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.
Problematic.
Problem is, when I'm with you, I'm an addict,
And I need some relief, my skin in your teeth.
Can't see the forest through the trees,
Got me down on my knees, darling, please, oh.
I lose control,
When you're not next to me.
I'm falling apart right in front of you, can't you see?
I lose control,
When you're not next to me, mm-hmm.
Yeah, you're breaking my heart, baby,
You make a mess of me, yeah.
~ Lose Control by Teddy Swims
~*~ 9th August 2003 ~*~
Hermione came through the floo after a long day at work, ready to relax with Harry on their date night. As she set her bag down on the couch, she walked into the kitchen, where she heard him talking and stopped short.
Her parents sat at the table, Rosella between them, showing them the printed reader she had gotten from school.
"Sorry," Hermione said as she kicked off her shoes, "Misty had to leave early. She was sick, and I was running behind because of it. Thank you for taking Rosella for the evening."
"Mumma," Rosella said, hopping down from her chair, "Can I sleep over at Grammy and Grampy's?"
Hermione looked at Harry, then at her parents. "You all planned this."
Camillo lifted his hands. "I have no idea what you speak of."
"Right," Hermione sighed as she kneeled in front of Rosella. "Do you really want-"
"Yes!" Rosella yelled, "Grampy and I are doing a puzzle."
Hermione hugged her, "Fine."
"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mumma!" Rosella wiggled free and grabbed Camillo's hand. "I have to get my jammies!"
Hermione watched her go, then glanced at her mother. "Was I ever this excited not to be home?"
Briar Rose laughed. "You never had cool grandparents, or much less the option. Can you imagine Grandma Wilkins watching you overnight?"
Hermione snorted as she stood. "Have you heard from them lately?"
Briar Rose shook her head. "I reach out to my sisters on their birthdays and at Christmas. They never reach out to me. Maybe I'll call them tomorrow. Celine's birthday is coming up."
Camillo came back down the stairs carrying Rosella's small suitcase, and Hermione stared at him. "What is that?"
"Her suitcase," he said.
"I hope you didn't let her talk you into packing multiple outfits," Hermione told him.
Camillo grinned and kissed her cheek. "So what if I did, pumpkin. Just in case you two want another day."
Hermione smiled, "While I am glad she has grandparents who love her, I do want my daughter back eventually."
"Oh, we'll return her," Briar Rose said, patting Harry's cheek, "You two just enjoy your kid-free night."
Hermione and Harry walked them to the door, where Camillo lifted Rosella so she could kiss Hermione and Harry goodbye.
"Remember your manners and your listening ears," Hermione reminded her.
Rosella nodded, "I do. Let's go, Grampy!"
Briar Rose lingered for a moment as Camillo headed for the car, then leaned in with a grin. "Just checking, you got that potion, right?"
Hermione gasped, "Mum!"
"I'm just saying," Briar Rose laughed, "Ring first this time. Goodnight!"
Hermione rubbed her temples as Briar Rose closed the door. "My mother, I swear."
Harry laughed, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You should go change."
Hermione nodded, "Anything special I should wear?"
"Nothing, for tonight, but for now, I'd recommend pants," Harry told her, "I thought we'd go explore my grandparents' manor and the house."
"Be right back," Hermione said as she took the stairs two at a time.
The air seemed to crackle as Harry apparated them to the coordinates Kraglin had given him. Looking around, Hermione saw that they stood at the foot of a tall iron fence. The black paint was flaking, revealing years of neglect, and a Ministry sign was bolted only partially to the bars.
CONDEMNED
STRICTLY PRIVATE
Trespassing Prohibited
Harry stared at it for a long moment, then he reached out to touch the gate.
Magic rippled out past the decaying gate as the weeds receded and broken stones on either side of the gate reassembled themselves. The gate opened, removing the illusion of ruins, and before them rose the shell of a manor home. Much larger than even the Malfoy Manor. It even seemed older.
"I could never live here," Harry whispered as he held her hand tight as they walked through the gates.
They walked together up the overgrown drive, grass brushing against their legs as they walked past a smaller gatehouse where the roof had collapsed long ago, and ivy seemed to be taking it over. Once they made it to the front door, it was slightly ajar, and the wood had warped over time.
Putting his hand up, the door creaked on its own, and Harry stopped.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Kraglin said that the family magic would recognize me," Harry told her, "I just felt it."
Together they stepped inside, and broken wood crunched under Harry's boots. Dust swirled in the bits of light that filtered into the manor through the tall, cracked windows that had lost their boards. Looking up, a chandelier hung from the ceiling, its crystals dull and many missing, some barely hanging from their chains.
Hermione looked around, "The walls look solid. It's neglected, but the shell of it seems strong. I wonder if preservation spells were cast to protect what was inside."
Harry squeezed her hand and led her farther into the house. "This section looks newer. Look," he gestured to the fabric lying on the floor. "They were renovating, it appears. Working on it, then everything stopped."
