I am a squishy football (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} jacyevans) wrote in ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} fanfict00bs,@ 2007-06-25 17:16:00 |
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Happy Monday!
Title: The Missing Letter (or How Brian Potter Saved the Day)
Rating: PG
Pairing: H/Hr
Count: 1789
Summary: It's Ariel Potter's eleventh birthday, but for some reason, she still hasn't gotten her Hogwarts letter. A look into the life of Harry and Hermione and their two children.
A/N: After reading a lot of angst in the past few days, I needed something fluffy and light-hearted, so I hope you all enjoy this :)
Ariel Potter bounced on her heels as she stared at the fireplace in her sitting room. She hadn’t moved for at least two hours unless it was to peek around the corner out the window to see if the noises coming from outside were something important. Then, she would run right back to her place in front of the mantle again.
Hermione had passed her daughter at least six times in the past few hours, and couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face each time she caught a glance at Ariel’s waiting eyes. This last time she walked through the room, a basket of clothes in her hands, she let out a little laugh as Ariel stuck her head up the fireplace, just to make sure there wasn’t anything stuck up there that she should know about. Her younger brother, Brian, who had just walked into the room, was following suit, even though she was sure he had no idea why they would have their heads in the chimney.
“What you lookin’ for?” She heard Brian ask quietly, peering at his sister as if it was some sort of secret.
Ariel’s face fell and she flopped down on the floor with a sigh. “Nothing, Brian.”
Brian cocked his head to the side, silent for a moment, before he asked, “Wanna play Exploding Snap?”
Ariel sounded dejected as she responded, “Sure.”
Hermione shook her head as she walked past her children into the kitchen, where her husband was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea and reading that morning’s edition of The Daily Prophet.
Harry didn’t look up from his reading as he asked, “She still looking for her letter in the fireplace?”
Hermione giggled. “She hasn’t moved from that spot all morning. I don’t think it’s dawned on her that she’d probably be better off checking with the owls. Brian’s trying to get her mind off her troubles with a game of Exploding Snap.” Harry let out a quiet little laugh, his eyes still on the paper.
Hermione took the few moments Harry was distracted as an opportunity to watch him. Even after being married for fourteen years, there were days she woke up and looked over in disbelief that he was really lying there next to her, that he really loved her, that he was really hers till death do them part.
Harry glanced up and caught her staring at him. He arched an eyebrow. “What?”
Hermione shook herself and put down the basket she was holding. “Nothing.” She smiled and leaned over to give him a kiss. “Just reminiscing is all.”
“Mhm,” Harry kissed her again, this one lasting a lot longer than the last. He trailed his mouth from her lips, down her shoulder, and Hermione closed her eyes, a slow grin crossing her face.
“Harry, the kids are in the other room,” she said, even as she ran one of her hands through his hair.
As if on cue, the sound of children’s laughter filled the air, and both Harry and Hermione grinned even wider. “I don’t think we need to worry about them,” Harry said leering, kissing Hermione’s forehead, before leaning down to kiss her, quite passionately, again.
“Well,” she said, his lips still close to hers, “as much as I would love to stay in here with you, why don’t we help get our daughter’s mind off the letter she’s expecting.” She inclined her head towards the other room.
Harry sighed dramatically before letting go of Hermione’s waist. “Oh alright, go get Ariel’s gifts from the bedroom. But don’t think you’re going to get away that easily later.” He winked at her.
“I’m counting on it,” she threw over her shoulder, giving him a smoldering glance as she left the room.
---
As Ariel opened her final gift, a personalized quill and parchment set from her parents, she couldn’t help the slight sigh that slipped her lips.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. “What’s wrong, Ariel?” Hermione asked, reaching a hand over to grab Ariel’s new Wizard Chess pieces, her gift from Uncle Ron, which Brian had been trying to grab to look at on the sly. Brian simply crossed his arms and pouted.
Ariel looked down at the stationary set in her hands. “You got me this pretty parchment set.”
“You don’t like it?” Harry asked softly, sitting down on the floor next to his daughter.
She stared down at it as she spoke. “You bought it for me… like I would be going somewhere. So that I could send you letters.” She wrung her hands together, tears beginning to fill her eyes. “But I’m not going anywhere.”
Brian chose that moment to stand up and wander around the room, glimpsing at Ariel’s new gifts longingly. Hermione glanced at him quickly. When she was sure he wasn’t getting into any mischief, she turned back to Ariel. “Honey… you just turned eleven this morning. It’s barely evening now. Give it some time.”
