Note: Hello! I'm sorry it took this long to update. Life got in the way!
Hope you enjoy!
St. Mungo's Hospital
The excessive white of the walls and floor is giving her a headache. The image of Harry convulsing on the floor haunting her. She acted fast, her response automatic, knelled by his side even if her own pain was trying to put her under, she grabbed his head and sent a patronus to Ginny and Draco's. His scar. She closes her eyes. It was like something out of the most terrible tale she could imagine. She presses a hand against her heart. Her fingers unconsciously trace the little lightning that magically appeared there. What does it mean? What does it all mean?
Harry fainted in her arms the moment Draco, Ginny, Ron and Luna came inside the room, their faces desperate, their actions probably saving him. She was too weak to do anything. They took them to St. Mungo's as fast as they could. All that blood. She blinks and realizes her hands are still tainted with his blood. She has a repulsive response to it, scrubbing her hands together, trying to make the blood disappear, groaning in frustration, crying in pain.
A hand over hers stops her desperate attempt. She looks up. Ron's there by her side. His eyes bright. He hugs Hermione and she sees Ginny there also. Luna and Draco aren't there. She returns his hug as if her life depends on it. He's saying soothing words but she barely registers. It's been 3 hours and she's still in shock. Harry hasn't woken up yet. A healer tried waking him with a few spells but nothing worked. And they hadn't allowed her inside his room. 'Family only'. She started shouting at the healer. 'I am his family!' Her face a mess because of the tears, her clothes covered in blood. She knows how she must look like. But it didn't work. Ginny gave a piece of her mind to the healer and apparently they're getting Hermione permission to enter the room. In moments like this she wished she was different and used the 'I'm the Minister' card. It would make things easier.
When another healer noticed she had blood all over, not only Harry's, she asked if Hermione needed care. She just shook her head, not wanting to reveal her new scar.
"We've managed to keep the reporters away so far. The healers made a professional vow to keep quiet about this… at least for now." Ron tells her. She nods, feeling empty and weak.
"What about the girls?" She asks him. It wasn't her first choice to warn them or even worry them. They're just kids… But Luna pointed out that if something worse happened to Harry - and when she said that Hermione almost went ballistic, because of course nothing worse was going to happen - and the girls couldn't see their father, Hermione would never forgive herself. She had to agree with Luna.
"Luna and Draco went to Hogwarts. They're bringing them."
She nods, her eyes falling to herself. "I- I guess I should clean up before they get here."
Ron squeezes her a little. "He's going to be fine, Hermione." She presses her lips together and tightens her hold on his arm before walking to the closest bathroom.
Ginny stops her midway. "They'll let you in. I swear, these rules are ridiculous. I told them that if they stopped you again from entering his room I would ruin this Hospital's reputation even if it was the last thing I did in my entire life." Hermione can't help a little smile on the corner of her lips. Ginny's been crying too. Hermione thanks her and motions to continue her way to the bathroom but without warning the red haired hugs her. "I'm so sorry about everything. I acted like a bitch for the last six months and I can't take that back, but I promise I'll make it up to it."
"It's okay, Ginny." She squeezes her friend a little and resumes her way to the bathroom.
She tries not staring too much at her own reflection. She washes her hands with a ferocity unnatural to her. She cleans her face with cold water. She combs her hair with her now clean hands. She could've done it all with a flick of her wand. But she needs to keep her mind working. Her body aware of herself. She still can't tell what happened at the Manor. She breathes profoundly, feeling the air entering and leaving her lungs. Be strong. She can't collapse right now, their daughters are coming.
The reflection on the mirror doesn't even look like herself. The woman she sees is completely destroyed. Exhausted. Totally not the woman she was 5 hours ago. She sighs and takes out her wand. Yeah, this look won't do. She brightens her face a little and removes all the blood left, from herself and from her clothes. Just above her heart she can feel her skin stinging. Since it happened she didn't look at it again. But she's curious.
