Too Late

fortheloveoftoast

Rating: PG
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 08/10/2005
Last Updated: 02/06/2006
Status: in_progress

All she wanted was him, but he was the one person she couldn't get. Is it too late for true love?

Chapters

1. Return

2. Recognition

3. Awakening

4. Explanation

5. Catching up

6. Revelations

7. Dinner

8. Midnight Wanderings

9. Publicity

10. News

11. Unwanted Information

12. Advice

13. Irrevocably

14. Ignore It

15. Over

16. Arrivals

17. At Last

1. Return

Hermione Granger stepped onto the train, and looked desperately for an empty compartment. She walked for what seemed like an eternity, until she came to find an empty compartment near the back of the train. As she finally managed to get her bag into the overhead carrier she couldn't believe she was finally going back after being away for so long. It had been exactly eight years since she had graduated, and she thought it would be for good; but she just couldn't stay away. She remembered that day as though it was yesterday. It was burned into her memory and she relived it every night in her dreams. It wasn't a lollipop and unicorn dream like it should have been. Oh no. It was everything that a graduation shouldn't be.

(Flashback…)

The day had gone just as every graduating witch or wizard would have hoped; families where there to congratulate, and friends where there to say a well deserved “good luck in life”. And while all of this was merrily going on, Hermione couldn't help but feel that something very bad was going to happen. She was right, of course. Oh sometimes she hated being right.

It all happened so quickly. One minute Professor McGonagall was giving her speech, and the next there was a huge explosion. Standing where the doors to the great hall had been, was Voldemort, flanked by his cohorts. Soon there was a death eater at every possible exit of the great hall. The shutters of every window slammed shut one after the other. The room was flooded in darkness. The Hogwarts students and teachers were cornered, and had no choice but to fight. Fortunately, most of the newly graduated seventh years had been trained by Harry and all of the teachers to fight. Many of the original D.A. members were graduating and had been prepared to attack in any situation. But there where still too many casualties.

It had been too horrible; Hermione could remember the fighting quite clearly. She had killed Bellatrix and Dolohov, but not before they had very nearly killed her. Spells shot off in every which direction; exploding in mid air or crashing into other people. An hour later it ended with one final spell. The unforgivable curse that had been waited on for almost twenty years had finally been passed from the lips of the one that had faced so many times before. Harry Potter had finally killed Voldemort. After the realization of what was done had started to hit people the hall began to calm down.

Looking out at all the destruction Hermione just couldn't take it. She knew what she had to do. That night she cried herself to sleep, hating herself for what she had to do. A little before dawn broke the next morning, Hermione had awoken and collected her belongings into her trunk. She left a note for Harry and Ron, though she knew it wouldn't be nearly enough.

Dear Harry and Ron,

I am so sorry and I hate to leave but after all that has happened I really need to go away for a while and think things over. I don't know where I am going to go but wherever it I go don't try to contact me. I will come back on my own. I love you both and I will miss you horribly. I hope you will one day forgive me for leaving you at this time.

Love,

Hermione

(End flashback…)

She had left without ever looking back. She had always regretted leaving, but until now she had never had the guts to go back to London. She still didn't know what she was going to do. She couldn't just show up at their houses and expect them to welcome her with open arms. They probably had new lives that didn't involve her. She didn't expect them to stop their lives to await her return, but somehow she wished that they had. She couldn't bear to think that they had moved on without her, but then again she was the one who left. She hoped that it wasn't too late to repair the damage she had caused by leaving. She could only hope that they would forgive her.

Before she knew it the train had stopped. She took a deep breath and made to exit the train, and as she stepped out she found her self caught up in the crowd of King's Cross. She found her way to the parking lot and looked out. She had no idea what to do or where to go; she didn't even know what she was doing here.

She wandered aimlessly on the streets of London pulling her trunks behind her. She wondered what she could possibly do. She couldn't live like this. She had to have somewhere to go, she needed a job. She thought about calling Ginny, but as she thought about it she and Ginny weren't the best of friends. She could visit Ron but she wasn't sure if she was ready for that yet. And most of all she couldn't go to Harry. That would be the most painful, and she wasn't prepared to take that.

She wandered into a park and as she was wandered around the grassy lawn, her trunk caught a root from a tree nearby. She fell to the ground hitting her cheek on the hard earth below. As she rose in pain, she looked up to find a little girl looking down at her, concerned. She looked to be about five and her hair was dirty blonde. The little girl held out her small hand in an effort to pull Hermione up. Hermione stumbled forward as she was pulled off the ground, amazed at the young girl's strength.

She heard a deep voice behind her. “Kate, what are you doing?”

“Daddy! She fell and I had to help her up.” The little girl, Kate, was looking at her dad and smiling widely, obviously very pleased with herself for helping Hermione.

“Well honey that is nice.” He turned his attention to Hermione as she had her back to him brushing the dirt off of her clothing. “And may I ask who you are?”

Hermione turned around slowly, opening her mouth to answer. “My name is…” she stopped mid-sentence as her eyes met his. Those eyes. She couldn't mistake those eyes anywhere. The deep shade of emerald, and that friendly sparkle mixed with clouded concern…

“Harry?” Hermione asked in disbelief.

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2. Recognition

Chapter 2

“What? What did…what did you say?” He questioned in disbelief.

Hermione couldn't seem to find her voice. She struggled to breathe, her chest heaving. She could feel her cheeks tinge pink, and suddenly she felt herself slip into a world of darkness as she fainted.

Harry leapt forward, catching her just before she hit the ground. He picked her up and walked towards an empty bench hidden in some bushes. He gently laid her down, and instructed his daughter, Kate, to go and wet his scarf in the drinking fountain. She did as she was told and returned promptly, handing the dripping scarf to her father.

“What happened to her Daddy? Is she dead?” Kate was frantic holding onto her father's leg, trying not to scream. “Daddy,” she all but yelled. “Wake her up. Wake her up!” Kate was crying now.

“Kate, honey, she is going to be fine. She isn't dead she is just sleeping.” Harry said, wringing the scarf out and slowly dabbing Hermione's forehead.

Kate was relieved at hearing that the nice lady was not dead. She still couldn't figure out why the pretty lady seemed so familiar. She suddenly stopped and stared at her father.

“Daddy, how did the lady know your name?” Her brow was furrowed and she was frowning.

Harry looked at his little daughter. She was right. How did that woman know his name? He turned with attention back towards Hermione. He looked her over carefully. Her warm brown eyes were closed but long dark eyelashes fluttered slightly in the wind. Her dark brown curls were frizzy and bushy, sticking out around her head. She had a small nose and slightly large front teeth. She was petite and pretty though her face was death pale. She looked so different but so much the same.

Hermione?” He questioned the unconscious woman.

Daddy,” Kate knelt down beside him looking up at him with dark eyes. “Do you know her?”

Harry swallowed hard, “Actually, honey, I do.”

“Do I know her?”

“Well Kate, you shouldn't know her. I mean you've never met her. Why do you ask?”

Kate gazed at Hermione's motionless form for a few minutes. She spoke again, not bothering to answer her father's first question, “What is the matter with her? Are you sure she isn't dead?”

“Yeah I am sure. I'm pretty sure she just fainted. Come on sweets we should bring her back to the house. We can take care of her there.” He didn't pry Kate's strange question, but he couldn't think of a reason that she would ask it. Maybe she saw Hermione's picture somewhere in one of his photo albums.

“Yes, that must be it.” He thought to himself.

It hadn't occurred to him that he had locked away all of her pictures after she left because it had hurt him too much and she couldn't have possibly seen any pictures of her.

He gently lifted Hermione into his arms. She felt surprising light and frail in his arms. Kate led the way on the maze of streets until they finally came upon what could only be described as a mansion. Or what Harry and his family liked to call home.

He followed Kate through the door and up the stairs. He brought Hermione into the first guest room he got to. He brought her over to the bed and carefully let her out of his arms, and onto the bed.

“Kate, go get Kya to look after Hermione. I am going to go talk to your mother.”

He watched while Kate scampered off to collect their house elf.

She walked into the kitchen calling for Kya. “Kya where are you?” She heard a laugh and she narrowed her eyes. “Kya you can't hide forever.” All of a sudden she saw movement out of the side of her eyes. She grinned and reached out to grab the tiny house elf from behind the pantry door.

The elf had pointy ears, huge eyes, and a turned up nose. Its big green eyes were staring innocently at Kate. “Mistress Kate, I didn't see you there.”

“Kya don't lie to me. I know that you were trying to switch the butterbeer with vinegar. You really need to get a new prank, that one is getting old fast!”

“Mistress Kate, Kya would never do anything such as that.”

“Kya you don't know how many countless times I have found you up to no good, but right now I need you to help me.”

“Kate, Kya will not help in any of your schemes…”

“My schemes? I beg to differ and it is Mistress Kate to you. But I do have an order from my dad for you to help out with a guest of ours.”

Kya, who was always loyal to Harry, looked up. “Well if Master commands it, then Kya will obey.”

Kate didn't feel like telling Kya that her father would never give an order or a command, but she always found that if she used that wording, Kya would obey her every wish.

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After Kate was gone Harry took one last look at Hermione and went off in search of his wife. He finally found her in the study looking over her paperwork. He came up behind her and gently kissed her on the cheek.

“Harry,” she said laughingly in her sweet voice. “I'm working.” She gestured helplessly at the pile of papers before Harry leaned into her chair, and kissed her deeply. She pushed him away playfully. “What do you want?”

Harry tried and failed to look hurt. “What would make you think I wanted something?” He said innocently.

“Honey, I know you too well, and there would only be two things that I can take from your show just a second ago. Either you want something, or you want something. So what is it that you want?”

“Okay, I give up. Look I came across one of my best friends, Hermione Granger, at the park today. She kind of fainted when she saw me and well…”

“You want me to look after her?” She finished the sentence for him, looking down at her papers and then back at Harry.

Harry nodded. He was surprised his wife didn't ask him about how he had found Hermione. She knew perfectly well who Hermione was, and that she had run away, years ago.

“What about Kya? Can't she do that? Why can't you do that? I have all this work to do Harry, you know that.”

“Yes, I know, but I am going over to see Ron and I don't know how long I will be. I have to talk with him. I'll tell you what. I'll have Kya call you when Hermione wakes up. Just go up and introduce yourself to Hermione, and explain things. Okay?”

His wife looked up at him wearily. “Okay but only for you, right now I am going to try to finish as much work as I can. Now go have your talk with Ronald.” He leaned in and gave her a final kiss, and she waved him out the door and sighed.

She couldn't believe that it was already happening. She had hoped to have more time, but she guessed that time was too much to hope for. She sighed once more and returned halfheartedly to her work.

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3. Awakening

A/N: Sorry it is a bit short but that is all I have. I will update again soon.

Chapter 3

Hermione woke in a comfortable bed with a cool cloth on her head. She struggled to sit up confused about her surroundings. A small house elf stood on a stool at the side of her bed holding a glass of water out for Hermione to drink. Hermione took the water and the house elf helped her sit up propping her up against her pillows.

She looked intently at the little elf. “What is your name?”

The house elf stared back with a small smile on her face.

“Kya makes it a point not to talk to any of the guests.” Hermione turned towards the voice to see the little girl, Kate, sitting on a chair in the corner of the room. Kate had been trying to figure out why she felt that she knew Hermione, like she saw her before. “She doesn't like guests no matter what she tells daddy. Though it seems she has taken a bit of a liking to you. My name is Kate.”

`Oh hello Kate, I'm Hermione.”

“Yes I know. My daddy told me.”

“And is your dad-”

“Harry Potter? Yes, of course that's my dad.”

“Oh.” She opened her mouth to say more but Kate talked first addressing the house elf.

“Kya go get mother, my dad told me to send for her when Hermione woke up.”

“Mistress Kate, your dad also told Kya to take care of the miss.” Kya was smiling, figuring she had found a loop hole in the directions. Kya didn't like her older mistress. She had been Harry's elf for two years after he got out of Hogwarts and before the mistress had moved in. She felt the mistress to be an invasion to the home.

Kate narrowed her eyes. “I think that maybe I could take care of her for the second that you are gone,” she snapped. “And anyway I believe that she is a grown woman she can take care of herself. She's not dying you know. No go get my mother; she should be down in her study.”

Kya looked for a second as if she was going to fight back but she shook her head and rushed out.

“Good for nothing creature,” Kate muttered under her breath.

“Um excuse me; you know Kya is a person just like you. She shouldn't be treated-”

“With respect?” Kate laughed softly. “So you still have your S.P.E.W. beliefs. Don't worry we pay her and she is treated with the best honor and respect.” Kate stopped not understanding why she had known about S.P.E.W.

“Does your dad talk about me a lot?”

“No, I fact I don't think I have ever heard of you until this day.”

“Oh so he never talks about his school years?” Hermione was disappointed that Harry never made a mention about her to his daughter.

“No he talks a plenty. Uncle Ron constantly tells me stories and so does daddy. They would sometimes mention a girl but they would never really talk about her. Apparently she left them with only a note and she left the school after graduation. They never said much more I think it really bothered them. It had always seemed like a touchy subject.” She fixed her penetrating eyes onto Hermione's. “I suppose that you are that mystery girl.”

“Yes I guess so.” Hermione felt strangely triumphant at the fact that her absence had affected them that much. Though she knew that now that she was back she would have a lot of explaining to do. She broke her eyes away from Kate. What a strange girl she was, her gaze had made her feel naked, like she couldn't hide anything from her. She heard a soft sound and she turned her eyes to the door as it opened.

Kya rushed through the house muttering about how she was going to get back at the little mistress. She needed to find something else to do because the little mistress was on to her. Kate missed nothing that went on in her house. She pushed open the door and walked into the study without knocking, startling the mistress.

“Kya what did we talk about?”

“But Mistress Kya has no idea what you are talking about.”

“Kya we pay you and give you a place to live comfortably, the least you could do is at least knock before you open a door.”

“But Mistress the lady is up. Kya believes that Master told her to get you.”

She stood up knocking everything off her lap and onto the floor. “She's up?”

“Oh yes Kya saw with her two eyes.”

“Well Kya that is just splendid. Come on let's go.”

She followed Kya out the door and up to the guest room that Harry had left Hermione in. they stood at the door for a second and then Kya grinned and knocked on the door softly. Kya was making fun of her. She shook her head and pushed open the door. Walking in she saw Hermione sitting up in bed. She shook her head, yes it was the one and only Hermione she could recognize Hermione anywhere. God knows she saw her many times before. She knew that what was happening was inevitable but she was hoping it wouldn't happen so fast.

Stepping in the room she spoke. “You must be Hermione.”

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4. Explanation

A/N: I am extremely sorry with the fact that I haven't updated in ages. I was very wrapped up in all of my fics, etc, etc. This one mostly. I was trying to finish it up. I have to say that updates should come much more often now that I have all of this over with. This is rather short…but at the beginning of this fic things were a bit slow. But, enough explanations. Here you go.

Chapter 4

Harry sat down in Ron's living room feeling kind of dazed. According to Luna, Ron's wife, Ron would be down in a minute. He admitted at first he had been surprised when Ron had settled down with anyone, least of all Luna who had been the object of Ron's mockery over the years. But he found that it really was a match made in heaven. She really brought out the best in him.

Soon enough Ron came down. “I thought you were going out for the day with Kate.”

Harry sighed. “I was out at the park with Kate but then…” he trailed off.

Ron sat forward. “What happened? Is everyone okay? Did Kate get hurt? Did something happen to-”

Harry cut him off. “No it's not them. It's…well…it's Hermione.”

“Did she write you? Is she....?”

“Dead?” Harry looked horrified. “No, no. It's just that I saw her, she is in London.”

“And you just let her go? Where is she now?” Ron was frantic.

Harry couldn't help but laugh. “Well when she recognized me she kind of fainted. And Kate and I carried her back to my house.” He looked a bit uncomfortable.

Ron eyes him suspiciously. “You didn't.”

Harry nodded, avoiding eye contact.

“You left her before she woke up? She is going to wake up in an unfamiliar room with no one she recognizes! Why did you do that?”

Harry sighed once again. “I guess I am just not ready to talk to her. Obviously she isn't ready to talk to me either after seeing her reaction upon recognizing me.” He spread out his hands and shrugged helplessly. “I guess I never really forgave her for leaving.”

“What about me? I mean we were dating at the time.”

“Yeah but Ron you knew that things weren't going well at the time. Maybe it was better that you didn't get into a huge fight and ruin your friendship as well as your relationship.” Ron and Hermione had in fact been dating at that time. Ron had had a bit of trouble getting over it but he moved on finally and started dating Luna with who he was now extremely happy.

“Yeah maybe you are right. So how is she?”

“Well I haven't really talked to her but…she looks good, really good. Despite the whole pale, faint, looking like death thing. Kate was worried that she was dead.” He laughed softly. “From what I saw she took quite a liking to Hermione already. She never warmed up to anyone that fast.”

“Yeah Hermione always had that way about her.” they reminisced for awhile about their times with Hermione.

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Hermione looked at the woman who had just walked into her room. She was rather tall and slim. She had straight brown hair which Hermione found surprising seeing that Kate had sort of blonde hair. She also had large blue-green eyes much like Kate's that had a sort of hypnotic gaze. Hermione shook her head slightly.

“You must be Harry's wife.”

“Yes of course and Kate's mother too.”

Hermione laughed nervously. “Well yes, that is a given.” Hermione looked cautiously at her for a minute unsure of exactly what to do next.

“Oh dear I am sorry. My name is Bridget.” She extended a pale, slender hand. Hermione shook it.

“Are you…?”

“A witch? Yes of course. I went to Beauxbatons. You know, in France?”

“Yes of course. That would make some sense. So how did you meet Harry?”

“Oh yes well that is an interesting story. You see I had just moved into London. I moved into a flat right near where Harry was living with Ron. That was oh I don't know about seven years ago. I had no idea where anything was in this place and Harry was nice enough to show me around. We got to know each other and one thing led to another and a year and a half later we were married and then I was pregnant with Kate here.” She smiled lovingly at the little girl that sat on the edge of the bed.

Bridget talked more about her life while Hermione watched her carefully. She looked comfortable enough but when Hermione looked deeper she could tell that Bridget was a bit on edge. She felt Kate looking intently at the side of her head. Both of them made her feel a bit uncomfortable. But either way she found herself really liking Bridget. She reminded Hermione of herself. Intelligent and hardworking. She had no wonder why Harry had picked Bridget. She really was a wonderful woman. She had liked Kate from the first minute. She was a kind, smart and intriguing. Hermione could see a lot of Harry in Kate. Now she could feel a lot of Bridget's attributes in Kate. The mixture was absolutely wonderful. She couldn't wait to talk more with Kate and get to know her more. She seemed like an extraordinary young girl. There was just something about Kate, about the both of them, which made Hermione intrigued, some kind of secret or a mystery that Hermione was determined to get to the bottom to. And fortunately for Hermione she was very good at finding things out.

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5. Catching up

A/N: This one is a bit longer than the last but still short I am sorry to say. But here you go. I will be sure to update very soon.

Chapter 5

Harry stood up. He nodded at Ron. “I am going to go see Hermione and talk to her. Do you guys want to come to dinner tonight? I will talk with Hermione and see if she is up to it. If she is I'll floo you.” They had all spent a few hours together reminiscing and now Harry had decided that he had put off talking to Hermione long enough.

He gave Luna a hug and kiss on her cheek and shook Ron's hand. He walked out the door and apparated from the doorstep. There of course were apparition wards all over the house. He found himself on his own doorstep and he opened the door and walked up to the guest room he had left Hermione in. He stood there staring at the door still apprehensive about seeing Hermione again. Her leaving had affected him more than he had let on.

During the final battle she had been hurt badly by Dolohov and Bellatrix. He could tell that it hurt her more than she showed. He had felt some sort of twinge. Her pain really affected him; he couldn't stand to see her hurting. Throughout the rest of the fight and the rest of the night when she was getting healed, he had been overwhelmed with thoughts of her. When she finally left he realized it. He loved her. She had always been with him and he always took it for granted, but the thought of her being hurt had started to affect him and after she had left he began to understand it. It was a long hard process when he started to get over her and move on but he finally managed it. Meeting Bridget had helped it along very well and falling in love with her had completed the process. But he knew that finally talking to Hermione again would bring back the feelings. He couldn't let that happen, he had a wife and a child to think about; he couldn't throw all of that away.

He took a deep breath and opened the door to Hermione's room.

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Hermione was having a good time. Her and Bridget were laughing and talking. At the moment she was telling Kate and Bridget about the time that Harry went on a date with Cho. When the door opened it caught her completely off guard and she froze where she was her mouth open but no words coming out.

Looking over at the door she saw Harry walk in and come over to the bed whispering something into Bridget's ear. She gulped and leaned back against her pillows trying not to fight back the dizzy feeling.

Bridget nodded to something that Harry had said and she picked Kate up and walked out of the room. Harry stood for a second, his back towards Hermione and finally he turned around. She looked about the same as earlier though she had a bit more color that was at the moment draining out of her face. He pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down on it.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

They sat in silence for a minute and then Harry spoke again. “It's been a while.”

Hermione stared at him and finally broke into a sort of uneasy laughter. “That is the understatement of the century.”

“Well it has been a while.”

“No Harry it has been forever.” Saying his name to his face for the first time in 8 years felt odd.

He nodded looking sad. “It has been forever.”

“It's all my fault and really I am sorry-”

Harry stopped her. “No not know. We can go over all of that later. Right now let's just catch up. Tell me everything that happened when you were away.”

They talked for a little while but they never quite got the old comfort they used to have together back. Hermione told him all about how she traveled around Europe staying for a year in each Ireland, France, Spain, Romania, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Denmark, and most recently Scotland. He in turn told her about how he moved to his flat with Ron and how he met Bridget, about his wedding and Kate's birth and her life so far. But there was something about the conversation that just wasn't right. There was a strained quality hidden somewhere inside there. Like they didn't choose to tell each other about those past eight years it was more or less forced out of them.

Finally Hermione looked up looking for the first time truly interested. “Whatever happened to Ginny? I thought that maybe after the final battle you two would get back together.”

“Oh well after everything was back to normal I realized that maybe my feelings for Ginny were not because I loved her exactly but more of because she gave me normalcy. I could look at her and she won't remind me of the war that was looming or she could take my mind off of the weight of the world on my shoulders. Hermione nodded, despite everything she still was the only person who could fully understand Harry.

“So is she married? Any kids?”

Harry laughed. “No nothing of that sort she is still single. She has a boyfriend most of the time but they don't always last too long. She says that the right one is out here somewhere and if you don't look you're never going to find him.”

“So you are still in contact with her?”

