Hermione watched the sunset from her window and was still wide awake when the sky started to rise again in the morning. Potter Manor must have been on the southwest side of the UK. The house was taller than it was wide. The staircase she climbed only felt like three flights but looking out her window she found herself at least eight floors from the ground.

The beaded bag that lived by her side for nearly two years mocked her from where it rested on a chair. Whatever she loved she would lose if it didn't fit inside it. It was like the bag knew: in the end, it was just the two of them again.

There was a group gathering in the back garden. They had nearly beaten the sunrise. There was someone in the middle instructing, and then the others began running, various paces as they disappeared into the woods.

Hermione watched them until the hungry ache in her belly became too much to ignore. The hall was clear, and Hermione made her way down to the main floor. The Potter's house was so welcoming. The portraits on the walls smiled and nodded to her as they went along with their business. There was one man, older and short, but with a head full of messy back hair.

"Good morning, young lady," the portrait said with a cheery smile.

Hermione slowed her steps. "Good morning, Mr. Potter."

"Are you a Mrs. Potter?" The portrait asked, playfully.

Hermione stumbled. "I- no. Not Mrs. Potter."

The portrait snorted a laugh, innocent and so wistfully familiar that it was clear how strong the Potter mannerisms were. "Apologies. Been a while since we had a younger generation. Our Jamie boy is a keeper, though. Don't count him out."

James Potter is dead. "Have a good day, sir."

Hermione could hear the portrait whispering as it went about its existence -whatever shell of an existence that may be. Walking and talking, but never truly connected with the world. Were they aware of time? Did they feel pain or grief? Someone once told her it would be better to enjoy the bliss of ignorance for as long as possible and to not go fielding questions she didn't want the answers to. Better to let the portrait bask in its ignorance, unaware his ancient bloodline had ended.

The halls were too bright, and there were no secret alcoves revealed as Hermione held her hand against the walls as she walked. There were doors lining the hall, and Hermione was about to turn around to flee back to her room when one flew open.

"Hermione," Ron said, rubbing his eyes. "Up early."

"I couldn't sleep," Hermione admitted. "Sorry if I woke you…"

Ron waved his hand, closing the door behind him and walking towards her. "S'posed to be up for training anyhow."

Hermione chuckled as they started walking down towards the staircase. "They started over an hour ago."

"Don't even arrive after the sun. That's two laps for every one you were set to do," Ron whined.

"Laps? As in running? You?" Hermione asked.

"We have to stay in pristine shape if we want to win battles. Can't rely on magic alone," Ron lightly mocked. "Wands are no more than sticks in secular areas. Once you pass the muggle's boundary, you're on your own."

Hermione stopped in her tracks. "You've allowed muggles to take away our magic?"

"The Order has created large areas that repress the use of magic. So that everyone can have safety from Death Eaters," said Ron. "It's Aberforth spell. It took him his whole life studying the Obcsurus… after what happened to his sister," Ron explained, softening a little as he spoke. "It's coming out of the areas that's volatile. Best not to stay in for too long or have spells at the ready once your magic's released."

They reached the bottom of the stairs and the little appetite Hermione had was gone as she balled and stretched her fists, willing her magic to her fingertips and back to ensure it was still there. The thought of how she could possibly survive without it made it tremble in defense.

The front doors swung open with a bang against the wall. Hermione grabbed Ron's arm quickly pulling him to the side and through a door that she silently closed behind her.

"What-?" Ron started to speak, and Hermione covered his mouth with her hand, gesturing to him to stay quiet with the other.

Ron gently grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand down until it rested by their sides.

"You don't have to hide," Ron said, quietly.

She felt foolish and choked on her words as she tried to reason with the uncertainty in her own mind.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't sweat it," Ron said with a grin. He reached for the door, and they walked out of the broom cupboard into the light. "I can walk you back upstairs if you'd prefer. But I'll need to meet with the Advisory soon about yesterday."

"No- I'm fine. Really," Hermione insisted. If the Advisory was meeting, maybe she could get close and listen in-

"Everyone will understand if you need to skip, of course," Ron said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Oh," Hermione said, surprised. "I'm to attend as well?"

