Hermione awoke slowly to the familiar sight of the curtains of her four-poster bed. She shifted and stretched as the early morning light filtered through the gap in the drapes and…

She sat bolt upright as the events of the previous day caught up with her.

Good morning, Ice Queen!

She groaned and flopped back down to bury her head in the pillow.

I've changed my mind, Jiminy Cricket. It's entirely too early to have you bouncing around in my head.

All purchases are final, no returns or exchanges. Now rise and shine! We've got a full day ahead of us.

You are not allowed to speak until I've had my coffee.

We can't miss our special appointment with the local Build-Your-Own-Meat-Puppet factory.

I hate you so much. Go possess Luna or something.

You really want me and Luna occupying the same soul?

Right, never mind. Neither of you can afford to become any more insane. Fine, I'm getting up. Go haunt a toilet or something while I get ready.

I'll see if Myrtle wants company.

Eating while possessing someone was another decidedly strange experience. So was reading the paper. Harry may have been looking out of Hermione's eyes, but she was the one in control, and her eyes often flicked to portions of the paper before Harry was done reading the last section. In contrast, since the barrier between their minds was paper thin at best, he could get a general understanding of the articles from her thoughts as she read. It was bizarre.

At least Rita is keeping us in a positive light without bringing too much attention to the holes in our story.

The official story was that there had been an issue with the portkey and Harry had been incapacitated after winning the task. Depending on how long it took to build him a new body, those injuries could be made more or less severe to the public and were currently classified.

Having a well-known reporter and the minister on a leash was very convenient.

Luna plopped down in the seat across from them.

"Good morning! How's your second day as a gestalt being?"

"Just peachy," Hermione said, sipping her coffee. "I'm sure an important part of every new relationship is to have your boyfriend live inside your head for a while."

Awww. I love you too, Ice Queen.

I was being sarcastic.

I know. I wasn't.

Oh, now I feel bad. I do love you, you sap.

Luna grinned her usual guileless smile. "It really would be an excellent marriage counseling tool."

Neville sat down as Hermione groaned in response.

"Luna told me what happened… so… Harry is in there too?"

"Good morning, Neville. And yes, I would let him out to say hello, but I'm not finished with my coffee yet."

Tell him I said hello.

"He says hello."

Neville looked very off balance. "This is definitely a step above even our usual weirdness, and I was there for the duplicate Luna fiasco last year. How are you both holding up?"

I'm having a grand time.

"Harry's enjoying himself. Really, it's fine. Complaining is fun, but honestly, it's ok. It's… interesting, and… nice, being so close. We got in an argument with the headmaster and may or may not have merged souls for a little bit. I'm pretty sure we got ourselves fully separated back out again…"

It didn't look like that answer reassured Neville very much.

Hermione stepped carefully out of the fireplace and into the cluttered workshop of Nicolas Flamel.

Why are you able to use the floo network like a normal person, even when I'm hitchhiking in your soul, but I get launched out of the fireplace like a champagne cork every time?

At this point, that sounds like a you problem, Death Walker.

Albus emerged from the green fire moments later and casually dusted some ash off of his brightly colored robes.

"Welcome, Albus and friends."

An odd-looking man stood on the other side of a wide wooden table. He looked both old and timeless at the same time, his hair stark white and his skin like thin tissue paper. His piercing blue eyes followed them as they made their way around the various devices and apparatuses that filled the brightly lit workspace.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Nicolas. I do wish that it was under better circumstances."

"Indeed. Your prophesied champion has misplaced his body? How careless of him."

Hermione snorted at the indignant feeling leaking through her link to Harry.

"Ah, and of course our gestalt souls. It is very nice to meet you both." The ancient alchemist's voice was cultured and well-articulated, with just a hint of a French accent.

Hermione couldn't help herself. "Luna called us that as well. What do you mean?"

"You must understand, Miss Granger, the rarity of such a phenomenon. You are aware that Quirrell was required to drink unicorn's blood to sustain himself while being possessed by the Dark Lord for any length of time. Yet, you do not suffer. You flourish."

I definitely hadn't thought of that. Sorry for potentially turning you into goop, I suppose.

Shut up. You're very distracting.

