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)

25. Harry's Karma

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

Hello! I'm back!

I am sorry for the long, long wait! I've been so busy with work, taking so many ten hour shifts (closing shifts, mind you!) and other conflicts. I tried to finish this as fast as I could before I clocked in today. I hope you love it!

Enjoy!

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Nothing goes as planned

Everything will break

People say goodbye

In their own special way

All that you rely on

And all that you can fake

Will leave you in the morning

But find you in the day

Oh, you're in my veins

And I cannot get you out

Oh, you're all I taste

At night inside of my mouth

Oh, you run away

'Cause I am not what you found

Oh, you're in my veins

And I cannot get you out

- In My Veins; Andrew Belle

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"That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt."

- Augustus Waters

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Chapter Twenty-Four: Harry's Karma:

Legend of Lies: Harry Potter Admits!

By Rita Skeeter

Rumors about the legendary war hero, Harry Potter, have been speculating about endlessly ever since the day we spotted him looking rather cozy with his long-term friend and Muggle-born witch, Hermione Granger, a month ago. We had our suspicions that the two may have shared a brief affair behind the scenes of the lunch dates and the working together for the Death Trials but it has been recently confirmed by none other than Harry Potter himself that their close friendship has blossomed into a forbidden tryst!

An unnamed source claimed to have overheard the worldwide known hearing speaking with his relatively close friend and pureblood, Ron Weasley, owner of the commonly known Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, about his feelings for the brunette beauty during their time at the semi-finals of the Quidditch World Cup and that not only one secret has been revealed that night; it seems that the romance between Granger and Weasley has died down as they are also known to be getting a divorce. Indeed, the biggest shock to ever happen among the famously known Golden Trio. Could it be the unfaithfulness of Potter and Granger to have caused such a dilemma among the Weasley clan?

However, another surprise to add to this twisted story is that Ron Weasley had grown quite an infatuation with our very own Magizoologist, Luna Scamander (nee Lovegood). It was proven on the previous night in a club by many witnesses that he has gone through an emotional rampage over the dotty witch against her husband, Rolf Scamander, for reasons unknown. But perhaps this could have been the true cause of his divorce with Hermione Granger?

It still does not change the fact of Harry Potter's confession of his growing feelings for the bright witch. According to our source, after the two wizards have gone through a physical row, did our beloved hero fessed up and admitted of his feelings. Our hearts break for the tragic hero as his feelings does not seem reacquainted by Granger. It seems her persuasive ways have gone to full effect. {ctd. page 2, column 2}

Harry was not able to peel his eyes away from the article. He could not believe that all of the secrets he was preparing himself to tell Ginny was published to the public for all eyes to see and all minds to take in. Anybody he knew could be reading this right now; the Weasleys, his friends, and the children. They could all be trying to piece together on whether or not this information was a form of deceit for sales or a discovery among the mountains of dirt he had buried it in but he knew that they were beginning to think the latter of manner because, as Ginny said, it seemed believable. It was all the truth after all.

He could question one thing; who was the source that had gathered all of this information? It certainly wasn't Rita Skeeter herself because he did not see her anywhere in the Quidditch pitch and even if she was there she would have asked him directly. That was her ideal method in journalism – forward and upfront. He doesn't remember anybody being there at the same time as he was confessing to Ron about his feelings for Hermione and he to him about Luna. It was a mystery on who could have been the collector.

Harry looked up at Ginny. All that he was expected to see was shown on her face; betrayal and anger. He can see she is waiting for an explanation from him and he was hesitant because he never found the proper way to tell her the truth (this was by far anywhere near how he wanted to) but he needed to tell her now. It was the worst timing but it was still the right thing to do. He knew his feelings for her weren't strong and pure like he originally thought them to be for years and a part of him was going to be torn by the hurt he is going to put her through. He glanced at the paper then at Ginny one last time, feeling regret for her, but he couldn't hide from her anymore.

"Let's wait until Teddy and Hermione are gone then we'll talk about this," he said.

Ginny shoved the paper into his chest, causing him to nearly tumble back a step, and she turned away from him to walk out of his sight. But before she went through the doorway, she told him over his shoulder, "Hermione won't be leaving. I want to talk to the both of you," and then she was gone before Harry could utter a protest.

Harry sighed and looked down at the paper in his hands. There was a heart shaped picture of him looking at Hermione while she was keeping an eye on Lily and Hugo to not fall over the railing and then smile at her when she went along with the cheer of the crowd. He remembered that moment at the semi-finals. A sudden flare of rage sparks up in Harry; he crushed the paper together and tossed it into the fireplace before he used his wand to send it bursting into flames. He watched as the fire consumed it, turning it into ashes around the picture until it was blackened.

Harry wanted to know who had the nerve to expose his private life to the public. He wanted to arrest them with any excusable reason possible. He, although knowing that his decision telling Ginny would have ended the same, did not want the situation to get worse like this but now that it is being read by millions to billions of people around the world he couldn't find any other ways to lessen the blow. He doesn't even want to think about the attention Ginny must have gotten at her work when the article was published.

Leaving the paper to burn, Harry left the living room and went upstairs with a heavy heart. As he reached the second floor, he could hear watery laughter coming from James' old room along with the sound of Hermione's cracked voice talking. He walked closer to the door and when he peeked inside he was met with a lovely sight of his godson trapped in his best friend's suffocating embrace, rubbing her back comfortingly, with tears and sniffling as they rocked gently to the sides. He could hear Hermione talking softly in his ear, barely audible, how Teddy has a safe travel back to Romania, that he should send them more posts about his adventures with Charlie, to come home whenever he is feeling a little homesick, and to always remember his manners because a gentlemen who respects get respected.

Harry had to laugh at this; it amazes him that he is able to when he is feeling empty inside. The sound had caused both Hermione and Teddy to separate and look at him. Harry noticed that Hermione also had tears in her eyes which did not really surprise him – she was always sentimental every time Teddy left.

"You got everything set?" Harry asked, referring to the small opened suitcase next on the bed.

"Toothbrush and fresh underwear," Teddy joked but the lightness didn't reach his eyes. He walked up to Harry to catch him in a tight embrace and patting him on his back as Harry returned just as strongly. It was always hard for Harry to let go of Teddy to Romania; he was the first child he had ever taken care of and had made him forget to see him as a godson and love him like he was his son so when he first let him go to Hogwarts and later in life to work with Charlie in Romania he was devastated. He will always be reminded of the feelings when Teddy's visits end.

"You take care of yourself with those dragons, you hear," Harry said as they released each other and gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. "You got your wand?"

"Check."

"You have all your clothes? You know James hates finding people's things in his room."

"Check."

"Your wallet?"

"Check."

"Spare wallet?"

"Check!" Teddy laughed. "C'mon Papa, I think I'm already old enough to remember the little things."

"Just making sure," Harry grinned. "What's left to pack?"

"A couple of spare books and a few souvenirs," Teddy told him. He went over to James' desk to pick up the small journals there and carried them back into the suitcase. Hermione had gathered the folded clothes to give them to the turquoise-haired wizard for him to shove in the suitcase before he flipped it closed and zipped it up.

Hermione took out her wand. "Reducio." The suitcase shrunk down into a palm-size and Teddy pocketed it.

"Promise me you'll wash behind your ears, Edward," Hermione told him. "And don't forget to floss after every meal and wash your teeth three times a day. Diligently."

Harry chuckled; Hermione was always a dentist's daughter to the end.

"Mum-Ne!" Teddy groaned dramatically, his shoulders slumping. "My name is Teddy."

"You know I can't help it," Hermione said. She straightened up the striped jacket he was wearing and swiped off any dust it might have collected. She suddenly seems like she couldn't fight an urge and she pulled the young wizard into a last, desperate hug.

"Er, M-Mum-Ne?" Teddy stuttered. Harry smiled fondly at the sight.

"You better call us through Floo as soon as you're home," said Hermione, tightening her hold. It was this that made Harry intervene by putting his hand on her shaking shoulder and she took in the sight to let go of Teddy and wipe the unshed tears from her eyes.

"C'mon," said Teddy softly, "you'll see me in the holidays and they're not far away."

"We know, son, but we just want you to be safe and take care of yourself over there," Harry retorted. "Dragons are dangerous creatures and anything can happen. Just please do what you're supposed to do to kill two birds with one stone."

"I'll try," Teddy agreed.

Then, not knowing what possessed him to do it, Harry reached inside his coat and pulled out a book, the same book he found in Albus' bookshelf. The title, The Beedle and the Bard, stared back as him as he held it out to Teddy. Next to him, Hermione gasped in shock.

"So that you won't miss us too much – take this," Harry said, glancing at the brunette curiously. "I'm sure Hermione wouldn't mind you having it for two months."

Hermione, with great surprise, smiled easily. "Of course not. But someone has to explain to Albus why he can't find it."

"I will," Harry said.

