authorsnotes: not one but two harry potter updates tonight! lets gooo

I swear I update faster when doing multiple stories and updates a night, idk why.

anywho, I do hope you enjoy, do review and follow/fav for updates!

*shameless plug*: I recently uploaded the first part in a harry/hermione two shot, do check it out on my page - a letter for you

songrecs: used to this - camila cabello

It took a couple of minutes (okay 10) for Harry to coax her to give Crookshanks to the shopkeeper to hold whilst they finished their shopping, but thankfully after much cooing, nuzzling and even a kiss to the cats nose (and from his grumpy expression Harry got the sense Crookshanks would accept that from no one but Hermione), he finally managed to tear her out of the shop (after she reassured her familiar no less than 15 times she'd be back).

Harry understood it and was maybe being a little harsh upon practically lifting Hermione and walking her out of the Menagerie, if Hedwig had still been here (and again he thoroughly intends to come back as soon as he figured out when he'd need to come back), he would probably not be as a cooing mess, but he knew he'd be emotional.

"He'll be fine Hermione" He said for the third time cutting his best friend off before she could ask again.

"Can you believe it Harry?" She was so giddy, her hand slipping into his that he found himself smiling, her happiness was infectious.

"It's great" He said. He felt a twinge of jealousy but did not voice it, for he wouldn't ruin Hermione's happiness with his own sadness about Hedwig, she was beaming and that lifted his spirits too.

"I'm sorry about Hedwig" He felt his heart lift a fraction then. Of course, Hermione would know what he was thinking.

"It's okay" He said, and he found it was, "We'll come back for her" Especially when he knew that. He'd get Hedwig back; it may just take a little while.

"Of course we will" Hermione said fiercely and he managed a grin then. Sure, he still felt a little low, knowing his new familiar Ron was lovely and would suit their purposes well but was no Hedwig, but he was warmed to remember that Hedwig would be with them, just not yet.

"So where to next?" He asked, feeling a little better and ready to move on. He didn't want to dwell on what he'd lost, if he did he felt he could get lost forever, he was even reminded of Dumbledore then…

'It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live'

Perhaps he needed to apply that advice to the past.

"I think we just need to tick off Wiseacre's for equipment" She paused then, "Then around to pick up robes, your broom, Ron and Crooks" She said with a smile before she let out a giggle, "That sounds like we left Ron somewhere"

Harry laughed to them before feeling that pang that they had left Ron somewhere, he could see Hermione's expression darken to – they had left him somewhere, they had left him behind.

"We did the right thing" Hermione said, exactly able to tell what he was thinking her again. He did sometimes wonder, particularly over the last year whether they had some shared telepathy, they always knew what the other was thinking. When he'd returned Ron had even commented on how strange it was.

"I know" He did, as awful as it felt not to have Ron with them he knew it was the right call, breaking up the trio in many ways had felt wrong, but in the one way it had felt right, that Ron shouldn't be damned to leave his family, it was enough to make it the right decision "He would have wanted to come and he had much more to lose"

"Not like us" Hermione muttered, her features a little downcast then, that had Harry reach for her hand and lock his fingers through hers.

"We have each other" He said firmly. Once he would have blushed to hold a girl, any girls hand! But this was Hermione, she was different, she was the closest person to him, and always would be.

"We do" She said brightening a little, squeezing his hand and they both nodded before making their way down the Alley again, off to pick up their last bits before returning home to Hogwarts, the only home they had.

The visit to Wiseacre's was quick and unexciting.

They both picked out simple but high quality Scales, Telescopes, Moon and Star Charts, Phials (double the amount needed) and even sprung for a set of Silver Scales for their own private potion making.

After that they realised they needed quills but their dip into Scibbulus's didn't take long and they left with plenty of quills and stacks of parchment and ink.

"Lunch before we go?" Harry asked but she shrugged, the only place available was the Leaky which she didn't fancy, and she was feeling a bit morose now, and though the rain had slowed she felt a sudden desire to go back to Hogwarts, curl up in front of the fire with her nose in a book to distract herself from the sadness that had cast over her.

They had both experienced too much loss, too much sadness over the years and they both had ways to cope. Harry played Qudditch, she read, and they comforted each other.

