AN: We're all just making castles in JKR's sandbox, ya know. Anyway, this will be strictly Harmony, with some side couples thrown in. I love stories where Ron is a little more mature and introspective and is Harmony's number one fan so that's how I'm going to write him, I also like stories where the adults actually act like adults - Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sirius are all actually going to be helpful and take charge. This will jump back and forth with time, but I will always note what time period we're in. Canon? I don't know her.


Chapter 1 - Now

Ministry of Magic
November 1, 2006

"Bloody buggering shite," Harry mutters as he stumbles through the Floo, barely managing to keep his feet under him. He'll never quite get the hang of Floo travel. Turning his head at the sound of the Floo activating again, he watches as his wife primly and expertly walks through the Floo, not missing a beat with the cleansing charm to rid herself and her lovely emerald dress of soot. An amused smile and a quick wave of her wand does the same for him and his matching emerald-colored robes.

"Show off," Harry teases, offering his arm to her with a smile and leads her to the grand ballroom. Friendly faces yell out congratulations as they pass. Hermione smiles demurely, thanking them. Harry smiles at all the praise being heaped onto her, "Are you nervous?"

The new Minister-Elect, Hermione Granger, glances over to her husband of five years - Merlin, has it been five already - and shakes her head in response. "No, actually. I feel quite ready."

It's the truth.

This had never really been her dream through her time at Hogwarts, she had quite a few career paths that interested her - Healer, Secretary of some branch at the Ministry, Charms Teacher, maybe even Headmistress of Hogwarts one day, but Minister of Magic, Leader of Magical Britain, was definitely not one of them.

For starters, it felt completely out of reach as a young muggleborn witch, but more importantly, because she didn't appreciate politics. She hated the false promises, the absolute drivel they spouted while fulfilling nothing, the games politicians played with people's lives. It was all fake and meant nothing to her. Hermione wanted to make real changes in the world, to actually have a positive impact and leave a good world behind her. She felt she couldn't do that as a politician. Cornelius Fudge, for example, was a puppet for Pureblood money. Make promises of changes, make no changes, keep Pureblood pockets lined well and live blissfully ignorant.

It had all started with a protest.

Two years post-war, a muggleborn undersecretary named Hannah Hart had tried to file a sexual assault complaint against her boss, and it had been immediately cast aside as nonsense. No one believed her, no matter who she tried to file the complaint through. She tried to speak to anyone who would listen, but they wrote her off as just being confused, she was probably asking for it, she should be honored that Secretary Cushing had employed her and regarded her as such. She was just an uppity mudblood trying to destroy a Noble Hardworking Pureblood. The witch had never been told that in Magical Britain, there was no such thing as a pureblood sexually assaulting a muggleborn, even in a post-Voldemort world.

The poor girl had looked everywhere for help until she had reached out to her last hope, Hermione Granger, hoping the muggleborn would believe her. Of course, Hermione did. She didn't even need to look into Hannah's memories to believe her, but once she did, she felt that all-encompassing rage. Hermione, being a Daily Prophet proclaimed "war hero", decided to use her fame to make some noise, enough noise that no one could ignore.

She had organized and gathered everyone she could, Harry, the Weasleys, other friends, friends of friends, people who just wanted to help and they had marched all the way to Ministry, setting up right on the front steps and calling for the arrest and prosecution of Secretary Cushing. Minister Shacklebolt, completely unaware of the accusations due to the incident being buried, immediately had Cushing arrested.

After that, it was like the floodgates opened. More and more muggleborn women and men came forward with their own stories, which were being published in the Daily Prophet due to Hermione calling in a couple of favors to a certain unregistered Animagus employed there.

Everyone turned to Hermione to lead them to the next steps, encouraged by Harry and all of her friends, that's exactly what she did. Leading more and more protests, sit-ins, strikes, she was able to make some change. The small candle that had been lit helping Miss Hart had grown to a full roaring fire.

