Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell belongs to J.K Rowling

A/N: Hello! I'm back, after an almost decade long break from writing Ky's story!

To old readers, of which I doubt they are many, which is no fault but my own – welcome back! I'm sorry it took me this long to get back into writing, but I'm determined to finish Ky's story and plan on updating weekly!

To new readers, Hello! I encourage you to read the earlier stories in this series – Phoenix Accession, Gemini Queen and Hallowed Life in that order, for any of this to make sense.

Happy reading!

Kalina

Chapter One: Losing Track of Time

Harry's POV

26 August 2005

"Harry!" I snapped to attention as Parvati entered the Junior Auror office. I blinked a few times to chase away the fatigue. I hadn't slept in 24 hours, and my sense of time was fuzzy. "What are you doing here!"

I sighed. One of the only perks of working late was to avoid interactions with nosy colleagues. I glanced at my watch – though, I should probably leave now if I wanted to be on time.

"Oh." I just realised why she was being inquisitive, not that that wasn't her norm. Technically, I was meant to have the day off. Well…more like I was forced to have the day off. She probably knew this, because she was married to my colleague, Alex Silver. "I…thought I'd get a head start on tomorrow."

I didn't even believe my lie.

"No, I mean, Alex is on duty tonight, and wasn't it meant to start at 6pm?"

"Duty…tonight?" My heartbeat quickened and I touched the inside of my left wrist to calm down, doing the mental math.

I had spent the last twenty-four hours in Hawaii…which was eleven hours behind the UK…

"Oh Godric! It's Friday!" I jumped up from my seat, "She's going to kill me."

Parvati nodded in agreement, buttoning up her scarlet trench coat, "They're both going to kill you." She turned and headed for the exit, "You can borrow Alex's tie! That one doesn't go!" She shouted over her shoulder, gesturing to the white bow tie I just pulled out of my desk drawer, and made her way to the Ministry of Magic staff floos.

"Thank you!" I was already clambering out of my shirt.

Thankfully most of the other junior aurors were either on duty, or at the pub for weekly drinks, so our office was empty.

I don't know what it says about Alex Silver and me that we both had a spare set of formal attire in the office.

Probably that we had saints for partners as we were constantly late, never taking the time to freshen up at home like a normal person, and always rushing off from work.

I clambered into my dress robes and dug into Alex's drawer to grab his dark blue bow tie – not entirely sure what about it matched my formal attire better than my white one, but I trusted Parvati to know better.

"Potter, what the bleeding hell are you doing here."

I gulped, recognising the voice. I had been hoping to avoid my boss completely.

"Doing a terrible job at a knot spell." I joked, hoping he'd forget that I was defying his direct orders to take some of my 'vacation' time, or he was going to set Wizard Resources on me. Or worse, Hermione.

Roger Davies narrowed his eyes in frustration, but yanked the tie out of my grasp, and began doing it by hand, "Speaking of knots – my hands are tied. I spoke to Robards, and he said no to your Pacific Ocean request. I agree with him. Harry –"

"It's okay." I gulped again, uncomfortable at the mention of the request I put through a few days ago.

His eyes narrowed; I had gulped one too many times. However, Roger's next sentence was cut off by a quick knock at the open door.

"Roger. Malfoy is here." Roger's assistant, Peter, popped his head in.

"Draco Malfoy?" I cocked my head, halting buttoning up my shirt.

"Well, the other Malfoy is barely a month old so I'd be pretty surprised if he was waiting for me in my office. And well the other one is in Azkaban so I'd be more surprised if he showed up. Though, I guess he could mean Narcissa. Now I wouldn't mind a visit from Narcissa Malfoy. You know they say-"

I ignored Roger's attempt at both humour and a diversion, "What's he doing here?"

Roger avoided my eyes and I straightened up. Why was he being so skittish? Why was he not reprimanding me for disobeying him about vacation time, he usually never lets things go. He raised his hands at whatever look was on my face.

"It's nothing. He wanted to talk, I'm not sure about what."

"Well, I can sit in –"

"Look, I think it's about his wife. I don't know specifics, but I doubt he would want you of all people there. Also, aren't you late? Alex left an hour and half ago."

"Shit." I ran a hand through my hair, he was right. Though, what was Malfoy doing here, especially now. Didn't Hermione say that he had cancelled all meetings for the foreseeable, which is understandable considering his circumstances, so if he was here... "Well I'm already late." I spoke aloud and Roger straightened up in response.

"Harry." Roger chided. "Look, you're one of my best men. And I say this with nothing but love. Sod off."

I groaned, taking the knotted bow tie. He was right, I can't miss this. " If anything –"

"I'll tell you. I'm telling you everything I can. Trust me."

