A/N I'm back; the last month of 2021 was rough for my family and me; covid went through all but one of us, on top of losing a relative to it. Thankfully we all made it through this, but it sucked and as you can guess I was in no state to write the last month of said year.
All that being said, the end of the beginning of my story is here. I hope it is sufficient as we gear up for a return to Hogwarts for Harry, it's a change I personally see for him and don't forget he will be both student and teacher. I don't quite believe that Harry would forgo an entire year of being around Ginny after he spent most of Deathly Hollow's longing to be wit her. Harry will still be an Auror, and end up where he is at the epilogue. However, I am using my writers hat on the 19 years before, which you may have spotted as you have read my story. It is a blank slate after all
Anyway, enjoy!
Harry and Ginny spent the remaining days of their vacation outside; much of that time, they were getting used to their wolf form all day except for mealtimes. They walked and raced along the beach, climbed the cliffside and swam as both wolf and human. They were packed to leave without any fuss but reluctant as Friday morning dawned.
"I figured you'd be saying goodbye to them." Ginny said empathetically.
"It's been great here," Harry said quietly.
"Yeah, it's what we needed." Ginny agreed.
"It's not so easy to leave," Harry admitted with a long sigh.
"We can always come back," Ginny said softly.
"It's not just because of the peace. We've stayed outside and transformed so much the last few days that I honestly prefer it." Harry admitted, turning to look at her.
"That''s okay, Harry." Ginny took his hand between her fingers; he felt her engagement ring and managed a smile.
"It's a shame we can't stay transformed when we get back, to the burrow, to Hogwarts, to life…" Harry told her subdued.
"I think we'll be alright around people again." Ginny said, squeezing his hand tightly. "Ready to go?"
"Do you think we can sneak back into the Burrow?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Why do you think I wanted to leave at dawn." Ginny grinned, together they disapparated.
When they walked inside the Burrow, Hermione was already awake, sitting at the kitchen table reading a book.
"Hermione, it's dawn; what are you doing up now?" Ginny asked in quiet surprise.
"Ginny, Harry!" Hermione whispered eagerly, jumping to her feet. "I just got done bathing in the pond, and I couldn't go back to sleep." She looked away sheepishly.
"Sill having psychotic breaks then?" Harry asked delicately.
"Yes, " Hermione said sadly. "I've tried multiple times to shower and sleep alone but…" She dropped her head subdued.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." They said together, sitting down at the table now.
"Never mind my problems… How was it?" She spotted the engagement ring on Ginny's hand; her expression was eager once again. "You're finally engaged!"
"I said I'd propose on his birthday; he gave me a ring for mine." Ginny blushed, showing her ring to Hermione.
"I've never seen a ring like that." She stared curiously.
"It's infused with Phoenix flame by Fawkes; he led me to it." Ginny grinned.
"That's wonderful." she swooned.
"It won't be for at least two years, but will you be my maid of honour?" Ginny asked shyly.
"Yes, of course, Ginny, but I thought you would ask Luna?" Hermione was pleased but surprised.
"Luna is going to be my bridesmaid. She is my best friend, but you're my sister. I was always going to ask you." Ginny said emotionally.
"Ginny, thank you, I love you both so much…" She said equally emotional.
"Thanks for helping with my cake, Hermione," Harry said.
"Sure, Harry. Ron is still on the sleep potion around half the week, you can have one of the other spare room while Ginny and I talk in hers." Hermione said abruptly before pulling Ginny away.
Upstairs in Ginny's room, Hermione shut her door, looking eager. "You finally had sex!" She whispered.
"Is it that obvious?" Ginny asked awkwardly.
"You aren't hiding it very well." Hermione said with an amused look. "So," Hermione started after they sat on her bed. She was looking at Ginny expectantly, a contained excitement in her eyes.
"You're always excited about Harry and I." Ginny said with amusement.
"I know how long you've been waiting, and well, I ki of take credit for your relationship." Hermione said happily.
"As you should… Anyway, I felt overwhelmed in the best way." Ginny said, looking emotional.
"It is the best feeling." Hermione said, fondly recalling her own first time.
"I need to get used to being in charge," Ginny said quietly.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Uh, "I've never had a selfless boyfriend; Harry doesn't mind if I do most of the work; in fact, he prefers it," Ginny smiled.
"Well, he is a late bloomer; that might change as time goes by." Hermione reasoned.
"I don't think so, not that I mind; it's just a big change," Ginny said thoughtfully.
"You mean from Michael and Dean?" Hermione asked.
