a/n: Many thanks to Time Keeper and starboy454 for reading and reviewing!

Prompt: 5 years married

Chapter 18: Background

"What do you prefer I call you? Solicitor Granger? Mrs. Potter?" Joyce Creswell asked, her quill poised over her reporter's notebook.

Hermione had a flash of Rita Skeeter seeking the most salacious angle of a story. She had to remind herself that the editor of the Daily Prophet had guaranteed Joyce was a different kind of journalist. She'd be tough but fair and had a relenting desire to find the truth regardless of who that pissed off. It was the reason Hermione had agreed to do the sit down interview. "You can call me Hermione. In your article Solicitor Granger would be best," she answered and smoothed out her blouse and tried to find a comfortable position.

"Are you nervous?"

"What gave it away?" Hermione asked with a laugh.

Joyce put her quill down. "We can just start by having a conversation. Off the record, give me foundation and then we can start the interrogation."

Breathing out, Hermione felt some anxiety leave her. "That'd be great."

"You and Harry have been married for five years now and have two kids, a son and daughter. Liam and Siri? I know you're protective of them for good reason. I've been curious to know the background on their names."

This was a question Hermione didn't mind answering. She was incredibly proud of her growing family. "Liam is named after Harry's parents. A kind of combination of Lily and James. Having the reminder of them and the sacrifices they made was really important to us. Siri is named after Harry's godfather. It means god's gift of love." As she spoke, her hand unconsciously rested on her stomach.

Joyce picked up on the movement. "And there's a third on the way?"

With surprise, Hermione looked around and then realized what had given away the secret. She'd have to really watch her body language. "Well, yes, but it's still early and we haven't told anyone."

Holding up her hands in agreement, the reporter looked sorry to have brought it up. "I didn't mean to pry. I mean, obviously I mean to pry today. But about your upcoming promotion and testimony. Not into your personal life. You and Harry are the closest thing we have to celebrities and people are naturally curious."

"I try to understand. We've never sought out the spotlight and we're not sure either Harry or I believe we deserve celebrity status."

"That's likely to exacerbate the situation." As Joyce made her observation the door to Hermione's study opened a crack.

Hermione waved Harry in.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, slipping into a chair next to Hermione, giving her a quick kiss on her cheek.

"We haven't started the interview. We're just doing some background," Joyce offered. "I wonder what you would say to the people who think holding a trial this week for Bellatrix Lestrange is unnecessary? She's already serving her previous life sentence. It doesn't sound like an efficient use of ICW resources."

Putting a hand on Harry's arm, Hermione sensed him tense. He knew he wasn't there to intervene or defend her. He'd been permitted to sit in on the interview to lend his support. "I'd be saying the same thing honestly. What I tell myself is that justice isn't always efficient."

Joyce's hand twitched toward her quill. She desperately wanted to write the quote down and then remembered they were still off the record. "It seems odd that you would testify against Bellatrix after you quit your job at the ICW to serve as Lucius Malfoy's defense attorney."

It did seem odd. But not for the reasons Joyce had been referring. "Well, as you know the tribunal team always knew this trial was a possibility. We went to great lengths to put controls and walls in place between myself and any evidence or testimony related to the crimes that occurred in Malfoy Manor. I had no conflict of interest taking the case."

"But you quit your job to defend him," Joyce pressed. "The muggleborn solicitor who clerked for the legal team that prosecuted dozens of Death Eaters left her position at the ICW in order to provide the Malfoys a competent defense. The brother-in-law of the woman who tortured you. That's hard to understand for many."

Hermione wiped the palms of her hands on her pants. She hated having to justify her decisions. "When it looked like Lucius might be forced to represent himself, having done the impossible of being painted simultaneously a traitor to Voldemort and a prominent Death Eater, I knew he wouldn't stand a chance. I also knew he deserved a fair trial. That was why I decided to work for the tribunal legal team in the first place. It wasn't just to bring Death Eaters to justice. It was to ensure the hand of justice was used fairly."

"Fairly? Lucius Malfoy was a prominent Death Eater, as you said. He joined Voldemort's movement enthusiastically. And rejoined him when he returned." Joyce's position echoed Harry's.

"The ruling had been fair. It reflected the seriousness of the crimes Lucius had committed of his own free will, took into account the duress the family had eventually been under, and most of all, acknowledged the efforts Lucius specifically made in the final battle to keep Death Eaters from fleeing. There's no doubt his heroics at the end were completely motivated by self preservation and to save Draco. There are worse motivations for heroics. A ten year sentence at the new medium security prison was fair," Hermione made her point with authority. She'd defend the ruling to anyone who would question it.

"Are you sure you're ready to be a politician?"

Joyce's question got a laugh from Harry, earning him the attention of both women. "Sorry. It's just that Hermione is of the opinion that she can transform the British Delegate to the ICW job from a political position to a policy position."

"You're… different," Joyce said to Hermione without judgment.

Harry nodded in agreement before catching Hermione's glare.

"I'm just motivated to make our institutions work for everyone. Equally. That shouldn't be controversial."

"Hm. And yet it is," Joyce countered. Standing, she smiled, "We can take a break if you'd like before we go on the record? If you can point me to your bathroom?"

Hermione relaxed and stood. "First door on your right," she explained, pointing toward the exit.

Harry waited until he heard the door close before speaking in a whisper. "She might have your number."

"In more ways than one. She guessed I was pregnant." Hermione pushed her hair back and was grateful they had already done the photo shoot for the interview.

Shifting uncomfortably at the revelation, Harry stepped closer to her. She was about as far along as she had been when Bellatrix tortured her. The irony of the timing wasn't lost on either of them.

"What was I thinking agreeing to this?" Hermione finally asked.

Rubbing both his hands up and down her arms, Harry attempted to ease her nerves. "Because people need to hear what you have to say."

"They want to know what Bellatrix did to me. It feels... voyeuristic."

It was hard to argue. The public interest in the upcoming proceedings was everywhere. There was a new article everyday for two weeks, like a count down. "Voldemort never had to answer for his crimes. Seeing Bellatrix face prosecution is cathartic for a lot of people."

"We just had five years of trials."

Harry tilted his head. He knew she was minimizing her experience. "Bellatrix is different. She wasn't just a Death Eater seeking influence and power. She was invested in Voldemort's movement. She's the next best thing to holding Voldemort accountable."

"So make the story about her and not me," Hermione said in frustration.

Joyce spoke up, having quietly reentered the study. "No one wants to read about the villain. They want to read about the hero. Unless the story is about the hero bringing the villain to justice."

Hero. That wasn't the angle Hermione was hoping for. She motioned for the reporter to rejoin her and watched Joyce pick up her quill. Off the record was over. Hermione was determined to change the narrative.