Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character, story element or plot item originally published in the Harry Potter books or movies that I may refer to in this story. I'm merely playing in the sandbox.

With some coercion, Sarah agreed to return to Hogsmeade for Valentine's Day. The pair, as well as Susan and Neville and Hannah and several others had expanded their study groups and managed to include some safe members of other Houses, though none from Gryffindor. None approached had seemed interested, citing already existing groups or Quidditch responsibilities.

That morning, despite a last-ditch protest from her, Brahm managed to get her to go in the group with Susan and Neville, even Hannah tagging along, despite her grumbling about the couples around her.

"You don't mean it," Susan said in the carriage, holding Neville's hand.

"Yeah…maybe."

Brahm still didn't know what the issue was. He just knew that Hannah had let up on him a little, going from hatred to general dislike. It was an improvement he would take.

"How about the girls go one way and the guys the other and we meet at the Three Broomsticks for lunch?"

Brahm smiled at the idea, thinking it was perfect as he still hadn't had time to get Sarah's gift yet. He looked at Hannah as she scowled. "I'll even buy lunch for the potentially pretty young lady in the carriage if she'll smile."

"Potentially?"

"The best I get from you, Abbott, is a neutral look with a lot of distrust. Maybe you have a smile in there that will lighten your features some. Heck, even Greengrass smiles sometimes."

There was a burst of laughter in the cart, but what made Brahm's day was the small smile that crossed Hannah's face for a brief second, before vanishing. "That's good enough for me."

They separated at the edge of the village. Neville was lost on the gift front, but Brahm led him to the rebuilt jewelry store, pausing for just a second as he looked at the scarred exterior that hadn't been perfectly rebuilt, then shook his head, going in. "You okay?"

"Just saw the damage on the walls and had a flashback to Sarah and the dementor."

Neville nodded. "You handled that."

Neville looked around and seemed to consider a few items, but Brahm walked over to the silver jewelry. He selected a charm bracelet, something that Sarah had mentioned was missing after she'd been taken. He then selected four charms carefully, a crescent moon, a quill, a potion bottle and a broom. The jeweler smiled as he connected them and looked at Brahm. "They have meaning?"

"She loves astronomy, her father was a writer in his free time, her mother enjoyed potions and charms, so we have a potion charm, and she loves to fly with me." He told the lie smoothly, covering for the real meaning for each of the charms. The moon was for her real self, the quill for her father and his paper, the potion bottle for her mother and the broom was for him, the thing he most loved that he was known for. The order just made sense to him, her parents closest to her, but him following in order.

The man nodded. "Good choice, then." He put the bracelet in a box, then wrapped it carefully. Neville walked up and set a box on the counter. "A very pretty vase. Do you know what you're going to put in it?"

"I do. I've been growing some of Susan's favorite flowers in the one of the project greenhouses. I think that'll be good, since we've only been dating for a bit."

Brahm nodded. "Very smart."

Neville grinned and they each paid. Both slipped their packages into their pockets after shrinking them and they walked towards the Three Broomsticks. "I still can't believe you two, talk about a whirlwind romance."

Brahm laughed. "I still pinch myself, so yeah, I get it. How I could have possibly missed her for what she was for so long?"

"She knew."

"So did Susan." He nudged Neville.

"How's things going with the therapist?" Neville's confidence wavered here, but Brahm smiled encouragingly.

"Good." They were. Both were dealing with some of the residual emotional issues that had come out in the fight they'd had in December. He never asked for details about Sarah's session with the Unspeakable Healer, but he was certain of growth in his own sessions. "I think this is something that the magicals here in Britain should take more advantage of. So much of our magic is tied to our emotions. Keeping the stiff upper lip and all is fine, but at some point, you have to deal with things."

Neville nodded. "I've thought about seeing someone about my feelings about my parents."

Brahm nodded, clapping a hand on Neville's shoulders. "If you think it will help, you shouldn't worry about what anyone else will say."

They met the girls at the Three Broomsticks, but Hannah wasn't there. "Where's grumpy?" Brahm asked. Susan smacked him.

"She had to get some quills. She said to grab a table and she'd meet…oh, there she is."

Hannah raised a hand to wave, having walked forward into view. As she passed a clothing shop that Brahm didn't know the name of, a new business since he'd spread his rumors about Harry leaving the country, the store became a fireball. Hannah hurtled forward, caught in the explosion. When she landed in the street, she was still.

