Chapter 9
Hermione felt comfortable at the Slytherin table— as comfortable as she felt at her own house table. Maybe even more so, as her social circle was actually wider amongst the Slytherins than in Ravenclaw. There was a lot of competition for the best scores in Ravenclaw, and there were quite a few Ravenclaws who didn't like the fact that a Muggleborn had the highest marks.
But at the Slytherin table, the tension point was a bit different — he sat at the end of the table surrounded by Slytherins whom she didn't know well. Pike Carrow held his own court further down from where she sat with Harry.
Harry didn't acknowledge Carrow by so much as a glance.
Draco laughed, nudging his shoulder against Harry to draw his attention to the Gryffindor table. "I guess all his bones are knit together again."
Hermione already knew who he was talking about and didn't bother turning around. Of all the things she had to worry about, Ron's animosity towards her mattered the least.
"I still think we should have gotten a score for putting their keeper through the goal." Theo chimed in.
"I think only balls count when going through the hoop, and he didn't have any," Luna said blithely. Her attention was occupied by a copy of her father's paper, The Quibbler, the front page of which warned of an uprising of garden gnomes.
Everyone stared at Luna for a moment as if trying to figure out if she knew what she was saying or not. Theo broke first and went into a fit of giggles. Harry and Draco were able to keep it together until they glanced at each other and then broke out in laughter.
Hermione met Padma's gaze, and they rolled their .
Before Hermione could comment further, an owl flew overhead, dropping a letter in front of Padma. Padma picked the letter up and grimaced at the sender. "It's my parents."
Hermione knew Padma had been having arguments with her parents over the topic of arranging matches for her, which was traditional in her culture. Not that it made much of a difference that Hermione's parents didn't have that cultural background — they also tried to set her up every time she came home with 'nice young men.'
Hermione was quiet while Padma read her letter, watching Theo not so subtly try to lean closer nosily. When Padma made an angry sound and slammed the letter down, Hermione knew it was likely her parents were trying again.
"Anything I can help with?" Theo asked, for once, not an ounce of humor in his face as he stared at Padma.
"No, just something for me to handle when I go home over the hols," Padma said glumly.
Hermione almost winced, no doubt when she went home, her parents would try to set her up too. They really, really wanted her to marry a Muggle, despite her having said she had no interest in relationships.
And she hadn't.
Hermione looked up and met Harry's dark emerald gaze. Until Harry.
Harry smiled at her, "Want to go for a walk before class?"
Luna, who was wrapping up a roll, answered, "No, I have to go feed the wrackspurts on the edge of the forest — they get very testy when their stomachs are empty."
Draco's lips twitched. "I'll walk with you."
Luna turned to him with a bright smile. "Okay!"
Padma remained inside with Theo, both of them saying it was too cold in the morning to venture out. So the two couples left and parted ways along the path. Luna and Draco were heading toward the dark forest while Hermione and Harry went towards the path around the black lake.
They walked quietly for a moment. The ground was clear of snow, but their feet still made a crunch as they walked — the cold had formed icicles on the path that crunched under their feet. After a few steps, Harry held out his hand to her.
Hermione slipped her fingers into his warm hand. His grip tightened, and he pulled her closer until he could slip both their hands into his pocket. Hermione let out a little laugh at the gesture, and he looked over and smiled at her as they fell into an easy pace.
She breathed in deep, enjoying the walk. The black lake was so still that it looked like a dark mirror reflecting the winter sky.
For a while, neither of them spoke, and itfelt comfortable, as if they didn't need to fill the silence. Hogwarts grew a little smaller as they moved away from it, and soon the only sounds they heard were their own footsteps and nature.
"I didn't push Ron through the goal," Harry said eventually, his gaze fixed ahead.
Hermione looked at him quickly, wondering at his topic. "You didn't— but the bludgers did?" She asked wryly.
"I didn't break my promise."
"I know," Hermione replied, squeezing his hand. "I wasn't even thinking of that."
"You made a face at the table."
"Oh." He'd seen her face when she was thinking of her parents' matchmaking. "That was something else."
"Tell me?"
They rounded the furthest point from Hogwarts, where the curve bent back toward the school. Harry slowed to a stop and faced her, not letting her hand go, so their coats brushed against each other's.
Hermione gave a small one-shouldered shrug. "It's nothing really. It's just family stuff."
If anything, his attention sharpened. "Your muggle parents."
Hermione looked away from his gaze; she didn't necessarily like the way he phrased that or the tone of his voice when he said muggles. Her jaw tightened. "Yes." She said evenly. "My parents."
Harry caught the reproach immediately. His thumb rubbed along the back of her hand, still trapped in his pocket. "What's happening with your parents?" he asked carefully.
Hermione sighed. "They want me to have a relationship with someone in the Muggle world. With the hols coming up, I know they're going to have someone there waiting for me to matchmake."
"You can tell them you're already taken," Harry said it lightly, but there was an edge to his voice.
Hermione restrained a wince. Her parents wanted her with someone who could potentially pull her more firmly away from the magical world. "I've told them about the tensions with muggleborns although I've downplayed how bad it's getting. They're just trying to protect me. They want me with someone safe."
"I'll keep you safe."
"Someone safely… non-magical." Hermione qualified.
Harry's lips twisted. "Well, that rules me out."
"Yes," Hermione said, looking toward him and meeting his eyes again.
Harry was quiet, not saying the thoughts she could read in his will never understand how magic isn't just something we do— we are magic.
"It's because they care about me." She reiterated — and heard the defensiveness in her own voice. Harry stayed quiet, winning the argument by not even saying anything. Hermione made a frustrated sound and looked back toward the lake, not even sure why she was so frustrated.
