Chapter 36

18 July 2003

Hermione sat in silence at her desk, staring across the room but not focusing on anything in particular. Something was going on with Harry. He'd been…off last night. She'd stepped out of the Floo at Grimmauld just as he walked into the sitting room. He'd frozen in the doorway for a second just staring at her before he smiled and said hello. It was odd.

And the rest of the night, he hadn't been himself. Of course, he was upset about everything that had happened with the article in the Prophet and all of the questions from the press when they'd left the Ministry yesterday, not to mention the divorce itself. But there was something else, something he wasn't telling her. She just had no idea what it was.

Hermione hoped he wasn't upset about some of the ridiculous questions about their relationship. She worried her lip between her teeth. Maybe that's what the problem had been last night. He didn't want anyone to think that there was something going on between them.

This morning when she'd come in there were Aurors keeping the press relegated to one corner of the Atrium, thankfully. People had to be able to get to work, after all. It didn't stop them from shouting questions at her, but she just ignored them.

There was a knock on her open door and Hermione looked up to see Padma standing in her doorway.

"Morning," Padma said.

"Hi, Padma."

Padma walked into the office and sat down in the chair in front of Hermione's desk. "How was the press gauntlet last night?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It was ridiculous, honestly."

"The Chosen One getting a divorce is big news. There were still a few reporters hanging about when I left an hour after you did."

"You're kidding."

"No," Padma said. "They must have been desperate because they even asked me a few questions."

"Like what?" Hermione asked. While most people knew that she and Padma were friends, it's not as if Padma was overly close to Harry, except through Hermione.

"About you and what your exact relationship with Harry was."

"Oh, for god's sake." Hermione shook her head. "They were shouting the same thing at Harry and me when we left."

"I just rolled my eyes and kept walking." Padma paused and studied Hermione for a moment. "The thing is, they'll eventually find someone that will talk, and it likely won't be anyone who actually has any knowledge about the situation."

"I know," Hermione said with a sigh. "I've suggested that Harry might want to do an interview. Probably with Xeno Lovegood."

Padma nodded. "How does Harry feel about it?"

"That it's no one else's business. I mean he's not wrong, but we all know how the public feels about that. Not to mention that letting reporters just speculate never ends well for him."

"Would he and Ginny release a joint statement?"

"Doubtful," Hermione said. "He barely got her to sign the papers."

Padma's eyebrows rose. "Really? I thought she had some other bloke she was in love with."

"She's been trying to get Harry to change his mind."

"Why did she sign the papers then? If she's so against it."

"I honestly have no idea," Hermione said. "I was shocked when Harry came and told me it was done. I'm still concerned that she's not going to go away quietly."

"Even if she's doesn't, they'll be divorced in a couple of days once the papers are processed." Padma shrugged.

"I know, it's just," Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. Harry was acting oddly last night. It was something beyond just the press and the divorce."

Padma was quiet and Hermione looked up to see a calculating look in her eye.

"What?"

"Maybe he's finally realized."

"Realized what?" Hermione asked, although she was fairly sure she knew what Padma was going to say.

"Realized that he has feelings for you. Beyond friendship."

"I don't think that's it," Hermione said.

"It might be if he isn't sure how you feel about him."

"Padma, he's not even divorced yet."

"He will be in a couple of days."

"Yes, but he was married to Ginny for three years. They were together for five. He's not going to just get over her in a week."

"It's possible to have feelings for more than one person at a time as you well know. Besides, I'm not saying you should act on it right away. But what's the harm in talking about it?"

I could get my heart broken and ruin our friendship, Hermione thought to herself.

"Or, he could have been acting off because he has no feelings for me beyond friendship and was upset that the reporters insinuated that he did," she said instead.

"Or maybe he's afraid that you don't have feelings for him, and he doesn't want to lose you by saying anything."

"No more speculating," Hermione said. "I will talk to Harry but not yet. He needs time."

"All right," Padma said raising her hands in a placating gesture. "I came in here to tell you something else anyway."

"What?"

"Croaker wants us in his office in," she looked at her watch, "five minutes."

"I hope he's decided what we're going to do."

"It seemed that way," Padma said.

"Good, let's go." Hermione stood from her desk ready to get on with her job and quit ruminating about Harry.

19 July 2003

"I don't know what to do," Harry said, raking a hand through his hair for the umpteenth time as he paced in Hermione's living room.

