New York, July, 2011

"I was thinking…" She says.

"Oh, no!"

Ginny playfully slaps Draco on the arm. He laughs and hugs her, spreading kisses across her throat.

"What is it, my love?"

They're alone at their house, Dominic is spending the afternoon with Harry and Lily. Differently from Harry, they wanted to stay close to the wizarding community, so they bought a house in a secluded and beautiful place that was known only by wizards. Even after changing so much from the Malfoy he used to be, Draco could never let go of the luxury he thought himself entitled of. So to call it a house was a little off… it was a mansion. Ginny didn't mind. It made him happy so it was okay with her.

"It's been two weeks since Ron left for England and I already miss him." Draco stops his kisses and looks at her, something on the way he leans his head to the side telling her he already knows what she's about to say. "I miss my family, love." He closes his eyes.

"I know."

"And they accept you now." He raises his eyebrows.

"Do they really, Gin?"

"Of course!"

Draco shrugs. He's still holding her. "I guess Ron was okay with it, but… your brothers, your parents." He looks down. "They really hate me." He whispers.

Ginny sighs and kisses him. "They don't and even if they do… I love you, Draco Malfoy, you're the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with, we made a wizard and a muggle vow on it. You're the father of my child, soon to be the father of another one and I can't have you and my family not speaking to each other for the rest of our lives. I mean-" a tear runs down her face and he brushes it away "I want Dominic and this baby to know their grandparents. I want them to know from where they come from…" He's silent and she watches his face. "What about your mother, Draco?"

He finally lets go of her, walking away inside the bedroom. "I don't want to talk about it."

"You have to!" She already misses his warm embrace.

"No, I don't." He sits on the edge of their bed. "I understand your desire to reconnect with your family and you know I support you all the way, Gin, but this isn't about me and my family. I'm sorry, forget that, it is about my family because you are my family. You, Dominic and this baby you're carrying. No one else."

She doesn't argue. It's not the time yet. She sits by his side, her arms holding him. He kisses her gently. "Fine." She says. She takes a deep breath. "I want to move back to London."

Draco freezes. His eyes widen and he stutters. "Wh- What?"

"I know, I know it's too much to ask for-"

"It is!"

"But please, can we at least consider it, please?" He sighs. "I want Dominic to go to Hogwarts, love. I want to be around my mother when this baby is born and-" She weeps a little.

"Hey, hey." He sooths her. "It's fine, love. We'll talk about it, okay?"

"Thanks." She kisses him again. "I love you."

"Love you too."

"So, Ginny wants to move back to London."

Harry stumbles and falls face flat on the floor. Draco laughs.

"Wow, if I knew I had to say something like this to make you fall on this exercise I would've done it ages ago."

Harry rolls on the floor, avoiding Draco's next strike - a kick coming from above - and in a swift move is back on his feet. They're at MACUSA, practicing hand in hand combat, an exercise that Draco never considered a necessity, but it was something that kept them in shape and refreshed their rivalry. Well, not exactly rivalry, more like a desire to be the best Auror. Harry often left Draco bleeding on the floor, but it was a satisfaction to the blond when their roles were inversed. To beat the shit out of Potter without consequences was his dream coming true. They both enjoyed it immensely, but would never admit it. Ginny watched them sometimes when she was visiting Draco at work. They never missed the way she mumbled that boys were idiots. They just laughed.

Draco moves fast, his arms and fisted hands seeking Harry's face with ferocity. Harry dodges and blocks every blow so Draco changes strategy and hits a full kick on his opponent's middle, followed by a disarming and powerful punch on his jaw. Harry falls again, spitting blood. Draco is ready to strike again but Harry taps the floor three times, surrendering, the spell protecting them from real damage, disappearing. Draco laughs and shouts to the crowd of new Aurors watching them:

"See? That's how it's done! Now, move along."

He observes the slow ones walking out of the arena, excited voices and shouts of 'way to go, Mr Malfoy' are heard from afar. He smiles at them, loving the attention. Then he looks back at Harry on the floor. He seems totally lost in thought. Draco extends his hand to his friend and helps him up. They walk in silence to the edge of the arena, both sitting, their legs hanging in the air.

"Are you okay, man?" Draco asks.