A breeze skimmed the lake's surface, creating ripples that distorted the reflection. Hermione watched the ripples spread slowly across the entire lake as she tried to sort out her emotions. "I hate fighting with my parents." She told Harry finally.
Harry shrugged. "They're going to continue to try to decide your life for you until you put a stop to it. They don't get to decide who you are with — or who you are going to become. That's your choice, Hermione. And you already made it." He reminded her, unsubtly, of her commitment to choose him.
"It's not that simple…" Hermione began, not even knowing why she was arguing this point.
"Then make it simple." Harry cut her off, perhaps even thinking the same thing. "Why don't you spend some time with me over the holidays?"
"At the Malfoys?" She didn't think she could do that.
"No, I think it would be nicer if we spent some time together alone."
That caught her attention. "Alone?"
Harry turned, so she was pulled along, facing him again. "Wouldn't you want to spend some time alone— just us together?"
That sounded both deeply intriguing and a bit scary. Alone with Harry… "Where would we stay?"
Harry shrugged. "Where would you want to stay? We can get a hotel in London proper or even rent a boat on the Thames."
Hermione laughed. That idea was kind of unexpected. "A boat?"
Harry grinned at her. "I promise to adhere to the strictest of marine safety standards if we go on a boat."
It did sound kind of intriguing— she'd seen various boats and yachts on the Thames but never really considered doing it herself. Boating on the Thames seemed more of a tourist thing — or for people with a lot more money than she had to spend.
"We could go half and half— " Hermione began, but Harry cut her off.
"No, that's not necessary." He gave a self-deprecating smile. "I invited you, so it's my treat."
"Are you sure?" She didn't want him spending more than he could afford.
"Trust me, Hermione. I got it." He smiled a little brighter. "So you'll come with me during the hols?"
"Yes." She said decisively. She was an adult, and she'd figure out an explanation for her parents later.
At her answer, Harry leaned down. "I promise you'll have lots of fun." And he pressed his lips to hers, slowly drawing his tongue along the seam of her lips, asking her to open for him. The idea of fun with Harry while his tongue was exploring her mouth made her squeeze her thighs together. He let go of her hand to wrap both hands around her as he pulled her close. She could feel him hard and eager against her.
Hermione shivered in his arms, but not from the cold.
She was suddenly really, really looking forward to the holidays.
Later that night in her dorm room, both Padma and Luna listened to Hermione's recounting of the conversation with wide eyes. Padma hugged her pillow to her chest, leaning forward on her bed. "Let me get this straight — you're going to be with Harry Potter on a boat … alone… for Christmas?"
Luna giggled, her eyes sparkling.
Hermione could feel her face heating up for some unexplainable reason. "Yes."
"For how long? Days? Weeks?"
"The holiday is only two weeks," Hermione responded dryly.
"The question stands — weeeeeeks!" Padma drew out the word laughingly.
Luna nodded in agreement, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "I think what we really need to know is how many bedrooms a boat has."
Padma laughed and fell over, kicking her feet in the air. "I bet it's a one-bedroom! There shall only be one bed!"
Hermione, whose face was burning by this point, admitted. "Well, we didn't exactly specify; I just thought it would be two bedrooms."
"Perhaps that's something you should clarify before you go … so you can be properly prepared," Luna advised, sounding strangely practical.
Padma sat back up, nodding quickly. "If you and Harry are planning to sleep together, you got to be ready!" Both girls paid close attention as Padma was the only one who had gone 'all the way' with her boyfriend in sixth year.
"Ready?" Hermione asked.
"You know — making everything pretty down there! And contraception."
"Wh— uh— " Hermione choked over her questions.
Luna nodded in agreement. "We did a segment in the Quibbler about personal hygiene and care for witches and wizards who are looking for relationships. It was very informative, there were even diagrams."
Padma snorted. "Of course there were."
Hermione buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe we're having this conversation."
"If you can't talk about sex, you shouldn't be doing it!" Padma said righteously. "You need to make the decision on how far you want to go now when you're not being unduly influenced." She finished with a heavy innuendo.
Luna agreed. "I know I'm not ready. I told Draco that, too. He's okay with waiting for me."
Hermione kept her face buried in her hands. She couldn't believe that Luna had had a more frank conversation withDracoof all people than she had with Harry. Finally, she looked up. "It's different. When I'm with Harry, there's always so much … just happening — distracting me — we haven't really talked about any of that yet."
Padma gave her a look. "What doyouthinkhethinks will happen?"
They stared at each other in silence while Hermione's face burned. After a moment, Padma nodded. "Uh-huh. That's what I thought."
"Do you want to go further with Harry? Remember, you don't have to; this is your choice." Luna said softly.
Hermione thought it was kind of ironic to be talking again about her life choices — in a different context, but still. The truth was, she hadn't even considered it because it was already something put to rest — she did want to go as far as Harry would take her physically.
There had been promises in his kisses that she was eager to see through. Hermione straightened her shoulders and met Padma's curious dark eyes. "I do want to go … as far as Harry wants to go."
Padma's lips curled up a little. "Hermione— theyalwayswant to go all the way."
Luna looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging and nodding along. "That means you need to think about babies."
"What!" Hermione squeaked.
"She means contraception." Padma corrected.
Hermione hadn't done any research into contraception yet, but she knew there was a charm — she'd heard several students discussing it at various times. "I suppose the charm?"
Padma immediately shook her head. "No, you definitely need to get on the potion - it's much more effective for much longer than the charm. And less of a chance of any accidents happening."
Hermione frowned. "Could I buy it at the apothecary in Hogsmeade?"
Padma rolled her eyes. "No, unfortunately, the witch who runs that is a little prude, and she didn't want teenagers to be able to get it from her shop since she's so close to Hogwarts — either we go to Diagon Alley or brew it ourselves."
"Is it hard to brew?" Hermione was excellent at potions, much to Snape's dismay.
