Hello, darlings. To fix an issue on AO3 you get another chapter today! I know, you're all super disappointed. This is a multi-chapter story, I have a nice backlog, so it will post regularly. Enjoy.
Chapter 2 And the Bodyguards Are...
Hermione opened a letter from her parents, smiling at their excitement. They wished her a Happy Christmas and promised to be home by September for her birthday for a long visit. Though, they still hoped to be home for a least a week over the summer. She wrote back, telling them of the great honor the hamingja bestowed upon her. She made herself dinner and dived into research mode.
Arriving at Grimmauld Place, Harry sighed at Ginny's note on the kitchen table. Once again she and Veronica had dropped Hugo off with Molly and gone shopping. She promised to meet him at the Burrow for dinner. He suspected her insistence on keeping their finances separate was mostly to hide her spending sprees. Which had increased since Veronica entered their lives. Shopping all day and dinner at the Burrow occurred at least three times a week. He missed intimate dinners just the two of them. The hours spent without anyone else. He changed out of his uniform and flooed over the Burrow.
He heard voices in the kitchen. His fiancee whirled to face him as he entered the room, "What's this about you going to Norway over Christmas without telling me?"
Harry held up his hands, "We just learned about the mission this afternoon. You weren't home when I got there. Nothing has been decided, I haven't put my name in."
"And there is no guarantee of any one particular getting being selected. It's a volunteer lottery," Ron added entering the room.
Molly looked surprised, "What do you mean a lottery?"
Ron shrugged, "Kings will be drawing names, volunteers, only. Blokes with families might not want to be away."
All three women looked at each other annoyed. Ginny gave voice to their thoughts, "She didn't immediately invite her two best friends?"
Harry blinked, hardly recognizing the woman he loved in the harpy before him. "You know Hermione, she never presumes, and would hardly want to impose. Asking would put us on the spot, and she knows how excited you all are for Hugo's first Christmas. How could she ask?" Ginny looked mollified at his reply and began chatting about the upcoming holiday. Molly watched them with narrowed eyes and quietly exited the room.
Pecking on the window interrupted Hermione's reading. She recognized the Weasley's new owl, Alvin. She opened the window and took the red envelope from him. The howler unfolded itself.
"HERMIONE GRANGER," howled Molly Weasley, "HOW DARE YOU NOT INVITE YOUR TWO BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD TO SHARE IN THESE BLESSINGS? JUST WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE WITHOUT RON AND HARRY'S UNWAVERING FRIENDSHIP? YOU OWE IT TO THEM TO CANCEL THIS SILLY DRAWING AND INFORM KINGSLEY YOU'RE TAKING THEM, END OF STORY. I JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE BEING SO UNGRATEFUL AFTER EVERYTHING THIS FAMILY HAS DONE TO INCLUDE."
If there was anymore Hermione didn't know. She incinerated the missive before it could finish and explode. Fury raged through her. Years of keeping quiet, overlooking slights and insults boiled to the surface. Before she overthought her reaction, Hermione apparated into the Burrow. "Molly Weasley," she roared, "how dare you!" Arthur froze in the middle of greeting his wife, looking and feeling confusion and concern. "Where do you get off sending me a howler accusing me, ME, of being ungrateful? Without me, Fred, Ron, Harry, and Ginny would be dead! And how could I ask them to choose between me and important personal milestones? Not that anyone ever considers my feelings. But the biggest slap in the face is the one that keeps coming. Unwavering friendship? Are you kidding me? In third year neither talked to me for months. Once when Ron thought Crookshanks attacked Scabbers and when I told McGonagall about Harry's new broom."
"Which was safe," protested Ron.
"But did we know that?" exploded Hermione. "Fourth year you called me ugly and unable to get a date. Then I was a traitor for dating the enemy. While you didn't talk to Harry for months because you were jealous. Sixth-year Harry used me to make you think he put an illegal potion in your drink, but I was the bad guy."
"Now, Hermione, those are childish excuses," condescended Molly.
