Harry didn't have the words. So, he stood there and watched her leave.

He left Alex's office in a daze, his head swimming, his heart seeming to both soar and crack at the same time. Her Patronus had changed. He knew what that meant. And the idea that she had been so destroyed by their relationship, that her very soul had altered, made him physically wretch.

He threw himself into Quidditch practice that evening. He flew harder than he ever had before and when the physical exertion of playing wasn't enough he stripped his guards from his arms and legs and took off in a run towards the Black Lake ignoring Ginny's shouting protest from above.

He ran back to Hogsmeade collapsing into sleep as images of the silver doe danced in his mind. He didn't wake to meet Alex and slept well into the morning. It wasn't until half past eleven that he rose to the sound of somebody banging on his door. It took him a moment to roust himself and he scrambled out of bed in the same clothes from the night before. He flung open the door and was astonished to find Andromeda standing there, with Teddy hanging off her hip.

Andromeda's eyes widened as the door flung open. Harry was dressed in the bare bones of a Quidditch uniform, his canvas pants and undershirt stained with dirt and grass. His eyes were bright red, glasses missing, and his hair was sticking straight up as if he had just placed his hand in an electrical socket.

It took Harry a moment to register what she was doing standing outside of his flat and he smacked a hand to his forehead and exclaimed, "Hogsmeade weekend!"

He had written to Andromeda a few weeks prior and invited her and Teddy to Hogsmeade on the Saturday that had been carved out for Hogwarts students. With Harry living there she could have come anytime, but teachers had been nice enough to slightly lessen the load of homework this weekend.

Andromeda, while looking concerned, couldn't help the laughter that escaped from her lips as she spoke. "Why don't you get cleaned up Harry and I'll…" she paused glancing around the flat, "tidy up…"

Harry emerged from the shower a few minutes later wearing a pair of jeans and navy cable knit sweater. It was the first weekend in October and the autumn air was become crisp with the chill of Scottish winter looming. His flat was sparkling and Harry repeatedly thanked Andromeda in earnest. She laughed and expressed to him that household spells had been a specialty of hers and Harry, always a little taken at her kindness, folded her into a friendly embrace.

"I've missed you," he said before turning to Teddy, "and you! I've especially missed you." He pulled the smiling seven-month-old into his arms and kissed his cheek with a grin.

"You look like you could use a cup of coffee," Andromeda suggested as she smiled fondly at the two boys.

"I could use more than one," Harry replied ruefully and the three of them made their way into Hogsmeade.

Begrudgingly, Harry had agreed to go to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, as Andromeda had expressed a fondness for their Almond Blossom tea. When she inquired further into Harry's hesitation, he halfheartedly expressed that he had once been on a very terrible date with Cho Chang in his fifth year, much to Andromeda's chagrin. She did agree to take their drinks to go and Harry was happy to get out of the steaming shop as quickly as possible.

"So," Andromeda took a sip of her tea as they strolled lazily down the cobblestone. "rough night?"

Harry laughed as he adjusted Teddy on his hip who was enamored by his new surroundings. He proceeded to tell Andromeda about Quidditch practice and his routine of running with Alex in the mornings, apologizing profusely for forgetting about their plans.

"I'm glad to hear you're back on the team," Andromeda expressed sincerely. "I'd love to come see you."

The corner of Harry's mouth turned up slightly, "I've never had anybody to come watch me play Quidditch." He paused momentarily and frowned slightly thinking of Sirius disguised as the black dog watching him during his third year. "Knowingly at least," he corrected.

Andromeda linked her arm through his, "Well now you've got two."

As they strolled about the village Harry spoke of his classes and Andromeda told him of Teddy's recent developments as a metamorphmagus. Harry guffawed loudly when she told him how when Teddy would get angry his hair would change from copper to flaming red.

"So…" Andromeda chose her words carefully as they stopped at the overlook of the shrieking shack. "I take it you and…"

Harry shook his head once, "We're not… anything," and he quickly pointed to the Shrieking Shack and began to ramble to Teddy about Remus.

Andromeda knew not to press him. Harry seemed simply exuberant to have the little boy back in his arms and she didn't want to spoil the afternoon by pressuring him to speak of things that clearly pained him. It wasn't until they were heading back into the center of the village discussing plans for lunch that they saw her.