"No, but we'd have to find somewhere to brew it and not attract any attention — I think someone might notice if we brew it in here from the fumes under the door."
"There's Myrtle's bathroom. No one ever really goes in there." Luna volunteered, talking about the girls' bathroom on the second floor that was permanently closed and haunted by a ghost.
"Ugh, Myrtle." Padma made a face. Although Myrtle mainly stayed in her bathroom, she roamed enough that everyone knew who she was, and she was not well-liked.
Hermione nodded. "Myrtle keeps everyone away, so it should be fine— do you know how long it takes to brew?"
"Only a week - I was intending to brew myself some over the hols— we can do it together." Padma offered. "The only problem would be getting all the supplies."
"We can steal some from Snape." Hermione offered without a smidge of guilt. He owed her after what he had done to her.
Padma nodded at that, staring forward as she mentally reviewed the list of needed ingredients. "I think we could get everything from Snape's supplies. If not, we can try buying it in Hogsmeade or even gathering it ourselves — I know some of the ingredients grow in the dark forest."
"Right, so, Myrtle's bathroom — one week of brewing, stealing ingredients, and hopefully not getting caught. We can manage that." Hermione tried to keep the doubt from her voice. "I can probably make a brewing schedule— Luna, would you help? If it's all three of us less chance of someone noticing, and we won't have to be in there for hours at a time."
"Of course," Luna answered immediately.
"See? Doesn't this make you feel more prepared?" Padma asked.
Hermione smiled at her. "Yes, it does actually."
"Are you going to tell Harry what you're doing?" Luna asked curiously.
Hermione shook her head immediately. "No, I mean — I want to be prepared, but I don't want to pressure him either if he's not ready for that step…I mean, I think he is..."
Padma muttered to herself. "He definitely is from the way he watches you."
"What?" Hermione asked, squinting at her.
"Nothing."
"Well, I just think Harry might notice if you disappear too much…" Luna started consideringly.
"Um… well, I can just say I'm studying! It is sort of studying… You know brewing a potion. It's studying adjacent."
"So you can have consequence-free sex," Padma said in a sotto voice.
"Padma!" Hermione cried.
"What?"
"Hush."
"Yes, ma'am."
Luna laughed and clapped her hands excitedly. "This is going to be fun, like a secret mission."
Hermione sighed and collapsed back on her bed, tired. "Now I just have to figure out what to tell my parents when I leave to be with Harry."
"Ugh." She heard Padma rustle in her own blankets. "I have no advice for you there — I can't even manage my own parents."
"My daddy supports all my choices." Luna offered cheerfully.
Both Padma and Hermione groaned.
Her parents were probably going to throw a fit when she said she was going with Harry — and that's after they get upset about her declining their matchmaking. But like Harry and her friends said — it was her choice and she was going to make it and choose to be by Harry's side.
As she drifted to sleep, she thought again of what Harry had said about a boat. She hadn't been on many boats, but she imagined what it might feel like sleeping on a bed while the Thames rocked them subtly from down below.
In her dreams, Harry turned toward her, his lips sliding along her skin, while his hands wandered under her pajamas.
"Rules are for the ordinary." He whispered to her before he kissed her.
Yes, they were.
Three days later, in the second-floor bathroom, all three girls ignored an exploding toilet three stalls away, where Myrtle sulked because they weren't paying attention to her.
Padma shrugged philosophically. "Well, we already said we'd try to get the ingredients ourselves if we couldn't find them. And that one grows in the dark forest."
Hermione frowned down at the instructions Padma had supplied. They needed two ounces of crushed bloodleaf. Which wasn't sold at the apothecary or in Snape's stores — probably because it was almost solely used for contraceptive potion.
"We could try going after class."
"You mean when we normally go do revision in the Quidditch stands?" Padma asked drily. "I'm sure Harry, Draco, and Theo won't be at all suspicious of that."
"We'll just tell them it's girl stuff," Luna said. "My daddy always stops asking questions when I say that."
Hermione laughed. "That's a brilliant idea, Luna."
"Okay then— after classes," Padma said, and the other two girls nodded.
Hermione felt a little trepidation as the time came to make their excuses to the boys and leave. They were already almost to the Quidditch field. It was now or never. She reached for Harry's hand, squeezing it briefly. "Um, actually, Luna, Padma, and I need to run an errand, Harry. We'll join you guys in a bit, okay?"
Padma and Luna both nodded while the boys looked at the three of them a tad suspiciously.
Harry looked at her curiously and leaned slightly against his broom. "What kind of errand?"
Padma broke in, interrupting their inspection. "Um, girl stuff."
Draco and Theo immediately dropped their gazes, looking away and trying to start a different conversation, but Harry didn't waver in his inspection of Hermione's face. "How long are you going to be?"
Hermione shrugged. How long could it take to locate bloodleaf in the dark forest? She knew where it should be — in the shadows near the roots of trees — but that was just what the reference books indicated. "It shouldn't be too long."
Hermione could tell Harry wanted to press for more information, but he eventually nodded. "Okay, see you in a bit."
Hermione smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Be back before you know it."
With that, they broke away from the boys and headed in a roundabout fashion toward the black lake until the boys were out of sight. Once the coast was clear, they arrowed directly toward the dark forest.
"I hope it's not too hard to find," Padma murmured, echoing Hermione's thoughts.
Luna shrugged. "It shouldn't be, but we'll have to walk a ways in that way we get under good tree cover."
"Then let's walk quickly," Hermione told them, speeding up her gait. She didn't want Harry coming to look for her.
As soon as they stepped under the canopy, the sky was mostly blocked — there was no sun, but the bright grey of the sky was dimmed in the dark forest. A chill breeze blew through the branches, making them creak, as the three girls hurried deeper into the forest.
