Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the End of Illusions	By : Christina_Potter_09 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 11159 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
-CHAPTER SIXTEEN-

- Two Very Different Worlds -

February started out being warmer than it had been in the several last years and everyone in the castle was excited about Valentine's Day. McGonagall had allowed the students to have a small ball in the Great Hall and everyone was trying to figure out ways to show their feelings to their special someone on that specific evening. Harry and Hermione seemed to be less excited than everyone else in the castle; With their bond and relationship they celebrated their love every day. The castle soon had small, heart-shaped ornaments in the corridors and professors, prefects and the head couple made sure that they didn't go unnoticed. After the war, everyone deserved some happiness, so Hogwarts was filled with small, red and pink baubles till the fourteenth of February.

When the big day arrived, nobody –except for Hermione- had their mind on classes and lessons. Even Ron had made a small heart-shaped gift for Luna. Harry had done the same trick with Hermione's birthday and gone into Hogsmeade for her gift. Harry had bought a beautiful music box with different melodies every time someone was opening it. Hermione made a fuzzy teddy bear with her voice saying 'I love you' when Harry would squeeze the toy's belly. The couple exchanged gifts after their sweet lovemaking, some hours before the classes started.

Harry and Hermione didn't see Ron and Luna during the day and started joking to each other about where their friends were and what they might be doing. After lunch the students were free to do whatever they wanted and both Harry and Hermione started their patrols in the castle before they could change for the ball. When they came to an empty corridor, the couple would share kisses and hugs, tickles and pecks; they were enjoying each other's company. Harry hoped he wouldn't have to dance in front of everyone. He knew that Hermione would like to dance and didn't want to fail her but he also felt ridiculous when he danced.

Evening soon arrived and Harry and Hermione left their patrols to get ready. It didn't take long for Harry. After a shower, he put on his black dress robes and waited for Hermione who needed almost an hour to get ready. The waiting was well worth it however. When Hermione moved downstairs, Harry sucked in a breath at the sight of her. She was wearing a beautiful deep blue, long dress and her hair was free in soft curls down her back. Light lip-gloss was covering her full lips and Harry could only smile and admire his girlfriend's beauty.

'You look beautiful,' Harry managed and Hermione smiled and kissed his lips.

'Thank you, I'm happy you like it.' Hermione said and Harry offered her his hand. Hermione took it and together they left for the Great Hall. When they arrived everyone started staring and whispering about them. Harry and Hermione tried not to pay attention and found a table to sit at. The ball started with a few couples dancing on the dance floor to a slow song. Harry brought drinks and then sat with Hermione so they could talk for a little while. The evening seemed to be doomed when Slughorn found them through the crowd and sat next to them.

'My dear, war Heroes. You always made such a wonderful couple you two,' The professor started and Harry cursed mentally. The professor started talking without rest about everything and nothing; Harry wouldn't remember a thing since he was talking with Hermione through their bond. After a really long time, the professor left and promised he'd be back soon. The couple let out a breath of relief.

'I thought he'll never leave,' Hermione said and smiled at Harry as he filled their glasses again with a flick of his wand.

'He'll return…' Harry said and Hermione groaned.

'What if we leave? Have a walk,' Hermione suggested and Harry smiled at her and stood up. He took her hand and they left for the grounds. The music was softly heard around the grounds and the night wasn't very cold. A beautiful, bright fool moon was in the middle of the sky, illuminating the forest and the grounds. Harry and Hermione started their walk around the lake, hugging each other close. Harry was kissing the top of Hermione's head and she was pecking his shoulder as they kept moving. The Ball was close to an end and the rest of the people were inside the castle.

When the couple was on the other side of the lake, close to a tree; Harry stopped and Hermione did the same and looked at him quizzically.

'I have an idea, take off your shoes,' Harry said and started removing his shoes and socks.

'What? Why?' Hermione asked in confusion.

'I didn't dance with you because I hate dancing in front of everyone, but here, we have water, warming and drying spells and the music is easily heard. Come on, take your shoes off,' Harry said and Hermione did as she was told, unsure. Harry took off his cloak as well and took his wand out of his pocket; he pointed it at Hermione and then himself, casting a warming spell on both of them. He took Hermione's hand and together they stepped into the lake's cold water.

'You need a stronger spell?' Harry asked Hermione, afraid she might get cold. She shook her head no, his spell was powerful enough. They moved further into the water and Harry took Hermione in his arms, his left arm supporting the back of her knees and his left one supporting her back. Hermione brought her left arm around his neck and let her right arm hang on the surface of the water. Harry started making small, lazy circles around himself with Hermione in his embrace. Hermione had locked eyes with Harry and together they enjoyed this peaceful moment.

'I didn't know you were so romantic, Harry.' Hermione said softly as Harry leaned and pecked her cheek.

'I didn't know it either.' Harry said with a grin. 'I just thought it'd be a nice idea since we're all alone out here.' Harry went on and Hermione smiled.

