Meanwhile...

After everyone left and he convinced John and Pat he did not want another round of firewhiskey, Cormac put out the burning floating candles around his house with a wandless spell, leaving only the light and warmth from the chimney in the entrance hall.

The constant chatting coming from the different portraits told Cormac that they were pleased. Since his younger days, it hadn't been seen such a large party at Logan House. Downstairs, Efty was cheerful, magically cleaning all the dishes and putting some order to the kitchen utensils which flew from one side to the other.

"Cormac, sir. Efty is really happy, sir, really happy. Children were playing by the river bank. Again! After so many years!" Efty intoned like he was singing while plates arranged themselves in the back. "All since Missy appeared in our lives, Cormac, sir. We'll have to keep impressing, sir, yes, and taking care of her, like you ordered this morning. Good thing you did, sir, good thing you did. Efty will prepare her delicious food."

Cormac only smiled, careful to hide his torturing disappointment, praised again Efty's cooking and work, and left the spirited elf to his own.

As he climbed up the stairs, however, dread filled him. He had made a terrible mistake that afternoon, jeopardizing everything that now made him happy. He had been foolhardy again, pushy. A wayward, beetle-headed, lewdster.

After weeks of restless doubting himself, of thinking he wasn't enough for Hermione, that his past behaviour couldn't be erased and forgiven, that morning Cormac hesitated no more. When twenty-four hours had passed since he last had seen her at their dinner with Uncle Beri, Cormac knew with worry that Hermione had disappeared. He had been a floo-call away from contacting Harry when Rolf had called, equally anxious.

As comprehension calmed their concern, Cormac knew then and there that he wanted to be part of her life, to know all of it. Maybe, Hermione wouldn't judge him. Maybe, she would accept him, with his past and his nasty defects.

Cormac then made sure Hermione was well-fed, and that she received enough sunlight, even if they didn't need to prune the trees. That had been a small lie to get her back at Logan. He had then shared stories about his childhood that no one else knew except probably John or Pat. And had tried to get along with Harry and Ron, to apologize for being rude and conceited back in Hogwarts. Everything had gone well until... he transformed into an ill-nurtured moldwarp.

Again.

When would he learn to control himself?

Cormac tiredly rubbed his eyes. Full of shame, he had avoided her all afternoon, again, similar to when he tried to snog her under the mistletoe at Slughorn's party and then avoided her for the rest of the year.

"You sodding prick!" Cormac lamented. "You better do something if you don't want to lose her."

He hurried towards his room to change at least his sweaty shirt. Running down the stairs and wondering if her floo would be open, he abruptly stopped as the sound of his own floo roared.

"Cory?" he heard his name and it was enough for his legs to start moving again.

When he entered the hall, he saw Hermione stand still as he saw him, her hair wild and free, wearing long pyjama pants and a t-shirt. Cormac then noticed her bright and watered eyes visible even in the dim light and felt a pang of guilt.

"Cormac McLaggen!" Hermione snapped with a confident voice though a few tears slid down her cheeks, "We need to talk. This, it scares me. I don't know what this is. I need an explanation! I just don't understand you! Some days you're fine, others you ignore me-"

Cormac closed the distance with measured steps, alarmed. It hadn't been his intention.

"Hermione, no, calm down. Please, understand, I... Merlin! This is so difficult for me..."

"What? Apologizing?" Hermione harshly said, frowning.

"No. No. Yes. I'm sorry, of course. I pushed you. I'm brash, you know me-"

Hermione frowned even deeper and crossed her arms.

"-it's not an excuse, don't get me wrong. What I'm trying to say is that it wasn't my intention to make you feel ignored these past weeks. I - this is difficult to accept." Cormac exhaled, his hands on his hips "You don't know what I did during the war..."

"What? What rubbish-?"

"Don't... Listen to me, please, Hermione. I know I've been an arrogant arsehole for most of my life but I've changed, and yet ... you don't know-"

"It's not your fault whatever happened at the Administrations Services" Hermione blurted out.

