A/N: Hey folks, I know when I starting posting this story again I promised one or two chapters a month. Yeah, I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. First life got in the way and then my laptop died for a few weeks and now I won't have the internet at home consistently. All this to let you know, even though my updates may not be on any sort of schedule, I haven't abandoned this story and never will.

Ginny sat watching Hermione sleep as she idly made wolves of the smoke from her joint and had them chasing each other around the room. Their day, so far, hadn't gone according to plan. Not that that was anything new. They often found their plans taking unexpected detours. She looked back at Hermione as she mumbled and wondered if her brilliant mind stopped when she was asleep. As if in answer, Hermione's heart started to speed up, not in a way one would expect for it if she were just waking up, but more like a panic attack.

"Hermione?" she prodded as she tried to wake her. "Sun?" She sat straight up, her eyes wide in fear as she looked around the room and panting as though she were running. "Love? What is it? What's wrong? Should I get Luna?" Hermione shook her head. Ginny offered her the joint, only to have Hermione shake her head again. "Potions?" She nodded. Ginny summoned Hermione's potions from her backpack, opened them and found a new potion. She showed it to her, opened it and then tipped it to her lips as her hands were shaking and balled into fists. "Breath, Sun, just breath," she soothed as she opened the second phial and offered it to her. Hermione smiled, her hands no longer shaking as she took it from her and swallowed it in one go. "Better?"

"Not really," she sighed and flopped back to the bed.

"Want to tell me what's wrong?"

Hermione sat up and met her eyes.

"Still got that joint?" she deflected and then took several puffs after Ginny lit and handed it to her. "What if we're the ones pulling the strings?"

"What are you…" Ginny trailed off as it dawned on her. "You think we're really going to get sent back and we're the ones sending things and changing things?"

"Is it any less likely than our former selves somehow making sure we…" she trailed off as Cara arrived, walked over and handed her a journal. "Just showed up?" Hermione asked and received Cara's nod. "And you felt my anxiety and brought it to me?" Cara nodded again. "Thank you." She smiled. "Since you're here, can you get our dinner ready?" She glanced at her watch. "We're going to be heading out soon."

Hermione opened the journal, found a loose sheet of parchment in the front and opened it so they could both read it; "Dearest Hermione, stop worrying about the Ministry Time-Turners. I created one of the first but theirs differ in several key ways. Most significantly, they need to be worn in order to be activated." Hermione sighed in relief. "They also have a charm on them that limits the user to turning time back only five hours at a time, mine is limited to the user's lifetime and will return you to the time you left after three days. I created the one that I did so that Aoife and I could spend a little more time with Celeste. Nothing we did in the past changed anything except for us. Time is a tricky thing, you need to be careful with it, but destroying the Ministry Time-Turners will not do what you think they will."

Hermione folded the parchment, set it aside, relit their joint and took several deep inhales before sighing again. "It could still be us."

"But…" Ginny attempted to protest but another parchment slipped from the journal. Hermione took it, opened it and chuckled as she read. "What?" prodded Ginny.

"Bloody hell, you're more annoying than I am," she read aloud. "We didn't figure it out until just before what should have been our seventh year. It was supposed to be Bill and Fleur's wedding but I shared a moment with Ginny before the ceremony and we realized we'd always had feelings for each other and then, during the ceremony, Fleur and Luna's eyes met and she told Bill, right then, that she couldn't marry him. Before we could figure anything out though, the Death Eaters showed up. Harry, Ron and I were always planning to skip school to find the rest of the Horcruxes, but since Fleur didn't know what else to do, she came with us too. Ginny and Luna went back to Hogwarts and tried to find out what was happening with us while trying to keep their fellow students safe. It took us a few years after the Battle of Hogwarts, but we finally found Emilie's Time-Turner. You're right, Hermione, (you usually are), we are the ones helping you. But we're not responsible for everything. Once we arranged your conception, almost everything else fell into place on its own. Know this; however terrible something seems, I promise, it is the best-case scenario. We may not be nearly as powerful as you or have your gifts, but we do have time on our side. Trust the path you're on and trust that help will always be there if you need it."

Hermione scanned their quarters and asked Nym, Daphne, Luna and Fleur to join them as Harry, Morgan and Severus were also downstairs and she didn't want to share this new information with them. She summoned their robes and they had just climbed out of bed and slipped them on when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" called Ginny.

"What's going on?" asked Luna as she went to take Hermione's hand. "That was some anxiety attack you were having, are you okay?"

