Unofficial Portkey Archive

Once again, many, many thanks to Lady Starlight for her work on this fic.

Chapter 17: A Hidden Bond
**************************Spinner's End*****************************
September 10, 1997.
5:15 am

Severus Snape eased through the night as he snuck down the dilapidated Muggle street his house was secreted on. He paused outside of the garden gate and flicked his wand, and waited. After several tense moments in which he started at least twice at alley cats disturbing the night, a green glow flashed three times up near the eves of his house. He looked both ways and cast out several silent Accios randomly in case someone was watching from under a cloak.

He motioned with his wand, opening the door and crept in. Other than a rather impressive layer of dust, and a faint smell of decay that seemed to come from the kitchen, nothing greeted him. He flicked his wand at a set-in bookshelf and watched as it opened. He walked in, and down a set of stairs hidden behind it.

At the foot of the stairs, a complete Potions lab sat, even in some ways more complete than his personal lab at Hogwarts had been. Snape opened a tall, glass enclosed cabinet, in which the faint hiss of an exhaust enchantment could be heard pulling the fumes out of the hood and through a water scrubber before exhausting the air outside. He jabbed his wand at a purple flame under a brass cauldron. It went out and he waved his hand over the potion he had been making to examine it.

As the fumes cleared, he found the crystal-clear water-looking potion waiting for him. Snape nodded to himself as he pulled a large, stone ladle from a drawer behind him and poured the potion into several tumbler-sized vials. I don't know why the Dark Lord needs a Conceptious Patron Potion but I don't have the luxury of questioning him right now, damn Potter...Snape paused to reflect on it, Nor do I think that I want to think on it...

**********************Hogwarts, Dungeon*********************************

10:00 am

Harry yawned slightly as the fumes from the Stabilization Draught he was working on got to him. Why exactly Slughorn thought that the class would need to learn an esoteric potion that was used in rare cases to fight the effects of Unforgivables, the Cruciatus and Imperius, and in rare cases the Avada Kedavra where the caster didn't really mean it Harry didn't rightly know. The potion was used to stabilize the soul and to keep it from shearing away, but was supposed to only be used by specialists at St. Mungo's. Now, Tom, Tom may need it soon... Harry wafted the fumes away from the potion to inspect its clear, purple depths and extinguished the flames under it. He bottled a sample and glanced over at Hermione sitting next to him. She had her head down, writing in a notebook as she was waiting on him to complete his potion. Hers was already done, bottled and her mess cleaned up. She glanced up at him with a small, just for him smile.

Harry returned it; then his expression fell once more as he saw the adhesive bandage that was covering a bit of her brow above her left eye. Ginny had claimed that it was an accident last night at DA, and to be honest both Harry and Hermione believed her, but it was still another pinprick. I'm fine Harry. Hermione said softly, knowing the course of his thoughts.

Yeah, I know, but. He shrugged and nodded as she patted his thigh under the table. He glanced up at Slughorn; I think tonight will be a good time to talk to the good professor.

Hermione bit her lip and nodded. She returned to her notebook, canting it slightly so Harry could see her writing, a seemingly confused mix of rambles about the class, a cryptic note about where? That Harry knew to be in reference to where exactly they were to get married as they hadn't exactly figured that out yet, beyond it probably needing to be a Muggle Justice of the Peace somewhere, though Hermione had become even more determined than Harry on that point, so he knew he would have a wife in about nine days. If Dumbledore had still been alive...

He broke that train of thought as Hermione caught his eyes and nodded, they had had that talk that very evening, after they had decided to get married. It had come after a dinner in which Ron had commented how domestic they looked as Harry cooked and Hermione helped and the two had conjured somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple of hundred foam balls and shot them at Ron. He had still been ducking an occasional, errant foam Bludger hours later. Luna had wisely stayed out of it, other than asking for a refill on her wine, which had gone well with the quick meal of spaghetti and bread Harry had fixed. If Dumbledore had still been alive, they both knew he would have performed the ceremony, and would have most likely agreed to keeping it secret.

Harry's eyes suddenly widened as he stared at Hermione, The portrait...

