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.
She's about to walk away.
So if you're gonna make her want to stay,
Tell her she's your moon and sun.
Tell her that she's always been the one.
You've gotta say it from the heart.
'Cause she will know a fake right from the start.
A girl like that deserves the best, uh, yeah.
You've got to show her (show her)
That you're not like all the rest.
It's about time that you put your cards back on the table,
It's about time that you show her you're willing and able.
It's about time that you get the girl back.
That you get the girl back on your side.
You've got to get the girl back, get the girl back.
Yeah
~ Get the Girl Back by Hanson
~*~ 2nd June 2003 ~*~
"Mistress… Mistress Hermione, you must wake."
Hermione stirred, frowning in the darkness as she squinted. "Kreacher?"
"Mistress Rosella is crying. Kreacher tried to help, but she is screaming."
Hermione was instantly awake. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she grabbed her glasses as she slid her feet into her transfigured slippers. "Thank you, Kreacher."
She hurried down the stairs and pushed open Rosella's door. Her little girl's sobs filled the dimly lit room.
"Oh, baby girl," Hermione whispered as she crossed the room, over to her bed. "Mumma is here."
Rosella held her little arms out, and Hermione climbed into the small twin-sized bed with her. Rosella buried her face into Hermione's chest as her small shoulders shook.
"It's all right, sweetheart. It was just a dream," Hermione murmured, running her fingers through her curls. "Go back to sleep, love. I'm right here."
Rosella's sobs turned into quiet hiccups. Once, twice, before she finally settled. Easing herself into the narrow bed, she wrapped her arms around her daughter, quietly singing to her until the rhythm of Rosella's breathing lulled and Hermione shut her eyes.
"Hermione." Was just on the edge of her consciousness. "Hermione."
Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around the room, confused, before settling on Harry, who was crouched beside the bed.
"Harry?" she croaked, rubbing her eyes with the hand not currently under Rosella.
He smiled. "How long have you been sleeping in here?"
Hermione swallowed, trying to wet her dry mouth. "Since around one," she admitted, trying to roll her stiff neck. "She had a nightmare."
Harry nodded, glancing down at Rosella, still fast asleep in tangled blankets. He extended a hand, "Come on." He whispered.
Hermione took it, carefully pulling her arm out from under Rosella. Once she was sure that it didn't wake Rosella, she followed him quietly into the hall, yawning as she slid her glasses back onto her face. "What time is it?"
"A little after five," Harry said quietly as he shut the door. "I was going to go for a run, and I thought I'd check on her. You could probably get another hour of sleep."
Hermione yawned. "Thanks," she mumbled, stepping onto the stairs.
Harry chuckled behind her, quietly.
"What?" she asked, turning.
"You do have a tattoo," Harry grinned.
Hermione froze and tugged her shirt down. "What?"
Harry stepped closer, his gaze dropping to her ankle. Relief flooded through her when she realized what he'd seen. A shiver ran up her leg to her spine when his fingertip brushed the edges of the ink on the outside of her right ankle.
"A rosella lily…" he murmured as he traced the design, "But it's in a lightning bolt?"
Hermione smiled, her heart thudding within her chest. She reached out and let her finger trail over the ridge of his faded scar. His breath caught, as his eyes fluttered shut.
"I wondered where I got the idea," she whispered. "Look at the letters."
Harry leaned in, squinting in the low light. "R…L…P," he read quietly. "Rosella Lily… Potter?" His voice deepened at the end as he looked up at her.
Hermione stepped down to be on the same level as him. "It's on her birth certificate. You're listed as her father. Kingsley helped me keep it quiet so that no one could trace her through the records." She sighed, "Now I understand why he was so insistent about helping, though. Look at the bottom."
Harry glanced down again, "My initials."
Hermione smiled. "Without you, I wouldn't have her, Harry. When I first found out I was pregnant, I didn't know what to do. My plans, my life… everything changed. But now…" she bit her lip, "I can't imagine my world without her."
The air between them was heavy. Quiet. Full of things between them, still unspoken.
Hermione stepped back up the step. "See you in an hour or so."
Harry nodded as she turned around and climbed the stairs.
Slipping back into her bed, she exhaled as her head met the pillow. Sleep came easily this time. Her last conscious thought was his face when he'd seen the initials. His initials that were etched into her skin forever.
