A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series or agree with her comments. This story is a product of my pure imagination. I do not profit from this and will not pay for any commissions for art about this story.
When did you get hot?
All the sudden, I could look you up and down all day (All day).
When did you get hot?
I think I would remember if you had that face (That face),
I did a double take, triple take (Damn),
Take me to naked Twister back at your place.
Baby, baby, mm, it's thickening the plot,
When did you get hot?
~ When Did You Get Hot by Sabrina Carpenter
~*~ 31st May 2003 ~*~
The shrill ringtone of her mobile phone broke through Hermione's consciousness. Groaning, she rolled over and reached for it on her nightstand. Only to see the clock roll over to 5:47 am.
Without checking the screen, she flipped her mobile open and put it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hermione?" her neighbor, Robyn, said from the other end, "Are you there?"
Hermione sat up, "Robyn? What's wrong?"
"Did you know that there is a man in your back garden?"
Hermione froze, clutching her sheet against her chest. "There's a what?"
"A man," Robyn repeated, "A tall, dark-haired man who is doing yoga."
Hermione blinked, trying to rewet her eyes from the dryness. "Yoga?" she repeated.
"Yes! Downward dog, or upward dog… I don't know what you call it, but he's in your garden. I am out here birdwatching and nearly dropped my binoculars when I saw him. Do you know him?"
Hermione shoved her hair out of her face from where it had slipped from her bonnet, grabbed her glasses, and threw back the covers. "For heaven's sake," she muttered as she padded barefoot around her bed, to her window, and tugged the curtain aside, only to find Harry outside.
He was barefoot on the grass, wearing a pair of grey joggers and a faded t-shirt with one hand above his head. Even from a distance, she could see him breathing deeply as he bent forward and his joggers became tight on his bum.
Hermione groaned, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. "Yes, Robyn. I know him."
"Oh, good," Robyn said, "I was about to call the police officers."
Hermione sighed. "I promise he's harmless, though he's apparently unable to sleep in."
"Well… look at that, he's at least flexible," Robyn stated, "Have a nice morning, dear!"
As the call was cancelled, Hermione stood watching Harry for a moment, then threw her phone onto her bed. Shaking her head, she muttered under her breath as she grabbed her robe from her wardrobe. "Of course, he's doing yoga in my backyard. Why wouldn't he be?"
Making her way down the stairs, she started filling the coffee pot and looked out the window to see Harry move into some pose that lengthened his body, showing off the muscles that she didn't realize he had. Turning around as he stood up, he nearly made eye contact with her. She gasped, quickly dumping the water into the coffee maker, shoved the pot in, and went to the refrigerator for eggs as she heard the back door open.
"Morning. I hope I didn't wake you," Harry said as he wiped his feet on her mat.
Hermione leaned back against the counter as the coffee started percolating. "You're lucky you didn't get the police called on you for trespassing."
Harry laughed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I couldn't sleep, so I went for my morning run and then started my yoga routine to keep from waking you and Rose up."
"You didn't wake me up. My neighbor did. Apparently, it's a crime to do yoga before six in the morning," Hermione said as pain seared through her hand, and a burning sensation hit it.
"Shite! Damnit!" Hermione gasped, yanking her hand away as the scalding coffee streamed across the counter and down her cabinets.
Harry was at her side in an instant, slipping between her and the counter. He shoved the pot completely under the coffee maker, waved his wand, and the spilled liquid vanished in an instant with a faint puff of steam. Then he saw her hand. "Shite, Hermione."
Hermione tried to push him away, but the pain made her wince. Angry blisters were already rising across her hand.
"Hold it under the water," Harry said quickly, turning the tap cold. "Keep it there until I get back."
Harry shoved her hand under the cool water, and before she could protest, the sound of the Floo roaring to life in her sitting room echoed through the house.
Hermione gritted her teeth as the cool water ran over her burned skin. She flipped her hand over and squeezed it, watching the red skin tighten beneath the water. She tried to focus on the coffee sputtering as the machine finished, the smell of roasting beans filling her nostrils.
Moments later, she heard the Floo roar to life again.
"How is it looking?" Harry asked as he came back into the room, his old leather healer's kit in hand, making her heart sputter. She had sent it to him for his second birthday after he had left. He set it on the counter and flicked open the worn brass clasp, taking her hand gently in his.
"This might sting," he warned softly, running his wand in slow circles over her blistered skin. The pain dulled almost instantly, replaced by a soothing coolness that made her sigh in relief.
"Better?" he asked quietly, his eyes on hers.
Hermione nodded. "Much."
