The wind whipped by Harry so fast that if he hadn't had various protection charms on his glasses, they would have been in pieces somewhere over the dark forest. His thighs burned a bit from where they clenched the broom, keeping his seat. His fingers felt like they had been petrified, curled around the end of the Quicksilver.

While Harry couldn't care less about the cut or quality of his robes. He admittedly had a weakness for a fast broom, and the Quicksilver was the fastest currently on the market, outpacing its predecessor, the Firebolt significantly.

It was bliss flying so high amongst the clouds, the darkening blue sky stretching endlessly around him. His heart raced as he let the broom dip downward and began a freefall. Harry yanked his hands away from the top of the broom and raised them above his head. He let his arms drag against the wind as he kept the broom with him only by the strength of his legs.

Adrenaline surged through Harry as the ground came into view, barreling toward him. His eyesight seemed to sharpen, his senses keen, taking in everything. His chest moved rapidly as he tried to suck in air. Every single blade of grass seemed distinct as the ground rushed toward him. At the last minute, he grabbed the end of the broom, pulling it up with a brutal yank.

Gravity pulled on his body, trying to keep him hurtling towards the unforgiving ground, but the broom started slowly rising back towards the darkening sky. He didn't stop until the air threatened to become too thin, the stars seemingly within reach.

As he drifted, peace seeped into Harry. Staring blindly upwards towards the shining brilliance of the emerging night stars, he thought about how he invited Hermione to stay with him and Teddy. His mind supplied images of the three of them walking along together at some random park. Other people, maybe people who didn't know them, might think they were their own little family.

A father. A mother. A son.

Harry rubbed his face with both hands, trying to dismiss the strange thought. It persisted though, along with the feel of Hermione trying to cuddle closer to him, whispering how she wouldn't be able to sleep without him.

"You're going to mess shit up, idiot." He berated himself. Why did things have to be so bloody complicated? What if he acted on what he was thinking and it didn't work out? What then?

He hadn't been friends with Cho or Ginny like he was with Hermione. They weren't part of him like she was.

"Fuck." Harry shook his head at himself and grasped his broom again, going back in. Even if he hadn't figured anything out, at least he felt less stressed. He went to the main area for the quidditch lockup, sitting down on a bench near the back wall to give his broom a quick polish before putting it away. The wood needed to remain supple for some maneuvers and so required consistent maintenance or the performance would degrade.

As Harry carefully wiped a cloth down his broom, he heard the doors bang and looked up at Ginny entering. She halted when she spotted him, her long, bright red hair drifting around her shoulders.

"Hey," Harry said awkwardly.

Ginny looked at the broom in his hands and the polishing kit. "You went for a ride?"

"Yeah, I needed to relax."

She shifted, her shoulders going back. "I would have ridden with you if you'd told me."

Harry looked down towards his broom. "It's alright. I just needed some time to myself, is all."

There was a pause before Ginny inhaled audibly. "You know she's never going to be up there with you."

Harry froze. "What?"

"Hermione. You barely have anything in common with her."

Harry put up his polishing kit, grabbed his broom, and stood up to put it away. He moved past Ginny but she reached out and grabbed his elbow.

"Harry." Her eyes searched his, looking for something she wasn't finding. "Don't you remember walking around the lake with me in your sixth year? How it felt when we went riding together?"

Harry reached over with his free hand, grabbing her wrist and pulling it gently from his elbow. "I do care for you, Ginny, but not like that, not anymore."

"You wouldn't let me come with you guys if I had, if you hadn't tried to protect me, we would still be together. It's only because Hermione was with you during the war, while I was stuck here waiting for you." Ginny's eyes glittered with tears and love.

"We never would have been happy, Ginny."

"Why?"

Harry looked away from her, from the torment in her expression. He had thought since Ginny had never approached him after that first time that she had moved on. Harry hadn't realized she had been waiting for him to come back to her. He cared for her and didn't want to hurt her, but he had to make her understand. "Because if Hermione called for me, if she needed me, I would have always left."