Do you care? he asked and she shook her head after a moment. She smirked at him as she carefully wrote Hermione Jane Potter in a corner of her parchment before blacking it out. The bell rang and Harry and Hermione along with the rest of the class got up to hand in their potions and leave. Ron glanced at them, asking a silent question as Harry hung back, and nodded as Harry motioned stealthily with his hand towards where Hermione and Neville were waiting outside in the hall. He vanished and Harry was carefully the last one to hand in his potion.

"Aw Mr. Potter, this potion looks excellent as always," Slughorn said slightly ingratiatingly as he looked up at Harry, who stood several inches above him even when they were both standing up and despite Harry not being particularly tall. Harry watched as Slughorn marked an O on a sheet with today's date next to his name, Harry wasn't too concerned as Hermione had already been marked for an O as well he noticed.

"Thank you sir," Harry replied with a small, mostly convincing smile. Harry pulled his book out from his bag. He opened it to a page on Binding Potions, "I was wondering if I could talk to you this evening about the assigned work sir, there are some questions that I have on combining wormwood and asperia to gain the desired effect."

"Sure Harry," Slughorn's bare palate glinted in the light from the torches scattered about the dungeon classroom as he nodded. "I would be happy to discuss it with you." Harry smiled and started to leave. "Oh, Harry...I am having a gathering later this week, Friday evening, if you could attend." Slughorn grinned, "Miss Weasley should be there as well."

"I'll check to see if I can attend sir," Harry replied with a wooden, at least to those who really knew him such as Hermione or Ron, smile. He nodded as he stepped out into the hall and looked up at Hermione, Ron and Neville. The others fell into formation around him as Harry motioned them to follow.

The group followed Harry as they towards the Arithmancy classroom where Hermione had class next, the rest had a free period. Luna came up to them, from her class that immediately proceeded Hermione's and after verifying that they had a few minutes before Hermione had to make it to Vector's class, Harry motioned them all into an empty classroom. The walls lit white as the, by now, usual anti-surveillance charms were cast. "Alright, I'll be quick, Luna you and Neville want in all the way, well here's your chance. You two work out a way to set up a meeting with Greengrass discretely, I have heard that we have started to gain the support of her parents, especially after they realized that Tom was not exactly happy with their lack of support for his cause. "

"I'll do it," Neville replied after a long moment and a glance between him and Luna, "I have History of Magic with her tomorrow."

"Fine," Harry replied appreciatively, "do that. We need to see if we can at least establish a neutral relationship with some of the Slytherins. I have no doubt there will end up being blood on the floor, but I would rather keep all those out of it who weren't actually Death Eaters in training. But Neville, if you get a chance, impress on her that we would prefer she take a more active role. If we need to, we can protect her, just like the Order or rather Moody did with her parents." Neville nodded. "I set up a meeting with Slughorn this evening. He thinks that he's meeting with me over Binding Potions, but he's not. He's going to have a little chat with me, about the relationships he's built up over the years with his 'club'."

"Why the hell would he talk to you about that?" Ron asked, and Harry and Hermione grinned as one.

"Because mate, my mum and Dumbledore weren't stupid. There are certain things that they both left in their journals that Horace doesn't want to have in the Prophet," Harry replied ferally and the rest nodded. Harry sighed, "He also mentioned a get together of his club Friday night." Hermione's gaze shot to his, and her eyes hardened as she read his words off his mind a few seconds before he uttered them from the rest. "He mentioned that Ginny was invited, so I would guess some of the rest of you are as well." Luna gave Harry a measuring look then a questioning one to Ron. Neville glanced back and forth among the other four, knowing there was some subtext he was unaware of, but said nothing. He could always ask Parvati or Lavender, they seemed to have all the gossip if he really cared.

Harry took a breath as they started to leave and waved before anyone could open the door, "Listen, Neville, everyone else already knows at least somewhat what we are up to, and there are things that I can't let you know yet. I'm sorry about that, but there are reasons."

"It's alright Harry, I understand."

