I'd Do Anything

I'd Do Anything

The rain was falling in sheets, pounding onto her cool bare arms. The darkness seemed to be closing in, and the brief flashes of green and purple light were getting more frequent. There was a scream, and someone was standing in front of her in a black cloak, threatening her. There was a loud popping sound just as the woman yelled the word `Obliviate' and everything faded.

Kate woke with a start. Her hand instinctively rising to her face she ran her hands through her short curly hair, feeling the sweat on her clammy forehead. It had been almost a year since she'd last had the dream. She had thought it was all behind her - those two years when every night she would wake crying as the image faded. She still grasped to understand the tears falling as the image faded, surely she should feel relief that she was escaping, but all she felt was an unexplained sense of loss. She closed her eyes to her darkened bedroom, and tried once more to explore the image, fresh in her mind, there had to be some clue, some explanation as to why it had haunted her for four years. She tried to recapture it, tried to look beyond the figure in black, for after years of searching she knew there was no clue there - her doctor had frequently observed that the woman was another version of herself - but Kate knew that was rubbish, she wouldn't be running away from…well, whatever she had left behind. The most frustrating thing was being able to see shapes moving in the background behind the woman - they must be people - why couldn't she see them - they could be the key to ending these nightmares. They seemed slightly clearer, but she knew she was only imagining, hoping. For, despite a years break, she would spend moments every day thinking of the images, and every night as she fell asleep she would anxiously dread its return, whilst some part of her, deep inside, desperately wanted to see those images one last time, to try and explain it.

She opened her eyes once more and sighed deeply, sitting up in bed, untangling her legs from the sheets. It was time to head back to the clinic. There must be something someone could do; maybe something different would show up in the scans this time, she had to hold out hope. Climbing out of bed, she padded barefoot down the short hallway to the kitchen and filling the kettle prepared to make a cup of tea.

Holding the warm mug in her hands she sat at her desk, and looked at the computer screen in front of her. She might as well do some work, she'd never get back to sleep now. Swiftly she checked her e-mails and replied to the queries from her Editor, and the publishing company confirming the typeface and dust jacket text for the book. She sighed once more, and rested her face in her hands. The Book. It was finished, well, her Editor thought it was finished, and what more could she possibly add to it now, there could be no other possible ending. Her heroine couldn't simply instantly recover from her amnesia and live happily ever after - the happily ever after had to be self made, and it had to stem from the new life she'd created for herself…if only…but, then again, would she really want to give up the search for what once was, not knowing what she was leaving behind…There was no point stressing about it now, the deal was complete, the book was going to be printed next week, and it would be on book shelves by the end of the month. That was the trouble with being too closely and emotionally connected to your subject matter - pretending to write fiction, when really she was simply writing to try to reveal her own past. One of the specialists had said that a creative outlet, writing or painting might help to unlock some of the secrets of her past so she had faithfully written in her diary every night, recorded her years of uncertainty, never knowing whether a woman she walked by on the street was her friend, sister, mother… She had developed an almost morbid fascination with wondering what they were doing now, if she had a family, did they still think she was alive, had they said their goodbyes? It had been four years; surely they would have given up hope that she would be found alive…had they mourned her? Had they had a funeral?

It was impossible to process the emotions passing through her, for so many of her emotions appeared to be connected to a past she no longer understood. Why did she feel so at home in Scotland when all the experts had assured her she must be from Southern England due to her accent? Why did she get tearful in large railway stations? The consensus from the memory and brain injury specialists was that she was feeling a unique combination of nostalgia and déjà vu, a feeling only experienced by those suffering from long-term memory loss. Long-Term. Those two words that had crushed all her hopes, and reduced her to a mass of curls and tears in her hospital bed all those years ago. Alone, afraid, and stranded in a country that apparently wasn't her own. There was no record of her having travelled into America, no passport, no I.D, no connection, no reason for her to bed there. Her accent and skin tone identifying her as British. It had been four months before she had returned to British soil after being discovered unconscious on remote farmland.

Everyone had hoped that returning to her home country would trigger some memories, but so far, nothing. She had almost given up hope, but every time she felt that odd combination of déjà vu and nostalgia she felt compelled to drop everything and search out the reasons - the answer - her past.

She removed her face from her hands and looked up once more into the dimly lit room. Dawn light was now beginning to creep through the small gap between the lazily drawn curtains. Kate focused once more on the computer screen before her and resolutely opened a blank window - it was time to start working again. The publishers loved her book, and they'd offered her a three book deal…it was a fantastic opportunity, and a fantastic amount of money which would finally pay off all those outstanding medical bills which kind specialists had not pressured her over until she was settled. But, what could she write about now. Write about what you know - that was the old adage, but what did she know? She knew everything there was to know about forgetting and not knowing anything about yourself, but she had exhausted that subject now. It was time to truly exercise her creative muscles and create something truly fictional.

Three hours was too long to have spent staring at a blank screen, and with a flush of anger at herself she abruptly shut the lid of the laptop and left the room. Standing under the powerful water jets in the shower she cried silently. She only ever cried silently anymore - it had been bad enough all those nights in hospital without strangers trying to comfort her, so she had learnt to conceal her fear and pain. By the time she got out of the shower Tom would be up and getting ready for work. She felt awful putting her best friend through all of this again, but she had to follow every instinct when it came to her amnesia, it was the only chance she had.

“Morning.” She called as she made her way to the kitchen half an hour later.

“Morning. You were up early this morning? Working again?” Tom asked as he handed her a slice of toast, lightly buttered, as she liked it.

“I had the dream…the nightmare.” She said softly. Tom froze with a piece of toast halfway to his mouth.

“Oh Kate.” He put the toast down and wrapped an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

“I thought I'd go in and see Dr. Jeremy this morning.”

Tom nodded thoughtfully.

“If we leave in the next few minutes I can come with you before my shift starts.”

Kate smiled gratefully at her friend.

“Thanks.”

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“Well Kate, as it's been so long since your last visit we'll do a complete workup, all the tests, and a general check-up. See if we can figure out what triggered the return of the dream.”

Kate smiled gratefully at the doctor she'd come to know so well since her return to England. Elizabeth Jeremy had been unfailingly patient with Kate, and was always available to talk.

“You haven't met our new nurse yet have you? Well, actually she's been with us a few months, but she's new to you. Jennifer, this is Kate and Tom, why don't you take a few moments to familiarise yourself with Kate's notes while we get the machines warmed up. You know the drill Kate.” Kate nodded and smiled at the new nurse before heading out the side door to change into a hospital gown. Once changed she leant her head against the cool wall. Was she sending everyone on a wild goose chase by coming back here? She hated feeling uncertain. She had felt certain of so few things in the last few years, choosing Dr. Jeremy had been one of them, for some reason she had felt instantly at ease as soon as she walked into the waiting room of the clinic on Grimmauld Place for her initial consultation. She was disturbed from her daydream as Jennifer entered the examination room.

“Hi.” Kate said with a smile.

“Hi. Dr. Jeremy said we should just get started with the basic facts while everything's powering up.” Kate nodded with a smile.

“I'm used to the system now.” Jennifer smiled understandingly before beginning the basic height, weight measurements.

“I hate to gossip, but, who's the man you were with?” Jennifer asked a little breathlessly. Kate looked up at the nurse and smiled.

“Tom? He's my best friend. He's an anaesthetist in the Burns Unit next door.”

“Really? I'm surprised I've never seen him before then.”

“He's single.” Kate teased with a smile, seeing Jennifer's eyes sparkle at the news.

“Well, I might have to pop next door one lunch break then.” They shared a smile and Kate felt relaxed and comfortable.

“You have the most amazing teeth.”

“Thanks. My parents were dentists.”

Kate froze and her brown eyes flew open, meeting Jennifer's startled blue eyes.

“You - you didn't know that before?” Jennifer asked uncertainly.

Kate shook her head, her hands trembling. Jennifer took one and squeezed it kindly.

“It's ok. I'll just go get Tom and Dr. Jeremy. I'll be right back Kate.”

She barely remembered Tom and Dr. Jeremy rushing into the room with Jennifer, and the numerous tests and scans passed in a blur. Almost like she was floating above everything, not really a part of it. She had remembered something. Her parents were dentists. Were. The past tense had snuck its way into her consciousness. Were her parents' dead? A sense of loss overcame her as she tried to register that it was likely she had lost and grieved over parents she couldn't remember.

She barely registered the test results that Dr. Jeremy gently revealed. The cloud across part of her brain had changed shape. She had nodded and spoken in all the gaps in conversation, but her mind was focused on that tiny piece of memory that had broken through the barrier in her head. Her parents were dentists. She assured Tom that she would be fine on her own for the rest of the day as they parted at the front door, and she walked a few steps before sitting down on the low wall in front of the clinic entrance. The cloud had changed shape, it hadn't technically got any smaller, so it couldn't medically be considered progress, but the fact there was any change at all after so many years was promising Dr. Jeremy had said, although she had no evidence to back up her statement. Cases like Kate's were extremely rare, and there was not always any apparent cause, no excessive head trauma, no genetic imperfection, they really had no idea what was going on in her head, but then again, neither did she.

Her parents were dentists. She sat and tipped her heart shaped face up to the sun, smiling for the first time. As odd as it seemed, even knowing that they were gone she felt better just knowing the tiniest thing about them, knowing that she hadn't forgotten them completely. Knowing that there was still reason to hope.

That's where she was sitting when he walked past, a tall man, in his mid twenties, his black hair lay in a mess atop his head, a preoccupied look in his face as he walked along the pavement on the other side of the road. As he neared his destination he turned quickly and his eyes alighted on the young woman sitting gazing at the sky, not seeing him, and his heart stopped. It would just be another look alike, just like all the other times, he had to stop doing this. He sighed and his heart contracted as he let another fragment of hope drop away, he took three steps before turning once more, and staring across the road to where the young woman had stood, and as he watched she stretched her arms above her head, locked her fingers together and yawned as she stretched. He watched transfixed. It was her. It was finally her.

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Chapter Two: Hermione

Kate yawned and stretched, her lack of sleep beginning to catch up with her. As she relaxed her arms to her side she was suddenly overcome with a now familiar feeling, nostalgia, yet this was stronger than anything she had ever felt before, it was almost tugging at her, twisting her body to turn to her right, and there she saw him. Wow. That was an attractive man, she thought as she exhaled slowly, and her mind seemed to register him as familiar. She paused gazing at him as she noticed that he was staring right back at her from across the street. Everything was suddenly changing and she was unsure of herself, she had remembered something, and now she felt a familiarity stronger than anything she had felt in four years, she had to act on it.

Harry watched transfixed as she looked back at him before looking up and down the quiet street and slowly walking towards him. He'd imagined this moment thousands of times, and never had he seen himself just standing and staring at her like an idiot. She stopped a few paces away from him and they gazed at one another, he drank in the sight of her, as if storing the memory of exactly how she looked in case he lost her again. Obviously she was older, they both were, her hair was now short, curling in soft waves around her chin, her eyes were even more perfect than he remembered, she was slim, and she was heartbreakingly beautiful. The only thing to complete him now would be to hear her voice, that voice he heard in his dreams, as he regretted ever silencing anything she'd ever said, even her nagging him to do some work or go to the library would be a gift right now.

Kate looked at him, taking in the scar on his forehead just peeking out from under his unruly hair, the longing in his startlingly green eyes, and the feeling of belonging started to overwhelm her. She took another step closer, and prepared herself for complete humiliation.

“I'm sorry - this is going to sound so odd, but…do you know me?” She asked softly, nervously. Their eyes were locked on one another's.

“Never mind. Sorry to bother you. I suffer from amnesia, and you just seemed so familiar.” She dropped her gaze from his and feeling like an idiot she turned to leave.

“Wait…Please.” Harry's voice was croaky. He reached out and gently wrapped a hand around her arm, trying not to startle her. They'd anticipated that if she was ever found she might not remember…he had to be careful not to scare her, not knowing how much had been erased from her memory. She turned and her head tilted, her brown eyes full of hope.

“I do know you…there are a lot of people who miss you very much.” He said, taking in the excitement and fear in her eyes, the colour draining from her face.

“It's ok. Why don't you sit down for a minute?” He said, gesturing to the low wall in front of number 11 Grimmauld Place, reluctantly letting go of her arm. She sat shakily and Harry crouched on the ground in front of her, trying not to wrap his arms around her in a huge bear hug.

“I'm Harry.” He said, smiling at her.

“I'm…well, people call me Kate. Maybe you can tell me my real name?” She asked quietly.

“Your name's Hermione. Hermione Jane Granger.” Harry said sadly, and remembering the advice of Madam Pomfrey all those years ago, that if they found her she would need proof he patted his pocket and was relieved to feel his wallet inside. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew his wallet, and carefully removed a small group of photographs and held them out to her.