"We got some answers," stated Ginny as she handed Fleur the journal and parchments.

"Don't tell Harry, Morgan and Severus, though," advised Hermione.

"Why not?" asked Ginny.

"A Time-Turner that can go back to any time in a person's life?" She raised an eyebrow. "While I'm sure Harry is grateful to have his parents back, albeit in a pair of house-elves, do you really think he'd accept that that is the best-case-scenario?" She shook her head. "The us that have time travelled and changed things…" she sighed. "There's no telling how many times they went back to get us to where we are, or how many mistakes…" She took Ginny's hand. "I'm officially not worrying about it."

"You are?" Fleur asked sceptically.

"There's nothing we can do about it," she pointed out. "All we can do is trust that that version of us has our backs."

"But if they've changed things so much that their future no longer exists, what happens to them?" asked Luna.

"That," sighed Hermione, "I don't know." She smiled. "But that isn't our problem. They chose their fate. They chose to help us. We can only hope, that whatever their fate, that for them it's worth it." She kissed Ginny on the cheek. "Shower?" Ginny nodded. "We'll be right down."

Ginny let Hermione lead her to the bathroom, disrobed her and pulled her into the shower once she'd shed her own. She turned the water on and lifted her face to it as Ginny took her in arms from behind and kissed her neck.

"Is that the only thing you weren't telling us about Halloween?" she asked carefully. Hermione turned and searched her eyes a moment before kissing her. "Answer the question," she said after breaking the kiss.

"Yes, that was the last thing I was worried about," affirmed Hermione as she sighed, leaned against the wall and pulled Ginny into her arms.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Severus," she replied as she included Ginny in the conversation.

"Please forgive the intrusion but I thought you should know he plans to attend the meeting tonight."

"Shit," she hissed. "I guess we'll just have to see if we can't change his mind."

"Understood," he replied, his amusement clear. "I will let you know if his plans change. Also, I've checked Luna's potions; they are perfect and the added ingredient hasn't changed the composition or efficacy of them. I've left the poison and antidotes with her as well."

"Potions?" mouthed Ginny.

"I need to get back."

"Thank you, Severus, be safe," she answered.

"You too."

"They're not going to be happy about it," pointed out Ginny.

"Given what they'll be doing instead I'm thinking they'll get over it," joked Hermione. She reached for the soap and started washing Ginny. "I'm thinking it'll be harder to convince Nym to stay behind."

"You're worried she'll be distracted?" Hermione nodded as Ginny took the soap and returned the favour. "But you let her come last night."

"Daphne wasn't ambushed by a slew of transphobic Slytherins yesterday."

"Fair but maybe we should let her decide?" suggested Ginny as they rinsed themselves off.

"Or maybe she'll be grateful for the suggestion," countered Hermione. "C'mon," she glanced at her watch, "we're running late."

They dressed quickly and went to join the others at the table.

"'Bout time," greeted Morgan.

"We were just about to come to get you," added Harry.

"Shouldn't we be heading out soon?" inquired Luna.

"There's, uh, been a change of plans," started Ginny as Hermione steeled herself for the boys' protests.

"Harry, Morgan," she sighed, "we need you to stay behind to distract Tom." She held up a hand to stall their objections. "He's planning on going tonight and he might reconsider if he has a migraine." She waited for them to catch up and then took Harry's hand when they blushed and offered them a suggestion. "I, um, mean," she blushed as well, "if you haven't already."

"Not even close," Morgan admitted with a nervous chuckle.

"We were afraid of what it might do to…" Harry trailed off as he pointed to his scar.

"I think it'll take more than one powersurge to evict him I'm afraid," Hermione speculated. "Maybe use the Room of Requirement just to be safe?"

"But if we get stronger…"

"Focus on sharing your magic with the Hogwarts' wards," she interrupted Morgan. "I'm sorry," she glanced at the time and started eating. "We need to get moving."

"Should we…" Morgan trailed off as his cheeks grew even redder.

"Yes," she replied after swallowing. "Severus will let us know if it works." They stood from the table. "And guys, despite the ulterior motives, try to enjoy yourselves." She smiled as the two got even redder. "The rings will stop you from you going further than you're ready for, trust them."

Hermione watched the two leave and then returned her attention to her meal as she attempted to marshall her racing thoughts.

"Um, H?" prodded Nym. She looked up and met Nym's eyes. "I think I should stay behind too."

"Don't worry about it, love, Hermione was going to suggest it anyway," supplied Ginny.

"Until you've completed your bond, it will only serve as a distraction," clarified Fleur.

