A/n: I am over joyed that my updates are coming sooner then they had been.
So many of you thought of the same person as the potential attacker, but it won't be for awhile that we find out who it is, our couple has a lot to do before then.
I want to thank you for all your continued love, and your reviews just make me so incredibly happy, so please keep them coming.
Huge beta hugs to gidgetmalfoy and kanewolfe for their unwavering love and support.
Hermione raised her wand high above her head, casting a quiet lumos, she took in the sight of her dark flat. Most of her chairs were upended, the bookshelves knocked over, and her scrolls and parchment strewn around the floors. It wasn't the sight of her flat in complete disarray that had her on edge, it was the droplets of blood that seemed to lead towards her bedroom.
She cast a quick patronus, speaking quietly to her otter twice, calling for Harry and Kingsley to come quickly, before she set off towards her bedroom. Hermione listened closely to the sounds of her tiny flat, searching for anything that didn't belong. With every noise accounted for, she reached for her bedroom doors handle maintaining a tight grip on her wand.
In one quick movement she cast a shield charm as she flung open the door. Her eyes searched the tiny room, dominated by her large bed and many more bookshelves which all had her books haphazardly thrown about.
"Homenum Revelio," Hermione breathed. Her voice as low as possible, never having mastered this spell as a nonverbal. When nothing appeared, she lowered her shield and looked around the room.
Hermione walked forward towards one of her books that had a large black hole burned through the cover. Clearly it had taken the anger from the person who had ransacked her flat. She had just sat the book back down on the floor when she heard a tiny meow from her wardrobe.
Her heart stopped for a moment when she realized she had forgotten to look for Crookshanks. She ran to the door of her wardrobe and threw it open. Huddled on the bottom in the corner was her half-kneazle, sporting a dark red gash across his back leg and a smaller one down his face.
"Crooks," Hermione gasped, her voice pleading as she reached forward for the bundle of fur. Crookshanks went into her arms willingly, hissing slightly when she brushed against the cut on his leg.
"Hermione!" she heard, the shout coming from her sitting room.
"In here!" she called back, and within seconds Harry and Kingsley, followed by Hannah, flew into the room, wands raised.
"What happened?" Harry asked, looking around the room his green eyes locking onto the sight of Hermione holding her ginger cat.
"I came home, and saw blood. Then I saw the apartment like this. No one was here when I got here, just Crooks. He's been attacked as well," Hermione said, standing up and walking towards her bed. She carefully laid her cat down on the soft comforter, and pulling out her wand cast a healing charm on his leg and face. Miraculously the gashes began to stitch themselves together, stopping the bleeding.
"Here, I have some dittany," Hannah said stepping around her husband towards Hermione. Sitting on the opposite end of the bed, she carefully applied dittany to Crookshanks leg, making the deep red mark fade to a pale light pink.
"Thank you Hannah," Hermione said. Her hand moved automatically as she rubbed Crook's head.
"I want a full investigation into this, and Dolohov's attacks. I can't be sure they're related, but it's too much of a coincidence," Kingsley said, walking around the small bedroom looking everywhere.
"I'll take lead, and pick a team when I get back to the office," Harry offered, as Kingsley nodded in agreement.
"Hermione, I want to get you to a safe house. I don't want you staying here-" Kingsley raised his voice, cutting Hermione off, "or with someone who's known to be tied to you." Kingsley looked at her carefully, his expression resolute.
Hermione narrowed her gaze at Kingsley, "I do not need to be babysat."
"I agree with Kings, 'Mione. Someone broke into your flat, injured Crooks, and this is on the tail end of Dolohov's attack. There are many people we love that would be personally upset with Dolohov's release and until we can find this person, it's best if you stay put." Harry said, his green eyes trained on Hermione, trying to appear comforting. "I suggest maybe staying with Dolohov."
Hermione blinked rapidly, unable to comprehend what her best friend had just said. "Excuse me? Why would I stay with Dolohov?"
"His location is only known to the people in this room, no one would think to look for you there, and even if they did, they couldn't find you. Hermione, you're secret keeper, even if someone imperiused one of us, we couldn't give them your location." Harry stated, hoping his logic would hold up against Hermione.
"'Mione, I know you hate the idea but it's probably the best," Hannah added, her voice low. She had started petting Crooks who definitely looked worse for wear.
Hermione bit her lip, torn between wanting to stay somewhere safe and not wanting to relive her moment of cowardice when she fled after their brief kiss. She was also furious that someone would invade the privacy of her flat and injure her cat. The last thing she wanted was to be sidelined by Harry and Kingsley, but she wasn't foolish either, and had no desire to head directly into the fray with a large target on her back.
Sighing deeply, she nodded her consent. "But I will not be taken off the case. I want a copy of everything! I want photos, and most of all I want a copy of every single shred of evidence of Dolohov's case files. They can be delivered to me at his cottage, because I'm assuming you won't let me near the Ministry either?"