Kate took the photographs and took a deep breath before looking down, and gasping to see herself, younger than she could remember, with the same long bushy hair she'd had four years ago when she'd been found. She was wearing a school uniform and laughing.

“Your sixteenth birthday.” Harry said, watching her eyes poring over the photograph.

“At school?”

“Yes. We went to school together…um, boarding school in Scotland.” Harry said, reminding himself that she may not know about magic.

“So we knew each other for a long time?”

“Since we were eleven.

She looked at the next picture, she was sitting between two boys, one was unmistakably the man crouching in front of her, the other grinning beneath his mop of bright red hair, an arm around each of them as they sat squished onto a sofa.

“The day we moved into our house after graduating.” Harry said smiling at the familiar photograph. “That's our best friend Ron. Ronald Weasley.” He said with a grin.

“The three of us were best friends?” Kate asked shakily. Harry nodded and Kate smiled before looking at the next photograph.

“You with your parents, on Graduation day.” Harry said, carefully studying her reaction. Her eyes were filled with tears.

“Were…were they dentists?” She asked.

Harry looked up at her.

“Yes. Do you remember them?”

“No. That's all I know, and I only remembered this morning. It's the first sign that my memory might come back.”

Harry didn't know whether to jump for joy or cry. She remembered nothing, not even her parents, she would have to grieve all over again, yet there was the chance that one day she might remember, she might remember him.

“Are they…dead?” She asked determinedly, after running her fingers over their images for a moment.

“Yes. I'm sorry He - Kate” He stopped himself.

“How?”

“Car Accident. We were twenty. They were amazing people, wonderful parents. They were very proud of you.”

She nodded her understanding and looked through the last few photographs in silence as he gently reintroduced her to the Weasley family, Remus, Tonks, Dumbledore, and their friends from Hogwarts. She was silent for several minutes, looking down at her hands before moving the photographs back towards Harry again. He gently placed a hand on hers.

“You keep them - Kate.”

“Thank you.”

They studied one another once again.

“Hermione. You can call me Hermione.” She said quietly and saw his green eyes glisten before he dipped his head.

“I know this is a lot to take in. Do you want me to call someone for you? Get you a taxi home?” He asked anxiously.

“I was just leaving the clinic - I'd been to see the specialist about my amnesia. Would you…would you come with me to see her?” She asked, feeling safe around Harry and not wanting him to leave in case the feeling left with him.

“Of course. I'll just run inside and get some things. Do you want to come in or wait out here? There'll be people inside who know you.” Her gaze flickered anxiously.

“It's ok. I'll be right out. Don't go away. Please?” He said, his hand resting on her arm before he ran up the steps and through the front door of 12 Grimmauld Place.

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“Remus!” Harry bellowed as he ran through the house.

“What is it?” Remus asked anxiously, rushing out of the kitchen with Tonks close behind him.

“I've found her.” Harry said breathlessly. Seeing their looks of pity, assuming he had simply seen another look alike, he grabbed their hands and pulled them through the house to the living room, pointing out of the window to where Hermione sat gazing up at the sky.

“It's really her.” Harry said happily.

Tonks let out a sob, and Remus wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.

“She's really alive. Oh Harry.” Remus pulled Harry into the hug.

“She doesn't remember though. Amnesia. But it's getting better. I showed her the pictures, it didn't help, but I'm going with her now to see her doctor. Can you believe she's been going to the clinic across the road - she's been so close - I've wasted so much time.” Harry was babbling.

Remus placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Calm down Harry. Breathe.”

“Thanks. I'm just going to grab her trunk. It has all her diaries and things. The doctor will know how to reintroduce her to things slowly. She doesn't even know she's a witch!” Harry said incredulously over his shoulder as he rushed up the stairs to the storeroom. It had been too hard to have all of Hermione's things lying around their house, so Remus and Tonks had agreed to store them. Moments later he was running back down the stairs, dragging the trunk, thudding down each step, behind him.

“See you later!” He yelled as he ran back out of the front door.

Remus and Tonks watched him through the front window as he returned to Hermione. She turned and looked relieved to see him, a shy smile spreading across her face and Tonks cried softly into her husbands shoulder.

“We'd better let the Weasley's know.”

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“What's all that?” Hermione asked confused as she saw the large trunk Harry was dragging behind him.

“Some of your possessions. I've had them since you…vanished. I thought you'd like them. They might help. You were always writing in your diary - hearing about your past from yourself has got to be better than from strangers.” His voice became a little strangled as he referred to himself as a stranger, it was just so odd to think that she had no memory of all the time they had spent together.

“Oh. Thank you.” She said before leading the way across the road and into the small clinic labelled only by a brass plaque by the door bearing the name `Dr. Elizabeth Jeremy MD: Neurology Clinic'.

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“Back so soon Kate?” Jennifer asked worriedly as Hermione and Harry entered the clinic.

“Is Dr. Jeremy free?” Kate asked, her voice sounding more confident as she returned to familiar territory. She chided herself for coming across as so weak and confused upon meeting Harry - she wasn't like that really. She paused in her train of thought, but she didn't need to tell him that, he knew her better than she knew herself, quite literally, which explained why he'd been so quiet and understanding. She hoped she hadn't changed too much, and that deep down she was still Hermione as well as Kate - it was just so much to try and understand. She shook her head lightly to herself as Jennifer reappeared with Dr. Jeremy close at her heels.

“Is everything ok?” Dr. Jeremy asked, ushering Kate into her office, and glancing curiously at Harry, especially when she saw the trunk he was now carrying.

“Harry, maybe you'd better explain.” She said, sinking into a chair, suddenly very tired.

Harry leant forward and shook the doctors hand, introducing himself.

“Harry Potter. I just bumped into Kate outside in the street - “

“My name's not Kate.” Hermione interrupted. Harry glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and smiled to see the real Hermione reappearing.

“She's right. Her name isn't Kate. It's Hermione Jane Granger. We went to school together. We were best friends. I've been searching for her for four years, I can't believe I found you on Grimmauld Place after all this time searching the country and you're back here.” Harry shook his head in disbelief.

“Back here?” Dr. Jeremy asked, taking in the details.

“My Godfather used to own number 12, we spent several summer and Christmas Holidays there when we were home from school. It was home. His best friend lives there now.”

“So Grimmauld Place was familiar to you - Hermione?”

“Well, I felt very comfortable here in the clinic - I never thought to find out why, it wasn't quite the same feeling of nostalgia as usual - that was why I went up to Harry - the feeling of nostalgia /déjà vu was stronger than ever - he was almost familiar.”

Dr. Jeremy nodded and thought for a moment.

“Obviously this is a lot to deal with. I hate to be rude, but Harry, do you have some proof that this is indeed Hermione?”

“Of course. I showed her some photographs.”

Hermione handed them over to her doctor who looked through them silently.

“And this trunk is full of her things. Her old diaries, letters, photograph albums, childhood possessions. When she disappeared I put it into storage. I thought we should speak to you before she looked at any of it.”

Dr. Jeremy smiled at him.

“Thank you Harry. I can see you were a good friend. Now, Hermione, have you remembered anything else since earlier?”

She shook her head.

“No, but Harry was so familiar - it's almost like I remembered him.”

Harry's heart gave a little burst, and he smiled, his green eyes lighting up.

“Dr. Jeremy, would it help if she met other friends? Saw our old house, school?” Harry asked eagerly, knowing that keeping Ron away from Hermione would be a nightmare if she were unprepared.

“Yes, but not all at once. It's a big shock, suddenly being presented with all of this. You've come so far as Kate, establishing a life for yourself, finishing the book-“

“Book?” Harry asked turning to his best friend, hardly believing that she was really standing in front of him.

“My book - it's being published at the moment. Fiction, but it's about amnesia.”

“You haven't changed much then. Never could get you out of the library at school. Ron and I had to build you your own library in the house just to fit all the books in - it's still there…Congratulations on the book.”

“Thanks.” She grinned across at him, and Dr. Jeremy smiled at them unobserved.

“Hermione, this feeling of connection to Harry is very positive especially considering your breakthrough this morning. Your memory may well be fighting to return, and it seems likely that fragments will come back to you. This may go on for years, and it may be the closest you come to remembering everything, but you could be one of the lucky ones, in which case, the small fragments will lead up to a return of your memory in full. As we know so little of how the brain damage was sustained we can't be sure.”

“Thank you Dr. Jeremy. So, I can look through the trunk?” She asked anxiously.

“Of course. I can tell you're eager to see more of your past. You don't need me for all of that, but perhaps Tom should be around in case it all becomes too much. Feel free to come in and see me anytime.”

Dr. Jeremy headed next door to prepare for her next patient and Hermione and Harry stood regarding one another.

“Are you ok?” Harry asked.

“Yes. You?”

Harry blinked, surprised at her question, before smiling.

“Best I have been in four years…”

“Ha-“

“Her-“

They interrupted each other and laughed lightly.

“Go ahead.” Hermione said with a grin.

“Hermione, can I hug you?” He asked, suddenly sounding like a lost little boy. She smiled up at him tearfully before closing the gap between them and feeling his strong arms wrap around her, his chin resting atop her head. She suddenly hugged him back as tight as she could, and she could feel the laugh reverberate in his chest as tears filled her eyes.

“I missed you…I missed this.” He said quietly into her hair.

“Me too.” Hermione replied, as they pulled apart, knowing it was true as she missed it again already.

She walked out of the office ahead of him as he picked up the trunk.

“Kate!” Tom rushed towards her and hugged her.

“Are you ok? Jennifer came to get me. Did you remember something else?”

“No, but I found someone who knows me. Knows everything about me. I've finally found my past!” She said excitedly. Tom laughed and twirled her around. As he put her down he saw the man emerging from the office and paused.

“Harry?”

“Tom?”

Author note: I know the amnesia storyline has been done a thousand times before, but I thought I'd try my hand at it for a change. It's virtually impossible to come up with an original story/scenario in the world of Fan Fiction as there are so many of us out there, but I think every author brings something a little different to the story, a unique touch, a signature style.

Hope you're enjoying `I'd Do Anything' so far. The title comes from the Simple Plan song of the same name, which will feature in a later chapter.

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Chapter 3:

“You two know each other?” Hermione asked in confusion, looking between her past and present best friends.

“You know Kate? From before?” Tom asked Harry as Harry placed Hermione's trunk back on the ground. Harry nodded, and Tom gazed at her for a moment.

“Then?”

“Yes.”

“Um, excuse me, but if you two could stop this cryptic conversation, I'd like to know what on earth is going on.”

“We went to school with Tom's fiancée, you never met him, but I did. “ Harry tried to explain, shooting an apologetic glance at Tom, who nodded his understanding of the situation.

“But you…oh, the fiancée who died.” Hermione whispered. Tom nodded in confirmation.

“Did she know Susan?”

Harry smiled sadly, before nodding.

“They were friends, had classes together, they knew each other much better than I knew Susan. She and Hermione were often in the library looking something up, after graduation of course Susan moved down to London and met you, and we stayed in Scotland. They used to write letters until…” Harry remembered.

“Hermione?” Tom queried.

“My real name. Hermione Granger.”

“Maybe we should all go somewhere and talk.” Harry suggested.

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Sometime later Harry was looking curiously around Tom and Hermione's flat, taking in the little details, seeing the neatly stacked notes and books on the desk which was undoubtedly Hermione's.

“There's something the two of you are keeping from me.” Hermione said bluntly as they sat down in the living room.

“Well, you're right as usual.” Tom said sadly as Harry rummaged around in the trunk of belongings before retrieving a picture frame and holding it in his hands.

“You received this letter when you were eleven years old, it accepted you into our school, and a whole new chapter of your life. I know it seems ridiculous, but it's true.” Harry said as he handed over the much treasured Hogwarts letter which Hermione's parents had kept framed in their home. He and Tom watched her anxiously, occasionally glancing at one another before continuing to watch their friend.

“So, I'm a witch?”

Hermione looked up to see both nod at her in unison, and smiled at the looks on their faces.

“So you two are wizards then.” She said thoughtfully. Harry looked to Tom to answer the question.

“Harry is. My fiancée was, it was quite a shock she told me! But I'm not involved in the Wizarding world.”

“I'm sorry about Susan, Tom.” Hermione said, reaching across and placing a comforting hand on her friends arm. Seeming to instinctively understand how hard this must now be for him.

“It's ok. It was a long time ago now, I used to see her Aunt occasionally but it just made it worse to be honest, being around her family, knowing they were all magical, and being reminded that she was gone.”

“Her family was magical…Does that mean my parents were magical?”

“No. Sometimes there's just one magical individual in a family, a lucky fluke. Your parents had their own dentist surgery in Sussex, but they were as thrilled as you were when you got your letter.” Harry replied.

“Really?”

“Oh yes, I suffered through a weekend of your Dad trying to teach me golf, and not letting me cheat with magic, and when he wasn't holding the laughter in he was boasting about you. His little genius he used to call you.” Harry winced at the memory and Hermione chuckled.

