Clarity

A/N: So sorry about the chapter mix up..my only explanation is i'm an idiot and copy and pasted the wrong one into the little text box thingy. =)
Under Control

When Harry woke up the next morning, Ginny had left. It was nearly time for breakfast to start, so he pulled himself out of bed and threw on some clothes. He didn’t have any morning classes; therefore he decided to come back to the tower and shower after breakfast.

When he descended the stairs, Ginny was waiting for him with her arms crossed. “Good. I thought I was going to have to come up there and get you.”

Hermione had just come down from the girls tower and announced to Ginny, “Girls aren’t allowed in the boy’s tower, Ginny. I better not see you going up there.” Hermione gave a small smile to Harry and exited the common room.

As soon as she left, Ginny huffed loudly, “Why is she on this power trip? We used to go up there together all the time in your fifth year.”

Harry just shrugged and followed Ginny out of the common room. He knew exactly why Hermione was “on a power trip.” He smiled to himself at the thought. She was being protective over him – the only way she could right now.

In the Great Hall, Ginny and Harry passed by Hermione who was sitting with Ron and Seamus. Harry paused in front of them, grabbed Ginny’s hand to get her to stop. “Let’s sit here this morning.” Harry was sick of sitting with a gaggle of girls every morning.

Ginny looked at who was in front of them. “We aren’t sitting with them.” She crinkled her nose.

Harry was not only disgusted with his girlfriend in that moment, but he was completely embarrassed as well. Ron, her brother, snorted at his sister’s attitude and turned back to the Daily Prophet article he was reading. Seamus’ mouth dropped in sheer disbelief, and Hermione – she just rolled her eyes. “Maybe ‘we’ aren’t, Ginny, but I am.” Harry spat before sitting down next to Ron.

Ginny huffed for the second time that morning, “Fine.” She stomped down the aisle to tell her friends what had just occurred.

Ron clapped Harry on the back, “I don’t know how you deal with her, mate. She may be my sister, but she’s a selfish, bitch these days.”
Hermione snorted, and Harry sent her a vicious glare. She shrugged her shoulders and looked a little hurt. Harry sighed, I can’t win. “I’ll talk to her.” He resolved to his friends.

The rest of their meal revolved around conversations that didn’t involve Harry’s girlfriend. This pleased Hermione, but she couldn’t ignore the way Ginny and her friends kept looking in their direction and glaring at her. Really! She thought, how childish. Harry needs a real woman.

After breakfast Harry trotted back up to his room to take a shower. He was in the middle of rinsing the shampoo from his hair when he saw a tiny, freckled hand wrap itself around his soft member. He smirked and turned around. Ginny, who didn’t have classes this morning either, stood naked and dripping wet in front of him. Without a word he pulled her sexy body into a kiss. Well, I’m not gonna ask her to leave, he thought as his tongue traced hers.

She pulled away from the kiss and dropped to her knees, gently pulling his now hard shaft into her mouth. He braced himself against the wall and breathlessly said, “So I guess you aren’t mad at me about breakfast.”

She stopped, looked at him and answered, “Actually, I’m furious.” She got up and walked out of the shower. What the fuck?! No way is she gonna leave me here like this. He leaped out of the after her. Thank Merlin I’m not still soapy.

He caught her as her hand wrapped around the doorknob. “Well then I guess we’re going to have some great hate sex.” Ginny gasped as he ripped off her towel and threw her onto his bed. Ginny acted surprised, but opened her legs to grant him access. He grabbed her hips, quickly pushed into her and thrust hard and fast. It didn’t take long for him to climax – he didn’t even think about her pleasure. But apparently it was an unnecessary worry, because just as he was finishing, he felt her muscles clamp around him as she orgasmed.

“That was amazing!” Ginny said in between short gasps for air.

Harry rolled off of her. Well at least it was satisfying. Ginny got up to wrap her towel around her to leave, but Harry caught her wrist. “Ginny we need to talk.”

She sat back on the bed, “Yea?”

“We can’t keep doing this, Ginny. This relationship is going nowhere, and we need to work it out together. If we are going to fulfill this prophecy, you and I need to be on the same page.”

“Harry, I…” Ginny started.

“No listen. I realize you are only 16, but you need to stop acting 12. No more jealousy over Hermione.” Although you have a reason to be. “No more snide comments about my friends. We need to communicate and get along. We are friends above lovers, Ginny. And right now all we do is fight and fuck. Excuse my language.” He looked down at his hands.

