A Summer of Love

Harry awoke once again to a room filled with bright sunlight. He feared that he had slept in again. But his fears were quelled upon seeing Hermione exit her room the same time he was leaving his.

He grinned at her, remembering seeing her the night before, staring out into the sky. Harry wished that he had had a camera. It would have been a perfect picture.

Harry opened the door, and heard Ashley making baby noises, with the random 'Mione' included. Harry smiled as he peered over the crib, ready to take Ashley downstairs for some breakfast.

Ashley reached her arms up and wrapped them around his neck as Harry lifted her from the crib. He carried her downstairs, where Hermione already had the bananas open and ready to go.

Harry quickly friend up some bacon, and cooked himself and Hermione some eggs. They hadn't really said anything yet that morning. As Harry put her breakfast before her, he asked Hermione, "What do you want to do today?"

Hermione shrugged, screwing the cap back on top of the food jar. She looked at Harry, picking up a fork to start eating her breakfast. "I don't know. Maybe a picnic by that stream we found the other day?"

Harry watched as she cut a bit of her eggs and popped it into her mouth. He nodded. "Yeah, that works for me. I had fun the other day." He bit into a piece of bacon.

After they both finished, Harry did the dishes as Hermione prepared them sandwiches and other foods for their picnic. Harry also got some things together for Ashley: some toys, Cheerios, and the other usual things.

Hermione carried the basket in one hand, and used to other to keep Ashley on her hip. Harry had the backpack full of baby supplies slung over his shoulder, and relieved Hermione of the picnic basket. "Here. I'll take this."

They put Ashley in a stroller, which Hermione pushed. She and Harry walked slowly through the town, watching as the people went about their daily business.

Harry and Hermione joked and laughed about Ron, wondering what he was doing now, and their other friends. They wondered if they might have happened to run into any of their friend in the small town, though they seriously doubted it.

Finally, they reached their destination: the banks of the trickling creek. They spread the blanket, and spent some of their time playing with Ashley and her toys. Soon enough, however, the baby grew bored of that. Harry then picked up the baby, and played Airplane with her, using his hands to support her as he gave her the sensation of flying.

Ashley squealed in delight. Hermione laughed at the antics of the pair, taking a few pictures. Harry allowed himself to laugh in between his different airplane sounds. As Harry heard his stomach growl with hunger, he brought Ashley in for a landing, gently placing her on the blanket on her stomach.

Ashley giggled madly, then crawled over to Harry. He picked her up and placed her into his lap, laughing with her. Hermione smiled at them, unwrapping a sandwich. Harry took out some peach baby food to feed Ashley. She sat on the blanket as Harry spooned some of the baby food into her mouth.

Each time she took a bite, Harry said, "Mmm!" And Ashley would mimic him, saying, "Mmm!" right after he would. Hermione giggled at them. She loved watching Harry interact with Ashley. She wished that her parents' old video camera still worked.

After Harry capped the jar of food, Ashley crawled over to where Hermione was. Hermione picked up the baby, and bounced the baby in her lap, saying a silly song. Ashley would giggle, and occasionally let out a half laugh.

Soon, though, the baby started yawning. As time passed, the yawns became more frequent. Harry and Hermione put Ashley down for her nap between the two of them. And soon enough, the baby girl was asleep.

Harry and Hermione sat in content silence for a few moments, watching the stream trickle by. Harry asked idly, "Did you see the sky last night?"

He pictured Hermione nod more than he saw it. "Yeah... it was stupefying," she breathed. He turned to look at her, and saw that she was looking at him.

"It was," Harry agreed, somewhat amazed that Hermione's single adjective described the night sky better than Harry could have in a number of sentences. "I went out into the backyard to look at it last night, after you went to bed."

Hermione nodded. "I watched it from my bedroom. When I walked in, the room was bathed in moonlight. I didn't know how I couldn't look up at the sky."

Harry felt as though he was slowly moving closer to Hermione. And it seemed that she was moving closer to him, too. Somehow, their faces were only a few mere inches apart. They were very close; Harry could feel Hermione's warm breath washing against his face.

"It was simply breathtaking," Hermione whispered. Harry's eyes were captivated by her deep brown ones. He could have kept looking into them until the end of time, and still not fully explore the entirety of their depths.

Harry swallowed, nodding. "Breathtaking."

He pulled away slowly, unhappily distancing himself from Hermione. He lay back on the blanket, staring up at the sky, wondering what had just happened.

Silence fell between the two. Harry's eyes closed as he felt the sunlight warm his skin. Harry soon drifted out of consciousness.

---

Harry turned away from the ice cream cart, two cones in hand. He was older, maybe twenty-three or so. He had grown from a thin and scrawny kid into a well-built, fairly good-looking man.

He walked over to a bench, where a slightly pregnant Hermione was sitting. Harry gave her a quick peck on the lips, before handing her an ice cream cone. "Here you go, honey."

Hermione smiled at him, and Harry felt his heart flutter, cheesy as it sounds. She licked her ice cream, looking shyly at Harry. He grinned. Not a word passed between the couple, though they seemed to communicate so much.

Harry polished off his cone quickly. He let a hand run softly over Hermione's swelling belly. Occasionally, he'd feel a slightly kick. Harry smile broadened each time he felt one.

He let his head rest upon Hermione's stomach, listening for any sort of action the developing child may do. Hermione's hands ran through Harry's hair.

"I love you," she said.

Harry looked up at her, smiling. He kissed her stomach, and sat up. "I love you," he replied.

