RP: Birthday Dinner

[shh_harry]

Date: 27 September 2005
Characters: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Roger Davies
Location: Hermione and Roger's house
Status: Private
Summary: Harry spends the evening with Hermione and Roger to celebrate her birthday
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_hermione]

It had been an awful week. Fortunately, it was nearly over. Only two days left before Sunday, which had taken on a new meaning recently as being a 'day of rest'. Even with Ron helping out part-time and Lee working, the press required a lot of attention and it was more physical work, if only due to the spellwork and movement necessary. Hermione liked creating something, but she was fast approaching a point where she knew she'd have to make some difficult decisions regarding all the stress and work in her life right now.

For now, all she could do was make the best of a difficult situation and utilize the help she had at the shop. Despite wishing this Quidditch nonsense had never happened, she did hope that Ron got an opportunity to play and did well because she knew it was important to him. Still, she was tired more often than not lately and her temper had become slightly more short, which wasn't fair to Roger at all. It was surprising that he hadn't told her off yet for being a cranky bitch, so she was trying to make an effort to relax as much as possible so work wouldn't interfere with their relationship.

Harry was having dinner with them tonight, so Roger had offered to cook with an excuse that it gave her time to spend with Harry. While she did believe that was part of the reason, she also knew he was worried she was working too much and it was a way to force her to let him do something. In this case, she didn't mind so much. She couldn't really remember the last time she'd seen Harry, but she figured it must have been before he went to India when she'd given him his birthday gifts. That was too long, but she spent most her time at work or at home, and he had a life of his own.

When she heard the knock on the door, she slid off the stool in the kitchen and kissed Roger's cheek before she went to let Harry in. She opened the door and smiled. "Evening, Harry. Come on in."

[shh_harry]

"Hallo, Hermione!" Harry leaned down to kiss Hermione's cheek, and then gave her a warm hug. He followed her into the house, looking around admiringly.

"This place looks amazing," he said. "It looks like you." He reached out and squeezed her hand lightly. Hermione looked stressed and tired out, and Harry wondered just how many hours she was working in a week. She had two jobs, he knew, and she always pushed herself hard. He didn't want to upset her by telling her how tired she looked, but he chided himself mentally for letting so much time go by without seeing her. He barely had time for anything but sleep himself these days, but he made a mental promise to come by more often and help her out when she needed it.

[shh_hermione]

She returned Harry's hug and then stepped aside so he could enter the house. At his words, she smiled. "Thank you. We worked on it for weeks, but it was certainly worth the effort. I really love how it turned out."

"Would you like a brief tour? It won't take too long, but I can show off my surprise for Roger and force you to sit in my library for a bit," she said. "Roger's making dinner and said he'd give a shout when it's ready. If you prefer, we could just sit and have a glass of wine instead."

[shh_harry]

"I was just about to ask for a tour," Harry said. He took a deep sniff. "And I thought I smelled something good. I was going to chide you if you were the one cooking-- you're not supposed to cook for your own birthday celebration." Of course, his birthday dinner had consisted of samosas, tandoori goat meat, and jalebi in Uttar Pradesh.

"I'd be shocked if you didn't have a library for me to sit in," he teased good-naturedly. "That would be a good place for me to give you your birthday gift, actually."

[shh_hermione]

"Well, my birthday celebration was last Wednesday, on my birthday," she reminded him. "Roger picked up pizza and garlic bread from Roma before he came home, as it's what we had on one of our first dates." She smiled slightly and glanced towards the kitchen before she focused on Harry.

"How have you been? You look tired but happy, which is a better combination than tired and stressed." She studied him a moment and smiled wryly. "It's funny how much people can change over just a few months. I used to know you so well and now there's always something different and new to learn again."

"Did you wish to start with the library or do you want to go upstairs first?"

[shh_harry]

"Details," Harry said. "This is also your birthday celebration. You're allowed more than one, you know." He caught the expression on her face as she mentioned Roger. It was similar to the smile he saw on Roger's whenever his boss was thinking of Hermione. It gave Harry a funny little ache to see. The two of them were so happy together, and clearly so right for each other. Harry was happy for them, but he also felt as he used to, so many years before when he'd thought that Hermione and Ron would fall in love. It made him wonder about himself, where he fit in, and if he would ever find someone who would look at him like that.

"Well, it keeps life interesting, doesn't it? You of all people like to learn new things," he said. "A lot's happened over the last little while. I sometimes don't even recognize myself. I almost never have panic attacks anymore, for starters, so that's more than brilliant." He looked around. "It's your home. You lead and I'll follow. I want to hear all about you this last little while, too."

[shh_hermione]

"Am I? It's odd since I can't even recall the last one I did have," she murmured, reaching up to push her hair back from her face. Harry grew quiet and looked thoughtful, but she resisted the urge to pry and ask what he was thinking. If he wanted to share, he would. Otherwise, it would just lead to an uncomfortable row.