“Did I like school? Was I good at magic? Do I still have my magic?” Hermione asked, a stream of questions running through her mind as she processed all the new information.

“You were a bossy little know it all, and you drove us mad when we started school. One day Ron said something about it and you overheard…it was Halloween so as usual there was some kind of disaster and we realised you were missing. We ran off to find you, saved you, got ourselves in all kinds of trouble until you took the blame and got us all out of trouble again. After that we were never apart…well, other than silly things like Ron thinking your cat ate his pet rat…Never mind, I'm getting off track. This is a lot to take in, but why am I not surprised that you haven't even questioned the existence of magic or what it can do? You were an amazing witch, the cleverest and bravest I've ever known, and very powerful too. You will still have your magic, but you'll have to relearn how to control it.” Harry said, wishing he'd taken it slower and not started to get into anecdotes involving trolls and then having to backtrack so as not to alarm her.

Harry and Tom patiently answered her questions for the next two hours, Harry pulling out photographs and letters, at one point having to delve into an old school textbook from the trunk to answer one of Hermione's typically complex questions about the nature of magic in relation to Muggle physics. There was one topic they had avoided however, how did they explain Voldemort…the wizard who had so closely touched all of their lives?

Hermione returned to her chair having ordered some pizza for the three of them, and looked at Harry and then Tom directly.

“I think it's time to tell me what you've been trying to avoid telling me. I'll have to find out sometimes, and to be honest I'd like to get it over with or I'll worry about it constantly until I found out my own way.” Harry grinned to have the old Hermione back, taking a deep breath before beginning to tell his story, Tom listening as fascinated as Hermione, for he had of course heard the legends, but hearing it from Harry himself was something wizards all over the globe would pay millions for, particularly those in the media.

“Obviously not everyone is good, human nature being what it is, there are those who give in to the greed, hurt and anger, and when a wizard gives in to these emotions, allowing them to overtake what truly matters then he loses control. There have always been dark wizards, and there have always been those who fight them. I'll admit I napped through many a History of Magic lesson but you took copious notes, and you'll be able to read about them all again now. But what's important is the existence of dark magic, spells that hurt, that torture, that kill. The last Dark wizard called himself Lord Voldemort, people are still afraid to say his name. He killed indiscriminately, searching for power, and attempting to purify the Wizarding world by killing everyone not from an all wizard family. Naturally there were those who tried to stop him, the most important was Albus Dumbledore, our Headmaster at Hogwarts. He was the only one in the world as powerful than Voldemort. My parents worked with Dumbledore to fight Voldemort, and they faced him three times. Now, this is the bit you never liked, as you always did say there wasn't enough fact or reason behind divination, but I'm afraid it's the way it is. Everything hinges around a prophecy. One of Voldemort's followers, they called themselves Death Eaters, overheard the first part of a prophecy declaring that a baby boy born at the end of June would have the power to defeat him. Voldemort then decided that the obvious solution would be to kill the boy as a baby - but he didn't hear the last part of the prophecy and that's why he decided to try and kill me when I was a baby. He killed my parents to get to me, but because they died to protect me, the curse failed and instead his body was killed and his spirit fled. Everyone thought the war was over, all because of this stupid scar on my forehead.” Harry sighed, pushing his hair back briefly to reveal the distinctive lightning bolt for a moment.

“He spent the next ten years trying to return, almost succeeding in our First Year at school, that was why you were in danger, he came closer still in our second year, and in our fourth year of school he managed it. He had a body again and killing me was the one thing he wanted more than anything, for revenge. It was alright for a while, he was still gathering supporters, but gradually the violence grew and grew, and he learnt what the rest of the prophecy said, what we already knew, that one of us had to die, if the other one was going to live. I had to kill him, or he would destroy everything…only four people knew that at the time…Dumbledore, me, you and Remus, my unofficial guardian…we all worked and fought, we were all in danger, and we lost many friends and people we considered family. We were almost twenty one when it finally ended, the last battle, it was a massacre, I truly hope you never remember it…that was the night we lost Susan. She fought with us as she had done since we were sixteen years old, and she was killed by a cowardly curse from behind…Tom and I met at her funeral a few weeks later….” Harry said trailing off into silence and Tom took over.

“I was angry that she'd been fighting at all - it was all too much. I understand now of course, her death did matter, does matter, she helped to end the war and that she would have been proud of. Harry approached me in the chapel after the service. I was angry at anyone who approached me, but just one look at Harry, and I knew that there was someone out there who felt exactly as I did, who understood my pain. He'd lost someone too that night. We spoke for a long time, talked about what we would do now, without Susan, without you…”

“We thought you were dead. Well, everyone told me you were, but I knew you'd tried to apparate - that there was a chance, but it took weeks to track down the magical trail you'd left behind you, not until after all of this, and in the end all the trail told us was that you'd been alive when you left and had later arrived in America. Your wand was still where you'd vanished from so you had no means to protect yourself, and we had to assume that the spell aimed at you had hit before you could escape. You were cursed from behind as well, you weren't expecting it because Voldemort was already dead - it was over, and the battle had ended really, but a few of his supporters had lingered and surrounded you…it was payback for me killing Voldemort - they didn't want to kill you - they wanted to destroy me - they erased your memory - so you wouldn't remember me - ever. There is nothing that can reverse the Obliviate spell without the risk of further damaging, or even, killing, the cursed individual. You did the most sensible thing as you always do, and tried to vanish before they could get you, but they were fast. Because the particles of your body were already moving to a new destination they were partly unsuccessful which is why parts of your memory are intact - you can still function, remember how to speak and walk and think - and most important of all you remembered something about your past which means you may be able to break through the spell. By the time we had got rid of the Death Eaters that had surrounded you, there was nothing but your wand lying on the ground.”

Harry's voice expressed the pain that he had lived with for so long, and Hermione looked up to meet his eyes, wanting to go to him. She was almost out of her chair and hugging a man she'd only met that morning for the second time in a matter of hours, but the chime of the doorbell signalled the arrival of their pizza and she blinked, bringing herself back to the present.

After they'd eaten Harry stood to leave and Hermione and Tom stood also, an awkward silence suddenly filling the room after hours of conversation.

“I'll leave you to take everything in…your photo albums and diaries are in the trunk, you'll automatically be able to open and read the diaries, they're charmed to recognise only you. When you're ready come and see me - I wont force you into trying to remember - but when you're a little more used to everything there are so many people who have waited years to see you again…Ron, and the rest of the family. That's what they are - family…” Harry smiled at her and after shaking Tom's hand he walked out of the door. Seconds later something hit him from behind as he was wrapped up in one of Hermione's trademark bear hugs. He hugged her back as tightly as he could.

“Thank you Harry.” She said with a shy smile before running back into the house and closing the door.

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Chapter 4:

This was driving Harry insane. It had been three days, but he'd promised he wouldn't rush her.

He'd gone back to Grimmauld Place that night after having seen her to find all the Weasley's in residence as well as Remus, Tonks and McGonagall. He'd been inundated with questions, and eventually he'd managed to answer them all. Several hours later only Ron remained, the two shell shocked friends sitting together in front of the fireplace.

“How did she look?” Ron asked after moments of silence.

“Beautiful.” Harry sighed happily.

“But she didn't…?”

“No. But she will Ron. She will. She has to.” Harry said quietly, determinedly.

That now seemed so long ago. He'd apparated up to Hogwarts to speak to Madam Pomfrey the morning after seeing Hermione, and had spoken to her at length about Hermione's condition. She'd advised him to be patient, and he'd nodded, knowing she was right.

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After the fourth day of silence, Harry had spent countless hours wondering how she had reacted to the news, and just what her diaries had told her. He remembered all those nights in the Gryffindor common room, and in their house she had studiously scribbled away in her notebooks, and he was never so thankful that she had. For the first time since his job had begun, Harry wished it wasn't the summer holidays - at least if he were teaching then he'd have something else to focus on. Thankfully Ron had some time off to meet him for lunch, and they hugged and smiled in greeting as they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. They talked and talked, Ron letting Harry get everything out of his system, before they descended into discussing Quidditch, Ron repeating Oliver Woods weekly demand that Harry stop teaching and join his team immediately.

As they stood to leave Ron paused.

“What did Hermione love more than anything - other than us and her books?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Harry grinned as he caught his friends meaning, and without a pause he flooed out of the pub, leaving Ron grinning in his wake. It was good to have the old Harry back again.

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Hermione had now read all the books and diaries Harry had left for her repeatedly. She grinned as she remembered particular passages, having to laugh at all the melodrama, and the obviously happy memories. There were months that left her in tears - the loss of Sirius - Harry had been through so much - he had lost so much - and yet he seemed to strong. It was beginning to drive her mad now though as there was one diary missing - the last one - she couldn't imagine that after years of vigilantly keeping a diary she would have suddenly stopped, it must be with her other possessions. It was time to be brave, and to make contact with Harry again. It wasn't anything to be scared of, it was merely that she was nervous of trying to live up to her past, and their close friendship. She'd obviously known him as well, if not better, than she'd known herself. It seemed to be a very different relationship from her friendship with Ron, much deeper and unspoken. She had to admit that she was dying to meet all these people she'd been reading about and looking at photographs of.

Grabbing her bag and sunglasses from beside the door she decided to walk over to Grimmauld Place straight away. She smiled as the sun shone down on her face as she walked, anxious and excited about what she would find, about whether her instincts were correct. And to be honest, quite desperate to try out some magic!

Half an hour later she stood outside number 12 Grimmauld Place, and rather hesitantly she raised her hand and knocked on the door as there seemed to be no bell. A moment later a tall, thin man appeared, one she recognised from many of the photographs Harry had left her. He stared at her for a moment before smiling welcomingly.

“Come on in Hermione.” He said warmly.

“Harry was just on his way to see you! Quite a coincidence…oh sorry. I'm Remus…”

“…Lupin” Hermione interrupted.

“I recognise you from the pictures.” They smiled at one another before Hermione jumped at a loud crashing sound from the kitchen.

“Sorry about that. My wife's rather clumsy…”

“You're married? You must have married Tonks!” Hermione gasped smiling. Remus looked down at her and grinned.

“I'd almost forgotten how clever you are Hermione…and how perceptive. Now lets stop standing in the hallway, come on through to the kitchen and we can see what kind of chaos she's caused this time.” He chuckled and Hermione followed him with a smile. She'd known she'd like Remus from her diary entries, he was so gentle, and his intelligence and thirst for knowledge seemed to hover around him.

Tonks was sitting on the kitchen floor trying to cram saucepans back into a cupboard when they entered the kitchen, and Hermione grinned to see a mop of curly purple hair.

“It's alright Remus, didn't even break anything this time!” She shouted cheerfully. Remus chuckled, and reached down to give her a hand to her feet.

“We've got a visitor.”

“Ooh really?” Tonks said turning around before squeaking with excitement to see Hermione. She launched herself at Hermione and hugged her tight.

“Oh!” She said pulling away.

“I'm so sorry - it's just so easy to forget…” Tonks blushed, and her hair became green.

“It's fine.” Hermione laughed.

“It's rather nice not having people walk on eggshells around me. I've had years of it now. It's good to see you Tonks. Congratulations on your marriage.”

The women smiled at one another before Tonks hugged her again.

“It's just so nice to have you back.” Tonks grinned.

They were interrupted at that moment by someone running down the stairs.

“Oops, completely forgot to let Harry know that you were here. I take it you came by to see him?” Remus said as the kitchen door opened and Harry entered talking.

“Can anyone remember the password to Sirius' old safe?”

He paused as Tonks raised an eyebrow at him, and turned to see Hermione standing there. A grin spread quickly all the way across his face, his eyes sparkling, and Remus smiled to see him so happy.

“Hi Harry.” Hermione said, cursing herself internally for sounding so shy.

“Hey. I was just about to come and see you. I've got a present for you, well, two if I could remember how to get the old safe open…”

“It needs two wands that Sirius approved, and an incantation of `Open Sesame Street'” Hermione said with a wry smile.

Harry turned to her amazed.

“No I don't remember.” She said softly, seeing the look of hope on his face. “I've just been relearning…he had an interesting sense of humour…” Harry nodded with a grin that Tonks and Remus shared.

“Want to see some magic then?” He asked with a mischievous grin. She nodded eagerly and he grabbed her hand as laughing she followed him out the kitchen and up the stairs, Remus and Tonks walking behind them.

As Tonks and Remus cast the incantation to open the safe Harry watched Hermione's eyes sparkling with excitement and curiosity, he grinned and resisted the urge to hug her to his side. Remus ad Tonks quietly left the room as Harry reached forward and drew a small package from within the safe. He looked down at it and smiled before looking up and passing it to Hermione.

“What is it?”

“Open it and see.” He said with a grin.

