For a time, it was just the two of them. Each trying not to think too much about what the next twelve hours may hold for them.

Eventually, someone delivered breakfast for Hermione, but not for Harry. According to the healer's orders, Harry couldn't eat until he woke up after his procedure. He'd encouraged her to eat. She needed it after all, still being malnourished after their stint as survivalists in the wilderness. She tried her best, but couldn't find much of an appetite.

Milly and Erica had come in a while ago, asking if there was anyone they'd like to send for. Word was being kept pretty tight about Harry's condition. Press were apparently hounding the lobby of the hospital even after a couple days, hungry to learn anything to report about the recently dubbed "Man Who Conquered". Neither of the healers seemed surprised he hated the title as soon as he'd heard it.

Hermione tried to dismiss the idea of company, but Harry insisted that she should have some support while they were separated. He showed a determination to take care of her, which was both sweet and a little troubling. It still worried her he had so many thoughts about what might keep her happy in his absence. She knew he'd spent far too much time recently thinking about her and some others getting by without him, and she couldn't shake her sadness at the toll it must have taken on him to be set into that sort of thinking.

In the end, Erica left the room to check the status of any Weasleys still in the hospital and see about getting a message to Minerva.

It was around 11:30 when Morris entered their room once more, with a man who looked eerily similar to him. Hermione recoiled a bit at his arrival. The moment she had been dreading was probably here, when they would separate her from Harry until this was over.

"Harry, Hermione," Morris greeted them. "I'd like to introduce you to Doctor John Tolliver, my younger brother."

If the new man hadn't been wearing royal blue hospital scrubs, Harry may have thought this was some sort of poorly timed personal greeting.

"Er, hello, doctor." Harry said, a bit taken aback, and extended a hand to shake.

"Hi there, Harry, Hermione." John smiled comfortably at them. "I understand Morris has told you what the plan is today. Is that correct?"

Harry nodded, a bit confused as to what John's purpose was.

"Very good." He said crisply. "Judging from that look though, he hasn't told you about me though, is that about right?"

"I don't think he mentioned you, no." Hermione answered softly.

"Well see, I'm a surgeon, and I work here in London, but by my clothes you can probably guess I don't work here."

"Are you a muggle?" Harry asked, almost certain the answer would be no. They wouldn't let a muggle into the hospital unless it was a muggle-born child's parent or something.

"Not quite, Harry. I'm a squib. But more importantly, I'm a neurosurgeon. I'm here to assist with the second half of your operation today."

"Because once the device is in place…" Hermione trailed off.

"Exactly. Once we tuck that little coin where it's going, much of the cool magic stuff my *much* older brother over there likes to brag about will stop working for you." He paused long enough for Morris to roll his eyes sarcastically. "That's where I come in. I do this sort of thing for a living with no magic at all."

"Then you must really know what you're doing. I can barely comprehend doing this even with magic and you do it without all the time." Harry seemed to relax a bit at the thought and nestled back into his bed. "Do you help here often?"

Hermione took a deep breath. It shouldn't surprise her anymore how Harry can simply accept the harshest of situations, taking it all in stride, without losing his nerve. All he seemed to be focused on was getting better. Seeing him like that was a small step toward calming her. He was showing clear signs he wasn't still thinking he was all but lost, and his casual determination was exactly what she needed to see in the moment.

—X—X—X—

Hermione stepped out of a piping hot shower, feeling clean and warm. She might have even been relaxed, were it not for the situation going on with Harry.

After he had gone for his procedure, Milly had encouraged her to get out of bed, stretch her legs, and freshen up; It had been sound counsel. She'd been in a bed for nearly 48 hours straight, and before that, she'd been embroiled in the fight of her life, which sent her there. Cleaning charms could do well enough to freshen up a bit, but they were no substitute for proper bathing.

As she took stock of herself in the mirror, she was still sporting more than a few new bruises from the battle Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. Though her mental and magical state was another question entirely, she'd fortunately suffered no noteworthy physical injury. Aside from perhaps looking a little gaunt on account of more than half a year's worth of less than ideal nourishment, she looked like herself.

It seemed almost wrong, given what she'd been through. The last seven years had been entirely transformative. From discovering magic and being attacked by a troll; through breaking into a bank, fighting a war, killing an evil witch, and being cursed by the most powerful sorcerer in existence. The latter half of her short life had been so incredibly intense. It should have changed her immensely, but when she looked in the mirror, all she could see was still a scared little girl, alone and isolated in a world full of strange people with strange powers.