Rosella let out a tiny snore as Hermione read the open page, her head pressed against Hermione's hip as they put her to bed. Hermione smiled faintly as she read the last line of the page before bookmarking it. Looking down at her sleeping daughter, she brushed a stray curl from her cheek. Across the room, Harry sat in the tiny pink beanbag, his knees awkwardly bent, one arm hanging over the side. The sight of his long frame on the little chair made Hermione smile.
Carefully, Hermione slid out from under Rosella, who sighed, resting her face in her pillow. Standing, she tucked the blanket around Rosella before turning toward Harry, whose eyes opened.
"Is she asleep?" he whispered.
Hermione smiled, "So were you." She held out her hand, "Come on."
Harry rubbed his eyes before taking her hand. Her fingers lingered for a moment in his longer than they should have. Sliding her hand out of his, she led their way downstairs, and the old floorboards were cold and creaking under her feet. Hermione went straight to the kitchen, pushing her sleeves up as she started filling the sinks.
Harry stepped up next to her, grabbing a dish towel. "No, no. You cooked, I'll do the dishes." He held the towel out for her, "You dry."
Hermine yawned, rolling her shoulders. "I won't argue with that."
Harry glanced at her, "You look exhausted."
She shrugged, leaning against the counter. "There's no bed like your own," she said, yawning again.
"I can get you a new mattress," He offered.
Hermione shook her head, "It's not the mattress. This place is too quiet. Nothing you can fix," she added, "I'm just used to nocturnal noises at home. Hearing Rosella move around in her bed, the animals outside. It's probably a bit of PTSD, but I spent too many nights listening for her every breath while she slept."
Harry stopped scrubbing a pan and looked at her, "Why?"
Hermione hesitated. "I never told you that she was born early?"
"You did," he said, setting the pan back into the water. "But did she have breathing issues?"
Hermione nodded. "Once, when she was in the Little Wizards ward, I thought I lost her. She was blue, her chest sinking in." She bit her lip, "It was right after another little boy died, so it was even more terrifying."
Harry looked at her sadly, "Does she have any lingering issues?"
"Not really. She gets colds easily, but otherwise she is fine." Hermione smiled at him, "But it doesn't stop the worrying. I still sleep better when I can hear her. I have a monitor still for her room at home."
They finished washing the dishes quietly. The running water filled the silence, a comfortable one rather than an empty one.
When they were done, they moved to the drawing room, where Harry stoked the fire while Hermione curled up under a throw on the couch, a book she had found in the library on her lap.
Andi appeared in the doorway. "There you two are. It took Teddy a while to settle, so I think I'm heading to bed early."
Hermione smiled, "Sleep well, Andi."
"You both, too," Andromeda said with a wink before disappearing.
Harry blinked. "What was that about?"
Hermione tried to hide her grin. "Nothing."
Harry didn't press as he stood. "Want some wine?"
Hermione straightened her back. "I'd love some."
Harry leaned over the back of the couch, "Red or white?"
"Red."
He nodded, "Be right back."
When he returned a few minutes later, Hermione had gotten lost in her book again, and his voice startled her. "Here."
She looked up and smiled, taking the glass. "Thanks." She looked at his own tumbler, "That smells suspiciously like Firewhiskey."
Harry smirked as he sat on the other side of the couch, "Blame Seamus."
"Seamus?"
Harry chuckled. "He used to sneak it into the dorms."
Hermione gasped, "What? You're lying!"
"Why would I lie about that?" He asked as he sipped, "The twins got it for us most of the time."
She hit his leg with her free hand. "Harry!"
"Hermione!" He mocked in the same tone, grinning. "You can't change it now. At first, it was just Seamus and Dean, but even Neville joined in by our sixth year."
Hermione shook her head. "Unbelievable, you were children!"
Harry laughed, "We never got drunk. Well… except that one time. I went to practice the next day despite being hungover. Terrible decision on the captain's part."
Hermione stared at him. "I just can't believe it."
Harry leaned back against the couch, relaxing. "Whatever happened to Dean and Seamus?"
Hermione looked at him. "You didn't keep in contact with anyone?"
Harry's smile faded. "I wrote to Neville, but he never replied. Ron didn't either. After a while, I just sent my letters to him with you, knowing you were living at the Burrow. Dean and Seamus… we weren't exactly close. Roommates, not friends. You saw how fast Seamus used to turn on me. Dean and I talked Muggle stuff, but when he started dating Ginny, I got jealous, I guess. After the war, I didn't reach out. I didn't reach out to anyone, really."
Hermione's heart clenched in her chest. "Oh, Harry. No wonder we got along so well. Two Muggle raised loners in a magical world that never really fit us."
