The pale light of morning filtered in through the blinds in Harry's room. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he stretched luxuriously and when his arm brushed delicately over a pile of bushy brown hair; he was reminded that he wasn't alone in his bed. As he moved, Hermione stirred, and he felt her pull herself close to him, wrapping her arm snugly around his middle, still asleep. Her eyes were closed, and she had a soft smile on her face.
As he woke up and the grogginess of sleep left him, he suddenly remembered that it wasn't a nightmare that had brought them together the previous night, but a heated snogging that had been interrupted, and perhaps intensified, by a few sips from a delightful bottle of clover mead they had discovered in a cabinet downstairs after they'd returned from their dinner.
He rolled toward her, content and warm, and nestled into her embrace.
He was almost dozing again when her voice broke the silence.
"We should probably get up, hmm?"
Though she was suggesting they leave the cozy confines of the bed, she hugged him closer.
"I'm not sure what time it is, but given how late we, er- turned in…"
"Right…" Hermione yawned contentedly and blushed.
"I also just wanted to say, that has got to be the best way I can think of to end a day." Harry said softly as he trailed his fingers down her spine.
"Almost the best way…" came her response, just before she planted a soft kiss on his neck.
"Look who's feeling cheeky this morning." He said with a chuckle. "But I'm truly quite happy with things as they are."
"Are you saying if either of us could use a wand right now you wouldn't want to?" She asked, making her point perfectly clear, with just a slight hint of frustration in her voice.
"That's not it at all, love." He replied, curling his fingers through her wild mane of hair. "I'm glad we talked yesterday, and trust me, I'll be ready when you are. But I'm just saying, I love and appreciate what we have, even if we can't safely take that step yet."
"Are you sure?"
"Hermione." Harry said firmly, chasing some of the relaxed laziness from her eyes, "I'm positive. I am thrilled with whatever we can have together. I didn't fall in love with your magic, or with your body. I fell for you. Your personalty, your mind. You've always been an amazing friend, you're fun to be around, you make me happy, and make me want to be more than I am every day."
She held him in a tight hug. "I love you too, Harry."
"The fact that I find you insanely attractive is really just the icing on the cake."
Her snort of a laugh put a broad smile on his face.
"You prat!" Hermione scoffed lightheartedly. "There you are, all being incredibly sweet first thing in the morning…"
"I…" Harry paused to kiss her forehead, smiling as he did, "apologize for nothing… Stand by every word."
Hermione sighed and rolled away from him, onto her back, and scooted up to a seated position with her back resting on a pillow.
"So, when did Luna's owl say she'd be here?"
"Afternoon."
She shook her head. "Sounds like Luna."
He grinned. "It does."
"She's brilliant in her own right, it's just…"
"You're logical and linear, and her abstract thought processes don't make any sense to you?"
"Yes. That." She kissed his shoulder, stretching out next to him.
"Well, I think it suits her."
"You won't hear me arguing that point."
Harry let out a heavy sigh.
"Are you ready to see Xeno again?' His tone became more serious as he shifted to sit up as well.
He hadn't forgotten that it was Xenophilius Lovegood who had turned them into the Death Eaters barely more than a month ago. The torture Hermione had endured could be directly traced back to that decision, as well as the death of Dobby.
"I think so. He was in an impossible situation."
"I'm not sure I am…"
Harry took her hand, and pulled her arm out from under the covers, looking at the inside of her forearm.
The word Bellatrix had carved into her arm with a cursed dagger was still there, but instead of angry red slashes, it was made up of dedicate silver scars.
"The healers really did a great job, didn't they?" He asked.
"They did. I nearly forgot about it with everything that's been going on."
"I didn't, Hermione." Harry said, pulling the marked skin to his lips and gently kissing it. He felt her shudder as she fought her reflex to pull her arm close and away from him.
"Are… Are you going to be alright with him here?"
He sighed. "I don't know… I'm a little torn. They had his daughter, and I can't blame him entirely, but."
"But what, Harry?"
"But it was because of him we were taken, because of him Dobby had to save us in the first place, and because of him that you were…"
"I'm okay, Harry."
"I know that, I do. It's just… We were all traumatized at the manor."
"Did they do something to you in the basement? We never really talked about it."
"No, not exactly." He held her close, "but there's more than one sort of torture."
"Harry…"
"Let's just get ready for the day, Hermione. I really don't want to go into that right now, if that's alright."
"Of course it's alright. I just worry about you and want to help if I can."
"I know, love."
"Okay then."
They slowly emerged from the bed and began getting ready for the day, stunned to learn it was almost noon already. While Hermione was in the shower, Harry dressed and ran down to the cafe on the corner and got them some coffee and picked up a light breakfast, and they enjoyed it on the back patio while discussing what they wanted to be sure to tell Luna about their ordeal for the last year.