Brian was getting closer to the owl’s perches next to Hermione’s desk. Harry was about to say something to him when Brian turned away from them suddenly. “Daddy got a letter before he turned eleven,” Ariel started, and Harry turned his attention back to Ariel. “And Maggie’s letter was on her pillow! She told me; Uncle Ron left it there for her when she woke up in the morning. There was no letter for me when I woke up this morning.” Ariel shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe they just don’t want me.”
Brian ran over and tugged on Harry’s shirt. “Daddy,” he said quietly.
“Honey, you know that’s not true,” Hermione said, brushing Ariel’s hair away from her face.
“Daddy,” Brian said a little louder, now tugging on any part of Harry’s clothing he could reach.
“You know Professor McGonagall loves you – why wouldn’t you be invited to Hogwarts, hmm?” Harry said, trying to ignore the little fists tugging at him.
“Daddy!” Brian screamed excitedly, sticking himself between Harry and Ariel so that his father had no choice but to pay attention to him.
“Brian, could you please stop for just a minute!” Hermione yelled, frustrated.
“This is import-“ The words died on Harry’s lips as he noticed the piece of paper clutched in Brian’s little fist. Ariel chose that moment to look up, and when she saw the same piece of paper, a look of hope crossed her face.
Brian held out the slip of paper to Ariel. “This is for you. Happy Birthday!” he said with a smile.
Ariel took the letter from Brian with shaky hands. Brian clutched his own hands behind his back and rocked back and forth with a grin on his face. Harry and Hermione watched as Ariel broke the seal on the envelope.
Everything was quiet while she pulled the out letter slowly, and read the first few lines. Hermione finally leaned forward while Harry waited with baited breath for the answer to the question they were sure they already knew the answer to, but wanted to hear from Ariel’s lips. “What does it say, Ariel?” Hermione said quietly.
“Dear Miss Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” Ariel looked up from the letter slowly, a smile blooming across her face. Suddenly the spell was broken, and she jumped up. “I’m going to Hogwarts!”
“Yay!” Brian yelled, giving his sister a hug. Soon, he was spinning around the room with her and laughing.
The two of them danced happily around the room, Hermione and Harry laughing as they watched.
---
Hermione tucked Ariel into bed, kissing her on the forehead. “Goodnight, love,” she whispered. Ariel simply rolled over in her sleep. Hermione smiled when she noticed she’d put her letter under her pillow.
Harry was already sitting on the bed in his pajamas, his back against the headboard, legs stretched out in front of him, when she entered their bedroom. His arms were casually draped behind his head.
Hermione smirked, eyebrows raised. “You look comfortable.”
Harry shrugged, but then hopped off the bed to come and slip his arms around her from behind. She pressed back into him and sighed as he laid a kiss against her neck. She tried to pull away from him so that she could change into her own nightclothes, but Harry just pulled her closer. “Tsk tsk, Mrs. Potter, I told you it wouldn’t be that easy to get away from me tonight. “
Hermione turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck so that she could look up into his face. “What exactly did you have in mind?” she asked coyly.
“Well, I was thinking I would kiss you, take off your clothes, and then ravish you, if that’s quite alright with you.” He grinned at her, a look in his eyes that was meant only for her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes, that’s quite alright with me.” She sobered a bit suddenly.
Harry noticed the change in her demeanor. He brushed a piece of hair out of her face and said, “What’s wrong, love?”
“It’s just that…” She sighed. “I’m so proud of Ariel. I really am. But…” Here, she faltered and had to take a breath before she said, a bit quietly, “Is it selfish of me not to want her to go?”
Harry kissed her forehead. “No, love, it’s not selfish. It’s going to be a bit empty without Ariel here. Brian’s happy for her now, but I know him – he’s going to mope around for weeks without his big sister around. But we’ll all get through it, together.” Harry had to crack a smile as he said, eyes twinkling, “Plus, think of all the mischief she’ll be getting into. McGonagall loves her now, but eventually, she’ll remember what it means to have a Potter at Hogwarts.”
Hermione had to laugh at that. “I can see all the letters home already. And as long as she keeps up her grades, a little mischief now and again is fine with me. Remember, she’s part Granger too.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Of course. How could I forget?” It was his turn now to be suddenly serious. “I love you, you know that?”
Hermione nodded. “Of course. And I love you, too. “She kissed him, and then her eyes took on a little mischief of their own. Pulling him towards the bed, she said playfully, “Now, about that plan to ravish me…”
Harry took that as an opportunity to pounce on her, knocking her onto the bed as she laughed. The laughter quickly turned into a gasp as he kissed her.
