Empty souls

Chapter 20 – The key.


Harry was ready to go crazy. The night of the 24th of december and he was alone in the night in Ron’s room. Before Hermione could give birth, they both slept in the same bed. But, when she got back with little Ginny, refused to sleep with him anymore. They argued about it. Harry didn’t like the idea of spending his nights alone. He quickly had accostumed to her, her body, her pillow kisses, her warmth... all of her. Hermione took Ginny’s room for her and the baby and Molly, Bill and Fleur smirked funny at their behavior. And on top of it all, the baby cried every now and then... and Hermione made her company with tears of her own.

Of course, Molly helped the new mother with few tips like how to hold the baby to breast-fed her or how to rock her or change her nappies... and for that, Hermione cried even more than the baby did. Molly understood her. It wasn’t easy. Hermione’s body felt dearly the absence of her baby inside her, and tried to take care of little Ginny and hadn’t had success at it, made her feel useless and hopeless. Rise a child wasn’t something that someone could find in a book. Hermione wondered why a baby can’t come out with a guide book.

Molly reassured her that it was normal that the first baby can’t be carried easy, but with time, she and little Ginny would come along.

And it wasn’t only that. Hermione’s body wasn’t what it used to be and (damn hormones!) she felt fat and ugly... at her own eyes, she was deformed. A little bag of skni was what she had as a souvenir from her pregnancy and, afraid, refused to haVE Harry sleeping next to her. He hadn’t seen her naked EVER... well, the half part of her yes... but it was because she was going to give birth and was needed. The healer and Madame Pomfrey told her that sex was forbiden for at least two or three months... she just flushed when that talk came. It was painful to not have Harry next to her, but she hadn’t said a thing about her discomfort and Harry obviously was feeling exasperated and frustrated. And it just had passed almost three days!

In the nights, little ginny cried two or three times and Hermione had to get up from bed to fed her and change her nappy... with Molly’s help that, as soon as the baby began to cry she was there with both girls... and both crying and whiling.

Christmas morning came cold and chilly. Even when Harry’s spirits were plastered on the floor like his heart, she was determinated to go true to his plan.

After a good bath and warm clothes, he left Ron’s room and went to see Hermione... but she wasn’t there so he turned and went downstairs. When he reached the kitchen, befoer open the door, he heard her voice, whispering to someone else.

“... and I saw him looking at me like I have the plague...” sobbed Hermione quietly “He-he’s mad at me, I know... he’ll leave me, Molly. If not now, it’ll be soon... and I... I don’t know what I-I’m going to do_”

“Dear” whispered Molly back trying to confort her “that’s not going to happen... he loves you. He’s just copnfused , it’s all.”

“How could he be confused?” whispered angrily “I’m the one who gave birth... and he sees me like... like... I don’t know!” she added sadly.

“Be patient, dear. It’s normal... Arthur and I were the same as you and Harry are. I assure you that everything’s going to be just fine. You just need time... you need to connect to this new development. Talk with him.”

“Oh God! No!” shh, shh...” it was obvious that little Ginny was in her arms when Hermione exclaimed and this sudden tone woke her up “He’ll laugh at me... or yell... he’s already angry because we aren’t together... shh, shh...”

Harry shook his head. Now he realised why she’s so distant. ‘How could she ever think I’m mad? ... and I never looked at her like she had the plague!’ thought Harry sadly ‘I love her! I will never yell at her or laugh for that matter... yes I’m angry because I need her, how could she think that I’d leave her?!’. In silence, he walked back and climbed the stairs, knowing that needed to go forward with his plan... and wil be this same day, no matter what.

Harry waited in Ron’s room until he could hear that the rest of the family arrived. So, when he appeared into the hall, the living room was almost full packed and waiting to sit for breakfast. He spotted Hermione talking with Angelina and Katie. The twins were with Bill and Remus. He suspected that Tonks was with Molly and Fleur in the kitchen, what was surprinsing because Tonks’ clumsyness always made Molly iriate at the point of shout at her to sit and watch. But when he peered into the kitchen, she wasn’t at sight. Harry frowned wondering why she wasn’t there.

“Happy christmas!” exclaimed Harry to greet everyone and they shout at him the same. The air was thick though. Something like sadness, sorrow and cheerness mixed. Then, he approached where Hermione was and kissed her on the forehead. She avoided his eyes shyly. “Happy christmas, ‘Mione.” Whispered Harry in her ear and she shivered. Then, he bent down to kiss little Ginny on the cheek. The baby was pressed to Hermione’s chest and when Harry kissed her, he grazed Hermione with his ear the skin that was there. He did it on purpose and felt her shiver again. Harry smiled secretly.

“Happy Christmas, Harry” replied Hermione. When he stirred his body to look at her, she was looking everywhere but him... now blushing.

