Harry and Ginny's honeymoon had ended weeks ago and they had taken up temporary residence at Number 13 Grimmauld Place.
"I didn't like staying here that one summer." Ginny griped in the kitchen and she and Kreacher prepared breakfast.
Harry was taking in the Daily Prophet, still waiting on notice of when he would go off for Auror training.
"I know, I don't fancy it here either to be honest." Harry admitted.
Ginny sighed, "I don't mean to be nosey but we are married. Don't you have a lot of gold in Gringotts? I don't see why we can't just buy one of the places we've already looked at."
"I do but I don't want to rush into anything, I want to find the perfect place." Harry reminded her once again.
"Kreacher will be allowed to accompany Master and his wife, yes?" Kreacher asked.
Harry nodded, "Of course Kreacher, and you can return here to visit anytime you like."
"Master is most gracious." Kreacher commented before returning his attention to Harry's eggs.
Soon breakfast was done and Kreacher was invited to join them at the table. After a lot of convincing he did join them and even ate a bite a two.
"Do you think we should go see Hermione?" Ginny asked. "We haven't seen her since we got back."
Harry didn't answer at first as he chewed on his bacon.
"Harry," Ginny nagged. "Answer me."
"Sorry," Harry said, putting down the strip. "I don't know. She keeps saying in her owls she wants to be left alone."
"That's all the owls say. We ask her loads of questions and all she says is 'leave me alone'."
Harry shrugged.
"She's your best friend." Ginny was growing angry for the first time in their marriage. "Why don't you want to see her?"
Harry slammed his orange juice on the table and Kreacher fell from his seat.
"What!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Ron is my best friend." Harry barked.
"And Ron is my brother. But Hermione is your best friend too and she was… is in love with him and he's gone now, Harry. She needs you."
Harry tried to smile at Ginny, "For all she knows, we are still on honeymoon."
"But we know better." Ginny corrected. "Look, I won't go. You two have a relationship that I can't understand. I will never understand it. The things you three went through. I don't have to tag along. When she's ready for a girl's night, I'll be there for her. But for now… She needs you."
Harry stood from the table, "I've lost my appetite."
"I'm sorry," Ginny said.
Harry was nearly out of the kitchen before he turned to face her.
"I could have been at Auror training a week ago but I turned down the job. I don't want to deal with it. I'm sorry if I'm tired of the responsibility but right now I'm just not ready for it." Harry admitted.
Ginny's expression was one of near shock.
"I thought you wanted to be an Auror."
Harry grimaced, "I do… I did. But right now I just want to try to actually enjoy life for once. If it wasn't being tormented by Voldemort the last seven years, it was being tormented by the Dursley's the eleven years before that. I'm burnt out, Ginny. Even the GREAT Harry Potter needs to relax."
With that Harry left the kitchen and Ginny could hear the familiar sound of someone aparating.
Hermione was in the process of feeding Crookshanks for the third time that day.
"I'm so sorry for not paying attention to you lately."
She managed to give the cat one stroke across the back but that was all she could muster before she walked to the couch and broke down. Just as the first tears started to flood her face, there was a knock at the door.
"Go away." Hermione yelled.
Again, they knocked.
"I'll give you your rent tomorrow." Hermione cried.
"It's me."
Hermione jumped to her feet, wishing she could take back her previous statement. She ran around the flat and began to pick up disregarded dirty clothes and throwing them in a hamper.
"One second!" Hermione exclaimed.
She threw the Chinese food that was barely touched from the night before in the trash and dashed to the door.
"Harry…" She said, smiling for the first time in days.
"Hermione…" Harry said her name, a little surprised by her appearance.
Hermione was wearing a small top with no undergarment, knickers, and even for her standards, her hair was in a right state.
"Oh my gosh," Hermione said, slamming the door in Harry's face.
A few seconds later she reopened the door and invited him in after she had put on pajama bottoms.
"Guess it's good you haven't taken to walking around completely naked." Harry joked as he moved aside a Daily Prophet to sit on the couch.
Hermione continued to try to straighten up the flat instead of joining Harry.
"So you're back from the honeymoon. Had a good time, then?"
"It was a honeymoon." Harry shrugged.
"I wouldn't know." Hermione commented back as remembered she could do magic and used it to her advantage to finish cleaning the place.
"I figured you could use someone to talk to." Harry stated.
Hermione put her hand on her forehead and paced in front of Harry. She hadn't bathed in two days and was a little afraid of getting too close to him.
"Talk to… be with… whatever."
Harry was visibly uncomfortable and readjusted himself on the couch.
"So you're not doing any better then?"
"I'm alive." Hermione retorted.
Harry shook his head. "That doesn't answer my question."
Hermione walked back into her small kitchen and picked up her wand. She waved it at the coffee maker and it began to brew.
"What do you want, Harry?"
"I'm here to check on my best friend." Harry answered.
"Don't worry about me."
"But I do."
"You do, or did Ginny make you come here? I know the difference between your handwriting and hers. She's been sending me the owls, not you." Hermione accused.
Harry stood up. "I knew this was a mistake. I knew you weren't ready to talk but Ginny made me come over here."
Hermione smiled but it was a vicious one. "Nice, Harry. Real nice. My best friend is forced to come and talk to me by his wife. The sentiment is appreciated but you can leave now."
"I lost him too." Harry barked, walking towards the door.
"And you have Ginny." Hermione snapped back. "Why don't you go cuddle her, or whatever else married couples do? Like I said, I wouldn't know."
"You are not yourself."
Hermoine shook her head and pointed towards the door.
"Get used to it, Harry. This is the new Hermione. If you don't like it, you don't have to come back. We did what we had to do together. We defeated Voldemort. His henchmen killed Ron in the process but I guess overall the mission was a big success."
Harry turned back from the door and faced her. She was a wreck and he could see that now. He had Ginny this whole time to deflect the pain and she had no one who could be there constantly for her.
"I'm sorry. What can I do?"
Hermione wanted to say something but couldn't seem to find the words.
"Just tell me." Harry said. "You're Hermione for Merlin sake. I'd do anything for you. Just let me know what I can do."
Hermione shook her head and buried her face in her hands. "You can save the world, Harry. You already proved that. But you can't save me."
Suddenly, Hermione felt Harry's arms around her, touching her mostly bare upper back. He hugged her ferociously.
"Anything, Hermione."
Hermione broke down into loud sobs and Harry had to hold her up from falling on the ground.
"Ca….Can…. Can… you just hold me for a few minutes?"
Harry walked her to the couch and sat her down. She didn't hesitate reengaging the hug as she started to ball even louder.
"I'm here, Hermione." Harry said, stroking her untamed hair. "I'm here."