"Not really." Harry answers. He sighs. "Lily has been miserable this past couple of weeks. I just don't know what to do! She's talking to Laura and Hermione every day through the floo. And Laura seems sad too and I- I feel like a failure."

"Harsh."

"And now you tell me Ginny wants to move back to England, it's just-" Harry grunts. "I'll never hear the end of it if you go back and I stay here, not after everything."

"We haven't decided yet. Chill, Potter."

Harry scowls at him. "This is Ginny's wish, Malfoy. You do everything she wants. Of course you're going back, it's just a matter of time."

"Hey! I don't do everything she wants!" Harry laughs. "Yeah, okay, maybe I do, but…" Draco sighs. "Even if I don't want to admit it myself, I guess I miss London…" He shrugs. "It's my home after all, you know? She wants to have the baby there, she wants Dominic to go to Hogwarts and I kinda of agree with her."

"What about the Weasleys hating you?"

"She says it's not the case anymore and I believe her. Even if they hate me still… I guess I'll have to deal with it, right? Isn't that what being an adult is all about? Facing your problems and such? I'll just have to charm them over. It will be easy, I mean, look at me."

"You're ridiculous."

He blinks playfully at Harry in response. "I'm risking getting a punch here but, you should go back too, Harry. Haven't you, Hermione and the girls suffered enough?"

Harry's mouth hangs open and Draco waits for the punch or the hex that he's sure are coming his way. But after a few seconds nothing happens. He claps his hands in front of Harry's face. He blinks.

"What do you mean?" Harry asks.

"Wow, Potter. What do I mean? Let me see? Hum? You guys got together and hid from the wizarding world because you were afraid of some dark wizard coming to kill you. Then, Hermione got pregnant and instead of it being a joy you almost lost it with fear of something happening to her. Then one year after the twins were born you finally lost it and decided you had to leave London and everything behind. She didn't agree because you were just being crazy and then, without anyone knowing about the twins, again a side effect of your paranoia, you two decide to split and each one gets a daughter. I mean, that's fucked up shit, Potter. It's free suffering and pain. Was it worth it?"

"Why everyone says I was being crazy? I had my reasons!"

"Reasons no one knows of!"

Harry stands, Draco follows. "Don't try to be the better man here, Malfoy. I did what I had to! I was protecting them!"

"Oh, come on! I'm not Granger's best friend but even I know she preferred you putting her in danger than walking away!"

Draco doesn't have the proper time to react since Harry moves in a blink, his fist meeting Draco's face with an absurd intensity. Draco takes a step back, hand holding his jaw and feeling the blood running down his nose. Harry looks at him one last time and exits the arena with haste.

Draco swears under his breath.

London, July, 2011

There's a shy knock on her door. "Come in."

Her assistant enters the office, a large file in his hand. "I found it, boss."

She takes it from him and sits back on her chair, her eyebrows rising. "There's a lot of things missing here."

"I found out it's codified, only high level clearance can access it."

She sighs.

"What's the problem? You have this clearance."

"That's what worries me, Edgar. If it's so classified it means it's important, right? Dangerous, even."

"What is this, really?"

She closes the file and watches her assistant. He's a good assistant. Dedicated and eager to impress her at a point that he would do illegal things. The way he just did. She's kind of a big deal at the Ministry, but even for her a few things are off limits. Like Aurors' files. Just like the one she has on her desk now.

"Edgar, no one can know about this, do you understand?" Her voice is firm, very similar to the one she uses with Laura when something is crucial. Like her taking a bath before dinner.

"Yes, yes. Of course. I'm sorry I asked." He raises his hands, apologizing. "I'll leave you to it."

He exits the room and she's alone with the file she's been looking for almost two weeks now. It's the report of the first mission of a new group of Aurors that went extremely wrong. Two died and the others were mild and severely harmed. No one knows about this mission, only a handful that needed to know.

She opens the file again, the name of the mission staring back at her - Black Dawn - and bellow it the name of the responsible Auror - James Pickerson - and the newly graduated, one of them the reason of all of this - Harry Potter. The only reason she knows about this.

She closes her eyes. That night still a hurtful memory to her.

12 Grimmauld Place, May, 2001

Laura and Lily are finally asleep and Hermione can worry about Harry without having their daughters staring wide eyed at her. It's been hours since he left for his first mission. After a full year of training and being underestimated by his superiors, Harry graduated the Auror's preparation top of his class.