Harry, who had decided post-Hogwarts to forgo being an Auror – having seen enough battles and war – and pursue a professional Quidditch Career, used his stardom as The Boy-Who-Killed-Voldemort and Puddlemere United Seeker to bring awareness to his then-fiancé's causes. She amazed him, then, now, and forever, and he made sure he attended every event he could for her. It honestly made him fall even harder for her. She had always amazed him, from her vehement need to guarantee Magical Creatures equal rights, to her passionate defense of him against anyone who had slighted him in Hogwarts, to her working around the clock to help those who had reached out to her.

Looking over to her now, his heart warms. She's dressed in a beautiful, yet professional and serious, custom emerald green dress. The cloth had actually been from one of the late Lily Potter's dresses, gifted to her by Harry for the occasion, and transfigured into a dress for Hermione. This made it all the more special for her, a piece of her late mother-in-law was with her for this monumental day for muggleborns. Her hair had taken the longest to get read, her usually wild bushy hair was tamed with a generous amount of smoothing potion and pulled back into a low chignon bun. The only jewelry she wore was her engagement ring and wedding band on her left ring finger.

She looks the part; she feels the part. It's all led to this.

Her becoming the Minister of Magic.

"You look ready, and gorgeous," Harry affirms, before giving her a lecherous smirk with a little elevator eye, "And your bum looks amazing in that dress."

"Pervert," she scolds him, though the wide smile on her face betrays it.

"Only for you, my love," Harry grins, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "Only for you."

"Excuse me, Minister," Hermione turns to see her Chief Advisor, and dear friend, Susan Bones. She had grown quite close with the redhead after Hogwarts, having connected through working with Amelia Bones. Susan was the one who advised Hermione with Pureblood Politics, having a desire to eradicate the belief system that caused the demise of her beloved parents. Susan believed Hermione was destined to be Minister, and when Kingsley Shacklebolt had decided to not run for another term, preferring to settle down with his family, encouraged Hermione to run. "It's time."

It's time, the words echo in Hermione's head and she turns toward her husband, "Good luck," he murmurs to her, reaching up to cradle her face, "I love you."

"I love you," she returns with a smile, closing the distance to kiss him. Susan politely looks away with a smile, not wanting to intrude on their moment. Once they part, Hermione follows Susan down the hallway and Harry enters the now very full grand ballroom.

It is a day to celebrate, Hermione's Oath Day, her official swearing in as Minister.

Music is playing and people are mingling about, drinking, laughing, and having a wonderful time. Harry smiles at the scene, eyes scanning the hall. He spots many familiar friendly faces; they smile back at him. A couple of his old United teammates notice him and raise their glasses to him, he smiles back with a wave. Weaving his way through the well-wishers, congratulating him on his wife's victory, he finally spots his redheaded best friend by the bar.

"There you are!" Ron yells as soon as he sees him, causing Lavender to follow her husband's gaze. The bubbly blonde squeals when she sees Harry and pulls him into a hug, being mindful of the large baby bump she's sporting. She's dressed in nice and stylish purple robes, probably designed by herself. She was the one who had designed and transfigured Hermione's robes for the occasion.

Ron and Lavender had started dating sixth year, spending most of that year fused at the mouth. Post Hogwarts, Ron had gone to work at his brothers joke shop and Lavender opened her own boutique in Diagon Alley – Lavish and Lavender - having a real talent for designing women's robes. They had married shortly after the war but had taken a pause on starting a family until Lavender's boutique was steady. They're expecting their first child – a boy - next month.

"Oh, this is so exciting," Lavender gushes, Ron smiling at their antics. "How is she? Excited? Nervous? Both?"

"She's calm," Harry answers, taking a beer from Ron with a nod of thanks.

"Of course, she is," Ron says, clinking his glass with Harry's, "You know our Mione, nothing rattles her...unless it's a test."