The reporters hadn't given up, of course. They yelled questions at Harry when he arrived and when he left the Ministry. Hermione purposely hadn't left with him today, nor had they had lunch together because of it. It was rather irritating actually since they had nothing to hide.

"If you're not comfortable talking to Mr. Lovegood, then don't. It's your life. You don't owe anyone anything."

"I know but if I don't say anything, someone else eventually will." He sighed and sat down in the armchair, dropping his head back to look up at the ceiling. "But it's not as if giving the Quibbler a statement is going to stop the rest of them from questioning me."

"No," Hermione agreed. She was sure that Ginny was getting the same treatment in Holyhead and knew that the other woman didn't have the same aversion to the press that Harry did. "Do you think that Ginny will speak to anyone?"

While Hermione didn't want Harry to do something he didn't want to do, she couldn't trust that Ginny wouldn't try to twist things to garner sympathy. It would be better if he made a statement first.

Harry sighed again and rolled his head to look at Hermione. "I'm not ruling it out." He looked back at the ceiling. "Fuck."

"Harry, you don't-"

"Yeah, I do." He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands in front of him. He glanced at Hermione, then looked back at his feet.

Her brow furrowed. He'd been acting like his usual self today until just now. She saw the same look on his face that she'd seen the other night. "What is it?"

"It's just," he shook his head. "Never mind."

Hermione moved to the end of the couch next to his chair. She reached over and put a hand on his arm. "Tell me." Maybe he'd finally explain what was bothering him.

Harry hesitated for a few minutes before he looked up at her again. "I was going to ask if you'd come with me to the Lovegoods. To do the interview. But if you have plans or-"

"Of course, I will," Hermione said, interrupting. Why on earth would he have thought he couldn't ask her that? Or that she wouldn't go?

A relieved smile spread across his face. "Thanks, Hermione."

"Come on then," she said, standing and grabbing his hand to pull him to his feet.

"What, now?"

"No time like the present. Besides, a new issue of the Quibbler comes out on Monday. If we don't go now, you won't get in until next week."

"Yeah, all right," Harry grumbled allowing Hermione to tow him to the front door so they could Apparate to the Lovegoods.

21 July 2003

Hermione smiled as she read the article in the Quibbler while she ate her breakfast. Xeno Lovegood had been happy to interview Harry. The Quibbler, proving itself to be a support of Harry's during the war, had remained a popular publication afterward. While Mr. Lovegood still printed articles about fantastical creatures or strange conspiracy theories, they were less prevalent than they had been. And nowadays people were more likely to give indulgent smiles when reading those kinds of stories than mock him. There were serious articles as well, without the sensational slant the Prophet still tended towards. Hermione was sure that plenty of Wizarding Britain was reading Harry's statement this morning. She picked up where she'd left off.

"What led you to this decision, Mr. Potter?"

"It wasn't an easy one," Mr. Potter admits. "But sometimes things just don't work out, no matter how much we wish they would. Both Ginny and I agreed that this was what was best for both of us."

"And what do you have to say to some of the more…salacious insinuations other members of the press have made?"

"I'd say that they have no idea what they're talking about," Mr. Potter replies with a bit of an edge to his voice. "They're trying to manufacture things that just don't exist. I'm not surprised, really. It's been the habit of the press to assume the worst about me my entire life. However, I can assure everyone that nothing untoward happened to cause this split. It was simply a case of two people deciding that their marriage was no longer working and ending it."

"If you could make a request of the public, what would it be?"

"I realize that Ginny and I are both public figures. However, that doesn't mean we don't deserve our privacy. Please stop hounding us and just let us live our lives. I'm sure that anyone that has gone through difficult times wouldn't want their workplace disrupted or their every move splashed across the front page of the newspaper."

"And yet, you came here to do this interview. Why?"

"I wanted to set the record straight and I hoped that by allowing an interview, it might make the rest of the press realize there is no story here."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. I appreciate that you've come to talk to me today. Good luck to you."

"Thank you, sir."

The article was exactly what Harry had wanted. Short, to the point, and without embellishment. Hermione hoped that this might calm things a bit. Or, at the least, make the public realize that there really wasn't anything else going on than just the unfortunate end to a marriage that wasn't working.

Not everyone would see it that way, she knew. Nor would some in the press let things go. There were always vultures out there. But maybe it would die down at least a little bit. They could only hope.

