A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter story is a product of my pure imagination.

I said, "No one has to know what we do"
His hands are in my hair, his clothes are in my room.
And his voice is a familiar sound.
Nothing lasts forever
But this is getting good now

~ Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift

*~*~* June 15, 1999 *~*~*

Ginny came down the stairs, "Hermione, could I talk to you real quick upstairs?"

"Sure, I'll be back, Ron," Hermione told him as she followed Ginny upstairs. She was surprised when Ginny cast a silencing charm. "What's wrong?"

Ginny let out a shaky breath, and Hermione thought she saw tears in her eyes for the first time. "I screwed up. I screwed up big time. Two months ago, after we went to the Three Broomsticks and when you returned, I snuck in some Firewhiskey, and Harry and I got a little drunk, then slept together. I'm late, Hermione."

"Late to practice? I didn't think-" Hermione gasped as she realized what Ginny meant.

Ginny paced, "I can't do this, Hermione! I finally got my big chance to get into the Quidditch leagues. I can't be pregnant!"

Hermione swallowed hard, "Ginny, it's a simple charm to know. You can't cast it on yourself; it will more often than not give a false positive, but I can cast it."

Ginny continued to pace, "If I am, I know in the Muggle world there is a way to… end a pregnancy. Is there a way in our world?" Ginny asked Hermione, who inhaled.

"You need to talk to Harry if you are. Again, I can see if you are. Just stop," Hermione told her.

Ginny stopped and turned towards her, "Do it, please."

Hermione took her wand out, "Reveliour Conceptus."

Once the spell hit Ginny, her abdomen glowed, then faded.

"What does that mean?" Ginny asked as Hermione bit her lip.

"You aren't pregnant. It would have glowed gold if you were," Hermione told her as Ginny sat on the bed and put her head in her hands, "You still need to talk to Harry."

Ginny looked up at her, "Why?"

"Why? Because it's not just up to you to cast the charm. To make sure this doesn't happen again unless you are both ready for it," Hermione told her.

Ginny said, "No, he doesn't need to know."

"Ginny, it's part of being in an adult relationship. Plus, the fact that you had thought of getting rid of Harry's baby without his knowledge is childish!" Hermione yelled, feeling her powers build up.

Ginny glared at her and stood up, "You would love to tell him, wouldn't you? Keep your mouth shut, Hermione. When I'm ready, I will be the mother of Harry Potter's child. Don't worry about that."

Hermione stepped back as if Ginny slapped her, "I can't believe you. He loves you, and you still think of him as Harry Potter, not just Harry."

Ginny jumped back, "Harry is Harry Potter. They are the same person you…ow, what was that?" Ginny asked, looking around, "Did you just hit me with a spell?"

"You wish," Hermione glared as she threw open the room.

"Hermione, don't you dare leave!" Ginny yelled, following her.

Hermione turned around and pointed at Ginny, "There is a big difference between just Harry and Harry Potter, and until you grow up and learn it, you'll never know him."

Ron came to the base of the stairs as Hermione stormed down them, "What's wrong?"

"I can't talk to her," Hermione told him as she pushed past him and walked into the kitchen, "I'm sorry, but I must leave."

"Hermione, you are upset. Your hair is getting bushier. Here," Ron said as he grabbed a jumper, "I'll come with you."

Staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom at home, lost in her thoughts, Hermione jumped when an arm came across her chest.

"Hermione!? Are you home?"

Wide-eyed, she got out from under a sleeping Ron's arm and pulled her jeans and jumper back on. Glancing at the mirror, she ran her hand over her hair, then hurried out of her room. Upon opening the door, Harry was coming up the stairs.

"There you…are you okay?" Harry frowned.

Hermione swallowed hard, "I just was having a little nap."

"Are…" Harry said as Ron's snore echoed through the hallway, "Wait, is Ron in there?"

Hermione blushed as she heard someone downstairs and looked at him, "Please tell me that my father is not downstairs?" She whispered wide-eyed.

Harry laughed, "Oh my God, you brought Ron back here and slept with him!" Harry whispered.

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, "I am an adult. I got upset at the Burrow, and Ron followed me."

Harry frowned, "What happened?"

Hermione looked at him, "Talk to your girlfriend," Hermione spit out, "I need to go wake up Ron before my Dad knows."

Opening her bedroom door, Hermione shut it behind her, resting back against it as Ron sat up, rubbing his eyes, "What's wrong?" He asked her.

"My Dad is home, and so is Harry," Hermione told him as she walked over to him, "You better get dressed."

Ron smiled as he got up, and she blushed watching him get dressed, "Hermione, we are adults."

Hermione sighed, "I know, but just please? Also, do you know where my bra went?"

Ron picked it up off the floor, "Here."

Hermione took her jumper off and then put her bra back on.

"So what did Ginny say that made you so upset?" Ron asked, zipping up his trousers as she put her jumper back on.

Hermione bit her lip, "She thought she was pregnant. Witches can't do the pregnancy charm on ourselves with 100% accuracy, so she asked me to do it. But," Hermione swallowed hard and looked at the door, "Look, you know how much Harry wants a family. Not now by any means, but she would get rid of the baby before she knew it wasn't there. Without talking to Harry!" Hermione hush yelled.

Ron frowned, "I'll talk to her. Is that why your magic was unstable?"

Hermione stepped back, "What?"

"I've learned about it through my training. You were so emotional that your magic was coming out of you in waves," Ron told her as he put his jumper on.

Hermione frowned, "It was?"

Ron put his hands on her arms and smiled, "It's because you care for our best friend, Harry, and you always have tried to protect him. You both have tried to protect each other. You are each other's families, brother and sister by choice," Ron said, rubbing her arms, "Come on, let's go downstairs."

Harry was sitting on the steps as Hermione opened her bedroom door. Standing up, he looked at Hermione and Ron, "What did Ginny do?"

"It's not my place to tell you, Harry. I wish I could, but that is up to her," Hermione said as he disappeared with a pop, and she sighed, "I hope they are okay. They need to be more careful, though."

Ron wrapped his arms around her, "It's not up to just one person to do the charm."

