He woke up as he felt a hand caressing his face, his shoulders and his chest. He let himself enjoy the feeling for a bit longer before he opened his eyes, finding a smiling Millie at his side. "Slept well?" she asked.
"Better than last night," he smiled back at her. "And you?"
Her smile widened. "It was fabulous. I never knew I could enjoy sex so much. Most girls at school didn't really enjoy it, yet they knew that their boyfriends liked it. That first time, I thought it was just me who unexpectedly enjoyed it, or maybe you were exceptionally good at making love to me. Only when I got to know some other women, after leaving home, I found out that it was normal for women to like it just as much as men, but not all men knew how to make their mates enjoy it."
Harry was blushing at her compliment, yet she had some more to say.
"I also appreciate the way you let me sleep the whole night, taking care of my son for me."
"He's my son as well. Why shouldn't I care for him?"
Millie didn't answer. She just moved closer to him, pressing her naked body on his. There was no talking for some time, as they just enjoyed uniting again. It was all natural, with no awkwardness at all. They were still hugging tightly, calming down after reaching yet another peak, when they heard Charlus babbling softly in the adjacent room. They looked at each other and burst laughing.
\/\/\/\/\/
His phone rang soon after they finished breakfast. "Harry, I'd like to meet you this morning," Hermione said.
"With Ron as well?"
"No. Ron is going to help George at the shop. Where can we meet?"
Harry glanced through the window. The sky was clear blue and the sun was shining nicely. "We can meet at Hyde Park, near the speakers' corner, if you like."
"Isn't it a bit crowded there?"
"We could sit on a bench near the lake, or would you rather meet at Regent's park?"
"No. Hyde park would do. At ten?"
"Fine, at ten. I'd also like you to meet someone, if you don't mind."
"Oh... I think it's alright." She sounded a bit reluctant.
"Fine. I'll be there at ten."
He turned to Millie after hanging up. "Hermione wants to meet me, and I'd like to introduce her to Charlus and to his mother."
She was not so sure. "She doesn't have too good memories from the last time we met."
He smiled reassuringly at her. "I'm sure she will accept your apology, and Charlus is sure to find a way into her heart."
She smiled at that. "Fine, I'll come along."
\/\/\/\/\/
Hermione looked surprised when she found Harry sitting with a toddler playing on his knees. She gasped as the child lifted his eyes to her and she noticed their color. She paid no attention to the woman who was sitting on the adjacent bench and lazily watching the passers-by. "Your son?" she asked as she plopped down at his side.
"Yep!" he said, as the child turned around to get a better look at the young woman.
"But... how? When? With whom?"
Harry laughed, making Hermione blush. "I believe you already know how," he said bemusedly, only making her blush a bit harder. "It was just before our OWLs, fifth year."
Not minding the surprised look on Hermione's face, he turned to Millie, who was watching them attentively and beckoned her closer. She approached reluctantly.
"As for whom – you may remember Millie."
Hermione looked at the tall woman who now stood in front of her. The woman was as shapely as a top model, but she couldn't remember her face, although she was sure she'd seen her before.
Harry beckoned Millie to sit at his other side and then made the introductions. "Hermione, this is Millie, whom you've known as Millicent Bulstrode. Millie, you already know Hermione, now Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione looked suspiciously at Millie, yet shook her hand politely. "I didn't know there was something between you," she noted.
"There was nothing between us, at least for a short while," Millie said teasingly, making Hermione blush and Harry smile.
She then turned serious again. "I first must apologize to you, for how I acted the last time we were close. You see, my father was a Death Eater. Had I not joined the Inquisition Squad I would have been severely punished, and then, when Umbridge called us, I didn't know it concerned Harry and his friends until it was too late to refuse. I tried to do no more than I had to and not harm you, but I had to play my part. I hope you can understand and forgive me."
Hermione listened attentively and then nodded. "We all did some unthinkable deeds during the war. I can understand and forgive you, but care to tell me how you came together with Harry?"
He noticed Millie's discomfort. "The details are irrelevant. Suffice to say that we met one evening, did what gave us this child and parted. None of us expected anything from that short encounter."
Millie smiled thankfully at him before turning back to Hermione. "During the summer, I found out I was pregnant. My father disowned me, especially since I refused to say who was responsible. I then moved to muggle London, as the prices are much lower than in magical Britain. I didn't tell anybody. It was just by chance that we met, only a few days ago."
Hermione looked at them, noticing how close they seemed to be and the way Harry grabbed Millie's hand as soon as she sat at his side. She didn't need to be a seer to understand that they had probably been very close since they met. It was also evident that Harry was happy about it.
"That's a real surprise," she finally said. She then gave it another thought and smiled. "Will you come to the Borrow on Sunday?"
Harry could detect some mischief in her voice. "Are you sure it's a good idea?"
Hermione smiled reassuringly. "You've asked me to help take Ginny away from you, and there was not much I could do, now that I'm a Weasley as well. Then, if she sees you with your son and his mother, that may help change her mind. You see, she's too possessive to share, and having a son with Millie, you're bound to spend at least some time with him and his mother. I can't be sure, but that may help you. Besides, seeing how close you are with Millie, she may realize that you're already hooked."
"I'm not!" he protested.
"We've only met two days ago," Millie added.
"And you've been together since," Hermione stated as if it was a known fact. "I don't think Ginny has a chance any longer. Not that she had much chance to start with."
Both Harry and Millie blushed.