Ron laughed. "Considering you have basically been leading it through your notes this past year, seems only fair."

"Who else is on it?" Hermione asked, feeling an unfamiliar swell of pride in her chest that she welcomed like another old friend.

"McGonagall, Aberforth, mum and dad of course," Ron started rattling off. "Bill and Charlie officially, but Ginny forced her way in. No one's been able to drag her out yet. There's me- I'm a very important member-"

"Naturally," Hermione jested.

"Technically Kingsley, but he's hardly here. There's Diggle and Podmore. They still think we should stay on the defensive, argue against any move for us to strike. Hestia Jones- she's a saint, keeps us on track. Aggressive."

"Ron!" A voice yelled from down the hall.

"Bloody hell- hurry up," Ron grumbled under his breath and picked up his steps.

"Weasley! I know you hear me! You missed conditioning today. Hey- Weasley! Ron!" The voice shouted from behind them.

"Sorry, mate! Very important stuff to do. Maybe next time!" Ron yelled over his shoulder as they entered the dining room. He looked at Hermione with a sly smile. "I'm gonna pay for that."

"Well don't drag me into it! I'm winded from just that walk," Hermione said, genuinely panting.

They both claimed a seat, Hermione selecting one on the left side so she could see both the doors and out the window. A habit she picked up in case she needed to make a quick exit.

"Merlin's Beard! You were telling the truth Arthur," a voice said from the doorway and Hermione turned to see McGonagall. "Ms. Granger, it is a joy to see you!"

Hermione rose to greet her old professor. Her robes were still regal, pristine, and it was the first real sense of normal she had since she arrived.

"Minerva, we should get started," Charlie stated. It was a full Advisory meeting it seemed; every chair occupied around the table.

"It's great to see you," Hermione said, truly meaning it.

"We needed some good fortune," McGonagall said with a sad smile.

"Hestia Jones," a woman said, walking around them. "Honor to meet you, Ms. Granger."

"Hermione's fine," Hermione said, not liking the formality.

Ms. Granger was something that no one has called her since she was a student at Hogwarts and it didn't feel like her anymore. McGonagall waved for her to walk first, and they took their seats at the table.

"Hermione then," Hestia said with a nod. "I wish we had more good news for you."

"The wards at Hogwarts are impenetrable. My unit tried everything and couldn't make them budge," Charlie announced, too impatient to wait any longer.

"Same with the others," Molly nodded. "The Forbidden Forest was filled with werewolves and snatchers."

"Losses?" asked Hestia.

"None, fortunately. Everyone was able to portkey out," Molly said.

There was a pause in the room and Hermione wanted to ask more questions but didn't know where to begin. Her and Draco knew that the Order would try and ambush the celebration at Hogwarts, but what they had planned was always a mystery.

"How bad was it?" Ron asked to the room, and there was a hesitation before anyone dared to speak.

Arthur pulled out a letter, folded into a tiny square that made it easy to conceal. "Largest Ceremony so far. Nearly three-hundred Death Eaters were initiated."

Horror overcame their faces as Arthur read. Ceremonies were held at Hogwarts every weekend, though usually there were only ten to twenty newly initiated Death Eaters.

"What happens in the Ceremony exactly?" asked Hermione.

Draco always told her not to worry about such things that were out of their control.

"Hermione's been deep on an assignment. Confidential," Ron spoke up when the other members looked at Hermione incredulously. "Her attention has been elsewhere."

Arthur nodded in confirmation, taking a healthy swing of tea before speaking. "The Dark Mark has more than just wizarding magic. A small amount of Dementor magic is siphoned and embedded in the mark, but they don't give it over freely. It comes with a price."

"What price?" Hermione forced herself to ask.

"The ultimate thing they seek. A soul," Aberforth spoke up. "There is only one way to split a soul."

Hermione clenched her jaw to tame the quiver. The dread felt around the table now starting to creep in on her own chest. "So, during the ceremony, each member that is getting the mark…"

"Presents a victim to the Dementor's to perform the kiss. The Death Eater kills the victim after, splitting a small piece of their own soul as penance," Arthur finished. "The victim's soul is paid to the Dementor, and the fraction of the Death Eater's soul is given to their Dark Lord."

