Deepest Wishes
Chapter 2
A/N: Took a while to patch up the second chapter, a much better one in my own opinion. This chapter is the real beginning of the adventure, the first one were more of an prologue. A transaction from the original story, where we will be leaving the original authors biggest mistakes behind. Hope you will enjoy this chapter, please take your time to leave an imprint of your thoughts after reading.

Precisely two years later:

It was a calm summer night, the stars were brighter than usual during the summer. They appeared to be dancing in the sky, to the distinctive an unmistakable sounds of insects. playing their loving melody through the calm night. Hay fields laid still, like they were made out of stone. There wasn't a breeze to even tickle the grass. Fields stretched over several small hills, claiming it as a calm place in nature. If it wasn't for one single point, only visible to a selected group of wizards and witches.

In between the fields, a towering and crooked cottage stood. If it wasn't because of magic, the house would have broken together ages ago.

Stretching six stories high with several chimneys, it looked like nothing else seen. This were the home of the Weasley family, currently resident of Molly, her husband Arthur, their youngest boy Ron. Percy had long since moved out, finding his own place closer to the ministry of magic. The twin-brothers, George and Fred lived with their current girlfriends in their own flats. Magically enlarged flats of course, because the second floor of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes were strictly constructed with two small rooms. Charlie lived with the other dragoon-keppers in Rumania, while Charlie had his own small cottage.

So, the crooked cottage named The Burrow now only had three Weasly's left living inside. Beside them, there were a fourth person, who's been living here for a year now. The new member of the family were the reason to why the garden had been so tenderly taken care of. Where people would have found the garden overgrown a year ago. They could now find a relaxing place in heaven, like a miniature copy of eden. There were no frogs left in the pond and while the gnomes wasn't all gone. They had been fairly taken care of, convinced by small pieces of cleaver picked magic. That they would find more suitable homes closer to the, so called Weasley Quidditch Pitch.

While entering the cottage, the kitchen would still be cramped and small. But everything were neatly cleaned, like there had been an house elf's around. The famous magical clock, gave away the wellness of each family member at the moment. A quick glance at the clock, would have told an earlier visitor that something had changed. But if you visited The Burrow for the first time, there were no trace of the changes that had taken place.

Only three rooms in the towering cottage were lit at the moment, one being the kitchen. There were always candles, ready two welcome any family member home after a late night at work. The same would go for the narrow staircase, leading upwards to the bedrooms. You could easily break a leg if you accidently tripped in the dark. As the weasley's aunt had done, before Charlie and Bill came upon age to go to Hogwarts.

Upon the first floor, the door stood open showing the third room in the house, not covered in darkness. The room was packed, walls nearly covered with bookcases. Only a few patches were left, so you could actually see the bright color the walls once had. There wasn't space for much furniture inside. A single bed, two cabinets, a plushy and worn-out sofa made for two and a small work-desk. The work-desk were covered with parchments and quills, on the top an open book could be found. The displayed chapter were about an advanced healing spell.

A bushy brown hair could be found, under an especially heavy book. Hiding her facial features from the world, while she really wasn't hiding behind the book. She had just fallen asleep, like so many times before while studying. When she woke up, she would have to wash the ink of her face, yet another time. That's something Hermione Granger had grown used to.

Molly had bought this sofa for her, so she could fall asleep softly instead of laying bent over the desk. She worried to much about the young witch's future back-problems. Carrying around heavy books all the time, sleeping over the desk. Hermione had been used to that, Ron equally used to see her doing that.

If she had been awake, she would noticed the sound of wings in the night. But as the large and majestic, snowy white owl landed beside her head, she didn't even squirm. Hedwig stared at her care-keeper just as the young woman jolted back in her sleep, like she had been attacked. The book made a loud thud as it hit the floor. The owl scooted herself close enough to nibble on the girl's ear, like so many times before when she had nightmares.

Hermione swatted her arms around, making Hedwig duck to keep herself unhurt as the girl slowly let her eyelids open. Taking in the smooth light of the candle on her desk.
The owl hooted lowly as Hermione stretched her arms above her head, working out a few kinks in her back.