Ginny nodded. "We never got anywhere close to a shag. Not that they didn't try to get my clothes off but I always made sure that they knew I would break their hands." She said bluntly. "Harry, he would kneel at my feet if I asked." Ginny felt tears sliding down her face now. "I still can't believe it happened, so many times now that I've lost track." She chuckled.
"Ron and I haven't been that lucky, with his troubles with the sleeping potion, he's been too tired, and with my slowly going insane, I'm not in a sexy mood too much these days," Hermione said very subdued.
"You're not going insane, Hermione!" Ginny said firmly.
"These psychotic breaks are debilitating." Hermione said anxiously. "I can't be alone at night; I can't bathe or shower in a bathroom. Even being alone during the day has me scared out of my wits. I don't know what to do!" She was exasperated, on the verge of crying now.
"Hey, Hermione, shh…" Now hugging Hermione, Ginny took her opportunity. "I meant what I said down in the kitchen, Hermione. You're my sister, if you can't be alone at Hogwarts, I'll be there. You can't shower in the black lake that stupid squid grabs anything, even people."
Hermione shook her head anxiously. "I can't ask you to do that."
"You didn't, I offered…" Ginny pointed out calmly.
"I feel so pathetic, Ginny." Hermione sighed heavily sniffing through tears.
"Taking someone's help doesn't mean that you're pathetic, Hermione." Ginny reminded her seriously.
"I know, but— "
"That's how you feel. I've been there, after the chamber of secrets… " She said, sympathising heavily. "I didn't have psychotic breaks, but I was afraid of everything, including my own shadow."
"I hate it," Hermione admitted slowly.
"Hermione, when is the last time you slept alone at night or showered in a bathroom or went somewhere by yourself?" Ginny asked delicately.
"I can't do it, any of it, not at night…." Hermione admitted in a small shaky voice.
"Hermione,"
"People can't stay with me all the time." She said anxiously.
"That's why we're sharing a room at Hogwarts with Harry, staying together." Ginny reminded her calmly.
"Harry can't stay with me in the bathroom," Hermione said dismissively.
"That's what I'm for." Ginny pointed out rhetorically.
"I always shower before bed, except for recently," Hermione sighed.
"I can do that too," Ginny assured.
"That's what Harry said." She sighed, laughing. "But it's absurd."
Ginny wrapped an arm around Hermione. "I was around Ron constantly the summer after the Chamber of Secrets." She offered quietly. "I thought for sure that he would get sick of me," She chuckled. "I went everywhere with him, slept in his bed… I reckon he felt guilty because he didn't complain the whole time we were in Egypt." Ginny smiled.
"You seemed okay by the time we were going back to Hogwarts," Hermione said in surprise with her head now on Ginny's shoulder.
"Trust me; I wasn't. I just figured it was only fair that I leave Ron alone." She sighed. "I don't know what it's like to have a psychotic break, but I know what it's like to be afraid of my own shadow, to feel broken." Ginny finished delicately.
"I've as always been independent," Hermione said emotionally. "And now, I can't be alone in most vulnerable circumstances without these psychotic breaks happening." Her frustration was evident.
Ginny looked extremely serious now. "Hermione, I spent a year as a hostage with my soul attached to the soul of a psychopath while it was syphoned and my innocence tainted, and you know what Harry went through. If anyone understands how hard it is to deal with awful trauma, it's us. We'll be there." Ginny reminded her in an empathetic whisper.
"Then you two are the best siblings I could have ever found," Hermione said. "I'm sorry." She looked apologetic.
Ginny shook her head. "You should be able to depend on us, especially when Ron isn't able to be there." She hugged Hermione again, this time heavily emotional. "You're the only sister Harry, and I have, after all, and we love you."
"You are all I have for family."
They broke the hug, "But your parents?" Ginny reminded softly.
Hermione sighed, looking subdued. "My parents are both an only child, and my grandparents have been gone since I was very young, so I have no blood relatives, no siblings, no blood beyond parents that will hate me when I reverse the memory charm on them," Hermione said bluntly.
"You don't know that." Ginny dismissed evenly.
Hermione smiled sadly, dropping her head on her knees now. "I do; they have never been fond of magic, and we've been drifting apart more and more as time has gone by. I've considered leaving them as they are in Australia free from a daughter."
"Wow, were things that bad?" Ginny asked sympathetically.
"Not bad, it's just that my parents were not meant to be parents, I wasn't planned, and they've told me that they seriously considered abortion. Finding out what I've done to them is going to make them wish they had destroyed whatever's left of our relationship." Hermione seemed to have accepted this; she looked sadly okay with it.
"Hermione, surely they will understand you saved their lives!" Ginny said with exasperation.
