August 18th

An effort was made on a sunny Saturday morning to push past the discomfort that Alecto Carrow's unexpected visit created. Hermione was exhausted of Augustus running out of the room every time she entered. If they were going to continue to live under the same roof, he would need to get over his embarrassment. No one needed to explain to her that sometimes the best way to get information out of a potential source didn't involve violence at all. Rabastan might have been crude when he made reference to her most effective weapon being between her legs, but he wasn't exactly wrong. She'd manipulated her fair share of souls and she had no regrets.

To try to bring back some of the enjoyable camaraderie they'd experienced prior to that night, Hermione got up before everyone in the house was awake to make breakfast. If some of Augustus' favorites that she knew he could never say 'no' to were on the menu, it was completely on purpose. They were all adults except for Oliver. Surely they could get over the awkwardness of one alcohol-influenced night.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to walking into the kitchen and finding you cooking."

Antonin's arms slipped around her waist from behind. His lips brushed against the sensitive flesh just under her ear, threatening to distract her from the task at hand. Somehow she doubted Augustus walking in on them on the kitchen floor while his favorite foods burned would help her achieve her goal. Nor did she care for her son to get a firsthand lesson on what his parents did behind closed doors… or thick walls of magical smoke.

"Good. Don't get used to it because I promise it won't become a habit. You're much better at this than I am."

"Well, yes, but you're getting much better. You might one day be better than I am. Maybe."

She spun around to playfully shove him away. Before he crossed to the other side of the kitchen to pick up the morning edition of The Daily Prophet that had only just arrived, he laughed and kissed his wife. Those were her favorite moments, the all-too-brief seconds that they felt like an ordinary couple in a normal family. They never lasted long enough to suit her tastes. What she wouldn't give for a simple, boring life. Too many people alive took theirs for granted. She was envious.

"Ollie needs school supplies. We never did circle back to that discussion yesterday morning."

"Are you planning on taking his list and picking them up yourself?"

"I actually thought you might want to take him to Diagon Alley."

That was certainly unexpected. Hermione narrowed her eyes as she looked at him over her shoulder, unsure if she should believe what he was saying. They'd been in hiding for almost a month. The Dark Lord had been dead for even longer. Not once in that time had her husband even suggested that she go outside into the garden! When she started taking walks along the beach, he'd been anxious, wanting to go with her the first few times just to make sure she wasn't in any danger. Suggesting that she take their son to the busiest wizarding shopping district during one of the busiest times of the year didn't make a lot of sense to her.

Realizing that she was skeptical, Antonin rose to his feet and walked across the room to stand next to her again. She turned her attention back to the breakfast she was finishing up out of fear that she might ruin it right there in the end. As much as she would love to get out of the house even for an hour or two, she wasn't sure that she could actually trust her ears. Was it a trick? Some way for her distrusting husband to find out if she would leave given the opportunity? She didn't appreciate tests. Not when she wasn't even sure what their purpose was.

"It's Saturday and Diagon Alley is going to be very busy today. Lots of parents will be there shopping for school supplies."

"Yes, lots of people will be there, Antonin. You don't like it when your wife and your son are around lots of people."

"That's not fair, Hermione."

She scoffed. Was it not? It seemed to be his purpose to keep his family under lock and key. While she could appreciate his desire to keep his family safe to a point, he could be suffocating. Antonin Dolohov didn't know how to do anything in halves. Never had.

"Aren't you worried that the public will see your mad, insane wife and try to attack her?"

"Hermione…"

There was a note of warning in his tone that she couldn't miss. He hated when she talked about herself that way. Said that it was unbecoming and absolutely untrue. It was almost sweet that he could be so delusional when it came to his own wife. If anyone alive should understand how far her mind had gone in the wrong direction, it should've been the man who slept next to her each night.

"Corban was actually the one who suggested it when I was at their house. He said that there's been a lot of curiosity about you since the funeral."

"I imagine that's true."

"A great deal of whispering that you've gone…"

"Completely insane?"

He rolled his eyes in the dramatic manner their son was only just learning to imitate. No further confirmation was needed. It made sense.

"Go out there and show them that you're perfectly sane and healthy. Prove that you're not locked up in a cellar somewhere banging pipes with your head."

She actually appreciated his attempt at a joke. When she smiled and agreed that she would be glad to take Oliver, he'd kissed her, thanking her for being so agreeable. Moments later the other two wizards in the house entered the kitchen, drawn there by the scents of the ready food. For one meal, at least, Augustus wasn't in a hurry to rush out of the room.

Oliver was excited to learn over breakfast that he would get to go to Diagon Alley later that morning. Staying cooped up in a house was hard enough for adults. For a growing boy with too much energy, Hermione knew it was torture. She didn't miss the concerned look that Augustus silently gave her husband. Perhaps he wasn't as convinced that the plan to be out in the public was such a good one. They didn't say anything specific out of fear of concerning Oliver, but she could almost guess what they were thinking. She would be exposed. If he wished, Rodolphus could approach her. That was why it was very important that they remain in heavily populated areas at all times. By the time the two of them reached the edge of the Anti-Apparition wards surrounding the safe house, Oliver was practically buzzing with enthusiasm.

"Why isn't Papa coming with us?"

"He said he has something important he must go check on instead."