Hermione would have felt more embarrassed at her reaction if everyone else at the table was not equally distraught. She needed to get back to Draco. There was nothing she could do to make him whole again, but she could at least distract him from the parts that were missing.

"It's rarely magical people that they sacrifice, only when they want to make an example. Young Malfoy fills in the rest with muggles," Hestia snarled.

"Draco-?"

Ron nudged her under the table and Hermione snapped her mouth shut.

"Ah, yes. Ron here told us he was an old schoolmate of yours," Hestia said with a nod. "He's only gotten nastier, I'm afraid. We all thought the Malfoy family couldn't do worse than Lucius."

Hermione balled her fists, actively controlling her magic to not have another outburst. "Right."

Most of the topics were things Hermione was already up to date on. Specifics were never discussed in the open, even within the Advisory, if they could help it. Spies apparent on both sides of the war.

"Molly!" Hermione called, running to catch up with her as she hurried down the hall once the meeting was over.

"You feeling alright? Not all meetings are so grim," she said with a sad smile.

"I've seen worse," Hermione said, dismissively. "There are spies in the Order. Certainly, one who worked with Cyrus. Draco thinks it's me. That thinks I betrayed him. That I tried to get them all killed- and I would never-"

That wasn't true, though. Because she did kill Goyle, and that alone was something that Draco may never forgive her for.

"Draco…" Molly searched for the words, trying to save Hermione's feelings. "It's very sensitive right now. And it's not your fault! He lost his best friend and his elf, not to mention everything with Narcissa. And well… there is only so much a young man can take."

"But he thinks that I-"

"He doesn't just think," Molly said more firmly, as if she was speaking in his defense. "He discovered that you were conspiring with someone else. And apparently in a somewhat compromising position. You two do seem very close, and Anthony has always spoke about how important you are-"

"It's not like that," Hermione snapped. "I love Draco."

"I don't doubt that."

"I would die for him," Hermione declared.

"Alright?" Ron asked, walking up to them.

"Hermione dear, if he gives me a morsale of hope that he would be willing to speak with you, I will take you to him in an instant," Molly said genuinely before turning to walk away again. "I best be off."

Molly disappeared around the corner, and Hermione felt Ron gently place his hand on her shoulder.

"It's only been a day," Ron said to console her, and she looked up to meet his warm eyes. "You're doing great."

Hermione forced a smile and the two headed off towards the back door to walk the grounds. There were two barns: one still functional and the other renovated as a barracks for newly deflected Death Eaters to stay during their vetting period.

"We never really know when she will be in," Ron said, opening the barn door and standing to the side for Hermione to enter. When she showed up without you the other day, we thought the worst. Potter Manor is unplottable. We didn't think you'd be able to find us without her"

Hermione's jaw dropped as she walked in and saw Dory grazing in one of the stalls. Dory noticed her immediately, ruffling her feathers and stomping her foot in greeting.

"I just wasn't ready," Hermione admitted, feeling foolish but needing someone to know.

"Malfoy should have tried harder. He refused to pass along any letters from us. If Anthony didn't insist you were okay, we would have blown-up Malfoy Manor," Ron said, and Hermione summoned treats for Dory wandlessly to distract her magic from jinxing her best friend. Draco would never speak ill of her.

"Draco suggested I wasn't safe?"

"Malfoy said you were perfectly safe, wrapped up in his bed, waiting for him," Ron snarled, and Hermione had to look down. As much as she hated to admit it, Draco was always one to relish in taunting. "I lost it. I hit him twice in the face before he even responded. He said you were his now. That-"

Ron looked away, breathing deeply out of his nose to calm himself. Hermione remembered the day he got back from Vienna, the first time he left after they'd been fully together. He had fresh bruises under his eye and on his brow, refusing to tell her their origins.

"Tell me," Hermione encouraged him. "He said no matter where you went or who you were with, you were his. That he was now so deep inside you."

Hermione turned to look at Dory, feeling her cheeks heat. Hating Draco for being so crude almost as much as she hated herself for desiring to hear those words from his own mouth.

