Twenty-Six Years Later

by HopefulEVOLution

Through the seven years of Hogwarts, they faced the hardships, the betrayals, the heartaches, and the fears together to end the war. They were victorious and at peace for nineteen years after that. But there has been an unspoken war among the trio that has been going on longer and now the battle has taken a turning point that may change lives (Epilogue compliant fic; Harmione)

20. Curable Poison

A:N: I do not own Harry Potter, the character and locations used in it, or the songs mentioned.

This is the final chapter in Hermione's PoV. The next one will return to Harry's. Also I hope you all like the little surprise at the end of this chapter - some of you probably expected it - some of you didn't.

Enjoy!

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I've been so scared of these dangerous moods

But I'm finding I'm so much different than you

And it has to come down to who we choose to be

I may lose everything

But you never had it, had it

Well once i felt nothing

Now I feel sorry, sorry for you

- I May Lose Everything; Ministry of Magic

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"When I choose one then I lose the other. And I know that I can't love them both, I know that it's wrong but I…I don't wanna lose anyone else. I have to let one of them go."

- Elena Gilbert; The Vampire Diaries

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Chapter Nineteen: Curable Poison

Hermione laughed at the stories Teddy told her of his work in Romania as they continued to wash the dishes at the sink. She still doesn't rule out the fact that she despises the dangers that come with his job with the dragons but she will admit that the process that comes from their studies in the dragons were comical. She cannot believe that someone was brave and idiotic enough to actually roast a sausage up close to the dragon as it breathed fire. She thought that only happened in Hugo's cartoons and she figured that is where they got it from.

Ginny still hasn't gotten home yet; Hermione had stayed to eat lunch with Harry and Teddy. Although she knew Teddy was strong enough to hold down Harry if he ever broke out, but Harry was a lot stronger from his work as an Auror, and she wanted to make sure that he was actually stable enough before she left. She also wanted to spend time with Teddy. She does not regret her decision as she was able to see Harry laugh and smile with Teddy, seeing the two boys get lost in their world of odd humor and fascination in Quidditch, but she was still cautious of the time. She did not want to be here when Ginny comes home – she does not want to make problems worse.

Hermione was glad that lunch did not take long to finish. As soon as they were done with their plates, Hermione went to clean the dishes and Teddy offered his services. She did not mind; she liked being able to do the things they used to do together when he was younger. Harry went to the den to watch television. For a minute, Hermione felt like she was flung back in time to when Teddy was under Harry's care; she would be the one in the kitchen with Ginny and Molly, washing and drying, and entertained by a bubbly Teddy on his high chair. The boys would be in the den watching the television or listening to the Wireless for Quidditch matches. Those were the good and less complicated days.

Teddy was drying a glass when he asked, "Are you staying here longer?"

"I can't," Hermione shook her head. "I need to go and visit my father."

Teddy pouted and nodded as he put the glass in place in the cupboard. Hermione frowned at his quietness. She knew he wanted her to stay. His time was limited. Harry had gotten out of the hospital but he was not better and he could anytime soon then it would mean for Teddy to go back to Romania. He wanted to spend time with the only family he grew up with and missed the most. She wanted the same.

"You know later we're going to the Burrow for supper," Hermione said. "Before that, Luna and I might come back for a playdate for the kids. Lily doesn't want to leave Harry so we figured it'd be best if it was here."

Teddy beamed. "I'd like that. Maybe I can play Stack 'Em Up like old times."

Hermione chuckled, rolling her eyes. It was a game he had invented for the kids around when Rose and Hugo were six. It was basically them trying to stack up a pile of their belongings until it falls. The last one to add to the stack loses.

"I'm sure they will like that," Hermione said. She saw that she was done with the dishes after she handed Teddy the last plate. "Just please make sure neither of them try to be part of the pile. Lily ended up getting hurt last time."

"She was a baby," protested Teddy. "Mum-Gin and Papa forgave me for that."

"She was still a baby," Hermione pointed out.

"The main thing is that she's still alive right now," Teddy said. He started to mumble under his breath, "Sheesh, one little mistake and you're scarred for life. Can't let it go."

Hermione laughed and playfully ruffled his turquoise hair. Teddy shook her hand out of his hair and tried to push her hand away but she kept returning to mess up more of his spikes. Eventually, Teddy had to lean away from her to avoid her hands but Hermione would follow him and continue with her mischiefs on his hair.

"Mum-Ne!" he whined.

"I swear you're so much like Harry. Your hair is untamable," Hermione retorted as she ran her fingers through his messy hair, only to huff when one stand after another started to stand tall again.

"Isn't that how Papa got witches to throw themselves at him?" Teddy asked humorously.

"He never liked the attention of those witches. They always wanted him for his title," Hermione said disapprovingly. "And I don't think you should be thinking like that anymore, young man. You're in a relationship. If a witch throws herself at you – you better shove her back where she came from."

"Hey, I'm loyal," Teddy said in mock hurt. "You know I'm a one-witch bloke, Mum-Ne. How could you think that way about me?"

Hermione ignored her as she kept running her fingers through his hair again and again. "I don't get it. How is it naturally spikey? Even when you were younger, I could never keep it down. Not even magical or Muggle products can tame it."

When she stopped for a moment to stare the newly combed hair, feeling a bit of hope as she sees that it was miraculously neat, until a particular section became stubborn and she huffed in irritation as the strands sprang up.

"Honestly," she muttered. "Your hair is awful."

Teddy's eyebrows rose mockingly at her. "Do you give up?"

"Just you watch, Edward Lupin, I will find a way to get that hair of yours under control," said Hermione stubbornly.

"Don't call me Edward!" Teddy complained.

Tossing the dishtowel in the sink, Hermione smirked. "Anyway, I'm going to get and check on Harry. He's been too quiet."

"Give him this," Teddy went to the icebox and carefully pulled out a goblet. "It has some Calming Draught in it. Papa's Healer said he should take one every four hours."

"Okay," Hermione said as Teddy handed her the goblet. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, not before she did one final attempt to flatten his hair, making him laugh at her huff.

"Give it up, will you?" Teddy rolled his eyes.

"Since when do I ever?" Hermione grinned before she turned and left the kitchen.

But what she saw in the living room left her heart to crumble in pieces. Harry was sitting on the couch, all numb and unmoving, staring at the BBC news on the television. He looked as cold as a statue. His eyes were dead. On the news, there was a report on seven children kidnapped and one found dead in a ditch by the road to Scotland. It is currently viewing the paramedics loading the body in the ambulance on a stretcher and several policemen investigating the area as the reporter commented on the situation.

Harry was unmoving throughout the whole scene.

Hermione quickly walked around, took the remote from Harry's hand, and switched the channel to a kid's program. She looked at Harry somberly, seeing that he still hasn't moved an inch of a muscle nor broken his gaze on television. But she can see now that he did look pale. She tentatively sat next to him, clutching the goblet tightly, as she cautiously placed a hand on his, stroking his battered knuckles and watching him. He never moved. She tried a different approach; she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. His sharp inhale made her pull back instantly and he turned his head to her. She held her breath as he gazed down at her, feeling her heartbeat race a thousand marathons at once the longer he did.

Finally, he smiled at her weakly and whispered, "I'm okay" as he took her hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. She was not sure if it was for her or for him.

"Here," she said while slipping her hand from his to replace it with the goblet.

"Calming Draught," he murmured. It was more of a statement.

"Yes," she confirmed. "Healer's orders."

"Yeah," he said lowly. He lifted it to his lips, tilted his head back, and downed the whole goblet in one swallow before he gave the goblet back to Hermione, who stared at him in amazement.

"How are you feeling, Harry?" Hermione asked, placing the goblet on the coffee table.

"No blackouts – no flashbacks – I guess you could say I'm doing alright." Harry gestured one hand to the television. "I was watching that, you know."

"You know you shouldn't watch stuff like that when you're-"

"Pathetic? Weak?" Harry laughed without humor through gritted teeth. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that one. Then again, you're always right."

"No Harry, you know I didn't mean it like that," Hermione began to explain. "I was going to say you shouldn't watch stuff like that after everything that's happening. You're already going through enough and you don't need to be reminded every second by watching what's happening in the Muggle world."

"Because I'll just go mental like I did up there, right?" Harry said. "That's what you were going to say, wasn't it?"

"No Harry-"

"Don't lie to me!" Harry told her firmly. He was looking at her now with a desperate look, almost looking like he was going to break down. "I know you're here so I wouldn't go out of control. You don't need to pretend to hide you're here babysitting me for Ginny. She's been getting people to watch over me "

Hermione, feeling hurt by his words and angered for him accusing her in such a way, moved to kneel in front of him and then held him by his head to make sure he is looking directly into her eyes. She wanted him to see the actuality – the truth behind her reason being there with him and for him, to make him stop believing in the negativity he had stored in his head. She wanted him to break through the depressing cloud looming over his common sense and to be able to spark up that light of belief he always has for her, to make the same for him.

"Harry, I didn't come here for anybody else – just for you," she told him truthfully. "Yes, I'll admit, I was worried about you because I didn't want you to go through what just happened upstairs. But I came here on my own accord. I haven't spoken to Ginny in a while. I was scared for you – I still am. I just want you to be safe. I don't want you to mentally suffer over what already happened – or anything. I just want you to – uh, Harry?"

Hermione is always one to show her affection and other emotions for her through display – it is part of who she is. She could not remember a time when she doesn't end up clinging to Harry's arm, holding Harry's hand, or flinging her arms around him in the heat of the moment. She was accustomed to be the one to do such things. So when she found herself being hugged by Harry, she was really happy yet a bit awkward. She knew that Harry was not one to show his emotions so easily aside from anger and sadness, especially when it comes to women – friend or lover. But it touched her how he is passing his discomfort to do so.

"Don't move," Harry whispered into her shoulder, the warmth of his breath sweeping over the juncture of her neck and sending ripples of shiver down her spine.

Hermione did not know what to do with her hands and she did not move like he instructed. This is a new side of Harry she had never met before when it came to her. He probably did share such intimate moments like this with Ginny that they never spoke about. He never did open to her in such a way that ended with him being physically vulnerable to her. In his earlier stages of fighting this disorder, he would be sent away whenever he had an episode, and she or Ron were not allowed to see him until he was cleared in the mind.

"How do you do it, Hermione?" Harry asked. "Not thinking about it. Or getting nightmares and flashbacks. How'd you do it?"