They had to put some thought into how much to share with the general public about the idea of horcruxes, but more personally, they had to decide what to tell Luna about their time together. She'd been at Malfoy Manor, but there was much of their story she wasn't aware of. Breaking into the ministry, weeks spent on the run, Ron leaving them, Nagini attacking in Godric's Hollow, Hermione finding the sword and nearly dying in the process.
They ran through all of it and agreed not to share much detail about Horcruxes themselves. They actually agreed on mostly everything, though Harry needed to put a little effort into convincing Hermione not to share the whole truth about Ron. She was still angry. Harry was more hurt than mad, but Ron's talk with him had gone a long way toward mending things. He was able to get Hermione to agree that they would let Ron tell his own story.
Once everything was sorted out, and breakfast was done, they found themselves sitting on the deck in the backyard. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day.
"So, what do you want to do while we wait for our guests?" Hermione asked as she polished off the last morsels of a pain au chocolat.
"Well," Harry blushed ever so slightly pink. "We didn't exactly finish that movie the other night… Perhaps we can watch the rest of it?"
Hermione smiled and let out a soft chuckle. "Good idea. Maybe we leave the butterbeer out of it this time."
"Fair enough." Harry laughed.
—X—X—X—
Not long after the movie ended, there was a knock at the door.
"You ready?" Harry asked Hermione in a resigned tone.
"I am. Are you?"
"As I'm going to be. I am looking forward to seeing Luna again. Just trying to focus on that."
They uncoiled themselves from their comfy perch on the couch and made their way to the front door, hand in hand. Seeing Xeno again was going to give them both some mixed emotions, but they needed to do it. They were both of the same opinion - they couldn't entirely hold his betrayal against him, but they weren't yet prepared to forgive entirely either. His choices had cost them too much.
Hermione opened the door and let out a surprised yelp as Neville Longbottom wrapped her in an enthusiastic hug. "I am so glad to see you out of that hospital." He said quietly as he held her tight.
Hermione hugged Neville back. "I'm doing alright now, and I'm happier than I can tell you to be out."
Harry, who had let out his own startled cry when Luna had practically jumped into his arms, barely managed to keep from tumbling over as she greeted him. "Harry! I am so happy to see you!. Neville had me so worried about you!"
He took a half step back to avoid falling over. "Oomph! It's good to see you too, Luna." Harry returned the hug. "Come on in and we'll catch up a bit. Where's your father?"
"He said it might be more comfortable for you to talk to me." Luna replied. "But I think he still feels bad about what happened the last time you saw him."
Harry and Hermione shot each other a look, silently communicating their mutual relief to one another, before moving to the side and gesturing for their guests to enter.
"Well." Harry started contemplatively, leading the way to the den in the back of the house, "I suppose he only did what any good father would do, Luna."
"You're kind Harry. But all of that doesn't make it any less true that his actions, and my disposition, led directly to you and Hermione and Ron going through quite an ordeal."
"It's not your fault you got kidnapped by Death Eaters, Luna." Harry's retort came firmly and immediately.
"I agree, but the cause and effect of things remains unchanged."
Harry was becoming uncharacteristically frustrated. He couldn't form a rational argument about anything she was saying, but it still felt wrong to him.
"Alright, alright." Hermione interjected before Harry could formulate a response to Luna. "I think we can all agree that it's been a hell of a year, a hell of a last few months, and it's absolutely been one hell of a week."
"You're right about that." Neville stated plainly, hoping to aid in Hermione's defusing of Harry's apparent frustration.
"Luna, can you give me a hand getting some tea going for us?" Hermione asked.
"No." Harry interrupted brusquely, moving toward the hallway. "I'll get it. I'll fix us a bit of lunch too."
Hermione's focus snapped to Luna as Harry left. She was smiling politely and looking around the room, apparently unfazed by Harry's awkward exit.
Neville, on the other hand, looked a bit taken aback.
"Is he okay?" He asked Hermione.
"I think so. Why don't you follow him downstairs to the kitchen? He'd never ask for help, even if he needed it."
Neville nodded and shot a quick smile at Luna before walking toward the stairs at the front of the house.
"Sorry about that." Hermione said to a still serene looking Luna.
"Oh, it's okay. I imagine he's still having a hard time after everything. I don't know what you went through together, but I'm sure it wasn't anything to be taken lightly."
"It…" Hermione hugged her arms around herself and took a deep, slow, breath. "It has been really hard."
Luna approached her and wrapped her in a hug.
"Uggh… I'm sorry, Luna."
"Don't be. You've got nothing to be sorry for at all." The younger witch said.
"We really have been doing well, honestly. We're getting by, anyway. It's a relief to be together, and we are happy. It still comes and goes, though." Hermione shifted her arms to return Luna's comforting hug.
"Of course it does, Hermione." Luna's calm seemed to be slowly radiating into Hermione. "It won't just go away in a night or a week. It might never go away entirely, but what you've been through will get easier to live with over time."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked meekly.