“Of course. After I told her that I didn't think we had a chance she was a bit upset but then she said that maybe I wasn't the one for her and then she went of on her grand quest that has lasted eight years and is still going strong. She comes over often, Bridget and her are pretty good friends.”

“Well that is good. And what about Ron?”

Harry's blood ran cold. What if she still liked Ron? He shook that idea out of his head. She couldn't possibly come back and expect Ron to still be waiting for her.

“Ron? Well actually he is married to Luna.”

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6. Revelations

Chapter 6

Hermione raised her eyebrows, looking amused. “The Luna Lovegood?” she managed to splutter, a tone of incredulity in her voice.

“Well yes…” Harry said nervously.

Hermione looked up at him through her tears of mirth. “Wait, you're not kidding. Oh my god. Wow, well, I don't know what to say…”

“Yeah, well, it was kind of incredible when it first happened but they are really happy, so it really doesn't matter.”

“Wow, I never imagined Ron actually settling down with someone, never mind Luna.”

“Yeah, exactly that is what everyone else thought.”

“Wow, well, I can't wait to see them!”

“Well, about that. If you are up to it I told them that they could come over to dinner.”

“Wow, Harry that would be wonderful. Um but I have a question, I don't mean to impose upon your house but…”

“Hermione you know that you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need until you get settled with a job and everything.” Harry was surprised at Hermione's lack of emotion after she heard that Ron is married. He had thought that it would really affect her. But the only reaction that came from her was when she was completely and utterly disbelieving. Maybe she really didn't like Ron anymore maybe she…no. He shook his head, he couldn't think like that. He was a married man after all.

“So what happened to everyone after I left?”

“Well as can be expected we found your note when we woke up in the morning. Well actually Neville found it.” He smiled wryly. “A great way to be woken up as you can imagine. After that everything just kind of stopped, we went through the day lie robots packing and only eating after Dobby brought food out from the kitchen for us. You can't even know how hard it was for us. You were a vital part of each of the friendship of the three of us.” He looked away. “We missed you so much. But as life went on we became resigned to the fact that you were gone. Slowly with the help of everyone else we began to pick up the pieces of our lives but nothing could ever fill that void that you left behind. Sometimes I would find myself wishing I had never met you so that you wouldn't have been so important to me but then I realized that I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for you.”

Hermione had tears in her eyes and she held a shaking hand over her mouth trying to stifle her small sobs. “Oh Harry…”

Harry took no notice of her. “You know it's funny I have never told anyone this before. I always found it easier to not talk about it, though god knows that I thought about it a plenty. It was almost if I didn't say it maybe it wouldn't be true. Maybe it wouldn't be true that I needed you as much as I do. And yes I still do.” He stopped and looked at her. “What made you come back now? Why not later or earlier or-or never at all. Maybe it would have been easier if you never came back.”

His words hit her like a slap. She gasped and sat back heavily. “You don't mean that,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Maybe I don't, I haven't been one hundred percent sure of anything for quite awhile.” And with that he got up and left, lest he break down crying.

Hermione sat in the bed, one single tear rolling down her cheek unchecked. She had no idea how the conversation had taken a turn for the worse. Questions floated around in her head. Was he right? Would it have been better if she hadn't come back at all? Why had she come back? She couldn't answer any of them. She herself didn't know why she had come back. She just woke up one day knowing that she just had to return. In reality during her eight year sabbatical she had found herself being drawn back home. She had started as far as she could possibly be from London but each year she would wake up one day and decide to move on, each place taking her closer to home. She lay back on the pillows and stared up at the ceiling wishing that she could be anywhere but here.

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Kate stood up. She had been watching her mother sort through papers for a half hour now. She wanted to go see Miss Hermione as she now referred to her. She knew that her daddy had left the room and was now heading up to her parents room.

“Honey, where are you going?”

“I want to go to see Miss Hermione.”

“Your dad is talking to her at the moment.”

“No, but mommy, daddy left and now he is gone up to your room. He is upset, I can tell. Maybe you should go see him.”

Bridget stopped dead and turned to her daughter looking into space somewhere over Kate's shoulder. She gasped and shook her head ever so slightly. “Hermione will most likely be upset too. Maybe you should wait sweetheart.”

“I know that he his unhappy but I think that I can help and you can help daddy.”

Bridget sighed. “Okay you go see Hermione. I'll check on your father.”

Kate walked through the hallway that was beginning to get mighty familiar. Before she could get to the door she was stopped by Kya.

“The master said that the little mistress can't go in while he and the miss are talking.”

Kate glared at the house elf. “You might not have realized but my daddy isn't in the room at this moment. I believe that if you go back over his orders he said I am not to be allowed admittance until he leaves. He left; I am allowed to go in there.”

Kya hated how that little mind worked so fast. Though Kya had no idea how the little mistress knew that her father had left she had no idea. She was sure that he went straight to his quarters. But as thinking tended to make her head hurt, Kya tried the only defense that she had.

“Oh yeah?”

Kate just looked at her and laughed. “Kya, that was weak even for you.” And with that she pushed her way past and opened the door.

“Miss Hermione, what's the matter?”

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Bridget walked up to the bedroom that she shared with Harry. She knocked lightly on the door to no answer. She knocked a bit harder. It was obvious Harry was trying to avoid her.

“For goodness sakes, Harry, let me in.”

“Go away, Bridget.”

“Excuse me for asking but is that how a grown man treats his wife? I am coming in whether you like it or not.” With that she turned the handle sharply and heard the lock break. When she walked in the room she had her side of the handle in her hand. “You know dear we should really get a better lock.” She dropped the handle and it fell to the floor with a dull thud. “What's the matter, dear?” she asked walking over to his side.

He buried his head deeper into the comforter.

“Harry, you are acting like a child. I already have one child to look after I don't need anymore. Right now you are acting even worse than Kate has ever been! Just tell me already.”

“Shouldn't you know, I mean you are the seer in the family.”

“Harry,” she moaned. “You know as well as anybody that seers don't know everything. Think about Trelawney.”

Harry picked his head up and looked at her. “Trelawney was a fraud.”

“No, Harry she was still a seer. Think about it she made two prophesies. That has to count for something. And besides I have only met one person who could sense feelings and know exactly what is happening to a person at one time, only one person who was powerful enough. And that person was my mother. And, yes, Harry even though she was powerful doesn't mean I am. That power skipped my generation. Though I think that I would have gone mad, there was many a time when I would find her in her room crying. It's intense; you need to have absolute control. And now enough about me, let's get back to you. Please tell me what the matter is.”

“Bridge, why do I always say things that I now I am going to regret later?”

“Because you are a man and men always do stupid things despite their instincts, if they have any at all. What did you say to Hermione?”

“I told her that I might have been better if she hadn't come back at all. That it would have been easier and then I just left her.

Bridget had a hand over her mouth as she tried to stifle her laughter.

Harry looked hurt. “Bridge, it's not funny,” he whined.

Bridget took her hand away from her mouth and put it on his cheek, softly caressing. She pushed back the hair from his face and kissed his temple. She drew away slightly and whispered into his ear. “I'm sorry, my dear, I know it is not funny. But you and Hermione have both been through a lot and if you thought for one second that when she returned everything would be put back to normal then you are wrong. It isn't going to be normal for a while but you two need to work together to make things right.”

Harry looked a bit ashamed. “I'm sorry. Thanks.”

“It's okay Harry. But since you told me that we are to have some guests for dinner I think that I should make sure that all the preparations are made.”

Harry stared after her as she swept out of the room. That woman never ceased to amaze him. She would work so hard all day, could give him advice, try to mend all of his problems and still have the time to be a good hostess to the people who come over to their house constantly. He shook his head and sat back in the bed thinking about the whole situation.

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Hermione sat on the bed with a book open. She hadn't turned a page in ten minutes. All of a sudden she heard a muffled thud and angry voices outside her door. She looked up and snapped the book shut. Hermione recognized the voices to be Kate's and the house elf Kya's. A second later the door burst open and a slightly flustered looking five year old walked in. Under her breath Kate mumbled something about rotten house elves.

“Miss Hermione, what's the matter?”

Hermione could tell that Kate hadn't just thought there was something the matter the second she had walked in. She had known for a time before.

Hermione smiled weakly. “Oh some of us just said things that we shouldn't of. It's just hurt feelings. Maybe I expected everything to go back to the way it was before I left but I was gone for eight years. You can't just fill that gap in time without having to acknowledge it.”

“Did Harry ever talk about me?”

“To me? No not too often. Uncle Ron would veer away from the subject most of the times. I could get more out of Aunt Luna no offence but it didn't seem to affect her as much. Daddy would get quiet when your name was mentioned. There would be a strange look in his eyes that I couldn't figure out for my life. But then again I never heard much of you until I was four and that was last year. All I know was that they really missed you. I figured Daddy talked more about you to Mom, they would talk about everything.

Hermione looked at the little girl. A bit surprised at her long and most likely thought out answer. It was hard to remember that this girl was only five. She seemed much more mature than that. She was a very intelligent without a doubt. She had a strange aura around her and Hermione couldn't quite detect what it was exactly. She was probably destined to be a powerful witch when she grew older. Both Harry and her mother were terrifically powerful. She shook her head. Kate certainly was the most intriguing girl she ever met. She decided to ask the question that was hovering on the edge of her mind. It couldn't hurt and if Kate did have an answer it would be worth hearing.

“Do you think that is would have been better if I didn't come back at all?”

Kate looked into Hermione's eyes. “No. if you didn't come I am afraid that Daddy would never be happy.” She said this with such seriousness that Hermione didn't doubt it for a second though it did startle her. Kate opened her mouth again to say something but she was stopped by the door opening.

Kya stepped into the room. “Dinner will be ready soon. The guests will be here in a minute.” A second later Kya was gone.

Kate sighed and stood up. She walked over to the door and stopped. Hermione got up and followed her downstairs and to the living room. Before they walked in Kate stopped and looked back up at Hermione.

“If you didn't come I would have never met you.”

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7. Dinner

Chapter 7

Harry stood in front of the bathroom sink. He still felt upset about everything and he wished he could make it better. But after he had said it he began to wonder if it was true. Maybe it would have been better for her not to come back. He had sat in his bedroom just thinking everything over. Seeing her brought back all kinds of painful memories. He had finally managed to get over it and move on, it had taken a lot longer than he had let on. Now she was back and all his feelings had come rushing back. And now he knew that he wouldn't be able to hold up any longer if she left again.

He splashed water into his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror. The water streamed down his face and dripped off his nose to splash into the sink. He grabbed a soft towel out of the closet and dried his face. He couldn't give in to his feelings now or ever, he was in love with Bridget, they had a daughter and they were a family together. He knew that no matter how hard Bridge tried to say that she wasn't a powerful seer he knew above anything else that she was terribly perceptive. There was no reason that she shouldn't realize something as big as that. He shook his head and stalked into his room.

He grabbed a clean pair of pants and a shirt. He had been thinking about all of this way too much in the past few hours. In some way life had in fact been easier during the last few years, even with Hermione gone. Seeing her had made him rethink his future and everything that he had become. He shook his head again and took one last look at the room wishing that he didn't have to go downstairs for dinner and face them all.

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Bridget looked up as Hermione and Kate walked into the room. “Well Hermione how are you feeling?”

Hermione managed a smile. “As well as I can be.”

Bridget nodded. “Sit down. I am sure Luna and Ron will be here in a few minutes.”

“So do Ron and Luna have any children?” She had been wondering that but her and Harry hadn't actually got to talking much about that.

Bridget smiled at her. “Not yet. You see their marriage is relatively new. I believe they want to take it slow, no kids just yet but definitely some in the future.”

Hermione smiled uncomfortably. Earlier it had seemed as if it was very easy to talk to Bridget but right now it didn't feel that way. She sat perched on the edge of the armchair.

Her head snapped up as the door opened and Harry walked in. He had cleaned up and changed into something nicer for dinner. He met Hermione's gaze with a calm indifference and went over to the loveseat on which Bridget sat. He bent down, kissed Bridget on the cheek, swept Kate up into his arms and sat down on the loveseat balancing her on his lap. Hermione bit her lip. They looked so happy together. She found that she had no place in this family.

She sat back and closed her eyes, rubbing her temples slowly. Bridget looked to her and placed her hand lightly onto the arm of the chair. “Hermione are you feeling okay because if you are too tired or you aren't up to it Luna and Ron can come at another time.”

“Oh no I am feeling okay, I am just thinking about stuff.”

“Well okay then. May I ask you some questions? I hope I am not prying but now that I finally get to meet the famous Hermione Granger I would like to get to know you better.”

“Um…well…okay,” Hermione relied nervously. She was still puzzling out what Kate had said before they had walked into the room. Answering questions would be easy enough.

“Okay well you are a muggleborn right?” instead of letting Hermione answer she just went on. “How was your life before you got your letter? It must have been really different. I mean I can't really imagine how one morning you are one person and the next you are someone totally different.”

Hermione was startled by Bridget's over all excitement. She looked at Harry was sitting next to Bridget with an amused expression on his face. Before Hermione could answer there was a big knock on the front door. She jumped, startled and stood up instinctively walking toward where she guessed the front door to be. Bridget stopped her with a delicate hand and a chuckle.

“Don't worry, Kya can take care of that. After all that is what we pay her for. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback when he told me that he paid her but after he told me all about your S.P.E.W. efforts I thought it a fine idea.” She stood up as Kya came into the room with Ron and Luna behind her. She hugged Luna and held out a hand to Ron who took it and kissed it, laughing softly. Obviously that formality was some kind of inside joke that Hermione knew nothing of.

When she saw her too old friends Hermione had sat back down heavily on the chair feeling as if her legs had been kicked out from under her. She stared up at Ron and Luna with wide eyes. She felt faint. For eight years she had pictured the reunion of herself with her friends. So far it was painfully different. She stood up on shaking legs and looked at Ron who stood across the room. She took a cautious step forward. All of a sudden she flew forward and launched herself into Ron's arms, tears streaming down her face. Ron stood stiffly for a second but then leaned into her embrace.

They stayed like that for a solid five minutes. When they finally broke apart tears were coming from both of their eyes. Hermione hugged Luna too and they all sat down.

Ron started talking first. “We missed you,” he said in a lightly strained voice.

Hermione tried to keep herself from crying again. “Yes and I you. Oh you and Luna. I am so happy. I never thought…but I am really glad you both have each other.”

“Yes,” Luna answered in a voice that was very unfamiliar for Hermione. She could tell that Luna had really changed a lot. “I never thought that Ron would ever fall for me but I guess I was lucky.” She smiled and looked out into the empty space. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the dreamy look on her face. Maybe she hadn't changed too much.

Soon enough Kya walked into the room. “Dinner is ready.” Hermione was half expecting her to bow. After all she had seen crazier things today. She really never expected Harry's life to be like this. But what did she know? After all she had left without telling anyone where she was and then she cane back expecting everything to be normal. She hadn't thought about it logically. It had always been her and her damn logic but in the time she needed it the most it had left her. But enough dwelling on the past.

They all followed Kya into the dining room and took their respective seats. Harry at the head, Bridge at the foot, Ron and Luna occupied on side and Hermione and Kate shared the other. Kya brought out the food and then took her seat at the little table in the corner of the room. Under normal circumstances she would sit at the table with the family but since there were guests she was not allowed.

Conversation was easy and light. Nothing was mentioned about Hermione's sabbatical or anything else of the sort. Harry and Hermione hardly talked throughout the whole meal; in fact they didn't even look at each other. Hermione, Luna and Bridget all talked laughing and enjoying their selves. Every once and awhile Ron or Harry would add a comment in but otherwise they kept to their own conversation. Kate sat quietly, eating her food. In her head she was thinking about many things. Namely Hermione, her father and her mother. She was thinking about what was going to happen, things that were to come.

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Ron looked around the table, his eyes finally resting on Harry. He could tell that Harry was happy but there was also something else underneath it, some confusion or regret. He knew Harry well and all through his life he had never seemed as troubled as he did now. He seemed distracted all through dinner and kept stealing glances at Hermione. Ron could tell something was wrong. Harry and Hermione were carefully avoiding each others yes and didn't talk to each other once. Ron frowned. He knew that his friends thought he wouldn't notice it. They had always underestimated him.

Shaking his head he turned his attention to Hermione. It was good seeing her again, he had really missed her. She was laughing and talking with Luna and Bridget. Luna was telling Hermione about how here and Ron had gotten together.

“So you know we all kept in touch after school ended but we didn't all see each other too much. I was working on the Quibbler then. Neville was working there too before he got the position at Hogwarts as Herbology professor. We actually met at Harry and Bridge's wedding. He didn't recognize me at first and he asked me to dance. I was so surprised that Ronald Weasley was asking me to dance. I had always had a crush on him.”

Hermione giggled. “Really? I didn't notice.” No one could tell if she was being sarcastic or not.

“And then when he asked my name he was surprised but he kept dancing. The next day he called me up to go on a date. I actually refused him for the first year. Tried to pay him back for all those years he ignored me.” Luna laughed, not actually looking upset about those years. “But he kept at it. Finally I said yes and two and a half years later we were getting married.”

Hermione smiled. “That is quite an interesting story. I am so sorry I missed your wedding.” she stopped and took a deep breath. “I wish I could have been there for both of them.” she choked the last part out. All of them knew she was talking about Harry and Bridge's wedding too.

For the first time that night Harry looked at her and smiled. It was fleeting but it made Hermione grin. But other than that dinner went on much the same.

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After dinner Kate went to bed and Harry retired to his study to do some of his work, Luna and Bridget were chattering about something in the living room. Ron took Hermione aside to talk.

“So during dinner Harry told me of some of the places that you went when you were on your trip.”

Hermione found it amusing that he referred to her leaving for eight years as a trip. “Yes. It was nice but I just missed home and all of you guys.”

Ron shifted uncomfortably. “So what is up with you and Harry?”

Hermione looked up sharply. She began to say that there was nothing wrong but she stopped and sighed. She was tried of telling this story over and over again. “We said some things that we shouldn't have and it just got us both kind of upset.”

Ron nodded. “So what do you think about Bridge?”

Hermione smiled. “She is really nice. We have already become pretty good friends.”

“What do you think about Harry and Bridge?”

“Well I ha-wait what?” her eyes glazed over and she looked at a spot somewhere over Ron's shoulder. “I think that they are good together. I am happy for them.” she said this in a monotone. She sounded like a robot or a young student reciting her lessons.

“But that is not what you really feel is it?”

Hermione looked at Ron disbelieving. “What are you a psychiatrist?”

Ron spread his arms out in front of him and shrugged. “Just trying to be of help.”

“Okay maybe that is not exactly what I feel. There hasn't been a second that went by today that I didn't envy Bridget. But she seems to make him really happy and that is all that matters isn't it?”

“Yes but are you happy?”

“Again the psychiatrist thing. But you know I have no idea what was more ridiculous: that I expected him to have no life until I came back or I even expected him to actually love me back.”

“So you love him?”

“Yes I do. I admit it, I love him. I have to tell you that I didn't realize it until after I left. I guess I had a lot of time to think about it.” Her voice cracked. “But how could he ever love me?”

“Well if it makes you feel any better I know that Harry loved you to.”

“When you say loved…”

“After you left he was very withdrawn. I am not oblivious and it was kind of obvious. He took it so hard there was no other explanation. He never told me but I guessed. I am not sure about now. But you can know that he did in fact love you at a time.”

Hermione gave him a small smile. “Well, okay. I have a question for you. What was up with the thing when you kissed Bridget's hand?” She was obviously trying to change the subject and it worked.

Ron laughed. “Well, when I first met her I have to admit I was quite taken with her. The first time I met her I took her hand and kissed it like a gentleman. I think that she might have liked me a little then but then she started going out with Harry. It is kind of a joke now.”

Hermione laughed. “I was guessing that it would be something like that.” They talked for a little longer, catching up after so long.

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8. Midnight Wanderings

Chapter 8

Hermione closed the door and walked back into the living room. She sat down on the couch and stared blearily across to Bridge. “You know the question you asked me earlier?” At Bridget's blank face, she went on. “You know about the letter and transitioning to a whole new world?”

“Oh, yes. I am really interested. I really have known no other life than being a witch.”

“Okay, well my whole life I lived it halfheartedly. I devoted my whole self to my studies at a young age. I knew that I was different than the others and in the Muggle World difference is bad.” Hermione sighed. “It was like I spent my whole life up to that time waiting for my letter to come. When it did I was so happy. In knew that is was something I had to do no matter how apprehensive my parents were. I mean you have to understand that my parents where dentists. How muggle can you get? At first they were really uncertain. But over time they came to accept it. It was really weird for me at first but as time went on I realized that all of what I was experiencing and learning was everything that I was waiting for. It was really the only thing that had ever felt normal. I had always felt out of place in the Muggle World.”

“Wow, I guess for my grandmother it was the other way around. I mean my mother always told me that my father's mother was always longing for the muggle world despite being a pureblood. When she finally finished school she moved out and married a muggle. Ever since my dad finished school she hasn't had anything more to do with the Wizarding World.”

Hermione looked at her. “May I ask about your parents?”

Bridge glanced sharply at her. “Well, I lived my whole life with only my mother. I have met my father a few times after I graduated from Beauxbatons but I don't see him too often anymore. We write sometimes but I have never felt really close to him.”

Hermione frowned. “Where you parents divorced or were they not even married in the first place?”

“They were married, the whole time. There were just some circumstances that drove them apart for so long. I talk to my mom often but right now she and my father are traveling around the world trying to `reconnect' so I don't really have a chance to see them. Needless to say I am not sure that it is working entirely. They were apart for a long time.” She laughed bitterly. “So far as I know they might end up divorced or something.” She stopped talking and challenged Hermione to question her more.

Hermione frowned for a bit as Bridget talked. She was being very vague and talking very cautiously so as to not let too much information come out. All of it just added to the mystery that is Bridget Potter. She really wanted to ask more questions about the ever intriguing Bridget.

Instead Hermione smiled kindly and stood up. “I should be getting to bed now. A lot has happened today and, well, I should be getting up fairly early to prepare for the day. I am planning to go and look for some jobs and maybe find a place to live. I don't want to impose for long.”

Bridget smiled, though it was a bit strained. “Oh, no, don't feel that way; it isn't like that at all. Stay as long as you need. Our home is always open.” Since she wasn't really looking at her, Hermione couldn't tell that Bridget's eyes showed an emotion completely to the contrary.

“Well okay, you are so kind. But I still should get some sleep. I am feeling a bit weary. It has been a long day with the train ride and well all of this. It's been really nice talking to you. I hope we can talk more tomorrow.”

“Yes, of course. I will love to get to know you more in the days to come. Good night Hermione, sleep well.”

“Good night.” With that Hermione made her way up the stairs and through the maze of halls to her room. It was a miracle that she even found it. When she finally got into her room she settled down on her bed and was asleep in minutes.