Hermione moved to one of the broken windows and looked out. "They had a greenhouse." She glanced at him, "They could grow their own potion ingredients."
Harry's gaze swept to the staircase. "I want to go upstairs."
Slowly, Hermione followed him up the staircase, their footsteps echoing through the manor as they climbed. At the landing, Harry pushed open a wide set of doors, revealing what was obviously a ballroom.
Tall windows, cracked but intact, shed light on faded murals and an old piano.
"I want to do it," Harry said quietly.
Hermione turned to him, "Turn it into a children's hospital?"
He nodded, "It will be my work in progress. I'll speak to Nathan and the St. Mungo's board. This place is massive, Hermione. It could be a second hospital for this side of the country, and we didn't even attempt to go into the smaller house near the gates. That could be a children's healer's office."
As Harry moved from the ballroom to the next room, Hermione walked back into the hallway and opened the doors across from the ballroom.
Stopping short as she took in the contents of the room, she heard Harry come up behind her. "Harry, look at all these books."
Shelves lined the walls, sagging but intact, covered in old tomes and books of all shapes and sizes.
"We'll pack them up," Harry told her, "You can go through them. Anything you don't want-"
"No," Hermione interrupted, looking up at him, "Someone in your family curated these so carefully. This isn't stock, it's your legacy."
Harry smiled, "You're my family now, so they're our books."
Hermione bit her lip, "Alright."
Together they moved deeper into the manor, past a large sitting room and bedrooms, until Harry opened the final door.
The room instantly reminded Hermione of Grimmauld Place's drawing room.
On the far wall hung a tapestry. Faded and a bit frayed on the edges, but unmistakable.
The Potter tapestry covered from Linfred of Stinchcombe to Ignotus Peverell, all the way to Harry himself and Rosella.
Harry stepped closer, "I'm here." His finger traced Rosella's name, "And so is Rosella."
Hermione walked up beside him, "Family magic," she said quietly. "It's woven into the fabric. It knows."
Harry stared at it, and Hermione took his arm in hers. "We should take it, have it cleaned and restored. Hang it in your next home."
Harry turned to her, "Our next home."
Hermione froze, and he took her face in his.
"When I tear down my parents' cottage at Godric's Hollow, I don't plan to rebuild it for myself. I plan to build it for you, me, Rosella… us rebuilding it together, for any future children we might have."
Harry leaned down and kissed her, "I'm in this for the long haul, Hermione. I can't imagine my life with anyone else."
Hermione's breath caught as tears fell from her eyes before she could stop them, as she stepped into his arms. "I can't either," she whispered, "I love you so much."
Harry held her close, pressing his forehead to her. "Good, because I love you too."
Harry disapparated them to his grandparents' home in Sussex, and Hermione looked around at the lawn. There was no gate, but the house felt different from the manor. More of a home than a stuffy manor. There was no wonder why Harry's grandparents must have moved here instead. The roof rose towards the sky, its castle-like turrets crowning it. The roof had ivy and moss clinging to it, making it look like something out of a storybook.
"Rosella would love this place," Hermione said quietly, taking in the windows half hidden with vines.
"On the tapestry… it said they died the year I was born," his voice dropped. "I wonder if they ever met me."
Hermione squeezed his hand, and he didn't let go as he led her toward the front door.
The moment Harry stepped onto the stoop, the door creaked open on its own.
Inside, the house felt as if everything was just frozen in time. Dust lay thick on all the visible surfaces, but nothing was broken. A cloak hung on a hook, and two pairs of shoes sat neatly by the door.
Walking deeper into the house, they were in a drawing room. Couches sat facing each other with the fireplace on the opposite wall. A knitted throw was draped over the back with a book sitting on the table next to a glass, as if someone would be back any moment.
"Sirius said they died of dragon pox," Harry told her.
Hermione looked around. "It spreads quickly, sometimes with no warning. Right?"
"It's nearly died out," Harry told her, picking up the book to see a medical text, "By the time you see the scales on your skin, it's too late." He said, setting the book down, "Let's go see the rest of the house."
A gaming room with pictures of various science fiction movies on the walls came next, with a billiards table and a pinball machine. A chessboard sat with the pawns on their sides. Harry smiled, "I could see Dad playing this."
"Well, they were an older couple, I'm sure they purchased it for him and Sirius. You said Sirius lived here?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded, "After he left his parents, he ran here."
Moving deeper, he paused in the hall. Upon the wall was a framed portrait. James Potter stared back at them with his parents on either side, smiling.
"They look like they could be his grandparents instead of mine," Harry whispered.
James, in the portrait, waved to him. "Hi, Dad," Harry whispered as James in the portrait stared at him.
Hermione wrapped her arms around his, "He looks happy, they looked happy."
"Yeah, they did," Harry said, walking deeper into the house.
In the kitchen, there was evidence that animals had broken in, and the back door had been blasted off its hinges. Jars were scattered and broken on the floor, and a kettle was sitting on the stove.
"Someone came here," Hermione whispered, "I wonder if Death Eaters thought your parents would come here."
