Heaven sends and Heaven takes
This story takes place 6 years after the Final Battle with Voldemort. Harry Potter did kill the Dark Lord but there were many casualties. The casualties included Hermione Granger's fiancé and Harry Potter's closest friend, Ron Weasley. Harry didn't get over the loss of Ron and he and the Weasley put all the misery on Hermione. She couldn't take it and left the wizarding world, renouncing it by snapping her wand in half and burning it. She discovered that her parents, who had also been killed in the war, had left a large amount of debt which the government forced her to pay. She was left with little money and no home and she moved to Florence, Italy.
Chapter 1- Can't Hold On
Kera Cavallari rested her head on her hand, strands of reddish brown hair falling in front of her pale face. Memories still plagued her… memories of times before she changed her name and her appearance.
"Kera? Are you here mon amore?" A rich accented voice echoed through the cavernous house
"Yes, Stephen. I'm upstairs." She smiled as her tall, tan husband strolled into the room
They had been married a year. Today was their anniversary and he had said that he had a surprise for her. Her forehead creased in thought, trying to discover what he was planning.
She came out of her thoughts when she heard him laughing
"So… you obviously still haven't figured out what we are doing tonight."
"Well you haven't been exactly generous with your clues. What should I wear? How should I do my hair and why won't you tell me where you are taking me, love?"
"It is so much fun to watch you guess though. What you wear and how you do your hair is up entirely to you but I would suggest a nice evening gown and your diamonds." He winked at her "Hurry up- we are leaving in an hour."
She huffed in frustration "Thanks for the warning Stephen!" she shouted as she hurried out of the room
An hour later she stood ready to leave with Stephen. Her dress was simply cut but made of a luxurious gold silk. Her long hair pulled up with a few curly strands framing her face. Her makeup was minimal but classic and her lips pink and full and her cinnamon eyes sparkling.
She took Stephen's arm and they chatted lightly on the way to the restaurant and as they were seated. As she admired the classy restaurant she had the uneasy feeling of being watched. She tensed up and her old instincts took over, warning her to say little and reveal nothing about her attitude.
A dark man nodded at Stephen across the room and Stephen, after glancing at his wife and making a hurried explanation strolled over to talk to the man in a dark corner.
She stifled a gasp when a familiar looking man seated himself easily in her husband's vacant seat.
"My,my... if it isntMiss Granger, it has been a while." The man said in a cold voice
"Pardon me… I believe you have mistaken me for someone else sir. My name is Kera Cavallari and if you don't mind my husband will be back at any moment and I doubt he would be pleased to find a complete stranger sitting in his place."
"The problem is that I do mind and that you are Miss Granger. And I'm sure your muggle husband would perfectly understand when I explain that it is my job as the new Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to find suitable teachers for the posts. Which leads me to my next point- it is time to come home, you can't hide from us forever."
Kera stood up abruptly "Stop it! You horrible man! I don't know who the hell you are but I can have you arrested for harassment! MY husband is the Sir Stephen Cavallari and I don't think you want to discover what he is capable of doing to people who get on his bad side!"
"Stop making a scene Miss Granger and sit down!" the man hissed at her, grabbing her arm harshly
"STEPHEN!" she cried "Stephen – HELP!"
He was at her side in a moment pulling her away from the man into his own arms.
"What the hell do you think you are doing sir?"
"I was under the impression that I was having a conversation."
"My wife is not easily upset and you upsetting her, especially tonight, is something I will not have! You will leave and not bother us again!"
The man shot Stephen and the quivering woman in his arms a scathing look "I will do as I see fit." He spat before striding away and out of the restaurant
Stephen tilted her head up to his face and brushed the hair gently out of her eyes "Hush now, love. He is gone."
"I'm sorry Stephen… but I want to go home."
He sighed "Alright, let's go. But first I want to give you something…"
He pulled out a long skinny box from inside his coat pocket and handed it to her. She opened it and found herself looking at a beautiful Mikimoto pearl necklace with a heart outlined in diamonds hanging from it.
"OH! Stephen! It is beautiful! Put it on me please…" She kissed him softly after he fastened it around her slender, pale neck.
"It looks beautiful on you Kera."
"Thank you Stephen." She blushed as he unashamedly scrutinized her admiringly from head to toe. He nodded his head to her response.
"Yes. I think we should get home now… I have a wonderful surprise for you next." He smirked as he squeezed her hip to his own
She blushed again "I think I might have an idea as to what this surprise might be, Stephen."
He replied without removing his eyes from her body "Good. I was hoping you would catch on sometime. I guess they wouldn't call you 'the smartest witch of the age' without a good reason now would they?"
She gasped "What did you just say!"