Harry tossed back the last of his Firewhisky, "It was effortless with you. Always has been. I loved nights like this, you know."
She blinked, "What do you mean?"
"The late nights when Ron went to bed. The quiet. You never asked me for anything except whether I'd finished my homework." His grin went lopsided, making something in Hermione's chest flutter. "You were constant. I didn't realize how much that meant until it's gone."
Hermione felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh, Harry…"
He winced. "Don't cry, please. I didn't mean to."
"Just ignore me," she said quickly, waving her hand in front of her face, trying to laugh it off. "I'm just hormonal."
Harry nodded with a soft smile.
The fire crackled as she went back to her book. Glancing over it, "Thank you," she whispered.
Harry opened his eyes. "For what?"
"For still being you."
Harry smiled, "Always for you."
~*~ 3rd June 2003 ~*~
Hermione screamed. Smoke filled her lungs as she ran across the battlefield, dodging and casting spells as she ran toward the Forbidden Forest, which was on fire, making the sky glow ominously around them all. Freezing as Hagrid's sobs broke through the forest line before he did, his massive frame shaking as he stumbled through the trees.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "Please no!"
"He's gone," Hagrid choked out, "Harry's gone, Hermione. He's gone."
Hermione fell to her knees as the world spun around her.
Through the smoke, Sirius's ghost appeared, pale and flickering in the embers. "I wish I could change things," he murmured, "I wish I could've saved him."
A sob tore from her throat as the ghostly form of Harry appeared next to him, and Hermione reached for him, her hand passing through cold air.
Gasping awake, she clutched the sheets to her chest as her heart pounded within her chest. Sweat rolled down her face along with her tears as she tried to keep from hyperventilating.
For a moment, she didn't know where she was in the darkness. Casting a wandless tempus: 3:04 a.m. It was her most prominent nightmare nearly every night if she didn't take Dreamless Sleep.
Creak
Hermione froze.
Then the sound came again. Sharp and clear. Listening closely, there was a pattern. Floorboards groaning. Someone was walking back and forth, pacing.
She slipped her glasses on and slid out of bed, inching her way to the door. Pressing her ear against it, she listened. The steps were steady, louder, nearly on the other side of her door, as if the person were debating whether to wake her.
Easing the door open, the hallway was empty, the one lamp giving a dim light to the hallway. With her bedroom door open, the sound was louder now, coming from across the hall.
Harry's room.
Hermione quietly walked over to it and pressed her ear to his door, causing the floorboard to creak. Stepping back as the pacing stopped inside, footsteps came closer until the door opened a crack.
"Hermione?" The door opened wider as Harry appeared on the other side, his long hair messy, his eyes having dark circles underneath them. "Everything okay?"
Swallowing hard, she looked at him. "I couldn't sleep. I heard you walking. Everything all right?"
He leaned against his doorframe. "Nightmare. Sometimes I get nervous energy after one."
Hermione nodded, "Had one myself. They still flare up, more often than I'd like."
Harry pushed his door wider, "Come on in. I made myself some tea and was letting it brew. It helps."
Hermione stepped inside, noticing how familiar yet unchanged the room felt. She looked at him. "You kept Sirius's posters?" she asked, seeing the old Muggle model posters.
Harry rubbed his neck. "Didn't have the heart to take them down. Andromeda changed the bed. Said it was unacceptable for a Lord. I was sleeping on Sirius's old mattress."
Hermione chuckled, then looked toward the window as a flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a low rumble of thunder.
Harry motioned toward the bed. "Go ahead and sit. The tea should be ready."
She sat on his bed, tucking her feet under her. "What kind is it?"
"It's called Suan Zao Ren. It's a seed tea with chamomile. It calms the mind," he poured her a cup. "Whenever I can't sleep… or the memories haunt me, I make some."
She sniffed her cup. "Does it need milk or sugar?"
"Try it first," he said, taking a sip of his own.
Taking a tentative sip, she nodded. "Not bad."
Sitting in silence, other than the thunder and the rain that pounded against the windows as they sipped their tea, Hermione took comfort in his presence.
"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?"
Harry blinked at her. Once… twice… slowly a third time.
She bit her lip. "Please… just until I fall asleep?"
Harry nodded as he finished his tea and set the cup aside. Sliding under his blankets, Harry looked down at her uncertainly.
"I'm not going to bite," Hermione teased.
He grinned as he drew the curtains closed and climbed into bed next to her. "Nox," and the room fell into complete darkness.