Hermione, Padma, and Croaker stood in one of the warded rooms, Universe Hopper on the table in front of them. They'd gone over the procedure numerous times this morning and were now planning on actually trying to dismantle it. Croaker had made it quite clear that he would handle the sand-filled disc once they got it separated from the rings. Honestly, Hermione was just fine with that.

Most of the spells and enchantments had been removed already. Croaker had done part of it on his own and Hermione had helped with the rest. There was a protection ward that remained and then Hermione and Padma would remove the outer rings, leaving the middle disc where it was.

"Are we just severing the pins then?" Padma asked. There were two thin pins that ran through the rings and connected to the middle disc. If they cut them, they could easily remove the rings one by one.

"Once I've got the ward down, yes," Croaker said. "Be sure to sever it between the middle disc and the innermost ring."

Padma nodded and Croaker raised his wand. "Get behind a shield you two."

Hermione cast a shield in front of both of them, wand at the ready in case something happened. Croaker waved his wand in an intricate pattern to dismantle the protection ward. As well as they could figure, the ward seemed to protect the device from damage or destruction.

After several minutes, sweat began to bead on Croaker's forehead. They'd suspected it would be difficult to remove the protection spell, but Hermione hadn't realized it would be this difficult.

"Do you need one of us to assist?" she asked, not wanting to break his concentration but willing to step in if needed.

"Almost there," Croaker said. "Give me a minute." With a final twist of his wand, the device glowed for a few seconds, then returned to normal. "Done."

He sank down in a chair and Hermione dropped the shield. She conjured a glass, filling it with water from her wand. He took it gratefully and gulped it down. He looked spent.

"Our turn," Padma said, and she and Hermione moved to either side of the table. "Ready?"

Hermione nodded and they both spoke the severing spell at the same time, cutting the pins that held the rings in place.

"Cast a stabilization charm on the disc," Croaker said.

Hermione looked over her shoulder at him. "Are you sure?"

They hadn't talked about that beforehand. While Hermione had cast the same spell on the device multiple times, that had been when the protection ward was still in place. They had no idea how it would react with just the sand, even if it were encased in glass.

"I don't want one of you nudging it when you're removing the discs and end up disappearing. Just shield yourselves before you cast it."

Hermione cast another shield and held it as Padma cast the stabilization charm at the disc. Hermione kept the shield in place for a few minutes but when nothing happened, she dropped it and she and Padma returned to removing the discs.

They gently guided the pins out of the rings, leaving a stump of each pin still stuck in the sand-filled disc. Once the pins were removed, they levitated each ring, one at a time, into the special rune-blocking boxes Croaker had prepared. None of them thought that a single ring on its own, especially without the sand, would do anything, but Croaker was taking no chances. They would burn the boxes individually once they were done taking the device apart, melting the gold down.

When only the disc remained, sitting innocuously in its box, Hermione allowed herself to relax slightly. The question now, however, was what they were going to do with the sand. It would have to stay inside the disc, that much was clear from the scroll she had translated. But they had no idea how to destroy it if they even could.

The three of them moved closer to the table, staring down at the disc. "Thoughts?" Croaker asked.

"If we keep the stabilization charm in place, shouldn't that keep it inert?" Padma replied.

"Unclear," Croaker said. "And, quite frankly, I don't really want to take the chance. You've read the translated scroll. It's one thing to dimension travel on what appeared to be an uninhabited island. Quite another to do it here. Who knows what experiment we could interrupt or how another Unspeakable would react if I just showed up in the room with them."

Padma nodded.

"When I was jumping, I kept the device in a box like this that I warded. I carried it, moved it around when I hid it, and nothing happened. I would assume if we warded this box, we could move it to wherever you plan to store it," Hermione said.

"It wasn't just the disc then, though," Padma pointed out. "You had the whole device. What if the rings and the spells on the device as a whole made a difference?"

"Excellent points," Croaker said. "However, we can't just leave it lying here. So, I think we need to go with Granger's thoughts."

"What if we brought in a nullification box?" Padma asked.

It was an interesting idea. A nullification box blocked almost all magic, even the inherent magic in many creatures and magical plants. If the sand were actually some kind of fungus, it could work. Even if it wasn't, the box might block the magic regardless.

"We'd still have to get the smaller box into it though," Hermione said. "Meaning we'd have to levitate it or pick it up manually. And we don't know if the sand would react to that."