Harry opened a jar, and his thumbs brushed over her skin as he applied a thick, shimmery salve. He moved with a tenderness that made her chest ache. When he finished, he rinsed his hands, dried them, then murmured a charm that sealed her hand in a shimmering barrier that wrapped around her hand like a fluid, before wrapping it in a gauze.
"Keep it dry for a day, but this should help," Harry told her.
Hermione looked up at him, worry still evident in his eyes, the way his hair was falling into them, and her heart gave a sputter. "Thank you."
Before Harry could answer, the rapid storming of little feet echoed down the hall.
"Whoa!" Harry said, laughing as he caught Rosella as she barreled into the kitchen. "Careful! Mumma got hurt this morning. We've got to take care of her."
Rosella's curls bounced as she twisted in Harry's arms to look at Hermione. "Mumma, are you okay?"
Hermione smiled, showing her bandaged hand. "I'll be all right, sweetheart. Daddy fixed me right up."
Rosella grinned at Harry, "Daddy's good at fixing things!"
Harry smiled. "I try."
Hermione watched him as Rosella tucked her head under Harry's chin. It was as if the puzzle piece that had been missing in their lives had finally fallen into place.
Hermione shut her passenger door as she watched Harry take Rosella's hand to walk her toward the school doors, as MacKenzie raised her cup of coffee from her own car.
Walking over to her, MacKenzie handed a cup to her, then nodded to her hand. "So, what happened?" she asked as Hermione took the drink in her good hand.
"Coffee mishap this morning," Hermione admitted.
MacKenzie smirked over the rim of her cup. "I'm guessing Doctor Daddy stepped in and saved the day?"
Hermione felt her cheeks flush. "Yes," she muttered.
MacKenzie laughed, "He's been with you for nearly every drop-off lately. Is he living with you yet?"
Hermione bit her lip. "No officially… but until she moves out, he is."
MacKenzie's jaw dropped as she turned to Hermione, "You mean… they're finally over?"
Hermione nodded, taking a long sip of her coffee. "Turns out, you remember how I told you about the bloke from the post office who was intercepting our mail?"
"Yeah?"
"Well," Hermione sighed, "Turns out he knew Melinda."
MacKenzie gasped, "No way!"
"Oh, and it gets better," Hermione said, shaking her head, "Apparently, our former headmaster was behind it all. He served in Parliament before his death, and Harry's grandfather once held a seat there, too. He was worried that Harry would come home and… interfere politically. So, he had the postmaster and Melinda manipulate Harry's life." Hermione scoffed, "Probably hoping he'd fall for her and stay in the States."
"Was he even old enough when he left?" MacKenzie asked.
Hermione looked at her, "He was seventeen, turning eighteen two months after he left. In Parliament, Lords Temporal can be eighteen years old."
MacKenzie shook her head. "That's so messed up."
"Yep," Hermione murmured, looking toward the school as Harry came back out, chatting it up with one of the dads from Rosella's class, his hands in his pocket,
MacKenzie followed her gaze, then grinned. "All I'm saying… he's a free man now, and you, Hermione, haven't been with anyone since him. I say jump him as soon as you can."
"MacKenzie!" Hermione gasped as her friend slid on her sunglasses.
"Just saying. I can let you borrow some adult movies if you need a refresher," MacKenzie smirked, then waved. "Hello, Harry!"
Harry waved politely as MacKenzie got into her car and Hermione walked back to her own.
"She's… interesting," he said as Hermione came up beside him.
Hermione smiled, "She's actually a great friend. After years of girls' nights with Ginny and Luna, and the rest of the Hogwarts group… I'd say she's the one that I'm glad has stuck around. Regina, at work, is somewhere in between a friend and a chaos gremlin. Misty practically bulldozed her way into my life."
Harry chuckled, leaning against the car beside her. "Sounds like you've got quite the support team with your friends."
Hermione stared down at her coffee and swirled the liquid within. "Sort of. Ron's been there for Rose and me, but… he's not someone I feel that I can talk to the way that women can talk to each other about everything with their friends. I don't tell him everything about my day or what I'm feeling. Not like that. Honestly, Luna and MacKenzie are probably the two people I'm closest to."
Harry exhaled, "Have you ever had a friend like that?"
Hermione bit her lip as she thought for a moment, then looked up at him. "Not before Hogwarts. I didn't really have friends before Hogwarts, and even then… I wasn't exactly surrounded by them."
Harry lifted an arm to rest it along the top of her car above her head. "You had me and Ron."
"I did," she said with a smile, "But Parvati, Lavender, Sally-Anne, Sophie… we lived together for six years, and I never really connected with any of them."