She locks the bathroom. Lifting her blouse she widens her eyes. The scar is there and without all the blood coming out of it, it looks exactly like Harry's. Exactly. She feels dizzy. This is absurd. She tries the obvious and murmurs a healing spell against the scar. For a brief moment she thinks it's working, the scar disappears and she lets out a sigh of relief, but then, two seconds later, she sees the shape reappearing little by little, cutting into her skin, bleeding again. She grits her teeth and lowers her head in defeat.
"Hermione."
She raises her head immediately. She wants to cry just to be hearing his voice again, even if it's inside her head.
"Harry. How you feeling? Are you awake?"
"What happened? Where are you? Are you fine?"
She starts exiting the bathroom, feeling much better knowing that he's up, that he's there. A huge weight leaves her shoulders.
"I'm fine." She's heading to his room. Ron and Ginny watch her and she motions to the room, walking fast by them. "I'm almost there."
"My scar hurts."
She doesn't answer. There's no need to. She's at his door and she can see inside. He's staring at the ceiling, eyes open. She enters the room and he turns his head to look at her. The immensity of their love hits her on the face. It's there in the open, in their connection, in their eyes. He slowly opens a charming smile as she takes short steps towards his bed, her legs heavy.
"Hey, gorgeous. Eventful night, huh?"
She lets out a little laugh, still unable to talk much. The shock from what happened and the fear of losing him, leaving her in small doses. He frowns at her reaction.
"How long have I been out?" She can see and feel his anxiety, so she takes his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. He feels calmer immediately.
"Not long, 3 hours." He's clearly relieved. "You wouldn't stop convulsing, the healers were able to stabilize you, and that saved you." He moves to the side, giving her room to sit on his bed. She does, facing him, their thumbs caressing each other's hands. They don't talk for a while. She's finally feeling normal again, centered. He smiles at her again and she smiles back, her eyes going to his forehead. His hair is covering the scar and she raises her other hand to brush it out of the way. The scar is red, like hers. Like it was freshly made.
"That bad, huh?" He asks. She blinks. She doesn't touch it, afraid it might hurt him.
"What happened?" Hermione asks.
Her hand stops at his cheek and he kisses her palm. "It was the ring." She frowns. "I was trying to discover if it was enchanted. And it is." He looks pointedly at her. "It was some kind of tracker, I don't know. Jack's been keeping his eye on you." He shakes his head. Hermione feels his irritation. "I think there was something else too. I was close to finding out what, but…" She waits for him to tell her. She can see his eyes filling up with tears. "It was Voldemort, Hermione."
She tightens her grip on his hand and shakes her head. "Harry, he's dead. He's gone." She can feel the hurt from him. He's upset she doesn't believe him. "I do believe in you, love." She answers his silent question. "I think you saw him, I know you believe you did. But I'm sure it was someone else using his face, using your fear of him to get to you."
"Then why is my scar hurting? Don't-"
A healer enters the room to check on Harry. She gets up from the bed and watches the scene. She's trying her best to be polite. It's the same healer that prohibited her from seeing Harry earlier. Because I wasn't family. She would like very much to hex the man. But on the other hand, he saved Harry, so she decides ignoring him is enough. He asks Harry a few questions and waves his wand at him. The healer informs them that Harry seems fine, there's nothing wrong with him but he should stay the day at the hospital, just to be sure. Harry nods.
It's like a train hits her then. What time is it? She glances at the clock on the wall. 8:20am. They should be working right now. Harry and Draco have a meeting with Jack to talk about the details of the mission. She should be at her office already. Pretending everything is fine. Pretending to care about Jack. Pretending that she's fine with this ridiculous mission he fabricated to separate her from Harry. Because of course. If the ring was a way of watching her all this time… But how much did he see? She feels like a fool. She wears the damn thing all the time. While working… while reading confidential files. While dealing with things no one else should know. While going to places no one else should know. She freezes. He's been watching all this time. She's not a fan of Quidditch, but she's sure that's how it must feel to be hit by a bludger.
"What is it?"
She raises her eyes. Harry is sitting on the bed, watching her. The healer is gone. Harry must be feeling her despair because he's trying to get up to hug her and that takes her out of her thoughts. She goes to him, keeping him seated on the bed. She puts her arms around his neck, embracing him fiercely. His head rests on her chest, his arms circling her middle.
