Everything looked as if it were bathed in a different light. You know how places look different just by the different times of day? It was almost like that but the change in light was only something I could see. My apartment just felt...well different. Everything was changed when in reality nothing had changed at all here. All of the furniture was the same, it smelled the same, the hardwood floor that I was sitting on still had that one squeaky floorboard about six feet to the right of where I sat, nothing had moved, etc. It was the same. It was the feeling that it gave off that was different. It didn't feel like home.
It was the first time in a while that I was spending the night by myself in my apartment. I mostly stayed at Draco's. I loved it there, there was so much more space and things to do. And of course it had something that my apartment didn't have, him. Even though I spent so much time there it was still a shock when he asked me to move in. And even though we have been a thing for quite some time it still seemed like we were moving fast. I guess you had to though when you were expecting a baby. Or maybe it was just fast to me because my last relationship had moved so slowly. I didn't move in with Ron until we had been dating almost 3 years. Sure we spent most nights together but I liked having my own space from him. I needed someplace to get away when he was being an annoying prat. I didn't want to move in with him when he asked, but I gave up. He had asked me so many times that finally I gave in. With Draco it was different. I did want to move in. I did think it was a good idea. Plus the point that he made about the baby was dead on. We couldn't just keep moving her, she needed one home. I was pretty positive that I was going to tell him that I would move in with him. I just.. I wanted one more night in this apartment before I made my choice. When I told Draco about this he agreed, he thought it was a good idea for me to do. He said that he did not want to force me to move on with him. He only wanted me to if I wanted it as well. So here I am, sitting in the middle of the floor in my apartment's living room.
I looked around and was haunted by memories. Anywhere in that house was attached to an old thought, and I hated that. It was probably a good idea to move out of here anyway. There were just way too many bad memories that it couldn't shake, this apartment had seen too much.
I noticed that the little blue light on the answering machines on the side table was blinking. Messages I had let go unchecked for weeks. I didn't answer my phone even the few times I was here. The only person who I wanted to talk to was usually with me. It was weird. I had no connection to my friends. I did miss Harry and most of the Weasleys. I didn't mind being without Ginny and of course I was happy to get rid of Ron. Harry and I had been friends for so long, it was just odd to no longer talk to him. This was the longest we've ever gone without speaking. I loved the Weasleys. I knew I was breaking Mrs. Weasley's heart by doing this. I may have been hurting people but I was happy that I left. I was finally happy. I finally knew what happiness was. And now that I was happy I realized how miserable I had been before. Marrying Ron would have been my biggest mistake.
Still as I say there and watched the little light blink blue I had the overwhelming need to talk to them. I decided to call Harry.
The phone rang and rang. I was nervous. Would he yell at me? Would he flip out that I had broke off the engagement? I was about to hang up when I heard the other line be picked up. "Hullo?"
I took a deep breath. It was nice hearing his voice. "Hi Harry." I managed to squeak out.
"Hermione?" He questioned but then continued since he knew it was me after all. "Where have you been? I've been trying to contact you for so long now!"
I instantly felt really guilty. He had helped me so much in my life. He's who I would run to whenever I faced a problem I couldn't handle. After all he WAS Harry freaking Potter! Or the "chosen one" as he would never let us forget. I laughed at the memory. "I know... I'm so sorry. I have just been so busy and so confused."
"Confused? You're confused? Hermione you left us all with so many questions." He wasn't yelling, he just seemed rather hurt. I knew I owed them all explanations.
"I know. I'm sorry. I just had to get out of that relationship. It was so destructive and it made me miserable.. I just couldn't be in it." I spoke in a low voice. “I just couldn’t...” I trailed off.
He sighed. "I've talked to Ron. He's pretty torn up about it. But honestly by the way he talks... I can see why you broke it off. He talks about you like he owns you, he's very possessive. He thinks you're going to come crawling back any day now. "
I actually laughed at that ludicrous idea. "I won't. I promise you that." He was crazy to think that. I didn't want him, I was finally learning to be happy.
"I knew you wouldn’t. You two have broken up before...but this is different.” It's true, we had broken up before, but that was when we first got out of Hogwarts. I was going through a rough time after my parents had died and he was being an insensitive jerk. We ended up getting back together a week after, what a mistake that was. Harry continued. “He told us about the adoption topic. His mother flipped out. It's been quite some time since I've seen her tweak as badly as she did. He's my best friend ... but so are you. I don't want to take sides, I'm here for you both. But I do see where he screwed up...so many times." Harry sighed deeply.
