Things are moving forward, thankfully! This has been an amazing ride and goodness, what a pain in the butt to write this chapter! It's been nearly 5 months in the making but was never perfect enough. Enjoy!

Sunday, July 27th, 2014

When their eyes locked immediately upon Hermione's arrival it had felt to her oddly like coming home after years adrift on an abandoned island. It felt like being able to take that first gasp of air after a record amount of time underwater. Her chest heaved as if she'd ran a marathon, her cheeks colored. But then, a rush of contradictory emotions overcame her, an amalgam of joy and bitterness as well as anger and an overwhelming desire to launch herself into his arms but also cause him pain for all that she'd been hurting since he left Tenby. Hermione was a proud woman, she had done her part and now their fate was up to him. Perhaps the anger and bitterness due to his leaving Tenby and over his stupid confused brain were greater than she'd realized…

She nodded in Harry's direction, thick dark eyebrows furrowed, wearing a frown, honey curls crowning her features as they fell attractively from her updo. To Harry, she looked like an incensed goddess, such as the ones you would see at the Louvre. He nodded back uneasily, knowing she was upset with him, and with reason. Hermione then turned on her heels and went about the party as if she hadn't seen him at all, the little minx that he knew she was.

Harry heard Ron snicker from beside him, his mate patting his shoulder rather strongly, laughing, the tension between his two mates not going unnoticed by him or just about anyone in the party that had cared to watch.

"At least she didn't conjure a flock of mad canaries to eat you alive, mate, I'll give you that." Ron exclaimed and Harry couldn't help his lips curving upwards into a humored smile. That had indeed been a memorable sight.

All through the night, he couldn't shake how haughty and utterly attractive she looked, the dress hugging her features elegantly. He wanted nothing but to kiss the soft milky skin of her exposed neckline and shoulders like he knew she adored.

…

Later in the evening, Hermione sat on the bottom step that led to the Weasley's vast outdoors sipping on a glass of rosé, enjoying the cool breeze and the quiet. Seeing Harry had brought to the surface again all of those messy feelings she'd been too busy the past few days to acknowledge, what with the Tenby case and rekindling her friendship with Ron and Luna. But there was no escape was there? She watched the stillness of the night with interest, a few fire torches scattered here and there in the yard so that the children could go on playing and sadly not too many stars up in the sky tonight.

It didn't take long for Hugo accompanied by Lily to find her and run in her direction.

"Mummy!" He called out with excitement, Lily's hand holding onto his. "We saw fireflies in the garden!" The witch sat her glass down and rubbed chocolate icing off of Hugo's cheeks with her fingers, ruffling his ginger curls. Her son's brown eyes were twinkling with excitement, he was always happy when with Lily, his greatest companion, aside from the few moments when they'd get in a fight and wrestle each other like a pair of baby kittens, rolling and tumbling on the ground. She rolled her eyes and smiled affectionately at the thought.

"That's lovely, Hugh!" Hermione kissed him on the cheek and he smiled, pleased with himself.

"There were hundreds of them!" Lily exclaimed twirling around with arms stretched wide to emphasize her point, wearing her pink and glittery party dress. The little girl launched herself in Hermione's embrace, wrapping her arms around her neck and snuggling in. Hermione held Lily against her and ran her fingers through her ginger hair lovingly while Hugo sat next to them, leaning against her arm, his tiredness from playing all day beginning to show. Lily practically purred from Hermione's caresses.

"I missed you," Lily told her, tracing her finger gently around Hermione's features. Her brown eyes locked with the little girl's and her heart fluttered, overwhelmed with love and affection for her.

"I missed you too, my Lily. I missed you more than the size of the moon…" Hermione replied, planting a soft kiss on Lily's forehead. She pulled out her trusted beaded purse. "But this here has made things a bit less terrible…" Hermione pulled the lilac-colored baby blankie from inside and returned it to its regular size with a simple spell. She handed it to Lily who took it in her hands and smiled, hugging the blankie against her chest and taking in its soothing scent of lavender, fresh laundry and now of Hermione as well.

