DISCLAIMER: All credit to JK Rowling

Chapter Eleven

The next day, Harry went over to Hermione's early to help her set up for the party.

"Happy birthday," he greeted her as she opened the door and let him in.

"Thank you," she replied, grinning. "Did you get me a present?"

Harry chuckled. "I got you two. That's one," he said, kissing her and she laughed.

"See, that's going to be hard to top. You should've left that one til last," she giggled, standing on tip toe to kiss him deeper.

"Hermione, who was at the door?"

Hermione sighed and pulled away, just as Emily stuck her head out from the lounge room.

"It's just Harry, Mum. He's here to help me set up for dinner tonight."

"Oh. Hello, Harry."

"Mrs. Granger," Harry said politely.

Hermione led him into the lounge room, and Harry saw an unfamiliar man sitting on the lounge next to Emily.

"Harry, this is Sam- my Mum's... date. Sam, this is my boyfriend, Harry Potter," Hermione introduced them politely.

"Harry, it's nice to meet you," Sam said warmly, standing up to shake Harry's hand. "I've heard a lot about you from Hermione."

"Nice to meet you too," Harry said warily.

He could immediately see what Hermione meant by describing Sam as 'creepy'. He was just overly friendly and far too comfortable in the Granger's home for someone who'd only been dating Emily for a few weeks; and there was something in the way he said Hermione's name and looked at her that Harry didn't like at all.

"Can I give you guys a hand?" he offered.

"We're fine thanks," Hermione said hastily and ushered Harry towards the kitchen.

"So, is it just me or is he genuinely creepy?" Hermione hissed to Harry once they were in the kitchen.

Harry nodded. "No, that guy's weird. Your Mum doesn't see it?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. And I can't say anything, because since she met him, she's been halfway decent!"

He rubbed her arm comfortingly. "It's all right, just... keep an eye on him."

Hermione shrugged. "It's ok. After awhile, Mum will get tired of him. Because Merlin forbid she be happy for too long!"

As the Weasley's, Sirius, Remus and Tonks arrived; followed by Luna, and Steph and Tim; Sam greeted them all at the door as though they'd been friends for years, and half took over as host of the party. Anyone who found themselves in a conversation with him found themselves talking about Hermione, far more than necessary, even for her birthday; and by the end of the night, they all agreed with Hermione's reaction to him- Sam was creepy.

Towards the end of the night, Harry pulled her aside and handed her a gift-wrapped box. Hermione opened it to find a simple silver ring, set with a small ruby and sapphire together.

"It's a promise ring," Harry explained. "The sapphire is your birthstone, and the ruby is mine. The guy at the jewellery store said that the ruby represents everlasting love; and the sapphire is for sincerity, and faithfulness. Plus, it also stands for wisdom and purity, which I thought was kind of perfect for you. It just means... that I'm going to love you forever."

Hermione couldn't speak as she kissed Harry, trying to signify everything she was feeling.

"I love you," she finally managed to say, when she was in no danger of crying.

"Happy birthday, sweet girl," he replied, still holding her close.

When he pulled away, it was to hand her a card. "You have to open that later, when you're alone, ok?" he asked her and she nodded.

"Ok," she agreed.

Harry kissed her lightly, then took her right hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

"I thought this hand would be better, so we don't send Rita Skeeter into overdrive," he explained and Hermione laughed.

"Yes, we couldn't have that, could we?" she giggled.

It was late by the time everyone left, and Hermione was able to go to bed and have some privacy. Sitting up in bed, she picked up the envelope Harry had given her and opened it. A small red ball of glowing light erupted out of the envelope, pulsated in the air for a moment and then with a small pop, transformed into a vase of a dozen long-stemmed red roses.

Hermione gasped as she caught the vase from the air and carefully sat it on her bedside table. Taken aback for a moment, she remembered the card and opened it hastily. There in Harry's handwriting, was a message.

"Dear Hermione,

Happy Eighteenth birthday. I know you prefer lilies, but roses always remind me of you. I wasn't sure why, until I happened to find this quote the other day-

'There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.'

That is you, my beautiful, dazzling, sweet girl; perfect in every moment. I love you, my best friend, my soul mate, my princess.

Harry."

Hermione had a hand pressed over her mouth as she took a shaky breath to stifle the few tears that had fallen.

"I may be the luckiest girl in the world," she whispered to herself, placing the card next to the vase of roses, and switching off her lamp.