Hermione patted his hands around her middle and turned around in his arms, putting her own around his neck, "Two charms are better than one."

Ron rubbed her back with a grin, "I think today was the best sex we have had yet."

Hermione nodded as she kissed him, "But we were studying. While I'm an adult, I don't want my Daddy to know what we were doing."

Hermione and Ron walked down the stairs to see her Dad unpacking a paper bag. Dan Granger looked up at them, "Where'd Harry go? I heard the pop."

"Ron and I were studying, and I had a bit of an argument with Ginny, so he went to talk to her," Hermione told him as she looked at what he had purchased, "What are we making for dinner?"

Dan looked at her suspiciously, "You are planning to help with dinner?"

Ron snorted, and Hermione glared at him, "Hermione is not the best cook. Although she kept us alive on the run, I never want to see a mushroom again."

Dan looked at Ron, "Hermione was the one that cooked?"

"Harry did a bit too. Hermione usually did, though," Ron told him as he looked at Hermione, "I better go home and check on Harry and Ginny."

Hermione gave him a quick kiss, "See you later."

Dan looked at Hermione as Ron disappeared, "I'm still not sure what you see in him, Hermione. I know the heart wants what the heart wants," Dan said with a sigh, "But please, don't jump into this. Take time, work on your studies, and then worry about a long-term relationship."

Hermione bit her lip, "I think about it all the time, Daddy. I'm not sure Ron and I will last in a relationship when I go to the United States. It's been… difficult this year with me being in school, and he is in training, and with me being across the ocean." Hermione paused, "I just don't know how well it will work."

Dan set the box in his hand on the table, "Hermione, relationships when you are young rarely work. I just don't want you settling because he is safe."

Hermione swallowed hard and nodded, "Dad, I have a weird question."

Dan turned around after putting the last box in the cupboard, "What is it?"

"What does it mean to be in love, you know, romantically? How did you know Mum was the one?" Hermione asked him.

Sighing, her father sat on the kitchen chair and looked up at her, "Have a seat."

Hermione sat beside him, "How did you know you were in love with Mum?"

"It wasn't one thing, but a lot of little things over some time," Dan told her, "With your Mum, she just made me so happy, nervous, and all I could think about. I nearly failed an exam in school just staring at her. I couldn't wait to see her again when she left my flat. I didn't care if we were going on a date or to the store. I would make the time to be with her. We could have these debates over what we read or heard, and they weren't heated, but I could share things with her and her with me. She wasn't perfect, you know that, but the little things didn't matter to me with her like they did in other relationships. I had an offer to go to a practice in Scotland, but the thought of it… I just couldn't bear being away from her."

Hermione bit her lip, thinking about how they fought a lot, and while she was happy with Ron, nearly every deep conversation ended with an argument. The little things, like how Ron talked with food in his mouth and had trouble recognizing how she felt, bugged her more often than not.

"Do you love Ron?" Dan asked softly.

Hermione looked at him, "Not yet, I don't think, but love can grow, right?"

Dan nodded, "It can. Sometimes, though, the more we want it to, it doesn't. You can also be in love with a friend, which doesn't mean it is romantic. Like I said, it means more than you are comfortable with that person. The best relationships start as friends first."

"Yeah, that's where I'm lucky with Ron. We already know each other's quirks," Hermione told him as she looked out the window towards the garage, "If you don't mind, could I just go for a bit of a drive?"

"You know where the keys are. Just be back in two hours, I have a meeting with the storefront that your Mum and I were looking at," Dan told her.

Hermione opened the drawer, taking the keys out, "I'll be back in time. I just have to do something."

"Everything okay?" Dan asked, concerned.

"Nothing wrong, I just had a dream last night, and it made me think of something," Hermione told him, "I'll be back. Love you."

"Love you too, be careful!" Dan yelled as she shut the door.

As Hermione neared her destination, thanks to her point me spell, she slowly rolled down the street before stopping at the end of the driveway. Thankfully, there were no cars in the driveway, so she pulled up on the edge of the grass. She climbed out of her car and took in the house she had only been to once. She wanted to walk up to the door and break into it, not to destroy anything, but just to mess things up inside to mess with the homeowners.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and Hermione started returning to her car.

"Wait! Wait!" As he exited the house and shut the door behind him, the man said, "You are Harry's girlfriend, aren't you? I saw you at the train station before hugging him."

Hermione turned around, surprised at the appearance of Harry's cousin, who looked nothing like Harry had always described, "Wait, Dudley?"

"Yeah, and you are… Harmy?" Dudley asked as he walked over to her.

"Hermione," Hermione stated.

"Is… Harry hasn't been here in nearly two years. If you are here, is he…gone?" Dudley asked.

"No, he's living with me near London. I'm not his girlfriend, just his best friend," Hermione explained.

"Oh," Dudley said as he put his hands in his pockets and toed the ground, "Is he okay? The people hiding us told us we could come home because the war was over, and he won. Did Harry defeat the guy that was trying to kill him?"

"Voldemort is dead. Harry killed him," Hermione told Dudley.

Dudley looked at her, surprised, "Harry killed him? As in murder?"

"No, not really. He cast a killing spell at Harry, and Harry rebounded it," Hermione explained.

"Is he okay, though?" Dudley asked.

"As well as he could be. We went back to school to finish our last year, and we are going to Uni in America this year," Hermione explained, "He is happy and has a girlfriend, and we have a godson."

Dudley smiled, "I'm glad he's good. Do you want to come in?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, he has just mentioned things about here lately, and I was only here once. If I went in there, I'm afraid of what I'd do."

Dudley nodded, "My Mum and Dad, and me, weren't very good to him. After going into hiding and hearing from the magical people around us, we realized what he was going through, and we never took the time to know. Tell him I'm sorry, would you?"

"I will," Hermione said as she opened her door. A car came down the road and pulled into the driveway behind her. "I better be going."

Dudley glanced back as his mother exited the car, "Tell him, if he is ever willing, to stop by?"

"I will. Goodbye," Hermione said as she glared at Petunia and climbed into her car. Taking a big breath and slowly blowing it out as she started the car, she pulled away, resisting the urge to get out and tell Harry's Aunt off.

