"Harry, I found something you need to see."

Glancing up from his place on the balcony of the second floor bedroom, Harry had been distracted by the most recent snowfall all around him. It was strange that the Forest of Dean seemed to be in a perpetual state of winter, especially since it was only a little ways into October. But then again, magic was a fickle thing and Harry had come to simply not question its oddities. Hermione, now 14 years old per her birthday on the 19th, had emerged from her afternoon respite to the massive library, which was even larger then the one found in the bedroom of Rowena herself.

"Find anything good, 'Mione?"

"Do you remember the wands we had, when we first discovered you were a wizard?" she queried, a large dark colored tome still open in her arms, "you remember what you did with it?"

"Yeah, sure. The little deer mist trick; I remember." He nodded, scooting over for Hermione to join him on the rail overlooking the forest, "I haven't been able to cast it with my new wand. Why?"

"I found the spell from which it originated. At least I think I did,"

Lifting his brows, Hermione leant back first beside him as she cleared her throat slightly and began to read aloud, "the Patronus Charm is a powerful light enchantment, used to drive away dark forces and evil beings - notoriously the Dementors of Azkaban. It is notoriously difficult to cast, especially in tense or busy situations, and can only be summoned through the witch or wizard's sustained focus and happiest memory. The Patronus can take two forms depending on the will of the caster: corporeal and non-corporeal. The enchantment will reflect the casters inner most self, and be sensitive to changes in mood, health, or personality. It will take an animal form which represents the witch or wizard, or appear as a fine mist or billow of smoke."

"You thing my little deer was a Patronus Charm?" Harry questioned, "but I didn't have any experience when I made it appear, let alone an appropriate wand."

"I know, but it's supposed to be a very powerful spell. And if this Voldemort fellow is really after you, it may be useful to learn more about. We may not have another chance to do any intense study once we leave here, until I can learn more about wards and protective enchantments."

"You always know best," Harry smiled, "so what's the spell? How does it work?"

"According to this book, the incantation is Expecto Patronum. There isn't any complicated wand movement involved it seems, but it's important you think of your happiest memory, and sustain it as long and as clearly as possible. What did you think of when you did your little deer trick?"

Blushing, Harry rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at his best friend. She was staring at her expectantly, her cheeks and nose already flushed from the winter chill, and her lips chapping from lack of moisture. She gets more beautiful each time I see her, Harry thought, blinking as the girl snapped her fingers in his face, "Harry, focus. The little deer trick? What were you thinking of?"

"Uh, you, actually. You make me happy, Hermione."

She smiled in response to that, the tips of her ears now red as she nodded and returned to her book with a slight cough.

"Right. So, Expecto Patronum, happiest memory...it needs to be really clear."

Nodding his head, Harry removed his wand and licked his lips. He had so many happy memories of Hermione, but which one was the best one? Glancing at the girl as she waited expectantly, Harry thought back on the night Dudley and his goons had beat him up. He could feel the weight of Hermione laying across his legs, the both of them listening to the rain on the playhouse roof. That was the night he had promised to take her to the ocean; the night he promised to save her. Except it wasn't really him saving her...not really. They saved one another.

"Expecto...Patronum." Giving his wand a small wave, it's tip illuminated at once. A magnificent creature leapt from the light, practically solid in the night air. Harry didn't even need to think about his memory, the thing making him happiest was right beside him. But the appeared image was not the little deer, in fact, Harry wasn't sure what it was. It was massive, with a muscular body that dwarfed them both and impressive pair of large feathered wings. It's front legs were clawed, and it's head was that of an eagle, it's pale eyes staring into them intently.

"That...isn't what I was expecting," Hermione chuckled, "it's a Hippogriff, Harry. A mythical, noble creature very uncommon even in the Wizarding world. They are proud, but fiercely loyal to those they choose to protect. I think it suits you, don't you think?"

"I was expecting a stag," Harry admitted, "like the one I cast the first time."

"I was too, but you've changed so much Harry. You're so much more then that small boy who whisked me away to a world filled with magic. You are...well, this. Proud, and strong and so very loyal."

"Thanks. You wanna try?"

"I don't know if I could do it," Hermione admitted, suddenly appearing unsure, "I wasn't expecting this."

"Come on, 'Mione. If I can cast this charm, so can you." Taking the book from her arms, Hermione sighed in exasperation as the Hippogriff ruffled its feathers and paced the length of the balcony, watching her intently, "just try?"

"Alright. Clear mind, happiest memory. Focus." Closing her eyes for a moment, Harry could practically see her thinking about which memory she wanted. Pulling her wand from her bun, she twirled it with her eyes still closed. When she opened them again, she was smiling and waved her wand, "Expecto Patronum!"

Like his own wand, Hermione's glowed brightly. There was a moment of mist before a creature with talons and wings flew from her wand, gliding easily on the air as it circled. The Great Grey Owl swooped down towards the Hippogriff, who reared up excitedly and flapped its wings as the two frolicked on the balcony.

