A/N: Chapter 3!  Hurrah!  ^-^  This one will definitely make up for Chapter 2's shortness.

Disclaimer: I refuse to repeat this travesty of a statement over and over again (Anyone think that sounds like Snape?)

Harry Potter and the Dark Defenses

Chapter 3 ***Bed & Breakfast***

As Hermoine reached the top of the stairs something moved in the shadows and she jumped, pulling her wand out of her robes.

"Its just me Herm."

Harry stepped out of the shadows, a faintly amused smile on his face.  Hermoine blushed and said, "Sorry.  I…"

"No need to apologize Herm.  It was my fault."  He yawned widely and gave a little shake.  "Urgh."

"Tired?"

"Bloody tired."

Hermoine smiled and headed down the hallway, tucking her wand back into her robes.  Harry followed her and the two walked in silence until he broke it.

"So, you married Draco?"

"About a year ago."

Harry nodded and asked, "And Ron?"

"He became an Auror."

"I'm surprised I didn't seem him.  How about Ginny?"

Hermoine looked down the hallway for a moment before replying.  "Working at Hogwarts with me and Draco."

"All three of you?"

"Yea."

"What a crowd.  I'm assuming you have History of Magic, Draco's got Potions, and Ginny has…"  He paused, not knowing what Ginny might have chosen.

Hermoine smiled and stopped in front of a door, opening it and stepping back before she said anything.

"Ginny's helping Professor McGonagall…er, I mean, Minerva.  It's so strange to call her by her first name.  Even after seven years."

Harry walked into the room and looked around, loosening the silver clasp on his cloak.  "I'm guessing Snape is still Snape?  And why's Ginny helping Professor McGonagall?"

Hermoine leaned against the doorframe and watched him as he threw his cloak onto a small table in the room.  She nodded and said, "Yes, Snape is still Snape.  Though I think he's a bit off it now.  And Ginny became an Animagus."

"Anyone would be off a bit after fifteen Cruciatus Curse's."  He completely ignored what she had said about Ginny except for giving a faint nod.

"I suppose."

Harry yawned again and Hermoine smiled.  "I'll let you get some sleep."  With that she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.  Harry listened as she walked down the hallway and went into the room at the head of the stairs.  A little while later he heard Draco stomp up the stairs and go into the room.  After that there was silence.

Sighing, he pulled off his boots and crawled into bed, finally able to sleep without fear of being killed at any moment.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry awoke the next morning to a polite knock at his door.  He sat up and blinked at the blurry room.  Reaching for his glasses on the nightstand he mumbled, "Come in."

The door opened and Hermoine poked her head in.  She smiled as Harry fumbled for his glasses for moment then found them and looked at her.

"Good morning.  Want some breakfast?"

"As long as it involves bacon I'm there.  I haven't had bacon in ages."

Hermoine laughed and said, "We have plenty of bacon.  Come down whenever you're ready.  The kitchen's right off that great room Draco insists on calling a living room."

With that she left and Harry chuckled to himself for a moment before getting out of the warm bed and trying to make something of his wrinkled robes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As Harry went downstairs and into the kitchen he saw Hermoine there alone in front of the stove.

"I didn't know you knew how to cook, Herm."

Hermoine turned and brandished her wand at him.  "Harry Potter, don't you dare mock me."

"I'm not mocking."

"Yes you are."

Harry smiled.  "And what makes you say that?"

"The tone."

"My tone?"

"Yes."

"Herm, I think your paranoid."

"Oh, you!"  Hermoine waved her wand and Harry had to duck a frying pan that flew off a shelf behind him.  As Hermoine caught it, she smiled mischievously and said, "Whoops."  With that she turned back to the stove.

Harry chuckled and sat down at the table.  After a moment he asked, "Herm, I thought the Malfoy's had house-elves."

"I refused to let Draco have them in the house.  Besides, I like to cook."

"And I thought your love was studying."

Hermoine threw him a glare and he grinned back.

There was a long moment of silence before Hermoine asked, "So, what are you going to do now Harry?"

"Go to Dumbledore I think.  I haven't had time to go tell him about what's happened in the last few months."

"Why didn't you go last night?"

Harry shrugged and replied, "I guess I just felt like visiting one of my old friends and seeing how they'd been doing since I left."

"Oh."

"Mmmm.  So, Herm, why Draco?"

"What?"

Harry chuckled and asked again, "Why Draco of all people?"

Hermoine shrugged and waved her wand at the table, which was instantly set for four people.  Harry noted that but didn't say anything about it.

After a moment she turned and said, "Well, Ron did ask."

"You picked Draco over Ron?"

"What's so shocking about that?"

"Nothing, nothing.  Its just….bloody Malfoy."

Hermoine smiled at him and said, "He's not that bad Harry.  You know, he did change in our 6th year.  Remember?"

"Very well.  I was shocked when he didn't say anything mean the first week back.  And even more when he blew off Crabbe and Goyle.  That's when I really noticed he had changed."

Hermoine nodded and turned back to the stove.  "You know, he confessed that he had feelings for me at the end of that year."