While parking her father's car, she saw that her mother's car was missing, so her father must have already left. After locking up the garage, she entered the house to find Harry sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea.

He looked at her, "Hey, your dad said you went for a drive."

"Yeah, before you get mad, I didn't do anything or say anything until he approached me," Hermione told him, "I stopped at Privet Drive."

Harry looked at her, confused, "Why did you drive to Surrey?"

"I'm not sure why I had the impulse to go, but I felt compelled to go there. No one was home, or so I thought. I was just looking at the house, and Dudley came out," Hermione explained, "He recognized me from seeing me at Kings Cross."

"What did he say?" Harry asked.

"Well, he's taller and much leaner. Nothing like the fat beach ball you described him as once. He wanted to know about you. How were you? Were you okay? After being stuck with wizards for a year, he learned about your magical side and apologized for how he was to you. He told me to tell you if you ever want to stop by there, you could," Hermione explained.

Harry sat back in his chair, "Did it seem genuine?"

"Honestly, yes. He was initially worried something had happened to you, but he was more receptive after I told him you were okay. We could have talked longer, but your Aunt came home. I was afraid I'd say something to her, so I left," Hermione told him as she poured herself a glass of water, "I told Dudley we were going to America. He said he was glad you were good."

Harry chewed on his lip as she sat down at the table, "Should I contact him?"

"That is entirely up to you," Hermione told him.

"What would you do if it was your cousin?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed, "My cousins and I were never exactly close. The only time I see them was the family skiing trip around Christmas."

Harry frowned, "I've never heard much about your family. How many cousins do you have?"

"A lot," Hermione frowned, "They think I am weird, which I was compared to them. We are scattered everywhere. My Mum's family is part French, so many are in France, and the rest are in the Netherlands. Dad's family was from here in England and Ireland. Let's see, we have my Aunt Glinda on my Dad's side, who is in Ireland with my cousin Debbie, who is married with two kids, who are about ten, I would think now. Rebecca is another cousin who lives in Scotland, probably not too far from Hogwarts in Inverness. She is a Muggle Weasley family. They have five boys and are still hoping for a girl. Mindy is in Norway, if I remember, with her daughter, and then there is Charlie, who also has about four kids. My Dad's other sister is named Barbara. She has three kids: Jeffery, Cher, and Marceline. They all lived in Manchester. They have about six kids between them, too," Hermione explained as she looked at him. "You see, my parents met in Uni, dated while going through dental school, and opened their practice together as their wedding gift to each other. They wanted to ensure their dental practice was settled before trying for kids. By the time I came around, my cousins were all grown up."

"What about your Mum's side?" Harry asked.

"Because of our ski trips growing up, it was the side I was closest to. All my cousins are near my age, but two. My Aunt Leigh had two kids, Christina and Rich when she was young. They also have young kids. My Mum is two years younger than her and also has Aunt Jolene. My cousin Jessica is only a few months older than me, and she has twin sisters, Lynn and Sue, who are two years younger than me. I have an Uncle Rick, who has my cousin Mary-Beth. She is the most stuck-up girl in the world and has been spoiled her whole life. Your Dudley stories remind me of her. She grew up in Paris, though, which couldn't have helped." Hermione sighed, "When I went off to Hogwarts, it just got awkward being around all of them. I didn't fit it with them anywhere. That's why that first month was so hard for me. I figured finally I had a place to fit in, and Ron was so mean to me."

"I'm sorry I never spoke up sooner," Harry told her sadly, "I liked you; Ron was just my first friend, and I didn't want to upset him. I couldn't let you be hurt, though, on Halloween."

*~*~* June 23, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione sat down with a huff at the kitchen table, and Harry looked up from the Daily Prophet, saying, "Bored?" He asked.

"Yes," Hermione bit her lip, "I have nothing to study. We don't know our books yet. I've knitted a whole jumper in the last week, and I'm starting to feel like Molly Weasley!?"

Harry snorted, "There isn't some research topic or even a project you haven't put off?"

Hermione laid her head on the table, "I could study more about Elvish's welfare, but that would mean going to Diagon Alley, and we saw how that was last week."

"Welcome to the real world, Hermione," Harry said with a smile, "We could watch some telly."

"We watch telly every night, though," Hermione pouted, "Although Dad did mention me going through the garage. I barely had enough room for the boot to not be hit by the door."

Harry set his newspaper down, "I'll come help you."

The afternoon sun streamed through the dusty windows of the cluttered Granger garage as she and Harry were rummaging through broken down and musty boxes. To no surprise, Harry was looking at some of the many old children's books that had been very loved by a tiny Hermione. Some held bowling trophies of her father's. Many had notebooks from Hermione's early schooling and the Granger's studies.

Harry held up the tiny in-line skates as he pulled them out of a box labeled 'Sporting Equipment.', "Aww, look how tiny your feet were," Harry said with a laugh, holding them up as she pushed him. He laughed, "In a former life, were you athletic?"

Hermione walked over and grabbed them from him, "That's enough. I'll have you know that I was a great skater, and my parents even had me in figure skating when I was younger," Hermione informed him, "I was seen as a possible Olympian."

Harry snorted, "Did you try to do twirls and jumps on these?

"For your information, yes," Hermione picked up a blue pair out of the box, "You might be able to fit in my Dad's. I'd like to see you try."

Harry shook them out to ensure nothing was inside them and then sat on a crate. With Hermione's help, he put them on his feet, "How do they feel?" She asked, looking up at him.

Harry wiggled his foot around, "Feels good."

Hermione grabbed her mother's pair and tried them on. "They're a little big, but they'll work."

Slowly standing up, she got her balance, "Ready to try them? I'll even cast a cushioning charm on your arse if that makes you feel better," She teased.

"I've never skated before. This is a recipe for disaster," Harry stated, taking her hands as she held them out for him.

"Don't be a pessimist," Hermione laughed, "It's all about balance. Just think of them like a broomstick."

Wobbling slightly as he stood, he was at least upright.

