Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Hello guys, I'm back! I tried to make this chapter presentable for all of you, seeing that I don't have any Beta. If you could please help me find one, I would be loads grateful for your help!

Again, thank you to those who find their time to give me their reviews. I kind of miss receiving your reviews on my Inbox. This chapter is dedicated to every reviewer. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter that I tried my best to work on. R&R!

Of course, no matter how perfect you see them on this fic, they are not and there will always be some hint of flaws. :)

Chapter 21: A Symbol of Trust

"Mate, how long has it been since you and Hermione have gone to a date?"

I closed my eyes and didn't turn around while the recent events hit me like a sack of cement. I took a sip of butterbeer and proceeded on filling up the parchment that I intended to submit to the Head Auror.

"Why do you ask?"

Ron took a bite on his sandwich, uninterested at my answer. "Well, I dunno about you mate, but I am pretty sure that if I counted correctly, you've been together for about six months now and I never saw you go out, not even once."

The rustle that the quill made with the parchment stopped as I looked at him with a frown. "Well, I guess you mean it's none of my business then. All right, I understand but it was always a wonder why I never saw you two kiss. I know I'd bloody burn my eyes if I saw but, I was just curious."

He put his hands up in a gesture of defeat and gave a friendly smile. Instantly, I gave an inward sigh, rubbed the back of my neck and shrugged. "I guess I really haven't thought about that. Things were. . .busy, you know, with her having a new job and all. I – we have dinner together and we go out sometime but well, you know how it is."

Inwardly, I felt guilty. It has been a long time since we both spent time to just be, without any worries about work and all. On top of that, our schedules never really matched. Ron seemed to get it for he uttered a sigh. "Right. Hermione is being who she is and my mate is off trying to kill himself, I guess I should just ignore it."

"What did you say?" He went closer to my desk and took a seat. If I haven't spent eight years with Ron, I wouldn't notice how his eyes struggled to find words or how his lips tried their best to unseal. I tried to wait patiently. I was tired and I knew he wasn't helping me. Not at all.

"I know you noticed something different about her lately, but I guess you thought that it was either your going mental or that you wanted to hear it from her."

"I see her every day I am here, Ron." I tried to tell him in a quiet whisper, not really believing any word I said myself.

Ron looked exasperated. "Mate, the thing is, me and Luna always try to spend time together on a Hogsmeade weekend or any day that we're available for the matter."

"Right."

I wrinkled my face, annoyed at what he tried to imply. But he simply put a hand on my shoulder as his voice leveled down to a small whisper. "But well, I guess the two of you need to talk. Hermione was with us last weekend and I didn't like what Ginny told me."

I closed my eyes. I just came back from a weeklong trip to France to track down some Death Eater activity and I have only spent a few hours in this bloody office. This was definitely not going well. Hermione has been keeping something these past few months, I needed to know.

As I gathered up all the courage I could muster, I tried to face Ron. He still wore the same sad smile he had since Fred's death. "What happened?"

With a sigh, he put his hand on my shoulder again as his face ventured into a glimpse of the past conversation he had. "She's been worried about you, you know."

A sad chuckle escaped from my lips. I knew, of course I knew. Hermione has been my best friend, she was still and she always will be. "I guess you could say that I knew, but every time that I tried to talk to her about it, she would just shrug it off."

But there was something in Ron's face. It was definitely different from the way a normal Ron talked, like he was pained. This was the brotherly Ron, someone who cared deeply for someone he loved and I knew he couldn't just stand and do nothing. He looked at me with such deep, blue eyes.

"She still couldn't get over that time, you know. Ginny told me she has been having nightmares, loads of them and although she wasn't able to hear them, she knew what they were."

"What do you mean she wasn't able to hear them?"

"Hermione cast a silencing spell on the three days she slept with us in the Burrow and Ginny just happened to be awake. And whenever I visit her, her gaze seemed so far away and she always looked at the door. It was only when you come home unscathed that she would stop shaking and exhale. She even told mum that she was considering quitting her job altogether."

My heart broke. I knew; deep inside, I knew something was very wrong. If there was something that I enjoyed with our relationship, it was the silence of understanding that seemed to envelop us whenever we're together. There was no need for words because we both knew that we could be ourselves, yet, right now, I knew something was indeed wrong. Ron's words hit a spot and there was no denying that it was my fault.

"I – I thought she was all right with it, me being an Auror. I knew that, deep down, she was worried. The job is dangerous after all. But I never expected her to –" I gave up on words. Frustration finally took a hold of my reigns.

