Christmas was always a busy season. Between presents, the increased case load and the family visits, she had trouble rushing to get everything ready. Luckily, the department took note of that and all pending cases were being pushed back to Januari, 2nd. She had the afternoon free and would spend it visiting her parents.

She bid Matthews a good holiday season, already having brought him the gift of a pair of Wheezes 'Hear-no-Evil' earplugs. Harry too had the afternoon free, and while she would have liked to accompany him this time to the cemetery in Godric's Hollow, he had insisted that it was just fitting for them both to visit their parents before making their way to the Burrow. Yes, they were spending Christmas Eve with the Weasleys once again. But this time there was a ray of hope shining through, since they would finally, fully go public. They had bought enough wine and beer. That way, in case any of them had mixed feelings about it they could drink the awkwardness away.

#

She apparated down to the park a few minutes from the Granger residence and enjoyed the still winter mood walking down the street. The snow pleasantly crunched under her boots. A sparrow was chirping on the frozen branch of a tree and a lone BMW belonging to one of their similarly well-off neighbours slowly sloshed through the snowed-in street.

She stomped her feet to get the worst of the mess off and rang the doorbell, watching the condensation of her breath as she waited with trepidation.

"Hello, sweet," her mother said, pulling her inside and into a hug. "Let's get you warmed up. I made hot chocolate and we got some nice mince pies from Cynthia."

"Sounds lovely," Hermione said, taking off her gloves and coat. "Dad home?"

"He's running a last minute errand. We were out of cranberries, and you know how peculiar your aunt can be about Christmas dinner."

Hermione smiled, remembering how worked up aunt Mary got this time of year.

"It's a shame you're not coming," Monica continued. "We'd love to have you here, you wouldn't like a break with—all that happened, the divorce…"

She brought two steaming cups of hot chocolate in the living room and Hermione sipped from it, burning the tip of her tongue. "We were thinking of coming on New Year, if you're not busy."

Her eyebrows raised as she noticed her wording. "We?"

Hermione hid her face with her hands, feeling happiness burst from within as she blurted out the words she'd been waiting to say. "Harry and I are dating!"

She laughed, her heart beating at a gallop. "Can you believe it? Like, we're actually dating! And it's amazing. We've been seeing each other for some time — with how I was staying with him and everything, but we decided to tell everyone around Christmas."

Monica Granger sat still for a while, trying to smile. She had learned of her daughter's divorce mid-September, and about the circumstances, although Hermione had been evasive about it. But now, she realised that her dark-haired best friend might have played a larger part in comforting her than she let herself believe. And her husband too had been unhappy about it. To both parents it seemed like their daughter had been fighting through a string of bad luck.

"I…" she stammered. "Hold on, last I heard he was married, wasn't he?"

"They divorced," Hermione said with a wave. "I guess I forgot to tell you, but things have been so hectic lately. And we were both exploring our relationship, it's all a bit of blur, honestly."

"Well…"

"It's going to be great, spending Christmas together. It's quite cosy now — the place he inherited from his Godfather, I told you about that." She sighed wistfully.

"It all seems very… sudden."

"Mum, we've known each other for more than a decade! That's not sudden at all, and he's been lovely. I know what you're going to say, that it's because it's new. But I know it will turn out all right. Can you talk to dad? I know he'll be all… defensive and questioning."

"He's just worried, you know that," Monica said unconvincingly. "But you seem happy. He is treating you well, then? You've always had a weak spot for him, doing all kinds of — well, you know what I mean."

"So does he, mum," she grinned. "That's why it's going so well. There's nothing he wouldn't do for me, and I really need that right now — not just right now, I just need it in my life. And I know Harry won't let me down."

"I'll talk to your dad," Monica said. "Maybe better if you don't bring it up. Let's just have a nice afternoon — here, take a pie, they're delicious."

She had a good time, catching up with her parents, and the pies were delicious as promised. Her father had talked up a storm back when she mentioned divorcing Ron and it had taken her some time and carefully chosen words to put it in a way that he would understand. She was glad that soon the deception would be unnecessary. Harry and Hermione together would just be a fact of life. Something everyone took for granted.