"Keep your knees slightly bent, arms out for help with stability," Hermione said as she stepped back, then let go, "See, you are standing. Now watch me."

Harry watched as she pushed off, gracefully skating around the space in front of the garage, demonstrating turns. "See, not that hard," Hermione told him as she skated backward to him.

Harry slowly pushed off and started to lose his balance. His arms flailed as he tried to remain upright and fell into a box of books. "What was that? It's harder than it looks. These are no broomsticks!" Harry told her as she grinned.

"Good to know the great Harry Potter isn't good at everything," Hermione teased as she took his hand, "Here, I'll hold on to you while you get the hang of it."

After ten minutes, gaining a bruised tailbone and scraped hands. Finally, using a cushioning charm, Harry was like a baby penguin but was upright and moving around, trying to follow Hermione. Their laughter had her neighbor looking over the fence as Harry attempted to chase after her.

"Hello there, Hermione. Glad to see you guys are back."

Hermione stopped, and Harry ran into her, grabbing her around the waist as he nearly fell on her, trying not to fall on the ground, "Ow Harry, hello, Mr. Tisdell. How are you doing?"

"The old gout is flaring up again, but nothing can be done about this. Who is this gentleman?" Mr. Tisdell asked.

"Mr. Tisdell, meet my best friend, Harry. Harry, this is my neighbor, Mr. Tisdell," Hermione introduced as Harry slowly stood up.

"Hello sir, oh!" Harry yelled as he fell forward onto his hands and knees.

"I think his feet are made to touch the ground, Hermione," Mr. Tisdell said with a smile.

Hermione chuckled as Harry sat on his bottom and started taking the skates off, "Not all of us can be athletic, sir," She said as she began to skate around Harry.

"Did you finally graduate from that boarding school?" Mr. Tisdell asked.

"Yes, I'm starting Uni in America in September," Hermione told him, "Going to New York."

"Oh, I loved my trip there once. You'll enjoy it," Mr. Tisdell told her as Harry walked barefoot back to the garage and threw the skates back in the box, "My recommendation is to stick to biking with that one."

Hermione smiled, "I'll do that."

*~*~* July 6, 1999 *~*~*

Harry slowed down his bike as they neared the shoppes near the town, "I'm so glad you found these bikes, Hermione. I like this way of getting around more than the skates."

Hermione slowed to a stop next to him, "I should have known that you were going to be better on a bike. It's a broomstick on the ground with the balance."

Harry grinned as he looked at her, "So you COULD ride a broomstick then?"

Hermione huffed, "I have in the past. I just don't enjoy it. I prefer my feet closer to the ground."

Harry pushed his hair back out of his face and looked across the road, "Hermione, go ahead to the store. I'm just going to see about something."

"Alright, I'll be at Roni's getting a treat," Hermione told him, pointing down the road.

"Got it," Harry said as he looked both ways and crossed the road.

Hermione biked to the little café and bakery, then parked her bike at the rack. Opening the door, she walked into the bakery that her parents had always taken her to when they came shopping.

"Welcome to… don't tell me that is my little Hermione all grown up?!" The owner, Veronica, said as she saw Hermione and hurried around the counter.

"Hello, Miss Veronica," Hermione said as the little old woman hugged her.

"I didn't realize you were all back in town. I heard you moved," Veronica said with a large smile, "You look beautiful, my darling."

"Mum and Dad are still down in Australia. They opened a candy shoppe down there, and I graduated. I'm just back until I go off to Uni in America in the Fall," Hermione explained.

Veronica frowned, "America? You Grangers used to be homebodies before you went off to that fancy boarding school."

"I want to get a more rounded education," Hermione told her, "Dad was just back looking for a location here for their candy shoppe. They are thinking of leaving the shoppe there and coming home to start one here."

Veronica hugged her again, "Make sure to come back to visit whenever you are back home from Uni. Alright, my dear, what do you want for a treat? I have these new pastries with a raspberry filling that I think you will enjoy."

"Give me a treacle and a raspberry one," Hermione told her as she returned behind the counter.

Veronica nodded, "Anything to drink, my dear?" She asked as she started pulling the pastries.

"Two waters, please," Hermione told her.

After getting the bag with the treats and two bottles of water, Hermione found a table in the café and sat down. Glancing out the window and not seeing Harry, she sat down and pulled her book out. She started reading and did not hear Harry come in and sit across from her until his chair squeaked.

"I got you a treacle pastry," Hermione told him as she looked up and gasped, "Your hair!"

Harry ran his hand over it, "Do you hate it?"

Hermione touched the short, buzzed hair, "Where is all your hair?"

"I got a crew cut, at least that's what they called it. We are going to America, and hopefully, I won't have to cover my scar," Harry told her as she ran her fingers through his short hair that didn't even cover his forehead.

Hermione swallowed hard as she sat down, "You haven't shaved in days. Your hair is short. You just look so…" Hermione trailed off.

"Much like my Dad. That was my first thought when I put my glasses back on," Harry told her, rubbing his head.

"I was going to say grown up, but yeah, that too," Hermione said, shaking her head, "I'm just so used to longer hair on you. It looks good, though."

Veronica walked over, "Here, I brought you some brownies on the house. I made some extras, darling," Veronica said as she set the bag on the table and looked at Harry, "Oh, hello there."

Hermione smiled, "Veronica, this is Harry. Harry, this is Miss Veronica, the owner of the bakery. On days off from school, Mum and Dad's office was down the street, and she would let me sit here all day just reading."

"Nice to see my Hermione here with a boy," Veronica said with a grin as she looked at Hermione, "And a cute one at that with those gorgeous eyes."

Hermione blushed, "Miss Veronica, Harry is my best friend from school. My boyfriend's name is Ron. I'll bring him here one day. He is at work right now."

"Well then, I'm glad you have such a good friend. It's a pleasure to meet you, Harry," Miss Veronica said with a wink as she returned to the counter.

"Honestly," Hermione said as Harry laughed.

*~*~* July 10, 1999 *~*~*

"Ronald Weasley, don't you dare walk away from me!"

Ron stopped at the foot of the steps of the Burrow and turned around, "Hermione, you can't keep making decisions for me!" Ron said angrily.

