Hermione sat snuggled against a window seat in her room at the Sanctum, a warm cup of tea nestled securely in her hands as she watched an afternoon thunderstorm roll through New York. She felt oddly at peace as she listened to the melody of droplets tapping on the window while watching the people below scurry down the streets under umbrellas.
Breathing in the comforting scent of her tea, she rubbed her feet together in contentment before three quick raps on her door broke her solitude.
"Come in."
The tall presence of the Sorcerer Supreme entered her room in quick strides, his face a mask of solemn focus. Hermione felt her brow furrow as she realized he was in his "costume", as she called it.
"What's wrong?"
"There's been a disturbance to which I must see." He answered, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I wanted to let you know before I left."
It wasn't uncommon in any sense of the word for Stephen to leave suddenly to handle matters elsewhere. He wasn't called a protector of Earth for nothing.
"I'll come with you." Hermione answered, already having put down her tea before she stood.
"No." Stephen said gently with a smile. "It's merely a few Fomorian followers dead-set on the enslavement of Earth."
"Just a typical Thursday night, then?" Hermione responded with a smile.
"Indeed - So simple, it'll be boring." Stephen grinned back at her. "I'll be back before you will even miss me."
"I will." Hermione responded quickly. She could already feel her cheeks flaming. "...miss you, that is."
Stephen looked surprised at the confession before he quickly engulfed her in a hug, his cloak adding its own warmth as it wrapped itself around the pair. Hermione felt her breath hitch as he dropped a kiss on the top of her head affectionately. Pulling back, she looked at him seriously.
"Be careful."
Stephen threw her that cocky grin that she equally loved and hated.
"I'm the Sorcerer Supreme. They won't touch me."
Hermione rolled her eyes as he quickly left the room, his deep red cloak the last thing she saw before turning back to the window in quiet contemplation. Resettling herself back into the nook, she resigned herself to a night of waiting until Stephen returned.
Tilting her head back, she allowed her mind to drift as a rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. It had been several weeks since Harry and Ron had shown up at the Sanctum intent on dragging her back to the magical world, and yet, with each passing day, she found herself increasingly content with the life she was living as an odd little family of three with the two sorcerers.
Her two childhood friends had stayed for several hours that day, mostly because Ron was so insistent in seeing every single last artifact that was housed in their home. Wong had patiently walked him through the various levels, showing him each and every item and its use, never tiring at the constant exclamation of "Wicked!" that burst from the redhead's lips over and over again.
She and Harry had used the time to sit comfortably and speak in a way that Hermione had thought was long behind them. Conversations filled with family updates and nostalgic stories of past times. And for those few hours, with her fuzzy-socked feet tucked underneath her and the Cloak of Levitation wrapped snugly around her, it was almost reminiscent of the countless nights they enjoyed in the Gryffindor common room.
Those carefree moments at Hogwarts were few and far between, and even now, they seemed like a dream.
Harry and Ron had eventually left, apparating straight from the foyer with promises to send love and well wishes to family and to write more often.
Hermione smiled as she considered Ron ever being a constant writing companion. Some things would never change.
Seeing that the dreary streets of New York had blended into early evening, Hermione stood and stretched out her arms before she began to pad towards the kitchen in search of dinner. She looked around as she passed through the hall and down the main staircase, hoping to catch a glimpse of Wong but having no luck.
Her ears pricked at the distant sound of pans clanging together behind the closed kitchen door, and Hermione released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She always felt tense and unsettled when Stephen or Wong were out doing whatever it was that the sorcerers were called to do. Pushing through the kitchen door, she smiled as she saw that Wong had obviously had a similar idea to hers and was already stirring a large pot that was resting on the stovetop.
"Good evening, Hermione."
Hermione's smile widened at the man, his constant, steady presence like a balm on her soul that she never knew she needed.
"Evening, Wong. What are you making tonight?"
"I've always felt a rainy day calls for soup." He responded easily.
"Sounds lovely." Hermione responded with a smile as she grabbed a cutting board and knife before beginning to chop the vegetables that he had laid out on the countertop.