They wandered a bit away from each other, inspecting tree trunks to try to locate the bloodleaf for the potion.
Luna was the one who found it first, calling out Hermione and Padma. "Over here!"
Padma arrived first and picked a few blood leaves, inspecting the quality. She looked over at Hermione, handing over the leaves. "These look good."
Hermione inspected the leaves and agreed taking out the vial she had brought to hold them. She stuffed in enough so that if she had to brew another batch for whatever reason, she wouldn't have to come back out into the dark forest again.
"That was easy." She said, capping the vial with a sigh of relief. "Let's get back to them."
She was sticking the vial into her bag when Padma abruptly grabbed her elbow. "Hermione."
About fifteen feet away, partially hidden by the tree they were by, stood Pike Carrow and several of his lackeys. Pike held his wand with the kind of liquid tension Hermione was familiar with after training with Harry. He'd be able to cast very rapidly.
"How strange to run into you here," Pike called out, moving towards them slowly.
"We were just leaving," Hermione responded evenly, trying not show how her heart was racing.
"But why?" He asked gently. "We just got here, you should stay awhile."
Luna, who was usually most unfazed no matter what was happening, stepped backward, almost stumbling into Hermione. "We should leave." She said in a low tone, not taking her eyes off the boys.
However, the group of boys had approached even closer in those few moments. Their group was spread out as they trapped them, cutting off their path back towards the Quidditch field and Hogwarts.
Perhaps if Hermione were by herself, she could have ran and escaped— but she couldn't risk Padma or Luna and couldn't defend against them all — especially now that the boys had almost fully encircled them. Hermione, Padma, and Luna were back-to-back now.
Hermione needed to get help. She'd probably only be able to cast one spell before getting disarmed, and she needed to make it count. Looking at the group of boys, a calmness settled over her. She knew what to do. Not waiting a second longer, she whipped up her wand. Virgo, she thought. "Notemstella."
For a heartbeat, the sparks flared brighter as the constellation locked into place. Virgo's outline was unmistakable, her stars spilling outward before pulsing once—slow and deliberate, like a heartbeat—then dimming. The Slytherin boys reacted instantly; several disarming spells barrelled into the three girls, tearing their wands from their hands. But Hermione's stars remained, glinting high against the grey sky, subtle and unwavering—visible only to someone who knew exactly what to look for.
Carrow laughed as their wands hit the ground at the boy's feet. "What was that? A misfire?" He asked Hermione, making a tsking sound.
The boys with him laughed too, and their circle tightened around them. They didn't bother to pick up the wands they had stolen, leaving them where they lay on the forest floor as they stepped past them closer to the girls.
"I've wondered, you know," Pike stated.
"Wondered what?" Hermione asked, her fists clenched.
"A lot seems to be happening around you. With your big hair and annoying personality. It's curious, really."
"Is that a question?" Hermione asked, stalling for time.
"There are prettier girls, you know — did you know Potter dated Daphne before you?"
Something twisted in her gut. Harry hadn't ever mentioned dating Daphne. She thought of the few times she interacted with the girl — Daphne hadn't betrayed a thing to indicate she and Harry had a past. But then Harry always seemed confident kissing, hadn't he?
Pike laughed, reading her face accurately. "You didn't know." He cocked his head at her, smiling. "I wonder what Potter sees in you."
A jet of red magic flared behind Pike, and he collapsed where he stood, along with two of his friends. The others looked shocked for a split second, but before they could turn around, more red flashes lashed out, and they too collapsed to the ground.
Harry stepped into view, his jaw tight as he walked up to Pike's unconscious body and kicked it before turning to Hermione. "I saw your stars." He said, referencing the constellation spell he had taught her not too long ago.
Hermione could tell he was still angry, but she ran up to him with a smile, relief flowing through her. "Yes!" She hugged him, and he wrapped his arms tight around her for a moment before letting her go.
Harry looked over to Draco and Theo. "Would you mind walking them back to Hogwarts?"
"We don't need an escort back to Hogwarts," Hermione said, stepping back from Harry.
A vein pulsed in Harry's forehead, and his scar seemed darker. "I know you don't need one. That doesn't mean you're not getting one."
"Harry—"
"Hermione."
She stared at him for a moment, seeing the resolution in the set of his shoulders.
The rest of them looked back and forth like they were watching a tennis match as Harry and Hermione argued.
In the silence that followed, Draco arched an eyebrow, inspecting the unconscious bodies on the ground. "Well, this was an interesting Quidditch practice." He said, obviously trying to change the subject.
"What if I hadn't seen your signal?" Harry asked in a low voice while everyone else tried to pretend they couldn't hear.
"We are all fine, he didn't touch us. And you did see it — and you came." Hermione said firmly.
Draco cleared his throat, interjecting. "Still, this isn't all of Carrow's people. An escort isn't just about competence, Granger. It's about sending a message to anyone who might be watching."
Theo nodded, finally jumping in. "Yes, a visible one."
Padma grabbed Hermione's hand before she could continue to argue the point. Hermione looked back at her and saw a hint of pleading in her eyes. The confrontation had shaken Padma. Hermione squeezed her hand and gave a small, conceding nod. "Fine, walk us back."
They started toward the forest line, but Hermione stopped when she realized Harry wasn't coming. "Harry?"
"I need to have a conversation with Pike first," Harry said expressionlessly. "We'll talk after."
"But—"
"Let's go, Hermione," Luna said from next to Draco and held out her hand.
Hemione hesitated only a moment before joining her and clasping her hand. "Okay."
But she kept looking back at Harry the entire way, until he disappeared from view.
When Padma came later that night, right before curfew, and told her Harry wanted to speak to her, Hermione braced herself for a confrontation. She found Harry right outside the Ravenclaw entrance, leaning against the opposite wall with his snitch in hand. Harry wasn't in his school robes; instead was in black trousers and a dark blue shirt. With his tousled black hair and electric green eyes, he looked almost like a model.
