Harry and Hermione

Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table at Grimmauld Place early Monday morning flipping through Witch Weekly when Harry came downstairs. He poured himself a cup of tea from the pot in front of her and sat down. "Anything good?"

"No," Ginny said. "But there is something odd."

"What?" Harry said.

She slid the magazine toward him and pointed to a large picture on the society page. "What do you make of that?"

Harry looked at it. Unlike the ones in The Daily Prophet, the photos in Witch Weekly were in color. In the photo, Hermione stood in a large white room. She was wearing a dark pink bikini with a matching tie-dyed sarong and was deeply tan. She was barefoot and looked distressed. In the background there were people moving about and some of them were dressed as healers. The caption only read: Hermione Granger Spotted in Paris. "It looks like she's in a hospital."

"That's what I thought," Ginny said. "But why would she be dressed like that?"

The Floo opened behind them and Ron stepped out of the kitchen fireplace. "Hiya. What are you two looking at?"

"Nothing," Harry said, but Ron was already leaning over to look.

"What's this?" Ron said, picking up the magazine.

"We were just trying to figure that out," Ginny said.

"She's hurting," Ron said quietly, setting the magazine back on the table. Harry and Ginny leaned over to look at the photo again.

"How can you tell?" Ginny asked.

"She's got her hand pressed against the scar on her side, and her other hand is clenched into a fist. Besides that's the expression she has when she's hurting and doesn't want anyone to know."

Ginny arched an eyebrow at him.

"What?" Ron said. "Just because we're not together right now doesn't mean I can't still read her body language."

"Why is she dressed like that though?" Harry asked. "And doesn't she generally cover her scars with a glamour charm?"

"I don't know why she's dressed like that, but yeah, usually if she's in a swimsuit they're covered," Ron said. "You should go check on her."

"Ron, she's in Paris," Ginny said.

"No, she isn't. I saw her in Diagon Alley going into the market yesterday."

"What did she say?" Harry asked.

"Nothing. I didn't talk to her. I was down the street."

Ginny and Harry glanced at each other.

"Maybe you should check on her," Ginny said.

Harry sighed. "Well, I can't just pop in. That clearly upset her last time."

"Then knock on the bloody door," Ron said. "How hard is that?"

Harry frowned at him. "Fine. I've got some errands to run in London anyway. I'll stop by before my first class."

xXx

Hermione was sound asleep when Viktor called her name. She lifted her head from the pillow only to instantly regret it. She glanced at the clock. It was almost eight. Why she had agreed to go out with Oliver and his girlfriend last night she couldn't currently fathom. They hadn't gotten in until after two in the morning. She had cotton mouth and a splitting headache.

"Hermione!" Viktor bellowed again from downstairs.

She got up, grabbing her wand from the nightstand as she did. He better have a good excuse for all the shouting. Her side cramped as she got up. "Dammit," she hissed and made her way downstairs. "If you don't stop shouting, I will hex you into next week," she said as she stepped into the kitchen, but instead of Viktor, Harry sat at the table with a cup of tea. Hermione felt all the blood drain from her face as she realized she was standing there in a too short, sheer nightie looking like death warmed over. She stepped back out into the hall and held out her hand for her dressing gown. She had no idea where Viktor was. He must have shouted for her to get up and then popped off for work without mentioning that Harry was there? She clenched her teeth in irritation.

A moment later, she went back into the kitchen knotting the sash of a black silk dressing gown around her waist. "Harry," she said, smiling. "What an unexpected surprise."

"I'm sorry," Harry said, standing to hug her. "I should have sent an owl, but I was in London, and thought I'd stop by." He made a face as he went to hug her and she knew she must reek.

She could feel herself blush as she said, "If you could give me a moment to freshen up and get dressed, we can have a spot of breakfast and a nice chat."

"I don't want to trouble you," Harry said, glancing around at the state of the kitchen.