After a few seconds, Lily turned up and gazed at her aunt in a way that was different than she ever did before, even Hermione could feel the intensity of the child's gaze. There was adoration in it, but it was much more than that. Five-year-old Lily Potter hadn't the vocabulary to describe that moment, or the necessity, perhaps, but sitting there in Hermione's lap, the witch's arms wrapped around her in a both loving and protecting manner, her dark eyes so pretty and the curls Lily's fingers played with so soft, the little girl knew she had found the part that was missing. Her heart thumped rapidly in her chest and her cheeks burned from the exhilaration. She smiled and buried her little face in Hermione's bosom, never wanting to leave.

Hermione held Lily against her and inhaled her soft scent of lavender, baby and sunshine, every once in a while placing a gentle kiss on the girl's ginger hair, as she did with both her children in snuggly moments such as this one. Soon she began to rock Lily back and forth, humming a lullaby tune that Hugo and Rosie were all too familiar with. Brahms's maybe… Lily stayed there so still and quiet Hermione almost thought she'd fallen asleep, she knew Hugo who she had wrapped an arm around cuddling him to her side was almost snoring.

Once again, she looked up at the stars and this time felt perfectly serene, what with her two babies pressed close to her and so peacefully. She had needed this respite after a turbulent few weeks.

Hermione Granger had never imagined herself to grow up and be the mother hen type, not to this degree anyway. She'd always idealized herself as a successful and work-driven career woman, with children, a house and a husband, sure, but never expecting herself to relish these types of moments so much, and perhaps it was something she'd honed with the years. All the time Hermione regretted not being more present in Rose and Hugo's baby years but she did her best to make up for it now, Merlin knew… And Lily, goodness she loved Lily, just as she loved James and Albie as well as if she had gestated and birthed them herself, no different than Hugo and Rose. Perhaps it was this way because the lot of them, Harry, Ginny, Ron and herself, had once been so inseparable and she and Ginny had fallen pregnant just about simultaneously twice. They'd lived next door to one another for so long and the kids were always so close that it had been easy to think of them as almost siblings. Her divorce from Ron had violently popped that little bubble; she left the ministry and uprooted herself and the two kids who were biologically hers and left that life behind. It hadn't been easy at all… The pain of separation not only from Ron but the Weasley's, Harry and Ginny nearly killed her because they were her family, the people she loved most in the world and who knew her best. Despite the distance, however, there were some bonds that seemed impossible to break, and hers with Harry and his children, hell, even with Ron and Luna were proof of that. Never once though, until recently, had she imagined her feelings for her best friend Harry to become so intensely romantic, but it happened and it hurt and made her angry because it only complicated her life further and she was so damn afraid of ruining everything—their lives, their friendship, their history…

"Lily Luna!" Molly Weasley's voice shouted from the door, startling her and the little ones. "You haven't eaten a thing yet darling!"

Hermione felt Lily grasp onto her harder, not wanting to let go, her warm breath against the skin of her neck beginning to make Hermione sweat.

"You have to eat, love…" She reasoned, but Lily shook her head. "You know granny Molly's food is delicious…" Lily sighed heavily and untangled herself from Hermione, eyebrows furrowed, rubbing any trace of tears from her eyes, though they glistened. Molly watched them with interest as she held the door open, waiting for Lily to come inside.

"I don't want to leave you again, Mummy…" Lily replied as if it were the most normal, ordinary, natural thing in the world to call Hermione by. Lily's comment shocked both Hermione and Molly, whose eyes went as wide as saucers, and even little Hugo who tugged on his mother's hand alarmed and asked with a voice full of wonder and surprise:

"Mummy, are you Lily's mummy too?!" Hermione hadn't the heart to say 'no', as to not hurt the little girl's feelings, though deep within her heart she didn't mind at all being called 'mummy' by Lily, in fact, it made her feel like the luckiest witch alive. But she couldn't possibly say 'yes' either, for obvious reasons. That way, she did what most mothers do when cornered into an uncomfortable question: she dodged the bullet.

"Why don't the three of us go inside to see what the others are up to? Lily, I'm afraid I'm going to have to make you eat, love, your granny's brisket looked absolutely delicious and with the mashes…" Lily frowned and grumbled but nodded obediently, instantly getting up and lacing her fingers with Hermione's, marching on and pulling the witch along. Hugo grabbed on to his mum's other hand and they went up the steps, Hermione's dress wrinkly and tear-stained, but she didn't care.