"If you cast the wards on the disc's box, shouldn't that solve the problem?" Padma asked.

"Possibly," Croaker said. "At this point, I think it's worth it to try. Patil, you fetch the nullification box. Granger will cast her wards and I'll do the levitating."

"Sir," Hermione said in concern. "You're head of the department."

"And replaceable," Croaker said with a shrug. "Besides, I've got a bit of experience with this thing. I know you have as well, but you've done quite enough with it. The wizard that wrote that scroll got back eventually."

"But-"

"No buts, Granger. I'm head, it's my decision."

"Yes, sir," she said in resignation.

Padma left the room to retrieve the nullification box. Croaker closed the lid of the box that held the disc with his wand. Hermione cast her wards. As she finished, Padma returned with the stone nullification box. She set it on the table next to the box holding the disc.

"Shield," Croaker commanded, and both witches stepped back from the table, Padma casting the shield in front of them this time. "No matter what happens, you keep that shield up. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," they said together.

Croaker raised his wand, and Hermione saw him take a breath. He cast the levitation spell then began to move the small box towards the nullification box. Hermione bit her lip, glad she wasn't the one holding the shield. She was sure she wouldn't have been able to concentrate.

Just before Croaker got the disc box into the nullification box, he…flickered. There was no other word to describe it. Hermione stared in shock and Padma gasped.

"Drop it!" Hermione yelled to Croaker. "The disc, let it go!"

Croaker looked up in surprise, then flickered again. Hermione had no idea what was happening. The disc might have gotten close enough to the nullification box that the wards and stabilization charm were failing. Or maybe the sand was fighting back. In any case, Croaker needed to let go of it as quickly as possible or he was going to disappear. The box with the disc was hovering over the nullification box now. If Croaker dropped the levitation spell, it would fall right in.

"Now!" Hermoine shouted.

Croaker dropped his wand, flickered one more time, and then the disc dropped into the nullification box. Hermione quickly sealed it, then turned to Croaker. He'd backed up to lean against the wall looking rather green. She took a step towards him, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"No, stay behind the shield. I feel…off."

"Off how?" she asked.

"Like I'm not wholly here." He pulled in a deep breath and then slowly let it out. Hermione conjured another glass, filled with water, and levitated it over to him. He took it gratefully and drank it down. She saw that his hands were shaking.

Hermione and Padma watched as Croaker seemed to steady. Color returned to his face and his hands stopped shaking. "Tell me what happened," he said.

"You…flickered," Hermione said.

"Flickered?"

"You got sort of transparent," Padma added. "Almost like a ghost."

He nodded. "I felt like I was in two places at once."

"You travelled?" Hermione asked.

"Not fully," he said. "I was still here but I was also in another universe. They didn't seem to notice me though."

"They?"

"There were two Unspeakables doing an experiment. One was Rookwood. I didn't recognize the other."

"Merlin," Padma said.

"Do you think that the disc was close enough to the nullification box that the wards fell or do you think that the wards and stabilization charm just didn't work?" Hermione asked.

"Hard to say," Croaker replied. "But I'm leaning towards being close enough to the box that it canceled the wards. You cast stabilization charms and wards before with no problem." He looked at Padma. "You can drop the shield now, Patil."

"What now?" Hermione asked as Padma dropped her wand.

"Now, I put this thing behind the strongest wards I know and leave it there." While the nullification box cancelled the magic on anything inside it, it could still have spells cast on it outside. Which made Hermione wonder if Croaker's theory was right. She supposed the disc had been right over the top of the opening of the box. The magic inside could have seeped out a bit. Now that it was closed, the nullification magic should stay inside.

"Forever?" Padma said.

"For now." Croaker looked fully recovered. "Thank you for your help. You both did well. I expect your reports on my desk in the morning." Then he turned to deal with the nullification box, clearly dismissing them.

24 July 2003

"Have you seen this?"

Hermione looked up to see Padma walking into her office, magazine in her hand.

"What?" Hermione asked.

Padma dropped the magazine onto Hermione's desk. It was Witch Weekly. Hermione rarely read the magazine, and she certainly didn't subscribe to it. She didn't think Padma did either.

"Parvati gets it," Padma said by way of explanation.

Hermione looked at the magazine again and realized there was a picture of Ginny on the cover. She glanced up sharply at Padma.

"Page seventeen."

