A/N: Italics are flash backs. I don't own Harry Potter or recognizable characters.
Waking up in a cold sweat, Hermione throws the blankets off of her body. This is the third time she's woken up this night, and she is done trying to sleep. Pushing the hair out of her eyes, she stands up and slips into a pair of pants.
Slipping out of the room, she hisses as her feet touch cold wooden floors.
She takes the stairs two at a time as she descends to the main level of the house before making her way to the front door. Once outside, she breathes deeply, hoping that the fresh air will push out the memories of her dream.
Nothing seems to help these days. If she's not seeing the faces of the dead, she is staring into the face of the woman who tortured her mercilessly.
For a few weeks, she had left magical London completely, turning her back on everything she had known for the past seven years.
She had wanted to forget it all.
When she drank muggle whiskey, all it did was burn. It did not make the images in her head disappear.
Muggle cigarettes burned her lungs but only made her hate herself more.
She could never take a blade to her body after what that woman did to her. Just the thought of it made her skin crawl.
Nothing helped.
So, she crawled back to magical England and began to look for a job. It was not hard. Everyone wanted to hire the Golden Girl, but she was not ready to settle into a career just yet. She had just spent an entire year of her life trying to save the world. She was not ready to continue doing that until she learned to save herself.
She accepted a job at a magical book store outside of London. She explained what she wanted out of the job to the store owner, and they agreed to let her work in disguise. No one would know that the Golden Girl was the one reshelving their books and making recommendations for what to read next.
It helped a little bit. She was back in the world she had grown to love, but she did not feel like she was in danger when she was surrounded by books or helping customers. She was merely doing what she loved to do.
She found a tiny apartment that she could afford on her wages. It was only a few blocks from the book store, so she was content to live in the little hole in the wall.
Each day she was excited to go to work. Every day went off without a hitch.
That was, until the day Andromeda Tonks walked into the book store, in search of the new memoir about her late daughter and son-in-law. She explained her needs to the gentleman at the front counter, who directed her to the ebony-haired witch currently restacking books in the opposite corner.
Mrs. Tonks thanked the shop owner for his assistance and made her way over to the young woman. "Excuse me, ma'am. The gentleman up front said that you could help me find a book. It's called, um." She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and squinted at the small writing. "It's called The Sacrifices of Those Seen as Lesser."
Hermione, or Lillian as her name tag said, spun around immediately upon hearing the name of the book. She knew the book. The very first copy that reached the store was bought under her alias and currently sat, fully read, on her nightstand at home.
The woman that stood before her took her by surprise. She tried to open her mouth to speak multiple times before snapping her mouth shut. Where was her composure?
Andromeda Tonks tilted her head to the side ever-so-slightly, taking in the witch before her. "I'm sorry. Have you not heard of the book? The gentleman up front just said you could help me find it. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you." The witch began to turn away from Hermione when she heard a voice.
"Wait. I can help you. I just. I was distracted. I apologize." Hermione was internally berating herself. She had been stunned when she saw Andromeda Tonks, the spitting image of the woman whom had held her captive at Malfoy Manor less than a year prior.
Andromeda turned back around and gave the younger witch a smile. "Not a problem. I'm sure it's my fault for interrupting you when you were focused on your task. Now, where can I find this book?"
Hermione was still a little stunned, but led Andromeda to the aisle that had the book she was looking for. She pulled out a copy and handed it to the woman, saying, "I am so sorry for your loss. Truly."
The elder witch took the book and began to examine it when she heard the younger woman's words. Her head snapped up to look the woman in the eyes. She had intentionally not introduced herself. She had purposefully come to a book store outside of London so that she would not be recognized. "Do I know you?"
Hermione's bright green eyes grew wide. "What? No. I mean." She began to stumble over her words again and cursed herself for being so foolish. How was she going to explain her way out of this?
The older woman was no fool. She knew the younger witch was hiding something from her, and she could only guess at this point, but she had an inkling. "I do know you. I am not sure who you are or why you are hiding from me, but I most certainly know you." She took in the woman - no child's - scared expression and softened considerably. "Did you know my daughter?"
The mere mention of Nymphadora Tonks was enough to fill Hermione's eyes with tears, and she did not want to lie to her friend's mother. She nodded before brushing her tears away. "She was a great friend of mine. I miss her so much. I promise, the book does both her and Professor Lupin justice."
Another clue. The woman referred to Remus as a professor. He only taught at Hogwarts for one year, which meant the witch had to also be younger than her Nymphadora. The witch was not concealing her physical age - only her identity. "If I ask you, will you tell me who you are? Do you have family or anyone?"
Hermione looked around the shop. It was nearing closing time, and most customers had left already. "I. No magical family. Really, no family these days." Glancing toward the shop owner, she sighed. "The shop closes in about ten minutes. Meet me at the pub down the street then?"
Andromeda took another moment to scrutinize the younger woman before nodding. If she was a friend of Nymphadora's and she didn't have family, then she could be there for her. It was obvious that this girl had the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Okay, I'll be there. First, let me purchase this book though."
Hermione nodded in response and led her up to the front counter. She rung the book up and paid for it with her own store credit. She carefully wrapped the book and noticed that Mrs. Tonks had grabbed money to pay for the book. "No, ma'am. I knew your daughter. I know how much you meant to her. This book is on me." Handing over the wrapped parcel, she gave the elder woman a sad smile.
The woman left without a word, and Hermione considered bolting. She could leave without Andromeda knowing. She could find a different job. She could completely uproot herself again, but for what? Eventually, someone would find out again.
Maybe it was time to come clean to someone. So, Hermione went to the pub and sat with Andromeda. She told the woman her background story and how she came to arrive at the bookstore. She was still scared to share her identity, so she left out that vital piece of information until they were nearly done with their food.
Andromeda had noticed the missing information, but she was hesitant to push the young woman. She had revealed so much, and she was almost certain she knew the young woman's identity. "You won't show me your face here, will you?"
Hermione pondered the question for a moment before shaking her head. Andromeda was right. She had no intention of revealing her face in this place.
"Then come back to my house. Come see Teddy. He is growing so quickly. I just know you'll love him. Stay the night. Stay in disguise if you would like, but come stay the night someplace where you are loved."
And Hermione agreed. Which led her to where she currently was, sitting outside against the front door of Andromeda Tonks' home.
A/N: Okay, folks, this is going to be a slow burn. The pairing does not become obvious until approximately 70 thousand words in. Hold onto your knickers, it is going to be a bumpy ride.