Hermione pursed her lips, utterly speechless. No one has ever asked her that before. No one really had the time to ask her in the first place. Everyone was busy battling against their own demons like she was as well. It has been a long time since she last had a struggle to not think about the war, about the deaths, about the pain, or about the sacrifices of the injured and the war victims. It had become natural for her to move on. The only time she let herself remember is on that fated date of the horrid event.

But she can see it is different for Harry; he takes everything to heart. Every person, every bond, every kind of love he has for them – that is what made his heart the way it is. It was grown up battered and cracked in many ways until he met her and Ron, slowly healing away the wounds of having no company or no importance. Little by little, his heart grew with every person he let in. He let his misshaped adopted family to live in the tiny home of his heart that their souls practically became part of him. Everything the others felt, he would feel it too. Whether he understood them or not, he would feel them.

Ron being overshadowed – Harry understood that by going through the same with his cousin, Dudley. Remus being out casted for being a werewolf – Harry could relate from his years in primary school because of his hand-me-downs. Sirius being shunned from his family – Harry could recall the many times he's been ignored because he was a wizard. Teddy being a war orphan – Harry sees himself in the young wizard. Ginny understanding him when it means being possessed by Voldemort – Harry instantly connected with her. And then her, Hermione, being constantly bullied, raised by Muggles, having high expectations, having no friends, and not knowing anything about the wizarding world until she got her Hogwarts letter – Harry is her other half.

Every person in Harry's life holds a similarity in them that Harry could embrace through personal experience. It is impossible for him to forget them, not because of his memories with them, but because of his heart. Hermione concluded that to be the reason why he could not be completely treated from his disorder.

There was a point when Hermione came to accept she was also suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress from the many sleepless nights of nightmares and the random flashbacks. She would be brought back to the night she was being brutally tortured by Bellatrix at the Malfoy Manor and then she'd wake up screaming, pleading for the Death Eater to stop using the Cruciatus Curse on her, and psychologically feeling the torment of her arm being sliced. The only ones who helped her through those nights were Harry and Ron. They are the only ones who understood what she went through and were strong enough to hold her hand through the maze in her mind. Perhaps that is how she is able to no longer think back to those days? Maybe that's why the only time she allows herself to go back is the date of the war? She came to accept what she went through and she is forever scarred from it no matter how long she lives. Is that the true treatment of PTSD? It could be possible.

"I…I had you and Ron…you both were there for me…we all were there for each other," she said in the same whispering wisps as him. "I…I still get nightmares from time to time but they don't scare me as much as they used to."

Harry breathed out, "How'd you manage that?"

Hermione licked her lips. "I accepted them. As much as I wish that they weren't real, that won't change anything. Whenever those nightmares come, I let them. I have to face my demons somehow and crying about it won't help. The more I come to terms with whatever the nightmare is about, the easier it is to not think about it too much."

Harry rubbed his fingers on her lower back, tracing the feel of her spine. Hermione's breath hitched at his touch, shocked to feel his hands were more downwards than she expected. She was too enthralled with the sound of his steady breathing and the smell of his freshly mint-scent that she did not remember his hands.

"You haven't accepted your past yet, Harry," Hermione said. "And you won't be able to if you keep your job."

"I'm not going to quit," Harry sneered. "I'm already in too deep with this case. I can't back out now. If I do that then it will cause a riot in the public. They'll never live it down."

"But Harry-"

"Hermione, I want it to stop," Harry said. "I want it all to stop. The flashbacks – the nightmares – I want it all gone. But I can't just stop – I need to keep going."

Hermione pulled back from him but still remained in his arms; his hands, which had slid down to her hips, gripped her tighter to keep her from distancing any further from him. She was aware of the compromising position they were in – her kneeling between his legs, him holding her desperately, and the close proximity of their bodies. She made an attempt to discreetly slip out of his grasp but he, possibly, held her much firmly to maintain her in place. She then placed her hands on his shoulders to try to push him back a little, but she didn't put any force into it. She just let them lie there. She was too engrossed with the passion blazing in his green eyes from what he spoke. Her heart might have stopped seeing this.

"You promised," she whispered.

Harry's eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head to one side, perplexity clear on his face.

"You promised me that you'd be careful on the mission," she explained. "You were supposed to come back unharmed and in one piece – you were barely together. You hardly are now."

Harry sighed. "Hermione, I was careful on the mission. I-"

"If you were then you wouldn't have been hospitalized," Hermione interrupted him.

"It's part of my job!" Harry said calmly, though his voice did sound hard. "You can't expect me to just go out there and not anticipate something bad to not happen while I'm out there. I'm not going on vacation with the other Aurors. I'm hunting criminals, Hermione. Killers. Rapists. Child molesters. Every single horrible thing in the book is out there and it's my job to take them out!"

"It's not your job anymore!" said Hermione, rising up to her feet and crossing her arms as she glowered down at Harry. "You already did your part years ago – defeating Voldemort. That is all you had to do. Nobody made you to go into the Auror Training Program. That was all your doing. You're forcing yourself to go through all of this and look how you end up every time a mission doesn't go so well. Need I remind you how you were the first time?"

Hermione knew she hit a low blow after that. Harry's eyes soften and he looked down. There was a noisy sound of a phone ringing, cutting into the tension of the room, coming from the main hallway, and she could hear Teddy raced towards it, eventually answering the call. The footsteps sounded near – she figured he must have been listening in on her and Harry for the past few minutes that have past. It felt like hours to her.

"Did you really have to go there?" Harry murmured.

"If it means getting through your thick skull then yes," Hermione said. "Harry, I need you to see this through my perspective as well. Through everybody's, really."

"But you didn't have to bring up that mission again," Harry retorted heatedly. "If I had conjured up the shield in time then that Death Eater wouldn't have gotten Ron. He got badly injured and he was hospitalized for three weeks until he got the feeling in his arm back. Do you know how I felt having to see my best friend like that? And knowing I could have prevented it if I hadn't been too focused on getting Yaxley? He could have died!"

"And how do you think we feel?" Hermione challenged. "How do you think I felt when I saw you? I'll tell you – the same way you felt when you saw Ron. Only ten times worse!"

"But I'm alive," Harry said somberly. "If it weren't for Grumps – he should be here. If I just stayed more vigilant of my surroundings then I could have brought him home to his family and captured Yaxley and Jugson in the process."

"This is what I mean," said Hermione forcefully. "You keep on letting yourself in these situations. You blame yourself for other people's deaths or injuries. You make them your responsibility. You make people's lives yours. You don't have to do that anymore. You were free from it the moment Voldemort was vanquished. You could be living a better life."

"And what kind of life can I live then, Hermione?" Harry shot back. "I'm fresh out of options for careers."

"There are plenty of options out there for you," Hermione chided. "If I recall, you were great at many things back in Hogwarts. You're great at many things now as well."

"Quidditch," Harry scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Being showered in hordes of worshipping fangirls and put down by those who envy me – that sounds more like me trying to be put into the spotlight even more. I had enough of that."

"You're still in the spotlight," Hermione pointed out grimly. "But no, I don't mean Quidditch. That is more of a hobby for you to do on the side to relieve stress. You're much more than that."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Well," Hermione sat down next to him on the couch and gave him a gentle smile, "you are brilliant in potions. Your O.W.L's proved that and I'm sure your N.E.W.T's would have been proficient too. You could be a Potion Maker – I heard their payments are quite good. You have been able to master Legilimency and Occulmency over the years but I assume you mostly use that on the children. You're also quite good at Healing Magic to some extent. Maybe you could be a Healer but, oh, that does require you to have passed your N.E.W.T's. And then there's teaching-"

"I knew sooner or later, you'd mention that," Harry grinned. It seemed that their discussion had changed from gloom to bright in a matter of seconds.

Hermione have him a light shove. "I'm serious. You'd be brilliant as a teacher. Potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts would probably be where you'll stay. Or perhaps Charms – you were able to learn some advanced spells so I'm sure you can teach them. Oh, maybe even Flying lessons and you could put your Quidditch skills to good use teaching the basics to first years."

"Half of those positions are still taken by our old professors," Harry stated.

"Professor Slughorn would probably retire," Hermione said. "And I highly doubt Lockhart is going to stay there forever. He's just promoting his rubbish book."

"You didn't think they were so rubbish before," Harry smirked with a chuckle.

"I was thirteen!"

Harry laughed as he dodge the unforceful punches Hermione was sending his way and held her by her wrist, holding them down not so tightly, but she did struggle to yank them out of her grasp. Hermione saw that his playful ways had actually made the small thin line of distance between them to go nonexistent and their sides were pressed together as he still held down her hands. She tried not to think how it made her heart beat like rapid drums or her face warm.

"What about Flying class then?" Harry inquired. "I doubt Madam Hooch is willing to give up that class. And becoming a Healer is out of the question. Like you said, I need my N.E.W.T's for that. I didn't go back to Hogwarts for my final year."

"Then how about a Spell Caster?" Hermione suggested.

Harry raised a brow. "A Spell Caster?"

"Yes – and let go of my hands, will you, Harry? They're starting to cramp!" Hermione said exasperatedly. She lets out a breath once he complied and rubbed her slightly sore wrists. "Surely you must know what a Spell Caster is."

Harry shook his head no.

Hermione was astonished. "Really? I would think you being an Auror you would know."

"I'm more focused in criminal and justice, Hermione. It's basically twenty-four-seven of my life," Harry said.

"Unfortunately," muttered Hermione before she spoke out in a clearer voice, "Where do you think all of we get all of the charms and spells we've learned over the years? The latest textbook editions on magic? They're not just stuff they write down overnight and pray it will work by morning. These things do come out of somewhere."

"I thought the books we used were by the wizards who invented them."

"They were but not anymore. People have gotten really lazy to come up with new material ever since the war. They think they don't need to learn any more new magic because there's no danger. But this one wizard from Japan chose to be the odd man out and had started to create new charms when he was fifteen. He started a group of other rather creative people who have interesting idea of magic. Half of them we used today. If it weren't for them, I don't think we would have the counter-spells of the ones we couldn't deflect before. They invent a spell, check it with the Ministry, and if it's approved, they'll give it to a writer to include it in schoolbooks," added Hermione.

"And how do you know about this? Did you read it in a book or a news edition?"

"Yes, I did," Hermione grinned at the disbelief face painted on Harry's face. "The Guide to Making Magic. I found the book written by them when I was doing research on the False Memory Charm I used on my parents and they had invented the reversal charm I needed. If it weren't for them, I don't think they'd be here now."

"But you were gone for months when you were looking for your parents," Harry said.