Hermione was alarmed that her prediction about her mother's relationship with Sam did not come true; in fact the opposite was true when Emily announced one morning just before Halloween, that she'd asked Sam to move in, and he had accepted.

"What?" Hermione gaped at her mother in horror. "Mum, you've only been seeing him for a month!"

"What's your point?" Emily snapped. "I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to be happy?"

"Of course you are," Hermione tried to placate her, but Emily interrupted.

"Because let me tell you Hermione, after being stuck with your father for twenty years, I think I'm entitled to some happiness!"

Hermione sighed and picked up her bag to leave for work. "You know what, Mum? It doesn't matter. Congratulations."

Hermione was only at university three days a week; and the other two days she worked as a waitress at a restaurant in London. It was a good feeling to earn her own money, and she was meeting all sorts of new and interesting people.

Once Sam moved in, and was constantly around, it only reaffirmed Hermione's dislike for him. She was no longer comfortable in her own home, and only returned home to sleep and shower. Apart from those brief times, she was either at work, university, the Burrow, or Harry's. Emily didn't particularly care, but to her discomfort, Sam did; and whenever he saw her would made pointed comments about never seeing her. It was also hard because Sam had no knowledge of the fact that Hermione was a witch, so unless she was in the privacy of her own room, she couldn't use magic at all.

In late November, the weather took a sudden turn and became the coldest winter they'd had in years. For the first time since September, Hermione was actually glad she wasn't at Hogwarts, remembering how freezing the castle was in winter at the best of times. When she jolted awake at three in the morning two weeks later, she assumed it was because of the cold, and burrowed down deeper into her blankets, trying to go back to sleep.

She more felt the movement, rather than saw it, given how dark it was and that her eyes were closed; but once she felt the air stir around her, her eyes opened slightly to investigate. When they adjusted to the darkness and saw a dark shape at the end of her bed, Hermione bolted upwards with a gasp and she fumbled for her wand, which lay in the drawer of her bedside table.

The figure hastened to the door, but not before Hermione thought to switch on her lamp, and the blinding light revealed Sam making a quick escape from her bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

Terrified, shaking and her heart beating wildly, Hermione jumped up to lock her bedroom door, and block it with her desk chair.

"Oh, Merlin!" she breathed, jumping back into bed to keep herself from shivering, but not turning off the light.

Her immediate thought was to contact Harry, but she decided against that, after confirming the time was only three am. Swallowing hard to calm herself, Hermione picked up the book she'd been reading before bed and tried to distract herself until the sun rose.

Around five o'clock, Hermione decided she'd allow herself to call Harry at seven o'clock, something close to a reasonable hour. However, she only lasted until a quarter to six, before dialling his number.

"'Ello?"

"Harry?"

Harry was suddenly wide-awake, noting the panic in her voice. "Mione? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

She gave a shaky laugh. "Uh, I'm really, really not."

"Give me five minutes and I'll be over," he said immediately.

"I'll meet you outside," she replied and hung up.

Hermione didn't even bother to get dressed, just pulled on her boots, coat, scarf and gloves over her pyjamas and ran a brush through her curls as she carefully and silently made her way downstairs. Harry arrived with a pop only thirty seconds after she did, like her, just having thrown on a jacket and shoes over his pyjamas.

"Hey, what happened?" he demanded urgently, taking her in his arms, and checking her for any visible signs of harm.

Hermione shook her head, unable to find the words as she clung to him.

"He was in my room," she murmured shakily and Harry's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

She nodded, shuddering as she recalled it. "I woke up and I saw something move; so I turned my light on, and it was Sam, and... oh my God."

She heard Harry swear under his breath, and knew he was furious. "Why didn't you call me?" he asked, pulling away.

"Because it was three am," she replied, but Harry shook his head.

"It doesn't matter what time it was. If something happens, you call me, Ok?"

Hermione nodded wordlessly, feeling as though she was about to cry.

"I can't let anything happen to you," he whispered, as he held her and Hermione took a deep breath; Harry's mere presence calming her and making her feel safe.

"I can't live here anymore," she answered brokenly with a shiver and Harry nodded.

"I know, it's ok. You can live with us."

Hermione looked up at him. "Are Sirius and Remus going to be okay with that?"

"Of course they will," Harry replied confidently. "Don't worry, sweet girl. We'll keep you safe."

