-Nurmengard Prison, Germany, 1998, Original Timeline-
"Harry I found the box. All of his journals."
"Copy them or take them?"
"That depends. How many books did we bring to copy the journals into?"
"Hopefully enough," he said, enlarging a trunk and opening up the book compartment. "How many are in there?"
Hermione calculated how many journals could be in the box. "Over thirty."
"Screw copying we'll just steal them," he said, casting the spell to summon the books to the trunk. Once those were inside they moved onto the collection of dark magic books and magical artifacts, taking most of them but leaving a few others behind. Then he came to the portrait of a young Gellert Grindelwald. He was blonde, blue-eyed, and the quintessential Aryan. He could have been a poster boy for the Nazis. "He was a decent looking guy."
Hermione glanced at the portrait Harry found, "I prefer dark hair and green eyes."
"You have excellent taste," Harry smirked as he took the portrait too. You never knew what you might need as you went back into the past. While they couldn't take the invisibility cloak (not that they needed it since they could turn invisible at will), they could take Grindelwald's things. The man had been dead long before Voldemort's first defeat let alone second, much to their benefit. He wouldn't be missing them and the Germans hadn't done much in securing the prison that he'd once ordered filled with his enemies. "I think Grindelwald was a bibliophile."
"A man after my heart," Hermione sighed. Harry chuckled and tossed her the shrunken second trunk, which she filled up with his personal effects and other little things. "I found a vault key Harry. He must have had a Gringotts account. Shall we go take a peek?"
"Could be interesting. Never know what he might have in there."
-Gringotts Bank, London, England, 1998, Original Timeline-
The bank was deserted when they arrived. Harry sighed, "Do you think the bigots who passed all these laws ever thought about the outcomes of passing them?"
"Of course not Harry," Hermione said, walking to the carts and quickly casting spells on one wandlessly. "It'll take us down there. Do you think anyone feeds the dragons?"
"I think they put them down too. We should have killed Umbridge when we had the chance."
"Next time she won't get into power," Hermione said. "Which vaults are we going to?"
Harry pulled out the vault keys. They'd ultimately found two vault keys among Grindelwald's possessions. "Number 128 and number 001."
Hermione turned and stared at Harry, "Number zero zero one?"
"Yes, why?"
"That's Merlin's vault."
Harry frowned, "Why would Grindelwald have the key to Merlin's vault?"
"I don't know but let's go. I rigged the wards to rubber band back into place so that they wouldn't suspect anything."
"You're so brilliant," Harry climbed into the cart and held onto his wife as they hurtled down through Gringotts on the track.
Harry was correct; they didn't see any dragons on their way down. It made Hermione sad to know that the regime put in place by the purebloods had completely and totally wiped out such majestic creatures. Once they got to Vault 128 Hermione and Harry hopped out. Hermione's talent with breaking down wards seemed innate since she'd never had much practice destroying them, only building them. Harry never ceased to be impressed.
It took her an hour, but Harry busied himself with reading one of Grindelwald's diaries. He was learning much from just one book. When she finished they entered and found a treasure trove of gold, jewels, and old books. "How long can we stay here?"
"As long as we want," she answered.
"Well that's useful," he said. "But I assume you want to head down to Merlin's vault."
"Most definitely," Hermione looked up at him, "I don't think Grindelwald will have much left here. I think everything important was in Germany."
"I think so too," Harry nodded. "Still, better safe than sorry." Hermione nodded in agreement. "Have I mentioned I'm glad I'm your husband?"
"Not today," she said, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek, "I love you Harry."
"I love you too," he smiled, giving her a one-armed hug. "No sleep tonight."
"We'll rest before we go back in time, I promise."
Harry nodded. He wouldn't mind taking at least a nap right now, but being one of the most wanted people in all of Britain rather prevented that. He took solace in that even if their plan failed, their three friends would be safe. They'd been unable to save Sirius and the twins, but they'd managed to protect Neville, Luna, and Susan.
It was eight hours since they had first arrived when they headed down to Merlin's vault. The vault itself looked different than any other vault door they'd seen. It appeared to be a stone slab with a keyhole in it. A pool and waterfall were in the chamber. Harry looked around, "This place is beautiful. Up for some skinny dipping?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled him up to the vault. "We have the key, let's try it. This thing is more heavily warded than anything I've ever broken into. Not eager to tempt fate, not on less than four hours of sleep."