"She is, Harry. She trusts you that much. But well, Hermione is Hermione. She was always the worrywart. You should talk to her about it, have her spill the beans."

"Right, I will do that." I tried to close my eyes and exhale. "I didn't want her to worry like that, Ron. It was bad enough that our jobs ate all the time we could've spent together."

"I know." Ron looked at me one last time solemnly and grinned as he stood up and stretched. "But well, I guess that tevelision you bought would help cheer both og you up. I never thought muggles could do that to a person, it was as if they casted an Imperius curse at those poor people."

An unknowing smile returned to my face as I tried to land a friendly punch on his shoulder. "It's a telly, Ron and those people we merely acting, honestly."

"Well, whatever. I am going back to my post and spend my time finishing off these bloody paper works. I honestly think that you lot have it good, even poor Neville is complaining after drowning with this much paperwork. Don't forget the Weasley dinner later, Bill and Fleur have an announcement to make."

"See you later then, I'll pick her up from work and try to think of a plan. Good luck."

Ron merely looked at me and made a face at his work as I exited the office with a heavy heart, not really concerned that I didn't bother to finish my report.

I wandered aimlessly on the corridors of the Ministry of Magic. I knew I was just trying to buy some time so that I'll not have the trouble of waiting for hours outside her Department but it was also because I never could let go of the conversation I had with Ron.

I should've asked her. I should've known because it was pretty obvious. I could handle all those nightmares that haunt me every night, but her? I won't be able to stand it.

How much time has passed since the time I first said those three little words to someone? Even with the truth those words contained, even if I poured all my heart in saying them, it wouldn't matter if all I do was make her worry.

I sighed. I knew inside my heart that I understood why she was worried. She already knew the nature of this work but even with that knowledge, I couldn't stand to see her cringe every time she saw those newly-healed wounds. Sometimes I even wonder if it would be better to have another one that doesn't involve danger.

But I couldn't give up yet. Not when I knew that sometime within those missions, an Auror has fallen just to protect the world that has been newly built. That, just like the others, some people gave up their lives to give ours a chance. I was doing this for her. For the future I wanted to have with her.

It was a resolve I would never give up. Not when I knew that after I looked at her inside her office, a smile was on the corner of her lips, the same smile that brightened up my day every time I go home. I would do everything to protect that smile.

And so, I waited.

Each tick of my wristwatch was another second that would get me closer to her. I waited on a bench at the side of her office door, sighing every minute that has passed. Waiting was not one of my favorite things to do, not when I knew that she was on the other side of that bloody door.

I've tried to keep myself distracted while I looked around to feel the air of the office where she worked.

It was a simple one, really. The door has a glass wherein you could see the employees inside. It was filled with wide cubicles, each of which with a name on the side. The office looked so calm and I could even tell that the air inside was lively, judging by the way she communicated and smiled with her mates. I was happy for her.

When she told me that she got a job from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, I was very happy for her. It was the start of her dream, after all. And I believe that someday, I would see the product of her determination and I know her big heart would lead her there.

I smiled. Sometimes, when one remembered these moments, waiting didn't seem too bad at all, especially if that person was worth the wait. So at long last, my patience bore fruit and she finally went out.

I stood up and observed her from behind as she waved goodbye to someone, a smile on my face as I silently crept towards her. I slowly wrapped my hands around her waist and kissed the top of her head, not really mindful that she was surprised by my presence at all. I didn't want to let her go.

A slow, peaceful silence drifted between the two of us as I savored the moment. People knew we were together, but no one dared to mention it to the newspapers without our permission for it was a given rule. I listened to her beating fast, aware of the emotions that she was trying to voice out to me.

It was a simple gesture, but even I sometimes get surprised by the magnitude it possessed.

"You're back", she croaked. She was shaking with relief as her voice quivered. Somehow, I felt that she knew what I wanted to say but didn't voice it out.

"I'm sorry for making you worry."

I turned her around so that she would face me and her chocolate brown eyes greeted me with such warmth. I quirked my lips upward and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. She closed her eyes at my ministrations and I slowly put my arm around her shoulder.

I caressed her cheek, noticing how pale she has become and the dark circles that were under her eyes. "It looks like you've lost a little weight."

A smile erupted from her face and reached her eyes. "I'm fine."

I took her hand and grinned. "I guess we'd better save up our stories for later. Mrs. Weasley planned a dinner for the family tonight and I know I would be hexed if they don't see me for another one."

The Weasley gathering was an eventful one. Mrs. Weasley practically screamed when she heard us knock on the front door. Truthfully, I've missed being here, especially when the reason why you missed them was because you're out somewhere cold, uncomfortable and dark.