Hermione walked past Mrs. Weasley avoiding her gaze as if the matriarch were Medusa the Gorgon herself. The children followed her inside like two little shadows, Lily carrying her beloved blankie with her.

Molly perfectly sensed Hermione's unease and suddenly she felt her own blood pressure go down. So this was the change in the air she had been feeling! Now Molly was certain that Harry and her grandchildren's time visiting Hermione had been a lot more eventful than she had expected. But what had changed so drastically that now Lily felt compelled to call Hermione 'mummy' instead of auntie as she'd always done? The elderly witch desperately needed a good shot of firewhiskey, and right now!

…

The party ended at nearly midnight, with the Potter boys being ushered into the bedroom by a tired and frustrated Harry while Lily cried and screamed so heartbreakingly on the floor by the fireplace in the living room because Hermione had left almost twenty minutes ago with Hugo and Rose on tow, leaving her behind. Nothing had been able to make the child stop and her father and grandparents had never seen her throw a fit this big.

Molly went into the kitchen, hands shaking from the nerves and began to prepare a nice calming chamomile tea by the stove in the hopes that it would help her granddaughter and herself as well to calm down. Arthur sat with cheek resting on his palm at the table, dismayed, tracing the embroideries on the tablecloth with his fingers.

"You've been awfully quiet, dear…" He finally said, after a long sigh. Molly paused and turned to look at him wearing a deep frown, tears filling her eyes.

"Can't you see how your granddaughter is crying so badly after you know who?" Molly's lips trembled and her voice hitched, "She didn't cry half that hard when her mother passed…"

"That was well over a year ago, dear, the girl was too little and didn't understand." Arthur reasoned. "And there's no need for our Hermione to be referred to as you know who, she did nothing wrong."

"I know, I know…" Molly gave the leaves in the pan a gentle stir. "It's just that children are smarter than we give them credit for, they can feel things... Lily sees Hermione as much more than just her auntie now."

"Hmm. And does it bother you?" Arthur asked. Molly turned off the stove and paused to think for a moment.

"Well, I cannot lie and say it doesn't," Her voice trembled and she paused, both hands gripping at the countertop for support, her back to her husband. A split second later she felt her husband's large hand wrapping around her shoulder soothingly. Lily's cries could still be heard from the other room. "I'm afraid she'll forget about our Ginny…" Molly said in a breathless cry. Tears fell from her eyes as she shook from the intensity of her sobs. Arthur pulled his wife of almost fifty years into his arms, embracing her tight against him and rubbing gentle circles on her back.

"As long as we are here and so are Lily's brothers, uncles, and even Harry, she will never forget about her mother, Molly, never. I'm sure even Hermione wouldn't allow for it. The witch may be headstrong and smarter than everyone in this house put together but she is a mum too and has a great big heart. I don't think there's anyone else I would trust more to raise our grandchildren…"

"You think so, dear?" She sniffled.

"I know so, love." She nodded in understanding, her heart aching, but much more at ease now. How blessed she was to have her Arthur! "Now, let me pour that tea in a mug for our Lily and you go to bed now. All will be fine, I promise." Arthur placed a reassuring kiss on her forehead before taking the warm drink to the little girl who lay in her father's arms on the sofa in the other room, sobbing into her blankie, hot tears drying on her cheeks. Harry and Arthur shared a look of concern and the older wizard with his soothing raspy voice spoke to his grandchild.

"Now, now darling, take a sip of this delicious tea… You'll see your cousins very soon, I promise." Lily was still out of breath from the intensity of her sobs, but took a careful sip and Arthur patted her head and hummed in appreciation. "Granddad doesn't like seeing his Lily so sad, it breaks his heart…" Lily sniffled apologetically, her eyes gleaming with tears locking with his. To Lily Potter, granddad's eyes were just like her mum Ginny's and she liked them, they made her feel safe and sound.

After finishing her tea and being soothed and cooed to sleep by her grandfather downstairs Harry carried his daughter up to Ginny's room that they all shared when at the Burrow and helped her into her pajamas, tucking her in next to Albus who was wide awake, green eyes following his dad's every movement, James snoring at his other side.

"Dad?" The boy whispered, looking at him with worry.

"Yes, Albie?"