"How's teaching going?" Lavender asks Harry, causing him to smile. He had decided last year to retire from playing Quidditch, and Minerva McGonagall had practically begged him to teach DADA and become Gryffindor Head of House. He agreed on the condition he would be able to live at his home with Hermione and commute back and forth. She agreed immediately.

"It's great, I'm enjoying it. First years are a handful, McGonagall swears we were worse."

"Ha!" Ron laughs, "We were The Worst."

"Hey, kids."

Harry turns to see his godfather and Uncle Moony walking through the crowd, drinks in hand. "Lavender, you look dazzling," Sirius gently grasped her hand for a kiss, causing Ron to roll his eyes and his wife to giggle.

"Sirius, you dog," Lavender smiles, before hugging Moony.

"How are you feeling," the lycanthrope asks, gesturing to her stomach.

"Ugh, as large as a troll," Lavender gently caresses her belly, "Ready to get this little boy out."

"Mum says she'll regret saying that once he's out," Ron jokes, "I'm trying to relish these last few weeks of peaceful sleep. Well, not that peaceful with this one's midnight cravings."

"It's not my fault if your son wants ice cream int he middle of the night!" Lavender glares at her husband again.

Harry watches both of them with a smile, though there's a longing feeling in his stomach, followed closely by an anxious excitement building. Hermione and him had discussed kids before they had gotten married. They had agreed on one or two and Hermione had affirmed she had wanted to be established in a career before they had a child, and he had to be retired from Quidditch. With both of those things happening, it wouldn't be too long before her own belly would be swollen with a child, their child.

His smile widens at the thought.

-oOo-

"Change must happen and I don't care if we have to dismantle the whole system and build from the ground up! I cannot promise that it will happen overnight, and I cannot promise that it is going to be easy."

An hour later, they are all seated, listening to Hermione's passionate words after taking her oath. Hanging on every word, she had a way of just capturing your attention and not letting go. Harry watches from the front row with pride. When it was announced that it was time for everyone to take their seats, the hall's roof was raised as magically stadium seating appeared with it, not unlike the Quidditch World Cup, to host the sheer amount of people here to support Hermione. Glancing around, Muggleborns, Half-Bloods and Purebloods sat shoulder to shoulder with known werewolves and elves (he waved to Dobby and Winky sitting together). This was what they had fought, and continued to fight, for.

When it was time for the ceremony to begin, Harry was guided over to his reserved seat at the front along with Ron and Lavender. Sirius and Remus joined them along with the rest of the Weasley's, Minerva McGonagall, and he had had to double take when he saw Draco Malfoy with Ginny on his arm.

He had heard that Ginny and his once enemy were dating, just casually according to an annoyed Ron, he didn't expect to see him here, supporting Hermione. He catches the Slytherins eye and nods once in greeting, the blonde returning it. Not a friendship, but a mutual respect. As long as he didn't ruin Hermione's day, he didn't care. Nothing could ruin this day. Ginny catches his eye and waves, him returning it before taking his seat.

"I can promise you this, I will not stop fighting," Hermione's speech is passionate and from the heart, generating growing applause, until it reached full on roaring and stomping from her more fervent supporters. "I will not stop fighting for equal rights of first-generation witches and wizards, I will not stop fighting until those affected by lycanthropy receive healthcare and free wolfsbane potions, I will not stop fighting until every house elf is free to choose their own career and paid fairly. I will not stop fighting for each and every one of you, I can promise you that."

Harry smiles, joining in on the applause.

"I accept the role of Minister-"

No one saw the spell coming.

No one saw the direction it had come from, or who had fired it, or what the spell even was. All anyone saw was a purple flame pass through Hermione who had stopped her speech and stumbled back as if physically struck.

Silence.

Harry feels his insides go numb as he experiences complete loss of control of his legs, running toward the stage. He watches in horror his wife glance down at her chest, her once green robes were turning dark. Blood. Bleeding.

Hermione.

She glances up and her eyes connect with his as he moves toward her, "Oh," Hermione breathes, before crumpling to stage.

