Diving
Han Solo awoke from a sound sleep to the distinctly painful sensation of his nose being broken. He rolled out of bed. In the faint light, he could see Leia thrashing in the throws of a nightmare.
"Leia! Wake up!"
She didn't respond. He went into the bathroom to grab a towel to staunch the flow of blood gushing from his nose.
He came back out and she still wasn't awake. "Damn it, Leia, get up and help me!" With his free hand he grabbed one of her flailing arms and shook it. "Wake up!"
Leia's eyes popped open. For a moment she sat panting, disoriented, then her eyes focused on Han.
"You're bleeding," she said, getting out of bed.
"Really? I'm so glad you're here to tell me these things."
"What happened?" she asked. The blood was soaking through the towel. He had blood on his chest. She looked down; blood flecked the sheets.
"This woman I foolishly let share my bed just clocked me out of a sound sleep."
Leia grimaced. "I'm so sorry, I was having-"
"A nightmare, I know," he interrupted. "I was there. Could you get me some ice?"
"We should probably take you to the med-center."
Han glared at her. "Could you just get me some ice?"
She was back in a flash with a plastic bag full of ice cubes. "I am really sorry," she said, handing it to him. She slipped into the bathroom, wet a hand towel and came back out.
"Let's get you cleaned up." She started wiping the blood from his chest. "I really am sorry."
Han shifted the bag of ice. His voice was muffled. "I know. It's not like you did it on purpose." He sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for the bleeding to stop. After a couple of minutes, he removed the towel. Leia winced. His nose was quite swollen and his right eye was starting to blacken.
"How bad is it?"
Leia tried to think of something positive to say. "Um..."
"Shit." Han got up and went into the bathroom to look in the mirror. "I can't believe you broke my fucking nose."
xxx
The next day Leia showed up at the Falcon earlier than she usually did. She brought a 20-year-old bottle of Corellian brandy that cost her quite of bit of time and money to locate. The ramp was down so Leia just walked in. She could hear Han and Chewbacca talking. Han sounded angry.
"I swear Chewie, one more of Leia's guard dogs comes after me, and I'm going to blow somebody's head off!"
Before Chewie could respond Leia stepped into the lounge where they were talking.
"What happened?" She asked.
Han turned to face her. The swelling in his nose had gone down to almost normal, but a dark bruise crossed it and spread under his right eye.
"Nothing," he grumbled. "Is that for me?"
"Yes, but before I give it to you, I want to know what you mean by 'Leia's guard dogs?'"
"Don't you ever knock?"
"The ramp was down."
"Ever heard of a private conversation?"
Chewie grumbled something to excuse himself, but neither Han nor Leia was paying any attention.
"Tell me what happened?"
"It's nothing."
"It's obviously not nothing or you wouldn't have been talking to Chewie about it."
"Leia."
"Han."
Han clapped his hands. "Fine. General Dodonna tried to give me a dressing down today about not getting into brawls. He said it was behavior unbecoming of an officer especially one with such close ties to, I think he called you, Her Royal Highness."
"Well did you tell him...?"
"What? That last night as we slept together in my bed, Her Royal Highness had a nightmare and broke my nose? No. I told him to mind his own damn business and walked out. I'm a general too, remember? I don't have to take that from him."
"I don't understand why he would say such a thing."
"Oh please, there isn't a single member of senior staff that doesn't take every available opportunity to bust my balls."
"What right do they-"
"None, but they feel like they have the right to say anything they want."
"Why?"
"Come off it, they get their cues from you."
Leia stepped back. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You think I don't know. You think I don't notice how you act."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh really? How about why you only come down here 20 minutes after a shift change when everyone is either at their post or had time to make it to wherever it is they're going? How come we never sleep in your cabin, even though it's a lot nicer and the bed is big enough for you to have nightmare without breaking my nose? How come it's okay to eat with me in the cafeteria among the troops but you never ask me to formal dinners with your crowd?"
Leia put the bottle of brandy on the holochess board and shook her head. "Okay first of all, I come down here 20 minutes after a shift change because that's when I have time to leave. We sleep here because I don't particularly like my quarters. They're sterile and kind of bleak. I like eating with you in the cafeteria and I didn't think you liked formal dinners. I don't much like them myself."
Han frowned at her. "That all may be true, but let me tell you how it looks, not just to Dodonna, but to a lot of people. It looks like you wait until after the shift changes so you can slink down here with the fewest possible people seeing you. Then you stay here to fuck your low-life boyfriend who isn't good enough to be seen coming out of your cabin in the morning and possibly running into the rest of senior staff in the hall outside your door. I think they probably like that you occasionally eat with the troops. It improves moral, makes them feel like administration cares about them. They're willing to turn a blind eye as long as it's not official, as long as you're not parading me in front of visiting dignitaries as your consort."
"You are my consort," Leia said softly.
"No, I'm not. I'm your pilot. I know because that's what the manifest of every single mission we've ever been on together says. Regardless of whether I'm actually flying the ship, it always says Han Solo comma pilot to HRH Princess Leia of Alderaan. It may as well say butler or footman, servant." His expression was hard. "Is that what you come to me for, Leia, servicing?"
She felt like slapping him, but his face was already so bruised and obviously painful she didn't have the heart. She also had the sinking sensation that there might be some truth to what he was saying, and she was deeply ashamed of her behavior. Not that she was willing to admit that to him.
"Enjoy the brandy," she said, turned on her heel, and walked out.
Two hours later, Luke Skywalker walked up the ramp of the Millennium Falcon, looking for Han. He found him in the ship's hold punching a heavy bag, and listening to music that sounded as angry as Han looked.
"Hey, practicing for an upcoming match?"
Han stopped punching the bag, turned around, and looked at him.
"What?"
"I had five people come up to me today to ask if I'd heard about your fight."
"Really, just five?"
"Just five. But the funny thing is all five stories were pretty different. Sometimes you were in a bar, other times the hanger bay, once on the main bridge. In some stories you're fighting off several attackers, in others it's just one guy."
"You want to know the truth?"
"If it's not too much trouble."
"I was beat up by a girl."
Luke smiled. "Anyone I know?"
"Guess. I'll give you a hint. She's a relative of yours."
"Well, that certainly narrows it down."
"She was having a nightmare, woke me up."
"She woke you up giving you a black eye?"
"Yeah, and a hairline fracture in my nose."
"Too bad she didn't hit you harder, she might have been able to straighten it out."
Han snorted. "Yeah, too bad."
"So what's she doing to make it up to you?"
"She brought me a bottle of Corellian brandy and then we had a argument."
Luke grimaced. "That's not good."
"No."
"Can I do anything?" Luke asked.
"I don't think so. She's just going to have to decide this for herself."
xxx
Leia spent the next two days avoiding Han. She woke up on the second day in a panic that he was lost. This is ridiculous, she thought, and got out of bed. She walked through the suite of rooms that had been assigned to her. She walked around the king sized bed. She looked at the luxurious bath. She wandered into the living area, the office, and the kitchen. The rooms were all bleak, undecorated except for a single tapestry, that Han had given her for her birthday years ago. She looked out the huge round window that afforded her a view of the stars. Why didn't she invite him to stay here with her? These were much nicer, much more spacious, quarters than those on the Falcon. Was Han right? Was she ashamed of him? She could still remember her father's lectures on discretion. Did she need to be discrete about Han? For whom and why? Leia sighed and rolled her shoulders. This all boiled down to her future, what she wanted to do with herself, now that the war was over. The Alliance now held all but a few core systems. The Republic was being restored daily. It had been only a month ago that the banking system had finally been sorted out and accounts that had been frozen for so long were suddenly available to her and so much more. As the sole heir to the House of Organa, Royal House of Alderaan, Leia not only took ownership of her own family's off-world holdings, but also those of any Alderaanians without heirs to claim their holdings. It amounted to trillions of credits. Overnight, Leia had gone from being an exiled war refugee to one of the wealthiest people in the galaxy. She didn't tell anyone about it, least of all Han. She hadn't really absorbed all the ramifications yet.