He nodded in agreement and put the key into the door. He turned it and the door suddenly vanished. Harry looked at Hermione, who took his hand. They entered the vault together only for the door to reappear behind them. "Who enters my tomb?"
Hermione stared up at a large portrait of Merlin, "My husband and I do," she answered. "I'm Hermione Potter, this is my husband and very best friend Harry."
"A pleasure to meet you," Merlin said, bowing his head, "I am Merlin. Tell me, what year is it?"
"1998," Harry answered, "You've been dead a very long time."
"Come young ones, tell me of the outside world today."
Harry looked at Hermione, "It isn't pleasant, sir. It's actually rather horrid."
Hermione looked up at the portrait, "If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to look around your vault, see some of your papers. Harry could fill you in."
"Of course, feel free to look around," the portrait said before sitting in a chair. Harry wandlessly transfigured a chair and sat down in it, talking to the portrait all about the history he knew and about Voldemort and what had happened since Voldemort appeared.
Hermione looked through Merlin's notes and books. These were certainly worth taking. She made copies of them. Stealing from Merlin just felt wrong, even if he was dead. He had plenty of notes that she knew she and Harry could use in the future, if for nothing else than learning. She could hear Harry telling Merlin about Voldemort's second defeat and shook her head. The next chapter of that story was one of supremacy, bigotry, and power-hungry politicians. Not an unusual story in human history, true, but the extermination of sentient non-human or half-human species by the magicals of Britain was rapidly becoming comparable to World War II. The experimentation to 'take back' the magic from Muggleborns was on par with some of the Nazi experiments on twins, mentally challenged, and mentally disturbed people. It turned her stomach, thinking about it. She shook her head to clear it and resumed her work. She had plenty to do with little time to do it in.
-Secret Hideout, 1998, Location Unknown, Original Timeline-
As soon as Hermione's head hit the pillow she was asleep. Harry sat next to her, running his fingers through her hair. Sometimes he wondered if she needed him as badly as he needed her. He knew she did need him, but it felt like an unequal relationship; Harry had never studied Runes or Arithmancy, both of which were needed to break down wards and create new spells. He was unable to help her in that way and it frustrated him to no end. Next time he'd study hard, just like she had, to be able to help in every way he could.
Quietly he moved to the entrance of the cave they'd found to hide out in and looked out. Snatchers were everywhere and you had to be careful. Plenty of Muggleborns had fled the UK; but to Harry's mind not enough of them. He'd tried to get Hermione to leave and she'd told him that she would not leave his side. If he left England she would follow but she wasn't about to flee her husband. The worst part was that Harry wanted to leave, but he and Hermione were now 'fugitives'. Their crime was that of killing a pureblood wizard. Harry found the thought that people believed that Tom Marvolo Riddle was a pureblood to be completely ridiculous but not unlike what he knew about the magical society of Britain.
"Harry come to bed," he turned to see his wife sitting up, "tonight's our last night here."
"Doesn't mean we can risk being found," he said, walking back to the bed. "I'm sorry you have to do most of the work."
"Study harder next time," she said, kissing him. "Now get in here."
"I could take that a few different ways."
"You delightful little pervert," Hermione pulled him to her, "I love you."
"I love you," he smiled. "When we leave this world behind…some things we'll have to change."
"Umbridge for example?"
"If we come across her I think we have to eliminate her."
"I agree," she nodded. "The Weasleys?"
"Well they did turn 'evidence' against us didn't they? Such charming little liars. Why were we ever close to them?"
"Manipulations," she reminded him. Harry nodded and stripped down to slide into their bed. "We'll take care of Riddle and leave the rest to the adults, Harry. The world will look different."
"I really hope so," Harry said, wrapping his arms around her as he closed his eyes. They did both need sleep.
-Potter Home, Stretford, England, 7 September 1990, New Timeline-
"It's a good thing we're not at Hogwarts," Hermione said as she looked over a potions recipe to make a person dream about something in particular. It was a basic potion, with a simple purpose. Women used it to remind their husbands about birthdays and special dates and whatnot; Hermione's potion would be far more complex but the theory was essentially the same. Implant an image into the subject's head. "I'd never be able to work on this."