I avoided his eyes as he backed out of the office. I didn't particular want to talk about transparency and trust with Roger right now. The guilt churned at my insides, but I didn't have time to lament over my lies and rushed to the exit.

-x-x-x-

I took the steps that led to the familiar door in one leap, pulling the bow tie straight as I did so.

"Oh fuck." I caught sight of my hair in the reflection of the front door. Well – there was no helping that situation.

"OH FUCK!" Chorused a group of high-pitched voices, followed by a gaggle of giggles.

I groaned – turning around to be greeted by my godson and his gang.

By gang, I mean three of the cutest, most evil girls you will ever meet.

"I didn't say that – I said duck. That – is a bad word." I wagged my finger down at them in my best Fleur impersonation.

"Why are duck's bad?" Vina tilted her head in thought, her blue eyes so much like Fred's that my heart sunk a bit every time I met them.

"Well they must be bad because we kill them." Gina rolled her eyes at her twin, as if this was obvious.

"We kill ducks?" Victoire looked at her cousins with trembling eyes. The youngest of the four and always one poorly phrased comment away from crying.

"No no." I glanced hopelessly at the front door but moved towards the children instead. How did we get onto duck murder. "We do not kill ducks."

"Well we don't eat them alive, Harry." Gina rolled her eyes – where did she get all this sass from! Her mother, a retired French auror, Selina Sabre, was far from stoic, but nowhere as sassy as this.

"We eat duck?"

"What do you think it is when Grandma serves us duck!"

And there was the comment. Victoire burst into tears at the realisation that duck the food was the same as duck the animal.

The front door opened. "Wha- Harry!" Ginny looked to her sobbing niece, who was currently being comforted by my godson, who was scowling up at me.

"Harry made Victoire cry." I gawped at Teddy! Et tu, Godson!

"I, she –"

Ginny held her hand up, "We don't have time! You're TWO hours late."

"I know, I know, I lost-"

"Track of time. You should get that on a tee." Ginny herded me into the Burrow, while Teddy and his Gang ran off to bully some other adult.

"Ginny –" I began, but she cut me off with a wave of her hand.

"Not now."

"No, now. I'm sorry." She busied herself with removing crockery from a kitchen cupboard, avoiding my eyes, and I stopped her with a hand on her elbow. Her wide brown eyes dulled with disappointment as they met mine.

I bit my lip, struggling to find the right words.

"Harry! Just the man we were looking for!" George bustled in, baby Roxanne in his arms.

"I know, I'm so sorry about being late!"

"You're not late. Bride's not ready yet."

I turned to Ginny, that was a vital bit of information she left out. She shrugged, clearly thinking that I deserved it.

"A quick non-wedding matter –"

Ron walked in, groaning at his brother's statement, "George, I said wait for after the wedding! Hiya Harry. Shite – what did you do with your hair."

"Thanks mate." It must be exceptionally bad if people were actually commenting on it. I grabbed a large spoon and began trying to tame it in the reflection. "What's the non-wedding matter." I straightened, suddenly alert. "The aurors have arrived, right?"

"Yeah, yeah that's all good. Thanks for sorting that, fewer than you said there will be but Roger said it should be fine."

"Fewer. How many fewer." I looked to the fireplace, maybe I should call Roger. Why would they send fewer – they knew what a high-profile event this was. I should have stopped at the perimeter and spoken to Alex myself.

"Harry, it's okay." Ginny's face softened as she placed a comforting hand on my arm. "Though we really should be getting a move on." She turned to her brother; her eyes narrowed, "What was the non-wedding matter you wanted to talk to Harry about? Is this about the bachelor party?"

George rolled his eyes. Ah, that's where Gina gets it from. "That would be a wedding related matter. It's actually about your Hogsmeade property. We'd like to buy it! Open up a Wheezes up there. I know, I know – we promised Zonko we wouldn't move in on his turf, but he promised us that if he ever sold, he'll sell to us. And he broke his promise. So we're not keeping ours. And you know, it's about time we branch out."

"What Hogsmeade property?" Ginny's eyes turned frosty in a blink and she let go of my arm. Her hands were too close to her wand for my liking.

"You lot are not talking business in my kitchen!" Mrs Weasley stormed into the room, "Hello Harry dear." She kissed me quickly on the cheek, "Don't you look darling. Oh and look, your tie's matching Ginny's dress! How adorable, look Arthur, don't they look adorable."

Ahhh, that's what it goes with. Parvati Silver you saint.

"Just smashing. Though…we do need to bear in mind that this is just a rehearsal, we don't want to insult –"

There was a collective groan from the room at large as Molly Weasley stilled.