Suffice to say, the plan went off without a hitch.
~Fin
Title: The Missing Letter (or How Brian Potter Saved the Day)
Rating: PG
Pairing: H/Hr
Count: 1789
Summary: It's Ariel Potter's eleventh birthday, but for some reason, she still hasn't gotten her Hogwarts letter. A look into the life of Harry and Hermione and their two children.
A/N: After reading a lot of angst in the past few days, I needed something fluffy and light-hearted, so I hope you all enjoy this :)
Ariel Potter bounced on her heels as she stared at the fireplace in her sitting room. She hadn’t moved for at least two hours unless it was to peek around the corner out the window to see if the noises coming from outside were something important. Then, she would run right back to her place in front of the mantle again.
Hermione had passed her daughter at least six times in the past few hours, and couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face each time she caught a glance at Ariel’s waiting eyes. This last time she walked through the room, a basket of clothes in her hands, she let out a little laugh as Ariel stuck her head up the fireplace, just to make sure there wasn’t anything stuck up there that she should know about. Her younger brother, Brian, who had just walked into the room, was following suit, even though she was sure he had no idea why they would have their heads in the chimney.
“What you lookin’ for?” She heard Brian ask quietly, peering at his sister as if it was some sort of secret.
Ariel’s face fell and she flopped down on the floor with a sigh. “Nothing, Brian.”
Brian cocked his head to the side, silent for a moment, before he asked, “Wanna play Exploding Snap?”
Ariel sounded dejected as she responded, “Sure.”
Hermione shook her head as she walked past her children into the kitchen, where her husband was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea and reading that morning’s edition of The Daily Prophet.
Harry didn’t look up from his reading as he asked, “She still looking for her letter in the fireplace?”
Hermione giggled. “She hasn’t moved from that spot all morning. I don’t think it’s dawned on her that she’d probably be better off checking with the owls. Brian’s trying to get her mind off her troubles with a game of Exploding Snap.” Harry let out a quiet little laugh, his eyes still on the paper.
Hermione took the few moments Harry was distracted as an opportunity to watch him. Even after being married for fourteen years, there were days she woke up and looked over in disbelief that he was really lying there next to her, that he really loved her, that he was really hers till death do them part.
Harry glanced up and caught her staring at him. He arched an eyebrow. “What?”
Hermione shook herself and put down the basket she was holding. “Nothing.” She smiled and leaned over to give him a kiss. “Just reminiscing is all.”
“Mhm,” Harry kissed her again, this one lasting a lot longer than the last. He trailed his mouth from her lips, down her shoulder, and Hermione closed her eyes, a slow grin crossing her face.
“Harry, the kids are in the other room,” she said, even as she ran one of her hands through his hair.
As if on cue, the sound of children’s laughter filled the air, and both Harry and Hermione grinned even wider. “I don’t think we need to worry about them,” Harry said leering, kissing Hermione’s forehead, before leaning down to kiss her, quite passionately, again.
“Well,” she said, his lips still close to hers, “as much as I would love to stay in here with you, why don’t we help get our daughter’s mind off the letter she’s expecting.” She inclined her head towards the other room.
Harry sighed dramatically before letting go of Hermione’s waist. “Oh alright, go get Ariel’s gifts from the bedroom. But don’t think you’re going to get away that easily later.” He winked at her.
“I’m counting on it,” she threw over her shoulder, giving him a smoldering glance as she left the room.
---
As Ariel opened her final gift, a personalized quill and parchment set from her parents, she couldn’t help the slight sigh that slipped her lips.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. “What’s wrong, Ariel?” Hermione asked, reaching a hand over to grab Ariel’s new Wizard Chess pieces, her gift from Uncle Ron, which Brian had been trying to grab to look at on the sly. Brian simply crossed his arms and pouted.
Ariel looked down at the stationary set in her hands. “You got me this pretty parchment set.”
“You don’t like it?” Harry asked softly, sitting down on the floor next to his daughter.
She stared down at it as she spoke. “You bought it for me… like I would be going somewhere. So that I could send you letters.” She wrung her hands together, tears beginning to fill her eyes. “But I’m not going anywhere.”
Brian chose that moment to stand up and wander around the room, glimpsing at Ariel’s new gifts longingly. Hermione glanced at him quickly. When she was sure he wasn’t getting into any mischief, she turned back to Ariel. “Honey… you just turned eleven this morning. It’s barely evening now. Give it some time.”