"Did he hurt you Hermione?" Ron said darkly and she met his eyes again. "I don't care about how valuable he is. If he hurt you, we'll kill him."

"It wasn't like that," she said weakly. This was not a discussion she was ready to have with anyone. "But yes, it's true… I'm his."

Ron's jaw dropped and she realised how insane the words sounded out loud. "Hermione…"

"And he's mine. Not in the way you're thinking just that…" Every word that came out sounded wrong. She always knew scrutiny awaited them, but she always assumed they would face it together. "Draco didn't hurt me. I hurt him," Hermione confessed, tears starting to escape her eyes.

Ron hugged her and she let herself lean into him. Everything felt so wrong since she left the Manor. The sound of her steps, the light of the sun, all too loud and bright and nothing like what she wanted.

She pulled herself together enough to continue her walk. Ron listened to her intently as she explained her time away. Ron scoffed occasionally but listened for the most part. Getting angry at Draco when she described some of their more memorable disagreements but there was never so much as a hint of judgment as she described their best times.

After they made their way back to her room, talking started feeling good. Ron felt like home too, in a different way. She found herself laughing until she couldn't breathe when he told her about walking in on George with a random muggle they met while out on a mission. Her smile fell slightly when she started to get the idea that he had been waiting for her. The mood between them both plummeted completely when they realized no matter how long they waited for Harry, that he would never be back.

They talked, laying side by side until they fell asleep. Hermione woke in the morning, and Ron had his back towards her, laying on the opposite side of the bed. She let herself feel grateful for a moment.

"Granger!"

"Fucking hell!" Hermione yelped, jumping up to see Seamus standing in her doorway.

"Apologies, madam," Seamus laughed. It had been over a week since she saw him the day she arrived at the Potter house. "Busy?"

Hermione closed her book and set it on the window bench where she was sitting. "Still catching up. Hestia is letting me sit in on a briefing tonight."

"Bullocks," Parvati said, pushing past Seamus in the doorway. "You can't stay in your room forever."

"Can't I…" Hermione mumbled under her breath. Every time she left the room, people would want to know every detail about the 'secret mission' she was on for over a year.

"Piss off, Patil," Ron said, walking to stand in the doorway beside her. He looked at Hermione with a gentle smile. "Hey."

"Hey," Hermione returned.

"We were thinking of heading to central London now that it is Death Eater free," said Parvati. "I can give you something to wear."

"Oh…" Hermione gaped, looking between them and sensing the subtly nervousness as they waited for her answer. "I didn't know that… I can leave?"

Ron smiled fully. "Course."

"That's a yes!" Parvati chimed and walked out of the room. "I'll be back with some wardrobe options, but we should really go shopping soon."

Hermione couldn't help but smile. She hadn't been out in the world in so long.

"Foyer in an hour?" Seamus asked, getting excited himself that Hermione hadn't rejected it yet.

"I'll get ready," said Hermione, moving to her en suite to start with her hair. When she looked back, she saw Seamus and Ron looking relieved and genuinely pleased.

The clothes Parvati brought her was a selection of muggle denim and tops that made her feel normal. There weren't any jumpers in the pile, but Hermione could use heating charms to fight off the chill.

There was still nearly ten minutes before they were set to depart when Hermione headed down the stairs. Walking down the second-floor corridor, there was a defined line where the light refused to touch. The shadow acted like a barrier, separating one side from the other. Hermione reached out her hand, and when it didn't stop against the shadow but moved freely into the darkness, she took a few short steps to walk through.

When she reached the other side, her lips parted in surprise. The wooden floors a few feet behind her changed to marble, and the walls were cold stone, just like at home. But there was no doubt she was still in the Potter house, the view when she looked out the window was proof of that enough.

"Hermione!" Parvati called. "Are you ready?"

Hermione turned around, walking back through the shadow quickly and towards the stairs. Parvati had already passed her floor and was making her way up to her room.

"Down here!" called Hermione, and Parvati turned back around.

"This bloody place is so confusing," she grumbled as she made her way down. "Sometimes floors won't even appear to you if you're not looking for them. I usually skip this one."