He said it was just a recognizing mission, that a few suspect activities were being reported from an isolated area and they had to check it out, make it sure it wasn't a real threat. She wished him good luck and went on doing her things normally. She knew she couldn't worry herself sick every time he went on a mission, this was going to be their life now, their normal. Plus, Harry knew how to take care of himself. She shouldn't worry.

Yet she did. A lot.

As the clock struck hour after hour her mind and soul were certain something was wrong. The deep and rare connection she shared with Harry was wary. This connection was something they've kept for themselves, a secret no one else knew. They've both made a lot of research regarding it and because of it she could feel a little of his own fear.

She walks around the place, her mind conjuring up the worst scenarios. Where is he?

As if a call to her thoughts, a loud crack comes from the front corridor and she runs to it. Harry's there, one knee on the floor, his head hanging low. He's wet and bloodied. He grunts and falls to the floor and Hermione runs to him, desperate. She takes his face in her hands and pushes his hair away from his eyes, her hands searching for the wounds that are source of the blood that covers him.

"Harry, Harry, it's okay, I'm here. I'm here."

He's trembling from the cold and from probable shock. Satisfied after healing a few cuts and bruises she helps him up and Harry finally looks at her, comprehending where he is and who she is. He hugs her tightly, her name a mantra leaving his lips.

"I'm here, I'm here." It's all she can answer. They walk back to the living room still in each other arms, carefully holding each other. "What happened?"

Releasing her he shakes his head, a hopeless look on his face, one she hadn't seen in over two years. He opens his mouth and closes it again. She feels breathless.

"Tell me what's wrong."

"We have to go." His voice is thin, scared.

"Go where? What do you mean?"

"Take the girls, we're leaving."

He walks out and heads to the kitchen. Hermione is stunned, her mind in total surprise trying to catch up with the situation. Then, she feels angry. She marches to the kitchen, he's there, a glass of water in his hand.

"Are you serious, Harry? What are you talking about?!"

"I'm very serious." He doesn't look at her. "I'm gathering their things while you pack yours."

He's already walking out. "No." Her voice is low but audible. He stops on his tracks. "You can't do this. You can't expect me to do what you want without an explanation, Harry. I'm your-" She stops. What is she to him, exactly? To say she's his girlfriend is ridiculous. Mother of your children? They're not married either, he never asked. "Your partner in life." She breathes heavily, it's right but is sounds awful. "We're in this together, we've always been. Tell me what's wrong and we can deal with it." He shakes his head, denying. "Harry! I'm not here to obey you or anything like that. We're equals in this relationship."

"Not with this, Hermione. Just do as I say."

"I beg your pardon? Did someone hit you on the head? No, Harry. No. We have to talk this through."

"NO, WE DON'T!"

He finally loses it.

Harry's been wary for the past few months, always on the edge, always afraid of something, his mind never fully on the moment, often wandering elsewhere. Hermione tried a few times to talk to him, to understand what's going on, but he never opened up and it made her feel awful. They didn't have secrets. Or at least she thought so. Since the first time they've had sex, the ultimate union of their bodies, souls and magic, some kind of connection was formed between them, like a thread connecting both. A thread capable of carrying emotions and thoughts. They got used to it, used to talk inside each other heads, used to know exactly what the other one was feeling. However, since Harry got restless he started shutting her out. The times he let her in were rare now and what killed Hermione the most was that he knew how much this attitude hurt her. Apparently he didn't care.

"STOP, HARRY!" She feels their kindred and beautiful magic crackling around them. "How can you act like this? How can you do this to me? Don't you care about the way I feel? About how we've been drifting apart for the last few months?"

He runs his hands through his hair, exasperate, grunting with impatience. "I don't have time for this! We're in danger here, Hermione!"

"WHAT DANGER?" She's crying now. "I can't keep doing this, Harry! Since we got together we kept it a secret because you were sure someone was going to kill us, but more than two years passed and nothing happened, we were never even threatened! No one knows we have this life, no one knows we have two beautiful daughters because you are unable to let go of the past, Harry! You keep reliving it, suffering for it! But guess what, you're missing out your life! You're killing your future! YOU'RE KILLING US!"