"Besides," Hermione sighed, "we're only going to observe." She shrugged and indicated Nym's left breast. "You'll know if we need you, bring Harry and Morgan with you if you do." She looked around the table before she continued. "There's something I want you all to consider." She took a deep breath. "I think we should forget, for a while, the knowledge of our time-meddling future selves." She let that sink in. "We've only just found about it and I'm already second-guessing every decision." She shrugged and sighed. "Presumably they're watching, or know what we know and they'll show up when we're ready."

"How long do we hide this from ourselves?" asked Ginny.

"They said the summer before their seventh year," she replied thoughtfully. "So either July after next or after we've defeated Tom." She sighed. "Take the week to think about it," she suggested. "If you agree we can do it next weekend while we're at the valley." She checked the time. "Everyone kitted out?" she asked as she stood. They nodded. "Then we…" she trailed off as her coin grew warm in her pocket. She took it out and chuckled as she read the message aloud; "Whatever they're doing, tell them to 'keep it up'. He's worshipping the porcelain god."

"Did Professor Snape just…" laughed Daphne.

"He did," Hermione chuckled as she messaged him back; "Is he sending someone in his place?"

"Didn't get the chance," he replied.

"Let us know if anything changes," she requested and pocketed her coin. "We should get going," she announced as she summoned her backpack and her and Ginny's cloaks from their room. She smiled at Nym and Daphne. "Maybe," she started as she walked over to them, "the two of you can sleep with us tonight?"

"I…" Daphne stuttered as she blushed deeply.

"Only sleep," she assured her as she took her hand. "Our rings will keep us from doing anything you're uncomfortable with."

"I'll think about it?" offered Daphne.

"There's more to bonding than sex," said Ginny as she kissed Daphne's cheek and then Nym's.

"You've had a rough day," added Luna as she and Fleur joined them.

"We just want to make it a little better," finished Fleur.

They pulled Nym and Daphne into a group hug, each of them kissing Daphne and Nym on the cheeks before taking the floo, Nym stopping Hermione before she could follow.

"Be safe," she implored.

Hermione turned to her and searched her eyes.

"Always," she assured her and kissed her softly. "You're where you need to be tonight." She kissed her again. "Okay?" Nym nodded. "We'll be back in a few hours."

"Good evening Hermione," Sirius greeted and looked behind her. "Where are the boys and Dora?"

"The boys are busy keeping Tom in the loo and Nym is spending time with her new girlfriend." She smiled as Remus entered with a tall, dark-haired man. "You must be Daniel," she greeted with a hand extended.

"Danny," he replied with a smiled.

"Your accent, Canadian?" asked Ginny.

"Vancouver, BC, born and bred," he replied as he shook Ginny's hand. "Impressive performance in the Triwizard," he complimented as he shook Fleur's hand. "I have a feeling Harry and Victor only did as well as they did because of you."

"Harry, maybe," corrected Hermione as she turned to Luna. "Severus mentioned something about potions?"

"Let me present," she said with a flourish as she took a box from her bag.

"Felix Felicis," finished Hermione in awe.

"Isn't this an incredibly difficult potion?" asked Remus sceptically as he took a phial of the silvery liquid.

"It is," Fleur said proudly.

"And if you don't trust Luna, trust Severus' expertise," Hermione added as she examined the potion. "He said it was perfect." She looked at Luna. "How long will it last?"

"Six hours, give or take."

"And the extra ingredient?"

"Bezoar," she shrugged. "Just in case." She smiled. "One of the side effects of the potion is overconfidence, I thought it might be an idea to get used to the feeling while the stakes are a little lower."

"Good idea," praised Hermione. "Severus mentioned he gave you the poison as well?"

"He did," she replied as she took a second box from her bag and handed it to her.

Hermione, in turn, handed it to Ginny to hold so she could open it. She smiled as she could a dagger and small phial of bright green liquid from the box and inserted the phial into the handle and then handed it to Remus.

"The poison won't release until you stab him with it," she explained as she took the two phials of antidote from the box and handed them to Remus and Danny. "The timing will be critical." She turned to Danny. "I'll let you know the second his heart stops…"

"How, exactly?" he interrupted.

"Like this," she demonstrated.

"I thought you said they wouldn't be able to do that," he spat at Remus.

"You bear our mark?" Hermione asked calmly. He turned back and nodded. "You asked for a demonstration, I gave you one." She smiled. "It allowed me to because you asked me to," she clarified. "Now," she glanced at the time, "drink up and let's go."