"Do you have any idea why the possession doesn't affect us the same way?"

"It could be any number of things. Your ability to infuse your magic into your flesh directly may be subconsciously healing the damage, or the connection that you share to the fragment of divinity within your souls may be removing the burden. Or it may be something else entirely. But regardless, it is unusual. You are somehow more than the sum of your parts, when all other evidence states that you should be less."

See, we're good for each other! Isn't that sweet.

Yes, yes, it's very cute. And strange. We're still getting your body back as soon as possible.

"Be that as it may, do you think that it would be possible to use the Philosopher's Stone to build a true body for Harry again? Voldemort obviously thought so."

"Certainly. The Stone is capable of many things aside from the ability to prolong life. However, it is not as simple as just transfiguring a body and making the conjuration permanent. Otherwise, you could do so without the Stone."

"So, what do we need then?"

"Time and knowledge. Luckily, I have both available and I would prefer that modern society continue to exist. It is far preferable to ages past, and it would be very difficult to find well-made macarons if the world ended."

Luna would like him.

"How much time? Not that we're ungrateful, but Harry is supposed to receive his Triwizard winnings at a ceremony this evening."

"I do apologize for the inconvenience, but that certainly won't be happening. In order to create a body of true life that will be able to be bound to Mr Potter's soul, it will take several weeks."

Huh. What are your thoughts on having a long-term house guest, Ice Queen? I could go haunt Albus' office and rearrange his furniture every few days instead, if you don't want me sticking around for that long.

I… no, I want you to stay, please.

Of course.

I'll probably still complain about it before I have my coffee.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

"We appreciate your help regardless of the timeline. We'll spread the rumor that Harry was injured due to the portkey issue after the task and that he is recovering in private."

"A reminder, Miss Granger, that the school year is over tomorrow."

"Oh… Mum is never going to let me live this down."

Albus chuckled and she studiously ignored Harry's cackling within her soul.

They stared pensively at the scarlet train engine as they waited to see Neville and Luna off for the summer. It felt both weird and natural not to be on board. Harry was used to seeing his friends off at the platform before returning to the school, while Hermione was used to being the one getting on the train home.

This time, they were doing neither.

They stumbled under the weight of a sudden blonde projectile as Luna hugged them.

"I'll miss you over the summer! I'm very happy that nobody died this year, even if Harry was involuntarily discorporated."

"We'll miss you too, Angel. And yes, not dying is quite nice. How about we all try and make a habit of it."

"We'll see how that goes," Neville said as he walked up to them. "So, you're coming over to see Gran tomorrow?"

"Yes. We thought that Harry would have a body back for the meeting, but it's taking a bit longer than expected, so we'll just have to hope that Augusta doesn't freak out."

"She's good at not freaking out. On the outside at least."

"I suppose that's the best we can hope for."

Neville chuckled and hugged them goodbye. "Are you flying home since you aren't taking the train?"

"No, we're just going to apparate. Even though Harry says that it feels weird as a wraith."

"It sounds like everything feels weird as a wraith. Which, for the record, makes sense, because being a wraith is weird."

"He says that he was weird before he became a wraith, thank you very much."

Hermione (and guest) popped into existence in the front hall of her house. It felt… off, being back here now. Like nothing had changed. And it was made extra weird by the fact that it was weird at all, because in a way, nothing had changed, any more than usual. Just another crazy year at Hogwarts.

Sure, the most evil wizard of the last few decades had officially come back from the dead and she had the head of magical Britain's government acting as a puppet for her plans. No big deal. Oh, and she had a boyfriend, who, in addition to being wizard Jesus, was currently a discorporated soul actively possessing her and probably listening in on her ever so slightly manic musings…

Certainly not, I was too caught up in your parents' impeccable interior decorating. Is that crown molding?

Hermione groaned. Now to try and explain all of this to her mother while ignoring the overly snarky peanut gallery.

"It sounds like you're really just asking if Harry can stay with us for a few weeks while this Nicolas Flamel builds him a new body."

"I…guess so?"

"Of course that's fine, sweetheart. Harry, do you need anything as a ghost, or whatever you currently are? You don't need to eat, do you?"