After her encounter with Harry in Defense Against the Dark Arts Hermione had not wanted to go anywhere near Hogsmeade, but as Head Girl she didn't have much of a choice. She hadn't intended to reveal her Patronus to anybody and although the idea of pretending that she wasn't able to do something physically pained her, the idea of Harry knowing how much he had changed her seemed far worse.

By the time Neville and Hermione were able to round up the squealing third years it was nearly half past twelve. The walk into the village was brief and she pulled her coat closer to her body wishing she had dressed warmer. It was a beautiful but brisk October day and as the students scattered like mice into the streets of Hogsmeade she hollered out instructions to meet back at the trailhead at five o'clock. She felt far away as she walked, passively looking in window storefronts, having much preferred to be holed up in her corner of the library.

It wasn't until she rounded the corner that she noticed Harry. He looked happy and was laughing animatedly and it took a moment before she realized that he was holding Teddy and walking alongside Andromeda. Hermione thought momentarily about making a run for it, but she hesitated a second too long.

Andromeda smiled widely as she approached Hermione and enveloped her in an unexpected hug. "Hello, my clever girl," her voice full of warmth.

"Hi Mrs. Tonks," Hermione replied trying to temper her surprise.

"I hear you succeeded," she watched Hermione expectantly and after a moment realized Andromeda was referring to her parents.

"Y-yes!" she stammered out unable to keep the relief from her expression, "and I have you to thank. I couldn't have done it without your help."

Andromeda swiped her hand through the air dismissively and both women turned their gaze to Harry.

"He's squirmy today," Harry laughed as the baby pulled at the buttons of his sweater. His eyes traveled to Hermione and they met briefly as he spoke. "Hi."

"Hi Harry," she spoke softly and turned her eyes to Teddy unable to suppress the smile that pulled at her lips. "He's getting so big," she remarked and reached out to run a hand over his soft head. Teddy turned his attention from Harry's collar at her touch and looked directly at Hermione with a toothless, and open-mouthed smile so wide that she couldn't help but laugh. He reached out his arms and Harry chuckled and passed Teddy to Hermione automatically.

"Watch your ear lobes," he cautioned playfully and he couldn't help the look of adoration that creased his features as he watched Hermione bounce Teddy up and down, her lips pressed gently to his forehead. "He's good practice."

Andromeda brightened as she turned to Hermione. "That's right! I hear congratulations are in order! When is your mother due?"

"The first week in November," Hermione winced with a chuckle as Teddy tugged at one her one of curls.

It was reflexive. Harry reached out and gently raked his hands through her hair, pushing it behind her ear and out of Teddy's grasp. Hermione froze, her lips parted slightly, and her brown eyes locked upon his. Harry's fingers rested at the base of her neck for a fraction of a second longer than they should have before he stepped back, suddenly aware of what he had done.

Andromeda looked between the two teens curiously and spoke quickly, "Well Harry, I think it's about time I take Teddy back to your flat and put him down for his afternoon nap."

"I'll go with you-" Harry began, but Andromeda cut him off as Hermione passed Teddy into her arms.

"No," she replied, "You and Hermione should take a walk along the lake. The trees are certainly beautiful this time of year. And Hermione, I would be absolutely delighted if you would join the three of us for dinner."

Hermione opened her mouth to politely decline, but Andromeda interrupted her before she could get a word out.

"I look forward to hearing more about the restoration charm." she called in sing song over her shoulder as she scampered up the street with Teddy.

The air between them grew awkward without the distraction of Teddy. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and said, "We don't have to walk… I should..."

"We can," Harry said this quicker than he intended, "If… you'd like too?"

As they walked towards the Black Lake Hermione shivered slightly as a breeze rustled the trees. Wordlessly and without pause Harry pulled his sweater over his head and handed it to her.

She tried to decline, but he shook his head and pushed it into her arms. She smiled slightly and murmured a thanks as she pulled it on, reveling in his familiar smell and warmth.

A moment passed and Hermione finally broke the silence. "How are you?" she asked.

"I'm okay," Harry shrugged his hands shoved deep in his pockets, "It's brilliant to see Teddy."

Hermione smiled, "So you're doing better than…?"

"The library?" Harry looked down his cheeks reddening. "Yeah… I… thanks for that. I never properly thanked you."