' I'm sorry Hedwig ' she said before letting out a sigh and patted the treasured owl who closed her eyes in appreciation. Hermione sat there and continued to pat the owl as it jumped down into her knee. They sat like that for several minutes, alone to their thoughts before the owl began to nibble on Hermione's fingers. Clearly looking for her attention.

' Ouch, you don't have to be so rough ' she said, without any trace of anger in her voice. They were just bickering in their own way, like they had grown used to for the last two years. The owl stared at her with her big yellow eyes, penetrating her like it could do read her thoughts. The next second Hermione dipped her head low, taking a few calming breaths, causing her patting to stop.

' It happened again, guess I owe you one for waking me up ' she looked upon the owl who blinked proudly, in some strange way.

She stood up while placing the owl upon her shoulder, still a bit shaken after the dream. Having Hedwig close, always helped to ease her up, clear her mind a little. They moved over to the neatest of the two cabinets, she pushed the door open with a slightly shaking hand. As the candle light reached the content, there were a worn old trunk on the bottom. The lid were open showing, old baggy clothes and the usual Gryffindor school robes. Leaned towards the side, a carefully cleaned broomstick stood. You could still read out Firebolt on the handle, if you looked close enough. There were an small bookshelf, with an homemade photograph album on honorary display. It were closed as her fingers reached for the cover. Around the walls, there were wizard-pictures looking at her. Once upon time, they had been happy and waving towards people, right now they looked at Hermione with sadness in their eyes.

She flipped the album open, staring at the pair who greeted her with much happier looks. The witch's green eyes had something approving in them, while the wizard hugging the witch waved towards her.
She sighed, there were weeks since she had dreamed like this. And every time, she ended up in the cabinet, staring into the album for hours. She felt Hedwig lean into her bushy hair, trying to comfort her as her eyes began to moister and the dream replayed in her head.

They were outside The Burrow, no one dared to either talk or move. Molly cradled the lifeless form of her daughter into her chest while crying loudly. They had been staring at the scene for nearly an hour. Neither Ron nor Arthur could move, tears flooded down their cheeks. Incapable of comfort the much more hurting mother.

' Ginny ' was all they could hear the woman mumble between her sobs, hermione's heart felt to heavy, to watch any more. Instead she tried to glance at the others, Bill were enveloped in fleaur's slender arms, he tried hard not to cry. Fleur did her best to hide his tears as she pressed his head onto her chest.

Hermione at the moment, hated anything that had to do with male behavior. Why tried boys so hard to hide their emotions, like if some crying could take their soul away. She has seen it before, Ron tried to hide his own tears as much as he could. But it was Harry who manifested her theory, he had seen people die right in front of him. He had seen his godfather die and their well-known headmaster Albus Dumbledore been killed. Yet he never admitted that he cried for them, not to her anyway. She knew he cried, on more occasions then she wanted to count. Ron had told her, probably about the most times when he had heard the sobering sounds from his best mates bed. She had been chocked when Ron even mentioned that, maybe Harry had mastered the silencing charm, just to keep people from notice his pain.

That was so him, so bloody chivalry. He were supposed to be there for his friends, help them, rescue them and not the other way around. He made every attempt to hide his pain, just to make sure they didn't worry.

At these thoughts, Hermione noticed something. She had been standing, rooted at the spot for nearly an hour. But she hadn't noticed that Harry wasn't with them. Her head snapped around faster then anything else seen in the area. He wasn't back with Ron and Arthur, she had sworn that he would be close to Molly and Ginny. She scanned the garden for him, without any success. In the same moment, her heart choose ignore the hurting feeling of ginny's death. Her heartbeat began racing, fast enough to hurt her chest. She stared into the open door and ran pass a chocked Fleaur. Being still for over an hour, hermione's unpredicted rush inside the house made them all stare after her.