It was clear however that other high-ranking members of the Alliance were ready for her to be done with Han. They saw Leia's potential for marriage as a merger, something to broker for power to add more systems to the fold. They saw Han as a distraction, as something she should quickly relegate to her past. It was clear that they thought of Han as a youthful indiscretion on her part, something to be attributed to the strain and sorrows of the war. Leia walked over to the lounge area and flopped onto the sofa. The question was how did she see Han?
Suddenly filled with resolve Leia got up and headed for the shower. She needed to get her day started. There was a lot to be done.
She was walking out the door an hour later when she almost ran into Luke who had his hand poised to knock on the door.
"Hey, I was just coming to talk to you."
"Good, I was just coming to ask you to help me with something."
xxx
Han had had two terrible days. Not only was he upset about how things went with Leia, but he'd also spent the last 14 hours doing an inspection of the merchant fleet and had met some resistance from some old acquaintances. It was late in the day, ship's time, when he finally walked up the Falcon's ramp. The bottle of brandy was still on the holochess board where Leia had left it. He thought for a moment then snagged it and headed back to his cabin. He instantly knew something was wrong. His diagram of the first Corellian star fighter was missing from the wall over the bed. He opened his closet and all of his clothes were gone. He opened his chest of drawers and those clothes were also missing. He went into the bathroom to find all of his toiletries gone. His first instinct was to be angry, but slowly a light dawned. He thought about calling her on the commlink, but decided to take the risk and just go to her cabin instead. When he got to her door, he started to knock but then decided to see just how far she'd committed herself. He rested his palm against the door lock for it to scan his hand. The door slid open.
Leia was sitting on a long white sofa reading a data pad when he walked in. She looked up at him. He was shocked to see that her quarters had been completely transformed since the last time he'd seen them. Instead of sterile grey and white, the place actually felt kind of homey. A large, hand-woven rug covered the living room floor. Colorful throw pillows were strewn across the two white sofas. In addition to the tapestry he'd given her there were several paintings and his starship print on the walls.
"I'm looking for my clothes," he finally said.
"They're in the bedroom in the closet on the left."
"And my toothbrush? I can't find my toothbrush."
"It's in the bathroom, in a little cup next to mine."
"Is that where it lives now?"
"If it wants too."
"I'm sure it does."
"Maybe." Leia sighed. "Sit down, Han. We need to talk about who I am, who I can be, and who I can't be. Then you need to decide whether or not you can live with that. You were right the other day. I haven't been fair with you. I guess I thought if we could just keep this to ourselves that I wouldn't really have to face the reality outside our relationship. Obviously, that was ridiculous, and unintentionally, I made you feel like I didn't think you were worthy of my company. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, I'm afraid once you're presented with all the facts it's you who'll find living with me intolerable.
Han wasn't sure what she meant, so he sat down. "Okay. What's going on?"
"I'm a little unsure of what my place in the galaxy is these days."
Han raised an eyebrow.
"Actually, that's a gross understatement. I'm a lot unsure of what my place is."
Han settled back against the sofa, sensing that this was going to take awhile.
"I guess a lot of the problem is that I never really expected the war to be won in my lifetime. I've honestly been going along expecting to die any moment."
Han chuckled. "You and everybody else."
Leia smiled at him. "Exactly. We've all been in crisis mode."
"Okay," Han said, unsure of where she was going with this.
"Suddenly, I'm confronted with choices and responsibilities I never expected to have."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"It's a confusing thing, and I feel like I need to tell you what these choices and responsibilities are, so that you can see what sort of things you're potentially in for."
"Fair enough."
"First of all, Luke wants to train me as a Jedi."
Han refrained from saying anything.
"We've done some meditation exercises, but I'm not sure that's a path I want to take. Mon Mothma wants me to run for vice-president of the senate. She's also mentioned the possibility of an ambassadorship."
Han nodded.
"Then there is the whole issue of Alderaan, and the remaining Alderaanians."
"What issue?"
"It's complicated, but I've inherited my family's off-world holdings."
"What's complicated about that?"
"Nothing, except that I've also inherited everyone else's family's off-world holdings."
"What?"
"Any Alderaanian that died without an heir for their off-world holdings forfeits those holdings to the Alderaanian government, which at the time of the destruction was lead by the House of Organa."
"But that must have been millions of people."
"Yes."
"So that's like..." Han wasn't sure what to compare it to.
"Trillions of credits worth of land, businesses, jewels, just about any kind of asset you can imagine. All my responsibility."
Han's jaw dropped. "What the hell? How are you supposed to manage all of that?"
"I'm currently in the process of setting up a corporation to do just that. I, of course, will have to direct the board. My interest is in seeing that any Alderaanian anywhere gets whatever they want, need or desire. The problem is that the best estimate puts the number of Alderaanians living off planet at the time of the destruction at only about 100,000. Unfortunately, that number has dropped dramatically to a little over half of that. Between the war and..." Leia pressed the bridge of her nose. "The suicide rate is incredible."
Han ran a hand through his hair and let out a slow breath. "That's a lot."
Leia nodded. "And then, of course, the icing on the cake is that there is a large contingent of people in the upper echelon of the Alliance that want to arrange a marriage/merger of me to some young prince from one of the large outer systems to further solidify our position of power."
Han cleared his throat and looked down at his feet. "Which leaves me?"
Leia shrugged. "I can only tell you that I love you, that I'm willing to thumb my nose at all of them, if you're willing to stay."
Han smiled. "Willing to stay? Why wouldn't I be willing to stay? I love you, you love me, what business is it of anyone else's?"
Leia smiled back at him. "I like your attitude, but the truth is, there are a lot of people who will think it is their business, and frankly, I'm about to become a public figure again, but this time on a much grander scale. I can't keep the financial stuff quiet. It's too big to hide, plus I'm going to need a whole corporation to handle it, not exactly something I can keep a lid on. Not to mention, I don't want to. I want Alderaanians to know they have somewhere to turn. I never expected to be in this position again, but I can't fail them. I have a sworn duty."
Han nodded. "And you're worried that I might be a liability."
Leia shook her head. "No. I trust you. But we are going to have to decide how we want to handle our relationship publicly, because like it or not it will be public."
"What do you mean handle it?"
"I mean that the mainstream press is likely to have a field day with our relationship and more likely than not they're going to go after you."
"Pretty much the only thing I watch on the holonet is the occasional smashball game."
She smiled at him. "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."
He smiled back at her. "Fair enough. Anything else?"
"You'll need some new clothes if you'll be attending formal events with me."
He nodded. "Okay, what should I get?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll have a tailor come around."
He raised both eyebrows. "Pricey."
"I'll cover the expense."
"Hey, I make pretty good dough now that I'm a general."
"Generals don't usually have their own tailors. I'll pay. I don't expect you to stop working or anything, but as long as we're together, you shouldn't have to worry about money."
"What do you mean 'as long as we're together?' I told you I'm not going anywhere."
She touched his hand. "I'm sorry. I just...I'm a little worried that you're going to hate this."
"Maybe, but I love you and that's all that matters."
She nodded, leaned in and kissed him. He kissed back and she let herself stop fretting about the changes in their lives.
xxx
The next morning, feeling quite pleased with himself, Han stepped out of Leia's cabin door. He corrected himself: not Leia's cabin, their cabin. Unfortunately, his joy was short lived because Jan Dodonna stepped out of his door at almost the same moment. Han could see the instant surge of rage that crossed Dodonna's face. Han's first instinct was to knock on Leia's door to pretend he was just arriving instead of just leaving, but he recalled Leia's comment on a public relationship and thought better of it. May as well start now, he decided.
"How dare you!" Dodonna hissed.
"Look, Jan-" Han started, but just then an admiral whose name Han didn't know stepped out of her door.
Dodonna instantly switched gears. "Thanks for coming to a breakfast meeting, Solo," he said just a little too loudly.
The admiral gave them a strange look as she moved down the hall toward the lift.
Han was incredulous. "What?"
The instant the lift doors closed. Dodonna shifted gears again. "How dare you be seen on this hall? The impropriety!"
"What impropriety?"
"People will think you are having relations with the princess."