Chaos.

"Hermione!" Harry bellows, catching his wife before she hits the ground. Chaos erupts around him as people scream and fall over each other to reach the exits. Amelia Bones is immediately giving her Aurors orders, collected and stern. Susan, who had been sitting next to her aunt, goes to run to Hermione only to be stopped by her aunt's stern glance, nodding toward the exit. Susan starts grabbing people and directing them to the exits.

"Aurors, on me!" Amelia commands, lifting her wand to shield Harry and Hermione, "Protect the Minister!"

Five Aurors immediately surround them and erect shields to protect from any further spells from hitting Hermione, more Aurors spread out to try to find the attacker and usher people out of the building safely.

Harry's only focus is on Hermione unconscious in his arms, she's pale and still bleeding, her blood all over his robes now. Blood. So much blood. He puts pressure on her chest, trying to stop the bleeding. "Help! Please, I need-" his voice cracks with emotion and he looks to Amelia, like a child searching for guidance.

"I need a portkey to St. Mungos now!" Amelia turns to a nameless Auror who quickly grabs a cup and makes the portkey. The older Bones grabs the cup, the Auror who had made the portkey, and another Auror and shoves both toward Harry and Hermione, "Get her to St. Mungos! I'll send a Patronus and let them know. Do not let anyone near her!"

Harry holds Hermione close as he feels the two Aurors grab a hold of him, wands up and ready and feels the numbness wear off. Now there's just anger.

And pain.

Who did this?

They land directly outside of St. Mungos, a team of Healers already there and waiting with a levitating bed. Harry stands up hurries Hermione over, gently laying her down on the bed.

His wife, normally full of fire and passion, tanned from their summer trips to Black Island with Sirius, is so cold and pale. The numbness has completely worn off by now. His stomach churns as a hopeless feeling encompasses him. Pain.

He feels himself being pulled away from her by the Healer Team.

"Malcolm, get her on the bed! Get that clotting potion in her and stop the bleeding," the Head Healer, who recognizes as Daphne Greengrass, orders the other Healers. Harry watches helpless as a Healer opens his wife's mouth and pours a potion down her throat. "Did anyone see what spell she was hit with?!"

"Didn't hear it but it was a purple flame."

"Fuck," Daphne curses at the Aurors words, glancing down at the girl, waving her wand over her and pulling up her diagnostics. Her heartbeat is getting weaker. Harry feels sick. Glancing down to his hands, he sees them stained red with her blood. "Let's move!"

The Healers expertly hurriedly into the building, moving the bed as quickly as they can without jostling her, one of the Healers places a charmed oxygen mask on her face. Another slices her robes down the front, giving Harry a quick view of the large wound diagonally across his wife's chest.

He feels sick and stumbles, watching as they disappear through the double doors. He gets up and goes to follow before he's gently stopped by the two Aurors and Daphne turns back to look at him, blue eyes full of sympathy and understanding.

"Harry, we have it from here," Daphne gently tells him, disappearing through the door. Harry stares at the door until he feels a gentle hand on his shoulder. Turning his head, he finally registers one of the Aurors sent with him – Cedric Diggory. The former Hufflepuff casts a quick cleansing charm on Harry's hands, ridding them of Hermione's blood.

"Harry!" turning his head, he sees Sirius and Remus burst through the front door along with four more Aurors, wands out on all of them, scanning every inch of the empty waiting room for any threats. Sirius catches Harry before he hits the floor, cradling his godson as he's overcome with sobs. Moony silently encompasses both of them in his embrace, holding Harry as he breaks.

The Wizarding Wireless Network playing from the check in station reaches his ears, "I'm just receiving word that newly elected Minister for Magic, Hermione Granger, is in St. Mungos after an assassination attempt only minutes after being sworn in. We will keep you updated with her condition, but from exclusive eyewitness reports, it's not looking good."


AN: Thanks for reading.