#

She returned to Grimmauld Place to freshen up and brush her teeth. Her hair was soft and voluminous, just the way he liked it. She put on a cherry lip gloss she hadn't tried yet and changed from her work clothes and into a silk red-and-green sweater with a dark green skirt going just up to her knees. Harry might already be at the Burrow, it was almost 4 PM.

The clothes basket was empty.

"Kreacher!"

The elf appeared before her with a bow. "Mistress?"

"Has Harry been here yet?"

"Master Harry has not been here since this morning, Mistress Granger."

"Well, tell him I've just gone ahead to the Burrow if he comes back here. He might have just changed at the Ministry and left from there."

She said goodbye to Kreacher, took the two feather-light bags: one with booze, the other with presents; and went through the floo to the Burrow.

Bill was sitting on the table, chatting with Molly and Fleur in the kitchen when she entered.

"Hey!" he said. "Perce is already here with Audrey. They're outside with Charlie."

She greeted him and put down the bags. "Harry isn't here yet?"

"Thought he was coming with you," he answered. "We're still waiting for George and Ginny as well."

"And Mathilda," Hermione added.

"Hello, dear," Molly said, leaving her pots and pans for a moment. Fleur followed with Victoire beside her. The girl was growing every time she saw her, already taking on her mother's favourable features.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley. Fleur. And look at you, all dressed up." She gave Victoire a kiss on the cheek, who said a shy 'hello'. "Is Andromeda — oh, there you are!"

She came from upstairs with Teddy in front of her. "'Minie!" he said running over.

She caught him just in time to lift him up. "Hey Teddy. Have you been a good boy?"

He nodded frantically, his hair turning a greenish-yellow.

She laughed. "Okay, then later I bet you'll get to take a present home for Christmas, but only because you've been good."

She put him down and he went to pester Molly about dinner, which was still a few hours away.

"You look good," Andromeda said. "So, Harry isn't here yet?"

"No," she said with a smile. "He'll be here soon I bet, he would say so if something came up."

They went outside with Bill following and met Charlie, Percy and his wife. They were standing around a bonfire, nursing hot butterbeer. They handed Bill and Hermione one and chatted about the latest goings on. She had to force herself not to break out the news prematurely.

"So, Mathilda?" Bill said. "What's she like? And more importantly, is Charlie finally going to find someone to settle down?"

"Didn't you meet her once," Hermione asked, "when you consulted with the AD?"

"Right!" he answered. "Blonde, tall-ish, about Charlie's age?"

"Will you bloody stop it?" Charlie barked. "I have enough with mum badgering me, you don't have to make it any worse!"

The two brothers looked at Percy for a ruling and Audrey chortled. "What? Don't drag me into this. I did my Weasley duty."

"Did you?" said Hermione. "Not until you catch up to Bill, I don't think."

"Wha—"

They all laughed.

Not too long after, Mathilda came in. She was wearing something casual, a green sweater over a darker green dress. When she came to Hermione's birthday party she wore casual clothes — jeans and a shirt. Now, dressed more fancily, it was clear she would much rather be wearing something else, preferably fitting with Auror field boots and robes. What always remained was that almost impassive aura about her, like she was always slightly bored or depressed.

The Weasley brothers and family made her feel welcome, but she mostly responded with short or one-worded answers. At least she didn't seem to take it badly.

"Harry's not here?" she asked.

"Neither is Ginny," Percy answered. "You don't think they…"

Mathilda furtively glanced at Hermione and she shook her head in response. There was no way anything of the like was going on, but it was strange for Harry to be late, it was already past 5 PM.

George turned up with Angelina, and after introductions, Mathilda nodded to follow her around the house. "Something's wrong," she said, and took out her wand, tracing a circle of white magic with it before her. "Expecto Patronum."

Hermione's jaw dropped when she saw the spiritual form of a great white stag appear from the magic. Mathilda spoke to it. "Where are you? Send back a message."

The stag stumbled forwards, but stopped abruptly, trotting around its caster.

"Shit," Mathilda cursed, and looked towards Hermione, dispelling the guardian.