Teddy accepted the book and read the title tenderly. Just like Albus, Hermione read him stories from the book when he was a baby and it was until after he took Ancient Runes Class in Hogwarts that he started to read the book cover to cover as much as he wanted and never got rid of it. Growing up with the book, Teddy could never resist asking him, Hermione, or Ron about their adventures and he always found their stories more interesting than the other adults he ever interacted with. So the book held memorable times of when Teddy bonded with each of the trio.

"Think I'll be able to translate it accurately like you Mum-Ne?" Teddy chuckled playfully, although, he looked like he was going to cry and that surprised Harry a little. All the other times he would leave for Romania he never showed the signs he is now.

"You've certainly improved since then," Hermione said. "I have no doubt."

Teddy nodded but didn't say anything else. He simply tucked the book in his jacket and dragged Hermione in a big embrace that she happily returned. Harry dug his hands in his pockets while watching them whisper a quiet private conversation with each other. A part of him never got to know how his godson and best friend got close; he remember that it had taken Hermione a while to get it right for her to change Teddy's diapers, stop him from crying, burp him, get him to sleep, and to stop him from pulling her hair, and for Teddy; he had to get accustomed to Hermione's way of raising him, follow her rules, go through her short educational lessons, and move along with her nightly readings. He couldn't find how they have grown to love each other unconditionally like a parent and a child.

After Teddy and Hermione let go of each other, the young wizard turned to Harry to give him a hug as well. It lasted for a minute longer than it was with Hermione before they separated and Harry ruffled his colored hair. It had turned deep blue – he was sad that he had to leave.

"I'll see you lot in Christmas," Teddy told them. "Make sure to have a fresh batch of butterbeer and eggnog for when I come back."

"We will," said Harry as Hermione nodded and sniffed lightly. Almost instinctively, Harry wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulders to hold her close and he held his breath as she laid her head on his shoulder. He caught Teddy give him an enigmatic look towards him, which he hoped Hermione hadn't caught, and he sent him a tight smile. He could hear him say the same thing that Mr. Weasley said: Good luck with everything, Harry.

"Bye Papa, Mum-Ne," said Teddy.

"Bye Teddy," said Harry and Hermione.

Teddy smiled before his body is seen whipping through the air and then he was gone with a crack.

Even after he disappeared, neither the witch and the wizard moved from their position or wavered their gazes on the spot where Teddy once stood. For Harry, he was trying to adapt to the fact that his godson has now left his life once again, like he usually does, and the feeling of loss was sinking in on him. He felt it three times in his life with Teddy, James, and later Albus, and he still could not get used to it even when he prepares for it.

Harry glances at Hermione. She still has her head on his shoulder and from the difficult angle he could see she was wiping her eyes again. Her face was puffy and red from the slight crying. He rubbed her shoulder as an attempt to comfort her and he was pleased to feel her become mellow under his touch.

"We'll see him again," he said.

"I know," said Hermione softly. "It's just…I don't like letting him go…and to dragons no less."

"He's with Charlie – he's a lot safer with him there than without him."

"I know, I know…I just…dragons, Harry, dragons. We both had our experiences with dragons and we know they're not the most friendliest of creatures. Not to mention he somehow inherited your recklessness involving dangerous creatures," Hermione added with a small laugh as she patted his stomach and slipped under his arm to walk out of the room.

"I'm not that reckless," he called after her and he heard her laugh again in response. He followed her out of the room where he saw her staring down the hall, arms crossed, at the door that leads to the master bedroom. He can also hear footsteps coming from said room.

"Is everything all right with Ginny?" said Hermione. "I felt a death mark over my head from the way she was looking at me."

"Yeah, she's…she's fine…" Harry licked his dry lips as he dragged his hand through his hair, glancing uncomfortably at the door, knowing that in a couple of minutes Ginny would be coming out to have that dreaded talk with him and Hermione about the newspaper and the secret that has been hidden for far too long.

Hermione didn't seem convinced. "You look skittish. What happened, Harry?"

Harry swallowed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He knew he has no reason to hold back anymore once Ginny showed that she no longer believes his words and is accepting the rumors between him and Hermione.

"Ginny knows," he answered reluctantly, "about us. Not 'us' like in that sense but I mean like the secret."

Hermione's eyes widen. "You told her about the kiss?"

"No," Harry said. "But someone, somehow, managed to get the information and published it. It's all over this week's front page."

"What?"

"Shh!" Harry hushed her when she spoke a little too loudly. He glanced at the bedroom door apprehensively. "Yes, someone got the dirt on the secret. Although it didn't really say about the kiss directly…it said other secrets. It even talked about Ron and Luna…about the incident with Rolf –"

"Was it that Skeeter bint who wrote it?" Hermione demanded.

"Yes."

"Bloody hell!" she hissed venomously. "I swear she has no class whatsoever. I don't know who's she is paying but she has someone on the inside of either the Ministry or in the Daily Prophet giving her any information that is too personal. This isn't the first time she –"

"I know about the rest," Harry said. He had been told by George and Ron during his days of suspension.

Hermione sighed. "And how is Ginny taking it?"

"She's calm at the moment –"

"And that's not a good sign coming from her," Hermione finished. "I assume she already set up the Silencing Charm so Lily won't hear her blowing your ears off."

Harry winced. "Actually it's so she won't hear Ginny blowing off my ear…and yours."

"Pardon?" Hermione inquired suspiciously.

"Ginny said she wants to talk to the both of us," Harry explained. He felt sympathy for Hermione when her face went pale of color. He can see that she was thinking her worst nightmare was now coming true – Ron was a setup – Ginny is the ticking bomb.

At that moment, the said ginger emerged from the master bedroom and she paused on a step when she saw both Hermione and Harry looking at her expectedly. She stared at them for a minute before she closed the door and then walked past them with her chin held high, not glancing at them or speaking a word. Harry took that as a silent message, a secret demand to the both of them, to follow her without question.

"Looks like the calm before the storm is over," Harry mumbled.

Hesitantly, they followed the disgruntled redhead's lead back downstairs with Harry keeping his posture in front of Hermione. He doesn't believe that Ginny would go as far as to attacking them. He knows Ginny, despite how terrible everything seems for him or Hermione, would not dare to make herself hurt Hermione or him for their mistakes. She would probably hex them and then let karma handle the rest. Either way, he kept himself in front of Hermione out of old instinct. He knew how bad his relationship with Ginny is going to be but he does not know about hers with Hermione. He had vibes that things between them were not well as they used to be before no matter how kind they treated each other.

Once they all reached the living room, Ginny wordlessly sat on the recliner chair while Harry and Hermione sat on the sofa. The fireplace was still crackling like Harry left it; he could still see remains of the newspaper turning into ash. They sat there in the room with a fire glowing out the outlines of their silhouettes as they glanced at each other uneasily, neither of them not finding the words to begin with, the ticking of the father clock the only thing heard breaking the tense silence along with their unbalanced breathing, and an awkward vibe passed through them as all three pairs of eyes locked simultaneously. Ginny was the first to speak.

"So do any of you want to explain to me what's been going on?" she asked calmly.

Both Harry and Hermione gulped. Harry had to resist the urge to reach for Hermione's hand because he didn't want to make the situation worse than it already is and because he and Hermione were sitting at opposite ends of the sofa. But he did glance at her as she did to him and they quickly looked back at Ginny. Neither of them said a word.

Ginny seem to be growing impatient. "Well? We could be here all night, you know. I put a Barricade Charm around the house so no one can get in or out unless I lift it."

"Well –" Harry began but he was soon cut off.

"We're so sorry, Ginny," Hermione said quickly. "We didn't mean for it to happen. Actually, it's mostly my fault that it all happened – Harry was more of victim of my drunken recklessness so please don't be too angry with him. That kiss shouldn't have happened."

And thus, the truth came out. Harry literally felt his heart stop as he waited for Ginny to take in Hermione's apologetic confession and held his breath when she shifted her weight to sling one leg over the other. She was just staring at them and that made him more unnerved than ever. He was expecting an outburst at first, letting her release all her anger, before she looked this way, all impassive.

"So…what I've been hearing at work is true?" Ginny asked evenly, almost too calmly to Harry's liking. "You two were having an affair all this time?"

"What? No, we weren't shagging or anything like that, Gin. It was a kiss, just a kiss!" Harry cried, shocked. "

Ginny licked her lips, her bright brown eyes moving towards a shameful Hermione and then turning scarlet at the sight of her. But her face remained unchanged from her eyes.

"Why did you lie to me?" she asked the brunette.

"Ginny, I –"

"That time when we talked…when I asked you if there was anything between you and Harry…you said – and I quote in your words – 'Ginny, there absolutely nothing beyond friendship with the two of us. Never has been, never will be. I've got Ron and you got Harry.' So why'd you lie?" said Ginny; Harry figured she must be referring to the time she and Hermione were partnered together to walk through the scareshow in Halloween.

"Technically, I didn't really lie to you, Ginny," said Hermione boldly that it shocked Harry.

"Care to elaborate?" Ginny inquired.

