A/N- I'M ALIVE! In all seriousness, I apologize for the epic delay with this chapter. The last few months have been insanely hectic, and I had LITERALLY zero time to do anything recreational, much less writing. But, here we are again. I have no plans on abandoning this story even if it takes me an eternity to write it, so I suppose the old adage "it ain't over till it's over" applies. Well, more like it's not over until I say it's over. Regardless, enjoy the new chapter. It's a long one. Take it as an apology for being so late on updates. All standard disclaimers apply, as well as a mature content warning for the end of the chapter. I've marked it. Reviews are always appreciated.

Part 1- The Return

Chapter 6

July 8th, 1995

The quiet stillness of the warm Oxford afternoon was split suddenly and viscously by the sound of a whiplash crack. From seemingly thin air two teens had appeared into the previously empty bedroom, landing skillfully on their feet as they unfolded from nothing.

Both were tense, thin pieces of wood held like swords in their hands at the ready. The young man's venomous green eyes scanned the room quickly, searching for threats. Once he'd confirmed they were alone he met the girl's chocolate gaze, an unspoken question passing between them. She nodded, and without a word the two moved swiftly to the door to the bedroom.

"Can you tell who it is?" Harry whispered as they took their places at the door, him to the left and gripping the handle, her crouched down and pressed to the wall to the right.

Hermione shook her head in the negative. She had warded the room to not allow sounds to escape as to prevent her parents from hearing them apparating in and out, but without knowing whom had entered the home, she had no way of knowing if they were still in place. Worse yet, they may have been detected and someone could be lying in wait outside the door.

Harry's eyes hardened, and for a long moment they simple held each other's gaze, both preparing for the unknown. Finally, his eyes flicked to the door handle then back to her, the question clear. Hermione swallowed thickly and nodded. Slowly, Harry reached out to the knob and turned it, barely making a sound.

One final look between them and Harry pulled the door in just slightly, opening a crack just large enough for Hermione to see the hall beyond. When she was sure there wasn't any immediate threat on the landing they slipped soundlessly from the room. Moving down the hall swiftly and silently, Harry took the lead and peered down the stairs as they came to the landing.

The house around them was eerily silent. The only sound to be heard was the low hum of the air conditioning pushing cold air through the house and the loud ticking of the grandfather clock downstairs in the study.

Hermione's heart pounded in her chest as she listened intently for the slightest sound coming from their intruder. The silence was disconcerting, and despite her current feelings towards them she felt fear for her parent's safety. The afternoon was quickly waning into evening, and they were either home already or would be home any minute now.

She was also acutely aware of the feeling of the black band around the ring finger of her right hand. At the moment those rings were suppressing their magical signatures down to what would be normal for two teenagers their age, but all it would take to release their powers completely was to deliberately twist the ring a half turn clockwise on her finger. But it was imperative for them to maintain their secret, at least for now. They had agreed when they'd put them on to only use them if their lives were in imminent danger. Her powerful mind was calculating the likelihood they'd have to use them. Images of what had happened in the alley flashed before her. Hermione's hand tightened around her wand.

Once again Harry moved first, creeping down the stairs with his wand at the ready. Hermione followed close behind, carefully covering their flanks as they moved. The clatter of china from the kitchen drew both of their attention. A quick sidelong glance between them was all the affirmation they needed. Propelled by magic the two entered the room in less than a second, neither realizing exactly how fast they'd moved. The two leveled their wands on the intruder, only to stop dead in their tracks.

"Good afternoon."

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh as she lowered her wand, releasing the breath she'd not realized she'd been holding. She took a step to her left and slumped against the entryway, burying her face in her hands and breathing deeply. Harry growled in frustration, but also lowered his wand. His stance relaxed as he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, making it look even more wild than normal.

Seated at the table, leisurely drinking tea as if he'd done so every day and dressed in the same black suit he'd been wearing in the future, was Death.

He sat just as he had in the tent, legs crossed and lounging easily in the chair. The same small smirk played at the edges of his mouth.

"The bloody hell are you doing here?" Harry bit out.

Death quirked an aristocratic eyebrow at him, his expression one of patient amusement.

"Honestly, was the heart attack really necessary?" Hermione asked, striding over to the table and sitting across from him. "Why didn't you just come to Potter Manor? We were completely alone there."