Sirius and Tonks were up when Harry entered the kitchen just before seven o'clock, and Harry jumped slightly to see them, not expecting them to be up.

"Do I want to know?" Sirius asked, noting Harry's wearing his pyjamas and a coat.

"I need to talk to you guys," he said seriously, and Sirius grimaced.

"Oh, I don't think I do want to know."

"Does this have something to do with the telephone ringing at a quarter to six this morning?" Tonks asked, sleepily as she prepared Teddy's breakfast.

"Yeah, actually. It was Hermione," Harry explained.

Sirius frowned. "What was so urgent?"

"She woke up in the middle of the night to find Sam in her room," Harry said darkly and Sirius and Tonks both startled in alarm.

"What?"

Harry nodded grimly. "I know. She woke up, and there he was. She doesn't know if it's the first time either. I don't want her living there anymore, Sirius," he said to his godfather who nodded immediately.

"Of course not. She may as well move in here, there's the empty room opposite yours."

It was Harry's turn to be startled; although he'd been hoping for this outcome, he'd expected more of an argument.

"Really? That was easy," he said in surprise and Sirius shrugged.

"I've been pretty sure Hermione would move in here anyway when you guys eventually get married; and we have the room, so it's no drama for her to move in now. And I'm not too thrilled with the idea of her living there anyway."

In their brief discussions about their eventual marriage, this was exactly what Harry and Hermione had planned; but Harry was still surprised.

"Thanks, Sirius," he said gratefully, hugging him before turning to Tonks.

"Dora? Are you okay with this?"

Tonks laughed. "To have another girl in the house? Are you kidding me? Of course I am! The sooner the better, especially to get her away from that weirdo! And the weirdo's boyfriend," she grinned and Harry laughed.

"I wonder what Remus is going to say?"

"He'll be fine," Sirius assured him.

Harry grinned. "Ok, I'm gonna go shower and dress, and then go tell Mione."

"The sooner the better!" Sirius called after him, and Tonks grinned.

"You just love having this house full of people," she accused Sirius who grinned.

"Guilty," he admitted. "Do you want to owl Remus or shall I?"

Tonks grinned wickedly. "Or we could just wait until he arrives for dinner tonight?"

Hermione let him in when Harry arrived back at her house, half an hour later.

"Sirius and Tonks said yes. And both specified it be ASAP," Harry said quietly to her and she smiled.

"I'm good with that."

Harry followed her into the kitchen where Emily and Sam were having breakfast.

"I'm moving out," she announced and Emily choked on her cup of tea.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Hermione said calmly. "I'm moving out."

"And just where are you going to live, young lady?" Emily demanded.

"With Harry," she replied. "This isn't my home anymore, Mum. It hasn't been for a long time, and I can't live here anymore."

Emily seemed to be in shock, but Sam spoke up decisively.

"Come on, Hermione. I think you're being a bit hasty about all this. Why don't we all sit down as a family and talk about this?" he suggested, taking a step towards her but Harry stepped in front of her protectively.

"Don't even think about going near her," he threatened furiously, but Hermione laid a hand on his forearm assuringly.

"You're not my family," she said coolly to Sam, and then drifted her gaze across to her mother.

"And neither are you."

Harry shot a final glare at Sam before allowing Hermione to lead him upstairs to her room.

"I'm so glad I can do this quickly," she said casually, waving her wand and directing her belongings into boxes and bags.

"What do you want to do about the furniture?" Harry asked her.

Hermione sighed and looked around at the same bedroom furniture she'd had since she was eight.

"I really don't want any of it. I think I really need a fresh start."

Harry grinned. "We can help with that. I'll start taking down stuff to your car, ok?"

Hermione nodded, throwing him her car keys as he picked up a box.

"And Mione?"

She turned to the doorway, to see Harry staring at her seriously.

"Yeah?"

"If you love me, you'll bewitch all the boxes of your books to make them feather light, so I don't break my back," he grinned and she laughed, throwing the closest object in his direction.

She did make all the heavy boxes (mainly books) feather light, and she and Harry packed all her belongings into her car.

"You ready?" Harry asked when they were done.

Hermione nodded, but then saw Emily watching her from the doorway with an odd expression. "It must be like déjà vu for her," she said softly. "Just give me a sec, ok?"

Harry squeezed her hand and Hermione headed to say goodbye to her mother.

"You're making a mistake," Emily said to her.

