Chapter Eighteen.

Harry sat in his living room, staring out the window into the darkness outside, tapping restlessly with his fingers on a letter that laid before him. On the bottom, in loopy letters, it was signed: Andromeda Tonks.

It'd been nearly seven months since the battle, and nearly seven months since Remus and Tonks died and their new-born son, Teddy, was orphaned. Prior to their deaths, they had made Harry Teddy's godfather, and after their deaths Harry had received letters from Andromeda once a month. In these letters, she dutifully informed Harry of Teddy's wellbeing and the progress he was making. Still, after all these months, Harry wasn't capable of reconciling the fact that he was godfather to an infant whose parents had died for him… because of him. He felt like a fraud, and he hadn't written back.

Harry breathed deeply and looked down at the letter.

Teddy has started teething, it read in tall, loopy letters. He's munching on anything he can get his little fists on. Oddly, he's got a preference for books… Maybe he'll be a professor, one day.

Harry swallowed hard to rid himself of the lump that was forming in his throat, and began to fold the letter closed. Suddenly, two warm hands rested on his shoulders.

'Hi', Hermione whispered.

Harry startled and tried to hide the letter beneath a book, but Hermione had already spotted it.

'Is it from Andromeda?'

Harry nodded slowly.

'Would you like to talk about it?'

Harry considered it for a moment, and finally shook his head. Hermione reached out for his hand and squeezed it softly.

'We don't have to.' She studied him for a moment. Harry looked tired. Mentally, he was dangerously close to complete exhaustion, and Hermione could tell from everything. The way he walked: slowly and with slumped shoulders; how little he ate; how much effort it took him to get out of bed in the mornings… Yes, his grief, the Office, the vision, his sessions with the Legilimens… they were taking a heavy toll on Harry. Nevertheless, Hermione also knew him well enough to know he wouldn't quit if he thought he was keeping her safe. Because of this, Hermione felt terribly guilty.

Finally, she asked him how things were going at work in an attempt to cheer Harry up. Despite his exhaustion, Harry's job was one of the few things that brought him fulfilment these days.

Harry was relieved to change the subject. 'I'm only going over some stuff for the Office.'

'Anything exciting?'

Hermione's mission succeeded. Harry couldn't help but smile at the genuine curiosity in her eyes. 'Only some unexplainable magic in the atmosphere. Same as last week.'

'Hmm.' A frown formed between Hermione's brows. 'What does that mean? Magic in the atmosphere?'

'In the past few weeks, there've been traceable yet unfamiliar signs of magic in the air at random intervals. Mostly northeast of London, but… whenever we go to investigate, there's nothing left to be found.'

Hermione's frown deepened. 'Which means?'

'Which means that someone is using a highly advanced concealment charm… or someone knows when Aurors are coming to investigate.'

'How would they know that?'

'No idea', Harry admitted. He'd broken his head trying to figure it out, and the only option he could think of was too ridiculous to even say out loud. Shacklebolt wasn't a fool, and he didn't take security lightly.

'What will you do?' Hermione asked.

'Well, nothing. There's no signs of dark magic, and nothing's exploded. It's not a case of priority.'

Hermione looked at him and smiled, as if she suddenly found something very funny.

'What?', Harry asked.

'You sound like an Auror.'

'Well… I am one', Harry agreed.

Hermione bent towards him and kissed him softly, causing Harry to melt into her for a moment and forget even the worries he felt for his godson. When Hermione's lips parted from his and she looked at him, still smiling, Harry felt slightly puzzled.

'What was that for?'

'I'm just… proud of you', Hermione said.

Harry smiled, too, and ran his thumb across Hermione's knuckles.

'Want to go to bed?', Hermione whispered then.

Harry looked sideways at the clock. Twelve thirty. 'Absolutely.'

Hermione squeezed his shoulder and went upstairs. Harry tidied his desk and put the letter safely in the drawer. As he moved towards the fireplace to smother the fire, he considered that Fridays were his new favourite days. Each Friday, Hermione would come from Hogwarts to Godric's Hollow and they'd spend the weekend together, and ever since Harry had gotten used to sleeping next to a warm, breathing body, he hated his nights alone. Being able to reach out at night and touch the person he wanted near him most dearly would always make him feel slightly amazed.

The fire died back to a soft smoulder, and Harry heard Hermione turn the tap on upstairs. He killed the lights and turned to follow, but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw something flash before his window. For a moment he thought he had imagined it, but after a few seconds of stillness there it was again, flashing by the window above the desk. Harry's heart skipped a beat and slowly, he pulled his wand from behind his back.

Upstairs, the tap stopped running. A door opened and closed.

There was a slight, almost inaudible scratching at the door. Harry moved towards it, one slow step at the time, raising his wand before him.

Was this it? Harry's heart thudded at the thought. It can't be. This isn't like the vision.

Another scratch.

Harry clenched his jaw, nearing the door, reaching his free hand out in front of him to pull it open.

The scratching grew louder, more insistent. Harry, similarly, grew more insistent that whatever it was, it wouldn't get past him.

A thud against the door. Harry's fingers reached out and sculpted themselves around the doorknob. His wand at the ready, he waited for the next thud, and when it came Harry pulled the door open so fast that it almost came off its hinges.

'Ex-'

There was nothing. Harry swallowed the spell and moved behind the doorframe, peering outside carefully, looking left and then right. Still nothing. Slowly, he moved from behind the frame and went to stand in the doorway, stepping outside in the snow. The garden was abandoned. So was the street.

Nothing.

And then, a sharp pain in Harry's right leg. He cursed under his breath and jumped. When he looked down, he saw none other than Merel, sitting in the snow, clicking her beak angrily. Harry's heart skipped another beat, and then the tension he'd felt made place for a striking sense of foolishness. Harry sighed deep.

'I've closed the windows, haven't I?'

Merel hooted in agreement.

'Sorry.' Harry moved aside, and Merel fluttered into the house, immediately perching herself upon the chair nearest the smouldering fire.

Harry, feeling utterly foolish but careful nonetheless, glanced outside once more. All was undisturbed. The protective spells were in order.

'Harry?' Hermione's voice called.

'Yeah, coming!'

Harry quickly glanced back down the street, which was still empty, and moved back inside, locking the door behind him. After putting Merel in her cage and being bitten for it, he went upstairs. Hermione was just getting under the covers. When she noticed him come in, she looked at him quizzically.

'Merel was at the door,' Harry explained. He took off his glasses and put them on the nightstand.

Hermione laughed. 'You forget about her a lot, you know?'

Harry sighed as he got into bed. 'I can't exactly help it, Hermione. I've got other things to worry about.' He turned off the lights, and comfortable darkness filled up the room.

Hermione smiled apologetically and moved closer to him, nestling herself tightly against his chest.

'Let's sleep in tomorrow,' she murmured.

'I can't,' Harry said, sincerely regretful. 'I have to be at Hogwarts tomorrow morning. I've got another session with Barnaby.'

'Oh.' Hermione remained silent for a moment, thinking of how defeated he'd been the last two times. She could only imagine the anguish he'd been put through. 'You don't have to do this to yourself, Harry.'

Harry smiled grimly. 'I do', he whispered, kissing the top of her head. 'It'll be fine.'

He felt Hermione nod, and after a few more minutes he heard her breath grow steady. Harry wrapped his arm around her just a little tighter and breathed in. Spearmint and coconut. Sharp and sweet. Hermione's leg wrapped lazily around his own and as she slept, Harry thought of Teddy. Before he dozed off, he promised himself he'd write back. This week. Tomorrow.