"Well, that's how it was for me anyway… When my mum died." Luna sounded a little distant. Perhaps more so than usual. "There's no sense in hiding from yourself. Feel what you need to feel, heal what you need to heal, or it will continue to loom over you."
Hermione sighed and separated from Luna, with a hand on each of her shoulders, holding her at arm's length. "I sometimes wish I were half as insightful as you are, you know?"
Luna smiled warmly at her. "So Neville tells me you and Harry finally opened your eyes… Tell me about that."
—X—X—X—
Harry had just finished lighting a burner under a large kettle, and was looking through the pantry when Neville joined him downstairs.
"Are… You okay mate?" Neville asked tentatively.
Harry didn't immediately respond or turn to face his friend, but after a long pause, he replied in a resigned tone, "I thought I was."
"You know you can talk to me, right?" Neville asked as he made his way toward Harry's position standing in the pantry's entrance.
"I just… I wasn't expecting seeing her to bring me back there." Harry admitted.
"Back where, Harry? What are you talking about?" Neville was becoming more concerned.
"Has Luna told you anything about Malfoy Manor, back around the end of March?"
"Not much, no… I know she was taken there, and Voldemort's people were using her to force her father into publishing what they wanted him to."
"Did she tell you what happened when Hermione and Ron and I arrived?" Harry stepped into the pantry and was rummaging through the shelves. He found some crackers and stepped out of the small room, passing Neville.
"Not in any great detail, no." Neville answered. "All I know is that it was a really hard time for her and that just after you lot showed up, that house elf came to rescue you and died during your escape."
"Dobby." Harry wiped his eyes. "He was a friend."
"I'm sorry, Harry." Neville clapped Harry on the shoulder.
"Bellatrix was there. She separated us. Found the Sword of Gryffindor in Hermione's bag."
"I don't think I much like where this is going." Neville said seriously.
"Lestrange had thought the sword was in her vault, but the one in her vault was a fake. She didn't know that, so she assumed we stole it from her. She went absolutely mental. Well, more mental than usual, I suppose."
Harry was trying to keep himself occupied while he was telling his story, in an effort to not fully focus on what he was recounting. He handed Neville a knife and a block of cheese to cut up, and fetched some cured sausage and another knife for himself.
"She came at us, one by one…" Harry continued, "it was clear to me, anyway, they were looking for any bit of leverage they could find. Any hint at what might get one of us to talk. Ron and I both managed to stare quietly at her as she put a knife to our throats… But when she got to Hermione, Ron cracked and yelled at her to back off."
Neville's hand shot to his mouth. "So… she figured she could use Hermione to break him… Merlin, he must feel terrible about that."
Harry had both hands on the counter, supporting himself, and bowed his head low, staring at nothing in particular.
"That's when they separated us. Tossed Ron and me in the dungeon, where we met Luna and Dean."
"And Hermione?" Neville asked, fully rapt by Harry's tale.
"The basement had been warded. Magic didn't work down there. We couldn't- I couldn't…" Harry stopped for a moment to compose himself, before turning to look his friend in the eyes.
"We could hear everything, Neville." Harry's voice was telling. He sounded broken. "Bellatrix tortured Hermione looking for information. Answers to questions we didn't have… Hell, I can still hear it."
Neither of them were slicing food anymore, and Harry wiped his eyes.
"Physical violence evolved over a few minutes into the cruciatus. At some point… I don't know when, but she switched to a dagger enchanted with what was essentially a permanent version of the cruciatus... to maximize the pain it caused."
"Bloody hell." Neville said, aghast.
"We heard it all… Her screams and cries. The way it shifted from excruciating pain and fear to something worse, something darker. She thought she was going to die in that room… Hell, I did too. I could hear it in her cries, while I listened, unable to help. She probably would have died too, if it weren't for Dobby."
"I had no idea…" Neville looked to be completely at a loss. "She must have not had that dagger when she went after my parents."
"Merlin's beard, Neville, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be going on about this with you."
"No, it's okay Harry. I'm just glad we killed that monster." Neville said, looking hard and determined.
The cold look didn't suit Neville. He was kind, cheerful, and caring. Harry's friend liked plants, herbology, ballroom dancing, and watching quidditch. Hard looks and cold words were out of place on him.
Or at least they would have been a year ago. At that moment, perhaps it was simply the way things would be after the war… At least for a while.
"Me too, Nev, me too… But mostly I'm glad she didn't kill you or Hermione." Came Harry's reply.
"Agreed." Neville said with a smile, resuming his knife work. "How have things been with you two?"
"They've been good." Harry replied with an honest smile. "Really, really good, actually."
"Glad, and not at all surprised, to hear it." Neville said, playfully punching Harry on the shoulder.
"I know, I know… I was the last one to see it…" Harry laughed. "But we'd better get this together and get upstairs before the girls think we got lost or something."
—X—X—X—
As the boys made their way back toward the den, they heard a few giggles echo down the hallway before they even got there.
"Why do I get the distinct impression I should feel embarrassed about that?" Harry asked lightly.