He just smiled and walked where the males were gathered. Minutes later, Tonks, Luna and Neville arrived and Molly called for breakfast out in the backyard.

Harry saw, speechless, that in the middle of the enlarged table was the biggest turkey he’d ever seen, the cheerful mood surrounded again at the delicious sight and took their seats. Harry made sure to sit next to Hermione that still had little Ginny in her arms, and somehow, managed to eat with one hand . of course Harry helped her, but she only smiled at him awkwardly, though she let him help her. After they ate their last piece of breakfast, Molly called for a toast. Her words were definetly full of sad and joy and more than one had tears in their eyes.

When the speech and the toast passed, Molly sliced the chocolate cake that between Molly and Fleur made. The prescription was one of Fleur’s favorite, one that belonged to her grandmother. With their respectively slice of cake, passed where the christmas tree was and opened their presents. Between hugs, kisses and thanks, the mood cheered again and almost everyone had their respective presents opened... except Remus and Hermione.

The werewolf had his presents, but lacking of any from his wife. He looked at her expectantly but she just smiled. He knew that smile. One that means that had some plot in her pocket... only that it wasn’t a plot and wasn’t in her pocket either. Molly smiled secretly when Tonks got up from the floor, where she sat beside Remus. She took now sit in his lap and held his hands in hers.

“I didn’t know what to give you” said Tonks. The rest, some of them were still looking their presents while other looked at them suspiciously “... until this morning... and I thought ‘Maybe we need a puppy’... and then, well... we have one.”

For a unknown reason, the female population gasped and covered their mouths, but the males just looked like something was amissed. Remus’s face was blank, like something just didn’t click, but when Tonks’ smile widened, he gaped at her and his face brightened.

“No.” Whispered unbelievingly.

“Yes.”

“What?!” asked George and Katie slapped his arm “OW! What ya’ do that for!” but Katie just shook at his thickhead boyfriend.

Suddenly, Tonks yelped when Remus lifted her from his lap and swirled her around kissing her whole face. Then he put her on her feet and looked at her “You’re pregnant!” exclaimed Remus and until that, the rest finally understood.

“Yes!” Tonks screeched hugging him again.

Now, all had their surprised faces watching the scene before them. Harry’s the first to congratulate them, clappin Remus’ back and he thought that it was the first time that he saw him this happy since he and Tonks got married.

The reason that the female auror arrived later was because she went to St.Mungo’s... she suspected something days before, but she wanted to be sure before Remus had his hopes up. She wanted to be a surprise. When Harry turned to see Hermione, she was just wipping away her tears, happy for the couple soon-to-be-family. Harry’s heart squirmed at the sight of her. A swirl of emotions gathered in his guts thinking on what he had planned, but he wanted to do it right, so he waited for the conmotion to subside.

When this happy news lowered a bit, Harry thought it was time and his face blanched. Remus saw him and placed a hand over his shoulder for support and the green-eyed man saw his face. The last marauder smiled at him and muttered ‘Do it’. Harry nodded and walked where the woman of his life was, sitting in a couch beside little Ginny’s crib... in his hand a little box.

Remus made signals to the rest to be quiet. And when they were just about to ask ‘Why?’ , watched Harry approaching a distracted Hermione. He was going to give her present.

Hermione looked at him with furrowed eyes when he sat at her side... and blushed.

“Happy Christmas” and with that, he extended the hand that held the little box. Her heart started to beat harder the instant she looked the box and took it tentatively. Her eyes widened in anticipation and opened it: her face changed to one of hope from one of confuse. The Weasleys and company looked to one another at seen Hermione’s face contorting oddly. Inside the box was a key and before she could say a word, Harry kissed her lightly on the lips and pulled out the key, letting it dangling in his finger for all the presents to see. “This key” explained Harry watching Hermione’s brown eyes “has two meanings. First, the key is yours... the key of my heart. And second, the key of our house... our own.”

“Wha-what?” stuttered a disbelieving Hermione. Her eyes wattered but Harry smiled at her.

“Potter Manor... is ready and waiting for us, love. This key makes you the owner. Now, you have your own home, ‘Mione.”

The people around them were clapping but with a hand on the air Harry stopped them, and they did stop in confusion.

“Oh Gods! Harry!” cried Hermione at the overwhelming surprise. “You don’t have to!”

“No, I don’t have to... I want to.” When she gave him a questioning look, he explained “You wanted your own home, so I provide you with one... in which little Ginny, you and I will live... if you accept it.”

“I can’t accept it, Harry.”

“Please” he begged “it’s for you. The house of Godric’s Hollow is for you.”