“You’re right. I just felt so much animosity for being put in this position. I guess I forgot that you’re in it too.” Harry nodded. “I need to start acting like the mother of your children. That’s what I am supposed to be right? Prophecy or not…we are supposed to be together.” Because the press and the world expect it, they both thought at the same time. “I’ll change, Harry. We’ll be better.” With that she patted his leg, kissed his cheek, and left the room.

I hope Mione doesn’t catch her coming down the stairs, he thought as he watched her leave. He also had a sinking feeling her attitude change wasn’t going to be as simple as it seemed.

Later that afternoon after his class, Harry caught up with Hermione in the library again. Usually he hated these study sessions, but being next to Hermione was the only thing he could think about. He knew he should be worrying about the war, but when he did he thought about Ginny and looming responsibilities. He just wanted to be in love, a teenager in love. Today Hermione had picked a table in the back of the library and it took Harry a bit to find her, “Goodness Mione,” he whispered sitting down next to her, “Could you have picked a more hidden spot?”

She looked at him sheepishly, “I thought the quiet would be good for studying potions.” The small table she had chosen resided in the far back corner of the second floor. When Harry pulled his chair in to start working, his knees bumped Hermione’s. He looked up at her apologetically, but she hadn’t looked up. Maybe she didn’t care. Harry’s thoughts changed completely however when he felt her leg moving softly against his. He smiled, without looking up. He placed his free hand under the table and on her knee. He hadn’t noticed she was wearing a skirt, and his warm hand touching her cool skin put butterflies into his stomach. Lightly rubbing her knee with his hand, he continued copying his potions notes. He could honestly say he’d never done potions homework with a smile on his face.

Once they had both finished their study guides, Harry sat back in his seat taking his hand off her knee and sighed. “Do you want to quiz each other now?” He asked her.

Hermione smiled. So this is what it would be like to date Harry. I could get used to this. “Yea. Sounds like a good idea.” She knew that he needed the extra quizzing more than her, but she didn’t mind. She moved her chair back a little, and Harry did the same. They sat angled to each other, and to get a little more comfortable Hermione rested her feet on Harry’s knees. She crossed her ankles to keep Harry from getting a peak up her skirt. Harry raised an eyebrow at her. She shrugged in response. “Just getting comfortable.”

“Right.” Harry smirked and rested his hand on her shin, lightly running his thumb over her smooth, lovely skin. I could definitely get used to this, he thought.

They had been studying for some time when Ron came up to their table, “Well isn’t this cozy.” He chuckled, looking directly at Harry. Immediately Harry removed his hand from Hermione’s leg, and Hermione moved her legs from Harry’s knee on her own accord. Ron pulled back a chair and sat down, emptying out his bag. “Is it ok if I study with you guys? I’m completely lost for this test in potions.”

“Of course.” Harry and Hermione said together, but sitting back up. The trio, back together again. “Well it’s rare that we do this these days.” Harry realized.

Ron chuckled, “Yea. We are all so busy. Thank Merlin Quiddich ended. Another month and then finals. Can you believe we are graduating soon? Where did the time go?”

“No clue, mate.” Harry answered. The three of them started to go over potions together. Every once and a while Harry would feel Hermione rub against his leg. They’d lock eyes and smile at each other. Harry knew it was dangerous with Ron sitting right there, but he couldn’t help it. Every time he looked at her, he had to smile. He wanted to be near her, to kiss her, to hold her close. Harry started to look for excuses to end the study session early so he could walk Hermione back to the tower, but unfortunately the plan was disrupted.

A Gryffindor third year came over to their group and quietly asked, “Hermione? Professor McGonagall said that I’m doing horribly in Transfiguration. And she said that you were really good at it. And well, would you mind looking over my essay with me?”

Hermione smiled at the little girl and started to gather her books. “Of course, Melody. We’ll go back to your table and let these guys finish studying. See you guys back in the common room?” They both nodded at her and she walked off. Dammit. Harry thought.

“Alright Harry, spill.” Ron said putting down his potions notes.

“Don’t you need to study, Ron? There is nothing worth discussing.” He answered.

“Bullshit.” Ron sat back in his chair and tapped his quill on the table. “I saw how you guys were sitting when I came over to you two. I saw how you guys smiled at each other while we were studying. What’s going on? Tell me now. Are you cheating on Ginny?”

“Merlin, no.” Harry answered. But I want to. “I can’t explain it, Ron. When I’m with Hermione, I’m just whole. I’m happy.”

“You aren’t happy with my sister? I mean I know she’s a being prick. But you should probably tell her what’s going on.”