"I stayed longer with them to make up for the loss of time," Hermione answered. "Also, they wanted me there to make sure I was actually safe after I told them everything. I didn't want to have them blame you or Ron so I stayed. It wasn't a total lost. I missed you and Ron immensely but it was nice being with them again."

Harry nodded. "So these Spell Casters come up with new spells and charms every year?"

"It's their job," Hermione said. "Think of it as an artist trying to come up with a new piece or a doctor trying to come up with a medicine that will cure cancer. That's what they do – come up with new and better spells."

"That's interesting," Harry mused. "How come you never decided to be a Spell Caster?"

Hermione waved him off. "I only come up with spells for smaller stuff. They make advanced magic that will be much more useful."

"And you think I should?"

"You do have a knack of being creative," Hermione said earnestly. "Like your Bewitched Contract?"

"But Kingsley was part of it too," Harry started to protest but he was cut short by Hermione holding up her hand.

"You came up with it so that makes you the creator," Hermione responded.

"Not that much. Most of my brilliant moments are out of desperation. I still don't think being a Spell Caster is for me," Harry remarked. He looked up at her. "Like I said, there aren't much of options for me. And I don't plan to quit my job either. Not until I have all criminals captured."

Hermione glared. "Why do you make it so hard to make life easier for you?"

"Why do you try so hard to make me give it up so easily?" Harry asked just as strongly as her.

Hermione stood up again. "Because Harry, you always do this. Even back in Hogwarts you were always like this. Always making it your main priority to protect everyone at all cost, even if it means giving up your own life, and then blaming yourself because your plans didn't go like you expected. It's only worse now because you have PTSD. This whole thing isn't even to protect people anymore – you have a personal vendetta with these criminals. You obviously won't let go of your past until they're locked up."

When she trailed off, she gave Harry a pleading stare, hoping that he would somehow react to her words through her eyes, that he would feel what she is trying to make known in her words. Her fears of him never coming back. Her nightmare of living in a world where Harry no longer exists in. Her worst torture of living and knowing he is dead. She wanted him to see that in her eyes. She needed him to understand just this once why she is against his career so much. As her mother had once told her; He needs to learn to let go or he'll never grow. And she agrees with her.

"Harry," Hermione started again, her voice grown softer. "I just don't want – I just don't want a repeat on what happened years ago. When…when you snuck past me – past Ron – I couldn't find you anywhere in the school. And when I did find you…you were being carried back by Hagrid."

Her words must have finally broken into his mind as she can see Harry's resolve crumble and a look of remorse and shame masked over his face. His eyes were now begging her to not shed a tear and she will not. She wanted him to see how determined she is to show him the amount of care she has for his safety, for his heart.

"You left without saying goodbye and I was brassed off by that," she continued. "But if you keep doing this…I'll be upset to find out that the last time I say goodbye I won't know it will be unless it's an Auror knocking on my door. And I don't want my last goodbye to be ended in bad terms. Ever."

Harry smiled charmingly. "Hermione, our last goodbye isn't coming anytime soon. I'm the Master of Death, remember? I think that-"

Hermione didn't allow him to finish; she had shot herself forward to fling her arms around his torso, dropping onto her knees in front of him yet again, and her face buried in his shoulder so he does not see the look of anguish she has on.

"Please understand," she whispered. "For everyone – for Teddy – for me. Try to imagine what I went through when I saw you on that bed – when I heard the Patronus say you were in the hospital. I didn't know what else to think except that you're a complete dolt. You looked so dead that I thought you were for a moment. Try to see how frightened I was. Harry, I never – ever – want to experience something like that again. Next time you promise me something, you better keep it."

Above her, Harry was chuckling. She knew it was because of the brash of her voice – he always found it amusing for some unfathomable reason. Yet she is able to mottle out the strained sounds within his laughter. She can tell that her way towards him is beginning to take a better effect on him and she hoped it became permanent so he will always remember. She felt him slowly pull back and she leaned away to fully face the repentant smile he was sporting. It was little but it brought a big impact on her.

"I'm sorry for giving you hell," said Harry with such genuine honesty. "I didn't know it would hurt you that much."

"If you're trying to be funny, I can guarantee that you're failing," Hermione mumbled bitterly.

Harry laughed and shook his head. He brought one hand to the back and pushed her head back onto his shoulder, gently stroking her hair that made her sigh into his shirt. As he did, Hermione had taken a deep breath to his heavenly natural scent and she felt her mind drift away on a cloud. The scent never changed. After all these years, ever since she had taken a whiff of it in her sixth year, it still intrigued her senses by its gripping smell of old wood, pines, and mint shampoo. Even with the smell of his fresh wound scars still on him, she could still catch those distinctive smells.

"I can't quit my job – not now. But I'll promise to try to be more careful next time. If I don't then you can hex me, jinx me, or punch me all you want until you're satisfied." Harry ran one hand up her back from her hip and she tried not to shudder. "Does that sound fair enough?"

"It's an improvement," Hermione murmured. "Thank you." She kissed his cheek and held him tightly again as she basked in the feeling of comfort coming from his hand running over her back. This was the most peaceful moment she had gotten in a while.

"You're still a troublesome witch," Harry muttered. She laughed into his shirt.

"Good," she whispered softly.

"Mum-Ne? Papa?" a voice hesitantly called out from the doorway to the hallway. It was Teddy. She and Harry separated and Hermione stood up while Harry glanced back towards his godson.

"What's wrong?" he asked the young Metamorphmagus.

Teddy bit his lip. "Lily's school just rang."

"Is she alright?" Harry demanded frantically, hopping onto his feet and approaching his godson. Hermione followed him closely, equally worried.

"She got in a row," Teddy answered. "Not just her – Hugo, too. The headmaster tried to ring up Mum-Ne but nobody was home. You're their emergency contact."

"Why were they in a row?" Hermione asked whilst thinking hopefully, Please don't be because of who I think it is…"

"They got tangled up with some lad named Jamie," Teddy said.

Hermione groaned and stomped her feet in irritation as she ran her hands through her hair.

Harry looked at her skeptically. "You know who this is?"

"Some bothersome little bugger who's been bullying Hugo nonstop because he's dyslexic. It's not the first time he's gotten Hugo into trouble. Because of him, Hugo's gotten detention. Now he's brought Lily into the mix," Hermione said darkly as she walked into the hallway to the foyer; Teddy and Harry followed her, getting his car keys from the hook along the way.

Harry turned to Teddy. "Tell Ginny I'll be back."

"But I'm going too!" Teddy protested. "Some little git is bothering my little gremlins. I deserve to be there as much as you do."

"I need someone here to let Ginny know where I'm at," said Harry. "I don't want her to think I gave you the slip."

Teddy rolled his eyes. "As if you could with me."

Hermione groaned loudly. "Will one of you just send her a bloody Patronus and get going! Honestly! Sometimes I think you two forget you're even wizards!"

Harry quickly did as she said, hearing the anger rising in her voice the more she talked, and casted his Patronus charm easily. A beautifully silver stag bursts out from the tip, the wisps whirling around it erratically, and it bounced from wall to wall rapidly, before it charged through a window.

Pleased, Hermione opened the front door and sped her way to the driveway, with Harry and Teddy following her tracks wordlessly. As she went around to climb into the passenger's side, she felt a horrible lurch in her stomach at the thought of Harry being in the school, knowing about Hugo's situation.

---

Harry had chosen to have the radio play music on the drive to the school, in order to keep emotions as bay from everyone and to distract themselves from their thoughts on what could possibly have happened to their children, but the songs were doing the opposite to Hermione. They were vulgar, meaningless, and the rhythm was the copy of any other song would hear in the morning station. She slammed the volume down to mute and looked out of the window in the meantime. No one tried to put any music after that.

Teddy was oddly quiet in the backseat. She could hear him patting his thighs and sighing once in a while. He never spoke a word. Beside her, Harry was obviously fidgeting; he'd tap his fingers on the steering wheel and have his eyes roam around the streets, glance at every face they pass by, and end up muttering something to himself that Hermione could not understand. She had offered to drive but he was stubborn and declined. She was really wishing that he had let her behind the wheel because his constant vigilance was making her nervous.

The afternoon was a clear gray mist as they drove. Hermione kept looking out of the window, looking at anything, mostly everything, that came into view. Buildings, people, and never-ending concrete streaked by. Teddy requested to put on music again and Hermione did not argue when Harry turned up the volume again. It was actually a nice song by Ed Sheeran. She only half-listened with her head against the glass as she watched the blur of striped multi-colored lights flash by. She was too concern about Hugo – about Lily – and she was blinded by the red of her anger towards Jamie.

Suddenly, a calloused hand had taken hers and she turned to see her fingers tangled with Harry's. She looked up to see him glancing up at her from the corner of his eye but never turning to her and a slight, encouraging smile was twitching on his lips. Unconsciously, she gave a squeeze to his hand, gazing at him fondly.

"You said it isn't the first time Hugo and this Jamie had problems?" he asked. "Isn't he that one lad with the mum I saw you talk to one time?"

Hermione frowned. "Yes. There wasn't been any problems since then – at least, from what I know of. Hugo lied to me one time saying that he and Jamie were friends now. Then I learned that they had a row because Jamie has been bullying him for being dyslexic. He was going to be expelled but Ron talked to the headmaster to give him detention instead. Everything seemed fine after that but now," she sighed. "I'm worried he'll get expelled this time. His detentions were warnings to not cause any problems again."

"But we don't know if he is the one who started it," Harry said. "If Jamie started it then Hugo can't get in trouble for self-defense. The punishment most appropriate this time will be suspension because he didn't listen to his warnings."

"And if he did?" asked Teddy, inviting himself in the conversation.

"That's what I'm worried about," Hermione said timidly. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she breathed through her nose. "My son is going to make me have gray hair before I reach sixty, I swear."

"He isn't going to get expelled," Harry told her firmly. "Not if I got something to say about it."

Hermione stared at him. "Harry Potter, you better not be thinking of using magic on the headmaster!"

When Harry didn't answer, she was confirmed of her suspicions. He increased the acceleration of his car, almost being caught by a light turning red, and sped down the narrow street.

"Harry," Hermione growled. "No."

"So you want Hugo to get expelled? I surely don't want Lily to get in trouble."

"No but it's illegal."

"Just a quick False Memory Charm. It's not like I'm going to Obliviate them," Harry said. "It wouldn't be the first time I do this. You won't believe how many Muggles I had to Obliviate for the past years."

"One thing is to use it for emergency – this is for our own pleasure," Hermione retorted.

"I see it as an emergency," Harry said cheekily. "A child's education is important."