"I am 'having relations' with the princess, but thanks to you, that admiral now thinks I'm 'having relations' with you."
Dodonna's face went scarlet. He puffed up his chest to shout at Han, but the door behind Han slid open.
It was Leia holding a datapad in her hand. She could instantly see what was happening, but she smoothly handed the pad to Han.
"I'm glad I caught you. You left this. Good morning, Jan."
Han took the pad. "Thanks. Jan and I were just heading up to the bridge."
Leia smiled. "No, you weren't. Come in Jan."
Stone-faced, Jan went by her into the cabin. Han started to follow but Leia stopped him with a gentle hand to his chest.
"Go to work, Han," she said softly.
Han started to protest, but the set of her jaw told him it would be pointless. He kissed her forehead instead. "I'll see you later?"
She smiled. "Yes." She turned around and the door hissed closed behind her. Han didn't like it, but left anyway.
Leia found Jan Dodonna standing rigidly at attention in her living room.
"Sit down, Jan."
He paused only a moment before taking a seat on the sofa.
"May I get you something? Coffee, juice, toast perhaps?"
Dodonna cleared his throat. "No, thank you, Your Majesty."
Leia sat on the sofa opposite him. "You were one of my father's most trusted advisors."
Dodonna didn't say anything.
"Even though you weren't Alderaanian, he trusted you."
Dodonna nodded.
"He asked you to look after to me. To see to my safety."
"Yes."
"I was girl when he asked that, Jan. I understood politics, but I knew little of the realities of life. At the time, I knew almost nothing of hardship except what I learned from reading and watching holovids, but that all changed."
Dodonna dropped his eyes to the floor.
"Look at me, Jan," she commanded.
He looked up.
"You need to stop trying to look after me and trust that I can look after myself."
"I cannot stop, Your Majesty."
"I insist."
"I promised."
Leia sighed. She'd been hoping to avoid having to go down this road. "What would you have me do, Jan?"
Dodonna seemed relieved to finally be asked. "Stop this dalliance with Solo. Think about your future. Don't you see, with the war over, you can have your life back. It's no longer necessary for you to live on board a ship like some kind of traveling waif. You can settle down and resume your proper place."
Leia sighed again. "I can't have my life back, Jan. Alderaan is gone."
"I know, Your Highness, but there are other royal houses."
Leia shook her head. "So what you want me to do is find some nice prince and settle down in his lovely palace and have children."
Jan nodded. "Yes, and either take a position with the Senate or possibly an ambassadorship."
Leia let out a brittle laugh. "Okay. Let's flash forward to the first time this prince sees me naked."
Jan gave her a shocked look. "Your Majesty!"
"No, if we're going to play your game, let's be realistic. I have a blaster burn on my left arm. I have a death tag tattooed on my hip, and those are just two of the most obvious scars. These aren't things people can overlook without question, Jan."
"You could explain."
"I could, but I don't want to. And what about the nightmares, Jan. When I have a nightmare that results in my flailing around and breaking the prince's nose, what then? I mean even Han was angry about that, and yet he didn't say a word when you and everyone else assumed he'd been out fighting. Not a word, Jan. Will your prince have that kind of loyalty?"
Dodonna started to stammer but Leia didn't give him the chance to say anything.
"I've known a lot of princes, Jan, and I can tell you, they won't understand. They don't want a wife who's been tortured, raped and tagged for death. They don't want a wife who wakes them up screaming. They don't want a wife who will look at them every day and think of them as soft and useless. Men like that think they can handle high maintenance women, Jan, but they haven't met me. I'm high maintenance in all capital letters. In the entire universe, there is probably only one man crazy enough to want to live with me, and I'm not so foolish as to let to him go. In fact, I risked everything to get him back. So I'm telling you, get used to Han Solo walking out that door every morning."
Dodonna's face was blanched white.
Leia blew out a slow breath and tried to stem the tide of her resentment. "Look, I wish the world worked the way you want it to, Jan. Sometimes, I wish I could somehow go back and start again, but time doesn't stop that way. My experiences, both good and bad, have shaped who I am. I'm not ashamed of that, and I'm not ashamed of being with Han. If you don't think you can handle that, then I suggest you transfer off this ship."
"I have always been with Your Highness."
"Yes, and I would hate to sever our relationship after all these years, but I have enough to worry about without you hovering around being disapproving all the time. I don't need that and neither does Han. Frankly, I would think you'd have better things to do with your time as well."
Dodonna swallowed hard, but didn't say anything.
"I assume I've made myself clear."
"Crystal, Your Majesty."
"Good." Leia stood. "Then I see no reason why we should ever have to speak of this again."
Dodonna nodded.
"You're dismissed. See yourself out." Leia turned and walked out of the room.
Dodonna watched her disappear down a hallway. He let out a long slow breath, stood, and let himself out.
xxx
Han came home early that afternoon. He'd called Leia's office to see if they could have lunch only to be informed that she'd cancelled her appointments for the day. Uncomfortable with the situation he'd left that morning, he quickly wrapped things up at work and headed home.
The suite appeared empty when he first opened the door. He saw an open bottle of wine on the kitchen counter that hadn't been there that morning. Most of the wine was gone, but he didn't see a glass. He moved further into the apartment and heard the shower going. He saw that as a positive sign so he went into the bedroom to change his clothes. Leia still wasn't out of the shower so he decided to make a couple of calls that he hadn't gotten done at work. Thirty minutes later when Leia still wasn't out of the shower he went and knocked on the door. There was no response. He palmed the door lock but it didn't open. He started to panic. He didn't know the override code so he ripped the panel off and rewired the door. Five minutes later, the door slid open and a billowing cloud of steam rolled out into the hallway. He took in the room all at once. An empty wine glass sat on the vanity. Steam clouded the shower stall. He opened the door to find Leia sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She leaned heavily against the wall. Water pounded steadily on her back and neck. Her head was tucked into her knees and Han couldn't tell if she was asleep or unconscious or what. He reached over her and turned off the faucet.
"Leia?"
She slowly lifted her head up and looked at him. Clearly trying to focus, she asked, "What time is it?" Her voice sounded thick and slow.
"13:30."
"You're early."
"Were you planning on being sober before I got home?"
Leia let her head fall back against the wall of the shower. She looked at him for a moment before answering, "Yes."
Han stood looking at her. Unsure of how to respond to the honesty of her reply, he finally held out his hand. "Come on, let's get you dried off."
She took his hand and he helped her stand. She wouldn't look at him. He pulled a towel from the linen cabinet and draped it over her shoulders.
"You want to tell me why you're drunk in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday?"
Leia didn't say anything. Instead she slid her arms up around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. He could taste the wine in her mouth and considered for a moment letting the matter go. Then he pulled her arms down between them and held her hands together.
"That's not an answer."
She shut her eyes and her face colored. She was clearly stung by his words, which almost made him reconsider, but he hated the idea of her punishing herself and then planning to hide it from him when he got home. He wanted whatever led to this aired out and resolved. "Why don't you dry off. I'll go get your robe."
He came back to the bathroom a moment later to find the towel wrapped tight around her and a second one wrapped around her hair. He handed her the heavy white robe. "Come out to the kitchen when you're ready."
She continued to avoid his eyes.
Han busied himself making coffee and pouring two glasses of water. He made dry toast for her and a sandwich for himself. He cut the toast into quarters and set everything on the table. He was halfway through his sandwich before she came into the kitchen.
"Hey," he said, wiping his mouth. "I made you some toast and I want you to drink that whole glass of water. Then I'll get you some coffee."
Leia sat at the table but made no move toward the toast or water.
"You going to tell me why you're drunk?"
"I'm of age. I can drink if I want to."
"Oh, okay, so this is just a new thing you're doing. Are you going to ditch work every Tuesday to get drunk or just some Tuesdays or is it going to be different days of the week? I just need to know so I don't accidentally come home before you can sober up. Maybe you can give me a schedule."
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Han sighed. He softly touched his fingers to her chin. "What's wrong?"
"Everything is wrong. I'm wrong."
"Sweetheart-"
"Did you know there's an Alderaanian band out now?"
"What?"