Harry let one of his hands play with Hermione's hair. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and let out a content sigh. Harry kissed her on top of her head.

"I'll always love you."

---

Harry blinked, waking up as quickly as he had fallen asleep. He had vague images in his mind of a dream, but soon those mists disappeared.

Ashley was sitting in Hermione's lap, looking intently at a book that Hermione was reading aloud. Harry sensed that Ashley would probably pick up Hermione's love of books and reading. Especially if Hermione kept this up.

Harry stayed lying down, watching Hermione and Ashley as they read. He wished that he could have taken a picture right then. It was perfect.

Harry slowly and quietly pulled the camera out of the bag it was in, not wanting to call the girls' attention away from the story. He aimed the camera, putting them in the middle. He snapped a quickly picture, and Hermione stopped reading, abruptly looking up.

Her eyes met Harry's. He was caught with the camera in his hands. He grinned, and shrugged. Hermione rolled her eyes and picked up where she had left off.

Harry sat up and continued watching them. Once Hermione finished, she looked up at Harry. "I thought you were sleeping."

Harry nodded. "I was. But then you two looked so perfect reading together that I had to take a picture." He looked at the book title. "Obviously 'Puss in Boots' was so exciting, you couldn't tear your eyes away from it."

Hermione flushed, her cheek turning a shade of light pink and stuck her tongue out at Harry, who grinned cheekily.

Hermione got a sly look in her eye, then said, "At least I don't worry myself into a tizzy when people go on walks."

Harry's jaw dropped slightly. "What? How'd you--how could you--how did you know that?"

Hermione giggled. "I didn't. But now I do."

Harry felt himself blush slightly. But then he grinned devilishly, and moved slowly towards Hermione. Ashley was playing with two dolls on the blanket. Harry moved around her.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Harry?"

But Harry ignored that, the devilish grin still in place. Finally, he was next to Hermione. "Miss Granger, for that last comment, you will have to pay."

"How so, Master Potter?" Hermione matched his grin. Harry was taken aback slightly by their flirting, but he continued along his warpath.

He quickly started poking Hermione in the sides lightly, sending her onto peals of laughter. Harry found himself laughing along as he tickled Hermione. The sounds of her laugher encompassed Harry.

"Harry... stop! Now! Please! Oh... please will... stop!" Hermione let out in the middle of giggles and gasps for breath.

"Never!" Harry declared imperiously. "I said that you would pay. And you will!" He continued to tickle her.

Hermione couldn't stop laughing. "Harry... paid enough... now stop! Please... stop!"

Harry relented and moved away from Hermione, who was gasping for air. Ashley was giving Harry a curious look. He figured that it was coincidence, but one could never be sure.

After a few moments of silence, permeated occasionally only by Ashley's babble, Hermione sat up. Her breathing had steadied, but her cheeks were still a light shade of pink.

"You'll pay, Potter," she said, trying to be menacing. This attempt failed, however, due to the fact that a large smile was all over her face.

"Oho, I'm shaking in my boots, Granger," Harry countered.

"You better be," Hermione said, a note of finality in her voice.

They sat there a few more minutes in silence, admiring the creek and the nature surrounding it. Harry glanced idly at his watch, and was surprised by what time it was.

"You want to head back? It's getting close to dinner time," Harry suggested.

"Sure," Hermione replied. She busied herself with getting together all of their trash and all of Ashley's toys. Harry strapped Ashley into her stroller, then joined Hermione in helping clean up.

Soon, everything was packed. Harry carried the basket and baby bag while Hermione pushed the stroller. Upon arriving home, Harry proceeded to cook them dinner while Hermione fed Ashley. They ate, light conversation permeating the meal.

After dinner, the three of them went into the backyard and played for a while. They sat out to watch the sun set. The flaming orb dipping beneath the horizon cast brilliant hues of pink, purple and orange across the summer sky.

As dusk descended upon them, Ashley started yawning. Hermione volunteered to take her up to bed. Harry stayed in the backyard, watching the sky as it darkened with every passing moment. Soon he decided to walk inside for a while.

Hermione was still upstairs with Ashley. Harry took the opportunity to freshen up. He hopped into a downstairs shower and rinsed off. As he emerged, Hermione was walking down the stairs.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, surprised. "I didn't hear you come in. Let alone take a shower!"

Harry smiled. "I just decided to take a shower. That okay?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed to the lightest shade of pink. "Of course. Of course," she muttered.

Harry shrugged and walked back out into the Grangers' backyard. The sky was already starting to twinkle with the stars above.

Harry sat down, his arms wrapped casually around his knees. He heard the door shut lightly, and knew that meant Hermione was coming out too. She took a seat next to him, assuming the same position.

Harry looked at her, looking up at the stars. He followed her gaze, and saw a particularly bright star winking at them. Harry swallowed heavily. Though Sirius's death had been more than a year ago, it still hurt slightly.

Harry tensed momentarily as he felt Hermione's arms wrap around him in a friendly hug. She leaned her head on his shoulder, squeezing gently. Harry relaxed and leaned his head lightly against hers, wrapping one of his arms behind her back.

Not a word had passed between them, but it seemed that each knew exactly what the other wanted. The pair sat there like that for at least an hour, but to them it only seemed like a moment.

Hermione smiled at Harry, and excused herself to bed. Harry followed her, casting a final glance at the bright Dog Star before going through the door. Harry nodded to the heavens, silently saluting Sirius. Then he followed Hermione inside, and they each went to bed.