DISCLAIMER

*I don't own the Harry Potter series nor do I make any money off of this story.

*I mean to offend NO one with the countries that are mentioned in a bad light in this story. It is purely inspiration drawn from both World War II and the current unrest in the Middle East. I want everyone to know that this is no way a hate campaign against any of the countries spoken about in this story. I wrote it for fictional purposes. Please don't be offended.

AUTHOR NOTE:

This story is compliant with the books except the epilogue.

I would like to thank my awesome and then some beta Gemini Emerald Amethyst Malfoy.

Chapter 1

August 11, 2022

It was a hot summer night over the Wiltshire. Towards the edge of the community was a large red brick home that was the start of an unseen community to the average eye. You see; this unseen community was the home to some of the most famous wizards in Great Britain. The first belonging to the most loved and most famous Minister of Magic the Wizarding community of Britain ever had, Harry Potter.

His wife who was equally as famous and loved by her own right, Hermione Potter nee Granger, checked her makeup one last time. Tonight was a big night for the Potters as it was their 20th anniversary and she went out of her way to make sure this night would be perfect for her and her husband.

Their three kids were all at a friend's house for the night. A small candlelit dinner was in their large dining room waiting for them with a well-placed warming charm on the plates. Her gift was next to the plates for dessert in the kitchen. Even the cat was locked away in the guest bedroom with ample food and water to keep him quiet for the night. She smiled contented that the night would be perfect. She slipped into her dress. It was black and made her feel twenty-one again, despite her very unflattering aging figure, or so she thought about it.

It was currently 8:45 and her husband would be home in 15 minutes. Anxiety spread through her veins. She was beyond excited to spend a romantic night with her husband. Their busy schedules didn't permit for them to spend as much time together as they would have liked. Her husband being the Minister of Magic and she being the head of the governing board for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and notable historian meant they only got a few minutes together at nights before sleep got the better of them.

Hermione looked at herself one last time in the mirror. Her hair was up and out of her face just like he liked it, she also had on his favourite shade of her lipstick; a coral colour so bright that he always said brought out her eyes. Her jewellery was minimal, simple diamond stud earrings and ruby engagement ring and rose gold wedding band. Hermione smiled as she turned away from the mirror and slipped on her pumps and headed downstairs to her awaiting dinner. It was now 8:57. He would be home soon.

She mentally battled about where she should be when he got home. Should she be at the dining table or in the floo room to greet him and take off his jacket or elsewhere. Her body started to move towards the table but her mind quickly redirected them to the floo room to wait for her husband.

She shook her hands to get rid of the building anxiety she was feeling. She couldn't figure out why she was so nervous she knew Harry since she was twelve and had been romantic with him for about twenty-one years. She couldn't help but think that it was because they didn't get to see each other before they both started their day that left her so nervous. If only he didn't have that Minister's meeting in Holland that day which caused him to spend last night at a hotel. She was hoping that cemented their relationship and hoped that it would bring them close together once more.

Her feelings becoming stronger as time went past and Hermione found herself quickly becoming annoyed that he didn't send an owl this morning but quickly expelled the idea because neither had she sent him an owl. 9:01. Hermione got even more nervous that she started to pace the small room. 9:11. She took a seat on the loveseat and crossed her ankles to keep her feet from shaking. 9:26. Still no Harry. She quickly summoned a glass and the champagne that was chilling. She poured herself a very large glass to help calm her nerves and took a long sip. Before she knew it the glass was finished. It was now 9:45.

Her spirits dropped. She knew if he wasn't home by now he was working and had completely forgotten about her. She got up fuming and kicked off her shoes and made her way to the dining room and blew out the candles and grabbed the plates. She trashed their contents in the bin as she entered the kitchen and then roughly tossed the plates in the sink where they started to wash themselves. She then tossed her gift of pictures of a private box she purchased for him at the newly built Quidditch stadium in the bin.

Hermione could not help it as the tears slowly came into her eyes. She braced on the counter trying to fight away her emotions. She shook her head vigorously and pushed the tears away and immediately felt a headache coming on.

There was no doubt when she heard the floo network come to life. Hermione quickly tried to dry her eyes. She didn't want Harry to see her like this, and she didn't want to see him.

"Mum!" The voice of her seventeen year old called from the floo room.

"James?" She asked in shock and then moved towards the room to find out what was wrong.

"I'm sorry I hope I'm not interrupting I needed to get my potions notes from fifth year to shut up Sutton about something."

Hermione watched her son like he had grown another head in front of her. "Did you come for your Playful Witch magazines?"

James immediately went red and looked down. "How did you know?"

"I know you son. I thought I told you to cancel that subscription." James looked even more embarrassed.

"I will I promise mum!" Hermione looked disbelievingly. He smiled. "I'll go grab em." He said and quickly sprinted off in the direction of his room.

She shook her head at her son's antics, smirking because he thought he had fooled her. She tried so hard to get him to stop his subscription but she always found a way to sneak them back into his possession. He was as sneaky as his namesake.

Within a few minutes he was back downstairs facing his mother. "He never came home?" He asked a little disappointed.

The tears came to her eyes. Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head. "He's busy, he is the minister you know." She managed to say a lot stronger than she thought she was. All Hermione had wanted was to protect them from the fact that their parent's marriage wasn't perfect as thought and the fear that they may not stay together.

"But he's your husband. He should be here." He argued.