They worked in companionable silence for a while, both focused on their tasks as they prepared the meal. It was a dance that was perfected in consistency - A mark on Hermione's continued place in their home that the pair worked seamlessly in the tiny space.
It wasn't long before the two were sitting at the small table enjoying the spoils of their efforts. Hermione inhaled the fragrant aroma deeply before enjoying the spicy broth and how it warmed her from the inside. Wong looked on at her with a smile before he, too, began enjoying his meal.
"He will be back soon."
Hermione looked up from her soup in confusion. "Pardon?"
"Master Strange. He will be back soon."
"I didn't…I'm not -" She stuttered in obvious embarrassment.
"You have glanced at the clock above the door no less than eight times since you've entered this kitchen. I can only imagine why."
Hermione was warring with the mortification she felt at being caught and being offended at being called out about it, not to mention, if she didn't know any better, she would think that Wong was looking over at her with a look of pure smugness.
"There's nothing wrong with being concerned with his safety." She responded primly. "Just as I worry about yours." She added for good measure.
"Master Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme. His magic is strong."
"Where is he tonight?" Hermione asked, her need for information always simmering just underneath the surface. "He mentioned something about 'Fomorians', but I've never heard of them before."
"The Fomorians are an extra-dimensional race of powerful humanoids. Many are capable of superhuman strength and endurance with the ability to manipulate mystical and elemental powers. They reside in the Dark Realm, where Master Strange ensures they remain. It is said that the ancient Celts worshiped them as Gods, but whether they are to be considered deities or demons is up to you." Wong answered. "But one thing is certain. They crave power, destruction, and control."
"And you let Stephen meet them alone?!" Hermione asked, her raised voice becoming more shrill than she cared to admit.
"Hermione. Your concern speaks well of you, but Master Strange is going to subdue Fomorian followers." He chuckled in response. "From your own history, you know that any time there is a play for power, there will always be followers grasping at the coattails of those leading them if only for the chance to bask in that power."
Wong stood and grabbed their cups before walking over to the kettle on the stovetop as he continued speaking.
"In your world, there will always be light wizards and dark wizards. The same can be said for any other world. Most of the smaller threats we, as sorcerers, face are those from other sorcerers who have decided to walk down a darker path. They are not necessarily world-ending threats, but, if left unattended, they can make quite the mess."
Wong placed her freshly steaming cup of tea on the table in front of her.
"Come." He said as he began making his way back towards the entryway of the Sanctum. "I expect Master Strange will be back soon. We can wait for him in the library. That always seems to cheer you."
Hermione stood and began following the sorcerer with a large grin, the earth-toned fuzzy socks on her feet muffling the sound as she passed through the doorway he held open for her.
"That sounds lovely! I've been wanting to ask you about your thoughts on the Book of Cagliostro…"
"I'm sure you have." Wong responded with a smile. "You crave knowledge in a way that I have not seen since our Master Strange was residing at Kamar-Taj."
Hermione is sure she would have felt her face flaming if she wasn't so excited to hear the sorcerer's thoughts on the subject. The two friends continued on, making their way towards the stairs that would lead to the library as Hermione continued their discussion. "I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the parallels-"
Her words were interrupted by the sudden flash of sparks that erupted from the second level of the Sanctum at the top of the main stairway. The familiar orange glowing that she had become used to associating with the two sorcerers could only indicate the return of Stephen. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as the portal took its normal form and a figure appeared through the rain of sparks that surrounded it.
"Well, Master Wong. I can't say we expected you to have…company."
Hermione felt the smile drop from her face as the chilling words from the stranger echoed through the cavernous room. She could feel Wong's body tense beside her, his entire being coiled tightly, ready to spring at the next moment. The stranger began walking slowly down the steps with a slight smirk on his lips. He was tall. She imagined that he was almost as tall as Stephen, and he was dressed in the robed style that Hermione had grown used to living as she did amongst the sorcerers. His hair was a honey-kissed chocolate brown that skimmed the tops of his shoulders in perfectly controlled waves. A part of Hermione's brain acknowledged that she would have killed for that hair back in her Hogwarts days. If not for the psychotic gleam in his eyes, she would have to acknowledge that he was a rather handsome man, not that she would ever admit it. She had lived too long fighting the Deatheaters to miss that glint in the eye of those that longed for chaos, destruction, and death.