"Finely tuned male intuition, I'd wager." Neville replied, chuckling as he did.
When they reached their destination, Hermione and Luna were sitting close to each other and talking quietly.
"Sorry to break up what I'm certain is a riveting bit of gossip," Harry said with a grin letting them know he wasn't at all serious about it, "but we've arrived with refreshments."
Harry placed the tray he was carrying down on the coffee table. It held a large obsidian black teapot with service for four. The cups matched the pot and were trimmed in silver.
Neville set down his dish, a wooden cutting board bearing the crackers, cheese, and sausage arranged neatly in a pattern.
"What excellent service we get here." Luna remarked to Hermione.
"Indeed we do." Hermione answered, smiling at Harry as she did. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Harry said. "And Luna, I wanted to apologize for before. I'm sorry about that, it's just… Seeing you made my memory go to some dark times. It wasn't right of me to take it out on you."
"It's okay Harry. I was just telling Hermione earlier…" Luna paused for a moment, "I understand how random events can make you remember things that you'd rather not."
"Well, I'm still sorry." Harry said, sitting down and pouring some tea.
"So," Hermione started, looking toward Luna, "how is it living with Neville and his grandmother?"
Luna smiled. "It's nice! Their home is beautiful and I quite enjoy the company."
"Yeah," Neville quipped, "my grandmother is a real treat."
Luna smiled and rolled her eyes as Harry and Hermione gave each other a suspicious look.
"She's certainly been a… gracious host, but I think we all know I was talking about you, silly." Luna said, taking Neville's hand.
Neville and Luna were looking at Harry and Hermione expectantly.
Hermione took the lead, smiling. "Is there something you'd like to tell us?"
Neville spoke up first. "We," he squeezed Luna's hand, "are dating."
"That's amazing!" Harry and Hermione said in unison.
"I think that calls for a toast!" Harry asked, standing to walk to the bar.
Hermione looked pointedly at her cup of tea, and asked "So when did that happen?"
Luna tilted her head, fixing Hermione in her trademark curious stare for a moment, before answering "That question has a few answers."
Neville grinned. "I think the one you're looking for is right before Easter."
"Oh, so it's still pretty new then." Harry commented.
"Easter of last year." Neville clarified.
"What‽" Hermione asked, incredulous.
"Well, when it was all pretty new we didn't want to be the talk of the school…" Luna explained. "Then, at the end of the last school year, a funeral didn't seem like a good time to make an announcement."
"And then this last year hasn't exactly been typical either." Neville added.
"Well, I'm happy for you two." Harry said with a smile, as he returned with a bottle of champagne and some glasses. "Have either of you ever opened one of these before?"
"I've got it." Neville answered, and took out his wand. After a quick flick, the bottle opened with a pop.
Harry poured a glass for each of them as Hermione handed them out.
Once Harry had his glass, Hermione raised hers. "Cheers, to finding someone that makes you smile - just like that - even during the hard times you've both been through."
Harry added, "I know a bit about how having the right person by your side can make dark days seem a little brighter. I'm glad you've both found the same."
The four clinked their glasses and drank, before proceeding to spend the next two hours catching up on what they'd missed at the castle while they were out looking for horcruxes.
—X—X—X—
As the conversation about the happenings at Hogwarts over the last year eventually wound down, Hermione spoke up.
"Luna, do you think we should get going on the article?"
"I suppose we don't want to let it get too late, do we?" Luna replied.
"You both are welcome to stay as late as you like, by the way." Harry chimed in. "But we can sort that out later. How do you want to go about it?"
"Well, I have some questions prepared I'd like to ask both of you, but I'd also like to get one-on-one conversation to talk about some finer details, if that's okay."
"Um, sure." Harry replied, looking at Hermione as she nodded.
"Shall we start together then spilt up?" Hermione asked.
Luna was retrieving a pen and a notebook from a large purse she'd brought with her as she replied. "That would be best, yes."
"You can get started and I'll go get us another pot." Harry interjected, standing from his spot next to Hermione.
Hermione turned to look out the window as Harry left, and didn't notice Luna scribbling briefly in her notebook.
Harry returned a few minutes later with another pot of hot tea, and settled back in next to Hermione on the overstuffed couch.
The next ninety minutes or so were spent with a detailed recounting of the last several years from Harry's perspective. Hermione was able to fill in some additional context that Harry had left out, as she was very much in the loop on the details of things.
The beginning of the story could really be traced to the middle of their third year, when Peter Pettigrew was revealed to be alive and well. His part in the larger scheme, of course, came at the end of the Tri-wizard tournament in a graveyard in Little Hangleton, leading to the resurrection of Tom Riddle and the return of Lord Voldemort.
From there, the story turned to avoidance, denial, and outright malfeasance within the ministry. Luna and Neville were both well aware of most of those details, having experienced the rule of Umbridge two years ago at Hogwarts.