Kingsley smiled. "No, you're officially on leave, all your mail will delivered and sorted at the Ministry, and I'll have those files to you by tomorrow. I'm going to step out and send a patronus to Dolohov and an owl to the Ministry. Pack a bag, but leave as much of this mess as possible for Harry's team to examine."
Thirty minutes later Hermione stood in her kitchen with a small bag filled with a week's worth of clothes and Crookshanks in his preferred basket. She looked around the disheveled room with deep sadness. It had been a long time since she had felt violated, let alone in the small flat she felt most at home in. Her eyes fell on Harry and Hannah who moved around the room with sharp eyes, examining the specific items that bore the most damage.
Kingsley walked in from her bedroom, and his face fell as his deep brown eyes found Hermione. When he had requested that she take on the job of parole officer for Antonin Dolohov, he hadn't thought for a moment that it would put her in harm's way. Now she stood in her flat, a sea of chaos, her privacy and safety violated, and ready to walk away to stay with someone who had attacked her on multiple occasions. He admired the witch for her courage. She was a true Gryffindor through and through, but he worried that he had overtaxed her.
"Hermione, we can make other accommodations. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable," Kingsley said, his voice soft when he had neared her.
Hermione raised her wide eyes to his, she hadn't noticed him move across the sitting room. Her shoulders raised up as she shrugged, "No Kings, it's fine. It is probably the safest place in the country for me, right now."
Kingsley nodded before he wrapped his large arms around her petite form and hugged her tightly. In the years since the war, his love for her had only grown, and with no children of his own regarded her and Harry as his own, as did his husband Michael.
"When this is all over, I want you to take a long vacation," his voice louder as he let her go, keeping his hands on her shoulders.
Hermione smiled and nodded. "Well, are we ready?"
Kingsley nodded in affirmation. Letting go of her, and with a quick flourish of his wand, he summoned his spectral lynx and murmured a message to the inquisitive animal before it disappeared.
Harry and Hannah made their way over to Hermione and Kingsley, "We'll get this all sorted, 'Mione, soon too. Owl if you need anything," Harry said as he hugged his best friend.
Hannah moved forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I'm going to come by tomorrow and bring some necessities. Owl me tonight if you need anything from the store. I'll go before I come over."
Hermione smiled at her two friends, "Thank you both. I'm sure I'll be fine, but don't be strangers. Harry, please get me those files as soon as you can. I'm going to work the case as much as I can... from a distance."
Harry nodded, his face lighting up with a warm smile. Hermione took one final look around her flat before she tucked her arm in the crook of Kingsley's offered arm. She offered Kingsley a small smile, then felt the pull of apparation as he spun them away from her flat.
She had just landed on her feet when she heard a loud cry. She opened her eyes to see Antonin running toward them.
"Miss Granger, are you ok?" He asked in a worried voice. He stopped just short of her, his arms moving to wrap her up, before his mind stopped himself, remembering the Minister's careful watch. Instead his eyes moved over her body swiftly, making sure she wasn't injured.
From the moment the Minister's first patronus had arrived, Antonin had taken to standing and pacing in front of the door of his cottage. His shock from Hermione's abrupt departure had worn off, now replaced with an unmistakeable sense of dread over the safety of the witch whose lips had melted a piece of him. He hadn't felt so helpless in a long time. As he waited for the Minister to bring her to him, he was overwhelmed by the need to rush to her side, no matter the consequences of such a gesture.
"I'm fine, Crookshanks was the only one injured. Is it ok if he stays here as well?" Hermione asked, looking up into Antonin's deep brown eyes clearly creased with worry.
"Of course, you both are welcome here as long as you need. Let's get inside," Antonin said, nodding in the direction of the cottage some ten feet behind him. The weather had started to chill the evening air, bringing fall to them quickly.
Antonin led them into the cottage, and shut the door swiftly behind them. With a quick wave of his wand he lit the fire in the grate just as Hermione opened the basket to reveal the ginger half-kneazle he had heard about.
"Hermione, I can't stay. I need to get back to the Ministry, sort this all out. Hannah will be by tomorrow. I'm sure will Harry, as well. But owl immediately if you need anything. If you make a list of possessions that you want removed from your flat, I'll work to get them released first."
Hermione gave Kingsley a tight hug, giggling when he lifted her off the ground in a small spin. "Thank you, Kings."
Kingsley Shacklebolt left the cottage. Before he disappeared, he added another layer of protection to the wards over the small cottage in order to prevent anyone from apparating directly into the cottage. Hermione and Antonin both looked at the door as they felt the frisson of the wards change move over their skin.
The small room descended into an awkward silence as Crookshanks made his way out of the basket. His bottlebrush tail twitched as he took in all the new smells.
Hermione looked down at her feet, suddenly very aware of Antonin's close proximity even after the distraction of her ruined flat. She swallowed, trying to push past the dryness of her mouth, "Mr. Dolohov, I'm….uh….I'm sorry….about….well you know….um."