"You can't reach him…" Hermione said, her heart rate increasing, her breath quickening. "That means he's—someone—he was taken."

For the first time, she saw Mathilda's features tremble and her resting expression turn to pale shock.

"He's not dead," Hermione said quickly. "I'd know. He's somewhere unplottable, or under similar magical protection. Not Grimmauld or the Ministry, you can send messages to employees and us through there." Her mind was racing now with all kinds of different possibilities. "Ginny's not here either."

"How do we find him?"

"I don't know," Hermione answered.

"I can call it in, but…"

"But?"

"I—they won't be able to do much. If he's really somewhere unplottable. But he's alive?"

"Yes!" Taking a deep breath, she went back inside, nodding for Mathilda to come with her. Arthur was there, out of the garage, chatting with the rest of them.

"Everyone," she said. "We have to go look for Harry."

There was a moment of silence at her serious proclamation. Arthur stepped forward. "Did something happen?"

"We don't know, we just can't contact him, and he was supposed to be here already. Just—sorry about leaving, but we have to go."

"Can we help?" Bill said, looking at Fleur.

Mathilda shook her head. "Not for now. We'll message you if we need you. It was nice meeting you."

They left through the front door and walked towards the boundary of the charms around the burrow.

"Okay," Mathilda said, clutching her chest. "I wasn't on duty with him so we'll go check if someone saw him at the Ministry."

"I can go ahead, to Godric's Hollow."

"No. We should stick together. We have no idea what's going on, and if Harry got surprised…"

Hermione didn't want to think of all the things that were not as bad as death that Harry could possibly be going through right now. They had to find him.

#

They apparated to the Auror Department's direct entrance. Mathilda made a beeline for Bigby. He was munching on a sandwich waiting for the shift change, reading over the sports page of the Prophet.

"Lawrence," she said.

"Hey!" he said, adjusting his square glasses. "Thought you left. Forget something?"

"Nah. You were with Harry today?"

"Doing a double," he said shaking his head. "Yeah, Robards had us organising the evidence for the pending cases."

"And he left?"

"Right around lunch break. Wished me a happy holidays and everything."

"Through the main entrance?"

"'Course," Lawrence said, "you know we're not supposed to use the emergency stations—like you just did. Don't worry, I won't tell. What's going on?"

"Not sure yet," she said. "Harry was supposed to show up at the Weasley home about an hour ago."

"Right." He lowered his voice. "If you want me to help, just let me know, alright? We've got your back," he said nodding at his usual partner, Tim Brenton over at the break room. "We've got London duty with Alfred later." Bigby made a 'V' sign over his heart and winked at them, picking up his sandwich and going further along the cubicles.

They continued towards the main entrance, where they asked the aged checkpoint guard if he had seen Harry. Harry had wished a happy holidays to him as well and used the apparition station to leave. "Let's follow," Hermione said.

#

They arrived at the plaza on the edge of the mostly magical town of Godric's Hollow. It was enchanted to prevent any muggles from seeing it. As they walked, Hermione was thinking about the Auror by her side. She seemed as rattled as she was. Thinking about it, Harry didn't talk much about her. Had Hermione been the first to break Harry's loyalty to his marriage, or had the blonde Auror gotten there first? It would make sense. If there was anyone else, it would be the person who he had worked with for years.

"So, you and Harry are pretty close," she said.

Mathilda blinked and drew a ragged breath. "I suppose."

"And you don't like Ginny much?"

"Harry can do better," she said with a lopsided smile, "and I suppose he has."

"And you two never… in five years…"

"You're wondering about my patronus."

Hermione swallowed a knot of anxiety and nodded faintly. "Yes. And I was thinking something might have happened. It wouldn't be strange if something happened over five years, working together all the time—the long hours. So I'm wondering if you have feelings for him." She turned to face Mathilda and they stopped for a moment. "Do you?"

Mathilda smiled. The frigid wind dangled her curls in front of her eyes, giving her an angelic appearance. "Of course I do. I love him. But not like that, you don't need to worry." Her smile turned to a smirk. "No, we never… got it on, we're not really compatible I guess. He saved my life, Hermione. I owe him everything I have."