"It's late." She said when she came close.
"It is." He agreed. "Let's talk."
"Here?" She folded her arms across her chest.
Harry shook his head. "Let's go to the tutoring classroom." He hesitated before holding his free hand out to her.
Hermione clasped his hand immediately and allowed him to lead her down the quiet corridor. The dark windows passed slowly by, the stars barely visible in the purplish twilight sky.
Harry shoved his snitch into his trouser pocket and took out his wand. A quick flick of his wrist had the door open. When they entered, the door shut behind them, and Hermione recognized the silencing charm Harry cast on the room.
He didn't let go of her hand, keeping her close as he turned to her. He was quiet for a long minute, searching her eyes before saying, "I don't like how today went."
Hermione swallowed. "I don't either."
"You went into the forest without telling me where you were going." His voice was even but tight.
"I don't remember needing your permission to go into the dark forest."
"This isn't about permission— it's about safety— there are reasons the dark forest is forbidden—"
"And yet you go there all the time."
"I'm more prepared than you for what actions may be needed for protection."
"And how's that?"
"Could you kill someone to defend yourself?" Harry asked, his muscles tensing briefly before relaxing.
"I— I wouldn't need to kill."
"And that's why you were in danger."
"I wasn't in danger."
"Hermione—" His jaw flexed.
"You came." She lifted her chin. "So I wasn't in any danger."
His gaze sharpened, fierce and protective all at once. "The Virgo was the perfect signal." He acknowledged. "I knew you needed me as soon as I saw it in the sky."
"Then don't be angry at me."
Harry sighed, resting his forehead against hers. "Why didn't you just tell me you needed to go to the dark forest? I would have gone with you."
"Because— " Hermione trailed off, pulling back. "Just because it's girl stuff."
"Not that again. This isn't like you."
Hermione winced; she really didn't want to tell him why she had been in the forest, so she tried to turn the conversation back to him. "What about you? You barely tell me anything, yet I'm supposed to tell you everything?"
"That's not fair. I have my reasons—"
"And I have mine!"
They stared at each at an impasse, and Hermione tried to calm her racing heart. Then Harry's face hardened, and his hands slipped lower to rest at her hips, walking her backward until she bumped the wall. Then each hand slammed on either side of her head. "This isn't a game— what we're doing being together like this is as dangerous for you as it is for me— when I keep things from you, it's for your safety as well as mine."
"I don't see how not knowing something could ever make me safer than knowledge."
"That shows me just how little you know about the world." Harry leaned even closer. "The less they can read you, the safer you are."
"You don't trust me because of my shields— Harry, I can get better—"
"Not in time, Hermione. I've had years of practice, and I still have to be very careful — we don't have the time — the years needed to get you where you need to be."
"I'm not a liability." She said, the slightest quiver to her voice.
He exhaled long and controlled. "I know you're not." He pulled one of his hands away from the wall and cupped her cheek. "You're strong. You're clever. You're one of the bravest people I know." His lips twisted. "Maybe too brave."
"Then treat me like it."
The silence stretched between them again. The classroom had grown dark while they spoke, and now it was lit only by the moonlight streaming through the windows. The light threw shadows over Harry's expression, making him seem dangerous as he leaned over her.
'You're right. And I'm trying. But that's hard to do if you won't be upfront with me. You know what I can't talk about — and you know why. But you won't give me the same courtesy—"
"What about Daphne?"
Harry jerked back. "What?"
"Pike said you dated her. You never told me that."
"I went with her to a few parties— there was never anything serious between us."
"You kissed her." She heard the thread of hurt in her voice and tried not to wince.
Harry nodded slowly, and her stomach sank. "I did, but it didn't mean anything, and I'm sorry he used her to hurt you. She never mattered to me the way you matter to me. I never dreamt of her— watched her— wanted her— the way I do you."
Hermione's entire body felt warm at his confession. "I've never dreamt of anyone, either the way I dream of you." She admitted to him.
Harry's eyes flared as he moved close again. "You dream of me?"
Her heart was beating so rapidly that she felt like she was running too fast. "Yes." She said breathily.
"What do we do in your dreams?"
Hermione's face turned cherry red as she faced him. He studied her in the moonlight, and his lips curled up slowly.
"Ah. I see." Harry moved even closer, his body pressing hers against the wall, and his hands went to the edge of her shirt, slowly skimming underneath, his fingers brushing against the skin of her belly.
He felt hard in all the right places as he ground against her. "Hermione." He whispered.
She could barely think, her body aching for his touch. She whimpered and tried to get even closer to him, annoyed at the barrier their clothes made between them.
His lips followed her jaw line before finding her ear and nibbling on the edge of it. Shivers raced through her body.
"What were you getting in the dark forest, Hermione?"
"Bloodleaf." She answered without a thought.
Harry froze, every muscle of his body locked in place, his breath warm against her ear.
"Bloodleaf." He repeated quietly.
Hermione blinked, suddenly very aware of the information she had just given away so easily. With an angry cry, she pushed him away. "You tricked me."
Harry backed away, almost stumbling as he stared at her. "For what kind of potion?"
She hesitated, but the knowledge was already there between them; he just needed her to confirm it. Christ. She could feel embarrassment crawling over her. "A contraceptive potion."
He dragged a hand down his face and let out a half-laugh, and half groan. "Merlin." She couldn't read the expression on his face as he stared at her before saying quietly. "You should have told me."
"I didn't want to make it … a thing between us."
"Hermione, it is a thing between us — it's because of us. And if you had told me, I would have walked you there."
Hermione folded her arms around herself. "That kind of defeats the point of secrecy and me trying not to make it a thing."