"To our health," joked Sirius as he unstoppered his phial and drank his potion. "That is…" he stood a little straighter; "... an interesting feeling."

Hermione grinned as the potion's effects washed over her, confidence that not only their plans for the evening but those for Halloween as well, would work the way she hoped.

"We'll apparate to about a mile out," she instructed as she took Ginny's hand and the other's followed suit. "We have to meet with our Goblin guard and then we'll head in." She looked around the circle and stopped at Remus. "We have no idea what will happen when he dies." She looked at Sirius. "You stay nearby and invisible to take him to the valley as soon as you can." He nodded and she looked back at Remus. "There's a magical hot spring in the mountains." She smiled. "I'm hoping the natural light magic that is abundant in the valley will help with your recovery."

"You've been living with this dark curse since you were a child," explained Ginny. "It's bound to take your body a while to adjust to its absence."

"And hopefully the valley's magic will help with that?" asked Remus.

"That's the idea," agreed Hermione. "Everyone ready?" Once they'd nodded she allowed Remus to lead their apparition to their destination.

Hermione took a deep breath of the fresh air when they arrived, scanned for the Goblin guard and found them surrounding a clearing. "Bedwyr?" she called, smiling as he stepped from the surrounding brush. "Report," she requested.

"No more than a hundred are present," he provided. "They've got about a dozen humans with them."

"Shit," she hissed and then rushed to add; "Sorry."

"Think nothing of it," he chuckled. "'Shit' is appropriate."

"I'll get them out as soon as I can," suggested Danny.

She nodded and turned back to Bedwyr.

"Would I be correct in assuming you have the ability to have them obliviated?" she inquired.

"We do," he confirmed.

"Good," she smiled. "I will send them to you and you get them to safety." He nodded. "Stay out of sight unless things go sideways, and even then, only protect those not fighting." He nodded slowly. "This isn't our fight," she said as she glanced at everyone. "I mean to keep them out of our fight if I can help it," she looked back at Bedwyr, "but, I won't have you or your men risking your lives for them, understood?"

"Understood."

"Thank you, Bedwyr." She took Ginny's hand as she cast a Disillusionment charm over herself and all but Danny and Remus.

"Blimey, Hermione," gasped Remus as he searched for them, "I don't think I've ever seen such a complete charm."

"Thank you, Professor." She chuckled as he started. "We've had a lot of practice." She smiled. "Fleur, why don't you take a few laps?" She waited for Fleur to take to the air before continuing; "Lead the way," she prodded and then followed behind Remus and Danny.

They could hear the people gathered before they found them, Fleur touching down behind them as they stopped and Hermione surveyed the treetops.

"There," she said as she took out her wolf wand and transformed the tops of several of the tallest trees into a platform. "Will that do Luna?"

"Won't know until we get up there," she replied.

"Fair enough," she accepted. "Sirius, you stay down here."

"Yes, boss," he chuckled.

"Not the 'boss'," she sighed and apparated to her platform, the others arriving and dropping their charms as Hermione had cast a charm over the entire platform to hide them and their conversation from those below. "So, Fleur, what did you see?"

"There are a few stragglers but Greyback is slowly making his way towards them, alone," she provided.

"Good," she smiled and went to look at the crowd below them. "He's almost here," she advised Remus, Danny and Sirius.

"So now what?" asked Ginny as she took Hermione's hand.

"Now," she sighed, "we watch."

They watched as the crowd parted and Greyback walked towards the middle of them, Remus going to meet him with Danny a few paces behind him.

"What," Greyback growled, "are you doing here?"

"I've come to challenge you for Alpha," Remus replied calmly to first Greyback's laughter and then those nearest him.

"You!" he barked. "Challenge me?"

"Choose your second," Remus replied calmly.

"Second?" he scoffed. "I need no 'second' to break you like a twig. Choose yours!"

Danny stepped forward, towering over both Remus and Greyback.

"Would you like to reconsider?" he offered. Greyback only chuckled as he took off his cloak, tossed it aside and took out his wand. "I thought it was… traditional to fight without wands," as he too took off his cloak and tossed it aside.

"Fine," Greyback growled, "I don't need magic to end you."

"Remember what we taught you," offered Hermione as she felt Remus' confidence wan.

Remus stood a little taller as they began to circle each other, the crowd stepping back to give them more room. The fight, however, was over the moment Greyback lunged at Remus. He stepped lightly to the side, tripping him as he went and sending him face-first into the dirt. Remus was on him before he could right himself, flipped him to his back, plunged his hand into his chest, ripped his heart from it and held it, still beating, above his head.