Hermione forced a light laugh. "Don't be silly. I'll only be a moment." She cast a complex cleaning spell on the kitchen which caused her scar to tighten up. She hurried into her study, grabbed some hangover potion out of the cabinet and quickly swallowed it down before going back upstairs to shower and change. She took a quick shower and brushed her teeth, and cast a drying charm on her hair. She just left it down and pulled on a pair of charcoal gray slacks and a black cashmere jumper and some black loafers.

The dust bin was taking itself outside just as she stepped back into the kitchen. "How do you feel about a fry up, Muggle style?" she asked as she pulled eggs and bacon from the icebox.

Harry shrugged. "Sounds good, let me help." Hermione smiled and handed him a frying pan. They worked side by side.

"How have you been?" Hermione asked.

"Good," Harry said as he placed the bacon in the pan.

"Married life treating you well?"

"Very," he said. "Ginny's great."

She smiled at him. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you two are so happy."

"How are you doing?"

"Good," Hermione said, as she put some bread in the toaster.

"I'm glad to hear it. I was worried when I saw that photo."

She took a bowl out of the cabinet. "What photo?"

"The one in Witch Weekly."

"I don't read Witch Weekly." She cracked an egg into the bowl.

"Maybe you should. You're in it quite a lot."

"All the more reason not to read it."

"This week they had a picture of you standing in what looked like a hospital wearing nothing but a bikini and a sarong."

She cracked another egg into the bowl. "Oh, that."

"Yeah." Harry turned the bacon. "What was that about?"

"A friend of ours was hurt at the beach in France, so I took him side-along to the magical hospital in Paris."

"A friend of yours?" Harry said, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes. I have other friends."

He winced. "Ron said it looked like you were hurting."

Her eye twitched at the mention of Ron's name. "I'm fine."

"Okay," Harry said quietly. They finished making breakfast in silence.

When they were done and putting the plates on the table, Hermione said, "I'm famished."

"You look thin, too thin." Harry said as he cut into his egg.

Hermione shrugged. "I've lost a bit of weight I suppose. I've been really busy at work."

"And at play, it seems. You and Viktor make regular appearances on the cover of Witch Weekly and in the society column of the Prophet."

She didn't understand why he wanted to start in about that again. She grimaced. "It's constant, I know. Vultures. Especially Rita. Although, it's not as if you don't make regular appearances yourself."

Harry nodded. "Yeah." He took a bite of bacon. "It looks like you're packing."

Hermione looked out the window. A group of children in matching school uniforms walked by on the other side of the street. "I'm moving in with Viktor."

Harry set down his fork. "You're what?"

She sighed. "This place is too big for two people. His flat is closer to the Ministry and the Stadium. We spend most of our time there anyway." That wasn't true. They'd spent most of their time at her place, but Viktor had made a good point about not needing to Apparate to the Ministry from his flat. "It seems silly to keep going back and forth when the Diagon Alley entrance to the Ministry is right across from his building."

"But Hermione," Harry said.

She looked at him, but he didn't say anything. She shook her head. "It's not like I'm selling this place. It's just more convenient to live with Viktor right now."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "More convenient?"

Hermione sighed. "You know what I mean."

Harry frowned. "I don't think I do."

"Viktor is a good person, Harry."

"Are you listening to yourself?" Harry asked. "'He's a good person' is something you say about a coworker, not someone you're planning on moving in with."

Hermione glared at him. He was being such a prat about this. "What do you want from me, Harry?"

"Tell me that you love him. Tell me that you're happy. Tell me that this is about more than just getting back at Ron." He'd crossed a line with the last part. Hermione felt herself flush with anger.

"This has nothing to do with Ron," she hissed, furious that he would think that. "You of all people should know me better than that."

"I thought I did," Harry said. "But when you first walked down those stairs, I barely recognized you. What's going on? What are you doing?"

Hermione shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just living. I take things as they come now. I don't let myself get wound up like I used to. Viktor understands that."

"Are you saying Ron doesn't?" Harry asked.

"I'm saying," Hermione said, sighing with frustration, "that this doesn't have anything to do with Ron. Viktor and I are in the same place right now. We work. I'm sorry if that isn't the relationship picture you want me to paint, but I think I've outgrown my rainbows and butterflies phase. Right now, I'm just happy to be with someone kind who appreciates me and doesn't expect me to be something I'm not."

