Author's Note:
I think it looks like this will be the last chapter in this timeline. Although a bit disjointed, I hope you enjoyed the story. I certainly enjoyed writing it.
I have a couple of Epilogues that are half finished but I think this is a nice place to wind up this story. If or when I finish the Epilogues, I'll post them on here too.
0o0
Hermione knocked on the door of Tonks' cottage and took a small step back. She tried to hear any noise from inside before her academic brain wondered if wards on the property stopped noise transmittance.
She was brought out of her musing by the door opening and Andromeda looking at her. Although she usually had a serious visage, today's looked ever slightly so different.
She silently held the door open and motioned for Hermione to come in.
Walking through to the living room, Hermione noted Tonks on the sofa before following Andromeda's silent figure with her eyes, out of the room towards the kitchen.
"Where the hell have you been!"
Hermione jumped at the blast of noise and took a small step back as Tonks stood up quickly from the sofa yelling at her.
There was complete silence as Hermione tried to process the question and outburst, which had taken her completely by surprise.
"Draco's. I told you that," she said softly, not understanding what was happening.
"It's ten past midnight!" Tonks shouted, pointing at a clock above the mantel piece. "You're seriously telling me that you were there the whole time!"
Hermione glanced at the clock and nodded. "Yes. I lost track of time."
"And you didn't once think that I might get worried at the fact you'd not come over when expected or that I didn't know where you had gone?"
Tonks' eyes were full of ire. Her posture was sharp and deadly like when she was working as an Auror and her hair seemed to be redder than the usual bubble gum pink.
"I'm sorry," Hermione apologised softly, "I lost track of time. It happens frequently when I'm reading or studying. I get in the zone and then someone has to drag me away. This time Draco was lost in the zone too and it wasn't until one of the elves popped in to ask him if he wanted supper than we noticed the time."
"Did you have some big breakthrough?" Tonks asked tensely.
"No," Hermione rubbed her forehead, now feeling the fatigue from the late hour and brain power she had exerted. "Next time, you could send your Patronus. I would realise the time or reply and let you know I'm okay."
She looked up at her girlfriend, hating arguing with her. At her suggestion, Tonks' posture seemed to change slightly.
"Dora," Andromeda's soft voice carried through from the kitchen in an almost warning tone.
Hermione looked from the direction the voice came from and back to Tonks. Her eye brows rose without thinking, asking the silent question.
Nothing was answered as Tonks flopped down onto the sofa and buried her hands into her hair. Hermione's chest hurt as she saw her back shudder and realised that the Auror was crying.
Rushing over to her side, she knelt down next to her and rubbed her back.
"I'm sorry. Honestly. I'm just really bad at getting lost in studies. Ask Harry and Ron. They were the ones who usually had to drag me away from the library at curfew every night. Or Ginny or Draco or Neville or Luna in our last year. I'm okay. Honestly. A bit pissed off we didn't make any progress today but that's just because we've had a run of success lately…I think I'm getting too used to it," Hermione babbled.
When Tonks' shoulders kept shaking, Hermione wrapped her arms around the witch, sitting her up and hugging her tightly.
She was thankful that Tonks calmed down quickly, pulling back and wiping her eyes.
"I tried to cast my Patronus," Tonks muttered quietly, looking at the opposite wall.
There was a moments silence.
"Oh."
Tonks closed her eyes, thought a happy thought and cast the charm.
Hermione's eyes widened as an otter formed in front of her and started swimming around very excitedly.
"Cast yours," Andromeda's voice came from the doorway.
Hermione gulped, pulling her memory forward and casting the very complicated charm effortlessly.
Her otter seemed docile in comparison to Tonks', who Hermione thought looked like it had drank a tin of Red Bull. She chuckled at the thought of how it matched the other witch's persona so well before turning towards Tonks and seeing devastation on her face.
Tonks' shoulders and face dropped as she watched the otters interact.
"I love you," Tonks said quietly.
"I love you too," Hermione replied easily. "I know an otter isn't as cool as a wolf but it could be worse."
Tonks' head snapped around at her words. Her eyes were full of tears and she looked like she'd been crying for a long time. "You love me?"