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Harry felt restless. Bridget had gone to sleep about an hour ago and he didn't feel like going up to his room, knowing that sleep was not in the realm of possibility at this point. He had been sitting up in his study trying to work since dinner. His only disruption had been when Bridge had poked her head in to tell him she was heading to bed. He got up and made his way out of the room.

He had no idea were he was headed and he didn't pay much attention to where his legs took him. When he finally stopped he looked up and was surprised to find himself in front of Hermione's bedroom door. Instead of turning and walking away like he should have he silently pushed open the door and walked in.

He crept around to the side of her bed trying to stat concealed by the shadows. When he made sure that she was sleeping he stepped away from the wall and to the side of her bed. The moonlight shone through her window in a solid stream of light, shining brightly on Hermione's sleeping form.

Her silky brown hair was splayed out over her shoulders, making a sharp contrast to the bright white of her pillow. She had a small frown on her face and if she was trying to figure out a puzzle. Her skin was a fair creamy color and even though here eyes were closed he would see her soft, kind brown eyes. Beautiful eyes. Everyone said that eyes like his and his families were beautiful. But the truth is that they were just rare. The customary brown eyes were perfect on Hermione and he couldn't imagine her with any other color.

She really was perfect. Not just beautiful on the outside but she was even more beautiful on the inside. He sighed. He shouldn't be here. This was a bad idea. What if Hermione woke up? What if Bridge found him here? He knew he shouldn't worry about Bridge. She wasn't normally the jealous type but there was something a bit different about this situation.

Hermione moaned softly and rolled over a little bit. Harry smiled and bent down, resting his hand carefully on hers. He brought his head down and kissed her gently on her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open for a second and he withdrew. He walked towards the door and turned to take one last look at her. He saw that her frown had changed into a smile. He turned back to the door, walked out and stood staring at the wall for a minute.

Shaking himself out of his stupor he headed back to his bedroom. He slipped silently into the dark room. He looked upon Bridget and was suddenly overfilled with gratefulness for his wife. He knew that she knew about his feelings for Hermione, I mean how could she not? She was a seer and he didn't really work that hard to make it subtle. Even though she knew everything she still put up with him. He knew that he loved her very much but it just didn't feel like enough sometimes. But from now on he vowed that he would try harder to be the husband that she deserved.

Slipping into bed he rolled over on his side and gave her a deep kiss that succeeded in waking her up.

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Harry got of bed and noted that the sun was not yet up again. He had had to get up increasingly early these days to be able to comply with the minister's rules that the head auror should be among the first there to start making sure the world is safe once again. He shook his head and stepped into the shower.

The hot water beat down onto his back. He threw his head back to look at the ceiling and his vision was immediately blurred by the water. He knew that he was very obviously trying to prove that he still and would always loved Bridge but that was just the point. It was like he was trying to prove something. Somehow he was, he was trying to show everyone that he did still love her but unlike many other people who `try to prove something' his feelings were completely real.

He let his head fall forward and he rested it on the tiled wall of the shower.

“Why is life always so confusing,” he asked himself bitterly. He should be happy with everything that he was today but despite everything he had always felt like he was missing something. Why did the only person that could make his life complete have to be so inaccessible?

He got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. After thinking about all of that he had only gotten to the same conclusion as he had last night. He needed to kill those feelings he had for Hermione. But old habits die hard and it won't be easy. After he was changed he gave Bridge a kiss careful not to disturb her and headed off to the kitchen. He got a cup of coffee and headed out to the wraparound porch to watch the sunrise.

He was a bit surprised to see her out there but he remembered that it was always a habit of hers during their time at Hogwarts. In fact it had been in their seventh year when she had finally persuaded him to come with her, it had been his morning routine ever since. He walked over and stood beside her leaning his elbows on the railing.

“It's beautiful, isn't it?” Hermione questioned, not turning around.

“Yes it is,” Harry replied in a whisper. He was looking at Hermione's profile but then he shook his head and turned his gaze back to the horizon. They sat in silence for a little while enthralled by the magnificence of the scene in front of them.

She turned to him. “Shouldn't you be going off to work?”

Harry sighed. “Yeah I guess I do. I'll see you after, when I get home.”

“Of course.” She smiled at his back as he walked off and then turned back to watch the sky. She didn't want to drive him off but she needed more time to think.

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Bridget rolled over in the bed to face the middle. She was disappointed when she saw that Harry was already up and out of bed. Biting her lip she pulled herself out of bed and walked over to the window. Harry had probably already headed to work. He was Head Auror in the Ministry of Magic. Luckily as Head of the Auror department he didn't actually go out on the field at all anymore. She sighed as she remembered last night. Harry must have been really guilty about something. Or maybe he wasn't, maybe he did really love her. Well of course he did but Bridget knew that if there was something stronger and deeper love sometimes was just not enough.

Bridge turned away from the window she pulled on her dressing gown and headed off downstairs. Before she got to the dining room Kate danced out of her room, with her head looking up, and ran in her Bridget.

“Whoa there honey, watch where you are going.”

Kate looked down from the ceiling and was surprised to see Bridget standing there. “Oh hi mom,” she said brightly. “Does Kya have to take care of me today? I am guessing that daddy can't because after taking of from work yesterday he has to catch up. And you can't either,” she said looking reproachfully at her mother. “You never can. You are always working.”

It was true Bridget was always working. She was employed by St. Mungo's and worked with the files. Sorting them, making sure nothing is missing. Nowadays she works at home for the sake of Kate and she goes n once a week but her being home is not helpful at all seeing as she still has no time to take care of Kate and the job always falls back on Kya or Harry if he is home. Bridget doesn't like her job too much but it helps pay the bills so she works hard at it.

“Oh sweetheart I am sorry I can't do stuff with you today. But I think I have an idea of what you can do. Come on let's get some breakfast.”

Kate scampered obediently after her mother. When they got downstairs to the dining room they were surprised to see Hermione already up and dressed and talking Kya's ear off. Well it wasn't really talking, more of Hermione asking question after question and giving Kya no chance to answer them.

“So why are you employed by Harry? Like how did he find you? I am surprised that he even got a house elf I mean there must have been something that made him want to employ you, why? And what makes you so loyal to him? You get paid right? What is your average pay? Do you get vacations and stuff like that?”

`

Kya opened her mouth to try to answer the questions but Kate beat her to it. “Does being able to roam the house and cause any mischief without getting in trouble count?” asked Kate. “Because that is mostly what she does all day in her free time.”

Hermione turned to them. “Oh my, well I didn't see you there. How was your night? Did you both have good night's sleep?”

Bridget laughed. “I slept very well thank you. How was your night? You do seem to be up early. I have never been an early bird. I work too much to and too late to manage to get up early.”

“Yeah I have always gotten up early since my childhood. It is kind of like a bit of a habit. I like to get up and sit outside with a cup of tea and watch the sunrise. It really is beautiful. You should try it sometimes I am sure that you would love it.”

“Thank you Hermione. I will be sure to remember that.”

Kate sat down in the chair next to Hermione. “Kya can you please go and get some breakfast. I am famished.” Much to her surprise Kya scampered off without trying to argue. She had no idea that the only reason that Kya obeyed her is because Hermione nodded to Kya so that she would know to do everything that Kate asked.

Hermione turned to Kate, a bit surprised. “Famished?” she laughed. “That is a surprising word to hear coming from a five year old.

Kate smiled. “Everyday I have a word of the day. I try to use them as much as possible that day. It helps advance my vocabulary.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Bridget. “She learned how to read at an early age and she desperately wanted to learn more because she tended to stumble across much of the harder words. Her teacher told her that that could help. I am not too sure what I think about it at this moment but she seems to enjoy it.”

Hermione nodded and watched as the door opened and Kya walked in with a tray off food bigger than herself. Kya tended to forget that she could use magic to help with her duties. Over their breakfast they talked a bit about aimless things until Bridget stopped talking suddenly.

“I was thinking about who was going to take care of Kate today. Kya usually does but she tends to make more work for me instead of making it easier. Hermione I was wondering if you could watch Kate today. She can show you around and take you places. She can even take you to visit some of your old friends.”

Hermione glanced at Kate who looked like she would be happy with this arrangement and grinned. “I would love to spend the day with Kate.”

“Well then it is settled. Thank you so much Hermione. Now I must be getting to my work.” She turned to Kate. “I am going to have to go to the hospital today so I won't be home till later. Okay? I love you.” She stooped down and kissed Kate on the cheek.

“I love you too mom!”

Bridget smiled and turned to head off to her study leaving Kate and Hermione to their own devices.

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9. Publicity

A/N: A lot of people have been mentioning the length of these chapters. I just want to let you know that these are actually two of my original chapters smushed together like the other ones. So technically you already have up to chapters 13 from the original thing. So please don't mention it again. It is kind of really annoying.

Chapter 9

Harry walked quickly into the auror department pausing once to say hi to his secretary, Karen. As he walked into his office he frowned at the papers that were stacked high on his desk. He had known that when he had decided to take yesterday off he would have a lot of work to makeup. What he hadn't counted on was that the events of the other day would be anything out of the ordinary.

Sitting at his desk he realized that he wished that he could be anywhere else than here. Thinking about everything that had occurred yesterday he could understand his reluctance to leave the house. How could he go on today like nothing had changed, that everything was normal. He liked his job her really did but it was hard to concentrate when his mind kept wandering. He looked up when he heard voices at Karen's desk and footsteps heading toward his office.

A second later someone walked in.

“Hello Dean,” he greeted. “Uh I mean Minister.”

He tried with all his strength to recognize the minister as who he is but when he looked at the tall minister, with his short black hair and still youthful face he couldn't help picturing the young boy that Minister Thomas used to be when they were at school together.

“Hi Harry,” Dean replied shortly. This is how many of their meetings went. They had never been best friends at school and after everything they had been through their conversations always seemed to be tight and uncomfortable as they tried to never even go near the subject of what had happened all of those years ago.

They stared at each other for a few moments. Harry was again registering the shock that Dean had become the minister as he had every time they talked.

After the final battle the whole wizarding world had been in chaos. The former minister had turned out to be a death eater himself and had sold out everyone. Fudge had come back for a little while but it was obvious that it just wouldn't work with him. There had been a struggle for power in which Dean had risen as a strong political leader. At that time all he really wanted to do was calm all of the people and help bring the ministry back to its former glory. He had helped organize an election and replace the many deceased ministry workers. In all the flurry of trying to pick a new leader the people had turned to the person who had picked them off of the ground. Much to the surprise of everyone who had known Dean he soon fit perfectly into his new position. Unlike the ministers in the past two decades, Dean led the wizarding world with a cool voice of authority and a fair mind. It was the only thing all of the citizens had always wanted but what most had never known.

Dean was the one who spoke again. “So is there anything new in your life nowadays?”

Harry frowned. “Not particularly. I just had a nice dinner with my family and a good day with my little Kate. So no nothing much is new.”

“So can you explain this?” Dean held up the Daily Prophet. Harry saw to his horror a picture of Hermione from the day before when she was walking into the park.

“Who? Luna?” he asked. Luna had become a journalist for the Daily Prophet after she had started dating Ron. She had used to work at the Quibbler but she didn't have the heart to write about all the total ridiculous things after her experiences in the last few years of Hogwarts. Hermione was right her old self had mostly disappeared leaving a headstrong woman who no one in their right mind would call her crazy. Rita Skeeter had taken over the Quibbler after Luna's father had died. She made a hefty sum of money making up incredible rumors that people tended to enjoy reading.

“No not Luna. It was one of our new journalists. Ginny Weasley.”

Ginny's name was met with shock on Harry's part. It was true that they still wrote often and Bridget and Ginny were good friends and they talked often on the phone but Harry himself hadn't seen her at all in the past year. That had been the one lie he had told Hermione and truthfully it wasn't that big. The last time they had talked face to face was about a year ago when Ginny had come to Ron and Luna's wedding. Ginny had decided to travel abroad for a year after that. She had always felt confined by her family when they all thought that she was still a young girl who couldn't take care of herself. Finally she had broken free from those boundaries and left everyone behind not much different from Hermione. Only she hadn't raised the same uproar as Hermione had. For Hermione it had in fact been all over the news. What a coincidence she had appeared at this time.

“Ginny?” Harry questioned.

“Yeah she showed up a few days ago asking for a job. I couldn't very well turn her down. It was nice seeing her again.” dean and Ginny had had an on again, off again relationship. But when Harry raised eyebrows, Dean had shook his head showing that is was really over.

“How did she get this picture?” Harry hated the uproar that Hermione's sudden appearance was going to make. She had already had a reputation as being one of Harry's best friends and secret lover. The latter had of course been a rumor started by Rita Skeeter but it had resurfaced after Hermione had disappeared. Upon that foundation she had also built her own standing in the wizarding world as being the smartest witch graduating from Hogwarts in quite a few decades.

Dean shrugged and took a seat across from Harry, up till then he had been standing. “Ginny always has her ways but never reveals them.” Harry nodded and took the paper from the desk where Dean had set it down. It was on the first page being probably the most interesting news in weeks. It was amazing at how Ginny could make a big story at one innocent picture of Hermione walking into the park with a bag on her shoulder, her trunk of course shrunk so she didn't have to lug it around.

The headline read, `Back at Long Last?'

As many of you might remember Hermione Granger had left her best friend Harry Potter and boyfriend Ronald Weasley and the rest of the wizarding world eight years ago. Her leaving had built upon the chaos after the defeat of the Dark Lord and impacted greatly on our local hero along with her other family and friends. Now eight years later she was spotted walking into the park. Is she back for good? Or will she leave again to break the hearts of all the people who love her…?

The article went on refreshing people more about the disappearance of Hermione and many events and reasons that might have made her leave. Harry didn't recognize the Ginny he had known in the piece but he had learned long ago from Luna that journalists had to give the people what they wanted to hear and not the personal opinion or friendship they had of that person.

“So everyone is going to know?”

“Right you are there, Harry. I know you were hoping to keep it quiet until she got settled but it is inevitable.”

Harry and nodded and then looked at his papers, realizing that he should get them done. Dean followed his gaze and nodded curtly.

“Well I will let you get back to your work but please remember to bring Hermione by, it would be nice to see her again.”

Harry managed a smile which turned into a wince as the door closed behind the minister. He groaned and laid his head down on his desk.

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Kate was pulling Hermione down the street. Hermione noticed that people where giving her funny looks while glancing down at the Daily Prophet that they held in their hands. Kate and Hermione were in Diagon Alley and Kate was showing her around and telling her about all the new stores that her daddy had said hadn't been there when he was younger. All of the staring made Hermione feel uncomfortable but Kate didn't seem to notice.

She was talking and talking about something that Hermione couldn't follow. When Hermione stopped at a newspaper stand trying to catch a glimpse of what was on the front page that caused all of the looks she got yanked away before she could see anything. She was once again surprised at the strength that the little girl possessed.

Finally they came to a stop in front of Ollivander's. After the war Mr. Ollivander's distant relation had come to take over the shop. Kate looked up at the shop with a strange look on her face: half smile, half frown.

“When I turn eleven my daddy told me that he is going to take me here to get my first wand.”

It was then Hermione realized how much Kate yearned to go to Hogwarts and learn everything that she could. It was the same as the subconscious feeling that Hermione was sure that she had felt all of her life before she had gotten her letter. Hermione smiled encouragingly down at her.

“Would you like to get some ice cream?”

Kate looked up eagerly. “Really? I know the perfect place…” and then she was off again pulling Hermione along behind her.

They sat and talked over hot fudge sundaes. All of a sudden Kate got an odd look on her face and turned to Hermione, her earlier smile replaced with a look of pure seriousness. And with the wonderful yet horrible bluntness of a child she spoke.

“You love him, don't you?”

The words hung midair in between them. Hermione was completely caught off guard and she gaped at Kate who looked back at her innocently.

Hermione leaned forward in her seat. “Kate, dear, what would make you think that?” Kate of course noticed that she didn't deny it but she was confused herself.

After Hermione asked that question Kate's seriousness melted of her face and was replaced by a nervous and almost frightened expression. “I,” she tried to say. “I don't know. I really don't.” She shook her head frantically as if trying to convince herself that it wasn't true. Whether it was for the fact that she didn't want to think that she somehow knew that Hermione loved her father or because she didn't want to believe that Hermione did in fact love her father, neither of them knew.

Kate bit her lip and looked as if she was about to cry. For the first time since Hermione met her she looked like the five year old girl that she was. Hermione walked around the table and crouched down at Kate feet. She reached up and put her arms around the little girl, hugging her close.

Kate pulled away from Hermione like she had been burnt. She wiped her tears hurriedly from her eyes and sat up trying to regain her composure. “So do you?” she asked again although she did already know.

“Kate, sweetheart, it is complicated. That will never change.”

“So I take that as a yes.” Hermione was surprised at how much control Kate seemed to have over herself. Her whole manner could change in a matter of seconds.

Hermione opened her mouth to answer but was distracted by seeing that the people at the table across from her were staring at her. She stood up and walked over to the table where a young couple sat. Their eyes widened as she walked over, the woman still had her hand pointing at an article on the front page of the Daily Prophet.

“I am sorry but is there a problem?” Hermione asked politely. “Normally I don't tolerate strangers staring at me and this time is no exception.”

The couple looked up at her warily but offered no explanation. “If you don't mind I would appreciate if I could take a look at your paper.” Without waiting for consent Hermione took the paper from the woman's hands and scanned the page. Hermione's brown eyes widened and she felt as if her legs were going to give out from under her. She carefully made her way to the table and sat heavily in her chair. She stared at her picture for a while and then reread the article slower this time, mouthing each word as she came to it. When she came to the end she took in the name of the journalist who wrote it.

Ginny Weasley.

This time it was Hermione who was shaking her head. She looked around and saw everyone staring at her. It was obvious that they recognized Harry's daughter so what would they think if they saw Kate with Hermione? Hermione stood up and took Kate's hand. They walked out of the little shop without giving back the newspaper.

“Hermione are you okay?”

Hermione looked kindly down at Kate. “Yes I am fine. Just a little shocked at seeing myself as the biggest piece of news in the wizarding world.”

Kate smiled sweetly up at Hermione. “Well recently there hasn't been much big news. Not since I was born I think. That was the big news at the time, my daddy told me.”

“Oh this could just cause more problems than I need at this time. But I guess it was too much to ask to back without all the chaos. But don't worry. Why don't we go and look at come books. Flourish and Blotts is still here right? That was always my favorite store.”

“Books of course, yup it is still here. I love that store. Come on let's go.” Hermione had to run a bit to keep up with the excited little girl. When they walked into the store Kate went off to go explore. Hermione wandered aimlessly around that little store. She picked up a book and opened it. She read the first page as she walked and ran headlong into someone.

Hermione tumbled backwards and dropped the book to try to help the person up from the ground. She almost let go of the woman's hand when she saw who it was.

“Ginny?” she asked in a tone of obvious wonderment.

“Oh, Hermione!” Ginny exclaimed. “It is so wonderful to see you.” She wrapped Hermione in a hug and felt her stiffen. “Hermione, dear, is everything alright?”

Hermione stepped away. “Did you write this?” she asked, holding up the paper.

“Well, yes,” Ginny said uncertainly. “I needed to write a good article so that they could officially hire me and I saw you and I thought it would be perfect.”

Hermione nodded. “But is all of this true. Do you really think that maybe I might leave again? Do you really think that I left so that I could intentionally break all of hearts or whatever I did?” Hermione felt like crying. She didn't know that all of this had apparently happened when she had left. She had always slipped in and out of people's lives, she never thought that she had that big of an effect on people. It was true that she hadn't thought about how it would hurt other people. She guessed now that it had been selfish but there was no turning back now and she didn't need people reminding her and the rest of the world about it.

“Hermione what is the matter? You have to know that it is not what I think; it is what is interesting and what the community wants to hear but yes I do think that it is true. I was the one who had to watch as Harry slowly broke to pieces. You don't know what it felt like to watch the person I looked up to all my life fall right before my eyes, not because of Voldemort but because of the woman he loved-” Ginny stopped and clapped her hand over he mouth, clearly horrified at what she said.

Hermione stood with her mouth open. So Harry had confided in Ginny. She shook her head and looked down at Kate who was pulling on her pant leg.

Kate smiled up at her, clearly oblivious to what had just been said, and ran forward to hug `Auntie' Ginny. When she let go of Ginny she turned to around and thrust the book she had picked out into Hermione's hands. “Look what I found. The new edition of Hogwarts, a History! Can I please get it? Can I?”

Hermione had to laugh at Kate's enthusiasm. “Yes of course. Now go on, I will be right there.” She smiled after Kate as she scampered off. “Well Ginny, it has been nice talking to you. I will see you soon I am sure.” With that she turned and went to join Kate at the counter.

Ginny sighed and walked away, shaking her head. She knew that she had gone too far but Hermione really deserved to know how she affected everyone. Somehow Ginny hoped that she would forgive her one day.

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10. News

A/N: Thank you all for your kind reviews. I hope that you enjoy this next chapter. You get a little flashback that will give you some insight into Bridge's past. Strangely, I am not sure if I meant the flashback to connect with what happens in the chapter after it. I probably set it up that way but it has been so long…so… Enjoy.

Chapter 10

Bridget slammed her files down on her desk. The meeting had been long and stressful and she didn't like having to come home to an empty house. Usually Kate and Kya were here causing trouble that Bridget would have to clean up. But this time she had sent Kate to go with Hermione.

She sighed. This day hadn't been the best. All day had been work and more work. She had spent the day worrying about her daughter for no reason and she had a feeling that something else was going to happen soon. She had a feeling that it had something to do with her parents. She remembered her last conversation with her mother before she had gone away on vacation with Bridget's father.

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Bridget walked quickly through the bustling halls of St. Mungo's, files in hand. She had tried hard to finish all of her work so that she could be able to spend more time with Kate but she couldn't avoid the inevitable meeting with the boss and the other people she would normally work with. That was what she got for being a work at home mom. She had gotten the job because her aunt was the Head of the Hospital. It was supposed to be something for her to do until she could get a job working in as an Unspeakable just like her mother had been. But she had just kept being promoted and promoted and here she was today in a place she didn't want to be.

She wasn't focusing on where she was going and she ran headlong into someone. Bridget heaved a huge sigh and bent over to pick up all of the papers that had fallen out of her hands.

“Here let me help,” said a musical voice from above her. She looked up at the familiar voice.

“Mom!” she exclaimed at she looked into the face of her mother Caitlyn Lupin. Her mom looked the same as ever; dark, wavy brunette hair and sparkling brown eyes.

Caitlyn waved her hand. “Don't call me mom, it makes me sound old.”