Hermione let Harry take over to talk for himself. "Um… no, I don't think I need anything? To be fair, I've never been a wraith for this long before."

"Oh, your eyes turn green when it's Harry talking, that's very convenient. Keeps it from getting too confusing."

Have I told you that your mum is pretty cool?

I mean, yes, but also… ok, it's going to be fine. Everything's… fine.

"You're talking to him right now, aren't you? I can tell by your face. Oh my gosh I can just imagine having your father in the back of my head all day. If you need a break, I'm sure that we have a ouija board or a creepy doll somewhere that he can haunt for a bit."

"We're… I'm… going to go to my room now."

"Remember to keep your hands to yourself… oh wait…"

"You're hilarious, Mum."

"I bet Harry thinks so. I can hear him laughing from here."

"I'm going upstairs."

"Dan, did Hermione tell you the good news?"

I have no idea what's about to come out of her mouth and I love it.

You find entirely too much pleasure in my embarrassment for someone who claims to love me so much.

"No, what was that?"

I can't tell if this is a coping mechanism or if your mum is just this cool.

It's probably both.

"She finally managed to beat Harry and finished top of their year, and she took over the Ministry of Magic."

"You may have to explain-"

"Oh! And she and Harry finally started dating! I told you it was just a matter of time. Also Harry is staying with us as a ghost for the next couple weeks."

"I'm just going to repeat 'yes dear' until things start making sense again."

Your dad is pretty cool too.

"You are aware that possession of any kind is considered Dark magic?"

"I mean, it is Dark magic? I'm currently using the infinite Dark within the Shroud of Death to remain on this plane instead of passing on."

Augusta's office was just as tastefully opulent as the rest of Longbottom Manor.

"I should rephrase. Most witches and wizards consider Dark magic to be inherently malevolent, not to mention illegal."

"Oh. No, it's totally fine, there are different kinds of Dark. Some of them are hungry." Hermione kicked him back into her soul.

Augusta took a deep breath through her nose. "Harry, or Miss Granger, or whoever you are now, I can only hope that you will use discretion when revealing this ability to anyone, especially those within the ministry. We would not want any misunderstandings."

Whoops. Bit late for that, but you know what they say about spilled milk.

"Please call me Hermione, Lady Longbottom. Aside from our current state, we've come to you for a very important reason, and I can only hope that you'll hear us out."

"Of course, dear. And feel free to call me Augusta."

"Voldemort has finally clawed his way back from Death. We need someone to head up our machinations in the Wizengamot while we go to war."

"You have my attention."

Hermione sat at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee while her mother bustled about in the kitchen, getting ready for work.

Maybe we should postpone our meeting with Amelia Bones until after I get a body back.

That's probably a good idea.

"Have a good day, you two!"

"You too, Mum. Don't lose any fingers."

"No one needs all ten fingers!"

Hermione shook her head as the front door slammed and Harry chuckled within her soul.

What do you want to do today? We don't have anything official on the agenda, do we?

Nope, just waiting for my flesh marionette to be ready.

You have to stop. So, what do you want to do, anyway?

We could go flying.

We're in a mundane area; I always miss flying during the summer.

We can turn invisible. And apparate. We can go anywhere in the world.

Hermione sat up in surprise.

We really can, can't we?

Yup. I know it feels weird to think about while sitting in your mundane kitchen, and it does come with the price of the Dark Lord hunting us, but… we have near infinite money, we can turn invisible, become intangible, teleport, and fly at thousands of miles per hour. As long as we avoid Voldemort, we can do anything we want.

Hermione felt a bit lightheaded.

I'd never thought of it like that.

She could feel Harry smirking within her soul.

Do you want to start with breakfast in Paris, and then figure it out from there?

I think that I like the sound of that.

Then let's go, Ice Queen.

Hermione stood up and transfigured her pajamas into casual clothes. Her power flowed freely as her hair was fixed, her teeth brushed, her clothes and body cleaned. She floated in the middle of her childhood kitchen and took one last look around.

She started laughing. She could feel Harry laughing with her as he reveled in her newfound sense of freedom.

They turned invisible and flew through the ceiling with a swirl of aquamarine magic.