"That's not your battle sweetheart. It's mine." She said and rubbed his upper arm in an attempt to comfort her him.

"You want me to stay?" He offered trying to smile to break the tension. "We could watch some of the movies that you loved when we were younger?"

" No James. I don't want you to hear me yelling at him when he gets home. Go have fun with Sutton and please don't let Ginny find them." She said quickly eyeing the magazines, already thinking of an excuse to feed Ginny if the boys were found out.

"Hey I'm only supplying them, if he gets caught he's on his own mum." He said and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek and then stepped into the fireplace. "Can I have some powder?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed the tray where they kept their floo powder and held it out for him. He grabbed a hand full and said; "Longbottom's House."

Hermione smiled and let out a little laugh as she put the tray of floo powder back on the fireplace mantle. Hermione then slowly moved towards her bedroom, not looking forward to going to bed alone especially on tonight of all nights. When she got there, Hermione stripped out of her dress not caring to put it in the laundry basket and continuing to the bathroom.

She removed her makeup and let her hair down, moaning as the pressure was released. Letting out a deep sigh she put the water on and waited for it to get hot. She removed her racy crimson lace undergarments and stepped into the shower. As the water touched her skin the wall of strength she had holding her together from the disappointment and anger from a failed anniversary dinner simply disappeared. She stretched her hand out to the wall again looking for support. The tears she had held back came freely. She let them come without fear.

When she was all cried out she got out of the shower and magically dried her hair. 10:54 still no Harry. Hermione then applied her lotion and put on her PJ's and crawled into bed.

The bedroom light woke Hermione up with a start. She had been a pretty light sleeper since the war unless Harry was next to her. She squinted her eyes as she got out of bed wand in hand. She sensed that the movement in the room stopped, her eyes adjusting to the light in the room and looked at the man before her.

His hair was a mess, his tie undone and wrapped around his neck. His sleeves rolled up and he looked a mess. He gave her a small and sheepish smile. "Hey. Sorry I woke you."

She looked at him completely angry, her hair sparking at the ends. "Where were you?"

"The office. The war in the Middle East isn't looking like there is going to stop. If Russia moves in there is no hope for America."

"So what does it concern you?" Hermione asked in anger.

Harry looked at her in shock; he couldn't believe what had just been said. "Have you forgotten that Britain is working with America for peace in the Middle East? It is between the ministry here and in America to keep the magically community at bay from the muggles! We are already suffering from World War III, there is no need to give anyone a magical advantage, meaning we need to be active in encouraging our citizens in not joining!"

"Saving the world again." She replied with a sarcastic edge to her voice and rolled her eyes.

"What has gotten in to you tonight Hermione? You were all for this." He said doubtfully.

"What is today's date Harry?" She asked calmly, too calmly as far as Harry was concerned.

"Um. August elev- Oh Fuck! I'm sorry!" He said and passed his hands through his hair, stress and his emotions strewn across his face.

"Are you?" Her tears were back at fully force, silently streaming down her face. "I sat waiting for you to come to surprise you with dinner. Hell I even had the kids spend the night with their friends so I could get five minutes alone with my husband. I wore a dress I knew you'd love even if I don't look like I once did."

"Hermione," Harry said softly as he moved towards her, frowning as she scrambled back to get away from his touch.

"No Harry! I get you're the minister and I'm proud of all your accomplishments but I need to be a priority for you. I'm your wife, your best friend and the mother of your three children." She said as the tears continued to run down her face.

Harry bit his bottom lip, thinking about the best way to deal with this and be honest. "You are a priority in my life. You think I work as hard just cause I want too. No I work this hard to keep you safe, keep the kids safe. There is a real threat out there and you can't see that I do everything for you."

"Yet nothing with me." Hermione said softly. "I love you, and Harry I need you in my life, an active part of my life. Don't save the world and lose me."

"Hermione, I wish on every star that you could see that you are the only thing that matters, after the kids of course and I'm sorry I forgot our 20th anniversary. I really am. I'm sorry you feel that I'm not here for you, but I am." Harry pleaded.

"Then I wish you would show me that, I wish you would make me fall in love with you again." Hermione smiled weakly.

"Give me the chance and I will." Harry said and moved forward to embrace her. When she didn't move he quickly engulfed her in a hug.

"I'm still mad at you." She whispered.

"You have all the right to be." Harry replied. "Go back to bed. I'll go take a shower and join you in a bit."

"Don't be too long you have to be up soon." She said and moved away from him and under her covers.

"I love you Hermione Jean Potter." He whispered.

"I love you too Harry James Potter." She said sleepily.

Xxx

The next morning Hermione woke up to an arm gently grabbing her breast. She could sense strong male figure holding her tightly and gently kissing her neck. She smiled remembering the night she had before. Oh it was a wild night. It definitely was the last time she would go drinking with Lavender.

The hand moved down her to her stomach and to the rim of her pants.

She smirked. "Cormac, Harry is going to be home soon. We can't. It's the first time he has been away on a mission and the ministry said he isn't in good shape."

The hand froze on her pants. The kissing stopped. "Cormac, really of all the days you chose not to put up a fight is the day when I really am in the mood?" She said and turned around to find a confused and slightly angry older Harry Potter looking her in the face. Hermione's smirk dropped and her face was one of shock and horror, her mouth opened and she let out a bloodcurdling scream.