She looked at him warily for a moment before straightening her shoulders and determinedly pulling the layers of paper apart to reveal a thin piece of wood. She gasped as the wood touched the bare skin of her hand as a small tingle spread up her arm.

“This is my wand.” She said quietly, not a question but a statement.

“Yes. Every wand is different, the wand chooses the wizard.”

“Or witch.” She said looking up and winking.

Harry's heart thumped particularly vigorously in his chest as she winked at him and he returned her smile.

“Wave it around a bit.” He suggested.

She made to move her arm before pausing.

“I wont do any damage?”

“No. Not unless you plan to practice some of the spells you've no doubt been learning.” She looked up at him and grinned in a particularly impish way - a look Harry knew well and he grinned, waiting to see what she was planning. Her eyes were flitting around the room searching for something, and when she spotted it she smiled, and a look of concentration appeared in her chestnut eyes.

If Harry had been happy before, just to be near her, whether she was Kate or Hermione, he couldn't describe the feeling that came over him when she uttered the words `Wingardium Leviosa' and a feather rose into the air from within the safe and hovered gently in the air before him. He laughed and clapped.

“What made you choose that spell?” He asked, taking in her beaming face.

“My diary from our first year was very thorough.” She said with another heart stopping wink.

“Well Miss Granger, if Professor Flitwick was here I'm sure he'd be awarding you some house points, that was a perfectly executed charm. Not that I expected anything less.” He said. She grinned at him and took a mock bow at his words of encouragement.

“Do you want your other present?” He asked her, distracting her from her careful study of her wand. She looked up and nodded at him a little shyly.

Harry took his wand from his pocket and with a quick wave a very familiar sound filled the air around them, the sound of a muggle electric tin opener. Hermione looked at him in confusion for a moment before realisation dawned and her eyes flew to the door where a moment later a very large, somewhat bow legged ginger cat came stalking through. Harry saw moisture form in her eyes as she crouched down to see Crookshanks. Crookshanks looked up, sniffed the air and paused in confusion before bounding across the room and jumping into her lap purring contentedly. Hermione hugged him close and Harry could see her laughing through her tears.

“He's missed you too.” Harry said, crouching down beside her and running a hand over Crookshank's back. “We all have.”

Hermione looked at him, and was suddenly aware of how close their faces were. The words forming in her throat were lost momentarily and instinct took over, reaching out a hand she ran it through Harry's messy hair before she could think about her actions. He looked shocked for a second, but the emotion in his eyes was quickly replaced by one she knew well. The answers she hoped to find in her final diary were answered in part by Harry's eyes and she smiled at him before withdrawing her hand.

“I think I'm almost ready to meet some more of the family.” She said softly.

“Have you got plans for tonight?” He asked eagerly.

Hermione shook her head. “Why, what do you have in mind?”

“Well it's the last Sunday of the month - that means one thing in our family - dinner at The Burrow.”

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Chapter 5 - Ron

Hermione sat contentedly curled up in a large armchair in the corner of the living room of Grimmauld Place, Crookshanks purring in her lap. She looked up as Harry re-entered the room, and smiled her thanks as he passed her a cup of tea before kneeling before the fire place. She opened her mouth to ask why they had a fire going when it was so lovely and warm outside when she remembered what she had learnt from the books and diaries, and her eyes widened in anticipation as Harry grabbed a handful of powder from a dish on the mantle piece and threw it into the fireplace, his words muffled by Crookshanks purring.

From the angle she was sitting Hermione saw a face appear in the fire, a face topped with a mass of red hair, and a smattering of freckles.

“Hey mate. What's up?”

“You want to come over here before we go out to Mum's?” Harry asked.

“Sure. I was just going to floo you actually and see if you fancied a drink. I'll be right over.”

Hermione watched as the head disappeared, only to be replaced to two feet which were swiftly followed by a tall, man.

Ron Weasley grabbed the hand Harry offered and got to his feet. The two friends hugged in greeting and Hermione drank in the sight of the two men she knew were her two best friends, the greatest friends she had ever known. Crookshanks leapt to the floor and wound himself around Ron's legs in greeting.

“Good to see you again too you old fleabag.” Ron spoke to the cat teasingly.

“You watch who you're calling a fleabag.” Hermione said in a mock stern voice as she stood.

Ron spun around and stared at her, shock evident in his bright eyes. The three friends stood frozen in place for a moment before Ron's face broke into a grin and Hermione smiled at him.

“Do I not get a hug hello?” She asked in a teasing voice, knowing why Ron wasn't moving. It must be strange for them, as if she'd almost come back from the dead. Although she didn't have any memory of Ron or the others, she felt as if she had come to know and love her honorary family since reading about them in her own words, and coming to understand their relationships. She grinned as he ran the three steps between them and picked her up in a bone crushing hug. As she hugged him back she was overcome with an emotion not connected to her new memories, she was remembering a feeling from before, and happy tears filled her eyes as Ron spun her around before putting her back down on her feet.

Harry looked at the two of them for a moment before walking over to join them, his smile appearing to be glued to his face. As he reached them Hermione threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tight, he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and resting his chin on the top of her head. They stayed that way for a few moments before she pulled away with an expression on her face he's always called her `Mona Lisa' smile.

Suddenly the room was full of voices as the three of them seemed to be talking all at once, then laughing, and talking again. As Harry took a seat on the large sofa he chided himself for reading something into Hermione's choice to sit beside him as Ron regaled Hermione with tales of his Quidditch heroics. Harry chuckled as he heard the stories for possibly the hundredth time, as Ron told them with extra enthusiasm, thrilled to have a new audience. Harry tuned out, not listening to the stories he had heard so many times before, simply soaking up the atmosphere, his best friends together again, as if no time had passed.

He felt a hand on his shoulder after they had sat talking for almost an hour and looked up to see Remus standing at the end of the sofa. Harry looked at the expression on his face and stood, following his friend to the doorway of the room, looking back at Hermione and Ron when he reached his destination.

“It's as if no time has passed isn't it?” Remus said wistfully following Harry's gaze. At that moment Hermione interrupted Ron's tale of his heroic efforts to save Buckbeak the Hippogriff to correct him on some of the vital details. Harry chuckled and they both looked over at him and Remus, Ron grinning sheepishly, Hermione's eyes meeting Harry's her eyes shining, her whole face lit up somehow before she and Ron returned to their conversation.

Harry continued to watch her for a moment before turning back to Remus who was looking at him knowingly.

“Well, that answers my question.” Remus said quietly with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“What question?” Harry asked, bringing himself back to the conversation.

“Whether you love her.” Remus stated.

“You've always known the answer to that question. You knew before I knew, just like Sirius did.” Harry said sadly.

“Why that tone of voice?”

“I just feel like I missed out on so much time with her - if I'd realised how I felt before - but then again, you know what I've been like since she's been gone, it surely would have been even worse If I'd loved her longer…the strange thing is that since she's been gone every now and again I'd start to wonder what was the real Hermione in my memory and what was just an idealised notion that I'd created since she'd been gone.”

“And what was the truth?” Remus asked softly, neither noticing that the conversation across the room had become much softer.

“She's so much more perfect then I remembered, than I even imagined. It's strange, she's still Hermione, who I loved more than anything - if she'd returned and not wanted anything to do with magic then I could have left everything - it sounds awful - you're my family but if I had to cope with only one thing, one person, it would be her. And then, since I've got to know her again, who she's become as Kate - I'm falling in love with her all over again. She's subtly different, she's lived such a different life and yet she's still so strong, she's still got that sense of humour that no one else really ever understood or acknowledged…she's just…” Harry trailed off and looked down at his hands.

“So what's the problem?” Remus asked, placing a hand on Harry's arm, causing Harry to look up once more.

“How do I tell her? It's so hard now that she understands our collective past, but she has no knowledge of so much of our personal history…what we meant to each other…it all happened so quickly I suppose - and all the diaries she kept - there wasn't one for that last year, or if there was I've never found it. Of course she would have hidden it away or enchanted it in case it fell into the wrong hands - but she's learnt about her past in her own words and I just don't think it would be right for me to try and tell her how she used to feel - she has to discover it for herself… Is that stupid?” Harry asked in an anguished voice.

Remus paused for a moment and as he glanced up he caught the compassion and understanding in Hermione's eye before she could look away. He looked back at Harry who's eyes were focused on a photograph on the wall opposite him showing the marauders, Lily and James, arms around one another in the centre of the photograph, laughing and smiling at one another.

“No Harry. It's not stupid at all. It's the right thing to do. You know the risk that she'll never fully regain her memory - if you two are meant to be together then I believe that things will work out. If Hermione never remembers the year you had together then you just have to make new memories together.”

“Thanks Remus.”

“Anytime Harry. You lot should get ready to head over to the Burrow. It would probably be best if Hermione got a chance to catch up with Molly and Ginny before the rest of the clan descend - it could be rather intimidating.”

Harry glanced at the clock and nodded, smiling gratefully at his honorary parent before returning to sit next to Hermione on the sofa. Ron was in the middle of trying to convince Hermione that it had in fact been his idea to bewitch the coins for the DA. Harry laughed and Hermione simply gave Ron her best Professor McGonagall look until he caved and laughed.

“Oh well, you can't blame a guy for trying.” He said with a slight blush creeping up his ears.

Hermione turned to look at him.

“Everything ok?” She asked, her eyes seeming to take in everything about him.

“Yep, Remus was just saying we should probably get a move on over to the Burrow. Mum will be dying to tell you that you haven't been eating enough.” Harry said with a smile.

Ron stood and stretched, yawning widely.

“I'm starving. Lets hope it's Roast Beef for dinner”, he said rubbing his stomach in anticipation. Harry chuckled and Hermione smiled at Ron as he ambled over to the fireplace, grabbing some floo powder before turning.

“I'll let her know you're on your way - try and get some of the fussing out of her system.” He said with a wink before disappearing into the flames and out of sight.

Left alone, Harry stood and held out a hand to Hermione.

“You ready to go?”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before nodding and reopening her eyes. Taking his hand she stood, their fingers interlaced, as he moved to let go of her hand she squeezed his hand gently. Harry smiled down at her and squeezed her hand in return, not relinquishing his hold.

“Are you going to be ok with this?” He asked, after they had stood quietly for a moment. She nodded in reply, but Harry could feel the hesitation in the tenseness of her hand, and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a comforting hug, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

“I promise that it will be ok. They're family. They don't expect anything from you - they'll just be grateful to see you.” Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist, and they simply stood, arms around once another for several minutes.

Hermione broke the silence, and Harry reluctantly released his arms from around her.

“Thanks. I think I'm ready to go now.”

They smiled at one another, and Harry grabbed a handful of floo powder, pausing briefly before throwing it into the fire to warn her:

“Oh, and be careful around Fred and George…”

Hermione interrupted him with a knowing smile.

“Don't worry I wont be accepting any kind of food or drink from those two - and if they manage to slip me something I've been rereading Ginny's instructions on the BatBogey Hex.” She winked and Harry grinned back at her as he said `The Burrow' and they stepped into the flames and began their journey home.

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Author Note: Apologies for the long gap between posts. I've now finished university and am busy working. Hopefully posts will be much more frequent now I'm settled into my new routine. Hope you enjoy Chapter six.

Chapter 6 - New Memories

When she returned home later that night, swimming through Hermione's mind were flashes of happy images, ginger hair, happy noises and delicious smells from her day. The Weasley's had welcomed her into the fold instantly, and just being wrapped up in Molly Weasley's hugs had provided more comfort than all of the counselling sessions at the hospital had done. The last few days seemed to have sped by too fast, and she desperately wanted to slow them down, replay them, and treasure them, to ensure they were committed to her memory and not lost as her old memories had been.

Flicking on the lights as she entered the living room, she sank onto the sofa and tipped her head back to rest on the cushions. Eyes closed she thought back over the day and savoured particular moments. She had met her family after the long years of searching and wondering, and they had exceeded all her expectations and hopes. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she thought of her missing parents, the guilt at not remembering them, and the simple knowledge that if her memory didn't return she would never truly know them. She forced her mind to focus on the hundreds of positive emotions bursting forward, and her lips curled into a wistful smile as she thought of the conversation she had overheard that morning.

She had been planning to ask Ginny about the missing last diary, not just to fill in the gaps, but to answer the one question she felt she already knew the answer to. Her suspicions had been confirmed with a few words spoken between Harry and Remus, words that had kept her smiling all day. He had loved her. More importantly to her, he didn't need her memory to return, he was falling in love with her again.

Her biggest fear, and subsequently the theme of her book had been the fear that people wouldn't like her as a person without her memories, not just new people, but the individuals from her past. Harry, without even knowing it, had calmed her deepest fear, and given her hope for her future.