Cormac paled.

"Who told you?"

"No one told me, Cormac. I have a brain, you know? I can add two plus two."

"And you don't care? What I did do and didn't do?"

"Oh, Cory," she calmly said in a soothing voice, closing the distance, putting a hand on his cheek, "it was war. And that place... it was horrible. I remember the dementors and the screams... "

Cormac raised his eyebrows and nodded.

"You were there," Cormac said with a knowing voice, recalling. "That day, the day you infiltrated, you were there, in the dungeons. I remember. I missed work, I... was unable to go, but I recall Afton and Eloise telling me... I ... they were busy and couldn't do the record-keeping, so- "

Hermione opened wide her eyes as the revelation hit her.

"-so, Travers looked for your replacement! And Umbridge thought Mafalda Hopkirk had been sent by him! It's because of your absence that Harry and I were able to save Mrs. Cattermole!"

Cormac looked at her, sadly.

"That's what I mean, Hermione. I saved no one and convicted dozens to Azkaban, many of them died, because I didn't raise my voice and spoke the truth. And I'm ashamed of it. These past weeks I've struggled knowing I really don't deserve you. How would I be worthy of being in a relationship with you? But I like you, I really do."

Hermione pursed her lips as she listened to Cormac's reasons. He continued with a soft voice.

"And when you disappeared... I was so worried, Hermione, I thought five bludgers were hitting me at the same time. I did order Efty to cook a good meal for you. And no, we didn't have to prune the trees, but I couldn't think of any other excuse to bring you here to take care of you. I'm sorry I pushed you into doing something-"

Hermione kissed him, but it was Cormac who didn't correspond this time. He took her by the arms and pushed her slightly away.

"Minnie, don't do this. We'll talk and-"

"I'm not scared anymore. I know what I want, Cory."

Hermione closed the gap, her lips surprising his another time. Their first kiss was a simple slow peck, he thought of it as an invitation, like a warm welcome and hesitant visit. As she hugged his hips with her legs and he took her to his room between passionate kisses, Cormac and Hermione both thought they felt the happiest they had ever been.

Diagon Alley, with its crowd that moved like a swarm of bees constantly buzzing, should have annoyed Cormac, but his eyes were busy looking for her, unable to think of anything else. Attacks rarely occurred since he started working with Hermione on the amendment and Statute.

The previous week they had received an interdepartmental memo from the Minister's secretary where they nervously read the new date for the next Wizengamot voting session. Now, it was Sunday evening, fully prepared for Tuesday's morning session where they would witness the voting process and result.

He waited patiently. One wizard then made eye contact with him and nodded. "Good luck with the Statute," the wizard said before leaving.

Cormac felt a pang of joy spread in his chest. He nodded back a couple of times though the man had left already, impressed. Finally, they had a chance to change their world for the good and, maybe, future muggle-born generations would live without the sorrow and pain. As some chatting witches passed by him, ignoring his presence, he thought that night was a celebration, a toast for Hermione's hard work, an acknowledgement he wanted to give her. Approved or not approved, the progress they had achieved would not have been possible without her.

Hermione had agreed to have dinner with him, their first since their affair, relationship, or whatever that was, had started. They still hadn't defined their relationship though he cherished it as if it was definitive. It felt definitive.

Cormac had made a reservation in one of the most classic and high-priced restaurants from magical Britain. It had been founded after the Great Fire of 1666 by cooking aficionada Ludovica Fleet, who had dug her beloved parmesan cheese, wine, chocolate, tea and coffee in an attempt to save them from the fire. After the tragedy and after finding her buried treasure, Ludovica had the heart to share her food, by selling it of course, in wonderful recipes that still could be sampled today.