"He's right on that," Teddy added. Hermione glared back at him before she turned to Harry.

"No," she said. "It's against the law."

"But I am the law," Harry grinned.

Shaking her head, Hermione rolled her eyes as she pulled her hand out of his and crossed her arms whilst she leaned back into her seat, looking out of window. She was trying to fight back a smile when he started to act cheeky. She could not explain it but he has an infectious effect on her to make her want to grin like him. He must know what he does to her because he always starts being playful to her whenever she tries to be serious and he would give her that lopsided grin that makes her want to just smile and forget about what she is scolding him for.

"How about this," Harry started. "If the punishment isn't bad for the kids then no magic. But if it's unnecessary for what the problem is then I use magic. I cast the False Memory Charm on the headmaster – Hugo and Lily can go to school normally – I talk to Jamie's parents – everything goes back to the way it was. Except for the bullying, of course. Does that sound fair?"

Hermione sighed, "One problem is that you using magic will be reported. You may be the law for criminals but the Ministry officials are in charge of everything else that goes on in the wizarding world. They will interrogate you and have you in court even if you are the Head Auror. My vote against your punishment will be useless compared to the other counselors. And I don't think you need any more coverage on your life than you already have."

Harry pursed his lips. Hermione reached for his hand this time, making him glance at her from the corner of his eye, and she gave him a small smile as she ran her thumb over his knuckles.

"Let's just hope for the best," she said. Her smile widen as Harry squeezed her hand. He agreed with her.

A few more miles, Harry had taken a turn onto a narrow road, a shortcut that he had found during the first few years of James' primary days, and they were already in the perimeter of the school. They drove up to the campus. Children were seen on the field playing sports and in the playground. Some were on their cellphones, probably posting on the popular social websites Hermione was glad that neither of her kids were interested in. The teacher's parking lot was full.

Harry parked next to a 2001 Aston Martin and cut off the engine in the guest parking lot. Hermione had opened her door before either Harry or Teddy could grip the handle; she slammed it shut behind her as she walked towards the front entrance, ignoring Harry's calls. Her mind was on Hugo – what happened to Hugo – what started this problem with Hugo – what could happen to Hugo. She was also worried about Lily. She was not expecting her niece to be part of what is occurring between her son and his bully. She never was before. When Teddy told her about Lily being in trouble, she was left numb in the mind and out of words.

The hallways of the school were filled with a few stragglers left behind, probably retaking a test or finishing homework, as Hermione, along with Harry and Teddy, briskly walked down the direction of the headmaster's office. Some of the students watched them strangely and would whisper. Others were too engrossed on their technology to notice their presence. The way to the office was not far away from the entrance – it was too close. When they turned a corner, they were met with a sight of a sulking Lily sitting on one of the chairs.

"Lily!" Harry called out as he increased his pace to approach his daughter faster.

Lily snapped her head up. "Daddy!"

Harry's eyes widen when he got close. "What happened to you?"

Hermione dropped her mouth open once she was near as Harry kneeled in front of his ginger hair daughter and gently cupped her face, turning it to different angles to inspect the damages marked on her face; she had a broken lip and a slightly swollen nose. It looked like it was broken.

"Who did this to you?" Harry demanded angrily. "Did Jamie do this to you? Did he hit you?"

"Not intentionally," Lily answered timidly. "At least, I think so."

"What do you mean? What did he do?" Teddy questioned strongly, his tone matching the hardness of Harry's. "You gotta tell us, little leprechaun," he added.

Lily looked down at her folded hands on her lap. "Jamie cornered me and was making fun of my hair with his friends. Someone saw and told Hugo. He came by to defend me but it ended up with him and Jamie having a row. I got in the middle of it to break them off and Jamie had punched me in the mix. I don't know if he saw me but…it really hurt."

Harry growled. "Where. Is. He?"

"He's inside with the headmaster and Hugo," Lily answered. "I already told them my story but some of Jamie's chums told a different one saying that Hugo started it all because he saw Jamie talking to me and he didn't want him near me. That one part is true but Hugo didn't start it, I swear. He doesn't just start problems for no reason."

"It's okay, we believe you," said Teddy sincerely. "What did the headmaster say to you?"

"I got a warning because it's my first time," Lily answered. She turned to Hermione sadly. "I don't know what's happening to Hugo, Auntie. I'm scared for him. Jamie's chums are lying. I tried everything I could do to make Headmaster Chippington to believe me, but the boys – they -"

"I know they're lying, Lily Bear," Hermione said. "Don't worry, I believe you."

Just then, the door of the office squeaked open and two young boys trudged out separately, glaring at each other full of hatred and blazing rage, and they were followed by the stern-looking headmaster. Three other boys were coming out afterwards with smug smirks towards Hugo which was quickly wiped out of their faces when they saw Harry, Hermione, and Teddy staring at them angrily and the headmaster faced them. Hermione's glare soften when she saw that her son has a black eye and a bruised cheek.

"You two can go back to break now but I will call your parents for a conference," Neil said. The three boys nodded respectively before they sprinted down the hall where the adults came from. The man then noticed them and said, "Mr. Potter and Mrs. Weasley – I was hoping you'd come sooner."

The man held out a kind hand to Harry, who seemed to be debating to accept it or not. He was glaring down at a sheepish looking Jamie. Hermione thinks he does not realize the headmaster had even offered him a shake; she took the hand and gave him a quick shake to distract him from Harry's obvious display of dislike towards the young boy as Teddy gave his godfather a few pats to the back.

"Mr. Chippington," said Hermione. "I'm sure whatever happened it is, Hugo didn't mean for it to happen."

"I'm afraid I can't allow it to slide this time, miss," Neil retorted. "I gave him a warning the first time and then I agreed with your husband to give him detention as a second chance – that was after all the other disruptions he caused. But this time, it was more than just a squabble between two young lads."

"But it wasn't his fault!" cried Lily. "It was Jamie! He's always causing problems for Hugo because he'd dyslexic!"

"And why hasn't he reported in these problems to me?" Neil turned back to Hermione. "I'm sorry to say this but I can't have any more turmoil like this in my school. Such things can cause problems to other students if parents hear that rows like this cannot be handled. I will have to expel Hugo this time."

"You can't," Hermione shot back. "If you care about the students so much then take away the problem not what is trying to stop it. Your school has a horrible bullying rate and you don't seem to put that much attention to it as you can see. My son is being constantly bullied by this lad almost daily and he has to pay the consequences because he's trying to defend himself like any other sane person would. And now he's brought my niece into this whole mess."

"My daughter," added Harry.

"I understand your concern-"

"Clearly you don't," Hermione interrupted. "If you did then Hugo wouldn't be the one who gets all the warnings – the detentions – or any other form of punishment."

"He defended himself in violence instead of coming to me directly and discuss about the problem," Neil pointed out. "He chose to act on the situation on his own instead of coming to an adult about it."

"My husband came here once for the conference you asked for," Hermione remarked. "Technically, Hugo did speak about it to an adult and you were coming with the conclusion to expel Hugo instead of handling the situation. Taking a child out of the school isn't the way to end things, especially when that child is the one who is being terrorized."

"And not just that but he hurt my daughter," Harry said. "It's more than a coincidence that the next person to be in the same problem as him is related to Hugo." He pointed at Jamie. "He should be the one expelled. Lily or Hugo deserve no form of punishment."

"But it's like Mrs. Weasley said – taking a child out of the school is not a conclusion," Neil retorted.

"Therefore you shouldn't expel Hugo," Harry said cheekily; Hermione gazed at him admiringly, loving to see his devotion to prove his daughter's innocence as well as her son's.

Neil narrowed his eyes. "I have witnesses of what happened."

"You mean Jamie's mates?" Teddy laughed sardonically, rolling his eyes. "That's not even evidence – that's support! I bet Lily's side of the story is more believable than the rubbish they used to cover his arse!"

Before either could respond, a man with faded gray hair, in his late forties, approached the group frenziedly, panting lightly, and he glanced at the many eyes that turned to him on his presence until his eyes settled on Jamie. He casually walked up to Neil and held out his hand politely.

"Hey Neil," he said gruffly as they shook hands. "I tried getting here sooner but I had a few complications at work."

"It's alright, Will," Neil nodded.

"I'm sure it's nothing too serious as usual," Will said. "Jamie has a tendency of playing rough."

Hermione widen his eyes incredulously. "Playing rough? Are you absolutely serious?"

Will turned to her, uninterested. "I'm sorry and you are?"

"I'm the mother of the boy your son 'roughly played' with," Hermione answered fiercely. "The same boy who your son gave a black eye too."

"And I'm the father of the daughter he just hurt," Harry added just as ferociously.

"I'm sure it was an accident," Will shrugged nonchalantly. "Kids get hurt all the time when they play around. Don't you remember how you used to play when you were a lad?"

"Trust me, the way I used to play is nowhere close," Harry said through gritted teeth. He made an effort to step forward but Teddy held him back by the shoulders.

"Anyway," Will turns to Neil and gave him an appreciative smile. "Thanks for ringing me up."

Neil nodded. Will then took Jamie's hand and dragged him from behind as he pushed their way through the disbelief group. Hermione, with suspicious eyes, turned to the headmaster while Harry and Teddy glared after Will and Jamie.

"And what's his punishment?" she demanded.

"He gets a month's detention," Neil responded normally.

The three adults gaped in disbelief while Hugo glared at his feet and Lily started to cry silently as she sat back down on the seat. They stared at Neil for a moment, absorbing in the piece of shocking and unbelievable information, before they started to shout out their anger.

"That's unfair!" Teddy protested.

"You've gotten mental!" Harry roared.

"You have to be the most deranged man I've ever met!" Hermione shrieked. "I never knew someone so immoral, so inequitable, and so shameful could even exist! And I've met far more worse beings than you for years! I swear you have no heart if it's easier for you to do this to my-" Hermione then gasped when realization dawned to her and then the glare she has been bearing had intensified. "You're related to Jamie, aren't you?"

Neil did not respond. Harry and Teddy are now staring at him pointedly. Lily had stopped crying when she heard Hermione's conclusion and Hugo was shaking his head skeptically. Hermione's vision became red the longer the silence lasted and she, without thinking properly, was about to whip out her wand but it seemed Harry also had the same thought as him. He broke away from Teddy's grasp and drew his wand at Neil, who was now staring at him befuddled yet entertained.

"Is this some sort of joke?" he asked humorously.

Harry glowered. "Re-"

"Reponere!"