"I'M PROTECTING US!"

"FROM WHAT? From the monsters that exist only inside your head?"

He doesn't answer, his eyes searching hers, the magic around them a mess. Harry tries calming down and she can see his chest rising and falling from his breathing. "Can we discuss this later? We have to go now."

She feels her world shattering. She feels like falling into an endless pit. The decision in front of her, the difficulty of the situation cutting her open. The mere prospect of separating from him taking her breath away. But I can't keep living like this.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"What?" He takes a step closer to her.

"Me and our daughters are staying here. If you want to go, just go."

"You can't do this."

"Watch me." She turns her back to him and Harry grabs her by the elbow, the magic around them snapping and sending both to different sides of the kitchen.

Hermione isn't hurt and she knows he isn't too, but the look on Harry's face is pure insanity. "You'll not separate me from my daughters."

New York, July, 2011

Draco's words keep echoing inside his head, how accurate his friend is bothering him more than anything else. Harry regrets the night he let everything fall out between him and Hermione. It was foolish and irresponsible, if he could he would take back all those years apart. He would talk to her when she pleaded him to, he would explain the situation and trust her judgment. But he was blind back then. He couldn't see properly, it was like something was covering his eyes and mind, taking away his perspective.

Hermione gave him a chance to talk when she was there two weeks ago but he was stupid enough to let it pass, to once again let her slip through his fingers. But they had to talk. He had to apologize. His actions ten years ago were childish and hurtful.

He left MACUSA in a haste, anxious to be away from everything. Alone at home, the apartment feels cold and big, hollow. Almost like me. Lily is spending the day with Ginny, the woman said she had to ask a few things around and taking Lily would be a pleasure. If we were in London she could stay with the Weasleys, or with Hermione's parents. She could have grandparents. A life full of love and new experiences. A childhood he didn't have and in some way took from his daughter. She could go to Hogwarts, enjoy it with her sister.

Harry enters his study and his body moves directly to a drawer that he never opens, one that only him have access. He takes old photos from inside it, pictures of him at Hogwarts, of the golden trio, of Christmas at the Weasleys, of them at Grimmauld. Some of them are enchanted, others plain and as muggle as it gets. And then, photos of him and Hermione, of their shared life as a couple. They kissing, embracing, celebrating. Hermione pregnant. I forgot how beautiful she was. Their smiles big and bright, their faces young and hopeful. His hand over her belly in a protective way, her lips touching his with love. Their newborn children always together in every picture. Harry carrying them, Hermione trying to make them eat, a beautiful mess. Their first birthday. It's a moving photo of the four, Harry with Laura in his arms while Hermione holds Lily, their cake an enormous tower in front of them. The girls smile wide and Harry moves his free hand over Hermione's back in a reassuring way, she smiles at him and they put out the candles.

And then, nothing else. It's the last picture he has of the four of them together. He flips it over. 'April 12th, 2001 - Girls' first birthday'. It's Hermione' handwriting. He'd never realized that and for whatever unimaginable reason he starts crying. His chest heavy as sobs come out of his mouth. The weight of everything they lost suffocating him. I should have stayed. I should have talked to her. I'm sorry, Hermione, I'm so sorry.

That dreadful night.

12 Grimmauld Place, May, 2001

"You'll not separate me from my daughters." He can't even recognize his own voice, the menacing tone surprising himself.

"I would never do that." Hermione seems tired and hurt. "I'm just saying I'm not leaving and they aren't also. You don't have to leave either, Harry. Please, let's talk about this."

He can't. He got the message, he understood that he still is a target, that he will never be able to have a normal life with the woman he loves. That's why I never asked you to marry me. "All you have to know is that they'll come for us."

"Who?"

He doesn't know. But it doesn't matter. He's sure a new dark order is rising from Voldemort's ashes, he's been searching and watching a few suspect actions and places for the last few months. He just looks at her.

"Harry." She takes a step closer. "Voldemort is gone. You destroyed him, I saw it, everyone was there. He's not coming back, he's not going to come after you. He's gone!"

"You can't be sure of that." His biggest fear is finally out in the open. "He can still be out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment-"

"No, no. Harry." She takes his face in her hands and forces him to look at her. "You've earned your happiness, you're allowed to live. He's gone." She's crying and he must be too. He kisses her hands and hugs her. Their connection and magic still on the edge.

