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

How'd we end up this way?
See me nervously pulling at my clothes.
And trying to look busy.
And you're doing your best to avoid me.
I'm starting to think one day, I'll tell the story of us.
How I was losing my mind when I saw you here
But you held your pride like you should have held me

~ Story of Us by Taylor Swift

*~*~* October 22, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione sat down next to Harry and held out the bowl of popcorn that she had just popped in his microwave, "I have a question."

"What is it?" Harry asked, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

"Do you think it would be too immature if we went trick or treating?" Hermione asked, curling her feet under her on his couch.

Luna sat up from her spot on her belly on the rug on the floor, "That is a great idea!"

Hermione looked at her, "Really? You think so?"

"Of course, I saw an event in the park tomorrow. We should go out and get costumes, or!" Luna gasped as she jumped up, "See you tomorrow!"

Hermione slowly blinked as Luna left the room, "I'm not sure what just happened."

Harry laughed, taking another kernel, "Don't ask questions when it comes to Luna."

Hermione sat back, watching Boy Meets World, "I wish there was a way to watch old episodes of these shows. This is like the seventh season. They are in college; obviously, they all grew up together."

"It's like us," Harry commented.

"But Corey and Topanga are together. Eric is a bit like Ron, though," Hermione said as Eric and Jack worked at their bookstore jobs, and she sighed, "We should get jobs."

Harry looked over at her, "Real jobs?"

Hermione glared at him, "What other jobs are there? Fake ones?"

"Money would be nice. We have money, but it would be nice not to exchange galleons constantly," Harry said. "How would we apply?"

Hermione lifted onto her knees, "Go to wherever we want to apply and ask. I will go to the library and bookstore, of course. Is there something that you think that you'd be good at?"

"I saw a sign in the window of the student center's restaurant saying that they were hiring," Harry told her as Corey talked about how they were getting married, "I couldn't imagine getting married when we were still here."

"So many do. There are dorms for married couples," Hermione told him as she sat back down, "When you talk about your parents and how young they married, I can't see myself doing that for at least five to ten years. They must have loved each other so much."

Harry took her hand, "Look, Hermione, do you love Ron?"

Hermione looked at him, "Of course I do on some level. Do you love Ginny?"

Harry shook his head, "I don't know. What is love, and what is infatuation? Can you tell the difference when you've never experienced it?"

Hermione chewed her lip, "If you aren't sure, I'm guessing the answer is you aren't sure."

Harry rested his head on the couch, "You've told Ron already. Ginny keeps hinting at it."

Hermione looked at him, confused, as she moved back against the armrest, "When did I tell Ron that I loved him?"

"You were drunk, but at Three Broomsticks," Harry told her.

"Shit, I told him, and I don't even remember it?" Hermione said, "He's said it a few times, and I never say it. I am not ready to say it because I do not know. Is he all I think about? No. Do I miss him? Yes. Can I see myself living without him? No, but I can't see myself living without you either."

*~*~* October 23, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione pulled her cloak closer as the crisp autumn air whipped her hair around her. She, Harry, and Luna stepped out of Lipton Hall onto the sidewalk. The streetlights had just come on to provide ambiance to the people coming and going to the park for the Trick-or-treat event. Luna stood beside her in a homemade unicorn costume with a horn coming from her head. She was covered in rainbow makeup, making her eyes look larger than normal. Harry stood on the other side of her in one of his old robes that he had ripped up. His hood was up, and he was carrying a scythe.

As Hermione came into his room, she pushed him back and slammed the door, "This isn't funny, Harry!"

Harry had smiled, "Well, I'm supposedly the Master of Death, might as well use it."

Hermione was dressed in her tightest black robe and had used a charm to make her face green to be the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Adjusting her robe, she looked at the people in various costumes moving about.

"Can you believe we are doing this?" Luna asked excitedly as they crossed the street.

Hermione adjusted her witch hat. "I can't believe we convinced this one," Hermione said, pointing at Harry.

The trio wandered through the crowded sidewalks of Washington Square Park as various booths had been set up for young and old.

"Face painting!" Luna yelled as she ran off.

Harry put his arm around Hermione's waist, "It's not the Halloween feast at Hogwarts, but it's still good."

A friendly woman smiled at them as they walked by, "Aren't you going to say Trick or Treat? No one is ever too old for it."

Hermione pushed Harry in the direction of the booth, and he held out his bag, "Trick or Treat."

She dropped candy into his bag, "Have a safe and wonderful night."

"Thank you," Harry said as he looked in the bag, "I miss a good Mars bar. Skittles sounds interesting."

After a few minutes, Luna joined them with a glittering rainbow on her cheek, "How does it look?"

"Glittery," Harry told her.

As they strolled down the pumpkin and lantern-lit pathways, their bags grew heavier with candies, treats, and even pens to Hermione's delight.

"Hey guys!"

Harry waved as Josh ran over and leaned closer to them, "Are you going to the party?" Josh said quietly.

"What party?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Wait, you don't know about it. Of course, in Central Park, there is a big party for our kind," Josh said, "It's at Belvedere Castle."

Harry looked at Hermione and Luna, "What do you think?"

"Isn't Central Park like an hour's walk away?" Hermione asked.

"I've failed you all," Josh said with his drawl, "Come on, let's go to the MEWS."

Harry, Hermione, and Luna followed Josh from Washington Square Park to the Washington MEWS. Josh looked at them once they entered the alley, "MEWS stands for Magical Express Washington Square, and it's the Magical Express stop for this area. The alley just is here, too."

"Magical Express?" Harry asked, confused.

"The underground railway system for magical people. England doesn't have something like that?" Josh asked, confused.