Antonin moved closer to her, as she stuttered out an explanation. When she was finally within arms length, he wrapped his hand around her and pulled her in a crushing hug against his chest. His face buried in her beautiful curls, he held her close, delighting in the feel of her body against his.
Hermione moved past the shock of finding herself against him and found her nose moving against his chest, taking in the comforting smell of Antonin. She couldn't logically explain why at this moment she felt safe, even comforted by his presence. The awkwardness temporarily forgotten. She lost track of how long he held her. His steady force keeping them upright as she allowed herself to feel the weight of the last few days finally come crashing around her. Tears fell silently down her cheeks, as she remembered her destroyed flat and Crookshanks covered in blood.
Antonin started swaying lightly when the silent tears turned to full sobs. He began moving them backwards towards the sofa. When the back of his legs hit the cushions, he sat down, pulling her down with him. He moved one hand from around her to run through her curls, he kissed the top of her head and began to murmur quiet words in Russian
"They….hurt….Crooks…." Hermione sobbed against Antonin's chest. "My flat….it's destroyed….everything….ruined."
Antonin continued his gentle Russian, as his other hand rubbed at her back.
"What if….what if they….find me here? What if….they find….you." Hermione cried with fresh vigor at the mere idea of Antonin being hurt again.
Antonin put a finger under her chin, raising her tear streaked face to look up at him. He wiped at her red, puffy eyes, clearly them of unshed tears. "Hermione, I will not let anyone hurt you. Ever again." His expression was tense, even though his eyes were still tender. His fury just beneath the surface, he pushed it back, in fear that she would think it was directed at her.
Hermione's breath caught in her throat at the declaration. Carefully she leaned forward, pressing her wet lips to his in a soft, sweet kiss that gave them both a sense of comfort and banished the awkwardness that had existed since she had run from their first kiss.
"Thank you, Antonin." Hermione murmured, as she lowered her head back onto his chest, inhaling the comfort of Antonin's masculine scent.
Hours later, after Hermione's tears had dried and Antonin had reheated soup for them, Antonin found himself under investigation by her half-kneazle cat. He refrained from chuckling as the cat sat in front of him, staring imperiously at him with his wide amber eyes.
"He's not attacking you, which is a good sign," Hermione chuckled watching Crooks sniff out their new roommate. "Normally, the people he doesn't like get attacked."
"So, if I wake up with scratch marks, I'll know why?" Antonin said, unable to hide the laughter in his voice.
Hermione chuckled, nodding as she took a big spoonful of soup. After a few minutes, Crookshanks stood up and jumped off the table, allowing Antonin to finish eating without the scrutiny of her protective cat.
They finished their meal in pleasant chatter, Antonin describing his idea for a new charm to Hermione. They both delighted internally in finding someone to discuss spell theory and creation with, it had never happened to either of them, and they both cherished each other's company.
"I normally create all my spells in Russian, my parents native tongue, and my first language," Antonin explained as he charmed the dishes to wash themselves and made his way over to the couch.
"Yes, but the original lumos charm is in latin, so wouldn't the slight alteration of your charm also need to be in latin?" Hermione asked, as she joined him on the sofa.
Their conversation descended into more detailed theory and creation talk. Before either of them realized, the clock on the wall chimed midnight, and Hermione yawned loudly.
"Oh goodness, I hadn't realized how late it was," Hermione said. Her sentence interrupted by another loud yawn, which made Antonin laugh. Since the first time she had heard the noise come from him, she couldn't help but smile at the loud boom of his laughter.
"Let's get you to bed. You've had a long day." Antonin said, offering his hand to the witch as he stood up. When she took his proffered hand, he smiled brightly, entwining his fingers in hers.
They both went up the stairs, separating at their respective doors with a sweet hug.
Hermione quickly changed into her soft blue pyjama pants and her white tank top, climbed into the bed, and under the covers. Her mind replaying the last few days again. Suddenly, her new room creaked and she bolted upright, her wand held out in front of her. Her heart thundering, she clutched her hand to her chest, trying her best to calm down.
As the minutes stretched by the house continued to creak and moan, and the sea outside beat against the shore. She found herself getting back out of bed. Her hand stopped on the doorknob of her room before she turned it, pulling the door open, and crossing the hall.
With a quick knock on the opposite door, she waited until it opened with a shirtless Antonin before her. "I can't sleep….I mean….I can't sleep by myself." Hermione stuttered, her voice low as her brown eyes locked on his hopefully. "Would it be ok, if I….well, if I stayed with you?"
Antonin stared down at her for a few accelerated heartbeats before he stepped to the side, allowing her to pass through his doorway. As he shut the door, Hermione climbed into the bed, on the side opposite of the turned down blankets. When he turned back around to look at the bed, he smiled, before he climbed in behind her. Antonin pulled her flush against his body, wrapping a comforting arm around her small frame.
"Goodnight, Antonin," Hermione whispered in the room.
Antonin pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, "Goodnight, Hermione."
To be continued...