Repost - Time Keeps on Slipping - Chapter 10

AN: It's been a while & thought a refresher would do some good.

10.

Harry walked carefully downstairs to the kitchen. He had no idea how the day would go after the events of last night. Did this mean he was dating Rose now? Would Hugo tell their parents? Where would he sleep after they kicked him out?

Much to his surprise, it was only Rose and Hugo in the kitchen. There weren't any other places set out either. Rose smiled at him. Hugo chuckled but didn't say anything. Harry started to make breakfast. The two were already eating. They stopped and began to watch as he cooked.

Out of habit, he made three portions of eggs, toast, and bacon. Then he added a bit more bacon to give Hedwig. Once he was finished, he served up the two plates to the others before he took his spot.

"This looks amazing." Hugo whispered.

"Thanks." Harry shrugged. "It's just eggs."

"Just eggs, he says." Hugo shook his head. "It beats cereal or porridge."

Rose nodded. She closed her eyes as she took a bite.

"Where is Ron… your parents?" Harry caught himself.

"Mom is at work." Hugo replied. "Dad is in his office, or at the pitch."

"Hm." Harry considered the information.

"Just how it goes." Rose shrugged.

"Do you guys have family meals?" Harry asked.

He always pictured the Weasley's gathering at mealtime. That was how it was when he visited over the summer. It just made sense that it would happen here as well.

"Over the holidays." Rose said with a nod.

"Only then?" Harry scrunched his brow. "We all had dinner last night."

"That was a special occasion." Hugo countered. "Sometimes mom sleeps in her office. Dad, well, during the off season he's home more often, but he always has something to do with the team."

"Huh." Harry nibbled on a strip of bacon.

"So…" Hugo drew the word out. "Was it a one-time thing, or did Harry finally tame the wild Rose?"

He sprang from his chair with impressive speed. The spell that had been aimed at his leg under the table zipped through empty space to collide with the wall. Hugo cackled as he fled the kitchen. Rose glared after her brother. Her cheeks were red when she turned to face Harry.

Harry arced an eyebrow at her.

"It was fun." Rose said quickly. "Really fun, but I'm not looking for a relationship."

"Got it." Harry nodded. "What about friends?"

She smiled brightly at him and nodded.

"Any plans for today?" Rose asked.

"Feed Hedwig." Harry motioned to the bacon. "And hope she doesn't bite me too much. After that, I don't know."

"Did you meet with the goblins?" Rose asked.

"No." Harry replied. "I should do that."

"I was planning on meeting Roxie for lunch." Rose offered. "Want to come? We can swing by the bank after so you can get that done."

"I would like that." Harry smiled. "Thanks."

"No problem." Rose said with a smile. "Thank you for breakfast."

Harry watched her go. A slight tension in his shoulders eased as she left. He was glad that things hadn't been awkward. Casual sex was a still a new experience. Well, any kind of sex really. Yesterday had been a blur for multiple reasons.

Had it only been a day? There was the battle at the ministry, the mirror, and then Luna. He had fallen asleep in Hermione's office, woke up here, and then caught up with everyone. Once Fleur arrived, she took him shopping. After that he had a small nap before dinner. The night ended with Rose.

Granted, it was in the evening when he got to the ministry. Still, one long, eventful day. He had gone from a virgin to sex with Luna, Ginny, and Rose. The blowjob that Fleur had given him was not something he would ever forget.

He took the plate of bacon to Hedwig. She wasn't too happy that he woke her up after a night of hunting. The bacon helped soothe her ire. He gently petted her as she ate. Her blinks got longer as his fingers found that magic spot on the side of her head. He set the plate of bacon down for her when she woke up.

A shower sounded wonderful. He realized that he had been too scattered to take one last night. Thankfully, the smell of sex had faded. Once that thought hit him, he was glad that Hermione and Ron hadn't been at breakfast. The state of their marriage did cause him some concern. It didn't surprise him that they had problems. He would never had put the two together beyond a schoolyard crush. Honestly, he could see Hermione ending up with either of them.

Harry could admit that he was attracted to Hermione. The Yule Ball showed him how gorgeous she had become, but he had always had a little crush on her. Now, age had made her damn sexy. He didn't think they would have a lasting relationship even if he hadn't been tossed through time. Taking it further than friendship would probably have broken them. It didn't matter now. She had an entire life with a successful career while he had been outside time.

He took a shower and got dressed on autopilot as his thoughts wondered. Would her and Ron have ended up married if things had been different? Would it been possible for any of them to survive long enough to have a long-term relationship?

Harry wasn't an idiot. He knew that his odds to make it through the war were slim. Back then, a girlfriend, eventual wife, and a family were fantasies.

Back then… the day before yesterday.

Harry sat on his bed. The bed in the guest room of Hermione and Ron's house. His head began to spin. Everyone thought he had died. They moved on with their lives. For all intents and purposes, he had died.

Again.

He had never told anyone about the time with the basilisk venom. That death wasn't fast. The venom had burned further along his veins with every heartbeat. It had killed him. The phoenix tears had a lot of ground to make up for before he came back. He saw his parents in the distance. They were too far to reach, he couldn't hear them, but they were there. Then he was back in the chamber.

"Harry!" Rose called from the doorway.

Harry snapped out of his thoughts. He looked over to where she stood. The pull of despair eased.

"Did you want to leave early?" She asked. "We can look around a little before lunch."

"Yeah." He smiled softly at her. "I'd like that."

Maybe this time he could have a normal life.