"Ron, this is about our future! I can't just stand by while you make reckless choices and blow away some of the remaining time we have left together before I leave! Going on some hunt with Charlie is just dangerous!" Hermione told him, walking over to him.

"I have to learn about magical creatures and reckless? I don't need you hovering over me like some overprotective mother! I already have one!" Ron yelled, stomping up the stairs.

Hermione followed him, "Overprotective?" She gasped, "I care about you, damnit Ron! I care about us, and you have to start thinking about the consequences of your actions!"

Ginny's bedroom door opened as they passed it, "Don't mind us. We are going to go flying," Ginny said as she pulled Harry down the stairs.

Ron flared, "Consequences? You mean pissing you off when you don't get your way. I'm not a child anymore, Hermione! I can make my own decisions!"

Hermione pushed him into his bedroom and slammed the door behind them, casting a silencing charm, "I just want what's best for you and us. Is that too much to ask?"

Ron swallowed and pushed her back against the door, silencing her with a kiss, "I'll show you what is best for us."

Hermione looked over at Ron as she tried to catch her breath, "Do you think sex would be boring if we didn't argue before it nearly every time?"

"I mean, we could always argue during," Ron suggested with a grin, and Hermione hit him with a laugh.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I just," Hermione bit her lip, "Being away from you in America is just going to be different than being at Hogwarts, and I can't help but worry."

Ron rolled onto his side and kissed her shoulder, "Don't, okay? You will be busy at Uni, and I'll be busy here. We will still see each other once a month at our DA meetups, and if I can get away, I'll get a Portkey and come to visit."

"Promise?" Hermione asked.

Ron leaned over and kissed her, "Promise."

"Hey Ron, where… fucking hell!" Harry yelled as he opened the door and slammed it behind him.

Hermione gasped, pulling the covers over her head as Ron laughed, "I'm so glad that happened to him and not me with them."

Hitting him, Hermione jumped out of bed hastily, throwing on her clothes, "Harry!" She yelled as she ran down the stairs, Ron following her in just a pair of shorts.

"I don't want to know!" Harry said, covering his eyes.

"Harry James Potter, do you think I'd be naked right now?!" Hermione said in disbelief.

"I don't know! You two were just at each other's throats. How was I to know you two were up screwing each other's brains out!" Harry said, throwing his hands up in the air.

Hermione pivoted and pointed at Ron, who was laughing, "And you! What was that about locking the door?!"

Ron scoffed, "Like Harry couldn't break a simple locking charm."

"I'm going home," Hermione announced, grabbing her bag.

"Bye, Hermione!" Ginny yelled with a laugh as Hermione stormed out the back door.

Ron hit Harry, "Thanks a lot, man."

*~*~* July 31, 1999 *~*~*

"Excuse me," Hermione said as she squeezed between Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones at the Leaky Cauldron, where they were to celebrate Harry and Neville turning 19. Most of the old Dumbledore's Army members attended after Ginny had used her coin as an invitation to the event. Looking around, the only surviving missing members were Justin Finch-Fletchley and Zacharias Smith. Everyone else and some of their significant others were also there. Laughter, banter, and memories filled the air as food and drinks were enjoyed along with the company.

Lee Jordan bumped into her, causing her wine to swish in her glass and nearly spill out, "Sorry!" He yelled over the music.

"Have you seen Ron?" Hermione asked.

Lee looked around and pointed towards the bar.

"Thanks!" Hermione yelled, fanning herself as the warmth of the alcohol was suddenly making her very hot.

Walking past Cho and Luna, who were talking, she swayed as she walked down the stairs, thankful that Tom had closed the bar for the night. She caught Harry's eye at the bar where Neville and Ron were talking to a group of people.

Harry pushed through the crowd and walked over to her as she tripped on the last few steps, and Harry jumped forward and caught her.

"I fell in love," Hermione said, patting his chest.

"You should tell Ron that, not me. You also fell down the stairs. You need to learn how to hold your liquor. Did you mix drinks?" Harry asked, concerned.

Hermione frowned, "I don't know. There was this one that someone gave me, called… sex on the beach," She whispered as she giggled as she walked over to Ron and sat down on the empty stool next to him, "I fell in love, Ron. I'm sorry."

Ron kissed her, "That's a good thing, Hermione."

"I love you," Hermione smiled, then looked at Harry, "I love you too."

"Alright, Hermione's done drinking," Ginny said with a laugh, "You'll be feeling it in the morning."

"When do you guys leave for New York?" Dean asked as Hermione leaned on Ron.

"Our portkey leaves on the 22nd," Harry informed him as Ginny sat on his lap.

"We are all still getting together every month, right?" Seamus looked at them, "You all will try to come to town?"

Harry nodded, "The last Saturday of every month will be our UK weekend. Kingsley has Portkeys set up for us for the first semester. We will come in Friday nights and stay for the weekend."

"We want to see Teddy bears," Hermione slurred as she looked at Ron, "And yous guys too."

"Alright, does anyone have a sober-up potion?" Ron asked as he looked down at her, "How many drinks have you had?"

"Just some wine. Some good wine," Hermione said as she held out her glass, which splashed out and then refilled, "It's magic!"

"Oh, bollocks! George!" Ron said as he looked at him, "You gave Hermione one of your new glasses?"

"I wanted to see what Hermione Granger was like, absolutely pissed. Look, she didn't even leave her hair down yet!" George defended, "I like to live life dangerously."

"You know, talking bout dangers. Harry! He got a bike! Siriusly… Sirius' bike. Hagrid gave it to him," Hermione told all of them.

Ginny looked at him, "You got the motorbike?" She asked, surprised.

"Yeah, Hagrid owled me yesterday, asking where I was staying, and then flooed it over. He thought I should have it," Harry told her with a sigh, "It would be amazing if it even ran. Hagrid and I crashed it at your house, and there was also spell damage."

"Things a death trap," Hermione slurred as Ron put a sober-up potion in her hand, "What's this?"

"A new drink," Ron told her.

Hermione downed it back, "That's awful!" She said as she shook her head, then slowly blinked, "What the hell, George!"

