About Harry

Hermione

I'm in front of Harry's door only a few hours later. We had lunch together and I could perceive his struggle to keep away dejection. We chatted the whole meal but as soon as his mind was drifting away, I could see gloom settling down. I got out with an excuse; I left him as usual on the windowsill looking outside. I didn't share my plan with him not sure of his approbation, but I decided to be bold and follow my instinct that almost always have been proved correct.

The plump tiny arms of the solution are fastened around my neck.

At the sight of the entrance, she gets so wild, fretting so much I can barely open the door with the only free hand I got.

It's not open yet and she is already squirming madly to be putted down shrilling at the top of her tiny lungs 'Daddy!! Daddy!! Daddy!! I'm home! I'm home!'

I ought to let her down in haste before she tumbles down by the excitement. She starts to run in the hallway as Harry, dazed, wide open eyes surface from the living room. Sunrise, seeing him, brighten up in a huge beam, her chubby legs amble fast over him outstretching her arms in the air to be hold.

Harry is utterly stunned by this apparition but, in an unconquerable instinct, he stoops down on his knees to take her. She throws herself energetically in that embrace, holding on his neck and smacking a loud kiss on his cheek 'I'm home, daddy. I'm home!' she keeps on chirping.

And I see Harry's mouth moving, trying to pronounce her name and then as if realising only at that moment she is really there in his arms, he squeezes her as abundant tears starts to fall from his eyes. He buries his head in her thick dark curls and kiss her head shaken by silent sobs.

He scoops her up and sits against the wall keeping her tight as she is still twittering 'I'm home daddy, you see??'

'Yes, I see, sweetie. You are home...' he manages to say with a smile after a gulp.

'Why are you crying?' she says stuffing a thumb in her mouth.

He takes it away gently 'Because I'm happy to see you, my darling'.

'I'm happy too' she shrills delighted.

'I know...' he says smiling. Then he rubs his face and take a big breath 'So, how did you behave with grandma and grandpa? Have you been a good girl?'

She nods eager 'Yes daddy! Grandpa pushed me on the swing, and I made cookies with grandma'

'Did you? Were they any good?'

She nods energetically all her curls bouncing around her round face 'Yes' she booms rummaging in the pocket of her green dress taking out a half-crumbled cookie 'You try' she orders pushing in it against Harry's mouth that smiling receive it.

He makes a grimace starting to cough lightly 'When did you make this sweetie?' he asks after managing to swallow it down.

'Tomorrow!' she exclaims assured 'Do you like it?'

'Very much' he answers chuckling.

'Your beard is long' she says rubbing his cheek 'you didn't shave'.

'No, my darling. For a long time'

'Why? Because mummy is not here?'

He stares at her a moment, speechless, then fresh tears pour from him 'I guess so' he manages to say in the end.

She looks at him pensively curling up against his chest 'Grandma say mummy is gone away'.

He nods bowing his head on her own, his face contorted in a vain effort to keep back tears.

And what am I doing while this exchange is going on?

Obviously, I'm still on the threshold, watching them, and obviously I'm weeping like a baby. My intuition was good but it's all Hugo's merit. When I got back to Rumania, the joy I felt seeing him lighting up and running toward me gave me this idea. I knew it would have touched Harry's heart to see her again despite his refusals. And I know that all what he needed was to feel loved again and to love in return. It is what we all want at the end of the day.

This is what he will do now, he will take care of his daughter.

And I slip on the floor against the wall beside the door still open, observing them chatting completely oblivious of my presence.

'Daddy, I had a dream' Sunrise says pensively after a while.

Harry lifts his head suddenly and stares at her 'What did you dream about?'

'The sea' she says her eyes gleaming 'and a big, white house'

He keeps looking at her bewildered 'The sea did you say?'

She nods 'And I played with the sand' she adds toying with the edge of her dress.

'I see...' he only replies thoughtful.

'Daddy?' she says serious after a few seconds more.

'Yes, my darling?'

'I need to pee' she answers looking straight into his eyes.

Harry startles to attention 'Pee? Ok, right!' he says standing up quickly, lifting her at which she laughs gayly.

And as they disappear in the bathroom, I stand up too, closing the door.