"Hey, love." He tries soothing her. His hands caressing her back.
"I love you, I love you so much." She says. It's her only certainty at the moment.
"I love you."
She needs to tell him everything and she's afraid of what might happen. She argued with him so many times because he kept secrets from her, but now… He stiffens in her arms. Their connection is giving away everything and he realizes she's hiding something from him. He takes her face into his hands and she looks into his eyes.
"Hermione."
She wants to cry. But before she can say anything the air around them changes. Harry looks at the door, frowning. She is intrigued also. Their connection seems fuller, stronger. It takes her breath away. The sensation overwhelming. The door opens and she immediately knows why.
"DAD!"
The girls come rushing in, they look taller and older, it's been months since Hermione last saw them in person. It happens so fast that Harry and Hermione are still holding each other and the girls don't seem to mind, they hug both, closing their short arms around them eagerly. Hermione hugs them back, Harry too. She can't think properly. Harry glances at her, sharing her confusion. Are the girls inside their bond? Are they part of it? This never happened before and they've already been in the same room countless times… why now? What makes it different? Looking at them Hermione can tell they are unaware of what's happening.
"We were so worried!" Laura says.
"Yeah, dad, how could you've done this to us?" Lily completes.
"Well they really are Hermione Granger's daughters." Harry is smiling big and Hermione follows. He raises his hands in the air, surrendering.
"I'm sorry! It wasn't my intention!"
"Don't you ever do that again!" Laura says and Harry really laughs now.
"Yes, ma'am." He answers.
They sit on the bed, one each side of him and he puts his arms around their shoulders while they embrace his middle and close their eyes. It's useless to talk right now, love sometimes doesn't need words, the closeness and the mere fact of being together speak for themselves. Their connection is so strong that it's almost like Hermione can feel their warmth through Harry's arms. It's amazing and at the same time a little frightening.
"I don't think they can feel the same way we do, but I guess just being close to us is enough for them." Harry says.
Hermione agrees. Even if the silence is comforting it is also… odd. They're eleven. They should be asking a million questions, they should be frantic, they should be talking about Hogwarts, about the way their parents were so close when they arrived.
"They can feel something… definitely."
Hermione clears her throat. "Girls, since you arrived you can take care of your father and scold him when he does something the healers didn't allow, okay?" They nod, eager to do it. "I have to go to the Ministry, but I'll be back as soon as I've dealt with a few things." She's smiling, but her nerves are on the edge. "You can spend the whole day with dad!"
"What things?"
She doesn't answer him, instead she hugs Laura and then Lily. "If you need anything I'm sure you can reach one of your uncles or aunts, okay? Love you." She kisses their heads.
"Love you, mum." They answer together. And then Lily says, "You love dad too, don't you?" Her eyes are big looking at Hermione.
"Of course she does, right mum?" Laura pushes.
"They're too clever for their own good." Harry says. Hermione feels his curiousity to know her answer.
She smiles. "Yes. I love dad too." He's staring at her with a look that makes her feel hot. It's intense.
The girls squeal a little at her answer. "Doesn't he deserve a goodbye kiss too?" Lily says and Hermione squints at her daughter.
"Now, girls, enough of this." She raises one eyebrow as a warning. Harry pouts. "I have to go. See you soon, okay?"
She hears them laughing as she exits the room. Outside she sees Draco and Luna first, then Ron and Ginny talking behind them. She can see the question on their faces.
"He's fine." She says and they all exhale heavily. She turns to Draco and Luna. "Thank you for bringing the girls. I don't like the idea of them losing a whole day of school, but I guess I'll have to live with it." She shrugs.
Ron comes closer and hands her the Prophet. The headline as big as possible:
HARRY POTTER, THE SAVIOR OF THE WIZARDING WORLD, WAS COMMITTED TO ST. MUNGO'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SOURCES SAY HIS CONDITION IS CRITICAL.
"Already?" She asks, sighing. "I can't worry about this right now." She looks at Ron, pleading. "Don't tell him."