Harry frowned, "Sally-Anne and Sophie?"
Hermione shook her head, "See, you don't even know who they were. Sophie left second year, Sally-Anne not long after. Parvati and Lavender, well… they were too busy laughing at my hair than wanting to braid it." She exhaled, "You've always been my best friend, Harry."
Harry swallowed something, flickering across his face, before he put his arm around her shoulders. "Come on," he said, his voice slightly hoarse, "Let's go get ready for the day. I want you to come with me to Olivia's office."
Hermione blinked. "Your solicitor?"
He nodded. "She submitted the evidence to the Ethics Committee. I want you there when we find out what is happening."
"Of course," Hermione said quietly.
Harry walked around to the driver's side of the car and paused, "Oh, and Hermione?"
She looked at him over the roof of the car.
"You've always been my best friend, too," he said. "The one who stayed by my side… even when I didn't deserve it. I never told you thank you enough."
Hermione smiled. "Back at you."
"Right this way, Mr. Potter."
Harry glanced at Hermione, who nodded and linked her arm into his. Together, they followed the receptionist into Olivia's office. As they stepped inside, Harry froze.
Sitting beside Olivia was Kraglin.
"Lord Potter," the goblin said with a grin, his jagged teeth showing prominently. "Surprised to see me? We goblins don't have to stay only in Gringotts. There is an entire world humans don't know about outside of it."
Harry blinked. "You misunderstand, Kraglin. I don't assume that you live at Gringotts by any means. I was actually planning to visit you after this."
Kraglin folded his hand beneath his chin as Harry pulled out a chair for Hermione. "That would be… unwise, Lord Potter. That is why I came here." Harry sat down beside her. "For the near future, you must avoid the wizarding world. The Minister was served yesterday after the Ethics Committee and…" He paused, "He is now missing."
Hermione straightened. "Missing?"
Olivia stood and came around to sit at the edge of her desk. "From what we've learned, the Auror Department is split. Half support him, the other half are searching for him. If Kingsley still has his personal Portkey, he could be anywhere."
Harry frowned, and Hermione saw his jaw twitch. "Are we safe?"
Olivia met his eyes. "I can't guarantee anything, Lord Potter. I don't believe Kingsley Shacklebolt would harm you, but until he's found… You need to stay somewhere where he can't reach you. At least until the dust settles."
Hermione looked toward Harry. "Grimmauld?"
Harry hesitated, then looked at Olivia. "What about Melinda?"
Olivia sighed. "She came forward voluntarily. Confessed everything, her role, her knowledge, and her orders. That's what triggered the warrant. She has agreed to stay here until the trial. The Aurors reached Kingsley's home before he could get to his wife. She was there and completely unaware of what he had been doing. Veritaserum confirmed that."
Hermione exhaled. "So, what are our next steps?"
Olivia looked at them. "Get your daughter, go somewhere safe. Someplace where the press, the Ministry… no one can find you. It doesn't have to be far, but somewhere secure."
"I can't just abandon my business," Hermione protested.
"Can you run it from home?" Olivia asked.
Hermione rubbed her forehead. "Possibly… if I speak with my managers and shift some operations around."
Olivia moved closer to them, "This is precautionary, Hermione, but with your daughter, I'd err on the side of caution."
Hermione turned to Harry. "It's up to you. Whatever you think is best, we'll do."
Kraglin cleared his throat. "In my professional opinion, the Grimmauld Place property remains your strongest option. It's still protected under the Fidelius Charm and lies within reach of both Miss Granger's business and Gringotts. If you're uneasy, we could appoint a new Secret Keeper. Mrs. Tonks, perhaps?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair as he stood and started pacing. "This is so… so messed up! All of this. Just because Dumbledore! And he's gone. We can't confront him now."
Hermione rose, "Or can we?"
Harry stopped pacing and looked at her. "What do you mean?"
Hermione smiled, "After Kingsley's found, we go public. We tell everything, the interference, the manipulation, the lies. We take back control of the story."
Harry stared at her. "How?"
Hermione grinned, "Luna. Her dad still has the Quibbler."
Kraglin nodded, "A wise move."
Harry looked at her, "You are really brilliant, you know that?"
Hermione smirked as she winked. "Took you long enough to notice."
Olivia smiled. "I'll draw up temporary protective documentation for the three of you. Just in case."
Hermione's hands were shaking as she zipped up Rosella's little suitcase. The house was quiet, too quiet with Rosella still at school. Harry had gone straight to Grimmauld Place to have Kreacher and Andromeda start getting rooms ready for them, then he went to Rosella's school. Not that either of them believed Kingsley would do anything to her, but Harry felt better about it if he was there.
