The following Friday, Hermione found herself waist deep in the pool from the waterfall. Harry stood watching carefully on the shoreline as Hermione manipulated the water around her. Every time Hermione was investigating something different within the cave, the department hired an Auror to monitor the work. Hermione was extremely thankful that it was Harry who had been assigned this time— the other Auror's had a distinct disdain for her working methods, which made her research difficult.

"Finding much?" Harry called out, walking toward Hermione. It was nice to see Hermione looking, well, like Hermione. She had slowly been coming back to herself since Ron's departure and Harry knew it was down to Draco.

"There's definitely something under here," Hermione shouted back, her face inches from the surface of the rippling water as she squinted at the shapes below. Unable to contain her curiosity, Hermione rolled up her sleeves and plunged her hands into the water, her fingertips quickly finding the rough surface beneath. "Harry! Can you come back here and help me please?" Hermione questioned excitedly.

Harry cast a quick water-repelling charm and trudged into the water with Hermione. "What do you want me to do?" he asked with a small smile. Hermione's never-ending enthusiasm always made him smile and he would do anything to keep it on her face.

"I'm going to use the Bubble-Head Charm and duck under the water so I can look at the bottom of the pool. Can you hold me down so I can use my hands to feel what's down there?" Hermione asked briskly.

"Umm, sure?" Harry answered confused. "Can't you just move the water? Or I can, then you can look?"

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, happily clapping her hands together. "Of course! Sorry, I blame baby brain." Not that she bought into the whole phenomenon yet, she was yet to research it fully but it did come in handy when her neurons misfired.

"Excuse me?" Harry laughed as Hermione pulled her hair back smiling.

"It's an old wives tale," Hermione explained. "Supposedly pregnant women are prone to forgetfulness, hence the term 'baby brain'. Shall we start?"

"Sure," Harry replied, pulling his sleeves up. "Which bit do you want me to move first?"

"I think there is something right here," Hermione said, pointing to the spot directly in front of her.

"Ok," Harry said seriously, his eyebrows drawing together in concentration. "One, two, three!" Concentrating hard, Harry moved the mass of water, and Hermione promptly dropped to her knees to examine the markings.

"Fascinating," Hermione muttered, tracing her fingers over the patterns carved into the floor. Upon closer inspection, they didn't appear to be patterns, more like, ancient letters. Running her fingertips over the edges of each sharp groove, Hermione came to the conclusion that someone had worked very hard to make these marks. The grooves were rough, indicating it was done by hand, not by magic and the more her touch lingered, the stronger the tingle of ancient magic became against her skin.

Finding herself drawn to the images, Hermione yearned to know more. Who had carved them? What was their purpose? Was the magic she felt still powerful to this day? Were there others, who like her, thought of this place as home? "Harry," Hermione whispered quietly, almost afraid to speak too loudly and disturb the aura of magic she could feel around her, "do you recognize these markings?"

Harry grunted, moving closer. "No, I've never seen them before," he said, sweating under the strain of keeping the water levitated. "Hermione, you need to move. I'm gonna drop this."

"Right!" Hermione shouted, standing up quickly just as the water crashed back down around her waist. "Sorry, Harry, I forgot how tiring that spell is."

"No problem," Harry replied, coughing as water went down his throat. "So what do you think they are?"

"I'm not sure." Hermione answered, staring hard at the water trying to discern the pattern again. "I'll need another look when you're ready," Hermione said, looking at her friend when she suddenly remembered he had something he was supposed to tell her. "Why didn't Ginny come last week, Harry?"

"Oh, yeah, that," Harry said, reaching up to massage the back of his neck, looking guiltily around the cave. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell Hermione why Ginny hadn't turned up, more that he wasn't sure how to tell Hermione. For all of her brilliance, she sometimes lacked the necessary empathy to truly understand feelings that weren't her own. "Just remember I heard you out when you told me about Draco, ok?"

"Come on, Harry," Hermione said lightly, her hand jumping onto her hip as she watched Harry's face twist. "It can't be that bad."

"Ginny's jealous," Harry blurted out, watching as Hermione's mouth popped open and her free hand jumped onto her other hip. Realising she was about to speak, Harry held up his hands, silently begging for more time to explain. "Ginny is jealous because you're pregnant and you weren't even trying."

Slowly coming back to her senses, Hermione muttered, "technically, I tried once with Ron," as Harry implored her to continue listening.

"Yes, but your heart wasn't really in it," Harry spoke soothingly, his hand coming to rest on Hermione's shoulder and giving her a light squeeze. "Ginny and I have been trying for a while now and it's just not happening. She so desperately wants to be a mum but every month that passed was putting more and more strain on our relationship. Ginny was starting to get really down, and you know what Molly is like. Then you fell pregnant, just like that. Ginny knows it's irrational, that's part of the reason she's been avoiding you. She didn't want to say something she'd regret later."