"No, just the normal subways," Harry said, "Most people get around by floo, apparition, or Portkey."

"Floo is so dirty, and apparition can be tricky with so many people here, and Portkeys are regulated. The M-E has been around for many years," Josh said, leading them through a door with a large train on it.

"So this operates completely underground?" Hermione asked as they walked down the stairs.

"Throughout the country. It only stops at locations around the country where most wizards live. Typically, the biggest cities and Salem, of course, but there are large magical communities in some smaller ones, too. My community of Florence, South Carolina, is a large one. No-Majs even call us the Magic City," Josh said as he tapped his wand to the turnstile, and it let him through.

After taking their wands out and tapping them, they walked through.

"Do you pay with dollars?" Hermione asked.

"No Dragots," Josh told them, "But you can pay with No-Maj money too. The conversion rate is the same here with our money and theirs, so it is a dollar or a whole Dragot to ride a certain distance. The trains run on magic for fuel, so money just goes to the driver."

Walking up to a booth, Josh purchased four tickets to Central Park for one Dragot. He looked at them, leading them to the tracks, "So to each Dragot is four shillings, same as four quarters to a dollar. There are ten silvers or dimes to each Dragot or dollar, and weirdly, nickels are nickels, twenty to each. There are 100 pence in a Dragot, 100 pennies to a dollar. Or you just use your credit card or checks," Josh told them as the train slowed, saying next stop, Central Park, "Come on."

They climbed on, and Josh told them to grab the handles on the ceiling, "No use sitting." The train lurched forward as it raced past lights and things that became too fast for them to see. "We go past the subway in spots, but they don't notice us. We are much faster than them," Josh explained as the train came to a stop, "This is us."

"That was like three minutes for an hour and a half walk," Hermione said, surprised.

"Welcome to the Magical Express," Josh told her with a smile as the doors opened.

They all climbed out and followed Josh up the stairs, "We are under Belvedere Castle. The basement is a huge ballroom, and No-Majs could not see the doors and windows for years. The owner when he died, the spell broke, and now they see it all. There is a gift shop and a visitor center for the park, but only magical folk like us can see the whole thing."

Hours later, Hermione fanned herself with her witches' hat as she sipped her drink. Harry came up next to her, "You okay?" He yelled over the music.

"It's just hot," Hermione told him as Harry took out his wand and cast a cooling charm on her, "Thanks!"

Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her to a chair, "Sit."

"I'm fine!" Hermione told him.

Harry sat on the chair and pulled her onto his lap, "Fine, then you can sit with me."

"I wonder if this was modeled slightly after Hogwarts?" Hermione wondered.

"No clue," Harry said as he rubbed her leg.

"Hey!" As she approached them, a girl said, "I heard you mention Hogwarts. You wouldn't have happened to go there, would you?"

"Yeah, we did. Why? Did you go there too?" Harry asked, trying to figure out who she was.

"No, my cousin did. Do you know Harry Potter?" She asked, "They said he disappeared, and no one knows where he is!" She looked at Hermione, "Is he as hot as they say?"

Hermione snorted, "Wouldn't know, never met the guy!"

"Too bad," She said as she walked off.

Harry scoffed in her ear and then rested his chin against her shoulder. "Want to get out of here?"

"Sounds great to me!" Hermione yelled, "The music is starting to give me a headache!"

Harry stood up, "Do you see Luna or Josh?"

Hermione sent her patronus to Luna, and many people gasped as they saw it glide along their feet as if on water. A few minutes later, Luna and Josh appeared.

"We are leaving!" Hermione yelled over the music.

Luna looked at Josh, "Are you staying?"

"I'll make sure she gets back!" Josh told them.

Inside Harry's room, they had their treats next to them on his bed. Munching on a caramel apple, Hermione looked over at Harry.

"Did you go to that fortune teller?" Harry asked her as he unwrapped a Hershey kiss and popped it into his mouth.

"No, of course not. Divination is nonsense, did you?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, she told me that my future was long and that I had already met my future wife, but it wasn't who I was with," Harry told her.

"So broad to interpretation," Hermione said, shaking her head and licking her lips.

Harry reached up and wiped the bit of caramel away from her lip, "She said we would share initials when we get married."

Hermione felt her breath catch, "Harry, there are many people with the letter H as their first name, Hannah, for example."

"No one that I can't live without like you," Harry said as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Hermione's eyes fluttered shut, "What about Ginny, about Ron?"

"Just one night, please?" Harry asked, kissing her neck.

Hermione turned into putty in his hands as he grabbed the bottom of her robes and pulled them over her head. His breath caught, "You weren't wearing anything under them."

"I couldn't with how tight these are now," Hermione said as his mouth finally met hers, and it was like her blood sang throughout her body, "Oh God."

Harry slowly laid her down and pulled down her panties, "You're beautiful."

"What are you-" Hermione said as he kissed down her stomach, and his tongue found her folds, "Harry!"

"Hermione, wake up! It's just a dream!" Harry said, shaking her.

Hermione's eyes shot open, "Harry?"

Harry grabbed his wand, "Lumos, you were having a nightmare and yelling my name. I'm okay."

Hermione put her hand to her mouth as she realized what her dream had been about, "Oh shit, I fell asleep."

Harry laughed, "I think your sugar crashed, honestly."

Hermione ran her hands over her face as she got up, "I better go back to my dorm." She glanced over at the couch to see Luna was fast asleep.

Harry frowned, "You can stay. It's not a problem. If you are having nightmares, I want you here so you can sleep."

Hermione pulled her hand back from him as he grabbed it, "No, I should go back and change. I'll just stay up there."

