Hermione couldn't sleep. She had tried everything short of potions to help her, including a warm glass of milk, but nothing helped. It was after eleven the night before the rest of the students returned to Hogwarts and she was anxious. She knew she was doing the right thing by finishing her education, but she was worried about being back in classes without Harry and Ron. Even though she hadn't heard from Ron since the day he kicked her out of the Burrow, she still couldn't imagine what it would be like without her two best friends.
She did have Ginny, though. Hermione was actually looking forward to attending classes and studying with her. Unlike the boys, Ginny was almost as dedicated to her school work as she was to Quidditch. She had followed in Charlie's footsteps and turned down the Head Girl job, opting for Quidditch Captain instead. And, unlike Harry and Ron, Ginny was happy to follow Hermione's colour-coded revision diary.
Hermione was sitting on the sofa and turned her head as the fireplace roared with green flames. Remus rushed out of his room in just his pyjama bottoms, wand raised, before the person had even fully stepped into their sitting room.
As Harry stumbled out, clad in his pyjamas, and Hermione saw Remus lower his wand. Briefly, she wondered how long it would take for them to stop reacting to everything like they were still in the middle of a war. She was better when she was in their rooms or back at Grimmauld Place, but she had yet to walk through the halls without gripping her wand at all times.
"Hello, Harry," Remus said.
"I know it is late," Harry said, "but I was worried about you, Hermione."
"Me? Why?" she asked.
"I thought you might be anxious and couldn't sleep thinking about tomorrow. Then that made me anxious and I couldn't sleep. So I figured it would be better if I just came over."
"I'll leave you two to it then," Remus said, waving to them as he walked back into his room. "Goodnight."
"Night, Remus," they called.
Summoning Winky for some hot chocolate for herself and chips and pumpkin juice for Harry, they went into her room and crawled onto her bed. Hermione sent another silent thanks to the universe that Harry was dating Ginny, who was secure in their relationship. She wasn't sure she would have been able to handle Harry dating someone who felt threatened by their friendship. Harry's thoughts must have mirrored hers because he bumped her with his shoulder as he spoke.
"Can you imagine if you were dating Ron and he found us like this? He'd go mental. I'm glad Ginny knows we think of each other as siblings."
"I was just thinking the same thing about Ginny," she told him, laughing. "How are things going between you two?"
"Really well," he said with a blush. "I want to marry her."
"Harry Potter," she gasped. "You just turned eighteen and she's still in school."
"I know that, Hermione." He sighed and ran his hand through his already messy hair. "I'm not going to propose to her right now. But I do want to marry her someday. You know my parents got married just a few months out of Hogwarts, then got pregnant with me a few months later. I was born just two years after they left school."
"And is that what you and Ginny want?"
She personally thought they were too young to even be thinking about children yet. She knew firsthand how hard it was trying to raise a human while still so young. None of the people their age had really even had a childhood with the war. But Hermione knew Harry wanted nothing more than a family of his own. Not just the Weasleys or her, who treated him like family, but people connected to him through blood.
"I haven't talked to Ginny about it yet. We were only together for a little bit before we went on the Horcrux hunt, and we've only been together again for four months. But I know she is the one for me."
"Then, when you are both ready, I can help you pick out the ring." Hermione wasn't one for shopping normally, but watching Harry pick out an engagement ring seemed like something she would enjoy.
"Don't you think I should just give her my mum's ring? I thought girls liked romantic stuff like that."
"Some girls do, but I think Ginny would rather have a new ring. It doesn't have to be big or expensive, but it should be new."
"Why is that?" Harry asked.
Hermione smiled at her brother. He was so grown up in some ways, but still so young in others. She desperately hoped that he never grew out of the stage where he still came to her for advice. Moments like these were some of her favourite between them.
"Because Ginny is the youngest of seven kids. Almost everything she's ever received belonged to someone else first. Her engagement ring should be just hers, no one else's."
"I never thought about it that way. I see your point, even though I would like her to have my mum's ring. Ever since I saw it in my vault when I was thirteen, I always imagined that I would see it on the finger of the woman I loved."
"Well, if that isn't the sweetest thing you've ever told me. You know, you can always give her that ring as a right-hand ring."
"What in the hell is a 'right-hand ring'?" He stared at her.
"It's exactly what it sounds like. A ring you wear on your right hand. Some women get one after a big wedding anniversary, or after their first child. It is a way to show her your love and to thank her for being part of your life."