"I would have let you! You would have come back to me. I never would have been jealous of her."

"Maybe you should have been." Harry looked back at her, letting her see the truth in his eyes. "There are a lot of things I don't know that I haven't figured out. But this, yeah, I know. We were always on a time limit, Ginny."

She shook her head in denial. "Do you know how long I've loved you?"

He didn't look away. "Not as long as I've loved Hermione."

"As a sister! Ron told me!"

Ron had a really big mouth sometimes, Harry thought, irritation growing. "Don't do this, Ginny. Let's stay friends."

Ginny did the same thing she had the last time they talked. She stomped off and her shoulder hit him as she passed by. Harry looked up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath to try to stem the irritation.

He put away his stuff quickly and shoved his hands into his robes and he walked with his head down the path to Hogwarts.

As he entered the headroom a few minutes later, he called out, "Hey I'm–"

But Hermione was faster, her arms wrapping around him and giving him a tight hug, her face pressing briefly against his neck. She pulled back just as quickly, though, taking a step back and giving him a smile. "Did you have a nice ride?"

"Yeah. The new model of broom is brilliant."

"I got Winky to get you some treacle tarts." Hermione pointed over to the table near the cabinets.

Harry walked over to the table and stood there looking at his snack. He grabbed one, then reached for the latest medical text he was reading, which described injuries to one's magic because of various curses, hexes, or bindings.

When he sat next to Hermione on the sofa, she shifted and her toes crept under his thigh. He watched her for a moment, how completely she gave her attention to the text. She probably hadn't even consciously moved her foot close to him.

His heart squeezed a bit because he knew all he had to do was speak and she would shift her complete focus to him. He reached down and rested his hand on her leg, flipping his book open on his lap. The feeling that seeped into Harry as he read quietly next to Hermione was so familiar. It was the same feeling he got as he drifted among emerging stars on his broom. A quiet, blissful peace.

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"I'm surprised to find you without Harry attached at your hip," Ron said the words lightly, but there was an edge to his voice as he approached Hermione sitting on the shore of the black lake.

Hermione turned her head to watch Ron approach. He had been a little testy with both her and Harry since the confrontation in the common room. Ron's shoulders were tense as he sat next to her, and his winter coat made him seem even bigger as he settled himself comfortably on the shore.

"Harry promised to help Neville with repotting some of the plants. I was supposed to go to study for my O. again, but…" Hermione shrugged, looking back toward the rippling waters of the lake.

"You'll make my head combust if you're telling me you're playing hooky from your own study schedule."

Hermione gave a soft laugh. "Maybe I learned too much from you two. I've got some bad habits now."

"I wasn't the one that thought the best way to stop Snape in first year was to set him on fire. That was all you."

"I was twelve and panicking."

When the silence stretched between them, Hermione looked over to find Ron staring at her, his blue eyes solemn.

"I should have known then. I guess."

"Known what?"

Ron blew out a breath, looking away. "How it was. How it was always going to be. No matter what I did. I was just the regular bloke, and you two were…" He waved his hand in the air. "Something special."

"Ron, we couldn't have won without you. You were the one who saved Harry from drowning in the forest. And you managed to hiss at that blasted secret chamber door and make it open!"

A smile stretched his face, and he gave her a sideways glance. "Yeah, that was a piece of bloody brilliant luck, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

Ron's smile faded though and he bit his lip looking at her. "Did Harry ever tell you what we saw when we destroyed the locket after I pulled him of that pond?"

Hermione shook her head. There were still so many things they hadn't talked about. So many things it hurt to say.

"I saw you and Harry. Together. Kissing." Ron stopped, clearing his throat and looking off to the side. "I — I am happy for you guys." He stopped again, nodding to himself and sucking in a deep breath. "I'm happy but —"

Hermione reached out patting his arm, "Ron–"

"I'm so jealous. I was always—and it wasn't—it wasn't just you. I just wanted you both with me. Like as friends, you know? But somehow I always felt like I was the third wheel. And now I really am. You're changing and Harry's changing and I'm — I'm just the same still. Still just here. I still don't know what the bloody hell I'm supposed to be doing half the time, Hermione."

