Harry rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "Daph, there are other ways to get pregnant."
"I have no interest in using those sorts of potions or rituals Harry and blood adoptions freak me out."
"I have no idea about anything you just said," he gave a rueful chuckle. "I was talking about Muggle means. I saw a program about it over the summer. They have treatments meant for couples who have trouble having kids but I imagine it'd be just as easy to use with two girls as long as you find a willing male donor." His face went a little red remembering that television show though he managed to keep the blush mostly in check.
"Hmm, you know that's not a bad idea. And there is always the old fashioned way if the donor understood that it was just a onetime thing…" Daphne eyed him and Harry suddenly felt uncomfortable, like he was a piece of meat.
"Err, Daph? Why are you looking at me like that?" His blush began to spread.
"No reason, Harry," she said grinning and patting his arm. "I was just considering your idea. Thank you for that by the way. It has some merit. It would also keep my father off my back long enough to see if the relationship could even work to begin with."
"Um, sure. Glad to help." He breathed a sigh of relief as Daphne turned back to the fire. When had a fire been lit anyway?
"You did. Harry," Daphne leaned over and gave him a short hug, pulling back almost before he even realized she had done it. "Thank you."
Harry walked through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor Common Room immediately spotting Hermione off in the corner curled up on her favorite armchair with book in hand. Taking a deep breath he muttered to himself, "Enough stalling. Gryffindors charge ahead."
"Hey, Hermione," he said as he walked up and dropped into the chair across from her.
"Hello, Harry." Hermione closed her book and put it off to the side turning to look at him. Harry noticed her eyes had a slight sheen to them and were a little red around the edges. "Were you really going to just leave once you had your new guardian?"
"What? What does that – " Harry cut off suddenly going wide eyed as he realized what Hermione had thought. "Oh god, no, Hermione, I was never going to just run off to a new school without saying anything! It was just an idle conversation we had and almost immediately discarded. If it had ever – or ever does – pan out, you will be one of the first people to know and I fully intend to invite you to come with!"
"Oh." She wiped a quick hand over the back of her eyes. "That's good. I…Harry, I know we've been fighting the past few days, but I don't want you to leave. You were my first real friend. You're my best friend. I don't think I'd enjoy Hogwarts without you here…"
"Hermione," Harry reached out a hand and grasped hers. "You're my best friend too. I can't imagine going through the crazy things in my life without you. I…" He took a deep breath and kept going, "Hermione, I'm really sorry about what I said and how I acted earlier. I felt horrible afterwards and I know I screwed up. You were just looking out for me and I completely brushed you off. I've been trying to figure out a way to apologize with some sort of grand gesture but I just keep coming up blank."
"Harry, you don't need to do that. I was wrong too," she said giving him a small smile. "You do do excellent work with your rune clusters. I just feel like you are headed for trouble if you don't work on other things besides that."
"I know. And after I thought about it I think you're right. I have been neglecting my spells because runes are so much easier for me. I barely even have to work at those and it was…nice finding something I was good at," he shrugged. "I can't promise that I'm going to stop concentrating on building the clusters but I can promise that I make sure I can do the spells they are based on before relying on my inventions."
"I think that's a perfectly reasonable compromise, Harry."
He nodded. "Thanks. Okay, now for the hard stuff…"
"Oh?" she cocked her head looking intrigued. "That wasn't hard?"
"Not compared to this," he muttered. "I gave Daphne some advice that I'm going to try to follow myself. At least I think I did. Maybe. It was a very confusing conversation for me." He shook his head to clear out the errant thoughts. "Anyway, the point is, Hermione, you're my best friend. And I – I'd like to maybe try to be more than that. When you were hurt last year I lost it. The things beforehand pushed me but when you got it hurt it was like the world ground to a halt. I've been thinking about that over the summer and I – well I don't really know exactly what love is. The Dursleys definitely were not a role model there. But I've been learning since I came here. And while I'm not sure if I love you or not I do know that I feel more for you than just as a friend." Harry paused for and then rushed on so fast the words blended together. "AndIwaswonderingifyou'dgotoHogsmeadewithmeandmaybebemygirlfriend."
Hermione blinked and stared at him for a moment. "Harry, before I reply to any of the rest…would you mind repeating that last sentence? Usually I'm the one talking too fast to understand."
Harry gave a rueful chuckle and ran a hand through his hair. "I was wondering if you'd go to Hogsmeade with me and maybe be my girlfriend." His face was burning and he was horribly glad he didn't have a mirror. He probably had the same amount of color as the Weasleys' hair.
"Harry, look at me," Hermione said. Slowly Harry lifted his eyes to her face. He was surprised to see that she was smiling widely. "I have been interested in you since you jumped on the back of a troll to save me."
"You – wait – what?"
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