Hermione sat down on the steps at the entrance to the principia, fiddling with the old phone. Soon after, Nico came out and sat down beside her.

"What do I do if they want me to come back?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry, but you can't" He said softly and kissed her temple.

"They won't accept that."

"They'll have to. They can't come here because they're mortal, and too dangerous for you to go back. At least untill we've found a solution." He reminded her. "Besides, you belong to me now." He mumbled absently into her hair.

"I what?"

"Oh, um" he cleared his throat "You belong here now. You know, at camp. With the other half-bloods."

She raised her eyebrows.

"Whatever you say, Ghost King. Now go, get some sleep. I'm surprised you aren't snoring on the ground after all that shadow travel you did these last couple days."

"The ambrosia Will gave me helped a little, but believe me, I'm close. If you need me, just tell the others. They'll know where I'm at."

With that, he left her smiling about what she was pretty sure she heard right the first time.

In the background, Will Solace stood, watching the tender scene with a melancholic smile. He was happy for Nico, but it's always bittersweet to see a former lover move on. He turned back to the others.

"I should get back to the Valetudinarium. I think I might have an idea about what Nico is planning, but I'd like to hear it from him. Just call me when we're meeting again." He said, and left. On the way out he passed Hermione, who was on the phone. He winked at her and smiled knowingly, and started walking down the street.

…

Hermione tried to make the phone work. It was a bit complicated, and she was a bit worried about the whirring sound and the sparks coming from it, but eventually she managed to make the call. She sat waiting for someone to pick up.

"Ministry of Ma – Oh Merlin, uh… British Cons-ul-ate. Please hold."

Hermione waited, listening to the frantic whispering on the other end

"But what do I do?" Someone hissed "It's on the muggle phone, what do I say?"

"Hello?" She tried interrupting, but the whispering continued. "HELLO!" She finally yelled, when she ran out of patience.

"Yes, miss, if you could just wai – "

"No!" She interrupted. "This is Hermione Granger speaking, there is no need to worry about muggles. Now, can I please speak to Harry Potter?" There was a hectic scrambling at the phone, and someone yelling in the background. In the end, the phone was finally transferred to an out of breath, Harry Potter.

"Hermione?" He half yelled. "Are you alright? We have been worried sick! Where the hell are you?! There's a manhunt going on to find you!"

"Gods Harry. I haven't been gone that long." She scoffed.

"All I know is that we had a deal to meet up at the Broomsticks, but you never came in. Then we came out and saw you leaving with this creepy guy with a sword!"

"… Nico is not creepy" Hermione smiled into the phone "Oh well, maybe he's a little creepy. But he's a good guy."

"A creepy good guy?! Unbelievable! Who the hell is he, and when are you coming home?"

Hermione sighed. "I'm not, Harry. It's hard to explain, but I really can't return."

"Is he threatening you?"

She laughed loudly "Nowhere near it. Nico is hard to explain, if you don't know him, but he isn't dangerous. Only to his enemies."

"Enemies? Hemione, what have you gotten yourself into? I thought we were done with enemies. The war is over."

"I can't explain it over the phone. But this isn't exactly new for me. I've met Nico before, we spent a lot of third year together."

"Third year? You've kept secrets from us, since third year?" His voice broke. "If you spent third year together, how come we've never even seen him before?"

"Remember the time-turner?"

"But Hermione, we need you. I need you… Ron needs you."

"Ron doesn't need me. He needs a brood mare. Don't tell me that's not true. I know he plans to marry me and tie me to the kitchen, popping out children, just like his mother. You can't tell me differently without lying. He's selfish, jealous and he bails every time things get rough. And a relationship with me would get very rough, given my parentage."

"You mean the muggleborn thing? You know Ron doesn't care about that."

Hermione sighed "Oh, Harry. If only."

"Hermione, I don't understand any of this. Can't you just come home so we can talk about it?"

"I really can't. It would be too dangerous."

"We found your parents."

Hermione choked a sob. "You what?"

"We found them. They're living in Canberra. We've had aurors and healers posing as patients at their clinic. Johnson's still traumatized by muggle torture devices." Harry told her. "The healers say that the memory charm is reversible, but you're the one who has to do it."

"I know." She said brokenly. "I couldn't risk anyone else being able to do it… Are they happy?" She whispered.

"I think so. I don't know… Hermione, what aren't you telling me?"

"I'm in a place near San Francisco. Do you think we could meet there at a café or something?" she asked shakingly.

"I… When?"

"Maybe tomorrow. Around 11, San Francisco time?"

"Alright. Just please consider coming home."

"Can't, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll call you a little later with the details, I don't know the area that well."

"See you tomorrow, I guess." He replied dejectedly and hung up.

Hermione broke down crying on the stairs.

…

Percy rushed out in alarm, when he heard sobbing. He sat next to Hermione without thinking, drawing her into his arms by instinct.

"Go get Nico" He told her reluctantly.

As he held her, he realized how thin she was, and the scars she had. "What the hell has she been through?" He wondered.