He picked up his mug and took another sip of his tea before he responded.

"Well, I thought the two of you might be interested to learn that you'd had a visitor while you were out." He said. Harry was in the process of seating himself next to Hermione when he froze.

"Who?" He asked, his tone deceptively calm. Death leveled his intense red orbs on him, taking a moment before responding.

"Whom do you think?"

"Dumbledore?" Hermione asked, her voice barely a whisper. A thousand possibilities exploded in her mind, along with a surge of fear. It was too soon. They'd barely even gotten started. What if Dumbledore had sensed her wards? Had known she was doing magic outside of school? Were they undone?

She hadn't realized she was holding her breath until Harry laid a hand on her shoulder, giving her a supportive squeeze. He'd shifted his position, instead of sitting down he stayed standing and was now just behind her. His looming presence was comforting, if only slightly.

"You can relax, Ms. Granger." Death said smoothly. "It was not Albus himself, but one of his acolytes."

"Are you going to tell us who it was?" Harry said, unable to keep his irritation in check. He'd known from their previous encounter that Death enjoyed toying with them, and this time it was no different.

Death took his time settling his mug and it's saucer back on the table before folding his hands in his lap. The smile disappeared from his face, instead a look of irritation took its place.

"What if it had been Albus, Mr. Potter?" He asked. His tone left no room for response. "The two of you have done well to remain hidden so far, but you've paid for it in the form of progress."

"We've only been back for six days!" Harry said incredulously, his volume rising as he spoke. Hermione held up her hand, gently silencing him. The last thing they needed was to anger the living embodiment of death.

"We have made some progress." Hermione said. "Harry is emancipated now, just as you ordered us to do. And we've been working on mastering the gifts you gave us. What exactly is it that we're not doing?" She asked.

"It's time the two of you began the second phase." Death said.

"And what should that be?" Harry asked, doing his best to keep his temper from flaring. "When you sent us back in time you told us to find each other first, make sure we were free to move about by bypassing the wards at Privet Drive, then get myself emancipated as soon as possible. After that, your instructions weren't exactly clear."

"That was in fact my intention, Mr. Potter. Those first few steps were absolutely critical to your success, for reasons you do and do not know." Death responded, the smirk returning to his face. "But now it's time to begin in earnest."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"The two of you have only just begun to tap into the powers you've been given, and you're both quite powerful on your own." He began, shifting forward as he spoke and meeting Hermione's gaze. "But it's not nearly enough, I'm afraid. As you are now, Tom Riddle would make quick work of the both of you, and Albus wouldn't even blink before he destroyed." He paused for a moment to allow the gravity of his words to sink in before continuing. "As difficult as that is to hear, it's the truth of the matter."

"We need to become stronger, then." Harry said.

"Clearly, but how?" Hermione asked, her brown eyes locked on Death.

"Mr. Potter already knows the answer to that question, he's just been too frightened to mention it." Death said casually.

Hermione felt Harry go rigid behind her, and she felt her own stomach drop. Turning slowly to him, she took in his ashen expression. All the color had drained from his face and Hermione didn't fail to miss the fact that he'd started trembling. He moved shakily to sit down next to her, refusing to meet her gaze.

Hermione's mind was once again churning, this time trying to make sense of what she'd just heard. Harry had been keeping something from her, and judging by his expression, he was ashamed of it.

"Harry?" She asked softly. A thousand questions were packed into that one word. Terror filled her at his response, but she knew she had to face this. She reached out to him, her fingers brushing his face. Gently, she turned his face up so that he had to face her. His expression rocked her to the core. His eyes were wide and pleading, his face a mask of guilt.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Death cut him off.

"Perhaps it's time to explain to Ms. Granger exactly what happened in the Forbidden Forest the night of the Battle of Hogwarts, and at Kings Cross thereafter." He said softly, his tone surprisingly gentle.

Harry took a shuddering breath and nodded. His eyes were locked on Hermione's as he began to speak.

"You know that Dumbledore told me I had to go into the Forbidden Forest then night of the battle?" Harry asked shakily. When she nodded slowly, he continued. "The reason I had to go into the forest that night was because of the prophesy. 'Neither can live while the other survives'. Well, the long and the short of it was that in order for Voldemort to be able to be killed, I had to die first."

