A Summer of Love

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful. Ashley woke up, and she and Harry played for a while as Hermione cooked them dinner. Soon after they ate, Ashley was yawning and falling asleep playing with her toys.

Hermione put her to bed as Harry read some more of Quidditch Through the Ages. Hermione came back downstairs and read a Muggle book by some Tolkien fellow. Harry hadn't heard of the author, but he wasn't really that avid a reader. Their reading time was interrupted by spells of conversation, but for a few hours, they pretty much just read.

Harry was the first to head up to sleep that night. "I'm going to head to bed."

Hermione was engrossed in her book. But she looked up at Harry and said, "Okay. Good night."

"Good night. And sweet dreams," Harry replied. He was ready to leave the living room to head upstairs, but then he recalled something he had wanted to say.

"Hermione?"

"Mmm?" Hermione hummed, paying attention to her book.

Harry took a breath, and plunged into it. "Thanks for the compliment about me being a good father. You know, last night?" Harry paused, scratching the back of his head. "You'd make a good mother yourself." He smiled. "Night."

He left Hermione sitting on the couch, staring after him.

That night, Harry slept without any interruptions from Ashley, or anything really. He was enshrouded in the mists of deep slumber.

---

Harry woke up that morning before Hermione and Ashley. He got dressed and decided that he'd wait with Ashley until the baby woke up. That way, if she started crying, they would avoid disturbing Hermione.

He sat next to the crib for probably half-an-hour or so. Then the baby started whimpering. Harry stood and looked in the crib, seeing that Ashley had waken up. "Good morning!" Harry whispered.

He picked up the gurgling, and very smelly, baby and carried her downstairs. He changed her diaper, avoiding any major accidents while he did so. He gave Ashley an Eskimo kiss before he carried her into the kitchen and put her in her high chair.

"What would you like for breakfast today, hmm?" Harry sorted through the many various flavors of baby food as Ashley talked to herself in baby gibberish. Harry picked out some apple baby food and banana baby food, trying to pick between the two.

He looked at Ashley and smiled devilishly. Then he started chanting a song that he had heard Mr. Granger sing to Ashley on one occasion. "Do you like to eat eat eat apples and bananas?" Harry went through the entire song, getting some giggles from Ashley.

He eventually put the bananas away. Ashley could have those for lunch or dinner. Or maybe tomorrow's breakfast. He scooped a little of the apples out and said, "How about some apples?"

Ashley let out half of a laugh before she ate some of the apples. Harry continued to feed her. Occasionally, he'd say something like, "Those apples yummy?" or "I feel like some apples now." And when Ashley was being stubborn, Harry would say. "Now open up for the broomstick! You don't want him to catch the Snitch, do you?"

After one such occasion, Hermione walked in, laughing slightly. Harry looked at her just as he finished giving Ashley a spoonful of apples. "Morning, sleepyhead." Harry grinned at Hermione.

She smiled back sourly, taking out a box of cereal, and pouring herself and Harry a bowl. She watched as Harry fed her sister. He was so good with the baby. How could he have come from the household he did?

When Ashley was full, Harry took her out of her highchair and burped her. Once she let out a burp, Harry put her in her chair again, and he started eating his cereal. When he finished, Hermione put his bowl in the sink, to be washed later. She walked over to where Harry and Ashley were sitting. She tickled her sister, getting a few high-pitched baby squeals. Harry grinned, watching the two. As the giggles subsided, he asked, "What should we do today?"

Hermione, who had one finger clutched in Ashley's hand, looked at Harry. "Well, we could swim again. Or go to the park again." She thought for a moment. "Or we could just walk around town."

"That sounds good to me," Harry said.

"Okay then. We can go around town today," Hermione said as she wiped Ashley's face and took her from the high chair. Harry went to get the stroller as Hermione packed a bag with food and everything they might need. Harry was waiting outside when Hermione exited the house.

Hermione was about to put Ashley in the stroller when Harry said, "Wait. She can ride on my shoulders for a while." Hermione gave Ashley to Harry. The girl shrieked in delight as Harry placed her on his shoulders, putting her about six feet above the ground.

