Viktor and Esperanza's elopement at the courthouse was a simple, but crowded, affair. They didn't have wedding bands yet, but were more than happy to have the label of being husband and wife, especially since their official wedding was a far-off date. Hermione recorded it, promising to send it to the family. Bill and Fleur attended before they were seen off to their honeymoon; two weeks on an island in Greece. Hermione offered to check out Shell Cottage and get it cleaned for them before they moved in.

An offer made when she realized she never got them a wedding gift. A clean house ready for move-in seemed as good a gift as any.

The guests left in clumps. Hermione's friends left two days after the wedding to get back to their lives. She had considered sneaking into the country with the Weasley crowd, but ultimately decided that's what the Death Eaters would be expecting. Besides, she wanted to hang out with Harry, Ron, and Ginny a little more before they returned to Beauxbatons.

She also didn't share a room with Cedric again. She wasn't ignoring him or anything like that, she was just terrified that she'd wake up and he'd be gone again. She wanted to make sure he was sticking around before letting him in again.

Still, he stuck around her. He wasn't hovering or being clingy (not to the point of irritation anyway), he just existed in the same space as she was. He even came along to see everyone off to Beauxbatons.

"I'll keep you updated," said Hermione.

"We should be going back with you," said Harry. "I don't like the thought of hiding away at school while you're doing all the fighting."

"You couldn't even get the flower bouquets when I ask you to," Hermione pointed out.

He cringed.

"Look, it's alright," she said. "Stay at Beauxbatons, get your education. All of you. You'll have your chance to help, just not right now. I have plenty of people to help me."

"You sure you'll be alright with those two?" Ron asked, tipping his head towards Cedric and Draco.

"Of course. I can handle them." She gave him a hug.

"First sign of trouble, we're going back in," said Harry.

"No, you aren't," said Hermione. "Until you graduate, you are training, you are doing research. Those are very important, especially if Morty is outsourcing."

He grumbled and looked unhappy about that.

"Stay gold, Pony Boy," she said, hugging Ginny.

"Yeah, you too."

They boarded the train. Hermione walked around to the other end and waited. A few moments later, the trio squeezed out of the compartment.

"Nice try," she said.

"I told you she was onto us," said Ginny, backing up.

"What if we—"

"No."

She patrolled the platform until the train disappeared around the corner. She inhaled deeply and sighed, returning to Sirius, Remus, and Mrs. Weasley.

"Before you leave," said Sirius. "I have something I want to give you."

"Oh, sure."

Back at his place, he brought out a chest. It wasn't terribly large. It looked to be the same size as the casket that held the goblet of fire, though this was painted in bold orange and cool blue with little white designs.

"This works a lot like a Vanishing Cabinet," said Sirius. "It's a bit like that cooking pot your family sent Molly. You can't send anything alive through it, but we can send documents, files, a plate of cookies, things like that. I also have another mirror for you. It reaches me directly."

"Perfect," said Hermione. "And here's an IMN for less urgent messages."

"Thank you. And you're always welcome to use this house as a base. Molly and I will be here."

She had a feeling if Harry was in England that's where he'd be. He wanted to be where he could protect his godson.

"What about you, Remus?" Hermione asked.

"I've been invited to join the S.A.M.B. board here," he said. "I accepted. I thought it'd be a good way to hear if You-Know-Who is recruiting."

"And you're going to fight for rights in France, starting with hospital discrimination policies, right?" Hermione asked.

"Of course."

"Until then, we'll just be ready for the Ministry to fall," said Sirius. "The new Minister is no doubt a plant."

As far as Hermione was concerned, the Ministry was never standing in the first place. It was always a center of bigotry and unfairness. A chaotic blend of police state and oligarchy, putting on a mask of a parliamentary democracy. It couldn't fall, it could only remove the mask.

She carried the Vanishing Chest out to the car and did another quick once over to make sure she didn't forget anything before saying her goodbyes and settling into the driver's side.

"I call front seat," said Cedric when Draco headed for the passenger's side.

"No way, Diggory!" Draco scoffed. "You're not cramming me in the back with the cat carriers."

"My legs are longer."

"So sit sideways."

