Chapter 3- The Leaky Cauldron *Hermione*

A single goblin bows us out of the bank with a curled upper lip. Clearly still mad about the whole business with breaking into Gringotts, stealing a Horcrux, and riding out on the dragon which had guarded the high security vaults. They needed to get over themselves; it was necessary in order to, oh I don't know, save the wizarding world (including goblins) from the oppressive rule of the worst tyrant ever born. I'm still pretty scared of them, to tell the truth, but with the wizarding society in our debt, goblins can't touch me or my fiancée.

Harry. The most selfless man alive, from whom Voldemort took everything. The one who put up with his friends' romantic failures and subsequent arguments, who suffered through being bullied by Slytherins, persecuted by the government and hunted like a common criminal. I can't even remember how it happened, the emotions hit me so fast. All I know is I can't live without him.

We walk through Diagon Alley at a leisurely pace, not troubling to speed up. A few reporters try to hassle us but they are brushed aside like leaves in the wind, and none have the nerve to defy my beautiful, strong, soon-to-be husband. We enter the Leaky Cauldron and disapparate.

Reappearing in the kitchen of the Burrow, I marvel once again at how little security is needed these days. He turns to me, winks, and stalks silently up the stairs just in case; we have learned the hard way not to disturb Ron when he is in a bad mood. We only came to collect our clothes, then we can go straight to our new home in Godric's Hollow.

Suddenly Harry raises a hand, signalling me to stop. I tense, searching silently for the cause of his problem. He gestures towards Ginny's door, which I suddenly realise has been heavily warded. How… unusual. I nod at him and together we start taking down some of the wards, just enough to allow us to hear the conversation without alerting the inhabitants. I feel the magic in the air suddenly shift, and quiet talking can be heard through the door. I lean closer to hear Ginny's voice.

"…her back, don't you?"

I don't hear the response, but assume it is an affirmative.

"Good. There's a list of ingredients there for the potion, and the instructions… well, I'll sort that out. We'll go back and make sure there is NO WAY that Hermione and Harry will ever fall in love. He will love me, and Hermione will be all yours. Simple!"

I lean back, feeling sick. Harry grabs me and pulls me into his room, closing the door quietly behind him. I nod mutely as he assures me that we will sort it out, then I add that we can't let them know yet that we overheard them. He starts throwing his belongings into bags and I join him, packing everything in as fast as we can. We shrink them down and he fills his pockets. Next we move on to my room, acting casual, and start on my own things.

Loud banging can be heard clearly from Ginny's room; hastily cramming my possessions into my pockets, we begin to make our way there when (to nobody's surprise) Ron appears through the door looking exceedingly shifty. He tries to act like nothing is going on – honestly, that boy is a terrible liar – and leans against the frame, blocking our entrance.

"Ahh hey guys… what are you doing up here? Not that it's a bad thing, we want you here. I mean, we don't want you gone. Well I don't want you to rush off, unless you want to… I don't want you to feel like you have to! Ummm -"

"- Ron cut it out, and tell us what on Earth you're doing! We overheard…." I love Harry, but at times like this I really could punch him.

Just then, Ginny shouts for Ron and he retreats hastily, slamming the door. We shoot in after him, just in time to see the pair of them raising vials of a clear gold potion to their lips. Harry and I both dive in at the same time, knocking the vials far from the intended drinkers, but sending us flailing into the cauldron. I scream, reaching out for him. The last thing I remember is clinging to his unresponsive body, before my vision fades into blackness…