What they hadn't been aware of, was the connection between Harry and Voldemort, and the training in Occlumency that Dumbledore and Snape had started him on in an effort to minimize its utility. Harry intentionally skirted around the topic of the Department of Mysteries, mostly because he didn't want to talk about Sirius, but also because Neville and Luna had both joined him in that particular battle.
Harry let Hermione take over the storytelling for sixth year, filling in the gaps where she wasn't present. They told Luna and Neville about Slughorn and the fact that he knew something important about what Voldemort had done to keep himself alive, and how they spent the year trying to get it out of him.
Hermione told them about how Harry had been right about Draco, and how Dumbledore had been cursed by one of Tom's artifacts and was dying anyway. She explained that letting the plan to kill Dumbledore be executed would be the last bit of concrete proof that the double agent Snape would need to prove his allegiance to Voldemort and remove any doubt.
Harry took over when it was time to tell them of the Battle of the Seven Potters and the death of Mad-Eye Moody.
He paused there to compose himself. That night was also his last actual memory of Tonks. Seeing Remus only a couple of days ago had thrown that loss into sharp relief.
He didn't mask that he was hurting over the memory and Hermione took his hand, directing the conversation to the wedding of Bill and Fleur the previous summer. Luna had attended but didn't know the details of where they got off to after the attack. She told Luna and Neville about the fight at the cafe in London, and their retreat to Grimmauld. She told them about seeing the horcrux on Umbridge in a picture in the Prophet.
Together they told the tale of breaking into the ministry, Harry breaking into Umbridge's office while Hermione ended up inside the chambers of the wizengamot with her.
That was the first time Harry suggested Luna talk with Ron directly to get his side of the story…
Harry took over speaking at that point, worried Hermione might have some extra words to say about Ron during that phase of their journey.
He told them about Ron being splinched as they left the Ministry, and how incredibly well prepared Hermione had been, stocking her bag with potions and various items to help them throughout their time off the grid.
He told them about the locket, and the fact that the presence of the horcrux gave it a sort of metaphysical weight. It was hard to explain the way that it toyed with the wearer's mind, amplifying negative thoughts, and making it hard to think positively, much less rationally.
Harry pointedly detailed the state of them. Cold, isolated, scared, running low on supplies and food. They'd made a few feeble attempts at hunting, but didn't have any real luck at it. Hermione, of course, had brought books to help them identify edible mushrooms and berries.
When he told them about Ron leaving, Neville was shocked while Luna remained unfazed, pointing out that things happened exactly the way they needed to, and they'd been successful.
The story of finding the Sword of Gryffindor just a few nights after being attacked in Godric's Hollow was a joint effort. Hermione had been on watch, wearing the locket, so Harry could actually get a decent night's rest for once. She'd seen something moving and glowing in the distance, and walked out far enough to recognize it as a patronous. She'd tried to call back to Harry, but didn't want to be too loud and draw undue attention to them.
Thinking fast, she began to send a messenger spell to Harry, but was distracted when the patronous she was watching started walking away.
The rest of the encounter played out too much like the nightmare Harry had before their date on Saturday, with one major exception. When he got to the pond by moonlight, wandless, there was light flickering under the water. He looked in and saw Hermione struggling desperately against the necklace drawn tight around her neck. Before that moment, standing in the snow and wind next to the frozen lake, he'd thought he couldn't get much colder than he was.
He'd been wrong.
By the time he'd successfully extracted both Hermione and the sword from the lake, she'd been unconscious, and for a few long seconds he'd feared the worst. He turned her to her side and clapped her back, causing her to cough and sputter as she choked on the water she'd half swallowed as she regained consciousness.
By the time the tale was told, Luna was writing steadily in her notebook, and Hermione's eyes were glistening. Neville looked to be some combination of horrified and awe struck.
Luna knew most of what happened at Malfoy Manor, and neither Harry nor Hermione wanted to revisit that memory, so they skipped ahead to Gringotts and the revelation that Snape had been a double agent for the last seventeen years.
A poignant silence filled the room.
Luna continued to write in her notebook, while Neville sat quietly, wrapping his mind around everything that had just been shared.
"I had no idea half of that was going on in the background the whole time I've been at Hogwarts." Neville said, sounding dazed.
"Yeah, we didn't exactly broadcast all of it." Hermione admitted.
"In our defense, we couldn't always be forthright." Harry added. "I am sorry I had to keep you and the others in the dark about some of that."
"We know it wasn't always up to you, Harry." Luna cut in. "You did your best with what you could. Plus, Hermione told most of us about the Horcruxes last week, though she didn't name them."
"She told me a bit about that." Harry said, nodding toward Hermione. "The Room of Requirement really came in handy that morning, didn't it?" He asked.
"It did." Hermione said quietly. "It was exactly what I needed then…" she held Harry close and kissed his cheek, before resting her forehead on his shoulder.