"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione replied gently, reaching out to give Harry a small hug. "I didn't know you guys were struggling."

"No, you know how I like to keep stuff like that private," Harry said delicately, squeezing Hermione tightly as the biggest confession of all rested on the tip of his tongue. "It's my fault anyway."

Stepping back, Hermione looked up at Harry, "How can it be your fault?" she inquired quietly, her hands dropping to hold onto Harry's shaking ones.

"The Healer thinks it's because I was a Horcrux," Harry whispered, his voice echoing around the cave. "Having something so dark in my body for so long was bound to have some kind of effect, outside of the visions and everything."

"Gods, Harry," Hermione said, the water rippling as she moved to embrace him again. "I'm sorry, that must put an enormous strain on the relationship."

"A little," Harry confessed, smiling slightly as he thought of Ginny. "But you know what she's like, so determined. She knows it will happen, she's just impatient."

"Did the Healer say anything else? If you don't mind me asking?" Hermione questioned gently.

"They think my body just needs time to heal," Harry said calmly. "They've already noticed significant improvements since I joined the Auror department. It'll only be a matter of time."

"I hope it happens soon," Hermione replied sincerely, squeezing Harry tightly around the middle. "If there's anything I can do to make it easier for Ginny to be around me, I will."

"No, Hermione, there's no need to do that. Ginny knows she needs to come to terms with it, and she will," Harry said reassuringly, stepping away from Hermione. "Shall we get back to these runes?"

"Yes!" Hermione shouted, surprising Harry. "They're runes! Brilliant! Move that water so I can draw them! Please," Hermione added as an afterthought.

"Sure thing," Harry replied happily. "You ready?"

"Yup!" Hermione cheered, summoning the paper from the nearby desk. "Go!"

Harry mustered all his concentration and levitated the water as Hermione ducked down and drew out the five runes carved into the ground. "Done!" she shouted triumphantly as Harry let the water crash down around them, inadvertently swallowing some more as it sploshed around.

"Phew," Harry said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I think I need to be out in the field more — desk work has made me weak."

Hermione laughed as she and Harry waded out of the water. "I think I'm done for the day, Harry, if you want to head on," Hermione suggested, studying the piece of parchment in her hand.

"If you're sure you're done," Harry said suspiciously, knowing Hermione was likely to carry on without him.

"Yes," Hermione replied honestly, her eyes alight with excitement. "I want to get to work looking at these runes and figuring out what they mean. I'm so happy we found them!"

"Ok," Harry said, relaxing slightly. "Send me a Patronus if you want to carry on and I'll come straight over."

"No, it's ok, I'm going to start some dinner and then hit the books," Hermione reassured Harry, gathering together her notes and beginning to walk up the steep steps to the living room.

"See you later then, Hermione," Harry said, his body already feeling weary and tired. Hermione had dashed ahead of him in her excitement and was already pulling multiple books from her bookcase.

"Bye!" Hermione called merrily over her shoulder as Harry walked down the long corridor, the darkness swallowing him whole. Now, Hermione pondered, where to start? Advanced Rune Translation? Spellman's Syllabary? Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms? Overwhelmed by the possibilities, Hermione sat down and pulled all three books toward her, promptly forgetting about dinner.

Hermione had spent the following week buried in books. Of the five runes she had drawn, she had successfully translated only one. Out of frustration, Hermione had insisted she have the opportunity to examine the pool floor twice since Harry's visit, and her supervisor had happily obliged, hiring a different Auror each time.

Now, Hermione found herself once again trawling through the old parchments buried deep within the Ministry, not one of them yielding any useful information. The desk around her was littered with empty tea cups and the floor was strewn with wrinkled pieces of parchment. Just as Hermione was about to scream in frustration, Draco walked in.

"I thought I'd find you down here," Draco said, reaching down to snag one of Hermione's papers. "You're still struggling to translate the runes?"

"Yes," Hermione bit out as she paced around the room. "It's impossible! I'm never going to know what those runes mean!"

"Come on," Draco replied, catching Hermione as she walked past. He understood her desire to find the answers, but she had barely been out of the office this week. "Nothing is impossible, you'll feel better on Monday with a fresh head."

"No," Hermione seethed, twisting herself away from Draco so she could look at the runes again. "I'll be better when I figure this out."

"Hermione," Draco spoke sternly now. He was not going to let her overwork herself when the Healer explicitly told them she needed to stay relaxed. "It's six o'clock on a Friday. You are leaving the office with me, now, and we're going out."

"Draco," Hermione retorted, mimicking his stern voice. "I am staying here to figure this out."