"Aunt 'Mione looked very lovely today…" Harry paled and froze for a moment and then let out a sigh brushing the boy's overgrown bangs away from his eyes.

"Yes, indeed she did…" Harry couldn't help but blush slightly at the thought of Hermione, especially in that dress.

She was beautiful, always had been, just needed to be reminded of it once in a while. His thoughts wandered to that night in Tenby, of her dressed in ivory-colored silk pajamas, how natural and absolutely gorgeous she looked. He thought of her delicious scent of vanilla, of the moonlight shining in from the crack in the window, the softness of her skin against his… Harry had longed for her today, even if just to hear her voice directed toward him but he had been duly ignored. He understood the message she was sending him, that he needed to figure his feelings out. He could tell she was hurting and because of him of all people…

"I don't mind dad, not at all, James too we talked about it…" Harry was dumbfounded. Before he could respond, Albus yawned, stuck his thumb in his mouth and turned over to sleep. Harry stood there for a long few moments perhaps looking like a complete tool before he hatched a plan in his mind and rushed to the desk by the window scribbling a note in a piece of parchment. Minutes later he tiptoed down the creaky wooden steps of the Burrow, now covered in darkness, and attached the message to the family owl, Fidget.

"Take this to Teddy in Hogsmeade, girl." Harry opened the window and the exquisite brown creature flew off into the night.

…

The following morning, a bright and sunny Monday, Harry sat nursing his cup of coffee, enjoying the fact that it was still rather early and the kids were still asleep, the Burrow quiet except from the sound of Arthur Weasley working on his old Ford Anglia outside, Molly had gone shopping in Diagon Alley.

He finished up his breakfast, washed and put away his dishes and made his small daily pilgrimage to the orchard. He'd found himself needing to visit Ginny more and more the past few days.

He sat by her tombstone, surrounded by multicolored wildflowers and stayed there staring at the black elegant letters spelling her name until he found something to say. Just months ago, being here with her would be enough to make him cry because he missed her so, but mainly out of his guilt, but now, each time felt much lighter, more like he was visiting an old friend, an old but pleasant memory. It was bittersweet, to be here, full of life yet to live, full of love in his heart and hope as well, when now she was probably a pile of dust and bone buried in the ground. If ever there was a heaven or paradise of sorts Harry was positive, she'd be there, enchanting everything and everyone with her bubbly laugh, her long and luscious red hair and all of that energy she carried. He smiled tenderly at the thought.

Harry no longer cried or felt miserable being here and he suspected that had a lot to do with moving on, finally, but also being so deeply enraptured by the new feelings he felt for Hermione, his best friend of almost a lifetime. He felt younger and much more energized than he felt in years, he felt he might explode from the anticipation of just seeing her, reading the elegant cursive of her writing on paper, hearing the sound of her voice, her loud and unapologetic laugh… Harry knew that he was in love with Hermione, there was no more doubt in his mind, not when she was 80% of what was happening in his mind anyway… The rest was just living on automatic, making sure the kids were all right and guilt. Complete and utter guilt. It's what was holding him from living the full potential of this amazing new love of his, of finding happiness again.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by footsteps approaching, grass and dry leaves on the ground crushing beneath each step. He looked behind him and saw the tall and lean, but also aged figure of Arthur Weasley, his wand in hand and a khaki safari hat on his head to shade his face from the intensity of the summer's sun.

"Harry, Teddy's arrived to see you, son…" He informed the bespectacled younger wizard with a small and shy smile. Arthur was always a man of few words, opposite of his wife who simply had a lot to say and always, but Harry had always admired him deeply.

"We're going camping a few days, just us…" Harry informed him and Arthur nodded.

"Molly told me. Shame you don't want to celebrate your birthday here this year, kids'll miss you." Harry sighed and nodded, but it was something he needed to do, to make peace in his conscious and heart so he could move on.

"I need to be alone a few days, away from the kids, to think…" Harry tried to explain but Arthur shook a hand, not caring to hear his explanation. To Harry's surprise, the man opened into a large smile accompanied by a laugh, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Son, I raised seven children, I completely understand the need for alone time." Harry smiled. "I-I, Molly and I shared some words last night…" He trailed off, a blush coloring his cheeks. "It was impossible not to notice you and Hermione last night, a lot of tension out of nowhere and you didn't even exchange words. You're in love…" It wasn't a question, but a statement and Harry froze for what felt like a lifetime, speechless. "Your eyes and hers betray you both, awful actors the lot of you." Arthur let out a hoarse chuckle. "I couldn't help but notice you've been coming here every day since you arrived and honestly, it's been two weeks…"

"I've been needing to talk to her…" Harry tried to explain.