Hermione flipped to the article and began to read. Her ire grew as she did so. Ginny had done the interview in response to Harry's statement in the Quibbler. She said she'd never wanted the divorce, that she still loved her husband, and she knew they could still work things out. The article took a sympathetic bent, going as far as to suggest that maybe Harry had acted in haste because he'd been convinced by someone else that divorce was his best option.

When asked why she'd signed the papers if she didn't want the divorce, Ginny had responded that she didn't want the long, drawn-out public spectacle that would have happened if she'd contested the divorce. She hoped that once she and Harry had some time to themselves, they could work things out and get back together. The magazine, of course, made it out to be something incredibly romantic – two people driven apart by circumstance and misunderstanding finding their way back to one another.

"What utter rubbish," Hermione said when she finished, slapping the magazine closed.

"Which their subscribers will eat up," Padma said with a sigh as she sat down in the chair in front of Hermione's desk.

"Harry thought Ginny might talk to the press, but I know he never expected this," Hermione said. "I've got to tell him before someone else does."

"I figured as much. Don't take Harry for a Witch Weekly reader." She smiled but Hermione only half-heartedly returned it. "Go on. I'll cover for you with Croaker."

Hermione stood and grabbed the magazine. "Thanks, Padma."

Hermione stepped off the lift and hurried towards the Auror offices. Harry was not going to be pleased. When she stepped inside the office, there were two women crowded around Celeste's, the DMLE secretary, desk. Hermione could tell they were reading the Witch Weekly article.

She cleared her throat, and all three witches jumped. Two of them scurried away and Celeste quickly covered the magazine with a pile of parchment. "How can I help you, Miss Granger?"

"I need to speak to Auror Potter."

"Of course," Celeste said, glancing at the rolled-up magazine in Hermione's hand. "Go right back."

"Thank you," Hermione said. As she walked past Celeste's desk, she saw the woman pull the magazine back out from under the parchment. Rolling her eyes, Hermione made her way to Harry's desk.

Harry looked up when she reached it. "Hermione? Is something wrong?"

"Not exactly," Hermione said. She sat down in the chair next to his desk. "There's something you should see though." She handed him the magazine.

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion until he saw Ginny's picture on the cover. Then his mouth tightened, and he flipped to the article.

Hermione sat in silence, trying not to fidget as Harry read. She could see spots of color form on his cheeks, and he crumpled one of the pages slightly as his hand curled into a fist. When he finished, he took off his glasses, sat back in his chair and sighed, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

"Fuck," he said under his breath.

Hermione bit her lip unsure what to say. She knew Harry had been concerned that Ginny had signed the papers when she hadn't appeared to really want to. Still, she didn't think either of them expected this; Ginny publicly declaring that she was going to try and get Harry back.

"That will explain the owl I got this morning," he said.

"What owl?"

"Ginny sent me an owl, asking to meet later. I hadn't responded because I didn't know what she wanted and I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk at all, regardless. I'm definitely not going to now. I'll need to owl her though."

Hermione couldn't deny that she felt relieved by that. A part of her had been afraid that Harry might rethink his decision. "What are you going to tell her?"

"The same thing I told her when she signed the papers. That things were over and that we both needed to move on and find people that could make us happy." His eyes shifted to Hermione when he said the last bit, then quickly away. Her stomach fluttered and her heart sped up a bit. He wasn't, he didn't, no, he hadn't meant her. He couldn't have.

"This is going to make things even worse," Harry said, scrubbing his face with his hands.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said, putting her hand on his arm.

Harry turned his head and gave her a wry smile. "Think I can convince Kingsley to let me have my own personal Floo connection into the DMLE?"

She chuckled. "Honestly? I think you could convince Kingsley to do just about anything for you."

Harry shook his head but at least he was smiling now.

"How about I get takeaway for lunch, and we eat it here? You can avoid the vultures for a little while at least."

He smiled fondly at her. "Thanks, Hermione." He took her hand and squeezed it. "You always know how to make me feel better."

She felt herself blush. "It's nothing."

"It's not." Harry stared at her for a few moments and Hermione couldn't look away. Finally, he dropped her hand and cleared his throat. He picked up his glasses and put them back on. "I should probably get back to work."

"Right. Me too." She stood and he handed the magazine back to her. Hermione shook her head. "Toss it in the bin where it belongs." She'd buy another one for Parvati if she had to.