"I don't know what I would do without you, Hermione," he said. "You always know exactly what I need to hear. Best big sister ever."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while as they finished their drinks and snacks. They set their dishes on the side tables, knowing Winky would come in and clean after they were asleep. Grabbing her wand from the bedside table, she waved it and the covers pulled out from under them and settled on top. With another wave all the candles extinguished. Hermione rolled on her side to look at Harry.
"How is Auror training?" she asked. "Is Ron talking to you yet?"
"No." He sighed. "I actually don't see him very often, but when I do, he ignores me."
"I thought you two were in classes together?"
"Not anymore. We had to take a test a couple of weeks back and then we were placed in different groups and classes depending on how we scored." He paused for a moment. "Ron didn't do that well so he is in the class that's revising to take the test again. But Neville is in my group. He is amazing. Better than I am, if I'm honest."
"Who would have thought chubby, awkward Neville would grow up to be a sexy, confident, badass?"
Harry laughed with her. Hermione had always liked Neville. While Neville had never been as close to her as Ron and Harry had, he was her first friend in the magical world, and she'd always liked him.. They had cried on each other's shoulders more than once over the years. Seeing him grow into the man he had become never ceased to impress her. And from the stories Harry told about women throwing themselves at him during pub nights, he impressed most females.
"I can't wait to tell him you said that," Harry said.
"Go ahead. It's about time someone stroked that boy's ego."
"It's getting really late."
Hermione closed her eyes. With Harry by her side, she finally felt relaxed enough to sleep.
Hermione was having a rough day. It was the middle of October and she had been up half the previous night with Teddy. She loved her son and wouldn't change her situation for anything in the world, but sometimes it was hard being a mum and a full-time student. She couldn't think of the last time she had a full night's sleep.
She didn't know what was wrong with Teddy. He ate and she made sure his nappy was clean, but still he wouldn't calm down. It wasn't until two in the morning, finally overcome with exhaustion, that she left her room, which had been charmed silent so Teddy wouldn't wake Remus, and made her way into his bedroom.
As she walked in with a screaming Teddy, Remus opened his eyes and pulled half the covers back in invitation. As soon as she lay down, placing Teddy between them, Remus settled his hand on their son's back, immediately calming his cries.
"How long has he been up?" Remus whispered.
"Since eleven. I couldn't get him to fall back to sleep."
"You should have come in sooner."
"I didn't want to wake you."
"Next time, don't wait so long. You know he calms down when we're all together."
"I think he just likes our beds," she said with a laugh.
"I think it's a wolf thing." She followed his gaze to look at Teddy who was already asleep. "I think being surrounded by us calms whatever wolf magic he has. You know wolves sleep in groups."
"It's as good a theory as any." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Night, Remus."
"Night, Hermione"
Now it was just after lunch and she couldn't keep her eyes open. Two cups of coffee at breakfast and another one at lunch weren't doing her any good. She was already in her seat in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, waiting for it to begin, but she kept nodding off.
"Hermione." Remus' voice and a light shake of her shoulder woke her up. "Go back to our quarters and take a nap."
"I can't. I don't want to miss classes."
"I know this is your last class of the day, and you aren't going to learn anything while you're sleeping."
"No," she protested. "I'll stay awake."
"I'm kicking you out of my classroom. I'll let you read the lesson and ask me any questions later tonight. But for now, I want you to leave."
Hermione gathered her things and made her way to their rooms. While she hated missing classes, she was glad Remus had sent her home. He was right; there was no way she was going to be able to pay attention today.
Not for the first time, she reflected how hard it was to be a mum and be in school full time. She was constantly tired and felt like she had no free time. Her breaks between classes were spent pumping in empty rooms and sending the milk to Winky. She honestly felt like a cow that constantly needed milking.
When she walked into their rooms, Teddy was playing with Winky on the floor. He smiled once he saw her and every complaint she had about being a mum and student vanished. Yes, it was hard, but to see that face when she returned from classes each day was worth it. There was nothing more beautiful in the world than when her son was looking at her like he was now.
Hermione choked back tears as he turned away to play with his stuffed animals again. Harry had purchased the plushy equivalent of the Marauders for Teddy to have, replacing Peter the rat with an otter to represent Hermione, a doe for Lily, and a pink wolf to represent Tonks. They were imbued with magic and when he held them, they would nuzzle his cheeks.
Walking over to him and kissing his forehead, she asked Winky to wake her up in two hours. She needed to rest but didn't want to be up all night. She made it to her room and collapsed, fully clothed, onto her bed and fell instantly asleep.