AN: The premise of the story is based more or less strictly on Harry Potter canon, except that Hermione ended up with Harry after Ron ditched them in the middle of the Occupation of Britain by Voldemort and his Nazi-Wizard goons. (Does anybody really come back from that and expect the girlfriend they abandoned to be possibly captured, tortured, raped, and murdered to welcome them back? I love the series to death. But that was a huge mistake on Rowling's part). If you want to see how I envisioned them getting together, read 'How Harry Potter Should Have Ended'

I originally decided to stick with the timeline as established by canon in the Harry Potter book series. This is shortly after the end of the second wizard war in the summer of 1998. As Alex Russo would have been 6 then, I pushed the Waverly Place timeline back to fit. This takes place after the episode in which Alex wins the Wizard of the Year Award for defeating Gorog and the Angels of Darkness-somewhere in the middle of season 4.

But honestly, you could do it either way. I didn't specify any dates in the story, so WoWP fans can just bump the Potter timeline forward in their minds to match it up with the Waverly timeline. In fact, I found during my many edits, that I couldn't picture it any other way. I suppose it's because the Harry Potter films were finishing around the same time that WoWP was concluding.

PART 1

Death in the Dark

Chapter 1

Ron, George, and Ginny Weasley stood at the gate of terminal 4.

"I still don't understand why you're flying the muggle way!" grumbled Ron crossly. "The International Floo Network would be much quicker."

Hermione sighed. Despite Ron's protestations, she knew that he was still hurting. The war was won, but Fred was dead; and she was now Harry's girlfriend instead of Ron's. Ron had accepted the fact that she and Harry were together rather well, all things considered. In fact Ron had blamed himself for his break-up with Hermione. But that didn't mean he had no more feelings for her; and every once in a while he just couldn't help himself. Jealousy would overcome him.

"Ron, I told you. Harry and I lived like muggles until we got our letters for Hogwarts. But Harry..." Hermione began, but Harry interjected. He needed Ron to hear it from him.

"...I need this Ron. I need a break from magic for a bit. I want to know what I missed about being a muggle when I lived with the Dursleys..."

"Yeah? Well, I bet you won't be halfway across the Atlantic before you use magic!" said Ron nastily. Harry knew immediately what was wrong. It had nothing to do with Hermione. Ron wanted to go too.

But Ron couldn't go. Mrs. Weasley was having none of that. She wasn't letting any of her children out of her sight for a good long while. She had said it was because she needed them to help sort things out while Arthur Weasley was adjusting to his new role as the (reluctant) Minister of Magic, but everyone knew that it was because Fred was gone.

Nor could Ron afford to go anyway. Muggle travel was far more expensive than an International Floo Pass-and the Weasleys couldn't even afford that!

"Come on Ron! You know I would bring you all along if your Mum would let me," Harry pleaded.

"Yeah.. I know," Ron sighed, "Go on mate. Have a good time! Sorry for being such a prat."

Ron wasn't the only one looking bitter. Ginny had not taken it well when Harry had told her that he and Hermione were together. She had had a crush on Harry since before she had met him; and she was having difficulty accepting that whatever they had briefly had, was over. Ginny wasn't sure she would ever get over Harry. But she knew she wanted to be a part of his life, even if it was only as a friend.

Ginny pushed her feelings down. She just wanted Harry to be happy. She smiled through tears and gave Harry and Hermione both a warm hug. George gave Harry a lopsided grin.

"Have fun Harry... Hermione. But don't be gone too long. Mum is having a blue fit because she knows she can't keep you two at home."

They all had a bit of a laugh. Then after some more hugs all the way around, Harry and Hermione set off towards the gate for their British Airways flight to New York.

Harry had never been on an airplane of any sort. After many years in the Wizarding World he had to agree with Mr Weasley. It was amazing really, what muggles could do without magic. He made a note to himself to take some courses at a muggle college when he got a chance. He really had been deprived of a proper muggle education which had ended after he had finished 6th year at primary school. Maybe he should have taken Muggle Studies after all. Harry was a bit anxious; This plane was huge, and he couldn't imagine how it would possibly get off the ground without magic.

Hermione tried to explain to Harry about aerodynamics, speed, and wind-resistance, but he didn't quite follow it until Hermione patiently drew some pictures. It all made sense then. Despite the size and shape of the airplane and the power source, he figured it wasn't so different than flying a broom. Sure, his broom was small and powered by magic, but the same principles applied while in the air.

He felt a bit better after that, but he still wished he had some firewhiskey. Harry had no control over the airplane. His safety was in the hands of Muggle pilots. Hermione peered at Harry who still looked a bit pale.

"It's alright Harry..." she began knowingly, "Your birthday was a week ago! You're perfectly legal to get a Muggle Whiskey if you want to-at least until we get to the United States. I don't know what their age limits are." Harry grinned, his face brightening!

"Thanks Hermione, I had completely forgotten. I can't believe I'm 18! And I missed out on 7th year." He groaned; then Harry continued, his face scrunched in puzzlement, "You know what's weird though-somehow I feel much older than that now. It's like..."

"...like the war changed us." Hermione finished Harry's sentence without missing a beat. "We aren't children anymore-and not just because we're over 17. We've lived a lifetimes worth in just twelve months, and defeated the most dangerous and powerful dark Wizard since Grindelwald!"

Harry marveled. That was exactly what he had been about to say, word for word!

"Yeah, and the idea of returning to Hogwarts just seems really strange now. It's been my home for 6 years, but I feel like I've outgrown it..."

"...and we have!" finished Hermione simply. "Harry, don't you realise? You've learned more about magic in the past year than you could have ever hoped to learn at Hogwarts! And yes, you had a lot of help from the Order and the DA, but in the end it was only you against Voldemort. And you proved that your magic was more powerful. You've learned how to control it in ways you hadn't dreamed of before-not from books, but from experience."

"But I wish I knew a few more spells!" sighed Harry. "I relied on you way too much to make up for my shortcomings."

Hermione giggled.

"But that's what I'm here for Harry!" She waited a moment, then continued a bit more seriously, "Don't worry, there will be plenty of time to further your education. In the meantime, I think I can manage to pick up the slack!" Hermione gave Harry a hard stare, but which barely hid a hint of laughter.

"Yes, well you've always gone above and beyond Hermione!" He left the rest of the sentence unsaid: that's why I love you. But his eyes said it, and Hermione saw it.

"I love you too," she whispered in Harry's ear as she put her arm around him. They kissed briefly, then Hermione leaned into his shoulder, still holding him. Harry looked out of the window down at the fluffy clouds far below and the blue sea below that.

This was a perfect moment. Harry realised that he no longer needed a Whiskey, and after a while they both drifted off to sleep.