"I like to learn new things, but I never expected that I'd have to include my best friend in such a category." She shrugged and then listened. "I'm glad the panic attacks have gone. Are you sleeping any better? I am consistently, though there are still nights when I wake...well, anyway, I suppose that's just a consequence of what we had to do, so there's little use in whining about it."

"We'll go upstairs first, I think, so we can end in the library and have a drink while waiting for dinner, if it's not ready yet," she decided. She led him to the staircase and started walking up. "All about me? That's going to be a short conversation, I'm afraid. I've worked, renovated the house, moved in, worked more, and spent a little time with Ron and more time with Roger whenever I can. Did you enjoy your holiday?"

[shh_harry]

"That's wonderful, Hermione," he murmured. he knew how bad her nights had been a year ago. "I think there'll always been nights when we wake like that... I don't think there's any way to really get past and around it. We just need to lean to live with it. I think you picked that lesson up more quickly than I did."

He followed her up the staircase, raising an eyebrow at her summary of events. She changed the subject from her own life quickly, and that fed the little ball of worry that had flared to life in his chest. She was working too hard. That was Hermione, of course, be it staying up all night studying for twice the number of classes as anyone else or working multiple jobs to make a life for herself. He just wished there was something he could do to help.

"I see a bit more of Ron too, now. I don't know if you heard, but I'm filling in the place of Reserve Seeker on the national Quidditch team until Katie can find someone better suited for it," he said. "Which is why I'm a wee bit stiff right now--" underexaggeration of the century-- "and walking a bit funny. It's so good to see Ron on a regular basis, and so many other people we went to school with, not to mention some really big names playing too."

Taking his cue from her, he let the subject be changed away from her life. For now, anyway. "India is maybe my favourite place in the world to visit," he said, and then laughed. "Not that I've been on any proper holiday anywhere else for comparison. I spent a lot of time in the north, though, and prowled my way through some incredibly cities and villages. Every single day was different, and every day reinforced what living is all about. Even the not-so-stellar moments." The pickpockets that Harry had hexed, for example. Or the gastrointestinal discomfort. "I picked up a bit of some of the languages, enough to ask for food and directions to the loo anyway. It was what I needed to do to come to grips with everything that we went through."

[shh_hermione]

"It doesn't matter how fast one learns the lesson so long as the lesson is eventually learned," she said simply. She glanced at him. "Can you believe it's been nearly a year? Ron and I were talking about it recently, and it almost seems surreal, in a way."

When they reached the second floor landing, she started down the hall towards the media room and guest bedroom. "I hadn't heard that you were part of the team. I'm surprised Ron didn't mention it, since he'd worked for ages before try outs and has been practicing a lot every day. I've heard about all that, but he never said you were at try outs. Weren't they while you were away?" She paused. "I'm afraid that I haven't really kept up with any of that Quidditch stuff beyond what Ron's told me. I'm sure he's enjoying the chance to renew your friendship. I know he's missed you since we've been in town."

When he talked about India, she remembered their time there. It had been full of research and worry, fear and tension. Not the most pleasant of memories to associate with his talk about proper holidays. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm hoping to make time soon for a proper holiday myself, something that is more than an overnight stay somewhere or a two day trip." She smiled. "I'm also happy that you've finally found a way through everything."

"This is the surprise that I arranged for Roger, with Zach's help. It's a media room, so he can watch his telly and such," she explained as she opened the door and led Harry inside.

[shh_harry]

Harry had felt the year dragging by all too keenly, all the long days and sleepless nights as he adjusted to the idea that he wasn't going to die any time soon, that the threat was over, and that he could begin a normal, grown-up life. It was only now, when he found himself with a reason to smile every day, that life was speeding up to real time once more.

"Quidditch was never one of your interests, was it," he said, not really asking. "I was in town for the try-outs, but I couldn't make myself go to them. It was ridiculous, but it was what made me realise I needed to get over my fear of groups and crowds. I think it's really the reason I went away to detoxify and readjust. When I got back, I knew I wanted to be part of it somehow. Quidditch is in my blood and always has been. So I stopped by to visit Katie Bell and see if she needed any help or an equipment manager or anything, and she told me how desperate she was for a reserve Seeker. They had no one at all." He chuckled. "I'm nowhere near the level of the others-- not yet, anyway. There hasn't been a day since I joined up that I haven't practiced for hours and it's slowly coming back."

He shook his head. "I told Katie to keep looking for a proper reserve Seeker-- I'm just there for her until and if someone better can take my place. It's been so incredible, but my god, I'm out of shape for it. Look." He lifted the hem of his shirt, showing her some of the spectacularly blotchy bruises on his ribcage. "What I'm really very bad at is paying attention to the bludgers."

He stepped into the room and laughed with delightful. "Wicked! Do you have cable access here? Does he have those-- Um, I sound like I'm not Muggleborn, I don't remember. They look like CDs but for movies. I should bring over some Bollywood classics! I watched a lot of Indian cinema over the summer."

