Chapter Text"Aauuunnnghh..." Hermione moaned. "How did you get so... unnnghh... good at that Harry? Don't ever stop. Sweet merciful Merlin don't ever stop..."
Harry chuckled. "Have to, I'm done with that one. You have another foot, you know." He set her left foot down on his lap and picked up her right. He started with gentle squeezes, then added circular motions, and when her foot was warmed up, he added pressing his thumbs into the muscles on the bottom.
Hermione melted.
When he was finished with her right foot, she snored.
Harry smiled, and quietly picked up a magazine to flip through while she napped. He would have preferred a book on economics and managing money, but they hadn't had a chance to go to any shops yet.
He put the magazine down as a thought struck. There was some other reading he should be doing...
He pulled out his wand and concentrated, and two of the large Gringott's ledgers obediently floated to him from the far desk. He opened the cover, and the first page was a table of contents, broken into five categories: Homes and Properties, Large Items, Jewelry, Intellectual Property, and Investments. Harry figured he should read it all, so he flipped the page and started at the beginning, Homes and Properties.
There were only five Homes and Properties listed:
Potter House, 1 Potter Way, Dorset. Familial Seat. Complement: 8
Unnamed Residence, 7 Gryffindor Common, Godric's Hollow.
Chalet Potter, Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland. Complement: 4
Villa Potter, 107 Fangrias Dr. Mykonos, Greece. Complement: 4
Potter Island, Grand Bahamas. Complement: 12
His family owned an island. A whole island. In the Bahamas.
He closed the ledger again. Maybe he wasn't ready for that after all. He took several deep breaths, and hoped he finished freaking out before Hermione woke up. It was so much more fun to watch others freak out than it was to do it yourself.
Not for the first time, he marveled at his wife. His wife. Weaver of sunshine ribbons, bane of mint chocolate chip, oracle of his heart and mind. How on earth had he ever thought of her as just a friend? He shook his head slowly and thanked Merlin and Magic for showing him how unspeakably precious she really was. He carefully placed his hand on her swollen stomach and just rested it there. He felt so feeble, so inadequate, so unworthy in the face of what was happening inside her. It had taken years too long to even admit he loved her. How was he going to suddenly become a good father? A good husband? Hell, a good man? Tears started rolling down his cheeks, and as much as he was looking forward to it, awed by it, he had to admit even just to himself that he was terrified.
At least he didn't have to worry about putting food on the table or where his next paycheque was coming from. There were a lot of men who had it a lot harder than he did. He watched Hermione's perfect breasts rise and fall for a long time, studied her beautiful, peaceful face as though he'd never seen it before and never would again.
'You're married to the Research Queen, Potter.' He thought to himself after a long time just watching her sleep. 'You'd better pull your fucking finger out and get doing some of your own.'
He set his jaw and nodded to himself. As soon as she woke up.
He used his wand to summon parchment, quill, and ink, and used the ledger as a writing table.
We, Lord and Lady Potter;
Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Potter, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath all our worldly possessions to our yet unborn child.
In the event that we are all killed, all worldly possessions are to be evenly split by their agreement between Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, minus 100,000 galleons, which is to go to Arthur and Molly Weasley.
He signed his name, and left space for Hermione's signature next to his.
He had no idea if it was valid, or if that was even how things were done. He would go to Gringott's later and see if they had a better idea on how to protect their assets, but in the meantime it would do. He'd show Hermione when she woke and see if she had anything to add.
He used the wand again to put the Will on the table, and summoned Hermione's bag, then summoned her camera out of it. He floated the camera a decent distance away, pointed at them, and lay his hand carefully and gently on her stomach again before snapping the picture, then put the camera away again, and went back to writing.
6th September, 1998
I'm sitting on a sofa in Sydney Australia with your mother. I just finished rubbing her feet and she was out like a light. We got married this morning - maybe it was yesterday in England due to time difference, I'm not sure. I just took a picture of us, all three of us, though you're not visible yet of course. I just want you to know that I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm lost right now, facing the most important thing I've ever - we 've - ever done, namely raising you. My own parents were murdered when I was a year and a half old, so I haven't really had any examples of how to parent properly, and I'll apologize for that now. I'll get things wrong, that much is a certainty. I'm immensely thankful that I have your mother, however. She's so completely brilliant, so incomparably wonderful, I'd be an utter wreck without her. I love her so much that sometimes I still can't believe she's real and loves me back, and we've been together since I was eleven. I love you the same way. We don't know if you're a boy or girl yet. We haven't even discussed names, but you're the central fact of our lives now, and we love you more than it's possible to say. We love you more and more every day. We can't wait to meet you.
I don't know how possible it's going to be to write to you often, but I'm definitely going to try.
All our love,
Your father, Harry James Potter.
Hermione stirred as he was waving the letter in the air to dry. She took her feet from his lap and sat up next to him to kiss his cheek.
"What's that?" She asked as she rested her cheek on his shoulder.
"A letter to the baby. I was doing some thinking, and if something happens to us... I don't want him or her to have nothing the way I did."
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him. "You beautiful, wonderful man. May I?" She held her hand out for the letter.
"Of course." He kissed her again, and she felt something new beneath the usual kiss. A new level of tenderness, of... vulnerability. She searched his eyes, and for the first time since she'd come to know him, she had no idea what he was thinking. There were several different emotions running through him at the same time, and she couldn't read him. It sent a thrill up and down her spine and ignited a deep hunger for him in a way she'd never experienced.
She tore her eyes away from his and read the letter.
Her hand went to her mouth as she read, tears dripped freely from her cheeks, and when she finished it her arms went around his neck and she sobbed into his neck.
"I love you." She cried, "I love you so much."
He held her close and pulled her into his lap, and they sat there like that while he rubbed her back and kissed her while he let his own tears mix with hers.
"I realized I have a lot of research to do. I don't even know how to be a decent man, for Magic's sake."
She sniffed and wiped her eyes and then nose on his shirt. "You're wrong, Harry. I don't love you in spite of who you are, I love you because of who you are. You are already a better man than most could dream of being. You're brilliant, this is just proof." She held up the letter. "You keep being you and everything will be wonderful."
"I... Do you really think so?" He asked softly, almost afraid.
"I know so, Harry. The simple fact that the baby's welfare is foremost in your mind proves it. The fact that you care about being a good man, a good father proves it. We'll go find some books, do some research. We still need information, since this is new to both of us, but information alone can't make you what you aren't. For us, it will just help us figure things out along the way. You're already a brilliant man, and you're going to be a brilliant father because of it."
"I hope so. I wasn't kidding about how lost I'd be without you, Hermione. Merlin, I'd be dead a hundred times over without you. I know you're going to be a brilliant mother, and I have that to live up to."
She barked a laugh. "I think I'm going to be terrible, so that just means we're the same. I'll depend on you to let me know if I am being terrible. Just not in front of the kids please." She kissed him.
Harry hugged her tight to him. "Kids..." He repeated. "I like the sound of that."
"I'm so happy being with you, Harry. I... I have to admit, I'm more than thrilled, but also more than a little scared."
He chuckled and kissed her neck. "Me too. Over the moon and completely terrified."
"One day at a time. Watch each other's backs. Stick together and we'll be fine. Same as always." She smiled at him.
He rested his forehead against hers. "You're amazing, Hermione. I should have told you that a long time ago."