Hermione took off her glasses and placed them on the table beside her half-finished tea. Lying on her back, she let the scent of him, the woodsmoke, and the tea all settle her nerves.
"Hermione?"
She rolled onto her side to face him. "Hm?"
"I was just wondering if you were asleep."
She yawned, "That tea works. I'm getting sleepy."
"Good," Harry said quietly, "Get some rest."
Hermione smiled as she turned away from him. Between the tea and Harry's presence, surrounded by warmth and the steady sound of rain, Hermine quickly fell asleep.
~*~ 5th June 2003 ~*~
Sitting curled up with a blanket in the window seat of her bedroom at Grimmauld Place, Hermione pressed her mobile phone against the window to get the best signal. The cool glass against the side of her head was grounding her after her nightmare that had kept her up since 3 AM. Listening to the ring on the other side, she smiled when her Mum picked up.
"Happy Birthday, Mum," she said softly, "I didn't wake you, did I?"
"It's 5:30, you know me. I got up at five. This is early for you, though," Briar Rose said, "How are things going, love?"
Hermione exhaled. "It's… going."
"Are you having trouble sleeping again?" Briar Rose asked.
"Yeah," Hermione admitted, rubbing her eyes that felt as if there were sand inside them. "It's not my bed, I'm chalking it up to that. It's also weirdly quiet for being in the city."
"So, all this time, you haven't been sleeping properly? Don't you have potions for that?" Briar Rose asked.
Hermione bit her lip, "I slept fairly well two nights ago. Otherwise, it has been hit or miss."
"How'd my little Rosie? Adjusting all right?"
Hermione smiled. "Oh, to her it's an adventure. It's an extended sleepover with Teddy. Poor Annie is going to have competition when we go home. Andi and I were discussing how we hope Teddy learns to control his abilities more soon. He still randomly changes his hair color depending on his moods."
Briar Rose laughed, "He sounds adorable."
Hermione opened her mouth, then paused as she heard a faint sound. A steady thump and frowned. "Hold on, Mum," she said as she stood.
"What's wrong?" Briar Rose asked quickly.
"I… I hear something," Hermione said as she walked over to her bedroom door, her wand in hand. She stepped into the hall, listening. The noise was quieter but still persistent, as if it were coming from above her.
"Is someone trying to break in?" Briar Rose asked worried, the connection going slightly static, "Do I need to call the police?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, I don't think that's it. I think…" she whispered as her eyes landed on a small door that she didn't notice before, just before the staircase, "I think there is an attic."
"Hermione, don't go up there," Briar Rose warned. "You're in someone else's house and… don't become one of those girls in a horror movie."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Mum, this whole place is magically sealed. No one can get in," she whispered, turning the knob.
The door creaked softly, revealing a steep flight of stairs. At the opening of the door, the sound grew louder, more rhythmic, with a faint accompanying hum. Hermione carefully climbed the stairs on the balls of her feet to try to prevent the old floorboards from creaking.
Just before the top of the stairs, she peeked around the corner… and froze.
A lantern and a skylight that was casting the rising sun's light down on Harry were all that lit the attic. He was shirtless, with visible sweat glistening on his skin as he ran on a treadmill like a man being chased by Snatchers.
Hermione bit her lip as she whispered. "Mum, it's Harry. He's running on a treadmill."
Briar Rose's voice came through moments later, sounding amused. "Well… he is very fit."
Hermione's cheeks burned as she looked back around the railing as the treadmill beeped and his cadence slowed. The screen read 5.0 km as Harry removed the towel, wiped his face, and then slowed to a stop. She watched him move over to a mat near the treadmill, and he began stretching. She inhaled as he moved into a pose. Yoga. She swallowed hard, then bit her lip, watching his trousers tighten against his backside. His movements were smooth, as he was still completely unaware of her presence.
"Hermione?" Briar Rose asked, "Are you still there?"
Hermione jumped, turning quickly, tiptoeing back down the stairs. As she quietly shut the door behind her, she swore she saw his feet at the top of the steps.
Heart racing, she slipped back through her bedroom door, shutting it softly behind her.
"Sorry, Mum," she whispered, "I didn't want Harry knowing that I was watching him."
She nearly heard her mum grinning, "Of course not. Perfectly understandable."
Hermione groaned, throwing herself down onto her bed, "Don't you start."
"I didn't say a word," Briar Rose said, "But if he is the reason that you finally slept well the one night… I say bring more of it on."
"Mum!" Hermione gasped.