As soon as Cormac saw Hermione walk the cobbled stone street, he knew she deserved every recipe and wine served in "Pepys Table". She looked stunning in a beautiful and very traditional mauve robe that made his heart beat faster and his fingers itch.

After giving her a proper kiss and offering her his arm, they entered the restaurant. Numerous small and big tables, with tablecloths that matched the upholstery and drapes, were occupied by wizards and witches from all over Europe. Once hats and coats vanished, a house-elf with what looked to be a long vest and old wig led them into the establishment that consisted of various interconnected rooms, each with a colour theme.

The house elf, after a couple of turns through the green and yellow rooms and narrow stairs, showed them their table in a navy room. Sitting in awe, Hermione couldn't take her eyes off the ceiling, all in dark blue as the rest of the room, because on top of her head, the main star constellations moved and chatted with each other: there it was Andromeda trying to talk to the Swan, Draco burning the Twin's coats, and Leo purring as it slept.

"Have you been here before?" Cormac asked her.

"Yes. The red room. For Harry and Ginny's wedding. It was dreadful and disturbing to watch the representation of the great fire of 1666 on its ceiling. We didn't know, you see. But this room… it's magnificent." Her eyes focused on him, "You?"

"A couple of times. You know Uncle Beri."

She nodded kindly before perusing the wine menu that magically appeared in front of her. After receiving a smile and a shrug from Cory, Hermione selected one with her wand.

"Mister and missus, may I suggest our festive feast for two?" A squeaky voice asked them after a special bottle of wine made with frozen grapes served itself. The elf assigned to attend them wore an old white wig between his pointy ears. "It consists of soup from ox tongue spiced with nutmeg, sliced leg of lamb with kidneys and topped with raspberries, herring pie, and pumpkin cheesecake."

"Oh, then yes, it was difficult to decide. What do you thing Cory?"

"Excellent idea."

As soon as the elf vanished with a pop, Cormac could not stop the smile that appeared on his face. Yes, he knew probably he looked like a sap in love, a nervous and hand-sweating sap in love. But even these he welcomed them as a sign of him moving forward.

"So, you always dreamt of working at the Ministry?" he asked her.

"Not at all," she chuckled, "once Scrimgeour asked me if I'd consider a career in magical law. And you know what I said? Never in my life."

Cormac chuckled.

"I had seen enough of the Ministry righteous behaviour, I was sick of it," she finished.

"He was a good man," at Hermione's look he continued, "I know, I know, he had been an auror all his life, his toughness getting the best of him, but Hermione, he was under a lot of pressure."

"You might be right, I guess," she took a bite of her lamb.

"What about now? Do you wish to go back to magical law? You are amazing at it."

"Kingsley suggested it again some weeks ago," she sighed, "but, you know what? I'm … happy where I am now." A slight smile appeared on her face, "the first day I started my research was the first I felt I was in the right place since Hogwarts. I know it's not what everyone thought of me, or expected of the golden heroine, but my time as Unspeakable has been lovely. There has never been a single bad or boring day."

"I reckon Luna might have something to do with it," Cormac chuckled.

Hermione's eyes sparkled as she remembered her blond friend, "Luna has some quirks but she is so smart, Cormac. What we are doing… my mind never stops thinking about it." She then returned to him, "what about you? Since when you wanted to work at the Ministry?"

"Never."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy working there now. But I first started because the quidditch league was cancelled due to the war. Then, my grandmother died and met Mel. I wasn't quite in the right state of mind."

"Do you want to talk about it? Melissa, I mean?" she asked, curiosity seeping behind her eyelashes.

Cormac gave a sip of his wine before retelling the story that wasn't painful anymore.

"She's a HIIT auror working for the International Confederation of Wizards. After the war, Melissa had the mission to report back any anomalies our government had. We met, fell in love, and eventually I asked her to marry me, thinking we were on the same page," he chuckled, "but I'm bloody brazen, Hermione, you know me, and didn't realize that she was struggling. It was too much for her, too fast. She has a career she fucking loves and between me and her dream job… well, you know who won. I still don't know if I would have understood her if she had asked me to take it slower or if I would have left my life to follow her around the world, but, you see, she didn't give me any choice. Two months before the wedding she left, leaving me only a letter explaining her feelings, of how constrained she felt by me."