Leaving the kitchen, they found the stairs and slowly climbed them. On the second floor, a door stood ajar, and Harry pushed it open completely. 1970s band posters were displayed on the walls, along with a poster of Jane Seymour. On the table beside the bed was a picture of a woman, with a folded picture of Harry beside it and a pile of letters.
Harry picked them up, "These are my letters," he said, looking at her, confused, "Letters that I wrote to Sirius. Why would they be here?"
Hermione touched his shoulder, "I think we have found where he ran to while on the run." She looked around, "He felt safe here. When he ran away from his own home, this became home. I could see it."
Harry closed his eyes, swallowing hard as he set the letter back down.
Leaving the bedroom, Harry went to the one across the hall. This one was covered in Gryffindor banners, wizarding bands, and a photo of his mum on the bedside table. "This was Dad's room."
Hermione picked up a stuffed lion, "He grew up here."
Harry ran his fingers over the dusty desk, the parchment laid out on top, so aged that the text was illegible. Seeing the picture of a young James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter laughing, Harry couldn't help but lay it down.
The next room was a smaller bedroom that appeared to have once been a nursery, with a small bed, possibly for guests.
Stepping into the last room on the floor, it was obviously the master suite. A letter sat on the table beside the bed, a hairbrush next to it, with a pair of glasses. Harry picked up the parchment.
Mum and Dad,
I don't know how you did it. I am terrified every moment of the day that I will do something wrong and hurt Harry. I love Lily, but I didn't realize I could love another person as much as I love him. Dumbledore called us in for a meeting and gave us bad news. There has been some prophecy, and Riddle heard it. He may be coming after the Longbottoms or us. Do not worry about us. We have Dumbledore on our side. I will write when I can. Just take care of Dad, Mum, and both of you rest. I don't want either of you to get any worse.
Love,
James
Harry swallowed hard, "This house isn't bad, but I don't want to live in it either."
"It doesn't have to be done now," Hermione told him, rubbing his back.
Harry sighed, rubbing his face, "This isn't much of a date. I'm sorry."
Hermione took his hand, "We are together. To me, that is a date."
Harry pulled her into his arms and sighed, "Let's leave. I don't know what to do with this place, but I want to leave."
Hermione kissed the bottom of his jaw, "Then we will."
Together, they left the room and walked down a second staircase. Near the first floor, Harry paused as he heard, "Harry?"
Harry stopped, and Hermione reacted instantly, stepping in front of him, her wand raised as her eyes swept the area. "Who's there?"
Harry lit his wand and pushed open the door to their right on the first floor, already half open. Inside, tall shelves lined every wall, packed tightly with books. Above the fireplace, within sight of the door, were two portraits.
"Harry? Harry Potter?"
"It's alright," Harry said quietly, gently removing Hermione's hand from his wrist. "They are just portraits."
Stepping past her and into the room, their eyes swept around the room. "Hermione… this is a library."
"Wait," the woman in the portrait said with a smile, "Hermione Granger?"
Hermione stared at the elderly woman, "How do you know my name?"
The woman smiled, "Sirius told us all about you when he stayed here. Did he come with you?"
Harry swallowed hard. "Sirius is gone."
Her smile faded. "Oh. You must be Harry. My word… you look so much like my dear James." She left her portrait and appeared in the one next to it with an older man, "Fleamont, wake up."
The man in the portrait slowly opened his eyes. "Yes, dear," he said, adjusting his glasses and looking at Harry. "My word."
"Harry, dear," the woman said gently as she sat in the lap of the older man. "You only saw us once when you were oh so young. So let me introduce myself. I am your grandmother, Euphemia, and this is your grandfather, Fleamont."
"Hello, son," Fleamont said, cleaning his glasses, then leaning closer to the frame. "I see the Potter genes didn't skip a generation. I was once strapping and dashing, too, you know. How old are you?"
"Twenty-three," Harry told them, squeezing Hermione's hand as he glanced at her. "And this is my girlfriend, Hermione."
"Oh, Fleamont, she is the girl that Sirius told us about! It's a joy to meet you at last. Sirius said you were in your fourth year when we last spoke. That Tom Riddle was still around and after you."
Harry nodded. "He is dead. His spell rebounded while we were battling, and it ended the war."
Hermione squeezed his hand. "Harry's a healer." She told them proudly.
Euphemia's eyes lit up. "A healer? Oh, how wonderful! I was one myself, did you know? James never wanted that path."
"I didn't want to be an Auror," Harry said. "I've fought enough for one lifetime."
Before anyone could reply, Hermione's mobile rang, making her and Harry jump. "Excuse me."
Glancing at the screen as she stepped aside, she saw her Mum as she looked through one of the shelves. "Mum? Is everything okay?"
There was quiet, then she heard her mother sigh. "Did Rosella have her first loose tooth already?"
Hermione sighed, "Yes, it was loose this morning. Did it fall out?"