"Well," Harry said, kissing the top of Hermione's head, "how about Nev and I go scare up something for dinner? I'm thinking we can grill since it's beautiful out, and you two can move up to the billiard room if you'd like some peace and quiet while we're bustling around down here." He looked askance at Neville, who nodded in reply.
"That sounds great, I'd love to see more of your home." Luna added.
"I suppose that means I need to stop leaning on you." Hermione said, nestling in closer at Harry's side.
"Regretfully, yes, I'm afraid." He grinned.
She shifted, and Harry got up off the couch as Hermione gazed out the window at the sun approaching the horizon.
—X—X—X—
"It's just you and me here, Hermione. How are you, really?"
Luna asked her question sitting cross-legged on one end of a couch in the billiard room while Hermione sat, hugging her knees on the other side.
"About as well as can be expected, I imagine." Hermione answered. "I saw that article about the cleanup at the castle in the Prophet yesterday morning and practically had a flashback, or a panic attack, or something… It took Harry a few minutes to bring me back."
"Does Harry know?"
Hermione looked confused for a moment. "Of course he does. He was there with me yesterday."
"No," Luna smiled, and her striking eyes softened. "Does he know you are struggling?"
"I'm not struggling…"
"Hermione… I just heard the story of the last few years." Luna set her notepad down in front of her and focused fully on Hermione. "You said you are as well as can be expected, and what I would expect, is for you to be barely holding things together. That you are continually avoiding situations that remind you of the particularly trying portions of your experience... And, no offense intended, that you have not fully opened up about it to Harry. Or even yourself."
"That's an awful lot of expectations." Hermione said defensively.
Luna paused and made a show of closing her notepad and setting down her pen.
"Hermione. I am not asking for the article. I am asking as a friend. While I certainly understand it's been a trying year to say the least… I have known you for nearly four years now, you may recall. "
"You're right… I'm sorry Luna. It's just that it's been… A lot. In only a few days, it seems. I know I am not okay… Not fully, at least. Harry too, for that matter. We went out to shop yesterday and with the crowds… Well, we both had a hard time at first."
"The two of you were alone for a long while before we met again at the cottage."
"We were. I just think it will take us some time to acclimate to not being on the run anymore. People meant 'danger' for so long."
"So, crowds are a problem. That makes sense. Is there anything else you are aware of that gives you difficulty?" Luna leaned forward and watched Hermione's face.
Hermione could tell Luna was trying to get at something specific, but was being oblique about it. Wracking her mind though, she honestly couldn't come up with anything else, other than-
"My magic being nearly destroyed is difficult. I'm still adjusting to that as well. The other day when I had a shower for the first time since… Well, and afterwards I was looking for my wand… there's a charm I normally used to help dry my hair without it becoming a bit of a nest…" A wan smile found its way to Hermione's features. "That's why I'm a little - bushier - than normal."
"Nothing else you have noticed then?" Luna prodded.
Hermione sighed. "Out with it, you." She narrowed her eyes jokingly, then smiled before continuing. "I assume you've got an uncomfortable truth to toss my way?"
Luna nodded, and her typical dreamy affectation faded somewhat.
"Hermione, I was in the entrance hall, just outside the Great Hall, early on Saturday morning." She was speaking clearly and evenly, but she was tentative. "I saw you two leave that storage room holding each other. I saw you kiss in the courtyard."
Hermione had silent tears on her face, but did nothing to address them.
"What of it?" Hermione asked softly. "That was at once the best and worst night of my life… I had everything I wanted for a fleeting moment, and then it was ripped away." She found she could barely whisper the last part of her statement and finally wiped the tears from her eyes.
"First, I can't imagine… I really can't." Luna reached out and put her hand on Hermione's in a comforting gesture. "I try to imagine Neville and myself in that position, and it just… hurts. I am truly sorry you had to go through that. But, I am entirely happy that you two are finally allowing yourselves to be together. I've a feeling you will stay that way for a long while."
Hermione let out a slow breath. "Thanks, Luna. That means a great deal to me. I'm glad to have all of that behind me, though." She smiled softly. "And I like the sound of a long while."
"Secondly…" Luna said, making sure Hermione was paying close attention. "I've noticed since I've been here, that you always look away when Harry is walking away from you, and I am not sure you know you are doing it."
"What?" Hermione chuckled, scoffing softly. "I'm certain I do not."
Luna looked sad and concerned. Her bright blue eyes were still piercing, though.
"Did I ever tell you that after my mum died," Luna paused for a moment, lost in a memory. "it was months before father could cast even the simplest spell in my presence without it sending me into a fit."
"No, you never did, Luna." Hermione's heart ached for her friend. Losing a parent is no small thing, and Hermione's situation wasn't nearly as traumatic as Luna's must have been. "I know it must have been awful for you, but it's not the same. Harry's just downstairs now. He's not gone."
"Of course, but you did not know that last Saturday."