Hermione had taken out her wand before Harry could finish the spell; they watched as Neil's eyes became a smoky white color and he held a blank face. Hermione continued holding out her wand towards him, holding the spell as she focused on replacing the current events with false ones she is coming up with in the second, and once she was satisfied she released the spell then pocketed her wand quickly before the color of his eyes dissipated. Neil blinked his eyes and shook his head.

"Sir?" Hermione asked politely.

Neil looked up at her normally. "Is everything we agreed on alright?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I can assure you this won't happen again. Thank you for your time."

"Mrs. Weasley," Neil turned to Harry with a kind smile. "Mr. Potter. Have a nice day."

Harry nodded numbly, dumfounded. Neil gave them all another smile before he turned and entered his office without another word. Lily hopped out of her seat to hug Hugo tightly and sobbed into his shoulder while he stared at his mother notably. Teddy went to comfort the young children as Harry stood there next to Hermione, gawking at her with an expression she could not fathom. It seemed like a mixture of adoration and amazement. She smiled sheepishly at him and ran a hand through her hair.

"What happened to 'no magic'?" he asked, raising a brow.

Hermione blushed. "The punishment was unreasonable. I wasn't going to let my son get expelled for his selfish reasons. No wonder that Jamie lad is able to get away from all the drama he's been causing. I should have made him think he resigned and have him move to Puerto Rico. He wouldn't last two seconds in there."

"A bit too enthusiastic there," Harry chuckled. Then he formed a worried look. "But aren't you worried that you'll get reported?"

"The letter is probably at my house by now," Hermione sighed. "I'll talk to the Improper Use of Magic Department tomorrow. It's not the first time I used this charm on Muggles. They overlooked the time I did it on my parents. Also, I'm a Ministry official. It's rare for a counselor to get in court for breaking a law."

"What did you change?" asked Teddy.

"Instead of expelling Hugo, he'll change Jamie out of any class he has with him and put him on a lower studies level. I also made sure neither of the kids got any punishment. He'll see them as victims of bullying and Jamie's chums will get the suspension they deserve for getting involved," Hermione explained.

"You wicked, wicked witch," Teddy grinned widely.

"Let me know when you're going to talk to the department so I can be there and explain my side of the story as a witness," Harry quickly insisted.

Hermione smiled. "Thanks Harry." She gave him a quick squeeze on his hand to emphasize her gratitude before she walked over to her son. "Are you alright, sweetie?"

Hugo, seeing his mother over Teddy's shoulder, had rapidly tied his arms around her waist and started to shout out apologies to her into her shirt. One could hardly understand what he was saying as he buried his face, his red locks concealing his eyes from the watchful eyes. Hermione could feel him her shirt become wet as his tears seeped through the fabric.

"Hey," said Hermione as she pulled her son back, revealing a dark spot at the front of her shirt, and she tilted his head up by the chin. "Dry your tears."

Hugo obeyed as he rubbed his hands over his moist eyes and cheeks, quietly sniffling. He used his sleeve to wipe away the snot dripping from his nose and then snorted to clear his nostrils while he stared up at Hermione with glassy eyes.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Shh," Hermione said. "It's not your fault. None of it. You were protecting your cousin. Your father would have done the same if it was me or Harry or Ginny."

Hugo frowned. "But now you're in trouble because I was acting like a masochist."

"I would have gotten in trouble in any way," Hermione shrugged. "It comes to being best friends with your uncle. He always attracts it like a magnet."

"Wait, I didn't even do anything!" protested Harry.

Hermione ignored him and continued, "I'm just glad you're okay…in a way. Here – let me see your eye."

"Careful, it's still tender," Hugo warned.

Hermione's lips twitched. She lowered herself to his height and gently held him by the chin as she inspected the damage of his black eye. It was a reddish color and completely swollen that Hugo needed to keep the eye unintentionally shut. She grimaced. The boy must have gotten a clear aim to have caused a horrid bruise on her son so well. But she was glad to see that Hugo had gotten some good shots on Jamie as well because she saw the scrapes and bruises across the boy's son as soon as she saw him. She lightly pressed her fingers on the bruise, making Hugo hiss a little, and then she whispered, "Curationum" making the wound to fade away.

"Better?" she asked as Hugo tentatively touched his newly healed eye.

Hugo beamed. "Very much. Thanks mum."

Hermione kissed him on the forehead and stroked his hair. From the corner of her eye, she can see Harry also kneeling in front of Lily with his wand out and patting her head. She turned to him as he kissed her lightly on her broken nose and caressed her cheek. She smiled at the scene; she always knew Harry would be an excellent father. She remembered when he confessed his fears in failing as a role model to his kids when Ginny was pregnant and she had to continuously repeat her words until he believed in them. She never met Harry so nervous over another human being, and a rather small one in fact, yet she understood them when she got pregnant with Rose. One did not know if they should have been happy or afraid to have the responsibility to raise the life of another in their hands. It was indescribable

"It will only hurt a bit," Harry said reassuringly.

Lily squeaked and covered her nose with her hands as she shook her head no. She had a glint of fear in her eyes. She was scared to get hurt.

"I promise it will only last a second," Harry told her with an easy smile.

"It's not as bad as you think, little leprechaun," Teddy added comfortingly. "Papa always used it on me whenever I broke an arm or a leg and you'll hardly feel the pain. That's how fast it is."

Lily still seemed unconvinced as she slowly peeled her hands away from her nose and she bit her lip whilst she shut her eyes tightly, anticipating what is expected to come. Harry seemed hesitant and Hermione knew why. He did not like being the one to make the reason why she was so scared. But a part of her was cautious; she did not want to think that Lily's reaction would cause him to act like he did to her back at the house. She went over to him to place a hand on his shoulder, realizing that the muscles there were too tense under her fingers, and when she gave it a squeeze, it instantly melted into soft skin.

Harry pointed his wand at Lily's nose and said, "Episkey."

Lily's cry lasted for a millisecond before Harry pulled her into a tight hug, holding her head against his chest to muffle out the whimpers and sobbing, as he hushed her quietly, whispering words of comfort and encouragement into her ear.

"It hurts – it hurts – IT HURTS!" Lily screamed in his shirt.

"It'll be gone," Harry whispered. "It's just healing your nose."

Lily's cries did not subside as she kept weeping. Harry then lifted her in his arms, letting her bury her face in his shoulder, and he gently rocked her. Hermione stood behind them, bathing in the sight of a concern father showering his love for his daughter to cure her of her physical pain, and she smiled softly as Harry began to plant butterfly kisses on Lily's head and rub her back. She knew Harry for years and he hardly ever showed his emotions so openly, especially when it involves something hurting people he loves or him experiencing love for another, because he was still socially awkward when it comes to feelings. But over the years, after the war, he was able to express himself better than before and when he got his firstborn, he was wearing his heart on his sleeve the moment he held baby James. She savored to see that heart of his.

"Let's go home," she said once Lily's noises have quiet down.

Hugo looked up at her dreadfully. "What about school?"

"Do you have an important exam or have any assignments to turn in?" Hermione asked.

"No," Hugo answered honestly. "But Mr. Howard is going to teach us how to make non-flammable objects today in chemistry."

"If you come with us, I could teach your kids how to do the Blueball Flames," Harry suggested. "I'll even show you how to put it in a jar."

Lily's head snapped up from his shoulder, beaming brightly. "I want to know!"

"That was fast," Teddy muttered.

Hermione laughed, shaking her head. She felt her arm being tugged at by her hand and she saw Hugo was trying to drag her with him.

"Eager to go home now?" she asked.

"I wanna do the Blueball Flames!" said Hugo excitedly. "I wanna be able to know how to do it before I go to Hogwarts and show it to everyone in my first year! Do you know how amazing that would be? I bet Rose would go mad to see me do magic too advance for me and she never got to be able to do yet."

Hermione chuckled. She allowed Hugo to drag her down the hallway as he excitedly talked about how much spells and charms he is determined to perfect once he goes into Hogwarts and how he is planning to practice on the more high-level spells so he could be ahead of his year. Lily had wiggled out of Harry's grasp to walk beside her cousin and join the conversation, adding her hopes in being able to ace her flying lessons on the first day like her father did. Teddy had also matched their pace and had wrapped an arm around Hermione while he listened to the kid's animated conversation and putting his opinion once in a while.

Hermione peered over at Harry only to be a little startled to spot him, for half a second, staring at her with such an unknown look in his eyes before he turned and look ahead. She could have sworn she saw a look of devotion and desire shining in his eyes when she looked at him. She did not hallucinate what she saw – at least, she hoped she didn't – but the feelings she got from his eyes were the same she got before when she was in love with Ron and she would see in her eyes in a mirror if she ever thought of Ron. She can recognize those two feelings easily but she never really got it coming from Harry and that leaves her baffled.

As they made their way out of the building, Hermione was the first to notice that Harry had stopped walking. She slipped under Teddy's arm, making him to also halt with the children then look back at her, as she watched Harry scan the open campus entrance, seeing that he has a look of determination in his gaze.

"Harry? What's wrong?" she called tentatively as she stepped closer to him. He did not respond to her; his face had morphed into a seething scowl. She followed his gaze from across the yard, quickly roaming through the small crowd of spreading students and parents approaching to pick up their child, until she finally caught sight that captured Harry's interest; in the guest parking lot, the father of Jamie, Will, was leaning against the side of his car taking a deep drag of his cigar while his son was sprinting through the gaps of the parked cars with a toy car in hand. Hermione had to stifle a gasp when she saw Jamie run his toy over the hood of Harry's car.

"I need to take care of something," Harry growled as he started to move forward but Hermione held him by the arm and turned him to her.

"Don't you dare," Hermione said. "We already got the kids out of trouble and fixed the problem. There's no need to cause another dispute over this."

"I just want to make sure another one doesn't happen in the future," Harry told her. "He hurt Hugo more than once and now he hurt Lily in the process. Just because you were able to trick the headmaster from expelling either of them or to switch Jamie out of Hugo's classes, doesn't mean that he won't stop trying to harass them."

"But you harassing them will send you to jail," Hermione pointed out.

"As if they could arrest a wizard," Harry said mockingly with a cheek grin before he pulled his arm from Hermione's hand and took long strides towards the guest parking lot.

"Harry! Harry!"

But the raven-haired wizard had ignored and kept walking towards the parking lot. Hermione groaned inwardly, aggravated at his stubbornness to not listening to reason and wondering at the same time if it was part to a guy's pride to have something physical every minute of their life. She turned to Teddy, glanced back to Harry who was already entering the parking lot, and then back at her subordinate son with pleading eyes.