"Then let's move on to more adult betrayals, shall we?" Hermione said in a cold tone. Harry shivered. "During the darkest, most difficult, most dangerous time of our lives he left us. Walked right the fuck out on us in the middle of defeating Voldemort. But we forgave you. The healer told me having children would be labor intensive and time consuming, Ron heard impossible and left me at the clinic. He went and got drunk and cheated on me. I choose to forgive him. Only to be dropped me to play happy families with his affair partner. Did any of you console me? Did anyone check on me? No, you ignored my pain, and the shameful behavior of Ron, and focused on a wedding and a baby. You put me to work on the wedding of my ex and replacement. And the baby is a complete innocent whose existence is shoved in my face constantly. But he is innocent, so no matter how much it hurts, I can't hate him. But, who the fuck asks their ex-fiancee to be their affair baby's godmother? What the fuck is wrong with you two?" Ginny gasped, Hermione suspected she didn't know she was the second choice. "I have been forced to smile while the life I dreamed of is rubbed in my face. So, if taking the chance to step away while you celebrate a milestone in the baby's life is ungrateful, then yes, you bint, I'm ungrateful. After everything I've done for the world since I was eleven, I think I deserve to put myself first for once. If Harry and Ron choose to put their names in, that's their decision. If they're chosen, wonderful. But I refuse to listen to complaints, so it will be up to chance, or fate. Given your poor opinion of me, I will begin distancing myself from your family. Thank you for not wasting any more of my life letting me think we were a family of sorts." She spun and departed just as she had arrived.
"Well good riddance," Veronica said. "No one wanted such a sad sack hanging around."
Surprising everyone, Arthur glared at his daughter-in-law. "Leave now, No one will talk like that about any of my children."
"Dad," started Ron.
Arthur cut him off, "Remove your wife before she is no longer welcome in my home. She may return when she can remember she is a member of this family, not the center of it." In the face of his father's rage, Ron quietly ushered his wife out of the room going to collect his son. Arthur turned to his own wife, "What did you do?"
"I sent Hermione a howler. She should have invited the boys to share this honor."
"That isn't your decision. And how could you? We have been terrible to that girl for the past year. We've unconsciously asked her to do things we would never ask any of our other children to do. "Molly tried to protest. "If Hermione cheated on Ron, got pregnant, and married the man she cheated with, would you have expected Ron to embrace these people and be overjoyed about the baby at all times?"
"No, I would throw that slag right out!"
"That's not what we did to Veronica," pointed out Harry sadly.
"Ron married her," protested Ginny. "She's officially family."
"Hermione is my family," stated Arthur.
"She's my sister. She's always supported me, us. I am going to be a better brother. I'm entering my name in the lottery." Harry stood, "I'm going to check on Hermione."
Arthur nodded and addressed Molly, "You owe her an apology."
Ron expected Veronica to yell and throw things when they got home. She had in the past when it seemed someone sided with Hermione over her. Instead, she was subdued. "I thought your dad liked me."
"He does," reassured Ron, putting Hugo in his highchair. "But he's right, we've both been unkind to Hermione. You have to stop the comments. Hermione was family long before we dated."
"Okay," Veronica looked down. "You should enter your name."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
She gave him a weak smile, "It could show your dad I'm sorry. And this is a gigantic bloody deal, Ron. These feasts grant all kinds of good luck and good fortune. It could be huge for our family."
"If you're sure," he said hesitantly.
"Completely," she assured him, her mind already scheming. Hermione mentioning the luck potion started her mind churning. Her father could get her some. It was how she nabbed Ron after all. Months of flirting were getting her nowhere. A couple of drops could change your life.
Harry followed Hermione. Once she assured him she would be fine, he agreed to leave reluctantly. "One last question, Mione, would you really be alright with Ron coming with you?"
She hung her head, "No," she admitted in a small voice. "I'm not. He's been a git to me quite often. He doesn't deserve to be within 100 miles of any magical enclaves. And it may be petty but that bint doesn't deserve any of the good fortune he might gain."
"You think she planned it?" Harry never considered the option. "The affair?"
"Several times she's nearly admitted it with her taunts and jabs. She's not as clever as she thinks she is. Even if she didn't intend to get pregnant, she knew who he was, that he was engaged. She didn't care. Now she has him. May the gods have mercy on that baby if times get tough."
"I'm putting my name in," he told her.
"Oh, Harry, no! You should stay here. Be with family for Yule."
"You are my family. The family that always stayed by my side. My turn."