"Damnit, she's back," George said as he put his hands over his face, "Don't curse me, Granger. I don't want pimples for life."

Hermione huffed as her brain got clearer, "She doesn't have pimples for life," Hermione rolled her eyes, "I can uncurse her whenever I want."

"But you haven't," George said with a laugh.

"Valid, but she never apologized," Hermione said defiantly, settling between Ron's legs.

George asked Harry, "Are you taking the bike to New York?"

"I haven't even tried to start it," Harry laughed, "We landed in the water and with the spell damage. I will have to figure out how to deal with it. For now, it will just sit at Hermione's collecting dust until I take the time to fix it."

*~*~* August 5, 1999 *~*~*

Opening the dryer, Hermione pulled out one of Harry's jumpers and sighed as her entire hand went through the fabric. Quickly unloading the rest, she threw them into the basket and then carried it out into the living room where Harry was sitting reading the Daily Prophet, "Harry, I know we went shopping for a few outfits at the beginning of summer, but I think we should go to the mall and get some more clothes. Just so we are set for school."

Harry looked up at her and saw the jumper with a large hole on top of the basket, "Or you are just tired of seeing my laundry with holes in it," Harry stated.

"That too, but we do need a new set of clothes," Hermione told him as she set the basket on the table, "Come on, let's go to the shopping centre. I'll get you something at the food centre."

"How can I say no to that?" Harry said, shaking his head.

"Come on, Harry, do you have it on yet?" Hermione asked from outside of the dressing room.

"Patience, Hermione, you saw the last two. This is basically just the same," Harry told her.

Hermione leaned back against the wall next to his dressing room door, "These are a size smaller and should fit much better."

The door opened, and she looked over as he walked out in a green shirt and a dark pair of jean trousers, "What do you think?" Harry asked, turning around.

Hermione walked closer to him and tugged on his belt loop, "Not baggy." Reaching around him, she slid her hands into his back pockets, "Not too tight." She heard him take a quick breath and looked up to see they were only three inches apart. Her heart skipped a beat for a moment as she inhaled Harry's unique scent. A woodsy smell that reminded her of the Quidditch pitch, his shampoo, and the mint toothpaste he used with a slightly salty smell of sweat. Clearing her throat, she stepped back, "Sorry. I think those work well with you. Now you know your proper pants size, too." She looked at her watch, "I think I'm going to go next door and look for some clothes of my own. Come find me there when you are done here."

Hurrying out of the fitting area, Hermione ran to the next-door women's store.

"Are you alright?"

Hermione looked at the woman running the register, "I'm sorry?"

"Are you running from someone? Do I need to call the bobbies?" She asked.

"No, no," Hermione said, shaking her head and trying to calm her racing heart, "I'm okay, just distracted and trying to be as fast as possible to look for clothes."

Hermione bit her lip as she looked over at Harry, "Are you done? I think we should head out."

"Yeah, I'm done," Harry told her as he grabbed their trash and threw it into the receptacle.

Picking up their bags, he held his arm out for her. She bit her lip, considered it briefly, and then took it.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Why do you ask?" Hermione asked, looking straight ahead as they walked.

"You are acting… well, weird," Harry said as they walked out of the complex, and he stopped before they reached the parking lot.

Hermione glanced at his face, "Harry, what's wrong?"

"Harry?"

Hermione glanced where Harry was staring and saw Petunia Dursley stepping onto the sidewalk. Behind her, coming across the road, was a large, portly man who had gained even more weight than when she had seen him last. He had to be Harry's uncle. Hermione's eyes narrowed, and she took a deep breath, steeling herself.

"Hermione, don't!" Harry hissed as she stepped forward.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, isn't it?" Hermione said, purposely making her voice sickenly sweet.

"Hell… hello, you are Hermione. One of Harry's friends, right?" Petunia stated, taken aback as Vernon came up beside her.

"Boy! What are you doing here?" He bellowed, "Stealing things from hard-working people, I assume."

Hermione felt her magic swelling within her and tried not to completely lose her composure as she walked up to Vernon Dursley and pointed at the man, "It's high time for you to hear something. Harry here is a remarkable man, a remarkable wizard, and your treatment of him since he was orphaned has been nothing short of appalling. You may have mistreated him, but he's grown into one of the best human beings that has ever happened to the wizarding world and the entire world. He has more empathy and selflessness than you do in your sliver of toenails. Not that you can see them."

Harry looked at her, surprised as he took her arm, "Hermione."

"No, Harry, they don't realize you saved the world. You saved THEM from an evil man who was hell-bent on ruling us and killing them," Hermione stated as she felt her hair sparking.

"We don't want anything to do with that unnatural world he belongs to," Vernon spouted, "We fed him and clothed him."

Hermione scoffed, cutting him off, "Clothed him? Is that why I had to shrink his clothes to fit him every year? Fed him? Is that why he had to have malnutrition potions slipped into his drinks for the first month we returned to school each year? The only thing unnatural here is the way you treated a little boy who had just lost his parents," Hermione said, getting emotional, "And no thanks to you, he saved both our worlds and faced more danger and adversity than you could ever imagine but emerged stronger and more compassionate than you could ever understand. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

Petunia shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet Hermione's tearful gaze.

Harry cleared his throat, "She is right, you know. All I wanted was a family and to be loved. I felt I wasn't good enough for that," Harry admitted, "But I have a family now. Family isn't just blood. I found a family in the wizarding world that I can't live without." Harry took her hand in his, "Come on, Hermione. Let's go home."

Harry opened the door for her, leading her to the car, and she climbed in. Putting their bags in the boot, he climbed into the passenger seat and looked over at her as her shoulders shook, "I'm sorry."

Hermione looked at him, wiping her tears, "No, I am sorry. I shouldn't have lost it on them like that. I'm sorry you had to grow up the way you did."

Harry gave her a small smile, "I don't know what kind of person I would be like if they hadn't done it. I had to be stronger, and it made me into the person I am today. You and Ron helped, too. You always have my back."

Hermione wiped her eyes, glancing in the rearview mirror, "God, I can't believe I lost it like that."

