Chapter One
Harry leaned back in his chair, balancing on the back two legs before slamming down on all four.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Hmm?” Harry looked across the table. “Nothing.”
“You’re a terrible liar.” Hermione ate another bite of lunch.
“Only cause it’s you.” He smiled.
“Come on Harry, tell me.”
“You ever wonder if you’re doing the right thing?” He let out at last. The question caught Hermione’s attention immediately.
“No.” She said simply.
“Never?” Harry questioned.
“I don’t wonder if I’m doing the ‘right’ thing. I just do what I want.”
“Whatcha mean?” Harry took a drink of his wine.
“Who cares if someone thinks what I’m doing is the thing I ought to be doing? You think everyone didn’t expect me to go on to become the witch of our generation instead of a lawyer, and a wife, and a mother? I do what I want, I’m living, and you should be doing the same.”
“You’re still the witch of our generation.” Harry traced his glass with his fingertips.
“Harry, I think you’re missing the point.” Hermione grabbed his hand and forced him to look up out of his drink. “What was it all for, what did we all fight for, if not the chance to keep living? The chance to live life our own way?”
“I’m living.” Harry pouted.
“Oh please!” She huffed and released his hand. “You’re wasting your life doing what everyone expects of you instead of whatever you want.”
“Not everyone gets to do whatever they want Hermione.”
“Yes they do, you’re just scared.”
“I’m not scared of anything.” Harry sat up straight.
“It’s pitiful really that you can fight the dark lord and not break up with your girlfriend.” Hermione sensed she was getting his attention now.
“You think I’m scared? Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll do it right now!” Harry stood up from the table scraping his chair across the wooden floor. Hermione bit her lip to stop a smile from spreading across her face and watched him grab a handful of powder. Throwing it into the fire he looked at her purposefully while shouting.
“The Burrow!”
He emerged in a plume that startled Molly from her knitting and made Arthur drop his tea. Fluogh powder was still not his preferred method of travel.
“Harry, my boy! I’m afraid Ginny didn’t tell us you were coming.” Arthur Weasley stood quickly vanishing the spilled tea away with his hand.
“She didn’t know.” Harry managed a small smile.
“Well what a lovely surprise then!” Molly beamed and wrapped him in a hug. “She’s in the back garden, love.” She said, patting his cheeks. Harry nodded with another sad smile and headed out back.
The garden was Ginny’s pride in the off season of Quidditch. Every plant grew in wild voluminous directions, as if to object to the raised beds they were planted in. Ginny sat on her hip in the middle, studding a large leaf. She seemed completely unaware of anyone else’s presence and Harry felt guilty for intruding. He walked over quietly and sat next to her cross legged.
“I thought you must be the commotion inside.” She smiled without looking up.
“I’m always the commotion aren’t I?” He shoved her shoulder and they both managed a laugh.
“My pumpkin has got a fungus,” She turned the leaf for Harry to see. “I’ll have to ask Neville what to do. Be a shame to lose it, I hate to lose anything.” Ginny looked over the rest of her plants. She looked tired, she always looked tired these days. They sat in silence for a moment until Ginny spoke again.
“Want to stay for dinner? Mum would love to have you.”
“Not today Gin.”
“Busy with work?” Her eyes looked into his with a sad curious expression.
“No.” Harry swallowed hard and cursed Hermione. Maybe he was a coward, maybe he should just stay with Ginny.
“Harry?” She whispered when he had gone too long without speaking.
“Gin, I think maybe we shouldn’t be together anymore.” Harry held his breath as the words surrounded them.
“Thank you.” Ginny said suddenly with a sigh. Harry saw an invisible weight lift from her.
“What?”
“I just, I didn’t want to hurt you because Harry I love you…”
“I love you too.” He grabbed her hand.
“But I think we both know it’s not the way you’re supposed to love someone you’re in love with.” Harry nodded in agreement and kissed her knuckles.
“I didn’t know you were so unhappy.” Harry felt confused at her admission even though he felt the same way.
“I didn’t know I was…” Ginny let go of Harry’s hand and ran it through her hair. “Until I knew, that is.”
“I thought you’d be upset.”
“You’ll still be my Harry right?” She smiled.
“I’d never stop.” He forced a smile and stood. Harry helped her to her feet and she brushed off her pants. Ginny stretched her face to his and kissed his cheek.
“Bye Harry.” She whispered before turning to go into the house. Harry stood in the garden trying to take in the information. Why was he so upset that she wasn’t? He shook his head and, before he could think of anything else, apparated back to Grimmuald.
Hermione was sitting in the drawing room reading a book while enchanted needles stitched next to her. Harry fell into a chair opposite her and said nothing.
“I told you, you were wasting your time.”
“You knew she wouldn’t be upset?”
“The only two people in the world who didn’t know you two fell out were you two.”
“You should’ve seen her face, she was so… relieved…Why didn’t she just break up with me?”
“Why didn’t you break up with her?”
“It’s unsettling, that neither one of us were upset.” Harry closed his eyes and remembered the way her face lifted when she was free of him. “I loved her once, I swear I did. I don’t know when it changed.”
Hermione closed her book and let out a sigh. She looked over at Harry, his eyes closed and head leaned back in the large chair. He needed to shower, she decided, and a shave wouldn’t kill him either.
“You can’t get the past five years back, but you can move on and not waste the next 100.” She said softly.
“I don’t even know how. I feel as if I must’ve been sleep walking.” Harry opened his eyes and sat forward.
“Then wake up.” They sat in silence for a moment.
“Help me up off this couch.” Hermione said at last. Harry obliged and pulled her up gently so as not to bump her giant belly. “My center of gravity is so off.” She said, stroking her bump.
“Any day now right?” Harry watched as she pulled on a sweater and packed her bag.
“Yes, and then Ron won’t make me have a babysitter anymore.” She laughed.
“I’ll miss our Saturdays.” Harry admitted.
“Me too.” She smiled and vanished in a wordless apparition. Alone again he stood in the room and wondered what the hell was next.