"Well, I'm going to hope you don't get selected. And get to stay here with your fiancee." He kissed her forehead. She hugged him back.
Ginny sulked all Saturday about the events. She complained Harry proposed to abandon them for the
holidays. Upon hearing about the howler and ambush of Hermione, the twins, Bill and his family refused to attend the weekly family dinner in protest, further annoying her. George's raised eyebrow and asking how their mother's poor choices and Veronica's acid tongue were Hermione's fault made her feel slightly guilty. Still, it didn't seem fair. Veronica apologized with flowery language and insisted Ron put his name in to support his friend. Harry frowned about that but said nothing.
Harry left for work an hour early. He checked in and told the desk clerk he had a meeting with the minister. He told Kingsley's secretary the same thing. "Harry, do we have a meeting I forgot?"
"No, I wanted to be here when you draw Hermione's bodyguards. She might be willing to let Chance decide but I am going to insist on a veto. This is a blessing, it should feel that way for her."
"Fair enough." Robards and Carter brought in the list of volunteers. Neither seemed astonished by Harry's presence or upset by it. Kingsley pulled a name from the hit wizards. He showed it to Harry who nodded in approval before handing it to Carter. Then he pulled from the aurors. His eyes widened, and he showed the name to Harry who reacted instantly, "No absolutely not. She admitted she's not on board with that."
Robard raised an eyebrow, "Ronald Weasley," Kingsley filled him in. "I agree with Harry. So we draw again."
"No," said Harry. "I'll go. Of everyone available who has more right to demand to support her during this than me? Also, the hit wizard is a pureblood from a darker neutral family. I'm from a light pureblood family. The three of us are a muggleborn, a half blood, and a pureblood."
"That sounds pretty good to me," Robard nodded.
Carter looked thoughtful for a moment and nodded, "Agreed."
"If someone complains?" asked Robard.
"We drew names, but allowed ourselves to assemble the best team to both protect our national treasure and show our new friends we understand her value."
"Flint is one of our best new officers. The same can be said for Potter," Carter remarked.
Kingsley looked at Harry, "When you're summoned to the office later, act natural."
"No problem. I'm going to head up there to avoid suspicion." Harry waved farewell to Kingsley.
The office buzzed with excitement. Marcus briefly considered retreating to the break room or the training room but realized both would be full of aurors and hit wizards gossiping about the lottery. Even the ones that refrained from entering were abuzz. He let everyone's energy influence him to enter his name. Even his best mate, Adrian, cheered the idea. A chance to spend two weeks in close quarters with Hermione Granger, the leading lady in most of his fantasies and daydreams. Now, he felt foolish. It all seemed unlikely and far-fetched. To distract himself he dove into report writing from the last black market raid. He enjoyed the satisfying feeling of protecting innocent people after years of powerlessness.
"Oi, Flint!" Leander Sallow, his partner yelled. "Damn, mate, had to call you three times. Carter wants you."
"Sorry, concentrating on the report," he apologized.
"Yeah, this time don't agree to any away missions. Ashley's due any day now and threatened my manhood if I miss the birth."
"She's bluffing, that might be the only part of you she likes right now," taunted Marcus.
He entered the head hit wizard's office. Jason Carter sat behind his desk chatting with Gawain Robards and Kingsley Shaklebolt. "Ah, Flint, come in, have a seat." He indicated one of the chairs in front of his desk. Marcus chose the one closet to the door, shifting it so he could see the door from his position. The other three men chuckled, each having done something similar. "We wanted to verify you are still willing to accompany Miss Granger to Norway?"
"Absolutely," he answered promptly.
Carter nodded once, "Excellent. Harry Potter was the selected auror, any issues working with him?"
"No, sir. He's an exceptional auror."
"Miss Granger suggested arriving in Norway, perhaps on the 18th, and staying at least the night in Tronso. Is that acceptable?"
"I am Miss Granger's complete disposal from now until the end of the trip."
Carter smiled his approval, "She has graciously offered her flat for an organizational meeting tomorrow evening at six. Are you available?"
Marcus shifted in his seat, "Yes, sir."
Kingsley took over, "We will meet in my office tomorrow at five thirty and floo over. Dismissed." Marcus nodded curtly and departed. "A man of few words, I like him."