"I'm here. Everything will be fine, Harry." Her voice echos inside his head and he pushes her away a little. How close they are hitting him on the face. She watches him. "What's wrong?" She asks.

He can't do this to her, put her in danger like this, put their girls in danger. They'll come after him and if they are together they'll come after them. Imagine if they found out about their connection, about how much she means to him. But they could have a chance if they left London, if they left England.

"Please, Hermione, we have to go."

She takes a step away from him and he knows what she's going to say before she does it. "I love you, Harry. I love you with all my heart, but I can't do this. Not like this."

He wants to stay with her, but if he does his selfishness might be fatal to them. "I can't stay."

"Where are you going?" She seems so small in front of him, so defeated. He hates to see her like that. "For how long?"

"I-" He hadn't thought about it. I guess forever. "I don't know."

"I understand."

She's walking away, slipping from his fingers in front of him. He lets her do it.

London, July, 2011

Hermione is crying, the way she walked away from him weighting on her. But she was exhausted, she couldn't fight with the monsters inside his head, she lost every time she did it. And that night he was incredibly stubborn. I gave up on us. It's hard to admit it, to even consider it, but in a way, it rings true to her. I should have tried harder. She brushes away her tears. He never came back either. He wanted to erase me from his life.

She feels a sudden urge to see Laura. Lifting from her chair, file in hand, she puts on her robe and gets ready to exit her office, except a knock stops her. She knows this knock.

Jack enters her office. Flowers in hand and a dashing smile across his face. "Hey, love, I've missed you!" He embraces her, giving her a kiss she responds with intensity. She likes Jack, really likes him. She loves him. Something she never imagined would happen after Harry. But it did. I'm glad it did. She missed him, he's been away for a long time, his mission took longer than he expected.

"When did you arrive?" She asks, still in his arms. She's smiling. She feels light and happy.

"Just now. Wanted to see you as soon as possible." He kisses her again.

She laughs. "Good mission?"

"You can say so." He blinks at her. "Except I realized something." His tone is serious and she stiffens a little, her gut telling her something important is about to happen.

"What?"

"I almost died, you know? But, hey, hey, don't worry, I'm fine now and-" He releases her, settles the flowers on her table and takes away a little velvet box from his inside pocket. He outstretches it to her. "When I was there, sure I was going to die, I had one regret only. Do you know what it was?" She shakes her head. Her legs feel like jelly, is he really doing this? "My only regret was that you were not mine. I can't live another day without being able to call you my wife, Hermione. I love you." He takes her hand, opening the box. A giant diamond ring shines at her. Oh, Merlin. "Will you marry me?"

New York, July, 2011

"Harry Potter!" Ginny's voice calls from the entrance. "Can I know why you punched my husband's handsome face?"

Lily enters the study in a rush, not giving him time to brush away his tears. "Dad, what's wrong?"

He's holding the pictures. He looks at Lily with a sad smile. "Come here." she sits on his lap and watches the photos, smiling.

"Are these pictures making you sad, dad? They are so beautiful." She kisses his cheek.

Ginny enters the room and immediately understands. He looks at her.

"Ginny, have I ruined everything?"

"Oh, Harry. Of course not." She kneels in front of him while Lily watches with attention. "It's never too late to fix certain things, Harry." She gives him a pointed look.

He laughs a little while still crying. Ginny is right, it's not too late, he can still mend things, he can fight for the life he always wanted. Even if it means he'll have to fight a million dark wizards. Hermione is worth everything. He wants to tell her what happened that night, explain his behavior those last months. He wants to be with her.

"And you know… Me and Draco are moving back to London, what if we all go?"

"Really, aunt Ginny? Dad! Can we go, dad? Please? I miss mum and Laura, please?"

"Well-" He inhales deeply. "I guess I miss them too."

"And Harry, let's be honest here, you can't live without me and Draco, right, Lily?" The girl agrees vehemently. Ginny laughs. "See, Harry?"

"True, you're right, Ginny!" He laughs and turns to Lily. "How do you feel about moving to London, sweetie?"

The girl squeals in delight and hugs him.

I'm going back to you, Hermione.