Hermione buckled her seatbelt and sped off while they continued to bicker. She smirked, seeing their shocked expressions in her rearview mirror. She stopped a block away and waited for them to catch up.

"It'd a three hour drive just to get to the boarder," she said. "If you're going to fight like this all the way back home, you can find your own way back in."

They glanced at each other and played rock, paper, scissors. Cedric won and climbed into the front seat while Draco had to sit in the back.

"This is a cool car," said Cedric. "How'd you get it?"

"Clarence and Nana," she said. "They're back together last I heard and they got me this as a way to butter me up. Clarence owns a used car lot and they paid to magic her up. Papá was furious."

"So why'd you accept it?"

"It's not like they could return her," said Hermione. "She's been magically altered. Plus, I love her."

The radio stations flickered erratically in response.

"Huh. That's cool."

Hermione would have to do all the driving. Neither Cedric nor Draco had a license or any idea how to drive. A car wasn't anything like a horse or motorcycle. And she really didn't want to test Bug's self-correcting features.

"So… how are we going to get across the channel?" Cedric asked, "Does Bug fly?"

"No," she said. "I booked us for the Eurotunnel. I left us with an hour to spare in case there's traffic or a long line or we get lost. Duckie, did Sirius give you the new passports?"

"Oh, right." Draco rummaged around his bag and brought out three envelopes, passing two forward.

Cedric opened his. Inside was a passport, driver's license, social security card, and a paper detailing the backgrounds of their fake identities.

"So… where are we getting these from?" Cedric asked.

"Only Sirius knows that," said Hermione. "Really, it's best if we compartmentalize what we know, even me. What are your names?"

"Damien Martin, French immigrant," Draco read aloud.

"Ari'el Kahn, second generation British," said Cedric.

"Selena Garcia, Mexican immigrant," said Hermione, letting Cedric open hers and handing over an empty wallet to fill. "These are our IDs… for now. We still need to be careful. Once the Ministry falls, our names and faces could be everywhere."

"Too late," said Cedric.

"I doubt they'll recognize you," she said. "I didn't even recognize you. You're way skinnier and I think you got shorter."

"Hardy-har."

Hermione said nothing else until they were on the train. It was loud and dim, the yellow lights of the tunnel barely reaching inside the car. At least there were toilets to use. She got her passport ready, so the boys did too. They reached a checkpoint, their passports were stamped without a second glance, they were warned to keep their cats in quarantine, and then they were on their way. That was that.

"Okay," said Draco, looking slightly excited. "We're in. What are we going to do? Break into the Ministry of Magic? Gather intel? Spy on key figures?"

"We're going grocery shopping," said Hermione. "Then we're staying at a safe house. Er, I better warn you now, Ari'el. We're going to a place you know well."

She projected his old house to him and he blanched.

"Oh. Is there nowhere else?"

"Well, there's the old HA, but it's not very big," she said. "I'd prefer to keep it open if we're in London and need a quick escape. Plus, Sirius is the secret keeper for that one. I'm going to be the secret keeper at our new one. We have houses set up all across the U.K. and Ireland. One in Ireland, two in Wales, one in Scotland, and four in England, Mostly because passport checkpoints are a risk and Our Good Friend seems pretty central to England itself, Hogwarts not included."

She frowned and tapped a finger against the steering wheel.

"What's wrong?" Cedric asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I'll bring it up later. Let's just focus on supplies first."

"What about money?"

"I've been saving and Sirius is, like, a bajillionaire," she said. "He said we can buy whatever we need, I have a checkbook to use and we go over the budget at the end of each month."

Draco was both fascinated and horrified by the sheer size of Costco and kept voicing how it seemed unnecessary they buy so much until Hermione explained that the non-perishables would last them a good while if they ever had to hunker down and lie low or feed a whole bunch of people. If they got more than a dozen people at once, she may need to look into restaurant supply stores.

They had four overflowing trolleys with supplies that would last them for years if they boosted them with charms. Tinned fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, pasta noodles, peanut butter, jams, flour, meats to be frozen, powdered milk, condensed milk. They also bought soil and seeds for their garden, soap, jugs of shampoo and conditioner to fill into little bottles, and menstrual products.