"If you are sure," Harry said, confused as she grabbed her shoes, "Goodnight."

"Night," Hermione said as she hurried out of his room and into the hallway, where she slid onto the floor, "Oh my god, what was that?"

*~*~* October 29, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione swallowed hard as they landed in her living room right before midnight London time, "Luna, you can stay here tonight in my parents' room."

"Thanks!" Luna said with a smile.

"I'm going to pop over to the Burrow. Gin said she would wait up," Harry said as he set his bag down.

"See you in the morning," Hermione told him as he disappeared.

"Okay, what is wrong between the two of you?" Luna asked as soon as he disapparated.

Hermione looked at her, "What do you mean? Nothing is wrong."

Luna looked at her, "You have Harry wondering what he did wrong since the Halloween party. You left that evening and have spent more time in the library than out of it. You haven't even been coming over to his room."

Hermione sighed as she sat down in the armchair and put her face in her hands, "I had a sex dream in bed with Harry." She slowly looked up to see Luna looking confused, "What?"

"It happens. Why is it a big deal?" Luna asked.

"It wasn't Ron in the dream. It was Harry," Hermione told her.

"Oh," Luna said as she sat beside her, "That complicates things a bit."

"You think?" Hermione said as she groaned, "I don't understand it!"

"I think I'm surprised it hasn't happened before now. I mean, your magic is compatible. You two are closer than anyone I know," Luna told her.

Hermione frowned, "How do you know our magic is compatible?"

"A blind person could see the sparks between you two as your magic pulls off each other," Luna told her as she stood up, "Look, it is nothing to be scared of or avoid him because of. Just use this weekend to enjoy time with Ron, and it will help. Ginny found this new place for us to go to. It's a caring okay bar for us to sing."

Hermione smiled, "You mean karaoke?"

"That's it!" Luna nodded as she stood up, "I'm going to visit Neville."

*~*~* October 30, 1999 *~*~*

"Don't you guys go out on Saturday nights to the Leaky Cauldron?" Andromeda asked as Hermione picked at her food.

"I have a headache, so I decided not to go," Hermione told her as she fed Teddy a bite of his food.

"Hermione, what is wrong?" Andromeda asked.

Hermione set her fork down and put her face in her hands, "It's so embarrassing."

Andromeda smiled, "Try me."

"I had a sex dream," Hermione said as he looked at her, "Of me and Harry."

Andromeda laughed, "And it's never happened before? I'm shocked."

Hermione raised her hands, making Teddy laugh, "Not you, too!"

"Hermione, you have been best friends with a pair of boys since your first year. I am shocked you haven't had all kinds of dreams about them," Andromeda told her.

"Worst thing about it, I was in bed with Harry at the time and woke him up. He thought I was having a nightmare," Hermione told her.

Andromeda snorted as she got up, "This calls for wine."

Hermione sipped her wine after Andromeda had poured it for her after they had cleaned Teddy up, "I just don't understand why I had a dream about Harry."

"He is an attractive man. So was his father, but it is more than attractiveness. I have watched you two over the last year, and you move like a pair. You gravitate towards each other. Even if you do not find him attractive, our minds sometimes make things up independently. You probably miss Ron, and your mind is filling in the blanks," Andromeda told her.

Hermione groaned, "I just feel like I cheated on Ron."

"You didn't, and I know that boy. Harry probably has himself in knots trying to figure out what he did wrong," Andromeda told her.

"Luna said he mentioned something like that. I have kind of locked myself in the library. I have seen more of my dormmates this last week than the whole semester. I think they forgot that I even lived there," Hermione said, laying her head back on the couch.

"What the dream could mean, though, is that your heart is conflicted," Andromeda told her, "You are a lucky witch to have two men who care about you."

Hermione looked up as the doorbell rang, "Are you expecting anyone?"

"No," Andromeda said as she took her wand out. Hermione followed her to the door, hiding out of sight as Andromeda looked out the window, "It's Harry." Hermione relaxed as Andromeda opened her front door, "Hello, Harry."

Harry stepped into the house, "Is she here?"

"Hello, ma'am, I'm Ron Weasley."

Hermione stepped into the hallway and met Harry's eyes, and Ron walked into the house behind him, "I'm here."

"What the hell, Hermione? Why are you acting so weird this week?" Harry asked, "I thought you had a headache. Ron and I came back early to check on you, and you weren't there. We freaked out."

"I'm sorry, I just," Hermione trailed off, closing her eyes, "I'm working through something."

Ron walked past Harry, putting his hands on her shoulders, "Let us help you."

Hermione smiled, "I wish you could. It's just my brain working overtime. Overthinking things."

Ron pulled her into his arms, and she relaxed into them.

"Hermione, let them take you home. You three deserve a night, just the three of you," Andromeda told her, "And just relax, everything will work out."

Hermione glanced back at her, "Thank you, Andromeda."

"Teddy awake?" Harry asked her.

"No, already in bed," Andromeda told him.

"I'm just going to check in on him. I'll see you guys back at the house," Harry told them as he walked over to the stairs.

"Come on, let's get you home," Ron told Hermione as he took her hand.

Hermione let him pull her into his arms on the front steps, and they apparated away. Ron rubbed her arms as he looked down at her. They landed in her backyard, "Want to tell me what is wrong? Harry said you've been avoiding him all week."

Hermione sighed as she rested her forehead against his chest, "I feel like I cheated on you."

Ron stilled, "You feel like you did? How?"

Hermione looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, "I was drinking, and I had a dream about Harry."

Ron laughed, "Did you have a sex dream of our best friend?"

Hermione hit him, "Why is that so funny?"

"Because it is! You were drunk, and Harry was there, so your brain put him in my place. Did you guys fuck in your dream?" Ron asked.