The scent of fresh coffee drifted up the stairs as Hermione, fresh from her shower, walked downstairs, tying her robe tighter as she followed the smell of food that made her stomach growl.
Entering the kitchen, she froze as she saw Harry standing behind Rosella at the kitchen table. His large fingers were weaving Rosella's curls into a neat French braid while Teddy and Rosella talked about their plans for the day between bites of breakfast.
Hermione's heart made an odd little flutter as she watched Harry's hands move with surprising gentleness.
Harry glanced up to see her. "Hey. Morning. I just put a fresh pot of coffee on for you."
Hermione tried to hide her smile. "You know how to braid?" she asked, pointing at them.
Harry grinned, "I watched you do it enough on the Horcrux hunt to figure it out."
Hermione's pulse quickened. He remembered her braiding her own hair beside dying fires, pretending his presence did not affect her.
Harry tied off the braid and patted Rosella's shoulder. "There you go, all done."
Rosella beamed, "Thank you, Daddy! Morning, Mumma!"
"Morning, sweetheart," Hermione said as she crossed over to the coffee maker. "Did you sleep well?"
Rosella nodded, her face covered in some syrup, "I had a dream about a big castle and a dragon, Mumma! I was flying on a broomstick, trying to keep my baby doll safe!"
Hermione smiled as she poured herself a cup. Rosella's dream sounded a lot like Harry's story from last night about the first Triwizard task.
"Need milk?"
Hermione jumped, nearly spilling her coffee. Harry stood just behind her, holding the carton in his hand, close enough that she could feel his warmth through her robe.
"Oh… yeah, thanks," she said quickly.
Reaching for the milk, his arm brushed hers. "Here, let me," he said, brushing up against her whole right arm as he poured a little into her mug before setting it down.
"Thanks," she murmured, bringing the mug to her lips. Her wretched heart was betraying her, and she prayed that Harry couldn't hear it.
"No problem," Harry said, brushing up against her again, "You know, if you ever want to try a run in the morning, just let me know."
Hermione inhaled mid-sip and coughed up coffee.
"Hermione?" Andromeda asked, standing up as Harry went to the refrigerator, "Are you all right?"
Hermione nodded, clearing her throat as she tried to wave it off. "Went down the wrong way."
She glanced at Harry, who was smirking as he put the milk back into the refrigerator.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, catching his own.
The fire was crackling softly as Harry read the newest Magic Tree House book to Rosella, as she was curled up in his lap, her small head resting against his chest while he read.
She would chime in every few sentences as she found a familiar word and would point it out as she told him what it was. As he read, her words grew less frequent, and the pointing stopped, as her small body sagged against his.
Harry smiled, brushing a stray curl from her face, to see that her eyes were closed.
Hermione was curled up on the other end of the couch, a blanket pulled over her legs as she read her own book. Glancing over at her, the soft light from the fire made her glow, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe at how beautiful she was.
Hermione glanced up from her book, "She's asleep."
Harry looked back at their daughter. Her tiny mouth was slightly open as her breath evened out slowly. She looked so much like Hermione when she slept that it did something funny to his chest. "I'll take her upstairs. You keep reading."
He gently stood, holding Rosella close to him. She was so light in his arms that he realized how tiny she was as her small arms wrapped around his neck. Inhaling the scent of her strawberry shampoo, Harry smiled against her hair.
Upstairs, the house was quiet as he pushed Rosella's bedroom door open, then walked over to her bed, pulling her covers back before setting her down into bed. She sighed, smacking her lips before letting out a tiny snore.
A loud purr startled him as Crookshanks jumped out from under the bed and walked across her bed to lie down beside her. Curling up like a guardian.
Harry smiled, "Old man, watch over her for me?"
The cat blinked up at him, then closed his eyes again.
Tucking the blankets around her, Harry leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, my beautiful girl," he whispered.
He lingered for a moment before slipping from the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
Downstairs, the fire had dimmed to embers. Hermione was asleep now, her head lying against the couch, her book open in her lap.
Harry smiled as he set her book aside, marking her page, and gently pulled her blanket away. She stirred as he lifted her into his arms.
"Harry," she mumbled, her breath against his neck. She sighed, "Harry…"
Harry felt his heart sputter in his chest. "Shhh," he whispered, tightening his hold as he started up the stairs. "Go back to sleep. I'm taking you to bed."
Her arms wrapped tighter around his neck as her face pressed into the crook of his neck. By the time he reached her room, his pulse was thundering in his ears. Lying her gently on her bed, he started stepping away when her fingers grabbed onto his shirt.