George greeted us with a big smile on his face and a nudge on the rib. His business was starting to expand that he had even set up a shop at Hogsmeade and I guess things have started to look up for him. He told me stories about his trip at Zonko's and the product that he wanted to develop. Hermione tried to tell him to sell something useful, in which, he cringed.

When all of us were seated, I started to notice that Fleur was practically blooming. Her eyes were bright and she couldn't seem to get rid of the smile on her face. Even Hermione noticed it to and took me by surprise when she squealed and hugged her, which made Ron look at me with curiosity.

"I will never understand girls, they're too. . .complex."

"You couldn't even notice the difference, ickle Ronniekins, you're still a baby," joked George.

"I did! I am dating one right now!"

George laughed at how Ron's ears suddenly turned bright red. "But you see, little brother, it still took you loads of time to notice that she fancied you. Do you reckon I'll let you get away with that?"

"Leave him be, George. Charlie hasn't even found himself a girl. He's too busy with his dragons to notice one. Poor bloke, Ron's actually quite lucky," Percy interrupted.

"Ahhh, but you see Perce, I reckon our older brother would get himself wife someday."

The whole family became quiet at George's words and frowned. "Do you know something we don't?"

"Nah, he already has a dragon of a mother so I expect he'll try to find himself a wife soon. If not, then let him marry another dragon. I'm sure they'll torture us with their fire-breathing dragon babies."

Everyone on the table laughed at George's joke while Mrs. Weasley fussed about it not being funny. We ate merrily and exchanged about our own adventures as we munched, even Hermione was busy while she told Ron and Bill about her day at work. I tried to show George how the cell phone worked as he joked about how complicated muggle inventions were. Mr. Weasley just stared in amazement while he pondered on what I said.

I tried to hide a chuckle as I remembered his's face when he finally saw what Grimmauld looked like. He loved how 'eclectrikity' lit up the whole house and was amazed on how the muggle remote was able to control the telly. Ron was astounded by it, the first time he saw it. Yet, when he tried to usher the characters inside the show for a conversation, he kept shouting at the damn thing and he almost destroyed it out of frustration, even Mr. Weasley got horrified at his son's actions. For him, Ron was destroying a precious piece of discovery.

After a good time, Bill finally stood and cleared his throat, proud and tall while he held his wife by the waist. "Well, everyone. I would like to make an announcement."

Each and every person in the room looked at him with anticipation. Hermione held my hand beneath the table and I squeezed it, while I savored the beauty of the moment.

It took me a while to realize what it really was. Bill glowed as he looked warmly on everyone present during the celebration and like his wife, his wolfish grin never left his features. I smiled, happy for the both of them. "You'll have to start knitting baby boots soon, Mum. You and dad will be having a grandchild by May."

A wave of congratulations took the couple when their family members squealed and laughed with delight at the news. As I've watched them fuss to the soon-to-be-parents, I suddenly felt warm. Here it was, a symbol. A part of the future has now made itself known. Someday, I would be able to see the happy faces of a Lupin and a Weasley as they played outside the Weasley garden. It would be beautiful, peaceful. . .alive. And maybe, when that day came, a Potter would also make himself known. It would be a wonderful family. . .a family.

When I snapped out of my strans, Mrs. Weasley already started giving tips to the very attentive Fleur while the boys offered Bill congratulatory fire whiskey. The night was young as we celebrated the event. Hermione and I offered both of them our congratulations, along with some promise that I would visit them with Teddy soon. Hermione held my hand throughout it, her smile never left her weary features.

Who would ever think that a life like this would be possible?

As the celebration continued, I knew it was time to go home. I wanted the family to bond with themselves. When I looked at her, she looked so tired and sleepy that I wondered how she managed to stay up until this hour. I knew my plan wouldn't be so comforting to her, but it was all I wanted to do.

I kissed her on the cheek as I turned towards the door. She followed me outside while I watched how brightly the stars shined this day, like the stars too, wanted to celebrate. When she arrived, her brow looked at me quizzically, as if asking why we're outside. I grinned at her.

"Do you trust me with your life?"

Hermione looked taken aback by my question but I tried to maintain my composure as I looked at her in the eye. She seemed hurt by my words, as if I doubted her. But even then, she answered the question with such courage and love. "Yes of course Harry, why do you ask?"

"Then come with me." I enlarged the Firebolt that I've been hiding on my palm with a non-verbal spell as I held my hand for her to take. For a while, I studied her features while she hesitated. Even after work, she still kept her hair in a bun, her face was contorted with worry. The dark shadows under her eyes were still there. Her eyes were set, hesitant, but set.