"No! Just kissed," Hermione said.

"Oh, Hermione, you have poor Harry so messed up. He isn't used to your silent treatment like I am," Ron said, hugging her.

"You aren't mad?" Hermione asked against his chest.

"For your dreams, you can't control? No," Ron told her, "Now, if it was real, I would be totally jealous and knock him out, but I know neither you nor Harry would do that to me."

Harry appeared behind them, "Are you okay, Hermione?"

Hermione looked at Ron and smiled as she laid her head back on his chest. "I'm okay. Just tired."

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Harry wondered.

"She had a dream that she and you kissed, and she freaked out," Ron told him as Hermione hit him, "Ron!"

Harry looked at her wide-eyed, "Do you want to kiss me?"

"NO!" Hermione said, shaking her head.

"Then it was just a dream. Why be so worried about it?" Harry asked.

"See, you were worrying about nothing," Ron told her, "Now if you want to do a three-way…" Hermione punched his shoulder, "Ouch! Okay, that's it!"

Hermione screamed as she ran off into the house running from him.

Harry shook his head as he slowly followed him, "Why am I friends with them again?"

*~*~* November 19, 1999 *~*~*

Harry looked over at Hermione as they lay on the roof of Lipton Hall, staring up at the sky and trying to see the Leonid meteor shower. "Are you better?"

Hermione looked over at him as she drank her wine from a twisting straw so that she could lie down, "I'm fine, Harry. That night, I had a weird dream that threw me for a loop."

"You haven't stayed over since. You aren't having more nightmares, are you?" Harry asked.

Hermione bit her lip as she pulled her blanket closer, thinking about how she had been sleeping on the couches in the library with notice-me-not charms, "A few. I'm fine, though. I'm a big girl, and you don't have to hold my hand through my nightmares."

"But I want to," Harry told her as he took her hand, "I promised Ron, your Mum and Dad, that I'd take care of you."

Hermione touched his face, "And you are, but I can take care of myself too."

Harry laid back with his hands under his head, "I know that. Without Ron, it's hard not to be vigilant."

Hermione yawned as she laid back and looked up again, "Do you think the lights are too bright to see anything?"

"Possibly," Harry told her.

Downstairs, someone was knocking on Harry's dorm door. Josh came out and answered it to see a woman he vaguely recognized, "Hello, how can I help you?"

"Is Harry here?"

"No, he is out with Hermione," Josh told her.

"Oh good, is Luna with them?" She asked.

"Not that I know of. Sorry, I'm his roommate, Josh," He told her.

She flashed him a smile as Jeremy came out of their room, "Hello there, I'm Harry's girlfriend, Ginny."

Jeremy froze and looked at Josh, "I thought Harry was with Hermione?"

Josh looked at him, surprised, "I've never heard you talk. No, they aren't together, just best friends. I wasn't sure who you were. They were upstairs watching the meteor shower," He told Ginny, "I'll take you up there."

Hermione gasped, "Did you see that one?" She asked.

"No, where?" Harry asked.

Hermione leaned over to show him from his perspective where it would be, "Right around there."

"Hey, Harry, Hermione. You have a visitor," Josh said.

Harry moved his head back and saw Ginny, "Ginny?!"

"Ginny?" Hermione asked as she sat up, "Ginny!"

Ginny looked down at them, confused, with her arms crossed over her chest, "What are you two doing?"

"Meteor shower and drinking," Hermione told her as she held up her blanket, "Want to join?"

"Sure," Ginny said as she looked at Josh, "Thank you, was it, Josh?"

"Yeah, nice to meet you, Ginny," Josh told her as she walked over and climbed under the blanket between Hermione and Harry.

"Hey you," Harry said with a grin as Ginny leaned down and kissed him, "This is a nice surprise."

"I was free for a few days, so I asked the Team owner for a Portkey. I just have to check out the Fitchburg Finches while I am here," Ginny said as she rested her head on Harry's chest, "Seen anything yet?"

"I saw one. He didn't," Hermione replied.

Ginny looked over at her, "He can spot a Snitch, but his vision sucks. What do you expect?"

"Hey!" Harry said as he started tickling her.

"It's the truth," Ginny said as she laid back beside Hermione, "Sorry I didn't bring, Ron."

"It's good to have you here. Luna will be happy," Hermione said, intertwining her arm in Ginny's, "How is Ron?"

"Busy, they sent the trainees to some wilderness, and Ron hated it. Said it reminded him of you guys on the run but with a basic tent," Ginny told them as she pointed to the sky, "Did you see that one?"

"I did. That was a bright one," Hermione agreed.

"What the hell? Are you two just taking the mickey on me?" Harry asked, "I see nothing."

Ginny looked over at Hermione, "See, it's the vision."

"How he can function in everyday life is beyond me," Hermione told her.

"You two are just trying to. Whoa, I saw that one," Harry said as a right meteor streaked across the sky.

Ginny sighed, "Do you guys miss Hogwarts?"

Harry shook his head, "Not really. It's nice being here. Everyone leaves me alone. I'm seen really as the weird kid here. Kind of like Luna, in a way. Luna is Miss Popular."

Ginny looked at him, surprised, "Luna? Our Luna?"

Hermione nodded, "She has a big group of friends that discuss magical animals, and they are planning trips abroad to look for animals yet to be discovered. The Scamander family has a research grant here, and they encourage exploration."

"Here we all thought she was loony," Ginny said, "How about you, Hermione? Make any new friends so far?"

"Less friends, more a study group. Harry is in it, and we study magical and muggle laws to determine which cases could implicate changes in the future," Hermione told her.

