This is being cross-posted from Ao3. It was originally posted on 4 My 2022.
Huge thank you to GaeilgeRua for allowing me the use of her Grammarly subscription to read this over. Any other mistakes are definitely my own
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. Star Wars characters are property of the Walt Disney Company & Lucasfilm. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this creation.
Prompt: While working on her research in the Death Chamber, one of her jealous coworkers loses their cool and shove the renowned war here through the Veil. Surprised to find herself in fact alive, Hermione is soon embroiled in the politics, drama, magic, and wars of a whole new Universe!
#HHBingo22 Square G4: Kylo Ren
#HPCrossoverBingo Square O2: Family
The sun rose quietly yet swiftly over the horizon on Tatooine, but Hermione was already awake and had been for hours. Today was the tenth anniversary of her arrival in this galaxy, so far, far away from home. Smiling as she sipped her tea, Hermione wondered what she'd be doing if Zabini hadn't pushed her through the Veil all those years ago…
Perhaps she'd be married to Ron with one or two children. Or, maybe she would be travelling the world with Luna as they tried to achieve equal rights for all creatures… But, there was no matter trying to dwell on it too much because there was no way she could ever go back to that life, not just because it would take years and years to find the Earth.
After being thrust into this new life with nothing but her wand and the clothes on her back, Hermione fell right into the midst of yet another senseless war. With barely any time to prepare, she'd been recruited by the Rebellion and learned of the politics that caused such an upheaval. It was nonsense, but once someone got in their head that they needed to be the ruler of all, this is what you wound up with. Unfortunately, she knew this all too well.
Rey had found her initially alone and confused in the middle of a dense forest…
"We're not in Kansas anymore," Hermione mumbled to herself as she took in her new surroundings. "I'm going to murder Zabini the next time I see him." Taking a look around, Hermione realized there was no twin Veil for her to return through. "That is if I ever see him again."
Before she could do any more looking around, there was a rustling, and a girl slightly taller than her stepped into the clearing. She held a strange metal object in her hand, and her hair was done in buns atop her head. She seemed surprised to see Hermione standing there and holding her wand.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the girl asked, moving into what Hermione could only describe as a fighter stance. She activated something on the strange object, and then a pulsing blue light emanated from it.
Hermione held up her hands in surrender, not wanting to cause this girl to use this strange weapon on her. Then, clearing her throat, she said, "This will sound absolutely crazy, but I think I've travelled a long, long way from where I belong…."
As it turned out, Rey had sensed her presence and came looking for her. Having been training with Leia, she'd had her lightsaber with her and BB-8. It took a bit of talking and some mind sharing on both their parts and Leia's, too, before they believed her story. Leia accepted her more quickly than Rey, but that was probably the mother in her. Whatever the case, Hermione had been thankful for their kindness and hospitality.
Mainly because the formidable Kylo Ren had sensed her presence as well.
Hermione's ability to do magic intensified her latent connection to the Force. So naturally, Kylo found this fascinating and would ask Rey about her anytime their Force Bond connected. But, of course, Rey was loath to reveal anything too interesting for fear of giving the First Order the upper hand in this war. However, all that changed when Hermione finally came face to face with him when Rey went to see Supreme Leader Snoke.
"I've never felt anything like you before," Kylo told Hermione as he walked a circle around her. "What are you?"
Trying to keep her breathing even and not show fear, Hermione kept meeting Kylo's heated stare. "I'm just as normal as you are," she said, glaring at him. "And I don't trust you, so you know. Rey might be willing to put her faith in you, but I don't
"That explains why you wouldn't allow her to come here alone," he noted, stopping finally to stare into her eyes. "Still, though, I want to know more about you."
"My story is not for you to know," Hermione told him, unsure why her heart was racing. She had her wand and knew how to use the Force to her advantage.
"When this is over, come with me," Kylo said, stepping so close to her now that she could count his eyelashes. "I can show you the ways of the Force. I have knowledge that Rey will never be able to share with you."
"I can't," Hermione whispered, slowly stepping away from him. "Not until I know I can trust you."
Trust.