"Stay," she murmured, her eyes still closed.
Staring down at her, "I don't know if that's a good idea," he whispered, carefully removing her glasses.
"I sleep… better," she mumbled, "I miss sleeping. I can sleep with you."
Harry swallowed hard, "Be right back."
In his room, he changed quickly, pausing in front of the mirror. His reflection looked back at him, hair all a mess. His heart was beating in his chest too fast, as if he were having a panic attack. "Harry, it's just sleeping. You can do this."
Shutting the light off, he opened the door on the other side and walked into her bedroom. In the dark, the windowlight made her seem to glow as he walked over to the bed, staring down at her, debating whether to go back through the bathroom to his own room.
"Harry," she whispered, "Come to bed."
Harry swallowed as he climbed into bed next to her and stiffened when she rolled over and laid her head on his chest. She sighed, relaxing into his chest. Slowly, he let himself relax, then pulled the covers up over them both. Setting his wand on the table beside her bed, he slowly placed his arm around her and laid quietly for only a few moments before sleep quickly took him. And neither of them experienced a nightmare the entire night.
~*~ 6th June 2003 ~*~
An arm tightening over her back made Hermione open her eyes. Inhaling, she didn't move as she listened to the sound of Harry's heartbeat from his chest. The slow, steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. It seemed from the light streaming through the window that the sun had just begun to rise. Just as she was about to close her eyes and go back to sleep, the room lit up with a glow from both wands lying on the bedside tables. Then they both began to vibrate faintly, then more frequently as they projected the blueprint of her house. Her ward frame started glowing red at her front door.
Harry moved as she did, and Hermione blinked at the blurry ward frame. "That's my house. Someone is trying to break through my wards."
They both jumped up, and she grabbed her glasses.
Harry scanned the projection on the wall. The glowing blueprint pulsed at her back door now.
"Go to Rosella," he ordered. "Just in case, I'll check the ward frame downstairs."
Hermione nodded, already moving to the hall, Harry right behind her.
As they reached Rosella's door, both their wands flared again. A sharp burst of light as a high-piercing sound filled the air.
Hermione gasped, "The Caterwauling charm. They're trying to break the wards here."
"Get her, I'll get Teddy. Go straight to the basement," Harry told her, sprinting to Teddy's room.
Throwing open Rosella's door, she found her sitting up, her hands clamped over her ears as Crookshanks hissed. "Mumma!"
"It's all right, sweetheart," Hermione said as she scooped her up into her arms. "We need to go downstairs now. Keep your arms tight around me."
Rosella nodded, still trembling, as Hermione stepped into the hall. Harry was coming out of Teddy's room with the little boy as Andromeda came running up the stairs, her wand drawn.
"Someone is trying to break through the wards," Andromeda told them.
"Take Teddy," Harry told her, handing him over. "You and Hermione take the kids to the basement. I'm sending a Patronus to Ron and Susan."
"Harry-" Hermione said as he cut her off with a look that he gave her before heading to the forest.
"Go. I want you both safe," Harry told her as he leaned down and kissed Rosella's head.
"Be careful," she whispered.
"I will," he said as he rapidly raised his wand, and two matching silver blurs erupted from his wand, running down the stairs. Hermione frowned as she watched them both take off, vaguely having a thought that the shape was all wrong before following Harry, who took off down the stairs.
Hermione hurried down the stairs, her pulse hammering in her ears, following Harry, with Andromeda following her. Crookshanks rushed ahead of them, leading them all to safety.
Once at the basement door, Kreacher was waiting. The old elf stood alert, his ears twitching at each sound of the alarm. "Mistress Hermione, Kreacher is to seal this door once you are through. Kreacher will protect the little ones."
Hermione looked up the stairs to the ground floor, "But Harry-"
"Master and I will deal with the intruder," he told her as she stepped inside the door, and he shut the door behind her. A shimmer of blue light ran along the frame as it sealed.
Rosella whimpered against her neck, and Hermione pressed a kiss to her head as she carried her down the steps. When she reached the bottom, Andromeda was already lighting the lamps with a flick of her wand.
"No, it wasn't a fire alarm. It was because someone was trying to enter the house," Andi explained to Teddy gently, "Harry's handling it."
Teddy looked at them, scared, "Is Uncle Harry going to be okay?"
Hermione swallowed hard. "Your Uncle Harry defeated one of the worst wizards of all time in school. He will be fine," Hermione told him.