Ginny looked at Harry. "I have no clue what she is talking about half the time," Harry admitted, "But I'm leaning towards human rights, and she is more towards creature rights."

"I'm getting cold," Ginny commented.

"Yeah, we can head in," Harry said as he climbed out from under the blankets, "Are you staying, Hermione?"

"No, I'll head back down myself," Hermione said, gathering her blanket.

Taking the elevator down to the fourth floor, Hermione smiled at Harry and Ginny, "Have a good night."

Harry grabbed Hermione's arm as she left the doors and stopped them with his other hand, "Are you okay?"

Hermione turned around, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Harry swallowed, "If you have a nightmare-"

Hermione smiled, "I'll be fine, Harry. See you both in the morning."

As the doors shut to the elevator, Hermione sighed. Walking down to her dorm room, she got her key out to unlock the door. Rachel and Becky looked up from her bed as she opened the door. "Hermione? What are you doing here?" Becky asked, confused as they got up.

"I live here," Hermione told them, "What are you guys doing on my bed … when did we get a TV?"

Rachel looked at Becky and then back at her, "The TV has been there for a week. You haven't come back for a week. We thought you were just at Harry's."

Hermione threw her backpack down, "I was, but Ginny is here, and I want to give them some privacy."

Becky frowned as she followed Hermione to the bathroom, "Who is Ginny?"

"Our friend and Harry's girlfriend," Hermione said as she opened the medicine cabinet to take some pain reliever.

"Hold up, Harry's girlfriend? I thought you were Harry's girlfriend," Rachel said, confused.

"No, he's my best friend, that is it," Hermione insisted as the thumping in her head became more intense, and she threw back two pills. Running her hand over her face as she shut the medicine cabinet, "I'll be back tonight; I'm just heading to the library."

After leaving her dorm, she walked a few blocks to the library. She climbed to the top floor and found the familiar study room she had been using. Inside was a table for studying and a couch, with a lamp casting a pleasant glow. Shutting the door behind her, she locked it and cast a silencing charm. Setting down her bag, Hermione kicked off her shoes and then laid down on the couch. Taking her pillow from her bag, she set it on the couch and then closed her eyes.

*~*~* November 24, 1999 *~*~*

"Hermione, Hermione, wake up."

Hermione slowly blinked and tried to focus her eyes to see Harry in front of her, "Harry? What are you doing here in my room?"

"Hermione, you are in the library. You fell asleep in the library again," Harry said as he held out a cup for her, "Jeremy works here and was doing a sweep of the rooms and contacted me. Have you been sleeping here? I went to check on you at your dorm, and they said you haven't been staying there, you haven't been staying with me… I'm worried."

Hermione sat up, taking the cup from him, "I thought I was being a bother."

Harry sat in front of the couch, leaning his elbow on it, "You are never a bother, Hermione. I don't want you to ever think that."

A tear slid down her cheek as she slid down on the floor beside him, "I am just so lonely, Harry. I miss home, but I don't. I miss Ron, but I don't. I don't know what to feel at this point."

Harry pulled her into his arms, and she sobbed against his shoulder.

"I'm just so tired," Hermione told him, "I have been for such a long time."

Harry laid his head on top of hers, "We are going to go home tomorrow night, and we aren't telling anyone we are home. We will just relax, get some takeout, and watch as many movies as possible. No studying, no books-" Hermione gasped, "Yes, no books!"

Hermione pouted, "Not even-"

"I know how you hide one in your bedside table and have the emergency one in your purse. They stay. All of them," Harry told her, "Only the books already in your house are available."

Hermione huffed, "Fine."

Harry stood up, "Come on," Holding out his hand, she took it, and he pulled her to her feet. She sipped from the cup and smiled, "You got my coffee right."

"I've kind of gotten used to it," Harry told her, taking her bag.

Josh knocked on the doorframe as he came to the door of Harry's room, "Hey Hermione, where have you been?"

"Sleeping in the library," Harry told him in disbelief as Hermione elbowed him.

Josh looked at Hermione, "Why were you doing that?"

"I was studying," Hermione said, pulling her feet up underneath her on Harry's bed.

"Anyways, what is your plan for Thanksgiving?" Josh asked them.

Harry stared at him, "We go home tomorrow. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving. England doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving."

"Ah, I don't know why I forget ya'll are from across the ocean when you have such heavy accents," Josh told them, "What time are you leaving tomorrow? We are having our own Thanksgiving in the community kitchen at 2."

"Our portkey is at 4 in the afternoon," Hermione said as she looked at Harry, "We can come for a bit."

"Sounds great," Josh said as he returned to his room.

Harry leaned against Hermione, "So, an American Thanksgiving. Know anything about it?"

"I may have read a bit about it. Turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and gravy. It symbolizes the time when the pilgrims were helped by the Native American Indians. They also nearly killed all of them by taking their food and spreading disease," Hermione informed him.

"Right, so another crusade of yours to change things?" Harry asked.

"Not mine to change," Hermione informed him as she yawned.

"I think it's time for bed," Harry told her.

"I think I'm going to go take a bath," Hermione said as she stretched and looked at him. "When was the last time your tub was cleaned? Do I need to clean it first?"

Harry smiled, "I cleaned it yesterday." He got up and walked into the small bathroom, thankful a large enough tub was inside. Opening the cabinet under the sink, he pulled out a bottle. Hermione came up behind him, and he held it out for her. "Smell it."

Hermione popped the top on the bottle and sniffed it. Her eyes fluttered shut at the aromas of jasmine, mint, and other florals that brought her back to the prefect bathrooms at Hogwarts, "This smells like-" "The perfect bubble bath mix. It won't have those massive bubbles, but I found it and brought it. I even use it when I feel homesick," Harry told her.