He nods. "I'll be here if they need me." Ron says. "Ginny too, now that he's awake anyone can enter the room, right?"
"Yes, yes, I guess so." Hermione says. "You should all go inside to see him. Except for you, Draco, we need to go to the Ministry, there's a lot I must do and I think you'll like it." He squints at her.
"Please tell me you're getting rid of Jack in some impossible way and I won't be coerced to go on this stupid mission."
"That's exactly what I'm doing." He widens his eyes at her. Ron and Ginny are also awestruck. Luna is the only one that seems unaffected by her news. She comes to her, a few parchments in her hands.
"Hermione, before you go." She extends the parchments in her direction. "I remembered to get them. You should read, it's about your connection." She lowers her voice at the last word. "And there are a few things written in runic… I couldn't understand it, but I think you will."
"Thanks, Luna." She takes them from her hands and bids everyone else goodbye.
Ministry of Magic
"Boss!" Edgar exclaims when he sees her. "I was so worried!"
"Edgar, send a memo to the Auror Department, I need Jack in my office as soon as possible."
Draco is behind her and she asks him to wait outside. "In fact, Draco, can you do me a favor?" He nods. "Go to Harry's and bring me the ring? It's in his room." He gives her a knowing smile and she rolls her eyes.
She enters her office and she can't shake the nauseating feeling in her stomach. She doesn't have much time alone before Jack is inside. He looks angry, the Prophet in his hand.
"Are you going to explain why you were at his house so late? And what happened to him so conventionally after I gave him a mission I'm sure he's eager to sabotage?"
Oh, I'm so done with you. She didn't read the paper, but she's sure it holds all the details. That she found Harry bleeding and they took him to St. Mungo's. "Are you insinuating that nothing happened? That Harry Potter, the man that gave everything he had, when he was just a kid, to save the wizarding world, would fake some illness to ditch an Auror mission? Is that what you're implying, Head Auror?" She wants to call him by his title, one last time. "Because I don't think people will buy it."
She's standing in front of her desk, her arms crossed in front of her. Jack is furious. She notices that same look he gave her that day she finally realized who he truly was. And she wants him to lose his temper. "What were you doing at his house?" His voice is menacing and she just leans against her desk. No more pretending, enough.
"I was intending on sleeping there, why?" She raises an eyebrow. You dared spy on me, even before… Her honesty shocks him, he thought he was going to corner her, to make her ask for his forgiveness. His eyes dart to her left hand. Following his motion she raises her hand, watching it, faking surprise. "Are you curious where the engagement ring is? The ring you gave me to spy on me?" She sees his eyes widening. Harry said there was something else too, but he wasn't able to discover it. "What other type of enchantment you put on it, Jack?"
He's breathing hard and fast, his chest rising and falling in a crazy rhythm. He looks everywhere, not sure of what to do next, not sure of what to say. She sees him crumpling the paper in his hand.
"What memory you took from me?" He looks even more surprised at that. He was sure he wasn't going to get caught. "Doesn't matter." She waves her hand and there's a knock on the door. Sure, now he knocks? "Come in."
Draco steps inside. He's holding the ring and his face looks strange. When he glances at Jack he frowns further. Hermione sees him blinking fast and shaking his head, coming to her. She extends her hand to get the ring, but Draco settles it on her desk. His face changes the next second.
"Don't touch it." He tells her. Then he turns at Jack. "How dare you?"
"I'm your superior, Malfoy. Don't you-"
"In fact, Jack, you're not his superior anymore." Hermione's voice cuts through the room. Sharp. He narrows his eyes at her.
"Only the Minister can dismiss me, Hermione. You're his assistant. I'm not going anywhere if Kingsley himself doesn't come here and-"
"Well, I'm sorry to inform you that Kingsley isn't the Minister anymore." Draco's head turns to her. Jack seems skeptical. She's not worried anymore about people knowing her real position. She knew this day would come and if she has to reveal it to dismiss Jack, she's at peace with it. "I am. I've been for four years now."
Jack scoffs. "This is absurd. You can't be the Minister."
