Mine Forever ( a Harmione fanfic )

Chapter 15

The next morning, Grimmauld Place was quiet, the house still shrouded in the gentle dimness of early dawn. Hermione stepped out of the Floo and into the entrance hall, feeling the familiar warmth of the house embrace her. Kreacher appeared almost instantly, bowing low as he greeted her.

"Miss Hermione, welcome," Kreacher said in his raspy voice. "Would Miss Hermione like some tea?"

Hermione smiled warmly at the house-elf, appreciating the kindness that now radiated from him. "Yes, please, Kreacher. That would be lovely."

Kreacher nodded and disappeared to prepare the tea, leaving Hermione to make her way upstairs. She tiptoed down the hallway to Harry's room, the door slightly ajar. Pushing it open quietly, she found him still asleep, his dark hair tousled and his face relaxed in peaceful slumber. The sight made her heart swell with affection.

Feeling a bit bold, Hermione crept closer, her footsteps soft on the floorboards. She leaned down and gently kissed Harry's eyes, one after the other. His eyes fluttered open at the touch, a sleepy smile spreading across his face as he recognized who had woken him.

"Morning, Love..." Harry murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. He reached up and cupped her cheek, pulling her in for a light kiss. When they parted, he chuckled softly, teasing, "You know, I have morning breath."

Hermione grinned, unbothered. "Doesn't matter," she whispered, her eyes twinkling. She then noticed Harry's sudden flush as he realized he was shirtless.

"Uh, sorry about that," Harry muttered, glancing down at his bare chest. "Didn't expect company this early."

Hermione, feeling a bit cheeky, smirked. "Oh, it's nothing I haven't seen before," she teased, her tone playful. "And I've seen better."

Harry's eyebrows shot up, intrigued. "Oh, have you now?" he asked, his voice laced with mischief. He flexed his arms jokingly, causing Hermione to blush furiously.

Caught off guard, she stammered, "Well, maybe not better..."

Before she could say more, Harry leaned in and kissed her again, this time a bit longer and more affectionate. When they finally broke apart, Harry grinned at her. "Alright, I'll meet you downstairs after a quick shower," he said, getting up and grabbing some clothes on his way to the bathroom.

Hermione, her cheeks still tinged with pink, nodded and made her way back downstairs. Kreacher was waiting for her with a steaming cup of tea, which she accepted gratefully. She settled in at the table, taking a sip of the warm brew as she scanned the headlines of the Daily Prophet.

Moments later, Harry joined her, freshly showered and dressed. Kreacher served him a quick breakfast, and as Harry ate, Hermione couldn't help but notice the easy camaraderie between him and the house-elf.

"You've really done wonders with Kreacher," Hermione remarked, her tone filled with pride.

Harry smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at the house-elf. "He's changed a lot, hasn't he? I just treated him like he deserved, and he responded."

Hermione's heart swelled with affection. "I'm so proud of you, Harry."

After finishing breakfast, they decided it was time to head to Diagon Alley. The thought of facing the press made Harry's stomach churn, so they opted to Floo directly into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It would give them a brief respite before the inevitable onslaught of journalists and photographers.

Before they left, Harry turned to Kreacher. "Remember, Kreacher, today's your day off. Enjoy yourself in Diagon Alley, maybe even buy yourself something nice."

Kreacher hesitated, clearly touched by Harry's words. "Kreacher is grateful, Master Harry. Kreacher will enjoy the day."

Hermione's heart melted at the exchange, and as they stepped into the fireplace, she couldn't resist commenting, "You're really something, Harry."

He gave her a small smile, his green eyes sparkling with affection. "Only because you helped me see things differently."

With that, they disappeared into the green flames, reappearing moments later in the back room of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The shop was still closed to the public, and the air was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the faint sound of shuffling feet.

As they dusted off the ash from the Floo, they were greeted by the sight of George leaning in to kiss Angelina. Harry couldn't help but grin mischievously.

"Well, well, well," Harry teased, his voice filled with mock surprise. "We thought we'd be the earliest, but it seems Angelina beat us to it."

George, caught in the act, pulled away from Angelina with a slight blush. "Ah, you caught us," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "We've been seeing each other since the war. She's... she's helped me heal."

Angelina smiled warmly at George, her hand slipping into his. "It's been good for both of us."

Before they could say more, the rest of the Weasley clan began arriving by Floo. Ginny was the first to step out, grinning widely at the sight of Harry and Hermione.

"Oh, look who's here!" Ginny exclaimed, her voice full of playful teasing. "You two didn't waste any time, did you?"

"Can't blame them, though," Ron chimed in, stepping out behind her with a smirk. "They've been through enough to deserve some peace."

Percy, ever the serious one, adjusted his glasses as he arrived. "Well, let's just hope today goes smoothly. The press will be relentless."

Bill and a very pregnant Fleur were the last to arrive, with Bill gently helping Fleur out of the fireplace. She looked radiant, her hand resting protectively on her rounded belly.

"George, darling," Fleur began, her French accent as thick as ever, "would you be so kind as to give us a tour before ze shop opens? I 'ave 'eard so much about it."

George grinned, clearly pleased. "Absolutely! Follow me, everyone. We've got some surprises in store, but you don't need invitations—just a bit of mischief in your hearts!"

As they followed George through the shop, Harry felt Hermione's hand slip into his. He gave it a reassuring squeeze, their fingers intertwining as they walked side by side. It was a new day, and though the challenges ahead were daunting, they had each other. And for now, that was more than enough.

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Hello you beautiful readers! Thank you all for the love that this fanfic has been recieving lately... 

This may look like kind of a slow burn... so tell me if you want it to progress a little faster...

Also... good news guys, I'll bring you frequent updates than before... 

love, T