Bridget rolled her eyes. This was the traditional thing that her mother had always said. After all she had given birth to Bridget when she was 18; she had really only been an adult for a year by then.

“You probably want to know why I am here, don't you dear? Well I just wanted to say goodbye. Your father and I are going to take a trip for a few months to try to reconnect.” She sighed. Bridget's parents had been separated because of the war. Caitlyn was probably the greatest seer in her generation, there was no doubt that she would be a very valuable asset to Voldemort. After she had given birth to Bridget she had left to hide in France to wait out the war. Now that everything had died now it was only now that they got a chance to try to make their marriage work. It of course didn't help at first when they had come home to find him dating a young woman named Tonks.

Bridget bit her lip. “Why didn't you tell me that you guys were leaving? Weren't you going to at least warn me before you just went off?”

Caitlyn laughed. “Well I thought that you would already know.” She tapped her head and then as realization dropped heavily on her she frowned. “And you would think that the daughter of the greatest seer would be able to see that too. Well I guess that sometimes the gift skips a generation at some point.” Bridget could tell that her mother was a bit disappointed. After all she had heard that she couldn't wait for another seer to come into the family. “But not to worry. I can tell the gift hasn't skipped over you completely.” It was true. Bridget had been very adept to the power but she didn't have to chance to develop them further.

“Yeah,” Bridge said ruefully. “My daughter is a better seer than me.”

“Ah well have you told little Kate about her powers?”

“Not yet but I am planning to soon enough. But not now, too much is happening at this point.”

Caitlyn pursed her lips. “Well go off to work then. I have stuff to do.” She walked off with a swish of her ponytail.

Bridget sat behind. She guessed that her mother thought that she should tell Kate right away. It was obvious that Kate was experiencing her first visions. It was only fair that Bridget didn't keep her in the dark for too much longer. She finished picking up her files and headed off to her meeting when she realized that she was running late.

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Bridge shook her head. That conversation had been a month ago. She still hadn't told her daughter about her powers. Her mother had told her at an early age and truthfully it had just made it all worse. She had felt too much pressure was on her powers and they had eventually collapsed leaving her with what she had.

She looked down at her papers and stiffened as she heard a creak coming from outside the study door. She whipped her head around as her father walked through the door.

“Dad?” she asked incredulously.

Remus nodded solemnly, a strange look on his face.

“Daddy what is the matter? What are you doing here?” Bridget questioned as she got up and fluttered anxiously around her father.

Remus closed his eyes and a low, shuddery sigh escaped his lips. “It's your mother, she's sick.”

Bridget sat down in her chair heavily. Her mother was only 42 and for her father to be this upset about it, the sickness would have to be very dire.

Remus passed a shaking hand over his eyes. “Bridgey, oh god, why? Why are they trying to take her away from me again? I love her! We-we promised that we would stand beside each other forever. Oh why?”

Bridget stood up and went over to her dad. She hovered in front of him for a second, unsure, and then went forward and hugged him tight. “Dad, it will be okay. It has to be. Nothing is going to happen to her. She will get through this.” But even as Bridget spoke these words she could feel the heavy veil of truth in what her father had said.

His breath hitched in his throat. “Ana is working on her but I think that she agrees with the doctor that the outlook isn't so great. She hasn't said it but I can see it in her manner. Your mother doesn't want me to bother you here, she says that it will be okay, but I think that you should be with her.” Anabella was her mother's cousin and had been trained as a Mediwitch. She was the best around; if she couldn't do anything there really was no hope.

Bridget nodded. “Okay I will come. You-you go back to her. I will be there soon.”

He looked back at her forlornly and walked out of the study with tears running down his face. Bridget sat back in her chair and stared at the framed picture of her and her mother that she had kept with her always, the picture that she would always have no matter what.

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Harry walked through the front door of the house. It had been a long day at the office. Of course nothing new had happened. After Voldemort had been defeated and everything had calmed down nothing much out of the ordinary had occurred. After all the reappearance of a person who had been away because of her own decision was the biggest news in a long time.

He ran a hand through his hair. Karen, his secretary, had told him that the Lupin's were back in town. He was worried about Bridge. She had such an odd relationship with her parents. She always had mixed feelings when it came to them. But more concerning was the fact that Caitlyn's mother was supposedly sick, he bet that Bridge wouldn't know that though. News never traveled easily through the mother and daughter. It was true that Bridge had always hated the fact that her mother had kept her away from her family and her home.

It was true that Harry had been really surprised when he had learned that his fiancée was her father's best friend's daughter but he tended to forget that fact. He walked through the house and found Hermione and Kate both reading on the couch.

“Hey you guys. Do you know if Bridge is home yet?”

Hermione looked up from her book. “I think maybe. I just saw Remus Lupin come down a little while ago, if that helps at all.”

“Yeah Grandpa was here,” Kate piped in. “He looked upset.”

That was all Harry needed to know before he took off up to Bridge's study. When he got up to her he found her looking blindly ahead. Apparently the shock was still there, though there was no telling when it would wear off.

He stepped forward and sat to his knees in front of her chair. “Bridge…”

“He told me that I should come be with her,” she said softly.

“Then you should honey. They both need you right now.”

Bridget stood up and nodded. “Yes, of course. But there is so much to do, I am not prepared for this.” she started running frantically around the room looking for her stuff so that she could pack. It was very clear that none of what she needed was in her study.

All of a sudden she stopped dead and sank down to the floor in a helpless heap. Harry went over to her and held her against himself.

“Oh Harry, I can't do this. I can't try to be strong, I am not. I can't!” she wailed. Harry held her tight as she sobbed into his chest.

“Shhhhhh…” he murmured. “It's okay. You won't be going though this alone. You have me and Kate. We will be there for you.”

She nodded her head held on to him tighter. Harry kissed her wet check and pressed his face to her. He was rocking her back and forth and whispering soft, meaningless words into her ear. He decided then that he wasn't going to let her down; not now, not ever.

The next morning Bridget woke up and looked over at Harry who was sleeping peacefully next to her with an arm round her. She smiled and snuggled up next to him. This was the first time in a while that she had woken up with him still in the house never mind still in their bed. Usually he would be out watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee but today he had stayed with her.

All of a sudden she snapped her eyes shut as the events of the night before finally sunk in. After her breakdown was over she had banished Harry from her study and their room as she packed up all of her stuff to prepare for her leaving the next day. He had probably gone down and had a nice dinner with Kate and Hermione but at this point Bridget didn't care, she couldn't at that time go down and face them yet.

Harry mumbled something incoherently in his sleep and rolled over towards Bridget, almost squashing her. He woke at her squeal of dismay and her push that sent him flying off the bed. He fell to the floor with a muffled oomph and Bridget scrambled over to the other side of the bed to look down at his body sprawled across the hard floor.

“Um Harry? You okay?”

“Yeah,” he rasped, though he very clearly had to breath knocked out of him. “I'm fine.” He tried and failed to get up. “Um Bridge, honey, can you maybe help me up?”

Bridget laughed and hauled him back up.

“Oh that's better. Now come on. I asked Kya to make us a nice breakfast this morning. I am sure that it should be ready by now.” Bridget let Harry pull her out of the bed and lead her downstairs. When the got downstairs they found Hermione eating pancakes and Kate was reading the newspaper.

Kate jumped up when Bridget walked into the room. “Mom are you okay? I thought we were going to have dinner together last night and talk but you never came down.” She jumped into her mother's arms, still talking.

Bridget glanced at Harry over Kate's head. He grimaced. It was obvious that he hadn't told them anything so it was now up to Bridget. Bridget set Kate down on her seat and picked up the newspaper. “Now sweetheart I am going to tell you something. You have to promise me to stay calm, okay honey?”

Kate nodded; her blue-green eyes wide.

Bridget kneeled down in front of Kate. She could see Hermione glancing anxiously at Harry with a questioning look on her face. “Your grandmother is sick.”

It was amazing at how those four words could be so powerful. Kate's jaw dropped open and her eyes, if even possible, opened wider. She shook her head in a way that reminded Hermione of after she had asked why Kate thought that Hermione loved her father.

To Harry's surprise Bridget managed to keep it together. She put her hands on Kate's shoulders. “Honey, I told you to relax. Everything is going to be okay, I am going to make sure of that.”

Kate bit her lip. “Okay so are going to go and see her? I want to come with you! I want to be able to see her. I want to make grandpa happy again.” Her bottom lip quivered and she looked about to cry. She backed away from her mother and grasped onto Harry's leg. He picked her up and patted her back.

At this time Hermione was completely in the dark. She had no idea what this all was referring to. She understood that Bridget's mother was sick and grandpa was sad but she wasn't too sure as to whom they were exactly. She backed out of the dining room and into the kitchen to talk to Kya.

Bridget fought hard to keep her composure and worked to hold onto her calm indifference. “Yes I am going to go see her. You will stay here with your father and come visit over the weekend.”

Harry nodded. “Yes I take you there to see her. I am sure that your grandparents would love to see you and your mother said that your grandma would like to talk to you about something.”

Kate pushed away from her father and hopped to the ground. “Okay well I am going to go get Hermione and we can have breakfast.” It was so unbelievable at how her whole manner can change in a matter of seconds, something that Hermione would have recognized if she were in the room.

The breakfast was rather uncomfortable. No one really looked at each other through the whole thing. Hermione was still trying to sort out the facts that she knew and compare them with the things that she was still puzzling out. Kate was subconsciously searching for answers to see if her grandmother was going to in fact die and what could she possibly have to tell her. Underneath her calm façade Bridget was in turmoil inside, frantically thinking about everything that she had to do. Harry was the only one who was just focusing on getting ever bite of food into his mouth and reading the paper.

After breakfast Bridget hugged Kate and Harry and made them promise that they would come to visit over the weekend. When the door closed behind her Hermione turned to them for answers to the many questions that were running though her head.

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11. Unwanted Information

A/N: I know that the whole Remus being Bridget's dad is sort of random but this is connected to one of my other fics that I sort of have posted here but I haven't really finished putting all of it up here. Hermione knew nothing of Bridge before this time because of some extenuating circumstances. This fic is a bit AU but Remus is a werewolf still and all that stuff. And Hermione doesn't want to impose any longer but they are insisting. And things are going to start happen in the next few chapters. Like maybe two or three from now…Maybe. Well… Enjoy.

Chapter 11

When Bridget stepped out of the house and leaned back against the door. She sighed heavily, there was never a good time to go and see your sick mother at the hospital. You could never be ready for such a thing. She looked at her watch and sighed again. She should really get there soon but she couldn't very well just disappear on her doorstep in plain view. And she couldn't apparate in the house because of the wards; this is why she was out here. She walked down the stairs and into the street.

She had to admit she was a bit concerned at leaving Harry and Hermione there, alone. But a second later she shook the notion out of her head. There was no reason to see Hermione as a threat; I mean she had only been his best friend for seven years, that didn't mean that there was anything between them. But then again there was something… She shook her head again. It was not the time to think about this. Right now she needed to think about her mother and be there for her.

She backed into a small alley and disapparated.

She reappeared in the lobby of the hospital in France. She looked around walked over to the front desk.

“Can you please tell me where Caitlyn Lupin's room is?” she asked as she let her bag drop to the floor.

The receptionist smiled kindly. “I am sorry but I have been advised to only let family members come a visit her. You do know she is in very critical condition, right?”

Bridget looked at her impatiently. “Excuse me but did you ever think to ask if I am in fact a family member? A very important family member I do think.”

“Oh pardon me, I am most sorry. And how are you related to the poor woman?”

Bridget winced at the `poor woman' comment but managed to force a smile. “In fact I am her daughter Bridget Potter, I am sure someone must have told you I was going to be coming.”

The receptionist stared at Bridget, shell-shocked, and wrote down the room number on a slip of paper and handed it over to her.

Bridget practically ripped the paper out of the woman's hand and shouldered her bag, brushing past the lady with hardly so much as a thank you.

She walked quickly down the halls, frowning more as each second went by. She same to a stop at a plain white door, she could tell it was spelled for health and cleanliness. There was a small plaque oh the door with the name Caitlyn Lupin on it and the room number.

She pushed open the door and walked into the big room. At first she couldn't see her mother; the room was filled with people. Bridget kind of understood why they were strict with whom they let into the room.

Her father was pacing beside the bed talking to someone who Bridget figured was her mother. Anabella was hovering anxiously over the bed, checking Caitlyn's pulse and her vital signs. Other doctors were running around obviously trying o figure out the mystery that was my mother's sickness.

She stepped further into room, careful not the trip over the wires from the many machines that lined the room. She stopped as she saw her mother lying in the bed. About a month ago Caitlyn had left to go on her vacation. That had been the last time that Bridget had talked to her. At that time she was so full of life: her brunette hair silky and shining, and her intelligent brown eyes sparkling with light and laughter. Her cheeks had a soft rosy color and her lips were full and soft. Bridget reeled at the change in her: her hair was a mousy brown color and it hung limply around her shoulders, and her eyes were dull and lifeless and all that was left was a miserable weariness. Her face was pale and drawn, she had dark purple circles under her eyes and her lips were thin and chapped. She was huddled under her blankets, shivering with intensity. She was dwarfed in the small bed with the heavy comforters.

Bridget breathed in sharply through her nose and took an involuntary step back, ready to turn and bolt. Unfortunately Anabella saw her and ran forward, scooping her up into a hug. Bridget sagged into her and Anabella stumbled with the sudden weight. She brought Bridget over to one of the uncomfortable plastic chair and sat her down.

“Bridget, dear, it is so nice to see you! Oh honey how are you? You look so pale.” It was clearly an understatement seeing as all the other people in the room looked to be ghosts.

Bridget smiled weakly at her mother's favorite cousin. “She looks…” she managed to say and trailed off as she stared at Caitlyn.

“Yes I know honey but we are doing our best. There might not be much more to do. Oh honey I am so glad that you are here.” Bridget nodded and looked closer at Anabella.

She could detect a certain change there too, though not as much. There were shadows under her eyes that she was obviously trying to hide with liberal amounts of makeup. Her normally shiny black hair was dull and tied in a messy knot at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were kind but Bridget could detect an air of fatigue surrounding her from many a night of staying up.

“Well Bridgey come say hi to your mother.”

She got up and walked over to where her mother lay. Caitlyn looked up at her with a wistful expression on her face as if she was dreaming.

“Hi mom.”

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Hermione took a sip of her tea and looked across to where Harry sat on the couch next to Kate. Hermione had been firing off questions. She knew that most of this wasn't really her business but she couldn't help herself. She was always on a quest for knowledge.

“So Bridget's mother is sick?” she could see Kate wince at the question but she nodded.

“Yeah my grandmother.”

“And your grandfather…”

“Remus Lupin,” Harry replied flatly. Hermione nodded. She couldn't think of Lupin, Professor Lupin, as a married man with a grown daughter.

“Wow.” It was all she could say. “Did you know that before you married Bridget?”

He gave her a strange look. “No, why? Do you think that it would have done anything to change my decision to marry her? Because it wouldn't you know that don't you?”

Hermione looked momentarily shocked. “No of course not. I was just wondering. So Bridget's mother is Caitlyn Lupin? And she went to Hogwarts?”

“Yes she did,” Harry looked tired and Hermione realized how upset he must be.

“Oh okay this is more than enough questions. I just have one more to ask though. What was Caitlyn's maiden name?”

“Treta,” Kate replied matter-of-factly.

Hermione mouth dropped open. “The Caitlyn Treta? Like one of the most powerful seer in the entire nation for centuries upon centuries?”

Harry nodded weakly.

“So that means that Bridget is a seer and—”

Harry cut her off by putting out his hand but it was already too late and the damage was already done.

Kate's jaw dropped as the meaning of what was said finally sunk in. “B-but that m-means…Seer powers go through the generations…S-so that would mean…I'm a seer.” She shook her head hard and then nodded, shook and nodded. “I mean that would really explain it, why I have those feelings and what you might call visions. And how I felt that I knew Hermione from somewhere…”

She raised her hand to her mouth, at a loss for words. “I don't understand why I didn't realize.” Suddenly her jaw dropped. “Wait that might have been what mom wanted to tell me, but I already know…”

Hermione gasped. “Your right! Oh dear I am so sorry. I really don't want to deprive her of something that is rightfully hers to tell. Oh dear I didn't know!”

Harry frowned. He really didn't like having two near hysterical people on his hands. It didn't help that is was his young daughter and his best friend whom he couldn't even begin to understand. “Okay,” he started calmly. “Kate honey how do you feel about finding out you are a seer?”

“It feels like this whole big secret has been uncovered. I fell sort of elated but almost like I wish it was still a secret, because this is such a big thing to have to handle. I have to learn to control it and - oh! I just hope that my grandma can be here to help me do this.”

“She will honey, she will.” He sounded so sure about it that she felt encouraged but at the same time she felt that underneath he really didn't know. He turned to Hermione. “ `Mione don't worry about it. Bridge doesn't have to know about this, she can still tell Kate about it, okay? Now Kate, dear, I think we have had enough excitement today. I believe that maybe you should get to bed soon. We can talk more about this tomorrow.”

He went over to Kate and scooped the girl into his arms. Over her shoulder he mouthed to Hermione, saying he would be right back.

When they got up to her room he set her down on her bed and pulled up a chair beside her. “Kate honey are you really okay?”

She sighed and nodded. “It was just so surprising. Daddy do you think that grandma's sickness was because of her powers? Maybe it all got too much for her and she just broke down.”

Harry didn't know what to say. When she go this way he always knew that he needed to let her finish.

“How can mom do this so calmly? I mean it's her mother! If she was the one dying I wouldn't be able to take it, I really wouldn't.” She choked over her words and let out a dry sob.

Harry rested his hand on her hair and ran his hand through her light hair. “Oh Katie,” he said, using the pet name he used to call her when she was a small baby. “You don't know the half of what your mother is feeling. She is trying to stay strong for you but I think that you need to try to be strong for her. She is so close to her mother. They were best friends for years and years, and no matter what Bridget loves her mother too much to even attempt to act calm with any sincerity.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I can try but I can't offer any guarantees. I don't know my grandmother nearly enough to let her go now and grandpa needs her and-and mom really needs her too and she is way too young to die. We are going to see her tomorrow right?”

“Yes.”

She nodded. “Okay then I can show her how brave that I can be and I am going to help all that I can. I just hope it is enough.”

“Oh honey you will do more than enough.” He hugged her lightly and wiped away her tears. “You are really terrific, I am so glad that you are my daughter, I couldn't possibly need anything more than what I have and I don't want anything else than what I have.”

“I love you dad.”

“I love you too.”

She watched him as he left the room and closed the door.

She sank to the ground and knelt by her bed. She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes tight. “Oh please god don't let my grandma die. I love her and my mother loves her even more. I love my mom too much to see her hurt, oh please god, please.”

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12. Advice

A/N: There are so many things that I wish I could change about this fic, looking back but I guess all I can say is that I enjoyed writing it and that is about all that matters to me right now. Just to let you know, Hermione doesn't technically do anything. I mean, she obviously knows that Harry and Bridget are married and she isn't going to come between that. Hate Harry, please. Thanks. Now, please enjoy.

Oh, and if you have any questions do ask in your review and I will be very happy to answer it in my next author's note at the beginning of the next chapter. I might even reply to the review itself but since I am extremely lazy… Hey, does anyone want me to post my new fic? I just might.

Chapter 12

It was Saturday morning and Bridget woke up and found herself clutching her mother's hand, hunched over with her head resting on the bed. She straightened up and carefully let go of Caitlyn's hand. Her mother looked much the same as she had yesterday and for some reason it hurt Bridget more to not see any change good or bad because that would mean that at least something was happening.

She stretched out and looked around the room. Anabella was sprawled on the ground by Caitlyn's bed and her father was curled up in a little ball on a chair in the corner. The machines that surrounded Caitlyn's bed were buzzing softly. Bridget had been with her mother all day on Friday and already she couldn't wait for her husband and daughter to come and get her mind off of everything.

Fortunately she didn't have to wait long. Soon enough Anabella and Remus woke and not too long after that she heard footsteps coming fast down the hall, outside to the room and suddenly the door flew open and Kate threw herself into her mother's arms.

“MOM! Keep them away from me! They are trying to catch me!”

Looking over Kate's shoulder Bridget could see the receptionist she had met earlier the other day, and others coming down the hall.

“They wouldn't let us come in but I told them to get out of my way and I ran up here. I couldn't wait to see you so I had to come up right now. But they chased me, I mean rules are meant to be broken or else life would be really, really boring.” She pouted and then dropped to the ground, turning to greet Harry and Hermione who had just walked into the room. “Finally,” she said, giving them a sunny grin. “You were taking forever!” And with the same abruptness as before she turned on her heel and walked over to Caitlyn's bed.

“So Hermione I guess you decided to come.”

“Yes I felt that would love to meet your mother. Even though I haven't heard much of her, if she raised such a wonderful woman as you I have faith that she is perfectly amazing herself.”

“Well I am glad that you care enough to come and visit her, I am sure that she will be most delighted to meet you. I am sure I have told her about you once or twice, I had heard a lot from Harry and my mother and I share almost everything with each other.”

While the ladies were talking Harry went over to the corner where Anabella was puttering around, checking machines and preparing medicines and such; Remus was asking her question after question while she struggled to answer them as truthfully as possible without getting him worried.

“Hey you guys. How is everything?”

They both turned to him, he took in their pale and weary faces and the dark shadows under their eyes. “Hi Harry,” Remus said with a small yawn. Anabella nodded where she was and braced herself against the wall to stop herself from falling; turning too quickly had made her a bit dizzy.

“You guys okay?” he asked uncomfortably. It was probably the stupidest question to ask them but he had to find something to say. He never like silence; not only was it uncomfortable for the people in the conversation but anyone around could feel the tension as well.

“We are as fine as we could possibly be,” Anabella replied flatly. It was probably the biggest understatement in the whole world but there really didn't seem to be many other options that they could choose from to answer that particular question.

Harry nodded. “Well keep it up. Caitlyn needs you guys here. I know I will try to help as much possible. Bridget is going to do her best and Hermione says she wants to be able to help too.”

Remus' haggard face softened. “I am glad all of you are so eager to help us and Cait. But there is only so much that you can do.”

Anabella stepped forward and wrapped Harry into a hug. “Oh honey all we need of you is to keep Kate safe and Bridgey from the edge of insanity. Now come on, it looks as if Caitlyn is going to wake in a minute. I am sure she would love to see her son-in-law and granddaughter.” She walked over towards the bed. “Oh look, we have another visitor. Hermione is it…?”

Her voice traveled back to Harry and Remus and they shrugged. One minute Anabella was exhausted and miserable and the next she was taking charge. Kate and her were a lot like each other in that way, with the ability to change their whole demeanor in a matter of seconds.