"Of course I do," Hermione said with a soft smile. "You don't think I go sleeping around with any old witch do you? Nor stay over to be woken up by their mum."
She was relieved to hear a small snort from Andromeda, who stood watching proceedings. Glancing at the older Healer, she was relieved that Andromeda seemed to have relaxed from when she first arrived.
Turning her attention back to Tonks, she hugged her once more.
"As much as I love you. I feel unfaithful to Remus," Tonks admitted hoarsely, not looking Hermione in the eye. Her voice changed to frustration, "And I'm a bit pissed off it's always me who's submissive to everyone else's Patronus."
Hermione leant back and watched the otters starting to fade.
"Your otter isn't dominated by mine. If anything mine is following your lead. I could be wrong but I'm not sure your Patronus could remain a wolf if you became involved with anyone else. There isn't much on Patronus lore that I could find but I looked into it when yours originally changed; intrigued that a Patronus could change for love. Although Professor Snape's remained after Lilly's death, he clung onto the notion of love and didn't appear to be willing to love anyone else.
I think that your Patronus would have eventually changed as time continued. I have no idea if it was possible to return to your original or not but if you'd moved on, it might not have been possible to return. It may be that your Patronus has actually been looking to move on and change for a while and this is the first opportunity it has had to do so."
She turned her attention to the two other women, blushing as she realised that she'd been lost in her academia again and ranting slightly.
"It's an interesting notion," Andromeda noted, considering the premise.
"Only a theory," Hermione muttered embarrassed.
Tonks huffed with humour, "A brilliant theory knowing you. I never considered that my Patronus might be forced to change with the death of Remus."
"It might not be," Hermione rushed, "I was just thinking outloud again." She sighed adding "Really have to stop doing that," under her breath.
"It's cute," Tonks teased her, chuckling as Hermione's face blushing further.
"Shut up otter," Hermione glowered a little.
"Right. I'm heading home for a sleep. I'll leave you two to it. If either of you need me, you know where I am. Remember your alarm clock for tomorrow, Dora."
Hermione smiled at the reminder, knowing how hard it could be to get Tonks to rise in the mornings.
She was surprised when Andromeda came over and hugged her tightly, after doing the same with Tonks. Letting herself out, the front door closed and the two witches looked at one another.
"Come here you," Tonks complained, grabbing Hermione and pulling her into a kiss.
Hermione took no time in deepening the kiss, running her tongue quickly over Tonks' and tangling their tongues together in a dance as Tonks' mouth opened.
They both groaned at the sensation of being together once more as Hermione's arms snuck around Tonks' waist and held her tight.
As the broke for air, Hermione looked up slightly into her girlfriend's eyes.
"I do love you, you know."
"Love you too, Love," Tonks smirked. Her smile fell. "Are you staying here tonight?" she asked hopefully.
"I can't. I have to go back home. I text mum and dad but they'll be worrying too. They're more used to me falling into a studying hole but I don't want them to wait up all night. I have a formal meeting I need to dress for tomorrow too so I'll need to go home for clothes. And Teddy's staying here."
"Can we tell Teddy?" Tonks asked quietly, almost so quietly that Hermione didn't hear her.
"You want to tell him we're dating?" Hermione asked surprised, moving back a little so she could study Tonks' whole expression.
"Well, when my Patronus has changed, chances are he's going to notice. And it would be nice if you could stay over and I don't like lying to, oomph."
Hermione cut her off with a kiss. "Of course we can," she beamed. "As long as you think it's okay and it's good for him to know. You know him better than I do and you need to be happy with the decision."
Tonks smiled back at her, sniffing back tears as her forehead rested on her girlfriends'.
"Feel better?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Miles," she sighed. "A bloody otter though."
Hermione huffed, "There's a lot of worse things it could be."
0o0
"Hey Tonks!"
"Yeah?" she turned and looked at the department's secretary.
"Flowers for you, I think."
Several heads looked up from their desks as their Deputy Head walked towards the desk, where a beautiful bunch of white roses and pink lilies sat.
