A/N: Hello, I hope you're all having a great week! Thank you all for following, reviewing and adding my story to your favorites, you're all awesome.

This chapter is much shorter than I normally post but there are some big moments in this chapter and coming up. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 10

Burn Down These Walls

As Mondays go, this one had actually been an easy one. Harry had gotten up and off to work on time, he had remembered his tea on the way out the door and hadn't been too swamped in paperwork.

It was nearing time to go home and he cleaned his desk, gathering the files he needed to take to the secretary. As he packed some things into his satchel to look at later, he recalled the Patronus he had received from Sirius the Wednesday before.

He had been out on assignment in Knockturn Alley investigating a break-in and they had been heading back to The Leaky Cauldron when it had arrived.

"Pup, I have some brilliant news, we got the land! They accepted our offer and they want to complete the sale as soon as possible. I've already spoken with Gornak, I have a meeting with him tomorrow morning to take care of the transaction. I'm making an appointment with the builders now."

Harry could hear the happiness in his God Father's voice and thought he had heard a giggle in the background. He was barely holding in his own excitement when he made it back to his office.

The rest of that day had been a blur, Sirius had scheduled a meeting with Davies Magical Builders for the following afternoon and the two had gone over their list of requirements for the house.

By Saturday evening they had visited the bank to go over the sale of Grimmauld Place with Narcissa, looked over several different styles of homes along with many floorplans and gone to the land with the builder to map out where the house would sit.

By the end of the day on Saturday, they had chosen a basic country house plan with a light brick exterior and large windows for natural light. The house would have five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen with a dining area, a large living space, a library, and a study.

Having prepared for the builders, Harry and Sirius had been able to decide on a house plan quickly. The builders had been able to start working at the property today and Harry couldn't wait to go out and see the progress.

Arriving home, Harry dusted himself off and made his way to his bedroom to change out of his Auror robes and into something more comfortable.

As he walked up the stairs to his room he could hear laughter coming from the kitchen, he thought that was a good sign. Hermione had an appointment with Healer Smith earlier that afternoon and Harry hoped that the healer had been able to see her progress.

She had done well the week before and come out of the appointment feeling much better. She had presented her research to the healer, and was able to talk him through her findings as well as the conclusion she had come to.

She had proof of the strength of the wards on Grimmauld Place in her own writing, and was finally able to accept that she was truly safe within the walls of the house.

On the other hand, she still carried guilt for leaving two years prior and for putting the people she loved in danger by coming back. No matter how often she was told that they were happy she had come home, she still felt responsible for the attack on Harry earlier in the month. Harry hoped that she could work past that soon. He didn't want her to feel like she was a burden or at fault for the actions of a madman.

When he finished dressing he made his way back downstairs to join the other occupants of the house. He found the two of them still in the kitchen both standing at the stove where it looked like Hermione was trying to teach Sirius how to cook a sauce for lasagna.

He watched Sirius take a spoonful of the sauce from the pan and taste it. His face was one of surprised delight and he smiled brightly at Hermione.

"It's not bad! Well look at that, Kitten, you have done what others have failed to do."

Hermione laughed loudly and tasted the sauce herself. "I told you! You are now an expert sauce maker," she said.

Harry walked into the kitchen, "you made a sauce, Padfoot?"

Sirius wore a smug smile as he nodded his head. "Expert sauce maker, she said."

Harry shook his head while chuckling, "I guess we'll see, won't we."

Hermione began to layer the pasta, sauce, and cheese in the baking dish while Sirius cleaned their mess.

After Hermione had put the lasagna in the oven, she sat down with the two men and asked about Harry's day.

He briefly covered his quiet day since there was nothing very exciting that had happened. He had eaten lunch with Ron and discussed the next Sunday dinner at the Burrow. Susan would attend that time and Ron was nervous.

When they had finished asking their questions he turned the conversation to Hermione, wanting to hear about her appointment.

"How did your appointment go 'Mione?" Harry asked.

She shrugged one shoulder, "it was good, we started talking about school and the war. It was much harder to talk about than I thought it would be. We lost so many and I guess I've tried to bury that pain for so long that I never really allowed myself to grieve, you know?"

She sighed, and looked down at the table. "Does the pain ever go away? The constant fear of death eaters lurking around every corner, of people not being who they say they are, the need to always have an escape route? It's tiring, being afraid all of the time."

Harry nodded, he could completely understand, he had been there not long ago himself. "It's going to take time, 'Mione, don't give up. Do you think you'll feel safer in the new house, not surrounded by so many people?"

Hermione frowned, "I don't know, Harry, I think it might be better for me to get a place of my own," she said quietly.

Harry wasn't happy with her answer but, he knew that she wanted to protect him. It was a topic that they'd never agree on. "'Mione, I know that you're worried about Greyback but you aren't putting me or Sirius in danger. We would both be happy to have you there."

"He's right, Kitten. We want you to stay with us as long as you need to, whether it's here at Grimmauld Place or at the new house."

Hermione looked frustrated, "I know and I understand but I can't help but feel like being away from you would be best. What happens when he finds out about the new house? Merlin, he may already have followed you two there, as often as you've gone! He could go there and attack you again Harry, I can't risk that happening."

Harry smiled, "You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met Hermione Granger."

She huffed and rolled her eyes while Sirius sniggered at her irritation.

"Listen, 'Mione. I don't think it's smart for you to live alone. You don't have to agree with me but until Greyback has been taken out, I want you to stay with us. It will make us feel better to know you're here, protected by the wards."