"Thanks Neville, I promise Hermione won't have to petrify you again." All of the seventh years laughed, Harry along with them until he turned serious once more, "Neville, the adults have given up for the most part. At least the Order members in the main and I would honestly say some of the Ministry. They are just waiting for Voldemort to roll over them and dictate terms. I'll be damned if I ever bow to that fucker," Harry said bluntly. "And if the so called adults won't fight him other than folks like McGonagall, Moody, Remus and Tonks, then I will."

************************Dungeons*******************************

8:00 pm.

Harry knocked quietly on and then proceeded to open the door of Slughorn's office. He looked up and waved Harry in. Harry held the door open for a brief moment, before he closed it behind him. Harry took a seat in front of Slughorn's desk and declined an offer of refreshments. "Where is your book Harry, I can't give you a new one all the time." Slughorn laughed at his joke, Harry didn't. He reached down instead and tossed a sheaf of parchments onto Slughorn's desk. The parchments all had the slightly ink-stained look that comes about from them being the duplicates created by a Duplicata Charm, so they both knew they weren't the originals.

"Let me be blunt, Professor," Harry said softly, with an air of menace. "You are being recruited as a source of intelligence." Slughorn opened his mouth several times without a sound escaping, and Harry cut him off before he could voice an objection. "Dumbledore had the patience to allow you to be persuaded to give me the information about the Horcruxes, and to allow your...indiscretions to lay silent. I don't. There are certain indiscretions both personal and financial enumerated in those files that I am sure that you don't want to appear on the front page of the Prophet. Dumbledore may not have used them against you, but you knew the threat was there, didn't you?"

"I am not worried Potter," Slughorn said darkly as he leaned back in his chair, "those will never see the light of day..."

Harry grinned, much like a lion over a freshly killed gazelle. "On the contrary, sir. I know that the editor and several reporters were in your... 'club'. But I am sure that the Quibbler will publish, and it's not such an automatically discounted rag any longer is it?" Despite himself Slughorn nodded. "Also there are Aurors who are much more interested in justice than promotion, even these days. I know several. And finally, sir...I am the 'Chosen One,' people will listen if I say something. The Prophet and the Ministry's tame journalists may make up that I prefer giraffes as bed partners the next day, but people will listen. It's amazing the talent that folks have developed to determine the wheat from the chaff."

Slughorn sighed and ran his hands over his eyes. "What do you want Harry?" he asked finally, "I won't fight, even if you release those files, I'll at least be alive in Azkaban."

"I am not asking you to," Harry replied softly, conciliatorily, "just that you continue as usual to take in...bits of knowledge from your...associates, and relate them to us. And that occasionally, you pass on inquiries of that we give you, that's all."

"Fine," Slughorn replied softly, "Is that all?"

"No," Harry reached down and placed his textbook on the Professor's desk, "I do still have some questions about the assignment."

***************************Hogwarts*********************************

September 12, 1997
10:00 pm

The party had been going on for almost two hours as Harry glanced up to catch Hermione's eyes across the room. Terry Boot, not a terrible bloke, but not whom she would rather be talking to all in all, though the secondary byplay she sent over their thoughts was amusing, was currently chatting her up. Her eyes flicked towards the buffet, in that secret language they shared that could communicate paragraphs in a glance or a single word in a paragraph of them, and he gave her tiniest of nods and turned back to whom he was talking to.

Over the years, Ernie Macmillan had had a slightly rocky semi-friendship with Harry. Ernie had been a founding member of the DA, but he had also been one of those that believed that Harry was variously the Heir of Slytherin and a lying attention-seeker when the fake Moody had conspired to place him in the Tri-Wizard. Which, now that I think about it...shouldn't that one be called the Tetra-Wizard? Across the room he caught Hermione's grin for a second.

Slughorn had called this a "Welcome Back to Hogwarts Get-Together" but Ron had called it an excuse to get drunk on a Friday night with students and not get sacked. Harry privately agreed with him, but the booze was free, and there were other reasons to be there. There were days when Harry was almost driven insane as he realized that almost every action he took was some element in this never ending war. Slughorn had not said a word to Harry or anyone else since Harry's little chat with him Wednesday, a brief note had arrived the next day however, with no signature, that had talked of a rumored defeat of several Aurors that had never shown in the Prophet, and the possible defection of a two more to the dark. Currently Slughorn was over near the windows of the room, talking to a pair of sixth year Hufflepuffs that he had his eye on.

