Harry Potter wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen. He knew something would though and so was waiting at his desk, rifling through paperwork and not accomplishing anything.
His morning had been pretty good, he had done his ritual of waking up before Ginny and speaking to his son. Today had been earlier than usual, a day he told him about people who were in his life. Hermione and him had sent patronus' about this months ago and it had taken him a long time to feel comfortable but this morning it hadn't been like that. He had spoken more quietly, not wanting Ginny to hear him.
Little James, he was sure Ginny was just trying to surprise him, had heard all about his Aunt Mione's latest adventure. One she had gone on without him and that had taken her away from him. He had confessed that he hadn't behaved well and had been jealous and angry. Told his little boy about having always loved her and while it wasn't passionate it wasn't a sibling love either.
It was easier to tell James about how much he wanted her back. How happy he was that she would get to be there right away. She was going to be his godmother and his tears then had been sad but also happy. Full of the fierce sure knowledge of how much better he felt, knowing she would protect the little guy. That's what she called him in their messages and it was just so relieving to know he would have her steady presence again.
Now at his desk and he looked at the file cabinet in the corner. Most people couldn't see it. Just a table with a plant on top but some could and he knew what was in there. The file, labelled domestic violence with the date. The date he had heard Hermione yell for him from the floo in the kitchen, heard the near shriek in her voice and raced down the stairs and into the familiar and comfortable room.
The day Harry seen her bleeding face. The bruises already forming and the easily distinguished broken nose.
As he stared at her she was looking at him and finally he met her eyes. Rage and the sadness. The direct look, the one that said I told you. Told you this was bad, that it was getting bad and you didn't listen. In that second he knew what had happened. That Ron had lost his temper and instead of yelling or breaking something else, he had broken her. Hit her.
It could have been anything but the look in her eyes told him what had happened. Then her chin lifted and he could see, see the determination and the return of her pride. A woman he hadn't seen outside of work for years now. Hermione Granger wouldn't take this and was finished. It had all passed between them in silence.
It couldn't have been very long but eventually she jerked her head to the fireplace behind her and spoke. It was nearly slurred, the swelling on her face making it hard to speak but he heard her three words, all my things.
It had been one of those nearly out of body experiences. She had walked out of the kitchen and he knew she was going to heal herself. So he took a breath and then the floo to their house.
Where he found Ron. Bound and unconscious, that's how he left him until he had magically packed everything that was hers. Using spells and just shrinking it all, into conjured boxes and then spelling it to Grimmauld.
Then he stood in front of his friend, one of his best friends, and made himself accept what had happened. Think about what this wizard had done and her face.
The face of the first witch he had loved and the one who had given up everything for him. Had loved him, never faltered or even punished him for his mistakes. Who had hurt for him, been the rock in his life when there was no one else. This wizard had hit her, it had happened.
Leaving the binding in place, he revived Ron and waited until the eyes came in to focus and then frantically glanced around. No doubt for Hermione, maybe even just anyone but him. Anything but having to meet his eyes and accept what he had done.
"She's not here. She's not coming back. No doubt she will want this to be quiet. I advise you not to fight it, I doubt you will listen." With that he released the bound wizard and watched him climb to his feet, could see it sinking in.
This wasn't the time. That had been so hard and it hadn't been helped by nearly no one knowing what had happened. The private hearings were quiet and no one wanted the blow up this would cause. It hadn't stopped Ron from claiming common law and trying to basically make her pay him. His bid to keep her and his lawyers suggestion. Zabini had been a good choice and Harry himself hadn't attended past his Auror statement.
Hermione had gracefully kept seeing him and been as polite as usual with Ginny but it had been hard and then before it was better she was gone.
Hermione was in England and Trustin had only given him a look in before leaving last night and told him he would see him in the morning. It was morning and he was having a hard time keeping himself from going to the man instead of at his desk.
This report about trafficking dragon heartstrings had to be checked and then filed, it wasn't a hard case and coincided with a reported warding preventing some people from using a piece of sidewalk in a small Wizarding village outside of Leeds.
Knock knock. There he was, Trustin's brown eyes were intent on him and Harry had no idea what he was thinking.
"Let's go." Harry was out of his seat as the wizard spoke and walked out of his office without a word, half a pace behind the wizard when he reached his office.