She reluctantly agreed and moved the subject away from herself to the house. "I can't believe how quickly things are moving with the house. It usually takes months to buy real estate, not to mention to build a house."

"Ahh, well that's the wonderful thing about magic. The sellers of the land wanted to take care of things quickly and because we were paying in cash it was as simple as a meeting between the sellers, myself and Gornak. As far as building goes, magic makes it possible to cut the time it would take down quite a bit," Sirius said.

"I love magic," she said with a grin.

Before Harry could agree, there was a tapping at the window and he got up to let the owl in.

The owl landed on the table, dropped an evening edition of the Daily Prophet on to the table, and held out its leg for Hermione to untie the parchment attached.

"Lovely…"Hermione said with a frown.

They knew who that the letter had come from, and with the full moon a little over two weeks away they also knew that Greyback would be getting impatient.

"You don't have to read it 'Mione. I can just take it to Turner to be put with the others."

"No, Harry, I need to know what it says." She slowly unrolled the parchment and read it silently.

Harry and Sirius sat patiently until Hermione released a heavy sigh and slid the parchment over to them.

Harry began to read, holding the parchment up so Sirius could read it as well.

Sweet girl,

I must say, I am very disappointed in you. How dare you accept the advances of that Potter brat! Have you forgotten who you belong to?

I will forgive you this time but make no mistake, you will not be his. Ever.

Don't be sad, my pretty girl, I'm coming for you very soon, and this nonsense with Potter will end. You'll be mine, and I will make everything all better.

X

"Well, that was pleasant," Sirius said sarcastically.

Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "how can he possibly know that, Harry?"

Harry shook his head, "he doesn't know anything 'Mione. He's only guessing and he's getting tired of waiting. I'm sure he's only going to get more paranoid and impatient the closer we get to the full moon."

He watched as Hermione closed in on herself a little. He was afraid that this letter had done nothing but pull her back a step. Convincing her more, that she was putting them in danger by her very presence. He wanted to strangle that damned werewolf.

They sat quietly, allowing Hermione to process the new the timer on the stove rang out, Hermione got up to get the pan from the oven. She placed in the center of the table with the bread she had made earlier.

Sirius stood and walked to the cabinets to get plates and silverware. "Are you alright, Kitten?"

Hermione nodded and sat down at the table. "Yes but I don't want to talk about it, or him anymore. I feel like I'm only repeating myself and it does no good, so could we talk about something else?" Hermione asked as she began to serve the lasagna.

Both men nodded and started debating the latest brooms and how long Tonks would be angry at them for getting Teddy a new one.

Harry and Hermione had decided to sit on the back porch after dinner, Sirius running around as Padfoot.

Harry looked up at the clear sky; it was hard to see all of the stars in the city and he imagined many nights would be spent sitting outside at their new home.

Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her, allowing her to take comfort without bringing up the letter or the man who sent it.

Padfoot ran past them, chasing something they couldn't see, and barked playfully.

"Harry, I'm sorry that I've been all over the place lately. I feel so out of control and it's making me crazy."

"I understand, I can remember that feeling well. I sometimes still feel like that at times, and I have to take a step back and remember that not everything is mine to fix. You know?"

"Like me," she said.

Harry laughed softly, "I'm afraid that's where you're wrong, love. You're my best friend, and I love you so I will always feel the need to pick up your broken pieces and put you back together. I'll be obnoxious in my need to protect you, and I will argue that fact until we're both screaming. I'm sorry to tell you this 'Mione, but you're stuck with me."

She sat up and laughed lightly, "I think I'm okay with that. I mean, I've kept you around this long haven't I?"

"Oh gee, thanks," he laughed.

"I love you too, Harry, but I think you already knew that. It scares me that I could love you like this. I'm afraid you'll tire of taking care of me and trying to heal my brokenness; I'm afraid that you'll grow to resent me. I can't lose my best friend because of a failed relationship."

Harry's eyebrows disappeared beneath his hairline, he couldn't believe that she had actually said she loved him.

"Hermione I could never resent you, you'll heal and move past this. The darkness will start to go away and I'll be there every day to help you through it. Friends take care of each other 'Mione and that is what we are first. I meant it when I said I would be here for you however you need me to be. We've got so many horrible memories, I think we need to make new, good ones. It's what we fought for."

"I know Harry, but I've been thinking about things for a while and the letter tonight just made everything perfectly clear. I feel so out of control because I'm allowing Greyback to have control. I'm allowing him to fill me with fear and that fear is affecting my choices. I'm not going to let him control me anymore. I'm still afraid, but he can't take my choice from me."

Harry turned to look at her, "your choice in what?"

He watched in disbelief as the girl he'd loved for so long, leaned in and whispered, "this," before closing her eyes and bringing her lips softly to his.

Harry's hands moved to her cheeks and leaned into the kiss. Before he was ready, she was pulling back, her cheeks were stained red and she hadn't opened her eyes yet.

A smile spread across his face and he kissed her forehead before sitting up. She had just kissed him and it was better than he had ever thought it would be.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked down at her lap before clearing her throat, "so...I want to give this a chance. Slowly, if that's alright."

Harry nodded, the happy grin still on his face, "of course, 'Mione. We can go as slowly as you want."

She finally looked up at him with a shy smile and laid her head back on his shoulder. Harry took her hand and they sat like that, watching Padfoot chase bugs around the garden, both just happy to enjoy each other's company.