"Try me, Jack." She sneers, her patience wearing off. "As the Minister I'm dismissing you permanently from your position as Head Auror."
"On what grounds?"
"Incompetence. Auror Potter was held captive for six months and you couldn't find out where he was. Considering this, Jack, I think my decision is past due."
He takes a step in her direction and she sees Draco stiffening by her side. He knows she doesn't need him to protect her, but Hermione is sure Draco would like, very much, a proper excuse to punch Jack… and she won't stand in his way.
"Auror Malfoy," She turns to him. "I'm designating you the new Head Auror." Draco is shocked. Jack is fuming. "Can you tell what other spell is on the ring?"
"I can't tell exactly, but when I was holding it and saw him,." Draco points to Jack in an accusatory way. "I felt some kind of warm feeling. Like I was ready to forgive all his bullshit."
It's like a blow to her. "You manipulated my feelings?" She feels violated. She's angry. Very angry. However a lot of things start to make sense. She takes a deep breath. "You're being banned from the Ministry of Magic. You directly tried to manipulate the Minister with an enchanted object, you also damaged the Minister's memory, endangering the wizarding community."
Jack tosses the crumpled paper on the floor. "I'll expose this little secret of yours, Hermione. And I'll make sure everyone remembers that you are muggle born, it seems like people forgot it." He clicks his tongue. He seems totally different now, no more pretending, no more forced smiles. He looks just nasty. "I'll end your precious Harry. I'll go after him, after you, after your daughters-"
He's thrown at the wall with an incredible force. Hermione is seeing red. Her magic out of control. Jack gets up fast and before she can seize him, he's gone.
"What's wrong?" Harry's voice is desperate inside her head.
"Harry, watch the girls closely. Jack threatened us. I'll tell you everything later."
"Okay. They're here with me. Ron, Ginny and Luna are here also… Cho is coming to visit." Her skin prickles. She feels cold. If Cho is helping Jack, then… "I'll keep my eye on her, don't worry. Are you coming soon?"
"I still have a few things to do. I'll be there later."
"Hermione." Draco calls her, one of his hands holding her arm. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes. I'm fine." She tries calming herself. "Draco, go to St. Mungo's. Cho's going there and we don't know if she's with Jack in this. There's no proof against her, so…"
"Hey, don't worry." He looks at the ring. "Am I really Head Auror?" He's a little uncomfortable.
"Yes. I'll pass all the orders to Edgar, for him to publish them… I guess people should know who their Minister is after all." She shrugs. "I have to go, be careful."
"Hermione," he stops her. "I know I-" He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry about the way I treated you in Hogwarts. I was such an idiot and-"
"Draco, we're way past that point." She smiles. "But I do accept these apologies that took forever." He laughs and she exits the room.
There's a place she needs to go, a few things she needs to set straight before going back to Harry.
Marga's house
The old lady immediately feels the presence inside her house. She doesn't move and a voice she knows very well calls out to her. She doesn't answer, she just waits to be found… its getting harder and harder to move around. Her age seems to be finally getting to her.
The person enters her kitchen. Marga watches as said person sits in front of her.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
"I think you're in danger."
"Tell me everything, Hermione."
Marga's House
Five and a half months ago
She apparates inside the house. It's quiet and she can't find Marga. Hermione walks outside towards the beach, the old lady is there, sitting under a big umbrella. The woman can't help smiling a little as she walks over to talk to her former master. She takes off her shoes, she wants to feel the hot sand under her feet, wants to let the wild wind blown against her face and hair. It's hot, but she doesn't mind. Since Harry disappeared she's barely hanging on and the sea gives her a breath of fresh air, of hope.
"It's been a long time, Hermione." Marga says the moment she stops by her side. She waves her cane and the umbrella gets bigger to accommodate both of them. A nice beach chair appears behind her and Hermione sits, exhaling loudly. "What brings you here, child?"
"Harry is missing."
"Ah, of course. Is that why your magic is so off?"
"I think so. I feel so strange, Marga."
"Your connection seems to be broken in some way…" Hermione finally turns her head and looks directly at the older woman. She hasn't changed since the last time Hermione was there.