Hermione met his tear-glazed blue eyes, and her heart clenched. She had been focused more on her and Harry and fixating on her changing feelings for him. She reached out and hugged Ron tightly, feeling him taking a shuddering breath.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. For everything I've ever done wrong, you know? I just don't want to lose you or Harry."

"You won't. You're our best friend. That's never going to change, Ron."

"You promise?"

"Yes. I promise." As she pulled back, she could see the embarrassment filling his gaze and teased him a bit to change the subject. "Although dating Daphne Greengrass means I get to make fun of you."

Ron glanced at her and latched onto the subject change gratefully. "She's nice. And she has big—"

"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" Hermione snapped, cutting him off.

"Jeez. What's that face for? I was going to say she has a big family. Family."

Hermione could feel her cheeks burning. "You liar! She has one sister!"

"Yes, but who knows how many cousins?"

"How many?"

"Well, I don't know, but considering probably a lot," Ron responded cheekily.

"What are you two squabbling about now?" Harry called as he approached, the rocks shifting under his booted feet. "And why are we choosing to freeze our arses off in front of the lake when we could be in front of a fire?"

Hermione pointed at Ron accusingly, "He was telling me about Daphne Greengrass big—"

Ron cupped his hands over his chest while he said loudly, "Family."

Harry choked on a laugh as steam practically came from Hermione's ears. He moved between them when Hermione looked like she was about to thrash Ron, settling down with one on each side.

"Pax!" He huffed as he crossed his legs, his hand reaching for Hermione's making sure she wasn't chilled. "I just got finished repotting three dozen plants, at least a dozen of which tried to strangle me for my efforts."

Hermione shot Harry a smile as she felt his warming charm layering over her own. "I'm sure Neville would have protected you if things got too dire."

"Or would he have been too enthralled with how cute they are?" Harry paused and his voice lowered a bit secretively as he looked between the two of them. "Do you know who joined him as I left?"

"One of those giggling fifth-year hufflepuffs?" Hermione asked dryly.

Harry shook his head.

"Who?" She poked his side, near his hip, where she knew he was ticklish.

Harry laughed, catching her hand again, to bring it down to his side. "Pansy Parkinson."

"Ugh." Ron recoiled.

"Yeah," Harry said, his laughter fading as he turned toward the lake. "You know I ran into her during summer, in Diagon Alley. She apologized to me."

"And I'm sure you just forgave her, because yeah, who cares?" Ron muttered, standing up and starting to walk away from where they sat.

"Ron," Hermione called for him, but Ron ignored her, striding swiftly away from them.

"I guess he's still mad at me."

"No, he's just…"

"Just what?"

Hermione shrugged and leaned closer to Harry, resting her head on his shoulder. Her head was starting to hurt. "Confused."

Harry paused, picking up a rock to fiddle it in his right hand, careful not to move his left shoulder where Hermione pressed against him. "So what were you two talking about before I came?"

There was a bit of silence and he looked down at her face, resting so close to his, her eyes were closed and there was a little wrinkle of tension between her brows.

"He was telling me about when you two destroyed the locket."

"Oh." Everything always seemed to circle back to the war. Every day. Every memory. It was tiresome, in Harry's opinion.

Harry hadn't expected Hermione to continue, and her voice was low when she spoke again. "Ron said that when you two destroyed the locket, you both saw an image of us kissing. He said that he was—he is—jealous of us."

"Because he wants you as his girlfriend."

Hermione's eyes opened, and she pulled away, so she could face Harry fully. Their faces were close as she shook her head slightly. "He just wants to be important to both of us… I think more important than we are to each other, if that makes sense? He said he feels like a third wheel."

Harry knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't resist staring down at her serious face. "Am I more important?"

A soft smile curved her lips. "Well, you are the chosen one, after all."

"Hermione." He huffed a laugh, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her back to his shoulder. When she wasn't looking at him, he admitted softly to her. "You are the most important to me. I'm here because you stayed by my side."