"Watch the kids for me," she said and she started to follow Harry's trail without giving Teddy a chance to respond. She can hear the kids calling after her and loudly asking Teddy what was happening but she was more focused on keeping Harry from getting into any deeper trouble.

When she got closer to Harry and Will at the parking lot, she can see by the annoyed expression on the gray man's face and the fearful stare from Jamie that the discussion between him and Harry was going south quick. She increased her pace, a flow of uneasiness overflowed within her as their voices rose to higher volumes, and then, after she breaks out of her momentary shock, she bursts out into a sprint when Harry suddenly grabbed Will's wrist, twisted it effortlessly behind his back, and then slammed his face into the hood of his car. The cigar he was holding had slipped and rolled across the pavement.

"Harry!" Hermione screeched; she can see other families and groups of students had stopped to watch the situation. Some of them had taken out their iPhones to record. She can even hear Lily screaming for her father no too far away as well as Teddy. She was beyond scared now for Harry. She remembered Ron telling her that when he was helping to break out the fight from the bar they were in that Ron ended up being the one pulling Harry off the man because he did not seem like he was in control of his own mind. She does not want Harry to have to go through the phase in front of another large crowd of people, especially during daytime and in a place where there are also security. She does not think she can go away for Obliviating an entire campus despite her position in the Ministry.

However, when she was close enough to grab him, she had skidded into an abrupt stop as she listened to the words Harry was hissing into the squirming man's ear. She knew it was foolish of her to just stand there, knowing that something in Harry might have been triggered to have him act so rash, but hearing what he is saying left her less worried of his mental condition.

"If I ever find out that my daughter or my nephew are lying to hide any more bruises or problems caused by your son and that your mate of a headmaster is covering it up again, I will find you and make your life a living hell," seethed Harry. "Whatever you work in – I'll shut it down. Whatever university you want your son to attend – it will be gone before he even makes it to secondary school. No matter how healthy your marriage is with your wife – I will show her reasons to leave you without a second thought. Everything in your name will be gone. Do you understand me?"

Will whimpered cowardly and wordlessly nodded.

"Another thing, you slimy git," Harry continued. "If I ever – EVER – see you look at Hermione like that again the next time you're in the same spot, well, if you think I'm terrifying alone then imagine me with my brother. Her husband. Understood?"

"Completely!" Will grunted painfully when Harry tightened his hold on the twisted arm.

Hermione chose to intervene at this moment and went to grab Harry's arm, pulling it. "Harry, that's enough!" she whispered to him. "You're already forming a crowd. We need to get going before someone decides to bring in security. Let's just go home with the kids and Teddy."

Harry held Will a minute longer before he released him. Will flexed his wrist whilst he winced in pain. He glanced at Harry quickly before he told his son to get in the car and went around to climb in the driver's side. After he was in, the engine roared to life, and the tires squealed in protest as the car zoomed out of the parking lot.

"You're mental," Hermione said once the car was gone. She was glaring at him disapprovingly, although it was a bit weak. She cannot deny that she was admiring him for his intentions but the actions he took for them were unnecessary.

"At least we are sure that his son won't bother either of the kids again," Harry pointed out. "You could at least say thank you for that."

Hermione sighed. "That is true. But you need to stop solving things with violence and brute force. One of these days, karma is going to come back with it." She smiled at him. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry scratched his head. "You confuse me sometimes. I never know if you're lecturing me or praising me."

Hermione rolled her eyes amusingly while fighting back the smile that was trying to creep on her face. She will never know how Harry is able to make light jokes during or in the aftermath of a conflict. She supposes that his years with Ginny had helped him amplify his humor with her light heart and mellow attitude. She had smoothed out the rough edges he had for years and Hermione couldn't be more thankful for that. She knew she did not have what Harry needed to break down his barriers but Ginny did.

Feet scattering across the pavement were heard approaching them; Teddy was dragging Hugo and Lily by the hands as he led them towards her and Harry.

"What happened?" Teddy asked breathlessly as he lets go of the kid's hands.

"Nothing important," Harry answered with a shrug. "Just had a nice little talk. You know wizard to Muggle. The usual."

"Yes - because a wizard threatening a Muggle is known to be commonly usual these days," Hermione said sarcastically. She earned a light shove to the side from Harry that nearly made her tumble over and she laughed as she gave him a teasing glower.

"For a second, I thought you were going rip his arm off," Teddy retorted lightly.

"I was tempted to," muttered Harry, earning a returning shove from Hermione.

"Can we all just go home before we end up in another unnecessary confrontation?" Hermione insisted. "Handling Muggle and wizard authority at the same time is something I don't want to experience the first time. The papers would have the pleasure to print out our names again."

"Are those the people from that newspaper you and dad ripped apart one time?" Hugo asked innocently as he and the group started to walk towards Harry's matte black Wolseley.

"Yes," Harry responded.

"I don't like those people," Lily grumbled, making the others to laugh.

As Hermione watched her family tittering and speaking diligently about the most odd topics they come up with, she cannot help but notice how comfortable and easy it is to be around with her kids, her adopted son, and her best friend. The way how she sees Hugo latched onto Harry's back while he held Lily's hand and talking to Teddy, she felt drawn to the simplicity about the four. And then when Harry offered her his arm, she felt in place as she accepted. She took in the moment to her heart, feeling it burn up in tenderness as she understood the reason behind her content behavior.

They were acting like a family. They were all trapped in a space concealing them away from their reality and they were each other's miracle. Hugo was still between her and Ron but Harry is treating him like he does to James and Albus, and Lily is still between him and Ginny but she is loving her like she loves Rose. Teddy is practically their first child that they had raised together in their spare time on their own terms. This is the picture of what could have been like if they had chosen a different direction in their past – if she had chosen to be with Harry from the beginning instead of following her feelings towards Ron. Hugo would be Harry's son, sharing her brown hair and his enticing green eyes, and Lily with Harry's dark hair and her chocolate eyes in another world. She wouldn't change them for that world but imagining them as their very own was tremendous.

But that world does not exist because of her choice to let go of Harry for the sake of all their friendships and allow herself to fall deeper in love with Ron.

She does not regret her choice but she wondered what would have happened if she got together with Harry.

---

The ride back to Godric's Hallow was a road of endless talking between the kids and Teddy about the different speed of a Muggle car and a pro broomstick. Sometimes Harry would go along with the conversation, much to Hermione's amusement because he would get a bit competitive as to why broomsticks dominate automobiles like he does when he's watching a Quidditch match with Ron, and Hermione would have to point out a red light or stop sign to him, eventually leading her to scolding him for lack of attention on the road.

Hermione was relieved to see the Potter cottage in sight. She was until she saw a few figures standing at the doorway and she was a bit sheepish to see two familiar ginger heads among the small group. The other was a recognizable blonde and two young identical swarthy boys standing close to her, crawling across the grass. They were probably searching for another anthill or a beetle again. As they turned onto the parkway, Hermione knew she was already spotted through the glass because Ginny had a merry smile on her face until she locked eyes with her and her mood instantly went sour. Hermione hoped that Harry did not notice how tense the atmosphere turned or anything odd about Ginny's behavior with her presence as they all climbed out of the car.

"Hi mum!" Lily said loudly as she skipped towards them with Hugo beside her. She quickly leapt into Ginny's awaiting arms; Hermione was able to breathe normally when Ginny broke her gaze to hug her daughter.

"What happened to your lip?" Ron asked shockingly, catching sight of the small cut on her lip.

Lily hid her mouth shamefully and looked away from her mother. Ginny turned her face back to her then gasped and turned to Harry.

"What happened?" she demanded.

Harry explained every from the moment Teddy got the phone call – to the time they confronted the headmaster about the problem – to when Hermione used a spell on said headmaster to erase any future possible conflicts between the kids and Jamie – and to the time Harry had furthered the chances by facing Jamie's father.

"Blimey, mate," awed Ron. "A little bit more and you would have an arm as a souvenir."

Grinning, Harry scratched his head. "I wouldn't have minded. But Hermione intervened."

"So that explains why that owl came by today. I thought it was some sort of prank or something," Ron said. He reached inside the pocket of his jean and pulled out a red envelope that was now steaming. It has the symbol of the Ministry stamped in wax. "You got a howler."

"Joy," Hermione said sarcastically as she took the letter to open it and let it float out of her hands, cringing lightly at the sound of crumbling paper while it transformed into a hovering mouth. She prepared herself for the impact as the paper opened its mouth and then –

"Dear Miss Granger!" Hermioen recognized the voice to belong to Susie Dritto, the Head of the Improper Use of Magic. "The Ministry has received reports that at 1:49 this afternoon, you performed the False Memory Charm on a Muggle. Due to clear violation to Clause 73 of the International Statute of Secrecy, you will be expected at the Wizengamot for your hearing at 7:00 am this Friday. Have a pleasant day."

The letter bursts into flames and fluttered to the ground in ashes. Hermione glanced around; Ron looked troubled – Luna held concern through her dreamy eyes – the kids have stopped playing to stare at her strangely – Harry was silent in fear – and Ginny actually looked scared for her life. She did not let their stares phase her as she briskly opened the door and entered the house, nimbly walking towards the living room area.

The others have soon followed her, and Ron, with a look of curiosity and terror, said, "What did you do? Using magic on a Muggle? That's unlike you in so many ways."

"I had good reason," Hermione mumbled.

"And what's the reason?" asked Ginny, looking too awkward to know what to do with herself.

"The kids," Hermione answered simply. She dropped herself onto the sofa and crossed her arms, not attempting to speak another word. Hugo came to her to sit beside her and lean his head against her arm. She used her free hand to stroke his hair motherly. Lily was sitting on the floor in front of her, legs crossed with a cushion covering her lap, staring up at her nervously, and the twins were playing with the tips of her pigtails.

Seeing that she was showing signs of not talking any further, Harry took over, "Hermione somehow found out that the headmaster was related to Jamie and that's how the little bugger was able to get away from bullying the kids. He was going to expel Hugo this time and give Jamie a month's detention. Hermione – I guess she had the same thing in mind as me – casted the False Memory Charm on the headmaster so he wouldn't."

"That bloody git!" Ron said, his jaw clenched. "If I ever catch him one of these days, I'll hex the bastard myself!"

"It doesn't matter anymore, Ron," Hermione retorted. "It's been taken care of."

"Also, I'm sure that Hugo doesn't need both of his parents to go to court for using magic on a Muggle," Luna added. "Hermione doesn't have much to worry about either. Ministry officials mostly get away from these sorts of things for about ninety-two percent of the time. It is depending on what their position is. And since Hermione is Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement, Counselor of the Wizengamot, and Head of the RCMD, I don't think she has so much to worry about."