"Your birthday is in a week," Hermione said as she and Harry ate their lunch. By unspoken agreement, they hadn't mentioned Ginny or the article. "What do you want to do? We could get everyone together at the Leaky."

"No. Please," Harry said, shaking his head. "Nowhere reporters can get in. It's going to get worse now."

"At Grimmauld then? Or my flat? We couldn't invite as many people if it's at mine but maybe fewer is better anyway." She knew that Harry hadn't really spoken to Ron since the divorce; none of the Weasleys actually. She didn't know if he wanted to invite any of them, especially after Ginny's article. Neville would come and Luna if she were back by then. Maybe a few others from the D.A.

"I really don't feel like celebrating."

She frowned. It was fine if he didn't want a party, but they weren't going to completely ignore his birthday. The Dursleys had done that for too many years. "Just you and me then. You can come over and we'll get takeaway and watch a film or something."

Harry hesitated.

"It's your birthday, Harry. I'm not going to just ignore it so you might as well agree."

He snorted. "Yeah, all right."

She grinned at him. "See that wasn't so hard."

31 July 2003

"Happy Birthday!" Hermione said with a smile as Harry stepped into her living room. She'd put a Happy Birthday banner up across the wall that faced the fireplace and there was a cluster of balloons on one of the side tables.

He smiled back at her. "Thanks, Hermione. You didn't have to do this you know."

"Of course, I did," she scoffed. "It's your birthday."

The coffee table in front of the couch was covered with takeaway cartons from Harry's favorite Chinese restaurant under warming charms, along with a bottle of wine and a small cake that Hermione had made herself. Harry's present sat amongst the food.

"Food first or present?"

"Present, of course," Harry said with a grin.

She laughed and handed it to them as they sat down on the couch. Harry tore open the paper and lifted the lid from the box. His eyes widened as he pulled out the leather jacket. Hermione bit her lip, hoping that he liked it. She'd hesitated when she first saw it, unsure if it would be too painful of a reminder. In the end, though, she couldn't resist.

"This is just like Sirius's," Harry said.

"Is it okay?" she asked. "I know you always liked it."

"I love it, thank you," he said with a warm smile. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. If he lingered a bit, she didn't comment on it. She'd probably imagined it anyway.

"Well, let's see then."

Harry stood and slipped the jacket on. It fit him perfectly. Hermione stared up at him for a moment, swallowing hard. It looked really good on him.

"Well?" he asked holding his arms out.

"Perfect," she managed.

He took the jacket off, much to her disappointment. But it was a bit warm to be wearing it, she had to admit. Besides, in only his t-shirt, she could see the muscles in his arms when he moved.

Hermione immediately stood and made for the stack of DVDs next to the telly as her face heated. Now was not the time for that. She would never make it through the night if she were fantasizing about Harry's arms, or any other part of him for that matter. Thankfully, Harry was carefully folding the jacket and putting it back in the box, so he didn't notice her embarrassment.

"So, what do you fancy?" she asked, holding out the stack of DVDs to him.

Harry waved a hand. "You choose."

"It's your birthday."

"I'm not picky, Hermione. Whatever you want is fine." He picked up one of the containers and a fork, settling back into the couch.

Hermione looked down at the films. Definitely not a romance and she wasn't much in the mood for an action film either. She pulled a comedy out of the pile and popped it into the DVD player.

Settling on the couch next to Harry, she chose her own container of food and a pair of chopsticks. They laughed their way through the film as they ate, eventually snuggling up together when they were finished with the food. Hermione had her head on Harry's shoulder, his arm around her. It wasn't unusual, they'd sat this way numerous other times on numerous other nights, but Hermione relished it all the same.

They had spent nearly every lunch and most evenings together this last week. The press had been relentless and even in the Ministry canteen Harry was whispered about and stared at, so they ate most lunches at his desk. And after work, he'd either come to her flat or she'd go to Grimmauld Place. Hermione knew Harry needed her right now. He really didn't have any other support, as he and Ron still weren't speaking. And he wasn't as close to any of his other friends as he was to Hermione. And she, of course, hadn't minded in the least. But that didn't mean that it meant anything more than that. On Harry's part anyway.

When the film was over, she insisted on lighting a candle on Harry's cake and singing to him. He rolled his eyes but indulged her. He glanced at her before closing his eyes and blowing out the candle.

"What did you wish for?"

