All That I'm Living For

Author's Note: Hello! I have slowly been getting back into writing fanfics again, and I have wanted to continue some stories I never got to finish telling. I last updated this story when I was 16 and am now 26! Time flew, man. 11 years after I began this story, I want to finish it. Of course, I had to rewrite it. I couldn't tell you what I was thinking back then and where I was going with the plot, but the premise will stay the same. Hermione and Harry become married for political reasons and Draco's daughter somehow is connected to Harry. Super cliched, but I'm still so excited about it! My plot bunny lives!

Thank you if you found my first story over the last few years and have come to read it again in its new form. Thank you to all the new readers! I hope you enjoy!


Chapter 1

It had been rough after the war.

After Voldemort's defeat in Harry's eighth year, Hogwart's halls had been full of weeping, paranoia and guilt.

Malicious acts started occurring at the school by October. Hagrid's hut, which had incurred damage in the war, had been renovated only to be set on fire again. Students reported being hexed with no perpetrator in sight. Whispers of a new poltergeist began amongst the students.

Of course, another year, another obstacle for Harry and the rest of the DA to overcome.

By early December, Hermione, Luna and Ginny figured it out. Students had been coping in different ways, lashing out due to anger for their parent's new status as Azkaban Prisoners or anger towards a family for not assisting another family on their time of need; on both sides.

The DA, with Harry as the figurehead, launched a campaign of Unity. "Sins of the father matter not".

DA members recruited every Seventh and Eighth year possible in order to begin different committees in order to assist others in coping with their traumas.

Luna had spearheaded 'Friends & Allys to Pygmys' also known as F.A.P, which became especially popular. Every first year ended up with Pet Pygmys to sleep with at night.

Even Draco Malfoy had headed a committee, 'Muggle Artificats Trinkets Treasures and Exciting Rubbish", M.A.T.T.E.R.. Malfoy's group had been a success story that continued beyond Hogwarts for both Malfoy and the students involved.

In the end, although it had been a hard year, one that had been the hardest as there was no definitive outcome or guarantee, Harry left with a more fulfilled heart.

Two months after graduation, Ginny and Ron had been struck by the Killing Curse. Ginny had gone to a very publicized Tryout for Puddlemere United, Ron had excitedly volunteered as an escort. Something Ginny rolled her eyes at, but something she allowed, none the less.

Gregory Goyle took his revenge and reporters captured every frame as the events unfolded. Goyle surrendered immediately, feeling satisfied he took down Harry's best friend. Ginny had just been an added bonus.

The Wizarding World had grieved for the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione.

And it had broken Harry, completely.

Harry couldn't face the Weasleys, his love for the youngest siblings had been their ultimate undoing. The Weasleys had reached out, assuring Harry and Hermione were, and would always, be part of the family. They had cried together, tried to heal, but ultimately, Harry needed distance. It had been now too late for him to distance himself from Hermione, she wouldn't let him even though she was now his most important person, and the whole of the Wizarding knew it.

Hermione had echoed his sentiments. Harry was the most important person in her life as well. Her parents had never recovered their memories and had made their home permanent in Australia. Her sacrifice was public knowledge.

Together Harry and Hermione rebuilt themselves, together they fought against the world. They fought against bigotry and for rights. For both sides of the war. Whatever they knew to be right. Harry was by Hermione's side, always. Introducing her at galas and rallies, escorting her to any and all dinners he was invited to. Important dignitaries from around the world, curious to meet with the Great Savior Harry Potter were met by a savvy Hermione Granger, ready to spread the word and garner support for their latest cause.

Their lobbying and later, Hermione political career had a weakness. Hermione, an unmarried witch, was becoming known as too extreme, too unpalatable. Her qualifications, emotional state, youth and lack of familial ties to the Wizarding World were always questioned. The mark of Ron and Ginny, made her an upset young woman who was lashing out against the world. She was to be pitied, her opponents would argue, but not taken too seriously nor stable enough to hold any Office.

And for once, desperate, Hermione had lost all sensibilities. "Harry."

They had moved in together by then, and the day was the three-year anniversary of The Puddlemere Tragedy, the day they had lost Ron and Ginny

Harry and Hermione had been having toast with tea for breakfast with plans of being at the Burrow for the entire day. Knowing Molly, a feast was awaiting them for dinner.

"Yeah." Harry would always remember the sugar that had been missing from his tea when Hermione followed up.

"Let's get married."

Harry, frowning down at his tea up until then, quickly looked at Hermione, surprised.

Their relationship had been nothing more than platonic, though popular opinion differed.

Hermione had been holding the Daily Prophet, a special issue on Bonding rites that included speculation on which would would be ideal for the upcoming union between Hermione and Harry.

Hermione's eyes, which had been meeting Harry's with determination, dimmed. She looked away. "I'm sorry Harry- I-"

Harry cut her out. "Okay." Because Harry trusted Hermione, because they were soulmates just as much as Ginny and Ron were.

There was a silence. Hermione put her hands to her face. "No, it's not okay Harry. It's selfish. Manipulative. I'm just out of sorts today, Reese's comments last week and today… and…. I just wish."

She looked up at Harry, pleading, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"Hermione. I said, okay, let's get married."

"No. I spoke before thinking. Forget I said anything."

"I'm serious."

They had been sitting still through the conversation, but Hermione stood up, chair scraping against the hardwood of the floor. Harry followed, not backing down. Tea now forgotten.

"Harry. We've been through this, you give too much. You hate the galas, you hate the interviews, you hate everything about politics. I've been taking advantage of you for long enough as it is. And here I am, asking you for more." Hermione started crying, her hands covering her face as she started to break down.

Harry came around and held her in his arms.

This was a common scene in their little kitchen.

Most of the time, Harry was held. Hermione would keep him standing, much the same as he was doing at that very moment.

Tears had rarely been shed at the threat of fighting Voldemort, but in the first two years after Hogwarts, crying is all Harry did in mornings after a vivid nightmare or a beautiful dream of what could have been.

Hermione, in turn, escaped grief by immersing herself in everything political. She was passionate. She found something to fight for, a vision. Harry had caught on pretty fast that this time, it was Hermione's turn to save the Wizarding World. While Hermione had helped him in the War with her intellect, all Harry had was his fame. And he was damned sure he was going to use it.

He pushed Hermione. He set up the meetings. He surprised her with the gowns for the galas. He pulled strings for her, using his weight where he could, pushing her into the limelight

"I have to go. I promised Kingsley. Please, keep people away from speaking to me." He would lie. Kingsley Shaklebolt was too busy to dilly dally with Harry.

Harry saw what a marriage to Harry would do for Hermione. She'd be a married woman, a Potter. Her surname would be associated to one of the Sacred 28. Harry, a War Hero, would legitimize Hermione's political career in ways nothing else would. As much as both Hermione and Harry were outsiders, this would cement Hermione's place in society.

"We'll be careful Hermione. We are already discreet with who we have been dating, we already live together, we are already a family…."

He rubbed Hermione's back.

"I believe in you Herm. You'll be unstoppable."


Seven years later Harry had been in the Great Hall, eating breakfast next to Hagrid, when the news came.

At the age of 29, Hermione Granger-Potter had become Minister of Magic.