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not. I know what I'm doing, Mum."

"Well don't come crawling back to me when it all falls apart," Emily warned.

Hermione sighed. "Bye, Mum."

Emily continued to watch as Hermione and Harry got into the car and drove away.

Sirius and Tonks both came out to meet them as Hermione pulled into the driveway.

"Welcome to the madhouse," Sirius greeted her, grinning. "You're one of us now."

Hermione laughed as she got out of the car, and surprised Sirius by throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly, the first time she'd ever done so.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said sincerely and Sirius smiled.

"It's my pleasure, Mione."

"I'm so excited to have another girl in the house!" Tonks squealed excitedly, hugging Hermione next and she laughed.

Harry watched for a moment with a smile, then opened the trunk. "Ok, we've got like a million boxes of books to get upstairs!"

"Oh shut up, it's not a million!" Hermione laughed at him, and they all headed to work.

"Boy is Moony going to get a surprise when he gets here!" Sirius chuckled when they'd finished unloading the car of bags and boxes and Harry and Hermione had left to buy her new furniture for her new room.

Tonks laughed. "So is everyone else when they find out," she added. "Rita Skeeter may explode with this news."

"Good," Sirius said decisively.

"Good," Teddy repeated from his highchair, banging his spoon and Sirius and Tonks both laughed.

Remus was the first to arrive for dinner that night, accompanied by Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape.

"Hey, where are Harry and Hermione?" he asked, as he took Teddy off Tonks to greet his son.

Tonks and Sirius exchanged a look. "They're upstairs," Sirius said slowly, and the four teachers looked at them, puzzled by his wary tone.

"What's going on?" Remus asked suspiciously.

Tonks smiled. "Well, sweetheart... Hermione kind of... moved in this morning."

Tonks couldn't suppress a giggle at the look of shock on her husband's face, not to mention the similar expressions on the faces of Snape, Minerva and even Dumbledore seemed stunned by this announcement.

"I don't understand," Remus frowned. Then his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Sirius.

"Padfoot? Did you have something to do with this?" he asked.

Sirius looked slightly offended at his insinuation.

"No! Well, sort of, I mean I offered the room, but it wasn't my idea!" he defended himself.

"What does this mean?" Minerva demanded, and Tonks sighed.

"They're in separate rooms, guys! Look, Hermione reached that point this morning where she couldn't live at home anymore. So, we offered her a room."

"What happened?" Dumbledore asked quickly, noting Tonks' choice of words.

Tonks grimaced slightly, knowing how they would react. "Hermione found Sam in her room this morning."

"What?" They all exploded in unison, and Sirius nodded grimly.

"Exactly. She wanted out, Harry wanted her out, and we couldn't let her live there anymore," he explained.

"Of course not," Minerva said, shocked. "How is she?"

"Happy," Tonks smiled. "She's just so glad to be out, but I think it must have shaken her a lot. She called Harry around six this morning."

"So when you say they're upstairs?" Remus prodded.

"They're unpacking," Sirius elaborated.

Remus nodded and glanced up at the ceiling. "I guess I'll go say hi then."

Dumbledore followed him upstairs, and as they climbed the stairs up to the second floor, they heard Harry and Hermione talking, and Remus tapped lightly on the open door.

"I hear a welcome home is in order?" he said to Hermione, who looked up at them with a smile from her spot on the floor.

"Hi!"

"How's the unpacking going?" Remus asked casually as though he was completely fine and not at all shocked by this news and expected to find Hermione there.

Harry grinned knowingly at him as he answered. "It's fine. Trying to decide whether Hermione has more books or shoes."

"Shut up!" Hermione laughed at him. "It's not that many!"

"Books or shoes? Because either way I think I'm going to have to differ," Remus said dryly, shifting Teddy in his arms and looking pointedly at the completely full wall-to-floor bookshelves lining one wall, and the many rows of shoes at the bottom of the open wardrobe.

"How did your mother take the news?" Dumbledore asked Hermione gently.

She sighed. "Well she acted mad, but she didn't exactly try to stop me, so who knows?" she shrugged and Dumbledore smiled.

"Dinner's nearly ready, guys!" they heard Tonks yell up the stairs.

Harry stood up and extended a hand to help Hermione off the floor.

"I think Sirius might have an exclusive here for his next column," Dumbledore commented lightly.

"How will Rita cope?" Harry asked dryly, and Dumbledore chuckled.