Songs for this chapter: Epic Score-Hell's Army and Narnia Soundtrack-Evacuating London

Hermione apparated back into her room and she sighed in exhaustion before taking a pain relief potion to help her bones feel relaxed and less painful. Merlin, she didn't feel like nineteen years old at all-she felt like a hundred.

Just as she was about to get changed and go to bed however, she heard a gun shot being fired loudly from downstairs and her heart-beat quickened and her thoughts only centered around one thing. Alfred.

Quickly grabbing her wand, she made her way to the sound of the gun fire and stayed hidden in the shadows. One of the best things about staying in Bruce's Wayne's manor was the fact that most of the rooms were filled with shadows and she could easily slip in and out of them without being noticed. She then reached the banister on the third floor and looked down, only to find Alfred had been shot in the shoulder and was arguing furiously with Penguin and Catwoman and she couldn't help but admire her Grandfather's courage.

"Finish him off Selina!" Penguin squawked, jabbing his rusty umbrella harshly at Alfred's feet. "We need to move. Now!"

Selina clicked her tongue and gave a slight smile, flickering her long brunette hair out of the way. "Patience is virtue my friend. Besides, where would all the fun be with killing him in one go? You know how much I love to play with my food."

Hermione quietly climbed up on top of the banister and crouched low, observing the scene before her and waiting for the right time to strike. She only hoped Alfred was strong enough to let her deal with these two before he received medical attention.

"Selina you don't have to do this," Alfred began, gripping hold of his wound to try and stop the blood flowing. "This is not you."

Selina snarled. "And who are you to decide who I am?" She bent down, looking at him in the eye. "I'm going to get what I deserve!"

"Oh yeah?" Hermione shouted and everyone looked up. "Go and pick on somebody your own size!"

With that, she jumped of the banister and landed neatly on two feet besides Alfred and struck Penguin to the ground with a quick sweep with her feet and knocked him unconscious before Catwoman knocked her to the floor, landing painfully on her back.

"You think you are so strong," Catwoman hissed as she straddled her and punched her in the jaw. Hermione could feel warm blood rinsing in her mouth and she tried to spit it out. "But you can never be as strong as me."

"Yeah well, there is one thing you don't have." Hermione retorted, just in time to dodge another punch.

"And what is that?"

"Magic." She then pointed her wand at Selina's face and shouted a spell that thwacked her to the floor, leaving Selina to slip in and out of conscious and not clearly focused. Hermione jumped up and spat her blood on the ground, running her tongue over her teeth to make sure that she wasn't missing any and smiled in satisfaction when she counted them all still in place. She then walked over to the remaining criminals and wiped out their memories of there adult and teenage lives so they could start fresh. It was the kindest thing to do in Hermione's opinion and she briskly tied them up and wrote a note explaining what happened to them before sending them to America's wizarding hospital.

She only hope that both can start a new and better life.

Alfred groaned in pain and she swiftly rushed to his side, chanting healing spells and summoning her healing potions. "You're not going to die on me today Alfred," She murmured as she began to carefully take out the bullet. "Not today. There is still so much more we haven't seen or done yet together."

"Her...Hermione?" He asked weakly. "Is that you?"

She nodded and put the piece of clothing onto Alfred's wound.

"Oh my beautiful girl," He grasped her hand. "Not only have they turned you into a beautiful witch but into a fine warrior too. I remember all those years ago when you were just three years old and al you wanted for your birthday was that book on Greek Mythology." Hermione gave a weak laugh and pressed her Grandfather's knuckles to her lips. "You never wanted toys or clothes or anything of the sort, but just that book and I knew that you were not going to be like other girls. Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?"

"Yes but I will never get tired of hearing it. Ever."

Still holding his hand, she levitated him gently to one of the spare bedrooms and summoned a sleeping potion and waited by his side until he was fast asleep. Once she was certain that he was fast to sleep, she crept downstairs into the kitchen to grab herslef a bottle of wine. After all, she did deserve one.

"You said you would stay at home," The familiar voice of Bruce Wayne spoke and Hermione froze in her spot, like a deer caught in the headlights. "But you didn't."

"Clearly it looked like you needed some help," She took off her mask and shook her head, letting her long brunette hair cascade down at her side. "Besides, we stopped Sweet Tooth for now and if it wasn't for me you'll still be out there fighting."