"They're actually pretty popular. They refer to me as Princess Death in two of their songs."
"Well, that's just sick."
"No, what's sick is, I really like their music."
"I don't—"
"I can't stand this."
"What?" He was trying to follow her, but felt like he was failing.
"I can't stand having people like Jan bowing and calling me Your Majesty while all the time disapproving of how I'm living my life. Meanwhile there are other people out their making money singing about how horrible I am. Then I'm supposed to turn around and give these same people, who hate me, money and tell them how sorry I am that our home was destroyed. The thing is, I want to do it. I want to give them the money. I want to say I'm sorry over and over again because I know why they blame me. I blame myself."
"It wasn't your fault."
"But it was my fault. I chose to fight the Empire. I chose to capture those plans. I was the one standing on the bridge when Tarkin said 'fire.'"
"That's true, but you also prevented any other planets from suffering Alderaan's fate when you got those plans."
"But that's incidental to the facts, don't you see?"
Han dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling for a second. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly
"Okay, but what's done is done. The question is how do you move forward."
"A lot of Alderaanians aren't moving forward. They just stop."
Han grimaced; he'd always been very uncomfortable with the subject of Alderaanian suicide. "You're stronger than that."
"I'm not sure it's a question of strength."
Han had no response for that. They sat quietly for a moment not looking at each other.
"Then, of course, there is the other response. I had sixteen messages this morning about the Alderaanian Vengeance Brigade."
"The what?"
"Haven't you heard? There's a group of Alderaanians going around executing Imperials. Not just the military either but their families as well. They're even killing children."
"Shit."
"All the messages wanted to know my opinion: if I had any idea who might be behind it, if I had any suggestions for making them stop. The scary thing is a very sick part of me wants to say 'why stop them?'"
"Leia..."
"I know how they feel. Sometimes, I have dreams where the whole time I'm just killing Imperials. Just one after the other."
"I know. I have dreams like that too, but that's a far cry from actually going around and doing it."
"The AVB doesn't feel like the war crimes tribunals are holding enough people accountable. They're furious that the Emperor and Vader are dead and they didn't get to see the bodies. I guess they wanted to drag them through the streets of Coruscant or something."
"So what are you going to do? Become a sympathizer, start sending them money?"
"No," she said, but not very forcefully.
Han decided it was time to get off the subject of the AVB. "So how did things go with Jan?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see if he submits transfer paperwork or not."
"What?"
"I gave him a choice. He could get over my relationship with you or he could transfer."
"He's not going to transfer, Leia. He's always been part of your retinue."
"I almost wish he would just go."
"Why, what did he say to you?" Han asked with an edge to his voice.
"Mostly 'yes, Your Majesty' and that he thought I should leave you and marry some prince and resume my proper place in the universe."
"And you said?"
"At first I tried just commanding him to get over it, but when that didn't work..."
"What?"
"I told him princes don't marry women who've been tortured, raped and tagged for death. I told him princes don't marry women who have nightmares and wake up screaming and sometimes break noses in the process."
Han raised both eyebrows. "You said that?"
"Yes. It would have been kinder if I'd clubbed him in the head with a vase. It's just he's been holding on to this illusion of me." Tears began sliding down her cheeks again. "He had this picture in his head of this woman that wasn't even close to accurate."
"That's not true," Han said, shaking his head. "Jan just didn't have the whole picture. You're everything he thinks you are, and more."
"I don't think he's going to see it that way."
"I don't think you're giving him enough credit. Let him digest this. You'll see. He'll come around." Han wasn't sure why he was suddenly defending Jan Dodonna but he hoped he was right.
They sat quietly for a time. Han finished his sandwich. Leia nibbled at her toast and drank some water.
Finally, he said, "You're not settling for me, are you? Because you don't think any of your own kind will have you?"
Leia looked up at him. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes filled with tears. "No," she croaked. "No. I didn't mean that at all. No. It's just you understand because you've been..."
"Tortured. You can say it."
Leia shook her head. She covered her mouth with her hand.
Han knew she had been forced to watch his session on the scan grid from another room. For some reason, she could reference her own experiences with a certain cool detachment now, but she couldn't talk about what happened to him without sobbing.
"Come here," he said, taking her hand. She slid out of her chair and on to his lap. She wept on his shoulder. He whispered softly in her ear. "I just don't want you thinking you're stuck with me because you don't deserve better. You deserve whatever you want."
Leia lifted her head and looked at him. She ran the heel of her hand across her face to push away the tears. Han could see resolve in the set of her jaw. He smiled to himself, knowing what was coming.
"I want you," she said, and slid her mouth over his. Her hands began tugging at his shirt.
Ah, there's my girl, he thought as he moved to open her robe.
xxx
Leia left for work the next day before Han was even out of bed. She made the excuse that she needed to catch up from yesterday, but Han was pretty sure she was a little embarrassed by the wantonness of her behavior last night and needed a little distance to pull herself together. That made him laugh out loud alone their bedroom. She was awesome. He adored her. He got up and got ready for work. When he opened the door, Jan Dodonna was just coming out of his quarters.
"Good morning, Solo."
"Dodonna." Han assumed that was all, but Dodonna stopped.
"Her Majesty informed me of how your nose was broken. I want to apologize for my earlier remarks on the subject." Dodonna offered his hand.
Han shook it, trying to match Dodonna's formal manner. "Apology accepted."
"I'll be putting in my transfer today."
"What?" Han was sure he'd misheard that last part.
"I'll be leaving The Freedom."
Incredulous, Han couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"I think my days of usefulness to Leia Organa have passed."
"What makes you say that?" Han asked, an angry edge seeping into his voice.
Dodonna appeared unshaken. "She is simply not the woman I thought she was."
"She's twice the woman you thought she was. You sanctimonious son-of-a-bitch."
Dodonna looked Han in the eye. "I have no doubt that what you say is true, but it remains the same, she's not the woman I thought she was. I pledged my loyalties to that woman and her great house, but as Leia so clearly pointed out to me yesterday, those days are gone, never to return. Good day to you Solo, and good luck." With that Dodonna turned on his heal and headed for the lift.
Han watched after him loathing the idea of dealing with Leia's response to this news.
xxx
Han had left work early to be sure to beat Leia home. He'd gone over in his mind a hundred different things to say to her. He knew she would be upset. Unfortunately, he'd had to discard all hundred things he thought of because they were stupid or trite or just pointless. He found himself pacing around the room waiting for her to get back. He was both relieved and anxious when he finally heard the door hiss open. She walked into the room and tossed a couple of data pads on the coffee table.
"You're home," she said, "I wasn't sure you would be."
"Yeah. How was your day?" Maybe she doesn't know yet, he thought.
"Pretty good, I guess. Mon Mothma wants to have an enormous formal event for all the members of the Alliance. She wants me to oversee organizing it."
"That sounds like fun," Han said, grinning at her.
"Just call me Princess Party Planner."
Han laughed.
"Oh, and Jan Dodonna submitted a transfer today."
Han hesitated. "I know. I ran into him in the hall this morning. You okay?"
Leia nodded. "It wasn't unexpected."
"It wasn't?"
"Come on, I took a swan dive off my pedestal right in front of him yesterday. Did you really think he could stay after that?"
Han stood in front of her. "I can't understand anyone wanting to leave you."
Leia smiled and patted his arm. "You might be a little biased. Besides, you've only known this me."
"What?"
"The girl that Jan knew, for all intents and purposes, died on the Death Star. I just happen to walk around in her body."
Han wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek against the top of her head. "Well, I like this you, and I like this body."
Leia smiled into his chest. "Good. That makes it easier."
~finis~
Ron lay panting on the ground staring up at a cloudless blue sky. Hermione lay on top of him, and he could feel her heart beating against his chest. He was still tucked inside her. Part of him wished they never had to move, but the ground was hard and still damp with the last of the morning dew. Besides, at some point, they were supposed to take a Portkey to Paris. She shifted on top of him and made that same little hitch in her breathing that she always made when the connection between them was broken. He ran his hand up her thigh as she sat up. She smiled down at him and held her hand out and her wand flew into it. She cast a cleaning charm on both of them and reached for her bra. He watched her slip into it and wondered if he would ever tire of seeing that. He supposed, in the considerable span of a wizard's life, that he might eventually be blasé about his wife putting on her bra, but today was not that day. He grinned at her.