"Yes you should have." She grinned and kissed the end of his nose. "But I'll settle for every day for the rest of my life."
He took a deep breath, smelling her hair and skin and let her fill him up. "I was going to go to the shops as soon as you woke up to get some books for research, but it's dark out and the clock says it's nearly eleven, so..." He stood up with her in his arms and set her gently on the bed. "First thing in the morning we can grab a few books, some breakfast, and then go parent hunting. Sound good?"
"Sounds wonderful. There's only one thing wrong."
"What? What is it?" He frowned, clearly trying to think of anything that might be wrong.
"You've still got clothes on."
He smiled at her and shook his head, not believing he fell for that. "Well that's because you haven't taken them off yet."
Wendell Wilkins loved his life, really he did. He lived in a beautiful place, he was married to a beautiful woman who loved him as much as he loved her, and he found his work rewarding and satisfying. He was his own boss, his wife was her own boss, and together they ran an efficient, lucretive practice. He had everything he'd wanted, everything he'd worked for.
He really had no idea why he felt something was missing.
It wasn't as if he had forgotten something, either. He had completed an inventory of all their possessions when they moved last year. All their equipment for the practice was under constant inventory control. He double-checked with Monica last night that he wasn't forgetting anything she had asked of him, and as he thought, he hadn't.
It was just a feeling. Not a nagging 'you've forgotten something' feeling either. It was like an emptiness inside him. It had a shape, like something had been there once and now wasn't, but he couldn't tell what the shape was, so he had no idea what might be missing. It was a vexing feeling. It was only ever a quiet background feeling, so it was only really when he was still and calm that he really noticed it. Still, he had noticed it, and when things were quiet, it grated on him.
"That's it for today, Doctor Wilkins." Sherry said as she walked past. "Your four o'clock just cancelled."
He smiled and nodded at the receptionist. "Thank you Sherry!" He put away the sterile instruments first, then stowed the drill bits and polishing compounds and rinses and fluoride pastes. He peeled off the nitrile gloves and tossed them, then washed up. Sherry was back at the front desk when he walked out.
"I'm off then." He said as he passed. "See you in the morning."
"Good night, doctor." Sherry smiled.
The drive home was less than ten minutes, and one of the reasons he loved the town they lived in. It was big enough to have an active town center, and small enough to be comfortable and not congested.
Monica was already home when he arrived, and that put a smile on his face. Maybe he'd cook something nice, set the table with some candles and flowers. He did love to see her when she woke up satisfied. He stopped quickly at the florist, and was still home inside ten minutes.
"You're home early." She said from the sofa. She was curled with her legs under her, nose in a book and a glass of red next to her on the side table.
"My four o'clock cancelled. I thought I might make us a nice dinner. A little carbonara, some wine, some candlelight..." He handed her the bouquet he had behind his back, and went to fill a vase so they could sit on the table. She put the flowers in the vase after he set it on the table, and took a moment to arrange them to her liking.
He kissed her cheek, but she stopped him and kissed him fully and squeezed his behind, then spun away and took her seat on the sofa again with a smile.
"Saucy." He grinned at her.
"I feel better." Harry said as they exited The Book Grocer hand in hand.
"I think that's the first time I've ever seen you exit a book shop with a smile." Hermione teased.
"These books I actually want." He smiled at her. "I kind of wish we could go back to first year and start again, just you and me, and actually try to do well. I do feel a little bad about it now."
"Really?" She raised her eyebrows.
"I didn't focus hardly at all. I let myself be led by the poorer influences because I'd never had friends before. I didn't really understand I should be asserting myself. Not until later."
"Well, you know now, and I'm thrilled with your newfound drive." She kissed his cheek. They crossed the street to Town Hall building, and up the stairs into the library. The place itself was very sleek, with white flooring and furniture. It wasn't a particularly large library, but they weren't there for books. Hermione led him over to the banks of computers. She sat in front of one and opened a browser window. She typed in an address and then typed in what she was looking for. Seconds later, there was a list of results.
"That's amazing." Harry whispered to her."We have to get one of these. Will you show me how to use it if we do?"
"Of course, Harry. I think it's a good idea as well, the internet is only going to get better." She clicked on a link, and it showed a list of people named Wilkins in Australia. It was a phone book for the entirety of Australia, not just Sydney. She scrolled the screen downward, and near the end found Wilkins, W & M. There weren't any others that were W & M.
"That's most likely them." She said, and wrote down the name of the town.
"Toowoo... Toowooba?"
"Toowoomba." She corrected. "Hopefully that's them. Let's see where Toowoomba is." She opened another browser and typed the name of the town in, and clicked on a map. That map was very small and didn't show much detail, so she closed that one and opened another that was larger and had lots of detail. "It's west of Brisbane. It's five hundred miles up the coast."
"Are there any pictures of Toowoomba? I can do Hogwarts to London. That's over five hundred."
She typed 'pictures of Toowoomba' into the browser, and a number of nice pictures popped up.
Harry pointed at one. "There, that's the town hall, we can do that."
Hermione nodded. "We should go check out of the hotel then."
Harry nodded. "Can you look up something halfway between here and there? Coff's Harbour maybe? Any landmarks there?"
She turned back to the computer and did another search, and came up with pictures of a fun park famous for it's enormous banana. It was easy to picture.
"That's good." He whispered as he kissed her head. "I thought better of it because it's all of us. Safer to go in two jumps."
They walked the two blocks back to the Hilton, but didn't bother going back to the room. Everything they had was in Hermione's beaded bag, so there wasn't any point. Harry paid at the desk as they checked out, and they headed to the public restroom.
Harry closed the door behind them as they both crowded into one of the stalls. "You ready?" He asked.
"I hope so, I'd rather not vomit on you."
Harry grinned. "I'm washable. Besides, it would be just one more of your fluids I've had on me."
Hermione snorted. "Prat. Just go." She grinned, but Harry saw the pink in her cheeks.
Harry cast notice-me-not on them, then kissed her forehead. "I love your fluids."
They Apparated with a soft pop, and appeared in front of a thirty-foot banana with the words "The Big Banana" on it.
"That's a big banana." Hermione said, then they Apparated again and appeared in front of the Toowoomba town hall.
"All okay?" Harry asked immediately.
"Yes, we're both fine." She kissed his cheek and looked around. "There's a hotel just over there."
"Brilliant." Harry held her hand as they walked the block to the Shamrock Hotel.
"Good morning." The man behind the counter greeted them when they walked in.
"Good morning." Hermione smiled.
"We'd like a room please." Harry asked.
"Lovely!" The man said, and tapped some keys on the keyboard in front of him. "How long will you be staying and do you have a preference for room type?"
"Two days to start with, you think?" Harry asked Hermione.
She nodded. "We can always add more on."
"Tonight and tomorrow night, and single room with a large bed please." Harry said.
"Your names?" The man asked.
"Howard and Hestia Black." Harry answered.
The man tapped some more keys on the computer, then pulled a room key with a large plastic tag attached to it that had 214 on it in big black numbers. He slid the key across the counter to them.
"Two fourteen, just up the stairs to the left there." He pointed out the door they had come in.
"Thank you, mister...?" Hermione said.
"Gordon Roddy. Just Gord though." He smiled.