"No," Briar Rose said as Hermione heard Rosella in the background, "She did trip, and I just wanted to make sure that wasn't what loosened it."
"Thanks for checking," Hermione told her. "Love you."
She hung up and turned back to Harry, "Mum was just checking to see if Rose's loose tooth was because she fell or if we knew about it."
"Rose?" Euphemia asked.
Harry smiled, reaching for his wallet. He held up a photo of the three of them. "Our daughter, Rosella Lily Potter."
Fleamont leaned farther forward so that Hermione could see his eyes were a dark, nearly brown hazel colour. "Oh… she looks just like Lily."
Euphemia dabbed her eyes. "You've built a family. You've healed others. We are so proud of you."
Hermione squeezed his hand as he tensed.
"Thanks," he said almost shyly.
Hermione rubbed his arm, "We were just on our way out. We will come back to visit with Rosella."
"Please do," Euphemia said, "Harry, thank you for coming to visit."
Leaving the house, Harry locked the door behind them and rested back against it. "I cannot believe their portraits are just there, and I, in a way, just met my grandparents."
Hermione rubbed his arm, holding her hand, "We knew portraits could talk, but it's different when it's a relative."
Harry sighed, "I had this plan of visiting here, and I have a picnic basket shrunk in my pocket that we'd find somewhere and go have dinner-"
Hermione placed her finger on his lips. "While it was a great one. I have an idea."
She placed her arms around him, and Harry wrapped his around her. Closing her eyes, she thought of downtown London. Landing in the alley near the pub, she had gone to at the end of the Spring semester, Hermione took Harry's hand and led him to a brightly coloured pub called Brews and Fun!
Inside the pub was busy, with families winding down for the night. Half-empty glasses were scattered on the tables, and tired mothers and fathers were clearing plates. Hermione heard a mother ushering out her flushed, loud children as Harry held the door open for the family, asking them to please calm down in the car.
Hermione ordered them a pizza and two beers at the till before sliding into the booth across from Harry. He seemed barely to notice her as he gazed through the glass window separating them from the play area, where children shrieked and darted through tunnels and slides, their laughter echoing through the window.
"Tell me what you're thinking about," Hermione said quietly, reaching across the table to lace her fingers through his.
Harry swallowed, his jaw tightening. "Just… when I came back, I never thought this was what awaited me. I expected the press to be all over me. I hoped maybe I'd get back to some version of friendship with you and Ron." He exhaled. "Instead, I met… a ghost of my dad, portraits of my grandparents. I have you. I have Rosella." He closed his eyes. "It's a lot."
"Overwhelming?" Hermione guessed.
He nodded.
She brushed her thumb over the back of his hand, then glanced up as a large group exited the play area as their number was called over at the counter. "Can you grab our pizza?"
"Yes," Harry said, squeezing her hand before sliding out of the booth.
The moment he walked away, Hermione stood. She walked over, pushing the door open to the Fun Factory play area, where a young employee was already stacking trays and wiping tables. "Excuse me?" she said.
The boy jumped. "Oh! Uh, hi. Is this your food? I thought it was all with the party that's leaving."
"No, no," Hermione said quickly, glancing back through the glass to see Harry returning to the booth with the pizza. "Listen… my boyfriend had a truly awful childhood and never got to do things like this." She lowered her voice. "Could we have, say, fifteen minutes in here?"
The boy blinked. "As adults?"
Hermione nodded, taking the change from the pizza out of her pocket and pressing it into his hand. "It's just a tenner, but it's all I have."
He looked around, then back at her. "I mean… I guess. He might not fit through. And if you get stuck, that's not my problem."
Hermione rolled her eyes as he wandered off.
Harry walked over to her, carrying their pizza tray. "Why'd you come out here? I got the food."
She took the tray from him, set it on the table behind them, and took his hands. "Come with me."
"Hermione," Harry said cautiously, "What are you doing?"
She smiled mischievously, "The Dursleys never took you to a place like this, did they?"
He looked around the neon plastic mess behind them. "No"
"Awesome," she said. "We've got fifteen minutes."
He stared up at the structure. "Will I even fit?"
She snorted. "You've got your wand. You'll survive." She grinned, backing up backward toward the entrance of the blue side of the structure. "Race you to the slide." She told him as she kicked off her shoes.
Harry stared at her as if she were crazy. "Hermione…"
"Go!" She shouted, already ducking inside the structure.
She crawled up through the levels, laughing as the structure creaked and groaned around her. Through the netting on the side of the structure, she caught a glimpse of Harry moving into the structure.
Reaching the plastic tubes, she heard skin squeaking against plastic echoing through the structure and knew he had to be on the other side. Crawling through the maze of tubes, she couldn't help but laugh as she saw Harry through one of the portholes, climbing slowly across a net structure.
Turning a curve, she saw rollers and groaned. "Oh, honestly." Pushing her head through them, she pushed down on her breasts and groaned as she forced them through and lay halfway through for a moment, catching her breath, to see Harry appear on the other side of the tunnel of tubes. "I feel like this is giving birth to me!"