“Wait just a minute... that’s why you had to leave sometimes? You... you’re fixing your parents’ house!” Harry nodded vigorously “Bu-but... I still can’t... that house is sacred for you... I-I don’t even belong_” Hermione stopped when Harry’s other hand was between them in a tight fist. For a sick second, she thought that Harry was going to punch her right on the face, but slowly he lessened the pressure on his fist and opened it... to reveal a ring... a beautiful silver ring with a rare blue diamond. Hermione gasped with and with a hand covered her wide oepn mouth efectively supressing the yell that was about to let out. The ring then, floated over Harry’s palm so the rest could have a full view.

“Mione” spoke Harry as controled as he could “I know that we had to get through difficult times... that we lost our friends... that there’ll be times when troubles will be unavoidable... that harder times will come... but I know that happy times will come too, just like the day you gave birth to this little gorgeous girl... Ron would be so proud” the tears on her eyes were leaking uncontrolably now “I know too that Ginny’s happy for us... that we have friends that supported us and still are...” Harry looked around to see agreement in all the faces that were watching and returned his gaze to the brunette girl. “I know that I want you to be happy for the rest of your life and I will do whatever it takes to... my love for you is so big, that it hurts...” his voice was cracking “Life it’s made by sad and happy moments... by sorrow and joy... by light and darkness... but I want to be at your side to face all of it.

“In all my years before going to Hogwarts, I thought that I would be alone... that I would never knew what a family , a true family is... until the Weasley took me as their own, and I’m eternaly grateful for it... the only thing that I needed was love... not for a father or a brother... or a friend, but love for a soulmate... and then, I found you, hidding behind tomes of thick books... hidding behind that bossy tone of voice... behind that gorgeous honey eyes... but I love you the way you are, and the only thing that would make me the happiest man is if you accept to be with me. I promise to love and take care of you... to support you in sad and happy times... to help you to go for your dreams... I promise to give you and little Ginny all my love. Hermione Jane Granger... would you like to be my wife?”

Hermione covered her face with her sweaty hands. She was crying and wailing harder than ever. Her heart felt like when the flowers open up in the sunlight on april. All the love she felt for Harry centuplicated.

What seemed to be a lifetime, was just a seconds in which the only sound was the one that Hermione’s wailing was doing. Without removing her hands from her face she nodded, and Harry’s tears finally leaked from his eyes. He removed her hands and, taking the ring with one hand, her left hand with the other, slowly he placed the ring on the proper finger of hers. “Yes” whispered Hermione when the ring was on her finger, never leaving Harry’s face, and both locked their eyes. “I’ll be your wife.”

Harry luinged at her and kissed her doftly on the lips, while everyone was making lod noises of applause, whistles and yellsin. He hugged her tightly against him and whispered on her ear. “I will never leave you... you’re the most gorgeous, skilled, smart and good woman in the whole world... and a mother too... I love you.”

“Oh, Harry!... I-I love you too!”

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Days after that coying speech of Harry to secure Hermione’s heart and her self-steeme, even when he asked for her to marry him and acceptes, they both kept sleeping in separate rooms... but now they slpet better than the days after little Ginny born.

Two days after new year’s festivities, they packed their things, with much tears from Molly. She was upset to see the Burrow emptier, but she was happy too.

Harry and Hermione arrived wuith only Remus and Tonks. Though, the last marauder was worried for his clumsy wife. She offered her help to unpack when they settleed their belongings in Potter Manor, which obviously made Remus frighten when Tonks almost stumble with the pile of box that was at the entrance. Hermione laughed with little Ginny in her arms watching Harry caught the female auror before she hit the floor. Remus groaned exasperated.

While unpacking, Hermione admired that they had an office with enought lenght to fill with her lovely books. Harry just sighed at the espectation, but smiled. After all it was his Hermione and he knows better... because, however she was, it was his beloved know-it-all... and he wouldn’t like it any other way.

That first night, the firsts rooms to prepare were the baby’s and Master bedroom. They needed to sleep... but Hermione was hesitant. She still felt insecure. Her body, for all means and purpose, was still a bit rounded on her hips and abdomen... a little bag for a belly.

After help Hermione to rock little Ginny and placed her on her crib (Harry bought one specially for the new house) in what was his room whaen he lived there. Harry took her by the hand and left for their new room. He felt his fiancé tense but understood and told her that he was fine if she sleep in the master bedroom and he just transfigured something in to a bed in annother room. It was then when she told him that it was ok sleep together, though she changed into her pajamas inside their bathroom. He just smiled.

They slept together holding each other sharing a good passionate kiss before giving up into a beautiful slumber.


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A/N: there were a few errors, sorry! Anyway, I know this was a bit short than I normally do. Still I hope you all had enjoyed it. I promise I’ll write lemon soon!!!!

Thank you for all of you that had been sending your reviews. I really appreciate it. Thank you for your support and sorry for my update because it took me too long. I’m writing in spanish a fic that my readers are saying it’s my ‘master work’. As soon as I finish this one, I’ll upload this other one, edited in english of course, and we’ll see if you take it so well as my faithful readers do.

Leave a review!!!!!!