"And.."

"What makes you think there's an 'and'?"

"Just a feeling."

There was a sigh and she continued, "And…I slapped him."

Harry chuckled and joked, "That's twice you've slapped the Ferret, Herm."

Hermoine blushed and looked towards the stairs and something ran down them then burst into the kitchen.

"G'mornin mum!"

A girl of about six ran to Hermoine and hugged her.  The girl had Hermoine's bushy brown hair but Draco's gray eyes.

"Good morning Kal."

Kal smiled up at Hermoine then saw Harry sitting at the table.  "Oh.  'Allo."

Harry smiled at her and said, "Hello.  Who are you?"

"Kallianne Malfoy.  What about you?"

"Harry Potter."

Kallianne's gray eyes widened and she looked up at her mother.  "Mum..?  Is he..?"

"Yes Kal."

"Oh!  My mum's told me a lot about you Mr. Potter.  She said you and my godfather and her were all friends in school."

Harry looked at Hermoine's back then back to Kal.  He asked, "Who's your godfather?"

"Ron Weasely.  He lets me call him Uncle Ron though."

Harry chuckled, "Oh, I'll bet Draco had a fit about that."

"You'll never know Potter."

All three of them looked up to see Draco standing in the doorway dressed in forest green robes.

"Daddy!"  Kal bounded across the room and leapt into her father's arms.

Draco smiled and caught his daughter, swinging her up into the air.  She giggled and hugged him tightly when he held her against his chest.  As he did Draco asked, "How's my favorite girl?"

"Good," was Kal's cheerful reply.

Hermoine snorted from across the room and Draco gave her a hurt look.

Harry looked between the three of them and saw that they were a family.  They loved each other.  He felt left out but he was happy for them.  Even Draco.

"So, Potter.  You planning to stay the rest of your life or live a little?"

Draco's voice cut into his thoughts and he blinked.  "Mmm?  Oh, I'm going to go see Dumbledore today.  Then I guess I'll try and start over."

"So what are you going to tell everyone?"  Draco sat Kal down in a chair and sat in a chair beside hers, which was right in front of Harry's.  The other chair was obviously Hermoine's.

Harry blinked and looked down at the table.  "I hadn't thought of that."

Draco chuckled and said, "Well you had better think of something."

Hermoine turned around and waved her wand at the table.  A moment later bacon, eggs, sausage, and a piece of toast appeared on each plate along with a glass of juice.  She stuffed her wand into her robes and took her seat.  As she did she said, "Draco, let's let Harry deal with that."  She smiled at Harry and said, "I'm sure you'll think of something."

"Yea…"  Harry shrugged the thought off and dug into the food.

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As soon as Harry was finished he got up and said, "I should be going."

"Harry its only eight o'clock!"

He grinned and declared, "I have news to give and a life to get.  Better be early than late."

Hermoine smiled and got up.  She pulled his head down to her height, since he was about 6'2 now, and gave him a peck on the cheek.  "Good luck Harry."

"Thanks Herm."

As he left the kitchen Kal chirped a goodbye around a mouthful of eggs and Draco had grumbled one after a glare from Hermoine.  Harry chuckled.  He loved it when he could get on Malfoy's nerves.  But he wouldn't dare try and take Hermoine from him.  Sure, he loved her as much as he had when he'd left but he'd never told her.  And now it was too late.

Sighing he headed up to his room, bundled up his cloak, and headed back down the stairs.

Hermoine was standing by the door waiting for him.

She smiled and said, "I will see you again right?  You're not going to go and end up in Azkaban are you?"

Harry smiled down at her and replied, "Of course."

"That answers which question?"

"The first."

"I thought so."

"Then why ask?"

"To annoy you."

Harry grinned and said, "Trust me Herm, you'll be seeing me around."

Hermoine sighed, "I hope so."

"Trust me."

With that he headed past her out the door, pulling his hood up over his head, and then Apparating away.

Hermoine stood in the door, thinking to herself.  I do trust you Harry.  I always have.  And I think I always will.  Just closed the door and closed her eyes, leaning back against it.

Just like I'll always love you.

A/N: So?  Whatcha think?  Good, bad, interesting?  And no, this is NOT a H/Hr fic.  Yes, they do admit that they love each other but Herm REALLY DOES love Draco.  And it'd kill him if she left him for Harry so we're not going to do that.  Besides, I think those two make a good couple.  ^_^  I would've done Ron and Herm but that match reminds me of a pair of loose cannons (no offense to those who've wrote it in stories but they do to me).  And it's been in many stories I've read.  Only seen one with D/Hr though.  Anyway, enough of my rambling.  ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER!

Please deposit seven Sickles before continuing.

Hints for Next Chapter:  Harry chats with Dumbledore and other surprises (I can't tell!  Secret!).  Oh yes, Sirius, Remus, Ginny, Ron, and others are coming up soon.  Maybe not next chapter but soon, I PROMISE!

A/N2: Also, Harry will not be paired with Ginny.  I don't know if he's going to get anybody at the moment but he might.  You never know what my insane mind will do.  : )