"Yes, I saved them, but I also stole them away without their knowledge or permission," Hermione said delicately. "They will take that very personally."
"How are you okay with that?" Ginny could not help herself from asking.
Hermione shrugged. "If I wasn't, I doubt I could have performed the memory charm in the first place. I can't share my life with them, and I'm so far removed from the Muggle world now that I hardly spend much time with them. That trip to France four summers ago was the last time we spent any meaningful time together." She looked sad.
"Wouldn't you want to change that?" Ginny said rhetorically.
Hermione was quiet. "I would, but I know my parents very well, and the best I can hope for is that years from now, when they have grandchildren, they find it in their hearts to forgive me." Hermione looked to be holding onto this solace.
"Do you know when you're going to Australia?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, after Hogwarts, the post-war chaos should have calmed by then," Hermione said.
"We can only hope," Ginny said quietly. "You'll be alright, Hermione; we'll all make sure of that." She squeezed her hand tightly.
"Thank you…" She was genuinely grateful.
As expected, Molly insisted on belated birthday celebrations for Ginny and Harry two days after returning from vacation. Ginny decided to magically conceal her ring while re-concealing the torture scars on her back. Both were exhausted after making small talk for several hours.
"Nice to be back," Harry said with general indifference.
"I'm sorry, Luna and I tried to talk her out of the party."
They were all sitting around the pond outside, Luna included.
"She was very insistent," Luna said thoughtfully.
"Mum can't help it." Ginny chuckled.
"Soon, we'll be back at Hogwarts; I think I'm going to awe the first years by transforming at the beginning of class." Harry grinned.
"Oh, yes, you're all Animagus now! I can see it in your auras!" Luna said excitedly.
"Keep that quiet." Ron hissed urgently. "Mum doesn't know."
"I'm not telling her; she doesn't need to know," Ginny said bluntly.
"Do you think we need to make any changes to the speech?" Harry suddenly asked.
Hermione looked at Harry with melancholy. "I mean, are you sure you want to tell them about your Mum's sacrifice?"
"Yeah, people need to know that anything I was able to do was only because of her sacrifice," Harry said seriously.
"Alright, I think the rest is fine," Hermione said confidently.
"Let's enjoy these last days of summer; it's winding down now." Ginny urged quietly.
"Yeah, mate, we haven't played Quidditch once all summer!" Ron urged eagerly.
"I'm no expert on Quidditch, but that takes a lot more people," Luna said thoughtfully.
"We go two on two most of the time," explained Ron.
"Ohhh, I would like to watch that!" Luna said eagerly.
The game was boys versus girls: Harry, and Ron versus Ginny and Hermione. They transfigured a few rocks into a Quaffle and a Snitch. Ginny was so good that it didn't matter that Hermione was awful.
"That was a bloody mess," Ron said, shaking his head.
"I'm severely out of practice." Harry acknowledged with a shrug.
"I'll fix it when the season starts," Ginny assured.
"I'm sure you will," Harry said.
The last few weeks leading up to the end of summer were spent helping Mrs Weasley tidy the Burrow inside and out, though nobody touched the twin's old room as though if the room felt occupied, it kept Fred alive in some symbolic way. Everyone was happy to help, and before anyone knew it, September the first was only three days away…
"I wish you were coming back too," Hermione said sadly as she lay curled against Ron in his bed.
"It's only nine months; I'll visit whenever I can." He assured.
"The longest we've been apart in seven years is over the summer. I'm scared, Ron," She said anxiously.
"Harry and Ginny will be with you," Ron said calmly.
"But you won't be! We're both dealing with so much right now. I need you!" She said emotionally.
"Don't cry, Mione, it's going to be okay," Ron said gently.
"I feel powerless; I can't help either of us," Hermione said frustratingly.
"I know you're worried about both of us, but with everything we've been through, I know we'll get through this stuff too," Ron said quietly, stroking her cheek affectionately.
"Are you sure you'll be alright to keep getting off the sleeping potion by yourself?" She asked worrisomely, her face inches from his now.
"I know that you're worried I will become addicted again." He said softly.
"I'm sorry, it's a highly potent potion, and I don't want anything to happen to you, Ron! I couldn't—I can't…" She was quite exasperated now.
"I'm a bit scared too, but Auror training should use all my energy so I can keep getting sober. Please don't cry, Hermione." Ron wiped her tears gently with his thumb.
"I can't help it. I love you so much, Ron." She frowned, smiling.
"I love you too," He whispered.
Hermione kissed Ron tenderly, sliding her hands underneath and taking off his shirt.
"I know we haven't in a while because your energy is low, but I don't want to go back without sleeping together," Hermione said quietly.