Harry's laugh echoed through the plastic, "You did this to yourself."
Hermione laughed as she pushed herself through and took a turn, "HA! I see the slide!"
"No, you don't!" Harry yelled, speeding up.
Hermione squealed and lunged forward, throwing herself down the slide just as Harry reached her. Below, she landed in the ball pit breathless, only for Harry to tumble down after her, knocking the remaining air from her lungs as he landed half on top of her.
He froze for a moment before scrambling to pull her up to sit as she burst into giggles.
"You're completely mad," he said, laughing.
"And you're laughing," she pointed out.
He picked up a ball and threw it at her. "That's because you started a war."
She gasped, grabbing a ball and throwing it at him. "It's on Potter!"
He caught it easily, grinning, "Bring it on, Granger."
Amid their ball bit feud, Harry ducked as Hermione threw a neon green ball straight at his head, when a voice cut through their laughter.
"Excuse me! What are you two ADULTS doing in my play structure?"
They both froze.
Hermione looked up first, her hair frizzed, a red ball in her hand. She looked over to see a red-faced manager standing at the edge of the netting around the ball pit, arms folded.
Behind him was the young employee that Hermione had bribed, staring intently at the floor. "Sir," the boy said quickly, "They must have snuck in."
Hermione's jaw dropped.
"Out!" the manager snapped. "Now! This is for ONLY children!"
"Yes," Hermione said, pressing her lips together as hard as she could to stop the laugh from bubbling from them. She didn't succeed.
Which made the manager scowl.
The ball pit turned out to be far deeper than she thought as she tried to exit with some of her dignity still intact. Harry's long limbs helped him climb out first, pushing the plastic balls back inside the netted area. Holding his hand out to her, she grabbed it and used it as leverage to pull herself out.
"Sorry," she said as she shot the employee a look, then walked over to grab her shoes. Rushing over to hold Harry's hand, they exited the play area to a handful of adults in the pub staring as they passed through; one woman snorting into her pint.
The moment the door shut behind them and their feet touched the concrete, they lost it.
Harry doubled over laughing so hard, he had to brace his hand on his knees. "Did you see his face?"
Hermione sat down on the curb, laughing so hard she was snorting as she pulled her shoes back on. "I should've paid him twenty not to betray us."
Harry wiped the tears from his eyes, slipping his feet into his own. "He just sold you out with no shame."
She stood brushing her bottom off, grinning. "Well, I have a more… age-appropriate idea for us now."
He raised his brows. "Truly terrifying."
Hermione took his hand. "Ever been bowling?"
Harry shook his head, "Not like that. I did something vaguely similar once with the kids in Africa. Much more…tribal and primitive though."
Hermione laughed, "There's a bowling alley and arcade down the street."
He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, eyes warm. "Thank you."
She narrowed her eyes playfully, "Don't thank me yet. You haven't seen my air hockey skills."
"Oh, is that so?" He asked.
Hermione started walking, tugging him along. "Try to keep up, Potter."
Landing in her backyard, Hermione giggled as Harry hiked her up higher on his back in a piggyback ride. Lifting his hair back as she kissed his neck, he sighed, "This was such a good day."
He lowered her to the ground so that he could unlock the back door. Shutting the door behind him, he pulled her to him, his hands resting on her hips. "Thank you for an amazing night," he said.
Hermione touched his nose playfully, "Glad to be of service," she told him, her grin widening. She pulled her shirt to her nose, and smelt the unique sweat, disinfectant, and cigarette mixture of the bowling alley. "I don't know about you, but I need to soak for a bit. I stink. I forgot how smoky those bowling alleys could get."
Harry leaned down and kissed her, "I'll go draw us a bath."
Hermione followed him upstairs after locking up the back door. Harry had already turned on the faucet and was adding bubbles, filling the air with the scents of rose and lavender. Looking at his muscular back, his muscles moving beneath his shirt as he reached, Hermione felt the room was warming more than just from the warm water.
Harry turned to her and slowly unbuttoned her trousers, his eyes staying locked on hers. Reaching for the bottom of her shirt, she lifted her arms as he lifted it over her head. Kissing her, he reached behind her and unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the floor. Hermione gasped into his mouth as his hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing across her nipples.
Stepping out of her jeans and shimmying out of her knickers, her body now completely bare, Harry's eyes roamed over her form as he unfastened his belt with her help, dropping his trousers to the floor as she pulled his shirt over his head. Stepping out of his boxers and throwing them to the side, he slid into the bath and held out his hand for her to carefully step into the tub.
Hermione turned off the water, then slid into his arms, relaxing back into him as he grabbed her loofa and her body wash. The sensation of Harry using her own loofa against her skin was so arousing, and she couldn't help but moan as he reached the juncture of her thighs.
Dropping the loofa, Harry's fingers worked their magic as he pressed against her clit. Hermione reached behind her and grabbed the back of his neck as his touch quickly brought her closer, as she squirmed under his touch, as one hand twisted her sensitive nipple while the other played her like a fiddle. Hermione's head fell back against his shoulder as waves of pleasure rippled through her, and her body crashed over the abyss.