Sure enough Caitlyn's eyes fluttered open after a few moments and a slow smile spread across her face as she acknowledged her new visitors. She reached her frail hand up and rested it on Kate's. “Oh look at you sweetheart. It feels like yesterday that you were a tiny infant in your mother's arms, now you are barely a child anymore. Child you have better things to do than sit here in a hospital, watching over me. I have something to tell you but I will do it quickly so that you can explore this fair city of Paris.”

Kate nodded eagerly. Even though she knew what she was going to be told she still acted the enthusiastic part with wonderful precision.

Caitlyn tried to lean forward but then she fell back on her pillows, instead pulling Kate closer to her. she shook her head slowly and smiled a small, sad smile. “Oh honey, you already know don't you?

Kate nodded sheepishly.

“It's okay I won't tell you mother about it. It will just be a secret between you and me…” she looked around Kate's head and caught Harry and Hermione's look. “…and you father and Hermione's of course. Now you go with you parents and explore.”

She waved Remus and Anabella out as well, telling them to go and get something to eat. After all they did deserve the break. As Hermione made to follow she put up her hand.

“No please stay. It would be my pleasure to be able to talk to you.”

Hermione smiled. “I would love that,” she said and meant it. Talking to someone like Caitlyn was a privilege. Any normal seer held a great amount of wisdom, but being as powerful as she was any conversation that someone had with her should be treasured.

She took the seat that Bridget had recently vacated and scooted closer to the bed. Caitlyn reached out and took Hermione's hand into her own.

“So…”

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As Hermione emerged from her conversation with Caitlyn she found Bridget waiting outside by the door. When Hermione looked at her with a questioning look she just shrugged.

“I had a feeling you would be done around now and I wanted to talk to her. Everyone else is in the cafeteria if you would like to join them.”

Hermione managed a shaky smile and walked off. Her conversation with Caitlyn had been - for loss of better word - odd. She had no idea what she had been expecting but that was the thing, she had been expecting something - something that hadn't happened. The conversation had been completely normal.

Caitlyn had asked questions about her life before Hogwarts, her life during the years of Hogwarts, and the eight years that she had been away among other things. The woman had often trailed off while staring at Hermione, almost studying her you might say. Needless to say Hermione did find that part rather unnerving to say the least.

Hermione herself had questioned the seer mercilessly about her life and every aspect of growing up as a seer and handling her powers. It had even got to the point where Hermione had been listing some of her questions when Caitlyn had stopped her with a light chuckle.

“What is this, the Spanish Inquisition? I would have thought that you would already know about most of this stuff.” She had looked honestly amused.

It was Hermione's turn to look sheepish. “I'm sorry. It is true that I read about a lot of this but I think that it is better to get the knowledge from someone who experiences it personally.”

Caitlyn had understood that and continued on with politely answering each of the questions that Hermione fired at her. even now that the conversation was over she still couldn't shake the feeling that Caitlyn had been watching her really carefully so as to judge something.

Shaking her head Hermione walked into the cafeteria and seeked out the others. Taking a seat next to Anabella she took one of Harry's french fries and popped it into her mouth decided not to think about it any longer.

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Bridget walked into her mother's room and sat down in the chair. “So what did you two talk about?”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and for a second Bridget could see some of her mother's old self showing through the illness. “What do you want from me honey? We didn't talk about anything much. I just asked her questions and she asked me questions herself. I don't know what else you want me to tell you about our conversation.” Bridget could see right through her mother's feigned innocence. After all when you live with someone for your whole life you tend to get to know them very well.

“Mom,” she said in warning.

“Okay, okay.” She put her hands up in mock surrender and sat up in her bed, wincing a bit. “I like her.”

Bridget glowered at Caitlyn. “Mother,” she started with a tone of annoyance. “Is that all you observed? There must be some more about her that interests you.”

“Bridget but that is the point. I like her.”

Bridget's shoulders drooped and she hunched forward. When she spoke her voice was but a whisper. “That is the problem for me. I like her too. I want to hate her but I just can't. She isn't annoyingly perfect and she isn't a huge mess. I don't want to have to give him up but how do you stop the inevitable?”

Her mother had the elegance to look thoughtful and really think about the question instead of passing it off as rhetorical. But it did seem to interest her greatly. “That is a good question, it does make you think. Unfortunately the answer is what is expected, you can't.”

Bridget bit her lip. Though she had always knew the truth she guessed that she had somehow hoped that her mother would answer to the contrary.

“You can't meddle with fate. The future is never set but fate is a very stubborn woman. I know that for a fact. It will be hard to even attempt to go against her will; she tends to hold long grudges.” She chuckled softly to herself as if she had told a joke. Bridget wondered briefly if her mother was not in fact becoming somewhat mad.

Caitlyn stopped seeing the expression on her daughters face. “I am sorry. You don't want to be sitting here watching me reminisce. I am figuring you want some advice.” She peered at her daughter with her still keen brown eyes. For the moment her sickness seemed to be forgotten by the both of them. “The question here is if you want the wisdom of a seer or that of your mother.” It was less of a question than is was a statement. It was clear that she already knew what her daughter wanted from her; she just wanted to hear it for herself.

Bridget gave her mother a watery smile and her lips trembled slightly. “Maybe for the first time in my life you can be a mother.” She knew that it was a bit harsh but Caitlyn didn't take it personally. It was true that she hadn't really focused too much on her motherly skills; it had never seemed that important.

She nodded and cocked her head to the side, thinking about how to start. “When I met your father I knew he was the one. For me there was no doubt about it, I was so sure. But love isn't always that easy honey; it is too complicated to even try to explain in words. There are no words to explain such a powerful force that can turn even the strongest person into a puddle. And then sometimes you never know until you are too late or you never realize it at all. When you do find it life changes and things happen and one day you can be happy and in love and the next it is gone; you don't realize what you have or might have had until you lose it. I don't know what hurts more: having true love and losing it or never having it at all.”

At this time she was staring past her daughter with a glazed look in her eyes. Bridget had no idea at that time whether her mother was talking about Bridget's situation or her own.

Suddenly her eyes regained focus and she stared into her daughter's. “You love Harry, I know that. He loves you, never forget that but life and love can be complicated. But then he is one of the people who lost love without even realizing it was there. It is a rare thing to be able to get a second chance at something like that. I really don't know what you are going to choose to do; you can let him go or keep him with you. It is up to your own discretion, it's your future not mine. But I think that I know what I would do…” she hesitated slightly her voice changing to a whisper with a slight tone of desperation. “…what I might have to do.”

Bridget was choking on silent sobs, tears streaming steadily down her face.

Caitlyn could hardly breathe as she went on. “Sometimes even love isn't enough.”

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13. Irrevocably

A/N: This might be a bit of a controversial chapter. Please, enjoy it. This is basically what it all had been building up to. It is actually what inspired this fic: this scene.

Chapter 13

Harry, Hermione and, Kate had stayed the night on Saturday and all of Sunday. They had been planning to stay until Monday but Bridge persuaded them otherwise. They had already exhausted all the tourist places and each of them had spent a considerable amount of time by Caitlyn's bedside. There came a time when there was nothing else you could do. Truth be told Caitlyn looked a bit better that day with everyone around. All Bridget hoped was that it could last. On Sunday night they all said goodbye to Remus, Anabella, Caitlyn and Bridget and wished them all well. Harry promised that if he didn't get a call from Bridget tomorrow he would make sure to check up on them and make sure everything was okay.

When they got back to the house Harry immediately tucked Kate in bed, with a hasty good night to Hermione. It was obvious that he wasn't in the mood to talk but Hermione wouldn't be put off.

When he got back into his bedroom he had a nasty surprise when he found Hermione sitting on his bed. He groaned and shook his head. The two of them hadn't had a serious talk since she had first come back and Harry had been hoping for never. But Hermione was just too damn stubborn. Instead of walking right back out of the room like he had been tempted to do, he walked over to the bed and sat down next to Hermione, trying to play it cool.

“So, `Mione, what do you want?”

She glared at him. “Don't call me that,” she snapped. She got up and paced as the veil of silence once again covered the room. After a few minutes of the silence she turned around with angry tears shining in her eyes. “What happened to us?”

At first Harry was clearly taken aback at the question. He had been expecting something but as for what he was still in the dark. “Wha-what do you mean by that?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “What happened to us, our friendship? There was never an uncomfortable moment; we could always talk to each other. But look at us now. You are practically avoiding me! What happened to us?” At this point she was stomping her feet in anger, with tears running unchecked down her cheeks.

“Maybe the reason I have to avoid you is for my own sake. Maybe I want nothing more than to be what we were, but we can't. Things change, friendships alter,” Harry replied quietly.

Hermione looked at him sharply. “Are you implying that me going away is what did this?”

“Maybe,” Harry said a bit louder this time, he was getting angry too. “You never did tell me why you had to go away. Maybe nothing would have changed if you hadn't.”

“Do you want to know why I left? Well okay then!” She sat back down on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands. “Everything was getting out of control,” she started in a more controlled voice, toned down almost to a whisper. “You could have died! What if you had? What would I have done? It's impossible for even someone like me to handle all of that and I guess I just snapped. I couldn't handle it and I had to leave. I don't know what made me stay away for so long but I did and now…” she trailed off and her face once again hardened.

“Now what?” Harry persisted.

She shook her head. “Why didn't you write me? I didn't think that you guys even wanted me to come back. Maybe that is why.”

Harry stood up angrily. “But that is not true! I wrote you almost everyday. I talked to you about everything, I even told you about…” He stopped, shaking his head. “And then I sent you an engagement announcement, a wedding invitation, Kate's birth announcement,” he ticked each one of on his fingers. “And even an invitation to every one of Kate's birthday parties along with Christmas cards, and birthday cards and everything else!”

He sat back down, smoldering, and Hermione almost believed that she could see smoke coming out of his ears. “I did my job and waited for you to do yours and smarten up so that you could come back.”

“Well I never got any letters, I can tell you that.”

“Well then I have no idea what happened to them. Hedwig always came back with nothing. Why did you finally decide to come back?”

She gave him a strange look and then nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders. “I guess I just wanted to come back. Maybe I expected something…but after being away for eight years, well, I guess it was always hopeless.”

Harry was understandably confused, he didn't want to set her off again, fighting with her had never been his favorite activity but he was truly interested. “What do you mean? What had you expected?”

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip and looked down at the floor. “Harry…When I was away I found something out. But I was too scared to go back for fear of rejection. I guess maybe never coming back would have been the better decision. But I couldn't stay away any longer. I needed to know how you felt and well…” she trailed off and hesitated slightly. “I found out that I love you but nothing can happen. You are with Bridget and I am not the sort of person to do that. I am sorry, really sorry.” With that she got up and hastened out the door.

Harry tried to stop her but to no avail. In the distance he could hear the front door slamming and then nothing. He lay back in his bed, shaking as silent sobs racked his body.

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Kate bounced down to Hermione's room at dawn on Monday morning and frowned when she saw that she wasn't there. Hermione had promised her that she could watch the sunrise with her in the morning; she must have already gone ahead. Shivering in the cool morning air she headed out to the porch and was upset to find it void of life. Hermione wasn't there either. She went back into the house and ran into her father in the kitchen. Harry was getting himself a cup of coffee and was going out to watch the sunrise himself.

“Kate, honey, you are up early. Well, this is a wonderful surprise.”

Kate smiled and replied, “I was going to watch the sunrise with Hermione. She told me it was beautiful. But she isn't out there.” She gestured out to the porch, not noticing Harry's face twisting into a grimace as she mentioned Hermione's name. “So where is she? Do you know?”

He shook his head without meeting her eyes. “Well then why don't you come with me? I think it will be just as pretty without her.”

She held onto his hand and looked up at his face with complete innocence. “No, Daddy, not pretty, beautiful. The sunrise is beautiful,” she corrected impatiently as they walked out together onto the porch.

As they watched she chatted his ear off, telling him that it was truly beautiful and asking if one day they could watch the sunset because she thought it would be just as beautiful but very unique. At one point Harry almost lost it.

“Kate just - just be quiet! Just enjoy the natural beauty of it.” Kate glowered at him but fell silent. Her father was looking out at the horizon and she cast him a sideways glance, keeping one eye on the majesty unfolding before her. She saw one fat tear rolling down his face and she was instantly concerned.

As they walked in she took his hand and swung his arm back and forth. “What's the matter Daddy? Can you tell me where Hermione really is? I don't think she is even in the house right now? Did she go somewhere? When is she coming back?”

“Kate, relax, sweetheart.”

“Daddy!”

“Kate you are acting like your five!”

“But, Daddy, I am five,” she retorted hotly, rolling her eyes.

He shook his head and led her into the kitchen and sat her down. All through breakfast she glared at him as he read his newspaper, ignoring her completely. After both of them finished eating he left for work with only a kiss and a goodbye. Now she was alone with Kya.

Oh Kya! What a perfect idea. The house elf always knew about everything that went on in the house. Kate got up and went to search for her. Her search brought her up to the attic where Kya was rummaging around, obviously trying to find some mischief to make.

“Kya,” Kate said sharply, her little voice echoing off the rafters and startling Kya. “You need to help me with something.”

Kya turned to her with a cold look. “Mistress, I can't think of anything that you could possibly need from me. After all I am just a lowly house elf, nothing more.”

“Oh, stuff it, Kya. What do you want from me? If you want me to tell you that you are the best house elf a girl could ever have then you are out of luck. Lying isn't very polite.” She replied dryly. “And if you don't I can always tell daddy that you aren't doing your job, you can be out of here within the minute.” She snapped her fingers for effect and smirked.

“My, my I can't believe you have sunk so low as black mail. I see that I have really overestimated you.”

“Oh, no, Kya I really don't think you will object to this. I am trying to find Hermione, she disappeared and I need to make sure that she is okay. Do you know where she went?”

Kya made a face. “Okay fine, your father and Miss Hermione got into a fight. Hermione then proceeded to run out into the street.” Kya leaned forward, her voice but a whisper. “I have sufficient evidence that she has lodgings at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley.”

Kate laughed out loud. This was getting really ridiculous. Maybe the threats were a bit much but she was really concerned about Hermione and Kya was just out of control. “Okay Ky, in all seriousness. That is really where she went?”

Kya actually cracked a real smile. “Yeah I followed her. I figured that someone was going to want to look for her at some point.”

“Okay, thanks, um, one more thing. You are supposed to be taking care of me so can you come with me? It doesn't really look good for a five year old to be walking the streets alone you know.”

Kya nodded in agreement. They walked down the street together looking like a normal young girl out on a walk with her house elf to do the shopping or just going to visit somewhere. They lived in a magical community very close to Diagon Alley so it was really easy to get there. Kate felt strange as she was walking with Kya without being at each other's necks.

As they stepped into the Leaky Cauldron Kate once again took the lead, stalking straight up to the counter and smiling broadly up at the innkeeper. “Hello Tom. Can you tell me what room Hermione Granger is in?”

“Well, Miss Potter, of course. I don't see how I can refuse you. She is in room number 12. You can go on up there, sweetheart, she should be up by now.”

She left Kya to wait behind and practically ran up to room number 12. Biting her lip, she tentatively reached out to knock on the door.

“Who's there?”

“Hermione?”

“Kate, dear, is that you?” The door opened to reveal Hermione. Her hair was messed up slightly and her clothes were wrinkled from having slept in them the night before. Her eyes were slightly red and Kate could tell that she had been crying. “Come in.”

“Hermione what is the matter?”

“Oh, nothing sweetie,” Hermione replied, wiped away the fresh tears that had welled up in her eyes. “Come, sit. I am guessing that you want to talk about something.”

“Hermione, as you might have guessed by now, I kind of figured what your fight with Daddy was about. I think I understand why you left and, well, I guess it is good you did. You know I probably wouldn't be born if you hadn't. Daddy would have probably been married to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, Hermione, how thick can you get? My dad really loved you and he probably would have married you if you had stayed. From what I have heard it took him quite a while to get over your leaving and I am still not sure he ever really accepted it fully.”

Suddenly, a thought popped into Hermione's head, a memory of a sort from a few days ago. “Kate remember when you said that if `I had never came you would never have met me'? What exactly did you mean when you said that? I couldn't understand it then and the answer still eludes me now. Can you tell me?”

Kate cocked her head to the side, looking thoughtful, obviously trying to decide whether to tell her the truth or not and how exactly to say it.

“I meant that if you had never come I would never had met the woman that my father loved - and still loves so much.”

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Hermione lay on her bed. Kate had left a few hours back with Hermione's assurance that she would come and see her soon. The young girl's last words were still resounding in her head, refusing to let go and disappear into a shadowy void in the back of her head. She couldn't believe it, she wouldn't believe it. Though Kate was really intelligent and could see into the future she wasn't sure if she could trust the words that Kate had spoken. She didn't know what she would do if what Kate said wasn't true. Or maybe it was that she couldn't trust herself now that she knew that he might in fact love her too.

The only question Hermione had was how, after all these years, could Harry possibly still love her. He had a wife and a child. Aren't those normal signs to show that someone had moved on? Maybe he thought he had moved on but when she came back they returned and…OH! This was all her fault. And then what was she thinking, that now that they both realized their feelings for each other would that just mean they are going to finally get together? No, of course not, because back to the fact that he had a wife and daughter. She wasn't going to be the person the rip that little family apart.

She shook her head and buried her face into her pillow. She wasn't like that, and she couldn't give Harry the chance to let his feelings get too far as to do something drastic. What she had to do was go away again. As much as she didn't want to she found that she couldn't avoid it.

Screaming into her pillow, she closed her eyes and wished that she could go back in time and never have caused all this hurt and confusion. If only she had never left she could be with Harry now but really she would have never known about her feelings but what if she hadn't. What would have happened then? She was tired to thinking in what ifs. It was no life trying to figure out what could have been. She had to leave it was the way.

Now that that was settled she just had to make sure she had everything and then she had to decide where to go. She pushed herself up and hauled herself off of the bed, though to her dismay she found that she had left all of her stuff at the Potter's house. She sighed and sat back down on the bed. There was no way that she was going to be able to go back there. But she thought that maybe it was worth a try. And maybe if Harry was still at work she could get in and out undetected by him.

Gathering her coat, she stood and pushed open the door. She hurriedly swept her way down the stairs. Out on the street she tried to remember how to navigate through the winding roads to find the house. When she got she stopped short, seeing no one in the house. She slipped through the back door, carefully avoiding the magic wards that Harry had set up. They were so easy to get past that Hermione had to laugh. Before she left she made a mental note to make them stronger.

Creeping up into the house, she made her way up to the room that she had been staying in. Needless to say she wasn't too good at the stealth aspect of the whole situation so as she was walking up the stairs the stair creaked underneath her foot and she froze. Kate's ears were very keen so she was at Hermione's side in almost less than a second.

“Oh, Hermione,” she breathed, “You are back. I am so happy that you decided to come back. Why are you sneaking? You know that you are always welcome here.” She babbled on and on.

Hermione put up a hand, quickly thinking of an excuse. “I was just going up to bed. I am really tired and I just didn't want to bother you.”

This seemed to be okay with Kate and she nodded. “Okay, I will make sure that no one bothers you.” With that she flashed Hermione a smile and skipped off.

Hermione sighed with relief and she finished her trip up to her room. When she got up there she slumped against the doorframe and sighed again. Squeezing her eyes shut, she rubbed her temples and stepped into the room. It was exactly the same as when she had left it. Well of course it was because she had only been in there last a day earlier. She slowly moved about, gathering all of her stuff. She couldn't believe that she was leaving again but what else could she do? Bridget didn't deserve this.

She got up and was about to leave when she heard a knock on the door. “Hello?” she said, thinking that is was Kate. She was surprised to hear a male voice answer.

“Hermione.”

She gasped and backed away, dropping her bags to the floor. “No,” she moaned. “No, please go away.”

The door creaked open oblivious to her plea and she backed up again, falling back onto the bed.

“Hermione, please, we need to talk.”

“Harry, I can't do this. Just please let me leave. I promise I won't bother you anymore. I'll go away, I promise.” Her last words came out in less than a whisper and she tried to choke back the sob that was trying to escape.

He didn't stop and came even closer, sitting next to her on the bed. “I heard that Kate talked to you. She is a smart girl, my daughter. Too smart.” He smiled ruefully. “Everything that she told you…” He stopped and gulped. “I am so sorry to have put you through all of this. Forgive me.”

“I can forgive me if you let me go. I don't want to cause anymore trouble here.” Biting her lip, she slid off the bed and backed into the corner, inching towards the door.

Harry got up to and stepped toward her, catching her wrist in his hand in one fluid movement. “Hermione,” he said simply, his eyes pleading. Hermione had no idea what he wanted from her; she just needed to get away. “Can we just start over?”

“Start over?” Hermione spluttered, all thoughts of running away disappearing from her head as she tried to figure out what Harry meant.

He didn't answer but just stared at her, his intense emerald green eyes boring into her own. Her eyes watered, and she cringed under his gaze but still she didn't break the contact. There was no way to know who stepped forward first but needless to say one second they were frozen, staring at each other; the next they were but an inch apart, one of them moving to fill the gap.

She was pulled into his arms; her lips caught into his own. The world blurred around them and they were lost in each other's arms, completely and totally in love. This was how it was meant to be and how it would always be. Both were in heaven, all rational thoughts chased from their minds; at that moment both of them realized that it was never too late for true love.

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14. Ignore It

A/N: I am afraid that parts in this will cause…I guess a bit of controversy. I hope not but I can't do anything about it. Well, enjoy.

Chapter 14

Harry stretched out in the bed and opened his eyes, disappointed to see that the spot next to him was empty. As second later he cursed aloud and winced, squeezing his eyes shut again and trying to block everything out. He couldn't believe what had happened. Why had he let his feelings overtake his mind and actions? Right now he was a dirty, lying and cheating man and he hated it.

Life hadn't always been friendly to him. He had been doomed from the start: born with a prophecy hanging over him, his parents being murdered, and being sent to live with his cruel relatives who had nothing better to do then boss him around and neglect him. Through his years at school instead of being given a break he had been put through a series of challenges and tribulations. And the he found that he was the `chosen one' and he had to defeat Voldemort. And when Hermione left he never thought his life could be happy.

Meeting Bridge had been one of the happiest days of his life besides finding out that he was a wizard and when he met Ron and Hermione. All the dating had been a whirlwind of love and happiness. And then with the wedding and Kate's birth he didn't think he could he happier. And now he has done something that could ruin the happiness that has sustained him for these six or seven years. But then again it could open up to the opportunities of finding even more happiness but either way everything could go terribly wrong.