Hermione sighed and leaned forward to lean against her knees with her elbows. "Okay, I want you to know that this was not premeditated. I didn't have the thought of kissing Harry that night when my father was brought to the hospital. But it is my fault that it happened – I was fully aware of my low tolerance when it comes to alcohol and I still drank something too heavy for me. So –"

Ginny held up her hand. "Stop."

Hermione complied respectfully. Harry kept his mouth shut as he patiently waited for Ginny to get a handle onto Hermione's words. She stuck her tongue against the inside of her bottom lip and slowl slid it over to her cheek. She continued to hold her hand up but she wasn't giving them any eye contact. Being with her for so long, Harry knew Ginny does this when she tried to keep herself from crying; his eyes softened as he watched her struggle to keep control.

"Look, Ginny…I'm really sorry about all of this," said Hermione. "All of this was my mistake and if it weren't for me…any of this, all of this wouldn't be happening. Everything would still be –"

"Stop!" Ginny interrupted again, her voice cracking this time. She covered her mouth when she heard the weakness in her tone. She still refused to look directly at them. "Just…stay quiet…"

Harry licked his lips. He wanted to speak out to Ginny, to tell her many things that would leave him feeling lower than he is now and to shed a little bit of light through the gloomy cloud hovering over her. But he cannot find the right words to make it possible, cannot find his voice. He was stuck as a stone.

"If..if it…" Hermione tried again. "Karma caught up to me a while ago. Ron and I…we…" she paused; Harry was flabbergasted. "We're getting a divorce."

Ginny finally connected her eyes with the brunette's. "He knows?"

"Yes," Harry answered bitterly. "He's known for weeks now. He's been pushing me to tell you the truth since then but I kept holding off because I didn't know how to tell you. But…I guess you could say the truth is out in the open and I still don't know what to say to you to let you know how terribly sorry I am to have taken advantage of your trust and made you look like a fool, Ginny. That was the last thing I wanted to do – that was never even on my list on things to do. But it's like Hermione said; it wasn't premeditated."

"Yeah, because Hermione is always right about everything," Ginny scoffed, rolling her eyes. When they settled on the brunette witch, they became cold as well as her tone did because Hermione looked concern. "Don't look at me like that. Don't you dare look at me like that! After all those promises, all those lies, and sneaking behind my back with this secret…don't you dare look at me like you feel sorry for me! You knew what you were doing all this time! And to think that telling me your marriage with my brother is ending would make things better – you're lower than rubbish, Hermione."

"I didn't tell you that as a way to make you feel better," Hermione retorted. "I figured since we're admitting secret then we might as well tell them all."

"Oh? You have more secrets, I see," remarked Ginny.

Yes, Harry thought at the same time Hermione answered, "No."

Ginny's glare hardened. "You're a liar."

"I didn't lie," said Hermione. "I was telling the truth that nothing was going on between me and Harry. Nothing above friendship. It was just the secret – the kiss – it was our mistake. And we were cowards to not have told you as soon as possible. I am really sorry, Ginny."

"Right, well, you can go now," Ginny told Hermione without looking at her. "Don't expect me to forgive you for a long time. You're a whole different person to me now."

Hermione opened her mouth as if to protest against Ginny's words but Harry can see that she was now stuck with a blank space. She did not have a way to turn this around, at least, not at this moment. She closed her mouth, stared at the redhead with sorrow eyes for a full minute, before she looked away and stood up to hastily leave the room. A quick glance at her face, Harry could see a leak of tears flooding on her face when she passed him and he thought his heart had died at the sight. His best friend just lost a beautiful friendship with one of the greatest women she has ever known and he was half to blame for the broken pieces she is leaving behind.

Ginny brought out her wand and waved it around swiftly; Harry listened intently to Hermione's footsteps as they moved to the front door until they stopped and a second later a loud crack was heard rattling through the walls. She had disapparated. And now that she was gone, Harry was left feeling an ounce of guilt and anger towards Ginny.

"You could have let her off a little easily," he mumbled.

Ginny gave a sarcastic laugh. "Are you seriously telling me to give her a bit of slack from all that? You're the last person to be telling me to do the right thing, Harry."

"Look, Hermione's not the only one at fault here."

"Geez, what gave away that idea? The fact I read it in a newspaper or that you haven't done a single thing to defend yourself?"

"Ginny, I'm not going to defend myself because I know what I've done is wrong and one of the worst things I could have done to you as my wife. But what Hermione said wasn't a lie; we really are sorry and we didn't plan for it to happen. It just did."

"That's the oldest line in the book," Ginny spat, her teeth gritted. "It doesn't matter whether it wasn't planned or how sorry you are Harry – it did. And you let it happen by choice, not by chance."

"And I'm accepting the consequences of my choice," Harry said firmly, surely.

Ginny glared at him with an intensity that has him feeling winded but then her expression turned forlorn as she gave him a mocking smile and said, "So what the papers said is true? Rita wasn't pulling a mickey out of me when she said that you do have feelings for Hermione?"

Harry bit his lip. He could hear the way her voice shook. She was on the brink of breaking down in front of him but she was holding herself together with the little pride and dignity she has left. He was hurting her badly but if he gave her the answer he knows she already knows then he wasn't so sure she would be able to be pieced back together again. And when he saw a lone tear run down her cheek, colored by the black of the mascara she wore for the day, he came to a decision he cannot save her anymore no matter how much he wanted to. The words of Mr. Weasley came to his head: No matter how much you think about it, the result will always end the same.

"Yes," Harry answered. "I don't want to hurt you anymore, Ginny…but yes, it's true. I'm in love with Hermione."

Another black streak stained her cheek. Ginny folded her arms as she looked down at her lap, biting her lips in as to stop an exhale that may have resulted in a sob. Harry took in a sharp inhale, hating to see her like this, hating himself mostly for making her this way. They had spent the most of their years together, promised each other to spend together for the rest of their lives, and that would always mean something to him but he cannot lie to himself that he could make it work with Ginny when his feelings for her were decaying while his for Hermione were surfacing.

"Ginny, I know this is all my fault," he said. "I know I've caused you pain – Hermione's lost your trust – but I swear to you that we will make things right –"

Her unexpected laughter cut him off. "Trying to make things right…that's quite a laugh. It'll never be right, Harry! Not with you or her! Nothing can be right after this!"

Harry sighed while he leaned back into the cushions of the sofa. He stared at her for a long minute, waiting to see if her reaction to everything would make him regret it all. But he didn't. He wished he hadn't waited long enough to tell her everything and saved her from the pain sooner.

"I don't understand why you would let things like this to happen, Harry, it doesn't sound like you at all," Ginny said. "We've been together for years – we were happy all those years. I don't see what went wrong."

"Nothing went wrong," Harry retorted. "It's just me – I'm wrong. A lot of things about me changed; I've noticed things I don't like anymore as I used to and see things that I would love to have or do. And neither of them involve you anymore, Ginny. You didn't do anything wrong; you are one of the most loveliest wives any bloke would be lucky to have and I was the very first of many to be able to have you. I was happy with our marriage and I enjoyed your company more than anyone's – you've become someone precious to me that I am grateful."

A tiny smile broke on her face at his comment and he was glad because these were his true feelings about her. She was someone important to him, a precious piece in his heart, who he is forever thankful and could not replace for being his first in everything special milestone of his life.

"You know…ever since mum told me stories about you, your legend, I was always inspired by you for being such a strong wizard and how you were able to rebound a curse on the most powerful dark wizard in history," Ginny said.

Harry nodded; she had told him this on their two year anniversary.

"Then I met you…and I got to know you better…and I saw you as I expected you to be from the stories; a natural brave leader. You could say I started to develop feelings for you the more I got to see you and talk to you. Every time you were near I always felt happy but I couldn't say a word at first because I was rather nervous around you and still at awe that you're real," Ginny continued. "And then at sixth year when you started to recuperate, I thought it was too good to be true but you proved me wrong…then you broke up with me because you were being like some noble martyr…and then we got back together after a while the war ended and we lasted for so long…I guess we weren't supposed to be together that long…"

"Ginny, I –"

Ginny took a deep breath. "I want you out of the house by six tomorrow. Lily is staying here with me. I'll contact you when I've made up my mind."

Harry frowned. "Ginny, I –"

"Don't say you're sorry, Harry. Just leave."

Harry's eyes softened but deep inside he knew he had every right of receiving any piece of harsh treatment from her; he hadn't been the best husband to her in any way, not even as a friend, and even when they were together he would make them seem like close friend rather than a married couple. They haven't been completely intimate since he returned aside from their moments of performing an oral act in addition that they haven't shared a kiss unless it was Ginny who initiates it. The cold truth is that whenever they kissed or acted heated he would be thinking of Hermione. She was always on his mind like an inevitable curse that he couldn't seem to shake off. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't picture Ginny as Ginny without thinking of brown curls, dark brown eyes, or the scent of cinnamon and he would fail miserably.

Harry gazed at Ginny, seeing the honesty and hurt in her bright brown eyes; she really meant her words.

"Ginny…I know you don't want to hear it but I need to say it: I really am sorry for everything. I promise I will do everything – anything – to make things right again. You're one of the most important people in my life."