"Maybe, but it would have prevented Carrow from following you into the woods." He said softly. "I was really worried for you, Hemione, when I saw the Virgo in the sky."
"I'm sorry," Hermione said quietly. "For not telling you."
"And I'm sorry you couldn't trust me enough to tell me. I don't want you to feel you have to hide anything from me."
Hermione nodded before cocking her head questioningly. "I never asked you, though… what did you do to Carrow?"
"I showed him the error of his ways."
"That doesn't sound pleasant."
Harry gave a sharp smile. "I didn't kill them if you're worried about that. I get that you don't like it."
There was something in his voice… "Is someone else going to kill him?"
Harry laughed, looking away from her towards the moon outside. "It's getting late."
"Harry. Tell me what you did."
He shrugged. "I showed him the error of his ways. As long as he doesn't forget the lesson, he'll keep living."
She supposed that was better than Harry arranging for someone to kill him.
He stepped forward and pressed a brief soft kiss to her lips. "Now it's past curfew, and I know you don't like breaking the rules."
"I think I'm learning not to care so much. It's kind of fun breaking the rules."
Harry laced their fingers together, squeezing her hand. "I like the sound of that."
Hermione laughed. "You would."
He pulled her toward the door, dismissing the silencing charm. "Just promise me one thing?"
"What's that?"
"Next time you need something in the dark forest — next time you decide to break the rules— you tell me. I don't care what it's for — I just need to know you're safe."
Hermione thought about it and then nodded. "Fine as long as you trust me to make my own decisions."
"Deal." He murmured.
"Deal." She concurred with a quiet laugh, and they walked together towards the Ravenclaw rooms.
They slowed as they approached the Ravenclaw corridor until they came to a stop in front of the entrance. Harry's grip tightened on her hand briefly before letting her go.
"Good night, Hermione."
"Good night, Harry."
He watched her until the door closed between them.
The train ride home was nerve-racking. Harry sat beside her quietly, holding her hand but not making conversation. She knew he wasn't happy about her going to her parents first. They'd already agreed to meet again in five days—that would leave them a week together.
He'd already told her he'd write to her every day until he saw her again, and she half thought that was because he wanted to know exactly what happened if her parents tried to set her up with someone.
Outside, the winter landscape passed in a swift blur as the Hogwarts Express steamed back toward King's Cross Station.
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand, trying to get his attention before they got to the station. He squeezed her hand back but didn't look away from the window.
"Are you angry at me?" She asked him softly so the others in their compartment wouldn't hear.
He still didn't look over. "I'm not angry at you."
She sighed, leaning against him. "You can't be angry at my parents when they don't even know things have changed."
"I don't like the idea of some other guy coming to your home thinking he has a chance with you."
"There's no one but you."
That made him look at her, his green eyes dark. "Say that again."
Hermione inhaled, trying to keep her voice even at the intensity in his voice. "There's no one but you."
The train rocked beneath them, the steady rhythm of the passing tracks filling the silence that followed. They were in their own cone of silence — Padma was whispering to Theo while Luna read the Quibbler with Draco.
Harry squeezed her hand again, "Are you going to tell your parents about me?"
"Yes."
"Should I walk with you to meet them?"
Hermione hesitated. It probably wouldn't go well unless she prepped them beforehand. "Maybe next time— I need to talk to them privately first — answer their questions."
"And what will you tell them?"
Hermione gave a one-shouldered shrug. "As much of the truth as I can."
"So almost none of it?"
"I'll tell them I finally talked to someone I've been interested in a while." Hermione leaned up and kissed the underside of his chin. "And that we hit it off, and now we're together because you make me feel safe and happy."
"Fine, but if they get upset at you—"
"I'll tell you, and I'll handle it," Hermione said firmly.
Harry's lips curved faintly at that.
They fell silent again, but Harry's tension had eased. He shifted his arm, sliding it around her shoulders to pull her closer.
"I'm going to miss you until we're together again. I'm used to seeing you every day now." He admitted in a low voice.
Hermione smiled up at him. "It's only five days."
"Five days is too long." He said grumpily.
"Just five days and then it's just us." She countered.
"Just us." He echoed, his eyes intent, and he gave her a slow smile full of promise as the train barreled on toward the station.
Hermione could feel her parents' intentions hanging over her like a cloud for the next few days. It was in the side long glances and the smiles that were a bit too bright.
She'd been conversing with Harry by owl and knew her parents didn't like it, but they hadn't said anything yet — but then neither had she, trying to keep the fragile peace intact until she had to talk to them about going with Harry.
She came down for breakfast and could feel the change in the air — today was the day for both of them.
"Hi, love." Her mum said. "You're up early."
Hermione shrugged. "I wanted to get some errands done."
"Waiting for your owl?" Her dad asked, standing by the counter.
"Yes." She went to the table and sat down, bracing herself.
"Would you like some tea?" Her mother asked, putting a cup in front of her, preemptively assuming a yes.
"Yes, thank you."
For a moment, there were no other sounds than the comforting sounds of breakfast. Cups and plates clinking as her mother prepared a light breakfast with some toast.
When they all sat at the table, was when the tension increased.
Her mother started first. She smiled too brightly at Hermione. "We were thinking, love." She said carefully, giving a glance at her husband. "That, since you're home for the holidays, it might be nice if you spend some time with some normal people your own age. Away from all that magical stuff."
Hermione's fingers tightened around her teacup.
Her father took up the conversation. "Remember Oscar from your primary? He just finished university. Engineering. Quite a smart young man. We ran into his parents at Tesco."
Hermione said nothing, her gaze on her plate.
"He's coming over tomorrow," Her mum added, watching her closely. "Just for dinner, nothing too serious… he seemed very eager to catch up with you…"
"I won't be here tomorrow."