"Neither did we expect visitors tonight." Wong replied, his tone was one that would be used to discuss the weather. "Unfortunately, we are not currently accepting visitors in the Sanctum, but you are free to return once we are."
The stranger chuckled dismissively. "We will be going nowhere until we see this Sanctum fall."
Wong had already crouched into a defensive position before the last syllable had left the stranger's mouth, his twin Tao Mandalas already present in each hand.
"Then you will die." Wong replied simply.
"Who are you?" Hermione cut across quickly, unable to keep the question off her lips any longer.
The stranger snapped his attention back to her. She tried to control the urge to squirm as his eyes assessed her coldly.
"Merely a humble servant, here to assist in ushering in the dawn of a new era."
"That doesn't sound like something I'm interested in being a part of."
"Don't worry." The stranger smiled. "You'll soon be dead."
Suddenly, a troupe of additional sorcerers stormed out of the portal, space shards already in their hands as they all began to rush at Hermione and Wong. Hermione immediately began throwing up shields as she was suddenly and desperately fighting off multiple enemies in a matter of no time. She didn't understand their weapons or what they were even made from, but she was, nonetheless, thankful that they seemed unable to break through her shields.
She wasn't used to fighting in such close proximity, so she quickly turned on the spot, apparating to an overlooking walkway where she could use her spells with a bit more space. Gritting her teeth and letting loose a barrage of stunning hexes, she almost cheered as she quickly took down two of her assailants. It seemed that they were also unused to her particular brand of magic. The satisfying thud of the unconscious bodies hitting the floor was the only thing that registered before she was, once again, rushed by more.
Her enemies seemed to realize her need for space between them as one pressed in close to her, forcing her to make quicker decisions with her shields. Hermione cursed her current footwear as she slipped slightly while she sprinted back down the stairway, the dark sorcerers hot on her heels.
"Avis!" Hermione yelled quickly. "Oppugno!"
She would have probably been embarrassed to know that was the spell her subconscious mind had decided was best in this moment, but was, instead, too pleased to see the intruders flailing about all around themselves trying to swat away a veritable swarm of angry birds. Smiling viciously, she let loose a few stunning spells in rapid succession, all hitting their mark as intended.
And just that quickly, the bodies thumped heavily to the ground.
Glancing around quickly, she noticed that Wong had already dispatched a few of his foes and was now going head-to-head against two others, plus the leader. Hermione quickly joined the fray, doing her best to block Wong's blindspots while allowing him room to work. She could feel the sweat pricking her brow and was thankful she had thrown her riotous curls into a haphazard bun before leaving her room earlier in the evening.
Holding her breath anxiously, she blocked another strike that was aimed at Wong's side with a well placed shield charm. The black spots that were beginning to erupt near the edges of her vision were an alarming indication that she had not yet recovered her energy enough for this fight. Regardless, Hermione clenched her teeth, stubbornly refusing to allow either her or her friend to fall.
She knew they had begun losing ground when she heard a groan come from Wong as they continued to be pressed into the corner of the room . Glancing over quickly, she felt anger engulf her as she noticed the deep cut on Wong's arm. She looked back up at their attacker's arrogant smirk before impulse took over.
"Sectumsempra!"
Hermione watched in grim satisfaction as the stranger's body erupted in deep lacerations all over his body before he slumped to the ground and remained motionless.
"Hermione!"
Wong's cry of warning gave Hermione enough time to see the leader's attention was focused entirely on her, and his spear-like weapon was almost upon her. Throwing up her hands in a last-ditch effort to get her shield up in time, Hermione gasped as the breath was knocked from her lungs, and she was suddenly jerked to the side. She felt the air from the spear gently brush her before it viciously hit the wall behind where she had just been standing.