Trustin closed the door and he then watched his direct superior sit in his chair and spell the wards on the office to a more secure setting. Then he gestured to him to sit and Harry did, watching the man.
"My wife wasn't pleased that I was less than attentive to her ham dinner." Harry didn't smile at the man's absent tone and words. He wanted to though and so only nodded his acceptance of their inability to leave their thoughts on cases at work.
"It wasn't what had happened, that seems cut and dry. Post war at least." Trustin met his eyes differently then and he appreciated the man's ability to do this, try and see it as two separate time periods. Skills and knowledge transferred but most other things didn't so directly.
"It is what to do now." The words were harder and Harry made himself sit further back into the chair.
"This is political in a way. Records too." Harry agreed with both these points. Perhaps forcing the seals release from above would work.
"I would like you to see her, officially." Trustin said this firmly but the eye contact asked the question and he wasn't sure what he should say. He thought about it, and decided he had to ask.
"To what purpose?" Was how he phrased it and the small lip quirk was approval.
"I want to know what she is willing to have happen. Zabini, the logged memories and paperwork make it plain what happened. If that is made public, there will be ramifications." Harry though Trustin wasn't sure that would be a bad thing but his job was to consider and ultimately act for the best of the Auror Corps, within the law.
"Make a deal, or have one ready to offer the higher ups?" Blunt was best he decided, this man hadn't been sorted but he thought either Gryffindor or Slytherin.
"Is that a possibility? I've read her files before, in preparation for a high profile missing persons case that never came." Harry thought about that and realised he hadn't considered it but maybe everyone thought she was missing. All he had said was he didn't know where she was.
Ginny knew they had some form of contact, or he thought she did but she had stopped asking him about his friend when it became clear he wasn't going to say anything. They talked about Hermione but not where she was now and he thought Ginny wasn't as torn or jealous as before.
Not because Hermione wasn't here but because she had talked to Ron, months later. Asked him and his evasive behaviour and lack of bluster had been suspicious enough. She hadn't asked him directly but there were some thoughtful glances and his lack of trying to find her was a giveaway.
"Her files don't really show who she is Sir, what she has done but not who she is. The warding isn't in there, just an example." Was what he said and the man sat back in his chair and picked up a quill absently.
"Will you tell me about her? I want to know what to expect. She has always interested me, from a historical standpoint." He thought Trustin meant this and wondered what to say. Then decided and after a long look began.
"You'll meet her and don't offer her a Job. She won't take it, she will consult though. Has and even sort of still does. Expect the boys to come first. I've never had a mother but that's what you should expect. She is practical and has a good mask. Smart doesn't cover it but she isn't hard. Draws a hard line, walked away from me and only said she was sorry." Trustin had been riveted but then he got a look.
"Potter." It was rebuking and he grinned at the man.
"I know, I get it now. She would take my son and do the same. Even when I took the Summons or said we would work it out, I didn't want her to come here. Just come home." Harry liked this man, the way he nodded approvingly and also gave him a look that said he could appreciate the difference.
This time the process of checking was quicker and hermione hugged her friend immediately. A tight squeeze, then she pulled back and grinned up at him. He wasn't as tall as any of the three snakes but he was tall enough that she had to tip her head back.
"I'm so excited. He's coming." She said it and his smile was soft but his eyes were bright.
"Yeah he is, we have to make it so you can walk into St Mungos." Harry pointed out and she settled down some at that.
"Dinner?" Harry asked and took a long smell of the air and she smiled.
"Of course. Blaise is the perfect host." Harry looked at the darker wizard for the first time and she just smiled between them as they each nodded once at the other.
"Come on then, what did he say?" Hermione couldn't help but ask they settled around one end of the table and she held the bread basket to Harry and let Blaise spoon minestrone into her bowl.
"He wants me to find out what you want, to make a deal." Harry said this casually and didn't look up from smearing butter into his piece of focaccia bread.
"We or me?" She had her spoon on hand but had no intention of eating anything until she knew what he had to say.
"You. This is political, or it will be. Could be. Might be anyways but it will be more so if the Ministry has to deal with the fact that you were attacked without a warrant." She blinked at Harry and then looked to Blaise and watched him summon a whiskey bottle and two glasses. Harry got one and grinned his thanks around a mouthful then sat back.