"You know I can't tell you that," he said. "Then it won't come true." He stared at her. "And I really want it to come true."

The air seemed charged. Hermione stared back at Harry trying to read his expression. She wasn't sure what was going on, but her heart started beating faster. "I hope it does then," she whispered. "Happy Birthday, Harry."

She leaned in to kiss his cheek. Just before her lips reached him, he turned his head slightly and she got the corner of his mouth instead. Hermione's breath hitched as his eyes fluttered shut and he let out a shuddering breath. She pulled back slightly, their breath mingling as she stared at him. His eyes opened and bore into hers for a few seconds before he pulled away completely.

Hermione felt compelled to say something. "Sorry, I was, erm, I was going for your cheek."

"Yeah, I," Harry cleared his throat. "Sorry about that." He gave her a sheepish grin.

There was another round of staring although neither of them moved any closer to one another.

"I should probably get going," Harry said. "Work tomorrow and everything."

"Right," Hermione said, heart sinking. Then chastising herself for wanting something to happen.

"Thank you, Hermione. For all of this. And for the gift."

She plastered a smile on her face. "You're welcome."

"Can I help you clean up?" Even as he asked, he seemed agitated, like he just wanted to leave. Her heart broke further.

"No, I've got it."

"You're sure?"

"Magic, right?" She gave him a wan smile.

"Right," he replied. He picked up the box with his jacket, then looked back at her. "This really was the perfect birthday. Truly."

"I'm glad," Hermione said.

He stared at her for a moment before leaning in and kissing her cheek. This time he definitely lingered. She froze. When Harry pulled back, she was staring at him in shock. Something shifted in his expression and his head dropped slightly. Was that…disappointment?

Before she could say anything else, he gave her a sad smile, then turned and walked to the Floo, throwing in the powder and disappearing from her flat.

"Stupid," Harry said to himself as he stepped into Grimmauld Place. It was bad enough that he'd reacted the way he had when she'd accidentally kissed him. It was why he'd been compelled to leave right away. He hadn't trusted himself not to grab her and snog the life out of her.

All the time they'd spent together in the last week, hell in the last month, had just made Harry's feelings clearer to him. It took everything in him not to do something stupid. And tonight, after everything she'd done for his birthday, and what had happened when she'd accidentally kissed him, he thought that maybe.

But when he had asked if he could help her clean up, she'd seemed just as anxious to get rid of him as he was to leave. Then he'd completely screwed things up by kissing her before he left. He could tell by the way she'd frozen, as well as her expression that she hadn't expected it. Nor did it seem that she wanted it. Fuck.

If he'd messed up their friendship, he didn't know what he was going to do. Hermione was really the only one that had been here for him since everything blew up with Ginny. He didn't want to talk to Ron given his attitude and he couldn't talk to the rest of the Weasleys for obvious reasons. He could talk to Neville but since Neville had left the Aurors to work at Hogwarts, they weren't as close anymore. They hadn't kept in touch as they should have.

He sighed as he plopped down on the couch. He should go back and apologize, or try to explain, or something. But what was he going to say that wouldn't screw things up completely? Maybe it was better to just leave things as they were, try to act as he normally did around her when he saw her next.

Except…except he couldn't get that moment out of his head after Hermione had kissed his mouth instead of his cheek and she'd lingered. She hadn't immediately pulled back, horrified, as he would have expected. And had her breath hitched? She'd made some kind of noise, he was sure of that, he just wasn't exactly sure what it was. Did she feel the same way that he did?

But she had apologized for kissing him and had seemed shocked when he'd lingered on her cheek before leaving. So maybe she didn't feel the same way he did. Or maybe she'd just been so surprised she couldn't react. He ran his hand through his hair in agitation. This was all so fucking confusing.

He needed to talk to her. He was a fucking adult for Merlin's sake. Hermione wouldn't abandon him, he knew she wouldn't. If she didn't feel the same way about him, she wasn't going to stop being friends with him. And Harry could deal with that. He would.

Yes, he needed to talk to her. Right now. Standing, Harry moved back to the fireplace. As he reached for the pot of Floo powder, he heard a noise behind him. Drawing his wand and spinning around, his mouth dropped open. Ginny stood in the doorway of the sitting room dressed only in a very revealing negligee, wearing a wide smile.

"Happy Birthday, Harry."