'You make me happy. I know you're worried about what my dad told you, about letting me down and stuff, but I want you to know that you can't fail me,' Hermione said and Harry smiled and pressed her body closer to his.

'I love you, and I meant what I told to your dad. I'll do my best to make you happy,' Harry said and made another circle around him, making Hermione's hair spread even more behind her head.

'You already did it. I'm happy, love.' Hermione said and shifted so she could wrap her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders. Harry hugged Hermione, supporting her from her bottom and back and kissed her lips sweetly.

'Happy Valentine's, 'Mione.' Harry said softly as the kiss was over.

'Happy Valentine's, love.' Hermione replied and pecked his lips again as their faces were inches apart. Harry looked in Hermione's eyes and could only see love. The couple stood hugging in the water for some more minutes until the spell started fading and both of them had to start their patrols. They moved out of the lake and Harry dried both of them with spells, they put their shoes on again and started for the castle.

When they returned everything was silent in the Entrance and Great Halls. They hadn't realized they had spent so much time in the grounds. Harry and Hermione decided to make their patrols without changing from their dress robes and after that they'd return to their tower to finish their romantic day.

The couple started the patrol from the halls and moved to the dungeons. Harry and Hermione were holding hands and Harry with his other hand was keeping his wand lit so they could see in the dark corridor. After some minutes in silence Harry and Hermione could easily hear some murmurs and chuckles from behind one closed door in the dungeon.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and nodded as they followed the sound till they found the source of the noise. Hermione opened the door and Harry pointed his illuminated wand inside the room. The sight before him left both him and Hermione speechless. Ginny was against a wall with one of her legs wrapped around a man who had trapped her against the brick. The shocking part was that the man was none other than Draco Malfoy, whose face was buried in Ginny's neck. The couple broke apart in an instant and looked at Harry and Hermione in shock. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Ginny, the girl who hadn't talked to him for months, Ron's sister, was with Draco Malfoy. Malfoy, who tried to kill Dumbledore and confirmed Hermione's identity, dooming her to the Cruciatus from Bellatrix in his family's manor. Harry felt his blood boiling at the memory of Hermione's screams.

'What's going on here?' Harry asked and moved closer as Ginny covered her chest and put back the upper part of her dress. Malfoy ran a hand through his blond hair and looked at Harry and Hermione as calmly as he could.

'Isn't it obvious?' Malfoy said and took his wand in his hand. 'Lower your wand, Potter. There is no reason for us to fight,' Malfoy said and Harry felt Hermione's hand touching his wand-arm. He didn't relax and kept his arm there as he looked at Ginny who was looking at him and Hermione with narrowed eyes.

'Does your family know about this, Ginny? Do George and your parents know about you being with a Death Eater? How do you think they'd feel about that?' Hermione asked and Ginny moved closer and stood beside Malfoy.

'Why do you care, Hermione? You have the one you want, let me have the one I want and also deserve. And yes, Ron does know. Didn't he tell you? I thought my bro was reporting everything to the Hero-Head-Super couple of Hogwarts,' Ginny replied and Harry lowered his wand and moved closer to Hermione, opposite the other couple.

'Ginny, he's a Death Eater. Look what happened because of his lot to your family. Pawn of his father or not, he was the one who recognized and confirmed that Hermione was the one Bellatrix needed. He's one of the reasons for Hermione's torture!' Harry said and felt Hermione's nervousness and worry through their bond at the memory.

'I'm innocent, Potter, if I had lied that time I'd have been punished,' Malfoy said with narrowed eyes.

'So you chose to leave Hermione in your aunt's hands. Very brave, Malfoy. You thought I forgot everything about you just because I told the court what Dumbledore thought of you? You think I forgot about Bellatrix and her attempts to kill me, Hermione, Luna and even you, Ginny!' Harry snapped and clutched his wand. 'The same woman who killed Nymphadora!' Harry went on louder at Ginny. The redhead moved closer to Harry and Hermione and turned to Draco.

'Please leave, I want to handle this on my own,' she said, surprising everyone in the room. Malfoy looked at her for a second and then nodded. He glared at Harry and Hermione a last time and then left the room closing the door behind him. Ginny looked back at Harry and Hermione and shook her head in disdain.

'You were my best friend, Hermione; and you were my boyfriend, Harry. I had been waited for months, and when you returned I thought everything would be fine, but no. You left for Australia and when you returned you lived together and now you believe I betrayed everyone!' Ginny shouted and Harry felt his blood boiling even more.

'We're sorry for not taking you with us during the war and we're sorry for not giving you the attention you wanted when we had to help Hermione's parents and heal some of our bloody wounds because of a war with so many dead,' Harry snapped.

'I lost Fred! In front of my eyes.' Ginny shouted again.