She ran through the house in search for Harry, how could she had forgotten about him. She had been so sad, loosing the closest thing she had to a girlfriend. That she had forgotten to comfort Harry, ginny's now former boyfriend. She gave the kitchen a hasty glance before running up the stairs towards Ron's bedroom. Where Harry had been staying for the last weeks. Her hopes of finding the crying boy in his bed vanished as she nearly threw the door of it hinges when she crashed inside. The room were empty, she breathed heavily while trying to clear her mind.

' Where are you Harry ' she asked herself , backing out of the room with small steps before once again rushing down towards the first floor. She stopped right outside Ginny's room, the room they had shared during most vacations. She tried to calm herself, her hand shaking as she reached for the knob. There were voices down from the kitchen, the Weasley's apparently decided to get back inside.

She turned the lock and pushed open the door slowly, not daring to peak inside. There were already fears in her mind, fears that her heart wouldn't accept, fears that her mind thought long before she would admit it to herself.

From this day on, she would hate herself for being the brightest witch in her year. She already knew as the door fell open, revealing a nearly empty room. There were no Harry inside, she had wished, but she knew he wouldn't be inside. She was about to close the door, when she noticed something. Even if the room were dark, there were something on top of her camping bed. She moved into the room and suddenly heard the faintest movements, raising her wand high, she exclaimed the charm in a hushed voice.

' Lumos ' the light filled the room from the tip of her wand and her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. On the top of her bed sat Hedwig along with a few of Harry's most private possessions. The photo album Hagrid made Harry for his first christmas, The firebolt given to him by his deceased Godfather. Along with a hastily bunted pile of wizarding pictures, they wasn't framed. Harry had just saved them, in hopes of finding somewhere to frame them.

Hermione took the two small steps needed to her camping bed, Hedwig looked confused at her. She seemed to know as little as Hermione, but before the owl had a chance. Hermione had thew her arm around the owl and clutched her softly against her chest, Hedwig only stirred, but didn't fought the embracing warmness.
Hedwig was a cleaver owl, she could feel Hermione's stress at the moment and leaned into the girl, in a chance to calm her. In both of their minds, they realized as Ron, Arthur and Bill came into the room. Clearly looking for both Hermione and Harry, they had apparently forgotten about him, just as she had.

They thought they would find Harry crying out to Hermione, but what they found were Hermione crying on the floor. With Hedwig safely embraced in her arms, she cried silently, wetting the feathers of the owl.

' Hermy, what's going on? Where's.... ' Ron tried to ask as Hermione let out a loud veil and begun to cry uncontrollably, neither of the three men inside wanted to really know, what was going on.
' h-h-he left ' she stammered between sobs, it took a few seconds for them to realize what she had meant. When they did, their eyes widened, with both chock and fear.
' he can't have! ' Ron burst out, little too much emotional then he should have, because the reaction he got from Hermione wasn't exactly what anyone would have believed from the witch. Without a seconds chance, Ron were thrown into the wall with a loud bang by both wandless and speechless magic. Bill and Arthur stared first at Ron, then at Hermione who hadn't turned around and still hold on to Hedwig like her life depended on it.

Ron coughed as the air reached his lungs again, staring chocked at his girlfriend. She never attacked him like that before, if he didn't count the time when he snogged Lavender in the common room and she hexed him with her canaries.

' He left us, he didn't want to hurt us any more. He blame himself for... ' she couldn't continue that sentence, before taking a few calming breaths. Tears still falling from her now puffy red eyes.
' Harry don't want us to end up like Ginny. He left to protect us, with him away, v-v-Voldermort won't be tempted to hurt us ' she strained herself by making such a long sentence. Her head felt dizzy, like she could faint any moment now.
' That's bullocks ' mumbled Ron, still sitting on the floor rubbing his head with his palm. Hermione raised herself, still Hedwig in her arms and sat on the bed, her red eyes met Ron's equally red ones.
' You know it isn't, He's Harry '

She closed the album, she used to feel better by looking at Harry's old pictures. But today wasn't that kind of day. After closing the cabinet she moved back towards the sofa. Tucking her legs underneath her while drawing the blanket close to her body, Hedwig jumped up the back of the sofa when Crookchanks climbed her knee. The two creatures wasn't on friendly terms yet, but shared a greater understanding for Hermione's needs. Crookshanks, would always be closest to the witch, Hedwig couldn't compete with that. But being left by Harry, not only in Hermione's care. But to take care of Hermione, something the owl was sure of. Her master always had the best intentions, even if he was reckless, sometimes just as dense and stupid as Ron. Not to forget his over-grown sense of protectiveness against his loved friends.