"No!" Susan went to rush forward, but Neville stopped her. "Let me go!"

"You don't have medical training. Call for help. Neville, cover her, gather who you can and get ready to mount a defense. We're going to hold this bar until we can get out the back exit and get to the carriages."

"What if there isn't a back exit?" Neville asked, wand out. Susan was heading in the door.

"Then we'll make one."

Neville nodded and called out to a few other sixth years, telling them to grab what younger ones that they could. Brahm grabbed Sarah's hand. "You cover me?"

"Anytime, partner," she said, drawing her wand.

They ran over to Hannah, Sarah raising a thick stone wall on three sides of them, leaving them an exit. She popped her head above the wall and looked around. "I see a few Death Eaters, but they aren't looking at the students."

"Money, sweetie. Remember when I cleaned out those Death Eaters? They're looking for money to run their families and to support Riddle." He spoke, casting silently. "Definitely a head injury, no internal damage from the explosion, though…not sure, but possible spinal injury."

"How bad?" Sarah asked, keeping her eyes in one direction. Popping sounds made Brahm stop and look himself, but then he went back to what he was doing. "Let the Aurors handle it."

Just as she said this, she ducked down and a green curse whizzed overhead. Brahm frowned at the afterglow, then made a decision. He cast a few spells, immobilizing her upper body and placing her in a light stasis. "When I say, cast the spell to lengthen the wall."

"I can't make it much longer."

"I know. I'm going to help."

Sarah looked confused, then shrugged. She started the spell, and the wall began to expand and Brahm put his hand on her back, pushing magic through her like he would his wand. He was careful not to push too hard. Him passing out would leave two people who needed evacuation.

The wall crept along the open ground and stopped just short of the Three Broomsticks. "I didn't know you could do that."

"It's not common knowledge. I picked it up in my reading before we came to school. Most wizards and witches don't get along enough too trust each other to channel magic together without some kind of rune structure or circle to act as a medium." Brahm said, forcing himself to take a breath. "Let's go."

He scooped Hannah up and they ran along the wall, Brahm keeping as low as he could while carrying the blonde. When they got to the Three Broomsticks, most of the kids were out. Neville motioned them on, taking Susan by the hand to pull her towards the back. Sarah took the back, wand out and covering their escape.

There was one carriage left and they piled into it. Brahm and Sarah sat on one bench, Hannah laid across their laps, while Neville and Susan looked on worriedly. "Is she okay?"

"I think so, Susan. I did what I could. Now, we rely on Madam Pomfrey." Brahm tried to sound confident, but his chest was tight. He was having flashbacks to holding Luna this way before.

Sarah wrapped around him as much as she could. "Thinking about before?"

"I carried you out of that warehouse just like this…yeah, it's bringing up some memories." Brahm said, noticing his hand was stroking Hannah's hair. He tensed, pulling his hand away, mouthing an apology to her.

"It's okay. I know who you come back to." She reached out and took one of Hannah's hands.

Prefects met them at the door, waving them through as Brahm took to the stairs, Hannah cradled in his arms. There were no other casualties and he only stopped as he lay her on the bed. "Madam Pomfrey!"

"What happened?"

"Hannah was injured in the attack. I did some field scans, but I didn't see anything more than a concussion."

Pomfrey bustled over, waving her wand and muttering. "Good job on the immobilization. I don't see any spinal damage."

Brahm let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Susan hugged him. "You saved my best friend."

"I don't know that I saved her…besides, Sarah covered me while I did the field medicine."

Susan released him and moved over to Sarah, hugging her. Brahm wavered on his feet slightly and reached for the chair. "I could do with a Pepper Up or just the chance to sit here for a while."

Susan's stomach grumbled and she blushed. "We missed lunch," she said as a defense.

"Why don't you get something to eat? It's about that time for the Great Hall."

"But Hannah…"

"I'll stay and watch Hannah, you three go on." Sarah frowned and leaned in to say something, but Brahm met her gaze evenly. "I don't know if there's any Death Eater children looking to make a name for themselves by bumping off the niece of the Head of the DMLE. If there's anyone I trust to watch over her, it's you."

Her frown morphed into a smile, and she leaned in, kissing him. "I'm sorry, I thought you were being overprotective of me. Now I just know you're being the smart Ravenclaw you should have been."

He grinned at her. "Go on, silly."