Looking around in confusion, she felt relief fill her as she realized she was now comfortably encased in Cloak of Levitation.
"I see you all have started without me."
And there he was. The Sorcerer Supreme had finally arrived. Stephen stood tall in the center of the Sanctum's entry, his eyes blazing in fury at seeing Wong and Hermione cornered by the four remaining enemies.
"Stephen." Hermione breathed.
Stephen twisted his hands in an intricate pattern, the familiar orange glow swirling around him as Wong joined his friend's side. Hermione quickly began firing spells at the remaining followers, leaving the leader to the two friends. The bursts of energy echoed through the room as flashes of orange, red, and blue light ricocheted off of various surfaces.
"Go back to him!" She told the cloak as she saw Wong had been thrown to the side. She clenched her teeth in frustration as the cloak gave a decided shake of its "head", refusing her demand outright.
"He needs you more than me!" She tried again, her worry for the two sorcerers bleeding into the tone of her voice.
Hermione growled in frustration as the cloak, once again, refused to budge from its secure position on her shoulders.
"Bloody sorcerers and their ridiculous sentient cloaks!"
While she was busy fighting with the stubborn garment, Stephen twisted his hands into an intricate pattern before slamming them forward towards the remaining intruders. The loud burst of energy filled the room with a bright light as it slammed the last threats into the wall, effectively ending the fight.
Hermione stood frozen, the cloak in her hand now forgotten as she stared at Stephen until his eyes finally locked onto hers, both breathing heavily. They stood there, no more than twenty steps away from each other, staring silently at the other. She couldn't pinpoint the moment that her feet had started moving her quickly towards the sorcerer, the adrenaline still flowing through her, urging her towards him desperately.
"Stupid, overprotective, handsome, bastard…" She muttered as she continued storming towards him in sure, even steps.
Very suddenly, she was in his arms, her mouth crashing against his as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. Stephen met her enthusiasm head-on and held her tightly to him, molding his mouth to hers. Part of Hermione's brain was pleased to note the contented sigh he offered her as they continued to eliminate any and all space between them.
"I'm fine, by the way."
Hermione froze, her hands still tangled in the Sorcerer Supreme's hair, before breaking the kiss and looking over to their side. Wong was there pulling himself up off the floor where he had landed during the fight. Standing upright once more, he adjusted his attire and brushed off his legs before turning his attention back on the entwined pair in front of him.
Coughing awkwardly, Hermione unwrapped her legs from around Stephen's waist and yanked her hands down back to her sides. She had every intention of stepping back a few paces away from his person but was stopped by the firm grip on her waist that Stephen was, apparently, unwilling to relinquish.
"Oh, Wong! I'm so sorry!" She cried out.
"He's fine." Stephen replied flippantly, never taking his gaze off the witch in his arms.
"Not that the two of you noticed…" He muttered back
Hermione groaned as she buried her face into Stephen's shoulder in mortification.
"Did you call me handsome?" Stephen asked suddenly.
Hermione could feel the shake of his laughter before she even glanced up into the smiling face of the sorcerer, his eyes shining in happiness and mirth.
"She also called you a 'stupid bastard'." Wong called out from where he was inspecting some of the damage.
"I don't think you are a bastard…Well, sometimes I guess you are…What I meant was-"
Stephen suddenly slammed his lips back down onto hers, effectively cutting off what would have been a magnificent and rambling monologue. Hermione wrapped her arms back around him, feeling her eyes close and pressing herself against him firmly.
After what could have been minutes or hours, Hermione didn't know, Stephen pulled back, looking down at her in a way that rendered her speechless.
"I love you."
Hermione beamed up at him before pulling his head down to meet with her own. Looking deeply into his eyes, she breathed deeply and responded in the only way that she could fathom.
"And I love you."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered the delighted chuckle of Wong as he continued sorting through the debris of their home.
"Finally."