Hermione had tried to send Hedwig to find Harry, but the owl just shook her head in denial. The action had been enough to bring Hermione into tears and nearly in rage threw a fit, while she tried to threw Hedwig out the window. It wasn't like the owl didn't want to find Harry. Hedwig loved Harry, wanting nothing less then nibbling his ears, feeling his soft hands upon her feathers. The problem was that the owl couldn't sense Harry's position. From the moment he had left her upon Hermione's bed, she's been confused. It wasn't before Hermione tried to threw her out the window, that the owl had understood, Harry didn't wanted to be found.

Hermione understood the same, a week later when Hedwig returned to her. The owl had been around, but didn't dare to return before the witch came to her senses. Since then, the three of them. Hermione, Crookshanks and Hedwig spent many evenings together. She needed someone to talk to, she had that need for the last year and a half.

That's when her relation with Ron crashed and burned, like a dying phoenix. Maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but Hermione hadn't objected when Ron told her, his old feelings had disappeared. She knew it was her fault, she had tried, and tried again only to fail to keep the appearance. But after Harry left, she wasn't the same, Ron noticed this before anyone else. He did what he could to comfort her, scared that she would shed more tears when he broke up with her. But she hadn't cried one single tear, she had told him the same, that their lovely feelings were long gone and wished him to go on with his life.

So, they went on being just friends around the first christmas without both Harry and Ginny around. It was the worst christmas she could remember, she had locked herself into the room she and Ginny used to share. When she cried in her room, Molly cried around the whole house, missing both teenagers so much that the usually weasely sweater were absent under the christmas tree.

Ron and the others, mostly kept their distance to both of them, not knowing how to handle the situation. It improved a little, when Tonks and Lupin came over. Both Molly and Hermione put on their bravest faces. The whole evening ended, with Hermione catching up with the pair as they were about to leave The Burrow.

' Please, wait ' her voice were pained, both Tonks and Lupin stopped dead in their tracks. Somehow, it felt like they had been prepared to face her about the subject she had in mind.

' Of course dear ' Tonks said sweetly and turned around Lupin while she tried to hide herself behind him. Their feeling about the topic were obvious and it didn't calm Hermione down the slightest. But she had to ask someone, there wasn't any chances to ask in The Burrow, the topic felt outlawed and she didn't even dare to discuss it with Ron any more.

' Have you heard anything, please tell me ' she begged, her brown eyes nearly glittering with an emerald tint as she asked. Making the pair in front of her dread even more, to give the girl an answer she didn't want to hear. Lupin rested his hand on her shoulder as Tonks moved around him quickly and pulled the girl into a tight hug.
' I'm sorry Hermione ' Tonks mumbled into her ear, the girl nearly lost the energy she had collected to ask them and just fell into the embrace, letting Tonks hold her up.
' No one in the order have been able to track him down, even the minstry tried and failed ' Lupin explained, but didn't give her what she needed. She WANTED to know that Harry was okay, he could already be dead, without them knowing. She glanced up into Tonks bright eyes, they were pained for her cause.

' Ease up girl, he isn't dead you know ' those few words gave her energy to stand upon her own legs again. She must have had a chocked face, because both Lupin and Tonks stared at her.
' You-Know-Who is furious, because the death-eathers can't find him either ' Lupin said, he had given up. This was classified information, just for the ears of the order. Tonks had been guarding Hogwarts during the fall and described the downfall of the girl. He couldn't help, but she needed to knew at least as much as the order.
' You mean, he isn't... ' Hermione began, before her voice gave away, the word dead wasn't something she wanted to say, absolutely not in combination with thoughts about Harry.