Drying herself off quickly, she discovered that settling into what had once been a bit of a routine felt good. She wrapped her hair in a towel, dried herself off from her neck to her toes, and applied her favorite body lotion. She'd hoarded some away in her bag and there'd been little opportunity for her to use it on the run from snatchers. It wasn't anything fancy, but as the subtle aroma of vanilla and coconut eventually hung heavy in the humid air of the bathroom, she started to feel a bit more like herself again.

She dressed herself from the collection of clothes she kept in her charmed bag, favoring comfort over style for the day ahead of her. Comfortable dark blue jeans and a light henley in her house colors with a motif supporting the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

As she finished dressing and looked once more in the mirror, she noted her hair was still rather wet. She stared at the counter for a moment before realizing that her routine was not going to be entirely comforting that morning.

Out of habit, she'd been looking for her wand. There was a drying charm she'd become quite handy with that helped tame her hair. Closing her eyes and breathing slowly for a moment, she contained the swell of emotion brought about by her idle habit, now in need of modification, before rummaging through her bag once more for her brush.

—X—X—X—

A while later, Milly escorted Hermione down a long hallway on a subterranean level of the hospital. Though, more accurately, one might say the four aurors that had been stationed outside her room escorted the both of them.

The hallway was odd. White tile almost appeared entirely sterile and mundane like one might find in any number of muggle institutions. However, on closer inspection, it had delicate veins of black and silver running through it, identifying it as fine marble. The hall was well lit, though there was no apparent source for the light.

Turning a corner, a door flanked by two more aurors came into view.

She walked in easily and noticed both Milly and two of the aurors hesitate and walk through the door slowly, as though they were pressing through an invisible barrier. The other two remained outside. Milly had a curious look on her face and held something small in her hand.

What met them on the other side was a bit of a surprise. Cool fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead as she made her way into what could have been any of a few waiting rooms she'd spent time in throughout her youth before going to Hogwarts. It was smaller than the common room in Gryffindor tower, and polished hardwood floors gave the room an open feel, while comfortable looking chairs lined the walls. There was even a small table in the corner with refreshments.

"What was that?" Hermione asked, looking at Milly as she made it into the room, and sat down beside her. The doctor's forehead shone with the effort she'd apparently put into entering.

"Wards." She answered. "That first entry is always a bit of a task… You didn't have any issue with them?"

Hermione looked at the floor and she shook her head. "No… Is that because of my core being so weak?"

"No, that shouldn't matter to these particular wards." Milly said, giving her an odd look. "No resistance at all, you said?"

"I didn't even know they were there until I saw you struggle to get in."

"That's very interesting." Milly admitted, then continued seeing the confused look on Hermione. "They're linked to the patient. This is a secure area, and the wards are keyed to the patient being treated. Authorized personnel, like doctors and healers, our security detail, and visitors, carry totems that allow them through. This is mine." She pointed to a small brass pin in the shape of a caduceus on the lapel of her white coat.

"This one is yours." She held out what was in her hand, gesturing for her to put it on. "I think, in some time, when the both of you are mended and doing well, I might like to invite you over and examine the way your magics interact, if you'd be agreeable."

"I'm not sure why we're so interesting, but of course. You've been such a help to both of us, I'm sure Harry would agree we should stay in touch... Wait, why is mine gold?" Hermione asked, pinning the symbol on her shirt.

"You're his proxy. In the unlikely event of an emergency, it lets any staff know yours is the voice to be listened to here. But don't you worry about that, he's in the best of hands." Milly encouraged.

"I see… So, then we're just waiting here until they're done? Do they know how long it will take?"

"I'm not sure, but I can find and ask someone. I'll sit with you until someone else arrives to keep you company, then go see what I can find out."

They didn't need to wait long before there was a knock and the door opened.

"Professor!" Hermione yelled, running to the elder witch. Hermione paused for a moment when she reached her mentor, before throwing her arms around her. "I'm so happy to see you!"

Minerva didn't miss a beat, wrapping her arms immediately around Hermione "Oh Hermione my dear, I'm so glad to see you upright! You gave us such a fright! I'm to relay the well wishes of all the staff at the school. We've all been worried and thinking of both you and Harry."

"Thanks, Professor." Hermione said, releasing her hold on Minerva.

They settled into a companionable conversation, reviewing and updating each other on what's been going on, including the conversation had with Harry about how formalities such as titles seemed out of place in the battle's wake. The news of Hermione's condition shocked Minerva. She had blanched and shed a tear of her own when Hermione told her about the damage to her magic.

At that point in the conversation, Milly offered up some additional details.