Hermione took a moment to catch her breath as she moved back against his hard and growing erection behind her. The water was cooling as she turned into his arms and kissed him hard.
Harry growled, "Bed."
Hermione nodded as he stood and turned on the handheld showerhead to rinse them off. Seeing the water beading down his body, Hermione leaned forward and ran her tongue down his chest, catching the droplets with her tongue. Harry threw the showerhead down and used his foot to drain the water, then stepped out of the tub. Grabbing her towel, he held it out for her to step into, taking gentle care to dry her off before himself.
Biting her lip, Hermione couldn't help but watch him as he dried off his body. Reaching out, her fingers traced the lines of his ab muscles, making him shiver. Harry's breath caught as he took her hand and pulled her to him, his lips crashing onto hers. Hermione moaned into his mouth, gripping onto the back of his neck as he lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Carrying her to the bed, he laid her down gently, then covered her with his body.
Hermione grinned as she ran her fingernails gently down his back, and Harry groaned, his hips grinding against her. Reaching between them, she wrapped her hand around him, making Harry growl.
He moved along with her to position himself at her entrance, his eyes locked on her as he slid into her slowly, until he was fully sheathed inside her. Hermione gasped as he hit deep inside her, digging her nails into his back. Slowly, Harry began to move, gasping into her neck. Hermione met his thrusts, their bodies moving perfectly together.
Hermione gasped, throwing her head back as her orgasm quickly built again, while Harry groaned against her skin, his hips bucking faster against hers. Reaching between them, he massaged her clit as he came, and she cried out as her body tensed, then convulsed around him. He slowly thrusted a few more times before collapsing on top of her.
Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his sweaty hair. Pushing himself up on his elbows, resting still inside her, he kissed her forehead, "Thank you."
Hermione smiled, "Do you feel better?"
Harry nodded, grabbing her leg and rolling onto his side, pulling her with him. "You took your potion today, right?"
"Mmhm," She nodded, resting her head under his chin. "I'm tired," she whispered, "Wake me after a short nap for another round." Between his presence holding her, him still inside her, and the warmth still on her skin from the bath, Hermione fell asleep body and heart full. Happier than she had ever remembered being.
~*~ 10th August 2003 ~*~
Sunday dinner at the Burrow was the same loud, chaotic gathering that it always was.
Hermione leaned over, "Rose, honey, eat your carrots."
She sighed dramatically, making Harry grin as Ginny asked him about a pulling sensation that she felt in her abdomen and whether it was normal.
"It's called round ligament pain, unless it's followed by bleeding or intense pain, you are fine," Harry told her as she leaned back, trying to stretch out, as Neville leaned down to kiss her slightly protruding belly.
"Then, this kid mixed the two, and suddenly the store was covered in darkness," George was saying at the other end of the table, "Problem is when you mix instant darkness and love potion, suddenly Ronnie here, had Luna who was visiting him all over him trying to tear off his clothes as I walked in."
Ron rolled his eyes as Luna smiled, "It's not easy to resist my Ron."
Angelina rolled her eyes, "You better be lucky it wasn't you, George," she said, rubbing her own growing bump.
Molly followed Fred down the stairs, "Honestly, Fred. I could easily knit the table runners! There is no need to buy them!"
George rolled his eyes, "Mum, we can afford them. Plus, they've already been purchased."
Arthur took off his glasses to clean them. "We'll need an extra tent at this rate. Has everyone responded yet?"
Angelina nodded, "Surprisingly so."
Arthur placed his glasses back on his face, "Well, it will be better than Bill and Fleur's, sadly, with my security, we will be safe at least."
"Honestly," Molly tutted as she filled his mug and he thanked her, "I still cannot believe they wanted us to move it to the Minister's mansion."
"Molly dear, they wanted us to move completely, but I set my foot down on that one," Arthur stated.
Hermione leaned forward to look at him down the table, "Any candidates seem to be coming to the forefront?"
Arthur sat back, "We are still clearing out many members of the ministry that do not have the world's best interests at heart. Lots of meetings and bureaucracy that is frankly exhausting. People who left after the first war, or those who recognized the signs before the second, are slowly returning. There are a few advocates that stand out, but we have nearly a year until the election, so there is time still."
"When is the election, Dad?" Ron asked.
"The 20th of July next year, after the Hogwarts year is over. We want to give the students of voting age a vote," Arthur told them.
Hermione's mobile vibrated in her pocket. She frowned, pulling it out of her pocket to see that it was her mother. "Sorry, please excuse me," she said, standing up, "I'll be right back."
Slipping out the back door and into the garden, the smell of grass and the flowers filled the air as she answered, "Hey, Mum."
"Hermione," Briar Rose told her quietly, "I have some bad news. Celine just called. Your grandmother was just rushed to the hospital. They don't think she has much time left."
