8 months later…

Squeaks watched as her mum and grandfather diligently worked preparing the bookshop for something that a cat could never understand. She looked on in curiosity before trying desperately to get someone's attention. It was nearly mid day and she hadn't yet been given her usual sustenance. She took to meowing insistently at Papa's feet but he just looked down with an, "I'll be there in a moment," response but never actually tended to her growing hunger needs. If cats could sigh then she would've. She finished her patrol around the first floor of the shop and realized that one of the mummies was missing. Her ears perked up and she took off trotting towards the stairs, running up them two at a time until she reached the top landing. Quietly she went from room to room looking for the curly-haired mother. Her ears perked again when she reached the bedroom and heard the familiar snoring coming from above. With a running jump, she climbed her way up the queen sized bed. She noted the orange blob the mothers kept insisting was her brother laying suspiciously close to her human. He didn't acknowledge her existence just as she liked it so she quietly stalked her way over to the sleeping mother. She crouched down into a pouncing position and started wiggling her butt before she took off in the air, jumping and landing in the center of the curly-haired mummy's chest. "Oof," came from below her. Squeaks took the opportunity to circle her chest a few times before sitting down comfortably on her mum. She watched as the eyes fluttered open, "hello sweetheart," the human said, scratching behind her ears. She let out a loud meow which turned into a purr because the scratches felt good.

Bella rubbed her hand down her face, wiping the sleep from her eyes, "how long have I been asleep?" She wondered out loud, reaching over to turn the clock. "Fuck me it's almost 4? You mummy is going to murder me," she chuckled when the kitten meowed in agreement. "I was only meant to take a quick cat nap," she noticed the orange blob stretched out, rolling onto his back demanding a stomach rub. "Seems like you missed out, Squeaks," she kissed the kitten before scratching the orange belly. "Okay kids," she moved the kitten off of her chest and sat up. "I need to get up or else I'm going to find myself out on the street tonight." Both cats meowed in protest, "fine let's go eat first."

She stood up and groaned when she stretched. "Damn that was a good nap," she thought as she exited the bedroom and made her way to the kitchen. Dutifully, she filled up the two food dishes for her children with a mixture of hard and soft food. "There you go my darlings. Now, let's see what's going on downstairs."

"There she is," Henry laughed, "we thought you were going to sleep all day."

"My apologies," Bella descended the stairs. "The bed took control over me and I couldn't wake." She looked around the room. "Where's Hermione?"

"She's downstairs," he pointed to the lower level, "she said she needed a few moments alone. I think she might be getting a little overwhelmed about tonight. These were just delivered a little while ago and she didn't want to open it without you." Henry walked over and handed Bella a box that had just arrived in the mail and she knew right away why Hermione was overwhelmed.

"Makes sense. I'll go see if she's okay," she turned to head downstairs. "Happy Bonfire Night."

"Same to you, my friend." Bella made her way down the stairs to find her girlfriend sitting in her comfy chair, resting her eyes. This isn't the first time she's found Hermione sleeping down here lately. She had been up late preparing for today for the last few months. Her heart clenched daily when she remembered that this gorgeous creature was hers to love forever. She quietly went over and sat on the chair next to her love, "Hermione? Love? Wake up."

""Hmm," came the tired, sleep filled reply of the brunette. "Oh no. I've fallen asleep again. There is still so much to do."

"Cissy has everything under control. Stop worrying so much, love. Everything is going to be perfect."

"How are you so calm right now?"

Bella chuckled, "years of experience being on the other side of the coin. Nothing good comes from stress and worrying. Dr. Edith is good for something."

"I can't believe your sister gave up her bonfire masquerade for this," she shrugged, "for me."

"Of course she did. You are part of the family now and I'm pretty sure my sisters like you more than they like me. I still have a claim to Dora though. Good luck weaseling that one out of me," she winked at her girlfriend. "The rsvp list is quite large. You are a very popular woman. Cissy estimated it to be a turn out of over 250 people."

"You are kidding me, right?" Hermione looked astonished. "There's no way that many people want to come to this. It was hardly advertised."

"People know talent when they see it love. Your redhead friend and her family are coming, the local shop owners around here, and so many of your regular patrons. As well as people who just shopped here and got to know you over the past year. And of course your grandfather is coming. I don't think a pack of wild hippogriffs could stop him from being there."

"Hippogriffs?"

Bella'a cheek formed a small blush, "I read it in a book once. I would say that I'm going to be the proudest one there tonight but I think Henry has me beat."

"Good thing it's not a competition then," Hermione smiled. "I really need to thank Cissy for organizing all of this. She really didn't have to."

"Stop. That's enough of that," Bella waved her off. "Henry said this arrived before you came downstairs. Why didn't you open it?"

"I'm scared. Nervous," Hermione sighed and sat back against her chair. "What if they hate it? What if it's not what they want or are expecting? What if it's not everything I dreamed it to be?"

Bella reached over and grabbed her hand, "it's going to be amazing because it's from your heart and your extraordinarily talented brain."

"You are only saying that because you are sleeping with me."

The older woman's jaw dropped in feign indignation, "that is a lie and you know it. I would love and support you whether you ever slept with me or not," she smirked, "though the sex has been beyond my wildest dreams." It was Hermione's time to blush. "This past year has been the best of my life and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I hope that I never have to."

"I told you before that you are stuck with me now, Bella." A moment passed between them before she asked, "did you open them?"

Bella shook her head no, "this is your hard work. You should be the one to open it up."

Reaching over she grabbed the box and the box cutter Bella was holding out for her, "okay but if this sucks I'm blaming you."

"I will accept all responsibility," Bella chuckled. "Go on then. I'm dying to see it." Hermione took in a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves as she ran the cutter through the thick packing tape. Moving the box flaps aside, she reached in and pulled out the packing slip and protective materials before looking down at the contents. A small gasp escaped her lips, "it's perfect. Isn't it?"

Hermione pulled out a small cream colored novel, examining the front cover and flipping it quickly over to the back. "Down the Rabbit Hole, by Hermione Jean Granger."

She handed a copy of the book to her girlfriend who took it greedily and read an expert from the back cover, "a story of beginning again when all hope seemed lost," Bella smiled as she skimmed through the pages.

"They always say to write about what you know," Hermione laughed and shook her head in disbelief. She wrote a modern fiction about everything she had been through in the past few years including her relationship with her girlfriend. Bella consented to having parts of her story added into the book and Hermione felt it was something that would resonate with a wide range of readers. She read the few recommendations that were written on the back cover. People actually were endorsing her writing and she was blown away with Cissy's capability to help her get her first book published. She couldn't believe tonight was the official release event for this. Her dream had come true and it all seemed too good to be real. "If someone had told me last year when I was getting ready for your sister's Bonfire Night Masquerade Ball that this year I'd be celebrating the release of my first book with my grandfather, the love of my life and her family, I'd have said that they were crazy. This year has been a whirlwind of dreams and emotions that I didn't even know I had," she took a breath and watched as Bella read the dedication page. "This book is for Bella, the woman who has shown me that anything is possible with patience and a little love."

Bella's words caught in her throat, "you didn't have to do that."

"This wouldn't be happening if I had never met you."

"Hermione," she closed her book, "loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done in my life. I'm so proud of you. And you better believe that I will be in line at your book release tonight to get an autograph."

Hermione laughed, "this is just so unbelievable. I am so happy. Last year you danced like you knew our lives would never be the same and it's true. We've been through so much and I feel like time has been standing still. I can not wait for what comes next with you. My life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind."

"I will never be able to thank your grandfather enough for giving you this shop, Hermione. This life you have given me is sweeter than any fiction and it is only just beginning."