"You're actually quite lucky, in a sense, Hermione. Though I'm sure you'll have a hard time seeing it like that." Milly interjected as Hermione shared the news with Minerva. "Had it fully depleted your magical core, you'd likely have died within minutes."

Minerva nodded, but Hermione was stunned at the news. She'd never read anything suggesting that magic was effectively a crucial part of her body before.

"Magic isn't just an accessory for us - it's not really 'supplemental' to our biology,' Milly continued, "especially if it's trained and developed. If a magical child never trained and never tried to learn magic, through to adulthood, their core would sort of atrophy and go inert without harming them. For you, though, with training and a good bit of skill and talent from what I've heard… At a certain point, the core becomes a vital part of you."

"What about Harry then? Won't cutting off his core hurt him?" Hermione asked, worried once more.

"Technically, yes… If they were to negate it entirely. But they're not doing that." Milly explained. "You'll recall Morris telling you that the potion worked but couldn't 'catch up' to the curse without the potion itself becoming an issue. He may have simplified his explanation a bit because effectively he won't have magic he can use… But the device basically works like a dam. It won't fully shut off his magic, but it will reduce it from a raging river to the faintest trickle, so to speak. Enough will remain to sustain vital function, but it will significantly reduce the fuel the curse has to feed on, allowing the potion to work as designed."

"That's both fascinating and terrifying." Hermione replied, and Minerva gave her a comforting squeeze around the shoulders.

"If anything, our Harry's a fighter, Hermione." Minerva added. "Plus, Mister Tolliver is in charge of his care. Filius is quite proud of that particular eagle, though he wasn't head of the house when Morris attended. That's to say, I am certain Mister Tolliver will tend to him well.

"Thanks for saying that… I am just so ready for all of this to be behind us. Some time to rest, not be on the run, and heal, would be quite welcome."

"I know dear. It will come soon, I'm certain."

"Would you like a cuppa, Minerva? I think I could use the distraction." Hermione asked. Her mentor's first name felt odd on her lips.

"I could certainly make do with one, thank you." Minerva replied with a grin.

She looked over at Milly, extending the question, and she nodded in the affirmative as well. "I've not been a big tea drinker to date, but I think this little trip of mine might just change that." Milly admitted.

Hermione grinned, got up, and made herself busy, noticing for the first time that the equipment in the room was electric, just like the lights. She found a kettle and turned it on.

"So, Hermione…" Minerva started, "I was wondering if you might confirm a bit of a rumor that started early Saturday morning?" She tried to appear neutral but couldn't help the ends of her lips curling up into a bit of a grin.

"Me and Harry, you mean?" Hermione looked over her shoulder with a smile as she measured out loose leaf Earl Grey into three infusers.

"Indeed. Some have gotten the idea that perhaps the nature of your relationship has changed." The twinkle in her eye was nearly reminiscent of the former headmaster's.

"Well, they're not wrong." She admitted and turned shyly after she started the last cup steeping.

"Oh, that's wonderful! I'd been rooting for you two to stop with the delicate dance you started early in your 4th year, I'd wager…" Her warm smile and kind sentiment sent a bit of color into Hermione's face. "You know, the two of you remind me of another pair… One of several, mind you, of students I had the privilege of watching set off on a life together." Her smile faded slightly and became sad.

"Is that so?" Hermione asked. "Fond memories, I hope?"

"Some of my best, actually. I'm sure you and Lily would have gotten along quite well."

"Lily…?" Hermione didn't really ask, stunned.

"Potter, of course… Well, Evans at the time." Minerva smiled.

"We remind you of Harry's parents‽" Hermione felt shocked, flattered, and nearly overwhelmed by the comparison.

"Of course you do! How could you not? A kind, generational quidditch talent, with more leadership ability in his little finger than any five ministers our world has ever seen, paired with the brightest, most naturally gifted student the castle has seen in at least two decades…" Minerva trailed off, lost in thought. "Yes, I'd wager Harry's parents would have warmly welcomed you, given the opportunity."

A few minutes later, the three of them were drinking tea, chatting about her and Harry. Minerva was drawing parallels between their adventures and that of the marauders and Lily back in their time. To Hermione's surprise, she relaxed a little. The tales of James' overt overtures to capture Lily's attention were rather entertaining.

Although that particular aspect of Harry's parents' courtship sounded little like her experience with Harry, what was very clear was that the elder Potters were an incredible couple. They were both one of a kind. Unique individuals with their own distinct skill sets, but together… Together, they were something else entirely. His suave wit and charisma served as a counterbalance to her fiery temper, while her grounded intelligence helped temper his occasional arrogance and impulsiveness.