Messages had been sent to the store and the Weasleys to inform them that they were on lockdown for a few days.
Hermione opened her suitcase to make sure that everything that she needed to take was within it when her Floo roared to life. Moving her wrist down, her wand sprang out of its holster, and by the time the familiar whoosh sounded of someone arriving, her wand was raised.
"Bloody hell!" Ron yelled, hands up in surrender.
"Fuck! Ron, what the hell?!" Hermione gasped as she put her wand back in her holster. "I nearly hexed you!"
Ron removed the soot from his clothes with his wand. "Harry called me, told me what was happening. I thought I'd come over and see if you needed help."
Hermione dropped onto her overstuffed suitcase, the latch popping open beneath her. A cascade of folded clothes popped from the sides. "What the hell am I doing, Ron?"
Ron blinked, confused. "Um… packing?"
Hermione pulled at her hair. "I mean, this whole thing! He just got out of a relationship yesterday! An engagement, Ron! I'm still in love with him and-"
"You're still what?" Ron asked, surprised.
Hermione jumped to her feet, jabbing her finger into his chest. "You shut up now!"
Ron froze, hands raised again.
Hermione sank back onto the suitcase. "Now I'm going to be stuck in a house with him. Grimmauld Place, of all places. For who knows how long." She dragged her hands over her face. "I'm not going to be able to take it, Ron!"
Ron stared at her for a moment, then grinned. "Merlin's beard… Hermione Granger is a girl!"
Hermione looked at him. "You're an arsehole!"
Ron laughed as she stood and stormed past him toward the bookshelf. "Come on, Hermione. It's Harry. Our best friend. You've been through worse than sharing a house with him." He grinned, "You never know, being close to someone might change things… romantically."
Hermione looked at him, "Luna has rubbed off on you." Hermione rolled her eyes, flicking her wand to shrink a stack of books.
"I'm just saying," Ron said as he sat on the back of her couch, "Hopefully this whole hiding out thing lasts a day, maybe two, and then you can stop worrying. Harry can handle himself. You can get back to your shop and your life. Your… Merlin's pants, Hermione, how many books do you need?"
Hermione froze, her wand in mid-air, "You can leave now."
Ron looked at her, "I'll take that as a yes."
Hermione flicked her wand at Ron, and he screamed as he flipped backwards over the couch.
"Alright! Fine! I'll check in later," Ron said as he jumped up.
Hermione waved him off, and the Floo reignited as Ron left. As the flames died away, Hermione tapped the fireplace to turn off the Floo.
Slowly letting out a breath, Hermione looked around her house. "Crookshanks! Where are you?"
Her old familiar slowly came down the stairs from his hiding place, more than likely within her closet. Slowly ambling his way over to her, Crookshanks rubbed against her legs. Leaning down, Hermione scratched behind his ears. "Hello, old man."
Taking out her wand, Hermione shrank all the bags and placed them into her purse. Carefully zipping it shut, she sighed. This was the second time her life was condensed into a handbag.
Crookshanks jumped up onto the chair, watching her, glaring at his carrier.
"I know," she murmured. "You've seen me pack too many times."
Hermione petted him, then forced him into the carrier. As the latch clicked into place, he yowled. "I know, I know. I'm sorry."
Doing one last sweep of the house, she grabbed Crookshanks and stepped out her back door. Locking it up, she locked it and then began casting the wards. Her protective runes flared briefly around the doorframe and windows, shimmering as the threads of magic spread from the door and the windows up the side of her house, growing like spiderwebs across her house. Casting the protective charms around her home that she, Ron, and Harry used on the run for extra layers of protection, she stepped back. Biting her lip, her house hummed with magic.
Grabbing Crookshanks' carrier, he gave another low growl of protest. "I'm sorry," Hermione said, pressing her face against the front, "I know you hate this, and you hate apparition even more, but it won't be long. We'll be back again soon. I promise."
He yowled, and Hermione smiled as she looked up at her house. Rosella's small bird feeder was swaying in the wind, and the outlines of chalk from Rosella's drawings remained on her back patio. "Goodbye," she whispered, then, with a crack, they vanished.
When she appeared, it was on the familiar stoop of Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
"Shhh, Crookshanks," She muttered as he yowled loudly.
The front door swung open almost immediately.
"Oh, you old beast," Harry said with a laugh as he reached for the carrier as Crookshanks thrashed inside. "Calm yourself, will you?"