To say that she was offended that her youngest son was not getting married at the Burrow, like every one of her other sons have done so, was an understatement. In some sort of weird compensation, a rehearsal dinner was scheduled here for tonight.

Mrs Weasley seemed to have conveniently forgot that this was a rehearsal dinner, and had the garden decorated grander than any of the previous weddings held at the Burrow. Mr Weasley was clearly trying to not insult his future in laws by inadvertently usurping the 'Big Day'.

"Mum…" Ron began, a guilty look on his face.

"It's alright!" She waved her hand, turning to her husband, "And I am aware that this is just a rehearsal dinner. I suppose we will be getting the rehearsal Christmases and rehearsal Easters."

"Molly-"

Mrs Weasley began floating desserts out of the pantry, "Mum, what is this!"

"It's all your favourites. Chocolate cauldron cake, and cherry pumpkin pockets –"

"Yes, but we were meant to tone it down on the sweet stuff!" Mr Weasley looked exasperated at his wife, glancing behind him to the dining room where I was sure their guests were sat.

"So let me get this straight. We don't get the wedding. We don't get Christmas, or Easter, AND we don't get good food! What am I even doing here."

"Good job mum, make this about you." Ginny muttered and I cut across, preventing further arguments.

"Why don't we save all this delicious food for our bachelor party tomorrow! I think I bought half a pub of drinks but completely forgot to get food sorted. You'll be helping me Mrs Weasley."

"Oh Harry! Oh, and I made your favourite, Treacle Tart, of course." She patted my cheek affectionately, and I caught the whiff of sherry on her breath. She wasn't taking not hosting this wedding well at all. "Now, I'm sure you'll be happy to have your wedding in my house."

"Of course Mrs Weasley, I'll be honoured to have a wedding here."

She patted my cheek again, gave me another kiss, and turned back to the pantry.

I sighed; crisis averted. I turned, catching Ginny's glare at me as she helped her mother with cutlery. Why did she look angrier than before?

"Harry!" Fleur flounced in, "Bride wants you!"

Oh thank Godric!

I looked at Ginny apologetically and ran upstairs.

So in addition to standing her up last night, I also showed up two hours late today, and now I have to explain why I've yet to sell the Hogsmeade property. And that's just the information she has at hand, if she found out why I was late today…

Duck me.

I walked into the room, still lost in thoughts but suddenly stilled.

"Wow."

My hand went to my heart, which sped up, and I was surprised by my reaction.

I mean. Of course she was going to be in a wedding dress, and of course she was going to be beautiful.

She tucked a strand behind her ear self-consciously, being careful not to disrupt the flower contraption she wore in it.

We stood on either side of Ginny's childhood room, just staring at each other for moments. I touched my left cheek, surprised at the wetness, and somehow my dam breaking, burst hers.

I crossed the room in quick strides and grabbed her, her watery smile quickly turning to desperate sobs.

I flicked my wand at the door and cast Muffliato on the vicinity. I stroked her hair until she regained composure.

"I'm so late." She croaked eventually, and I summoned some water for her to drink.

As she drank it I walked to the window and pushed it open for some fresh air.

Hermione had every excuse for being emotional this weekend, but did I?

We descended into silence for a few minutes.

"I just thought she'd be at my wedding."

"I thought she'd be at mine too."

My response knocked the breath out of us both, as she knew just what I meant by that.

Somehow, seeing Hermione in her wedding dress made everything so real. I felt a familiar pain in my chest, and I massaged it.

"Harry-"

"I'm okay." I looked up, realising I was breaking a cardinal wedding rule – I was upsetting the bride. "Erm, I know you're already late. And the actual wedding is only in a few days, but…here."

I fished out the box in my coat pocket.

"Harry, you didn't have to."

"I know. I…" Why was I so shite with words. If she was here, she would know just the right thing to say. I took a small breath and touched the inside of my left wrist and immediately felt calmer. "I love you. You are my family. And I know I'm Ron's best man, but I'm your brother. I just want you to know that."

"Oh Harry." She rushed forward, gripping me in a tight hug, the flower contraption falling onto the floor, but neither of us caring. "Thank you. I love you."

"Open it."

She did so, and her brown globes widened, "Oh my goodness, Harry-"

"It can be your something blue and your something old."

"My something old?"

"Dragonstone." I gestured to the material that the sapphire earrings sat in, "Made it from my hand chain."

I couldn't wear the hand chain anymore, but I know she knew which one I was talking about. My heart quickened as I thought back to that clearing in Hogsmeade all those years ago…Valentine's Day.