"Oh Harry." Hermione whispered, her eyes welling with tears.

"It was the only way for the final horcrux to be destroyed." He continued. "I went into the forest ready to die, because he told me that was what I had to do. If I wanted Voldemort to be stopped, if I wanted the people I love to be safe, I had to sacrifice myself. Dumbledore may have imperioused me to believe his story, but even if he hadn't, I would've gone into those woods of my own free will if it meant you'd be safe."

"His curse only made you believe him, Mr. Potter." Death said. "What you did that night was born of nothing else but your own courage, and love."

Hermione took his hands into her own, unable to hold back the tears sliding down her face. Harry had mentioned that he'd been a Horcrux the night Death had sent them into the past, but so much had happened, so much information had been thrown at her that she hadn't processed it until now. This man, this wonderful, brave, reckless man had literally walked to his own death to protect her. She sobbed slightly as she squeezed his hands.

"Voldemort killed me that night." He said, his voice barely a whisper. "Or so he thought. I don't think even Dumbledore knew that I would survive." Harry said. He took another shaking breath, steeling his courage before continuing. "The curse hit me, and everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing alone in Kings Cross Station. I know it sounds mad, but I was there." Harry was shaking now, and spent a long moment composing himself before he spoke again. "Only I wasn't alone."

Hermione's eyes widened.

"He was there, Hermione. I don't know how, but he was there."

"Who, Harry?" She asked, leaning towards him. Harry looked down for a moment, struggling to speak before he met her gaze again.

"Voldemort." He whispered.

"I don't understand."

"It was the piece of his soul that was in me, Hermione. I've never seen anything so disguisting in my life. He… It… whatever it was wasn't the same. It was small and disfigured, but I could feel that it was him. It was crying and moaning, like it was in excruciating pain. When I saw it… when I realized what it was… I got angry… Angry like I've never been before…" Harry said, his voice failing him.

"You must tell her, Mr. Potter." Death said softly. He hadn't so much as breathed as Harry had told his story, and the two young lovers were so lost in each other that they started. Harry glanced at him, a pleading expression on his face. Death merely met his gaze, his own expression simultaneously hard and supportive.

"Harry?" Hermione asked softly. When he met her gaze, Harry could barely stand it. She looked so afraid of what was happening, of what he was saying to her. It nearly broke his will to go on, but he was no coward. Even if she would hate him for it, he would tell her. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and told her the truth.

"I ate it."

Hermione blinked several times, her mind screeching to a halt.

"I'm sorry, you what?" She asked. She'd tried to keep her tone neutral, but Harry had picked up on the slight revulsion she couldn't repress.

"Merlin Hermione, not literally." Harry said hurriedly.

"So, you absorbed it then?" She asked, again carefully trying to keep her mind blank until she had all the facts. "How, exactly?"

"I ripped out its heart and absorbed the magic inside it." Harry said, his voice barely a whisper.

"And that it why your power grew so much that night, Mr. Potter. You absorbed the magical power of the fragment of Tom Riddle's soul that he unintentionally left sealed in your scar." Death said, shifting to so he was sitting farther forward in his chair. "It was that, combined with my releasing of your magical core that gave you the strength to escape from Albus."

Hermione had barely heard what Death was saying. Her brown eyes were locked with Harry's green. It had taken a monumental amount of her not inconsiderable mental ability to just listen to Harry's tale without letting her mind run wild, but now it had kicked into over drive.

A long, tense silence passed between the three of them while her mind did it's work. Harry's gaze was glued to the floor, to ashamed of what he'd done to look at Hermione. Hermione, in turn was staring blankly at him as she processed what he'd said. Death simply watched them, his usual smirk of amusement back on his face. Finally, Hermione took action. She didn't speak, simply leaned forward in her chair. Grabbing him by the shoulders, Hermione pulled Harry into a fierce embrace.

Confusion clouded Harry's mind but he was so relieved to have her hold him that he melted into her embrace, silent tears sliding down his face. She held him for several long moments before pulling back and meeting his gaze. Harry was shocked at what he saw.