Never did Hermione think that she could trust someone like Kylo Ren. She knew who he was and what he had done. What he stood for… But that all changed eventually. Kylo, in the end, gave up his darkness for the sake of the galaxy. After leaving Kef Bir, he'd sought out Hermione in hopes that she could help him save Rey and everyone from Palpatine's plans. He couldn't do it alone and remain alive.
So despite knowing only that Palpatine was perhaps more evil than Voldemort ever was, she took a chance and trusted Kylo. Had Hermione not felt such a horrible sense of foreboding and a broken heart from the loss of Leia, she probably would never have given him the time of day. Something about his desperate plea broke through her defences, and she decided to meet with him…
"I asked you to come with me once before," Kylo said, staring at the ground. He clenched his right hand into a fist and then slowly undid it. "I'm asking you to come with me again, but I need you to say yes this time."
Hermione bit her lip in thought, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle to keep from falling apart. Leia had become like a mother to her, and Rey like a sister. She knew that Rey had gone off to face Palpatine alone, but Hermione wanted the pain and loss to stop. Could listening to Kylo be the answer?
"Kylo, I-"
"Please-" His voice cracked as he interrupted, broken from the pain and loss he felt. "Call me Ben. My name is Ben, and I'm asking you, Hermione, to come and help me save Rey."
Something about how he met her eyes, the broken look in his gaze, got to her. Hermione closed the space between him and placed a comforting hand on his forearm. Ignoring his sharp breath at their first contact, she nodded her agreement.
"Okay, Ben," she told him. "Let's go save Rey."
At that moment, Hermione knew that she trusted Ben Solo, no longer the feared and deadly Kylo Ren. Ben had returned, and with Hermione by his side, they could easily ensure that Rey would not fall to Emperor Palpatine. In the end, they prevailed, and the galaxy was saved despite any nefarious plans intended to destroy everything Hermione had come to know and love about it.
In defeating Palpatine alongside Rey, Hermione had also fallen in love with Ben.
And then, after she shared some of her life force with him, he fell in love with her.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and she melted back into the embrace. Her reminiscing was brought to an end, but Hermione could only smile. A gentle yet firm kiss was placed on her neck, and she hummed. "Good morning, love."
"Good morning," Ben murmured sleepily into the crook of her neck. "You're up early today."
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted with a sigh. "You know how my mind likes to wander."
"I do," Ben said and gently held her tighter against his larger frame. "I woke up and missed my wife. Are you okay?"
"I am," she said, resting her head against his chest. "I was thinking about the past. About how I came to be here with you and the life I left behind."
"You miss Earth and your friends," Ben noted. "We can still try and find your galaxy if that is what you wish."
"Absolutely not," Hermione said with all sincerity. "I've been gone for ten years through the Veil. So I have no way of knowing if I went forward or backwards in time, or even if finding Earth is possible from here."
Ben chuckled and swayed them both back and forth in a bit of dance as the sun continued to rise. "I understand, but I needed to ask nonetheless.".
"Is Han awake?" Hermione asked, still staring off into the distance. "I can come inside and make us all some breakfast."
Ben chuckled, the sound vibrating her small frame. "He sleeps like his name-sake, so no, he is still lost in dreamland. We should enjoy this quiet solitude while it lasts."
"I am curious to see how his brother and sister compare," Hermione mused, her hands dropping to rest on her rounded stomach. She sighed happily, thinking that their little family of three would soon be five. "I know I sometimes get lost in thoughts of the past, but never forget that I am eternally thankful for having found myself here and with you."
Ben's hands came to rest on top of hers, and he said, "I am thankful every day for your arrival here too. I know you worry about those you left behind, but without you, my second chance at life would never have been."
Hermione twisted around as best she could and held Ben's face in her hands. His dark eyes twinkled with the same adoration and happiness she felt bubbling inside her own. "I love you, Ben," she murmured, thumbs brushing over his cheeks.
"I know."
Hermione merely laughed, quickly cutting off as Ben's lips captured hers. Yes, it had been ten years since she'd left everything she used to know behind, but she hadn't lied. This new life was everything she wanted and more. Whatever the next ten years brought, Hermione knew it would be grand so long as she had Ben and their family by her side.