A/N: Hello! If you clicked for some odd reason, before you begin reading I would like to point out a few things. This fic starts at the beginning of 7th years for Harry and Hermione. The few difference are that Dumbledore is still alive and he has just started to hunt the Horcruxes. Sadly, Sirius is still dead. I did change the way Harry left the Dursley's home that summer. There is some slight Weasley bashing in this fic. The pairings I am sure to keep are Hermione x Draco and Luna x George. I'm still iffy about who to put Harry with. I'm thinking Pansy or possibly Lavender, just for a change. Haven't decided yet.
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter or the characters. I'm not making any money either.
Warnings: This is going to be a semi-dark Harry and Hermione fic. Just slight, not too dark. No rape or anything like that.
Now the reason I changed how Harry leave the summer of 7th year, I pose a question to any readers: Why was there a battle of the 7 Harrys? Why didn't Mad-Eye or Remus just apparate there and take him to the Burrow? I know that Harry couldn't use magic, etc because of the trace and underage BUT if Dumbledore or whomever could apparate him all the years previously. Why didn't one of the Aurors just apparate there, grab him and quickly take him to the Burrow? Why the need for the battle? I didn't get that.
Chapter One
Just another day, another lonesome day with nothing but the sound of Kreacher to keep him company. Harry continued to stir the cooling tea, watching the pathetic elf tossing pots. He had no idea what had the elf seething this morning, he didn't care. As long as Kreacher was the only one he had to listen to today, he'd put up with it. The Order had no plans or meetings that he knew of. It would only be a matter of time before someone was sent here to check up on him. Most likely it would be Remus or Dumbledore. The meddling old man would stop by to check up on him and once again make sure his displeasure was known. Remus wasn't happy with his decision but was trying to support him. At least Dumbledore only came by once a week to tell him how reckless he was being. Every morning his breakfast was interrupted by a daily Weasley letter. One always from Ginny and the other from Molly. The two were trying to double team him and make him change his mind about staying here.
At the beginning of the summer, Dumbledore had wanted him to head to the Weasley home as soon as he turned seventeen. He had decided that he didn't feel up to dealing with the large family for over a month. Instead, he wanted to spend his time elsewhere. Was it wrong for him to want to hide out in Sirius' home? It was just as secure as the Burrow. Here he could concentrate and not deal with Ginny. When they had separated at the platform, it had been after a heated argument. He had told her that he didn't want to spend the summer at her home. She had tried to accuse him of cheating. He just wanted time alone. Then when she couldn't convince him on her own, she had brought Ron into the debate. Having two of them screaming and calling him an idiot, he didn't want to hear it. Hermione had tried to take his side. It was hard to hold his ground when he had two Weasleys trying to bulldoze him. He didn't want to go to the Burrow, he wanted to be alone. Was it that hard to understand?
He had left the Dursley home a month early. Two weeks into summer break and he had snapped having Dudley throwing his weight around. He was tired of being bruised. Their attitudes had just been a show of what his summer was going to be like. They probably figured they only had a few more months to abuse him, so they had to get what they could in before he left for good. It had also pissed him off that they had returned to denying him food. The first few dinners he had been told to fix enough food to feed five Dudleys and then his aunt would fix him a very tiny amount and tell him to eat that and throw the rest out. He could handle the meager about of food but not Dudley's abuse. The fat arse had gotten himself a girlfriend during the school year and thought it meant he was a man. The last day he had been there, his cousin had aimed to strike Harry in the cock. He had grabbed the antique vase and brought it across Dudley's large head. They had begun shrieking and locked him in the bedroom to rush their son to the hospital. While there he had sent Hedwig out with a letter to Remus.
The werewolf had shown up and Harry had let him know what was going to happen. If he could always go to the Weasleys because Dumbledore said he could during the summer, then he could come to Grimwauld Place. He wouldn't remain in this house, not when he was so close to turning seventeen and being on his own. He would spend the rest of his summer away from the Dursley family. He told Remus if he didn't take him by apparition, then he would walk out. The man had given in and said he'd explain the situation to the Headmaster later.
Of course, Molly claimed to understand why he wanted to leave that dreadful house but couldn't understand why he didn't want to come there. Did the woman really not understand how annoying her youngest child was? He understood that she treated Ginny different because she was the only female, but he had limits. He did not want to spend the next few weeks having Ginny trying to abuse his balls. That was the reason he had fled from Dudley. He'd rather have his cousin trying to punch him, over having Ginny play with them.
This would be his last year at Hogwarts, finally. He wasn't sure what would happen this year, not with the war looming over him. At the end of last year, the Headmaster confided in him that he was looking into a way of ending the Dark Lord. Harry had asked him to tell him what the plan was but Dumbledore said it was still too soon to involve him. He had left it at that, not wanting to argue or listen to another lecture on his behavior. Last year had been somewhat eventful with the breakout and the Deatheater attacks. Being at school had shielded him from most of it.