"Good to know," Hermione said with a smile. "Decide where we're going?"

"George knows a speakeasy that serves butterbeer," she said as the two walked the rest of the way down the stairs.

"And they will be completely out by the time we get there at this rate," George teased as they walked into the foyer. "All set?"

"After you," Ron said to his brother from Hermione's side and gestured towards the front door.

"It'll take a few gos. Detour in on the Birmingham house and then connect to London," Ron stated, grabbing Hermione's arm. "You haven't been there before, so you'll side along with me the first time."

Hermione nodded and tightened where their arms linked. Hestia and the other Advisory members had shared with her all the safe houses the Order used. The Potter house was the main headquarters, but there were houses all across Europe.

Ron tightened his arm, and then the sky started to spin. When it stopped, they were standing outside a large brownstone. Hermione hardly had a moment to take it in before they were spinning away again. When they landed the second time, Hermione looked around and took in what she assumed was what's left of London.

Debris lined the streets, and there were no cars or pedestrians walking about. The sun had already started to set, and there was no artificial light coming from any of the surrounding buildings.

"This way," George said, walking down a narrow alley. "Wands away."

Hermione tucked her wand into the waist band of her denims, and Ron pulled the bottom of her shirt to cover it.

The group came to a quick halt as George moved a board, revealing a hole in the side of a building. "In you go!"

Once Hermione passed through the opening, music and laughter filled her ears. The entire room was full, from the stage on one side to the bar on the other. People were leaning against the window seals that appeared dark and empty from the outside. She laughed, relieved to find that life was still hidden away.

"Butterbeer?!" Ron asked her, yelling over the music.

"Is there fire whiskey?!" Hermione yelled back and Seamus laughed from her side.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Seamus yelled as they walked to the bar to grab their drinks.

Fire whiskey didn't burn her throat like it used to. Ron stuck to butterbeer, keeping an eye on everyone in their group, but especially her.

"Easy, Granger," Pavarti said when Hermione reached for her wand to summon a carafe of water.

"Why? There is no secrecy anymore?" Hermione slurred back.

"Maybe not, but there's fear," replied Parvati, taking a more serious note compared to the rest of the night. "They already want to make this a magic free- zone."

"ANOTHER!" George shouted pointing around the table and counting the nodding heads.

"Granger, is it true you can do wandless magic?" Seamus shouted and Ron elbowed his side.

Hermione did a quick survey of the room before waving her hand over Seamus rum and turning it into water.

"Brilliant!" Seamus shouted. "Transfiguration! That's incredible-"

Seamus' voice cut off as his mouth kept moving and Hermione giggled when he finally noticed. She only held the silencing charm for a few more seconds before ending it.

"Tits Granger- we all thought you were scary before. That's where you were all this time? Training to become the Order's secret weapon?" George exclaimed.

"Hermione's always been brilliant. It's hardly a secret," Ron countered.

"Wandless transfiguration, Weasley? That's nearly unheard of since wandlore was founded centuries ago," Parvati exclaimed. "Not to mention she didn't mutter a single incantation!"

"Do something else," George said excitedly.

"Transfigure Seamus!" Parvati chimed in. "Make him a cat. Please make him a cat."

There was a thump. It was so quick, that Hermione wasn't sure she had felt anything until she saw the liquids in their glasses were unsettled. The others around the table felt it too, all traces of joking gone. When the second thump made the chandelier rattle, all the other patrons fell silent.

"Here," Ron said, shoving a small vial of detox potion in her hand and he drank his own. The others had potions of their own that they swallowed down quickly. "Come on."

The group rushed out onto the street. It was still empty, but George was quickly leading them to the end of the street.

"Ron, take Hermione back," George instructed. "We'll check southwest first. Parvati and Seamus start in the east and we'll meet in the middle. They have to be close."

"Hermione and I will head south," Ron said.

"Hermione has had no training," George protested. "And part of the gits agreement is she's not to fight."

"Taking orders from Malfoy now?" Ron said.

George hesitated but then nodded. "Fine. Who am I to deny her the opportunity to kill Death Eaters."

