Mudblood! Filthy little mudblood! Bellatrix screams at Hermione, slicing open her arm. Hermione screams in pain and fights against her torturer, tears streaming down her face. She tries to form words but feels her breath leaving her body. Filthy thieving mudblood! Filth! Scum of the earth! Hermione thrashes about, trying to free herself from Bellatrix's grasp. Oxygen leaves her system as she fights. Bellatrix stands over Hermione's small body, laughing. Her fellow Death Eaters join her- Lucius Malfoy, Rudolphus Lestrange, Peter Pettigrew, Barty Crouch Junior and even Voldemort gather around, all laughing at her. Their wands point at Hermione. She tries to form a coherent thought, to scream, to reach for her magic. You don't have magic! You stole it! You're a magic thief! You're not a real witch! Avada Kedavra!
Hermione Granger sits bolt right in bed, panting, sweat dripping from her forehead. She throws off the covers and pants, trying to calm herself. Her left arm stings, as if she was feeling the injuries healing for the first time. She gently touches the light scar on her arm and closes her eyes. "It was just a nightmare. Only a nightmare. They can't hurt you anymore."
"No they can't Hermione," Harry says from the doorway, light shining in from the hallway. Hermione gives him her best smile, hoping he hadn't heard her screaming. "Another nightmare?" Harry steps into the room and shuts the bedroom door, joining his best friend on the bed. He gently brushes back one of her wild curls.
"You really do know me too well Harry." Hermione sighs and rests her head on his shoulder. "How was work?"
"It was fine. I'm sorry I missed dinner. I know that you had cooked. I saw it in the fridge. I'm really sorry. I got caught up at work. We did another raid tonight and I had to do the report right then."
"It's alright. We both get caught up at work sometimes, it's alright. We'll have dinner tomorrow night together."
"Yeah but there'll be like ten other people there. Remember? The Weasleys invited us both over for dinner tomorrow night?" Harry pulls off his shoes and tries to loosen his tie. Hermione pulls it over his head with an amused smile. He pulls off the rest of his clothes and pulls on pajama pants over his boxers. Hermione waits for him to join her in bed, gently touching the scar on her forearm and listens to him brush his teeth.
"Harry? I was thinking.. Maybe I should get this scar removed? The muggles have technology to do it." Hermione bites her lip, knowing how Harry thought of scars as a reminder of what he's been through and a symbol of strength.
"Why would you want to do that? Hmm? It's beautiful, just like the rest of you." Harry kneels in front of his fiance and kisses from her ring finger up to the scar, kissing it all over. Hermione tears up a little bit and bends down, kissing him. "I love you just the way you are Hermione Jean Granger, why do you think that I asked you to marry me? If you want to get the scar removed, I'll support you. If you want to keep it, I'll support you. I know it's hard to let go of the past but that's why we have each other."
"I love you Harry James Potter. Now get in bed, I'm tired." Hermione cuddles up with her fiance, breathing in the pure Harry scent. She could smell the faint hint of parchment and ink on his skin from working in his office all day. She could smell the faint scent of his spearmint toothpaste and could smell the grass from his shoes as he had mowed the grass the day before. Hermione closes her eyes and listens to his heart, letting her heart sync with his.
It had taken them both a little while but they realized that, while Hermione had been attracted to Ron, they did not have very much chemistry and it seemed to be the same with Ginny. It also did not help that Ginny looked a lot like his mum and when he realized that, he could not let that fact though. Both of the Weasleys understood and had admitted that they sometimes felt the same things. Ron had kindled a relationship with Lavender Brown. While he had been slightly hesitant he soon realized that she was not the same girl that he had dated back in sixth year. Ginny was so focused on her career that she did not have time for a serious relationship but had recently been spotted with Lee Jordan. It was an unexpected pairing but everyone seemed to be accepting of it.
"Goodnight my smart, sexy, brave, lioness." Harry gently kisses Hermione's wild hair and breathes in her shampoo smell. His life had been so crazy and he had made so many mistakes but one thing he had gotten right was saving Hermione from the troll in their first year. He considered it one of his biggest accomplishments. It had brought him his best friend and the love of his life. He couldn't have been happier than lying there in that bed with her. They would face challenges but he was prepared to face them as long as she stayed by his side. That's all he ever wanted from her.