The Road Trip

Chapter Seven - The Last Night: Breakups and Makeups

The five of us got back to my house around eight o'clock that night. We spent the entirety of the afternoon packing and just joking around. I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun with my friends, couldn't remember when we were last so open with each other, enjoying our time together. It was one of the best days of my life. I couldn't wait to get the pictures I took developed. I still preferred Muggle film over wizard film, and there was a shot that Lavender took of me and Harry under the Cottonwood tree that I knew I was going to want to frame right away. All in all, the afternoon was wonderful, leading into a night I wouldn't soon forget.

When we arrived at my house, we all took our time changing. Lavender's idea of "celebrating" was a drinking party at the Three Broomsticks, a party I was more then willing to take part in for once. "Hermione? Drinking? What is the world coming to?" Ron said with an over-dramatic shake of his head. I swatted at his arm and he laughed at me.

So, there we were, sitting in the Three Broomsticks, making enough noise to get us kicked out if we so chose. We met up with some other people there, among them Dean, Seamus, Parvati, and various other friends and their assorted boyfriends and girlfriends. I was overly giddy to see that Annie had yet to make an appearance, especially since everyone was celebrating Harry and my "waking up to see what was right in front of us" as Seamus so eloquently pointed out.

At two o'clock - four hours later, after drinking enough butterbeer and alcoholic beverages to provide for a small army, we all made our way to the door saying reluctant goodbyes. Lavender and Neville portkeyed their ways home, leaving me, Harry and Ron to fend for ourselves. Harry and I were tipsy, but Ron was completely and thoroughly drunk. It was amusing to say the very least, especially when he ran into Kerry on the way out the door singing "God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs". I think she took him home, though whether it was to her home or his I didn't ask, nor did I have any desire to find out.

So, Harry and I were alone at last. Harry smiled at me and tugged on my hand. "C'mon," he said, pulling me away from the doorway.

"Where are we going?" I asked with a smile.

"C'mon." I gave him a look of reluctance and he kissed me, soft and slow, and I just about melted in his arms. "Trust me," he said, eyes shining. "And close your eyes."

With a smile, I did as he asked and I felt him come up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist, and start leading me forward. I felt us twist and turn around Hogsmeade - a right here, a left there, must have gone the wrong way because he turned me around - until I felt the gentle pull on my navel that signaled portkey travel. "Harry, where are you - "

"Shh..." He placed a finger to my lips and guided me forward and up a few flights of stairs. I heard him open a door before walking me through it. He pulled away from me and I couldn't help but suddenly feel cold without his arms around me. "Open your eyes," he whispered in my ear. I did and had to bite back a gasp.

We were on the balcony of a house I didn't recognize. I turned around and saw an empty room. I walked through before turning to Harry. "Where are we?"

Harry grinned a little before answering me. "Godric's Hollow. Sirius told me that there was an empty house here that an older wizard was selling. He figured I'd want to know about it since I was looking for a place to move after Hogwarts. I jumped at the chance, bought it as soon as I could." His eyes were distant, as if observing a memory, but suddenly he looked at me. "Ron already knew and already said yes, but I wanted to show you before I asked."

"Asked me what?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.

"Would you want to move in with me and Ron? Be our housemates?" He pouted and I giggled. "Please?"

"Now, how could I say no to that?" I asked, slinging my arms around his waist. I leaned up to kiss him. What started out soft was rapidly turning passionate. When breathing became a necessity, I pulled away and leaned against his chest. Harry kissed the top of my head. "I love you," I said, and I'd never meant it more.

"I love you too," he said before yawning widely. I laughed and conjured up a blanket and two pillows. I laid the blanket on the floor and the two of us curled up together. I felt his breathing even out and I kissed his forehead, right over the scar, before succumbing to slumber.

The next morning was one that I will never forget.

Harry was the first to awaken. I kept my eyes closed feigning sleep. He brushed a piece of hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. "You're so beautiful," I heard him murmur before nuzzling into my neck. I couldn't help but smile a little.

I turned over and kissed him awake. I pulled away and smiled. We were so wrapped up in each other that we didn't hear the door open, didn't even realize there was someone else in the room until I heard a voice exclaim, "Harry!" A voice that could only belong to one person...

"Annie! What are you doing here?" Harry said. I would think that most men would be mortified to be discovered by their significant other in bed with another woman, but Harry was as calm as anything. I nonchalantly rolled over and kissed Harry on his neck before pretending to cuddle into his chest and fall asleep. I felt bad that after all this, Annie would probably think Harry was a cheating jerk, but I really didn't give two shits about what she thought of me. I was awake for the entire conversation that followed. I think Harry knew, but Annie never had a second thought.

"I - I went looking for you and Sirius said that you never came home last night and that you were probably here," Annie said and I could here the confusion in her voice. "Harry - what's going on?"

Harry released me softly before going over to Annie. He ran his hand through his hair - maybe he was nervous. "You see Annie," he started, "A funny thing happened this weekend. I realized something. I realized that I've been terribly wrong all this time. Annie, I have feelings for you, strong ones at that, but," I could feel his eyes on me as he continued, "My heart belongs to someone else."

I opened one eye and I could see Annie - was that a smile? Why is she smiling? "I always knew that this day would come," she said and I could see that Harry was shocked.

"What do you mean?" Harry said. I could hear the surprise in his voice.

"I mean that, although you were oblivious to it, I always knew this day would come - the day when you realized that you weren't in love with me, but completely and utterly devoted to your best friend. You may not have noticed, but it was as plain as anything to me, and most of your friends actually. I didn't even think it would take this long for you to realize what your heart was trying to tell you." I could tell there were tears in her eyes, but her words were sincere. I actually felt sorry for her.

"Annie -"

"No. Don't apologize. You can't tell your heart what to feel, right?" She shrugged and then looked up at Harry who was rendered speechless. "Hermione's lucky - be sure to tell her that for me." She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Goodbye Harry," she said before walking out the door. Harry was still too stunned to say anything.

I stood up and went to him, wrapping my arms around him from behind. "Well," Harry said scratching his head, "That was unexpected."

I kissed the back of his shoulder before he turned around and pulled me close to him. I just leaned into his arms. "I think its official," I said with a sigh.

"What is?"

I giggled a little. "The entire world saw what the two of us were too blind to admit to each other. What do you think about that?"

Harry gave me a goofy little grin before kissing me lovingly. "I think that I'm the luckiest man in the world."

I looked into his face and sighed, my face breaking out into what had to be the most flustered grin ever known to mankind. "You're too sweet for your own good, you know that?"

"Just telling the truth," he said with a laugh at the look on my face.

"I love you, you know," I said caressing his cheek.

"I do. I love you too, more then I can say."

I smiled mischievously. "Then don't say anything."

Harry just looked at me and leered before kissing me in a way that bordered on illegal in most public places. Needless to say, neither of us got home until very late that afternoon.