Hermione glanced down her arm and smiled tenderly; Hugo had fallen asleep. The fight with Jamie must have taken a lot of energy out of him.

"And if they don't take that to account? So you're just going to take the punishment like that?" Ginny inquired.

"She won't because I'll be there," Harry insisted. "I was a witness of the whole thing so I'm automatically required to be there. I'm sure they'll get a report of that soon and my letter will come later. I kind of owe it to Hermione in a way – I was going to do the same thing."

Ginny pursed her lips and nodded. Hermione did not miss the cautious glance Ginny did between her and Harry.

"What if you're guilty?" Lily asked timidly. "Won't you get sacked?"

"This isn't my first time getting a hearing from the Wizengamot – I can't explain how many times they called me in before I started working at the Ministry," Hermione chuckled. "This may be my third time so I think they might have me doing community service after my case and have either Julie or Gerald in charge of future cases."

"That's not so bad," Luna said.

"It's either that or Azkaban," Hermione shrugged. "But that's only if you used an Unforgivable Curse on a Muggle or on another wizard. Seeing as mine was harmless, I'm going to have community service."

"You should have just let me do it," Harry said gruffly.

"You would have gotten in trouble, Harry. You would be using magic for your own pleasure instead of your work. The many times you Obliviated Muggles was because you did it while you were in duty – not off the clock. The time Arthur Obliviated those Muggles at the pub you guys went to last night was to keep our secret safe. You would have gotten into even worse trouble," Hermione explained. "Besides, the wizarding world needs you to track down those criminals, remember? There are plenty of people in my department qualified for the Death Trials until I'm done with my service."

"But I don't want you to do any service, Auntie," Lily said.

Hermione smiled. "It's alright, Lily Bear. I never said it's certain. They'll probably give me a warning."

Ron sat down next to her and took her free hand. Hermione was not sure if she imagined it but she saw Harry frowned deeply, his face stoned from all emotions, when Ron did this and quickly turned towards Lily, kneeling next to her, to hide his distinctly unhappiness. Hesitantly, slowly, she slipped her hand away and laid it on her thigh, feeling oddly responsible for Harry to seem so sad.

As everyone talked about the events in the school, their jobs, and discussing about what costumes the children should wear for Halloween this year, Hermione caught a glimpse to the change in Harry's mood; Ginny was now sitting next to him by the kids, talking to Luna, and he was in a deep conversation with Ron about the sales in his shop going to higher heights for the fright holiday, but every once in a while, he would glance at her with a shine in his eyes that made her feel light in the head and weak in the knees.

He was beaming at her through his eyes. She did not want to feed on her ego but the thought of her being the cause behind it made her bubbling in happiness.

He was happy.

---

Hermione sat on a chair in the back porch watching Lily and Hugo diving across the air with each twin sitting behind them, passing by the quaffle as they did maneuvers that she considered dangerous. Teddy was hovering in the sky too as a referee for them. The sun was already setting, changing the sky into a burnt orange glow, and giving the leaves of the single tree a more bluish color. There were birds soaring across the blinding shine of the sleepy sun, returning to their nest and to rest for the day.

The others were inside preparing the dinner for the day; Ron's delicious stotty cake with Ploughman's lunch along with Harry's pork pies and Ginny's berry trifle. Luna was making a batch of her sweet elfwine from scratch. It doesn't take long so it would be ready by the time dinner is. Hermione had volunteered to watch over the kids the moment she heard them mention about bringing out their broomsticks even though it was necessary because Teddy was up there with them. But she can see that she was not needed in the kitchen – she just wanted to escape from glances she is getting from between Harry and Ginny.

Hermione was thinking about bringing out Lily's old toy brooms so the twins could enjoy the feeling of rushing air and be able to enjoy the sensation of free movement when she heard heavy footsteps behind her. A minute later, a hand was holding a glass of rich purple win in front of her face. She followed the arm up until she was looking at her husband's face. Her heart stopped and she suppress the urge to release a gasp at the sense of distraught and perturbed vibes coming from him, completely different to how he felt inside the house an hour ago. She could feel he was mentally bothered – she has been with him for so long that she knew his soul and heart very well like keys to a piano playing a melodic lullaby. Yet he looked calm, in peace of mind, so stoned like a statue.

"Cheers," she said, taking the glass. "From Luna's batch?"

Ron sat on the wooden chair next to her. "She did a separate one for you. This one is mildly sweet. She knows how you can't handle the regular so much."

"I'll have to thank her for that," Hermione said before taking a swing.

As she watched Ron take a gulp of his own, she could not tell which was certain but she did notice that she did not feel the taste of tranquility from him like she normally does. She can sense negativity from him such as dolefulness, angst, dejection, and misery. That was all that filled the shrinking distance between them. It was awful to just be surrounded by terrible emotions after so many years they have spent together fulfilling their days with irreplaceable memories, unquestionable actions, and blessing miracles they have vowed to cherish through the worst to their last breath on this earth. There was no sweetness about this, just wholly bitter.

They became remarkably silent, sipping their beverage and watching Teddy control the crazed flight of the children. The sky drained of color and turned into a faint shade of grey. Ron and Hermione used their wands to produce their Patronuses and let them glide over the sky to light the field for the kids. Teddy had also created his. Neither of them minded as they were now flying around with the otter, the Jack Russell Terrier, and the wolf.

"So what did that little git do this time?" Ron asked, attempting to break the pressure over them.

"He was harassing Lily because of her hair. Ginny must have made her have those pigtails shockingly since Harry doesn't know how to control his own hair for his life," she chuckled dryly, though it did not reach her eyes. "Someone – I think it was a classmate of theirs – told Hugo about it. He went and confronted Jamie to Lily's defense. The rest is history."

"Nice to know he's like his old man," Ron grinned.

"Acting without thinking? Yes, he is certainly a lot like his father," Hermione smirked at the eye-roll Ron was doing. She nibbled on her lower lips as she brushed back a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Hermione, I need to ask you something," Ron said.

"What is it?"

"I've been meaning to ask you this for a while," Ron paused for a moment to exhale slowly. "But…are you happy?"

Hermione blinked, speechless. Was everybody going to ask her this now? Her mother was the first to point out her lack of delight in her marriage with Ron. Then later Gerald was the one to ask her about her feelings about her life. Now Ron was the third. Hermione lowered her head a bit as she combed her hair back again and scratched her neck as she thought about his question; was she happy? What was he referring to her being happy about? With the situation of Hugo finally being solved? She was certainly happy about that. But she doubted he was talking about that. Any parent would be proud of that. Was he asking her if she is happy with him? Why would he ask her that?

"I'm not sure what you mean by that," she confessed. "You're going to have to be more specific on what you're asking."

"Alright," Ron murmured, shaking his head to flip his hair away from his eyes before he peered at his wife, his eyes exposed of his raw emotions. "I mean that are you happy with us? With our marriage?"

Hermione knitted her brows. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just…Hermione…I'm not happy," Ron sighed; Hermione's eyes widen. "I was planning to talk to you about it today but then you told me about Hugo and I wasn't sure if I should mention it after that. But I didn't want to keep it in anymore – I've been thinking about it for a long time. What I mean is that we don't really react to each other as we used to. We haven't rowed in a while but we spent most of the time doing that. It's normal for us to do that but before we'd do it when we try to come up with a solution for the better and nowadays we'd row of the things we've done wrong. Now we don't but we don't act like we used to. A couple of laughs here and there but it's not the same. It feels like all for show."

Hermione has lost her voice as she took in his words. She could not believe what she was hearing yet she could not find it in her to feel sadden by this. This moment felt expectant but the way it came was not. A part of her, though she hoped it never happened, knew that someday she would be the one to confess to Ron about her not having feelings for him, despite her saying she would keep it hidden. For her to see Ron to be the one to come forward about what he has been feeling made her baffled.

"I was going to tell you about this before but then you started to come home often – you talked to Rose to make things better between you two – and you started to be around Hugo a lot more," Ron continued. "I thought that at first, I was feeling different because of before – you being focused on your job more and not being at home all the time. But when everything started to change, I felt the same so I knew it wasn't that. I'm just not…happy anymore. With anything. And it's not you, it's-"

"This life," Hermione finished.

"This life," Ron echoed with a sigh. "It's more than that. You see, I've been in contact with Luna since you've been promoted head of the Law Enforcement. At first, I had it to be able to make up playdates for the kids or a small get together for all of us. But the past month, some things changed. I don't know how to explain it, Hermione, but I don't think I…love you anymore. Not like that. And I think I might…with…Luna."

Hermione's breath hitched. Not because her husband admitted that he was in love with Luna but because she was feeling guilt and shocked. Here Ron was, being mature yet scared, admitting to her about everything that has been running through his mind since he could remember while she is keeping secrets from him. She was a bit taken back to hear him confess about having romantic love towards Luna, another married woman, but she was happy to know that he was not being held back by her. She can't help but ask why is everyone she know suddenly falling for someone married? Gerald is seeing Cole, who is married – Ron is in love with Luna, who is committed to Rolf – and then there is her, who is still in love with Harry. What is happening to her world?

Ron was staring at her tensely. "It – it wasn't out of nowhere, really. I started to realize what I feel sometime after Rose's tenth birthday but I didn't act on it or anything. I actually didn't pay much attention to it. I wanted to make things work with you and I didn't want to hurt you but then last month…I was remind why I-"

"Ron, it's okay," Hermione reassured. She puts the glass down before she turned to him. "I'm not mad."

Ron looked shocked. "Y-you're not?"

"No," Hermione said. "Frankly, we're both on the same page. About our marriage, I mean."

"W-we are?" Ron asked.

"Yes," Hermione answered. "The truth is – I don't love you either, Ron. Not like I used to. I still love you like my best friend."

"Well," Ron said deliberately slow. "This changes things."

"Yeah," Hermione laughed weakly. She was not sure how they should act now.

"So," Ron clicked his tongue. "I guess the best solution we got is divorce then."

Hermione gasped. "D-divorce?"

"Well yeah, isn't that what people who don't love each other anymore do?" Ron said. "I mean, I don't want to leave you for Luna because she's married and I don't think she feels the same way but I don't think I can keep pretending to be in love with you. I only did it for the sake of the kids but it's not easy. Everything we do now – holding hands – sleeping in the same bed – and snogging – it just feels awkward now. I feel like I'm snogging my sister." Ron shuddered. "I feel like I'm doing incest."