Charlus was squirming on Harry's lap. "I think he wants to get down. He likes running on the lawn," Harry told Hermione.
They all stood up, and Harry put the boy tenderly on his feet and held his hand lovingly as they all walked into the park, where the large green grass carpets attracted the toddler.
"You haven't introduced me to your son yet," Hermione noted as they walked.
"Oh, his name is Charlus. He's already saying a few words. He calls Millie 'Mama' and me 'Dada'. He can also say 'yes,' 'no,' and 'want.' I wonder how he's going to call you."
Before letting the toddler wander, Harry bent down for the introductions, as did Hermione. "Charlus, this young woman is my friend Hermione. Say hello to her."
The little boy looked at her apprehensively and then smiled widely. "Ony!" he said happily, making the adults smile.
Harry let go of his hand and motioned him to the grass. With a giggle, the boy ran forward. Hermione smiled fondly, seeing Harry hovering near the child. She then noticed Millie sitting on the nearest bench and beckoning her to her side. She shrugged and sat down.
"So, you wed Weasley?"
"We became an item during sixth year, when you were no longer at school. It was just natural for me to fall with either Harry or Ron. It turned out to be Ron."
"I would have expected it to be Harry, judging by how close you seemed to be."
Hermione smiled. "Our relationship turned out to be more brotherly, while Ron..."
Millie smiled. "Maybe it's for the best, at least for me. Now I have a chance with Harry."
"I think you have more than a chance. You have his son. Do you love Harry?"
Millie smiled kindly. "I think I fell in love with him during third year, although he didn't even notice me. It only turned worse as time passed, and with my father… I couldn't even contemplate becoming close with Harry, not that any other boy wanted me. You probably remember how I looked at the time..."
Hermione didn't comment. She didn't have any good memories from that time, concerning Millicent. Millie didn't seem to notice, as she continued talking, although she turned a bit embarrassed.
"Then, one evening at the end of our fifth year, I saw him wandering alone, not far from the Slytherin dorms. I used my position as a Squad member and led him to a storage room, where I cleared the floor and he conjured a bed, at my request. I then removed our clothes. It was the first time I let anybody see me nude. I thought he would be disgusted or appalled, but he wasn't. He even said I was attractive, and then proceeded to show me how attractive he found me. Evidently, none of us thought of possible results."
Hermione smiled understandingly. "Evidently."
"Well, I can never regret that evening, even if I never met Harry again. Now… I don't know..."
Hermione didn't respond immediately. She watched Harry helping Charlus to his feet, after tumbling down on the lawn. She suspected it was intentional, as the boy giggled too much for it to be an accident, yet didn't let Harry hug him for long, before squirming back to the grass.
"I think you don't need to try too hard," she said pensively.
"Have you been close since you met?" she added.
Millie blushed, but nodded, making Hermione smile again. "It looks like a sure bet that you'll be Mrs. Potter quite soon. Harry wouldn't have tried to introduce you if he didn't have feeling for you, even if he isn't completely aware of them."
The tall young woman looked reluctant. She'd really like that, but she didn't dare hope. Just spending the last two days at his side was more than she could have believed before.
Hermione seemed to understand. "Just come for the weekend meal. It may be tough at the beginning, but you'll see for yourself, I'm sure."
\/\/\/\/\/
After a while, Harry was getting tired from keeping Charlus safe. He grabbed the boy and let him sit on his shoulders while holding his hands firmly. It made both young women smile. Harry approached and sat down on the same bench, with his son still riding his shoulders. "You haven't told me what you wanted to speak about, before I surprised you," he said to Hermione.
She blushed slightly. "Yes. I wanted to speak with you about completing our education. McGonagall sent a letter to all those who were supposed to graduate on June, offering them to repeat the seventh year at no additional cost, so they can pass the NEWTs. I intend to do it, but Ron is still reluctant. He may be easier to persuade if you join us as well."
"Why didn't I get a letter?" Harry frowned.
"You probably got it at Grimmauld Place, where you were supposed to stay."
Harry felt a bit torn. He really wanted to gain his NEWTs, if only to prove that he could, yet he loathed the idea of distancing himself from his son.
"Do you think that I can be accepted as well?" Millie asked.
Hermione gave it a thought. "I suppose you can, but you probably need to take two years, as you missed your sixth year completely."
"I did get all my books and studied them as much as I could. I didn't practice, though, as I didn't want to attract any attention."
"Well, I want to go over all our sixth year studies, just to be ready. You may join me, if you like. What about you, Harry?"
He was still unsure. "It wouldn't harm to rehearse some, but I really wouldn't like to put any distance between me and my son."
Hermione felt like smiling at seeing how well she had assessed the situation. "I'm sure Millie can join us as well. You won't even need to use you 'war hero' status to persuade the headmistress."
"Well, in that case..."
As Harry also owned an apartment on Diagon Alley, they decided to use it for studying, starting on Monday. "I'm not sure if Ron will join us," Hermione noted. "He sometimes turns quite stubborn, you know." She then frowned as another thought ran through her mind. "Who will take care of Charlus while you study?"
"I think Kreacher may love it. It looks like I also own some more house elves, and one of them may do, if Kreacher proves unsuitable," Harry said.
"You own House Elves?" Hermione seemed appalled by the idea.
Harry looked apologetic. "I wasn't aware of this until I met Millie. She said I should check the Gringotts documents to find all about what I own. I've not met any of them yet."
"Make sure to treat them well!"
He smiled. "You know I will."