Harry had been right. Having company for this wait was indeed a fantastic idea.

—X—X—X—

A knock on the door, however, set Hermione immediately back on edge, but only for a moment before she realized that anyone bearing news of Harry wouldn't be knocking on the door from the hallway.

The door opened, and she was thrilled to see Fred and Ron enter the room.

"Fred!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing over to him. "How are you?" She slowed as she approached him, looking carefully at his neck. There was no immediate evidence of any lasting injury.

"Well, if it isn't my savior." Fred said with his signature smirk, opening his arms for a hug, which was accepted without hesitation. "I cannot even begin to thank you for the other day." Fred's voice was uncharacteristically somber.

"Nonsense." She replied, still wrapped in his arms. "It was nothing. I'm just glad it worked."

"I may just need to disagree there… It was hardly nothing, Hermione. I was minutes from death and you intervened where even Madam Pomfrey couldn't. I will never stop owing you for that. The healers tending to me wanted to offer you a job on the spot."

"Well," she said, smiling through his mention of her magic and stepping back from him, "I'm just glad you're still around so we can have that disagreement."

Turning slightly, she saw Ron looking sheepish.

"Hello, Ronald." She greeted, sounding perhaps cold, though she hadn't really meant to. She couldn't see him without thinking about Harry's memory from Christmas Eve.

"Hi, Hermione… I'm glad to see you're alright." Ron was looking at her, still reserved, but also curious.

"I'm well enough for now, but I'll be much better once this day is over." She admitted, and crossed her arms across her chest, nibbling nervously at the hem of her sleeve.

"Yeah, I definitely get that," Ron replied, relaxing slightly. "Harry seemed at least okay when I talked to him yesterday, but he told me he took a pretty nasty curse. He didn't seem keen on getting into it at the time, not that I blame him."

The mirthless laugh that escaped Hermione caught the attention of the entire room. "Blame him? I should think you wouldn't have much to blame him for at all." Hermione's voice was tight, and she narrowed her eyes.

Hermione's hands clenched into fists and fell to her sides. As she did, she tracked Ron's eyes to the collar of her shirt, and saw a confused look settle onto his features. Fortunately, Fred was the first to speak up.

"Perhaps these two need the room for a few minutes. Seems they have some things to discuss." Fred offered in a soft, cautious voice. It might have been funny had it not been for the palpable tension in the room.

Ron started to shake his head, but Hermione interjected. "I'm sorry, everyone, but Fred's right. Can you give us a few minutes?"

Nobody answered her, but Milly, Minerva, and Fred exchanged a few awkward looks before filing out of the room and into the hallway, gently closing the door behind them.

"I'm sorry Ron. It's been a rather stressful few days, and I should not have snapped at you." Hermione offered, hoping he would drop his focus on the gold pin on her shirt's collar.

"You're his decision maker, then?" Ron asked, surprise clear in his tone as he ignored her apology.

"I am." Hermione replied, again speaking coldly. If Ron had the gall to voice an objection to her and Harry being close, he'd find himself lucky she was without her magic. She was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, though. They were all stressed, and having known Ron for a long time, she was aware of his tendency to default to anger when he didn't understand something, before rational thought caught up to his temper.

"How's that then? You guys knock that out the minute you woke up or something?" He chuckled, but she could tell it was for her benefit. This was bothering him.

"No, Ronald. We didn't. I only found out about it today, but he did it on Christmas Eve before Nagini attacked us in Godric's Hollow." She tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice, but might not have pulled it off properly.

"Godric's Hollow? How'd he do it then? What did you do, make a leisurely visit to a solicitor on your way to continue the hunt?" Ron's sarcasm was not endearing him to Hermione in the least.

"Leisurely?" Hermione repeated, aghast. "For fuck's sake, Ron. I did not know he'd done it at all until earlier this morning. We'd found a lost little girl and while I returned her to her parents, Harry snuck off and posted a letter to Gringott's... I saw his memory of it yesterday. And Just for the record, you don't get to question his decisions anymore. You don't get to be angry or jealous at any of this."

"He never mentioned it to me. And I'm sure not-"

"You really think he would?" Hermione cut him off scathingly. "He's spent the last Merlin only knows how long growing more and more certain he'd die by the end of the war. You think he's champing at the bit to have that conversation with you now?"

Ron had the good sense to be properly shocked at that.

"Ron, you have no idea what you leaving did to us. Hell, until today, even I didn't know the full extent of what it did to Harry. You'll recall that Nagini attacked us on Christmas Eve, right?"