Hermione was taken aback. Was Luna right? She'd always been eccentric, but Hermione knew very well that her friend was a Ravenclaw for a reason. Those who discounted her for that, did so at their peril. Luna had always been insightful, wise, and observant. Hermione was smart enough not to ignore anything Luna said outright.
"I still really don't know what you're getting at, Luna." Hermione hedged.
"Since I arrived here, four separate times, you've clearly looked away or focused your attention elsewhere when Harry left the room. You almost stared a hole straight through me the first time Harry left, right after we arrived, and he was upset.
"Luna, I appreciate your concern, but-"
"And then," Luna pressed on through Hermione's objection, "when he got the wine, you looked like you were trying to count the water drops in your teacup. And twice after that, you turned significantly to look out the window at nothing in particular as he left. Once for more tea, and most recently just before we came up here."
Hermione's mind began racing. She closed her eyes and tried to remember, but all that did was send her flashes of the nightmare she'd had a few nights ago, where she'd chased Harry into the forest.
"The last time I watched him walk away from me…" she trailed off as the realization washed over her.
"It was that morning, wasn't it?" Luna asked, delicately.
"…He was dead the next time I saw him…" Tears welled in her eyes at the memory, and she shuddered, once more hugging her knees.
"Come here." Luna said warmly, opening her arms to Hermione.
She hesitated for a moment, before shifting to accept the offered comfort.
"With everything going on, I'm sure you haven't had a real chance to slow down."
"I've been trying to focus on the good. We're all alive, Luna. Harry's doing well. I should be too, I don't understand it."
Luna's hug was reminiscent of Parvati's a week before in the Room of Requirement. It wasn't only comfort, it carried with it permission to feel everything she'd been through.
For a moment, Hermione felt like a huge hypocrite. After all, she'd been the one to talk to Harry in the bloody hospital of all places about communicating clearly and being open, about not hiding things.
The feeling faded promptly, though. After all, she'd been ignoring things herself. She needed to take her own advice and be honest with herself and honest with Harry.
"Hermione, I am no healer, but can I make an observation?" Luna asked, breaking their embrace and looking Hermione in the eyes.
"Of course you can." Hermione smiled, blinking rapidly to clear her eyes.
"Even though by some miracle he's back and doing well, I think to some extent, the damage was done in the time he was gone. That day was traumatic for everyone, myself included. I can only imagine it would be worse for you."
"I know, but-"
"And there are some things that optimism alone can't fix."
—X—X—X—
After the two couples shared a meal, cheerful conversation about plans for the summer had lightened Hermione's mood considerably. She was having a good evening, and she wasn't alone in that.
Harry and Neville had prepared both chicken and steak kebabs and the delightful smell of it filled the backyard. Afterwards, Hermione and Luna insisted on cleaning up, seeing as the boys had prepared their meal.
While the ladies cleaned up, Neville and Harry migrated out to the fire pit and Harry lit it with a touch of the rune etched on the side.
"Brilliant." Neville stated plainly, appreciating the backyard. It was a little slice of wooded solitude in the center of a big city - a truly remarkable feat.
"Right? I can't believe this whole place is mine." Harry replied, seating himself comfortably on the couch he and Hermione had spent an evening lounging under the stars on their first night home.
"I don't know how long you want to stay, but you're welcome to spend the night. I've got about a dozen spare bedrooms."
"We'll see how the night goes, Harry. We don't really have any plans."
"Sounds good… I propose we enjoy the night air for at least a while, but I have a favor to ask you as well."
"What do you need, mate?" Neville responded immediately.
"Well, neither of us can use magic currently, and the protections on the house are pretty much in ruin. How are you with wards?"
"Right. Luna's a bit better than I am with them, but I can get something together. I'd be happy to."
"One more thing too…" Harry paused, drawing Neville's full attention. "I know it's a bit of an ask, but I trust you, Nev. I was hoping you'd be willing to cast a Fidelius Charm for us."
Neville didn't say anything for a moment.
"Are… you sure?" Neville asked, more than a little shocked. "I'm honored you'd even ask me, if I'm being honest. But why aren't you asking Ron?"
"Well firstly, of course I'm sure, Nev." Harry clapped his friend on the shoulder. "You saved my life with your bare hands a week ago. Don't think I've forgotten. I trust you fully. And second, things with Ron are still… complicated, after the last few months."
"Say no more, mate. Who do you want on the inside?"
"You and Luna, our security detail, Shack, and McGonagall, for starters. The Weasleys too, I reckon. If Ron gives you any guff, make it clear that I started this conversation, yeah?"
Neville chuckled. "Yeah, I can handle that."
—X—X—X—
An hour later, the charms were cast, the wards were in place, and the four were paired off, getting comfortable, availing themselves of a few blankets and some cozy seating around the fire.
"Oh Harry, I forgot something before." Luna said from her perch under a blanket with Neville's arm around her shoulders.
Harry and Hermione were practically mirroring them, but looked expectantly across the fire to Luna.
She shifted and produced an envelope, then waved her wand, sending it flapping like a bird, skirting around the fire until Harry caught it deftly.
