No Harry in this story but Hermione makes an appearance. Hope you like it.

Written for Christmas Collection Competition using prompts:

60. (Story title) Home Alone

Written for Pick a Card, Any Card II- Competition

Queen of Diamonds: Write about Hermione Granger. (BONUS: Write a fic about Hermione vs. any Ravenclaw)

The fireplace was just lit, warming up the library. The doors were closed for the night and the windows were locked. Hermione heaved a sigh of pure relief. The house was empty and she felt nothing but bliss. Ron was out on case with Harry and the children were all at separate friends houses. Hermione was alone. Home alone.

Hermione placed herself on the chair closest to the fire, sipped her elfin red wine and grabbed her current romance novel. There she sat, for all of five minutes.

BANG

Hermione jumped, causing her to spill wine everywhere.

"Damn" Hermione whispered, placing the glass down. Another sound downstairs, this time shattering glass, stilled her movements and she pulled her wand free. Silencing her footsteps, she slipped up to the entryway. She placed her ear against the shut door and listened.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Footsteps. Someone was in her house. Hermione threw another silencing spell, this time at the door. She then opened it and walked out into the corridor. Seeing no one she continued walked further in the direction of the footsteps. Until they stopped.

Hermione's breath caught and she backed up until she hit a wall. She couldn't see anyone and now she couldn't hear anyone.

Stop panicking. She scolded herself. You've fought a war, an intruder is nothing.

Still Hermione found her breathing becoming quick and her legs shaking slightly. Its one thing going up against an enemy when you can see them, it's another when you can't.

I've always hated surprises.

Hermione decided to go get some help. She knew the floo address for Ron and Harry's temporary place. She would just call them. Decision made Hermione snuck back into the library where the fire was still roaring. Although she felt significantly better now she had a plan, Hermione was still gripping her wand tightly and her breathing was not calming down anytime soon.

Walking to the fireplace she realised very quickly that something wasn't right. Her spilt wine was gone. Panicked again Hermione whipped around and scanned the Library. What she saw made all her muscles relax and the tension to disappear within seconds. All her fear turned to anger.

"Luna!"

The blonde haired woman whipped around, glass in hand and a stained rag in the other.

"Hermione, I was wondering where you disappeared to. I cleaned up your wine, you really should be more careful."

Hermione's eye twitched.

"Oh and there was some broken glass downstairs, I cleaned it up but really you should be more careful."

Hermione placed her wand down so she didn't snap it.

"I didn't know you read romance novels. Aren't they only for the lonely people? You're not lonely are you Hermione?"

"Luna." Hermione said through clenched teeth. "What are you doing here?"

Luna glanced away and stared out of the window. It was only then when she saw Luna's shaking hands and frazzled state. It wasn't an usual sight to see Luna in disarray but Hermione was starting to see a pattern in her dress. This time there was none. Luna looked like she was just out of bed after a nightmare. Hermione became concerned.

"Luna?" Hermione questioned, softening her tone slightly. She was still annoyed, angry even but Luna was a friend and Harry's wife. Hermione still cared about her.

"The house is quiet without Harry." Luna said.

She sounded so unsure and afraid that Hermione's heart softened again.

"Harry will be back soon and the kids are there. Right?"

"They're away tonight. Sleepover."

Hermione sighed and placed a hand to her head.

"Well how about some music. The house isn't quiet and you can sleep."

"No." Luna shook her head.

"Luna. What do you want me to say?"

"Can I stay here?"

Hermione did not want that. She was home alone. She was never home alone anymore.

"No, please go home."

"Hermione." Luna said, staring at Hermione with her vacant gaze. "It's not safe to be home alone."

"Of course it is." Hermione waved away her concerns.

"Nope."

"It is."

"It isn't"

Hermione was glaring again. God she is infuriating.

"The doors are locked."

"They can be unlocked."

"You have wards."

"They can be broken."

"You're wards are extremely sophisticated, it would take a lot to remove or break them."

"Hogwarts wards fell."

"That was different."

"It could still happen."

"No one wants to hurt you." Except me.

"Harry is on the top of many people's hit lists."

"You're not Harry."

"I'm his wife."

Hermione glared at the maddening blonde. Luna stared back a serene smile on her face.

They both stared.

And stared.

And stared.

Hermione blinked, she lost.

"Fine!" Hermione threw her hands up in the air and collapsed onto her chair.

She didn't see the smug smile on Luna's face or the mischievous expression she wore for a mere second.

"Thank you Hermione. So?"

Hermione glanced over her shoulder at the woman and saw her eyes unfocused and staring at the fire. "So what?"

Luna turned to look at her and smiled softly. "It's a sleepover, we should do sleepover stuff."

Hermione only groaned. So much for being home alone.

WolfWinks -xx-