"Harry, you don't need her permission or approval to move on. Ginevra is dead, she's gone, but you my boy," Arthur's finger pointed to his chest, pressing it against his shirt to make a point, "you are alive and you deserve to make the best of it and be happy, for the both of you and for your children." Tears were falling from Arthur's eyes now and he sniffed, wiping them away.

"She could've still been here, had I not fucked everything up…" Harry stated and to Arthur, it was like a heavy blow to the gut. He furrowed his brows deeply, in confusion.

"It wasn't you who killed Ginny, there is no guilt to be had!" He exclaimed, hands grasping at both of Harry's shoulders, forcing the younger wizard to look him in the eye.

"I wasn't with her, I could've been, I could have saved her…" Arthur shook his head and sighed heavily.

"Than that makes two of us, my boy, because I loved Ginevra with all my heart, still do, and wasn't there either. She was killed, taken from us from some barmy lunatic who thought himself a righteous follower of the dark lord, a lunatic who is now rotting in Azkaban because you hunted him down, had him go to trial and be sent there for the rest of his wretched life. You did your part, there is no guilt to be had, Harry!" Arthur tried to reason, talk some sense into his son in law's thick knuckleheaded brain. A few seconds later the Weasley patriarch spoke again, but with a sternness usually reserved for his children in his deep voice:

"I'm glad you'll be spending these next few days away with our Teddy, Merlin knows you've really got to think because honestly, I didn't expect you to be this daft, the boy who lived, the wizard who bloody conquered for bloody fuck's sake. You and Hermione love each other, she loves the children, the children love her and I swear on my magic Harry, if it means anything to you, Molly and I approve!" Harry couldn't help but laugh, the corners of his eyes crinkling because now he could perfectly see who Ron got it from as Arthur marched off, swearing under his breath.

…

"Bloody hell it's beautiful…" Harry exclaimed as he looked at the huge expanse of greenery and the rivers surrounding it from high up, perched on the Firebolt broom he hadn't flown on in years. Teddy rode on his own broom next to him, with his camping backpack strapped on, equally mesmerized.

"Where are we?" Teddy's hair was an electric blue.

"This is the Forest of Dean, Ted. Last time I was here everything was covered in snow and life was hell, utterly miserable hell."

"The war." Harry nodded. "Aunt Hermione told me of this place once, that you camped out here hiding from the deatheaters as you searched for whatever it was you were searching to defeat him."

"Yeah, exactly that… Shall we swoop in?" Harry sped off on his broom and Teddy followed suit, his slight fear of height making all kinds of butterflies flutter in his abdomen.

The flew into the forest, in and out of the labyrinth of trees, treetops tangling one with the other creating a canopy of bright greens, the golden sunlight streaming in from between the branches. It was glorious and nothing like Teddy had ever seen. They could hear the river running even from afar and the rustling below of wildlife, deer and wild boars, birds of all kinds chirping.

A good half hour later they came to a stop near a lake, its placid green waters reflecting the surrounding forest like a giant mirror. Teddy hopped off of his broom as his godfather did and the two took in the view in a long moment of silence.

"It was right here…"

"What?"

"That your uncle Ron saved me from freezing to death. He'd left us after a fight, the pressure, cold, hunger and strain on all of us too great, but then he returned and it was wonderful."

"Were you angry that he left you and aunt Hermione alone?" Harry nodded.

"I was but honestly couldn't blame him. If I weren't the dark lord's target, I would have fled myself, I think, but I had no choice."

"Aunt Hermione could have left too…"

"She could have, yes, but she's a lot stronger than Ron and I put together, hell, I don't know why or how she was able to sacrifice so much for me, since the day we met."

"Isn't it obvious?" Harry turned to look at his godson who had paused the assembling of their muggle tent for a moment to look at his godfather with the typical teenage matter-of-fact look, hints of debauchery in his eyes.

"What is obvious?"