"That's awful. I'm sorry you had to go through it Cory, I really am," Hermione expressed.

"That's life, I guess. It hasn't been up until now that I feel motivated to go back to work to the Ministry, prove myself and make a change," he explained.

"And you will, Cory," she held his hand, "you are passionate and trustworthy, you are hardworking and resourceful, I know you will succeed."

The honest moment was broken, however, when the brightness of a camera flashed and interrupted briefly their vision.

"Beg your pardon, sirs!" Squeaked the house-elf waiter, snapping his fingers and freezing a reporter and a photographer beside the entrance of the room. The two wizards were frozen… and looking straight at Hermione and Cormac. "Yous not allowed to bes here, sirs!" And with another snap, the reporters disappeared. The proud elf deeply bowed to them, "We apologize, Mister, Miss. Please, do continue with your dinner!"

And with that, he disappeared with a light pop.

The night ended back in his house where they would leave together for work. When Cormac woke the next morning he found her side cold. Smiling, he put on his pyjama and looked for her. He arrived at the kitchen expecting her to be drinking her breakfast tea and chatting with Efty, but only found the elf worriedly looking at him. Dread entered his heart and stopped by the door, as his mind imagined what it would feel like if she left him as Mel had done.

Had it been his brashness? Or maybe his role in the trials?

"Mister Cormac, sir, Miss Minnie left!"

Efty was on the brink of crying and held him that day's Prophet opened in the editorial section, the photo from the previous night taking half the page.

The Granger-McLaggen Statute and why you should care.

Yesterday night Mr. Cormac McLaggen, nephew of retired elder Tiberius Ogden, one of our most distinguished wizarding members alive, was spotted having dinner at Pepys Table, a traditional venue located in low Diagon Alley, with Miss Hermione Granger. As the next Wizengamot meeting is expected tomorrow morning, the Anticorruption Statute is all we discuss nowadays. Whether in the secure warmth of your home or in public spaces, we all wonder why and how his partnership -and apparently new love relationship- came to be. But, I believe it is most important why we should care.

Mr. Cormac McLaggen comes from an old, traditional wizarding family of centuries of working for our society in various ways. Let's not forget Howard McLaggen who in the 1820s fought for the Hogwarts Express to be constructed. Or Eire McLaggen, one of the first to study and publish the relationship between bowtruckles and trees. Cormac McLaggen himself has been working in the Wizangamot Services Administration for several years, earning him a trustworthy reputation and strong alliances.

Cormac sneered.

Miss Hermione Granger, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Named a War Heroine after helping our saviour Harry Potter, Miss Granger could not be any more different to us. Even though she seems to come from a respectable muggle-born family, we still don't know her full familial background. Her work at the Department of International Magical Co-Operation was mediocre at best, losing the British Seat to ex-fellow colleague Mister Adrian Pucey. According to my informant, Miss Granger was unable to form strong international relations with other countries. But more than this, her inability to understand our wizarding culture throughout her career is outstanding, always pushing for measures that show her lack of knowledge. Another informant recounted the time when she tried to force Hogwarts elves to be free, against their wishes.

I guess you can now see the point of why this partnership is important. We can only wonder if the new Anti-corruption Statute is the new Granger "great" idea. If she will taint McLaggen's spotless career with another mediocre failure, and if she will keep pushing for laws that do not represent our culture. Tomorrow we will all have our ears attached to the wireless, hoping this crazy venture does not come to fruit. As long as Miss Heroine keeps being under our Minister's protection, we should all care.

Hopefully, this will not pass and we will not care again.