"Or a cone?" Harry asked then, steering her towards Florence's. She rolled her eyes but managed a smile, Harry's attempts to cheer her up were always welcome and she felt better as soon as she smelt the sugar in the air of the shop.

"What flavour are you grabbing?" She asked, slipping her hand into her bag to grab her purse before Harry shook his head a few galleons already in his hand. She'd managed to force him to be fairly equal on purchases today and so she didn't protest, Harry was nothing if not generous.

"Chocolate" She needn't have asked she said with a roll of her eyes to which Harry offered a grin. Just like he'd basically only eat treacle tart for dessert, good luck getting Harry to eat any ice cream that wasn't chocolate covered in cream and sickly sweet with syrup.

As the child of dentists (and Hermione felt a pang and tried to distract herself with the menu as she thought of her parents), Hermione had rarely been allowed sweet stuff, chocolate included and so hadn't developed that much of a taste for it. She much preferred things that had a bit of tartness to them, and so as Harry went for chocolate, she opted for a lemon sorbet covered in fancy sugar crystals.

It had been a good idea, they were both grinning as they excited the shop, cones in hand, cheered up some, as they made their way to the Leaky to use the floo to head back to Hogwarts.

They did pause before heading off, a much younger Tom still working the bar and giving them a wave as they finished their cones. It didn't take them long and both felt better with some sugar in them, as they headed for the floo.

They stepped in together, their hands still joined as she tossed the floo powder and called out firmly "Hogwarts"

Hogwarts, their home. She couldn't wait to get back, perhaps spend some time in the common room, likely watch on as Harry sat with his Father and friends. She was much more introverted and would probably curl up with a book or chat quietly with Lupin. Regardless it would be good, it would be a distraction, it would be comforting.

Home. Hogwarts was home, and there was nowhere else she wanted to be, or as they were sucked through the fireplace, still clutching one another, no one else she'd rather be with.

When they returned to Hogwarts and the Gryffindor Common Room it was much livelier than when they'd left.

It reminded him of before, before the war, before the pain, it just reminded him of Hogwarts being his home, his first and only home really. He remembered Sirius's offer, how excited he'd been, and how disappointed when he had to stay with the Dursley's. Still, he'd always had Hogwarts.

Voldemort, Snape, him; the three lost boys whose home was here at the Castle. It had been back then, and it was now.

It was Hermione's too, and they had a home with each other now too.

And now they had their familiars as well. They'd let Ron go as soon as they'd come back to the Castle, and Crookshanks was in Hermione's arms, and a second later padding about the common room.

He looked then at Hermione, who he could see was searching for a free space for them to sit, stood next to him her lips scrunched in a scowl as she saw her favourite chair at the furthest table (yes it was the exact same chair), was taken, and taken by Lupin actually.

He glanced over to see the four of them. Lupin hunched over and studying just as Hermione would usually be. Sirius was leaning back on the legs of his chair, laughing at something, a Transfiguration book in his lap ignored. His Dad - James (he had to remember to call him that!), was laughing too, a Quidditch magazine in front of him and Harry felt that warm glow when he looked over at him again, a warm glow that had him smiling. Pettigrew also sat on the end, hanging on as always. Harry knew the man had yet to do anything, but he still felt a surge of anger he had to shove down when looking at him.

"Where should we sit?" Hermione asked him then before following his gaze to the Marauders, to which she smiled and squeezed his hand. "Shall we go over?"

Before he could say anything his Dad - James caught their eye and waved them over. He reminded himself not to be so starstruck and managed to tamp down his grin to a smile, trying to ignore the urge to throw his arms around first his Dad, then Sirius, then Lupin.

Instead he walked over, Hermione by his side. She still wore the beaded bag and kept their purchases from the day tucked inside. He knew later they'd sort through everything (and maybe get a potion bubbling), but for now he wanted to spend some time with his family … even if they didn't know he was family.

Still, he could make friends of them, have a relationship with them. They may not treat him as family but they could be friends, that would be enough, it would have to be.

And he did have family still, he had Hermione, and offered her a smile as they walked over, one she easily returned. Yes, they had family, they had each other.

"Hey" His Father spoke with a confidence he'd never had and nodded to the two spare seats across from them, he took the one next to Peter, Hermione next to Lupin who looked up with a grin, though his Father spoke again before Lupin could no doubt pounce on Hermione about some magical subject.