Harry nodded as he finished his talk to Ernie, something about the Cannons vs. Bailey Bats; he hadn't been listening, and started to drift over towards the table. As he peeked around the room he could see Zabini and Parkinson standing rather close together in a dim corner. Parkinson seemed to be moving oddly, jerkily and Harry shook his head and moved on. He filled a plate from the buffet, more to have something to do with his hands than anything and frowned slightly as he found Ginny dancing closely with Neville. He frowned, he felt no hint of jealousy, but he knew what she was doing, and he wished that she had chosen someone other than Neville to do it with. Neville was rapidly becoming one of Harry's trusted advisors and friends, and over all he was a good guy. Horny, yes, but he was a guy. Harry looked away as Ginny put her arms around Neville's neck and rose on her toes.

Next to him Hermione came up to the buffet, and filled her own plate. I see you noticed, she commented briskly.

Yeah I noticed, Mione. I just hope it doesn't get Neville hurt over this.

Yeah...I just don't get it Harry. She has this...obsession, with you. I understand that you are cute and all. Harry sent over an impure thought and she elbowed him in the ribs, covertly in the dim room. But she has gone to lengths that... She just won't give up. She's like the bloody terminator...just a lot shorter.

I'll be back...They both laughed in their thoughts. If you just want a bloke to snog at this party, I can go out in the hall, put on a Glamour and come back in? Harry asked hopefully.

No, that'll just give the gossip twins something else to talk about. Hermione retorted a bit wistfully as she mentally pointed towards Parvati who was deep in conversation with some sandy-haired sixth year Ravenclaw boy that Harry didn't know.

*The Long and Winding Road, the Beatles.

Damn, Harry smiled as the music that Slughorn had playing, a rather off mix of modern Muggle and Wizarding songs for a host who was at least seventy, segued to a slow song. His hand slipped down to hers, as he set his plate on the table behind them she glanced down at their hands and back up to his eyes, "Would you like to dance?"

"What about?" Hermione whispered, her eyes cutting to at a familiar redhead and back.

"She has a date," Harry replied seriously, quietly, and frankly love, I don't give a damn. Besides, can't a bloke dance with his best friend? Hermione laughed out loud as her arms slipped up around his neck, and she felt his hands clasp lightly behind her back.

Hermione sighed as she dropped her head to his chest and closed her eyes, When did we do this last? Fleur and Bill's wedding?

Yeah...you know I used to hate dancing. Hermione smiled and let Harry move them both. She opened her mouth, when... A crash sounded across the room, and Harry and Hermione spun to watch Neville's fist crash across Zabini's face. Hermione spun away from Harry and the two jumped across the room in time to fire off twin Petrification Curses at the fighters.

Hermione turned to Harry, just as a small redhead and a black-haired, slightly pug-faced girl crashed into her from the side. She bounded up as a misaimed blow from Pansy smashed into the side of her face and the room fell apart. Harry could dimly hear Slughorn calling for order as Neville managed to throw off the Petrification hex at the same time Blaise did and they crashed back together, in their haste both Harry and Hermione had pulled their spells. Harry watched as Zabini threw a counter at Neville, which he blocked and retaliated with a jab to Zabini's nose.

The second time the Heads' wands flashed; the curses weren't pulled.

Twin Impediment Jinxes threw all four combatants ten feet backwards, knocking askew a table on the way, crashing various bottles, glasses and plates of food to the floor and shattering them. The jinx slammed the four into the wall and pinned all four to it like interesting specimens in Creatures. The fight stopped, forcefully, Harry glanced over at Hermione to see her wiping blood away from her left eye where Pansy's errant blow had reopened the accidental cut she received from Ginny the other day. You alright? She nodded, her eyes flaring as she took a deep breath to calm herself.