"Yeah," said Ginny while more tears dripped down her face. "Just not important enough."

Harry couldn't take it anymore; he had tears forming in his eyes as well as he lowered his gaze, not wanting to look at her looking hurt. She was important – too important for him – but it was such a preditable truth that he couldn't deny and it was obvious that his feelings for the brunette witch who bewitched him that overcome it.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," he said. "I'm sorry because I couldn't be the man I used to be – the man you wanted me to be again – I tried…I really tried so hard to love you like that again and…I just couldn't. I hated myself for that and if you do too then go ahead, I deserve it."

Ginny shook her head. "Just go, Harry."

Harry sighed. That was a sign for the end of this conversation and nothing he says will change the hurt she is feeling. He chose to listen to her to not make things harder for either of them and stood from the sofa to walk out of the living room. He could hear Ginny faintly sobbing the farther he walked from her and he wanted nothing more than to bury her in a tight embrace to take the pain away but he knew he would only cause more destruction to the heart than giving her the cure.

Harry was already ascending up the first steps of the staircase when the phone rang and rattled loudly. He groaned inwardly, hanging his head low, as he returned to the main floor and reached for the phone.

"He –" Harry began but he quickly held the phone away from his ear when he heard his best friend's voice screaming through the speaker.

"HARRY! – HARRY - YOU THERE, MATE? – HELLO!"

"Ron!" Harry hissed. "Indoor voice, will you?"

"LOOK – NOT ENOUGH TIME – COME TO THE HOSPITAL!"

"Which one?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHICH ONE? ST. THOMAS!"

Harry's blood went cold. That was where Hermione's father was admitted. Considering the grave tone in Ron's voice, he was thinking of the worst possibility for the bright witch.

"I'll be there," he said and slammed the phone without giving Ron a chance to speak again. He quickly went to rack by the front door to get one of his coats and slipped it on before he disapparated on the spot.

---

His heart was lodged in his throat and pumping erratically as he sprinted into the St. Thomas Hospital as soon as his feet landed from Apparation. He ignored the people crowded around the entrance, pushing through them carelessly, whilst he bustled forward towards the reception area. Nurses and doctors looked at his rumpled appearance incredulously, mumbling with their comrade lowly while keeping their gaze on him, along with expecting mothers in wheelchairs accompanied by their significant other and going through the breathing procedure. An elder woman was attending them in the meantime.

Harry easily sneaked past them and raced towards the lifts. He was lucky that a woman in scrubs was exiting a cart and he was able to slip in before the doors closed then pressed the button for the third floor. He dug his hands in his pockets and leaned his head back against the vibrating wall, closing his eyes as he tried to block out all worse case scenarios from his mind but still kept a realistic sense. Panicked questions broke through his scattered thoughts; Is he alive? Is he dead? What about Hermione? Is she going to be okay? No, she won't be – she'll be broken if she loses her father. Is she here? Or is she at Cambridge? Should I check there just in case? What is she expects me there? Or maybe at that secret place she showed me last time?

The elevators stopped and Harry was already elbowing his way past the doors when they wouldn't open enough. He was glad that the room where Mr. Granger is at isn't so far from the lifts so when he turned the corner down the corridor, passed the smell of alcohol, the sound of newborn babies crying, and side-stepped a duo of gossiping nurses, he left in a messed of undecided relief and concern when he saw Ron sitting on one of the benches outside of the room, his face in his hands. He was the only one visible in the area. Harry stopped himself from choking on the lump in his throat as he approached the redhead and made an odd sound from his dry throat.

"I'm here," he croaked.

Ron's head snapped up and Harry was surprised to see he held no tears or signs of despair. In fact, his eyes were too bright to mingle with the atmosphere of the building and the broad smile on his freckled face was frightening.

"'bout time!" he rejoiced, jumping up to his feet. He clamped a hand on Harry's shoulder and dragged him with him towards the room. "Hugo and the girls are inside!"

"What's going on?" Harry inquired.

"You'll see," said Ron.

Ron pushed the door open and urged Harry to enter first only for him to stop abruptly at the scene playing before him; sitting on either side of the bed were Hermione, with Hugo sitting on her lap, and Carol, both of them expressing their utter bliss through their same beaming smiles as they spoke continuously about their stories for the past two months. And between them, dressed in a hospital gown, snuggled comfortably under the covers of the bed, was a very awake and healthy Aegeus Granger.

Harry stepped closer to them but not enough to break them out of their bubble of equanimity and serenity. He was transfixed at the sight. He had been with the Grangers on certain occasions if planned but he had never stepped into a room with them acting so normally with each other without the care of looking proper in front of company and showing rationality. They actually looked like – there is no other word to describe it – a bunch of nerds. The kind that aren't afraid to show their odd interests and still seem fascinating to look at from afar, not the stereotypical ones with taped glasses, braces, and suspenders, but the ones that makes people want to be around them and soak up their intelligence.

Aegeus was laughing at something funny Hugo said, wheezing and snorting, as well as Carol was breathless and wiping tears from her eyes. Hermione was merely watching them with a happiness in her eyes that is irreplaceable, chuckling a few times. Harry smiled softly. From watching them, Harry can see that Hermione did not get her seriousness from neither of her parents as they seem like a pair of jokers – it was ironic and hilarious to see that the only child of the Grangers acted more like an adult than her own parents do. Harry supposed it made sense for Hermione to act like the mature one. Someone in the family needed to keep control of their crazed antics.

Behind him, Ron clapped his back and said, "The potion worked, mate. It took a lot longer than it should have when I gave it to him but it worked. He was fighting a lot of illnesses, that bloke, but it helped it get through it."

"I was worried when I haven't heard anything from you about it," Harry said. He turned to the ginger. "Thanks, Ron, you helped a lot."

Ron smiled. "I wanted to save him for her too, y'know. I didn't want her to lose her dad so soon. She wasn't ready to go through that yet."

"I know," Harry said, turning back to the pleasant family. Hermione was now talking to her father about something he didn't know about. "That's why I did what I did."

Ron nodded. "You should have seen her face when I told her – she looked a bit sad when she got home so I guess she needed a bit of good news today. She burst to tears when she heard her dad is awake and better. She dropped everything she was doing before she came here – she even forgot she was holding Hugo!"

Harry chuckled. He liked hearing this. He needed to hear and see something good after everything that's happened tonight.

The door behind them creaks and a nurse peeks in.

"Oh, I didn't know there were so many in here," she said meekly. Her voice brought the attention of the family in the room and Hermione's eyes were alight when she saw Harry standing next to Ron.

"It's okay," said Carol honestly.

The nurse stepped aside to allow the doctor who took care of Aegeus, Dr. Caauwe, to enter the room, her pixie hair hidden under a deep blue bandana and her long white coat Harry usually saw her in was replaced with matching scrubs. She was carrying a clipboard that Harry can assume to be information about Hermione's father.

"Sorry it took me so long to get here," she said as she approached the Grangers. "I had to deliver triplets and it was a bit of a nightmare. I tried to finish as soon as I heard you were awake, Mr. Granger."

"It's no trouble," chuckled Mr. Granger. "I have great company."

Hermione smiled at him tearfully while patting on the hand tangled with her other one and Carol gave him a sweet peck on the cheek. Harry and Ron couldn't help themselves from smiling at the lovingly view of their best friend being showered with content and calamity with her two devoted parents.

"I can see," grinned Dr. Caauwe. "Quite a big family you've got here. You're a lucky man." She held up the clipboard of charts in her hand. "Now I'll have to ask you a couple of questions to make sure everything is in order. It's standard procedure for patients like you. Again, I apologize for it being overdue."

"I understand."

Dr. Caauwe cleared her throat before she began, "Do you know who you are?"

Harry thought that was an unnecessary question since the hospitalized man was responding to her very well whenever she addressed him as 'Mr. Granger' but he did not voice out his opinion as he knew it was for cautious reasons. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall behind him as he watched them go through the post-coma procedure.

"Aegeus Meridian Granger," Mr. Granger answered.

"What is your age? And when were you born?"

"Sixty-seven. I was born on the twenty-fifth of January in 1950."

"What is your occupation?"

"I'm a dentist."

"And lastly what year are we in?"

"Two thousand and seventeen."

"Perfect," Dr. Caauwe said. "Everything seems to be right. We will like to keep over for one more night to make sure it's certain. If by tomorrow you're still doing well, you can be discharged."

"Sounds brilliant," said Carol. "Thank you, Dr. Caauwe, for everything. We owe you so much."

"Just doing my job, Mrs. Granger," said the doctor. "You lot have a good night."

"Good night," said everyone in the room before the doctor left the room. The nurse went to check Aegeus' temperature levels, vital levels, heart levels, and changed his IV bag before she started to check off the list on her clipboard. Hermione got up from her chair, whispered quietly to her parents quickly, then placed Hugo on her chair before she walked towards Harry.

"Can I talk to you outside really quick?" she asked him.