Draco rubbed his hand across his face. She really was stubborn. Instead of arguing further, Draco wrapped his arm around Hermione's chest and scooped her legs up from under her, holding her bridal style as he walked her out of the office.

"Put me down, Draco!" Hermione shouted, wriggling in his grip as Draco tightened his hold on her legs.

"Nope!" Draco grinned back, walking them up from the bowels of the Ministry and straight through the Atrium. "I told you, we're going out, with Harry and Ginny."

Hermione huffed and slumped into Draco's body knowing she wasn't going to win against him. "I'm not happy about this Draco."

Draco laughed as they made it out onto the street. "Oh, I know."

Seeing Harry and Ginny ahead of them, Draco set Hermione on her feet and waved. Hermione grumbled as she went about straightening out her clothes when her name was called. "Hermione!" Harry and Ginny shouted in unison as they made their way over. "I see Draco got you out of the office?" Harry joked as he gave her a brief hug.

"Oh, yes," Hermione said darkly, throwing Draco a filthy look over her shoulder. "Draco dragged me out in the middle of my research."

"From what I've heard, you need a break," Ginny commented, casually looping her arm through Hermione's to lead the way. "Anyway, we're going bowling."

"Bowling?" Draco questioned, he hadn't heard that phrase before.

Hermione laughed at Draco's confused expression. Imagining him wearing those hideous bowling shoes slightly lifted her mood. "Oh, you are going to love it Draco," Hermione laughed wickedly, clapping her hands together. "Oh, I am going to enjoy this — let's go Gin!"

Watching Hermione saunter off with Ginny, Draco turned to Harry, unsure of what he had gotten himself into. "What is bowling, Potter?"

"It's a Muggle game," Harry explained as Hermione's laughter echoed back to them. "Basically you throw a ball down an alley and try to knock over the pins at the end. Whoever knocks the most down wins."

"Sounds simple enough," Draco replied dubiously. Harry's description didn't match the looks Hermione kept giving him.

Looking around as they walked in, Draco was assaulted by a barrage of bright lights coupled with the pounding beat of loud music. "What is this place?" Draco shouted to Harry.

"Where all the hip kids come on a Friday night," Harry joked, leading Draco over to the counter.

Hermione sat with Ginny and watched Draco as he and Harry talked to the person behind the counter. Ginny pulled her hand to get her attention before shouting over the noise of the music. "I'm sorry I've been distant. Harry told me he explained why, but I wanted to apologise properly."

Glancing around them, Hermione carefully moved her wand inside her sleeve. "There," she said, happily having cast a Muffliato around their benches. "We should be able to hear each other now. Don't worry about it Gin, I totally understand where you're coming from."

"Thanks, Hermione," Ginny replied with a small smile, tucking a lock of her flaming hair behind her ear. "It's just been really difficult, you know? We're practically sisters in so many ways and yet, I don't know if I'm going to be Auntie Ginny to your little bundle. I've always had this dream where we get to raise our kids together and they'll be as close as we are, but I'm not even pregnant yet and Ron is well, you know, being Ron. What if it is his and he does something so stupid you guys actually go ahead and get divorced? I just feel so torn, I want everything to be perfect and it's far from it."

Hermione looked at the younger woman, suddenly realising just how much she had been burying her head in the sand. In the past few weeks she hadn't even thought of Ginny, or any of the Weasleys, choosing instead to buckle down and work, hoping her problems would melt away. "I'm so sorry Gin," Hermione blurted out suddenly, wrapping her arms around Ginny's neck, "I've been so self involved, I've been trying to ignore everything until we know the facts, but that might not be until after I give birth. But don't worry, you'll always be Auntie Gin."

"And you'll always be Aunt Hermione," Ginny replied with a small smile, "even if you're not married to my brother. Oh my god!" Ginny squealed, grabbing Hermione's shoulders and turning her so she could see Draco and Harry, "I never thought I'd see Draco Malfoy looking so uncomfortable!"

Hermione's eyes widened as she took in the sight of Draco, slowly walking towards them carrying three drinks in his hands, trying his hardest not to slip as he walked. Biting her lip, Hermione tried and failed not to laugh.

Draco smiled at Hermione as he carefully placed the drinks down in front of them. "Does this mean I'm forgiven for dragging you out of the office?"

Hermione smirked. "You can drag me out of the office anytime if I get to see you in those hideous bowling shoes!"

"I'll remember that," Draco replied, smirking back at Hermione as Harry rejoined the group.

After a few moments of set up, the game was ready, and Harry began teaching Draco how to play. "Like I was saying, all you've got to do is throw the ball down the alley and hit as many pins as possible. Just watch."

