Hermione Granger drummed her fingers along the spines of books that caught her attention. The bookstore, Dalton's antiquarian and rare titles, occupied a building in the middle of London.

Selecting a dusty blue book complete with gilt lettering she brought it over to the man whom she assumed to be Mr. Dalton.

"How much are you selling this book for?" She said while holding it up.

Hermione handed it to the man. He studied the cover for a minute, then began thumbing through the first couple of pages.

"Collected Wizard Folklore and Myths" a good choice" he chuckled" who am I kidding all these books are good, I'll sell it to you for 7 dollars and 50 cents."

Hermione couldn't hide her surprise. "That much?"

"I've got to make a living somehow, haven't I?"

"I guess you're right." She said while handing him the amount.

When she arrived home she found Ron reading from the Quibbler.

"Oh you are back" he set down the magazine and assisted Hermione in taking her coat off.

"I had said I wouldn't be out very long."

They both settled back into their routines. Ron making his way over to the department of ministries and Hermione writing a letter to Harry. By the time Ron got back it was late and Hermione was seemingly already sleeping.

Ron had not dared tell anyone but he missed his family and more than anything his old house. The Burrow was a place of comfort and family and without it his family seemed cold and distant. If only the death eaters had not been there. If only the wizarding world did not have to deal with the dark arts and it's followers.

"Is everything alright?"

Ron was startled from his reverie by her words.

"Yes, everything's fine. Why do you ask?"

" I only wondered since you are not one to read long into the night."

" oh-I did not realize how late it is. I just got lost in my thoughts I guess."

" Come up to bed." She took his hand and he followed her without protest.

As dawn separated the earth from the sky Hermione opened her eyes.

Hermione Granger took after her mother, inheriting her mother's cerulean eyes and hair the color of oak wood. She was rather rebellious in nature; her father would declare that it was because of the younger generation. Both her parents wanted her to go into a practical field, they were both dentists after all. But Hermione had other plans.

After the battle at Hogwarts, things in the wizarding world settled down for a bit. Harry went off to study dragons in Slovakia and Hermione and Ron settled down together and got married.

And that's where they found themselves now. Harry was in and out of their lives, always popping in to say hello when he had the chance.

Chapter 2

It was late again and Hermione was starting to worry. Where was Ron? He always tried to be home at a reasonable hour. But it was hard to tell these days.

Ron on the other hand was having trouble of his own. Somehow the portal back to the main streets of London had failed, sending him to a dirt road in who know's where. Damn floo powder and it's side affects. This was the only time he would be happy to see that familiar public restroom. And to be out on the streets of London.

But where was he. It was not like any place he had seen before. The dirt road was otherwise empty except for Ron. Someone was watching him he was sure of it. Orchards grew on either side of the road offering false comfort. He could hear the clopping of a horse as it approached. The rider had no head yet expertly goaded the horse forward.

A chill seemed to settle over the area. The horse passed Ron on the right. Once in front, the horse slowed its pace. He cold now see that the rider had been holding something- a head... His head. Eyes were completely white and unseeing, it made Ron feel ill. A half moon smile spanned the bottom of the face.

The headless horseman paced back and forth across the road about 20 yards in front. He wanted to turn around and run back to wherever London was. And there was no way to use floo powder, but he did have his wand. At least it was something.

"Stay Back!"

The weird figure just kept pacing.

"I'm warning you!" Ron shouted again.

Ron was trying to show his confidence, but in a life or death situation he would rather not die, so he took off running. The galloping followed him. He couldn't afford to turn around for fear of being caught.

There were some trees up ahead, maybe just maybe if he reached them he would be safe, but the closer he was the more he felt weakened. He reached a grand oak tree and to his relief it had low branches. He Frantically began climbing, no idea where he was going but just having the urge to climb up. When he got to the top the sky seemed to shift and open up and he was thrown violently to the side before blacking out.

When he woke up he was by Big Ben. How had he gotten there, but then he rememvered the figure. The weird horseman and his head. At that thought, Ron sprinted back home, faster than he had ever run before.

Hermione found him panting like a winning racehorse. His pale complexion coupled with his tired eyes inststantly made her leap into action and brought him to the couch. She ran to the kitchen and brought out an ice pack from the icebox.

"Ron, what has happened, you look terrible!"

But Ron could barely mutter a sound as he frantically combed his fingers through his hair.

"H- horseman, di-r roa-d. Can't ge-t b-ack, ch…asin-g me."

"You have to explain, I can't understand you."

Ron burst out in a coughing fit.

"There was this horse galloping and the rider… he had no head."

"No head?"

Hermione looked at him questioningly. Ron are you sure you weren't just seeing things.

"No, he was there. I couln't get back. The floo powder sent me there. The damn thing messed up."