She grabbed his shoulder and used it to get on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, "Thank you."

Harry smiled, "Enjoy your bath."

After drifting off, Harry opened his eyes an hour later and realized Hermione hadn't joined him. Luna was on the expanded couch now, fast asleep, but Hermione was nowhere to be seen. Getting out of bed, he quietly walked past Luna and opened the door, careful not to hit the couch now that it was expanded. Putting his ear to the door, he heard snoring. Knocking on the door, there was no answer, so after trying again a bit louder, he pushed the handle. Surprisingly, it opened, and he closed his eyes as he walked in, "Hermione, you fell asleep."

"Hmm?" She answered as she opened her eyes to see him with his eyes closed. Glancing down at herself, she arranged the bubbles and pulled her knees back up, "I'm covered. Did I fall asleep?"

Harry slowly opened his eyes behind his glasses, and she noticed they had increased slightly in size. "You did."

"I shouldn't have put the warming charm on the water," Hermione said with a slight smile.

Harry sat on the toilet and looked at her, "You need to relax, Hermione. You don't have to prove yourself here."

"I always have to prove myself, though, Harry," Hermione admitted, "At home, it's being a Muggleborn. Here, I'm a British woman of magical blood coming in wanting to learn from Americans. I have to prove my worth to be here."

Harry shook his head, "You put too much pressure on yourself, Hermione. You'd still make the grade if you did half the work."

"But I know it could be better," Hermione explained as she brought her hand out of the water, "I'm getting all wrinkly. I should get out."

"I'll give you privacy. I'll be back in ten minutes if you aren't out," Harry warned her.

Hermione let the water out and then rinsed off after Harry left. Dressing in her pajamas, she walked out of the bathroom to be met with Jeremy, "Sorry if you were trying to use the lavat…ory," Hermione said as Jeremy walked past her and shut the door.

Walking into Harry's room, she shut the door and slipped her slippers off as she climbed into bed next to him, "I don't think Jeremy likes me much."

"I don't think Jeremy likes anyone very much. Josh says he doesn't even talk to him," Harry told her, looking at the ceiling.

Hermione turned to her side to face him, "Are you setting an alarm?"

Harry turned his head, resting his hands on his chest, "No, we have no certain time to wake up by, do we?"

Hermione shook her head as she tucked her wand under her pillow by habit, "No, I doubt I will be able to sleep in, but I'll try."

"Goodnight," Harry said, leaning over and kissing her forehead.

"Goodnight," Hermione said, turning his lamp off next to his bed with a finger twist.

*~*~* November 25, 1999 *~*~*

Walking towards the community kitchen of Lipton Hall, Hermione's nose was assaulted by a multitude of scents that made her stomach growl, "That smells amazing, whatever that is," Hermione told Harry as they carried a pie down the hall and walked into the community kitchen to see Josh and a few other students walking around the shared space, "We brought pie!"

Josh looked up, "You came!" He said as he put the spoon down, stirred it, and walked over to them, "Cherry, perfect. No one brought that," He said as he took it from her and put it on a table, "You guys slept in for once."

"I know. When I woke up at 10 in the morning, and Hermione was still asleep, I thought my clock was wrong. Even Luna had already left," Harry said as he took in the people around them.

Josh returned behind the cooking space and motioned to the six people with them, "Harry, Hermione, I'd like you to meet some of my friends. This is my best friend from back home, Dale."

A tall, red-haired man got up from his chair and walked over to them, "Welcome to the United States! Josh tells me that ya'll are from England," Dale said as he shook Harry's hand, then surprised Hermione by enveloping her in a hug, "Sorry, we're from the south, and we are huggers."

"I see," Hermione said as a beautiful blond woman walked over to them, "I'm Hermione."

"Ignore this idiot. I do every day. I'm Julia, Dale's wife," She laid her hand on Hermione's arm, "Ya'll went to Hogwarts, didn't ya?"

Harry let out a breath, "Are you all magical?"

"Only no-maj here is John there, but he is part of a magical family, so no worries," Josh told them.

Julia took Hermione's arm, "Let me introduce you to everyone. Here is John's sister, Mary. She is from Salem." The two twins, with their similar brown hair and blue eyes, waved at them from their spot watching the television, "Finally, this is our friend Amber. She went to Ilvermorny with us."

The dark-haired witch waved, her hands covered in flour, "Sorry, I am just finishin' up these cookies."

Hermione looked at Julia, "No offense, but what areas does Ilvermorny cover?"

"Honey, all over these great states. Salem is the only other school here, and it's only for witches," Julia explained, "My parents were alumni. So they sent me to Illvermorny."

After they all sat down to eat, Hermione took in the food in front of them. Turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and many pies. They had all started eating when Dale looked at Harry, "So what was Hogwarts like? We've heard, no offense, a bit about your greatness but don't know how much was talk and what was truth."

Harry sat back, setting his form down, "Well, I wouldn't have survived without Hermione, but I feel like I received a good education. I'm not struggling by any means in my wizarding courses. As far as Voldemort, I had help. Hermione, our best friend, Ron, Luna, my girlfriend Ginny, and our friend Neville."

Julia coughed, "Excuse me, I thought the two of you were together."

Josh grinned, "Easy to confuse. So did I for the longest time. His girlfriend is this gorgeous redhead that plays Quidditch professionally."

"Well, all be, bless your heart, Harry. Having a girlfriend and still being great friends with two witches. Too many wizards would be tempted by that," Julia told him.

"Where is Luna, by the way?" Josh asked.

"Her Magizoology friends went on a hunt, and she went with them. I guess Rolf Scamander might be there," Hermione explained.