“No, no. Ginny and I have stuff going on. Our relationship is crap, Ron. I’m not happy when I’m with her…not the way I should be anyway. And I know she’s your sister – but the sex is almost horrible now.” Ron coughed. “Yea, yea I know. But seriously, our relationship has been bad for a while now. Everyone knows it. And I think I’m in love with Hermione.”

Ron’s mouth dropped. “In love? You have to tell Ginny.”

“I can’t, Ron.”

“Dammit, Harry. Why not? She has a right to know.”

“You know as well as I do that the world expects Ginny and I to be together. And now Ginny and I are wrapped up in something else, and I can’t get out of it.” Harry sighed and slammed his forehead against the table.

“As her brother, I don’t like this. But as your best mate, I’m going to be here for you. What’s going on?” Harry shook his head against the table. “Come on. It’s me, mate.”

“Right.” Harry picked up his head, resolving to tell Ron everything. “Ok. Well you see…”

Fifteen minutes later Harry had explained everything. The prophecy, his feelings toward Ginny and Hermione, and the dread he felt about being a father. After hearing all of it, Ron was sitting back in his chair, eyes wide with nothing to say.

“Well, mate, maybe the prophecy isn’t certain.” Harry looked at him like he was being ridiculous. “No seriously, Harry. Dumbledore’s always telling us we make our own fate, right? Well maybe this is something you can change.”

Harry shook his head, “I don’t know, Ron. Dumbledore didn’t mention that this was one of those prophecies that could be rewritten. He’s expecting me to impregnate Ginny.” Ron hung his head. “Yea sorry, mate. Listen, you can’t say a word about this to anyone. Not your family, not Ginny, not Hermione, no one.”

“Yea, you got it Harry. But my advice to you, not as Ginny’s brother, but your best mate – tell Ginny. And be right by both her and Hermione. You love Hermione, awesome; treat her well. Don’t keep her a secret.”

Harry nodded that he understood his advice, but he wasn’t sure he could do that. He was leaving a week after graduation, and he couldn’t afford to play with fate.

The rest of the week went pretty smoothly. He attended his classes and met up with Hermione, and sometimes Ron as well, to study. In the evening he hung out with Ginny. He usually spent his time with her rolling his eyes, and when they weren’t have sex, falling asleep. He was completely bored in the relationship.

One night he was sitting with Ginny by the fire, when Hermione came down the girls tower. She saw Harry and Ginny and turned to go back upstairs, Ron however, called out to her. She reluctantly joined Ron to watch him beat Seamus in chess. Once and a while her eyes locked with Harry’s, and they exchanged small smiles. Harry left Ginny’s side and stood behind Hermione, who was sitting down, to watch the end of the game. He pointed out a decent move to Seamus, and as he did so he leaned over Hermione. He drew a small heart on her back with his finger. She felt it and smiled, looked up at him and said “Good one.” To everyone else, she thought, it was meant about the move. But Ginny saw the act in which Hermione had responded. She sighed and went back to her work. Why is he with me if he loves her? She thought to herself as Harry walked back to sit down next to her. He patted her knee and continued reading his Quiddich magazine.

The weekend wasn’t much different for Harry, except he didn’t have Hermione to distract him from his unsatisfying relationship. He tried to focus on the fact that he could have as much sex as he wanted. He needed to try and produce an heir, but all he could think about was Hermione. Every time he thought about her in London, with Lavender, he thought about the guys that would be checking her out. It made his blood boil in rage. Get a grip, Harry. You aren’t even her boyfriend. You’re still with Ginny. Hermione can flirt with who ever she wants. He frowned at the realization that he had no right to be jealous.

Monday morning didn’t come soon enough. Harry stayed in the common room until late Sunday night, hoping to catch Hermione. When the day turned from Sunday to Monday, Harry gave up and climbed the stairs to go to bed.

He was just about to close his door when he heard Hermione and Lavender stumbled into the common room. He turned back around to go greet them. They were drunk and carrying hundreds of bags. They should have shrunk everything magically, but they were too drunk to remember they could do that. “Why did we go to the pub before we left Herrrrrmione?” Lavender hiccupped.

Hermione giggled and fell over the couch she was leaning on, “I have no clue. How am I going to get upstairs?” She didn’t move from her position where she was sprawled upside down.

“How are you? How am I?” Lavender hiccupped again and slumped down against the wall. Her body slid down until she sat comfortably on the floor.

“No clue.” Hermione repeated, falling asleep without moving.

