A/N: This story focuses mainly on Hermione and Rose, and their relationships with their significant others, their family, and with one another. Hermione is married to Ron, but the story will gradually turn into Harmony, and Rose is paired with Scorpius. None of the main characters will be portrayed in a negative light (i.e. Ron, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny), and I try to stay true to how I think the character would react in certain situations.

I really wanted to explore the mother-daughter dynamic between Hermione and Rose, especially as Rose evolves into a young woman. Rose is a teenager and is struggling with seeing Hermione as anything but her mum, especially as she begins to learn more about the war and her mum's life before marriage and children.

This story has quite a bit of angst and will deal with mature themes. I don't want to give anything away, so if you have any triggers and want to know more, please message me.

I'm open to feedback, and love reviews (especially encouraging ones!).

I can appreciate this story isn't for everyone, but if you like Harry/Hermione and/or Rose/Scorpius, I hope you enjoy!


Newly appointed, Minister of Magic, Hermione Granger, was having a dismal Friday afternoon. As she paced in her office, flipping through report after report, she couldn't help think how she was enduring one of the toughest weeks she'd had since taking over the Ministry in December. It was as if every minute, a new urgent memo appeared on her desk, each one requiring her immediate and undivided attention. Some of the most recent reports alleged serious problems in the magical world. A witch in a small village east of London performing magic in front of 12 muggles, the mysterious deaths of 2 house elves working for a Pureblood family, and a pair of dementors spotted outside of Hogsmede in the early hours of the morning were just a few occurrences that had kept the new minister up at night.

Strange things were brewing, and Hermione had a bad feeling it was only the beginning. The one thing keeping her grounded was thinking about how in a few short hours she would not only get to see her son and daughter, but also have them home for the summer. She missed both her children terrible while they were away at school, and Rose had seemed especially distant during the last term. Must be the way all kids get once they reach a certain age, she figured, trying to shrug off her uneasiness. Rose had just finished her third year at Hogwarts, and the last Hermione had seen her was at the Gyfindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch Final in May, and that had only been briefly.

Hermione was determined to get as much accomplished in the next two hours so that when she got home she could spend some much overdue time with the kids.

She was about to read the Auror Report on the dementor sighting when a soft knock at her office door broke her concentration, and when she looked up from her papers, she saw Harry Potter peaking his head in through a cracked door.

"Got a minute?" He asked with a sheepish smile.

"You know I don't," Hermione sighed, waving him in anyway. She waited for Harry to enter the large office and closed the door behind him before speaking. "What could have possibly happened now? Rudolph Lestrange resurrected from the dead?"

"Better him than Bellatrix," Harry quipped, leaning against Hermione's bookcase as she remained seated at her desk. "I don't come bearing news or anymore fires for you to put out. You'll be relieved to know that Wilkes reported back that no foul play is suspected in the deaths of the two house elves."

"Thank god. Finally, a shred of good news."

"Yes, one small break for the good guys."

Hermione gave a sigh of relief before taking a moment to study her friend.

His eyes were sullen and dark. His black hair, not wavy as it usually was, but unruly like it had been in his teens. He looked tired. Exhausted even.

"Harry," Hermione started as a curious thought crossed her mind. "Is everything alright?"

It was unusually for Harry to come by her office unannounced, especially given he'd just confirmed that he didn't have any serious to discuss. He wouldn't have come all the way across the Ministry just to tell her what Adam Wilkes thought about Minny and Binny the house elves. Maybe something else, something unrelated to the Ministry, was going on.

After all, with all the madness, it had been a while since she and Harry had spent any time together. The last she could remember where they had any sort of proper conversation had been during Easter at the Burrow.

Harry offered a half smile and nodded, his head cast down. Hermione studied him further. He seemed off, timid even.

"I was hoping I could steal some of your time." Harry said quietly. "Not more than an hour or so."

"When?"

Harry kept his eyes on the floor.

"Tonight. I know the kids are back from school today, but it's time sensitive and I've already pushed it off a few times now."

Hermione was slightly startled by the urgency in his voice. It had been a long time since she'd heard such an intensity come from him. It flooded her with worry.

"Harry… what is it?" She asked. "What's going on?"

He slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers.

"Just say you'll meet me at seven tonight. Grimmauld Place."

Hermione knew she should say no. She'd been at the Ministry since five in the morning, her son and daughter were home for the summer, and Ron would be furious if she missed another family dinner, but there was something worrisome going on and the curious twelve year old in her emerged. She needed to find out.

"I'll see you tonight."

...

"Mom!" Rose yelled as she threw herself against Hermione into a hug as she'd walked through the front door to the Wealsey Home.

"Hi, my smart, sweet girl," Hermione whispered into her ear as she held her tight and kissed the side of her head. "I'm so happy to have you home."

As Hermione releases Rose from their embrace, she stepped into the kitchen where Ron was stirring a pot over the stove and her son, Hugo, was grinning at her.

"See!" He said to Ron. "I told you Mom would make it for supper, and she's here well in time. It's only six."

Hugo hurried over to Hermione and gave her a half hug, followed by a kiss on her cheek.

