June 25th 1996
Hermione knew she'd only been asleep for a few hours when she awoke. It was still dark in her room as the only the light was from a nearby streetlamp that filtered through the blinds covering her second story bedroom windows. It had been a car starting up next door that had awoken her she knew. She could hear it changing gears and accelerating away. It was a very different noise than she'd experienced over the last year. "Someone is starting their day too early," She thought. Hermione sighed as she looked over at the red numbers on the digital clock that sat on her nightstand. Four eleven am. She rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but it was no use. She was uncomfortable. Though this was her bed, in her room, in her house, it still was not HER bed. It would take time to readjust to the firmness of the mattress beneath her. As she fought a losing battle of trying to go back to sleep the numbers on the clock kept increasing. As she laid there trying not to toss and turn, her mind wandered to the same time the previous morning when she'd awoke from a nightmare. It wasn't the nightmare she thought of though; no, her thoughts were of her raven-haired husband. She could almost feel his arms around her, comforting her.
"I wished you were here," She mumbled to herself. As she looked over at the other side of her bed, she realized that she no longer slept in the middle as she had always done. She now slept on the left side of the bed as if acknowledging that Harry should be on the other side. His side. She could imagine him lying there, his bare chest rising and lowering with each breath he took. She'd only spent a couple of minutes with those thoughts before an idea came to mind. She quickly got up, grabbed a change of clothes and tossed them into a bag. She threw on her robe and slippers then made her way quietly down the steps and out into the garage. She ducked under the tarp and climbed into the cabinet. A second later she opened the door and stepped into Harry's room. She made sure the door was locked before she removed her robe and slippers and climbed under the covers next to her husband. Though she'd planned on just watching him sleep, it wasn't long before her eyes grew heavy and she laid her head on Harry's chest. A smile appeared on her lips as she inhaled the musky aroma of his body and soon she was fast asleep.
"Mione?" Harry's voice called softly. "Mione, wake up."
Hermione's eyes opened once again and this time she found herself looking into Harry's beautiful green eyes; a look of love and amusement sparkled in them. He was propped on his elbow and looking at her. "Good morning," She said.
"Good morning to you too," Harry said, still with a grin on his face. "Funny though, I don't remember you being here when I fell asleep last night."
Hermione gave him a small poke on his shoulder before admitting, "I woke up early and missed you."
Harry's grin changed to a warmer smile as he gently moved some of her hair behind her ear and followed that with a gentle caress of her cheek. "I missed you too," He said. Then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him as he laid back down. As his hand gently stroked her arm he asked. "Wonder what would happen if Molly decided to come in now?"
"I made sure the door was locked when I got here."
Harry kissed her on the forehead. "Of course you did," He murmured. "I should never have doubted my wife would not think of that," They laid together enjoying the moment when another thought came to Harry. "What's your father going to say if they wake up and you're not there?"
Hermione groaned. "Nothing good, I'm sure," She gave a sigh and climbed out of bed. She took the set of clothes from her bag and started changing. "I should go back and have breakfast with them," She said as she pulled her nightshirt over her head. As she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that sat on top of a dresser she realized she was comfortable with being nude in front of Harry, and from the way Harry's eyes followed her, she knew he didn't mind at all. She smiled when he groaned playfully as she put on her bra. He was able to keep eye contact now when her breast were exposed, but just barely. Finally she was dressed. She leaned over the bed and gave her husband a small kiss on the lips that lingered to just more than a peck. She then turned and opened the cabinet. She was surprised to see a note lying inside. She was sure it had not been there earlier. A quick glance told her it was her mother's writing. "Hermione, I am sure I know where you are. I've told your father you're sleeping late so if you come back before we leave, try not to be noticed coming in from the garage."
"Thank you mother," Hermione whispered then she showed the note to Harry.
"Your mother's okay with me?" Harry asked.
"More of the idea that I have a boyfriend," Hermione replied. "She doesn't really know you yet."
"That's what tonight's for right?"
"A start. Now I really need to get back."
"Take the cloak," Harry suggested. He quickly dug into his trunk for the Invisibility Cloak and handed it to her. "I don't want you in trouble with your father, not over me," He said.
She smiled and nodded as she took the cloak. "I'll be back as soon as they're gone," She said before she hopped into the cabinet. She ducked out from under the tarp into the garage a couple of seconds later. Noticing the car was still there, she quickly threw the cloak over herself. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found no one near the door when she opened it. She quietly made her way up the steps and into her bedroom. Once there she made a considerable amount of noise as she reopened her bedroom door and made her way to the bathroom.
"Awake dear?" Her mother asked with a raised eyebrow as she came out of the master bedroom. "I hope you slept well."
"I didn't sleep very well until about four am," Hermione replied. "Thanks for letting me sleep late."
"I just hope it's not going to happen every day," Jean replied knowingly. "We do like to see you in the mornings."
"Well there you are Hermione," Her father said coming out of the bedroom. His hair was still damp from his morning shower. He looked at his watch. "You must have been really tired to sleep this late. So what do you have planned for today?"
"Harry and I have to go to the Ministry of Magic," Hermione replied. "The lady who called us away yesterday is the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. There are still questions about last week."
"I see," Richard Granger replied with a concerned look on his face. "Are you in need of a solicitor?"
"No," Hermione replied. "I'm sure that it's nothing of consequence, just finishing up the investigation and all."
"Well call if you need anything," Richard Granger said. "You still have the number to our office don't you?"
"I have it written down in my planner," Hermione replied.
"Will that take all day?"
"No after that we're supposed to go to Diagon Alley and then we'll probably spend some time at Harry's place," Hermione replied. "Later in the afternoon I want to bring him here and show him our house."
"You're bringing the..." Richard paused to reconsider his words before continuing, "the young man here?" he finished.
"Not twelve dad," Hermione reminded her father. "The Cabinet works both ways remember," Hermione softened her tone. "Dad, please trust me. Give him a chance."
"Richard," Jean said with a glance every husband knew. "I am positive we can trust our daughter to behave herself. Isn't that right Hermione?"
"Yes, of course," Hermione agreed.
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