He rolled out of the bed and struggled about the room before he realized that he wouldn't find his clothes for work in there. Grimacing he trudged down the hall and got into the shower and changed quickly. Walking downstairs he found that it was still dark out, hardly even a ray of light coming up from the horizon.

Sitting down with a cup of coffee and the Daily Prophet he scanned through the news, trying to find something interesting. But in the wizarding world nothing else seemed to be all that notable. But if this news got out…well the reporters would have a field day.

He looked up to see Bridge's owl, Hera, swoop through the window. Carefully he detached the letter, fearing its contents. Though he knew if anything had happened Bridget would have let them know in a much quicker way.

Dearest Harry,

Things here have been tough and only the thought of you keeps me from falling over the edge of insanity. Even though I have hardly been here for a week already the days seem to be running together and blurring. I feel as if I live each day over and over again and life passes so slowly here I feel as if I haven't seen you in forever, when in truth you have been here only a couple days ago on Sunday, it only being Tuesday today.

My mother has been getting increasingly worse. She is hardly the woman I have grew up living with and loving to the bottom of my heart. I feel that I don't remember her at all but yet she is still very much the same in spirit and personality almost as if she might not be only days or even hours from her deathbed. It is hard to know if she will live through the night, her life is too fragile to even imagine. They still don't know what sickness has affected her in this way so there is no hope for a cure. We will just have to sit here armed with only each other and our prayers to guide us through this time.

I have yet to figure what I will do when she is gone. She has always been here for me, the strong one who is always confident in my abilities and loves me to the deep depths of her heart. She is so wise and knowing and my knowledge could never measure up. She is my strength I find that I will be happy to become just half the woman that she is and that she has always been. She is the one who taught me how to find love and lose it, how to take care of my own family and how to be a loving mother and even wife though she hardly had the chance to do so herself. She tells me everyday still to put yours and Kate's needs before my own as it is right to do so and as she did for me and my father. I don't yet know how I would be able to sacrifice my happiness if only for your own but when the time comes I think that I will be ready.

Harry be strong for me and take good care of Kate for the remainder of my trip. I will be back as soon as I can whether my mother lives or dies. I love you too much to imagine and I trust you with all of my being to be here for me when I need you the most

With love,

Bridge

Bridge's letter brought tears to Harry's eyes and he once again realized how awful a man that he was. She was so trusting and wonderful and she loved him. This deception would break her heart for sure but he couldn't help thinking that maybe she already knew. Rereading the last part of the letter he had this feeling that she was trying to hint that she isn't sure what she would do but she would do anything to make sure that he was happy, and then she just reiterated the fact that she loved and trusted him. It was something that practically broke his heart to pieces.

He set the letter back on the table, deciding to reply to it later. Sooner or later he was going to have to face Hermione and he might as well just get over it now instead of waiting till the last moment. With that decision made he pushed himself away from the table and stood up, heading over to the porch where he was sure Hermione was most likely waiting for the sun to rise. And no one knew as well as Harry that the sunrise was as good a time as any to have what he thought to be a very important conversation.

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Hermione shivered in the cool morning air and she wrapped her thin bathrobe tighter around her body to ward off the chill. She stood there, leaning on the railing and staring intently at the horizon waiting for something to happen. Possibly even something that would make what she did easier. Though she felt worse about herself than the night before as of this moment she had no thoughts of leaving once again. It wasn't right for her to just barge in here and take what she wanted but that was almost how it was turning out to be.

When she had been on the train coming back she had been thinking about her life and what she wanted to do now that she was back with her friends and family, starting a new chapter of her life. She remembered that day from a far since it seemed so far from now though it was only just about a week. She wanted a job and she wanted to one day have a family of her own to love and care for. So far she has just wrecked a wonderful family who all really loved each other. She could see how they cared for each other by the look in their eyes.

Hermione then made a new resolution. She would find a job and then immediately move out and find a place of her own. She could certainly go to Dean Thomas to ask about the job. There was no doubt that he would help her they were old friends after all. When she was out of the house she could let them go back to the way they were before she had intruded.

She did have to visit her parents. It should be a sin to be so close to her family and to not visit them in the time that she can. She knew that they had been devastated when she had left. She had gotten their letters and even wrote back to a few of them but she could never fully explain the motives behind what she did, even today she is still not too sure why she did it herself. There were also many old friends that she would like to visit from school and she did want to go back to Hogwarts and visit the memorial of the lives that were lost in the final battle. Seeing her old teachers and talking to them would make her feel at home. The world seemed so different after she had been so out of sync with everything.

She heard the creak of the door opening behind her. It was Harry.

She spoke without turning around, her voice extending barely above a whisper.

“Everything's going to change now, isn't it?”

“No,” Harry answered after a moment. “Hermione nothing has to change, we can fix it. No one has to know and we can just put this minor infraction behind us and move on.”

It was clear that they had both been thinking along the same lines. The both of them just wanted to forget and get over everything without there being anything crazy and drastic happen.

Hermione chuckled softly, half to herself and she turned a quarter of the way around to look at him. Cocking her head to the side she took him in: his confident stance and the harsh lines etched on his face. He was so much different than she remembered him; he seemed so much older than a man who is barely 26-years-old. She was caught off guard for a second and her light, amused smile turned to a frown, her eyebrows knitting together in thought. This was the first time that she and looked at him, like actually looked at him since she had returned. He had been through way too much.

Shaking her head she continued turning, her back to the horizon as she leaned back against the railing. “Do you really think that things can go back as they used to be? If you do I really pity you, you are just trying to make things worse. Harry, don't be a fool we can try to fix this all we want but why try to fix something that has never been broken? We made a mistake but you can't just ignore things. It will only make it worse. I love you, Harry, and I know that you love me. Do you really think that any of this is going to be able to work?”

Harry opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again as nothing came out. Hermione was speaking in circles. One minute she seemed to think that everything had to change but inside her mind he could tell that she had known she had to do something about this so it wouldn't affect anything.

“Harry,” she said suddenly. “You know you are right. I am going to find a job and I'll leave here. But don't worry not for good again. This can be…I don't know. Maybe like a healing period of some sort. I feel bad enough already for all of this. What was I thinking?” Hermione left the railing and proceeded to pace the porch. She laughed almost bitterly and threw up her arms. “I was seriously going to say that I thought we should tell Bridget about this, the truth. I was always told that the truth sets you free. But you know what? It will only just make it worse.”

She sighed and stopped her frantic pacing. “Harry, you can decide what to do on that end. Tell Bridge, or not. On my part I am going to get dressed and then I will go out and pay a visit to Dean. He can help me, I am sure. And then I will leave. I think that I need to catch up with my family and some of my other friends. I can be out of here and you don't have to worry about me anymore.”

“But Hermione,” Harry protested. “I don't want to lose you again. You can't just up and leave I will always worry about you.”

“Oh, you are doing it again!” she exclaimed. “Why do you have to do this? Every time you talk to me about how much you care about me it just makes me fall even more in love with you. But—AH!” she screamed, her pent up frustration showing through. Without another word she stalked into the house and slammed the door behind her, leaving Harry to stare after trying to figure out what to do next.

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Bridget stretched out, trying to get the knots out of her back. She had been sleeping in a plastic chair for about a week and a half now and it never got any more comfortable. It had been many days since she had written her letter to Harry and yet her mother was still hanging on. As she looked over Caitlyn this morning she could see very obvious improvements.

Her complexion wasn't as pale anymore: there was color in her cheeks and the veins on her neck no longer stood out as much. Her brown hair wasn't as lank and it seemed to have more body. Her lips had filled out and her facial features weren't as sharp. She was no longer skin and bones and it was almost as she had an overnight transformation though they changes had progressed painstakingly slowly so there was no noticing. As Caitlyn opened her eyes Bridget could see the familiar smile, her mother was no longer as tired as she had seemed over all these days.

Her eyes fluttered open and then closed again, a serene smile gracing her lovely face. She was perfectly still and for a second Bridget held her breath. But no machines went off and Caitlyn breathed a small sigh, turning on her side. Ana came over and looked on at the woman with great relief.

“Finally, she has some real sleep. You do know that she hasn't had any natural sleep in all the time that she has been sick,” she said more as a statement instead of a question as she turned to look at Bridget. “Well my dear, I do believe that your mother here is going to pull through. Let her sleep and I am going to track down Remus. He got a bit restless last night, he did.”

Bridget sat back down on her chair with a soft sigh and almost giddy smile. Well that was one less person that she was going to lose. As she sat down she could feel the sharp edge of a book under her and she pulled it out from under her coat. She looked it over and opened the back cover. A dried and crumbling white lily came out of the book and a little note taped inside the cover read:

You will know when the time comes.

Just the night before Caitlyn had thrown the book into Bridget's hands telling her to give it to Harry. The time had come; she said she knew it. Last night had been the only time when Caitlyn was sure that she was going to die. She raved on and on about how she was going to see her best friend, Lily Potter, once again and all would be forgiven. It could all be passed of as the ramblings of a raving lunatic but Ana and Remus seemed especially interested in what Caitlyn had to say and she was too. From what Bridget knew Caitlyn hadn't talked about Lily at all after her death; not for Bridget's whole life.

As much as she wanted to read the little nook, most likely a journal of some sort, she knew that she shouldn't. Her mother had asked her to give it to Harry; it was apparently rightfully his in the fact that it was, after all, his mother's.

Up until this point Bridget had no hope of her mother living but looking at her now she felt as if she was witnessing a miracle. Maybe it was the fact that she finally admitted that she was going to die that saved her. Her mother had had many a run in with fate and maybe fate enjoyed playing tricks on her. There was no doubt in Bridget's mind that Caitlyn was going to feel foolish that she actually believed that she was going to die.

Bridget rested her hand on her mother's and was shocked into happiness when she felt it was warm instead of ice cold as she had expected. Clutching Caitlyn's hand in her own she thought hard. Trying to send a mental message was hard. Caitlyn and Bridget had been working to perfect it since Bridget was a young girl. I didn't help of course that her powers had withered to a barely imaginable level.

“Mom…I love you,” she thought, her mental voce echoing weakly in her head.

She could feel more than see her mother smile and then fall back into a peaceful rest. Sitting there for a moment, lost in her own world, she was startled as the door banged against the metal radiator and she practically jumped in her seat. Realizing that it was just her father and Ana she quickly got up and relinquished her chair to Remus.

Watching the interaction between her mother and father she knew that no matter what they really loved each other. Bridget knew that Caitlyn feared for her relationship but she felt that worrying about that was foolish because there was no possible way for it to fall apart. She wished that her relationship with Harry was like that. But to no ends, she decided, would she think about that until she got home.

She stood in the little room while Remus watched her mother sleep but realizing that she hadn't eaten in days she decided to go get some food in the cafeteria.

“Oh Bridge, dear, wait for me,” Ana exclaimed, trying to keep up with her. “I, myself, have found that food has been eluding me in that last few days. I can now eat without feeling that I won't be able to keep it down.”

Bridget winced. “Really Aunt Ana I didn't need that mental image.”

“Well, my sweet, I believe that that is at least better than some of the other things that I can come up with. Would you like to hear? Oh and please don't call me aunt. It makes me sound old and kind of stuffy.”

Bridget smiled for the first time in a while, rolling her eyes. “You got that from my mother. Really you need to come up with your own stuff.”

“But it is brilliant you have to admit, you can't expect any less from your mother of course.” Flashing a brilliant smile, Ana pushed open the door of the cafeteria and chose to ignore Bridget shaking her head. As they ate their breakfast Ana and Bridget talked.

“Even though your mother was basically on the edge of death last night it was good to hear her talk about Lily again,” Ana remarked between bites. “I wish you could have known her. She was a wonderful woman, she really was. I heard what is happening,” Ana suddenly said, abruptly changing the subject. “I figured most of it out by myself but your mother filled me in on the blanks. Lily would have told you not to mourn losing Harry and go on, meet someone new; have some fun. Though I know that if this ever happened to her…” She shook her head. “But that doesn't help now does it? I think that you should live your life. You are way too young to have to constantly worry about that. But I am not the one to be talking to. You should have to figure this out by yourself. Not that I want you have to dwell over this constantly but whatever you do is what you want.” She stabbed at her salad with her fork and stuffed it into her mouth, her little speech ended. Throughout the whole thing she hardly let Bridge get in a word which was good anyway since she wouldn't have known what to say.

“Well Ana,” Bridget said slowly, remembering not to refer to her as `aunt', “Now that mother is getting better I believe that it is high time for me to be going on home. I miss everything dreadfully and I would like to see Kate; I need to talk to Harry too.”

“But of course. I should have expected that. I won't keep you here and she will be better and home in no time. I recommend you go tell your mother goodbye. I don't think she would forgive you if you didn't. I'll be here finishing my meal. I think I need a little time before I go see Caitlyn again and on the mend, thinking about it I am not sure she will ever forgive me for letting her go that far.” She pursed her lips and looked to be deep in thought. Then she smiled and said in a more cheerful voice, “Have fun dear!”

Bridget, of course, knew that fun was definitely not what awaited her at home but then again it was as close as a woman could get.

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15. Over

A/N: People are asking about the book and it is Lily's old journal. I realize that I don't mention it any more in here but Harry gets it and reads it and all of that. But if you do want to read it… Well, it is pretty long but I have a fic about it. It is actually my first one so not that wonderful but it is Lily's journal in its entirety. It follows her seventh year and then goes up to the night that they… pass. If any of you want to read it then just tell me. I already have some posted on Portkey and if you like it then I will post more. It is called “The Beginning of the End.” Now, onto the chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter 15

“Harry? Kate? I'm home!” Bridget yelled at she entered the house. All she heard was silence. Hmmm….strange, she thought. It wasn't nearly time for Kate to already be asleep they had to be out.

Bridget frowned. She had been expecting to give them a nice surprise but seeing as they weren't home she felt kind of lost. Dropping her bags at the door she made her way upstairs to check the rooms. Still there was nobody. Well she hadn't told them when she was coming home so she really couldn't hold it against them if they hadn't been sitting and waiting for her. She decided to look into Hermione's room just for kicks but it too was void of life. The bed was made up neatly and it looked as if no one had ever stayed there.

As she stood staring around the room her head started to ache and her eyes blurred. Rubbing her temples she breathed in heavily, her heart beating fast. She hadn't felt this in a long time but she knew what was coming. Sinking down against the bed a vision flashed past her eyes at a rapid speed. As it slowed down she gasped as she made out the picture.

A shadowy figure of a woman walked backward as another kept advancing on her. The woman seemed to be pleading but to no avail. Then suddenly everything stopped and the woman seemed to give up. The man stepped forward once again and she was in his arms. A split second before their lips connected there was a flash of bright emerald green eyes and bushy brown hair.

Bridget reeled back and slammed against the wall, sliding to the ground. Sobs built up in her chest and she could no longer control them.

“No!” she screamed to the house, the sound echoing in the room and piercing her eardrums so that she was forced to scream once more out of the pain. Slumping to the ground sobs rippled through her body and the tears flowed faster. Even though she knew it was going to come it didn't make it any easier to deal with. She had no idea how long she lay there but she heard the back door slam open and loud steps running across the downstairs.

“Daddy!” a little girl's voice squealed, “Catch me if you can!”

“Kate, sweetheart, please,” Harry sounded out of breath and exhausted. “I have been chasing you all day! Can you please just give daddy a break?”

“But I don't want to go to bed now. I am not even tired yet and there is still hours yet until the darkness comes.”

“This is your set bedtime and I am not about to change it now.”

Kate seemed about to reply when her footsteps stopped short. “Daddy what are these bags doing here? Do you think that Miss Hermione came back?”

“No, honey, she wouldn't come back now,” was Harry's quiet answer.

“Then…that must mean…Mommy's home!” Kate's footsteps started again but this time they were headed up the stairs. She must have seen the light on in the guest room because she soon stepped into the room and rushed to her mother's side.

“Mommy? Mommy wake up! What's the matter with mommy?” she wailed, hysteria evident in her tone.

Bridget sat up slowly; fully aware at how terrifying Kate must have thought the scene before her to be. “Mommy's okay sweetie,” she managed, wiping away the tears so that Kate wouldn't see them.

“Mommy is everything fine? How's grandma? Something must have happened if you are home. Don't tell me that she died! Mommy tell me!”

Bridget had to clap her hands over her ears to block out the sound that seemed to be heightened from her earlier vision. “Grandma's okay,” she heard her raspy voice say.

Then suddenly the light in the doorway was blocked by a dark figure and Bridget once again shielded her eyes, unable to look at Harry. Harry seemed to understand immediately. “Kate please go get ready for bed. Daddy and Mommy will be in soon to tuck you in and kiss you good night.”

Kate nodded solemnly, her eyes wide and fearful, and left the room without another word. All the gaiety of earlier in the night had disappeared.

“Oh Harry, why?”

Harry tried to answer but Bridget held her hand out to stop him.

`That isn't even a legitimate question is it? I guess I freaked out. I just didn't think I could love anyone this much and well it just hurts so much. Things have just been hard lately. I guess I kind of wished this could have been put on hold for a little bit so I could recover.”

“So Caitlyn…?”

“Oh she is as well as ever. A miracle I suppose and more wonderful than I can even imagine. I am just so glad that she didn't leave me yet. I don't know what I would have done. I mean losing you both would have been such a disaster. I will thank god everyday that she is still here with me.”

“Wait - Bridge you aren't going to lose me.”

“Really? After this I would really think otherwise Harry. Some times I guess that I just don't get you.”

“Bridget Potter! I am not going to leave my wife.”

“Oh, but you will cheat on her.”

Harry looked to be at a loss for words. “Um…I mean…”

“Yes, I know what you mean Harry, you don't have to explain. I know that you love her very much. Maybe you just got caught up in the moment. I know how you feel, that part is just alright and peachy.” She didn't notice Harry wince at her choice of words. “But no matter how much I love you I know you aren't going to be happy.”

“But—” Harry started to protest.

“I know you might not believe it now but soon you will start pining away for Hermione. I know that that is an odd choice of words but you are going to want to be with her and I want my husband to really be happy to be with me and not try to pretend that he is.”

“I promised myself not too long ago that I would never let you down. I am not planning to go back on my promise.”

“Oh, Harry, that is so silly! You can never keep a promise like that. You are always going to let people down at one point or another. You have to admit things could have been worse.”

Harry chuckled. “Oh yeah, like what?”

“Well I could have really blown up and made a whole big deal. I could have promised to never talk to you again and taken Kate away from her father. Or I could have even come home early and walked in on you and Hermione - well - kissing and things could have really gotten bad then.” They both laughed.

“So are we going to get divorced?” Harry asked flopping down onto the bed and lying back against the pillows.

“Yeah, I guess that is our only choice.” Bridge lay down next to him.

“But what about Kate? I mean she is only five. Think about what this might do to her, it could scar her for life. I don't want her to lose faith in love.”

“Yes Harry this will definitely affect her a lot. I mean we are changing the future we worked so hard to set up. Maybe the lesson there is to not depend so much on a set future and just live life as it comes I guess.

“You know I never figured how - oh what's the word? - accepting I would be about this. I mean I would expect to hate you both but…Hermione is so wonderful. You have to promise me that you won't hurt her. She definitely doesn't deserve it.”

“You don't deserve it.”

“That's right no one does but if everyone lived to not hurt someone life would be way too perfect for my liking and that would cause problems unto itself.”

“Mommy? Daddy? Is anyone going to come tuck me in or what?” Kate's voice rang through the house.

“Oh my I forgot about Kate,” Bridge exclaimed, jumping up. “Come on! You promised her. If your new resolution is to keep promises then you had better hop to it.”

“Okay, okay, keep your pants on woman!”

They walked side by side down the hall.

“So should we tell her?”

“Oh no, not yet Harry, that can wait until later. I don't think I have the stamina to answer all her questions tonight.”

“Okay.”

When they walked into the room they found Kate sitting on her bed. “So is all the happiness back?” she inquired innocently.

“Yes of course sweetheart. Now get under the covers so that we can kiss you good night.”

Kate obeyed her mother, her eyes never leaving her parents. “Mommy, Daddy, I love you!”

“Oh, honey, we love you too.”

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Harry woke up and groaned. This was not going to be his day; he decided when all the events of the night before came flooding back at him. Everyday when he woke up for a split second everything was wonderful but then he would remember something, anything and realize that it hadn't been a dream. That initial period where it all sunk in was the worst part of the day for him, this day it was the worse that he had ever experienced. They had still slept in the same bed like before. They had acted like nothing had changed and nothing was going to happen. How in hells name could she be so calm? He for one was completely out of sorts and all of this wasn't going to get any easier. He couldn't even imagine what the day would bring.

The truth was that he didn't want to get divorced. He knew that he loves Bridget, there was never going to be a doubt in his mind about that, he had always loved her. She had been there for him in his worst time and stood by him when he needed her the most. She didn't go off gallivanting to all corners of the earth to escape something, to have time to think. She was his comfort when times got bad and he hers.

NO! He couldn't go through with this; he couldn't let her go through with this. Hermione had been too late; she made her decision it was his right to make his decision so that he could make things okay, to somehow make things right. He sat up and shoved his glasses on, throwing on the first clothes that he could find.

As he got downstairs he heard a bang in the kitchen and Bridget's voice scolding Kya loudly. She was standing in the kitchen trying to make breakfast. Kya had apparently caused some sort of trouble because of the yelling and the telltale frying pan still sizzling with hot grease and bacon was lying on the floor. Kate sat at the table staring at her hands and she tried desperately not to laugh. Harry for one wasn't feeling like laughing at the moment and he immediately dismissed Kya back to her quarters.

“Scourgify!”

“Oh Harry thanks. I am so frazzled; I can't even remember a simple spell.” She looked like she was uncomfortable and restless. Maybe it was possible that she wasn't as calm as she seemed about the whole affair. “Come now I have some food for you both. Kate, hon, please say good morning to your father.”

“Oh, hello Daddy. Didn't see you there.” She didn't meet his eyes as she said this, only just raising her head to acknowledge him.

Harry raised his eyebrow and looked questioningly at Bridget who just shrugged and went to sit down across from their daughter. He took the spot next to her and clasped her hand under the table, squeezing reassuringly to tell her that everything was going to be okay. Obviously she didn't get his clue that they didn't have to go on with it and took her squeeze as a space to go on and tell Kate.

“Kate, sweetheart, your father and I are getting a divorce.” There it was, last night Harry had said the words himself but now hearing her say them gave the harsh words an air of finality and he gulped.

Kate didn't look up from her hands. “I know,” she said quietly, “I know.” Her voice had taken on the same desperate tone that had been traditional when she was horribly upset about something which didn't come about too often. Harry reached out with his other hand and placed it on hers.