Hermione sank onto a nearby tree stump, "Oh."
In the background, she heard her father murmuring.
"I think I am going to go down there tomorrow," Her mother told her. "Your dad's trying to rearrange his schedule right now. Bruno asked him to fill in at his practice this week, so he's-"
"Mum," Hermione interrupted gently, "I'll go with you."
Briar Rose paused. "Hermione, you don't need to do that."
"I know," she said quietly, "But Dad can finish what he needs to do. I don't have to be at the shop. The girls have everything covered."
She glanced as the back door creaked open and Harry stepped outside. "Harry can handle things here until we get back," Hermione added. "I'll go with you, Mum."
Briar Rose sighed. "If you're sure. Thank you, Hermione."
"Just tell me when you want to leave," Hermione told her, "I love you."
"Love you too, dear," she said, ending the call.
Hermione stared at the grass for a moment, rubbing her face.
Harry knelt in front of her without a word, his hands warm on her knees. "Everything okay?"
"My grandmother doesn't have much time left," She told him quietly, "I barely knew her, not really. She wasn't kind to Mum, none of them were. But Mum wants to go, and Dad's stuck filling in for his friend-"
"Then go with her," Harry said immediately, "as you told her, I've got things handled here."
She swallowed, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," he said, rubbing her knees, "We'll be fine."
Hermione leaned forward and hugged him tight. "Thank you, Harry."
He rested his chin against her head, "I'd offer to go with you, but I don't want to impose, and I don't want to throw Rose off her routine."
Hermione nodded against his shoulder. "Agreed. If…" she sighed, "When the time comes, we can bring her down." She exhaled, "Shite, I have to see my family."
Harry pulled back just enough to push her hair behind her ear. "They can't be that bad."
She scoffed, "You haven't met them."
Harry looked at her, "Do you want to leave?"
Hermione glanced back toward the house as laughter echoed through the open windows. "No, let's go enjoy our real family."
As they stood, Ron stepped out the door, "Everything okay?"
Hermione took a breath as she shrugged. "My grandmum is dying."
Ron stepped outside and shut the door behind him. "Shite, Hermione. I'm sorry."
"We weren't close," she said with a shrug, "It is what it is."
Ron squeezed her shoulder. "I'll give you the biggest slice of cake."
Hermione laughed. "Thanks, Ron. That means a lot from you. I think you are up to 50ml now. Those teaspoons are growing."
~*~ 11th August 2003 ~*~
Hermione moved quietly from her bedroom to the bathroom, checking and rechecking things she didn't need to check that she had already done last night before bed. Her small suitcase sat open on the bed as she folded one last shirt, then paused as she looked over her checklist.
Toothbrush. Mobile charger. Passport. Contacts. Birth Control Potion. All toiletries.
She zipped her suitcase closed and heard the clattering of pans that meant Harry must have been washing the dishes while he waited for her.
"Coming!" Harry called from downstairs after she heard a quiet knock, "I've got it."
Hermione pulled her suitcase off the bed and walked downstairs. By the time she reached the bottom step, her parents were standing in the entryway, and she set her suitcase at the foot of the stairs. Stepping forward, she pulled her mother into a hug. "Morning."
"Good morning, sweetheart," Briar Rose said softly, rubbing her back. "Thank you for driving."
"I have the newer car," Hermione told her, "And I'm glad to do it."
Harry came back from the kitchen with a cooler with a bag on top. "I know it's early, so I made muffins and breakfast sandwiches for the road," he told them, "I put drinks, sandwiches, and fruit for lunch in the cooler." He said, setting it down on the floor.
Briar Rose crossed the room and hugged him. "Thank you, Harry."
Harry froze for half a second before returning the hug. "It's the least I can do."
Camillo bent to grab Hermione's suitcase. "Ready when you are."
Hermione handed him her keys, "It's unlocked."
Briar Rose took the small cooler and headed out the door after him as Harry turned to Hermione.
"Call me when you stop for lunch," He looked out the door, "Are you sure you don't want to floo her into the French Ministry instead?"
Hermione shook her head. "They're still hesitant about magic, much less magical travel. Flooing to the Burrow is one thing. France is… another." She leaned in and kissed him. "Thank you for worrying, though."
She looked towards the couch, where she could see Rosella curled up after insisting on waking up with them. Crossing the room, she brushed her hand over her daughter's hair. "Rosella, honey. Mumma's leaving."
Rosella opened one eye, "Bye, Mumma."
Hermione kissed the top of her head. "Go back to sleep."
Harry slipped an arm around Hermione's shoulders and kissed her temple as they walked outside together.
Hermione slid into the driver's seat, and Harry leaned in through the window as she rolled it down.
"Make sure she takes breaks," Harry told Briar Rose, "She will push herself too much."
Briar Rose smiled, "I won't let her drive the whole way."
Harry gave Hermione a quick kiss, "Love you." Then stepped back as Hermione started the car, watching as she reversed out of the drive.