Hermione put their bag in the stroller and pushed it, watching as Harry spun around and played Airplane with a shrieking Ashley. Hermione took out the camera and snapped a picture. She could have sworn that Harry was made for children.

They walked into town, and window-shopped at the old shops that were frequent downtown.

Harry eventually put Ashley into the stroller, but not after they had a few people walk up to them and say things like:

"Oh, you two have such an adorable baby!" or, "You all look like the happiest family in history," or, they said to Hermione, "She has your eyes," and to Harry, "but she has your nose."

Each time, Harry or Hermione informed them that Ashley wasn't their baby, but that she was Hermione's sister, or that they weren't a family. Harry was just Hermione's best friend.

Soon, Ashley's naptime was approaching. Rather than walk back to the house, they decided to have a picnic by a stream that was at the edge of the town. Ashley could nap by the stream.

Soon, Harry and Hermione had the baby asleep. They chatted amicably, about various subjects. Hermione talked about books that she had recently read. Harry rambled on about Quidditch. They had an interesting discussion about school, and the N.E.W.T.s that they had in the upcoming year.

Soon, Harry and Hermione laid down on their picnic blanket, watching the clouds float by in silence. After a while, Harry propped himself on his elbow. He was slightly surprised to see Hermione asleep.

Harry sat up and watched Hermione. The corners of her lips were turned upward in a slight smile. Her brown hair was fanned about her head, giving her a brown halo. Her looked at her face, milking up her every feature.

He focused on her lips. They were a light shade of pink. They looked very kissable. Harry had the sudden urge to kiss Hermione. But he resisted. He continued to look at Hermione until her eyes opened and met his green ones. He smiled and said, "Have a nice nap?"

Hermione nodded, not saying anything. She sat up and watched the stream trickle by.

Soon after that, Ashley started stirring, and awoke shortly thereafter. Harry held her in his lap, bouncing her slightly. He watched as Hermione stared intently at the stream. She seemed almost angry.

Harry cleared his throat. "You want to go get some ice cream?"

Hermione looked at him and nodded. She stood up, and took Ashley from Harry, strapping her in the stroller. Harry folded up the blanket, then walked alongside Hermione and the stroller.

Harry bought himself and Hermione each a cone. They each let Ashley have a taste. Then they walked home, where Harry fixed himself and Hermione sandwiches while Hermione fed Ashley some carrots.

Harry read a magazine as he watched Hermione play with Ashley. Whatever had been bothering her that afternoon had passed.

When Ashley started yawning, Harry offered to take her upstairs and get her ready for bed. He changed her diaper, then changed her into her pajamas. Then he placed her in her crib, and started her baby mobile above her crib, and waited for her to fall asleep.

He walked back downstairs to where Hermione was picking up the toys. He sat back where his magazine was. "Um, Hermione? Mind if I ask you something?"

Busy picking up toys, Hermione replied, "What is it?"

Harry took a breath summing up his thoughts. "There seemed to be something wrong this afternoon after you woke up from your nap. Anything that had to do with me?"

Hermione laughed. "No, Harry. Don't worry about it. I always wake up from naps a little cranky."

"Oh." Harry said, glad that he hadn't offended her in anyway. "No bad dreams or anything?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. It was actually quite good."

She sat down on the couch next to Harry. "Having a kid is exhausting."

Harry nodded, pretending not to notice that there were only mere inches separating him from Hermione. She turned on the TV for a while, then said, "I'm going to bed. Good night."

Harry nodded, engrossed in his article. "Mmhmm. Night." He looked up and smiled before returning his attention to the article.

Harry had read through practically the entire article before he went upstairs to bed. Once again, he checked on Ashley, who was sleeping soundly. Then he checked on Hermione, who was also sleeping soundly.

As he was lying in his bed, waiting for sleep, Harry realized something. He realized that his feelings toward Hermione were something more than just the feelings of a best friend. He realized that he wouldn't have minded in the least if Hermione were his girlfriend.

In fact, he would rather like that.