The Way Things Should Have Been

Just a glimpse of the way things should have been.

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The steady rocking of the train was relaxing everyone in the compartment of the Hogwarts Express. We were enjoying the company of our friends a little longer before we got to the Station. Ron was sitting next to the window on one side, with Luna reading the latest edition of the Quibbler beside him, occasionally resting her head on his shoulder. Ginny and Neville were asleep in each corner next to the door after a long detention last night with Snape for being to “cozy” at the end of term feast, which was quite funny. I have never thought Neville to be a public person like that.

I was at the window across from Ron with Hermione pressed into my side, reading, for a change. Ron and I were discussing the possibilities for next years Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and the abysmal performance of the Chudley Cannons.

There was a knock at the door followed by “Any thing from the trolley dears?” Ginny and Neville woke up quickly and we all rushed to get some snacks for the remainder of the trip back to King’s Cross, still another hour or two away.

Everyone came back into the compartment and deposited their food on their laps and began to eat. Ron proved to be the hungriest as usual and inhaled twice as much as anyone else in about half the time, afterwards he received teasing from the girls for being a pig. I just laughed at him and continued eating my Bernie Botts.

Ginny pulled out a deck of cards and we started play a few games of Exploding Snap. Hermione was tied with me for the most wins until Ron came back with five straight victories. That shocked us as he was good at chess, not Exploding Snap. The train began to slow coming into King’s Cross, and everyone stood and scrambled to gather their belongings. I grabbed my trunk as the Express stopped with a slight jerk, as the others made for the exits. I pulled Hermione back for a moment to speak to her.

I opened my mouth to speak when Hermione silenced me with a deep kiss. Needless to say, I forgot all about what I was going to tell her.

When we broke apart, both of us breathing deeply, Hermione leaned her head against my chest and said “I’m going to miss you these next few weeks. I wish I could come straight to your house.”

“I know,” I replied with a smile, “You need to spend some time with your family too, I know they miss you. It’s only a few weeks and I have a computer now so you can e-mail me, but I’ll see you on my birthday. What are you going to get me anyways?” I asked with a wink.

“I wouldn’t tell you anyways, and not that!” she replied with a grin and a blush.

With that, I grabbed her hand and we walked together out into the corridor, dragging our trunks behind us.

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They watched as the Hogwarts Express pulled slowly onto Platform 9 3/4 and stopped. Students began to get off and run to meet parents they hadn’t seen in several months. They saw Ron and Ginny Weasley get off halfway down the train and knew Harry and Hermione couldn’t be too far behind. Arthur had come over earlier and said hello to them and Hermione’s parents.

“Harry and Hermione sure are taking a while to get off.”

“I know. They’re probably getting in one last snog before they have to leave.”

Mr. Granger tried to frown at that, but they saw the smile creep onto his face and knew he approved of the couple.

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I jumped down off the train and set my trunk off to side and turned around to help Hermione off like a gentleman. Hermione pretended to be royalty and told me to follow with her things, which I did with a laugh. We walked towards our parents, who were waiting for us by the barrier. We were both smiling happily at seeing them after so long.. Hermione soon broke apart to greet her parents and I quickened my pace as well.

I came up to them with a “Mum! Dad!” and hugged them both.

Hermione and her parents walked up and Hermione said hello to them and stood by my side. I put my arm around her waist and she leaned into me grinning. The Weasleys came over as well and we made plans to meet at Godric’s Hollow on my birthday for a party and for Hermione to stay there with me for a few weeks. Ron would be coming over too.

As the crowd dwindled away, we too broke up and I leaned down and gave Hermione a quick but sweet kiss, to the amusement of all the others I noticed, and we all headed our separate ways.

I turned to my parents and said “Let’s go home.”

—

I always enjoyed summer. Me and Dad would play Quidditch all the time, racing to see who could find the Snitch first. Mum sometimes watched from the kitchen window as we flew around the field in the backyard, and every now and then she joined us, flying around and trying to distract them. It usually worked on Dad, but I really couldn’t fall for it. Ugh! Thanks, Mum.

Sirius and Remus stopped by often, and they would share stories of their school days with me. I always loved to hear about the pranks they pulled, especially on Snape. I already had a few in mind for next year. That made me start thinking about it, which would be my last at Hogwarts.

I even got my homework done early this year. I knew it was because Hermione would be mad at me if she came and saw that it wasn’t finished yet. Dad said I was whipped and I replied that I knew it and was loving it!

This year we took a week long vacation to the States in mid June, and spent the entire time at the beach in Florida. I got sunburned the first day, stupid me, but with a healer for a mother, I was back out the next day to do it again. I wished Hermione could be here with us.