A moment later, before Harry could calm himself enough to tear into the four, the matter was taken out of his hands. McGonagall and Lupin stormed into the room. She took in the four still being held motionless, Hermione bleeding onto the collar of her pale green blouse, and Harry looking...annoyed. Her lips thinned almost to the point of non-existence. "Everyone go to your dorms now. You four, Potter, Granger, my office, now. Professor Slughorn, I will inform you of my decision." She spun on her heel and marched out, Remus trailing after he shared a glance with Harry, who shrugged.

Harry flicked his wand and the combatants fell to the floor. He sighed and chanced a look at Hermione. She was trying not to laugh. Harry pulled a kerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, she pressed it against her cut with a free hand. They fell in behind Ginny, Neville, Pansy, and Blaise as all of walked slowly down the corridors to the second floor, dodging Peeves on the way as he dropped a watermelon he had gotten from the Kitchens near them and paused at the Gargoyle. Hermione muttered the password to it, so as not to be overheard and watched as it nodded and stepped aside with a grinding of stone. All six rode the revolving stairs to the top, Hermione and Harry not daring to catch each other's gaze in case they started laughing. As they reached the waiting room, "POTTER, GRANGER, COME IN, LEAVE THE REST OUTSIDE." McGonagall's burr was...annoyed to say the least.

She watched with a gimlet eye as the pair entered the room, her door closed with a loud thump as Remus' wand flicked and a white flash lit the walls as he cast a Silencing Charm. McGonagall motioned them to chairs and they sat slowly, barely chancing a glance around. Most of the portraits were silently watching, pretending to be asleep, except for Dumbledore, he looked amused, as if he were sitting somewhere watching this as if it were a humorous television show. "What happened?" McGonagall asked, her tone flat.

Harry glanced at Hermione, "We don't know ma'am. We were across the room...dancing when we heard a crash and witnessed Neville and Blaise fighting. Hermione and I cast Petrification Curses to stop them, but I guess that we pulled back a touch too much, they broke them and continued."

McGonagall's expression softened a touch, "then how did Hermione become injured?"

Hermione frowned, "Pansy hit me, she was trying for Ginny. I guess that I got in the way." She pulled away the kerchief from her head to check if it were still bleeding, it was so she pressed it more firmly against it, batting away Harry's attempt to help, and causing Remus to chuckle before McGonagall and Hermione's twin glares caused him to shut up rapidly. "We, umm, didn't pull the Impediment Jinxes too much the second time," Hermione added with an odd mix of embarrassment and pride.

"I noticed," McGonagall said dryly, "Very well, that is more or less what I was expecting. Harry please usher the rest in, Hermione go stand over there with Remus." Harry went to the door as Hermione got up and crossed to her Head of House. Over her soft objections he pulled away the kerchief to inspect the wound. He muttered something about having Poppy look at it; Hermione shook her head and whispered back that she'd have Harry fix her. He nodded knowingly.

The four came in and stood in two groups as McGonagall had vanished the comfortable chairs in front of her desk. They stood a sort of attention as Harry slipped behind them to lean up against a window facing, next to Hermione and Remus.

"Very well," McGonagall said tersely, "explain yourself, you first Mr. Longbottom."

Neville took a breath and looked McGonagall in the eye, the boy that had trembled at her displeasure third year was gone. "Ma'am, Mr. Zabini insulted Miss Weasley, I was defending her honor."

"Is this true Mr. Zabini, did you insult Miss Weasley?"

"I was only telling the truth ma'am, I cannot help it if Longbottom took it wrong..."

"He called her a blood-traitor slut," Neville interrupted. He bristled and started to turn towards Blaise again, when Neville suddenly noticed his feet seemed to be rooted to the floor. McGonagall carefully didn't notice Harry's fingers closing into a fist and slipping back into the pocket of his robes. "He..."

"That will be enough Longbottom, Zabini..." McGonagall snapped, "and if Longbottom was defending your honor, then why did you feel the need to get involved physically Miss Weasley?" Pansy started to snigger, when she caught Hermione twirling her wand in her fingers out of the corner of her eye.