Her dad frowned. "What do you mean? Where are you going?"
"There's someone…. I…" Hermione cleared her throat, forcing herself to meet her parents' questioning gazes. "I've met someone, and I want to spend some of the holidays with him."
"What? Why can't he visit you here? What sort is he?" Her mother asked questions tumbling out rapidly.
What sort is he? She meant if he was magical, Hermione knew.
"He's from my school. Hogwarts. We're together."
"Ridiculous." Her Dad placed his cup on the table with a thump. "You're too young for that — and a wizard boy?"
"I'm eighteen, Dad," Hermione said evenly. "And his name is Harry Potter." She paused and admitted what she hadn't even told Harry. "I love him."
"You don't know who you love — it was a mistake for us to let you go to that school — what do you know of the real world? You're isolated in that tiny community, thinking that's all there is — love, there's so much more out in the world than what those people are showing you." An edge of desperation leaked into her mother's words.
Harry's words from weeks ago came to mind, 'The magical world is your home — and it could never be theirs. They don't belong here.'
Wasn't that what her mother was saying in a different way? That the Muggle world was her home and not the magical?
"I am magical, mother, that is my world," Hermione said firmly. "And Harry is the one I love."
"You don't even need to magic — you never do magic here!" Her mother protested. "Hermione, think this through — where is your degree? What can you show people for all these years you've been at Hogwarts? Nothing you've got nothing to show for it."
Hermione reached into her pocket, taking out her wand, and both her parents inhaled sharply. She waved it over the table using a simple levitation charm to make all the plates and cups float in the air. "I am a witch, and I don't need to prove myself to anyone."
After a moment of silence, the plates and cups slowly settled back onto the table.
"That's a nice parlor trick." Her dad said flatly. "But how exactly do you think you will support yourself making things float if we don't support you? Becoming a circus clown?"
Hermione blinked rapidly, her chest hurting at his words. "What?"
"You will listen to your mother — be nice to our guest tomorrow — or you can find somewhere else to live."
"Dear, I don't think —" Her mother began worriedly, but her father shook his head firmly.
"Hermione, you think you know what it means to be out in the world and support yourself, and you don't want to live by our rules in our household, then there is the door."
The bottom dropped out of Hermione's stomach. She wanted to yell it wasn't fair — it wasn't FAIR! Instead, she sucked in a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. "Okay. Goodbye then."
"Hermione, wait—" Her mother began, but she ignored her."
Hermione ran up the stairs, her wand out, and waved at her clothes — drawers opening on their own and clothes flying out towards a back that flew out of the closet. She had her own bank account where she'd saved birthday and Christmas money she'd gotten — it wasn't nearly enough, but money went a bit further in the magical world.
She'd just have to find cheap accommodations—
As her mind worked furiously on how she'd be able to survive without her parents, there was scratching at her window, and a familiar snowy white owl was peering in at her.
"Hedwig!" She ran to the window, letting in Harry's owl and taking the parchment tied to its leg.
One more day. I miss you. Should I come to your house to get you?
Hermione bit her lip. She knew there were cheap lodgings in Leaky Cauldron that she could try in a pinch, just for a night — then after that, it would be with Harry, then back to Hogwarts. This term and books were already paid for, so that was at least something she didn't have to worry about.
Both she and Padma had taken a vigorous course schedule to be good candidates for the Department of Mysteries — she'd have to put her hopes on actually getting in when she graduated — if not, she'd have to start an immediate search for a job.
Hermione sighed and walked over to her desk to jot a quick note to Harry.
I had a fight with my parents, I'm going to go to the Leaky — I'll be there waiting for you tomorrow.
With that, she rolled it up and gave Harry's owl Hedwig a treat before tying it to her leg and letting her out the window back to Harry.
Then she picked up her bags, casting a quick, featherlight charm on them, and looked around at everything she was leaving behind.
Shelves filled with books lined two walls; her bed and desk were against the other two, underneath windows that looked out over the back of the house. There was nothing here that hinted at her magical heritage — all of it was in her bag.
Had she kept herself so small to please her parents?
With a determined head shake, she left the room. She could hear her parents arguing below, but they stopped as soon as they noticed her.
"Hermione," Her mother reached for her, stopping her when she came close. "Hermione, you don't need to — your father didn't mean it — we can—"
"Let her make her choice." Her father interrupted, his face set.
"It's not a choice I'm making." Hermione met his gaze unflinchingly. "You're asking me to ignore who I am — to give up my own choices. I won't do that."
"We just want you to have options, Hermione." Her mother said desperately. "Don't do this because you're angry — let's all try to calm down and you can put your stuff away and —"
"No," Hermione said quietly. "I think I've always known …. I've felt it as I grew up. You resented my magic more and more, didn't you?"
Her father immediately shook his head. "That's not true. I resent that your future in the world was taken from you — you're so smart, Hermione — you could be anything — why would you choose to be nothing?"
Hermione tightened her grip on her bag. "I want to work for the magical government in a highly specialized field — that's not nothing. It's just not Muggle."
She could see the disagreement in her father's face. "If you walk out that door…" He trailed off.
"I know." She said softly and hesitated, looking them over. Her parents were tense, both of them desperate to keep her on their terms. She knew they loved her. They were the same parents who'd kissed her hurts and praised her marks. Who told her she could be anything.
But that anything would be her choice. Not theirs.
"I love you." She told them softly. "But my life is my own. I'm not throwing away future — I'm choosing it."
Her mother drew in a sobbing breath.
Hermione turned away, her own eyes smarting. She opened the front door with a soft click, and a chilly breeze blew in. She paused for a fraught moment, doubt making her hand shake on the knob. Then she stepped outside and closed the door gently behind her.
It was cold outside, and she was grateful for it — she felt too hot and too tired, as if just walking out that door had sucked away all her strength.