Andromeda walked over to the laundry area. "Well, at least I just did the winter blankets."
Hermione gave her a faint smile as she took one from her. "Thanks," she said, wrapping it around Rosella, then took one for herself.
Transfiguring two bags that were soft into bean bag chairs, Hermione sat down and pulled Rosella onto her lap as Andi settled on the old sofa with Teddy.
"What do you think it is?" Andi asked quietly after both kids fell back asleep as the house above them grew quiet. Too quiet for Hermione's liking.
Hermione bit her lip. "I don't know."
Crookshanks leaped up on the other beanbag before curling up next to her hip. Running her hand over his fur calmed her as his soft purr joined in time with Rosella's soft snores.
Andromeda shook her head. "I can't believe Kingsley would do this. I went to school with him, you know. He was younger than I was, a second year to my seventh. How could he have fallen this far, if it is really him?"
Hermione sighed, "Power changes people, Andi. Once they have it, they'll twist themselves into anything they have to be to keep it. From what Harry's solicitors have found, corruption runs deeper than we thought. Some of the old Pureblood families, such as Burke and Victors, and possibly even the Beauforts, adapted after the war. They played up to the idea of equality, but their prejudices never truly vanished. Susan said that Kingsley wasn't so bad at first. But lately, in the last couple of years, he's been surrounded by the wrong people whispering in his ear."
Andromeda shook her head. "I can guarantee that Beaufort is involved. My father did business with him. He was slippery as they came."
A sharp crack made Hermione jump as Kreacher apparated into the basement.
"Kreacher!" Hermione gasped, "You startled me. What's happening?"
Kreacher bowed. "Mistress Hermione, Mistress Black, the being has been identified. They are speaking with it now." He looked down, "Disgrace to the duties befitting our kind. Should punish himself extensively."
Hermione frowned. "Wait… being? Was it an elf?"
Kreacher muttered something, then nodded. "Yes, Mistress. It was."
Hermione's heart sank as she tried to think of the elf that Kingsley sent to them after the final battle. "Huntington," she murmured as she looked at him. "See if his name is Huntington. That was the elf that Kingsley sent us after the battle."
Kreacher bowed again, then vanished with a pop.
After about half an hour had passed, the wards remained quiet, and the silence remained in the basement. Every creak of the old floorboards above made Hermione's nerves fray. Andromeda had drifted off to sleep with Teddy on the sofa, but not Hermione. Then, finally, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
"It's me!" a familiar voice called quietly.
Hermione exhaled as Ron appeared, wand in hand, in his pyjamas. "What's going on?"
"It was Kingsley's elf," Ron said, lowering himself on the beanbag next to her. "That Huntington that Kreacher mentioned. He said that he had orders to breach the wards and speak to you directly."
"Me? Why me?" Hermione asked.
Ron shrugged, "He refused to give us much before he started punishing himself. Kingsley probably thought you'd listen with your history of fighting for elf rights, that he'd use his elf to make a plea." He looked down at Rosella, still sleeping. "How's Rosie?"
Hermione brushed a stray curl from her face. "Tired, scared. She's been through too much already."
Ron put his arm around her shoulders. "I know, I think we've all had enough of this, haven't we? We've earned our peace."
Hermione let her head rest on his shoulder, exhaustion pulling at her body. "I just want things to go back to how they were."
Ron ran his hand over her arm. "You look like you are finally sleeping better."
Hermione nodded, "Last night… no nightmares. It's been a long time since that happened."
"Good, you need the rest," Ron told her, "The shop is fine by the way. The girls have everything under control."
The sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs again, as Harry appeared on the stairs with Susan Bones behind him.
"Ron said it was Huntington. Did he tell us where he is?" Hermione said as she sat up, and Ron stood up.
Susan shook her head, "No, we didn't expect him to either. But now he is without his elf, and we are monitoring his wife's movements. We're close, Hermione. It won't be long."
Harry knelt in front of her. "Here, let me take Rose back upstairs," he said softly.
Hermione nodded and carefully transferred Rosella into his arms. Watching his back as he disappeared up the stairs with their daughter, she bit her lip.
Susan grinned as Ron followed him. "I dare say he looked jealous."
Hermione rolled her eyes as she stood to stretch the stiffness from her legs. "You think too much, Susan."
~*~ 9th June 2003 ~*~
Hermione ran through the smoke-filled Great Hall, her wand clutched in her hand as she ran past battling classmates. The air reeked, making her stomach turn as screams echoed around her. At the center of everything stood Harry and Kingsley.