"Pansy said that Percy got what he deserved, it was only just that one traitor die at the hands of another," Ginny spat and Pansy shrugged. The small witch bristled, until McGonagall rose from her chair.

"And I suppose that all of that justified you striking the Head Girl, Miss Parkinson?" McGonagall asked rhetorically. She leaned over her desk, her eyes blazing behind her square-framed glasses. Her next words came out in a hiss that would have done justice to her Animagus form. "Very well. Longbottom. Zabini. Each of you will serve a month detention with your respective Heads of House, along with one hundred points from each of your houses. Weasley your punishment is the same. Parkinson, you have gained yourself an additional week and another hundred points for striking the Head Girl," McGonagall glanced over at Hermione, "Unless she sees fit to settle it otherwise?" Hermione shook her head, and McGonagall nodded. Leave, and go directly back to your dorms." The four left, but not before Zabini gave Harry a glare and mouthed, "This isn't over Potter," behind McGonagall's back.

The door closed behind them, and Minerva looked over at Hermione, and then at Harry, she shook her head, "Can you two not stay out of an altercation for ten minutes?" She sighed, "Go to bed, and Hermione have that looked at." Harry nodded and took Hermione's hand in the safety of the Headmistress' office, and vanished in a fall of color.

McGonagall flicked her wand and the chairs reappeared in front of her desk. She waved Lupin to a chair and flicked her wand again to conjure a tea service and a plate of biscuits. Remus took a cup and a pair of chocolate biscuits and sat back. Minerva looked vaguely in the direction of Gryffindor Tower and sighed as she took a sip of her tea.

"It's not their fault Minerva," Remus said, misinterpreting the direction of her thoughts.

"I know Remus," she chuckled softly, "I never thought that I'd ever see any group of three students that could possibly get in more trouble than you, James and Sirius did...but I was wrong."

"I guess he does have good genes after all."

"I suppose," she agreed. "Do we have any word from Alastor?" she asked as Dumbledore's portrait paid particular attention.

"He has not yet found him," Remus replied thoughtfully, "I am hoping that we can locate their base. Perhaps we can weaken him before Harry has to end it. If it comes down to it, if we have to sacrifice ourselves to get him a chance..."

McGonagall nodded as Lupin took a sip of his tea and looked out into space.

********************Hogwarts**************************

September 19, 1997
2:00 am

Hermione gave the unconscious form of her boyfriend, lover, and for all intents and purposes in the eyes of the universe, husband, a soft smile as she eased into his room, their bedroom, in the Head's chambers. If she thought about it, really thought about it, the old, logical Hermione, the one that had slid open a compartment door looking for a toad would have never even thought it possible how far they had come between Harry's birthday, and today, her own. Forty-five days that had made all the difference in the world. Forty-five days that had seen a Horcrux destroyed, the machinations of one she had once thought of as a little sister in all but blood exposed, attacks on them and theirs...and a ring on her finger that had last seen the light of day on Lily Potter's ring finger.

Of course that ring was hidden, under a modified Fidelius charm so that only four people in this castle, in this world, could see it. The two in this room, and the only other two people that they knew they could trust. An odd, possibly insane Ravenclaw girl named after a moon goddess, who very well might be a seer, a true seer, and Ron, their friend, protector and brother, and if all went well, sometime today after classes, that ring would be joined by another band.

Hermione slipped out of her clothes, tossing the school uniform and her underwear in a corner on top of Harry's clothes. She slid under the blanket and scooted over until she was pressed firmly against him, desperate to feel his heartbeat against her own. She bit her lip softly as Harry's arm pulled her in even closer to him in his sleep, and she felt a welcome heat against her stomach. She tucked her head under his chin as her legs intertwined with his and she felt sleep start to take her. Her knee moved slightly, and a soft groan escaped Harry's lips at the same time a distant pain echoed in her thigh.

"Bloody Hell," Harry muttered without opening his eyes. "What time is it Mione?"

"A bit after two," she replied as she reached down and started to gently knead the unseen bruise that she had inadvertently kicked.

