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Harry stepped slightly ahead of Hermione, shielding her from his cousin’s roaming eyes. He knew that Dudley had different girlfriends over the years -how that was possible was beyond Harry’s understanding- but he hadn’t boasted about any new conquest recently as he did whenever he was seeing someone new. Hermione had come with him to Privet Drive to adjust the wards, the war was over but he knew that trouble seemed to follow him anyways and he didn’t want to worry about his god awful relatives. He would reinforce the wards and then continue to pretend they didn’t exist, he had planned his visit around his uncle's work schedule, the last thing he wanted was to see him again. Harry was more than ready to close this chapter of his childhood and move on. He had asked Ginny to come with him but her lips had curled back in disgust at the Burrow breakfast table and had begged off. He couldn’t stand the idea of coming back here alone, but he wasn’t prepared to insist. He had killed the Wizarding World dark lord and somehow the idea of stepping back into this place made his skin crawl. He had walked to the Burrow’s ward boundary, preparing to apparate to this place, when he heard her shout.
“Wait, Harry,” Hermione shouted across the garden, running to catch up with him.
Startled Harry spun around, wand ready in his hand, half raised, a curse on his lips. His puzzled expression asked the questions before words could form.
“I’m coming with you” Hermione stated, reaching him, her hand coming down over his wand lowering it. She slid her hand up to his bicep and held him.
“Hermione-” he sounded exasperated.
“I’m coming with, and I’m not arguing about it. Shall I apparate us or will you?”
Harry opened his mouth to argue, silently running through different reasons why she didn’t need to come with him, before tossing them aside. If he was honest, he really didn’t want to be going alone. Hermione always seemed to know how he was feeling before he even formed words. Silently turning them around, they crossed the ward lines and with a single nod Harry whisked them away to his childhood home.
The last thing he expected was to find his cousin standing in the kitchen trying to charm Hermione, while Harry was outside adjusting the ward stones carefully hidden at the edge of the Dursleys’ property. Stepping inside Harry found himself standing in front of Hermione, blocking her from cousin’s gaze.
“So do you live around here?” Dudley asked “There’s this party happening in a few days, a friend of mine, he’s also on the rugby team-"
“She doesn’t” Harry interrupted, “She lives with me actually.”
“She does?” Dudley remarked in surprise. “Good on you mate.”
“Does she?” Hermione asked from behind him.
“Ah, well …” Harry turned around to face Hermione, her hand were placed on her shapely hips and she was staring at him with raised brows. “Well um … yeah, if you want to. I mean the Burrow is crowded and I’m moving into Grimmauld place now that …” his sentence trailed off as Harry ran a nervous hand through his hair. Now that all the funerals had been held, went unsaid.
“You want me to move in with you? I thought that Ginny would” Hermione asked.
Dudley was ignored in the background as he exclaimed “A house, you have a house? How do you have a house?! This isn’t fair.”
“Why would you think that?” Harry asked “I … yes, if you want to. I was going to ask Ron too but with everything with George, I thought I’d better not.”
She’s your girlfriend, Hermione wanted to say but refrained. She wasn’t actually sure if Harry and Ginny had actually gotten back together. With everything going on, funerals, Ministry proceedings, seeing healers, she couldn’t imagine they had the time to get back together, let alone discuss anything. It was no secret what Ginny wanted, she spent her time watching Harry and Hermione, watched as the beautiful redhead watched Harry. Her best friend. Her best friend who had mumbled a question.
“Yes,” she responded, dragging herself away from thinking about Ginny. Ginny who hadn’t known that Harry shouldn’t be alone today, who didn’t know about what it was like for Harry when he lived here. Who only saw the hero and not the boy.
Her hand reached out and clasped Harry’s. Dropping her gaze she added not thinking about the abuses that occurred here to her list of things not to think about it. She hated that he grew up without any love, Harry had told her on their camping trip -which is how they referred to the past year- that her hug had been the first that he could remember. Since then she had taken extra care to be affectionate with Harry, to make up for all missed hugs and small touches from family, because he was her family.
Looking at their hands Dudley took a step back, he’s hands raised apologetically, he still had a healthy amount of fear regarding his cousin and his abilities, “I didn’t know she was your girlfriend. Well done mate, she’s fit.”
“We’re no-” Hermione started to say, her face flushing prettily.
“No harm done,” Harry said “You’re not her type anyways. She’s into heroes.”
Dudley chuckled after them, knowing a simplified version of Harry’s role in the war, as Harry turned them around to leave. Waiting until they were out of earshot, Hermione stopped them tugging on their joined hands. “Why would you let him think that?”
“Let’s go,” Harry mumbled, “I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary.” With a crack they landed on the stoop of Grimmauld place. Harry ran his wand along the door which opened with a slight whine. “I’ve had you added to the wards, you should be able to apparate in and out as you like.”
Hermione entered, still reeling from the unanswered question.
“I’m not sure what room you’d like, you’re free to choose any. I’m going to be on the 3rd floor. I'm taking Sirius’ old room. I had Kreacher clean out the room across from mine, if you want but really there’s no shortage of rooms. If you’d like there’s a room on the 2nd floor with a really nice window seat that I think you’d like-
“Harry” Hermione interrupted, “why did you let your cousin think we are dating?”
Harry turned from her, making his way down the entrance, “Why does it matter?” He ran his hand through his hair, she could see his cheeks staining red.”I didn’t like the way he was looking at you okay, it was easier to let him think you were mine.”
It was Hermione’s turn to redden, her throat suddenly dry and she tried to swallow, mine. Oh, she blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She started to make her way upstairs to the bedroom across from Harry’s, the bedroom he had already picked out for her. Turning quickly on the staircase she called out before she lost her nerve, “You were wrong earlier, I’m into silent broody types, with a penchant for saving people and awful hair.”
She smirked at his gaping face and made her way upstairs, leaving an open mouthed and baffled best friend behind who could only stare after her.