"And I was always by your side because you're my most important." Hermione rubbed her temple, trying to be in the moment, but the pain in her head was getting worse.

Harry stood up, pulling her to her feet. "Let's go in so you can be warm properly, and I have some headache potion."

"I don't like headache potion." She said grumpily, following as he tugged her along to the common room.

"We can roll up in blankets afterward and look at the pictures of Teddy that Andromeda has sent," Harry said persuasively, smiling at her.

"He is irresistibly cute. What unfair tactics."

Harry turned as his smile widened, tugging her along behind him. "I know."

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As the cold intensified, Hogwarts became perpetually covered in snow and looked almost like a greeting card. Harry could feel anticipation building in him as the last day of the term approached. As much as he now felt coming back to Hogwarts was the right decision, he couldn't deny how much he was looking forward to the winter break.

He would have his favorite people with him in his home. There wouldn't be any threats to their safety, there wouldn't be anything to do but enjoy each other's company. It would be the closest thing to normal, to the things he'd seen on the telly with other families that he'd ever experienced. Hermione reached for her bag in front of him to go down to breakfast and he snatched up the strap before she could touch it, grinning when she huffed at him.

Though Hermione acted annoyed sometimes when Harry carried her books for her, he saw the smiles she tried to hide from him, and it made him feel so good. He couldn't get enough of being the reason she smiled like that. Even now, her head tilted downward, her braid over her shoulder, and he could see the curl of her lips.

Ron was still a little standoffish with both of them, but even that couldn't dampen his spirits. It was like Harry was finally hitting the right stride. Classes went smoothly. He performed better than he had ever had before, and it was easy.

There were stumbles — sure — little things that broke the idyllicness. The meetings with the healer who still tried to talk about blame, to get Harry to let go of his trauma and not just try to move on. Or when he spotted Malfoy's face unexpectedly in the corridors sometimes also managed to snap Harry out of the idyll he was grasping tightly with both hands.

But then Hermione reached for him when he paused, tugging Harry along to their classes. The sameness of her was steadying. She was as responsibly dedicated as she had ever been. Still as focused on him, only now Harry realized it, instead of unconsciously counting on it. It made it easier for Harry to let those stumbles pass by him, and continue on his way. To focus on classes, to focus on her. Her smile. Her moods. Her comfort. To pay attention to the little cues she gave when she tried to ignore her headaches.

Harry had known, of course, that he wasn't the only one dealing with issues from the war, so many people had been irrevocably changed by those events. It had just taken him longer to spot those issues in Ron and Hermione, perhaps because he was so close to them.

Hermione had always read extensively, and Harry had never kept up with her reading material, but he sat next to her day after day on the sofa of the common room. Harry noticed the theme of her extracurricular books. Wards, wards, and more warding.

All the little clues came together, the way she curled into him at night. Her reaction to being alone. Hermione wanted safety, to feel safe.

And Harry was going to give that to her.

The day of the last quidditch match before break dawned, a scant few days before the last day of the winter term. The team had been in high spirits, and Harry ignored the heavy glances given to him by Ginny.

They were facing Hufflepuff and Harry would never admit it out loud, but this was going to be a piece of cake for his team. When the Gryffindor team went out to the field, there was a loud cheer from the stands that made their ears ring and everyone was wearing wide smiles, their hands waving mainly at their house section.

Harry looked toward the cheering stands, his eyes seeking out curly brown hair. His heart speeded up when he saw her. Hermione's face was cherry red, almost matching the deep red jersey she wore over her jumper. She waved excitedly and spun so he could see her back, and emblazoned in bright gold letters that matched his own uniform was his name across her back. Potter.

The other players catcalled him, but Harry couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. Bloody hell. He looked over at the one person he was a little concerned about, but Ron just gave him a smile and did his goofy eyebrow wiggle back at him.

"Don't get distracted by your girlfriend, captain," Ron yelled at him over the cheering crowd.

Harry opened his mouth to deny it, but his gaze darted to the stands and he said instead," Let's go kick some badger arses!"