Hermione laughed. She could only trust Ron to put a little heart in any situation with an obnoxious comment of his. She was glad to know that despite what is happening that he is still his same cheeky and comedic person – he was not letting the bitterness of their failed marriage take over the sweetness of their friendship.

"But the kids – Rose," Hermione sighed. "What about them? I don't think I can do any more stuff that will hurt them. Hugo is a very sensitive lad, Ron, and Rose…I don't want her to think I gave up on her before I got the chance to show her. I don't want her to hate me."

Ron frowned. He moved to sit beside Hermione and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to pull her close to him. Hermione willingly fell into the heat of his embrace, allowing herself to be surrounded in the familiar pull of his comfort. She didn't start to cry but she felt like she was close to fainting from the intensity of her fears actually coming true; her family breaking away from her. She did not have to worry about Ron hating her anymore but her children no longer wanting to be in her life has become her biggest scare. If a boggart was in front of her right now, she would be seeing it showing how her future would look.

"Listen to me," Ron said. "The kids won't hate you. Hugo is going to want you with him no matter what. If he didn't then he would have ignored you a long time ago. And Rose…she doesn't hate you, Hermione. She just wants her mum around."

"And I told you she gave me a chance this Christmas," Hermione retorted. "Imagine how she'll react when she learns that we're getting a divorce. Not only that, but that will ruin the kid's holiday. Hearing their parents separating is much worse than getting coal from Santa."

"Not if we explain it right," said Ron. "I'm the one who suggested it so it's not your fault. We both came to a mutual agreement. We'll just tell them that."

"I don't want you to take all the blame, Ron," Hermione told him. She slides her hand into Ron's free one and ran her fingers across his palm. "We'll tell them together and hope for the best. We're better doing it that way anyway."

Ron nodded and laid his head on her shoulder as she continued to caress his palm. She glanced down at him and her heart soared in elation. His face was free from any signs of somber and his eyes held the shine in the funereal smothering. He looked a lot like the man she had married years ago. This was the Ron she had loved to have by her side and brighten her day through the clouds of the worst. Everything about him was bright like the Ron who was colorful by remarks and punning jokes. She no longer felt fruitless as she used to be. She felt free. They had let go of each other from each other to be able to be happy – they were no longer obligated to please each other, to do the impossible and be the same as they used to be. They were not the same. Their time together has ended.

But the voice nagging in the back of her head was forcing her to say the words she needed to say from the beginning. She needed to let him know before they make their choice official. He deserved to know her secrets. He is more than her husband. He is her best friend. And her best friends always know what is bothering her.

"Ron, there's something I need to tell you," she said hesitantly. She kept her eyes on their hands as she felt Ron lift his head and his eyes gazing at her.

"What?"

Hermione swallowed and started to explain. She told him about everything that involved Harry from the moment she realized she had a crush on him. She let him know what she felt – she told about what made her realize her feelings for Ron during third year and how she was sure he recuperated in fourth year. She spoke about why she let go of Harry and chose Ron. She talked about during the following years after her choice, how she chased after Ron, how her feelings for him grew, and how she no longer let her remained feelings for Harry blind her choices until she found herself no longer acknowledging them.

And finally, she confessed to him about the kiss. Ron's reaction towards it was somewhat confusing; he looked betrayed by his best friends yet he did not show anger towards them. He did not lash out at her like she expected. She was not sure if it was because they were in an area full of people and he didn't want to cause a scene or if he was still registering what she said.

"So you're still in love with him," Ron stated softly.

Hermione cleared her throat and combed back another lock of hair that had fallen over her eyes. "Ron, I didn't mean to-"

"C'mon Hermione," Ron interrupted with a slight chuckle and raised his head to look at her directly, the unexpected attention of his eyes making her feel small. "I've known you for twenty-six years now so I know you didn't mean to…I just want to know why act on your feelings now?"

Hermione sighed and stared up at the sky, watching the silhouettes of the kids zoom around to avoid the intensity of her husband's eyes. "Something in me changed…it's something different. My mother says that I've changed when I explained it to her." She thought about how she felt back at the school. "But…it's like everything seems clear to me now on who I really am, how I'm supposed to be living, and what I want-"

"What you want?" Ron disrupted and Hermione turned to him. "Or…who you want?"

Hermione inhaled sharply, nodding her head slightly as she glanced down at her hand in his, noticing that they were twitching by the jitters crawling on her skin all through her body. She kept her eyes on them as she slid her fingers over Ron's arm, traveling upwards through the tiny hairs on his skin until she reached the bend of his arm, then she went back down to his palm.

"I'm not going to lie to you Ron." Her voice is now reduced into a soft whisper. "Sometimes I feel like something between me and Harry changed. I could be just me but…Gerald likes to think otherwise. I don't know when and I don't know how but it did or…maybe it never did change. Maybe everything is still the same but it seems more-"

"Clearer," Ron finished. He tightened his hold around her hand as he pursed his lips. "You're starting to come to terms on why you are the way you are with him and it's becoming clearer to you."

Hermione's heart tugged and she sighed heavily as she turned her attention back at the sky. "I'm sorry."

"You know," Ron started. "Back in 1997 when we were on the hunt for the Horcruxes, I always felt like there was something between you two even though you made it obvious you fancied me and Harry fancied Ginny. But I always felt like there was just something there, you know? You were always focused on Harry, worried about Harry, and made Harry your first priority as soon as you woke up," he sniffed lightly. "Yeah, you were the same with me too, but when it came to Harry it hurt because of how you looked. Like you had some sort of urge. The both of you."

Hermione remained silent as she listened. It is not rare nowadays for Ron to come to admittance of his thoughts and emotions but for her to hear about what went through his mind during the infamous hunt of their teen years was unique. She knew that he was overly sensitive about those memories, always being reminded of the image the spelledbound locket tried to tempt him into believing the impossible. But considering how everything shifted between them, she understood why he was so doubtful of her feelings for him and why he was so rash towards her often.

"And when I left, I thought that you had chosen Harry over me because you loved him not because we promised to go through all that hell with him," Ron continued. "And when I came back, I felt things different between you two like…you were in a deeper level without me and nobody could understand that. I sure as hell didn't and you're my best friends. I started wondering what happened in the times I was gone and I always wondered about what the Horcrux showed me – you and Harry snogging and completely starkers. It got me thinking if maybe it was real or not."

Hermione was discouraged by this. Neither Ron nor Harry have ever mentioned to her about what happened when they reunited in the Forest of Dean nineteen years ago and she never questioned it because her mind was focused on ending the war rather than a possible fight between her two closest friends that could be resolved quicker than their hunt did.

"Then after everything, I wasn't in doubt anymore when you snogged me," Ron smiled with a light laugh, the sound bringing a smile on Hermione's face. That is a memory of their lives that they both surely will never regret because it was something they both have waited for through the tears, the heartache, the arguments, and the difficulties. "I couldn't believe that you chose me over Harry and then we lasted longer than people thought we would and we got married and had kids. But for some reason, I had this nagging feeling in me whenever we hung out with Harry and I realized I was still in doubt. Yeah, we all have our lives set – we're married – we have kids – but we all still acted the same." Ron glanced at her before he looked back at their entwined hands. "You acted the same with Harry. And right now, just thinking back at everything that's happened, I realized something."

Hermione waited, never breaking her gaze on the sky. She felt his grasp on her hand tighten, the action silently pleading her to look at him, but she never complied.

"You were always in love with him, 'Mione," Ron concluded. Her two pools of brown chocolate mixed with bewilderment and her mouth parted slightly in befuddlement, but he never broke his stoned face as he continued, "You've been in love with the two of us all this time. You're married to me but your feelings for Harry were never gone because you're always reminded why you love him and to see how he is with Lily, Albus, and James. I know a girl loves to see a bloke act all fatherly to his kids, especially a hero like Harry."

Hermione frowned. "Ron…"

"I practically pushed you to him when I left you guys and whatever Harry did to make you better probably is the reason why this is happening. I appreciate whatever Harry did to make sure you're okay after me but now," he inhaled sharply. "This just gives more reason I can't keep doing this, Hermione. I love you – I just don't love you anymore. And you don't either. We need a divorce."

Hermione's eye widen somewhat at his words, her heart beating erratically. Her vision on him became a blur blob the longer she stared at him, making her rapidly blink her eyes to clear her sight, and later felt a tickling sensation travel down on her cheeks, ending by the tip of her chin as it dripped away from her face. She was mindful that she had formed tears during their conversation without her awareness and the beating of her heart within her chest was agonizingly hurtful, her lungs are bruising. She knew she was heartbroken; the most serious relationship in her life, her first marriage, was ending before her eyes and her perfectly organized life she had worked together with this man was crumbling into pieces in a matter of seconds. But she was harmed by the broken sight of her soon-to-be ex-husband. He also held tears in his eyes, which were dark in despair by how deep blue they become, his jaw was clenched tightly, and his teeth gnawed on his lower lips. He was feeling what she was feeling; everything he wanted, he got it, and now he is ending it. They didn't lose either other – they just lost the spark together.

"Not anymore," he muttered.

Hermione handled the urge in her throat to release a sob and breathed in slowly as she nodded. "I know. I'm sorry...but Ron, don't misunderstand any of this. No matter who I love, you will always be the King of our kids. I'm just not your Queen anymore."

Smiling weakly, Ron bowed his head, allowing his hair to fall over his eyes as his tears finally freed onto his hidden face, sliding to the end of his nose or below to his chin, and then drip on their tangled hands. His shoulder almost sagged by the unexpected weight of Hermione's head resting on him and his arms tingled in the familiar fondness of her touch on him as she slides one arms around his back, rubbing his spine. The fabric of his shirt was soaked by her whimpering tears. She knew he understood her culpability for closure of their lifelong chapter, and despite how he abhorred seeing her in such a low state, he was glad to see her expressing her poignancy over the situation – she was upset because she truly cared about him.

With a sigh, he tilted his head to the side to lean against hers, and mourned over the loss of their deflated love.

---

A:N: That's a shocker! Who was expecting this from Ron? Badass Hermione returns yet again for her son and niece! And we saw Auror Harry take action on a Muggle! What a turn of events!

Unimportant opinion of the author: Kudos to Ron! I don't like it when everyone makes him act so arrogant and selfish at this age. I would understand if it was around his younger years but I think that at an adult age, after being with Hermione for so long and getting so much responsibilities, he was able to smooth out his rough edges. He isn't a little insecure boy anymore. He gained confidence, self-respect, and learned to love himself. I can see that for Ron.

Ooh boy, I can't wait for you all to see the next chapter!

Reponere: To replace

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