Hermione fell asleep there on the sofa, a soft smile on her face, and no worries about her future, whatever happened she was looking forward to it. Tom, returning from a dinner with Jennifer, grinned to see her not only smiling, but sleeping more solidly than he could ever remember her sleeping without the aid of tablets. He grabbed the blankets from her bed and gently placed them over her before switching off the lights.

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Harry lay awake gazing at the ceiling of his room in Grimmauld Place, a smile pasted onto his face. It had been like having her back properly today, as if she remembered, and though she didn't it didn't matter. He loved watching her discover everything, and the way she had already researched them all from her diaries in a typical Hermione fashion. He was too busy remembering every moment they had spent together today to think about sleeping. Just remembering how she had hugged him so many times today made him forget every day spent without her.

It was Tom's day off tomorrow and she was spending the day with her flatmate. As much as Harry wanted to see her, now that he knew where he could find her he didn't mind, knowing she had created a life for herself before she found out about her old life. It was tempting to walk past their building in the hopes of catching another glimpse of her…Harry laughed out loud, and realised exactly what Ron would say to that idea - he was obsessed. Mind you, they both knew that Harry Potter had been obsessed by Hermione Granger for a long time now, five years in fact, one spent with her, four spent without her. No, he'd behave himself tomorrow, he should head into work and make sure the textbook orders were ready to go to Flourish and Blotts, and sort out some of immense piles of papers threatening to take over his office.

With a sigh he rolled over, closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, the image of a certain brunette seemingly burned to the inside of his eyelids. He eventually drifted off remembering the day they had first kissed all those years ago.

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Hermione and Tom sat eating ice cream in the sunshine in Hyde Park, chatting and catching up on each others lives after a ridiculously eventful few days.

“So you like her then?” Hermione asked, tipping her head back to take in the sunshine, before turning to look at Tom enquiringly, his grin answered her question and she smiled back.

“I liked her, very friendly, exactly what you need - someone to make you leave the house, we both know I was never good at that during my Hermit period.”

Tom laughed.

“True, but you're most definitely out of the Hermit period now, in fact you were before you met Harry. Speaking of Harry, any chance that there's been a single moment during today that you haven't been thinking about him?” He asked slyly.

Hermione peered over the top of her sunglasses sternly before giving in and allowing the goofy grin to spread back across her face.

“Ok, ok, I'm completely smitten.” She laughed before looking at her friend thoughtfully.

“Is that bad? I've only known him a few days and yet I can't think about anything else. Surely I should be focusing on remembering my life, rediscovering other people and places, but I just love being around him. I have to resist the urge to hug him continuously…he just makes sense to me - and although I feel as if I could remember him, it's not that I don't think, it's just that we fit together…” She trailed off and stared thoughtfully across the Serpentine before turning back to Tom.

“It's not strange at all - it's exactly how I felt the first time I met Susan- I felt like I was supposed to spend time with her, we were supposed to be together and that was the most important thing.” He smiled wistfully thinking back to the time he had spent with her. Hermione reached across and placed a hand over his.

“God, we're hopeless romantics aren't we?” She laughed softly.

“Nothing wrong with that my dear Kate - sorry, Hermione…”

“No, I'll always be Kate to you - I like that - I don't want to just throw Kate away, and for Kate you'll always be the one person that mattered most.” She said softly. They held hands silently, acknowledging their friendship, and vowing not to lose it now that Kate was merging with Hermione.

“Anyway, I wouldn't say we were hopeless romantics, romantics - yes, but hopeless - no. Look at us, you've never been so happy now you have Harry, and I'm finally being positive and I've met someone I could be happy with.” Tom continued.

“Do you think I have Harry?” Hermione pondered.

Tom grinned.

“Most definitely. Do you want another ice cream to get all over your face before you go and see him?” Tom asked cheekily.

“Hey! I can eat ice cream neatly if I really try” she laughed, “and damn you for knowing I was planning to go over there.” She winked at her best friend before pulling him to his feet and heading over to get another ice cream.

Harry opened the door to 12 Grimmauld Place and a broad grin spread across his face.

“Still haven't learned to eat ice cream then?” He laughed.

Hermione's hands flew to her face and she blushed as she laughed.

“I can't believe Tom let me come over here with ice cream on my face.” She shook her head.

“Come on in, this is a nice surprise, I wasn't expecting to see you here today.” As they walked through the door, Harry's hand instinctively moved to rest at the small of her back, and Hermione moved closer towards him, neither acknowledging the movements, but both smiling slightly.

They were settled into comfy armchairs in the living room before Hermione remembered that she had forgotten to tell Harry the reason for her visit. She looked up across at him, noted his raised eyebrow and friendly smile and she laughed lightly.

“Sorry, my head's all over the place today, we've been sunning ourselves in the park, and I may have had one ice cream too many.” She apologised while Harry grinned over at her.

“I had a favour and a question to ask you actually, which is why I popped round.”

“Fire away.”

“Well, I suddenly realised that I don't know what you do now? I don't really know what anyone does now actually!”

“I'd better fill you in then. I'm teaching at Hogwarts, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and so far I seem to have beaten the curse, I start my second year in a few weeks.” Harry said with a wink.

Hermione beamed at him.

“I'm so pleased for you Harry, you must be a wonderful teacher.” Harry smiled back at her, a little shyly before filling her in on everyone's lives. Hermione sat and took all the information in filing it in the relevant sections of her mind, mentally flagging up one name in particular - Neville Longbottom, a Healer at St Mungos. They chatted away until Harry remembered her second reason for coming over.

“What was the favour you needed?”

“Oh! I'd almost forgotten about that. It's worked out even better than I'd hoped actually - I was going to ask if you would teach me to use my magic again - right now I'm much too tempted to do it by myself and logically it would be safer to have an experienced wizard around to repair any mistakes.” She said sheepishly.

Harry smiled and reached a hand across the gap between their chairs to take her hand lightly.

“I'd love to teach you magic, I doubt it will even take very long - you always picked everything up ten times faster than the rest of the students at Hogwarts.” He grinned to see a faint blush in Hermione's cheeks at this compliment, but was soon blushing himself as his stomach emitted a most inelegant and rather loud rumble. Hermione smirked, and at Harry's mock stern look her smirk dissolved into a giggle which soon had Harry laughing with her.

“Well, it looks like we're going to need to go in search of food before we get any work done.” Hermione said with a smile.

“Fantastic idea, and I can't face the thought of cooking on such a nice evening, let's go out somewhere.”

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---- Apologies for how long it has taken me to update this story once again - I'll try to get the next chapter up much more quickly. Thank to everyone who has read and left such lovely reviews -----

Ron almost choked on his bacon sandwich the next morning as he glanced over the front page of the Daily Prophet at breakfast time. Three photographs covered the front page, and each one was a close up of Harry and Hermione enjoying what appeared to be a romantic dinner for two in a muggle restaurant. His heart calmed down a little however when he read the large headline across the top of the page: “Harry Potter on date with mystery girl”, thank goodness they hadn't recognised Hermione yet, the media attention would just be too much pressure and attention. He took a closer look at the photographs and realised that Hermione's face was partially obscured by her hair in two, and by Harry's hand cupping her cheek in the third. Ron grinned to himself, Harry wasn't wasting any time, then again, Harry and Hermione had always been inseparable and he was thrilled to see them looking so happy. He skimmed the rest of the article which was full of speculation over who Harry was with, and leading comments over his lack of a love life since the end of the war. Ron breathed yet another sigh of relief that Harry and Hermione had always kept their relationship a secret other than from their closest friends and family, meaning that the press hadn't known quite how hard Hermione's disappearance had hit Harry. However, lack of proof didn't stop many reporters, including this one, from commenting that Harry had not been linked with anyone since the unconfirmed rumours of a relationship with Hermione during the war.

Shoving the last bit of bacon sandwich into his mouth Ron picked up his robes and the newspaper and quickly apparated over to Grimmauld Place. Letting himself into the old house and following the sound of voices to the kitchen he stopped still when he spotted Hermione eating breakfast with Harry, Tonks and Remus. Harry turned and smiled to see Ron.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit this early in the morning? Run out of bacon at home?” Harry asked with a grin. Ron shot him a mock glare.

“Actually I thought you might like to see today's newspaper.” Ron said a little awkwardly glancing at Hermione before looking back at Harry. Harry stood quickly and took the newspaper Ron offered, worried by Ron's glance at Hermione.

“Dammit. They're stalking me in Muggle places as well now then. `Mione this is a particularly attractive picture of me wiping ice cream of your face. You've really got to work on that particular habit.” He smirked at her over the top of the newspaper.

“You've got to be kidding me!” She said, walking around the table to snatch the newspaper, laughingly smacking Harry on the arm with it before glancing over the front page. Harry laughed at her and casually rested an arm on her shoulder.

“Thanks for bringing this over Ron, and lets be honest this is a pretty nice article considering some of the ones in the past - I particularly like the comment that “Harry's eyes sparkle with the pain of his past and the hope of his romantic future” she giggled. Harry grabbed the newspaper back and whacked her gently on the backside.

“Some thanks I get for taking you out for dinner.” He teased as she ran to the other side of the kitchen.

Remus and Tonks observed the exchange with happy smiles as Ron laughed at the antics of his best friends.

As Harry laughingly took a seat at the table once more he noticed Hermione making a second bacon sandwich. He opened his mouth to comment that she never ate that much for breakfast when he stopped himself - maybe she did eat more for breakfast now. He shrugged and smiled to himself thinking that needing to learn more about her wasn't a bad thing at all. He glanced back over at her and taking in the details of her actions froze in his chair, Tonks noticed his sudden movement and silently followed his gaze curiously. Hermione was trimming off the fatty bits of the bacon (her favourite bits) and leaving them on her plate, then carefully smoothing a thick layer of ketchup on the bread. As the two of them watched her she stood and wrapped the sandwich in foil from the counter and passed it to Ron.

“Something to eat once you get to work.” She said with a wink. Ron gave her a wide smile, and stood to give her a hug.

“Thanks Hermione, just the way I love bacon sandwiches, no one makes them quite like you.” As he pulled away from hugging her, Tonks saw that he had frozen in exactly the same way Harry had frozen and suddenly she understood the expression on their faces.

Hermione's jaw had dropped a little and Harry leapt to his feet, at her side in a second.

“I remembered something.” She whispered, barely audible.

“You did.” Harry confirmed softly, a gentle hand on her arm, waiting to see her reaction. Slowly a beatific smile spread across her face and she pulled him and Ron into a trademark Hermione bear hug.

“I knew I'd remember things eventually.” She said excitedly. “Ron, you love all breakfast food except for porridge, and Harry, you love almost burnt sausages, you hate runny eggs, and you could easily drink a gallon of pumpkin juice without feeling ill.” She said thrilled. Harry picked her up around the waist and twirled her around as he laughed.

“I could just see us sitting for breakfast at Hogwarts and I knew exactly what you would both have.” She smiled happily. Ron kissed the top of head affectionately before saying his goodbyes and heading out to work.

Hermione was still riding high on successfully remembering something, however trivial when she and Harry headed out to the garden to begin her lessons, the entire reason for her arrival on the doorstop at a ridiculously early hour that morning. As much as it frustrated her, she was simultaneously proud of Harry for refusing to let her start with advanced spells, instead making sure she was ok with basic and useful spells. She'd already read up on most of them and was pleased that she had been correctly interpreting the instructions in her old textbooks. Harry had to demand a lunch break and even during that Hermione continued to practice summoning things, having refused to stop for lunch until she'd mastered the spell. As they sat in companionable silence eating their sandwiches Harry stole glances at his best friend, grinning to himself behind his sandwich, so happy to see her enjoying magic and learning quicker than would be humanly possible for anyone except Hermione. He supposed she had the advantage that she was technically only relearning the skills she had previously mastered, and then of course she had read every word she could find on magic so far as she always had done in the past.

“Come on Harry, lets get back to work.”

Harry chuckled.

“You do realise that in one morning you've learnt and successfully performed charms and spells that it takes three years to learn at school?” He asked her with a grin.

“Three years? You must be a good teacher then Harry” she grinned, “it will take you less than a week to teach me all the magic I knew before!”

“I think it would take a little longer than that, especially as I don't know how to do quite a few spells you mastered at school, not to mention Arithmancy - it all looks like squiggles to me, but it was one of your best subjects. You could always come up to the school with me and talk to some of the teachers, or just explore the library - I can give you access to all the books there.”

He smiled as Hermione's face lit up at the thought of being let loose in the Hogwarts library.

“Really? When can we go?” She grabbed his arm in excitement.

“How about tomorrow? We could spend the day at the school, I need to sort out a few things anyway, and I know Professor McGonagall can't wait to see you. She told me that out of all the pupils she's ever taught at Hogwarts, you're her favourite.”

“Really?” Hermione gasped. “That's such a lovely thing to say - I can't believe she'd say that - she's taught some amazing witches and wizards..” She trailed off and Harry smiled at her again before taking her hand and leading her back to the sunny garden to continue their work.

