Meant to Be (Harry Potter X Hermione Granger)

The Granger's Home

Richard pulled the car up the driveway and Harry stepped out. The neighborhood wasn't unlike Privet Drive, although this place seemed far more welcoming. Their house seemed larger than the Dursleys, not by much and it was also nicer, again, more welcoming. Hermione rushed in, eager to be home for the first time since September. Harry went to the boot of the car to retrieve their things but Richard waved him off and insisted he go inside. He walked through the front door and was hit with a light smell of vanilla and something else he couldn't quite place. Just like Hermione. She came down the stairs and welcomed Harry in. Samatha came through the front door holding crookshanks and settled him on the floor. "Richard and I are going shopping, we'll be about an hour, Hermione why don't you give Harry the tour." She smiled and, with that, left. Harry waved goodbye and turned to Hermione and was knocked back with a hug from his best friend. "AHHH," she squealed, "I'm so glad you're here, Harry!"

"Me too, 'Mione!" He laughed. She let go of him and grabbed his hand dragging him upstairs, her excitement was palpable. "Okay so this is my room," she pulled him inside and sat with him on her bed, "I've missed home." Harry eyed her massive bookshelf. "I should've guessed that you'd have this many books at home." He laughed. "Don't laugh! That's a carefully curated collection!" She slapped his arm and he fell back on the bed groaning in mock pain. "Aghhh! Hermione! Arghrr!" He clutched his arm and writhed in 'pain' on her bed. She grabbed one of her pillows and hit him on the face with it. In retaliation he took the pillow and slapped her with it making her fall back onto the bed. He towered over her, "that wasn't very nice." He smiled. "Well you laughed at my books!" They both grew silent as they looked at each other, Harry was only inches away from her face and he could feel her breath on his lips. "Maybe we..should finish the...tour."

"Yes..I think that's a good idea." Harry got up off the bed and she stood up, straightening her jumper. "So, um, this is my parents room and over there is the bathroom." Harry, however wasn't listening. He could still smell her minty breath and he was still lost in her chocolate brown eyes. She's amazing. Harry thought, finally allowing himself to even think about her in such a way. She finished off the tour and helped him get settled into the spare room. "Really Hermione, it means a lot you're letting me stay here, I promise I won't be a burden."

"Harry, this isn't the Dursleys, you won't be a burden. I couldn't be happier you're here. I hate thinking of you alone at Christmas, instead you're here and I have my best friend for Christmas!" Harry smiled at her and gave her a small hug. How does she always smell of vanilla?

They heard the front door open and close, "That must be my parents back from the shopping." They went downstairs and Harry offered to help with the shopping but Samantha refused his help. Hermione followed her into the kitchen and Harry was left with Richard. "I wanted to talk to you about something, Harry, if that's alright?" Harry felt a knot grow in his stomach, what had he done wrong? "Of course, Mr Gran - uh, Richard." Hermiones father smiled at Harry and took off his jacket, "see that photo on the centre of the mantle? Pass it over to me." Harry did as he was asked and picked up the black frame and passed it to Richard who sat down next to him. "This is me when I was just a little younger than you are now, that's my father. He was...not unlike your uncle. He was a cruel man who took out his issues on his wife and son." Harry, not sure where this was going eyed the photograph, "that's really horrible, I'm sorry." "It's alright, you don't have to. I don't know how bad your home life is and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. What I'm trying to say is, I understand what it's like. I keep this picture up not because I loved my father, but because it serves as a reminder. It reminds me that I'm not like him and that whatever pain is in our past, it makes us stronger. You understand?" Harry nodded. "We're all here if you need anything and trust me, this household is a lot better than my fathers or your uncles." He clapped him on the shoulder. "Thank you, that..that means a lot." Richard smiled at him and stood to put the picture back up, giving it one last look. Harry left the living room to help out in the kitchen and before he walked in he overheard Samantha and Hermione talking;

"You're right, Hermione, he is cute." Samantha said unpacking a bag, "Mum! Stop it!" Harry stopped dead in his tracks, it'd be awkward if he walked in now. Instead he went back to the living room and found Richard switching on the TV. "Is there, uh, anything that I could do, Richard? Like anything that needs done? Chores?"

"Don't be silly, Harry. You're a guest, have a seat. Just not in that armchair, that's mine." Richard joked. Harry took the seat opposite him on the couch as Richard put on a football game. "I suppose you'll actually know about football? Muggle sports?" He laughed. "Oh yeah, not a lot but I know about it. I only learned about magic when I was eleven so I was raised just like Hermione."

"Oh, that's interesting. Do you play any sports? Hermione has mentioned something called Widditch?" He squinted his eyes, believing he was definitely wrong. "Quidditch. Yeah I play for Gryffindor, I'm a seeker. Although there's no season this year, theres a different tournament on."

"Oh right," Richard said nodding his head, "are you a part of that?" "Yeah but it's a long story, theres only supposed to be three champions for the schools but I'm the fourth."

"So you're a sporting man! Wonderful!" Samantha walked in, "Harry here's a sporting man, dear!" Samantha sighed, "don't let him talk to you about sports, Harry, he's obsessed."

"Rubbish! Tell me about this quidditch, Harry. Hermione tried explaining but I was still confused." For the next hour Harry explained Quidditch to Richard and when he finished, Samantha had finished with dinner. Harry spent the rest of the evening with Hermione and went to bed around ten, it had been a long and tiresome day.

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Hope you enjoyed that chapter!