"...Oh..." Ron paused in contemplation before he suddenly realized, and a somber look appeared on his face. "So not long after-"

"No, Ron. Not long at all. He told me this morning that he had been suspecting he wouldn't survive the war for a while, but didn't share that with anyone because he worried we would lose focus, and he wanted to save us the pain of fearing even more for him." She wiped a tear from her eye and took a deep breath.

"That definitely sounds like Harry." The wan smile on Ron's lips was an effort to lighten things up for a moment between them, but it was futile.

"You abandoned us, Ronald. The waters were rising, and you saw it fit to leave and let us drown on our own, knowing we were all in over our heads. You scurried off to wherever you went because you couldn't handle it, and it was the last straw. And even before that, all the time you spent listening to that bloody wireless, listening to names. He was tearing himself up thinking about how we'd all handle it when it was his turn to... to-"

"Hermione, I-"

"Shut up, Ronald. Your so-called 'best mate', who you chose to remind didn't have a family, right before you stormed off…" Her voice was rising steadily, and beginning to waver with emotion. "The boy who years ago nearly died to save your sister from the chamber, the one in that other room having his bloody head cut open because he fucking DIED to save us all two days ago…" Try as she might not to, Hermione let a sob escape her at that moment.

Ron, for his part, looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't.

"Do you know what he did, right after you left?" Tears streamed down her face once more. "Of course you don't… You weren't there. But that very night he wrote a bloody will, because you left and it convinced him he wouldn't make it through the war."

She finally stopped and put her face in her hands for a moment, and didn't see the the look of utter grief on Ron's face.

"He'd chosen his new family, you know. And you were among them. Now, I'm indeed his proxy, and you don't get to have a problem with it. You gave up that right when you left us BOTH to die on our own."

"Hermione, look. I'm sor-" Ron was on the verge of tears as well after she'd laid into him. He didn't have any idea, even after talking to Harry, how much damage he'd done.

"Stop, Ron. I don't want to hear any of it right now. Let's just drop it before I say something we both regret… I'm entirely livid with you. You and I are incredibly far from okay, but I will not ask you to leave, only because he would want you here. So, let's see him through this. It's what we do… Or at least it's what we've mostly done until now. Maybe later we'll talk. I just need to focus on my boyfriend and getting through this.

"Th-thank you." Ron said weakly. "I'll go and uh… I'll let the others know they can come back."

He left the room and Hermione wiped her eyes once more, and got herself a glass of cold water. Her throat was scratchy, though she hadn't really yelled …much.

—X—X—X—

Hermione spent the next several hours hoping that no news was good news.

Conversation among those waiting for word of Harry's condition eventually grew easy. Minerva and Milly were shocked but not surprised to learn of the incredible feat Hermione had accomplished to save Fred.

After a while, Ron seemed to have processed at least some of the information Hermione had thrown at his feet. Things were still quite uncomfortable between them, but as the three students fondly recounted stories of some of the hijinks they'd gotten up to in school for Milly, much to the chagrin of their head of house, the two found they could at least take part in a conversation without it becoming tense.

It was evening by the time there was any movement from the door further into the treatment wing they were in.

With a brief knock, Morris and John entered the waiting area looking exhausted more than anything else, but both were smiling as they made their way over to the gathered group.

"Good evening everyone. Hermione, is there anyone here you'd prefer I not discuss matters in front of?" Morris asked.

She shot Ron the barest of glances before speaking up. "No, these are all Harry's family. How is he?" She said the last in a desperate and concerned voice.

"He's doing well. The procedure, for the most part, went exactly as planned." John replied.

"For the most part?" Hermione had latched onto that phrase more readily than expected.

"Hermione, Harry is just fine. You needn't worry anymore. He's resting comfortably, still sleeping off the after-effects of the anesthesia. But yes, there were a few minor hiccups along the way. Nothing major at all, though, and nothing that will affect him after today."

"Can I see him?"

"You can, but I must insist on it only being the one visitor." Morris said with a serious look.

Taking that as their cue, the three other guests all stood to bid Hermione farewell for the day. All she could muster for Ron was a curt nod in farewell, though she'd hugged the other two, promising Fred in the process that once they settled in at Grimmauld and Harry was up for visitors, they'd send an owl.

The brothers Tolliver led Hermione and Milly back through a plain hallway and stopped in front of a closed door.

"Hermione," John started, "Because of the nature of his treatment, we are using some muggle tools and machines to keep him comfortable. I just don't want you to be surprised or shocked when you see him. It's nothing too invasive, mind you, but having done this a few times, it can be a shock to most wizarding folk."