"I thought I would have known better by this second time," Hermione said to Harry as they took a cuppa sitting at her backyard table. "Magical Law and Wizarding Society is outdated. I shouldn't have listened to Kingsley and now… maybe Cory will leave. Maybe, after reading the article he will…" Her voice trembled with a mix of agitation and anger.

"Hermione, Cormac cherishes you, not only your wits but your smart brain. So, stop doing this to yourself and trust him. Trust yourself."

"You know, Harry, when I finished reading the article this morning my heart started beating so fast I couldn't breathe, and my mind kept replaying those months, especially that week…" Harry watched her carefully and nodded, she finished her thought with the braveness that her best friend inspired in her, "...I know what it was. A panic attack."

Harry didn't deny it nor exclaimed a worried word. Instead, he took it with the most natural silence, as if waiting for the bomb to clear. She loved that about him: an observant and patient quality he had developed after dying and surviving.

"What are you scared of?" he pressed.

"Oh, Harry. It's not only that he might leave me, but again realizing that I'm an outsider to this world, that I've failed to make a positive change, to have a successful career, to find my place…"

Harry held her cold hand across the table and gently squeezed it. Its warmth comforted her. But then, his next words told her he was looking for that comfort as well:

"Ginny and I… we're going to divorce." Harry shrugged like he didn't care though she knew better, "Not only that, I've secured the DADA professor position at Hogwarts."

Hermione exhaled. She drank from her cuppa while pressing his hand.

"I guessed as much, Harry, but I can't believe it, honestly. What happened? And Professor? "

"I reckon our relationship did not pass the test of time. And I'm tired of being an auror."

"But I thought you loved being an auror!"

Harry bitterly chuckled, "that's probably my fault. I remember thinking not wanting to fight anymore when I finished talking to Dumbledore's portrait after the last battle. But felt lost once I went back to the Burrow, everyone seeing me as a hero, and I just felt … empty. I didn't care about that. I don't think I cared for anything at all. I honestly wanted to leave."

"Really?"

Harry nodded, "As the months passed, I guess I tried to fill that void with Ginny and what everyone supposed I should do. But that void never dissapeared."

"Oh, Harry!" She squeezed stronger his hand.

"And then we rushed and married," Harry looked at her ashamed. "Don't get me wrong, I did love her. And I love James with all my heart. But now, we don't even agree on the type of education James should have."

"You are both fierce on your opinions, Harry, even if you are both wrong," she admitted.

"I know," Harry's voice cracked, "You know what keeps me up at night? If I had been Gryffindor enough to leave the Burrow after the war and heal the void I felt inside me… maybe I would have had a happier life, and James, he wouldn't have been born, or maybe he would have, later, but maybe his parents would have been whole…"

Hermione felt a tear roll down her cheek, unable to speak. It had always pained her when Harry suffered. She pressed his fingers that held to her, knowing that she could not do more than offer her support.

"My point is…Don't do this to yourself, Hermione. Don't be like me, a coward when it matters the most. Keep fighting for what your gut is telling you. If it's the Statute, then go fight for it. If you love him, and you lose him because of your fear, you will never forgive yourself. All these paid monkeys that call themselves reporters can go and fuck themselves. You'll always have us."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she observed her bright, red thread. Would it change if she didn't have courage? Turn opaque and dull as Harry's? As Adrian's?

They both heard the floo back inside her house and heard Cormac call her name. Harry reassuringly pressed her hand again before they stood from their chairs. And once inside, Harry left through the floo after patting Cormac's shoulder, leaving them silent. Cormac looked pale, his cheeks drained from any colour he had had that morning when she had left the comfort of his bed, while his lips lacked the reddishness from being kissed. She swallowed her nervousness before steadily walking towards him and hugging him, enveloping herself in his warmth.

Hermione felt Cormac exhale and curve his body around hers.

"I thought you'd left me," he quietly confessed beside her ear. She tried to shake her head but found it difficult with his arms tightly holding her. "But then Efty reassured me that you would never do that to me."

