Hermione woke up slightly confused. It took her a moment to remember where she was at. Harry's room. The potion. Every detail came rushing back and she blushed remembering everything that the two of them had done during the night all because she had to follow him up her and proclaim her love for him. She felt Harry's arm draped across her waist and his chest against her back. His even breathing told her that he was still asleep. In all actuality she should still be asleep herself since she had precious little of it during the night. He had worshiped her body and soul, making sure that every caress, every touch was gentle and soft. She had never felt so cherished. Turning over she saw Harry as she rarely saw him, peaceful and content. She wanted to see that look for the rest of their lives. She smiled to herself as she remembered how Harry wouldn't let her help him with the effects of the potion until she agreed to marry him as soon as possible. He refused to let anything else happen, until she agreed and made a vow to do so. Then he let some of his control slip.
She also realized that Harry was no virgin, unlike herself. He seemed to know what to do, where to touch her, and how to sooth her pain that first time. He certainly didn't learn that from a book. She did remember him saying that he wouldn't give into lust again. That statement had answered a couple of question, but raised different ones.
Something else that Hermione realized was that the talks with her mother did and did not prepare her for her first time. Her mother had told her about the pain and all the other information, giving her books to read since that was how she learned best. But her mother didn't explain the feelings. The feeling of Harry touching her, kissing her, making her want to do things that she had never even thought possible. She figured that either her mother was too embarrassed to talk about it, or that she didn't know how to describe it into words. In that respect Hermione understood. She certainly didn't know how to.
Hermione sighed and snuggled up against Harry, trying to go back to sleep. A shrill cry from one of the other rooms wouldn't stop. Curious as to what was making such a racket, Hermione got up and put on Harry's robe. Looking to see that Harry was still asleep, Hermione quietly left the room in search of the cry. The sound was coming from another room off of Harry's common room. She opened the door and saw a….. nursery?
Stepping into the room, she saw that it was indeed a nursery, complete with a baby who was crying. Hermione went over and picked it up. The baby stopped crying almost at once. It seemed just as curious about Hermione as she was about it. Messy black hair and bright emerald green eyes stared right back at her. This was Harry's child. This had to be the other secret that he was going to tell her about. The baby started to whimper, bringing Hermione back to reality. Moving over to the changing table, Hermione put her limited babysitting skill to work and changed the baby's diaper. Harry had a son! That thought kept going through her mind as she finished dressing the baby. He wasn't a new born, that much she knew, but he wasn't a year yet. She placed the baby to her shoulder and turned around. There standing in the doorway was Harry.
"I didn't want you to find out about Michael just yet. I wanted to tell you myself. I suppose he needed changing?"
"Yes, he was making quite a racket."
"Yeah, he never does anything quiet. I suppose you want to know everything about him?"
"It might make my living here helpful."
"But it will have to wait until after breakfast. He's as bad as Ron if he doesn't eat in a reasonable amount of time. You're probably hungry as well" said Harry blushing.
"I believe that I have worked up quite an appetite." Harry blushed even more. He came over to take Michael from her but the little imp refused to let go of his new friend.
"It seems that Michael has other ideas. Like father like son it would seem." Hermione grinned at the baby, who grinned at her. Harry was experiencing mixed feelings. On one side he was happy that his son found Hermione acceptable but on the other side this was the first time he had refused to have Harry hold him. He moved out of the way so that Hermione and Michael could go into the other room where Dobby was setting up breakfast. As he watched Hermione with his son he realized how glad he was that Hermione had discovered his secret about Michael. He had been afraid that she had discovered the baby when he woke up and saw that she wasn't there. He had jumped out of bed, found some pants before beginning his search for her. To find her in the nursery, changing Michael filled him with such contentment that he never wanted to leave.
Dobby and Winky were placing breakfast on the table when they went back into the main room. Hermione placed Michael in his high chair and sat down beside him. It was Harry, however, who fed his son. Michael enjoyed his food and laughed at his daddy for trying to actually get the spoon in his mouth. He was showing off for his new friend.
Hermione had never seen Harry so patient and understanding as he was with his son. Not only was the baby trying to avoid the spoon that Harry was trying to get in his mouth, laughing, but he was also trying to pick up food from the table and put it into his mouth. A piece of apple landed on Harry's cheek, causing Michael to giggle. Hermione saw two little teeth as she tried to hold back her own giggle.
"You better eat something before this little imp eats everything on the table. He's a bottomless pit", said Harry, as he cleaned his face. As Hermione ate her french toast, she watched as Harry continued to place bite sized pieces in front of the baby, sneaking in a bite here and there. It was something that they obviously did often. Hermione had never seen anything so cute in her life.
As soon as Michael was done, meaning he started dropping his food on the floor instead of in his mouth, Winky took him into the nursery to clean him up. Harry explained everything about Michael and what they had been doing all summer, including Grimmauld Place. Dobby revealed the secret so that she could go there if needed.
"Are there any other secrets that you haven't shared with me?"
"You mean like how I have already taken my NEWTS and passed? Or how I can do wandless magic up to most of the fifth year spells, including the Patronus Charm?"
"YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN YOUR NEWTS?!"
"Yeah."
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! WHY ARE YOU HERE THEN?"
Harry told her how the school wouldn't open unless he was there and how McGonagall had practically begged him to return. "Besides it's the safest place for Michael." As he was talking he noticed that Hermione would grimace every once in a while and shift in her chair. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Nothing that a good soak in the bath won't cure."
Harry got up from the table and went into the bath off his room and started the water. He returned, picked Hermione up in his arms, and carried her into the bath.
"Your bath, m'Lady."
Hermione giggled. "Thank you sir knight. I believe that I can handle everything from her."
Harry set her feet down and kissed her gently. "Take all the time you need. I have something else to show you when you're done."
"And what would that be?"
"After your bath." Harry left the room to take his own shower in Michael's room, stopping only to ask Winky to pack up Hermione's stuff and move it all up here. Hermione took off Harry's robe and climbed into the tub, sighing in relaxation." Harry must have added some relaxation and healing potions to the water", Hermione thought to herself. Whatever he added it made all of her aches and pains disappear. An hour later Hermione emerged from the bath and saw a set of her own clothes on the bed.
Harry was playing with Michael in the baby's room, talking to him. "Well what do you think of your new mama?" The baby giggled. "Yeah, I think that she's pretty special too."
"I'm glad that the two men in my life think that I am special."
"Well we Potter men know a good thing when we see it. As for the women in our lives, we only want the best for us." The baby babbled his agreement. Both teens laughed.
Hermione was dying to ask a question since she had heard Harry mention something. "Did you say that you could do wandless magic through most of fifth year spells?"
Harry looked embarrassed. "Um, yeah."
"The boy is actually pretty good", said a new voice.
Hermione looked around trying to find the person who had spoken, finding no one. "Who said that?"
"That would be the busy body. He also goes by the name of Godric Gryffindor."
"You have Godric Gryffindor's portrait, here?"
"These were his chambers when he taught here. So, yes, his portrait is here." Harry led Hermione over to the portrait and introduced her to his ancestor. To say that Hermione was gobsmacked would be an understatement. She was speechless.
"Leave us alone, boy. I want to get to know my newest granddaughter in-law without you hanging around."
"Don't trust what he says, Hermione. He's been waiting for someone new to talk to and has a habit of stretching the truth a bit", said Harry teasingly. "He's trying to impress you."
"You watch yourself, young man, or I'll be telling on you next."
Harry laughed and left the two alone to talk. Hermione learned a great deal about the men of the Gryffindor/Potter families. The one thing she realized was that they were loyal and faithful until their dying day.