Bruce stepped up closer behind her, so close that she could feel him breathing down her neck.

"For now, however it's not about that..." He trailed off.

She glanced sideways. "Then what is it about?"

"Your safety. You could of gotten killed in the process and please pray tell me how I was supposed to tell Alfred how you died in protecting Gotham? A city you barely even know?"

This time Hermione turned around to face him fully, their lips almost touching. "You have forgotten Bruce," She whispered softely. "I'm already a war hero." She then kissed him deeply on the lips, not even caring if Bruce didn't return the kiss. She was just so tired of being alone, so tired of not having someone to love her like Harry did with Ginny.

To her surprise, Bruce did not resist or pull back and instead deepend the kiss even further and led her to the living room where he knew the fire-place was still on. He let his hands run through her curly hair and she wrapped her legs around his waist tightly, kissing his neck as though there was no tomorrow.

He was unbuttoning his shirt and was about to unbutton the last one when Hermione stopped him. "Wait," She spoke, sounding slightly nervous.

"What is it?" He asked and he gently stroke her cheek. After all the women he has previously slept with, Hermione was the most beautiful and intelligent out of them all through his eyes.

"It's going to sound stupid after everything we've done together but..." She took a deep breath. Bloody hell, after facing Voldemort and Sweet Tooth without fear, she was afraid of telling Bruce this? "I'm a virgin."

"Do you want this?" Bruce asked. "I may be a playboy billionaire but I am still a gentleman ar heart."

Hermione gave a radiant smile. "Oh Bruce you are so much more than that." She kissed his knuckles. "And yes, I want this more than anything. There is nobody else I'd rather do it with."

He kissed her at the bottom of her neck before slowly making his way up to her lips. "Thank you," He murmered against them before laying her down gently on the carpet, his hands resting against her hips.

She hurriedly threw her jacket to the floor before pulling her shirt over her head, itching to touch every inch of Bruce and grinned in satisfaction when Bruce finally took of his shirt.

Yes...she sighed blissfully as she trailed her fingers over Bruce's scars. She is going to stay in Gotham for a very long time.

Hermione woke up with a pleasant feeling, a feeling she hasn't had for a very long time and smiled when She noticed that Bruce's arm was draped across her stomach. She gently stroked his hair but was careful not to wake him.

She could only enjoy this moment whilst it lasted. Soon she was going to have to wipe his memory of her ever coming to stay and was going to flee as soon as possible. Her heart became heavy at the thought.

On the other hand, Bruce was the only man that made her feel complete and whole. The only man that was not afraid to chalenge her and could prevent her from going crazy with boredem and love and adore her battle scars just like she had done with his. She leaned on her side, wincing slightly at the bruises that have formed all because of the fighting she had done last night.

There was a downside. Bruce was a muggle and muggles can't know about the wizarding world. As soon as she thought of that however, an image of Tonk's parent's flashed through her mind about how Andromeda who was a pureblood witch who ran away to marry a muggle-born hufflepuff. Andromeda may have had with consequences on her jounrey but in the end she was happy with the man she loved until Ted died in the hands of Death Eaters.

Perhaps she didn't have to wipe his memory. Perhaps she was going to get her happily ever after after all.

Bruce stirred and his eyes fluttered opened.

"Hey sleep head," Hermione whispered.

He gave a pleased smile. "Hey, glad you stayed."

"Of course I've stayed. After everything we have been through how could I just get up and leave?"

He shook his head. "You misunderstood me. As soon as you found out that I was the Batman, I have had thoughts you would turn me in while I slept to Gotham."

Hermione's eyes widened. "I would never do that to you Bruce! Besidess, if you did that you would do the same with me for Batgirl. Two can play game."

"Speaking of Batgirl, why did you become her?"

"Mainly because I wanted to figure out the man behind the cowl and to protect Gotham from the evil Sweet Tooth," She admitted. "Your not angry with me are you?"

"Angry? At first I was but after defeating Sweet Tooth together, I think Batman does kind of need somebody at his side. But you need help with hiding your idenity that's for sure." He smirked and Hermione playfully swatted him on the head.

"Okay, maybe I do need help with that. Perhaps with a little magic..." She purred and Bruce silenced her by kissing her on the lips.

That day, neither of them did anything except make love like there was no tomorrow and Hermione knew this was where she belonged.

For now.