'I lost Dumbledore, Sirius, Moody and so many more in front of my eyes, Ginny. But I didn't betray anyone after that. We had broken up and I told you I didn't want to or couldn't be with you again. Merlin! So many months went by and you're still there! We weren't married or anything. We had a-few-weeks-relationship and you act like I broke our marriage vows...' Harry said as he tried not to lose his patience with the young Weasley. Ginny moved away from them and tried to calm herself as well.

'I didn't want to be close to both of you because you betrayed me! You didn't say a word about being together, you left me in the dark and I discovered it only when I saw your picture in the Prophet with you two snogging in an alley,' Ginny said and this time Hermione spoke.

'Ginny, Harry had broken up with you and I wasn't with your brother when Harry and I started being together. Let me inform you that happened in September so we never betrayed you or Ron in any way... You gave us the cold shoulder for so long and you wanted us to report to you about our personal life? You're not our guardian, Ginny. You're Harry's ex and a good friend to both us. Ron is our best friend and someone both Harry and I trust. You didn't allow us to talk to you, to see if you were okay after your brother's death and now you're shouting at us because we busted you with Malfoy? Of all people?' Hermione said. The redhead stood up and moved closer to Hermione with a few strides until the two young women were face-to-face.

'Yes, with him! Of all people, him! Because he accepted me as I am. Because he's like me. Because he knows how it is to be alone and have no one to understand you. Because he like me and doesn't need me to try hard to find out what's going on with him! Because he trusts me enough to share his problems with me, something Harry never did when we were together like he did with you Hermione, even though you were just his friend and I was the girlfriend. Because I love Draco,' Ginny said in a breath, her face getting redder by every passing moment. The redhead witch turned to Harry and moved closer to him.

'I lost myself in your shadow. I tried hard so you would notice me until your sixth year. I tried harder when we were together for those short weeks and then I waited for so long until your return. I wanted to be with you since I was a child. I was obsessed with you and your story about the Dark Lord and how you survived. But things weren't as I had imagined them when we were together and when you returned from Australia and had her by your side, I was lost. Because for all those years I was living for being what you wanted. I never understood you, Harry Potter. I never looked at you inside and you never tried to learn more about me. You just wanted me for passion when I needed you because of obsession. We didn't love each other, Harry. I wanted you because of who you were and you wanted me because of how I looked. But I lost myself in you, and now with him, with Draco, for the first time I can feel love for someone. I can feel free in my relationship with Draco. I feel happy, like you two do.' Ginny said, tears leaving her eyes and running down her cheeks.

Both Harry and Hermione couldn't say anything. Through their bond they could feel each other's confusion and worry for Ginny. They didn't know the young Weasley had such strong feelings for Malfoy.

'I don't care if you inform my family about me and Draco. Ron will do it anyway during the Easter holiday so I'll be the black sheep of the family. I just want you to respect me and not to tell anyone else. Draco doesn't want to be in the centre of attention and I don't need any more problems. He knew that you two were together before the Prophet took the picture of you in Hogsmeade and he respected your secret. I'd be grateful if you do the same with him and me now. Just for the record, Draco helped me get over myself and see that you two are happy and that you belong together,' Ginny said more calmly than ever before that night. She wiped the tears from her face and moved toward the door and opened it.

'I'm sorry for my behavior the last few months. You didn't deserve it and I didn't mean it. I just couldn't accept it because of my pride,' Ginny murmured with a bowed head and left the room, closing the door behind her. Harry and Hermione were left behind in the dungeon with Harry's wand illuminating the room. Hermione moved closer and hugged Harry around his waist as he hugged her with one arm around her shoulders. Harry was confused. He didn't know what to think. A part of him was feeling guilty for Ginny because he didn't know that she had been so attached to him. He just had a crush on her and was fine with their snogging in sixth year and found her as a good break from reality during the Horcrux hunt. He wanted to protect her then like he did now because she was Ron's sister and he'd known her for so long.

Another part of him was angry and disappointed. He couldn't imagine Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's reaction when they learned that Ginny is with Malfoy; their only daughter with an enemy. But most of all, Harry was confused because he didn't know Ginny could have so much in common with Malfoy. Ginny had pointed to Harry flaws in their past relationship that Harry had never noticed and didn't have with Hermione now. Maybe because he never knew Ginny like he did Hermione, or maybe because he never cared to look closer to his relationship with Ginny. Hermione's feelings were the same as Harry could sense through their bond.

'I think they need time, like we all do. I'm not sure but, if she's happy, we have to respect her,' Hermione said after a long time. Harry nodded and kissed the top of her head.

'I think you're right. We now know what's wrong with Ron. We have to be with him at a time like this. He must be feeling betrayed,' Harry said.

'We will be. He's our best friend and he was on our side when we became a couple. We'll help him deal with the rest of the family during the Easter holidays. He needs help to break the news to the rest,' Hermione said and Harry nodded his head and hugged Hermione tightly, keeping her in his embrace for a little while longer.
- 15
- 16
- 17
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Harry Potter and the End of Illusions