A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

Die Ruhe vor dem Sturm

Chapter 48: Calm before the storm

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Harry

Happy Birthday to you!

Cheers multiplied across the dining room of James and Lily Potter’s home in Godric’s Hollow whilst Harry’s chubby fingers itched to get closer to the cream filled cake that was sitting in front of him.

“Harry, sweetheart,” spoke his mother with a proud smile on her face. “We all love you dearly but no one is going to want any cake if you put all your fingers and toes in it.”

She leaned forward and blew out the single candle that was burning on the top. Hermione looked beyond the candle to see the ‘Happy Birthday’ message on the cake.

It was amateurish at best. Lily, although accomplished at potions and everyday cooking, was yet to master cakes and other desserts. Still, it was the fact that she was alive and well to do it which pulled at Hermione’s heartstrings.

“Is it time for presents yet?” said Sirius, grinning from ear to ear as he rubbed his hands together. “My godson is clearly getting impatient with the cake. He is waiting for whatever else we have to offer to him.”

Lily rolled her eyes as she used a clean cloth to gently wipe the cake crumbs from her son’s toes. Harry squirmed, leaning over with his hands outstretched, ready to plant them back into the cake.

“No, darling,” she quietly whispered to Harry. “Why don’t I put you on the floor for a few minutes? You can show everyone how well you are starting to walk.”

The walking that Lily was talking of, was a slight exaggeration. Harry was a champion crawler, and he would often stand on his feet for a few seconds, before promptly landing on his bottom. Laughing raucously, he would try that again and again until boredom would take over, and toys would distract him.

As soon as James had placed Harry on the floor, he set off winding his way between the feet of his birthday guests. Hermione chuckled, using her legs to make a tunnel for him to crawl through. As soon as he made it through to the other side, Remus’ hands were outstretched and waiting for him.

Bundling him up into his arms, Remus blew several raspberries where his tiny t-shirt had exposed a portion of his stomach.

Hermione did not know that so much happiness could ever be possible. It was the one emotion that could trump all others. Above fear and death, it was the one constant in her life.

Looking at Remus playing with Harry, Hermione wondered whether in her life she would ever get something so wonderful and fulfilling. Children were never something that Hermione spent a great deal of time thinking about. She had never allowed herself to indulge in such a luxury. It had always seemed too far out of reach.

Even if she did have children, what would she do with them?

Voldemort was still alive, and she could never forgive herself for bringing them into a world where her actions may get them killed. The possibility of war and having to fight meant that even a pregnancy was extremely high risk. Nine months was a long time to withdraw from the front line. Furthermore, a baby was not something that you just had and then left alone once it was born. It was an investment of time and energy that rivaled no other.

Still, even putting forth a logical argument in her head, Hermione felt the pangs of longing as Harry placed an open-mouth against Remus’ cheek in what she supposed was meant to be a kiss.

“It looks like your Mummy has a few surprises for you,” said Remus, pointing Lily out to her son as she levitated several rather large boxes into the dining room.

“Brilliant!” Hermione heard Sirius say she Lily brought his gift to the table first. Hermione had a fairly good idea as to what would have made him so excited.

Remus passed Harry back to Lily, who plonked him down in front of the boxes before helping him tear the coloured paper away to reveal a toy broomstick.

James whooped with joy and laughter before giving his best friend a high-five.

“Excellent! You’ll be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in first-year, Harry,” exclaimed James. “I just know you will.”

It was small comments like this that made Hermione more perplexed than ever. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the possibility.

Choosing to focus herself back into the moment, Hermione was pleased to see that the next gift was one from both herself and Remus. Inside the box were an enormous collection of colouring books, pencils, markers, stickers, picture books and a gift box set of various fairytales. Harry, unsure of what to do with himself picked up the nearest book at began to chew on the corner of it.

Hermione smiled at the scene, but she found her smile widening when she felt Remus’ hand resting on the small of her back.

Their date night in the countryside had gone well, and Remus had been unexpectedly showing up to Hermione’s home with increasing frequency. He never stayed the night, and Hermione did not push him to; but it was a step in the right direction.

Remus had always been mature for his age, but Hermione sensed that he had grown up quite a bit more since he had left school. They were no longer hormone addled adolescents. Hermione was now technically twenty-five, going on twenty six. Remus was twenty-one going on eighty-one, he was so wise and patient at times.

Hermione felt the familiar sense of peace surround her, as it often did when Remus was around. Counting her blessings, she was grateful that at the very least, Remus was patient enough to put up with her shenanigans.