Harry glanced at Ron to see him jerk his head then nodded at Hermione. She smiled and walked out of the room with him following her trail. After they were out in the corridor, Hermione closed the door and faced him, leaning against the door with her hands on her back and a gentle smile. Harry stopped himself from looking dazzled by it. He was amazed that she could still pull off such a better smile than him after what happened at his house.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"It was no problem," he said. "You know I have nothing against visiting your dad from time to time."

"No, Harry, I mean thank you for what you did for my father," she corrected. "Ron told me. I can't believe you managed to convince Kingsley to give you access to using magic like that. And for my father too. You won't believe how grateful I am for this."

Harry scratched his neck, feeling bashful. "It really was nothing, Hermione."

Hermione looked at him dubiously. "Nothing? Harry Potter, you saved my father. You went directly to the Minister of Magic for permission to go against all laws – all which you work hard to maintain control of – just to save one man, one who isn't even part of the wizarding world. How could you say it was nothing?"

At this, Harry smiled. For years Hermione is always the one who would break him out of his awkward shell with words of encouragement and friendly comments that would make him feel good about himself. Hearing her talk proudly of him like he was the greatest man, while knowing about the flaws of his character, makes him feel a sense of peace in heart and mind to know that she would still see the good in him despite it being his worst moment in life. She would show how thankful she is for his good intentions through his bad choices and he could never grow weary of her doing that. Her support and belief in him are his strengths. It always has been.

"Just think of it as one paid debt out of the many I owe you for saving my life many times before," he said.

Hermione laughed. "This pays all of them, Harry," she said. She pushed herself off the door to bring herself into Harry's arms and leaned her head against where his heart lives, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso.

Staring down at the top of her head, Harry couldn't stop noticing how small Hermione is. Or had he grown ridiculously taller over the years and he hasn't noticed it? Maybe Hermione always did because she hugs him the same way every time; head on heart, arms around his middle. Seeing her short height brought him an urge of protection over her more than ever. He looped his arms around her frame, pulling her close enough to make her seem a part of him, and rested his cheek on the crown of her head as he embraced her with unapologetic pleasure.

"You would have done the same thing for me," he murmured. He just received a hiccupped chuckle and a nod with a sniffle. She was speechless – she couldn't seem to find any words to tell him anything and it shocked him yet delighted him to be the one to leave her numb from words.

"Harry, I –"

"What kind of name is Meridian?" Harry asked. He knew eventually she will turn the conversation towards Ginny and he did not want her too – he wanted to soak in the joy of the night, not the grief.

Hermione pulled back but didn't remove her arms around him and neither did he. Her eyes, once bright in elation, were now dim in despair and guilt, but she somehow managed to force a smile and make it quick giggle even though it didn't feel real.

"It's an old family name on my father's side," she answered.

"How come you don't have it?"

"My mum didn't want me to have it – she and my father went on a debate with it, according to the stories they've told me," she explained. "Eventually my mum won him over with the name I have now."

"Hermione Meridian Granger," Harry mused. "Sounds like something you would hear in the 1800's. Maybe you have a relative who does have it."

"Possibly," said Hermione, biting her lip.

Stop doing that with your lip! Harry thought pleadingly, fixed on the way how her lips seemed so soft and addictively taunting under her once-then protruding teeth.

"Harry, about tonight," Hermione paused, taking a deep breath. "I…I am sorry for it. I take full responsibility of what's going to –"

"Hermione – don't, stop!" Harry said firmly, the same tone he would use on his kids if they ever lied about doing something wrong or got caught in the act. "Not tonight. Let me handle with Ginny and you focus on catching up with your dad and worrying about the case tomorrow. I'll talk to you later when that's over with."

Hermione seemed reluctant. She clearly wanted to learn about the aftermath of her departure but Harry wanted to continue to see the one of her reunion with her father. It was like a safe haven for him to see a family so secure and well-together over the miracle of another, the same miracle he caused for them, for her. He was the one who made all of the laughs and smiles of this peculiar woman happen because he wanted to. He needed to see her in that way to know everything is going to be okay. If she find a reason to smile for the good after the bad then so can he because she was it.

Harry brings his hands up to hold her face in his hands and chastely kisses her forehead, surprising her, and gives her a smile he hopes was convincing enough to ease off her worry.

"I want to make things right," she said quietly, "with Ginny. I…you must understand what I felt when I saw her that way – the way she talked to me – I've lost her as a friend."

"She will come around," he retorted.

"That would take ages, maybe after I pass on from old age," Hermione sighed. "I can't blame her. But…it still hurts."

"Hey, didn't I say we'll talk about this when everything is over?"

"We have to talk about it, Harry. We need to. We hurt Ginny."

"I am aware but not now, please. At least not here. Your father just woke up from a long coma and I can literally feel him looking through the door. Let's go back inside," he insisted kindly. "He's probably waiting for you."

Hermione still seemed uncertain to avoid the topic.

"I promise I won't give you the slip," he added. "When everything is settled down – your case – your father – we'll talk and find a way to make things right with Ginny again. I don't want to lose her friendship either. She's been around my whole life and it would be odd without her in it."

Hermione became worse. "And what about your marriage?"

"That's in question," he sighed. "She said she'll contact me once she's made up her mind."

"And Lily?"

"Will be staying with Ginny in the meantime. She wants me out of the house by tomorrow at six in the afternoon. My stuff needs to be gone by then."

Hermione's eyes widen. "A-and where are you going to stay?"

"I have a place in mind."

"Where?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Harry, tell me where. Please. I need to know you're somewhere decent and safe," Hermione pleaded, lightly stomping her foot. "If you're just saying that to keep me from worrying then you're staying at our home. You can stay in the spare room until then."

Harry cringed. "I don't think that's a good idea with everything that's going on."

"And neither is staying at a place that could be harmful to you," Hermione countered.

"It isn't harmful – at least, not physically," Harry said.

"Harry, that's –" Hermione suddenly gasped and her eyes shone realization as she shook her head. "No, no. You are not setting a foot in that place, Harry, not even a toe."

"Blimey, you're a bossy one," he grumbled.

"Harry," Hermione sighed. "No, you can't go back there. You haven't been there in years. Not since the war. Imagine what would happen to you if you went back. What if you break down?"

"I won't."

"But what if?"

"Hermione – I won't," Harry said strongly. Then he cleared his throat and looked down at the end of the corridor. It seems whenever someone brings up their concern over his disorder, he would end up feeling red anger towards them for it. He couldn't help himself. He didn't like that weaker, fragile part of him he is burdened with.

"Harry," Hermione started again. "I know you hate it when people treat you like you're some sort of weakling and being pampered all the time because of your disorder but I have a right to do all those things this time. It's not about endangering people around you that worries me – it's yourself. You've only acted violent in a way that is triggers towards a person but I've never seen you behave that way when it comes to yourself and I don't plan on seeing it either. I won't stand to be a bystander to see you wallow away in depression and self-pity again. Not this time." She sighed. Her voice turned soft. "Grimmauld Place holds so many memories…it could be too much for you…"

Harry winced. His body trembled in a horrid way in contrast to Hermione's touch when she mentioned the name of the forbidden place. The sound of it awakened the pain that was scarred within him, buried for years from the unmentioned memories, unmentioned people, that it started to make him guess whether it was a good choice for him to live their temporarily. It was the only place he thought of when Ginny told him to be gone by the next day but now, as he listened to Hermione, he wasn't so sure about it anymore.

"I'll have someone with me," he insisted with a shaky breath. "I'll go test myself out before I move in. If I can handle it then I'm moving in – no questions, no second thoughts – but if I can't handle a second of the place then I'll find somewhere else to live in."

Hermione gives him a relieved smile. "Thank you," she said. She fell deeper into his arms and sighed into his coat as he tightened his hold around her. She lifted her head momentarily to kiss his cheek then lay her head on his heart again. They held each other for a few minutes with Harry stroking her back and hair whilst she breathed him in.

"Let's go back inside," he whispered in her hair before the door behind them opened and Ron's head peeked through the crack.

"Hey guys," he said as Harry and Hermione pulled apart to look at him, "your dad is looking for you, Hermione. I think he's going to combust if he doesn't see you."

"Ron, that's not something you should joke about in a hospital," Hermione scolded, though she was smiling amusingly. She smiled at Harry once again before she went to enter the room and join her father.

Ron looked at Harry with a knowing smile once Hermione was out of earshot. Harry raised a brow at his reaction.

"What?" he questioned.

Never removing his smile, Ron shook his head with a chuckle and said, "You got it bad, mate. You were staring at her arse just now!"

"W-what?" Harry was flabbergasted. "No I wasn't!"

"Sure you were."

"Ron, c'mon."

Harry rolled his eyes as he grabbed his best friend's shoulder and turned him towards the door, playfully pushing him into the room. Ron laughed openly at Harry's embarrassment, the sound making Harry join in the manner. As they went in the room, the Granger family was already animatedly talking and acting hilarious. They hesitated to join but a kind invitation from Carol Grange brought them confidence to sit around the bed with them.