"Okay," Harry said. "But are you saying Ron didn't appreciate you? Or that he wasn't kind?"

"Harry," Hermione sighed again. The whole conversation was exhausting.

"I'm just trying to figure this out. I don't understand what happened."

"You'll have to ask Ron," she said.

"I'm asking you." He was clearly irritated with her. "Why won't you tell me?"

She felt a sudden wave of sadness that overwhelmed her irritation that he wouldn't let it go. "I just can't."

"All he says is that you left."

"Well, that makes sense," Hermione said, all the fight drained out of her.

Harry shook his head. "No, it doesn't! It doesn't make any sense at all. You're too loyal to just leave. You loved him too much."

Hermione could feel herself tear up. She closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry.

"Please," Harry pleaded. "I don't understand."

She stood and stroked her fingers down his face and cupped his cheek. "Me either. You need to go." She left the room, letting the tears fall as she walked back upstairs.

xXx

When Viktor got back later that evening, Hermione was drunk in the parlor. There were two bottles of wine, one empty and one half full, and a full ashtray on the coffee table and a heatless fire roaring in the fireplace. She was asleep when he came in.

"Hermione!" he shouted.

She barely opened her eyes. "Yeah."

"What the hell is all this? Did you not go to work? What did Harry say to you this morning?"

"Nothing," she mumbled and let her head loll back.

Viktor reached for her. "Get up."

"No," she groaned.

He stormed into her study and went through her potions cabinet until he found an antidote to common poisons. He was irritated to see the memories were still in their bottles pushed to the back of the cabinet. He returned to the parlor. "Get up," he said again.

She rolled away from him.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her up. "Sit up and drink this."

"I don't want it," she growled.

"I do not care," he said, shaking her by the shoulders. "Drink this yourself or I will pour it down your throat."

She glared at him, her eyes flashing. "I'd like to see you try."

He gritted his teeth. "Do not push me, Hermione. I may not be as powerful as you are, but I am not weak, and in your current condition, I like my chances. Just drink the potion."

She set her jaw and he thought she was going to refuse, which made him nervous. He didn't like to think how this might go, she could be extremely dangerous, even more so uninhibited. When she snatched the potion out of his hand and drank it, he breathed a sigh of relief.

She fell over and curled into a ball, her teeth clenched against the pain. Viktor knew the antidote caused sudden intense cramps, but he also knew they'd pass quickly. "I know it hurts, but it will be over in a minute."

"Fuck you," she managed to spit out.

"Maybe later," he said glibly.

"In your dreams," she growled.

He chuckled. "In my dreams, in my bed, against the wall, on the floor, wherever."

She glared at him but began to uncurl. When she could sit up, she frowned at him. "Why exactly was that necessary?"

"You were drunk and we have a charity event in an hour."

She closed her eyes and turned away from him. "I forgot."

"Clearly," he said. "What happened after I left this morning?"

"Nothing," she said again and stood. "I'm going to get in the shower."

"Do not do that," he said.

She rolled her eyes. "Unless you want me to go like this, I need to shower."

"That is not what I meant, and you know it," Viktor said, irritated with her. "What did Harry say? And do not say 'nothing.'"

"Fine. How about none of your business?"

"It is always secrets with you."

"Don't start."

"He has Apparition privileges into this house. He shows up unannounced. The last time he came in he lifted up your shirt like I was not even there. Did he undress you this time as well?"

She frowned at him. "Don't exaggerate. He didn't undress me last time. He was checking a wound."

"One you hide from everyone else."

"I don't hide it from you. I don't even hide it from Todor and Pietra."

"Only because they saw it by accident, not because you were being open about it," he said angrily.

"What do you want Viktor?"

"I want you to be honest with me," he said, softening his tone.

"Fine. Harry was upset to find out you and I were moving in together. He wants me back with Ron and doesn't understand why I left him. Happy now?"