The crowd was stunned into silence as he climbed to his feet and turned to address them; "Your Alpha is dead!" he called and turned to offer the heart to Danny. "Long live the new Alpha!"

Danny smiled as he took it from him, took a very large bite, swallowed and then shouted; "Your Alpha is dead!"

"Long live the Alpha," shouted Remus in reply with only a few voices joining him.

"Your Alpha is dead," Danny growled.

"Long live the Alpha!" more than half the crowd chanted back.

"That'll do," chuckled Danny. "For now," he added as a blue glow enveloped him and Greyback's heart burst into flame.

"Nice touch," Sirius thought to them as Danny tossed the heart in the direction of Greyback's body and that too caught on fire.

Hermione shared a look with the others, all of which shrugged and shook their heads.

"Wasn't us," she replied as she looked back at Danny to see him taking a long swallow from a flask.

"What?" he chuckled. "He tasted like shit," he joked, took another swallow and then grew serious as he pocketed his flask. "Bring the humans forward," he ordered. There was no movement so he added; "Did I stutter? Now!" They rushed to comply, seemingly against their will. He approached the oldest man and studied him a moment. "Release them," he said quietly. No one moved. "I said, release them…"

"Why?" the man nearest to him asked. "Why should we do anything you say?"

"Because I asked when I could have just made you," he answered evenly. "Why did you bring them here?"

"Greyback said we needed to increase our ranks to fight in the coming war…"

"Greyback said…" he chuckled. "Greyback is dead and you should all be thanking your lucky stars that he is. He'd have you fight for a man who would see you as no more than cannon fodder." He shook his head. "This," he motioned at the bound humans, "is why they fear us." He walked up to the one man brave enough to speak up. "Let. Them. Go," he growled inches from his face.

They rushed to comply, the humans as they regained their senses, all searching for their wands to defend themselves.

"You have nothing to fear from us," Danny rushed to assure them as he turned to Remus. "Take them to safety?" Remus nodded. "I'm sorry you were brought here against your will, I promise you, it will never happen again."

"Remus is failing," whispered Ginny.

"Sirius, get in there and help Remus. Call Cara when you get to Bedwyr and she'll take you both to the Valley," she thought to Remus and Sirius.

"Now," continued Danny, "Magically, I could give you no choice but to follow me." He began to pace. "But I'm all about choices." He stopped and smiled. "Of which I have three for you. Some friends of mine have offered us an island hidden among the Canary Islands…"

"You mean for us to go into exile willingly?" someone shouted angrily.

"Exile?" he chuckled. "Hardly. Only those of Werewolf blood will be able to reach it alone, and you will be free to come and go as you please." The crowd began murmuring and sharing looks of disbelief. "Those not of the blood will only be able to reach it if you bring them there."

"What's the catch?" someone called.

"You will be compelled to return to the island during each full moon," he answered evenly. "All your needs will be provided for. There are already many homes built, and more can be built upon request." He smiled. "Imagine it; a place where you will be safe. No one to fear or hunt you. Where, once a month, you can run free as your wolf without fear of harming anyone or being harmed."

"What's the other choices?"

"Stay and fight with me," he replied calmly. "Help me help the light to defeat the man who would see the end of the magical world."

"The light?" some scoffed. "The same people who would just as soon kill us?"

"Yes." The man laughed. "You'd rather fight for a man who sees anything less than a pure-blood unworthy of weilding magic while he, himself, is a half-blood? Greyback promised you what? Freedom under Voldermort's reign?" He laughed. "If you want to be cannon fodder, go ahead. That is your third choice, but know this; get in my way and you won't be shown an ounce of mercy." He shook his head. "How better to convince the Light that we need not be feared than to fight alongside them? Defend them? Show them that we are more than the monsters we become during the full moon? Isn't that the dream? Our place in society returned?"

"He's good," Hermione thought to her coven.

"Is it him, or the potion?" countered Ginny.

"Both I suspect," offered Luna.

"I don't expect a decision tonight," he continued as he took a small box from his pocket, placed it on the ground and resized it. "I also don't expect you to blindly trust me." He shook his head. "You don't know me." He sighed. "I'm not even from here," he admitted.

"So why are you here?" someone asked, but it seemed to be of genuine curiosity rather than malice.