Her expression was not the look of shame or disgust he'd expected. Instead, he was met with an entirely different Hermione. She was practically glowing, her face set into a look of fierce protectiveness and determination.

"You did what you had to do, Harry." She said firmly. It had taken her those moments to work through the information she'd just been given, but she knew that there was no other option for him in that moment. Deep down, she knew that even if he'd literally eaten the decrepit little monster, she would still stand by him. The same loyalty she'd felt six days prior, or rather, several years in the future was still there for her, even stronger now with the love she felt for him bolstering it. "There was no other way. You needed power, and you took it." As she spoke her hand came up and cupped his face, her caress a promise between them.

If they were to become monsters, they would become monsters. If they were to kill, they would kill. But she would be damned before she would ever be separated from him again. Come what may.

"I love you, Hermione." Harry said, his voice thick with emotion. Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Death cut her off once again.

"It's a good thing you're so accommodating of this Ms. Granger, because he's going to have to do it again." Death said. "Five more times, to be precise."

Harry's jaw dropped.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm afraid not." Death said, lounging back again.

"Our abilities." Hermione said, a look of understanding on her face as she turned back to face Death. "That's how we're going to gain them, or at least improve the one's we have."

"Indeed."

Harry slammed both hands down on the table, his temper flaring.

"Absolutely not!" He growled, volume rising as he spoke. "Do you have ANY idea how that felt? I may not have literally eaten the bloody thing, but absorbing it felt like I was… like I was… devouring it, or something. I RIPPED out its bloody heart! I never want to feel that again."

"There's no choice here, Mr. Potter." Death said calmly, ignoring Harry's outburst. "In order to kill Riddle, you must destroy his horcruxes. In order to kill Albus, you must become more powerful. Your goals are intertwined with this already."

"Why do the powers that you gave us come from HIS horcruxes?" Hermione asked. Her tone was calm and disarming, enough so that Harry sat back down next to her with a huff.

"The powers you will come to wield would have destroyed your bodies if I had given them to you all at once."

Hermione nodded.

"So that's how you intend for us to kill Riddle then?" Harry asked. "How does that make us both stronger?"

"The bond." Hermione said.

"Right again, Ms. Granger. Through your bond you will both gain power as the horcruxes are absorbed by Mr. Potter. Once you've absorbed them all, you'll be ready to fight Riddle. Then, once he's out of the way, we can begin to tackle the mountain that is Albus Dumbledore."

Harry sighed heavily, running his fingers through his already messy hair. Hermione managed a soft smile at that. It was becoming quite the endearing little habit of his. She reached over and gave his hand a supportive squeeze. Seeing the smile on her face made him smile in return, and Hermione was relieved to feel a bit of the tension leaving them, despite the situation.

"Well, I suppose we should start planning out how we're going to get all of them." Harry said, finally accepting the situation. He could barely believe the situation. Once again, he would be embarking on a horcrux hunt. How wonderful.

He slumped back into his chair, feeling the weight of what was to come.

"I think Death needs to tell us who was here while we were gone." Hermione reminded him.

"Ah yes." Death said. "I'd almost forgotten."

The two teens had their full attention on him, waiting for him to speak.

"It was Remus Lupin."

"Lupin?" Hermione asked, surprise evident in her tone. "That doesn't make any sense. He wasn't the one who came to take me to Grimmauld Place last time. And it's far too soon."

"I think the incident in the alley the other day may have changed things some." Harry responded.

"You are correct, Mr. Potter. The events that occurred in Diagon Alley three days ago have caused ripples in the timeline, and that is the other reason that I am here." Death said, fixing them both with an uncharacteristically stern gaze as he spoke. "The two of you must be prepared for changes in events. Every action that you take will have an effect. Time is essentially akin to a powerful river. By changing the flow of events, you've made a new branch of that river and diverted some of the flood. But this river is raging. The water will find it's way home, regardless of what path it takes or what it destroys along the way."

"So, what you're saying is that we should be prepared for anything, not just necessarily what we know will happen?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. While some events in the flow are inevitable, the course of the river is not completely set. Be wary when you take action."

"We didn't exactly have a choice in the matter." Harry said dryly. "We were attacked, for Merlin's sake."

"Indeed. This is a warning, Mr. Potter, not a scolding. We all share the same goal." Death said.