Harry smiled and nodded in agreement. The best part, to him, was that Hermione and he shared a bed. Any schooling in which they couldn't was not an option for him. He couldn't sleep alone anymore. He'd tried, sure; but it wasn't the same. Without Hermione snuggled with him he felt alone and the nightmares began to creep back in. Admittedly, he liked being able to study with Hermione and learning what he should have in the first timeline. It was important to him that their relationship be a partnership of equals, and his own stupidity and laziness had prevented that the first time. This time he knew better and without anyone intentionally distracting him Harry found it much easier to not only study but learn. "It's going to be really hard to recreate these horcruxes."
"Merlin's notes will be useful but you're right," Hermione nodded. "The potions will be far easier to make. The horcruxes have to appear to have a horcrux within them."
"Maybe a potion could replicate the green gas and the scream?" Harry asked.
"It'd have to have an activator of fiendfyre or basilisk venom," Hermione pointed out, "that might be tricky."
Harry nodded. The potions to influence Dumbledore's dreams would be far easier, though Hermione was having a problem figuring out how to bind the vision to the herbs. "Hermione? Why not just dose him with LSD?"
She stared at him for a long moment before looking back at the recipe she was creating. A grin grew and she got up, moving around the table to give Harry a kiss that made his eyes glaze over, "You're brilliant," she said, sitting on his lap. "Although I don't think LSD will work for my purposes. Peyote definitely could work though, love. You're so brilliant for thinking of it," the kiss that followed was only broken when Harry had to admit that they did, unfortunately, need to breathe.
Harry gazed into Hermione's eyes for a long moment before whispering, "You, me, gillyweed, and the pool this summer."
"It's a date," she smiled, "I like the way you think Potter."
"My genius wife rubbed off on me," he shrugged, rather pleased at the way Hermione's eyes shifted as the thoughts of their lovemaking came back to her. She riled him up easily, it was nice to be able to do the same to her.
The smug look of satisfaction on his face did not go unnoticed by her and she decided to return the favor. Hermione leaned into his ear and whispered, "Not like she wants to." Hermione got up and left Harry with eyes glazed over and mouth hanging open. She grinned as she exited the library. If he wanted to play that game she was more than able to do so. And rather willing, since teasing was virtually all they could do so far.
When Harry came out of his lust induced stupor a few minutes later he growled in frustration and went to find his dad. He needed advice on relationships. James Potter was in the carport, working on his motorcycle. "Dad?"
"What's up Harry?"
"I need advice. It's about Hermione," he said, walking further into the carport, "Can I talk to you about it?"
"Sure," James set the socket wrench down and wiped off his hands, "What's wrong?"
Harry was a little unsure of how to continue. He and Hermione had never sought relationship advice, really just figuring things out for themselves. Harry licked his lips, "I'm really frustrated with our inability to…you know…make love. And I think Hermione is too but…well she keeps saying that it's okay but I know it's not. I know we only look eleven but mentally we're around 28 and 29. I've known Hermione almost twenty years, I know she's not happy about it. She keeps saying it's only another few months to a year but after so long…"
James was loathe to discuss his son's sex life, but could see that for Harry this wasn't easy. "After so long you're worried about being together?"
"More like I'm worried that not being together could really screw up finally being able to be together. Does that make sense?"
James thought about what Harry was trying to say, "You're worried the bottle's too shook up for when you finally pop the cork?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Harry nodded. "And I don't know if I can wait any longer. The soul is willing, but the flesh isn't quite there yet. But Hermione won't let me pleasure her; she only wants to engage in activities we can both enjoy together, and since she can't yet reciprocate she refuses it."
James licked his lips, "Harry…shouldn't you be talking to her?"
"Every time I try she plays it off or brushes it aside," Harry frowned, "I enjoy pleasuring her…I just don't know how to convince her that pleasuring her makes me happy too. I think it would certainly help our relationship and frustrations."
James sighed, "Harry, I don't really know what to tell you. Your problem seems to rest on communication. Talk to Hermione. That's all you can do."
"How do I convince her about…you know?"
"Harry, honestly I'm not sure how to help you. Your situation with Hermione is very unique; I can give you relationship advice in other things but in this particular situation I can't help you."
Harry frowned but nodded. James pulled into his son into a hug, "I know you want my help, and I'm grateful that you do son, but some things I just can't help with no matter how much I want to."
"Well thanks anyway," Harry sighed. "And Hermione and I do try to remember to ask for help; it's just we've relied on ourselves and one another and no one else for so long…it's still hard to tell you guys everything. Alot of the original timeline haunts us both."