"Cormac, I'm sorry Ileft without much notice. I needed to think after reading the article and came home. Harry appeared, thinking that maybe he would get lucky and get a hold of me after reading it himself," she tried for him to look at her smile, "and then we started talking."

He nodded, "I read it too but, Hermione, we expected this. We prepared ourselves for these attacks."

"I know, but somehow it all made me remember …after I broke up with Adrian."

"You've never told me anything before…"

She sighed and pulled his hand towards the kitchen where she started preparing another two cuppas, his the way he liked it.

"Four years ago," Hermione started, " I met Nott, Greegrass and Adrian at the IMC where I had started my new job, reviewing international magical legislation. We became excellent colleagues, surprising me and all my friends. And after some months, Adrian and I began to date. One year later and I thought I had never been as happy as in those months. I worked together with known Pure-bloods. I felt respected by who I truly am, not my origins. Everything finally felt in its right place. You know the feeling?"

Cormac nodded. They moved to the backyard again, a clear, bright morning that smelled of flowers and nature. With her wand, she cleared the table, the dirty cups disappearing.

"Harry, Ron and I were finally happy. I had my place in this world, and it had seemed that the bigotted prejudices from before no longer existed. Then, one of the British Seats became available and Kingsley urged me to get it. So, with Nott, Greengrass and Adrian, I worked hard to make ourselves known in the international arena, pushing for reforms and new statutes. We were a team, friends outside of work, and I was their leader with Kingsley's approval. But when the time to elect the new British seat came, I wasn't elected. You know this already, Adrian was. I later knew that as I worked hard on the reforms, Adrian took the time to sell the work as his to some key international seats while also accepting bribes."

"What about Greengrass and Nott?"

"Daphne told me that they had urged him not to do it. But it doesn't matter, really. Both Theo and Daphne knew and remained his friends. They've known each other since toddlers after all. And it hit me hard. Not only because of their treason, but because I felt an outsider again. Stupid enough to believe I belonged to this world that wasn't changing at all," Hermione then blushed and turned her eyes towards the growing grass, "I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't manage it well. The following week, I spent it in my room, either sleeping or looking through the window, watching this same landscape. I forgot to eat and barely drank any water. Harry and Ron were out of themselves and when finally they were able to barge into my wards… well, what they saw made them bring my mother from Australia in hours. She ordered them to get my things from his house but not kill him," Hermione chuckled and Cormac snorted, "and for the next fortnight I was able to recover. I'm not proud, and feel weak for letting myself so low. For not being strong. For not being enough witch."

"You still feel the same… with me?"

"I've healed but it is hard. Some days I feel I can't trust you. Some days, like today after reading the paper, I still feel an outsider that will never fit in. I … I still don't know why you decided to work on these reforms, for example, but I'm forcing myself to trust you and not ask questions. I wanted you to tell me when the time was right for you."

Cormac leaned back on the back of the chair, his head resting on the stone wall, and watched the sky.

"I haven't told you. You're right. But maybe, today is the day when we both open our scary trunks." He remained still for a moment before continuing, " You know how my Mórei and Uncle Beri raised me. My grandmother was a good woman, trying her best so that I lacked no love, giving me everything. Oh, I accept she spoiled me at every opportunity." Cormac paused then focused on a passing cloud, "I've never told you how she died, how it affected me, changed me…" He briefly turned towards her and found her attentive eyes. "You know she was Muggle-born, right?" he said almost quietly and she nodded. He gulped. "After August 1st, 1997 and the Ministry fell… do you remember the Muggle-Born Registration Commission?"