“Well, we'd better get you apparating if we're going to Scotland for the day tomorrow,” he said with a smile as Hermione instantly gripped her wand and leaned forward eager to learn as always.

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By the time Hermione returned to her flat that evening she was exhausted but incredibly happy. She had now mastered basic apparition, though Harry had suggested she should just side apparate to Hogwarts in the morning, as it was such a long way, and she didn't yet have any memories of Hogsmeade to focus on in her mind during apparition. It was frustrating knowing that she should be able to do so much, with everyone telling her she was such a talented witch, yet being forced to learn every single spell over again. Realising that the flat's air conditioning must have broken down again, she smiled as she cast a cooling charm over herself before climbing into bed. She could definitely get used to this magic thing…

“How did today go?” Remus asked Harry that evening.

Harry shook his head in amazement.

“You wouldn't believe her - by lunchtime she'd perfected years 1 to 3 of the Hogwarts curriculum, and this afternoon she apparated across the garden…I'd forgotten just how scarily brilliant she can be.” He grinned.

“That girl never ceases to amaze me - she really is the most intelligent witch of your generation, of several generations to be honest.”

Harry nodded.

“I said I'd take her to Hogwarts tomorrow - let her loose in the library and she'll probably have invented some new spells by tomorrow night, or at least taught me some that I haven't come across before.” He smiled, and Remus grinned at him, standing and ruffling his hair before going to leave the room.

“Have fun tomorrow Harry - good night.”

“Night Remus”, Harry smiled and looked down at his hands as Remus left the room.

Hermione's eyes were sparkling with excitement as with a loud pop they disappeared from Grimmauld Place, and appeared on the top of a small hill overlooking the village of Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts castle, lake, and forbidden forest. Harry smiled to watch her take it in.

“It's more beautiful than it seems in the photographs.” She said happily. Harry reluctantly removed his arms from around her waist, and his brain mockingly reminded him that he hadn't really needed to hug her quite so tight to side-apparate. He studiously ignored the voices in his head, smiled to himself, and held out his hand for hers.

Hermione placed her hand trustingly in Harry's, her skin tingling as they made contact. She knew she couldn't kid herself that it was simply due to the aura of magic around Harry anymore, nor due to the large amounts of residual magic in Hogsmeade village, it was just him. She smiled at him before returning her gaze to the higgledy-piggledy streets of Hogsmeade, the enchantingly wonky buildings, she chuckled to herself as she realised that they obviously were enchanted, muggle buildings would have collapsed at such angles. Her gaze frequently returned to the majestic castle in the near distance, the castle that had been her home, her school, and the cause of her meeting Harry, and all the wonderful people she had recently been reintroduced to.

They strolled down the main street of Hogsmeade, popping into the Hogsmeade branch of WWW to visit Ginny, where they stayed chatting for half an hour, before strolling towards the cemetery positioned on the outskirts of the village, and currently covered in beautiful summer flowers, neither noticed that at some point they had taken each others hands. Harry looked up at the sunshine and smiled happily, for once not tuned into his defensive training instincts he didn't hear the distinctive click of a camera in WWW, nor as they strolled hand in hand through the streets of Hogsmeade, laughing as Hermione wrinkled her nose in horror at the idea of Cockroach Clusters, or when he tickled her face with a sugar quill.

Harry had no idea what Hermione and Minerva talked about for the hours that they were shut away in the office that he'd always think of as Dumbledore's. But he knew that when her familiar, beautiful face peeked around the doorway of his office that it had answered some of her questions and done her good. He stood to greet her with a smile.

“Ready to explore some more of the castle then?” He asked her.

Hermione nodded happily and held her hand out for his as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and his fingers wove their way through hers he remembered that it was the most natural thing in the world. He and Hermione together made more sense to him than everything else in the Wizard and Muggle worlds combined.

“Did Minerva show you down to my office?” Harry suddenly asked as they strolled towards the seventh floor.

“No.” Hermione said with a proud smile. Harry stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.

“You remembered?” He asked excitedly. She nodded happily and Harry couldn't stop himself from throwing his arms around her before picking her up and twirling her around. She laughed and his grin widened at the sound of her laughter.

“Did you remember anything else?” He asked after he put her down.

“Well, somehow I don't think my brain ever forgot the way to the library…” She said with a cheeky grin. Harry laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they continued walking to their destination. Hermione wrapped an arm around his waist in reply, as her brain whirled trying to take everything in as it wrapped itself up in excitement at being let loose on the famed Hogwarts library as if for the first time. She didn't even try to blame her heart hammering in her chest on this excitement, she was quite happy to admit to herself that that particular excitement was all down to one messy haired wizard not too far away.

Harry had to convince himself that he hadn't accidentally got hold of a time turner several times during their afternoon in the library as he watched Hermione flit between aisles of the great library, hefting enormous dusty tomes around (probably for `light' reading), before sitting at her old table scribbling away to herself, a quill behind her ear, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip as she concentrated.

It was only when the sun dipped below the top of forbidden forest that Harry braved suggesting a break.

Hermione looked up at the sound of his voice and blinked as if suddenly remembering where she was, and when she was. As she's looked up to see those green eyes looking into hers another tiny fragment of memory had weaved its way into her mind, and she savoured it for a moment, storing it for later.

Harry watched her in amusement; the look of confusion as she stared at him, then glanced at the window to see the grounds descending into night.

“Times flies when you're having fun?” He teased her and she grinned sheepishly.

“Now that you mention it, I am starving” She said with a smile before beginning to pack up her notes and pile up the books neatly to be returned to in the morning - happy in the knowledge that she wouldn't have to find them all again as no one else would be using the library before she returned in the morning other than a few members of staff.

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Chapter 9 - In the open

Madam Rosmerta blinked in surprise as she recognised Hermione as she led them through the bar to a secluded booth at the back of the Three Broomsticks, and put this together with the recent Daily Prophet article she'd read. Hermione saw the change in the older woman's face, and simply nodded her head to confirm her identity. A wide smile spread across Rosmerta's face, and as they reached the booth she embraced first Hermione and then Harry.

“Oh I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see you again Hermione.”

“Thank you Rosmerta”, Hermione replied with a smile.

“Rosie, we're keeping Hermione's return quiet at the moment. None of us are ready for the media storm yet.” Harry explained with a wry smile.

“Say no more Harry” Rosmerta replied, placing an affectionate hand on his shoulder.

“No one will hear it from me” She assured them before she headed over to the bar to get them some drinks.

Harry grinned as Hermione slid into the booth next to him rather than on the other side of the booth. Hermione caught the smile out of the corner of her eye and winked mischievously at him, causing a rather adorable sheepish look to spread across his face along with the grin. Hermione laughed lightly.

“Merlin, I'm so obvious aren't I?” He asked in a rather embarrassed tone of voice.

“I don't know about obvious, maybe just to me, because I want to see it…” she replied softly.

Harry's jaw dropped a little, and his brain fumbled for a coherent response as his heart pounded away happily in his chest. He was saved from further confusion by Rosmerta's return to the table with a tray of Butter beers and a menu for the pair. Hermione smiled up at the landlord and invited her to sit while they quickly looked over the menu.

Harry took the opportunity to gather his thoughts while Hermione skimmed the menu and chatted amiably with Rosmerta, already knowing what he'd end up ordering considering the number of evenings he'd eaten in the Three Broomsticks over the years, particularly since he'd been teaching at Hogwarts. He was brought back to the present by Rosmerta's voice.

“The usual for you Harry?”

“Yes please Rosie, can't beat that steak and kidney pie.” He said with a grin, as she stood and returned to the bar, glancing over her shoulder at the pair and smiling to see them again.

"Do you want to tell me about it? I know we've talked about most things, but we haven't talked about that last year, or what happened at the end...or between us."

Harry looked up at her in slight confusion, and Hermione smiled softly at him.

"Honestly Harry, I know that there was something between us - if not just from reading my diaries leading up to that last year, then from everyones behaviour around us. Molly and Ginny nudging each other if we sat next to each other, Tonks stopping mid sentence, having clearly been kicked under the table by someone..." She smiled again as she paused. "I think I know why you haven't said anything, and I know me being gone and now being back has been harder on you than on anyone else, but we're not going to be able to keep me a secret much longer, we've been taking risks the last few days being in public, and...well, I'd like to know what they're speculating about before they start speculating about it." She said quietly.

Harry reached across and gently took her hand beneath the table. He should have expected her to cut to the chase, and want to know exactly what was going on between them. He'd spent so much time away from her that he had almost begun to forget how their minds worked in different ways but perfectly complemented each other. Where he would usually sit on a problem and worry about in silence, she would bring it out in the open (usually against his instincts) and she would always be right to do so, as everything seemed more bearable, and easier to deal with once he'd shared it with Hermione.

"Where should I start?" He asked, looking to her guidance on a matter which shouldn't seem so complicated.

"Wherever you think the beginning is." She said with a reflective smile and he remembered a conversation in what seemed like another life where she had said those exact words. He looked over at her once more with an unspoken question in his eyes.

"You remembered that conversation?" He asked, knowing there would have been no record of it in her diaries.

"I remembered it earlier today when we were, the three of us at Godrics Hollow." She clarified, and he smiled sadly.

"Maybe not the happiest of memories to regain..." He said ruefully, but was stopped by her hand squeezing his.

"It is a happy memory Harry. it may not have been a happy time overall, but that memory is so important. Ron and I knew you'd been keeping something from us, and for so long that secret was caught up in the grief after Sirius and Dumbledore's' deaths, but we both suspected what was really bothering as time passed. I just wish you had told us sooner, and not thought of it like a burden for your shoulders alone. Do you remember what you said to me later that night? When Ron was checking the wards on the house?" She asked him.

"I asked you to leave." He said softly, seeing their conversation in his mind, as if they were suddenly sitting on the back porch of his parents house once more in the moonlight.

"And I refused." She said simply.

"I don't think I'd ever been so angry with you." Harry mused, "Well, you wanted to know where I thought it began then about the prophecy, just as you do now, and to be honest, that night was where it began. That fight with you - I mean, we never fought, ever. You always sorted me out before I got out of line or did anything too stupid, but...I didn't sleep that night, I was too busy trying to figure out what had changed to cause that fight between us, and it took me until about dawn to admit what I'd subconsciously known for a long time. I'd fought with you because this was one time I didn't want to back down - I wanted you safe...I think that when I broke up with Ginny it wasn't so much to keep her safe as it was to keep me safe. I was living in a dream world, and imagining that I could have a more normal teenage existence, but Dumbledore's death put that into perspective. I felt so guilty afterwards, wondering if I'd somehow been using Ginny, but, anyway, I wanted to keep you safe more than anything in the world, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that without you, Ron and I would have been dead within days anyway."

"I don't remember the morning after the fight." Hermione said sadly.

"I made you breakfast - sort of a peace offering, and you smiled at me and kissed me on the forehead. You'd never kissed me on the forehead before, and you touched my scar. No one other than Voldemort had very touched my scar, not that I remember anyway. We didn't talk about it again, but that was where I think it started.”

They smiled at each other in the rather dim light of the pub before their meals appeared in front of them. As they began to eat Harry filled her in on the rest of that final year before her disappearance.

They were still talking two hours later as they strolled out of the Three Broomsticks hand in hand and walked through Hogsmeade, eventually finding themselves at the hilltop they had first apparated to that morning. Harry had paused in his telling of the story, and Hermione squeezed his hand lightly before sitting down on the cool grass, pulling him gently to sit down next to her. As he sat she snuggled closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder, and he smiled into her hair as he wound an arm around her shoulder to pull her closer to him.

“Harry?”

“Yes?”

“I don't think I want to know the rest yet.” She said quietly.

“Any particular reason?” He asked her carefully.

“I think…I think I'd like to wait and try to remember the details…and in the meantime, make some new memories to fill in the gaps.” She said a little shyly.

“New memories?” He asked, his hand gently cupping her chin and tilting her face up to look at him.

She smiled, and as he looked at her, he knew he'd never been happier in his entire life, not even the first time they had sat at this exact spot so many years ago.

“Ok then” he nodded.

It didn't seem possible but her smile widened, and her eyes sparkled like the stars glittering above them as she raised her hand to his face, and then raised her lips to meet his.

It wasn't a passionate kiss - it was sweet and loving, and soft. As she pulled away to look at him once more, Harry wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could and hugged her close.

“I missed you so much.” He whispered with a crack in his voice.

“I love you so much” she said in reply.

Harry released her from the hug, and gazed at her in awe before covering her face in tiny butterfly kisses until she laughed with delight.

“Harry!” She laughed once `more, before placing a hand on each side of his face to hold him still and kissing him passionately.

“I love you too.” He whispered softly several minutes later, gently kissing the end of her nose and smiling at her happily.