She jerked her hand away like it was on fire and glared up at her parents, looking more angry than upset. “I hate having to know! Why can't I just be normal? Why can't I be a normal girl who gets told things instead of seeing them? Why? Just tell me why! Dad, mom trusted you! She left you here because she trusted you that you would stay faithful to her even though you were very obviously in love with Hermione.” Harry had never heard her say Hermione's name with such rage and hate.

“And mom,” she turned abruptly to Bridget. “You - you take this so calmly like it is nothing at all. Like you are just going on another regular day instead of getting divorced. I don't think that anyone gets it! You just don't get it! How could you both let this happen?” She asked that in a soft voice. “It didn't have to happen. We could have been okay, we could have been fine. But -” she stood up and looked at the chair that she had knocked to the ground while trying to get up. “I'm sorry,” she whispered, “But I have to go.” And then she was gone.

Neither Harry or Bridget made a move to follow her out; she would be okay wherever she went. She would most likely not even leave the house, though she was adventurous and very responsible she knew that it wasn't right and she was too afraid that no one would come looking for her.

“So that went well.”

Harry laughed bitterly. “You think?”

“I never thought that she would act like this. I mean she is always so down to earth. And I thought that she loved Hermione.”

“What do you think that she saw?”

“Well from what I know it could have been anything. A seer's visions are unpredictable. It is hard to know when they will pop up or what they will show.”

“Bridget -”

“No, don't even say it. You love Hermione; I know it, you know it. Do we have to keep ignoring that fact?”

“But I love you too.”

“A wise woman once told me that it was hard to tell what hurt the most: loving and losing or never loving at all. I am most fortunate to have loved you for these years and to have you love me back. If I should lose it at least I will know that I had it.”

“But wouldn't it have just been better not to love at all so that you wouldn't have had that loss?”

“But then I would have never experienced the love that fills me when I look at you, knowing that a man as wonderful as you actually loves me back in real life instead of just in my dreams. And even though you love Hermione the thought that you don't want me hurt just fills me with pride, you make me remember who I am. You know I have known what it is like not to have my parents together. I couldn't understand why I didn't have a father there. And Kate had that for five years and we aren't going to be far apart, she can see you everyday and see me everyday. I hate the thought that this is happening to her but it is something that has to be done. You can't meddle with fate.” She chuckled softly to herself. “Just make sure that I love her as a mother, that I am her mother instead of her mentor. I can't do to her what my mother did to me. Every girl deserves to have a mother. She is no exception.”

“You aren't either.”

“My mom didn't know how to be a mother. She had to take care of me herself and teach me everything I know while still keeping the two of us together. And she was so young. She wanted too much to be a mother but maybe she needed someone there for her. I just want to make Kate know that she is loved.”

“And she will.”

“Yes, I know. But Harry we have to go to work now, I will just make sure that Kya takes care of Kate and then I am off to the hospital to take care of a few things. I am giving my two weeks notice, did you know?”

He didn't.

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Hermione sipped her coffee at the table. Her mother was bustling around the kitchen and her father had his head in the newspaper. She had been here for about a week now and was starting to think that her warm welcome was starting to grow thin. Yes, her parents had been thrilled to see her but she couldn't live with them forever.

She had gone to Dean and they had gone over job choices. Her NEWT scores covered any job that she could possibly ever want. He had asked her if she wanted an auror job, after all she could fight but she decided that it wasn't for her. She had left to get away from it; she didn't plan to have to come back to it. And anyway that would mean working close to Harry, she could not have that.

They finally decided on working in the Department of Mysteries. She remembered how that level was and she thought that she could handle all of the confusing puzzles that could be found down there. But she still didn't have a place of her own to live. She had heard that Ginny had plenty of room but it would still feel like she was imposing, she couldn't do that.

But everything was going fine for now. She had recovered as much of her past life as possible and was working on building a new one. Give or take a few things everything was fine, or as well as you could ever expect after eight years. But then she had mulled over that for far too long, that was all behind her now.

“Hermione, are you feeling alright?” Hermione's mother came up to her and put a cool hand to her forehead.

Hermione grimaced and wriggled away from the hand. “Mom, I am fine.”

“Honey, your mother is only looking after you.”

“Yes, daddy, I know. Now I really should head to work. Don't want to be late.” She hurried out and quickly apparated outside the abandoned building that was the ministry of magic. She distractedly stepped into the phone booth and ran into someone.

“Oh my I am so sorry! I didn't notice…” she trailed off as she realized who it was that she had run into.

“Oh my god, Harry, are you okay?”

“Yes, Hermione, I am fine. Here. You are an Unspeakable, right?” He dialed the phone.

“Oh, yes, well, training for the time being.” She vaguely wondered why he hadn't flooed into work. After what seemed like an eternity of being confined in the small phone booth they found themselves in the lobby of the ministry.

“Nice running into you Harry, have a nice day,” she said a bit breathlessly as she quickly headed to her offices

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Harry laid his head down on his desk. He had rushed out of the house soon after Bridget's little announcement. So instead of flooing to work he went in the visitor's entrance. Hermione had treated him almost like a stranger. She had been so uncomfortable around him and the second that she could leave she was gone faster than the speed of light. Maybe she was really over him. It was a good thing, he guessed. Then he could get over her and they wouldn't have to get divorced.

But then Bridget hadn't told him that she was quitting her job. In a marriage you were supposed to tell your partner everything. In that one small action was she trying to tell him that she no longer trusted him? Maybe she is trying to distance herself from him so that it won't hurt that much or maybe she really doesn't want to be his wife any longer.

“Harry?”

“What do you want?”

“Is that any way to talk to your boss?”

“Oh, Dean, sorry about that.”

“What's the matter? Your mood has been odd as of late. Is there anything that you would like to talk about? Namely Bridget, Hermione and Caitlyn.” They had become something of best friends over the past years of working together. Of course Harry still had Ron and Dean was still very close with Seamus but seeing each other at all hours of the day had to call for some friendship also adding to the fact that they were classmates and roommates for seven years during Hogwarts. They would talk to each other about everything, but Harry just couldn't bring himself to share this bit of news.

“Now why would you say that? Minister, I am fine.”

“Wow! That is harsh. You used to be able to tell me anything. And well I guess I will have to talk myself. Hermione came back and Caitlyn got sick. And I am a bit worried about Bridge. I mean all of this has got to be a big blow for her.”

Harry slowly picked himself off from his desk and started to pace the room. “Big blow? That has got to be the biggest understatement that I have ever heard. You don't even know the half of it. You know that I love my wife. I really do, she is the best thing in my life besides maybe Kate. And then what do I do? Oh yes, I take her love and trust for granted and cheat on her with my former best friend. Notice how I say former, because you know I don't even think if we are friends anymore based on the way that she acts around me.”

This time it was Dean's turn to it down in the chair that Harry had just vacated. He felt as if he knees had been kicked out from under him, the relationship that he had idolized for these past years was becoming undone, deteriorating it might seem. “Y-you mean…you cheated on her…with Hermione…when she was visiting her mother?”

Harry just nodded gravely. “I can't believe how much of an idiot I am.”

“Harry, do you love her?”

Harry stared at Dean. “Well of course, I love Bridget with all of my heart; I wish I hadn't hurt her like this.”

Dean shook his head. “No, that is not what I mean. Do you love her?”

“Oh,” Harry looked a bit crestfallen, “You mean Hermione. I-I don't know. I mean…I thought I did.” He held his head in his hand. “I don't know much of anything anymore.” Dean could see tears leaking through his hands and falling to the ground. Harry backed up and leaned against the wall. “I don't want t get a divorce but if that is what she thinks will make it right then that is what I am going to have to do.”

He swiped angrily at his eyes and left the office, leaving Dean alone at the desk. He stalked out to where Karen, his secretary, was sitting at her desk. “Karen, will you please call my lawyer. Please have him fax over some divorce forms.”

Karen just gaped up at him. “Well of course Harry, if that is what you want. I can get them over here as soon as possible.”

Harry just nodded at her and walked back into his office and closing the door. A few minutes after the door opened again and Dean walked out.

“He kicked me out.”

The comment was directed at Karen who only managed to give him a weak smile in return. Karen had been on pretty good terms with Bridget, they talked a lot. She was confused as to what brought on this latest development.

Hermione gasped softly, she couldn't believe it either.

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16. Arrivals

Chapter 16

“Well, I didn't mean to be there…I just…was.”

“Oh, nice explanation.”

“You don't understand! I was looking for Dean; I had to give him some paperwork. I daresay, I never imagined I would hear all of that.” Hermione paced her office clutching the phone to her ear. It had been a few weeks since she had seen her best friend. They had met while Hermione was traveling; they had been best friends for 6 or 7 years now. She had been kept up-to-date on everything that had happened in the weeks that Hermione had been home.

“So divorce? Harsh…and very final.”

“Yeah, I can't believe it. I hate to think that it was because of me.”

“See! I told you that it wasn't a good idea to go back. You know I am always right. You should have stayed with me.” It was true that she was always right but Hermione wasn't going to give her that.

“But this is my home,” Hermione said reproachfully.

“It was but you have to get used to the fact that you have been gone for so long, things can't just fall back into place.”

“Actually you are the only proof that it can't. Everything else is the same.”

“Oh really? Come on! I mean, how can it all be the same? It has been eight years, things change Hermione.”

Hermione glowered, that had been what Harry told her as well as everybody else. “You know, I kept track of everything that went on.”

“And yet you seemed to pass over the fact that Harry is married with a five year old daughter. Look I know you feel guilty about all of this. And I know what you want to do. You want to go talk to Bridge and apologize or talk to Harry and tell him to rethink getting a divorce. But you can't do it and you know it too.”

Hermione cringed because that was exactly what she has been planning to do. Talking had always gotten her everywhere, she didn't want to believe that it wouldn't help her in this situation.

“Remember that there might be other reasons as to why this is happening, it is probably not just your fault. Just promise me that you won't do anything rash.”

“Fine, promise.”

She hung up the phone after they said goodbye and sat down, swinging her legs up to rest on top of the desk. Surveying the room she marveled for the second time that day at how easy it had all been. It had taken no effort at all to get this job with and the position that she had been placed in. for eight years she had been abroad and had gotten terribly out of practice with the normal working world. But then as soon as she had come back it was like no time had passed and she was just dropping right back into her rightful place. Of course that wasn't exactly true, a lot of things were different now. But maybe being Hermione ranger had its perks after all.

She had been sitting in her office for at least an hour trying to puzzle out what had happened since she had left the Potter residence. They had seemed happy together, the marriage so perfect.

“On the outside at least,” Hermione murmured to herself. That was half true at least. Mostly they looked like a perfectly functioning family on the outside but then there were also times when she saw some signs that things weren't as wonderful as it looked. She had noticed some instances when they looked uncomfortable around each other or Harry acting as if he had to prove something. She then she could see Bridget shoot Harry some sad, meaningful glances when his back was turned. Even though she really hadn't been around them enough to get a good analysis it was hard to believe that everything was as ideal as it looked. Maybe it was because of her but then maybe it wasn't.

So maybe she was right, Hermione thought idly, maybe there is something more. She was always right. That was part of the reason that Hermione went to her with everything, besides the fact that she was her best friend.

As she was trying to get back to work there was a knock at her door.

“Come in!”

The door opened and closed. “You really made yourself comfortable.” He was obviously referencing the pictures on the desk and the comfy chairs replacing the stiff, wooden ones. Papers covered the whole desk which seemed a bit off since working as an Unspeakable didn't involve a whole lot of written work.

She looked up. “Oh Dean, I didn't know that it was you. You know that you don't have to knock; you are my boss after all.”

“It is not polite to walk in on a lady without knocking.”

“Oh, Dean, I daresay your wife is a very lucky woman.”

”I wouldn't know.”

Hermione gasped softly. “But you mean…? Any woman would be fortunate to have you as her husband. Have you not found anyone?”

Dean shook his head, plopping down in the chair across from Hermione.

“No one?” Hermione had a hard time believing that, she didn't even try to mask her incredulity.

“Well…there is someone but... Well she is a bit unreachable.” He glanced involuntarily at the picture Hermione had of Harry and Ron, laughing and smiling out of the frame, and she understood immediately.

“Well not anymore.”

He nodded. “Not anymore.” Dean didn't even take the time to think about how she could have possibly known about anything. For a second he just sat there, finally snapping out of it when Hermione asked him why he had come.

“Not, of course, that I don't enjoy your company greatly.”

He smiled. “Three things. Well first of all, I would like to express my compliments. You are doing great in your job; I have heard lots of praise about your work. They are glad to have you with them. And then second of all did you need to give me anything? Karen said that she saw you but then you left.”

Hermione blushed. He probably figured that she had heard about the whole divorce thing. She bustled around the room trying to find what she had wanted to give him. Dean must have noticed how frazzled she was.

“Don't think it is your fault because it is not.”

She stopped with her arm extended midair. She turned around slowly, tears already glittering in her eyes. “That is what everybody is telling me. But how do you know? It could perfectly well be because of me, I don't want that to happen. I didn't mean to do this…the whole situation just lost control.”

“I know. And I might console you to know that Bridge is the one who asked for a divorce, not Harry.”

She shook her head fiercely. “That can't be true. Why would she want….? she trailed off.

“I wouldn't give yourself all the credit if I were you. Things weren't all what they seemed, I should know because Harry tells me everything. Not that they weren't happy but with both of their harsh pasts and everything else…they just needed something to push it off. You just seemed to be the one to do it.”

He got up and headed towards the door. She brought the papers over to him. As he opened the door Hermione stopped him.

“Didn't you say that there were three things?”

He stopped. “Oh yes, I almost forgot. Your friend is up in the lobby. She demands to see you and they would have let her right down but you need to be authorized to come down into the Department of Mysteries.”

Hermione raised her eyebrow. “Who is it?” She had her suspicions but it couldn't be her. But it then they were confirmed.

”Someone by the name of Hannah Marlan.”

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“Han, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, no `I am so happy to see you!' for me today, is that it? Now open the door, these bags are frighteningly heavy. You wouldn't think that would you?”

Hermione opened the door and surveyed Hannah struggling with the bags. “Of course five bags wouldn't be heavy at all. Who ever got that idea?”

“Well I couldn't very well leave any of my stuff at home, who knows when I am going back.”

Hermione held her head in her hands. As much as she loved Hannah she wasn't really sure if she wanted to live with her. She tended to get a little crazy when she was in a confined space…or any place at all for that matter.

Hannah looked hurt. “Well I figured that you might enjoy a friend's company during these tough times that you are having.

“I could have used you a long time ago but as it is you took me out of work. I have only been employed there for about a week; I can't start taking time off already.”

“You are friends with your boss, the Minister, so it really shouldn't be much of a problem. Dean isn't it? He's kind of cute.” She tapped her fingers on the wooden doorway as she looked inside the homey little house. Not seeming to notice Hermione's wince at her comment she went on, “This is your parent's house? Nice. Seriously, it is. Though of course I live in a shack so my opinion is a bit biased because, you know, anything is better than that.”

“You did not grow up in a shack.” The reply came out a bit testier than either of them had expected, to say Hermione seemed just a bit annoyed would be the understatement of the year.

“Whoa there `Mione you don't have to get all huffy on me.”

“Don't call me that, and I am not being huffy.” That was a lie because huffy was exactly what she was. She sucked in air through her clenched teeth. When she spoke again she still sounded angry. “Han, I know you better than most people and besides the Marlan Mansion is by far the most renowned in all of France.”

Hannah grimaced slightly and continued to walk into the house, finding the guest room with ease. Nodding, she remarked, “This will do.”

Hermione, who had still been perched at the door, called up to her. “Hey, I was just thinking something.”

Hannah snorted in a most unladylike way. “Well that's new.”

“Oh shut up,” Hermione told her laughingly, rolling her eyes as she dragged herself up the stairs. “You lived in France and Bridge lived in France. You both went to Beauxbatons. Is there something that you aren't telling me?”

Hannah looked at a spot over Hermione's shoulder, her eyes glazing over. “Beauxbatons is a big school, I daresay I didn't know everyone there; I just stayed with my own smaller group of friends. Bridget was a pretty popular name in my year, it could have been anyone.”

“Were you friends with a Bridget?”

Hannah shook her head. “I used to be friends with a Bridget once...but then again that was once.” It clearly hadn't occurred to Hermione that she had never told Hannah about who Bridget's parents where or her maiden name.

Hermione stood up. “Well you make yourself comfortable. You can wander around town; you have a great instinct so I am sure you will be able to get yourself around fine. I have to head back to work; I was in the middle of something pretty important. Have fun.” Then she was gone.

Hannah hummed a tune to herself as she started to unpack. Something at the back of her mind kept nagging her. The thought had never occurred to her that Hermione's Bridget could be her Bridget. Anyway it couldn't be. But what if she was? That, she realized but a second later, would make all the difference.

Leaving her bag she picked up her coat and left the house. She had no idea where she was going but yet the directions she took felt familiar and so right. After about twenty minutes of nonstop driving she came into a busy section of London. Coming to a place called The Leaky Cauldron she parked and let herself inside. It was dark and a bit musty inside. She made her way to the back and came to a brick wall. Remembering vaguely something that Hermione had described to her over the year she took out her wand and tapped the bricks until they broke away in a whirlwind to make a doorway for her to enter Diagon Alley.

She smirked. “Hermione was right. My instinct is wonderful.” Mentally patting herself on the back she made her way into the busy lane.

She checked out a lot of the shops but soon got bored because she couldn't possibly buy anything. She was almost completely broke because when she had come up with the idea to go and see Hermione she had been so excited at the prospect that she completely forgot that being a witch there were easier ways to get places. The expenses for driving from Paris to London really racked up as did the long house of sitting in the car bored to death but that was a whole other story.

She also found herself very hungry so she tracked down a nice little café that wasn't completely packed with people. She was sitting peacefully at a little table with a good book and a cup of tea when she heard raised voices off to her right.

“Luna, tell me you don't know anything about this. Because god so help me—”

A cool voice cut in. “I don't know anything about it.”

“Oh no, you are only the editor of the paper.”

Another person joined the conversation, his tone decidedly annoyed. “Do you doubt my wife? If she says she doesn't know about it then she doesn't know anything about it.”

Hannah shifted in her seat to look. Admittedly she was pretty nosey. Hermione never seemed to miss a time to remind her of that. There was a small woman with long, dirty blonde hair sitting next to a redheaded man. Hannah assumed the woman to be Luna but while she hadn't heard any other names she felt that she recognized the man as well. Not from the conversation but almost as if she had seen him before. Looking past them there was another woman who was half obscured by her companions. She was tall with light brown hair and she was waving around a copy of the Daily Prophet frantically. Hannah again felt that feeling but this time it was stronger but she couldn't quite place her. While Hannah was trying to put a name to a face the argument went on.

“Well excuse me for thinking that her being the editor of the paper she might have been able to screen an article like this.”

“She has a lot to worry about besides the newspaper. She is a busy woman. And besides Ginny most likely put it in, the Hermione story was big but this is even bigger. Huge actually.”

“Ronald,” Luna seemed to plead, “I hardly think…”

But Hannah didn't pay attention to the rest of what she said because three words seemed to stick out, actually they were names but same difference. Ginny. Hermione. Ronald. Suddenly Luna's name seemed to fit into the pattern as well. But that meant… Hannah got up to get a better view of the third woman and her suspicions where confirmed.

She was suddenly overcome with the feeling she had not only met that woman before but had known her and laughed with her and confided in her. The realization hit her hard and she sat back down as if her knees had been kicked out from under her only to crash to the ground seeing the in getting up she had moved a few feet away from her chair.

The threesome at the other table turned to her at hearing her muffled `umph' and got up to see if she was okay. Ron helped Hannah to her feet and she mumbled and thank you to him while continuing to stare at Bridget.

Bridget noticed the attention and looked a bit uncomfortable. “Is…er…everything alright?”

Hannah nodded and gripped the table with shaky hands.

“Bridget? Bridget Lupin?”

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17. At Last

Chapter 17

“Yes… I am Bridget Lupin. Well Potter now… I guess if you are into logistics…” She trailed off, really looking at Hannah for the first time. She cocked her head to the side with a questioning look. “And you are…?”

Hannah, not really hearing the question, stood there and breathed Bridget's name once again. “Bridge…”

Luna and Ron had nothing better to do than look on wondering what in Merlin's name was going on.

Bridget's eyes widened. “Hannah…Marlan. Hannah Marlan?”

Hannah winced as she always tended to do when her full name was mentioned. “Yup, that's me.”

Bridget sat down heavily in what was once Hannah's chair. “Wow.”

“I know,” Hannah gushed. Since she was finally able to stand without any support she starting pacing, stopping in front of Ron and Luna. “Sit. You two aren't doing any good for us standing over there like a couple of idiots. God knows the world has plenty already.”

They continued to stand there and she waved a hand in front of their faces. “Helloooo. Earth to Ron and Luna, I'm talking to you.”

They looked at her with something akin to shock at hearing their names issue from her mouth. They obeyed her command and sat down.

Hannah just laughed. “Yes, I know your names. I know lots of things. Like how your sister—” she pointed to Ron “—Ginny wrote a very controversial article that, evidently, is even bigger than the one about Hermione and yet Bridge here is very angry about it.” She turned to Bridget. “Let me see that.”

Bridget very quietly handed the newspaper over to her and she scanned the front page. The headline of the paper read: Trouble in Paradise? With pictures of Harry and Bridge and even, surprisingly (or not so surprisingly, depending on how you look at it), Hermione. She raised her eyebrows.

“I see what you mean. I mean it must be hard enough to deal with a marriage slowly falling down the drain but then to have it publicized all over the city. God, I feel for you.”

The three of them just stared at her.

She shook her head and muttered to herself, “Running off at the mouth once again. When am I ever going to learn? Explanations will do I guess.” She sighed. “So I kind of know all about all of this…well this whole thing.”

Ron snorted. “Stalk much?”

She shot him a look. “Not stalking per say but, well, I have been told a lot about the lot of you.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “By whom?”

“Hermione Granger. I am assuming you know her. Well of course you do. We met while she was traveling; I am staying with her now. So now you don't have to worry, I am not a freaky stalker, despite popular belief.”

Bridget stared at her. “I think that we have a lot to talk about. Luna, Ron, if Hannah doesn't mind I am going to bring her back to my place so that we can talk. I will see the two of you later, right?”

They nodded and headed off, still puzzled about the events that had just taken place.

Hannah and Bridget took Hannah's car back to the Potter residence and the ride was in complete silence.

When they were settled in the Living room Bridget finally broke the silence. “So you are friends with Hermione?”

Hannah nodded. “For seven years now. She is amazing; you know she might seem a bit uptight and snotty at first glance but…”

“I know. I have been around her enough to know her well enough. After all that has happened you would think that I would hate her but…I just…can't, I guess. So how are you parents?”

