My version of their lives after the war are vastly different from Madam Rowling's. Story begins not long after the fifth anniversary of the war. Hogwarts has been rebuilt And Re staffed, and many of the pieces have been picked up and put back together. All except one.

Harry Potter and the related characters are the sole property of J. K. Rowling. No malicious intent or ill will is meant by using those characters and events in this fictional work.

It had been a long day, an even longer night. There weren't many dark wizards roaming around, but the few that were drove the aurors absolutely mad.

The one he'd been after, for weeks now, had left few clues and always seemed just out of reach.

Tonight, though, he'd caught him. After sending a few owls to ensure the cell at Azkaban was secluded and secure, he'd grabbed a drink at The Leaky Cauldron, stopped to pick up freshly cut lilies, then made his way home. He muttered a soft "alohomora" and stepped into the modestly lavish living room.

He kicked the door closed, then set the post and wrapped lilies on the coffee table. Weary, he turned his attention to the manic chirping coming from behind him.

"Hedwig," he chuckled. "Sorry." He flipped the latch up on the silver cage and reached in to scratch the snowy owl's head lovingly. "Go on," he whispered.

Hedwig gave him a lovingly annoyed nip and then flew out of her cage, making her way to the window that seemed to open all on its own.

He watched her fly, disappearing into the night sky, and he sighed with a smile.

"You're home," a soft voice hit his ears and he turned toward it with an even broader smile. His arms wrapped around her, her feet left the ground, and their lips met as he swung her round and moaned against their kiss.

"I've missed you," she muttered as her head rested against his. "I sent you two owls and even tried to..."

"Mione," he sighed, his bespectacled eyes closing, "I was...I captured… and it was rather difficult for me to..."

"I know, Harry," she told him, both her hands coming to his face. "That's why I needed to talk to you. To be there. See if...if you needed me."

"I always need you," he retuned, planting another kiss on her forehead. "I brought you..."

"Lilies," she finished with a grin. She nodded at the mantle, where the flowers were now settled in a crystal vase. She winked at him, her wandless and wordless magic having stunned him. She gave him a soft kiss again, and then peered over his shoulder toward the portrait of his parents hanging on the far wall of the living room. She smiled as she caught sight of Lily and James Potter wrapped in a heated kiss.

"We're like them, you know," he whispered, well aware of what she was seeing. "And we always will be."

She turned her attention back to him, blinking sweetly, and kissed him again. "Always," she whispered, her nose rubbing against hers just a bit.

When he sighed and closed his heavy eyes, though, she knew the subject she'd been avoiding had to be broached.

"How...how was he?" she asked quietly. "Were the rest of them angry with you?"

"With me?" He pulled away from her, and he walked toward the cherry wood cabinet across the room, holding onto her hand as long as possible before he was too far out of reach. "No. Not me. Him? Bloody furious at him." He gave a small scoff as he poured a glowing green liquid from a crystal bottle into a short, pewter glass. "First time I'd ever seen Arthur Weasley agree with a Malfoy."

"You don't mean..." she stopped, unable to finish the thought, let alone speak it aloud.

He nodded, then brought the potion to his lips and downed it with one hard swallow. "Sentencing vote was unanimous. Draco sat right beside Arthur, their hands went up...as if they'd rehearsed it...same speed and same firmness." He turned, licking his lips and letting the burn of the drink settle into his throat. "He's heading to Azkaban. Tonight."

Hermione ran to him and grabbed his face, her large, innocent eyes boring into his. "Don't you dare think it, Harry!" She was yelling in a whisper, willing him to listen to her. "None of this was your fault. Ron...handled things...badly."

"We all did," he gruffed, pulling her soft hands from his stubble-coated cheeks. " 'Mione," he said, shaking his head, "That night...everything changed. I realized..."

"We both did..."

"That I could stand to lose more than just my life, I had lost so much already, but you...you were the one thing...when I said I had something to fight for..."

"I know..."

"I meant you!" he yelled, his voice cracking with upset and anger. "I didn't care about Ginny or Ron's feelings, I didn't care how hurt they'd be! Damn it, when I got back to that hall, in the rubble and the remains, the only thing I wanted was..."

"I kissed you back, didn't I?" she finally said loud enough to stop his rambling. "Harry, you weren't acting alone, I wanted you, too. Everything I thought I was feeling for Ron...I realized after the smoke cleared...I had been feeling it all so much more for you." She moved to him. She took his hands, and she gave him her best know-it-all smirk. "I never imagined the famous Harry Potter would want to be with a frizzy-haired bookworm like me, so I convinced myself to settle for his trusty sidekick."

He laughed. "Trusty my arse," he chortled, his arms winding around her waist. He planted a kiss on the end of her nose. "Ginny forgave us straight away, she knew all along...well, she was all part of Dumbledore's plan, anyway. But Ron...I never thought..."

"Ron," she interrupted, "Showed us his true colors before it was too late, is all. And he was brought to justice, by the greatest auror since Mad-Eye Moody." She kissed him gently. "I suppose...they want you to escort him to Azkaban?"

Harry shook his head. "On the contrary, my love," he kissed her lips. "They forbid me to leave the house. Don't want any of his cohorts coming after me. I'm to stay right here, with you, all night." He sighed."They also don't want me hearing anything he says before they close the cell on him."

She looked at him blankly, then smiled. "You didn't."

"I didn't," he told her earnestly. "George did." He winked at her. "Gave his little brother a sad and bitter hug goodbye and dropped a Blabberbug in his pocket." He pulled a small, round, marble out of his pocket. "We'll hear it all."

Hermione picked the bauble up with two fingers and held it up to the light. The small speaker inside began to glow and vibrate, and she knew the bewitched beetle was beginning its sneaky job of eavesdropping on the owner of the striped jumper pocket in which it was nestled. "This," she said, "is not going to be easy."

Harry sighed in agreement and kissed her once more before leading her back to the sofa. He watched as she placed the marble on the table and tapped it with her wand, which she'd just pulled from her sleeve. The volume began to crescendo and the couple cuddled as the details of their best friend's betrayal filtered through the air.

There is much more to this tale. Reviews are appreciated. Thank you for reading.

Peace and Love

Jo