They apparated back to Grimmauld Place and walked through the front door hand in hand, still laughing happily at each other, and grinning like idiots. As they wandered into the kitchen to grab some drinks they paused to see a gathering of friends sitting thoughtfully around the table.

Harry instinctively pulled Hermione closer to him, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and she wrapped an arm tight around his waist, both knowing that when their friends saw them in the doorway there would be bad news to be delivered.

“What's up?” Harry asked. Ron, Remus, Tonks and Ginny turned around surprised at hearing Harry's voice. They all took in the way Harry and Hermione stood with arms around one another, happiness in their eyes despite their concerned facial expressions. Ron bit back a cheer, but met Harry's eye and he knew that Harry understood how happy he was for the pair of them. Ginny spoke up breaking the short silence.

“Lavender got called in to work about half an hour ago, she to tell me that they were trying to change the print run at the last minute - it was too late for the first morning edition, but the Prophet is going to run a special evening edition tomorrow…they had a photographer following you two in Hogsmeade this morning, and are going to break with the news that you're back Hermione, and they're going to say that you're dating.”

Ginny smiled apologetically at the pair, meeting Hermione's eyes and reading the soft understanding there.

“What's the plan then?” Harry asked, puling up a chair for Hermione before sitting down himself.

“Is Luna still at the Quibbler?” Hermione asked after some quick thinking. The others all nodded to confirm her thought.

“Right, we'll ruin their exclusive for them. Ron, can you contact Luna? Ginny, can you floo Colin Creevey? We'll get the two of them over here as soon as possible, sort out an exclusive to make Rita Skeeter cry with jealousy, and then, Harry, you can use some of that magic you keep stored up to accelerate the print run at the Quibbler - ok?” They all nodded at her, Tonks smiling mischievously.

“God, it's nice to have Hermione back in charge isn't it.” Ron sighed, with a grin towards his two best friends.

“Yep - she sorts out all the plans; we do what we're told any everyone's happy.” Harry confirmed, grinning as he dodged a playful swat from Hermione as everyone rushed off to sort things out.

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Exclusive Interview: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley

“she would have to go and call me Ronald in print…”

“Stop laughing Harry and you read the article Ron!”

“Yes dear…”

“Ow!”

On that fateful night over four years ago, once Voldemort was reduced to ashes, a small band of his remaining supporters struck for the last time, and changed the lives of three young people forever. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley have spoken little of what happened that night, the night more significant to them for the loss of their best friend that the return of freedom to our world. It is widely known that Hermione Granger was attacked that night as the final battle drew to a close by Bellatrix Lestrange. Lestrange suffered the Dementors kiss for her actions not only that night, but throughout the first and second wars.

Though not widely known, friends, family and ministry officials have always known that Hermione was not killed that night, and several days following her disappearance her magic was traced to a remote area of North America. It was widely believed that if she was ever found, she would have no memory.

Now, over four years later she has found her way back to her home and her friends and the famous trio have agreed to tell their story just this once, and allow photographer Colin Creevey to capture Hermione's return to the Wizarding public.

“Merlin, wouldn't you love to be looking at Rita Skeeters face as she read this?” Harry asked his friends with a laugh as they sat around the large living room of Grimmauld Place.

“Most definitely” Hermione laughed as she snuggled into his side on the sofa, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Read the rest of the article Ronald” Luna said dreamily, a happy smile on her face as she sat cross legged on the floor in front of Ron, her back resting against his legs. He looked down at her with a bemused smile, his eyes thoughtful as he looked at the messy blonde hair in front of him.

“Alright, alright, I'll get back to the article - which is beautifully written, may I say?”

“Yes you may Ronald, now you'd better read before your friends succumb to the niffle blithers” Hermione smiled, Ginny covered a snort and Ron looked down at their friend affectionately before continuing.

When commenting briefly on her years away, Hermione is cautious not to reveal too much of her life, but it's clear that she had no problems living in the muggle world, having grown up in it. “I did feel at home there, but there was the feeling that something was missing, and the feeling never went away that it was more than just my memory that I was missing - as soon as I found out the truth, things began to make more sense. I began to remember things which could only be explained by magic. I guess it was a little like being a child again and having no control over my magic, it just appeared every now and again, and on one memorable occasion blew all the light bulbs in a hospital when I was told that the loss of my memory was probably permanent.”

Luckily for Hermione, and her friends, the loss of her memory has not been completely permanent. “There are still significant parts of my memory which are blocked, but I'm remembering more and more every day, especially now that I'm surrounded by my family again, and I have the chance to read through my old diaries and relearn everything that's missing. It's actually incredibly exciting, blinking and the next second remembering whole days or conversations.”

At this point Harry interrupts to tease that in less than one second she remembered more about Ancient Runes than he's ever managed to learn. Hermione shoots him an amused glance and smiles back at me. We speak for some time about memories she has regained, and others which remain elusive. “I haven't remembered the final battle yet. To be honest I think it's one memory that I will never regain as it was when the curse was activated, and the curse would most logically erase my memories in reverse chronological order. At best I'll only completely lose a few months, at worst maybe the last year or two before the battle. Harry tells me he's glad I won't remember what happened that night, but in some way, as horrific as it will be to see or remember what I've been told about, maybe it's a step that would be helpful in gaining closure on what happened. I've had a few tough moments when I remember some of the worst times - some of the skirmishes during the hunt for the Horcruxes, and I forget that Voldemort's gone now, and that we can relax as I have no memories of the Wizarding world in peace.”

Perhaps there's no better time than this to mention the man who was central in bringing that peace to the Wizarding world, a man who is sitting next to Hermione as she speaks, their hands entwined, their bodies curled up against one another. There were always rumours, even before her disappearance about the true nature of their relationship, but neither spoke to the press, and after that fateful night Harry has never spoken to anyone other than close friends about Hermione. I raise the question that people will automatically ask when they see the images Colin has captured this evening, the trio happy together once again, beaming smiles, all three strewn across one large sofa, Hermione resting her feet in Ron's lap as he occasionally tickles them, her back resting against Harry's side, her head perfectly placed on his shoulder, hands entwined. Ron grins a rather cheeky grin as he watches his two best friends sharing a rather uneasy look. “As if they could deny it!” He chuckles, looking over at them, clearly delighted to see them together. Hermione pretends to kick him in protest, but she's smiling, as Harry answers the question at last.

“We were together for just less than a year before that night, at first it was something so new that we didn't want to share it with anyone. We were enjoying being together, but in the middle of a war it's pretty impossible to have anything too close to normality. After a month we told Ron, who had of course known all along, but gallantly pretended to be oblivious…and other than Ron it was only family who knew.” Hermione interrupts here to say that “Harry's always had a `saving people thing' and it was bad enough when we were friends, but add a relationship to the mix, and he was in full panic mode because he knew that Ron and I would refuse to be left behind in safety when the time came.” Ron confirms that with a laugh, “Oh yeah, ever since you got cursed in the department of mysteries he always had one eye on you and one eye on Voldemort in fights, determined that it wouldn't happen again.”

“I didn't succeed though, did I?” Harry replies softly. Ron and Hermione both sit up in their seats and turn to him.

“It wasn't your fault!” They exclaim in perfect unison.

As Ron and Hermione try to convince Harry that it was Lestrange's fault rather than his own, I observe their group dynamic once more. It has changed little since our Hogwarts days - Harry the bashful and reluctant leader/hero, Ron the comic relief and master strategist, and Hermione, ever the logical one, and the most loyal person you'll ever meet. As we move back to the original question, Harry and Hermione confirm that they are once again a couple, and are very happy, but would prefer to keep their relationship out of the media as much as possible.

“Just yesterday we had a photographer following us around Hogsmeade, it's a bit like no time has passed since the Tri-Wizard tournament with yet more private moments stolen and splashed across the newspapers. It's hard as I know that to so many people in the Wizarding world we're public property, and they see us as symbols of the end of a terrible time. I'd never want to take that away from them, but at times it's incredibly frustrating to have aspects of your life controlled by others.” Harry speaks eloquently of his problems with the press, an issue he's always had trouble expressing himself over, usually clouded by the actions of unscrupulous journalists intruding on his life. Hermione speaks for the entire trio when she says that “we've only just been reunited, and while some people may see it as selfish that I've stayed hidden for a bit, for us it's been time for the three of us to catch up and get back to what we had before, to see how we've all changed, and to get our lives back on track. It may anger people, but I'll freely admit that if our hand hadn't been forced on this issue I would have stayed out of the public eye for another week or two, just to give myself a chance to settle back into the Wizarding world, and to make the most of my relationship with Harry without wondering if anyone's going to see us kiss on the street, or hold hands while shopping…I probably wont remember most of the year we already had together, other than the little fragments I already have, so this is like starting all over again and I wanted to savour it for as long as possible.”

“Oh god, I got really carried away didn't I?” Hermione moaned, head in hands. Harry chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. “I think they'll appreciate your honesty `Mione”.

“Exactly” Ginny confirmed, “and who could blame you for opening up, Luna could get water from a stone, everyone opens up to her.” Ginny grinned across at her enigmatic friend.

“C'mon, let me finish, it gets better, and you guys haven't even seen the pictures yet! You did a cracking job with these Colin, they're so real.” Ron said raising the magazine in tribute to Colin who was perched on the sofa next to Ginny, still looking a little excited and apprehensive about being brought into the inner circle of his idols.

We spend much of the evening reminiscing about the past, adventures at Hogwarts, and the brief times of laughter and togetherness during the long years of the war, times which kept us sane, and gave us a glimpse of what we were fighting for.

“That's beautiful Luna” Hermione sad with a wistful smile across the room at her old friend. “It really is” echoed Ron, who's left hand was now trailing through Luna's hair of it's own accord, though Ron didn't yet appear to have noticed this development.

We share favourite memories, the general consensus being that one particular night spent locked in a hidden room beneath Hogwarts to celebrate Neville Longbottom and Harry's birthdays being one of the best nights of the war. Though names and details will remain anonymous for the time being, it was a hysterical night of enchanted muggle games, some rather contraband firewhisky and a legendary game of `truth or dare'. Hermione comments “God, I wish I could remember that night, I'm sure I'd have some fantastic stories to tease you all with then” she muses. Myself, Harry and Ron dissolve into childish giggles at this point and I'm afraid dear reader that the interview got rather off course at this point as Hermione came to the realisation that she had clearly embarrassed herself more than anyone else present. An impressive achievement considering that the infamous Weasley twins were present on the night in question. She elicits a promise from Harry that he'll tell her later whatever she did or said, though she looks a little apprehensive as Harry and Ron once again dissolve into giggles. She glances at her two best friends, whom she often affectionately refers to as “my boys”, and simply grins a rather mischievous grin and raises an eyebrow. “You may laugh now boys, but I've regained another memory since yesterday…I wasn't going to say anything, but…if you will force me to bring up Paris…” Her grin widens as they freeze before simultaneously leaping on her in a tickle attack. “You wouldn't dare!”, “You swore on your first edition of Hogwarts: A History that you'd never tell!” Their words overlap one another, as the trio act like teenagers and tease each other senseless.

“So what was that about Paris Hermione?” I ask her when their laughter has subsided. “I'm afraid I really did swear on my first edition of Hogwarts: A History about that one” she says with a grin and a wink in my direction that neither Harry nor Ron catches.

“I still can't believe you mentioned Paris” Ron moaned. I'm having flashbacks again. “I told you that absinthe wasn't a good idea, particularly after all that garlic!” Hermione replied with a laugh, “and I promise I'll never mention it in public again, especially now I know all about that game of truth or dare…seriously, what was I thinking, you'd all guessed about me and Harry anyway, why on earth did I choose dare when it was Fred's turn to pick a dare?!” She blushed just thinking about it, and was glad for the moment that she couldn't remember that portion of the evening, though she was eager to remember the rest of that infamous night.

“Let's hear the conclusion of the article then.” Ginny prompted her big brother.

Four or five years ago if you had asked one of the trio about the future they would not have looked beyond the next step of their fight. In truth, they couldn't let themselves dream beyond that next step, for their futures were more uncertain than any other witch or wizard in the world, facing dangers on a daily basis that even the most hardened of aurors would blanch at. The difference in them now is remarkable in that a weight has visibly been lifted from their shoulders, a weight that did not disappear with Tom Riddle, but with the return of a third of their soul. Speaking to them about their plans for the future now, their eyes are full of hope and love. Ron's career will be well known to all, and he remains as boisterous and charming as always. Harry plans to remain at Hogwarts in his current post teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts whilst spending as much time as possible with his best friend and his girlfriend. Hermione hasn't yet decided entirely on her future, “right now I'm focusing on regaining knowledge and skills that I've lost. Harry's been working through the Hogwarts curriculum with me to get my magic back up to scratch, and beyond that I'm really not sure. I spent a lot of my time in the muggle world writing and I might return to that, but I may take a break and just savour being back home again.