The Muggle-Born Registration Commission was one of the most horrifying plans executed during the Thicknesse era. Dolores Umbridge, with the extra authority given to her by the Commission, created a reign of terror that lasted until the last battle. Remembering the day Hermione disguised as Mafalda Hopkirk and infiltrated the Ministry, she gasped and raised her hand to cover her mouth. "Don't tell me…"

Cormac avoided her and ironically chuckled, "You know what's ironic, Hermione? That Uncle Beri convinced me to work at the Ministry, saying it was the safest place to be. He found me a job at the Wizengamot Administration Services… the same place that recorded the trials a month later…"

Shaken, Hermione could only keep silent.

"My grandmother," he added, "as stubborn as she was, was one of the last to present themselves for interrogation that August, and only because she was forced by snatchers while in Diagon Alley. Not even Uncle Beri could do anything to save her from the fate of being imprisoned while she waited for her trial. When I saw her in the courtroom, Hermione, I attacked fucking Yaxley and then Travers, I completely lost it, but couldn't defend myself against their crucios. I only remember being thrown out to the hall. Dementors… then fed from me and while still on the floor, I saw her shackled, taken away by more of those creatures. She might have seen me lying on the ground, feeling worried when it should have been me comforting her, but I can only recall vague words."

He didn't share the words, the reassuring "Be strong my boy! Show them!" that she pronounced as they took her and that still woke him at night and pierced his soul. Maybe, he thought, he would be able to share that memory with Hermione another time but not that day.

Hermione dried a couple of tears on his cheeks as she remembered the Cattermole trial, still thinking it was one of the cruellest moments of the war she had witnessed, the slaughter of innocent people like her. Hermione could still recall the fear, the shaking of her hand as she recorded every word, the control she had to summon beside Umbridge.

"What's the use of being famous?" Cormac then sarcastically said, "What's the use of connections if they don't help you when you need them the most? Do you know what I sadly learned? Fear or greed will decide their actions instead. After her torture and imprisonment, the next days passed as a blur between meetings and asking for favours to take her out of Azkaban. But both my uncle and I were late." Cormac paused, maybe to compose himself or maybe to find courage, "It took only a couple of days before... her old body succumbed. Together, on September 1st, we went to Azkaban to retrieve her body. I had a scheduled trial, Mary Cattermole, but Travers and the Ministry could go to hell that day. Do you remember that day?"

Hermione then gasped in surprise and exclaimed, "You're the reason why they were looking for someone to record the trial! Why they needed Mafalda Hopkirk!"

Cormac ruefully smiled, "I missed the infiltration, however, at least that day, by not being there, you were able to help someone. Mary Cattermole survived with her kids. D'you know? So that's why, Hermione, I sketched the statute and the amendment, which together will help protect Muggle-borns against unjust trials. I know... the terrible role I played…"

"Don't blame yourself, Cormac McLaggen! Don't you dare! I was there beside that horrible toad for just one trial and I can't imagine what it felt like being there every day."

"I'm afraid it's not as simple. For years their cries tortured me, Hermione. Sometimes they still do. But, believe me, I want to do something, anything, to redeem myself, to help protect those that come after me." Cormac watched her relaxed hands and then dared to raise his eyes and look at her. He thought he would find repulsion or pity, but found only two brave eyes that looked straight into his. He felt himself smile and tried to say something funny. "I need to protect more families, because, what if I have kids with the most wonderful Muggle-born witch?"

Hermione blushed and pressed her lips during his playful eyebrow wiggle, but soon both watched the sky, silent after sharing their saddest memories.

"Now it's our turn to make sure that doesn't happen again," Hermione said, her courage and decision back in her, a fire consuming her fear. "We will show every pure-blooded prick, Cory! And we will change this world, avenge your grandmother and all the other Muggle-born. I know we will!"

"We will love. Together." Softly, he kissed her palm, then her fingers. "And to reckon today I didn't need to draw on my exceptional quidditch skills like in our first date at Slughorn's. You must really fancy me, dear, to ignore my only weakness."

"Your only weakness? Are you sure?" she smiled at him.

"Of course. And being tall and handsome as well."