And no, it wasn’t JUST to see her in a bikini. Well, maybe.

But she was vacationing with her parents in France like they usually did. I didn’t know Hermione could speak fluent French until the middle of last year. I had evidently overlooked the time during the Triwizard Tournament. We had an exchange student from Beauxbatons and Hermione got along right well with her, jabbering away about who knows what.

I talked to Hermione every day, either by phone or e-mail since I got a computer for my birthday last year. I told her I couldn’t wait to see her again. I had a feeling she was in on something I didn’t know about, because she would never tell me what time she was coming on the day of my birthday, which led me to suspect a surprise party.

I’d just have to wait and see.

It was the night before my birthday and Mum and Dad were on the couch in the living room watching TV and I was sitting in an overstuffed chair reading a book on the Quidditch teams in the States, which I had bought while we were over there. It was raining slightly, popping on the room and creating a cozy atmosphere.

The book was really interesting, and I knew Ron would love to read it. He could read like Hermione in books about Quidditch, but nothing else.

I glanced at the clock over the mantle which said it was just past ten. I yawned widely and got up to go to bed, wishing Mum and Dad goodnight as I went. They replied in kind as I headed upstairs to my room at the end of the hall.

I changed into some sleep pants and lay down, falling asleep quickly.

I had a rather strange dream. It was about me and Hermione, oddly enough. What was weird about it was the fact that she was running from a dark and cloaked person, who kept shooting curses at her. It scared me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand it if she was hit with one and tried to stop the guy, but I couldn’t do anything. In the end, I just woke up covered in sweat. I knew that I could never live without Hermione by my side.

In the morning I had pretty much put the dream out of mind and got up and got ready. Due to, uh, other, yeah that’s it, other dreams during the night, I took a cold shower and got dressed, taking care to look decent. I didn’t even bother with my hair. Dad had to go and curse me with his hair, which was totally untamable. I sighed and walked downstairs towards the smell of bacon.

“Happy Birthday!!!” Mum said as I walked into the kitchen. She was standing over the stove cooking bacon the muggle way. Dad was manning the waffles and turned and said the same. I grinned and poured a glass of orange juice and sat down at the table.

Breakfast was soon ready and we all sat down and had a great meal. Dad made the best waffles ever, but don’t tell Mrs. Weasley that!

After breakfast Dad offered to go play a round of Quidditch. I knew he was just trying to get me out of the house so that Mum could decorate. We went out to the garage to get our brooms. Dad had a few Muggle cars in there, including a flying motorbike like Sirius had.

I went over to the broom rack and grabbed my Firebolt. It felt funny so I looked closer at it.

There on the side was not Firebolt like I had expected, instead it was a Firebolt TWO! I couldn’t believe it! The Firebolt 2 had come out a few weeks before and Dad and I had gone to drool over it at Quality Quidditch Supplies along with everyone else. It was twice as fast and could take sharper turns!

I couldn’t believe they had gotten this for me! It had to have been over a thousand Galleons. I knew they could afford it, but still, this was amazing!

I turned around and saw Dad grinning like an idiot. I whooped and ran out of the garage, taking off as soon as I had enough room.

The Firebolt 2 turned like it already knew what you were going to do. I knew I had to be a blur to anyone on the ground I was going so fast

Dad came up a minute later and tried, hopelessly to keep up with me on my old Firebolt. He fell WAY behind. There was no way I could lose a Quidditch game again! This was absolutely amazing!

We spent the rest of the morning trading the broom back and forth. I knew Dad had to have tried it already, but he couldn’t stop. By noon we were both starving and headed back to the house with our brooms slung over our shoulders.

I went in the back door and into the kitchen. There was several plates lying out on the counter full of food and I grabbed a cookie off of one and walked into the living room.

“SURPRISE!!!” I jumped back in shock. EVERYONE I knew was standing in the magically enlarged living room. I had totally forgotten the reason Dad had taken me outside in the first place. He had obviously planned on the broom doing just that.

There was Hermione and her parents; Ron, Fred, George, Bill, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny; Dean, Seamus, Lavender and Parvati, and many, many more friends from Hogwarts. Even Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall had come! Sirius and Remus were off to the side too. They were all wishing me Happy Birthday and shaking my hand. A few were giving me hugs. I realized then that I didn’t know some of the people.

Hermione and Ron came over to me and said Happy Birthday. I gave Hermione a quick kiss, full of promise for later. Ron gagged and covered his eyes and we laughed. Ron looked back at me and his mouth fell open.