It was a good thing since he had been fighting his own battles between Ron and Ginny. He had thought she was the one he wanted, now he wasn't sure. She had seemed like the perfect one for him. If she was the one, then why did the thought of spending the rest of his life with her fill him with disgust? The more he thought about it, what did they have in common? Quidditch? That was the only thing both of them liked. That wasn't really something to base a relationship on. He also noticed that the face Ginny had shown around him before was a lot different than the one she wore behind closed doors. When they were alone she was demanding and needy. It was all about what she wanted and never what he wanted. In public she acted like a devoted and besotted girlfriend. Alone, she acted like Molly Weasley. It sent shivers down his spine thinking about it.
Shouldn't he enjoy their sex too? They had snuck off several times to the Room of Requirement to spend time together. At first he had tried to tell her that it was a bit too soon but she said they loved each other so it was only natural. He had given in and allowed the sex to happen. It wasn't what he had thought it would be. Whenever the other blokes spoke about sex, it was all about how tight the girl felt around them or how good it feels. He hadn't really felt much but some slight stimulation from being inside. Was he small? Maybe that was the problem. He didn't like to think that he was less than average. Sure, he could tell that Ginny was wet and slick but it wasn't the amazing feeling that he'd been expecting. The last time they had been intimate he had gone limp before either of them could finish. She had gotten angry and accused him of being bent. That was the night before they were to leave for summer break. The fight had carried over onto the train ride back. He wasn't bent, this he knew. Ginny wasn't happy and she was making sure everyone knew that he was the cause.
Not like their sex ever started out on a good note. She got pissed every time he would make her wait for a few moments to allow him to cast a prevention charm. The first time she had shrieked and demanded to know what he was doing. He calmly told her that they couldn't risk pregnancy with a war looming over them. The last thing he needed was for Voldemort to realize that she carrying his child. They would use that against him. She had pouted and said fine. Except the times after she would always glare at him for remembering to do the charm. It made him wonder if she didn't want to get knocked up before they were married. Right now, he didn't see them ending up being married.
Dumbledore seemed to support their relationship. The only ones that questioned his reasons for dating Ginny were Hermione and the twins. They didn't understand why he wanted to be with her. Maybe they saw something that he didn't. That would explain the reason Hermione had threatened to do bodily harm to Ginny that day on the train. Ron had then jumped on Hermione's case for butting into their business. Those two had begun fighting, Ron didn't like being told that by being on Ginny's side he had been doing the same exact thing. Ron's excuse was that Ginny was his sister that gave him the right to have a say. Hermione pointed out that Harry was like a brother to her, so that gave her a right as well. Ron said it wasn't the same. The tension had been so thick, Luna had opened the cabin door, looked around and calmly stated 'I think I'll go sit with Neville.' Smart move Luna.
Things would be better as soon as Hermione arrived to keep him company. She was supposed to be here in the morning. Another reason Ginny was bitching at him. He shouldn't be staying here alone with Hermione, she didn't trust her. Harry had called her a jealous bint in his latest letter. He didn't care if they didn't like the fact that she was coming over. It was their decision and he wanted to spend time with someone he could relate to. As soon as she got here, he wanted to tell her about the strange dreams he'd been having.
He wasn't sure if he'd rather be dreaming of being chased by Deatheaters. In the dream last night he had been chasing down a frantic Pansy Parkinson in Hogwart's library. He shivered recalling what he'd done once he had her pinned in the restricted section. Sadly, it wasn't one of revulsion. He had woken up with a stiff one and he'd been forced to have a good wank, just so he could go back to sleep. He was losing his sanity to be having fantasies about the Slytherin.
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"Where is it?" Hermione cried out into the empty room. Not entirely empty, Crookshanks was looking at her like she had lost her mind. The pleased look on the haggard face was cause for suspect. Had he somehow managed to sneak off with her sweater? The animal had taken to the habit of running off with her clothes to make himself bedding. It was usually in the basement, where it was dark and dank. Had he drug her favorite sweater elsewhere? She wanted to be packed before dinner. It would be a cold one, alone but she wanted to turn in early. Harry would be expecting her first thing in the morning.
Crookshanks took off as she stormed towards the open door. He was running down the stairs, leading the way. She knew where it would be. No matter how many times she fussed, the cat would do as he pleased. It was her own fault for allowing Ron's letter to upset her. She had been packing last night when the owl had flown to her window. She had been in the process of putting her clothes in her trunk, leaving her sweater on the top of the trunk. The letter had been accusing her of wanting to spend time with Harry instead of her boyfriend. She tried to explain to Ron that Harry was there alone while he had his entire family to keep him company. Why did he always have to make it be about choosing between the two? It was like Ron felt like he had to compete with Harry. She didn't get it.
The letter had sent her to bed upset and her sweater defenseless. The large cat made it to the basement before she did. He meowed when the light was turned on, shining down on the evidence. Her beige sweater was in the far corner, most likely covered in hair. "Bad cat! Why couldn't you swipe the sweater Molly knitted for me last Christmas?"
"Well, that isn't my fault." Hermione responded seeing the look that clearly said that sweater was way too ugly to sleep on. It was the reason she didn't wear it and never would. The sentiment had been in the right place but Molly Weasley had no sense for fashion. She bent over to retrieve the lost garment. It smelt strongly of cat wet and mold. She may never get the smell out. Disgruntled, she tossed it back onto the floor. He could have it, she wasn't about to advertise to other felines that her cat was horny.