"What?" She was still straddling him.
"Nothing. I just like watching you get dressed."
She chuckled. "I hope you're always this easy to please."
"Me too."
She laughed in earnest at that and stood to pull on her knickers. Ron fumbled for his boxers and pulled them on. He handed Hermione her shirt and she shrugged into it. She stared at the tent as she fastened the buttons.
"I guess we should take it down. Didn't you say Harry wanted it?"
"I think Harry's probably done with it."
Ron shook his head. "Don't even tell me."
"I wasn't planning to. Let's burn it."
Ron's mouth dropped open. "It's a brand-new tent."
"You want to take it camping, do you?"
"No, of course not. I'm never going camping again."
"Right. Me neither. I'm guessing Harry feels the same way."
"I think that's a safe bet."
"So, let's burn it."
"All right," Ron pulled back the tent flap. "At least let me get my clothes."
xxx
A few minutes later, Hermione cast the spell to collapse the tent. She looked at Ron. "Together?" They both pointed their wands at it and cast Incendio. The canvas caught immediately. They stood and watched it burn. Ron put his arms around her, and she leaned back against him.
"Good riddance," he said.
"Indeed." Despite the warm day and the heat from the fire, she shivered.
Ron hugged her tighter. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "I just want this to be the end of it."
He kissed the top of her head. "That would be nice."
"It's not though, is it? Burning her wand didn't make Bellatrix go away."
"Maybe not, but it's better without it, right?"
She sighed. "Yes."
"There's nothing wrong with a little symbolism. As long as you don't expect too much from it."
"You're wise, you know that?"
"Always the tone of surprise."
She chuckled.
When the tent had burned to ashes they cast extinguishing charms on the remains and Disapparated back to London to pick up the Portkey to Paris.
Harry was coming out of the kitchen when they popped into the foyer. "Hey. I didn't expect to see you two today."
"We're just picking up the Portkey." Hermione plucked an old pencil off of the counter. "What are you up to?"
Harry held up the box he was carrying. "Packing. I'm moving into Grimmauld Place and tomorrow the engagement announcement will run, and Gin will be moving in with me."
"Oh," Ron said, running his fingers through his hair.
"What?" Harry said.
"Nothing," Ron said. "Just, you won't be living here anymore."
"No, but I'll still see you at work."
"Right, of course, it's just, I hadn't really thought about you moving out while we're in France."
"Had to happen sometime, right?"
"Yeah," Ron said. "Course."
Hermione patted Ron's arm. "We should probably go."
"Right," Ron said.
Hermione hugged Harry. "We should all have dinner when we get back."
"That sounds great," Harry said.
Ron stuck his hand out and Harry shook it. "See you in a couple of weeks then."
They started outside when Hermione turned around. "Oh, and Harry, no need to pick up the tent."
"Oh, okay. So…?"
"It's gone," Hermione said.
Harry nodded. "All right then."
xxx
Hermione regretted getting a Portkey from the Portkey Office almost from the moment she and Ron arrived in Magical Paris. As if Portkey travel wasn't bad enough, someone in the Ministry had leaked their arrival time to The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly. The Portkey had dropped them on to the roof of a hotel, but the moment they walked downstairs and into the lobby a couple of photographers were waiting for them.
"Seriously?" Ron grumbled as the first flashbulb went off.
Hermione sighed and looked up at him. "Let's just give them what they want and Apparate to the other hotel."
He raised his eyebrows.
"Kiss me."
He pulled her to him and leaned down and kissed her. The flashbulbs went off again and Hermione Apparated them while they were still kissing. They appeared in an alley next to the hotel they'd stayed in before.
"Impressive. Apparition while kissing. Risky."
"Not really, I know your body pretty well these days. I'm not likely to Splinch you ever again."
"That wasn't your fault," he said automatically. "And you got Harry there in one piece and that's—"
"What mattered," she finished for him. "I know. You don't always have to say it. Besides, I likely would've Splinched him then too, if I hadn't physically been him before with the Polyjuice."
"Oh," Ron said.
"Oh what?" Hermione asked.
"I guess…never mind." He started out of the alley.
"Never mind what?" Hermione asked, following him.
"It's nothing," Ron said without stopping.
"No, seriously," Hermione said, following him into the hotel lobby. "What were you going to say?"
"We need to check in," Ron said.
Hermione frowned at him, but gave the desk clerk her membership card.
"Welcome back, Miss Granger," the clerk said.
"Thank you," Hermione said.
Ron didn't give her time to say anything before he headed for the elevator. Clearly irritated, she followed him. When the elevator doors closed, she turned to him. "Now what were you saying?"
"I wasn't saying anything. Just forget it."
"Why?"
"It's no big deal."
"They why won't you tell me?"
The elevator chimed and the doors opened on to their floor.
"Let's just get in the room, okay?" Ron said.
Hermione frowned at him, but lead the way toward room 302 and swiped the card to open the door.
"Why don't they just use keys?" Ron asked.
"Because, when people lose them, they're expensive to replace. The plastic cards are a lot cheaper."
"Oh," Ron said, following her into the room.
"So, what were you saying?" Hermione asked, leaning against the dresser with her arms crossed.
Ron sighed. "Why can't you ever let anything go?"
She raised her eyebrows. "Because I can't. It's not as if you don't know that about me."
He frowned at her. "Fine. I always wondered how you managed to get Harry safely everywhere, but you Splinched me."
"Only once!" Hermione said defensively. "And out of a double jump."
"I know." Ron said. "I'm just saying, you never Splinched Harry, and now I know why. It's because you were him briefly, so that makes perfect sense. You knew his body better at the time. See, no big deal. I'm going to go take a shower."
"Right now?" Hermione said.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I feel like it," Ron snapped.
"Okay," Hermione said, stung.
xxx
Ron stood in the shower letting the hot water stream over him. He rested his forehead against the cool tile and tried to relax. Being in the tent had stirred up memories of the locket and he was edgy. He needed to let go of all that and enjoy their time here. It was his honeymoon. The last thing he should be thinking about was a Horcrux, but Hermione's ability to effortlessly Apparate anywhere with Harry was one of the thoughts that the Horcrux used to antagonize him. The locket had an uncanny ability to exploit the slightest little insecurity. He sighed and turned off the water. He dried off and pulled on one of the plush hotel bathrobes that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
When he came back into the room, Hermione was on the balcony looking at the city and smoking. Great, Ron thought. He stepped out into the warm evening air. "You're already smoking?" he said. "We haven't even been among Muggles for an hour yet. Where did you even get cigarettes?"
Hermione blew out a long stream of smoke and stubbed out the cigarette. "I nicked one from that man at the café." He looked across the street at a man drinking coffee at a bistro table on the sidewalk. He was reading a book and there was a pack of cigarettes next to him.
Ron shook his head. "And you're stealing too? What is wrong with you in the Muggle world?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Sorry."
He sighed. "I'm sorry too, about before, I'm just tired and a little edgy. I dreamed about the locket last night and all the things it used to say have been rattling around in my head all day."
She closed her eyes. "Me too. The tent was a terrible idea. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. You meant well. Who knew we'd react that way?"
"It was just meant to be a bit of fun, because of your list, you know."
"I know," he said. "And parts of it were definitely fun."
She smiled. "Yes."
"But I'm glad we're here now."
"Me too."
"Unless you're going to start leading a life of crime," he amended.
"I think you're safe," Hermione said dryly.
Ron leaned on the balcony railing and watched the city move beneath them. "It's nice not having any photographers lurking down there."
"Yes," Hermione agreed. "Apparently it only takes two million Muggles to get some privacy."
He chuckled. "I guess."
They stood quietly watching the hustle and bustle in the street below. After a while, Ron said quietly, "What did it say to you?"
Hermione knew he was talking about the locket. "Mean things," she said without looking at him.
"What sorts of mean things?"