Thanks to the spells Viktor taught Hermione, they wouldn't have a shortage of fresh fruits and veggies, but it would still take some time to grow and something could always happen to it, not to mention what if the earth was toxic or sour? Hence the tinned fruits and veg.

She predicted a lot of soups, stews, and curries.

It was a colder winter than usual, which was good for keeping everything refrigerated in the boot of the car while they drove to Devon. Hermione was sure there would be supply stores in the area, either wholesale or restaurant, but hadn't really wanted to worry about finding one. They stopped for fast food before taking the long drive home.

By the time they reached Rosehill Manor, it was late at night and the three of them were exhausted. Still, food had to be put away.

Fred, George, and Lee were waiting for them by the back door, wands at the ready. When Hermione broke into her audition song, they relaxed and assisted in bringing in groceries. The soil and seeds were taken to the barn for safe keeping.

Cedric dropped the last bag and looked around.

"You okay?" Hermione asked.

"It's like when I come home from school," he said. "Except for the boxes of products instead of animals."

Most of the barn had been converted into a warehouse for W.W.W. products. It hadn't been kept up all that well, but Fred and George only had four employees including themselves.

The house was renovated and added onto. The Architects claimed that the fire caused a lot of structural damage, but they built a house that would serve as a base of operations. Since Hermione had been unavailable, Fred, George, and Lee had been consulted on most of the design choices. The new house was three stories tall, the exterior was kept as close to the original style as possible, but it was obvious at a glance it wasn't going to be the same house as before.

Hermione trusted her cousins and she knew the twins would have ideas on how to accommodate large families after living in the cramped Burrow most of their lives.

At least she was allowed to suggest color schemes before giving them free rein (and pawning off various Arithmancy-made gems to pay them their crews for materials and effort—even her half was nothing to sneeze at). Thank goodness for magic.

"Welcome to your new home sweet home," said Fred.

The mud room was expanded and went directly into the kitchen just as it used to. The kitchen had been expanded and looked a lot like the kitchen back home in D.R. It had an industrial cooktop and a massive copper basin for dishes. An iron rack filled with pots and pans hung over a massive quartz island that could be used for food prep or as a breakfast counter. There were two sets of double ovens next to the walk-in pantry. Beside the pantry was a walk-in fridge that also held the walk-in freezer.

The kitchen had a yellow and cerulean tile back splash, the cabinets were painted a stunning turquoise, and the floor was brown stone.

"Ooh, come to mama!" said Hermione, hugging the massive copper cauldron on the stove. "I can't wait to break this baby in." She paused. "I think I was just possessed by Papí for a moment there."

"Before we start the tour," said Fred. "Secret-Keeper."

"Right," she said, letting go of the cauldron.

In one corner of the kitchen, close to the entrance for the massive dining room, was a door with a staircase that led to the cellar.

Down there was a secondary kitchen that wasn't quite as big with a pantry for more food if it was needed. One door opened up to a laundry room with several washers and dryers plus a space to hang up clothes.

The wall opposite the second stove was set with wards and runes. Hermione drew her wand and sat on her legs to draw in the new runes into the wall. The problem with the Fidelius Charm was that you couldn't layer more protective wards on it or the spell would become unstable. The wards were only as strong as the secret-keeper.

"I can add two Secret-Keepers," she said. "If one of us dies, it falls onto the second. If we both die, then all those privy to the location will become the new secret keepers, however many that may be. I need a volunteer."

"I'll do it," said Cedric. "It's my house. Or it was. It just seems fitting."

Hermione nodded. She pricked her thumb, then his, and they pressed the digits to the last rune. There was a flash and then a bubble swelled up, pushing to the edge of the property. Good to know it included the barn rather than just the exterior walls.

For some reason, the runes on her spine burned. She didn't know why and wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"Draco, where are we?" she asked.

"Are you seriously asking that?" he scoffed. "We're—"

He paused and furrowed his brow.

"We're… I know exactly where we are!"

"The spell is working," said Hermione. "We're at Rosehill Manor."

"I knew that!"

They went back to the main kitchen and made use of the new medical kit Hermione bought.

"I'm glad it didn't get rid of the basic enchantments," she commented.

"What enchantments?" asked Cedric.