Harry grinned, "You should have seen Vernon's face when your hair started sparking. I thought he was going to make a mess of himself."

Hermione shook her head as she started up the car, "Dudley doesn't seem as bad as they are."

"Big D grew up a bit," Harry stated, staring out the window, "He seemed surprised I wasn't going into hiding with them when they left. He seemed almost concerned." Looking over at her, he bit his lip, "Maybe down the road, I'll send him a postcard or something from New York. Get into contact with him when he's a little more grown-up. If he ever gets that way, that is."

Hermione sighed as she rested her head on the steering wheel, then sat back to put her seatbelt on, "Let's go home."

Hermione huffed as she set her book on the coffee table, causing Harry to look up from the telly at her.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked her, turning it off by the remote.

"I just can't believe those people!" Hermione stated as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hermione, eventually, you learn to ignore them," Harry informed her as he slapped his legs, "You know what, I have a craving for cookies. How about we bake some cookies?"

Hermione looked over at him, puzzled, "Cookies? I'm not sure how that will help."

"Chocolate helps everything," Harry said as he stood up and offered his hand to her, and she stood up, "If we learned anything from Remus, it should have been that."

Hermione smiled as he led her into the kitchen and grabbed her Mum's apron after they washed their hands.

"Put this on," Harry said, taking charge as he put on an extra apron. She put on her Mum's, "Alright," He said as he started opening cabinets, "Flour, sugar, can you get an egg and a stick of butter?"

Hermione opened the fridge, "Do we even have everything we need?"

Harry glanced at her as he pulled brown sugar, white sugar, flour, bicarbonate soda, salt, and chocolate chips out of the cabinet, "It was something I always had on hand at the Dursleys. I could make a big batch and hide some from Dudley. Even before Remus."

Hermione bit her lip as she watched Harry effortlessly assemble all his supplies, "How early did you have to cook? Like, how young were you?"

Harry paused, reaching for the measuring cups, and shook his head as he grabbed them, "I don't honestly remember. I had to stand on a chair to reach the stove."

Hermione tied her hair up, "Where do we start?"

"Turn the oven on 190*C and line the baking sheets with baking paper," Harry told her.

Hermione followed the directions as Harry put the stick of butter in the microwave.

"After we soften the butter, we add about 80 grams of brown and white sugars to the bowl on top of it," Harry said, handing her the measuring devices as he opened the cabinets and looked for the mixer.

"Top left above the stove," Hermione informed him.

"Thanks," Harry said as he got it down, as she measured out the dry ingredients. Putting the beaters in, he handed it to her, "Forgot the vanilla extract. Beat that until it's smooth."

Hermione turned on the mixer and beat it until he returned to her.

"Alright, two teaspoons of vanilla and one egg," Harry informed her as he cracked the egg and added it into the bowl, "Now we have to sift the flour."

Hermione bit her lip as she turned off the mixer, "Look above the fridge for the sifter."

"Go ahead and add the salt. Just a pinch," Harry said as he brought a chair over so he could stand to get the sifter.

Harry measured out the flour, "225 grams, so about two whole cups of flour into the sifter," Harry told her as he sifted it into the bowl and turned around to put the sifter into the sink, "Then we-" Harry said as Hermione turned on the mixer and flour went flying in the air, "Spoon! Mix it with a spoon!"

Hermione turned the mixer off and looked down at all the flour all over her, "I see that now."

Harry grabbed a wooden spoon and handed it to her as he took the mixer, "Here, use this. I'll get the chocolate chips."

Hermione watched as he opened them and poured them into the bowl. She mixed them, "No measuring?"

"Is there a wrong way to measure chocolate?" Harry asked as he threw a chip at her, and she caught it in her mouth, "Good job."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat for a second as he told her, 'Good job,' and she cursed her brain as she mixed it in.

"Now we take a spoonful and ball it in our hands and put them on the sheet," Harry told her.

After finishing the sheets, Harry put them into the oven, "Then we bake them for about 10 minutes."

Hermione nodded as she saw some flour on the table, scooped some into her hand, then waited until he turned around and threw it right into his face.

Harry's jaw dropped, and Hermione giggled, "This means war!"

Five minutes later, Hermione found herself, wand in hand, hiding behind the kitchen island, attempting to catch her breath through giggling. Glancing around the island's edge, she jumped back as a stray aquamenti charm flew past her, barely catching her hair, making the flour and sugar within it clump within her curls.

"Ready to surrender?" Harry's voice asked.

"I think it was a draw. What about you?" Hermione asked.

On hands and knees, Harry crawled over to her. He, too, was covered in baking materials, "White flag, white flag," He told her as he sat next to her, "I don't think there is anything left to throw anyways."

Hermione looked at him, "Thanks, Harry, I needed this."

Harry smiled at her, "We make a good team, don't we?"

"Always did," Hermione said as the timer went off.

Harry went to stand up and slipped forward on top of her, "Shit! Sorry!"

Hermione giggled as she ran her fingers through his shorter hair, and his eyes fluttered shut, "You have chocolate chips melted in your hair!"

"I thought the chocolate was off limits, Hermione," Harry said as he pushed off her and carefully went to get the cookies out of the oven.

Together, they used their wands to quickly clean up the mess. Hermione looked over at him as he moved the table, making sure all the mess was cleaned up, "How did you turn out so good, Harry, after being raised by the Dursleys?"

Harry met her gaze and gave her a half grin, "Well, they didn't raise me. I raised myself with help from Ron and his family, the professors, and you. Hermione, you are a huge part of who I am. Your and Ron's friendship made all the difference in who I am."

Hermione burst into tears and threw her arms around his neck, "Oh, Harry!"

"I didn't mean to make you cry," Harry said, rubbing her back.

"They don't deserve you," Hermione said, burying her face in his chest.

*~*~* August 11, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione looked up from her table, organizing her books to take to New York. She saw Ron and Ginny walking in as the back patio door slid open. "Happy Birthday," She said cooly.