"No surprise. Of course the one day all week she's on time is the day you brats are home!" Ron called over his shoulder as he continued to toss vegetables in a frying pan.

"Hey!" Hugo said while Rose giggled.

Hermione allowed herself to soak in the feeling of having her family all together again before she'd have to ruin the moment. She felt a pang in her stomach. She was going to disappoint them, and she hated that.

"Actually," she began after a deep breath. "I just popped in to say a quick hi. I'm so so sorry to have to do this but - "

"You have to go back to work." Ron said flatly, now facing her. His expression revealing what his lips would not.

"Yes," Hermione said with her eyes closed for a brief moment. She hurriedly added, "But just for an hour or so! One last thing to wrap up and then I'm all yours for the weekend."

A silence fell.

Rose and Hugo watched their parents wearily, who were locked onto one another's stare. The kids had been around for more than their fair share of arguments and had a talent for gauging whether or not they should make themselves scarce.

Finally, Ron sighed, and then spoke. "You're the god damn Minister of Magic, You can't actually promise that, but it's sweet that you'd would."

"You're mad?"

"No," he shook his head. "Just disappointed, and not with you. Just in general. But hey, I didn't marry the smartest witch in Britain and think I wouldn't have to share her."

Hermione smiled at this and the both Rose and Hugo relaxed. Crisis averted.

"Go on, Mom," said Rose. "We've got all summer."

"I promise I'll be quick," Hermione said as she changed into a lighter, less formal coat. "I want to hear all about your year end exams when I'm back."

Ron followed her to the door, giving her a chaste kiss.

"Just do what you need to do," he said quietly. "I'm here if you want to talk but whatever it is, I'm sure it's confidental. It always is."

Hermione frowned. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to tell Ron that she was meeting Harry, nor about how unraveled he'd look earlier that day. She smiled gently, hoping it was enough to reassure her worried husband.

"I'll be back soon."

...

Hermione and Harry silently sat across from one another in the living room of 12 Grimmauld Place, Hermione sipping on cheap muggle wine, and Harry, on his his third fire whiskey in the last thirty minutes.

They'd been sitting quietly since Hermione arrived. Harry had told her that he needed a few seconds to gather his thoughts. That had been fifteen minutes ago.

"Harry," Hermione said gently, tucking her light brown hair behind her ears. She leaned forward on the sofa slightly. "You're scaring me. Please tell me what's got you looking like you've spent the week with a horcrux around your neck."

Harry starred at the remainder of his whiskey before quickly tossing it back. He set his glass down gently on the table next to him, and locked eyes with Hermione.

"I'm being blackmailed," he said matter-of-factly, and then added, "and I don't know by whom."

"Okay…" she said slowly, processing the new information as she leaned back slightly. "For what exactly?"

"Oh just a few small things. Political support of a Pure Blood only school, insider trading secrets pertaining to The Potter Black Corporation, and my ongoing influence on decisions made by the Ministry. Basically anything and everything I have access to in order to give these people power."

"That's disgusting," Hermione sneered, feeling hate boil in the pit of her stomach.

"I agree," Harry said quietly.

"Well… what do they have on you?" Hermione asked. Her mind was spinning. Harry hadn't stepped as much of a toe out of line since starting his Auror career.

Harry offered a sympathetic smile, before gently saying, "the question is, what do they have on us?"

Hermione furrowed her brow as she let Harry's words sink in. Did he mean that Ginny was in trouble too?

Harry slowly leaned forward and grasped her hands in his, starring deeply into her eyes. "Hermione, listen, I need to tell you something."

"I'm listening," she said, barely above a whisper.

"It's not... uhh, I suppose - well, I imagine it's going to make things uncomfortable," he managed to fumble out.

Hermione's heart beat quickly against her chest. "Just tell me. Whatever it is, I can help."

Harry dropped her hands and met her eyes once more.

"In March of 2000, right before you and Ron were married, you performed a target Obilviate spell to erase a particular… moment." Harry paused, looking for any hint of expression in Hermione, but she remained stoic. He continued. "It was something that happened on the horcrux hunt. You wanted to forget, so I helped you. Hermione, this is what I - no, sorry - we are being blackmailed with."

Hermione considered for a moment. What could be so bad from the Horcrux hunt that she would choose to Obliviate it from her memory completely? She could only think of one, at Malfoy Manor, but even being tortured was not something she'd have wanted to forget. What could be worse than that?

A target Obliviate spell had been developed after the war to help survivors cope with PTSD. It was an effective treatment, but forgetting a piece of ones life came with risks, especially being a public figure. Many, including Hermione, believed it was better to live with pain and remember what they endured in battle. If everyone chose to forget, how would anyone ever learn from history?

"I suppose you're going to be secretive about it, whatever this memory is?" Hermione asked pointedly. "To protect me."

"No," Harry shook his head. "As much as I want to, I can't keep this quiet anymore." Harry handed her a small vial, filled with a clear sparkling liquid. "Take it."

"Harry - "

"There is a pensive upstairs in Sirus's Room." Harry said and then stared at her expectantly. "Use it."

...