' Of course not. Don't you think The Dark Lord would have boosted about it, if he had been. ' it wasn't a question from Tonks side, she stated a fact. Hermione always liked facts, things that's based upon truths. Thinking that way, Harry was out there, somewhere and very much alive. A small sigh left her body and a small smile made it's way on both Tonks and Lupin's faces. Just a few words, had changed Hermione's whole behavior, they had broken a few trusts. But they both felt it had been for the best.
' I've hoped, and thought about it. But what is he doing? ' It was a polite question from Hermione's side, sincere and careening. It made Lupin and Tonks share a quick look at each other before Lupin stared away into the dark christmas night. Silently wondering about how Harry Potter spent this christmas.

' He's fighting of course ' Tonks claimed, still smiling towards Hermione who stared, somewhat caught in the situation, unable to understand. Acting more like Ron then herself.
' Probably ' said Lupin without turning around, still staring into the darkness.
' He's fighting for us, to keep us alive...unharmed ' he continued as the silence between the three of them became thick, like an invisible wall.
' We'll keep you informed Hermione, I'll promise ' Lupin said without looking at her, she could have guessed there were tears in his eyes. But didn't had a chance as he gripped Tonks by the hand and dragged her out of the garden before apperating away with a crack.

Their talk calmed Hermione down, from being a wreck she went to be close to normal. She could be around the other weasley's without breaking down, but still cried when she went to bed and dwelled in her mind. Ron were happy, just to see her without tears. He even asked her if she wanted to join him, while visiting Luna Lovegood. She and her father were the closest living family to The Burrow, Hermione had turned down his offer. Already knowing why Ron wanted to spend time with Luna, something that Ron would find out for himself during the spring.

Instead, she stayed at the cottage, alone with Molly. It was their first experience of being alone with each other, there was a few difficulties in the beginning. But in the end, it had served a good purpose to build a bridge between them. As close to mother - daughter they could be.

' Hermione ' Molly said with a hugh sigh, she stared down the bowl were the young witch had tried to prepare dough for the afternoon baking. It wasn't the first time and absolutely not the last, for Hermione to mess up. She had find her nemesis, no matter if she sought help inside her precious books. Nothing could help her cooking abilities, she was even more worthless then Neville during potions classes.
Her head were bent, staring at the table with an miserable feeling inside her chest. Molly had told her, one time after another that she didn't need to help. But she couldn't stay around, letting the lonely woman babysit her. If cooking were therapy for the older witch, she thought it could be the same fore her.

' You will get it someday ' Molly tried to enlighten her, without any kind of success as she cleaned the stone-hard dough away with a simple flick of her wand.
Hermione sat at the table, watching Mrs Weasley going back and forth in the kitchen while listening to the Wireless Wizarding Network on the old radio.
Hermione wasn't interested in the program, her mind blank as she stared out in nothingness until a new voice appeared in the radio.

' Sorry to interrupt the program, but we have live rapports about an attack that appeared an hour ago. It appears to have been carried out by Death Eater's .' By the word, Death Eater, Molly dropped her bowl on the floor with a high crash and Hermione snapped back in the same moment. Both tense, by fear and interest about the news. The Dark Lord and his followers hadn't been seen since that dreadful night last summer. No one seemed to know what they were doing, even the order of the phoenix were clueless.

' We have an interview with the auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt about the happening. Without any further delays, if you would ' the man announced as another, familiar voice rang out from the wireless.

' On the ways of the ministry I have the sad honor to tell you that Death Eater's attacked the family of Dean Thomas, a muggleborn wizard who are currently attending to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. ' Hermione's breath stuck in her throat. Dean was in the same year and house as her, the only muggleborn wizard in Harry's dorm. She didn't knew him well, her only information about the boy came from Ron or Harry. Things they discussed in their dormitory or overheard from others. She looked away to Molly, who seemed to remember the boys name too. But in the same time, she looked more relaxed, knowing that it wasn't Arthur.