"My father was turned shortly after I was born," he replied quietly. "He moved us, my mother and I, to a remote cabin." He sighed. "My mother," he chuckled, "she couldn't hack it and left before I turned three. My dad, he never told me what he was. All I knew was that once a month he would disappear for a few days, return exhausted and sleep for a few days more before he was himself again. He'd hired someone to watch me, took me to the closest town until I was about thirteen. He told me to stay at the cabin." He shook his head and wiped away a tear. "My father began suffering from Dementia when I was about eighteen. I grew worried and followed him but he'd already turned before I found him." He chuckled dryly. "I didn't know it was him, of course, and tried to attack him." He pulled open his shirt to reveal several deep scars across his chest. "He defended himself and ran off." He wiped away a tear. "As for what happened next, I can only guess. I woke a few days later, a letter from my father was waiting for me by the time I made it back home. He'd written the letter when he still could, told me what he was and where he'd be going." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "There was postscript, the handwriting was shaky." Tears slid down his face. "He apologized for infecting me and told me how to keep myself safe. He told me not to come looking for him." He met their eyes. "He took his life from fear of hurting anyone else. He lived in isolation because of that same fear." He shook his head. "I could have done the same. Maybe I should have. But I couldn't live that way any longer. I went to Vancouver, heard rumours of a coming war, and made my way here." He smiled. "I won't hide anymore."

"What's in the box, then?"

"This," he smiled, "is a gift from the same friends offering you new homes." He opened the box and removed a flask. "I know that for many of you, the cost of Wolfsbane potion may be prohibitive and very difficult to brew. These flasks contain a new and improved version of that potion." He smiled. " I tried it last month and let me tell you, it was the best I've felt in years. Not only did I fully keep my human senses, but the pain of the transformation itself was also nearly non-existent. The bottles will refill themselves at every full moon. All you need do is reheat it and consume."

"And you're just giving it to us?" a younger man asked as he approached and took the flask from Danny. "Just like that? No strings attached?"

"Yes," he replied simply. "Everyone, take a flask. Try it yourself. Think about what I've said here tonight and we'll meet again in a few weeks."

Hermione and the others finally started to relax as, one by one, the Werewolves collected their flasks.

"That went better than expected," commented Fleur as they watched them leave in twos and threes.

"Most are considering it," offered Luna with a sigh. "But they're scared."

"C'mon," Hermione prodded as she took Ginny's hand, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm exhausted." She apparated them back to the ground, waited for Fleur and Luna to join them, and then returned their platform to the trees it came from. "Cara, Rue," she called quietly, smiling when they appeared.

"Remus is resting in the healing spring," Cara advised them.

"Good," she smiled. "Rue, can you take Fleur and Luna back to Hogwarts?" Rue nodded and held her hand out to them. "We're going to have Cara take us to check on Remus," she explained to answer their confusion. "But Nym is probably worried sick."


Nym lay with her head in Daphne's lap, relaxing for the first time since her coven had left. Daphne had tried her best to distract her but soon discovered it was a lost cause. Nym knew she was right to stay behind, she'd have been too distracted worrying about Daphne and the others would have been worried about her. It was safest for all of them for her to stay behind. She knew that, but it didn't make her feel any better about it.

She sighed as Daphne pulled her fingers through her hair and looked up at her.

"You're blushing," she commented.

"And you're awake," she replied and kissed her softly.

"Never fell asleep," Nym admitted as she sat up. "You're beautiful when you blush," she complimented and kissed her when her blush deepened. "Wanna tell me what you were thinking about?"

"I, uh," she stammered as she ran a hand through her hair. "I was thinking about what Hermione said, about, um, aligning my magic next weekend and I, um, realised something." She smiled. "There's, uh, quite a few 'firsts' we could have before that we won't be able to after but," she sighed, "I still want to take things slowly so, um, maybe sometime before the New Year?"

"Wow," chuckled Nym with a shake of her head. "That didn't take long." She kissed her softly. "Only took you two days to start rationalizing sex."

"Does that mean you don't want to?" she asked and looked down.

"Daphne?" she prodded and lifted her chin with a finger. "I'm happy to do whatever you want whenever you're ready to."

"Yeah?" she asked hopefully with a blush.

"Of course, love." Nym kissed her as she went to straddle her, only breaking it and moving back far enough so she could meet her eyes. "And I suppose it makes sense." She smiled. "Our misaligned magic should help mitigate any power surges and maybe make our first after transitioning less of a shock." She kissed her forehead. "I love you, Daphne, you're all I…" she trailed off as they both started at Fleur and Luna's sudden appearance behind them.

"Where's Ginny and Hermione?" asked Nym.

"For the love of the Sisters, what is that smell?" asked Daphne at the same time.