---

During their visitation, Ron, Hugo, and Harry were entertained with stories about Aegeus' childhood, how he met Carol and what he had to go through to be able to win her heart (much to Harry's amusement to learn that what Hermione had once told him was true; her parent's history was very similar to hers with Ron) but their favorite times were the small adventures of Hermione's magical outbursts before learning she was a witch. Ron, Hugo, or Harry couldn't hold back a guffaw from learning that Hermione had caused an ice cream machine to lose control and a bookshelf to burst over an excitement of a book she wanted.

Hugo asked Mr. Granger about stories of when he was a baby to learn if he had any humorous moments of magical outbursts, and Mr. Granger replied happily. Harry was pleased to see how much have changed in less than an hour of the night; he never once stopped to think that employers of the Ministry were absolutely talking about the headlines of the newspaper or about the awkwardness that is likely to come the following day when he and Hermione clock in for work. He was absorbing the lost warmth of a father of the caring family that was once broken; he could see that it was Mr. Granger who brings out the light from the two women of his life and that would make Carol go along with his jokes which would make Hermione laugh without ambition. It was a perfect combination of attempt, encouragement, and results – the definition of the Granger family.

Harry wasn't surprised how comfortable Ron was acting with them – he had been with Hermione for a long time – and for a moment, Harry felt shame and regret for him. He had grown into Hermione's family through their friendship and relationship, and it was obvious that Hermione's parents adored Ron to the fullest with the way they treated him like he was their own son. Of course, they give Harry the same treatment as he is Hermione's best friend, especially when they learned about the war and were always reminding him of being their daughter's savior, but it felt more profound with Ron. He figured it is because Ron brought them grandchildren and gave their daughter a family of her own and was loyal to her until their end.

Harry had frowned at this. Ron was loyal to Hermione until the end. Unlike him who couldn't gain the courage to admit to his own wife about his mistake. As he looked at the family rejoicing, he wondered if Hermione thought of him differently despite her actions. If they, somehow, got together would she be able to trust him to not fall back in love with Ginny? Or would she use his tryst against him whenever they have a row? He hadn't thought about that. And he didn't have time to do so as he forced a smile and answered a question that Mr. Granger asked about his job.

When the same nurse came in again, she told them they needed to leave as visiting hours were over. Mrs. Granger was allowed to stay because she already brought in extra clothes for the night and she was going to be Mr. Granger's transportation back home if he is allowed to be discharged in the morning. Hermione was reluctant; she wanted to spend the night also to bring her father home but Harry had reminded her that she had a case to worry about in the morning (resulting him to earning a glare from her and a laugh from Ron) and she agreed remorsefully. They all said their farewells with Hermione giving him a kiss on the cheek, Ron and Harry shaking hands with the Muggle man, and Hugo giving his grandfather a hug before they left the building.

Ron was the one who insisted for Harry to stay at their house for the night after Harry told him about the talk he and Hermione had with Ginny prior to his phone call. Although he was proud and relieved that Harry was able to let go of that secret but he was sympatric about the demise of his marriage with his sister. Harry tried to decline but Hermione was persistent and determined that he was left without a choice but to go along with their chivalrous offers.

"Aw!" Hugo whined, dressed in his pajamas, as he dropped onto his bed. "How come Lily can't sleep over?"

"Because she has school tomorrow," said Harry, smiling, "just like you."

"But I don't wanna go to school," Hugo groaned while rolling onto his front and burying his face into his pillow, his floppy red hair splayed over the cushion.

Harry laughed and gingerly dragged the bed sheets over the disgruntle wizard's back. He was dressed in some of Ron's spare night cloths; a white shirt and sweatpants. His hair was a bit disheveled from the shower he had taken minutes ago.

Hugo rolled to his side, his eyes full of purity. "How come you're sleeping over, Uncle Harry?"

"Why? You don't want me to sleep over?" Harry asked with false hurt.

"No – I mean, yes! – I don't mind you sleeping over!" Hugo stuttered. "But how come you are?"

"Your parents asked me to," Harry said quickly, surprising himself to being able to come up with a story so easily. "Your mother should be coming over now to read your good night. Sleep tight, little tyke," he added, giving the young wizard a pat on the head and turned to walk towards the show.

"Can you read to me, Uncle Harry?" Hugo asked hurriedly. "Mum should be sleeping for her case tomorrow. I don't want her to be all sleepy because of me."

"Isn't that your thing with Hermione?"

"Yes but tonight can be an exception," said Hugo. He kicked the sheets off him and went across the room to his bookshelf. He picked off a book from the last row before he went to Harry and handed it to him excitedly.

"The Catcher in the Rye?" Harry read, flipping the book in different angles. "Sounds a bit advance for you, don't you think? Wouldn't you like something more fun for kids in your age? Like Peter Pan?"

"Mum always reads me books like this," Hugo said. "They're a lot more fun to read about than looking at pictures. Come on!" He took Harry by the hem of his shirt and pulled him with him to the bed. "I'm on chapter six!"

"Okay," Harry chuckled. He made himself comfortable on the small bed, allowing Hugo to lean against him, and have his arms around the child to be able to hold the book better for him to see. He flipped through the pages after he looked at the table of contents and stopped on the specific chapter. "Did your mum just start on the chapter or is she halfway in?"

"Haven't read it yet," Hugo stated.

"Alright." Harry cleared his throat before he began, "Some things are hard to remember. I'm thinking now of when Stradlater got back from his date with Jane…"

Throughout the story, Harry was surprised to find himself interested in the plot. It was unlike any other story he's ever read to Lily. It was a controversial novel of teen angst and alienation, dealing with complex issues of identity, belonging, loss, and connection told through the protagonist, an icon for teenage rebellion, Holden Caulfield. The writing style was also unique, in Harry's opinion, as he learned phrases he never heard before like "Crumbum" or "Chew the fat" but he was able to understand the double meaning of "Give her the time" which made him question what would lead to Hermione to allowing her youngest child to read such a book.

Harry was reading the part where Mr. Antolini was quoting Willhelm Stekel when he heard a light clearing of a throat and a gentle snore on his chest. He peered at the door to see Hermione, dressed in her night attire, watching him while leaning against the frame, arms crossed, and smile gently at him then he glanced down at Hugo, who was completely caught in slumber. He carefully pulled the young wizard off his chest and lowered him onto his pillow, dragging the bed sheet over his small figure. Once he was sure Hugo wouldn't stir, Harry turned to Hermione.

"Quite a book," he whispered, holding up the novel.

"I'm glad you think so," Hermione whispered back while entering the room and approaching her son. "It is a fascinating book. If you ask Hugo I'm sure he won't mind lending it to you for reading." She stroked back the small redhead's hair and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Seems a little too…grownup for Hugo, don't you think?" Harry said. "I don't think it's something appropriate for someone in his age."

"Hugo isn't like most kids in his age," Hermione retorted. "Ever since he learned he's dyslexic he's been trying to get ahead on his vocabulary than his classmates so I buy him books to help him. Also the book isn't too adult for him. He'll relate to it soon so I think of it as a head start on what he might face one day after he hits puberty."

"He really is your son," Harry chuckled. He went to return the novel back in Hugo's book collection and quietly followed Hermione out into the hall after she dimmed down the lights, leaving miniature glowing glob glide around the ceiling. From down the hall, the rumbling snores of an unconscious Ron Weasley can be heard echoing into the silence and Harry laughed quietly at his best friend's unbreakable sleeping habit.

"Thank you for reading to him," Hermione said as she shut the door softly. "I was really a little stressed so I took a longer shower than usual. It would have taken me at least two hours to get him to fall asleep but it only took you less than one. He must have been really tired."

"Aftermath of eating so many sweets," Harry pointed out. "He was bound to rash sooner or later."

Hermione giggled. "Yes."

Harry looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Hermione answered too quickly to Harry's liking. "I was just thinking about a lot of things. You know how I can be when I overthink. It's starting to take a toll on me."

Harry grimaced. "You're not thinking about Ginny, are you? I'd prefer you think about your case. You'd have a lesser chance of going mental."

"Of course I'm thinking about Ginny," Hermione sighed. "I have a right to worry about you despite all. She is – uh, was my best friend. Aside from you and Ron, of course, she's the only one I could talk certain things to that I couldn't with you two. You know: things only women can relate to."

"You know I asked Ginny one time what it is that you two do on your night outs," Harry said. "Do you really sit around complaining about your husbands and talking about attractive men?"

Hermione formed a mysterious smirk. "Why? Interested in joining the topic?"

Harry went green. "No, thank you."

Hermione laughed. "I'm just pulling the mickey out of you, Harry. But all joking aside, I am worried of her. And you. And the kids. All I can think about is how this is going to affect the family."

Harry sighed. "I know. Right now, Ginny wants to be alone to come up with a decision from all this. Depending with what she chooses, I'll come up with a solution that would somehow benefit to the kids. For now, don't think about that, Hermione, you got a case to do in a couple of hours. You need to sleep."

