A/N: Hello lovelies. I'm so glad you're checking out my first fic! Just a few notes before you get going. This fic explores Harry and Hermione's sibling-esque relationship from Hogwarts through adulthood. These stories go in no particular order and tend to jump around on the series timeline. They all take place in the same universe, so once a couple/family is introduced, you're stuck with them. I try to stay as true to character as possible, but I'm reserving the right to divert from cannon. This is my first attempt at writing and they are unbeta'd so please be kind. Blanket statement: The Queen, a.k.a J.K. Rowling, owns everything.

Much love my darlings. Thanks for reading. xo E

The stress of the prophecy was starting to eat away at Hermione. The more she thought about it, the more she felt there were pieces of the puzzle that she didn't have. She sighed and leaned back against the armrest of the sofa in the Gryffindor common room and stared into the fire. There was something missing, she knew it. She chided herself; she trusted Dumbledore, more importantly Harry trusted Dumbledore. He would have told them if there was more information. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging her flannel pajama bottoms closer. She would never admit it to Harry, but she was terrified of losing him. He was the only brother she had ever had, and she didn't, couldn't, give him up. She wasn't the brightest witch of her age for nothing, she knew the last line of the prophecy was ominous, but she had faith that they could figure it out together. A single tear escaped her eye when she thought about what would happen if Harry died. He kept her grounded and forced her to have fun, live in the moment. After all, they weren't promised the next day. That was glaringly obvious after the battle at the Ministry the previous year.

She felt the seat beside her dip down as someone settle themselves beside her. Hermione didn't look up, she knew it was Harry. He was the only one that ever found her in the wee hours of the morning when she couldn't sleep. He leaned closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hugging her to him. She shifted into him, resting her head in the crook of his neck. Snuggled together quietly, they both gazed into the fire, both lost in their own thoughts. They had been doing this for years, seeking the kind of comfort only available when you are irrevocably at ease with each other. Harry's hand rubbed up and down her arm soothingly, "What's wrong, Mia?" he asked quietly.

Hermione squirmed and threw her legs over his lap, burrowing closer to him, his other arm encircled her, pulling her closer, "Just thinking," she mumbled.

"What's new?" Harry joked back.

"Ha. Ha. You're a regular comedian, Harry James. See if I ever help you with your essays again."

"I feel like that's a little harsh considering. You know I'd have flunked out first year without you."

"Yes, well," Hermione said with a half-smile, "I am incredibly bright."

"There she is. I knew you were in there somewhere," Harry smiled down at her. He was worried about her. The last few weeks Harry noticed she had been more withdrawn and distracted, even during classes when she was normally so outspoken. Their midnight common room snuggles had become more frequent. "Are you thinking about the prophecy again?"

"Yes," she admitted. "I feel like we're missing something, like there's more to the story but the adults won't tell us because we're 'just children'. Well I hate to break it to them, but we haven't been 'just children' since the Philosopher's Stone in first year; if that wasn't enough, we definitely aren't children after we successfully battled Death Eaters less than a year ago."

"I know, I think there's something missing too. The prophecy just doesn't make a lot of sense standing alone, given the circumstances. There's got to be something…" he trailed off, lost in his musing.

"Are you scared?"

"Terrified, actually."

"You know I won't leave you, we won't leave you. This thing is a team effort and we're seeing it through until the end," she said sincerely. Harry could hear the dedication in her voice, he felt it was equal parts comforting and disquieting.

"That's what I'm afraid of actually. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you, or Ron…Ginny. The guilt would tear me apart. I wish I could just wrap you in bubble wrap and ship you to Australia until this whole thing is over. Make sure you're happy and safe, somewhere else."

"If I had a choice in the matter, I would do the exact same thing to you, you know. I adamantly refuse to let anything happen to you. I won't do it. I will resurrect you and kill you myself if you do something stupid like dying, Harry James Potter. Don't test me on that," she fixed him with her firmest stare, "I'm the brightest witch of our age, you know I could do it."

"You don't have to threaten me, Mia. You know I'm too much of a wimp to get on your bad side. I saw exactly what you did to Ron with those birds," Harry gave an exaggerated shudder, "besides, you know I never go into anything half assed. I always have a well thought out plan," he said pompously, clearly channeling his inner Percy Weasley.

That remarked earned Harry and genuine Hermione giggle, which was obviously what he was hoping for.

"We'll all get through it. Nobody's going anywhere. They're all too stubborn and obnoxious to die," he assured her. Hermione nodded along with his statement, both realizing the emptiness in his words. They had already lost Sirius, the most obnoxious and stubborn of them all.

They sat in silence for a while, enjoying their bubble of comfort. Hermione finally broke the silence, "How's it going with Ginny?"

Harry groaned and his head dropped to the back of the sofa in apparent frustration. "That's going to kill me long before Moldy Shorts does. I have no idea what to do about it."

Hermione laughed at his predicament; sometimes Harry was so obviously a teenage boy it was remarkable. "You know her and Dean have been fighting recently. Be her friend. Show her you're there. It'll work itself out soon enough, I promise."

Harry leaned down and kissed the crown of her head, squeezing her close for a moment. "Come on, Mia. Head back up to bed, I know you're exhausted. You haven't been sleeping enough."

She sighed, knowing he was right. "Neither of us have. Goes with the territory I suppose," she exhaled, swinging her legs off him and stood, pulling him up with her. She raised on her tip toes and pressed a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, Harry. Sweet dreams."

"Love you, Mia."

"Love you too. Til the stars burn out."