"Mm, standard wizard bigger on the inside architecture, temperature regulation, and a fire suppressant charm on everything but the fireplaces. I think the only thing that could burn this place down now is fiendfyre."

Cedric lifted his head. "Yeah? That's good."

"Oh, I was wondering how that accidental fire in the lab went out," said George.

Before she could ask for clarification on that, the beads on Hermione's bracelet (and everyone else's) spun.

MM fell. KCCO.

"The Ministry of Magic has fallen," Hermione translated. "Keep Calm and Carry On."

Guess they got there in the nick of time.

"Let's… show you to your rooms," said George. "We can give the full tour tomorrow."

The house had been greatly expanded to be more square in shape to allow for more rooms and the center of the house was a courtyard with an enchanted ceiling to give more light. A large staircase wound up all three levels and there was an elevator as well. It was bright, colorful, and homey. The mismatched furniture, likely gotten from sales and such, added a whimsy that suited the prankster trio.

"Your architect cousins really know how to make a house," said Fred as they climbed the stairs. "The ground floor is the social area and the top two floors have all the bedrooms. First floor has smaller rooms for guests and the second floor has suites for those of us living here full time. There are some rooms in the attic too with en suite bathrooms."

"Lee and I are at that end," said George, pointing left. "Fred's catty-corner on that side. Nia, yours is at the end there to the right."

"How many toilets does this place have?" Hermione asked.

"The suites on this floor have their own bathrooms with tubs and showers," said George. "Guest floor has jack and jill bathrooms, I think they're called, and there is one in the basement. The ground floor has a few water closets."

"So, I get my own suite?" said Draco. "My own bathroom?"

"Yes," said Hermione.

"I think I'll just take the attic," said Cedric uncomfortably. "Leave a suite open for someone else."

"You can have a room, Cedric," said Hermione. "No one is going to get mad at you for decorating how you like."

He shrugged slightly. "I don't think I'd be comfortable anywhere else."

"Fair enough." She looked at everyone. "Well… goodnight."

She went down the hall, finding her name on a door. She entered and locked it behind herself and Crookshanks. The room was nice. Definitely intended for an adult with room for a partner. Just like the family home in D.R.

Her bedroom was already furnished and the color scheme was similar to her bedroom in Hawaii. A reading nook was nestled against the bay window with built in bookcases on either side, the right one hugging the room into an L-shape leading to a desk in the corner for her to work at. The main sitting room had a coffee table and a couch to close off her workspace.

The left side had two doors, one leading into a walk-in closet with built in storage for clothes and shoes and the other to a really nice bathroom containing a water closet, a vanity, two sinks, and a beautiful combination shower/bathtub done up in green tile. There were open cabinets with a single set of towels.

Towels. She should've bought more towels.

To finish it off, the sleeping area was set apart in its own nook in the corner. If she wanted to close it off, she could with a room divider or a curtain. The bed took up most of the space, though it was flanked by side tables. The windows there were magic ones that she could set to whatever view she desired.

The ceiling creaked quietly. Hermione looked up to see Cedric in the attic. He moved around and she realized he was unpacking. Good idea. If she didn't do it now, she'd never get around to it.

Hermione set her purse down on the coffee table and got to work. She had so much stuff, but it was important to make this place home. She hung up the S.A.M.B. poster and her pictures, she put away all her books and most of the potions she brewed, she set up Crookshanks' litter box in the bathroom, and put away all of her clothes and shoes.

When she finished, she readied for bed and laid down. She stared up at the ceiling at Cedric's (presumably) sleeping form.

She was always pining for him, wasn't she?

She still couldn't quite believe he was back. Part of her kept thinking she was going to wake up and find him gone again. She'd have to deal with her feelings eventually. Her heartbreak over Char, her conflicting feelings for Cedric, and whatever the hell was going on with Fred.

But not now.

Instead, she pulled her blanket over her head and curled up, hoping her exhaustion would help sleep come quickly.

She had several nightmares and eventually woke up at five unable to go back to sleep. She got up and changed into her winter workout gear. She stretched and went for a run. Who would look for her here? In what they now assumed was an empty field? She pushed herself until she thought her lungs might burst. She followed the windbreaker trees until she saw Uncle Keith's house.