"Scamander? Like Fantastic Beasts, Scamander?" Harry asked.

"His grandson, the most well-known, at least of his grandchildren," Amber explained.

"So, where are you all from originally?" Hermione inquired.

"Josh and Dale are from South Carolina. I am from Texas," Julia told her as she looked at Mary and John.

"We are from Minnesota," Mary told them as she passed the rolls.

Amber looked at her, "I'm from California. Most of us are so used to not being home for Thanksgiving since Massachusetts isn't too far away from here, so we just stayed. Now, Christmas, we all go home for a month."

Josh looked at them, "Are you planning on leaving?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah when classes are over, we will head back. Hermione's parents have a home where we can stay. I want to remodel my Godfather's home, which he left me."

Hermione grabbed his arm, "You are remodeling it?"

Harry looked at her, "Yeah, it's just so dark and brings awful memories for us all. I would love to gut it and start all over again. We made progress those months last year we stayed there, but it needs so much more work," Harry explained, "Plus, I've overstayed my welcome."

"Oh Harry, no, you haven't. You can stay with me as long as you need to," Hermione assured him, "My parents more than likely aren't coming home this year. They love it in Australia. I'd just be alone in that big house. I would love it if you stayed, even if you want to keep working on Grimmauld."

Harry smiled, "I'm not going to leave you hanging."

Hermione smiled back, "Good. I saved your arse enough times, you owe me."

"I'll never live that down," Harry said, throwing his hands up and making everyone laugh.

*~*~* December 10, 1999 *~*~*

Harry closed his rucksack and looked at Hermione and Luna as they sat on his couch painting each other's nails, "Are you sure you guys are okay with me leaving earlier?"

"Go! I have another final in three hours. We still have to pack up Luna's dorm and move it into the new dorm next week. I've already finished up with my dorm. Not that I have anything really in it anymore. I just have to keep some lesser used things there so it looks like I still live there," Hermione told him, closing up the nail polish, "Go, enjoy Ginny's preseason game, and we will see you next week. Plus, you must go through the official channels by leaving early, so you are punishing yourself somehow."

Harry laughed as he kissed the top of her head, then Luna's, "Be careful and don't do anything I wouldn't."

"So not a lot," Luna said with a grin.

"Travel safe!" Hermione yelled as he disappeared.

Luna bit her lip, "You didn't have to stay with me."

Hermione smiled, "Of course I did, plus I'm in no rush to get home."

Luna looked at Hermione with big, inquisitive eyes, "You aren't excited to see Ron?"

"I am," Hermione said slowly as she looked down at her sparkling purple toes, "I just, I haven't heard from him for almost a month. He wrote right after we got home last month, asking why we didn't go to the Leaky for the monthly meetup. Harry and I decided that we just wanted to spend those two days with Teddy and Andromeda, and we just went out having fun with the two of us in London. I showed him areas that Mum and Dad used to take me. We even went to the Forest of Dean for a while. We spent time there on the run, and it was…" Hermione trailed off, "Something about that Forest is magical in its own way."

"It's because it's a fairy breeding ground," Luna explained, "There is a high level of magic in the trees, too, because of the magic they need to breed."

Hermione laughed, "Suddenly, it makes so much sense."

Luna reached to the floor and opened her bag, "Have you ever made friendship bracelets?"

"Can't say I have," Hermione said as Luna set the box in front of them, "You just bead bracelets?"

"As many colors and whatever letters you want to put on them," Luna told her, "Here, I'll make one for you, and you make one for me."

After ten minutes, Hermione smiled as she looked at the bracelet on her wrist. It was white and a sparkling blue, similar to her Yule ball dress color with her name and lion beads, "I love it."

Luna took in her rainbow bracelet with her name, "I love rainbows."

"I know you do," Hermione said as she set her hand on Luna's knee, "Thank you, Luna, for being you and never changing."

"Why should I?" Luna asked with a smile.

"Exactly," Hermione said as she hugged the other girl, "So tell me more about the hunt. Did you meet Rolf Scamander."

"He is an interesting fellow. Quiet but very serious about our task. We didn't see any Mooncalves, sadly," Luna told her.

"Is Newt still alive?" Hermione asked.

"Oh yes, he was at Hogwarts occasionally visiting Professor Dumbledore," Luna told her, "I met him once."

Hermione frowned, "And that wasn't common knowledge? I would have loved to meet him."

"Maybe one day I'll be able to introduce you," Luna told her with her dreamy smile.

*~*~* December 19, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione blew a piece of hair out of her face as she threw a broken table towards the door at Grimmauld Place. Using her arm, she tried to push it back, "Something has been bothering me."

Harry stood straight and looked at her, his glasses covered in dust, "What is bothering you?"

Hermione bit her lip, "Was Ron acting weird yesterday? I've only seen him sporadically all week, and he seemed to avoid me yesterday."

Harry scoffed, coughing at the dust he inhaled, "Ron was drunk when he arrived, Hermione. He didn't want to tell you that he was. The Aurors had a Christmas party, and he didn't take you. We disagreed about it, so he drank more. That's why he was avoiding you. I told him off and said if he wanted a real relationship with you, he had to grow up and be an adult."

Hermione frowned as she sat down on an old settee that groaned when she sat on it, "I think I need to have a serious conversation with Ron. Don't get me, I…" Hermione paused, thinking what she wanted to say, "I like Ron. He's my best friend other than you. I don't know how I would live without him, but he isn't willing to be in a relationship with me. Only when it's convenient for him is he available. Being in New York is hard, but I send him an international letter once a week. He only has written back twice." Hermione bit her lip, "And if I'm honest, the sexual chemistry isn't there unless we fight before it. You said I told him I loved him, but I don't think I do, Harry."