They continued walking. Hermione didn't know what to make of her, but she thought she understood. "How did he save you?" she asked.

"It was the day of the battle, only hours after Voldemort had been defeated. Now what would anyone do when the battle is won? Go home, rest, enjoy their victory. But Harry—"

"He went with Kingsley and Dawlish, to Azkaban."

"That's right. I was there for months, thinking I was going to die. Harry freed every damn prisoner Voldemort put there, dragging Kingsley along. He even made sure I had a place to stay, said he wanted to become an Auror like I had been. I might be Captain now, but I've been following him since the day we met."

People still milled about the village, buying things, enjoying the winter cheer and decorations around the shops and houses. Even though before she thought she understood Harry's insistence on keeping allies and friends, she never really realised how much Harry had made that his legacy. Everywhere he went, people lined up to help him. Except maybe in the Wizengamot.

They arrived at the church, where a pastor was speaking to a couple with two children. Mathilda trudged up to him and waited to get his attention, which didn't take long. She was quite a bit taller than most women and easily stood out.

"Hello! Good afternoon—you're not part of the congregation, will you be attending mass?"

"No, sir," she said. "We're wondering if you saw someone around here recently. Black hair, slim, around 6'2"? Probably wearing something purple."

"Hmmm." The pastor rubbed his beard. "Perhaps, yes. Right after I finished my lunch on the bench over there, I might have seen him visit the cemetery. I went right back inside afterwards. A friend of yours?"

"He is, thanks."

#

They entered through the kissing gate. Hermione felt herself grow tired with emotion. Having Harry somewhere she didn't know was taxing on her. God knows what was happening to him. And who was responsible? Was it an aftermath of their blackmailing the Wizengamot and tricking them by using Elaine? Horatio Carrow was a dead end and Cassius had no contact with him over the past twenty years. Or was it Ginny who had finally shown her true colours? She found that she didn't care, if she could only be with him again.

Mathilda stopped her as they went deeper among the graves.

"It's that one over there, right?" she asked.

Hermione nodded, surprised that she knew. Mathilda took out her wand and waved it, revealing barely visible prints on the frosty ground. She walked around them and towards the grave of James and Lily Potter. She stopped at a set of two tracks, one bigger than the other. "One male, probably Harry. The other female."

"Ginny."

Mathilda spun and waved her wand again, revealing more prints. They came from the east side.

"Three sets, male. And here," she said, bending down. "It looks like he—no, they were taken by surprise. Look at the two large flat spaces."

"They fell?"

"The tracks from there," she said pointing to the three pairs of footprints, "mill about and disappear. There's no prints away from here for any of them."

"A portkey?"

"I can't think of anything else," she said with a sour expression.

"So we can't track him… we can't—what are we supposed to do?"

Mathilda looked like she was begging for a miracle as well.

Hermione went over to the gravestone and knelt. There was a fresh wreath of roses deposited on top. She touched the petals, knowing it was the last bit of magic he did before he disappeared—was taken. She felt tears stream down her cheeks and a hand on her shoulder. Even with someone here, she still felt alone. She knew that without him, that's how she would feel, until he breathed his last. At least she wouldn't ever have to live without him. She just wished she could hear his voice, see his face, feel his touch on her skin.

She looked downwards where the gravestone's pedestal was covered in frost and a layer of snow and tried drying her tears. "Where are you, Harry?" she whispered into the cold winter air. Her eyes closed in a prayer as she repeated again: "Where are you?" An icy gust of wind passed straight through her bones.

Mathilda felt it too, shivering. It went by them and to the grave and ground against the stone. Hermione looked around for a source of whatever was happening. Her mouth fell open as she watched the frost being carved into by an invisible quill, spelling words in the ice as if a ghost were using it as parchment.

"This is…"

"It's—" She sobbed and laughed at the same time. "It's him." They both huddled around the message and she felt Mathilda's hand dig more strongly into her shoulder. The message said:

I am being held captive with Ginny in Barnton. The Frilly Escape's basement has protective charms. Three men that I know of, decent duelists. Take Mathilda and Alfred before you find me. Keep it under wraps if you can. See you soon.

- Love, Harry… and be careful.