He was almost flashed back to Grimmauld Place, the two of them debating wand lore, how times hadn't changed.

"You two out today?" His Father, James asked with a smile.

"Getting school stuff" Hermione shot back, and he realised the ruse they'd put up the day before, Harry friendly, Hermione slightly standoffish, would work, not that he thought of Hermione as cold, but she was a little more introverted than he, it worked, the 'quirky' pureblood dynamic they were giving off.

"Yeah" He said with a grin, trying to tamp down his happiness to be just having a conversation with his Dad, it was difficult to say the least, "Took forever to get our books, OWL year and all"

"We're OWL year too" Sirius said, with a nod, and an easy grin, Azkaban hadn't stolen his looks yet, "What you two doing?"

"I'm doing Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Astronomy, Divination, History of Magic and Muggle Studies" He rattled off, finding it a bit odd he already had OWLS in almost all of them, bar his failing in Divination and History of Magic, in truth he wasn't sure he'd pass them this time, maybe the latter, but not the former.

"The same, plus Arithmancy and Runes" Hermione said with a nod and a smile.

"Eleven?" Sirius asked with a whistle, "You're taking eleven OWLS?"

"I like to be challenged" Hermione said with a shrug to which he couldn't help but grin, she did indeed.

"What about you lot?" She fired back, and Sirius grinned again, Harry near rolled his eyes, of course a young Sirius would get on with Hermione, she was feisty, something he knew his Godfather approved of.

"Same as you Harry" James said, and Harry felt a little thrill at hearing his name straight from his Dad, though he managed to smother his grin, "Plus Runes"

"Same here" Sirius said, "Though I've ditched Muggle Studies and taken Arithmancy"

"Same as you Hermione" Lupin said with a nod, "Though no Muggle Studies for me"

"I'm taking the same as you Harry" Peter said and Harry managed to keep his smile in place, hard as it was. He knew he couldn't openly dislike Pettigrew, not when he didn't know him, not yet.

"Guess we'll all be in class together" James said with a grin, "We're top of the year"

"Not for much longer" Harry said with a shrug, he wasn't sure where his natural instinct to brag about Hermione had come from, but it hadn't gone away, "Hermione will be the best, trust me"

"Harry's best at defence" Hermione shot back, for as much as she liked praise, she loved making sure he got some too. He rolled his eyes at her and matched her smile.

This felt so natural, so real, he was sure any second he'd wake up and be dreaming. To see Lupin quiz Hermione then about Arithmancy, to see his Dad and Sirius laugh at his assertion, to see out the corner of his eye his Mother sat by the fire charming a pencil into a quill and back. It was simply put perfect.

Worth it.

"Oh yeah?" Sirius said, and Harry wasn't surprised to see him stand, his Godfather had always been cocky, "Bet I could take you"

Harry laughed then, knowing it was all still in good fun. He didn't really know the Marauders magical abilities, but he knew they had been powerful, Animagi all of them (bar Lupin), and gifted. He knew he was good at Defence, but he doubted he could best them in much else.

"Can you do a Patronus? A corporeal one? Harry can" Hermione shot back, though the look he shot her had her eyes widening, of course, his Patronus was a stag, his Father's Animagus form. Could they be anymore obvious? Though he knew Hermione came from a good place. They stuck up for one each other, always had.

He knew he shouldn't be worried. No one would suspect them of anything, for what would they suspect them of? But he didn't want to act suspicious. They'd already bargained (and thankfully it had paid off), on selling him as a Potter, he really didn't want to create more misgivings by revealing his Patronus.

"That's NEWT level" James said with a shake of his head, "Though Lupin can make a shield, a corporeal one? That's 7th year and higher"

"Show us then" Sirius said with a cocky grin, clearly doubting them. Harry didn't want to rise to the bait, and for that alone he wouldn't have, but he also felt it would be best to get this out of the way now. No doubt he'd need to use it in the future, there was no point hiding it, it was one of his best weapons after all.

He did shoot Hermione a glare and she rolled her eyes to him then. He knew he was being a bit paranoid, after all no one could possibly guess the truth they were both keeping, but he did want to be a bit more lowkey.

He supposed that was impossible.

