A/N: Sorry for taking soo long without any update. School crept up on me out of nowhere so I've been MIA. I have some good and bad news. The good news is, I 'm on break for about 2 weeks before summer term starts which means a lot of free time for me to write. However, the bad news is that it's that time again when I get stuck on a story. As you may have noticed, the chapters before this were updated at a much faster speed and that as because I was so full of ideas for this story. Now, I'm lacking ideas so It might be obvious in this chapter =/ as a favor to me and yourselves, any idea of where to go or how to improve will be greatly appreciated. The more ideas I come up with or am given, the faster I can put it up there for your viewing pleasure. So as you read please remember to review and enjoy the ride =)

* * * * * *

Harry and Hermione had reluctantly made it back to London. After having spent an amazing week together, it was hard to face coming back to the hustle and bustle of the city life. It was even harder to get used to the idea of going back to their rigid schedule that rarely left enough time for them to spend quality time together. They had gone to Australia for that exact purpose. Perhaps, in a few years time, they'd be able to cut down on their heavy work load.

It was early morning, almost eight. They were both due back to their jobs in an hour but neither of them made any hurried movements to get up when the alarm went off.

"Hermione, get up love. You'll be late." said Harry reluctantly opening his eyes and nudging her back.

Hermione groaned in protest.

"I know, I know, but we have to. Come on up!" he said firmly.

"I don't feel so well." She said in her scratchy morning voice.

Harry smiled at her back, which was facing him.

"Nope, no excuses come on." said Harry. He got up and walked over to her side. He was going to have to pull her out of bed at this rate. As he reached for her face, he was startled to find it searing hot.

"You're burning up" said Harry concernedly.

Hermione only moaned as she clutched at the covers.

"Are you sick?" he asked worriedly.

"I guess." Hermione mumbled. "Why is it so cold in here?"

Harry was concerned. Hermione had a high fever and did not want to get up. Something was seriously wrong.

"I'll floo the office telling them you won't be coming in." he said urgently gathering his clothes.

"No!" Hermione protested feebly. "I've already missed too many days."

Harry watched as Hermione laboriously got up from bed. When she finally managed the strength to stand up, she swayed and fell back to the bed.

"There's no negotiating this. You're staying in bed." He said pushing her gently back down. She did so easily.

"What else apart from the fever do you feel?" Harry asked apprehensively.

"Fatigue." Hermione sighed.

"I'm going to go get Mrs. Weasley, she should know what to do." Harry said putting on his trainers.

"No Harry, honestly I'll be fine." She said weakly.

"And I'll be fine once I know what's wrong with you." said Harry dismissively.

"You'll be late." She protested.

"It doesn't matter, I'm sure Nigel will understand." said Harry coming back to her.

Hermione had fallen asleep once again. With a hurried kiss on her forehead, he eased the covers back onto her and apparated to The Burrow.

* * * * * *

It hadn't taken long for Harry to greet and tell her of his urgency. There was an immediate sense of relief when she told him it wasn't as serious as he had thought. "Most likely the wizard flu" she told unperturbedly. Though staying with Hermione seemed to Harry the most obvious choice, he was met with protests from both Hermione and urging him to go back to work. Reluctantly he did so, completely certain that he was not going to be able to concentrate. Though he knew that what Hermione had was nothing serious, he didn't like to be away from her side when she wasn't well. It was, he suspected; the saving-people-thing as Hermione had put it several years ago.

During practice, it soon became apparent that Harry's heart as not into the training. In addition, with persuasion from his wife Nigel decided to let Harry leave early on the condition that he'd be the first one to the Quidditch Pitch the next day.

Thankful for the favor, Harry ran off into the changing rooms and got into his regular clothing. Checking his watch, he realized that would probably still be at his flat, tending to Hermione. The last thing he wanted was for Hermione or Mrs. Weasley to know he had been let out early because he had been distracted. Opting to not be scolded, he instead apparated to Ron and Luna's. He had not seen them since the trip to Australia and had something that he needed to get off his chest.

"Harry! fancy seeing you here." Ron said when Harry appeared at his doorstep.

"Since we hadn't heard from you, we figured you had decided to stay in Australia."

"We wish we could've. We we're this close to staying there forever." said Harry showing a tiny space between his thumb and index finger.

"You're really tan and that's saying much considering what a ghost you usually are." said Ron surveying him. "I reckon there was a lot of frolicking at the beach eh?"

"Keep prying and I'll be descriptive." Harry warned jokily.

Ron put his hands up.

"Okay okay I'll stop." He said quickly. "Hermione's like a sister so I really don't want to hear all the horrific details."

Harry laughed at his friend.

"So…how'd it go?" Ron asked curiously.

"It's the best thing we could've ever done." Harry responded. "It's like we're back to our old selves again."

"Well that's good mate." said Ron genuinely.

"It made me realize something…" Harry said.

"What?" Ron inquired.

"I'm done." Harry said simply.

"Done?" Ron asked bemusedly.

"Done being afraid." Harry explained. It felt so good to finally voice what he had been thinking for days. The night that Hermione and he had gotten things out in the open was the night he discovered how unfounded his fears were.

"What we spent in Australia made me realize that I have nothing to fear. Hermione loves me and I her. All I want is to make her happy. I want to share my last name with her. I want the world to know that she's my Chosen One." said Harry elatedly.

"Yes!" exclaimed a voice from behind the kitchen door.

Ron and Harry looked over to Luna who had sprinted into the living room. She was supposed to have been feeding Darwin, but it was obvious she had been eavesdropping.