"You'll have to do most of the work." Ron said apologetically.
"Ron, work is my favourite thing to do." Hermione reminded rhetorically.
Ron smiled at her cheeky remark. "I am in very good hands then."
She smiled back, "Yes you are, now…"
Hermione sealed Ron's door and then cast silencing charm. She took off her shirt and then pulled Ron into her body, sitting on the bed, meeting his lips intensely this time, eventually breaking the kiss to take off her shorts.
"It's always nice when you don't bother with a bra or knickers." He said, admiring her nude frame.
"It's been too hot; I'm not doing it for you." Hermione insisted.
"If you say so." He smiled rather smugly.
Hermione shrugged, pushing Ron gently onto his back on the bed before she worked to slide off his shorts and boxers.
"I don't think you have any idea how much I'm going to miss you," She said quietly.
Hermione climbed on top of Ron grabbing his penis and guiding it inside of her.
"You don't usually like getting right to the point," Ron said, quickly moaning as their sex touched.
"I don't want to waste time, this is the last time I can be with you for months." Hermione said with anxiousness.
"Hogsmeade weekends." He said with another quick exhale.
"Sex Ron—I'm not for having sex in public…" Hermione exhaled in satisfaction. "I want to make sure that I will remember what you feel like…"
Ron was huge and it always felt so good when he came. It made her forget everything. She started by grinding her clit against his penis slowly, every so often she would lean in to kiss his chest or lips.
"Merlin you've never been this way." He said quite turned on now.
"I am a bit desperate for you, " Hermione admitted eagerly.
Soon she made sure that every last inch filled her fanny before she started to roll her hips, creating instant pressure and pleasure; she grabbed Ron's hands and placed them on her breasts. Ron took the hint and squeezed both, which made Hermione ride him faster.
"Merlin, Mione you really aren't messing around tonight." He said impressed as he watched her move on top of him.
Hermione was stroking their joined sex blindly now, her breathing heavy and prolonged. Her free hand was lost in her hair. Right at the edge of her orgasm, she focused exclusively on her clit, tapping it frantically. Ron seemed to know to take hold of her hips in anticipation of her climax. Soon the only sound that filled the room was breathing so loud it was a good thing Hermione had silenced the room ahead of time. Hermione came first, throwing her head back in euphoric satisfaction as she tightened around his erection. Hermione shook through her orgasm, occupying her hands with her breasts. The entire sight set Ron off too, and that warmth sent Hermione into a longer but less intense orgasm, locking eyes with Ron again a smile on her face.
"Ron I'm sorry…" Hermione was still catching her breath and couldn't elaborate.
"Blimey Hermione what's wrong?" He asked confused.
"I didn't mean to be so selfish— "
"Hermione." Ron gently pulled her to him as she got off him. "Watching you gets me going too."
"That's not what I mean, I was trying to make myself feel better and I used you…" She frowned.
"Mione, you can do what you just did whenever you want." He assured with quiet enthusiasm.
She chuckled. "Typical guy." She reached a hand inside the front of his hair, making it neat again. Her voice was emotional now. "I just mean that I love you so much that there's been times that it hurts and since we are going to be apart for so long…"
"It's alright Hermione." Ron whispered affectionately as he cupped her face. "I will always be willing to shag, especially if you that's what you need."
Hermione smiled looking emotional. "You know, I pride myself on knowing things, figuring stuff out, but I don't think I'll ever figure out how you fell in love with me…"
"It's because you're you." He said tenderly.
Ron moved on top of her now and as he fell into place inside Hermione, they worked in unison, breath rising slowly, hands roaming each other from top to bottom, pausing to squeeze each other chest while their pace began to peak.
"Oh Ron!" Hermione cried emotionally.
She captured Ron in a long, consuming kiss while he continued to thrust. Their climax was simultaneous, amid heavy breaths and very active hands.
Hermione was the first to talk again. Her voice still winded. "I hope I can remember this…until the next time." She said softly as she settled into Ron's body.
"I could keep something of mine with you." Ron assured calmly.
"Your Chudley Cannon shirt?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Anything for you." Ron said lovingly.
A/N: Summer is almost over, and that's what the next two shorter chapters will focus on, nothing major, just reflecting and reminiscing as Harry, Ron and Hermione deal with their approaching separation as a trio that, on some level, will last forever. Sadly, even best friends cannot always be together upon hitting adulthood 😥 I think I will leave with someone else's words for solace, no not Albus Dumbledore but my all time favorite game designer as that's my other major hobby😊
"I think that inside every adult is the heart of a child. We just gradually convince ourselves that we have to act more like adults." — Shigeru Miyamoto