"I understand. Both my parents are muggles. Not doctors, but dentists. I know some things about medical things in the muggle world."

"I see… Good, let's get you inside then."

He opened the door slowly and a faint beeping is one of the first things she noticed. It was followed quickly by the scent of fresh gauze mingling with clean linen and antiseptic. She stepped into the room and saw him resting. Comfortably might have been a stretch, but he was asleep and breathing steadily.

His head from his eyebrows up was bound snugly in white gauze, and his face was ashen. A mixture of fear, hope, relief, and anxiety took her over, and she crossed the room to seat herself carefully next to him, capturing his hand, and stopping herself as she moved to kiss his forehead; instead, moving to his cheek. He didn't stir as she did.

"How long will he sleep for?" She asked.

"It's hard to know for certain. He could wake up anytime in the next hour or maybe two."

She furrowed her brow at that. "Why so long? I know it's totally different, but when my dad had surgery when I was ten, he didn't stay out for much longer than 20 minutes once he was in recovery."

"We ran into a minor issue when we were getting ready to close that required us to administer an extra push of anesthesia right near the end of the procedure, that's all. It just takes the body a while to work through the drugs. He will be just fine when they wear off. He'll have a hell of a headache, even with our help, but beyond that, should be fine."

"Okay… Is there anything else I should know?"

A quick briefing from John and Morris later, Milly and Hermione were the only ones waiting with Harry, seated next to each other, on harry's left side.

"If you don't mind my company," Milly spoke up after a few minutes of companionable silence. "I'd like to talk to you about, well, you. Specifically, how you're going to get yourself back to normal."

Hermione stirred from her thoughts at that and regarded Milly tentatively.

"You've got a plan?" She asked hopefully.

"I do. But it's nothing that will happen overnight."

"I hadn't expected it to be that easy. I just… I want to overcome this, because every day that I-" Her voice wavered and she paused as she fought off a swell of powerful emotion. Fear, regret, and sadness took the upper hand for a moment before her determination reined them in. "I need to beat this because every day that I am less than what I was, is a day he's won."

"Hermione, he won nothing. He failed, he lost, and he died."

"I know that!" She didn't exactly yell, trying not to wake Harry, but she definitely wanted to yell. "But, look what it cost us! I'm only one person, Harry's only one person, but this war has touched countless others. Families destroyed, people missing or killed… All this pain and terror for years. And for what? All his forces wanted was to stop people like me… And like you, if I'm not mistaken, from having magic."

"It certainly is a terrible thing, but I'd challenge you to think of the good that's come from it."

"What good could there possibly be in all of this?"

"For every story of loss, there are surely tales of resilience and unity, where people rise up and become exactly what they needed to be. When faced with challenges that push us to our limits, it is undeniable how extraordinary we humans can be… Erica and Minerva told me about another friend of yours who came in with you and Harry, you know. I never met him, and he had a bit of an odd name I don't remember, but all reports seem to show he's grown over the last couple of years into a young man nearly unrecognizable from who he was before. I'd bet my wand and my medical license he's not the only one like that."

"Yes, I suspect you're referring to Neville. And he's certainly come a long way. We all have... We had to."

"Exactly. And I'm not saying it's all fair or balanced, or even that the loss is worth the gain… I'm just saying be careful not to lose sight of the good you've been putting into the world over here. For as terrible as the circumstance must have been, from where I'm sitting, it's… Well, you, Harry, and so many others are an inspiration. Don't do yourself the disservice of selling yourself short."

"I… Ugh. I'm sorry." Hermione sighed and rubbed her temples, closing her eyes as she did. "Thank you, and you're right. It's just… It's been such a dark few days, and the year before wasn't much better, nor were the nearly three years before that. It feels like I haven't had a chance to take a breath, and now that I can, I can't even remember how… Does that make any sense?"

"It does… I can't say I can relate, but I can understand it." Milly admitted, a little sorrowfully. "You've gone through a lot. Plenty more than you were due, that's for sure. But you've got Harry here, who I'm certain would do quite literally anything for you, then you've got me, and Erica, and Minerva, and I'd wager Minister Shacklebolt… And so many others I'm certain would be eager to help you in any way they can, with no judgement at all.

"I won't pretend to know all the details, but I've pieced a lot of it together. I know that the right side would not have come out on top of this conflict without both Harry and you giving it your all for the last year. Actions the two of you have taken together have directly led to that outcome. Like it or don't, believe it or don't, but just about everyone who knows the details feels indebted to you. And rightfully so… I don't expect you to agree with that-"

"And I do not." Hermione interjected stubbornly, though logically she could sort of see Milly's point.