Hermione stared at the empty fireplace for several minutes after Harry left. She was having a hard time processing everything that had just happened. Had he just kissed her and meant it as something other than a friendly peck on the cheek? And what about his reaction when she'd accidentally kissed his mouth? He couldn't, it wasn't, he didn't have feelings for her, did he?

Hermione sank down onto the couch, going back over everything that had happened in the last few minutes Harry had been here. There had definitely been a reaction to her kiss; the way his eyes closed and the shuddering breath. But then why had he decided to leave right away? Because he was afraid she didn't feel the same for him?

She touched her cheek where he'd kissed her just before he left, pictured his face when he pulled back from her, the drop of his shoulders. He had looked disappointed. Had he been trying to show her that he felt something for her other than friendship? Maybe…maybe he had.

Gods, she had to talk to him. She needed to know. But what if she was wrong? What if she was reading into the situation? What if he laughed at her?

No, Harry would never laugh at her, even if he didn't feel for her the way she felt for him. And if she was wrong, well, things might be awkward for a while, but she wasn't going to stop being his friend. She could bury her feelings again, she'd been doing it long enough. But she needed to know.

Hermione quickly waved her wand to send the dirty dishes to the kitchen. Glancing at the remaining cake, she summoned a container to bring it with her. She'd meant to send it with Harry anyway. Grabbing the Floo powder, she stepped into the fireplace and called out for Grimmauld Place.

"What are you doing here?" Harry demanded once he'd recovered from the shock of seeing his nearly naked ex-wife in his house. "How did you get in?" He'd taken away her Floo access after the divorce was final.

"Kreacher let me in," she said as she walked toward him, sway in her hips. "I'm here because I wanted to wish you a happy birthday."

Harry was going to have to talk to Kreacher. "Put some clothes on, Ginny, and go home."

"Don't you want your present?" she asked with a pout. She'd reached him now and tried to take his hand.

Harry pulled away from her. "This is ridiculous, Ginny. We're divorced. No, I do not want a present from you."

"But I know you'll like it," she said with a seductive smile. She put a hand on his chest. "It's something you've wanted for a very long time."

"I don't know what you're playing at, but I want nothing to do with it. Now leave before I bodily throw you out."

"You wouldn't do that to me, Harry. Not to the mother of your child."

Harry stared at her. "Are you drunk? We don't have any children."

"Not yet," Ginny said with a gleam in her eye.

"For fuck's sake," Harry muttered under his breath. "Listen to me, Ginny. We are divorced. We are not getting back together. So, whatever this is," he waved a hand at her, "is not going to work. I'm not going to sleep with you because you're dangling hypothetical kids in front of me."

"It's not hypothetical," Ginny said, dropping her seduction act and scowling at him.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Harry asked, throwing his hands in the air in exasperation. He didn't even notice the Floo activating behind him.

"I'm pregnant."

All the air left Hermione's lungs as she stepped out of the Floo. Ginny was standing in front of Harry practically naked. She was wearing lingerie, but it was so sheer, Hermione could see everything, including the fact that the knickers she was wearing barely covered anything. Harry, for his part, looked irritated so it was immediately obvious that he hadn't invited Ginny here. Still, Hermione didn't think she should be here. Just as she turned to grab Floo powder to go back to her flat, Ginny spoke.

"I'm pregnant."

Hermione dropped the container that held Harry's cake and spun around. Ginny had a smile on her face and Harry was staring at her in disbelief. Hermione could hear the blood rushing in her ears. Pregnant? Ginny was pregnant?

Oh, gods, she had to get out of here. She fumbled for the Floo powder, ignoring the dropped cake at her feet.

"Hermione?" Ginny said innocently, finally drawing Harry's attention to the fireplace. "What are you doing here?"

"I, I brought the rest of Harry's cake," Hermione managed. She knew her voice was shaking. "He forgot to take it when he left. Sorry, I dropped it when I heard the news." She gave Harry a weak smile. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Ginny said with a smile. "And I'm sure the cake is still good even if it is a little smushed."

Hermione couldn't look at Ginny. Both because of what she was wearing and because of the news she'd just announced. Surely, Harry and Ginny would get back together now. Harry would insist on it, Hermione was sure.

"Hermione," Harry said but she just grabbed the pot of Floo powder and threw some in the grate. "Hermione, wait."

"See you later, Harry." And then she stepped in and called out for her flat, tears overtaking her as she fell out into her living room.