Camillo lingered beside him. "Not that I hate her family," he said, waving as they disappeared, "But I hope this goes okay. I don't have a good feeling about it."
Harry exhaled. "Me either."
The hedges and older buildings soon gave way to the motorway and the long stretches of open road with farms on either side as the sun rose higher in the sky, as Hermione drove. The silence and occasional conversation stretched comfortably between them as they listened to the radio switching between stations, and it reminded Hermione of the road trips they used to take as a family when she was younger, before the separation grew between her mother and her family.
Briar Rose sat in the passenger seat, travel mug in hand, watching the countryside pass by. After getting onto the M4, Hermione relaxed.
"So," Briar Rose spoke.
Hermione grinned, "There it is."
"I've been very patient," Briar Rose told her, "You have given me sparingly few details. You don't bring a man back from the dead, and YOU don't rearrange your entire life without your mother having questions."
Hermione rolled her eyes, keeping them on the road, "He didn't come back from the dead…. This time."
"Wait, what?" Briar Rose asked, confused.
"We aren't sure.. never mind," Hermione stated, "Continue."
Briar Rose looked at her, "You know what I mean, Hermione."
Hermione sighed, "We're… good. Better than good, actually. It's just-" she bit her lip. "Strange, I guess?"
"Strange how?"
"I spent years building my life without him," Hermione explained, "Not because I didn't love him anymore, but because I thought he'd chosen to disappear. I grieved for him like someone… who chose not to love me and was unreachable."
Briar Rose nodded, "And now he is here."
"Very much here," Hermione said, shaking her head, "And I mourn now what we missed."
Briar Rose was quiet for a stretch. "He seems to be very active in your life very fast. I'm not saying that I am concerned by that, I just…" she trailed off.
"You wouldn't believe how well he fits into our life," Hermione continued. "With Rosella. With the shop, he stops by and gets along with everyone. Would I have given him a key and let him move in as early as he did if I didn't believe that something truly was there, Mum?"
Briar Rose shook her head.
Hermione tapped her thumbs on the steering wheel. "He makes breakfast before I even get up, we work together to pack lunches, and he reads stories to her with all the voices. I don't have to ask him to do things; he does them because he knows that the lawn needs mowing or the trash needs to be taken out. Most days I come home to dinner started." Hermione took a shaky breath, "I wanted not a boyfriend, I wanted a partner, and I feel that I have that."
"That sounds like a good thing," Briar Rose told her.
"It is," Hermione stated, "But it also terrifies me."
Briar Rose turned towards her, "Because you don't trust it?"
"Because I do trust it," Hermione admitted, "Because I know how deeply I'd fall if it all went wrong again. It's not just me this time, it's Rosella too."
Briar Rose was quiet for a moment. "Does he know how scared you are?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, he carries enough guilt already for how everything went down. I don't want him to feel like he has tread lightly with me or earn his place in our lives."
"Does he make you feel like you have to earn yours?" Briar Rose asked.
"No, never. He looks at me like…I can't describe it. Like he can relax for the first time," Hermione told her, "He was this giant ball of stress and moodiness while we grew up. He had a dark piece of soul bringing him down, and all the expectations that came with the supposed savior. I knew part of him, but as much as I hate that he left, he had to find out who he was without those expectations to be ready for us."
Briar Rose smiled, "Then the fear you have doesn't sound like it's about him."
Hermione swallowed. "No, it's me. It's about whether I can let myself be happy. I am waiting for that other shoe to drop. Giving up the control and letting him in."
As they drove farther, Briar Rose touched her arm. "You were so young when you had to learn, on your own, to survive," she said quietly, "The adults in your life failed you at that school. You don't give yourself enough credit for how hard it is to relearn how just to be."
Hermione blinked back the tears. "He makes it easier. That's what makes it so hard. Being loved by him shouldn't feel this easy."
"Then just let it," She told her, "You owe that to yourselves."
Preview of Chapter 43 – Heart Attack
"Sorry, darling, I didn't mean to scare you," Chloe said with a soft smile. "Are you hungry? Your mother sent me up for you."
"Starving," Hermione admitted as she stood.
Chloe nudged her playfully as they stepped into the hall, "So, is there someone special in your life? Briar told me about your daughter. Congratulations."
"Thank you, she's… amazing," Hermione smiled, "Her father and I have recently gotten back together." She hesitated for a moment, "He was with Doctors Without Borders for a while. We were so young when she was born that we weren't ready for a long-term thing. He has returned home for good and will be starting at a hospital in London at the beginning of the month."
Chloe stopped at the top of the stairs. "Are you happy?"
Hermione nodded, "Very. If he asked me to marry him tomorrow, I would."
Chloe smiled, "Listen to your heart, if it tells you to do so, do it. That is why I ran off to Belgium. My Vincent made me happy. My heart sang, and I knew I had to be with him without question. Does he support you?"
"Wholeheartedly. He inherited some money through his grandparents, and the first thing he asked was if I wanted to expand my store," Hermione told her. "He is very supportive."