Ginny smiled as Hermione took in how effortless she looked wearing a simple purple shirt and cutoff shorts with her hair pulled into a messy braid compared to her jeans, tank, and a button-up with hair that could use a brush ran through it, "Thanks. Where is Harry?"

"Outside. He decided he wanted to look into that bike after all," Hermione told them as she got up from the table and led them out to the garage, opening the door, "Harry, Ron, and Ginny are here."

A metal tool clinked to the ground, and Harry swore, "Hey guys."

Ginny walked over and sat on a crate next to him, leaning down to kiss him, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to figure out this bike. I went to the library and found a book to get some idea of how to fix it," Harry told her as Ron walked over and nearly tripped on a basketball.

"What in Merlin's name is this ball?" Ron asked, picking it up.

Hermione smiled, "It's a basketball, Ronald."

"It doesn't look like a basket," Ron frowned, turning it in his hands.

"No, Ron," Hermione said with a chuckle, "It is thrown into a basketball hoop. Come here, let me show you."

She led him to the back garden where her Dad had set up a basketball hoop, "This is a basketball hoop."

Ron stared at it, "So it's like a Quaffle into the hoop."

Hermione took it from him and dribbled it, "But you have to dribble it."

"So, what's the deal? Only one ball?" Ron asked, confused.

"In Muggle sports, there is only one ball. Just watch and learn," Hermione informed him as she dribbled the ball a few times, moving around, "When you walk, you must dribble, or else you forfeit the ball."

"So then you just throw it through that hoop?" Ron asked, pointing at the basketball hoop hanging on the side of the garage.

Hermione threw the ball toward the hoop and, of course, missed.

"That's the idea of it," Hermione told him as he caught it and tried dribbling it, then threw it into the hoop, making it, "Just like that."

"Well, that is easy," Ron said, dribbling it more.

"Well, it complicates it a bit when people defend and steal the ball like this," Hermione said as she swatted from his hand, stealing it.

"So that's how it is, huh?" Ron said with a grin as he ran after her.

Ginny looked at them as Ron grabbed Hermione around the middle. "I'm glad they are having fun with each other," she told Harry, and Hermione laughed. Ginny accidentally knocked over a container of oil, "Merlin's beard!" She attempted to pick it up, and her hands slipped on the oil, causing it to drop back onto the ground, splashing on both her and Harry.

Surprised, Harry looked at her with oil-covered glasses, causing her to snort as she smeared it on his face.

"Look, now you have a lightning bolt on your cheek, too," Ginny giggled.

Harry dipped his finger into the oil and smeared it on her forehead, "Look, now you have one too."

Ginny threw her arms around his neck and kissed him as they heard Hermione scream, "Don't hurt him!"

Ginny glanced over to see Ron running around with Crookshanks over his head.

"This damn cat would be a perfect basketball, Hermione!" Ron yelled as Crookshanks meowed, trying to get away from him.

Later that night, Hermione was at the Burrow with Harry, Luna, and the Weasley family. Laughter filled the crooked little house as Molly bustled around the kitchen, preparing the cake. Every inch of the kitchen table had been filled with delicious food, nearly gone as the entire Weasley family, Luna, Harry, and herself had eaten enough servings that she felt she was about to explode. It was more food than she had ever eaten, and after almost a year of meager eating, she nearly thought she would get sick.

Ginny moved her chair back, "How about we have a match before cake?"

"What's the teams?" Bill asked, holding Victoire in his arms.

Ginny looked around the table, "Obviously, I'm a chaser, and Harry is a seeker. Bill, you can be a seeker on the other team."

Bill grinned, looking at Harry, "We can see if you are as good as they say you are."

Ginny looked around the table, "I'm Chaser, Ron is Keeper, Bill is Seeker on my team. How about Harry's team? Is Charlie the Chaser and George the Keeper?"

"Who is the referee?" Ron asked her.

Percy paused as everyone looked at him, and he set his fork down, "Why do I always have to referee? Just because I hate a broom doesn't mean I want to referee."

Hermione watched from the ground, cheering with Luna as everyone flew around them. She watched as Charlie stole the Quaffle from Ginny, and Percy yelled for a penalty for Harry's team. Harry flew down to the ground and landed next to Hermione.

"That was a shite call!" Charlie yelled to Percy.

Ginny flew over to Harry, hovering beside him as Charlie screamed at Percy, "They there."

Harry smiled as he grabbed her broom. She hovered in front of him and leaned up to kiss her. "Hi."

"See you out there," Ginny said as she flew off.

Harry exhaled with a smile as Percy told him to get back in the game. Picking his broom back up, he went to get back on it.

"Harry," Hermione said as he climbed back on his broom.

Harry looked at her, "Yeah?"

Hermione nodded at the setting sun, "End it."

Harry smiled, "Yes, ma'am."

Hermione laughed as he went and caught the Snitch in less than 30 seconds, "Such a showoff."

Luna laughed, and Hermione stared at her as Luna wiped her eyes, "I find it so funny that he didn't look for it until you told him to."

"Alright, everyone, I will set off some fireworks!" George announced as the sky filled with a red rose that sparkled with Ginny's name. Ginny hovered next to Harry, and he pulled her onto his broom.

Ron came over and landed next to Hermione, "You okay?"

Hermione smiled as he sat between her and Luna, "Why wouldn't I be?" She asked as he kissed her, then laid her head on his shoulder watching the fireworks.

a/n: So I wrote two chapters this week! Bad news, instead of my outline of a certain time frame taking one chapter, it took two. So even further until Harry and Hermione get together. But it will be worth it!

Thank you to ravenb, lalo95, Dukie1540, King of Black Magic, and Lil' Mrs-Whitlock for the favorites/follows this week!

Preview of Chapter 14- Welcome to New York

"No, she is my girlfriend," Harry told him.

Josh looked at them, confused, "Wait, I thought you two were together."

Hermione wiped her eyes, "Harry and I? No, I'm dating Ginny's brother. We may be brother and sister, well in-laws in the future."

Harry frowned, "In-laws?"

"That is if I marry Ron," Hermione sighed as she looked at her watch and got off the bed, "There is a huge party tonight. I will go explore the Kimmel Center instead of the library."