"Why do you not just tell him why you left?" Viktor asked gently.

She shook her head. "I can't do that."

"Why not? Harry is your friend. You have obviously been through a lot together. Too much. Why can you not be honest with him?"

She sighed. "Because he's married to Ron's sister. He's Ron's best friend. If I told him, he'd be furious at Ron."

"Someone should be," Viktor said, exasperated with her stance on this.

"No. If I drive a wedge between Ron and Harry then that will force Ginny to choose sides. Ron has a close family. If Ginny and Ron are on the outs, the others will notice and want to know why, which could potentially isolate Ron from the family, and he needs them. He needs Harry. Look, the last few times I've seen him, he's been sober. You know how important that is. I don't want to mess it up. What happened is over. I've moved on."

"Have you?" Viktor said. "Because it seems to me, if you had, there would be no need to get drunk over it."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "I miss them. Okay? I miss them. They were my best friends, my first real friends. I spent almost every day with them for eight years. It's hard not to have them in my life, which isn't to say I'm not happy. You're great, and I like Todor and Pietra and Oliver and the rest of your teammates. I do, but it's not the same." She wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. Viktor put his arms around her and she hugged him back. "It's so hard sometimes."

"I know," he said, and kissed her forehead. "It seems to me you have sacrificed an awful lot for Ron."

"I did," she said quietly. "But he sacrificed more for me."

xXx

Ginny was fixing Harry's tie when they heard Ron shout from downstairs, "Oi, are you two ready? It's time to go."

Harry sighed and bellowed back, "We'll be down in a minute."

"Are you going to tell him?" Ginny asked.

"Only if he asks," Harry said.

Ginny smiled sympathetically. "You know he's going to."

"Yeah, I know. Let's go downstairs. We don't want to be late."

Ron was pacing when they reached the kitchen. "What took you so long? We're supposed to be there in ten minutes."

"Which means we have nine more minutes," Ginny snapped.

"Yeah, but I wanted to ask how it went," Ron said. When neither of them said anything, he prompted, "With Hermione."

"Fine," Harry said. "She's good."

"Then what was the deal with that picture?"

Harry shrugged. "Not much really. One of their friends got hurt in France so Hermione took him side-along to the magical hospital in Paris."

"Dressed like that?" Ron said incredulously.

"It was an emergency and they were at the beach," Harry said.

"Well, what else did she say?" Ron asked.

"Nothing."

"What do you mean? She was clearly hurting in that picture,"

"I told you," Harry said, irritated that Ron wouldn't drop it. "She's fine."

"That's it?" Ron said, exasperated.

"Ron, let it go," Ginny said.

"Seriously," Ron said. "What did you do, just show up, ask about the picture, and leave?"

"No. We had breakfast together."

"And?"

"And then I left."

"That can't be all you talked about," Ron said.

Harry frowned, irritated that Ron wouldn't take the hint. "Fine. We talked about her moving in with Viktor because she was obviously packing. There were boxes all over the place."

"What?" Ron gasped.

"Yeah. They're moving in together and then I made an ass of myself by bringing up you."

Ron's face fell. "You didn't."

"I did. For the thousandth time, I asked why she left and for the thousandth time, she told me to ask you."

"Right," Ron said, sitting down hard on one of the kitchen chairs.

"Bollocks! I'm so sick of this rubbish from both of you." He turned to Ginny. "Come on, let's go." He drew his wand and took her hand and they disappeared leaving Ron alone with his thoughts.

xXx

The charity event was a gala to raise galleons for people devastated by the war. Viktor looked very handsome in his navy-blue dress robes, he had a little gold pin of crossed bulrushes on his lapel to show his affiliation with Puddlemere United. Hermione was in a scarlet gown with a fairly high neckline, but a very low back, a gift from Viktor.

"You look fantastic," he said as he ushered her into the event with his hand on the small of her back. She took comfort in the warmth of his hand as flash bulbs went off all around them. She had her standard public smile plastered on her face, but inside she grimaced at the attention. It wasn't that she didn't like the way she looked. She knew the dress fit well and her hair was up in a smooth French twist that accentuated her neck, but she just wasn't in the mood for the show. People were going to request photos of her with Ron and Harry, and she was irritated with both of them.