"An owl. How very fitting," Harry mused with a smile, "focused? Wise? Elegant? Suits you too, I think, Hermione."

Blushing again, the owl seemed to become more solid at the complement. Then, slowly, the images faded as Harry felt a fat snowflake land on the tip of his nose, "it's snowing again."

"It's always snowing, Harry." Hermione chuckled, taking the book back from his arms and holding it close, "when you summoned your Patronus, were you thinking...about that night? The promise we made?"

"Yep, it made the spell almost to easy. And you?"

"Same. You've kept your promise so far, Mr. Potter. But I can't wait to actually see the ocean. I want to feel the water around my legs, and the breeze on my face. It'll be perfect, Harry. Can you imagine it?"

"Every night." Harry agreed, taking Hermione's hand in his and giving it a squeeze, "come on, Rowena probably summoned dinner for us by now. Kinda rude to let it go cold."

Nodding in agreement, the pair left the balcony and closed the glass doors delicately behind them. The next few months passed in relative silence, and the young witch and wizard fell into a comfortable existence. Rowena's magic was able to provide meals, allowing them both to grow stronger physically. They often took jogs around the outside of the wards, to check on them, as well as to burn off excess energy from being trapped inside for so long. Under Rowena's careful tutelage and the collections of books in the manor, they learned the art of dueling and often took on one another in spur of the moment duels about the house to keep on their toes. Harry and Hermione studied charms and transfiguration, hexes, protective charms and potions. Hermione spent more time on wards with Rowena, while Harry continued to work his Patronus, as well as his other dueling spells like Expellarmus, Protego and Confringo.

Months bled from one to another, and the house was falling further and further into disrepair. Hermione was blossoming into a beautiful young woman, while Harry continued to grow taller, and more muscular. His hair became long to cover up his scar, and his green eyes somehow became even greener. Hermione had a horrible purple scar across her shoulder from the attack at the Lovegood's home, and often tried and failed to cover it with her cloaks. Harry thought it just made her more beautiful, now that she had a scar of her very own which he liked to brush with his thumb, just as she did his own. Padfoot and Crooks roamed the house often, but soon became more fidgety as October turned to December, and bled easily into springtime, and soon, into Summer. Looking out the windows one particular summer day, Harry was frowning.

"Everything alright?" Hermione asked, encroaching on her 15th birthday, while Harry was coming to his 14th.

"The snow is melting."

Indeed the eternal winter they had gotten used to over the past year had begun to fade, patches of ground appearing around the estate, "I think the wards are failing."

"We knew it would happen," Hermione mumbled sadly, "but we've learned all that we can here. I don't know about you, but I'm going stir crazy after all this time."

"I'll miss the meals," Harry laughed, running a hand through his shaggy mop as Hermione shrugged.

"I came up with something you need to see. I think it'll help us a lot. Come on!"

Dragging Harry away from the window, they ended up in the bedroom with Rowena's portrait as Hermione showed off a simple, purple beaded bag. Raising an unimpressed brow, the girl scoffed.

"You're such a boy, Harry Potter," she insisted, holding the bag to him again, "reach inside and pull something out. Don't give me that look, just try,"

Shaking his head at his friends boundless energy, he tenderly dipped his hand into the bag. But instead of hitting the shallow cloth bottom, his arm kept going. Stepping forward, he managed to fit his full arm inside and grabbed the first thing he found, which happened to be a pair of his own trousers.

"That's..."

"Untraceable extension charm," she explained excitedly, "I've been working on it for weeks. It should help us with our little supply problem."

"Great, brilliant. You're amazing, Hermione."

"Isn't it? It was Rowena's idea actually since we can't bring the house with us."

Nodding, Harry grinned at the portrait who was now more like family then a mere enchanted painting.

"You are both skilled in magic, I'd have been proud to see you attend Hogwarts School." she admitted, though she appeared sad, "alas, the wards are indeed failing at a faster rate then I wished. You cannot stay much longer, I fear."

"I expect Hermione has already begun plotting a route for us to take from here?" He asked, turning to the girl who nodded with a grin.

"I've been researching the floo system. We can take the fireplace all the way to Cornwall. There are beautiful beaches there, I hear."

"That's quite a long jump, but I don't doubt you'll be able to find what you're looking for."

Leaving the portrait for a late lunch, Harry pulled Hermione closer to him and held her close.

"Harry?" She asked in concern, "everything alright?"

"Fine. Just...I'll miss this. Not having to worry about being found out, or food, or where we're going to stay next. It's exhausting."

"I agree. But we still haven't seen the ocean," Hermione reminded, gently holding his chin in her hand, "it'll all turn out alright, Harry. You'll see, hm?"

"I mean it when I said you were amazing you know," Harry mumbled, kissing the girls scalp in a moment of intimacy, "I can't imagine my life without you."

"Nor can I, Harry." Hermione agreed, wrapping her arms around his waist as they lingered in one another's arms, "thank you."