"So why was Professor Lupin here?" Hermione asked, trying to get them back on topic.

"He was sent here by Albus to bring you to headquarters, naturally. Ronald has been berating his mother about wanting to spend the summer with you, and he used the attack as an advantage. He insisted that you be brought there so you would be safe. In turn, Molly berated Albus until he was forced to intervene, lest the woman take matters into her own hands."

Hermione felt her skin crawling as Death spoke. She couldn't bear to imagine being back under the same roof as Ronald, much less the rest of the Weasley clan.

"Where did he go, then? Remus isn't one to fail." Harry asked.

"Oh, he'll most certainly be back. I conjured up a note in Ms. Granger's handwriting advising her parents that she's at the library and won't be home until later. A convincing enough cover for your absence, I believe."

"Yes. They wouldn't blink about me being there. But won't Remus go there himself?"

"Not yet. He was ordered to acquire you with your parent's permission. His intention is to return this evening to speak with them."

Hermione groaned and turned to Harry.

"What do we do? We didn't want to go back there." She asked him, her voice uneven. Harry thought for a moment before he spoke.

"There may not be a choice." He said. "They only way around it would be to announce my lordship publicly, as well as our betrothal. If we did that, then we could insist on staying behind the wards at Potter Manor."

"But we don't want to lose those advantages just yet." Hermione said, her stomach dropping. She took Harry's hand again, this time squeezing it out of fear. "I don't want to be alone there, Harry. Not with them. Not with what they're planning. And we've only just begun to learn about our powers."

"I know, Hermione. But what other choice do we have?" Harry said softly.

"With the bond forming between the two of you, as well as the protection you garner from those rings, you'll be completely immune from the charms and immune enough to the potions and to last until Mr. Potter arrives in a few weeks." Death said softly.

Hermione fought the urge to run. The last thing on earth that she wanted or had expected was to be sent into the lion's den, much less without Harry by her side. But Death did have a valid point. She would be able to resist their influence until Harry came. And it had an added benefit as well.

"I'll do it." She said, steeling herself. "It will also give Harry time to find the ring and absorb it before we go to Hogwarts. While I'm there I can try to find Regulus's locket. Then, once we're back at school we can recover the diadem. That's three horcruxes down before the end of September."

Harry turned to her, taking her hands into his own.

"Are you certain about this Hermione? The other way might be more difficult, but we could manage." He asked her. Hermione met his gaze and for a moment allowed herself to get lost in his green eyes. The swell of emotion in her chest as he looked at her with such concern in his eyes made up her mind.

"Yes, Harry. I'm certain." She said, trying to sound confident when, in reality, she was a storm of emotions.

"Well done, Ms. Granger." Death said, clapping his hands and standing abruptly, brushing the front of his jacket off as he stood. "Now that we have all that settled, I must be on my way. I'll look in on the two of you from time to time but know this." He said, his red orbs glowing. "I cannot continue to interfere on your behalf. Now that you know what steps must be taken the rest will be up to you. Do not rely on me to continue to aid you more than I already have. Is that clear?"

"Yes." The two teens responded.

"Excellent." Death said, his usual smirk returning. "Ta ta for now then."

He turned on the spot and was gone. It happened instantaneously, with not sound. One moment he was there, the next he was gone.

"I really need to learn how to do that." Harry said.

Hermione stood abruptly and left the room.

"Hermione?" Harry called after her. He stood and followed her, but she had moved swiftly. Already he heard the sound of her pounding up the stairs. Growling in irritation he went up them himself, catching up to her just inside her bedroom.

As he entered the room Hermione turned to him, her hair flying, her eyes a storm, her expression unsure. At the sight of him they changed.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione crossed the room in a flash. She grabbed him by the neck and crushed her lips to his. Her kiss was searing and needy, and Harry gasped for breath when she pulled back. He barely noticed the door to her bedroom slamming shut of its own accord behind him. Green met brown for the briefest instant.

Hermione's eyes were blazing, the need in them shaking him. In that moment, Hermione looked more fierce than he'd ever seen her.

That was all Harry needed.