"But, at the very least, I think it would be good of you to admit that you are deserving of their thanks, if not their deference. Whether you find it necessary is another question, but it's hard to argue that you did nothing worthy of recognition. The very fact you aren't interested in it makes you even more remarkable."

"I see what you're getting at. Sort of. But at the time it was just doing what we felt was right and a lot of guessing, stumbling around until we found our way through…" Hermione's contemplative look turned hopeful and determined. "Regardless, all I want is to get back to normal. For things to get back to normal. For Harry to heal, for us to have some time away from people, and for me to get back whatever magic I can."

"Well, I can help you with some of that, but the rest requires little more than time to pass." Milly smiled at her. "Would you like to hear my plan now, are you feeling a bit better?"

"I am, and yes please." Hermione answered, as she wiped her face once more before reclaiming Harry's hand as he slept.

"Alright then. First, I want you to take this, and very, very gently, try to give me the faintest bit of light you can." Milly said, extending her hand toward Hermione. She was holding Hermione's wand.

"Are… Are you sure?" Hermione was hopeful, but also scared. The image of the faint glimmer of her core, in contrast with Harry's shining beacon, came to the forefront of her thoughts.

"I am, but me sure to be gentle about it. Don't exert yourself until I tell you to, and even then, do so slowly, and ramp up slowly."

Hermione concentrated, running her fingers along the length of vine. It felt familiar yet, somehow, foreign to her. Perhaps that was a sign of her magic's fractured state. She held it firm, and whispered "Lumos.", focusing on gently tempering the small amount of energy she'd put into the spell.

Nothing happened.

"It's okay, Hermione, go ahead and push it a bit further. I won't let you hurt yourself." Milly's calm soothed her a bit.

Hermione furrowed her brow and gave the spell a little more effort. She was honestly putting more effort into throttling herself than she was into the spell itself. It was odd to concentrate to stop a spell instead of to start one.

"A bit more, I can tell it's almost there." Milly encouraged.

Hermione was reminded of the effort expended the first time she attempted to cast a patronous before the barest glimmer of light escaped her wand. Milly stopped her immediately.

When she stopped, she let out a ragged breath and felt a cold sweat on her forehead and neck.

"That was…" She set her wand down and wiped her forehead, then her eyes. "Entirely harder than it should have been."

"I know. It's terrible what he did to you. But the good news is, your spell worked. It will take some time, but we can get you back to where you were." Milly comforted her.

"Okay… Okay." Hermione exhaled slowly, trying not to cry. The stark realization of how weakened she was hit her again. She'd known it was the case when she saw her scan, but having a practical example of it was another thing entirely. She focused her attention on Harry for a moment. Even unconscious, he calmed her. "What do I need to do? How do I fix this?"

"Well, firstly, I'm working on a potion that will make it easier." Milly answered. "It won't be ready for a while yet, but once it is, I'll have you in ample supply."

"That can't be all…" Hermione replied.

"It's not. You can think of your magic as a muscle that needs to be trained and grown carefully over time. You've got to use it to strengthen it, no different from when you were first learning. The only problem now is that you're so used to slinging large amounts of power into your casting, that it's entirely possible for you to do actual damage to yourself. If you burn through too much magic, you could find yourself exhausted and then worse."

"I remember when you said that earlier. If I 'run out' it could be really bad."

"Exactly."

"So there's a potion on the way, and I need to 'work out' so to speak. Is there anything else?"

"One more thing. You did well in runes and magical history, I imagine?"

Hermione nodded.

"You'll be familiar then with the term 'locum potestatis'?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "Yes… A place in the world with natural or residual natural magic… A place of power."

"Right again! There are places, as you know, where magic can be more easily gathered from the environment itself."

"Hence their common use for rituals and the like... I think I see where this is going."

"You probably do. I believe that the closer you are to one or more of these points during your, let's call it your training process, the more efficient your training might be. I've sent for a map of them I'd like to give you."

"So, I just find a convenient one and do my thing there for a while?"

"Not quite. Places like these are potent, but diffuse. It wouldn't take you much to deplete them to a point where they'd need a while to recharge. That's why intricate circles and such are typically used in rituals. It would be ideal for you to move around, best you can, and try to tap into as many of them as you can. But again, be careful to not push yourself too hard."