Hermione stepped inside, shutting the door behind her, and leaned against it with a long sigh. "He's always hated apparition."
Harry knelt and unlatched the carrier. "Get going, you mini-lion."
Crookshanks hissed at him, tail puffed, before bolting out of sight.
Harry grinned, standing up. "He still likes me."
Hermione took a slow look around. "Are we really in Grimmauld Place?"
The house she remembered had been dark and suffocating, filled with shadows and echoes of old, evil magic. But this… was different.
Gone were the old-fashioned gas lamps that barely lit the hall, along with the peeling wallpaper and threadbare carpet. Instead, the walls were a pretty grey-blue, and sconces lit the hallway with warmth. Framed photographs replaced the old portraits. Teddy as a toddler with chocolate on his chin, Tonks through the years, Andromeda, Teddy and Harry at Christmas, that made her heart twinge.
"Did you think Andromeda was going to leave it that way? It took some convincing between her and Kreacher, but he finally agreed," Harry told her.
"It's so beautiful. It's almost like it's a completely different house," Hermione said in disbelief.
Harry pointed at the troll leg umbrella stand, "Andromeda wanted to toss that. I begged her to keep it, though, in Tonks's memory."
Hermione smiled, "That feels right."
"Come on," Harry said, walking backward toward the kitchen. "You've got to see the kitchen."
Hermione followed Harry into the kitchen. Stepping down into it, she caught the smell of sugar and butter, making her mouth water.
Andromeda was at the counter, stirring batter as Teddy stood on a chair next to her, sneaking chocolate chips as she talked to Rosella. Rosella had dough in her tiny hands, trying to roll it into a ball at Andromeda's instructions.
Andromeda looked up, "Hermione! There you are."
"Andi, thank you for allowing us to stay. I know it's short notice-"
"Pish posh," Andromeda interrupted, waving her hand. "This house is far too big for just me and Teddy. It's good to have some life back into it."
"Mumma!" Rosella called, grinning with chocolate smeared across her cheek. "I'm baking chocolate chip biscuits!"
"That you are," Hermione said as she walked over and brushed Rosella's hair back gently.
Harry smiled as he leaned against the doorframe, his sleeves rolled up. "I think we are going to have so many cookies that we won't know what to do."
Hermione shook her head, "Mr. Sweet Tooth, I don't know who will eat them." She said, grinning.
"Come on," Harry said, nodding out of the door. "Let me show you where you both will be staying."
Hermione kissed Rosella's head, then followed Harry out of the kitchen. Walking to the grand staircase, she noticed immediately that the walls were cleared of the house elf heads mounted on plaques that had made her stomach twist.
"The heads are in the basement," Harry paused, his foot raised on the first step, "There's an old potion lab that Kreacher has taken over," Harry told her as they reached the first floor, "Andi put them there at his request. The drawing room is still here, but much nicer. Andi completely changed it. The room that you and Ginny slept in is now a playroom, and of course, the bathroom is remodeled and modern."
Hermione glanced into the open door of the drawing room to see that the place where they had stayed together to escape the Ministry was completely changed. The tapestry was gone, as was the peeling wallpaper, as she followed Harry up the stairs to the second floor. Family photographs were scattered on the walls, along with artwork.
Harry paused at the door that used to be his and Ron's, then turned to look at her. "Were you ever up here?"
Hermione raised her brow, "To your and Ron's room? Yes, Harry." Hermione told him, confused.
"This is Andi's room now," he explained, then pointed to the door across the hall. "But do you remember how we could never open that one?"
Hermione frowned, glancing at the door. "Yes, it was sealed shut."
Harry rocked on his feet, the gleam in his eyes reminding her so much of Rosella when she was trying to keep a secret. "It was, but Andi figured it out." Harry looked thoughtful, "Oh, second thought, maybe we shouldn't go in there yet. Come on, let me show you the kids' room first."
Hermione narrowed her eyes as Harry started climbing the stairs. "Harry James Potter, you are absolutely terrible at keeping secrets, you know that?"
Harry grinned. "Suit yourself, but don't blame me if Kreacher catches you snooping."
Hermione hesitated, chewing on the inside of her lip as she stared at the door. In the end, her curiosity won, and she turned the knob and pushed it open.
And her breath caught in her chest.
The room was expanded far beyond what the house's walls should have allowed. The walls were lined from floor to ceiling with bookshelves, and a spiral staircase rose to the next floor. Stained glass windows of Salazar Slytherin cast coloured light down onto the floor below, and a cozy reading nook with an overstuffed couch next to a small fireplace made her want to curl up right away.