Spells ripped through the air like lightning, blinding everyone near them in flashes of green and red that each of them deflected, making scorch marks on the wall. Kingsley's eyes seemed to glow red, almost inhumanly, as his face twisted, looking more monster than man.
"Harry!" she screamed as he deflected a spell, making a row of benches near her shatter into a million shards of wood.
"Expelliarmus! Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!" Harry cast right before his wand flew from his hand.
Hermione's heart flew into her throat as she watched Harry fall to the floor as the green spell hit the center of his chest.
"Harry!" she screamed, "HARRY!"
Her own scream, tearing through her throat, woke her up as she shot up in bed, chest heaving as sweat covered her skin and tears spilled down her cheeks.
Her nightdress clung to the skin on her back as she pressed a shaking hand to her mouth, her breath coming in gasps from her lungs.
Grabbing her glasses from the nightstand, she put them on. The darkened room swam around her as she rose to stand, her legs wobbling as her feet took her weight. Each step down the stairs was measured so that she wouldn't fall. Each felt heavier than the last as the exhaustion she felt clung to her bones. Yawning, she wiped the tears that fell from her eyes.
Once reaching the kitchen, Kreacher was cleaning the table, humming to himself.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Kreacher," she said, rubbing her temples.
"Mistress does not disturb Kreacher," the elf said with a bow, "Kreacher is finished."
With a snap of his fingers, the table shone, and he disappeared with a crack.
Hermione sighed as the quiet surrounded her again, pressing on her as she went to the counter. Reaching for the small coffee canister, her hands trembled as she tried to open the lid.
A warm hand covered hers. "Should you be drinking coffee at nearly three in the morning?"
She turned to see Harry beside her, his hair in a bun on top of his head. His shirt wrinkled from sleep.
Hermione sighed, giving him a small smile. "I miss decaf. We really need to get some. It helped on nights like this."
She watched him study her face, "Nightmare again?"
Hermione nodded, swallowing and flinching as her throat was still raw. "A bad one. My throat hurts. I… I woke up screaming."
Without a word, Harry pulled her into his arms. Inhaling his unique scent, she placed her ear on his chest. His strong heartbeat beneath her ear steadied her.
"Lord, Hermione, you're shaking," he mumbled, "Want to talk about it?"
Hermione shook her head, "Not really."
Harry's hand came up and tilted her chin, so his green eyes met hers. "Let me help you," he said quietly, "Please, Hermione. I cannot keep standing by, watching you carry all these scars because of me."
Hermione swallowed hard. "They're not because of you, Harry. It's the world we live in. Sometimes I think about… just leaving. But everyone I love is here."
His thumb brushed a tear from her cheek. "I wish I could make you feel safe."
"You already do," Hermione told him.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, "Come with me."
She frowned as he took her hand and led her upstairs. At her bedroom door, he let go of her hand and walked over to the bed. Pulling back the covers, he glanced at her over his shoulder. "Come on," he said softly, "I'll stay with you."
She hesitated, but the exhaustion was setting hard in her bones. She walked over to the bed, sliding beneath the sheets, and Harry tucked the blanket around her. She rolled onto her side to watch him walk over to the other side and climb into the bed.
As soon as his arm came around her, pulling her onto his chest, it was as if the tension drained from her body. Her eyes grew heavy as his hand smoothed down her curls, drawing her closer until her head rested under his chin.
"I'm here," he murmured, "You're safe."
Hermione's eyes fluttered shut as the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lulled her into a dreamless sleep.
Preview of Chapter 36 – Honey
"These last two weeks were horrid, but at the same time, I am going to miss this," Hermione said as she looked at him. "Our little sleepover has been nice while it lasted." She sighed, looking back toward the tower, "Rosella and I will be out in a day. I just… I don't know how to say goodbye again."
"Then don't."
Hermione froze, looking at him, "Harry…"
Harry took her hands, "Look, I know you have to go home," he said, "But we don't have to say goodbye."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat as he stared down at her with such intensity. "Stop me if you don't want this." He whispered.
Hermione's pulse thundered in her ears. "Please."
Harry leaned down, and his lips met hers. Warm, familiar, and hesitant. The slight taste of wintergreen. The world around them disappeared as Hermione moaned against his mouth, her hands clutching at his suit jacket for support as his arms wrapped around her.
When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers. "Let's go home."
"Lord, yes," Hermione said with a shaky laugh.