"I see. So you're suggesting I do a bit of traveling then? I don't think the knight bus will get me close to any of the sorts of places I'll need to go, and if I can barely light a dollhouse I doubt I can come anywhere close to apparating."

"No. I don't imagine you will be for a while. What about other means?"

"Well, my parents made me get my driving permit… I passed the practical last summer not long before everything went to hell around here… Perhaps we could get a car somewhere and use that."

"There you go. That should work well for you. See - you've already got a plan coming together, and one day - not next week or next month - but one day, you'll be back to yourself. And I want you to know, that you can reach out to me at any time, whether I'm still in town or have gone back home. You are a remarkable young lady and I've enjoyed meeting you. I want to continue to be a resource for you and for Harry, and I would love to see you through to getting all of your abilities restored."

Hermione colored a bit at that. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me, and for Harry. Really, you saved my life. I am getting some vague memories back of being cursed, and I don't think I could have gone on like that long term."

"I'm just so glad I could help, and that Harry had those memories already lined up." She looked wistfully at Harry, looking restful.

Hermione turned her head to him as well. "Yeah. He's… Really something, isn't he? I keep going back and forth between stunned by everything he did, and being hurt on some level that he had to do it all in the first place."

"That's understandable. It's certainly a lot to process, and it'll take time. But, I think you'll find it's better to focus on where you are and where you're heading, rather than on the path you've taken to get here, isn't it?"

"It is. But it's not always easy." Hermione admitted tearfully.

"No, it's not. But the important things in life rarely are. From what I have seen, though, you not only have all the pieces you need, but the will and ability to keep them held together tightly."

"Thanks for saying so… Perhaps in a week or a month I'll feel that way too."

"Characteristically wise of you. It's good to acknowledge you need time to process things. Just remember, he will too. And if I may leave you with a bit of personal advice…" Milly paused, waiting for Hermione's response.

A moment later, she nodded, and Milly continued. "Even in the short time I've had with the two of you, it's clear you care deeply for each other… So my advice is, give each other the grace, and if needed, the space to process and feel what you need to. I can already tell you two are something special. Be sure to nurture that. You're both still coming to terms with some immense things, and it will take time, thought, and effort."

"I will be sure to remember that. Thank you, Milly."

"You're welcome. Now, I'm going to see myself out, because I can tell you'd like some time here."

Hermione smiled hesitantly, but nodded. It was true, after all. She'd been so wound up all day waiting, all she wanted now was to sit in the quiet room, collect herself, and wait for Harry to wake.

A short while later, she finally had her wish. She reclined in a halfway comfortable chair, scooted right up next to Harry's bed, and watched him sleep.

She finally allowed herself to take that breath. The one she'd been holding since he'd been levitated away from her that morning.

It seemed he was through the worst of it. Finally. Stressful and worrying though this day had been, it was a tangible step toward recovery. Toward normalcy. Perhaps, toward a future she'd first imagined a few years earlier.

She thought briefly of the countless other times she'd sat next to him in the hospital wing, not unlike she was right now, waiting and hoping that he'd be well soon. Often, as a result of some dark scheme hatched by the man he'd killed just two short days ago.

It was over. They were both alive, and the world was changing.

Her mind wandered back to first year. To the day a young boy, hardly more than an acquaintance really, threw himself at a troll to save her. She remembered another day not long after, the first time she could remember Harry speaking glibly about Voldemort coming back to "finish him off", after their detention with Hagrid in the forest. With the benefit of hindsight, some of his thoughts were more than a bit troubling… had it really gone back that far?

Shaking the thought from her head, she refocused herself on the unmoving form of the one she loved in the bed at her side. Though she'd only recently gotten out of a hospital bed herself, she still wished it could be her instead of him. Hadn't he done enough already?

It was high time for luck, fate, karma, or whatever powers existed in the world turned his way.

She smiled gently as he stirred gently from his slumber, gripping his hand and running her thumb over the back of his hand, not unlike he'd done to her the day before.

The war was over. In a few short days, they'd be out of the hospital and on their own, and she had a new task to accomplish. He'd been through hell for a saddening majority of his life so far. Going forward, her mission would be to show him that while there was indeed darkness in the world, there was so much more light; so many beautiful things to see and to experience…

Together.

—X—X—X—

If you get lost and lonely

Follow my voice back home

You can reach out and call me

I'll tell you you're not alone

Life can be like a river

That you are floating down

You may not be a swimmer

But I'll never let you drown

I'm not gonna let you drown

Artist: Feel Out Loud
Track: What I Wouldn't Do / North Star Calling
Album: What I Wouldn't Do / North Star Calling - Single