Hermione bit her lip, "So you and Professor Light… detention… it wasn't."

She was caught by surprise as Harry laughed, "It wasn't really a detention."

"So, you two are… what… friends?"

"I guess?" Harry shrugged, "he's been through stuff. I can talk to him."

Hermione couldn't help what came next. "So, the two of you go out on the weekends?"

Harry stopped walking his brow furrowed, "What?"

Hermione spoke quickly, "Nevermind… I just, I hear things."

"What things?" Harry's eyes narrowed.

"That he's a bit of a lad. That you two go to Glasgow," she raised her eyes and her tone became defensive as she saw him smiling. "Don't laugh at me Harry."

"Hermione," he spoke in a frustrated, but amused tone, "You actually think I'm off in Glasgow on the weekends with our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"I don't know what you do Harry," her voice rose an octave, "I don't know what you do with your time because we don't talk."

"That's not fair," he replied stonily, "that was as much your decision as mine."

"That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt," the words left her mouth before she could stop them.

Harry ruffled his hair and he shook his head. "You think I'm not hurting just as much Hermione? You really think I'm off doing bloody hell knows what? Do you really think I think that little of us?"

"I don't know what I'm supposed to think Harry," she snapped back, "all I know is that I see you and I hear things and I feel like I'm losing my mind."

"And I'm not!" he was yelling now. "You really think I'm fine? You don't see me in the mornings, when I wake up reaching for you. I know you're not going to be there, but I wake up every morning and my body… it's like it craves you. Like all it took was two weeks for it to expect you to be there. And you're not. So, I get up and I run as hard as I can for as long as I can to try to block out the pain of missing you. And then I bury myself in books and homework, half of which I don't give a damn about, just to try to focus on anything else…"

Hermione's eyes were glassy and she choked out a response. "You shut me out... I didn't know what to think. I don't know what to think…"

"About what?" Harry threw his arms in the air. "What I'm doing with Alex? What I'm doing in Hosgmeade? What about you? You think I don't think about you and Ron all chummy in the common room, or you walking down the hallway with that blonde haired kid laughing about some bloody subject nobody else takes?"

"Connor!?" she growled his name as if it were the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "He asked me a question about a homework assignment and Ron and I aren't even speaking!"

"ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S JEALOUS HERMIONE!"

"WELL YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S HURTING HARRY." She spat back at him and her own anger flared deep in his stomach. "Here we go again."

"What do you mean?"

"Arguing!"

"You started it!" he yelled and she held her arms out in a gesture of incredulity and he mimicked her childishly. "You're the one who accused me of…," his tone changed to one of mocking, "going to Glasgow."

"You're unconscionable," she snarled angrily.

"And you're maddening!"

"I'm so tired of this!" she scraped her hands through her hair, "of everything devolving into a fight."

"Well maybe I want to fight with you!" Harry yelled at the top of his lungs.

They stood inches apart. Hermione's cheeks were pink from the wind, her eyes glowing, her petit frame drowning in Harry's sweater. Harry watched her his hair sticking straight up as his broad shoulders heaved with ragged huffs. He was close enough to smell her and he took a rasping breath. He turned to leave, but her fingers reached out suddenly for his hand. It was moment. Her fingers tugging against his. Their eyes blazing into one another.

Hermione stepped forward and when she was less than an inch from his lips whispered so quietly that Harry had to strain to hear, "Then fight with me."

Their mouths crashed together. Tongues tangled. Teeth clicking against each other. Harry kissed her as if he wanted to consume her, and she kissed him as if she would let him. Hermione had never felt anything like the toxic combination of anger and lust that coursed through her veins and it made her head spin, driving all logic away. She moved her hands to his chest, raking her fingernails over his thin t-shirt and down to his stomach and across the ripple of abs. Her finger landed at the hem of his jeans and she laced her index fingers in his belt loops as she pulled his center towards her own. Harry couldn't hide the groan that escaped him and before she could protest he had backed her against a nearby tree and his hands moved to the swell of her breasts sliding underneath his sweater. She pulled away from his mouth in a whimper and gasped.

"Take me somewhere."

Harry couldn't hide the fall of his shoulders as he mumbled out hoarsely, "Andromeda's at my flat."

Hermione's chest heaved heavily and she bit her lip as she looked up at him.