She slowed down and caught her breath, watching it for a moment. She felt no strong emotions towards that place. It was just an in-between. Somewhere she went so she could see her best friend again.

The back door opened and Aunt Charlotte stepped out to set out the old bottles for the milkman. Hermione turned and ran back to Rosehill. The sun had risen by then and the other occupants were awake and in the kitchen. The guys were all eating cereal, but there was a fresh pot of coffee. Hermione got herself some water first.

"Where have you been?" Draco asked.

"Working out," she said. "You should try it sometime."

"It's risky going outside like this," he said. "What if you're captured?"

"It might be better if you work out in the gym," said Lee. "We've got a stationary bike."

"Do you use it?"

"Well, I like to think of myself as someone who would use it," said George. "Eventually."

Hermione sighed. "Fine. I'll do that, but natural terrain is better."

She took down a pan from the iron rack above the island and got out the eggs, bagels, and turkey bacon. Too bad they didn't have a real toaster. She toasted the bread on the pan while she got out what she needed and put away the rest.

"If you boys need to get to get to work, we can just explore the house on our own," said Hermione when she sat down with her breakfast.

"'Boys' she calls us!" said Fred. "I'll have you know we are men!"

She stared at him, unsure of what to make of that statement, the wink paired with it, or how to follow it up. Instead, she ate her breakfast sandwich.

"Smooth," said George drily. "And we have time for a tour, Nia."

"Alright," she said when she finished breakfast and cleaned up. "Let's get on with it."

"Right this way," said George. "You've already seen the kitchen and the cellar, but let us show you the rest of what this house has to offer."

"As the French say," said Fred. "Mi casa es su casa."

Hermione suppressed an eye roll. Since he was back to his old joker self, he was probably over her. Good. She couldn't deal with being backed into the corner of a love triangle right now.

There was a full dining room off the kitchen, which could be used as a place for meetings. Like the old plan, it opened up into the music room, which had a new door that opened to the hallway. There was a piano and some instruments, but they didn't appear to be tuned or well-kept. Mostly for show. It led to a sunroom that looked out over the fields. She bet it would be lovely in summer.

The parlor was fixed up with couches and chairs for guests to chat and visit with each other or as a place to sit and read. The door hidden against the stairs in the middle of the house led to a different section of the basement. Down that way was the home gym, another door to the laundry room, and some finished but unfurnished bedrooms with false windows. No doubt for storage or for guest overflow.

Back on the ground floor, the floo room was mostly the same. Next to it, the home office was knocked out and expanded to be a game room with billiards, ping ping, two card tables, plus a closet to hold games and puzzles.

There were storage closets, the extra toilets, another sitting room with a bar, and there was even a fully operational radio station.

"This was my idea," said Lee proudly. "You sure we can't password protect our show, Nia?"

"Mm, but they'll eventually hear the passwords," said Hermione. "And how would we get the first one out? And what good would it do to people if they miss the next password and are left in the dark? I think as long as events are broadcast after they happen and we don't tell them what our plans are, we should keep it open to the public. Besides, this is a safe place for it."

"Would broadcasting from here be the same as giving our location away?" Cedric asked.

"I don't think so," said Hermione. "Not unless we say the actual address. The others were here inside when we cast the spell, but they didn't know where we were. Or at least couldn't say."

"True. Just to be safe, neither of us should start the broadcast even if we speak on it."

"That seems like a good idea," said Lee. "Okay. I'm only part time at the shop these days, so we can workshop that this week."

They entered the nearby library, which had been restored to its former glory, and while the walls weren't floor to ceiling books, the shelves were at least partially filled.

"Oh, and the best for last!" said George, opening a set of double doors. "Here is where we experiment and craft new pranks."

It was a workshop that would make Willy Wonka proud.

"So what do you think?" Lee asked.

Cedric had been very quiet the whole tour.

"My mum's house is really gone, isn't it?" he said softly.

"There wasn't much they could do for the original," said Hermione. "But isn't it better to turn it completely new than fall short of an original copy?"

"I guess," he said. "I shouldn't complain. I gave you the deed to do with it as you wished. I just kept up the land taxes with the royalties from my radios for as long as I receive them."