' He and his family were on vacation at the Isle of Wight when they were attacked. When aurors arrived at the place, a full-blown battle were going on at the scene. Young Mr Thomas fought to protect his parents were unconscious. Along with him, there were two hooded persons battling. Before aurors could intervene, the Death Eater's grabbed most of their fallen comrades and apparated from the scene. Two Death Eater's were captured. But in the chaos, the two defenders of Mr Thomas and his family were gone. '

Hermione were speechless, she thought Dean had been killed by the earlier announcement. Someone had came to his rescue, maybe there was wizards living close by.
' Mr Thomas and his parents were sent instantly to St. Mungos for care taking. They are all supposed to survive the night and should be back on their feet in a few weeks time. This... ' Before they could hear the remaining part of Shacklebolt's speech there were a nock on the door that scared both witches.

' Molly, it's me. Let me in ' a female voice yelled from outside the kitchen-door. Hermione recognized it instantly and raced Molly for the door, opening it without asking.
' Tonks ' she claimed, staring at the pink-haired witch as a small smile came upon her very serious face. Hermione moved out of the door and let Tonks inside, the door shut without a hand helping it.

In the background, Shacklebolt could still be heard but neither of them paid any attention to him.

' Why don't the two of you sit down ' her tone while she said it, too serious coming from Tonks. Neither of the witches objected as they placed themselves at the table, while the pink-haird Metamorphus leaned towards the sink, her arms crossed in-front her chest.
' Don't worry Molly, none of ours are hurt ' she said it idly, without looking at her. Instead the her eyes were locked upon Hermione, without even blinking. If she didn't knew better, she would have thought Tonks tried legimens upon her.
' Then why are you so serious? ' questioned Molly, while holding her hands tight into her dress. Tonks still hadn't blinked, or looked away from Hermione, instead she held her hand up to quiet Mrs Weasley.

' Understand this Molly, if anything I say today, is spoken. I will know ' Molly's eyes went big because of the threat. Something was, way out of order, for such a polite witch as Tonks to threaten Mrs Weasley in her own home.
' Hermione ' Molly glanced hastily at the girl, who stared back at Tonks, trying not to blink under the pressure.
' I have all intentions to keep any promises I make and understand this, because I care. Even if it isn't certain, I WILL tell you every suspicion ' Hermione knew, her mind already worked hard trying to figure out details. Details of things she only vaguely heard of, but she had to find the right angles to tackle it. Tonks just never gave her a chance.

' I, Shack and a few others were the aurors who apperated upon the scene, the ministry keep track on muggle students now days. Since the return of You-Know-Who. And the alarm went off while Thomas tried to protect his parents. We thought it would be too late, but when we arrived ' Molly stared at the auror. She couldn't believe her ears. This wasn't just betrayal against ministry, whatever she was going to tell, would only be suited for the ears of the order. She glanced at Hermione, the girls eyes were hopeful and expecting. Like she knew something that the oldest of them didn't and the way Tonks proclaimed to have promised something. She couldn't interfere, even if was her duty to do so.

' Half of the Death Eater's were already knocked out, the six left formed a circle around the two combatants. They were wizards, I knew Shack didn't say it over the Wireless but we heard them. As they shouted a few spells '
' You just stood there? ' Molly asked chocked and Tonks looked away, blinking for the first time since locking Hermione's eyes.
' Actually, we did. Yes ' Tonks seemed ashamed for a moment before taking two steps towards them and joining them at the table. She swept a few hairs out of her eyes, shaking her head like there wasn't something she could believed.

' We didn't have any chance ' she fidgeted with her fingers, intervened them on the table.
' Even if they were outnumbered with three to one, it was the Death Eater's who were pushed back. When they understood that the ministry had arrived, they ran for it ' Molly seemed to from nowhere conjure three teacups before filling them with tea from the tip of her wand.