Madam Pomfrey walked over, handing him a bottle of potion. "We have time for you to recover naturally, so why don't you help me with Miss Abbott?"

He left long enough for privacy curtains to go up and her clothes to be switched to the hospital pajamas, then he returned, still holding the potion. Pomfrey directed him in the best way to give her the medication, then complimented his skills. "I was right. You will make a good healer someday."

"I really think I want to do that."

She smiled at him, then gestured to the seat. "Then watch over your patient." He sat, keeping an eye on Hannah's breathing and a wand at the ready in case it was needed.

He realized he'd dozed off when he felt a tugging sensation. He opened his eyes and Hannah was looking at him, confused. "What happened and why am I holding your hand?"

He released her hand, sitting up. "I must have reached for you in my sleep. Sarah and I would often wake up holding hands when one of us had a nightmare." He stretched. "What do you remember?"

"We separated, Susan and Sarah went to…"

"Don't say. Let the shopping still be a surprise."

Hannah nodded. "Thanks. I feel like my brain's full of wool or something." She frowned. "I was heading to get more quills?"

"I guess. That's what you told Susan. If you did something else, I can't tell you."

She nodded. "After that…I don't know."

"You saw us at the Three Broomsticks, then waved and started in our direction. Death Eaters attacked again, and you were too close to the building they hit when it blew up." Brahm reached over and turned her head gently to look directly at him, then shined his wand in her eyes briefly. "Good reaction on the pupils. I think the potion fixed your concussion."

"How'd I get here?" Hannah said, trying to push herself up. Brahm leaned over and helped her.

"Sarah and I ran out, she covered me while I prepped you to move, and I carried you. I know, you hate me, but I was trying to help."

"I don't hate you…I just can't believe you're real."

Brahm canted his head. "I don't understand."

"I was dating a guy this summer and he cheated on me." Hannah's dark look was back for a moment, then she looked away. "I thought he was different. I found him with another girl the day after my parents were attacked." She shrugged. "So, I don't exactly trust men."

Brahm nodded, thinking that it was a bit of an overreaction, but not willing to say that. "Well, you don't have to worry about me cheating on you. I have Sarah."

"Are you going to hurt her, too?"

"Months ago, her uncle asked me to take care of her. I said that I'd never hurt her. He laughed at me and said, 'Yes, you are. You're going to break her heart and she yours' or something like that." He chuckled at the memory. "We had just found out about the betrothal, and I was sitting on the couch, trying to resolve dealing with it in my mind and she came at sat with me. We talked and I had actually already done so."

"Done what?" Hannah asked.

"Hurt her. I kind of lost my temper over the whole betrothal thing and she thought it was because I was rejecting her. I was just angry that both of us had our choices taken away. She then asked me if it meant we couldn't snuggle like we used to, since we were now a couple." He was being careful now, trying not to reveal the wrong things. "When one of us had a nightmare when we were little, we'd go to the other one."

"That's sweet."

"And that's why he and I had that conversation. We fell asleep on the couch together."

Hannah laughed quietly. "Betrothed for a few hours and already sleeping together." Her smile faded. "I loved him you know."

"And I hope you find the right one next time."

She smiled and opened her mouth to say something when a voice from across the room called out. "Hannah! You're okay!" Susan entered the room with Neville in hand, Sarah just behind them.

"I had a good Healer." She looked over and smiled at Brahm. Brahm stood and offered the seat to Susan.

"Well, as your 'Healer', I have to ask that you be very careful and listen to Madam Pomfrey's instructions. I, however, need to find a sandwich or something. I'll leave you guys to catch up."

"Brahm?"

He stopped, looking back. "Yes?"

"Thank you."

Author's Note: So, Hannah's thing is basically done. Some of you may not like the way I handled it, but this is behavior I saw from someone I knew before. I don't even know why I put it in there except as a part of the idea that the magical community in this world doesn't seem to take care of their emotional needs. I find this odd for people who can pull out a stick and kill someone with tow words. Emotional maturity should be a big part of their growth, but we don't seem to see that in some of them.

I did get a bit of a burn from a review who didn't like Sarah and Brahm's fight because it was a sign of abuse, but I was leading towards them seeking that help. I may have rushed things a bit, in that they are settling out in two months what some may take much longer to sort, but this is a story that basically, outside of flashbacks and such, takes place in a year. I don't show everything, and we'll never know what slips they have in the meantime.

Hope everyone enjoys!