Harry walked up to the line and carefully lifted the bowling ball to his face, then swung his arm back to let the ball fly forward in a perfect line, scoring him a strike. "Yes!" Harry whooped as he raced back to the group. "Stttrrriikkeeeeeeee!"

Laughing, Ginny jumped up, smacking Harry cheekily on the bum before grabbing her own ball and throwing it down the alley, scoring a strike as well. Ginny sauntered back to the group and gave Harry a kiss. "You don't have to be The Chosen One to get a strike, my love," she teased lightly.

"Put him down Ginny!" Hermione joked, standing to take her turn and carefully choosing her ball. Hermione took her place and launched the ball down the alley, knocking all but two of the pins over. Returning to collect another ball, Hermione mouthed a quick thank you at Draco before turning back and knocking one of the two remaining pins down.

"Oh— my— gosh, Hermione!" Ginny squealed as Hermione froze confused. "You have the cutest little bump! I didn't notice before!"

Tugging self consciously at her shirt, Hermione looked at Ginny before looking down at her stomach. She had been glamouring the bump for work, but it must have worn off. Adjusting to the changes in her body and her life was taking time, Hermione wasn't sure how to react to Ginny's excitement. Smiling awkwardly, Hermione replied. "Yea, it um, just started showing."

"I think you look beautiful," Draco spoke softly, his voice carrying over to Hermione as she fiddled with the hem of her top.

Heat flooded Hermione's face. "Thanks," she mumbled, moving quickly to sit down and get the attention off herself. "It's, um, your turn, Draco."

Standing to take his turn, Draco questioned, "So, I just throw the ball down the alley?" Trailing his fingers lightly across Hermione's shoulder as he passed.

"Yup," Harry replied, taking a sip of his beer as he watched their interaction with a smile. "Just give it a go, see what happens."

Walking up cautiously, Draco inspected the bowling balls before choosing one and stepping up to the line. Looking back over his shoulder quickly, Draco winked at Hermione before hurling the ball down the alley with an almighty thud. Draco watched nervously as the ball thundered down the lane, crashing into the pins at the end. "How'd I do?" Draco asked excitedly.

"Pretty good, mate," Harry said, pointing up at the screen as the number nine appeared next to Draco's name. "All you've gotta do now is knock the rest of them over."

"Piece of cake," Draco said cockily, striding back to aim his next ball.

"Well done, Draco!" Harry cheered as the remaining pins crashed to the floor. Draco rushed back, giving Harry a high five as he passed.

"I like this game," Draco said, sitting down next to Hermione as Harry went up to take his turn.

"Knew you would," Ginny laughed as she sipped on her beer. "Oh, Hermione," Ginny continued, turning to Hermione with a grimace. "I saw Ron the other day after he saw the lawyer… he was pissed about the marriage bonds needing to be broken. He thinks it's unfair that he has to wait."

Surprised by the turn in conversation and not wanting the mention of Ron to ruin the evening, Hermione breathed deeply and pondered her next words. "Well," Hermione said with a forced kind of calm, slowly sipping on the lemonade Harry had bought her. "I think it's unfair he pushed me away and blamed all our problems on me, but whatever, let's just enjoy the rest of the night."

"Good plan," Draco agreed, giving Hermione's leg a squeeze as he took a hearty sip of his beer.

Hermione could tell Ginny wanted to speak more about Ron, and truth be told, Hermione wanted to share with her but now was not the time nor place. Smiling, the pair shared a silent conversation, as girls do, and agreed to have that conversation in a more private setting.

The rest of the evening passed quickly with Harry and Draco getting more and more competitive. Hermione wasn't sure if it was the alcohol the three of them had consumed or the general camaraderie, but it turned into one of the most carefree nights she'd had in a long time. Ginny's consistent running commentary— which would have given Lee Jordan a run for his money— combined with Harry and Draco's tomfoolery had Hermione laughing to the point of tears on more than one occasion.

After celebrating his joint victory with Harry, Draco turned to find a bleary-eyed Hermione watching them with a small smile on her face. "Ready to go home?" Draco asked, stooping down in front of her so his chin rested on her knees.

"Mhmm," Hermione mumbled, nodding her head.

"Come on, then," Draco said softly, gently pulling Hermione up to stand with him. "We're going to head on," Draco said, addressing Harry and Ginny.

"Night, guys," Harry said, smiling as Hermione waved a sleepy hand in their direction.

"See you soon!" Ginny called at their retreating backs before jumping onto Harry. "Right then, Potter, your arse is mine in this next game!"

Tucking Hermione into his side, Draco led them outside, leaving behind the now kissing Harry and Ginny. Out on the street, Draco found a quiet spot and Apparated them both back to his, tucking Hermione into his bed once again.

A/N - Alpha love to tectonictigress & TriDogMom as always :D