"Er…Darwin just finally accepted peas," said Luna sheepishly, blushing as she realized how obvious she looked.

Behind her, the door swung open as Skyelar too walked into the living room.

"Mummy, what are these?" asked Skyelar innocently. She was holding up what appeared to be extendable ears.

Harry and Ron looked at Luna bemusedly. They knew she had heard what Harry had said.

"Darling, I hope you're planning on keeping this secret." said Ron smiling at her.

"Of course! Mum is the word." said Luna putting a finger on her lips. She rushed forward toward Harry and engulfed him in a hug.

"Congratulations!" she squealed. "I'm so happy you finally saw reason!"

"Luna relax, he still hasn't even asked the question." Ron chuckled.

"About that—"

"You can count on us for anything you need." said Luna genuinely. "This has to be epic."

"Blimey, you starting to sound like my mum." said Ron alarmingly.

"I don't want it to become front page news on the Daily Prophet." said Harry cautiously. "I want it to be as private as possible."

"Of course Harry." said Luna dismissively. "When I said epic, I meant for Hermione. Since she's been pretty patient, I can tell you she will probably be expecting some utterly romantic scene when you get down on one knee."

"On which I will definitely be needing your help." Harry said looking at his two friends. "Don't get me wrong I have the romantic part down pact. but…after waiting so long, Hermione deserves it to happen exactly like she always dreamed."

"Do you have any sort idea in mind?" Luna asked curiously.

"Well…I definitely intend on it being soon." said Harry. "Maybe for her birthday?"

"Oh yeah, that'll definitely work." Ron nodded.

"Now all I need is a place. What could be the perfect place?" Harry asked them curiously.

Luna pondered for a little before she stuck out her index finger excitedly.

"What about the café? Hermione loved that place."

Harry shook his head.

"Already thought of it, the place is scheduled to be demolished in a week."

"Oh come on, why don't you use your Chosen One title to intervene?" Ron asked smugly.

"That doesn't apply with muggles and…I don't know, there may be a better place for it." Harry said pensively.

"Like?" Luna asked pryingly.

"You'll find out in due time. In the meantime, I should be getting back." said Harry getting up from Ron's sofa. "I want to go check up on Hermione, hopefully managed to cure her, I want her healthy again for my birthday dinner."

"Cure here?" Luna asked worriedly.

"She came down with the flu." Harry explained. "It's sort of my fault; I made her go out with me into the rain."

"Don't worry mate, I swear my mum is like a healer or something, that flu doesn't stand a chance." said Ron encouragingly.

* * * * * *

When Harry apparated to his flat, he really wasn't surprised to find the lights all off. He didn't expect Hermione to have the strength to walk around when she could barely even stand earlier. seeing her this way was not something he liked. It bothered him that he couldn't do anything but wait it out. He felt guilty because he had caused it to happen. There was no doubt in his mind she had gotten the flu the night they had gone off to romance in the rain when they had been in Australia a few days ago. On the kitchen counter, had left a note stating that she had given Hermione a potion that would take away the flu in just two days, just in time for Harry's 28th birthday dinner.

In the microwave, he found she had left a bowl of chicken soup for Hermione as well. Harry took out his wand and instantly reheated it. Retrieving a bed tray, he put down the bowl and some toast and levitated it with a flick of his wand. He walked towards his sickly beauty with the tray following him close behind.

Not surprisingly, Hermione was fast asleep. She looked a little better than she had in the morning but she was still pale and sweaty. There were tiny beads of sweat on her forehead and her brows were furrowed. Carefully he sat the tray on top of her and kissed her forehead.

"I'm home." He whispered gently.

He watched as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"You feel any better?" Harry asked concernedly.

Hermione shook her hand in a so-so manner.

"Mrs. Weasley made you a soup." He said rearranging her tray items.

He watched as Hermione slowly and with effort sat up on the bed.

"I don't know if I should eat it…I've been nauseous all day."

"That's all the potion's work. You're supposed to feel worse before you feel better, but eat. Mrs. Weasley said it wouldn't be a bad thing."

Hermione reached for the piece of toast and munched on it heartily.

"What a miracle you're here this early." She said once she had swallowed her piece of toast.

"Nigel had a heart and let us all go early." Harry lied. "it was a grueling practice."

"It seems like Stacey is slowly killing his mean streak." Hermione said laughing.

"I would have been here earlier but I stopped by Ron and Luna's to see Skye and Darwin."

Harry said, watching her eat her soup.

"They miss you, so you better hurry up and get better because they're dying to visit." He added.

"I swear this soup is making me feel better already." said Hermione. "Thank Merlin for Mrs. Weasley's cooking."

Harry watched patiently as Hermione gulped down her entire soup. He was thoroughly relieved to see that she managed to keep it down. The potion and soup were really working it seemed.

"I'm sorry." said Harry genuinely.

Hermione looked at him in confusion. "What for?"

"For making you sick, if I hadn't insisted on going out in the rain—"

"I wouldn't have had the time of my life." Hermione interrupted. "It was the end to a perfect week."

"Also" she added, "Then I wouldn't have the pleasure of saying 'I told you so!'"

"That's the main reason you haven't complained is it?" Harry asked jokily.

Hermione merely shrugged.

"Feeling better?" Harry asked.

"Better than I was this morning, definitely." Hermione replied smiling at him.

"Wingardium Leviosa" said Harry pointing his wand to the bed tray.

The tray levitated and made its way as directed, to the kitchen counter.

"Would you mind watching some muggle TV with a sickly witch?" Hermione asked patting the empty spot next to her.

Harry smirked at her.

"I don't think I'd rather spend my night any other way."