"Aunt Hermione loved you, that's why she did what she did."

"Well, yes, I'm sure she loved me and I loved her, but I don't think she was in love with me yet. Back then she was smitten with Ron and I loved her like a sister.

"Have you ever asked her?" Harry shook his head.

"Why not?"

"Because it's impossible, she married Ron. I married Ginny we all had kids, life became the mess it is now and we're both headed to age forty," he chuckled and Teddy fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Anyway, you finish up the tent, is that all right? Sun will be setting soon and we'll need a fire."

"Yeah, sure, I'm almost done." Harry nodded awkwardly, both busying themselves with their individual tasks.

…

They watched the sunset together, in companionable silence as Teddy spent the rest of the afternoon regaling Harry with tales of his Hogwarts life, his classes, professors and friends, his latest Hogsmeade weekend and eventful care of magical creatures class where he helped Hagrid tend to old Buckbeak. Later in the evening, they ate the grilled fishes they'd caught from the lake, sipping on the pumpkin juice Andromeda had packed for them.

"Earlier you were going on about how back then you and aunt 'Mione weren't in love, so are you now?"

"I, umm, I believe so, yes." Harry stuttered slightly and Teddy chuckled.

"Your trip to the beach with her?" Harry nodded. "Everyone was speculating about it…" Harry raised a quizzical brow at the younger boy's comment. Noticing his expression Teddy went on to explain.

"Because you were always so close, I suppose and because aunt Ginny was always so jealous of the two of you together."

"She was?" Harry asked, alarmed and Teddy smacked his own face with his palm, groaning.

"Yes, she was jealous! I can't believe you didn't notice! She would grow all quiet and red in the face, and she would stomp about muttering Merlin knows what. Whenever you and aunt Hermione would go into a room together or do something alone, she would act all suspicious and try to overhear or peek as if none of us others would notice. Ever since I was little, she was like that."

"I never noticed…" Teddy shrugged.

"I think she could feel it…"

"What?"

"That what you had was more special." Harry frowned, staring into the fire. They silently cleaned things up later and retreated into their shared tent, each one slipping inside a sleeping bag.

"G' night uncle Harry… I'm really happy we came on this trip."

"Goodnight, Ted. I'm really happy too." It didn't take long for Teddy to fall asleep and begin to slightly snore, they had a long and eventful day, and yet, Harry couldn't sleep a wink after their conversation tonight.

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

Butterflies fluttered in Hermione Granger's stomach while her thoughts at this point were a mile per hour. It was both excruciating and wonderful, the nervous energy now running through her veins, the sensation of cool sweat on her palms while her cheeks slightly flushed from just how much her heart was thumping in her chest. She looked at her reflection in the mirror—a red-lipped woman of sharp brown eyes, her usually untamable curls held up in a formal manner. She caught sight of an older woman, a friend and mentor looking at her from the entrance of her bedroom, a small smile reflected on her face. Hermione's eyes followed her every elegant movement, cat-like, as the woman stationed herself behind her helping her dress in her sapphire legal robes, still looking brand new despite almost three years of hanging abandoned in her closet.

"Today you are this town and this people's champion." The woman told her, tilting her chin a bit, hazel eyes twinkling, "The entirety of Magical Britain and even wizards overseas will have their ears pressed to their wirelesses to hear you speak…" Hermione took a sharp intake of breath, her brows furrowing. She bit her bottom lip as she usually did when nervous.

"Thank you for putting so much more pressure on me, Minerva—it's helping wonders." The older witch scoffed and shook her head with a smile playing at the corner of her lips. To Hermione, the fact that she and the headmistress were close friends enough for the older witch to be so carefree around her would never cease to be mind-blowing, no matter the number of years that passed since her graduation.

"You said it yourself during yesterday's final meeting, that you shall be straightforward and speak of the research we've been undertaking the past few years, of your personal experience and daily life," Minerva did air quotes, something Hermione never expected from her, eliciting a dry laugh and a small relief from her nervousness.