[shh_hermione]

While Harry talked about Quidditch, Hermione listened and nodded. Katie must have needed someone desperately if she'd offered it to Harry without a try out. True, Harry had been amazing back at Hogwarts, but that was a lot of years ago, and Ron was even having trouble after practicing for weeks. "It must be very difficult," she said, looking at his ribs. "Not that you were out of shape, but it's been years since you've played. I admire you and Ron for taking the time and effort to do the practices and try."

"Cable?" She frowned and shook her head. "I don't think we do. He has a telly and a film player. It's called a DVD, and a nice salesclerk helped me purchase various films. There's also a wireless and CD player. I had to take on an assignment to get the money to pay for it all, but the look on his face made it all worth it." She smiled. "I'm not sure what Bollywood is, but Roger would probably welcome the company."

[shh_harry]

"I know. Katie took me up for a sort of private try-out. Jocelyn, the first-string Seeker, is jawdroppingly good. It takes everything in me to even approximate keeping up with her, but I'm better than having no one for her to practice with, I s'pose. It's kind of... this might sound stupid, but I like not being the best. Not even being mediocre, in this group. I've never had to work so hard for anything. I mean, my first year, McGonagall just handed me the Seeker position, 11 years old and no experience or training whatsoever, and from then on it was always expected that I would do well or be the best or whatever. Now, though, I really have to prove myself, and even after all the practice I do, I'm not as good as the others. And it makes me want to work that much harder, to catch up." He smiled fondly. "You'd be so proud of Ron, though. Whatever he says, he's absolutely brilliant."

He wandered around the room, lightly touching the interesting looking devices. "These are worlds away from what Dudley used to have, and back then everything he had was the best of the best. He loved his telly and his computer most, I think. Like shooting aliens and things when he wasn't stuffing his face." Uncharitable, maybe, but true. "I don't suppose proper television channels could get into a magical community. DVDs, though, that's the ticket. I should find some Bollywood films for you two-- it's Indian cinema and it's very different than British or North American movies but they're bloody brilliant." Harry wasn't sure if dropping by to watch them himself with Hermione and Roger would be odd, though. Roger was his boss and he didn't think fraternizing was the best idea. Boss/employee friendships could so often end in strained relations or just plain awkwardness.

"What sort of extra assignment?" he asked, eager to hear more about what she'd been doing recently.

[shh_hermione]

"Are they? I was rather thrifty and browsed a few places before finding the best sales. I wanted to surprise Roger, but there's certainly no need to pay extra money for something that is just as good as something that costs less," she said. "I'm glad that it turned out to be decent items, though, because I felt rather ridiculous with my lack of knowledge, especially considering that I'm Muggleborn."

She smiled. "I'm sure it's lovely. If you have one, we'd certainly watch it." She didn't bother to remind him that she wasn't really a fan of cinema, in general, because she'd give it a try if Harry thought it was brilliant.

"Oh, just some editing work for a publisher in Barcelona," she told him. "They get English-language manuscripts sometimes, and he'd asked me about taking on assignments for them when I visited the company a few months ago. It required working at night and in the morning before work, but it was relatively easy, so it wasn't a bad way to make some extra money. I'm glad I had the house done and those assignments finished before Ron had to cut back his hours, though."

[shh_harry]

"I can see you being a great editor," Harry mused. "I should ask for a cut in your profits, really, as it was all the proofreading you did for Ron and me that probably made you good at it."

He couldn't help the crinkle in his brow from forming and he touched her shoulder lightly. "Just how much sleep are you getting lately?" he asked. He knew he wasn't getting enough either, trying to cram in as much practice and work as possible into each day-- poor Cocoa was in a right sulk at being left out so much-- but he worried that she was overworking herself.

[shh_hermione]

"Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot of profit in it." She snorted. "It's my favorite part of Vanateigh, though, even if it requires me to read utter rubbish that I'd never choose to read my own. There are far too many romance novels in this world, I swear."

When Harry touched her shoulder, she looked at him. "I'm getting more than I did when we first arrived here. I've just had to begin working more hours so Ron can practice for Quidditch. It's not going to be permanent, thankfully, so I've just had to adjust my schedule again to be able to run the business end of the press and bookshop as well as work the actual press, too."

She smiled. "I have a very capable full time employee at Bookworm, at least, who can handle a lot of the actual shop duties. I'm also still doing the books for the animal shelter, which I just try to work on during the morning when I first arrive at work, usually while I drink coffee and watch the sunrise. You don't need to worry, though. Roger worries enough for several people."

[shh_harry]

"Aren't Spanish romances especially randy, too?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at her before turning serious once more.

"If you ever need to steal me for help, you have some sway with my boss," he said. Knowing Roger, he imagined that that was very true. He didn't think Roger would let Hermione work herself to death-- if he could help it, that was. Hermione wasn't one to be told what to do when she put her mind to something.

He reached into the birthday bag he'd brought for her and handed her a small package. "Here, time for part one of your gift, as it seems apt. It's wizarding jalebi. Sort of like our butterbeer-- it's sweet and utterly delicious, but it also helps to warm you up and fortify you. Kind of melts away bad moods and stress."