It was the easiest game Harry had ever played. Every time their chasers even got close to the opposing teams' goals, they managed to score. The Hufflepuff beaters couldn't get the bludgers to cooperate with them, and the snitch practically flew into Harry's hand halfway into the game.

As the crowd rushed onto the field, he searched for Hermione, spotting her near the edge of the crush, and pushed his way out to her.

Hermione smiled a little awkwardly as he approached. "Congrats, Harry—Harry!" Hermione broke off in a high-pitched squeal as he lifted her high, his arms just under her bum.

Hermione braced her hands on Harry's shoulders as he spun her dizzily high in the air, laughing breathlessly.

Harry finally lowered her with a big grin. "Let's go celebrate!"

"Let's party!" Ron picked up the yelling as the crowd moved jubilantly toward the Gryffindor common room to party.

As the party continued, someone charmed the common room lights dimmer and to flash with random colors. The colored flashes disorientated Harry for a tense moment when they started unexpectedly along with the raucous yells that rang out with the change, and his fist clenched briefly on his wand.

Hermione's soft hand curled instantly around his wrist and she leaned toward him to whisper in his ear over the noise, "Okay?"

Harry breathed deeply, her curls brushing against his nose. "Yeah. Fine." Hermione smelled good, still a bit icy from the outside, with hints of her usual vanilla and books. Damnit. He probably smelled rank from the game still, and she was pressed so close to him. "Sorry, I probably smell," he muttered to her awkwardly, trying to edge a bit away.

Hermione leaned close, her face near the curve of his neck. "I think you smell good."

"Oi! What kind of example are you setting for the rest of us!?" Seamus yelled from across the room.

"The best kind! Shut up, Seamus!" Parvati shot Harry and Hermione a smile as they edged a bit away from each other. "In fact, I nominate them for seven minutes in heaven just as a thank you!"

There was a wave of ooohs, as a chant was taken up in the common room. "Seven minutes! Seven minutes!"

"Oh, I really don't think–" Hermione tried to say authoritatively as she and Harry were unceremoniously shoved towards a conspicuously convenient broom closet. "— that this is appropriate." She finished as the door slammed on them, squishing them together inside the closet.

Hermione tried to open the door and found it locked as yelling and music continued unabated outside before shuffling slightly so she was facing Harry, "Those little lackwits locked us in!"

In order to make more space in the cramped closet, Harry braced his hands up on the wood paneling on either side of Hermione, half embracing her. "I think I'm just really glad you don't think I'm smelly right now."

"Oh, you are. But just in a good way."

"Oh."

She shifted a little and Harry resisted dropping his hands, keeping them raised as he tried to bring up what had been on his mind since he spotted her in the stands, "So…um. About…"

"Yes?"

"You wearing…" Harry trailed off a little awkwardly.

Hermione prompted again a thread of amusement in her voice, "Yes?"

"Hermione," Harry said, knowing she knew what he was trying to ask.

Hermione laughed, her hands coming to rest on his chest. "I don't know. I wanted to cheer you on and it seemed the right thing to do? Do you mind?"

"Yes. No. I mean—I like—I loved—it was nice." He finally sputtered to a finish. He hated words. Really, just hated them, he thought irately to himself.

The music outside changed, and laughter sounded before it died away. Oh, he was going to thrash some jokers. The slower music drifted through the broom closet and Hermione shifted again, and Harry finally let his hands drop from the walls of the closet to rest lightly on her sides.

"Maybe we could dance?" He asked, even knowing the space was too cramped for that, but if she said yes…

Her hands slid higher on his chest, coming around his neck. "Yes."

… he could wrap his arms around her.

Yes.

It really was too cramped to dance, but they rocked slowly back and forth in each other's arms as the music played in the common room outside. Harry bent his head and rested his cheek against hers, closing his eyes so he could catalog every single sensation of tonight.

Of his seven minutes of heaven.

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Harry,

We've located Miss Granger's parents as requested. Do you want us to try to bring them in? Or will Miss Granger just need their address? Let me know how you want this handled.

K Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic