Morning burned away into early afternoon before the couple emerged from their room. Four wizards sat in the lounge, Fred feeling strong enough to join his twin and Sirius in a game of Exploding Snap, and fragments of the cards played lay in smoldering piles on the table. Percy had managed to turn on the radio, and was continuing to search for the wizard's channels.
"Bugger this, I can't find the Wizarding Wireless Network anywhere," he muttered.
"You won't," Harry replied as he and Hermione entered the room, arms wrapped around each other's waists. "It's a Muggle radio."
"Well, look who's finally awake. You know, a Silencing Charm doesn't work when the furniture's banging against the wall," George grinned.
"The walls in this cottage are a bit thin," Sirius confirmed with a boyish smirk.
Hermione's face raised a few notches in colour before turning to her husband with a questioning look, to which he nodded.
"Harry and I have an announcement."
"You've joined the British shagging team for the Olympics?" Fred shot back.
"First, I want to thank my wife for putting up with me. Today is our anniversary," Harry announced, ignoring Fred.
"And to add to that news, recently I've had my suspicions, and now I've confirmed the results. We're expecting." Hermione added.
"Who? Is someone coming?" Percy asked while continuing to spin the radio's dial. A well-aimed book struck him in the shoulder.
"You twit, she's preggers. Or haven't you noticed she's been puking each morning?" Sirius grinned.
Before another word was said, the group surrounded the couple with congratulatory shouts and backslapping. The impromptu celebration attracted another, who paused in the hallway to observe. The group's cheerful affections to the happy couple hit her hard. She remained on the outside and watched with emotions she had not felt in years.
"Give the lady some room," Fred finally managed to push the others away and offered Hermione a chair.
"Thanks, Fred, but my legs are just fine," she said, refusing the seat.
"So, when did this happen? I hope it was planned."
"Not exactly planned, but something we both have wanted for years," Harry replied.
He lightly kissed his wife's cheek and strode into the kitchen, returning to the group empty-handed. Hermione Granger watched as Harry walked back to the group. The scene tugged deeply on her emotions, and she too turned to the kitchen, then back to the hallway, her left hand dangling by her side.
"Forgot to mention, the cupboard's bare," George commented. "Whose place is this anyway?"
"It belongs to the Muggle Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, ICPO. I've been attached to the Criminal Intelligence Analysis division throughout the Ministry; they maintain a string of 'safe houses' through out Europe."
"Won't that other 'Harry' know about these?" Percy asked.
"No," Hermione interrupted, "these houses are strictly top secret, and even the Minister himself doesn't know where they are. The Minister knows about them, but that's all. The Muggle authorities don't reveal much if they can avoid it."
The figure in the hall lightly tapped her leg with the utensil she held.
"Then how do you know?" Sirius asked with concern.
"I know about a couple, this one, and the one in Belgium. There were a couple incidents where Ron and Harry needed a Healer they could trust."
"Right. I forgot you both had a different life before this." Sirius said with relief.
Hermione had been watching her counterpart in the hall, and a strange display the others had failed to observe. Hermione Granger alternated smiles and frowns as she seemed to mirror the group's actions.
"Excuse me a moment." She turned and left the men, who quickly returned to congratulating Harry.
Hermione Granger watched and slipped into her room as Hermione approached crossing from the lounge into the hall. The room she occupied was only a door away, it was an easy escape. A light rap on that door yielded no response.
"Hermione?" Hermione Potter called as she knocked again.
"Leave me be," her counterpart called out.
"I'm afraid that's not possible. I'm coming in," she replied, opening the door. Hermione Granger sat on the edge of the bed, rocking. The knife she had taken from the kitchen remained poised at her own throat.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hermione yelled in shock, forcing her to lower the blade.
"Leave the bitch alone. You've interfered enough." A sharp male voice from within the young woman commanded.
"No. She deserves better, and I will help her resolve her issues. That includes dealing with the both you, Ron and you, Ginny," Hermione's tone cut directly to the disembodied souls trapped in the witch. "I won't allow you two to let her take her life."
"You can't save her, she's useless to the rest of the world," the other female voice chirped.
"The bloody hell you say, she's not worthless. And I'll find a way to return her to what she once was, a brilliant and gifted woman."
Hermione sat on the bed, next to her other self, whose hands trembled as she fought the urge to raise the knife again.
One woman gently and calmly took the knife from the other tormented and trembling one, and allowed the frightened woman to embrace her.
"Shhh… you're fine. I won't let the memories haunt you," the healer cooed to her patient.
"The-they wanted me to kill the beast," she whispered hoarsely, "but I can't. Please help me?"
"Yes, I promise." The clean butcher knife fell to the floor.
"Why do you care?" she asked through her tears.
"Because it's what you truly deserve. Now let's begin."
The Healer produced her wand, and uttered a charm as a flask floated into the room.
"We'll start with this. Drink it."
She handed a measured portion to her patient. "It will calm your mind and help you cope."
She ran her fingers through the tangles of hair that matched her own and gently kissed her forehead. The thin woman laid her head on the offered shoulder, and released a deep sigh.
In the darkening forest a slight drizzle played hide-and-seek with the leaves; the mist folded around the trees like a soft blanket. The air was fresh and clean, quite refreshing after the musty odour of the castle in which they were recently held. In the distance, the Swiss Alps seemed so close they could almost be touched.
Wild flowers, surrounded by trees of the Black Forest, decorated the banks of the Tittisee at the eastern foot of Mount Feldberg. The oblong and glass-smooth surface of the lake afforded a beautiful view of the Black Forest. The leaves would soon change to brightly coloured hues of yellow and orange.
The forest and street surrounding the cottage provided ample warning of anyone who would approach. The view from the panoramic windows in the front of the dwelling held a view of a small village in the distance. The town of Feldbergerhaf at the east side of Mount Feldberg, a short two kilometres away on the Todtnauer-Hüttenstraße, could have been any small village in the heart of Europe.
Sirius left the cottage at the break of dawn the day after Hermione and Harry had announced their pregnancy. His task was simple: purchase rail passes for everyone in the group, two zone pass with a three-week expiration. He listed the home zone for each pass as Spain, hoping that that would help conceal their movements, and hopefully draw attention away from them.
To help pinpoint their last location, he Apparated to the far side of the village, conjured identification cards for each member of the group, and hailed a taxi to go to the rail office. From this point forward, they would live and act as Muggles. He used Harry's Firebolt to return to the mountainside house. The entire excursion lasted nearly an hour, as he had been forced to wait for the Rail Office to open.
"There he is. Do you think they spotted him in town?" Percy asked.
"He's been on the run for twelve years; I think he can handle buying seven tickets," Hermione Granger sniped back.
"She's right, Percy," Hermione Potter added. "He's quite capable of handling this task. But he was supposed to be noticed; that's part of the plan."
A glance shared between the two women revealed one was not simply patronising the other.
Hermione Granger seemed more on edge than the others. Her counterpart from the other world was the only one with whom she had shared her secret, the only one whom she trusted completely. She kept her distance from the others, mostly Harry due to the years of oppression.
Harry had been watching the other Hermione since her rescue, and the connection between the two women amazed him. The trust that had been built in only a few short days seemed to be the necessary link for the other witch's mental and emotional recovery. Another wizard also watched the woman, the recent events forging different thoughts and purging his hatred for the murderer of his siblings. The mutual disrespect between Hermione and the Weasleys had not subsided in their short time together, except in Fred.
Fred held one memory of their shared captivity with more significance than the others, for while Harry had managed to free himself, it had been Hermione that had freed him and Sirius from their chains.
Hermione Potter had waited until Sirius returned to take the time to venture into the village for a little shopping, she spent much of the lunch hour in a different location.
The plan to leave would soon commence. Small groups, Sirius first and alone, then the three Weasley's, followed by the two identical witches. Harry would remain behind in case of trouble.
Moments before dusk, Sirius slipped away.
"George," Fred whispered to his twin, "you and Percy go first; I'll be along in a moment."
"No, we all go together; we've always stuck together."
"And what if they get the three of us? No, you and Percy push on. I'll be along with the others."
"Ok, lads," Harry interrupted, "time for you all to be off."
