Her... Just Her

Harry stood, waiting for her. She never came. All the other people came, but not her. Where did she go? Was she doing it on purpose? Was something wrong? Why wasn't she there? After many moments without a sign of her, he went back to his dormitory -and the rest was blank.

This was the dream every night for the past two years. He would wake up, every night and remember this. It hurt. More than anything...

He wanted to see her. He didn't have to talk to her, just see her, as a reassurance that she was all right.

Harry had spent most of twenty-something years with her. He didn't know exactly how old he was when he was with her, he only knew how much time he had spent away from her. But, oh, those times with her were wonderful. They talked of children, a big home, a big yard, and lots of family and friends. Then other times, it was just them. Nothing else mattered. Nothing. Nothing. Harry reassured himself.

The times away from her were the worst. He needed her. Her smile, her intelligence, her everything. Just her. Every time he heard her name, one so unlike so many others, he looked for her, only to find a memory... a long lost one at that. But not so long or lost to Harry. It was always close at hand.

Harry sat in his home, medium in size, but large in practicality, with a beautiful balcony that connected the master bedroom and the world. The double French doors were the only boundries

that disconnected Harry and the endless sky. Just like she had wanted them. The breakfast room sat even with the morning sunrise, so that she could see the morning begin with him. On the other side of the house sat the drawing room, so she could see the evening end with him. And the cabinets were always full of the food she liked best, so she could enjoy her food with him. The roof was magically enhanced in the master bedroom, so she could hear the rain drip and see it, just like Hogwarts' Great Hall. So she could sit and listen to the rain fall in their bed with him. With him.... If only that were true.

The sitting room was warm with fire from the fireplace, magically lit, of course, on the cold, lonely winter nights, while it snowed. She loved it when it snowed... loved it when it snowed. Suddenly Harry heard a sound like a bell. He stood up and thought maybe it was- God he didn't know, her, ringing a bell for him... no...

Harry shook his head out of his daydream. There was no bell. Only his imagination. *ring*ring*ring* Wait! It wasn't his imagination! It was the phone. After all, a phone... that Muggle tool.... Muggle reminded him of her. He shook his head again out of his daydream and picked up the phone.

"Harry." The word was simple. But it got the point across. He knew who it was.

"Where are you?"

"Home Harry... I'm coming home..."

"Home?"

"Yes Harry, home, where I belong."

Harry smiled.

"Yes, where you belong."

"I'm coming... you didn't forget me?"

"Forget you?" As if that were possible.

"You didn't." The voice on the other end smiled. He didn't.

"You didn't forget me?"

"Forget you?" she mocked.

"You didn't," he mocked.

"I want you to see me."

"I want to see you."

"I'm coming."

"Yes, you're coming."

Harry put down the phone. He smiled.

As did the voice on the other end of the phone.

Is this a dream? Harry wondered. No my dreams are sad and lonely. This is different. This is real.

There was a small *pop* behind him.

"Harry."

Harry turned around.

There she was. Tears fell from her eyes and spilled onto his shirt as he embraced her. This is love. Only this.

Later that night, they snuggled together in his bed, empty of happiness for so long, but filled now.

"Why did you come back?"

"I need you."

"Why?"

"I'm going to need help raising Jamison Harry Potter, don't you think?"

"You have a son?"

"Not yet."

"You're pregnant?"

"Not yet," she repeated, snuggling closer.

"How do you know it'll be a boy?"

"I have high hopes," she replied as Harry smiled into the darkness.

There was a moment of silence.

"You don't want this?" she asked.

"No, I just want you, for at least nine months. Just you."

Another moment of silence passed as she tried to find what that meant. Did he not want a baby for another year? Suddenly, she knew.

"I get it."

"You always do..." Harry smiled. She smiled.

"I love you Harry James Potter."

"And I love you, Hermione Granger Potter."

"Yes..." she sighed, perfectly content.