Harry hadn't spent much time reviewing Hermione's childhood memories that Miranda had given him, but since he was the first awake the next morning he started shifting through them. He found himself facing bullies who would take his/her books and taunt her/him about them.
They'd even rip pages out and throw them in the mud. Harry could feel the pain Hermione had felt as she picked up the mud splattered pages of her favorite book her mother had bought her. Anger coursed through Harry as he experienced more pain as the bullies called him/her names like beaver face and bookworm. It was the teachers and her parents who comforted her during those times.
On particular bad days, her parents would take her to her favorite ice cream shop (always Mint Chocolate Chip) or bookstore. Miranda had also given him some of Hermione's memories of the first couple of months at Hogwarts. He experienced her excitement in finding out she was a witch and was finally going to fit in somewhere.
Then he experienced the loneliness his soul mate had endured as she tried to fit in at Hogwarts but couldn't. It was actually worse than her earlier childhood because there were no ice cream store or bookstore to soothe the pain and no parents to protect her.
Harry felt ashamed that he hadn't been there for her earlier and now understood why she always looked to teachers for help. It was they who had protected her for years. It was the teachers and parents who had comforted when her heart hurt.
"I really wished I had been her friend from the train. Ron had brothers but she had no one," Harry thought.
"But it was still you who saved me," Hermione said softly as she had awakened and realized what Harry was doing. "Did Miranda give you my memory of the Troll?"
"No."
"Then let me tell you instead of showing you. You saw how bad my first two months were? Well when Ron insulted me it was the last thing I could handle. I was ready to contact my parents and tell them it was a mistake for me to come to Hogwarts," Hermione explained. "I sat in the bathroom for hours crying that day about Ron and about everything else," Harry could feel the raw emotion she still felt for that day.
"No one liked me, every time I tried to help someone they insulted me or just ignored me. I tried Harry but at the time I couldn't figure out why people didn't like me. Then when the troll came in the bathroom I was terrified and knew I was going to die, but...but after the two months I had had here at Hogwarts, it really wasn't that unwelcome."
"Not that I wanted to die, but I remember thinking that no one except my parents would even care. Then you and Ron were there saving my life. Seeing you jump on that troll was…was… even after all this time, I still can't put it into words. I couldn't believe someone besides my parents cared about me. Not just cared but willing to risk their life for me, but there you were and you've been there ever since."
"Not always, not as you've been there for me. But I promise I will always be there for you from now on."
"As I will be for you," Hermione said and then after a pause, "my husband."
"Want a romantic dinner tonight? Room of Requirement?" Harry asked. "Maybe more dancing and...and...mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert?"
"Yes I want that love but we can't. We have astronomy tonight."
"Can't skive?"
"We need to go for the reviews. It's the last class before the OWLs."
"Ok," Harry replied sounding a little disappointed.
"Thank you for thinking of it and tomorrow night is wide open on our schedules."
"Then my lady, would you accompany me to the Room of Requirements tomorrow evening for a dinner for two?" Harry asked.
"I think I would love to kind sir," Hermione replied. "Remember that tomorrow before that date, we have to go see Sirius."
"Tonight's the Order meeting isn't it?" Harry asked.
"Yes, so we should have an idea on Dumbledore after that," Hermione replied.
"You know he's not going to say anything," Harry said.
"We can hope one of the small changes we make will make him change," Hermione replied, "But you're right that he probably won't and we need to figure out what to do in the meantime."
"Umbridge?"
"For starters."
"Are we really thinking about killing them?" Harry asked
"We were fighting the same Death Eaters last week that we fought in the Ministry. Sending them to Azkaban did nothing," Hermione said. "Do you prefer Lupin or Yaxley dead, Tonks or Bellatrix? Prefer someone like Teddy to not to have parents or Draco?"
Harry let out a sigh as he knew better than to try to argue with Hermione's logic. "I agree. But can we do it without going to Azkaban? I don't mind a nice island for our honeymoon, but I would prefer it not to be in the North Sea and guarded by Dementors. Something tells me it would definitely destroy the mood."
Hermione let out a little mental laugh. "Already planning our honeymoon Harry?"
"While we are planning everything else like Voldemort, Horcruxes, and Death Eaters, can't we at least plan something that's enjoyable?"
"I'd like that," Hermione replied. "Where are you thinking?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "I've never really been anywhere. My Uncle once mentioned Majorca though; would that be a good place?"
"It might, but we'll get some books this summer and look them over. Are you planning on approaching my father this soon?" Hermione asked.
"Not until Tom is dead and gone. I only need one person trying to kill me at a time," Harry replied.
"My father won't kill you," Hermione assured him. "Just an extensive dental exam I'm sure," At the thoughts coming from her soul mate she giggled. "I'm teasing love. My parents know about you. They know all about you. That's why I had to hide them remember. Of course the part about we love each other and want to get married might be a bit of a shock but they have always supported me."
....
Guys my p@treon is live. Join right now to read ahead by more than 30 chapters.
Also you will get the next two chapters for FREE.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarlettRose00 (Remove the *)