*******mature content warning*******

His lips crashed back down onto hers as she clung to him desperately. Harry growled huskily as her hands lowered to his hips, pulling him against her. His lips left hers and he made his way down her throat, devouring every inch of skin he could find. Hermione was gasping softly with each caress of his lips, her breathing short and shallow. With a tug she pulled his shirt loose from his jeans. Harry spared her a quick glance before raising his arms so she could remove it completely.

As soon as the offending garment was off Hermione pulled him back to her, groaning as his hands found her backside and squeezed roughly. She pulled him back to her, kissing him deeply and hungrily. Her shirt was next, removed by herself as she reached down and pulled it up and over her head, only breaking their kiss for a moment.

Harry growled again as he held her to him, their bare flesh meeting for the first time. He pulled back for a moment, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. All that met him was a look of heady desire on his lover's face. His head dipped back down to devour her throat once more. Hermione moaned as his right hand came up and cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her bra. Her back arched into his touch, offering him more of her. Hermione unconsciously shifted her hips, allowing his thigh to part her legs. She closed her eyes, moaning and gasping as his lips trailed down to the valley between her chest. A gasp passed her lips as Harry skillfully undid her bra with his left hand. Their eyes met again, Harry once again silently asking for permission. Hermione leaned back and removed the garment in answer, shivering as the cool air hit her.

All at once Harry was attacking her chest. HIs right hand cupped her, the calluses on it dragging delightfully against her flesh. His lips left a burning trail down her chest as he took her erect peak into his mouth. Hermione moaned again, head rolling back and fisting her hand into his hair. She breathed his name as he lavished on her breast. He pinched her nipple, not enough to hurt but enough to make her gasp and buck her hips unconsciously. When she did, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and a deep moan ripped from her. His thigh had slipped deeper between her legs, and when her hips had bucked she'd felt him right against her clothed core, hot and hard.

Now all too aware of him, she bucked her hips again, grinding him into her with another moan.

"Harry." She purred.

His mouth left her breast to crash back against hers with a growl. Now he was rolling his hips with hers, his left hand having left it's perch on her hip to squeeze her behind, pulling her into him. Hermione felt like she was in the center of an inescapable inferno.

They were burning together.

Hermione pulled back from him fully, and Harry opened his mouth to protest when she shoved him backwards onto the bed.

Quickly, so she wouldn't lose her nerve, Hermione undid her jeans and toed off her trainers. In one swift motion she pushed her pants down and off her legs, sweeping her socks off with them and leaving her clad only in her simple cotton knickers. Without stopping she moved onto the bed, straddling him, and pushing him down so she could lay on him.

Her lips found his once more, somehow even more demanding than before. Harry once again found her behind, this time gripping her soft flesh with both hands and pulling her hips down to his. Now the only thing separating them was his jeans and her knickers, and Hermione moaned deeply, her legs spreading unconsciously to feel him better. Harry's hands rose, sweeping up the arch of her back to grip her shoulders before coming around to her front. He took her breasts into his hands, squeezing gently and rolling her erect nipples with his thumbs.

This made Hermione moan loudly again. She met Harry's gaze again and reached down, undoing his jeans deftly. Her eyes never left his as she plunged her hand down into his trousers and beneath his underwear, grasping him. Harry moaned and bucked his hips. Hermione moaned herself, having not been expecting Harry to be well equipped.

He wasn't massive, but definitely large for his body's current age. It felt hot and hard in her hand, but still somehow impossibly soft. She freed him of the restraints of his pants and began stroking him, pumping softly as Harry moaned beneath her.

"Harry." She breathed. He met her gaze, his own eyes clouded with need but a touch of fear in them. She knew what he was afraid off, and she knew she had to make him understand that she was ok. That she wanted this. "I love you Harry." She said, before kissing him deeply. "I love you, and I want this. I want us." She panted between kisses. She continued to stroke him gently, earning low moans from him. Her free hand took his left into hers and guided it down over her breasts, across the expanse of her flat stomach and to the valley between her legs, finally coming to rest underneath her knickers. Instinctually Harry cupped her, and Hermione threw her head back in a heady moan.

Harry moaned himself as he explored her, feeling how wet she was for him. Soon enough his fingers parted her folds and found her pearl. Hermione practically screamed in pleasure as he touched her. She fisted her left hand back into his hair and kissed him deeply, tongue clashing with his own.