Tonks frowned as she approached, looking warily at them. It was a large bunch and the flowers were all in full bloom, letting off a gentle soft smell.
"Came with the standard delivery," her secretary explained. "There's a small card with it?"
"It's a Muggle thing," Harry muttered, walking past while reading a document in hand.
"What's a Muggle thing?" the secretary asked.
"The card," he explained, stopping momentarily and looking up. "You put a card with the flowers and it tells the person who they are from or has a message on them. Like "sorry for your loss" or "happy birthday" or "Love you.""
Tonks' looked back at the flowers and ran some detection charms on them. Finding nothing suspicious or malicious, she picked up the small card and opened it.
Don't panic. I'm not going anywhere. H x
She let loose a chuckle and small laugh as her shoulders relaxed and she looked back at the flowers.
"From an admirer?" the secretary asked non discretely.
"Yeah," Tonks replied with a smile, picking up the vase and carrying them through to the office.
"Who the hell is sending you flowers?" Robards asked.
"Ignore them, they're beautiful," Diggle furthered. "I wish I was getting a bunch of flowers like that."
Tonks nodded, ignoring the sudden whispering that broke out around the office again at the speculation of who they were from.
0o0
"Ron?"
Ron's head snapped up, smiling gently at Hermione.
"Hey."
"Lunch? I thought we could maybe take Harry out, see how he's getting on?" she asked, glancing up at Harry's open office door.
Ron groaned, "I can't. I've got to get this finished," he nodded at a stack of parchment in front of him.
Hermione sighed, "Last minute?"
Ron grumbled under his voice, confirming her suspicions without saying a word. Feeling frustrated that he still hadn't learned how to prioritise his workload after all of these years, she continued to Harry's office. Knocking on the door she walked in without invitation.
"Hey 'Mione." He tried and failed to smile as he looked up.
"Come on, I'm taking you for lunch," she said gently. He took a beath as if to protest and then deflated and nodded.
The office watched as the two of them walked out of the office together, Harry still looking sullen and resigned.
Ten minutes later, Tonks walked into an office abuzz with Aurors, huddled in little groups. She knew that a reaction like this could only be a death eater capture of the latest gossip.
"What's the what?" she asked, walking up to Robard's desk.
"Hermione Granger was in to take Harry for lunch. She has a Muggle skirt on which makes her arse look tremendous," he said seriously. "Cho reckons they're dating." He nodded in the younger Auror's direction.
"No, I said she was trying to get his attention again. The same happened at school," she said matter of fact.
"Harry and Hermione?" Tonks checked, not giving anything away.
Cho nodded seriously, "When Harry broke up with me at Hogwarts, she was all over him. She still fancies him."
"That's a bit harsh on Ron isn't it," Tonks nodded to the red head who was sitting looking very uncomfortable with the subject and participants.
"No, he was after Lavender at the time. It left Harry free for Hermione to go after. She was always with him, touching his arm and flirting with him."
"Well, we'll soon find out if Harry comes back with a smile on his face or not," Robards shrugged, getting a chuckle from a couple of his male peers.
"To be fair, she asked me to go too but I have too much paper work," Ron added, feeling awkward as Tonks stood over him.
"It's hardly as if she's never had lunch with Harry before," Tonks added pointedly.
"Not wearing that skirt she hasn't, I'd remember!" one of the Junior Aurors remarked.
"It's hardly as if they've never eaten in Muggle London either," Tonks noted. "Hermione seems to have a thing for red heads, she's maybe more likely to go after Ginny after their break up," she teased with a small grin.
She clapped Ron on the back as he started coughing and spluttering at the suggestion, groaning as it cleared.
"Maybe why Ginny dyed her hair green for a week after she split up with him," Cho speculated with a smirk.
Tonks shook her head in despair and headed to her office. If this was the finest Aurors that the Magical World had and their first deduction was that Hermione was trying to shag a newly single and still devastated Harry, they were in dire straights. Never mind the suggestion of shagging in their dinner hour. Mind you…shagging Hermione in her dinner hour sounded like a brilliant dinner hour.