Whatever these three remarkable individuals choose for their futures, there will now once again always be at least once constant in their lives, their famous and enviable friendship. It is this friendship, and a rekindled relationship that will carry them through the inevitable media frenzy which will follow this announcement of Hermione Granger's return to the Wizarding world, and the discovery of a relationship that will break many a teenage girls' heart and will inevitably have a big impact on Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelor list for the coming year.

“That was perfect Luna” Hermione said gratefully as Ron finished reading aloud and passed the magazine around so that they could all look over Colin's elegant and simple black and white photographs, perfectly capturing a relaxed trio, laughing, smiling, thinking, happy, back together, and a very in love Harry and Hermione.

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Apologies to everyone - I can't believe it's been so long since I last updated this story. I had major writers block about how to write the last chapter and deleted several different versions until I finally had this version. Thank you for your patience, thanks for all the lovely reviews, and thank for reading. I hope you enjoy this last chapter of `I'd do anything'. Kate

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Chapter 10 - Memories

Harry watched with a grin as his 6^th year DADA students filtered out of the classroom, and as the door closed behind the last student he hung his teaching robe onto the hook on the wall, ran a hand through his messy black hair, grabbed his bag and took off jogging through the corridors of Hogwarts. Sneaking through well used secret passages, he was heading towards the large oak doors to the library within minutes. A 7^th year prefect glanced at him and then did a double take seeing her Professor jogging along the halls in scruffy blue jeans and a black t shirt. He flashed her a smile, and slowed to a walk as he pushed open the double doors and wandered over to the large desk in the centre of the room.

Hermione was leaning back against the desk chatting with Madam Pince as they sorted books into piles and then magically returned them to their correct locations. He walked leisurely over and rested his head on her shoulder, and arm casually draped around her waist.

“How's the birthday girl?” He asked with a smile. She turned and smiled at him, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

“Very well thank you Professor” she teased.

“Off you run then you two” Madam Pince spoke, gesturing to the two them affectionately. She'd been seeing a lot more of a certain DADA Professor since her favourite student had been back in the library every day. She watched as the pair of them headed back towards the hallways, their arms around each other as if they were made to fit together and she smiled wistfully, happy to see them back together again. She'd always watched them, and the Weasley boy throughout their school years, and while she had her suspicions that those three had been the ones to sneak into the restricted section on numerous occasions she'd always had a soft spot for them; and an inkling that there was perhaps more to Hermione's relationship with the famous Harry Potter than met the eye.

“How was work today then?” Harry asked as they strolled through the corridors of Hogwarts towards his office.

“Pretty good, I think I'm almost done with the first stage of the research, and I've actually had to stop myself from starting to write the first chapter a few times.”

“That's great news `Mione” Harry grinned and squeezed her around the waist. She laughed softly.

“You're in a good mood today.” She observed happily, looking at him as they walked along.

“Well that's because I finally decided what to get you for your birthday.” He grinned cheekily.

“Well I should hope so! It's my birthday today. So when do I get my present?” She grinned, as they paused at Harry's office door until he waved his hand to unlock the door. He stepped back to allow her past and she smiled happily at him and stepped through the door.

“What was that smile for?” He asked curiously as he stepped through behind her and shut the door.

“Just because I love that you hold doors open for me. It's adorable…” She smiled, and reached up to wind her arms around his neck, kissing him softly.

“Now, where's my present - don't think you can get out of that easily!” She laughed, and backed away from him as he playfully tried to tickle her.

“Alright Miss. Impatient, it's in the living room.” He said, giving up on trying to tickle her, and linking his hand with hers as they headed through the magical doorway to their home. Hermione had figured out the equations and Harry had performed the complicated charm which linked the blank doorway in his office to a blank doorway added to their own house. They'd moved back into the house the week before term had begun in September, and Hermione had worked with Dobby and Winky to do the place up during the day as she mulled over ideas in her head for her next book. They now had a link to the castle so that Harry could live at home but still give enough time to his students, and be contacted easily if there was a problem with Gryffindor House. Only he and Hermione could use the doorway unless either of them willingly gave permission to an individual, meaning that both their home and Hogwarts were still protected from intruders. The media interest in Hermione's return, and their relationship had not died down at all, and the fact that they were living together had stirred up a hornets nest in the press, despite the fact that they'd lived together with Ron before the war. Harry's favourite moments were evenings sitting in their home alone or with friends, usually Tom, Jennifer, Ron and Luna who appeared to have become inseparable over the last weeks. It seemed as if everything was finally perfect, and how it should have been for all of them once the war had ended. Hermione was researching in the Hogwarts library at the moment, saying that she enjoyed the atmosphere there during research, and that the whispers of students and sounds of pages turning were reassuring. Her study at home was all ready and waiting for her to begin writing the book in earnest once the library became a distraction, Harry would definitely miss having her in school during the day, though it wasn't exactly going to be difficult to pop home and see her at lunch or in free lessons!

They stepped into the living room and Harry grinned to see that everything looked just as perfect as it had when he'd left it earlier in the day, every surface was covered in tiny candles, giving a soft, warm glow to the cosy room. Sitting in the centre of the low antique coffee table in the centre of the room was a large box, wrapped in a big red satin ribbon. Hermione let out a small gasp of surprise, and turned in his arms to kiss him passionately.

“I love you” she said softly. Harry smiled at her and gently brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.

“Wow, and you haven't even opened your present yet, I think I'm going to like this evening.” She laughed and kissed him again.

Hermione sat down in her favourite spot on the sofa and looked around her happily, taking in everything and smiling up at Harry as he reappeared from the kitchen holding two champagne flutes of what looked like her favourite wine in the world. “Ooh, is that Gratien & Meyer Sparkling Red?” She asked excitedly. He nodded and handed her a glass before taking a seat next to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

“I just wish your parents were here to drink it with us, though your Dad always had an issue about sharing this particular wine.” Harry smiled.

“Thanks Harry.” She held up her glass and carefully inhaled the scent of the wine.

“What are we toasting to then?”

“To us” He replied simply, clinking their glasses together and taking a sip of wine before kissing her on the forehead.

Harry watched her happily as she carefully undid the bow on her present, laying it on the table, only his Hermione unwrapped presents as if the wrapping was just as important as the gift. She gasped as she opened the lid of the box and carefully lifted her present from it, pushed the box to the floor and laid the gift in the centre of the table.

“Oh Harry…a pensieve…” She knelt in front of it, gently tracing out the lines of the ancient runes lining the edges of the basin.

“The pensieve isn't the real present, it's just on loan…” He said, kneeling down next to her and carefully pulling a small velvet bag from underneath the sofa, “…these are”.

Hermione gently took the bag from him and happy tears formed in her eyes as she saw the small vial inside.

“You got me memories.” She said happily through her tears.

“I thought we could go on a picnic” Harry said simply, before he was engulfed in hair as she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

“It's perfect Harry”

“Let me run and pick up the picnic from the kitchen and we can start”

Harry returned from the kitchen with a small basket in his hand and a blanket flung over his shoulder. Hermione was standing over the pensieve eagerly, holding the small vial as if it contained the elixir of life. At his nod, she carefully uncorked the memories and tipped them into the pensieve, watching as the silvery threads swirled around the basin. Grasping his free hand they leaned over the basin and with a tugging feeling they found themselves standing on the Hogwarts Express looking at Harry and Ron's eleven year old selves. Hermione's hand went to her mouth.

“Oh, look how young you both are!” She laughed, “I'd forgotten about Ron having dirt on his nose.” She smiled. At Harry's gesture they sat down on the benches and observed the conversation, and then it happened, the door opened and there was a young Hermione bossily asking them if they'd seen a toad. They sat watching and listening, talking to each other, and tucking into some cheese biscuits Dobby had made them specially.

The memory soon began to fade, and seeing Hermione's disappointed face Harry took her hand. “Don't worry, it was just one of many, the highlights of Harry and Hermione as it were” he smiled. She smiled tenderly back at him, and looked around her trying to figure out where they were now. The hallway was dark and rather cold, and then she heard the voices coming towards them and there were herself, Ron, Neville and Harry coming towards the Fat Lady looking rather shaken. She realised they must have just met the infamous Fluffy for the first time and she chuckled to hear the line Ron and Harry still teased her about to this day. A moment later and they watching themselves riding high about Hogwarts on Beaky's back as they flew to rescue Sirius. Over the next few hours as the snacked on food, she relived favourite moments of her Hogwarts days, most of which she had only read about before. She giggled to see Harry and Ron's 14 year old faces realise that it was her on Victor Krum's arm for the Yule Ball, and then suddenly she was in a memory that she didn't remember reading about in her diaries.

She and Harry were no standing on the hill overlooking Hogsmeade, one of Harry's usual apparition spots when coming to the village or to Hogwarts, where they had shared their second-first kiss not so long ago. Hermione turned to see Harry carefully laying out the picnic blanket he had brought with them and walked over to take a seat beside him on it. It looked cold in the memory but she felt warm.

“When are we?” She asked him as she snuggled into his side, resting her head on his shoulder.

“18^th January 2002, Hogsmeade was an Order of the Phoenix stronghold and we had a perimeter blocking all entrance and exits. This was a designated apparition point, it was coded to our magical signatures. We'd been at the castle for an Order meeting, we'd destroyed the 5^th Horcrux a few days before and were heading back to our latest safe-house to start planning again…here we are” Harry said pointing down the hill. Hermione looked and saw three shapes slowly making their way up towards the apparition point. Harry was rummaging in the picnic basket and carefully withdrew a large carrot cake from the basket and placed it in front of them, lighting the candle with a wave of his hand. Hermione smiled at him again, and her gaze wandered back at their younger selves, who were now reaching the top of the hill.

“I still don't understand why we're here.” She mused.

“You will” Harry said, kissing the top of her head, and returning his gaze to the scene unfolding before them as young Hermione began to speak.

“Oh boys, I think it's going to snow!” She said excitedly.

Harry laughed softly, “Only you would be excited or surprised by snow in Scotland in the middle of the coldest January I can remember”

Hermione playfully swatted him on the arm.

“Oh be quiet, I'm allowed to be childlike once in a while. There's nothing quite like the smell of snow, making snow angels, snowmen and having snowball fights.” Harry smiled at her indulgently, as Ron laughed.

“I'm with you on the snowball fights but I'm freezing my arse off Herms, I'll see you back there.” Ron said and with a distinct pop he was gone.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry, “What's the betting he's already eaten that last slice of his Mum's carrot cake before we get home?”

“I'd say that's pretty likely” Harry laughed, “He hates it that you love carrot cake so much and that he has to share”

“Can we stay a minute and see if it snows?” Hermione asked, turning to Harry, her face almost covered by a fluffy hat pulled down to her eyes, and a scarf wrapped across her nose.

“Alright snowgirl, but only if you conjure up some of those trademark blue flames.” They smiled at each other a little shyly and sat down on the hard ground, huddled together for warmth as Hermione conjured a jar of bright blue flames to warm their hands.

Harry and Hermione watching the memory, sat smiling at the two of them as Harry cut into the carrot cake and handed her a slice. “So this is why you called me snowgirl that day in the kitchen” she pondered. Harry smiled at her a little sadly. “I used to call you snowgirl a lot” he said softly before taking a bite of cake. They were pulled back to the memory before them by Hermione's delighted laugh as a few snowflakes fell from the sky. She threw her head back and stuck her tongue out to catch them, urging young Harry to do the same, the two laughed together and were soon making snow angels.

“Come on, let's make a snowman!” She yelled excitedly. Harry laughed. “Definitely a snowman, not a snowgirl or a snowelf?” He teased her. She giggled, “How about today we'll stick with tradition and make a snowman, SPEW can wait for another day”. She turned to see his reaction and seemed surprised to find him right behind her, their faces were inches apart, she smiled up at him shyly, and he gently brushed a hand over her cheek. “You've got snowflakes in your eyelashes” he said softly before lowering his head and kissing her softly. Soon they were wrapped up in each others arms kissing, amidst the snow and quiet of the Scottish hillside, the lights of Hogwarts just visible in the distance through the thickening snowfall.

Hermione watched them happily, before turning to Harry and kissing him thoroughly.

“Thank you” she whispered in his ear, burying her face in his shoulder and hugging him tightly. She turned as she heard a laugh behind her and watched as Harry picked her up and twirled her around, both of them laughing before kissing once more and disappearing with a pop.

She stood and walked over to look over at the snowangels they had made in the grass, hearing Harry stand and follow her.

“Hermione?” She turned hearing the tentative note in his voice and what she saw made her eyes fill with tears once more. He was standing before her in the snow, holding an open box containing a diamond glittering in the moonlight.

“Will you always be my snowgirl?” He asked softly with a smile. A dazzling smile burst across her face and she ran the two steps towards him and kissed him.

“Yes Harry”, she watched his smile spread across his face and reach his sparkling green eyes and kissed him once more.

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