Day by Day

DAY BY DAY

By Lady Jane

Chapter One: "The One Which Is Rather Short Because It's Really Just An Introduction"

'You want me to what?! But Professor, how on earth is that going to help?'

Hermione felt helpless, struggling to maintain her usual calm, cool and collected demeanour. Her thoughts were flying here and there at a frightening rate, desperately seeking a way to say no to the request Professor Dumbledore had just made of her. A sinking feeling developed very quickly when she realised there were no excuses to be found. After all, how could she refuse a request from Professor Albus Dumbledore, especially when it involved one of her best friends, Harry Potter?

Unable to stop herself, Hermione sprang out of the chair she'd taken on arriving only a mere five minutes before and began pacing in front of the Professor's desk. 'Why don't you ask Ron?' she cried, 'I'm sure that would be far more sensible!'

They were in Professor Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts, the Professor seated behind his desk, calmly looking at Hermione who was definitely losing her calm.

'Now Miss Granger, please sit down and relax a little. You're straining my eyes and my neck at the same time with all this back and forth, back and forth,' the Professor told her, waving his hand expressively.

Hermione let out an exasperated sigh as she dropped into the chair she'd vacated only a minute before and took a couple of deep breaths. She had to maintain some semblance of control, or at least appear to, but it wasn't easy going. The Professor, of course, had absolutely no idea that what he was asking of her was akin to torture.

'Thank you,' said the Professor, those twinkling blue eyes smiling at her over the top of his half moon spectacles. Then he continued, 'The reason why I'm asking you, Miss Granger and not Mr Weasley, is because I believe that the best thing for Harry at the moment is a woman's touch and you are the best woman for the job.'

'I'm not his mother,' Hermione remarked tartly and considered glaring momentarily at the Professor but found she lacked the courage.

'And no one thinks you are. What I mean, Miss Granger, is that I believe Harry will be more relaxed in your company as he won't feel the need to put on a front, if you like, with you, but which he would undoubtedly do if he was with Mr Weasley. I don't want him wasting time maintaining false facades when what he needs to be doing is concentrating on getting used to living away from Hogwarts once more.' What he didn't say was that he also had no doubt Hermione would guard Harry's wellbeing as would a lioness her cubs.

Hermione nodded grudgingly. She knew what the Professor meant and he was right.

'So how long is this for?' she asked.

'I would say until he's found his feet and is able to find his own place in which to live. Perhaps as little as four weeks - perhaps as much as six or eight weeks. I can't really say.'

Hermione couldn't help herself - she groaned out loud.

The Professor smiled. 'Now surely it won't be that much of a burden having Harry live with you? I believe he's reasonably tidy and organised, he's well-mannered and considerate and you've known him more than half your life. Is there a particular problem I should be aware of Miss Granger?'

Hermione dropped her head, her hand cradling her forehead. Ha! A particular problem? Well, now that you mention it, Hermione thought, there is just one, tiny, small, insignificant, minor problem Professor, only one: I love the man! I'd give anything to be living with him - but not when he sees me as nothing more than a sisterly best friend. And to add insult to injury, he's grown into such a bloody attractive man and - and - well, he's downright sexy as hell, damn him! It's hard enough loving him because of the person he is without him having the hide to turn around and grow up gorgeous! And the Professor was asking her to shack up with him for Merlin knew how long - holy hell! A particular problem indeed!

Hermione lifted her head, barely managing to maintain her all-important composure in the face of impending disaster as she looked at the Professor. She had no choice. She had to admit defeat. With a small half smile in place, she answered, 'No, no particular problem, Professor. Of course he can come and live with me for as long as he needs to.' What the hell, she thought, I could do with some major stress and raging sexual tension in my life - haven't had any for a while. She definitely felt a little hysterical as she accepted the Portkey the Professor offered which would return her to her flat in London; her mind was already racing ahead of her, thinking about what she was going to need to do before Harry arrived that afternoon.