"Go on, I'll be there directly." Fred gave his brother a pat on his shoulder and pushed them both out the door.
"Harry," Fred addressed their leader, "let me go with Hermione. I have a couple things to say."
Harry looked as his wife, and she nodded, taking a position next to the tall red-haired wizard.
"I meant her," he whispered to Hermione, nodding towards Hermione Granger.
Hermione grinned her reply and stepped back to Harry, while the other woman looked puzzled. "Go on, I'm staying with Harry. You two go on."
Fred reached a hand to the thinner woman and pulled her under his arm. "I never thanked you for blasting those chains. I was wrong about you."
The witch continued to look puzzled, and shook her head. "No, I can never make it up to you and your family for what happened." She turned away.
"Hermione, please. The others weren't there and Percy is too thick to listen. What I wanted to say, when this is done, I want you to know you have a home wherever we are. Ron and Ginny both loved you, and I can see why."
"Go on, you two, time to be off. Now. Down the main road about a kilometre to a crossroad. Then right and on to an alley between the first two houses. The others should be waiting there."
Fred nodded and pulled Hermione closer, safely under his cloak. In unison they left the dwelling.
Harry held his Hermione's hand, not needing to look at her to know she smiled. "I look good with Fred, don't I?" she teased.
"She does, but I don't think you're his type."
"Oh, then there's a noticeable difference?" she teased.
"Let's say I'd be able to pick you from a dozen 'copies'."
"Only a dozen? That's not that reassuring," she pouted.
He replied by intertwining her fingers with his.
"Then a hundred," he said as he pulled her hand up and lightly kissed the back of it. "Time for us to go."
They left the cottage in the Black Forest to join their comrades.
Boarding the train was a simple matter; each small group entered a different coach, and worked towards a pair of connecting compartments near the caboose. The layout of the carriages was reminiscent of the Hogwarts Express. This, however, was a Muggle train. The door to their second room was locked from the inside, while the connecting doors remained open.
"Remember, no magic for any reason from this point forward; no clues or traces for them to follow," Harry reinforced to the others.
"And what makes you believe they won't try to follow us on this train? They're not stupid," Percy inquired. He was as thick as ever, a man that played only within the basic rules, never venturing for a risk.
"He won't follow this one, because Sirius and I both left spells and hexes on two different trains, in different directions," Hermione replied. "One train headed to Paris and the other north to Sweden."
"Now, time to shed all traces of the wizard world. Take your cloaks and stuff them all into this duffle bag. I'm afraid you'll have to wear Muggle clothes from now on, Percy. Sirius, you still have that other sack?"
"Yes, milord," his godfather teased with a graceful wave and bow.
"Stuff it, Padfoot," Harry shot back, giving him a sharp whrack on the back of his head.
"Oy, can't you take a bit of a joke?" Sirius asked as he rubbed his head in drawn-out motions.
"Here," Harry pulled out various bits of normal, everyday Muggle clothes for each except for his wife's twin. Hermione had taken the opportunity to purchase a few special items for her and her thinner counterpart during her shopping excursion, and since Hermione Granger had precious little when they arrived, she had had to dress in her new outfit prior to leaving.
"Keep your wands handy," Harry said. "We don't want to be unarmed."
"So, if a train is heading to Sweden and another to Paris, exactly where are we going?" George asked.
"South."
"But this train is heading to Vienna," Percy observed.
"Exactly," Harry said as he settled into a seat, Hermione nuzzled into him.
His travelling companions looked at him, puzzled by the response, or more specifically, the lack of information.
The trip began uneventfully.
Fred and Hermione Granger camped out on one side of the first compartment with the Potter's; the others split up to find a comfortable spot. George and Percy refused to remain in the same compartment as Hermione Granger, evidence that Percy's stubborn streak had begun to creep into George's persona. They remained in the same compartment with Sirius. Fred though had not left Hermione's side since departing the cottage.
After settling into their respective compartments, one of the group felt a different sort of rumble.
"Darling, it's nearly 8:00, doesn't the restaurant coach close soon?" she asked. That simple comment bringing additional grumbles for food, they left in total for the restaurant coach. Although their passes afforded unlimited travel, food was a different concern.
