Just Another Casanova

Chapter 16

Hermione stared up at the towering house, dotted with dozens of windows. It was a slight yellow color, the door a newly painted ruby red. Hermione couldn't help but think with a smirk, Gryffindor pride. The gravel road that used to come up the hill was buried below layers of weeds, peeping dandelions, and a thin white blanket.

Harry was urging her inside. He had both of their trunks in his hands and a bag slung over his shoulder--much like the typical prodigal son. His smile was fading, but he didn't dare go inside without her, for she might very well stand outside in the cold all day. Surprisingly enough, that's exactly what Hermione was convincing herself to do at that moment. It had to be better than going inside.

"'Mione, stop being ridiculous," he shouted over the wind.

Fifteen feet below him, amidst a snowy field, she replied, "Go inside, I'll be in."

"Liar," he muttered. He opened the door and entered the kitchen. Remus Lupin was seated at the table, the Daily Prophet open in front of him, a mug of coffee in one hand. Age had sure caught up to him. His hair was graying and small brown hairs were poking out all over his mouth. His face had many more wrinkles than in years past, but as he looked up at the boy, his blue eyes were shining and a huge grin appeared on his face.

"Harry," he remarked in a sincere voice.

"No time to talk now, Lupin," he replied, tossing the luggage carelessly into the living room. "I'm a bit preoccupied." He pulled his bag from over his head and threw it on top of the two trunks before heading back for the door. Without another word to his old professor, he opened it and entered back into the cold.

Hermione was a bit startled to see him again. He came down the two steps and followed his old footsteps to get back to her.

"Harry, what are you doing--?"

Without a word, he picked her up, one arm holding her back, the other under her knees and trekked back through the snow up to the house.

"Harry...." she growled in a dangerous tone.

"'Mione, I'm going to help you, even if that means carrying you a little of the way."

He muttered a spell under his breath and the door opened without his wand (during the war Harry had mastered some minimal wandless magic). He kicked the door closed behind him, carried Hermione past a carefully watching Lupin, and dumped her in the living room near their bags.

"Harry!" a motherly voice exclaimed. A moment later, he was buried in the chest of an overly excited, slightly plump woman--quite a feat, seeing as how Harry was a foot and a half taller.

She released him a moment later and hollered up the stairs. "Kids, come see your uncle Harry. Bill, George, Charlie, come down here!"

Hermione was still sitting in a heap on the floor, stubbornly refusing to stand up. The over-excited Molly Weasley hadn't noticed the girl yet and kept her eyes glued to the staircase for sight of her two grandchildren.

Sarah and Remy came bounding down the long staircase as fast as their little legs could carry them. Remy was a freckle faced, six-year-old boy--an exact replica of his father. His chubby hand was securely fastened around his sister's wrist, pulling her quickly behind him. Sarah had light white hair, like her mother had had, and was nearing her fourth birthday (Fleur had died in childbirth). Her baby blue eyes were wide and followed her brother all the way down the stairs.

"'Arry, 'Arry," she was chanting. Some time later her and her brother collapsed into the man's arms and he lifted them up, cradling them both, laughing.

Harry set them down gently on the rugged carpet and crouched down so he was eye level with them. "How are my favorite niece and nephew?"

"Aren't we your only niece and nephew, Uncle 'Arry?" Remy asked.

Harry grinned. "Well, I guess that means you have less competition, eh?"

"Harry," Bill exclaimed as him and Charlie sauntered into the living room. George came stampeding down the stairs after them. All the men, on their turn, pulled Harry into a one-armed hug.

"It's good to see you again, mate," George said, scooping up his niece into his arms. Sarah giggled.

Hermione watched the exchange silently, thanking the heavens she hadn't been noticed yet.

"Mum told us Hermione wasn't coming again," Charlie commented lazily, like they had this conversation every day.

Harry didn't even glance at Hermione, though a small, almost unnoticeable, smirk passed his lips.

"It's a shame about her parents' friend. Something always seems to happen around Christmas," George bit out sarcastically. "Like the roof leaking last year and she had to stay and supervise it?"

"Or the year before that when she started a new tradition of visiting her parents' graves on Christmas; I can see that stuck," Charlie added.

"Anybody else get the feeling she's avoiding us?" Bill asked rhetorically. The brothers all nodded.

"I'm sure that's not it at all," Molly persisted. "The girl has her reasons, I'm sure. I just wish we knew what they were." She patted Remy on the head.

"Oh, well, guess that's just one less present for you two," George told the two children.

"No presents?" Sarah whispered as though it were the most horrifying thing on earth.