She trudged down the path, hitting the pavement and turning left. She didn't look back as she walked away from her childhood home.
For a while, that was all she could do, put one foot in front of the other. Her head felt fuzzy and full of static. There were noises as traffic picked up when she hit the main streets, but everything felt far away and blurry as she tried to wrap her mind around the choice she had made. She walked for a long time, until her thighs were burning and her feet ached. The featherlight charm she had placed on her bag had faded long ago, and the strap dug into her shoulder.
When Hermione really looked around, she realized she didn't know where she was— she was completely lost. The thought almost made her burst into tears. Holding it back with a sniffle, she dug out her wand and ducked between two buildings, apparating to the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry had chosen his booth deliberately.
It was in the corner of the Leaky Cauldron, back to the wall, where he had a clear view of the door, the bar, the staircase, and the narrow hallway that led deeper into the inn. He'd already had a slightly threatening conversation with the innkeeper when he thought they might be lying that Hermione wasn't there.
Her note was crumpled in his pocket, and he worried it with his fingers as he waited for her to show up. It had been hours since he'd gotten it, and he was already almost at his limit — he wanted her with him now.
He didn't have her address directly, but he thought he could try following Hedwig as she delivered the post. The magic inherent in the owl delivery system guided the owls to their destination — there had to be a way of following them to that destination. Either that, or he'd find it by muggle means, and then he'd go shake her location loose from her parents by force if necessary.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he glanced again at the clock. Too much time had passed since he'd gotten her message.
Harry stood abruptly. That was it, he wasn't wasting anymore time dawdling here while she was out there somewhere and upset. He'd just have to track her down.
He had only taken a step when the door opened, and a wild-haired Hermione rushed in. Her face was red and exhausted, her entire body drooping. She looked so small in the entryway, clutching her bag.
She looked like she was about to cry.
His vision narrowed, and a familiar red-hot rage settled in his ribs. Failure tasted like bitterness in his mouth. He just wanted her happy. Sometimes it felt like the entire world was conspiring against him.
He crossed the room in long strides, ignoring the glances of the other patrons.
"Hermione." He said softly.
Her eyes, which had been fixed on the floor, snapped up to his and widened. For a moment, she just stared at him as if she wasn't sure he was real. Then she rushed forward, throwing her arms around him.
"Harry." She sucked in a sobbing breath as he hugged her tightly in return.
"It's okay, I'm here." He whispered to her, rocking her gently. "I've got you."
Tremors ran through her. "I didn't know where else to go." She said, almost bewildered. "I — they told me either obey or leave, and — I left." She said shakily.
"You can always come to me, Hermione."
"I—" she broke off and just clung to him.
Harry shifted his body, so he shielded her more from the eyes in the room while his hand rubbed slow, soothing circles on her back. He didn't rush her as she caught her breath in his arms.
After about a minute, her grip eased, and her breathing began to even out.
"Come with me." He whispered into her hair.
"Where?"
"Somewhere safe."
She hesitated. "I don't know…"
"It would just be us." He promised, knowing she must have reservations about meeting his family.
"Just us?" She confirmed tentatively.
Harry nodded and tugged on her hand, leading her out of the Leaky Cauldron onto the pavement of Diagon Alley.
The crowd parted around them, and Harry pulled her back into his arms. "I'll sidealong you."
As a measure of how exhausted she must be, Hermione didn't even ask him where they were going. Safe and alone was enough for her. Harry apparated her to 12 Orchard Lane, Wiltshire. They appeared in front of a two-story country house, with reddish clay bricks and a sloping dark brown roof.
The door opened as they approached, and a house-elf appeared, causing Hermione to startle. The house elf was dressed in black livery with silver trim.
"Do you need anything, sir?" the house elf asked, keeping his eyes focused on Harry.
Harry looked down at Hermione. "Do you want any tea or anything?"
She shook her head. "I just want to rest and …" She looked a little uncomfortable for a moment before leaning closer to him as if trying not to let the house elf hear. "I don't want to be alone…"
She wanted to lie down with him. His heart skipped a beat. He loved being her comfort.
"No, Mutton, thank you." Harry nodded at the house elf, who disappeared.
"Let's go to my room." Harry led her up the stairs to the second floor and entered the left wing. His room was at the west end so he could watch the sun setting.
He closed the door behind them with a quiet click. The room was dim, the setting sun highlighting little dust motes that drifted lazily in the air.
Hermione walked to the center of the room, her hands clinging white-knuckled to her bag. Harry walked to her slowly, sensing how unsettled she was.
He reached for her hand, gently pressing it to make her relax her grip on her bag. It took her a moment to let the bag go, staring up at him with dark eyes.
He set the bag aside and went back to her. He tugged her coat off gently, one arm at a time, before he knelt down in front of her to remove her shoes.
Hermione didn't say anything as she watched him. When he straightened, he took her hand and led her to the bed.
She climbed in first, lying on her back and watching him climb in after her. As soon as he lay near her on his side, she scooted close to him, fitting her body along his.
She let out a sigh, her body finally relaxing against his. "I have so many questions." She whispered
"They can wait; you should rest." He said softly.
Hermione's fingers curled around his wrist at her waist, as if anchoring him to her. Harry pressed closer to her, smelling her Hermione scent— vanilla, books, and the faintest trace of a flowery perfume.
He breathed in deep, relaxing more now that she was safe in his arms. He hated that her parents had hurt her this way, but he couldn't deny that their mistake had led to him having her now.
And he intended to keep her. His arms tightened. It was just like she said before — she was going to be by his side when it mattered.
When everything he'd endured—everything he'd schemed for year after year — piece by piece, would finally come to fruition.
By the end of the school year, he'd have to bend his knee to no one.
He'd be nobody's soldier.