Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry potter series, any of its characters, settings, ideas, plotlines or other such things. All of this belongs to the AMAZING J.K. Rowling!

Kingsley

Harry was unable to sleep, partly due to his father's snoring, partly due to fear. He knew he was safe inside the Potter house, it was the horrors outside the wards that scared him. The death eaters had set up camp, they weren't moving anytime soon. Not that Harry had expected them to.

He knew that Sirius was in no state to travel... they would have to put off their departure for a few more weeks. James had suggested that he and Harry leave in the next few days... Harry refused to leave his godfather behind.

He knew that the death eaters wouldn't rest until they uncovered the truth... He had just hoped to prolong it. Was it foolish for him to think he could live a normal life? Perhaps it was, perhaps the world was toying with him.

Still dressed in his blood-soaked robes, Harry couldn't help but pity his godfather. The man had sacrificed so much to keep his 'family' safe ... and yet, he wasn't related to any one of them. The potters had one another, Remus had Teddy. Sirius had... nobody. Perhaps at one stage in his life he had planned on settling down, maybe one day he would get the chance. Harry hoped that Sirius would one day marry and have children. Not that it was exactly something he pictured Padfoot doing. Sirius would've made the perfect father... if only he had been given the chance.

Nothing ever seemed to go his way, nothing EVER seemed to go in his favor. Knowing his luck, the death eaters would steal the resurrection stone and 'the dark lord would rise again'. HA!

Harry sighed audibly before deciding that he should try and get some sleep. Sirius didn't need a babysitter, he needed a protector. He needed Harry to be strong. Harry needed to be strong for him. Sirius was like a father to him, just as Harry was his son. He would do whatever it took to keep him from harm.

Harry sat up one last time, looking down at the three most important men in his life... asleep on the floor. Nobody had thought to unpack the other mattresses, simply opting to crash their sleeping bags. Teddy was in the next room dozing, a musical enchantment lulling him to sleep. Harry knew they were truly a family, just like he had always wanted. Just like he had always dreamed.

Then why aren't I happy?

oOo

"Ron!" Hermione whined, a little fed up by his sluggishness.

The pair weaved through dozens on Ministry officials, making their way towards the elevators. She was a little unnerved by the events that had taken place inside the Ministry. The last time she had been here, she'd doubted she would make it out alive. The ministry was a different place now, cleaner, lighter, safer, happier.

"I hope Kingsley doesn't mind us dropping in" she murmured, looking rather frazzled.

Ron shrugged, knowing that Shacklebot would be more than willing to help them. He had always had Harry's best interest at heart. Kingsley would protect Harry. He would always protect Harry.

"Please stop worrying hun," he cooed "you'll give yourself a heart attack."

She smiled at him, taking his hand in her own. She rubbed circles in his palm, staring adoringly into his eyes. She and Ron were destined for one another, regardless of whether she realized it at the time. They had always shared a special connection, something Harry could never quite understand. The golden boy had always been the glue that kept them together, the one who kept them sane. They would do anything for their best friend... he meant more to them than anything else in the world.

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, leaning further into Ron. The boy swallowed audibly and hugged her. Neither of them wanted to move, aching sensations in the pit of their stomachs keeping them cemented to the floor. It wasn't fair, Harry shouldn't have to go through this alone. It was as if every time they overcame an obstacle, another popped up. It wasn't fair.

Ron squeezed Hermione tightly before let her out of his embrace, she took his hand and began leading him down the corridor.

Hermione made her way towards the Ministers office, boyfriend trailing behind her. She hovered her hand hesitantly over the door, a little nervous about the whole situation. She had known Kingsley for a while now, the fact that he was now Minister Kingsley shouldn't change anything... should it?

"Hermione... quit it"

Ron knew that Hermione would react badly to this whole situation... she had been rather uneasy about the Ministry as of late.

"Sweetie," he lulled "do you want me to knock?"

She shook her head and pounded her fist on the door, as if to subconsciously mock her boyfriend.

A booming voice bellowed from behind the door

"Come in"

They stared at each other hesitantly before turning the doorknob. Ron's hands were plastered firmly on the girl's shoulders, squeezing them reassuringly. Hermione attempted to fake a smile but failed miserably. Her halfhearted grin faded into her distraught features, giving away her act.

The pair barged into the office, Kingsley's face immediately lighting up. He had expected bad news, another morbid face coming to notify him of Death eater attack. To say he was pleased to see Ron and Hermione would have been an understatement.

"Please do sit down!" he chuckled.

Hermione nodded and led Ron towards a couch on the edge of the room. Comfortably leaning her head on his shoulder, she began to explain what had been happening as of late, of Harry's trace.

Telling Kinsley about Harry's predicament hadn't been as hard as she'd expected, a little too easy in fact. The Minister had immediately removed the trace though had not yet dismissed them from his presence.

Something within the Aurora seemed to have changed; he seemed a little more power stricken than he had beforehand. It was not as if Hermione suspected Kingsley of being a dark wizard, more so she worried for his wellbeing. He seemed overly stressed and had dropped a fair amount of weight since last time she had seen him.

"Thank you Kingsley," she all but whispered "we really appreciate it."

The man extended his hand to her, shaking Ron's enthusiastically. She couldn't help but feel as if she didn't belong here... she had always hated the ministry. It brought back too many memories, left her feeling as if she had lost herself in the past. She couldn't see this becoming any easier; too many places reminded her of the war.

Ron had been overly supportive, seeming to know exactly how she was feeling. Hermione couldn't have asked for a more understanding boyfriend. Regardless of the fact he had the emotional range of a teaspoon.

The minister eyed them quizzically as they left the room, not entirely sure as to why Hermione had bust into a fit of laugher. Shrugging it off as teenage hormones, he bid them good day and returned to his increasingly large pile of work.

Hermione and Ron left the Ministry at a record pace, neither particularly keen on staying. They had to notify Harry of their adventure... if you could call it that. The pair was more than happy to live the rest of their lives like this, taking little risk for such great gain. It was the only thought that seemed to bring them happiness, the only way they could keep the past behind them. Where it belonged.

Oh my gosh!

I am so sorry I haven't been updating as quickly as usual... I can explain! I had exam revision... enough said! Thank you all for being so patient tho !

Please read and review (trust me... it would make my day, I'm a little stressed out about exams atm D:)

Annnnd I shall have another chapter up ASAP.