"It's enormous, it's bigger than my store," Hermione stated.
Harry leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. "Am I going to lose you in here?"
Hermione turned, smacking his arm. "You should have led with this, Harry!"
Harry laughed, "Come on, you haven't even seen the best part yet. The kids have their own little library, too. With picture books, a little puppet station, and their own little cozy reading area. I put bean bags in there. Andromeda only had pillows. Andi made sure to make a space for Teddy."
Hermione groaned, glancing at the library. "Can we just move in?"
Harry laughed, leading her up the stairs. "You love your house too much."
"You're right," she admitted with a sigh, "But it's very tempting. I can come over whenever, right?"
"You'd have to ask, Andi, but I'm sure she'd be okay with that," Harry said as they reached the third floor. "Rosella will stay here in this room."
Hermione glanced into the room as he pushed the door open, to find a beautiful room with lime green curtains and accents with a rod iron bed, and plenty of bookshelves to frame the bed. "It's beautiful."
"I transfigured the wallpaper that was in here, the best I could," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I hope she isn't here long, though. Teddy's across the hall, and they've got their own little bathroom and a little library between the two rooms."
Hermione grinned, looking at him.
"I figured it should feel like home for her… and for you. We might not have the castle here, but look at the shelves," Harry said.
Hermione glanced at them, "Mannequin heads with crowns?"
"Figured she might want some options," Harry said.
Hermione nodded, and he motioned up the last flight of stairs.
"Andi doesn't like to climb up this far, so I took Sirius's old room. If you're okay with it, I gave you Regulus's," he said as they reached the final landing.
Hermione looked at the door that once held the nameplate for Regulus. Turning the knob, she stepped inside.
The room was unrecognizable from the last time she had seen it. Gone were the faded blue stripes and dust-covered drapes. The walls had been repainted a soft periwinkle blue, scattered with delicate, silvery flowers that shimmered as the candlelight flickered within their lamps. The air smelled like lavender and something she couldn't place. A similar smell that had been downstairs in Rosella's room, possibly a cleaning charm, was in this room too.
Hermione turned slowly to look at him, eyes wide. "Did you… colour the walls from memory of my Yule Ball dress?"
Harry's face went red. "Maybe?"
Hermione blinked as her stomach made a funny flip. "You remembered that?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the floorboards. "Kind of hard to forget. You were… beautiful," he said softly. "It was before everything got complicated in our lives."
Hermione stepped into the room, running her hand over the smooth, royal blue sheets. They felt soft and smelled freshly washed with the hint of something floral. She swallowed back the lump in her throat as she stared at it.
"Did I do it okay?" he asked.
Hermione looked up at him, her throat tight. "Yeah," she whispered, "You did well."
He smiled, "Good, I wasn't sure if…" he trailed off as she sat on the edge of the bed, looking around the room.
"For a home that used to be so much chaos and hate… it feels so peaceful here," Hermione told him, looking around, then looking at him, "It's like the house stopped fighting us."
Harry nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "Well, turns out a lot of the fighting was Kreacher. When she had this house gutted, there were a lot of dark arts things that we missed."
Hermione smiled, "You thought of everything."
He shrugged, blushing. "Well, I didn't do all of it. Andi and Kreacher decorated your room after I picked the wall colours. Kreacher, when he found out you and Rosella were coming, I've never seen him so excited. He knew she was a girl somehow before I told him."
Hermione thought about it, then gasped, "The final battle! He called me his Mistress! Said in my condition that I needed to hide. I thought it was because I was sore from the battle."
Harry swallowed visibly, straightening as he cleared his throat. "You should get some rest. I'm going to hop back over to your house and make sure the wards are all set."
"Harry?"
Harry turned around and paused.
She smiled at him, "Thank you for thinking of everything… and for making me feel safe."
He gave her a small smile. "I'll always be here for you, Hermione."
As the door shut behind him, Hermione let out a long, shaky breath as she laid back on the bed.
~*~ 1st June 2003 ~*~
Rolling onto her back, Hermione let out a long sigh. Her first night in Grimmauld Place had been strange, to say the least. The room was quiet, too quiet, compared to the owls and robins singing from the trees at night. The toads and frogs from the stream near their house would also make noise that she had gotten used to. Instead, the house hummed with magic and almost masked any noise, as if there was a silencing charm around the house.
Stretching, her spine popped and pulled as it stretched her stiff muscles. Rolling to her side, she got out of bed. Her bare feet met the icy wooden floor, and she gasped, realizing in the rush to get out, she had forgotten her slippers.