“My father is the same as always. My mother, well, she was very distressed about your mom and I am sure she went to visit her at one point. She was very apprehensive to go because she was never really comfortable around Anabella because of the whole Sirius thing. She did love him. You mother is doing well am I right? Well of course, I mean Hermione affirmed that with me though I didn't know at the time you were Bridget. But I should have known. I mean, there were so many coincidences. But…I guess I refused to recognize that.”

“My parents are still trying to work things out, it is not easy as you could imagine. But I do think that it brought them together when my dad thought he was going to lose her.”

The conversation trickled off and they sat there together in a comfortable silence. Even though they had been away from each other for eight years the familiar friendship still felt right and as comfortable as it had always been.

“Hannah,” Bridget started, “we used to be best friends. What happened to us?”

“You moved away with your mother. She was convinced that she had to go back and help out with the war there.”

Bridget nodded. “And I couldn't stay behind because I was the only person that she had in this world. We lost touch.”

Hannah leaned forward, sitting on the edge of her seat. “But that can change now can't it? We can reconnect and it will be just like it used to be.”

“Yes, we can. But you see there is a problem here. I assume that Hermione has no idea that you used to be friends with me.”

Hannah sat back. “I forgot about Hermione.” She bit her lip and started to say something but she was cut off by a knock at the door. She swore under her breath. “I told her not to come!” She got up to open the door. “Excuse me.”

Bridget sat there, bewildered as Hannah the newcomer with a loud “Hello, Hermione!” and walked her into the living room. “Well look who is here to join the party.” Her voice had a decidedly wry tone.

Hermione just stood there looking very haughty. “Hannah, you told me that you didn't know Bridget.”

“Oh, but my dear how was I supposed to know who exactly this Bridget was? You hardly gave me any of her background to work with. Surely I would have affirmed it if you told me she was Bridget Lupin. I never lie and you know that. And didn't I tell you not to come and talk to Bridge?”

Hermione sighed and looked over at Bridget. “I saw the newspaper article. I just wanted to tell her that it is sort of my fault.”

Bridget looked up. “What do you mean?”

“Kate came to me this morning. I had been talking to Ginny outside of the Ministry and she sort of came up to me with Kya and she started telling me all about what happened. She was upset and I let her cry and yell at me but Ginny ended up hearing it all hence the story. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen, and I was horrified then but I only learned later that you two were getting divorced and then I felt even worse.” She sucked in a deep breath and stopped before she started babbling and ranting.

“Oh don't be sorry. Technically it would have been Kate's fault. Hermione, I think we need to talk so that we can be on the same page.” She turned to Hannah. “I am sorry to cut our talk short but we will have plenty of time later.”

Hannah shook her head and gave them both an incredulous look. “Are you kidding? I am not leaving. This is getting way to interesting. Don't make me plead. Either way I will win. Trust me; you won't even notice that I am here.”

They nodded, not wanting to fight, and Bridget told Hermione to sit. “Now before you start preaching to me about how you didn't mean for all of this to happen and how I shouldn't get divorced I need to straighten a few things out with you. For one thing please don't blame yourself. While most of what has happened is sort of because of you it is not your personal fault. After all you aren't a manipulative home wrecker who had all of this planned all along.”

Hermione cocked her head to the side. “How is it possible that it could not be my fault while I am still mostly the reason?”

“Simple. It is because I knew all along while entering this marriage that there was another woman, there was always another woman.”

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There was silence for a moment and then Hermione raised her eyebrow. “How is that even possible?” A second later it dawned on her, “Oh, because you are a seer, right?”

“And a pretty horrible one at that,” Bridget commented but shook her head. “When I met Harry he was still a bit depressed over losing you. We started dating a year after it was all over and you disappeared. During that time we would share little anecdotes from our lives. Mostly all of his had you in them. Every time he mentioned you he would get this funny look on his face like he was somewhere else, sitting with someone else and reminiscing about years past.” She sighed and closed her eyes briefly, letting them flutter open at the sound of movement from the corner of the room.

Hannah raised her hand, looking sheepish though it was obviously an act.

“Yes, Hannah, what do you want?” Hermione rolled her eyes.

Hannah got up, ignoring Hermione and walking slowly from her seat into the middle of the room, stopping finally in front of Bridget. “I don't understand why you are so calm about all of this…I mean after what happened.”

Hermione turned to her, her eyes flashing. “Don't you mean what I did? God, you do have some nerve. I thought that you were my friend.”

“I am and I have been for seven years but I have been best friends with Bridge for my whole life. Things don't just change like that.”

“Well apparently seven years isn't long enough for things not to be able to change because of a small infraction.”

“Well I know well enough to know that you don't even want me here and all I wanted was to help,” Hannah said hotly.

Hermione stepped forward, anger evident in her face. When she spoke her voice was low and full of fury. “How would you even dare think that I wouldn't enjoy your presence here? Maybe I do need a friend to help even though I seem to have a bit too much pride to admit it, maybe you know what I need better than I do. But then I find that from one second to the next I lost this friend who came for a specific reason: to help me. Or maybe you didn't come to help me but that was just your cover. Maybe you came to see if Bridget was really your Bridget so then you could just turn on me. Is that it?”

Hannah didn't say a word. She lifted her hand as if to slap Hermione but was cut off by Bridget's clear, cool voice that had a tone of impatience. “Stop it you two.” She stood and put herself between the two of them, gently leaning back against the armchair as if it was too hard to stand on her own. “Okay, now first of all this isn't about taking sides, there are no sides and there will never be any sides. And Hannah I know I should be more upset but I have been through things much worse in my whole life without as much as a tear.” She held herself strong and she willed herself not to let them know of the tears that were building up and ready to burst forth. The two of them didn't know of the tearful conversation that she had had with her mother about this very same thing.

Swallowing, she silently bid Hannah to sit so that she could finish talking. “Truthfully, the one at blame here would have to be Harry.” She put up a hand at the impending protests issuing from both of her companions. “Please, let me explain. From what I have heard Hermione had left before all of this happened. They had a fight and she told Harry that she was not going to be the one to break up a marriage no matter how much she might have loved him. She went away after that, it could have been the end of the story and we probably wouldn't be sitting here today having this charming little tête-à-tête. But then you see Harry decided to disregard all of that. When Hermione came back to get her stuff so that she could officially move on…that is when all of that happened and here we are. Now, Hannah, if you don't believe me I think that Hermione could testify all of this and more.”

Hermione just stared at her. “How do you know all of this?”

A flicker of a smile seemed to play across Bridget's lips. “Well I would love to say that my wonderful seer abilities decided to assist me in my time of need but I have been talking with Harry a lot over these past few days. I tell them that he has nothing more to lose and there are no reasons for him to keep anything from me. So…” she trailed off, looking weary.

Hermione nodded and hazarded a glance at Hannah who had retaken her seat in the corner and was taking all of this in with a stony, clenched teeth silence. “That makes sense.”

Bridget started talking again but this time there was something different about it. She had a faraway look on her face as if the two of them were no longer there. Her eyes seemed to shimmer in the sunlight but noticing that there was no sunlight coming in through the inside Hermione realized that they were tears. “I don't regret it. You know that? How can I? I voluntarily married him even though I knew that he was in love with someone else. And while many people could argue that there shouldn't have been someone else I know that the heart feels things that you can't explain. It happened with my dad, didn't it? People say that history tends to repeat itself, except I am not sure that Tonks knew about my mother. While I could have kept myself from heartbreak by making the better decision for me.”

She threw herself into the armchair she had been leaning against. “But I love him. Either way I would have broken my heart. So why not prolong it?” She shook her head her and her voice was watery, tears on the brink of falling. “These past 7 years where the best in my whole life; I wouldn't trade them in for the life of me. I would have done anything for another moment with him to show him that I love him and that I don't blame him for anything. If only it could just be as simple as another year, a month, week, day or even just a minute to change his mind and make him pick me I swear I would jump at it in an instant. But what is the point of living life like that? I can't go on wondering when the time will come that it would all be over.”

Swiping the back of her hand angrily across her eyes she got up and went to stand in front of Hermione. “Just promise me one thing.”

Hermione nodded and looked up at Bridget who stood above her. “What is that?”

“Don't make this heartbreak be all for naught.”

Hermione nodded for what seemed the hundredth time that day. Bridget looked slightly relieved and returned back to her seat. Pushing her tears away she gave a weak smile and kept on as if nothing had happened. Hannah just sat back, still shocked at being told what to do and trying to take in Bridget's little speech if you could call it little.

“Hermione, do you have any idea where Kate might have gone after she talked to you?”

Hermione looked slightly taken aback by the abrupt change of subject and took a minute to gather her bearings before answering. “Well…she sort of just ran off.” She blinked and her expression suddenly changed to worry. “Where do you think she went? Does she usually travel across London alone? Oh my god, I've lost your daughter!”

Hannah gave a little snort and Bridget put up a hand. “Kya is most likely with her. She is mostly trustworthy. Han, you'll have to meet her one day. She'll love you.”

“Do you really want me around your child?”

Bridget laughed. “God forbid.” Silence fell between them for a minute. “But really. You are staying with Hermione, right?” She swiftly ignored the fact that they carefully avoided looking at each other. “The two of you will have to come over for dinner one night with Luna and Ron.”

Hermione spoke the sentence that seemed to be hovering between them. “Won't it be a bit uncomfortable?”

“As you can imagine but we will just have to get used to it. I am not letting it get even remotely hostile between all of us.”

“For Kate?”

“Oh, of course, but also because I do like you Hermione and I don't think the relationship I have with Harry will be able to dematerialize just like that.” She snapped for effect. “You know, Kate really does like you. She may even love you for all I know. Only time will tell. She was just a bit upset with the world this morning. Five year olds do get that way sometimes.”

“Kate is wonderful. You are lucky to have her.”

Bridget nodded, the smile slowly fading from her face and the tears seemed to build up again. “I have some more things to do before the say comes to an end. I will see you two later; please don't let this all get between you guys. I would hate to see another relationship diminish because of everything.”

The two of them nodded meekly, more in Hermione's part because Hannah seemed to be a bit of an act. The actress in her seemed to come out in that moment. Bridget stood and hugged Hannah, telling her again that it was so nice to see her once again.

When the door closed behind her Bridget sank back into her chair and tried to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat, cutting off her air. In the end she just gave up and let the tears come. Maybe that way it would be easier.

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Hermione and Hannah stepped out of the Potter Manor. The silence was thick between them. Hermione stepped forward and sat down on the steps leading up to the door. Hannah stopped behind her, tapping her foot in impatience.

“How long do you plan on sitting there?”

Hermione turned her head slightly. “Hannah, what do you want?”

“I would like for you to move.”

“Go around me.”

For some reason, whether from stubbornness or the fact that maybe she had one shred of confidence, she couldn't make herself go around her. She sat down beside Hermione, staring moodily into the street.

“Hannah,” Hermione started a bit angrily, “what do you want from me? Please, just tell me so that we can get past this.”

Hannah remained silent, her eyes never leaving the trio of older woman who were walking down the street, laughing loudly. When she spoke it was not in response to what Hermione had asked. “When I went to school Bridge and I were the best of friends. With our other friend Lyn we were something akin to what you, Harry. And Ron were. We had been friends since we were kids, our mothers were the best of friends. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could break us apart. At least that is what we thought.” She broke off, swiping her hand across her eyes.

She was silent for a moment and when she spoke again her voice was bitter. “Lyn went with Bridge to fight in the war and she died. Either because of that or in spite of it, Bridge and I lost connection. I seriously never thought that I would see her again. I guess that is one thing I can accredit you with.”

“Accredit me with?” Hermione asked incredulously. “Have all these years of friendship meant nothing to you?”

At Hannah's stony silence she shook her head. “I can't believe this. I should have known that this would happen. I never really had any friends. Harry and Ron became friends with me by default and I don't know how I got you but now we aren't really friends any longer so I guess I have no one.” Getting up, she stepped down from the stairs and went to stand in front of Hannah. “Just tell me one thing. What did I do to deserve this? All the while you didn't seem to think that anything I did was wrong. I am not saying I really did anything. No one is saying that but now you seem to think that. Have you been lying the whole time or is this just a new change of heart?”

Again met with no response, Hermione shook her head. “I will just leave your bags outside the door. I am sure you will be able to find some place to stay. Well, Ms. Marlan, have a nice life.”

Hannah didn't make a move to stop her as she whipped around and walked off. As Hermione disappeared from sight Hannah swore silently to herself. Getting up, she started walking in the other direction.

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Harry sat at his desk, his head in his hands. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the pile of papers that he should be sorting through. Dean stood by the door, watching him. He couldn't stand to see how this was eating Harry up. Bridget had come in earlier, before lunchtime, to sign the divorce papers. It was now official and Harry didn't seem to know what to do with himself.

“Minister?”

Dean turned to Harry's secretary, Karen. “Yes?”

“There is a woman in the lobby. She calls herself Hannah Marlan. She wants to see—”

“Hermione,” Dean said at the same time Karen said Harry.

“Harry?”

“Yes, sir. Anyway Hermione left again and hasn't come back yet. She wants to see Harry.”

Dean shot a look at the miserable man in the office and nodded. “I don't think it could hurt. A little amusement never hurt anyone.”

She smiled at him and muttered something into the phone, affirming that Hannah could come up to see Harry. No more than a minute later Hannah came storming into the auror offices and came to a screeching stop in front of Dean.

She was breathing hard and she had a very determined look on her face. “Dean.” For a second she studied him. “Yes, I do believe that you and Bridget would be a good match. You should tell her or at least try to make it work. She needs someone at a time like this.”

“Wait. How…?”

She gave him a wry smile and passed him to make her way into Harry's office. He was more than a little surprised when she slammed her hand down on his desk, demanded that he stop muttering to himself and look at her.

He obeyed instantly, his head snapping up and staring up at her warily.

“Don't look at me like that. And don't be an idiot. Look at you, you just broke your wife's heart and you are doing nothing to mend another woman's. Hermione thinks that she has no one in this world and it is your job to do something about it.”

“Who are you?”

“Your guardian angel. Now I know how it feels to lose someone that you love. I mean, of course, not in the romantic way because for me it was in a purely friendship way but…that isn't even the point.” She closed her eyes. “I know I have made mistakes, more than my share over the course of my life. I have been a complete b*tch to who has been my best friend for 7 years among many, many other things. But when you get the chance to make up for them you need to jump at that. Don't sit here being lame while you can be doing someone useful with your time.”

He opened his mouth but no words came out. He sat there, gaping up at her and she laughed. “God, go to Hermione. It is what she wants, it is what Bridge wants, and I know it is what you want. Even I want this if only it could make up for all of the things that I have done. Now I am probably never going to change my attitude about anything ever but I believe that you can make this better. Well, as good as it could possibly get unless you feel like turning back time. Either way, you have to do something.”

“Okay, okay I will do it. I will go to her.”

Hannah grinned and extended her hand. “Hannah Marlan. I believe this is a start of a very complicated relationship.”

He took her hand. “Harry Potter.”

She rolled her eyes. “If I didn't know that then I doubt that I would be here today.”

“Am I really that bad of a person?”

She shrugged. “I have only heard of you through the papers and Hermione. Depending on her mood Hermione is either very complimentary and or, let's face it, ranting. But I have to say that there was more of the former. But you are the one person who seems to be in the root of this issue. There is Bridget hoping that all of this could be over and then Hermione just wishing that she could have listened to me and stayed in France. I tried to keep Lyn in France so she wouldn't go and kill herself, I tried to keep Bridge here so maybe we wouldn't lose touch and we could stay friends, and I tried to make up for those two mistakes and tried to make Hermione stay so that nothing else could happen. I should have stayed in France. Things would have stayed the way they were and we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe there is a lesson there: never leave France because disaster just might be waiting there on the other end.”

She knew that she was ranting but she couldn't stop. Harry was getting the brunt of all of her pent up emotions.

Hannah turned her head as she started the next chapter of her tirade when she caught sight of her reflection in a small mirror that was hanging up through the glass windows, in the other room. “My god,” she said with a short laugh, “anger really doesn't become me. I have no idea what I am still doing here. You said yes, so I might as well leave. No idea where to go really. I believe Hermione kicked me out…” she was still muttering to herself as she wandered out, her voice no longer carrying back to where Harry still sat.

Harry got up, suddenly determined. If that woman, Hannah, demanded he go to Hermione he was not going to refuse. He certainly didn't feel like being on her bad side for much longer. Stepping out of his office he nodded slightly to Karen and Dean who stood talking at her desk.

As he walked through the halls of the ministry many people tried to talk to him but he didn't stop for anyone; he was on a mission.

Hannah, who had waited outside the door of his office, followed him to the Granger household. As Hermione had promised her bags were outside the door but Harry just ignored them, stepping up to the door and knocked softly.

The door creaked open a crack and Hermione peeked through.

“Harry?”

Hannah smirked and turned on her heel, walking with no idea as to where she was going. All she knew that for now everything was well and the rest could fall into place.

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Hearing a knock at the door, Hermione hurried to answer it. Maybe it would be Hannah trying to make amends, but even that wasn't plausible enough. It could be one of her parents' friends but nothing could prepare her for who she found there.

Opening the door a crack, she sagged against it when she peeked out. “Harry?”

He nodded but her eyes were drawn for a second to a figure at the end of the street, turning on her heel and walking away. Blinking, she looked again and had to wonder if it hadn't been a trick of the eye when she saw that no one was there.

She turned back to Harry who stood there, staring at her with a weary expression. “Can I come in?”

“Oh, of course. God, where is my head?” She stepped back and pulled the door open wider. “Come in.”

He walked in and stood, looking rather uncomfortable, in the foyer. For a while they stood there, looking at each other but careful not to meet each other's eyes. He nodded at her.

“You look nice.”

She looked steadily at him, not responding. “What are you doing here?”

He shifted uneasily and looked down. “Someone made it a point to me that I was doing nothing useful just sitting in my office and moping around. But as it is…If you don't want me here just tell me and I will just disappear.”

She bit her lip thoughtfully but didn't say a word.

He shook his head. “Maybe this was a mistake. I will just go, I mean if you would like me too…”

She closed her eyes. “No, Harry, please, don't leave. Come sit down.” She led him into a little room with a couch and armchair. She sat herself in the armchair and Harry had no choice but to sit on the couch. Hermione picked up the book that she had been reading before the knock at the door. Holding it in her hands, she slowly flipped aimlessly through the pages.

Maybe Harry was right and this had been a mistake. Maybe it would be better if he had just stayed away and let everything heal with time.

“So, Harry. How are you doing?”

“As good as you could possibly be when you just got divorced and this woman came to your office and basically insulted you and ordered you around.”

“Who came to you?”

“A woman named Hannah Marlan.”

Hermione groaned. “Good god.” And then she smiled. Hannah had done something for her, she wouldn't have done it herself and based on how Harry was looking he wasn't going to make the first move. “That's my girl,” she whispered to herself.

“You know her?”

She nodded. “I did.”

“Oh?”

“Things have been a little rough over the last few”—she paused—“hours. It makes me realize now how silly all of this has been. I mean the stuff with her at least. And you know, Harry, I was never planning to go to see you again. I think it is pretty ridiculous that the one thing that she…” she trailed off.

“That she what?”

She shook her head as Bridget's words came into her head once again.

“Don't make this heartbreak be all for naught,” she mouthed the words as she thought. How could she go back on the one thing that Bridget asked? After everything that is all that she really wanted. She could have asked for Hermione to find a way to turn back time so that everything could go back to normal and if that was what she wanted Hermione would have jumped at it. This is her wish and she had to keep that one promise, if nothing else, sacred.

“Oh, it is nothing really.”

“Do you really think that we can make this work?”

She looked away. “I do hope that we can. I mean, what would be the whole point of this all if not for that?”

“Living in a loveless marriage?”

“No. You can't tell me that you don't still love her. I doubt you would have been moping around if you don't. This all would be much easier, don't you think?”

“True. I do love her. I didn't want this to happen. I didn't want to get divorced. I didn't want any of this to happen.”

“And the lies just keep on coming.” She sighed. “Harry, if you didn't want any of this to happen you would have let me leave after we had our fight, you could have let me go and it would have never happened. I am not saying that you wanted this to happen but I have to say that you should have had some inkling that these events would have fallen into place and you would have done something about it before it happened. But we can't keep dwelling on the past no matter the fact that it is hardly that long ago. Let's just be in the here and now and try to figure out what we are going to do.”

Harry stood, stepping forward once and then, reconsidering, stepped backward until he reached the couch and sat back down heavily. “You are right. Like always, you are right.”

She smiled but didn't dismiss it. “Look, I love you, I really do. You know that, right?”

He nodded. “And I…I love you, too,” he admitted.

Now we are getting somewhere, Hermione thought to herself. She hadn't quite expected him to admit it that quickly, after all he had just gotten divorced. Before she could say anything more he went on.

“But, Hermione, we already know that. We don't need to go through all of that again.” He shook his head slowly. “Can we really make this work?”

“It has to work.”

He heard some urgency in her voice when she said it, the has stressed the most. He did understand a little bit. Before Bridget had left his office after signing the papers she had asked him something, well, more of demanded it. She told him that now that it was all over he had to do something with it. `Do something with what?' had been his first question but now he understood what Hermione seemed to know. It meant that Bridget was accepting it and after all of this was over and done with that he deserved to move as much as she did.

He laughed softly to himself. “My daughter is going to hate me.”

“Only time will tell.”

There was a note of confidence in her voice that Harry couldn't help but recognize. He looked up at her and their eyes met for the first time during the visit. He saw that her eyes were filled with so much emotion and he had to wonder if his own mirrored hers.

“But,” he started, “maybe it would be better if I did leave. I can talk to Kate and we can take it slowly.”

She bit her lip and looked away. She did not expect that, she didn't think he would leave.

Not hearing a word from her, Harry turned and prepared to leave. He expected her to call out, to tell him not to leave but still she didn't say a thing. With a sigh he reached for the handle and pulled the door open. Before he could slip out he heard a sound behind him. He turned to find Hermione standing behind him.

“Please, don't leave.” Reaching behind him, she pushed the door closed.

Their faces where just inches from each other and he could feel her warm breath on his face, “Why?”

“Because I can't sit and watch the only person that I truly love walk away from me.”

He stepped forward once to bridge the gap between them, catching her chin in his hand. He pulled her head to his and kissed her soft and slow. She raised her eyebrows and smirked, deepening the kiss and pushing him back against the door.

He broke away and rested his forehead against hers. “I do love you.”

“I know.” She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. “This can work, it really can.”

He took her hand and led her back into the living room where they sat on the couch and he held her in his arms and kissed her again.

All the while Hermione kept reminding herself that it could work, that will work and everything, from here on in, will be fine.

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