Brian was getting closer to the owl’s perches next to Hermione’s desk. Harry was about to say something to him when Brian turned away from them suddenly. “Daddy got a letter before he turned eleven,” Ariel started, and Harry turned his attention back to Ariel. “And Maggie’s letter was on her pillow! She told me; Uncle Ron left it there for her when she woke up in the morning. There was no letter for me when I woke up this morning.” Ariel shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe they just don’t want me.”
Brian ran over and tugged on Harry’s shirt. “Daddy,” he said quietly.
“Honey, you know that’s not true,” Hermione said, brushing Ariel’s hair away from her face.
“Daddy,” Brian said a little louder, now tugging on any part of Harry’s clothing he could reach.
“You know Professor McGonagall loves you – why wouldn’t you be invited to Hogwarts, hmm?” Harry said, trying to ignore the little fists tugging at him.
“Daddy!” Brian screamed excitedly, sticking himself between Harry and Ariel so that his father had no choice but to pay attention to him.
“Brian, could you please stop for just a minute!” Hermione yelled, frustrated.
“This is import-“ The words died on Harry’s lips as he noticed the piece of paper clutched in Brian’s little fist. Ariel chose that moment to look up, and when she saw the same piece of paper, a look of hope crossed her face.
Brian held out the slip of paper to Ariel. “This is for you. Happy Birthday!” he said with a smile.
Ariel took the letter from Brian with shaky hands. Brian clutched his own hands behind his back and rocked back and forth with a grin on his face. Harry and Hermione watched as Ariel broke the seal on the envelope.
Everything was quiet while she pulled the out letter slowly, and read the first few lines. Hermione finally leaned forward while Harry waited with baited breath for the answer to the question they were sure they already knew the answer to, but wanted to hear from Ariel’s lips. “What does it say, Ariel?” Hermione said quietly.
“Dear Miss Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” Ariel looked up from the letter slowly, a smile blooming across her face. Suddenly the spell was broken, and she jumped up. “I’m going to Hogwarts!”
“Yay!” Brian yelled, giving his sister a hug. Soon, he was spinning around the room with her and laughing.
The two of them danced happily around the room, Hermione and Harry laughing as they watched.
---
Hermione tucked Ariel into bed, kissing her on the forehead. “Goodnight, love,” she whispered. Ariel simply rolled over in her sleep. Hermione smiled when she noticed she’d put her letter under her pillow.
Harry was already sitting on the bed in his pajamas, his back against the headboard, legs stretched out in front of him, when she entered their bedroom. His arms were casually draped behind his head.
Hermione smirked, eyebrows raised. “You look comfortable.”
Harry shrugged, but then hopped off the bed to come and slip his arms around her from behind. She pressed back into him and sighed as he laid a kiss against her neck. She tried to pull away from him so that she could change into her own nightclothes, but Harry just pulled her closer. “Tsk tsk, Mrs. Potter, I told you it wouldn’t be that easy to get away from me tonight. “
Hermione turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck so that she could look up into his face. “What exactly did you have in mind?” she asked coyly.
“Well, I was thinking I would kiss you, take off your clothes, and then ravish you, if that’s quite alright with you.” He grinned at her, a look in his eyes that was meant only for her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes, that’s quite alright with me.” She sobered a bit suddenly.
Harry noticed the change in her demeanor. He brushed a piece of hair out of her face and said, “What’s wrong, love?”
“It’s just that…” She sighed. “I’m so proud of Ariel. I really am. But…” Here, she faltered and had to take a breath before she said, a bit quietly, “Is it selfish of me not to want her to go?”
Harry kissed her forehead. “No, love, it’s not selfish. It’s going to be a bit empty without Ariel here. Brian’s happy for her now, but I know him – he’s going to mope around for weeks without his big sister around. But we’ll all get through it, together.” Harry had to crack a smile as he said, eyes twinkling, “Plus, think of all the mischief she’ll be getting into. McGonagall loves her now, but eventually, she’ll remember what it means to have a Potter at Hogwarts.”
Hermione had to laugh at that. “I can see all the letters home already. And as long as she keeps up her grades, a little mischief now and again is fine with me. Remember, she’s part Granger too.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Of course. How could I forget?” It was his turn now to be suddenly serious. “I love you, you know that?”
Hermione nodded. “Of course. And I love you, too. “She kissed him, and then her eyes took on a little mischief of their own. Pulling him towards the bed, she said playfully, “Now, about that plan to ravish me…”
Harry took that as an opportunity to pounce on her, knocking her onto the bed as she laughed. The laughter quickly turned into a gasp as he kissed her.
Suffice to say, the plan went off without a hitch.
~Fin
