Relationships: Hermione Granger/Theodore Nott/Harry Potter Hermione Granger/Theodore Nott
Characters: Hermione Granger Theodore Nott James Sirius Potter Draco Malfoy Ginny Weasley Blaise Zabini Luna Lovegood Cormac McLaggen
Additional Tags: Unhappy Ending Unsolved Murder Theodore Nott is a workaholic Divorced Harry Potter & Ginny Weasley Sad This story is pure pain the wizengamot sucks Auror Draco Malfoy Harry Potter Dies Unspeakable Theodore Nott Corruption corrupted Ministry of Magic
Series: Part 1 of Darkness and Stars
Summary: On the day before Harry Potter's 30th Birthday, he left his house to go for a run as he normally would. Only, this time he never came back. Leaving behind his husband, Theodore Nott, and his wife, Hermione Granger, to navigate their lives with their missing husband.
Notes: In response to a prompt by Anonymous in the NottintheCards collection.
Prompt:
XXI - The World Reversed
Reversed: Lack of closure. Holding on after a cycle has ended. Emptiness. Delays. Imperfection.
Where the Dark Remembers You
Chapter 1: 30 July 2010
Hermione Potter sat at her desk, typing away on her computer, turning back to the notes she had written out beside her. The presentation she was working on with Charlie Weasley to propose bringing in a new dragon reserve to Wales was going well enough, even with a few key members of the Wizengamot still blocking their efforts. She only two hours before the revised proposal was to be presented, so it was crunch time.
Everything had to be flawless.
"Hermione," her assistant called from the doorway.
"Even if it's Mosiah himself, I can't talk right now, Felicity." Hermione said, only looking away from the screen in front of her to the notes Charlie had sent her. The budget had been one of the complaints.
"I'm not sure who that is. Anyway, Nanny just called. She said Ginny dropped James off at your house after Harry didn't show up to get him from her." The younger witch stated, sounding slightly nervous.
Hermione looked up at the girl confused, by what she'd said. It made no sense, Harry was never late picking James up from Ginny, and if he was he always called. For him to be running so far behind that Gin needed to drop their son off herself… Well, frankly it was concerning.
"Well that's unusual," Hermione stated, the flashing of her clock drawing her attention back to her work. "If you hear from Nanny again, let me know."
"Well, that's just the thing. Nanny said Harry went out for his morning jog and she hasn't heard from him since."
At the news, Hermione felt her stomach drop. Harry almost never neglected checking in, there was the occasional time, but it wasn't Harry's norm. No matter how long he was gone, he'd at least let someone know something. "He probably lost track of time." Hermione reasoned, despite what her gut was telling her. "Not the first time, no big deal."
It's the day before his birthday, Hermione tried to convince herself. Maybe he wanted to stop and pick himself up something special?
The look on her assistant's face told her that she had assured Facility as well as she had herself. Once Felicity had left with another promise to bring any updates directly to Hermione, she pulled her phone from her desk drawer.
Mrs. P: Everything okay? Nanny said Gin dropped James off so you don't need to go get him.
Leaving her phone out, waiting for a reply while she worked, she checked the device one last time when Charlie came to her door. The message was still unread, but it was time to go. Leaving her cell on her desk, Hermione left with Charlie, all her thoughts shifting to the dragon reserve.
In the chambers, any worries of Harry were put in the back of her mind as the DRCMC's dragon division sat before the judges. Charlie and Hermione worked flawlessly together, Hermione with every detail explained and Charlie with his vast knowledge of Dragons. The Wizengamot were unanimous in their decision, the entire panel voting for the Wales Reserve to proceed with construction. The entire project to be spearheaded by Hermione and Charlie working together.
As they left the chambers, the pair agreed that they'd get their families together to celebrate their victory. It had been a long road to get here, and their families support had played a huge role in their success today. After confirming with Charlie that he and his husband would be meeting up with the Potters for Harry's birthday dinner later in the week, they went their separate ways.
Hermione's face was nearly hurting from the smile she wore, the adrenaline from the win still coursing through her. Stepping into her office, she didn't even think about the unread message as she began to gather her things to head out for the day.
So lost in thoughts, Hermione didn't even hear Felicity when she first spoke. Hermione turned around and saw the witch twisting her hands in front of her as she stood in Hermione's doorway.
"Could you repeat that?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowed, glancing over at her phone.
"Your husband didn't get to the daycamp to pick your kids up."
"Well it's hardly the first time that Theo has forgotten." Hermione sighed, closing her files and putting them in her case. "Alright, I'll call them and explain–"
"No, not Theo. Harry. The camp tried to contact you, but you were with the Wizengamot. They called Theo and he left work to get your children. Theo called to ask when you'd be home and if you've heard from Harry as he isn't answering his phone."
Hermione felt the dread pool in her stomach as she snatched her phone off the desk. She clicked to her texts, opening Harry's messages. Still unread…
Something was terribly wrong.
ooo
Theo walked into the house, pulling his glasses from his face and rubbing his tired eyes. The door had hardly shut before his three older children were already running about.
"James, Remus, Portia, honestly, that's enough." He called out as he heard the trio thundering through the house. Another door opened just before Nanny came rushing from the direction of the kitchen. The baby, nearly as large as she was, on her hip as she hurried down the hall.
"Master Theo," the little house elf said. "Master Harry hasn't come home. Nanny is not hear from him all day. Him never came home to Nanny and Missy Lilian." Theo ran a hand through his messy curls, his thoughts not on what his elf was saying. Instead all Theo could think about was his irritation with his husband.
"Nan, his birthday's tomorrow. A bloke only turns thirty once, I'm sure he'll be around." He told his little house elf that had followed him when he'd married Harry and Hermione. "Could you watch the kids until Hermione gets home? There's still a bit of work that I need to get done," he explained. His mind wandering back to the time turner he'd been working on.
"Master Theo, yous not understand. Nanny cannot feel Master Harry. I tried calling for hims and hims never answered! Master Harry never doesn't answer Nanny!" The house elf scolded as the baby in her arms began to squirm, wanting down on the ground.
"It'll be fine Nan," Theo assured her, rubbing the top of the messy raven haired baby babbling away. When she got to the floor, she crawled over and went about playing with her siblings' discarded shoes. "Now, please, just come get me when it's time for dinner."
"Yes sir," the elf said, her ears lowering after being dismissed. Picking Lilian off the floor, she took the baby and walked back down the long hall on her way to where the older children were gathered in the backyard.
Theo's eyes flickered over to where the gifts and cards the children had made for Harry sat waiting for his husband to open.
There was nothing to worry about, Harry would be home soon. Theo turned towards the stairs and began his ascent towards his office, his mind already wandering to all the work he needed to get finished.