"I need your help." She says and Marga lifts one eyebrow, facing her. "I know you can find him."
"And you know that if help you, it will cost you something."
"Whatever you want." She already knew this and she thought a lot about it, that's why it took her another two weeks to come here.
Marga doesn't help her apprentices without asking something in return, she doesn't use her magic without a retribution. But she can't take it anymore. She'll go crazy if Harry never returns to her, if he dies…
"It surprises me how much you love each other." It's a statement. "I've lived a long life, Hermione. Really long. I've watched people love and hate each other, people curse and kill. I've seen the best and the worst of humanity. I've seen children being killed because of their magic. Such ignorance. Such destruction. I've seen lovers betray each other without a second thought. I've seen jealousy and rotten hearts. But you two… what you have is really special." Her voice is a whisper. Hermione knows Marga is a different kind of witch. One she only reads stories about. "It's funny, you know? You are so connected that a few months after you trained with me, he came to the island." That surprises her.
"Harry trained with you?"
"Yes." She scoffs a little. "Stubborn that one. Him and the annoying blond." Marga doesn't talk for a while and Hermione's mind tries to grasp the information. She came to Marga because she was searching new ways to improve her magic and she found a file about her in the Archives of the Ministry. "They apparently heard about me in some mission, I don't know. To be honest I think you told Harry about me through your bond without realizing it. Even apart you were still so close to each other."
I told him? Fast enough she understands another thing. The camp. Of course. She feels a little dumb that she hadn't realized it earlier. And she hates to feel that way. It wasn't entirely a coincidence. One day she woke up and thought it would be fun to send Laura to a camp in the USA. Out of nowhere. She sighs.
"You two are something I call… inevitable, Hermione." Marga continues. "No matter the circumstances, no matter how you two connect, as friends, as lovers, as family. Your souls, your hearts and magics are one. There's no way to separate you. Nothing can break what you have. I've only seen it once before." Marga's voice seems far away, faint. She's remembering something. "I'll find him for you."
Hermione takes a deep breath, she knows what's coming next. "What do you want me to do?" She asks.
"I want your animagus skills." Hermione opens her mouth to protest, but Marga is faster. "I mean, I need you to do a few things for me and I know you have a very interesting animagus form." She squints at Hermione. "Minerva taught you?" Hermione nods.
She doesn't like it. At all. "How do you know I'm an animagi?" Marga actually laughs.
"Hermione, please. There are few things I don't know." Hermione purses her lips, a little annoyed. She knows it's risky to do things for Marga, she's not exactly what Hermione would call a person that do things by the law… and I'm the Minister, for fuck's sake. She observes Marga's expression. She's giving away nothing, but Hermione can tell she also knows that she's the Minister. It's so absurd, Hermione chuckles.
"Are these things you want me to do seen as crimes in the wizarding law?"
"Well, I'm not familiar with the wizarding law, so I can't tell. Will it be a problem?" Marga raises one eyebrow at her, challenging. "Just don't tell the Minister." She smiles and Hermione has to hand it to her. "Are you in or not?"
The dull ache inside her chest, the sick cold feeling in her stomach that always take over her when she thinks about Harry, force her to answer the only thing she can. "Yes."
"Very well. Can I see your animagus form? I'm very curious about it."
Hermione gets up and sighing she closes her eyes. It's always strange and wonderful to change. The first time she was able to do it she was so happy and excited that it took a while for her to realize she was flying. She can feel herself changing with ease, after years of practice she can do it without even thinking. Minerva taught her how years ago, after she trained with Marga and a little before she was chosen Minister of Magic. No one really knows about it. Only her and Minerva. When she opens her eyes again, her vision is different. She can see far way and more clearly, she can hear everything, it's overwhelming how strong her animagus form is. She's flying. Flapping her big wings slowly, staying on the same spot and watching Marga. The woman seems impressed.
"Amazing." She says.
Hermione screeches. She's still her, but at the same time the beautiful white eagle. She never thought she would like to be in the sky, feeling the wind blowing against her, but it's so different from being on a broom, or even on the back of another animal. This is her. These wings are part of her, of her strength and liberty. It really is amazing. She transforms herself back.
"Do you have a name?"
"Athena."
"Suiting."
"So, when do we begin?"
Five months ago
After storming inside the house and not so gently passing by Marga, she allows herself to cry. Standing in the threshold she watches Harry on the bed. He's sleeping. He looks awful. Beaten up. She brushes her tears away, the amount of relief she feels is heavy. Just yesterday she sent Laura and Lily to Hogwarts. They were so excited but at the same time so sad. Hermione didn't miss the way they looked for their father in the crowd, wishing and hoping he would appear. She wants to wake him up and kiss him, hold him, feel his skin under her touch. But she doesn't move. She doesn't know why and she's not sure how much time she stays there, looking at him. Their connection still feels off. She thought the moment she would be near him again it would go back to normal, but apparently not.
Marga finally nudges her a little, motioning to the kitchen. Hermione blinks fast, when she arrived the sun was shining bright and now is already setting.
They sit at the kitchen and Marga pours some tea for them. For the past two weeks Hermione's been searching prophecies for Marga. She doesn't know why she wants them. She felt a little bad for doing it, but the sight of Harry, safe and sound, is enough for her to bury this feeling.
"I would like to extend our agreement." Marga says after a while. Hermione is already shaking her head, denying. "Listen to me. You know him, Hermione." The older woman looks pointedly at her. "If I tell him about the prophecies, he'll want to help." Closing her eyes Hermione sighs. She knows Marga is right. "You can help him."
"How?"
"I don't think it's wise for him to return to the wizarding world as soon as he wakes up and-"
"What? Our daughters are worried sick with their father, Marga. He can't stay. If he was awake I would take him back right now."
"I wouldn't expect you to be so stupid."
Hermione raises one eyebrow, not understanding what she means by it… and a little offended. Marga ignores her and keeps sipping on her tea. Hermione feels angry that she's probably missing a point here. "Explain."
Marga tells her that whomever seized Harry is at a disadvantage now. If he returns to the wizarding world they would have eyes watching him all over again, and the certainty of his whereabouts. She mocks the way the Auror Department wasn't able to find Harry, as if they didn't want to. If he stays for a while with Marga then he can disappear, really disappear. She wants to train him, enhance his magic, help him get to his full potential. It bothers Hermione the way she says these things, but she can't help agreeing with a few points. "And he's not strong enough to go back now. He needs time to heal, to understand what happened to him." Marga makes a face. "You didn't see where he was. How he was. He was practically dead." Hermione stays silent. Taking a deep breath, Marga continues, "I'm going to say this fondly, Hermione. Your girls need you at your best, that's the only way you'll be able to protect them, able to really have a chance against the wicked one."
"We can protect them as it is, Marga."
"No, you can't. And you know it. You just don't want to admit. Do you want to risk it? Their lives? Yours?"
Hermione gets up, angry. She grits her teeth. No. She doesn't want to risk it. "What can you possibly teach him that he doesn't already know?"
"Everything, Hermione. Everything." Marga gets up too, staring back at her. "You have no idea how to truly use magic! Of all my students, you two are the most powerful and you don't even realize it! Magic is not waving your wand around and beating dark wizards with sheer luck!" Marga is breathing fast, her eyes wild and her words a tone louder than necessary. Hermione never saw her lose her temper like this. Marga sits back, exhaling. "There is true evil out there, Hermione. Voldemort is gone, but others rise. People with malicious and nasty intentions are filling up the world, damaging it, destroying it. Many can't defend themselves, but we are wizards, dammit! We have magic." Her eyes glow. "We need to know how to use it."
Hermione presses her open hands on the table in front of her, lowering her head and thinking. She's right. But Harry… She swallows hard. Marga starts talking again:
"There's no one as intelligent as you." The woman sighs. "I have ancient books here with me, they talk about old magic, about the root of magic, about the birth of magic. About its mere existence and what it represents to those that are able to manipulate it. Us. I'll give them to you. It's a lot and they're very hard to understand but I'm sure you'll find a way. I'm sure you'll know how to use the information wisely."
"He should come back home." It's all she says.
"If you want to take him, I won't stop you." Marga answers, gesturing with her hands in front of her.
And then there's silence between them. The ocean and its angry waves and Harry's snorts are the only sound for minutes. Hermione is again looking at that pit. That pit that tells her, mocks her, forces her to make a decision that will change everything. She closes her eyes. She knows Harry would do anything to protect them. She knows he would feel bad if she took him back and something worse happened later. "Fine, I won't take him. At least for now." She crosses her arms in front of her and walks tirelessly inside the kitchen. She can see him sleeping inside the room. "When he's strong enough he can decide for himself."
"I'll keep you posted on how he's doing." Marga comes to stand near her. She extends her tiny bony hand to Hermione. "When you came in you dropped this." Hermione looks at her engagement ring. She takes it with a frown, unable to tell when it fell from her finger. Or even how. She shakes her head and after looking one last time at Harry, she apparates away.
Four months ago
She sees the island from afar. Once a week she flies near to get a glimpse of Harry. He's doing much better. Marga sent her a message saying that he agreed on helping her and he chose to stay on the island for how long it takes his training. She can't say she was happy about it, but she also understood. Marga can be very persuasive. But Hermione decided she won't be left out of this. If Harry is doing this, she needs to improve herself too. It's night and she can see a few lights inside Marga's. She needs to talk to the woman but Harry can't see her. Seeing her, knowing that she knew all along that he was there, would be just an obstacle. An obstacle for his training and for their trust in each other.
So she decided to be with him, to take this journey with him, to grown with him the only way she can. But it kills her that he can't know… she's afraid of what might happen if he finds out. As she gets closer to the house she can see him sleeping, Marga already stepping outside to talk to her. She changes back to her human form.
"Tomorrow." Marga says and Hermione nods, exhaling. "Did you find his wand?"
"Yes. Buried near the house you found him. Took me some time… I can't understand why they didn't destroy it." She shrugs. Her eyes keep glancing inside. "How is he?"
"He's fine, Hermione. You'll see for yourself tomorrow." Marga smiles mischievously. "Oh please, entertain me and give him a hard time?"
"I'm looking forward to it."
Animus Mansion
Present
The writing is still there above her bed. I'm coming for you. She sighs. She feels drained. She had a long conversation with Marga, but the woman said she's not leaving the island, if Jack is coming for her, let it be. Hermione has no doubt he discovered the island and Marga because of her, because of the ring, because of all the times she went there while using it. How he didn't find out Harry was there for five months she can't tell. Harry.
Hermione knows he's anxious. He's been calling for her all day, but she ignored him. She doesn't know how to tell him everything. Tell him she's been with him for months as an eagle, being in a way his confident, knowing his fears and emotions regarding her when she shouldn't. He knows she's hiding something, but he has no idea. He never suspected Athena to be her, no one would… as far as anyone can tell she can't bear the thought of flying…
She rubs her hands against her face. She needs to change clothes and go to the hospital and-
A loud rumor outside catches her attention. She moves closer to the window to check on it. Her eyes widen. At least ten reporters are as close as the house's wards allow. Of course… I made it public that I'm the Minister. "Shit." She murmurs closing her eyes.
"What is it?" She stiffens at the sound of his voice inside her mind. She tries shielding her emotions, she's not ready to deal with him right now. "Why are you ignoring me?" She bits her lower lip. "Draco told us what happened at the Ministry. We need to talk, love." She doesn't answer. Harry is losing his patience. "If you don't want to talk to me, at least come back to see the girls."
"How are they?" She finally asks.
"They're fine. Are you coming?"
"Yes, soon."
She needs to clear her mind. Without a second thought she changes to her eagle form. Flying to the highest window she dives into the night, none of the reporters aware that she's passing by them.
Note: Well, I don't know if you're still interested in this fic, but I'll keep going!
If you're not, I've started a new one and I think I'll publish the first chapter very soon. It's different from this one but still Hhr, of couuurse.