"Thank you for understanding.” I said, thankful that I still has him.
“I'll always be here.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“I've missed you." I sighed.
"I've missed you, we all have." He spoke in a sad voice.
We continued talking for the next hour, making plans for lunch later that week. It was wonderful to be on speaking terms again.
I knew that this was a new chapter in my life. I had to move on. It was time for change.
My apartment seemed so empty without her. It was a huge place, the entire building belonging to me, more than enough for ten people let alone only one. When I bought it I was told that it would be terribly lonely in this large space all alone. I had laughed it off. I liked living alone, I actually preferred it so I wouldn't have to deal with close neighbors. It had always been my place of solitude. Now it was just too empty.
I knew exactly what it was missing. Her.
Ever since she came here it started to change. The Apartment was no longer just an apartment. It had grown and changed, transforming itself into a home. It now let off a warmer feel, not so cold and dark like I had preferred back then. I was living on the warmer side of life now, it was actually rather nice.
I missed her. I was pretty pathetic. She was only gone one night but I missed the hell out of her.
That's when I threw myself into a project. A project for her...for us. I spent the entire time that she was gone working on it, doing everything by hand, the muggle way. I knew she would appreciate that, she always loved it when I did something that way. It probably had something to do with how much I had once made fun of her for her muggle ways. I shook my head at myself, remembering how stupid I had been.
I was practically bursting with excitement when I picked her up from work Tuesday. She had spent Monday at her apartment and I had skipped my own work that day to work on my little project. My boss flipped out of course but I was so use to that by now that it meant nothing to me. Actually it was kind of fun to get her going, it amused me. I was waiting for the day she would fire me. I loved what I did but I couldn't stand her. And I knew that I would be happily welcomed back by my old job.
Finally I saw Hermione come out of the heavy building doors. I rushed out to meet her, opening the passenger side door for her. She greeted me with a quick kiss and one of her beautiful smiles that had the power to melt my heart.
"Hello darling." I smiled back at her before she got into the car. I knew she still found it shocking that I did own a car. It was more of a luxury item to me, I never needed it due to magic but it was nice to have. I like to go out and drive it sometimes just for the fun of it. I guess that wasn't a common thing, Hermione mentioned how her parents had thought of it as such a chore. But she defiantly was not complaining now. She couldn't aparate now. Apparently it's not uncommon from a mother and unborn baby being separated during aparation. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Also now she was just too pregnant, being twenty two weeks, to walk every where, even to just a taxi or bus. I was happy to pick her up anyway.
"Hello." She smiled back at me once I too was in the car.
I drove easily back to my apartment with us making causal conversation, sharing how our day had been. The kind of thing I had never done with anyone else but her.
I waited until we were settled down inside before I pounced and asked the question I was dying to know the answer to. "Have you thought about my proposition?"
Her eyes caught mine. "Yes actually, I made my decision." She spoke softly, which worried me. What would I do if she said no?
I held her gaze. "And...?" I was no longer sure if I wanted to hear the answer.
She waited a terribly long time before answering." I'll move in with you." her face split into a large smile that warmed my heart.
I smiled back even bigger. "Really?" Pulling her into a hug. “You had me thinking you wouldn't, you little witch.” I said playfully.
"Yes! You knew I was going to! " she laughed. "It is pretty obvious I can't be without you." She snuggled into my arms.
"We'll I was certainly hoping that you would say yes." I paused, smiling at her. "I have a surprise for you." I pulled her hand, leading her toward the direction of the surprise that I was so overly excited to show her.
"A surprise? I don't know if I can handle too many surprises, I've had enough for a lifetime." She smiled at me.
If I had it my way I would be surprising her for the rest of our lifetimes.
-Author's Note-
Hey lovelies. I'm so busy with life right now, mostly college stuff & sports that's taking up all my time. So I can only write on the weekends so it may take a little longer to update, but I'm hoping for at least one a week! Thank you for reading and reviewing! You make my day! Ps- if you're interested I just posted a new little one shot for fun:p check it out (:
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