That wasn't to say that she wasn't jealous of the speculation nor annoyed that others were eyeing up Hermione's arse. She knew Hermione was her girlfriend but that didn't stop her feeling rather protective of the witch, arse included.
0o0
"Honestly Harry, it was like it was on Red Bull. It carries around at twice the speed, never stopping or paying attention to anything around about it," Hermione laughed and smiled as her friend put his head back and laughed loudly. Seeing a genuine smile on his face was such a relief after days of him looking miserable.
"Well, Red Bull would suit its owner's personality," he grinned, walking towards his office door.
Hermione nodded and turned to put a carry out box on Ron's desk. "Present."
"For me?" Ron asked hopefully. She nodded, pointing at the box and watching him open it up. He looked up with a soft smile. "Thank you."
She winked at him, turning to head out.
"Where's mine?"
Hermione turned, a little surprised to find Tonks leaning on the door frame to her office. Her arms were relaxed at her side and her hair currently purple with one half shaved and the other half long and luscious over her shoulder.
"I thought you had a meeting," Hermione shrugged.
"Turn around a minute," Tonks ordered her.
Hermione looked at her perplexed for a moment before turning to look at Ron again. Ron watched the interaction and the way Tonks' eyes landed on Hermione's skirt and grimaced.
Hermione looked at him questioningly as he widened his eyes in his 'it wasn't me' look.
Turning her head over her shoulder, she noticed Tonks' eyes on her arse and spun around quickly, mortified at her girlfriend's blatant attraction. Opening her mouth to rant, Tonks beat her to it, keeping her voice low.
"Robards and the guys were correct, your arse does look spectacular in that skirt. However, I'm more sceptical about Cho's theory that you're chasing Harry and must have slept with him since he's come back the happiest he's been in a couple of weeks."
Hermione's face flushed bright red, tears gathering in her eyes at Tonks' words as anger started to swell through her body.
"Come here, Love," Tonks nodded towards her, holding her hand up slightly in offer.
Hermione gulped and moved towards the Auror, looking her in the eye with upset.
"Seriously," Tonks muttered, "Your arse is spectacular in whatever you wear. And not for one minute did I suspect you're after Harry. I may have suggested you liked reds and might fancy Ginny though," she teased, grinning at her with a sparkle in her eye.
Hermione lifted her hand and hit her girlfriend's arm in annoyance.
The smile disappeared from Tonks eyes as she stared at Hermione.
"Can I kiss you?" she asked quietly. "Here and now with everyone watching so that everyone knows that you're my girlfriend and that I'll hex their bollocks off the next time someone decides to comment on your personal life?"
Hermione studied Tonks, seeing her open posture, her hope and her desire.
"Did you like your flowers?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Loved them. I've only ever been given one other bunch of flowers before so they're extra special to me. Now, come here."
Reaching out, she hooked Hermione around the waist, pulling the compliant witch towards her gently. Her other hand came up and cupped Hermione's cheek, tilting it up before her lips brushed over Hermione's.
There was silence in the office as the two looked at one another.
"Do you want to come for dinner tonight? I'm cooking sausages, mash and beans for mum and Teddy."
"Sounds brilliant," Hermione admitted quietly, blushing at their kiss.
"Have I told you that your blush is ridiculously cute?" Tonks grinned, her arm still holding Hermione around the waist.
"Once or twice," she huffed, leaning in and kissing Tonks softly again. "I'll see you for dinner."
Turning around, Hermione blushed furiously, pretending she didn't notice the open-mouthed stares which followed her out of the Auror office.
Collapsing against the lift wall, she exited at her floor and walked into her office.
"Before you all hear it elsewhere, I'm dating Auror Lupin," she announced. Her team all turned and looked at her in surprise, other than Susan who smiled.
"How did they find out?" she asked.
"She kissed me at the door to her office, in front of the department, because they'd been speculating that I was sleeping with Harry in my lunch break."
Susan started laughing, making Hermione smile despite her anger.
"She's going to keep you on your toes."
Hermione smiled as she passed, she was more than happy to be kept on her toes by the gorgeous Auror.
0o0