"Thank you Gord." Hermione smiled back. "We're here for some dental work from out of town, I don't suppose you'd know where Wilkins Dental is?"
"Crikey!" Gord said with a grin. "They're just up Ruthven street here out front, then left up Margaret, across the bridge and just past the mall on the opposite side. Lovely couple, my wife and I get all our work done there."
"We've heard good things as well, that's why we came." Harry smiled. "Thanks for the info."
Gordon nodded. "No worries. I won't say enjoy it, but it'll be good as it can be."
Hermione smiled as she and Harry left out the door again and up the stairs toward their room. She smiled at the though that her parents - if they were her parents - were well-liked by the community. She knew they were good dentists, she'd known that her whole life. It was something else to find that they carried good practice and good will with them. She chewed her thumbnail as she waited for Harry to open the door.
The room was clean and decent, with a queen sized bed in the center. There was a TV and small coffeemaker on the desk with some packets of coffee waiting. It was a well-run hotel, but the 'hotel smell' lingered in the background, beneath the perfumed cleaning products. Harry closed the door behind her, and enfolded her in his arms. She stiffened, not expecting it, and then relaxed and hugged him back.
"You only chew your nail when you're really stressed. Talk to me." He said. He held her head to his chest and stroked her hair, and she calmed despite herself.
"We're close." She sighed. "We don't know if they are my parents, but if they are, then we just follow them home and... somehow..."
"Easy. I'll come up with a way to distract them and keep their attention focused on me. You just keep calm, keep breathing, and focus on your parents. You know what to do, you know how to do it. Just relax and focus. You're brilliant and you'll be fine, Hermione."
She relaxed and snuggled into him. "You're right, of course. When it's time I won't let my emotions get in the way, it's just... I miss them. I know they're going to be angry. Angry and hurt."
"That's why after we confirm it's them - or not them - I should go to Gringotts straightaway and get us some muggle identifications and maybe a credit card or something. If it is them, we'll get a nice little house close to your parents and just be a family. If it's not them, we continue on and find them, then get a nice little house close to your parents and just be a family."
She squeezed him tightly and smoothed his hair back from his face. "Love you." She smiled.
"Love you." He smiled back, then noticed her smile had turned to a frown. "What is it?"
She pulled his head down, and smoothed his hair back away from his face as she inspected his hairline on both sides of his forehead. Her frown didn't go away.
"Harry, your scar is gone."
It was Harry's turn to frown. "What?" He let go of her and strode to the large mirror over the dresser on the far wall. He pulled his hair back and checked his hairline. She was right, his forehead was smooth and unblemished by any marks at all.
Hermione took her wand out and cast a few things at him. "You don't have any glamours or anything on you, you're completely clean. Your scar is just gone, like it never existed." She pulled his shirt up and looked at his torso. "You still have these scars though. And the one from the basilisk fang."
"Did I have it yesterday?" He asked, deep in thought.
"Yes. Well... maybe? I didn't look. I know you definitely had it when you woke up in the hospital, I remember looking at it before bawling my eyes out."
"Weird. I wonder what -" Harry's eyes went wide, and he grabbed her left arm and pulled her sleeve up. Her forearm was smooth and unblemished and beautiful.
Hermione frowned, wondering what he was doing, but when she saw her arm her hand went to her mouth and tears filled her eyes.
"Dark magic." Harry said. "Something we did in the last two days purged us of dark magic and healed us." He pulled her forearm up and kissed the spot where her scar had been.
"Well there's only two things we've done in the last two days that it could have been - the wedding or the house rings. The sex was pretty magical, but we did that before you woke up, so I know that's not it." She kissed his cheek.
"Whatever it was, I'm ecstatic you don't have to carry that word around with you. That angered me no end. I wanted to kill her myself."
She wrapped her arms around him again. "It was just a scar, Harry. It didn't mean anything. To me it was just a reminder that ignorance and hatred go hand in hand. In the end the pureblood nonsense is just another symptom of the stupid side of human nature. A reminder to learn and grow and be more than our base selves."
Harry was quiet for a while, he just held her and rocked side to side slightly.
"It's never going to end." He whispered finally. "We can stay here and be happy as a family, go unnoticed and just live... or we can go back and fight the ignorance, intolerance and hatred. We'll be targets again, and we may win, but it will be a lifelong fight. It may be a fight we hand off to our children. I... I don't know if I want that for them."
"If we don't fight, if we don't push back against it, we leave them a world no better than it was when we came to it."
He looked at her and smiled, then kissed her. "I know. Right now it doesn't matter, we have more pressing matters, but we'll talk about it. I truly am torn and unsure what would be best in the long run. As long as whatever we decide to do we do it together, I'll be happy with that."
"Good. Me too. Are you ready to go see if we found my parents?"
Harry nodded. "Nervous, and excited."
She smiled. "Good. Me too."
It took them fifteen minutes to walk the few blocks. It was a nice two-story building of red brick amongst a dozen others just like it, and only distinguished from the others by the sign over the door that read "Wilkins Dental". Harry held the door for her as they entered.
"Good morning, welcome to Wilkins Dental." The receptionist greeted them.
"Good morning." Hermione smiled at her. "My husband and I are new to the area and just shopping around for medical services. Do you have time to tell us about the practice?"
Harry nudged Hermione's elbow and nodded to a signboard on one wall with pictures of a man and a woman and name plaques beside the pictures that listed their credentials.
Hermione gasped when she saw it despite herself, and made a quick nod to Harry, then turned back to the receptionist with a smile.
They carried on a normal conversation and received brochures about the services available, and left a few minutes later, but Harry could tell Hermione was quivering with the strain the whole time.
When they had exited the building and were alone in the parking lots, she whispered "That's them." She breathed heavily and clung to him.
"Only one little bit left to do then." He wrapped his arms around her and held her for a long moment.
Hermione wrapped her arms under his and clung to him with her hands on his shoulders from behind, and let go of the tears she'd been holding in.
"I can't help it, Harry. What if I'm doing more harm than good to them? What if they're happy and better off as they are?"
"Rubbish." He said with his lips on her hair. "There is no life you've touched that isn't better because of it. You're bloody brilliant. If you suddenly forgot our little one, wouldn't you do anything to get him or her back? No matter what?"
"Yes." She said without hesitation. "I'd be frantic."
"For that matter, I'm fairly certain they'll want to be part of his or her life as well. That's two lots of magic they'd be missing, you and the baby."
"It feels kind of creepy following them home." She said after a moment.
"No, it feels really creepy. How else are we going to get them alone in private though?"
"I know it's probably the best way, it just feels a little icky."
"Yes it does. How long have we got until they're done for the day?"
"The receptionist's schedule said their last appointment is four in the afternoon."
"Let's go to Gringott's then and get our identification and whatnot worked out, we can Apparate back here for then. That way we can - well, you can undo their memory changes, then when you're visiting with them tomorrow I can pop out and get us a house."
Hermione nodded. "Alright. I'd just be wandering around town for six hours stressing otherwise."
Harry took out his wand and concealed them from muggle sight, then Apparated them back to Sydney, taking two jumps again.
Hermione cast a quick Magum Revelio when they arrived, and they found a concentration of magic in the downtown core. It was a short walk, and the entrance to the magical portion of Sydney was in the back room of shop that sold crystals and incense and things, called The Dreamtime.
Magical Sydney turned out to be much like magical London, except larger, brighter, and much more friendly.
Inside Gringott's, they were introduced to their Australian Affairs Manager, Flense.
"How may I assist you, Lord and Lady Potter?" She asked.
"We're needing muggle identification, Australian first, but likely British as well. We'd also like to acquire a muggle credit card. Does Gringott's work through any established muggle banks?" Hermione said.
Flense merely opened a drawer in her desk and took out two large envelopes, then slid one to each of them. "Gringott's does work through several muggle banks. It will take me a moment to procure the required credit card, the fees and payment for which will automatically be converted to galleons and extracted from your vault. Gutspike took the liberty of preparing those packages for you, in anticipation of your need. Please excuse me a moment." She quickly strode from her office, and returned a few minutes later. Harry and Hermione had looked at their passports, driver's licenses, birth certificates and health cards for both countries, and were sitting quietly holding hands when she returned.
"Here you are." Flense said as she placed a plastic card in front of each of them. One card had Harry's name on it beneath a long number, and the other Hermione's.
Harry picked his up and put it into his dragonskin wallet. "Thank you, Flense." He stood and bowed to her.
Hermione did the same. "Thank you."
"Thank you," Flense replied. "It was a beautiful wedding. May your happiness flow as well as your gold."
Harry flashed her a grin as they left.
"I guess we're famous among goblins now?" Hermione asked when they got outside the bank.
"I guess. I did have a question for you, though. It occurred to me when I saw your name on the card - do you want to be Hermione Jean Potter? Or maybe Granger-Potter? Or just stay Granger?"
She stopped in her tracks. "That's a good question, honestly. I hadn't thought about it." She bit her lip the way she did when she was thinking deeply, and it tugged at his heart the way it always did. "I want to be Hermione Jean Potter." She said firmly. "I know you won't ever put pressure on me to conform to your family because I already am your family, so I don't need to retain my own name as a way of keeping my independence."
"I love your independence."
"I know." She grinned. "Plus, this way we have the same initials."
Harry laughed and hugged her. "We will, too! I hadn't even thought of that."
"Besides, I like being called Missus Potter. It feels good."
Harry beamed at her. "Well then, Missus Potter, shall we get a bite of something and then peruse a few bookstores?"
She kissed him. "Brilliant."
They passed the remaining five hours eating and reading. Harry was fascinated by the contents of 'What to Expect When You're Expecting', and devoured it. Hermione got less reading done, though she did read through a couple of chapters on memory charms and their reversal, just to brush up. A significant portion of her time was spent watching Harry and his changing expressions as he read. She smiled quietly to herself as she wound a curl around her finger and tried to focus on anything but how gloriously sexy Harry was while studying intently.
She reached her limit by half past three, and put her book away back on the shelf. She loved how the book shops here had cafes and reading areas inside them. It was genius. She then barged her way into Harry's arms and sat on his lap. it took three kisses to make him put the book down, but he was smiling for the last two.
"Alright, alright. I can get back to this later." He smiled at her and put the book back in her beaded bag. "Shall we go then?"
"The sooner we deal with my parents the sooner we can be alone." She blushed, but didn't try to hide her desire.
Harry kissed the side of her head. "Told you you were brilliant."
She stood up so he could, and they made their way out of the book shop. As soon as they were outside, Harry Apparated them to the Big Banana and then back to the parking lot of her parents' practice.
They only had to wait fifteen minutes before Hermione's mother came outside to her car. Harry re-cast their Notice-me-not and Disillusioned them both, then Apparated them into the back seat of her car.
It wasn't much of a drive, only about seven minutes, but the town was beautiful, even the town center. Hermione's mother drove into a very nice suburb called Rangeville, and less than half a minute later, into a driveway on Boshammer street.
"We should stay like this, unseen. I'll undo their memory charm and we can get out again. Leave a note and come back tomorrow." Hermione said after her mother had exited the car.
"I don't think that's a good idea and neither do you." Harry objected. "If they suddenly remember you their first thought is going to be getting to you or at least contacting you, same as yours would be if you suddenly remembered me. We could definitely sneak in like this, work the charm, and then sneak out again to show up on the doorstep. I'd go along with that."
Hermione sighed. "I know. You're right. I just... nervous and scared."
Harry patted the space next to him until he felt her, then slid his hand down her arm to take her hand. "Relax and breathe, Missus Potter. The sooner we get them back the happier we'll both be. I love you, Hermione. Your parents love you."
Her hand brushed across his chest and she climbed into his lap and held him to her. She could feel his heartbeat with her chest pressed against his left side. Slowly, gradually, they synchronized until there were two hearts with one beat.
"Thank you Harry." She whispered. "I want to go back in time and throttle myself for not demanding you be my boyfriend when I was twelve. It hasn't been a week and I have no clue what I'd do without you." She kissed his neck. "Let's go get our family."
"We can't yet, your dad isn't ho..." A silver Mercedes drove up beside them and Hermione's father got out and went in the house. "...oome yet. Okay, let's go get our family." He Apparated them into the house, and Hermione cast Silencio on their feet.
"As soon as you finish, I'll Apparate us to just outside the front door." He whispered so only she could hear.
She squeezed his hand in agreement.
Wendell and Monica Wilkins looked like a nice couple. Hermione's mother had dark brown hair, nearly black, and Hermione's warm chestnut eyes. Her father had brown hair as well, with slight highlights of auburn, and his hair was kept short, but it was immediately apparent that's where Hermione's frizzy tendencies came from.
Her mother was on the sofa, legs curled beneath her, and it tugged at Harry's heart she looked so much like an older Hermione as she read a medical journal. Hermione had her mother's cheekbones and nose, but the shape of her face came from her father. She was a perfect blend of the best traits of the two people in front of them, and it confirmed what Harry already knew. Hermione was one in a billion.
Mister Wilkins appeared in the living room from up the stairs, in different clothes than what he'd come home in. He wore baggy shorts and a t-shirt around the house, apparently. He crossed the room and kissed his wife, and beside him, Harry heard a quiet "Commemini!"
The air around both their heads seemed to twist and a slight glow came from behind their eyes. It only lasted a second, and left both the Grangers looking at each other and their home in confusion.
"What-?" Her mother asked.
"Where-?" Her father asked.
Harry Apparated them to the front porch and looked around quickly. He cast a visibility ward on the porch so they wouldn't be seen appearing out of thin air when he dropped the disillusionment and Notice-me-not.
Hermione's face was scrunched up, holding back tears when he could see her again, so he reached out and pressed the doorbell.
The door opened and Mr. Granger stood there, shock on his face.
"Daddy?" Hermione asked in a small voice.
Malcolm Granger stood quietly with his wife of twenty years, trying for the life of him to piece together how in hell he'd come to be wearing his 'slobaround' gear in someone else's house. Eleanor was equally confused. She had been in her favorite comfortable reading pose, and clearly relaxed and at home. Yet, they were in someone else's house.
The doorbell rang then, and a stab of panic shot through him. Was he trespassing in someone else's home? Was that them? Were they about to be arrested?
He held a hand out to tell Eleanor to stay put, and cautiously made his way to the front door. His shoes were there, looking for all the world like he'd just come home from work, and he didn't see any shoes he didn't recognize on the rack. He peeked through the window in the front door, but couldn't see anyone. They must be too close to the door. On the up side, he didn't see any police cars either.
He gripped the handle and made a silent wish to not be arrested, then opened the door. His daughter stood there. He knew it was her. Something slammed home inside him, like a tectonic plate thunderously slipping into a stable position. Something was wrong though. Something was off. He knew his baby girl better than anyone, and he knew straightaway something was wrong. She was whole, she was healthy, but there had been something. He had missed something. Her face was a little older. More mature. Her figure slightly rounder. Less teen, more twenties. Her eyes had new depth to them.
"Daddy?" She asked in a small voice.
"Hermio -" He didn't have time to even finish her name before she slammed into him and squeezed him hard enough to make his ribs creak.
"I love you too, Queenie." He told her.
"Let's go inside, we have a lot to talk about." She said when she let him go.
He couldn't really argue the fact, but he did wonder if hanging out in a strange house was a good idea.
"Daddy, this is Harry. Harry, my dad Malcolm Granger." She said. He had wondered about the lad standing there if he was honest. He knew that name though. Wasn't the boy she wrote about constantly for years named Harry?
Harry stuck out his hand, so Malcolm shook it. At least the lad had a good firm handshake.
"Yes, well. No sense standing on the porch, come in, come in." He told them.
Hermione entered first, followed closely by Harry. Eleanor and Hermione crashed together halfway between the door and the sofa, and Eleanor smoothed Hermione's hair down and kissed her head over and over.
"I missed you mum." She said when she let go.
"I missed you too, dear." Eleanor said. "Who's your friend?"
"Mum, this is Harry, Harry, my mum Eleanor Granger."
"Pleased to meet you finally, Ma'am." Harry said, and stuck is hand out.
Instead of shaking it, she turned to Hermione. "Is he that Harry?"
Hermione lit up from within as she blushed a bright, deep pink. "Yes mum, there's only one Harry."
"Well then, it's a pleasure to finally meet you as well, Harry." She said as she swept him into a hug.
Malcolm frowned. Yes, Hermione had been going on about the boy for ages, but Eleanor didn't hug hardly anyone. Did she know something he didn't? He started to think maybe she did, and it sparked a flame in his chest. If this kid had done something to his baby girl...
"I would love to say it's wonderful to have you home again, dear, but I'm not even sure where we are. It certainly isn't home."
"That's what I need to talk to you about. Please, sit down. You too dad." Hermione seemed... commanding. Adult. In control. He felt a pride begin to clash with his anger. Never one to not humor his daughter, he sat beside Eleanor and waited for Hermione to continue.
"You remember I told you about the dark wizard who was supposedly dead but wasn't really?"
"I... Sort of?" He said. "It wasn't very clear."
"On purpose, daddy. In case the letters were being read."
"Oh. That's not right." He frowned harder.
"No, but it's also not the half. That dark wizard did come back to life, and gathered his followers. Horrid, horrid people who loved to torture and murder and rape and thought of people with no magic like yourselves as nothing but sheep for sport."
Eleanor gasped. "And these people are allowed to just roam free?"
"There are police, but this dark wizard was a lot like Hitler, and his message was very seductive to certain people. He had followers inside the Ministry who helped them make raids on people like you and dad and me. Even if we were in a protected home."
"Bloody hell." Malcolm said. "We had no idea it was so serious! We're getting the hell out of England immediately!"
Eleanor gripped his hand and nodded.
Hermione looked at the floor the way she'd always done when she was guilty. Harry stepped forward and rubbed his hand on her back. She looked at him, and they shared a conversation in a glance.
They shared a conversation in a glance.
The flame inside him raged. They had definitely done something. Little bastard!
"You're in Australia, daddy." Hermione took support and comfort from Harry's gaze, and returned to looking like a proud, confident woman. "The war is also over now. The dark wizard and most of his horrid ilk are dead or in prison.
"We're... Why are we in Australia?" Eleanor asked.
"Those followers -one of their favorite things to do is harm the families of those fighting them. The best way - the only way I could protect you was to remove myself from your memories. I changed your memories and your names and moved you here. You live here, you have a practice here. This is your house."
"You did WHAT?" He thundered. It didn't help that the little bastard kept touching his baby, but Hermione had rooted around in his head? In Eleanor's!?
"It was the only way, daddy. I had to keep you safe."
Malcolm stood, his hands clenching and unclenching as his jaw worked to contain his anger.
"What exactly did you do to us, Hermione?" Eleanor was angry too. She only ever used that icy tone when she was livid. Usually at him.
"I altered your memories. Changed your names. Removed myself. Changed every picture of me in the house to not show me. I'm sorry mum, but I had to. It worked. You're safe, you're well-liked in the community, and you were always who you were, just... without me to endanger you. I couldn't protect you any other way."
He could see Eleanor analyzing the information.
"There's more, too mum. Nothing about you, but about me. Me and Harry..."
Hermione pulled out her wand, and waved it over herself. She shimmered briefly, then expanded. Her stomach bulged and her breasts grew, but she didn't put any fat on her face. She wasn't fat. She was pregnant.
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Malcolm yelled. He threw as much rage as he could behind the punch, and felt good when it connected solidly with Harry's jaw. Shouting started behind him, but he ignored it.
Harry hit the floor, but Malcolm wasn't done with him. He reached down and grabbed the front of his shirt to hold him in place for another, but for some reason he couldn't move.
Harry reeled from the unexpected blow. He knew Mister Granger would be angry. Of course he'd be angry. He hadn't counted on Mister Granger being affected by the elapsed time. He probably still thought Hermione was sixteen. Mister Granger picked him up by the front of his shirt, but couldn't land another blow. Behind him, Hermione had her wand pointed at him and Mr. Granger locked in place. Harry had to smile at her silent Immobilus. Brilliant witch. Brilliant.
She came over to him and touched his cheek. It was already tender, but he didn't think anything had broken.
"Are you alright love?" She asked him, frightened. He stood up and removed his shirt from Mister Granger's frozen fist, then carried the immobile man back to the sofa.
"I'm alright, Hermione." He said as he straightened. "It's just another scar to me. Besides that, the poor man doesn't understand he's only hurting you. Are you alright?"
Hermione kissed his cheek where her father had punched him. "A bit shocked, but fine."
Missus Granger took a deep breath and let it out. "Why don't you continue, dear, and fill us in on what we've clearly missed."
She nodded to her mother and launched into the tale of the end of the war, the Battle of Hogwarts, the final death of Voldemort - with a small backtrack to fill in the hunt for Tom's anchors. Then the aftermath, the burying of the dead and the mourning of the people they'd lost. She dipped into her 'relationship' with Ron briefly before describing what had happened during their grocery run and the ensuing four months of coma and research.
Missus Granger looked surprised to hear Hermione talking about her feelings for him, the ones she'd repressed before he'd awakened, but seemed to understand why Hermione had 'sort of raped' him.
Hermione dripped tears when she told her mother about finding out there was no cure for his condition and her refusal to accept that end, and again when she described his awakening and admission that he loved her as well.
"So then the first thing we did was get married - just a magical marriage, we are planning on having a real wedding soon, but we had to come and find you first. I'm so sorry mum, I've been so scared to come and see you, knowing what a horrible thing I did to you and dad."
Missus Granger stood and wrapped Hermione in her arms. Hermione immediately broke into sobs. Missus Granger smoothed her hair and held her again, and Harry understood why she liked it so much when he did it.
"Nonsense, dear. You did what you had to do. You protected your family. Your father and I are a little put out, of course, but I think that's mostly because that's supposed to be our jobs, not yours. I'm proud of you, Hermione. So very proud. You stood up and fought real life horrors at terrifying risk to yourself. Then you sacrificed your own life to preserve Harry. You're a real-life hero, Hermione. I'm terrified of the things you've seen and done, but immeasurably proud."
Hermione held her mother and cried, unable to speak for minutes. Even Harry had tears in his eyes imagining his own mother saying something like that.
"Thanks mum." Hermione said finally.
"Accio tissue." Harry pulled a tissue from the box on the side table and handed it to Hermione.
"Thank you too." She smiled and kissed him before she dried her eyes and blew her nose.
"Could you do something about your father, dear?"
Hermione nodded. "Sorry." She released the spell on her father, and he relaxed into the sofa.
Mister Granger immediately stood. Instead of attacking, however, he stuck out his hand at Harry.
"Sorry, Harry. It appears I was in the wrong again. I don't like that my baby girl is pregnant, but that clearly wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have attacked you, I apologize." He said.
Harry shook the hand. "I imagine my own reaction in your shoes might be very similar."
"Ha!" Mister Granger laughed sarcastically. "I'm the adult, and you're the one showing wisdom and compassion, son. You must be all of what? Fifteen? Sixteen?"
"Uhh... Actually, I'm eighteen. It's Nineteen Ninety-Eight, sir."
Mister Granger's eyes widened. "My baby is nineteen?"
"Not for another couple weeks, daddy." Hermione said as she stepped in to hug him again. "Thank you for apologizing."
"Nonsense, dear. It's the right thing to do when you're wrong."
"I missed you dad." She smiled.
"Actually, that reminds me." Harry said. "Could I see your identifications please? Driver's license, passports, bank cards, credit cards, library cards? Everything you have."
Mister Granger frowned, but fetched his wallet from upstairs anyway.
"What for Harry?" Missus Granger asked.
"To change your names. With a small compulsion on them for whoever is viewing them to think that the card is correct and the name is wrong in the computer. Should get you set to use your own names again. Will have to do it on the plaque in your office too."
"You can do that?" Missus Granger seemed surprised.
"It's a simple spell, mum. I can't wait to show you everything now that we're allowed to do magic."
"Your daughter is the smartest, most talented, most brilliant, most powerful witch in Britain." Harry said with a grin.
"And you're not biased at all." Hermione grinned and kissed him.
"Most beautiful, too." Harry grinned at her, and her cheeks pinked.
Harry worked on Mister Granger's identifications, Hermione worked on her mother's, and they were finished in a few minutes.
"It really is amazing what you can do." Mister Granger said, awe evident in his voice.
"This is nothing, dad. We'll give you a proper show later. We should probably ward the house later as well." Hermione said as she looked at Harry. Harry nodded back. It was a good idea.
Harry ticked items off with his fingers. "Go to dinner, Ward the house, buy our own house, check out of the hotel, furnish our house, plan a wedding, and spend time with your mum and dad. Did I miss anything?"
"Buying your own house could take a while, you can stay here until then. We have a guest room. it would help us get to know you, Harry." Missus Granger said.
"We need to get some kind of international mail thing happening as well, so we can write Neville and Luna again and let them know more." Hermione added. "Let's start with dinner and sleep though. Mum, dad, would you come to dinner with us please? Also, if you could suggest a restaurant..."
"I'll go change." Mister Granger said, and trudged up the stairs again.
"Also, you can pick up the bill, Hermione." Harry leaned toward Missus Granger with a conspiratorial whisper. "Turns out your daughter is also one of the richest witches in Britain. She has her own island in the Bahamas."
"WHAT?!" Hermione and her mother both demanded in unison.
Ginny's head hovered in the green flames, but her eyes looked at the floor.
"I thought Ron told you." She lied.
When had her youngest become such a horrible person? Lying right to her face!
"You've visited, of course. How is he?"
"He's in a COMA, mum. He's either still in it or dead."
"That's a very touching, considerate attitude! How was he when you visited last week then? How was Hermione? The poor dear must be beside herself with worry. You know she pushes herself too hard."
Ginny's face went flat and angry like a cat's. "I don't care how that bitch is, mum. I'm done with her. She had the gall to insinuate I don't love my Harry. She can rot."
Molly dropped the pretense. "I talked to Luna. She said you only ever visited him once and told her he was a lost cause. That you gave up on Harry because he was no use to you. Honestly, after listening to you lie to my face, I'm inclined to believe her. What happened to you, Ginevra? Luna said you don't talk to her anymore either."
"Oh fuck off. I don't have time for this shit." Ginny's head disappeared, and the green flames vanished with a pop.
Molly stood in the living room with her lower lip quivering. A stiff breeze could have blown her over.
She took her wand and went into the back garden and blasted gnomes for an hour until Arthur returned home from work.
"Mol?" He called, "Mol!"
She re-entered the house, still fuming.
"How did it go?" He asked.
"How did it go..." Molly growled, her eyes ablaze with fury. "First your youngest son brushes off two people who saved his life multiple times because he 'didn't feel like the hassle'. Then your daughter LIED straight to my face! She called Hermione a bitch, and didn't deny that she'd said she had no use for Harry! When I called her on it, she told me to FUCK OFF, and left! As though HER MOTHER was a mere annoyance!"
Arthur's eyes went flat and hard. "I see." He said threateningly.
Neville waved to Susan and Hannah as he entered the Great Hall. Susan waved back, but Hannah did so with a smile.
"Good morning, ladies." He said as he sat at the Hufflepuff table across from them.
"Mornin' Nev." Hannah said. Susan mumbled something he didn't catch, but clearly she felt like she needed more sleep. It made him wonder what she did when she should be sleeping.
"How's your first week?" He asked instead, just before biting into toast with jam.
"Not terrible." Hannah smiled. "Unlike some people, I like to keep fit and get to bed on time."
Neville had to admit he loved watching these two pick at each other. They were best of friends and had been for years and years before they even came to Hogwarts, and their jabs were always fun and good-natured. Especially when it was Hannah. She was so bright and kind, it was incongruous to see her verbally jousting her friend, and that made it all the funnier.
"I guess the question then is who's keeping you up at night, Susan? Or are you keeping yourself up at night? Hmmm?"
Hannah broke out into fits of laughter at his innuendo, so he took that as hitting fairly close to the mark. He didn't really want to know, obviously, and he hoped she didn't actually tell him, because he would blush furiously and have to go somewhere else until he calmed down. It was one thing to joke, but both Susan and Hannah were beautiful, well-developed girls, and Neville was only human.
Thankfully, Susan just blushed and and called him a git.
Neville finished his toast with a chuckle.
"Mail's here." Hannah noted, her eyes flicking to the ceiling and the owls swooping through the room.
A horned owl landed in front of Neville, and he reflexively fed it a half rasher before taking the message from the holder on its leg. The owl flew off again immediately.
"Love note from a secret admirer, Nev?" Susan leaned over the table and raised her eyebrows at him in an attempt at revenge. Sadly for her, Neville had had a full night's rest and felt healthy and fully awake.
"Everyone knows you're my only admirer, Sue, and you're not very secret about it." He winked at her, and Hannah dissolved into giggles again.
"Ugh." Sue said. "I give up, I'm going to class." She picked up her bag and stalked away before Neville even had the chance to open the message.
Dear Neville
We bought a house! Can you imagine?! It's a small place just for Hermione and I, but it's rapidly becoming wonderful. We had a floo connection installed, including an international destination to Potter House in Dorset, so now whatever mail you want to send, just send it to Potter House and Cassi will send it through to here.
We found Hermione's parents! They're fine. It took a couple of days, but they're loving having her back in their lives again, and it's a wonderful thing to watch. They've accepted me as well, more than I ever thought they would, especially after her dad punched me in the face when we met. It feels strange to have a family after so long with just you guys. I mean, you guys are family too, but... you know what I mean!
Speaking of! I'm planning a birthday get-together for Hermione's birthday next week. I've written to Headmistress McGonagall as well, asking permission for everyone there that we're inviting to attend. I know you're of age now and don't need permission technically, but I thought she might appreciate being kept in the know. Please write back soon and let me know if you can come, I'll write back again and come collect you and your date (or dates!). The location is a secret, but you'll need swimwear! Also, let me know what's going on there, will you? How is seventh year? Have you started studying for N.E.W.T.s yet? Hermione and I are going to start studying after the wedding and take ours at the Ministry. We both think it would be a shame to put up with all that studying just to not take them.
Have a great day and talk soon!
Harry.
Neville shook his head. "Damn Hermione is good for him." He muttered.
He couldn't believe how happy Harry sounded. It was completely unlike him to be so relaxed and easygoing and sociable, even in a letter.
Right! he had to come up with a gift for Hermione, and then decide who if anyone he wanted to take with him. If he was honest, he might ask Susan and Hannah. He liked them both, he was fairly sure they liked him... the only fly in that ointment was the word "date". Would they take it as a date? Would they both come if they did? Which one would, if not? Would it be better to just invite them as friends? Would either of them be disappointed if he did?
Sometimes, being eighteen sucked.
"Wot you mean, "Oh, he's in a coma?!" George frowned at Ron. "Like 'Oh, yeah he has a blue shirt, it wasn't worth mentioning."
Ron looked over at George. George, who never stopped working for anything or anyone, had stopped working and was standing there while his cauldron overheated, frowning death at him.
"What?" Ron said in a hurt little voice, "Not like he's much good now."
"Excuse me?" George said with a sharp edge to his voice. "Not much good now? Meaning he was good for something before now?"
"Well, he's just lyin' there, inne? He's got whatserface there all the time anyway."
"What's her face? WHAT'S HER FACE?! I can only assume you mean Hermione, and judging from your stupid attitude and red face she decided not to put up with your trollshit anymore. Good for her! How long has Harry been in a coma, Ron?"
Ron shrugged as though trying to dislodge George from his back.
"HOW LONG RON?!" George took a step closer and shouted right at his head. Ron's shoulders came up to protect his head and he stared indignantly at his now-enraged brother.
"Like s...th...ble" He mumbled quietly.
"SPEAK UP!" George shouted again. His hair was beginning to spontaneously spark.
"Like since the battle!" Ron blurted sulkily.
George stood there silently quivering with the urge to punch Ron. "Get out front and watch the shop. I'll be back in a bit." He growled. He went upstairs and threw floo powder into the fireplace, then stepped into the green flames. "The Burrow!" He shouted.
His mother was in the kitchen cleaning up when he arrived, His father in his favourite chair reading the Prophet.
"George! Nice to see - what's wrong, son?" Arthur stood up from his chair when he saw the murderous look on George's face.
"Did you know about Harry?!" He demanded.
"No son. Mol, where'd you put the letter?" He raised his voice so Molly could hear him in the kitchen.
"On the table by the floo!" She replied.
"Go read it, George. That's how we found out."
George crossed back to the table beside the floo and picked up the piece of folded parchment there. He folded it back up and replaced it when he was finished.
"At least we know he's not still in a coma." George said with a calmer voice.
"I've talked to Bill already, he and Fleur are going to see if they can turn up a way to contact Harry at work. Gringott's is sure to know how." Arthur said. "We would have notified you when we heard anything." He laid a hand on George's shoulder.
"Good. We owe Harry so much... everyone does. I still see him fighting Voldemort sometimes when I close my eyes. And then Ron just now let slip 'oh yeah, he's in coma', like it's nothing important."
"Ginny was more mercenary and horrid about it. We've had them both on floo call this morning. I'm currently trying to forget about it and calm down before I do something rash." Arthur said. "When your mother told me what they'd said, I nearly cast them out on the spot."
George's eyebrows shot up. What could Ron and Ginny have said or done to warrant that? On second thought, he didn't want to know. He might just go back there and hex the life out of Ron. "That's... serious."
"If either of them had been here I'd have hit them with such a stinger they'd not have sit for a fortnight." Molly said as she came to hug George.
"Good." George said and hugged his mum. "I should get back, let me know what you find out."
"Will do, son." Arthur said.
George flooed back to the the shop and started his batch of Skiving Sweets over again. He wondered the whole time it was brewing what Magic's name had gotten into Ron and Ginny.
He hoped Harry didn't hate him for not coming to visit.
For the second time in two days, Neville found himself staring at an owl, though this one was over dinner rather than morning mail. He gave the bird some ham, and unrolled the message to read it.
He didn't recognize the handwriting.
Hey Neville!
Just wondering if you've heard from Harry and Hermione at all? Hermione's birthday is next week and I've no way to get presents to her. Harry and Hermione might not be very happy with my family right now, but that doesn't mean I'd forget her birthday. If I give her presents to you could you see she gets them?
Please let me know, Cheers
George Weasley.
Neville shoved as much ham and broccoli into his gob as he could, and headed for the owlery while still chewing. Once there, he fired off a quick note to Harry at Potter House, told him about George's note and what it said, and asked Harry for ideas what to get Hermione for her birthday. Obviously the answer was books, but a little information on what she was interested in at the moment would be helpful.
He just hoped Harry responded quickly so he could get things done. He actually missed Hermione's colour-coded schedules in that respect.
It wasn't a scream, exactly. It wasn't a shout either, per se. It was the uncontrolled forcing of all the air in her lungs through her voicebox due to abdominal spasms, and it was absolutely Harry's favorite sound in the universe. Her hair was stuck to her forehead and cheeks with sweat. Her skin, from the tops of her gorgeous breasts to the crown of her head was flushed a dark pink, and she panted until another spasm forced more air into that sound. When the series of waves that made that sound had passed, she collapsed limply. Harry kissed her throbbing bud one last time, and it made her limbs twitch.
"No more..." She breathed. "Let me rest... Dear Merlin..."
She rolled onto her side, and Harry crawled up to lie beside her, cuddled into her from behind. He kissed her behind her ear, and she snuggled backward into him, arm wrapped over his and resting on her belly.
"Oh my GOD Harry." She breathed as she calmed down. "I thought you were good at massages..."
"So you liked that then?" He couldn't keep the smug satisfaction out of his voice no matter how hard he tried.
She just elbowed him in the chest weakly.
"It's amazing what you can learn with a little research." Harry said, with a grin. His beard glistened in the sunlight.