"Those have been steady," said Hermione. "They're increasing actually. I guess people really want radios or maybe your formula works for other things."

"Land taxes?" said Fred.

"Basira has been handling the taxes," said Hermione. "I just sent the paperwork when she asked. Since this place no longer exists, you're off the hook for those."

"So… you hate it?" Lee asked.

"No?" said Cedric hesitantly. "I don't know. I have mixed feelings about this place in general. I think I'd have issues even if I was in charge of the renovations."

"Your childhood couldn't have been all bad," said Fred. "This place was huge even before we fixed it up!"

Cedric frowned, but said nothing. Happiness seemed so simple, but it really was complex, wasn't it? You should be happy you had so much space. You should be happy you were never lonely. You'd be happier with this. You'd be happy if just…

"Well, let's just agree here and now that the house belongs to the five of us," said Hermione diplomatically. "Cedric paid land-taxes and would have been the deed holder if the system wasn't racist. And Fred, George, Lee, and I paid for the renovations. We have a main base, we have a home we own that is safe."

"Yeah," said Lee. "Can you imagine what the property values are going to be like after the war?"

George blinked slowly. "We really are adults, aren't we?"

Hermione snapped her fingers. "I'd better go check my IMNs. See if there's any updates and I had better send this HQ location to the more immediate need-to-know. I'd also like to take inventory today and make a chore chart."

"Chores?" Draco groaned.

"Don't worry, we'll all do our fair share," said Hermione and looked sharply at the others. "And we will. Don't pawn off the house work on me just because I'm a girl."

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Cedric. "How many IMNs do you have now?"

"Erm… I dunno. About thirty?" she said, "I'm still trying to figure out how to get a notification when I'm away from my desk."

"I could figure it out," Fred and Cedric chorused.

"Great, then you can work together on it," said Hermione. "Cedric, I trust you still have our IMNs? You can experiment on those."

He turned pink and looked down at his shoes.

Hermione turned on her heel and went up to her room to clean up and change. She would get started on Shell Cottage tomorrow, but for now she wanted to take stock of what they had at Rosehill."

She checked her IMNs and found several messages. None concerning yet. Even from her friends at the Ministry. They had been told things would be changing, but to continue as normal, and to expect to have their loyalties questioned. She assured them that she would understand if they wanted to stay safe rather than spy for her. She sent messages to Cecilia, Tonks, Mad-Eye, and Kingsley about the new HQ location and that they were welcome to come by anytime or move in if their current residencies were under threat.

She also sent a message to Abuela to ask the architects for the house schematics and to pass along a thank you from her.

Once that was done, she went down to the kitchen to take inventory of everything they had. She counted everything in the pantry and marked their expiration date.

"Hermione—er—Mimi—er—Nia?"

She looked over at Cedric. "Just call me whatever is most comfortable for you."

"Alright, shnookums?"

She swallowed back a laugh. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to let you know I'm going out," he said. "Er, in disguise of course. I wanted to stop by Gringotts and my vault before… well, you know."

Before it got taken over by Voldy and the Death Eaters.

"Alright," she said.

He lingered in the doorway of the pantry.

"What?" she huffed.

"I… nothing." He stepped away then turned back around. "What do you think of a second car?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know for moving people out of the country," he said. "Bug is noticeable."

That was a good point.

"If you can find one for cheap and fix it up," she said.

"Yeah. Maybe you can teach me how to drive, too? So you're not the one stuck doing it all."

"Okay." Hermione went back to counting.

"Okay. I'll be back in time for dinner."

She lost count and started over. "Okay."

He scurried away. Draco and Lee were still in the house doing their own thing. It was fine.

When she was done with inventory, Hermione got the budget, chore chart, and shopping list together. If she sent jewelry and gems along to the shop back home, they would pay her for her work. Even during this war, Weasley Wizard Wheezes was making a pretty penny, especially with their catalogue orders. Maybe she could help them out, too. At least it would give her something to do when she wasn't planning missions or running the household.

They were making and storing most of their products here anyway.

She hung the chore chart on the kitchen wall. It was dry erase, so if someone turned out to be completely incompetent at cooking then they could swap cleaning duty with something else.

Still more to do. She still had the Hunter's things to go through and his hat to send along as a message.