"Oh…"

Her son hadn't yet learned how to shield his emotions the way that his parents could. Part of Hermione hoped that he never would. She liked his innocence. It would be a shame to see him lose it. Hooking his arm in hers, she pulled him against her side, preparing him for the unpleasantness of Side-Along Apparition. Before she took them to London, however, she couldn't resist sparing a moment to tease him.

"Are disappointed to be alone with your mum?"

"No, I just like it when we're all together."

She kissed the top of his head. If she could shield him from all of the pain and misery she knew was coming their way, she would've. It wasn't fair to him that he wasn't able to have a normal childhood, a normal family like other boys his age.

"Let's accidentally forget something important on your list that you can't possibly go to Hogwarts without and we'll encourage him to come with us next time."

Her plan made her son smile and his mood was instantly lifted. Nervous about leaving the safety of their secluded refuge, Hermione took a deep breath before she Disapparated them away. Whether she wanted to admit it to herself or not, she was afraid that she would see Rodolphus again. She wasn't sure what she would say to him when she saw him next or what she would do. After having her mind violated by the man for years, she was in no hurry to cross his path again. Especially not in front of her son. It was bad enough that the horrible wizard attacked their home with his goons while Oliver was inside. What would she have done if Alain and Mr. Akingbade weren't already on their way over to their home that night? She hated to even consider the possibilities.

It felt strange not entering Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron. Though most of the mess from the explosion had been cleaned up, there wasn't another building in its place. She wondered if that was by design or if there were plans to replace it in the future. Oliver didn't seem to care about the absence of the building nor understand how close his father had come to being killed in its destruction. Perhaps that was for the best. As quickly as she could, she ushered him away from the area.

Antonin hadn't been wrong about anything. The sheer number of people shopping was remarkable. There was an excitement, a joy present that she couldn't remember feeling for many years. Was this what it was like before the war began so many years earlier? It was a lifetime ago. How could she be expected to remember that world? Whatever it was, she found herself almost as excited to be there as her son.

They took their time going from shop to shop picking out the supplies he would need for his second year in the castle. Much like she was, Oliver wasn't dreading the beginning of the school year. He was ready for it, eager to return to a place he loved where he had friends and could freely move about. She desperately hoped that there wouldn't be any reason for him to have to return from his school year to a house that wasn't even a home. Was it possible that they could find somewhere safe and permanent before he finished his year? That they could even get to return to the home they left behind in Hogsmeade? Even if she'd spent a great deal of her time lately dreaming about running away, she couldn't deny that they had an actual home in Hogsmeade. Returning to it wouldn't be the worst fates.

"Mum, why is everyone staring at you?"

"Oh, are they? I hadn't noticed."

It was a complete lie, of course. She'd definitely felt the stares the moment they entered the Alley. Everyone was interested in her presence. Maybe they hoped that she was about to prove all of the theories correct about being completely insane. Wouldn't they just adore seeing the terrifying Madam Dolohov collapse into a fit of confusion right on the cobblestones? It was enough to make her roll her eyes and imagine which method of interrogation she would use on each person first if they were in a side-room on Level Eleven with her.

"Do we have everything on the list?"

"Everything except for the dragon-hide gloves."

She winked at her smiling son. Yes, they would both enjoy playing their little trick on Antonin. For the moment, however, she was anxious to leave. There were too many people who were staring and she hated that her son was aware.

"Want to sneak out to Muggle London and get ice cream?"

It didn't take much encouragement to get him to agree. While she knew that Antonin wouldn't be thrilled about her taking their son out of the protection of Diagon Alley, she planned on making certain they stayed around large numbers of Muggles. No one, not even Rodolphus Lestrange, would risk exposure by attacking her amongst the clueless Muggles.

Just outside of the Wizarding district, she considered her son's question again about why everyone seemed to be staring at his mother. He was too sharp to miss it. She decided that it was only fair that she tell him the truth. Slowing her steps down so they could easily hear each other, she was pleased to see him match hers.

"The reason they were staring at me, Ollie, is because on the day of the Dark Lord's funeral… I had a very public episode. I was very confused and thought that I was at a different funeral many years ago."

They weren't far from Diagon Alley's entrance when a figure crossed in front of them, stopping them from walking any further. Expecting at first to see the wizard she was afraid was capable of controlling her mind at his whim, Hermione almost relaxed when she saw Ginny Weasley staring back at her. Blessedly alone, she was glad that Oliver wouldn't have to meet the unstable William Wood and learn the secret of his name.

"Ginny, what are you doing here?"

Without thinking, but as an instinctive move, Hermione wrapped her non-wand arm around Oliver's shoulders. She reached into her pocket with her free hand to feel the handle of her wand. Just in case.

"It's a public street, Hermione. I can go where I please."

It was impossible to not notice how Ginny stared at Oliver. With a warm smile that Hermione hadn't seen on her face in years, the younger witch actually seemed pleased to see her son. She wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not. The Resistance Leader was an unknown variable. Wanting nothing more than to pick up the promised ice cream and rush back to Augustus' home, she found it difficult to move her feet forward. Something about Ginny unnerved her, tickled her suspicions. While she didn't feel like either one of them was in any danger, it was unsettling.

"This must be Oliver. Very handsome young wizard. You look just like your father, don't you? I bet you even have his dimples when you smile."

Ginny walked away from them only moments later, never explaining her true purpose for stopping them on the street.