"Stay… come to dinner," he breathed into her neck, and a shiver slid down her spine.

"I can't, I have to be back by five with the…"

"Come to dinner," he insisted ignoring her.

"Harry, I have to-"

"Make Neville do it."

"Harry, I can't. I'm Head Girl."

"So delegate and make the prefects do it!" Harry sounded completely exasperated and Hermione giggled.

"That laugh drives me crazy," he murmured against the base of her neck and caught her earlobe in between his teeth. The sound that escaped her throat nearly sent him spiraling and his lips collided into hers once more. She turned them so his back was to the tree and slid her hands up his bare rib cage and over his back as she had in Diagon Alley over a month ago. His body felt different, harder, as if there was more of him, and she kissed him harder than she had ever kissed him before. He thread his fingers in her hair, gently pulled her mouth from his own and tilted her eyes up to meet his eyes. "Come to dinner," he pleaded.

The tension between the two of them on the walk back to Hogsmeade was enough to cut glass. Harry wanted nothing more than to take her to his apartment and lose himself inside of her and Hemione wanted nothing more than to let him. They separated with a lingering glance as Hermione went off to find Neville to let him know she wouldn't be returning with the group and Harry returned to his flat to fetch Andromeda and Teddy.

They met outside of the Three Broomsticks and settled in for an early supper channeling all of their pent-up energy into Teddy who reveled in the attention. Hermione had never seen Harry so exuberant. Everything his god son did delighted him. Hermione told Andromeda about her parents, her plans to visit them one weekend in November after her sister was born, and discussed their eventual plans to return to London. The conversation was never dull and their drinks were never empty, but Hermione couldn't stand a look at Harry for more than a few seconds before her cheeks would flush and insides would squirm.

He watched her with a burning Hermione had never experienced and she had never felt more desperate to be alone with him. His green eyes seemed to glow from across the table and when Teddy's lids began to droop Andromeda finally remarked that it was about time they headed home. Under normal circumstances Harry would have offered them to stay at his flat, but the idea of not being alone with Hermione tonight was enough to drive him crazy.

They said goodbye to Teddy and Andromeda in the Three Broomsticks and watched as they disappeared into a swath of green flames.

"Do you…" Harry gestured to the door.

Hermione nodded at him and they exited the pub.

"What time do you have to be back?" he asked.

"Ten," Hermione replied, "What time is it?"

"Seven." Harry said this hoarsely and had to clear his throat. "Do you want to… come up?"

Hermione nodded almost imperceptibly. They walked the two short blocks to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and climbed the stairs to Harry's flat. It took him a moment to get the faulty lock open, and he stepped inside holding the door open for her and before he had a chance to shut it she was on him.

Hermione pressed into him, gripping the collar of his sweater in her hands, pulling his mouth down to hers. She kissed him freely and Harry tangled his own fingers in her mess of hair, long, honey colored, and wild. There was a heat between them that had been building for the last few months of separation. Born out of glances, impassioned arguments, jealousy, and longing.

Harry picked her up in a sweeping movement that made her giggle and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist as she peeled her jacket from her shoulders. He collapsed on top of her in the bed and yanked his sweater over his head, taking his glasses with it. They kissed until they couldn't breathe, each time they separated a layer of clothing disappearing between them until he eventually slid into her. There was a frantic desperation to their love making and Harry watched with hungry eyes as the pleasure rolled over her in waves. She was coming undone beneath him and the thought of this alone sent him over the edge.

They gave themselves to the fire and let it burn.

Harry collapsed into the pillow next to her and they both stared up at the canopy, heads swimming, hearts racing, eyes glazing.

"I really like fighting with you," he wheezed out as his chest rose and fell heavily.

Hermione laughed and clapped a hand over her mouth, rolling over so she was facing him.

"Tell me something real," she whispered as if the world was listening and she wanted only him to hear.

Harry looked at her, his green eyes glowing. "When you laugh… you let out a breath, right before… and it's my favorite thing in the world."

Hermione stared at him, her heart nearly bursting. "I've never laughed more than when I'm with you," she countered.

"Or cried?" Harry said this as a joke and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"I wouldn't blame that entirely on you."

He smiled at her, "We're pretty fucked up, aren't we?"

"We are," she agreed with a nod, "but I don't care."

And she rolled on top of him and kissed him until she couldn't breathe.