' Thanks Molly ' Tonks answered as she claimed her cup without touching it. Hermione didn't move to take a cup, instead trying to wait for Tonks to reach the point of the story. She had to keep herself calm, while she wanted to scream out in agony, she couldn't stand teasing.

' It was Harry, wasn't it! ' Hermione spilled out, making Molly to spill tea upon the table, Tonks looked up from her cup, meeting her gaze. There wasn't any spoken word, just three witches staring at each other, Molly glancing between the both younger ones. Just beginning to understand, things that she missed for too long.

' You said once that you could recognize, magic from certain wands. You sensed it, didn't you ' Molly didn't knew this. How come Hermione did, of course they spent much time together at Grimmauld Place. But the order of phoenix should have known if there was such abilities in their ranks.
' I recognized the wand, but... ' she looked at Molly before staring at the old Weasley clock. Ginny's name were still written, but the arm were turned of.
' It was Ginny's wand ' Molly inhaled deep, pain filled her whole body just at the mention of her late daughter. She stood up and walked out of the room, both Hermione and Tonks watched her leave, before meeting each others gazes again.

' Her wand broke, in the fight when Ginny died. Harry picked it up ' Hermione were analyzing, trying to work out the details as Tonks nodded. Of course would the order know about that, there wasn't much about their life that was a secret to them.
' My heart says it was Harry Potter that battled several Death Eater's tonight, I know your says it too. But... ' there were a short pause, while Tonks tried to collect her thoughts, before looking up.
' For the first time since I could recognize magic, I couldn't sense if it really was Harry under that cloak. So we have to believe our hearts ' they sat in silence for a while, before nodding to each other in deep understanding.

Neither Molly or Hermione had talked to each other, before they were about to leave for Hogwarts. While it was going to be their last term before graduate. Everyone could after the recent attack see the problems laying ahead. That's probably why, Mrs Weasley had taken her aside. Asking her to come and live with them, pointing out that she would be happy to have her around. She hadn't much of a choice either, since she had modified her parents memory and sent them away to the pacific. It had been a great idea, while preparing to hunt down horcruxes with Harry and Ron. Right then, it now only left her alone with no other choice but to come back.

So after graduation, with the highest scores of the year she were welcomed back by Mrs Weasleys warm hugs. Somehow, Molly had moved on, because she had no problem of giving away Ginny's old room. She had been living here since, only leaving the house of two reasons. One had been the typical "Hermionish" thing, as Ronald liked to call it, when she searched new books. She always needed a few more books, since there were no homework to concentrate on. While Ron managed to find a job at the ministry, she was home with Molly. Who after all this time had manage to shape up her cooking a little.

Twice, had she been called out by the order. Being something of the unofficial backup, leaving The Burrow to help out in tight situations. That's the reason for the last years studies, if you left out Madam Pompfrey, there wasn't another healer around. While she could stand her own against a typical Death Eater, her strongest sides were in the advance magic field.

A yawn made her realize how much her thoughts wandered, she noticed both Hedwig and Crookchanks being a sleep. The candle had almost burn out, she thought briefly about getting a new one. Before changing her mind and falling back into the sofa. The house were too empty and silent for her choice. Ronald were with Luna, doing something that wasn't her business. They had waited, only being able to meet each other during the Hogsmade trips, since Luna graduated a year after them. She didn't blame them, for wanting to be together. She liked Luna and after Ginny passed away, she was her only girlfriend. So she wished them both all luck and happiness they could have.

The worst was, that Mrs Weasley had to help out Arthur at work, his department had been working overtime for the last two months and needed every help they could get. Molly had signed up immediately leaving the house in Hermione's care. Who could have believed. That the brightest witch of the year would become an unmarried housewife after graduation.

