Harmione|| Always And Azkaban

Chapter 12

(Author's note: So Covid's been screwing with my country. The internet here has been...crappy. I was really hoping not to be one of those Wattpad writers with a messy update schedule, but I will try to stick to updating every Saturday. Anyways, enjoy...)

Hermione sat on her bed reading a new book Lupin had brought her. After getting back from her first day of being Harry Potter's girlfriend, she couldn't help but bring her rage home with her. Cho and Pansy's words weighed on her conscience more than she wanted. Unable to stay focused on her story, she decided to take a walk around the massive house.

While strolling down the halls, Hermione heard angry grunting and the blows of rapid hits. She followed the sound and arrived at a half-open door. When Hermione walked in, she saw the ever-so-sexy, sweaty, shirtless Harry Potter taking out all his aggression on a punching bag. She stared at him in awe. The boy looked just as angry as she felt. Then, he finally stopped to take a sip of water. "It's rude to stare, Mione." he said.

"I wasn't staring," the girl said whilst folding her arms and pouting her lips. "I could hear you grunting from down the halls." Harry downed the bottle of water as if it'd run away from him if he turned away. "Oh. Sorry. Just trying to get in shape for tomorrow's game. We're playing Slytherin and I hear some scouts are coming for Oliver and we wanna make him look extra good for them. And..." Harry trailed. He was having dreams again, or rather, nightmares.

Not the kind about his parents, but the memory of Hermione on the ground with a blade aimed at her head was like a repetition of pain and endless blows to his chest. "And?" Hermione asked Harry to finish but he brushed it off. "Nothing. So why'd you come by? The home gym seems like the last part of the house that would fascinate you."

"I was just trying to clear my head. Pansy and Cho again," Hermione sighed. She wished she could punch like Harry. She wished she could hit Cho, Pansy, Bellatrix and all the frustrating things in her life. "You're lucky you're a guy. You don't have to put up with this type of stuff," she whined. "And even if you do, look at you! You're built like a Calvin Klein-Hulk!" Harry chuckled as he took off his MMA gloves. "Thanks. You know my mum taught me how to throw my first jab, but my dad showed me how to punch. At first, I thought we were just having fun. I didn't know the dangers I was in. I didn't know my dad was in here all day with Sirius because they knew they were going to live this life,"

"We all go through shit, Hermione. It's how we prepare for it that defines us. You didn't get to prepare. I saw how shaken up you were with Bellatrix. I know you don't like having a knight in shining armour and that upsets you. So come here," Harry told the girl. Hermione walked over to Harry and his poor punching bag. The boy then began moving Hermione's body like a doll; putting her in a basic boxing stance. "Now the key is speed and power. The strongest punch you can throw is an uppercut but it works best when you set it up with a jab and cross. I'm going to teach you how to throw a jab, then later I'll teach you a cross. I'm going to prepare you."

Harry took Hermione's hands and guided them with his large arms and there, at that moment, Hermione felt relaxed. She felt safe. And while she was learning how to jab in a gym with a sweaty guy behind her, she felt at peace of all things.

They stayed in that solace for at least an hour before Dobby came knocking on the door. "Yes, Dobby?" Harry asked as he kept his eyes on Hermione. "Master Harry, your suit for the gala is here. Madam Delacour also sent over Miss Granger's gown." The small man said. "My gown?" Hermione asked as she stopped everything to look at Dobby.

"Oh, you weren't informed," Harry said as he nervously scratched the back of his head. "We're going to the annual charity ball my grandparents started. It's in a week on the day before my parent's memorial, so it was going to be dedicated to my mum and her famous book 'The Golden Snitch'. It won big not long after its publishing and my mum used a lot of the profits to-