"They went to check on Remus," replied Fleur.

"As for the smell," Luna lifted her shirt to her nose and inhaled, "barbeque Werewolf." She looked at Fleur. "Shower?"

"Definitely," she answered and looked at Daphne. "Will the two of you be sharing a bed with us tonight?"

"Um," Daphne looked at Nym, "yes, but I think Nym should spend a little time with Hermione first."

"You do?" blurted Nym.

"Okay," replied Luna, "we'll go take a shower in our shared room and meet you there in a bit?"

"Sure," Daphne smiled, "we'll wait for them to get back and then I'll come up with Ginny."

Fleur and Luna went to kiss them but were stopped by their wrinkled noses as they approached.

"Okay, okay," Fleur laughed, "we get it, we stink."

They watched the two make their way upstairs and then looked back at each other.

"Daphne, I…"

She was interrupted by Daphne's kiss.

"No," she said softly. "I think you both need this." She shrugged. "Even if all you do is talk, I think it would make you feel better and, um, if you do more than that, if it helps you, helps us, take things slower, maybe it's a good thing?"

"I don't know that I want to do more than talk," admitted Nym as she shook her head. "A couple of days ago, they were all I could think about. But now?" she smiled. "You're all I can think about." She kissed her softly. "All that I need." She kissed her neck and bit it gently causing her to gasp. "All that I want." She leaned back and met her eyes. "I don't know if we'll, me and Hermione, do anything more than cuddle and talk, but, um, thanks for the option." She smiled. "Shall we get into our pyjamas?" She stood and held her hand out to her once she'd nodded. "You're all I need, Daphne, you know that, right?"

"I…"

They both started again as Hermione and Ginny returned.

"Thank you, Cara," Hermione said as she knelt. "Keep us updated on Remus' condition."

Cara nodded and disappeared.

"You guys don't smell as bad as Fleur and Luna did," commented Nym.

"We still smell?" asked Ginny as she sniffed Hermione's shirt.

"Little bit," chuckled Daphne. "Fleur and Luna are showering in the shared room. I thought, maybe after you've showered, Nym can spend some time alone with Hermione and I'll go with Ginny and spend some time with her, Fleur and Luna."

"Sounds good," replied Ginny.

"We're just going to get changed, meet you outside your room?" asked Daphne, the two couples retreating to their rooms after Hermione and Ginny had nodded. "Why are they so tired?" asked Daphne as she took her pyjamas from a drawer.

"You felt that?"

"No," she frowned, "I assumed as much since they both had house elves bring them back."

"Well," Nym started thoughtfully, "Hermione and Luna were probably monitoring the crowd and Ginny, Remus." She smiled. "And Fleur was lending them her magic."

"You could feel that they are tired?"

"It's like…" she shook her head. "A draw to them. Like their magic is calling out to mine for help." She smiled and kissed her softly. "You'll feel it eventually too." She smiled. "Go on, go change."

Nym snapped her fingers as soon as their bathroom door closed behind Daphne and changed into her boxer shorts and a t-shirt. She summoned her bathrobe and slipped it over her shoulders as she went to study the painting Luna had given her. She looked up at it and smiled; even without the painting, she would never forget that night. If she was surprised by the look of love and desire on Hermione's face, it was nothing compared to the look on her own face. She could try to describe how she felt in that moment but she wasn't sure she had the words or if they were even words available that could aptly describe it.

"Hey," Daphne greeted softly as she wrapped her arms around her and kissed her neck. "That was the night you met them, isn't it?"

"It is," she confirmed and turned in her arms. "If I'd known then," she tucked a strand of Daphne's hair behind her ear, "what I know now," she shook her head, "maybe I wouldn't have been so scared." She looked back at the painting. "Even though I knew they loved me," she shook her head and looked back at her, "I was terrified I'd only end up getting hurt. Because, as much as they love me, none of them could ever be mine alone. But now I know, what was really scaring me, is that I'd never find what they have. But," she smiled and kissed her, "then I found you."

"I love you," she said and smiled. "C'mon," she stepped back, took her hand and tugged her toward the door, "it's been a long day and we're all tired."

They exited their bedroom to find Ginny and Hermione waiting outside theirs, talking softly, and walked over to join them.

"We won't be long," Nym assured Daphne before kissing her softly.

"Take as long as you need," she countered as she took Ginny's hand and walked away.

Nym watched them until they reached the shared room and blew Daphne a kiss when she turned before entering with Ginny. She looked at Hermione and smiled as she felt her hand in hers. She nodded and followed her inside her and Ginny's room.