A boom filled the streets, and Hermione could see the ripple in the wards that made a dome over the city center.

"Go! Go!"

Hermione and Ron took off running. Once they turned a corner and were out of sight, he grabbed her arm and apparated them to the edge of the boundaries, dividing the city in half. People running and screaming on the other side, while Death Eaters flew up above, casting down at the people as they fled.

"Expecto Patronum," Ron casted. "They're here. At least fifty, come quickly."

"Why aren't the muggles within the boundary?" Hermione asked, watching in horror.

"We could only secure about half the city and we can't force them to move. Some don't trust us anymore than them," Ron snarled looking up at the sky and starting towards the boundary. Hermione directly behind him.

Cracks surrounded her as the others appeared. Wands drawn as they all rushed forward, stopping right before they crossed.

"Get the muggles across the boundary! Take down any Death Eater in your way!" George instructed.

"Any targets?" Parvati asked and George shook his head.

A Death Eater set another row of buildings ablaze, and the group ran forward, not able to wait another moment.

"Reducto!" Hermione casted to a fire hydrant causing water to explode from it. She waved her wand, redirecting the stream to circle and shower upon the burning building before taking to the streets.

The Death Eaters above were a blur of black smoke. Hermione ran, trying to stay as close to the buildings as she could. When she turned a corner, she saw a group of three cloaked figures dragging muggles out of a building.

"Stupify!" casted Hermione, sending one Death Eater flying back and directing her wand at the others before they could turn around. She turned to the muggles as they got to their feet. "Get to the city center!"

"Leave us alone!" A boy, no older than thirteen screamed at her. An older man ran up to his side and pulled him close as a teenage girl came up to meet them.

"Run that way and die," she said pointing behind them first, and then back the way she came. "Or run that way and live."

The father hesitated for a moment before grabbing their hands and running towards the boundaries.

Hermione silently casted a disillusionment and protective charm over the family before turning and looking over the Death Eaters. They were all too short and stocky, so she stepped over them and continued on her way.

It was quickly made clear to Hermione that the Death Eaters were harvesting muggles. She erected anti-apparation charm as she wove through the town, doing anything she could to slow them down.

"Reducto!" Ron casted from behind her and watched as brick broke off a building to hit the Death Eaters flying beside them. Two got knocked off their brooms and started freefalling towards the ground.

"Arresto Momentum!" Hermione casted reflexively.

The Death Eaters slowed before hitting the ground. She followed up quickly with a stunning spell. If the Death Eaters were one of hers, being captured would be the best thing for them.

Hermione started to get into a rhythm. Her magic flowed freely like it had been begging to do for months. The energy on the ground started to become more chaotic. There were muggles with broken limbs and burns from jumping out of their building and Hermione had to carry and levitate them across the border.

The streets were filled with smoke and sightings of muggles in need were becoming few and far between while Order members and Death Eaters continued to battle. Hermione cleared the air with her free hand as she casted stunners with her wand. Her skin and clothes were charred. Her lungs and legs ached. She spotted Ron through an alley and used what little energy she had remaining to sprint towards him. Her ankles nearly gave as she ran over the uneven ground, and she was only halfway through when something grabbed her and pinned her against the wall.

A gloved hand covered her mouth before she could scream, and the next moment fire was pouring in from an explosion, lighting up the once dark alley. Hermione would have wordlessly hexed the Death Eater trapping her against the wall, if she hadn't recognized how he pressed against her.

Hermione panted around his hand, seeing the blood and soot that dirtied a mask that she had memorized. Her arms moved to reach for him, but another explosion set more rubble and flames flying towards them, and the Death Eater used his cloak to surround them both and protect them from the burn.

The dust settled, and both of their breathing was loud from under the tent of the cloak. Hermione couldn't speak. Even if her lungs weren't fighting for breath, she wouldn't know what to say. So, she lifted her hand and brushed the bit of blood off his mask so he wouldn't have to see it later.

"Hermione!" Ron's voice called out from the newly formed silence, and he flinched.

"Draco wait-"

Hermione grabbed onto his cloak, pulling him to her, but the robes turned to black smoke in her hands.