"I understand," James smiled, "and so do the Grangers and your mother. We don't intend to make you feel guilty and if we do, know that we just wish we could help you with your burdens."
"You've prevented the terrors from happening again," Harry said. "That's enough. You don't know what you prevented. Which is just fine by us; no one should know. It was hell to live through and I don't think either of us could talk about it without breaking down." As Harry walked back in the house James wondered, for not the first time, just how bad it really was in the last timeline. While he didn't really want to know, part of him would always be curious.
Hermione was in their bedroom when he went upstairs, lying on the bed reading. "Not an unfamiliar vision to me," he smiled.
She glanced up, "I would think not. I thought you'd follow me up here sooner."
"I had to ask my dad a question."
She sat up, "What about?"
"You and me," he answered, sitting on the edge of the bed, "this anxiety between us. My fears."
Hermione moved to sit against him, his arm moving around her automatically, "What fears Harry?"
He licked his lips before summoning the bravery that had put him into Gryffindor in the first place, "The fear that our sexual frustrations might cause some problems in our relationship, like I already think it has. That I might hurt you our first time in this timeline. The fear that when we finally can have sex you'll be disappointed. I never want to disappoint you Hermione."
"Harry you never will," she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. "Harry you know there's no one else I will ever want. It's always been you."
He smiled, "I know that. But you can't tell me that our relationship doesn't feel…strained."
Hermione took a deep breath, "Harry I'd be lying if I said that our relationship isn't lacking a rather important component. It just doesn't seem fair to me that you can't be pleasured in the same way that I can at the moment."
Harry turned to face her, "Is it more than that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hermione, I know you. Now answer the question, don't dodge it."
She sighed, dipping her head, "When I hit puberty my body was…well it might not have been perfect but…"
"You've always been perfect," he interjected, "and you my love are, were, and will be a stunner. I know your body looks…different. So does mine; no muscles, no tone, and while I wasn't exactly hung like a horse I was certainly larger than I am now. That comes in time, but our relationship doesn't have to wait until it does. I mean really Hermione. We didn't have those bodies until we were around 15 or 16. I am not waiting to have sex with you until then. Like I said to my dad, we might appear to be 11 but our souls are nearly thirty."
Hermione nodded, letting him pull her into a hug. She thought about things that they could do. Suddenly she stood and leaned down to kiss him, "Strip."
"Wh-what?" Harry blinked, fairly certain he'd stepped into a daydream or maybe one of his fantasies.
"I said strip. Do I need to explain what that means?"
"No," Harry said, standing and undressing, leaving on his boxers. Hermione raised an eyebrow and he took them off too, confused as to why she was ordering this now.
Hermione pulled him to her, hugging him and whispering, "Go start our shower up. I'll be in in a bit."
"Hey I stripped! You have to do it too." Harry gave her his best puppy dog eyes.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I will strip Harry. Just go start the shower? I'd rather we were warm and this way no parents will be walking in on us. I'm better at wandless wards and our bathroom will need a few. I don't think we'll be focused on casting them when we're both naked."
"I love you," he whispered, kissing her before going to do her bidding. She hit the nail on the head with that last point. He and Hermione could never seem to think clearly once they were both naked. He smirked as he turned on the shower. They'd never had to worry about anyone walking in on them before. This was a new experience.
When Hermione entered the bathroom she was still clothed, though that quickly became a non-issue as she stripped down right in front of him. Harry grinned in approval and pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly as he picked her up and carried her into the shower. "Silencing wards?" He asked.
"You can make me scream and no one will know," she smiled.
"Perfect," he sat her down on a ledge and gently ran his fingers over her body, "I'm ten years backed up and have plenty to get out of my system."
"Are you going to prevent me from walking Harry?" She asked, her voice dropping.
"If I have my way, yes," he winked.
Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled him to her, "Less talking, love. I seem to not be able to recall if you're even any good at oral."
"Slander! Slurs! Vile lies! Libel! Utter bunk! Mud-slinging!"
"Mud-slinging? You're watching too much American TV Harry."
"You're ruining my faux-irritation, love."
"You seem content with your mouth doing something other than what we both want it to do."
"Noted. I'm still going to make you pay for that."
"I have no doubts," she pulled him in for a kiss and Harry smiled. This was just like it used to be. Thank Merlin for that.