Time Keeps on Slipping - Chapter 8

Harry headed back down to the kitchen. He didn't know where else to go. Unfortunately, it was empty, so he wandered around the house. He wasn't sure where anyone was. It didn't feel right to knock on the doors until someone answered, so he chose to explore. The house was three levels, the first being the kitchen, dining room, and sitting room. There was also a big expanse that looked to be for official gatherings. The sitting room was large enough to hold the family, but this one didn't have the same vibe to it. On the second floor he found it was split between a large library, an indoor greenhouse, and a work room that had supplies for potions as well as what looked to be an architect table with a Rune array on it.

The third floor was where the bedrooms were. His room, that had previously been a guest room, was at one end of the hall with the master bedroom was on the opposite side. Thankfully, there was a bathroom attached to each room. It was the product of years of living in a house with multiple siblings and only one bathroom.

Harry had to smile at that.

By the time he had made it back down to the bottom floor he heard the Floo activate again. Pansy Parkinson stepped through. Her black hair was longer than when she was in Hogwarts. It was done up in a little bun with stray hairs that had escaped through the day. Surprisingly enough, she wore a muggle style office outfit of a skirt and blouse rather than robes.

"Minister." She said without looking up. "I know you said you had some personal business, but there are prep documents you need to see before the next Mot."

Pansy walked right by him. She spoke clear and loud, clearly accustomed to the task. He watched as she navigated the entryway with her eyes firmly on the papers in her hand. Pansy made it to the start of the stairs before she came to a stop.

Slowly, she turned to look at him. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. He could almost see her trying to understand who stood in front of her. She had been too busy to notice when Luna had led him to Hermione's office before.

"No." She dropped the papers on the floor. "It's not possible."

Pansy walked over to him with halting steps. She moved slow, almost like she was afraid he would bolt at the first big motion.

"How?" She whispered.

Harry shrugged.

"Harry Fucking Potter." Pansy kept her voice low. "It can't be."

"It is." Harry replied with a chuckle.

That seemed to do it. Pansy rushed over to him. She poked his chest to make sure he was solid. Then she lifted his glasses to get a closer look at his eyes. After that, she stepped back.

"You're not a ghost." She stated. "They haven't been able to get constructs so lifelike yet."

"It's me." Harry gave her a crooked smile.

"I remember that smile." Pansy blushed.

"Really?" Harry asked. "I thought you hated me."

"Of course, I hated you." Pansy slapped him lightly on the chest. "You were the Gryffindor golden boy. How could any self-respecting Slytherin not? There wasn't a secret stash of photos hidden in my trunk, or any other girls in my house. Certainly, none that were taken of you after Quidditch practice as your got changed. Colin was an exceptional photographer, and he could get shots that you wouldn't believe."

Harry's jaw dropped.

"That little…" He grumbled. "You're serious?"

"He made quite a profit selling them around the school." Pansy nodded. "Tripled in price after you died."

She paused as she realized what she had just said.

"You died." Pansy said again. "The story was all over the papers for months. Even if the Ministry didn't want to admit it. Everyone knew. It didn't take long before the details got around. You went into the Veil. No one survives that."

Harry didn't know what to say.

"Harry Potter." Pansy shook her head. "You're staying here of course."

She leaned in close and dropped her voice low so only he could hear. Even though they were the only two in the room at the moment.

"You and Hermione hook up yet?" She asked.

"No!" Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"You can't be that dense." Pansy laughed. "I guess you could, Gryffindor after all."

"She is a married woman." Harry hissed. "Married to my friend. She has kids that are my age."

"Unhappy marriage, total fox, and desperately needs a good lay." Pansy countered. "I've spent almost every day of the last five years with her. We've fallen asleep in the office more times that I can count. She moaned your name a lot."

"That doesn't mean anything." Harry snapped. "Why are we having this conversation? You came here for a reason."

Pansy sighed. She looked back to the stack of papers that had scattered on the floor.

"Help me pick these up." She made the request sound like an order.

Harry wasn't one to leave a damsel in distress. He gathered up a few stray papers. They shuffled back in order once the stack was reformed.

"We're not done here." Pansy teased as she headed up the stairs.

"Yes, we are." Harry replied.

"I forgot how cute you were." Pansy giggled as she disappeared on the second floor.

Harry groaned. He was ready for the day to be over already. The energy he had gained from short loss of consciousness earlier was fading. He could feel the fatigue as it pressed down on him. Harry trudged back up the stairs to his new room. Sleep sounded wonderful, even better than food. His feet dragged as he got to the third floor. He made it to his room and collapsed into a heap on the bed.

Thankfully, sleep came quick.

~§~§~§~

"Harry." Hermione gently called. "Harry, dinner is ready."

"Tired." He muttered back.

He could hear her approach. The bed sank as she sat beside him. He let out an involuntary sigh as she began to run her hands through his hair. His breathing became deep and slow. He could feel his entire body relaxing once more. In the wonderful state he lingered on the edge of consciousness.

"Are you awake?" Hermione whispered.

Harry didn't answer, he didn't want her to stop.

"Harry?" She tried again.

After a moment he felt her get off the bed. He almost let out a sound of protest when he heard the door close and her footsteps approach once more. She returned to running her fingers through his hair.

"I loved you." She whispered. "God, how much I loved you. It took losing you to realize it. I think Ron knew it too. We were both distraught when you died, but I mourned you like a widow."

The bed moved as she leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead.

"So many nights I imagined our life together." Her voice waivered. "Would you have been an auror? A Quidditch player? Could I convince to be the Defense Professor? You were such a good teacher."

Harry let her talk. Her fingers continued weave through his hair along his scalp which melted any energy he could muster.

"I still remember that time in the Burrow." Her voice took on a breathy tone. "You stood there with only a towel over your head. My God, I should have known then. I should have taken you then, right there on the floor of the bathroom."

Hermione stopped took her hand away. Harry groaned in protest.

"What am I doing?" She whispered to herself.

Her footsteps rushed back toward the door. He heard it open and close a moment later. Harry sat up. Things in his life were always complicated. Just not usually romantically. He guessed it was better than someone trying to kill him.

Harry stood and stretched. He'd figure it out after dinner. Better yet tomorrow. It had been a long day.