Today was the first day of the public hearing called upon by Wizengamot members and the Minister of Magic himself following the detection—which took long enough—of the peculiar way of life in Tenby between its magical, squib and muggle town folk and how magical authorities should regard and proceed in the matter. Since the end of the Second Wizarding World, changes had consistently been made to guarantee a more egalitarian magical society, between humans, creatures, and squibs as well. Many new laws and decrees had been drafted and championed by Hermione Granger herself when the head of Magical Law Enforcement and she had been the one to lobby and negotiate with members of the Wizengamot to get laws approved. All of this until her divorce and move to Tenby.

Her life back then had been endless meetings, mediation efforts, research, piles of reports and papers, legal robes and seamlessly endless court hearings. She knew exactly what to expect of today, but was also wise enough to know that despite all social reforms one thing was still a completely taboo and sensitive territory when it came to her world: the subject of integration with muggles and the protection of the Statute of Secrecy. No matter how much experience she had, Hermione had no way of knowing the outcome of this hearing. Integration was a subject that managed to make more visible the political and social divide between all magical creatures and so it worried her what the result of all this would be and mean, especially with Minister elections coming up at the end of the year.

Though since Hermione arrived and began her research in Tenby, she was fully aware that it wouldn't take long for authorities to notice the unorthodox functioning of the small town's life, she and all the Tenby Magical Association members had been taken aback by the speed in which everything came about, and these hearings had been scheduled without any possibility of negotiation. For the past weeks, the magical, squib and muggle population of Tenby that knew about magic had been preparing themselves—how to act, what to say, what to expect, which members of the wizarding parliament expected to be favorable, which ones to be the opposite…

Hermione's professional and political opinions aside, Tenby was the little corner of the world she and her family had chosen to be their home and they all loved Tenby, its quirks, its people, the colorful row houses, the stone-paved streets and the deep cobalt of its ocean. She would hate for there to be punishments of any sort or even mass obliviation—Hermione couldn't begin to imagine what could happen because all that was at play was the future, and therefore nothing in 'A History of Magic' or any other book she'd read could be of much use. How she wished she could believe in divination, tarot or anything mystical to see the future… Merlin, she almost missed professor Trelawney's class and that said a lot about this situation!

As Hermione once more examined her reflection in the mirror, she could see the spark of fear and desperation in her eyes, the very same feelings permeating her most inner thoughts. But Merlin if she wasn't determined! Hermione and the people of Tenby standing together would not go down without a fight, she was certain of it, their home and freedom depended on it.

"Twenty minutes until session starts! They're calling testifiers to take their seats and prepare for the oath…" She heard Louisa's voice come from the door. Hermione nodded, exhaled deeply and smoothed her robes one last time, before gliding across her bedroom, followed by her old professor and then flooing to the main entrance of the Wizengamot's grand courtroom, immediately being met by Regina Butterfield who kissed Hermione's cheek in a silent and nervous good luck before Hermione passed through the enormous double doors and entered the magnificent assembly room. The Wizengamot members were dressed in their elegant plum robes with matching bishop-like hats, photographers, journalists and Tenby folk, in general, filling the seats in the oval and richly adorned courtroom that had been built after the war's end, along with most of today's ministry.

"You can do this, it's only your home at play…" She muttered under her breath as she walked down the deep-blue carpeted aisle, her heart beating a mile a minute, as she continued in the direction of the witness's row at the front, facing the Wizengamot and public. Photographs of her were captured as the flash of countless cameras nearly blinded her. For a split second, as Hermione examined the crowd, her eyes locked with those of Rita Skeeter, their mutual distaste well known in perhaps all of Britain. She didn't even want to imagine the nasty words that would be written about her in tomorrow's paper… Seated next to her was Regina, dressed in a pink suit and string of pearls that momentarily reminded Hermione of the horrible Dolores Umbridge, and to be honest, it was actually quite funny. The time of Umbridge's terror felt like a different lifetime ago. She covered her lips with her hand to stifle a laugh. Regina's hands reached for Hermione's, as cold as ever from sheer nerves.

"Well good luck to us, yeah, my darling?" Hermione nodded and squeezed the woman's hand sympathetically.

"We'll be laughing about this later, Regina." She whispered feigning confidence, turning to look the woman in the eyes, a humorous smile etched to her lips. Regina snickered and shook her head in a faux display of distaste. Before she could respond, however, the barrister announced Theseus Nott, the case prosecutor to make his entrance and recite a wizarding oath. Oh, how Hermione absolutely loathed him.

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