Harry, who saw this exchange, shook his head laughing. He waved his wand at Lavender and watched as she floated easily up the stairs. He heard her door shut, signaling to him that she was in her room. He looked at the massive amounts of shopping bags scattered across the room. He shrunk all of them, put them in a small pile, tapped on them three times and they disappeared. He sent them up to Hermione’s room. He was sure they would have popped out to their normal size when they got to their destination. Then he turned to Hermione. She was breathing heavily, bent over backwards, asleep on the couch. He smiled at the site. Well this is very unlike her - not very responsible at all really. He shook his head and chuckled.

He slowly pulled her up off the couch. “Come on Mione, time for bed.”

“Harry?” Hermione opened her eyes to see his smiling face. “You’re so gorgeous.”

“Why, thank you. Ready for bed?”

She threw her arms around his neck, “Take me to bed, Harry.” He laughed at the double meaning and scooped her up in his arms. The last time she was here he realized how much he loved her. And now, she was drunk and snoring softly on his chest. He bent his head down and kissed her forehead softly as he walked over to the staircase. He pointed his wand at the stairs and waved an incantation. Hermione had taught Ron how to get up the girl’s stairs when they were dating. Ron obviously told Harry.

As he placed Hermione onto her bed, avoiding the bags that now littered the room, he looked at her candidly. She was beautiful, even in a drunken sleep. Her brown curly hair cascaded down her back, and her body was slim but curvy. She filled out her baby-t and her jeans very nicely. He ran his finger over her cheek before leaning down to kiss it. Hermione grabbed his wrist before he stood up and with her eyes still closed whispered, “Do you like what you see, Harry?”

He smiled. He should have known nothing would go unnoticed by Hermione. “Of course, Mione. You’re beautiful.”

“Stay, Harry.” She said, opening her eyes and looking straight at him.

“Mione, you are drunk. You need sleep.” He kissed her cheek again and turned to leave the room. He took one more look at her sleepy form before he walked back up to his bedroom.

The next morning Hermione woke up with a horrible hangover. She remembered Harry bringing her upstairs, and Oh Merlin, I asked him to stay. She shook her head in embarrassment. Sighing, she tapped her wand on her head and mumbled the charm to relieve her discomfort. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as her headache vanished. She took a shower and rummaged through the bags that were left scattered across her room. Finally she settled on an outfit and trotted downstairs to meet Lavender for breakfast.

Harry was talking to Ron and Dean when she entered the common room. He looked up at her, and his jaw dropped. It wasn’t that she more beautiful, but she was sexy. She wore tight, dark skinny jeans with a short-healed shoe and a white see-through blouse with a teal, fitted boyfriend tank top underneath, and the look was finished off with a silver, metal belt that let the blouse flow but showed her curve. Her curly hair cascaded down her back with a small stylish headband decorating her locks. She was holding her robe in her hand and her books in the other. Harry was in awe. It took everything he had to snap back to reality, and the fact that Ron kept elbowing him in the stomach to get his attention. “Yea, Ron. Thanks I see.” He told Ron, moving his elbow away from his rib cage. He gave Hermione a small smile, and she walked over to them.

“Thanks for bringing me upstairs last night, I was a mess.” She laughed quietly.

The Ron shut Harry a look, and he ignored it. “Yea it was no problem. I just happened to be going upstairs when you two came in. How’s Lavender?”

“I haven’t seen her yet this morning. I guess she went down to breakfast without me.” Hermione shrugged. “I’m going to go look for her. See you later?”

“Yea definitely.” He replied. Hermione waved to Ron and Dean and started to walk away. “Hermione!” Harry called after her. She turned and smiled at him, “You look great.” He grinned at her. She blushed nodding a thank you and continuing on her way.

When she was out of the common room Dean whistled and said, “She’s going to break some hearts today. Where has she been hiding the past 7 years?” Harry glared at him. He held his hands up in defense, “I’m just saying what everyone else was thinking.”

Ron laughed, “Harry’s just protective cause she’s Hermione. Right?” He asked looking at him.

“Yea.” Harry nodded. “Right.” But if you fuckin’ go near her I’ll kill you.

As Ginny was taking forever, they left for breakfast without her. As they exited the common room Ron said, “Three more weeks, mates. Three more weeks.”

Harry wasn’t ready for school to be over. The end of Hogwarts meant the start of his trek to find Voldemort. He hadn’t yet conceived a child, he didn’t know the truth he was supposed to uncover, and he had no clue where Voldemort would be. He was scared out of his mind to finish Hogwarts. When they entered into the Great Hall, Harry saw Hermione laughing at something Lavender had told her. She looked up and caught Harry’s eye, holding it for a minute or so. In that moment, Harry had peace; he had happiness; he had love.