She sighed. "That I was ugly, that you would never fancy me, that no one would ever love me, so there was no point in trying anymore, no point in living even. I would never be happy."
"But you must have known that stuff wasn't true," Ron said.
She frowned at him. "Oh, really?"
"Come on," he said. "You know you're pretty. Surely, by that point you knew that I fancied you, and clearly, you're lovable. Viktor showed up at Bill and Fleur's wedding hoping to get you back. So, you had good arguments against the locket."
"Is that what you did then? You argued with the locket?"
"I tried to, but it was harder for me."
"How so?"
"Well, I was injured to start with, but also, well you did kind of seem to fancy Harry sometimes. You even said he was fanciable."
"What? When?"
"When he was trying to date Cho, maybe, I can't remember exactly when, but I know you said it."
"I was just trying to boost his spirits."
"You never tried to boost my spirits. Besides, why did Harry need a boost? He's the bloody Chosen One."
"Yeah, but he was also short and scrawny."
"But nobody cared about that. He's Harry Potter."
"I know that and you know that, but Harry doesn't generally see it that way."
"Maybe not, but to me it seemed like you were always boosting him up and running me down."
"I wasn't," Hermione insisted.
"Yes, you were. You told me I had the emotional range of a teaspoon."
"I was teasing. Besides, you were being thick."
"Maybe, but you didn't believe in me the way you did Harry."
"What are you talking about?"
"You were shocked when Dumbledore made me prefect instead of him."
"So were you!" Hermione said.
"Yeah, but a little support on your end would've been nice. You didn't think I would make Keeper either."
"That's not true. You're a good Quidditch player, but you would get so nervous."
"See, there's always a 'but.' For most of school, you thought I was rubbish."
Hermione's eyes widened. "I did not!"
He frowned at her. "Come on."
"I didn't. I swear I didn't. If I made you feel that way, I'm sorry. I never meant to."
"Well, it doesn't matter now, but when I wore the locket, that's the kind of stuff that was constantly running through my head."
Hermione sighed. "Which is exactly how the locket worked. It exploited any kind of weakness or insecurity."
"Then I don't see how it had any effect on you at all," Ron grumbled.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione said. "I hated that thing."
"Oh, come on, from the time you dated Viktor you were confident. I didn't see you as insecure about anything."
She scowled at him. "Viktor did give a boost to my self-esteem, that's true, but you certainly did everything you could to undercut it."
"What?" Ron said, surprised. "I did not."
"Yes, you did. You constantly criticized me."
"What are you talking about?"
She mimicked him. "You have foam on your lip, you have toothpaste on your cheek, there's ink on your fingers, you dropped jam on your sweater, pick, pick, pick."
"I only mentioned that stuff, because I noticed, and I only noticed, because I couldn't take my eyes off you."
"That might be true, but you never said anything nice. Never, I like your hair like that or you look good today. Nothing."
"I complimented you all the time. I said you were brilliant and amazing."
"Yes. I never questioned that you thought I was smart and good at magic."
"Why is that not okay?"
"It is, but everybody knows I'm smart and good at magic, including me. I've never been insecure about that."
"You know you're pretty too. I know you know you're pretty."
She shook her head. "I'm a bit more confident about that now, but less so then, especially out in the woods. I always felt dirty and like my hair was mess. I looked pretty haggard."
"We all did."
"True, but since when do you and Harry care about that stuff?"
He shrugged. "We didn't, I guess."
"Like I said before, the locket was great at zeroing in on insecurities. I felt pretty unattractive for a long time. I was flat chested and my hair was hard to control and I had buckteeth. Those feelings didn't automatically go away just because I fixed my teeth, and filled out a bit, and Parvati finally told me how to do my hair."
"Parvati?"
"Yes. If you think about it, she and I have similar hair, although hers is black and wavy instead of brown and curly, but she's got a ton of it, and it definitely has to be tamed. It dawned on me one day to ask her how she did it and she showed me all the hair spells she knew. It was life altering."
Ron laughed. "Life altering hair, that's funny."
"You only think that because your hair always looks good."
He shrugged. "It just lays on my head."
"It's straight and shiny and silky and looks like fire. It always looks good."
He grinned at her. "You do like a ginger."
"I like you."
"You like gingers. I see you look when other gingers walk by. Even little Teddy knows."
She chuckled. "Yes, alright, I might have a thing for gingers."
"I'm probably lucky you didn't meet Charlie first."
Hermione shook her head. "Too short for me."
"What are you talking about? He's the same height as Krum."
"But I was shorter when I dated Viktor. Besides, I like tall men, or have you not noticed?"
"Oh, I've noticed. That French Muggle was pretty tall too."
Hermione blushed. "Yes."
"I'm sorry the locket said that stuff to you. I'm sure it was worse when there were only two of you left to wear it."
Hermione nodded. "It got a lot nastier after you left. I was so hurt and angry. It really latched on to that."
Ron took her hand. "I really am sorry for leaving."
"I know," she said. "You don't have to keep apologizing. Besides, you were the one that destroyed it, so you freed us all."
Ron turned his head away from her. "Yeah."
"What?" Hermione said.
He shook his head.
"Tell me," she said, resting her hand on his back.
"It fought," he said.
"Fought?"
"A lot harder than the other Horcruxes, I think because it had spent so much time with us. It didn't just hiss at me. It manifested fully formed, even Harry could see them."
"What? Monsters?"
He shook his head. "No. It was you and Harry, saying things to me, doing things to each other." He shook his head again. "It was bloody awful."
"You never said."
"No."
"Why?"
"For some reason, I didn't feel the need to say I'd seen you and Harry naked, wrapped around each other, while you told me how you would never pick me over him; that no one in their right mind would pick me over him."
Hermione's mouth dropped open. She shook her head.
"I know you don't feel that way. I know you never felt that way, or at least I do now, but at the time…it was tough."
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't realize. If you'd only told me, I could have helped with that."
"Well, if you'd told me what it was saying to you, I could have helped you too. But that's the thing, none of us said, so we all suffered alone."
"Stupid," she said. "Why didn't we say anything?"
"I guess none of us wanted the others to know we thought that stuff."
"I guess," she said. "I tell you what," she said tugging on the sash of his robe. "Why don't you come in here and make me feel pretty, and I'll remind you why I chose you."
He smiled at her. "Deal."
xxx
Harry had finished packing his things in Heathgate and had Kreacher take them over to Grimmauld Place. He showered and went to the Burrow for dinner.
Charlie was home for the night and Percy had come by for dinner. Molly was delighted to make an impromptu dinner for six and they sat around talking until almost midnight. Percy left, and Molly and Arthur went to bed. No one even bothered to ask where Harry was sleeping or offered to make up a bed for him. He simply slipped upstairs with Ginny. When she came in from brushing her teeth, she sat on the edge of the bed next to him. He could tell there was something on her mind, but she just sat there not saying anything.
"What's wrong?" he finally asked.
"Nothing's wrong. I just…"
He sat up. "Gin, tell me."
She closed her eyes for a moment and said. "How upset would you be if I didn't move in to Grimmauld Place tomorrow?"
"Uh," Harry said, completely surprised by the question. "Why?"
She sighed and rested her hand on his thigh. "I'm supposed to start training camp in a week and I'll be sequestered with the team for a month. After that I'll be in Wales and on the road. It's so much moving around and travel. The idea of moving to London and then to Wales…it's just so much."
"Oh," Harry said. He was already upset that she'd be gone for a month, and now she was saying she didn't want to live with him when she wasn't traveling with the team. He blinked and got out of bed.
"Harry."
He turned to look at her. "It's okay. I'm just surprised, but I get it, new job, moving, engagement announcement. It's too much. I get it."
"So, you don't mind staying here?"
He looked at her. "What?"
"You don't mind if we stay here? Just until I leave for training camp. When that's over, we can get all this sorted."
"Oh, yeah, of course," he said, relief washing over him. "I thought you meant…never mind."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "What did you think?"
He dropped to his knees in front of her and rested his head in her lap. "Nothing. I didn't think anything. Are you sure your parents won't mind?"