"Fine" He said rolling his shoulders back. He knew Hermione could produce one too, not as strong as his, but he'd go first. He suddenly felt a prickle at the back of his neck, of being watched, he glanced to the side. His Mother was looking at him now, that odd look, which he focused on, his Mother's face, Lily Evans nee Potter, his Mum.

And his Patronus sprung forth.

It was strong as it always had been, a silver glow and then a stag burst forth, cantering on the ground, a solid silver form. He heard gasps around the common room, even a cheer or two which had him grinning. He was no show-off, but he couldn't help but smile.

He nodded at Hermione then, she was smiling at him too, and with a nod her otter joined his stag, swimming through the air, not as strong or clear, but there, with his.

Together.

The silver in the room was dazzling.

"Damn" Sirius said, and Lupin was grinning, clearly ready to quiz them both. Pettigrew looked in awe.

It was his Dad he focused on though. He'd adopted the same look his Mum had given him. That odd, searching look, as though he knew him, as though he could sense something. It wasn't quite as insistent a look as his Mums, but it was there.

He waved his wand then and the stag disappeared. He could have done without ensuing applause, and waved a hand with a sheepish grin, embarrassed, fame would never be for him.

"That was amazing" Pettigrew said, and Lupin soon did as expect, peppering Hermione with a million questions.

His Dad and Sirius seemed to whisper to one another for a minute, and then his Dad caught his gaze again, and was smiling. Harry would have missed what he said had he not been focusing, as James turned back to Sirius.

"I guess us Potter's like stags"

And yet he sounded doubtful, and Harry didn't know what to make of that.

By the time they went to bed Hermione had been quizzed at length about her Patronus, and Harry had spoken mainly to his Dad and Sirius, first about their day trip and then Quidditch. His Dad gave him a few more of those intense, searching looks but said nothing more about the stag.

"Goodnight" They called to one another as he and Hermione continued up to the top floor (after lying that they had a split dorm) and went about preparing for bed.

As soon as they stepped inside Hermione flicked her wand and her beaded bag opened, everything flying out and packing itself away, books on the bookcase, clothes in the trunk, his broom propped in the corner, their nicest cauldron set up on the nearby shelf. Crookshanks had settled on their trunk and he'd set up a perch for Ron, though it remained empty.

"Harry" Hermione turned to him then, "Sorry about the Patronus" She offered, "I didn't think"

"Never thought I'd hear you say that" He teased, and she rolled her eyes, mock punching him, "They'd have seen it eventually"

"True" She said with a nod, "And we will need to prove ourselves magically to join the Order, to keep up with them"

He nodded too, he doubted the Marauders hung around slackers and fools.

"We need to get a copy of the map" It was something he'd thought of when he'd been chatting to his Dad. He'd revealed two secret passages to him as friendly advice. Harry knew they needed better than that.

"I was thinking the same" Hermione said with a sigh, "And we need Snape's book"

He shot her a look then and she bristled, "Obviously we know now it's safe"

He let it go, for now, he'd never quite told Hermione 'I told you so' about his copy of Advanced Potion Making, he was sure it was overdue.

"We'll have to steal and duplicate them" Hermione said heading for their trunk, pulling out some pyjama's, passing him a pair too, "Though I don't know if that will work with the map"

"We'll have to try" He said, and she nodded.

"But for now, sleep" Hermione said, heading for the bathroom to change, "First day of classes tomorrow" He laughed at the excitement lingering in her voice, and once the door shut quickly changed himself.

Once Hermione returned there was no hesitation from either of them. They both crawled into bed, no awkwardness, side by side, as always.

"I liked seeing your Patronus again" Hermione whispered, waving her wand, turning off the lights and plunging them into darkness, "It always makes me feel safe"

He smiled at that, a warm feeling spreading through him. He found Hermione's hand under the covers and intertwined his fingers with hers, and in minutes he was asleep.

soo thoughts?

I really enjoyed doing more harry pov this chapter, and again the pov's will switch between harry and hermione with the occasional outside pov, but these will be rare.

slightly shorter chapter, but next we have the first day of school! harry's already impressed, as has hermione, more to come!

also, I've had a lot of ppl ask about the timeline, starting 5th year. don't worry they'll be some jumps and most chapters will cover vaster periods of time, also I expect this fic to be a looooooong one

anywho, do fav/follow for updates, review to let me know watcha think

speak soon