The cold floor awakened a kind of urgency that happened first in the morning. Groaning, Hermione walked to the adjoining bathroom, opened the toilet, tugged her shorts down, and sighed in relief.
Still half asleep, she flushed, stood, and started washing her hands, only to freeze at the reflection of someone moving in the mirror.
Blurred, but unmistakable through her nearsighted vision, was the reflection of a very bare, very toned man turned away from her. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw the unmistakable shape of Harry Potter's back, and below that, his very bare buttocks, which were most definitely not wearing a towel.
Her brain caught up as she turned away. "Harry!" she yelped, covering her eyes with her wet hands.
"You didn't see me when you came in!" He said, his voice muffled toward the door.
"I don't have my glasses on, and I'm half asleep," Hermione blurted, mortified as she opened her fingers to look between them.
Harry grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapping it around his body before daring to turn around. "You wear glasses?"
"Yes!" Hermione said her voice was much too high. Realizing that her hands were still wet and that there was no towel to dry them on, she wiped them on her pyjamas, smearing water across her chest. "Years of reading tiny print caught up with me."
"Right. Makes sense," he said, nodding too much.
"Okay, well… sorry!" she squeaked before darting out of the bathroom and slamming the door behind her.
She leaned back against it, her face burning at how warm it was, "Oh shite," she whispered to herself, as she bit her lip. "I'm not going to survive this."
The smells of roasted veggies and chicken, along with freshly baked bread, filled Grimmauld Place as the sounds of Victoire, Teddy, and Rosella running around downstairs echoed up the stairwell. Sunday dinners at the Burrow had become a tradition over the last few years, allowing Molly and Arthur to see the grandkids as much as they could.
Slowly shutting her bedroom door to close out the sound of Harry, Andi, the kids, and all the rambunctious Weasleys that were downstairs, Hermione turned around to see Ginny and Luna sitting on her bed.
"He… is it even possible to have an eight-pack?" Hermione asked, pacing the floor before flopping onto her bed next to Luna.
Ginny looked over Luna, grinning, "An eight-pack? Oh, this is fantastic."
Luna smiled. "I always thought that Harry would be quite attractive once he was able to eat better and was treated better."
Ginny snorted, "He's had a Quidditch build for years. He just didn't have enough fat on his body to show it. Are you just noticing it now? Come on, I know the three of you were camping, and obviously, you two had sex at least once."
Hermione groaned, "We were starving to death! But this morning…"
Luna tilted her head. "Well, it's only natural. You've loved him for years."
Ginny looked at her wide-eyed. "Wait… does he know that you still love him?"
Hermione sat up quickly. "Of course, he doesn't know! He just broke off his engagement, Ginny! I'm not going to jump him right after."
Ginny crossed her arms over her chest, "That wasn't really an engagement. Come on, Hermione. Even you said Melinda was more of a convenience than a fiancée."
Hermione groaned, "This is so messy." She told them as she laid back down.
Luna nudged her with her hand, "Sometimes messy things lead to the best stories, and I think this one has been waiting to be told for a long time."
Ginny smirked, "Or at least until the next shower. You know what I think? Listen for water running, then go for it."
"Ginny!" Hermione said, shocked.
"What? You need a push, and I'm just saying, you already walked in once. Maybe the universe is trying to tell you something," Ginny told her.
Luna giggled, "That's one way to tempt fate."
Hermione covered her face. "You two are impossible."
Ginny grinned, "We're your friends. It's our job." She stood up, "Now come on, I can smell the rolls, and I may just eat them all."
Hermione threw her arm over her face, "You go without me."
"Don't be a coward," Ginny told her as Luna grabbed her hand.
Hermione sighed as Luna pulled her up, "Fine." She said dramatically, rolling her eyes.
Following the girls down the stairs, Ginny paused at the second-floor landing and looked at them, "We're going to announce our news at dinner tonight. I have to make the announcement next weekend that I won't be playing going into the playoffs."
Hermione grinned, "Oh, Molly is going to be so excited."
"Please save me if she gets too much," Ginny begged.
Luna laughed, "Oh, she will have plenty to be excited about. Now, we have a starving baby. Let's go eat."
"Honestly, I'm craving the rolls that I've been smelling," Ginny told them.
"I think she would like it if you put a little butter and cinnamon on the roll," Luna told her.
Ginny froze, grabbing Luna's arm, "She?"
Luna shrugged, "I don't know, I just have a feeling."
Ginny looked at Hermione as Luna walked past Ginny, "Is she crazy?"
Hermione grinned, "I don't think she's as crazy as people think she really is. Come on, let's get some of those rolls before Ron eats them all."