"I know," said Hermione. "I just wish there is something I can do."

"You can come up with a way after you win the case," Harry remarked. "By then Ginny will probably come to you and, knowing you, you'll come up with a solution to get things right between you two. Like you are with me and Ron: you and Ginny have been friends for a long time. If Ron and I can get past this then so can you two."

"Girls are different from guys," Hermione stated. "We tend to take things too literal to heart. Why do you think you see so many acting so petty nowadays?"

"Guys are the same too," Harry said with a shrug. "We're just too prideful to show or admit it and it helps make it easier to move along."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly."

Harry smiled. He then placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes like he had done many times before.

"Hey," he said, "everything will be okay. I pro –"

"Harry Potter, if you promise me one more thing, I will hex you into next week," Hermione hissed fiercely. "No more promises – you'll be paying it with half of your lifespan at this rate. Just…hope – hope for the best. No promises."

Harry nodded. "No promises – just hope."

Hermione smiled and he couldn't help but return it on her behalf. A strand of slight wet hair had fallen out from behind her ear and rested on her face; Harry knew it would be completely awkward and above all cliché if he tried to brush it away, but it was annoying him, with it being only one hair and all. He used his thumb to hold it back as he moved his hands up to hold her face, tenderly cradling her cheeks in his rough palms. Her smile fell into parted lips, her eyes darkened and glazed with a gaze indescribable to Harry. He felt he could literally drown in the brown of her eyes in shameless delight.

"Harry, I need to ask you something," said Hermione, her voice soft and almost inaudible. She sounded a bit breathless.

"What is it?"

"Everything that's been going on…with Ginny…or in general…" Hermione hesitated. "Is…is there another reason why it's all happening? On your part, I mean."

Harry's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"It's just…you've been so different lately," Hermione explained tentatively. "Especially towards me. I'm not saying it's a bad thing!" she added when she noticed the dejected face Harry was making. "But it's unusual as well. I can't explain it but it's like you're a whole new person when you're around me."

Because I'm in love with you, Harry thought while laughing uncomfortably and scratching his head. He didn't think he was being too obvious with his emotions; he never is. He cleared his throat and said, "Guess I'm just being overprotective. The deeper I go with the investigation, the more cautious I want to be with the people around me. I don't know who's really who now."

Hermione smiled, in Harry's eyes, beautifully at him, her cheeks slightly flushed, and reached for his hand as she said, "Harry Potter, you are a wonderful man. I feel very lucky to know I'm safer with you and cared by you immensely. Thank you."

Harry felt his face grow unbearably warm. He unconsciously squeeze her hand and dipped his head down to kiss her on her redden cheek. When he pulled back, he was greeted by a scarlet Hermione and he took it as her embarrassment and felt somewhat awkward now to have made her feel that way. He slipped his hand from hers and took a step back, trying to lessen the tension among them for her sake rather than his.

A snore broke the silence, making them jump and then laugh once they recognized it to be Ron.

"Do you think Ron is okay?" asked Hermione, staring down the hall. "About Rolf and Luna?"

"Honestly, I don't know," said Harry. "I best guess is that he's fuming at Rolf and sick with worry for Luna and the twins. I'm on the same as him about Luna. I'm worried about her – I haven't spoken to her in a while. I don't trust myself going to her home because if Rolf is there…" Harry shook his head. "Ron is a better choice."

"I'm worried about Ron," Hermione sighed, crossing her arms. "He's been through a lot. Before he was in love with a woman he could never have and now he has to be the one to break the truth to the same woman he wants and see her heartbroken."

I know the feeling. Harry cleared his throat before answering, "Luna is a tough bint – one of the many I know. She isn't the type to let other put her down no matter how bad the hurt is. And with Ron by her side I don't think she'll be thinking of that worthless git."

Hermione smiled. "This could be a good advantage for Ron. Who knows, maybe Luna does feel something for him or she could end up feeling the same way for him."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're a hopeless romantic, Hermione," said Harry with a smirk. He laughed as he dodged a playful swipe from her.

"It's called being hopeful," she retorted. "It would be nice for Ron; he deserves it. If Luna is the one who could make him feel better than he was with me then I want that for him. I just hope he'll have some control and not rush. Luna is…exclusive –"

"Exclusive?" Harry repeated exasperatedly, smiling teasingly.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. What do you want me to say? Rare? Unique? Uncommon? Particular? I have a whole list of synonyms and I can go all night until I find the right word to your liking."

Still smiling, Harry held his hands up. "No comments."

"Anyway," said Hermione, "as I was saying: Luna is exclusive but she is still a person. She's going to be vulnerable either way."

"Yeah," Harry murmured. "Maybe we should plan a day for her to spend with us, all of us, so she could get better faster after Ron tells her."

"I'm sure she will appreciate that," Hermione smiled. She took a step down the hall. "We'll talk about it to Ron in the morning?"

"Depends: what are we having for breakfast?" Harry smirked.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Good night, Harry."

Harry frowned in disappointment as Hermione turned from him and started to walk down the hall. That's it? He suppose he could understand her dismissing him so soon, seeing that she does have to go in the Ministry early the next day for her case, but the selfish part of him did not want to end the night with her yet or at all. He glanced at the small clock on the wall above a table full of family pictures and saw that it was close to eleven.

"Hey Hermione?" he said. He kept his breathing controlled when she faced him. "Do you want to have a cup of hot chocolate with me? Or maybe tea?"

Hermione rubbed her arms. "If we do we won't be able to sleep at all."

"I don't know about you but I don't feel the least bit tired," said Harry. He shook his head while rubbing his neck. "But it's okay. If anything I'll be in the kitchen. I'll make sure to replace what I use."

Harry turned towards the stairs but he paused when he heard Hermione say, "Well…" and when he turned to her, he saw her glancing between him and the pathway down the hall, "I could never resist your special hospitality," she said.

Harry smiled as she reached him and they moved in simultaneous steps whilst they walked downstairs together. The stairs had creaked a bit loudly, much louder than through the day. Hermione covered her mouth as if that would stifle the sound and Harry laughed softly as she led them into the kitchen, switching the lights on with a flick of her wrists. Hermione already got the kettle boiling on the stove while Harry went to the pantry to pull out the pack of chocolate chip cookies and went to open it at the counter.

Hermione raised a brow. "Having a sweet tooth, I see."

Harry grunted with a nod as he shoveled two more pieces of cookies in his mouth and chewed soundly. He kept his eyes on the pack even when he felt Hermione move closer to him and stop in front of him from across the counter.

"You can't stop thinking about Ginny either, can you?" she asked quietly as she plucked a piece from the pack and nibbled on the edge.

Harry sighed and weaved his hands through his hair. "I know I'm being bipolar about this – telling you to not think about it or talk about it but…you should have seen her. She cried, 'Mione, she cried. And in front of me. Do you know how bad I must have done to make her do that? I hurt her so much."

Hermione didn't say anything right away and Harry was pleased that she didn't. He wasn't sure if anything she said would really help him of his guilt if she cannot be saved from it either.

"I think a part of her knew that there was something," he continued. "I know Ginny; she would have lashed out on me to the fullest but she didn't. I don't think I am surprised. I haven't been the best husband to her since I came back from the mission, maybe even before that. I wasn't giving her enough attention or affection and when I did it's usually when she starts something. I think she was just waiting for me to confess."

Hermione waited. The cookie she nibbled on was long forgotten. She quietly reached across the counter to take his hand in hers and rubbed his knuckles with her thumb, a silent gesture telling him to continue. But Harry did not know what else he could say. He was never good at expressing his emotions. He did not know how to describe the hate, the anger, he felt towards himself for causing pain to a wonderful woman like Ginny.

"You know Arthur suspected something wrong between me and her," he told Hermione. "I don't know if it has anything to do with the row I had with Ron or if he noticed the difference of the way I treated Ginny but he knew. He didn't blow up at me like I expected him to and that made me feel even worse. I deserve him to do that to me. Hell, I deserve Ginny to slap me silly and toss out all of my things and to take Lily away for what I've done."

"Okay, let me stop you right there," said Hermione firmly, the tone rattling Harry out of his self-loathing and shocking him to see the hard eyes she is wearing. "You don't deserve to have Lily taken away from you – no one deserves to have their child taken away from them so get that out of your head."

"Hermione, the way I am –"

"You made a mistake – we made a mistake to Ginny," said Hermione, "but it's not a mistake to Lily. You haven't done anything wrong to her or to James or to Albus. You may not be the same man Ginny once new but you're still the same father your kids love so much. You work hard for them – you worry about their health – you care about them immensely – and you love them unconditionally no matter what. Don't question your abilities of a father because of your errors as a man. There's a difference."

Harry didn't reply. He sighed and closed his eyes as he cradled his forehead in his hand. The light whistling of the kettle and the smell of flavored packets was beginning to give him a headache.

"Harry, we're going to fix this – all of this – with Ginny and with whatever comes our way," Hermione continued. "We're in this together as always, right?"