Hermione put her head in her hands, and Harry came over to sit next to her, "I love you both. You are right, though. I think," Harry sighed, "Somehow we had this picture somewhere in the sixth year that we would get together with Ginny and Ron, and it would just work. We'd be one big happy family. You and Ron were so jealous of each other in the fourth year, so maybe it started back then. Ron didn't realize his feelings until Krum, though, so it was more of a jealousy thing. I don't want you to sacrifice your happiness for what you think is right."

Hermione looked up at him, and a tear fell down her dust-covered cheek, "I don't want to hurt him."

"He hurts you so much more, Hermione," Harry told her truthfully, "Look, I don't want you two breaking up, but you two do need to talk things out. If you need me to keep him calm, I'm offering myself up."

Hermione threw her arms around his neck, "You are such a good friend, Harry. Ginny is lucky to have you."

"Now come on, we are almost done with this room," Harry said as he stood up and looked around, "I think at the rate we are going, by Christmas Eve, we can have this whole floor cleared."

Hermione nodded as she surveyed the room, "After that, it's just stripping the last two floors."

Harry looked towards the door, "The Master Bedroom will be the worst because of Buckbeak."

Hermione paused, then frowned, "Why don't we just leave that one until the end?"

"Sounds fine to me," Harry sighed, "I have to touch Sirius' bedroom."

"Yeah, and who knows what is in the attic," Hermione told him as he groaned, "What are your plans for this when it's all done? Bill says there are no more dark presences in the house, no curses. There are just normal wizarding protections."

Harry threw the wood in his hand to the pile by the door, "Sirius asked me to move in with him during our third year. He never wanted it to be here, though. Maybe I'll ask Andromeda. This is her family home, too. Her parents grew up here before Sirius' dad inherited it. I'm tempted to sell it or put it in a trust for Teddy. He is a Black by blood. He should be the heir."

"You don't want to live here, though?" Hermione asked.

"Truthfully? No," Harry told her, "Sirius hated this place, and it just brings those feelings that he was held here against his will. If he could have, we would have found a place together. In the future, I want to find a place and get a big black dog in his honor. Give it a home."

Hermione threw her arm over his shoulders, "He would be so proud of you. They all would."

Harry smiled at her, "I hope so," He sighed, "Let's get this done and get home."

*~*~* December 25, 1999 *~*~*

Hermione sighed as she watched Ginny and Harry with intertwined fingers, sharing stolen glances and smiles from their spot on the couch. Molly was bustling about the kitchen, her face flushed from the fire warming the house as she buzzed around preparing dishes for dinner with Arthur attempting to help, and she continuously had to redirect him on what to do. Bill and Fleur were sitting together, with Bill holding the ever-growing Victoire in his arms. Charlie sat against Percy's chair as George told everyone from the loveseat about a new invention Lee Jordan had helped him create for the store. Ron was sitting next to him, listening intently. Despite the joy and togetherness, Hermione could feel the cracks growing between her and Ron. The weight of her heart was growing heavier by the minute as she watched the family together. She swallowed hard as Ron's gaze suddenly lingered on her.

Ron cleared his throat, "Hey, Harry, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure," Harry said as he kissed Ginny's cheek, "Be right back."

"Wonder what that is about?" Ginny wondered as the boys went upstairs.

"I don't know," Hermione said tired.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Bill asked, concerned.

Hermione put on a smile, "Just tired." She sighed, "It was a long first semester. I didn't get along with my roommates at all. There was a period where I slept in the library for a week."

Percy frowned, "Are your roommates not magical?"

"Oh, they are, but they were friends at Salem Institute, and I felt like I did at Hogwarts the odd woman out. Thankfully, Harry had-" Hermione said as Harry's voice carried downstairs, "You are an idiot, Ron! That is a stupid thing to do!"

Ron's reply was cut off a few words in as one of them must have set up a silencing charm.

Arthur walked over to the stairs and looked up towards them. "I wonder what that is about?"

"Ron more than likely had a stupid idea," George told them, "He came up with an idea of making an adult-sized chess board like their first year. I reminded him how well that went when he got knocked out."

"Dinner is ready!" Molly yelled as she walked in, "Where is Ron and Harry?"

"Upstairs," Arthur said as a door slammed upstairs and heavy footsteps came down. First, Harry appeared, fists clenched, then Ron came next, red-faced and angry, "Everything okay, boys? Dinner is ready."

"Just fine, Dad," Ron said as Harry glanced at Hermione and went out the backdoor. "Just a slight disagreement. Let's eat."

As everyone was finishing their plates, Harry returned to sit at the table after cooling down outside with Bill talking to him. It was a quiet affair as everyone spoke up except Ron and Harry.

Molly got up and went into the kitchen, and Ron stood up.

"I have a gift I have to give," Ron said as he pushed his chair back.

"Ron," Harry warned.

"Hermione, sunshine daisies, butter mellow," Ron said as he dropped to one knee, and the whole room fell silent, "Will you marry this fellow?"

a/n: So I posted this tonight because I meet Matt Lewis tomorrow. So excited! If you have a question for him and want to leave it within your comment and I'm able I'll ask!

Preview of Chapter 16- Other Side of the Door

"Hermione? Hermione!" Harry's voice echoed in her head as her knees went to the ground. Harry's feet were in front of her, catching her, "Are you hurt? What happened?"

"Ron," Hermione gasped out.

Suddenly, she was in Harry's arms as he carried her inside Grimmauld Place and into the study. Setting her down on the couch, he touched her face, "What happened?"