"You okay?" Hermione asked as she studied her eyes.

"I'm…" she sighed and went to sit on the bed. "Overwhelmed."

"I remember that feeling," confided Hermione as she sat next to her and lit a joint. "I know it's confusing; trying to sort out how you feel versus what you feel because it's what your soul and magic knows." She took another long puff from the joint and then offered it to her. "In the end, we decided it didn't really matter. What we feel because our souls have felt before, it explains how we could feel the way that we do, but," she shrugged, "we can't deny that we feel the way that we do and maybe the why doesn't matter."

"You make it sound so simple," she commented and handed her back the joint.

"I know it's not simple," differed Hermione. " But of all the things in our lives, it's the simplest." She took another puff from the joint, offered it to Nym and then put it out when she shook her head. "Cuddle while we talk?" she suggested as she laid down.

"Sure," she smiled and laid down beside her. "How's Remus?"

"His core is still a little low but he's already around halfway." She smiled and pulled Nym down to her shoulder. "A week or two at the valley and he should be better than new."

"And how did the meeting go?"

"Hard to tell," she admitted. "They're barely organized and not sure if they should trust their new Alpha." She sighed. "Some are liking the idea of a safe place to call home." She kissed Nym's forehead. "Even if Danny can only get a few to fight though?"

"The light might just start accepting they're not dangerous," Nym provided as she rubbed her chest absentmindedly.

"Already?" teased Hermione.

"You know what?" Nym said as she propped herself up on an elbow to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry." She shook her head. "I never should have teased the lot of you."

"Because you get it now?" Hermione chuckled. "It's okay, love, really." She kissed her softly. "No one can really understand it until they've felt it for themselves." She sat up. "And I remember just how hard it was to was to be away from Ginny in the first few weeks." She crawled off the bed and held a hand out to her. "Like, if we were in the same room, any minute we weren't touching was a minute wasted." She shook her head. "Watching her play Quidditch?" She chuckled as Nym took her hand and stood. "Was torture." She led her from the room and towards the shared bedroom. "On the one hand, watching her play was thrilling, but I hated not being with her." She chuckled as she opened the bedroom door. "I was jealous of Quidditch."

"Is that why you started playing?" teased Ginny.

"Partially," she admitted and went to join her on the bed. "But I also had fun playing with you."

Nym sat behind Daphne, took her in her arms, kissed her neck and whispered; "Missed you."

"Missed you too," Daphne chuckled and relaxed back into her arms. "Can I…" she looked around at her new friends. "I just wanted to say something before we go to sleep." She smiled. "I accepted who I am a long time ago." She looked down at her hands. "I accepted that it might mean I'd never find someone who could do the same." She looked up as Hermione took her hand. "And then, yesterday, you introduced me to the love of my life." She blushed. "You accepted me, without question. Came to my defence without a moment's hesitation. Tell me that, eventually, you want me to join you in your bed." She looked at Nym a moment and then back at them. "I never thought I'd find one person to spend my life with, let alone all of you." She smiled. "Thanks."

"We know it can be confusing, Daphne," assured Luna.

"But most of what you're going through now?" continued Fleur.

"And the questions you're asking?" added Ginny.

"We've already asked," finished Hermione.

"And have you found any answers?" joked Daphne.

"Some," laughed Hermione.

"As for the rest?" chuckled Ginny.

"We figure it out as we go," provided Luna.

"And we talk about everything," added Fleur.

"You're not alone anymore, Daphne," Nym said as she turned her to face her. "Neither of us are." She smiled. "We've got each other and we've got them."

"And maybe," Hermione sighed as she laid down and rested her head on Ginny's shoulder, "that's our silver lining."

"Because, yes," continued Fleur as she followed Hermione's lead and laid down on Luna's shoulder, "our lives are confusing and dangerous."

"But this?" said Nym as she laid down beside Hermione and pulled Daphne down to her shoulder. "Makes it all worth it."

"This is what we're fighting for, Daphne, this is our future," sighed Hermione.

"And it's definitely worth fighting for," finished Daphne.

"That's why we're going to win," said Nym as she kissed Daphne's forehead. "What we're fighting for is what makes us stronger." She met Daphne's eyes. "Love."

She kissed Daphne softly and then guided her head back to her shoulder as she felt someone summon the blankets up over them. As unusual as most people would find their sleeping arrangements, it was exactly what they all needed. It was their normal. It was the reminder they needed, every so often, of what they were fighting for; each other.