"You need more practice. LOTS and LOTS of practice. Forever." She giggled.
He squeezed her gently, and kissed her neck. "Any time you want, Hermione. I love making you make those sounds. I love feeling you clench. I love absolutely everything about you. It makes me... Like growly and hungry and happy and cartwheely on the inside."
Hermione grunted and struggled, but managed to turn over to face him, and kissed him soundly, deeply, and cared not one atom about tasting herself. "I love you so much, Harry I sometimes can't stand it. I feel like I'm going to explode, and yet you make me love you more and more every single day." She kissed him again, then snuggled into his chest. "So if I explode one day it's your fault. Just so you know."
"I guess I'll have to keep giving you lots of little explosions so you don't wipe out half the town. I guess that makes me your safety valve operator."
Hermione giggled, but the giggles grew into full-blown laughs before dying down again.
"My very own Bomb Technician." She kissed him again.
"Destined to defuse you by setting you off constantly. Now THAT's a job I'll do forever." He smiled back at her, and the richness of the love flowing from his eyes made her heart clench.
"I love you too, Hermione. Forever and ever." His voice was a low rumble, and the look in his eyes as he said the words would have turned her insides to jelly if they weren't already. He stroked the hair away from her face and kissed her forehead while she cuddled against him, and she felt his love wrapped around her like a blanket as she drifted to sleep.
Harry cuddled her until he was certain she'd fallen asleep, then carefully extracted himself and pulled the blanket over her.
He silenced his feet and the door as he crept out of the bedroom, and started making breakfast. He knew she'd wake up hungry, and if he was honest with himself, he just plain loved caring for her. He started cutting up some fruit to make a nice fresh fruit cup, then stowed that in the 'fridge' - actually a cleverly disguised Stasis Cabinet - while he made batter for whole-grain pancakes. it put a piece of the sun under his heart to make her breakfast in their kitchen, in their house. He finished the batter and reached for a fyring pan when the floo flared green and a couple of letters came out.
"Thanks, Cassi." He whispered at the fireplace.
He set the frying pan over medium heat and poured the first pancake, then picked up the mail. One was from the Daily Prophet - probably another request for an interview. He set that one aside, and recognized Neville's writing on the other.
Hey Harry! (Don't show this to Hermione!)
I've just had an owl from George Weasley. He says you both might be angry with his family at the minute, but he still wouldn't forget Hermione's birthday, and wanted to know if he could send me gifts to send on to her. I'm not sure who you've invited for Hermione's party, but I would have thought he'd be one of them? True, I never saw him visit, but I thought George was a decent bloke? I'm not sure how things are anymore, so I'll leave that with you.
My own question is about what kind of books Hermione would like to read right now? Obviously books are the first choice of gifts for her, but what topics does she fancy right now?
Hope you write back soon,
Your mate Neville.
That was a bit of a surprise. Apparently George still thought of them as friends, which raised a number of questions. Did he think they just wouldn't be angry at being abandoned to a coma for four months? Admittedly, that was a very Ron standpoint, and to date George had not ever displayed it. If not, then did he even know about the coma? Harry knew he had been inconsolable after Fred's death, so it wasn't like he could blame George for that grief. Neville said George had said that they might be angry with the Weasleys in general, so George clearly knew he'd been in a coma and abandoned, but George was also not the kind of person to abandon his friends. Was it possible he only just found out? If he'd been neck deep in grief over Fred, it was possible.
Harry flipped the pancake and pulled the desk drawer open to get paper and a pen.
Hey Neville!
Hermione is interested in physical fitness and runes and wizarding traditions related to growing up in wizarding society - things that neither of us would know, being muggle-raised. Thanks for asking!
As for George, if you wouldn't mind, tell him he can bring them himself if he can arrange for time off from the store. I'll meet everyone at the Leaky at ten in the morning on Saturday the 19th, and bring you all to the secret location by portkey. Tell him to bring swimwear and a date if desires. He could always transfigure himself some swimtrunks, but a date is a whole different matter! Ha ha!
Thanks, Nev!
Your mate Harry
P.S. Actually, never mind telling George anything, I'll send him a note right now and tell him myself. Need to stop being lazy!
Harry folded that note up and set it aside, then put the first pancake on a plate and put it in the 'fridge'. He poured the second pancake and started on the note to George.
Hey George!
My apologies for not writing sooner, I've been a little preoccupied. Thank you for remembering Hermione's birthday, that means a lot to me personally. I will happily fill you in on everything that's been going on, but it's best not to put it in print. If you can take time off from the shop, I'll be picking everyone up at the Leaky at ten in the morning on the 19th and taking you all to a secret location for Hermione's party. If you can't take time off from the shop, then we'll pop 'round and take you to dinner some time later. You can send any mail for us to Potter House in Dorset, the head house elf will make sure we get it.
Hope you're well,
Harry.
He stuffed both notes in separate envelopes, wrote the names of the recipients on them, then flipped the second pancake. He waited until the second pancake was finished, then put it on the plate with the first and shut them in the 'fridge'. That done, he threw a pinch of powder into the Floo.
"Potter House." He said. The green flames flared, and he stuck his head through.
"Cassi?" He called.
Cassi appeared with a soft pop a second later. "You called, Mas- Harry?"
Harry grinned. "Excellent work, Cassi! Keep trying, you've almost got it!" Cassi looked pleased at the praise, but held her posture, waiting for orders.
"Would you please deliver these two notes? Neville Longbottom will be at Hogwarts, probably in the Gryffindor dorms, and George Weasley will be in Diagon Alley, at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."
"Certainly, M - Harry."
Harry grinned. "Thank you so much, Cassi!" He tossed the two envelopes into the flames, and they shot out next to his head on the floor.
"I'll see you Saturday, keep up the brilliant work!" Harry pulled his head back through and waited for the world to stop spinning before he took breakfast to Hermione.
"So I'll be gone Saturday, would you mind popping into the shop late afternoon and checking if Ron's burned the place down?"
"Of course George. Give them our best." His mother said with a sad smile.
"Actually, you can do it yourself. Harry said if we send messages to Potter House in Dorset that they would get them, so at least we can write now."
"Oh good!" Molly Weasley smiled with joy. "Did he say anything else?"
George shook his head. "No, he said there's more to tell but it was best not to put it in print, but that we'd talk on Saturday. Apparently Hermione told Ron to piss off months and months ago, and he's still sulking about it. Actually called her 'whatserface'."
Molly TSKed. "I don't understand where we went wrong Arthur! What happened to our youngest?!"
Arthur sighed. "I don't know, Mollykins, I honestly don't. I don't even know if there's anything we can do to correct it either. They're out of the house and making their own money. The only things we could do are write a letter to the prophet so everyone knows, or cast them out. I'm honestly not sure if either would have any effect."
"Ginny might care about the Prophet article, but she also wouldn't hesitate to get retribution." George said.
"I think we need to sit them both down and talk to them." Molly said. "Find out what their problems are. Maybe they need a mind healer."
"Maybe Ron just needs to grow up, too. I think as long as they're both nowhere near Harry and Hermione that'd be for the best." George said. "I don't even want to think what it means for Britain if those two decide to stay in Australia."
"It means it will be up to the rest of us to change things for the better." Arthur said sadly. "As we should have done before Harry happened along and didn't."
"Exactly." Molly said. "Bloody doomed."