"I'm home," Harry announced wondering if he should even bother. More often than not lately he returned home to an empty house. "Ginny? Are you home? I sound like an idiot." On the kitchen table was another note. Harry read it aloud, "Shopping with Veronica. Home later. Eat without me. Will you even notice I'm gone?" he asked the empty air.
"Kreacher knows when master is gone," answered a small voice.
"And I appreciate that, Kreacher, thank you. May I ask why is that?"
"Wheezy mistress is rude to Kreacher when master is gone. Does master be wanting dinner?"
"Yes, please, Kreacher. Dinner would be nice. Thank you." The house elf popped away and Harry went upstairs to change. Kreacher decided to serve in the informal dining room. He refused to allow Harry to eat in the kitchen. He ignored Harry's protests.
Ginny sashayed in as Harry finished eating the three course meal Kreacher prepared. "Why are you in here?" She looked around the room critically. She had redecorated when she moved in but now wasn't sure she liked it.
"Kreacher told me I can't eat all my meals in the kitchen. So, I ate here. He was right, eating in here feels less lonely."
"Sorry, Veronica and I ran out to finish shopping for Hugo. She wants to compensate for Ron being in Norway."
"Well, he won't be, so she doesn't have to worry. Have you finished shopping for everyone else?"
Ginny sat, "Well, you still only have one first Christmas. I have something for everyone on our list." She swiped the last bite of treacle tart. "Who is going? Anyone I know?"
"Marcus Flint and myself," Harry answered in a conversational tone.
"You?" Ginny yelled.
"Me, I told you I was entering my name."
"I didn't think you'd get selected. Tell Robards you can't."
"No, I volunteered. Kingsley selected me. I am going."
"You can't miss my godson's first Yule," protested Ginny.
Harry shrugged, "I missed my godson's first one."
Ginny stuck out her bottom lip slightly, pouting. "You can't leave me. I'll be the only partner-less person over the holidays," she whined.
"It's just your family. I'll be back before the Ministry New Year's event. And Hermione's been the odd man out for a year."
Ginny pounded her fist on the table, "I am not Hermione bloody Granger."
"I know," replied Harry, "Hermione is strong, thoughtful, kind, and loyal. Even when her so-called friends ignore her or deem her behind her back she pays attention to the people she cares about. She supports them even when none of them bother to return the favor. I can't think of a single one of us that deserves her."
"If you go on this trip we are finished, mister. I mean it. Don't bother coming back. I will not play second fiddle to anyone."
"As we live in my house I think you mean, you won't be here when I get back," Harry said coldly.
"You know what I mean," she snapped.
"Don't make threats you don't mean, Ginerva. Any ultimatums you issue will be greeted with the opposite of what you want. I will not be controlled or manipulated ever again." He glared at her, she looked down, shame coloring her face. "Your attitude about Hermione and your behavior towards her is not our only problems. You're never home. You constantly spend most of your paycheck on sprees with Veronica. I pay all our household expenses. I pay when we go out. We're not in a partnership, at least not one I recognize or want. And when you're not attached to Veronica at the hip, or at work, you focus completely on Hugo to the exclusion of everything and one else."
"No, I don't," she protested.
"When was the last time you came with me to see Teddy? Or took Victorie for a spa day? When was the last time we went on a date? Or stayed in just the two of us? When did you go for a girls' night?"
"I, uh, I'm not sure," she admitted.
"Right around a year. Your brother fucked around, screwed up his relationship and you abandoned everyone for Veronica and Hugo." He paused and looked away. "I'm afraid to have children with you. I doubt you could put them first."
Ginny's mouth fell open, "Harry, how can you say that?"
"You seem unable to put anyone else before them, even when it's important. Your first thought about all of this would be that I would be missing for Hugo. You only mentioned yourself because that failed."
"I don't know what to say."
Harry sighed, "I think we need to step back and work on things. I need to support Hermione right now, and you need to evaluate things." He stood up. "I have a work meeting tomorrow at six. I should be home by seven thirty."
"Okay, we'll have dinner together then."
"We'll see. Good night, Gin."
"Good night, Harry. I love you." By the time she came to bed, he was fast asleep. She decided that was for the best. Her pride still smarted from his words. She knew he was wrong, but sensed it was pointless to argue right now.