"Mind? They'll be thrilled."
He sat back on his heels and looked at her. "Right. Then we'll stay here."
She smiled at him and touched his cheek. "Thanks. That's going to make the next week a lot less nerve-wracking."
He nodded. "I wish I didn't have to work, but with Ron out, I can't take any time off."
"I know. But now that I don't have to worry about packing up everything I own, we can at least enjoy our evenings."
"I'd like that," he said. "Starting now?"
She nodded. "Now sounds good."
xxx
Ron and Hermione spent three days in Paris, before moving on to the club in Nice. Hermione spent a lot of time sunbathing with her head tilted back so the sun could pull away some of the dark magic from the scar on her neck. After several days of this, not only was she deeply tan, but the scar was smaller and was no longer a dark red, but instead a pale pink. She was looking at it in the mirror while Ron brushed his teeth.
"I think it's better," Hermione was saying.
Ron spit out his toothpaste and nodded. "Definitely." The contrast in their skin tones was marked now. "It's been a long time since I've seen you this tan."
"Tanning's not really good for you, but it does help the scars, which is weird, because if I was a Muggle, the reverse would be true."
"What do you mean?" Ron said.
"Muggles have to be careful with scars in the sun. Madam Pomfrey had to explain to my parents how my scars were different and needed sunshine."
"Oh," Ron said. "Well, it looks better."
She smiled. "Thanks. Are you ready?"
"Yeah, we don't want to miss the unveiling."
Hermione sighed. "I wouldn't mind missing it, but we shouldn't."
"Come on," Ron said. "Don't be like that. This is a huge honor."
"I don't mind that part," she said. "It's the painting I'm not thrilled about."
"Why? I think it's great."
"You don't think they're kind of creepy," Hermione asked as they exited the room and took the stairs to the roof.
"No. And let's face it they can be bloody useful."
"If there are multiple paintings of the same person, yes, but I don't think that's likely," Hermione said.
"I'm guessing you and Harry will both end up with multiple paintings."
"Heh, Harry maybe."
As he followed her upstairs Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, please."
She ignored him and cast an unlocking charm on the door to the roof. She opened it and they looked around until they found a crumpled Coke can.
"Ready?" Hermione asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be. I hate these things."
She sighed. "Me too. On the count of three: one, two, three." They both grabbed the can.
A few seconds later Ron felt like he was spinning through the air by a fishhook stuck through his belly button. When they landed in their backyard in Heathgate, Hermione promptly threw up.
"You alright?" Ron asked.
"Fine," she said, wiping her mouth. "I never know if one of those things is going to make me sick."
Ron shrugged. "That's Portkeys for you. Sometimes you puke; sometimes you don't."
Hermione grimaced. "How delightfully unpredictable. How are we doing on time?"
"We've got a few minutes before we need to leave."
"Good. I'm going to go brush my teeth."
Ron followed her inside.
"Miss! Ron!" Purdy greeted them. "It is so good to be seeing you."
"Hi, Purdy," Hermione said. "It's good to see you too."
"I have the mail piled up, Miss," Purdy said.
"Thanks. I'll look at it when we get back from the unveiling. Do you want to go?"
Purdy's ears drooped. "Does Miss want me to go?"
"Not if you don't want to."
Purdy shook her head. "Then Purdy will stay here."
"Suit yourself," Hermione said. She walked upstairs with Ron following. When she reached the first landing, she stopped and walked down the hall toward the bedroom that used to be Harry's.
"What are you doing? Ron asked. He followed her into the room where she stopped and looked around.
"How would you feel if we moved down to this room?" she asked.
Ron shrugged. "Fine. But why?"
"Well," Hermione said. "This room isn't as big as the attic, but it's still big. The bathroom is a lot bigger, and the ceiling is a lot higher so you wouldn't have to duck under the eaves anymore."
Ron nodded. "That would be nice."
"Besides, Mum and Dad gave us the house and this is the main bedroom."
"Alright," Ron said. "Let's do it." He took their luggage out of his jacket pocket and cast Engorgio on it.
"We can bring the rest down later," Hermione said.
"Or Purdy can do it while we're gone," Ron said.
"Even better," Hermione said. "We should get going though. Purdy?" she called.
After she had explained to the elf that she'd like the upstairs bedroom contents, with the exception of the books, moved to the master, Hermione brushed her teeth, and then they took the Floo to the Ministry.
xxx
The main hall of the Ministry of Magic was crowded when they arrived. They had to make their way around the edges of the room to get to the front where Harry and Ginny were waiting with the Minister of Magic. Ron's whole family was also there as were what appeared to be half the wizarding world.
"Bloody hell," Ron said. "All this for a couple of paintings."
Hermione gasped. "They aren't…"
Ron glanced around to see what she was looking at and then he saw it. Two enormous paintings covered and hanging on the walls of the main hall. "Bloody hell," Ron said again.
Percy stepped up to the podium and called the room to order.
"Surely, they aren't going to leave them in the main hall," Hermione whispered to Ron.
He shook his head. "Can't be." He looked at the other paintings in the hall. The other portraits were of the most famous witches and wizards in England. "They're likely only doing the unveiling here to handle the crowds, and then they'll move them."
"Right," Hermione said, but she had a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach that he was wrong. Shacklebolt was speaking now. He spoke of bravery and honor and of doing the right thing under trying and deadly circumstances. He spoke of destiny and what the Chosen One had meant to all of them. He repeated their names over and over and talked of the important work Ron and Harry had done since the war as Aurors, and he spoke of Hermione's work with house elves. In short, he made the three of them sound like they belonged on that wall.
"So, without further ado," Shacklebolt said. He waved his wand and the drapes that covered the paintings disappeared.
Hermione was shocked by the size of them and by how good the likenesses were. In the bigger than life-sized painting of Harry, he was seated, but the background was dark, only a hint of the chair he sat in was visible. The frame was filled with Harry's intense green-eyed stare as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands raised with his fingers steepled and his wand hanging straight down between his fingers. The triangle of his fingers bisected by his wand with his chin behind them reminded Hermione of the Deathly Hallows symbol. She couldn't help wondering if Cartwright knew that Harry had possessed all of the Hallows, but she knew that was unlikely.
The second painting, the one of the three of them, was huge. They all appeared to be half life-sized. As they had discussed, it was a wooded scene. She and Harry were in profile. Ron was leaning against a tree on the same side of the painting as Hermione. He was the only one facing forward. They were all dressed as they often had been when they were on the run: flannel shirts, jeans, boots. Hermione's hair was in a braid down her back. Ron's sleeves were rolled up, showing the thin white scars on his arms. Hermione's neck was in profile so the scar was there but not very obvious. Harry's scar was visible, but again, not obvious, until the figures in the paintings started to move. The standard loop was that Harry and Hermione looked out at the audience as though, they'd heard something and Ron stood up straight as though he'd heard it too. When they turned, Hermione's scar as well as Harry's was much more visible. In the painting, when they turned, Hermione reached her hand back and Ron reached forward taking it. In the single painting of Harry, his loop was to lean back in the chair, his wand shifting to his right hand. Hermione had to admit, he looked like the Chosen One, like he slayed monsters for a living and enjoyed it.
The Minister had asked Harry to speak on behalf of the three of them. He thanked everyone for coming out, thanked the Ministry for the honor, and thanked Ron and Hermione for keeping him alive all those years.
When he finished speaking, Percy returned to the podium to announce the reception. The three of them stood in a receiving line with Shacklebolt and shook everyone's hand and had their picture taken what felt like a million times. Ron couldn't help wondering how many more times he'd have to stand in a line like that. He hoped it wasn't many, but he reckoned that was probably wishful thinking.
xxx
Eventually, they all ended up back at the Burrow for a celebratory dinner.
"They're not leaving them in the Great Hall though, right?" Ron said.
"Yes, they are," his father answered.
"Both of them?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I figured they'd leave the one of Harry."
"Of course, both of them," Arthur said. "Why do you think they were painted so large."
Ron sighed. "That's going to make going into work on Monday so much fun."
"You know they'll never stop taking the mickey out of us," Harry said.