"Thanks," Harry replied as he relaxed under her ministrations. His thoughts flicked out and grazed on hers, catching the edge of a stream of images flashing by. Knut for your thoughts.

Didn't you already pay me like 250 million Galleons for them? She replied with an inner smile.

Har Har...besides, its closer to three quarters of a billion if you count the properties and businesses from my folks, Sirius and Dumbledore. His fingers started to trace the bumps in her spine and she slumped in his arms.

You can keep that up...I was just thinking of what that eleven-year-old girl would have thought...would she have opened up the door? She liked rules...do you know how many rules you and Ron have made her break?

Oh...she's soooo innocent. Hermione didn't even have to glance up to see the smirk. She batted his arm playfully, only to suffer the consequences of being pulled in tighter. She rolled in his arms to face the other direction as she spooned back into his chest. She frowned slightly as she felt Harry's fingers tracing a faint, almost invisible scar between her breasts, courtesy of Antonin Dolohov. So how many are we breaking right now?

She probably knows, or suspects. Hermione shrugged. So are you concerned because you are seeing me the night before? Harry grinned as she reached down and pinched his bruised thigh. OWW.

Serves you right... Hermione giggled and stretched, and Harry groaned. Oh no, none for you before the wedding...

Never mind...that was a pretty pitiful threat wasn't it? Harry nodded, as Crookshanks jumped up on the bed, paced around a bit, decided he probably wouldn't fit at the head of the bed and settled on the blankets at the foot of the bed. Both of the humans in the room looked at Crookshanks with identical, annoyed expressions. He smirked as only a cat can and settled down, looking up at them, his eyes glowing slightly in the light of the twin candles burning on the bedside table. You know that marrying me doesn't get you out of getting me a birthday present. Hermione stated suddenly as she tore her eyes from her cat. Harry glanced up at her, and found her trying not to laugh.

Harry rolled his eyes, pointedly, Such materialism, Mrs. Potter. He quipped; she let out a small shiver as the thought crossed hers.

I think that was the best present I've ever gotten, Hermione said quietly, her thoughts tight with sudden emotion; I just wish everyone would call me that. A couple of tears slipped from her eyes. Hermione glanced out of the darkened window to see a scattering of stars pricking the velvet night. But no one will, we can't let them know can we...if we couldn't let them know that we were together, or engaged, we damn sure can't let anyone else know...

Ron and Luna can, Harry replied reasonably and pulled on the blanket slightly to cover their shoulders from where Crookshanks was trying to take it. Or do you want to take the gloves off? Slap her down and just live our lives?

Hermione took a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth before responding, No, I said until the end of October, I'll give her that, and still we will have to keep the depth of it secret... She let out a soft purring, moan as Harry kissed her neck, and nodded into her shoulder.

Ok...I do have something cool to show you, Harry said, and he could feel her eyebrow crooking. She watched, curious, as he raised a hand and the Marauder's Map fluttered over to him from his pack on the floor by the door, where it was sitting with hers. He sat up, pulling her with it, and spread the map out over their blanket-covered laps. I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. The map filled in from the corners, after a quick, borderline lewd, comment from a Mister Padfoot, to show a diagram of the castle. Hermione turned and glanced at him, look for your name.

Hermione shrugged and immediately went to the part showing the Head's Suite. Her jaw dropped slightly as she spotted Hermione Potter, next to Harry Potter. Harry chuckled, Ron actually spotted it the other day, I don't normally look for you cause I pretty much know where you are...I think it's said that since we got engaged. And remember...the map never lies.

Cool...She kissed Harry more properly before she blanked the map, folded it and sent it back to Harry's bag. She slid back down under the covers and closed her eyes. I think you better get some sleep Mr. Potter if you're going to survive your wedding night. Harry's only retort was to extinguish the candles he had left burning for her return and to pull her back to him. Neither of them could hardly sleep any more if they were not physically touching, whether it was a side-effect of the bond or the times, neither cared really.

A/N: There you go, one chapter closer to the end :), next time, join us as we attend some function or other...and yeah that's only after we run across a few more surprises.

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