“H..Harry? Is that... Is that what I think it is???” He was staring at my broom. I had forgotten about it and the name was clearly visible on it.

“IT IS!!! IT’S A FIREBOLT TWO!!!” Everyone fell silent at than and every guy and a few of the girls rushed towards me. I quickly handed the broom off to Ron and drug Hermione away.

“Well. That was unexpected.” I said. Hermione giggled, which was rare for her.

“Harry, Hermione, get over here!” we heard. I turned to see Mum and Dad waving us over. The broom had disappeared, probably thanks to Mum.

I walked over and they pushed me into a chair and started handing me presents. As I unwrapped them, I thanked them sincerely. Most were general books, Quidditch memorabilia, candy, and games. Professor Dumbledore gave me an envelope with a message on it not to open it until later on. Ron handed me a bag of candy and a Chudley Cannons jersey. There must have been two of the same for him to give me one. I didn’t care, this was Ron.

When it was all over, I was surrounded by a pile of gifts and paper. I was amazed at how many people had given me stuff. The food was brought out and everyone feasted on snacks and goodies Mum and Mrs. Weasley had made that day. It was all good.

Everyone except for the Weasleys and the Grangers had left before mid-afternoon. I noticed Hermione hadn’t given me anything yet and was curious as to what it was if she couldn’t show me with everyone around. Or maybe she didn’t get me anything. I wouldn’t care because a kiss would be enough.

I let the Ron and the others have a go on the Firebolt 2 while Mum and Mrs. Weasley began cooking again. Dinner was yet another surprise, but I had it narrowed down to a few things, all of which I loved.

Hermione and I sat in the grass in the backyard while the others flew around. Fred and George had Apparated back to the Burrow and grabbed their brooms and were racing the Firebolts, to no avail.

Hermione was sitting in my lap, leaning back into my chest and quite content. I was loving it, especially the smell of her hair while giving her a shoulder massage.

Mum called us for dinner and we all sat at the big table and had a great meal of steak and potatoes. We had gone to a place in Florida and gotten them, and they were the best. Mum had copied theirs perfectly.

After dinner Hermione’s parents left. Her dad gave THAT look before they walked out of the door. I knew what it meant and I was terrified of what would happen if we did. Darn.

Ron would be there the next day but had to go home tonight. Hermione and I went upstairs and after dropping her stuff off in one of the guest rooms, walked into mine. I closed the door and turned around only to be met with an intense kiss. It was absolutely amazing! Hermione was a great kisser.

While we had never gone past a bit, ok, heavy cuddling, she began to run her hands all over my chest and around my back. I did the same, but no sooner had we broken apart than there came a knock at the door. I quickly jumped up and opened it to find Mum there. She had a slight smirk on her face.

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything, but there is some ice cream and cake in the kitchen. It’s Cookies and Cream too.”

Decisions, decisions. I looked at Hermione. She looked at me. We both ran for the kitchen.

The ice cream somehow got onto Hermione’s lips and I couldn’t resist helping her clean up, which resulted in an awkward situation when Dad walked into the kitchen to get him some as well. With a raised eyebrow he left.

We toned it down a bit after that, staying up in my room, mainly talking (no, really, TALKING) about the next few weeks and next year. Hermione was hoping she got Head Girl and I told her she would get it. She didn’t believe me until I took out the envelope and opened it. Two smaller envelopes fell out. One was for me and another was for her. There was little bumps in both of them.

Hermione screamed when she saw them and tore into hers, letting the Head Girl badge fall out into her hands. I opened mine and the Head Boy badge fell out too. I had known thats what they where when I felt it earlier.

Hermione saw mine and hugged me, jabbering excitedly about how we were going to be able to share a private common room and dorms. I just laughed.

Hermione then walked back to the guest bedroom and returned with a package and handed it to me. Opening it, I saw a photo album filled with pictures of the two of us together. They went all the way back to first year. At the end were many blank pages. I knew that this was a hint.

The very last page was the best. I had a photo that had been taken on the last day of school a few weeks ago. We were standing by the lake, kissing. I remembered that kiss well. It had been so great. I didn’t know that it had been taken, probably by Colin.

But it was what was underneath that made me smile.

‘Harry and Hermione Forever’

She had written that in under the photo. I turned to her and gave her the best kiss I ever had.

“I love you, Hermione.” I really did mean it with all of my heart and knew I always would, no matter what.

“I love you too, Harry.” And I knew she felt the same.

It was going to be a great summer.

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Well, what do ya think? Ok, crap, great? Review and tell me!