"Thank you." She mouthed, both of us knowing how much this meant. Her tears fell silently this time. "I don't know why, but today's just been…hard."

I nodded, understanding what she meant. Once upon a time, I couldn't imagine Hermione with anybody but Ron. But now…today must be bittersweet for her. I know she loved Ron, and Ron loved her…but they both had ghosts that haunted their relationship.

"You look beautiful, by the way."

"It's not my actual dress. The one I'll wear on Monday is very poofy, and well…not entirely me. It is nice though! This one is…also really not me." She shrugged and I tried to understand what she meant by this but couldn't. She looked beautiful, the dress fit her like a second skin, and I think she was being too hard on herself. "Wedding dress shopping was bit of a nightmare and I got decision fatigue and just sort of said yes because everyone was so excited when I put these on."

"Hermione, you're beautiful." I didn't particularly think of her as insecure, but perhaps she was just emotional today.

She looked at me, a somewhat disappointed look on her face. "I know I look beautiful. I just…Never mind."

"No, no, please. I want to understand."

Somehow my words didn't seem to cheer her up, and her eyes welled up again. I summoned a napkin and looked around a bit helplessly.

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry. I'm a mess. You're so kind. I just, I don't know how to explain it. I…it's silly, but I don't want to explain it, but I also just want…someone…to understand."

I nodded, somewhat understanding.

There's was a friendship of understanding with no explanation.

And that was something I could not give her.

I suddenly grew warm, and undid my dress robes, taking off the coat, and the cloak. I made to sit, pulling up my trousers to do so and feeling the box in my pocket.

Hermione took the seat next to me on the bench in front of the vanity, and leaned her forehead onto my shoulder and I automatically comforted her with an arm around her.

"I've been walking around with an engagement ring for the last three months." I was surprised to have said it aloud. I figured; perhaps some distraction would calm her nerves. She looked up at me, not surprised at the information.

She shrugged, placing her head back on my shoulder "Ginny found it in a drawer a few weeks ago." She wiped at her face, "I assumed you're just waiting for the right time."

I nodded. I don't think it was a lie. I did imagine at some point I would have an epiphany and I would drop down to one knee and propose.

"She won't wait forever Harry. I'm not going to lecture you. I know, I'm not one to talk." She gave a small laugh; she had taken forever to even let Ron take her on a proper date. "I just worry you're waiting for some sign…some…" She sighed. "I know how hard it is."

I stood at that, and walked to the window, growing warmer and less comfortable. I wasn't about to fight with Hermione.

She did not know.

"Okay, maybe I don't." She stood, and I appreciated her for acknowledging this, and doing so quickly, "I know, it's not the same. I just…want you to be happy."

I turned, shrugging, "I am."

"I worry that you're punishing yourself. That you're making your life harder and depriving yourself of happiness."

"Mione-"

"I'll stop. Just, don't carry that ring around for so long that there's no finger to place it on."

I took that in, "She say something to that effect?"

"No." She appeased me, "I mean, Ginny's rightfully angry at you for last night, but she's never been the ultimatum kind. Why did you stand her up?."

"I was working." I looked up at an old poster of the lead singer of Wicken, Elizabeth Lexington, on Ginny's wall. "I really did just lose track of time." It wasn't a lie – technically I was working.

"I get it. I understand, I love my job too. Ron and I used to fight all the time about me being late. Don't you have a mobile?"

"Yeah, my work one." Very often we would have to go undercover as muggles, so all aurors had mobiles. It was one of my suggestions, and something I picked up when I visited MACUSA a few years back.

"Maybe get one for Ginny. I got one for Ron and it's made our life so much better! I know signal is terrible at work, but Fleur has good reception in her office, so I just go there."

I laughed, shaking my head. What were we doing talking about this now. "Mione. We're really late."

She nodded her head, but didn't move.

"Mione." I felt disloyal even asking the question, "You do still want to do this, right?"

Her red lips parted but no words came out. Her eyes filled with tears, but they didn't fall.

"Okay, I know this is just a rehearsal dinner, but two and a half hours late is a bit much, even for a Weasley. Oh no –" Fleur halted at the scene she walked in to. "I thought Kingsley was going to wait till after the wedding to tell you. It's okay. I'm sure we will find her."

We both gawked at the tall blonde as she ran forward to comfort Hermione with an embrace, tutting at the floral contraption that was missing from her hair.

"Find who?" We chorused, cloned in our confusion.

"Well, Ky." Fleur stopped fixing Hermione's hair, "I mean, that's why you're upset, no? You found out that Ky's missing?"

A/N: Hope you liked the first chapter! Let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading!

Kalina