Hermione's magic had come undone, filling the air around them. Harry's rose to meet it, and when they connected the two lovers both moaned loudly, feeling the connection deepening as they went.

The two continued on in the fashion for what felt like an eternity, Hermione touching him as he touched her, until Hermione's moans went from deep and heady to light and breathless. Both of them were sweating softly and Hermione's thighs were trembling from the effort of hovering over him for so long. Hermione felt the familiar pressure building in her midsection and knew she was close. She renewed her efforts on him, pumping him faster and more firmly. Both of them were panting with exertion.

Harry himself was nearing completion so he sped up the small circles he was making between her legs. It only took another moment before the damn burst and he released with a groan, coating her hand and stomach in his essence. Hermione came a few seconds later, stars exploding behind her eyes as her whole body shook with her orgasm, her mouth hanging open in a silent scream of passion, hips bucking wantonly into Harry's hand.

Spent, she collapsed on top of him, her whole body still trembling from the force of her release as she gasped for breath.

*******mature content end*******

For a long time, they simple laid there, gently caressing each other as they looked into the others eyes. No words were spoken, but between the two of the not many words were needed. It was only when Hermione began to shiver from being undressed that they moved. Hermione rolled off of him and onto her side, lazily casting a wandless cleansing charm on the both of the to get rid of the evidence of their passion. Neither had been aware of the soft glow that had encompassed them both at the moment that they released, but they could still feel their magic mixing together. Finally, their magic began to untangle from the other, taking its time to recede.

Harry turned to her, taking her hand in his own.

"I love you, Hermione." He said softly.

"I love you too, Harry." She answered, leaning over to kiss him softly. Her hair fell over her shoulder in a brown waterfall, eclipsing everything but her face from his view. She simply looked at him for a while, her face glowing. "No more secrets, Harry." She said softly, brushing his cheek with her fingers. "Not between us."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Hermione." He whispered.

"I know why, and I forgive you. But no more. Promise me."

"I swear it."

Hermione beamed at him and kissed him one last time, slow and lingering before getting up from the bed to dress.

Harry propped himself up on his elbows so he could see her, both to talk to her and to take in the sight of his beautiful woman dressing.

She caught him and simply rolled her eyes, but he didn't miss the color on her cheeks as she turned to put her bra back on.

"Now what?" He asked.

Hermione pulled her jeans up her toned legs and stood there for a moment, thinking.

"I suppose I should get ready to go to Grimmauld Place." She said matter of factly, though Harry could tell she was still frightened.

"You'll be safe Hermione. Remember, you're not the same person." Harry said, rising from the bed and wrapping his arms around her. "You're stronger now. And Immune to their shite."

Hermione let out a humorless laugh, but melted into his embrace nonetheless. Her hands gripped at him, her nails digging into his shoulders as she spoke.

"That's why I needed this." She said, meeting his gaze. "I needed you."

They kissed once more, and when she pulled away, all of the fear had left her. For now, at least.

"I won't let them hurt you Hermione. Never again." Harry said fiercely.

"You worry about finding that ring, Harry. I'll handle the Weasleys." She said, trying to sound confident.

"Things will be different when we get to Hogwarts. Then, we can start making them pay for what they've done to us." Harry said.

"Sounds brilliant." Hermione replied with a kiss. "You should get going though, my parents will be home any moment. And I imagine Professor Lupin is only waiting for them to return."

"I've no idea what I'm going to do without you for over three weeks." Harry admitted.

Hermione stopped and looked at him, smiling.

"I know Harry. But there is something you could do to pass the time."

"What's that?"

"Don't you still owe your Aunt and Uncle a visit?"

A/N- well there we are. First chapter in several months. Moving forward I'll continue to mark intimate scenes like that for those that don't want to read them. I'll be keeping them to a minimum and I'm trying not to have them dominate the chapters they're in. Also, this chapter is a bit of a course correction if I'm being honest, as I wasn't thrilled with the direction I was going in, so hopefully it came out well.

Once again, I appreciate all of the support this story has gotten, even when I dropped off the face of the Earth for a while. Unfortunately, I still can't guarantee any kind of update cycle. I'm in the middle of going back to school and changing careers so I'm understandably busy. Thanks again and hopefully I'll see you all soon.