was one of the best witches of any generation and still, even after how she fought in the war, they still saw her as a muggle. Or just barely one step above muggle.

"How is it that I did all I have and I'm still a muggle born?"

Harry tilted his head and hummed thoughtfully. "It's something we must write down and study at another time because I would be curious to know the answer," he said with a smirk. "The rest of his family are bright and talented... Molly did a number on him by coddling and spoiling the boy." Which really, he thought, was Ron's biggest downfall. He may have magic skill but the man didn't do anything with it, he simply relied on others to do for him.

He knew that what she said was true. It was unfortunate and downright disgusting but that was, unfortunately, the nature of the beast. It was going on his 'things he would work toward changing' list.

"It's disgusting," Harry responded lowly. "Despite that you were the most integral part of the bloody war and I would have surely died several times without you..." He exhaled and shook his head. "They're a bunch of pureblood snobs whose heads are so far up their own arses that they can't see straight."

"They really are. The twins are brilliant," she says, wincing. "You know what I mean. Ginny is better than most of them, and Percy even makes Ron look positively dense," she says, shaking her head. "How did anyone believe I loved him of my own free will? Honestly?"

God but that just disgusts her to think about. He was fine as a friend but as the man she spent her life with? No.

Hermione can't help but laugh at that, glad for having Harry at her side as she reaches out, patting his cheek. "Oh, Darling, you never would have made it past your first year," she admits, winking at him, a bit drunk and a lot cheeky. "They are all so lucky I liked you a lot," she says, hating that those words feel like so much more. More that she's not sure is right to put on Harry right now. Not with what all he's dealing with as well.

"Isn't that the truth though. I had hoped by the time my kids were old enough to go to school it would be better but..." It's one thing the love potion hadn't taken from her but she realizes now that despite it all, some of the Weasleys might well still see her that way. Molly and her husband included.

Harry chuckled and gave her an amused look. "I know what you mean," he agreed with a nod and stayed quiet for a minute. "People... especially in our age group, thought that 'fighting all the time like cats and dogs' was the way you two flirted." He paused as a thought came to him and groaned with a laugh. "I just remembered Draco telling me when we were working together that he fully expected the two of us to end up together. Not with the Weasley's. Because of the potion, I told him he was mad." But Draco hadn't been. Harry had cared about this woman sitting next to him, sharing a piece of cake and a bottle of wine. Had cared and still cared more than he should at this moment, he was sure.

He gave her an affronted look. "They're lucky? No, I'm lucky you liked me so much," he said with a laugh, shaking his head. "But, I like to think we both saved each other over the years - me with my magic skill," he teased her before continuing, "and you with your brilliance and magic." He was just on this end of drunk and very sassy.

"Well, if we ever get the chance, that is something we will change. Can even start making the changes now. I mean... not literally now but you know." Harry picked up his fork again and took another bite of the lemon cake.

She can't help but laugh, shaking her head. "I wonder who else saw it, besides Draco, who were surprised about us ending up with those we did. Because I know several people have said things about never seeing me and Ron, but..."

But she had brushed it off as being different, of opposites attracting. Not that she had realized why she didn't see what others did. Now though she sees it. Even if she was on Harry's side of things where it wasn't his wife actually turning on him, she can see how odd it is. But for Harry for one reasons.

"I never thought you and Ginny should end up together. Even when I thought I loved Ron. Because you aren't who I saw her with," she says with a laugh. She leans in, resting her brow to his.

"I am very lucky," she says, believing that. "I've always been very lucky to know you. And we'll start changing things. Definitely. Let's not let anyone end up like us."

"Probably more than we expect," Harry admitted with a chuckle. He watched her and sat the cake aside for the moment before wrapping his arm around her shoulders again, bringing her in close. He liked this. Like feeling her close by.

Harry had always chucked it up to opposites and school yard teasing. But he really hadn't known what a 'typical' relationship looked like. He'd seen the Dursley's of course and despite their 'normal thank you very much' attitude, they weren't very normal.

"Looking back on it? I never thought we'd end up or should end up together either." He rest his brow against her's and exhaled a soft breath. "I'm not sure who I really saw her ending up with but it wasn't me."

He smiled, happy to know that she felt she was lucky as well. "Agreed. I'd say we're both damn lucky and we will not let anyone else end up like we did." No one deserved that. Whether it was the alcohol, the cake... the night, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "Thank you, Hermione."

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