"I need a glass of wine," she said as they entered the ballroom.

Viktor arched a disapproving eyebrow at her.

"What?" she said. "Surely you don't expect me to do this entirely sober."

He frowned. "Haven't you had enough today?"

"I don't think so," she snapped.

His frowned deepened, but he headed to the bar anyway. The moment he left her side, Hermione regretted not following. She could see Harry and Ginny on the other side of the room.

"Hermione?"

She turned to see Thomas Greene approaching. "Thomas. What are you doing here?"

"I suppose the same thing you are. It's a good cause. Although, come to think of it, I had to pay to get in. I suspect you're a special guest."

Hermione could feel herself blush. "It's a nice surprise to see you outside of work."

He smiled. "I do occasionally leave the department."

"We all have to sometimes," she said, smiling back.

Viktor returned then with two glasses of red wine. He handed one to Hermione. "Thank you," she said. "Viktor this is Thomas Greene. Thomas this is Viktor Krum."

The two men shook hands.

"I work with Hermione," Thomas said. "She's a tremendous asset to the department."

Viktor smiled. "That does not surprise me."

"I have to say," Thomas continued. "You had a banner season this year. I'm hoping the coming one will be just as good."

"Thank you," Viktor said modestly. "I hope so too."

"I'm sorry to ask, but do you think I could get a picture with you two? My mum will lose her mind."

"Of course," Viktor said.

Thomas waved over a photographer and a moment later he stood between them and the flash went off. "That's great. Thank you," he said. "I'll let you two get back to your evening. Have a good night."

"You too," Hermione said.

Viktor chuckled softly next to her. "He seems nice."

"He is. He's also brilliant."

"He speaks very highly of you."

"I'm brilliant too." She winked at him.

Viktor laughed. "I know, darling. No need to remind me."

Hermione laughed.

"It was nice to be asked for a photograph together. That doesn't happen much."

"No," she said wistfully. "I wish they were all like that."

He kissed her forehead and she sipped her wine.

A band started to play a few minutes later, and Viktor held out his hand. "Care to dance?"

"Always." She took his hand.

xXx

Ron appeared outside the event after it was in full swing. He'd decided to go stag because his last three dates were abysmal. Maybe he'd luck out and Hermione would show up without Krum and they could talk, really talk. He hated that he'd missed that opportunity at Harry and Ginny's wedding. He was disappointed almost immediately. He spotted her instantly in her crimson gown dancing with Viktor. They were doing a foxtrot, and he was irrationally angry that Viktor was such a good dancer. Why had he never taken the time to learn to really dance when he was with her? Why did he have to wait to do that until she was already gone. He was a pretty good dancer now, not as good as Viktor, but he could move a woman around a dance floor without tripping over himself or stepping on her. He could follow the beat. Viktor, on the other hand, looked like he could have been a professional dancer. What a prat. Viktor twirled Hermione then and Ron noticed the plunging backline of her dress. Something tightened in his gut and he remembered running his tongue along her spine and holding her hips as he took her from behind. He could still remember the taste of her, could still remember the feel of her sweat slick body beneath him. He shook his head to clear the memories before he ended up with a raging hard-on in a room full of people.

"Hey," Ginny said, coming up behind him with two glasses of beer in her hands. "I wasn't sure you'd show."

"I'm here," Ron said, turning away from Viktor and Hermione. "What are you doing?"

"Getting Harry and me a beer," Ginny said.

"Isn't the guy supposed to do that?" Ron asked with a smirk.