"No," Hermione said. "I should think that will be endless from now on."
Ginny snorted. "Oh, no, you're heroes. What a tragedy."
George laughed so hard pumpkin juice came out of his nose.
After everyone's laughter had died down, Percy said, "You should know, McGonagall has requested smaller copies of both paintings for Hogwarts. Harry is to go in the main stairwell and the three of you into the Gryffindor common room."
"Seriously?" Ron said, smiling. "Now, that's pretty cool."
"How is that any different?" Angelina asked.
"We don't still go to school there," Hermione answered. "The ones in the main hall of the Ministry are awkward because we'll pass by them every day. Our coworkers will see them. It's weird."
"Okay," Angelina conceded. "I can see that."
Dinner continued with the usual amount of conversation and laughter.
Atypically, Harry and Ginny got up first. "We're flying out to Wales tomorrow. We really need to turn in," Ginny said.
Hermione noticed Bill scowl as Harry and Ginny went upstairs together, but he had the decency not to say anything.
Ron yawned. "I think I'm going to have to turn in too."
Hermione nodded.
"Want to just stay here?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No. I'm really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed."
Ron nodded. "Alright then. Goodnight all."
They said their goodbyes and Apparated back to London.
xxx
When they popped into the foyer, Ron said, "Did you think to ask Purdy to switch the beds?"
"They're both Queen size mattresses Ron," Hermione said, yawning.
"But Harry and Ginny have been sleeping on that one. Don't you want ours from upstairs?"
"Fine," Hermione sighed. "Purdy?"
The little elf appeared. "Yes, Miss?"
"Could you switch the mattresses in the bedrooms?"
"I already did, Miss," Purdy said.
"You did?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"I am thinking Ron would want his own mattress, Miss."
"You thought right," Ron said.
Purdy nodded.
"Thank you so much, Purdy," Hermione said. "A free elf really is the best elf."
"Yes, Miss," Purdy said.
"Goodnight," Hermione said.
As they walked upstairs, Ron said, "I don't understand what her being free has to do with it."
"She's free to think for herself. She doesn't have to receive instructions for everything. She can use her own insight, and obviously, she's very insightful."
Ron nodded. "Yes, she is."
Hermione dropped down on the bed and sighed. "This feels so good. I wish I didn't have a pile of post downstairs to go through."
"Forget the mail until tomorrow. You know what else would feel good?" he said, reaching for her.
She chuckled. "You have the best ideas."
He grinned.
xxx
The next morning, well before dawn, Harry and Ginny set off for Wales on their brooms. They didn't talk much, but they flew so close together sometimes their knees touched. Ginny was excited to be playing for the Holyhead Harpies, but she was dreading being away from Harry for a month, and a season on the road didn't seem that appealing either. Still, she loved Quidditch and the chance to play for the Harpies was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As they approached Anglesey, the sun was just starting to peak above the horizon. They landed at the Harpies training grounds and Harry took a good look around.
"I guess no one's up yet," he said.
"Guess not," Ginny said.
"Want to go into town and get some breakfast?"
Ginny smiled at him. "I'm too nervous to eat."
Harry smiled back at her. "You're going to do great."
"Thanks, Harry." She looked around. The training facility was behind them and the practice pitch was next to it.
"I should probably go," Harry said. He didn't want her to have to deal with the team's reaction to him. Today should be about her.
She hugged him. "Thank you so much for flying out here with me. I really appreciate it."
He held her tight. "I was happy to do it. Besides, now that I've seen it, I can Apparate here."
She smiled. "Exactly."
"Thanks to being on the run for so long, I can Apparate all over Britain. Any game, anywhere. You want me, you got me."
"I always want you." She kissed him.
"I appreciate that, but if you'd prefer I come in a glamour charm, just let me know."
She chuckled. "I'll leave it up to you how much attention you feel like attracting, just don't go grabbing me if you're glamoured. I don't want security tackling you or the press reporting that I'm cheating on you."
"Right," Harry said. "I'll do my best."
She sighed and held his face in her hands. "I love you."
"I love you too."
She kissed him again.
"Now go be brilliant," he said.
She winked at him. "Will do."
He watched her walk into the building before he cast a concealment charm and took to the sky again. The flight back left him feeling empty. The idea of the next month at Grimmauld Place, without Ginny, seemed very grim. She had suggested he stay at the Burrow or go back to Heathgate, but staying with her parents without her was too weird, and he'd just moved out of Ron and Hermione's place. He could hardly ask to come back for the next month.
xxx
In the end, he didn't last two days on his own. Sunday evening, he stuck his head in the fireplace to check in on Ron and Hermione. He found them sitting in the parlor.
"…so that's why it's unforgivable," Hermione was saying. "The hole in the center of the spell has to be filled with the caster's own magic, which is why there can't be a counter curse."
"I guess that's why the strength varies too, because what Ginny and Neville described happening to students at Hogwarts, even though it was awful, didn't sound like what happened to you."
"Right," Hermione said. "I doubt many people have the zeal for Crucio that Bellatrix had."
"Hullo," Harry said.
"Harry?" Ron said. "What's up?"
"I was wondering if you two had eaten dinner yet?"
"Not yet," Hermione said. "Care to join us?"
Harry let out a relieved sigh. "Yes, please." His head disappeared and then he stepped out of the fireplace. He stood awkwardly for a moment. "Sorry to show up like this?"
"Why?" Ron asked.
"You're always welcome here, you know that."
"I know, but you two just got married. I moved out, but here I am back again."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and then at Harry. "What difference does it make that we got married?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said. "I just figured you'd want time on your own."
They looked at each other again. "Do you feel different?" Hermione asked Ron.
"Not really," Ron said. "I do like referring to you as my wife though."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, I quite like calling you my husband as well, but other than that…"
"It's pretty much the same," Ron said.
They looked at Harry.
"I imagine Grimmauld Place is pretty lonely without Ginny," Hermione said.
Harry sat on the sofa across from them. "Yeah. The house is huge and Kreacher is great, but he doesn't want to chat or play games or anything."
"I think house elves find us annoying for the most part," Ron said.
"Why don't you just stay here until she gets back?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, mate. There's no reason for you to rattle around in that house by yourself."
Harry sighed. "I feel like such a baby not being able to stay in my own house by myself."
"Yes, you're such a baby," Ron said.
"In much the same way that we're babies," Hermione said. "I hate sleeping on my own."
"Me too," Ron said.
"When you two did night missions, and Ginny wasn't able to be here, it was awful. I ended up staying up half the night, because I couldn't bear to go to bed."
"Really?" Ron said.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Actually, now that I'm officially part of the family, I might ask to stay at the Burrow the next time you're gone all night."
"You could've done that before," Ron said.
She shook her head. "I think that would've been weird."
"Exactly," Harry said. "That's why I'm not staying there."
"You two are barmy," Ron said.
"I just thought by now it would be different, you know?" Harry said.
"It is different," Ron said. "At least it is for me. I don't have nearly as many nightmares as I used to."
"Me neither," Hermione said.
"I don't either, but I still have them," Harry said, "so if it's okay with you, I'll just stay here until Gin gets back."
"You can stay here whenever you like, Harry," Hermione said.
"Absolutely," Ron said.
"Although," Hermione said. "We took over the master suite on the second floor, but you can have my old room in the attic."
"That's great," Harry said. "I really appreciate it. I'll just pop home and get my things then."
"We'll have dinner when you get back," Hermione said.
They watched as he stepped back into the fireplace and was swept away by the green flames of the Floo Network.
Ron smiled at Hermione. "The more things change…"
She chuckled. As they waited for Harry to return, Hermione thought about their life and decided she'd never been so happy. Finally, she felt like things were really going their way. She knew, of course, that it wouldn't always be smooth sailing. Life just wasn't like that. But for the moment, she wanted to stop and take note: this was good. This was very good, and she was going to enjoy it.
~finis~
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. You might also like my books: The Annie Fitch Mysteries: Exposed Fury and Hidden Fury (available March 2,2021) and the stand alone novel: One Big Beautiful Thing, available anywhere books are sold and on all digital platforms. Enjoy!