Entering the dining room, Hermione smiled as Ginny walked over to Neville and kissed the top of his head, then sat down beside him.
"Everything okay?"
Hermione looked at Harry, then smiled. "Everything is going to be great."
Fred stood up. "Great, everyone is here. I have an announcement to make. Well," Fred said, looking at Angelina, "WE have an announcement to make. There is going to be another Weasley come January!"
Molly gasped at the same time that Ginny did, running over to hug Fred.
George grinned, "And you are all formally invited to our wedding!"
Molly turned to George, "What?"
"Well, weddings," Fred said, "I don't want to marry George. That's incest and gross."
"I'm a pick," George told him, "And very attractive. You could be my brother wife! Oh, Freddie, my beloved brother wife!"
"Oh, Georgie, I guess that makes you my sister wife?" Fred asked. (Shoutout to Bearsona, on Discord!)
"What is going on here?" Molly asked, looking between the twins.
"Molly dear," Arthur said as he put his arm around her, "I think what the boys are trying to say is that… they have formed a triad."
"No, no," Fred said, holding his hands up, "Not me with Georgie. We're more like polygamy. I was with Angelina, and then after the battle ended, we got drunk and Georgie made a pass at her and… well, it's been going on since after the war, honestly."
Ginny threw down her napkin. "You assholes! Tonight was supposed to be about me! Guess what, I'm pregnant too!"
Neville watched her run off. "So yeah, we're due in December." He said as he got up and followed her.
Molly sat down in disbelief. "Two grandbabies?"
Harry elbowed Hermione, "Look, I'm sorry about this morning," he whispered, making her shiver.
Hermione swallowed, looking at him, "I'm fine. Totally my fault. I didn't realize we shared a bathroom."
"I'll remember to lock the door next time," Harry told her.
Hermione nodded as she bit her lip and tried not to grin, "I think Molly's mind is blown at the fact they were dating the same witch all along."
Andi cleared her throat, "Well, let's eat."
Hermione walked over and sat down next to Rosella after Harry pulled her chair out for her.
When Ginny and Neville finally returned, Ginny's eyes were still slightly red, but she was smiling now, her hand within Neville's.
Fred pushed his chair back and walked over to her. "Gin, we… owe you an apology."
George nodded, his arm over Angelina's chair. "We didn't mean to steal your thunder, little sis. We didn't even know you had thunder to steal, of course."
Ginny crossed her arms. "You never know when to shut up, do you?"
Fred grinned, "It's part of our charm."
Molly sniffed loudly, "My babies are having babies." She said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
Dinner was a tension-filled event for Hermione as every time she glanced over at Harry, he was looking at her. A look that always made her heart race.
She shivered as Harry's breath ghosted along her neck, "You've done well, Hermione."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Thanks."
Her skin tingled beneath her trousers as Harry's knee brushed hers under the table. Trying not to show how he was affecting her, she avoided looking at him as Andi brought out dessert for everyone. She tried to calm her trembling hand as she cut into her cake.
"Are you sure you're okay about this morning?"
Hermione prayed that he didn't hear her heart beating. "I'm fine."
His gaze lingers on her for a second. "You're sure?"
Hermione nodded as Teddy called his name and took his attention away from her. Looking around, the Weasleys were laughing again. Fred and George were bickering over who would be the better father. But it was all background noise to Hermione. Her pulse was hammering in her ears, her skin hot. Sitting this close to him, she let out a slow breath. Things were finally coming together.
Preview of Chapter 35 – Get the Girl Back
"If you don't mind me asking," Harry said quietly, "What was your nightmare about?"
Hermione tightened her fingers on her cup. "The final battle. Hagrid came out of the forest without you. Said you were dead."
She saw his jaw tense. "You dreamt I didn't survive?"
Hermione nodded, closing her eyes. "It's my most common one."
She heard him sigh.
"Mine," Harry admitted, "is always about you. The night that Bellatrix tortured you. It's worse now, though. It's mutated, now that I know you were pregnant then. Sometimes I see you bleeding or hearing your scream. Sometimes… it's both of you being tortured."
Hermione opened her eyes to see him gazing far off, distantly. Haunted by his memories as much as she was.
"I've seen women die that way, you know," he stated. "Bleeding out with no one to help them. When I first saw it, I'd had nightmares it was you."
Hermione rested her hand on his. "All three of us are here." She whispered. "Alive, and together at last."
Harry looked at their hands. "Yeah, together," he said quietly.
Hermione only registered that the words had come out of her mouth after she had said them. "Stay with me tonight?"