The candled flashed as a breeze came in through the window, she thought nothing else about it before she felt Hedwig close to her side. The owl nibbled her ear, drawing her attention from the candle. Something felt different about the owl, Hedwig looked exited, more than she could remember seeing the creature. When Crookshanks joined the owl's side at the backrest. With an equal exited look in his eyes, she didn't knew what to think. Suddenly both creatures moved over to the open window and stared outside, curious about their strange behavior she followed them. Molly and Arthur wouldn't arrive for another hour or two, Ronald stayed the night at Lovegood's. It didn't matter, because only the family could pass the wards, even then would she have some warning. She leaned into the wall, staring out in the calm night. The stars made a few shadows out of the trees in the garden, there wasn't anything there. But both creatures stared down the garden, like they would be wiser than her, she knew how to sense the signature of a magical being. There wasn't anything down there, she began to turn around, thinking about making herself ready for bed, when a shadow moved in the garden.

She froze on the spot, unable to move or even breath while glancing down towards the garden in the corner of her eye.

She must have imagined it all, there wasn't anything there and no wards had sensed anything. But still, something kept her still until she saw it again. A movement in the darkness, her hand moved carefully towards her pocket in search for her wand. The shadow appeared out of the darkness, a single dark figure were standing in the garden. Walking a few steps, before taking a short break and looking around, like it was searching for something. She should hide, set of the alarm to the order or something other logical. Instead she stared, baffled over how someone could penetrate the wards made by the order. She had even made a few ones herself, you had to be out of the ordinary to break them all. To do it unnoticed, was supposed to be impossible. She should have been scared, knowing that who ever was down there, must be really talented. But instead she choose this moment to be impressed.

The figure stopped, longer then it had done before. Like it found it's goal, taking a few more steps forward into the darkness before settling down upon the grass. She held her breath, what was happening. Why would someone sneak inside the courtyard of The Burrow, only to rest upon the lawn. She saw both creatures glance between herself and the figure down in the garden, they looked perfectly calm with the invader. Then she understood, she thought for three seconds, silently berated herself for two seconds, before her heart began thundering in half an second. Then it took less then half an second to escape her room and run down the stairs, with wand still clutched in her hand.

She waved her wand in front of her, moving things out of the way and opening the front door as she stormed outside into darkness. It had taken five seconds, from leaving her room until standing ten feet away from the dark figure sitting in front of small statue carved in stone.

Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, trying to get closer as quiet as possible, while a single word tried to escape her lips. Her brain said no, her heart said yes, the two of them were battling for victory inside her body. Finally, after what felt like hours, her voice didn't betray her any more.

' H-Harry? ' she said it so hushed that it wasn't even a whisper, but the figure didn't react at all. There wasn't any attack, nor move to get away as her heart gripped a tighter hold upon her body.

' Harry? ' she asked again and moved closer to actually get a look of the figure. It was clearly a wizard, wearing a tattered black robe. She couldn't get a good look of his face, but there were traces of glasses and his hair were as black like the night. It reached far down his ears, longer than she had ever seen it. He didn't have to answer her, her heart knew it. She lost the grip of her wand and before the wand had even landed in the grass. Her arms had circled around the upper-body of the figure while her face dug into his hair.

' Oooh Harry ' she cried, while tears began fall down her cheeks into his hair. She didn't recognize his smell, it was much more musky, a masculine smell combined with sweat and something she couldn't really place at the moment. She really enjoyed the masculine smell, she heard his breath. It was calm, like he had been asleep at the moment. She hadn't heard something this wonderful for two years, this sound was better than any phoenix song.

She felt the figure turn around in her grip, firm hands gripping around her shoulders while pressing her tightly into his body. In the sudden movement, she could locate his green eyes in the darkness, while his scar nearly flashed under the stars.
As his arms went all around her body, pressing her as tight as possible, she hugged him back with everything she could.

' Y-you're back ' she tried to say, pressed into his hard shoulder, she could feel his hands moving in small circles on her back. Like he tried to comfort her, her body became warmer with each circle until she couldn't help but let out a small sigh and closing her eyes.

' Missed you too ' said Harry as a reply, the thing was. His voice wasn't like she remembered it, the tone was much darker and sounded dangerous even while hushed. It didn't belong to any boy she could remember, this voice clearly belonged to a mature wizard.