"Here." Harry reached into to his pockets and produced a large bundle of Euros, giving each member an amount. "Dinner's on me, but remember, we have to make this cash last for some time." Nods from each of the group showed their understanding of the current situation.
In the restaurant car Fred and Hermione remained with the Potters, while the three others sat as a separate table.
"Harry, how long are we going to be running?" Fred asked between bites of his roast beef sandwich.
"I expect a month; he found us out too fast last time. That was my fault for bringing you all into that trap. I won't allow another mistake like that."
"So you intend to try to rid the world of him again by yourself?" Hermione Granger asked, her Healer had ordered a heavier meal heavy in protein to help her back to a healthy weight. She had begun to eat again, but could still only manage small portions.
"No, my error was I marched you all into his lair. I intend to force him out into the open. Then we'll be on equal footing."
"Not exactly equal, you have us in reserve," Hermione corrected from his side. Her appetite had grown, not unexpectedly. She and Harry shared a Bauernplatte that consisted of a smoked Bratwurst, a Polish sausage and a smoked pork loin, ample food for three.
"Not sure what good that one's for," Percy whispered from the other table, with a smug look to George and Sirius, as he motioned toward Hermione Granger.
He was answered with a smack across the back of the head from Sirius. "Mind your attitude, Weasley, she's one of us whether you like her or not."
One Hermione had not heard the remark, but unfortunately the other more powerful witch had, and she made a mental note to later correct Percy's remarks against her patient.
"How true," Harry said in reply to Hermione, "We need to plan a way to force him into the open, where we have an advantage."
"Mate, that's not going to happen," Fred commented idly as he took another bite from his sandwich.
"There is a way," the witch next to him said. "Me."
"He hunted her down the time she disappeared," Fred added. "He'll do it again."
"He had a good idea where I was then," she said.
"But now if all has gone as planned, it'll take some days or weeks for him to find us." Harry added, then looked down at his plate, whose contents had dwindled down to mere scraps.
"What? I was starved." His wife said in defence. She threw her arms up as if confused as to his queried look.
Harry shook his head and stood from the table, giving her room to exit. He gathered the checks and left a handful of notes at the register. "I'll get this one." He said cheekily as he and Hermione left for their compartment.
Hermione needed time alone with Harry. Having mentioned this to her double before arriving at the table, the witch silently thanked her counterpart as she deliberately kept Fred in the restaurant with the pretence of dessert.
Once safely alone, Hermione began her plans. Quickly pulling her husband to the bench seat, she pressed a finger to his lips, "Whisper, I don't trust the walls. You have no intention of heading past Vienna, do you?"
"No, I've discussed this with Sirius; we'll head south from Vienna, to Italy."
"Milan? Is that where you're thinking to face the other you?"
"No, that would simply be the first stop. We'll charter a plane in Milan and send it off to Egypt, then continue to Rome. The wizard community in Rome will help hide us for a while. I don't feel comfortable with the others' duelling abilities. I haven't actually seen any of them in a fight, not here at least."
"So, to Rome to train them up on their skills. Yes, I can see the merits. How are they going to practice if we have to avoid using magic?"
"Umm… I haven't worked that part out yet, but we have around four or five days before that's an issue," Harry admitted to Hermione.
"Whatever we do, we can't let him split us up. It's frightening how devious your mind could have been, to murder in cold blood and pretend that..." she shuddered at the thought, unable to verbalise the experience Harry and the others related.
"I know. That's why it's imperative we all train together as a team. There's got to be a way for George and Percy to accept the other you."
"Mm hm. Fred has done a radical turnabout. Perhaps he can have a chat with his brothers."
"That may do, but for the moment, I'll keep her from the others," he said as he pulled his wife into his arms and sat with her. The landscape flashed by, streaks of lights from various street lamps and distant homes giving the ride an eerie feel, and appearing vaguely familiar to them both.
"Reminds me of a movie at the cinema. It looks like we're flying in space," Hermione said, raising her voice to its normal volume, and putting her head to rest on her husband's shoulder. She drifted into a light sleep, mesmerised by the streaks that shot past them.