She turned to look around the dim room. Not one of her favorite places. It was packed with boxes of old decorations, clothes they had outgrown and equipment. Her eyes fell on the box that did contain all of their photo albums. It was hard to believe that she was already seventeen and about to enter her last year at Hogwarts. She could still remember her first day of school.
Crookshanks ran over to cuddle into his prize. Hermione ignored the content meow to open the box. Inside were all the albums over the years. The first was marked with the dates of the last three years. The next was from a few years prior. Her hand found the one marked from her childhood and she pulled it out. The first few pictures had her laughing. It was nice to reminisce on the days before she found out that she was a witch. It sucked that she couldn't remember taking most of the pictures.
What would her children be like? Did she want children? Yes, but she wasn't sure if she wanted them with Ronald Weasley. He was already pressuring her into having sex since they both knew that Harry and Ginny were already doing it. Just because his sister was okay with being intimate, didn't mean she was ready. Besides, if he really wanted it then he should work for it. A bit of kissing didn't mean she was ready to lay down and spread them. She didn't want to risk getting pregnant before getting married. There was the war to consider, her schooling and she wanted a career. If she didn't have a career, she wanted a husband that would be there. Ron already had plans of seeking a career as a professional Quidditch player. Was she to stay home barefoot and pregnant while he sought a life in the lime-light?
Pregnant. She wasn't sure how her mother had managed it while still attending college. What would it be like to be pregnant? Hermione reached for the last two. The pink album was the start of her baby pictures and her first two years. The other was slimmer, she began flipping through it. There were pictures of her parents dating, of their family and friends. Their wedding picture, it had been taken while both were still in college. Each page contained pictures of them together. Their first anniversary together and then it ended. Where were the pictures of her mother being pregnant? She looked through the first few of her baby book but found none of her mother being pregnant. Didn't all women take pictures of their later months? Why wouldn't she take pictures of her large stomach? Her mother wasn't the type to be superficial. Having a baby belly was a proud moment for any mother, so why no pictures?
Were they elsewhere? The only place they could be were the cabinets. Hermione placed the albums back inside the box. Curious, she unlocked the filing cabinets. The first drawer were bills and invoices from the last five years. The second was from six to ten years ago. The last was a bit empty but still contained just files. She knew they were the type to keep all records since they owned their own practice. She was looking for anything from around the time she had been conceived until birth. There were no pictures stashed in the back or in any of the files. It was like her mother had never been pregnant. She knew they that kept every single bill they had ever paid. Hell, they kept all of their gas receipts.
Her fingers began picking through the file marked on the month of her birth. There were gas bills, grocery, mortgage payment, car payment, insurance and even one to a porn store. Ignoring that one, she glanced through two months after her birth. What hospital or doctor didn't charge for a visit? Her parents told her that she'd been born at the hospital, so why wasn't there a bill statement? Had they forgotten to file it away? She decided to go back further, there had to be bills from all the regular visits a pregnancy warranted. Nothing, not a single bill.
Finally, the month before she should have been conceived she found two bills. One was from a doctor that she didn't recognize and the other was a large hospital bill. Both had been paid and the receipts stapled to the bill. She flipped a bit further, her mother had several more from the same doctor. Hermione recognized the name of the office. It was her own gynecologist's office.
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Getting into the building was harder than Hermione thought it would be. As she climbed in through the window she made a mental note to find another doctor. The asshole she went to had stayed after hours to get busy with a patient. The woman had been wearing a wedding band but the two had driven away in separate directions. Putting his lack of morals aside, she was glad that the office didn't have any extra security. Not many would want to break into this kind of place. Unless they wanted to steal the free stash of condoms.
Since her mother's last bill had been over seventeen years ago. Hermione didn't figure that her file would be in the man's office files. Those that hadn't been seen in a while were usually placed in the main archives and stored away. It felt odd being in the place after hours. There was no one to direct her to a waiting room, or to take her blood.
The room was clearly marked and easier to unlock. The room had no windows but she still didn't bother turning on any overhead lights. With the use of her wand, she located the section for G and began searching for her mother's file. It took a few moments for her to find the correct one.
She walked over to the single desk they had to sit at and took a seat. The first page was a documented letter stating that the client was swapping doctors and that the file should be closed. Hermione wondered if the files had been sent to their family doctor. She flipped and the next page was for a visit in the hospital. The diagram was odd but clearly of the female reproductive system. The doctor's handwriting was worse than Ron's. She couldn't make out what the diagram was pointing to. She went to the next page, the doctor's report. It was a detailed report of the surgery process of removing her mother's uterus and tubes. It was dated exactly eleven months before she was born. There were more reports of previous visits, her mother having issues with her monthly flow.
There was also a bill, the same one she had seen back at the house. Her mother's file was clear and listed as a transferred patient. This was different from the story her parents had told her. Her mother had once told her the reason she was an only child was because the deliver had been too difficult and months after Hermione was born she had to get a hysterectomy. But this was saying that woman had one months before she was born, almost a year. How was that possible?
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