"We could die of thirst waiting for him to be able to extricate himself from his adoring public," Ginny said. "It's easier if I go."

xXx

Now that the golden trio were assembled, people began to approach Hermione about having her picture taken with Ron and Harry. For the next two hours, she danced and periodically had her photo snapped. She was always sure to put the new person and Harry between her and Ron. She knew he noticed because he gave her a hurt look every time she did it. Eventually, he couldn't stand it anymore and used his considerable wingspan to reach out and stroke her arm behind everyone's backs. She flinched away from him, causing Harry to notice. Ron had the decency to look chagrined as he blushed crimson. After the photo, Hermione excused herself and went out on to the balcony for some fresh air. Ron watched her go.

Ginny, who had been standing to the side and had witnessed the whole thing, narrowed her eyes at her brother. "What did you do?"

He glowered at her. "Mind your own business." He walked off.

Harry looked at Ginny. "What was that about?"

Ginny shook her head. "I don't know, but I don't like it."

Harry sighed. "I'm going to go talk to her. Viktor looks like he's tied up for the moment." Across the room Viktor was surrounded by people having an animated conversation.

"Good idea," Ginny said.

xXx

Harry found Hermione smoking a cigarette alone on the balcony.

"Hey," he said.

She turned to look at him. "Hi, Harry."

"Well that got weird," Harry said.

"What?"

"You flinched away from him."

Hermione gave him a sharp look and took a long drag on her cigarette. She blew out a stream of smoke. "He shouldn't put his hands on me."

"It's not as though he groped you."

"He knows better," she insisted. "Any touch can be misconstrued. What if someone snapped a photo of that? The next Witch Weekly will feature it on the cover with a headline implying that I'm stepping out on Viktor right under his nose."

Harry cocked his head and looked at her. Her explanation was plausible, but he felt like there was more to it than that. Her response to Ron's touch had been so immediate, it was hard to believe it was calculated. Harry had already pissed her off earlier that day though, so he just said. "Sure. Right." She took another drag of her cigarette and turned back to lean against the railing. Harry leaned next to her. "I wanted to apologize about this morning. I didn't go there with the intention of upsetting you. It's just that this is hard for me."

"I know," she said gently.

"Anyway," Harry said. "I won't bring it up again."

"I appreciate that," Hermione said.

He gave her a weak smile before going back inside. She lit another cigarette and wished she'd thought to grab a glass of wine. A few minutes later, she felt warm hands slide around her waist.

"Taking a break?" Viktor said, and kissed the back of her neck.

"I needed one," Hermione said.

"How much longer do we have to stay?"

She turned around to face him. "Well, we've made our donations, and we've been here for three hours, and we both have to work in the morning. I think it's fair to go anytime now."

"Good," he said. "Because that dress has been crying out for me to take it off all night."

She smiled and he cupped her neck as he bent to kiss her.

xXx

When Ron saw Harry come back in, he began moving through the crowd to reach the balcony doors. He wanted to talk to Hermione. She couldn't keep doing this to him. He didn't understand why was she treating him like some kind of leper and always putting as many people as possible between them for a photo. He couldn't imagine why she'd flinched away from him. One finger on her arm and she acted like he'd burned her. Something tugged at the back of his mind, something about that last night, but before he could catch the memory it was swept away by the scene in front of him. As Ron approached the balcony doors, he saw her in Viktor's arms. Viktor leaned in to kiss her. He had his hand on her neck in a way that Ron knew she liked. She had her hands on his chest and he knew how that felt. He was suddenly cold all over like he'd been plunged into ice water. Without breaking the kiss, he saw Hermione raise her wand, and then they were gone.

Ron continued on to the balcony and leaned against the railing and stared out at Muggle London glittering below him. He thought about Hermione's hands: how small they felt when he held them, how cool they felt when she touched him, how she'd always had one on him when they slept. He wasn't sure if she'd done that to confirm that he was there, safe beside her, or to reassure herself that she wasn't alone. Maybe it was both. A chilly breeze blew across the balcony reminding him that summer was over. He closed his eyes and let it wash over him. He wondered if she kept a hand on Viktor at night. He shook his head, still disbelieving things had turned out like they had. He looked at his watch. Margaret, his bedtime buddy at The Leaky Cauldron, was still at work for another hour. It was only ten o'clock, so he pulled his wand and Apparated to the Burrow.