"What's this?" He asked.
"It's a letter from Professor McGonagall. Informing you of and inviting you to a memorial gathering for those lost in the battle at the castle. It'll be Saturday night, and from what I understand, it's not open to the public or press."
"Already?" Harry asked.
"It'll be two weeks by then." Neville countered.
"Hermione, are any of the spots on that map Milly gave you near Hogwarts?"
"There's a few, yeah." Hermione answered, taking a sip of tea from a steaming mug in her hands.
"Let's try to be there for next weekend, then." Harry replied.
Hermione nodded.
"How are you traveling?" Luna asked.
"Well, even if we could use magic, Harry's not supposed to apparate, not even side-along, or floo for a few weeks after his surgery." Hermione answered.
"One of the Aurors on our security team has some connections and is getting us set up with a truck or something to help us out. I think he said we'll have it tomorrow." Harry added.
Neville nodded, and Luna tipped back what must have been the last of her tea.
"Do you two need anything else?" Harry asked, noticing Luna cleaning her cup and sending it neatly to the table on the deck with a wave of her wand.
"Oh no, we're quite alright Harry." Luna shot Hermione what might have been a sly grin had it come from anyone else. "We were just about getting ready to head out."
"You were?" Harry asked, surprised.
"We were?" Neville asked, also looking surprised.
Harry felt Hermione shake with a barely suppressed chuckle at their confusion.
"Yes, we were." Luna answered confidently. "It was really nice to see you, and thank you both for your hospitality."
"Of course. You're always welcome." Harry replied tentatively, still confused as to why she was leaving so early when Neville had told him not long ago that they didn't have any plans for the evening. It was only a little after eight.
He stood up and walked around the fire to Neville and Luna, hugging each in turn, with Hermione following just behind him.
"I hope to have a draft together in a couple days." Luna said as the group made their way through the house to the front door. "Perhaps you can review it next weekend and we can aim to publish in Sunday's edition?"
"Sounds like a plan." Hermione said, smiling.
Luna and a still confused Neville made their way down the steps to the street and Harry closed the door behind them.
"Did I miss something?" Harry asked once he was alone with Hermione once more. "While you and Luna were dealing with dishes, Nev and I had a chat and mentioned they didn't have anywhere to be tonight. I was sort of looking forward to staring into the fire and drinking a butterbeer with those two."
"Next time, love." Hermione replied with a smile. "Do you think I could be a suitable substitute for the evening?"
"Most definitely." Harry answered with gusto and a lopsided grin.
Hermione led him back through the house to the fire pit, and on the way, Harry grabbed a pair of butter beers from the refrigerator in the den.
Harry raised his bottle and handed one to Hermione as he sat next to her. "To the start of our next adventure… The roadtrip starts tomorrow!"
Hermione raised her hand and held Harry's bottle, so he couldn't drink.
"Before we start with these," she waved her full bottle at him, "I need to tell you about something."
Harry fixed her with a curious gaze.
"Luna was kind enough to use her wand to do the dishes. It only took her about two minutes."
"I can't wait until we get ours back, love." Harry said, reaching out to take her hand. "…But, wait a minute. You two must have been in there for a half hour or more."
Hermione grinned coyly. "That's what I was getting to, actually."
"Oh?" Harry's eyebrows raised as he said it.
"Yes." Hermione took a moment to be happy that in the flickering light of the fire, Harry couldn't see the pink shade her face was undoubtedly taking on.
"We got to talking… About her and Neville, and about you and me."
"Are they alright? Is there a problem?" Harry responded a little too quickly.
"No, sweetie, nothing like that at all." She beamed at his concern. "They're doing quite well, actually." She set her bottle down and turned to face him. "I asked if she would do me a favor earlier, and she did."
"What did she do?" Harry asked, intrigued by her delivery.
"She cast the charm on me."
"'The' charm?" Harry asked, stunned by this new development.
In reply, she finally leaned in and kissed him deeply. Harry moved his hand to the side of her jaw and briefly felt her pulse racing in her neck.
When they separated, they were both smiling. All heavy thoughts of the last year had been erased completely and replaced with much more exhilarating ones, and Hermione finally answered, "Yes, that one."
"Are you sure you're-" he was cut off when Hermione's finger touched his lips, hushing him, as she nodded.
He took her hand, kissing the back of it, and stood. She did the same, and reached to turn off the fire, before walking hand in hand back into the house.
—X—X—X—
In the moments it's quiet
I see the truth in your soul
It's so clear in the silence
That you're the only thing I want to know.
Darling I've got something to tell ya
There's a million lights in the sky
Go for hundreds and hundreds of miles
And miles as far as I can see in the night
And when we're out here deep in the open
I can see more stars in your eyes
And without your love I'd be hopeless
But you bring me back to life
So darling won't you hold me tonight
Artist: HART
Track: Hold Me Tonight
Album: Hold Me Tonight - Single
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