"Sorry, didn't eat lunch. Was too keyed up." Harry admitted easily and she grinned at him. Here was her happy Harry. Clear eyes and she just blurted out her question.
"What changed, with you?" The green eyes met hers and he didn't speak for what felt like a longer than usual time.
"Nothing. I couldn't be mad at them, well I was but it was useless. You didn't do anything wrong, were just you. James." Maybe this was choppy and she wasn't sure Blaise understood but she ignored the way he was looking between Harry and her. Instead she met those emerald green eyes and could see that he meant it.
"Of course Harry. You know that. I can hardly wait, the boys aren't impressed though." Blaise laughed at that and Harry looked between them. Both brows raised asked the question while he ate and sipped.
"She is theirs and neither one is impressed with her seeing you or the idea of her having a baby. Even if it isn't now." Blaise spoke easily but she could hear his teasing and she scowled playfully at him.
"Worse than Ron and I fourth year then?" Harry jibed and both ignored the mention of Ron, instead smiling about her blow up at them then. At Ron for speaking to her that way but mostly Harry, for not defending her.
"They have much better manners and are far more convincing. Even if I was immediately planning on having a baby those eyes, no way. Tray is worse than you Harry. So soulful and just I can't." His smile was soft now and she felt emotional at the way he was smiling at her and the softness in his eyes.
"I was telling Trustin today, he asked what to expect. A mother I said, I'm sorry I didn't think about it that way. I knew you were right, about them and not letting them be somewhere bad. I'm sorry Mione, for not trying to see it from your perspective more. Making you defend yourself to me or even just ignore my pointed comments." Blaise shifted beside her and she looked up at him quickly. Could easily see his surprise and even incredulity at Harry speaking so openly or sincerely. The Chosen One apologizing like that.
"I forgive you. Don't do it again. Not over this. I understood, somewhat and I am sorry I haven't been around for you. Just a drink after work or an early scone and tea. Just around, I missed you too." It was true and she felt far better. Knew Harry was alright and now knew he did understand.
"So will you make a deal? I want to see pictures before I see the boys. Seeing Malfoy yesterday, it was crazy too. I've gotten used to you Zabini, but their eyes and just the whole thing." Harry sat back and finished his whiskey before picking up another piece of bread and looking at her in question.
"Her name is Gia and she will hear you if you compliment her. Bread is never the same though, if you are exposed to it then it just won't be as good ever again. You will know what it could be." She spoke seriously and Blaise was smirking at her.
"Thank you Gia." Harry spoke into the air beside him and she laughed lowly at the exasperated sound Blaise made.
"I'll have you over for breakfast one day and beg her for toast if you want to risk it. As to a deal, what am I not saying? I brought pictures." He nodded thoughtfully and Blaise was all attention now.
"I didn't think you would want to say anything. Get it cleared up and sorted. Legally and finalized. Show up with them. That's what you are planning to do right?" She could see that Harry was serious and she nodded but ignored the aggrieved tones in the last sentence.
"You think that's what Trustin wants? He sounds interesting." Harry nodded his answer, then looked between Blaise and her.
"I told him not to offer you a job, he will want to meet you when it's alright. Yeah, he's going to use what will happen if the truth comes out. If they have to admit what they did without even knowing they were doing it." Blaise made a low sound and she looked to him, so did Harry. Hermione could see what he meant and put a hand on his arm.
"Plunkett." Was what she said and Harry met her eyes after a noticeable glance at her hand on the man's arm.
"Alright. I'll tell him." Harry replied after another look between them. She didn't doubt Blaise looked as if he wanted to murder the man.
"Tell me about them." Harry requested and she looked to Blaise and then back at her friend. Happy to be able to talk about them with her friend finally.
"Wait until you see them fly Harry. You will be amazed and they are so smart. You know we've been doing school things but there is so much. We read the hobbit with Draco and Theo, Blaise missed the beginning. Then James and the Giant Peach, we just finished it." Hermione watched her friend relax into his seat and the curiosity there.
"No school I guess." Harry said thoughtfully and Blaise relaxed beside her. She let her hand fall off his arm at the relaxation she could feel and answered.