Harry opened his eyes. Hermione was staring at him apprehensively, biting her lip, still rubbing his knuckles, and patiently waiting for him. He reluctantly pulled his hand out of her grasp only to cup the arc of her neck and caressing the structure of her jaw with his thumb. She seem to have a difficulty to look calm.

"We're in this together," he repeated.

The kettle whistled in a high pitch; Hermione did another flick of her hand and cabinets opened as two tea cups and tea packets floated out of them. Harry chuckled humorlessly as he watched their batch of tea prepare themselves, seeing the kettle hover above the stove that shut off while the tea cups moved under it to get water spilled into them and the teabags rip open to pour powder into the boiling liquid. Hermione really did like the advantage of magic. The two cups then hovered over to them, landing in front of them with a light clatter, and the drawers snapped open as two spoons came out, along with jars, to place in front of them.

"Enjoying that wandless magic, I see," Harry commented as he used his spoon to stir his tea.

"It has its perks," said Hermione as she opened one of the jaw, dropped two sugar cubes in her cup, and stirred.

"You fancy your tea extra sweet, don't you?" Harry remarked.

"Not so bitter that way," Hermione laughed and popped a sugar cube in her mouth. "Don't tell my parents about that. They go mad if they hear I'm not chewing sugarless gum."

Harry smiled at her attempt to lighten up the mood, although failing miserably, and took a sip of his tea. It tasted a little bland so he decided to add some sugar cubes of his own.

"You know I read that article earlier," Hermione said distractedly as Harry took another sip of his tea.

Harry gulped down the load of tea and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Oh yeah? And what do you think about it?"

"Rubbish, as always," Hermione answered without hesitation. But there was a look in her eyes that did not seem to agree with her words. "Skeeter must have thought the material her little mole had was not satisfying enough so she added a pitch of her flavor to it. I mean, it's bad enough that she's targeting us but putting Ron's private life to the spotlight as well? Honestly! No respect to anyone whatsoever. I feel ashamed to know I'm part of the same species as her."

Harry was speechless and thoroughly hurt to hear Hermione say this. She thought the fact of him having feelings for her was rubbish. He was not sure he could recover from that. He just took another sip of his tea to avoid speaking as he did not trust his voice at the moment. Our hearts break for the tragic hero as his feelings does not seem reacquainted by Granger. It seems that Rita Skeeter actually got a piece of information right for once.

Hermione sighed deeply. "But I guess you could say she did do something good for once. We were being cowards not telling Ginny or Ron sooner. We never should have agreed not telling them. Eventually the truth needed to come out…I just wish it didn't turn out like this."

"Me neither," Harry murmured.

"Hey," said Hermione while patting his hand, "we'll get through this. Like you said, we'll find a way to fix things with Ginny."

Harry breathed through his nose deeply and formed a small smile as he reached his other hand to her face again to lightly stroke her cheek. He was aware that she leaned slightly into his palm and her lashes tickled her cheeks as she fluttered her eyes closed.

"How do you do that? Always finding some speck of hope in these things?" he asked in a rough voice and he winced when he heard the sound of it. He knew he would not be able to sound normal.

Hermione opened her eyes and smiled cutely. "Someone has to."

Harry chuckled. "Of course." He dropped his hand and took a sip of his tea. "Mm, good tea. What kind is it?"

"It's my favorite – Sweet Vial," Hermione answered. "It's kind of a mixture of vanilla and cinnamon. It's delicious!" She lifted her cup and took a delight sip to emphasize her love for the substance which made Harry chuckle.

So that's why she smells so much like cinnamon. Harry sipped his tea once more before he said, "I guess your obsession hasn't stopped yet. Better hope you don't get a cavity or your parents will go mad for it."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'll have to talk to my mum for mentioning that to you."

Harry snickered into his cup when he sipped his tea again and once his cup was empty, he sent it hovering into the sink and then Hermione enchanted the sink on. She finished her tea with a quick gulp before she sent her cup to the sink for a wash and she took another cookie from the pack, nibbling it happily.

"Do you really think all of the stuff in the article is rubbish?" Harry asked.

"Well, not all of it," Hermione admitted. "But the bit of her saying you having feelings for me is a bit of a stretch, don't you think? I mean we've been friends for such a long time and you would think people would know better."

"So the idea of you and me is rubbish?" Harry asked, feeling a pang of hurt from hearing this. He knew she did not recuperate his feelings, as it said in the paper, but to hear her say it directly was a lot more painful than he anticipated.

Hermione's eyes widen. "Oh no, no, I didn't mean it like that, Harry! I just – well, it's just – oh Harry, I mean to say that it's too unexpected, isn't it? You and me? We've known each other for so long and for that to happen – it's a big change. Not just for us but for everyone else. You understand?"

"Of course," Harry said, mentally cursing at himself when he heard his voice waver slightly at the end. His heart was wrenching in pain still. He wanted to crawl to bed and sleep the conversation away. He forced a smile, hoping it would seem playful like he intended it to be. "I'm just pulling the mickey out of you."

Hermione laughed. "Harry!"

Harry smiled fondly at her despite the constriction in his chest. He may be feeling hurt by her words but he couldn't deny his heart swelling in affection to her laughter. It was inevitable.

After Hermione's giggles ceased, she said, "Anyway, it's past eleven. We should be getting to bed."

"Right. Work," Harry grumbled. He didn't want to go to bed soon – he knew he was going to be haunted with the memory of a crying Ginny tonight.

Hermione returned the pack of cookies in the pantry then placed the dishes back in the cabinets after she dried them before she and Harry exited the kitchen, switching the lights off on the way out. They walked up the stairs in slow, light steps, not wanting the creaking noise to wake up Ron or Hugo, neither of them speaking. There was something different in the air for Harry, something he had no control over nor did Hermione. The air held a bitterness that left a bad taste in his mouth. And he knew that it would be like that until he got over Hermione's words in the kitchen and he knew that it would take a while.

As they make it to the second floor and reached the door to Hermione's bedroom, she turned to lean against the door frame with her hands behind her back. She smiled at him, her eyes a bit baggy from lack of sleep yet they still held that irreplaceable shine in them.

"Thanks for the tea and biscuits," she whispered, looking down at her feet, wiggling her toes a little. "I really needed it."

"I enjoyed it too," Harry said, leaning back on his heels. "G'night, 'Mione."

Hermione seemed a bit taken aback by his abrupt farewell and Harry didn't want to seem so rude but he wanted to be alone at the moment. By looking at her, unknowing of his broken feelings, staring up at him with those eyes flickering golden specks of confusion made him feel like he had an endless void in his heart because he knew he would not be seen as more than a brother to her. Looking at her while knowing this hurt him and he wanted to get away from that.

This is karma, he thought guiltily. All of this. It's my karma for what I did to Ginny.

Hermione's lips tightened into a thin line. "Good night, Harry," she said softly. She reached up and kissed his cheek. Harry closed his eyes briefly as he savored the feel of her lips, gentle and soft, against his rough cheek. He could smell the cinnamon-vanilla flavor in her breath and he could have sworn his mouth tingled for a taste. When she pulled back, he opened his eyes and smiled lopsidedly.

Hermione smiled then she turned, opened the door, and entered her room (Ron's snores pouring out in the meantime) giving him another smile before closing the door. Harry blinked in bewilderment. The last smile she gave him was different from the previous one; it was full of faux contentment and true sadness. He was not sure if she aimed it towards him or indirectly for Ginny. He tried to shrug it off as he turned to walk to his room for the night.

When he was inside the room, he left a small crack at the door in case Hugo was heard sneaking through the dark and because it was an old instinct he grew up with for security purposes. He slides under the sheets, places his glasses on the nightstand, and dropped his head on the pillow whilst he stared up at the blurred ceiling above him. Hermione's words lingered to the back of his head continuously: You having feelings for me is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

Harry sighed and turned to his side. He doesn't think him having feelings for Hermione is a stretch, far from it. He was a man and Hermione was a woman. They do share a long history of friendship and trust but they're still what they are and that is humans with emotions. For his feelings for Ginny to move towards Hermione doesn't seem like something impossible to happen. He was being what he was and that is being a person. He understood that the way how the situation was handled was cowardly and horrible – he agreed with Hermione on that the most – but he couldn't help himself to fall for Hermione. He has no control of his feelings only to acknowledge them or not which he did. There was nothing he could do once he did.

A long minute passed. Harry listened to Ron's muffled snores and the slight ruffles of blankets coming from the other rooms. He yawned involuntarily, sleeping threatening him to fall. He chose to surrender as he closed his eyes and snuggle deeper into the pillows. A light sound tickled his ears – it took him a while to realize it was him humming the same gentle tune that Hermione had sang to him at his parent's graveyard. He imagined Hermione being there next to him, stroking his hair like she did in the cemetery, and lightly singing the words in his ear in a sweet whisper.

More tired than he realized, exhausted from the long day of mental and emotional stress like he'd ever felt before, Harry drifted to sleep in the faint sound of Hermione's voice and brought into an endless nightmare of tear-stained Ginny.

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