She bit her lip as she took my hand. I smiled. When I lifted myself up on the Firebolt and settled myself, she followed suit so I tried my best to make her comfortable. In all the days that I remembered, Hermione Granger was not the one who would feel secured with heights.

"I only did this because you made me."

I kissed her, passionately. Fireworks erupted at the pit of my stomach as her soft lips responded to my touch. This was the woman I love, who gave me what she has. . .her fears, worries, happiness, tears. And I knew I would want to give her my hopes, my dreams, my future.

When the kiss ended, I wrapped my arms around her as I grabbed the Firebolt. "You've taken me into your world many times. Now, let me show you a part of mine that I would want you to know."

We slowly rose up into the air. Hermione clung into the broom desperately as we rose to greater heights. I laughed at her, she always made flying look so complicated. In flying you felt free and view the world in a way that you never expected.

When we were finally at an acceptable height, I stopped the Firebolt and made her open her eyes. She was shaking terribly and her mouth was sealed shut. I kissed the top of her head. "Hermione, don't be scared. I'm never gonna let something happen to you."

It was the only word she needed to break free.

She rested her head on my shoulders as I rose up in the clouds. It took a while for her to feel a bit comfortable at a normal pace but it was better than nothing. We tried to identify the places we passed as we rode our way home, laughing as we guessed. I never thought she would be this carefree when we were flying, but she was.

I tried to slow down the Firebolt when we were close to coming home. I wanted to spend more time with her and have her in my arms for a bit more, even if it was just because I was selfish. "I never thought you would agree on flying with me."

She kissed my cheeks and smiled. I looked at her eyes and saw that all the worries and fears she had have somehow, lessened. "Honestly, I couldn't believe it myself. You made me!"

"Shall we have another night like this one?"

"Well, I guess I would be tempted to agree again after a year or two."

I tried to pout at her but she only laughed at my face. But then, it was better than nothing. "Well, if it would make you happy, why not? I mean, I could wait that long just to experience this again."

"You're being silly. I thought my Harry was a very impatient man."

I kissed her forehead and smiled as I gazed lovingly at those brown eyes. "Yes, he is. And right now, he wants you to know that he knows you've been keeping your problems to yourself again."

She let out a sigh. As much as it hurt to ruin this, I wanted her to understand. "Ron told you, hasn't he? I knew that Ginny did find out about it."

"Yes and he did the right thing. I don't want to see you suffering, Hermione."

"I know. I just didn't want to burden you when I know that your work is difficult enough as it is."

I held her tightly, afraid of how she would take in my next set of words. "I knew you've been worried, love. But trust me, all right?"

"I do, it's just that. . .it's very difficult to wait everyday just to see if you're okay. It's just too hard, especially when I knew you're just a step away from danger."

A chuckle escaped from my lips. Here was Hermione, bending out all of her frustrations at me in a way that would not anger me. Very Hermione-ish. "Don't worry too much. I'll sing you a lullaby with my awful voice and hold you until you sleep so that the worries and nightmares will go away."

Hermione frowned at my words and proceeded on throwing soft punches on my chest. "It'.funny! Not funny at all!"

I knew by that time that I couldn't help but laugh as I kissed her forehead. "I am not joking, love. I don't want to see you like that because of me. Just. . .trust me."

"But –" I didn't let her finish her sentence because I surprised her by kissing her. It was a simple gesture, but I wanted her to know that all her fears and frustrations amount to nothing, that I would always be here, always.

"I went out flying today because I wanted to know if you could trust me enough to let go of all your fears. You loathed this, yet, you agreed. Now, I wanted you to know that even if I am an Auror, even if my missions were just a minute away from death, I would always, always find a way to return to you, alive."

She buried her face in my chest, aware of the feelings that threaten to escape within her. "But how could you promise that? You don't even know what might happen tomorrow!"

"It's simple, really."

"What?"

"Because you are my dream and I know you'll be waiting for me back home." It was enough to help me think before I leap, to keep myself alive when I was bound to face Death any time.

And lastly, when I looked at her eyes, I finally saw that it was enough to let go of the fears Hermione held within her heart.

But yes, I just had to ask. "Are you still afraid?"

A crooked smile appeared from her face, a smile that reached her eyes. "No, not anymore."

A/N: You'll be expecting more from me these upcoming weeks because I am finally free of school load. Haha! I hope you'll take your time to leave a review and tell me what you think! 'Til next time! :)