"No, love, you'll still get presents. Bunches and bunches of them, because you have uncles who spoil you," George assured her. She smiled instantly and Charlie reached over and took her into his arms.

"Am I really that terrible?" Hermione didn't remember standing, nor had she purposely voiced her thoughts out loud, but now they were circulating a room that had fallen too quiet too fast.

"Bill, that looks like Hermione and sounds like Hermione, but it can't possibly be."

"I don't know, George, it could be. I can't be sure though after all these years."

Charlie shot his brothers a disapproving glance before returning his sight to the woman in the dark before them. "Hermione," he practically whispered, almost as though he was afraid if he said it too loud she'd disappear and it would all have been some fantastic dream. He moved towards her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I can't believe you're here."

Hermione returned the embrace but added, "It wasn't by my choice, I assure you."

When Charlie pulled back they all shifted their eyes to a grinning Harry. He shrugged. "Like I'd spoil the surprise."

Bill pulled Hermione into an embrace as well, holding her longer than Charlie had. "It's so good to see you. Where've you been, Hermione?"

He pulled away and let George hug her. "You smell good," he commented, breaking the odd tension.

Hermione laughed, but as George pulled away, they all saw that she was crying.

"Hermione, dear," Mrs. Weasley said sympathetically. She pulled Hermione into her bosom, cradling her like her life depended on it. She pulled away and held Hermione away from her, inspecting her. "You look a bit tired, dear, have you been getting enough sleep?"

Hermione laughed despite herself. Why had she avoided this for so many years?

Bill was telling something to his children on bended knee. He pointed his finger at Hermione and when he had finished they came running towards her and each wrapped around a leg.

"Aunt 'Mione," they chimed in unison. They clung to her legs, sending her into a fresh round of giggles.

She bent down and picked Sarah up, sitting her on one of her hips and patted Remy on the head with the other. Her eyes were still red and she swiped at one final tear rolling down her cheek. She placed a kiss on Sarah's nearly white head and bent down to give Remy a peck on the cheek.

"It's so good to see you guys," she said. She looked around at her companions and Remus, who had finally entered the room with the ruckus. "It's good to be home."

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"Thank you, Harry." Hermione was trying to organize her trunk into drawers and Harry was across the room, lying on the other single bed. They had to share in order for everyone else to fit. Normally, Hermione shared with Ginny, but apparently Ginny was bringing a guest, and Hermione had a sneaking suspicion who that was.

Hermione didn't even have to look over at him; she could sense his grin.

"I know what you're going to say and you can save the motivating speech."

"I wasn't going to say anything. Just that I'm proud of you, 'Mione." He rolled on his side so he could watch her try to match up the clothes he had packed into descent outfits.

"They were so happy to see me," she remarked, a bit dreamy-like.

He smiled. "They missed you."

She met his eyes. "I missed them too." She placed the last particle of clothing in a drawer, shoved it closed, locked her trunk, and stuck it under the bed. "When did Molly say the others were coming?"

Harry sat up to make room for her on his bed. "Ginny's coming later tonight with her 'guest,'"--him and Hermione shared a secret smile--"and Fred and Angelina and the new baby are coming tomorrow morning for breakfast."

"They had a baby?"

"You didn't know that?"

She shrugged. "I guess you lose touch after not showing up for four Christmases."

Harry lay a comforting had on top of hers. "They understand, 'Mione. It's a boy. His name's...well, it's Ron."

Her eyes widened, but only briefly. She smiled. "That was nice of them."

"Yeah, who knew, Fred the sentimental one?" He chuckled.

She smiled with him. "Thank you for bringing me here."

He squeezed her hand. "It was actually rather entertaining."

A knock sounded on the door and it creaked open. Remy's curly hair appeared and he grinned, showing off his dimples. "Uncle George says to come and fetch you. Auntie Gin and her boyfriend's here. Uncle George says to stop snogging and come downstairs."

He disappeared and they heard the stairs creak loudly as he ran down them. Hermione stifled a giggle and Harry's cheeks pinkened. This caused Hermione to laugh louder and eventually Harry joined her. He reached over and grazed his fingers across her abdomen, causing her to shriek loudly.

"Don't!"

He just laughed harder. "Ticklish, 'Mione?"

"No."

"Yeah, right." He tickled her harder. She struggled to get away and fell onto the floor. She twisted around to smack Harry, but missed and fell into sync with his laughing. Five minutes later, and red-faced, he stood up and offered her a hand. She accepted it and let him pull her to her feet.

"You prat."

He smirked. "I try." She reached out and popped him hard on the shoulder.

"Come on, let's go. They're waiting," she insisted, heading out the door and down the stairs.